Sister Stamps Release #26 -- Mitsuyo

Hello everyone!  Ready for some new Sister Stamps?  There are 2 new images coming out November 1st.

The first image I'm sharing today is called Mitsuyo!  It is purely coincidental but that is also my daughter's middle name.  She was named after her Great-Grandma Mitsuyo.

I tried something new this time around.  I had a set of 6 brown plastic coasters that had a sticker on them.  So I ended up peeling them off and then using some Goo Gone to get the rest of the adhesive off.  Then I added a couple of layers of gesso to cover up the brown.  I used some mod podge to adhere some washi paper on to the coaster and then to glue the images on too.  Then I added lots more mod podge over the whole piece.  I didn't add any clear acrylic spray on yet though I've read that is recommended.

I think it came out cute but didn't realize there are so many different kinds of mod podge!  I used the shiny one cause I like shiny things but then it comes out kind of streaky.  I tried sanding the streaks out in between layering but that didn't seem to work.  Then I read maybe using matte finish is better with less streaks.  Oh well, I guess you have to pick and choose.  There is also an acid free formula called paper mod podge and maybe that's the one I should've used instead to lessen the chance of yellowing in the future.  Or maybe the water resistant one cause I want to actually use these as coasters.  So many choices!  So that leaves me a bit confused.  And also my black copic (Mitsuyo's hair) bled a little when applying the mod podge.  So hopefully, you will research mod podge better than I did before trying something like this!

This is the first coaster I made to kind of test it all out.  I think it came out pretty, streaks and all.  Lots of texture to it.

Different view.  I have 4 more coasters that I haven't quite decided what to do with.

Please be sure to check out the rest of the gang.  We have a new DT member too so be sure to stop by and say Hello!

Christine (Guest DT)
Jenny
Debi
Rina
Rina's YouTube Channel

Did you know there is also a Sister Stamps channel on YouTube?  Check it out!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I'll be back tomorrow!

ME coaster calendars

Hi everyone!  I am so happy this day is done.  I went to my first craft party to sell some of my crafts.  I wouldn't say it was a complete success.  I sold some items and talked to some people.  I don't think I like to socialize much!  I much rather just hang out at home so it was kind of draining for me.  After an hour or so, I wanted to go home.  So happy that a good friend of mine was there to support me and I appreciate that so much.  But I think I learned a lot about what people like.  And I learned that I like crafting and making things but mostly it's because I just plain love to craft.  I don't craft to make money.  I make things for people to make them happy.  In fact, it is usually a person that inspires me to make something or to learn how to do a new craft.  I love making personalized gifts for people.  So I am happy that now I can get on with making some gifts for close friends and their kids, and Valentine's treats for my kids' classes, and cute Easter baskets for our cousins' kiddies instead of making items to sell. 

Anyway, I had some leftover Taylored Expressions calendars and a whole bunch of PTI coasters.  So I was inspired by Karen's coaster calendars and made some myself.

I made these with some Mama Elephant stamps.  So CAS, right?  They have a magnetic strip on the back.

Here are some penguin ones.  I love these!

Well, there is a story to why I now have so many PTI coasters.  And it's because I was again suckered into purchasing a stamp/die set from PTI.  Gotta stop doing that!  Have you seen PTI's Love You to Pieces: Airplane set?  So cute, in theory.  Does it work with the coasters?  For me, no.  So apparently the die set was made to work with the coasters that PTI carries.  And it's supposed to cut just enough to let you pop out the pieces and let you put together a cute plane.  I ordered 2 packages of coasters, enough for both my boys' classes (50 coasters!).  I tried cutting them out using the the die and coasters and it was not cutting everything evenly.  If I put them through several times, some parts cut more than others and would fall out.  So I thought, gee, maybe I gotta get that metal shim to help my die cut better.  So I buy a metal shim.  First of all, it's a bad sign if you have to buy something else to make something you already bought work better!  I tried that and still does not work well with the coasters.  Then I tried it with my thin chipboard and that works pretty well.  But my chipboard is brown, that not so nice inside of the cereal box color.  I wish I could find thin and inexpensive white chipboard so I can stamp nice airplane colors!  So much trouble to make some Valentine's treats!  I think mostly I wish I did not buy this set.  But, ugh, stuck with it just like those coin purse dies! 

Oh, and I wanted to mention that I got an email message from a sweet person.  I hadn't seen the message because it got sent to my spam box.  But just one day I was curious and decided I wanted to see what messages were in there.  And amongst all the junk, I found this encouraging message from a person I didn't even know.  Wow, how nice and uplifting!  I so appreciate that!  Thank you!

Thanks all for reading this kind of long for me post!