"JOY" Coaster Wall Hanging

Hey ya'll,
I've been playing around a little this weekend. I put together this project using a combination of Elemental Stamping technique by Elemental Doodles and Doodle Imaging by one of ED's DT members (Cat).



Supplies Used:
Stamps - Elemental Doodles (new releases)
Chipboard Coasters X 6 - Elemental Doodles
Inks - Versa Magic & Brilliance
Accessories - Blue grosgrain ribbon, Hot Glue, Crystal Glitter, 2-Way Glue Pen, Stickles Glitter Glue, finger daubers

Instructions:
1. Pencil in the letters JOY on coasters.
2. Finger Dauber ink color over penciled in letters.
3. Stamp filler image over penciled letters.
4. Stamp Holly image in various places over letter.
5. Stamp accent image in various places.
6. Finger dauber ink around coaster edge.
7. Stamp filler image and holly around coaster edge.
8. Using 2-Way glue pen, add glitter to coaster edge.
9. Dot Stickles over letters.
10.Attach ribbon to back of coasters.
11.Attach 2nd set of coasters to back to hide the ribbon and glue.

Holiday ATC & Moo's

I am so excited......I had time to play a little with our new stamps before going to work tonight.

The ATC is made by matting 2 Moo's onto an ATC size piece of brown shimmer CS by The Paper Company. All images are Elemental Doodles. Both of the Moo's are sprayed with Cafe Late Scent-A-Mist (a new scented shimmer spray by Elemental Doodles). Inks used are Versa Magic and Versa Fine. Moo's on the ATC are dotted with Stickles.

The Moo is also matted on brown shimmer CS. All images are also Elemental Doodles. Inks used are Versa Magic and Versa Fine. Also dotted with Stickles.

Coaster Ornaments

Wow, it's been a long time since I've posted here. Been so busy that I've just not had much time to keep up with my own blog. LOL Below are a couple of coaster ornaments that I did over the weekend. I will get instructions and exact colors of inks used posted very soon (I didn't write them all down LOL).

All stamps used are from Elemental Doodles' new stamp sets (they are available for pre-order now and are on sale....check out their website at http://www.elementaldoodles.com/ ). The coasters and acrylic rods and new release stamps and the new Scent-a-Mists are all on sale until the end of October.

Design Team Call - Elemental Doodles

Elemental Doodles is having their 2nd Design Team Call since they launched in March 2009. Please be sure to visit http://www.elementaldoodles.com/pages/designteamcall.php for more information on how you can be a part of their next DT. ED has a lot of new and innovative products that will be introduced in the next several months and you will NOT want to miss out on the opportunity to be the FIRST one to play with new products and stamps. :-)

Pre-Order Special - Elemental Doodles

Pre-Order Special Offer ~ LIMITED TIME OFFER!!!!!
Elemental Doodles is rolling out 8 new sets of images (among other new products) on June 15th, 2009.
Pre-Order your sets today and receive a 20% discount. Just enter the voucher code: NewRelease609 at checkout.

Go to www.ElementalDoodles.com , click on Catalog in the left side navigation, click on Stamps in the body of the Catalog page, click on New Releases and then select the sets you want to add to your cart.

When you enter this code in the cart you MUST click the RECALCULATE button at the bottom so that the cart will apply the discount. Otherwise, the discount will not be applied. All orders will ship as soon as the first run is received (expected delivery date into the ED office is between June 15-June 20th, 2009.

Pre-Order Special will end June 11, 2009

Website Update

In addition to the "new look" that I posted about previously, I have added a lot of new information and some pictures to my gallery on my personal website www.javamels.com . This site is not just about stamping. There's lots of information about chocolate, coffee, stamping, nutrition & weight loss (coming soon) and much more. I will also be adding a new "cafe" to my site very soon titled "Marriage Cafe". I just feel so strong about marriage and keeping families together that I felt moved to work on an online "support" for married couples. Family is an institute that God created and it's one that is worth fighting for and keeping together. So watch for this coming soon.

I have also added a guestbook to my site.....please stop by and leave your comments, suggestions and requests.

Magnetic Plaque Gift for Mom

Ok, so this project has absolutely NO STAMPING whatsoever on it. But I wanted to share. My mom got divorced and remarried in 2008 and I am just NOW getting around to doing something for her and her new hubby. Yeah, I know, I'm pathetic. LOL Anyway, I snagged this idea from my good friend and business partner, Kim. She gave me something similar only minus pictures and I just thought it would make a great belated wedding gift for mom and Walt.

Supplies used to create this are as follows:

• Metal plate things from Lowe's Home Improvement (I forget what they are called but they have lots of holes in them and are kind of thick).....you need 3 or 4 of these depending on how long you want the plaque to be....I used 3.
  

2 or 3 colors of CS that contrast each other.
Paper flower petals
Magnets
Ribbon
Tin Name plates and tin squares
Spellbinders in various shapes and sizes.

Other embellishments of your choice. I used colored wire, a mini clipboard, mini paper clips, etc. Adhesive, Stickles, pictures, etc. Rhinestone shapes

Directions:

1. Cut CS to fit the metal plates and adhere with adhesive roller.


2. Cut out photos and matting for behind them using Nestabilities or other die of your choice and then assemble.


3. Add magnets to the back of photos.


4. Add paper flower embellishments at this time if you plan to do so.


5. Remove adhesive squares from back of tin name plates and tin squares and put a magnet on them instead.


6. Adhere rhinestone shapes to tin squares.


7. Write or stamp what you want on the tin nameplates. I just used black permanent marker and then went over the writing with Diamond Stickles.


8. Add photo to mini clipboard if you are using one.


9. Using the Crop A Dile, punch holes in the corners of each metal plate through one of the holes and then line up the tin plates with the top and bottom and punch holes so they can be attached.


10. Make large wire jump rings using a heavy gauge wire. These will be used to feed through the holes and attach each section to each other. This is also used to attach the tin name plates to the top and bottom.


11. Attach all sections using the jump rings.
    
12. Make wire spirals (if this is what you are using as embellishment) using various colors of wire. Attach these to the jump rings and name plates as desired.
    
13. Punch 2 holes at the top of the top nameplate and feed your ribbon through them and tie in a knot.
    
14. Punch holes at the bottom of the bottom tin nameplate and add another photo if desired.

New Look

WooHoo.....I am so excited. I have a completely new look for my logo image and my main website. All the graphics and website template are from Scrapless Creations . Be sure to stop by her site as there are so many wonderful website templates available and her prices are so very reasonable. AND, she's super fast at delivering your order.

Hoppy Frog Mini Album

Hey ya'll, I bet ya'll thought I'd forgotten all about my blog and posting new projects. ;-) Well, I have been busy working (this working an outside job is sooooooo overrated. LOL). I so miss being home with my little ones and I miss having the time to stamp and play. BUT, some day I will be independently wealthy and be able to stamp and play and spend as much time with my kids as I want (yep, I'm dreaming but a girl can dream can't she????).

Ok, on to my project. This is a little mini Album or Journal...whatever you want to make of it. I really enjoyed making this and it was super easy. The most time consuming part was waiting for the stickles to dry.

Hoppy Frog Mini Album
All supplies used are from TAC and can be ordered HERE









Supplies Used:
T2349 Hoppy Frogs Stamp Set
K409 3X3 Mini Sheet Protectors
V901 Brighten My Day Paper Pad
F919 Cotton Candy Boot Loopy Brads
B214 Lilly Anna Ribbon
F516 Crystal Stickles
F02 Tombow Markers Pastel
D91 Kokuyo Adhesive Dispenser
V222 White Ultrasmooth Cardstock
TT220 Noir Palette Pad
F83 Spring Bright Spiral Clips
Hole punches for binding and mini brad (Crop-A-Dile)
Paper Flowers in colors of your choice

Directions:

1. Add stickles to paper flowers so they will be dry when ready to use them.
2. Cut background papers to 3x3 to fit into each of the sleeves. If you use 5 of the sleeves you will get 2 mini albums per package of sleeves. YOu will then need 10 background papers per mini album.
3. Cut 10 white CS papers at 2 1/2"X2 1/2" and adhere to the center of each of the background squares.
4. Stamp your frog images using Noir Palette Ink Pad on the white CS in the desired location.
5. Optional - Use one of the Journaling stamp sets to stamp journaling lines in the blank space beside, above or below the stamped frogs.
6. Color frog images using markers.
7. Add mini brad to end of frog's tongue to be the "fly".
8. Check to see that flowers are dry. If so, add them to the pages you wish to add them to.
9. Slip decorated pages into sleeve protectors.
10. Adhere sleeve protectors together using Adhesive Dispenser and be sure to line them up correctly.
11. Cut a scrap of patterned paper from Brighten My Day Pad to 1 1/2" x 3 1/4". Score lengthwise at 1/2" and 3/4" and fold. Line up on edge of sleeve protectors and punch holes in front and back so they line up with holes in sleeve protectors.
12. Adhere patterned paper scrap to sleeve protectors to form the spine/binding.
13. Feed ribbon through and tie in a knot or bow....cut length as needed.
14. Using tiny hole punch...punch hole in center right edge of front and back pages and apply loopy brad. Tie with matching floss.

HINT: Before punching holes in scrap patterned paper for binding use a pencil to mark where the holes need to be punched. This will ensure they are in the correct position.

Just an Update

Whew!!!!! It has been a crazy month so far. If I survive raising 4 boys it will be nothing short of a miracle. LOL And I'm still working on this getting used to a nighttime work schedule. I'm finding it's cutting way into my creativity time. :-(

Anyway, I've been working on a few projects this week and will be posting them over the weekend. I know it's been a little while since I've posted new projects. But I have some projects using TAC stamps and ED stamps.

Coming soon (things I've been working on).......
Decorated girl's purse
Coffee Lover's cards
Fairy cards
Flower cards & ATCs & bookmarks

Christian Easter ATC

Both of the ATC's below were made using the stamp set He Is Risen from Elemental Doodles. Both of these cards were so very easy to make. And a lot of fun.

Pocket Tea ATC

This card is exactly the same as the previous Pocket Tea Card that I posted. The difference is that this card was made ATC size (2.5"X3.5") and used the mini stamps from the same stamp set - Friendship Tea from Elemental Doodles.

Pocket Tea Card Share

The card below was inspired by my business partner, Kim Baker. The difference between our cards is the cardstock used and the stitching....I don't sew, she does, so I used lace and ribbon instead of stitching. LOL I will post a tutorial soon.

Pocket Tea Card

Supplies Used:

Stamps - Friendship Tea from Elemental Doodles

Designer Paper - Double Sided

Lace Trim

Ink - Palette Noire and Burnt Umber - TAC

Transcendence EP - TAC

Coloring Medium of choice (Twink. H2O's used here)

Acrylic Blocks

SBS 27 - Sisters please read

Hey ya'll,
I want to personally welcome each of our SBS 27 members to the group. I do not have email addresses for all of you yet. So I'm making this announcement here on my blog with hopes that you will all see it.

I have set up a yahoogroup for SBS 27 members so that we can keep in touch with each other easier. Please be sure to send me your email address privately at mel@javamels.com or mel@elementaldoodles.com so that I can make sure you get an invite to join our group. Brenda, one of our SBS 27 members has already started putting together a birthday list for our little group. She is also going to be a moderator on our yahoogroup. So you will want to be sure to hook up with Brenda and get your birthday and mailing address to her so you can be added to the birthday list.

Please be sure to pick up your SBS 27 badge at http://sisterhoodofthebloggingstampers.blogspot.com and add it to your blog. In addition, please be sure to add the links to your other SBS 27 group sisters to your blogroll for our group. And once you have joined our little group be sure to stop by everyone's blogs and post a hello. If you are not a member of SBS 27 but would like to be please feel free to stop by the blog listed above and sign up to be included in our blogring. Members are limited to 20 and spaces are filling up fast (there are only 4 left as of the date of this post).

Thank you. I am now off to visit each of your blogs and check in with you all. :-)

Elemental Doodles Pre-Order Sale!!!!

WooHoo!!!! This is just what many of you have been waiting for. The announcement will be made on the ED blog and website this weekend but I wanted to go ahead and make the announcement with coupon code here first. :-)

Elemental Doodles is now taking pre-orders for their initial set release that is scheduled for March 2009. The Pre-Order Sale is 25% off any orders of any size that uses the coupon code below:
EDPO25

Go to www.ElementalDoodles.com , click on Catalog in the left side navigation, click on Stamps in the body of the Catalog page, click on New Releases and then select the sets you want to add to your cart. When you enter this code in the cart you MUST click the RECALCULATE button at the bottom so that the cart will apply the discount. Otherwise, the discount will not be applied.

All orders will ship as soon as the first run is received (expected delivery date into the ED office is by the first week of March if not sooner).

What is an ATC?

I've had several questions about ATC's (both on the blog and privately) so here is a brief explanation.

I absolutely LOVE working on ATC's. They are miniature works of art. And the stamps from Elemental Doodles are PERFECT for making ATC's.

And ATC is an acronym for Artist Trading Card. The only requirement of an ATC is that is has to be 2.5" X 3.5". This way they will fit into trading card sleeves for those who collect them. Many artists trade these cards....many use them just to send out the same as you would regular cards. They are normally made with a CS base just like any other card. However, they can be made using any material as a base as long as the finished product is exactly 2.5" X 3.5".

ATC - Easter

Hey ya'll, I finally had a chance to play with one of our new stamp sets for ED. This is the ATC I worked on tonight. I am going to redo it though. I forgot to lighten my pencil oval outline so that it wouldn't show up. :-( So please overlook that. I just really wanted to get this ATC posted.

ATC - Easter
Supplies Used:
Stamps - Elemental Doodles
Printed Paper - Making Memories
Inks - Various Versamark and Palette Inks (TAC)
Miscellaneous - Crystal Glitter, Spiral Clip, Adhesive Dot Roller, Tombow Glue Pen (all from TAC).

Instructions:
Very easy card to do. This card is made using Elemental Stamping technique with Elemental Doodles' Easter stamp set.

1. Cut printed background paper to 3.75X2.75" (yes, I know, this is a wee bit larger than a normal ATC but I cut the white part first and stamped without thinking about the size I needed for my printed background - if this bothers you then cut your Printed Background paper to 3.5X2.5 and your white CS to just 1/4" smaller).
2. Cut White CS to 3.5X2.5".
3. Ink the solid bunny with Pallete Noir ink and stamp center on the bottom of the "frame".
4. Ink the bow stamp in a light color (I used a pale pink here) and stamp center top of the "frame".
5. Repeat step 4 above using a darker shade of the same color leaving a little bit of the lighter color showing around the edges creating a shadow effect.
6. Ink the open carrot orange and the greenery green (this is easy to do with clear stamps because you can actually see where you are inking). Stamp this carrot randomly around your "frame" turning the stamp periodically so it is facing different directions.
7. Ink the solid carrot the same way as the open carrot and do the same thing.
8. Ink the palm fronds with a light green and use as a filler between the carrots.
9. Repeat step 8 with a darker green.
10. Ink the swirly deco image with a metallic color (I used gold) and stamp randomly around the "frame".
11. Ink the Bunny face image in Palette Noire and stamp in the center.
12. Using a sponge and dark blue ink (or other dark color of your choice to complement printed paper and colors in your image) and sponge all around the edges of both White CS and Printed Paper.
13. Using the glue pen, outline both papers and then dip into Crystal Glitter.
14. Let glue dry.
15. Apply adhesive to the back of the white CS and adhere to center of printed paper.
16. Add Spiral Clip as a decoration to one of the sides.

ATC - Love & Laughter

This is ATC number 2 that I did today.



ATC - Love & Laughter
Supplies Used (TAC unless otherwise noted):
Stamps: T-2981 Love & Laughter
Cardstock: Brown Textured, Light Pink
Ribbon: Miscellaneous Brown with gold specks
Coloring Medium: Pink Marker
Inks: TAC Palette Burnt Umber
Embossing Powder: Transcendence
Miscellaneous: Double Stick Tape, Crystal Lacquer, 1/8" Hole Punch, Crystal Glitter, Crystal Glitter, Tombow Mono Multi Glue.


Instructions:

1. Cut brown CS to 2.5X3.5"
2. Cut pink CS to 2X3"
3. Stamp and emboss Tree image in Palette Burnt Umber (remove ink from tiny butterflies and recolor with a Pink Marker - breathe on stamp to remoisten ink just before stamping).
4. Using single heart image from T-3025 Love Blooms set, stamp using Pink Marker at ends of a few branches. Do not emboss.
5. Stamp sayings at top and bottom with Palette Burnt Umber ink and emboss.
6. Using pen tip apply glue to tiny butterflies and sprinkle on glitter. Tap off excess.
7. Punch holes in top center of pink CS.
8. Feed ribbon through and tie bow.
9. Attach to brown CS with double stick tape roller.
10. Apply Crystal Lacquer to hearts and let dry.

ATC - Love Blooms

I've been working on a few different ATC's the last couple of days. And will have more to share over the next few days as well.

Love Blooms ATC
Supplies Used (TAC, unless otherwise noted):
Stamps: T-3025 Love Blooms
Cardstock: Red Textured, Ultrasmooth White
Ribbon: Black Satin, 1/8"
Coloring Medium: N/A
Inks: TAC Palette Noir, Palette L'Amore Red, Versamark
Embossing Powder: Transcendence
Miscellaneous: Double Stick Tape, Foam Dots, Crystal Lacquer, Silver Mini Brads, 1/16" Hole Punch, Large Eye Needle, Crystal Glitter, Tombow Mono Multi Glue, Sponge, Slice, Noteworthy Slice Design Card.


Instructions:

1. Cut 2.5X3.5 Red CS.
2. Cut 1.5X1.5 shap using the Slice (or other 1.5" punch/cutter)
3. Using Versamark ink stamp mini hearts all over red background paper.
4. Using a ruler, mark with a pencil dots every 1/4" along both long sides (approximately 1/4" from edge on both sides).
5. Punch out holes where you just marked.
6. Stamp vase and stems using Palette Noire ink on white squares.
7. Stamp heart flowers using Palette L'Amore Red ink on white squares.
8. Using sponge dab Palette L'Amore Red ink along edges of white squares.
9. Using Tombow adhesive pen and crystal glitter edge white squares with glitter.
10. While glitter and glue are drying, lace up sides with black ribbon. First attach one end to the bottom hole with a silver mini brad. Then, using the large eye needle, thread the ribbon up and around and down the other side. Secure the other end with another silver mini brad. Cut off excess ribbon from both sides.
11. Adhere white squares to front of card using 3D foam pop dots.
12. Add Crystal Lacquer to the heart flower buds and let dry.

My baby won 3rd place

I am so proud of my baby. He entered a lego building contest at his school that was sponsored by the National Association of Women In Construction (http://www.nawic.org/) . This is the first contest he's ever entered. Each participant had 1 hour to build something construction related using only 100 legos. He was done with his in about 20 minutes. His is the Eiffel Tower and Paris surrounding it.

ATC X 2

I had a chance to create 2 different ATC's today. I am not posting the instructions to these unless someone asks. They're pretty simple to do.

Stamps are all from Elemental Doodles.

The shapes cut out on the blue and brown ATC were cut out using the Noteworthy Design Cart for the Slice.

Green ribbon is Making Memories.

Printed Paper is from K&Company tag pads.

Glitter Gel Pens were used to color in the flower on the left. Twinks were used on the right.

Fairy Card

Here is a fairy card that I worked on today.


Fairy Card
Supplies Used
Stamps: Elemental Doodles
Cardstock: TAC (textured brown, Cream), SU (light blue)
Printed Paper: Making Memories
Ribbon: Miscellaneous
Coloring Medium: Twinkling H2O
Inks: TAC Palette Burnt Umber
Embossing Powder: Transcendence
Miscellaneous: Double Stick Tape, Foam Dots, Cuttlebug, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Gold Embellishment from Making Memories.

Instructions:
This is really a very simple card to make.

1. Cut and fold light blue CS to regular card size.
2. Emboss front of light blue CS.
3. Cut chocolate brown textured CS to the desired size .
4. Cut the printed paper to just smaller than the brown CS.
5. Cut cream CS just a tad smaller than the printed paper.
6. Stamp fairy image in Burnt Umber ink and emboss.
7. Color fairy using Twinks.
8. Add a touch of glitter for embellishment.
9. Using finger dauber (or other pouncing tool) add burnt umber ink to the edges of the cream CS.
10. Add gold embellishment from Making Memories.
11. wrap and tie ribbon around center of card (where card opens up instead of out). I add a little adhesive to the back of the ribbon so it will stick to the card better without moving.
12. Add layers to front of card. Use 3D foam dots to mount the top layer with the fairy.

New Stamps Arrived

WooHoo!!!!! I just got some new stamps to play with (more samples from our ED line of images before they go for final manufacture).

AND, I am expecting some new stamps that I just ordered from TAC to arrive any day now (hoping for today).

Soooooo, I am going to do my very best to play this afternoon so that I can get some new projects posted for ya'll. I'll be playing with both ED stamps and TAC stamps.

Personal Update

I thought I would post a real quick personal update here. As ya'll know I went on a job interview last week. I got the job. WooHoo!!! I'm now just waiting on all the paperwork to come back to HR so that I can get started with orientation, etc. They send out the paperwork for background and reference checks so it isn't something that happens right away. But hey, I'm just glad I got the job.

I also went to the college for orientation for the program I wanted to get into , General Ultrasound. Well, I don't think I'll be doing that this fall. And after talking to the instructor at the orientation I think the best thing for me to do since I already have a degree in Cardiovascular Ultrasound is to just audit a few of the classes for CVT and get into working in that field instead. Why? Because I will be working 7p-7a 3 -4 nights/week and the program classes run from 9a-4p M-F. There would be no time to sleep between classes and work and certainly no time to study. And I know from going through the heart US class that it is a very intense program and there's just no way to keep up with everything if there is no time to study.

So, I've scrapped the going back to college full time this fall idea. I will, however, take a few classes here and there as time permits.

Pear Card

Well I finally got a chance to play with my Slice machine today. While it does have it's little "issues" I have to say that I think I am going to go ahead and keep my little machine. MM people said they are working on the "issues" and will make sure I am taken care of when a solution has been found. Soooooo, I will just deal with the wonky cuts every now and then because I absolutely loved playing today. I picked up 2 more design cards today....Noteworthy and Basic Shapes 2. I haven't played with Basic Shapes 2 yet but am loving Noteworthy. I almost didn't get it but am so glad I did anyway.

Oh yeah, and my other purchase today was a little disappointing but actually made me space my spending a little. LOL I went to Michael's and they had the Cuttlebugs, Cuttlekids and all the accessories on SALE for 50% off today. So I was going to go ahead and get me one of those little Cuttlebugs but they were all out. :-( They DID give me a raincheck for one at the discounted rate and it will be in stock in 2 weeks. WooHoo!!! Kim was over today and I played with hers and decided this is a must have gadget for me. LOL

And here's the card that this post was originally supposed to be showing off. LOL

Pear Card

I made several of this card in different colors.

Supplies Used:

~Stamps - Elemental Doodles

~Plain Old CS in various colors

~Printed Paper - Making Memories

~Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (don't recall the name of this one)

~ Ink - Noir Palette (TAC)

~Embossing Powder - Transcendence (TAC)

~Coloring Medium - Twinkling H2O

~Foam Dots (TAC)

~Green Ribbon

~Tiny Hole Punch

~Decorative Brads - Making Memories

Instructions:

1. Cut and fold CS to regular card size

2. Emboss front of CS

3. Cut shapes from printed paper using Slice Noteworthy Design Card (3 1/2" and 4")

4. Cut tag shape using Slice Noteworthy Design Card (2") on matching plain CS

5. Stamp and emboss Pear and Pear Leaves

6. Adhere 4" shape to front of card

7. Color Pear and Pear leaves with H2O's

8. Adhere 3 1/2" shape to center of 4" shape using foam dots.

9. Punch tiny hole in center of tag and add Decorative Brad

10. Ad ribbon to tag and adhere to bottom of card using foam dots

My New Toy......the Slice

Slice and I have had some run over the last week. I got my Slice about a week ago. I am so excited because this is the first cutting machine (other than hand held punches LOL) I've ever owned. I was attracted to the size and portability of the Slice and the fact that it has several cartridges with designs available. So here we go on our little journey......

The day I got home with the Slice I was so anxious to get started playing. I unpacked everything and even read the manual that came along with it. I pulled out the little tube of adhesive that came with it. Well, it was dried up. :-(

No problem.....I'll just use a little repositionable tape in the corners of the glass cutting mat. Wait, that didn't work either. It doesn't hold the paper down in the center and so the cut gets all messed up because the paper moves all over. Next I put a piece of the tape in other places on the mat. This didn't work either because every time the blade went over an area where the tape was it would "stick" a little.

Off I went back to AC Moore to pick up a new tube of adhesive. And while I was there I went ahead and used another 50% off coupon for the pretty little carrying case for the Slice (yes, I used a 50% off coupon earlier that same day for the Slice machine too LOL).

I get home to try out the adhesive and guess what????? IT WAS DRIED OUT TOO!!!! Now, I live about 25 minutes from AC Moore so I was NOT about to go back for yet a 3rd trip. So finally, last night, hubby took me to Wally World and I picked up a can of Elmer's Craft Bond Spray Adhesive (it's temporary or permanent depending on how you use it). I didn't feel up to working with it last night so it waited until today.

***Mental Note*** Don't spray a spray adhesive in your lap with the dog laying next to you and a blanket covering your lap. ROTF. Yes, I did this. Didn't even think about the overspray and getting it all over the blanket and the dog. It does come out in the wash though. Thankfully because that was my favorite blanket.

Anyway, this adhesive worked wonderfully. Now, a little about the Slice. It doesn't cut exactly as you want for every shape and size. Smaller circles look warped. And the smaller scallops and squares are a little out of shape. This was way worse before I had an appropriate adhesive. But it did get better once I did the spray adhesive. Some things are still a little out of wack and warped but it's not something I absolutely cannot live without.

Job Update

Ok, so here's the scoop.....I need a job, at least while we work on getting ED up and running strong and while I'm in school....

I already have a degree in Cardiovascular Ultrasound. However, I did not sit for the registry exam and it's been 11 years since I've worked in the medical field. Soooo, I am going back to school for General Ultrasound and will audit a few cardio scanning classes during the semesters that I don't have a full load. BUT, I really need to work in the meantime because school will be a 3 year run.

So I've been submitting applications for CNA work to hold me over until I can work as an US Tech.

Yesterday I had an interview at a hospital and I'm pretty sure I have the job. The nurse I interviewed with would like for me to start monday (provided HR gets everything ready by then). Basically we're just waiting for HR to get everything together so I can start (background check, drug screening, reference check, etc). The job is mine once this is all done. I will be working the 7p-7a shift 3 nights/week and will have the option of picking up additional shifts if I choose. This shift works out perfectly for me with my 2 younger kids being in year round school. It means I won't have to pay out the nose for childcare when they're tracked out. My oldest son will be home early in the morning to get the little ones up and ready for school. I will be home in time to see them off. And of course you know I'll have to wind down before I can go to sleep so all my computer work will be done before going to bed. Since I'll only be working 3 days a week that still gives me time to work on ED and my studies.

See, I've got it all figured out. :-)

Ceramic Tissue Box

Ceramic Tissue Box

This is a ceramic tissue box that I stamped several years ago. This is also done using a RE set that has been retired but will be released in our Clear Stamp line in 2009. This set is currently available in red rubber while supplies last. Once the rubber is sold out it will be revised and revived as clear stamps. This is a very versatile and fun set and has been one of my favorites.

Supplies Used:
~1 Ceramic Bisque Tissue Box.
~Stamps - Fairy Set (Elemental Doodles/RE)
~White CS (for 3D Butterflies
~Coloring Medium (Faerie Myst paints were used on this and heat set)
~Ink - Memories Black Dye Ink
~Transcendence EP
~White gloss paint
Paint Brushes and sponges.

Instructions:
1. Clean bisque tissue box with sponge and plain water. Let this dry completely.
2. Paint entire box with white gloss paint (acrylic is what I used here).
3. Using a small sponge or stipple brush stipple or pounce 2-3 different complimentary colors on all edges of the box and heat set if necessary.
4. Stamp fairy images on all 4 sides of the box and emboss with Transcendence EP. Keep the heat gun moving and be watchful that you do not heat one spot too much or your white paint may bubble up.
5. Stamp butterfly image on top and emboss as in step 4.
6. Stamp butterfly image on a piece of white CS and emboss.
7. Color images using coloring medium of choice (I used faerie myst paints and heat set here).
8. Color butterfly on CS to match the one on the tissue box and then cut it out.
9. Optional step depending on the coloring medium you use. If it needs to be sealed then you will want to spray with either a matte or gloss clear, nonyellowing sealer of choice.
10. Glue the CS butterfly directly over the one on the tissue box to give it a 3D effect.

Baby Sets

Baby Sets

I know these baby sets are a little hard to see but this is all I had. These were made several years ago. These images are from one of the RE sets of images that Elemental Doodles (ED) will be releasing sometime in 2009. This set IS available in rubber at this time (until it is sold out) but the rubber has been retired and it will be redone as a Clear Stamp set. Release date will be announced soon.

On a Personal Note.....

Ok, so my guys went hunting for new year and left me home alone with the 2 little ones. No big deal. The little ones and I went to church and had a blast playing games, eating and spending time with our church family. Oh yeah, the big guys did stop by the church just long enough to eat with us. LOL

Soooo, my 16 year old got a deer this weekend. Being that this is the first hunting season he and his dad have had and this was his first "kill" he was so excited. THEN they inform me that there is going to be a dead deer hanging in my garage. As if THAT wasn't bad enough, they get home and then inform me that there is a dead SKINNED deer hanging in my garage. Great, I had invited a couple friends over for stamping saturday.....NOT going to happen now that I know my guys will be out there cutting up a dead deer. NOT a site I want my stampin' friends to pull into my driveway and witness. LOL So I made every effort to avoid the garage while this deer was hanging out there. But don't you know I got a glimpse of it anyway. Oh how gross. I felt so bad for that poor deer and now hubby expects me to actually cook and eat this meat????? I am not so sure about this. But now that we have a freezer full of deer meat I suppose I'm not going to have much of a choice.......I wonder if I can just convince my guys to just have one of my meal shakes instead. LOL That's not going to happen. I can say this though, if I had known my husband would look so darned good in cammies I would have been buying them for him for the last 19 years. LOL But, he's still his grouchy self.....he looks real hot but still a grouchy old man. LOL Gotta love him.

Now, I'm off for my job interview this morning. I'm not sure how I feel about this whole working outside the home thing. But I suppose I need to just get used to it. LOL

Picture Frame

Picture Frame

This picture frame was decorated with a stamp set from Elemental Doodles. The picture is of me and DH. We visited a local winery and the picture was taken at the wine tasting. Perfect picture for this set of images.
Supplies Used:
Stamps - Elemental Doodles
Picture Frame (Michael's)
Versamagic Ink Pads
Misc. Ribbon
Mini Grape Cluster (AC Moore)

Sneak Peak

Check out the Sneak Peak at www.elementaldoodles.com/sneakpeak.htm . I thought this might help for those of you who are thinking of submitting a design team application.

Quiz: What Scrapbooking Item Are You?

I was Glue:

You are GLUE!
You are the adhesive that keeps things together. You go through life helping others. You stick to people and try to keep people together. You like it best when you are surrounded by people and able to help them. But Glue Beware - in your efforts to keep everyone together and with you, you sometimes overlook yourself and find it hard to keep yourself together. Don't neglect personal time in your overwhelming need to socialize and help others.

Sisterhood of the Blogging Stampers #27

I just had to join this SBS group thing. LOL I figured it would be fun to link up with other stampers and crafters. So here's my intro for SBS Group #27.

My name is Melodie Hand. I've been stamping on and off for 15+ years now. I live in Raleigh, NC with my husband and our 4 sons (7, 10, 16 and 18). Yes, I'm seriously outnumbered. LOL I have been a licensed nail tech for 20 years now. Owned my own salon in FL for over 10 years. Retired from the industry so that I could be home with my kids while they were young. Went back to college to get my degree in Echocardiography but never really worked in the field because I started having more babies. LOL When we moved to NC I started a stamp business called Rubbertree Enterprises. We offered our own line of images from several different artists. Then my oldest son (13 at the time) expressed an interest in the culinary field so I put my rubberstamping on hold and opened a chocolate business with him. He is now 18 and currently attending culinary school. He's figured out he does NOT like making chocolate so that business is left up to me to run. BUT, now that all the kids are in school I'm going back to college myself for General Ultrasound. AND, on top of that am reviving my old line of images under a new company name, Elemental Doodles (check out my ED blog and website http://elementaldoodles.blogspot.com/ and http://www.elementaldoodles.com/ ).

As for my stamping.......I love stamps of all kinds but clear stamps are my new favorite. I am more cutesy or realistic with my stamping style. I love the more abstract artistic type of stamping but just cannot seem to bring it all together myself. I do mostly cards, ATC's and 3D projects.

My other interests are reading (love to read but not fiction), herbal medicine and being a career student. I love to learn new things and can't seem to get enough.

Be sure to visit the other bloggers in our SBS group (you can see them listed to the right).