Butterfly Sympathy

This morning I woke up and I really wanted to work with my True Beauty butterfly stamps. I had a whole different direction for my card in mind...but then I took a quick peek at the Wednesday sketch challenge over on SCS and I knew that would be perfect for this stamp set. This was such a quick card and having a paper pack from The Angel Company's Soar with it Collection and matching cardstock made it super easy to get started. When I saw the purple hues of Angelee I thought "butterflies!"... the image itself was simple because I just needed 4 different Tombow markers and an aquabrush.

Sadly this card is going to a friend of the family. I've known Bob and Betty since I was a kid and they even came to my wedding...Bob passed away last week at 82, without warning. It scares me since my parents are in their late 70's...but really, we have to make the most of each day, what ever our age!

Card Materials:

Stamps: True Beauty

Accessories: Fiskars punch, ribbon, Tombow markers, aquabrush, Angelee Soar with it Collection and cardstock

I might had a little stickles for sparkle to this butterfly yet...still trying to get a better photo. sigh.... Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Rush, rush

It's summer! Why am I always rushing about?! sigh... oh well, at least the kids are having fun!

This morning I made a quick card using this week's Friday Sketchers design. I had the image already cut and water colored in with Tombow markers so that made it go quickly. And, I knew that I wanted to use the papers I had left from The Angel Company's retired, Mulberry Meadows paper pack. I need to start a campaign to bring that paper back - I love it!!



Card Materials:
Stamps: Everyday Events (and this is my favorite of the group!)
Accessories: CB die, ribbon, Mulberry Meadows

I've been playing around with the way I'm taking pictures...in the last post I created a white, foam board back drop and used it here again. I'm also playing around with the white balance on my camera - it's pretty hit or miss but I keep trying! And I appreciate that you keep looking! tee hee...

Now, off to rush to the mall to make a return and pick up my teenage daughter and then start some laundry and fix a nice dinner so that it at least looks like I've been busy all day!

Peet's Flowers and a Final Sale

Somehow a while back I discovered Peet's blog, I think it was via The Pink Elephant blog, and I have been a follower (and studying her work intently!) ever since. For a real treat, please be sure to visit her blog!! http://scrapalbum.blogspot.com/

Peet makes the most amazing shaped cards and I've been wanting to try her flower card for a while...so I printed off the template and increased it size wise on my copier for the different layers...my card is 4.25 x 4.25 so it actually fits in an envelope and you don't (can't!) have to write much on the inside of the card.

I used some of my favorite paper - Mimi Soar with it Collection and the new version in our catalog is double sided. So wonderful...

I hand cut the bird and it's fashioned after the Nestabilities style bird...Hello Friend is from the ever popular Tag Tidbits set from The Angel Company. I made that little ribbon flower to and I believe this may be the first time I used my Sizzix leaf die cut...so glad I finally did!

These products can be found on my website, http://chris.ismyangel.net/products

Be sure to check out the Discontinued Accessories section. Everything there is 25% off and it's only good through tomorrow, Monday, 27 July and then it disappears...snatch up some great embellishments or paper packs while you can or the Designer Dries Clear glue that I used on this project...it's wonderful!

Exciting News!

Do you like FREE stuff?! Do you like DOUBLE free stuff?!? Then grab your calendar, make a list of friends you could invite over and check this out...

If you don't have a demo, and you are interested in the details, just shoot me an email! I really am a no pressure sort of gal so it's "safe" to ask me some questions! If I am your demo, still ask me how you can benefit or stay tuned for my newsletter coming out on the 27th. I have found book parties can be a great success so it doesn't even matter if we don't live in the same town...

Do you have a moment for me to show and tell? The Angel Company had it's seminar in June and unfortunately I couldn't attend but I got the most wonderful treat in the mail!! I received two awards and I was so surprised!

It all came wrapped in silver flecked pink tissue paper and I didn't realize how much that tiara would sparkle until evening when the lights were on...I think my daughter took over 200 pictures to "try" and capture one of me looking decent (and not all tired and hagard!)...we both were giggling so much and it really was a lot of fun...

If you think you'd like to a part of The Angel Company, there are some exciting changes a head that will encourage you to grow and work your hobby as a business. What could be better than earning money working with products you love? There is a super sign up special and I'd be happy to tell you more about becoming an Angel!

Thanks for hanging in there on such a long post! PS. Anyone placing an order this month for $30 or more will be entered into my raffle for free copy of the Fall Magalogue and a $10 gift certificate.

Last Hostess Club meeting...

This week I'm having my last hostess club meeting - until we start up in September again that is! If you happen to read this and live close by, I'd love to have you join us since I had two slots open up. I run my clubs where we meet for 10 months, there are 10 members and we have to order $10 worth of product. Each person gets to be the hostess one month, specials are raffled off to the group, and we get together and have fun each month!

For our last project, I followed a super tutorial I found on Amy Rohl's blog...but leave it to one of my members and friends, Juliet, to come up with a special way to do it. She wanted to have two of the totes stuck back to back and she figured out how to do it all with one sheet of 8.5 x 11 inch paper. Juliet is a master a paper folding and easily wrapped her head around this project...I'm a bit slower and have to follow directions!

Here is Juliet's version of cutting two totes from one sheet! If you have 12 x 12 paper you can easily cut it down to 5 x 11 inches which is in Amy's original tutorial.

You should be able to click on it to see the dimensions easier. The lines with the double dash are cut lines, the sections with X are to be cut out and discarded, and the other lines just score on your handy-dandy Scor Pal (I love mine!) and fold.

I almost didn't have any stamping on it but I think these little sayings from The Angel Company new Purchase with a Purchase stamps are perfect for mini gift tags. Here's my tote:

I've had this Christmas Die Cut with a View paper pack for almost 7 years and have used maybe one sheet! Time to use it up, right?!? Please let me know if you get stuck on this project - it's really quite simple and this box is the perfect container for any little gift!

Blueberry Kuchen

While I was up visiting my parents, we were invited for Blueberry Pie at their friends' house...it was a gorgeous home and the pie was delicious. My Mom and Dad asked me to write them a thank you note - with one of my "nice" cards. Mary, is quite talented with photography and painting so I knew I wanted something unique and I've been drawn to collage style these days. On the plane I read over the book, The Artful Card which I picked up at the library. I know I should have used a blueberry stamp but since we were all strawberry picking at the local farm, this worked just as well!

The single bee is from a retired TAC set and the Fruit Collage was a special for June. I loved it so much that I bought extras and I have one left for $10.50 plus shipping and tax if you missed out!

I do want to share a special recipe with you...this comes from Tante Else. They were our "neighbors" when my parents' home was just a cottage and I knew them since I was three years old...and since they were from Germany, I called her Tante which is the word for Aunt. They really were like family. Sadly they both passed away years ago but I remember that Uncle Frank could carry a refrigerator on his back in his younger years, I learned to play Yahtzee at their house, and I have their son's old watercolored pencils from when he was 11 and he's now in his 60s!

Else's Blueberry Kuchen

Crust:

9x13 inch pan (greased)

1 cup flour - dash of salt

2-3 tbls powder sugar

1 stick butter (melted)

Mix together, pat thinly (its very, very thin and turns out almost like a cookie crust) into pan.

Filling:

2 pints blueberries (or other fruit. In the winter I love to use just Cherry Pie Filling - you will get rave reviews, promise!) Sprinkle with lemon juice*

(*I think this is optional since I don't do it)

Mix together, sprinkle over fruit:

approx. 2/3 cup sugar

heaping tsp flour

Top with streusel:

1 stick butter (melted)

1 cup flour

dash of salt. Mix together and add 1/2 cup sugar. Mix and sprinkle streusels over top of kuchen.

Bake at 375 degrees for 10 min and then turn down oven to 350 degrees and bake for 30 min. This freezes well and tastes even better with ice cream or whip cream. Enjoy!

Home Again!

We had a super trip but it's always nice to be home again...and catching up on emails and the latest "news". The Angel Company has lots of great specials that I just found out about and want to share with you!

BLAST FROM THE PAST...

For a LIMITED time (July 20-August 10), choose from the following discontinued hostess sets available at a very special discounted price..if you'd like to see the images, send me an email and I can send you the PDF.

This promotion includes the following Hostess Sets selected from our previous Catalogues:

1999-2000 Catalogue
• A-1 Bee-utiful Day $3.00
• A-2 Pick Me Ups $3.00
• A-3 Summer Squares $3.00
• A-4 Floral Trio $3.00
• A-5 Corner Florals $3.00
• A-6 Mini Birdhouses $3.00
• A-7 Ornamental Whimsy $5.00
• A-8 Rose Greetings $5.00
• A-9 Candid Greetings $5.00
• A-94 Fun Flowers $5.00
• A-95 Seasonal Birdhouses $10.00
• A-96 Open Alphabet $10.00
2000-2001 Catalogue
• A-97 Warm Wishes $3.00
• A-98 Apples & Bugs $3.00
• A-15 Floral Squares $3.00
• A-16 Dot Words $3.00
• A-17 Corner Couples $3.00
• A-18 Word Stamps $3.00
• A-19 Watercan Roses $5.00
• A-20 Saying Stamps $5.00
• A-21 Merry Chris’mouse $5.00
• A-22 Tulips $5.00
• A-23 Nature’s Notes $10.00
2001-2002 Catalogue
• A-24 Everyday Expressions $3.00
• A-25 Happy Spring $3.00
• A-26 Nothing is Better $3.00
• A-27 Starry Christmas $3.00
• A-28 Ginger Joy $3.00
• A-29 Birthday Bear $3.00
• A-30 Moments Spent $5.00
• A-31 Designer Backgrounds $5.00
• A-32 Fruits & Flowers $5.00
• A-33 The Sight of a Snowman $5.00
• A-34 The Big Cheez $10.00
• A-35 Teddy Bear Picnic $10.00
2002-2003 Catalogue
• A-36 Winter Whimsy $3.00
• A-37 Dot Flyers $3.00
• A-38 Bold Blocks $3.00
• A-39 Cherished Memories $3.00
• A-40 Snowy $3.00
• A-41 Bitty Blooms $3.00
• A-42 Bee-Cuze $5.00
• A-43 Snowman Postage $5.00
• A-44 Swirl Squares $5.00
• A-45 Forever Friends $5.00
• A-46 Forever in the Heart $10.00
• A-47 Happy Winter $10.00
2003-2004 Catalogue
• A-48 Winter Blocks $3.00
• A-49 Swirley Flowers $3.00
• A-50 Bold Birthday $3.00
• A-51 Thanks For $3.00
• A-52 Spring Sketches $3.00
• A-53 French Postage $3.00
• A-54 Flowers for My Friend $5.00
• A-55 Curly Flowers $5.00
• A-56 Snowman Builder $5.00
• A-57 Heart Sings $10.00
• A-58 Vintage Journal $10.00
2004-2005 Catalogue
• A-59 Friends & Flowers $3.00
• A-60 Eclectic Borders $3.00
• A-61 Fall Scribbles $3.00
• A-62 Groovy Words $3.00
• A-63 Birthday Twinz $3.00
• A-64 Rosa $3.00
• A-65 Pansies $5.00
• A-66 Java Nice Day $5.00
• A-67 Queenie $5.00
• A-68 Eclectic Noel $5.00
• A-69 Hello Seasons $10.00
2005-2006 Catalogue
• A-70 Wonderful Day $3.00
• A-71 Day Dreaming $3.00
• A-72 Spot $3.00
• A-73 Earth Laughs $3.00
• A-74 Punch Label Words $3.00
• A-75 Just Smile $5.00
• A-76 Paint the World $5.00
• A-77 Jolly Happy $5.00
• A-78 Box Words $5.00
• A-79 Make a Wish $10.00
• A-80 Static Words $10.00
• A-81 All Occasion Lowers $20.00
• A-82 All Occasion Uppers $20.00
2006 - 2007 Catalogue
• A-83 My Favorites $3.00
• A-84 Something for You $3.00
• A-85 Truly Blessed $3.00
• A-86 Mini Sampler $3.00
• A-87 Birthday $3.00
• A-88 Holiday Greeting $3.00
• A-89 Too Much Fun $5.00
• A-90 You-nique $5.00
• A-91 Bloomin’ Boxes $5.00
• A-92 Bug Me Anytime $5.00
• A-93 This is Me $10.00

What a Blast from the Past! Don't miss this great chance to buy a set you never were able to earn as a hostess....


TACBAGS

Last day to order one of these is 20 July.

And don't forget to check out all of the other great July specials...Be sure to email me if you don't get my monthly newsletter - there are some SUPER August specials that I don't want you to miss!

Last one!

Today is the last day of my week's review of card rejects...that sounds so harsh, doesn't it? I'm okay with it though and this happens to be one of my favorite cards! If you are familiar with Michelle Zindorf's work, this is very much inspired by some of her tutorials! I hope you'll like it as much as I do...I saved it under the title, Bird Song...and it lifts my spirits.

Card Materials:

Stamps: All Things of Nature, Mountain Scenery (grass) retired

Materials: Hemingway Soar with it Collection and cardstock, colored pencil & gamsol, palette inks, sponges, twine and antique triangle loop

Tomorrow I will be leaving the beautiful Northwoods of Wisconsin to fly back home...I'm sure it'll feel good to be home again but I know I'll miss the peace and beauty here. It will also feel good to get back to stamping though so that thought cheers me! Thanks for visiting - I appreciate your time, I really do!!

Hemingway...another favorite

I have some more Amberley Grace papers to share today and also, Hemingway! ah...now that is one glorious paper!

Recognize this sketch by now? Here I did some embossing and again used a tag that comes in the Soar with it Collections. The grass flourish is now retired and was from the Artsy Elements set.




Card Materials:
Stamps: Artsy Elements, Take Pride
Accessories: Hemingway Soar with it Collection and cardstock, antique hardware, ribbon (TAC)

This simple style is reminiscent of Dina Kowal's work and I know I got the scored edge idea from her!



Card Materials:
Stamps: Be Still
Accessories: Amberley Grace Soar with it Collection, cardstock and ribbon, scor pal

Did you know that I'm having a raffle for anyone who places a $30 order with me during July? You'll have a chance to win a free copy of the Fall Magalogue (coming out 1 Sept!) and a $10 gift certificate.

More Rejects...

I hope I am not boring you to tears! I just was very happy with the way some of these items turned out and I wanted to share them with you. What helped inspire me so much is the sketch designs that The Angel Company is now including in their catalogs...I find it helps stretch me out of my one layer comfort zone! tee hee...

The Flower Collage Trio has been around for a long time and it's really one of my favorite styles. I can't believe all of the new collage type stamps we suddenly have again and it's so exciting. I'm forward to inking up my Fruit Collage stamps from last month and may just have to take them on vacation with me! The scor pal makes this diamond grid a sinch and it really pops when you drag a little ink across the top or sand it lightly. (This was one of my favorite sketches and my ladybug card did make it into the catalog using this layout!)





Card Materials:
Stamps: Flower Collage Trio
Accessories: Catalynne paper, assorted Bazzil and DCWV paper, Soar with it Collection ribbon, scor pal, Tombow markers and aquabrush


My friend Christi once sent me a link for a cute little purse and I ended up using the pattern for a non card submission. This would be perfect for wrapping up a little necklace or chocolate for that special someone!





Materials:
Stamps: Petal Pack
Accessories: Juliette Soar with it Collection and cardstock, Ava Embellishment Jar (button), embossing powders, Versamagic inks and ribbon

Quick Cards

You know me - that's my style! :)

So, here are two cards I submitted for The Angel Company's catalog card call last fall...both cards feature the Winchester Soar with it Collection. This first card I embossed the Eggplant Versamagic ink for a little extra "umpf". I also used my handy-dandy scor pal for some nice straight lines!

Card Materials:
Stamps: Ship Collage
Accessories: Winchester Soar with It Collection, cardstock and ribbon, antique hardware, clear embossing powder

On the next card, I really liked the effect I got when I dragged my inkspot down across the solid image of the horse. This was also a very quick card because I used a shipping tag for my main image and then one of the tags that came with the Soar with it Collection.



Card Materials:
Stamps: Hieroglyph Horses
Accessories: Winchester Soar with it Collection, cardstock, hardware and ribbon, shipping tag, palette ink

Amberley Grace

I think The Angel Company has some of the prettiest papers (and names of papers!) around...while making some catalog samples for the Design Call, I really enjoyed using Amberley Grace.

Card Materials:

Stamps: Love and Laughter, Be Still

Accessories: Amberley Grace Soar with it Collection, cardstock and ribbon, Spiral clip

Card Matericals:

Stamps: Aged Ornaments, Be Still

Accessories: Scor pal, gold Brilliance pad (rubbed over scoring), Amberley Grace Soar with it Collection, cardstock, ribbon and hardware

You may not be familiar with this but all of our Soar with it Collections feature a matching Bazzill cardstock package, ribbon and hardware package that you can buy with the main collection.

July "news"

Hope you had a safe and fun Fourth of July holiday for all of you who live in the US. Happy belated Canada Day for my friends up north and the rest of you - I hope you had a super restful weekend!!

Yesterday I sent out my July eNewsletter and so if you subscribe, sorry for the repeat info! If you don't subscribe - there is a lot more to read about including The Angel Company's new Purchase with Purchase program, Discontinued Accessories and my own personal raffle for July! Which, by the way, congratulations to Julia Lamey for winning my catalog pre order raffle! It's not too late to get your copy of the new TAC catalog - it has a whole new look and style and I still have a few left to ship out. So far the reviews have been positive!

I'll be on vacation this week enjoying time with my parents and my poor hubby has to stay home with the dog to hold down the "fort" and of course, work... But, I've scheduled a week of more "catalog rejects" to post in my abscence...cards I submitted but that didn't make the cut. I think you'll enjoy them all the same!


www.theangelcompany.net


www.theangelcompany.net


www.theangelcompany.net

Mischelle, the owner of The Angel Company, has her own personal blog and has been sharing some seminar swaps she made. You can find just one of the entries here but be sure to browse around because there are some super cute and original ideas! http://theangelcompany.typepad.com/tac_savvy_projects_for_de/2009/07/seminar-2009-more-fabulous-card-scrap-ideas.html

Edited! The Discontinued Accessories are now on sale!! Be sure to check out my online shopping cart to see these items. http://chris.ismyangel.net/products

Happy Fourth!

I hope this finds you happy and well! We are spending the day at the beach...

I wanted to share a few of my catalog submission "rejects". sniff, sniff!!

Card Materials:

Stamps: Everyday Events

Accessories: Tag punch, Sands of Time (including the "B"), spiral clip, ribbon, colored pencil

Card Materials:

Stamps: Butterfly Bits

Accessories: Scor pal, vellum, pigment ink, Catelynne paper, buttons, ribbon

Enjoy your weekend and be SAFE!

Homemade Jam

I just got my Fruit Collage which was a special stamp set The Angel Company was offering during the month of June...my Mom picks wild raspberries and strawberries from a farm every summer and makes jars and jars of homemade jam. She is of that wonderful era that when she visits someone, she brings them a little something. And, if someone visits her house, they also leave with a little something. I can see making her some nice tags to decorate her jelly jars! But I couldn't wait to play with this set and I thought of this week's Friday Sketchers challenge right away. I spritzed the stamp and then colored directly to the rubber with watercolor crayons and then spritzed once more. I got two nice images from this technique without having to reink or respritz. The papers are an assortment of sale packages - the charcoal grey from Big Lots, the red from Costco My Minds Eye and the green from a Prisma cardstock package marked down at Michaels.

So...I got my catalogs today!! woot woot! I ended up having two cards published...that means I have a TON of rejects to show you in the following days but honestly, I think they are nice so be sure to stop back and see them (please!).

I have a card on page 71 and then this is the one I really liked that made it in!

The colors in the actual catalog look much better...between scanning, cropping and reposting, it's lost a bit of it's umpf! Perhaps if you click on it, it gets bigger. Thanks so much for visiting!!