NEW INKY ANTICS....Coming soon!

CHA is over...and now I can share some of the cards that went to CHA without me!! These images are new from Inky Antics and I happen to know that on order is going in for these lovely little ladies!! The image is colored with Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol (or odorless mineral spirits) The sand has been stippled and the sky has been sponged with a very open sponge dauber. The designer paper is by WeRMemoryKeepers. It's 34* here tonight....a heat wave after our very chilly January!! ~michelle~

12 Days of LOVE

Using this versatile stamp set from Penny Black, Jane Bosi has created a Valentine's Class. This is the 12 days of Christmas clear set. Using the 10 drummers drumming and adding "You Rock!" Makes a cute valentines day card. Using the the lady dancing and the french hen, makes a fun valentine's treat. There are some spaces left in this class. Thursday, February 5 at 6:00 you can make these Valentine's just in time for the Special day! Call soon to reserve your spot!

SPRING!

Check out this adorable Stampendous! image! I'm not sure if the ice will ever melt and spring will come.....but this sunny little card will make anyone's day brighter. The image is colored with Copics and highlighted with the white gel pen. Heidi Grace glittered flowers are a fun springy embellishement! Nestibilities are used for the sentiment.

TIP: For a fun and different look, take it off the side of the card! This gives you a fun shape and draws your eye towards the opening edge of the card. ~michelle~

I Adore You!

Penny Black's frogs are just adorable! Especially when Heidi hits them with the Copic Markers...and check out her fancy doodling! Check out all the fun papers and embellishments in the store!

TIP: you can use the back side of the Cuttlebug Embossing Folder for a different *debossed* look! ~michelle~

Snowboarding!

Here is Heidi's version of the Snowboarding Girl by Penny Black! Amazing how color scheme and paper choices make an image look entirely different! Colored in Copics. Pieceing, scuffing, inking and faux stitching add lots of dimensional interest. Designer Paper is by Fancy Pants.
~michelle~

Happy Heart Day!

This card also features Hero Art's Whoo Loves You set. I stamped the bird and the branch with brown chalk ink. I colored the bird with a Dove Blender Pen and dye ink. Art Institute glitter blings up the leaves and his heart shaped wings! Designer Paper is by Heidi Grace, Sparkledot stickers are by Stampendous! Have a great week! ~michelle~

Whoo Loves You - Part 2!

This card is similar to yesterday's.....so I'll post two cards today! This one has a totally different feel though, just switching out the colors and changing a technique. I used markers to color the tree this time, and although I did *huff* to rewet the ink some, I got a distressed look when I stamped it. I left it since I liked the mixture of crisp and clean with the slightly distressed image.

This card also uses stamps from the Hero Arts Whoo Loves You set. I stamped the images with brown chalk ink. I colored the squirrel with Copic Markers. The hearts I stamped repeatedly along the bottom of the stump and then glittered them with Art Institute's glitter. The designer paper is by Cosmo Cricket, and faux stitching gave this card the simple old-timey valentine feel I was going for. ~michelle~

Whoo Loves You?!

Chocolate on the brain...but this Cuttlebug folder on dark brown paper makes me dream of chocolate of the Dove variety!! This is a clear stamp from Hero Art's Whoo Loves You set. Simply stamped in brown chalk ink and adorned with Art Institute glitter for some pizazz. A quick and simple way to make someone's day! ~michelle~

Reflections

There is a stamp club at The Stamp Shoppe that meets once a month. If anyone is interested in joining, there are a few spaces left. We meet the second monday night of each month. There are shoe box exchanges, demo techniques, sketch challenges, goodies to create with and a really fun time. This is the reflection technique that I demonstrated at our first meeting. This down and out snowman looks cute looking at his reflection. First you stamp the image onto the cardstock leaving "white" space beneath the image. Then you stamp the image on acetate with dye ink. This will not work with permanent ink. Press the inked side down beneath the original image, leaving a lighter "reflection" image. I colored the original impression with copic directly to the paper. The reflection is colored with the copic blender picking up the color and coloring the second image. Using glitter glue, I covered the "ice" to give the icy appearance.

Here is a sample of the same technique that I used to make a friend's anniversary card. I took the Penny Black clear stamp. I stamped the dog on the white cardstock. Then I did the reflection of the dog to look like two dogs in love. The reflection is definitely lighter, so I used my black fine line pen to trace the second dog, so the image was as dark as the first. Then I colored the dogs with Copics. Here is that Cosmo Cricket paper from the paper pack you've seen before. With the stripes of the paper, you don't need a whole lot more on the background. Happy stamping!!

Man's Best Friend!

This little guy is peeking out to say "HI". Meet Brutus. He is a High Hopes stamp. He is so cute, you would love to cuddle up with him. Using the window cards from Heidi Grace make a perfect background. The circles on the cards are flocked so it feels like your petting Brutus :0) Adding to the outside of the card, I added some flowers with my own flare. The centers have the "rain dots" from Cloud 9 with a brad in the middle. Using ribbon to make a "leaf" which I attached to the back of the flower with the brad. The friend saying is from Hero Arts. Hope Brutus added a little warm fuzzy to your day!

You're a Treat

Let someone know that they are sweet. These chefs from Inky Antics are cooking up something special. Did I say that I like the Cosmo Cricket paper packs? Here that paper from the pack works great with this card too. Again I had a scrap on my desk that I had previously cut out the center with the nestabilities. It worked here as well. Adding a little faux stitching and flowers with decorative brads pulls it all together. A little sweetness can perk up anyone's day!

Long Time No See...

Here's another bee from Peddler's Pack wanting to get a peek at you! Using the paper from the same Cosmo Cricket pack that was used on the previous bee...what fun papers. Using the Heidi Grace flowers with the brown shear ribbon as the center. Heidi Grace ribbon was also used as an accent to the card. Not always a lot of work, but the embellishments always enhance the cards. If you feel that your cards need a little something more, try adding flowers, ribbons, brads, pearls, gems...usually that is all it needs. Continue to bee inspired!

Oh Hap-bee Day!

We just got these cute bees in from Peddler's Pack. They look so cute colored with the Copic Markers and highlighted with the white gel pen. The background paper is from the Cosmo Cricket paper packs we have at The Stamp Shoppe. The scallop oval was a cut out piece from the nestabilities. I was looking for something to make the image pop and found this scrap on my stamping desk. The flower in from Prima and I used the Lil Davis decorative brads for the center. The colors matched perfectly and there is a flower image in the center. These bees can make everyday a Hap-bee one!

It's a jungle out there!

Here's another High Hopes stamp for you. This little jungle guy is coming in soon! I added the jungle leaves from whippersnapper to add depth to the image. Again, the white paper needed a little something so more rain dots were added. The zebra paper from Bo Bunny added to the jungle theme. Notice again the white gel pen?? There are many white gel pens out there, but the ones that I have found work the best are the Inkssentials by Ranger or the white Signo pens by Uni-ball.

A Dino-mite Birthday

I love this little dinosaur from Whippersnapper. When deciding what to color your characters, pick out your paper first, then color with matching colors! That way the image always matches the paper. After getting my card together, I found the little ribbon already knotted on my desk ready to be used. It fit perfect with the color scheme. The yellow cardstock seemed too plain, so I added the faux stitches. It helped but it wasn't enough. The *rain dots* from cloud 9 added just the touch I wanted to complete the card. Check out the rain dots in our store!!

Happy Birthday

These little critters are going to a birthday party!! I love the way the white gel pen helps the colors to just pop. I have noticed lately that after I color with the Copic markers, I want just a little more...the white gel pen does the trick. Use an oval nestabilities to round the top of the image. The faux stitches adds a little more. The flower is a ribbon brad with the sparkle background paper from Cloud 9 add a fun feel to this birthday party. It still needed something, so I used a small circle punch for a little tab for the sentiment. Thanks for helping me celebrate!!

Sticker class

Check out some of the new classes coming in February. One of the classes that will be offered is *Penny Black* Sticker Cards. Using one sheet of stickers, you will make 5 beautiful, but quick cards. Often one of the comments people make when they see these cards are...Those are stickers?? There are other sticker embellishments that are used to "dress up" these cards and to make them extra-special. Check out other Penny Black stickers we have in stock!

Little Critter

One last card here featuring High Hopes Stamps. Check out this little critter, colored with Copics and highlighted with the white gel pen!! I love how he is cut out and layered over the Cuttlebugged Oval. The nestabilities scalloped oval are faux stitched for a fun touch! ~michelle~

Monkey Business!

This little fellow is soooooo special with his little potbelly and banana!! Check out how Heidi added the banana....it adds dimension! Love the ribbon treatment on this one too for a fun and different look. I love faux stitching with scuffing together, it also adds lots of dimension!

~michelle~

Ssspecial Wissshes!

This card features a High Hopes image, colored with Copics and highlighted with the White Gel Pen. Designer Paper and Rain Dot Accents are by Cloud9 Design. Nestabilities frame the image. Check out the fun Cuttlebug Embossing Folder that resembles snake skin! Prima flowers finish the card off. ~michelle~

High Hopes Ape

Another cutie from High Hopes colored with Copics and highlighted with the white gel pen. Check out those awesome Round Clips from Heidi Grace! They are thin, but add some fun dimension to the card! ~michelle~

Penny Black Thanks!

Check out this cute snowboarder chic from Penny Black! I colored her with Copics and a black Spica Glitter Pen for accents. The pouf on her hat is white flocking. I put some snow under her board with some Art Institute glitter. The Snowflake Cuttlebugged layer has been distressed and resembles a ginormous snowball to me! Happy Thursday to you! ~michelle~

I'm Glad There's You!

Another quick, fun card with these Heidi Grace flocked cards! I turned the card on it's side for a different look. The flower image is by Whipper Snapper and is colored with Copics and White Gel pen. This image has a square already doodled around it...so that finishes of the inside of the card!

Tip: Highlight the outer edge of your image with a very pale color (BG000 in this case) to make the image *pop.*

The sentiment is by Printworks and is highlighted as well with the White Gel Pen. I made the tag using the Fiskars Tag corner punch. ~michelle~

Warm Fuzzy Valentine!

I'm so loving these Heidi Grace flocked cards! They make a really quick and cute card. For this one I stamped a Whipper Snapper image on white cardstock and colored it with Copic Markers and highlighted it with the white gel pen. Then I doodled around the image so it looks finished on the inside as well. I used the Cuttlebug to make a little tag, stamped a Hero Arts greeting on it and trimmed it to my desired length with a decorative scissors. I *attached* it to my card with a gem and some hidden glue dots. For the ribbon I cut a little slit along the fold of the card and tied myself a big cheery bow. Hope it makes you smile!! ~michelle~

Warm Winter Wishes

Check out the awesome use of the Nestabilities on this card! I love it!! The piercing is an added fun touch! Check with Heidi on all of the companies on this card...I'm guessing Great Impressions for the little mouse and Darcie's for the sentiment. ~michelle!

Fancy Pants Cheery Hello!

This card features Fancy Pants' Arctic Chill collection. The flowers are a Penny Black Stickeroo. We are in the midst of painting our half bath....and so I put to use a paint chip for my mat layers! I used a Marvy square scalloped punch to finish off my main image. The heart is from Cuttlebug....the set has a die cut and four embossing options. With Love is by Hero Arts. Various flowers and gems finish the card off. Thanks for stopping by! ~michelle~

High HIGH Hopes!

Giraffes are so cute...and this one is adorable all dressed up in Copics and white gel pen! Check out the fun sanded Cuttlebug layer! Also used are Nestibilities and the Fiskars Threading Water Punch. ~michelle~

Winter Wishes!

This fellow from Whipper Snapper looks like some of us feel this time of year! Kids have been home from school for over a week....phew! The desiger paper on this card is from Cloud9 Design and the snowflakes look like they've been clear embossed! I love the non-traditional colors Heidi used on the snowman....a fresh touch! Wishing you a Happy 2009! ~michelle~

Penny Black Stickeroos!

Penny Black's Stickeroos are just the ticket for a very classy card done quick! I used two of the eight stickers on the sheet and came up with two nice cards. The designer paper is by The Paper Loft. Just Because is by A Muse and is stamped in black Stazon ink. I layered the stickers on cardstock and then added the glitter dots for a bit of pizazz! I will be back with some more of these quick cards soon....how fun for a change of pace! ~michelle~