Another SC195

Here's another try at the SC195 sketch challenge on splitcoast stampers. I just got this cute penguin stamp from Jessica Lynn Originals and then I realized that I had the perfect sentiment for it, by Firecracker Designs. I'm still not sure about all of this layering--I guess I'm just not the layering type. (But I thought I was!)

SC195

I made this card for the sketch challenge on Splitcoast Stampers SC195. I made an alcohol ink background and then stamped over it with black dye ink and blue pigment ink. Then I added butterflies and the sentiment to the back panels.

I received some black flowers in a scrapbooking kit and was wondering how in the world I would use black flowers. Well, I got the chance here! I added a charm and a fuzzy green brad to the center of the flower to give it some pizazz.

The stamps are from the Secrets of Butterflies set from Clear Artistic Stamps.

Now, I'm off to work on painting my daughter's bedroom--two shades of bright pink! Enjoy your Friday!

I'm Quilting Again

I haven't been at my sewing machine for a while, and boy are my projects piling up. I'm very behind on my blue and yellow sampler quilt. I made one more block for it yesterday, and only have four more to go.

All of these patterns are from Quilters Cache.

This block is for the blue and yellow quilt. It is called Vermont. I love this block. Someday I might make an entire quilt from it.


The other block that I made yesterday is for a Block of the Month in my quilting group. It is called Schoolhouse. The bottom part is just pieced, but the roof is paper pieced.
That's all the sewing for now. I think I will work on some card sketches today.

They Got Me!

I've been tagged by two people, Belinda and Teresa. I usually don't follow up on these tagging games, but in this one you are supposed to tell 7 interesting facts about yourself, so I thought I would go ahead and spill some quirks that I have.

Here you go:

1. I'm the youngest of 5 children, four boys and me. My oldest brother is 20 years older than me.

2. I had my first child at age 34. My second at age 37.

3. My husband and I met in a chemistry lab where we both worked when we were in college. He still thinks I look cute in a white lab coat.

4. I teach a Sunday school class at my church. It's for kids kindergarten through second grade.

5. I walked a full marathon (26.2 mi.) in January 2006, one day after I was up all night in the bathroom with a stomach virus.

6. I was a picky eater growing up--if my Mom didn't cook it, I didn't want it. Now I am the opposite. I love all kinds of food and will eat just about anything.

7. TV shows that I don't like to miss: The Office, 30 Rock, Real Time with Bill Maher, Kitchen Nightmares, Ghost Hunters.

There now, doesn't that give you a little insight into my artistic tendencies???

CPS 83

Here is my interpretation of the card sketch CPS 83 on the Card Positioning Systems site. I used the Moon Dreams stamp set from Clear Artistic Stamps for the images. The backgrounds are made with alcohol inks dabbed onto glossy paper. I can't tell you which colors I used, mainly because I used so many! I can't believe it didn't get muddy brown. Cardstocks and black dye ink are from Stampin' Up. The card base is made from marvelous magenta, which is a color that SU retired quite a while ago. But, of course, I still have some around. I almost never throw out craft supplies!

Love Soup

Looking for a holiday gift idea? I turned a "gift in a jar" recipe into a "gift in a bag" recipe so I could do some stamping on the paper bag! For complete info on how to make this bag of Love Soup, visit the In the Cottage Studio blog HERE.

Thanks for looking, and TGIF!

Sketch Challenge

This is the card that I made for the Split Coast Stampers sketch challenge SC194. I used the Moon Dreams stamp set from Clear Artistic Stamps, which was just released this week. This card looks so much more complicated than it really is--it just involves cutting some paper and stamping the image and sentiment. Very quick and easy. The beautiful designer papers are from Prima's Just Us collection. I love those colors!

The kids go back to school today after three days off due to no electricity (see previous post). There are still some in our little town that have no power, so we are really counting our blessings.

Have a great Thursday.

Hurricane Ike--In Ohio?????

You'd think that here in SW Ohio I wouldn't have to worry about hurricane force wind gusts from a hurricane in the gulf. Wrong! There is quite a bit of damage around here and we were without electricity for almost 24 hours. Fortunately, my husband is "master of the grill" and could cook eggs and bacon outside for our breakfast. I cheered when the power came back on!

Big Stamp Release--Clear Artistic Stamps

Tuesday September 16th

Chat will begin at 8pm Central time.

To chat go HERE.

On 9/11: Remember Our Military

OUR KIDS IN THE MILITARY

The average age of the military man is 19 years. He is a short haired,

tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears, not old enough to

buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country. He never really cared much for work and he would rather wax his own car than wash his father's; but he has never collected unemployment either. He's a recent High School graduate; he was probably an average student, pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left, or swears to be waiting when he returns from half a world away. He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and 155mm howitzers. He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home because he is working or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk. He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the dark. He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either one effectively if he must. He digs foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like a professional. He can march until he is told to stop or stop until he is told to march. He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is not without spirit or individual dignity. He is self-sufficient He has two sets of fatigues: he washes one and wears the other. He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry. He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle. He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his own hurts. If you're thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food. He'll even split his ammunition with you in the midst of battle when you run low. He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like they were his hands. He can save your life - or take it, because that is his job. He will often do twice the work of a civilian , draw half the pay and still find ironic humor in it all. He has seen more suffering and death then he should have in his short lifetime. He has stood atop mountains of dead bodies, and helped to create them. He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and is unashamed. He feels every note of the National Anthem vibrate through his body while at rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to 'square-away' those around him who haven't bothered to stand, remove their hat, or even stop talking. In an odd twist, day in and day out, far from home, he defends their right to be disrespectful. Just as did his Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather, he is paying the price for our freedom. Beardless or not, he is not a boy. He is the American Fighting Man that has kept this country free for over 200 years. He has asked nothing in return, except our friendship and understanding. Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood. And now we even have women over there in danger, doing their part in this tradition of going to War when our nation calls us to do so. As you go to bed tonight, remember this shot.. A short lull, a little shade and a picture of loved ones in their helmet Pray for our military... "Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen." Please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our ground troops in Afghanistan , sailors on ships, and airmen in the air, and for those in Iraq. Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor, Coastguardsman, Marine or Airman, prayer is the very best one.

Moon Dreams CD

Ready for a sneak peek at a great new stamp set? I knew you would be!




I made this card using the new stamp set Moon Dreams from Clear Artistic Stamps. The set will be released on September 16th. What a beautiful and elegant collection this is.

To make this card, I used an old cd and applied color with alcohol inks. I then stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with gold powder. This is the first time I have ever done a card with a cd, and it was really fun!

And here is some great news that you will be glad to hear:

Free Shipping

for the entire month of September at Clear Artistic Stamps. That's right! You always save money on gas by buying online, and now you will save the shipping costs too! What a deal!

Happy Tuesday everyone.

Lighthouse Pages

I finished scrapping some photos of a lighthouse that we took during our vacation to Hilton Head Island, SC.


I had large photos that I didn't want to crop, so I went to 2 pages. Since the lighthouse is red and white, I decided to stick with primary colors. The photos really stand out against the blue cardstock. And I matted with colors from the photos. On the left page I used red matting and on the right I used green. Underneath the photos I put a line of black stars that extends across both pages to bring them together visually.

Have a good Saturday.

Two More Cards

Okey, Dokey--Here are the last of my cards from the set of cards I made using Teacup Fairies and I'm Just Saying from Clear Artistic Stamps:





If you would like to see the complete set of cards and the gift box that I made for them to go into, just go to Belinda's blog.

Thanks for looking!

Reds and Greens

Ready for some Christmas cards? Of course, in the crafting world, it's always Christmas time, right?

Here is a card that I made for a "Light Me Up" challenge:


The stamp is from Clear Artistic Stamps Joy of the Season stamp set. The real red and glorious green cardstock from Stampin' Up really makes this card cheerful.

Here is another card that I designed for quick and easy mass production--I always need lots of Christmas cards!



These stamps are from the Papertrey Ink Believe stamp set. I used very vanilla, handsome hunter and bravo burgundy SU cardstock for an elegant look.

Have a great Wednesday!

My Four-Legged Kids

Mooch

"Can you guess how I got my name?"

Daffodil
"Don't hate me because I'm beautiful."

Now that my kids are in school all day, this is who I spend my time with!