Images on tile

I found this really neat tutorial on Splitcoaststampers.com on making a tile using an image printed on your computer onto tissue paper. You tape the tissue paper onto regular copy paper and run it through your printer. I like the way sepia photos look, but you can use color photos as well. Then, you trim the image and using Mod Podge and a foam brush, adhere it to the tile with several coats. Before applying the Mod Podge however, you can stamp an image using a Staz-On pad (solvent based and used to stamp on nonporous surfaces) as I did with the greeting I used. I added some "feet", little round sticky-on-one-side pads, to the corners of the tile before putting it on my counter. These would make great coasters!
The picture has a little bit of a glare on it, but I used a photo of my husband and daughter walking on the beach together from our trip to California in 2007 at the spot where we were married. So sweet!

A Stamper In the Making!

While at Ikea, I purchased this awesome, customizable desk and pretty pink office chair for my daughter! I figured she could use it for schoolwork AND stampin'! She loves being crafty like her mama! Here she is in action--stampin' away! In fact, if she wakes up before me, she'll often go in there and create a masterpiece!

Let's Talk Organization!

After being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator for almost 7 years, I've accumulated a lot of Stampin' Paraphenalia! I haven't gotten rid of hardly anything--I am too attached--so I've needed to find a way to store some of my goodies, especially now that I have entered the world of die cuts as well!
Here are just a few pix showing how I organize some of my items.
First off, I keep my Sizzlits and Embosslits in a Notebook inserted into baseball card sleeves. They are perfect because I can flip them over and see what they look like through the sleeve! I also keep my Die Cut instructions (some of them contain useful information on assembly and dimensions) in the same notebook. I have some sleeves that are divided into four pockets which are ridiculously perfect for storing Embossing Folders. For now, my larger dies fit nicely in a plastic roller drawer.
My punches started to take over my shelves and desk! I had no idea what to do with them until I saw this great idea online! Ikea (which just happened to open in Charlotte) sells these amazing dowels! They also sell these amazing baskets to hang on them! Best of all, they are AMAZINGLY inexpensive! In fact, after looking at the new Idea Book & Catalog, I know I'll need to purchase another to hold the new punches I am planning on buying!
I am still working on organization, but let me tell you, Ikea is a great place to start if you have one near you.

B is for Baby!

I helped throw a shower for a friend of mine and used the awesome Stampin' Up! exclusive Pennant die to make a "Baby" banner! She was very excited about having a girl so we definitely had to make it pink!
I die cut the pennant pieces and then ran them through the Big Shot again with a Texturz Plate to give them an embossed feel and look. I sponged them with Whisper White Craft Ink to bring the designs out. Then I used the Scallop Circle Punch and a die cut alphabet to dress them up. I used white eyelets and ribbon to connect the pennant pieces and--voila!--we had a Baby Banner! (As always, if you click on a picture, you can see it closeup and really see the texture!)
I am also including a picture of the favors that I made with Pink and White Chocolate on Pretzel rods! There ain't no such thing as too girlie in my book! =o)

The Little Mermaid

This was my mom's birthday card from MARCH! Whew--am I behind?! =o)
Anyway, the cute little mermaid is a stamp sold by The Greeting Farm--Mermaid Anya. I usually only use Stampin' Up! products but couldn't resist this little cutie pie!
To make the ocean, I ran a piece of Tempting Turquoise through my Big Shot machine with the Top Note die, then ran the same piece again in a Cuttlebug Embossing Folder to make the bubbles for the ocean. I used a pair of scallop edge scissors to cut the Top Note in half and to make it look more ocean-y. I stamped the mermaid and colored her in with Stampin' Write markers. Then, I used my Versamarker to draw some accent lines where I then poured some Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder over to heat. (The glitter is a little difficult to see in the photo but really stands out in person!) The greeting is a rub-on, and the sun is made from the Scallop Circle Punch and a Circle Punch (in Summer Sun and Only Orange). I used Confetti White Cardstock as it has specks in it which make it look kind of like sand.

Where have I been?

Wow! I haven't posted in forever! I have still been stamping but got very caught up in my life. Here I am though--ready to jump back in--so be prepared for a ton of posts to make up for lost time!

This first card (I apologize for the quality of the picture) was made during Stamp Club. We used Textured Designer Series Paper, the Sweet Stems Embosslit for the flower (love these embosslits that not only emboss but cut out your image!), and the Texturz Polka Dot Embossing Template for the polka dots behind the embosslit. We sponged Craft Whisper White Ink over the polks dots to make them stand out. We finished it off with a greeting punched out with the Word Window Punch and some White Grosgrain Ribbon! The colors we used were Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, and Kraft. Pretty and Elegant!

Oh, and don't forget to check out the links to the right for the brand new Catalogs! They are AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Catalogs are officially current as of today! Let me know if you have any questions or would like to place an order!
Thanks!
=o)

Love You Much

I CASE'd this card pretty much exactly from a card I saw on Splitcoaststampers. I used the new Love You Much Bundle which includes the Heart to Heart Punch, Candy Lane Designer Series Paper, and the Love You Much Stamp Set. I added an eyelet to the center of the flower and colored in the stamped image with Stampin' Write markers. I also used the Corner Rounder Punch, and Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip, and Naturals White cardstock.