Goodbye to September, and as always lots of fun links

Hello and happy Tuesday everyone!  I hope that you are enjoying the last few days of September....where did the month go?  We are in the middle of a heat wave, go figure.  Our summer was cool and now we need AC, it is just typical CA weather, you never know what is around the corner : )

Onto stamping stuff : )  Susana's store is open for business and loaded with all sorts of cool new items, make sure you take a moment or two to stop by her store.  And speaking of Susana....SCACD is having a new release set for this week!  Of course we will be having a blog hop, so make sure you stop by here on Thursday, but before then make sure to leave a comment over at the "Follow your Heart" blog to win some really great blog candy.  The new release is called "The girls are back in town," and you are going to love these cute new images!

Oh, and I have some very special blog candy for you on Thursday as well.  Two people will win a portable Copic Storage bag....here is a picture of what two lucky people will win (you will need to leave a comment on my Thursday post which of course will be posted on Thursday the 30th):

From 2010-09-26

From 2010-09-26

As you can see the bag holds quite a few copics for when you are going to a crop or out for a crafting night.  You can also use the bag for other pens/pencils as well.  Remember though....you will need to come back on Thursday to enter for the blog candy : )

This week I have three cards to share with you:

From 2010-09-21

The image above was colored with Copic markers and cut out, then I cut out a background with my nesties, ran the shapes through the cuttlebug with an embossing folder and put the whole thing together.  I love to use that Elisabeth Bell image (called "New Friends"), especially as it can be used so many different ways, like I did on this card (we had a Christmas Challenge on the DT blog), spring, summer, just about any season you can imagine.

From 2010-09-26

From 2010-09-26

The two images above were created using the Viva Decor Modeling Cream with stencils (here and here) from Susana's Custom Art and Card Design.  I wanted to make two cards that were quick, but also had some "wow" factor to them as well, the Viva Decor really adds the wow to the cards : )

Ok, now how about some great links today?  I have a whole mix for you today : )

Copics:  Another great link to general information about Copics.  I post these links because everyone has their own certain likes/dislikes and it is always good to see a variety of opinions on things : )

UPDATE:  This link appears to be down as of 9/29, I am going to keep checking to see if the website comes back online.  Thanks to Gail for the heads up : ) Free Online Magazine:  You are going to LOVE this magazine, found it last week and already can't wait for the new edition : )

Simplicity:  Love this site!  The link takes you to all the posts that discuss design elements, make sure to go to the full blog and see all sorts of great posts.

Papercrafts by Rach:  Wonderful Copic tutorial on the link, one can never get enough of examples on how to use Copic markers : ) And here is another Copic video worth your time.

Copic Color Combinations:  Go down a little bit in the post and you will see a very nice copic color combination chart to print out and use.  (I think this is fairly recent as I visit this site all the time.)

Colored Pencil Links: Wonderful collection of all things colored pencils (which, as you know, are also one of my favorite ways to color images).

Foam Board Copic Storage:  WOW, WOW, WOW!  I might even try making one of these, make sure to read the whole post because she also has a link to an ink pad storage unit you can make!

Mini blog hop, some heat, and of course some GREAT stamping stuff.

Ok, so for the last few posts I have been writing about how nice our non-summer has been, temperatures in the 80's, nice evenings, and great air quality.  Well, I spoke too soon, yesterday was in the high 90's and today it is supposed to be  over 100.  And while our temps are going up, the trees are starting to change color:

From 2010-08-23

That picture is from a tree right outside my work place, I am planning on taking some more fall pictures of some of the trees in the parking lot as their colors are just starting to change as well, beautiful oranges, reds and yellows.

Anyhow, today is not just about the weather, I have a new set of stamps to preview as well.  Elisabeth Bell has designed a new set of stamps for Susana's Custom Art and Card Design, and WOW, these are just the cutest stamps you have ever seen!

I was given the stamp "Spot of Tea," and here is what I came up with:

From 2010-08-23

Here is a close up of the stamp:

From 2010-08-23

And here is a close up of the background paper I made ( to show the glimmer):

From 2010-08-23

Like these stamps?  Then head over to Marti's blog for another sneak peak of these fantastic stamps!

I used copics to color the image, and to make the background paper I used this stencil, and put some distress ink right on top of the stencil (first I put the color on my craft mat, then sprayed the color with some glimmer mist, then placed the stencil on top of the ink).  I also used some Viva Decor Pearl Pen for the dots on the card.  I also added some Glamour Dust to the shirt for some added bling (if you haven't tried Glamour Dust yet you really should, especially with the holidays coming up.)

And don't forget to head over to the store blog for some amazing blog candy! Make sure you post a comment by August 26th.  Oh, and don't forget to check out all the wonderful new products that Susana has at the store (I am going to go broke trying to get my hands on all the new things!)

If you have made it this far then I am thinking you want some links, so links you shall have!

Colored Pencil Comparison:  Very nice comparison showing how the different colored pencils look when they are blended.  I still love my Prisma's, but I haven't used them much lately......

Tutorials:  From the same blog above, GREAT tutorials on all sorts of things, you are going to find at least one thing here to love.

Just Give Me Stamps:  Inspiration all over the place at this wonderful blog (I spent way too much time admiring all the wonderful creations!)

Tutorials:  Just in time for the holidays, check out these tutorials on all sorts of projects.  The link is from the Just Give Me Stamps blog (linked above as well.).

Allistamp:  Wow, just wow.  This lady has some of the most amazing cards, they are a real treat, and they also will give you all sorts of inspiration.  What I loved is how she creates such wonders without having to have tons of layers.

That is it for this week (it is 92 degrees as I write this on Monday night at 7:00 pm, tomorrow is supposed to be warmer!) time for me to get another glass of lemonade : )

And I hope you all know how very special you are to me, your comments and emails keep me going, you are the reason that this blog is still here.  Thank you for visiting and sharing your love of stamping with me.

Have a wonderful week everyone!

New posting day and of course some links

Good morning everyone, hope you had a great weekend!  Our weather has become very summer like, which is fine with me, especially when it is warm but not too hot : )  Typically we get at least one really hot spell, over a 100 for a few days, but other then that our summers stay in the low to mid 80's most of the time, and the evenings are simply the best, warm and just perfect for late night walks.


Ok, now onto business!  I am changing my posting day to Tuesday because I have also been invited to be a part of Susana's Custom Art and Card Design DT.  The start date was supposed to be at the beginning of June, however with our son in the hospital I have had to postpone the date a bit, but today I will be posting a card over at the "Follow your Heart" blog, here is a close up of the card I created for the blog:

If you want to see the entire card you will need to pop over to the "Follow your Heart" blog : )  The DT team followed a sketch and also was asked to use flower soft on their card....and I may have come up with a new way to incorporate flower soft into a paper project : )  The image is from the new Elisabeth Bell collection, which is a GREAT collection by the way.


A while back I made the following card, brought it to work and sold it within 10 minutes of putting it on my desk:

The card above was actually very easy to make, and I even created the background paper myself by using embossing pens in various colors to make small dots and then sprinkling the ink with some clear glitter embossing powder.  The image is stamped on water color paper (140 pound), stamped with Versa Fine black ink, embossed with clear embossing powder and then painted with distress ink.  I also added some Viva Decor Glitter Liner pen to the center of the flowers.  The image is from Magenta stamps (I absolutely adore Magenta stamps, even if they are a bit expensive).

Here is a close up of the card (you can see the embossing much better in this picture):

Ok, so now onto some links:

Nelli Snellen:  Wow, her punches and other items are amazing!  I especially like these die cuts that are very similar to Nesties, but with a bit more flair.  I am still trying to find a store in the US that sells these die cuts, if you happen to know where to purchase in the US please let me know.

Acid Free Sealing Spray Recipe:  This is a GREAT recipe to keep on hand to seal your art work, especially if you use chalks, mica powder, anything that needs to be sealed.

Little Paper Shop:  Very nice site with a great list of freebies for you to download!  This is a "ning" type website, if you sign up you can create your own page and so on.

Ecraft:  Wow!  I am VERY interested in this new electronic cutting machine, you do not need a sticky pad and you can leave paper in a tray and the cutter will self feed the paper (set the machine and walk away).  Kmart also has this machine, if anyone has purchased please let us know what you think.

Distress Ink Pallet:  LOVE this idea!  This is a great way to create a pallet for your distress ink, and it is inexpensive to boot!

Photovisi:  A really easy way to create fantastic picture collages, I played with this a bit the other day, it was easy to use, and I loved all the various ways you can put your pictures together, best yet?  The service is free!

Ok everyone, that is it for this week.  Thank you all for your support and for stopping by.  I will announce the winner of the blog candy next Tuesday (you have until Saturday to leave a comment here).  Have a great week, and enjoy your 4th of July holiday.

Happy Father's Day : ) And yes, I was away for a bit

Happy Father's Day to you all!  Or day after Father's Day.  Sorry that I have not posted, my son has been in the hospital for the last 2 1/2 weeks.  He is home now, but still not completely well.  Needless to say blogging and stamping have not been a priority for me.  Please keep him in your prayers, as he could use as much help as possible in this very trying time in his life.


I need to announce the winner of the last blog candy....so drum roll please....and the winner is..........Cherie!  Cherie please email me at Jacquie at afterhoursstamper dot com with your name and address and I will get your blog candy in the mail.

And I have some cards to show you, made them a while ago and just didn't get around to taking pictures.

Here is a card I made using one of the new Victoria Case designs in the "Hearts and Hugs Summer Collection,"

From 2010-05-30

And from the same collection, the Father's Day card I made for my husband:

From 2010-05-30

On the Father's Day card I used an impressability for the background, put some of the distress ink on my craft sheet, added some glimmer mist to the ink, then placed the impressibility in the ink, then put the whole thing through my cuttle bug.  Also, the green background paper was done with distress ink, wet with glimmer mist (on the craft sheet) then I just placed my paper on top of that.

Oh, and this is my hubby (he doesn't know that I am putting his picture on the blog ; ) Isn't he a cutie?  I love him so much and appreciate his patience and understanding towards my stamping addiction.

From 2010-05-30

I just LOVE these stamps!  Fantastic collection of images that you can use so many ways.  And speaking of stamps, we have another blog hop coming up this week on Friday, June 25th.

Believe me you are going to LOVE these stamps! This time Susana is revealing a new Elisabeth Bell collection, and yes, there is blog candy too!  Just go to the SCACD blog and answer the secret question to be entered in for some great blog candy. You have until June 24th to enter, but don't wait till the last minute, get over there and leave your comment so you won't miss out on a chance to win.

And I have one more card I made, this one is with a Magnolia stamp, one of the new "Fairytale" stamps (which I just love!):

From 2010-05-30

I used colored this with Distress inks and used the Viva Decor pens to make the brown pearls as well as the yellow raised dots on the back ground.

Ok, one last picture of something I wanted to share with you all.  I used to store my copics and other markers like this:

The other day the whole stack just fell down on me, pens everywhere, so I ordered a new system to store my pens and WOW!  What a difference!

From 2010-05-30

I have enough room to split up my copics by color family now, before I had all the Y's and YR's together, the B's and BG's together, now?  Well, each letter has its own little shelf which makes it WAY easier to find what I need and use what I have!  And I now have a spot for my distress reinkers!  And a few punches as well.

Is there any room left to share some links?  YES!  Of course : )

ScrapGirl:  Wow!  Amazing cards here, just the place to go when you need some inspiration or you just want to enjoy looking at some absolutely stunning cards.

Yes, another DIY flower:  I really like posting these because it gives you more options on making flowers yourself.  This one is quick, easy and looks great.

Craft Gossip Stamping:  You are going to LOVE this link, as a matter of fact it is going on my best of list on the blog.  Freebies, great product reviews, just about anything and everything you can think of in one place!

Alright everyone, see you on Friday, June 25th for the blog hop!  Take care and thank you so very much for all of your support.