Take Ten - Summer 2012

It's always a surprise!

This two page spread especially so...I didn't think they were that good and almost didn't send them in!!

And a challenge card.  I love that bright flower.

It Never Gets Old!

That little "whoop!" in your stomach when the complimentary copy of Stampers Sampler comes out of the mailbox!!

The Catch-up issue is full of beautiful art submitted over the last few issues.

I had one tag towards the back.

GRIN!!

OH!  PS...the balloon on the cover is a Rogue Redhead set - Relish Reading!!!

Stamper's Sampler - Neon Valentines

I got that fun package in the mail last week. The one that says, "Congratulation! You've been published in Stamper's Sampler." I'm still waiting for my subscription copy, but since Tim starts his 12 Tags of Christmas tomorrow...I needed to get this posted!!!!!!! (GRIN)

I have to tell you about the paper, the bird is stamped on. It's a napkin!! I pulled the two sections apart, glued the lime/raspberry napkin onto white paper then stamped the bird. The stamps are Purple Onion.

I love this card. The background was a scrap I had from the Fred Mullett class I took last year (year before?). When the challenge was NEON Valentines, I knew this piece would work. I don't remember who makes the stamp...it's a California shop.

This is a small 3x3 card. Stamp is Amuse Studio.

This was the pinwheel challenge. I *HAD* to put pinwheels on my favorite girls! I love this Lost Coast stamp!

I'm going to try my best to keep up with Tim this year...yeah, I know I said that last year and failed. But it's a good goal! I'm also taking Christy Tomlinson's The 12 Artsy Ornaments of Christmas. Not so sure I'll be doing those but I liked her list of visiting artists.

COVER GIRL!!!

OMG! OMG!! OMG!!!

My card made the COVER of STAMPER'S SAMPLER!!!!

Remember in the last issue the same card was featured in the "coming attractions" ad in the back. I looked at some other issues and it didn't seem to match up that a card in the ad would be on the cover next time. So, I was pretty surprised!

And it's also in the magazine body.

Along with two other cards I sent in.

This one is also mine but attributed to somebody else. I've been given credit for other artist's work - and now I feel their pain!

All the stamps & papers are Amuse Studio! If you'd like to order them, my friend, Lara, can help you!

And on the "Coming Attractions" ad...for Valentine's Day...my Neon Valentine!

eep!

Published...sort of...

I was published again...SORT OF...

A few issues ago, a page worth of cards was attributed to me, but it wasn't my work. I felt so sorry for the artist that did send in the work. How disappointing it must be to *NOT* to see your name!

Well, they did it again. My name. Another artist's work. So sad. And these were such a neat concept!

But this week, I was flipping thru to see what the next deadline was and the challenges. And I saw this ad for the next issue...and there was one of my cards! Using an amuse studio sentiment and their snowflake dies (told you they had killer dies!). I'll be interested to see if the card makes the next issue.

amuse studio Holiday Mini!

I have long been a fan of A Muse Artstamps, specifically their great sentiments! They were always funny, right on, and a great size/font. Even for GRUNGY me! And as you probably know, earlier in the year they switched their format to home party/social selling company, and became A MUSE STUDIO!

What you probably don't know is that one of my good friends, Heather, is Amuse Studio's marketing director. Last spring she asked me if I was interested in using their stamps, paper, inks, etc to create art for their upcoming Holiday Mini. I'll be honest and say I hesitated. Let's face facts...I'm grungy and complicated; and Amuse has always been CAS and cute! But Heather said not to worry, they wanted my grungy spin. So I said YES!

I have to say:
1) I *LOVE* their card stock. I love the white core. I don't have to cut up a sheet of typing paper and tape it inside to write a note. I love that when you sand it you get that distressed look! It's a great weight and the color palette is fresh and "now".
2) I love their pigment inks. I got a good clean stamp every time! I almost never get a clean stamp with a water based ink.
3) I love their wafer thin dies! You have to check out their TAG dies! (grin)

This week Heather finally got home from her travels around the country teaching classes and brought me a catalog. Until this week I had no idea if she'd used any of my cards. When I dropped my assignment off, I told her she wouldn't hurt my feelings if she didn't use anything. I would have been thrilled with just one card. So imaging my excitement that FOUR of my cards made the catalog! GRUNGY OLE ME!!!

Autumn Leaves (SBSQ005)

Perfectly Polished (SNSK070)
mini envelope die (TAD0014)

A Christmas Carol (SASQ017)
Scallop dies (sorry I'm not sure of the number)

Script background (SASJ013)

And the nicest part is that amuse studio recognizes it's contributing artists. I've never seen another company do that! WOW!

I flirted briefly with the idea of becoming a consultant. But after two failed attempts to make money "off my art", I'm just not interested in that end of the business anymore. If you'd like to order or get a catalog, please contact my friend, Lara Kalapacs!

(oh...and I got invited back for another round!) (GRIN)

It's Always a Good Day When....

...you come home to this in the mailbox:

It's always exciting! Then I wonder which of the cards, tags, etc I sent in made the cut! And I can't wait to get in the house and start flipping thru the pages.

This time my little Queen Bee (by Red Lead Paperworks) all dressed up in yellow! This was scrap of mulberry paper batik I had laying on my desk. And some wire screening attached with Tim's tiny Attacher.

Hope you have a great weekend...it's snowing here. (wink)

The Stamper's Samper Catch-up Issue

I only stop for the mail every couple of days - I'm lazy and I don't get much mail so why bother?


'Cos there might be a complimentary copy of the next STAMPER'S SAMPLER CATCH-UP ISSUE in the box!!! Yep..published again.
I just flipped thru and only saw this card - a romantic card using Graphic 45 papers and Memory Box stamps.

Published!

A few days ago I found an advanced copy of the Feb/Mar 2011 Stamper's Sampler in my mailbox...you know what that means!!
Remember all the cards I did from the fat quarter of egg material? Well, I sent the best of the bunch to Stamper's Sampler and they published 4 out 5!! Here they are:

I stamped over the fabric with the Hero Arts FRIENDS DEFINITION.

I love the "Nesting Place" details - those are sequins with rhinestones.

A cork scrap put to good use.

If you get the magazine - compare this picture to the published one. I stamped the image in Coffee Archival...looks ORANGE in the magazine.

Tune in tomorrow to see my last posting as a Visiting Artist over at Gingersnap Creations!!

The Stamper's Sampler - Oct/Nov 2010

I got my issue of THE STAMPER'S SAMPLER today. Actually, I got two issues! You know what that means...I have something inside!!!! (I had only made one submission, so I was pretty sure what it was).

My entry was for the HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS challenge. In addition to the print version, you can see The Stamper's Sampler directions and all the close-up here!!! (I rated a webpage entry too)!!

I made a little gift card holder. I have to admit it was a shameless CASE of a gift card holder that Heather made for me last Christmas. In this photo it's closed.

And here's it is open...

And a close of of the Crystal snow flake detail. As a reminder - Tutorial #1 and Tutorial #2.

Holy Cow! The Stamper's Sampler

I tell ya...I need to get out to the mailbox more often!! It's at the end of the block and I don't always get out there everyday with my key. Today---I found TWO issues of Stamper's Sampler in my mailbox. And I knew I'd been published again. BUT WOW!! I didn't expect a two page spread! (BIG GRIN)

I submitted the following shell cards to the "DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW" section. That's where you take on stamp and make different cards (and tags).





And this tag was for the "BIT OF BLING".

All in all it's a pretty good way to end a bad month. Still no job in sight...but I have one or two possible leads. Keep your fingers-crossed for me! Off to drink a little coffee in the place where it became famous...back in a week! (You know....it's a "GRUNGE" thing) hehehe....

Stamper' Sampler - Diary of a Desperate Housewife

WooHoo! I came home last night to my new copy of Stamper's Sampler and I had another card published!!

This was one of the "Tempting Template" challenges.

I printed Marie and the "eat cake" sentiment. She was framed with a rhinestone border. The roses are German Scrap. The "M" is Grungeboard covered with copper paint. Around the edges of the apron card I stamped pink flourishes.

Stamps: Stampin Up! COMPLIMENTS TO THE CHEF; Memory Box BAY FLOURISH
Paper: My Mind's Eye
Ink: Distress Ink, Colorbox Chalks, Brilliance
Accessories: Grungeboard letter, ribbon, rhinestone border, paper roses, primas, pearls, clipart image

Stamper's Sampler has a new look inside. I have mixed feelings about the new format, but there are some LOVELY cards in there this time.

And this is the template card that didn't make the cut!

I put a Carmel Pear Butter recipe under the flap.

Stamps: pear image & Magnolia sentiment (recipe)
Paper: Graphic 45
Ink: Colorbox Chalks
Accessories: button, Scrapper's Floss, gold pearls, ribbon

PUBLISHED!!!

I got a notice last week that at least one of the cards I had submitted to Stamper's Sampler would be published. My comp magazine came yesterday and two cards were published in Stamper's Sampler's sister magazine TAKE TEN!
So here are my cards!

This one I just threw into the pile going. It was a wet watercolor. You ink up different areas of the stamp and then mist with water. It's a cool look. And very easy to do. I put some extra color on a toothbrush and rubbed with my thumbnail. The distressed edges were also highlighted in the "closer look" section.

For this card I was playing with shapes. I colored simply with Copics.