Win a handmade item from me!!

This is from Carol, who made such a nice comment on my cards, thanks! This sounds like fun! :-) So the first 5 people to comment on this post, will win something handmade from me! Just follow the directions below.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2- What I create will be just for you.
3- It'll be done sometime this year (I'll have it to you in a couple of weeks after I get mine).
4- You have no clue what it's going to be.
5-The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must re post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog! (then come here and post, I WILL check your blog *wink*) The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a homemade gift by me! Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it! So....who will be the first 5 people?????

Stampin' Up! Loads of Love Does It Again!

Hello and good morning! The SU Loads of Love set that I agonized over buying has come in

handy again! I used it for Valentine cards, and then I was thinking it would be fun to use for a card for a friend who just moved to a new house, and then I used it for a birthday card for my nephew too. I viewed a really helpful tutorial on coloring and shading from this neat gal named Kim. It's on Jacksonbelle Embellishments.

Here is the tutorial.

She was using colored pencils, mineral spirits and blender stumps, but I used my watercolor pencils and the blender pen, and I thought that worked fine also. I'm thinking that a similar process would work for markers--I'm saving up for a set of Copics, and so I'll have to figure out how to use them!

On another note. I've come to the realization that I couldn't possibly afford to own all the sentiment stamps available (I could try, though!!), so I thought I would work on my handwritting a bit. (My third grade teacher would be proud!) I suppose I could use the computer, but I'm trying to get away from the computer, since I make my living working on it. . . so, here's my inside sentiment that I lettered myself.

I was surprised to find that lettering wasn't really that hard--I just practiced on scratch paper for a bit and came up with my own font of sorts. I did study a bit of caligraphy out of a book when I was a teenager, so that kicked in, I think. Maybe I'll go check out a book on caligraphy--it might be fun to try again. The stamp set I used on the inside is SU Noteworthy. Anyway, I'm continuing to learn as much as I can and having fun in the process!

Well, off to get ready for a short weekend trip to a meet, so I'll have to stop! Thanks to everyone for visiting and commenting! See you in cyberspace! :-)

Check Out My Card on the Simon Says Stamp Blog!

Heidi at Simon Says Stamp put one of my cards on their blog! How fun is that?! I'm so tickled--please go check it out!

http://simonsaysstampblog.blogspot.com/

This set is so cute, and Simon Says Stamp is giving it away as Blog Candy! Let me know what you think of my card and try for a chance to win it. Thank you Heidi!! Hmmm, which set should I get next?!

Happy stamping! :-)

More Cards With the Owls and Branches Set!

Well, I had to try putting all of these cute little owls on one card! I used my new Stickles in Star Dust, too. Fun stuff!

I also improved upon the other card:

I discovered that I can ink the edges of the paper with a dye ink pad (I use the Whispers set from Inque Boutique) and a foam spongey pad thing I bought in the art department at Hobby Lobby. Then, I can go over it with my Tim Holtz Distress Ink and its applicator in Walnut Stain and it adds a bit of color and grunge at the same time. I'm sure this isn't anything new, since I think I'm about the newest person to cardmaking, but I was glad to discover it!

Well, DD and I made some cool things today with my new Whispers marker set (again from Simon Says Stamp!) I got my inspiration from (don't laugh at me!). . . a Kleenex Box!! I will post that as soon as we make them into cards or a scrapbook page. Not sure which! Have a great evening and happy crafting! :-)

My First Post on My New Blog--Trying Anyway! :-)

I made this card with my new acrylic stamp set from Simon Says Stamp!

This is such a cute set! It's called Owls and Branches. I've got another one in the finishing stages, and it has all three owls in the set on it! I'll try to post it when I'm done. Cute, cute set! I encourage you to check out Simon Says Stamp. They have an amazing amount of inventory and are really nice folks to deal with! More soon as I have time! :-)