Times Goes so Quickly!

I'm in high pressure mode right now. I've got two crafts shows coming up, one is a two day sale so in reality I've got 3 days of craft sales, and I've still got tons of crafts that I need to make. At about this time I usually ask myself, why did I do this? But once the dust settles I get a huge feeling of accomplishment and that's what makes it worth while.

For those of you that are in the Steinbach area, why not plan to stop by and check out my stuff! I'll also be offering a really good party incentive (wink wink) so if you've been thinking about having a Stampin' Up! party, come on down and receive a little extra for your effort! The first sale is at the Mennonite Heritage Museum on November 7, the second one is at the Clearspring mall on November 13+14.

On to my page, I made another page using Stampin' Up!'s new digital scrapbooking. (I have a card that I also need to load, now I just need to find it again, lol) I am really enjoying MDS, and not just for digital scrapbooking. It has so many applications. I think I'm most excited about making my own cookbook! I share a food blog with my sister and once I've taken pictures of all my family recipes I plan on making my very own hard cover cookbook, one that I can pass on to my children.

Thanks for stopping by!
Tina

Christmas Wishes

Hello everyone, here's my second post for today. I made this card yesterday evening with one of my new stamp sets, Home for Christmas. I think the polka dot ribbon might be a bit busy for this card but I really love this ribbon and couldn't resist using it. I should also add that this card is a case once again from Splitcoaststampers.com, love that place!

Stamps: Home for Christmas
Paper: Real Red, Soft Suede, Sahara Sand, Whisper White, DSP-Christmas Cocoa
Ink: Sahara Sand, Real Red
Other: Real Red Polka Dot Ribbon

Thanks for stopping by!
Tina

Winter's Coming

It's gradually been getting colder these past few weeks. In fact I can see a dusting of snow on all the roof tops. I think I better go for a walk before it starts to snow again.
Yesterday I was so excited to see my SU! order arrive. In this order I had my new SU! Digital Scrapbooking program! Wohoo. I installed it, really easy and started right away. Love this program! My first couple of pages are very simple, and honestly I kind of prefer simple scrapbooking, Which is kind of funny when you see my cards usually have so many layers.

Check back later today and I should have another card or two to post!
Thanks for stopping by!

Today's have been one of those days where you feel like you get nothing done! I'm busy getting ready for two craft sales next month and so I spent a good part of the morning scouring the net for ideas. Hopefully I'll get it all done in time.

I have two cards to share today, one a Christmas card and the other (gasp) a Thanksgiving card, lol. I am preparing to make some simple gifts for the kids to take to their teachers and so I need Thanksgiving cards.

The first one I'll post is the Christms card, I saw this simple design on SCS and thought it made for a very pretty but simple card. The dsp has a suede sort of feeling to the paper so irl it really adds a lot to the card.

Stamps: Tree Trimmings, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Whisper White, DSP-Christmas Cocoa
Ink: Old Olive, Real Red, Basic Black
Other: Old Olive 5/8" Ribbon

And now on to my Thanksgiving card. I'm not really fond of this card, somehow the colours are looking a little blah to me but maybe it's because my eyes are used to staring at bright Christmas colours, lol. I stamped the image in basic black and then watercoloured. To give the card a little bit of a rustic feel I used my fingernail to fray the edges. I also use Stampin' sponges to give the edges a soft inked look.

Stamps: Country Morning, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper:Soft Suede, More Mustard, Ruby Red, Watercolour pp, DSP-Autumn Traditions
Ink: Basic Black, Soft Suede, Ruby Red, More Mustard, Always Artichoke
Other: Photo Anchors

Thanks for stopping by, have a great day!
Tina

Computer Bliss

Well I'm happy to say that I've retired our ancient computer and replaced it with an amazingly fast laptop. I still don't have photoshop installed so my photo might look a little wonky but I was just happy to post something, lol.

When I first made this card I wasn't sure wether I liked it or not but once I added the satin chocolate chip ribbon, it really seamed to bring it up a notch. For those of you that are wondering about the ribbon, you'll find it in the clearance rack at Stampin' Up!. If you're interested click on 'Shop with me 24/7' and you should be able to find it, unless it's already sold out.

I used my paper piercer and mat pack to create the faux stitching with the chocolate chip marker. It's a little hard to see in the picture but it looks really nice in chocolate chip. Normally I would use my white gel pen for the faux stitching but I thought this card would look better in chocolate chip.

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes, Tree Trimmings
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Real Red, DSP-Merry Moments
Ink: Real Red, Chocoalte Chip
Other: Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon

Thanks for stopping by!
Tina

Some of you Might be Wondering...

If I'm ever going to get off my Christmas kick, lol! I'm sure I will yet but for now I'm really enjoying Christmas cards.

I have two cards to share today and both are cases from some very talented cardmakers over at SCS. If you want to see the originals go and have a look at the Delightful Decorations gallery.

The first card is made using clear acetate (transparency paper). I love cards using this stuff and when I saw this card on SCS I knew I wanted to try it. The original was a square so I did change a few things. I used white StazOn ink to stamp the snowflakes on the acetate, while that was drying I stamped the ornaments and finished the rest of the card. I am thinking about doing this card at my October Techniques class so if you're in the Steinbach area, give me a shout and come join me!

Stamps: Delightful Decorations, Serene Snowflakes
Paper: Kraft, Bashful Blue, Night of Navy, Clear Acetate
Ink: Bashful Blue, Brocade Blue, Night of Navy, White StazOn
Other: Silver Cording

And this next card was also one I saw on SCS and wanted to try. I made some changes to suit my tastes but the idea is definitely not original. And once again I sprayed a mixture of champagne shimmer paint and alcohol on to the ornaments and also on the inside piece, so pretty. (Can you tell I love this stuff!)

Stamps: Delightful Decorations, All Holidays
Paper: Old Olive, Very Vanilla, DSP-Merry Moments
Ink: Old Olive
Other: Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Gold Cording

Thanks for stopping by!
Tina

Rain Makes for a Perfect Day...

To make cards! It started drizzling this morning and it hasn't let up since, I love those kind of days.

I have some more Chrismas to share this afternoon, two are made using the Merry Moments designer paper, very pretty paper.
The first card is made with the Just Beclause stamp set. I bought this set on a whim and so now I better make sure I get some use out of it, lol. First I randomly stamp the pine needle stamp from the Peaceful Wishes set (retired) and then stamped the ornaments, I used Old Olive to do some light shading around the outer edges of my circle. After I adhered all the layers together I used Crystal Effects on the ornaments, very pretty IRL.

Stamps: Peaceful Wishes, Just Beclause
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Real Red, Very Vanilla, DSP-Merry Moments
Ink: Old Olive, Basic Black, Real Red, Brilliant Blue. Apricot Appeal
Other: Chococlate Chip Ribbon, Jumbo Brads, Snowflake Punch

This next card is made using the same paper, Merry Moments. This isn't my favorite style of card but it is a very simple card for those moments when you need a quick card. Again using the shimmer paint on the snowflake to give it some sparkle.

Stamps: All Holidays
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, DSP-Merry Moments
Other: Rhinestone Brad, Chocolate Chip Ribbon

And on to my last card. This is a colour combo that I've used on a lot of my Christmas cards so far this year, and I think I'm officially done with it, lol. The dimmensions on this card just don't feel quite right to me but it's done and I'm not changing it! That and it looks almost identical to some of my previous cards.

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Vellum CS, DSP-Christmas Cocoa
Ink: Soft Suede
Other: Champagne Shimmer Paint, Soft Suede Ribbon, Gold Brads, Snowflake Punch

Thanks for stopping by!
Tina

Believe

The stamp I used on today's card is not normally my style but I like trying new things and so this set made it into my stash. It has a nice whimsical feel to it and I think I like it.
I did mess up on the watercolouring a bit but don't they say that watercolouring is suppossed to be imperfect... that's what I'm telling myself, lol.

I stamped the image on watercolour pp using basic black and then coloured him in using my aqua painters. To finish the card I added some dazzling diamonds to his hat and feet, you can't have a Santa card without at least some sparkle!

Stamps: Just Beclause
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Real Red, Watercolour pp, DSP-Merry Moments
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Real Red, Close To Cocoa, Night of Navy
Other: Chocolate Chip Ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds, Jumbo Brad

Thanks for stoppign by!
Tina

More Christmas!

Making Christmas cards really makes me look forward to my favorite holiday, my husband can only shake his head when I start talking about Christmas, lol. And he shakes his head even more when I talk about waiting for our first snowfall!

I have two Christmas cards to share today. At the rate I'm going I should have my cards done early this year, wohoo!
The first card is made using the retired set, Peaceful Wishes. It's such a beautiful set for creating a warm Christmas card. The ornaments are from the Delightful Decorations set out of SU!'s new mini catalogue. First I stamped them on Very Vanilla cardstock using Bravo Burgundy ink and then after I punched them out I sprayed them with some shimmer paint. It adds a nice sparkle to the card.

Stamps: Peaceful Wishes, Delightful Decorations, Sincere Salutations
Paper: Bravo Burgundy, Very Vanilla,
Ink: Always Artichoke, Bravo Burgundy
Other: Champagne Shimmer Paint, Gold Cording

The following card is one we made at one of my workshops this month. (In the picture the greeting looks horribly blurred but IRL it looks fine, not sure why.) I love SU!'s new snowflake punch and love to use it when I can. We first punched out the snowflake and then dabbed it with shimmer paint. We also used the bigshot texture plates to give the card some more umph.


Stamps: Sincere Salutations,
Paper: Real Red, Soft Suede, DSP-Christmas Cocoa
Ink: Soft Suede
Other: Soft Suede Ribbon, Rhinestone brad

Thanks for stopping by!
Tina

My New Best Friend...

The new Shimmer Paint out of the mini! Lol, had you wondering? I am addicted to this stuff, I can barely make a Christmas card without this stuff now!

This is a card that I couldn't wait to make. The idea came to me one day and as soon as I could I sat down to make it. I first punched out the snowflakes using Very Vanilla cardstock. Then using a sponge I dabbed the new white shimmer paint on, it gives the snowflakes a very pearly look. I also took the champagne mist and mixed it with rubbing alcohol. I sprayed that on the very Vanilla cardstock behind the focal piece. You can sort of see the shimmer at the top of the Very Vanilla piece. So shimmery in real life, LOVE it! For those of you that want to try this technique, it's about a ratio of 6 parts alcohol to 1 part paint. Or about 8 drops of paint to
1oz of alcohol.

After that it was just a matter of adhering all the layers and adding the halfback pearls, I think they add just the right finishing touch to the card.

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, DSP- Christmas Cocoa
Ink: Soft Suede
Other: Snowflake Punch, White Shimmer Paint, Champagne shimmer Paint, Halfback Pearls

Thanks for stopping by!
Tina

My Computer is Sooooooooooo Slow

For those of you that are wondering, yes I am still making cards but having a hard time wanting to be on my computer because of our slow connection. Needless to say we'll have to figure something, lol. I think a new computer is in order, and a different internet connector.

I have three cards to post today, two of which are Christmas cards and the other one was one we made at a class. The first one is quickly becoming one of my favorites. It's made using the Bella Bleu dsp, not even Christmas pp but I saw it in the new Mini and loved how Christmasy it looked. I used my white craft ink to stamp snowflakes on the blue dsp and I used the new shimmer paint on the snowflakes. I cannot say enough about this stuff! Normally the Not Quite navy is a little to stark next to this dsp but after dabbing white shimmer paint on the snowflakes, it became the perfect colour! I also added silver brads to the centres just because it felt like something was missing, but you could make it without. After the card was all finished I kept looking at the big very vanilla piece thinking it looked too bare. So I grabbed my paper piercer and then went on to destroy my card, lol. I have learned that it is very hard piercing pp when you have that many layers, hence the really crooked piercing job! Live and learn...


This next card is from a sketch I saw somewhere on the www. I wasn't too keen on this particular sheet of dsp from the Christmas Cocoa pack so I thought why not force myself to use it and now I like it. Isn't it funny how sometimes it doesn't take much to change one's mind? lol. Once again I punched the snowflake with SU!'s new snowflake punch (love it) and dabbed on the champagne mist shimmer paint. IRL it actually makes the Soft Suede pp look bronze after you've dabbed the paint on.


And this last card is one that we made at one of my stamp classes. We used SU!'s chalk to give the tree some life, I have this stuff and should use it way more often. One container and you get all of SU!'s colours, very good way of colouring if you don't have all of their inks. I also used the dsp from the Hostess Level 1 paper pack, so nice to have for card making!


Well that's it for me and my cards today. Thanks for stopping by!!
Tina

I Love Christmas

And I love making Christmas cards! I am especially in love with this year's designer pp that Stampin' Up! is offering. Add the new shimmer paint and it gives you such pretty Christmas cards.

Today's card is a case from one of the talented ladies over at SCS, you'll find her original in the Serene Snowflakes gallery. I first stamped the snowflakes in soft suede and then using the stampamajig and stamped over them again using the new shimmer paint. Adds just the right ammount of sparkle for subtle elegant look. I then added antique gold brads to the centers and adhered the layers.

Stamps: Serene Snowflakes
Paper: Soft Suede, Whisper White, DSP- Christmas Cocoa
Ink: Soft Suede
Other: Shimmer Paint, Soft Suede Ribbon, Antique Brads

Thanks for stopping by!
Tina

I'm back, finally

Well we're all moved into our new place and I hope I don't have to move for at least another 10 years! Luckily this move was just across the street instead of 12 hours like our last two moves were, waaaaaaaaaay easier, lol.

And wouldn't you know it, in the midst of moving I got the Delightful Decorations set that was back ordered. This set was taunting me every time I walked by it. Finally today I went and grabbed what I needed and made today's card. It doesn't feel finished yet so I'm sure I'll brainstorm all day until I figure out something to make this card feel finished.

Today's card is a Christmas card using non traditional colours and some of the new stuff out of the Holiday mini that will be available Sept 1. As soon as I saw the designer paper I knew I wanted to make a card using this combination. Although I want to make this card again and throw in some red, I think maybe that's what this card needs. I first stamped the ornaments in Soft Suede and then lightly dabbed the new shimmer paint on top using a sponge. Wow, I LOVE this stuff. It's going to be so perfect for making Christmas cards, it adds just the right amount of sparkle.

Stamps: Delightful Decorations
Paper: Soft Suede, Whisper White, DSP- Christmas Cocoa
Ink: Soft Suede
Other: Gold Cording, Shimmer Paint

Thanks for stopping by!
Tina

Sweet Treats Preview

Wow this set has so many possibilities! You get a Valentine's stamp, Halloween, Christmas, Hot Air Balloon, and flower petals. I'll try to make the various ones and post them to give you an idea of what this set all has.

This set would be perfect to make little favors for kids Birthday parties or school treats. Love them! And you really only need such a small ammount of candy to fill the cups, a tbsp at the most, so making these wouldn't cost a lot either.

Stamps: Sweet Treats, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White, Old olive, DSP- Orchid Opulence
Ink: Orchid Opulence, Rich Razzleberry
Other: Grosgrain Ribbon, Candy

I Should be Packing...

But this is way more fun, lol. I love stamping after you get new supplies, your creative juices just seem to flow better. This is another card using Rich Razzleberry, one of my favourite of the new in colours. Once again I used my white gel pen to create the faux stitching, so easy and it beats hauling out the sewing machine!

Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, Sincere Salutations
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Orchid Opulence, Whisper White, Old Olive, DSP- Cottage Wall
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Orchid Opulence
Other: Rhinestone Brads, Gel Pen, Bigshot sizzlets (Little Leaves)

Thanks for stopping by!
Tina