Same stamp set and layout, two different looks

I love this new stamp set -Just Believe-and wanted to play. I had seen another blog where she used the same stamp set, but just different colors, so wanted to try that idea. I really like the card with marina mist and crumb cake, but the cherry cobbler and basic black really pops. I used torn paper sponging and used the same colors on both images-old olive, so saffron, and marina mist. The only difference is that I used two different border punches. I challenge you to give this a try.

Convention roommate shoebox swaps

. I made this card and CASED it directly from the idea book and catalog, but turned the layout to horizontal instead of vertical. The flower uses the reinker spread technique.

This was created by Laura from Texas. She has a teenaged son, so provided the "male" card

This card is by Roberta from Texas. It uses the daisies from the bigshot die and lots of sponging.

Audrey from Vermont brought this fun scallop circle card with fish made from the ornament punch.

Peggy from Arizona used vintage vogue with black and daffodil. She added the new 1/8" taffeta ribbon and bitty buttons.

Barbara, also from Texas, created this card using Sense of time and Artistic etchings. This would also be a great male card.

Just believe Card

This is another card we made at club on Sat. It uses stamps from the set Just Believe. The more mustard base was stamped and sponged with more mustard ink. We embossed the main image in white on Play Date DSP that I got for free from convention. It was then sponged and edges distressed. A bravo burgandy panel was cut with the top note die and embossed with the square lattice folder. We used markers to make the sentiment panel which was popped up with dimensionals. A button and ribbon provided the finishing touches.

Wax paper resist technique

This is the technique card we made at club on Sat. I had never done wax paper resist before and it is really very easy and makes quite a nice background. Just crumple up a piece of wax paper slightly larger than the card stock. Smooth it out and sandwich it between 2 pieces of glossy cardstock, then iron with low to med heat, non steam iron. After that apply color with a brayer, sponge, or sponge dauber. I used new in colors concord crush and pear pizazz. The stamp is from a level 1 hostess set- because I care.

Chest of drawers

This pattern is from the immensely talented Jackie Topa. She made a card similar to this as a convention swap. I was not fortunate enough to get one, but found it with the directions on her blog here: www. jackietopa.typepad.com. She has a tutorial on her blog on how to make these all the way to getting the brads evenly on the drawers. Thanks Jackie!!! I got to sit by her on the plane home from convention and enjoyed our visit.

If I were to do this again, I would put the aluminum foil on a sticky sheet then punch out. I just used tombow multiadhesive and it is a bit "bubbly" looking. I found a leftover bear from when we made a different card which was just perfect.

More Convention Pics

A swap from Jackie Topa, I got to sit by her on the plane coming home from convention. She has such fun ideas. If you made the stationery box at stamp camp nearly 2 yrs ago, that was also her creation. She has another card that she made that I am going to recreate, you will love it!!!

This swap is from Lynn Pratt. She also made the template for the one sheet wonder that we used in June.

Definitely over the top, not something I will ever do, but wanted you to see this gorgeous creation. It was made by an "Artisan Award Winner", I'm thinking it may be Jodie Oliver.

My roommate participated in a masculine card swap and this is one she received. I love the crystal effects on the motorcycle. We saw a lot of metal (metal flashing and/or heavy duty foil) used with the bigshot and embossing folders or texture plates.

This is another example of punch art. Love the idea of using 2 punches this way!

I finally have some time today to play with my new goodies from convention, but haven't posted in awhile, so will give you somethings to look at until I post some of my own work

Iowa Floods

I so want to play with some new things, but we have been battling water in our basement. Things are under control now, but I have a lot of cleanup to do. It rained cats and dogs with much thunder and lightening Sun, Mon, and Tues nights. Our daughter found some water in the finished side Mon am. When we got home from work I called every cleanup company in the book and all were busy, so we ripped up the carpet and used the shop vac to cleanup. We then bought a dehumidifier and heavy duty fan thinking that was the end of it. Tues am we had 2 more inches of water. My husband and I both stayed home from work and used the shop vac for 2 1/2 hrs with minimal change in the water level. So we went and bought an 18 gal shop vac with a hose attchment to pump it outdoors. It occurred to us that we hadn't heard the sump pump working, so we bought a new one as well. We got the water out and the sump pump installed, but still had water on Wed am :( I jiggled the pipe connection to the pump and it started working. We quickly used the shop vac and were able to go to work. Wed afternoon we made some minor adjustments to the sump pump and it is working just fine. Thur evening we did some more cleanup in the basement.
Lest I sound like I am complaining, we are blessed to have been able to get most of our items moved before they got ruined, and we still have a home to live in. Many people have it much worse than we do!!! Now we get to paint and recarpet. Might be awhile till we get it all done, but we have our basement back.

Mini Iowa Vacation with the grandchildren

We couldn't fit a week away with the girls, so decided to take a few days and do some things here in Iowa. I asked Taylor, the oldest granddaughter, to help me choose. We went to Adventureland all day Thur. The waterpark area is huge. We spent about 1 1/2 hrs in the lazy river, which was full of people, but it is unlike any lazy river I've ever been to in that it's huge!!! Fri we went to Tanger outlet to shop, then to a Cubs game complete with a win (11-6) and fireworks. Their mom, Angela went shopping with us and then the whole family went to the ball game. The younger crew was more interested in playing in the water fountain than watching the game, but Taylor enjoyed watching. Dylan thought he was going to play ball, not watch someone else play. Today we might do a bit more shopping-tennis shoes for school- then off to America's Incredible Pizza. Little Dylan will spend the night tonight and tomorrow will be church with all the grandkids as usual. Grandpa and I will need a few days to recuperate. I took my camera last night and the battery was dead. Grandpa took his camera to Adventureland, so I will post some pics later.

Hostess Special

Now through the end of August Stampin'Up! is giving an extra $25 for any workshop $350 or more. That means you get $65 instead of $40 FREE. Plus you still get your free hostess only stamp set and I give you the new idea book and catalog for FREE.

What are you waiting for? Get your guest list ready and I'll come to your home or you can come to mine. We all need some "girl time" and who doesn't love a hand stamped card? I can also focus on scrapbooking if you would prefer.

Call or email me to get your date in August!