Fall Pumpkin

Remember these beautiful stamps from last year? Plum Purdy released some of her awesome designs in rubber (and clear) that made me a very happy camper. Unfortunately I haven't seen anything new since then :-(

I colored this image with my colored pencils, then I decided to add some brown flocking to the sunflower centers. I always add two layers of flocking when I use it, it's too thin in a single layer IMO. 

Instead of my usual ribbon I opted to use the awesome pumpkin flourish border EK Success just released. There are so many beautiful designs! I also found these felt flower die cuts in my stash and layered them to make a pretty embellishment.

Fall is in the air, because of the dry weather we've had then the big storms yesterday there are leaves all over the place now. Time to pull out the rake!

Thanks for visiting!

Stamps: Plum Purdy

Ink: Memento

Paper: PTI, SU

Accessories: Colored pencils, OMS, Studio G flocking, felt, PTI button, EK Success border punch, Viva Decor pen, Adirondack dimensional pearls, Tonic corner rounder, SU edge punch

Snow Lady

I really liked the way my last Plum Purdy card came out when I colored on Kraft cardstock, so I decided to try another. You all should really try this, you get a whole different effect on Kraft. And what's really cool is you can choose to only color the highlights, and the tan of the paper is natural shading!

It's almost November, so I really have to get cracking on my Christmas cards. I don't send too many, just to close family and friends. I haven't been saving any of the ones I've made so far, I sold a bunch of them on Etsy, and my Mom took a nice bundle. So I really need to get into high gear!

Thank you all for looking, have a wonderful day!

Stamps: Plum Purdy, Waltzingmouse Stamps

Ink: Memento, Distress

Paper: SEI, Papertrey Ink, Coredinations, Heavenly White

Accessories: Spellbinders Labels dies, Martha Stewart border & snowflake punches, SU ribbon, PTI button, brown waxed thread, SU snowflake punch, glass glitter, Flower Soft, flat back pearl, colored pencils, OMS

Plum Purdy Santa

Well yesterday was a bit of an ordeal! I started feeling sick yesterday at work, tightness in my chest, indicating a whopper of a chest cold coming on, congestion....all that fun stuff. I come home, lay down for a nap when I get a phone call that my son had been taken by ambulance to the ER! He had stayed after school to see the football game, and was with a bunch of friends in the Walmart parking lot next door. Apparently, he was fooling around on a shopping cart, slipped and fell, hitting his head. Supposedly, he was unconscious for a few minutes. He doesn't remember any of it. They did a CAT scan (I got to watch, now I can say I can see into his head, lol!) and everything seemed fine. Thank God! So other than a massive headache and a sore neck, he got off easy. Phewww!
Now, onto happier things. I looooooove this Santa and Gingerbread image from Plum Purdy! I know, I know I say I love them all. But I really, and truly love Renee's style, from the first time I saw one of her painting books many, many years ago!

I added a little Liquid Glass to the candy cane to really make it shine, and there's a bit of glass glitter on the holly berries to make them look 'frosted' with ice. Awesome stuff.

Thanks for stopping by, have a great weekend everyone!

Stamps: Plum Purdy

Ink: Memento, Distress, Perfect Match

Paper: Basic Grey 'Wassail', The Paper Company, Bristol vellum, PTI, Heavenly White c.s

Accessories: colored pencils, OMS, SU felt stitched ribbon, glass glitter, Liquid Glass, Martha Stewart simple scallop punch

New Stamps from Plum Purdy! RUN!

OK, so I'm a bit late letting you all know about the new stamps at Plum Purdy, but I only just found out they were released earlier this week. Look at this darling snow lady, I {heart} her!

She's colored with colored pencils, and OMS to match the striped paper from Cosmo Cricket's 'Wonderland'. And because she's so purdy, I added a double bow to the card! I have several more cards to share with you using Plum Purdy's new stamps, so stay tuned!

Stamps: Plum Purdy

Ink: Memento, Ditress

Paper: Cosmo Cricket, Heavenly white, Coredinations, Bazzill

Accessories: Martha Stewart doily punch, double faced satin ribbon, striped ribbon, EK Success mini snowflake punch, tiny flat back pearl

We have a winner!

"Lillian Child said...
That magical frog just makes me smile ... thanks so much for the chance to win!"

Lillian Child, you are the winner of the $25 gift certificate for Plum Purdy stamps! Please email me at linwe.luinweATgmail.com to claim your prize.

Thank you all for the wonderful comments!
And here's another Plum Purdy project to inspire you. This time a little autumn wall hanging. Isn't that crow adorable?

 I simply adhered everything to a 6" square piece of chipboard, then added the little ribbon with brads for easy hanging on the wall.

Thanks for looking, have a wonderful day everyone!

Stamps: Plum Purdy, Papertrey Ink
Ink: Palette, Distress
Paper: PTI, Cosmo Cricket, chipboard
Accessories: Fiskars apron lace punch, Spellbinders Labels 4, sewing machine, colored pencils, OMS, Sakura glaze pen, Stickles, May Arts ribbon, brads, PTI buttons

New Releases from Plum Purdy & Blog Candy!

Are you all ready for fall yet? I thought I wasn't when Renee asked me to make some samples for her, but as soon as I got those beautiful stamps in my hands I was raring to go! It was wonderful to pull out the harvest colored papers and ribbons. She's released tons of new designs for fall and Halloween, each one more fabulous than the last, LOL!

Here's a closer look at the Pumpkin Birdhouse. I colored the image in with my colored pencils and popped up the birdhouse with foam tape.

And what about this adorable Halloween card? Isn't this frog hilarious?

Renee also has a set of Halloween sentiments which I think are so much fun. Makes it so easy to add that perfect final touch.

Now here's the real fun. Renee has generously offered a $25 gift certificate for stamps from Plum Purdy, and I'm going to give it away as blog candy! Just leave a comment on this post! I will leave the contest open till midnight Sunday (7-19-2009), then Monday morning I will use Random.org to choose the winner.

Good Luck!

Pumpkin Birdhouse Card-

Stamps: Plum Purdy

Ink: Palette, Distress

Paper: My Mind's Eye, Bazzill, PTI

Accessories: PTI ribbon/button/twine, colored pencils, OMS

Frog Card-

Stamps: Plum Purdy

Ink: Palette, Perfect Match

Paper: Rusty Pickle, SU!, PTI

Accessories: May Arts ribbon, SU scallop punch, colored pencils, OMS, Nestabilities, Stickles

Plum Purdy New Releases Day 2

I love primitive saltbox style houses, always have, I wish I could live in one, LOL! Combine that love with rubber stamps, and I am in heaven! All of Plum Purdy Designs are fun to color, nice big areas with just the right amount of detail make them easy, not too overwhelming.

And what about the little crow, isn't he darling? I used some old Heidi Grace DP for this one, rustic looking sunflowers that I thought were perfect with this image.

You're gonna love these stamps!

Stamps: Plum Purdy Designs

Ink: Palette, Distress

Paper: Bristol vellum, Bazzill, PTI

Accessories: Colored pencils, OMS, grosgrain ribbon, PTI button/twine, sewing machine

Pretty Garden Hat--New Plum Purdy Stamps

Thank you for all the wonderful comments left last night during PTI's blog hop! What fun looking at all the wonderful creations!
I love the way this card came out. I used Cosmo Cricket's 'Dutch Girl' paper collection, which is pretty hard to find! Why is it that I like a lot of discontinued stuff? SO annoying!

I did a little zig zagging around the edges with my little Janome mini. Love that thing! Perfect finishing touch for that Shabby Chic thing going on.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Plum Purdy

Ink: Palette

Paper: Bristol Vellum, Cosmo Cricket, PTI

Accessories: Sewing machine, red grosgrain ribbon, colored pencils, OMS, Stickles, self stick pearls

New Stamps from Plum Purdy Designs

Here are a couple more samples using the new releases at Plum Purdy Designs. The first photo has a card/gift card holder set. I like that Renee released two sizes of some of the stamps, a larger size of individual stamps, and a set of smaller images. This is a perfect example of why you would need two sizes! The gift card holder is simply a small folder with an inner pocket. How cute is that!

This daisy basket is also available as a single larger image, or part of a set of smaller images. I colored the flowers to match the Urban Prairie paper from Basic Grey, so summer-y!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Plum Purdy, Papertrey Ink

Ink: Palette, Versafine

Paper: Stampin Up, Papertrey Ink, Basic Grey

Accessories: Nestabilities, Fiskars Apron Lace punch, Martha Stewart Tiny Tag punch, PTI ribbon, SU ribbon, colored pencils, OMS, Stickles, PTI buttons, sewing machine

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

Card Samples for Plum Purdy Designs

I was asked by Renee Mullins from Plum Purdy Designs to make some samples for some of her other stamps sets she sells on her web site. Of course I said yes! Who wouldn't want to play with these stamps! I especially love this gingerbread girl stamp set, so CUTE! I made a card as well as a matching gift card holder. It could also hold a couple of Ghirardelli chocolates. (That's actually where I got the template from ;-)

Cosmo Cricket papers work sooooo well with these designs. They have that folk-arty look to them, which I love. Isn't this ghost the sweetest thing you've ever seen??!

I can't remember who makes this striped autumn colored paper, I've had it in my stash for a while.

...And look at this adorable kitty. He looks kind of mischevious, doesn't he! Like maybe he stole those punkins, I think. I actually colored this guy with Prismacolor pencils and blended with Sansodor. I felt like a change after all my watercoloring, LOL.

Anyway, these stamps are so awesome, very deep etched rubber. I love them, and I really hope to see more of her designs very, very soon!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Plum Purdy Designs, Cornish Heritage Farms, Papertrey Ink

Ink: Palette, Distress, Adirondack

Paper: Hot press w/c paper, Cosmo Cricket, Bazzill, PTI

Accessories: Nestabilities, Grosgrain & plaid ribbon, Waxed linen thread, resin buttons, acrylic paint, Copic Atyou Spica pen, glass glitter, markers, Cuttlebug Houdstooth EF, Prismacolor pencils, Sansodor

Hot Cocoa Holders

Stamps: Cornish Heritage Farms, Whipper Snapper, Papertrey Ink
Ink: Palette, Distress
Paper: Cosmo Cricket, PTI, SU, Hot press watercolor paper
Accessories: Nestabilities, PTI twill, Clear bags, markers, Stickles, stapler
I actually made these hot cocoa holders a long time ago, the blue one is Debbie Olson's template the other is one from Sonja's Scene. I love the idea of hot cocoa holders, they are so easy for last minute thoughtful gifts, or a little something extra to go with a card. Everyone loves hot chocolate, right!

Keep scrolling down, I'm going to post the rest of my Christmas projects, it's easier to do a new post for each one, instead of trying to format everything in one. Blogger's not so good with that. Thanks for looking!
Stamps: Plum Purdy, Papertrey Ink

Ink: Palette, Versafine

Paper: Bazzill, Stampin Up DSP, PTI, Hot press watercolor paper

Accessories: Nestabilities, White twill, markers, Stickles

100th Post Today!

I'm in sparkly snowflake heaven! I saw Anna Wight make a couple elaborate, layered glittered snowflakes on her blog and immediately knew I had to make them too! I didn't have the tin snowflakes at the time (I do now, and will be making some soon!) so I just used the German glass glitter to coat some of my Sizzix snowflakes. I love the look and am using them on everything! I just bought another 1/2 lb. of glass glitter on Ebay 'cause I was running out! I have a little rustic 'Everyday' tree that I keep up all year round and I plan on putting lots of sparkly snowflakes all over it! I'll take a picture soon.

Well, I got another small design team package from Magnolia, so I'm off to work on that!

Stamps: Plum Purdy Designs, Papertrey Ink

Paper: Hot press w/c, PTI, Cosmo Cricket

Ink: Palette, Distress

Accessories: Sizzix snowflake dies, Martha Stewart snowflake punch, Button, German Glass Glitter, Jute string

A Few Questions Answered..

WARNING: This post is long, and may bore you to tears, LOL!

I just want to take a minute to thank everyone who has left such wonderful comments. I can't express how good it makes me feel, and keeps me motivated to do what I love to do! You don't know how many times I have thought to myself, how futile all the time and effort I put into this hobby is! Sometimes I scold myself for taking the time instead of doing something 'productive'. But the way I look at it is like this. Life is not always much fun. It's working hard, taking care of children, doing all of the things that we need to do on a day to day basis. Cleaning, making dinner, doing laundry, driving a gazillion miles to get all the kids where they need to be. So, when I have a few hours in between all of these things, I sit down, I create, I paint, I listen to my audio book and let all things just be for a few moments. It calms and centers me, allows my brain to take a break from worrying how am I going to pay for my car insurance, or buy Christmas presents this year. It allows me to take pleasure in what would otherwise be a very dreary life. If I didn't have something creative to do, I would be in a mental institution by now, LOL! SO, because I take this time for me, I am happier and healthier. Because I am happier and healthier, I can be a better mother, a better spouse, employee, etc. etc.

Anyway, I have been asked how I made the card in my previous post without a stamp? Well, it's actually quite simple. When I used to paint with acrylics on all sorts of surfaces, wood, plaster, tin, paper mache, whatever, I would have a pattern of the design I wanted to paint. (This card was made using one of the free patterns from Plum Purdy, you can download the ZIP file here) You will get a few B & W line drawings. I re size them to the size I want on my computer, then print it out. I cut out the pattern to fit on the surface I want to transfer it to, in this case a small square of watercolor paper, and use transfer paper to trace the pattern. In my case, I didn't have transfer paper, I just used a soft pencil to trace the lines on the back of the pattern. This way I can just put it onto the w/c paper right side up, and use a stylus to trace the lines again. Once I have my image transferred, I can go over the lines with a permanent fine line pen like Sakura Micron or ZIG. I use a brown .05MM Micron. I erase the stray pencil lines, and start water coloring like any stamped image. Yes, it's more work, takes longer, and isn't as perfect as a rubber stamped image, but I like it. It also gives me an almost unlimited choice of images because there are thousands of painting pattern books out there by a lot of wonderful artists! I have a very particular style that I love, folk art, primitive, rustic, whatever you want to call it, and there aren't a lot of stamps out there like that! So, this is my solution. It works for me!

A Few Cards for Sale

A couple of weeks ago I gave a bunch of my card stash to my mother, she wanted to take them to work with her and show them off. Well, lo and behold, she also sold a bunch of them! I was pretty surprised! Anyway, after much consideration, I've been convinced that I should try and sell them online. I haven't yet figured out where I will be offering them for sale on a regular basis, but I decided to start with a few auctions on Ebay. I used to sell my decorative hand painted items with pretty good success years ago, and figured I might try it again. So click on the link and see what I'm offering up for bid!

The cards I posted aren't actually stamped at all, at least the main images aren't. This one is one of Renee Mullins' free patterns from her Plum Purdy web site. It was the first one I tried doing without stamping. Most of her patterns are designed to painted with acrylic paints, but I was already water coloring, so I figured why not? I think it looks pretty darn cute! Now I just have to get into my DBF's storage shed and start digging for my pattern books! They're in there somewhere! Or maybe I could just buy a couple more from her, that would be much easier, LOL.

Oh well, hope you like!

Mini Pizza Box with Plum Purdy Snowman Set

I don't make too many boxes, bags or other containers usually, but I just might have to change that! I LOVE this little pizza box template from a Splitcoast Stampers Challenge! I put a bunch of Hershey's Kisses in it, what a perfect little last minute gift and card. I love this new Ski Slope DP from Stampin Up, too, I got two packages, but I might need to get more, LOL. I think I'll be going through it fairly quickly.
Anyway, this is another snowman rubber stamp set from Plum Purdy Designs. Sadly, it doesn't look like she has any more of these sets left either. Maybe people weren't buying her stamp sets as much as she would've liked and decided to discontinue them. (Boo hoo..) But I bet that's because no one from SCS knew about them! I would looooove to see Renee Mullins making more rubber stamps using her designs. She is awesomely talented!
Here are some more pictures of the set, click on them to see them larger.

Stamps: Plum Purdy Designs, Justrite, Papertrey Ink

Paper: Hot press w/c paper, PTI kraft, Stampin Up

Ink: Palette, Distress, Perfect Match

Accessories: Nestabilities, Red grosgrain ribbon, Scor Pal, Stickles, Tombow/SU markers

Sweet Snowman

Isn't this little guy adorable?!! While surfing my favorite sites, some of them having been bookmarked ages ago, I came across one of my favorite decorative painting artists, Renee Mullins from Plum Purdy Designs. As I've mentioned before, I used to do a lot of decorative painting myself years ago, and the urge to paint was kind of like an itch, so I went exploring all my old faves. Well, to my surprise, when looking through the gallery, I saw a card made with one of Renee's designs in a stamp! Needless to say, I was doing a funny little happy dance and immediately placed an order for a couple of snowman stamp sets. (Which were kind of hard to find on her site, and still are!) Apparently, the snowman sets are gone now, I went back and looked after a few fellow stampers asked me about them. Maybe if there is enough interest, Renee will bring them back to her site, along with a few new ones using her awesome designs!
Anyway, I love how this card came out, I hope you do too!
Stamps: Plum Purdy Designs, JustRite
Ink: Palette, Distress
Paper: Fabriano w/c paper, Cosmo Cricket, Papertrey Ink, Stardream
Accessories: Nestabilities, PTI twill ribbon, buttons, Tombow/SU! markers