Mouse in the Pantry

I made this card for the Queen for the Day game over on Splitcoast Stampers. The queen selected for Friday was fellow design team member from Totally Stampalicioius, Sue, so I just had to play along! You can see the cute card of Sue's that I cased on the computer screen in the background. For my card, I used a House Mouse image I received as a RAK. Unfortunately, I can't remember who I got it from, but I'm pretty sure it was one of the Divas. I colored it up with Copic markers. The card base is Dusty Durango and I used a dark brown Bazzill card stock for my layers. The dsp is Nook and Pantry by Basic Gray. The little flower  where I started with this card. Sue had a round shape on her card for her sentiment. I had picked up this pretty peachy trim at JoAnn's yesterday and knew I wanted to make a flower with it even if I did have to do some sewing to accomplish it! I even sewed the button on instead of using a glue dot!!

Copper addiction

I ran across a new stack from Die Cuts with a View a couple of weeks ago and have not been able to stop using this paper! It's called Natural and this stack has enough shimmer even for me. The best part is, it's all in my favorite metallic color...copper!! I'm in heaven!! I made a couple of cards right away at the Friday night crop I was at and here they are...

Then we got to thinking that these papers would be great as the basis for a class at the store, but if I'm going to teach at the store, I have to use products available there. The horses in the first image were borrowed from a friend and the second card was made using a set from Stampin' Up!...definitely not available in the LSS. So, I made some adjustments to the cards and came up with these as potential candidates for a class....

For the remakes I used the Hero Arts grass background. The first one was stamped twice in Rusty Hinge Tim Holtz distress ink and the also twice in Versafine Sepia. The sentiments on both cards are also from Hero Arts. The only problem I ran into was on the first card. I wanted to use copper embossing powder on the sentiment, but it's really hard to get that Versafine ink to dry! It says instant dry, but I had to use a heat gun twice to get it dry enough to not have the embossing powder stick to everything!
I also made another card using these papers, so I'll go ahead and show you that one, too!

No stamping on this one. I just cut down one of the rose images on one of the papers and cut out a leaf image from the same paper. I don't think you can really see how shiny the rose is from this photo, but the other photos showed too much shimmer and it was almost impossible to see what the image was. All of the papers came from the stack except the Dusty Durango card base and matting. Ribbon is from Hobby Lobby.
That's about it for today. Enjoy what's left of the weekend!!

Old Truck for a Car Swap

When I made this card, I did something I haven't done in ages.....watercolored my image!!! I have been so stuck on using my Copic markers that I haven't used anything else to color for months!!
This card was made for a swap using cars as the image. Didn't have any car images that inspired me (guess I need some new ones...LOL!) so I used my favorite old truck image. This image is appropriately called "Old Truck" and is from TAC. The papers I used are Soft Suede, Dusty Durango, and dsp from a new stack I found from DCWV that is just full of papers with neutral colors and loads of shimmery copper accents!! It's a wonderful masculine stack!! I think I'm gonna have to get another pad of these papers!! Added an aged copper paper clip and a piece of ribbon to the corner. The only other embellishments were the brads int he corners.
This week is just flying by! I can't believe tomorrow is Thursday already!! Only 39 school days left...where has the year gone?? Thanks for stopping in!

After Dark

The Divas (one of my on-line groups) was having a swap called Wait Until Dark in which we were to make a card based on something you might see after dark. As I was rummaging through my stamps looking for some inspiration, I came across this scenic image which had never seen ink and I can't even remember where I got it from. It's unmounted red rubber, so it may remain a mystery forever!
I attempted to do some of the brayering technique I learned at Michelle Zindorf's workshop back in February and considering how little practice I've had, I don't think it looks too bad! Of course, I'm a really ninny sometimes and I used brown at the bottom of the scene and then realized it was actually a snow scene! DUH!!! It doesn't show in the photo, but I also added some clear glitter gel pen to accent the mountains and snow drifts. I used specialty dsp from Stampin' Up! but for the life of me, I can't remember the name of it and I should have gotten more of it while it was available because I just love it!!! It's matted with Baja Breeze. Used the modern label and word window punches to make the corner accents.

Critter Challenge

Lots of exciting news at Totally Stampalicious this week. First of all, the challenge this week is to use a "critter" on your card. In honor of this challenge, for this week only, TS is offering this Rockin' Frawg or the Hawt Dawg set for $10 each! How's that for a deal?  I used Rockin' Frawg on my card with some of the papers I picked up a couple of weeks ago in my favorite color scheme...purple, blue, and green. I can't seem to stop using these papers, but I'm thinkin' I should have stopped this time. My card turned out a little on the wild side. I think the only people this card may appeal to would be my teenaged granddaughters! The image is completely paper pieced....mostly with those K and Co. papers. The guitar is brushed silver cs. I painted over his eyes and mouth with shimmery white Smooch paint. The flowers in the corners are firmly attached in the corners and then the outermost edge is popped up for a little dimension. Anway, it is what it is!

The next bit of news is the announcement of the newest guest designer to join the TS design team. This was actually posted last week on the TS blog, but I guess I was asleep at the switch (translated into "on Spring Break") and didn't mention it in last week's TS challenge post. We are so pleased to welcome Melissa from My Paper Obsession to the team and can't wait to see what she comes up with for the new release images.

Which brings me to the last bit of news....did ya notice the cool new blinkie at the top of my sidebar? Totally Stampalicious is releasing 8 images from Bugaboo digital images as acrylic images. Wait til you see them!!! They are so stinkin' adorable and I'm having a blast working up some samples using the new images! We will be having a blog hop to celebrate the new release on April 22 starting at 9 pm with the images being released for sale at midnight!

Well, I think that's all the big news for this week. If you decide to play along with the challenge, just use the Mr. Linky tool at the bottom of the post on the Totally Stampalicious blog. You can use any critter image you may have if you don't have any TS images yet.The sale is a great opportunity to add some TS images to your stamp collection. The frawg and dawg images are so much fun to play with! If you are posting your image on SCS, use TSMONDAY24 in your keywords so everyone can find it.

A Whinnie for Pat Smethers FS166

I made this card for the featured stamper challenge over at Splitcoaststampers today. The featured stamper today is the wonderfully talented, super sweet Pat Smethers! She makes the most awesome western themed and horse cards. I got to know Pat through SCS a few years ago when she first asked how to make the faux tooled leather background I had used on one of my cards. I am not the creator of this technique, but it is one that I have used many times and it isn't often seen which is a shame because it is so cool and easy to do, too!
To do the faux tooled leather, just stamp a paisley or other westerny print background stamp on card stock with Versamark. I usually use Close to Cocoa but have used other colors. Then cover with clear embossing powder and heat. After that, rub a coordinating color of ink into the exposed areas of the card stock with a sponge. Typically I use a yellow ink such as YoYo Yellow, but I have experimented with several other colors. Then just just your piece of faux tooled leather to fit your needs.
I chose to case this card of Pat's. For my card, I used some stashed Mauve Mist card stock as my base for the tooled leather. After reading about the color renovation going on with Stampin' Up!, I decided I should use up some of the hoarded colors from the last time SU! changed its colors about six years ago!! I used Sahara Sand ink to rub into it.
The image was stamped onto creamy textured paper with Versafine Sepia ink. Sponged TH distress inks in Tattered Rose and Soot Black around the edges. I used Basic Gray card stock for some layers and used the tooled leather for some accents. Some dsp in similar colors and a western print was used for a background.
I am so amazed that I actually got a card stamped while my granddaughter was here! She was so fascinated with the swiveling chair that she didn't even attempt to get into any of my embellies or other "stuff" cluttering my stamp room! What a mess my room is!! It's a wonder I can find anything in here!!

Well, off to get this posted on SCS! Have a wonderful day!!

Ms. Bright Side Award

After stamping with the girls all day Friday and late into the evening, I was surprised to find a message in my email yesterday morning from Lynn of Confessions of a Left Brained Stamper telling me that she had passed on this blog award to me. How sweet of her! Especially since this extremely talented stamper says she is inspired by MY work!! Not saying that Lynn would tell a story, but it amazes me that someone with her skills would be inspired by me!!! In order to claim it, I must share with you 10 things that make me happy and 5 bits of trivia about myself. I must then pass the award on to 5 other talented bloggers!

Ten Things That Make Me Happy: 1.My hubby who supports my creative efforts even if he doesn't "get it" 2.My granddaughter, Kyli 3. A big cup of coffee 4. Stamping with the girls 5. The month of April  6. New stamping toys 7. Finding bargains 8. My job 9. My big, hairy dog, Ice 10. Helping others learn how to expand their creativity.

Five Bits of Trivia about Me: 1. I was a severe introvert as a child 2. I love high adventure outdoor activities like camping, canoing, and repelling  3. I love living out in the country  4. I love to get up really early and get lots done before daylight 5. I love to take on big cleaning and sorting jobs like closets and garages and finding treasures!
It was really tough to narrow it down to only five stampers to pass on this award to, but narrow it I did.
I am passing this award forward to the following gifted stampers who always inspire me with their wonderful work:

Charlene at Where M&Ms Gather

Mary at My Cards, My Passion, My Therapy

Francie at Francie's Fancies

Karli at Crafting with Class

and

Sue at Mad Cat Stamper 

 Sue has been away from her blog for some time due to an accident her son had on New Year's Eve, and has only recently started to post again. It has been a long hard road for her and her family as her son recovers from the TBI he experienced from the accident. His recovery is far from over, but it's good to see Sue getting into her stamping room again. If it wasn't for Sue's inspiration, I probably never would have started stamping! She is one who first introduced me to my addiction, so anything I do in the world of stamping is ultimately her fault! Thanks, Sue!! You're an awesome friend and mentor!! Hugs!!

Ladies, should you chose to claim your award, just grab the photo above and post it on your blog. When you list 10 things that make you happy and 5 bits of trivia about yourself, you may then pass this award on to 5 other talented bloggers!