Something different

This winter in Florida my sister and I went to a craft show where one woman had wonderful stamped cards for sale. I bought a few and she told me that she gave workshops so my sister and I went to one and got hooked. We had such a good time and wanted to make more, so we ordered lots of stamp sets, card stock and inks. We didn't get our supplies until last week and this past weekend we had a stampathon at my house. We made lots and lots of cards. So welcome to my new obsession hobby.

These stamps from Stampin Up are not at all like the old wooden stamps you may be familiar with.
These are clear plastic that you adhere to a clear acrylic block. The sets give you many choices of how to put them together. The first set was used to make the first two cards below. Don't they look like watercolors?

I masked  the trees at the back to give it dimension.

I used this set to make the card below. Each petal used three different stamps layered. Then they were cut out and mounted on little foam dots to raise them up 

I loved this set that gave me many choices of assembly. The three cards below used this set. Again, I think they look like water colors.

I added a whimsical frog from another set. The flower used three different stamps layered.

More cards using the aforementioned frog set. I think they are cute, but I prefer the ones that look like watercolors.

And one last one. This shows the card opened and closed.

I made 20 cards, so I'm only showing a few. The inside of the cards are also stamped and decorated, as are the envelopes. That's it for now since I have a busy week, but I will be making more. If you are on my birthday card list, you will be getting a hand made card from me. I've always liked sending (and receiving) cards so this is right up my alley.

I am linking up with Off the Wall Friday.

A Little More

I took the advice of blog comments and my sister. Blog comments said to add more circles to the yolk and my sister suggested that I have one bigger circle going over the shoulder seam and onto the front. I am pleased with the results.

I also finished my auction piece for the annual Benefit Auction. The auction isn't util September, but they have to be in by June 1.

I am calling this Snake in the Grass. I don't know if you can tell by the picture, but there is a raised section at the top right that looks like a snake.

I will be linking up with Off the Wall Friday.

Finished, for now

I'm not sure how many new circles I made this week, but I am calling the back finished. This is the first time I put it on my dress form and now I'm wondering if the back yoke would benefit from one more, off center. What do you think?

When I started this I was using a purple disappearing pen to mark the circles. It worked great, and the ink disappeared quickly, but that was a problem. If I marked a circle and didn't finish it on that day it would sometimes disappear all by itself. So I could only mark one circle at a time.

Then I switched to the blue disappearing marker and I could mark as many circles as I wanted. However.....it had to be really soaked in water to truly go away. Sometimes you would think it was all gone, only to have it show up the next day. Even tho I submerged the back of the jacket last night and rolled it in a towel to absorb the excess moisture and laid if flat to dry, you can see see a slight smudge on the bottom of pictures 4 and 5. The whole jacket will be submerged when I finish all the embroidery.

Next I will go on to the front, embroidering the right yolk and the left lower pocket area.

I am linking up with Off the Wall Friday.

Moving Right Along

I managed to get five circles done this week. I don't think that I am going to fill up the whole area on the back. I like the randomness of it now. I will do a few more, but then will move on to the front.

Laced Running Stitch

French Knots

Parallel Laced Running Stitch
Egad! On these close-ups you can see all of my mistakes. Fortunately they don't show if you are just looking at the whole jacket back. Practice make perfect and I need a lot more practice!

Satin Stitch

Whipped Woven Circle Stitch

I am linking up with Off the Wall Friday. Go see what some talented people are doing.

Still Stitching

I managed to get three circles done this week

Lazy Daisy Stitch and straight stitch

French Knots

Straight Stitch with x's at intersections.

I am going back to CT tomorrow. I will be sorry to leave this beautiful weather, but I'm looking forward to getting back to my studio.

I am linking up with Off the Wall Friday.