RubberMoon stamps are some of the most fun images to play with. And I literally mean play! Kristen Powers, aka Kae Pea, has designed a set of "Stampstracts" that allow you to make your own design on most any medium you wish. Of course, I had to order the entire set and I finally had some time to start playing. Alert: it's addicting. Take your mind for an artsy whirl around the RubberMoon orbit . . . Go to this link for the RubberMoon website: www.rubbermoon.com Here is my f

I hope all of you enjoyed the Fourth of July Celebration with your family and friends. We were fairly low-key since we'd hosted a birthday dinner party of 15 for my husband the night before. The view from our deck took in many, many fireworks displays all over the skies, nearby and afar. It was awesome! My stepson's birthday is today; he celebrates his 44th birthday. The number "44" is a favorite number in the family. His sister's first boyfriend was on the football team and

I am staying with the Penny Black Stamp set, "Bouquets." Yesterday, I featured one of 4 bouquets in the set. Today's bouquet is my favorite of the four. I stamped it onto an Inchie Arts' art board and used watercolor brush markers. The art board accepts the watercolor markers exceptionally well. This was my first attempt. What's nice about the brush markers is that the fine point of the real brush applies color in very tight corners and crevices. Those teeny spots are sometim

It's been a fun and a dramatic weekend. With two of my high school girlfriends, we saw Motown, The Musical, in Seattle . . . fabulous music, even more fabulous singing talent. Then I drove to Olympia/Tumwater for my 45th high school reunion; it's true, you see them as you remember them in school and not what they look like now. Sunday started out slowly and then I was horrified to see the television news about the mass shooting in Orlando. And I continued my ongoing prayers f

What a blur these past couple of days have been. Today was much more calm, and it was a great day because it started with a class using new art board cut-outs from Inchie Arts. There were 3 of us who totally enjoyed Lisa Lee's class. She's teaching it again at Art 'n Soul in Lacey, WA on Saturday, July 9. If you're not signed up for this class, you're going to want to. Are these not the cutest cards? Inchie Arts is packaging the cut-out shapes, and RubberMoon has the new stam

The term "black gold" is one used quite often by asphalt producers. They lay down millions of miles of black asphalt on our roadways every year. It's black and they make money. My card today is a "thank you" card to an asphalt paving company who invited us to their annual employee awards and recognition breakfast last month. All employees from all over Washington State and northwest Oregon are invited to attend; there must have been 3-400 people. Everyone is like family; this

Eeek! It's Friday already and I have several Easter cards to make today; a few of them have to be in today's mail drop, too. Of course, I have to take Hannah to the vet in Olympia for a follow-up on her ear infection and a booster shot for her flu shot. If there's time after the vet appointment, I'm hoping to make the lunch with my stamping club. And then there's the Friday afternoon traffic on I-5. Here's the start on my Easter cards. This is a card using an adorable stamp f

It's only a short day because daylight savings time begins at 2 a.m. tomorrow morning, meaning we "spring" forward and lose one hour in our 24-hour day. The good news is that means the real days of spring, summer and hours of daylight are around the corner. Yay! It's been a full day. It started with an Awards Breakfast for a family-owned business that we know quite well. It may be family-owned and spread throughout western Washington, but it's certainly not a small company as

While undertaking the major cleaning of my studio, I came across a catalog from Gump's; it's a fabulous store in downtown San Francisco that brings the terms yummy and luscious to the home decor conversation. Several items were decorated in such rich color combinations. I was inspired. A friend of mine is about two-thirds of the way through a major medical ordeal with her husband; he's been a fighter and so has she. I've wanted to send a card to recognize her brave and tirele

A leap year day! Mine started with a trip to the veterinarian because our soon-to-be 15 year-old puppy has developed a yeast infection in her ear. She was so relieved to be back in her car seat for the return trip home. And the day ended with a birthday celebration for my oldest granddaughter! I love it when a day ends on such a happy note. Birthday cards can be quite simple. Stamp from Magenta: Multilingual Happy Birthday (07.907.L) -- inked with VersaMark and embossed with

At the suggestion of a friend, I ordered Caran d'Ache Luminance colored pencils; they're made in Switzerland. I only ordered a set of 20 because they're a little spendy. They're a permanent pencil with a smooth lead and exceptional lightfastness, according to their literature. I had purchased 11 of them earleir but I think I left them in LaQuinta; of course, the resort cannot find anything left behind in our room. I'm so glad I re-ordered because I like the smoothness. The co

The last of the 3 birthday cards features an older stamp from Hero Arts that I've always loved embossing with. Hero Arts Background Stamp Impression Obsession "You Can Do This" B14347 on Twinchie Square from Inchie Arts in White Ranger Mini Distress Ink Pad Kit #13 (TDPK46738) (Fossilized Amber; Abandoned Coral; Cracked Pistachio; Mermaid Lagoon) Tombow Marker #173 Corner Peel-offs and border trim (discontinued) from Magenta on Twinchie Square Queen & Co. Droplets VersaMark w

I am slowly wading my way through the stacks of mail, to-do lists, and other must-do's since our return from LaQuinta, CA almost two weeks ago. Since that time, my husband had back surgery this last Wednesday. The pre-op and post-op requirements have been extremely time consuming but necessary. No more do I finally rebound from the coughing crud than my husband has his operation. We are definitely the walking wounded at this household! On Valentine's Day, Tom's uncle passed a

I'm wondering where January disappeared to. I'm still reeling from enjoying our two granddaughters, ages 2 and 4, from December 9 to January 9. Of course, everything was put on the back burner during their stay, including any time in the studio. After my quick trip to CHA immediately afterward, I came down with the coughing crud that is going around; that sidelined me until just a few days ago. I sneaked in here on Sunday and I felt like a beginning crafter, totally overwhelm

Card #2 in my collection of Christmas cards for the nursing home patients. My niece and a good friend both love dachshunds, so I couldn't resist this Hero Arts stamp. I stamped it onto a white Swatch art square from Inchie Arts, that was then layered onto a scrap piece of hot pink paper and a scrap piece of black paper. I colored with Spectrum Noir Aqua Markers, and used special glitter pens for the ribbons and bows. HERO ARTS: Holiday Dachshund G6108 MAGENTA: Merry Christm