Mother-in-Law's Birthday Gift

As you can tell, I have ready-to-use pieces of a Tea Break chipboard book sitting around. A few minutes with an exacto knife and sanding block is all it takes to disassemble. While I was looking for a picture for the previous project, I found this picture of Abby.

She is my in-laws beloved dog. As a rescue dog, we didn't know her exact birthdate...just month & year. Since my mother-in-law's birthday is in the middle of June, so is the dogs (one of our dogs share the same month born as Abby). Spoiled? Yes! Deserving? Yes! An Angel? Only when she wants to be!

I'm headed out tonight to buy an easel that will look pretty with this project. You are also getting a sneak peek of the Thinking Sweet Thoughts stamp set.

Goodies I used (mother-in-laws favorite color is red):

Cha Cha patterned and solid cardstocks

Black cardstock

Noir, Boudoir Blush & Raw Sienna Palette inks

Stardust glittering pen

Ava embellishment jar

In Bloom Shimmer brads

Pop-It pop dots

Kai Gold Mini 4" scissors

October Stamp of the Month: Sketched Scrolls

Yippee!! I was chosen as one of three people who got to be a Designer for TAC's October Stamp of the Month (SOTM). You can find 4 of my 6 creations on TAC's website...and the other 2 here. I waited to post until I had permission from TAC - sometimes they save things for a later date.

The "joy" card above was SO easy...can't wait to do a class on them. Take an already scalloped 8x8 sheet from the DCWV stack; fold in half, and decorate. I used some TAC exclusive Cha Cha cardstock and the Joy stamp is from the Faith stamp set. Quickly finish this card with a sander, scallop punches, crop-a-dile, eyelet & pop dots.

I am looking forward to when my life slows down enough that I can enter TAC's "card to crop" monthly contests. Since it hasn't happened yet, I did my own "card to crop" for the SOTM (and threw in an ornament).

I'm not up on all the official names of techniques...but I love how quick & easy this one is. Start with Glossy cardstock, stamp image in VersaMark, then load up your brayer with Kaleidacolor ink and roll away. The VersaMark ink resists the Kaleidacolor ink. Be sure to pre-cut your pieces of glossy for good coverage...and keep rolling the brayer back & forth flowing off onto your paper underneath. The more pressure the better.

The ornament was fun to make. Upon trial & error...I learned that it's easier to embellish with stickles BEFORE folding and assembly (best to distress edges beforehand too).

This is our 1st furry child, Jasper. He just loves the snow!

The other card I made was a Valentine one - I'm guessing TAC wasn't able to get a good pic of it, because it looks much more beautiful in person than even the pics I took. I tried out the Champagne Dazzle VersaMark ink on the red background.

It's hard to see the dimension of this card in the picture on TAC's website. I cut off the right edge from the top half of the cardstock after folding it...and laid a strip of the patterned cardstock that I made. I also used the Scor-Bug Embosser to add a little more to the card.

Thanks for looking. I am starting to work on Christmas cards; look for pics after November 10th when I return from a long crafting weekend with girlfriends.

My Catalog Submissions

Now that our catalog - TAC's Base Book - is released, I can show you my 5 submissions that weren't chosen. TAC received so much beautiful artwork, I'm sure it was hard for them to choose.

Last October, I submitted three cards, one clipboard and one 8x8 scrapbook page. Because of the changes to the new Base Book...we had to wait an extra LONG time. It was worth the wait for Margo, one of my team members...she's published on page 33. I am so excited for her...it's her first time.

I was so excited about my scrapbook page, just sure it would make the cut. I had no idea TAC would "new & improve" the Mimi cardstock. With my hardware in all 4 corners, they couldn't easily switch out the cardstock piece. I am pleased to report - there aren't any samples in the Base Book with the stamp sets I used.

More lovely submissions - blog hop with my fellow TAC Angels:

Inkmistress Studio by Christina

TAC ideas by Deb

Creative Journey by Michelle

Inky Angel Wings by Jan

Stampin Hot in Arizona by Carol

More Stampin Hot in Arizona by Carol

and more Stampin Hot in Arizona by Carol