For A Friend

The theme at Wednesday Stamper this week is open and Created by Hand's theme is ribbon. Here is a card I made for both those themes. The paper is Cosmo Cricket Wanted. The stamps in the middle strip are Unity. I used Adirondack ink and Studio G glitter glue to decorate the center strip.

Lock and Key

The theme at Mixed Media Monday is Lock and Key this week. This card uses several stamps from Stamper's Anonymous. The key is an antique. The keyhole is from Skybluepink. I used Adirondack Inks by Ranger to stamp my images.

Card Planners and Cards for Gifts

Here are several card planners I have made in the past for Christmas presents.

Wee Witch Arch

To celebrate Halloween the theme is Witches over at Gothic Arch this week. This is the arch I created. The background was created with a cuttlebug embossing folder. I used a black painted metal from ten seconds studio and lightly sanded it to reveal the embossing. The paper strip was made with a border punch by Fiskers punched on both sides of a strip of paper. All of the stamps are Studio G.

New Home

This is a quick card I made with my new Papertrey stamps. I colored them in with my Copic markers.

Another border punch card

For those of you who follow my blog you know I am the Queen of Border punches. I just love what you can do with these punches. This is another card I made using two Martha Stewart border punches. The background was done with the Cuttlebug. The bird stamp is from Memory Box and the Warm Winter Wishes is from a Studio G dollar set. I curved the letters by taking the acrylic stamp and curving it on my block. A technique I still need to work on as you can see. The scalloped background for the stamp is a Nestabilities and the leaves are a Martha Stewart punch.

5 Gum Box

Well my daughter got this great box of gum a few weeks ago called 5 by Wrigley's. I of course was intrigued by the box and thought it would be a great design for a party favor. So I took apart the box and traced it onto another sheet of paper. Here is my first attempt. The stamps are OI and Martha Stewart. I was very disappointed with the quality of the MS stamps. I actually had to cut a few of them apart and they don't ink as well as I hoped. That said,they are very cute. Luckily, I bought them on sale. The elephant punch is also a Martha Stewart.

Coffee Tea or Me

The challenge at Three Crazy Amigos this week is to use a quote in your artwork. This is a card I made as a sample for my new stamp line Clearly Vintage. The background was made from a stamp by a company called Unity.

Favorite Thing to Alter

The theme at Wednesday Stamper this week is favorite item to alter. This is a plastic laminate (AKA Formica) sample I altered into a wall hanging. I painted the laminate with black gesso and them stamped the background with Brilliance ink. The laminate took the gesso so nicely. It was such a smooth finish to stamp upon which was my favorite thing about it. The stamp is by OI.

Elephant Card

A quick card using a stamp by Outlines for the background and an SU stamp for the elephant. Sorry for the wacky scan.

Gothic Arch Patchwork Paper Background

I am so lucky to be hosting the Gothic Arch challenge site again this week. I have known Nancy for a few years and can honestly say her work has been an inspiration to me. The theme for Gothic Arch I have chosen is patchwork paper background. This technique was originally introduced to me in an article by Kelly Rae Roberts in Cloth Paper Scissors magazine. Kelly has a great book that just came out describing the collage techniques that she uses in her art work called Taking Flight.

In this arch I used several different printed scrapbook papers cut in shapes to form the patchwork background. I glued them down with a PVA glue. After the papers dry, I paint on in a very thin layer several colors of Golden's Acyrlic Paint. Almost immediately, I use a wet sponge to remove parts of the paint revealing the paper below. I keep doing this until I achieve the look I want. After this dries I add my stamped images. I hope you enjoy making your patchwork background. I have included the image I used below.

Alphabet Girl

This is a girl I made for the Alphabet Challenge at 2peas. I used three alphabet stamp sets in this card. The edge detail was made with the Martha Stewart double scallop border punch. I used Adirandack Inks to color my paper and Versafine for my stamping. The large letters are Heidi Swapp brand.

Where is Saturday Image Bonus?

You are in the wrong place if you are looking for Saturday Image Bonus. SIB has moved to my new blog for images and my stamp line Clearly Vintage.

Here are two More Martha Stewart Border Cards

It is finally sunny, so I was able to take some pictures and update some of the cloudy ones below. Here are two more cards I made using the new Martha Stewart border punches. The snowman was made using the new snowflake border punch and the cupid was made using the double scallop border punch. The background on the cupid was made with a Fiskars plate in my Cuttlebug.

New Unity Stamps

Well I have been hearing great things about a stamp company called Unity but had never seen any of their stamps. While I was on vacation I had to stop at a stamp store and they had an extensive display of Unity Stamps. If you haven't seen them check out the link. They are mounted to a thin piece of plywood which you can use alone and with their special handle system. They also have unmounted rubber. Here is a card I created with one of their sets. I used Distress Ink on Neenah paper. The Neenah paper works great for direct stamping with the distress inks but no so great for sponging the distress ink onto the card.

Cuttlebug Christmas

Here is a card I made with a stamp from Lost Coast Designs. The red background is embossed with the Cuttlebug embossing folder Swiss Dot.

More Martha Stewart Punches

Here are two cards I made the other day with some new Martha Stewart border punches I picked up a few days ago. All the stamps are Inkadinkadoo. The first card uses the new train border and the new star border punch. The second card used the Gothic arch border punch and the check border. They all punched great.

The backgrounds are Cuttlebug embossing folders Argyle and Swiss Dot respectively.

Thank you Card

Thank you is the theme at Create by Hand this week. Here is my card. The stamps are from Hero Arts and the embossing is a Cuttlebug folder.

I'm Back

So I am back from vacation and it looks like all my scheduled posts worked. I went on a roadtrip with my daughter to Colonial Williamsburg. We had so much fun. We stayed in a colonial house right in the historic area. So we were able to go back to the room and rest. We did a tremendous amount of walking. My legs are sore. I am hoping to keep up with the exercise.

On the way home I stopped at the Queen's Ink ( a great stamp store in Savage MD) and they purchased some of my Clearly Vintage stamps.

So now you can purchase my stamps at four stores. Please stop by any of the stores listed below.
Great American Stamp Store - Westport, CT
Scrapbook Clubhouse - Westbrook, CT
The Stamp and Scrap Nest - Simsbury, CT
The Queen's Ink - Savage MD

Halloween Cards

I love halloween images and cards. I never send any though. Crazy, I know. Here is one of those cards. The image is a vintage postcard. The background was made with a Magenta stamp.

Another oldie

Another oldie that is hard to part with. Luckily, this one I gave to my husband for his birthday one year so it has made its was back to my collection. This is a photo of my husband. Don't you just love those cheeks.

Saturday Image Bonus

Don't forget Saturday Image Bonus has moved to Clearly Vintage. I hope you enjoy these cuties.

One of my Favorite Cards

This is one of my favorite cards I made a few years ago. I just love this old woman. The problem is I have never given here away. Sometimes this it is hard to part with my cards.

Today is my birthday

Well today is my birthday. Another year has gone by. It is hard to believe. Doesn't it seem like yesterday that we were 15?
My family took me to a great restaurant last night to celebrate and they bought me a great pair of boots.

Well off to celebrate some more!!!!

Some Brown

Wednesday Stamper has chosen the theme brown. Here is my card. The stamps are Stamper's Anonymous, one of my favorite companies. I sponged distress inks on the background.

Turquoise Arch

At Gothic Arches this week the theme is Turquoise. This is my arch. The stamps are Inkadinkadoo. Inks are Versafine and Distress Ink.

I have also included the image. It is a photo from my stash of vintage photos.

Remember Saturday Image has moved

Remember Saturday Image Bonus has moved to its new home at Clearly Vintage my other blog. There are five new wonderful images of children from my collection.

Tic Tock Clock

Here are my Moos this week for the clock challenge at Make A Moo. The stamps are Clearly Vintage and Invoke. I love to use Moos as cards for my website. You never know who is going to ask for you for your blog info when you are out on the town.

Roadtrip

Roadtrip is the theme at Theme Thursday this week.

This is a birthday card I made for my brother. The stamps are Stampin by the Sea and EK Success.

Girls Keep Out

The theme at Wednesday Stamper is Structure. I added structure to this card by putting Golden's Light Molding Paste on the surface. I painted it with Golden's acrylic paint. The rough surface was hard to stamp on. The lace is some antique lace I picked up at a flea market. The ink is Versafine and the stamps are Clearly Vintage.