Come Sail in my Yacht...

Hello,

Like my title? Well, it's just something  catchy to get you interested...cos the truth is, I don't have a yacht!!

Nope, I don't.......but Graham does! :)

Lol...it's been a while, but Graham finally put together another digital stamp for us. This one would be great for someone going on a cruise! It would definitely work for a male card too...everyone's looking for male images it seems.

He's currently working on a Tall Ship that is starting to look fantastic...but don't tell him I told you...

That's it for today! Hope you can use it!

Blessings,
Carmen

Ridgeview Card and Some Free Vintage

Hello,

I have a Ridgeview Card Class coming up, and they wanted something to go along with their western theme for the week. I saw a card I liked at Inspired and Unscripted, so used that as my inspiration. Here is the card we'll be making.

 Unfortunately, I used a hemp fiber to tie on the card, and it ripped the card a bit, but I have some softer fiber in the same color I can use.  I don't have any nestabilities, so I used my Lynx cutter to frame the buckin' bronco...but I didn't want to bother with the fussiness of lining it all up. So I used the light box my son bought me a while back. I've used it a few times already and love it!

See, works great!

Here's the inside of the card:

 And here are the rest of the cards prepped and ready for them to put together. I made up about 5 different styles, so that's what I'm showing in the first picture.

There's about 15 cards altogether.

For the buckin' bronco image, I just googled 'buckin bronco' and this was one of the images that came up. I couln't find a copyright, so can't tell you who initially made it. The designer papers were random papers I've had a while. The hat stamp is actually the Sheriff Ian stamp from The Greeting Farm. I just masked it, stamped it, and cut it out.

I usually do some inking on the sides; in the card above I used white staz on ink. Some will be distressed with a darker ink. The star is a brad from a package I've had in my stash for a while.

They can choose whatever sentiment stamp I have for the inside of the card. I hope the ladies enjoy putting these together!

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It's been a while since I posted some vintage graphics for you vintage buffs.  I love this little vintage Ad for Jam.

I also have some chairs for you today...not sure what you can do with them, but they're yours if you want them....

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Blessings,
Carmen

The Gift of Homemade Soap for Christmas!

 Hello!

So in addition to making digital stamps and sentiments, I enjoy a variety of other crafts. One of the main ones is soap making, which for some reason I only do in the Fall.

This post is about Soap Making Classes, which I will be teaching from my home. There's nothing as nice on the skin as homemade soap if you make it right. Guaranteed!!!

This post is a heads up - dates will be posted later. However, the first class will be making soaps using (for the most part) basic supplies that most people have in their kitchens!! We will be using the cold process (CP) method of soap making.

It will be a nice, fresh, healthy bar of soap. Unscented, for those of you with allergies, or scented any way you want from my stash of essential and fragrance oils.

Lemongrass and Lavender Soaps (CP)

Oatmeal soap, Chocolate Lime Slice, Pachouli Soap, Pina Colada Slice (CP)

Felted Soaps

Soap Balls

Glycerine Soaps

Rubber Ducky Soap (embedded glycerine)

If there's an interest, I can add classes using more exotic oils; classes on bath bombs, bath salts, body butters, massage candles, etc. It'll depend on what people want!

Soap Making Classes
Includes:
Soap ingredients
Use of tools needed (may need to bring a small clean empty milk carton)
Small class size instruction in my home (2 or 3 people)
A good soap recipe
Hand-outs on the art of soap making, essential oil properties, properties of oils and butters; safety precautions, etc.
Two bars of the soap we've made together

Allow 2 or 3 hours for class time
Cost: $25 

If you're interested, please let me know through a comment below, on FB, by email, or call me!

Blessings,
Carmen

And Still It Sings

Hello!

I've noticed a few new followers in the sidebar.  Welcome to my blog!! I hope you enjoy your visits here!

So life's been good for me, but if I'm being honest, that's not always the way it is...after all, it is 'life' --which guarantees good times, bad times, sad times, hard times, etc.  All those things are meant for us to enjoy or learn from.  I don't complain much, and I try to be positive, but I am also a very realistic person, and the truth is, sometimes life just sucks!

Yes, sometimes life is just hard, but I still find that the best way to deal with that, is to pout,  grumble,  scowl ...or maybe I'll just sing! Well...you never know! Maybe it'll make me feel better. Here's my newest on that topic.

Ya, it's really nothing special....this one's all about the sentiment -

Just a reminder that in spite of all the negative stuff the world brings us, there's always still something to sing about!

For me, it's grandbabies, family, the air I breathe...life is precious, don't take it for granted, and handle it with love!


Projects using this Digi:
Cathy from Scrips & Scraps made this adorable card! I absolutely love her card...check out her blog to see how she made it!

Blessings,
Carmen

Steampunk Hat Digital Stamp

Hello,

This is my second post today, scroll down to see the first post! (or click 'HOME' above and then scroll down).

Hope you're all having a nice Autumn! It's my favorite time of year, especially September. The weather here in Kamloops, B.C. was very hot! Two days ago my outside thermometer showed 40C in the sun (about 108F).  However it's kind of cold out today - in fact, I put socks on! Gasp!!

 I'm running out of steam, so I think this'll be my last steampunk image for a while - pardon the pun. I added a separate category under 'labels' for steampunk, if you'd like to see them all in one place.

This is kind of a random image...but someone may be able to envision it in a project.

This is just a steampunk font...it's free HERE. I played with it a bit..skewed the letters and moved them closer together.

Okay, that's all folks! My girlfriend gave me a bag of peaches that she plucked right off her tree while I was there. So I'm heading to the kitchen to make an awesome peach pie recipe that doesn't use traditional pastry...it's more of a shortcake type dough...YUM!

**Remember to send me a link to your projects using my images, and I'll add a photo of your project and a link back to your blog on the post I offered the Digi Stamp on.**

I love to see what you do with them! It's like getting a present! :)

Here's another awesome card by Chrissy from Chrissy's Cardland! Check out her awesome blog HERE

This card done by Agnes at Scrapkraom is also super!! She's used my free sentiment, the Steampunk Top Hat, and also the Steampunk Boot. Awesome card!

Deb, from "A Look Through My Eyes" made this great masculine Explosion Box using the Steampunk Hat image above. Really nice work and very masculine looking! 

Blessings!
Carmen

A Quick Card

Hi there!

Sorry for the absence! It's just been a bit busy around here lately! I did manage to throw together a quick card for my son who celebrated his 22nd birthday last Monday. We celebrated with a family BBQ on Sunday night, but he met a whole bunch of friends at Kelly O's on Monday night and had Appy's. Fun!

Anyway, he plays accoustic, electric and bass guitar, and he recently joined a band, so I made him a card in that theme.

 I used the Rockstar paperpad to make this card, so it came together really quickly! Perfect! I just added a couple of stars with pop dots to give the card a bit of a 3D feel.

I have a tendency to write in my cards before remembering to take pictures, and since I don't have Photoshop, this is the best I could do to blot it out. You don't want to see all that mushy stuff anyway! :)

One of my guilty pleasure is watching America's Got Talent, especially near the end when the talent is good. What did you think of last night's outcome? I picked all 4 to be in the finals. I think they'll all do fine! Landau's story is just so feel good...so I'm really happy for him and was glad to see how happy the others were for him too!

Anyway, I'm still working on a freebie, hopefully I'll get it finished soon. Talk to you later!
Blessings,
Carmen

Giddyup...Giraffe?

Hello!

First of all, something completely unrelated.

There was a little 3 year old boy, Kienan Hebert, that had gone missing from his home during the middle of the night last Tuesday in Sparwood BC. Police suspected he had been abducted by a man named Randall Hopley, known to be a sexual deviant. After much prayer, candlelight vigils all over BC, pleadings from the childs family and the suspected abductors mother-- the child was returned home and found at 3 AM this morning, sitting on the couch with his blankie.  Last night, as I prayed I cried tears of sorrow for him, and this morning, tears of joy! Miracles do happen, and God does hear! Anyway, that is my good news for today!! SO happy!!

I feel like mixing it up a bit today, so I have some digi's that are different than my usual stuff. I did this first one up because I was asked to do a Cowboy themed card for my Ridgeview Class. The ladies are all quite senior, so I thought it would be fun to do something they could send to a grandchild, but in the end I went with a Buckin' Bronco. Still, I thought - why let a digi go to waste? Someone may as well enjoy it!

Then, I thought...why stop at a horse? Let's go on a safari!

That last one looks a bit like a Star Wars character...lol...it's a Giraffe,

I have an idea for another steampunk image, so stay tuned...

If you use one of my images, I would love to feature it along with the original post with a link back to your blog! Just email me the link. :)

Digital Stamps are available in my Etsy Shop

Blessings,
Carmen

Steampunk Airship Digital Stamp

Hello!

Well, we've had a few hot days (37C yesterday), so I've been hiding inside. Well, not really hiding - I've had lots of company and that's been fun!

I'm Dutch, and I have an old friend who is Dutch as well. So we got together one day and had some Beschuitjes (Rusks) with Gouda Cheese, and a bowl of yogurt with peaches for dessert. My covered balcony was the perfect place to relax, eat and chat!

Lunches are hard for me because I never know what to make. Not a big fan of sandwiches, and don't want to spend a bunch of time putting together a salad.

I don't think I ever recovered from having 4 little boys running around...I'm still eating on the run - and that's not good -- Chocolate is not lunch food! REPEAT...Chocolate is NOT lunch food!!

Anyway, I have another steampunk inspired image. Somehow, steampunk to me means it doesn't have to make sense...so I hope you're not a stickler for 'sensibles'...;)

 I have a few Sentiment Freebies that some of you suggested to go with the bike, which can be found HERE. May as well plop them on here too...

 I made a Butterfly Flying Ship Digital Stamp a while back that can be found HERE. I really hid that Digi in amongst a bunch of other images.. some of you may have missed it, so here it is again:

This next FREEBIE sentiment, done two different ways, would go great with it!

Okay, that's definitely it for this week.
As always, if you use my digi's, send me the link and I'll post them with the Digi Stamp you used!

Val from Canonbury Creations used the Steampunk Airship in this card below! I love it!!

Val also used some of my other Digi's in this card!
The Sundial can be found HERE
The Penny Farthing can be found HERE




Jessica from Jessica's Craft Shaque used the sentiment above, and one of my other Penny Farthing images in the card below. Check out her awesome blog!

Here's another card by Jessica as well using one of my sentiments and vintage clock images!

Hope all of you are enjoying the changes September brings. I love the Fall!!
Have a good weekend!

Carmen

Moving Day Digital Stamps

Hello there,

Are you having a good long weekend? We went to the Fair, but the Fair wasn't there! We clued in when we saw circus trucks on the highway going in the opposite direction. We went anyway, had a nice lunch and stopped at a flea market on the way home. We had a good day!

I can't believe September is already here. Soon it'll be Christmas - which got me thinking. We have lived in the same house since 1992...count 'em, that's almost 20 years! My goodness time has flown by! When we moved in we had four little boys bouncing off the walls. Now, if they try to bounce off the walls they'd probably go through them!! (That's a reflection of big boys, not old walls!)

It's been a good little place for us, but I know that one day we'll probably move. I don't look forward to that day so much. Hubby and I aren't quite as strong as we used to be, and we've collected a lot of stuff over the years. If that day ever comes, hopefully the boys will help!  I don't see a move for us happening any time soon...but some of you may know someone who's moving.

I thought you might like the truck by itself, so you can add some leaves, or dirt, or whatever you want it to transport for you.

It's been a while since I've posted a 'regular' type of image. I'm working on a steampunk airship, and I have a hobby horse ready to go too, but that's for another day.

Digitals are available in my Etsy Shop: Carmensplace@Beyond the Fringe Crafts

Hope your Labour Day Weekend was wonderful!

Update!
I was so happy to receive an email from Sandy over at Sandy's Creations with a link to her card using this digital! I really love it. The colors are great on it and the card is so cute!! Thanks Sandy!!

Here is another adorable card by Margreet using this image. The post is Verhuizen/Moving. Her blog, called Margreet's Scrapcards, is definitely worth a boo--go have a look! She is a Dutch Cardmaker! Don't you just love the little key embellishment on this card? Perfect!!

Here's another from Krista at Krista's Paper Cafe! Isn't it adorable? I love the lock she's attached (perfect for a moving card), and she's done some layering on the rocking chair. Check out her blog link for more information on this card! Thanks Krista!

Blessings to you!
Carmen

This and That

I should be doing my laundry and some cleaning, and putting on my war paint...but instead I am cropping and resizing photos! So, this is a quickie post on some things I've been up to.

First, my Mom was here one day and we did up this card with the balloon pop ups.

I thought I'd just show you the inside, since the outside isn't done yet...someday...yes, I'm a procrastinator.

They're a really simple pop up card. The original idea is Valita's, and HERE are her instructions on YouTube. I created my own balloon SVG file for cutting with my new Lynx.

I also got a surprise visit from my niece and nephew...guess what we did?

Johnny looks happy! Sandra always makes that face by default when she notices people taking her picture. She hates it...and now she probably hates me! :) But just in case, here's a photo of her that she probably likes better. I think she always looks beautiful!

 Anyhoo...They're both extremely creative. It runs in the family I guess...

 This was one of Sandra's backgrounds, and here's the stamp she used with it.

Awesome, or what??

I didn't get a good picture of one of Johnny's, but his were nice too. Sorry! Here are some of the backgrounds I made anyway.

I decided to make two backgrounds on this one using the same colors.

Did a twirly motion to get this background.

I love these Tim Holtz Stamps...they were perfect for this project!

Now to make some cards....soon...I hope...;)

I also made up this one and used a Hero Arts Stamp on it.

These were all done using glossy photo paper that I got at the Dollar Store. It's fun to play with the distress inks and see what kind of designs you can come up with!

I also made up this card for my grand daughter-to-be for her birthday!

It's very sparkly, like her sweet personality! Click on it to see a close up!

It has an acetate window, but it's hard to see. Oh well...hopefully she likes it anyway!

We also babysat our grandkids overnight. That was a lot of fun!! Plus we went to a BBQ with lots of family and friends. It's been busy, but fun!!

Well, I've used up enough time, now I have to rush to get things done! Oh well, it was worth it. Have a good day, and thanks for stopping by!

Blessings,
Carmen