Invitations and Coasters

I see I've been lax about writing here for a few days. I'm sorry and will try to do better. I'm having a slow week in terms of feeling creative, but today, I got kick-started. The Stamping Bella forum at SCS had a colour challenge I just couldn't resist. It's for black and turquoise and I think that combination is gorgeous. I took the opportunity to bundle it up with a design for a birthday invitation which my sister wants me to make for her birthday party. I've now got several samples to show her in a couple of weeks, but this one is probably my favourite. Presenting Winobella. Isn't she adorable? And, to top it off, Winobella is a personal favourite of my sister, so this should be a winner. I added a little burgundy ribbon to represent the wine in the bottle, also a favourite of my sister. The image was coloured with Prismacolour Markers.

Cardstock: SU Black, Tempting Turquoise
Designer Paper: unknown
Stamp: Winobella, SU's Sincere Salutations
Ink: Palette Hybrid Black
Accessories: Brads, burgundy and turquoise ribbons

Ceramic Tile Coasters

I finally took the plunge and made a coaster. It's been on my To Do list since last Christmas and I just now got up the courage to give it a go. Let me tell you, it is so easy! I picked up the tile from Home Depot for $.59, a real bargain. Then, after giving it a dusting off with a damp paper towel, I spritzed it to make it wet and dropped on four or five drops of Antique Linen Distress Ink and worked it all over the tile with my damp paper towel. Then, I added two or 3 drops of Walnut Stain (start with light and end with a little bit of dark), again working it all over the tile and into the little crevices. Then I popped it into the oven at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Once cooled, I used ColorBox Chalk ink in the darkest brown to stamp the martini glass and Cosmobella. Again, into the oven for another 15 minutes. While it was cooking and cooling, I spritzed up my Twinkling H20 paints in the colours I selected to get them ready for painting. After painting the images, it was back into the oven for the last 15 minutes of baking. All that's left to do now is spray it with sealer. It will take about three coats of sealer, making sure that it dries between each coat. Simple and they make great Christmas gifts.