Thank You Sow Much!

I just love this little gardening angel with her bag of seeds slung across her shoulder and seeds spilling from her outstretched hand. She's from the Earth Angel set by Waltzingmouse Stamps. This fun set comes with several different sets of wings, a wonderful rope of flowers, a butterfly body, lots of sentiments and other fun stuff so you really need to check it out!

I was so happy to see Nancy Ruth as the Featured Stamper on Split Coast this week - she and I were on the H&M Design Team together last year. My card today is a CASE of this cute fairy rub on card of Nancy's. I kept the sketch she used but didn't do any cuttlebugging, I changed the colors, did some sewing on it and used stamps instead of rub ons.

Claire has 6 brand new sets to show you over at the Waltzingmouse Web Shop - and be sure to check out her blog to see all the wonderful creations she has to show you using these stamps!

You can also check out the other Waltzingmouse DT - see my side bar and click on their names to be wisked off to their blogs! But remember to leave me a comment first!! LOL!!

thanks 'sow' much for coming by today!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps: Earth Angel
Paper: Ripe Avocado, Rustic White: PTI, DP Wild Asparagus Baby Girl Floral/Coral
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, So Saffron: SU
Accessories: sponge, distresser, vintage button: PTI, Janome Sewing Machine, twine thread: PTI, foam dimensionals, glue dot, Copics: E02, E04, R32, R37, RV11, E00 T2
Techniques: sewing, sponging

Sharing a Secret and Waltzingmouse Stamps!

I have been keeping a secret for a while now and I'm so very excited that I can finally share it with you!

Claire Brennan of Waltzingmouse Stamps has chosen me to be on her brand new Design Team !!! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE (did I say LOVE?!?) these wonderful stamps with Claire's special 'Irish' touch to the sentiments and images.

So today she is having the GRAND OPENING of her new Waltzingmouse Stamps Web Store and has asked all of her Design Team to create some cards/projects highlighting her stamps. We'll be posting things all week so be sure to keep checking back!

Today - I wanted to use her wonderful label stamp from the Vintage Christmas set. I think a special tag dresses up even the smallest of gifts and makes them really special don't you??!

First I made two traditional Christmas/Holiday labels.

On this one I stamped the holly on blue card stock to be a contrast on the green tag. I cut it out and popped it up on a foam dimensional. The berries are on the holly stamp but are also a separate stamp so it's easy to stamp them a different color and cut them out to layer them on.

And here's a second one.

Then I looked through Claire's other stamp sets to see what else I could use with this wonderful label stamp. I found lots of ideas in the Celtic Heritage Set.

First I made a tag for a wedding gift - My niece just got married this past May and her colors were raspberry and avocado so that was the inspiration for my tag. I just love the claddaugh symbol of two hands sharing one heart.

Then I stamped up this cute little swaddled baby image for a new baby girl tag. Obviously this would be great for a new baby boy using blues - or in green, yellow or purple when you don't know what sex the baby is when you give the gift!

I have loved thistle ever since I visited Scotland several years ago where I saw so much of it on our travels through that beautiful country! I don't know what I would use this tag for !?!? but I love how it looks! - maybe a bookmark or a tag for a gift of shortbread cookies? First I stamped the thistle in avocado, then stamped it again in plum pudding, cut out the flower and layered it over the avocado stamping.

And finally I made a tag for a new neighbor gift using this pretty Irish scroll pattern stamp that fit perfectly inside the label oval! So - just because this label stamp is in a Christmas set - you can see how versatile it is for many other occasions!

Now I bet you want to see who else is on the Waltzingmouse Design Team???

I am just so thrilled and honored to be working with these talented ladies and with Claire's wonderful stamps!!

Laurie Schmidlin

Bonnie Sharp

Anya Schrier

Belinda Chang Langner

Be sure to check out their blogs to see what fun things they have to offer this week as well as checking out Claire's new Waltzingmouse Web Store!!

And check out Claire's blog to see her wonderful creations using 6 sets just released today!

Thank you SO MUCH for stopping by today and sharing my exciting news! If you have a few minutes - you can see all the projects I've ever made using Waltzingmouse stamps here.

Stamps: Waltzingmouse: Very Vintage Christmas, Celtic Heritage

Paper: Ripe Avocado, Pure Poppy, Enchanted Evening, white, Vintage Cream: PTI

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Plum Pudding, Ripe Avocado, Berry Sorget, Enchanted Evening, Raspberry Fizz: PTI

Accessories: Large Eyelets: SU, Satin Ribbons - Pure Poppy, Ripe Avocado, Berry Sorbet, Raspberry Fizz: PTI, Crop a dile, foam dimensionals

A Wallet for DAD

I made this cute little wallet photo album for my son for his birthday. I filled it with pictures of his 'kids' - his basset hound dogs - Daisy Mae and Roscoe. This DAD stamp is from the Mainly Men set by Amuse.

I printed these digital pictures on white card stock and cut around the edges with decorative edge scissors. The Best Friend stamp is from the Friends Fur Ever set by MFT.

Then I stamped sentiments - some right on the pictures and some on the opposite pages. The one on the left is by Rubber Necker Stamps, the paw is from Art Impressions Clear Stamps, and the one on the right is from Thoughtful Phrases by Verve Visual.

Roscoe is the little boy - almost two years old. When I grow up is from the Father Figure set, With Love from me to You is from the Feeling Groovy set - both by Verve Visual.

This cute birthday cake stuffed toy was actually a gift to Daisy for one of her birthdays. Daughter stamp from Women of Life, Happy Birthday from Birthday Basics - both by PTI.

I found the tutorial for this fun photo wallet on Jackie Topa's blog. I changed it a little - embossing the outside piece using the Mini Mosaics Cuttlebug folder and embossing it in clear embossing powder to make it look like leather (or aligator!)

Here's Roscoe again hiding a dog cookie in his bed for safe keeping! Son -from Men of Life by PTI, Everything I do -from Feeling Groovy - Verve Visual

Here they are together on their mum April's lap - Roscoe is gnawing on her hand (in a playful way- LOL!) Sentiment on left from Father Figure: Verve Visual, Puppy Hugs from MFT Friends Fur Ever.

I finished up the 'Wallet' pages with a birthday verse for Josh and signed it for the puppies. I think he'll like it! Verse from Birthday Basics by PTI.

Thanks for dropping by!!

A Chilling Color Resist!

My card today is for two challenges - the color challenge on Split Coast and the Doubledog Dare Challenge I do with some Split Coast Friends - last week Hostess Charlene asked us to use crayon resist on our card.

You can find the tutorial for crayon resist in the resources over at Split Coast here

First I stamped this great skull image from the Stampin Up set called From the Crypt with black ink on glossy white paper -I let it dry (actually hot gunned it dry!) - then colored the skull with a white crayon. Next I sponged over the image using bravo burgandy and so saffron inks. I wiped the image with a paper towel and it stayed white where the crayon had been colored. I apparently missed a few areas on the skull with my crayon and it got colored burgandy - but I like how that came out!

The framings are cut with the Labels 3 Nestabilities and the background spider web is a Cuttlebug Folder.

You can find the Doubledog Dare Challenges in the Split Coast forum here or on my sidebar.

Inside my card I stamped this very fun witch and BOO! from the Waltzingmouse Stamp set called Halloween Party.

Thank you so much for stopping by today!

I'm teaching a class over at The Papertree in Manchester, NH tomorrow morning so I've been busy preparing the materials for that. I always have such a great time there with all my stamping friends - and owner, Michelle, is just a blast to be around - not to mention how fun her store is - she's got all the new stamps and papers!! If you are ever in the Manchester, NH area - be sure to stop by there.

AND - I'll be revealing some exciting news I've been dying to tell you for a month or so coming up on my blog on Tuesday 9/29 so be sure to come by for that!!
Stamps: SU: From the Crypt
Paper: Bravo burgandy, Basic Black, Glossy Paper: SU, Summer Sunrise: PTI,
Ink: Bravo Burgandy, So Saffron: SU, Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Sponge, foam dimensionals, labels 3 Nestabilities, Spider Web Cuttlebug Folder, white crayon

World Card Making Day - Oct 3rd

On October 3rd stampers around the world will be celebrating World Card Making Day! Paper Crafts Magazine has developed a website to celebrate this very special holiday. Click on the link to read more about it and to join in on the fun!

I will be posting some cards on that day, so be sure to come back and check them out. In the meantime go to the World Card Making Day website and add your blog to the Mister Linky List.

How fun is this!?!?!

Good Health to You!

I made this card for the Clean and Simple sketch challenge on Split Coast. You can see the sketch card here. I stamped the chain 3 times behind my image panel instead of using another panel or fibers. I sponged all the edges with So Saffon ink and popped up the image on foam dimensionals.


All the stamps are from the Irish Blessing set by Waltzingmouse Stamps - a clean and simple card!


Thanks so much for dropping by today!


Stamps: Irish Blessing: Waltzingmouse Stamps
Paper: Ocean Tide, VIntage Cream: PTI
Ink: Ocean Tides PTI, Memento Tuxedo Black, So Saffron: SU
Accessories: sponge, foam dimensionals

An Apron for a Friend

Stef showed us the Lama Designs web site for the inspiration challenge on Split Coast. I was inspired by this pretty apron.
I've been wanting to use this apron stamp by Lockhart stamps - it lends itself so well to being paper pieced. I used Cosmo Cricket DP's - Early Bird on the apron and Girl Friday for the towel. I left the ends of the twill loose to suggest apron strings. The sentiment is from Waltzingmouse Stamps Earth Angel set

This also qualifies for the Moxie Fab World's around the house challenge.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!

Stamps: Apron: Lockhart Stamps, Sentiment: Earth Angel/Waltzingmouse Stamps
Paper: VIntage cream, Pure Poppy: PTI, DP Cosmo Cricket/Early Bird (Apron), Girl Friday (towel)
Ink: onyx black Versafine
Accessories: basic grey glazed brad, pure poppy twill: PTI, Oval punch: SU, Lacey punch: Martha Stewart, foam dimensionals

A Pumpkin Boo!

I was so excited to see Tankgrl as the Featured Stamper this week on Split Coast - we were on the H&M DT together for a while last year - so I know she does terrific work! There were lots of cards I found that I'd like to case but finally decided on this pretty flower card .

I've been wanting to use these pumpkin Nestabilities as well as this fun spider web ribbon that I got from Sharon's No Time to Stamp Ribbon store and I thought they'd make great substitutes for the flower and ribbon on Heather's card.


The stamps are from the Halloween Party set by Waltzingmouse Stamps.


If you're looking for ideas for Halloween cards and crafts - click here to see other projectsI've done.


It's a gorgeous day here in MA today - I'm out to the yard to plant some ornamental cabbages, mums and asters!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps: Halloween Party
Paper: Ripe Avocado: PTI, Pumpkin Pie, DSP: SU
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Blank
Accessories: corner punch: SU, Sakura micron black pen, Rhinestones: PTI, sponge, Fern punch: Martha Stewart, Spider web ribbon: Sharon's No Time to Stamp Ribbon Store, black ribbon:Michaels, foam dimensionals, Nestability Pumpkins

A Batty Halloween and two Hawks

The Limited Supplies Challenge on Split Coast was to use Spooky colors and no more than 4 embellishments. I used black, purple, green and orange - a ribbon and 3 sparkly foam embellies. I started this card having all the squares lined up - then accidentally hit the pile and I liked the way it looked all askew!

We just got back from a wonderful week away in VT - and it's great to be back stamping again!

One of the things we did while we were away, was take a class at the British School of Falconry at the Equinox - we had an introductory lesson where we learned how to call a hawk to our gloved fist and release it back to the perch - then we walked along the field - where the hawk followed from tree to tree - then flew back to the leader - what a super experience that was!!

Here's Kent with Wallace on his glove - Dawn is attaching a transmitter to his leg in case he flew away - they could track him.

Here is beautiful Hamish - who I got to work with. In this picture - he's sitting on my left gloved fist and I'm taking the picture with my right hand. I wanted to lean over and give him a kiss he was so 'cute'! - but Dawn said they're really not into that (!) - he was just inches from my face and never tried to peck or shy away. He was happy to be going outside to play!

Then we walked them outside where Dawn took our picture - and she proceded to teach us how to cast them off our hands. They have little strips of leather tethered to each leg - and those are wrapped around our glove so they don't fly away until we are ready to work with them. We swung are arm forward while releasing the strips and they would fly to a perch - and when we raised our glove to waist height again they would come swooping back to us.

Kent got this great picture of Hamish flying back to me. Dawn also put a little piece of filet mignon on my glove as an incentive for him to come back!

Dawn told us they use hawks for these classes instead of falcons because hawks are social birds so they are comfortable when several birds are in the field. They also train to the glove - not to a specific person - so they will do their 'tricks' with anyone who wears the glove where the falcon trains with a specific person and works only with that person.

You really should try this if you ever get the chance - these birds are absolutely beautiful and so fun to hold!!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Stamps: PSX
Paper: basic black, DP: SU, Plum Pudding, Ripe Avocado: PTI,
Ink: Onyx Black Versafine
Accessories: glitter stickers: Creative Hands, foam dimensionals, saddle stitched black ribbon: PTI

Red Holiday Hugs

Revved up Red was The Ways to Use it Challenge on Split Coast last week - to use red on your card. I've had this adorable little image for a while and knew I wanted to finally ink it up for this challenge. Her name is Fiona Faerie and she comes from Poppy Stamps and she has lots of other little friends like her!

This wonderful Holiday Hugs sentiment from Waltzingmouse Stamps seemed the perfect thing to pair with Fiona! I added some gold stickles to Fiona's star wand.

The image is cut with a Nestability square and embossed. I popped it up on foam dimensionals and stamped the sentiment directly on the card. Simple and clean!

I just may use this sweet little 4 1/4" x 4 1/4" card for all my Christmas cards this year!

I appreciate your visit here today!

Stamps: Fiona Faerie: Poppy Stamps, Sentiment: Waltzingmouse Stamps Oven Fresh
Paper: Pure Poppy, White: PTI
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: square nestabilities, foam dimensionals, gold ice stickles, Copics: R20, R08, R05, R14, E34, E51, Y15

God is My Rock

I made this 6x6 page for the His Holy Name Challenges on Split Coast - for Lesson 18 God's attribute was ROCK. We are to look through the Bible (I use http://www.biblegate.com/ to search) and find a passage containing the attribute that speaks to us.

I used last weeks sketch from Split Coast for my page with these pretty new designer papers from Dream Street Papers. The scroll and heart stamps are by Waltzingmouse and the rocks stamp is from River City Rubberworks. I stamped the heart over the verse using Versamark Dazzle ink so it has a little glitter look IRL

The verse I chose to illustrate ROCK is Psalm 71:3. I found this verse gave me a great feeling of safety and comfort. You can find the HHN challenges on Split Coast here or there's a link on my side bar. You can see all of my Holy Name pages here.

Thanks so much for coming by today!


Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps: Celtic Heritage, River City Rubber Works: Rocks, Karen Fisher Snap Stamps
Paper: Mellow Moss: SU, DP/Dream Street Papers-Sam
Ink: Versamark Dazzle, Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Computer generated verse, Petaloo foam flowers, Ribbon -True black Party Plaid: PTI, basic grey glazed brads, glue dots, foam dimensionals

Welcome Ezra Boyd! A Baby Photo Book.

My son's fiance's sister just had her first baby - a bouncing baby boy with the wonderful name of Ezra Boyd. I have not met this sister yet as she lives in Kentucky and we are in New England but wanted to send her a gift when April went down to visit her a week ago. I saw this cute little coaster photo book over a year ago on Pine's (Heather Nichols) blog.
I knew that I might like to make something like it one day - and that day is now here!

I added a piece of notebook lined designer paper (Little Yellow Bicycle/Boy Ledger) cut with the Labels One Nestability above each page so they could write some notes about what Ezra was doing during that month. It also nicely covered the ends of the ribbons that were wrapped around from the front!

The cover will be for a newborn picture and then there is a page for 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months, 5 months and 6 months. The pages are 4x4 heavy weight coasters covered with designer papers.

All the stamps are from Papertrey Ink - I used Boxes Bags and Tags for the month circles and the Simple Alphabet for the words. The vintage buttons are also from Papertrey. (I should be working for them huh?!?!?)

The ducky, boat, bunny and elephant are from the Bitty Baby Blessings Set.

The sentiments on the notes are from the Favor It Baby set - the owl is from the Wise Owl Set.

The all star stamp is from the All Star Team set. I don't know who made this nursery paper but all the other papers are PTI - Men of Life, Bitty Box Basics, Bitty Dot Basics and Polka Dot Parade.

I wrote them a note on the back and used my Bind It All to bind it up. Then I tied lots of Papertrey Double Stitched ribbons around the wires. Now all Amber has to do is add her sweet pictures to make this photo book complete!

I appreciate your stopping by my blog today - I hope you enjoyed my baby photo book project!

Stamps: Papertrey Ink - Boxes, Bags & Tags, Bitty Blessings, Wise Owl, All Star Team, Favor It Baby, Simple Alphabet.

Paper: 4x4 coasters, PTI: Kraft, Lemon Tart, Spring Rain, Men of Life, Bitty Box Basics, Bitty Dot Basics, Polka Dot Parade, SU: Creamy Caramel, unknown Nursery rhyme paper, Little Yellow Bicycle/Boy Ledger.

Ink: PTI: Fresh Snow, Enchanted Evening, Memento Tuxedo Black.

Accessories: Zutter corner rounder, circle punch, PTI Ribbons, copics: B21, R32, E33, YR04, R29, glue dots, Labels One Nestability, Bind it All

Stamping Around in Manchester, VT !

So here I am in beautiful Manchester, VT (even though it was overcast it was still lovely!) for the Stamping Around weekend. It was held at The Inn at Willow Pond. This is the main building where we had our breakfast and got our coffee all day long.


The room for our workshop was in this bulding directly across the drive.



Our first class on Friday night was led by Erika Martin. She had us do a really intersting project involving an 8x8 canvas board, acrylic paints, small pieces of designer papers and Modpodge. Here's Erika showing us her sample (which was larger than the one we made today).


We started by painting a canvas board with blue acrylic paint. Then we added white with swirling strokes. While that was drying we cut out a sun, a hillside, and rectangles and triangles to make little houses to run along our hillside. (We had been instructed to bring a bag of coordinating color designer paper scraps with us to the workshop). So here is the beginning of my project.


And here it is after I got it all together. After we got all the pieces on it - we went over the whole thing with ModPodge - let it dry overnight and in the morning we outlined all the pieces with a fine point Sharpe marker to give all the pieces definition.


Here's a shot from the back of the room we were working in.


Here's me sitting with new found friend Dee who came over from Conway, NH for the weekend. (Hi Dee!)


We were all asked to make nametags before coming to the weekend - here's mine.

Julie & Kim give away prizes all weekend long (I won a pack of new 6x6 Basic Grey papers, an Amuse Halloween Stamp and a Castle Clear Stamp !) - below center is Julie picking out a winning number. Erika is on the left here, then Julie Masse, Kim Schofield in the green sweater (the organizers of these workshops), and you can see Cindy Lawrence another instructor in the red sweater.

On Saturday we had 4 classes and just look at the wonderful projects we made! Joanne Basile had us make this fun tote box and 2 beautiful cards! The stamps are by Stamping Bella.

We hardly took a breath and we were onto class #2 led by Cindy Lawrence where we made this wonderful box that she designed as well as these two beautiful cards using a stamp set by Our Craft Lounge.

Then we broke for lunch where the choices were smoked chicken, pulled pork, ribs, brisket, baked beans, cole slaw, ceasar salad, corn bread and Texas toast - Phew!!! talk about yummy!

Next up was Jenn Shurkus - who I'm sure many of you know as one of the Amuse Instructors

She had us make 5 (count 'em - five!) great Halloween cards using some of Amuse's new stamps. Each one was cuter than the last!

Ok, so by now we are getting pretty exhausted from our marathon stamping - but we had one more project to go. Julie Masse taught the last class and she had us make this terrific acetate box decorated with a wonderful pumpkin multistep stamping set from Kitchen Sink Stamps. Can you see how 3 dimensional these pumpkins look?! And we got 2 cute aroma wax pumpkins and a votive candle to tuck inside.

So there you have it! Don't you wish you had come!?!?! Check out the next Stamping Around to be held in PA in Nov - they still have spots open I think.

Thanks for much for dropping by today! Can a person have too much stamping in one day?!!?