Rainy Day Creations

My newest little granddaughter is a kangaroo today!

And this is one of my favorite pictures of my oldest son.  Raggedy Andy is 30 years old now!

Life is good.

Happy Halloween!

Recently SU changed their Demonstrator’s Contract to state that if you are a demonstrator for SU you can no longer blog about other craft company’s stamps, papers, accessories… anything that competes with SU.  Well, it didn’t take me any time at all to decide that I would be dropping my demonstratorship.  Goodness, there are SO MANY OTHER WONDERFUL STAMP COMPANIES out there that limiting myself to just one line of product was never even an option for me.

So I have been going through some of my SU stamp sets, both current and retired, and have decided to sell a few of them.  See up there… yup clear up at the top of my blog in the right hand corner.  There is a tab that says STAMPS FOR SALE.  Check it out!

And while you’re at it, leave a comment here on this post.  I will use random.org this Wednesday, October 14th, to choose someone to pick any one set from the stamp sets for sale; and I will send it to you for free!  How fun is that!!

Happy Crafting!

Woohoo!!! I was the runner up in the first of seven fun challenges sponsored by the Unity Stamp Company with my Biker Babe card!!  The prize for runner up was a grab bag of 25 STAMPS!!  How cool is that!?!  The challenges are posted every Thursday in the Unity Forum on Splitcoaststampers.

Entry to the second challenge closes in just a couple of hours.  So yes, true to form, I am getting my card posted just under the wire… again.  Why do I do this to myself!?!  lol

This week’s challenge was to use glitter.  Here’s my card.

The glitter frame was made with some cardboard.. a piece of packaging for something I bought and then saved.  You know how kids often have more fun with the box than the toy that came in the box?  Yup.  I covered the cardboard with Stickles, let it partially dry and then rubbed off the rest.  I love the way it turned out.

The glittery flourish is part of a piece of designer paper from Creative Imaginations.

Why not join in the fun?  There are still five more weeks of challenges and lots more stamps to be won!

Happy Crafting!!

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Stamps: Unity ‘Floral Feathers’ and Sentiment

Papers: PTI Cardstock; Creative Imaginations DP ‘Radiance Frame’

Inks: Memento ‘Tuxedo Black’; Copics:

Accessories: Heart Buttons; Stickles; Metal Ring; Satin Ribbon; Primas

Have you heard about the fabulous Unity Bachelor Challenge?!?   Well I couldn’t resist playing along.  Now before you scroll down any further, I have to tell you… well it’s probably a PG-13 image.  So there’s my warning if you have little ones close by!!  LOL

Both my hubby and I have Harleys.  (Okay mine is currently in the garage of one of my married-going-to-college sons, but it’s still mine; I think.)  When I saw this stamp Big Bad Bike and discovered a whole kit of Harley related images that was offered at Unity at the time… well I got ‘em!  Devil Babe came along with the kit.  Never ever did I think that I would actually use her on a card, but well… here ya go!

I have to confess this was an awful lot of fun to color.  My just turned 18 year old son came into my craft room as I was finishing up last night, and he saw what I was making.  His response, “MAH-AH-AH-AHM!”  Too funny.

I made a mask of Devil Babe and saved it on the “flyer” for the Unity Bachelor Challenge just in case someday I want to use her again…. *chuckle*

She was stamped first.  Then the mask was placed over her.  Then the bike was stamped over that.  The Hawg Parking Only sign and the Flames across the bottom were also images that came with the kit.  The sentiment is computer generated.

The challenge lasts for 7 weeks, so there’s still plenty of time to join in the fun.

Happy Crafting!!

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Stamps: Unity Stamp Company ‘Big Bad Bike’, ‘Devil Babe’, ‘Hawg Parking’, ‘Flame Block’

Papers: Memory Box and Papertrey Ink

Inks: Memento ‘Tuxedo Black’; Copics:

Accessories: Computer/Printer, 1-inch Circle Punch; Rhinestone; Harley Hardware

The card I made today is for this week’s Inspiration Challenge at Splitcoaststampers.

Here is the inspiration piece that I chose from the LAMA e-store.

I love stamping directly onto designer paper.  This fun one is from Graphic 45’s “Times Nouveau Collection”.  I have stamped Unity Stamp Company’s “Everlasting Romance” on it with Memento “Tuxedo Black” ink.

Kaiser pearls are placed around the popped up cutout section of the image.

The last couple of weeks I’ve been rearranging my craft room.  In so doing I have discovered (or should I say rediscovered) a multitude of wonderful stamps and papers, ribbons and inks that I had acquired over the last couple of years.  These products are now at the forefront on my stamping table, and I am so looking forward to getting to know them!  Unity’s “Everlasting Romance” makes one!  lol
Have a great weekend.  Happy Crafting!!

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Stamps: Unity Stamp Company “Everlasting Romance”; A Muse Sentiment

Papers: Papertrey Ink “Lemon Tart” Cardstock; Graphic 45 “Times Nouveau Collection”

Inks: Memento “Tuxedo Black”

Accessories: Kaiser Pearls; Ribbon Lace “Saucy”; GG Ribbon; Bow-Easy

Tuesday was my twin granddaughters’ birthday.  It was so fun to have them and my newest granddaughter visit in August.  I received an email from my DDIL that the girls had a wonderful birthday but that their first day of Kindergarten was a bit of a disappointment.  For whatever reason, they were under the impression “that on their first day of Kindergarten they would leave knowing how to read”.  Too funny!

While they were here we did a couple of craft projects.  We played with this new SU! set, “Sweet Centers”.  So I thought it would be fun to make their birthday cards using it and the new little “Sweet Treat Cups”, too.

This is such a cute idea from SU!  And of course, whenever chocolate is involved, I’m there to give it a try!  The centers could be filled with other goodies such as crafting supplies… buttons, brads, eyelets, etc..  But, why would you?!?  LOL

One problem I ran into was that the weight distribution (top heavy) prevented the cards from standing up.  So to counter balance the sweet filled cups, I added a large heavy brad on the bottom inside of each card.  This did the trick and added another pretty element for the girls.

Happy Crafting, everyone!!

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Stamps: SU! “Sweet Centers”, “Look Who’s Turning” and “Alphabet Attitude Numbers” (retired)

Papers: SU! Cameo Coral and Whisper White; DCWV Glitter Mat Stack and Scalloped Cardstock Stack

Inks: SU! Cameo Coral, Chocolate Chip and Creamy Caramel

Accessories: SU! Twill Ribbon, Sweet Treat Cups and 1-3/4″ Circle Punch; K&Co. Fancy Brads; Rhinestones; M&M’s

It’s time for another Dirty Challenge over at Splitcoaststampers.  This month the required element is a dog image or sentiment with a summer color scheme.  And this polka dot pup also fits in Sharon’s Stamp Simply Challenge #101 - Let’s Polka.  Here is my card.

Just a quick post today.  My DGD’s are still visiting. 

Happy Crafting!

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(All products are Stampin’ Up! unless noted.)

Stamps: “All In the Family” and “Everyday Flexible Phrases”

Papers: Whisper White, Garden Green and DSP Autumn Meadows

Inks: White Gel Pen; Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics:

Accessories: Ellen Hutson Inchie; Cuttlebug and Swiss Dot Embossing Folder; Linen Thread, Satin, Taffeta and Gingham Ribbons, Button, Paper Piercing Tool and Template

Here are a couple of wedding cards that I made recently.  And as I often do, I used a portion of the wedding invitation as designer paper on the first one.

On the second card, I took my cue from the colors in the invitation and casual lifestyle of the bride and groom.  Fun wedding… jeans were not only acceptable attire, they were encouraged!

The small fleurette was colored with Copic markers.

Both of these cards were made a couple of weeks ago.  I haven’t been stamping this week because I have been wonderfully busy!  My twin granddaughters are visiting and today we had a spa experience called “Sips and Sparkles”.  As a mother of 4 boys, this grandma has been waiting her whole life for just such a day!!

Choosing Nail Polish Colors

Nails Dry While Enjoying a Bubbling Foot Soak Before Pedicure

Lemonade Break Before Having Hair Done

Ready to Go Shopping!

I am SO enjoying summer. 

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Card 1

Stamps: SU! Love Matters

Papers: SU! Very Vanilla and Soft Suede; Wedding Invitation

Inks: Versamark

Accessories: SU! Crystal Clear Embossing Powder, Stitched River Rock GG Ribbon; Martha Stewart Edger Punch; Kaiser Flat Back Pearls; Satin Roses

Card 2

Stamps: SU! Warm Words

Papers: SU! Whisper White and Not Quite Navy

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics

Accessories: SU! Fleurettes, Brad, Fiskar’s Border Punch, Cuttlebug, Swiss Dot Embossing Folder

          
(Click to enlarge.)

It’s summertime in Seattle. We have had record high temperatures into the 100’s!  Lake Sammamish is 82 degrees.  Whew, we Pacific Northwesterners aren’t use to this heat!  My DH and I have been riding our bikes every day.  There are miles and miles and miles of bike trails in and around Seattle.  Today we did a *little* 26+ mile trip (the farthest I ever ridden a bike at one time) and then finished it off with a dip in the lake and a bbq.  Life is good!

Consequently I haven’t been playing much in my stamp room.  It is upstairs over the garage, and our air conditioner was broken.  (It’s so rare that we need a/c..  so who knew?) The one thing I did do was the August calendars for my sisters.  Here are all 3 summer months of June, July and August with recipes below.

Stamps: SU! “Flower of the Month”

Papers: SU! Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Cameo Coral, Blush Blossom, Whisper White

Inks: SU! Pretty in Pink; Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics:

Accessories: Calendar Download from A Muse; Computer/Printer; CD Case; May Arts Scalloped Ribbon; Gingham Ribbon; Kaiser Rhinestones; Swiss Dot Embossing Folder and Cuttlebug

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Stamps: SU! “Flower of the Month”

Papers: SU! Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant, Lavender Lace

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black; Stardust Glitter Pen; White Gel Pen; Copics:

Accessories: Calendar Download from A Muse; Computer/Printer; CD Case; May Arts Crocheted Lace; Gingham Ribbon; Prima; Kaiser Pearl

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Stamps: SU! “Flower of the Month”

Papers: SU! Whisper White, Real Red, Summer Sun

Inks:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics:

Accessories: Calendar Download from A Muse; Computer/Printer; CD Case; SU! Fleurettes; Red Brad; Plaid Satin Ribbon; Kaiser Pearls

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Happy Summer!

This Friday a good friend turns 50.  His wife is throwing him a party.  This is the card I made for him.  On the inside it simply says, “You’re old.”  Got the layout from today’s Sketch Challenge over on Splitcoaststampers.

He is an avid reader so tomorrow I’m off to the bookstore to find him some sort of old age survival manual.  Really.  What are friends for?  heheh

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Stamps: Lost Coast Designs “Persian Skull”; SU! “Teeny Tiny Wishes” and “Itty Bitty Backgrounds”

Papers: SU! Whisper White and Basic Black; Stamping Station DP

Inks: SU! Basic Black and Not Quite Navy; Copics

Accessories: SU! Hemp Twine and Piercing Tool and Template; Cuttlebug and “Spiderweb” Embossing Folder; Kaiser Rhinestone; K&Co. Fancy Brad