Stamping for Oscar

Filigree images

I was so excited when my package arrived from Oscar.  Could hardly wait to see what she had sent for me to play with.  Whoa!!! I’ve never worked with images like these before.  What to do?  What to do?  Just dive right in and get started.  The mojo will hit once you get going!  (I hope…..)  Yep, it did.  So here’s what came out of my hands with stamps that were waaaaayyyy out of my comfort zone.  But you know what??  I really, really like them.  They do stamp a gorgeous image and take embossing and glitter like a charm.  There’s lots of pics here and I will group them by image.  Thanks for looking and go see Oscar when you are in Door County.  Sarah and I are going to a Pizza/Salad Halloween Stamping Class she is offering at Stamp University in Egg Harbor this weekend.  Should be LOADS of fun.

Both of these are just inked, no embossing.

Here’s the Eagle ones.  He turns out so distinguished.

All three of these are embossed.  The green one isn’t showing the paper true to color.  The green cardstock is closer to the ribbon in color.  Clicking on the image and you can see the diagonal cut one is a gorgeous textured paper also sent in the package. I pierced along the blue diagonal piece.  Love how these all turned out.

Next up: the Rabbit.

Used copper UTEE on him.  Extra Thick Embossing Powder. He turned out beautiful and this is a pretty large stamp.  Karen Foster stickers helped me out with this one and the bakers twine is a bit like the finish line of a marathon.                                                    

Peter rabbit trying to get out of Mr. McGregors garden?

run peter, run.  You better hop to it, dude!!  ~~Background is made with another stamp that Oscar sent along.  Looking forward to creating with that one too.  It says autumn to me.

And a door hanger for Baby Boy.  See how versatile? 

 

Okay, there’s more but I won’t post them all today.  I’ll give you a peek at those another time.

Thanks for visiting.  Your comments mean a lot. 

 

LiveJournal Tags: Door County Rubber Stamps,Filigree,Rabbit,Eagle,Whale,Door Hanger

Speedy the Cat Week 78

To go along with the 12 days of Christmas Blog Hop taking place at Mark’s Finest Papers, our challenge this week is to fit our project in with something from the hop. 

I chose coasters.  These are going to be a little birthday gift for Edith, my 93 year old stamping friend.  She will turn 94 on Tuesday.  She still lives alone in a big farm house, drives most everywhere and stamps more cards than you can believe.  She uses a Cuttle Bug and Copics.  She’s really with it.  We have so much fun sharing supplies and stamping times together.

I will get these laminated before I give them to her.  We drink a lot of tea and coffee together and she will like these. (she loves stamping cardinals)

How it was done.  I cut some very heavy duty chipboard with a professional paper cutter.  Using a linen textured white paper cut to the same 4 x 4 size I really glued it to the top of the chipboard.  Then a post it note went in the exact middle.  I used a versa mark pad and went all around the edges keeping the post it in the middle as a mask so the versamark ink didn’t get into the middle.  Then it was sprinkled with gold embossing powder and heat embossed.  Then using Mark’s Finest Papers stamp  and copics for coloring, all that was left was a bit of sponging for the wintery sky.  You can click on the blinkie to the right and it will take you right to the new sets. Hope you enjoy it.  I’m pretty sure Edith will.

LiveJournal Tags: MFP,Cardinal,Winter,Coaters,Edith

Speedy the Cat Challenge #77

Seeing Double

This is a great set from Mark’s Finest Papers.  It’s called Ginger Cookies and it’s for sale now.  I took the large sprig part and actually stamped it three times.  The challenge was to use the same image more than once on your card.  The sentiment is from the same set.

Doesn’t this look like a fun set to play with?  You could win one of the really neat sets from next month just by playing along in our challenge this week.  Just ink up a stamp and hit the paper twice, submit it to Mark’s Finest Papers blog page and your name is in there waiting to be drawn.   I have had so much fun with this set.  I used a bit of red acrylic on the berries to really make them pop.  Hope you have fun with this challenge.

LiveJournal Tags: MFP,Ginger Cookies,Holiday

Awwwwww! Baby Birds

Baby Cardinal

We are still being blessed with baby birds.  We have a baby red bellied wood pecker coming to the feeder.  Yesterday Gilbert was talking to a baby red breasted nut hatch.  The little thing was all fluffed up and so cute and friendly. 

Here is Gilbert’s story about the baby cardinal he found under the feeder today.

10-14-11-written by Gilbert

Baby Cardinal and I met this noon by the bird feeder.  He was picking up seeds that had fallen out of the feeder.  I chased him to catch him and then realized he was a baby that couldn't fly but about ready to.
I reached down to pick him up thinking he had the gentle nature of a Chickadee...WOW, sure got fooled as he latched on to my little finger with his bill, his red feathers on his head stood straight up and my pain was if a got bit by a large parrot... and he hung on !
Thank goodness he let go when I tipped him upside down holding his legs.  Warning...do not pick Red Birds up with a bare hand.   He almost drew blood.
Got a glove and took him in the house and found out he can peep quite loudly.  He would bite my glove and hang on.  No wonder they can crack safflowers so easily.  Got some pictures and let him go.
Mom and dad Cardinals came in shortly after.
Thanks Sarah for getting us into birds a few years back...We have enjoyed all of them so much and learn lessons from them as well...Ouch !

LiveJournal Tags: baby cardinal,cardinal,birds

Speedy the Cat’s Challenge # 76

no using designer paper

Here’s a sneak peak of one of the sets being released at Mark’s Finest Papers on Tuesday.  Doesn’t this little guy look like you could just eat him right up?  I was so glad to be able to find a way to use that little embossing folder that came with my cuttlebug,  Yep it took me two full years to use it.    I used acrylic puff to look like raisins and then glaze for the frosting.  Looks so real.  I baked him with copics.  (as in the coloring looks like he got baked.)   Thanks for looking and why not join us over at Speedy the Cat’s blog for a chance to win a free set?

LiveJournal Tags: speedy the cat,christmas holiday,postage stamp

need a little “pig”me up?

HYCCT challenge on SC

Ha-Ha.  The challenge was to make a masculine card but include pink on it in remembrance of  NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS month.  (isn’t it cool to see all the sports players sporting pink on their uniforms this month?) This was a pretty simple card to make and I love being able to use that dancing pigs stamp that I purchased so many years ago.  I used it a couple of times for cards for Gilbert because he works at Nueskes’s and pigs are his business.  But otherwise it kind of sits there in the bin, cute as can be.

Birds

A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.
Chinese Proverb

A good capture yesterday.  We just love those little birds.  I love the finches and how they are always chattering and cheeping.  Such a friendly sound.

Can you find the finch in this picture?

autumn beauty

all about fall

Happy Fall Ya’ll

Here it is October already.  Can you believe it?  It’s finally gorgeous.  I do think it has rained for seven days straight.  It was so good to see the sun I just had to grab some outdoor pics to share with you all.  What is prettier than a Wisconsin Autumn Sky?

It froze this morning and the impatiens bit the dust but the mums love it.  Most everything survived but I spent the day emptying the flower pots and got ‘em all cleaned up.  I can’t stand to throw away a living plant.  They have a new residence in the worm bed at the edge of the woods in the back yard.  What a mixture.  Marigolds, impatiens, petunias, and I don’t even know the names of some of the others but they are all cohabitating in that spot til nature does her thing.  In the meantime I still have some pretty blooms to see from the kitchen window.

The hydrangeas were HUGE this year and they are turning purple, finally getting some sunshine.  They are so beautiful.

I hope you have a very enjoyable October and maybe we’ll get that Indian summer that the old folks talk about.  Lots of rain this fall, Lots of sun this summer and the trees are all more yellow than red, so we have lots of rust but not a lot of vibrancy.

Are you seeing Spots?

Speedy the cats challenge #75

Come on over to Speedy the Cat’s blog and play along in our challenge to use DOTS. You could win a free set of stamps. 

If you click on the picture image you can see the dots on the pretty paper better.

All these papers are from Mark’s Finest Papers.  Most were from the Premium paper pack the SpringTime pack.  The dark mahogany brown that is super luxurious looking is from the newest pack that has been put together for you.

Mark's Finest Papers Neutrals Premium Paper Combo Pack 28 sheets for only $7.99

It’s a great way to purchase a variety of papers and MFP has THE best prices on paper packs.

I used a bit of Stardust clear on the butterfly spots. The pearls are done with a pink pearl pen.  Love that stuff!  The gatefold just seemed to be the perfect fold for this creation.

Thanks for stopping by. (it’s been raining all week)

LiveJournal Tags: Speedy the Cat,Butterflies and Wisteria,Gatefold,Sympathy

Speedy the Cat Challenge # 74

Things with wings

What a great time to have a challenge using things with wings.  I’m thankful for this brand new set by Mark’s Finest Papers called Autumn glory.  Isn’t this pheasant gorgeous.  You could join us over at Friends of Speedy the cat and win a beautiful soon to be released set.  They stamp so beautifully I am always amazed when I look at the stamped image how crisp it is.

Colored with Copic markers

LiveJournal Tags: MFP,MFPDT,AUTUMN GLORY,SPEEDY THE CAT

Speedy the Cat Challenge #73

one layer card

Linda challenged us with a one layer card.  Now this really is a challenge for some of us who are used to layering for depth and contrast. However, when I first started stamping I never layered anything and I didn’t have a lot of cardstock or back ground papers so I used to cut my own templates and make masks like this.  The image is a new one from Mark’s Finest Papers, called Autumn Glory. This set is a beauty and you get a lot of stamps for the price of ONE wood mounted stamp.  Check it out here.

This looks like a multi layered card but the only layer is the corner pieces.  Shown below is a tutorial I have put together for you to see how to do this, especially if your supplies are limited.

First cut a piece of CS just slightly smaller than the front of your card.  I did a quarter inch all the way around. Adhere it to your base piece with removable tape.

Next sponge around it with the color you want to look like a base piece. In this case I chose Forest Foliage.

 

Sponge all the way around the mat or mask that you have laid on the base.  Take a coordinating pen and outline your mask before removing it.

 I use this wonderful little gum rubber adhesive remover to get the temporary adhesive off the base.  LOVE this tool.  Grateful to whomever thought this up and informed the rest of us.  I use it a lot.

Now you will cut out a mask for the next layer, if you don’t have a die cutter you can trace around an object you have at home like an odd shaped jar bottom or just cut a template you like.  I use old calendar backs b/c they are a bit sturdier and I don’t need to waste a piece of card stock. (keep the templates you cut) I cut the calendar piece to the size of my card base and center the die cut and then run through the Cuttlebug.

Once again use removable adhesive and tape the mask over the entire front of your card.  This time you will sponge inside the mask.  Notice the first time you sponged outside the mask.

Final step, I leave the inside a bit lighter so my image will be highlighted a bit. Take a marker in a coordinating color or a dark color and carefully trace around the inside lines of the template.  This will take away from the flat look of the stencil design and give the illusion of a piece of cardstock layered on.  Clever, eh?

Now remove the mask and use the gum rubber eraser to remove the adhesive again. Now you have a layered look, like the top picture . to stamp your image on. 

Fun technique, eh?  I hope this is useful for some of you and you can practice with it. Happy Autumn.

LiveJournal Tags: MFP,MFPDT,AUTUMN GLORY,TUTORIAL

Mark's Finest Papers September Blog Hop

Hello! Welcome to the September 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!
This week's new releases are:Autumn Glory, Boo To You, Covered Bridges, Get Your Broom On .For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.
So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set:Get Your Broom On? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)
For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Get Your Broom On. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.
Emily
Nancyruth
Neva
Faith
Dawn
Marilynn
Patricia
Chrissy
Karen
Pam
Joanne
Markie
Carol
Mark’s Finest Papers

Get your Broom on and fly along with us on the last day of this hop. THIS is one of the most fun Halloween sets ever. I had such a blast making cards with this set. Fun for you is the fabric pieces that MFP is now offering in their store. I used two of their different pieces on this stair step card. This was the perfect set to make a stair step card with. I know you will have just as much fun with this set as I did. Hope you're the one who wins it. heh-heh-heh.

Have fun, it's not too early to start your Halloween cards.

Mark's Finest Papers Blog Hop

Hello! Welcome to the September 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!
This week's new releases are:Autumn Glory. Boo To You, Covered Bridges, and Get Your Broom On.For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.
So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set: Autumn Glory? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)
For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Autumn Glory. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.
Lois
Vicky
Dawn
Anne
Peggysue
Connie
Linda
Karen
Patty
Liz
Geri
Lynn
Debbie
Mark’s Finest Papers

I'm not on the official blog list, however,I'll appreciate any comments you leave. I so love it when you feel moved to do that. :) Have fun with this hop and stop by the blogs of my fellow talented designers and leave them some love for a chance to win this beautiful set.

I am posting two photos of this card to show you that sometimes Less IS more. I kept looking at the first photo and wondering if it needed something and so added some ribbon but really, it is such a beautiful scene that the ribbon only detracts from it. I took it off and like the plain beauty of this Autumn Glory.

IN MEMORY OF…..

sEPTEMBER 11, 2001

9/11  :  You remember, don’t you?  You remember exactly where you were when you heard the sad news.  It was said with such a terrible impact it was hardly believable and yet so believable.  How could anyone do that? 

We have many friends in New York City, what a frustrating time to try to get a hold of them by phone.  They were crying, we were shocked, after three days they were all accounted for, all alive.  What a relief, what a blessing.  Oh, our hearts break, still today for all those lives lost.

A personal friend of Gilbert,  is Michael Lamonico,  the head chef for the restaurant Windows on the World, on the 107th floor of the World Trade Center.  He lost so many people he cared about.  Lost all the people he worked with on a day to day basis.  He is alive because he had an eye doctor appointment on the lower levels that day.  He can hardly take it in, he is alive and everyone else is gone.

This post is a tribute and a memorial for all those who lost their lives, all the ordinary people, all the fire fighters, all the families, for every single person who was affected that day because of a senseless act against innocent people. 

We remember you all…your memory is forever etched in our hearts.

LiveJournal Tags: 9/11

PENTEL OIL PASTEL CRAYONS

USING BABY OIL

Here’s another sneak peek at the new MFP releases coming out Tuesday.  This fall set called Autumn Glory is such a beautiful set for masculine cards and thank you cards.  The main image is from that set.  The sentiment is from the stash at Edith’s house. She and I had such great fun coloring these images and creating a couple of cards.  We used the Pentel Pastel Oil crayons that I found at Good Will for ninety-nine cents.  I see online though, that these would be a very inexpensive way to get beautiful shading.  A box of 16 in only $2.99.  You could probably find these at any hobby store. 

The technique:  You simply outline your image with a darker color, rough color the large spots with a lighter color of the same family.  Take a Q-tip, pull off some of the cotton so you have more control of where the color is going.  Dip the end in baby oil and in a small circular motion begin blending the colors together.  It leaves you with a gorgeous finish, don’t you think?

I even rescued the brown cardstock from her garbage pile, it was the back of a store bought card, then I ran it through the Cuttlebug with a Sizzex embossing folder.

Edith didn’t have any black brads and I used her  black Copic marker to help with that little issue. 

So this really was a cobbled together card.  The entire thing is made from scraps. 

LiveJournal Tags: MFP,AUTUMN GLORY,PENTEL PASTELS

SPEEDY THE CAT CHALLENGE #72

USE A PUNCH

Carol, bless her heart, gave us an easy challenge this month.  Use a punch.  I love using punches and for this one I used Martha Stewarts fence punch.  Aren’t these Halloween Stamps just the greatest?  Here’s a sneak peek for you on the release coming up this week at Mark’s Finest Papers. 

The card went together quickly and it was just FUN to make.  Why don’t you hop on over to Speedy the Cat’s blog and make a card with us…you could win a great stamp set being released next month.  You get yours right away, though, you won’t have to wait ‘til next month.

LiveJournal Tags: MFP,MFPDT,GET YOUR BROOM ON,HALLOWEEN

Speedy the Cat challenge #71

colleen said let’s use bling

BLING??? that’s all that shiny and rhinestone, diamonds and such, right?  Well, okay then, I have just been waiting to find a reason to use this beautiful lacy bling that is from Mark’s Finest Papers.  It is all one piece and very easy to use.  I’m tellin’ ya, they offer more embellishments to purchase than you can believe.  It’s so fun to browse through it all.

…….waiting for the drum roll…..TA-DA…. here it is.

All papers, stamps and embellishments are from Mark’s Finest Papers.   Both sentiment and image are from the All Aboard set. Thanks for looking.