Stamp Tool

Hi there friends,

I have not been able to afford the mega popular and very expensive stamp tool many stampers have purchased and raved about. Fear not. When dollars are lacking, imagination and YouTube can help.

Below is a stamp tool I made in about 20 min (mostly it took 20 min to highlight the inches and half inches lines, about 1 min to cut out the fun foam). I searched a lot online for how to make one and finally found something that even I can do without power tools or a hubby.

The hard plastic dvd case cost about $3 and the shipping was just under $3 (but I did get a 2 other items on sale or the shipping would have been even less).

I already had the thin fun foam, graph paper and adhesive. This is what happened:

I hope the original designer continues to have endless customers who can afford the positioner she made. I have read that others had made something similar before she patented hers, and the instructions have been online for a long time. I won't post the details here out of respect for her, her costs, and those who can afford to purchase them. But I found a video on YouTube I will be happy to share with you if you let me know. The total cost to make this, inc shipping was around $6.50 and about 20 min of my time to highlight the graph paper, cut the foam, and adhere it.

I appreciate your visits!! Thank you dear friends!

Gorjuss Girl and Pretty Kitty ♥

Aloha!!!

I hear it's even c-o-l-d-e-r than it was a couple days ago!! I really feel for you all. But wind chills way below zero? Wheww! So glad we are here. However, we have many memories of snowy, icy, blizzardy, freezing-rainy, bone-chilling/hurting weather! And still not missing it {grin}.

This is the first time I am using a Gorjuss Girl image and am falling in love with them! Yup, I'm a slow poke. These have been out about 3 years (at least this image) and yup, here I am finally getting one. It was on a big-time sale so I don't feel too painful for getting it.

This is for a sweet stamping gal who recently had to put her kitty kat down. For all of you who understand you know it can take a long, long time to heal from losing our dear pets. And I will try hard to catch up making a card for everyone who has recently had to say goodbye to a dear furry friend. (Wish I could redo the hair on this card though.) And our dear friend plays piano so I was overjoyed to find the Authentique music dp.

Stamp Set: "Gorjuss Girl on a Swing with a Kitty"
Paw Print: SimonSays Stamp "Playful Kittens"
Copic Markers (I stayed with apricot/peach and white with touches of grey. Her hair is brunette with little red highlights)
Prismacolor Pencils (added to hair)
Dies: Spellbinders Pierced Rectangles; MFT Blueprints #8; SimonSays Stamp "Friend"
Designer Paper: Authentique
Cardstock: GKD; Peach glittery cardstock from stash
Sequins: Pretty Pink Posh

 

And a SURPRISE pop up kitty inside :) 

 

Thank you one and all for stopping in

and sharing your love ♥ 

The Wild Sea

Aloha friends,

This is a card for the StampTV Kraft Challenge this week. Come on over and play along with us! It's Kendra's Challenge!

This might make a manly man happy to receive.

I started off by stamping the images  and sentiment from "By The Sea" (Theresa Momber for GKD) in Chestnut Roan ink by Color Box. It is a rich dark brown with just barely a hint of deep red in it. Becca Feeken "enabled" me to buy this a couple years back lol.

Then I highlighted the images with a Signo White Gel Pen (it's new and very inky). Let it dry. Then I took some Memento Cloud White ink and sponged it around for clouds. Using Prismacolor Pencils, I added shading under the waves, behind the lighthouse, rocks/foundation, boat and birds. I also added a little flag on top of the sails, have no idea why. It kinda felt naked for some reason, a sailboat with no flag in a gusty sea.

Theresa Momber, I am thinking of and praying for you to keep 

on getting better and stronger because we all miss and need you!!!! 

Stamp Set: By the Sea GKD
Cardstock: GKD Pure Luxury (Ivory and Black Onyx)
Prismacolor Pencils
Memento Ink "White Cloud" and "Jumbo Java" (cloud highlights and shadows)
Color Box Ink "Chestnut Roan"
Spellbinders Dies: Pierced Rectangles, Pennant Flags
MFT Dies: Pierced Tags
Black Floss: WeRMemory Keepers (so soft!)
Gold Sequins, Multi Matte Medium, Stickles Diamonds (all over the black floss)

 

Thank you for stopping by & leaving some ♥ !!!

 

Hiya Peacock!

Aloha dear friends,

I hear it's incredibly cold where most of you live. I even hear it's zero degrees for our sweet Verna A. which I cannot and do not wish to comprehend. I admire each one of your ability to thrive in adverse weather! Be safe on those roads ♥

After I finished this card, it had a blank spot on the left side that just "bugged" me! So I cut out a notch and made a pull out slider with a bug on it. I am not sure who it is for yet. Would you believe it's the only clear or cling stamp I have by Hero Arts with flowers on it? Yup, pretty much. I have some wood blocks someplace, but this was easier to find and use.

Under the top layer is foam tape placed in the shape of a rectangle and a 2-inch opening on the left. The slider has a "T" shape inside which hits the foam tape. Those two components keep the slider so it cannot be pulled all the way out.

Challenge: Hero Arts "Fabulous Fllowers" February

Stamp Set: "A Happy Hello" (an oldie but greatie!)
Cardstock: GKD, SU, Neenah
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black & Summer Sky, GKD Black Onyx
Copic Markers, Memento Markers
Pink Twines: Moments & Memories
Signo White Gel Pen
Wink of Stella Clear
SU 1/4 inch Hole Punch
SU Washi Tape
Ice Stickles "Diamonds"

I'm sorry the exposure is blown on the 2nd picture. I didn't know how to fix it.

Thank you dear ones!!! Be safe whatever your weather is like

& come by again soon ♥ With aloha ♥

Wanna Hula?

Just put your hands up and shake those hips!

You know these cards I've been posting lately? I'm not filled with caffeine or extra energy LOL! I've been doing a little bit here and there, saving all the bits until I can put them together into a card. It does help that it's sunny every day, birds sing, and there's a gentle breeze blowing. If we were living back in the gray clouds and almost nine months of solid drizzle and rain of the Pacific Northwest, I would DEFINITELY be needing Red Bull or Starbucks to get a card put together.

How are you? Feel free to share how you are doing, good or not so great, and what kind of weather you have today, cause, you know, it could be better than here, right? #imisspicturesofsnow So here is the card for our oldest grandchild, Sara!!! I can't believe she is going on 19 this year. This is a just because we love you card.

Stamp Set: My Favorite Things "Polynesian Paradise
Embossing Folder: Darice " Floral"
SB Opulent Ovals die
Pretty Pink Posh Sequins
GKD Pure Luxury White cardstock
Copic Markers
Distress Inks, Perfect Pearls spray, stash buttons, twine, corner rounder

Again, thank you dear friends, for your support comments. I will try to catch up on blog visits asap!!! Aloha and HULA!!!!

I Like Your Face

Isn't that a funny sentiment? It just cracks me up. So this is another card for grandson, Evan.

Life without a laptop...

Stamp sets: Cheerful Critters and Rough Type Alphabets by SU
Dies by MFT Blueprint 8
Cardstock by GKD
Colored image with Copic
3D Crystal Lacquer
SU Chevron EF
Memento Inks
Twine by SU

Thank you for cheering me on with your encouraging words!!!!!

 

Grateful for our Daughter in Law, Hillary

Hillary is a lovely mom. She is also a teacher so I immediately thought of the chalk board technique Big Thank You to you Hillary! We love and appreciate all you do to care for the sweeties and home there in So Cal.

Stamp set My Favorite Things "Grand Greetings" and "Flowers 2"
 Cardstock, white ink and silver ribbon by GKD
 Anna Griffin Brocade embossing folder
 Signo White Gel Pen
 VersaMark, White embossing powder SU
 Want2Scrap mini clear rhinestones
 Wink of Stella Clear

 Thank you very much for stopping by. Still waiting on word about the laptop :\

Our Little Super Hero

I was so happy to see all the super hero stamp sets come out bit it's taken me months to using one. Our Kyle is growing up too fast. He is out youngest grandchild.

I sketched out the big blast background and used Copic Markers to color everything. The sentiment of heat embossed with yellow and red glitter embossing powders.

I tried to use the blogger app to post this but it just won't work. Can't wait to get a mall laptop back that works.

Stamp Set by Mama Elephant, Tiny Heroes
Wonky Rectangle dies
MFT Pinking border die
Whisper Yellow EP
PSX Red Glitter EP
Brads, Perfect Pearls

New Home "Blues!"

This is tricky for me. The laptop is off being repaired and I am using a cell phone for the first time ever to post a comment and photo to this blog. I think I need some Benadryl for the itching from sheer nerves. Please come back home soon old broken laptop. How I long for a keyboard and large screen!

It's only taken me about half a year to congratulate my brother on their move to London from the DC area. Gadzooks... I'm getting yet slower and s-l-o-w-e-r over here. This will be entered into the challenge at StampTV. I'll figure out how to copy the challenge link later.

The flowers and leaves are white embossed vellum, then sponged colors to the unembossed sides. Wink of Stella is brushed onto the flowers, leaves, butterfly, blue background die cut and sentiment.

Stamp Set: Warm Spring Wishes by GKD
Ink: Wisteria  Wonder and Certainly Celery SU; Cornflower by Hero Arts
Embossing Folder: Amelie Lace by Anna Griffin
Large Die is from the Lace Collection from Anna Griffin
Sentiment Die is SB Romantic Rectangles Two
VersaMark and White Embossing Powder
Adhesive Foam Squares, ScorTape, Corner Rounder
Wink of Stella Clear
Blue and Clear Rhinestones

OK this is looking wonky to me but it's the best I can figure for now. Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving your sweet comments!!!

Watercolor Bookmark with Distress Inks

Aloha friends,

I hope your day was / is beautiful!

You know when you cut watercolor paper into card layer sizes and you have leftover "strips" of just over an inch or two? You can still use them to watercolor on, make bookmarks, a smaller focal image on a card using sketches, or even refrigerator magnets :D So don't throw your scraps out ♥

I CASE'd Dawn from W+9 because she is fabulous with simple watercoloring using distress inks. And for me, distress inks are the hardest inks to watercolor with. She makes it look much easier. Here is the video she made in case you would like to practice!

How to Distress Ink Watercolor with Dawn, W+9

I do not have the same stamp set she uses, but I had a similar one. The only parts lacking were the lilac and the vase so just sketch out a simple vase and for the lilac - use the dot or pointillism method with a couple colors of distress ink markers or other inks you use. I also created a watercolor image on the back using the birdhouse, bird, made my own leafy vines and outlined it with a Signo Gold pen. This is for my sister in law who lives with my younger brother in London. The brother who has never been able to tell me what he does for the government because then he would have to ... "kill me." And he then has this evil laugh. So I never ask anymore (!)

At least on the drive home we cruised along the sandy shores of beaches. The day is sparkly blue, in the upper 70s low 80s, a cruise ship was visiting in the bay, and I'll try to post a picture of the water. He even bought me a totally vegetable Subway sandwich with lots of vinegar and peppers, an orange juice and sketch pad :) Nothing like going to the dog house! Then, ta ta da DA - Stampin' Up order just arrived. Can't wait to open it.


Entered into  -

SimonSays Stamp Wednesday Challenge - W+9

Stamp Set: Floral Folk Art by W+9
Inks: Tim Holtz distress ink pads and markers
Brushes: #4 round
Strathmore Watercolor Paper 300 Series
Gold cardstock
Stampin' Up Ornate Tag Topper Punch
Gold Cord from Gina K. Designs

 

I usually ask Bruce to drive us home

along the beach road,

Ali'i Drive

In Hawai'ian this means "royalty" 

as King Kamehameha used to live nearby

 

 I will post to Facebook, too!

Thank you very much

for stopping by.

♥

Up, Up and Away

Aloha again!

This card is going to be entered into the SimonSays Stamp Wednesday "Party" Challenge.

We have at least three couples moving so this month there is a big Going Away party for at least two. The third couple is making a trial run to the southern part of the mainland to see if it will work out for them. Aren't going away parties kinda sad? I think so. While I cannot attend, Bruce can take some cards to them for both of us.

At first this was going to be an anniversary card, but it seems more appropriate as a couple flying away. (sad face)


Stamp Set: "Darling Friends" by SimonSays Stamp for Pretty Pink Posh!
Colored with Copic Markers, parts covered with Wink of Stella Clear glitter
Cardstock: GKD and Bazzill
Sequins by Pretty Pink Posh ♥
Darice Frame Embossing Folder

 

Wink of Stella - Makes Everything Better!

 

Thank you dear friends!

You make my heart smile ♥ 

Fishy Shaker Card

Aloha dear friends,

We have not needed to turn on the air conditioner for at least a week - yay! The fans are enough. But it's "chilly" in the mornings (don't laugh) like 66 degrees.

I've had this stamp set for so long and never did get it inky. Do you have any of those? The guilt finally got to me so inky it is! And it's been a while since I've made a shaker card -- this is for a young girl who is about 5 but can read at a 3rd grade level! She has practiced so much.

Inside the card I stamped the fish bowl with some star fish, mini fish, and will print out "You're a STAR!"

The sentiment is just snipped on both ends and I used a Memento blue marker to add the stitching and dots. The little tear drop pieces that fell out of the frame die are inside with all the sequins and beads. 

Stamp Set: Stampendous "Sushi Bowl Party"
Inks Pad and Markers: Memento
Perfect Pearls: Royal Blue
Sequins: Pretty Pink Posh, Martha Stewart, & Little Things by Lucy's Cards
Dies: Spellbinders Circles & Tear Drop Circles 
Cardstock: GKD 120# White, Sweet Corn & Blue Denim
Embossing Folder: Beach Waves
Navy Grossgrain Ribbon
Corner Chomper 1/4" Rounder
Fun Foam, Scor Tape, Tombo Mono Dots, Adhesive Foam Squares

 

Thank you sweet friends -- I love it when you stop by ♥

 

Embossed Sympathy Cards

Aloha friends,

I fell asleep while typing this last night, so...start over.

This is for Judy's challenge at StampTV, "Emboss is Boss!" 

Each month I try really hard to send cards to others I read about or heard about on the news who could sure use some cheering up. I include a short letter to encourage them. Here are some of the latest:

Stamp Sets: GKD "Autumn Beauty" Theresa Momber, "Sympathy Duo," "You're My Favorite" and a butterfly I won in a goody bag from Gina ♥
Cardstock: GKD white, apple green and lemon drop
Embossing Folders: Darice Cherry Blossom and Grass Silhouette; Anna Griffin (lace trimmings group)

Corner Chomper 1/4"; Sharpie markers
Kool Tak Clear Adhesive Foam
Paper Accents Light White Vellum

VersaFine Black Ink; Clear Embossing Powder; Wink of Stella Clear
(My New FAV tool -- Signo Gel GOLD pen. It dries shiny and sparkly!)

Cherry Blossom EF --

Cattails and Grasses EF

Anna Griffin EF

 

And the insides all look like this:

I'm sorry but none of the Wink of Stella is showing up on the fronts of the cards. IRL these cards sparkle and shimmer like crazy :D

Thank you for visiting  -  I appreciate each of you ♥

Hummingbird and Flowers

Aloha everyone,

I hope each of you is well! It's been a long time. I cannot find pictures I took of some cards made over the last few weeks (boo hooooo). Bummer!

Recently, Gina showed us how to use Prismacolor (or any color pencil) over solid white inked images. Whoa, I love this technique! I did two for some friends in the cardmaking world. One is pink, the other is blue.

Stamp Sets: Stampin' Up "Wildflower Meadow" (the Swiss dots are already in the background of this large stamp)
Ink: GKD White Pigment
Color Pencils: Prismacolor
Cardstock by GKD
Corner Chomper 1/4" 

Pinks

 

Blues

 Sorry you can't make out the apple green cardstock base

 on the blue and green card. 

Thank you for stopping by!!

Mixed Metals, Get Well Soon

Hello dear ones,

I hope each of you is doing well :)

A friend in the cardmaking world is ill, very ill. I worry about her as she begins the path of treatment. This card is for her. I really hope when she opens the mailbox it brings a smile to her face and to her heart and that she regains good health once again!

The background is a mix of distress inks, let dry, drop water onto it, paper towel the water off. It leaves the bokeh type faded spots on it. Then I sent it through an embossing folder just for the two corners.

Mixed metals: I started out with gold mirror paper, cut two thin strips and adhered them to the sides of the distressed background.

I stamped the image with VersaMark, then applied gold embossing powder. I got it almost heated, but the heat tool broke and I had to wait for a new one (plus a couple back ups ordered) to re-heat the powder. Burned. Start that over. The mistake is I combined the wrong color embossing powder: Liquid Platinum. DOH! Not starting over again because I had cut and heat embossed the scalloped layer as well as the background for the sentiment. (sigh, mixed metals)

OK. Here comes the heartfelt part. I hand pierced around the oval focal image, then hand stitched gold thread all around it. I really do care about our friend and want to bring her a smile. After assembling, I sprinkled a few sequins from Pretty Pink Posh, then added a gold metallic thread bow with a clear faceted button and rhinestone to the sentiment.

On the inside I hope to pop up a fussy cut stamped ribbon for the specific cancer, covered with UTEE. I'll add a hopeful sentiment inside and later the picture of the inside will be posted. (I'm pooping out fast tonight)


For Donna's Challenge at StampTV this week, Girl Power!
Stamp Sets: Gina K. Designs " Vintage Chick" and "Strength & Hope"
Cardstock: Gina K. Designs 120# White and Neenah 80# white, SU gold mirror
Inks: Fossilized Amber and Picked Raspberry Distress Inks
Embossing Folder: Sizzix "Flourish" (with the carte postal set)
Embossing Powder: Liquid Platinum by Ranger
Gold Thread by DMC
Sequins by Pretty Pink Posh
Clear faceted button by SU
Adhesive Pop Dots
Multi Matte Medium; Scor Tape; Monoadhesive


Without glare :)

With glare :)

I couldn't decide what to choose.

A big aloha to each of you!

Thank you for stopping by and leaving your ♥