Super Simple Birthday card

Sometimes plain and simple is good. The Angel Company calls it "Simple. Smart. Sophisticated." I took that approach on this card using Friendship Stamps and our 8x8 Scalloped Stack. To color it, I used Prismacolor Pencils and oderless mineral spirits. I added Crystal Lacquer for a fun but simple and subtle touch. This card isn't my favorite, but I'm not sure why I'm not a big fan. Oh well, here it is...

Watercolor Plants

For this card I used TAC's new Watercolor Plants stamps with our Aquacolor Crayons. I colored directly on the stamp, using several shades (so they'd blend), then spritzed lightly with water. I stamped several times so that some flowers would stand out more than others. For the grass I sponged with Landscape and Jardin Moss inks, and for the sky I sponged Seascape ink. The cloud effect comes from masking a bit with a scrap cut using Cloud Scissors.

Create-a-Card Contest

Today was my Open House/Catalogue Premiere. We had so much fun! One of the things I did was to have a card contest. I stamped off images from Skinny Birds and anyone who wanted to enter could make a card using one of those images. There were no other rules--they could use any products they wanted to and didn't have to use only TAC. It was a GREAT way to see the wonderful versatility of this set. No two cards look alike, do they?!?!?! Each card had a number, and those who came today could vote by number only. Should I tell you which card won? (I'm just glad I didn't have to vote because I think each artist did a super job.) ;-)

The brown/blue one, second from the left on the bottom row. Kelcie won!!!! She just graduated from high school, and is very creative! WTG!

Angel Art Blog Hop

Some of my Angel friends and I are having a "Replenish Your Card Stash" blog hop. We'll all be posting several cards we've made.

The inspiration for this first card came from this card of Laurie's! I knew I wanted to do something with circles, but the idea hadn't solidified in my mind yet. When I saw Laurie's card, I knew what I was going to do! The inside says, "Round is a shape." I just love these new TAC sets--Funny Farm and Funny Farm Phrases.

Don't you just love the way the button in the lower right looks like a pig snout?!?! ;-)

I had this fun image (retired, below) already colored and waiting for just the right card. After I did the pig, I knew she'd be the next "round" one. I added red Gelly Glaze pen to her lips and purple Stardust Glittering Gel pen to her fingernails and toenails. Nice touch, don't ya think?! The felt flowers and Scraper's Floss are always fun additions too.

This little gal from Beary Happy Day was one of the image I stamped and colored at Seminar. The "happy birthday" is from the new Barrel Monkeys set. Those snaps I used are now retired. :-(

I really like the "cheerfulness" of this next card, which I actually made before Seminar when I pre-purchased a few sets. The stamp set is called Happy Thoughts and is only $12.95. I used my Scor-pal to emboss lines on the blue piece and then sanded lightly. My Cloud Scissors gave a gentle scallop and the entire blue piece is popped up with Pop Dots. I used Belle Rose ink on the pink card front to give the look of a watermark without sanding on the white core cardstock.

While the image from the next card isn't brand new, it's still an all-purpose fave of mine! Everyday Events has an image for just about everything you can think of. Here, I used paper from the Penelope collection, and the brads are from the Matte Heritage mini brads.

Click on these links to see more Angel Art!

Laurie
Carol
Maria
Rita
Jen
Jamie
Christina
KellyRae
Shirley
Michelle
Trudy
Stacy

Skinny Birds doesn't just have birds!

This flower is in the "Skinny Birds" stamp set that was available at Seminar to stamp images. It's only one flower, and I stamped in groups of threes. I colored them with watercolor pencils and Dove Blenders. Of course, I had to add Stickles too (wink).

Needless to say, I've since ordered this stamp set. I'm LOVING it and have great ideas for future stuff! ;-)

More Cards with NEW STAMPS!

I'm having a ball with the images I stamped while at Seminar. I've ordered some of them so I can have even more fun! The new Scor-Bug is awesome too. I'm finding all kinds of uses for it.

On this card, I used the Scor-Bug on the white panel around the image and on the left side of the card, on the brown cardstock. I colored in the heart with the Stardust Clear Gelly Pen. Adds a nice sparkle! The paper is Rustic Chic. I use it a LOT!

This little guy is for my brother- and sister-in law. They are expecting a baby, so I sent a "non-gender" congratulations card. Isn't he cute?!?!?! I used Stickles on the bubbles to make them glisten.

TAC Sale and Cracked Glass

The Angel Company has discounted their discontinued accessories by 25%! That means you can purchase these non-stamp items while supplies last. The bad news is that my beloved Designer Dries Clear glue is discontinued. The good news is that you can stock up on the glue and tips for 25% off! Just be sure to get them before they're gone.

Click HERE for a complete list.

Click HERE to see the products on my TAC site. Remember to click and browse every category in the lower left corner! ;-)

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This next photo isn't the greatest picture of a card that isn't the greatest either. I decided to go ahead and post it even though I'm not totally satisfied--it just didn't turn out like my mind's eye had it looking! LOL! It does look somewhat better IRL, though. ;-)

I used the "Cracked Glass" technique and got one HUGE crack in it. I decided against remelting the embossing powder because you can't go back and re-break *real* glass!

The image was colored with Prismacolors and oderless mineral spirits. The paper is from TAC's new More Mimi double-sided collection (and ivory ultrasmooth).

I *have* to post this card tonight!

Ok, I just *have* to add this one since I just now went over to Laurie's blog and saw her card here. I PROMISE--I made mine a week ago and never even had Laurie in mind when I made it (unlike the previous post's cards)! LOL

New Cards

I've been playing with the fun images I stamped at Seminar and thought I'd share a few.

The following cards are sort of in honor of my friend Laurie. She is such an artist when it comes to stamping, and I love her stuff! She loves...polkadots. I decided to try some myself and added them to this girl's dress--on her puffy sleeve and the ruffle at the bottom of her dress.

Here's a close-up to see the sprinkles on the cupcake (made with Souffle pens), the polkadots on the dress, and the Stickles on her wand and wings. The saying is "Happy Birthday...with sprinkles on top."

This card looks very "Laurie" to me in style, and it was tough for me not to add extra ink to the edges and keep in "clean and simple." I didn't attempt the gorgeous large bows that Laurie usually does, though! It's very hard to see, but the scarlet paper has little hearts (from TAC's new PWP set) stamped in Versamark Champagne Frost. I LOVE this stuff!!! Just a hint of sparkle on top of the watermark.