Well it’s that time of year again. And I’m knee deep in Christmas projects and this ribbon kit was perfect for that.

Here is a ribbon tree I did:

And a bunch of Cards:

Have a great holiday season!

Well with moving just around the corner, I was going through an old box and found something baseball related. So I will share it with you all.

This has held up very well. The date on the bottom states that it was printed in 1983.

If I happen to find anything else interesting, you know I will post it.

November 2009: twenty years since the fall of the Berlin Wall and the revolution that was velvet.

 Back in 1989 I was still at primary school.  I think I remember seeing the fall of the wall on TV but perhaps I’ve invented that later.  A boy in our class brought in a fragment of the Berlin wall to show everyone.  I remember being disappointed.  It was just a small bit of grey rock I could have picked up on the wasteground where I used to take my dog for a walk.  The dog was called Teddy.  He was a Bearded Collie and had masses of fur that I didn’t brush often enough so it matted into huge clumps I’d later have to cut off with nail scissors.

My very first Czech-related memory goes back to primary school too.  We had a spelling test and I was the only person who knew how to spell Czechoslovakia. There aren’t many words in English that begin with ‘Cz’. 

I also collected stamps.  Three pages of my album were devoted to Czechland. I still have it.  The ones from exotic places like Equatorial Guinea and Cuba and Malaysia have huge butterflies or angelfish or Disney characters launching space rockets. The Czech ones are less colourful. Some have tiny engravings of castles or a thumb sized portrait of Gottwald. Another one has a zebra; one has a Soviet red-star with a 50 in the middle. There are a couple with pictures of carp on them.  They are all very neatly arranged on the page, pasted on carefully with stamp hinges, those little strips of gummed paper.  I was that kind of child.

 According to Samuel Johnson, no-one but a blockhead wrote but for money.  Or a bloghead.  I’ve been trying to write for money recently which is partly why you’ve heard less from me here.  My recent assignment was to interview an ex-pat novelist whose last book was set in Czechland. I spent some time compiling a thoughtful and intelligent list of questions which I first saved as a Word document and then fired off by email.

‘You haven’t sent those questions yet have you?’ Czechman pipes up.  He’s been using my laptop since the graphics card in his gave up the ghost.

‘Yes, I have.  Why?’

 ‘There are spelling mistakes. Look, you’ve spelt Czechoslovakia wrong.’

Instead of using a regular stamp or the franking machine with your post this Christmas (business or personal) how about personalising your mail with Royal Mail Smilers?  You can add a photo, choose a stamp design, this is then printed for you by Royal Mail and the finished product is sent to you for you to use on your envelopes.  You can opt to just have a stamp design and no photo.  Not only is it a great way to cheer up that envelope but it can be a good marketing tool for business mail.  You can find more about them by using this link to the Royal Mail site – http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/content2?catId=3800007&mediaId=3800008&keyname=SMILERS

As an alternative how about the Scouts?  In an earlier blog post I mentioned using your local scout group for card deliveries, it has official clearance to run a Scout Post Service and will cost up to 20p a card.   Ideal if you have lots of cards or mail to be delivered locally.

Whatever you do happy mailing!

Another little eBay splurge! I’m not a stamp collector but after acquiring my own little press, these fellows caught my eye. These are really hi-res scans so you can get into the details a bit.

These were issued  on September 29 1976 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of British printing  and William Caxton, who first introduced printing to England, in 1476. He set himself up as a successful merchant in Flanders and translated books into English in his leisure hours and it is likely that he thought of printing as an alternative to having his translations laboriously copied.

I have already stated that I am not a collector, so if any keen philatelists are reading and I have made a mistake, please let me know!

Enrique sent me this beautiful cover from Chile, thank you! It was posted in Valparaíso on November 7, 2009.

The six stamps on the left are of the set “Typical Chilean Characters”, which was issued on February 25, 2008. The right stamp was issued on November 5, 2003, and commemorates the 180th anniversary of the supreme court.

Stamps
Vor ein paar Tagen bin ich auf „Briefmarken“ gestoßen, allerdings keine gewöhnlichen: Es sind kleine Bildchen oder Texte die mit einem Briefmarkenrand versehen sind und die unterschiedlichsten Dinge ausdrücken können! Meine Lieblinge sind diese:

Abdul Gaffoor Mosque

In Singapore’s ‘Little India’ known as Tekka, one can find the Abdul Gaffoor Mosque in Dunlop Street.  The mosque had its beginnings as a simple building in 1881.  Its trustee, Shaik Abdul Gaffoor Shaik Hyder, a lawyer’s clerk, built shophouses in the area allocated for the mosque and rented them out to raise funds to build the mosque.  Work on the present structure began in 1907 and was completed in 1910.  The architecture is a combination of Arab and Victorian styles.  It was gazetted a National Monument in 1979.

One of our newest favorite stampers, Christi, posted on her “Blessings On Paper” blog a couple of fabulous recipe cards, and one using a Stampendous stamp. We think her projects are so cute that we could just eat them up! And we really can’t wait to try the recipes! Giving handstamped recipe cards is one of the cutest gift ideas we’ve seen for Christmas or any time. Here’s hoping your family has a wonderful Thanksgiving full of fun food and stamping!

Monkey Bread Recipe Card

Stampendous Products Used:

• SSC137 Changito the Monkey Perfectly Clear™ Stamp Set (to find this sticker, ask your local retailer. Find your local retailer here)
• SSH34 Medium Rectangle Acrylic Handle

Why am I sending Christmas cards this year? It could be that I want to use up my postal stamps of various values instead of viewing them as constant clutter in a drawer. Why not just throw them away? Well, that would be wasteful!

Hmmm, procrastination could be a factor. While writing and sending cards, I am avoiding other tasks, like shampooing my carpets. I won’t mention the clutter in the basement that is meant to make its way to Good Will or the laundry that’s waiting for a flight to my closets and drawers, after a layover at the washing machine and dryer… Did I tell you that two years ago, I had my laundry room moved to the second floor, second bedroom of my townhouse? Now it’s right up there with the beds and clothes closets!

I call that second bedroom a work room. No bed. It’s fitting, since besides clothes, there are boxes of papers piled for my perusal before recycling or filing them. Did I share that I’m a perfectionist? Yes, that’s an excuse I use for some delays in my accomplishments…

The best reason for me sending Christmas cards with personal comments and a poem I wrote as well, is that I’m feeling vulnerable. September, I received a diagnosis of breast cancer. I’m reaching out to hug family and friends with words, if not in person. I know that the only time I can be sure of is the NOW. By the way, after I used the assorted postal stamps, I bought three pages of these forever stamps: “BREAST CANCER, FUND THE FIGHT, FIND A CURE.

The fourth of the covers: Prehistoric Carvings

The stamp on this cover is Darwin with prehistoric skulls. In 1871 Darwin published ‘The Descent of Man’. In this book he applies his evolutionary theory to human evolution.

The third of the covers: The Woodpecker Finch

Extract from Darwin’s Log 1835 – Galapagos Islands

“Of  landbirds I obtained twenty-six kinds, all peculiar to the Galapagos and found nowhere else, with the exception of one lark like finch from North America. The other twenty-five birds consists, firstly, of a hawk, two owls, a wren, three fly-catchers, a dove, a swallow, three species of mocking thrush. The remaining landbirds form a most singular group of finches, related to each other in the structure of their beaks, short tails, form of body and plumage. There are thirteen species which Mr Gould has divided into four sub-groups. All these species are peculiar to this Archipelago.”

The second of the covers:  The Marine Iguana

Galapagos has two species of lizard. One is the land iguana and the other is the marine iguana.

Extract from Darwin’s Diary:

“It is a hideous-looking creature, of a dirty black colour, stupid and sluggish in its movements…there were some even four feet long…Their limbs and strong claws are admirably adapted for crawling over rugged lava rocks.”

A series of 4 beautiful first day covers have come into my collection since writing the book. (Sandie Robb’s collection)

“What I find really interesting about these covers are the postmarks. Look at how they all relate to the illustrations on the cover and the stamps.”

It is important when collecting stamps to look at the envelope and the postmark too. Sometimes you may not want to remove  the stamp from the envelope and keep the complete envelope as it has interesting and important information on it, even if it is not a first day cover. Cover is the word stamp collectors use for envelope. A first day cover is one postmarked on the first day of issue of the stamps it holds.

This one pictures the Giant Tortoise. Often inside first day covers there is a information card. The card inside this one has an extract from Charles Darwin’s Log 1835 – Galapagos Islands - the following is part of this extract:

“…Some grow to an immense size. I have been told that it requires 6 to 8 men to lift them from the ground. The old males are the largest… The tortoise which live on those islands where there is no water, or in the lower arid parts of the others feed chiefly on succulent cactus. Those which frequent the higher and damp regions eat the leaves of various trees, a kind of berry which is acid and austere and likewise a pale gren lichen that hangs in tresses from the boughs of trees.”

 Endangered:

The original 14 species of giant tortoise are now down to 11 and may be 10 when lonesome George, the sole survivor of the Pinta Island tortoise finally dies. It is thought that George is about 90 years old but tortoises can live for up to 200 years, so he is still young and healthy at the moment. A lot of work is being done to find a mate for George, with DNA tests being done on various females to see if they are of the same species or at least a close match.

Teaching tips:

Look at the three different shapes of tortoise in these drawings and work out why they have evolved differently.  (Clues to the answer are on Page 10 of the Darwin stamp book)

(drawings copyright Teal Purrington 2007 – available as downloadable PDF colouring sheet from http://www.swarthmore.edu/NatSci/cpurrin1/evolk12/gps/tortoise.htm)

At Edinburgh Zoo on the 24th November 2009 at our last event celebrating Darwin 200, the book ‘Charles Darwin: A Celebration in Stamps‘ was launched. Exactly 150 years after Darwin’s ‘On the Origin of Species’.

This book is available free to schools on request. It is also for sale at the price of £6 (plus postage and packing) to those outwith of education, while stocks last.

Please email Sandie Robb at srobb@rzss.org.uk

::sigh::

i’ve been incredibly unfocused.

i’ve been trying to work everyday. but, sometimes i just stare at my screen for an hour and do next to nothing. so, i’ve started a goal for myself to help kick start production. i do well with goals. so… a NEW design everyday for the next 60 days. from there, i’ll decide whether or not to do an extension.

so…

DAY ONE : HANDLE WITH CARE
…as simple as the back is, it actually took quite awhile to design. sometimes the most rigid designs take the most fine tuning. my concert ticket business card took hours, and the design was already put in place by ticketmaster… so, point proven. but, it was worth it… one of my best business cards to date. anyhow… handle with care…

With it being the holiday season and making hundreds of holiday cards I thought it was time for a switch up. That and I have a few birthdays coming up that I needed to make cards for, so of course today was perfect for just that.

I used our Jumbo Wheel Spot On as the background for these cards along with a brand new stamp set that I got due to using it in My Digital Studio so much.

That new stamp set is Enjoy Every Moment. I’m completely and totally in love with it and am currently working on 6 different boxed sets with it! Lots of work but I can’t help myself, this set is amazing

The sample above was done in Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise, and Whisper White.

For these two cards which are idenctical to the one above all besides the white gel pen designs on the far left hand side of them. Also I tried out different styles of the white and brown layers for the word Enjoy. Does that make sense? If not hopefully you can see it in the photos. I did different sizes so the scalloped edges of each would fall differently to see where I like it the best and I’ve got to say that I enjoy the Tempting Turquoise one the best.

The card on the left is done in Gable Green with the card on the right being done in Cameo Coral. Which I’ve got to say is a personal favorite color of mine.

These cards have also come in handy as I’ve had a friend request some sample birthday cards so hopefully she likes this design herself

Only one more day until Thanksgiving! I hope all of you are prepared, have all the shopping done and are ready to start on some cooking tomorrow!

]]> http://dlmtleart.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/new-forest-sun-rays-in-the-snow-32-items-on-zazzle/ Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:43:56 +0000 dlmtleart http://dlmtleart.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/new-forest-sun-rays-in-the-snow-32-items-on-zazzle/

One of the things I got done last week was to create a series of product using my photo, Forest Sun Rays in the Snow #32. A snow covered branch creates an arch, with ferns hanging from its moss covered bark, across a tree lined path toward the summit of this hill in the woods of Rainier Oregon. Beyond the forest the sky shines crystal blue in the early morning light.

Forest Sun Rays in the Snow #32 by dlmtleArt
View more Forest Postage

Forest Sun Rays in the Snow #32 by dlmtleArt
Create your own photo greeting card at zazzle.com

Forest Sun Rays in the Snow #32 by dlmtleArt
Browse Forest Stationery

Forest Sun Rays in the Snow #32 by dlmtleArt
Design a custom printed magnet on zazzle

Forest Sun Rays in the Snow #32 by dlmtleArt
Create customizable steins at zazzle.com

Forest Sun Rays in the Snow #32 by dlmtleArt
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Forest Sun Rays in the Snow #32 by dlmtleArt
See other Forest Keychains

Forest Sun Rays in the Snow #32 by dlmtleArt
Design a cheap button at zazzle

Forest Sun Rays in the Snow #32 by dlmtleArt
View more Forest Stickers

Forest Sun Rays in the Snow #32 by dlmtleArt
View more Forest Bumper Stickers

Forest Sun Rays in the Snow #32 by dlmtleArt
Get a shirt at zazzle.com

Forest Sun Rays in the Snow #32 by dlmtleArt
Browse Forest T-Shirts

Forest Sun Rays in the Snow #32 by dlmtleArt
Browse more Forest Cards

Forest Sun Rays in the Snow #32 by dlmtleArt
Browse more Forest Cards

Forest Sun Rays in the Snow #32 by dlmtleArt
Design your own Custom postcards on zazzle

Forest Sun Rays in the Snow #32 by dlmtleArt
View all other custom mousepads at zazzle

Forest Sun Rays in the Snow #32 by dlmtleArt
Browse Forest Aprons

Forest Sun Rays in the Snow #32 by dlmtleArt
Browse more Forest Bags

Dawna’s Gallery of Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, and T shirts at RedBubble

Dawna’s Fine Art Prints at

Dawna’s Zazzle Gallery of items featuring her Art and Photography

Here is the sneak peak of my Christmas Card Stamp-a-Stack on Saturday.

At this Stamp-a-Stack event I have taken the time to ensure each card demonstrates a different stamping technique or tool.  This way you can experience as much and you can when it come to stamping.  I hope to see many of you there.

]]> http://tamisanders.com/2009/11/24/fall-thank-you-card/ Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:18:15 +0000 tamisanders http://tamisanders.com/2009/11/24/fall-thank-you-card/

since it IS the season for thanks… i have a little “thank you” card to share!

i wanted the colors of the card to “seasonal”, but still soft and pretty, so i chose to use yellows and oranges with just a touch of brown to add some contrast…

!!!

I started with a muted orange cardstock for the card, then added a warm brown block as a backdrop for the rest of my elements.

Then i took a square of plain white cardstock and lightly sprayed it with SMOOCH SPRITZ in GOLD GLOW, then i used an ANTIQUE BROCADE STAMP inked with ANCIENT PAGE ink in SUNBURST to create the background block for the card.

Next, I sprayed another piece of white cardstock with the GOLD GLOW spritz, and stamped 2 “wood grain” flowers and 3 “thank you print” flowers from the PRINTED FLOWERS set using the SUNBURST ink.  Then i stamped 2 “solid thank you” flowers and 1 “large thank you” flower from the same set onto white cardstock using YELLOW OCHRE FLUID CHALK INK. when the ink dried, i spritzed them lightly with the GOLD GLOW spritz. when all the inks and spritz had dried, i cut out the background and the flowers.

I added the background piece first and topped it with a piece of ribbon near the bottom. i then arranged and adhered all the flowers, having the large “thank you” flower at the lower right.

buttons at the centers finished off the design.

inks and spritzes are all by CLEARSNAP, stamps are by HERO ARTS.

Having a reception at a place other than where the wedding is taking place?

Remember to put a map in the invitations. It’s also a good idea to put a map to the reception in the ceremony program (that is, if everyone is invited to the reception).

Ask the post office for a selection of romantic stamps from which to choose. Ask to see the newest “Love” stamps.

Spritz your invitations with your favorite fragrance.

Be sure to mail invitations six to eight weeks before the big day; be sure to include a deadline (of two to three weeks before the wedding) on your reply cards! If you haven’t received all of your RSVPs by 15 days before the wedding, designate a family member of friend to telephone those who have not responded.

Don’t send your invitations out on a rainy day, especially if you plan to use a public mailbox. All that dampness may damage the paper and cause the ink to blur.

Copyright © 2009 – Larry James. This idea is adapted from Larry’s Wedding Website. Larry James is a non-denominational minister and performs the most “Romantic” wedding ceremony you will find anywhere! Call to check availabilty: 480-998-9411 or 800-725-9223. You will find more than 445 pages of Wedding ideas, tips (90 tips and growing), ceremonies, and more at: http://www.celebrateintimateweddings.com. Check Larry’s availability.

Subscribe to Larry’s FREE monthly “LoveNotes for Lovers” eZINE. Contact: CelebrateIntimateWeddings.com, P.O. Box 12695, Scottsdale, AZ 85267-2695. – CelebrateIntimateWeddings.com

NOTE: All articles, “LoveNotes” and wedding tips listed in this Wedding BLOG are available for reprint in magazines, periodicals, newsletters, newspapers, eZINEs, on the Internet or on your own Website. Click here for details.

Add Larry James to your Facebook page: http://www.Facebook.com/larry.james
Follow Larry’s “once daily” Relationship Tweet at: http://www.Twitter.com/larryjames
Follow Larry’s “Relationship BLOG” at: http://CelebrateLove.wordpress.com/

I have numerous friends that have recently learned the sex of their little babies, and oddly enough most of them are having baby boys. It’s the opposite of what I’m use to but it’s not a bad change, just different.

Here is a baby shower invite that I came up with tonight. What do you think?

I saw a card similar to this and had to try my hand at it. I think it turned out fairly well and absolutely love the style of it. I will be trying out a few different cards like this soon

To the left you can see what the invitation looks like when you pull it up and out of the card. I’m not thrilled with the star stamps on the invitation itself and will continue to play around with the design a little more.

On the right you can see a up-close shot of the bear from the set Teddy & Trains. I watercolored it with Water Color Pencils. Personally, I prefer watercoloring with the ink pad and blender pen itself but tonight I decided to use this technique.

For the stitching I used our white uni-ball gel pen and did “faking stitching” meaning that I didn’t obviously use my sewing machine but drew them on by hand to give it the look of actual stitches. Now whether or not they actually look like the real thing is up to all of you!

The photo above shows what the invitation looks only half way out of the holder so you can get a idea how I’ve made this card. If you would instructions please feel free to ask

Once again everyone have a wonderful night.

]]> http://dlmtleart.wordpress.com/2009/11/23/new-early-morning-sun-rays-19-products-on-zazzle/ Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:21:52 +0000 dlmtleart http://dlmtleart.wordpress.com/2009/11/23/new-early-morning-sun-rays-19-products-on-zazzle/

Last week i created a series of product on zazzle based on my photo, Early Morning Sun Rays #19. The early morning sun beams its rays from the azure winter sky through the leafless maples to the cedars and forest below. The sky is a pristine light blue with a hint of thin white clouds in the background. Darkened outlines of bare branches in the foreground and cedar trees in the background provide stark contrast with the early morning sun. As the rays travel from the sun through the forest, several large sunspots a of lighter and darker red radiate from the sun. One small green sunspot floats like a small orb in the midst of the trees.

Early Morning Sun Rays #19 by dlmtleArt
View more Forest Postage

Early Morning Sun Rays #19 by dlmtleArt
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Early Morning Sun Rays #19 by dlmtleArt
Make personalized stationery on zazzle.com

Early Morning Sun Rays #19 by dlmtleArt
View more Forest Magnets

Early Morning Sun Rays #19 by dlmtleArt
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Early Morning Sun Rays #19 by dlmtleArt
Many more Keychain designs at zazzle.com

Early Morning Sun Rays #19 by dlmtleArt
View more Forest Buttons

Early Morning Sun Rays #19 by dlmtleArt
See more Forest Stickers

Early Morning Sun Rays #19 by dlmtleArt
Design custom tee shirts at Zazzle

Early Morning Sun Rays #19 by dlmtleArt
Create custom t shirts at zazzle

Early Morning Sun Rays #19 by dlmtleArt
Shop for another greeting card on zazzle

Early Morning Sun Rays #19 by dlmtleArt
Make post cards on zazzle

Early Morning Sun Rays #19 by dlmtleArt
Browse more Forest Mousepads

Early Morning Sun Rays #19 by dlmtleArt
View other Forest Aprons

Early Morning Sun Rays #19 by dlmtleArt
More Forest Bags

Dawna’s Gallery of Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, and T shirts

Dawna’s Fine Art Prints at

Dawna’s Zazzle Gallery of items featuring her Art and Photography