Deadbeat Designs

Rose Tag - A Year Late

Since Texas Independence Day is just around the corner (Friday, March 2), I thought I'd pull a Tim Holtz and just recycle last year's 6 Tags of Texas. I know technically Tim makes new tags every year but seriously... can you tell them apart? They might as well be the same ones over and over! And now apparently he's tired of Christmas tags and will do tags all year long. Lucky us! Anyway, here's a list of my tags - check them out. You've probably forgotten them since last year so they'll be like new to you!

Tag 1

Tag 2

Tag 3

Tag 4

Tag 5

Tag 6

Here's an idea that didn't make the cut last year. I stamped the Rose three times, colored them yellow (and I really don't like yellow at all!) Then I cut out different sections of petals and popped them up.

Here's a better angle to see the layers.

Of course, if you're not interested in Texas history, your roses don't have to be yellow. Pink or red would do just fine and would make a very nice birthday or Mothers' Day card.

The Yellow Rose of Texas is as old as Texas itself. According to legend (and Wikipedia), the real 'yellow rose' was spending some quality time with Santa Anna while Sam Houston's army attacked at San Jacinto. And by 'quality time' I mean they were doing it... having a shag... mattress dancin'... wrinkling the wamsuttas. Although they were in a tent and probably didn't have a mattress or proper linens. Anyway, poor ol' Santa Anna was surprised and overpowered and the Republic of Texas was born! This was back in 1836, a mere 176 years ago, so who really knows if the yellow rose legend is real or embellished or completely made up. But as it is now, so it was then.... truth is stranger than fiction!

P.S. Dee finally got her card. Over a week to travel a few blocks. In other words, the USPS is pretty amazing. Except when it isn't. You have no control.

Oh, For Cryin' Out Loud!

Oh for cryin' out loud! In the last post, I gave a ringing endorsement to the USPS saying that it's amazing that you can send a letter across the country for under a dollar. While that may be true, somehow the card I mailed Dee last Saturday has still not arrived! I ran into her at Stamp Salado over the weekend and she told me how much she liked the card and would like it even better if she ever SAW IT IN PERSON! Not only did I add extra postage but I also drove it to the Belton post office. How much easier do I have to make it? Maybe I should have drawn a map to Dee's house on the envelope. I could have just as easily hand-delivered it since the post office is literally a few blocks from Dee's house! Good grief! 

And you know it wasn't be delivered yesterday since everyone was celebrating Presidents' Day.... a day off which they deserve even less thanks to the missing card! I wonder how many postal employees can name all the presidents anyway?

I am so irritated, I'm not even going to add a picture.

Long Cards

Tomorrow is Presidents' Day. Really? Why is this a holiday? I guess on the bright side, it's not a real holiday since not everyone has the day off but still... ridiculous. So I guess it's mainly about government offices, banks and the post office. It seems like all three should be working overtime to improve their images if nothing else. If my business were tanking as badly as the post office, I don't think I would be taking many days off. In fact, I'd find a way to make it as easy as possible for people to give me money! However, it's still pretty impressive that you can send a letter (or rubber stamped card) to someone across the country for less than a dollar. So when stamps go up to 50 cents, I won't complain. But these random holidays - good grief! We need to work more rather than less. And by "we" I mean YOU. Running a rubber stamp company is fraught with anxiety and stress! You have no idea!

Are you getting tired of the Shadow stamp yet? It seems like I've used it on every card since I've had it. And here's another, whether you're tired of it or not. A long card this time to fit into a #10 envelope (business size). If you have a Scor-Pal the measurements are right there - otherwise, you'll have to divide 11 inches by 3 and since I've seen some of you trying to decipher your rulers in class, this could take awhile.

This one has a pop up greeting which seems to hover above the card.

Here's a close up. You'll need some heavy acetate - the kind used on report covers. Thin acetate might work but it may crack when you fold it. Regular card stock will also work but it doesn't seem to pop up as much after being in an envelope for a few days and it may not be as durable. I made a couple of folds and tucked it behind the ribbon - Wonder Tape to adhere.

Here's another long card with the same acetate pop up.

This time I cut a slit at the bottom of the cloud and slid the acetate through.

So enjoy your three-day weekend if you have it. Go buy some sheets or something.

Sappy Valentine's Day

To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.

Oscar Wilde

In other words, I am celebrating NOT having to celebrate Valentine's Day. 

However, I did send one Valentine's Day card this year. Well, it wasn't really a Valentine's Day card. My friend, Dee, brought me some candy last week - apparently some very rare candy. And it was delicious. And you can't have any. So I thought I'd kill two birds with one card.

Here is the card and envelope. I added the extra postage since the extra layers and googly eyes might have been an issue and I didn't want to risk an overzealous postal employee fondling it and deciding to send it back. When in doubt, I usually just walk it in to the post office for a second opinion but it was Saturday and our post office is closed. I know - crazy! Anyway, I drew the skull heart - might make it into rubber one day. Anyway, I know it's not everyone's cup of tea but Dee will appreciate it. She's weird like me. 

And here's a close-up of the skull with googly eyes in case you can't imagine how that works.

I hope you get whatever it takes to make your Valentine's Day memorable - flowers, candy, edible underwear, whatever. But if you're alone remember being alone on Valentine's Day is no different than any other day of your life. Feel free to embrace Mr. Wilde's quote. And buy your own damn chocolate!

Looming Cupid

Well, I am stunned and amazed that Valentine's Day is upon us. Maybe I've been subconsciously ignoring it since I find the whole thing a little silly. Just think about all the money spent on cards, flowers, chocolate and jewelry. I suppose even I profit from it since I sell heart, chocolate and specific Valentine's stamps, although this year I didn't exactly do much to promote them. Maybe I'll be more on the ball next year. Probably not.

Here's some information about the Origins of Valentine's Day.  I think I may prefer the original celebration... but with chocolate.

Here are some more examples of the Shadow stamp I forgot to include last week. This one is a simple idea but one you could build upon easily.

Instead of random stamping, I tried to create a rainbow effect, stamping diagonally and going from one shade to another.

And here are some backgrounds waiting to be embellished. The green one started with green card stock and I stamped greens and blues.

So that's it for today. Maybe I'll get in the mood to make a Valentine's card to post before Tuesday. But I should probably start thinking about a project for Texas Independence Day instead (March 2). Especially since there are no societal or romantic obligations involved!

Me And My Shadow

While you were wasting your evening sitting through 4 hours of a football game to see a few advertisements - ADVERTISEMENTS,  for cryin' out loud! - I was hard at work on a couple of videos. Now I'm sure that these can't hold a candle to whatever you saw between players, punts, and passes but at least they won't take up too much of your valuable time seeing how you've already spent that 4 hours you'll never get back!

 

I love the new Shadow Stamp - a shadow stamp refers to a solid shape that you would stamp in a light color and then stamp your main image on top with a darker color. I'm using it here to get a colorful background effect. You can also use it to color in an image like I do with the hearts on this card. The Spirals add a little movement (that's one of those phrases people use when they don't have anything else to say).

Here's a different version. This time the Shadow is stamped on an old book page. I added the Three Hearts lightly in the background.

 

This one's a little more fun. If you don't have a few design elements in your stamp collection, you are really missing out! I used several on this card, from the Dot Bursts to the Stacked Leaves - all help to soften the hard edges of the Shadow stamp and add another layer.

Instead of the usual thin ribbon, I went with a wider sheer one - picked it up at the dreaded Hob-Lob on sale. Why bother buying anything there at regular price? Anyway, you can see both videos on the blog or on my Youtube page. Or wait until next year's Super Bowl - I'm saving up my nickels to afford an ad.

Whipped Up

First of all, thanks for the positive response regarding the video from the last post. I had no idea so many people were so starved for entertainment!

Me, too! Guess maybe I'll do another one soon.

But not today.

Here's a quick card I whipped up for no particular reason. I whip up a lot of cards for no particular reason. Well, maybe this bloggy thing is reason enough. Anyway, I suppose this could be a 'we've moved' card or a 'we'll miss you' card or a 'sorry your house was carried off by giant balloons' card.

Everything is stamped in black and colored with pencils. I used an off white card stock with speckles in it, not because I thought it would be the perfect combination, but because I had a few pieces on my desk and was too lazy to find something else. Anyway.... I didn't bother to mask the balloons. I sort of like the effect of seeing through them. Also, cutting masks.... who needs it, right?