Back to the chain gang

Yes, I've got that Friday feeling!
And I guess you know by now that while for most people that means - woo hoo its the weekend! for me it means - deadlines are approaching and services need to be done. And I have other tasks and things to go to in between now and Sunday too.

The readings this week are familiar ones - Jesus setting out his manifesto in the Synagogue - "God's Spirit is upon me, he sent me to bring the good news to the poor" and Paul telling Christians that being the church together is like being a body where every part is needed. Which works very well until some clever clogs shouts out "so what about the appendix then"
(actually my favourite sermon heckle happened when a friend took in some coal tongs like those used to lay coal on Isaiah's lips in his vision and asked the congregation during the children's talk what they were for and a farmer shouted out "bloodless castration". But I digress...)

But I think these readings are good ones in helping us find a response to what is happening in Haiti and all the other unjust goings on in the world and what it means to be Christians trying to work together (we don't always find that very easy I'm sure you are not surprised to learn).

And in the middle of all that I need to find time to watch Ideal World and get all excited about spotting my samples on Anice's table as she talks about the fab Dreams Come True CD
Here are two of the cards wot I made that took OVER A WEEK (first class and everything!) to arrive
There are so many bright and beautiful papers on the CD. For this card I cut some Cuttlebug butterflies. The centre one is actually made with different paper to the other two but its not easy to see that. Also used my Fiskars Apron Punch; scallop circle punch and a Sharpie for outlining everything. The pleated paper ribbon does dip in the middle but I guess it helps for the hand crafted look!

This one is multi layered using Nesties 8. I cut the largest size twice, embossed one of them using Swiss Dots and made it into a card and them went wild with layers and the digi stamps. I used a scallop border punch to make the owl's feathers. A little bit of doodling was done to finish it off.

I do hope the post has behaved with this card, made for my brothers birthday and as my Daring card this week as his birthday is today and I posted it - um, yesterday. Kathy came up with a clever dare

What's the Point?

I'd like to see cards featuring points or pointers of some kind - the hands of a clock, arrows, pointing fingers, view-points, pointy stars, pointy ears (hehe), pencil points.... maybe pins and needles could also be incorporated into your designs

I came up with the idea of what I would do quite quickly but actually being happy with the result was a lot slower!
The papers are old American Crafts. I do love the plain coloured back which makes co-ordinating a dream! I used more of my Piggy Tales letters - this time with Mint Utee and used my Sharpie to outline. The Martha Stewart border punched red actually has a subtle dot on it, made using Papertrey ink stamps and versamark ink. The arrow and heart are Cosmo Cricket earth love chipboard pieces. I added the Prima bling because in one case the middle was too cream and the rest of the card has white and in the other I may have smudged the Sharpie a bit. Oh I added the glitter to the heart as well. Finally I stuck on some LYB alpha stickers and Thicker numbers. In case you are worrying about favourtism, I only have one brother...
We are starting to communicate a little after many years not really (long story I'm not sharing here!) and haven't seen each other for an embarrassing amount of time but fingers crossed we will see each other at half term next month! So -

Happy Birthday Bro!

And finally... because i need some expert help. I made this sympathy card using a rather lovely stamp by Hero Arts
(and some kraft cardstock; Jenni Bowlin paper and Nesties Label 1 and Personal Impressions Sentiment. Ribbon from extensive pile. Sadly not much left after this as I have decided that I love it totally!)
But I am struggling with this stamp to get it inked evenly. And on kraft it just looked dull as well as patchy. This is the third or fourth stamping which I then covered with clear embossing ink and smooched red chalk ink over. But you can see it is mot smooth and lovely as it should be
So expert stampers - please help!
Can you tell me the best way to evenly ink a large stamp; what kind of ink to use and what inks look best on kraft? Many thanks!