Izbzee

just having fun

I thought I would just play the other day -- so that's what I did!  It doesn't take much to have some fun -- just some paper, a little ink, some stamps -- oh yea, stamps -- I didn't have what I needed, so I made one -- normally, I might have gone to the fridge and gotten a lemon out and just cut a slice, but, I thought, I'm sure I have a file for the Cricut I can use and I really need to figure out how to use my deep cut blade and that stamp material I paid those $$ for a while back --- and it's still just sitting there -- let's see if that file I downloaded will work....

If you've never used SVGCuts.com files -- you really should.  They're awesome and every few days, not only do they release fantastic new kits, they also offer a new freebie and the file I used for my stamp just happened to be one of their freebies they released back in April.  After importing and resizing the svg file for the lemon top in SCAL2 - I mounted the material on the cutting mat -- set the blade, adjusted the pressure and cutting speed according to the package directions of the stamp material.  Breathed deeply and pressed the cut button and let it cut!  So cool!

Here's the finished stamp!

You can click on the pics for a larger image if you'd like.  I'm hanging on to the smaller pieces for some candy corn and other uses, btw.  At any rate, to ink up the stamp once you've mounted it on an acrylic block, I found that if you use a brayer it works really well and you can use the white craft ink or white acrylic paint without any problems at all.  Just remember that you're going to need to heat set the craft ink or set it aside and let it dry for about 30 minutes -- but I can't ever wait that long -- so heat setting is definitely an advantage for me.  Clean up was a breeze! 

   

  

This card is CASED from an original designed by Kelly Keller.  I'm using papers from Stampin Up! and Provo Craft:  Ink, and markers, Stampin Up!.  Sentiments are computer generated with CK Curly font using PrintShop.  Baby Face Alpha Dies, Cuttlebug, Cricut, Stamp Material: Provo Craft; Ribbon, Wrights;  Paper clip from stash.   

Happy Stamping!  Thanks for dropping by -- I've got some more stamps to make!

summer has arrived

The cannas are blooming -- and that's a sure sign!

I love the bright yellow and orange -- although it's not nearly as warm today as the colors would indicate -- we have had lots of heat lately.  The stalks are shooting up and a few are reaching the four foot level -- the buds indicating blooms are beginning to pop on quite a few of the plants that we thinned earlier which have once again re-filled the bed to over filled.

While preparing for this morning's Nurturing Creativity class, and taking care of a few of those necessities -- such as watering plants out on the porch, I was suprised to find a toad had taken residence in the begonia plant Ted had given me for Mother's day.  He wasn't particularly thrilled to have his domicile inundated with water suddenly, I take it!  LOL  He became a little vocal when I came back out with the camera to try to get a pic -- and then became a little camera shy moving every time the shutter clicked -- so the pics were blurry.  What was up with that?   : ) His friends in the past have been ever so kind to let us take pics.  Even in the water of the pool! 

Oh well.  It's nearly time for the gals to begin arriving for a day of crafting.  There are wings in the crockpot, a veggie tray and lots of fruit.  Some rolls are raising on the back of the stove. MMMMM..... I hear there are a few more yummy treats coming and we have a birthday to celebrate today too.  Lots of fun in order besides some intense paper-crafting (reminder:  birthday cards, Father's Day cards to finish up)!    

Hope your day is blessed with lots of nurturing and joy!
Today's thought is:
Each of us has a spark of life inside of us, and our highest endeavor ought to set off that spark in one another.  Kenny Ausubel

LOL - nothing like a little creative play

to nurture the soul and heart!

Yesterday, being Wednesday, you know, is my regular day for "play time."  And yes, I did get a little inky!  My friend Sherri has been busy with a few of her friends putting lots of kits together for an upcoming fundraiser and dropped off my kit since we have some other things on the calendar that day.  I couldn't let the cards go another day not put together -- so here they are: 

Pocket Sillouettes, Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets

Ornament, ticket and word strip punch

embossing folder

papers, SU

All supplies are SU

Circle Circus, Celebrate Everything stamp sets, Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, Brad,  

Sense of Time stamp set, spiral punch, papers, all SU, brad. 

Thoughts and Prayers stamp set, all papers SU

 Greenhouse Garden, Watercolor Trio stamp sets, border punch, scallop oval and wide oval punch, SU.

paper and ink, SU  

let's see 5 cards times 3 equals 15 to add to the stash.  COOL!

Then I played a little more - getting a little finding some fun stuff over on a blog -- this little guy uses two punches - the 1 3/4 inch circle and the scallop circle punches.  His beak is just cut from a scrap and his eyes are made with a marker.  I inked all the pieces. 

The flower is punched with a retro flower punch and I colored in the hello with a marker and stamped it in each of the petal spot and then stamped it before punching it out with a 3/4 in circle punch for the center of the flower.  The leafy branches are cut with the 2 step bird punch from SU.  The DP is from a stack from SU too.... The stamp is from Teeny Tiny Wishes.

Ok, I'll quit for now...there's some more, but I'll save 'em for later -- besides, Ted just came home and has some exciting news!  He's just earned a day off!  WAHOO!   

Memorial Day 2010

Catching up a bit.....Yesterday's rains and stormscould have put a real damper on the festivities of the day -- but we chose not to let that happen.  We still grilled and had a great time.

The storms cleared by mid morning -- the sun was shining and most of the concrete had dried off -- notice I said concrete -- we still had pools of water on the lawns and the "lake" in the side yard is still there this morning after yesterday's soakers.

yummy veggies - sweet potatoes, pearl onions, zucchini grilled with a fun fresh marinade of fruity nectar. Andrea at the grill.

chicken - grilled to perfection too!  Sure tasted good! 

Click on pics to enlarge

On the cardmaking front -- this is one I made for a young man who has recently earned his Eagle Rank in Scouting.  I have another idea for the red background -- because Ted's scout troop has four young men currently working on their Eagle projects -- and I want each to have a card -- but each to be unique to the young man but not have to reinvent the "wheel" if at all possible.  I need to get those started this week since I hear they'll be working on their books this month to get their paperwork done for their court of honors.  All materials SU! 

This was soooooo much fun and made totally with the CRICUT!  Thanks to Mary and Leo over at scvcuts.com for the fun files and great cuts.  Cool!  It's a full half sheet sized card - dimensional and would delight anyone!  Layers and more layers -- I can envision vellum, felt, organza, raffia and more in the future -- yep, I'll be making more!  While you can't really see the details in this version, I did take the time to add some "graining" to the sign and to the fencing.  I used an embossing folder on one of the layers of the hat and would do the same again and more the next go round -- maybe even using the woven texture plate 3 times instead of 2x for a little more texture and a little more inking in a different color.  There is a series of three cards in this fun set and hopefully, I'll get to the other 2 cards later this week -- a teapot and a lantern.  They really do look like fun!  The fireflies are certainly an inspiration to do the lantern one this week.........