Layin Rubber Ink. Design Clique

Have you felt trapped with crafting before? maybe you find that the only time you have put aside becomes time for obligations, and your scrapbook is sitting bare in the corner, or heaven forbid you bought Christmas cards for your loved ones this year?

Well those are some of the patterns I was falling into, so I decided enough is enough! I was going to pull back from business demo to hobby demo for awhile and focus on personal projects and other wonderful product. I guess that sounded like a great idea to some of my closest friends and they decided to jump ship with me.

So I'd like to introduce you to the Layin' Rubber ink. Design Clique


Heather Neidig http://www.punchdrunkstamper.blogspot.com/

Marie Kirkwood http://www.marielovestostamp.blogspot.com/

Tara MacFarlane http://www.taraspapercrafts.blogspot.com/

Catherine Martinez http://www.inksomia.blogspot.com/

And Me!


What can you look forward to you ask? After our debut on Dec 1st, EVERY Sat we will release our artwork showcasing one design by each designer.


Who are we promoting you ask? NO ONE! remember we are doing this just for fun. The images will be from a number of companies varying in styles. You will see links to purchase your own with NO inconvenience of having to wait for that stamp to be released to the public.


Are we looking for companies to sponsor us you ask? OF COURSE! who doesn't love free stamps! If you are a company owner or promoter and you would like to see your work designed by our Clique that's WONDERFUL. To make this happen please contact me at 2stampin@telus.net

Christmas is tight this year.....

My dear friends and family,

Somewhat embarrassing to admit but Christmas will be tight this year. I will be making bedroom slippers for you all as gifts. Please let me know your sizes. You'll most likely agree that it's a splendid idea, and should you wish to do the same, I've included the instructions below.

How to make bedroom slippers out of maxi pads:

You need four maxi pads to make a pair.
Two of them get laid out flat, for the foot part.
The other two wrap around the toe area to form the top.
Tape or glue each side of the top pieces to the bottom of the foot part.

Decorate the tops with whatever you desire, silk flowers (this is most
aesthetically appealing), etc.

These slippers are:
* Soft and Hygienic
* Non-slip grip strips on the soles
* Built in deodorant feature keeps feet smelling fresh
* No more bending over to mop up spills
* Disposable and biodegradable
* Environmentally safe
* Three convenient sizes: (1.) Regular, (2.) Light and (3.) Get out the Sand Bags.

I've attached a photo of the first pair made so that you can see the
nifty slippers for yourself....


Awaiting your response . It's crucial that I get the right size for each
one of you.

Snowmen melt my heart

Snowman's from Jolliest Time of Year by SU! It's totally caked with Crystal Effects:o)

I used Frosted Flakes DP by:Reminisce which co-ordinated with Old Olive, Kiwi Kiss, and Tempting Turquoise.I accessorized with satin ribbon and dew drops from Robin's Nest.

Blog Candy Alerts

Anyone out there wanna know where to go and when for Blog Candy? My dear Friend Diane makes it her mission to post all links to Blog Candy on her Blog. So hop on over and sign up to receive Feedburner Alerts,

Diane: http://www.loyaz1.blogspot.com/

Holiday Line-Up.

CRAZY colour combo! Pretty in Pink, Cool Caribbean, Certainly Celery, and Bravo Burgundy.

Imaginisce GLITTERY designer paper...........it's pretty!

Coloured with Copics: N0-1-3,RV13-14,BG000-01,E00-95,YG21-93.

Heading to Mexico

Were off to Mexico in 2 sleeps now and I'm still hanging onto the hope that I'll have some posts saved up to entertain you while I'm away, BUT I'm having a hard time getting "fun" stampin done with all my commitments right now.

My lack of posts recently is not due to a lack of crafting but quiet the contrary, it's due to OVER crafting!

I'm currently making:

Oh and there all DEADLINED for the first week of Dec;o)
80 Wedding Invites & a Bind it all Guest book for a friend (25% done)
50 Engagement Announcements for my Auntie. (2% Done, we picked a colour)
30 Surprise 90th B-Day invites for my Grandmothers loved ones. (75% done)
25 Personal Christmas cards. (75% done)
120 Christmas Cards for a customer. (90% done)

AND last but not least I'm getting ready for the launch of The Layin' Rubber Ink. Design Clique, which will be hitting the scenes Dec 1st. I found a stamp yesterday while shopping Art Impressions that said "Why worry today when you can panic tomorrow".

Wedding Planner

I decided today to make this Wedding Planner for one of my BFF's, Robyn, who just got engaged a couple of weeks ago and asked me to be a Bridesmaid. YIPPEE I'm SSSSSSSOOOOOO excited that they are getting married because we totally enjoy their company.

In fact we like them so much that last month when they invited us to travel with them and 2 other couples to the Miayn Riviera we tried our hardest to book that flight but missed the booking deadline.

Through communications with one of the other couples we managed to get a flight booked, same days-better times then Robyn and Cole.

So at that point we asked the other couple to keep it a secret from them so we can surprise them on the beach:o) Isn't that great? we can be all like "what are you doing here"

This is the almost finished cover. I will be adding their last name to the top plate then it'll be done.

This is the finished inside and the directions on how to make one of your own:o)

Score a 12x12 sheet of CS 4" and 8" then flip and rotate it. Then score again at 3".

Grab your stickiest adhesive (Sticky Strip) and add six 3" strips up the inside.

Matt your DSP (American Craft) on CS (Very Vanilla) with 1/8" boarders you'll need four different sheets of DSP to finish the project.

Snail them onto the scored CS and remove the backing of the sticky strip and close together.

Decorate the fold up flaps with more gorgeous DSP and CS.

Attach a 20" ribbon to the two wings off center. Remember the third folds in so before you snail it down close the planner up and center your ribbon.

Cover it with your 4th DSP/CS combo.
Cut some CS pages for inside the pockets at 3 1/2" x 8 1/2" to allow room for your sticky strip.

I used SU!'s She's All That which still has a chance of appearing in the next SU! IB&C, and Craft Ink to make it super dark.

I buffed the CS with my Embossing Buddy ($5.95 pg.190) which is REQUIRED when embossing in black. Then covered it thoroughly and repacked my excess EP for the next time. I heat set it with my Heat gun ($33.95 pg.190), sponged the edges in Baja Breeze and mounted it on Very Vanilla CS.

For my little extras I used SU!'s Big Flowers ($36.95 pg.94) Large paper clips and pop-up glue dots ($4.75 pg.191) and various punched shapes.

After this step I felt it wasn't enough so I goobered it with Crystal Effects ($7.50 pg.191) to keep it in place FOREVER!

Voila:o)

Now it's your turn send me a picture of your planner.

mmmmm Cupcakes

Okay so I'm getting ready for Mexico next week and decided I should watch what I eat pre-trip, so if I cant eat them I'm gonna colour them:o)


I used Sage Shadow and Pretty in Pink with Shimmery White CS from SU! and my BIG SHOT to cuttlebug my swirl. My 3 favorite things this year 2 Way Glue, Dazzling Diamonds and Crystal Effects. Coloured with Copics and Marvelous Markers. You cant really read it but the tag says "A Cherry Hello" and it's a retired SU! set with the cherries from Tart and Tangy in the background.

My Beautiful backyard

We barely made it outta the driveway. Alyx decided puddle hopping was funner than a walk and we spent FOREVER waiting for her to move along.






It's so gorgeous down here right now but it's defiantly a good thing you don't have smellavision because it's so STINKY! I couldn't get close ups because of all the spawning Salmon:o) YUK!

Naughty or Nice?

Isn't this guy adorable? He kinda looks like he'd be the Santa on South Park;o)



I got this swap at my Demo meeting from a fellow demo named Nicole Favero http://www.nicolefavero.stampinup.net

Santa is made with the 1 1/4" Circle punch for his face 1/4" circle for his features and the Scallop Square for his hat. His beard is the Boho Blossoms punch but could easily be substituted by the Trio Flower punch.

The clip board is the Tag and Small Tag punch cut off with the corner of the Scallop Square as the clip.

With Sympathy

I just whipped together this card for Kristi after hearing her families struggles this weekend.

The card says "May the beautiful memories that fill your heart help to bring you comfort"

I used Morning Soft, En Francis, Brighter Tomorrow, and Canvas. The technique is Cracked Glass.

When life gives you LEMONS......

Make a card with a lemon tree:o)



This is an Artful Inkables images with Summer Sun and Really Rust.
Coloured with Copics: E44-47-49-97-99,Y15-18-19,YG63-67.

WANTED

Have you seen this adorable stamp from Rubbernecker? His name is either Quintin or Sammy, I cant remember because I bought both!

It's hard for me to use boy colours and do boy things but when I saw these I HAD to own them;o)

I used Not Quiet Navy, More Mustard, and Kiwi Kiss. Weathered Background and hand wrote WANTED. I used my Copics to colour in my Dew Drops. My coluzzle to cut the circles and sponged everything. Oh and I crystal effected the buckle.

Artfully Asian

I made this card for my Grandmothers 90th B-Day. My Mother has asked me to make up some more samples because she isn't a fan. Which of course means I LOVE IT!



Paper: SU! Pretty in Pink, Kiwi Kiss, Black.
Stamps: SU! It's your Birthday, Artfully Asian, Canvas.
Ink: Nick Bantock Lamp Black.
Copics: RV13-14, YG21-95.
Extras: SU! Kiwi Satin ribbon, Crystal Effects, Paper Piercing, Sponge Daubers, and 3/4" Circle punch.

I'm Certified!

And NO that's not certifiably insane;o)

What a great day we had yesterday with Marianne. So packed with information my little fingers hurt from taking notes, oh and of course colouring.

Marie getting schooled with an Aqua Painter filled with Colourless Blender!

I was having so much fun airbrushing that I'm pretty sure I'll be the proud owner of my very own AB system before Christmas.

Marianne made this sketch especially for Marie and I, of someone who doesn't enjoy her classes.

OMG I'm scared, WE LOVED THEM MARIANNE, don't hurt us;o)

If you want to collect Copic markers go to http://www.oozak.com/

If you have questions go to: http://www.ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/copiccrazy

If you want to learn tips for Marianne go to http://www.ilikemarkers.blogspot.com/

Copic Demonstration

I'm self taught until Mon Nov. 10 when I take the Copic Certification Course in Van. so be gentle with me.

First thing I do is Image, DSP, and co-ordinating CS selection
Ink: Nick Bantock, Lamp Black
Paper: Stampin' Up!
Copics: YG21,YG95,YG97.


I chose this Halloween image by Shelley Cominsky/Whipper Snapper to show you how add I depth to my "open" spaces because it has nice big empty area.

I put a nice thick coat of my lightest colour over the whole image.

Then introducing my next shade of the same colour, I come in a little closer but don't fill in completely.

Then with my last shade of the same colour I loosely trace just the perimeter.

Then going back to my lightest shade I cover the entire image generously blending them together.

Then I go back one more time with my darkest shade and ever so gently trace the outlines again, which actually adds a 4th shade:o)

Just to give you an idea of how "generous" I am with my layers I flipped the image for you.

Copic Airbrushing

We've been talking on COPIC CRAZY Yahoo Group about whether or not we can use Stampin' Up!'s Colour Spritzer Tool (pg. 193 $16.50) with our Copic markers.

I don't own the Spritzer YET so Marie who has both gave it a try.

Marie thought at first when I asked her if it would work- "no way - the barrel of the COPIC marker is too thick to fit in the Color Spritzer Tool holder".

BUT THEN - Bridget discovered that there are two parts to the holder and once you take the screw out (or loosen it) the inner part can be removed allowing the Copic marker to fit!


If you keep the marker barrel flat you can tighten the screw to keep the marker in place and it works like a charm!

Not only do the Ciao's and Originals fit, the Sketch fits too!

You just need to take the screw out completely but it does fit in there nice and snug! Marie used the Chisel Tip end of the marker for this and it works very well as long as longest point is right against the spout of the spritzer tool.

Just a word of warning from Marie - "I don't know this for sure but I suspect that using an air tool may dry out your markers faster than just colouring with them!

Please note that this is a manual pump tool and so the results will not be the same as the constant air pressure from the COPIC system"

Check out Marie's blog for more: http://www.marielovestostamp.blogspot.com/ and thank her for trying this out for us.

Copic Comparison

In this picture I compare two different styles of using the markers.

Stamp is called Shy Bunny by Anna Wight/Whipper Snapper
Ink is Nick Bantock Lamp Black
Paper is SU! Whisper White CS.

The top image is 1 marker (E35) and the Colourless blender pen (0)

The bottom image is 3 markers, for the flower pot (E31 E35 E57).

I finished the second image off with (C2-3-4-5, YG21-95-97)

Party Poker Payout!

My wonderful husband, Ken suffers from on-line poker playing (I don't judge, you've seen my craft room;o)

I rarely complain about his love for the game because he keeps bringing in the $$. Last night however was by far the biggest win we've ever had on-line. He got 2nd place outta 200+ and fought so long and hard for first.

I coached him through it and we just couldn't hit a break against this other player. It was Heads up for 3hrs or more with us winning 80% of the time. Finally the other player took three major double ups the last being fatal.

Oh well we went out on 3 bad beats the last being a full house to his four of a kind Ace high, who gets that! 1st place was $2500 man that woulda been nice $1500's not a bad consolation prize!

It's kinda funny because we've been playing cards weekly now for around 6 years with a large group of friends, some of which are now playing pro and earning 6 figures.

I was nicknamed "the poker Champ" and Ken was called "the poker chump".

I've cleaned house at Casino's and Tournaments with winnings over $5000. But I lost interest when I got pregnant in summer of '05 and ever since have lost my touch, either that or they are all just getting really good with time and out playing me!

We both agree that I'm a better table player, but he kills me at on-lines. So it's nice to play together again none the less.

Anyways thought I'd share this card from my BFF "Neidigity" who just started the world of blogging this week http://www.punchdrunkstamper.blogspot.com/

My Wedding Party

This kit is American Craft and BoBunny. I loved the way it turned out.

Santa & Friends

"CASE is not a dirty 4-letter word" a quote from Marie earlier on this year.

I've been seeing Franky and Friends pop up on blogs and SCS all season and let Halloween pass without getting some for myself made.


So I'm getting a jump start on the Santa & Friends.


You can find the ones I "cased" here:

Snowman: Dawn Griffith

http://www.dawnsstampingthoughts.typepad.com/

Santa: Nancy Dawson

http://creativewishes.blogspot.com/

Usborne Anyone?

I'm very bad at promoting my Usborne Books business and thought I would put it out there in case you were in need or want of Christmas gift idea's this year. If it's not for your children and you cant decide what to get, I also do Gift Certificates.

Place orders with me nationwide and have them shipped right to your door. To view our On-Line Catalogue go to http://www.usbornebooksathome.ca/ Mention your a "Blogger" and save 10% on Christmas orders from now till Dec 15th.

Lazy Dayz

Thought I'd play with some of my new stamps today but ended up pooped from the time change and only completing this one. I thought it was perfect for my BFF Neidigity, because when I grow up I wont to be just like her:o)

I used Imaginisce DP with co-ordinating SU! CS Tangerine Tango, Pacific Point, More Mustard and Garden Green.


Image and sentiment are by Rubbernecker
Sentiment says: "I want to be just like you when I grow up".

I just got my order in and couldn't wait to start stamping. I almost didn't order this image, but Dave the Rubbernecker guy emailed me after I submitted my order to say I get 4 FREE stamps! How great is that, FREE stamps!


Coloured with Copics: R05-08-46,BG000,T2-4-6-8,B00-02-14-16,E21-31-35-37,YR16-18-21-23,Y18,YG25-67,G28

Halloween: Johnston style

This is my Nephew/Godson Ethan Kenneth (2yrs), named after my husband (Ken) and his Grandfather (Kenny) I guess we weren't moving fast enough for him.


This is my niece MacKenzie Marie (3yrs), named again after my husband (Ken). I always planned on naming my two girls McKenzie and Alyxandria so I could call them Kenzie and Lexy for short. I wasn't upset when they used the name first because this way I don't have to have any more children;o)


This is Joshua (9yrs) MacKenzie (3yrs) and my little piggy Alyxandria (1.5yrs)on her daddy's knee.



Have you ever tried to get kids harfed on candy into one photo? It wasn't happening!

Nieces and Nephews missing from the photo are Angie (13yrs) Riley (3yrs) our angel in Heaven Jacob (past at 6mon)