One Way ------>

Forward.

So, in a previous post, I mentioned that I've been painting and journaling, lately. While cleaning up my disastrous studio a few weeks back (and yes, I have managed to keep it pretty clean -- yay!), I came across a journal that I had started a long time ago.

I finally finished the front and back covers . . .and all the pages are painted. Gesso really is my best friend . . .the covers were re-done twice. I'm pretty happy with the results:
Thanks for visiting today!

Festive & Joyous

LOVE this new Cuttlebug Folder!

What I used:

Holiday Cheer set by Hero Arts
Brilliant White, Classic Green, and Classic Red cardstock by Prism
Cottage Ivy Memento ink
Onyx Black Versafine ink
Winter Trees Cuttlebug Folder
Classic Circles & Labels 3 Nesties
Fairy Dust Dew Drops
Red Satin Ribbon

Thanks for visiting today!

Sweet & Simple

Need a quick card? Here's one for ya:

What I used:

Feel the Joy stamp set by Unity
Brilliant White, Black, Majestic Purple Light Cardstock by Prism
Purple Hydrangea VersaMagic Ink
Long Classic & Scalloped Rectangle Nesties

Thanks for visiting today!

Another Christmas Card

And it's pretty quick and easy, too . . .

What I used:

Joy & Wonder stamp set by Unity
Cottage Ivy & Rich Cocoa Memento Ink
Cream Puff, Classic Red and Classic Green cardstock by Prism
Patterned paper by October Afternoon
Labels 8 Nesties
Victoria Cuttlebug folder

Thanks for stopping by today!

Wine and Cheese

Yep . . . still on the Luminescent Vellum kick . . . perhaps a tutorial is in order? Let me know if you'd like to see a video showing how to do this technique.What I used:

Wine & Cheese stamp by Inkadinkado
Ochre Vellum
Brilliant White, Cream Puff, Black, Wizard Medium and Wizard Dark cardstock by Prism
Graphite Black, Pearlescent Ivy and Pearlescent Crimson Brilliance ink
Spanish Olive, Magnolia Bud, Gingerbread, Thatched Straw, Aspen Mist, and Niagara Mist VersaMagic ink
Large Labels Nesties
Textile Texture Cuttlebug Folder
Stardust Pen
Black Satin Ribbon

Thanks for visiting!

A Corridor

I've had a desire (rather, more of a need) to paint and journal lately. Sometimes, ya just gotta get your hands dirty.

I've been painting a lot of pages, but I admit that I sometimes struggle with putting words on a page. . . especially in my own handwriting.

I finally stretched and put words on a page . . . and, ya know what? It really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Stay tuned for more journal pages. . .
Thanks for stopping by!

Holiday Cheer

Super quick and easy card for the holidays:

What I used:

Verdi Flourish stamp by Memory Box
Holiday Cheer stamp by Hero Arts
Brilliant White, Spring Willow Medium, Crabapple Dark cardstock by Prism
Rhubarb Stalk & Bamboo Leaves Memento ink
Classic Oval Nesties
Swiss Dots Cuttlebug Folder
Fairy Dust Dew Drops
Stardust Pen
Burgundy Satin Ribbon

Thanks for stopping by!

Fine Wine

These stamps by Inkadinkado are perfect for the Luminescent Vellum technique!
What I used:

Wine Glass stamp by Inkadinkado
Graphite Black Brilliance ink
Aspen Mist, Red Brick, Sage, Tea Leaves, Spanish Olive and Thatched Straw VersaMagic ink
Ochre Vellum
Brilliant White, Crabapple Dark, & cream Puff cardstock by Prism
Labels 8 Nesties
Cuttlebug Embossing Border
Fiskars Border Punch
Gold Leafing Pen

Thanks for visiting today!

Red Roses

Here's a card using the new Rose stamp from Inkadinkado:

What I used:

Rose Stamp by Inkadinkado
Graphite Black Brilliance ink
Red Magic & Hint of Pesto VersaMagic ink
Ochre Vellum
Patterned Paper by Cosmo Cricket
Brilliant White, Black & Cream Puff cardstock by Prism
Labels 3 Nesties
Ornamental Iron Cuttlebug Folder
Fairy Dust Dew Drops

Thanks for stopping by!

Cuttlebug!

And they arrived early! YAHOO! Click here to go get 'em!

Coffee Bean Tree

I am a coffee drinker . . . I love coffee. . . so, obviously, this stamp had my name written all over it!What I used:

Coffee Bean Tree & Large Flourish stamps by Impression Obsession
Brilliant White, Nautical Blue Light, Suede Brown Light, and Suede Brown Medium cardstock by Prism
Tuxedo Black, Desert Sand, and Summer Sky Memento Inks
Labels 8 Nesties
Swiss Dots Cuttlebug Folder
Stardust Pen
Prismacolor Pencils

Thanks for visiting today!

Witchy Kitty

I love Halloween . . . it's my very favorite holiday. Here's a card using the Witchy Kitty stamp by Impression Obsession:
What I used:

Witchy Kitty and Star Swirl stamps by Impression Obsession
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink
Brilliant White, Black, Gray, Majestic Purple Medium cardstock by Prism
Labels 5 Nesties
Stardust Pen
Prismacolor Pencils

Thanks for stopping by today!

Happy Halloween!

No Tricks . . . only Treats!

Save 10% on your entire online purchase through Oct. 31, 2009!Just enter coupon code "TREAT10" during checkout.

Click here to go shopping!

the fine print: coupon code must be entered at the time of checkout. valid on in-stock merchandise only. may not be combined with any other coupon. yes! valid on sale items, too! one coupon per customer, please.

Torture

I was walking by the Escondido Municipal Gallery this morning and these shoes caught my eye. The exhibit is Nurture vs. Nature.

I asked permission to take pictures and share . . . I think they make a pretty powerful statement.

May Y. Cheung Hoffman is the artist who created them. The description on the display reads: "These sculptures are inspired by my great-grandmother, who like many women in ancient China, was forced to bind her feet."

If you have the opportunity to come down and see them in person, I would highly recommend it. They say a lot more when seen in person.

Painting . . .

There's not been a whole lot of cardmaking in the studio lately. Instead, I've been painting. And making a big ol' mess. Sometimes, ya just gotta get your hands dirty, ya know?

So . . . what I've done here is started with the Medium Envelope Journal by 7 Gypsies. I took it apart and started painting the envelopes . . . and decided halfway through that I was going to add pages in between the envelopes.So then, I started painting pages:

I'm guessing that by the time I'm all done, it's going to be a pretty chunky journal . . .

What I used:

Medium Envelope Journal by 7 Gypsies
Fabriano Cardstock
Black Gesso
Claudine Hellmuth Studio Paints - Classic Teal, Smidge of Blue, Sky Blue and Traditional Tan
Snow Cap Adirondack Pigment ink
Tuxedo Black Memento ink
Grid Background stamp by Studio 490
Tattoo Flourish stamp by Tim Holtz
Alphabet stamp set by Inkadinkado
Sheet Music, pages from an old book

I'll post progress as it comes together . . . thanks for stopping by today!

Busy Beaver

Yep . . . I'm still loving this set!
What I used:

Autumn Pals stamp set by Unity
Tuxedo Black Memento ink
Brilliant White and Suede Brown Medium cardstock by Prism
Mr. Campy Papercrafting Kit by Cosmo Cricket
Classic Circle Nesties
Swirl Organdy Ribbon
Twine
Button
Prismacolor Pencils

Thanks for visiting!

Hoo's Birthday?

Another cute critter!What I used:

Autumn Pals stamp set by Unity
Rich Cocoa Memento ink
Cream Puff and Suede Brown Medium cardstock by Prism
Mr. Campy Papercrafting Kit by Cosmo Cricket
Labels 8 Nesties
Swirl Organdy Ribbon
Prismacolor Pencils

Thanks for visiting!

Happy Fall Friend

These critters from Unity are just too cute!What I used:

Autumn Pals stamp set by Unity
Tuxedo Black and Rich Cocoa Memento ink
Brilliant White, Herbal Garden Med., Herbal Garden Dark, Desert Coral Dark and Suede Brown Dark cardstock by Prism
Mr. Campy Papercrafting Kit by Cosmo Cricket
Classic Circle & Pinking Circle Nesties
Dew Drops Embellies
Prismacolor Pencils

Thanks for stopping by!

Frog Flossing

My husband had to go to the dentist . . . of course, we got a bill. And I couldn't just send a payment without making a card. . . .so here's what I made:

Thanks for visiting today!

Rascally Raccoon

Here's a pretty quick and easy card . . . I just love this little guy!

What I Used:
Autumn Pals stamp set by Unity
Tuxedo Black & Rich Cocoa Memento Ink
Brilliant White, Suede Brown Medium, & Suede Brown Dark cardstock by Prism
Mr. Campy Crafting Kit by Cosmo Cricket
Labels 1 Nesties
Threading Water Border Punch
Prismacolor Colored Pencils

Autumn Pals

New stamps from Unity have arrived! Including the Oct. Stampin' Store Kit "Wonderful You." Yahoo! Click here to go get 'em!

AND . . . .new Tim Holtz stamps have arrived!

Wonderful You

The new Stampin' Store Kit from Unity is now available for pre-order! And, there's a special going on . . . Click here to go get it!Thanks for visiting today!

Hauntin' Boots

Another card using that cute set from Our Craft Lounge:

What I used:
Witch to Wear set by Our Craft Lounge
Simply Smooth and Black cardstock by Prism
Haunted Papercrafting Kit by Cosmo Cricket
Tuxedo Black & Grape Jelly Memento Ink
Copic Markers - Blue Violet (BV08), Amethyst (V17), Cool Gray 3 (C3), Colorless Blender
Classic Circle, Inverted Scalloped Circle and Ribbon Tag Nesties
Tim Holtz Paper Distresser
Black Ric Rac

Thanks for visiting today!

Happy Healing

Sooooooo . . .one of my (many) brothers-in-law recently had to have surgery. Nasty accident resulting in the quad muscle being separated from the bone. Can you say "OUCH!"?

Anyway . . . one of my (many) sisters made a get well card for him . . .and I asked if I could post it here, because look, look, look at the bandage! It's a real band-aid that she cut into strips to look like an Ace Bandage. Clever, eh?Thanks for visiting today!

Decisions . . .Decisions

What ever will Witch Hilda wear to the annual Halloween Ball?
What I used:
Witch to Wear set by Our Craft Lounge
Brilliant White and Black cardstock by Prism
Haunted Papercrafting Kit by Cosmo Cricket
Tuxedo Black Memento ink
Stardust Stickles
Prismacolor Pencils
Black Swirl Ribbon

Simplicity

Things have been a bit crazy around here lately . . . and I'm grateful for that! But, I am looking forward to things calming down a bit and getting back to normal. Sooooooo . . . I made a card with one simple word that says it all:
What I used:
Gratitude = Joy stamp set by Unity
Simply Smooth, Birchtone Dark and Desert Coral Medium cardstock by Prism
Earth Love Patterned paper by Cosmo Cricket
Espresso Adirondack Pigment Ink
Brush tip markers
Classic & Scalloped Rectangle Nesties
Gingham ribbon

Thanks for visiting today!

Fall Wreath

Happy Fall! Although the weather here in Sunny San Diego is anything but "fall-like" . . . here's a pretty quick and easy card:
What I used:

Bramble Wreath by Memory Box
Autumn Flower Soft
Vintage Sepia Versafine Ink
Cream Puff, Sunflowers Light, Sunflowers Dark, and Desert Coral Dark cardstock by Prism
Patterned paper by Memory Box
Dew Drops embellies

Thanks for visiting today!

Snow Place Like Home

Another OCL inspired card:What I used:

Snowplace Like Home set by Our Craft Lounge
Brilliant White, Simply Smooth, Classic Red, Baby Blue Medium cardstock by Prism
Tuxedo Black Memento ink
Cool Shadow Copic Marker
Stardust Stickles
Curved Rectangles, Long Classic Rectangles, and Long Classic Scalloped Rectangles Nesties
Snowflake Cuttlebug Folder
Prismacolor Pencils
Pearl Embellies

Thanks for stopping by!

Penguins in Pink

This card was very much inspired by one I saw over in the OCL Gallery:
What I used:

Parka Penguins set by Our Craft Lounge
Simply Smooth, Iced Pink, and Frosted Pink cardstock by Prism
Onyx Black Versafine ink
Angel Pink Memento ink
Cool Shadow Copic Marker
Stardust Stickles
Tiny Bubbles Cuttlebug Folder
Curved Rectangles and Classic Circles Nesties
Inkssentials White Pen
Clear Daisy Dew Drops
Fine Tip Black Pen
Snowflake Punch
Prismacolor Pencils
Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon
Pink Button

Thanks for stopping by today!

Penguin Parade!

A few cards using the Christmas Penguin set by Our Craft Lounge. This set also includes Copic Markers.What I used:

Christmas Penguin Copic Set from Our Craft Lounge
Simply Smooth, Classic Red, and Suede Brown Dark cardstock by Prism
Tickle Dot cardstock by Daisy D's
Tuxedo Black and Summer Sky Memento ink
Scallop and Classic Circle Nesties
Light Blue Satin Ribbon
Fine Tip Black Pen
Scallop Border Punch

This layout was inspired by one of the cards I saw in the Gallery at OCL:
What I used:

Christmas Penguin Copic Set by Our Craft Lounge
Simply Smooth, Spring Willow Medium, Classic Red, and Black cardstock by Prism
Patterned paper from the Rhubarb Tart pack by Memory Box
Classic Circles and Labels 3 Nesties
Clear Daisy Dew Drops
Stardust Stickles
Gingham Ribbon

Thanks for visiting!

All About the Candy Corn

Halloween is my very favorite holiday . . . and I just loved this tree by Unity! (Sorry about the fuzzy picture)
What I used:

Hauntingly Sweet by Unity Stamp Co.
Simply Smooth and Intense Orange cardstock by Prism
Mango Biscotti cardstock by Memory Box
Rich Cocoa and Summer Sky Memento ink
Onyx Black Versafine ink
Copic Markers from the Our Craft Lounge Christmas Penguin Set
Long Classic Rectangle Nesties
Tim Holtz Fragments
Glossy Accents
Black Swirl Ribbon
Black Glaze Pen

Thanks for stopping by!

Feed the Monster

Here's a card using one of the new Our Craft Lounge sets that come with Copic Markers. I've never used them before, but I do admit, I am liking them . . . a lot! And I'm definitely a colored pencil type of gal . . .

What I used:

Candy Monster Copic Set by Our Craft Lounge
Simply Smooth, Instense Orange, and Intense Amethyst cardstock by Prism
Lavender Biscotti cardstock by Memory Box
Tuxedo Black Memento ink
Swiss Dots Cuttlebug Folder
Real Juicy Orange Sparkly Fluff
Tim Holtz Paper Distresser
Border Punch
Orange Ric Rac

Thanks for visiting today!

The Pool Pump Makes Three

Yep . . . shortly after my car wouldn't start, or the dryer, the pool pump decided to retire as well.

They say these happen in threes . . .and now that Emily (that's my car) is all fixed up, and the dryer has been replaced (got a new washer, too, just for good measure), and the pool pump is fixed, it's time to get back to being creative!

Here are a few cards I made using the "Pumpkin on a Stem" stamp by Studio 490. Okay, okay, the set is really called "Lowercase Art," but when I first saw the stamp it reminded me of a pumpkin . . .on a stem.

Enough with the jabber . . .here are the cards:I just loved this sentiment stamp from Unity. And I knew it would go perfect with the pumpkin once it was taken off the "stem." The pumpkin is made from Grungeboard. I used Spiced Marmalade Distress ink to make it that orange color. Nesties Labels 4, twill, grid ribbon, a few buttons, and Viola! It's a card!

The hot air balloon card was very much influenced by the very talented Julee Tilman. Other items used: Nesties Labels 3, Patterned cardstock by October Afternoon, Cloud stamp by Memory Box. I used a Flower Pot punch for the basket.

The blue "pumpkin on a stem" card was very much influenced by Miss Wendy Vecchi. Try as I might, I couldn't stay away from a blue pumpkin! Other stuff used: Textile Texture Cuttlebug Folder, Nesties Labels 4, and Patterned cardstock by Memory Box.

Thanks for stopping by!