I Love Happy Mail!!!

Guess what I got in the mail?  Well, kinda.  It wasn't in the mailbox, but the delivery man delivered it!  My new Cameo arrived - yay!!!  So far, I've set everything up and cut a GORGEOUS background which is on my card today : D  I was amazed at how many files are available on the Silhouette web site.  I bet I have half of them on my wishlist LOL

I really wanted something to cut intricate designs - I LOVE lace!!!  The Silhouette did a great (not perfect) job of cutting the details.  What I wasn't expecting was the laborious clean up on the cutting mat.  I don't know WHY I didn't think about it - even with the Cricut, the small pieces need to be removed.  I suppose that I was already in love with what the Cameo could do, that it didn't matter about the mess to clean up after hee hee

It's kinda like having a baby... you forget about the 'pain' cuz you have such a beautiful baby to love ♥  I know, I know - NOT the same thing lol

I hope you enjoy my 'labor' of love...  I've used another one of Chelsea's awesome sketches for CLP Sketch Challenge #47.  Come join us!

This is Happy Mail Peeker by Elisabeth Bell for SCACD.  Isn't she darling?

She's colored with copics and accented with Ice Silks 

(LOVE the intensity of the bling!)

A close up of the Silhouette cut in the background, and fussy cuts I chose from the beautiful dp by Prima, Meadow Lark - all glued down with my fave ScraPerfect Best Glue Ever!!!

Do you see all those teeny tiny holes?  I'm sure you can guess what a joy it was to scrape off the cutting mat.  I NEED to get a scraper - I'm sure it will be a lot easier then.  Will that stop me from cutting MORE like this?  No way!!!  You can be sure to see this cut again and again hee hee.

Challenges Entered:
Papertake Weekly - In the Garden
CES - Anything Goes
Just Keep on Creating - Anything Goes
2 Sisters Challenge - Make it Girly

Thank you for taking the time to visit!

Have you entered my Tonic Paper Cutter Giveaway yet?  You can find the post Here.

Watch for more SCACD FUN to come in the next couple of weeks!  Have a great week, my friends ♥

May God bless you, keep you and comfort your soul~

Vintage and Distressed!

Hello lovelies : D   Guess what?  I've finally taken the plunge and ordered a Silhouette Cameo!  Yay!!!  I am SOOOOOO excited!  On Saturday, I sold my Cricut Expression and am on my way to selling the last of my cartridges.  I must say that it is FUN to sell on ebay!

So... how many of you already own a Cameo?  Is it as awesome as I keep hearing? What kinds of projects have you made with it?  I hope that it won't be too long before I get mine...

If you've made something with your Cameo, would you mind leaving a link to your creation on this post?  I'd LOVE to see what you've made!

And now, I'd like to share a tag I made using one of the new PEEKER stamps by Elisabeth Bell for SCACD.  As you know, my style is usually neat and tidy - BUT today I've gone waaaaaaaaaaaaaay out of the box!!!  You know what?  I actually liked it!

Different, huh?  

I'm hoping that I've made the torn image look burned.  

What do you think?

The background on this tag is from the 'left-overs' on the card from my previous post.  If you'd like to see how I made it, check it out *HERE*

Supplies Used for Today's Distressed Tag

Stamp:  My Family Peeker

Ink:  Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

Coloring:  Copic Markers

LuminArte' Glaze:  Ice Silks

LuminArte' Mica:  Solar Gold

Picture 'Glass':  Transparent Gloss Gel

Blue Pearls:  Cobalt Blue Paper Pen, but *Here's* a substitute

Adhesive:  ScraPerfect Best Glue Ever

Distress Ink:  Tumbled Glass, Vintage Photo, Black Soot

Embellishments:  Gold Tulle, Ribbon Lace, 1/4" Ribbon, Button

Tag:  Cardstock cut with Cricut Expression

Thanks for taking a peek and for leaving any comments : D  

Remember, I'd love to see what you've made with your Cameo!!!

May God bless you, keep you and comfort your soul~

Making Your Own Backgrounds

Hello friends and welcome back!  I have some fun planned for ya today : D  If you've read my last couple of posts, this will be somewhat of a review, but I'm sure you'll pick up a few ideas or maybe even have an 'a-ha!' moment lol!

I've been having SOOOOO much fun playing with my new goodies from Susana's Custom Art & Card Design.  Susana carries the best products, it's hard to choose what to use first!

I finally decided on this little cutie called Knowledge is Power Angel by Elisabeth Bell for SCACD.  I even dusted off my Lacey Ovals Nestabilities die which I paired with Classic Large Oval Nestabilities die : )

This stamp has been been released before, but because she's one of our favorites, Susana has decided to Re-Release the whole collection of beauties!!!  She's from the Guardian Angel Collection.  But wait... there is one Brand New Angel you may spy at the store (or have seen on my blog!).

Here's the full background.  You can see the great texture the Embossing Paste provides.  Susana carries different colors of Embossing Paste so you can create just the right look!

The flower (although not handmade) was stained with Vintage Photo Distress Stain.  I've decided that I LOVE distress stains.  At first I thought, "Why?"  there are re-inkers... but now I see the difference cuz the re-inkers will lose the intensity of the color when you add water, but you can see the richness of the dark brown in the bottom petals.  The top petals were pressed on the already distressed petals, so it got a kind of 'second generation' distress : )

Tulle behind, and a cute li'l button center and it's ready to glue on using... you know it - ScraPerfect Best Glue Ever lol!  Yes, I am in LOVE with glue ♥

Oooooh, a better shot of that texture lol!  If you look closely, you can see the bottom layer, which is stamped text.  Lots of beautiful layers to enjoy : )

Wanna know to get this look?  Here ya go...

Making Your Own Background

Of course there are many many ways and products one can use to create different backgrounds.  I'm going to show you how I created the background I used on my card today.

First step:  Using Archival Ink *Here* or *Here* and rubber stamp, I stamped the text on a sheet of 8 1/2"x 11" four times.  Any size paper/stamp can be used.  This isn't the stamp I used, but is a cool text stamp (which I want!).

Second Step:  Tape down the Damask stencil (using removable tape) and apply Black Embossing Paste, icing as you would a cake!

Third Step:  Carefully lift up the Damask stencil, revealing a beautiful design!  After about an hour, reapply the stencil and tap an embossing pad (I used VersaMark Dazzle) on open areas of stencil.

Fourth Step:  Apply Stargazer Mica Powder (or color of your choice) with a soft brush.  Stargazer is a beautiful blue color, but on top of the Matte Black Embossing Paste, it turns a pretty teal color!

For my card today, I spritzed the paper with water and brushed on more Stargazer.  When that was dry, I added Ice Silks and used my finger to add Solar Gold Mica Powder on bits and pieces.

* Solar Gold Mica Powder doesn't have a base color, but on top of the color I already laid down, it shows up beautifully!

I cut the paper for my background (5"x5") and had some left over which I will show you on my next post!

Why Do I Need ScraPerfect Best Cleaner Ever?

Well, to be perfectly honest... you don't!  However, there are some definite benefits to using this amazing cleaner!  Take a peek below.  Nothing has been retouched.  These are 'as is' photos!

I scrubbed as best I could, but I didn't want to rip the intricate design...  Soap and water removed the major part of embossing paste, but certainly left a lot behind!

Look how CLEAN the ScraPerfect Best Cleaner Ever worked on this stencil!!!  I mean even the nooks and crannies of this intricate stencil got clean.  It's AMAZING!  You can click on the photo to make it larger so you can see in detail.

...and of course, I used ScraPerfect Best Glue Ever to adhere my ENTIRE card!

Whew!  I bet you thought that I'd never end..

Interested in some CANDY?  Need a Brand New Paper Cutter?  I've got one to give away!  It's a whopping 12"x12" and it's a TONIC - I just LOVE ♥ LOVE ♥ LOVE ♥ mine!!!

Enter Candy *HERE*

Lots and lots of love to you!!! ♥

May God bless you, keep you and comfort your soul~