Surprise!!

Hey All! Happy Hump Day!!! Hope all is well in your bloggin' worlds! I've got lots to get to, so on with the blog. . . I want to start by telling you all about a company that I have to sing praises to! The company is Artful Inkables! I have never dealt with a company that is so customer service oriented! Their designs are fabulous, the stamps are super high quality, and I can't say enough good things about them. If you haven't heard of them or seen their products, click on the link and go drool! Kristin Soboloski is the owner and my good blogging buddy, Jenn Muraoka is part of their design team. So, there ya go! I don't endorse many companies, but this one is terrific.


Today my post contains one of those surprises I mentioned in my last post. But before I get to that, I thought you should see my latest project. Here it is. . .











(Don't forget to click on the pictures) This is a set of note cards that I made using my new stamps from Artful Inakables. All of these are done in some type of metallic. Either metallic embossing powder or metallic paper, or metallic ribbon, or a combination of all 3. I LOVE this set from Artful. It is one of their mini sets called "Hummingbird Set" and contains the images above. They have an Art Deco feel to them. The top one is done on cs called Blue Blazer and matted with gold cs. The image is embossed with gold ep. and then finished off with metallic ribbon. The second (my personal favorite) is done on copper metallic cs matted with jet black cs, and finished with copper metallic floss. The image is embossed with fine black ep. The third one is done on jet black cs, matted on silver cs, and finished off with metallic silver cord ribbon. The image is embossed with silver ep. All are mounted on A2 size, high quality water color cs. All have been embellished with metallic brads. I left room at the bottom below the images to stamp a sentiment for any occasion, but they can stand alone as note cards. I love how these turned out. Very simple but elegant. Here is a close up of the image:





I also decorated a box to coordinate with the set. See below:




I used 3 pieces of narrow two-sided tape on top of the box (the kind with the red side that you pull off). I covered each strip of tape (one at a time) with metallic ep and embossed each to come up with this effect. Looks like there are ribbons running across, but it is permanent. Here is a picture of the whole set:




OK, now for the surprise. . .(drum roll please). . . I'm giving this note card set away to one of you! When I made it, I didn't have anyone in mind, and so I thought this would be fun to give to someone, so I thought of all of you! I wish I could give each of you a set, but there are only so many hours in the day! So you will have to settle to try and win it! Here's what you have to do:

If you have been coming by my blog any time at all, you know I like to do things a little differently. I'm not going to make you jump through hoops, but I would like for you to leave a comment on this post and tell me your favorite tip for card making. I will then put every one's name on Random.org, and the person who comes out lucky #13 on the list will win my note card set. I will accept posts until 6:00 PM Eastern Time on Saturday, August 2, 2008. I'll announce the winner on Sunday, August 3, 2008. Good luck to all!

One final thing before I go. I was honored by a couple of people with another award. Both Adrienne of Scrappin' with Adrienne and Judy of Designs by Nanny gave me the BFF Gold Visa Card Award. It is proudly displayed up there under awards! Thanks so much! You both are very sweet to think of me!

That's it for now! As always I thank you so much for visiting me. These little things that I do are just my way of saying how much I appreciate you and I'm trying to keep my blog fun and fresh! You are all the best! I'll be seeing you on your blogs! Don't forget the picture of the week below! More stuff coming soon!

Best,

Curt O'Brien
"God help me be the person my dog thinks I am."