Clean and Simple Christmas

I really wanted to keep the focus on the main image here. The image (from The Nativity set from Starving Artistamps) of the new Holy Family is just so sweet!

Stamps: The Nativity and Christmas Nativity Sentiments from Starving Artistamps;

Paper: DP: Die Cuts With A View; Cardstock: Prism; Vellum: Office Max;

Ink: StazOn Jet Black;

Other Items: Sewing machine and thread, plastic dew drops, Primacolor Pencils;

Just a simple blog post, for a simple card, to express a wonderful message!

As always—by using the discount code (savetenJS) you can receive 10% off any Starving Artistamps and DoodleFactory stamps.

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Baby Jesus Mojo

The Mojo Monday Sketch this week looked like a challenge for my “style” (say this loosely because I am uncertain if I have a particular style). So I thought it was time to try something different and give the sketch a go.

Here is my card:

for the sketch:

Stamps: The Nativity and Christmas Nativity Sentiments from Starving Artistamps;

Papers: DP: DCWV and Unknown; Cardstock: Prism;

Ink: Stazon Jet Black; Memento-Rich Cocoa; Tim Holtz Distress Ink-Antique Linen;

Other Items: Nestabilies Dies; Prismacolor Pencils; ribbon;

The Nativity Stamps and Christmas Nativity Sentiments are a new release from Starving Artistamps. This set has such a great variety of Nativity images and words!!

As always—by using the discount code (savetenJS) you can receive 10% off any Starving Artistamps and DoodleFactorystamps.

Thanks for stopping by!!!

It’s that time of year…

…when the world falls in love…

I love that song (The Christmas Waltz).  Well, truth be known, I am a sucker for just about any Christmas song.  I am one of those crazy people that do NOT mind when the pull out the Christmas decorations BEFORE Halloween. 

At the Swanson abode, we are starting our preparations early this year.  I REFUSE to let Christmas “sneak” up on me this year!!!  lol

I am starting with this new set from Rubbernecker Stamp Company, Snowflakes and Stardust and it’s companion background stamp, Snowflake Panel.

Stamps:Snowflakes and Stardust and Snowflake Panel;

Paper: Prism;

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink—Pine Needles, Broken China, and Peeled Paint; VersaMark;

Other Items: Perfect Pearls (pearl); May Arts Ribbon;

This was so fun to make.  I think the entire Rubbernecker Design Team is having fun with this set—So you may want to stop by their blogs to see what they have created, as well!!

• Kittie 
• Candy
• Joan
• Bev
• Tammy
• Shelly

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Dream Big!

I have just a couple more cards from the Final Frontier stamp set to show you. This is such a fun set!

On this first card, I got my pencils back out.  The colors came from the three inkpads that were sitting together on my desk (which, ironically, did NOT get used on this card!)

• Stamps: DoodleFactory Final Frontier and Quirky Sentiments—both from Starving Artistamps;
• Paper: SEI(Poppy set) and SU! (black, white, teal, and Sahara Sand)
• Ink: StazOn Jet Black
• Other Items: Judikins Diamond Glaze; stickles; PrismaColor Pencils; Word Window punch; brads;

 

This next one is a Clean and Simple card (CAS).  I have found that most men appreciate a CAS card and a card without flowers.  Just sweet and to the point.

• Stamps: DoodleFactory Final Frontier and Urban Sentiment Set #2 –both from Starving Artistamps;
• Paper: Bazzill and SEI;
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Other Items: Copic markers and foam tape;

 

As always—by using the discount code (savetenJS) you can receive 10% off any Starving Artistamps and DoodleFactory stamps.

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Wish You Were Here

I am still fooling around with the Final Frontier stamp set by DoodleFactory. 

I misted the black circle and the blue square with Perfect Pearls and water.  I love how shimmery it makes the cardstock.  What looks like fuzziness and lack of focus on the card is really the shimmer of the Perfect Pearls.  OF COURSE, I had to add Stickles, too!

The card opens with just the circle (matted with a circle cut out with deckle edge scissors –that was NOT misted).

The planets and the meteor are popped up on foam tape.

All of the coloring is with Copic and Prismacolor markers.

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Just a reminder—by using the discount code (savetenJS) you can receive 10% off any Starving Artistamps and DoodleFactory stamps.

Final Frontier Inside & Out

I sure hope you were able to participate in the blog hop for the release of the DoodleFactory set: Final Frontier

Today I wanted to use the set by doing a couple of color challenges AND doing the inside of the card—as well as the outside!

This first one is for the Color Throwdown and Mojo Monday:

Stamps: DoodleFactory Final Frontier; Urban Sentiments-Set 1; Circle Background; All from Starving Artistamps;

Paper: DP –SEI (Poppy); Cardstock: SU! and Prism;

Ink: StazOn-Jet Black; SU! Craft-Taken with Teal; SU Classic-Certainly Celery;

Other Items: Colored Pencils; Clear Embossing Powder; Perfect Pearls, foam tape; dew droppy thingy; Spellbinders dies;

This next one is for the Color Challenge on SplitCoastStampers:

Stamps: DoodleFactory Final Frontier and Into the woods sets from Starving Artistamps;

Paper: Bazzill; bravo burgundy and always artichoke (SU!);

Ink: Memento-Tuxedo Black;

Other things: Copic and Prismacolor markers; foam tape;

And the inside:

These are just such fun stamps to work with!!!

I would like to thank, Betty, Julee, and Danielle for coming up with such great challenges!

Just a reminder—by using the discount code (savetenJS) you can receive 10% off any Starving Artistamps and DoodleFactory stamps.

Thanks for stopping by!!!

DoodleFactory Final Frontier-Blog Hop

Welcome to the Starving Artistamps New Release Blog Hop! We are so excited to be presenting you with the newest collection in our DoodleFactory line...

DoodleFactory Final Frontier

You are going to want to visit all the stops on our hop because someone is giving away a complete unmounted set of the new release for blog candy. We are keeping the blog candy open for one day only so your chances of winning are even better! (blog hop ends October 21st, 11am PST).

If you just can't wait to get your hands on the new Final Frontier set don't worry you can order it starting now and if you are our lucky winner we will let you substitute another set of equal value instead!

If you have arrived here all by yourself and are just finding out about the blog hop please start at the beginning:

• STARVING ARTISTAMPS BLOG
• Juliana Swanson (you are here now!!)
• Tracey Berkey
• Donna Duquette
• Sandra MacLean
• Lori Tecler
• Lydia Fiedler
• Andrea Cloutier
• Dawn Mercedes
• Jenn McMillan
• Irene Silva

NOW—Here is the set in action:

Thanks for stopping by, now it's time to head on over to Tracey Berkey's blog for your next stop.

Enjoy the rest of the hop!!!!!

Just a reminder—by using the discount code (savetenJS) you can receive 10% off any Starving Artistamps and DoodleFactory stamps.

Mark Your Calendar!

It is TRULY going to be *Out of this WORLD*!

Heavenly Pleasures

There is a tree on the way to my daughter’s school that the leaves have turned crimson, but the leaves on the ground (most are face down so we see the back side) are a wonderful magenta!!  Paired with the colors on the trees around the magenta, I came up with the color scheme for this card:

•  Stamps: House Mouse Image—THANKS STACY!!; Mini Positive Words (Starving Artistamps); Victorian Leaf Panel (Rubbernecker Stamps);
• Ink: StazOn Jet Black; Tim Holtz Distress Ink-Spiced Marmalade;
• Paper: Dp (?); Prism Cardstock;
• Other items: flower, button, ribbon (May Arts); Prismacolor pencils (with baby oil to blend); Stickles; Perfect Pearls (misted on flower);

Here is a close up to see the details.  Namely the Stickles.  The flower was misted with a Perfect Pearl and water solution.  I tried to get the shimmer to come out on the photo—but that seems to be beyond my photographic capabilities.

The layout for the card was from Get Sketchy:

I hope you have a great weekend!

Thanks for stopping by!!!

 

 

Kraft Wildflowers

I just thought I would try a Clean and Simple card using the new stamps from Rubbernecker Stamp Company.  I highlighted the leaves with Stickles and Liquid Pearls.

• Stamps: Fall Trilogy Set and Victorian Pattern Background from Rubbernecker Stamp Company;
• Paper: Kraft and Sage Shadow Cardstock; Super Smooth White-Prism;
• Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink-Frayed Burlap; Adirondack Pigment Pad-Snow Cap;
• Other Items: Charm, Ribbon; Stickles (crystal); Liquid Pearls (white opal);

Just a simple one for today.
Thanks for stopping by!!!

Peaceful Leaves

The card I did today is for two challenges.  The Sketch Challenge(#250) on SplitCoastStampers and the Color Thowdown #64.

Here is my card:

 

I am afraid this was the closest to Baja Breeze I have right now.

Supplies:

• Stamps: Fall Trilogy Set and Victorian Diamond Panel Background –all from Rubbernecker Stamp Company;
• Paper: Prism Cardstock; Sahara Sand Cardstock (SU!);
• Ink: Sahara Sand;
• Other Supplies: ribbon, charm, foam tape, Stickles;

Detail to see the Stickles:

!Thanks for stopping by!!!

Sing in the Rain…

I love this time of year!!!  I love the colors, the weather,  the smells.  I love fall leaves, which is why this card uses one of my FAVORITE Rubbernecker stamp sets,  Leaf Set by Stamp Oasis.  It reminds me of the leaves I would walk through on the way to and from school.

• Stamps: Leaf Set by Stamp Oasis from Rubbernecker Stamp Company;
• Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Ink-various colors;
• Paper: Bazzill and Prism; Watercolor paper;
• Other Items: Spellbinders Nestabilities; Clear embossing Powder; Stickles; foam tape;

It didn’t show in the picture, but there are stickles around the edges of the cut out leaves.  The leaf stamps were inked, misted, stamped, re-misted, and then re-stamped.
The trees in our yard are just starting to turn—but many trees in our neighborhood are blazing with festive colors!!  BEAUTIFUL!
I hope you are having a great autumn day!
Thanks for stopping by!!!

Inspired Leaves

First of all, I would like to tell you that the Rubbernecker Nativity set is now available!!  Here! 

Posts that contain the  cards I have created with this set are :

• Rubbernecker Blog Stroll (9/25/09)
• A Silent Night
• More Nativity Cards

My card for today was inspired by last week’s CAS (Clean and Simple) Challenge.  It was done last week, but I am a little slow getting things uploaded lately.  For CAS35, Jen sent us to Cost Plus World Market: Decorative Pillows & Throws.

I was inspired by these pillows:

Here is my card:

• Stamps: Fall Trilogy Set and Victorian Floral Background from Rubbernecker Stamp Set;
• Paper: Ruby Red and Bravo Burgundy cardstock (SU!); Blue Cardstock Prism;
• Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink-Aged Mahogany;
• Other Items: Pin; beads; ribbon; foam tape;

I love the richness of these colors together!  I probably would not have grabbed them if it weren’t for this challenge!!

Thanks for stopping by!!!

More Nativity cards

The Nativity set is NOW available from Rubbernecker! Here!

This weekend I made a couple more cards with the Rubbernecker Nativity stamp set.
This first one is a double blog challenge:
#1--Get Sketchy #8--for the layout
#2--Color Throwdown #62--for the colors

• 
  Stamps:
Nativity Set by Stamp Oasis from Rubbernecker

Paper: Bazzill, SU, and Prism Cardstock; DP from 3 bugs in a Rug

Ink: StazOn Jet Black

Accessories: Prismacolor pencils, ribbon, foam tape, Spellbinder and Sizzix dies, Brads

This next one is from World Card Making Day. The Flourishes company sponsored a Sketch Challenge on SplitcoastStampers.

• Stamps: Nativity Set by Stamp Oasis from Rubbernecker
• Paper: DP from DCWV, Prism Cardstock
• Ink: Stazon Jet Black
• Accessories: grunge board minis, Stickles, Jewels, Liquid Pearls, Prismacolor Pencils, Spellbinders die

Now, I would like to take a moment to talk to you about these stamps. They are a foam mounted set.
Some of you have strong feelings about this kind of stamp, and I admit, I was skeptical about using these stamps before I had tried them. I have included some picture of what they look like so you would know what to expect.
The come in a plastic case—SO EASY to keep organized. They have stickers that YOU can place on the thick black foam. I trimmed the stickers a bit and I put the name of the stamp on the end of the case--much like I used to do with wood mounted that I’d buy from Stampin’ Up!®
Here are some more pictures of the stamps:

Questions you may have:

• Do the corners get inky and make a mess (i.e. on my the project I am stamping)? Not really. I had to be a little careful when inking the stamp—but the way the blocks are cut, the corners naturally curl away from your stamping surface.
• Are they hard to use? Not at all. The foam was easy to hang on to—and by its very nature—it did not slip out of my fingers.
• Do I have to leave them on the black foam? NO!! They rubber will peel fairly easily off of the black foam. You could then attach it to some EZ Mount foam OR use an adhesive remover to remove the adhesive. I have chosen to leave mine on the foam--especially since they fit so nicely in the case.
• Are there any advantages to them being on foam? One unexpected advantage was the ease of which I was able to use a stamp positioner (Like Stamp-a-ma-jig).

Please feel free to comment on this post with any other questions. I can edit the post to answer your questions.
These are great images and the stamps are fun to use.
Thanks for stopping by!!!

A Silent Night…

The Nativity set is NOW available from Rubbernecker! Here!

Yes, it is October—so it is time for Christmas decorations to go up in the shopping malls and Christmas items are available in the big box stores… So it is time for me to start, too!

This is a peek of a set that will be available MONDAY from Rubbernecker stamp Company!! It is so sweet—and it includes seven images.

The sentiment that I used is available HERE (also from Rubbernecker Stamp Company).

Other Items used:

• Paper: Prism Cardstock;
• Ink: StazOn Jet Black'; Adirondack Pigment Ink-Cloudy Blue;
• Accessories: Nestabilities; Stickles; Prismacolor Pencils; Lace;

Thanks for stopping by today! And if you pray, please help me pray for Emily!

Please Help

Please help me pray for little Emily!

She is a little girl from my church and she needs some urgent and continued prayer.

If you feel led to pray specifically for her condition, here is a website with that information: Prayers 4 Emily.

Thank you!!!!

 

(stamping related post will come SOON!)