I got a new button!

I got a new button===========>

It is from Dina at Mama Dini's Stamperia.

It is for Cyper Stamping Sisters in Christ. Pretty cool, eh?
If you click on the button it will take you to the post where it was *born*.

I hope to have new stamping projects soon--but *real* life is encroaching seriously on my stamping time.

Got a little Mojo goin'

I had some stamper's block going--but Julee Tilman to the rescue. She posts a sketch each Monday and calls it Mojo Monday. The entire Mojo Monday collection can be viewed HERE. Both cards also use Red Castle Stamps available from Starving Artistamps.

This first card is simply stamped on watercolor paper and I used watercolor crayons to color it.

I had forgotten how much I love watercolor crayons!! They are so soft and smooth and make creamy colors.

I die cut THICK textured handmade paper for the flourishes. The die going through the machine flattened the paper--but I found that spritzing it with water helped MUCH of the texture return.




This second card is stamped with die ink and I gently watercolored the cushion and the background.

The Mustard panel is stamped and embossed with a set of seed pods.

This also features an accent of handmade paper.








Thanks for looking at my latest creations. I hope to have more for you tomorrow!!

And now for something DIFFERENT!

Let me start by saying that this is like nothing I have ever made before...

I started with this cat stamp. As I colored her--she seemed to become quite regal, and by the time I was done--she was a *princess*.

And then came the fancy hand made papers...and well...it just took on a life of its own....

Sing

First a dog, then a cat and a hamster....now a canary. I am beginning to feel like Dr. Doolittle. (and there are more creatures to come!!)

This sweet canary is a part of some images that are available on the Starving Artists website. The background is also available here.

I stamped the Canary on olive cardstock with StazOn Jet Black and colored it with colored pencils (PrismaColor brand). Once again--not much of a clue on the coloring of a canary--so Google Images came to the rescue--that really helped with the beak and feet.

The rust and teal papers are handmade. I spritzed the teal with some water and stretched it a bit. Such a wonderful texture!! It was VERY fun to work with.

BIG KITTY!!!!

Okay--I think I am on an animal kick!

As I was chatting with my friend Shelly and decided that I needed to used these cat images that she gave me with this little Peek-a-boo hamster that I just got. I don't have any hamsters or kitties handy--so I used Google Images to look at a few animals to get some idea of how to color them.

I am thrilled with how this came out!!

The inside reads:

Just because you are paranoid does not mean that they are not REALLY out to
get you!!!

Materials Used:

• Stamps: Grass, Starving Artistamps; Peekaboo Hamster, Eat Cake Graphics; Crazy Kitty, Biblical Impressions


• Paper: DP from SU! (retired), blue and white cardstock


• Ink: Jet Black Stazon; Old Olive for the grass; Creamy Brown Fluid Chalk Ink (top of fence)


• Accessories: Foam tape; fine scissors; colored pencils, watercolor brush

Thanks for looking!!!

Big Dog???

I just got my order from Eat Cake Graphics. I have been wanting to order from them for almost a YEAR--and I finally did it.

I love this image. I ordered it specifically to make things for my ds. He is eleven and all boy, but he has a soft spot for little animals. I know he will love this little guy.


The sketch is from Jen Del Muro HERE. I did not look at the sketch DURING the card making process--so I strayed from it a bit.

I made the paw print accents by punching the paw print punch first (from Michael's $ bin). Then I punched out the negative with a 1/2" circle punch. I layered that on a 1/2" contrasting color 1/2" circle/ That was mounted on a pop dot and mounted on a 3/4" circle.

Materials Used:
Stamp: Sparky's a big dog
Paper: Black, Grey and White Cardstock; KI Memories DP
Accessories: Ribbon; Paw Print punch; 1/2" and 3/4" circle punches; Scalloped Square Punch; colored pencils; foam tape & pop dots


Thanks for looking!!!

Glittery Valentine

What is Valentine's day with out a little BLING?!?

When I stamped the main image I had planned on using colored pencils to color it in. So I stamped using StazOn on plain white cardstock.
Well, I woke up in the middle of the night unable to go back to sleep. So what is a girl to do??? You got it, stamp. I didn't actually stamp, but I watercolored (I had left my pencils at the bedside next to my exhausted and sleeping husband). AND Emily on Splitcoast had posted the color challenge for the week (YIPPEE!). Sage Shadow, Rose Red, and Apricot Appeal.

So I got out my re-inkers and watercolored! Very relaxing to me. I used a grey watercolor crayon (Lyra brand) to do the background. I have to say following the swirls and the lumpy bumps was quite therapeutic. Though I would have to add--I did wish I was using watercolor paper. The color was difficult to move around on the flat white--I could not get even coverage nor could I get the shading I wanted.

The following morning I die cut the shape and STICKLED it. With both Diamond and Crystal stickles (they reflect different colors).
Close up of the STICKLING:

I have to admit--I do not like Apricot Appeal. To me--it is peach or light orange. I neither like peach NOR light orange. So, taking the advice of Erin K. :

I think when you are using a color you are not sure about you should use it in
small amounts with colors you are confident about. That's the Erin tip for the
day.

So the ONLY Apricot Appeal you see in this is in the watercoloring.

For this Valentine I only used one stamp. This stamp is called "Ornate Tooled Leather" by Starving Artistamps. I am finding it quite versatile (you see I used it for the main image AND for the background).

The line of pearls is a sticker. (no--I didn't line them up myself--can't/won't do that)

ANYWAY--the result is a very sparkly card!
Thanks for stopping by!!

My secret is out.....

I have been promoted to the Design Team of Starving Artistamps. I wish I had a new card or project to show you, but I have been busy with LIFE stuff. (more on that soon). If you click the tag at the end of this post *Starving Artistamps* you can see my cards with these stamps thus far.

Please check out the website (link on the right), Tracey has some cool new stuff on her website.

AND join me in the HAPPY dance!!



Thanks for stopping by!!!

More is MORE!!!

Well, I did it again! I uploaded a card that *I thought* was finished--but it wasn't. I do that too much--I guess I am in too big of a hurry to get to my housework. (yeah right) Whatever the reason, I did it today.

In our church, there is a little girl turning one, and the entire church is in love with this child. She is a dear girl with eyes as big as saucers and her mom has a HUGE heart. So needless to say, I wanted to do something SPECIAL for them. (you know the card and gift for a one year old is mainly for the parent) So I came up with this:


It was inspired by the Sketch for today at Splitcoast and the *Rob & Bob* paper from Provo Craft. The stamps are a couple of Studio G sets, and the ribbon is from the $ spot at Target. AND of course I used my new Nestabilities dies!! (yeah, like I can do a card without them any more!!)

Don't forget a *touch* of Diamond Stickles and Pearl Paint!!! Gotta have diamonds and pearls!!

But, it just wasn't enough!!



So then came this card:

MORE ribbon (from Hobby Lobby)
MORE bling (a jewel from the $ bin at Mikes AND Pearl Ex spritzed on the letters)
MORE words (Go Slim font by Ellison)
MORE flowers (punches from SU! and Target $ spot)

I decided I LIKE more!!!!

Thanks for looking!!

It's Hip to Be Square!

It is that time of year. The time for thank you notes!
I decided to pull out my Bellas and get a few out. The layout is very similar--but if ain't broke...




I also got a chance to use my new Nestabilities! My mom got them from Ellen's Store. She is not internet savvy so she called her directly and got great advice and customer service!

Thanks for looking!

Stamp Sets for Sale

I have some lonely stamps--perhaps they would be happier in your house.

Stamp sets for Sale:
$4.00
Around the Block
Birthday Best
Happy Occasions
Paint Prints
Smorgasborders
Stippled Stencils

$5.00
Best Blossoms --gone
Quick and Cute
Very Punny
Fun Filled
Lexicon of Love

$8.00
Reverse Prints
Word by Word (no box)

$10.00
All About U --gone
Pretty Princess --gone


I can fit up to two stamp sets in a Flat rate Priority envelope so postage will be $4.60 for up to two sets. I take Pay Pal—just add an additional $.50 to help cover fees.

All sets are used and all sets stamp very nicely!

E-mail me at julesiana @ go dot com (without spaces and dot = .) with questions or to ask me to send you a Pay Pal invoice.

Thanks.

Tagged!

I have been tagged by my good friend and hero, Debi. (My Crazy Life)

So here goes Seven RANDOM things about me!!

1--I love to be the first one to use a margarine/butter/spread tub! That little curly-que that is on top is just too cute. I will often have a piece of toast JUST to get at it first. Sad? Perhaps--but this is SUPPOSED to be random.

2--My favorite daily devotional is put out by the Moravian Church and is called Moravian Daily Texts. It has a couple of scriptures and a couple of verses of hymns (Moravians are VERY into music) each day. There is usually one that speaks to my heart or directs my thoughts in a practical way.

3--I love Christmas t.v. movies. In fact, I am an addict. So I am currently in withdrawl, the shakes have lessened but I still miss them. I love the fact that the endings are happy, there is usually a theme of relying on something of faith or bigger than oneself. I love that. I usually have projects that I work on while I *watch* and my husband works late in December--so I have become totally hooked on them. Funny thing is --I don't watch that much t.v. other times of the year.

4--My favorite coffee mug is a Christmas mug--I use it ALL year long!

5--I walked to school almost every day from Kindergarten to High School. I was in the only neighborhood in our town that did not provide busing the entire K-12. Our house was centrally located to Elementary, Middle and High School. (yes, I got a ride in bad weather)

6--My favorite color is DARK red. A burgundy, if you want to be specific. Sadly--I do not stamp much with this color.

7--One of my favorite sounds is the sound of leaves crunching on the sidewalk. (probably from all of those years of walking to school ).

Okay--I find it a LOT of fun to be tagged--but I am NOT good at tagging others. Have you not gotten tagged?????? I would love to hear about you--so PLEASE tag yourself and then come back here and post a comment so I can read about you.

Happy 2008!

I am finally home and ready to post again.

Sadly I am without a camera--and I didn't get most of my Christmas projects photographed. I did, however, get them done on time.

Here is the cover of a starbook that I made for my mom:


It is made with Brenda Walton paper from K & Co. The paper was the inspiration for the style of the book. It was great fun to make. I usually make a calendar for her--But the joy has gone out of making those (stamping all of the #'s drives me a little batty) so I decided to try something new.



The stamps on the cover are Classic Alpha and Collage #'s from Stampin' Up! (retired) and the frame is a Brenda Walton stamp.



The star book features pics of my "3 Little Kittens". I am thrilled with how it turned out--I wish I could show you the inside.



Here is another Starving Artistamps card I have done:

The main image is stamped on watercolor paper. The horse's body is watercolored with dye re-inkers. The sky and mane are colored using watercolor crayons. I really like the effect I get in the sky with the crayon on watercolor paper. I also prefer to use crayons color with black--I have not found a black ink that I can also watercolor with. The faux leather accent also has watercolor crayons on it-it was a surprise to me how nicely they show up on colored paper and I LOVE the look!


Just a hint: If you are coloring a realistic image--sometimes it helps to look at pictures of the real thing to help plan highlights, shadows, and pick colors. Since I do not have horses in my backyard (though many of my local friends, do) I used Google's Image Search to look at pictures to get some ideas.


Thanks for looking. I hope to get my camera back soon so I can show you some NEW products!!