Painting the craft room

Oh my!  Painting the craft room so not much cardmaking going on.  Got the room all torn apart and everything boxed up in the dining room and hallway and major problems at work  - stress and more stress - and then when I get home I don't want to tackle painting.  I did get a break from work today so got the room painted and started putting things back in the room. 

 

Doesn't it look nice.  The paint is Hint of Violet.  It looks like a lighter shade of the guest bathroom so coordinates well.  I am rearranging the room so I can get a computer cabinet that we have in the family room moved into the craft room for a Big Shot station.   We don't have a PC any more - all have laptops - so the cabinet is just housing the printer that we use occasionally.  I may move the small desk to the family room to use for the printer - or may move the printer to my craft oom :-)

 

I started putting away some of my collection of stamps, punches, ribbons, etc and just had to stop and make a card with some of the new (retruned from previous years) colors,  Bermuda Bay,  Crushed Curry, and Soft Sky.

 



I set up the card table since my craft table is currenlty stored in the garage.  Not a lot of room to play there after I got out the new stamp sets, inks and ribbons.   I used one of the new hostess sets, Simply Sketched, and Bermuda Bay ink to stamp the image and sentiment.  The Bermuda Bay 1/8 inch ribbon is new and looks nice on the Soft Sky card stock.
I love the Crushed Curry with the blues.  It is a simple and quick card but looks pretty nice.  Would love to play some more but it is time for bed and tomorrow will be another busy day.

All that junk!

Cleaning out the craft room in preparation for painting it  - and wow - where did all that junk come from!
Can't believe that this.....

and all of this.....

and even this...

and this.....

all were in this room

Some of it is NOT going back in there :-)   Have plans to reorganize it and move the computer cabinet from the family room to be used as a Big Shot station.  We all have laptops so the only thing in the computer cabinet is a printer.  Might even over it into the craft room.

My reward for all my hard work today -

Fresh strawberry shortcake.  Homemade sweet biscuit shortcake slit in half and topped with juicy strawberries.  Then some whipped topping  heaped on top.   The strawberries are from a friend's patch - they pick them at their prime and it really make a difference.  I got 10 qts and froze 8 cups or berries.  Have some to give to the kids' Tuesday night and then lots for us to eat on cereal and salads this week - or just to eat as is.  So good! 
Won't get much stamping done this week. But hoping to have the painting done and everything put in place before the weekend. 

Another zucchini recipe

Found another way to cook zucchini that my husband will eat.  He says he does not care for zucchini but he sure does eat it. 

It was pretty scrumptious!  But how can you go wrong with melted cheese and garlic powder.  Roasted Zucchini Romano is a keeper.

I rubbed some boneless pork chops with cajun seasoning and threw a couple sweet potatoes in the microwave (did not have time to do them in the oven with the zucchini) and we had a meal.  I did mix up some Honey Cinnamon Spread for the potatoes.  That really topped the meal. 

Now, I am digging into my first workshop order from the new Stampin Up catalog - can't wait to see all the goodies in these boxes.  It isn't all mine - but most of it is! 

And more cards

 Okay - the last of the cards I made today.  Used up most of the Wildflower Meadows that had stamped earlier - then when cleaning off the table found a couple more.  Something to start on tomorrow.

 

But first, this is a card showing the new IN Colors for 2013-2014.  The background is Baked Brown Sugar.  The flowers from top to bottom are Pistachio Pudding, Strawberry Slush, Crisp Cantaloupe, and Coastal Cabana.  The butterfly was done in Coastal Cabana and the sentiment in Strawberry Slush.  The card base is Crisp Cantaloupe.

This card was stamped with Pistachio Pudding and then I did a second image using Strawberry Slush.  I cut the large flowers out of the second image and glued them to the card. 

This is another card front that was stamped in Pistachio Pudding.  I used the several sizes of flowers to cover the stamped image flowers.  The colors are Daffodil Delight, Crisp Cantaloupe and Strawberry Slush.

For this card I stamped the image using Whisper White craft ink on Basic Gray card stock.  Once it was dry, I colored the stamped image using watercolor pencils.  This is a variation of the Black Magic technique. 

This is a variation of Black Magic also.  After colorin the image I highlighted using a white gel pen. 

And this is another variation of Black Magic.  I used a gel pen and made dots all around the colored image. And now it is time for bed :-)   I will be straightening up the craft room this week and have lots of plan for rearranging and organizing it.  I want to swap some furniture from elsewhere in the house and also paint the room. 

More rhubarb and more cards

More rhubarb for supper - Rhubarb Salsa.  It was pretty good.  It was fairly quick - lots of chopping.  

I could eat it with a spoon :-)   Frozen tamales, chips and salsa,  A nice supper after a day of cardmaking.   And more cards to show you...

The stripes on this one is washi tape.  I finally ordered some and I love it.  It add some color but is almost transparent.   This is the Gingham Garden designer series paper.  The stamp set is Label Love. 

Another washi tape card.  I used the Daffodil Delight gingham tape and put is on a strip of Whisper White card stock because I did not want the Bermuda Bay scallop behind it to show through the tape.  Smoky Slate was used for the ink.  It is a new color and I am so glad to have a lighter gray.  I layered the Artisan Label, Modern Label and Decorative Label for the sentiment. 

 

A monochromatic card using Crisp Cantaloupe and Calypso Coral.   I bought the Chevron emobssing folder some time ago and it was still in my 'need to use' stack.   The zig zag strip was cut using the Tasteful Trims die. 

 

 

These cards show two different ways to use the lace tape.   For the card on the left I places the tape on some Whisper White card stock and sponged Melon Mambo ink over it - then removed the tape.  I used the inked tape on the card on the right.   The paper is Gingham Garden.

 

And I think this was my favorite card of this group.   The card base is Soft Sky.  I added some of the lace tape and used an embossing folder to make the cross stitch line below the tape.  The 1/8 inch taffeta ribbon is Daffofil Delight.   I stamped the baby stamp from Label Love using Daffodil Delight and a second one in Pistachio Pudding.  I punch out the center of the Pistachio Pudding with the small scallop circle and put a strip of Pistachio Pudding card stock behind it . 

 

So - supper break is over and I'm going back to the craft room.  Having so much fun with my new toys. 





Rhubarb and cards

Lots of rhubarb to tend to.  No, we don't have it in our garden (what is a garden??) but I bought a bunch from the produce co-op a couple weeks ago and am finally getting around to using some.  I put 4 cups of it in the freezer and used 4 cups to make Dee's Bars.  The recipe came from my sister who got it from her friend, Dee.  They are very good (too good - I have eaten too many!)

Later I plan to make some rhubarb salsa.  That should be good with some chicken tamales and homemade tortilla chips.

This morning was spent in the craft room preparing some cards for the New Catalog Open House next Saturday  (Oh my! I better get busy)  Had to use some of my new toys to show off ideas I have seen from other demonstrators.  So many good ideas showing versatility with the products and tools.    Come see them in person!   Lots of freebies too - and some snacks. 

These cards were made using the new Wildflower Meadow background stamp and coordinating embossing folder. I was not going to preorder this set but am so glad I did!  I found lots of cute ideas from other demonstrators and just stamped away then made my cards.  I still have a lot more to play with but wanted to post a few.  The card on the left is stamped with the new IN Color, Pistachio Pudding.  The card base and small scallop circle are another new IN Color, Strawberry Slush.  The Natural trim and Natural Designers Buttons were introduced in the mini-catalog but are in the new big catalog too.  (That's good - I haven't had a chance to play with mine yet). 
The card on the right was done by coloring the stamp with Marina Mist, Old Olive and Calypso Coral.   The Old Olive 1/8 inch taffeta ribbon adds some accent.

This angle shows off the embossing but really doesn't do it justice.   You just have to come to the open house to see this in person.

These cards were also done by coloring the stamp.  The card on the left was done with the same colors as the card above but I only colored one of the flower stems and attached blooms.  I used Old Olive as mats and Calypso Coral as the card base.  You can see the little touch I did on the inside of that card below.
The card on the right was done in Pumpkin Pie and Pear Pizzazz.  The designer series paper is the new Gingham Garden (love it!) and I laid half of one of the paper doilies on top before adding the floral circle.  So quick and easy!

This is the inside of the card above.  I never get this sentiment straight so stamp it on another piece of card stock and punch it out.  The flowers are from some waste from another card (you can see it below) . I punched out the flowers using the smallest oval punch and added it to the large oval.

These three cards all use flowers cut out from one color and stamped on the background or embossing. The card on the left and the center card have the flowers stamped in Marina Mist.  I stamped the center one first then without reinking stamped again to get the washed out affect for the card on the left.  I reinked and stamped a third flower which I cut out and put on the washed out image.  I used a scallop circle from Bermuda Bay and a piece of Crushed Curry that was embossed with the polka dot folder to add some pop to the card.   The sentiment is from the new stamp set Label Love and goes perfectly with the new Artisan Label punch. I stamped the image and then trimmed it down along one of the lines in the border so I could mount it on a label punched from Bermuda Bay.
The middle card has a flower stamped in Daffodil Delight and some Daffodil Delight 1/8 inch taffeta ribbon added. 
The card on the right was embossed with the embossing folder.  Aftercoloring and stamping once, I spritzed some water on the stamp and stamped a second image.  From the second image I cut out a single flower and added it to the embossed background. 

 

This shows more detail and how I curled the flower petals using a stylus.  I used a single mini glue dot in the center to adhere the flower.

For these I tried to do a gradient color.  I saw a sample of that from another demonstrator.  These did not come up how I wanted but they are still cute.  The one on the left has Sahara Sand inked on the bottom portion of the stamp.  I then used the new Crisp Cantaloupe IN Color to ink up the rest of the stamp.  The new foam ink pad do such a great job of inking with just a light touch that it did not give the gradient but just a sudden change of color. 
The card on the right was done using older stamp pads of Sahara Sand, Marina Mist and Night of Navy.  Still not as gradiant as I wanted but it is okay.

Now, back to the craft room to use some more of my new goodies.  Haven't used the Coastal Cabana and Baked Brown Sugar IN Colors yet and the new colors Soft Sky (returning from past IN Colors) and Smoky Slate. 

Hope everyone here in the USA is enjoying their Memorial Weekend. Take time to remember all those who have served to protect and defend us. Their families too.  I am also mindful of family members who are no longer here with us and all those who lived in the past, creating the heritage we enjoy.

Recycled Message Board

 

My latest project - an old rusty cookie sheet turned into a cute message center. I had the cookie sheet and wanted to do this for a while  When I got the Gingham Garden DSP and the Washi tape to match, I knew what I wasnted to do. 

 My husband punched some holes in one edge of the cookie sheet and I spray painted it white.   The Island Indigo ruffled ribbon is pulled through and tied in a knot before tying a bow.

 I covered one side of flat wooden clothespins with washi tape and put magnet strips on the back.  The magnet strips are not very strong so may be looking for something with more holding power but for now they work.

I punched some flowers from more of the DSP and put it on a scallop circle of Pear Pizzaz.  Added a piece of the magnet sheet to the back.

Cute - and so easy.  Once the cookie sheet was painted, it took me about 15 minutes to ocmplete the whole thing.