Retail Therapy

Hello every one in Blog Ville! Isn't this a cute mini card? I was inspired today by a small card I viewed on stamping school. (www.stampingschool.com) that measured 3 1/2 X 10", this card is a 3 1/2" square. I used the shopping ladies from "My favorite Things" stamps to create the card front with the sentiment 'retail therapy'. For this image I choose Staz on ink and used my water color pencils and a blending pen to color. I also added a little glits with glitter. I love shopping. I just made a huge Stampin Up order as well, so I'll be set in stamps for a long time. I can hardly wait to get them all 'inky'! This is a quick and easy project. A while back I was able to pick up small sewing kits on the clearance at Joann's. They come in tiny plastic boxes and I simply used super sticky red tape to attach them inside. I stamped the image and embellished it with crystal effects. For added glitz, a few well placed eyelets and ribbon complete the kit. It is actually held together using a velcrow type closure. I hope every one had a nice Christmas! Our's was wonderful, it was just nice to spend the day as a family and enjoy the celebration of the true gift of Christmas, The birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus. Stamp Happy! Loretta Rodger ms.rhetta@verizon.net wwww.picturetrail.com/ms.rhetta

Just Cards December Issue -- Published!

What a stamp happy day! I received an email from a fellow sparkle n sprinkle designer, Brenda and what great news, I've been published in the December issue of Just Cards magazine on pages 16 and 44. I have not seen the issue as of yet, but can't wait to receive my copy! I must admitt that getting my art work published is a true honor. If you happen to be reading this blog and wonder how you can submitt artwork for publication, all I can say is keep on sending stuff in, keep your instructions simple and precise and never give up. I am truly blessed with a nice area in my basement for my crafting needs. My sweet husband, Michael recently even bought (what he affectionately refers to as 'glitter control') me a Shark hand vac. This baby has power. Its not 100% effective on removing glitter, but sure does help! At the top of this post you will see a tumbled marble coaster. This coaster is quick and easy to make 1. Create a mask of the asian lady and place onto the tile. Over stamp using staz on ink and a back ground stamp. Remove mask. 2. Stamp asian lady where mask was, using staz on ink and color with water color pencils. Highlight areas using a quicky glue pen and glitter. Spray several light coats of matte poly onto coaster allowing time to dry between coats. Place 'bumpers' onto coaster bottom to protect furniture. Please feel free to 'CASE' my work. However, unless you contact me, do not CASE my work and submitt it for publication. Many of the things you will see on my blog and on my picturetrail sight are either up for publication or have been published. I wish you all a blessed Holiday season. Loretta Rodger www.picturetrail.com/ms.rhetta email; ms.rhetta@verizon.net

Sparkling Holidays

Finished Ornaments

Hello everyone, I know this picture doesn't show up very well, but as you scroll through this posting, hopefully you will see better images. These ornaments make great gifts are inexpensive and easy to make, each ornament may take 5 to 6 minutes to complete.

The ornaments are glass and are purchased from the local craft store, there is chunky glitter in the bottom mixed with Sparkle N Sprinkle 'Crystal Ice' glitter (G1058) Each ornament is stamped on a transparency in this example the transparency circle is 2 1/2" and is cut using a cuzzle template and knife. Stamp the transparency using Staz on Black ink. Then using either Permanet markers or galaxy markers color images. After coloring, quickly heat set. Be careful not to melt the transparencies. I use a coffee filter as a funnel to load about 1/4 of the bottom of the globe with the glitter mixture. Then, punch a hole toward the top and thread through a piece of fishing line or strechy clear cord, take the ends and pull them through the ornaments crown. Gently roll the transparency and place it inside of the ornament. Slip the transparency into the ornament and carefully position it using a pencil, scwer or what ever you have around. Gently pull up the excess and not the end close to the top of the ornament. Finish off with a piece of ribbon.

You can check out sparkle n sprinkle on the web at www.sparklensprinkle.com.

Have a stamp happy night!

Loretta Rodger

Designer, Sparkle N Sprinkle

www.picturetrail.com/ms.rhetta

email with questions or comments; ms.rhetta@verizon.net

Our First Snow

December 5, 2007

Location; Near Washington, DC

Activity;

Snow, and alot of it.

It began snowing simply enough during the early morning hours. After a quick breakfast the youngest (Chad) and I headed off to two dental appointments. One with the dentist one with the orthodontist. To say the least at the end of this day, the kid had a sore mouth.

But our community did get snow. About 5" all together. It was beautiful. These are a couple of pictures of our home and the puppies. I'm currently stamping RAK's and small RAK gifts for SCS (http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/) its a great online community, check them out.

Also, please don't forget to check out the stamps from Sparkle N Sprinkle, their supplies, stamps and glitters are awesome, great prices as well. Visit them on the web at http://www.sparklensprinkle.com/, please let them know 'loretta' sent you!

Have a stamp happy night and Happy Holidays!

www.picturetrail.com/ms.rhetta

Loretta R.