Block Party

In my neighborhood I saw parties happening on the blocks.

Then, I though why not have a party on the block that we live.

Now we are celebrating our 3rd Annual Block Party!

Reminder invitation for our Block Party.
It was fun to color the flowers using a array of colors.

Every Sunday of Labor Day weekend.

We block off the street, bring out the grills, tables and chairs.

Salads, Desserts and drinks!

Kids play games, color the sidewalks with chalk, play sling-ball and visit!

It is such a pleasure to make time to spend with your neighbors!

Imagination

-Elaine

Supplies:

Cardstock: - Bright Green - Bazzill, White - Flourishes Summer Blossoms

Ink: Adirondack Espresso

Stamps: Flourishes Summer Blossoms

Coloring: Copic Sketch Markers - Lots of colors

Tools: Dies - Spellbinders Labels Eight, Cuttlebug, We R Memory Keepers Crop-a-dile, Scotch Advance Tape

Christmas in August

Simply...Crafted!

There are those times in life when your list of what you

 want (or need) to do is so long.

For me it is wanting to be outside enjoying the sun and blue skies,

before the weather turns gray and rainy!

My fellow Oregonians will understand!

So... I simply crafted this card for the Holiday Season.
Stamped using one of the new colors from Memento - Love Letter.

Added a bit of glitter for sparkle!

Perhaps I will send this one to my Granddaughter, Daphne.

She loves glitter!

Imagination!

-Elaine

Supplies:

Cardstock: Kraft - Speckletone

Ink - Memento Love Letter

Stamps: PrintWorks - Poinsettia, Sentiment - Memory Box

Glitter: Martha Stewart Garnet

Tools: Fiskars Paper Cutter, Martha Stewart Fine- Tip Glue Pen

Borders

When you think of a border I envision the outer edge.

The edge of a square, circle, triangle, objects even a flowerbed!

I placed my border stamps in the middle of this fun and bright card.

It was fun to flip the borders one up and one down.

Flowers are from the Hero Arts Stamp & Die-cut

Heat embossing the flowers and borders added a little shine in the light.

The small flower is placed on the larger flower

 using foam square for dimension.

Tip #3

Challenge yourself to think and

explore new options when stamping.

Now, I am thinking outside - at least outside the edges!

Next Stamp - Reverse

Imagination!

-Elaine

Supplies: 

Cardstock - Kraft - Speckletone, Purple, Red, Orange and Green - Bazzill

Stamps: Borders - Making Memories, Flowers - Hero Arts Stamp and Die Set Floral

Embossing: Ink - Versamark, Embossing Powder - Stampendous Clear Transparent

Tools:  Martha Stewart Heat Gun, Therno O Web Foam Squares, Adhesive - Tomboy

Third Thursday Tools

Early mornings I am in my garden cutting flowers for our home.

What do I use to cut my flowers with?

Felco F-6 Classic Pruner - Third Thursday Tool.

The Felco F-6 Pruner is made for smaller hands, 

have light weight handles and a wonderful blade of hardened steel.

Felco Pruners used for cutting Lantana flowers from my cutting garden.

 Also, I use these pruners when designing floral arrangements.

Tip - Always cut flowers on a angle prior to arranging in a vase.

Angled cuts allows the flowers to take in more water.

My favorite flower tool! Felco F-6 Pruners!

"Flowers always make people better, happier and more helpful; 

they are sunshine, food and medicine to the soul."

- Luther Burbank

I do believe this quote!

Imagination!

-Elaine

Olympic Bouquets

The 2012 London Olympic Games have been a true pleasure to watch.

The competitions, stories of the athletes, strength of each team and each athlete.

I have felt the excitement of each sport.

When the Gold, Silver and Bronze medals are given and the 

National Anthems are being played, I must admit tears have come to my eyes.

The Victory Bouquets are a symbol of the same pride that each athlete has.

The bouquets are created by Jane Packer floral shop in London.

Jane Packer passed away last year, her legend lives on.

The Victory Bouquet was designed by the

 creative director, Susan Lapworth of Jane Packer.

Every flower is grown in the United Kingdom.

Roses, Mint, Rosemary, Lavender and Wheat.

The bouquets were designed to mirror the image of the

 logo for the London 2012 games.

What I find touching is that each bouquet is created by

 students from three floral design schools in England.
These students will create 4800 floral bouquets to be given to the athletes.

They wanted the floral community to be part of the excitement.

That is where the Pride is shared!

Imagination!

-Elaine

Collage

What is Collage?

My definition is placing one "thing" on top of another "thing".

What is the "thing"?

Stamps, coloring and adding embellishments.

This Papillon stamp by Stampers Anonymous was on my shopping list

after taking the Creative Chemistry class taught

 by the expert on Collage  - Tim Holtz.

Then when it appeared on the supply list for Stretch your Stamps.

I had to have it!

First I colored in the shades of blue. 

Hero Arts Shadow Ink Soft Pool.

Distress Ink Faded Jeans and Chipped Sapphire.

I applied the ink color using Tsukineko Sponge Daubers

 after masking off the color blocks using Eclipse Tape.

Once the color blocking was dry I heat embossed

the butterflies on top of the color block.

Then I stamped the wording on top of the 

color block and the butterflies.

At this point I could of added a type of embellishment.

I choose a clean Collage!

Tip #2

Type of inks you use to color white cardstock with.

Distress Inks we all know are wonderful for this technique.

Hero Arts Shadow Inks blended very clear. 

I can't tell a difference between the colored cardstock background piece

 and the Hero Arts Ink that I sponged on white cardstock.

Please share what inks you like to sponge or blend on white cardstock?

Next Stamp - Border!

Imagination!

-Elaine

Supplies:

Cardstock: Kraft- Speckletone, Pool Blue from my stash, White - Flourishes Classic White

Inks: Hero Arts Shadow Ink Soft Pool, Distress Ink - Faded Jeans and Chipped Sapphire, Adirondack Mushroom

Stamps: Stampers Anonymous Papillon- Tim Holtz Collection

Embossing: VersaMark, Stampendous Embossing Powder Pearl White, Martha Stewart Heat Gun

Tools: Tsukineko Sponge Daubers, Tim Holtz Distress Edger