NessaStamps

A record...

2011-12-11T10:42:00.001-05:00

Yes, this may be a record for me. Two posts in two days. Write it in the history books folks! This may not happen again for another two years!

So, I wanted to share with you a labor of love that I made for my Bunco group's Christmas party and gift exchange. My original plan was to make 12 similarly painted wine glasses so that each girl could bring her own Bunco Babe wine glass to drink from at bunco each month. However, since Murphy has taken up permanent residence in my house, I had to go with plan B. Just one lucky lady received this one-of-a-kind Bunco Babe wine glass as part of her Christmas gift.

I found the wine glasses at Marshall's. A set of 12 was only $12.99. Perfect for my project! The paints I purchased at Michael's - Americana Gloss Enamels. I used plain old crafty paint brushes to apply the enamel.

The first step is to clean the wine glass with alcohol - the rubbing kind on the outside of the glass, not the drinking kind inside the glass. You can print or draw a template to tape to the inside of the glass if you want, or you can freehand your design like I did. The nice thing about this process is how easy it is to wipe off and start over when you goof up. I just used a baby wipe to clear the paint and re-cleaned the glass with the alcohol. After trying and failing with several designs, I finally got the images how I wanted them. The main image is the words "Bunco Babe" painted in a funky little font. "Razzle Berry" is the pink color I used for the main part of the image, and it's outlined with white. I had to use several coats of the pink for it to show up well. The first couple of coats were translucent. (NOTE: Be sure to allow the paint to dry completely between coats or you will wind up pulling paint off with the brush.) I painted three dice to the right of the main image. All three dice show the number six since three sixes equals a "big bunco" in our group. The most big buncos for the night wins the big prize. The dots on the dice were added with black paint using the round tip of the paint brush. I added silver sparkles to the dice and one on the capital letter B. Then I added more dots in all the colors around the base of the glass, using a Q-tip.

The instructions say to cure on a shelf for 21 days or for a quicker method: wait 48 hours then set the glass on a cold cookie sheet inside a cold oven. Turn the oven to 325 degrees and once the oven reaches temperature, bake for 30 minutes. Switch the oven off and allow the glass to completely cool down inside the oven. Once the paint is cured, the glass should be top-rack dishwasher safe. Since I am a pure procrastinator, I was lucky to have the paint dry enough to wrap the gift, so I included these instructions for the lucky recipient to follow when she got her glass home.

Would I make these again? Yes. Now that I have worked out some of the kinks, I think it will go a lot smoother next time. Maybe I'll finish the rest of these as the originally intended Bunco Babe gifts. Or maybe I'll experiment with a few other designs.

Long time no post...

2011-12-10T17:54:00.006-05:00

Funny... I get irritated when I run across a seemingly good blog only to find the blogger has been absent for long periods of time, or a blog where the blogger comes back after said absence and announces they are back and apologizes for being gone so long. I've even done it myself before on this very blog, but I loathe myself for it. Now here I am after many many months...nay, years. I'm back. I am not going to apologize though. I've been gone because life happens and it cannot be helped. Nevertheless, I am glad to be back. I've been inspired to start crafting and posting again, so here I am.

It's Christmas time in the Pyatt house and I am loving it. I love sparkly things and Christmas decorations fit the bill exactly. Here is a wreath I just finished for the door of my Crafty HQ. It was of course inspired by another new obsession of mine - Pinterest. (Beware, it's worse than Facebook as a time-waster.)

Anyhoo... I pinned this beautiful wreath the other day and I could not wait to recreate it! Michael's had their shatterproof ornaments on sale, so I stocked up. Then I started creating. You know how other people make things look so easy? I mean what could be easier than sliding a bunch of ornaments along a hanger?

CRAFTER BEWARE!!

If you want to recreate this craft, let me say first of all, do not skip the step where you hot glue the metal holders to the ornament before sliding them onto the hanger. I tried that, and of course ornaments began popping off left and right when I went to hang the wreath. I went back to it (days later of course so I had time to cool down) and hot glued all those little suckers on there. I restrung the ornaments and went to hang it again. Now the ornaments pop off from the tiny little wire that loops over the hanger. I'm thinking I need to go back again and hot glue some more. *sigh* A crafter's work is never done...

Open House Winners!

2009-09-28T11:21:00.005-04:00

So yesterday at the open house I had four door prize drawings. Guests had to complete different tasks to earn their tickets and my helpers, Ethan and Zachary, drew the winning names last night.

And without further delay, the winners are:

Audrey Matheson! You've won the embellishments!!
Jill Watkins! You've won the cards with envelopes!!
Jenn Barlow! You've won the stamp set!!
Gwen Purcell! You've won the designer paper!!

Congratulations to you all! Thanks for coming out to support me at my grand opening!

My Grand Opening!

2009-09-27T20:07:00.004-04:00

Well, it's official! I opened my business today! I held an open house today from 2:00 until about 4:30. I had lots of people show up to support me, and it was so nice! Some people ordered products, some people signed up for workshops and classes, and everyone made the make & take and enjoyed brownies made by my little chef Ethan. There was lots of chatting and sharing ideas and just a good time being had by all! Thanks to all who attended and showed their support. Special thanks to my dear husband Jason for supporting me in this and for helping me get everything done on time for today. Finally, thanks to my little "helper" Ethan.

My "helper" did not get any photos of actual guests (except for one of someone's behind and several pictures of the daughter of one of my friends! I won't post any of those here though. Hmmm...I wonder if he's got a little crush!?! Audrey - this is one of your daughters!!)

Gone, but not forgotten

2009-03-07T21:17:00.004-05:00

So I realize I have been gone for what seems like FOREVER, but I have not forgotten about my little blog here, and I certainly haven't forgotten my passion for stamping. Somehow the little monsters in my life seem to suck up every free moment of my time...especially Zachary. No kidding, he cried outside my office door for 30 minutes while Jason was trying to give me a bit of "me-time" today. When I gave up on my free time and opened the door, he attached to my right leg (still crying, BTW) and wouldn't let go! It's like that every single minute that he is awake every single day. *sigh* It leaves me feeling so drained that I barely have the energy to read my e-mail much less break out the stamping supplies. But, I've manged to do a little bit here and there over the past few months. Hereis one that I managed to remember to take picture of.

I still stamp!

2008-10-16T17:20:00.003-04:00

Despite my lengthy disappearance from cyberspace, I am still actively stamping. Here are a couple of projects I created this past spring. I'll post more in the next few days.

The first picture shows the baby shower favors I created for my son's teacher. The class threw her a shower and she had a bouncing baby boy earlier this fall. Those are candy pacifiers in the pot. The other picture shows the teacher's gifts I gave at the end of the year last year. It holds a travel sized Mary Kay hand lotion. Cute and useful, eh?

Some Advice . . .

2008-02-05T07:55:00.000-05:00

for those of you thinking about going back to school shortly after having a new baby. DON'T! Wait until the baby is a bit older and you have a bit more time for doing things for yourself. Back in September, when Zachary was less than three months old, I started an online graduate school program to earn my Masters degree in Elementary Education. Boy oh BOY! I am swamped and my entire life is on the back burner. All I do is reading, researching, and writing papers. I miss my stamping like crazy! My sister took me to a LSS for a mini shopping spree for my birthday last weekend and I had no idea what to get because I am not working on anything these days. I picked out some things, and they are sitting in my office waiting for me to play with them. Sale-a-bration is going on right now and I want to get those free stamps like an itch on my back, but who knows when I'll get to play with them? So, my advice to you is to hold offgoing back to school until such time that the kids can handle some alone time and you are giving only 110% of yourself, rather than 150% of yourself, to taking care of the kids.

Recent Projects

2007-11-05T22:15:00.000-05:00

I've been so busy with my newest project - going back to school to achieve a Master's Degree in Elementary Education! But I have had a few moments here and there to stamp and enjoy life. Here are some pics:

Some Christmas Card Designs using my new Season of Joy Stamp Set. Love it!!

My WINNING scrapbook layout (www.stampandscrapideas.com) and a card I made using my stamp set prize! Thanks for all the support!

The Ultimate Blog Candy!

2007-08-16T23:24:00.000-04:00

I ran across this contest at "5 Minutes for Mom". They are giving away an Insignia® 37″ Flat-Panel LCD HDTV courtesy of Best Buy! Hurry though -you only have until Friday, August 17th, 2007 at 12:00am Eastern! (Nothing like waiting until the last minute, eh?) GO NOW!

New Toys!

2007-08-14T15:10:00.000-04:00

I am finally getting around to playing with my new toys. Here is a picture of some 3"X3" note cards made with the new Three for You Punch box and free Love Notes I received as part of Stampin' Up!'s August Punch a Bunch promotion. (See my SU! website for details.)

I am offering a FREE Punch a Bunch of Love Notes class to my customers who purchase the punch box and free love notes in August. These are samples of what we will create in that class.

Exciting Blog Candy Found here....

2007-08-06T17:40:00.000-04:00

on Kristina Lewis' blog. Check it out and give her a shout!

I think I'm back!

2007-07-16T16:31:00.001-04:00

I have been so busy with my bouncing baby boy - Zachary Evan - since he was born on June 13! Family has been coming and going, we've been battling a little bit of colic and some oh-so-time-consuming breastfeeding. To top it off, my older son, Ethan, turned 4 on July 13, and we had a really fun (but crazy-as-all-get-out) Chuck E Cheese birthday party for him yesterday. So here are some pics - not of any stamping projects (haven't done much of that in the past few months *SIGH*), but of what has been keeping me so busy latley. Enjoy! I know I did! Now - maybe I can squeeze in a bit of stamping before both of the boys wake up from their naps! (Wish me luck!)

My First Showcase!

2007-06-05T12:50:00.000-04:00

Wow! I'm so excited that I can hardly contain myself. I often think that my art is "good enough", but rarely do I think it's good enough to compete. But this morning, as I logged on to some of my usual stamping websites, I saw something that made me think "Hmmm...Maybe some of my art could be good enough to compete!" Although it did not win a prize, my giraffe card that I submitted to Stampin' Up! for their Round and Round We Go contest (see my post from 5/28 for photo) was posted on our demonstrator website's Stamper's Showcase! I know this doesn't mean a whole lot to anyone but me, but I just about peed my pants when I saw my card on the screen. I hadn't checked the showcase in a few days - my card was actually posted on 6/1. Guess I should check it out a little more often. Thanks for sharing in my joy!!

2007-05-28T11:53:00.001-04:00

Wow, I realized yesterday when chatting with my monthly stamp club that it has been well over a month since I posted anything on my blog. Yikes! I can only give the excuse that I am super busy getting ready for baby (due June 26) and stamping, stamping, stamping. So, here are a few recent projects.

These first two cards are ones I submitted to Stampin' Up! for their April contest category "Round and Round We Go" - projects with a circle theme. Although I thought they were pretty darn good, especially for me, they did not win. Ahh well...try and try again.

One interesting thing to note is that the Thanks So Much card was 100% inspired by my new guest bathroom shower curtain. If I get around to it, I'll try to post a picture... it looks exactly like it!

This Balmy Breezes birthday card was created for an inspiration challenge on SCS. The source of inspiration was actually a purse. I love how it turned out.

The Thinking of You card was done for April's VSN (Virtual Stamp Night) on SCS. This particular challenge asked us to use the wax paper resist technique. What a cool technique this is. My card earned a spot in that month's VSN gallery! (Such an honor!!)

The next picture is a group picture of my stamp club's altered lunch tins that we completed in April. They chose 2 coordinating pieces of designer paper which I cut before the class. Then they came and blinged them all up. I think they did an excellent job!

Lastly, the first of these 2 cards is one I designed for my stamp club to create this month. One of my gals, Nancy, created the second card. I love her swirly striped look so much more than my muddled spongy look. Neat how 2 people can produce two entirely different projects using the exact same materials. Didn't she do a beautiful job!?! I have such a talented group of friends.

Swapping is Fun

2007-03-14T11:48:00.000-04:00

I recently signed up to particpate in a few swaps. I used the Bundle of Joy card from my last post for one of them. Here are two more for two different groups in Patti's (will_work4stamps) A Year of Cards swap. I signed up for December in one group and October in the other. I really like how both of these turned out, and I can't wait to see what all of the other ladies bring...

On the December card, I used the polished stone technique with Night of Navy, Buckaroo Blue, Cool Caribbean and Encore Silver reinkers. I stamped the trees with Black Stazon, then highlighted the ground with a 2-way Glue pen and Dazzling Diamonds glitter. Finally, I accented with navy narrow organdy ribbon, but it just didn't look right, so I melted the ribbon and added a white knot as well.

For the October card, I embossed the Spooky Skyline wheel with Irridescent Ice embossing powder. Then I cut out 24 of those cute little Jack-O-Lanterns (What was I thinking?! My fingers still have indentations from the scissors!) and popped them up on Stampin' Dimensionals. I really like this color combo for Halloween - Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie and Vintage Violet. It was inspired by the Halloween Night designer paper that was available last fall.

I Love Stampin!

2007-03-09T11:36:00.000-05:00

I recently signed up for a swap, and as I was designing the card (even though it took me hours to be happy with it) I thought to myself, "I LOVE STAMPIN!" It is such a relaxing hobby. I love being creative, and I love to show my work to my family and friends. I love to hear back from someone who has received one of my cards, especially when they tell me "I save all your cards!" Man, I just love what I do!!

Here's the card that created all the love....

I tried a couple of new things on this card. First of all, I can't believe it took me this long to try stamping with bleach! It was super easy (aside from the headache I got from the fumes. Note to self - open a window next time!), and I love how it looks! In case you can't tell, I stamped the swirly border on the right with the bleach. Isn't it neat?

I also watercolored the bear image using re-inkers rather than crayons or pencils. I LOVE how it turned out! This is by far my best and most vibrant watercolored image to date.

Lastly, I did reverse masking and masking to create the highlighted square around the bear. Wow, that turned out better than I expected, and again - it was so EASY!

Hope you enjoy looking at the card as much as I enjoyed creating it!

Challenge Cards

2007-02-27T09:01:00.000-05:00

If I haven't mentioned it before now, I have meant to...I LOVE the challenges over at Splitcoast! They really make me focus and get creative for myself instead of always CASEing someone else's creation. I have to say that I really love how my projects have turned out for just about every challenge I have done. (There are a few that I could do without of course.) Here are two challenge cards that I completed yesterday. I love them both and I think I will find it hard to actually write in them and give them away (but that is their intended purpose, so.....). The cowgirl card is for my 1 year old adorable niece, Jocelyn. I am such a dopey aunt - I forgot to send her birthday card back in JANUARY! Hopefully, since she is only 1, she won't remember that I forgot her very important first birthday.... I'm sure my brother will be all too happy to remind her though!

Anyways, this card was created for the Featured Stamper Challenge on SCS. In this challenge, your job is to CASE a card from the featured stamper's gallery, changing at least 2 things. So, I was browsing through Beth's gallery (our featured stamper) and found this adorable card she made. Since my brother has horses and land and such, and they live in TX, I thought this is the PERFECT card! Jocelyn is an adorable little cowgirl. So, I changed several things when CASEing this one, including stippling Flamingo Pink Pearl Ex over the paisleys in the background. It is so shimmery IRL, but the scanner just doesn't do it justice.

This Best Blossoms card was created for the latest Technique Lover's Challenge. The technique we were to use was called "Blurred Vision". This is the absolute easiest way to achieve a watercolor look. I stamped the base of the lilac using Perfect Plum, then overstamped the detail in Elegant Eggplant. Next, I took my aqua painter over the edges (and some in the middle) of the images to blur it, and viola - a soft watercolor look. To snazz it up a bit, I stamped the detail again in versamark and embossed with Irridescent Ice EP. Another shimmery card!

Two fun challenges and two great cards (if I do say so myself). Hope you enjoy looking as much as I enjoyed creating!

Inspiration

2007-02-22T16:31:00.000-05:00

You know how you sometimes can see a picture of something and it completely inspires you? That is what happened with me last night. I saw this amazing card in the Splitcoast gallery by Sencie. I loved the new Au Chocolate paper to begin with, but when I saw how she added a dash of celery to it, I went bonkers. I knew that was exactly the look I wanted for my next project, a lunchbox tin card holder.

Now, I don't claim to be a great artist or anything, and I don't really like tooting my own horn so to speak. But I really LOVE how this turned out, and I couldn't wait to upload it to my SCS gallery. I did so several hours ago, expecting to get high praises. I have not yet received any of the validation I was seeking (as of now, only 43 views, 1 favorite, and 0 comments). Disappointing to say the least, but I still LOVE it! I still need to decorate the inside of the cover and create some tabs. Fun fun fun! I can't wait until it's all done and filled with cards.

Happy Presidents' Day

2007-02-19T20:43:00.000-05:00

I was able to squeeze in a little stamping time, even though the kids were out of school. Here are the few projects I was able to complete.

This first one is for the Featured Stamper challenge on Splitcoast. I had to ask though, at what point does a card loose it's "CASEd" status? I changed so much on this card from its original inspiration that you can't even tell it was a CASE really. But overall I think I like how it turned out. What do you think?

The second one I made simply to use the square flower image. I had originally stamped it to use in the first card, but I just couldn't make it work with my layout. Of course, I couldn't let a perfectly good stamped image go to waste; thus, I have a second tulip card.

This is a Criss Cross card that I made for the Technique Challenge on Splitcoast. I had never made a Criss Cross card because they always seemed so intimidatingly difficult. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to make. Michelle Wooderson wrote a great little tutorial on one of her gallery posts on Splitcoast.

I had visions of patterned paper on one or both sides, but as you can see, that did not materialize. I actually chose the Take with Teal cardstock to coordinate with a sheet of Petals and Paisleys designer paper. Still, I like teal. I embossed the polka dots using copper embossing powder and like the way it looked on the Taken with Teal cardstock. In fact, I liked the combo so much, I had to do the other side with the paisleys. I also used my tab punch for the first time. I think I love it. It looks so great and I can envision creating tabs for all sorts of things....

It's decided

2007-02-14T10:45:00.000-05:00

Based on the couple of comments I received here on my BLOG, and on my posts in the SCS gallery, I have decided to swap with the giraffe card. Thanks for all of your help with my decision.

And the winner of the "candy" is Angie. Angie, I don't see an e-mail address for you, so hopefully you'll check back. I need a snail-mail address for you so I can send you your prize - the bear card and some cute ribbon. Thanks for playing!

Help me decide!

2007-02-11T08:40:00.000-05:00

I just received my brand new stamp set, Bundle of Joy, from Stamipn' Up!'s upcoming Spring Mini catalog. Right away (since the kids are gone) I got busy designing a swap card for a Spring Mini swap that I've entered. Now I can't decide which design to go with. Not to toot my own horn, but I really like how both designs turned out! So, here's my proposal...help me choose which design to swap with, and I'll send you the other one along with some cutesy ribbon! Leave your comments and I'll draw a winner tomorrow, Monday, 2/12.

My Anniversary Celebration Weekend

2007-02-11T08:27:00.000-05:00

My husband and I have been married now for 9 years! Wednesday was our actual anniversary and I surprised him with 2 dozen roses like the ones in our wedding and some balloons. And of course, I made him this card:

Even though it's girly with the pink, I think he liked it. I love how it turned out, if I do say so myself.

Well, this weekend we got rid of all the kids and live-in sisters in our house (okay, there is just one, but hey...). Yesterday we got a couples massage - HEAVENLY! If you have never gotten a professional massage, I say it is something you need to treat yourself to at least once in your life.

Then we went to dinner at Benihana's, the Japanese steakhouse. Jason and I were rolling on the floor laughing so hard because all of the hibachi chefs in this very Japanese restaurant were Hispanic! The rest of the staff was Japanese, but the chefs were not. LOL! Our chef's name was Juan, and he was a riot. He must have been new or something because he was flinging rice everywhere (and not on purpose). Anyways, he prepared an excellent filet and shrimp with all the fixins...I'm still stuffed this morning. The one thing I want to know is why our waitress was not allowed to serve me water in a taller glass. When I asked her to bring me a larger glass of water, she went away and came back to tell me "They won't let me pour water in those glasses, so here is two water glasses for you. But don't worry, I take good care of you and bring you more water." Any ideas on that one?

Some things I stamped today...

2007-01-21T14:44:00.000-05:00

I stamped this card to submit for Color Challenge #97 on SplitcoastStampers. The colors for the challenge were Pale Plum, Sage Shadow and Close to Cocoa.

I really like how this one turned out, and I might use it for my stamp club next week. It was simple to make, yet I think it looks very elegant. What do you think?

This card was created for Sketch Challenge #107, also on Splitcoast Stampers. For the most part, I like how it turned out, but I would change a couple of things if I could. I would have stamped the greeting in Real Red and up a bit higher. Otherwise, I think it's alright.

My First BLOG post

2007-01-21T14:34:00.000-05:00

I am trying out this BLOG thing. Hopefully I can figure it out with out having a breakdown.