Running With Scissors…

I scrambled to get my Christmas cards made in 2006 and consequently I didn’t send out nearly as many as I would have liked.  This year I decided to do the smart thing and join the 2007 Christmas Card Challenge, hosted by Alliesmom here on Splitcoaststampers.  I started in January and I’ll be making ten cards a month, every month through June.  This will really take the pressure off next Christmas!  These cards are a very simple design because, gee, even though I had all month to make them, I waited until the last minute.  The tree and the “sparkle” were stamped in Certainly Celery craft ink and embossed with Stardust embossing powder.  I love that stuff!  It’s transparent so it adds a dazzling prismatic sparkle to whatever color you use it with.  Seems like I only use it on Christmas cards so I’ve had this bottle for years.  All that sparkle, a little piercing, the ticket corner punch, the Holiday Thyme designer paper and some cute ribbon helped to perk up this quick and easy design.  Stamps used are Trim The Tree, Warm Words, and that little twinkle stamp from Delight in Life–I used it to make tiny blue snowflakes (or twinkles) around the tree.

These are a couple of Bud Basics cards I made but never uploaded to my Splitcoast gallery.  I went on a binge with this set using the same cardstock and ink colors, designer papers and stamps–I made nine cards before I moved on.   It was the first time I’ve ever sat down with limited supplies and just started producing cards.  It was fun!  I was on a roll!  Although Bud Basics isn’t a new set, I still think it’s pretty and I like to use it from time to time.

Stamps:  Bud Basics, It’s Your Birthday, Bud wheel, Basics Outline wheel, Linen

Paper:  Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Spring Flowers DP

Ink:  Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Cameo Coral, Always Artichoke

 Accessories:  Ribbon, scallop scissors, 1 1/4″ square punch

I spent most of today trying to get this site up and running.  I’m not technically inclined but I am tenacious so I persevered and finally got to the point where I could “publish” my first project.  Wow!  I’m published!

It seems like a while since I stamped something just because I wanted to.  I’ve been stamping for one purpose or another–making cards to suit certain individuals, fulfilling requests, designing party projects, etc.  Today I made a card just so I could use some pretty paper and a new stamp set.   This card features the new That’s Nice set.  I love this set because I’m partial to that old, well used look, which is what I hoped to impart with this card.  It’s torn, frayed, smudged and worn out all over–poor thing.  I couldn’t bring myself to abuse that pretty velvet ribbon, though.

Stamps:  That’s Nice, By Definition, Looks Like Spring (the diamond pattern in the far background), Carte Postale (behind the text)

Paper:  Chocolate Chip, Pixie Pink, Rose Red, Very Vanilla, Kaleidoscope DP

Ink:  Rose Red, Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa.  Markers:  Chocolate Chip & Rose Red

Accessories:  Antique Brass Hodgepodge Hardware, velvet ribbon, Rose Red brads, word window punch, mat pack & big needle for piercing, my friend the Stamp-a-Ma-Jig for aligning the diamond pattern even though most of it is covered up

Thanks for stopping by my brand new blog!  I resisted for a while but now I, too, have started a blog.  After visiting quite a few stamping-oriented blogs (since that’s where my interests lie) I’ve come to view them as on line stamping magazines.  So many to choose from!  Page after page of my favorite subject, new articles daily, fabulous photos, and I never have to renew my subscription.  I enjoy reading about the creative process, the whys and the wherefors of a particular project, and that occassional glimpse of the inner artist, the part that doesn’t necessarily show in the paper and ink.  I’ve also discovered an interest in my fellow artists’ daily goings on.  It’s rather nice to be assured that I’m not the only one who can’t spend every moment in pursuit of Stamping Nirvana.   One more thing…blog is such an unattractive word…so unladylike.  I wonder if that’s what made me hold out for so long.  I’m sure it means something in computer lingo…but I digress.  Off we go, running with scissors (don’t try that at home)!