*Free* Digital Easter Stamps …

Hello, Everyone ! Hope your Monday is CR8TiV !! (n_n) So the countdown to Easter has begun and I wanted to give you all something special for Easter. I couldn’t think what I could give since my last several attempts to do giveaways on my Facebook page sadly failed and did not go well.

A group of my friends helped me think what I can give back to my fans, online friends/followers, and anyone who’s reading my blog, viewing my Art posted on Facebook and Instagram. Hmm … what can I give you for Easter ? A friend then suggested … you draw well so why not create some Easter images people can use for coloring pages, cards, etc.

(n_n) So that’s what I have decided my Easter gift to you all will be. I have never done digital stamps before nor know exactly what they are. I don’t have any Art editing software besides the MS Paint that comes with my computer. Hopefully someday in the future I can be in a better spot in my Life that I can do YouTube tutorials and do digital art like some I’ve seen.

(♥⌂♥) I do someday dream to own a Cintiq for that sole purpose but not unless I won the lotto or my personal business that I run with my husband takes off and becomes prosperous. But I am currently waiting for some funds that will allow me to start taking Graphic Design classes @ PennFoster.

I am very eager and excited to start my Life on that path. It is an Associates Degree course so if I continue with it and graduate. I will be the 1st person in my family to have a College degree. If it’s not too expensive I’d like to up that Associates Degree to a Masters. I Love drawing and Graphic Designing.

I was making Signature Art for a MM0RPG forum way back in the day and people often sad to me I have great potential in Graphic Design. So I am eager to dip my feet into that water and see how it goes. I can tell you one thing though … you don’t really need a expensive editing software to make great digital art !

Back in the day when I was making Signature banners for the forum all I used was MS Picture It software. I still wish that software existed today but it was a Windows ME software on an old laptop I had. It was very easy to use and I liked using it a lot !

Anyways before I start rambling *(¬⌂¬”) A little too late for that* Here are the *Free* Digital stamps that you are welcome to use as you like for coloring book pages for the kiddos on Easter to Cards … etc. If you use them could you please credit me somewhere. I’d appreciate that … Thanks and Enjoy !!

Spring into SALEs … (n_n)

Hello, Everyone ! Hope your Monday is going well so far. How was your weekend ? Mine was pretty great ! I took advantage of a sale going on @ JoAnn’s. If you are a cardmaker or into paper-crafting now is the time to head over to JoAnn’s. They are having a 30% off sale on all paper-crafting supplies, 30% off on all dies and accessories, 25% off Cricut supplies, and Darice Embossing folders are 6 for $10 !!

If you live in California … well, Los Angeles in particular. I made the extra trip to go to a JoAnn’s in Torrance in the Del Amo Fashion Center. They’re pretty huge and got everything well in stock. My local JoAnn’s which is in Glendale are terrible at keeping things in stock, workers aren’t all that helpful nor have pleasant attitudes, and there’s always only 2 checkers. I was surprised to see at the Torrance Jo-Ann’s every register was occupied by a worker.

Anyways I haven’t been very active on my Facebook or Instagram or Blog. (┬_┬”) Sorry about that ! It’s just lately I haven’t created anything worthy of sharing with you guys and I’ve kinda been consumed with tinkering with my Cricut Cuttlebug. (n⌂n’) In case I didn’t share it with you guys. My husband got me the Cricut Cuttlebug v2 in Black for Christmas.

I have a Sizzix BigShot which my Sister got me long ago but I misplaced all the important parts to it like the cutting plates and platform folder. So I have the machine but not the parts and I didn’t wanna go buy *new* ones bcuz I have them somewhere in this house. But my husband got me the Cuttlebug and I’m loving it !! I’m learning *new* tricks, techniques, and ways to use it via YouTube my favorite learning institute.

If you don’t know what the Cricut Cuttlebug v2 Black is or even seen nor heard of a Black Here’s a photo of what it looks like below ↓

It’s the same as the regular Cricut Cuttlebug just in this sleek Black color instead of the Cream and Lime green color they usually come in. My husband got it for under $60 *Approx. $55* I’ll post the link here where he bought it from ↓ http://cartridgesandmore.com/shop/cricut-machines/cricut-cuttlebug-v2-embosser-and-die-cutter-black/

It comes with the A plate *Base platform* and two(2) B plates *Embossing plates*. If you’re going to die cut with the Cuttlebug you’ll need to purchase a C plate and now is the best time to grab one at JoAnn’s since Cricut products are 25% off. I got my C plate yesterday and it’s definitely a *MUST-HAVE* if you are going to due cut with the Cuttlebug !!

I have tried using shims from layers of Cardstock, Fun Foam sheets, Cardboard, etc. But was unable to get complete clean cuts from my dies. I tried it with the C plate last night and it cuts great ! If you don’t want your C plate getting cut up … place your die face down. So the cutting blade part is always facing a B plate. For example … your sandwich *layers* would be A plate + B plate + Cardstock + Die + C plate … So the die will cut into the B plate and leave the C plate clean. You can also do it the other way around … A plate + C plate + Cardstock + Die + B plate and face the cutting blade part facing up.

I kinda wish I had kept one B plate clean but while trying to figure out how to get the B plates to die cut I’ve gotten both B plates cut up and scarred already. (┬ ┬) But I can always get replacement plates in the future. As far as Embossing goes websites all suggest using the rubber Embossing mat ? I just cut up an old mouse pad to a size of the Cuttlebug plate and it works just fine. Also heard you can buy something from a hardware store called Plumbers Gasket which works too.

I wish I wasn’t so lazy to share with you my recent craft store hauls but wasn’t sure if you’d be interested in knowing what I bought. Let me know in the comments below if you’d be interested in craft store haul posts. Once I get my train of thought on track I’ll start posting things again on Facebook and Instagram. For now I’ll post occasionally when I’ve made something worthy of sharing.

The Stamps of Life – Stamp club review

Hi, CR8TiV Kittens ! We’re almost through the week and tomorrow is Friday !!! YAY !! Hope you have marvelous things planned for your weekend. So I believe I posted not to long ago that I have joined two(2) monthly stamp subscriptions. One is by Paper Wishes “Hot off the Press stampers club” and the Stamps of Life stamp club by Stephanie Barnard. I’ll create a review for the Paper Wishes stampers club some other time.

Today I wanted to focus on the Stamp of Life stamp club. I pay $12.83 a month … SUPER affordable and about the price of one stamp set ! I received my first stamp set in January which was a pretty sweet way to start off 2016 if you ask me. The stamp set is the Bandage stamp set. If you’re not a stamp club member you can still purchase these stamps separately from her online store @ http://www.thestampsoflife.com/shop/ClearStamps-AllStampSets/ She has so many goodies in her store and all at such affordable prices.

So below ↓ is picture and an example of what I had create with the stamp set and the stamp set itself.

Isn’t that nurse kitty the cutest thing ever ? I kinda love the fact that I am originally a handrawn artist so if there’s a stamp image I do not have or there is no such stamp … I just create my own !! Plus I think the handrawn look gives your cards a more personal touch than everything being stamped images.

So let me tell you my personal review about the stamps … I LOVE THEM !! They stamp crisp clear images right off the packaging. Most … well, I should say some stamps take a bit of priming before they can stamp crisp clear images. By priming you either have to stamp them multiple times on scraps of paper so they’ll coat with ink properly or give them a gentle scuff with an emery board so they’ll ink up right.

The Stamps of Life stamps require none of that !! I had not used my bandages stamp set, yet. Thankfully I didn’t have anyone with boo boos or requiring a Get Well card. Although I could just make them ahead of time in case. But I gave my stamp set a go last night and that was stamped right off the packaging. I didn’t prime them or anything ! Just stuck onto my acrylic block and inked up with my Tuxedo Black Memento ink.

The Bandage stamp set was from last month “January”. This month for February, I got a Hippo stamp set. No offense, Stephanie. But I wasn’t very fond of the hippos. But that’s where you need to get a little CR8TiV. I was looking at this stamp set and wondering what I can do with Hippos and a CR8TiV light bulb went on. I thought I’d do a CR8TiV twist on the stamp set and to me they kinda looked like Bears than Hippos.

So below ↓ is the picture of the stamp set and my CR8TiV twist of turning the Hippos into Bears. I used a Darice Forest Embossing folder to add in the Forest trees. There’s no sentiment added to it, yet ! Until I find a use or need for this card I’ll add one on later. I first stamped the images and them embossed the card. I did my best to color it in to hide some of the embossed areas.

I didn’t do any masking but rather what I did was just wipe off the bits of ink on the areas of the stamp I did not want such as the Hippos tail and toes. I think it turned out quite nice and gives you a great example of stretching your stamps and showing you that you don’t have to go with the theme of a specific stamp set. Mix and Match and be CR8TiV.

Overall if you’re a cardmaker I highly recommend joining the Stamps of Life stamp club. It’s SUPER affordable and every month will be like Christmas as you anticipate the *new* stamp set that is to arrive in your mailbox. If there’s ever a stamp set you don’t like place it into a box and create a CR8TiVity box for a youngster or friend who you think might be interested in cardmaking or papercrafting. They can also be donated to local hospitals or art classes. Go check out the Stamps of Life … I’m sure there’s something there that’ll tickle your fancy.