I am back!!

Well, I am back to my poor poor neglected blog.

Much has happened since I last posted. Stampin' Up! has released their new 06-07 catalog, I have agreed to teach a stamp class at the local art store, I am participating in a craft show at my church, AND I have some new stamping stuff!!

My favorite of my new stamping stuff are my crayons. "CRAYONS!!" you say. "How can this girl get excited about crayons!" Well, it is simple--these are special crayons. They are water soluable crayons made for watercoloring. I am enjoing using them directly on the stamp or stamping with waterproof ink (I use StazOn by Tsukineko) then water coloring with the crayons. When I water color, sometimes I use the crayons like a cake of paint, picking up the color directly from the crayon onto the wet brush OR I color a little with the crayon on the paper then soften and blend the colors with a wet brush. There are other methods of using these crayons and I will find them all!! I really feel like an artist--because of the results I get with them.



Here is my favorite card I have made with them, this evening. The layout was designed by Roxie of Splitcoast Stampers--and it is good!! Check out this challenge HERE.

I am still working on the watercoloring technique--the watercolor paper helps--tremendously! I struggle with the tires on this set. Well, someday maybe I will get it right. One thing I know for sure--I will certainly have fun trying!!

I am a rubber snob!

LOL!
Yes, I am a rubber snob. The latest thing (not actually new, though) is polymer stamps. They seem great since they are clear, which supposedly makes it easier to place the stamps on the stamping surface. This could come in handy the most when stamping letters to make words (like on scrapbook pages). Does the polymer material stamp as nicely as rubber? Sadly, no. It cannot take the large variety of inks and stamping opportunnities (like bleach--which give a really neat effect).

I came across an information page while shopping for stamps online: Clear Stamping Techniques
It makes a good case for the benefits of polymer (clear) stamps. In my mind, though, not good enough for me to invest my $$ in them.

Family picture

Here are the folks that have to put up with my inky fingers:

Where am I!?! Stamping? No, I am behind the camera!

Artistic enough?

I have never thought of myself as artistic, just admiring of artisans. I have never taken a formal art course, but now I would like to.

I have an opportunity to try and teach stamping at the local art supply store/gallery. I have been asked to bring in some samples. This is worse than a job interview. It is not just my character that is being evaluated, but my ability as a stamper. Here are some cards I have been working on to take in.

Bargain?

Well, they got me!

Wal-mart, that is. I was there just picking up some "emergency" groceries, and I happened by the clearance table. Unable to avert my eyes, I saw gingham. Blue and green gingham. H-m-m-m-m. It was bias tape for binding a quilt, but it was only 50 cents!! Three yards for 50 cents. Well, somehow a package of each ended up in my basket, I brought them home, and now I have to figure out wat to do with this bargain.

The best that I have come up with so far, is to cut it in strips and use it like ribbon. My next thought is to bind a paper-bag book with it. The green seems to match SU!'s Certainly Celery almost perfectly! The blue is kind of a Ballet Blue.

Anyway, this card is what I have come up with so far. It pleases me.

Maybe, this time, it really was a bargain.