The cat in Animal Talk

 

When I stamped the cat image in Tangerine Tango ink, I smiled, thinking about our big orange tabby, Frito. This stamp is in the Animal Talk set. The inside of the card says, "It's cat talk for 'What's up?' " I love the colors in the Retro designer series paper pack, then added some distressing and spritzing with the color spritzer on the card front.

 

 

Here's Frito Lay and my daughter. That cat loves the kids! Frito has a funny smirk on his face in this photo. He has quite the quirky personality, and bosses around our 98-pound dog easily.

 

Animal Talk frog card

 

Who wouldn't love a bright Gumball Green frog card that says, "ribbit"?

 

I embossed the front of the card with the Decorative Dots folder. It was a Sale-a-Bration item, and it's available to purchase in the new catalog. I added a strip of Watercolor Wonder designer paper, layered on Island Indigo card stock, then added the main stamp on a 2-1/2" Whisper White circle.

 

Inside the card, it says, "That's frog talk for 'What's Up?' "

 

This stamp set is retiring. When it's gone, it's gone (and the stamps are going FAST!). You're invited to place an order in my Online Store anytime you desire - http://therubberroom.stampinup.net. Thanks!

Fabulous swaps from my American Ink team of demonstrators

 

Take Care was the stamp set I chose for my American Ink swaps this month. I had the idea to use the Woodgrain embossing folder on Pool Party Core'dinations paper (Spring Catalog - ends April 30!), sanding it so the woodgrain stands out. This is my tree trunk, then I stamped and cut out a limb, the nest and eggs separately, then adhered them over each other. The sentiment is from Take Care, as well. The only colors I used were Pool Party and Early Espresso inks. Now for the rest of my team's swaps:

 

 

Puddin' used the Forever Young stamp set with some spectacular sponging, Label Framelits and piercing, and a builder brad.

 

 

Mary Ann used a Best of Birthdays stamp, along with 2013 Sale-a-Bration items Sycamore Street dsp and button, and the Vine embossing folder.

 

 

Kim used Parker's Patterns dsp with Animal Talk and natural trim, as well as Windows Collection Framelits.

 

 

Ginette's swap used a handful of punches and the Fancy Fans embossing folder with Teeny, Tiny Wishes and rhinestones.

 

 

Butterflies ruled Frankie's Delightful Dozen and Papillion Potpourri swap with both sizes of butterfly punches and the scallop trim border punch.

 

 

Bonnie's pocket card hit four birthday candles and used the Best of Birthdays stamp set with the Modern Label and Scallop Trim border punches.

 

 

And finally, Barb A.'s beautiful swap used the Little Leaves Sizzlit with the Fancy Fan folder and Papillion Potpourri stamp set and coordinating small butterfly punch. Barb said she CASE'd this from fellow demo Deena Boos at My Home Grown Art.

 

My American Ink group gets together to stamp, eat, share business ideas, promotions, and stamping tips and tricks the second Saturday of every month at my studio at 11 a.m. Stray demos are always welcome. Please contact me if you need more information, at ericandterry@comcast.net. Thanks!











 



Sharing a special day of love

 

This is just the ticket for somebody you love! Or two tickets with a heart clip!

 



 

Achievers on my American Ink team came to my studio yesterday to make four special projects - this is one of them. It's a Pretty in Pink card with a Basic Black layer that has been stamped and heat embossed in white with smudges and lines to look like a chalkboard. I add two stamps from That's the Ticket (Spring Catalog Item 128075 clear for $16.95) on a knot of 1/8" Whisper White taffeta, then finished it with a Cute Clip from the Elements pack (Item 129939, $4.95). The lines were made using a white crayon, though my gals got to use a white pencil I had at the studio. It worked much better! I used stamps from Animal Talk, Field Flowers, Word Play, Hearts a Flutter and Itty Bitty Banners. I'll share the other projects this week.

 

Here's one of the things I made for our lunch - a Spinach Strawberry Bacon Salad I found on Pinterest. It also had walnuts and red onions with a dressing that's included in the recipe. I got the photo and recipe here. It tastes SO good! My hubby and kids enjoyed the leftovers, though my son didn't care so much for the dressing.

I also made Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken and a Pink Lemonade Pie. Those recipes are also on Pinterest under my Favorite Recipes board.

 

 

Here in the United States, we have the day off to celebrate the observed birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. (His birthday was January 15.) My kids are happy to have an extra long weekend. I went to Atlanta in 1985 and visited MLK, Jr's Ebenezer Baptist Church where he was a co-pastor with his father during the civil rights era of the 1960s. It's an historic site. He truly was a great man whose words mean something even today. I bought a soft metal keychain with part of his "I have a dream" speech on it and used it till all of the letters rubbed off. MLK, Jr. Day is a day of service. Plant a tree, lend a hand to someone in need... just make a difference, share the love, and have a fabulous day. :-)

 

Animal Talk, raspberries and shabby chic oval frame

Simple and quick cards are also fun and easy-to-use cards. I used this Animal Talk design - CASE'd from the Stampin' Up! catalog (page 179) as one of five for my last 10-card class. I also made a half dozen, this time with the cat, as thank-yous for some club orders.

Check out the detail on this frame - the bows and draping and beading are gorgeous. I hit the dark brown frame with a one-two punch of Heirloom White paint and the sander, and Voila! A shabby chic oval frame. Love it!

This frame was only a few bucks. It was one of my finds when my BFF Kim and I went out and about. I can't decide whether to add a photo, add some designer paper and words, or punched images or what. Any suggestions? It'll look terrific hanging at my studio.

I sanded and painted all day today, so I will have more show and tell later in the week.

Oh, and here's one more share! I was playing with the dog in the backyard and saw these big red raspberries. The kids and I enjoyed a bowlful. Thank goodness more will be ripening soon. They're delicious!

Happy Stampin'!