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

Summer begins

Hi all, just a short post today. Going to the parade and maybe some golfing. My first tutorial video is done and on you tube. It demonstrates how to mount unmounted rubberstamps. I am posting it here on iheartscrapbookingink as well for anyone who needs it. Hope you enjoy. Have a wonderful holiday and enjoy the time spent with family and friends. We never have enough quality time. Carpe Diem, Carlotta

Well, I think I did it

Okay, I used my JVC cam corder and actually made a video. I am in the process of posting it to youtube. Since I have received several emails regarding mounting of unmounted stamps I thought it was about time. It is uploading on youtube as we speak. Apporox. 2 more hours. Just enough time for a piece of peach pie. I don't know who made it, but I think i'll wait until Monday and ask. Tomorrow starts a new Magnolia-licious birthday challenge. Good luck to you all. I'll be interested in knowing how many BINGO winners we have. Stay tuned....Carpe Diem,

Carlotta

Happy Memorial Day

Happy Thursday! It's almost Memorial Day! the official start of summer. Yahoo. So I decided to add a new componenet to my blog. My favorite video of the week. I spend too much wasted time looking for things on the internet instead of creating so I thought I'd share some of my finds with you. The only bugaboo I have with this blog style and video is sometimes you hear double voices. If you only click once on the arrow it will play correctly. Double Click and it brings you to youtube. Nope I'm not crazy yet. If this happens while you are listening just close out the you tube video and this blog video will keep playing. I love this small pizza box. This is what I use for gift card holders. I have also put small jewelry pieces in as well.

I am working on several projects as most of you know, but my favorite Is a cute Ballarina Tilda for a challenge. I will post as soon as I color her hair. Today is kind of a gloomy day here in MA. looks and feels like rain. So weird after such a beautiful day yesterday. I got my order from Cindy yesterday which included new nestabilities and my long awaited, very most favorite Magnolia.... kissing Tilda. She is so cute, she is the one sitting with Edwin at the MBB button on the top right of my blog. I think i'm going to use her under mistletoe for my Christmas cards. I can't believe I said that.....Maybe I am crazy but I do love....Christmas. Anyway, enjoy the video. Carpe Diem,

Carlotta

Traditions- High School Proms

Okay, so let me start out by saying Thank you to Viviane Casale for a lovely Magnolia card I received tonight. All the way from Brazil! I love looking at the postage stamps from different countries. Most of which I dream about visiting. Learning the language, cultures and customs of different countries really fascinates me. Often times, when on vacation I live behind the lense of a camera. I am my family's storyteller. I don't mind, since there are sooooo many stories!

I also love to quilt which is a form of story telling. It is also rich in tradition. From the patterns to the textiles used. Here in the U.S. we observe sooooo many traditions.

As I was doing my usual errands this past Saturday I noticed a yard full of teenagers dressed in formal attire posing for pictures. Ah, it's May, that time of year that most high school Juniors and Seniors are buzzing with excitement around their Prom. I am not at this age yet with Curtiss but I wonder is this a familiar tradition in other countries? This is the preable to graduation for high school seniors. The prom queen and her court are such a beautiful site! I just wonder if this is an American tradition or not. Oh, to be young again.......Here I go dreaming again. Tomorrow it's supposed to hit high 80's.....Yahoo. Happy summer, right on time for the Memorial Day week-end cook outs! Happy Monday to all! Carpe Diem,

Carlotta