The Old Salt Stamps!

Apologies for the long absence - I've been in Montana checking that Dad is okay since his return from wintering in New Jersey. Great news! He is in much better shape than when I saw him last summer. His appetite (and capacity) is great, so I'm not nearly as worried about him wasting away.

While up there, we spent some quality time together, and that included "hands-on" lessons in stamping. Even though I had made videos for him, it's just so much better when there is someone there to answer questions. He is a fast learner, and we even went into town to the local craft store to shop for stamps. He hit the dollar bin pretty hard, lol!  Bless his heart, he also ordered some things from me. I gave him the demo discount, of course. He's also getting a big box of retiring stamps and paper from me next week.

The only trouble I foresee is he has a bit of problem with his hands shaking. Some days are better than others, but for the days he needs a little help, I've sent him my old (non-SU) Stamp-A-Ma-Jig. I think it will help him get the stamp on the paper without getting a double, or triple, image.  Unless that's the look he's going for!  I did show him how to stamp two or three times, without re-inking, to get that misty look. :)  But this lesson covered masking, and making background paper with a small stamp. Easy-peasy!


Stamp: Sail Away, The Open Sea (what better stamps for retired Navy?)
Cardstock: Whisper White, Midnight Muse (new In Color!)
Ink: Midnight Muse, Marina Mist
Accessories: Stampin' Sponge, sticky notes for mask

Father's Day

I was (am) so grateful to have my dad around for another Father's Day. There for a while it looked like I wouldn't.  I'd like to give a shout-out to the wonderful nurses working the oncology ward at St. Peter's Hospital in Helena, Montana. You are so special!

This is the card I made for Dad this year.  He's retired Navy, so I think he got a kick out of it.

The image was heat embossed in black on Marina Mist CS, then an old Blender Pen dipped in bleach lightened the sails.  The ocean was added with a Not Quite Navy marker and white caps with a gel pen. The anchor was heat embossed in silver on Brushed Silver CS, then cut out and tied (anchor knot) with baker's twine.

I think the white eyelets are reminiscent of portholes, don't you?

Stamps: The Open Sea, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Not Quite Navy, Brushed Silver, Nautical Expedition DSP
Ink: VersaMark, Basic Black Classic, Not Quite Navy Stampin' Write Marker
Accessories: Heat Tool, Silver and Black Stampin' Emboss Powder, White Baker's Twine, White Eyelets (retired), Petite Pennant Punch (on edge of greeting pennant), Stampin' Dimensionals

Sailing into Father's day

Yet another card for Operation Write Home! I so adore this new stamp set from Stampin' Up, called The Open Sea. My father is retired Navy, and I've always loved the old sailing ships from days gone by. We even have the world's oldest active sailing ship, an iron-hulled beauty called the Star of India, right here in San Diego! With the release of the latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie, I want to say "arrr" when I see these ships.

Anyhoo, this stamp set is going to make those always-difficult masculine cards a whole lot easier now!!!  I really hope this set will carry over into the new Idea Book & Catalog.

If you look reeeeeally closely at the hemp twine, you'll see I tied an Anchor Knot, heh heh! I had to look it up, and found a great site that shows animations of different knots. But it still took me a few many tries to get it right....


Stamps: The Open Sea (greeting from $1 bin at M's)
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Autumn Spice DSP (retired)
Inks: VersaMark, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, So Saffron, Peach Parfait and Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pads
Accessories: Finial Press embossing folder, Big Shot, Hemp Twine, 2-1/2" Circle Punch, Spiral Border Punch, 2"x1-3/8" Oval Punch, Old Olive 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder, Heat Tool

This will be the last card for a week or so. I'm dealing with a very ill family member, and won't have a chance to play in the stamp cave for a while. (Cue the violins.)