Age Is Only A Number

You're HOW Old?

A friend of mine turned 50 on Saturday, yesterday was her "surprise" party. This bird from Stamps Happen has the cutest smug look anyway...I just adjusted it a tad. By adding the googly eyes and using a fine tip artist pen to open his beak, he looks shocked about this birthday!!

It's colored with Copics, masked and airbrushed. The other day I was reading Julie's (Just Write Designs) blog, The Write Stuff on how she does her "out of box". Pure genius I tell ya!! I love her technique!! Check it out!

The card also qualifies for our CCEE challenge, to use a tool, die, embellishment etc. that you haven't used for a looooong time... the sentiment frame is a Sizzix die cut. I've maybe used it once or twice and don't remember how long ago! The sentiment is computer generated.

stamps: blubird-stamps happen/janlynn paper: hollo's, making memories, dcwv ink: tuxedo black-tuskineko other: copic markers, abs, spellbinder's inverted scallop squares, bookplates #2-sizzix, martha stewart punch, googly eyes, fine tip artist pen, cropadile, white gel pen, craft knife, zip dry glue
Copic Colors YR 01,24, 65, 95 Y 11, 21 YG00 BG94 E04, 27, 30, 55, 74 C4 T5 R20, 21, 43.....ABS YG00, YR04, BV13

Thanks for stopping!!

Romance In White

Thanks for your thoughts and well wishes...I think I'm gonna make it! I'm still moving in creeper gear, but the coughing spells are fewer and far between! YIPPEEEE!!!

Ok, enough of that! Let's get on to the details of this post!!

I hadn't planned on doing the Ways To Use It "white" challenge on SCS today. No special reason, I really needed to work on DD stuff...although I haven't gotten to that yet!!
And then I had an idea!

Nothing but Spellbinders with a couple paper roses...sounds simple enough right? Well...I got a little involved! A couple of paper roses led to 3 plus 2 buds and a pile of punched leaves! But I LOVE how it turned out!!! See what you think.

I used the smallest and next one up Spellbinders Ovals to cut craft weight tissue paper for the roses. I'm calling it craft weight because it is thicker than your normal "stuff it in a gift bag" tissue! I got it from some craft magazine and it's just been sitting on my shelf. I folded 2 pieces in half then half again, this gave me eight layers. I placed the ovals side by side, one easy cut... smooth!

Then I just started wrapping each piece around a wooden skewer, gluing as I went along till I like the look of the flower. Lots of punched leaves from 4 different punches. I lightly "scrunched" some of them to give them a more realistic look.

The base is Frameabilities Decorative Frames. I covered the "hole" with Curved Rectangles and placed a frame directly on top of that attaching only on 3 sides. (there's a method to my madness!)
Then I cut another top frame and attched it with foam dimensionals over the first one.

Ok...my madness

1. 
   
   the frame cut out of the base still showed a little under the curved rectangle, so placing one directly on top of that piece sort of hides that.


2. remember I only glued it on 3 sides...the top is open, the sentiment can slide out and a picture can be put in!
   
   
   The sentiment is from Verses Rubber Stamps
   Paper is from Hollo's
   Ink is Tuxedo Black by Tsukineko
   Spellbinders Frameabilities Decorative Frames & Curved Rectangles
   Martha Stewart Punches
   Glue by Helmar and Zip Dry

Thanks for stopping!

Is TODAY Wednesday?

Sure glad I left you with a slide show as my last post! At least you had a variety of moving pictures if you kept checking to see if I'd posted anything new!!

Friday it hit me...that scratchy feeling in the back of my throat, my nose starting to stuff up.

Saturday I spun at my friend's alpaca open house from noon to 5...hour by hour feeling it take its grip on me...ugh!
We went to a friend's house for pizza that evening and by the time we left all I wanted to do was cozy up with a blanket and take some drugs!!

Sunday I forced myself to make a card for our Monday challenge, and I haven't touched a stamp till today! So I must have been sick!!

Thank the Lord I'm feeling better this afternoon! Wednesdays are the Sketch Challenge on SCS and I try to never miss them. So I have several to share with you.

Isn't this the cutest penguin! It's called Penguin Looking Up from Stamps Happen.

It's colored with Copics, masked, then I airbrushed the background. The snowflakes I did with an Elmer's Paint Pen. All the black "layers" are fauxed using a ruler and marker. Actually the stamp has a rough frame around the image, so I just filled it in. And I got to use my new Spellbinder's Inverted Scallop Squares!

stamps: penguin looking up-stamps happen/janlynn paper: georgia pacific white, dcwv, hollos ink: tuxedo black-tsukineko other: copic markers, airbrush system (abs), white paint pen-elmers, spellbinders inverted scallop squares, ruler/marker

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This one is a combo of Monday's technique: painting gesso on a magazine page, stamping and embossing an image, then sponging around the image. I did mine a little differently... I applied the gesso and after it dried, stamped and colored Greek Gardens from Artful Inkables, then I took my Versamarker and went over the entire image (minus the water, I'd cut that off to attach later)....then clear embossed it. Instead of sponging, I just used the ABS again with the Spellbinders Square in place.
Tuesday's color challenge and the Sketch for today.

I inked up the sentiment 2 separate times in order to split it between the upper and lower panels. I thought it worked well that way. The panels and base are faux layered using a marker/ruler. The dark gray layer was done using the same marker.

I love this pattern paper! I happened to be at Michael's in Columbus last week and found one of those 12x12 stacks...you know.. the HUGE stack of paper!...marked down! It was $7.99, regularly $19.99!! It's by Provo Craft and it also has matching stickers for each color section! I was tickled...ok, it doesn't take much I know...lol... but I do LOVE a bargain!

stamps: greek gardens-artful inkables paper: geogia pacific white, prism gray, provo craft stack, magazine ink: tuxedo black-tsukineko other: gesso, copic markers, abs, versamarker, clear embossing powder, heat tool, white gel pen-inkssentials (on the water), scissors

And one more item...Monday evening we had a doozy of a storm roll through! This was right after......

Hope you're having a beautiful day where ever you are....Thanks for stopping!

Sure Signs of Spring!!

Word For The Day...Share! and a Sale!

Kinda reminds you of Mr. Rogers doesn't it...can you say Shaaaare boys and girls?

Today's card is a combo... Sketch/Limited Supply AND a super deal at Mudd Puddles!

The sketch is pretty obvious, the LSC was to use a wheel (try not to go in a straight line), one image stamp, one sentiment and one embellishment.

My wheels are something that get neglected! I can't remember the last time I used one.

So...here we go


It's mostly colored with Copics, the sky and "filled in" parts of grass is Prismacolor pencils blended with baby oil. I put down a Copic dark warm grey layer where my Sand (my 1 embellishment) was going to go, that way if there were spots showing through the sand it would just blend in! The Feed sack is from the On The Farm set (the 1 stamp) and Share is from PSX.

This is Cinnamon Bay sand. And, oh, did I mention Dave is having a !! Check it out! I'm telling ya, this stuff is super cool! I've got more colors and textures ordered. Can't wait!!

Stamps: On The Farm wheel/set-Stampin UP!, Ink: Memento Tuxedo black-Tsukineko, Paper: Georgia Pacific white, DCWV Pocket Full of Posies, black from Hollo's, Other: Copic markes, Prismacolor pencils, baby oil, blending stumps, sand-Mudd Puddles, Spellbinders Nestabilities, Zip Dry glue, foam dimensionals

Now, I'm going to take a walk and enjoy another beautiful day of

Thanks for stopping!

Lovin The Sunshine

No, he's not dead!

Jack was on his back, basking in the sun until I got the camera! Figures...but you can still see the satisfaction on his face....ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! After so many days of snow, clouds and rain, it's wonderful to see BLUE SKIES and SUNSHINE!!

I've got two loads of clothes on the line, YES! Hope you're having a wonderful day where you are today!!

Thanks for stopping!

Artful Inkables Blog Hop and Candy!!

If you arrived here from Velta's blog then you're in the right spot! If you didn't and want to start from the beginning, you can go to Kristin's blog. What fun to win these sets!! You'll have to hop to each Inky Girl till you get to the one with the candy!

Kristin has been busy at Artful Inkables creating some fab new images that are available starting today! I'm tickled to be able to share the ones I got. This first one is called "Greek Gardens" It's such a pretty set!

This close-up shows this fun medium we found when we went to the Scrapbook Expo a couple weeks ago. It's from Mudd Puddles, it's so easy to use and gives such texture! I also painted on some Crackle paint by Deco Art on the one pot.

Colored with Copic markers and sponged with Distress inks...and lots of different layers going on!

stamps: Greek Gardens, paper: georgia pacific white, prism blush red lt, dcwv far east, ink: memento tuxedo black by tsukineko, distress dried marigold, shabby shutters, old paper, other: copic markers, sandy mixture by mudd puddles, spellbinders nestabilities, may arts ribbon, martha stewart border punch, designer label punch, foam dimensionals, crackle paint by deco arts, corner rounder by ek success, corner scallop punch by marvy

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This is a fun tag with the set called "Three Wishes". I got the idea for the "flying carpet" from Mel Stampz, I Cuttlebugged it too, to give it more of a Persian rug flare. I used the Labels Four largest die to trace the top of the tag to give it more of a "Taj Mahal" look.


The magic lamp is also a part of this set...yup...that's a stamp...but I did it with the faux metal technique!
Ink a piece of cardstock with Versamark and sprinkle with embossing powder and heat set with your heat tool. You need at least 4 layers of ep for a good impression. You can either keep inking with Versamark or you can just sprinkle the ep on after each heating. It usually stays 'soft' long enough to grab the next sprinkling. Then, as soon as your last application of ep is melted, take your image and stamp it. Don't worry, it's not hot enough to hurt your stamp! Let it set a minute and cut it out.


The "jewels" on his turban and cloak are punched from the faux metal scrap. The "smoke" coming out of the lamp is some mohair yarn from my stash.

stamps: three wishes, paper: georgia pacific white, me & my big ideas dp, hollo's green, ink: memento tuxedo black, versamark-tsukineko, other: copic markers, cuttlebug/folder, spellbinders labels four, yarn, silver ep, heat tool, cropadile, foam dimensionals, large brad by american crafts

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Now! Joy is next in line in the hop! Enjoy and good luck!!

Thanks for stopping!

Sneak Peeks and a Dirty Girl Give-Away!!

Guess what? The Dirty Girls have each volunteered to send one of their gallery projects to a Fan Club Member! So that means there will be 12 Dirty projects stimulating the US Postal Service sales each month and ending up in the hands of a Fan Club Member! Each Dirty Girl has chosen one specific project to give away.

The good news is all you have to do is leave a comment on that project to be randomly chosen! The bad news is you won't know which project it is so go with your gut (or maybe your favorite project) leave a comment or two or ten and it could be yours! Have fun! Good Luck! Hope it's YOUR mailbox filled with Dirt! You have two weeks to comment from the day the gallery is revealed.

Here's a sneak of several of my projects. Gallery opens at 12 midnight CST!

thanks for stopping!

Easter Blessings

What Do Russians Know About Kahlua? Black Russian Cake

I don't know...maybe it's the Vodka that's in it ah ha!

This is one yummy, simple cake! The longer it sets the better it gets!! It's not the prettiest cake, but after one bite you don't care what it looks like! I made it today for Easter Sunday dinner and thought I'd share. (the house smells sooooo good right now!!)

Black Russian Cake

Preheat oven to 350*

Mix the following:
1 package yellow cake mix
1 6oz package (large box) instant chocolate pudding
1 cup oil
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup sugar
4 eggs
1/4 cup Kahlua
1/4 cup Vodka

Pour into greased/floured bundt pan, bake 60-70 minutes.
Remove from pan while warm.
Glaze with 1/2 cup powdered sugar mixed with 1/2 cup Kahlua.

Spread over cake with pastry brush, covering the entire cake.

Now, if you can stay out of it for a day, it's even better....but if you can't... ENJOY!

Have a Blessed Easter weekend and thanks for stopping!

Dawn

A Cloudy Sky

Head over to Artful INKables blog to see how I did this card

Stamps: Thought I'd Bug You-Artful Inkables, Paper: Georgia Pacific White, unknown blue, Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black, Espresso, Distress Broken China, Faded Jeans, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint-Ranger, Versamark-Tsukineko, Other: Copic Markers, Spellbinder's Double End Tag, Wire, Twinkling h2o's, Waterbrush, Clear EP, Helmar Scrap Dots (under the dragonfly), Foam Dimensionals

gonna be away a couple days...see you when I get back

Thanks for stopping!

Crazy For You

Graham High School presents, Crazy For You

Starring Jared Lusk
sorry, if you viewed this before I edited, I didn't know that song was attached! it's gone now!

A Willing Heart

Such a busy day! Jared's play is tomorrow night....still getting props and costumes together.

My hay guy was bringing some hay this morning...had to lock up llamas and open gates...had to hem a pair of slacks for one of the costumes...started card...started pizza dough for lunch...worked on card...made pizza and popped it in the oven...back to card...took pizza out of oven, grabbed several pieces and headed out the door to town to start passport proceedings...TIM HORTON'S coffee and key lime donut...back home...look for more props...back to work on card....finally, it's done!!

Today's challenge on SCS was to use foil. I ran a piece through my Xyron, attached it to cardstock, cut the frame with my new Labels Four from Spellbinders and ran it through the Cuttlebug.


The Poppy Patch, from Flourishes is watercolored with Adirondack reinkers, pieced and popped! I kind of curled some of the edges to add a more realistic "flower" look.

I love poppies! When we first moved here some 29 years ago there was a small patch, but it's since died out. One of these days I'm going to have to plant some more!

The crinkled ribbon was acheived by heating with my heat tool, gives a cool distressed look, and hey, if you don't have a perfect bow...so what! The sentiment is from Hero Arts and the heart is a Decorative Photo Corner from Spellbinders. The brad is "faux", faux metal (that's for another day *wink*) punched with my Crop -a-dile and glued.

Well, I hope to get some good pictures of the musical tomorrow night and Saturday. I think Jared has about 10 minutes he's not on stage!! Should be fun.

Thanks for stopping!

Inky Antics Fun...and a Pretty Butterfly

Saturday, Amber and I went to the Scrapbook Expo in Columbus. Wall to wall vendors and people!


I didn't do a lot of buying...more looking...but I did make a point of stopping at Inky Antics! I love their stuff....and Janie Miller is such a fun illustrator!


Here are two cards I've done so far with Lester (the moose) and Puppy Love.

Lester is colored with Prismacolor pencils blended with baby oil. The trees are from PSX and the daisies from Cornish Heritage Farms.

Pup and Kitten are colored with Copic markers. The paw prints are from Top Dog by Artful Inkables.
Inside it says, Happiness is an unexpected hug. Awwww (sentiment is also from Inky Antics)
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And this? Just because I love the simplicity of it...the Cuttlebug folder, Friends Forever is perfect for Gina K's Take Flight to light upon!

I hope you're having a beautiful day where you are! It's sunny and warmer today here!! Yippeee!!!

Thanks for stopping!