inspiration

I think I was the last person in the stamping world to discover Michelle's blog. She shares her beautiful work through the most amazing tutorials. I first followed this tutorial step by step with the same colors and similar stamps. It looked great and I love the little shadow effect thing with the grey marker. Anyhow, I took her idea and made it more my own using different stamps and colors. I just love how this turned out. Thanks for the inspiration Michelle.

Happy Birthday to my sweet Mom today.

supplies used: Distress inks in dried marigold, peeled paint, and walnut stain; Memento ink in cantaloupe; Zig Brushable marker in platinum; Penny Black script stamp; Hero Arts floral stamp; Stampendous paisley stamp.

the girls

Here is a glimpse of what happens every day here on our walk. Pure joy. These two clowns bring alot of joy to our lives. I hope they bring a smile to your day.

I'm keeping busy with crafty stuff that I can't post. I've submitted some things to a magazine and to a contest. I'm working on teaching some classes, so I'm putting samples together. I've been wanting to do these things for so long, it's nice to finally have time and focus to get them rolling.

Next week we are taking a white water raft trip and some national park stuff. It will be great to get away. I hope you are having a great first week of summer.

silly stamp mania

You know it's true, housework does make you ugly. That being said, my craft space is still clean. I actually cleaned up after each project. I must be getting uglier by the minute...LOL! I even cleaned out Kyle's craft supplies and my card stash. I sent of 45 cards to Cards for Heroes and put together some sets of cards for gifts.

The guys got home from fishing last night and added a ton to our freezer. I love that. Poor Kyle's feet are blistered from sunburn. I feel so bad for him. We are going rafting next week on the Kern River. I've got to get him well before then. He can't even wear shoes right now. We are doing motrin, aloe vera, and hydrocortisone cream per the Mayo clinic online recommendations. I also have him resting with his feet elevated because they are so swollen.

stamp-mania

As you can see I have been busy celebrating WSW. These are just a few of the gazillions of things I stamped this week. I think I'm all stamped out. I'm off to hang out and read the new Evanovich book, Fearless Fourteen. It's pure silliness and perfect for a girly night. The guys get back from their end of the school year camping trip tomorrow. Word is that they caught tons of trout and a bit of a sunburn. I'm making banana pudding to welcome them back. I miss those guys.

ps...I forgot to post this earlier. I had my first negative product review up at Craft Critique yesterday.

stamp arch

I've been playing in my clean craft room making a gazillion things for the 2peas WSW challenges. This is my favorite project so far. I've been waiting for the right time to use this funny sentiment by Catslife Press. It just cracks me up. This is the first arch I've made in a long while. It was fun to get back to the arches. All the stamp image stamps I bought from a friend at her yard sale in a bag full of stuff. They needed to come and live here to go with the sentiment.

Only 2 more days of school and they are minimum days. I'm so ready for summer.

all clean now

It only took 3 weeks, but I finished the craft room clean up this afternoon. I thought I had better show pics to prove I'm not a total pig. There is nothing like admitting you have a problem to the whole world to motivate a change. I still have stuff to clean out in the closet, but I plan to tackle it one shelf at a time. Even after making 3 cards tonight, it still looks like this.

playing cards

I made these two cards as samples for my challenge over at 2peas in a bucket. The first one uses all CTMH stamps along with a mini playing card and chip. I distressed the edges and used black soot distress ink on them. The second card is mostly playing cards that I punched out with a variety of punches. The sentiment is by SU. The little crystals are CTMH. I hope you'll play in the challenges.

I adore using found objects in my art. I mean anybody can run off to the store and buy embellishments and printed paper. It makes great projects and I do it too, but I don't feel a sense of accomplishment. It takes vision to make your own backgrounds and re-purpose things into art. I feel like I've really accomplished something when I challenge myself and it feeds my need to create. I'd love to hear what feeds your creative side.

Worldwide Stamping Week

Worldwide stamping week begins this Saturday, June 14th at 2peas in a bucket. If you love to stamp and want some challenges, check it out. Most of the challenges have a random draw RAK attached to them. Post your projects in the 2peas stamping gallery to be in the drawings. The best part is that you have a whole week to play with the themes and it's all free. Check out this link for full descriptions and directions. Here is a short list of the themes so far just to get you excited about all the fun :

1. Anything Goes (use 3 stamps)
2. Asiana (whatever it means to you)
3. ATC: What time is it? (number/clock themed)
4. By the Sea (shells, lighthouses)
5. Celestial (sun, moon, stars)
6. CFH (any of your WSW cards that are being sent to the troops)
7. Doors (door theme)
8. Four Things (use at least a font stamp, image stamp, brad, patterned paper)
9. Get Inspired (inspiration will be posted on the 14th)
10. Hoarders Anonymous (using up stash on other challenges)
11. Into the Wild (animal stamps)
12. Kiss & Tell (‘kiss’ technique)
13. Long Tall Cards (business-envie sized cards)
14. Masterboard (make a stamped masterboard and use it on cards)
15. Mix It Up (use 3 different manufacturer’s stamps)
16. Naked Stamping (Stamps. Paper. You get it.)
17. Non-paper Stamping (Stamp something else!)
18. Opposites Attract (color wheel opposites)
19. Planes, Trains and Automobiles (transporation theme)
20. Playing Card (use a card on your piece-I'm hosting this one)
21. Punch of Color (3color combo)
22. Quilts (use a quilt –yours or a photo of one- as inspiration)
23. Sketch Challenge (to be posted on the 14th)
24. Skulls and Bones (bring out your bones!)
25. Spin the Color Wheel (adjacent colors on the color wheel)
26. Stamped Embellishments (make your own embellies)
27. Stamps as Tools (using stamps in unique ways)
28. Toying with Techniques (try a new-to-you technique)
29. Winged Creatures (bugs, butterflies, birds….pigs)
30. Christmas in June (get started early on your holiday cards)
31. Had to Have It Product Review (had to have it but haven't used it? get it out!)
32 . Calendar Challenge (calendar stamps)
33. Earth-Friendly Challenge (recycling, repurposing, nature)

Check out #20, that's my challenge. Use a playing card somewhere in your stamped project. Cut it out, paint it, stamp on it, do whatever you want to it, just be sure we can tell it started life as a playing card. I'm drawing an RAK for a Penny Black brushstroke stamp and a few other stamping goodies. I hope you'll play along.

life rolls on

Do you ever feel like you don't have much to say? Lately I've felt quiet and introspective. I have lots of thoughts, but not much to share with the world. I think it's because I'm on the cusp of change. Not huge sweeping stuff, just life is rolling along stuff.

Kyle will be a teenager in two days. After home-schooling for two years and then home-study for one subject this year, he will be flying on his own next year. He's doing great in school, even made the honor roll. I'm very proud of him. No health scares on the horizon and mom is getting stronger every day. So, here I am on the cusp of....more freedom, less stress, more choices. It's a good place to be.

I'm still reading up on the frightening state of our food supply. My most recent read is Skinny Bitch. It's not as funny as it sounds and is downright hard to read in some parts. I'm giving up all soda and artificial sweeteners this week. I'm taking this in baby steps. The farmers market started last week, so I am enjoying local fresh produce.

I just about have the messy state of the craft room under control. Just one small pile of stuff left to go through. It's a tough business keeping the space clean. As soon as I get it cleaned up, I want to make something and then I make a mess again. I'm working on cleaning after creating, but I think the mess helps my creative process.