Happy Texas Tuesday! I think it's also Tina's birthday (or was it yesterday?) so be sure and drop by and wish the 'old' girl well! Now on with the cards....
First, the new Texas State of Mind is embossed with bronze powder. Then I masked off the area for the grass and masked again to stipple a darker green for the shadow. This also focuses your attention toward the center of the card. I stamped the Cartoon Clouds and then the new Texas Balloon which is colored with pencils and cut out and popped up with foam tape. I masked the clouds and stippled some light blue and a little lavender for the sky and went back with a little colored pencil to shade.
Then I had this brilliant idea - perfect to spread a little Texas around! Marvy Markers for the Multiple Texas stamp. See the red one on the far left? Guess I slobbered a little when I 'huffed' - Oh well, spit happens!
And lastly, now you can fill your Tree For All Reasons with mini Texas shapes! Apparently Texas A & M doesn't have enough to do so they've genetically altered the bluebonnet to be in their school color of maroon so I wonder why they haven't yet developed a tree with Texas-shaped leaves? Come on people - get busy! I used red, blue and silver for the Texas leaves and the cut out the base of the Texas State of Mind. Actually, you could have varying states of mind by cutting out the 'TEXAS' part. I'm not sure what an Idaho or Rhode Island state of mind would look like so I'll leave that to someone else.
Yes, these are NEW images and are so new they are not available yet. I was badgered and brow-beaten by Stamp Asylum and Googly Eyes to make some new stuff for The Great American Scrapbook Convention in Arlington in a few weeks. They will both be there with all of the new stuff so be sure and stop by and say "HI!" - I'll be playing tennis or taking a nap or trimming my toenails that weekend and won't be able to attend. All the new stuff will eventually get around to the other Texas stores as well as my website which is being rebuilt and will debut soon!
And finally, thanks to all who weighed in with their backsplash ideas. I still haven't completely made up my mind so until then, this is my $20 solution. I bought a 10' roll of galvanized metal from Home Depot and some cheap trim. It was pretty easy to cut to size and even the hole for the outlet wasn't too difficult - if you want to give this a try, be sure to have band-aids on hand because there are sharp edges everywhere! I didn't like the cheap galvanized surface so I sanded the whole thing which gives it a brushed look. Tack it up, trim it out and voila - a $20 backsplash in under 2 hours! And if I get bored, I may break out the alcohol inks and see what happens!
I know this isn't going to be the most popular choice but I've just about decided to mirror the backsplash. I know it may look dated, but I rather liked the late seventies/early eighties and as for reflecting only torsos... well, my torso might be my best feature! And maybe a strategically placed mirror will keep it that way!
Ooooh! I can't wait to see the new stamps! I know I will be stopping by both of their booths.
I like the way you kitchen is turning out.
Posted by: Dani C. | May 17, 2011 at 11:09 AM
You need to remove the metal from the backsplash, cut it up into strips, weave it and then put it back up. Or, I'll come down and redo it for you and we make it into a Taco Tuesday Video. As long as you've got vodka in the freezer I'm there.
Posted by: cheryl darrow | May 17, 2011 at 03:21 PM
Oh, and I love what you did.
Posted by: cheryl darrow | May 17, 2011 at 03:21 PM
I like your new stamps and the cards--even the slobbery one! Seeing as how I'm in Arlington, I guess I'm gonna have to brave the crowds of rude people who roll their little suitcases over my feet and check out that scrapbook convention.
Your reflection in the oven looks kinda poltergeisty. I could not have a mirrored backsplash. I would scare the bejeepers out of myself every morning before I remembered it was my own reflection!
Posted by: Renee M. | May 17, 2011 at 10:16 PM
I think having Cheryl redo your blacksplash is a super idea
Posted by: pam | May 18, 2011 at 11:20 PM
Day late? ...no week late and still a dollar short! Anyway, love the new stamps especially the teeny tiny Texas shape and the balloon is awesome. Will pop by the Googly Eyes booth at the show to get them! But, I agree with Renee ... I hate the people who roll those suitcases over my toes. Supposedly, they say no carts...we'll see! And last but not least, thank you for the birthday wishes! It was great!
Posted by: Tina | May 23, 2011 at 10:09 AM
Mark, I love your new kitchen! And this time I really mean it! :)
but I am most in love with the little mini shopping cart!!! Where can I get one of those???
No way would I want to be constantly Windexing a backsplash and that is what a mirror would demand, so you are a better housekeeper than I am.
Posted by: Julia | May 24, 2011 at 06:24 PM
PS I LOVE the balloon stamp and the random Texas one for using with the tree stamp! WHEN will they be in Solado?? I will be up there again on the 4th---any chance?
Posted by: Julia | May 24, 2011 at 06:26 PM