Gone Camping ... Real Birch Bark Included

Happy Thursday, race fans!

Today's card project was created using the "Happy Camper" set designed by Theresa Momber for Gina K. Designs. I have fallen in love with this set ... I can't believe how many projects I've created using it ... and I still love it! If you're ready to fall in love, clicky HERE.

In case you were wondering about my post title, I stamped my "Gone Camping" sentiment on real birch bark! Really! I used StazOn solvent ink but I don't think it was necessary; I suspect it would work just as well using your favorite dye ink. Give it a try!

Oh. And if you have any birch trees in your yard, would you mind mailing me some? I've been hoarding this bit for years and now I need to replenish my birch-bark-supply ... sadly, birch trees don't grow down here. Come to think of it, the age of this bark may have something to do with it taking ink so well ...

I stamped my tent image on Stamper's Select card stock then stamped a mask on a Post-It note, catching as much of the sticky part as possible. Then I over stamped my vintage PSX Black Walnut tree image ... easy-peasy!

TIP: To mask without leaving a "halo" around your original stamped image, trim your mask inside the outline of your stamped image. Works every time!

I drew a horizon, sponged on lots of Distress inks, and added these funky l'il leaves I've had for-evuh. I don't even know where I got them, that's how long I've had 'em.

For the rest of the stupefying product info, check out the supply list, below.

So, Sheila hosted her annual 4th of July Extravaganza on, strangely enough, the 4th of July. She always tries to have something special just for the kiddies, and this year she hired a clown. I would have told you this story sooner but ... well, I forgot.

"So Reid, who's coming to your house tomorrow with with wild hair, a big nose, and huge feet?" I asked the Wild Child.

"Oh," Reid replied, "It's Uncle Larry, right?"

Ummm, Uncle Larry is my DH ...

~Hugs,

• Card Stock: Textured and Black Card Stock by Bazzill Basics; Stamper's Select White Card Stock by Papertrey Ink
• Other Paperish Thing: Real Birch Bark from a Real Birch Tree
• Stamps: Sentiment and Tent from Gina K. Designs; Black Walnut Tree by PSX
• Ink: Sentiment Stamped in StazOn Solvent Ink by Tsukineko; Tree and Tent Images Stamped in "Tuxedo Black" Memento Dye Ink by Tsukineko; "Brushed Corduroy," "Faded Jeans," "Mustard Yellow," and "Dried Marigold" Distress Inks by Ranger Industries
• Color Medium: Copic Markers
• Accessories: Plastic Leaves, Unknown
• Tools: Die-Cut Machine by Provo Craft; Nestabilities Dies by Spellbinders Paper Arts; Corner Rounder Punch by CarlaCraft; Inkssentials Ink Tool by Ranger Industries; Zig Markers; Scotch ATG 714 Adhesive; Foam Tape; Mini Glue Dots
• Finished Size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
  

Happiness Always ...

Beware the Ides of March and while you're at it, beware Friday the 13th! Man o'man, today is shapin' up to be a real loser, huh? Well, at least it's Friday ...

Today's card project was created for SCS's "Color Challenge," CC209, calling for Rose Red, Always Artichoke, and Basic Black. For all the challenge deets, clicky HERE. To go straight to the challenge gallery, clicky HERE. For the ginormous view of my card, clicky on the photo.

And speaking of photos, this card was just impossible to photograph accurately. To color-adjust the Rose Red, I had to reduce the intensity of the sponging ... which actually came out quite nice. You'd never know it by lookin' at my photo, but ... well, you'll just have to trust me that the image panel is almost beauteous IRL. In checkin' out the SCS CC209 gallery, I noticed that I'm not the only one having problems photographing this color combination ... not that there's anything wrong with that.

I colored my stamped image using reinkers and a water brush on Fabriano watercolor paper ... the yummiest watercolor paper for stampin' in the land! I sponged the image with Rose Red and Toile Pink inks, double-matted it, tied on a satin bow, added a key charm, then mounted the whole shebang on my black card base. The sentiment was stamped on a scrap of watercolor paper, lightly sponged, then double-matted.

Soooo, yesterday I went to Publix-Where-Shopping-is-a-Pleasure and decided to get some seafood.

After I'd asked for a half-pound of mahi mahi, the nice and pretty clerk picked one out of a pile and set it on the scale. It weighed precisely eight ounces.

Impressed, I asked, "How did you know?"

Looking very pleased with herself, she declared, "I'm psychotic."

And so am I ...

~Hugs,

• Card Stock: Stampin' Up
• Watercolor Paper: Fabriano
• Stamps: "Aranculus" by PSX; Sentiment "Happy Harmony" Set by Stampin' Up
• Inks: Archiver's Black by Ranger; "Toile Pink" Hybrid by Stewart Superior; "Rose Red" by Stampin' Up
• Reinkers: Stampin' Up
• Accessories: Ribbon by May Arts; Key Charm
• Tools: Die-Cut Machine by Provo Craft; Nestabilties Large Square Dies by Spellbinder's; Sponges; H20 Brush by Zig; Perfect Layers Tool by Stampin' Up; Scotch ATG 714;
  

Thankful ... That It's Friday

Hey, there you are! So guess what ... today is Virus Appreciation Day. And while I don't love viruses, I do appreciate the extra work they bring in for the DH. Who, by the way, can fix your computer anywhere in the whole-wide-world remotely. That's just soooo kewl, isn't it?

ONward H-C-M's:

Today's card project was created for Allison's "Suggestive Sunday" blog challenge. This week, Allison's theme is "Harvest."

I stamped my fall harvest wreath positioned in my Stamp-o-Graph, then colored the image using Koh-I-Noor woodless pencils, blending with a paper stump and Gamsol.

Once I was happy with my coloring ... like that ever happens ... I over stamped the image using "Timber Brown" solvent ink.

I cut the fall harvest wreath out with a craft knife, then mounted it on my card stock base using dimensionals.

Finally, I stamped my sentiment using a Simply Chic alphabet stamp set and solvent ink, then cut out and adhered each letter individually.

I know this wreath looks like a time-consuming job, but it ... was.

Hey, so yesterday, I went for my yearly physical exam.

After the usual eyes, ears, nose, throat, blood pressure stuff, Dr. Prettelt had me do some coordination tests. He even wanted to watch me walk to check my balance.

Then Dr. P. asked, "Deb, can you jump on one foot for me?"

So I walked over and jumped on his foot.

Was that so wrong? Right. I didn't think so either!

~Hugs,

• Card Stock: Papertrey Ink
• Stamps: Fall Harvest Wreath, PSX; Alphabet, Simply Chic, Provo Craft
• Ink: "Timber Brown Staz-On
• Color Medium: Koh-I-Noor Woodless Pencils
• Accessories: Dimensionals; Scrap Fusion PA
• Tools: Scissors; Craft Knife; Stamp-O-Graph; Gamsol; Creative Mark Paper Stump

Life Delights in Life; I Delight in Chocolate ...

Today's card project was created using beeee-you-tea-full card stock from Stampin' Up! that Mel-a-Licious sent me ... ummm, and the hardware too! Isn't Mel delicious!?!

I stamped my images on Vintage Cream card stock with dark brown fluid chalk ink, then heat embossed with clear powder. The focal image was die cut and matted on a scallop edge mat. I used the uber-kewl "Threading Water" border punch to create a l'il mat for my chocolate brown ribbon, then tied on a silver heart charm. My CTMH sentiment, available HERE, was framed in Stampin' Up hardware.

And that's it! Can you believe that I managed to create a post in less than five paragraphs?!? That's becuz today is "Potato Day" and I'm doin' some very intricate potato-stampin' ... tuber continued!

~Hugs,

• Card Stock: Bazzill Basic; Papertrey Ink; Stampin' Up!
• Patterned Paper: Stampin' Up!
• Stamps: PSX; Close to My Heart
• Ink: Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink; Versamark
• Other: Clear Embossing Powder
• Accessories: Metal Frame Holder; Brads; Jump Rings; Heart Charm; Grosgrain Ribbon
• Tools: Die-Cut Machine; Nestabilities Dies; Heat Gun; Border Punch by Fiskars]
  

PS: Due to the current weather conditions here in So Florida, I will likely lose power ... and my Internet connection. The only real question is when and for how long!

I have several blog posts pre-scheduled for this week, but if you email me with a question, or leave me a comment and don't hear back from me, that will be the reason why. I'll respond to all comments and questions just as soon as possible. Thanks!