Karen's Ink Stained Sketch #3 Card

Karen sent me a photo of her take on Ink Stained Sketch #3.... and check it out!! She sent it to me last week but I'm just finding time to post it.

Better late than never :)

Now, I'm not a red person but I have to say that this card is just beautiful!!!

Such an cool twist on the sketch as well :)

Awesome Job Karen!!!

Remember if you create something using one of the Ink Stained Sketches, sent me a photo, link or post the link to your creation in the comments section :)

We'd all love to see what you're doing out there!

4th of July Fun!!

I had such fun with my newphew on the 4th... My Mom always buys new squirt guns for the kids on the 4th so they were running around squirting everyone having fun. Matthew had a terrible time with the trigger...."It Har" (hard) so I helped him with a BIG squirt gun ;)

Here we are (you can see how wet we got)

Then he figured out that if he put his hand in front of the stream of water we'd really get soaked!!! I wasn't as excited about it as he was - LOL!!

And finally - Bob (youngest ds) LOVES water ~ he always has. I think he enjoys this part of the 4th more than the fireworks - LOL!! :)

Hope you all had a fun 4th :)

Little Paper Shop

Today's featured rubber stamp retailer is Little Paper Shop! If you haven't checked them out you will definitely want to now! They just released several new sets including my favorite Just Bee-cause!!

Little Paper Shop is the brain child of Julia Betemps! "We are a Family owned and operated company out of Red Deer, Alberta, Canada" It all started in October 2007 - Julia notes "I was trying to finish a photo album for my husband and realized there was a lack of masculine stamps. When scrapbooking or creating cards we are often in need of masculine images and in a female dominant industry there is a gap. In December 2007 with the love and support of my family I began a journey that would lead me from hobby to career and “Little Paper Shop” was created. We launched our company in April 2008 with 7 sets and 6 individual stamps, most of which are of masculine themes." This is what really drew my attention to Little Paper Shop stamps! They have many masculine themed stamp sets that you just do not see elsewhere!! Living with 3 guys myself I am tickled to find such cool looking stamps for guys of all ages.

When I asked Julia about her designs she said, "Most of my inspiration comes from my family and everyday life. I have a busy 2 1/2 year old that inspires allot of my "child" sets. My mom is a stamper as well so she sometimes gives me too many ideas! Pictures of my family have inspired allot of sets as well..... My husbands hunting pictures inspired the hunting, ATV and Camo stamp. My Dad is a Farmer." In addition Little Paper Shop has 4 designers with different styles which is how they can offer up such a variety of stamp sets!

Little Paper Shop stamps are top quality clear stamps. They are manufactured in the US using high quality photo-polymer and can only be found on their web-site - Little Paper Shop. They accept Pay-Pal and will ship internationally. Their shopping card isn't set up to deal with international orders but will gladly handle them by e-mail. You can drop them a line and will be happy to help you out!

Little Paper Shop IS an Angle Company. Julia mentions that "We would appreciate credit be given but it is not required and there are no special stamps. Mechanical reproduction however is not acceptable. All images are copyright of the Little Paper Shop."

To date their best selling sets have been the masculine line of stamps with "Caution Construction Zone" being one of their hottest sets going! At this time Little Paper Shop plans on releasing new designs each month so you'll want to sign up for their newsletter to stay on top of all their newest stamps!

On to the stamps!! As I mentioned before I am very taken with the awesome masculine stamps offered by Little Paper Shop! Ranging from individual stamps such as the Tractor, Chainsaw and Monster Truck to their dandy Fishing & Hunting sets! Just perfect for all the guys in your life...both big and little! There is also a neat sentiment set called Boys Will Be Boys ~ another excellent must have set :)

Little Paper Shop also offers up a couple really cute animal themed sets as well ~ Farm Yard Fun and Jungle Fun are just that FUN!! Gotta love that darling little rooster crowing for all he's worth - LOL!!!

In addition to these stamps you'll want to check out their Fabulous Florals, Nature, Sentiments and MORE!!! Just too many cool stamps to name them all :)

I hope you have fun exploring all of their fun sets for yourself!

CHA Previews - Summer 08

Yes I know, don't even have everything I wanted from the last CHA and it's already time for companies to start rolling out MORE new goodies!!!!!!! Geez, it's a never ending cycle of want/search for/want/buy/even more WANT!!! LOL!! I wish sometimes they would just slow down a bit so I could use what I have more before I find additional items I must have.

Anyway, I thought I'd share some CHA Previews I've found here and there....

This is someone I've not heard of before. No stamps but they have some cool papers coming out Glitz Design - Hallow Collection; Hot Mama Collection; Angst Collection; Basics Collection; Glam Collection.

Daisy Bucket Designs (scroll down for the stamps)

Technique Tuesday - Lots of great new stamp sets... I love the "E" is for set (E is for Eric!! - just need one for B now - lol!!). I also really like the Poppy Shop!

Art Declassified - Love Free Spirit!

Penny Black - Love the nature ones!

Not sure these are CHA Releases but Paperbag Studios has some GREAT new images!! I love the shoes the best!

Hero Arts - LOTS of cool new stamps to use in scrapbooks!!

Inkadinkado - Too many cool stamps to name!! I think I want them all - LOL!!!

Paper Inspiration - Clear Stamps & Art Stamps

Stampendous - Lots of cool new stamps...those monkies are just too cute!

Well, that's enough to keep you busy window shopping for one day ;) I'll post more when I find them!

Hope you all had a great 4th!

HAPPY 4th of JULY!!!!

Here are some fun scrapbook lo's celebrating the 4th!

Hope you all have a wonderful and safe holiday!!!

Top 10 Reasons....

All American Boys...We Love YOU!

Have a great day!!!

Boys....

Today I wanted to share a piece I recently made for the Hannah Grey Design Team. Someone asked me to share more of my collage works so....here you go!!

Now, I know this doesn't have any ink or stamping on it but it was SOOOOOO much fun to create! I made it with my guys in mind so I really enjoyed making it. I hope you have fun checking it out :)

Supplies:

Rusted Mesh

Vintage Photos - Boys 1 Collage Sheet

Various Tim Holtz Doo Dads

Wooden Bingo Chips

Large Silver Crown

Gold German Scrap Accents

Stagecoach Concho

Sepia Accents - Ranger

Glossy Accents - Ranger

Tim Holtz Sprocket Gears

Tim Holtz Philosophy Tags

Ticket, Skeleton Leaves & Wire - Unknown

Hanger - Unknown

and here are some close ups....

Hope you like my "Boys" - LOL!!

Tomorrow I'll be sharing some 4th of July LO's I made so I hope you stop back in to check em out!

Have a super wonderful evening everyone

and

if you don't stop by tomorrow....

HAPPY 4th of JULY!!!

UTEE Brights - Beautiful!!

Good Morning Everyone!!

I wanted to share a little card project I made recently that is featured on Ranger's front page for July... Beautiful ... which uses UTEE Brightz embossing powders as well as a fun background technique using Adirondack Pigment Inks!

The colors of the UTEE Brightz are just stunning ~ super vibrant colors with a pearly sheen. Really makes any project pop right off the page! Be sure to check out the complete directions and if you have time, give it a try yourself :)

In other news, Dh turns 45 today!!! We're off for a fun day of fishing this morning and later I'll be grilling steaks and baking him a pecan/coconut cake ....mmmmmm!!!!

So if I don't get a chance to post anymore today ~ hope you have a wonderful July 2nd!!

Take care and have a super day!!!

Beeswax Rubber Stamps - New Releases!!!

In case you missed it Beeswax Rubber Stamps just released a whole new slew of images...some very cool must haves in my book :) Be sure to check them out if you have time!!

Beeswax New Releases

Always happy to be a stamp enabler!!

Purple Faerie Paper Crafts July DT Challenge!!

This month the challenge for the Purple Faerie Paper Crafts Design Team was quilts! They could be pieced, paper folding, stamped, etc. Whatever we wanted. Seeing how I suck at fabric quilting (can't sew myself out of a paper bag!!) I was a bit worried BUT...I used ink & stamps so it was sooooooo much fun!!!

I was lucky enough to use Sweet Memories Quilt Texture Plate! And here is what I came up with....

Blankets....

Supplies: Sweet Memories Quilt Stamp - Purple Faerie; Archival Inks - Ranger; Cardstock - Bazzill & Club Scrap; Fontwerks Stitches Stamps; Vellum - unknown.

The quilt it's self was stamped using several different shades of ink. I also stamped one quilt in black ink which served as my base. I then cut out sections from each quilt and pieced it onto the black base quilt. It took a while but I think it was worth it in the end... The sentiment reads - "Blankets wrap you in warmth... Quilts wrap you in love..."

Friends....

Supplies: Sweet Memories Quilt Stamp - Purple Faerie; Archival Ink - Ranger; Distress Inks - Ranger; Watercolor Pencils - Staedtler; Flower & Bird stamps - Inkadinkado; Cloths Pins - Darcie; Mulberry Paper, Jute - Unknown

This is my favorite of the 2 cards I made...probably one of favorite cards I've ever made!! I just LOVE how this turned out ~ exactly like I imagined it would (don't you love it when that happens!!). I stamped the quilt onto white mulberry paper. I then colored in each of the little squares with a watercolor pencil & waterbrush. Once it was dry I carefully edged it with black sharpie and cut it out. I mounted it onto blue mulberry paper and pulled it apart (for the frayed edges).

NOW...I have to thank Karen for the background inspiration! She recently got into landscape stamping and oh my...the goodies she's made!!! While I don't have any "official" background stamps I thought I might be able to do something close to what she does. The sky & ground are watercolor Distress Ink (reinker) that I "painted" onto some watercolor paper. I then stamped a weed repeatedly and added flowers again using various shades of Distress Inks.

When it was all dry I strung my cloths line and hung the quilt out to dry! You can't see it in the photo but the quilt looks like it's flapping in the breeze because I used Pop-Dots and other double sided tape with different thicknesses to give the quilt a rippling effect! It's way cool when you see it IRL.

If you'd like to see the rest of the projects created by other Purple Faerie DT members please check em out here... July DT Challenge - Quilts!

Hope you're all having a wonderful week :)

Back to work on my projects!!

TTFN!!

Why I've been MIA.....

Sorry about the skimpy posts the last few days ~ I know...didn't even post yesterday! Last Wed. got a request for items for CHA and I've been feverishly working on them ever since! I needed to make holiday goodies (Halloween - Christmas). I ended up cranking out 11 projects, a couple I didn't really care for but the rest I loved! They wanted to see 9 of them in person so I packaged them off last night and shipped them out!

I also got a few new products in the mail yesterday afternoon and am currently making 3 projects using those. Almost finished ~ they have to be turned in for review today!!

I also have several items in the works for the HG DT which need to be out in the mail on Saturday!

Needless to say my house is less than spotless and I have a pile of dirty cloths in the laundry room screaming for my attention that is rivaled by a pile of clean cloths waiting to be folded & put away.... sooooo....that's why I've not been posting a whole lot!

To make up for it though I'm going to be offering a special goodie very soon :) I am going to share a couple projects I made for the Purple Faerie July DT Challenge as soon as I get them loaded! (if you get their news letter you've already gotten too see them!!)