Double Bugging

If you haven't tried this you-just-must. Use two Cuttlebug Folders and create one background. Card I made for a 1-on-1.

Red Hat Hug

Have you been to Victorine Originals
if not you need to check out their stamps. This Ret Hat set was purchased from them. I love it.


This card is for a friend who has been in the hospital. I stamped the purple background with a shoe from Stampin' Up and the envelope. Used a small punch to decorate the corners for my stamped images. Then I used my Metallic Watercolours from USArt Quest. Add a red ribbon and you are ready to go. Enjoy!

Let me know what you think of Victorine Originals.

Queen Mum Nancy L

Oriental Birthday

I made this card using a technique from the Technique Junkie Newsletter called Outside the Box. I love this lady and painting her with my Metallic watercolors...but she is a pain to cut out. Texture and more texture. I used textured card stock for the base then added a rectangle of orange Vellum. The next layer is a very thick piece of cream Vellum. The edges were dragged along an orange/brown stamp pad.Add the lady and allow the birds and the ribbons from her kimono to extend outside the edge of the inked Vellum. Now let's add some ephemera like ribbon, oriental money and fish. Complete and ready for the mailbox.

Silver Joy Tree

Have you seen something that you just knew you had to make something out of it. Well I saw the base of this tree at Hobby Lobby and knew I could make something out of it. But what? I didn't buy it--but it worked on me--all day every day until I went back and bought it.

I purchased 2 8 ft garlands at the dollar store. Took them home and stripped all the leaves off. Then I painted them silver on one side. Next I stamped a fern leaf in black on each leaf. After they dried I added purple paint on the ferns. I found the purple looking beading on sale at Joann's. I stripped the plants down and cut the foam beads up in small pieces.

Starting at the bottom using E6000 glue I added two rows of the silver leaves and two rows of the purple bead sections. Working my way to the top. Then I added silver ribbon and lavendar birds.

Hoping you enjoy my Christmas creation. The complete instructions are posted on the Rubber Road

Nancy

Double Embossing

This beautiful stamp comes from Stamps Happen,Inc. Let Not our Hearts Be Busy # 80297. The image was stamped on Ivory Swirls and Twirls by Paper Piazza. I stamped it with black StazOn ink and covered with clear embossing powder from Ranger and heat set.

Next I colored in the image with my Le Plume markers and allowed it to dry. Then I went back over what I had colored for the background with Metallic EZ Gel pens by Geddes. These gel pens remain wet for quite sometime, so I covered the ink with another layer of clear embossing powder and heat set.

I used my Christmas present (A Cuttlebug) to emboss the cranberry cardstock. Then added the stamped paper with Zig glue. To highlight the berries I added red diamond like little dots that are from Darice. Next add a beautiful red bow and you are finished.

Merry Christmas Everyone

Enjoy!

It's the Best Time of the Year

My new stamp set from Fire Cracker Designs. Don't you just love this elf. I stamped him with my black StazOn and then colored him in with pink, purple and green. Then I made a mask to cover the elf up so that I could sponge the front of the card with a seafoam green. Then stamped the jack-in-the-box colored it and cut it out. Used pop dots to add it to the card. Stamp the saying and added it to some purple striped cardstock and glued to the card. Tied on a seafoam ribbon. I, then used my Glaze pen to highlight the spots on his pants, the gold ball on his hat and the brim.

He makes me smile just to look at him. Enjoy!

Is It Hot in Here?

My new stamp from Stamps Happen Inc. What a hoot!! This stamp is just awesome! My best friend and I (32 years)went to Chicago for the weekend shopping and eating. And yes we kept saying Is It Hot in Here.

Stamps Happen has a great selection of stamps to choose from including the Dolly Mama's stamps which this is one.

Enjoy!

Blog Hop 12-01-09

Hi there and welcome to the second Clear Artistic Stamps Blog Hop! I hope you are enjoying your little tour of ornaments that the design team has prepared for you!

I created this ornaments using the stamp set A Crimson Christmas. I cut strips of tissue paper and added them to a glass ornament with decoupage. Pasting each one until the entire ornament was covered. Set aside to dry.

Stamp the poinsettia on pink copy paper and color with Gelly Roll metallic pens. Then glue to ornament and add pink beads in the center of each poinsettia. Tie a large bow of pink ribbon and glue to the bottom of the ornament.




Leave a comment on this and/or any other designer blog in this hop and you get entered for a chance of winning a grande prize of 9 stamp sets and 10 shimmerz paints:






One entry per blog, but for each comment your name will go into the drawing :) The winner will be announced on Wednesday, December 9th at the Cottage Studio .
Now hop on over to Lisa's Blog to see what she has prepared for you.

Enjoy!!

October Is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month


As a 10 month Breast Cancer survivor I want to remind each of you to have regular check ups and mammograms. And don't forget your monthly breast self exam.

The pink rose is a digital download from Clear Artistic Stamps. I used chalks to color the digital download. The background was created using a stamp from CAS called Whispers in the Woods. This is an excellent all around use able acrylic set that should be a must have.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, Belinda at CAS will be including 5 sheets of "delicate blush" shimmer paper with each order this month for free. Stop by Clear Artistic Stamps and download this beautiful rose and see what all they have to offer.

Get your "Pinks" wherever you can and don't forget those checkups.

Joy of the Holidays

Have you started on your Christmas cards? I have one and am pleased to share it with you. The stamp is from Stamps Happen at Janlynn Corporation. I loved the design of the stocking. I colored it with an 18 kt Gold marker and silver marker and an off white Tombow marker. Enjoy!

What's Brewing?

The stamps I used are from Stubby Stampers> What is she brewing in that cauldron? Ahhh! Maybe Green Tea. Happy Candyween to you all!

Rubberbands and Your Brayer

Have you ever tried wrapping rubberbands around your brayer and then rolling it in ink? Well I hadn't so I decided to try something new to me. I used size 16 rubberbands from Alliance. We keep these on hand all the time for whatever. My first sample I wrapped 4 rubberbands around my rubber brayer. Then rolled the brayer in Autumn Terracotta ink from CTMH making sure that I didn't get ink on the edges of the brayer.



I first did long strokes to cover the glossy cardstock with ink then went back and only put ink half way up the cardstock. The stamp set I used is Autumn Memories from Clear Artistic Stamps. The stamp and the background remind me of the book Wind in the Willows.



For my next project I wrapped the same size rubberbands around the brayer and applied Desert Sand ink from CTMH. This time I made sure that the edges of the brayer were heavily coated with ink to create a different background on the glossy cardstock.



In viewing this background I saw some roads crossing and leaves being blown in different directions. So I have the perfect stamp set from Clear Artistic Stamps Whispers in the Woods.

In the fall nature provides us some of the most beautiful colors ever. I created a road lined with beautifully colored trees. I stamped some of the tree tops on plain cardstock and some on patterned cardstock and then cut them out. All of the tree trunks were stamped on desert sand cardstock and cut out.



Try this interesting technique and see what you come up with. Remember each artist has their own interpretation of what they see. Maybe you didn't see a couple of roads and leaves blowing in all directions. What did you see? Leave me a comment and share your thoughts.

It works as a Gift or a Decoration

I love candles and candles love me! Vanilla ones that is! I love to decorate them and group them together with the same designs in a large white china serving dish I bought at Dollar General for $3.00. Then I head for the Dollar Store or the Dollar Tree. Getting my drift here? This can be very reasonable and very appealing to the eye. These also make great gifts for the holidays, a new neighbor or even a new home gift.

The stamps I used are from a set called Autumn Memories from Clear Artistic Stamps.

Stamp a piece of tissue paper and then cut to fit the small candle that you see. Add it to the candle by heating with an embossing gun. Make sure that you do this in short bursts because you will burn a hole in the candle. The tissue paper will not burn because it is saturated with the wax.

For the larger candles cut three pieces of paper/cardstock to fit around your candle adding an extra 1/2" for gluing. Each piece of cardstock should be 1/2" smaller in width than the one before it. You can add all kinds of ribbons or charms for added decoration.

Give it a try and get ready for the Holidays.

Enjoy!

Nancy

Reinkers Are so Much Fun!

I love this stamp set from Clear Artistic Stamps. The stamp set is called Whispers in the Woods.

Mix alcohol and reinkers in small containers and spray over things you have gathered from your yard or the forest. These will dry fast and you can use them as quick backgrounds for any project. Standard cardstock or glossy cardstock work great. Here I have used glossy cardstock.

Enjoy!

Pearl and Decoupage

I absolutely love this stamp! The possibilities are endless and so are the color combinations. You will see this lovely Geisha all over my blog. For the background I added decoupage with a foam paint brush. Next, before the decoupage dried I added Pearl Ex in shades of black, pink, yellow and orange with a large paint brush. Then coat the entire project with clear embossing powder and heat set. Add colored paper which is overlaid with the stamped and colored image of the Geisha.

Wood Grain Technique

Have you ever tried the wood grain technique? This is my first try. I used a brayer to add a light blue and then I went back over the light blue and added the dark blue. The slats were created every 1/2", then I added the board lines and the old nails. The stamp set I used is from Clear Artistic Stamps called "Whispers of Dreams".This is a fun tech and you should try it.

Clear Artistic Stamps--First Blog Hop

Welcome to Clear Artistic Stamps first blog Hop!
This week we are introducing our new Holiday Design Team and the release of 10 new stamp sets. Yes, 10 new stamp sets. Don't miss them-they are delicious! Our blog hop is a short 10 station affair and there will be prizes awarded if you leave a comment at each hop that you visit.

I am the 3D/Mixed Media Designer and I am introducing the new stamp called "Water Rose". See what I have Created with this beautiful set. It is a Treasure Box for any and all those things you want to save just for you.
The butterflies on top are searching for the yummy treats in the yellow roses. The butterflies are layered with pop dots so that they appear to be landing on the top of the box.

Here is the list of our Blog Hop stations:

Belinda
Heather
Nancy- You are here!
Wendi
Samantha
Lisa
Jean
Etha
Jeanne
Cottage

Start at the beginning or go for your hop from right here. Be sure to leave a comment on each blog so that your name can be entered into the drawing. First prize is the Limited Edition set "Thoughts of an Egret" and there will be other prizes as well.

Another Mini Altar

This Mini Altar was made for Tea. Just the thought of a tea house makes my mouth water. Oh the Teas, the food and the company. What more can you ask for? I love the tea cups and the tea pots. Just the atmosphere-now that is relaxation.

See how I made these Mini Altars with tutorials on Rubber Road Adventure. Just click on the RRA logo here on my blog. Make a cup of tea and enjoy the artwork.

Mini Altars

This is a new fad for you to try. Mini Altars can be made to honor anything. I chose to remember a time that I was at the ocean-which I absolutely Love- and expanded on the lighthouses I have seen in the past. I stamped the lighthouse colored with markers and cut out in an oval. Glued to the brayered mini altar after adding a piece of textured vellum. See that small sailboat? It's a button and I am sailing it back to my lighthouse. Hence the handwritten "I Return to Thee". The shell is from Florida one of my favorite places to be and my birthplace. Smell that ocean-Ahhhh!

Sing Praise to the Lord!!

I want to fill everyone in on my last surgery for my cancer. Two weeks ago I had my last surgery relating to my double mastectomy in July of 2008. I had some large masses of extra flesh under my arms and towards my back. The doctor said he hadn't seen anything like this. They were removed and biopsied. I did not chose reconstruction. The biopsies are back and there is no cancer in the removed masses of flesh. The incisions are about six inches long on each side--and painful but healing well. I do not have to see the surgeon for another 6 months. Isn't God Good!! All the Time?

God is good all the time--All the time God is good.

Have a Blessed Day.

My Girl

My Girl is a stamp from CTMH. Ain't she sweet? Use a make-up sponge to add those triangle highlights to the right side. Stamp and cut out My Girl. Don't cut to close to her, leave an edge all the way around so she stands out and glue her on. Add a rectangle of Anna Griffins paper to the left side. Rip and Tear that last piece of pink striped paper from CTMH and glue it in the middle. Don't forget to add the bling!

Bottle Art

Anyone interested in Bottle Art? There are a lot of things you can do with an old bottle picked up at a junk shop. I was in Edwardsburg MI visiting my sister and we went down to Bob's Antique Shop and found a slew of these old bottles. I used Cloisonne High Gloss Granules that I picked up at the Stamp convention here in town last year. The complete directions are on the Rubber Road Adventures and you can print them off there. I will do a quick run thru here for you.

I used Versa Mark as the base on the bottle to hold the granules in place until I could use my embossing gun to heat them and turn them into liquid. Some of the Granules I left a little lumpy to create texture for the bottle. The colors began to mix into each other as they were heated to create additional texture and focal points.

All of the material decorations were from things I had laying around my studio. An old piece of Christmas decoration, a tassel from an old bookmark, and a cork with old beads and ribbon tied on top.

You should really give this a try. But be careful you might just become addicted.

Enjoy!

Vacation Thank Yous

We had a great vacation to Nebraska. My hubby's 54th Anniversary of Graduating from Fullerton High School. I made these two cards to Thank friends for such a great time there. Used my technique on the right side pieces of paper called "Reinker Splash".
On the right side of each card I used a coordinating color to the main focal point. The dominant colors are pink on card 1 and orange on card 2. The reinker splash on card 1 picks up pink in the image by adding drops of red and blue reinkers. Card 2 used orange and blue for the reinker splash. The orange for the stamped image and the blue for the Mulberry paper under each stamped image

I couldn't for the life of me figure out if this image is looking forward with her head turned -or- is she looking over her shoulder and we see her back. Hmmm!

Birdy ATC

Using my new stamp set from Hampton Art, I created this ATC for a swap. What an awesome stamp set-it comes in it's own tin, red rubber mounted to use with Acrylic Blocks. RS4394 Wings. If you like Birdy things-believe me you need this.

The saying on the ATC : The art of flying is to throw yourself at the ground and miss. I hope it works! Enjoy.

My Domino Dancer

I can't wait any longer! She will preview next week on the new addition of Rubber Road Adventures. This is an on line Ezine. The directions will preview with Mi Anca the Domino Dancer. If you haven't used dominoes in any of your projects-now is the time to start. Don't you just love her hair? Kinda' how I look in the AM.