DC Flea

Stamping is on hold until this weekend in over.  We are doing another show at the DC Flea Saturday and Sunday at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly.  It's a very hot weekend here in VA, so if you are local and looking for some place that is cool and inviting, come on over and say hi!  Lots of inspirational items to see here!  We will be in aisle "C".

Prayer Shawl

Knitting is a new adventure for me.  I have been sticking to making prayer shawls for those who have suffered a loss.  Am sorry to say there has been a constant opportunity of recipients.  But, they have been well received and seem to be providing some comfort based on what I'm hearing back from folks.  I have been enjoying trying out different colors and using different size needles.  The activity of knitting has proven to be a calming and enjoyable activity for me.  Here is my latest completed project.

Thank You card

After returning from the Arts Festival, came home to an unexpected card from a friend.  It was such a beauty I had to share it.  There is a beautiful shimmer to this page which, unfortunately, didn't come through on the photo.  Inspiration all around me!

Art muses

Had the chance to spend time at two art festivals in PA over the weekend.  Do so love seeing creativity in action!  Here are some of my favorites from the shows.  Hope you get a chance to enjoy a festival that celebrates the arts this summer.  A great place to be inspired!

Memorybox flip flops

Sorry this is a little blurry.  This is a string board I have up at Angela's Happy Stamper Store.  There were printed stars on it for July, but the die by Memorybox is exactly what I was looking for to change it up for the rest of summer.  The die was the perfect size for the frame. 

Travel Card

Here is the promised travel card.  One page is filled with tag sayings.  One was cut and mounted onto the paper along with some twine.  Loved the gray paper with tracked planes on it.

Bella paper

Yellow taxis just make me smile so you can imagine how much I liked this paper.  This line is all about travel.  Will post another travel card tomorrow.

Summer Card

One more summer card.  Could have kept going.  There was even more great paper in this line that I haven't used yet.  But, I will!  Tomorrow though, I'll show a card from the Bella Boulevard line that I picked up as well.

Photoplay Summer paper

It sure is popsicle weather!  Maybe that's why I like this paper so much.  And because of the kiwis.  And because of the yummy colors used.  Now I go need to eat a popsicle.

Photoplay Summer card

Angela's Happy Stamper store got in some wonderful summer paper that I couldn't resist.  Went home and made some cards.  Here is the first one all done with the paper from its summer line.

Hero Arts

Here is the card with did on our craft day.  The card was already preprinted and the paper layering was all pre cut, so folks only had to stamp and glue.  There were a variety of flower stamps to choose from and folks came up with some colorful and pretty cards.  This is the sample card I had.  This flower is one of my favorites.  I've gotten lots of mileage out of this one stamp.

Craft Celebration

A friend of mine came up with the best idea-  Have a craft and cocktail party!  So I did!  It was great fun.  We had a watermelon cocktail and a variety of craft activities through out the house for folks to do.  Here is one of the activites.  We made earing holders from small craft hoops.  Burlap was chosen so we could use stencils and paint the design on with Ranger paint daubers.  We also made pendants with metal washers and alcohol inks, had a coloring page, decorated our bags with designs, and did a card I will show tomorrow.  Am already planning another day since it was so much fun!

Art Journal Entry

Dina Wakely has a similar page that was the inspiration for this entry.  It's been changed up with the use of materials and the use of the stars and saying.  She is such a fount of wonderful ideas.  Am grateful for her talent and willingness to share her joy.  We will be using Pan pastels, gelatos, gelli prints, and trying our hand at some pen and ink.  Come have fun with us this Wednesday at night, or Thursday in the morning.  You can call Angela's Happy Stamper store to sign up.

Memorybox Christmas card #2

If you look back to last week's posts, you will see my first version of this stamp as a Christmas card.  On this one the color was done with a Versafine pad and worked really well.  The edge was torn and some polka dot paper was added along with the twine.  Am liking this one even more than the last one.

Color burst background

The background here was down with a stencil placed on the paper and then Color Bursts greens tapped over the stencil.  Water next, and lift the stencil.  Been trying to figure out what to do with it.  Tried some ideas, but then once I got this saying by Stampoutique, it all started coming together.  the bird is by Memorybox.  The words were colored in with Dysulsion sprays that were used in reservoir pens. 

Dylusion Sprays and Doodling

Scraping again today.  Found these sprayed pieces in my stash.  Tore and taped them together onto the black square.  Then started doodling on them with a fine tip sharpie.  Result=happy.

Memorybox Christmas card

Well, it's July, so you know what that means- Christmas!  Yes, for me, this is when I want to start making my cards.  This is the first of many to (hopefully)come.  This image from Memorybox makes the process enjoyable.  You just have to make sure the ink is juicy and goes on evenly.  Several colors were tried out but I particularly liked this lavender.  All that was needed was a little twine to finish off the card. 

Impression Obsession Mermaid

My young friend who I babysit has got me watching a show about mermaids.  She loves her mermaids!  So, when it came time to make her a birthday card, I was very glad to see that mermaids are one of the new themes for summer crafting.  The paper is by Echo Park, and goes very well with this stamp by Impression Obsession.  It was colored in with Copic pens.  Inside is a stamp by Cat's Pajamas that says, "Make a splash!"

Happy 4th

Happy 4th folks!  Hope it's a day of safe fun.  Not sure we will be seeing fireworks due to weather, but by the sounds of it, some folks started celebrating last night.  Today is a day of celebrating with family and friends.  Will get back to creations tomorrow.

Get well card

A friend is recouping from surgery and she loves monkeys.  "Monkeys-always funny" is the phrase she frequently uses.  I had this scrap of paper that seemed perfect for making a card for her.  Hope it puts a smile on her face.

Graphic 45 paper

Sooo, if you have ever gone to a stamp convention, the mounds of rubber is rather intoxicating.  I was at one a while ago and picked up several design stamps including this one.  Unfortunately, bargan stamps don't always come marked.  This is the long way of saying I have no idea who made this great design stamp that created the background on this card.  In fact, if you recognize it, let me know!  But, it does make a great background for this paper.

Dylusion Sprays Card

We were fortunate enough to have the creator of Dylusion sprays at our local stamp store.  She showed us how to use the sprays to create this type of background using stencils and water.  So easy and fun!  I came across this piece last night.  Once I placed it on the white paper this idea of putting a die cut flower image on top immediately came to mind.  The flower is by Memory Box.  The colored paper was lined with a dark blue before it was added to the card to help make the background pop.

Impression Obsession Patriotic Card

These words by IO were paired up with an old image that worked well with it.  I'm sending it to a gal pal of mine.  This image looks like something we would do and it made me smile.  Hope it makes her smile, too.  Color was mostly done with Copics.  Some colored pencils were also used.