Lauralee's May Challenge Card

You may recall that Lauralee's challenge was a tone on tone card. She made a stunning white card that was extremely challenging to photograph. I did manage to get a couple of photos that show just how beautiful that card is. Lauralee posted instructions for this card on her blog HERE.

This photo has a large shadow but really highlights the number of different butterflies and techniques Lauralee used to make this card. (Double click on the photo to make it larger.)




I cut off the bottom of the card in this photo but no matter. You will be able to see exactly how white this card is.




The white on white is a challenge I'm not sure I am quite ready to tackle, but I do have friends getting married this weekend. Just maybe......

Playing Around

Well apparently I was looking too high tech to solve my editing needs. In a brilliant flash of insight(yes I do have moments), I tried MS Paint and glory be just what I needed.

This beautiful Magenta stamp came to life for me after Rose-Marie had shown me what was being demoed at the workshop in Kingston they went to in May. I had a rainy Wednesday afternoon and went to work. The first is a crayon resist technique. Very easy but I am not thrilled with my background. I should have applied more than one colour but it is OK.




Next I tried colouring with Copics (on the left) and some Bic Mark-its(on the right) I had just picked up. Lessons here, copics don't work blend on sealed paper and the Mark-its have really excellant depth of colour.



And these are a couple of the finished cards. Jess coloured the yellow flower and we chose to leave the background the original stamped black. Sentiment is from Rosewood. Turns out this stamp, that I had looked at many times on the wall, has a lot of versatility.

Help!!!

I have never professed to be a techie but seriously how difficult should it be to find a basic photo editing program. I have a bunch of great cards and projects to share but I can't find the disc for the program I used to use and the software I have downloaded (uploaded?) doesn't do what I want it to do. I can create all kinds of beautiful effects but really all I need is to crop and resize. I am still sorting through stuff and getting pictures.

Wow, the July challenge date is nearly here and I haven't even shared the June challenge. Below is the sketch Barb has chosen for July. Her twist is to include at least one stamped image and it must include 3 layers. I know I have been finding that although the sketches are beautiful not many make stamping the central feature. So this challenge should bring us back to stamping.

New Products

There are still shipments coming in almost daily. We just received a huge shipment of Distress inks, Distress re-inkers and a selection of co-ordinating Distress embossing powders. We have Tattered Angels misters and stencils that will go beautifully with the Tim Holtz products. The store is really looking great with all the new colours.

Pop-Cuts Update

The Pop-Cuts are finally ready to go. We apologize for the lengthy delay in having these unique new stamps go into full production. Turns out the details that had to be made off site, were much more involved than we had anticipate. The wait is over and they are done, thank goodness. We have been so excited about these stamps and the delay has been a real frustration. Rose-Marie will have them with her at StampFest in Bancroft next weekend. I'm not exactly sure what Rose-Marie will be doing demos with there but be sure to ask about the Pop-Cuts

Happy Canada Day

I am proud to be Canadian and equally as proud of this great country. Sometimes we make gaffs but Canada is a great place to live.

Happy Canada Day

to you all.


Donna drew the short straw and will be minding the store from 12 until 4. Drop by and say hello.


(Rosewood Stamp C72)

Bad Blogger

I don't know what it is about June but life really speeds up during this month. I haven't had much time to post lately, combine that with learning new programs and you have one slightly stressed lady. Just a bit of rant here...my old computer was a youthful 5 years old. So why is it so difficult to use the same programs I had on the old computer? OH NO!!!! The old email program no longer works with Windows 7. Windows 7 is nice but everything looks and is stored differently. I still need to decide what photo editing software to use. I am not a professional photographer, so I don't know what to invest in and I can't find the disc from the last program to see if it will even work on this computer. Sigh!!!!! I am figuring it all out but as I said June always seems to be on fast forward.

A bit off topic here but I did take one of my girls to Ste Anne's Inn and Spa for her sweet 16 birthday present.



I have been fortunate enough to visit Ste Anne's a few times and on one of my first visits the girls asked to come with us. At the time Ste Anne's had a policy of 16 years of age, so silly me I promised to take them when they turned 16. They weren't very old at the time but they didn't forget. I took Cassie 2 years ago, Nicole went this year and Jess goes next year. The older 2 girls have enjoyed their time at the spa (Nicole didn't want to come home, can't say that I didn't feel the same way!) If it is within your means to have a spa day at Ste Anne's (or better yet a weekend) I would highly recommend it. The buildings are so beautiful, the view and the grounds spectacular. Tell me who couldn't use a day or two where all you had to do was get meals and show up for whatever treatments you have chosen. Friday was an incredibly relaxing day with my daughter, my Mom and my sister.....heavenly!!!

New Stuff

Rose-Marie has spent a lot days in the basement working away at her computer. She has ordered a lot of new products for the store and spending like a sailor on shore leave!!!! Oh my, the goodies that are arriving daily makes it so much fun to go to work.




Already in stock is the Glue Glider Pro. I think this will be the last tape runner I will buy. I've used the bigger model and always found it a bit cumbersome but this little cutie is just the ticket. Donna already owns one and loves it. Rose-Marie has brought in lots of co-ordinating papers and brads from Bo Bunny. She has refreshed the stock of Flower Soft in both orginal and micro fine. Just before I left the store yesterday the man from U.P.S. brought in 3 boxes of treasures from Penny Black. I didn't dare open those boxes or I may have been very late getting home for chores.


We are waiting impatiently for orders from a couple of different companies that will include more Cuttlebug folders, a new machine for paper cutting, inks from Tim Holtz and bling, bling, and more bling. You might want to bring sunglasses the next time you visit the store.

It is very exciting around the store. Now...where to put it all.