Watering Can Diva

Isn't she quirky? I don't know why, but I just had to have this stamp! Yes, this diva's proportions are different from anyone's I've ever seen, but don't we all have things about ourselves we'd like to change? ;-) And who's to say she'd change anything!

This set of cheerful greeting cards was created with Stampin' Up!'s Bold Brights color family, scalloped edge scissors, and two different Cuttlebug embossing folders. I especially like how the embossing looks on the white card stock! Now, wouldn't one of these cards bring some cheer to your day?

Village Christmas

The "Painter of Light" (Thomas Kinkade) has found a new (more affordable) way for me to enjoy his art . . . with rubber stamps! For years, I have wanted a piece of Thomas Kinkade's art in my home, but I've never been able to bring myself to choose just one--or pay for it. Not too long ago, I stumbled upon a web site that sold Thomas Kinkade rubber stamps, and it just so happens that one of them . . . Village Christmas . . . is one of my most favorite!!! So, I couldn't just carry on, day in and day out, as though the stamp didn't exist. This particular card is the first one that I've made with my new stamp. Granted, it's a bit lifeless, but I tried to dress it up with touches of silver glitter and some lighting. I definitely wanted it to look cold, but I wish it had more of a late evening look. I guess I'll have to keep practicing with this one! When I placed my order for this stamp, something made me get another one . . . The Forest Chapel. It's gorgeous, of course, but I don't dare attempt all the coloring for that one just yet.

On this particular card, the ovals were created with a Curvy Cutter, and the stamped layer is adhered to SU's Night of Navy card stock. Night of Navy ink, Whisper White card stock, and silver glitter are also Stampin' Up! products.

"Accessorize Your Desk" - Class Projects

Since I mentioned today's class in my previous post, I thought you might want to see the class projects. This was an intense--but fun--class, and any (or all) of these projects could be part of a gift set for someone special.

By the way, we put a calendar w/tear-off pages on the hinged coaster project at the back (the project that has a photograph on it). At the time this picture was taken, I had not received the calendars yet.

The large project on the far right is a note pad cover! The new scallop circle punch, Baroque Motifs stamp set, and a pleat accent were used to decorate the cover.

Happy Camper

I'm a happy camper today! Had my "Accessorize Your Desk" class, and it was a lot of fun! I think everyone had a great time, and they seemed pleased with our projects--which pleases me! A friend (and customer), Karin, brought her "Happy Camper" stamp set for me to play with and, of course, I just couldn't wait. I didn't do a really good job with this card. For some reason, it looked better (and was simpler to accomplish) in my mind. ;-) Not to fear, Karin! I'll play with this set some more!

Garden Whimsy "Doughnut"

When making the quilt cards at the workshop, one of the final steps was to trim the strips of designer paper that were hanging off the edge of the card stock. One of my customers left her "snippets" of designer paper on the table, so I used them on this card! They look like ribbon, huh?

This card is 4" x 3-3/4". I began by placing the designer paper strips to the card. After the Really Rust layer was added, I punched a 1-3/8" through both layers--the Really Rust and the Soft Sky. The ladybug (Garden Whimsy) was stamped with Pumpkin Patch Spectrum ink onto Whisper White card stock and then punched with a 1" circle punch. This circle was layered onto an Old Olive 1-1/4" circle, which was adhered with Stampin' Dimensionals to the inside of the card so that it would peep through the "doughnut" hole. Doughnut cards are quick and easy to make! How do you like this card, Karin?????

Workshop Projects

One of my hostess clubs met tonight, and these are the FUN projects that we created! The quilt card and black & white polka dot card were learned from other bloggers (I'm sorry! I can't remember who), and they were both fun to make! The Crop-a-Dile was used to create the polka dots and set the eyelets, and the Yoyo Yellow scalloped edge was created with the Slit Punch. I try to always plan projects for my workshops that I'm excited about, and these three projects were well-received.

All in the Family

Dear Stamp-a-ma-jig:

You and I haven't always been friends--actually, I used to just push you aside to get to another tool in the drawer--a tool that I was really anxious to see. Truth be told, I sometimes pushed you around without noticing your usefulness. Of course, there was that one time when I held you tightly on the card stock, being ever so careful so nothing would slip. Even then, I secretly looked forward to putting you back in the drawer--to be forgotten. SAMJ, I assure you my feelings for you have changed. It is now very clear to me that Stampin' Up!'s new and really fun stamp set (All in the Family) is meant for you and I to share. How fitting that something called All in the Family would bring us back together. You can start looking forward to more opportunities to perform your magic. I can't believe you never stirred for attention, but I suppose that's one of your endearing qualities . . . that quiet confidence that I would, indeed, return to you. Affectionately yours . . .

Seriously, though, I could not have created the framed "my family" art without it! I know the designer paper is a bit busy on the frame, but isn't that Cutie Pie paper just adorable????? I love it!

Pick a Petal Ladybug

I just know this new stamp set (Pick a Petal) has a LOT of hidden uses, and I'm determined to discover them. This is one of the first cards I made with this stamp set. Cassy, does it look familiar????

It's all there . . . in Black & White

My maternal great-grandparents. I don't remember a lot about them, but I remember that couch was RED!!!!

It's hard to believe that I'm old enough for my baby pictures to look so old. Black and white???? Those were the days, though. My mother wore cat-eye glasses and the worst word she ever said was "confound it!" My daddy rolled up the hem of his short-sleeve shirts and instead of showing his anger, he gave silence. But did he REALLY wear white shoes???? Pictures don't lie, do they? These pictures have nothing to do with this "Workin' Out the Inks" blog, but they have a lot to do with me. I'm really intrigued by old photographs--love looking at them! Even if I don't know the people in old photographs, I like to imagine what they were like. What they talked about. While they were sitting, specifically posed before the camera, what was going through their mind . . . was it the chores they needed to get back to? Sometimes, it's really hard to tell if they were happy people. Of course, you can't assume that just because people are smiling for a picture that they're blissfully happy. Or if they appear to be frowning, that isn't proof that they were miserable. Some of my favorite old photographs are ones where a nice chair, perhaps from the living room, has been brought into the yard for the photo. There seem to be a lot of photos taken outdoors, and I suppose that's because you just couldn't beat Mother Nature's lighting. And I just LOVE pictures where a car is in the background, out in a field that seems to be at the edge of nowhere. And it seemed that no matter how busy people were--tending to all their children, hand-washing the laundry, laboring on their farms or working in steamy plants . . . they still found time to visit one another and plan family picnics and day-trips to the mountains. Family values seemed to be something of value back then. There's a lot we can learn from those old black & whites!

Ha! I jumped on the blog bandwagon!

What has gotten into me???? I guess I had a little too much time on my hands today because it seemed like a good idea to start a blog. I've enjoyed a great many blogs for the past while, so it should be interesting to see how well I keep up with my own. If you have ideas or suggestions, leave a comment!

Brocade Coaster Box w/Dividers

The new Brocade Backgrounds paper is GORGEOUS!! I have been trying to put together a set of desk accessories for an upcoming class, and this coaster box was one of my first projects with the new designer paper. Because of the time it takes to make one of these jewels, this box will not be one of my class projects.

It hasn't been too long since I made my first coaster box, and it was a nightmare . . . or so I thought. I carefully covered the coasters with designer paper and gave them time to dry. I meticulously laced the coasters together with ribbon, being careful to not leave any twists in the ribbon, and then tied the ribbon tails into neat little bows (this sometimes required tying again and again and again). When that part of the detail was complete, I straightened my back and stood up to admire how this project was coming along. I think I even remarked to myself something about how simple this was! And then came the time to place a bottom on this coaster box I'd worked so hard on. Everyone said that Crystal Effects would do the trick, so that's what I used. Oh dear! After nearly gluing my fingertips to the bottom of the box and pushing, squeezing, cussing, and pushing some more to get the bottom lined up so the four sides would make contact with the bottom, I was certain that I had failed the last step of this project. In my frustration, I tossed the box across the room but then retrieved it because I might later find a way to salvage the decorated coasters or find another use for the box that I was sure would have no bottom. I muttered a final word (just a little four-letter word) and walked away. Sometime later, I was cleaning up the room from ALL the supplies I'd left out and I picked up the coaster box to toss it in the trash and just as it left my hand, headed for the trash can, I realized that the bottom was intact!!!! Could it really be????? Oh yes!!!!! A little Crystal Effects really goes a long way! I was in disbelief, but so excited, and that first coaster box now holds a few bottles of Stickles and hemp twine. The moral of the story is . . . never give up! ;-)