Harbor Scene Stamp of the Month

It's so amazing to me that July is almost half through!  Of course, it helped that my family and I spent a week of it on the beach.  I highly recommend beach laziness as a way to pass some summer time.  It was tough coming back (and not just because it's a 13 hour drive).  Whew!

I thought I'd share a quick card with you and a note about the stamp itself.

Harbor Scene

This Harbor Scene stamp is the Stamp of the Month at CHF.   The image is lovely, isn't it?  I loved the reflections in the water... so when I colored the image, I used lighter tones of the colors of my main images, to shimmer on the water.

The Stamp of the Month at CHF is a fabulous value (I think it's 25% off).  And it comes with directions on how to make a specific project.  This month, the directions are for the project shown above.

Thanks for stopping by,

lise

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Supplies:

Stamps:
-SOTM Harbor Scene by CHF
-Fine Lines backgrounder by CHF


Ink:
-Pitch Black and Mushroom Adirondack dye inks by Ranger
-Vintage Photo Distress ink by Ranger


Paper:
-Kraft, Black Prismatic and Baby Blue Light by Prism
-Solar White by Neenah


Other:
-Nestabilities by Spellbinder (Large Square)
-Markers by Copic
-Linen thread
-large needle
-sponge

Challenge Blog Hoppin'

CHF has a fantastic Summer Stamp Star Design Challenge coming... All the details can be found here. To get the ball rolling, the CHF Designers thought we'd all try our hand at the challenge techniques...

The challenge I decided to take on was the One Sheet Wonder technique. It's a fast and fabulous way of creating your own patterned paper - and super economical. I have to admit that it's been ages since I've done this technique, so I tossed my hand in the ring for this one. In fact, this was a favorite technique of mine as a new stamper. And then... I found Basic Grey... I was never to look back! ;-)

Stinkin' Cute!

Seriously... how cute is this background?! I repetitively stamped the bamboo to make a background forest. I colored each image and shaded with copic markers. The frame around my little panda is a wooden piece from We R Memory Keepers and the shape of the design on it reminded me of the leaves of the bamboo...

Here's a view of the card from the side.

So... are you ready for the hopping? The fantastic ladies at CHF have been hard at work, creating designs to inspire you for the Summer Stamp Star Design Challenges.

1 - Coloring: Sherrie
2 - Paper Piecing: Becky
3 - Resist: Julia and Jen
4 - Make a Scene: Kristine
5 - One Sheet Wonder: Joanne and me

And as an added bonus, Lisa Strahl has created her magic too! Be sure to stop by and check out the fun!

Thanks for stopping by!
lise
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Supplies:
Stamps:
-Zooper Fun (Kim Hughes Collection) by CHF

Ink:
-Tuxedo Black Memento ink by Tsukineko

Paper:
-Solar White, Suede Brown Dark, Kiwi Dark, Kraft

Other:
-Copic Markers
-Wood Knots frame by We R Memory Keepers
-Dimensional Tape
-Black glaze pen by Sakura

Stamps for Sale

I finally got organized to post a few... OK... lots of things for sale. :-)
I just have to get rid of some of the sets I have that aren't getting used. It's a shame, really, but I'd rather have someone enjoy them.

You can find all the details here at Splitcoaststampers:

Loads of SU Stamps for Sale

Thanks!
lise

CHF Stamping Star... Will it be YOU???!?!?

So... Will it be you?

Check out all the details in the official release below...

Cornish Heritage Farms’

Summer Stamp Star

Design Challenge

CHF is excited to announce a 5 week long design challenge which will run from June 29th, 2009 until August 2nd, 2009. Stampers will have the opportunity to show us their creativity throughout those lazy days of summer!

The Details:
1. Participate in a weekly stamping challenge for five consecutive weeks to earn a guest
spot in September 2009, on the CHF Design Team
2. Each week will feature a different challenge where you have the opportunity to
upload one image of your design or project into a special gallery for that challenge at
the CHF Forum website. The gallery will be open for each challenge and then closed
before the next challenge begins.
3. One winner will be selected per week based on design merit and will receive a $50
rubber stamp credit to select from any of the hundreds of stamps that might suit their
fancy at www.cornishheritagefarms.com.
4. At the end of the five challenge weeks, any participant that has submitted projects to
all five challenge galleries will be juried by our team and one winner who has shown
consistent design excellence throughout the challenges will win the entire CHF
stamp release for the month of September and a Guest Design Team spot to show off
their skills. This designer will be featured on the blog and be included in our
newsletter - after all that work, we want to share the talents of this fabulous designer
with the stamping community!
So what are you doing this summer? Will it be You?

Challenge 1:
Color it: Use your favorite medium whether it is ink, markers, pencils or chalk - we want to see you color what you have stamped. (Gallery opens at 9 a.m. on Monday June 29, 2009 and closes on Monday at 9 a.m. on July 6, 2009)

Challenge 2:
Paper Piecing: Stamp your image on a few different types or colors of paper and then piece it back together to create your design. (Gallery opens at 9 a.m. on Monday July 6, 2009 and closes at 9 a.m. on Monday July 12, 2009)

Challenge 3:
Resist: Using any of the techniques or products available, create a project that lets the layers underneath shine through. (Gallery opens at 9 a.m. on Monday July 13, 2009 and closes at 9 a.m. on Monday July 19, 2009)

Challenge 4:
Make a Scene: Take elements from one set or many and build a scene in any style from realistic to cute. (Gallery opens at 9 a.m. Monday July 20, 2009 and closes at 9 a.m. on Monday July 26, 2009)

Challenge 5:
One Sheet Wonder: Stamp an 8.5 x 11 or 12 x 12 sheet of paper with multiple repeating or collaged images and then use it up. Create an ensemble, gift box, set of cards, scrapbook page or whatever comes to mind - we want to see your creativity. (Gallery opens at 9 a.m. on Monday July 27, 2009 and closes at 9 a.m. on Monday August 2, 2009)


*Challenges run on Central Standard Time

The Fine Print:
-Each participant can only submit one design per week; select the design that represents your very best effort load it into the appropriate gallery when it is open.
-Each weekly winner will be selected and notified by Tuesday after the challenge closes. We will share who the winner is and their project as a feature on our blog the Wednesday following the participation deadline.
-Each participant that has uploaded a project for all five of the challenges will each receive a discount code of 25% for playing along. The discount code will be awarded once the Design Challenge is over & the overall winner has been notified. Because we are sponsoring this contest, we ask that your Challenge Submission design use at least one Cornish Heritage Farms stamp.
-All designs submitted must be entirely your own.
-Upload your project to the appropriate gallery for the challenge that you are participating in, and then list all CHF stamps used in the description area.

We Remember...

Happy Memorial Day! It's such a special time to remember and honor those that have bravely served our nation and those that continue to do so.

I feel very blessed to share with you another creation from the We Remember stamp set from Cornish Heritage Farms. The set has so much meaning to me and my family - but I think others can use the images to thank, honor and remember those that serve.

I asked Carolyn Hartwig (heartwig on Splitcoaststampers) if she would like to receive a copy of the stamp set I created - and if she thought she'd be able to use it in her cause. You see... Carolyn has been working diligently since June of 2007 to collect cards to send to those in the millitary in Cananda so that they have something to send home to their families for special occasions - occasions that they are missing by being in other areas of the world protecting our freedom. To read more about Carolyn's work, please see this thread on SCS: Canadian Military Need Our Support. Carolyn has also raised awareness for those that have died while serving in this thread: Cards of Condolence for our Fallen Soldiers.

She graciously accepted and has a card design that I thought I would share here on her behalf.

Bravery Honor Valor:
I just love this design! It's simple lines are perfect. And the top ID tag is popped up on the cardfront for added dimension.

As always, thanks for stopping by!
Lisa

ETA: Something is going on with Blogger and my scheduled posts aren't behaving.  Sorry for the late post.  I suppose it's Happy Memorial WEEK.  LOL!

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Supplies:

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Sahara Sand, Basic, Black, White
Ink: Stampin' Up Sahara Sand, Basic Black Patterned Paper: Basic Grey Scarlett's Letter
Ribbon: May Arts
Stamp Set: Cornish Heritage Farms We Remember
Accessories: Cloud 9 Design Rain Dots, Foam Dots, Adhesive
Tools: Stampin' Up Distressing Tool, Sponge

In Remembrance and Honor

I couldn't wait to share more about the inspiration of this set with you. I hope you don't mind...

We Remember:

The images on this project have a great deal of meaning for my family.

First, the "We Remember" sentiment itself is a tribute to memorials. In the 1990's, my family had the honor of seeing the traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial in St. Louis. It was not uncommon to see people looking through the names for their loved ones, pressing a piece of newsprint paper against the Wall's granite surface and taking a rubbing of the name, as though they have a piece of their family back with them again. The sentiment is a tribute to this.

The second image is in honor of my father's cousin, Lt. Harold Dale Meyerkord. Dale was the first Naval officer killed in the line of duty. Because of valor in duty, he was remembered through the naming of a frigate, the USS Meyerkord.

The emblem image is from a patch from the Navy, which you can see at this link HERE in its original form.

Thanks for stopping by and letting me share,
lise
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Supplies:
Stamps:
-We Remember (The Rummage Bin) by CHF

Ink:
-Pitch Black Adirondack dye ink by Ranger

Paper:
-Light Blue, Black and white

Other:
-Nestabilities by Spellbinder
-dimensional tape
-pale blue satin ribbon by May Arts

Thank you...

I thought I'd share with you a little bit more about how the We Remember set came together. All the images were created from memories and mementos from our family.

Thank you for your service:


I just loved this picture. The handsome man on the left is my Grandpa. He was in the army in the early 1950's. I don't think he enjoyed any of it, because he missed his wife and wanted to be home. I can't blame him one bit (my grandma was a sweet and loving person). But, he sent pictures home that were smiling and lighthearted... with letters that told all about their minutes apart. In fact, one picture I found was of him reading a letter, and he wrote on the back of it that he's smiling because it's from his sweet little wife.

Grandpa is still just that handsome and one of my all-time favorite people in the world. I love you, Grandpa.

So... thank you for all those serving in the military. I can't thank you enough for our freedom.

Thanks for stopping by,
lise

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Supplies:
Stamps:
-We Remember (The Rummage Bin) by CHF

Ink:
-Black archival ink by Ranger

Paper:
-Kraft, light brown and Natural white watercolor paper
-khaki paper by Core'dinations

Other:
-ball chain --this was put under the Core'dinations paper and I sanded over it to give the ball chain impression on the bottom of the paper.
-waterbrush
-Derwent watercolor pencils
-twill by EK Success (Martha Stewart line at Michael's)
-Dimensional tape
-distress tool by Tonic Studios

We Remember...

I am really excited to share this post with you. I've been working for a long time to create this (and had much to learn). And the date is finally here!

I have been lucky enough to work with Cornish Heritage Farms for the last 2 years. In that time, I've learned a great deal. And today, I'm proud to share with you my first stamp set.

We Remember

This set is created in honor of all those that have served or are serving to preserve our freedom.

So many of the images have a great deal of meaning to me. With each project, I'll share with you the inspiration and meaning of the images.

One of my first projects is a sympathy card:

The symbolism of a single dog tag (or ID tag, as I think they are referred to now) is very significant. Each soldier is issued two tags, one secured to a shorter chain. When a soldier falls in service, one tag stays with them and the other is removed and returned to the family. It goes without saying that a loved one never wants to see a single tag come home without it's mate.



In loving memory - for those that have served and fallen in support of our freedom...

Thanks for stopping by! I'll have more projects for you with this set. And for more inspiration, please stop by the CHF Gallery for some amazing projects. Julia Stainton has been hard at work!

Thanks,
lise

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Supplies:
Stamps:
-We Remember (The Rummage Bin) by CHF

Ink:
-Pitch Black Adirondack dye ink by Ranger
-Jet Black StazOn ink by Tsukineko (to stamp on metal sheet)

Paper:
-Kraft and Natural white

Patterned Paper:
-Journal pad in black by Making Memories

Other:
-Specialty foil metal sheets by Making Memories
-precision scissors
-Copic blender pen (to remove details from the metal stamped image)
-ball chain and clasp
-silver cord by May Arts

Special note:
The dog tag image was created from my father's dog tags. Because I really didn't want to put the thought in my head about single tag, I used the Copic blender pen to remove ink and make this a generic tag without the name details.

The Cafe - New Shady Tree Studio images

It's been forever since I've created for a release.  When I saw this set, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it.  The images are wonderful and multi-purpose... and if I can use a set for more than one reason, it's tops in my book!

The Cafe

I thought of this idea when in line at the grocery store last weekend.  I used a pen from my purse and the back of my receipt to jot my notes... it was just something I HAD to try.  Not everything I see in my head comes out as planned, but this project completed exactly as I envisioned.

This little cafe has all the sweets you can imagine, sitting there in the window... waiting for you to take them home or stop for a treat!

I used my Nestabilities to create the window opening and to give the awning a scalloped edge.  The images were stamped and then colored with Copic markers.  The donuts and blueberry muffins were covered with crystal glitter to look like they are sugar-coated.  To adhere the awning, I stitched the top in place and used dimensional tape to pop up the lower portion.

The release of this amazing set is scheduled for Tuesday, April 28th, so be sure to check out the gallery at Cornish Heritage Farms for more inspiration.

Thanks for stopping by,
lise
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Supplies:
Stamps:
-The Cafe (Shady Tree Studio) by CHF


Ink:
-Espresso Adirondack dye ink by Ranger


Paper:
-Solar White and Kraft
-Suede Brown Dark by Prism


Patterned paper:
-Me and My Big Ideas


Other:
-Nestabilities by Spellbinder
-Copics
-Sewing machine and thread
-Coarse glitter (Martha Stewart) by EK Success

Sweet Spring Blog Hop

The trees are in bloom, the birds are singing and the tulips are peeking out of the garden... it's SPRING!  YEAH!!  I'm so glad Winter has made way to warmer temperatures!

The Cornish Heritage Farm team has decided to celebrate the season with a little blog hop.  Be sure to stop by the CHF team's blogs for more inspiration and fun.

Becky Olsen
Joanne Allison
Julia Stainton
Kristine Reynolds
Sherrie Siemens

CHF Creative Blog - where the winners of the recent challenge are also announced!
So, here are my cards for the "Ode to Spring"!
Spring into Style:

I couldn't stop at just one card.  I created a quick set of cards, all simply made with the same style and colors.  All are made with White Prismatic cardstock that has been embossed with the Labels Four Nestabilities dies.  And I used the Sweet Spring stamp set from Cornish Heritage Farms for all of them.  I don't think it could be any simpler.  Here are each of the cards up close:

Thanks for stopping by,
Lisa

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Supplies:
Stamps:
-Sweet Spring stamp set (Kim Hughes Collection) by Cornish Heritage Farms

Ink:
-Pitch Black Adirondack ink by Ranger

Paper:
-White Prismatic cardstock by Prism

Patterned Paper:
-Urban Prairie by Basic Grey (I can't stop using this paper!!!!)

Other:
-Stickles by Ranger
-Liquid Applique by Marvy
-Nestabilities by Spellbinder
-Ribbon from www.ribbonsandbowsohmy.com