Emboss Resist Technique...

If there's anything I'd like to do this year (besides use the supplies I've already bought!!!), it's to try some new techniques in paper crafting. On my last trip to Archiver's I picked up a few Hero Arts Frame Stamps. When I saw this stamp it SCREAMED for me to try the emboss resist technique. You can find THIS wonderful picture tutorial from Splicoaststampers.I clear embossed my design on white cs, then rubbed my Dew Drop--Aloe Vera over the embossed area. Once I got the ink coverage I desired, I went back and rubbed off the excess ink and it revealed the clear emboss. I knew I wanted to add a sentiment, but I didn't want it to be overbearing and cover up the floral image. My snap stamps were a great solution...simple FRIEND...letters were stamped individually and then I hand cut the baby blue matte. This is something I'm definitely looking forward to trying again!

Snapshot of yesterday...this is in the middle of the storm...hard to believe the beach is only 15 mins. away??!! Looks like the snow will stick around as it will not be above 40 the rest of the week and school has been out for 2 days now. Chan and I got this crazy idea to drag the kids around the neighborhood, on boogie boards, in the freezing rain! We all had fun, but my arms are thanking me today!

Sweet Birthday Girl...

As I made my weekly trip (like you visit the grocery store weekly, this is my weakness!) to Michael's a few days ago, I picked up this cute set by Hero Arts. This set is a trio of sweet little girls. The card was started with the intention of using all three images, but I decided just one would do because of the pattern on the printed paper. You see, I cut my papers to have the card open left to right, now it is top to bottom! Slick, aren't I? Not really, just wasn't thinking when I started! SEE! I told you she was ca-ute! I used very light copic for the skin tone, but she looks like she blends in with the kraft cs here. Added a few rhinestones, matte layers, and a big puffy bow. The patterned paper is from Sweet Shoppe. Don't those candies remind you of Mike & Ike's Tropical Blend? They are very glittery!
While I've been hunkering down and stocking up for this craft show, my little ones love to peek in as well! This would be my 4 year old Addison who is making a bookmark with the PTI bookmark die. Now, she cannot crank this Cuttlebug alone, but her big sis Gracie (6) was helping her along...she snuck out of the pic too quick! I would give you all a sneak peak of the rest of my studio, but I wouldn't want you all to "assume" I keep the rest of my home is such disarray! Besides, a clean room is the sign of a lazy crafter right? Happy Monday!

Chinese Thank-you Notebooks...

Text from my sister: "update your blog, I'm BORED!"

I got a good chuckle from that, but in my own defense, I was busy painting my living room...it had only taken me 6 weeks but IT'S DONE! There are 4 walls in my living room and I was dreading the 2 walls that are peaked! Grrrr! It looks beautiful though and I looooooove the color! I will snap a quick pick...once the furniture is moved back!

Anyhow, with my absence in blogging I also didn't have a darn thing to share...NOTHING new! Still several unfinished projects sitting on my desk, but I took a break from them to work on these little dolls:). I made these up as thank-you's for the photographers who did our family shoot back in November...yeah, tad late, but at least I remembered!China Dolls and Thank you are from Hero Arts, Kanji Phrases (green background) is a new set from CTMH, PTI-Petal Power and Trajan Alpha.It was hard to shoot the brushed gold cs as it blends in with the kraft cs, but I think you can see a little bit of difference here. Look how cute these sweet peas are??Close up on the bg...PTI-Petal Power and CTMH Kanji Phrases. I used Dew drops inks in soft earthy tones (Sahara Sand & Tea Leaves) so the bg is not so overwhelming. Finished off with a simple straight stitch line.

More Pocket Notebooks...

I have a stack of 4x6 notepads on my desk that are begging to be altered (or at least this is my intetion so I don't toss them in a bin and forget about them for months)! I pulled them out last week and I've tried to do a few here and there. Having plenty of new patterened paper on hand always inspires me to create MORE! The only reason I bought this doodlebug paper last week was because I KNEW my ice cream stamp would be a perfect match. After coloring and matting my ice cream cup, I added a tad of crystal effects to the cherry on top to give it a little 3-D effect. When my oldest saw this sweet treat she said it looked good enough to "eat right off the page"! All the rectangles are cut out with my nesty dies. The sentiment "grocery list" is from my new Take Note set from PTI. To shade in the sentiment I dabbed Dew Drop-Aloe Vera ink around the edges.
My dearest friend Donna came by last week and I've sucked her into stamping as well! She loves MFT just as much as I do and had some sets I didn't own, so I stamped up a few and turned them into some sassy, coffee notebooks! I'm not a coffee/caffeine drinker, but I love the way fresh ground coffee beans smell...it's my favorite isle at the grocery store! These notebooks have a fairly simple layout so I just wanted to add a little extra flair by sewing around the borders. On the top notebook, I used the sentitment that came with the Coffee?Tea? set...the bottom sentiment is from Essential Sentiments. There is also a slight "glimmer" on the rims of the coffee cups...more crystal effects so it appears to be a fresh cup of coffee!

Chinese Thank You...

My gf gave me an Asian themed stamp set for my birthday and since it hadn't been "inked" yet, I couldn't resist getting this Hero Arts set (the Chinese kids and middle sentiment) to go with the bamboo! My girls have a few Chinese outfits that they love to dress-up in for special occasions. They usually opt for a red design and it HAS to be matching...sometimes a hard feat when they are two different sizes! Anyhow, back to the card! I stamped the bamboo bg first then sponged some gingerbread bown around the edges for a "vintage" look. The kids are colored with my copics and accented with a cool gray outline. I have always loved Chinese characters! Chinese writing is very artistic and I love to see it...even if I can' read it! I do happen to have a Chinese tattoo (I know, sooo taboo right??!!) on my inner ankle and I thought it'd be neat to have my hubby and I's Chinese zodiac signs together...he the dragon, myself a monkey! As much as I love it, I will not be getting anymore...it was a spur of the moment thing with some gf's when my hubby was deployed to Iraq many moons ago! Ahhh, soo young, soo naive! My little "China Dolls"! My sweet Addie...her smile looks soo painful...lol! Sweet Gracie, below!