First Post Ever!

Welcome to my blog. I've started this blog with much encouragement and real help from my friend Jill Foster, blogger, designer, teacher and paper crafter extraordinaire. She recently featured several of my cards on her own blog at http://stampinginspiredby.blogspot.com/  Thank you Jill for all your words of encouragement and thank you to all the wonderful women of your blog who took the time to write such wonderful and positive comments.

I would also like to thank 3 of my other friends who also encouraged me, put up with me when I get excited about some project or weird piece of ephermera that I just know would be perfect for something and help me ALL the time. Jill Nelson, who turned me on to stamping over 20 years ago (she's put up with me the longest :) ), Lisa Nickle, who lets me play with her stuff, helps support my craft habit and helped me create this blog and Barb Dunlop, cousin multiple times removed who has such an infectious positive attitude and the enthusiasm of a new crafter.

Now for the good stuff. One of my favorite techniques that I have learned from Jill F, is a tone on tone background..
All paper used starts out as white. the color all comes from TH Distress Inks.  I created the background using Black Soot as an overall base, the ink is applied using one TH's handles and a foam pad, don't worry if the layer isn't completely even, once you stamp, the variations become part of the overall design.I used damask background stamp inked with the same black ink and stamped it over the entire background. You can use any stamp as the background, just cover the entire card. This is the perfect way to make a matching background for any color combination.

See you soon, Peggy