Oz-somestamps

Collaged Canvas #1 - make your heart sing

I have been so excited to share this project - which I was the start of my gift exchange for last night's stamping group meeting.  All the girls brought AMAZING gifts - I am so inspired by each and every one of them!  I have been itching to give this a try - I have seen them on pinterest and some blogs I follow for awhile now and I finally got up the courage to try.  I can already say that I am addicted! 

This one is 16x8 canvas that I pirchased at Hobby Lobby in their clearance area - it was a home decor item and I just covered it right up!  I started by decoupaging dictionary pages over the whole canvas and wrapping the edges.  Then I gesso's over top to make it a little more subtle.

Then I went to town with my ink pads, paints and stamps!  I used all stamps from a*muse studio - I especially LOVE the addition of the words and birds from the Clever Girls stamp set.  I did not expect that set to become as much of a go to set for me as it has!  the two phrases are:

"Isn't it amazing what Clever girls can do?" and "Dreams come a size too big so we can grow into them"

 I also used stamps from Ornate Elements (the edge fancy stuff) Rock Star (the flowers), Harlequin Background, Script Background, Sheet Music Background, Mad for Plaids (stitches) and Polka Dot Patterns.

The ink colors I used were Sky, Grass, Orange, Heather, Slate and Stazon Black.

I stamped and embossed the pieces for my house with Script Background and white embossing powder then I decoupaged them onto the canvas.  I decided to accent the roof and door with paper doily pieces and ribbon.  Then I printed my saying on my printer and cut them out and decoupaged them on top.  When Decoupaging on top of the inks you have to be careful not to over work them or the ink will smear - so use alot of medium and few strokes!

I made this one intentionally for the gift exchange but then decided I should keep it because it was my first one -  so I had to make another one.  Laney joined me and she is in the process of making one too.  I will share those tomorrow!

I chose the saying "Everyday do something that makes your heart sing" because that is how I feel about my art and creating.  Whether it is a simple card or a bigger project like this - the process of creating makes me happy and feeds my soul.  This is one of my major resolutions/goals for this year and I hope to really sink my teeth into my art journal in that process too.  I have been tinkering with that over the last few months but not as much as I want to, so hopefully I can make that a real priority.  The most exciting thing about that whole resolution for me is the fact that Laney will be joining me on the journey.  I am over the moon excited about her and I really connecting and creating together.

Last night she told Eric to tell me to wake her up early this morning.  Just 15 minutes early.  I asked her why and she didn't want to tell me why.  When I finally got it out of her it was so that she could draw more this morning before school.  Talk about a heart swell for me.  I got up 15 minutes early to wake her up - and she actually got up 15 minutes late!  She could not muster early - but I am sure she will come home from school ready to roll.  We have a canvas to finish!

Have a blessed day - and do something that makes YOUR heart sing!

Wasabi and Slate

 

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I just LOVE Wasabi and Slate together!  That was where I started with today's card - my color combination and a sketch.  I wanted to try out using same color layers - one with texture one without.  I sanded the layer with the Harlequin embossing to reveal a little of the white on the cardstock and to differnetiate the layers a little more.  What do you think?

I used the stamp from Beautiful Botanicals - my flower puff.  I know it cracks some of  you up when I call it that - I guess I just dont think of it as a weed!   I stamped it with Slate ink.   I further embellished the layer by edge distressing and with the addition of Onyx Bakers Twine.  The white scallop layer was also cut using the smallest of the scallop border set dies.  The greeting from Essential Sentiments is added with a piece of 3D foam adhesive.

It feels great to be back on track and getting things done in my studio.  It seems like so long since I had a schedule that I wanted to stick to and I hope that I can keep it up! 

Yesterday was the last day off for the kiddos.  Logan was of with one of his buddies so Laney and I spent the day together playing in my studio.  She has really blossomed as an artist in the last year.  Yesterday she was just drawing whatever she could find to draw.  I had forgotten that I had purchased some coloring sheets for her and logan a while ago and she found them - and decided to draw different parts of them on her own.  They are GOOD!  Reminds me of myself when I was her age - drawing all the time.

I really want to do some art things with her - and I think she is finally to the point where we can.  I got her started on a project and we were so into it last night that when it was time for bed we realized she forgot to take her shower!  SO funny!  SO she got to bed a little late - but I hope she is excited to get back to it when she gets home from school.  

I hope today finds you BLESSED beyond measure.  I was yesterday - and know that today God has even more in store for me!

January Spotlight Specials

email me to order - or shop my secure site at http://www.amusestudio.come/heather

Monday Sketch - are you ready?

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Happy New Year!  I am so excited for 2012 and the blessings that God has in store for me and YOU!   I hope that 2012 brings us all many Creative Blessings, Love and Happiness!   I am SO ready to get 2012 rolling - and hopefully be back on track with my studio and creative endeavors. 

So far so good as I spent last week cleaning up and getting some counterspace uncovered!  Isn't it funny how (in my space anyway!) if I have a clean countertop - I can in a matter of hours get it all cluttered and non usable!  It drives me crazy and I always hope I can do better about NOT cluttering it up!  I just have too much STUFF!!  Anyone relate??

I am SUPER excited about tomorrow night's annual Christmas party with my besties - our weekly stamping group is getting together for a gift exchange.  I made my gift yesterday and i LOVE it!  I actually do not want to give it away so I am trying to figure out how I can STEAL it back!  LOL!  Seriously though I will just make another one - and I hope to make alot more of them.  It will definetly become a class in the very near future!  All last year I had this project on my mind and I wanted to try it but I kept putting it on the back burner.  SO I guess I already accomplished one of my 2012 goals!  Go me!   

Later today a*muse studio will be releasing the January Spotlight - so I will keep you posted!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!    I will be celebrating tonight with family - and am looking forward to a fabulous 2012!   I wanted to share a card that I made for a|s Convention coming up in January - they had a call for designs and I was able to submit some. 

For this card I started by sponging my "light" with Wasabi ink and a sponge dauber.  Once I had it how I wanted I stamping the Chandelier on top with Onyx ink.  Then I embellished the stamping with clear twinkle stickers - the teardrop shapes.   I layered that to Wasabi cardstock.  On the front of my Slate card I stamped the stripes with Onyx ink along the left edge and right edge.  Then I layered my chandelier piece on top with pop dots.  Easy and elegant!

I love the color combo of Slate, Onyx and Wasabi!  I also LOVE the stripe stamp in Onyx along the edges of the colored card.   The clear twinkle stickers are a definete MUST have for embellishing your cards, scrapbook pages and projects!  If you need any of these products you can always shop on my secure site anytime!  http://www.amusestudio.com/heather

So here's to a BLESSED New Year!   I hope you are able to get your pinky's inky and get creative with me by joining in the sketch challenges on Monday's or coming to a class! 

Last days for great deal!

our $99 starter kit special ends dec 31st!  If you were considering becoming a consultant you want to act now to get a grerat deal on some awesome stamping supplies!  In the starter kit you receive:

Sampler stamp set valued at $99 -all of our best selling images!
10 ink pads
6 a|s clear acrylic blocks - these are DELUXE blocks with contoured edges and extra thick!
7 copic markers - basic colors to get you started
Stamp scrubber plus cleaning spray
Adhesive runner and glue pen
Starter kit paper pack - assorted colors 2 of each
Clear and Pearl Twinkle stickers
Flower assortment
3 types of ribbon - French roast satin, lime and sky stitched grosgrain

Plus these business supplies:
4 catalogs, 25 order forms, 10 recruiting brochures, 10 hostess brochures, 50 invitations, 5 hostess order forms, and a paper swatch ring

It is a retail value of $385.67!!!  For $99!  So if you are on the fence and think you might want to - it will be worth it to give it a try!  They are also offering a special on the DELUXE starter kit - just $50 more for alot more goodies!  Check it out by following the link below and clicking on Start a Business in the top right corner.

Email me if you have any questions - I would LOVE to have you on my growing team of creative consultants!

Already know you want to jump on board?  You can sign up easily on my web site - http://www.amusestudio.com/heather  Just click on "Start a Business" in the top right corner! 

 

One of my Christmas cards...

This is one of the designs I went with this year - I decided to split into two so I made 50 of these and 50 of another design. 

I used the metallic Washi tape - LOVE!!!  I just put 2 strips a little wider than my top layer - and voila!  I masked off the moon and ground with post it notes and sponged on top with Winter Sky ink.  Then I stamped the snowflakes with Winter Sky too.  Then I stamped my deer with Navy and distressed the edges before adding it to the card with pop dots.

Three little Blings - clear twinkle stickers accent my sentiment strip.  (i actually left this off my finished design because I ran out!) 

SO hopefully I can get some of these suckers in todays mail - but first I want to try to get a picture printed!  I got a lot to do - so it might not happen til tomorrow!

 

Hot Cocoa - card for sketch #161

here is the sketch again in case you missed it!

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I went crazy with embossing on this card - I love the subtle effect of clear embossing for a background - I used the Music background for this one.  I could not get my white polka dots to pop like I wanted - so white embossing for them and they are perfect! 

I played a little with my copics too - I love to color but when mass producing for Christmas cards I have to choose my images wisely or I will NEVER finish them!  This stamp set - Holiday tags

has 10 different images to choose from - that are all easy to color!  Definetly on my Christmas cards this year!

I had a major internet outage this week - which brought me to a screeching halt in my studio!  I had planned my work out for wednesday and then couldn't do any of it!  Posting this card was one of those items!  I am all back up and running - and hopefully back on track!

Don't forget he starter kit special ends dec 31st!  Just $99 to give a|s a try - and get some really cool goodies!  After that the strater kit will be regularly priced at $149.

Another Monday Sketch!

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Did you get in on the Holiday Must Have Specials yet?  I was surprised to see that not only the cherry bakers twine - but also Onyx and French Roast are on sale!  It is such a hot addition to your cards - you can't miss the special!  Washi tape too - the holiday collection is not just for holidays.

I have almost finished all my commitments before the holidays - and am looking forward to friday being able to focus on my family and our holiday celebrations.  We have alot to celebrate this year for sure!   I want to get some photo editing done and get our Alaska pictures printed into either books or just to frame.  We have SO many cool pictures and I honestly have not even looked at them yet! 

I also have to get started on my Christmas cards!  LOL!  I have a crop scheduled for this saturday - so I hope to get them done and ready to go that day.  Which means that I need to get a design nailed down this week!  Hope you have a blessed week and that you get a chance to play with your ink and stamps! 

Washi Tape Christmas

Did you know the Christmas Washi Tape is on sale???  :-)  $11.16 for three rolls of bliss!  It is on the Top 10 Holiday Must Haves - which ends on the 15th at midnight so get your orders in to stock up of stuff some stockings!

Here is a cute card I made with it for last months class...

I cut the tree out with my Tree die - LOVE all the christmas dies in the holiday supplement!  I used Fern cardstock and I embossed the music background with silver on top.  On the front of a Sugar card I just slapped down three strips of Washi Tape and then layered my tree on top with pop dots.  Then I added my sentiment and blinged it up a bit with some red twinkle stars. 

The green in the holiday Washi Tape matches the Wasabi paper ink and ribbon excellently!

Super simple card - I think it might be one of my designs this year - although I have not started yet so I might still find something elese!  Embossing and cutting a ton of trees might be a pain after like 10.  LOL!

Well Laney has her first Bball tourney for the year tomorrow - so bleacher butt is in my near future!  I can't wait to see her play again - she just LOVES basketball.  Hopefully we can enjoy the rest of the day with some family time!  Maybe even get some Christmas decorationg or cookie making done or started anyway!  Hope you have a blessed weekend!!!