Well I did do quite a bit of stamping today. It had been awhile and so it felt really good to get the creative juices running again. Unfortunately I don't have any to share as I didn't scan any of them and they are all being sent off to family members who have requested cards. For the fist time I used prima flowers. I think that is the correct name for them. They were sent me as a RAK. I really like them and would like to some time get more and continue to use them. I am noticing that I am beginning to use many more embellishments on my cards. I guess they provide even more opportunities to be creative.

Busy Time of Year Starting

My sister-in-law's and son's birthdays tomorrow mark the start of the busy birthday season in our family. Feb through May host the vast majority of our family birthdays so I am needing to get serious about birthday card making. The cards for tomorrows celebrations were mailed earlier in the week and her is one of my newer cards. I used a new stamp set, Doodle This, which will appear in the Stampin' Up Spring Mini Catalog which comes out in March. I never thought I would say this, but I love the Doodling stamps. I've rediscovered coloring only this time around rather than using crayons I use various watercolor media, markers and pastels. They all give different looks and are much easier to use than I thought they would be.

I also have decided to get more serious about selling my cards and other crafts. I really want to go to Denver in July for the Stampin' Up convention and so need to raise about $750 between now and the end of July. I'm not very good at marketing or asking people if they would like to buy my crafts but I do have the FSQ Quilt Show boutique in April and I need to get more items sewn for the gift shop at the Sandy Spring museum. Maybe now that I have a goal I will get more serious about it.

This week is that wonderful week for love. Valentine's Day is Wednesday. Here is just a sampling of some of the cards I've made for family and friends. The pink one was especially fun as I tried a new technique. The "Love" and the heart are stamped with "craft" ink (pigment ink) on a melted crayon background. to make this background I had to cover the sole plate of my iron with aluminum foil. When it was heated I rubbed crayons onto the foil. They immediately melted and then I pressed the iron onto plain white cardstock. It was a bit messy and you need to be careful to not end up with muddy colors, but it was fun. One warning though don't use a box of crayons that you ever plan to color with again!

Card for Challenge and an Anniversary

Well I am certainly late in posting this! I actually made it for a challenge given by Daring Cardmakers from the end of January. The challenge was to use metal on your card. I decided it was time to break into my hodge podge hardware that I have been hoarding for a year now. (I think I'm afraid to use it cause I love it and then it will be gone: I know silly me!) Anyway I used a buckle and two brads on the designing of this card. I'm pleased how it came out. Now I need to come up with more ways to use this wonderful hardware kit. It's not doing anyone any good or giving anyone any joy sitting on the self in its nice tin box.