In the swing of Summer

Hi all, well, just a couple of new cards today, along with a new reference page for masking. Seems to me if you want to make a scene or combine images from different companies than you're gonna need to know how to mask.

When I first started stamping I did a bunch of image swaps, and it just didn't occur to me that just because I didn't have the actual stamp from many of the images I received that I could mask the images. I could've masked the images I received and combined them with the stamps I already owned. All you need to do is photocopy on your printer the image, cut out the copier image, apply a small piece of removable tape and voila!! You have a mask for an image of a rubber-stamp that you don't own. Save it, someday you'll own it. Trust me if you like the image, eventually you'll buy it. That's our addiction right????

My Edwin card is actually the gift card holder tutorial from split coast stampers. Very easy to do. This is my father's Day card this year. I am going to enclose a photo of Curtiss the boy as well for Dear hubby. My Ballerina Tilda is a gate card which I just love to make. My DP's actually came from prior card kit swaps as did the images. A big thanks shout out to Shannon Wyman for the striped paper and craft cardstock. Now just to figure out which giftcard to put it, Lowes, Home Depot.......(Michael's if it were truly my choice) :) Have a great week all. Deadline is June 30th for my school's out cutesy image swap over at Splitcoast stampers. Hope to see you all there. Stay cool this week end, it's supposed to be in the 80's in MA. this weekend. Yahoo!!!!! See you soon, Carpe Diem, Carlotta

It's tough to see unless you double click the photo but I used liquid glass over the rose and bottom's of Edwins boots. A little stickles here and there. That's about it for bling. I didn't want it girlie Since it is to my husband from his son. I was very pleased with his jeans and shirt. I hate harsh lines in my coloring and did okay with this one.

Tilda features embossing, stickles, gold jelly roll pen for the tiara, airbrushing for the sentiment. We all know I love that darned Airbrush system.

Scraproom organization and summer hydration :)

Happy Thursday all. I can't believe I'm cleaning the ol' scraproom again. This is never ending.It's because I bought so many cute stamps at the Heirloom show last Saturday. They're everywhere. But one good thing has come from all of this.....I found an AWESOME unmounted rubber-stamp storage system called StorRite, from Rubber Stamp Concepts. Awesome. I placed a photo at the end of this posting and you can find out more about them at www.RubberStampConcepts.com. OMG It's great. Although I have more than 3 Storage sheets per binder. I don't mind that it's a little heavy. So what.

I also have a wonderful and cute video up on how to use Nestabilities with the Cuttlebug. It is helpful for those newbies out there. Lastly, with the warm weather among us, many of you will become week-end hostess warriors so I'd like to share a Sangria style summer cocktail recipe with you. It's a white wine switch on a classic dog-days refresher. The fruit makes you feel like you're doing something healthy for your body, but the rest of it, well, its cold, really smooth and icy. After a while, you might not feel much of anything! It goes great with tortilla chips and salsa. Enjoy with friends or just drink the darn pitcher yourself! Enjoy & Carpe Diem!

Carlotta's Cheery Crop Chiller:

1. 750ml bottle dry white wine, such as chardonnay (or your fav)

1. 6-ounce can frozen lemonade concentrate

1/2 cup light rum

1/2 cup orange liqueur, such as Triple Sec or Grand Marnier

1. 15.25oz can pineapple tidbits in natural juice

1. lg apple, diced (approx. 1 1/4 cup)

2 cups chilled lemon lime soda

Strawberries, lemon or orange slices for garnish if you desire.

In a one gallon pitcher, combine the wine, frozen lemonade concentrate, rum, orate liqueur and pineapple tidbits and add to the sangria. Stir well and refrigerate, covered at least two hours.

Just before serving, stir in the soda. Serve over ice in classes, garnished with the strawberries and orange slices. Usually serves 8 (I warn you, you'll need way more than this for 8 people. Double the batch :) Carlotta.

TGIF

What a long week! I'm glad it's Friday. I will be posting a Magnolia Birthday Bash week three challenge card here this evening. I loved Chris's sketch. You can view it at www.Magnoliabirthdaybash.blogspot.com in the week #3 challenge. I also wanted to invite anyone who would like to join in on my School's out image swap over at Splitcoast stampers.com. Under the forums go to swaps, once allowed in it's titled: New & Open Summer- Schools out Image Swap- Everyone Invited.

It's sunny in the high 70's here. No rain, which means no stamping or scrapping at the moment. Hopefully after dinner. Enjoy your weather, Carpe Diem,

Carlotta