French Quarter Stamps

Here is another card using my French Quarter set. That set is a favorite! The piece holding the sentiment is a Nestabilities Die cut.
Ribbon and sentiment from Papertrey.

For Sale-New Clear Embossing Powder

I ended up with more than I needed. I paid $4.50 each but will sell for $3.50 each and $1 shipping, or $1.50 shipping if you buy 2. This is a very fine clear embossing powder. Email me at rubyslippers@neofast.net

For Sale--New Brilliance Graphic Black Reinker

Brand new and never opened. $3.50 plus 85 cents shipping. Email me at rubyslippers@neofast.net

Nestie Bird Die Cut

The background and the pattern on the bird are done with the set called Adore by CTMH and a multi-colored stamp pad.

Pink Joy

Crafty Secrets Winter Baby

Background by Impress. Main image by Crafty Secrets. Edge pearls are Liquid Pearls (tap from underside while wet to make them smooth and round).

Snowy Little Birdhouse

We have snow here again. Stamps by Hero Arts. Papers are mostly by Basic Grey.

Double Embossing Cuttlebug and Nesties

Click the title to go to a MUST-SEE blog post.

Valentine Tube Treats with Impress Ribbon

These are so much fun to make. I got the 6" tubes at Impress (they can also be ordered from Papertrey Ink). I filled them with M & M's and the stamped SU Curly Labels on white sticker paper and punched them out for the fronts. The little red hearts on the label are punched with a punch from Impress. Don't you just LOVE this ribbon??? I got that from Impress too. I am going to have to get more of it as I love it even more than I thought I would.

Inkadinkado Rose in Yellow

Quote from a Reader

A reader sent me this quote by Jim Jarmusch, who appears to be an artist:

"Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is nonexistent. And don’t bother concealing your thievery—celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc Godard said: “It’s not where you take things from—it’s where you take them to.”

Not Quite a Valentine-but Close

I made this card by embossing the MFT BoHo Blossom in white and then sponging on color. The label is SU, as is the Bella paper (cannot get enough of that stuff). Not sure on the source of the sentiment.

To My Readers

Just letting you know if I disappear for a day or two at a time, not to worry. We are now beginning the travel to do the pre-ops for the upcoming brain surgery on my husband for Parkinson's. Additionally, there will be a bit of other travel in the coming weeks. Between now and mid-March I may post sporadically.

Bella Meets Cricut

I had some scraps of Bella paper (SU) that I wanted to use and so I made this card with my Cricut. I used the Home Accents cartridge adn there is no stamping on this card. The border is a piece of Cosmo Cricket paper.

In Honor of this Historic Day

I am not posting a card today. I have nothing that does justice to this day in history. I celebrated with my students and it was a day to remember. As we stood for the National Anthem at the end of the ceremony, children had tears in their eyes. This one will be forever etched in my memory.

My Son's First Story Published!

Click the title of this post to go to the place where Philip has had his first story published!!

Thumbs Up

Thumbs Up:

I once again ordered a few $2.99 Copic pens from MerriArtist.com and they had them in my hands in under 48 hours. I also appreciate their careful packaging. You just cannot beat the price and the huge selection on individual pens.

Peggy's Vintage Valentine CD is fabulous if you like old Valentines like we exchanged as kids. Her CD's are easy to use and give you great images! They are well worth the money. http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6299003

A Taste of Spring

This is an old stamp, but one I will never part with. The background is DP from a LSS. This has been watercolored with reinkers.

Urban Prairie Old Lady Card

My son says this is an old lady card. The yellow paper is Basic Grey Urban Prairie and the main image is a TAC stamp.

Pictures of My Stamp Room

I have had several recent requests for pictures of my stamp room. They begin with August 1, 2008 posts. If you click the title of this post it will take you to the first picture in the series of about 10-12 pictures.

Bird Die On CB Background/Just Rite

A New Year's card I forgot to post. Sentiment is Just Right on a Nestie tag that I really, really love.

Cozy Penguin

Penguin by Memory Box. Trees by CTMH.

Gingerbread Man

Now and then I find a foam stamp that I like to use. The texture can add to the interest. This stamp was 79 cents. I also used the Cuttlebug Embossing Borders.

Pink Poison Birds

I really love this little set I got from Pink Poison a couple of months ago. You can use it for any season depending on how you color it. I used Copics. The sentiment is from Crafty Secrets in the center and the ring around that is a $1 stamp from Michaels. I used the Martha Stewart border punch and the paper is DCVW Luxury Pack. I sponged the white layer of the Nestie with light blue before removing it from the die.

10 Club Card Covered with EP

We made these cards at 10 club awhile back. The card is scored and stamped and then coated with EP and heated for a beautiful sheen.

A Wintry Valentine

The person I am sending this to lives in a very wintry place and so I made a Valentine that included some snowflakes. I used Hero Arts stamps and the round sentiment is from Michael's.

Bird Die Valentine

So glad I got these bird dies as they are so versatile. I used the little bird as the wing on the medium bird. MS border punch along bottom edge. The tag is a Nestie Die with an SU sentiment (I think).

My New Favorite Rose Stamp

I just had to have this Inkadinkado stamp. I rarely buy wood stamps any more, but got a good deal on Ebay. It is colored with Copics and I used Liquid Pearls for the centers of the little flowers. The background is the CTHM Adore set border that I repeated several times with L'Amour Palette Hybrid Ink for a rich red. You will be seeing more of this stamp on this blog as I have been playing with this stamp exclusively for the weekend.

For Sale -Prima Style Flowers

7 dozen flowers (per packet) in various sizes and colors (lavendars, blues, reds, yellows, oranges, pinks, greens, peaches, etc.) Most are solids, but some are dotted or plaid or other. All packets are a nice mix of all colors mentioned. Brands are Prima, Got Flowers, Sweet N' Sassy, and various others. $7.50 plus $1.75 shipping. Email me at rubyslippers@neofast.net. I have 5 packages left. I simply over bought in order to get all the colors and sizes I needed.

I am throwing in an extra goodie for anyone who buys 2 packages or more.

Just Rite Snow Card

The felt snowflake is by SU. We made this card at 10 club but I had to leave before I finished it so I added the Just Rite center when I got home.

Paris Hilton Crafts? Yep!

Press Release:


The Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) is pleased to announce that internationally recognized celebrities including Deborah Norville, Vanna White, Jane Seymour, and Paris Hilton will be attending the 2009 CHA Winter Convention & Trade Show in Anaheim, California held from January 25 – 28, 2009 discussing their passion for crafting and various craft product lines.

Deborah Norville, avid knitter, author, Emmy award-winning television journalist and host of Inside Edition, will be the 2009 Keynote presenter. Additionally, Deborah will be appearing at the Premier Yarns booth to introduce her brand new yarn line—Serenity, from the Deborah Norville Collection. Stop by to meet Deborah in person and see each of these four yarns (and receive free samples). Deborah will be appearing in the Premier Yarns booth #1619 from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm on Sunday, January 25, 2009.

Paris Hilton, internationally recognized model, singer, author, and entrepreneur will be available on Sunday, January 25, 2009 from 2:30 - 3:30 pm in the Wooky Entertainment booth #2500, to unveil Paris Hilton, the Creative Collection™ a multi-faceted line of fashion crafting kits from some of the most popular craft segments including scrapbooking, jewelry making and fabric embellishment. Paris will be on hand for photos and signing autographs.

Vanna White, the co-host of Wheel of Fortune, a best-selling author, has made appearances on numerous television shows, and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She is an avid crocheter who loves to give handmade gifts to those she loves and has been Lion Brand Yarn Company’s spokesperson for 14 years and collaborated with Lion Brand on several books, including Heartfelt Gifts to Knit and Crochet and Color it Beautiful Afghans, both inspired by her yarn with Lion Brand—Vanna’s Choice—a premium basic, easy-care yarn in colors all designed to mix and match. Vanna White will host the Lion Brand Yarn Fashion Shows held on Monday, January 26, 2009 at 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm in the Lion Brand Yarn booth #1801.

Jane Seymour is a multiple Emmy and Golden Globe winner and recipient of the Officer of the British Empire (OBE). Jane Seymour has proven her talents in virtually all media, the Broadway stage, motion pictures and television. Her love of art and color has also led her to great success as a painter in watercolors and oils, as a designer of her Home Collection and her Open Hearts line of jewelry, all based on her art. This success as an established fine artist includes being selected as one of the official painters of the 2005 Torino Winter Olympics, the 2008 Beijing Olympics and most recently the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Come by and meet Jane during her appearance on January 26, 2009 from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm at the Tara Materials/Fredrix Artist Canvas booth #3529.

Owl Windows

Love this little Hero Arts set.

Papertrey Pink Owl

I used Papertrey ribbon and owl. Floral stamps are SU.

Thank you, Shirley!

Thank you, Shirley, http://www.paperscissorsinc.com/ for this blog award!!

I am supposed to list 5 obsessions:

1-chocolate

2-good books--currently addicted to Ann Patchett's books

3-comfort (as some may have noticed I have decided comfort is more important than fashion!)

4-organization-I actually enjoy the process itself

5-stamping, of course!

I pass this award on to Elaine, at A Place for Ink. Click the title of this post to visit Elaine's blog!

The Chocolate Box Coredinations

I won a 12 x 12 of this interesting paper. It is one color on one side and another color on the other side and you can sand through for the second color to peek through. Odd color for a snowflake, I know, but I just had to try it. Snowflake is done with the CB die and then I added Stickles for sparkle and layered it on to a white round.

Bird in a Window

I did not use a single stamp for this card. I used my Cuttlebug, Cricut, and MS border punch. I made this at Christmas but I think it looks more fitting for Valentine's Day.

Smore Man

This card was inspired by a card that Allison sent me. Such fun and so cute!

Polar Bear Sparkle!

It is really cold here, but this little bear with his cup of hot chocolate makes it look quite pleasant! The stamp is a retired SU stamp, as is the sentiment. The papers are Basic Grey.

Hero Arts Owl Stack

Ribbon by Papertrey. Punch by Martha Stewart. All stamps are Hero Arts.

Cuttlebug/Nestability Tips

Passing on a discovery that Elaine (GW) made. If you don't have a gold embossing mat, or don't want to bother with one when using Nesties, you can just use the edge of your bone folder to do the embossing part. It is so easy and makes such a nice deep dry emboss. Honestly, I will be doing the embossing a lot more since learning this tip.

I experimented with making myself a cutting platform for my Cuttlebug for die cutting Nesties. I took the white plate A and put it on the bottom, next I laid on my cardstock shims made custom for my machine, and then I layered on a quite used plate B. I used strong packing tape and sealed all the edges together and voila! I have the perfect platform. All I have to do is put down my die, my cardstock and cover with a B plate! No more fumbling for the right combination. It really does save time and frustration. I bought a second A plate to use alone with my 50% off coupon at Michaels and it cost me about $3.50 so I can use that one with the embossing folders.

Cozy Sweater for a Snowy Day

I love this stamp from an SU retired set. Not sure where I got the sentiment.

Our snow was all gone and then we woke up this morning to it snowing heavily and our river is flooding at the same time!

Papertrey Snowflakes

Love the geometric possibilities. I did this awhile ago, but I remember that I used snowflakes from 2 or 3 PTI sets.

Sympathetic to the Just Rite Phobias!

It took me awhile, and the help of several friends until I was willing to wade on in with the Just Rite Stamps (special thanks to Elaine who helped so much). I do not think the ads and the site really give enough information so I am going to try to help here. I am skipping discussing the plastic auto-stampers they supply as I don't have them and I really don't know anyone who likes them as they are too limiting.

Best prices I found were at stampingcottage.com but I also bought some individual pieces at All That Scraps and Jacksonbelle.

Initially I saw the 1 5/8 circle stamps that really appealed to me. Sometimes I saw letters in the center of the circle with a pretty border around and other times I saw letters around the circular border with an image in the middle. In order to do any of these at this size, you need a round wood 1 5/8 wood stampers. Some sets come with them and some do not. You can buy the stamper individually in a blister pack too. Since I bought 2 sets without the stamper (10 Designer Centers and Borders and Desk, Library, and Kitchen Borders) I had to buy a 1 5/8 wood stamper individually. You can also use the little letters set (costs about $5.95) and use these letters around the edges with this wood stamper. Additionally, any of the font sets can be used in the middle to make words in the middle. Also, some of the premade borders can easily be attached to a clear block and stamped and then you can use a little image stamp of any brand in the middle.

The tiny letters are a trial. I will just tell you that up front. Both the very little letters and the smallest letters in the font sets are hard to handle, easily lost, and can take a couple of tries to get into the stamper. Have your area scrupulously clean so you can find any little piece that zings off into space. I have even had to lay my head down on my desk top with a flashlight to do a scan of the surface. If I had carpet, I would buy 2 sets of the little letters because I cannot imagine finding them once they hit the carpet. A tweezers is a big help for positioning and a tweezers came with the little set (if I remember correctly). All that being said, they are still worth it because of all the options they provide you.

The rectangular blocks are a must, in my opinion, as you can do horizontal sentiments with ease, if you have purchased a font. If you want the full range of possibilities, the blocks in addition to several sizes of circle stampers are very useful.

Fonts: I purchased the Trompe one and sold it. It was just too hard for me to read the swirly letters and some looked so much alike that I just did not cope well. As I read blogs I noticed that the Times New Roman was the easiest to read, seemed to go with all styles of art, and I just found that font appealing. After I sold the Trompe, I bought a second set of Times New Roman--very good move because now I have enough of each letter to do an entire sentiment on a rectangle block. These letters are also great for using in the center of a round stamping block as a Monogram. Each set contains three sizes of that font, giving you everything I can imagine needing.

The Harmony Classic Circle Stamper ll comes WITH the 2 5/16 wood stamper and the borders and the pre-made centers. It is pretty basic, but I have not used it a lot. I am planning to use it more as there are some cute Valentine possibilities. By the way, all the borders and centers can be mixed and matched when they are the same size. Everything made to fit on the 2 5/16 round stamper can be mixed and matched. This is true of the other sets too. Just match the size and be creative.

The Christmas Stamp Ensemble is a lot of fun, but the borders and centers are quite large and fit on a 3 1/4" circle stamper that you must purchase separately. I did enjoy using the borders by attaching to a clear block, stamping, and then putting other Christmas images inside. I did one with a little penguin inside that you can see on this blog, also a gingerbread boy inside one of the borders too.

What I own:

Christmas Ensemble 3 1/4" set
Circle Stamper 3 1/4" (purchased alone)
Harmony Rectangular Set (which consists only of 2 rectangle blocks)
Harmony Classic ll 2 5/16" set that INCLUDED the 2 5/16" wood circular stamper
10 Designer Centers and Borders 1 5/8"
Circle Stamper 1 5/8" (purchased alone)
2 Sets of Times New Roman Font
Just Rite Small Letter Set
Desk/Library/Kitchen Borders that go on the 1 5/8" circle stamper

I got some of these through Stamping Cottage at their good prices, others I found at online sales and couple of things I got as trades/gifts.

Overall I am very happy with the stamps. The Christmas set took a bit of erasing to condition the stamps and all of them work best with chalk inks or Palette inks, but they will work with other inks too. Pigment inks also give good coverage. The more I use them, the better they take ink.

If I can answer any questions, feel free to email me at the address listed to the left.

For some great ideas, click the title of this post and it will take you to Embellished Dreams where you will find so many wonderful ideas for using Just Rite products.

An additional tip: If you want to leave letters on a block or circle base, put the whole thing in a Ziplock to store so you don't lose any letters.

Penguin on a Snowy Hill

I added Stickles to the hills and the snowflake. Paper is Basic Grey and penguin is Hero Arts colored with Copics.