Thank You Peony...

I thought I'd share the other "thank you" card I made last weekend.  More coloring... I find it really hard to NOT color on my cards now.  Which kinda blows when I need to get a bunch done in a little amount of time :P

This is from Dotted Peony, which is another new Nina B. stamp set from The Angel Company:

Super simple card, one teensie little bow & a bit o' Tim Holtz texture.  I am LOVING that large sentiment from For Everything... I wish we had a whole set of LARGE sentiments for card fronts.

What do you think?

Wednesday Card Quickie...

I needed a couple of super quick & easy "thank you" cards to send out this week, so I thought I'd share :)

 

I don't know if this first card could get any more CAS:

Yep, card base, one stamped sentiment, one stamped border & one Copic marker & blender :)

The recipient of this card is a very elegant & CAS cardmaker, so I tried to emulate that.

I'll share my other one tomorrow!

What do you think?

Stamps:  For Everything (TAC)

Cardstock:  White 110# (PTI)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo

Copics:  BG10, 0

America I Love

Check out this sweet new image from The Angel Company!  It's called "America I Love" and it is one of the new Rewards sets available only by having a TAC party or by being a member of my monthly Card Club.

 

(click for larger view)

I colored this cutie while I was at Seminar and finally had a chance to create a QUICK card.  I used one of the Tim Holtz texture plates that we now carry... LOVE it!

 

 

I'm so glad we were able to receive this as part of our swag this past weekend... it came in handy for THIS weekend :)

I hope you all have a safe and festive July 4th!

The Angel Company Seminar 2011 recap...

**warning... this is a long-winded post!**

Yeah, I know... I'm late with this considering I traveled back home on Sunday, but I'm still playing catch-up.  I haven't even unpacked and put away all of the goodies we received yet!  I had so much fun... but then I always do when I go to Seminar :)

Ok, I started off last Wednesday morning, Wichita bound.  I had my list of stamp/scrapbook stores and the Garmin gps (aka Bitchin' Betty) was programmed and ready to go!  I made great time and didn't get lost once :)  (well, just a little bit on Thursday).  My favorite store is still Mrs. O'Leary's... they have the BEST Halloween and collage stamps.  And the store is so eclectic... you never know what little fabulous trinket you'll find hiding in a drawer or tucked behind something else.  Let's just say, I'm glad I budgeted correctly before arriving ;)

After the "Cannonball Run" shopping excursion, I was off to see my WOSFF (web-o-sphere friend forever), Laurie W.!  Oh how I love her :)  We had a nice relaxing visit... which we both needed!  Her new stamp room is amazing... me so jealous!  I so wish we could have visited longer, but Thursday I had to get up EARLY to drive back into Wichita for the Copic Intermediate Certification class...

The class was great... a lot of it was definitely a refresher from those college classes I took oh-so-long ago :)  Debbie Olsen was a fab instructor, and if anyone has trouble with shading and shadow, this course is well worth it.

We had a break for dinner and Mischelle Smith (TAC owner) had asked the catalogue cover designers to join her & Debbie R (also with TAC) at a local restaurant... well, we think it was local... we were driving forever... it could have been in Oklahoma for all we know (just kidding)   :)

Angela K, Deb M, Risa A & myself didn't even eat our dinner... we were too busy scanning over the new catalogue, trying to memorize it until the next morning when it would be revealed :)  It was such a great time... and the look on Angela's face when we saw that she was the covergirl... PRICELESS!  Fab work, my friend!!  All of the cover submissions from everyone were just fantastic... and seeing them in person, there are so many details to catch!

The classes and demos were awesome all weekend... the TAC Dream Team designers did a phenomenal job, and it is so interesting to see everyone's teaching style.  We were lucky enough to have a few demos from Susan, the stamping cop from Tsukineko :)  I must have Potion #9 now... thanks, Susan!

Banquet night was fun... except for that funky watermelon & cucumber cold soup... what?!  Uh, ewww.  Well, that and when I had to go on stage for being this year's Star Recruiter... what?!  Yep, I've got another tiara, because they are sooooooooo me ;) 

The best part of the night was watching Angela's face every time she had to go up on stage... that whole deer-in-the-headlights kinda thing.  And she got Angel of the Year... which she TOTALLY deserves... you are amazing, Angela!!!  I'm so glad we finally got to meet after all these years!

The Halo's luncheon was fun... Mary (Angel #001, & Mischelle's mom) is freakin' hilarious.  No, really.  Thanks for keeping it lively, Mary ;)  And I sat next to Avis A, who really is a sweetie... why don't we get together more often, we're not that far away from each other?!

(Michelle McD & Danni B)

This year, I was lucky enough to get to room with Michelle McD again!!!  And I also finally got to meet & room with Danni B.  Danni didn't know what she got herself into... light sleeper... SUCKER!  Giggling in the wee hours of the morning over off-the-wall, completely random poll questions initiated by Michelle... I'm still snickering over some :)   Not to mention Michelle & I like it very cold... not Danni.  We gave her our blanket though... we're nice like that :)  And I swear that the beds got smaller this year... I didn't think we got wider... but maybe that's just me hoping ;)  Unless Michelle was just trying to spoon me.  We may never know  >:)

(this picture does no justice... 28 stamp sets alone!)

And finally, the swag!  Yeah!  OMG, Becky, it was so much :)  I ended up with like 28 stamp sets, 6 paper packs, a matchbook kit, fun project samples & instructions, an awesome uber-girly purse, a HUGE metal flower ring that is more like a throwing star (it will come in handy in dark parking lots), a tiara & gift certificates to be redeemed on MORE stamps/papers/whatever in the catalogue!  The Angel Company really knows how to spoil us!  And I know that when the attendance is low at seminar, they can really UP the swag... but still... this was amazing!

I am really fired up to get to stamping again!  And though my day job is important, I really need it to slow down so I can enjoy my FUN job!  Now, if you read this entire thing and made it all the way to here, then leave a comment for a chance to win a new stamp set from the catalogue... I'm not telling you which one, but it's rubbah, right?!  In your comment, I need you to tell me what your favorite kind of card is to make... see, easy!

Also, TAC is having a fabulous new Angel Starter Kit special for the month of July:

Standard Starter Kit includes the following:
Catalog Bundle (10 catalogs)
Current promo set of the Month
T3273 Everyday All Day Booking Stamp Set
Order Forms
Recruit Brochures
Funshop Invites
Policy Manual (available online)
The Angel Company Logo Stamp
Foundations Collection (Premium White Cardstock)
Penelope Soar With It Collection
Natalee Soar With It Collection
5 Choice Paper Collections (1 Classic SWIC, 2 SWIC, 1 WIC, 1 DC)

Acrylic mounting Starter Kit
Noir Black Palette Ink Pad
7 stamp sets (you select from all price points)

AND IN JULY ONLY: 

8 ~ Level A Rewards Sets ~ your choice from any current catalogue

2 ~ Level B Rewards Sets ~ your choice from any current catalogue

1 ~ Level C Rewards Set ~ your choice from any current catalogue

This promotion is valid through the month of July, so what are you waiting for?  Contact me with any questions, to get a catalogue, and/or to sign-up!  My contact info is at the top of my blog HERE.  And to see the new catalogue online, go HERE!

Very little time & a feature...

Dude.  Seriously?!  Can someone please tell me if I have stepped into a time warp or something?  WTH?  I swear, I am never going to get caught up with all of my stuff!  I haven't even unpacked the Halloween decor yet!

GASP!

{thud}

...that was me having a freakin' heart-attack & then passing out, by the way.

Thankfully I do have bits of Halloweenieness displayed year-round, so at least I have that... but there is just something about the bats hanging in the tree out front, and all of my jacko's, and the luminaries, and... 

... you get the idea. :)

Here is my CAH-RAZY schedule this month:

• work architectural job almost full time
• work at The Scrapbook Page six nights
• teach classes at The Page two more nights (plus prep)
• TAC hostess club/class at my house 1-2 nights (plus prep)
• class at a customer's house 1 night (plus design & prep)
• Saturday afternoon FunShop (plus design & prep)
• cleaning & laundry (haaa haaa!!!)
• cooking (HAAAAAAA HAAAAAA HAAA...not happening)
• Abdallah Fall Ceremonial (Shriner stuff)
• CKC convention at the expo (fun stuff)
• decorate for Halloween (REALLY fun stuff)
• keep up with Design Team responsibilities
• participate in my own Haunted Design House challenges
• baby the cone-wearing fur-baby, including dermatologist & ophthalmologist appointments, ear/eye drops, & meds.  Yeah, my dogs have their own derma/optho docs... thankfully I don't have children, because I would've spent their college fund on the dogs' doctor visits already.  :P

Can you believe all of that?  And I know I'm forgetting a few things :)  I usually do.

Don't forget, that sign-up for my October 11th Eerie Elegant card class at The Scrapbook Page ends this Friday night!  And sign-up for my October 19th Halloween Waterfall Mini-Album class ends on the night of the 16th!  Please click HERE for more class & contact info.

I stayed up until 1am this morning coloring... but I got my "me" time in :)  Now, what I'm showing you tonight is NOT what I colored last night... I still have to turn that stuff into cards ;)  No, this is two of three items that I sent in for The Angel Company's Fall Supplement design call.  Cool thing is that all three were slated for publication!  And though TAC decided to not include any project samples in the supplement this time, they ARE featuring them on the MAIN WEBSITE.

What's the good thing about no samples in the supplement?  More room for more stamp sets!  You can click on the link above to download a copy or you can also click HERE to go to my online store to view & purchase.

The bottle o' bat wings was a fun one... inside is just scrap black cardstock.  The gooey black sealing schtuff is actually made from embossing powder.
Stamp sets used:  More Bone Appetit & Fundamental Frames.  By the way, Fundamental Frames has been designed to be used with several Nestabilities.

I love the spidey bouquet card.  The flowers themselves looked like spiders to me, so I stamped a couple at the base of the vase... are they dead flowers or are they spiders?  Hmmmm...
I added a bit o' bling with a Stardust Clear glitter pen.  The Copic coloring in real life is way more blended than the photos here... my auto-fix software kinda blows.
Stamp sets used:  Festive Bouquets & Delightfully Spooky.

Well, that's it for today... yes, very long-winded, but it HAS been awhile since I posted on my "normal" blog :)  I've been a little busy over at my Haunted Design House blog, so if you miss me lots, just go check there :)  I'll be back sooner or later (hopefully sooner) to show you my favorite card that I submitted...
really...
I mean it.

I hope you've missed me :)

I know, I know... it's been awhile.  I'm not EVEN gonna get into it... let's just say it's a beyond crazy week!  I can't wait to see a few of you tomorrow & Wednesday night for classes!  We're not doing a ton of stuff, but I've got a giftie for all of my Hostess Club ladies that I hope they will enjoy!  AND I've still got openings for the next round of my Hostess Club that starts up in August!  Contact me at barbi007@kc.rr.com for details!

Now, on to the fun stuff.  This is one of the cards I sent in for consideration for the latest TAC catalogue.  It's very similar to the one that DID make it in, but colored with Prismacolors & mineral oil instead of Copics.  If you wanna see the one that made it in, turn to page 33... I've also loaded a photo under my Published Work tab on my blog HERE. 

I know, it's not close to Halloween yet, but you know me :)

Stamps:  Spunky Sprite Boys, Happy Haunting

Paper:  Miss Moxie dp, Cha Cha, Miss Moxie, white ultrasmooth & black cardstocks

Ink:  Noir & Violete Palettes

Other:  black twill, White & Orange Scrapper's Floss, Pewter Hardware, Prismacolor pencils

If you don't have a new catalogue and would like to purchase one, please contact me at the above email address!  You won't be disappointed!

What do you think?

"Cel-a-brate good times..."

"... come on!"  doot doot doot doot

Please don't ask... it just popped into my head as I was uploading these photos  :)

This is another set from The Angel Company's newly released catalogue... A Little Something.  Very cute set with several different images you can switch out:  baby booties, rattle, cupcake, and this tiered cake.  And don't you love the little dots?!  Yeah, me too :)

The cake is colored with Copic markers and then I filled in the dots with a blue gel pen.  Quick and easy!

Stamps:  A Little Something

Paper:  Miss Moxie dp, white ultrasmooth, black & Mia's Cottage cardstocks

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo

Other:  Mia's Cottage ribbon, circle punches

Copics:  0, BV20, V01, V06

What do you think?

New catalogue & a Bonus Top Ten...

This weekend was so much fun!  It was The Angel Company's annual seminar, and I'm exhausted :)  But totally in a good way!  It was great to catch up with everyone and, of course, get the new catalogue :)  check out the new cover:

Pretty, right?!  And wait until you see the inside... fabulous!

Bonus #1:  you can start ordering on Monday... no need to wait until July 1st... ahhh... JOY  :)

Bonus #2:  87 NEW STAMP SETS.  Yes... 87... that's what I'm talkin' 'bout!

Bonus #3:  TAC has partnered with Copic and we now carry 7 exclusive Color Caboodles!  These are NOT new Copic colors... they have just customized the Sketch sets with natural blending groups and color families. 

Bonus #4:  Color Caboodles cardstock is available, too!  TAC has taken the guess-work out for you, and created 6-color cardstock packs that match the corresponding Color Caboodle Copic sets!  Sah-weet :)

Bonus #5:  new double-sided exclusive paper collections!  Emma & Maggie.  A glimpse of Maggie is shown on the cover project!

Bonus #6:  we now carry the Scor-Buddy, The Cinch binding system, a huge selection of clear & chipboard mini-albums, and so much more!

Bonus #7:  I have printed catalogues available right now!  Only $4.95 plus shipping, or place a $60 order & get it for free.  But why stop at $60?  Go for $100 and get some of the awesome items above for HALF OFF!


Bonus #8:  Free catalogues to all of my Hostess Club members :)  AND Sign-ups for my next round of Hostess Clubs are going on now!  The new clubs will start up in August, so get a hold of me soon for details!!!  My contact information is at the top of my blog:  FosterDesignHouse.com

Bonus #9:  I have seven card samples in this publication!  Talk about Sah-weet, right?!!  totally stoked about that... and you should see all of the other designers' cards... wonderful!

And finally, Bonus #10:  This lover-ly card I made with one of the new sets:

Stamps:  Art Gave Her Wings

Paper:  kraft & brown cardstocks

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo, Palette Burnt Umber, Walnut Ink spray

Copics:  0, E00, E11, YR23, YR24, E53, E57, BG72, BG78, RV10, RV13, RV14

Whatcha' think?

The Angel Company's 2010-2011 Inspiration Book & Catalogue...

... is almost here!  Well actually, since I've scheduled this post ahead of time, let's just say I am probably thumbing through it at Seminar right now!!  Jealous?!!  :)  You should be... if the few sets that were sent to me with which to design samples are any inclination, this new catalogue should be awesome!

So, today I thought I'd show my swap card.  Well, it is a little bit different than this, but close enough!  The difference is that on my swap card I used a dark brown base (which looks better), didn't use the floss, and tied a knot instead of a bow.

Stamps:  Hope Perches (available June 28th!)

Paper:  kraft & Willoughby cardstocks

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo, Palette Burnt Umber

Other:  Angelee ribbon, Brown Scrapper's Floss, manicurist pads

Copics:  0, BG02, BG05, YR20, YR23, YR24, E57, E71, G21, G24, G85

Single layer card... BUT at least it is colored a bit :)  I love the vintage look of the stamp set with the kraft cardstock... kinda like looking at an old book.  The bird is a separate image from the sentiment, but I thought it fitting to put them together, no?

Oh!  Be sure to tune in on Saturday around lunchtime or so... I'll give ya' another sneak peek :)

What do you think?

O...M...G... Becky...

I FINALLY made a freakin' card.  AND I like it :)  Even though it is really simple, with hardly any foof.

But just look at that face!!  Isn't she A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E?  I know!  This little cutie is part of a new stamp set from The Angel Company called Oh No She Didn't.  However, you can't get your grubby little mitts on this set until after July 1st... sucka!  Don't be sad... it's not too far off  ;)

After I colored her up, I coated the umbrella, goulashes, frog, & the blue part of her jacket in a couple of layers of Crystal Lacquer... me likey!  Sorry the photos bite it... it was a bit overcast when I took these.  But the dimension & shininess of the lacquer are awesome in person.

Do you think this card has a bit too many dots?  Umbrella, background, puddle, punch, & trim... dang!  And if the photos would have captured them, I dotted her jacket, goulashes & umbrella... they look mottled... like water.

Stamps:  Oh No She Didn't (coming soon!), This Girl (inside sentiment), retired GWP (miss u), Go Places (sun, retired)

Paper:  Sands of Time, white ultrasmooth, premium white & DCWV cardstocks

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo

Other:  Crystal Lacquer, EK Success edger punches, Pop dots, dotty trim

Copics:  0, B000, B00, B02, BG02, BG05, BG07, V99, YG01, YG06, E000, E00, E02, E11, E53, E57, YR24, W2

What do you think?

Bow chica bow wow...

Well, now that the latest Serendipity Street magalogue has officially been released from The Angel Company, I thought I'd share one of the card samples I created that didn't quite make the cut ;) 

This card was pretty fun to make, and went together fairly quickly... apart from cutting out the little dog... but definitely worth the trouble!  Isn't he cute?  And that saying:  "bow chica bow wow"... O.M.G. Becky... I will never let that one escape my stamp collection.  It makes me smile :)

Stamps:  Bow Chica Bow Wow, Animal Thoughts, Great Greetings
Paper:  More Mimi SWIC (double sided), Mimi, Lilly Anna, White UltraSmooth, Kraft, & Brown cardstocks
Ink:  Burnt Umber Palette
Colorant:  Prismacolor pencils with mineral oil
Other:  Mimi Hardware, Pop Dots

It needs ribbon & brown Scrapper's Floss, now that I look at it again, and the pink strip should have followed the profile of the tag... I'll know for next time :)  Would make a fun Valentine's Day card, right?
{wink wink}

What do you think?
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Awwwwwwwww...

... aren't these cute?!  I wanted to use up those adorable scalloped left-overs from a couple of posts back, so I made some little gift enclosure cards.  AND I was able to rid myself of a couple of more bits from my scrap pile... which always makes me happy. 

:)

See?

Stamps:  Toot My Horn & Fabulous Frames (available Feb. 1st!!), retired sentiment
Paper:  DCWV, Black, & White UltraSmooth cardstocks
Ink:  Raw Sienna & Noir Palettes
Other:  Stardust clear glitter pen, WeR eyelets, misc. ribbon, Black Scrapper's Floss, Michaels' floral feltie, Labels 4 Nesties, Sophia and In Bloom Buttons & Blossoms

For the little VW bug, I stamped the image, cut it out, added the eyelets as tires (great idea, Laurie!), and finished it by adding a bit of glitter pen accents.  It's up on foam tape to balance out the eyelet thickness.  The black strip of cardstock is supposed to read as "street"... hope you picked that up ;)

I love  this "friend" card... all those layers and feltie texture.  I've always been weird about felt... it feels funny... and NOT in a good way.  I must be facing my fears as of late :)   
"Facing fears of funny feeling felt"... say that 10 times really fast.

What do you think?

Some good news:  I've got the new Serendipity Street spring catalogues in hand!

Some really good news:  I'm fortunate enough to have some of my work in the catalogue!  I know!  Very exciting!  
If you would like to get a copy, just email me for details: barbi007@kc.rr.com 


btw... this new blog template has the comment section at the top under the title... it's kinda confusing... sorry!
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Tell me if you've seen this one...

This is an oldie and I thought I'd already posted it, but I can't seem to find the post... maybe I just dream't it ;)  This was one of my favorite submissions to TAC for the current base book.  It doesn't have much stamping, so I'm pretty sure that's why it got the axe.  But I LOVE IT soooo much.  Is it NOT the girliest thing ever?!

The fatty satin ribbon, flowers, floss, and all those loverly buttons... it all makes me smile!  Are you questioning why I tried putting aqua with pink & green?  I don't know either, except I loved that big aqua button with the pink flower... it all grew from that one element.

And don't you just love the heart in the center of the flower?  I put some foam tape under it so I could curl the petals... me likey a lot :)

Stamps:  Happy Thoughts, Script Background
Paper:  Mimi (More Mimi has replaced this), Ivory UltraSmooth & Mimi cardstocks
Ink:  Burnt Umber & Chartreuse Palettes
Other:  Lemonade Buttons & Blossoms, Ava Embellishment Jar, lots of Scrapper's Floss (scroll down a bit for all colors), Flower Punch, Amberley Grace Ribbon

What do you think?  OH, and what do you think about the new blog look?
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Wonder and Joy

Ok... I'll say it... I think this is the ca-YOOT-ist image so far from TAC's pre-release bundle for the upcoming Serendipity Magalogue (aka Spring Maggie)!  There were a ton of stamp sets, but I'm tellin' ya'... this set is a MUST HAVE for anyone who likes to paper piece or color.

I fussy-cut a sheet of Mimi dp to make it look like little Miss Joy is perched on a flowery pink vine in the middle of imaginative garden.  Freakin' adorable, right?!  I KNOW!  Check out those rosey cheeks and the look of wonder on her face.

You can't really see in the photos, but I used pink & green glitter pens on her hair ribbons, cuffs of her pants & the bottom edge of her dress.

Stamps:  Wonder and Joy (coming soon!)
Paper:  More Mimi double-sided dp, White UltraSmooth, Mimi & Mia's Cottage cardstocks
Ink:  Palette Noir
Colorant:  Prismacolors with mineral oil blending
Other:  Cloud Scissors, Pop Dots, sheer pink ribbon

Why yes... it DID take some time to cut her out... thanks for asking ;)  The ol' craft knife had to come out for this one... but o-so-worth-it.  Pop dots are a wonderful thing.  I think I'm gonna keep this card for myself :)


What do you think?
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