Link: MillanNet - Free Smilies, Flash Movies, E-Cards, Smileys.
Some of you have asked where I get the smileys I use.
Many at Millan.net are free, but, I'm a paid subscriber because I love Camilla's smileys and want access to ALL of 'em, ALL the time! 
They're just so "me" . . . 
Link: A Muse News: Guest Designer Stephanie Nishikawa-Yee.
Stephanie owns The Paper Garden Boutique down in Sacramento--I was so tickled to meet her at CHA in Anaheim this year! She is SO SO NICE!!! Like The QUEEN of Nice--that's how nice she is! 
If you also enjoy making non-card items with your stamps, you will find her creations absolutely enchanting--they are so simple, and yet so darn CUTE!
The A Muse Gerbera Daisy is one of my all-time favorites, and hers, too! I absolutely love how she used it on that pocket party invitation!
You'll also enjoy seeing all the DARLING stuff she shares on her blog, too!
Link: {Freckled Fun}: Another Clip It Up Idea!!!.
Bethie is BRILLIANT!!!.....................THUD!!!
Link: A Muse News: Cards for a Cause.
This is such a fun and meaningful way to celebrate World Card Making Day.
Whether you plan to use the kit for yourself, give it as a gift to a stamper friend, I just become, well, "verkempt", at the thought of it all . . . to quote a German friend of mine . . . *wink*
I'm so fortunate--my children have had such healthy lives! A few more visits to the ER than I would like, some painful injuries, one of which took surgery to repair, but, for the most part, only minor illnesses of the ordinary/every-day type.
I was, and still am, as was/is my daughter, so grateful for the concern and kindness that arrived in the form of sweet cards that came in the mail from my internet friends, when I shared a little about when Hayley blew her ACL out, and the surgery and subsequent physical therapy she underwent. {{{{{{{{{{{{MONDO GROUP HUG}}}}}}}}}}}}} You folks all know who you are . . .
I'm so proud and humbled at the same time, to be affiliated with A Muse, and to have an opportunity to share in this effort.
There are so many wonderful ways in which we can all contribute to
making a difference for children; I can only applaud each and every
company, and each and every individual, that has been able to find a way to do so, however, wherever, and whenever, they can. Yea!!! Yea for the KIDS!!! Yea for us all!!!
Makes m' heart swell so big, the buttons are poppin' off m' shirt!
Have you seen Paper Crafts' Special Issue, "You Go, Girl!" ? *grin* It's a pretty fun issue and chock full of projects and ideas for you and all your girlfriends! If you can't find it on newsstands, you can find it online HERE, at the Paper Crafts website.
Normally, designers aren't allowed to post any projects online until a certain period of time has elapsed (after the issue has been pulled from racks), but, Paper Crafts has recently altered its policy to permit designers to post one (1) project only from a current issue, and, on a personal blog only.
Anyhoo, I just got back from visiting my parents for a few days, and, I didn't really need to mull it over--this was my absolute hands-down favorite piece that got accepted into that publication, so, I am really tickled I am permitted to share it with you here! Yippeeeeeee!!!
Please see Paper Crafts Special Issue "You Go Girl", for all supplies/materials, and instructions.
I was directed to design a card that incorporated bling, and the sentiment, "I'll drink to that!". Naturally, this also begged for some sort of "bevarage" to accompany it. *wink* Well, now, you *know* where this was goin', right?! *chuckle* Anyhoo, true confessions? I spent 12 hours designing this, from think-time, to experimentation with different papers and strategies for exactly HOW to use that specific sentiment. Yes, I am insane. Yes, it was insane to devote that many hours to one card design. But, it had to be juuuuust right, because it was a special request by the editorial staff for Editor Cath Evaldson, who is fond of using the sentiment to celebrate achievements and accomplishments! I thought it was such a fun idea on their part!
They didn't film the inside, but, I can show that here:
I just *adore* acetate/transparency cards, but, it positively drives me NUTS if there's no space inside to write a personal message to the recipient. So, I resolved that issue by putting a mini folder inside, creating "tri-folding" acetate card.
I was so happy when this design was finished--every aspect of it felt right, and it was great fun to see it featured as a sneak peek by Associate Editor Megan Hoeppner (who happens to be one of the hippest, and most fun chicks I've ever enjoyed an appletini with!) over at the Paper Crafts Blog! Yippeeeee!!!
Well, that's all the fodder I have for now; I had a great time visiting my parents for a few days, and, yes . . . I gave haircuts all around . . . *wink*
When I attended CHA 06 in Las Vegas, Martha Stewart had just announced joining forces with EK Success to produce a new line of scrapbooking and paper crafting products. It's been a long wait . . . but, it's finally here! (Martha Stewart to Launch Line at Michaels)
I had a chance yesterday to get off "The Rock" (Prom dress accessories for tonight's big dance--NO, not me, Smarty Pantses--HAYLEY. Her date was unable to attend, but, she's still goin' stag, with her girlfriends and their dates--OMG!--does she look killer in the dress we were able to borrow from a friend, too . . . ), and after accomplishing the primary mission, and dinner at Panera's (I *love* that place), I batted my puppy dog eyes at my daughter, and she sweetly humored me with a pit-stop so I could ogle this line, debuting exclusively at Michael's stores nationwide.
While I frequently refer to myself as the "Anti-Martha", due to my lack-luster skills as a domestic goddess, I have always been an ardent admirer of Martha Stewart style--contemporary, classic, and with a graceful simplicity, that exudes fine quality, which, lucky for those that like it, can be duplicated with more modest budgets. (In my house we say, "us p'oh folk", *chuckle*)
The first thing I saw as I entered the store were paper crafting kits--charming lunch bag puppets, 3D tissue flowers, festive table decor, accordion books/journals, and scrapbooking papers with juvenile themes. Then, I turned and saw "The Wall". There's probably more, than what I'm about to list, but, here's what memory recalls:
The line is designed to color coordinate all across the different themes and easily mixed and matched, whatever project you are working on. Martha's signature colors included white and cream, chocolate, pale and more intense shades of apricot, cloud blue, celery/sage/evergreen, teal, lavender, red, "kraft" . . .
I felt the whole line was very competitively priced, when compared to other major scrapbook manufacturer's lines, and, in some cases, seemed to me to be exceptional value, considering the quality--like this ribbon in the photo below:
I came away on this trip only with: 3/8" nylon ribbon with chocolate piping (apricot and cloud) at 12 yds/$2.99 US, and a Cornflower Punch, $9.99--I've never seen spools of ribbon with a straight side, so it doesn't go rolling off your work surface; clever touch on the packaging, I thought.
And, I am totally KICKING myself that I didn't also at least get:
Argh!!! This is one of those times when I probably should have trusted that impulse buying voice, that nagged in the back of my head, and which is STILL nagging at me today . . . (grimace and frown)
I personally like Martha's new paper crafting line very much, and curious to know if it will remain exclusive to Michael's stores only, or if that is limited to this debut . . .
At any rate, I'm already anxious for my next trip to Michael's! *wink*
Link: Creative Imaginations.
I recently had the pleasure of meeting (online, not IRL) Cheryl Mezzetti , Design Team Coordinator for Creative Imaginations. Creative Imaginations is a widely known scrapbooking company, with a wide variety of different lines and styles of scrapbook papers and embellishments.
One of the products I've always been fascinated by, is their Bare Elements line--fun, white, blank items that can be altered. They're kind of a stamper's dream, because, due to being blank, the surface is directly conducive to stamping.
Curious to see what stampers would do with the Bare Elements line, CI sent products out to the Dirty Dozen. I received a Shelley Case, plus the Narratives Line of papers designed by Karen Russell. This line is kind of vintagey, and sophisticated, featuring ivory and black tones.
Here's what I ended up creating:
Shelley Case from the Bare Elements line, Narratives (Papers, Epoxy Stickers, Chipboard Embellishments) by Karen Russell, all for Creative Imaginations. Stamp credits: Fresh Bloom by Stampendous; smaller little splootchy
center of a flower looking thing-a-ma-bob by Magenta; Staz-On Ink in
Jet Black; Watercolor Crayons by SU!; Aqua Painter; Silk flowers from
craft supply store.
Side View
Interior View
The paper you see on the body was first cut to fit the outside of the case (it took two pieces, that had to be joined together to span around the entire case), and then stamped and watercolored while flat. I simply couldn't resist stamping on this paper, and loved how it provided such a nice back-drop to the stamped images! Each piece was measured, and then cut, and run through a Xyron to apply adhesive and then all applied to the case. I prefer Xyron adhesive for such projects because it has no odor, not messy, and I'm too impatient for Mod Podge or other wet glues to dry anyway. . . particularly when working on a project until 1:30 am . . . (insert rolling eyeballs)
I'm an instant-gratification creature--and due to that, cards are typically my favorite thing to do. But, every once in a while, a 3D project is extremely gratifying, as it pushes me outside my comfort zone, and, I must confess that this was an extremely fun project to do. Ya' know it: I be bouncin', bay-beeeeee!!! LOL! I definitely see more Bare Elements projects in my future. *wink*! You gotta check out their purses, and all the other *FUN* stuff--holy mackerol!
If you're interested in the projects the other girls did, please check out the gallery at the site, linked above--they created a fun gallery just for the Splitcoaststampers Design Team to share what they've done with Bare Elements! I also highly recommend doing a gallery search (try key words Bare Elements or Creative Imaginations) on Splitcoast because there are a number of Bare Elements projects in there not only by the Dirty Dozen, but also by community members who've already discovered this fun line of blank stampables!
So . . . what are the two things about the Narratives papers especially that delight me? I'm sure you have already guessed . . . *wink*!
Wishing ya'all a stamp-happy weekend! *grin*
Thank goodness it's Friday! It's been a looooooong week--always is when there's a gallery unveiling--as I scurry around like a head-less chicken taking care of things behind the scenes before the curtain goes up. Of course, immediately afterwards, there is even more to be done!
Right now I am tired but, very happy! I'm happy it's Friday, and I'm happy I've got a brand spankin' new blog banner! Yippeeeeeee!! I've been wanting to re-do it for ages, but, daggummit--life goes by in a serious blur sometimes! And, even tho I do know HOW to do it, thanks to my friends Paige, Jenn, Pebbles, and at least two different Heathers--and who knows how many other kind and generous souls that took pity on me when I begged them to teach me how-- it takes me EONS. Molasses on a frozen pipe moves along faster than I do, when it comes to this sort of thing . . . SERIOUS!!!
But, I don't have "eons" right now--nor the brain power to devote to it--so turned to my buddy Beth, of Freckled Fun Designs. Banner credits: Custom design by Beth Silaika at Freckled Fun Designs/Flourishes by Michelle Coleman of ScrapArtist.com //Font: exmouth, uncle charles <---BTW, if there's a certain way I'm supposed to supply credits other than what I've done here, someone please tell me, cuz I wasn't quite sure how to go about it. (wink!)
She is wicked fast, and had it done all "spit spot" like Mary Poppins, even after I made her change this and that . . . more than a few times . . . (!) . . . I was waiting for her to drop kick me . . . LOL! Mebbe, some day, if I practice, I will be wicked fast, too! OK . . . prolly *not* . . . (insert rolling eyeballs)
It was a buggah (teeth grinding) to have so little time to devote to actually stamping this week, but, next week, I am definitely carvin' out some time in the royal rubbah studio. I'm startin' to go into withdrawals . . . not good!!! (muttering)
Agapanthus by Stampendous; Ornate Border Image from "French Mail" set by Crafty Secrets; Die Cut Decorative Notepad Paper by ATD; "Thanks" Epoxy Sticker from Michael's; Double Spiral Clip by SU!; Black & White Polka Dot Organdy by May Arts
Every once in a while, a bolt of lightening hits, and a design "gels". I love when that happens--wish it did more often-- and I get so flippin' excited, that . . . well . . .yeah. I bounce! (insert rolling eyeballs)
I ordered the Agapanthus from Joy & Daisy, co-owners of Eclectic Paperie, and when it came, along with various other items I simply could not resist, heh, heh, heh!, Oh ME OH MY!!!
I actually happened to spy the epoxy stickers a month or so ago in a Michael's $1 bin and snagged a package. Of course, now, in hindsight, I should have bought more, because are there any left now? NooOOOooo!!! (insert totally-disgusted-with-self "ugh!" for choosing *that* particular time to exhibit shopping restraint, criminy!)
The notepad paper I found last weekend at Wal Mart, when we had to kill a few hours in between the two basketball tournament games my son was playing in. I just liked it because it seemed very chic and European. Now how the heck would I know what "seems" European, having never been across the pond ever in my entire life??? Obviously, I need to get off the Continent, and over there some time, eh?! snort!
Anyhoo, when my Eclectic Paperie order arrived, my eyes kinda bugged outta' my head when my brain started racing from this stamp image, to the paper, to the epoxy stickers. I nearly PIMP'd, I was so excited! chuckle!
I considered adding some color, but I *really* liked it so much just the way it was, I didn't want to tamper with it. I loved how the sheer organdy ribbon allows the double spiral clip to show through, and along the right side, I needed some "filler" to balance it out, so I decided I wanted something that had the same sophistication as the rest of the design.
To the rescue was a border image from the "French Mail" set by Crafty Secrets. Fellow blogger and stamper extraordinaire Anna Wight (a.k.a. Sweet MissDaisy on SCS), carries this line of stamps in her store, Sassy and Sweet Crafts. If you enjoy vintage images, Crafty Secrets recently released a variety of fantastic clear stamp sets, the quality is outstanding, and I think Anna carries all of 'em in her store--happy shopping! (wink!)
" . . . Maybe one day you could write about how you found your "voice" in stamps. . . How did you figure out what works and doesn't work? How do you know when to throw away the card or put it aside for awhile? How do you learn about color theory? When is there enough bling and when too much? How long does one card take from beginning to end . . . "--Karenm
Hey, Karenm! Thank you! {{{{hugs}}}} I must admit I have zero formal art training . . . sometimes, tho, I think it would be just the greatest fun to teach a series of on line classes that explore these sorts of things . . .
Link: Stampin' Kub - Tool Tutorials.
Trust me. You GOTTA SEE THIS!!! Kurtis is a genius!
mouth hangin' wide open . . .
*Love* that kid!
Thanks a latte
