Monday, April 29, 2013

More fun with Gelli Printing!!!





As I shared on my journal page post, while in Texas the Fabulously talented Lydia shared a very cool technique for monoprinting!




I must say she is not only talented and gorgeous, but an AMAZING Teacher!




and of course Tex and I, brilliant Students....well actually, Tex was a much more focused Student than I~ I think I shirked some of the Aspic making duties to here with a mad excuse that I needed to do a blog post!!! lol~ I will say that unflavoured Gelatin smells like BUTT!!!  Probably TMI.....but it does!!!

Its worth the effort though, because the technique is WAYYYYY cool~~~




My version of Prison Prints!!!!!



And as you can see, Ms. Jeanne definately had the knack for mask placement an a Gorgeous Mix of colour!!! I swear she could make mud on a plate look beautiful~~~


I do like this background I created though and I was inspired to use it when I saw the CAS challenge for today which was to create a card that was inspired by the following quote:

“May every sunrise hold more promise, and every sunset hold more peace.” 

Read more: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/clean-simple-cards-f239/cas218-inspired-quote-4-29-13-a-t572350.html#ixzz2RuZAQqqY

I wish that for all of you...........


I stamped over my handprinted background with Em's Lantern Flowers from Stamping Bella

The sentiment is from IO Stamps Treasured Memories

I think I need to make my own Gelli Plate and Play some more!!!!

Hugs and Love,


More Minitags2cut!!...



Good Morning
Hoping that you had a great weekend. We enjoyed beautiful weather here, which was great because i attended a baseball practice. Baseball practice you say??? Yep! i joined a slo pitch team.

This is unusually funny because i am an artist and NOT an athlete!

My friend Tracey convinced me to join.....glad she did!

Sooo I was very nervous given the fact that i have never played on a ball team. In fact other than playing a bit in grade school, i've only played baseball twice as an adult.
I can't say that I'm a Babe Ruth by any standards, but I managed to catch the ball a few times and when up to bat, I was pleasantly surprised that my bat made contact with the ball more often than not!!!! I'm not a total wash up!!


Thank goodness I have a little more confidence about my art!

I made more flowers with the Minitags2cut set. I absolutely love these easy little floral shapes and hope to make a little vid tutorial in the next couple of weeks.

Not this week! it's going to be crazy busy here as it's Victopia weekend next weekend.
I can hardly wait for my girlies to arrive for our annual scrappin' and stamping sleepover!!!!
You can find many of the supplies that I used for these cards over at 


including the minitags2cut stamp and Die set
Stephanie Barnard Sizzix Hearts
Ladybugs2love
Inks-Stephanie Barnard by Colorbox


Have a fabulous day!

Saturday, April 27, 2013

My Heart is in my Art




While in Texas, I had the opportunity to learn monoprinting with my new "in person" friend Lydia!!! This is one of the backgrounds that I created. What a fun technique this is!!!!

I vowed that I will do more Art journal and I'm pleased to say that I now have TWO pages complete!!!!

I used this pretty YOURS TRULY stamp from Stamping Bella. Gee, I wish my hair was this long and flowy!!!! 

I hope to create more and more pages over the next while as I quite enjoy the free flow to this form of crafting!

Hope you are all enjoying a wonderful weekend!

Happy Stamping!

Friday, April 26, 2013

It's Bellarific Friday!!! Bling it up a l'il





Today's challenge was to add a little bling bling to your project!!!
I used every day Princess cc226 for my card!! so cute to bling up!!!
Make sure you head on over to Blogabella to see the fabulous creations and to find out how to submit your card for next weeks Bellarific Friday

It's a Sketch!!!

Happy Stamping



Supplies

Stampis-Everyday Princess Stamping Bella-Sentiment- The Stamps of Life Tiny Tags and Stamps
Markers-Copic

Monday, April 22, 2013

Making Flowers with Tag Dies! with The Stamps of LIfe


 
Supplies

Minitags2cut Stamp and  Die Set
Mums2stamps stamp set
Inks: Strawberry, Licorice & Artichoke-Stephanie Barnard by Colorbox
Dotted Squares Embossing Folders
Brads, Sponges




Directions


 


Die cut 6 medium and 6 small circle tag dies


 

Place the dies in the embossing folder and run it through your die cutting machine.



Sponge the edges with Strawberry Ink.



Take a Brad with a larger and long post and place the circles on the brad, embossed side up, starting with the small circles and adding the medium sized circles forming the shape of a flower.







Gently bend each petal upward to give the flower additional dimension.






Finish the card by stamping the Stem and  Sentiment from the Mums2stamp set
Attach the Flower to the stem and attach layers to the card front.



 

Happy Stamping!












Saturday, April 20, 2013

Tilly the Teacup Girl is in Texas!!!



Hello from Texas!!!

Sharing a quick post with you today of my travellin' buddie Tilly who travelled with me all the way to Texas!!!!! She is just scrumptious!!!

Keeping it short and sweet because we are craftin'

Talk to Y'all soon!!!


Friday, April 19, 2013

Bellarific Friday!!!



Today's challenge is a sketch challenge!!! 

I coloured up Patsy Pixie with my Touch Markers

The sentiment is from Stamping UP!!!

Designer Paper is from Hobby Lobby. 

Made my first Maiden Voyage to Hobby Lobby with Bev!!! Fun!!!

Make sure you head over to Blogabella to see the Babes creations and get the scoop on how to win some Stamping Bucks!!!





Thursday, April 18, 2013

Flowers For You!



This week our challenge is to create Floral Cards
I started with this Beautiful Peony Bud and coloured it with my Touch Twin Markers
I sponged around the image with saffron and around the Peony Sentiment  with saffron and a mix of a little Burgandy.I added a touch of stickles to add a dewy finish to the flower.

Check out the DT cards and the deets to play along!

Happy Stamping!




Wednesday, April 10, 2013

In my Garden, I am the Flower



Last Fall my good friend Fabrizio shared the following words with me:

"Vicki, you have to stop being a Gardener, constantly tending to all those around you. When are you going to realize that you are the Flower? When are you going to to have a Gardener tend to you?"

I suppose that people are like flowers; we need sun and water. When the sun, glowing orange against the horizon, settles in for the evening, we need to draw our petals and leaves tight against our stems and get some rest. People, like plants, need card and nurturing. They need the sunshine of kindness and kind words, they need to feel appreciated and loved. They need clean water to nourish their souls and air to breathe. Flowers depend on nature to be their gardener, some tougher than others. Wild Flowers in season are hearty; they survive the elements and grow without tending. Other flowers, such as the orchid are delicate and fragile and do not thrive without a very patient and meticulous gardener, needing a precise amount of water, light and fertilizer to bloom and grow.

In my opinion, people differ a little in that we can be a mix of wildflower and Orchid. Wildflower, in that through our lives we face the elements, rain, storm, wind and darkness; and after all that our stems remain, our petals worse for the wear, but we look for the sun to nourish them again. The sun does not always shine, but eventually it will. Sometimes the Orchid in us needs some care and nurturing. It's a little more difficult for the Orchid in that the Orchid can not ask for help; people can. 

The Beauty of being a Human Being is that we can take charge and become our own Gardener. We can engage in self care to ensure that we continue to grow. We can't always be prepared for the elements that await us, but in tending to ourselves, we can be better equipped to endure.

It's impossible to be a Gardener unless you tend to yourself. In taking the time to be better for ourselves,  we enhance our ability to be better Gardeners. It's important to tend to our own Garden, because without self care, we don't have the tools to thrive and nurture the other flowers in our garden. 

I will be my own Gardener and work harder each day to ensure that my stalk is sturdy, my leaves hearty and my petals strong enough to embrace the sun.

Supplies:

Stamps: Impression Obsession-Cover a Card Harlequin
Ink: Donna Salazar Colorbox Mossy Mixed Media Ink. Tim Holtz Vintage Photo, SU Soft Sky
Half Pearls: CTMH
Machine Stitching

This Journal is Fabulous! I got it at Scrappin' Great Deals and not only do I LOVE the size, I love the fact that the book is bound with a rope and the pages pull out so that you can work on them without creating a mess!!!! This is the first page of many in my Inspirational Journal Series. I've just purchased a bunch of new supplies to expand into mixed media a little more and to create some pages to capture my  thoughts, feelings and inspirations. I sure hope you enjoy my shares with you!

Happy Stamping!


Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Lots of Lady Bugs!





Wanted to share a couple of new cards made with the {Stamps} of Life April Stamp Set Ladybugs2Love. I Love Lady Bugs! For me, they have a special significance in that I believe that Lady Bugs are Lucky!!! 


Shortly after I lost my first son Timothy, I was expecting Jonathon. Because I had gone to full term before Timothy had passed, I was terrified the entire time I was carrying Jon. After my first ultrasound, there were some concerns and as a result, we had to go for genetic testing. It was horrible enough to be so afraid and then to have to go through this process just about threw me over the edge. Here's where the Lady Bugs come in..... I was waiting for the results of the tests and worrying....and worrying. One day I found a Lady Bug in one of the houseplants and for some reason, it made me feel like everything was going to be okay. Now I know that the Ladybug cannot change one's fate, however it did allow me to change my thinking, easing my level of stress immensely. All was okay with the tests, but as the pregnancy progressed I became increasingly nervous that we would not make it to the end. There were so many times I was afraid and it always seemed that each time it got to be too much to bear, a lady bug would appear. A symbol of hope. A symbol that all was going to be okay. It wasn't just at home I would find the lady bugs.... I saw them in my office, at my mothers and here and there outside. Perhaps it was a sign from my Angel Timothy that everything would work out and that I would deliver a healthy baby. I am blessed to have Jonathon in my life and each time I see a Lady Bug, appreciative of the power that little creature had upon my ability to shift my thoughts to a more positive state.

Lady Bugs are Lucky~

Monday, April 8, 2013

To Live in Hearts




Did you all have a nice weekend? Mine was fabulous. Karaoke on Friday night. A leisurely drive and lunch with a new friend and a lazy Sunday. What more could a girl ask for....and stamping time to boot!

I discovered this fabulous acrylic block collage technique through the Featured Stamper Challenge yesterday. Oh my gosh, it is the COOLEST technique EVER and quick and easy, which is a HUGE bonus!!! Here is the link for the instructions if you're so compelled to give it a whirl!

Supplies:

Impression Obsession: Treasured Memories
Acrylic Block
Stamping Mist

Happy Stamping!

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Challenge Chicks! It's time for Spring Cleaning!



Our challenge this month is Spring Cleaning!

We were challenged to use "Old" supplies on our project
I got this idea from my friend Kim, who was using up some rub on's in her stamping projects!

I found these ancient Stamping Up! Rub ons and they allowed me to make a quick and easy, but pretty card!!! What have you got in your stash?

Join The Challenge Chicks on Facebook and show us whatcha got!!!

Friday, April 5, 2013

It's Bellarific Friday!



I LOVE Friday!!! Last day of the working week!!! Time for Family, Friends, downtime....and a little cleaning (sometimes there has to be a little rain on the Parade!)

This weeks challenge was a Sketch Challenge! Fun!

I decided to use this sweet Eclectic Birdie Stamp! Actually, the set of Eclectic Birdies is on sale on the Bella Website!

I used some fabulous new paper that I got from Scrappin' Great Deals this week. It's from Prima-The Engraver Collection.....Delicious!!!!!!

Next weeks challenge is Splendid Spring!

Make sure to go to Blogabella to see this weeks creations and to submit your entries to Em so that you can win some stamping Bucks!!!

Happy Stamping!!!

Monday, April 1, 2013

Playing Around!



Sometimes I just stick with the run of the mill and don't try anything new in my stamping and sometimes I go out on a limb. I love the Try a New Technique Challenge held on Monday over at Splitcoaststampers. I get to try something new..... today I even pushed myself a little further with the challenge, which was to stamp, mask and glitter. I decided to try my hand at masking on Kraft Paper and rather than using inks, I used Pan Pastels!

These gorgeous Lantern Flowers from Stamping Bella were perfect for this technique!!!
My Background is Eclectic T& 8 ticket full background!!!

I really enjoyed making this card and doing something a wee bit different!!!!

The sentiment is from  Get Well Wishes-Impression Obsession

Have a great week and I'll see you soon~