My First Tilda

I love Tilda, but the fact she has no nose and mouth just really bugs me. I tried giving her one, but her face is so full on the bottom, I couldn't get it to look right. Oh well, she is a cutie pie anyway. I really wanted the card to look European. I think their cards are wonderfully vintage and so nostalgic and Old World cheerful. Here the card looks rather opaque, but IRL it sparkles everywhere.

Background and Card - I used the largest die from Spellbinders Labels set to do the Cuttlebugged Swiss Dots background on Neenah Solar White cardstock. Then I used Magic Matter to do the larger matte on Neenah Natural. The actual folded card is Solar White 5.25X5.25. My envelope is 5.5 square and I wanted to be able to let some of the images hang over the side a little. You can't see it, but Stickles Diamonds glitter glue was used on the embossed edge of the Swiss Dots label. It sparkles! The pine branches around the edge were stamped with Colorbox Evergreen pigment ink. Rangers Enchanted Gold was applied and then heat embossed. It sparkles too.

Magnolia Tilda was stamped with Brillance Galaxy Gold and then painted with a Niji Waterbrush with Twinkling H2O's Ruby Red, Honey Amber, Natural Linnen, and Cherry Sorbet. Her wings and scrunchy are 3D glue and Deco Art Glamour Dust. Her fur is Stampendous White Fun Flock. The snowflake on her top is a Stampendous Snowflake Symphony stamp with Brilliance Moonlight White. Then lined with White Gesso with Deco Art Glamour Dust Crystal. The star was painted with Twinkling H2O Lemon Yellow and then Jones Tones glue was applied, followed by Jones Tones Pearl Swirl and Glossy Accents. The edge was done with Stickles Yellow.

The tree is by Inkadinkado and I would bet it is retired. The Flourishes tree would do just as well here, but this stamp is one of those I really cherish. It was stamped with Colorbox Evergreen pigment ink, Ranger Enchanted Gold added, and then heat embossed. Art Institute Brown Glitter was added to the pine cones. Tulip White Puffy paint was applied to the snow areas, Deco Art Glamour Dust Crystal applied and then heated to puff up. The ribbon was painted with Twinkling H2O's Ruby Red and then Glossy Accents was added. The Ruby Red crystals are Mark Richards Crystal Stickers 2mm. (Be careful to add these stickers only after any heat embossing required is done. They melt) Ha! Duh Me~! The bow is May Arts .

The large snowflake in the upper left hand corner is from Sizzlets Snowflake Set. The other two snowflakes, front and center and lower right hand corner are from Cuttlebug Snowflake #2. They each had 3D glue added and then Deco Art Glamour Dust Crystal was applied. Mark Richards Crystal Stickers Elements Clear were added to each, 2mm, 3mm, and 5mm.

As you have already noticed I didn't list at the bottom this time. I forgot. Hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful. Thanks for stopping by 'the blog' to look and share.

 

 Shirley

 

Did You Know

Did you know that if a person decides to sign up to FOLLOW ME (YOU), that it was designed to go perfectly with a Gadget called 'Blog List'. Anyone can choose to follow, even non-Google blogs.
Go to your Dashboard and click on Layout. Click on 'Add a Gadget'. The first Gadget on the list that pops up is called Blog List. Once you have added it, click on 'Add to List' and anyone who is on your Follow Me list will pop up and you can just click on the ones you want on your list. I want them all of course.

You can still add people who aren't following too. Now for the best part! You can go to your list when you have time and see who you need to visit. The list shows how long it has been since the person posted.

Just thought you should know. I was really loading down my feed list and it was hard to keep up with who and when. I am hoping this will be easier for me. In the end, I guess my message is "FOLLOW ME SO I CAN FOLLOW YOU!!!!

Thanks for stopping by 'the blog' to look and share.

 

 Shirley

 

Wow! Two Big Surprises

I received this wonderful award on Saturday from Tasha at Millie's Magical Moments. Millie is her 2 year old daughter. Tasha, besides stamping, attends the university and is studying Criminology and Applied Psychology. I received it again today from Suzanne at Stamp In Style, Cut It Cute. She lives in the United Kingdom, just like Tasha! Thank you Suzanne for your wonderful award. I really do get excited about these things.

Today I received a second award from Traci at Stamping: Life's Prescription. Thank you so much Traci. The great part is both are for 10 people and all of the same rules below apply, so I am awarding the people below BOTH AWARDS. How cool is that!!!!!

The rules are I am to:
A. Display the award on my site,
B. Hyperlink back to Tasha's blog,
C. Give the award to 8 more people (well 10 because it is fun to give), then
D. Notify them of receiving the award and
E. Advise them to pick it up at my site.

Below is a translation of the Portuguese words and the rules for the award:

Translating the words on the above award from Portuguese to English: "This blog award invests and believes in proximity - (creating friendships)!" [meaning, that blogging makes us 'close' -being close through proxy]. These are the other words to be included with the award:

These blogs are exceedingly charming. These bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbon of these awards are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please
give more attention to these bloggers! Deliver this award to 8 bloggers who much
choose 8 more and include this written text into the body of their award.

Accordingly I award the following 8 (10) people:

1. Jane at Anything But Plain Jane - Her blog is relatively new and wonderful and she includes a lot of different things too.

2. Easpeere at Two Worlds Meet - She was born in South Africa and is of Indian descent. She lives with her husband in Reno, NV, where I am from. She shares her wonderful story of who she and her family are and how she has traveled the world and what she has learned along the way. Oh, I forgot to say.........she makes great cards, etc. too!

3. Lisa at Lisa-Alias 'Hobbyhimmelen' - She lives in Norway and makes some very very beautiful cards.

4. Kim at Kim's Kards - She lives Canada, has twin girls, and really has some wonderfully creative and pretty cards.

5. Vicki G. at Summertyme Studios - She lives in Canada and has a flair for feminine.

6. Deb at Feeding My Soul - Want to talk about some elegant cards. She lives in Maryland.

7. Fred at Fred She Said - She does digital, stamping, and some really interesting things with backgrounds using the Cuttlebug.

8. Rina at Heartful Stamping - She lives in Hawaii and has some really wonderfully done cards on her site.

9. Rachel at Hope Stamps Eternal - Of course it does when you have thousands of addicted people not willing to try rehab. Her blog will only make you want to stamp more. She has super cards.

10. Ana at Ink A Stamp - She has a wonderful blog and is so creative. Her cards shine.

Check out these blogs. They all have something unique about them. Thank you again, Tasha. Thank you all for stopping by the blog to look and share.

 

 Shirley

 

Sit Down Again

Well, I don't have another card yet, almost though. I did win a some Blog Candy at Ink Stain Survivor's blog. If you haven't been there you are really missing some great art. Jane also sent me a beautiful card with the candy and here it is:

I tried to get a good picture and it wasn't easy. The cardstock is Dark Navy. She stamped a Butterfly randomly with I think Opalite Orchid Ice. It is lovely IRL. The background for the image was done first and I don't know what inks she used but as you can see they are stunning. She stamped the image with a Deep Navy pigment ink and then Clear Embossing Powder. Then she did the edges with the same Navy ink pad and then the Clear EP again. She added beautiful AB Purple rhinestones. It was mounted with Dimensional glue dots. This really is a work of art. Thank you Jane. I will treasure it.

Next but not least, the Candy. I recived this CD for Artylicious Filigree Fusion by Glenda Waterworth:

 

 Shirley

 

Oh My Gosh - I Finished a Card

Sit down before you fall down! Ha! I finished this card today. It's too long a story to explain why it took so long. There are 4 or 5 other cards that may make it too sooner or later too.

The deer was stamped, painted and cut out, and so was the tree. I used glitter glue and glitter on the deer's antlers and the tree on the white places. After I cut the deer out, I held a marker with the brush or pointed tip up in my right hand and the deer in my left between my forefinger and thumb. I ran the brush around the edges. It's an anal quirk of mine. You are going to say, 'No wonder it took you so long', but that didn't take long at all. I use cuticle scissors and they zip in and out. I also use an X-acto knife for the inside jobbies on the deer's antlers after the glue and glitter. That makes them stronger to work with (bad grammar). Glossy Accents was added to the nose and eyes.

The white background was die cut first and then and embossing folder was used on it. Then glitter glue was applied to the edges. The snowflake on the bottom is a die with glitter glue and glitter added and then a rhinestone sticker. The snowflake on the organdy bow is a brad with the brad part cut off and then glitter glue, glitter, and the rhinestone sticker was used on top. It was mounted with thin glue dots. The one near the deer's leg is just glitter glue, glitter and the rhinestone.

The background on the curved rectangle card was another story. First I used VersMark with a flourish stamp around the edges. Then I sponged 2 shades of distressed ink over that. You can barely see the first VersaMark. Sooooooo I followed that with more flourishes with VersaMark. This time Clear Embossing Powder was put on top and then heat embossed. Now this reminds me of branded leather, but what do I know. I was not trying for that either.

The cardfront was then mounted, then the bow. The tree and the deer were mounted using pop dots. The snowflake on the bottom right was mouted and then the rhinestones.

Supplies:

Images:
- 2 4.25X5.5 Neenah Paper Classic Crest Solar White Super Smooth 80 lb. cardstock (One for the Curved Rectangle background and one for the Deer and Tree images)

- Cuttlebug Embossing Folder Snowflakes

- Cuttlebug Die Snowflake #2

- Spellbinders Curved Rectangles (Next to Largest)

- Brilliance Galaxy Gold

- StazOn Forest Green
- Flourishes - Sleigh Ride (Deer) and Forest of Trees (Tree)
- Twinkling H2O's Warm Pecan and Dark Brown marker for edges of deer.
- Cuticle Scissors or Detail Scissors

- Glitter Glue

- Art Institute Glitter Ultrafine Opaque Twig for antlers

- DecoArt Glamour Dust Crystal for white areas on tree, brad for bow, on the die snowflake

- Glossy Accents for nose and hoofs

- Glue Dots

Background:

- Spellbinders Curved Rectangle Largest. Fold CS and then bring bottom level with bottom curved edge of die.

- 1 4.25X 11 folded Neenah Paper Classic Crest Solar White Super Smooth 80 lb. cardstock

- Impression-Obsession - Small Flourish Three

- VersaMark Pad

- Distress Ink Pads Vintage Photo and Brushed Corduroy
- Clear Embossing Powder
- Mark Richards Crystal Stickers 5MM Amber

I have a real wonderful surprise for you the next time I post! Thanks for stopping by 'the blog' to look and share.

 

 Shirley

 

A Wonderful Fall RAK

What could be better than receiving a beautiful Fall card. I received it from Donna Duquette, who is another Technique Junkie friend. She does beautiful cards as you can see. I am not good at all with collage! So I sit in envy looking at this one. Donna's card just really sings Fall. I love the Dew Drops on the top too! Just the right finishing touch!

Now for another interesting bit of information, at least it's new to me~~ I wondered what Quercus meant. It is Latin for an English Oak tree. How about that. Exactly as it shows below the word! I know my Botany teacher probably told me this, but all I can remember is viewing the division of onion cells right now!! Well, Donna, you made my day and I love this card and you even taught me something to boot! It's so warm and wonderful. Thank you for thinking of me.

Thanks everyone for stopping by 'the blog' to look and share! There is a card from me coming this evening I think. So be near a chair when you need to sit down!!!!Ha!

 

 Shirley

 

Probably New To You

Well, I dibbled at this and that this weekend and so far a card is not finished. However, it occurred to me I may have something I haven't posted here that you might find interesting. So I went into my archives (deep deep archives) Ha! and found the card below.

I fell in love with this stamp the moment I saw it. I still have this one and I haven't been able to find another angel that even comes close and I have been looking. If you know of where I can buy one, please email me at the EMAIL ME on the sidebar. I also thought you might enjoy 2 of the techniques I used on this card.

For the image, I used StazOn Black stamped off once on scrap paper and then on Acetate for muted tone. The Angel was painted with a Niji waterbrush filled with Future Floor polish and dipped in True Blue Pearl Ex for the gown and Antique Bronze Pearl Ex for the hair. Sometimes this technique is called Pearl Ex Floored. The way it dried was uneven leaving it with a floating gossamer look. (If you try this technique, practice on a piece of acetate first.) The Wings are Glue and Dazzling Diamonds. The skin is Paint Jewels Peach Quartz. I applied it with the tip of the bottle and help of a toothpick to get it into the corners. The bird is Brilliance Moonlight white.

The background on the white card is the Stampin' Up Stars Jumbo wheel with Opalite Golden Mist. It was also used as the background on the right side of the inside of the card. You can barely see either in the photo. The ribbon is white organdy tied in a knot with Gold cord used for beads knotted on each side of knot. The edge inside and out of the circle is Stickles Diamonds glue glitter. The words are stamped with Gold Encore and embossed with Gold EP.

Image:
- StazOn Black ink pad
- Stampin' Up On Angel Wings
- Acetate 4.25X4.25
- Niji Waterbrushfilled with Future Floor Polish
- True Blue and Antique Bronze Pearl Ex
- Brilliance Moonlight White ink applied with regular paint brush
- Paint Jewels Peach Quartz
- Clear Drying Glue
- Dazzling Diamonds glitter or Deco Art Glamour Dust Crystal (The exact same thing)

Background:
- 1 Folded 5.25X10.5 and 1 5.25X5.25 Neenah Paper Classic Crest Solar White Super Smooth 80 lb. cardstock
- Stars Jumbo Wheel
- Opalite Golden Mist ink pad
- 1" White Organdy ribbon
- Gold cord
- Czech Clear and Blue transparent AB beads from local hobby store
- Stickles Diamonds glitter glue

Words:
- Stampin' Up On Angel Wings set
- Encore Gold ink pad and Gold Embossing Powder

I am so close to finishing a card. Pray for me!!! Thanks for stopping by 'the blog' to look and share.

 

 Shirley

 

Geography, Social Studies And A Wonderful Little Boy

Last night I was blog hopping for a few minutes and found this wonderful blog where a little boy and his sister, Pravan and Priyasha, are collecting post cards or cards from all over the world. When Pravan receives them he takes them to school and shares the information from that part of the world with his classmates. The next thing I noticed was that they live where I had lived all my life until 6 years ago, Reno, NV. The mother's name is Easperee. She is from South Africa and her husband is from the United States. How wonderful for her children that she is so supportive in their interest to learn all about the world around them.

I have always loved to learn about different cultures. So when I learned Esperee's son also wanted to know more, I asked her if I could post how to contact them on my blog and maybe help him out a little. She was very agreeable to the idea. Here is her blog for more information.

Now I am going to go back and try to find what I was looking for when I found this. (Smile) Thanks for stopping by 'the blog' to look and share.

 

 Shirley

 

Not On Vacation

I have had some wonderful friends emailing and asking when I am going to post again. I really haven't gone anywhere, but have been very busy with unfun things. I had to deep clean my house because of having an installer into my home. That was not fun. I changed servers and hope for an improvement in service. I have had to winterize my lawn and do some Fall clean up. Today is bill paying day and tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment. Between that and letting all of the people online with whom I do business and communicate that my email address is different, I have been very busy. I usually have 3 or 4 cards in process at a time, and I do, but just not finished. I am going to be able to look and that is exciting for an addicted stamper!!!

So, thanks for stopping by 'the blog' to look and share and hopefully by this weekend I will have something new to share.

 

 Shirley

 

A Great Surprise

My fellow blogger friend, Joanne, at My Adventures In Cardmaking, has given me the Kreativ Blogger Award. What an honor. I am to name her, award the award to 5 other people and post it on my blog. To give feeds your soul and so since you all know I can't resist a good thing, the award goes to the 7 wonderful people below:

I really like the colors of this award! The seven I chose are:

1. Jennifer at Thimbles, Bobbins, Paper, and Ink. She lives in Canada. She does lovely cards and has some that are the Magnolia ones.

2. Traci at Stamping Life's Prescription . She lives in Texas. Her blog is relatively new and she has a great start.

3. ET at VIBGYOR Krafts. She lives in Pakistan. I think you will see that she is humble and makes some of the prettiest cards I have ever seen. You will get so many ideas there too.

4. Daniel at Daniel's Hobbyblogg. He lives in Norway and attends the university. He also has a translation gadget, so you can read his blog in English, etc. It is in the upper left hand corner. He is a very artistic fellow and shares how he does it all.

5. Pam at Yorkie Mom's Creative Corner. She lives in Florida. She is a real paper artist and thoroughly enjoys sharing.

6. Jose at Jose's Jottings. She lives in the United Kingdom. She has some really cute ideas and some wonderful cards.

7. Jackie at Inky Fingers. She is really into backgrounds and is an avid and wonderful Technique Junkie friend. She also just added to her fan club on November 6.

I would also like to say the above award goes out to all of you. If you are reading this, chances are pretty good that I have been to your blog and if not will be shortly. I wouldn't know what I know now without all of you. I love people of the world and have learned so much from you all.

Thanks for stopping by 'the blog' to look and share.

 

 Shirley

 

Parade of Trees #4

I saw this tree on a couple of blogs and just couldn't resist doing it. It is completely folded paper and no stamping at all.

The tree itself is made by doing 2 sheets of Cuttlebug Embossing Folder Snowflakes, cutting them into the squares listed below, edging them with scalloped scissors or cutting them with dies and then folding them. Glue and glitter were then added to the scalloped edges too. The star is a small ornament I bought a long time ago.

The background behind the tree is Cuttlebug Embossing Folder Swiss Dots. The frame around the tree is Cuttlebug Embossing Folder Snowflakes. It is edged in glitter. The blue on the ribbon is a really great match IRL for the Rhinestones, but alas, not in a picture. Ha! Below is a list of sites where you can either watch a video or see tutorials on how to do it:

How to Make an Origami Christmas Tree:
1. Origami Wow Christmas Tree Cards - You Tube Video OR she explains on her blog.
2. Origami Christmas Tree - Card of the Week Video
3. Word Instructions by Kardizzy

The rest of the card was very simple I used the complete 4.25X5.5 piece of Swiss Dots behind the 4.0X5.25 piece of Snowflakes with the oval cut out. The finished cardfront was mounted on a white folded piece of 5.5X8.5 piece of cardstock.

Supplies:

Origami Christmas Tree:
1 8.5 Neenah Classic Laid Heather Green text or Cover paper (text would be easier to fold)
- 1 3" square sheet of paper
- 1 2.5" square sheet of paper
- 1 2" square sheet of paper
- 1 1.5 square sheet of paper

Background:
- 1 4.0X5.25 Neenah Classic Laid Heather Green text or Cover paper Ridges are imprinted in it
- 2 8.5 X 11 Neenah Paper Classic Crest Solar White Super Smooth 80 lb. cardstock
- 1 Small contraband Christmas tree Star ornament
- Glue pen for around edges of oval frame and edges of scalloped squares.
- Fiskars Small scallop scissors or try Spellbinders squares too.
- Fiskars Oval template, or try Spellbinders Oval
- Mark Richards Crystal Stickers Elements Blue 5mm, 3mm
- Deco Art Glamour Dust Crystal - It looks and acts just like Dazzling Diamonds, but is much cheaper for more.
- May Arts Ribbon

Well, I have another project going, or 2 or 3 or........ Thanks for stopping by 'the blog' to look and share.

 

 Shirley

 

**Check Your New Commenting Choice**

As of 10/23/08 from Blogger Buzz:

Update, 10/23: We regret that this feature is being
enabled for some existing blogs that didn’t specifically enable it. We are
working to undo that, but in the meantime if you see this on your blog and don’t
want it, go to Settings > Commenting and change Comment Form Placement to either “Full page” or “Pop-up window.”

I noticed the problem yesterday when I was trying to post on someone's blog and it wouldn't let me. I emailed her about it. She came back later and told me I had the same problem. I hope those of you who are reading this will choose "Pop-Up Window". It is so much easier to comment on the card, etc. while being able to look at it.

Thanks for stopping by 'the blog' and sorry for the interruption.

 

 Shirley

 

RAKs - Candy Treats Without Calories!!!

If I told you how excited I get when I have received a card in the mail, you would probably say I need to see someone! And that may be true! Especially since I received 3 within the last week and here they are in the order I received them.

Jackie Kalchert is the artist of this card. Isn't it a beauty? I love every inch. She has used a Technique Junkie technique I think is called Vada's Gesso Resist. It is lovely as you can see. Thank you so much Jackie for the card and for your thoughtful words.

Speaking of excited and surprises. This card was sent by a wonderful person I met at the Stamp Convention I attended in Kissimmee, FL. She was so friendly, a real stamp artist, and she knew exactly how to shop a convention. If you ever meet her at one, follow her. She can show you great buys and save you a lot of money on really good 'stuff'. Thank you Donna. This was so unexpected. Like a "blast for the past". Hope to see you again sometime, sooner than later. I love your very spooooooooky Halloween card and it really brightened my day.

This card is from a dear friend living in a town near me. Her name is Connie Thorson and she teaches classes at a stamp store in Mooresville, NC, called Stamper's Alley. She, her friend Judy Kleinrock, and I met for lunch once. Connie, I hope you had a wonderful Halloween and thank for this lovely card. By the way, that candy corn is a cute 3D embellishment too~!

 

 Shirley

 

Another Wonderful Award

This Arte Y Pico Award is from Suzanne (Sue) at Suzanne's Stamping Spot. You definitely need to check her blog out if you haven't already. You will not be disappointed. I never miss a post, and her details on how she makes her cards are just wonderful. Thank you so much Sue. Now on to the new awards.

The "rules" for the Arte y Pico award are:

1. If you are an award winner, show the award, the name of the person who gave it to you, and link back to his or her blog.

2. Pick 5 blogs you think deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and for contributing to the blogging community.

3. List the author's name and link to his or her blog.

4. Leave a message on the blogs of those you've selected.

5. Link back to the original Arte y Pico blog http://arteypico.blogspot.com/, so all will know the origin of the award.

Here are 5 blogs that I would like to share this with:

1. Chris at Chris Scrappin' and Scrappin' in Texas. She does a lot of challenges and I always find good ideas too!

2. Phree at Ink Stain Survivor. She is an artist that will never disappoint. I love the techniques she tries.

3. Maria at The Joyful Stamper. Maria has the most upbeat blog and her cards are indicative of her beautiful creative attitude and care for others too.

4. Tera at Stamp Queen. She just got back from a cruise with the ladies who head up Papertrey, Bella, and Gina K stamps. She always has some wonderful cards to share too.

5. Cindy at This Is My Story. Her blog brings a smile to my face every time I go there. If you haven't been I am not going to spoil the surprise.

6. Tami at Tropical Dreams. She is into Magnolia and Card Kits, etc. and really does a great job of embellishments too!

7. Jennifer at Jennifer's Sweet Designs. Her cards are eye candy you can't afford to miss.

Don't miss out on these blogs. Oooooops, I did 2 more and that's okay because sometimes others don't have time to do this and I think once I wasn't able to either.

Okay all, thanks for stopping by 'the blog' to look and share!

 

 Shirley