Vintage Photo Cards

Ok, OK...so yes it has been along time since my last post. As I promise myself to post more, it seems like I don't...so, lets make this time different!

Vintage Photo Cards...what have you crafted with Vintage Photos. I really hope some of you comment back. My friend Inkyhive and I got together yesterday (Monday Nov. 8th) to try and make some Vintage Photo Cards. Well, I have to say, we looked and critiqued each picture...AND DID WE LAUGH!! Now, the Vintage Photos that I have are realitives (RIP), but most were so off in the distance...late 1800's and very early 1900's, that it was OK to laugh, we were not in anyway disrespecting them, just wondering what life was about, why they didn't smile, what about that wedding dress she was wearing, etc. etc.!! I do plan on getting even more Vintage Photos from my Father (he doesn't want to part with them, but it is ok if I scan them) sometime this week, but I have to set aside at least an hour or two to retrieve them, as he loves looking through them and telling me what he knows about each one!! Can't beat family history! So, my challenge is to you, find some old photos, scan them and print them on Matte photo paper, and show me what you come up with. If you'd like to swap some vintage photos, let me know, maybe we can have a photo swap. So, this is the card. Now, I think I will be sending it to my sister with these words inside...A picture says a thousand words....What more can I say?!? I will be typing this on the computer as I don't have a stamp that says this YET!! As a stamp manufacturer, I have the technologies!!

From what my Father thought, this women lived back in the late 1800's. My Great Aunt, lived till she was 85 years old in the house that her father built in 1903 or there abouts. So, we have pictures of he and his wife's families as well. Cleaning out the house we found lots of treasures. Lets see what you all come up with!

About this card, the photo had a black frame around it that I used the Spellbinder Oval to cut out and leave just a small black border. I added some vintage buttons (notice the thread is still on them!) from Grandma Toodys sewing kit, and a piece of ribbon. Thats it! Easy! Now its your turn!

Have a great day and get some ink on those fingers! AJ

Summer Days

I know that it has been quite awhile since posting on the blog, but as this summer continues, I must say I am enjoying every minute of it and have set work aside for the time being! I think others are doing the same, as I haven't received an order for quite sometime! After asking for a swimming pool for the past 13 years, we finally put one up for the grand kids!! Our children ask us why are we getting all these fun toys now that they are out of the house?! Our 2 grandchildren are in my care 10-12 hours Mon-Fri, and some weekends. Both have lots of energy, and since they were not going to participate in Summer School, Grandma had to think of things to keep them busy this summer! So, the pool was a good start! I have never been so tan...Because the girls are 5 and 6 years old, I am in the pool just as much as they are, and I'm enjoying every minute of it!

Now, things are changing here at AJ's Wood-n-Paper, Ink. First, our website has been discontinued. There has been 2 orders in the past 6 months, so to continue it at the monthly cost, would be silly and not a good business move. But, with a blog, I can post things, hopefully new things weekly for everyone to see and order. Because there is no cost for a blog, it makes CENTS to me! Now, the second thing is, I no longer accept credit cards. I do have a personal PayPal account that I will be setting up to accept payments. Or, the good ole' checks or money orders.

Now, the reason for these 2 stamped cards. The first is the Chickens. Since April of this year, we are raising chickens! We haven't gotten any eggs yet, as they are 16 weeks old, but around 22 weeks they should start.

This stamp, called Chickens, is $3.00 unmounted. If you would like cushion on it, it is an addtional .60 cents. We have Kwik Mount Cushion (not permanent) or Permanent Cushion (for wood blocks).

Now, for the butterflies! I have really taken a notice of all the butterflies gently flying by, and oh what a pretty site. Have even noticed some unusual ones when on vacation "up north".

This stamp is from our Wood-n-Paper, Ink Collection called Butterfly on Thistle. It is a Stamp-N-Stencil set, which means you get a plastic stencil to "Stipple" your ink color on it, this giving it a unique colored look that is not only easy, but everyone will ask "How did you do that?"! Each set comes with instructions (very easy instructions) on how to stipple your ink on your stamped image. The Stamp-n-Stencil Set only costs $7.50. AJ's Wood-n-Paper, Ink has over 30 Stamp-n-Stencil Sets, with more coming soon! Again, if you want cushion, just add $ .60 to the price of the stamp and request which type of cushion.

Now, for shipping. Shipping will be $5.50 for Priority shipping. However, if you have ordered 1 unmounted stamp (without cushion), which fits into a regular envelope, the cost is $ .44 , the cost of a stamp. If you find a stamp from a previous post, you can still order that and "lump" your order together.

E-mail me with your order at ajswoodnpaperink@yahoo.com and include how you intend to pay for it. I will then e-mail your total, along with the address for you to send your payment.

Watch for more posts, and send this post to your friends and get them signed up. For each new friend that signs up to this blog AND places an order, I will also include a FREE stamp of my choosing!

Lets get our fingers Inky and Stamp!!

AJ

Easy Water Color Cards

Good Day Rubber Stamping Friends! Since my last post, Spring has Sprung and so has the allergies! If you have allergies, you know what I'm feeling! Besides the allergies, spring is a beautiful time of year....New Birth! Each morning, its a little more colorful, theres more nature noices too. I hear the frogs in the neighboring ponds, the birds singing a new song and the spring breezes going through the trees. You can't beat spring!! Thank You God for Spring! Enjoy the season!

April 7th Inkyhive and I got together to stamp, try some new techniques out and visit lots. Being a Wednesday, I had Granddaughter Kaylei with me,(I have taken care of both granddaughters during the day since they were born, now Lily is 6 and Kaylei almost 5) so it was sometimes challenging to get her occuppied and keep my mind on the "task at hand"! But, I almost completed 3 cards. Once Kaylei went home at 5pm, I could go back to the workshop to complete them. Amazing Inkyhive isn't it!??! So, here is 3 cards done with the

Easy Water Color Method!

Now, You may be asking, "What is the Easy Water Color Method, right?" Well, it is a made up name by ME, but, to me, it truely is Easy! I am normally a Chalk Medium Person, but, when I saw a post of making water color markers looking like "Copics", I thought, this is easy! I can do this, but, in order

for me to do this, I had to get water color markers...there, right in the Granddaughters bedroom,(yes, they have their own bedroom at Grandma and Papas house) there were "washable" markers. So, I tried them, with my Aqua Pen filled with water, and WA-LA! Easy! I stamped with Staz-On ink on WATERCOLOR Paper, scribbled marker on an acrylic block, picked up color with the Aqua Pen, and colored. If the color was too dark, take the Aqua Pen and brush color out. I also applied the marker directly too the Watercolor paper and blended it, but I like to pick up alittle at a time from my block. Now, to get clouds like I have on the Lighthouse card on top, the key is to pick up a little color on the long side of the brush, not the tip, and make a half circle using the SIDE of brush not the tip...add a small amount of pink and purple and light and dark blues. Practice, practice, practice! It is so much fun...I've set aside the chalks for now! Anymore questions, please e-mail me with them! Also, Stamps are available at http://www.wood-n-paper-ink.com/. If you can't find the stamps, e-mail me. My web space is all used up, so I can't get every image up, but I do have them in stock!!

Have a Great Stamping Day, Remember, whatever your circumstances, YOU ARE BLESSED!

AJ

Oh, Spring, Where are you?

As I watch the weather reports of snow storms out east, and I see some flakes flying around here in the midwest, I just can't help but wish for SPRING! My goal today is to take down all the snowmen figurines and hangings...then, spring will hurry up!

So, today, here's to SPRINGTIME cards.

This card is made with the STAMP-N-STENCIL set from

AJS Wood-n-Paper, Ink. March 1-15 2010, order any

STAMP-N-STENCIL and receive 20% off. Just put in this code at the end of your order! MARSNS . This particular Stamp-n-Stencil set is the Daisy Set. As you can see, you can make it into any flower by changing the colors!

January 2010

Hope everyone had a Blessed Christmas Season and a Great start to the New Year. I know that it has been a long time since I posted, and I appologize for that. When my mind set is on getting ready for anything like the Holidays or a convention, I can't think or do anything else. It seems that being a stay at home mom and grandma, there is always something to be done, weather it be laundry, floor scrubbing, or meal making, there is something that gets into the way of card making, blogging, or website revamping. Soon, Rubberstamp conventions will start up again for us, and everything I wanted to get done this winter, didn't get done...it just never fails. So, questions for you all:

1. How or when do you set aside time for Stamping or Scrapbooking?

2. What is your routine for getting all the household stuff completed?

3. Is Rubberstamping part of a fitness plan? Does it count for exercise?

4. Dishes piled up on the counter, isn't that "Sculpted Art"? They are arranged in various towering shapes...Its inspiration, right? Each shape a part of a "Card Sketch"?

5. Finally, comment to this blog your answers to these questions!

Last week Thursday, Inkyhive came over to Stamp with me...this is how I fit in stamping time...although, we talk for a good hour first (its therapy for me!), then, we start to stamp...Two weeks ago, Stamping Vacation had posted a once a month blog for "Build a Sketch". She gave out several sizes of cardstock to cut out and keep in a container or pencil box. Take a look at her blog.

I had made 2 sets of the sketch pieces, so I could give one to Inkyhive. This is the card that I did when Inkyhive was visiting.

To purchase the Forget Me Not Wreath, visit

AJ's Country Stampn's and Wood-N-Paper, Ink

website.

Thanks for checking in with me, and hope you have a wonderful stamping day!

God Bless!

AJ