Wax Paper Embossing

I love this technique! I used the Tropical Paisley embossing folder from Sizzix. I placed a sheet of waxed paper inside the embossing folder and ran it through my Bigshot. Next, I removed the embossed waxed paper and placed it in between two sheets of white cardstock and ironed it with my iron on a no steam setting.
This transferred the wax to the cardstock creating a resist. Then, I used a blue distress ink on the cardstock in a direct-to-paper method. The ink didn't stick where the wax paper pattern was leaving me with this really cool kind of batik look. I wiped off any excess ink with a kleenex and I had two pretty pieces of background paper. Who needs designer paper, when you can make your own?

The stamps are from Flourishes, and the diecuts are Spellbinders, circles and labels eight. The punch used to create the edge is from Martha Stewart. I used Prisma Colored pencils to provide color. Did you wonder why I have such a small area of the stamp image in the circle? The top part of the image didn't ink properly, so I got creative. I finally mastered the cut out of the diecut image!

Paper Easter Baskets

Here are the last of the baskets. These are for my niece and nephew. Since my nephew is grown and married, I thought he deserved a manly basket, so I made his with some camouflage paper. He was in the Army, so it's perfect. Grown men like to have a special thought too right? I had the contents of his in a burlap pouch, but when I found out we weren't leaving to visit them for another day, I decided to make baskets instead. I used the burlap to line the inside of his basket.  I'm so glad Ann Marie, from Pajama Party Bloggers,shared the girly basket, I've now made two of them! Here are some directions. The manly basket is from a tutorial on Split Coast Stampers.

No, I didn't make this one. This is for our Great Niece. I found it on sale in Hobby Lobby and could not resist. Look at that lamb's cute little face and ears poking out of her hat:)

Shoes, Purses, a Pickup Truck and a Pokey Tool

The blogging group I belong to has a challenge to create a 3D purse and shoe. I made the green purse on the left for my sister-in-law. I used the directions on Frenchie's video.  My friend Pam, made the purse on the right, isn't it cute? It's made with a new diecut from Stampin' Up. It was full of chocolate:) 

Yeah, I know these aren't really 3D shoes, but I'm a Carolina girl, and we wear flip flops!

See, there's even room for chocolate:)

I LOVE my new mat pack and pokey tool. Yes, I know everyone else calls it a piercing tool, but I don't do paper piercing, I poke things with it. So, it's a pokey tool. See, on the top part of the purse? I wanted to create little faux stitching. You just line up what size holes you want on the template, and poke! Then you use a pen to create the 'stitches.'  I also used the template to line up where the holes should be for the brads on the handles, and of course the pokey tool made the holes. It's also good to remove the red strips from red-liner double-stick tape. I just love this little gadget.

This is a gift for my Sister-in-Law. I made her a portfolio full of cards, the purse and shoe, some chocolate covered Carolina pecans, and some other girly stuff like lavender soap, etc. Then, I placed all the stuff in the middle of some pretty pink tulle and wrapped it up. I just love tulle!! It's so elegant, and very inexpensive. I keep a few colors around for things like this. The pretty ribbon was recycled from a bouquet of flowers. You know, not everyone is lucky enough to have a sister-in-law that they really love. I am lucky enough to have a couple of them:) This one is visiting her son who lives nearby. So, when we go to see her tomorrow, I'll give her some love and some presents. Just for fun, and cause I love her.

I made another pick-em-up truck with my Stampin' Up set. Colored it with Prismas of course, used decorative paper that looks like wood, and the leather looking paper.... that is wall paper. The burlap gives a rustic feel I think. This card will be for my brother-in-law's birthday. He LOVES cars.

A Different Approach...

For me that is. I really like the flower images from Stampin' Up. I am totally, crazily in love with ANYTHING blue, so naturally, I adore blue and white porcelain. I have a pretty large collection of it. So much so that it isn't all out at any one time. When I saw the Fresh Vintage stamp set in the Sale-A-Bration catalog, I immediately thought of ... you guessed it, blue and white porcelain!

My friend, Pam, came to my house this week and we stamped and worked with Prismacolored pencils and had such fun! She is a Stampin' Up demo and has so many terrific ideas to share. 

I used my new Crop-A-Dile to set the eyelets.

The diecut used on this one is Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Squares.

I stamped this image of Pam's and thought the brick embossing folder would be a good backdrop. I can  just picture a carefree young woman flying around the city on her scooter. Going to the market for fresh vegetables and flowers would be part of her Saturday. Ordinarily I would have used two different shades of teal and maybe navy blue on this card. However, I now have a Color Coach from Stampin' Up. Even though I don't have all the colors of their paper (yet!) I chose something very close from my stash of cardstock. I would not have thought of using these colors together and I think I kind of like it. I really like the idea of the Color Coach pulling me out of my comfort zone and stretching my mind's sense of color.

Stamp set: Stampin' Up, Countryside. Decorative paper from Hobby Lobby and the cork paper is from my stash.

That's One Giant Stamp

You know how I said I would NEVER unmount another Magenta stamp? Well... this is absolutely the last one! I have an excuse too. This stamp was 7 1/2 inches by 9 1/2 inches!!! I kid you not. This monstrosity retailed for $45.00 when I got it for cost the Stamp Store I demoed for. I thought the image was soooo elegantly beautiful that I just HAD to have it. Want to hazard a guess as to how many times I used it? Yep, once. And I can't even tell  you what I did with that image either! I had thoughts of framing it... Yesterday the practical Scotch half of me, decided that I needed to actually use this thing and get my money's worth. It's really not like me at all to have things and not use them. The playful, fun-loving Irish half of me simply will not allow it. As I studied this gorgeous image I saw three distinct images within it. I really needed to unmount it and cut it into three images. I tossed it in the microwave and prepared to do battle with the ultimate stickiness of the foam. Then, I got an idea. What if I pulled just the rubber off, separating it from the foam and wood instead of pulling the foam and rubber off the wood? I did, and it was MUCH easier!  I wonder if allll the others would have posed less of a problem if I'd used this method? NO, I am absolutely NOT going to try another one to see if this is the case.

Here is the stamp before, remember it is 7.5 by 9.5.

This is how I cut them apart. One piece would not fit in a CD case so I used a photo mailer.

I found these photo mailers at the Dollar store. They come two to a package and are nice and stiff. Sturdy and cheap for unmounted rubber.

Out in the woods yesterday, my husband and I rescued this baby bunny from a trap. It was unhurt, and soooo adorable. It liked me better too, I could tell because it was much calmer when I held it:) I tried to take another picture as we released it, but it scampered off much too quickly.

Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday Challenge

I love Flourishes stamps. Next on my list is the set with peaches! But then there is the new magnolia set, I just gotta have that one! I love these flowers and the hummer is such a sweet little guy. For the Timeless Tuesday Challenge, I put this together.

War With Mounted Stamps

As God is my witness I will never unmount another Magenta stamp again! The foam on those things is some indestructible stuff!! It's really quite a testament to Canadian craftsmanship. I felt as though it was an all out war... and I was General Patton. 'The enemy was quite the formidable foe. I was outflanked and outmaneuvered. There were many casualties: my hands, my fingernails, my back, my sanity, and the Tack n' Peel on my acrylic block.

How did unmounting stamps mess up my Tack n' Peel you ask? That foam would not come off!! I was desperate. I decided to leave it on, but it was soooooo sticky! So I put baby powder on the foam backing to get rid of the stickiness. I rubbed and rubbed to get all the residue off.

Big mistake, the baby powder caused my Tack n' Peel to lose its stickiness. Even water did not resuscitate my TAP. I played taps, gave it a burial in the trash can. I had lost the war and was exhausted. What was I to do? Well, I'm General Patton so when the going gets tough..... I took a nap!

Note to self... when the label on a chemical (uh that would be Goo Gone) says to observe caution when getting in contact with skin... heed the warning!!!

Pictures from our brave war correspondent:

After using the powerful microwave weapon

Time to bring out the heavy artillery

casualties

under heavy attack, reinforcements called in

The enemy refuses to be subdued, even after heavy sanding

I did not surrender, but I will not go to war against this foe again. The worst casualty, the hands bore witness to photographs that are too graphic to publish.