Mother's Little Helper

Doomsday Stamping

Good Monday morning!  Ready for the start of another week?  They're coming down, fast & furious, aren't they?  But for the fact that I have a ton to do before Christmas, I'm ready to say goodbye to 2012 and welcome 2013. Of course, if the Mayans have their way, we're goners on 12/21, but I tend not to buy into any of those doomsday predictions. Nostradamus-shmostradamus! I did watch a couple of epidsodes of "Countdown to the Apocolapyse" on the History Channel yesterday, however.  Preppers are stocking their bunkers and I'm stamping while Rome burns...

Want to join me?  Then a perfect way to start is with the brand-new MOJO MONDAY sketch, drawn by yours truly.  Take a look:

And here's what I made with it, using an adorable new a la mode (DRAWN BY MY NIECE!) from My Favorite Things, SPARKLING SEASON, and a lovely sentiment from Waltzingmouse Stamps' COMPLIMENTS OF THE SEASON set:

Here's a close-up of the sweet gal and her big, Stickles-covered ornament:

And the sentiment, for those of you who'd rather not squint and put your face close to your computer screen:

Go to the Mojo Monday blog to get all of the details about how to play along with this week's challenge, and be sure to visit my fellow Mojo Makers to see their inspirational interpretations.  Because it's the first Monday of the month, it's also PRIZE WEEK!  Up to seven lucky participants will be selected to win a set of VERVE STAMPS of their choosing!

• Julee Tilman
• Debbie Carriere
• Marisa Ritzen
• Mary Fish
• Sarah Bigelow
• Teresa Kline
• Stephanie Kraft
• Wanda Cullen

 

Supplies used - Stamps: Sparkling Season (MFT), Complements of the Season (WMS); Paper: Copic X-Press Blending cardstock, Blu Raspberry & Sour Apple (MFT), 12 Days of Christmas 6"x6" pad (MME); Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Wild Cherry (MFT); Accessories: Copic markers, Rectangle MegaNestabilities, sewing machine, Platinum & Star Dust Stickles, Maya Road lace trim, woven ribbon from stash, Jody's Foam Boosters, gold Prismacolor pencil.

Wing Dinger

Happy Monday!  Are you ready for the week?  I am.  I guess.  I think.  Maybe...

 

Regardless, here we are: another week, and another brand new Mojo Monday sketch, this one courtesy of the talented Teresa Kline.  Ready for a look-see?  Here you go...

A few months ago, I placed a big order with Waltzingmouse Stamps; WMS sponsored Jen's Sketch For You To Try and after playing with my sponsor set, I fell madly in love.  I hadn't got around to inking any of them up, but when I saw this unusual sketch, I thought the time was right. 

Isn't that sentiment just the funnest?  I love.  And the kicky red boots, too.  Both are from the Back in the Saddle set.  Between the images and the patterned paper (My Mind's Eyes' "Dilly Dally" 6"x6" pad, from the Miss Caroline collection), I felt inspired to get back to basics and use the technique that made me a stamper in the first place: heat embossing!  Here's a close-up of the boots, so you can get a good look at the sheen and texture:

I used Red Pepper embossing powder by Powder Keg. The  boots are propped up on the smaller rosette from The Cat's Pajamas' Easy Rosette CutUps die.  I also used the Inside Pinking Border CutUps die by TCP for the side detail adjacent to the plaid pattern.  For the fishtail floral layer, I used Lil Inker Designs' Flags & Tags die.

Mosey on over to the Mojo Monday blog for more info about how you can play along with this week's sketch.  And be sure to visit my fellow Mojo Makers for further inspiration:

• Debbie Carriere
• Mary Fish
• Sarah Bigelow
• Teresa Kline

Y'all come back now, ya hear?

October Sketch For You To Try

Happy October, friends!  It's not only the first of the month, it's the first Saturday.  You know what that means: time for a brand-new Sketch For You To Try!

This month, we're so fortunate to be sponsored by Waltzingmouse Stamps. 

When I heard they were our sponsor, I literally squealed.  I've been wanting to get my hands on some of their beautiful images for the longest time.  But you know the drill: I'd go to their website, spend an hour or so sifting through all of their gorgeous stamps and the jaw-dropping loveliness of their gallery samples, pile stuff into my cart, and then get distracted.  Off I'd go to do some chore or another, and by the time I returned to my computer, I'd think "I have so many stamps already... better not."

I hope my husband enjoyed those moments of sacrifice because, after having the opportunity to actually play with Waltzingmouse Stamps, they WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN!  Seriously, when I get done writing this post?  I'm headed over there to place a big ol' order and I won't leave my computer until the "payment recieved" email hits my inbox. I have a big ol' crush on Waltzingmouse now.

 

Are you ready to see this month's sketch?  Here it is:

I really like it, don't you?  Nice, clean, straight forward.  Can do it up simple or dress it up to the hilt.  Here's what I did with it:

One of the cool things about Waltzingmouse Stamps is they have a lot of different stamp sets specifically designed to work with Spellbinders Nestabilities.  I recently bought the Nestabilities 2010 Heirloom Ornaments, so when I saw Waltzingmouse's Vintage Ornaments set, I HAD to have it.  And, anytime I get a set that doesn't require coloring, you know what I'm going to do with it, don't you?  My favorite technique in the whole wide world... HEAT EMBOSSING!

Check out the sparkly, textured effects of using Powder Keg Sparkling Pine embossing powder on the main image, then going over the the sentiment (which was stamped in A Muse Cranberry Pigment Ink) with Ranger Polysparkle embossing powder.

It really kicked the festiveness up a notch or two!

Ready to see what Jen and the rest of the SFYTT Sisters have done with this month's great sketch and Waltzingmouse's fabulous stamps?  Then go see:

• Jen del Muro 
• Amber Hight
• Amy Sheffer
• Becky Carafa
• Iwona Palamountain
• Jen Tapler
• Jodi Collins
• Kerry Johnson
• Megan Lock
• Susan Liles
• Terri Moore

Go to Jen's blog for instructions about how to play along with us and be in the running to become SFYTT's Designer Of the Month. 

Have a great weekend, and thanks for popping by to see me!