NEW DIGI-STAMP AND SU! PRODUCT REVIEW

Introducing: BUNNY

Bunny is my newest digital image - and is available for FREE to anyone that asks for her. If you would like to have a digital copy of the stamp please leave a request/comment at the bottom of this post (make sure to include your email) or send me a private email and just include the word "BUNNY" in the subject line. All I ask in return is that you credit me as the artist if you post the image on any website, submit a work with the image for publication or use the image in any public display or forum. Did you notice the chick peeking out from the cracked egg? Is he too cute?????

I used Copics to color the image - but I didn't have any cardstock at the office - so I actually made a reduced copy on a photocopier of my pen and ink drawing on Multipurpose paper. Surprisingly the black lines didn't smear - but the Copics didn't blend as easily on the multipurpose paper as they do with GinaK Luxury White or even SU! Whisper White.

Okay - now on to the SU! NEW PRODUCT REVIEW!

The second card I'm posting was a quickie I made before work yesterday morning. I received my Stampin'Up! Occasions Mini and Sale-a-brations order Tuesday evening, but by the time I got off work and finished running my errands it was time for NCIS on t.v. Now you have to understand that 6 nights out of 7 I don't watch t.v. - but on Tuesday nights the t.v. has my FULL attention. So even though I opened the box with all the SU! goodies inside, I did not play with any of the new product.



Has anyone out there tried the new SU! rubber stamps to use with acrylic blocks? What did you think about them? They have some definite ADVANTAGES - such as easier to store, smaller cases, same great deeply etched rubber, lower price per set, picture of each stamp in the set on the front of the cover as well as a label for each individual stamp. I found a couple of things about them I didn't like - the main one being that you have to mount the stamp each and every time you use it. While this isn't a terrible disavantage for most of the stamps - the word/phrase stamps I found to be troublesome. Because the stamps are not clear (like acrylic stamps) it is difficult to see if your words are in a straight line (which mine were NOT on the card above.) With a wood mounted stamp once you have it straight you never have to mess with it again - not so with these. I also didn't think they were "sticky" - especially the smaller stamps (like the leaf in Vintage Vogue). They are definitely not a sticky as the clear acrylic stamps. In fact, the stamp actually fell off the block once while I was inking it. But maybe I just didn't press it onto the block hard enough. Best scenario is that you should try them for yourself. Fortunately for me, Stampin'Up! has not discontinued their wood mount stamps. I've decided to pay the extra price and stick with the wood mounts from SU! and use CLEAR acrylic stamps with my acrylic blocks.

I also received a corner punch and a border punch in the new punch styles. I love the new designs. I also like the actual design of the punch and that they are easier to store. I found them a little less "user- friendly" than the old style punches though. I liked the levers on the old style - they fit just right in my hand and I could easily punch with just a squeeze of my thumb. I didn't find the new style as easy to hold while punching. The corner punch especially just didn't seem to fit my hand and just didn't "feel" as comfortable as the old style. THAT of course is probably more due to personal preference and individual "feel". Again, the best way to know if you will like them is to try them out for yourself. Get hold of your Stampin'Up! Demonstrator and schedule a workshop or see if you can stop by her house and give them a try.
I also ordered the new Designer Series Paper in the Occasions Mini. LOVE IT!!!!! For you fans of bling and glitter, elements on one side of each page are LIGHTLY highlighted with irridescent glitter. The second side is glitter free. Perfect for those Valentine's cards and projects.

So that's the review - but truly, you should check these products out for yourself and see how you like them.

Don't forget if you would want BUNNY leave a comment here (with your email address) or send me an email at jhaddad59@ yahoo.com.

Thanks for visiting
and until next time -
Happy Stamping!

Jill

PRAY FOR HAITI

"...pray for each other that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was (hu)man, just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years." James 5:16b-17

If you would, please take time to pray for the people of Haiti - God works through the prayers of His people. Pray for aid to arrive quickly, pray for food, water and shelter to be provided - quickly. Pray for those that are missing to be found - quickly - and for the families of those who perished to be comforted. Please pray for the lives and safety of Mike Moise, Meajeanne and Schneider - residents of the Port-au-Prince area and former Haitian foster children of my brother and his family.

In the wake of this tragic catastrophe and the sudden realization that these children, that were part of our family for a time, could be among the 100's of thousands who have died, has made posting a card seem a little frivolous.

Thank you for your prayers on behalf of the people of Haiti.

Jill

MY HEART LEAPS FOR JOY

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song." Psalm 28:7

I created this card using the Mojo Monday Sketch #121 . I enjoy using these sketches to get my creative juices flowing when my mojo has dried up. They are always well designed and certainly help get me motivated to put ink to paper.



The image for this card is a Penny Black image in acrylic stamp medium. Doesn't he look happy and joyful of heart? I think he's adorable - but then if you've been reading my blog for awhile - you know that I really like frogs, turtles and snowmen. I have fond memores of dear old Phineas!

I stamped the image on SU! Whisper White cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored it with Copic markers then sponged around the image with Stampin'Up! Dye inks in Almost Amethyst, Lavendar Lace and Eggplant Envy. Once colored I applied Crystal Effects to make him appear "slimy" - even though I can attest to the fact that frogs really aren't slimy at all.

The background paper is from The Paper Stuido and was purchased at the local craft store as was the ribbon, Prima flowers and purple polka dot brad.

So what causes your heart to leap for joy? What song are you carrying in your heart today? I hope it's a happy tune.

God Bless
and Until Next Time -
Happy Stamping.

Jill

CELEBRATE LIFE

"I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord. " Plans to prosper you and and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29: 11. That was my sister's favorite verse several years ago as she was preparing to move from our quiet little Central Illinois town to South Africa to work as a medical missionary. She knew noone there, there was no established ministry but yet she was willing to follow God's call to serve the people dying of AIDS in a place most of us would BEG not to have to visit much less live. She was willing to leave her son and grandchildren, her family and friends, because she believed God had a plan. A plan for Africa, a plan for the needy there, and a plan for her. Six months before she was to leave, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. I sat beside her as she received her diagnosis. First came the blank look. Then the shock. Then quiet tears welled up in her eyes. I was devastated. I was worried. The thought of losing her caused my head to spin. I could only imagine HER heartbreak and fear. As the doctor stepped out of the room, I turned to her. With the tears in my eyes blurring her sweet face, I reached for her hand and again felt shock as she spoke, "I won't get to go to Africa" she stated quietly. Unbelievable! Her concern was not for herself, that she could possibly die from this cancer in her body, her concern was that this disease would interfere with her heart's desire: to bandage the sick and dying in Africa.

That was more than 4 years ago. My sister, who has suffered losses that are impossible to imagine, has faith beyond anything I have ever experienced or seen. She underwent surgery in June 2005, then a course of radiation and some chemo and continued to work and plan for her future - because she KNEW God had a plan for her. She left January 4, 2006, cancer free, to fulfill that plan. This is the birthday card I made for her that year. It was a celebration - a celebration of her life, a celebration of her future, and a celebration of her call.


I don't know the name of the stamp or even the company that manufactures it. I found it in a local stamp store that has since gone out of business. As soon as I saw it though it spoke the name of my sister in my heart. The joy, the fervor, the celebration, the freedom of the dance reflected all that she is within.

The cardbase is basic black heat embossed with gold. The background behind the dancers is white glossy cardstock with dyebased inks in red and yellow with a touch of gold metallic ink for a little pop. I used STAZON black ink to stamp the image then finished with several gold, square brads to add dimension.

"Life may not be the party we hoped for - but while we're here, we might as well dance."

Thanks for visiting -
and Until Next Time -
Happy Stamping!

Jill

WELCOME TO THE WORLD

I was looking through some old cards I've made and came across this sweet little card and wanted to share it today. It's almost fits the CAS (Clean and Simple) category - but the card layers may keep it from actually fitting that category completely.

When I first started stamping - back in 2004 I think - Stampin'Up! had this sweet little set called "BABY FIRSTS". It contained images of this cute little almost bald baby doing all the things a baby would do. Smile, Eat, Bathe, Crawl, Scream, etc. I loved it from the start and have kept it to this day. It's a classic.

I used a pink glittered polka dot paper on a white card base. The border was created with specialty scissors on alternating layers of pink and white cardstocks. The ribbon is 3/4" sheer pink with a gold metallic thread.

The baby medallion was created using an image from the BABY FIRSTS stamp set. It was colored with a PRETTY IN PINK marker and a flesh toned colored pencil then glitter was added to the clothing to coordinate with the glittered polka dots on the background. She was popped up onto alternating layers of PUNCHED pink and white circles and then tied to the ribbon with a gold thread.

A very quick card to make but one with some visual impact.

Hope you liked it.
Until Next Time -
Happy Stamping.
Jill

NON-TRADITIONAL VALENTINE

The card I'm sharing today didn't start out to be a Valentine card. It really didn't even start out to be a card at all - I was just in the mood to color and since I had to back-up 2 years worth of photos to disks today I decided to color while waiting for the photos to burn to the disks. I rummaged through containers of my loose stamps and came across this one. (And it is NOT crooked. I just layed the card on a piece of the background paper to take the photo and didn't straighten it before taking the photo. The cardbase is the rim of chocolate chip cardstock.)

I love the House Mouse stamps and the bunnies are just as cute. I colored this adorable image with my Copic markers then used Spellbinders Nestabilities to cut it and the chocolate chip border. I then sponged around the edge of the Whisper White circle in Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Real Rust, Pumpkin Pie and More Mustard. The background paper is from a paper pack of Old World Style papers I purchased from a local store.

I saw this ribbon treatment on a card a while back on the internet and liked it so much I wanted to use it with this layout. The button is adhered with a dollop of crystal effects.

It's not exactly a traditional valentine - but for those of you out there who don't like red, this might stimulate your creative energy.

Thanks for visiting-
Until Next Time
Jill

Helloooooooooo - Anybody out there????

I wasn't sure if anyone still stops in to visit my blog anymore because - well quite honestly - I haven't stopped in to post! I have been taking a much needed "break" from creative pursuits to focus on some other areas of my life that have been taking a backseat for the past couple of years. My goal in 2010 (not a resolution because I don't keep those anyway) is to try to maintain a balance between the mental, physical, spiritual, emotional and creative parts of my life so if I don't post anything new for a week or two (or even three) don't worry - I'm probably still alive just otherwise engaged.

So, like the majority of the Central & Eastern United States, Illinois got hit with a Winter storm last night and it continues today. I'm pretty sure we got at least 9" here where I live and it is still lightly snowing. I didn't mind though - it allowed me to sleep in past my 5 a.m. alarm, stay in my jammies all day (no kidding!), and play a little in my studio.

I made two cards today but I will only show you one. The first one I made is a replica of a Nintendo DSI - and it is VERY plain and boring - but my 9 year old nephew will love it!!!! The second card I made was a bit of an experiment. A friend of mine gave me a wallpaper book a while back and it is filled with textured wallpaper. I began this card by choosing a page from that book - it is a peach, rough-textured piece - almost like rough, painted plaster. As soon as I saw it I knew I wanted to use a rose for the main image and either CHOCOLATE CHIP or HANDSOME HUNTER cardstock for the cardbase. When I went searching for ribbon I only had 3/4" satin ribbon in CERTAINLY CELERY so I chose HANDSOME HUNTER as the base.

The next "little" problem is that none of the rose stamps I own seemed to work with the card I envisioned. I recently purchased an Epson Artisan 710 photo printer and decided to see if my Copic markers would work on the Epson Photopaper without it getting sticky like most other photo papers. I printed out 2 rose images that I had saved to my computer onto the photo paper and then began coloring with the Copics. WORKS LIKE A DREAM!!!! I colored the images, cut them out and then popped them up onto a background from a second sheet of wallpaper.

The bow was made using my BOW EASY and attached with a glue dot and crystal effects. The finishing touch is the gold rimmed, porcelain rose medallion in the center of the ribbon. It was one of a pair of earrings I purchased a couple of years ago at a garage sale for 10 cents.

The layout is reversed from how I planned it - SOMEONE put it all together upside down and when SOMEONE tried to fix it the ribbon was stuck and wouldn't budge!!!!! Fortunately I hadn't glued the bow down yet though so I was able to turn it around so the tails are at least going in the right direction! If it weren't "stuck" I would also have moved the ribbon up just a little so it wasn't dividing the card exactly in half. Overall - I like it even if it's not just exactly how I originally "saw" it.

Hope you enjoyed the post today.

Until next time -

Happy Stamping.

Jill