WOYWW#256 - Cleaning An Old Vintage Rubber Stamp

Since today is Wednesday, I am sharing what is on my work desk with you!  My friend Ruth came across a very old airmail stamp she used to use in her office. She saw that I have a carousel on my desk that I keep my Tim Holtz Distress tools in and she knew that I would love it. Well, I decided it needed to be cleaned as it had years of accumulated ink on it and after awhile, my desk started to resemble a butchers block!  It looked like a bloody mess! And, no - Dexter does not live here!

But eventually I was able to get it free of red ink and decided to use it for a pen pal letter I sent to Canada.  I just love the old plane image!

Thank you to Ruth for this kind gift. I will use it to spread fun all over the world!

Thank you to Julia for all the desk hopping fun!  If you haven't tried sharing what's on your work desk, I would love to encourage you to do so as there is so much fun and learning to be found.

Until next time!

Tea Time Tuesday - The First Gift

Happy Tea Day!  For today, I thought I would share a fun piece of my tea collection with you today. Many years ago I received this teabag squeezer from Alan (who would become my husband years later).  We were just friends back then, and this little gift is something that gets used daily and is very special to me (and Alan, too!).

Alan gave me one for my mom back then as well.  Hers broke and she needed a new one, and Alan was able to get her a new one, but not as sturdy as this one.  I have many of these type of squeezers, but none have the sentiment behind them.

I am sharing tea today at:

Tea Time Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

May you have a tea-riffic day!

April 2014 - Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2014 - Spring Journey

Last month (March) was the only month where I didn't have time to do my monthly Tim Holtz Tag! I have been doing them for years but life got in the way.  Today I am sharing my April Tag with you that I got to work on yesterday.  For this tag, I got to use my pine cone die to make roses and I love that I can get more than one use for that die.

This was a lot of fun to make.  I used my Distress Inks, Distress Paints, stencils, and lots of Tim's tissue tapes. One of the best things about taking part in this monthly challenge is sitting down and using your supplies and stretching your imagination to make something along the lines of Tim's creation.  I went with a Journey theme.  Since spring is here, people are riding bicycles again, and when I noticed the bike image on the tape, I thought "Journey" and even included a wooden bicycle from my stash.

Later in the week, I will be sharing my overdue March 2014 tag.  It is almost done and drying!

If you haven't tried making one of these tags, I would highly recommend you visit Tim and give it a shot! It is a lot of fun and you learn so much.

Until next time!

Elvis - In the Jungle Room?

My friend Irvina is the BIGGEST Elvis fan I know.  Her birthday was approaching and I wanted to make her a birthday card using - you guessed it - Elvis.   As I have been making her Elvis cards for awhile, I am very lucky to have such a large amount of them.   For this year I went with this sweet image by The Stampsmith.  I wanted to give it a different look, so I found a fun "wild" print for the background that I thought would be fun when you recall Elvis and his "Jungle Room."

Supplies:
Stamps: The Stampsmith, A Muse Artstamps
Paper: Desert Storm, Scrap Pack
Ink: Archival Black, Distress Ink (Gathered Twigs)

Since this is a "young" Elvis image from quite some time ago, I decided to give it a distressed look as if this picture was hanging around for some time.

Irvina was very happy to receive it and so her collection of Elvis cards is growing!

Until next time!

Elvis - The Lamp

Many people are fans of the late Elvis Presley.  I have friends in that camp and so I have a large collection of Elvis stamps.  I was asked to make a birthday card for a friend's daughter for her birthday. I knew she is an Elvis fan (she even named her son Elvis), so I decided to make her a personalized Elvis card.  Lots of people love campy, or quirky, collectibles, and I remembered I had a Elvis lamp stamp that I thought would be fun for her as she has a great sense of humor.

Supplies:
Stamps: Viva Las Vegas, A Muse Artstamps
Paper: White Deckled Card, Gina K Designs
Ink: Memento Black, Archival Black
Misc.: Copics, Wink of Stella, Tim Holtz Index Labels, Memory Box Die

Elvis was known for this costumes and so I decided to add Wink of Stella shine to his jumpsuit stars for a bling effect.

This was a lot of fun for me to make.  I love it when I can make an unusual card that will bring a smile to someone.

Until next time!

WOYWW #255 - Distress Paint In The Garden

Spring is really here finally and I have begun to work in my garden a bit (not planting yet, just cleaning and planning).  Since it is Wednesday, I am sharing what is on my work desk with you.  This holiday weekend I decided to take my very old and worn and rusty yard decorations in and give them a cleaning.  My husband asked me the other day why don't you paint the stuff in the garden as you have a lot of art supplies?  So I decided to use my Distress Paints on them as after they are dry they become permanent.  This was one painty mess for 3 days.

The before shots:

My sister's kids gave me these signs so I just couldn't toss them even though my sister told me to and she would pick up new ones (thought I was nuts to paint them!).

Here they are now in my garden.  Soon the flowers will be out in force and look nice.  Not bad, right?

Thank you to Julia for all the desk hopping fun! I look forward to seeing what everyone is working on today!

Until next time!

Tea Time Tuesday - My Coffee (Tea) Table

One of my favorite pieces of furniture in my living room is my table from Ikea.  I love that it has a massive drawer and a glass top, and it enabled me to display some of my tea cups, saucers and other fun tea accessories.

I love being able to see my treasures, and even change them up from time to time.   You may notice the candle holder on top of the table.  My husband and I picked it up on our honeymoon at our local vineyards.  It is a stave from a wine cask! Not sure you can see the bend in it but it is cool, and, when lit, gives the room a very soft look.  When Hurricane Sandy hit and we lost power for a week, this piece came in handy and made the darkness bearable.


I am sharing tea today at:

Tea Time Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

May you have a tea-riffic day!

Spring Has Sprung - Holy Communion Time

Spring is here, and the requests for 1st Holy Communion cards have begun!  This is the first one that I made for this season.  It is for a little boy named (you guessed it) Max.

Supplies:
Stamps: Catholic Rubber Stamps
Paper: BoBunny, GinaK Designs
Ink: Archival Black
Misc.: Spellbinders Circle Dies, Memory Box Die

For a different look, I decided not to color the focal image of the little boy.  Against the dark color papers, I think he really stands out nicely.

Wishing Max and all those children who receive their 1st Holy Communion this year every happiness.

Until next time!

Tea Time Tuesday - Hoppy Easter!

Easter is almost here!  I thought I would share an adorable bunny teapot from my collection.  This teapot was given to me many years ago by my sister Shannon.  She knew I would love this ballerina bunny and it is always a favorite of my nieces when they come for tea.   I thought I would share two shots so you can see it from the profile, and a close up of her adorable face.

The tea is poured from her toe shoe! Isn't she precious?  She will be out on my Easter table for sure.


I am sharing tea today at:

Tea Time Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Wishing everyone a very Happy Easter and a beautiful spring!

Au Revoir, Mon Amie!

Saying goodbye is never easy when you work with someone you like and they change jobs.  Yesterday one of our attorneys left our firm and is going somewhere else.  This was the first time I ever made a departing attorney a card, but this lady was very kind and when my husband passed away, she helped me with my paperwork and helped me tread water when my head was foggy and she made sure my interests were put in the forefront.  For that alone I will always be thankful.

I made a Paris themed card as I know she studied in Paris when young, and she speaks the most beautiful French I have ever heard.  For this card I used Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous background stamp, and the focal image is from Hero Arts.   The ink I used for the background was Wendy Vecchi's, and I sponged Tim Holtz Distress Ink around the image.

As many of you know, I love Paris.  While thinking about this card, I realized that my Paris and French collection of stamps is rather large.  I don't use them enough, so I am glad I had a reason to get them inky!

Until next time!

WOYWW #253 - Paper Galore

Today is Wednesday, so I am sharing what is on my work desk with you.  You will notice 3 large books sitting there.  They contain gift wrap with three different themes.  My friend Ruth had them and loved the beautiful papers in them and the stories behind each, but didn't have any use for them and wanted them to be used, so she thought of me. These gift wraps are so pretty. I know I am going to start cutting into them tomorrow as I have a few cards in mind already!

You may notice a stack of letters to be responded to alongside my stationery and fountain pens.  Sitting along the top of my desk is a stack of beautiful handmade papers a sweet pen pal sent me.  I plan to die cut them and make some cards with them after I get done admiring them.

Remember last week when I was in the process of making a card that incorporated a lizard, squirrel, cat and dog?  I thought I would share a quick shot of the finished card with you.  You know you have a lot of stamps when you have so many animals and have to decide "which squirrel do I want to use?"

Thank you to Julia for all the desk hopping fun!  I look forward to seeing what you are working on, and, if you haven't joined in the fun, I would suggest you pay Julia a visit and hop along.  So many lovely friends to make along the way!

Until next time!

Tea Time Tuesday - A Special Gift From Japan

I was wondering what teapot to share with you today, when I came across one I received many years ago from my brother Sean.  He went to visit my other brother Bill who was living in Japan at the time  and while there he brought home this teapot for me.  Love the shape and strainer as it a very fine one.

Here is a shot of the inside and you will see the stamp on the inside of the lid.

Isn't it adorable?  Love the piece of bamboo on the strainer too!

I am sharing tea today at:

Tea Time Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

May you have a tea-riffic day!

Love and Encouragement

I have been making cards for many years and for many situations and occasions.  Most of them are happy and are easy for me to embrace, but some, like sympathy cards, are harder for me.  This week I was asked to make a special card for a friend to give.  You may recall I lost my first husband to cancer and when I hear the word I feel overwhelmed with sadness.  I was asked to make a personalized card for a young man (37) who is losing his battle with cancer and will be with the Lord soon.  My friend asked for a card of encouragement and love for this young husband, father and friend.  This card weighed on my heart and soul this weekend and this is what I came up with.

Supplies:
Stamps: Stampers Anonymous
Paper: Gina K Designs, Watercolor
Ink: Distress Stains, Distress Ink, Archival Black
Misc: Clear Embossing Powder, Ribbon, Tim Holtz Index Labels

Bible verses and words of love and encouragement were included inside.

My thoughts and prayers go out to this young man and his family and friends.  I hope this small card shows him how much he is loved by so many.

Until next time!

WOYWW #252 - Inky Desk Fun

I can't believe it is Wednesday already!  Since it is Wednesday, I am sharing what is on my work desk with you. The desk is in stamping mode as you can see.  There is a little boy who is celebrating his birthday this weekend and I was asked to make his birthday card. When asked what he wants for his birthday he answered "A lizard, cat, dog and a squirrel!" So I am going to incorporate those animals into a card.

Also sitting on my desk is a new supply of fountain pen ink samples waiting for me to fill my pens with!  I am really loving sampling inks. It is an inexpensive way to get my ink fix!

I am looking forward to visiting with a lot of you today and catching up on what you are all working on.

Happy 5th Anniversary to WOYWW and a very special THANK YOU to Julia for making this desk hopping fun possible!

Until next time!

Tea Time Tuesday - A Royal Tea

This week my husband and I received a lovely tea tin from a friend that celebrates Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain.  I thought I would share it with you today and I paired it with Sheltonian china tea cup and saucer from Staffordshire, England.  The shape and thin lip of the cup are just perfect to me.

I really love poppies, and have a few different poppy tea cups and even a poppy tea pot.  I have tried many times to grow them here in my garden, but they never take. I have tried many varieties and have given up trying to get them to grow. I guess I will just have to enjoy them while I drink my tea!

I am sharing tea today at:

Tea Time Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

May you have a tea-riffic day!