Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Vote for My Card! (check it out...)

My card is on Korin's blog, Inkydoodle -- and it has a chance of winning!
Please visit and vote for me if you like it ;^)*
Tell others who might vote!

The blog artwork contest entries have been posted and voting has begun:

http://inkydoodle.blogspot.com/2007/09/national-stamping-month-artwork-contest.html

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Sewing on Cards -- I wanna try this...

I just read the most amazing tutorial on Julia Stainton's blog, Belle Papier {Pretty Paper} , about machine stitching on cards. Wowzers -- Great Work, Gal! Y'all should read it.

Have any of you ever sewn on cards? If anyone is reading this and can offer encouragement, lemme know. I have this small hand-held machine I was gifted, but I don't think I am even going to try it.

I wanna find an inexpensive machine to try and just see how it works. Straight stitching and zig-zag is all a person could ask for in the short term, I think... but I don't wanna pay $150 or more for something that I won't use.

Can anyone offer me some thoughts?

Thursday, September 13, 2007

The Scor-Pal Scores BIG -- and I mean it!

Wow. Have you ever met a tool that was so freakin' well-designed that it just blows you away?

For a long time I had been eye-ing one of those scoring boards -- the kind that promise the world... and sort of deliver. They are expensive... they are heavy... they seem to do one thing... they take up a lot of room...

Well, when I saw the Scor-Pal ( go to http://scor-pal.com/) -- I immediately Got It -- I mean, I have been in engineering all my life... and this is one Cool Tool.

Lemme tell you about it:

It is light weight
It is sturdy
You can do MULTIPLE scores WITHOUT MOVING YOUR PAPER
The tool has a great storage place and there is a hidden place for an extra tool to be kept
It is simple to use *elegance is a cornerstone of good design!
It is easy to use with all sizes of paper
No kid can get hurt with this one!

Diana Crick is a Stampin' Up! demo with a background in tool making, it is obvious -- and she has now even "improved" the design by adding a few extra scoring "slots" that will make the tool even MORE useful to me.

Diana is also responsive, interested and interesting -- very open and easy to communicate with -- and wow -- she is even making it easy to upgrade to the new version of the Scor-Pal if you already own one but want the newer version. In short, the designer and producer of this product is a Doll!

So -- WE CAN HELP! Even if you are not someone who makes tons of cards and feels that you have to own one -- having a Scor-Pal as a tool in the Stampin' Up! catalog would be a GREAT thing for demos. First, it is a nicely priced item to sell (think about your return on selling one of these... yes!) and it is Quality all the way -- I LOVE selling a quality item. Also, if people are using the Scor-pal they are using PAPER... think increased paper sales ;^)* Stampin' Up! should definitely consider it. It would sit right along side the Fiskars cutting tool, or the Guillotine cutter that they are selling... mine travels to workshops because it is so light... but I can't show it! Sigh...

So -- type to ds@stampinup.com and let them know that the Scor-Pal, designed by a Stampin' Up! demonstrator should BE IN THE STAMPIN' UP! catalog. After all, the Crop-a-dile is finally in there... this would complete the perfect picture. Tell 'em what you think!

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Another Contest Win -- but not for cards -- for Writing!

I am loving the contests, the ones that let me think as well as create. I just know that when I get doing on the challenges that I am going to go to town... hehehe

Well -- Mary Jo was having a contest for 5,000 hits... wahoo! I am hoping to get that many ;^)* She wanted to give something away... but didn't like the term "Blog Candy" -- after all, it is sort of like Kleenex (it has become so popular that you can't tell one from another, a Kleenex by any other name is just a tissue, right?) Anyway, I digress... I couldn't resist the simple challenge and I allowed my brain to play for a few minutes -- and whatdoyaknow? Mary Jo picked one of my suggestions! She is sending me some "Techno-Takeout"! Get this: a subscription to Paper Crafts magazine! I am so excited. I love getting inspiration from all sorts of places, but I seldom splurge to buy the subscriptions (I just find old copies somewhere... garage sales... sigh).

Thank you, Mary Jo! Be sure to check out her blog, Techno Stamper and tell her I sent you!

Friday, September 7, 2007

Cards! Finally!

Well, with the kids heading back into a routine -- Mom can finally (hopefully) get more daytime stamping... these cards were basically conceived in stolen moments. I am trying to work it out to get Wednesdays as "me time" and for stamping. We will see how that goes.

Next week I am leading a card for the Methodist stamping group that I attend -- not that I am a Methodist (Jewish/Quaker is my background) -- but this group of gals has a great monthly meeting, and I am so pleased that they keep it open to others on the Island where I live.

Thanks so much to Susan for finding a "basic sketch" somewhere (when I find out where, I will edit to include that) and then for offering HER ideas on how she would change it! Together I think we found a great design.

I have done two samples using Artfully Asian (Stampin' Up!) -- this one uses the cherry blossom bough, the other is simplified for those who might be "cutting challenged" and it uses the leaf stamp from the set (sorry -- no photo at the moment). I am in love with the whole "out of the box" thing I have seen on Lauren's blog that I wanted to try it on something of mine. I am hoping that the gals in the group (some very beginning stampers) will want to give it a try.

I used the Canvas Background (Stampin' Up!) in versamark on Rose Red cardstock -- and the sentiment and image are stamped in Basic Brown on Ivory. All edges are sponged in Chocolate Chip classic ink -- and I used some of the Rose Red Pallet O' Prints designer paper from Stampin' Up! under the main image. All the brown layers of cardstock are Chocolate Chip. The Prima flower with Making Memories brad is a little lush detail that makes the card work. I like the way it takes front, and yet balances the image... no need to color the little stamped flowers... really, a very simple card. I hope they like making it!

This second card is one that came together in little bits. I just can't help loving the prismacoloring on the Lizzie Anne flowers... I am so excited for their new releases!

This card uses one of my favorite things in my stash: the Basic Grey 6x6 designer paper pads -- this one is from the Phoebe collection. Those little birdies are so dang cute! I am seeing them everywhere in stamps, so I am not surprised that this paper is getting new life. I know I want to use it with a few birdies I have yet to purchase! With the paper... You know -- I finally GOT it~ USE the stuff -- you CAN get more! ;^)* Anyone else who has a tendency to hoard... it is very freeing to gain this attitude.

Side note: I used to have these kitchen towels -- I wanted to "keep them nice" and so I wouldn't use them... but I also wanted to buy a new set (I love having lots of towels around) and I couldn't justify having so many... then I got it! USE them, and when you need more, you will be able to buy MORE! Duh! Something inside of me is coming from a place of Scarcity -- and the world is just not like that. Please don't get me wrong: I am NOT advocating waste or some horrible out-of-wack consumerism -- but hoarding and buying without USING is just weird and not right. 'Nuf said :^)

Back to the card: I was seeing a lot of tent topper cards, and well, I don't like to do things all at the same time... I sort of meander and wander and do things at my own pace. So, this was slow in getting started and quick to come together. It was intended to be my fourth entry for Kimmie's Kard Kontest about a week or more ago... but alack! I had too much going on with my folks in town to get to finish it. I did finish it a few days ago -- but am FINALLY getting to post!

I used Kraft, Choc. Chip and Pretty in Pink and White cardstock, Palette Hybrid ink in Burnt Umber, Prismacolor Pencils and Gamsol, brads from Oriental Trading Co., May Arts Ribbon and SU silver cord. Stamps are Lizzie Anne and Verve Visuals first set of sentiments called "Thoughtful Phrases" that work GREAT with the Word Window punch from Stampin' Up! I am VERY impressed by the Verve Visuals stamps -- though I was skeptical at first (they seemed so small...) and I think that this card managed to finally come together in a way I can live with.

Happy Weekend, all -- I hope that you each get a chance to your heart's delight. Me, too, for that matter!