Texas Rubber & Ink!

Thoughts and Soothing Hope

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Have you ever found yourself doing things differently than what seems to be 'your norm'? That seems to be the best description I have for recent times here in my stampy zone. It's hard to put my finger on it. Maybe something good will come of it? Who knows?

One of my favorite ways to just play or relax with stampy goodies in hand is dabbling with water & ink. Often I choose an Aqua Painter, ink pads, and watercolor paper. Not that I have any illusions whatsoever of being a watercolorist. None at all! ;)

Funny how thoughts & plans evolve & morph into something entirely different from the starting point. This started with a color challenge at Splitcoaststampers. Its unfinished form eluded a quite opinionated comment from a studio visitor, and I nearly tossed it all into the 'circular file'. However, I channeled Disney's Elsa and "let it go".

Perhaps this will be sent as a message for someone facing a difficult life journey or battle. The 'hope' sentiment was die cut from Old Olive, Soft Sky, & Whisper White card stock, then layered with SU's Fine-tip Glue Pen to create a slight shadowing effect. The 'hope' die is from one of my newer favorites, the Sunshine Wishes Thinlits.

So, do you recognize the stamp set featured here? It is the Stampin' Up!'s longest-lived current stamp set, and remains current due to its timeless design ... 'Lovely as a Tree'. When I purchased mine, it was available only as a wood-mounted stamp set. (Yep! I still use that very set!) Now, you have the option of clear-mount or wood-mount. Either way, it's a set for all times.

Inky (((hugs))),

Product List

Lovely As A Tree Clear-Mount Stamp Set [127793] $20.00	Lovely As A Tree Wood-Mount Stamp Set [128655] $28.00	Sunshine Wishes Thinlits Dies [141489] $27.00	Aqua Painters [103954] $17.00
Fine-Tip Glue Pen [138309] $7.00	Punch Corner Project Life [135346] $8.00	Watercolor Paper [122959] $5.00	Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad [126953] $6.50
Soft Sky Classic Stampin' Pad [131181] $6.50	Old Olive 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100702] $8.00	Soft Sky 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [131203] $8.00

Nature's Touch Sympathy

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

It's a life-long love of mine ... green growing things, plants, trees, flowers, and yes, their scents as well. It would be like a gift to myself if I were to delete the countless plant life pics from my laptop & external storage ... seriously. You're right ... nothing to do with stamping. But it does explain why the Try a New Technique challenge spoke directly to me this week ... TLC601 = All Natural - Use something from nature for your creation.

Stamp Hint: Two stamps used ... neither was a leaf!

It's still hot as blazes here in my little rectangle of Texas. Whew! But with the TLC challenge in mind, I did make sure to go walking the yard in search of foliage that might work for the technique. I avoided the holly leaves as they're very wicked-spikey & so waxy that the most they would do is cut the paper and painfully poke my fingers. (At that point, I would no longer feel happily creative ... so ... I skipped those.) I settled on that dog-gone wild grape vine that has returned to try to cover my foundation bushes. (I spent over 2 days earlier in Summer ridding both the front & back of the house of that vining demon! Obviously I didn't treat the remainder of the stems at ground level. Hmmmmppphh!)

For the technique itself, I misted a bit of water onto Watercolor Paper before arranging the 3 leaves 'face down' on the dampened paper. To protect my cutting plate, I added a single layer of printer paper atop the leaves plus the top cutting plate. Then, just rolled it thru the Big Shot, and back again for extra measure. ;) Due to the spritzing and my eagerness to get down to creating, I used my craft iron on the back side of the WC paper just to flatten and dry.

Because the WC paper is so textured, it can be tricky to get a good sentiment stamped directly on it. Thus, using the Misti allowed me to stamp it twice in the precisely same position to get a pure sentiment without little gaps. Let's face it, stampers ... there are times when we really like a little bit of 'perfection'. LOL

Reminder! Tomorrow is August 31 ... the very last day that the beautiful Thoughtful Branches bundle will be available! Choose the bundle for 10% savings, or the stamp set and dies are each available individually. Enjoy!

Inky (((hugs))),

Most Wonderful Time !

Monday, August 29, 2016

I know ... we're just now closing out August, kids are just getting settled back into their school routines, and here I come with a Christmas card! (This from a gal who silently groans when local stores start loading up on Christmas items earlier & earlier each year.) What can I say?

It all started with this week's Featured Stamper FS499 challenge over at Splitcoaststampers. Congrats to Mary Deatherage on her FS week! Just a minute or so into browsing Mary's gallery, I had an 'instant' idea. Don't you love it when ideas come so easily? It's so fun to have everything seem to 'fall into place' easily. (Says one who has a few glitches pop up from time to time.)

Originally, I was headed back to my former love of adding a little bow along the left side vertical ribbon line ... but then I remembered the little holly dies in the upcoming Christmas Stockings Thinlits set. Sizing seemed just perfect for the connection between the large sentiment and the little holly prints in the Presents & Pinecones designer paper. Holly leaves are die cut from Emerald Envy C/S, and 3 Rhinestones were colored with a retired Blendabilities marker. Any brand alcohol marker you have will work for this if you don't have the retired Blendies. (This reminds me ... I had a sweet Copic intervention of sorts over the weekend. I need to edit some pics & share in a day or so!)

Psssst, local friends! This card is likely to be one of the 3 projects in my upcoming 1st Saturday Stampin' class coming up next weekend. Easily stamped, easily assembled ... even beginner stampers can do this one with success!

Inky (((hugs))),

The Mouse & the Pine Branch

Friday, August 26, 2016

Just had to get out a watercolor brush, SU inks, and the new Holiday Catalog stamp set, Merry Mice. I had to! This stamp set is just too cute to miss, in my opinion. No, I'm not a master at watercolor. But that doesn't keep me from enjoying the process!