LMac's Catered Crops

Scene in a Garden - 3D

 

I had so much fun playing with this set, Scene in a Garden, because it's such a great set to experiment with shading. I tried a new technique, watercoloring with the Stampin' Write Markers, and I'm so amazed with the results. Its going to change my whole approach to coloring outline-style stamp sets like this one.

There's a great tutorial on watercoloring with markers at Julie Buhler's Paper Pleasing Ideas. For you visual learners, here's Julie Buhler's video.

I started by watercoloring the bench with Creamy Caramel classic ink and then I used a Close to Cocoa marker along the edges and where the natural shadow would appear. I used the aqua painter again to blend the two colors together and then to remove some color and create highlights.  

 

The shading is really dramatic when you use coordinating colors.

• Close to Cocoa creates great shading for Creamy Caramel;
• Not Quite Navy and Baha Breeze worked for the Daddy boots, bird and bird house;
• Always Artichoke and Mellow Moss made cute baby boots;
• More Mustard, Really Rust and Summer Sun created great clay pots.

You can find more color combinations with our Color Coach (105796).

When I showed this card to my husband (I have him very well trained to always respond with Ooh, Ahhhh), he said, Ooh, 3D. With all the shading, curled paper and popped-up images, it really does have a lot of dimensions.

You can order any of the items I used any time by clicking here.

And, guess what - with the new "Get Connected" promotion, for each $40 you spend on Occasions mini catalog products, you can order any one "Under $10" product (see page 208 in the Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog) absolutely free.

• Stamp Set: Scene in a Garden (113246), Congrats (Sale-a-bration).
• Paper: Taste of Textiles (113991), Manchester (112464), Always Artichoke textured cardstock (108696), Baha Breeze textured cardstock (111345), Watercolor (105019)
• Classic Ink: Baha Breeze (111833), Creamy Caramel  (103220), Mellow Moss (102774), Robin Hood Red (111836), Staz-on Jet Black (101406)
• Stampin' Write Markers: Close to Cocoa  (100072), Not Quite Navy (100059), Always Artichoke (105113), Really Rust (100073), Summer Sun (100077), and More Mustard (100076).
• Accessories: Kraft Corduroy Button (114340), Kraft Taffeta Ribbon (109068), Mellow Moss Taffeta Ribbon (109069), Natural Hemp Twine (100982).
• Tools: Crafters Tool Kit (104310), Cutter Kit (106958), Stamp-a-ma Jig (101049), Color Spritzer Tool (107066)

My Aha Moment

I guess I'm channeling those insurance commercials, but I just had to share with you all my aha moment from Thursday. But, first, a little background. Hang with me - it's a little long winded.

When we had our first baby, Ben, my husband was in graduate school. We were crazy poor. Tom and I bought diapers on Thursday because we knew the check wouldn't clear until I got paid on Friday. It just killed me to have to go back to work and take Ben to a babysitter. There was pain and guilt and jeolousy and worry, and more pain and more guilt . . . you get the picture. I vowed that if I ever had the means, I would establish some sort of trust fund, scholarship or anything to somehow allow at least one mother to stay home with her babies.
 
Of course, Tom finished his MBA, passed his CPA exam and created a wonderful life for us. I was able to stay home much, much longer with our second baby, Caitlin. Still, I have never stopped wishing I had the means to help someone else stay home.
 
Well, jump ahead 25 years. This week, a woman joined my Stampin' Up! team, who is just so much fun and so creative. She's going to be a fantastic demonstrator. She said one of the reasons she wanted to join Stampin' Up! was because she was looking for ways to make money from home so she can keep taking care of her Grandson. He is the love of her life and she's taken care of him since he was six weeks old.
 
You know what, I was just so excited for her to get her kit and set up her first workshop, it took me a few days to realize that my wish of 25 years had finally come true. I finally found a way to help someone stay home to take care of their child, or, in this case, grandchild. I tell you, I nearly cried.
 
So, welcome Renee Winch to the Catered Crop clan - You made MY dream come true!

I wanted to be sure to share this story with you this week because, if you've ever thought about helping people achieve their dreams and joining this mad, crazy creative fun, now's the perfect time. Until March 31 you can add any stamp set to the already huge Starter Kit, get 15% off the price of the Kit, and take advantage of the Three Easy Payment option. Just give me a hoot and a holler and we'll get you started.

You Crack Me Up

Q. What’s the best way to catch a unique rabbit?
A. You ‘nique up on him.

Q. How do you catch a tame rabbit?
A. Tame way, unique up on it.

Wha ha ha! Any stamp set that includes the sentiment "you crack me up" deserves an irreverent approach, don't you think? I love the humor in Michelle's card, here, so I CASE'd it with my rendition. 

   

Doesn't it kind of look like framed pictures of some crazy bird in his boxers? Like the uncle no one talks about?

Here's the inside. Pay close attention, there's a test afterwards.

 

Cute, huh?!

So, how well have you been paying attention at Sesame Street? Can you tell which chick(s) don't look like the others?

Give up?

I forgot to color in the beaks of the three chicks in the left card. I didn't even realize it until I took this picture.

The recipe is that yummy Sale-a-bration paper and ribbon, and one of my all-time favorite stamp sets, A Good Egg. The rest of the recipe:

• Cardstock: So Saffron, Sahara Sand, Basic Black, Watercolor
• Ink: Staz-on Black
• Fibers: Sale-a-bration Ribbon Bundle, Silver Cord
• Misc: So Saffron watercolor crayon, Pretty in Pink (for the cheeks) watercolor crayon, Pumpkin Pie marker for the beaks I remembered to color, silver eyelets
• Tools: 1-1/4" and 1-3/8" square punches, word window punch.

Can you stand another Easter giggle? You've probably seen this before, I know I have, but it still cracks me up every time.

Make Your Own Motivational Poster

I subscribe to this very fun site, Photojojo, which just publishes some fun ideas to do with the bajillions of digital photographs we have. Well, check out today's assignment - making your own motivational poster. Of course, I had to play with my all-time favorite photograph. I know, it's already about 20 years old, and you've seen it a dozen times, but it's still my fav.

   

Easy-breezy. Check it out: Create Your Own. You can find great quotes to add to your poster at Quote Garden. If you make one, leave me a comment so we can all see your creation - and you can motivate all of us.

It's a beautiful day in Central Texas . . . off to go play!

Variations on a Bodacious Botanical Blooms Theme

I know, every Stampin' Up! demonstrator sets up their workshops differently. I always make complete packets for my folks to pick up as they enter. That way, if they have to leave in a hurry, they still have everything they need to finish the projects. Here's the thing though. I always make up way too many packets. I'm just always afraid someone will come who forgot to RSVP or someone will bring a guest (always welcome!) or I'll leave something out of someone's packet . . . You get the idea. It's come in handy more than once to have extras. But, then, of course, I hate for the packets to go to waste. Oh, and this Parisian Breeze paper is so luscious. So, long story short, here's some more of my Bodacious Blue Botanical Blooms - every which way but loose. Good thing I have a swap next week, huh.

 

If you look really close - you'll see another sneak peak from the mini catalog coming in April - a scallop oval punch! (You can always click on the picture to enlarge it.)

Bodacious Blue Botanical Blooms

Sale-a-bration is winding down, so I didn't want to miss a chance to play with the Botanical Blooms set. Being the Virgo that I am (we like precision and organization), I struggled with this set until I got the feel for it. Turns out, this set works best if you throw precision out the window and just color it freely, outside the lines. Once I got the hang of it, I really had fun.

 

I took some inspiration from Chistine Okken over at Christine Creations- her card is Gor-r-r-r-jus! Here's the recipe:

• Ink: Black Stazon, Baja Breeze, Sahara Sand, watercolor paper 
• Paper: Baja Breeze, Sahara Sand, Parisian Breeze Specialty Paper
• Stamps: Botanical Blooms (Sale-a-bration)
• Tools/Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Chocolate Satin Ribbon (retired), linen thread, corner rounder punch, flat-back pearls, Valet originals ribbon, ooh and a sneak peak at the new Baja Breeze corduroy buttons coming with the new mini catalog in April.

Now, tell me the truth - doesn't this card look kind of Granny-like? Like you need to enjoy it in a recliner, watching 60 minutes, with your cat, and a cup of tea on a doily. Oh well, I still like it for all the different textures it has and that gorgeous paper.

 

Not So Stupid Dog Trick

By now you know I'm a dog person - brief vs boxers is still a mystery - or I guess for me that would be thongs vs grannypannies . . . Anyway, back to the dog stuff. This is the most hilarious and ingenuous trick I think I've ever seen, including even any tricks by my precious Grand Puppy.

You know what this means . . . I have to show you another picture of Pillow Pup.

 

Happy weekend - more fun card pix coming later this weekend.

Spring is Branchin' Out

This is such a fun card - fun stamp set, fun technique, and really fun bling. And, with the redbud trees just bursting out in Central Texas, it's a great card to welcome Spring. 

 

My card is a CASE (copy and share everything) of Becky Roberts' card over at Inking Idaho. Becky has an absolutely amazing blog, you'll want to check out. She's  been the source of a lot of inspiration for me.

Giving Becky's card my own little twist, I added some Kiwi Kiss accents and used the Poppin' Pastels technique to make the redbud blossoms. Here's how this technique works:

1. Stamp the bare tree image in Chocolate Chip classic ink.

2. Ink up the leaf image with Kiwi Kiss classic ink, but stamp once on scrap paper before stamping it onto the bare tree limbs. This will just soften the green.

3. Clean the leaf image stamp well with your Stampin' Mist/scrubber and then stamp the leaf image again multiple times on the branches with VersaMark ink.

4. Now the fun begins. Using daubers, gently sponge Pretty in Pink chalk/pastels over the VersaMark ink leaf images. The VersaMark will hug the chalk and make it Pop! You'll also get a soft pink pastel background.

5. I also sponged just a little Old Olive pastels around the tree trunk.

6. Anytime you work with pastels, you may want to spray your chalked image with an acrylic sealer (you can find at Hobby Lobby or Michaels). You can also use hairspray in a pinch. (Hairspray may give you a nice perfume, but probably isn't archival safe.)

Even though I've done it several times, I'm still Wow'ed by this technique. Need more help or inspiration with the Poppin' Pastels technique? Check out Beate Johns' tutorial over at Splitcoast Stampers, here.

Here's the rest of the recipe:

• Cardstock - Chocolate Chip, Robin Hood Red, Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss
• Designer paper - Bella Rose
• Embellishments - Crocheted posy appliques/Fluerettes,
• Fibers - linen thread, Robbin Hood Red taffeta ribbon
• Ink - Chocolate Chip, Old Olive (for the bird house)
• Pastels - Pretty in Pink, Old Olive
• Punches - Scallop Circle, Scallop Edge, 1-3/8" Circle Punch
• Stamps - Branch Out, two-step stamping set. 
• Tools - sponge daubers, paper piercing tool

To the ladies in my Hostess Club - yes, stampers, this is one of our projects for this weekend! I can't wait for you to be play with this Poppin' Pastels technique.

Happy Go Lucky

Well, there's about a million things I should have done today that did not include playing with digital scrapbooking. But, when Shappy Princess anounced their newest free digital kit, Happy Go Lucky, I couldn't resist scrapbooking my two favorite pictures of my children and me. Clearly, I have a long, long way to go with this digital scrapbooking thing, but it sure is fun.

 

The jounaling says - Lucky me! I have two beautiful children who remind me of what's most important . . . taking time to play and love each other. Thank you, Ben and Caitlin. You are my inspiration. Love, Mom.

High Kicks for Tom

 

My Tom is moving into a Taj Mahal like office in a few weeks - huge windows, mammoth dark wood furniture, walls of bookshelves, and enough room to hold a family reunion. (I'm exaggerating.) Yes, I'm jealous. We have duct tape holding our carpet together in my office of State workers, with stains that look like a CSI crime scene. (I'm not exaggerating.)

When Tom gave me his office tour, despite my jealousy, I noticed something critical was missing - a picture of the kids and me. Today is Tom's birthday and we do love him so. I mean, really, the man puts up with the three of us with such grace. So, we arranged to have a fantastic family friend and photographer help us right this wrong.

Thanks to Sam Holland for taking the pictures and somehow both managing and capturing the McClain madness and

Happy Birthday Tommy!