Paper Cuts

I have a little basket where I place all of my new stamps. They sit there, patiently awaiting ink.  That basket is just about to run over so I’m on a mission to use these “new” stamps before they get buried under more new stamps.  (Yes, I have new(er) stamps on the way so I have to do something about this pile.  And really, they should not go unused.  )

Just Because

I used Basic Grey Wisteria again.   (I mentioned I really like it, right?)  I’ve paired it this time with Whiff of Joy’s Willow with Flower Basket. 

All was well until I got to the stitching.    When I stitched across the green panel the first time, I ended up with a huge wad of loopy thread all the way across the back.  Even though the stitches looked fine on the front, there was no way that panel would lie flat on the card with that mountain ridge of thread underneath.  So I had to cut it off and pull out all the thread.  That meant I also had to cut off the bottom 1/4″ of the green panel (with the threadless holes) and lower it to hide all the holes on the blue paper.  I made some adjustments, checked the stitches on equal weight scrap paper (they were FINE!!!) and returned to my card.  This time the stitches were loose on the front!  UGH!  I couldn’t bear to waste any more of the patterned paper so I did my best to pull the loose threads to the back, ran my adhesive over the stitches (hoping that will hold them in place) and finished my card.  Wacky machine.  If it had a head, it would be spinning in circles (and probably laughing at me).  At any rate, there is now one less stamp in the basket…but quite a few more to go.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a great day!

Stamps:  Whiff of Joy “Willow with Flower Basket”; Cornish Heritage Farms “Nature’s Silhouettes” (Kim Hughes Collection)   Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black   Cardstock:  Prism White and Super Smooth White   Patterned Paper:  Basic Grey Wisteria   Accessories:  Copic markers (E0000, E00, E31, E33, E35, E57, YR20, G21, G28, RV13, YR20, C1, C3), Prima flowers, Basic Grey buttons, EK Success large oval punch, sewing machine, pop dots.

Hi everyone!  Happy weekend! 

I’ve been eyeing this image from Whiff of Joy for quite some time.  I ordered it with the new Spring releases which I canNOT wait to get!  **impatiently tapping fingers** 

Mmmm…Cookies

Tammi is one of my FAVORITE stampers.  If you have not been to her blog, you MUST.  Wow.  Her work is amazing!  I love how she uses her flowers, buttons, pretty much any kind of little doo-dad, she knows the perfect place for each and every one.  This is my “attempt” at embellishing like her.  

When I saw this paper, Chloe’s Closet by Making Memories, I knew I wanted to use it with this image.   There were all kinds of coordinating embellishments.  I decided on the paper flowers and buttons.  I figured if I felt like a total failure with the flowers, I could at least use the buttons.  lol.

So now for the enabling…Jacksonbelle Embellishments is having a 30% off sale.  Yes, 30% off EVERYTHING in the store.  The sale begins at midnight tonight (MTN time, I believe) and goes through Tuesday (2/10), midnight.  Just use Code Feb30 at checkout.  Happy shopping!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a great weekend!

Stamps:  Whiff of Joy “Willow with Cookies”   Ink:  Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black   Cardstock:  Prism Mystic Medium, Natural Smooth   Patterned Paper:  Making Memories “Chloe’s Closet”   Accessories:  Copic markers, Making Memories “Chloe’s Closet” flowers and buttons, piercing template/needle, Martha Stewart border punch, string.  Card size 5 ½” x 5 ½”.

Hi everyone!  I’m really excited about our Just for Fun challenge this month!  Carole and I have invited three more friends to the mix!  I’m sure you know them…Alli Miles, Julie Campbell and Lori Craig!  WOOHOO!  Carole and I are so happy you all have joined us!

This month Lori chose Whiff of Joy’s Willow with Hot Chocolate.  And Carole sent to each of us this fun patterned paper by American Crafts.

Willow Presents Hot Chocolate…or a Caramel Macchiato

There’s a little surprise behind Willow.  No, this time it isn’t a fire. ;)  It’s a Starbucks gift card.

I used two hinges from my stash of We R Memory Keepers hardware and a word window punch to slip the gift card into.  I wanted to place the gift card over the ribbon, but then the gift card stuck out a bit so I settled for tucking it underneath.  The knotted ribbon holds the hinged flap closed. 

The heart brads were actually pewter so I colored over them with a dark brown Copic and now they match the copper hardware.  :)

Be sure to check out Carole, Alli, Julie and Lori’s blogs to see what they’ve done with the same paper and image.  I can’t wait to see!  :) 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a great day!

ETA:  The prices of images on the Whiff of Joy website are listed in Euros, but if you look on the left sidebar, there is a little “currency” window.  From there you can change the price listing to US Dollar, Canadian Dollar, etc.  You can also find some of the images at All That Scraps but they sell out very quickly.  You have to be a stalker to purchase them from ATS.

Stamps:  Whiff of Joy “Willow with Hot Chocolate”; Cornish Heritage Farms “Beautiful” (The Rummage Bin)  Ink:  Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black; Adirondack Pebble by Ranger    Cardstock:  Prism Suede Brown Dark, Super Smooth White; Stampin’ Up! Old Olive   Patterned Paper:  American Crafts Everyday “Hey There”   Accessories:  Copic markers, WRMK hinges, Making Memories heart brads, Morex ribbon, EK Success slot punch, pop dots.  Card size 5 ¼” x 5 ¼”.

Here’s a card that had so many problems, I just don’t even know if I can like it.  Just to clarify, I **love** these Whiff of Joy images by Elisabeth Bell (so much that I just pre-ordered the new Spring releases without even knowing what they look like.  I don’t care.  I know I’ll love them.)  BUT….

Once Upon a Time

My first issues were with coloring the image.  I wanted to use my Copics.  But you know how often I use browns, right?  Two of the markers ran out of ink. Not such a big deal, but I just placed an order for a couple of ink refills.  I even looked for these two colors when I placed my order because I knew I’d need them EVENTUALLY…but the store was sold out. 

So I stamped the image again, used Copics for the skin tones and then watercolored the rest with Adirondack inks.  I hate my waterbrush.  It has several little hairs going in different directions and it’s almost impossible to color a tiny little area.  I need a new brush.

I wanted to use some flowers with this image.  I love what other designers do with flowers but I am seriously flower-challenged.  To begin with, I don’t have all that many so I used a Copic marker to color some of them.   Now…where to put them?  No matter what I do with flowers, I think they look totally stupid.  You do not want to know how many holes are under various flower petals as a result of my rearranging of things.  This card would leak like a sieve if it were meant to hold water.

I don’t know…do the flowers look stupid?  Did I use too many?  O-verkill or O-kay?   I have no confidence whatsoever with these things.  I need flower school.  And a new waterbrush.  And some ink refill. 

Thanks for stopping by and listening to me bicker.  Have a great day! 

Stamps:  Whiff of Joy “Melinda Reading,” My Favorite Things “What’s the Story,” Cornish Heritage Farms “Beautiful” (The Rummage Bin)   Ink:  Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black; Adirondack Espresso, Latte, Raisin, Rust, Ginger, Sandal   Cardstock:  Prism Crabapple Dark, Natural Smooth   Patterned Paper:  My Mind’s Eye Wild Asparagus “Sisters” Floral/Coral and Stripe/Red papers   Accessories: Copic markers, Prima flowers, mm brads, EK Success small oval punch, pop dots, old tired waterbrush.  Card size 5 ¼” x 5 ¼”.

Hi everyone.   I have a bit of news to share today.  Not big, huge life-changing news (thank goodness)–just “little” (but still important) news. 

As most of you know, I’ve been part of the Cornish Heritage Farms Design Team  for a while.  I’ve had a great time being part of the CHF family, and I truly appreciate all of the wonderful opportunities that experience has afforded me, as well as all of the dear friends I’ve made there, but I have decided to leave the team.  I’ll still be using CHF images (at a minimum, you know I can’t go without the fabulous Kim Hughes sets), but I’ll have a little more free time for publication work, F-U-N (isn’t that what stamping is supposed to be about?) and who knows what else.  It’s a big change for me, but I feel certain it’s a good one.   

Now, moving on…

Warm Wishes

I waited a long time (or so it seems) to find this image by Whiff of Joy.  So cute.   I’m still experimenting with shading backgrounds and might have gone a bit overboard with the “glow” here.  Maybe she has a candle behind her…or maybe her sweater is on fire.  Eek!  Anyway, I’m practicing. 

As an afterthought, I decided to add a bit more dimension to the card so I stamped the image a second time, colored the sweater cuffs, her hands and the cup and cut out only those parts (as one piece).  I glued the cuffs over the image but placed a pop dot under the cup.  Much better!

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I hope to get back to my more regular timing with posting, but my first goal is to clean my stamp room.  It is a very scary place right now.  But I’ll be back soon!  I have a “Just for Fun” challenge with Carole just around the corner!  Have a great day! 

Stamps:  Whiff of Joy “Willow with Hot Chocolate”   Ink:  Adirondack Pitch Black   Cardstock:  Prism Natural Smooth; Stampin’ Up Chocolate Chip   Patterned Paper:  My Mind’s Eye “My Sunshine”   Accessories:  Copic markers, Stampin’ Up felt flowers, mm brads, Creative Memories cutting system, sewing machine, pop dots.  Card size 5” x 5”.