More sneak peeks to share!

Well, yesterday you got a peek at old "Charlie Horse". Here is another sample I made using him AND the saying that comes with him.



One of the things I love about Clear Dollar Stamps is that she makes a lot of sets that coordinate with each other. See this basket set HERE? See this wagon set HERE? Well, all the "goodies" from each set will fit in the other container. And one of the new sets...is a set of more fillers! Here's a pocket card sample using one of the choices of that set.





How cute is that??? This new set is called Fresh From The Farm. It contains 15 images for $9.99.

These new sets will all be released TOMORROW!

Ok...guess I HAVE to go to work now LOL. Have a great day all!

Jane

I am SOOOOOO excited! Sneak peek!!!

I've been creating in my secret laboratory for the last couple weeks. It's been killing me not to share my creations. But, NOW I CAN!!! LOL!

These stamps will be available on April 1st over at Clear Dollar Stamps. For now, I'm going to share a couple different things to wet your appetite and get you drooling! :-)





Isn't the horse ADORABLE? Guess what? If you look closely at his rear end...I enhanced it and gave him a butt lift! See???? I stamped the image 3 times. The first being the main image that I colored the whole image. Then I stamped two more times and just colored the butt and the tail. I cut out the butt portion and adhered it over the main image with dimensionals. Then cut out only the tail and adhered that on top of the raised butt portion.

The horse set is called "Charlie Horse", it's item # is 5544 and it's price??? Only $3.99 for a set of 2 (horse plus saying which you'll see in tomorrow's sample). Also used on this card is a new stamp called "Flannel". It creates the pattern on the blue strip. The item # on that is 5536 and it's $7.99. It says it's a set of 2 but it's really only one stamp.

Ok...are you drooling yet??? Should I share another set? Can you stand it??? The hardest part for me is deciding on only two samples to share today! How about this one?



This duo of creations would be a perfect set for a sweet 16 just getting their license to drive. It uses two sets - "Sometimes You're the Bug" (item # 5541, set of 14 for $9.99) and "Bugs and Kisses" (item # 5542, set of 29 for $9.99). The best thing about these clear stamps is being able to see just where to stamp things. Adding your "greeting" to the license plate is easy-smeasy. The keychain was meant to hold a photo. I just popped out the insert that came with it and used it as a template to know how big to cut out my portion of the image. I really like how it turned out.

Ok...more sets tomorrow!

Jane

More frogs...

This little scrapbook page (a 6x6) is of my two boys...showing me their treasures AFTER they'd went and collected bugs! :-) Seemed appropriate to use frog stamps with those pictures.



For the main image frog I stamped him and colored him in. Then stamped the shirt/pants on red/blue cardstock and cut them out. I attached the pants directly to the frog and the shirt I attached with a dimensional adhesive. (After all, who doesn't like wearing loose shirts?)

I had every intention of stopping at the scrapbooking store last night...but ended up working till 7:00 so it was too late. Then when I did get home my hubby left to go get gas in his car. And it died on him. ARGH. So we had to pay to have it towed home. I swear the last time we had a car towed it was like $40 and it was a lot further away. This time it was $70+ and it was literally about 5 miles away...maybe less? Hell, next time I'll physically go PUSH it home for that price! I'm hoping dh has towing insurance on his car (I always carry it on mine because it's cheap to have and it's the one thing I actually use my insurance for!) Feels like we'll never get caught up...every time we get close then something comes up (car insurance, registrations, car breakdowns needing fixed, vetrinary bills, etc.) Makes me think of one of my Mom's sayings about being so far behind that you think you're ahead! Anyways, probably a good thing I didn't stop and spend any money on the way home.

I did stamp and color a few images last night but that's as far as I got on creating. Probably won't get anything else actually created till the weekend.

Have a great day all!

Jane

Another "toadally" awesome card! :-)

This one is VERY quick and simple...a perfect little boy card (they are going to destroy the card anyways...they only want to see if there is money inside!) LOL.



Once again, I used Pond Pals and Pond Accessories from Clear Dollar Stamps!

I got an email this morning from the local scrapbook store that is closing. I've resisted stopping there because I really don't NEED anything. But now the cardstock is 10/$1 and everything else is 75% off. Ok...I may HAVE to go that way on my way home today! LOL. I'm not sure I can make it there before they close though now that I'm working the later hours.

Anyways, gotta go get ready for work. Have a great day all! We're half way through the week! (well, we will be as of noon today)

Jane

Absolutely Frogulous!

I struggled this weekend to get any samples made. Sometimes I feel "in the groove" and can whip out 3 cards in the space of a couple hours. But not this weekend. I bet I spent about 3 hours just on this one card. Not that it's a difficult card at all - I just couldn't creatively imagine what it was going to look like. I do, however, love, love, LOVE how it turned out!



This uses two of the newer sets from Clear Dollar Stamps. The frog is from Pond Pals and the pearls and saying are from Pond Accessories.

Was that worth waiting for...or what??? LOL. More to come. I have a couple more samples using this set that I can share (since the sets have already been released) and more samples to share closer to the end of the month.

Now, I best get ready for work! Have a great day all.

Top Secret Work in Progress!

I received my first order as part of the Clear Dollar Stamps Design Team. I've been madly creating this weekend...but I can't share with you just yet. These are new, never seen stamp sets. So I can't share until closer to their release date. (April 1st)

The local scrapbook store that I design for is going out of business. They sent us an email to come pick up our last designs. I'm not entirely surprised that they are closing. They were a pretty good store but I always found it difficult to find what I wanted in there. I'd go in and come out empty handed often. I think the owners were in poor health as well which probably accounts for part of the decision to close the store.

Well, just wanted to drop in and say I haven't forgotten about all my loyal readers! I will be posting new stuff as soon as I can.

Jane

Easter Treats!

This is the project I came up with for my coworkers. Actually, I didn't "come up" with the idea. I saw similar ones on SCS so I had to make my own. I made 4 of them. I think the middle image (the larger one) should be higher...but not sure I care enough to redo it. I think it looks cute enough as is. What do you think?



Bunny image is a $1 stamp from Michael's (which I already owned), candleholders were .99 but were 30% off on sale this week, the roll of ribbon was $1.50 on sale this week (and there is lots left over). The bag of M&M's was $2. All said and done...treats for my 4 coworkers were well under $10...with leftover M&M's! Yummmmm. :-)

Jane

Hump Day

Isn't it Friday yet??? :-)

Last night I stopped at Michael's on my way home and picked up a few things. I want to do something for my coworkers for Easter but haven't quite decided what to make. So I bought stuff to do two different projects. I'll try the first one out and if I'm not happy with it then I'll do the second one I guess. Since Easter is Sunday it means I really SHOULD have these done on Thursday night so I can leave them on their desks on Friday. If all else fails, then they get them on Monday I guess! LOL.

Last night I stamped and colored all the images for the first project. Hopefully, tonight I'll get the chance to punch and layer and finish them. If so, I'll post it here tomorrow.

Have a great day!

Jane

Just Ducky...

Good morning! Well, as good as a Monday can be! ;-) I didn't sleep worth beans last night. Probably 'cause I took a nap yesterday - but I kept it short and didn't think it would affect my sleep last night. Bah humbug. Now I'm starting out the day tired and grouchy. Hopefully an hour drive with the window down and the stereo blaring will help with that. :-)

Anyways, wanted to share my next new card. This image is also by High Hopes Rubber Stamps. I kept the layout VERY simple because there is a trick to this card that I'll show you in just a minute. Here is the card all put together...



And what is unique about it you ask? Well, the main image is held on with magnets. So the front portion (yellow mat and all) will pull off the card and can be stuck on a magnetic surface and kept as a magnet. There is another magnet under the layered paper on the base card...that's how the main image is held on.



I thought I'd take it one step further and make "sayings" for the duck and put them on magnets...but forgot that they'd repel going the other direction...so that didn't work. Oh well, cute as is.

I best be getting dressed for work. This might be a long week. One of the four of us is on vacation - so that makes things a little more chaotic. And I'm her backup person for membership (which takes about 1/2 the day on Tuesdays and you have to take the system completely down...so you need to be quick and accurate). I've only done it a couple times...so wish me luck tomorrow! I think we also have a meeting with the Director today. Not sure what that's about. She seems to be on our case a lot lately. She must be catching flack from further up the management chain.

Have a great day!

Jane

New Artwork!

Ok...buckled down and finished TWO cards last night! Wanted to hop on and share one of them with you for now.

This adorable bunny stamp is from High Hopes Rubber Stamps and is called "Posing Bunny". Isn't it cute?



I love all the details and the softness of this card. My husband didn't like it as well as the second card I did. But this one is probably my favorite of the two. So I'm sharing it first.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Jane

Ramblings

First off, my apologies for not stamping as much this week. I don't know why I've felt so worn out and tired. But I have been feeling that way. All I've accomplished this week are the 4 HM cards (which I already shared). Also, one night I stamped some images in black ink and then sat in front of the TV and colored them with pencils. Then last night I took the same images and used my blending solution and finished the colors. At this rate...I'll finish those cards sometime next month! LOL!

Yesterday we got a sneak peek at the new sets coming from Clear Dollar Stamps. I can't reveal more...but I can say they have some really great stuff that is right up my alley! You'll be seeing samples here on my blog as soon as I'm able to reveal them.

So, exciting things coming soon...to a blog near you!

Have a wonderful Friday!

Jane

Last Two House Mouse (for awhile)

Well, these are the last two that I made over the weekend. Once again, very similar in design so I could whip out a couple quick cards.

Card One:



Card Two:



I had trouble getting the water colored the way I wanted it. Hopefully it looks ok. Ok...I need to get headed off to work. Today is "voids" day. Last week that meant manually looking up 600+ claims one by one to make sure they were ok before sending them on their merry way. We are required to get a +90% acceptance rate on our files or we can be sanctioned. So Thursdays are NOT my favorite work day. Probably actually my least favorite. Oh well...one day closer to Friday, eh?

Jane

More Cute Mice!

I needed to make some cards to send out for my Mouse-A-Round swap. I'm two cards behind so decided to make a couple similar designs so they'd go quicker. I also think it's fun to see what just a little change can do.

Here are the first two cards I made. Same color scheme, same image...just a little different layout. The colors on these are from the autumn color scheme. I think the color looks brighter in the photo than they appear in real life. The yellow is like a sunflower color.

Here's card one:



And here is card two:



I like that these would work for either a female or male recipient due to the color choices.

Tomorrow I'll share the other two cards I made.

Jane

BIG NEWS!

I just wanted to share that I was chosen to be on the DESIGN TEAM for Clear Dollar Stamps (cdstamps.com). I will start with the next new release of stamps. The samples I make will probably be displayed on their website as well as at stamp shows they attend and sell at. I'm excited about the opportunity! It's only a 3 month committment but it'll be fun while it lasts and I'm happy to have been one of the few chosen! So, expect a few more samples here using their stamp sets!

Also, non stamping related - it looks like I may get the opportunity to work from home one day a week. I talked to my boss last week about the drive and that it's killing me (and gas is continuing to rise). He will talk to the Director and see if I can work from home on Wednesdays. That'd save me $13 in gas for the week and 3 hours of driving time! He also said I could play with my schedule (currently 8-5) and see if either 7-4 or 9-6 would work better to cut down on the sitting in traffic. Best case scenerio is that the drive would take me an hour - but with the construction they are doing on the interstate - it's taking me closer to an hour and a half each way.

I finished two new House Mouse cards yesterday so will be sharing those during the week. But for now, I just wanted to jump on and share the good news about Clear Dollar Stamps!

Jane

Playing with House Mouse images

I colored four images (that I'd received as part of the MAR swap) while I was watching TV the other night. This is the only one that made it as far as a card. I need to get the others made into cards...I'm two cards behind on mailing out my Mouse-A-Round cards! Yikes. I took Monday and Tuesday off this week so hopefully I'll have some time then to get caught up on some of this craziness.

This design was a sketch challenge on SCS. I'm not sure I love how it turned out - but it's presentable. For the balloons I needed to use brighter colors so then had to stick with it for the papers. And I'm just not a bright color kind of person. You can't tell from the photo but I used liquid glass (aka crystal lacquer) on the blown up balloon.



I also got some great news to share...but I'm going to wait and announce that later! Just a tease for now.

I'm off to Phoenix today. We are doing a send-off party for my brother. He's moving to Reno and I'm not happy about it. But I'll have to deal with it. Also, just happens that a friend of mine that I haven't seen in 20 years is also going to be in Phoenix so I'll get to see her today/tomorrow too. I probably won't be posting again till Monday morning. So, have a GREAT weekend!

Jane

House Mouse Cards

Thought I'd start sharing some of the House Mouse cards I've received as part of my Mouse-a-Round swap...

So these first two cards are from Lisa C. One was actually a birthday card that I don't think I posted yet. The second (valentine) one was my MAR swap card from her.





I'm loving being a part of this swap because I'm getting to see so many of the House Mouse (and Happy Hopper) images in person. Also, as part of the swap we are supposed to send 2 stamped images...so I'm getting lots of images to play with.

Have a great Thursday everyone...one more day to the weekend!

Jane

Just so Hippy

Remember the hippo card I posted a few days ago? Well, this giraffe is from the same Gina K Designs set. The set is called "Just so Hippy". I colored this on Monday night while watching TV. Then last night I put it together while watching TV. I'm too pooped out to sit in my stamp room and create a card all at once...but I can do it a little at a time. I used to HATE coloring because I thought I sucked at it. But finding the right medium seems to be the trick. You get what you pay for. And man...I'm loving playing now with my new prismacolor pencils and oderless mineral spirits!



The brown cardstock is Bazzill. The rest of the papers/cardstocks are from CTMH. I used a coluzzle template to create the big scalloped edge. Then I went back and on the top layer I used a mini hole punch to punch each scallop in the center so the white shows through from the second layer.

I don't usually make girly cards...but my last two have definately been girly...all pastel colors. That is so NOT my style! But I like both cards.

I think I'll be sharing my Mouse A Round cards over the next few days. So if you like House Mouse cards...come back and visit!

Jane

Still MORE birthday cards!

Here are a couple birthday cards I forgot to share:



The card on the left came from Lena (tackertwosome). Love the bright colors and the simple design.

The card on the right came from Bev (treasimate). I'm guessing she colored a metallic panel with alcohol inks and then embossed on it...but that's my best guess. Whatever it is in looks very sophisticated!

Thanks ladies!

Jane

Multichallenged!

Well, yesterday I only got around to making ONE card...so I made sure I made that card count! LOL. It meets 3 challenges...

#1 - It meets sketch challenge #165 from SplitCoastStampers
#2 - It meets the color challenge from SBS4 (lilac mist, garden green, bamboo and buttercup)
#3 - It meets the "Girl's" theme challenge AFSS6 from Stampin' When I Can



The image is one of my new ones from High Hopes Rubber Stamps. I didn't have a garden green" marker so settled for Key Lime instead. Hopefully that's still close enough for the challenge. Oh, and then I discovered that the light that I use to take pictures in my lightbox...is hot enough to MELT my markers. ARGH. I think I ruined about $20 worth of markers. I heard a "popping" noise and when I looked over the plastic on the markers were bubbling up and melting.

The reason I only got one card stamped yesterday was because we had a family outing. We took the kids to a nearby park where they stock the "lake" with fish. I don't "do" fishing...but I can sit in a a chair and read a book and take pictures of them! LOL. They really don't do a lot of fishing either and I don't think we've ever caught anything there...but they have a good time trying.

Here's my hubby:



Here is our oldest son: (I can't seem to get a good picture of him these days!)



Here are a couple pictures of our youngest:



This one he said he looks like he's hugging his two best friends! ;-)



Well, that's all for today folks. I have lots of artwork from others to share this week - hopefully I'll get a chance to do some more cards of my own today as well.

Jane

Forgive the lack of links today...my computer won't let me have two windows open for whatever reason. Grrr.