Absolutely Gorgeous Penny Black Image

One of those stamps you just have to have!

I couldn't resist this stamp after seeing it in the Die Cut Divas' Flickr group. Cathy A's fabulous card is absolutely amazing!   This is my first attempt in creating with this beautiful Penny Black stamp.

I used a little Washi tape because I just had to.  

The card is one that has images already on it, but it seemed perfect to put this lovely image on it.  Simple and easy.  This card is much nicer sitting here on my desk.  LOL  Thank you Cathy for the inspiration.

Thank you Scotties

I wanted to say "Thanks" to Scotties, the sponsor on Die Cut Divas, for our April Challenge.  I've certainly been making some fun cards for this challenge.  I think I need one little black gem at the upper right.  You know how it is with cards... one more thing.

I'll be hosting the May challenge and it is quite a challenge.  I know it was for me!    Have a great week!

It's that Crazy Washi feeling!

Once I got started, I couldn't stop.  I hope I didn't scare you on an early Monday morning...  This was so much fun to color... just a slip and slap of color.  Nothing blended in or even colored the way you should.  I just had to leave this sketchy... yes, color sketchy.

Sentiment:  Friends don't let Friends wine alone.

 Aren't these gals somethin'?  It looks so crazy, it's cute.   The gals are on a rectangular panel I cut on my Cuttlebug. After I mounted the panel, I just started adding Washi tape, every color I had in this design.  The glasses (eye and wine) are all dabbed with Glossy Accents and really pop on the card. This was so much fun to do:)  I was in the mood to color, but to color in a crazy way... Yes, I was successful... Have a good week and don't let any whining get you down.

Remember, there is time to join the April challenge at Die Cut Divas.

If you don't know Deborah...

If you don't know Deborah, let me point you in the right direction.  Deborah Nolan gave Die Cut Divas an interview yesterday and you absolutely will see Deborah's wit and charm express themselves. Please don't be shy.  Click HERE!

This is not the only place Deborah hangs out and today is the last day of sign-ups for the CCC... CCC?   Yep.  The Card Chain Challenge is so much fun.  We, the players, all win.  We receive a beautiful card from someone around the globe when we participate.  It makes the world a smaller place.  I still love to receive mail - the card kind of mail, not the bills or the flyers, or the.... ad infinitum.

As I alluded to, Deborah hangs out somewhere else, her blog, The Society of Stampaholics.  This is a fun place to hang!  Deborah's sense of humor and sense of honesty come through.  Now Scat!

The Code at an LSS - Buy!

One should never stop by one's local stamp shop (LSS), just to pick up an order without surveying the new items in one's LSS.  And one never surveys, patrols the aisles, or browses, WITHOUT BUYING.... And I live by that code!  I picked up my Hero Arts re-inkers AND three other things....

Lawn Fawn "You've Got Mail" set (already in it's plastic CD sleeve)

Two die cuts - Hero Arts Skyline (D1079) and

Impression Obsession - butterflies

I didn't put a thin mat in when I used the Skyline die and came up with windows that were not cut all the way through.  Still, I thought I might be able to highlight the windows with distressing it.  I went tooooo far and used the ink pad itself.  However, I found my "pink" side and decorated it with Washi tape.  I stamped the Fawn Lawn Postcard and sponged with the same Distress ink, cut it out and wondered what to put the panel on.  The little stamps in the set were perfect and once I smudged a spot with my stamp, I smudged more and more ..... So the result of all this smudging is below. . .

My building looks like a cake... So be it!  For a stumble along card, I really like it.  Remember to visit the blog at Die Cut Divas to join in on the challenge - make a birthday card or make a card with Washi tape.  Of course, if you want to be more creative, go for it!  Enter your projects at  <a href="http://die-cut-divas.blogspot.co.nz/2013/04/washi-birthday-challenge-for-april.html">Die Cut Divas</a>

Recipe:

Lawn Fawn "You've Got Mail"

Hero Arts "Anytime Messages" CL129

Washi tape - 4 different tapes, 2 long strips along the side and 3 on and under the building

Distress Ink "Worn Lipstick" and "Pumice Stone"

ATC Time in the City

It is ATC time, but the city???  cowtown?   Well, Sacramento, yes.  The Stamp Convention will be here this weekend and I'm going to submit my ATC to be judged.  I may not enter this one, but, more than likely I will.  I don't have anything other than this idea floating around for now.

My ATC:

This may look large here, but this is 2 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches.  Some "Spare Parts" arrows set on a die-cut of a clock.  I couldn't believe my luck that one of my circle Spellbinders was perfect AND that the cut was so good.  I love the Hero Arts sentiment fit very well, along with some embellishments - twine, Washi tapes and clear gems colored black and yellow.  Helping the yellow is a dollop of yellow Stickles.  I like the way it turned out.   Just having fun with Washi tape.  Hope you do too.

Of course if you use either Washi tape or something for a Birthday, you can enter the <a href="http://die-cut-divas.blogspot.co.nz/2013/04/washi-birthday-challenge-for-april.html"> Die Cut Divas' challenge</a>.

Thank you Jennifer - No More Torn Sleeves!

I have been looking for a good storage system for my clear and cling stamps.   Everyone knows Jennifer McGuire is always on top of things and wondered what exact storage she was using.  Getting a peek at the handy dandy storage drawers and tidy, neat way she keeps her stamps was like finding the proverbial "gold mine."   See Jennifer's post on April 4, 2013 here.

I traipsed over to my local Office Depot with a printout of the exact CD Sleeves she used.  I knew if it worked for Jennifer McGuire, it would definitely work for little ol' me.  Her containers are perfect for storage, however, I didn't think I wanted to pay $23 for the container to hold the CD sleeves, so I went to check on Office Depot containers.  EUREKA!

I think my Really Useful Box will work out better for me than the one Jennifer has because I can literally pick up my stamps and go. I also have fewer stamps than Jennifer McGuire.  I could not find the 11 liter box online at Office Depot, so have linked you to the company that makes it in the U.K.   I think any container  12 inches (30.48 cm) interior width will work to hold the CD sleeves.  The sleeves are just barely over 11 inches (27.94 cm) wide and about 7 1/4 inches (18.415 cm) tall.  Those conversions should be right.

Here's what my container and repackaged stamps look like now:

Repackaged clear stamps in CD binder page

Repackaged Cling stamps in CD binder page 

Labeling System: Brand name on top and Name of stamp with Stamp # on bottom

As you can see, the container is less than full for now!

Here's what I like about this container - I can take my stamps with me!

The container is a Really Useful Box - REALLY!

I just stood the container upright to take to my friend's to stamp.

Visit Jennifer McGuire to see her wonderful storage room and stamp filing system.

Find Joy Every Day

You know how you look at a card you've made and it doesn't talk back to you and say how great it is?   Well, I tore everything off and cut it into three strips which I will either make into tags, bookmarks, or scraplings.  The scrapling below is about two inches wide and five inches long.  This was a larger card I cut up.  I'm going to send this with a present next month.

I like the way the Washi tape just filled that space in and covered up a few bare spots in the paper. So did my lovely vintage lady from Hero Arts Digital Kit "The Art of Style".

Be sure to visit the Die Cut Divas' blog - remember either a birthday theme or Washi tape use.

It's NOT Scrambled Eggs this morning! - second post of the day

Who can resist the scrambles?  Not EGG SCRAMBLES.... Hero Arts Scrambles!  I just posted the photo of my card on the Flickr group and just had to come right over and talk about it... This is my girl chat line this morning.  I think I'm all over the place today.  I had a protein bar to eat for a fast breakfast and now I'm ready for something more substantial...  so on with the show before I try to eat the card.

Stampin Sue said:  Create either 
**An all white card OR
**A white, black, grey and/or silver card. Any combination of these four colors. 
No other colors allowed.
You can use any theme for either choices.

I chose an all white card because I always wanted to do one and hadn't, so this forced me to do what I promised myself to do.  I got out of my color box and into the white on white one.

Recipe:
Hero Arts Big Post Card S5665
Hero Arts Cling Zig Zag CG422 on the Darla butterfly die-cut
Cuttlebug
Memory Box die-cuts - Darla Butterfly & Vivienne Butterfly 
Darla is the bottom butterfly
Pearls - various sizes
Michaels pre-made note cards - made like a tag

A little Bugaboo for You from Me!

I downloaded some wonderful Bugaboo digital stamps to color in and just have fun.  One of the stamps that caught my eye so reminded me of spring that I had to have it. You may want it too.  LOL... yes, I guess I am an enabler.

I really do like the way the image turned out.  This is what I often strive for, but rarely attain - that's the critic in me.  The colors are vibrant and yet the image feels natural to me.  Ok, enough.  After coloring in the image, I looked at my pre-made note cards and papers, came up with a Michaels square card and a wonderful pad of 4" X 6" Vintage card stock.  Embossing the vintage scrap added just enough texture and the colors were so close to the colors in my butterfly that I knew I was in the zone, so to speak.  Adding a bit of green Washi tape and Copic colored gems was all that was needed.

Visit Bugaboo Stamps because it's the first Saturday of the month and an "Anything goes" challenge.  You could win some free Bugaboo images in the random drawing.  Don't you like the image above?  They have lots of images, more than I could ever imagine and free images every Friday.

Recipe:

Bugaboo For You From Me
Washi Tape
Cuttlebug
The Paper Studio embossing folder
Copic markers
    butterfly - Y13 & YR16
    leaves - YG61, YG63 & YG 67
    flower - BV00, BV02, BV11 & V17

April showers...

We know April showers bring May flowers, but why do I have to wait until May?  NO!  NO!  NO!

Was this card ever easy...  And how I love my three new dies... ahhhhhh

On the outside of the pre-punched note card are sitting my lovely Memory Box Darla Butterfly and Vivienne Butterfly die-cuts making a pretty fancy and dainty butterfly, so delicate and lovely.  But wait, what is the butterfly flitting about?

A beautiful Prim Poppy!

Have you ever seen poppies that looked like this though?  Well, neither had I.  Just a crazy idea that came to me because of our Die Cut Divas' challenge this month.  Use Washi tape or make something for a birthday... well, yes, I couldn't resist the urge to use Washi tape and die-cut it.  Crazy, but I rather like the difference.  Vive la difference.  How nice to see the flowers peeking out and to enjoy the full fun and sassiness of the flower inside.  

All three of these dies are just fantastic.  I've seen them on other's cards and was able to pick all three up at my local stamp shop (The Stamp Art Shoppe) when I went for a Copics get-together.  I just love these, so you will be seeing more this month.  If you are not near a shop, our sponsor for April may be able to assist you.  Check out Scottie Crafts and I'm sure they'll help you.  

Simple recipe:
Dies - 2013 Memory Box Prim Poppy, Darla Butterfly & Vivienne Butterfly

Hero Arts Anytime Messages CL129 - I thought it was perfect for a flower

Michaels dollar note-cards

A little bit of Washi can do the trick

I had the card put together, but it NEEDED something, just a little something.  I slanted some Washi tape across the right bottom corner and loved the way it seemed to bring the card alive.  I colored the large glass gem with Copic marker Lipstick Red, (R29) and placed it in the opposite corner, then, literally downsizing each gem as I leaped from corner to corner I colored, waited impatiently for each gem to dry, and popped a gem in a corner.  Washi tape is sometimes just the perfect "little bit" you need.

Try Tone's Washi Tape here.http://www.washitapes.nl/

Check out Die Cut Divas for the April challenge.  Washi tape is fun and fast and easy to remove if you make a mistake, not that I ever make a mistake... or two! :)

A great big thanks goes to Scottie Crafts for sponsoring Die Cut Divas this month. 

Thank you to 

Washi Tape
Whoopsidaisy digi stamp
Copic markers
Cuttlebug
Spellbinders Die-Cuts
The Paper Studio embossing folder

A Rather Liberal License With Deborah's Sketch

The Society of Stampaholics is at it again... the CCC...
.

April 2013 Card Chain Challenge Sign-Up!

Welcome to the April, 2013, Card Chain Challenge! 

You have to visit Deborah to see all the ways you can win, not only a WIN by receiving a wonderful card from somewhere in the world, but....... nah, I won't tell, go here!

I loved the sketch and hopefully Deborah will like my rendition of her sketch... well, you know Deborah, of course she will!

    

I had some map paper from an old Thomas Guide of California and had glued a page onto sturdy card stock.  I rummaged through my die-cuts and found a Spellbinders film strip that I have rarely used.  Blink!

It's also time for the April Die Cut Divas' challenge to either submit a project for a birthday or use Washi Tape (of course you need to use an embossing folder or die on your project to participate) on your project.  I laid down two strips of the great wiggly lined Washi tape on each side under the die and cut!  But what to put inside the cut portion???  Nothing but Y O U.  

Recipe:
Hero Arts Anytime Messages CL129  - sentiment
Cuttlebug
Spellbinders film strip
Cuttlebug Dies - Provo Craft Olivia alphabet
Washi Tape

Washi Tape goes with Anything, Birthdays too!

Two of my three sons were born in April and I'm celebrating.  One card will be mailed and one will be given at a Birthday Lunch out.  So glad I could almost literally do the same card for both of them.

Now you have to visit Die Cut Divas' Challenge blog to find the challenge (like the flavor) of the month.   The  samples below should give you a clue.

I really never used Washi tape on anything, but I'm finding it fun and easy - don't like something, just RIP it OFF.   Don't you love Washi tape?  I've started to really enjoy using it. I know this is April 1st and April Fools Day but I'm not fooling you!.  Have a great April!

Recipe:
Washi Tape - yes, the black and red arrows are Washi Tape, but so are the red dots
Hero Arts Big Post Card S5665
Hero Arts Glow Girl CL650
Distress Ink - Fired Brick
Copic marker to outline some areas (R29, Lipstick Red)
Clear gems colored with Copic marker  (R29, Lipstick Red)