Here is the second sample page with the reverse kissing technique. I inked up and then stamped off on the Background stamp before applying it to the paper.

Journaling reads: This is my Mom in the late '40's visiting her Uncle Fred and Aunt Helen Younker. Back then, a trip to the city was an occasion so she was always excited to visit them.

Stamps: Linen Background, Best Blossoms, Brushstroke Alphabet
Paper: Real Red, Whisper White,
Ink: Real Red, black pen
Extras: buttons, ribbon

I love this stampset and wanted to try another card that wasn’t for Christmas. There are a lot of winter birthdays in the family so it’s nice to have something wintery that isn’t Christmas. I used Solemn Stillness, Cute Converse for the saying, and stamped the corners with Linen.

Stamps: Solemn Stillness, Cute Converse, and Linen
Paper: Night of navy, Whisper White,
Ink: Night of navy, Whisper White,

Fakey Friday

This is a technique that I developed due to my lack of supplies. There might be a technique out there similar already but I’ve never heard of it. I call it faux bleaching. I use white craft ink and blender pens. In the first sample I just colored in the daisy petals with white craft ink using the blender pens. For the second sample I stamped the angel in white craft ink and smudged the image with a blender pen to make the faux bleach background. Once it was dry, I stamped over the white background with black Staz-on and colored with chalk.

Wednesday’s Words

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right. - Oprah Winfrey

I really like this quote. It’s so full of hope. We went to bed early this New Year’s Eve and I missed doing my new years resolutions. I still could not skip it entirely. Instead I was a few days late figuring them out (ironically contradicting my first resolution which is to stop procrastinating). What is the point of celebrating a new year without at least attempting to be better, trying to be better, or striving to be better than the previous year. A new chance and a fresh slate is an amazing thing and should be celebrated. Even though most resolutions are rather lofty and unrealistic and soon forgotten, that is not the point. The intention itself is better than nothing at all. Without it there is no hope and no dream of something better. Congratulations to those who are still trying to work on their resolutions.

Here is a card and a 6x6 page using the quote. I’ve never done a New Year’s day card before. It’s usually so soon after sending out Christmas cards, it never even occurred to me to make one. I really like this card so I may do more for next year. This was made from Ballet Blue and Certainly Celery cardstock and ink and some printed paper from my stash. I think I got it at the $1 store but am not certain. I used the sketch from this week’s SCS sketch challenge 106.

The 6x6 page is using the same materials except I added the letter stickers from Basic Grey's Urban Couture collection.

Stamp Set Saturday

My favorite alphabet stamp set is SU Letterpress Alphabet. It's perfect for scrapbooking titles or monogram sets. For Christmas I made two name frames with this set and gave one to Philip and Dawn and the other for Diane and Judson. I forget the company that made the patterned paper. I used Letterpress Alphabet stamps and, French Script, Linen, the swirl from Fun Filled and "merry little christmas" from Cute Converse. The hardware is from the Hodgepodge Hardware. I would like to make some more with the seasons for my house and one for Lavinia's bedroom with her name on it.

Stamp Set Saturday

Stampin’ Ups Fun Filled stamp set is my latest acquisition. It is one that didn’t impress me when I first looked at it but once I started using it, it is one of the sets that I reach for most often. It is just so versatile. I love the background swirl. It’s good for any kind of card. The whole set is so versatile. Here’s some cards and projects I’ve used with this set.

For the craft fair I did some gift sets and mini gift sets. I really love coffee so I did one of each kind with a coffee theme. Here is a mini gift set. It has a mini notebook, matching pen, 4 3x3 gift cards and a mini post-it-note holder. The coffee mug was made with a 2 step basket/purse stamp. This means there is one stamp to stamp the outline of the basket/purse stamp, then I stamp again to fill it in. Actually I would do the fill first and then the outlining but it is easier to explain the steps backwards without having a visual. I used the swirl stamp for the background. All papers came from my miscellaneous scraps so they are a variety of brands. I used Chocolate Chip and Elegant Eggplant ink.

Here is a regular gift set with 2 cards instead of 4 gift tags. I used Basic Brown ink for the background swirls and used Pixie Pink and Pink Passion for the image. The sentiment reads, “I’d rather be shopping”.

Not only does the stamp set make different kinds of cards but it can also be used with other stamps for even more versatility. Here is another gift set (can you tell I’m getting ready for a craft fair?) using just the background swirls of Fun Filled. I got the main image is Katie & co. and used the Linen background stamp and “baby” from Noteworthy on the panels. My last gift set used the background swirl from Fun Filled as well.

The snoopy stamp is by Stampabilities. Fun Filled is such a great set to use. The 2 step stamp make it easy to do cards fast. You do not have to color the image but also have the option to do so if desired. The background swirls add interest to the whole card, not just the focal point. There is also a flower image and a bow to go on top of the basket/purse 2 step stamp. The stamp set definitely surpasses my expectations.

3D Thursday

I made this purse card holder for the upcoming craft fair to include a set of 8 cards. I really like the look. Double sided papers would be perfect for making these.

Paper: light green cardstock, brown scraps, Stamps: Linen background (SU), Flower Power Alphabet (SeeD’s) Ink: Basic Brown, white Souffle pen for faux-stitching, Other: Prima flower, paper fastener, mini-brads.