Welcome!

Welcome to my blog. Over the years that I have been stamping and paper crafting, I have so often been inspired by the ideas on other sites and blogs. I hope I can pay that back in some measure with my own. (In between laughs -- or cackles as my son calls it!)

May 30, 2012

Birdscapes Swap

Just wanted to quickly share a "Birdscapes" swap that I made for fellow Stampscapes afficianado Linda in Canada.


Techniques used on this card include masking, brayering, stippling, marker coloring, and heat embossing. A white gel pen was used to add highlights.

May 27, 2012

Provence Altered Box

I have an altered box for you today, using a beautiful image from Sheena Douglass' Provence collection.  I've shared before how I have a large pile of empty jewelry boxes, and I decided to dig into that pile for today's project.
This little box will either be used to 'wrap' a gift card for a house-warming gift -- or with the 'home' image, I might use it to store the keys that my neighbors give me when they ask me to check their mail or feed their cats while out of town.  Currently I throw the keys into a mug in the kitchen cupboard.  How much more charming this would be!





First, I started by stamping the image in black on to white card stock.  I colored it with my Spectrum Noir markers, and sponged the edges in a mossy green ink.

I adhered the image to the box lid.  Next, I wrapped ivory ribbon around the lid, followed by a sheer turqouise polka dot ribbon which I tied in to a bow.  All that was left to do was to punch leaves out of several shades of green, and glue the leaves to the opposite corners of the box lid.  The final touch was to glue small paper flowers in the corners.  I used my Spectrum Noir markers to tint the flowers a deep pink.

Hope you enjoyed this little box! 

May 23, 2012

Week 3 Winner!

Hi ladies, the week 3 winner of the Crafter’s Companion giveway (Boxer and Envelobox Creator Bundle with DVD) is Kathy S.

Kathy, please contact me with your address so we can mail you your prize!

May 22, 2012

Week 4 Giveaway (last one!)

 We're at the last week of the month of generous giveaways from each member of the Crafter's Companion design team:

Week 4 (ending on May 31st)- A CleverCut 3-in-1 Mini Paper Trimmer.

  The rules for my week 4 giveaway are the same as before:

  1. You must be a follower of both the Crafter's Companion Informational blog and of the Crafter's Companion Challenge blog
  2.  Be or become a follower of my blog.
  3.  Leave a comment on this post by the close of May 15 to be entered in this week's giveaway
Week Four giveaway ends May 31 - Please make sure I have your email address or that your profile is set to be able to send an email message to the winner.  I will send the winner an email when you have won and also post your name on my blog.

May 20, 2012

Almond Blossom Fairy

I've got to say, I just love these Flower Fairies stamps by Crafter's Companion.  They are so intricately detailed.  Today I chose the Almond Blossom fairy.

Sometimes that same detail that attracts you to an image can be a bit daunting and time consuming to color.  Along that vein, I actually have a confession to make -- I don't have too much patience with coloring, preferring faster techniques, and I never thought I was good at it.  However, since I started practicing with the Spectrum Noir alcohol markers, I've been told by many that my coloring skills have really improved, and I do enjoy the process much more than I used to.  But, at times I revert back to my lazier habits, LOL.

This 5x7 card is one of those lazier (whoops, quick) cards.  I decided to go with a monochromatic color scheme instead of doing detailed realistic coloring.  As a general rule, monochromatic color schemes go faster. I started by stamping the large fairy in a sepia toned ink onto vanilla card stock.  I then masked the legs and stamped off a row of flowers at the bottom and lower right.  Separately, I stamped the fun 'fairy kisses' greeting, hand cut it in to a banner shape, and sponged the edges.  On small pieces of scrap card stock, I stamped and fussy cut three flowers and three butterflies, all from the Almond Blossom fairy set.

Then, I shaded everything with pastels (chalks), using golden yellows, tans, and shades of browns. I used a Q-tip and at times my finger-tip to blend the pastels. I added glitter to the fairy's wings and to the butterflies, and brown micro-beads to the flower centers.  I sponged the card edges, and mounted it on brown and then again on vanilla.  Finally, I attached the greeting, butterflies, and flowers with glue dots.

And it was done!  Half an hour from start to finish, now that's my kind of card!

May 15, 2012

Announcing the Week 2 Giveaway Winner

The winner of my week 2 Crafter's Companion giveaway of the Rock-a-blocks and Popcorn the Bear stamp set is..."Texas Shadow"!

Please look for an email from me so that I can mail you your prize!

Week 3 Giveaway from Crafter's Companion

To continue the month of generous giveaways from each member of the Crafter's Companion design team:

Week 3 (ending on May 22) - The Boxer and Envelobox Creator Bundle with Advanced
Techniques DVD.

Here are the simple rules for my week 3 giveaway:

  1. You must be a follower of both the Crafter's Companion Informational blog and of the Crafter's Companion Challenge blog
  2.  Be or become a follower of my blog.
  3.  Leave a comment on this post by the close of May 15 to be entered in this week's giveaway
Week Three giveaway ends May 22 - Please make sure I have your email address or that your profile is set to be able to send an email message to the winner.  I will send the winner an email when you have won and also post your name on my blog.

Week 2's winner will be announced in a separate post.

May 13, 2012

Poppet and Daisy Chain

Today I have for you a cute little poppet card and matching envelope. I think that Christine Haworth's Paintbox Poppets line is so sweet -- this one is called Daisy Chain.


I started by stamping the image in black ink, and colored it with my Spectrum Noir alcohol markers. I used an oval die cut and layered it on an oval scallop in mauve.  This was then layered on to two different designer papers from the Fairyopolis 12x12 paper pad collection. I ran the designer paper through a Swiss dot and a Stripe embossing folder, for a little extra textural interest.  This was then layered onto white, for a fresh look.  I added a bit of white lace, and hand sewed two aqua colored buttons with white floss. 

Tip:  it is easier to sew through card stock if you use a mini glue dot to position the button, and then use a paper piercer to poke the holes.  The final step was to mount it on to a sage green card base. I decided to make a coordinating envelope out of the leftover paper (it only takes a 7 3/4 inch square). Crafter's Companion very affordable Envelobox Creator makes it so easy!

I hope you are enjoying your Sunday, and happy Mother's Day to all of the moms out there.  I'm off to mail this sweet little card to one of my favorite aunts who is in a nursing home.  I think it will surely brighten her day.

May 9, 2012

Week 2 Giveaway from Crafter's Companion

Each week in May the Design Team will be giving away a wonderful prize from Crafter's Companion on their blogs. Here is the second week's:

2nd week- a set of Rock a Blocks and the popcorn bear set !!


Here are the simple rules for my week giveaway:
  1. You must be a follower of both the Crafter's Companion Informational blog and of the Crafter's Companion Challenge blog
  2.  Be or become a follower of my blog.
  3.  Leave a comment on this post by the close of May 15 to be entered in this week's giveaway
Week Two giveaway ends May 15th - Please make sure I have your email address or that your profile is set to send an email message.  I will send you an email when you have won and also post your name on my blog.

Winner for Week 1 Giveaway

Hi everyone, our winner for the Week 1 Crafter's Companion giveaway (picked by random number) is "Caryn S!"

Caryn, please contact me with your address so we can mail you your prize.

May 6, 2012

Wine and Friendship

I know exactly who this card using the new SWALK images is going to! The "wine and friendship" greeting is perfect for my friend Mary.  We've done our share of wine tastings together -- and I was with her in France when she checked a very important item off of her bucket list -- to have burgundy in Burgundy!  So it is made for her, n'est-ce pas?
 I colored the image with my Spectrum Noir alcohol markers, and then layered it on black.

I used the same basic layout for a 5.5 inch square card as I did last week.  I added 2 different designer papers in pink and green, and a strip of turquoise over which I added a sheer white ribbon.

The best part?  I found the perfect use for a small grapes charm that I bought quite a few years ago.  I love hunting through my stash for just the right thing! And oh, in case you are wondering, here's my friend that this card will be sent to.  Perfect, right? 




May 1, 2012

May Giveaways from Crafter's Companion

Crafter's Companion will be giving weekly giveaways with each of its Design Team members!  So, each week in May, I will be giving away goodies. Here is what I have to offer this week:

Week # 1: The Ultimate Crafter's Companion
This all-in-one, compact carry-case allows you to score, measure, trim, emboss and embellish; create boxes, shaped card blanks, envelopes and more! Includes a 24 full page instruction booklet and a 2 1/2 Hour Project & Instructional DVD.

To win this (winner will be selected by random number):
1) You must be a follower of both the Crafter's Companion Informational blog and of the Crafter's Companion Challenge blog.
2) Be (or become) a follower of my blog.
3) Leave a comment on this post on or before May 8th.

The winner will be posted and will need to reply with their shipping address before the next giveaway or a new winner will be chosen.

Also, each day in May there is a chance to win a giveaway when placing an order at the Crafter's Companion USA Store.

Check back here each week in May to see what the new giveaway on my blog will be! Also you might want to check out each Design Team member's blog to increase your chances of winning, as each of us has the giveaway!  Find the names on the sidebar here.