Stampscapes Thinking of You Card

It's going to be a short and quick post for today. We have a lot going on this weekend with family here and this weekend is Eddie Cochran weekend. Eddie Cochran was born right here in the small town of Albert Lea. He was a musician in the late 1950's and early 1960's, he was best know for his most famous hit, "Summertime Blues". There are several events planned throughout the weekend so it should be a fun one!

The card I am sharing with you today is one that I made a while back for one of my husbands co-workers. The co-worker was in the hospital and several of the employees wanted to send him their well wishes so my husband asked if I could make a card. The stamped images on the card are all from Stampscapes. I haven't used my Stampscapes stamps in a while but they are still one of my favorites and they are wonderful for making masculine cards. I used the large Oak Branch-203G stamp for the background on the light brown colored mat. For the main image I used the Oak Branch-203G, Cloud with Sun-108G, and then third one the name has come off of the wooden block so I am not sure but it looks like a pathway. All of the coloring was done with chalks and then I cut out the image using the Wizard and the Labels Two S4-162 die template from Spellbinders. The sentiment was stamped and then I also made a diecut using the Wizard and the Double Ended Tags S3-149 die template. I also added some ribbon, brads and twig punches to finish off the front of the card. For the inside of the card I added several pages, scoring them first and then adding the brads to hold them in place. This is something that is really quick and easy to do and a nice way to give more room for special messages when you have several co-worker signing a card.

Thank you so much for stopping by today and I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend!! The sun is shinning here and it looks like it's going to be another beautiful day!

Smiles!
Heidi

Sorry for my absence...

I know I haven't been around for awhile but life has just been throwing us some real curve balls lately. Last week our long time friend and neighbor passed away, he had a massive heart attack and we were with his wife through the whole thing. It was very heartbreaking. They had been married almost 51 years. Then on Saturday my Dad was in a car accident, he is ok--thank God!! But the car was totaled and to make matters worse the people who caused him to have the accident never even stopped to see if he was ok!! I just can't believe some people!!! On top of all of this I have been having some problems with my arthritis. At my last doctor's visit the doctor told my that my arthritis has moved on to the next level and I now have rheumatoid arthritis. My inflammation markers keep going up so I have had to be on higher doses of some medications which has now started to cause some other problems. Last week I started a new medication which is an injection that I give myself. So far I haven't seen any changes but the doctor said it could take up to a month or month and a half before I might notice any significant changes. I am hoping for some positive results!!

In my last post I promised to show you some cards that I made for Mother's day and I will still do that but for today I would like to keep this post sweet and simple. I would like to leave you with the sympathy card that I made for our neighbor.

Remembering Andy~Andy and his wife Donna were like another Grandpa & Grandma to our kids. Andy was a true kid at heart, having water fights with the kids on hot summer days, always giving them treats and he loved to tease & joke. Andy will be greatly missed but we have many wonderful memories that we will always hold close to our hearts. In loving memory...

Thank you for stopping by today! I will try to get back to a more regular posting very soon. Take care & I hope you have a wonderful weekend!!
Smiles!
Heidi

Spellbinders DT Submissions Part 2

As promised Part 2~

As soon as I found out we needed to submit something with stamping I knew exactly what I wanted to do! Stampscapes!! If you haven't used Stampscapes or maybe if you haven't ever seen them before I strongly urge you to check out the website. They have some truly amazing design work on there and so many beautiful stamps to choose from!

My husband, Eric is the one who introduced me to Stampscapes. I have to be honest I'm more into the girly & artsy stamps so several years ago when I was first introduced to them I didn't really know if they would be my kind of stamp. But with some encouragement (ok a lot!) from Eric I started working with them and I have grown to LOVE them!! After working with them I found out they are not as intimidating as they look! LOL! They are actually what I would call very user friendly. When working with Stampscapes your imagination is your only limitation!! You can use just one stamp or half a dozen to create some beautiful art! Over the years I have taught several classes using Stampscapes and people are always amazed at what they can create. *If you check out the the slide gallery you can see a Stampscapes card (with a wolf-the wolf isn't stampscapes) that I taught for one of my classes.

Stampscapes Shadow Box Card~
Awhile back I found a wonderful tutorial by Dawn Griffith on SCS for the Shadow Box Card. Click HERE for the link. I knew it would be perfect for this card! I used 9 stamps from Stampscapes to make this card.

Fishing Vest~
Fish~

The die cuts were made using Spellbinders Wizard-Embossing & Die Cutting System. To add the fine details to the Gone Fishing sign, vest and the fish took five steps--1-Embossing, 2-Chalk, 3-Markers, 4-Inks (sponge & brush), 5-White Gel Pen. After I cut out each piece I left them in the die & used the die as a stencil for adding detail.

Looking up to the sky~

Supplies~
Paper~SU-Very Vanilla, River Rock, Mellow Moss, Kraft
Ink~SU-Wild Wasabi, Chocolate Chip (pad & marker), River Rock, Mellow Moss (pad & marker), Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Always Artichoke (pad & marker), Jet Black Stazon, White gel Pen
Stamps~Stampscapes-Oak Branch-203G, Fisherman in Boat-187B, Lakeside Cove Lg-049G, Cascading Falls Lg-015G, Tree Duo-085A, Rocky Peaks-188F, Cloud with Sun-108G, Cloud (Cumulus)-018E, Geese in Flight-039A
Other~Spellbinders-Wizard Embossing & Die Cutting System, Gone Fishing S4 037 Embossing & Stenciling Die, SU-Crystal Effects, Sticky Strip, Pastels (chalk), Linen Thread, My Stash-Shells, Sponges, Pop Dots, Eyelet & Q-tips

Ok here is the last item--the altered item. I think I might be doing a few more of these! *wink* But before I can show you what I did I want to share the before picture with you. I have also included a picture of the designer paper before I distressed it.

Metal Clutch Handbag (before)~
Designer Paper~

Before I could really get into altering the handbag I covered the entire piece with two coats of Gesso. I used a white acrylic gesso which helped to adhere the paint, designer paper, die cuts and embellishments.

Altered Metal Clutch Handbag~
So what do you think? I really, really want to use this!! But I am also afraid of something happening to it! My Husband, Eric works for Hormel Foods and the Corporate/Management Christmas Dinner & Dance is just around the corner--maybe I will have to find an outfit to match the handbag! lol!!

Here's a few close-up pictures so you can see all of the details~

Click on photos to enlarge~
To alter/distress the the designer paper I started out by using an old gift card and some gesso. I swiped the card with gesso back and forth across the paper covering most of the paper. Let it dry. Then I took about a teaspoon of water and added several (30-40) drops of SU creamy caramel ink, took a sponge brush and quickly brushed across the entire piece of paper and let it dry. In the areas where there wasn't gesso it tinted the paper and gave it an aged look. Also once the handbag was altered I brushed Perfect Pearls (Perfect Gold) by Ranger over the entire piece and then sealed it.

Supplies~
Paper~Anna Griffin-Designer Paper, SU-Very Vanilla, Mellow Moss, Regal Rose
Ink~SU-Creamy Caramel (pad & refill ink), Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Regal Rose, Rose Red (pad & refill ink)
Other~Spellbinders-Wizard Embossing & Die Cutting System, Embossing & Stenciling Dies-Nestabilities-Classic Scalloped Oval Lg S4 111, Rose S3 001, SU-Pastels (chalk), Crystal Effects, Deco Art-Cloud White Patio Paint, Daler/Rowney-White Acrylic Gesso, Ranger-Perfect Pearls (perfect gold), Crackle Accents, The Robin's Nest-Dew Drops (poinsettia), Jo-Ann's-Gold Trim, Gold Rose Button, Swarovski Crystals-Light Topaz, Flat Pearls, Plaid-Mod Podge, Zig-Gold Metallic Paint Pen, WM-Metal Clutch Handbag, My Stash-Sponges, Q-tips


Once again Thank You so much for stopping by & checking out my blog!! I always love reading your comments!! I hope you don't get too sick of hearing me say I can't wait until January!! This next year is going to be a wonderful journey full of new friendships and creativity!! I hope you are having a Terrific Week!!
Smiles!
Heidi

Migraines

Sorry I haven't been around for a few days! I have been battling it out with migraines since this last Sunday!! Oh I wish they would just go away!! It gets to the point where any little noise just makes you cringe. If you haven't ever had a migraine consider yourself very lucky and if you have had them then you know exactly what I'm taking about. So needless to say it has been a really slow going week around here. I have a class tomorrow so I am hoping I can get through the day without a migraine.

The only thing I have been working on this week is making some sympathy cards and getting ready for class. I only have one card to share with you tonight. It isn't a new card but I have made a ton of these and I have taught a few classes on making them. It's one of my favorites!!For the base of this card I used a full sheet of CS folded in half and scored. To design this picture I used several stamps and also did a little bit of masking. All of the stamps except for the wold are stampscapes stamps. They are very easy to work with and what I would call very user friendly stamps. Like I said I did a little bit of masking, mostly over the wolf. But for the most part the way these stamps are made there is very little masking involved in layering the images. After I was done with all of the stamping then I use chalks to color in the design and I applied crystal effects over the areas of water to give it a wet look. I also used a craft knife to cut around the top part of the wolf and then used popdots to raise it up just a little.

Supplies~
Stamps~8 Stampsscapes, Wolf-PSX
All CS is SU
Ink~Black Stazon
Other~Chalks, Crystal Effects, Brads, Metallic Pen

Thanks so much for stopping by!!
Smiles~
Heidi

Artist Trading Cards (ATC's) Club

Well I have to say this is a new experience for me. Yes I know you're thinking where have I been? LOL! Believe it or not up until not too long ago I had never made an ATC! *gasp* I know a few people that make them and I have even received some really awesome ATC's from some of my online friends. Not too long ago I was at the LSS and Karen (owner) told me that they were starting up an ATC Club and was wondering if I would like to join. She also said that some of the local artists from the Art Center were going to be joining the club too. So I thought what the heck this would be a great way to get into doing them and with so many talented local people how could I go wrong!! I was right!! I have been having a lot of fun doing the ATC's!! I love to see how many different techniques and embellishments and mediums can be put onto such a tiny little card. What a fun challenge!!

Here is my very 1st ATC!!
I loved getting my little envy filled with so many wonderful ATC's!! This is going to be a great way to get a collection going!! Each month we have a theme and for the month of May is was Serenity. It is so exciting to see all of the different and unique styles of design. When I first seen these I thought --Oh I have to post them to my blog and share them with all of my online friends!! So I sent out emails and asked if it would be okay to post. Here are the ATC's from some of the ladies in the club.

Karen--The Stamp Studio (owner)


Debb


Ce-Ce


Lu


So what do you think? I think they all turned out sooooo wonderful!! I can't wait to see what everyone is doing for June! Our theme for June is Flowers.