Hi Stampers,

I have had a rough week starting last Wednesday.  We have a 13 year old Shih Tzu who has been acting like she has dementia.  Last Wednesday she really started acting bizarre.  Fortunately we have a wonderful vet.  The name of his practice is the Gentle Vet and that tells the whole story.  So little Maddie spent most of Friday at the vet’s.  They ran a ton of labs and were thinking maybe Cushings disease.  Over the weekend I hand fed her and carried her outside.  Sunday she wouldn’t eat except for a banana which she has always loved.  The final lab we had been waiting for came back normal on Monday.  So back to the vet for neurological testing and observation.  Bottom line is our little sweetie has a brain tumor.  We are not big on euthanizing animals unless they are suffering.  Maddie is not in any pain and has started eating her food mixed with spaghetti o”s.  It’s just takes her longer to figure out what to do.  She has this dazed expression but her tail is still wagging.  So we will love her as long as we can.  So if I get behind in posting please understand.  Maddie takes a little more time now.

Today I have an alternative to the February Paper Pumpkin.  I really love the Wildflower labels but didn’t need any of the greetings that came with the kit.  I also fell in love with the Flying Home stamp set so I used one of the images for the card. I have been watching the birds outside my studio all morning.  It’s so good to hear them singing again.  I used all the parts from the Paper Pumpkin and added an oval cut out with the Stitched Shapes framelit.  I colored the image with Stampin’ Blends.  I hope you enjoy this alternative.  Thank you for stopping by and also for listening to my story.  I know I haven’t met many of you but I feel a connection even so.

PAWS TO PONDER

Hugs and happy stamping,  MB

Hi Stampers,

I wanted to show how different the results can be when using Brusho Crystal Colours with Stampin’Up! embossing folders.  I used the raised and recessed sides of the embossing folders with yellow and purple Brusho Crystals.  The first card shows the results when placing heavy white CS on the raised area of the folder with the Brushos that were spritzed with water previously.  I simply pressed the folder with my hands, not running it through the Big Shot.  You can see more detail on this version.  The second card uses the same embossing folder and Brusho Colours but I pressed the heavy Whisper White CS onto the recessed side of the folder.  The results are much more muted.  The first card is finished with the Daisy Delight stamp set and the Daisy Punch.  The Dragonfly Details thinlits cut out the Elegant Eggplant image covering the panel done with the Brusho Crystals.  See what you think and let me know which version you prefer.

PAWS TO PONDER

Hugs and happy stamping,  MB

Hi Stampers,

Yesterday’s rain and ice kept me tucked inside.  So what do you do when you’re stuck in the house with ice pellets slapping your windows?  Don’t know about you but I create.  I played all day with the new Brushos.  I will share some of the results over the next few days.  The card for today started with Crumb Cake CS followed by Bermuda Bay CS.  On a piece of heavy Whisper White CS I stamped images all from the Timeless Textures stamp set with Crumb Cake and Smoky Slate inks.  Next I used Turquoise and Yellow Brushos to tint the Embossing Paste.  I positioned the thinlit from the Detailed Dragonfly set in the center of the paper.  I spread the embossing paste over the die then gently lifted it from the paper.  After it had dried I finished the card by attaching it to the Bermuda Bay CS.  So I used ink, embossing paste and Brushos all on one card.  I like the final result.  Hope you do too.  Thank you as always for taking the time to stop by.

PAWS TO PONDER

Hugs and happy stamping,  MB

Hi Stampers,

My hubby was out of town yesterday through today.  I sat in our den relaxing with my Stampin’ Blends and the Just Add Color DSP.  I used the Blossoming Basket stamp set, one of the new releases in the Sale-a-bration promotion also colored with the alcohol markers. Tempting Turquoise CS is the base card followed with a piece of Calypso Coral CS.  Being a little spoiled by my hubby I was treated on Valentine’s Day with a 12 pack color assortment of Brusho Crystal Colours.  I am truly over the top excited with this product.  I crunched a piece of waxed paper then sprinkled lemon yellow and turquoise Brusho Crystals on the paper.  I heavily spritzed the paper with water and then laid a piece of heavy white CS over the paper.  This is what created the background piece for the Just Add Color DSP.  I stamped the Blossoming Basket image with Memento Black ink on Whisper White CS twice.  I colored one entire image and just the center flower on the second image.  I fussy cut the basket and the single flower.  After assembling the card I added the second flower with a dimensional.  I am more than happy with the results but can’t wait to try even more techniques with these new bursts of color.  Take a peek and let me know what you think.  I would love to hear your comments and suggestions.  Thanks for stopping.

PAWS TO PONDER

Hugs and happy stamping,  MB

Hi Stampers,

Sometimes you are looking for something you can put together in a hurry.  Like when you are on your way to a party and don’t have anything cute to put your gift card in.  Gift cards seem to be the preferred gift these days.  Even my six and nine year old grandsons asked for them for Christmas.  My teen aged grandson had his eye on a pair of shoes so he combined his gift cards for those.  It did make my Christmas shopping easier this year but not as much fun.  So, getting back to creating in a hurry.  I would like to thank Lisa from Song of My Heart Stampers for the inspiration for this card.  Today’s card has an inside pocket on the left side that holds the gift card.  I started with a base card of Berry Burst CS 4.5 x 11 inches.  Score at 2 inches and 5.5 inches.  Fold over the 2 inch flap and adhere the two ends with a strong adhesive like tear and tape.  This creates your pocket.  Use DSP to spruce up the right side of the card and finish the front of the card however you’d like depending on the occasion.  I used DSP from the Fresh Florals series and the Amazing You stamp set from the Sale-a-bration offerings with Berry Burst ink.  I hope you give this a try.  It is so sweet and simple.  Thanks for stopping by to check out what’s happening today.

PAWS TO PONDER

Hugs and happy stamping,  MB