An award!

I received this award from Kari Elmer-Rodgers in Clearfield, Utah.  She has the blog www.pigtailone.blogspot.com.  I am amazed at how many people have found my blog and are following it.  I feel very honored to have had so many viewers and wonderful comments.  Thank you Kari and all my other viewers.

Now I need to tell 7 things about me.

1.  My stamp room is always messy.  I am in the process of moving it to a larger room.  This will take awhile.
2.  I love all my "toys".  Of course I have lots of stamping toys but I also love my NOOK, iPad, and my Android phone.
3.  I have a small water garden that is my pride and joy.
4.  I am a special education teacher.  I love what I do, however, I do look forward to my summer vacation to relax and rejuvenate.
5.  One of my vices is having my nails done.
6.  I enjoy living in New Hampshire 11 months out of the year.  Right now I am tired of the snow (yes, we had snow just this last Saturday) and would love to see spring flowers and feel some more warmth!!!!
7.  I want to learn how to use my camera on the manual settings and not leave it on auto.

Now I need to pass this award on.
I just found these blogs and love their style.
Lauri Ingram



Elaine Uhl

Another Sneak Preview

I am sorry for the lack of posts this week.  Life happens.  The good thing is I have this coming week off!  Yeah vacation!!!!!
This is another Sneak Preview from the soon to be Summer Mini Catalog.  The set is Fabulous Florets.  I played around with different color combinations and ended up using just Whisper White and Pacific Point.  I created a One Sheet Wonder- randomly stamped an 8 1/2" by 11" piece of Whisper White, then cut to size. 

Stamp Set- Fabulous Florets
Paper- Whisper White, Pacific Point
Ink- Pacific Point
Punch- Scallop Edge Border

Sneak Preview- Touch of Kindness

Here is a sneak preview from the Summer Mini Catalog available starting May 1st thru August 31st.  The stamp set is Touch of Kindness.  I love how there is some coloring to do but not an over whelming amount.  I chose bright colors to give a summery look.  I did not have any brads the correct color so I made my own "Faux" brads.  I used the 1/4" Circle Punch to cut out my "brad" and placed each of them on a glue dot.  Next I squeezed a dab of Crystal Effects on top and let them dry.  Voila- Faux Brads! 



Supplies:
Stamp Set- Touch of Kindness
Paper- Pacific Point, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, DSP Daffodil Delight
Ink- Black Stazon
Accessories- Watercolor Pencils, Blender Pen, 3/4" Circle Punch, 1/4" Circle Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Crystal Efects

Nature Walk VI

Here is a set of  thank you note cards I made at Regionals.  It has its own card holder (a 7" x 7" piece of cs scored at 3 1/2" in both directions).  We had a chance to use the Botanical Gazette DSP and seam binding which I had not used before.  I have not been too daring to stamp directly on DSP and I do like the results.

Take a Spin

Here is another card I received at Regionals.  It was made by Laura Bauer.  I love her color combinations.  The spinner really works!

Nature Walk V

My friend and downline, Tracy Tarr made this lovely card for the swap at Regionals.  Her stamping style is different than mine and I always love what she does.  I know she used Glossy White CS and applied the ink directly to the paper using multiple colors.  Next she stamped the leafy image on top.  Using Vellum, she stamped the bird and colored it in.  She added the bow then layered the card.  Nice job Tracy!
PS- Tracy is going to be my roommate at Convention in July!  Can't wait.

Easter Blossoms

I saw so many lovely cards with this stamp set I decided to take the plunge!  I was inspired by Mary Brown on Splitcoast Stampers.  I changed the colors and instead of using DSP, I used Faux Mother of Pearl.  For this technique, use cling wrap that is balled up and dab it in Shimmer Frost White Paint.  Tap some off, then dab on card stock.  Once it is dry sponge ink over it in a circular motion.  In my case I used Pretty in Pink.  I also used the "Fork" technique to make my perfect bow!  I always have been tying impaired so was very happy to learn how to make a bow at Stampin" Up!'s Regional in Hartford.

Supplies-
Stamp- Easter Blossoms from Occasions Mini
Card Stock- Rich Razzleberry, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White
Ink- Rick Razzleberry, Pretty in Pink
Accessories- Rich Razzleberry Ribbon, # 2 Circle Scallop Die, Circle Scissor Plus, Pearl, Frost White Shimmer Paint

Peace Within Swap

This card is also from Regionals in Hartford.  It was done by Melanie Meier.  I have always liked the stamp set Peace Within, but it involves a lot of coloring (I love to color, don't get me wrong!).  Melanie showed that you don't always need to color line art.  The images and matting on the square are all raised using Dimensionals.  I have not yet figured out how she punched out the basket in a star shape.  I will have have to experiment.

Supplies-
Stamp Sets- Peace Within, Three Little Words
Card Stock- Concord Crush, Marina Mist, Very Vanilla
Ink- Concord Crush
Accessories- Vanilla Seam Binding, Square Lattice Embossing folder, Pinking Hearts Corner Punch, Slot Punch

Homegrown

This was a swap I received from Rebecca Baker from the Hartford Regionals.  I have never been interested in this stamp et, however, something about this card really appeals to me.  The stamping is very crisp and the colors go together so well.  She first stamped the label then restamped it and cut out around "Homegrown" and mount it with Dimensionals.  She also faintly stamped on the Cherry Cobbler background but I can't tell what the image is.  The Always Artichoke mat was embossed using one of the Perfect Details texturz Plates.
Very nice Rebecca and thanks for swapping with me.

Nature Walk- IV

This was another of our Make and Takes.  The part that I thought was clever is, the background is not striped DSP but rather the top half of the Old Olive card stock is run through a crimper after the bird house is stamped.
Supplies-
Card Stock- Old Olive, Naturals Ivory, Early Espresso
Ink- Early Espresso, Old Olive (pads and markers), Marina Mist (marker)
Accessories- Old Olive taffeta ribbon, Doted Scallop Ribbon Punch, Crimper