Wednesday Stamper - Exotic Places

I made this piece today for the Exotic Places challenge at Wednesday Stamper. I created the background with joint compound (drywall mud) and a stamp from Jim Stephan. His stamps will always have a special place in my heart - they were the first unmounted stamps I ever bought. I still remember having to call him to order them. Back then (8 years ago??) a lot of companies didn't have web sites. I found his ad in the back of Somerset Studio.....fond memories. :-)

I photographed my steps when making this - I will probably post a tutorial later tonight if anyone is interested. If you've never tried it, it's a really fun technique!

Oh, and thanks to Michelle for reminding me - this is a picture of a Temple in Nepal, somewhere I've always wanted to go!

Created By Hand Challenge - Christmas Music Cards

Another fantastic theme over at Created Byhand. I used the same music piece that I used on my Gothic Arch a couple days ago. It's from an old children's hymnal I found at an estate sale (where else?). The little girls are a rubber stamp from Lost Coast Designs. They don't have much to do with the music, but I just got this stamp and couldn't wait to use it! The whole thing is tied up with a beautiful silk ribbon from RockCandy Studios.

Here's a treat for you! I hope you can use this music in your Christmas creations. Let me know if you make something cool! To download large size, click on image, then right click and save.

Gothic Arches - Yuletide Blessings Contest

This is my entry for the Gothic Arches Yuletide Blessings Contest that is being sponsored by Sugar Lump Studios. I decided to flip the template so that I could get the music to fit, plus it gave me a perfect shape for hanging. The lovely angels stamp is from The Stampsmith. I outlined the arch with Antique Linen Stickles and also used it to highlight the 'Noel' letters. I used real feathers for their wings.

Which Came First?

Announcing: Egg! We finally have our first egg! I feel like a proud parent, it's kind of embarrassing really.....isn't it gorgeous though? We got our Ameraucana/Araucana chicks in June. I had given up hope that we would have any eggs before Spring. We keep checking those nest boxes though and lo and behold, today I found an egg! It is an absolutely beautiful shade of aqua. Now I'll be out there every hour - forgive me if this blog turns into nothing but egg pictures. I've never been a scrapbooker, despite having two lovely children and boxes of pictures, but I can see albums of eggs in my future.

Theme Thursday - Western

Another great theme for Theme Thursday! I love these challenges because they give me a reason to pull out stamps and other materials that I haven't used in awhile. I started out thinking I'd do a chunky ATC - I still haven't tried one of these and I thought this would be the perfect excuse. While I was pulling things together I came across this little house and totally changed my mind! The house is partially covered in a page from a vintage children's book and painted with acrylics. Stamps are all from the Oxford Impressions Cowgirl Blues plate.

Wednesday Stamper - Snowflake Kisses

I was so happy to see the theme for this week's Wednesday Stamper! After all, what better way to use my new glitter! I warned you - this is just the beginning! I have been wanting this little girl stamp for so long - I finally got her a couple days ago. She's from Lost Coast Designs and I think she's adorable. I made her a little skirt out of lace and gave her a crown from RockCandy Studios. For the background I went back to my old fave - the wrinkle free distress technique. I added snowflakes from Oxford Impressions that I stamped with white acrylic paint. Branches are punched out of watercolor paper w/my new favorite punch. Glitter is applied with a heavy hand. ;-)