Stamptoberfest Creation #1

Hi there! Stamptoberfest was a blast, but it is over for this year. I had so much fun seeing what everyone created. So many talented stampers and cardmakers participated!

I thought it would be fun to share my own Stamptoberfest creations with you. I completed a total of 5 projects which I plan to share with you over the next few days.

Lucky Friend Card:
(Click any image to view it larger.)

I made this card for Sara's To Be or Not To Be challenge, where the sentiment was supposed to be the focus of the card. The sentiment was created using new Zing! copper glitter embossing powder. The new Zing! glitter embossing powders are the shiniest, sparkliest embossing powders I've ever seen. I have two - the copper and a gorgeous blue.

Detail view showing sentiment:

This photo shows the shine of the embossing powder better. It is hard to capture in a photo, but it is gorgeous in real life!

Thanks for stopping by!

Lovely Postcard in the Mail!

Hello there! Sometimes I receive something in the mail that is just so wonderful that I feel compelled to share it with you! Today, I'd like to share a wonderful postcard that I received from a friend, Scrappy Cat, with her permission.

This little gem is a handmade postcard. It is made from appliqued fabric. I can't tell you how beautiful it is in real life. Just gorgeous!

I love the multi-colored thread that forms the edge all around the postcard. I love the colors and the patterns of the fabrics. I like the tiny butterflies. And I love the overall design. Everything about it is special. So well done!

Detail view:

This view lets you get close-up on the fabric and stitching. It's hard to see in the photo, but you can see how each piece was appliqued. The stitches have depth to them. I love holding it and looking at it!

Back view:

The back of this lovely item is a genuine postcard with actual postage and a postmark. Even the back has details. Like the subtle white-on-white leafy vine that you can see near the postmark in the photo.

Thank you so much Scrappy Cat! I love it!

And thanks for stopping by!

Did you know blogging is regulated by law?

Did you know that what you can and cannot say through social media like blogging, Twitter, and Facebook is regulated by law? The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has issued revised rules for endorsements, product reviews, and testimonials which go into effect on December 1, 2009.

One of the new rules is that if you receive something in return for your promotion or endorsement of a product or in return for your "word of mouth" in social media, such as blogs, you must disclose that relationship. You have to openly state that you are receiving products for free in return for your review, or that you are Tweeting in return for a contest entry, or that you are receiving free supplies as a member of a Design Team in return for creating and sharing projects made with those supplies.

Failure to comply may result in warnings, cease-and-desist orders, and a fine of up to $11,000. Richard Cleland, Assistant Director of the Division of Advertising Practices at the FTC said, in a recent article in Fast Company magazine, that the FTC is more interested in pursuing the advertisers who are encouraging word-of-mouth advertising through social media (that might be misleading because of a lack of disclosure) than going after individuals. But, the possibility is still there.

He suggests that social media users have to figure out ways to let other consumers know when their messages are sponsored. He also suggests that advertisers who encourage their customers to talk about them in social media put education programs in place to help individuals comply with the new rules.

So, if you have a relationship with a company or supplier that you talk about in your blog or on other social media, it is a good idea to disclose that relationship. Even if you think it is understood that say, being on a design team means you get free products, it is still a good idea to spell it out clearly. Just thought you'd like to know.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sketchbook Project: Zebra

Hello there! Today I'm sharing a new image from my Sketchbook Project journal.

Zebra:
(Click any image to view it larger.)

Some animals are so striking and so well-known that just a mere suggestion of them is enough to evoke their entire image. Such is the case with this zebra print - it is instantly recognizable. There are different species of zebras, but unfortunately, most are endangered. Some species were hunted to near extinction for their skins. Surviving zebras face loss of habitat, competition from other large animals, and continued hunting. Environmental conditions, such as droughts, can also have a large impact on the remaining zebras.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sketchbook Project: Dogs

Hi there! Today I'm sharing more from my Sketchbook Project journal.

Dogs:
(Click the image to view it larger.)

I decided to include dogs in my journal. They aren't endangered, but their cousins, red wolves, are. We can learn a lot about animals by having pets and teaching our children to properly care for pets and other animals. And, by having pets, and learning how to live with them and make adjustments to our thinking and way of living to make the animals' lives easier, we learn that we can also make changes that benefit wild animals, too.

Thanks for stopping by!

Fabulous Birthday

Hi there! Today I'd like to share a cheerful birthday card that I made, that reminds me of good times at the beach. I think this card would be suitable for either a masculine or feminine birthday card.

Fabulous Birthday Card:
(Click the image to view it larger.)

To make this card, I started by stamping the Bird with the Long Legs image onto plain white cardstock using black ink. Then I set it aside to let the ink dry. I also stamped a scalloped border onto a scrap piece of kraft cardstock, using brown ink, and set it aside to dry.

Next, I made a white A2 sized card base (4.25" x 5.5"). I cut a piece of aqua cardstock 1/4" smaller all the way around, to leave a border when it is later mounted to the card base.

Once the ink on the bird was dry, I used sponge daubers to swirl on Tea Dye distress ink and Summer Sky dye ink to give the effect of sand and sky. Then I swirled on just a bit of Broken China (aqua blue) distress ink along the top edge only, to give it a vignetting effect.

Dye inks dry rather quickly, so I was able to continue working and I colored in the bird using pale shades of colored pencils. Then I cut a piece of brown cardstock to matte the bird image and adhered the bird to the matte.

When the brown ink was dry on the scallop border, I cut out the scallop edge. Then I mounted it to the blue background piece and trimmed off the edges. Next, I adhered a piece of ribbon over top of the scallop border, wrapping the ends around to the back of the blue piece.

I mounted the blue piece to the white card base. Then I adhered the matted bird to the card base using foam squares for dimension. Finally, I stamped the "fabulous birthday" sentiment using brown pigment ink and set it aside to dry.

Materials used:

• cardstock: white, aqua blue, brown, kraft


• Derwent watercolour pencil: 16 Flesh Pink (top striped feathers)


• EK Success 3D-Dots: 1/16" foam squares


• EK Success Cutter Bee scissors


• Hero Arts E4742 Bird with Long Legs


• Hero Arts C4633 Fabulous Birthday


• Hero Arts CL288 Scallop Borders


• Offray striped riboon


• Prismacolor Colored pencils: PC939 Peach (head and beak), PC997 Beige (belly), PC1023 Cloud Blue (spotted feathers), PC 1072 French Grey 50% (bottom striped feathers)


• Ranger Archival Ink (waterproof): Jet Black


• Ranger Distress Ink (dye ink): Tea Dye (brown) and Broken China (dark aqua blue)


• Tsukineko Memento Dew Drop (dye ink): Summer Sky (pale blue)


• Tsukineko Sponge Daubers


• Tsukineko VersaFine pigment ink: Vintage Sepia

Thanks for stopping by!

Sketchbook Project: Da Bears

Hello! Today I'd like to share another installment from my Sketchbook Project journal.

Da Bears:
(Click the image to view it larger.)

As I mentioned previously, I have decided to use some photo collages in my journal. I really like these pictures of bear cubs with their mothers. Many species of bears are endangered or vulnerable, and even species that are less in danger are still at risk of becoming locally extinct in some areas.

Thanks for stopping by!