It's been a while since I posted. I've been on a couple mini vacations during the past two weeks, so I haven't had time to stamp or post. Both trips were up in northern Michigan, but on separate sides of the state. One was an all girl trip that has been an annual event for 14 years now. This year there was 13 of us. Most of us have been friends since high school, so we had a lot of fun. Here's a photo of our group before we left for the day out on Indian River. (That's me... 3rd from the end in the (tempting) turquoise shirt)
This past weekend my hubby and I went up to stay with my cousin and her fiance' at his hunting lodge. It was on 2500 acres...so it was quite secluded, and a lot more low key than the girls weekend. There were a lot of trails to hike on, and we saw a lot of deer. I love this shot I took of twin fawns hiding in the ferns...they were so cute! And this one of a doe and her fawn.
Today is supposed to be pretty hot again...so I plan to spend at least part of my day downstairs in my studio where it's nice and cool. Hopefully tomorrow I'll have something stamp related to share. Thanks for stopping by!
Monday, August 10, 2009
Enjoying the summer
Posted by
Lynn
at
9:05 AM
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Labels: Photos, Rambling...
Friday, July 31, 2009
Paper Pieced Something
I just love the way paper piecing adds such nice detail to stamped images, so I was delighted to see that our challenge this week at Stamp Something is to use the paper piecing technique. I haven't used my Blooming Beautiful set in a while and I figured the vase would be perfect for some paper piecing.
I used a nice sketch from Mojo Monday and some of my favorite new papers...Thoroughly Modern to create this card. I also used: Rich Razzleberry & Soft Suede card stock, Rich Razzleberry Polka-dot Grosgrain, Nestabilities Scalloped Circle die, Coluzzle & Dew Drops.
I'm heading up North for some fun in the sun with a group of friends for the weekend. Enjoy your weekend...and take some time to join us at Stamp Something.
Posted by
Lynn
at
8:06 AM
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Labels: Paper Piecing, Stamp Something Challenge, Watercoloring
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
From the Crypt Pocket Card
I've been dying...no pun intended...to play with my new Halloween stuff! This year will be our 20th annual Halloween party, so I know I want to do something really special for the invites. Was thinking maybe a pocket card...here's my first attempt.
Here's another pic with the card removed from the pocket. I used both the Graveyard Gala and From the Crypt stamp sets along with the spooktacular Cast-a-Spell papers. All images were stamped in VersaMark and then embossed with Black Embossing powder.
Thanks for stopping by...
Posted by
Lynn
at
11:14 AM
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Labels: Embossing, Halloween, New Stuff, Pocket Card
Monday, July 27, 2009
Celebrate! Birthday Album
I want to start my post today by saying thank you to everyone who took the Catty Cruise over the weekend and anchored here to explore. I appreciate all the kind comments and emails you left for me... I enjoyed reading them all and I'm so happy that you liked what you saw! I'd also like to welcome all the new readers who have subscribed to my blog, I hope you stop by often. The whole crew of the Catty Cruise shared some wonderful projects, so if you haven't taken the cruise...you still can!
The other day I showed you the cover of a book I was making for my Aunt to hold photos from her surprise birthday party, and said I would share some of the inside pages when I was finished. Below is photo of cover and here is link to my original post telling what I used to create it.
I also said that I hoped to have it completed before Saturday so I could give it to her over the weekend...I'm happy to say that I got it all done...and she absolutely LOVED it! Here are a few of the inside pages.
I used the Circle Circus set to stamp many of the background pages and to create some embellishments. Colors used: Riding Hood Red, Pumpkin Pie & More Mustard
See how nicely the retired Haiku paper works with the Circle Circus set? I wish it was still current...or that they made those patterns available in other colors. Oh well...at least I had some left for this project.
I also used the Party Hearty & Birthday Whimsey sets on many of the pages. On the pages that I used the Birthday Whimsy set I used the Whimsy jumbo wheel for the background pages and some striped DP that I had on hand that matched the colors I used.
My Aunt hosts almost all of our family parties each year and it was so nice to see her surprised at this special party that my cousin had for her. She got to enjoy everybody and not do any of the work...she LOVED it, yet felt a little lost at the same time. I'm so happy that she loved the album I created for her.
Have a wonderful day!
Posted by
Lynn
at
11:28 AM
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Labels: Mini Albums, Scrapbooking
Friday, July 24, 2009
Come Sail Away on the Catty Cruise - Peace Within
Thanks for dropping anchor to visit my blog today! I hope you are enjoying your tour on the Catty Cruise! In case you washed ashore here unexpectedly, the Catty Cruise is a blog tour featuring 12 talented bloggers sharing projects highlighting their favorite Stampin' Up! products from the newly released Idea Book & Catalog... or Catty for short. If you are taking the full tour, then you sailed in from Linda McClain's blog LMac's Catered Crop. Don't you love the beautiful projects she created with the Cottage Wall papers and the new Butterfly punch?
If you popped in here without knowing about the cruise, I hope you'll join us. Just sail along to the next port with the link provided at the bottom of my post and continue on until you wind up back here...that way you will have visited everyone. If you get lost at sea, then just go on back to our Home Port . Just don't go anywhere until you've see my creations...
I am sharing a few projects I created using one of my favorite new stamp sets called Peace Within. I love to watercolor and I love cats and nature, so I was delighted to see this set in the new catalog. My first project shows how to transform a plain little frame from the Target Dollar Spot into a cute little piece of art, just by using some pretty paper and a few accessories. Kinda like MacGyver...only with stamps and embellishments. hehehe
I love all the patterns in the Razzleberry Lemonade Designer paper pack, but I managed to narrow it down to my favorite two and that's what I used here. I stamped my image onto watercolor paper using Black Stazon and used my aqua painter and classic inks to watercolor. See the pillow that the kitty is napping on? That was stamped onto patterned paper, cut out and then adhered into place. I think the paper piecing technique adds such nice detail to any project.
The finishing touch is the silk daisy from the Pretties Kit. I used my Rich Razzleberry re-inker and my aqua painter to add color to the petals. The center is a White Jumbo Grommet with Razzleberry Lemonade center. Rich Razzleberry Polka-dot grosgrain ribbon was attached to the hangers and it is ready to hang. Here's a closer look...
Here's another way to use this same image and papers but achieve an entirely different look with the spotlighting technique.
I stamped my image onto Whisper White card stock and using the 1-3/4 inch circle punch, I punched out the part of the image I wanted to spotlight. Then I stamped the image a second time onto a piece of Razzleberry Lemonade DP. After water coloring the image on the punched out circle, I carefully adhered it over the top of my full image.
Ink: Black Stazon & various Classic Inks for water coloring
Card stock: Whisper White, Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Razzleberry Lemonade DP
Accessories: Mat Pack, White Gel pen, Pumpkin Pie Grosgrain ribbon & Dew Drops
My last project uses the other beautiful image from the Peace Within set along with paper from the Thoroughly Modern Designer paper pack.
I stamped my image and water colored the same as described for my first project. I added a sentiment from the Teeny Tiny Wishes set inked in Soft Suede. I matted the image onto Soft Suede card stock and then layered it onto a Top Note cut from the DP. My card base is Kraft card stock which I ran though the Big Shot using the new Perfect Details Texturz Plate. I used the Eyelet Border Punch along the bottom and added some Soft Suede Polka-dot Grosgrain ribbon to finish my card.
I hope you enjoyed your visit...now it's time to sail on to our next port...iSTAMP to see the super talented Nancy Riley's amazing creations using the Level 3 Hostess Set The More the Merrier along with Sunny Days Simply Scrappin' Kit.
Posted by
Lynn
at
10:00 PM
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comments
Labels: 3D Items, Big Shot, Blog Cruise, Faux Stitching, New Stuff, Paper Piecing, Spotlighting, Stamp Set - Peace Within, Watercoloring
Razzleberry Wings
This has been a busy week! Cannot believe that it's already Friday and time for the Stamp Something challenge. This weeks theme is Winged Things. So if your image has wings...be it a butterfly, bug, or fairy...it qualifies. So go Stamp Something!
I just love, love, love the Razzleberry Lemonade papers...the patterns, colors and even the name is just delicious! I paired it up here with the Great Friend set. I was happy to see this set from the Occasions catalog make it into the new catalog. I inked the butterfly in Melon Mambo and rolled it into the Rich Razzleberry.
Stamps: Great Friend, Wonderful Favorites
Ink:Razzleberry & Melon Mambo
Cardstock:Razzleberry Lemonade, Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo & Crushed Curry
Accessories: Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die, Modern Label & Eyelet Border punches, Matchbox Die (for the label), Mat pack, Adhesive backed rhinestones
Thanks for stopping by to visit me today! Make sure to hop aboard tomorrow...we'll be embarking on the Catty Cruise!
Posted by
Lynn
at
8:38 AM
9
comments
Labels: Big Shot, Double-sided Designer Papers, Rock 'n Roll Technique, Stamp Set - Great Friend, Stamp Something Challenge
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Birthday Albums
I've been pretty busy stamping but you wouldn't know it by my blog posts! LOL A few of the projects I cannot show you yet...they are for the upcoming Catty Cruise. Make sure to check back here on Saturday to see the cruise projects I have been working on...plus fantastic projects by the rest of the crew.
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I used Long Board Chip Board for the cover and then my new toy...the Bind It All to punch the holes for the binding. The silk flower is from the Pretties Kit and the center is one of the large White Grommets. I'll share some of the inside pages when I'm all finished.
The other book I created was for my Mom to give to a close family friend. Since this one was for a guy, and I only had a couple of days to complete the whole book, it is much simpler. Here's the cover:
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Posted by
Lynn
at
12:08 PM
3
comments
Labels: Chipboard, Double-sided Designer Papers, Scrapbooking
Friday, July 17, 2009
Thoroughly Modern Monkey
This week at Stamp Something the challenge is...Sketch Something! We have a great sketch to inspire you, so I hope you'll play along. We worked with some great images this week by Dustin Pike. I chose one of his cute images called Cupcake Monkey, but it really was hard to chose because he has some really cute designs. Make sure to check out what the rest of the design team created this week. Along with the Cupcake Monkey digital image, I used some new papers by Stampin' Up! called Thoroughly Modern. I also used the Perfect Details Texturz plate on the background...lovin' that thing! After coloring each sprinkle on the cupcake with my markers, I highlighted them with my white gel pen.
Colors: Bermuda Bay, Soft Suede & Rose Red
Accessories: Bermuda Bay Polka-dot Grosgrain ribbon, Styled Silver HPH & Dew Drops
Now it's your turn to go Sketch Something! Upload your project using this sketch on the Stamp Something blog and you could win your choice of three of Dustin Pikes adorable images.
Thanks for stopping by today...have a great weekend!
Posted by
Lynn
at
8:39 AM
14
comments
Labels: Paper Piecing, Stamp Something Challenge, Watercoloring
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Suede Medallion
In my opinion one of the most eye catching new stamps in this catalog has got to be the Medallion Background stamp. I put it on my first order, and finally got a chance to play with it last night. I used my two favorite In Colors - Soft Suede and Rich Razzleberry, and here's what I created...
With this gorgeous stamp it is so easy to create an elegant card in a flash. I stamped the image once in Soft Suede on Vanilla card stock. Then the center part was inked in Rich Razzleberry and also stamped on Vanilla and then cut out. The last circle was again inked in soft suede but this time stamped on Soft Suede card stock and punched out with the 1-3/4" circle punch. These two layers were adhered together and popped up using dimensionals. The ribbon is the Soft Suede Polka Dot Grosgrain - flipped to the plain side. The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes. The pearl brad in the center is something I had in my stash...not sure where it's from?
Posted by
Lynn
at
7:06 AM
10
comments
Labels: New Stuff
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Peace Within Teaser
I love to watercolor and I love cats, so I was super excited to see a beautiful line art set with a cute kitty in the new catalog! With that being said, I'm sure you guessed that Peace Within was on the very top of my list of new must have stamp sets for me. This is the first card I have created using this set...a teaser of sorts, because I will be sharing several more creations using this set on the Catty Cruise...a blog tour featuring creations by myself and 11 other bloggers...all using new products from SU!'s new Idea Book & Catalog, also affectionately known as "the catty". The Catty Cruise will set sail on July 25th...I hope you'll join us!
I stamped my image using Black Stazon onto watercolor paper. Using classic inks and my aqua painter I water colored the image. I paper pieced the pillow using one of the prints from the Thoroughly Modern designer series papers...I also used 2 other prints here as well. The flowers and butterfly were cut out and popped up.
Colors used: Dusty Durango, Soft Suede & Bermuda Bay
Don't forget to join me here for the Catty Cruise on July 25th to see more of my creations using this set and lots more creative projects by the other members of the crew. Have a peaceful day!
Posted by
Lynn
at
7:06 AM
7
comments
Labels: Double-sided Designer Papers, New Stuff, Paper Piecing, Stamp Set - Peace Within, Watercoloring
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Beautiful Bundle of Joy
A very sweet friend just gave birth to her first child...a beautiful baby girl, so I made this card for her.
I thought a stair step card would be fun for this special occasion. To create the stair step base, I started with a piece of Pretty in Pink card stock measuring 5 1/2" x 11". I scored along the 5 1/2" side at: 1-1/4", 2-1/2", 4-1/4", 6" and 8-1/2". I picked out my designer papers - one polka dot design came from the Tea Party pack the other is a retired Pretty in Pink Designer Print. I cut those 1/4" smaller than the measurement of each "stair front". After adhering those in place I started to add my embellishments.
I started with the main images...the bear & giraffe from Bundle of Joy. They were stamped on watercolor paper, colored and then cut out. The flowers were made using the Birds & Blooms Sizzlets and the Boho Blossoms punch. The sentiment came from the Congrats stamp set that was available this past SAB. The sentiment was layered using the new Modern Label punch with one of the Lots of Labels Sizzlets.
Looks like another beautiful day here...the last day of my hubby's vacation. It is also the last day of the music festival we've been attending all week. Tonight we'll be seeing 3 Doors Down & Jet. With him off and us running to a different show all week long it hasn't left much time for stamping or visiting any of my favorite blogs...but things should be settling down again after today. Thanks for visiting me today!
Posted by
Lynn
at
9:51 AM
6
comments
Labels: Big Shot, Fancy Fold, Retired Sets, Stair Step Card, Watercoloring
Friday, July 10, 2009
You make me smile
This weeks challenge at Stamp Something is a color challenge...stamp something using the color combo of pink, yellow and green. The sponsor is Peachy Keen Stamps, so I got the pleasure of using an adorable smiling flower image from their set called Funny Flowers. They have some super cute images,and generously donated a $40 gift certificate which will go to a lucky winner who plays along this week. I water colored the cute flower and then added some shimmer using a stardust jelly roll pen along the edges of the image. While it was still wet I blended it with my aqua painter. I also used Crystal Effects on the lady bugs.
The ribbon is So Saffron grosgrain with a sheer pink polka dotted ribbon layered over the top. With the pink, yellow green color combo, using one of my favorite SU! paper packs - Tea Party was a no-brainer. I also used some retired Pretty in Pink designer print paper as well. The "you make me smile" sentiment was perfect for this image I thought...it is from the Lots of Thoughts set that was available during SAB one year.
Hope you get a chance to stamp something with this color combo and play along with us this week at Stamp Something! Have a wonderful weekend!
Posted by
Lynn
at
8:28 AM
11
comments
Labels: Crystal Effects, Double-sided Designer Papers, Stamp Something Challenge, Watercoloring