These cards were really simple but they look so elegant and rich, because of the dark colors, I think. I used DP from Prima and I *think* Bravo Burgundy from SU to make these two cards. I stamped the largest snowflake from 'The Snowflake Spot' set in Bravo Burgundy ink and then added a touch of stickles to various small dots in the snowflake. I topped it off with this beautiful ribbon that matches so well and has a bit of gold shimmer to it. I like the overall antique appeal of these particular cards.

My first group of cards, I did my all time fave technique, Batik! I stamped the snowflakes randomly onto mullberry paper with versamark. I then emboss with clear EP. Next I spray a mist of water over the paper and then using sponges or daubers add various colors of ink all over the damp paper. I then use a warm iron with no steam and a sheet of copy paper over the top and iron off the EP onto the copy paper, then I mount the Batik onto white CS and add to my card or project. I think they look very watercolorish...what do you think? I added ribbon and beads to finish it all off. With all of the snow storms around, I really like these Batik flakes.

Ok...I know you have all heard the reviews, or maybe you have a teen daughter, or a niece or maybe you just love a good love story, something of a new classic, a tragic love that may or may not survive the odds. This is the Twilight Saga. My daughters, 16 and 13 were talking about the books and the movie and how everyone in school was reading or had already read them. What does a mom do? She goes out and buys the first book and reads it........and then..... the Mom becomes hopelessly addicted to the love story of a teen girl and her teen vampire boyfriend. The books are definitely written for teens but I was hooked anyway, there is a great book store on my way home from work that also sells used books, so I was able to satisfy my addiction at close to half price. I devoured all 4 books in 1 week. Then I just had to see the movie, but I waited for both girls to finish the first book before we went to the theater. The movie had some slow and dull moments but many more good moments. I am a hopeless romantic and both the books and the movie fed that part of my persona in a dreamy way. The young actors in the movie are wonderful, and it ends with an obvious lead into a second movie. We also fell for the soundtrack to this movie, made up of mostly new artists with some great modern songs.
So onto my project, with teens in mind and the craze over Edward and Bella, we got the download of the Twilight Soundtrack from Amazon, and I thought what a cool gift for my daughter to give to her pals for Christmas. We made a few CD's and CD case covers following a template available on PapertreyInk by Lauren Meader
We had a lot of fun creating these CD music covers and the Cd's.

When I think of Valentine cards or Romantic cards I automatically think Vintage, Old World Romance stuff...you know pearls and lace and flowers. That is what I was trying for with this card featuring the Floral Heart stamp from The Rubber Cafe
I stamped this image with Versafine black Onyx and then used my heat tool to set the ink. I colored in the small hearts and flowers with Copic markers. I thought this image would look nice with some sparkle so i added Stickles to the hearts and flowers. I love the patterned paper from prima Marketing it is sooo romantic and vintage to me anyway ;)
This older ribbon from Stampin' Up! and the stick on Pearl embellishments really tie it all together. Who wouldn't love getting this on Valentines Day or an anniversary?

CS: Blush Blossom from SU!; Chocolate Chip from SU!
DP: from Prima Marketing
Pearls: from Ellen Hutson
Stamp Image from www.therubbercafe.com
Ribbon: SU!

Here is a cute little Halloween Countdown Calendar I have been working on here and there with the help of my 12 yo DD. We finished it today! We meant to complete the last few details last week but it just didn't happen! we started with a small 5x7 (ish) clipboard and painted it black with acrylic paints. I then modpodged SU! designer Halloween paper from 2 (or more) years ago onto the clipboard. I was gifted some stamped images of 'Booglie Eyes' from Amanda over at Inkspirations, thanks Manda!!





I colored the little monsters with Copics and some with Prisma pencils, they are irresistible! my DD, Rebecca used Word to print out the Sentiment and numbers, we used a free font we found online called 'Bleeding Cowboys' and '28 Days Later' and 'Halloween Spider' aren't they cool? We printed the sentiment and numbers on white PTI cs.





I then let my DD take over and design the calendar. I used redliner tape to stick down two round thin washers to the clipboard.


We then pulled a magnet of the fridge, one that is thin with advertisements all over it, and cut it into small rectangles and stuck them on the back of the tags using redliner tape. The tags stick onto the clipboard with ease. We still have to design a pocket for the spare tags to adhere to the back. We tied a multitude of ribbons in the best Halloween colors, to the top of the clipboard.

Today was sketch challenge day on SCS today was SC196. I used the 'Winter Bird' image from The Rubber Cafe.
Again I used my copic markers to color the image. The white CS is from PTI and the colored CS is from SU! I used patterned paper from DCWV. I added some red organdy Ribbon.
I dampened the edges of the 'Bird' with water and a small paint brush. I then used a ruler and some scissors to distress the edges, and it gave me a deep nice distressing for the 'bird'. I also used a pencil to kind of 'curl' the upper corner.
Can you tell that I am loving these Bird images from The Rubber Cafe?? They are just too sweet and lovable!

CC186 on SCS
I used my New Stamp from The Rubber Cafe`
I colored the bird with Copic Markers and added some sparkle to the flowers with a glitter gel pen. The white CS is from PTI and all of the colored CS are from Stampin' Up! I used the treading water punch from Fiskars on the Sage Shadow cs. The ribbon is from American Crafts. (thank you scs secret friend!)