Missing Laptop

Sorry I missed posting for a few days. John borrowed my laptop for the weekend and I didn't get it back till Monday evening. It was such a beautiful weekend that I didn't stay indoors to much so no stamping got done. I did play with the new milk carton die from SU!. Its much smaller than I thought. One sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock will make two cartons. I also purchased the new stamp set Got Treats. It is perfect to use with the milk carton.

Filled the carton with caramel apple candy corn. Never seen that before and it's really good. Low in points for Weight Watchers as long as you only have a few. Wanted the candy to show through the carton so I cut a hole using my circle cutter. I got it a little to much to the right so it wasn't centered just right, but hey that only makes it look more home made which is a more desirable look...right?

Stamping Trails
Karen 206

Brayer

Brayer....now there is a tool I haven't used in a very long time. It has been hanging on the pegboard in my stamp room collecting the very finest antique dust. Its within my line of sight at my desk just waiting it's turn to be used. Well I guess I could say that about all the supplies I have. This card is not my design and was inspired by Michelle Zindorf. I changed up the stamps that were used and made the overall card smaller. I would love to be able to go to one of her Brayer workshops. She's coming back to my area next year so I'm hoping to be able to attend. Marina Mist is my new favorite color! Just love the shade, and goes so well with black. Base card is 5x5, white layer for the main image is 4x4. Little white stars in the background were made with a white gel pen. Stamp sets: Lovely as a Tree, and Nature Silhouettes. I bought the nature set when it first came out in SU! catalog but this morning was the first day that the stamps saw an ink pad. Been on a roll lately making cards. I'm having fun doing it again. It's like seeing a long lost close friend again. Its all NEW!!!

I'm off to Hollo's paper store. I know I should leave my credit card at home (sigh), but I'm in need of some cardstock and envelopes.

Stamping Trails
Karen 206

Tools of the Trade

There is something to be said for having the right tool for the job. I've been enjoying playing with all my new stuff. The antique brads are perfect with the basic pearls. But I got to tell you those little pearls are very hard to work with unless you have the right tools. The Quicker-Poker-Picker Upper (no I didn't make the name up..it is the name of the tool) is wonderful! It has a flat angled piece on one end that you can use to slide the pearl off the sheet and then place it where you want it. I found this nifty tool at Archivers. If you don't have one run right now and get one. You won't be sorry. I put one of the brads in the foam mat from the the tool kit to hold it in place while I stuck the pearls on it. Isn't this cool!!!

Colors used on the card: Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil, and Espresso. Wood embossing folder by Tim Holtz, other things used, twill tape (stitched with brown zig-zag)pop dots, Sanded Background, Friends stamp by SU!

So happy Friday got here. Looking forward to the end of the year. I'll be quitting my job. Think I might get a part time job at Pat Catan's, or another fun crafting store. Work is getting to stressful and its not worth my health. I've spoken to my managers and have stressed my concerns but it's falling on death ears, so I'll be moving on.

Stamping Trails
Karen 206

Happy Thursday

I love these colors together! Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake, and Marina Mist what a great combo. I also used Bashful Blue on the flower with the Marina Mist. I was checking my stash and I'm about out of Confetti White...looks like I have another reason to stop at Hollo's Paper Store. Guess I'll make a quick stop there after work today. I have been watercoloring lately and the confetti white is great for this. Again I used the beads I colored. Also used Inque Boutique designer paper, Cuttlebug folder, aqua painter, Top note die, Because I Care level one Hostess set by SU!, and off white ribbon. Same ribbon I used on the school card I posted yesterday. I had a scrap of it still on my desk and it was just enough for this card.

It was really nice out yesterday. I took a bike ride after dinner. Had to go by myself as Skip is working. I did ride the bike up to the school and visited with him for a bit as he was taking break for his dinner. Wish the weekend would hurry up and get here.

Stamping Trails
Karen 206

School Days, School Days......

good old Golden Rule Day. So in honor of the first day back to school for our school district I made this card. Aren't these little "kids" so cute!!!! Designer paper by Basic Grey. This is from there Black and White Collection. The ruled paper was perfect for this card! Base card Crumb Cake, Music layer Riding Hood Red using the new musical wheel from SU! Confetti White and Black also used. Kids watercolor with Not Quite Navy, Riding Hood Red, and Crumb Cake. Circle dies by Spellbinders. See the little brown dots at the bottom right. Yep those are the plastic gems I dyed last week. The little word stamp along the side is from Happy Together set. I looked through my stash and didn't come up with a school word stamp to use so seeing how the kids looked so happy.....well you know where my mind went with this.

Let be careful driving readers as I'm sure there are plenty of kids waiting for buses, or walking to school.

Stamping trails
Karen 207

Fun at Home

Enjoyed having yesterday off. Just relaxed and enjoyed being in my stamp room. What a great day. Got to chat with my girlfriends, and pretty much just did what I wanted to do. Still playing with some new stamp sets. For this card I used: Wasabi, So Saffron, Garden Green, and Perfect Plum. Ribbon I found while rummaging through my room. Trick or Treat by Ink-a-dink-a-do. Also used Greeting Card Kids, and Baroque Motifs by SU!

Really hate to go back to work today. I have to be there at 7 am for training. So I'm working 10 hours today. GOOD GRIEF!!!!!! I'll be needing a nap when I get home.

Stamping Trails
Karen 207

Where the Buffalo Roam

In Wilderness is one of the stamps I got last week with my SU! order. Animal stamps that look this good and I like are a rare find. Buffalo was stamped with Soft Suede and brown flock was used on just his upper back. (Thanks Connie for that suggestion)
Other colors: Early Espresso, Marina Mist, and Crumb Cake. The cork used for the word stamp came from Lisa. She gave me a spool of this cork that has adhesive backing. This is the actual width of that spool of cork. Since the cork was thick I had to raise up the other layers in the cards with pop dots. Marina Mist layer was run through a embossing folder by Tim Holtz. It looks like a knotted log. Really cool folder.

Well I took the day off work. Skip will be heading off to work in few hours as he is back on second shift. I have the rest of my day lined up pretty much with just me time. Which will include lots of music and stamping. Love getting the house to myself as it doesn't happen often.

Stamping Trails
Karen 207