From the Vault

While cleaning out my closet recently I came across some cards I made when I first started stamping.

This was one of my first background stamps (from Hero Arts). I didn’t keep track of what I used back then, but it looks like I stamped in purple and used a holographic powder for the lines. The jester is from Judikins. I think I acquired the jester at one of the first stamp shows I attended — the Original Rubber Stamp Convention in Carson, Calif. I also bought a matching stamp, a ballerina. I embossed the jester in black, then colored him in using gel pens (which I borrowed from my daughter. I had much fewer supplies back then!!).

Here’s a close-up:

And simpler still:

My sad first embossing attempts. Sigh.

More Valentines and a Fabulous Find

I just realized we don’t have too much time until Valentine’s Day… so in the next few posts I’ll do a Valentine Blitz! There will be more hearts than in a cardiac unit! So get ready….

This sweet die cut set is a Fabulous Find from Lawn Fawn. The stitched square and the tiny hearts are all part of the die set, which also includes a row of arrows, banners, etc. I colored the tiny hearts using a Distress Marker. The cute arrow paper clip is also a Fabulous Find from Freckled Fawn (Wow, this is like a whole deer theme!) The heart (gold embossed with Judikins) and sentiment (cut up) are both by Hero Arts. The pretty sequins are from Doodlebug Designs and the yummy pink card stock is from World Win.

This came together pretty quickly … mostly because I had lots of odds and ends and new dies hangin’ around my desk.

I also put some of those teensy hearts inside:

Have a wonderful weekend!

I (Heart) Valentines!

Valentine’s Day is my favorite card making occasion, even more than Christmas. Don’t know why … maybe it’s the pretty colors, the cheery heart shapes, or just a great excuse to stay in touch. I love sending Valentines to my girl friends — it’s such a sweet surprise to find these in one’s mailbox.

Here are two quick cards to start the countdown to Valentine’s Day:

The background paper is by Anna Griffin, the greeting is Hero Arts, stamped in Hero Arts Cup O’ Joe Shadow Ink. The hearts, also Hero Arts, are embossed (the larger heart uses Judikins Pastilles, the striped heart is American Crafts Zing Blush. And although you can barely see it, there are little dots of Viva Pearl Pens in the centers of the flowers and on the heart.

I love this ombre cardstock from Echo Park. The hearts are all from Hero Arts, embossed in Judikins Pastilles and Aegean silver (the smaller heart) and American Crafts Zing Blush.

Thanks for stopping by … more Valentines to come.

Fabulous Finds Friday — Checking in at Carson

It’s been a while since I’ve been to the Original Rubber Stamp Convention in Carson, CA. (Commonly called the Carson show.) I didn’t have time to shop (boo hoo) because the hubster was waiting in the car…. so I just ran in to take a few picks and say hello to some old friends. Here are some fabulous, fun finds.

First up, the dynamic duo of Judi Watanabe and Rob Bostick of JudiKins.

Judi demoed a technique using Mica Magic reinkers to create some stunning backgrounds:

Rob showed me the new Frosty White embossing powder, here used to stunning effect on red cardstock:

I think I need to get my hands on that powder!
Check out more of JudiKins at www.judikins.com

Next week I’ll show some more fun finds — including some new (to me) companies and some old friends (Remember Carmen’s Veranda?)

Have a great weekend!

Another from the Vault

Who knew cleaning could be such fun? Here are some more cards made years ago, when I first started stamping:

When shadow stamping first came into fashion, I thought it was the greatest technique because it was so quick and easy. I first learned the technique through Hero Arts when the company introduced solid stamps in various sizes and shapes, and also ink that was soft and mat and perfect as a base. (I’ll be blogging soon about the newest Hero Arts stamps that harken back to shadow stamping! Or check out the Hero Arts Web site and look at Shari Carroll’s video.)

The shadow stamps are definitely Hero Arts, as are the inks. The fish is from Maryse Carrier, who once designed for Magenta. I was thrilled to find out that her designs are now being carried at Stampotique! Do check them out. I had forgotten how fun and whimsical her designs are, so I’ll be digging out more of those oldies from my collection.

This one is all Judikins (except the sentiment, which I believe is Hero Arts.) The background is a fun retro block with four images on one block; the abstract was black embossed and colored with watercolors.

More From The Vault

Last week I shared some cards I made a megatrillion years ago … here are a few more:

How’s that for heavy masking? Back in the day, “postal” images were all the rage. And obviously, I had just learned how to mask! (Masking is a technique used to put one image behind another. You stamp your foreground image, then stamp it again on scrap paper. Cut out the scrap paper image, cutting a little inside the line. Use that to cover or “mask” the foreground image, then stamp another image over it. The second image will appear behind the first. Make sense? If you stamp your mask on a sticky note or use repositionable glue, then it won’t shift when you stamp over it. Tip o’ day!) (Most of those postal images are from Rubber Stamp Avenue, which is still around and still has fun stuff. The ink is Kaleidacolor from Tsukineko — a fast way to add color.)

Here’s when I learned how to stamp a scene:

I haven’t stamped a scene in ages! I should dig out those old stamps and try again.

And my early infatuation with heat embossing (a life-changing event!):

(Images from Judikins.)

Thanks for stopping by!

More Valentines

A day away from Valentine’s Day … I’m having fun using several of the new items shown at the Craft & Hobby show.

(Like these new Thinlet dies from Sizzix)

This card was so random. It began because I was playing with some new Thinlet dies from Sizzix… you know how that goes.
So here’s how it happened: I tore open my new package of Sizzix Thinlits dies (658952), grabbed some paper scraps (from the Paper Source) and played. The scraps hung around my desk for a while until the teal cardstock magically appeared next to it. Then I had to play with the new glitter cardstock from American Crafts, and since I needed Valetine cards, I dug out a VERY old Sizzix die (one of the first dies I bought.)
Here’s a close-up of the heart:

The sentiment (Hero Arts) was white embossed, then cut using a Spellbinders Labels die. I edged it in blue, but didn’t like that so added Stampendous! Pearl Lustre Moonstone powder. The arrow (from the same Sizzix set) was dabbed with Tsukineko gold Delicata ink.

One more:

The red heart is from another new American Crafts glitter stock (this one corrugated, yum!); the bottom heart was stamped with an old Hero Arts heart and sprinkled with Judikins Aegean Silver glitter (love the look of that.) The gold heart is from scrap paper. The die cut hearts used that old Sizzix die. Sentiment from Paper Source, cut using a Spellbinders Labels 8 die; ribbon from Creative Imagination.

I’ll have one more Valentine card tomorrow, also featuring a new, unique die. Thanks for stopping by.

*disclaimer — several of these items were provided by the manufacturer.

More Fashionista

In my last post, I played with the Fashionista set from Close to My Heart.

In this trio, I went for simplicity. I stamped one of the models on white cardstock using VersaFine black ink, layered her and added her to a premade card (from a pack I found on clearance!). But I wanted a pop of color — red. Check her out:

To create the red dress and bag I stamped her again, this time using VersaMark clear ink and red embossing powder from Judikins (it was the purest red I had and it was just perfect!). I then cut out the red embossed dress and bag and ran them through my “Baby X,” my small Xyron sticker maker:

So easy! I just peeled and stuck the dress and bag in place. I made two more cards using this technique, each time adding another element … a piece of red ribbon here:

… and a Spellbinder’s border here:

Fashionista was a fun set to use and I can’t wait for these gals to hit my card runway again!

As always, thanks for stopping by.

Fun Friday with Embossing

Sometimes, things just come together. Last week I used my new M-Bossabilities™ embossing folders and Distress Inks to create fast, simple cards. I wanted simple stamped images for these cards so the texture of the dry embossing would shine through. I had just received the solid sentiment images from Hero Arts and re-discovered some cool embossing powders. So what’s a girl to do? Why, play of course!

So I did. In another reorganizing attempt (my 1,325th!!) I re-discovered the Chablis powder from Judikins, which I got eons ago. Because it is somewhat translucent, it takes on a different look depending on the underlying color. Interesting, no? Well… that led to an embossing frenzy. Here are some of the results:

ACK! I couldn’t stop embossing …. I dug out some other colored powders that had not felt the love in a while, including Zing! powders by American Crafts. I love the way these colors pop. This time I used a VersaMark (clear) base coat so the powders could take center stage:

One more:

(the Neon Green was used over a VersaMark clear pad; the two bottom samples used Chablis over colored ink.)

What’s your favorite go-embossing powder?

Thanks for stopping by!

Gettin’ that Holiday Spirit

Yes, it’s getting to feel a lot like Christmas (go ahead, sing along. You know you want to.) And Chanukah. (Hmmm…. no good Chanukah melody. Sigh.)

Here are three cards to get the season going:

The card above was made while I was working on my mixed media article for Crafts ‘n things magazine. I used Donna Salazar’s new Mix’d Media Inx, a  creamy, slow-drying pigment ink from Clearsnap (ColorBox). I stamped in white on navy blue card stock, then embossed with clear powder. (long design is a bolio from JudiKins; menorah is a very old stamp from Limited Edition.)

And something a little different … sort of seasonal, sort of wedding, sort of any time…. I dunno. I just felt this was a good time to share it.

(Spellbinders’ Nestabilities die cut flower; border punch; gold mum paper from Paper Source.)

And a similar card: (I think if I replace the “happy” with a seasonal greeting, it would work as a Christmas card.)

Thanks for stopping by!