Masculine Birthday Card

Masculine cards are really difficult for me. I always want to add ribbon or something really pretty, which doesn't work for guys.

When I started this card, this is not where I thought I was going with it. I don't know about you, but I will admit that happens for me a lot!

The background stamp is from Paper Inspirations. It's called Cat Tails . I colored it with Tombow markers then spritzed with water and stamped it on cream colored cardstock. The birthday stamp is also from Paper Inspirations, and is called Birthday Calligraphy . I stamped it with Versafine Onyx Black ink, then embossed with detail clear embossing powder.

The background paper is from My Mind's Eye. I used a little Vintage Photo distress ink to age it, as well as sponging the ink around the edges of the cream birthday panel.

Even though this wasn't what I initially thought I was going to do with this card, it has grown on me, and I like it. Now I just need a worthy man to send it to! LOL!

I hope you all have a great Friday!

NEW RUBBAH!

When I got home from the office tonight there was a large box on my front doorstep. And I just knew it was from Stampendous. Love, love, love it......NEW RUBBAH!

I have all the new images uploaded and in the store now. You can see them here .

The stamp in the card I have posted is called Tiers of Treats . I stamped in on watercolor paper using my Versafine Onyx Black ink pad. Then I colored the image using Tombow markers, and doodled around the edges with a permanent black pen. Just for fun, I added Stickles Glitter Glue on the cupcakes for a little sparkle. And since more is more, I put a bit of JudiKins Diamond Glaze on the cherries for dimension.

I think the rest is self explanatory, so I won't bore you with all the details.

This was a fun card to make, maybe because it is so cheery. And I AM going to send this to someone. I just haven't decided who that is yet.

Thanks for checking in. Have a great Thursday!

Watercolor Cone Flower

First and foremost, I want to thank all of you for your birthday wishes. You have no idea how much that means to me. Isn't it amazing how a few kind words go such a long way. :-)

I received a shipment of stamps from Paper Inspirations this week. I DO love their stamps! Be sure to check out my website here to see them all.

The one I used on this card is one of my all time favorites, and is called Watercolor Cone Flower . I colored the rubber with Tombow markers, spritzed with water using a JudiKins Fine Mist Spritzer , then stamped on glossy cardstock three different times.

I'm not so sure I like the photo corner I made, but I needed something to balance with the thank you in the lower left hand corner. I'm going to have to let that grow on me a bit, I think.

Thanks for stopping by. I do so appreciate you all. And thanks for helping me celebrate another year!

Birthday by the Beatles

I don't know why the volume isn't working on my birthday video. Oh well...this is second best! Today IS my birthday. :-)

Paul McCartney-

Happy Birthday to me!

:-)

Just Sittin' Here

The moment I got Patch (the puppy) in the mail, I knew I wanted him to be sitting on the stump. For some reason it's taken him a while to get up there! LOL!

I didn't have much time to play today, but I did put together this little scene made from A Muse stamps.

This is a little tricker that it looks, because you have to think ahead to plan for your masking. I stamped the Tree Stump first, then masked it. After that I stamped the Grass twice with green ink, then masked the grass while I stamped the flowers.

I could have quit, but oh no...more is more, so I added the cute little Caterpillar for extra measure. Since I knew I was going to color him green, I didn't do any masking. The green marker covers the grass behind him.

The sun is a 1.5" circle punch, then I added a bit of Yellow Stickles Glitter Glue for a little piazza.

The verse is also from A Muse, and I've used it on several different cards. It's called Sittin' Here .

I know you all had a wonderful weekend, feel completely rested, and are looking forward to a fantastic Monday. (Yeah...right!)

Until tomorrow........

A Shower!

One of the girls that works in my office is having a baby boy, so we're having a shower for her at the office next week. Since I'm giving her a gift card, I thought I needed a little something special to put it in.

This stamp is from A Muse Artstamps. One of the things I like about it (besides the fact that it's adorable) is that it's appropriate for any kind of shower whether it's girl, boy, wedding, etc.

I stamped the image on watercolor paper with Versafine Onyx Black ink then embossed with JudiKins Detail Clear embossing powder.

The stamped image was colored using Tombow markers, and the background was created using a Cuttlebug Baby embossing folder. Since I don't own many baby stamps, the Cuttlebug folder was the perfect touch for my background.

I'm posting a little earlier than usual. I'm having a birthday in a few days, so some friends are taking me to dinner tonight. Yes...ANOTHER birthday. And there is no way I can be 39 AGAIN! LOL!

Thanks for checking in.

Polka Dot Vase Bouquet

This is a stamp I've had for a while, but never inked. I will admit I have more than a few of those...don't you? So while I'm waiting for new rubbah to arrive from three different companies, I decided I should play with some I already have before the temptation of the new ones!

The stamp is called Polka-Dot Vase Bouquet , and it's from Hero Arts. I stamped it on watercolor paper with Versamark Ink then embossed with JudiKins Detail Black embossing powder.

After coloring the image with Tombow markers I matted it twice with complimentary colors, then mounted to a DCWV note card. I bought those note cards quite some time ago, and just found them in the closet (while I was looking for something else). I'll bet you don't have any good lost supplies either, do you? LOL!

It's been a really long day, so I'm going to try to turn in at a reasonable time for a change.

Thanks for checking in.

Gratitude

It's so much fun to play with collage stamps. I think I feel like that because it's more difficult for someone to tell if you make a mistake, or if you really meant for it to look that way. LOL!

I stamped the Hero Arts Collage Gratitude stamp on acetate using my Stazon Opaque Cotton White inkpad . I then placed it over blue decorative paper adhering here and there in places where I knew I would hide the adhesive. I love it that the decorative paper shows through the acetate. Then I added two prima flowers and a brad through the center to hold them in place.


The decorative outer edge of the card is also a Hero Arts stamp called Swirly Dot Border , stamped with Stazon Opaque Cotton White ink. I also added little bling here and there, and a few elements stamped on scraps of cardstock, then affixed on top of the acetate.

I have several different styles of Hero Arts Collage stamps in the store. You can find them here .

That's it for today. I'm off to do a little housekeeping before bedtime. I hope to have something new for you tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by.

You can never have too many friends!

I absolutely love these stamps. And I have no idea why I don't use them more often! Oh yeah...I remember now. It has something to do with lack of time? LOL!


The flower is the Hero Arts Doodle Daisy . I stamped it with VersaMark Ink , then embossed with detail white embossing powder. Each of the leaves was colored using Tombow markers. I cut out the image leaving the center in tact to make positioning easier.

The sentiment is also from Hero Arts. It's called Many Friends . I had a lot of fun stamping it on different pieces of scrap paper using various colors of ink. I love the effect.

The center of the flower is a brad I found at Hobby Lobby. And the cardstock is all from Bazzill.

This card was a lot of fun to make. It would be so easy to change all the colors and have a totally different look.

That's it for tonight, my friends. Thanks for stopping by. I'm off for a much needed nap!

And the winner is............

Melissa from Simply Pink ! Please send me your snail mail address so I can put your dreamy treats in the mail to you!

My sincere thanks to everyone for participating. It makes blogging fun for those of us who do it. Without comments and feedback from you, there really wouldn't be much point for us. So please remember that when you visit blogs, and like or are inspired by something. Just leave a comment once in a while so they know you stopped by and appreciate the effort they put into it.

Now.........I have a very kewl new card for you tomorrow...so be sure to check back!

Thanks for stopping by!

Last Chance for Dreamy Treats!

I wanted to share this gorgeous card I got in yesterday's mail from my dear friend Jackie! I just love the way she trimmed the bottom edge. She bought some stamps and punches from me, and decided she couldn't just send a check without sending me a card. (I like the way she thinks!) Jackie is away at the lake this weekend. Won't she be surprised when she gets back and sees her card on my blog? LOL!

Just a reminder that tomorrow (Sunday) is the last day to register for the Dreamy Treats giveaway. I will use the random number selector and announce the winner on Monday.

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Fancy Flourishes

I was blog browsing the other day and I saw some really cute cards at Linda's Works of Heart which inspired me to use my new stamp set from Stampendous. It is called Fancy Flourish.

I used VersaFine Onyx Black ink to stamp on several different patterned papers from the SEI collection called Penelope's Potpourri. I then embossed with JudiKins Detail Clear Embossing powder, and cut out each piece.

The sentiment is from Hero Arts. It's called I'm so lucky . After stamping and embossing it, I used a small scrap of the SEI patterned paper to make a layer behind the sentiment, just for added interest.

All pieces of the flower and leaves were layered using 3M foam tape for dimension.

Thanks for stopping in to look...and don't forget to register for the blog candy! The winner will be announced on Monday.

Giga Scalloped Heart

I just wanted to post a quick card that I made tonight with my new Marvy Giga Scalloped Heart punch .

The sentiment is from Hero Arts, and one I've always loved. I stamped it using VersaColor Raspberry pigment ink, then clear embossed with JudiKins Detail Clear embossing powder . After the image was embossed I punched the scalloped heart looking at the under side of the punch for positioning.

I sponged a little raspberry ink around the edges of the scalloped heart, then mounted it on the card with 3M foam tape for dimension.

The background paper is from Paper Studio. It was so pretty that I didn't think it needed much, so I only added a couple of swirls using my Rhonna Farrer Flourishes stamped with the raspberry ink.

This was a quick and easy card...and I just love those sometimes!

Don't forget to register for the blog candy. You can register as many times as you like by leaving a post on the *dreamy treats* post, or any after that one.

Good luck. Somebody is going to win...and it could be you!

Time for Dreamy Treats!

My blog is nearing 10,000 hits, so I decided to put together a super little package of *dreamy treats* to show you my appreciation. I only started this blog the end of March, and it's amazing to me that so many people keep coming back to see what's here. I am genuinely humbled and so appreciative for your continued support for both my blog and Stamper's Dream Stamps .

Included in this gift are three clear Studio G stamp sets. They are baby, Happy Birthday, and Hello. Also included is a martini glass stamp from Michael's, and a set of Quatros Garden Icons from Hero Arts. To make it even sweeter I added a Hero Arts Tiny Daisy stamp (I love that one), a photo clip, and 5 different May Arts ribbons, at least one yard each!

Now who wouldn't want to win all that?

All you have to do is comment on any post between now and Sunday night. Just one comment per post, please. I will use the random number selector thingy to choose the winner, and announce on Monday. You can either ask me a question, or simply leave a comment.

Thanks for stopping by!

Coffee and Friends.....

This is another RAK from my friend Debbie Gunion using the newest stamps from My Favorite Things! The stamp set is called Hot Stuff .

The image was stamped on watercolor paper, then colored and shaded using Tombow markers . A little Stickles Glitter Glue was added to the dress to give it some pizzaz.

I love the way she shadowed the sentiment using a white gel pen. The ribbon is from May Arts. Isn't it just gorgeous?

Thanks again Debbie...you're the best!

Just A Note....

Well, I think we're through with the worst part of moving our offices. I worked a lot this week, and couldn't wait to have today to myself! I soooooo need a few days off...something like a vacation? But maybe that will happen once we are all settled in our new space.

My number one priority in the creative department today was to play with my new Bind-It-All machine.

I will be the first to admit that my first project isn't perfect. I think there is a little bit of a learning curve with the machine. And I also think that their instructions could have been a bit better. But apparently it was good enough for me to create this cute little note book with the information I had at hand.

The front and back of this notebook started out as the cardboard of a cereal bar box. I cut them to size, then used my corner rounder to trim the front edges. I cut my background paper about 1/2" larger than my cardboard so I would have plenty of room to cover. Using a glue stick, I completely covered the background paper with glue, then adhered to the cardboard front and back. Before I put on the glue, I trimmed excess paper from the rounded corners to save on bulk.

The inside pages are pink text paper I had on hand. I cut them about 1/2" smaller than my book covers, then used my corner rounder to trim the outside edges.

It was a fun project that I will make again...and again. Now that I've played with it a little bit I can see so many possibilities for this machine!

Good Friends....

This is another card made by my good friend Debbie Gunion! In case you didn't see yesterday's post, Debbie is my friend and stamp rep. She sells for many companies I buy from such as Hero Arts, Penny Black, May Arts, Stampendous, My Favorite Things, and others. In addition to all that, she is a fantastic artist.

This is one of the cards I received from her yesterday made from the My Favorite Things set called Say Charge! . She used Versafine Onyx Black ink to stamp the image. It was then colored and shaded using Tombow Markers. Accents were added with Stickles Glitter Glue for a little sparkle.

The ribbon is from May Arts. (She always uses the prettiest ribbons!). And I do love the way she shadowed the words with a white gel pen. It adds such a nice touch and accents the sentiment beautifully!

My personal thanks to Debbie for sharing such a great card! You're the best! I tell her that all the time...so it isn't the first time she's heard it from me! LOL!

I'm off to bed. I'm totally exhausted, and I have to be at work early in the morning. We're still moving our offices (at my REAL job), so I have to be there. Wah!

Celebrate In Style!

I just got home from the office. Yes...it is 10 pm. We are moving our offices, so I had a long hard day, and expect another one tomorrow and Saturday.

Anyway...when I got home I had the most wonderful surprise in my mailbox...three fantastic cards from my good friend Debbie Gunion!

Debbie has been my friend and stamp rep for about 5 or 6 years now. She is the owner of Debbie Gunion & Associates in Conroe, Texas. And she reps for some really great companies I buy from like Hero Arts, Penny Black, My Favorite Things, Stampendous and others.

In addition to all that, Debbie is an accomplished artist. When she calls to tell me she's making card samples I get really excited, because she loves me and I know I will get some of them! ;-)

This card is made with the My Favorite Things set called Let's Go For A Walk . She stamped with Versafine Onyx Black ink, then used Tombow markers to color and shade the image. The sparkle is Stickles Glitter Glue in various colors.

She made the tag using two different size circle punches, then glittered the tag rim. Isn't this May Arts ribbon just perfect for the card?

I will share another one of Debbie's cards with you tomorrow night. Thanks for stopping by...and a HUGE thanks to Debbie for the fabulous cards!

Sweet dreams..........I'm off to bed.

More of My Favorite Things........

New stamps from My Favorite Things! And Kim was sooooo sweet to send me these samples with my order! (She must have known that I'm pressed for time this week, and needed a reprieve.)

The first card uses their fabulous stamp set called You Take The Cake ! I just LOVE that flowery cake. Please note how they curved the sentiment on the acrylic block. How cool is that? And they also used a Stardust Clear Gelly Roll Pen to accent the centers of the flowers, the cake stand, and the candles. Soooo pretty!

The second card is from their newest stamps set called Hot Stuff . The Giga Scalloped Square Punch was used for the background. I love this new set because it has so many elements to work with. I can't WAIT to play with mine!

Of course, I have to move my office this week before I get to play with anything. Sob, sob.

The Bind It All Is Here!

I wish I could tell you that I didn't stamp tonight because I was playing with my new Bind-It-All. But unfortunately, I got this HUGE order tonight, and I've been uploading and listing in my webstore instead of playing! Wah! You can find it here !

I can hardly wait to experiment with this little baby! I've seen soooooooooo many cute projects made with it. I've been dreaming of a special cookbook, stamped, embellished and bound with the Bind-It-All. Would that make a great gift, or what?


The really bad news is that we are moving our offices (at my real job) this week, and I'm in charge of coordinating most of it. So there won't be much play time for me the rest of this week, if any. We will be working late almost every night until it's done, even to include Saturday! So I guess the Bind-It-All will just have to wait. I need my real job to support my expensive papercraft habits...you know? What am I saying? OF COURSE you know!

If you have any great projects that you've made with the Bind-It-All, please leave a comment here with a link to the project. I'd love to see them.

New Giga Rectangle

This is the first time I've used my new Marvy rectangle punches . The one I used in this post is the Giga Rectangle.

I was trying to get the feel for the size of the punch. It is far different that using two squares to make a rectangle, as we have done in the past, as it is much more narrow both in width and in length.

The stamp I used is from Paper Inspirations. I colored the image using Tombow markers, then paper pierced the scalloped rectangle. I used a white gel pen to accent the paper piercing.

The sheer pink ribbon is from Michael's, and the sentiment stamped on the torn paper is from Make An Impression.

I am sure I will be playing a bit more with the new Marvy punch shapes in coming days. I also have the new Marvy Scalloped heart shapes, but haven't approached those yet. Another day, soon.

Thanks for stopping by.

Wild Weekend!

Why is it that I got a good picture of Chuck E Cheese...and my other birthday party pictures were horrible? Geez!

Wild weekend, for sure. The big celebration was Jacob's 3rd Birthday party at Chuck E Cheese. The best description I can give in one word is noisy? But it was lots of fun, and he celebrated in style.

After the party everyone came to my house for dinner and to spend the night. I took the picture of three of the grands after they found a bullfrog in the skimmer basket. They were having so much fun playing with him in the grass! I ran to get my camera to take a "candid" shot of them, but you can see by the cheesey grins that didn't work out! Oh well....great memories.

I did a lot of cooking and cleaning the kitchen. We no sooner finished one meal and got everything cleaned up before it was time to start the next. The boys swam, stamped, punched and cut paper, colored, glued , glittered and did every kind of crafty thing you can think of. Whew! I'm exhausted and off to recover a bit before work tomorrow.

I hope you all had a grand weekend!

New - Marvy Scalloped Punches In Stock!

I spent last night photographing and listing the new punches that arrived yesterday!

I only have the Gigas shown here, but I also got the Megas in these shapes.

For some reason they don't show up in the search yet, but you can find them here !