Gaack!

Ok, I have been dealing with bronchitis for 4 weeks now - enough already! I cough, I don't sleep, I'm tired, I'm a slug! I have to clean up my work room before I get started on my Christmas cards since I noticed this morning (as I was frantically recreating an ATC that someone wanted to trade for) that I only had about an 8" square space to work with!

I did have an enjoyable Thanksgiving with my family - first with my parents on Thursday and then again with them and my sister's family on Friday. I am probably the only one in the history of this foodfest weekend to actually lose weight!

Dragonflies

I created this card for my shoebox for the February gathering of Central New York stampers. I used Stampin' Up stamps Measure of a Life, Print Pattern, French Script, and Warmest Regards. The dragonfly was colored with watercolor pencils and then blended with water.

This is the Artist Trading Card that I created for the ATC swap. I used the same stamp but cut it closer and used Twinkling H2O's for a much richer color palette. This is my favorite ATC so far!

Best Blossoms

This is my shoebox project for the May gathering of CNY stampers. I used Stampin' Up's Best Blossoms set and colors that are not normal for me! The two large flowers were inked using the Rock and Roll technique to give them more color. One of these flowers is popped up with a 3d foam dot to give it more definition/dimension. I always create a "how to" direction sheet and get a kick out of watching other stampers ignore the directions and go their own way. Some turn out fantastic and others I just shrug and point at the direction sheet - doh! My friend, Judy, gets exasperated at me when I forget to look at the directions for her shoebox - I eventually get there in the end!

Judy's mom taught us how to Tole paint which uses outlines to follow.....needless to say no two projects ended up the same! They always reflected our own personalities though and isn't that what it is all about anyways?!

Spinner Card

Recently, I got together with 39 other stamping fanatics at the sixth Central New York stamping gathering in Syracuse. We all have to prepare a shoebox that included all of the components for everyone at your table to make your card. I brought along a Spinner Card. I embossed the white background with a Cuttlebug and then used a brayer to add Versamark to the raised floral design. I used to chalks to give the design its color. The butterfly image is a retired stamp from Stampin' Up and I painted it with Twinkling H2O's to give it some shimmer when it spins!