Happy Labor Day Weekend~

I'll see you on the other side of the holiday weekend. Morgan and I are heading up to her soccer tournament in the Orange County'sh area for the weekend, while Jay and Brett have some guy time at home.

Enjoy your time together doing something fun!

V.~

Legoland, California!~

Yesterday was a full day at Legoland with Brett and his best friend, Alec! We had a spectacular day. 10 is the perfect age for Legoland! We've been hitting Legoland every summer
just before school starts as an end of summer fun day, yesterday was no exception. Crowds were light, lines were short, and the new Sea Life exhibit was beautiful!

Mushroom Lane Fire Station ~

This stamp was sent to me by Becky, one of the CHF gals who actually visited the farm where all CHF stamps are made. A challenge was issued. You know the story, challenge me.....well I have to give it a go.

Mushroom Lane is a funky, whimsical line (unmounted or wood mount) that CHF has had for a some time. It's unlike anything I own or stamp like, but it was actually quite fun to color in with my Prismacolor colored pencils. I merely followed the insert from the packaging for color reference.

I tried and tried to come up with a coordinating sentiment...anyone? I thought that "never, never, never give up" a sentiment from one of the Mona Lisa Moments sets could work if you were sending this to someone in the fire academy....would have to be a gal though, not sure a guy would appreciate the card. I think flames would need to be involved to interest a guy. *wink*

Remember, you can always click on any picture and enlarge it to see the details.

Anyway, challenge finished. What do you think?

V.~

Stamps: Mushroom Lane Fire Station by Cornish Heritage Farms, Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Paper: Classic Crest Solar White, Black Prism, Tools: Prismacolor colored pencils, Souffle pens, White gel pen by Ranger, Clear Spica glitter pen, Accessories: Yellow mini brads, Red gingham check ribbon, Dimensional foam

Faux Rocker~

What's that you ask? Faux Embossing makes for a faux rocking boat! LOL Faux Embossing is the TLC today over at SCS. You can find the info here.

In a nutshell, you stamp one image in a darker ink and using your Stamp A Majig, or similar stamp placement tool, stamp the image again, slightly to the left, right, top or bottom, to create a shadow effect that gives the effect of embossing. I used Ballet Blue to stamp the bottom boat and Craft White for the top image, combined together with the kraft card stock, it comes off looking like Bashful Blue.

Finished card is 5" x 5" and will head over to a friend who's grandson is due any minute now!

V.~

Supplies:
Stamps: Nursery Necessities, Paper: Kraft, Night of Navy, White, Summer Picnic DSP, Ink: Ballet Blue, Craft White, Black, Accessories: Stamp a majig, RR, SS, N Buttons, Linen Thread, Mat Pack, Bashful Striped ribbon, Dimensionals

More Mocha, please~

Mocha Chica card set and coordinating box. Cards are 4.25 square and fit into the custom made box.

Kim's Mocha Chica Paper Pack is available tomorrow, Friday August 22nd, over at Cornish Heritage Farms!

V.~

Stamps:
Foursquare, Tag You're It, Baked With Love, Pretty Birds and Mocha Chica (Kim Hughes) by Cornish Heritage Farms
Ink:
Momento Rich Cocoa, Pear Tart, Angel Pink by Tsukineko
Adirondack Aqua by Ranger
Paper:
Classic Crest Solar White by Neenah
Brown Textured by Die Cuts with a View
Patterned Paper:
Quarter Shot, Raspberry Creme, Green Tea, Ice Cappy and Fresh Press from the MochaChica Paper Pack (Kim Hughes Collection) by Cornish Heritage Farms
Tools:
Cuttlebug by Provo Craft
Nestabilities Circle and Scalloped Circle dies by Spellbinders
Scor-Pal
Accessories:
Brown dotted sheer ribbon by May Arts
Brown mini brads
Dimensional foam

Mocha Chica Hello~

I made this card with the cute new little Kim Hughes Mocha Chica stamp set (set of 7 images and words) while eagerly awaiting the BRAND SPANKING NEW coordinating line of Mocha Chica patterned paper, both available Friday, the 22nd at Cornish Heritage Farms.

Today I'll share this card, tomorrow a card showcasing the patterned paper. What I LOVE about the patterned paper, it's heavyweight, not flimsy paper weight - those who know me, know that I just have to have the heavy weight stuff!

Layout from PaperCrafts.

Stamps:
MochaChica (Kim Hughes) by Cornish Heritage Farms
Ink:
New Sprout, Bahama Blue and Rhubarb Stalk Momento Dye Ink by Tsukineko
Card Stock:
Classic Crest Natural White by Neenah Paper, Suede Brown Dark by Prism
Patterned Paper: Dirt Roads from the Detour Collection by October Afternoon
Tools:
Design Ruler by Tim Holtz
Sewing machine
Sanding block (Beauty supply shop)
atyou Spica clear glitter pen by Too Marker Products
Accessories:
Pink grosgrain ribbon
Dimensional foam

V.~

Random.org picks an Engineer!

Crafty Engineering said...

My most recent train memory would be taking my son to the Day out with Thomas event at Crossroads Village in Michigan! He had such a fun time. In fact I haven't scrapbooked this event yet, so I am hoping my post is the lucky one because these stamps would be PERFECT!!

August 18, 2008 8:17 AM

Andrea,
Please email me your snail mail address so I can get these stamps on the tracks to you!
You may email me by clicking on View My Complete Profile, my email link is on the left side!

Congrats!
Valerie

Dabbered~

CHF is much more than just stamps, today's CHF DT Blog Challenge is the Favorite Product Challenge. Well, there are many product offerings from embossing powders to inks to wood mounts and a million things in between. Well not a million, but there are many to choose from!

I chose Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabbers because they are a different color application than we are used to playing with and they are also "the perfect mess-free paint applicator for foam and rubber stamps, cards, scrapbook pages, altered books, canvas, frames and more."

I wasn't sure what I wanted to create when I started so I started by stamping the Polka Dot Backgrounder onto a Clear Card Sheet with an Espresso Paint Dabber. It dries pretty quickly, but I was still undecided on what to create so I took a break and sat on the patio reading my current book, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, and relaxing for a spell.

Well, a tag/bookmark seemed to be what wanted to come out. Probably because I lost my favorite bookmark the other day at the beach. It just up and disappeared, so I've been using a NY&Co receipt for over a week and I just need a real bookmark.

To finish this project I trimmed the stamped clear card sheet down to 2" x 5.5" and cut a strip of patterned paper to the same size. I adhered these together using a jumbo eyelet. The image was created by air brushing a few Copic colors with the air brush system and over stamping the palm tree that was inked up with the Espresso Paint Dabber. After letting it dry, I cut it out with a Nestabilities Circle Die and roughly edged the circle with the paint dabber. The sentiment was stamped onto a patterned paper scrap, a brown card stock strip attached, and the image glued down before adhering the entire focal image panel to the clear card sheet with mini glue dots. To finish off the tag/bookmark, ribbons, hemp and beads are tied through the eyelet.

The finished piece looked a wee lonely photographed all by itself, so I quickly created a coordinating mini treat bag using the same supplies.

Be sure to check out the other DT members and see what product is on their favorite list!
Links to their blogs may be found on the right side bar under CHF Design Team.

One more day for the candy drawing, see the post below!

V.~

Stamps: Paradise Found (Kim Hughes) by Cornish Heritage Farms, Large Polka Dot Backgrounder by Cornish Heritage Farms, Ink: Adirondack Espresso Paint Dabber, Versafine Vintage Sepia by Tsukineko, Paper: Classic Crest Solar White by Neenah Papers, Suede Brown Dark by Prism, Patterned Paper: Mint Dot by BoBunny, Tools: Cuttlebug, Nestabilities Circle Die by Spellbinder, Copic Air Brush system, Copic Markers: Y02, Y17, YR16, YG23, Silent Setter by Provo Craft, Accessories: Clear Card Sheet by Cornish Heritage Farms
Jumbo Eyelets by WeRMemory Keepers, Celery striped ribbon by May Arts, Brown gingham check by, Wal-Mart, Brown grosgrain - unknown, Hemp, Glass beads, Glue Dots, Small treat bag by Target Stores

Doubles for me, Candy for You!

Sooo.....a miscommunication left me with doubles of the brand spanking new Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends release this month. I emailed Liz and asked if she wanted me to post them back to her, nope, she said absolutely not, offer them up as blog candy. Generous is just one of the many complimentary words that describe Liz and Richard of CHF! They are a very special company!

From today until Tuesday, August 19th, leave a comment about a train memory or experience and I'll enter you into a random drawing to win this entire set of stamps. Pretty cool, huh!

Okay, the minor details:
- one post per person
- no anonymous posts
- you must include a train memory or experience, if you don't have one, that's okay, just say so!
- as I ship from my home using USPS Click and Ship Flat Rate Priority Mail, only residents of the United States are eligible.

So my train memory....

I grew up here in San Diego and we visited our grandmother who lived in Bay Park frequently. Since she lived only about 20 minutes away we spent quite a bit of time with her, everyday visits just to spend the day or overnighters, and of course, special holidays and birthdays. I feel very fortunate to have had both of my grandparents living close to us as we grew up.

Anyway, back to my train memory: One of the *field* trips she would take us 4 kids on was to take the train to Del Mar, have lunch, and then come back to her home. I remember thinking we were on the train for a really long time....LOL, it's only about 20 miles or something, really short, but along the coast so there was lots to look at. I also remember stopping for Hostess Snowballs as part of the day - ahhh, big pink and fluffy treats!


V.~

*NEW* Thomas Kinkade Series Paper Packs

Do you love Thomas Kinkade images? A little bit intimidated by the stamp images? But still want to create beautiful Thomas Kinkade cards and gifts for your family and friends?

Thomas Kinkade Series Paper Packs are for you! Above are 2 samples, made in just a few minutes after selecting the images and coordinating paper from each paper pack. Each card has just one stamped sentiment, that's it. The rest is from the beautiful paper packs, a scrap of card stock for the matting and a few simple embellishments. Cornish Heritage Farms is releasing 2 paper packs today, August 12th, the Christmas Series and Masculine Series. These are 8" x 8" One - Sided papers, 2 each of 18 different designs. The images come in a selection of several sizes and there are coordinating patterned papers to use with the images or to mix and match.

Supplies:
Joy Peace Love:
Stamps: Christmas Expressions (Mona Lisa Moments) by Cornish Heritage Farms
Ink: Encore Silver Metallic by Tsukineko, Momento London Fog by Tsukineko (slight dtp on card edges)
Paper: Classic Crest Solar White by Neenah Paper (base), Prismatics Gray by Prism
Patterned Paper: Thomas Kinkade Christmas Series Paper Pack
Tools: Heat tool by Marvy, 1 3/8" circle punch by EK Success, Design Ruler by Tim Holtz
Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, Silver mini brads - unknown, Silver/black ribbon by Michaels Craft Stores, Loose glitter, Two way glue, Dimensional Foam

Two Roads:
Stamps: Motivational Centers (Mona Lisa Moments) by Cornish Heritage Farms
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black by Tsukineko
Paper: Classic Crest Solar White by Neenah Paper (base), Prismatics Black by Prism
Patterned Paper: Thomas Kinkade Masculine Series Paper Pack
Tools: Design Ruler by Tim Holtz, Stamp Positioner by EK Success
Accessories: Twill tape, Thread, Dimensional foam

V.~

For No Other Reason~

Than to just play on a Sunday morning - no gifts to make for anyone, no papers, embellishments or stamp sets in particular to use, just to play. I used to play regularly in the Featured Stamper Challenge on SCS and somehow stopped - not sure why, overwhelmed with other projects and summer activity I suppose. Anyway, I do think it's time to play for no other reason than just to play and to do so more often, and to use whatever strikes my fancy.

So that's what I did here, back to my SU! roots, mostly anyway. When I looked through Kim's gallery, Blondie090277 over on SCS, I decided on this leaf card, simple, yet stunning and not so full of layers and schtuff. I knew in the recesses of my SU! sets I had the set Autumn Leaf Prints that would work perfectly. So I began, just played - it came together so quickly! Love when that happens - all my paper choices worked perfectly from the get go, the colors worked, the scored frame, everything. I love this card and will send it out to some friends of mine who have been so generous to me and providing me with opportunities I would not have had if I hadn't met them.

The card details, for those who like that sorta thing:
The leaf was stamped in olive and then rolled in rust before stamping onto the vanilla layer. After stamping, a scored frame was created using the Scor-Pal. Then the edges were ink distressed with rust, and it was layered on a distressed rust panel. Mini brads were set into each corner before matting again on the green layer with dimensionals. The ribbon was tied around the card and then crinkled very carefully using a heat tool to age it a bit (too much and the ribbon melts away, so be careful!) and a rust button was tied around with linen thread. The completed image panel was attached to the base with dimensionals. Stamp "thanks" on a Bordering Blue scrap, punch out with an oval punch, and attach to the image panel with a dimensional. The unexpected blue ties into a subtle blue from the patterned paper.

Yesterday was full of soccer, Morgan's team winning both games, and a birthday celebration topped off the evening. The tournament continues today, so I'd best be cleaning up my mess and getting ready to head out again. Yesterday was so beautiful and the weather looks to be cooperating again. It's warm where we live, in the 90's, but the tournament is a bit north and west of us, plus on a plateau with a great summer breeze to cool things down.

Have a spectacular Sunday!

V.~

Supplies: Stamps: Autumn Leaf Prints, Paper: SU! Very Vanilla, Bordering Blue, Bazzill textured green and rust, Patterned Paper: Wild Asparagus "Home" by My Mind's Eye, Ink: SU! Old Olive and Really Rust, Accessories: 5/8" Chocolate Organdy ribbon, Really Rust button, Linen thread, Oval punch, Dimensionals, Scor-Pal (to create frame around image), Olive mini brads, Heat tool (to crinkle ribbon).

Dots, Stripes, Skulls and Bling~

A gift combo for my niece's 19th birthday tomorrow.....the skull and crown stamp from Unity Stamp Company are my favorite go to images for teen girl stuff....I just love them! One, they are solid stamps, so quick and easy, and two, the heart eyes with added bling are really cute, three, a bling studded crown and what girl teen wouldn't love this.

The clear take out box from Target 's gift bag section was simply embellished with cutouts of the images, more bling, and ribbon ties on the handle. A bit of pink crinkle and a treasure map roll-up for a bit of moolah and I know Bri will love it - Morgan saw it and said so! LOL

Have a wonderful weekend! Another 2 day soccer tournament and 2 birthday parties are on our agenda.

V.~

Supplies: Stamps: Love is Toxic by Unity Stamp Company, Ink: ColorBox Fluid Chalk ink Rouge and Azurite, Paper: Classic Crest Natural White by Neenah Papers, Brown by Bazzill, Patterned Paper: Detour Collection by October Afternoon, Tools: Design Ruler by Tim Holtz, Precision scissors by CutterBee, Accessories: Rhinestones by Kaisercraft, Turquoise mini brads by SU!, Dimensionals by SU!, Ribbons by SU!, May Arts, and Michaels Arts and Crafts, Clear take out box from Target, Pink crinkle from Target

You Can Do It! ~

Wouldn't this be a fun and simple card to slip into your young student's snack or lunch as a special surprise on their first day of school?

I kept this card purposefully simple to show that these images can hold their own without being colored. Just bold card stock and black embossing and this card pops and can be done in the time it takes your sleepy child to rouse on that first day of school.

If your child loves Thomas then be sure to head over to Cornish Heritage Farms today, the official release day for Thomas the Tank Engine!

Card deets:
Stamps:
TT-103Q Thomas the Tank Engine - 3/4 view by Cornish Heritage Farms
No. 1 Blue Engine by Cornish Heritage Farms
You Can do it! from Train Expressions by Mona Lisa Moments for Cornish Heritage Farms
Ink:
Versafine Onyx Black by Tsukineko
Paper:
Yellow by Prism
Blue, Red, and Black textured card stock by Dies Cuts with a View
Classic Crest Solar White by Neenah Paper
Tools:
Heat tool by Marvy
Design Ruler by Tim Holtz (to create holes for mini brads)
Accessories:
Black mini brads
Clear embossing powder
Dimensional foam


No. 1 was cut from sentiment that says "No.1 Blue Engine" and used as a tab accent. All black stamped images and sentiments are clear embossed over black ink.

V.~

The Cart before the Horse....

Isn't that the saying? That's how I felt today, in more than one area, seeming to do things in a backwards order. Anyway, after breakfast I started working on a Bel Air card from my FIL's birthday coming up, had the card stock cut, the patterned paper trimmed, the images for the most part on the card stock and then I took a break to head out to the store to get the gift.

Welllllll, Barnes and Noble has these great little FREE gift card boxes that you can select from when you purchase a gift card. Well, men, for the most part (imho) aren't all that particular if the box for their gift is store bought, home made, a special free box, etc....so I wasn't going to reinvent the wheel for the gift card and create something; I brought home this box.

Well this box certainly didn't go with teal and gray, or stripes and dots for that matter, and the box is just too nice to cover up, so I started again. The box dictated a color scheme of dark green and burgundy, so I pulled out my Prism swatch book to see what would coordinate best. Herbal Garden and Blush Red fit the bill, so I pulled out the colors to create the belly band. The last edition to the band is the ribbon embellishment...it needed something vertical going on to balance all those horizontal lines; I thought that a simple easy ribbon accent was the perfect ticket. Not too girly and tied off with some manly hemp, yep, that solved the problem. After I made the belly band, I got stuck. There just isn't a card inside me anymore....believe me, I tried....circular file, circular file, circular file....A2, 3 x 3, 4 x 4, note card, yep, tried every size - smeared too many images than I care to admit and finally admitted defeat. I don't do that too often, generally the competitive beast tries to overcome the obstacle. Not today. I stopped.

Well, it's time to straighten up the tornado out at my stamp area, throw a load in the washer and figure out what to make for a quick and easy dinner. I wish the Pioneer Woman would come cook for us!


ETA: I knew it! Men! LOL Jay came home from work and I told him I had trouble making a matching card for his dad's gift. I showed him the gift card box and his reply was "well, isn't that what that is?"

V.~

Stamps: GM 1957 Bel Air by Cornish Heritage Farms, You're a Classic by Mona Lisa Moments for Cornish Heritage Farms Ink: Versafine Spanish Olive by Tsukineko, Momento Rich Cocoa by Tsukineko, Paper: Herbal Garden Dark, Blush Red Dark by Prism, Classic Crest Natural White by Neenah, Tools: Piercing tool by Making Memories (for brad placement), Design Ruler by Tim Holtz, Distressing tool by Making Memories, Dimensional foam, Accessories: Antique mini brads by American Crafts, Olive satin ribbon by Michaels Stores, Dark Red Hemp unknown source

#1 Song on This Date in History~

I was blipping around on SCS tonight and found this link:

#1 Song

So I followed the link and found out the #1 song on my birth date was:

Big Bad John by Jimmy Dean (doesn't he make sausage?!) LOL

What's your song?

V.~

Chugging into town on August 7th!

It's Thomas the Tank Engine
Hip hip hip hip hooray
Chugga chugga chug chug, Chuff chuff chuff
He rides along the way
And when you hear that whistle
It can only be one train
Our favorite little engine
Thomas is his name

Okay so I had to Google the lyrics, it's been awhile since a Thomas fan has lived in our house, although the Brio track and its engines will sometimes make it out to play on a the rare occasion.

Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends is being released on Thursday over at Cornish Heritage Farms. Included in this month's release are 2 Thomas images, Sir Topham Hat, several sentiments, as well as a cool Track Backgrounder and Train Expressions, a wonderful sentiment set by Mona Lisa Moments geared for the junior train enthusiast. Pre-order Thomas now and save 10%!

Card deets:
Stamps:
Thomas the Tank Engine - Front by Cornish Heritage Farms
Full Steam Ahead by Cornish Heritage Farms
Track Backgrounder by Cornish Heritage Farms

Ink:
Versafine Onyx Black by Tsukineko

Paper:
Blue, Red, and Black textured card stock by Die Cuts With a View
Yellow by Prism
Classic Crest Solar White by Neenah

Tools:
Prismacolor Colored Pencils: PC903 True Blue, PC924 Crimson Red, PC917 Sunburst Yellow, PC944 Terra Cotta, PC1060 Cool Grey 20%, PC1065
Cool Grey 70%
Heat tool by Marvy
Piercing tool by Making Memories

Accessories:
Yellow mini brads
Yellow stitched ribbon by Michaels Stores
Clear Embossing Powder
Dimensional foam

Image stamped in Versafine Onyx Black and immediately dunked into clear embossing power and embossed. This helped retain the fine lines for ease of coloring the image with Prismacolor colored pencils and "shined" up the solid black areas.

V.~

Miss You....

The end of last week and the weekend was a blur, soccer, more soccer and even more soccer, plus a date with Jay kept us pretty busy. It's hard to believe it's Monday and August already! Morgan is on the school countdown, how is that possible? School for her begins 2 weeks from today. I foresee a trip to the mall soon for the annual beginning of school shopping - ahh, the joys of shopping with a teenager await me!

The beginning of August also means a new Stamp of the Month release from Cornish Heritage Farms. This month is the fun, Kissable Tree by Kim Hughes. I inked up the tree in Memento New Sprout ink and kissed it with the Grid Paper Backgrounder that was inked up in Momento Bamboo Leaves. The image was stamped onto white card stock and matted onto brown, seven 3/4" circles were added to the backside left portion of the matted image to form a scalloped edge, the excess was trimmed off. The sentiment and birdie are from Kim's Cute Curls set; the bird was stamped onto a white scrap, colored in with Copics, trimmed and mounted to the tree with dimensional foam. Four brown mini brads anchor the image panel. The celery card base is Bazzill textured card stock, the texture reinforces the grid lines from the kissed tree and the scallops mimic the swirls of the tree branches. Fun when things work out like that! A bit of celery striped ribbon tied in a half bow completes the card.

Happy Monday!

V.~

Stamps:
Kissable Tree by Kim Hughes for Cornish Heritage Farms
Cute Curls by Kim Hughes for Cornish Heritage Farms
Grid Paper Backgrounder
Ink:
New Sprout, Bamboo, and Rich Cocoa Momento Dew Drop by Tsukineko
Paper:
Celery and Brown by Bazzill
Simply Smooth White and Baby Blue Medium by Prism
Tools:
3/4 inch circle punch by EK Success
Design Ruler by Tim Holtz
Precision Scissors
Copic Markers: B21 and G24
Accessories:
Celery striped ribbon by May Arts
Dimensional foam
Piercing tool