OBX artist Wayne Fulcher

 

Most of you that know me personally, know I'm a frustrated artist. Both my parents and my brother have talent. My grandfather was an artist. He supported his family of 4 children and a wife by using his gift. Anyway, I've tried to draw, but my sketches look like stick figures. I guess that's why I love rubberstamping so much. It makes me feel like an artist.

This photo is of a very talented artist on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. His name is Wayne Fulcher. Wayne's studio is in a gallery that sells his work. I love watching Wayne work! He makes his beautiful creations before your eyes. It's amazing to watch. Here, Wayne is sketching a mermaid for my daughter. It's on lined notebook paper, but she doesn't care. Wayne drew it for her. Wayne has an entire line of mermaid paintings. Some cute, some beautiful, all lovely. If you ever get the opportunity to visit the OBX, you may see Wayne walking or thumbing a ride on Rt. 12, usually in Frisco and Buxton. He is a character...doesn't own a car and doesn't paint at home. He seems happy with his life, just the way it is...gotta love that!

My favorite "tool tip"

Are your scissors sticky from trimming your rubber stamps? Or from cutting "Sticky Strip?" I want to share one of my favorite "tool tips". Used dryer sheets are the greatest when it comes to de-gunking the blades of your scissors. Carefully rub the blades with the used sheet and the "gunk" disappears like magic! Free, easy and chemical-free. Do you have a favorite tip...leave a comment and share it with me.

Thanks!

That's Strange!

 

My favorite card didn't make it into the previous post. hmmm... Thre blurry greeting says "In good times or bad"
The inside greeting says "I'm here for you" I LOVE that!

Senior Center Cards 9/27/07

 

 

 

 

These are the Sr. Center cards we made today. Eighteen ladies completed the 4 cards in under 2 hours. woohoo!
I have to keep the cards simple or we'd never get done.

Anyway...the pocket card used the new Boho Western set "Wanted". Great set for masculine cards.

Pink Blurry card (sorry) uses squares of Background paper and the 5 petal punch, a brad and dimensionals.

Blue card, is an inspiration from Cami...thanks Cami.

The last card is my personal fav. It is faux layered and embossed and then glittered!

All the cards are easy, but hopefully everyone learned a new trick or two.

Thanks for looking!

Blog Challenged!

 

Maybe I need more caffeine this morning...here is the pic that belongs with the post below. Enjoy!

Glittery Ornaments!

These ornaments were from the Philly Regional I attended this month. This picture does them ZERO justice. You can't image how they sparkled. Needless to say, chipboard was on my next order! I just have to remember to use it and not hoard it...lol. They used Stampin Up Craft Ink to color the chipboard. While the ink is still wet, they covered it with Iridescent Ice embossing powder and heated with a heat gun. The Crop-a-dile was used to create a hole for stringing a ribbon or cord. Easy!

Supplies:

"Trimmings" On Board Chipboard
Real Red Craft Ink
Brocade Blue Craft Ink
White Craft Ink (a must have for lots of techniques)
Pretty in Pink Craft Ink
Pixie Pink Craft Ink
Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder
Metallic Elastic Cord
Red and White Gingham Ribbon
Heat Gun

Emergency Birthday Card Kit

 

Earlier this month, I went to a fabulous Stampin Up Event for demonstrators only. It was held at the Philadelphia Convention Center. Some of my downline and I took the train, right into the Market Street East station. There were 500 other Demos in attendance, all were sharing ideas, swapping and learning lot of new tips, tricks and techniques! This photo shows something I thought was cool. I love the Simply Scrappin kit, not just for scrapbooking, but for cardmaking as well. This idea is an Emergency Birthday Card Kit. It has a cute saying on the front of the package that hold 8 cards and envelopes. I had to order this kit and make one for myself. I think I see a class in the near future.

Did you vote?

Did you notice the Poll? ----->
Looks like I'm going to have to post a card to make someone vote for poor Soft Sky and River Rock. I do love all the new In Colors offered by Stampin Up. I'm really surprised Purely Pomegranate doesn't have more votes. It's the "red" I've been wanting for years. It has just a touch of blue and it's my absolute favorite. So rich and elegant.

Speaking of Elegant

I have an Elegant Holiday Stamp a Stack coming up in October. Actually, 2 S.A.Ss. The other is Whimsical Holiday. This should cover most everyone's taste.

The Elegant "stack" will have cards using rich colors, embossing, etc.

The Whimsical "stack" will be more casual cards...pastel colors, snowmen, snowflakes, maybe a cute Santa in the lot.

If you are interested in learning more about my classes, please contact me via email.

Thanks very much!
Ellen

Ahoy Matey!

 

I was teasing the kids and told them I was going to sent this pic in our Christmas Card this year. I showed them the Stampin Up "Ahoy Matey" pirate stamp set and had them believing I was really going to send pirate theme cards for Christmas. They were, of course, dying! I wouldn't do it, but it was fun to watch them squirm for a bit. Hard to believe she is 3 1/2 years older than her brother. This pic was taken on a recent vacation to the OBX. I love it there, so relaxing!

Opened View

 

Don't you wish you could open one of these babies and find a Gold American Express card...loaded of course! Now that would be fun!
These gift card holders are great for the upcoming Holiday Season. Simply embellish and insert card. Everything is die-cut and little tabs hold the card in place. Makes a nice presentation for a fraction of the cost of store-bought ones. My friend (a non-stamper) paid a buck a piece for gift card holders last Christmas. I had a little "chat" with her. We made nicer holders without the store logo for a fraction of the cost.

See deets (details) in the following post.

Holiday Basic class...not so basic.

 

click on image for a better view. thx

These are cards we made at my Holiday Basic class. Sorry for the poor quality pic. The "pink" card is actually Kraft...hmmm. Maybe I should stamp less and read the book that came with the camera instead...lol...that's not fun. I was desperate for sales in July and offered a FREE class if they purchased the set and a Stazon pad. Live and learn.

So, do you ever make up a sample in cheap CS to see if you like the design of a card. I did that with the powder blue and light green check card on the left. The ladies did not make that one, but they all seemed to like it. It is funky and retro. The one they made was the Kraft CS card. The yellow (So Saffron) gift card holder is a Stampin Up goodie. Comes with a nice confetti envelope. 30/9.95! and too cute. See previous pic for a view of the holder opened. Watchmaker tin can be an ornament or could be used for a tree ornament. Even thought you can'y see it so well, the snowman card is my fav. The "snowdrifts" are torn and sponged with Ballet blue, for defination. I love the Not Quite Navy CS for the card base. Snowflakes are stamped using Stampin Up White craft ink.

Close up...

 

Cupcake Cards

 

I had an idea about how to create cupcakes with "frosting"...using CS of course. I've been so bad about sending birthday cards. Yesterday I sat down and pumped these out for the ladies in our Stamp Club. First, I ran a piece of white CS through the Cuttlebug, using the Swirls embossing folder. Punched scalloped circles using my new favorite punch in the embossed white CS. Cut those in 1/2...added some glitter to the swirls. I crimped a piece of "vanilla" for the cake portion. Trimmed to resemble the cake. Popped up the Cupcake on PopDots. I used the set of stamps I received at Stampin Up Regionals (last Friday) for the background. I now have a few extra cards for upcoming birthdays. hmmm...I think my niece will get one of these on 9/26 :o)

She got the idea...

 

I made this card for my DD's b'day. She has a hot pink and orange beach chair with matching umbrella...she loves them! The chair has an attached pillow, a cup holder and a cool pocket for valuables. If you shop at BJ's Club, you may have seen them there. Anyway, I normally don't stray from Stampin Up stamps, but I had to buy this one. I colored with Prismacolor Pencils and used Gamsol to complete the coloring. The swirls (white panel) were created using the Cuttlebug. You can't see it, but on the orange layer, there is a hibiscus flower stamped using versamark. I didn't want it to over power the image, so it's subtle.

Thanks for looking!

Watercoloring 101

 

Recently, I tried my hand at watercoloring stamped images. Debbie Olsen was my inspiration. I used a Fabriano watercolor card...they are fabulous! Stamped the image using Black Stazon ink. A Stampin Up Aquapainter was my brush and SU ink pads were my palette. While closed, just squeeze the pad into the lid...open and Viola, a palette. A simple length of organdy ribbon completes the card. Simple, yet elegant! The 2 smaller stamped images to the left of the card are samples I made to show my class other options for coloring.

and the 4th

 

Normally, I wouldn't show my mistakes but I thought this one might be helpful. I stamped the dragonfly using black ink on vellum. Allowed the image to dry. Colored the wings from the back with a white Prismacolor pencil. My mistake was using a glue I thought wouldn't show through the vellum. It did...yikes! No way to fix this, so I had to show the ladies "what not to do" :o)

3 out of 4

 

These are 3 of the 4 cards I created for my Measure of a Life class, last month. I'll show you the 4 card in a different post. These cards used a variety of ways to color.

Pastels/Chalks on the Basic Gray Butterfly card
Magic Color Pencil using Gamsol on the Dragonfly card
Polished Stone on the Wild Wasabi Butterfly card

Contact me if you would be interested in learning more about my classes.

Thanks for looking!
Ellen

It's Celery again

I made "luggage" tags for my Downline. Actually these are cute tags to hang off of a tote bag or could be used as a keychain. These appear Old Olive but are actually Certainly Celery with Wild Wasabi initials. We went to a Stampin Up Regional seminar in Philly, yesterday. We learned lots of new tips, tricks and techniques.

 

I wish.....

...I could take better pictures. Maybe it's the camera ;O)I made this luggage ID tag for my bag that's going to regionals with me. Although you'd never know it from this pic, my bag is Certainly Celery trimmed with black. I used all Stampin Up products....Certainly Celery CS, Celery Double Sided Designer paper. I grabbed the wrong ink pad and used Wild Wasabi, but I like it. I used the Spring Bouquet punch for the little white flower. Tied Celery grosgrain and white narrow organdy ribbons *retired sniff* in the holes that came in the tag holder. I have more pics to show, but will have to wait ;O)

 

Check out my Slide Show!

It's my birthday!

Happy Birthday to me....but you reap the benefits! Too much reading to find out if I can advertise a special on this blog. So, if you are interested to see what I have in store for TODAY only...drop me an email. I'll get back to you....but remember you must reply on September 12... We are still eating Jess' b'day cake...yum...white cake w/ Pink buttercream icing, her request. My Mom is the best!

Oppps! I forgot!

My intention was to make a simple card to give as a belated birthday card. This stamp, from a Stampin Up set called "Year after Year" is of a cute elephant. I think this stamp was created to use for baby cards or scrapbook pages for babies. The elephant is on a base that has wheels, making him/her look like a pull toy. I didn't want a baby card this time. I used a Ballet Blue marker directly on the rubber to ink only the elephant. I used the Mat Pack to create the row of holes below the scrapbook paper. I don't always put a greeting on (or in) my card until I'm ready to use it. I could use this for a belated b'day, a child's b'day card, for a baby boy or just send to someone who likes elephants. :o) I will ink up a greeting stamp when I need to...until then...it will remain "naked"

 

Senior Center Cards 9/13/07

So here is the photo of all 4 cards we made at the Sr. Center today. A variety of new ideas, most case'd from Splitcoaststampers.

Mummy Card
Tattoo Art Card
Pocket "cherish" card
Baby or Birthday card

 

Tattoo Art

I love the "Wing It" stamp set from Stampin Up. I like the "tattoo art" style. My children said it reminds them of Batman...so my DH chimes in with the Batman theme song. Very supportive aren't they?!! I will change the wings, just not today.

 

Daisy Pocket card

I love 3 x 6 inch cards! I can make 4 from one sheet of 12 x 12 CS. This pocket card uses a little more CS for the note with pull tab. (5" x 2-3/4") I used embossed daisy vellum. I like the softness of the card. I have to get into a more fall-like mode. The pastel colors and summery flowers will soon be gone. Just a few more days of summer left...I can't wait for the cooler weather!

 

Stamp Ahead, Scrap behind...

I've heard that stampers create cards in advance and scrapbookers are usually working after an event. Well, I'm basically a stamper, so I'm thinking ahead...to Halloween. I case'd this mummy card from Splitcoast stampers...I think it was from a recent Stampin Up Regional event. No stamping involved on this card, well, not on the front. In the photo I see I was a little sloppy with the glue in the eyes.

Tip of the Moment!

Use your Embossing Buddy to lightly dust the excess glue. After it's dry, of course. (I used Mono Multi, which is sticky/shiny after it's dry.)
The Embossing Buddy will take away the sheen so it won't be as noticeable. It's a quick fix!

 

Crabby Monday...NOT!

This is a card from one of my Sr. Center classes. I love the Cuttlebug embossing folder used to look like water. Simple card! Could put a smile on anyone's face! The glitter is not showing up...hmmm. And I couldn't add this photo to my slide show....back to the drawing board.

 

Oldie but Goodie!

I taught a class and everyone created an mini album like this one. It's really cool! After opening, the album unfolds to reveal pockets that contain photos. Just pull the ribbon tab. Then, pockets flip to reveal the journaling. I used the Stampin Up white gel pen on the black cardstock...very effective. A "belly band" holds it all together. See Supplies below.

 

 

 

 

Supplies:

Doodle That Stamp Set
Doodle This Stamp Set

Cardstock:
Marigold Morning (retired)
Old Olive
Rose Red
Tempting Turquoise
Basic Black


Marigold Morning ink pad
Rose Red ink pad
Basic Black ink pad
Black grosgrain ribbon
Black brads
1-3/8 circle punch
1-1/4 circle punch
Gift Cards and Mini Envelopes...we only used the envelopes to create the pockets to hold photos.