mik inks

Hounds-tooth Happy Birthday...

Making man cards is quite a challenge for me.  I have trouble making them "manly."

One of Syd's favorite teachers is a man and his birthday was a few weeks ago.  So, I pulled out my notebook of categorized stamp sets and began looking through it.  Now, Mr. B is a football/athletic sort of guy, so I knew that my more cutesy stamps would not work.  However, I didn't want to go with the sports theme.

So, I pulled out Circle Circus, this black and white hounds-tooth DP, some Old Olive, Whisper White, and Basic Black CS...and this is the outcome.  I did cut out the little circles and glued them to the circles...it took a bit of time, but it add a neat element to the card.  A few layers, some circle punches, and the corded button...perfect.  It would have been a quick card if I didn't cut out the little circles!

I took the same stamp and made black and OO circles along the bottom edge of the envelope.  It needed just a little touch of something...perfect with the card.

Try a "Manly" card today...Happy Stamping!

Roo for You...well, actually for Jill

My friend Jill had a birthday a few weeks ago, and while perusing through my many stamp sets, I decided to pull out this adorable kangaroo...I knew that the gift stamp from Sock Monkey Accessories would be a perfict "fit" for his pocket...

While you have to cut around the kangaroo carefully, it is well worth the effort because when mounted on our SU! dimensionals, she really takes on a life of her own.

I pulled out the SU! flower brads...I always forget that I have some fancy schmancy brads on my accessories storage rack, but this time I think the cute yellow flowers on the DP reminded me.

I did cut the two background ovals with a Big Shot die cut...it was the perfect frame for the Roo.

I used the left over DP to line the envelope.  HINT HERE:  Create a template to use over and over again when lining your envelopes.  I took an envelope and carefully sliced off the front and flap of the card so they were one piece.  I then used my tiny SU! scissors to trim it ever so slightly, were talking curling slivers of the edges, to make my template which I use over and over again.  I just trace around the template onto my DP and then cut out and use the DP inside a new envelope.  Very Cool.

Try making one today to go with a card you create.  Happy Stamping!

DEAL, DEALS, DEALS!

Starting November 1st and running through January 4th, 2010, SU! is having an amazing promotion!

In these times of economic awareness, I think we are all thinking about the up and coming gift giving season and how we can give thoughtful gifts that are meaningful and easy on the pocketbook.  I know that I do not need another thing on my coffee table, however, I am always grateful for something to use...especially in my stamp room!

Well...here's a great way to give those types of gifts! There's a gift here for everyone in your life...including YOU!  Drop me a line, or simply order from my website...

I love how this gift-giving guide is laid out...each section is a suggestion for different folks in your life!  what could be easier?

Don't forget Gift Certificates either!  They make a great gift for the crafter who has everything, except the stuff that's coming in the future...it's a great way to keep on giving.  I will even design a special holder for the certificate.

Flower Pot Stretch

Awhile back, I inadvertently ordered a set in the wrong language...I know, don't say it.

So, not being able to use the set, I used a return form and traded it for this set...same price, just a small fee for trading and shipping.  I have often admired this set, however, there was always another set that I wanted just a little bit more, so it kept moving it's way down the Wish List...yes, I have a Wish List too...I seriously cannot afford everything that I want!  Tee Hee

When it came, I could not have been more thrilled to discover that paper-piecing was one of the techniques that would work well with this set.  It even fed my obsession for using the tiniest pieces of my scrap CS!  The tree, pot, and birds were all stamped on the scraps then cut out.  Yes, those birds are that tiny and my tiny SU! scissors worked perfectly.  (A Little Trick here-Our brads come in great little containers, don't throw  them out when you use up all the brads. When you cut out tiny images like the bird, put them in these containers until you are ready to attach them.  Little cut outs like these tend to "travel" after you've prepared them and for some reason they are so hard to locate when you are ready to attach them. If you place them in the container, even using the lid in case of spillage, you can find them every time! This idea also works well for brads, buttons, and small bling waiting to be attached to cards and projects...)

Anyway...the 2 background DPs are from the scrap pile also...just layered to add some texture and interest and to pull the colors from the image.  As you can guess, I worked the colors around the DP choices.  I finished it with a simple ribbon knot.

Because the base card is black, I make an insert of white CS to write my sentiment or stamp my sentiment upon.  I made this card to be a note card, so there is nothing inside...however, it can easily be stamped for a birthday or other occasion.

Stamp a note card today using paper-piecing.  It's fun.  Happy Stamping....

Build A Bear for the Pals!

Mary Fish and her Pals Paper Arts group are at it again.  This week...make something other than a card!

So, I fished (no pun intended for the Pals and Mary...) through my drawer of alterables and found a little composition notebook that would work perfectly with my NEW!!! Build-A-Bear Big Shot die cuts!

Yep...I relented and bought the set with the coordinating clothing die cut as well.  I have to admit, it was a great buy.  I have had so much fun playing with the bears and their clothes.  I eschewed them at first because I thought them for little kids, and have a teen-ager, this was not a "must have" for me.  But, I have been seeing them all over the place with some great applications, and not just for kids...

I had a great time making the little outfit.  I found that scraps work great here...and so I pulled all the DP out from my stash, and coordinated them into this "Vogue" worthy designer duds. Tee Hee!  Look closely at the white princess collar...it's the shoe die cut!  I simply arranged them on the top and trimmed with my SU! tiny scissors.  Some bling-bling at her feet and neckline added just the finishing touch. 

I then covered the notebook and added a mini pencil...perfect.

Make something for the Pals Paper Arts Challenge...Happy Stamping!

Always Elegant and Sincere

  Sometimes I stress myself out trying to make a WOW type card, forgetting that sometimes the best cards are the simple ones.

I am a busy mom, wife, and teacher, and my day just gets started when I get home in the afternoon.  Between the dogs, the daughter, the house...there is so little time left fot the things that I love to do, like stamp.  Then, when I realize that I haven't posted to the blog in a fe days, I put this extreme pressure of myself to do so.

Well, I realized that there are probably many of you out there that have the same time crunch as I do and want to make a card that is lovely, but will not take up 45 minutes of an already busy night.

This is my contribution to that endeavor.  This is made with 2 stamp sets, Sincere Salutations and Always, Cameo Coral, Chocolate Chip, and  Whisper White CS, and Chocolate Chip ribbon.  I used a few dots to pop the heart.  I made my own background DP, added the tie, and it was done.  I actually taught this to a group of girls at a workshop and they loved it.  I forget what it was like to be a new stamper and the need to create simple, yet attractive cards can be overshelming when there are so many WOW cards out there.

I guess, it all comes down to this...I have to be the WOW upside down (MOM) first, and the stamper second...I am sure I am not alone!  Happy Stamping!

Brenda's Brayered Creation...

I would SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO like to take credit for this card, however, I can only take credit for being a good friend of the talented card-maker!

This is another one of Brenda's amazing cards.  You know how some folks just ave a knack for creativity while the rest of us copy?  Well, she is one of the later bunch and I end up copying her cards!  It's a good thing we are friends!

What I like the most about this card is the brayered background and her choice of colors.  I never seem to remember to use purple, and here it is with the green and orange looking simply delicious.  It must be a hint for me to pull some of this out during the fall season and get cracking.

What this photo does not show is that the flowers are all clear embossed which adds a shine that really makes them pop.  But I would expect nothing less from Brenda.

I guess I need to pull out my brayer and get started.  Why don't you pull yours out too?  Happy Stamping!

Pals Paper Arts Color Challenge

  This week's PPA challenge was color!  And since they were Old Olive, Perfect Plum, and Pumpkin Pie, I knew that a Halloween card was the answer.

Previously, I had created a card using the pattern on the back of these stripes...so today, I knew that I needed to flip that DP over and get some mileage from these colors and stripes!

Easy, Easy, Easy is the answer here.  The large image stamp can be found in "From the Crypt."  I stamped it with craft PP ink, then used SU! clear emboss powder and a heat gun.  It was speedy o say the least.  I then used the mod punch to create the sentiment strip, also adding the Happy Halloween sentiment from "Teeny Tiny Wishes."  If you haven't checked this stamp set out, visit my website and take a look.  All the sentiments fit in the word window punch.  It doesn't get any easier than that!

I used our Tearing Edge on some OO CS that I then ran through the Big Shot using a texture plate.  Two strands of PP grosgrain ribbon, 4 brads and some Snail...it was done!

I think it's cute...plus the quick and easy part really appealed to my time limitations. 

Stamp a card quickly today.  Use some embossing on a large image and you're done!  Happy Stamping!

Patterned Pines Stamp Set Showcase

I want to start a new weekly post where I showcase a specific stamp set.  I may or may not show a card or project as the focus is directly on the stamps themselves.

This week, I wanted to share the Patterned Pines set which is a Level 1 Hostess set from the mini catty that is currently running with SU! With a $150 personal order or workshop, you can choose this stamp set for FREE!  In addition, SU! is currently running a promotion called Sweet Rewards.  From September 1-November 30, host a $250 workshop and choose any one item (excludes hostess sets and My Digital Studio) for the mini for $10!

I love this stamp set because it is so versatile.  First, the star can be used all year round.  The corner stamp too can be used and would look great with the flower popped up or one of the flowers from our trio punch popped up on top. The snowflake can get you all the way through the winter months and paired with our new paints in th mini look quite pretty.  However, the trees are the best.  One has a snowflake pattern, one a swirl pattern, and one (my favorite) a paisley pattern.  You could use your markers to ink only the triangle part of the tree, stamp it, and add a blingy brad to the top and you have a party hat...perfect for a man's card (imagine Night of Navy - like a bandanna), a child's card, a small gift tag...the sky's the limit.

I even thought about turning the trees upside down and making them look like pennants at the top of a card!

What great ideas can you make from what is obviously a seasonal stamp set?  Email me or publish to the comments below.  I'd love to hear what you come up with!

Happy Stamping!

Leaves are Starting to Fall

I wanted to create an easy and quick card using the Autumn Traditions DP from SU! and the Falling Leaves stamp set.

I think what is so appealing to me are the colors  The greens, reds, and golds of course are the hues of fall, but he purple took me totally by surprise.  And, it was a great surprise!  I decided to go with that for the long base strip, showcasing the leaves.

I wanted to pop a bit of accessories on this card and realized that the brads were the perfect choice.  Subtle but perfect on each of the squares.

I QUICKLY finished the card with a sentient and two oval punches.  I popped the sentiment oval with a dimensional and placed it on the bottom.

I think this card is a great way to showcase our DP and because it was easy and quick, anyone could make it.  In these busy times, it's nice to have time to stamp when you don't have time to stamp!

Try making a quick and easy card today!  Use this layout!  Happy Stamping!