Some random cards, a new technique and a VENT!!!

I made this card with my new Gruffies stamp after I spend over an hour perusing Kelly's blog - she inspired me to get them and ink them up! I coloured these two with my SU pastels, a medium I hadn't used in awhile! I put Crystal Effects on the shovel and added sugar coated brads. The sentiment says "spring has sprung" and it is from a clear Whipper Snapper set of the same name!! The card base is blue bayou (SU)
These 2 cards are the new technique I tried...FAUX WOOD! Inspired by Donelda, I thought I'd better get on it, and try it! I also wanted to use my new camping Riley. I coloured them both with prismas and gamsol but I made one tent brown and the other olive! Making the faux wood was easy and looks so cool. I started with More Mustard base, then swiped white Color Box ink down it, then swiped Chocolate Chip over that. It looks so real! I'm going to try it with a different colour base to see what effects that has...maybe this weekend!!! I used Kraft paper (seems to be my new fave) and chocolate chip for the base and layers!

Now, my vent. As some of you know, I've had a table at a Farmer's Market in a small town close to Calgary for the last 3 weeks. Last night I was SO frustrated I came home and cried. It was nice out, so it was busier than last week when it was rainy. BUT, no one bought ANYTHING! Nothing...nadda...zip...zilch! A few browsed, some said they'd buy some next week, others said they had no money...WHO DOESN'T TAKE MONEY TO A FARMER'S MARKET????? And, how many people spend oodles of dollars on mini donuts and ice cream?? ARGHHHH!!!! I'm wondering if it is even worth my time - 30 min. drive there - 30 min. home, gas (which is up to $1.30/litre here), $10 for the table and 3 hours of my time! Tim thinks it might be how I have things displayed, so I told him he had to build me something! LOL That went over well! I might have to do it myself!

I wish I had taken pics of my table so you could visualize it. On the right side of the table, I have my cards in short plastic bins, with bright coloured headings (birthday, wedding, etc.) and they are separated into 5 bins so several people can look at a time. I also had about 10 cards "show cased" on plastic plate holders (Father's Day, Grad, wedding, showers) and a big sign that said GET YOUR CARDS AND GIFTS FOR GRAD, FATHER'S DAY, WEDDINGS, TEACHERS. On the left half of the table, I have my 3D items - card kits (5 cards, envies, and a matching pen), wine charms, notebooks, bookmarks, pens, post it note holders, photo clips, etc.)

What I would like is a mini-Hallmark display case...like they have in the card stores - tiered but smaller so I can display the cards better. I'm not sure people like flipping through the bins. Or I need to buy one of those spinny card racks...but where do I find those???? Any pointers or tips would be helpful...I'm really at a loss!! Do you think I need to put them in plastic envelopes and sell them that way? I've thought about it, but the sloth in me doesn't want to sit and stuff them all....LOL Next week the BC fruit guy is coming so it will be really busy...I NEED to do something to catch their eye and keep them at my table & not at the schmoozy jewelery guys table beside me!!! He hits on all the women that walk by..it's hilarious! HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!

Pink Cat Studio cards

I pulled out my stamps from Pink Cat Studio that I've had for awhile and had only inked up one or two. I felt bad for the poor things sitting there lonely for so long!!! The top card is the same sketch for the Cute Card Thursday challenge - I loved it so much I tried it with a square card. This card is 5x5, mellow moss base, scallop and tag. The DP is Basic Grey (Lily Kate) and the ribbon is Bashful blue. I added dew drops on the bottom this time. I made the scallop edge with my SU corner rounder!
This sketch is from the ISMAKI challenge blog (#21) & I quite like it too! It is thick though so for mailing it might not be a good one to send!! 8 layers at some points! WHOA!! The base is Kraft, and I used soft sky and purely pomegranate as well. The DP is from the prints pack (hostess gift). The primas I used matched pretty close to the Pom paper, so I was pretty happy about that!!!

Cute Card Thursday Challenge #11

I was finally able to participate in this challenge at Cute Card Thursday - I've been really slacking in my challenges, which is what I said I really wanted to focus on.....ackkk!! Hopefully I can keep up with them but we'll see!!! This challenge was a sketch by Katharina, and it is a good one! I really enjoyed it, and will use it for other cards for sure!!! Here is my take on the sketch: The card base is Barely Banana, and the DP is Basic Grey - Lily Kate collection. I used Certainly Celery for the scallops and coloured the chick with my SU pastels. The chick IS from A Muse - the Elzybells collection!!! The sentiment is from Clear Dollar Stamps - Tag Time set.

Three more Tilda's!!!

I feel the urge to use my Magnolia stamps when I see pretty pattern paper, these little Tilda's SCREAM for pretty paper, don't you think?? This first one I made for my DSS, I hope she doesn't surf my blog...or I'm in trouble!! But I wanted to post it cuz it was cute! The card base is Taken with Teal and the DP is Bali Breeze. I coloured Tilda with gamsol & prismas on SU watercolour paper. The primas are from my stash!
This one is Tilda with hat (original names eh? But that is how they are translated loosely from Swedish!!) I paper pieced her dress with DP from Afternoon Tea which is also the same as the DP on the card. The base is Groovy Guava & I also used close to cocoa & watercolour paper.
This last Tilda is called Flower Power (I think, if it's not, it should be!!) The base and scallop circle are Really Rust, the DP is from Creative Memories (jewel tones) and the burgundy ribbon I found in my scrap bin! I coloured her with gamsol and prismas, cut her out and pop dotted to give her dimension!

Tim went over to his buddies house yesterday afternoon, so I had a few hours to stamp!! It was nice because it was so rainy and gloomy! Much like today! This is DAY 7 of rain for us....UGH!! I might need to buy scuba gear if it rains any more!!!

FOR SALE!

I went through my stamps AGAIN & found a few sets that I don't use anymore, and thought someone out there would be interested. Prices are in Canadian dollars & do not include shipping! I take PayPal! PLEASE take these off my hands - I will negotiate prices if you take more than one set!! I REALLY NEED TO MAKE ROOM IN HERE BEFORE MY DH DIVORCES ME....LOL!!!!

Stampin Up! Daisy Crazy - $15 (used a few times, retired)

Stampin Up! Simply Circles - $15 (barely used, retired)

Stampin Up! Sweet of you - $15 (barely used, retired)

Stampin Up! Many Happy Returns - $20 (mounted, never been used, current)

Stampin Up! Polka Dots and Petals - $20 (new, unmounted, current)

Stampin Up! Statement of the heart - $5 (new, unmounted, current)

Stampin Up! Funky Flowers - $20 (mounted, like new, retired)

House Mouse - Pocket Fuzz (mice in the pockets of a pair of jeans hanging on a clothesline; 5 1/2 " x 4 1/4 ") - $10 (used once) SOLD!!

Loopy Letters Alphabet (Image Tree) - $5 (used once)

Son Light Impressions - Easter Egg & Chick - $5 (used)

Horse lover's card kit

Here is the card kit I made for my Sister in Law - who is a "horse person" to the core! I reused a clear box that the Papertrey Ink stamps come in, made 4 cards, envelopes and a matching pen. This first picture is the finished product.
Here are 2 of the cards and the pen. The first horse stamp is from SU's Bareback set - one of my FAVE's!! The hardware is SU and the twine is from my stash! This one is left blank inside. The other horse is from Magenta. The DP is from Flair & the sentiment is from Punny Farm (MFT).
Here are the other two cards. The one on the left uses the horse from Punny Farm (MFT) - coloured with SU markers. This one was left blank too. The card on the left uses the horse from Magenta again...not sure if you can read the sentiment, but it says "From the Herd"....using my Karen Foster snap stamps. I did the 3 panel card like Donelda wanted us too. These cards were all very simple, I hope she likes them!

Our critters

Awhile back I mentioned that we were going to a Reptile show and I forgot to post the newest additions to our zoo! This first picture is one of the two Giant African Land Snails we got. They live in a glass aquarium with soil & they eat lettuce, watermelon, cucumbers, etc. They are so cool to watch as they slime across the glass!! We had 4 of them about 4 years ago, but they died. These two are named Rob & Big (Tim named them - don't ask!)
Here are the 3 leopard geckos we got. There are 2 females and one male - Lucy has red lips and red on her tail (named after Lucille Ball) - she is in the middle, stepping on Squirrel, Ginger has lots of brown spots - she is on the far right, and Squirrel is the male - on the left - or bottom of the pile. We named him Squirrel because he was such a spazzy dude when we first got him - very squirmy!! This isn't the greatest pic of them all together cuz they move around so much! This bottom pic is Squirrel, trying to climb up the glass (with very little luck because they aren't that type of gecko).
And, I just found out Tim's brother is moving up north, so we will be inheriting his 3 leopard geckos at the end of the month - Dave, Jenn, and Jane!! CRAZY little zoo going on here again & I couldn't be happier! I missed having all my critters!

I know some of you are probably saying EWWW but honestly, until I met Dave, Jenn and Jane when I first met Tim, I thought the same thing! But they are so soft, like velvet, and very gentle...and hardly any work at all! Watching them up close is really cool - especially the snails - you can see the muscles moving in their "foot" as they slime along....totally awesome! When we had Chip, or chameleon, I would sit there for hours watching him - his feet, his tail, his crazy eyes, and his horrendously long tongue!!! LOL I miss him a lot actually!

I don't have any cards to share - I did make some last night but forgot to take pictures of them before I sealed them up to be mailed! OOPS!!! Have a great weekend...and for those of you in the rain....stay dry!!!

Tilda in the park AND some NEWS!!!!!

This is Tilda in Apron, sitting on a park bench enjoying the sunshine! I stamped the bench & coloured it with gamsol & prismas, then stamped Tilda on SU watercolour paper and coloured her the same (notice I dirtied up her knees?? What kid goes to the park and doesn't come back with dirty knees??) I coloured and cut out the birds, also from Magnolia. As you can tell from the shadows, I popped out the birds and Tilda (sorry bout the shadows!) and mounted it on a pre-printed card base from Michael's. I made the grass with prismas & gamsol. I also cut it down to 4x4. That's it..... a simple scene card!!

AND HERE IS MY NEWS: (I can hardly contain myself!!) My VERY FAVOURITE EBAY store, Simon Says Stamp just came out with their own line of stamps - they are VERY cool - 19 sets in all, very versatile & a variety to choose from. Anyways, Heidi, who is THE most FABULOUS woman in the world asked me if I would be on their DESIGN TEAM!!!! I didn't believe it at first, lil 'ol me?!?! WHAT?!?!?!?! So now, I'm an Official Honorary Design Team member!!! WHEEEEE!!! (Tim wasn't as thrilled as I was so you can imagine how badly I wanted to share this with you all?!?! MEN!!!) You really need to check out her store - they have EVERYTHING!! They carry Penny Black, A Muse, Hero Arts, Inkadinkado, Stampendous, Tim Holtz products, Stampabilities, SU, House Mouse, paper, ink, markers, storage things...its crazy FULL of stuff!!! And if they don't have it, they will do their darnedest to find it for you! Heidi has found me a bunch of retired stamps that I HAD to have!! And I've spent a lot of money there - I am sure I've already paid for her son's college tuition!! LOL You can't beat GOOD customer service nowadays & they definitely have it!!! Check it out!!

Graduation card for my niece

I made this card for my oldest niece who is graduating from SAIT, a trade school type. Their colours are red and white so I went with that! I used the SU set Great Graduation from 2002 that I just recently found and purchased! Wheee!!! I used my congrats folder with my Bug, and coloured the grad with prismas and gamsol. The card base is Real Red. The red shimmery ribbon is from Michael's. On the inside I used a sentiment from Verve Visual's set Greatest Expectations.

Birthday cards

Two of my friends had babies last year within days of each other, so now we have two First Birthdays to attend! I totally CASE'd this card from somewhere, not sure where....so if you know, or it's yours, let me know so I can give credit to the owner! Same card, different colours! The Hedgie and the dinosaur are popped up for dimension. The stamps are from Penny Black - Zoophabet and Critter Party. The dinosaur is from Whipper Snapper. The card bases are preprinted ones from Michael's. Sorry the dino is so dark, he really isn't IRL! Sorry this is such a quick post, I just looked at the time...and well, I might be late for work if I don't get my butt in gear!!! AND, it's Wed. so hopefully we didn't have a staff meeting or I'm in BIG trouble!!! EEK!! Enjoy the day wherever you are! It is POURING here, but I love the rain!!! And I'm not on supervision so that's even better!!! Nothing worse than standing outside for 20 min. in the rain! UGH!