Orange Posies

This is another fun posie image from Outlines. I opted to go with orange on this card - as I usually struggle with orange tones. I stamped the image with Memento ink and then cut it out with a circle Spellbinders die. Before removing the cardstock from the center of the die, I went around it with a dauber and Ranger's Old Paper Distress ink. This gives a white edge around the circle where the die was. The flowers were then colored with Copic markers. I layered the image up and used a fun glitter dot paper from Best Creation. We have this paper in a variety of colors. You really cannot appreciate the affect of the glitter dots in the photo. Once I layered the circle to base layer, I tied a bow with an orange organdy ribbon and ran it over the right edge of the circle for a slightly different look.

I hope you're enjoying your weekend!

Jeannette

Chickadee Card from StacyStamps

If you are a bird lover, you will love the collection of birds images from StacyStamps. This little chickadee is sitting on a milkweed pod. I colored the bird and the pod with Copic markers. To get the yellow-ish shading around the image, I used Staedtler watecolor pencil and pencil it with a wet paint brush. Because it is a water-based medium, it did not affect the coloring done with the Copics. It is also a lot easier to get a softly faded background with the watercolor pencils. The piece of yellow cardstock was cut with an EK Success border punch.

Have a great day!
Jeannette

New Tape Dispensers!

One of the items we found at the CHA show was these "Plus" tape dispensers. Most of you know that I am an ATG fan, but the units are large and don't travel real well. The 2 things I like the most about the ATG tape is the value and the reduced amount of waste that is only filling up our landfills. These tape units are close to the same value for the ATG tape and the cartridges are smaller than many - which is better for the waste factor. The other cool thing is that one of the "pen-like" units has narrow tape - 1/2 as wide as the other unit. This is great when you need a narrow row of adhesive. We ordered a LOT - hopefully they will arrive soon!

Thanks for stopping by!
Jeannette

When it is HOT, think Winter!

Okay, most of the country is gripped in a nasty heat wave. It started in the midwest, and moved east. The bad thing is I dealt with it in Chicago at the beginning of the week and now it is here in New Hampshire. So, besides seeking air conditioning - think about cooler days - or stamp them! This is a card made with a Tim Holtz reindeer die and a Sizzix holly die. I cut the deer out of designer paper and distressed the edges with Ranger distress ink. The words are from a Flourishes stamp set. I added some Twinks to the holly and flourish to add a little sparkle. I also gave the reindeer eyes - so they can see where they are jumping! So, if you're hot - start thinking and stamping cool. Just don't do any embossing!

Items used:
Tim Holtz Alterations Die - 656923 Reindeer Flight
Sizzix Die 656734 Flourish Holly & Mistletoe

Flourishes Holiday Greetings Set #39

BoBunny Chiffon Dot Double-Dot Cardstock

Basic Grey Cappella Dolce

1-1/4" Circle Punch

Spellbinders scalloped circle die

Bazzil Cardstock - Quartz, Pinecone, Leapfrog

Luminarte Twinkling H2Os - Fern

Thanks for stopping by and stay cool!

Jeannette

Paper Dresses...

A couple ladies at the show created these fabulous dresses out of Bazzill Basics paper! They walked around the show in the new dresses and were probably the most photographed folks at the show! It's a good thing that the convention center was well air conditioned, as the heat wave out here would have destroyed the dresses.

You just never know what you will see walking around the show!

Jeannette

LIVE from CHA!!!

I am finally getting around to posting some pictures from the show. I tried to take some photos of the booth of some of the companies that we carry at the store. Starting with one of my favorite companies - Penny Black. Penny Black had a lot of great new images - which are on order! Should be shipping in August.



Next we have Spellbinders. You have seen a lot of their new products in the blog frenzy - but there were some additional new products that they released. These new items are also supposed to ship in August and September.



Next we have Ranger. The Distress stains are now available in all colors.

Then we have the "candy store" in the show - the May Arts Ribbon booth! This is truly like walking through a stamper's candy store!

And last, but not least is Impression Obsession. LOTs of great new images from IO, as well.

I will try to post some more new images later today. Stay tuned.

Thanks for stopping by!
Jeannette

Summer Sailing...

Hey, this is a true summertime card! Especially for those of us on the seacoast! This is using a great clear stamp set from My Favorite Things and also uses several of their dies. The bunny in the boat is stamped first on the white card, then stamped again on several other cardstocks, then paper-pierced onto the image. I've had several people ask me what I use to adhering paper pieces to card. Honestly, my favorite thing is Ranger's Glossy Accents. However, a word of advice, you want a VERY thin line of Glossy Accents - it is a liquid and it will spread. I usually place a thin line, all around the edge of the piece - and place it about 1/4" from the edge - that way it does not ooze out onto card. The front of the base card is partially embossed with a swirl Cuttlebug embossing folder. The sun was cut out of a Memory Box paper, then run through a swiss dot embossing folder and layered with foam tape. This card is more generic in the saying, but this would also make a great birthday card for a guy!

We'll be having some fun photos from CHA soon!

Jeannette

Spellbinders Blog Frenzy - Final Day!

This is it - the FINAL day of the Spellbinders Blog Frenzy with their new dies coming out next week. However, in the past, Spellbinders has always held something back to release at the show and I would not be surprised if they do that this year, as well, so stay tuned! Today we start out with a fun ornament nestie die set.


Follow that up with an interesting and very creative accent set - these will allow you to add some great accents to your cards and projects. Try cutting these out of metal - bet it is HOT!



Now we get to my favorite die of this release day - a very cool butterfly die - each having a solid and lacey component - VERY cool! I love the way they did different shapes and designs for the different butterflies.

And we end with a very inetresting flower die - which works well with the butterfly die above. These dies remind me of the bold flower stamps from Hero Arts and Penny Black.

So stay tuned as we bring live info from the show next week. Hopefully we will see lots of new and exciting products to let you know about.

Jeannette

Spellbinders Blog Frenzy Day #8

We are winding down for the release party and today there are more exciting dies to show! We start with another great border die set - this one might be my favorite so far! I really like the designer insert dies for this one!


Next we have another Nestability die - this one with a star border! I think it would be great for birthday designs, graduation and congratulations cards.


And finally 2 more Grand dies - designed for the Grand Caliber machine - this time straight and scalloped rectangles. These wouold be perfect for scrapbooking photos.

That is everything for today's preview. Be sure to check back for additional sneak peeks.

Jeannette

Spellbinders Blog Frenzy Day #7

We are 7 days into the excitement and today is another day filled with fun designs that certainly spark creativity. We start with a poinsettia floral die - this is PERFECT for holiday card, decorations and packaging. Think about how easily you will be able to decorate packages this season!

And another fun border die set! I cannot wait to see these dies in action at the show! I am hoping that they work as wonderfully as I have seen them in samples with their design team!


And we end with another box die - this one a petal box. Also great for gift giving!

Thanks for stopping by! More tomorrow!

Jeannette

And now back to our regular programming...

Sorry for the delay in posting card stuff. There are days when I just don't think I will ever get ahead - especially in the summertime, with golf, another job and the stamp business. Today's card is another Magnolia image - this one with Tilda turning around to see a butterfly resting on the bow on the back of her dress. It is a cute image. I punched out a couple butterflies with a Martha Stewart punch to add over the ribbon piece on the card - it made for a nice finishing touch.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Jeannette

Spellbinders Blog Frenzy Day #6

We are about halfway through the Spellbinders Frenzy - today we first get to see another Nestabililty with a new edge - Picot Edge! I LIKE IT! These are probably the dies I grab the most frequently, as they can add some wonderful subtle elegance to a card. When I look back at some cards that I did back in 1996 (yes, it has been that long), they seemed so simple and we did not have these great tools to create such professional looking cards and projects. These dies from Spellbinders have certainly been a big part of that!


Next is another blossom die - this one with an edge that is more "petal-like". It creates beautiful blossoms. You need to check out the flower that their design team member created with this die.

The last die is a combo set that allows you to create a small book! Very clever. It comes with a lot of pieces to create a pretty sophisticated book.

So, that is what is being shown today - tune in tomorrow to see what else they have in store for us!

Jeannette

Spellbinders Blog Frenzy Day #5

We are at day #5 of the frenzy and today has some VERY fun dies! First, a couple accent and motif dies that coordinate together. You can do some beautiful things with these dies.

Next we have a NEW edge to the very popular Nestabilities line - Tear Drop! Wow! These will be a lot of fun and I cannot wait to get my hands on this set!

And finally, another new Edgeabilities set! Fun, fun, fun! I think Spellbinders has hit the ball out of the park again with this concept. I love the idea of the accent dies being separate from the actual border die.

We'll keep showing you all the new products - stay tuned!

Jeannette

Spellbinders Blog Frenzy Day #4

We've reached day #4 of the Spellbinders blog frenzy - designed to give us all a sneak peak of the new dies being released by Spellbinders. I have not heard this direct from Spellbinders, but the new dies might be shipping by the end of August! That would be wonderful! I will be getting my order in with them before the show even officially opens, so we should be one of the first stores to be getting the dies in stock. If you pre-order any of the dies, it will be held for you and you will be one of the first people to have the new dies!
Today's release started with a very cool box die - I am thinking this might be a "grand die" based on the size of the die. The assembled box is 1-3/4" square. Very cute little box.

Next up is another fun flower die...

And lastly some interesting retro clock dies...

We'll continue showing the new die releases as they are shown by Spellbinders. You can stop by each day to see what the new dies look like!

Jeannette

Spellbinders Blog Frenzy Day #3

Day #3 is here! Some cool new snowflake dies and a new Grand die! Lots of fun ideas with these two options!

Next is a very interesting flower pot die - more possibilities here!

And last, but not least, a very interesting spiral flower die! Spellbinders style! I like the lacey edge to it! VERY creative! You gotta want this one!

Thanks for coming by! Be sure to check back each day for more previews!

Jeannette

Spellbinders Blog Frenzy Day #2

Today is day #2! Four more fun and creative dies to get you ready for some new creations! The first 2 are very elegant and lacy.

And then another innovative border die with 2 decorative inserts. I think these dies are amazing! The possibilities are endless!

And last, but not least, another fun labels set! Save your pennies - you know you're going to want most of these new dies!

The fun continues for another week - stay tuned!
Jeannette

Spellbinders Blog Frenzy Day #1

Wednesday July 6th was day #1 for the Spellbinders Blog Frenzy - showcasing the new products that they will be releasing at the CHA summer show in Chicago. And day #1 was not a disappointment! New are some very innovative border die sets - where the inside pattern part is a separate die - which allows you to do some very fun things! Be sure to check out their blog and the blogs of their design team members, who are showing off samples with the new dies.

I LOVE this scallop die border set with the decorative inserts. I know this will be a BIG seller! I cannot wait to play with one when they are released.

And another great Labels die set - we have always found creative ways to use these - over and over again. Just when you thought that they could not come up with another fun shape, they do!

Thanks for stopping by!
Jeannette

Not Quite the Dog Days of Summer...

I chose a basset hound image from Whippersnaller stamps for today's entry. It is warm and muggy here in NH - not the dog day yet, but tomorrow is supposed to be in the mid to upper 80's. Hot enough for me! I am a 70's kind of gal. The buttons on this card are made with a button punch by McGill - I punched out the buttons, then added Ranger's Glossy Accents to them and allowed them to dry completely. The dog image is colored with watercolor pencils and a blender pen.

I hope everyone is enjoying their 4th of July weekend!
Jeannette