Friday, March 19, 2010

Winter/spring/winter/spring/what??????


As you probably know Oklahoma is known for it's weather...Tornadoes in spring, blazing hot summers, tornadoes in the fall, and ice in the winter. I love it! HOWEVER, Today it is 72 degrees....ah, the hummingbirds should already be here....maybe next week....I am wearing short pants and sandals, the birds are singing and flowers are blooming. (Here comes the however part!.....) Tomorrow we are having a BLIZZARD! It will be snowing and icy and cold....oh my. Someone did not get the memo that I am done with winter....been there... done that...over and over again. We had a crazy winter with lots of snow, and of course ice! I have now taken the hummingbird feeders down.I cut my flowers so I can enjoy them tomorrow while drinking hot chocolate and snuggled in a warm blanket.Arg!

Sunday, March 14, 2010

So ready for the hummers!

All the hummingbird feeders are now out. The hummers should be here this week! Yippy!

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Sharp-shinned hawk

We had a visitor for the last couple of days. This is a Sharp-shinned hawk. It is a small..... 11" long and one of the smallest accipiters. Anyway, yesterday it snatched up a Starling, which I might add are well feed on quality bird food. What a great thing to see out our studio....though I hope it moves on....it makes all the birds nervous.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

A sample from Wendy Samuels


Occasionally rubber stamp groups and clubs ask companies (like ours) to sponsor special events and challenges. In exchange, we receive great samples and amazing pieces of art work. We use these samples in shows, store events, and during stamp demos. We love to see what everyone creates with our stamps! So we will be posting, from time to time, some of our customers and sponsored artist's amazing works. The sample featured today comes from Wendy Samuels in FL. It is a nice use of the layering technique. Our Egyptian line of stamps have really been very popular this past winter/early spring. So thank you Wendy for your cards!

Sunday, February 28, 2010

And now for something completely different.....

Julia's favorite stamps>>>>>>>>
A picture of Julia...She's so funny!>>>>>>>>>
Okay, we are doing something a bit different on this post. Julia Roth (who sent us samples) and myself have been chatting back and forth via emails. I thought -"Hey, why don't we share some of this conversation with everyone." So here it goes......
Deena: Thanks for your email! I am glad you like the stamps. Let us know when you need some more stamps.....D
Julia: I see on your blog that you are posting samples and I have sent some for you. Please don't feel like you have to post them. I am pumped by your stamps and have so many ideas!!!! Julia
Deena: Have you tried the watercolor technique with the Reflection stamp yet?
Julia: Tell me one more time what to do.
Deena: There are several different techniques for this look. Here is one:
Using a piece of watercolor paper (of course regular cardstock will work) stamp Reflection (AS 21 E) with a Black Memories ink pad. Gather your watercolor pencils or markers and color the images working from the outer part of the image inward. (lighter touch with the open areas- this will create shading). Once you have the color down, (it will still look a bit odd) use a paintbrush and dip it in water and "paint" from the outer edges inward. You are actually moving the color around. If you need to add more color you can either 1.Use a scrap piece of paper like a palette, take your color pencil and scrub some color down and use your wet paint brush to pick up additional colors. 2. Use a piece of release paper, acetate, or plastic wrap to add color from your markers. Then use your brush to add color.
Another technique is to not use the black ink and use your markers directly on your stamp. After full coverage on your stamp, huff on your stamp, or mists very lightly and stamp, then use your brush to fade the clean lines and give it the watercolor look.
Julia: WOW! I can not wait to try this. I saw you do this in Ohio and I took notes but I was nervous to try. I will try it and let you know what happens.
Deena: If you have any more questions please drop me a note. And we always love to see what you are doing.
Julia: I will send you more samples. I also sent you a "list" of my favorite stamps. Well, the ones I love, love, love this week! Thanks for everything!!!

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Amy Anderson strikes again!

These spectacular samples were done by Amy Anderson of Yukon, Oklahoma. She is one of our good friends! We are traveling to Seattle ( then on to Fort Worden) for Artfest in about a month! Amy always does an amazing job with anything she does. She has a blogspot at http://www.doboldthings.blogspot.com/ . You ought to shimmy on over to take a view. Oh, and a quick note, the stamp of Venice was made from a photo I took there.
More to come...

Saturday, February 20, 2010

ATCs by Julia Roth

Here are a couple of samples sent in by Julia Roth of Sacramento,
California. She read our challenge and sent us some samples. We met Julia at Stampaway, in Cincinnati, Ohio last August. She has made plans to be there again this year! Yippy! We love meeting and keeping in touch with our customers/friends.
Julia created the ATCs with these stamps: card one So little time (GT 31 E),
Read (GT 40 C), card two Praying mantis sm (NT 25 E), Bamboo leaf lg (PM 19 C),
Bamboo leaf sm (PM 18 A), and Poem background (AS 28 J).