Is it August Already????

What is this you ask?????? No, I am not doing laundry, I'm getting ready to do some bleach stamping. I've known about this technique for years, but never tried it as it seemed to MESSY for me. One day I decided to give it a try and to my surprise, it wasn't really messy or even time-consuming for that matter.

This is the August Stamp of the Month, "Something Splendid". It is the perfect set of stamps to use with the bleach-stamping technique.

First you take a piece of cardstock and apply ink to it with a rubber brayer. Get the paper completely inked up and then either let it dry completely or dry it a bit with a heating tool. In this sample I used the Tulip ink pad.

Then use embossing ink to stamp your image on the inked piece of cardstock. I used the Chocolate Brown embossing powder. After you've applied the powder, heat with your heating tool.

Then put a small amount of bleach in a container and using a fine paint brush, simply apply the bleach where you want the "lighter" areas of the flower to appear. The bleach will bleach away the ink, but will not hurt the embossed image at all.

Continue painting until all areas are "bleached out".

Here is the finished card.

This is another sample, this time using "Honey" ink.

This is another card using the Stamp Set. I didn't bleach this one. It is just done with Sorbet ink using both of the flower stamps, the outline and the overlay.

This is also simple stamping, this time using Blush ink.

Enjoy the bleach technique, and also the month of August! If you are interested in the Stamp of the Month, please let me know by August 20th, and I will get them ordered.

Happy July!

It has been a busy few weeks. My kids and I took a three-day trip to Hocking Hills in Ohio. It was so nice to spend time with the kids and grandkids. We had a really nice trip.

This week my brother, Tim, was home. He and his family live in Longmont, Colorado. We had three family evenings which were all really fun.

So, finally today I decided it was time to post to the blog with cards I have been working on lately. This is made with the July SOTM, "Happy Forever". You have to just love these little critters, I think they're hedgehogs.

This card was made with a "word stamp". I then took a solid block-like stamp and in second generation, stamped Sweet Leaf and Ocean over the top of the writing.

The rest of these cards are made with a set entitled "Live Inspired". I love this set. It makes some really rich looking men's cards. I used the paper packet "Passages". This helps to make these cards look masculine.

It's June

I decided to post everything I've made in the past couple of weeks. Hope you can get a few ideas from my cards. You will have to excuse my text placement. I am having an awlful time getting my text to go in the right place! Oh well......













This is my father's day card, made with the June Stamp of the Month, "Wonderful Friend".

Inside the father's day card.

The actual set.

This is a small gift bag made with a white lunch sack. You cut the sack down to 4 1/4" and cover with cardstock and background paper. I have used it for a gift card enclosure twice this spring.

Here is a card I made using "A- door-ables". These are chipboard windows that can be colared with chalk, ink, paint......whatever you choose. You glue the "A-door-able" to your card and then it opens to reveal a message. What Fun!!

Graduation Cards

I love the new stamp set "Happy Holidays". It can be stamped on a 1 1/4" circle from our new circle punch. I am using these little stamps all the time these days. I've made Graduation Cards, Baby Cards, Birthday Cards and more.

Pleating background paper.

Stamp Set "A Little Buzz"....cute, no??

Finally......May Stamp of the Month and More!!

Spring has sprung and so has the yard work. Just wanted you all to see that I havn't just been sitting around the house doing nothing. There is a reason I have not taken the time to do any blog updating. This is my deck and my back yard.















































Now....for the May Stamp of the Month. Remember.....the May SOTM can be purchased only in May, so if it's one you want, let me know soon.




















Using the SOTM as a "tag" on the cardfront.

















This paper is from the Creative Basics paper packet. The pink one is the reverse side of the brown plaid. Isn't it pretty?



















Another piece of paper from Creative Basics.
































Got to love this card using the stamp set entitled "State of Mind" as the background to these pretty butterflies.
















Paper from "Cherry-O". This paper packet reminds me of my Grandma Gerber's kitchen of years ago.















I promise it will not be as long between posts, and for those of you who have already seen thse cards, there will be new ones soon!

April Stamp of the Month

The April Stamp of the Month is entitled "Flower Pot". This is a set of 16 images that are really "spring-like". Aren't we all ready for a few flowers after the long cold winter? Absolutely!
This set is perfect for making wonderful Birthday, Easter, Mother's Day, Thinking of You.....and MANY other occasions. Remember, the April SOTM is only available in April

Feel free to call or e-mail me with ANY questions you may have. Have a wonderful Easter!

Below is a thank you card made using one of my favorite paper packets, "Caboodle". The flower pot was chalked and I used markers to color the flowers & leaves. Quick and Easy!

I finally used my sewing machine to zig-zag the vertical strip of Colonial White cardstock to the piece of Chocolate cardstock. It was really easy.....I see people using stitching all the time but this is my first attempt at it and it worked! I used Blush (pink) in the marker and ribbon.

Below I actually stamped the three pots on background/texture papers, so there was no coloring needed for the pots. I did color the flowers and then cut them out and "arranged" them in their pots.

I stamped the "window" stamp on my card and then cut the window (square) out with a craft knife. I then also stamped the shutters again on Brown Bag cardstock and cut them out. I attached the shutters to the window and glued the edges only. How about that, I am also a builder! This is a fund card as you can add your sentiment inside so that it shows on the front.

March Stamp of the Month

"A Little Everything" -- This is the March SOTM. Lots of possibilities! I have made lots of cards already with this fun set. There's an Easter card, a thank you note, a birthday card and an all occasion card. The set is versatile and will be a welcome addition to your stamp collection. These words will also be nice to use on your scrapbook layouts.

On Monday, March 15, my stamp club meets at 7:00 p.m. You are invited to come and join the group and make four cards with me. We will be using the stamp of the month set along with other sets and paper packets. We will be learning to "pleat" our paper making a wonderful embellished edge on our card. I will also focus on "bending" your stamp to make arched images. If you would like to attend on the 15th, just let me know.