Lili of the Valley, Magnolia, Elisabeth Bell and more stamps for sale...and an update.

Long time no see! Hello everyone, I'm not sure how many of you are still here, but I thought I might write a quick update about the state of things in Watermelon Sugar-land. It's been a long time since my last post, I needed a long break to re-evaluate things. Several factors contributed to this hiatus, if you're a reader of my blog you will know I hurt my back which kept me from almost all stamping and coloring activities for a good long while. Once I was healed up and pretty much back to normal health, I couldn't seem to reactivate the 'ole card-making mojo. That's the problem with breaks for me, if I stay away too long, I lose interest completely. 

Of course, the other factor that killed my card-making mojo was me losing my job of over 5 years. I saw it coming for a while, but it still stunned me when it actually happened. I was pretty down for a couple of weeks. Watched a lot of Mad Men on Netflix to keep from losing my mind, LOL!

So since then, I haven't made many cards, the ones I did- I hated, so I moved on to other things. Dabbled in embroidery, felt projects, did some playing with polymer clay again, and then finally pulled out all the old painting supplies and finished my first tole painted project in ages last night. I felt like I was home again. I LOVED painting 10 years ago, some family issues threw me for a loop and I stopped. Trauma really messes with my creativity, let me tell you! But I'm back to it, and I think I will stick with it for a while.

So that's it in a nutshell. I'm still not sure what will become of blogging. I may continue to share some of my painted stuff, or not, I haven't decided yet.

BUT, I have stuff to sell! Boy do I ever....
I will start posting what I have to sell here, namely the stamps, but I think eventually I will start selling other items as well and list those in my Etsy shop. I will always post here first to update all those interested. 

Click the tab on top of this page or click here to see my stuff for sale.

Peek at new LOTV stamps

I posted a peek at one of the new Lili of the Valley stamps being released over on the Inspiration Blog. You can see it here.

I'll be back with more peeks in the coming week, in the meantime, don't forget the Summer sale going until Wednesday, 10% off everything in the store!

Extra Special Blog Hop!

Welcome to the Coloring Techniques for Card Making Blog Hop! Today we wanted to introduce you to a brand new, must-have book that has been written to help shed some light on some of the hottest trends in coloring techniques in paper crafting today.

Coloring Techniques for Card Making features three of the most popular coloring techniques in card making today--water coloring, colored pencils and using alcohol-based ink markers. Each chapter showcases one particular technique and includes an introductions that will help you choose the products that are right for you, and will walk you through the steps to creating one of our featured projects. Easy-to-follow instructions, detailed materials lists and helpful coloring tips will make it easy for you to achieve stunning card-making results. As a bonus, enjoy a chapter that focuses on ways to highlight and accentuate your projects with products such as glitter and gel pens, shading techniques and methods for creating the look of texture with color.

I have four projects featured in this book, but this is my favorite- 'The Secret Fishing Spot'. I loved creating this card, I used one of my favorite color combinations, Spring Moss and Ocean Tides. They go together so beautifully. I also love it because I love water coloring, it's how I started when I was a rubber stamp newbie. I know I use colored pencils a lot more now, but there is nothing in my opinion that compares to the look of water colors!

Here are the supplies I used to create this card:

Stamps: Impression Obsession 'The Fishing Hole', 'Cover-a-Card Flourishes', 'Sentiments II'

Ink: Palette Burnt Umber, Perfect Match Ocean Tides, Fresh Snow

Ranger Distress Inks: Stormy Sky, Barn Door, Forest Moss, Crushed Olive, Weathered Wood, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain

Paper: Heavenly White card base, Papertrey Ink Aqua Mist, Ocean Tides, and Spring Moss

Martha Stewart Wrought Iron edger punch, brayer, 7/8” grosgrain ribbon, Papertrey Ink Spring Moss twill/button, paintbrush, green adhesive backed pearls, Scor Pal, Ranger Inkessentials white gel pen, Stampin' Up Word Window/Modern Label punches

We are pleased that you have joined us for the hop! Be sure to leave a comment at each blog along the way to be entered for your chance to win a free copy of Coloring Techniques for Card Making!
The other designers who are participating in the blog hop are as follows:

Keri Lee Sereika 
Debbie Olson
Jeanne Streiff
Trudy Sjolander
Asela Hopkins
Broni Holcombe
Christine Okken
Dawn Lusk
Laurie Wilson
Sherrie Siemens
Chrissy Le

Thanks for stopping by!

Some news...and a card!

Well here I am finally. I know it's been very sporadic posting for me, but I think I may have a very good reason! In case you haven't noticed my new badge in the left sidebar, I've been invited to join the Splitcoast Stampers Dirty Dozen design team. I'm just now starting to come out of the fog I've been in ever since Lydia first asked me a couple of months ago! I was so nervous I really had a lot of trouble concentrating on anything else. I mean, what an honor, a privilege to be a part of the Dirty Girls! So there I was for the past month, frantically working on what had to be my BEST cards ever! All of this in addition to my existing obligations to IO and LOTV DT's. Let me tell you I was feeling the pressure, lol! But, now that the anxiety is starting to subside a bit, the secret is out, I can resume my regular blogging schedule. 

Here is a card I thought I would add to the DD gallery, but changed my mind. 

Very masculine, with the earthy colors and woodgrain background. I embossed Core'dinations paper with the PTI impression plate and sanded away to reveal the core color. That paper and the impression plate were made for each other let me tell you, I love the wood effect!

Lots of intricate leaf cutting so I could layer them onto some of that brown polka dot paper. I decorated the inside of the card too, just a couple of light colored leaf prints to tie in with the front.

I'm thinking I may change the bow into a more simple knot, not sure if any guys I know like bows!

Hopefully I haven't lost too many readers and you all will understand my absence, and thanks to all of you who are still here! I have lots to share in the coming weeks. And if you don't see anything posted here on my blog, pop on over to Splitcoast to see what I've cooked up for the Dirty Dozen gallery!

Thanks for visiting!

Stamps: Papertrey Ink
Ink: Perfect Match
Paper: Papertrey Ink, Core'dinations
Accessories: Spellbinders Labels die, SU edge punch, PTI ribbon/button/twine

Some News!

I just had to post quickly to let you all know that I was selected to be on the 7 Kids College Fund design team! Yeee haw!! I am so excited! Thanks 7 Kids! One of my fave places to shop! What an awesome way to ring in the new year....

I look forward to working with the other DT gals!

Great News! New Stamps @ Plum Purdy

Here's my big surprise! Ever since I found a few of Renee Mullins' designs in STAMPS last year, I've desperately wanted to see more of her designs in rubber (or clear polymer)! I know a lot of you asked about her stamps when I posted a few projects I made with her adorable snowmen and Halloween designs, and now--there are more! I've been emailing back and forth with Renee for a while while she worked on the stamp designs, and now they're finally here! This adorable little Bumble Bear set is just one of the 'everyday' themed stamps. She's offering them in clear or UM red rubber, I used the clear and they are very good quality, nice clear impressions every time.

If you think this guy is cute, wait till you see the gorgeous garden stamps she has. I love them all!

I'll be posting more projects using her stamps here, but if you can't wait, just go to Plum Purdy and check them out there. Under each stamp set is a link for a project I did using that stamp.

I think you'll be as excited as I am about these stamps, let me know what you think!

Stamps: Plum Purdy Designs

Ink: Versafine

Paper: Bristol vellum, Cosmo Cricket, Stampin Up, Papertrey Ink

Accessories: Stampin Up scallop punch, colored pencils, OMS, Stickles, Liquid Glass, PTI ribbon/button

Great News & Some More Cards n Stuff!

I am so excited I think I'm going to pee myself! A while ago I applied and submitted some of my stuff to Magnolia Stamps for their design team. I got a reply back that they would like to have me on their team! So I quickly replied, all kinds of excited, and---nothing. I sent another email thinking it may have gotten lost, or they never recieved it. Still nothing. I was soooooo disappointed! This was almost 2 months ago. So, I felt I had to contact them one more time before I gave up, just in case something went awry with my messages, and sure enough, I got a reply back this morning! Can you say WOO HOO!!! I am a member of the Magnolia Design Team!!
I feel faint....
I cannot wait to get started, and you will see it all right here! So keep coming back!
Anyway, while I'm waiting for the voting to end over at JustRite Stampers, I'm keeping myself busy making cool stuff. I really like how this witch card came out. It's kind of spooky and elegant at the same time, KWIM? The moon is a big Nesties circle of watercolor paper that I randomly colored with several colors of Twinkling H2O's. Very shimmery IRL, just like a Halloween moon should be! This was a pretty easy card, no layers at all, just the image, sentiment and card base. Because of the Cuttlebug embossing folder pattern, I didn't want to subtract from the design with a lot of busy layers.
Stamps: Papertrey Ink, JustRite
Ink: Perfect Match, Versafine, Palette
Paper: Watercolor paper, Bazzill, PTI
Accessories: Perfect Pearls, Cuttlebug EF, Striped ribbon, Twinkling H2O's

And another project:

Aren't these mini wool mittens adorable? I saw these stamps from Cornish Heritage Farms, and had to have them! I love vintage labels, and have been looking for a long time for something like this. Now they need to do more holidays, sentiments, etc. etc. I knew the mitten label would be perfect with a little pair of mittens, so I quickly sewed up a pair from wool felt. I stitched the cute little snowman faces on each one, with little black beads for their eyes. This would make an adorable ornament for a Christmas tree, and I just might have to make more!

Stamps: Cornish Heritage Farms
Ink: Palette
Paper: Prism, PTI
Accessories: Metal brad, cotton thread, wool felt, emroidery floss, black beads, Poly-fill