Garden Beauty

I don't know about you, but I am so ready for Spring!  Here in the Chicago area, we've had a recent cold spell again and I have to tell you I am done with Winter!  I am ready to get my inky fingers good and dirty!  I'm looking forward to getting outside and planting flowers and making the yard pretty again.

In the meantime, I dreamt of gardening while I created this card using the Stampendous Garden Beauty stamp set.  I thought the image was so pretty that I decided to not color it in completely, just a bit of watercolor crayons did the trick on this one.  I'm really please with the results. 

I hope you'll take time to get inky today, and if it's nice in your neck of the woods, I hope you'll get your inky fingers in the dirt.

recipe:  stamps: Stampendous Garden Beauty; Tsukineko Rich Cocoa ink; Watercolor Crayons, H2O Pen; cardstock: Core-dinations Asparagus, Bazzill Kraft

Embossed Easter Eggs

Happy Easter!

While I was brainstorming trying to decide on a 3D project for Stampendous BlogStars, I was talking to my boys about Easter and they were asking when we would dye our Easter eggs.  Ah-ha!  There was a perfect 3D project for me to try!

I first hard-boiled my eggs and let them cool (maybe a little too cool - more on that later).  I stamped small images from the Stampendous Luv Bunnies and Flower Cross stamp sets with VersaMark ink and then used Detail White Embossing Powder.  Then used my heat gun to melt the powder - I had no idea how long it would take to melt the embossing powder when it's sprinkled on a cold egg!  I didn't think it would ever melt!  (Note to self:  bring eggs to room temperature next time!)  I then dyed the eggs using McCormick Food Coloring, and used paper towels to wipe the dye off of the embossed areas. 

I hope you'll want to give this project a try while you and your family are preparing for Easter.  I'm working on another project for Easter that I hope to be able to show you soon.

Hope you'll take time to get inky today!

recipe: stamps:  Stampendous Luv Bunnies, Flower Cross, VersaMark ink; Stampendous Detail White Embossing Powder; eggs; McCormick Food Coloring; vinegar

Happy Birthday!

Can you believe that my brother and brother-in-law both have the same birthday?  What are the chances of that?  They both celebrated their big days on April 1st (but neither of them are fools!)  This is the card that I made for them.  I love the ribbons on this Stampendous! gift package - it was fun to accentuate them with Ultra Fine Crystal Glitter and a little bit of green bling.

This Party Invite stamp set from Stampendous is really versatile and can be used for just about anyone's birthday.  I find myself reaching for it often.

Well, friends, time for me to skedaddle.  Hope you're having a great day and that you take time to get inky today!

recipe:  stamps:  Stampendous Party Invite Perfectly Clear; paper:  The Paper Co kraft, white, DCWV Citrus Matstack; ink:  Tsukineko Tuxedo Black; Prismacolor Pencils, Goo-Gone, Tortillons; Sakura Glue Pen; Marvy Punches, Me & My Big Ideas bling; Stampendous Crystal Ultra Fine Glitter

Laura's Sketch Challenge

Just wanted to take a minute to let you know that my fellow Stampendous BlogStar, Laura, is hosting a Sketch Challenge.  You could win a Perfectly Clear Garden Beauty stamp set.  Visit her blog A Day in the Life of ...The Paper Poppy for details.  While you're there, check out her beautiful creations!  You'll be inspired!

Take time to get inky today!

Flower Cross

I've had this stamp set since last Easter, and somehow it never saw ink....until now!  I sat down with the intention of making birthday cards for my brother and my brother-in-law, but ended up making an Easter card for our Pastor instead.  I love this Flower Cross by Stampendous!  I decided to keep the background simple and muted so that the cross would really be featured.  After all, that's what Easter is all about. 

I had fun playing with my Stampendous pastel glitters.  I used Sea Green, Pink, Lavender and Crystal Ultra Fine Glitters.  So much fun!  Just to be sure I had good coverage, I first colored the flowers with my PrismaColor Pencils and then added the glitter on top.  I stamped one of the flowers included with this set all over the background with Tsukineko Sunflower Yellow ink.  I had so much fun making this card, I think I may make a few more to send out this Easter. 

I hope you have fun plans for your day today - first on my agenda is to make those birthday cards that I didn't get to yesterday. 

Take time to get inky today!

recipe:  stamps:  Stampendous! Flower Cross;  ink:  Tsukineko Tuxedo Black, Sunflower Yellow;  paper:  Bazzill Basics Sunbeam, The Paper Co.; PrismaColor Pencils, Goo-Gone, Tortillons; Sakura Quickie Glue Pen; American Crafts Ribbon; giltter: Stampendous! Ultra Fine Glitter Pink, Sea Green, Lavender, Crystal

Imperial Jewel Monogram

I get such a thrill when I ink up a stamp for the first time.  You too?  So, I was excited to get this Stampendous Cling Imperial Jewel good and inky yesterday.  When I first brought this stamp home I wasn't quite sure what to do with it, and then I happen to grab my Stampendous Elegant Monograms Large set (discontinued).  All of the sudden I realized that if I didn't get the center of the medallion inky, I could add an initial in the center.  Voila! 

It's hard to see in this photo, but I stamped the card itself with the Imperial Jewel and watermark ink.  I then embossed the images with Detail Clear Embossing Powder.  For the focal image, I used watermark ink (being careful not to ink up the center) and embossed it with the Lettuce Embossing Powder from the Merlot Embossing Kit.  I added my initial in black ink before I "fussy cut" around the medallion and adhered it to my card with a few popdots.  My finishing touch was a bit of green bling.

After I got busy on this card, I had a few other ideas pop into my head, so you just may see this stamp make another appearance on the old blogaroonie in the next couple of weeks. 

It's a gloomy day in my neck of the woods today, I hope your corner of the world is full of sunshine!

Take time to get inky today!

recipe:  stamps: Stampendous Cling Imperial Jewel, Elegant Monograms Large; VersaMark Watermark ink; Stampendous Merlot Embossing Kit;  Me & My Big Ideas Icons Bling

Happy Birthday, Slugger!

Happy Birthday, Owen!

This card is for our nephew, Owen, who turned 8 years old last week - my, how time flies!  Owen is getting ready to start Little League Baseball, so I thought this little Stampendous Changito Play Ball was perfect for him.  Unfortuately, this little monkey has been discontinued, but I have seen him recently at Archiver's.  If you hurry, you might still be able to grab one!  There was a coordinating stamp that said "Hope your birthday is a hit!" - but they didn't have that one, so I'm hoping to still be able to track it down.  At the same time I also picked up the discontinued Changito Golfer - but the accompanying sentiment wasn't available for that either.....so now I'm on a mission to find them!  You know how crazy I am for this little monkey, so now I have to complete my collection - there are still a few others I'm searching for, like Changito Baker.  I'll get them all eventually - maybe my boys and I will make a game out of it this summer.

It may be hard to see in the photo, but I added Diamond Glaze to the bubble that Chagito is blowing, it looks just like a freshly blown bubble.   I think that's a fun little finishing touch.

Better get going, friends, I'm hoping to get inky this afternoon and have more to show you tomorrow.  Hope you'll find time to get inky today, too!

recipe:  stamps:  Stampendous Changito Play Ball, Happy Messages; Tsukineko Tuxedo Black Ink; Yours Truly Red Card; DCWV Classic Print Matstack; Prismcolor Pencils, Goo Gone, Tortillons; Diamond Glaze