"The Girls Are Back In Town" Blog Hop and exciting blog candy : )

Welcome to the SCACD Blog Hop "The Girls are Back in Town."  This is a mini release from both Victoria Case AND Elisabeth Bell!  You are going to love these cute images! 

If you landed here first you might want to start the blog hop over at Suzanne Dean's blog, if you came here from Alex's blog you are on the right track, and after you are done here make sure to go to Danni's amazing blog for some more wonderful crafting goodness!  If you want to purchase these stamps but live outside of the US please make sure to visit the Quixotic Blog for buying information. 

And don't forget to leave a comment on my blog for a chance to win a portable storage bag for your Copics/Colored Pencils or whatever you need to keep with you : )

From 2010-09-26

From 2010-09-26

Now, onto the new image : )  I used the "1st Leaf of Fall" from Elisabeth Bell in the card below:

From 2010-09-26

I colored the image with Copic Markers, then cut out using Nesties, and then added some Viva Decor Glitter Liner for extra bling and spakle : )  The leaves were made using a Martha Stewart punch, and the swirl was made with a Tim Holtz die cut.  

Have fun with the rest of the Blog Hop, see you all again next Tuesday : ) 

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!

SCACD Blog Hop: Elisabeth Bell "Happy Days Are Here Again"

Yes, it is time for another wonderful SCACD blog hop, and this one should knock your socks off!  The new collection of Elisabeth Bell stamps are called "Happy Days Are Here Again," and what a fantastic collection we have in store for you!


The blog hop starts with the amazing Suzanne Dean, make sure to start there and find your way back here. After you are finished with my blog you will go and visit Judy Laing to see what treasure she has created for you today. And don't forget to stop by Susana's store so you can purchase a few of these absolutely darling stamps. . 


I was given the stamp called "Howdy," a cute cowgirl, and was thinking about what to do and it occurred to me that the Fourth of July was around the corner, so I decided to make my card in honor of the 4th!  Here is what I came up with:

Isn't she adorable?  I used copics to color her, and some stickles for her white shirt and also added some pearl pen to the skirt and boots. Here is a close up:

I also cut her out and mounted the image on top of the ovals using foam squares.  The spray was added behind her to represent fireworks, just used some pearl sprays and added some stars to the pearls to make it pop a bit, here is a close up:

These stamps are just so much fun to play with, and absolutely some of the best images to color and use on cards, scrapbook pages or on other paper projects.   This card was hard for me in one way: I wanted to add more elements to the card, but my family told me they liked it just the way it was, and so I stopped adding elements, and I think that my family was right : )

Enjoy the rest of the blog hop everyone!  Oh, and if you leave a comment on my blog I will have some blog candy for you as well, Viva Decor Pens!  You have until July 3rd to leave a comment.

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.

SCACD Blog Hop: Victoria Case "Hearts and Hugs Summer Collection" and some blog candy

Welcome to Susana's Custom Art and Card Design Blog Hop!  Today's blog hop features an amazing collection of designs from Victoria Case, "Hearts and Hugs Summer Collection."  Each and every one of these designs is adorable, they are fun to color, and they can be used to make beautiful cards and just about any paper craft project you can think of! And they are all in deeply etched rubber which makes it oh so easy to get a GREAT stamped impression!

You will be able to order the stamps today (Friday), here is the link where they will be available, and if you order the set you will get two bonus images (the bonus images cannot be purchased separately)

After you are finished checking out my project make sure to head over to Marti's blog for another image from the "Hearts and Hugs Summer Collection."   The blog hop starts on Kim's blog, make sure you hop to all the blogs because you are going to love these images!  And keep reading all the way down to see how you can win some blog candy I am giving away.

Here is the card I made with the "Lazy Days" stamp:

Isn't she adorable?  I colored her with distress inks on water color paper, the image is stamped in Black Versa Mark and then I used clear embossing powder to set the ink.  I used the Viva Decor Hologram Glitter Liner to add some bling to "friends," the flourishes, the leaves and some of the flowers.  The band across the card was created using a Martha Stewart edge punch, and I also added a few pearls (top left corner) using the Ice White Viva Decor Pearl Pen.

Here is a close up of the image:

Isn't she adorable?  I also used my nesties to get the oval shape and the scalloped oval behind the image, and then used a bit of my glitter pen to outline the oval.

Here is a close up of the flowers (all of them were white and I used the distress ink to color them).  I put the swag together by layering the flowers and twisting the wires together, then the flowers were glued down as one piece.

One more thing:  I still haven't heard back from the person who won the blog candy I offered last time:  Lauretta See.  Lauretta PLEASE email me so I can get your blog candy shipped off to you (Jacquie at afterhoursstamper.com).  

And yes, what is a blog hop without some blog candy?  Leave a comment by next Saturday, June 4th and I will be sending some Viva Decor Pearl or Glitter Pens your way.

SCACD Blog Candy and Blog Hop on Friday, links and a card

Hi again, we did not have internet until last night...and my family took me out to dinner for my birthday yesterday...needless to say I did not get around to posting, but here I am, finally.  Our internet is actually not fully working, it was our wireless router that went out, so my computer is the only one hooked up to the internet, this weekend we need to get a new router, which we will get done.


Thank you all for your kind thoughts and prayers, things, sadly have gone from bad to worse, and I pray each day for our family member who is struggling right now, your continued thoughts and prayers are most appreciated.


I was surprised by my sister in law who sent these beautiful flowers to me at work today:

Now how about some blog candy details?  Go here by Thursday, 10 pm, leave a comment answering this question, "What was the last thing that put a smile on your face?"  Susana is giving away all sorts of GREAT things, so hurry by to leave a comment. Susana's Custom Art and Card Design is a fantastic store, and Susana is an amazing lady, not only is her store stocked with great products, she makes sure your order is sent as soon as she gets it!

And the Blog Hop will be on Friday (my post will be up at 4:00 am, est), and ladies....the stamps are simply amazing!  This is a new release by Victoria Case called "Hearts and Hugs," and you are going to LOVE these stamps!  All of them are "keepers," and on deeply etched red rubber (I have to admit that I am prefer rubber to the clear cling stamps).   The stamps will be available for purchase on Friday, check this link for purchase information. 

And since I have to wait until Friday to share the new stamps with you, here is a card I did using one of the new Tilda stamps:

From 2010-05-26

I colored Tilda with distress ink, and used the Viva Decor Glitter liner for some of her bling, here is a close up:

From 2010-05-26

And now some links, of course:

Copic Storage:  I love these very affordable storage towers for Copics, will have to figure out how I can rearrange my area to incorporate these into my work space.

Water Based Marker Tutorial:  If you do not have Copics or distress ink check out this tutorial (heck, even if you HAVE the other things, check out this tutorial) to see how to get some amazing results with water based markers!

Paper/Craft Storage:  This is a GREAT ebay seller who makes wonderful paper storage (I need to buy one of his towers, my plastic cubes are the leaning tower or pisa).  All sorts of paper storage, ink storage and more, prices are reasonable, he will customize some items if you ask him, the only downside is that shipping is a bit expensive, but truthfully worth every penny.  I am saving up for one of these!

Building a design with bracket stamps:  Love how this person uses the bracket stamps to make all sorts of new designs (and who doesn't want to be able to have multiple uses for stamps?).

Cala Lilly Grunge Flower:  Wow, these look real!  The tutorial is very easy to follow, can't wait to try this (and yes, I did finally get some grunge paper!)

Ok, that is it for now, sorry that I had to post this so late this week.  Now, don't forget that the blog hop is this Friday and if you want to be entered to win the blog candy you need to leave a comment on the SCACD blog by Thursday, 10 pm.

Have a great day everyone, see you again real soon, and thank you for your prayers and thoughts.