Deadbeat Designs

More Hot Air

More hot air - there's never a shortage here!

As you read this, I'll be flying away to New York, via New Jersey - on an airplane, not a balloon, since I need to get there in a timely fashion. My friend Ped and I are going to the U.S. Open to watch some tennis - one more thing I can scratch off my bucket list! So if you're hot to trot for some stamps, you'll just have to wait until I get back this weekend. I don't believe in rubber stamp emergencies!

Here's another balloon card - not for the faint of heart, however. This is actually the third attempt (the first two went directly into the trash) because I didn't really plan out what I was doing. I used to be able to whip these cards out in no time but I guess I'm out of practice. And impatient. And I don't really like to plan. Therefore, my trash can is usually full.

Anyway, I love using colored pencil on kraft paper. The color seems extra vibrant and a little white pencil makes such a big difference. What screwed me up was aligning the stamps on the middle panel. They have to look good on the front and back when you cut around them. The Cloud stamp takes up the slack.

I got the white pencil good and sharp and went around the What's Up? - kind of a pain but it really shows up.

And the best part is the envelope! It's way more interesting to make the envelope vertical for stamping. As long as the address is readable horizontally and the postage is in the upper right corner, you should be fine. Again, more colored pencils and I just drew in the banner for the address and made the postage stamp dangle from the large balloon.

Here is what the postman will see::

This one is obviously going to Rubber Stamp Madness. RSM is probably the oldest rubber stamp publication out there and recently Ricë Freeman-Zachery did a podcast on her blog with editor Roberta Sperling which you can hear HERE. If you've been stamping for as long as I have, you'll get a kick out of the conversation which reminisces about the old days. Anyway, it made me want to send them a little note. Or some hot air.

Well, I've been working my fingers to the bone trying to get some last minute orders packed so I can drop them at the post office on the way to the airport. Even though I love the Texas heat, I am looking forward to the 65˚ lows and 85˚ highs for a few days. And there's even a chance of rain later in the week! I don't really want to be wet but it will be nice to refresh my memory of what rain is like. Oh well, if anything exciting happens above the Mason=Dixon LIne while I'm up there, maybe I'll blog about it...

Oh who am I kidding. Even if nothing happens, I'll make some crap up.

Full of Hot Air

A few more cards using the new images.  You'll have to click on the photo of this one to see the clouds. I used Memento Summer Sky with is really pale. I masked them and used a stipple brush on top. The balloons are colored pencil.

This one has both the 5 Balloons as well as the Large Balloon. I paper-pieced the large one with some old Basic Gray papers and went around the edges with glitter glue - which you can't really see so now I'm wondering what else I could have done with my precious time... I guess it's better in 'real life' whatever that is. 

This one is also paper pieced but with a book I picked up at the library. The Hot Air Post was stamped on the tan, the postage edge colored with white, then stamped again on white card stock, colored and cut out around the inner frame. So much easier that cutting around the perforated postage edge.

Remarkably, I managed to get the new images on the website. However, I'll be out of town next week so nothing will ship until after I get back. I have a feeling you'll be able to wait. Also you'll notice a Gift Certificate option. It''s really an experiment and I may change my mind and remove it one day but if you think someone you know deserves or would appreciate a Deadbeat Designs Gift Certificate, well good for you for having such cool friends!

If not, oh well. It's never too late to find some new friends.

Enjoy Yourself...

Just a few final thoughts on the Deadbeat Road Trip...

Thanks to Renee for the cool Day of the Dead charms.  And I know just how I'm going to use them - stay tuned. As you can see, she used Deadbeat Designs stamps to create the packaging - very nice.

 

I've been asked how the stores were chosen for the road trip. I get the feeling that some people want to create some drama - you know... pot stirrers. Well, you can put down your spoons. Lynn takes care of her mom who is in the early stages of Alzheimers and could only be in Texas for a week. Plus, since we were footing the bill for all the travel expenses, we wanted to keep our hotel costs down. Therefore I chose to keep us close to the I-35 corridor so that we could get back home easily and quickly, or at least as quickly as possible. So that's it. Well, that and the fact that neither Lynn nor I wanted to work every hour of every day. So no, I really don't prefer one store to another. My favorite store is always the one who just placed an order! If we didn't make it to your store, whether you are a store owner or a customer, maybe we'll get to you next time. If you're a pot stirrer, you'll just have to find something else to stir up.

Now, on with some new cards!

Over the next few posts, I'll be featuring some of the new stamps we used in the classes. First up is one of my favorites. I got a little help from my mom on this one - she actually started singing it to me over the phone. How did I not know about this song? It's so me! Here's a video of Guy Lombardo's version of the tune. If you subscribe to this blog via email, you'll have to go directly to the blog to see it. I don't know why, but you do.

 

And if you want to subscribe - there's no accounting for taste - check out the button in the left column.

And who names their kid "Guy" anyway?

But back to the stamps. All of the new sayings fit into the back of the truck. It's almost like that was planned! Also notice the new hot air balloons and cloud stamps. More on these later. The truck was paper-pieced with Memory Box paper.

More Memory Box paper for the background and some old Basic Gray paper for the hat. I really hate putting a pointy hat on anything - it's so overdone! But even with the googly eyes, the skull just didn't look like he was having enough fun. Thus the pointy hat.

And finally a tag. How about this idea for your next birthday party. No more 'over the hill' parties! This makes a slightly more positive sentiment. Despite the skeleton. But you get the point. More Memory Box paper for the background.

More new images soon and I may even get them up on the website this week. Seems unlikely but it could happen!

Packing Up

Sitting here in the hotel in Austin, waiting for Lynn to pack up. I should probably help but since she has just emptied a box of chalks onto the floor, I think I'll just keep typing. 

Thanks to all who participated in the big Deadbeat Road Trip 2011 - just about everyone was a pleasure to be around. We love happy, enthusiastic people, both store owners and customers alike and luckily in this business you find a lot of them! I think everyone had a good time and the projects turned out great! Here are some pics from the last 3 days...

Stamp Salado

Googly Eyes and Craft Supplies in Irving.

Felicia's Scrapbooks in Austin


Well, Lynn's almost finished so I guess it's time to ask if I can do anything to help. Typical male, right? More pics of the new stamps soon but first a nice long nap and then back to work on the stack of orders on my desk. So maybe by October I'll be caught up.

First Leg

Well, we've just completed the first leg of the Deadbeat Road Trip and despite the perhaps too many margaritias tonight, I'll attempt a post. You can't go to San Antonio without a few margaritas! Here are some pics from Scrapbook 'N' More and Stamp Antonio. Both stores had full classes and fun was had by all. Or at least that's what they told us. Still no pics of the class projects but let's just say that many oohs and aaas were heard. You'll just have to wait.

Scrapbook 'N' More in New Braunfels

Stamp Antonio in Stamp Antonio

Here's a rare pic with Lynn's mouth shut. Ha ha ha!

Of course I was behind the camera for these photos. There were a few enthusiastic stalkers in the classes and I posed for pics and signed my name on things like I was Tim Holtz or something. There's no accounting for taste. More soon from Stamp Salado, Googly Eyes, and Felicia's Scrapbooks but tomorrow is a day off and we're going to be wandering around San Antonio. Back to work on Tuesday at Stamp Salado for 3 classes.

Note to self - bring Advil.

Hurricane Lynn

I was on my way home from the strip club the other night - I had run out of ones and as I found out when Big Bertha bounced me out into the parking lot, lap dances aren't free. Anyway, I had this great idea...

Hmmmm....

I was on my way home from the strip club the other night - my g-string had all the ones it could hold and my ears were still ringing from my adoring fans. My right hip was sore from too much gyrating but as the youngest dancer at Grinding Geezers, I tend to show off a little...

How about...

I was on my way home from my weekly bible study group for wayward teens or the homeless or senior adults - oh screw it.

I never leave the house except to play tennis or to go to the grocery store for more ice cream so sometimes it's a stretch to keep this blog interesting - and not just for you. Too many blogs are so sweet they bore me to tears (if you're reading this and have a blog, I'm sure I'm not talking about yours - no, no - yours is awesome) so I'm not really interested in just typing the same old saccharine pleasantries. Since I don't leave the house, I was really sitting around in my underpants when I decided on this post. Exciting, huh?

With only a few days before the big Deadbeat Road Trip, I thought I'd introduce Lynn to those of you who don't already know her. Lynn Lloyd was the owner of Stamping Wild and Stamp Shack in Fort Lauderdale as well as the first owner of Stamp Salado. She lives in Fort Lauderdale with her extremely patient husband, Chris and has two grown sons and two grandchildren. Lynn is an avid runner and gets up at the crack of dawn to run just about every day and has competed in many races, marathons and charity runs. In other words, she's nuts. And here's photographic proof: 

In fact this is the big top secret project we'll be making! Bring your own feathers.

Just kidding. Lynn lost a bet and I got to design her outfit  for one of her weekends of teaching at Stamp Salado.

Don't ever bet me. I promise it won't work out in your favor!

Anyway, as you can see, Lynn is a terrific sport and a lot of fun and has quite a following in Fort Lauderdale. She still teaches whenever she can and if you're lucky enough to be in one of our classes, you'll see why she's so popular. In fact, she's got so much energy and enthusiasm, you should probably schedule a nap afterwards to recover. She's sort of contagious, but in a good way.

Somehow I have not become infected by her friendliness and exuberance. But I'll still need a nap.

It's getting closer - if you haven't signed up, it's probably too late but call your local store anyway to be sure. They may have a waiting list in case someone drops out at the last minute - like if they have to go to Grinding Geezers or something.

Bringing Up The Rear

Check out this week's forecast. Now I love the heat so you're not going to hear me complain but let's just say that if you think this is hot, bring your thermometers to the tennis court. My cheapo Walmart thermometer only goes to 120 and I guarantee the court temp is way hotter than that!

 

What are the symptoms of heat stroke?

Oh, don't worry about me - I have the strength of ten men and am in the top physical condition of my life. And you can put that on my tombstone.

If I were going to die, which I'm not. I have a butt-load of classes coming up which I am apparently obligated to attend. Speaking of.....

If you've been waiting to see some class samples before you sign up, what's wrong with you? I'm not some avocado that you get to fondle before buying! Besides, even without advance samples, almost every chair has a posterior reserved for it and even though we're trying to squeeze as many in as we can... well,

so many derrieres, so few chairs.

so many moons, so little room.

so many asses, not enough classes.

Ha - I 'crack' myself up!

So you might want to get your rear in gear although frankly, I think you may be a little behind. Rumor has it that most of the classes are quite full but check with one of the fine establishments below and maybe you'll get lucky. Or maybe you won't - it's not up to me. At any rate, you will see class samples when you get to class and not a minute before. Sorry.

Not really.

Here is our schedule:

Sat, August 13 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Scrapbook ‘N’ More, New Braunfels

Sun, August 14 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Stamp Antonio, San Antonio

Tues, August 16 11:00 a.m. 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Stamp Salado, Salado

Wed, August 17 6:30 p.m. Googly Eyes and Craft Supplies, Irving

Thurs, August 18 6:30 p.m. Felicia’s Scrapbooks, Austin

(_!_)

The End