Thanksgiving

It's been a good while since I have posted here because it seems like I have been sick for over a month now. First was the flu, then the head cold, followed by bronchitis, and for a cherry on top I coughed so hard I pulled a muscle in my back! I'm finally feeling better now, and am thankful for many things such as family and friends on this Thanksgiving, but I want to say a special thanks this year to my returning health! I think the old saying is true that you don't miss something until it's gone!

Spooky Cards!

Here are a couple of cards made with a new Stampin' up Halloween set! I just love all the new Halloween stamps this year!!! The one with the haunted house was sent to me by my friend Stacey, and the green/purple one is a card I made for a Halloween swap I'm in.

Another round....

Here's my last round of ATC's for the night. The first one is rather dark, but features a little cat on a broom and the word MAGIC by Cherry Pie Art Stamps. The last one is just a very interesting image to me.... a house with eyes, and the little metal embellishment spell out the word LOOK. Alright, my desk is a mess, my fingers are inky so I'm calling it a night for now!

More ATC's

Ok-I think I'm getting the hang of it all now. However, I think I need to start adding layers and embellishments to them a bit more.

New ATC's

When I first heard of Artist Trading Cards I have to admit I wasn't thrilled. I couldn't see the big deal about these things-why not just stick to making cards I thought, but once you get into them and give them a try they are such fun little works of art!!!! Here's my attempt at a few for today! I think I am going to spend some time this weekend experimenting with more and see what I come up with.

Gifts From A Friend

I was so excited to find a wonderful package in my mailbox this week from my friend Erin! It was filled with tons of goodies that used all Stampin' Up supplies. I love that long notepad, and the little coaster post it note album. The card samples are fabulous as well. Actually that wasn't all that was in the package...she also included some rub ons, a SU cling sticker which I think I'll put on my car window, and my favorite thing was a really cool pink Stampin' Up coffee mug. Thanks again Erin, if you are reading this-you rock!!!

Grungeboard Tags

My friend Marv is hosting a grungeboard swap. I signed up, and this is my creation for it. For some reason I can't get the lighting right on this tag card today, but it uses a Tim Holtz stamp, Adirondak Color Wash spray inks, and grungeboard. I also had some new flowers arrive the other day, so I decided to use one as the background flower, and spray the other to match my tag.

New SU cards

Here are a couple of very simple to make cards using 2 new Stampin' Up sets. The first card uses brayered ink, and the set called Upsy Daisy. The second card uses a set called Crazy For Cupcakes. Just by adding a little glitter this card can add sparkle to someone's birthday!

Tim Stamps

A friend of mine was asking to see some more of the Tim stamps I have, so here are a few more. These sheets area a great deal, and are already mounted on cushion for use on the acrylic blocks! I can't wait to start using these Halloween stamps, and the sheet with the question marks has my favorite quote/saying on there-Not All Who Wander Are Lost!

I'm getting into this book stuff!!!!

I made this book for a very special DIVA, and I really hope she likes it. I had such fun making it. I used Adirondak colorwask inks to color the pages, some Tim Holtz stamps, a few other embellishments for decorating, and then I used my Bind It All machine to bind the chipboard covers, and sheets all together.

ATC Books

I have always wanted to do some ATC's, but never seemed to get around to trying them out. Recently a stamping pal of mine sent me an ATC challenge type thing where you send so many to the next person on the list, and then you are supposed to somehow end up with a bunch in the end! It looked like fun, so I have decided to participate! Anything new I try I seem to look for a book on it first to get some basic tips and hints. I found this book while in Pittsburgh the other day, and decided I had to have it. My favorite thing about this book is it describes the history of the ATC's and how they came to be! It also shows the basic materials which luckily I already have, and then naturally some fabulous artwork! So.....if you are a big fan of ATC's this book is great! I'd also love to hear from readers that can suggest some other great books on ATC's!

New Book

Tonight I was playing around with the Adirondak colorwash sprays, and decided I would make a little book. I love Tim Holtz stuff as well as Stampers Anonymous stamps, and I tried to mainly use those here.

Recent trip goodies

My latest love is rubber stamp and mixed media artist Tim Holtz. I love all his tools and techniques. This summer is they first time I have ever tried something he came out with called Grungeboard! It's a flexible sheet of material that can be painted, inked, hammered, or grunged! It's so much fun. It feel like thin leather, but it's actually paper based. It amazes me because you can't tear it! On a recent trip to Huntington, WV I found several packs of grungeboard, and it was on sale!!! I bought a couple of packs with the sheets of numbers, but with different textures. I also bought a couple of packs with only the texture, and you can use any cutting machine you have such as the Big Shot etc. to cut a shape that you want. Since Tim also came out with this cute little texture hammer for grungeboard I had to have that as well. I love that it comes with various tips to use for different textures. Next was some of Tim's stamps I have had my eye on for a bit, and natureally as soon as I buy these I hear he has just released some new ones that I am also drooling over!
Also, while in the Huntington, WV area my boyfriend surprised me with a little trip over to Kenova, WV where we had lunch at an old time soda fountain. It's been updated over the years, but still has that old time feel, and there's still a real running pharmacy inside! The food was yummy, and looking at the pictures of the area all along the walls was great! I even spotted one of The Pumpkin House, and found out the same man who owns the pharmacy lives in The Pumpkin House. The Pumpkin House is my favorite place to go see near Halloween! Each Halloween there are over 3,000 jack-o-lanterns that cover this house. The designs and creativity are just amazing to see. People from miles away come year after year to see this amazing place! Last year we were even able to take a tour out back which in the fall is set up almost like a production line. Everyone in the family helps out with some aspect of it all, and it's just a dream for a Halloween lover like me!!!

New SU sample

Here's a sample I did tonight with one of the sets that will be in the new SU catalog that's coming out in August!!! The set is called Deer Friends. Rudolph is my favorite stamp in this set.

Building A Bird House

Woo hoo...just got in an order from Frantic Stamper, and I can't wait to build my bird house...out of paper that is! I can't wait to se this template on cardstock, and then use all the little stitch holes to start sewing. I don't normally sew, but lately the hot trend in cardmaking is to sew on your cards. My aunt bought me a small sewing machine just for this purpose, so this week I am going to try my hand at it and see how it goes. I can't help but think back my my high school home economics class when we were sewing and I made that terribel crooked apron! Wish me luck!!!! haha

New Tim Holtz Goodies

Here are some new Tim Holtz stamps that I just got! They are just perfect for doing ATC's! Ooh...I love Tim's style! Such an artsy flair!