Belle Papier {pretty paper}

I had so many questions on my last blog giveaway that I thought I’d better get started trying to answer a few of them. Stay tuned for more during the upcoming weeks. I’ll try and work my way through them. And so…here is probably wayyy more than you wanted to know! LOL

Chelsey asked…i was wondering were you buy your supplies from in canada? other than SU.

I wrote a similar answer to a question about where I buy supplies from in person HERE. As for on-line shopping, I buy some supplies from Scrappin’ Great Deals which is located in SW Ontario. I also buy all my cardstock and inks from my Stampin Up demo.

Not located in Canada, but very Canadian postage friendly, I buy a LOT of supplies from Jacksonbelle Embellishments. She has great products you may be able to find easily in Canada.

Liz N asked …”Where do you get your inspiration from?”. I noticed that some of your stuff is almost antique/Victorian-ish at times and other times it’s contemporary

Hmmmm inspiration. That is always a tricky one. A lot of the time I’m inspired by the stamps or patterned paper I’m using. I love both looks! I try to mix them up a little for variety and not back myself into one particular mold. Inspiration also comes from embellishments, clothing, advertisements in magazines, a trip to the mall …the list goes on. Because I design 6 days a week, I’m constantly thinking about it and have my eyes open. I keep a notebook in my purse to write things down on. A trip to Chapters/ Starbucks (a large Canadian bookstore) Monday night had my scribbling down a few ideas for color combos etc. I didn’t have my notebook with my so I had to make do with the back of my cheque book.

As for creating in different styles, well a lot of times the style of what I’m working with dictates the style. I do always try and make it my own. I think it is OK to have a few styles that you work in. Being flexible and having range is always a plus. Some days are pretty hectic around here and a clean crisp look is just what I need. I’ve been told I have a very romantic look. I love flourishes and flowers and vintage things too so that may translate into my designs as well. I see designers with very ornate and layered looks and I see some with very clean minimilistic styles. Sometimes those “simpler” designs are actually harder to pull off so don’t be fooled. I think the main thing to remember is to do what makes you happy and allow yourself to grow and change design styles as time goes on.

Rachel asked … Do you ever lose your stampin’ mojo? What do you do to get it back?

Funny you should ask. I was struggling yesterday. I’m a little burnt out after a busy week of assignments, family and other things going on behind the scenes. Usually if I’m tired, I’ll have a hard time creating so I have a nap. LOL Other things to get me going again… some new paper or stamps, shopping is good therapy, right? Some of the time, the layout may be the hardest thing to make work so a sketch challenge is a really easy way to get you designing again. Any challenge is great for that matter…they always seem to give me the push I need. One of the cards I designed yesterday will be posted on Monday. I fell back on some favorite paper and a sketch and it worked out OK after all.

Yosha asked… Hoping you can help me out with clear stamps. I don’t seem to be able to get a sharp stamp with the clear stamps! I don’t know if it is a issue with my ink as I only have the SU ink families. Help please!

Clear stamps can be a bit of an adjustment if you are used to using rubber all the time. There is definitely a different feel. Think back to when you first started stamping…it may have taken you a few tries to get that great impression and now it is probably something you don’t even think about. In this same manner, it may take a little practice to get the right pressure needed to stamp a clean image. You don’t want to press too hard and mush the lines. As for ink tips, sometimes the release agent on the stamps from processing conflicts with the ink and it can tend to bead up. If this happens, try rubbing a pink eraser over the surface to remove it. When using a new polymer stamp, I usually ink and stamp it on scratch paper a few times before using on my project. If you are using Stampin Up inks, you may want to use their chalk or craft inks. I find the best inks to use with solid polymer stamps are chalk or hybrid inks. Smaller solid images should ink up fine with the classic ink. Actually, I just noticed the card on my desk that I am getting ready for tomorrow. I used SU Classic inks on solid polymer images and they worked great. Come back tomorrow and check it out!

And last but not least…not a question…just a little piece of info that you might be interested in. Jacksonbelle is having a Tombo permanent mono adhesive refills share on her blog, Embellished. Check it out HERE.

I posted twice again today! So much to share, so little time. If you missed it, scroll down. Have a great night!

Hugs and Kisses…everyone needs a little love. I created this card design for today’s Ways to Use it Challenge on www.splitcoaststampers.com I tell you, some days it is HARD to think up new challenges! You might have noticed, we’ve broadened it up from the original product focus of the early days to finding ways to use just about anything, even design elements in the challenge. After all, there are only so many products out there and I try my best to make the challenge available to as many people as possible. If you have an idea for a future challenge…feel free to e-mail me. My link is at the top of my sidebar, right under the photo.

I digress…. Back to today’s challenge…I’m sure you want to know what it is so that you can get started! Food, glorious food. Find ways to use it in your designs. Now don’t panic…food images are great but if you don’t have any, it is OK. What about wrapped candy on your design, what about food storage (I really want to play at that idea)… be creative and have some fun! If you’d like to check out the challenge, join us at WT133 for a lot of fun. Everyone is welcome!

Hugs and Kisses

This design uses the soon-to-be-released How Sweet stamp set from My Favorite Things. It is a darling mini set, perfect for many occasions and makes great “girl” designs too. And ice cream sundae, chocolate chips, lots of fun things. When can you get it? October 1st is the release date … and stay tuned because it is a huge release and there will be more sneak peeks from the other FOUR sets coming up.

I decided to keep the layout simple on this design. The caramel layer was repeatedly stamped with the little chocolate chips and then sponged and matted with pretty in pink, chocolate chip and very vanilla. I free-hand drew in a heart in pencil and then stitched over it with my sewing machine. An eraser fixes any lines still showing.

For the sentiment panel, I decided to try out coloring with my Copic Markers on colored cardstock. I stamped the sentiment and three larger chocolate kisses in black and then colored them in. A colorless blender pen was super-quick for removing a little color to add a highlight. After sponging the edges on the panel, I tore one edge and then stitched around the whole design holding the sentiment strip down at the right.

For my embellishments, I pulled out a very pretty pink Prima. This was a super inexpensive treatment. I picked up the tin of Pink Primas at a Scrapbooking Garage Sale on SAturday for two dollars. The covered brad was another find I picked up Monday at the dollar store.

Wishing you a super-sweet day!

I love a country-style Christmas! Real tree, home-cooking, hand-crafted gifts and decorations. There is something in me that just loves old things. That’s a good thing as I live in a century old farmhouse. It blends right in. Works well for a large family too. I just can’t see trying to raise 5 kids in an ultra-modern design…all that stainless steel, glass and mirrors? I don’t think so! LOL

And so, when Flourishes released this darling O Christmas tree set, I knew I’d love it. Just like their Cake Decorating 101 set, you can decorate it to your hearts content!

Country-style Christmas Tree

Now if you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you’ll know that I love taking themed patterned paper and using it for a different purpose, just to shake things up a little. I love challenging myself and this is also a good way to use up paper…. but don’t talk to me about that! LOL I can’t help but keep buying it!

This design uses the new Basic Grey Mellow line of paper. I always love buying the 6×6 paper pads as they are just perfect for designing cards. They are exactly the same as the larger 12×12 papers only scaled down to 25% of the size. The colors of this Mellow line are so warm and homey. They are actually marketed as a Fall line but as you can see, I decided to see if they would work for Christmas.

To create the tree image, I stamped it with Palette Hybrid ink onto green patterned paper from the pad. Using my new Copic markers, I quickly sketched in the branches using two different greens. If you use a short sketchy style stroke, it really gives the effect of branches. To highlight the tree, I shaded around it with a soft yellow Copic marker and then sketched in a rough shadow under the pot.

To add to the country look, I curled up the edges on the central image and then added some copper hardware to the design. A Hodgepodge Hardware clip is at the top of the design and I used my Crop-a-dile to set the eyelets along the sides of the design. To finish it off I added a little scrap of ribbon, knotted and adhered with a glue dot, to the truck of the tree. It was a very simple way to add texture and dimension to the design.

Supply List:

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive - Stampin Up

Patterned Paper: Mellow 6×6 paper pad - Basic Grey

Stamps: O Christmas Tree - Flourishes

Ink: Black Palette Hybrid ink - Stewart Superior

Other: ribbon - Offrey, Hodgepodge Hardware - SU, eyelets - Making Memories, Crop-a-dile - WE R Memory Keepers, markers - Copic

I saw this on another blog …forgive me if I don’t remember which one! I copy and pasted this last week and finally got a chance to fill it out. The entry said to consider yourself tagged if you wished and I thought it sounded like fun. LOL I didn’t notice the stripper on until later or I may not have done it!

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car) - Buffy Astro

2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fav ice cream flavor, favorite cookie) - Chocolate Chocolate Chip

3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name) JSTA

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal) - Celery Dog

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born)- Kathleen London

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first) - STAJI

7. SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd favorite color, favorite drink put “The”) - Sky the French Vanilla

8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers) - Wellington James

9. STRIPPER NAME: (the name of your favorite perfume/cologne, favorite candy) - Obsession Caramel …yikes!!!

10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names) - Kathleen James

It is such a dreary rainy day here, I just had to post this jumbo clothes peg note holder that I made recently. I had so much fun making it…so cute and sunny. I was going to give it away as a gift but my teenage daughter claimed it and so I’ll just have to make another. It was fun, quick and easy so I’m not too worried about it. I’m glad she at least takes an interest in a few of the things I make.

I have to tell you about something that touched my heart this morning… I drove my teenagers to school early this morning. It was See you at the Pole day. Just after 7:30 in the pouring rain. We were a couple minutes late and there standing on the front lawn of the school…that early in the morning in the cold pouring rain…there were already about 50 teenagers standing there praying for their school, teachers and fellow students. I was so touched at their dedication. It really made my morning. See you at the Pole started at a high school in Texas in the 90’s and now takes place across the US, Canada and Australia. It is totally student initiated and student led.

And now…back to the design…

Daisy Jumbo Clothespeg Note Holder

I bought this large white Clothes peg at Michael’s a while ago. I’d seen them altered before and wanted to jump in on the fun myself. To start I covered my paperclip with some beautiful Rhonna Farrer Autumn Leaves paper and sanded the edges. My new May Arts ribbon was a perfect match (I love this ribbon! I’ve gone through huge amounts in the past weeks!) and was easy to tie on the peg.

Edited to add… I used my favorite glue … Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive …. to adhere the patterned paper to the clothes peg clip.

For my daisy embellishment, I pulled out my Daisy Dots stamp set from Lizzie Anne Designs. The daisy was first stamped using my Canvas Palette Hybrid ink onto Soft Sky cardstock. I stamped it again with the black Palette pad and then cut out my daisy. For the daisy center, I stamped one of the dots onto the patterned paper and then punched it out with my circle punch. For the center, to add a little fun, I added one of my Doodlebug Designs gemstone stickers. They come in varying sizes and colors and are fabulous.

Quick Tip; My 7/8″ circle punch works perfectly with the Daisy Dots stamp set. The one inch circle punch works wonderfully to mat it if desired.

I decided when giving this as a gift, a little gift not tucked into the clip would be a perfect addition. I used a scrap of Kraft Cardstock and punched one edge with my Spiral punch from Stampin Up. The edges were then sponged with Close to Cocoa ink. I stamped the solid daisy again in my Canvas ink and pulled out my Simply Sentiments set…I just love this one! AFter stamping the friend sentiment in black, I quickly stapled on a little scrap of the May Arts stitched ribbon and voila… I was done!

Wishing you a bright happy day!