Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Blog Candy!

As promised, I am posting blog candy today. August is my assigned month post some cards and give you a chance to win some Impression Obsession goodies. Details of the stamps you can win and how to enter are at the end of the post.

I tend to view August as an in-between month. It is usually hot as heck, but part of me starts to crave fall and stamping Halloween cards. Therefore, I am giving you a chance to win a summer clear set as well as a brand new Halloween cling stamp and saying.

The card above is one we made in my beach watercolor class. All the images come from a clear set called "sunshiny day." To make the card, I took some marble blue paper and added some blue watercolor paint at the bottom of the rectangle. The blue marble gave the appearance of clouds, and the watercolor was meant to look like the ocean. I stamped the palm tree with VersaFine black ink and colored it with various colors of watercolor pencils. I cut out my tree and glued it onto the scene and added a circle I punched from yellow cardstock. I stamped three little boats on the ocean and colored them with additional watercolor pencils. To finish the card, I added a line of Diamond Glaze at the bottom and dipped the scene into real sand. The Diamond Glaze takes a while to dry, but it will hold the sand. You might or might not be able to tell from the shadows, but the rectangle is popped up on the card with pop dots.

The second card is one I made featuring the new candy apples stamp and saying. I scanned this card to pick up the coloring better, but it made the Diamond Glaze on the top of the apples look a bit cloudy. Yes, I am addicted to Diamond Glaze.

To make this card, I stamped the apples onto white cardstock with Memento black ink. I colored them with Copic markers and then added a layer of Diamond Glaze to the top. I always get asked about samples I make with Diamond Glaze on them. It works as a great glue, but it is really cool to use on top of your cards as a hard, think coating. If you use DG (I am now abbreviating), make sure that you NEVER shake it. This will give you bubbles, and you don't want that. The first thing I do is squeeze a little onto some scrap paper to get rid of any bubbles at the top of the bottle. Then, without letting go of the squeezed bottle, I quickly move it over to my paper and continue dispensing the glue onto my card. If you do get any bubbles, pop them with a pin before they set. DG takes forever to dry, so I do it as the final step on a card. Try it if you want something to look like glass or want a hard shellac on your card.

Whew! That was a long post when all you probably want is the free stuff. So, without further ado, to win Sunshiny Day, the cling version of the Candy Apples, and the cling version of the Sweet Halloween saying, just leave me a comment telling me what season you feel like stamping. Are you still making bright summer cards? Creating something for Halloween? Or, are you one of those organized sickos finishing up your Christmas cards? :)

I will draw a winner at random Thursday night and post the winning comment Friday morning. Please check back Friday to see if you won. I won't have any way to contact the winner, so you will have to check back to see if you are the winner. Good luck everyone!

48 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's never good to be first with these random drawings! I too am having thoughts of fall although I love the card with the sailboats. No way am I even thinking about Christmas cards yet.

Anonymous said...

I've already made fall cards that were inspired by abulous pumpkin stickers I found at Hobby Lobby in Indiana. Also got a wreath form and ribbon to make fall wreath with corks. I'll probably think about Christmas over Thanksgiving weekend... Q

Anonymous said...

With cooler winds blowing today, I'm thinking Halloween! I love Autumn...and Spring...and Summer....and Winter....
XOXO, Tami

Shirley said...

Laura, I love Impression Obsession stamps too and I follow your blog on a regular basis. I think your cards are always so inspiring. The free sets would be wonderful. :-)

Anonymous said...

I love the way you have the same "time frame" as I do I was just yesterday looking for some new Halloween stamps,not in my stamp store yet. I need to get going on my Christmas stuff..Love to start early. These stamps are AWSOME.

Anne

Anne said...

Hi, Laura! Your cards are so lovely! I like how you used actual sand on your summer card!

I am still working with summer colors. But, I like bright colors, so I tend to use them all year long.

I am thinking about making a spice cake, though ... so I am feeling a bit of the changing seasons. That's for sure! :-)

GiftsByHeidi said...

No, I am not one of the "sickos" finishing Christmas cards (although I wish I were that organized!) I love stamping fall the best, it's my fav season! - Gorgeous cards by the way!

Larcy said...

Christmas cards are on my mind. Last year I started my cards in April and all my friends hated me. This year...well that's another story.

Unknown said...

I am really wanting to stamp some winter snowflakes.

Chrisi said...

I'll share with Jen and Heidi if I win!

Jil Lebel said...

Laura,
Those candy apples are great. I'm also addicted to Crystal Lacquer. I'm starting to stamp fall & winter images. JIL

Deborah March said...

GREAT cards Laura!! I'm with you...looking forward to fall!

Rachel V. said...

I've definitely been craving the fall-colored cards...although I'm not quite ready for Halloween yet. Give me a couple more weeks. LOL

Thanks for the chance to win!

Bunny B said...

I love the winter season! :) Halloween's cute too!

Anonymous said...

I love the candy apple card. They look delicious! Thanks! Fall is my favorite! lisa k in tx

Debbie Seyer said...

I am still working on scrapbooking summer so I am stamping all kinds of summer stuff! Lots of flowers and beach stuff. Love to do scrapbook pages about the kids at the pool, too!

Cindy Vernon said...

I am thinking about stamping Halloween cards. I don't mail very many out but they sure are fun to make!

Kim said...

lol...I am definitely not one of those organized people making Christmas cards already! I really like your cards, they are beautiful, and fun! Right now I am stamping Halloween! I know alot of people don't do Halloween, but there are some really fun stamps out there. I like to do a couple swaps and give cards to the girls at work as well! Awesome blog candy....I love IO!!!! Thanks for the chance to win!
:)
Kim

Kelly Todd said...

Hi Laura - I linked to your blog from Daniela's fabulous site. Love your work!! I'm definitely in the mood for Fall (it's a little chilly at the moment). Cheers from Canada!!

Suzanne C said...

I have been working on fall.. Only because the weather has been more fall like than summer right now. Love your cards!

Desi said...

Laura, I love Fall, and have already started making my cards for family members. Thanks for the chance to win those fantastic stamp sets!!

Jennifer Hansen said...

Christmas cards are my favorite to make, followed by Halloween as a close second!

jenniferlynnhansen@yahoo.com

Julie said...

I love the cards you have created here. The toffee apple card and stamps are cute. My fav season is most definately summer.

Anonymous said...

Your candy apples good enough to eat! Super card. I love anything fall and all the colors associated with it. So I am doing some fallish birthday and get-well cards. Thanks for the chance to win. Darlene L

Anonymous said...

I love the fall holidays and Christmas the most. Such a nice time of the year.

Swedie

Jennifer Love said...

Here from Julie's blog...what a CUTE card! I adore that...and yes, I'm a bit addicted to the glaze, too...hehe

Linda Beeson said...

Your cards are adorable! I seem to like to stamp FALL themed cards the most. I think it is the colors that are associated with fall that I like the most.

Sena said...

I love winter the best! :)




sena.sagani[at]gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I Love both cards, especially the sailboat. I have been into Autumn for awhile now. It's my favorite time of the year. Not so excited about what comes after that though

Kimmie said...

Love your cards. The candy apples card is really cute

Cindy said...

I'm in the mood for fall cards. The past few days have been a little cooler than normal and I have been fighting the urge to rush the season, but I think I am ginving in today!

Anonymous said...

Great cards, I love the carmel apples, making me hungry for one. I'm thinking fall too, love the crisp air we've been having in Eastern, PA. Thanks for the chance to win. ~Julie

sandyh50 said...

Cute card Laura! I would love to win some new stamps!

sandyh502001 at yahoo dot com

Chris said...

I just made a Halloween card the other night. It was fun and turned out cute. I should be thinking Christmas but it is too early. Fall is it for me.

Jocelyn said...

I'm thinking about Christmas cards already but can't seem to get started yet. ;D Maybe I should do autumn cards first.:) I love your cards, by the way and thanks for the chance to win!

Primitive Seasons said...

Oh I am big time into Halloween and fall. Haven't done anything Thanksgiving yet but a few Christmas. But fall is really my fave. Would sure love to win those stamps. So cool!

Mary
www.primitiveseasons.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Apples, of course, season most days! Keeps the doc away, much of the time! Apples, apples, apples, fall like a Newton Law into this season.
We won't go into how the deer beat us to the delicious fruit! They have good taste...... mt23stamper

Anonymous said...

I could stamp christmas all year long. I'm organized this year and have my Christmas cards done. But, I'm really getting into fall/Halloween this year.

Shirley said...

Jennifer, your candy apples are good enough to eat! It's hard to get into fall or Christmas because it is so hot here in California (103° today). However, I'm ready to get going on Christmas! Yesterday, our stamp group had an Impression Obsession day and had so much fun. We all brought in our newly purchased Impression Obsession stamps and shared with each other for the entire day. Now I will need to order a few more or maybe even win some. : 0 )
Thanks for the chance to win some blog candy.
Shirley L.
Roseville,CA

Anonymous said...

I'm still in summer mode. Though, after your class last night, I keep thinking of snowflakes on acetate!
Janet Hindman

Anonymous said...

I'm just finishing up some summer birthdays--end of August! But really looking forward to the fall and winter cards. Have lots of birthdays during the late fall/winter season to make cards for, it seems.
Thanks for the opportunity to win some "candy". I like this kind--it's not fattening! lol
Gail

Anonymous said...

Thanks for giving us this opportunity! I think I most enjoy stamping fall images. Summer gets quite steamy here and winter very frigid and long, so autumn is the year's last best gift!

Cassi said...

Hi Laura,

I can never get into the colored pencil classes with Dave or Karen. Wouldn't it be awesome if you or someone else would teach a beginning coloring class at Angela's? I think it would. I absolutely loved your work on the Poppy -- it's gorgeous.

Best,

Cassi

Kim said...

I am trying to work on fall colors. I am sick!!! I finished my Christmas cards in July. My friends and I get together every year in July to work on our Christmas cards.

Kim ~ sarah1395@yahoo.com

Jenn Biederman said...

Love the Halloween card, Laura! Nice job! Nice give-away! Those stamps look wonderful!

My season to stamp right now would be Halloween...but I don't have any stamps for that yet....hmmm...I would love to win!

Jenn

~Tammy~ said...

I was blog hopping tonight and came across your blog. LOVE IT! and that candy apple stamp it soooooo great! I love it too.

I just made my first Xmas card tonight so I guess that is what I will stick to for a while.

Unknown said...

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http://dominodebi.typepad.com/sos/

Gigi 001 (AKA Deborah) from HA Flickr Group

Anonymous said...

Hi Laura
I have to say summer there are so many vibrant colours from flowers trees clothes etc (you actually get to see them instead of a rain soaked coat!) to get inspiration from. Even if you are in the hot dessert you can use reds,yellows and browns (so it even can lead into autumn). As for cards I am making at the moment, it's thank you cards for people that have looked after home, pets etc whilst I have been lording it on holiday.