Exciting Stampsmith News

We've got some exciting news over at The Stampsmith.   We've started a new challenge blog and the first challenge will be up this Friday, Oct.1st, so please pop on over then to see what the rest of the Design Team has to show you for the big reveal.  I hope you decide to join in on the fun for a chance to win some goodies from The Stampsmith!

Thanks for stoppin' by!  :)

Audrey Treasure Box

When our local craft group got together a few months ago, we started these little altered treasure boxes.  Well, I got as far as painting the paper maché box that night with some acrylic paint and making the paper flower and that's as far as I got!   So, it's been collecting dust on my craft desk until it called out to me this weekend to finally finish it already!   lol  :)  This treasure box now has a special new home on my bedroom dresser and is my latest Design Team project for The Stampsmith Art Rubber Stamps.   Please visit The Stampsmith blog for lots more inspiration using their beautiful stamps.  Or, you can visit The Stampsmith website for some retail therapy!  :)

Here's a close up the exquisite, Audrey.  This is one of my favourite images of all time.   I just love it. Isn't she lovely?

Here's a front view to show you the dimension of the flower a bit better. Here's a tutorial for the flower.  I used a different diecut for the petals from the one used in the tutorial.  Just have fun with it and play around with some different diecuts for a completely different looking flower each time.  :)

Here's a different angle to show you the beautiful Tim Holtz hardware that I used to embellish my treasure box.

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)

Supplies:
Stamps: Audrey
Cardstock: Chocolate Brown (CRS), White Glossy Cardstock (CRS)
Patterned Paper: Lost & Found - Portobello Road "Family" Brocade Paper by Jen Allyson (My Minds Eye)
Ink: Ancient Page - Chocolate (Clearsnap), Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Tea Dye (Ranger)
Tools: Oval and Scalloped Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Cuttlebug, Sponge (SU), Edge Distressor (CTMH), Clear Shimmer Smooch Spritz
Embellishments: Pewter Antique-Look Hardware (Tim Holtz), Handmade Paper Flower, Grungeboard Flourish (Tim Holtz), Lace Doily (Dollarama)

Love is in the air

Tonight's Design Team card takes me away to a Paris romance.   Ok, so I have to live through my stamps right now, seeing as my hubby is deployed for a couple of months!  lol   :)  This gorgeous photostamp is one of many in a plate from The Stampsmith, called Paris.  These are simply gorgeous images to play with and I can't wait to play with the others in the plate.  Please check out The StampSmith blog for lots more inspiration from some very talented ladies.


I stamped this image on glossy white cardstock and sponged it with Old Paper distress ink to give it an aged look.   I used my Labels 4 Nesties to diecut the stamped image and traced around the outside of the diecut onto chocolate cardstock and freehand cut it out so I wouldn't have to use the next size up, which is too big for my liking.  I'm a thrifty gal and like to get the most out of my crafty supplies!  :)

I trimmed up a lace doily to layer in behind the folded patterned paper along with some Prima flowers to give the card a feminine look.   The folded layers are held down at the tips with 1/8" dimensional squares.   Stay tuned for another trip to Paris soon!

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)

Supplies:
Stamps: Paris (The Stampsmith)
Cardstock: Chocolate Brown (CRS), White Glossy Cardstock (CRS), Shimmer Lavender (My Minds Eye)
Patterned Paper: Jen Wilson's 20th Street Market "Carefree Graceful" Elegant Pink/Poised Purple Paper (My Minds Eye)
Ink: Ancient Page - Chocolate (Clearsnap), Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Old Paper (Ranger)
Tools: Labels 4 Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Cuttlebug, Sponge (SU, 1/8" Dimensional Squares, Scissor, Edge Distressor (CTMH)
Embellishments: Copper Brads (EK Success), Ivory and Pink Flowers (Prima), Lace Doily (Dollarama)

Design Team Appointment...

OK, I've been just about busting at the seams for the past few days!   Now that I'm officially allowed to share with you, I can let the cat out of the bag!   I was just asked to be part of the Design Team for The Stampsmith!  The Stampsmith has some really gorgeous stamps, but I especially love their line of photostamps.   They're so realistic and so much fun to play with.  I'm so excited about this new journey as I absolutely adore their stamps and really look forward to having fun creating with them.  Please pop on over to say hi on the blog!   :)

In keeping with me 'letting the cat out of the bag,' this is my first official card (above) as part of the Design Team using a photostamp from the Cats plate.  Couldn't you just reach out and cuddle this sweet little kitten?   There's some really sweet kittens in this plate.  The sentiment I used was just one that I created on my computer since this is the first thing that came to my mind looking at this kitty.    You can check out The Stampsmith's website here for more plates, single stamps, art galleries and more!

I also have another project to show to you that I created a little while back using the lovely, Audrey Hepburn, this time in a tri-shutter card.

Here's a close up Audrey.

I'll be back soon with something else to share with you.  Until then...

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)


Kitten Card:
Supplies:
Stamps: Kitten Photostamp - Cats (The Stampsmith)
Cardstock: Lime Green (Bazzill), Flat Black & Flat White (Staples), White Glossy Cardstock (CRS)
Patterned Paper: Beau Jardin Clover (Bo Bunny)
Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko), Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Old Paper (Ranger), Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Shabby Shutters (Ranger)
Tools: Labels 4 Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Sponge (SU), Freebooter Script font at 24 pt for sentiment, printer
Embellishments: 5/8" Lime Green Satin Ribbon (Michaels), Lime Green Bling (Dollarama)


Audrey Card:
Supplies:
Stamps: Audrey Hepburn
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip and Sage Green (Bazzill), Ivory (Staples)
Patterned Paper: Once Upon a Time Print - Enchanted Paisley (DCWV), Classic K McKenna - Green Swirls (K&Company)
Ink: Cranberry Crisp (SU), Coal Black (Ancient Page), Antique Sepia (VersaFine)
Tools: Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Scalloped Diamond Punch (EK Success), Corner Rounder (SU), Oval Custom Cutting System (Creative Memories), Sponge (SU)
Embellishments: Dark Olive Green Grosgrain Ribbon (Michaels), Prima Flowers, Antique Brass Jumbo Brad (Dollarama)

Thank You

I was asked to make a special card for one of our supporters at work and this is the card that I came up with.  This is just a 5" x 7" card front and our plan is to mount it into an 8" x 10" frame and present it to them as a thank you for all their help.

I created the framed sentiment from a digi ornate crosshatch frame from The Graphics Fairy.  I re-sized it in PhotoShop and added the Thank You sentiment, using Freebooter Script.  I printed it off and used my Labels 4 Nestabilites to make a nice frame for it.   I traced the outer edge of that die and then freehand cut the black layer.

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)

Supplies:
Stamps: Butterfly (Anita's)
DigiStamp: Crosshatch Frame (The Graphics Fairy)
Cardstock: Black Linen (CRS), Flat White (Staples)
Patterned Paper: Blue Raspberry Paisley - Fresh Print (Déjà Views)
Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
Tools: Thumb Tack, Black 1/16" Dimensional Squares, 3/16" Pop Dots, Scissors
Embellishments: Sheer Black Ribbon (Michaels), Black Bling (Dollarama)

All White Swap and a Birthday Card

I had a fabulous time last night with all my stampin' friends coming over. We always have such a hoot when we get together. There were 7 of us last night and Louise led us in altering a box to use to hold a stationary set. I'm not quite done mine, but when I am, I'll post it for you to see.

We did our "All White" swap last night and I received the gorgeous card above made by Kelly Eelhart. Thanks, Kel! I love it! Sorry again about the silver on mine, everyone! OMG, I'll never let that down! lol :)

Here's an angle shot of Kelly's card to show you some of the dimension.

Kathryn Arab also surprised me with this beautiful birthday card. Thanks so much, Kathryn, it's so pretty.   We're all glad you've joined the group and are sharing your creativity with us and your sense of humour, too!

I'll try to complete my altered box soon, to I can share that with you.   Until then...

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)

"All White" Challenge Card

Our local stampin' crew is meeting at my place tonight and this is the swap challenge card that I made.  Our challenge this time around was to make an "All White" card.   Mine fits the bill, other than the pewter embellishment that I used, but I was stumped as to what to put there and I gave up and settled on the pewter sentiment.  I hope that's ok!  lol  :)

I've never made an all white card before, but I saw a sample of one lately at our local stamp store and knew I wanted to try one, so I suggested that it be our challenge for this month.    With it being all white, it gives it such an elegant look, perfect for a wedding or anniversary card.   I think I'll make more of these for just that reason, to have in my stash.

Here's an angle shot to show you the layers a little more clearly.

Here's a close up of the butterfly to show you the embossing detail.

I'll be back soon to show you the altered box project that we have planned to do.  Stay tuned...

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)

Supplies:
Stamps: Butterfly (PSX)
Cardstock:  Flat White
Ink: VersaFine (Tsukineko)
Tools: Heat Tool, Embossing Tray, Embossing Buddy (SU), Clear Super Fine Detail Embossing Powder (Ranger), 3/16" Pop Dots (SU), White Smooch Spray (to give the flat white cs a shimmery look), Cuttlebug, Victoria Embossing Folder (ProvoCraft)
Embellishments: Sheer White Ribbon (Michaels), White Pearls (Dollarama), Pewter 'Love' Sentiment (Dollarama)

Just Because...

I decided that I would advantage of a bit of crafty time today while the weather is miserable outside, but hey, who needs an excuse to get crafty! lol :)  Seriously, things here are settling down, with the better part of the Hurricane past us now.  We only had a few downed tree branches and lots of debris in the yard to clean up, but nothing broken as far as we can see.  The power was only only off for 1 1/2 hours, so we're really fortunate.

For this card, I was inspired by the colours in a sweet top that I bought for my daughter a couple days ago at Tag.   It's the first time I've been in this store and they have some super cute outfits and decent prices.   I even used the ribbon that they had the tag attached by.   Isn't it pretty ribbon?  :)

I'm thinking that my friend Erika will be happy with this card.  It really doesn't look like something I would make, but I really quite like it.   Anyway, it's a happy card, for sure, to brighten up some one's day...just because.  :)

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)

Supplies:
Stamps: Just Because (Studio G)
Cardstock: Flat Black (Recollections)
Patterned Paper: Pieces from an all occasion card kit (SEI)
Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
Tools: Scissors, 3/16 " Pop Dots (SU),1/8" Dimensional Squares (EK Success)
Embellishments: Decorative Painted Butterfly (Dollarama), Multi-Coloured Grosgrain Ribbon (Tag), Handmade Floral Paisley Glitter Stickers (Dollarama), Red and Charcoal Flowers (Prima), Light Pink Brads (SEI)

Hurricane Earl passing through...

This picture was posted this afternoon on the Halifax Herald online, showing some downed trees in Halifax.

Well, it's been quite a week. We've had record temperatures here all week in the Halifax area peaking at 38 C (100.4 F) and well into the 40's with the humidex. Thank goodness for the air conditioning at work, but at home, the temperature peaked at +33 C inside my house! Not nice to sleep in at all! :( We finally got an a/c unit installed yesterday were able to cool the house down, but now the power has been going on and off with Hurricane Earl passing through. That means no a/c or fans! Hopefully the power is on to stay now, but we'll see. The last time we had a hurricane pass through, they was a lot of devastation and a lot of homes were without power for days or even weeks. You don't realize how much you rely on it until it's gone!  Stay safe, everyone!

My girls also started school on Thursday. Natalia started grade 2 and Alexandria started grade 3. They're two years apart in age, but Alexandria missed the birthday deadline for enrollment so she had to wait an extra year to start school. Then, they changed the birthday deadline, so Natalia got to go a year earlier. Seems weird that they're only a year apart in school. But, they're both doing really well. I'll post a pic of them soon.

Well, the wind is still really howling and I'm sure we're going to lose power again, so I'd better finish up with my post.  I'll keep ya updated soon.

Thanks for stoppin' by!