New Stamps and Just Too Stinkin' Cute!

Happy Monday!  Our new stamps arrived on Friday and I'm displaying them all over this post.  I really, really wanted to play with them but was too busy posting them on Etsy and filling orders (that's a good thing) :-(  :-)  :-( The square trio was designed for me because I simply cannot line up stamps.  Problem solved.  Thanks, Joyce!  Most of our mini stamps fit in these squares.  

I received these "too stinkin' cute" cards in an e-mail this  morning from Design Team Member, Janet Bradshaw.  Aw!  I love Joyce's new house stamps, especially the little heart smoke and one of my new favorite products Die-namics (fresh grass) added that final touch to it!  Wowser, these cards are cute!  Made my day!  Thanks Janet.

FR008 Rectangle Frame
Artist Joyce. A. Meyer
Perfect for phrases!

FR007S & L Square Frame (two sizes)
Artist Joyce A. Meyer
Perfect for mini and average TD stamps

FR006 Square Trio
Artist Joyce A. Meyer
Perfect for mini's

 

TX023m BW Heart mini
Artist Joyce A. Meyer

JB007 Egg
Artist Joyce A. Meyer
mini egg to go with chickie stamps

Maggie's Germany trip!

Without my daughter Maggie, there would be no Texana Designs!  About 4 years ago, she wanted to make Texas calendars for Christmas money.  We couldn't find Texas stamps and asked her artist friend if he would design 12 Texas stamps for our calendars.  The rest is history!

She has now graduated from U.T. with degrees in anthropology and biology and is in the process of applying to grad schools - one of them being University of Tubingen in Germany.  She leaves tomorrow for a week in Germany for 3 days of interviewing for the Ph.D. biology program.  Woo!Hoo!
Can you tell I'm just a little proud of her!     

Janet's Double-Heart Card!

Wow!  It's been a crazy-busy 2 weeks!  And tomorrow the new stamps arrive!  I best eat my Wheaties and get to cuttin'!

Today, I'm show-casing this Double-Heart card by Design Team Member, Janet Bradshaw.  Once again, she used some of my favorite papers by Wright Designs (so perfect for Texas stamps).  And I love the Tim Holtz Kraft Glassine she use to create a weathered look to the hearts!  This card reminds me of one of the new phrases coming in tomorrow:  Bless Your Texas Heart!


Janet used the following products:
Texana Designs stamps: 
TX049 Heart & Star, TX023 Barbed Wire Heart, and TX044 Love ya with all my Texas heart
Patterned Paper:
Wright Designs - Symbols - Burlap
Tim Holtz Kraft Glassine
Versafine Ink - Black
Tim Holtz distress Ink - Fired Brick
Ribbon - May Arts - RB25 3/8" - Grosgrain/Ivory Stripes
Star Brad - Silver

Thanks, Janet!

My heart is happy!

New "heart" stamps coming out this week!

Good morning!  When Joyce is on a roll (and she is on a roll), great new stamps are created from her fingertips and this new one is no exception!  I can't wait to get the new house stamps.  Should be shipping from the Stamping Sensations http://www.stampingsensations.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=SFNT this week!  BTW, Stamping Sensations manufactures our stamps and has been for 4 years.  They are the best!  Many thanks to Vicki and her team!

Look at the little "heart"  smokestack!  I love it.  
And the new phrases:  

Chickens come home to roost in Texas! 

Home is Deep in the Heart of Texas!

There's no place like Home in Texas! 

Happy Heart Stamping! 

And the "Hearts" continue! Karen's Star and Canvas Card!

Good morning!  I absolutely love this card by Design Team Member, Karen  Lambert http://kaldesign.blogspot.com/2012/01/newsprint-black-and-white-and-read-all.html!  I know I say this about every card, but this Design Team is just so creative with our Texana Designs stamps.  "Truly Texas" as our new phrase coming out next week says.


Karen used the following products:
Texana Designs stamps: TX049 Heart & Star and TX044 Love ya with all my Texas heart
Standard size 5.5 x 4.25 side opening card base from Craft Cardstock
Textured White Core Cardstock
Cuttlebug Stars embossing folder
Autumn Leaves Foofala Patterned Paper scrap circa 2007
Canvas
Spellbinders Labels One die
Spellbnders Scalloped circle die
My Mind's Eye Lost and Found Market Street Adore
Craft Cardstock
VersaFine Onyx Black Ink
Tim Holtz Distress Ink Tea Dye
Magenta Stickles
Instructions for the 3D star - http://littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com/2010/12/last-mintue-christmas-decorations-3d.html

Let the Happy Heart Days continue!

A Fun Day at Novel Approach!

Happy Sunday!  We (Joyce, Jilda, and JS) got home late last night from a fabulously fun day at Novel Approach  http://www.novelapproachonline.com/ in Friendswood, Texas.  We love the ladies at Novel Approach -- those who work in the store and those who play in the store.

I taught the Step Card for the first time and thanks to Janet Bradshaw http://www.janetsgems.blogspot.com/, it was smooth-sailing.  Janet is the queen of many things, including her awesome class instructions.  She was kind enough to share her Step Card Class Instructions with me and saved me hours of grunting time!!

Joyce's bleaching class was soooooooooooo cool!  She continued to find new ways to use bleach as I taught the morning class.  She is so crazy outside the box!

And if that wasn't enough, I was in the middle of teaching my class, turned around and saw a longtime high school friend (hadn't seen him in 40 years) standing in the doorway!  Whoa!  We got to visit over lunch after I finished teaching.  What a surprise!

Novel Approach Valentine's Class

Good morning!  I'm flying fast and furious over here trying to pack for our trip to Novel Approach http://www.novelapproachonline.com/.  Joyce and I teach classes at Novel Approach twice a year and always have a great time.  Melissa and Sue are so accommodating and their class participants are wonderful!  Whenever you are in the Houston area, a trip to Novel Approach is a must.  Their store is huge and filled with fabulous paper and accessories.


Joyce will be teaching her bleaching class and I will be teaching a paper-piecing class.  There will be an all day Texana Designs trunk sale and pre-orders will be taken for the new stamps coming out in February.  Design Team Member Jilda Bolton will be joining us.  Don't tell her, but  we only ask her along because she makes awesome baked goodies!!  


The best part:  My hubby is our chauffeur and makes our trip so much smoother!  He does get paid - Jilda's goodies!

Valentine's Classes at Stamp Salado

Stamp Salado is and will continue to be hoppin' with Valentine's Classes in January and February!  Joyce and I will be teaching back to back classes on Saturday, February 4th.

Joyce will be teaching a bleaching techniques class with inks.  You don't want to miss this class!  

And I will be teaching a paper-piecing class using this adorable step card and Die-namics (Stamp Salado carries both the template and Die-namics) .

We will be using our new birdie stamps and introducing yet another new set of stamps coming out the end of January/first of February!

Here's a phrase hint that will go with one of the new stamps:  "Chickens come home to roost in Texas."

Design Team's Barbed Wire Heart Cards

Card Design by Libby Hickson

Thought I would post all the Barbed Wire Heart cards sent in from the Design Team so you can see the versatility of this stamp, the awesomeness  of this Design Team, and how lucky I am to have artist extraordinaire Joyce on the Texana Designs team!

Card Design by Jilda Bolton

Card Design by Janet Bradshaw

Card Design by Linda McClain

Card Design by Karen Lambert

Card Design by Karen Lambert

My Heart is Happy!

Libby's Heart Card!

Good morning!  It feels like early summer here in Central Texas.  Yesterday, at 7 p.m., it was 71 degrees here in Round Rock, Texas.  And that's how Texas weather rolls!

    I always smile when I see a card from Libby using Texana Designs stamps.  It brings back memories of our first meeting about 4 years ago at a McNeil High School bazaar.  I've learn to pay attention to those "chance" meetings.  They might develop into something special.

   Love the colors Libby used in this card.  It's a little bit western with a "Spring" to it!

   I gotta say, this Design Team accomplished exactly what I envisioned:  to show how versatile a stamp can be!  

   Many thanks to the Design Team!

Libby used the following products in this card:

Texana Designs stamps:  Jam'n Barbed Wire Heart and Jam'n Love ya with all my Texas heart

Paper:  Teal and white cardstock, polka dot DP

Ink:  Versamark, Memento Tuxedo Black

Other:  Copper embossing powder, scallop edge punch, copper brads, teal grosgrain ribbon, white stitching.

Another Happy Heart Day!

      

Workroom Reorganization - Hard Work

Happy Monday and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Play Day.
A quote by Martin Luther King, Jr.:
"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."

Reorganizing one's workroom is hard work!  And emotional.  So many decisions!  I took 6+ years of accumulation out of my workroom to paint it.  Well, I didn't paint it.  It was a wonderful  Christmas gift from Kenny, Maggie, Daniel and Tom.  I plan to be ruthless when deciding what to keep, what to store, what to give away, and what to throw away.  Hmmmm.  Slow process, but today I'm hosting a "playday" and feel the need to make it a "little" presentable.  So, we will have tables to stamp on, supplies accessible, embossing folders, lots of ink, lots of ribbon, and food.

Daniel and Maggie
Prime Time

Kenny
Paint Day

Daniel and Kenny
Prime Time

Maggie and Daniel
Paint Day

What would I do without IKEA
Supply Wall

Ink Pads

What would I do without IKEA
Tie Rack

 Let the creative juices flow!

Linda's Valentine Card

  What a way to start a morning - waking up to this beautiful card in my e-mail.  Design Team Member Linda McClain (Catered Crop) is one gifted, crafty lady and this design is a perfect example.
  Makes me want to have a romantic dinner with wine and chocolate.  That's all.  No entree.  No salad.  Just wine and chocolate!  Oh, and my hubby.




Linda used the following products for this card:
Texana Designs Stamps:  
TX050 Jam'n BW Heart and TD047 Happy Heart Day! 
Dollar Store Tulle
Vintage Seam Binding
Black Buttons
Memento Ink
My Favorite Things "First Place Ribbon" Die-namic
Echo Park Paper (Yours Truly)
Spellbinders Die (Standard Circles Large)
Distress Stickles (Clear Rock Candy)
And some stock white and black cardstock.
Linda instructions:  I stamped the heart three times: on the scripted circle panel, on red paper and on the red design paper.  I cut out the red and red-design-paper hearts and paper pieced them onto the scripted circle panel.  You can't tell it from the picture, but I put stickles all over the heart and on the edge of the circle.  I love working with tulle - it's so pliable and adds such an elegant touch.   

Janet's Card with Wright Design Papers

     I absolutely love Wright Designs Texas paper and Design Team Member Janet Bradshaw has been putting it to good use with our Texana Designs stamps for at least a couple of years.  She creatively used it for this Valentine-themed card.  I've always loved the burlap paper and wondered how I might use it.  Problem solved.
     I've never used Tim Holtz's Kraft Glassine before and Janet used it on this card.  Guess who is coming over Monday to show me how this is done???
Janet used the following products on this card:
Texana Designs stamps:  TX049 Heart & Star, TX 049 Heart & Star mini, and TX044 Love ya with all my Texas heart
Patterned Paper:  Wright Designs Burlap and Tooled Leather - Red
Tim Holtz Kraft Glassine
Versafine Ink - Black
Colorbox Cat's Eye Chalk - Blackbird
Ribbon - May Arts - RG25 3/8" - Grosgrain/Ivory Stripes


  

Jilda's Valentine Card.

Love is definitely in the air at Texana Designs with all the wonderful Valentine cards coming in from the Design Team!  Today, I'm show-casing one of Design Team Member Jilda Bolton's cards.  Jilda loves the colors black and red.  Her home is beautifully decorated with these colors.  I'm thrilled she used her favorite colors when designing this Valentine-themed card.  And she also used one of my new favorite products - Die-namics.  If you haven't tried Die-namics, you must check them out at   (mftstamps.com)  and then check with your LSS to see if they carry them.

Another Happy Heart Day for me!

Thanks, Jilda!

Heart & Star Stamp: Artist Joyce A. Meyer
Happy Heart Day! sentiment:  Jimmye Sue
Card Design:  Jilda Bolton

Jilda used the following products and stamps for this card:

Texana Designs Stamps: Mini heart and star (TX049M), Happy Heart Day (TD047)
Card stock:  Red and black card stock, patterned paper, white inchie arts, llc square
Ink:  Versamark, Ranger red embossing tinsel, black embossing powder, Xmas red stickles
Tools: Die-namics (mftstamps.com)  jumbo scallop die 

Karen's Valentine cards!

Barbed Wire Heart:  artist Joyce A. Meyer
Happy Heart Day! sentiment:  Jimmye Sue
Card design:  Karen Lambert

Barbed Wire Heart:  artist Joyce A. Meyer
Happy Heart Day! sentiment:  Jimmye Sue
Card design:  Karen Lambert

Welcome to another day of Valentine cards from our Design Team!  Today, I'm show-casing Design Team Member Karen Lambert.  I love that Karen made both a masculine and feminine card.  It shows the versatility of the stamps (that's a good thing!)  And I especially love the color theme on the masculine card!  I'm such a Texas girl!

Thank you, Karen!

 Happy Heart Day, indeed!

Interested in step by step instructions to these cards and a download of the Silhouette Studio cutting file that she created to cut the mats for the stamp on both cards?  You will find them on Karen's blog:  http://kaldesign.blogspot.com/2012/01/texana-designs-jamn-barbed-wire-heart.html

Products used:
Happy Heart Day 6 x 6 Manly Valentine
Texana Designs stamps:  Jam'n Barbed Wire Heart and Happy Heart Day
3 coordinating patterned papers - can be larger scraps
Small scraps of cardstock for stamping heart image and sentiment
Ivory textured cardstock for base
Machine Stitching
Hemp Cording
Tim Holtz Distress Ink:  Tea Dye
KALDesign TD Barbed Wire Heart MATS studio file for Silhouette SC and Cameo
Happy Heart Day Feminine Valentine
Texana Designs stamps:  Jam'n Barbed Wire Heart and Happy Heart Day
Light and Dark Pink Cardstock
Provocraft Patterned Paper Scraps from Slab
Machine Stitching
Memory Depot Glacier White Embossing Powder
Versamark Ink Pad
Lace Trim
Offray Heart Ribbon
KALDesign TD Barbed Wire Heart MATS studio file for Silhouette SC and Cameo