I guess I should mention that I make Christmas cards all year long......

   One of my hobbies is card making.  At Christmas I send out about 90 hand made cards.  I love making the Christmas cards when I am not rushed.  So every month I make at least 8 cards.  This way I can enjoy making them and not feel rushed come November.  And come December I have all of my cards finished.  I don't make any two exactly alike either.  These three cards use the same Merry Christmas stamp, but different colors of layers, inks and card bases. 
 I also make other cards through out the year.  I can't remember the last time I bought a card.  That is bad, as years ago I managed a Hallmark Card Shop.  LOL 

Still playing with the Neutral Shadows technique from Technique Junkies

www.techniquejunkies.com  This is a great glossy paper newsletter (snail mail) with all kinds of wonderful techniques for card making.  Once you sign up you also are able to see the techniques done step by step on the website.  After you become a member there is an other link to see the gallery of cards on each technique.  This stamp (Merry Christmas) is an old one from The Angel Companywww.theangelcompany.net.  The corners are from http://www.imacrs.com/popups.htm

Neutral Shadow Thomas Point Light House

I used to work in Annapolis, MD and spent many hours on the Chesapeake Bay.  Thomas Point light house is very famous.  It is one of many screw-leg lighthouses found only in the Chesapeake Bay.  A light house is built to help sailors find their way in the fog.  When I saw this technique I immediately thought of doing it with this stamp.  The technique is from TECHNIQUE JUNKIES  Don't you think it makes the lighthouse look as though it is in the fog?

Puppy Love

I thought this new MOUTHFULS stamp from Art Impressions would make a cute Valentine Day card for a friend.  I stamped the big dog onto decorative paper using Black Stazon and cut him out.  Then I stamped the wagon using  Marvy Marker, English Red, onto watercolor paper.  I inked up the puppies with Sepia Marvy Marker and stamped it so the puppies look as though they are ready for a ride.  I took a damp paint brush #4, and pulled the ink into and around the wagon to color it.  I rinsed my brush and did the same for the puppies.  I took a fine point black marker to mark over the puppies eyes to accent them.  Before gluing the big dog onto the paper I stamped the clouds with a blue marker and again pulled the color with a damp brush.  The same with the grass.  I repeatedly stamped the grass across the bottom of the page.  I stamped the heart with BE MINE already on it and cut it out,  I slit the big dogs mouth and slid the heart in it.  I stamped his hat on decorative paper, cut it out and glued it onto his head.  I used the same decorative paper to make a layer under the stamped image and mounted both onto a A2 size card, ready to get mailed.

Since I had my stamps out.....

I decided to do an other quick one.  Thinking spring here.....  Stamps are all from Art Impressions. 

Playing with stamps today

I decided to try to make a scene with some Art Impressions tiny bear stamps.  My husband hunts, so I am always looking for cards to make for him with hunting as a theme.  Plus we both love the outdoors, wildlife, hiking and National Parks through out our beautiful America.  I am pretty pleased with how it turned out except the water in the back will overflow.  I should have drawn a straight line for the water and filled in below it.  I will remember that next time.  I know to do it when I have the water meeting the sky at the horizon.  Tsk. Tsk.  Just plain wasn't thinking. 

Art Impressions MOUTHFULS stamp sets

Booklet with a mouthful of ideas.  $1.

Holiday Accessories $15.95

Pudgy Cat set $15.95

Spring time frog set $15.95

Partying Mouse set $15.95

Sweet Bunny set $15.95

Busy Dog set $15.95

Smiling Snowman set $15.95

Can't you just see how much fun these are to play with.  There are so many ways to make each card different with all the accessories for just $15.95 a set.  There is a holiday accessory set that will work for the above stamp sets, too.