Happy Labor Day!

Hello Friends!

I know I have disappeared off the face of the earth!  Just a quick update as to things around here.  Things have been extremely busy.  We have been focused on packing up what we can of the house and doing some minor repairs so that the house shines when we go to put it up for sale.  On top of that, we have been pricing kitchens and flooring for our new build to begin in the spring.  Yes, the plans are underway and we hope to have the finalized ones back very soon!

I have been covered in paint most weekends.  Have I mentioned how much I hate painting?  I have more paint on me than the walls most of the time.  But it does look very nice and neutral when we are done.  Hubby has been doing the trimming.  Let me tell you, even with the tape on the woodwork, I manage to get it all over.  I don't know how that happens.??

Last weekend, I packed up my craft room completely.  I was very sad, but know that this needs to happen.  My tables that my dad built several years ago need to be taken apart as much as possible.  He is quite the handy crafter and builds things VERY sturdy.  We aren't quite sure how we will get those apart yet.  I haven't had any time to craft since May with our schedules. 

Today, I will be focused on taking things off the walls and packing them up so that we can begin painting the downstairs.  I am hoping that we can be done with the home repairs before Thanksgiving so that we can enjoy the holidays and be relaxed.  Hubby and I are taking that week off work and hope to begin building our vanity for the bathroom. 

Last week we purchased our bamboo flooring for the new house on sale.  So it is being stored for now.  It is absolutely beautiful!  It is a bit darker and distressed with a hand scrapped look.  As for the kitchen, well.... those things are EXPENSIVE!  We are still looking for a good quality cabinet with a reasonable price.  I had lots of fun designing my 16x12 kitchen and now I am realizing how much storage I will have! 

Well, I am off to begin packing some more things for storage.  I hope you enjoy the wonderful fall season ahead.  I miss crafting and all of you, but will be back someday to see you!

Have a blessed day!
Until next time...
Athina

Summer is coming!

Hello Friends!

It is Tuesday again, so that means challenge at Loves Rubberstamps!  It is the first of the month once again, so that leaves the challenge wide open.  It will be Anything Goes! 

Our Fabulous Sponsors this week are Shape Ez & Scrappers Delight!

Here is my creation!

Supplies Used:

Tuxedo Black - Memento Ink

Copics

C.C. Designs - Party Time Lucy 

Bo Bunny - Prairie Chic 6x6 paper 

Wil Orchid Crafts Flowers

Sketch used:

 

How to play: 
Just upload a creation that follows this week's challenge to your online blog or gallery. Then leave a link to your project in the linky widget at the bottom of this post. If you upload to online galleries, please also use the tag or keyword LRSBC106. Our challenge is open to everyone, you can use any stamps and products that you would like, and you can enter as many times as you want. 

Deadline:
The linky entry widget will close at 9PM CST on Monday, June 10th so all entries need to be in before then. 

Design Team Favorite Picks:
The Design Team members will also each choose their favorite card from this challenge and the winner's will be able to proudly display a special blog badge on their blog. The Design Team favorite's from Challenge 106 - will be announced before the posting of Challenge 108. ** These Winners will receive a $5.00 gift voucher for use on an order $25.00 or more ** 

** Be sure to Play Along in our - Weekly Blog Candy Giveaway! Just hop along with our Design Team in a Mini Blog Hop for the chance to win the hidden prize! Start the hop here on our Sensational Sunday Inspirations post **

Come on over and show us your creations at Loves Rubberstamps Challenge Blog!

Thank you for stopping by today! 

Blessings until next time….

Athina

Inspired!

Happy Friday Friends!

Wow!! It seemed this short work week went so quick, which is a good thing... That means the weekend is here once again!  Do you have any fun plans?  We are hoping to accomplish what we did not accomplish last week.  We also have a cookout on Saturday evening to spend some time with family.  I am really looking forward to that.

Anyhow, I was feeling a bit like inking this week.  The sun has been shining and I wanted to play with some bright colors.  So I used Silhouette Clear Stamps -Trees & Flowers with
Clear Embossing to do an embossing resist technique.  It is super simple!  Just use the clear embossing ink and your stamp on white paper.  Then cover with embossing powder (clear), remove any excess powder and heat.  Once the embossing is done, you can apply distress inks and it will not stick to the embossed image.  I used several colors listed below to give it some variety.  Once finished inking, I tied some ribbon and Lawn Fawn Pink Lemonade Single Cord Hemp Twine with a charm that says "Inspired".  I hope you have been inspired to create something today!

 

 

 

Supplies used:

Silhouette Clear Stamps -Trees & Flowers

Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Clear Embossing Mustard Seed Scattered Straw  Dried Marigold

Lawn Fawn Pink Lemonade Single Cord Hemp Twine

Ink Blending Tool

Make sure to come and join our Doodling challenge this week at Loves Rubberstamps!  Also check out the New Items in the store this week by Some Odd Girl & MFT!

That is it for me today! I hope you have a great weekend! Blessings until next time... Athina

Chalkboard!

Hello Friends!

I hope those who celebrate Memorial Day had a nice long weekend!  I didn't get what I had planned to do, but we were busy and got quite a bit done towards our goal.  I guess sometimes the best made plans aren't always what happens!
It's Tuesday so that means I am back with another Loves Rubberstamps Challenge!   This week we want to see you doodle!  I was a bit frightened of this challenge when I seen it, but I woke up early one morning with it on my mind and quickly had it figured out.

Our Fabulous sponsors this week are Eureka Stamps & Bugaboo Stamps!

A while back I seen a fellow DT member do a the chalkboard technique.  I thought what a perfect way to doodle.  So I started with some black cardstock and stamped two sentiments from Amy R, Be Happy Sentiments in white ink.  I then started to doodle around in white pencil.  After I doodled a bit, I took a cotton ball and wiped in in the white ink and brushed it across the black cardstock to make it look like the chalkboard had been erased a few times.  It is really that simple.  I adhered it to a tag and added some embellishments.  I plan to use it in a scrapbook layout at a later time.

Supplies used: 
Amy R, Be Happy Sentiments

Lawn Fawn Retro Triple Pack Cord 

Simple Stories - Summer Fresh 

Prima Flowers

Metal Embellishments

Ribbon

How to play: 
Just upload a creation that follows this week's challenge to your online blog or gallery. Then leave a link to your project in the linky widget at the bottom of this post. If you upload to online galleries, please also use the tag or keyword LRSBC105. Our challenge is open to everyone, you can use any stamps and products that you would like, and you can enter as many times as you want. 

Deadline:
The linky entry widget will close at 9PM CST on Monday, June 2nd so all entries need to be in before then. 

Design Team Favorite Picks:
The Design Team members will also each choose their favorite card from this challenge and the winner's will be able to proudly display a special blog badge on their blog. The Design Team favorite's from Challenge 105 - will be announced before the posting of Challenge 107. ** These Winners will receive a $5.00 gift voucher for use on an order $25.00 or more ** 

** Be sure to Play Along in our - Weekly Blog Candy Giveaway! Just hop along with our Design Team in a Mini Blog Hop for the chance to win the hidden prize! Start the hop here on our Sensational Sunday Inspirations post **

Come on over and show us your creations at Loves Rubberstamps Challenge Blog!

Thank you for stopping by today! 

Blessings until next time….

Athina

Birthday Wishes!

Happy Friday Friends!

Are you ready for Memorial Day weekend?  To me it starts off the summer.  I can't believe it is here already.  Where does time go?  We have some super fun plans....  Work day at grandma's, then home to clean out the garage, our annual church picnic and then cleaning the barn.  The weather should be just perfect!

Today's card is a cute birthday card with an image by Tiddly Ink - Birthday Wishes.  I am really liking these images.  THey are lots of fun!   I finished it off with some Wild Orchid Flowers - Roses, lace and ribbon for some more fun. 

Supplies used:

Tiddly Ink - Birthday Wishes

Copics

Tuxedo Black - Memento Ink

Bo Bunny - Prairie Chic

Wild Orchid Flowers - Roses

 Ribbon
Lace

Make sure to come and join our Fun with names challenge this week at Loves Rubberstamps!  Also check out the New Items in the store this week by C.C. Designs!

That is it for me today! I hope you have a great weekend!
Blessings until next time...
Athina

Cracked...

Hello Friends!
It's Tuesday so that means I am back with another Loves Rubberstamps Challenge!  This is a really fun one to get you thinking!  So here goes... Fun with your Name...  How does that work?  Well take the first letter of your name and use something that starts with that letter.  

Here is mine so you can see how it is done...

A - Aged & Authentique Paper

T - Tilda & Twine

H - Hat Pin & Heart

I - Ink (Memento & Distress Ink)

N - Nestibilities

A - Adhesive

So let's see your name and how you had fun with it!

 

Our Fabulous sponsors this week are Crafty Sentiments & All Dressed Up!

So finally here is my creation.  Supplies are listed below for your reference.  I did use the cracked glass technique to age her a bit.  It is very fun and easy to do.  You simply use embossing ink and clear embossing powder over the entire image.  Heat to emboss.  Repeat this about 3 or 4 times until you are happy with the thickness, then place image in the freezer for about 15 minutes.  Remove the image and twist and turn it to crack the embossing powder.  Then you can use distress ink over the image to make the cracks stand out more.   See, this is how you can tell your hubby that the freezer really is for crafting. lol...

 

Supplies used: 

Copics

Tuxedo Black - Memento Ink

Magnolia - Tilda with Ribbon Heart Scarf 

Authentique - Festive 

Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Brushed Corduroy 

Wild Orchid Crafts Doily

Twine

Hat Pin

How to play: 
Just upload a creation that follows this week's challenge to your online blog or gallery. Then leave a link to your project in the linky widget at the bottom of this post. If you upload to online galleries, please also use the tag or keyword LRSBC104. Our challenge is open to everyone, you can use any stamps and products that you would like, and you can enter as many times as you want. 

Deadline:
The linky entry widget will close at 9PM CST on Monday, May 26th so all entries need to be in before then. 

Design Team Favorite Picks:
The Design Team members will also each choose their favorite card from this challenge and the winner's will be able to proudly display a special blog badge on their blog. The Design Team favorite's from Challenge 104 - will be announced before the posting of Challenge 106. ** These Winners will receive a $5.00 gift voucher for use on an order $25.00 or more ** 

** Be sure to Play Along in our - Weekly Blog Candy Giveaway! Just hop along with our Design Team in a Mini Blog Hop for the chance to win the hidden prize! Start the hop here on our Sensational Sunday Inspirations post **

Come on over and show us your creations at Loves Rubberstamps Challenge Blog!

Thank you for stopping by today! 

Blessings until next time….

Athina