Chalkboard Technique

This card uses the chalkboard technique. To do this, start with dark cardstock (such as black or navy). Stamp your solid image with white craft ink then dab chalk over the whole image until it's covered solidly. I used a cotton swab. Be sure to dab and not rub or the design may smear. Then stamp your outline image on top in white craft ink and heat set. You could also outline the image with the white gel pen. It's that simple! So get those chalks out and give it a try.
Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Pick A Petal, Double Line Doodles; Paper: Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Lavender Lace, Night of Navy; Inks: whisper white craft, Night of Navy; Accessories: Stampin' Pastels, word window punch
I've created a Word document with a diagram and directions for the lip balm holder, but I can't post it here. If you would like a copy, please e-mail me, and I'll send it to you. I also want to thank Renee Ondrajka, who posted the original diagram that I altered.

I Think I'm Gonna Faint!

Julie HRR (Her Royal Rubberness) commented on one of my cards!! For those of you who don't know, Julie runs herd on the Dirty Dozen on SCS, and just like her name implies, she is stamping royalty. This ranks right up with meeting Shelli Gardner. It was the card I posted 2 days ago with the big flower on it. I made that card for Jenn Balcer's Dare to Get Dirty challenge of making a bright and cheery card. Julie said, "Sweetly simple, and charming!", and the fabulous Jenn Balcer said, "Yes it is perfect! The paper, the ginormous silk flower, the sentiment. . . . they all say happy happy joy joy!" As Wayne and Garth would say, "I'm not worthy..."

Lip Balm Holder

When I saw this lip balm holder on SCS, I thought of my MIL, Shirley, right away because she sells Avon. I think this is just adorable! (Goodness, I'm starting to sound like JanTInk! LOL) I did have to fiddle with the pattern to fit this lip balm, but I did not give up! I persisted through 3 failed attempts, and I didn't even throw anything! And I used some of my brand-new purty ribbon and paper instead of hoarding it. Now that I have made one AND made notes on my measurements, I think it would be fairly easy to make multiples of this. Of course, the cuts on the inside to hold the lip balm are the tricky part. I have never drawn a sketch on the computer, but I will try to do this and post it in case you want to make one. In case you are wondering, the dimensions of the front are 4" tall and 2 3/8" across, and the spine measures 3/4". I thought the saying was very appropriate!
Would you make one of these if you had a template to follow? Let me know by e-mail or comment!
Supplies (all SU unless noted): Stamps: Polka Dots & Petals, Polka Dots & Paisley, Be Happy; Paper: Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Cutie Pie designer paper; Inks: Bashful Blue, Regal Rose; Accessories: Fairy Tale Ribbon Originals, lip balm (Avon)

Dare to be a Dirty Girl Challenge card

Hopefully, you're not sick to death of me talking about Splitcoaststampers! (If you are, don't read any further.) Splitcoaststampers is an awesome forum for stampers and scrapbookers. Tracy and Daven Nolta, who run the site, started it long ago for the demonstrators in Tracy's downline, and it has grown into the most popular stamping site around. Membership at SCS is free, believe it or not! To support the site, I am a paid member. As a bonus for paid members, an amazingly talented group called the Dirty Dozen makes projects posted once a month, and you only have access to that gallery if you are a paid member. This is the 3rd anniversary of the Dirty Dozen, so they are having a week of special challenges, 4 each weekday and 8 on Saturday and Sunday. I made this card combining 2 challenges into 1. The first challenge was the sketch or layout of the card. The other challenge was to use tons of pink. While the whole card isn't pink, I did get pink on every layer. The sketch was tough for me as I don't usually use that many layers. It started out differently, but I think it turned out OK. It's much busier than what I usually do, but I am Daring to be a Dirty Girl!

Sorry about the picture quality. I am using Daniel's camera, and I'm having trouble getting used to the lighting/flash differences as compared to my other camera.

Coming tomorrow: a project made specifically with my mother-in-law in mind, and it's not a card!

Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Bodacious Bouquet, Polka Dots & Paisley, Polka Dots & Petals; Paper: Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Regal Rose, Petals & Paisley DSP; Ink: Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, Taken with Teal, Pretty in Pink; Accessories: Fairy Tale Ribbon Originals

I Actually Stamped Today

Not much stamping is on THIS card, but I stamped today! Got 3 projects done. (Not the 2 swaps I need to get done, but still!) So I'll actually have some things to post for the next few days. Hooray! This card uses 3 new products from the Fall/Winter Collection: Pretties kit, Cutie Pie double-sided designer paper, and Fairy Tale Ribbon Originals. The Cutie Pie paper doesn't look like much in the catty, but it is a big wow IRL. And 3 of the 5 ribbons in the Fairy Tale set coordinate with this paper. This card only took 5 minutes to make, and I really like it. I hope you do too!
Supplies (all SU): Stamps: Be Happy; Paper: Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Cutie Pie DSP; Ink: Cerainly Celery; Accessories: Pretties kit, Fairy Fale Ribbon Originals, ticket corner punch, 1 1/4 & 1 3/8 circle punches

SU's August special

For the month of August, Stampin' Up is having a special with the punch box. When your purchase the punch box August 1-31, you will also get a package of 30 Love Notes free ($12.95 value). Love Notes are 3 X 3 cards. These Love Notes are made from textured cardstock, and you get 10 each of Purely Pomegranate, Wild Wasabi, and So Saffron. Envelopes are also included.

On a blogging note, I had my first spam comment, so I have had to add comment verification. I hate trying to read those wavy numbers and letters, so I'm sorry!

Are you tired of pictures of Europe yet?

I'll try to wrap up the pictures from Europe. A lot of the ones that are left are of all of the kids wearing the pink beret. You don't want to suffer through those, believe me! Daniel's a little fuzzy on what a lot of the pictures are. So here are the remaining highlights.
Sorry I haven't posted any cards lately. My craft room is the hottest room in the house, and I've also had major creative block. I just can't seem to work out this one card I'm trying to do. Hopefully, this weekend!
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The Alps

Inside Versailles

View from atop the Eiffel Tower

Notre Dame

Mona Lisa