Showing posts with label rubber stamping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rubber stamping. Show all posts

Friday, May 24, 2013

yellow bugs and humor galore


WELCOME!!


greeting card made with kirigami purple cutting and stamped, colored and cut out fish
by inkspired

I have been working in my etsy shop:

www.collagepaperpainting.etsy.com

and visiting some of my followers.

I have found just some terrific finds that I have been pinning on my various boards on pinterest.  You can find me  with this: kkloberdans
This one went on my board: "Tea for you and me"

garden hanging tea light
www.Beyondthegardenwall.etsy.com

Don't know what pinterest is? Go to www.pinterest.com and plan to spend a bit of time! It has soooo many interesting things to find! There's humor (which I will discuss more in a bit) and crafts, and tutorials on everything, and recipes, and patterns for just about everything, and gardens and international sites, and...well, the list just goes on!

name painting by www.DSStudioFlorida.etsy.com

So, in my browsing, I found the most HILARIOUS and just plain old fun shop:

www.YellowBugBoutique.etsy.com

If you are needing a bit of humor in your day
or
love sarcastic humor
or
are in the witness protection program
or 
know someone too geeky to even explain

then this shop is for you!!!

computer mouse pad
www.YellowBugBoutique.etsy.com

Here is their Profile on Etsy information. I thought it was so funny I have just copied it all for you!

from www.YellowBugBoutique.etsy.com:

ABOUT:
“Honey! We need to write a bio about us for the Etsy Shop!”

“Oh, great. You know how upset the Witness Protection Program people get when we publish anything.”

“Well, they can just get over it. Etsians want to know who we are and what we do. We don’t have to tell them about the episode in Jakarta.” 

“Fair enough. What should we talk about?”

“We could tell them that we’re college sweethearts and have been married since the Reagan administration. Or we could tell them that we’re hopelessly addicted to Looney Tunes, Mythbusters and Monty Python. Or tell them that you’ve been doing technology and I’ve been doing crafts for thirty years.”

"That makes us sound like we're old as dirt."

"We ARE old as dirt!"

“But we don't need to tell the whole world about it. Leave all that out. How about telling them the story of how you named the shop?”

“You mean how my mother taught me and our children how to cherish their individuality and uniqueness by telling them that while little yellow bugs were cute, the world would be pretty boring if EVERY car was a little yellow bug?”

“On second thought, that's so mushy it makes my teeth hurt. How about telling them how you were one of the first employees at the original Michael's store?”

“Michaels, Schmichaels. Who cares? Let's tell them something current. How about telling them that as our nest empties, we’re getting even crazier and having fun embarrassing our children?”

“Nobody would believe it. Empty Nesters are supposed to be sitting in recliners and yelling at the TV news. We don’t even own a recliner.”

“This is harder than I thought.”

“You’re right. Maybe we should tell them about Jakarta.”

“OK. <sigh> We’ve been wanting to move again anyway. So, Etsians, when were were secret agents during the Cold War, we tailed our target to Jakarta and -”

THE REMAINDER OF THIS BIOGRAPHY HAS BEEN REDACTED BY THE FEDERAL WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAM. MOVE ALONG. THESE AREN’T THE DROIDS YOU’RE LOOKING FOR."

{the end}

www.YellowBugBoutique.etsy.com


I saw that they have a blog also.


Too fun!

www.YellowBugBoutique.etsy.com

Here is one of the blog entries I found. I thought it was funny enough to share with you all.

from www.YellowBugBoutique.blogspot.com

Playing cards?

"So we're working on updating our shipping prices in the Etsy store, and in the process we are discovering some interesting things about the morals, politics and idiocracy of  Customs rules.  Here's a little sampler of true, actual Customs regulations:

  • You can't ship melatonin to Germany.  Apparently the German government is afraid that it's population might get sleepy and fall into the gears at the factory.  Which makes a real mess and slows down production.
  • If one of your Albanian relatives asks you send them them the toothbrush they left at your place over the holidays, don't even try to send it.  Albania strictly forbids the shipment of anything that's been used.  Extravagant clothes are also verboten.  So Levis good, Prada, not so much.
  • You can't ship Uncle Hassien's cremated remains back to the family farm in Algeria if they are in a funeral urn.  Just put him in a cereal box and everything will be fine.
  • It's illegal to ship bananas to Armenia.
  • Aussies don't want your used bedding. Ever.
  • Shipping pink Quinine to Bangladesh will get you in a lot of trouble.  Blue, red, polka dotted or plaid Quinine is apparently OK.
  • The government of Belgium will be very upset with you if you try to send a used ink cartridge to them.
  • Do not send a fancy greeting card that sings 'Happy Birthday" to a relative in Bulgaria.
  • You can't mail margarine to Canada.  Really.
So this has us through the letter C, and the rest of the world promises even more entertaining  regulation.  Stand by for next post.

Oh, and by the way, don't try to send the 6 of Spades to Germany.  Gunplay could ensue." 


www.YellowBugBoutique.etsy.com

I hope you have found some humor to make it through the rest of the day - Who knows? Maybe even through the rest of the week.....
Oh yeah, it's Friday!!!

:0)

"Office Lunch Break"
original one of a kind Collage Art Doll art, using all recycled junk mail!
www.collagepaperpainting.etsy.com

Have a super duper day!!

...and isn't 'galore' a wonderful word?!
:0)
inkspired
www.inkspiredmusings.blogspot.com
www.collagepaperpainting.etsy.com
www.inkspired.etsy.com
and on pinterest: kkloberdans

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

A snuggly day

Rauha

Finnish for 'Peace'

"First Snowdrop"

Today is a snuggly kind of day. The sky has been overcast so everything is just a kind of dull white. It's cold, even though the temperature says it isn't. The wind is blowing just enough to make it too cold.

A good snuggly kind of day!


If it were just a bit colder, we might have snow.
I like the way the snow covers up everything, and makes it look all clean!


sorry, I don't have info on this other than it looks like a neat layered card!

A perfect day to grab some scissors and old wrapping paper
or origami paper
or just plain white office type paper -
and cut up a snow storm!

Here are three wonderful patterns from





Now, that last one is so pretty, but I am not brave enough to attempt cutting it out. I would however like to try my hand with some caligraphy pens and duplicate it for the front of a card.
If it takes up too much time, then I think it would be very pretty framed.
Then I can scan and print it for cards.
Note: personal use only!

Side note:
Did you know you can get caligraphy felt tip markers?
They come in colors, and different tips and are super super easy to use.
They look professional, and you don't even have to know how to do it!!!

This is a purchased card. I thought the idea was terrific, and easily duplicated.
You could use those fancy dimensional stickers
or rubber stamps
or clip from recycled junk mail
or even draw!

Since you have your scissors out, why not cut out these cute paperdolls.
They are in serious need of more clothes, so get that box of assorted paper scraps you have, and create some!





This set is from the 1940's I believe.


I'm pretty sure I got these from http://www.origamibears.com/
Thanks!

I thought, thinking about snow and all, that I would like to explore some
Snow Queens.
Here are a few that I found:

a Russian Snow Queen
by Marina Davydova

I have to say, she is one of my favorites!

'Snow Queen' wallpaper

A beautiful beaded necklace -

Snow Queen necklace


"Snow Queen" by Meg Fox

Next are a couple of pictures that I like to use as my computer background:

'Snowy Church'

'Snow Svenski'

"If we had no winter;
the spring would not be so pleasant;
If we did not sometimes taste of adversity,
Prosperity would not be so welcome."

---Anne Bradstreet

"A Paler Shade of White" original Collage Art Doll

another purchased card:

I'm going to try and 'duplicate' it with my Sizzlet Snowflake set
and use card from used Christmas cards.
Then I'll probably dot a few Stickles glitter glue around.
Maybe glue on a few silvery clear beads.
mmmm.....pretty....

I have a book waiting for me,
and a yummy soft 'lap' blanket my sister gave me for Christmas.
Maybe even a cup of hot tea

"Come along inside...
We'll see if tea and buns
can make the world a better place!".

- Kenneth Grahame, 'Wind in the Willows'

"Snow queen" by Ata Alishahi

inkspired

Well, that's it for today.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Favorite Jello recipe!

Hi!
I just have a couple of minutes, but I wanted to post something today!

I thought perhaps some of you would like a nice spring green jello salad recipe. I love this stuff so much that I kind of hoard it, and don't offer it to friends/guests.
I want it all!! I want it all!!!

Fortunately for my greediness, neither my son or husband likes it.

More for me!
Lime Jello Cottage Cheese salad:

1 small box lime jello
1 small can crushed pineapple, drained
1 Cup hot water
3/4 Cup room temp water
1 Cup chopped pecans
2 1/2 Cup cottage cheese

Mix the jello with the hot water, stirring until dissolved.
Add the 3/4 cup cold water, stir.

Add the drained pineapple. Stir.
Add the cottage cheese. Stir.
Add the pecans. Stir.

tip: I like to use a metal whisk to mix things thoroughly.

Pour into bowl, and cover with seran wrap. Chill.
Try to let it 'set' before you start eating it (a difficult task for me).

I like this one because it does not have any added sugar, or sweet marshmallows.

Yum!

Sorry it is so short today, but perhaps today will make up for all the times I get too wordy!

Enjoy the day.
inkspired


Saturday, March 19, 2011

March Lions, salad recipes, more quotes and rubber stamping tips

good morning!
"If we had no winter; the spring would not be so pleasant;
If we did not sometimes taste of adversity,
Prosperity would not be so welcome."
- Anne Bradstreet

We had the nicest dinner last night. I went to the grocery store (a rare occurrence, as my husband has done most of the grocery shopping for around 2 years). I purchased a fresh round loaf of focaccia bread, sliced havarti cheese and a salad from the deli. Very simple, but very satisfying.
While I don't have the recipe for the salad, here is what it consisted of:
  * fresh asparagus tips, cut about 1" - 1 1/2"
  * mandarin orange slices
  * pistachio nuts
  * green onions (mostly the green part, not the white bulb part)
  * a mild vinaigrette
It was just very tasty. I know the ingredients sound a little hmmmm, but I would recommend that you play around and try this one out!

A little more lion - March comes in like a lion, and out like a lamb

"It's spring fever.
That is what the name of it is.
And when you've got it, you want
- oh,you don't know what it is you do want,
but it just fairly makes your heart ache,
you want it so!"
- Mark Twain

While this big kitty is not an african lion, he is a mountain lion.
This is one of the hundreds of recycled bottlecap magnets that I have made.
Check out my etsy store, where I have many listed:

You can see even more at my website:

Now, I must apologize about my website. A mix of my not being able to sit at the computer for months, new computer program that was not compatible with my website tools, waiting for a new computer, getting a new computer (wha-hoo!) but not having the right software or drivers or some such thing....
So it has been too long since I have been able to update it.
However....the pictures are still great!

This is a picture that I took of one of the lions at the Denver Zoo.
I think perhaps our March Lion is mellowing now, and looking more like this one!
Oh goodie, we can start with the March lambs now!
  
Spring can never come too early for me.
One year, when I was teaching, we had a snow day in May.
I had to shovel snow to get my car out!

"Awake, thou wintry earth -
Fling off thy sadness!
Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth
Your ancient gladness!"
- Thomas Blackburn, An Easter Hymn

Today I'm not going to do much in the way of projects or anything. I would like to pass along some rubberstamping tips that I have gathered through the years.

Budget Rubberstamping tip:
When I started stamping I had no idea what a heat gun was, but there were 'budget' ways of heating up embossing powders, so this is what I did:

Turn on your electric stove top, one burner.

Stamp image with pigment inks, sprinkle on embossing powder, tap excess off.

Hold image embossing powder side up over hot burner, and rotate and move around. You will see the embossing powder actually melt before your eyes!

You can use a clothespin or another clip of choice to hold the paper so your fingers don't get too hot. Just be sure the clip is not leaving marks on your cardstock.

The key to this is to keep that cardstock moving, so it doesn't get scorched!
stamp and sample card from Peddler's Pack. See site on side bar.

Crafting tip:
Glitter. We all love it. It loves us...on our shoes, on our face, in our hair!
* Remember that a little goes a long way*
But then, a little glitter on the dog is festive, right?

Our dear Carl, gone over the rainbow bridge, and happily herding bunnies.

Rubberstamping tip:
A simple way to make a simple card that really pops!

Stamp an image on a scrap of cardstock. Color as desired. Cut out.

Use a small piece of double stick framing or foam back tape. You can now find these easily anywhere stamps are sold. They can also be found sometimes in the framing section of a store. The tape comes in rolls, or individual squares or dots.
Wonderful stuff!

Set up your card as desired - cardstock, quote or saying, layered colors.

Peel off the backing of the tape, so one side is stuck to the cut out image, and now you will stick the other side to your card. Be sure it's where you want it, as the tape does not come off easily.

extra tip - do it in this order! It can be a little difficult to stamp a greeting next to a raised image, so stamp the greeting first!

This is the logo for St. Boniface Center.
Makes a great coloring sheet however.

Well, that's it for today. I'm feeding the kitties next door, so I'm sure they are wanting their breakfast.

" Spring shows what God can do with a drab and dirty world."
- Virgil A. Kraft

vintage song sheet graphics, see side bar for website

inkspired

The lambs are coming!

Thursday, March 17, 2011

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY!!! with some Irish quotes and notes

Erin go braugh!
(That means "Ireland Forever" according to wikipedia.)
Indiana Museums of Music, see side bar for website

"There are only two kinds of people in the world -
The Irish and those who wish they were!"
- Irish saying

Don't forget to wear a bit 'o green today!

vintage crate label, Dover Publications

Here are some fun activity sheets for the kids. These are perfect for when they have to wait in line or rides in the car.

TURN OFF THAT TV/MOVIE/GAME!!

fun (cautionary) fact: The brain's activity level is the same
when watching tv or sleeping.
.
Hmmmm....I don't recall ever learning something new or communicating better with others or using any brain cells when I am sleeping....


Remember, click on the picture and it should come up
with a larger version that you can easily print.
Courtesy of Dover publications. See side bar for website.

Here is a fun web site that has international children paper dolls that you can color, cut out, mount on cardstock (yeah cereal boxes again) and play with or display. There is a nice Irish/Scottish boy included.

Here is a cute little paper doll girl and an Irish costume:
These are from a booklet of paper dolls "Friends Around the World" by Current, 1985. I will be adding some more of the international costumes in future blogs.

If you haven't tried the joys of glossy paper, do it! I like to print my base paper doll on cardstock, and then print the costumes on glossy paper. Just let the ink dry thoroughly and it works great!
Saint Patrick's Cathedral, New York, New York, USA
Budget craft:
Free magnets -

Gather together all those business cards and ads on magnet sheets that you aren't going to display.

Gather some images to print out, or rubber stamped images.
  * Don't forget all the wonderful photos, vintage clip and other art that I provide every day!
Tip: Recycled calendars are excellent places to find glossy images. And don't forget pictures of family and friends! (or Pierce Brosnan....)

Trace around the magnet onto printed images/stamped image; cut out.
Attach paper image to magnet front with double stick tape. Trim any edge overhang.

You now have beautiful magnets to include in a card or gift basket, or to display on your metal surface choice of the moment.

"There is no strength without unity."
- Irish proverb

Johnstown Castle, Ireland

Here is a simple bead pattern for an amulet bag done in peyote.
I'm sorry, but I don't know who to credit with this design.


One of my absolute favorite places for free beading patterns is:


Well, I still have tons of Irish history fun facts, Irish vintage clip art and images and photos, Vintage Irish Song Sheet graphics, Irish craft ideas.....
But they will have to wait for another day!

I have so enjoyed spreading a bit of Irish the past several days.
What shall we do tomorrow?
inkspired