I fibbed

Well, I know what I said...an Easter card in 2 to 3 days. Nope, didn't do it...mojo wasn't working for the Easter holidays. But here's another card, that was easy peasy. The true color of the large mat is a fuschia pink...it looks purply here. I used a very old stamp that I got from the dollar store and just stamped kinda randomly, 'cause my attempt at a pattern was coming up short. The rose is brand new (to me) by Hero Arts, I can tell I will be using this often. I like the size and the openness of the flower. I want to try bleaching technique, but no promises. I've learned my lesson well. Two pearls from MS compliment this nicely and that's and that's a black base and turquoise mat that the flower is on. A circle in SU saffron with a squiggly from SU Elegant Inspirations and Clearly Wordsworth (never come across this line anymore) is the bless you sentiment.

I used Memories black ink throughout. And very important, this card is CASED. But I inadvertently deleted the email from my Feedbitz feeds. I get a ton of them for inspiration ya' know.

On a related matter, I'm getting ready to really invest in Just-Rite stamps to the tune of at least $50. So, I'm reading all the comments and suggestions I can find. If you came here to visit, kindly leave me any info you might know of or link to pertinent blogs. I'm ready to jump in. BTW, I do have the Monogram Stamp set, but find I'm not using it except to place my initials on the backs of my cards if I've been paid to make a card. And we all know that ain't often. BWAH HA HA!

Erica (who is glad hump Wednesday is over)

Blogging Two Days in a Row

Whowee!!! I can't believe it. I'm actually blogging 2 days in a row. But my post will be short. Just wanted to play with Picasa a bit and upload directly from the Picasa program 'cause they let you do it. The card looks really small here, I did change the button to Large. Clicking it will show it much larger. Hmm, probably everyone already knows that, huh? Well here is a vintage nurse from Clear Art Stamps which you can purchase at Joan's Garden here http://joanscreations.blogspot.com/search/label/All%20Store%20Items . She's a Red Cross nurse. Yikes, remember them? Do they still exist? Anyway, I wasn't sure how to color her. Nurses always wore white back in the day, but I need a Copic certification class to master "white on white," so I just lightly colored her with pencils & gamsol in mostly shades of pink and I used my Prismacolor Deco Peach marker for her skintone. It works great for Caucasian people IMO. BTW, all the stamps on this card are from the same set. I added tiny prima flowers with Stickles, ribbon. and she's cut so she's just hanging off a circle (chalked background) I did using my Making Memories circle cutter. In this pic, I didn't position the medicine tray well, but I have since re-positioned it on my card. Unfortunately, I don't know how to remove a photo yet, otherwise, I'd certainly do that.

This is a lovely set with lots of possibilities. I'm designing a simple Easter set using one of the stamps. You'll have to come back to see it. I'll post in 2 or 3 days --- promise.

I've also included a card that I made using my fave tool of all time...the one and only Cuttlebug. Here, I used the argyle folder and a floral borders die. I had been overlooking this baby for a while until I saw a card using a this very border. The Red Cross nurse card uses a border from the package going in a different direction. I heard CB will not be coming out with new stuff until CHA in July. I hope they continue their capacity for innovate and useful folders and dies. I've also used my new Nestabilitie Labels 2. I have to increase my stash of these lable dies.

I think I fibbed about the short post...sorry.

Hugs, Erica......Enjoy the remainder of the day....get some stampin' in if you haven't already.

I'm always trying

Last week, I tried desperately to post some work. I was bummed...I don't know if Blogger was funky or if it was my laptop. At any rate, I paid our local geek $60 to come and "clean-up" my laptop and give me a few pointers of what I do wrong. He is always worth every penny, except I often can't remember half of what he said. But one of the things he reminded me of is to use the "right click." Don't know why, but I always forget that it can do lots of stuff. I usually just use it when downloading templates and it says "Save Target As." So, I do plan on at least working with the "right click."

Zach (his name), installed Picassa and said it is the best program (and free) for newbies who struggle with photos, uploading, emailing, attaching, you name it. So, now I will be spending ooodles of time becoming familiar with a new program. Well, let's hope I become a bit better at Picassa, than I was with Corel and Adobe Photoshop.

So, I'm posting one or two things, though I'm really winging it, 'cause I haven't done my homework. I am on a box kick. I love them, ever since I discovered Lauren Meader's blog. She gets more comments than any other stamping blogger I know. So the black, gold & craft paper box is one of her newest templates. You can buy them through Papertrey. I'm not linking 'cause so few read my blog. If you want deets, just leave me a comment. The other box is a freebie from SCS called the mini pizza box. It's adorable and is for my dh and will hold 2 gift cards for her B-Day. The card was "commissioned" by a friend for relatives 40th Anniversary. I had this paper from Costco and it velvety smooth...hope that shows up. Then the flower was a Michael's find and the stamp I've had forever. Anyway, she loved the card. I put it in a gauzy/muslin envelope I'd been hoarding and should have bought more of, 'cause it's nowhere to be found any longer. The whole thing made a lovely presentation. She wanted to pay me for it, but I consider my art creations a gift from God and hardly charge for them...except for a buck from my dh, for the principle...if you know what I'm talkin' about.

Hope you have a great Sunday. Don't forget to rest, no matter what that means to you.

Erica

Quick...Quick...Post a Card

Here I am trying to get some cards posted. I had a whirlwind weekend that started on Friday. I've been stamping like a mad woman and I'm tickled pink 'cuz I ordered a Nestabilities Labels Two. I am bored with using my squares, rectangles and ovals. I needed something new to play with and I caught a one day sale at allthatscraps.com so I got them for less than the going price. And to top it off, shipping at this store is awesome. So I will post a card now for you to see. I scanned it, so it doesn't show the true colors of one of the layers. But you'll get my drift. I cas'd it from a Card Sketch A Day. I need to post a link to that site. I use it frequently when the mojo ain't working. My little froggie is a Penny Black stamp that I've had forever. The sentiment and hearts were in the Michael's $ stamp bin last year. The paper is a mixed bag from Michaels and the little gem heart...isn't that tooo cute??? is a last year's find. I end up wishing I'd bought doubles of many of the bling stuff that I get. When I first get them I don't know if I want to spend $$$ on another package, but invariably, I do end up liking them a lot. So a somewhat belated resolution of mine is to always buy 2 from now on. If I don't use it, I'll have an excuse to give away some blog candy. Maybe that will bring me some readers, huh. One mans junk is another's treasure, so it's been said.

Enjoy what's left of the weekend.

Erica

A February Blog

Well, I really have been making cards and my dh is selling them for me. She gets a buck each. Her co-workers are now coming to her office and asking her if she has a card "they can borrow." How do you "borrow" a card, huh?? Well, I have already given them to her and they were excess, and I have been hoarding my cards and it gets me nowhere. So, she has actually done me a favor. Now I must make her a tin in which to keep them by category. That's the least I could do.

For now, I have become quite bored with what I've been making. I want some of those new Nestabilities. The new SU catty has quite a few items I could see myself getting too. I made up a wish list and it totaled $600. But of course, that's a bit unreasonable and I will need to pare it down by half, as I'm a hobby demo and just need to make my quoto. I am seriously thnking of quitting SU. The competition is huge out there in the NetWorld, and I feel like I'm missing out on so many designer stamp companies. I will be making that decision before my birthday in July. I turn 60. WHOOZA!!

Here are 2 cards to view. One is another Valentine card, and the other is for one of my bf's who will be a grandparent for the 2nd time any day now. The pictures are the best I can do for now.

I won't promise that I will blog a anymore this week, but I may at least show a another card or two.

Enjoy the month of Love.

Erica