Aloha, all! One of my hobbies used to be painting with watercolors. I took several years of lessons, but that was ages ago, and I probably have forgotten more about how to use watercolor than I remember. Nonetheless, I have had the Stampin' Up! Watercolor Wonder Crayons in my craft room since back when you could buy all the colors at once in a big tin … [Read more...] about Something New!
Watercolor Greeting Cards
Fun with an “Old” Stamp Set
Aloha, all! This is the time of the year when I start looking at all my Stampin' Up! Designer Series Paper sets and try to get them all used up before Stampin' Up! retires them at the end of June. Stampin' Up! also retires lots of stamp sets with each new annual catalog. They retire stamps based on business decisions unknown to most of us, which means … [Read more...] about Fun with an “Old” Stamp Set
Countdown to Christmas – in Just 10 Days!
Aloha, all! As I mentioned I have been whisked away for a mini-vacation by my husband as my Christmas gift this year. But despite the fact that we were madly packing for our little getaway, I just had to jump in and participate in this week's Diva Coffee Break Design Team challenge. It was a sketch challenge, and you who check on me regularly know that I … [Read more...] about Countdown to Christmas – in Just 10 Days!
One More Flower Fancy Card
Aloha, all! You may recall that a couple of days ago I shared a card that I made for the Divas Coffee Break Design Team that used the stamp set Flower Fancy. I was grumbling because I really wanted to be focusing on Christmas Cards. Well, maybe not grumbling, but.... Well, contrary to my recently made resolution to put everything back … [Read more...] about One More Flower Fancy Card
Windows Redux
Aloha, all! Back when I first started this blog - can you believe it's been TWO YEARS!!?? - I was making my very first swaps for the Stampin' Up! Convention. One swap was a "no-layer" card and I used a round punch to make windows in the card front so that an image from the inside showed through. Ever since then, I've used different ways of … [Read more...] about Windows Redux
On a Sad Note…
...Aloha, all! While I'm very happy to say that I finally have some time just for me in my Craft Room, unfortunately a good friend just passed away this past weekend. He and his wife were among a group of people with whom we were very close when we lived in New Mexico, and my husband had just spoken with him recently, and had actually had a chance to see him … [Read more...] about On a Sad Note…
Just Hanging in There?
Aloha, all! Oh, my, it's been awhile since I've taken the time to sit and chat. The problem has been in the sitting, as my back has really been giving me a hard time over the past couple of weeks. So it's been hard to keep my focus and do everything that I'm used to doing. But I've been hanging in there. For one thing, I've been able to spend some time in my craft room … [Read more...] about Just Hanging in There?
OK–A Few More Bears!
Aloha, all! I just can't stay away from the Build-A-Bear Workshop stuff that's in the upcoming Stampin' Up! 2009 Holiday Mini Catalog! But I promise: I'll get to the holiday stuff really quickly! Enough of the bears (or not). This lovely lady is stamped on Stampin' Up! Watercolor paper using Jet Black Stazon ink, and watercolored using Ballet Blue (you haven't seen that color … [Read more...] about OK–A Few More Bears!
A Hawaiian Touch
Aloha, all! One of my favorite flowers in my husbands spectacular garden is the Hibiscus. We have at least half a dozen varieties, and they never cease to catch my eye when I happen upon them. A stamp in one of Stampin' Up!'s brand new stamp sets, Greenhouse Garden, is a 2-Step Stampin' Hibiscus. In 2-Step Stampin, you first stamp the background stamp in a light or medium range … [Read more...] about A Hawaiian Touch
It’s Easter Season – Part III: Back to Basics
Aloha, all! When I joined Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator, one of the sets that I was encouraged to feature is the one called, "Loads of Love." OK--I could relate to that, as I'd recently lived in rural New Mexico where pickup trucks were the norm. And I'd recently moved to rural Hawaii, where pickups are the norm. So why not? BUT I would rather have not, as I've … [Read more...] about It’s Easter Season – Part III: Back to Basics
Honolulu Regional – Part V – Make & Takes
Aloha, all! Finally I have finished unpacking (from a short trip to Honolulu--go figure!!). And I finished the one project that I didn't get done while I was at the conference. For one thing, it was a 3-dimensional project (using the Sizzix Big Shot, of course!) and I didn't want it squished (that's a paper crafter's technical term that relates to what happens when you put 3-D paper … [Read more...] about Honolulu Regional – Part V – Make & Takes