Paper Trufflez

Tot Rejection . . .

Basketball reigns supreme in my house, and one of my favorite aspects of March Madness are the commercials, like  this one.

WARNING:  STRAP ON YOUR DEPENDS

YouTube - SONIC COMMERCIAL.

"Salmon sezzz . . ."

BAH HAHAHAHAHAAAAAA!!!  I couldn't resist!    "Simon says" . . . "Salmon sezzz" . . .    Yeah.  I know.  I have a good time all by me onsie, don't I?! 

Lemme say this:  I am jazzed.  JAZZED!!!  Got sumpin' *uber* tricksy to share.

Courtesy, I must say with many thanks, of Marianne, Chief Copic Specialist.  Last November, Marianne showed me how to create fish scales.  I've been dying to try it myself ever since.  Time kinda blew by me, tho.  Lolly. 

I got to play all last Saturday in my studio, and had a ball!  This was one of the projects I was bent on creating. I LOVE the results!  And, f'oh sh'oh, we can always use more GUY ideas, eh?!

I come from a family of fly fishermen, and married into a family of fishermen. Generations. On both sides. *grin*  So, I love fishing related images!  Fishy's cute and a long-time fave of mine, but, my men would be far more impressed with a card starring Salmon.

I thought the new Eucalyptus would make a perfect backdrop to showcase the 3D mounted focal in this design.  And, I was right. 

I had to hand-script the sentiment, tho; no stamp.  "Seize the fish."   Yup.  My guys will be duly impressed.  *grin*

Salmon was stamped with A Muse Black Dye*, excellent for open line images and coloring with Copics.  Then, he was colored with Willow and Pale Olive Copics.  I pressed the fine tip end of a Copic Original Blender Pen to create fish scales.

Is that not COOL???!!!!

Unfortunately, the Copic Blender pen is often misunderstood; it's not really a blender in the sense that we stampers tend to think of "blender pens".  It's more like a color-pusher tool.  Better yet, think of it as a color BROOM.  It pushes or repels the color around, rather like, as Marianne said, " . . . sweeping sand".  It's not a vacuum.  It cannot "remove" color.  But, it enables you to manipulate the color.

In the above example, the Blender Pen has actually repelled the green inks away from the pressure point, and created the appearance of ink having been removed.  At any rate, IMHO, quite impressively tricksy!

Stamp Images:  Salmon, Eucalyptus; Paper:  Chiffon Green 4 bar note card, Fern & Fr. Roast paper by A Muse Artstamps; Inks:  A Muse Black Dye*, Colorbox Fluid Chalk in Olive Pastel; Copic Original Markers:  Willow, Pale Olive, Blender; Other:  Making Memories Antique Copper Mini Brads

*A Muse Black Dye features fast-drying properties especially conducive to working with Copics (alcohol-based) markers.  However, I highly recommend purchasing a reinker at the same time you get the ink pad; much like other inks with faster-drying properties, such as Versamagic and Brilliance, the pad tends to dry out faster.

Rainy Day Blues . . .

What a lovely Saturday this has been!  It has poured ALL day.  But, I didn't mind at all . . . I got to stamp just for the halibut!  YAY ME!!!

Do you have little ones?  Have you ever read Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day to them?  Such a great story--especially when it has been one of those days . . .

Umbrellas are such fun images to play with--I think they're more versatile than people give 'em credit for!  I mean, sure--sure--they're classic for bridal and baby showers, but, that's usually the LAST thing I get excited about using an umbrella image for!  *chuckle*

This is too colorful and bright, not to be uncheered, eh?!  I think inside,I'd write:  "Tormorrow will be a brighter day!"

I'll share some of the other designs later in the week--I really had fun today!  Lawdy.  I'm bouncing.

Stamp images:  Umbrella, Clouds, Rain, "Mama said"; Kitchen Yellow 4 bar note card, Black dye ink all by A Muse Artstamps; Copic Markers:  Powder Blue, Coral, Lipstick Red; Other:  Quickie Glue Pen, Prisma Glitter, Memento Sky Blue ink; 1/8" red eyelets

PAPERLICIOUS: Dear Paperlicious: Top Ten Tips: Stamping Saves $$

PAPERLICIOUS: Dear Paperlicious: Top Ten Tips: Stamping Saves $$.

I just love Joan.  She cracks me.

Amuse-bouche: Blossom in blues

There is something about blue and white--it's so CLEAN and always reminds me of fresh linens, hanging on the line, under the sun.

The newest A Muse release is eminent imminent* (I love that word), and I'm havin' a hard time containing my excitement over it!

The above idea has been floating around in my head for weeks now, and finally, I had 10 minutes tonight to make it real!

I'm sure you've been hoppin' the Muses' blogs and scopin' out what they've been sharing this week.  I do believe they are as smitten as I am over these fab new images!

Keep your eyes on the A Muse website . . . I think you'll love what you see when the release goes live! *wink*

*LOL! Thank you, Nancy--I stand corrected, and have corrected! And, I like BOTH words! *chuckle*

All stamp images (Wild Blossom, script "Thank you" coming *very* soon!), Mini and Micro Dot Twinkle Stickers, Chiffon Blue Note Card, Cabana Blue Sheer Ribbon, by A Muse Artstamps

Julie Ebersole: The Great Yosemite Stamp Escape 2009

Julie Ebersole: The Great Yosemite Stamp Escape 2009.

I'm excited to meet some fellow SCSers at the above event!

Updated with a group shot of the projects I have planned.  I have a feeling this is gonna be a blast!

And, I'm super excited that Dave AND Taylor wanna come with me!  Yippeeeee!!!

That is WILD!

Amazon.com: Fabulous Folds for Card Making: Tanya Fox, Barb Sprunger: Books.

One of the cards I contributed to this book is on the cover--the big blossom with the iris folding in apricot, celery, and turquoise colors, and white scallops!

TOO STINKIN' FUN!!!

(she shrieked as she bounced right off her chair) . . .

WOW! 1,647

I had no idea that this was the number of submissions the editorial staff received for this latest special issue of Stamp It! Cards!  CRIKEY!--that's a lotta cards!  I just love the one on the cover by Maren Benedict--so fresh!  Heck the whole cover is fresh!

Stamp It! has always been a favorite for me.  EVERYTHING in it is stamped!  I also like that there are cards for the whole year round--birthday, Halloween, encouragement, thank you, etc.  There are some awesome layout ideas and color combos I'm itching to try during my next stampin' frenzy!

Cath, who hosts the Moxie Fab Blog, has had all kinds of fun stuff going on this week in celebration of this fan-stamp-magorical issue!  If you'll stop by today, and leave a comment, you could win a copy of Stamp It!, or some of the other fun stamps and embossing powders they are giving away!  And, apparently, you could win some Copic love, too if you drop a comment over at the Paper Crafts Connection Blog!

Cool!

amuse bouche: Modern Poppy

Guess what?!  It's Friday.  YAY!  And, I actually did stamp sumpin'!   Looky!

Fabulously contemporary, I present to you:  Modern Poppy

I'm smitten.  Positively smitten.  I have two amuse-bouche today--this one here, and another featuring the Solid Zinnia over at the A Muse News Blog--these are just a taste of what's to come in the Love Blooms release! GAAAAAW-JUS!!!

What's an amuse bouche?  Heather explains it delightfully!

I had some scraps of paper I just couldn't toss away, so I pieced 'em together on a Buttercup note card.

There's no rhyme or reason to this color scheme--only that it seemed cheerful and made me happy--polka dots make me happy. *grin*

I thought it would be fun to stamp "hi friend" along the stem, just for something different, UKWIM?!  And, I like how it turned out!  Martha Stewart Black Onyx glitter gives the stamens in the center some chic sparkle.

This is just an appetizer, to get your creative juices salivating before the main course gets served up next week!  Be sure to hop the Muses' blogs--they're dishin' up amuse-bouche for your viewing pleasure!

  Bon appetit!

All stamp images (Modern Poppy coming soon!), note card, ribbon, black dye ink (A Muse dye ink is FAB with Copics) all by A Muse Artstamps

I had a COW yesterday!

OK, not really. 

This fun design was featured as the Card Of the Week in yesterday's A Muse newsletter! 

I don't do it very often, but, I do love the effect you can get with masking!  It worked fab in this design!

I'm so glad Easter is in April this year--totally snuck up on me last year!  My kids still like to dye eggs--even at 19 and 12.  And, they want "the bunny" to hide 'em, so they can hunt 'em. Like THREE times!!!   Goofy kids!  But, we have fun.  And, lots of egg salad! 

Which reminds me . . . I must get stocked up on Starbust jelly beans--they are so juicy.  And peeps. Gotta be prepared for the annual peep jousting, too, of course.

Things have been busy--too busy!  I still haven't gotten a wife, altho I do appreciate Jill's suggestion of a Cabana Boy.  Hmmmmm.   Must look into that.  *chuckle*

All stamp images, note card, ribbons, rhinestone stickers by A Muse Artstamps

Thanks! I needed that!

Moxie Fab World: Five for Friday: Kicking Off Stamp It! Week.

This was a bright spot! Thanks, Cath--I needed that today!  Muchly.   

In My Thoughts . . .

Work and family obligations have left me little--OK, I really mean ZERO--creative fun time of late, so . . . much as I wish I had GOBS of fun new art to share, I simply don't. *sigh*

This was the last personal creative project I've had time to make in weeks. I'm afraid I don't have more than a few seconds tonight, so, I'm sharing just pics!

Hunkerin' back down,

Mini Flower, Long Grass, Tiny Butterfly, "You are In My Thoughts", Note card and papers, ribbons, embellishments all by A Muse Artstamps