Deadbeat Designs

Extrastampory Perception

I wish I had a crystal ball so that I could figure out which stamps were going to be popular. Although if I had a working crystal ball, I wouldn't be making stamps because I'd  be living on my own private island, having won a few lotteries and made a killing in the stock market. Nevertheless, had I known this stamp would have been so popular, I would have made it in July and would have had about a thousand sitting around waiting to be shipped. But that didn't happen and I really don't have room for a thousand of anything so maybe it's just as well. Anyway, if you don't already have a Texmas Tree, well, what's wrong with you?

This time I pieced together some red, white and blue card stock and embossed the tree with gold. I lined it up with my stamp positioner so that it would be centered and straight. 

And here's one done by Carlos down in New Braunfels. She used the Versamark and chalk technique Lynn and I taught on the Deadbeat Road Trip a few months ago. Why didn't I think of that?

And I found this on Splitcoast by ah365225. I have no idea who this is or if she'll send a Town Car full of attorneys to my house for posting her pic. Anyway, regardless of a potential lawsuit, I love what she's done!

So if you were one of the lucky ones, I'd love to see what you've done. And if you're thinking about getting one, well, you'll just have to wait. My lack of extrastampory perception has caused me to run out! Well, that plus a giant mistake by the company that supplies my wood. However, they will be ready to ship on Wednesday or Thursday. Also, you may be able to find them at one of the following stamp stores who placed orders just before I ran out:

Goodly Eyes and Craft Supplies

Novel Approach

Scrapbook 'N' More

Stamp Antonio

Stamp Asylum

Stamp Salado

Velvet Balloons

When I was in Florida last month, I saw a card done by Margarita who teaches at Stamp Boutique. She is a master of colored pencils and used them to color right onto velvet paper. I don't know what it's really called but you know what I mean, right? It's kind of creepy and fuzzy and velour-ish. Feeling it makes me feel sort of dirty. But in a good way. Anyway, I had never thought of trying colored pencils on it but WOW! You gotta try it! These photos don't really show how cool it looks and feels. The first one is on gray velvet paper. The Cloud stamp really shows up well colored in white - kind of looks like a stormy day. The kind of day when you probably wouldn't see hot air balloons but too bad. Maybe the storm blew in suddenly. I stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black and used Berol Prismacolors.

I used a sort of medium blue velvet on this one. Looks even more ominous! But the colors really pop on the darker colors. Notice the white highlights on the balloon.

I'm sure you've all seen the sheets of honeycomb at your local stamp/scrapbook store - I think it's called Honeypop or something. You've probably also seen the stamps made to go with the honeycomb stuff but they tend to ba a little simple and even worse, they are those nasty clear stamps! Yikes! Those make me feel dirty but NOT in a good way! Anyway, you can get the same effect with a proper wood-mounted red rubber stamp (made in America from renewable resources, by the way) as long as it's symmetrical. Like the balloon. I used white honeycomb but dragged a ittle magenta ink on the edge before I put it on the card.

Also notice the Clouds - colored with white pencils but also with a little pink and yellow. I copied this idea from Kathy Lewis (of Stampa Barbara back in the good old days). It adds just a hint of color but makes a big difference!

So there are a couple of things to try and nothing even remotely related to the holidays! Enjoy!

I Think That I Will Never See...

... a card as lovely as a tree.

[gag]

However, I'm looking out the window at my front yard where the lone tree isn't looking so good. It is in desperate need of a trim - dead branches, overgrown limbs. I could do it myself but two (so far) family members have died from falling off ladders. Since I have no health insurance, it seems like an unnecessary risk. Then again, paying someone to do it could be expensive (although still cheaper than health insurance!). Maybe I'll just leave it alone.

So the sad fact is that the Tree For All Reasons stamp looks way better than the poor tree in my yard. The new Live With Intention stamp was stamped twice in Memento Potter's Clay for the background and then I inked just the 'Live with intention' part and cut it out. The tree was stamped in black and the leaves in various fall colors. Then I added some Grass and stippled the background. The Live With Intention stamp is really like 10 stamps in one if you count all of the phrases and it also makes a nice background.

And look what Curt did! He doubled the fence to give it 4 rails instead of 2. Clever! And irritating that I didn't think of it!

Yesterday, I was in desperate need of some tennis balls so I reluctantly went to Walmart and right there at the front door was a flashing sign that read "40 days until Christmas" I didn't think there could be any more reasons to hate Walmart! Guess I was wrong! 

6 Tags of Texmas - Tag 6

Tag 6 - And last but not least, here are the Texas Ornaments, stamped in black and colored with colored pencils. I added some gold Stickles to the Texas ornament and cut out the lowest hanging ball.

[please note the lack of testicular humor despite the obvious opportunity]

A 1" punch would have worked but I wanted the ornament top as well. So that gets popped up and a little bow is added. The background is Memento Rhubarb Stalk (of course) but I used a wadded up paper towel for the texture. Also the Mini Asterisk stamp fills the space.

The Merry Texmas was stamped in Adirondack Bottle Green, layered onto a dark green and some lime green Stickles around the edges. Red Stickles is all around the tag. This idea came from this card so you can see the versatility, although if it were me, I might put the Merry Texmas inside the card.

So that's it for the Texmas Tags! As you can see in the top photo, I tied them to a ribbon for a banner effect to display them - if you make enough, I guess you could decorate a whole tree. If so, I envy your free time!

6 Tags of Texmas - Tag 5

Tag 5 - Probably the most time consuming of the bunch, mainly because cutting out the Leapin' Longhorn and Cowboy Santa requires a lot of patience (and in my case, reading glasses). The tag is colored with a stipple brush and Memento Danube Blue and Paris Dusk. I stamped the Cloud in Paris Dusk and dragged the pad around the edges. You'll have to stamp the Cowboy Santa in black onto the tag and again onto a piece of white card stock. That way you don't have to cut out the lasso of lights. I got out my trusty Stamp-A-Ma-Jig and lined up the Ho Ho Howdy! inside the lasso and embossed it with red tinsel.

Stamp, color and cut out the Leapin' Longhorn and Cowboy Santa and position them onto the tag. Watch out for the horns - Santa does not want to be gored in the groin! Add Stickles for the lights and around the edges of the tag.

Tomorrow is the final tag of this series! I'll be glad to think about something besides Christmas for a few days!

6 Tags of Texmas - Tag 4

Tag 4 - This is very similar to Tag 6 from the 6 Tags Set. Instead of using the Texas Forever stamp, I went with the Texas Star embossed once on black and again on copper card stock. Cut the star out of the copper piece and die cut the black piece with the die from Nestibilities. I added another layer with the same die cut in copper and sort of folded up the loops on the black layer. Instead of the Barbed Wire at the bottom, I used Happy Holidays to 'Christmas it up' a bit. Cinnamon Stickles all around.

The background is explained in detail HERE. If I were the kind of person who gave gifts, I would make this one for all my packages. But I'm not so I won't. But don't let that stop you!

6 Tags of Texmas - Tag 3

Tag 3 - Another simple tag where layering makes all the difference. The Eyes Of Texas Script is stamped in Memento Rich Cocoa on the tag and the edges are dragged. The Christmas Boot is stamped, colored and cut out and popped up with foam tape. The sentiment is also popped up but placed kind of cockeyed. Stickles on the edges and you're done!

One of the benefits to using the smaller tags is that you can stick them on a card. Or use some of these ideas to make gift tags for a few lucky packages!

cock·eyed [kok-ahyd]

adjective

1. cross-eyed

2. having a squinting eye.

3. twisted, tilted, or slanted to one side.

4. Slang.

a. foolish; absurd.

b. intoxicated; drunk.

c. completely wrong.

I challenge you to work 'cockeyed' into your daily vocabulary. And if you have a blog, use it in your next post (without mentioning why) and see if people notice. It will be like Pee Wee Herman's Secret Word!

Yaaaaay!

6 Tags of Texmas - Tag 2

Tag 2 - This one is super easy but the layering makes it look more involved. The Bandana Background is stamped with Rhubarb Stalk (second stamping) and the edges are dragged with the same pad. The Barbed Wreath is embossed in bronze on green card stock and cut out, inside and out. The Horse Head is also cut out after stamping in black and coloring with colored pencils. A little Stickles for the holly leaves and berries and also around the edges makes all the difference!

The Merry Christmas Y'all is also in Rhubarb Stalk and some lime green Stickles around the edges. If you don't have Rhubarb Stalk, what's wrong with you? It's the best! And get the reinker - you'll need it!

6 Tags of Texmas - Tag 1

Well, it's time for the 6 Tags of Texmas. NOT the 12 Tags of Christmas. That's the other guy. His are amazing works of marketing but for me, 12 tags is just too much. I've got stuff to do and I'm sure you do, too. Despite being fewer and smaller, there are some similarities. Maybe it's me but I can't tell one year of Tim's tags from the next and you'll probably notice that many of my tags look eerily similar to The 6 Tags of Texas which I posted a few months ago.

You can see for yourself by clicking them in the left column of the blog.

Nevertheless.....

Tag number 1... This is pretty much a copy of Tag 2 from the 6 Tags Set. What makes this tag different is the subtle use of the Burst stamp in the background. It's stamped in Rhubarb Stalk but it's the second stamping which makes it much lighter. Also in the backgound is the Weathered Wood Background also the second stamping. The Alamo is embossed with black embossing powder on black card stock and Gold Stickles adds the idea of holiday lights. I added some lights to the Windmill with different colors of Stickles and bordered the whole tag with Cinnamon Stickles.

Liquid Applique on the Texas Santa Hat makes it puffy and then I popped it up with foam tape. It doesn't show up very well in the photo but it gives it some dimension.

The previous 6 Tags of Texas posts provide more explanation but since you guys are experts, I didn't figure you needed your hands held.

Tag 2 tomorrow!

A Little Note to Float Your Boat

My head is quite empty, I'm out of ideas

I can't think of too much to say!

So this post will rhyme to help me along,

It will be much more interesting this way.

 

This new stamp may be simple and sweet

But you'll see it's really a dandy.

And if you get holiday gifts this year,

A Little Note of Thanks will come in handy.

 

'As cute as a button' is a peculiar phrase,

But you still hear it all of the time.

Are buttons really that cute? I'm not so sure.

I'm just trying to make this crap rhyme.

Bluebonnets are loved in The Lone Star State,

Although others don't see the reason.

So stamp one on to your thank you cards

Even if they aren't in season.

Here's the Leafy Stem stamp and the Petal as well -

In fall colors they're looking fine.

But you can use whatever colors you like -

You don't have to copy mine.

So I guess that's it, I can't think any more

My fingers have run out of verse.

I think I'll put this old laptop to bed

Before it gets any worse.

 

But one more thing before I shut down

I'd be sad if I had forgot.

The Six Tags of Texmas is starting next week

Whether you're interested or whether you're not.