Christmas Projects

The first project I want to share with you is a Christmas star ornament. I found a tutorial at Melisa Waldorf's blog and knew I had to try one. Here is mine and if you'd like to give it a try, head on over to Melisa's for the instructions! The large star was made with patterned paper, sponged with an ink spot on the creases and edges. The smaller star was inked with So Saffron ink and then "kissed" with a Christmas ornament stamp that has swirls on it. The little "Feliz Navidad" stamp is from a set of Spanish sentiments that I got from a lady here who is returning to the United States this week.

My next project is a card made for a sketch challenge at Repeat Impressions. When I saw the card made by DT member Lynette Neus, I knew what I wanted to do for my card.

The stamp is one I got years ago at Michael's. I embossed it with gold powder which disappeared when I used the only two Copics that I have (red and green) to color it. So I used some gold paste to go over the center of the poinsettia. Hope you like it.

Be sure and pop over to Melisa's and have a go a making some star ornaments yourself!

Betty

Annabelle's 2 B's Birthday Challenge

Here is my card for the third and final challenge at Annabelle Stamps. Decided I'd better do a birthday themed card since that IS the occasion! I have used Annabelle's stamp set Sentimental Bluebells for each of my cards and there is not a bluebell in sight on any of them!! But at least I got the "sentiment" part -- really like the font on these sentiments and they stamp so beautifully. We were challenged to use two embellishments that start with the letter B (for birthday, don't 'cha know!). Unfortunately, I had used two Butterflies yesterday, so had to take another direction. Decided to go the Buttons and Bows route! The ole favorite Swiss Dots embossing folder came out for this one and also a piece of printed paper that I've been hoarding.

I'll make this post short and sweet so you can leave here and get started on your challenge cards -- help us say "Happy Birthday" to Annabelle Stamps!

Betty Benton
(B.B., BeeBee, 2 B's) I think I really ought to be in the running for winning a stamp set for this one!!!! Don't 'ya think so???????

Annabelle Stamps Blooming Birthday Challenge

This is my second post today. I was able to complete the second birthday challenge for Annabelle Stamps. My blooms were created with a Spellbinders Impressability which I used as a stencil with SU Brocade Blue. The textured ivory cardstock gives a special look to the stenciled design. My images (grasses and butterflies) come from Annabelle's set, All Things Grow. I think I had forgotten how much I love this set. The sentiment  is from Sentimental Bluebells; such a pretty cursive font!

If you haven't gotten started on these challenges, you should -- enter all three and you get a chance to win their entire latest release and Annabelle has wonderful stamps! You have until Sept. 14 to complete all three so there's plenty of time!

Betty

Annabelle's Birthday Bash Challenge

Hey everybody! I've been absent this past week due to sickness. Monday and Tuesday, I wasn't feeling quite right; Wednesday and Thursday, I was flat on my back in bed; and Friday, Saturday, and today I've been trying to get some strength back.
I missed the first day of Annabelle Stamps birthday celebration but here's my card for the recipe challenge #1. And the recipe is:
   1. use a new stamp, or your latest Annabelle stamp.
   2. use a die cut or punch
   3. add bling
This was my third attempt at this image. First, I tried to do it with glitter -- didn't work! Next, I painted flowers with twinkling H2O's and the rest of the image with regular watercolor paint but the look was a little too brash. The third time was the charm when I went with watercolor crayons and a waterbrush.
The stamp sets I used are from Annabelle Stamps. The image is from Ballerina Rose and the sentiment from Sentimental Bluebells. They are my most recent Annabelle purchases.
Cutting was done with Nestabilities Long Classic Rectangles Large and their Scalloped counterparts.
Added four green pearls for the bling, and FINALLY, I had a card completed even though it fought with me tooth and nail! Join me in a cup of the Recipe (I watched an old episode of The Waltons while I've been on the couch recovering) and enter your card over at Sue's blog.
Happy Birthday, Annabelle Stamps!

Betty

Make It Monday and Monday Market

Dawn McVey over at Papertry Ink has done a Make It Monday video to show us how to make a background design with stamps that are not normally used for backgrounds. Check it out and see how easy it can be!  I was blog hopping this morning with Annabelle Stamps and Marion had a beautiful card posted. I had been thinking about what to do for the Make It Monday challenge and her card just screamed at me -- CASE ME, CASE ME!! So I did -- you never want to argue with a beautiful card! The stamp that I used comes from Papertrey Ink's set, Everyday Button Bits.

Changing subjects..........

We went to the street market yesterday morning and bought lots of good stuff --
a watermelon
a bagful of roma tomatoes
leaf lettuce
a papaya
a bif ole mess of green beans
4 zucchini
5 small onions
bell pepper
4 avocados
7 plums
2.2 pounds of large shrimp
2 guitar instrumental cds
spray bottle
and we only spent a little over $20 US! We're going to be eating very good for a while and entertained with soothing music! This is a photo of the street market that my sister took when she was here in July. It is several blocks long with stands on each side of the road.

Until next time,

Happy Stamping to All,

Betty

Day Trip to Tonala, Mexico

We took a trip to Tonala today. This is a place where you can find almost any type of home decor that you would like to have! If you have the time, come along with me and see just a little bit of what there was to see!

Above are examples of Mosaic Glass Art. Don't you just love the half-eaten apples!

Above, most anything you could want to hang on a wall (home or garden). I don't think the bubble gum machines were for sale!

Next, planters abound!

And below, many types of fountains.

If you need a little snack to keep up your shopping energy, these ladies will sell it to you. We bought dried cranberries; our friends got pistachio nuts and spiced pecans.

Are you in the market for stained glass lights?

Or how about pretty glass doodads in every color of the rainbow?

At this shop you can buy a zebra, pink flamingos, lions, horses, a giraffe and I think I can even see a pig too!

We found a number of art galleries. Who wouldn't fall in love with this painting??? Look at that gorgeous face -- the eyes just drew me in!

I had to get a photo of this outsanding stained glass over the doorway to a shop -- incredible!

These chickens have a large rock as their bodies and they bob up and down if you give them a little push. I'm thinking that I may need one or two of these for my yard!

Don't exactly know what these twisted limbs are for but they sure did make an interesting sight in the back of a pickup truck!

Hope you enjoyed a glimpse of Mexico and feel like you experienced a little of it along with me!

Till next time..........
Your friend, Betty

Embossed Cards