Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Stamp Set of the week - Infinite Goodness (post 2)

FINALLY
Sorry this took so long. It's been a bit crazy in my little world.


Stamps: Infinite Goodness, Property Lines
Paper: Elegant Eggplant, Pumpkin Pie, Close to Cocoa
Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Brads, Taupe Grosgrain Ribbon (SU! retired), BLENDER PEN


Stamps: Infinite Goodness, Happy Birthday,
Paper: Whisper White, Old Olive, Barely Banana
Ink: Old Olive, Barely Banana marker, So saffron marker, certainly celery marker


Stamps: Infinite Goodness, Wonderful Words, Amazing to Zany
Paper: Old Olive, Certainly Celery DP, Barely Banana
Ink: Basic Brown, Old Olive, Wild Wasabi (applied to pears with Blender Pen)
Accessories: Mat Pack for paper piercing, BLENDER PENS


Stamps: Infinite Goodness, Define your life
Paper: Mellow Moss, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Brown, Elegant Eggplant, Barely Banana, Mellow Moss
Accessories: Stiff bristle brush, Mr Mister of water, Color Spritzer tool with Mellow Moss Marker
A stiff brush with light water was dragged from center of flowers out then they were cut out. I really liked this effect and just couldn't seem to stop.

If you're interested in purchasing this set please email me.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Not Your Underwear


ATC Mosaic
Originally uploaded by Kalyber



I decided to try my hand at ATCs. I like the size, working in miniature is fun, and the content can be anything which isn't really the case for cards -- at least not in my world.

I've had the phrase. "It's not your underwear but the way you care that makes you an angel" in my head for a long time. This is in response to the Victoria's Secret Angel line of lingerie. Why are the skinny, "perfect" people angels? Are the rest of us demons? Or what?

I added wings to a Stampendous girly stamp and added the phrase. Then I though why not add different things (faces, etc) to actual Victoria's Secret models. So I did. Most of the added faces and text came from a couple of volumes of an old encyclopedia (circa 1950s)

I stamped on botanicals because they seemed to need something, and numbered each one in the series. I didn't work in numerical order. I make 10 first and then 6 and then 9 so there is no rhyme or reason to the numbering. I just wanted to make 10.

As with any series some are better than others. They were all made to fill a bit of time while my son was sick recently and for giggles. Hope you like them. To see the full series go to my flickr space and use the keyword ATC.

Monday, January 21, 2008

Stamp Set of the week - Infinite Goodness (post 1)

I chose my word of the year and feel I am failing already in having it carry me through 2008. My word is... EFFORT! Yes you read it right EFFORT as in "Make an..." I realized that a good portion of last year (heck that last few years) I've been phoning it in. Not really making an effort in certain areas. I don't wear make-up and don't really care much about clothes either. If I worked with the public maybe I would but I don't so I don't.

This year my goal was to post a stamp set (or product) of the week on Fridays. Well a kid throwing up and running a fever changes plans. My boy has strep and I got to clean buckets on Thursday and Friday. So I didn't get the stuff I made with this week's set posted. Then, when he was resting and not feeling so bad. I stumbled on the Splitcoaststampers Virtual Stamp Night. So this is where most of this weekend's EFFORT went.

If you would like to see the results here they are: Katie's Gallery.

For those not interested in seeing the whole lot here is the card featuring this week's featured stamp set, Infinite Goodness. This is a level 2 hostess set and if you host a party with $300 worth of sales (easy to do during Sale-a-bration which starts in 11 days) it can be yours. Email me to book a party! :

The rest will be posted tonight.

Friday, January 11, 2008

Stamp Set of the Week

Embrace Life (111011, set of 5 for $23.95)
It has an Asian feel, a spring feel, when paired with Carte Postale it has a French feel. Best of all you can color it. I love coloring stuff in.
If you're interested in ordering this set give me a call.



Thursday, January 10, 2008

Penguins Under Car Warning


Penguins Under Car Warning
Originally uploaded by Wananga

And another penguin bit. I must stop. Lunch is almost over.

'guin collectors unite

I just stumbled across :: teeny beak creations :: on Etsy and I think I'm in love. If anyone would like to get me a gift these would be a perfect addition to my collection. I really love the Mac Penguin.


Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Xyron Tips

When using adhesives on a scrapbook page I want a good strong hold and the snail just ain’t gonna cut it. That’s when I turn to the Xyron. I get full even coverage and a bond that seems unbreakable – though I haven’t been using it for 20 years to really tell. But Xyron adhesive is expensive so I have developed a few work arounds to get the most for my money.

Gang ‘em up!
A bit of repositionable tape (repo) works wonders keeping small items lined up to go through the machine. Nothing is more frustrating than having one small thing creep under another and deprive it of any adhesive.
I have used a line of repo on a whole line of postage stamps for collage work and it works great. Use an 8.5”x11” sheet of paper to make sure you don’t make your gang too wide for the machine. If you are using a smaller version use whatever size paper you’re machine can handle.
Remove all Repo before you use your new stickers.

Double ‘em up!
Repo also helps when doubling up large and small. I have taped a couple of items together and then taped them to the back of a large sheet of paper. Run it through and you have adhesive on the smaller items and on the edges of the larger sheet of paper.
I don’t need adhesive on the entire large sheet as long as the edges are well covered I’m good.



How do you get those big sticky sheets down on my page?
1. Peel back one edge of the carrier paper (white paper the adhesive comes from), and fold back.
2. Line up opposite edge that the adhesive is still on where you want it (you can cut all the carrier paper off to make it easier if you want).
3. Once the entire thing is lined up. Press down the exposed adhesive. Carefully pull out the carrier paper as you rub your paper down. If you have doubled up you will want to pull the carrier paper a bit slower to be sure your other items don’t go with – it’s rare but it can happen.

I want to use a punch to make stickers from paper with adhesive already on it.
1. The easiest way to do this is use a tiny bit of repo and tape down a string on the back of the sheet.
2. Run the paper through the machine then punch out the shape
3. Find the string and pull carrier paper up at that spot. It’s easier to pull off when there is a small area of no adhesive at the edge.
4. Clean your punches with a bit of rubbing alchohol to get rid of any stickiness.

There are gobs of adhesive on the edge of EVERYTHING.
How do I get rid of that mess?
25 years ago, when I was in college {yikes 25 years}, I would have said use a rubber cement pickup (at my house it was affectionately known as "the snot") this wad of dried up rubber cement would pick up all its little sticky friends and grow a bit in the process. I still have "the snot" but there is so much charcoal and other color in it now that it could damage my work.
Now the answer is an adhesive remover. This eraser will easily pick up the mess. Like the snot it will grow with the adhesive it picks up, but these growths are easily trimmed off with a pair of craft & rubber scissors.


So this was my first tutorial, how did I do? Would love to know what you think and how I can improve. Thanks for reading.
Katie

New Year Card

Two entries in one day, what is my world coming to?

Just a quick card to apologize to all the people I didn't get Christmas cards out to, which is, well, everyone. The busy, then sick, of December is slowly making way for a productive, clean new year.

Saturday, January 5, 2008

This amazing boy






Well I promised a picture soon from the new camera and here is the first one. My son and I were testing the timer feature on it and, well, it works. It was a bright day and the flash was on so it's a bit over exposed but whatcha gonna do.

I am still sick, this cough will not go away. I went to the doctor the other day and tomorrow I have to go to the hospital for a chest x-ray to rule out pnuemonia. I don't think that is the case but I do as I'm told when it comes to things like this. So I feel pretty lousy and don't feel like making the promised banana pancakes for dinner. We had bagels, fruit salad and cereal -- it was still breakfast food but much less work for me.

While we ate I started to lament that I was a bad Mom -- not feeding the boy properly, not cleaning the house since I've been sick, losing my temper more lately, etc. I asked, "What could I do to be a better Mom?"
He starts pointing to me and himself and grunting, at least he doesn't talk with his mouth full. "What?" I asked
"You could let me take care of you more."
"How would you do that?" I asked
He takes another bite and begins to pantomime sneezing and using a tissue, coughing and drinking water. After he swallows he explained that when I start coughing he could get me a glass or water and when I need to blow my nose he could get me a tissue.
So sweet.
I was focused on my bad mothering and he was focused on my being sick. He wants me to be a better (well) mom.

He wants this so much that when his class prayed at school he asked everyone to pray that Mommy and Mary Ann get well. Mary Ann is my aunt who is going through chemotherapy for lymphoma. So if you are a praying kinda person would you also pray for a full and speedy recovery for my son's mommy and Mary Ann.

I have a bunch of card pics to upload but I am tired again. My second has blown out of here and I need to get to bed I have a meeting in the morning and should sleep before showing up.