Quietfire Style

Paper and Pixels - Bookbinding Project

2012-02-16T17:50:00.000-08:00

In January I was approached to design and write up a project for Paper and Pixels online magazine. They preferred a bookbinding project and not knowing their audience, I wasn't sure how complicated to make it. I finally decided on a hardcover no-sew journal making great use of Spellbinders Labels Four in all the sizes! (and hey, Spellbinders dies cuts the Quietfire bookcloth really beautifully)

Paper and Pixels is a beautifully produced online magazine and "my" issue is available online now. Happy binding!

And the Winners Are.....

2012-02-15T00:57:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to the three winners of the

2012 Queen of Heart Challenge!

Just for you!

You have each won $50 worth of rubber stamps!

Thanks to everyone who played! We'll see you all again next year.

Our winners are:

10. ~ginny / rubberMAD

14. Jackie Smith

17. peggysue W

Ladies, please email me privately with your snailmail addresses and let me know if you already have Quietfire rubber stamps. You prizes will be on their way in the next few days!

Queen of Hearts Challenge 2012

2012-02-13T21:51:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the
2012 Queen of Hearts Challenge!
Happy Valentine's Day, my loves!

Please add the link to your artwork below. Need to know the details? Click here. But the important part is that we'll have draws for grab bags of rubber stamps! Three randomly drawn lucky people will receive $50 worth of rubber stamps each! Spread the word to your friends! The more the merrier!

Here is mine!

CHA 2012 - Quietfire Style

2012-02-05T20:37:00.000-08:00

I had no plans to make a video from my photos at CHA, but then somehow this just happened.... I think it helped me process the whole thing. I'm still in recovery mode.

You can watch it here or on YouTube. I hope you enjoy it!

If you watch it here, this is the little blurb:

Here are my very quick impressions of some things I saw at CHA. I took almost 100 photos on the floor and it wasn't nearly enough! (I didn't plan on making this video when I was there.)

The first part is a little two day vacation at Santa Monica and then on the CHA.

Why such fast music? It mirrors the event! Every time you turned around there was more eye candy. Amazing people, amazing displays, amazing talent.
A huge thanks to everyone who demonstrated their products for me, who put up with me taking their picture and who greeted me like a long lost friend!
See you next year!

P.S. You can stop the video any time if you need to see a photo for longer!

Update from the CHA

2012-01-30T21:55:00.000-08:00

Hi Artlets!
I'm having lots of trouble posting to this blog. I don't know if it's the slow wireless connection or what! So frustrating: Waaa! If you want to see what's been going on at CHA, please check into our Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/QuietfireDesign
See you there!
Oh, and reminder to those of you who wanted to take advantage of the Spellbinders 20% off pre-order, Tuesday, Jan 31 is the last day.
Thanks for reading! Suzanne

On the Road (again!)

2012-01-26T11:11:00.000-08:00

Hi Artlets!
We're leaving a day early to celebrate my husband's birthday. Tonight we'll be in Santa Monica and then off to CHA in Anaheim on Saturday!

Keep your eye on our Facebook Page, where I'll try to upload photos and information from the conference. As long as they don't want an arm and a leg for wifi.... Actually, if they want my first-born....

See you online!

Our Butterfly Blog Flutter Winners!

2012-01-21T12:30:00.000-08:00

Congratulations!

to the winners of our Blog Flutter! All were randomly chosen. Winners, please contact me with your snailmail address at suzanne @ quietfiredesign.com (take out the spaces!)

Once again, a huge round of applause to the designers who creative such beautiful pieces!

Artwork by Yogi Grunwald

Artwork by Wanda Hentges

Artwork by Robyn Josephs

Artwork by Monica Black

Artwork by Suzanne Cannon

And here are our winners.....

From Yogi's blog:
cindy b.
Thank you so much for sharingyour talents with us. Beautiful!!

From Suzanne's blog:
ktfabianWhat a wonderful and unique idea! The clock is beautiful and it's obvious, even without reading the directions, that you worked very hard on this project!

From Robyn's blog:

CraftyJo

Fabulous projects - I love them both and will certainly try making a boxor two, thanks

From Monica's Blog:

Karen
Stunning! What a lovely format to showcase thebeautiful calligraphy. I love it!

From Wanda's Blog:

Nelda

Absolutely gorgeous,as usual! You continue to amaze me with your artistic abilitiyto apply ink to stamp and to cardstock!

Once again, thanks to everyone for commenting - we love your comments!!

Keep your eyes open for more opportunities to win with Quietfire Design. Thanks for stopping by today. Happy creating! Suzanne

Spellbinders Winter 2012 Pre-orders

2012-01-19T15:47:00.000-08:00

Since Quietfire Design is a Spellbinders Preferred Stamp Partner, we're particularly interested when they are releasing new items!

Today is the last day of their Blog Hop (and the last day of our Blog Flutter - see my previous post) and you can see all 50 of their new goodies on our Pre-order page here.

The Pre-orders have started coming in and we will leave these items on the web until January 29th when our order will be placed at Spellbinders.

Spellbinders will be revealing some more new items the first day of the CHA conference (Craft and Hobby Association) beginning January 29th and we should have them on the web that day - in the Pre-order Category along with those just revealed.

Here is some information about our Pre-Orders:
The Pre-order dies are 20% off MSRP until January 29, 2012*. Payment reserves your order. Spellbinders are not shipping these items until the very end of February 2012, so you won't have them till after that! New items may be added daily until then. We will ship your order as soon as the dies arrive at Quietfire. If some dies are delayed, we will contact you letting you know the status.

Orders containing non-pre-order items will be held until the pre-order items are shipped to you, so it's best to do two separate orders!

*You don't see the sale price until the item is in your shopping cart.

Want to have another look at the Spellbinders Blog Hop? Here is the list of designers and their blogs along with what new ~~toy!~~ tool each demonstrated. I know it's hard sometimes to know what you want until you see it "in action"!

Congratulations to Spellbinders and all the Spellbinders' Designers for their fabulous creations!
Note: Each link will open a new window. The product links go to the Quietfire Design website Spellbinders Pre-order pages.

January12, 2012

· Debbie Olson http://www.debbiedesigns.typepad.com/

o Elite

o Labels Twenty-Five

· Latisha Yoast http://crafteebee.blogspot.com/

o Splendid Circles

· Michelle Woerner http://stopandstamptheroses.blogspot.com/

o Wavy Rectangles

o Valor

January13, 2012

· Becca Feeken http://www.amazingpapergrace.com/

o Persian Accents

o Persian Motifs

· Julianna Hudgins http://juliannaproductions.tumblr.com/

o Jewel Goddess

o Jewel Treasures

o Jewel Stones

· Julie Overby www.joverby.blogspot.com

o Crosses Two

o Regal

January14, 2012

· Shanna Vineyard http://artmadewithheart.blogspot.com/

o Layered Flowers

o Whimsy

· Kazan Clark http://nunutoolies.blogspot.com/

o Labels Twenty-Four

o Classic Edges Two

o Decorative Inserts Three

· Tonya Dirk http://creativit-tonya.blogspot.com/

o Decorative Inserts One

o Classic Edges One

January15, 2012

· Samantha Walker http://samanthaleewalker.blogspot.com/

o Nautical Frame and Accents

o Antique Frame and Accents

· Christine Emberson http://hope-chances.blogspot.com/

o Tea Service

o Flower Fun

· Lesley Langdon http://lesleylangdoncreative.blogspot.com/

o Grand Dahlias

January16, 2012

· Holly Simoni www.hollysimoni.typepad.com

o Damask Accents

o Damask Motifs

· Heidi Blankenship http://embellished-dreams.blogspot.com/

o Floral Burst

o Elegance

· Judy Hayes http://judyhayesdesign.blogspot.com

o Angle Approach

o Decorative Inserts Six

January17, 2012

· Kimberly Crawford www.kimberly-crawford.blogspot.com

o Square Swatches

o Decorative Inserts Five

· Donna Salazar http://donnasalazar.typepad.com/

o Girlie Grunge Labels

o Mix'd Media Playtime

o Mix'd Media Elements

o Bitty Blossoms

· Ken Oliver http://kensworldinprogress.blogspot.com/

o Nobility

o Ribbon Buckles

January18, 2012

· Linda Duke http://lindaduke.typepad.com/

o Romantic Rectangles

· Sherry Cheever http://sherrycheever.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/

o Moroccan Accents

o Moroccan Motifs

· AJ Otto http://thewillowgarden.blogspot.com/

o Imperial

January19, 2012

· Gloria Stengel www.gloriascraps.blogspot.com

o Aster Flower Topper

o Decorative Inserts Four

· Nina Bracket http://ninabdesigns.blogspot.com/

o Sewing Elements

o Home Sweet Home

· Tina McDonald http://tinamcd-mysanity.blogspot.com/

o Simplicity

o Decorative Dress Forms

· Windy Robinson http://windyrobinson.blogspot.com/

o Spiral Blossom Three

o Splendid

Thanks for stopping by!
Suzanne

Welcome to the Quietfire Design Butterfly Blog Flutter!

2012-01-16T00:30:00.000-08:00

Quietfire Design would like to introduce you to the new Butterfly Circles stamp set! Here is my project using the new ButterflyCircles.

Just comment below and you will be eligible to win a grab bagof Quietfire Design rubber stamps valued at $50! We will be givingaway five grab bags in total and all the names will be drawn on Friday, January20^th at midnight PST, one name from each blog, so you have lots oftime to enter! Tell your friends!

The Butterfly Circles rubber stamps will remain onspecial at 20% off throughout the Blog Flutter!

Here is our schedule:

Sunday, January 15th: Yogi

Monday, January 16th: Suzanne (You are here!)

Tuesday, January 17th: Robyn

Wednesday, January 18th: Monica

Thursday, January 19th: Wanda

Each Design Team member will randomly choose a winner fromtheir list of comments, so make sure you’ve commented on each blog.

All winners will be posted on the Quietfire Style blog onSaturday January 21^st. If you are one of our lucky winners, pleasecontact Suzanne privately with your snail mail address within 48 hours or a newwinner will be chosen. (Email address is in the sidebar of theQuietfire Style blog)

HappyFluttering and good luck!!

______

A Butterfly Counts - Walnut Hollow Clock(if you're going to be at the CHA conference, you will see this clock at the Walnut Hollow booth!)

Supplies

Walnut Hollow Round Clock, Small Item #53212

Walnut Hollow Quartz Clock Movement for 19mm (3.4”)Surfaces Item #TQ700P
http://www.walnuthollow.com/

Quietfire Design Butterfly Circles Stamp Set

Quietfire Design Butterflies/Dragonflies Stamp Set
FabScraps High Tea Cardstock
White Cardstock
Spellbinders Nestabilities: Butterflies Two, Grand Circles
VersaMagic Purple Hydrangea Ink
Jacquard Textile Super White Acrylic Paint
Ranger Distress Crackle Clear Rock Candy Paint
Ink Blending Tool
Distress Inks: Tattered Rose, Brushed Corduroy, DustyConcord
Adirondack Alcohol Ink - Eggplant
Be Creative Double-sided tape
Hole punch

Instructions:

Preparing the wood:

Paint the Round Clock with Neopaque White paint. Allow to dry and give second coat. Sand surface if needed or desired. Apply a fairly thick coat of Distress Cracklearound the edges of the clock as well as a couple of inches in from the topedge on the surface and allow to dry naturally.

Use the blending tool to rub on Brushed Corduroy andDusty Concord to highlight the crackle. Rub off the excess with a paper towel.

Preparing the paper:

Cut High Tea and white cardstocks to fit clock usingSpellbinders Grand Circles as shown.

Stamp Quietfire Design quotation using VersaMagic PurpleHydrangea. When dry use blending tool toshade in some Tattered Rose colour.

Stamp small butterfly using Purple Hydrangea ink, thencut the image out.

Layer the circles using Be Creative double-sidedtape. Find the center of the layeredcircles and punch a hole the same diameter as the clock hole. Attach the cardstock layers to the clocksurface.

Cut four tiny butterflies from the NestabilitiesButterflies Two. Leave the diecut in thedie and using the die as a stencil, color the exposed paper with PurpleHydrangea ink.

Color the hands of the clock movement with a few drops ofEggplant Alcohol Ink. Leave the secondhand uncolored. Allow to dry.

Following the instructions on the package, assemble theclock movement with the clock. Make surethe hanger is oriented so the quotation on the front reads correctly. Punch a hole in the butterfly cut-out andslide it over the shaft of the movement. Do not glue or tape it down. Curlthe wings slightly.

Attach the four diecut butterflies at the noon, three,six and nine positions on the clock face.

Add a battery and hang to enjoy!

Butterfly Circles teaser

2012-01-13T17:12:00.000-08:00

Just something to keep you going till the Blog flutter. No, this isn't my contribution to the blog hop, so your comments here won't be counted for a prize. But I still love comments!!!

Reagents for the synthesis:

Quietfire Design's Butterfly Circles Stamp set

VersaMagic Dewdrops Jumbo Java

Kanban Paper, Farfalla - Coffee Brown Pearl Glaze

Spellbinders Butterfly Circles, Wonderful Wings

Core'dinations Elements Cardstock

Gold Vellum

Ink Blending Tool

Thanks for visiting!

Suzanne

The Quietfire Design Butterfly Blog Flutter

2012-01-13T04:00:00.000-08:00

Quietfire Design would like to introduce you to our newButterfly Circles stamp set! Each day one of our designers will beposting brand new artwork they have created using this set. Visit theirblog on the day of their featured project, post a comment on their BlogFlutter project post and you will be eligible to win a grab bag ofQuietfire Design rubber stamps valued at $50! We will be givingaway five grab bags in total and all the names will be drawn on Friday, January20^th at midnight PST, one name from each blog, so you have lots oftime to enter! Tell your friends!

The Butterfly Circles rubber stamps will remain onspecial at 20% off throughout the Blog Flutter!

Each Design Team member will be randomly choosing a winnerfrom their list of comments, so make sure you’ve commented on each blog.

All winners will be posted on the Quietfire Style blog onSaturday January 21^st. If you are one of our lucky winners, pleasecontact Suzanne privately with your snail mail address within 48 hours or a newwinner will be chosen. (Her email address is in the sidebar of theQuietfire Style blog)

Here is our schedule:

Sunday, January 15th: Yogi

Monday, January 16th: Suzanne

Tuesday, January 17th: Robyn

Wednesday, January 18th: Monica

Thursday, January 19th: Wanda

Happy Fluttering and good luck!!

Conference Video from Celebration 2003

2012-01-06T12:08:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Barb Qualley of the Warmland Calligraphers for passing on this link. I hadn't seen this video and it's a very good representation of what goes on. The conferences are eye candy overload!

Most of the instructors interviewed teach regularly and are the top of the calligraphic heap! I loved Diane von Arx Anderson's comment at about 8:40 about style - I happens on its own when you're learning the traditional forms. So true. And my addition: Style is part of your genetic, cultural and historical makeup and is uniquely yours.

I had to look for the banner that has my lettering on it, but didn't see it! I might not be able to go to the conferences, but my lettering does!
Enjoy!

Queen of Hearts 2012 Challenge Announcement

2012-01-05T12:38:00.000-08:00

Two years ago byhandartist Judy Lawton suggested we should have a Valentine's challenge with a Queen of Hearts theme. Now it's become an annual tradition!

Here is what you do:

Create a piece of artwork using the theme Queen of Hearts (just make sure it's got a heart somewhere!). It can be a card or an atc or a tip in for your altered book or a journal page or a canvas or whatever you are working on these days. You do not have to use Quietfire products to play (although I'd love to see your artwork using them!).
Post your creation on your blog.
Then come to the Quietfire Style blog (that's here!) on February 14. I'll create a special blog post just for it.
Add a link to your blog post displaying your Queen of Hearts artwork to the special Queen of Hearts blog post here! Easy peasy! Addition of links will be cut off at midnight (PST) on the 14th, so make sure you add it in so you can be eligible for the draw prizes.
Prizes, you say Suzanne? Yes! We'll have draws for bags of rubber stamps! Three randomly drawn lucky people will receive $50 worth of rubber stamps each! Spread the word to your friends! The more the merrier!

Don't have a blog? Come join us at Quietfire Creations, create a page and add your photo there! (but don't forget to come here to add your link back to your artwork.)

Create without Limits!

Feel free to right-click, save and add this smaller badge to your blog with a link back here to the instructions at
http://quietfirestyle.blogspot.com/2012/01/queen-of-hearts-2012-challenge.html

Have fun, my Valentines!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T16:37:00.000-08:00

I might get some artwork up here yet, but in the meantime here is my all-time favourite Christmas commercial made in 2005!
So what are you up to this afternoon? I'm having a trip through family history! I am going through all the old Christmas cards that my mother received and kept and getting rid of most of them, but some are treasures. I've also been sorting and organizing my arting area. Organization is a constant challenge as certain supplies come into favour and others fall out. They don't fall far enough to throw out, but priorities change.
Hopefully I'll be back later with a card, but take a break and enjoy Hazina - yes, that's her name and she lives at the Vancouver Zoo - she such a personality! (and yes, I did donate to the fund to build her a new habitat!)

P.S. Belated congrats to Sher Springall for winning the Facebook Candy!!

Facebook Candy!

2011-12-19T15:08:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone saw this on the email newsletter, but in case you didn't or have forgotten....

We're celebrating our 400th fan on Facebook!
We're little, but we're growing! Make sure you LIKE us for a chance to win our Facebook Candy!

We'll make a random draw on Monday December 19, 2010 around midnight PST (That'd be Monday night, Tuesday morning on the North American westcoast!) from our list of Friends.

Good luck!
(If you don't get our email newsletter, you can sign up by clicking here!)

All you need to do is be on our list of Friends (people who "like" us!) Yes, you will need to have a Facebook page.

I'd Like to Find You

2011-12-04T15:12:00.001-08:00

Here is a quicky little card. The most work is cutting the paper! I was delighted to find the Tim Holtz Winter Distress Ink set goes very nicely with the Echo Park Wintertime cardstock.

Okay, okay, I know, I did a crappy job of stamping the BfF!! You'll do better!

I think I'd Like to Find You would work really well for a friend you haven't seen in a long time. What do you think?

There were no diecuts in this card, it's just stamps, paper, ink and sticky things.

Card Synthesis:
Card Blanks
Quietfire Stamps: Flourishing Inside-Hearts, I'd Like to Find You, Friends
Paper: Echo Park Wintertime Cardstock set
Glue Dots and Pop Dots
Distress Ink: Tim Holtz Winter set
Brilliance Graphite Black

Here are links to two other posts using this paper:
Snow!
Created byhand Challenge... Oops Missed the Deadline!

Thanks for taking the time to look!
Suzanne

When this Christmas - Created by our Friends!

2011-11-21T15:12:00.001-08:00

Here are two lovely cards using When this Christmas! Thanks for sharing, ladies!

This first one is from Karen G in Logan Lake, BC
(we were just discussing people using damask backgrounds in their Christmas cards this year as we were packing your new rubber stamps this morning Karen!)

and the second is from Carole W. - you can read more about it (and see lots of other good stuff) on her blog -
Carole's Soulfelt Creations. Love the colours!

Thank you so much for using Quietfire rubber!! I love seeing what you create!

Warm Winter Wishes

2011-11-20T13:55:00.001-08:00

Here is another quick and easy card using Warm Winter Wishes, an embossing folder, cardstock and a bit of decorative paper!
I love the look of blind embossing - that hasn't changed over the years. Our wedding invitations had a blind embossed snowflake on the front because we had a December wedding! I might have made my own if there had been easily available embossing machines as there is now.

Card Synthesis:

Card Blanks

Quietfire Warm Winter Wishes

Distress Inks: Peeled Paint for the sentiment and Antique Linen for distressing

Sizzix: Textured Impressions Branches, Swirls & Ribbons Set (also used in this card the other day)

Kaisercraft December 25th

Coloured Cardstock: Core'dinations Elements

Ink Blending Tool

Tombow Stamp Runner

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzanne

Snowflakes are Kisses - continued in ATC form!

2011-11-18T11:00:00.001-08:00

Judi Kauffman shared her "Snowflakes are kisses from Heaven" card with us yesterday. This morning shesurprised us with some ATCs that incorporate the same supplies. She sentinstructions, too. Thanks again, Judi!

Because ATCs are small, I skipped the embossednotary seals I used for yesterday's 5 x 7 card. Insteadof punched stars, I switched to Silver/Gold Glitter Dots that looklike tiny snowflakes falling in the distance. This contrast in size iswhat makes the larger snowflakes really pop forward to the eye. I edged the ATCs with silver (Pentouch from Sakura). The sentiment,"Snowflakes are kisses from heaven" (stamp from Quietfire Design) andthe punched Blue Iris Shimmer Sheetz snowflakes topped with glittery snowflakepeel-offs remain the same as on the card - though the snowflakes are one layer,not two. (Glitter dots, snowflakes, Shimmer Sheetz from ElizabethCraft Design) Tip: Note that on each ATC one of the snowflakes is cutinto two pieces - one piece attached at the top toward the left, the otherpiece attached at the bottom just below and to the left of the whole snowflake,but not directly below the other half! This kind of cropping tricksyour eye into seeing lots of snowflakes falling from the sky. Ifyou're not into ATCs, this same kind of smaller scale project would work wellfor tags or tree ornaments.

(A side note: I know it's fashionable to writejust a few words in a blog or on facebook, but after four decades of teachingit feels like cheating if I don't provide complete information and instructions- and it's really important to me to include the "why" of the projectas well as the "how"...I hope you find this useful and worthreading! Judi K)

Judi Kauffman is author of By the Batch: Creative Cards, Postcards, Envelopes & More

And un-used copies are available from Amazon.ca

Snowflakes are Kisses - Artwork from Judi Kauffman

2011-11-17T11:12:00.001-08:00

Our friend and frequent guest designer JudiKauffman sent us a card that mixes stamping with snowflakes in a uniqueway. The snowflakes are blue and gold, not the traditional white. The card base is glossy coated cardstock folded to an ample 5 x 7. Shealso sent instructions, just in case you want to make a card just like hersample. (Thanks, Judi!)

"Snowflakes are kisses from heaven" isa brand new stamp from Quietfire Design. I chose Ranger AdirondackBrights ink in Sailboat Blue for the stamping andsponging. This ink looks soft and pale on the coated cardstock base,brighter and more intense on the matte cardstock rectangle where the phrase isstamped. I embossed 2.5" gold notary seals with a Cuttlebugfolder (Ice Crystals) and used the large circles to draw the eye. (Tip:take your time peeling the embossed notary seals from the backing - theymight tear if you aren't vigilent when lifting the edges) I punchedtiny stars (Fiskars punch) and 1" snowflakes (EK Success punch) fromBlue Iris and White Iris Shimmer Sheetz (Elizabeth Craft Designs). Thetiny stars are secured with GemTac glue (Beacon Adhesives). (Tip: Asmall dot of glue applied with a corsage pin is all that's needed, I usedEmbellie Gellie to lift each star and place it atop the wet glue. The snowflakes are layered in pairs on foam dots to create shadowsand extra dimension. The top snowflake in each pair is embellishedwith a different snowflake peel-off (Glitter Silver/Gold Peel-offs #7055,Elizabeth Craft Designs). Not one to be a minimalist, I addedsparkly fibers from my stash of knitting yarns, and used Glitter Cardstock(Darice) as the border around the stamped rectangle.

I have been looking for a product like Embellie Gellie for years since a friend showed me a stylus with a similar product on the end, but she couldn't remember what it was called! Thanks to Judi for that insight. It is in now on order from my supplier!! I'm so excited - it will be like having another hand!

Click here to see Snowflakes Are Kisses on the site

Thanks again to Judi for sharing her creation! And for using Quietfire Design rubber stamps!

Suzanne

Twin Babies in Dandelions

2011-11-17T09:00:00.000-08:00

My assistant Jeneen is full of great ideas and this was one of them. Here is a card she created using the Bosskut Tiny Baby and Dandelion Whispers Embossing Folder. We think this idea could be expanded to include Christmas themes and single babies. Too cute!

Thanks for stopping by!Suzanne (and Jeneen!)

Dona Nobis Pacem - for Christmas

2011-11-16T09:00:00.000-08:00

When I sold out of the Wreath Embossing Folder overnight, it left me wishing I'd ordered a lot more!! (These things are hard to predict....)
Here is my "make do" wreath!

Oh, oops, the leaf is over "peace".

I used the Dew Drops and inked up the parts of the stamp separately with different colours. Easy! I adore this Sizzix Embossing folder. It's called Branches, Swirls and Ribbons Set.

Here is a close up.

Card Synthesis:

Thanks for having a look!Suzanne

Celebrate Marker Card

2011-11-15T09:00:00.000-08:00

The lettering for this card was done with the darker purple and then the drop shadow was added with the lightest marker in the set.
The gilded flourish was made with the Quickie Glue pen and the variegated leaf pressed on while the glue was still wet. I tried using Jones Tones transfer foil, but the pen glue wasn't strong enough. Not exactly fine gilding, but fun and quick!

Card Synthesis:
Card Blanks
Quickie Glue Pen
Zig Memory Markers - Elegance
Lilac Avenue (Kaisercraft) 6x6 paper pad
Variegated Green Leaf
Xacto Knife
Pentel Clic eraser

It Is Christmas In the Heart

2011-11-13T13:34:00.001-08:00

Here is a quickie card using the new Quietfire Christmas rubber and Spellbinder's dies.

Note: By popular demand! the whole set of new

Quietfire Christmas/Seasonal stamps

are continuing on special until Sunday November 20th!

Stamps may be purchased individually

Card Synthesis:

Card Blanks

Quietfire Design Rubber stamp: It is Christmas in the Heart

Distress Ink: Peeled Paint

Spellbinders: Holly Motifs, Standard Circles Large, Standard Circles Small

Core'dinations: 2 green colours from Elements Cardstock

Glue Dots, Pop Dots and Double-sided Tape

Thanks for dropping by!

Terre Frye - published in Steampunk Magazine

2011-11-13T09:00:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Terre Frye who has been published (again!), this time in Just Steampunk! Terre used the Quietfire Italic Double Stroke Caps in her fabulous bodice creations!

You can find the Double Stroke Caps in the Stamp Department in the Alphabets and Word Stamps.

Thanks so much to Terre for using Quietfire stamps!!

Postage Stamps - Created byhand Challenge

2011-11-12T08:00:00.000-08:00

This week's challenge is postage stamps, so I used the Spellbinders Postage Stamp Nestabilities along with some old nibs I had hanging around.

Card Synthesis
Quietfire Design I Write You Letters
Quietfire Design Flourishing Inside - Hearts
Brilliance Graphite Black Ink
Brilliance Pearlescent Poppy Dew Drop Ink
Blending Tool and Foam
Spellbinders Postage Stamp Nestabilities
Quietfire Chipboard
Walnut Ink
Gillott 404 pointed nib
7 Gypsies' Global Collection 6x6 Paper Pad
Core'dinations Coloured Cardstock
Diamond Glaze (for attaching all the nibs together)
Mica (base for nib "heart")

Calligraphers aim for high contrast between thick and thins in their strokes, so it pains me to see what can happen on certain papers with certain inks. I really wanted to use the Chipboard. First I used Black Archival Ink and it blurred - that's the top sample.

By switching to a pigment pad, the ink doesn't sink into the chipboard so much and the letters are much clearer. Su-zed-q is a now a happy stamper!

Archival ink is a great ink! Just not on absorbant chipboard.

Dona Nobis Pacem

2011-11-11T16:07:00.001-08:00

Remembering all those who gave their lives.

11:00 ~ 11 ~ 11 ~ 2011

Quietfire Christmas Rubber Stamps 2011

2011-11-09T11:33:00.000-08:00

Here are the new Quietfire Design Rubber Stamps for the Christmas season! All of the 11 new stamps are available as a pre-order till Friday, November 11, 2011 at 54% off the individual price. The stamps may be purchase individually, too!

See them all here! You can see more detail if you look at the individual stamps.

I'm Telling You is designed to fit on Spellbinders Labels 22

I hope you like them - there are cheeky ones in there, too!

Boo!

2011-11-02T23:36:00.000-07:00

Here's my first attempt at carving just the skin from a pumpkin!

I enlarged the Boo stamp from the Quietfire Design Wicked 2011 rubber stamp sheet. As you can see, I didn't get everything lined up quite right! I'll do better next year! And we were so late getting pumpkins that there were none left with stems! :-(

Thanks for visiting! Hope you're recovered from Halloween!

Inspiration from our Talented Customers!

2011-10-26T14:09:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while, I get lucky enough to be sent photos of artwork which customers have created using the Quietfire rubber stamps.

This beauty is from Hellen E. in Australia. Hellen doesn't have a blog, so I'm very happy she send this to me!

And from Carole At Carole's Soulfelt Creations (I had trouble viewing her blog using IE - but it's perfect with FireFox!)

but Carole says one of her favourites is here. I'm so glad I don't have to make a choice - they're all wonderful!

I've been meaning to share this one for a while. Jeneen is the Queen of ATCs and she created and gave me this adorable one. This is my little black fellow, who takes great interest in assisting with anything related to Waxed Linen thread. I swear he can hear it coming off the spool from a dead sleep at the other end of the house. *sigh* I think three wraps around the table is his current record. Needless to say, he and Jeneen have a interesting relationship..... He is one happy kitty when she visits!

Thank you all for sharing your work!
To Everyone:
Please let me know if you've uploaded something you have used Quietfire products on. I'd love to share it!
You are also welcome to add your links to our Facebook Page, too!
Thanks for visiting, Suzanne

Kozmetica Script Typeface

2011-10-23T16:37:00.000-07:00

Meet Kozmetica Script.
Sometimes I wonder why I bother.... What an elegant beauty.
Designed by Alejandro Paul and Angel Koziupa. See more details of it here.

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzanne

Burberry Baby Card - Chiara

2011-10-22T04:00:00.000-07:00

Or Do-It-Yourself Plaid!

Chiara was born a few months ago to a family that loves Burberry! Chiara even had a little Burberry dress for her christening.
Here is the result of my efforts to create the Burberry tartan using the perfect tool for the job; the Dreamweaver Stripes stencil. I think I know this tartan pretty well by now! (One day I'll get it perfectly!)

Card Synthesis

Handlettering on cardstock

Reagents:

Mitchell Roundhand Nib

Higgins Eternal Ink

Spellbinders Grand Calibur

Spellbinders: Classic Ovals Small, Lacey Ovals

Dreamweaver stencil – stripes

Removable Tape

Gesso

Ink Blending tool

VersaMagic Dew Drops Midnight Black

Ranger Distress Aged Mahogany

Card Blanks

Burgundy Cardstock

Fawn coloured cardstock

ribbon

Sookwang Be Creative Double sided tape

Glue Dots and Pop Dots

Thanks for visiting!

Suzanne

Baby Card & Album - Sofianne

2011-10-20T07:00:00.000-07:00

Recently my friend had her first grandchild.

It's hard to decide what to send when you don't know what they have and don't have! I knew there would be a card.... I wandered through a baby store and came out bewildered. And then I remembered I'm a bookbinder.... I thought I could probably come up with something that no one else would give!

I started out with these adorable little rocking horse stickers from Martha Stewart and designed with Spellbinders around their colour scheme. Here is the card.

I love the dimensional effect that the Pop Dots give. And when you layer the Edgeabilities just right, you get this little heart peaking through.

One of my favourite thing about Spellbinders is the ovals. You can draw and cut a circle pretty easily, but ovals.... that's another thing. And you get this gorgeous embossed edge. Absolutely classy. It knocks anything you make up a notch (or two!).

Here is the album made to match the card - it's designed as a little coffee table brag book!

And here is where I get on my bookbinder's soapbox (it's been a while!). These stab bindings look so lovely and you can dress them up so beautifully, but really they're a horrible binding for a Western book. The Japanese binding uses soft oriental paper and a soft cover and having the book lie flat and the pages fold over the previous page isn't such a big issue.

Adapting the binding for Western uses requires some finesse.

Here is a photo I took before I bound the book. You can see the spacers between the pages, inserted so the book won't yawn at the foredges when photos are added. You can also see the pages are scored sequentially so that they will fold over the page before it.

Card Synthesis:

Card Blanks

"Sofianne" handlettered with a Mitchell Roundhand Nib

Winsor & Newton Maganese Blue watercolour

Arches Text Wove paper

Spellbinders Grand Calibur

Spellbinders: Classic Ovals Small, Classic Ovals Large, Lacy Ovals, Edgeabilities Classic Petal

Coordinations Core Color

Sookwang Be Creative Double-sided Tape

Glue Dots, Pop Dots

Ribbon

Brag Book Synthesis:

Pre-cut bookboard

Black acid-free cardstock

Self-adhesive Linen Hinging Tape

Oriental paper

Coordinations Core Color

Spellbinders - as in the card above

Scor-it-All

Drill

Glue, Xyron

Ribbon

Nerves of Steel ('cause I haven't made one in so long!!!)

Thanks for looking!
Suzanne

Donald Jackson on Today

2011-10-19T10:28:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Roann Mathias for the Facebook heads up about this interview on msnbc.com!
The last time I saw Donald Jackson was up in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, where I was living. He came to teach a workshop. He is very entertaining - unfortunately it didn't really show up in this interview! Too bad!

I was so sick that weekend. He very sweetly gave me a pat on the shoulder. I didn't bother telling him I wasn't contagious. I was pregnant! (Never been so sick in my whole life!)

If this video makes you want to know more, here is the website for the Saint John's Bible

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Thanks for visiting!Suzanne

Terre Fry - Snowflakes are the Fairydust

2011-10-18T13:34:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to artist
Terre Fry
for her full page spread in the current issue of
Paper Creations magazine!

In the article Terre lists all the supplies and describes how she created her card. In addition to an excellent close-up photo of the project, there is a diagram in the pattern pull-out so you can precisely position all of the elements and layers in the card.

Absolutely beautiful Terre!!
Thanks so much for using Quietfire Rubber!

Snowflakesare the Fairydust is available here.

If the Broom Fits

2011-10-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

Here is my contribution to this week's Created byhand Challenge!
This week's theme is Witches/Circle Dies

NOTE:

This week two lucky Challenge participants will each receive one of the stamps from the new Quietfire Wicked set. Names will be randomly chosen and posted with the Sampler! Happy creating!

Card Synthesis

Reagents:

Flying Kitty image from the internet
Cardblanks

If the Broom Fits & Wicked
Golden Ivory Waves – Decorative paper for moon
Spellbinders Fleur De Lis Accents
Spellbinders Standard Circles Large
Tim Holtz Kraft Glassine paper
Archival Ink Black
VersaMark Ink

Thanks for stopping by!
Suzanne

A Grandmother Pretends

2011-10-17T10:03:00.000-07:00

Judi Kauffman is becoming afrequent guest designer at Quietfire Design. Her latest: A batch ofHalloween cards and an ATC.

Two of Judi's friends haverecently become grandmothers, so she was elated to find a stamp that so perfectly fits their new role (the Erma Bombeck quote).

Judi used black ink for all stamping, both blackink and metallic copper ink to smudge and alter the edges ofthe pieces. The bats are punched from Black Iris Shimmer Sheetz(Shimmer Sheetz is from Elizabeth Craft Designs, the punch is from Stampin'Up!), the spider web border is a Martha Stewart around the Page duo, the spideris a Cuttlebug die. Judi said she's not sure if the ghost and pumpkiinbrads are still available or not (she got them several years ago fromStainslaus Imports), but it would be easy to find alternatives.

Thanks for sharing Judi!!
Suzanne

Birthday Card!

2011-10-12T10:35:00.000-07:00

Made for my friend Susan in Connecticut! (ahem, way late. Sorry!)

Card Synthesis:

Handlettering on Arches Text Wove

Mitchell Roundhand Nib
Manganese Blue watercolour

Spellbinders Grand Calibur

Spellbinders

Nestabling, Turquoise Fleur De Lis Rectangles
VersaMagic Dew Drops Sea Breeze
Card Blanks
Core Color (Core’dinations)
Sookwang Be Creative Double sided tape
Glue Dots, Pop Dots

Thanks for dropping by!
Suzanne

Ancient Manuscript Making

2011-10-10T12:20:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Georgia Angelopoulos for pointing this out to me. Great viewing for any beginning calligrapher or bookbinder! Some things haven't changed much over the centuries.

Interesting, I was taught to add the slit to my quill last - but whatever works - and I ain't gonna argue with Thomas Ingmire!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-10-09T16:42:00.000-07:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all Canadians!

Card Synthesis

Ecoline Inks: Vermilion, Safron Yellow, Grass Green, Lemon Yellow

Mitchell Roundhand Nib

Brushes

Arches CP 140# watercolour paper

Tim Holtz Sizzlet Strip - Autumn Gatherings

Sookwang Be Creative Double-sided adhesive sheets

Glitter Ritz Microfine Glitter, Autumn Leaves set, Chartreuse, Peridot

Spellbinders Grand Calibur

Spellbinders Grand Nestabilities: Rectangles, Labels 4

Cardstock

Take it easy on the turkey!

Thanks for dropping by!

What's Not to Like?

2011-10-07T10:05:00.000-07:00

Judi Kauffman and I had a long phone interview prior to her beautifully written article in Scrapbooking.com which appeared a few days ago. During the conversation, I stopped her at one point and said "Say that again", and so a rubber stamp was "born"!

Judi is not a minimalist when itcomes to stamping envelopes! The ones she shared with uswill ferry her Halloween cards in style. She used two of the new Quietfire Design stamps, a black cat from Cherry Pie Art Stamps, candy cornfrom Rubber Stamps of America, M candy from Toomuchfun Rubberstamps, and a tinyghost and spider from Rubber Stamp Tapestry.

{I just *love* that cat! Except for the eye colour, it could be the one who is planning to pussy-foot all over my keyboard.....}

I think we all want to be on Judi's mailing list! Thanks for sharing Judi!

Steve Jobs and Calligraphy

2011-10-06T13:35:00.000-07:00

I have never been enough of a geek to pay much attention to the movers and shakers of the technological innovations of the last few decades (I just use their creations!), but it has been fascinating this week to learn more about Steve Jobs and Apple and how he has changed the world.

Thanks to byhandartist Jane Super who added the link to the video below on her Facebook Page today. As I listened, my ears perked up at the mention of Reed College - and I'm thinking, oh my, he's another westcoast boy - going to school in a hotbed of calligraphic artists. Lucky guy! And then he goes on to mention how dropping out of college led to attending a calligraphy class (any one know who the teacher was?) and years later to quality type in the creation of the Mac. It's one of the first story he tells on this video, but it's well worth listening to the whole thing. If you continue you will understand one of the YouTube comments shown with many thumbs up. I added my thumbs up.

I hope he looked in the mirror yesterday and said 'yes'.

RIP Steve Jobs

Boo! ATC size

2011-10-04T11:04:00.000-07:00

I went to an ATC trade on Sunday! Yes, miracles happen - I got out of the house. The stampers will have a go at me for being so lousy at thermal embossing.... Sorry!!! I need more practice, right?

ATC Synthesis:

Quietfire Wicked Halloween Rubber Stamps

Tim Holtz Candlelight Fright Sizzix die

Black cardstock

Sizzix Big Shot

Ranger Ultrafine Silver embossing powder

ATC Synthesis:

Midnight Dreary Cardstock

Quietfire Wicked Halloween Rubber Stamps

Tim Holtz Candlelight Fright Sizzix die

Black cardstock

Sizzix Big Shot

Ranger Ultrafine Gold embossing powder

Meet the Artist - Scrapbooking.com

2011-10-01T12:52:00.000-07:00

I'm a little in shock. I usually like to think of myself as like the Wizard of Oz hiding behind the curtain making things look bigger than they are....
Thanks to Judi Kauffman for this amazing Meet the Artist article (when I grow up I want to write like you!) and to Scrapbooking.com for publishing it!

A drawing student once asked me how she would know if something was art. I answered in a typical teacher fashion by saying she’d know it when she saw it. Suzanne Cannon’s rubber stamps are works of art. The first time I saw them I knew: Each letter, each curve, each tiny detail is evidence that a skilled human hand has created the calligraphy. This kind of artistry and mastery takes years of practice combined with a love of words. My instincts were confirmed when I called Suzanne in 2005 to interview her for a profile I'd been hired to write for a trade magazine. We became friends and finally met in person in January 2011.....

Read the whole article here.

One of my card from the Scrapbooking.com article

Or listen to the YouTube version here!

Thanks for reading!
Suzanne

Shakespeare's Soup - Quietfire Wicked Halloween 2011

2011-09-23T12:22:00.000-07:00

I had a lot of fun creating the stamps for this set and I finally got a chance to use them the other day!

First the card (although it was the last thing I made)

All projects use the Midnight Dreary Scrapbook paper.

Card Synthesis:

Quietfire Design Wicked Halloween Rubber Stamps

Archival Black Ink

Spellbinders Labels 21

Spellbinders Fleur De Lis Rectangle

Grand Caliber or other Die cutting machine

Ribbon

Project Synthesis:

Quietfire Design Wicked Halloween Rubber Stamps

Archival Black Ink

Spellbinders Labels 21

Grand Caliber or other Die cutting machine

Tim Holtz Vials
Black 4-ply Waxed Linen Thread
Black Buttons
Tiny Tag
Ribbon
Orange Ink
Pop Dots, Glue Dots

Project Synthesis:
Quietfire Design Wicked Halloween Rubber Stamps

Archival Black Ink

Spellbinders Labels 21

Grand Caliber or other Die cutting machine

Spellbinders Bracket Box

Tim Holtz Vials

Black 4-ply Waxed Linen Thread
Black Buttons
Cotton Batting
Orange ink
Pop Dots, Glue Dots

Happy creating!
Suzanne

Some Halloween Inspiration

2011-09-21T10:14:00.000-07:00

Here are some ideas for using the new Quietfire Wicked Halloween rubber stamps in your artwork, compliments of the Quietfire Design Team!

Marker Pro Layout Paper Pad

2011-09-15T17:57:00.000-07:00

Canson Marker Pro Layout Pad

When I was at the CHA convention in January, I waltzed over to the Canson booth to ask them about a particular product but then got sidetracked by their papers.

After some discussion they offered to send me their Marker Pro Layout Pad to try because they didn't have any with them. Well, it arrived as promised (thanks guys!) and, as usual, I was so busy it took me a while to try it out.

It was instant love. This paper keeps beautiful crisp edges and hairlines and is translucent so you can see your liner through it, putting it above any good copy paper. I haven't had it wrinkle yet. Neither have I had any bleed-through. (But you know if you try hard enough, you can make anything happen!) Y'all know I use Mitchell nibs and Higgins Infernal, er, Eternal ink, so I can tell you those tools and this paper are a match made in heaven.

Oh my, I just tried my Gillott 303 and Higgins and I love this paper even more!! Sweet! Wow, great hairlines!

I think what agrees with me is the tooth this paper has. It's a smooth surface, but not slick. I've read that there are 2 sides to this paper (okay, yes, there are always two sides!) and the "topside" is better. I believe it was "marker people" noticing that. I didn't find any noticable difference.

You can find the Canson Marker Pro Layout Pad on my site in the Paper>Calligraphy department!

Let me know what you think of it!
Happy lettering, Suzanne

---------

And just to show you things don't always to as planned.... Here is my hissy fit when I started to date a certificate 2011. (this is NOT lettered on the Marker Pro Layout paper. I wish!) Hey, it was already ruined..... I wonder where my mind was?

New Wicked Quietfire Design Rubber Stamps!

2011-09-05T11:56:00.000-07:00

The Quietfire Wicked Halloween Set is on pre-order pricing until September 10, 2011!

Blae & Ivy Thank You

2011-09-03T11:44:00.000-07:00

Card Synthesis:

Quietfire Thank You Set

Spellbinders Labels 21

Kaisercraft Blae & Ivy 6x6" pad

Distress Bundled Sage

Leaf Ribbon

Card blanks

Guest Books - The Recycled Bivalve

2011-08-26T09:43:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while, I make these guest books for each room in a westcoast resort. I've probably shown these before, but here is one from the latest batch. Luckily I have found a local beach that has a great selection of shells. It used to be a real problem in Port Alberni! I even had to call a seafood restaurant one time!

It's always a challenge to drill the shells. I do it under water - it disperses the heat and keeps the dust down. Lots of shells have sharp edges - one time I let one go and it spun around with the drill bit and cut my finger. I didn't like that..... Needless to say, I have a new respect for bivalves.

Let me know if you ever write in one of these. You'll know it's mine because there is a label inside the back cover.

Shades of Things to Come.....

2011-08-25T11:35:00.000-07:00

Make sure you're signed up for our email newsletters!

Our Small Presence at Summer CHA

2011-07-21T12:53:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, the Summer CHA is in full swing.
The Craft and Hobby Association host two conferences per year. A winter one in California (which I was lucky enough to attend) in January and the summer conference in Chicago. The conference is for retailers and designers to see the latest products soon available to the retailers.

Although I am not in attendance this week, thanks to Spellbinders, Quietfire Design does have a "presence"! There wasn't enough time to get artwork from the Design Team, so I almost didn't submit a display board. Then I shook my head and though, well gee, I could always use my own cards.... So here is the display board from Quietfire Design that should be somewhere in the Spellbinders aura at Summer CHA! Thanks very much to Spellbinders for the opportunity.

If you haven't yet seen them all together, here are the dies which Spellbinders released just prior to the convention. There are some additional dies which were released the day the conference began and we will have those available for purchase when they arrive at our studio. So make sure you're signed up for our email newsletters on our site so you're up to date!

The Winners of the Gift Certificates are.....

2011-07-09T17:18:00.000-07:00

The following people have won $15 gift certificates to the Quietfire Design website! (Chosen by random draw)

Vic (#33)
Polly (#38)
McStamper (#23)
Kathy Cardon (#65)
Sandra Foster (#63)

Please send me an email (privately!) to suzanne@quietfiredesign.com and I will send your gift certificate via email.

Thanks to everyone who commented. Keep your eyes open for our next draw!
Happy shopping! Suzanne

Happy Birthday!

2011-07-01T20:33:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to Canada, the USA and my second born!

To celebrate the birthdays and the opening of the new shopping cart

we're celebrating!

Make a comment below telling us what Quietfire products you'd like most and you'll be eligible to win

one of five $15 gift certificates.

Winners will be randomly drawn with a Random Number Generator. Make sure I can get hold of you. You may add your name until Friday Midnight PST July 8th, 2011.

Winners will be announced on Saturday July 9, 2011

Good luck!

New Quietfire Design Rubber Stamps!

2011-05-27T08:47:00.000-07:00

We are thrilled to have 11 new stamps and one set of small sentiments perfect for tags with lower profile flourishes which makes it easy to fit them in smaller spaces.

See them online

HERE

Want to see them all on one printable page?

Click here to open a pdf version!

You may purchase all of them as a full sheet of rubber (which you will need to cut apart) till Saturday June 4, 2011 for $51.00 (individual retail cost would be $84.00)

Thanks to those people who have sent me quotes - I still have a pile on my drafting table which I have not gotten to yet - so don't despair - you may see it yet!

This time, it's Yolande from Alabama who will receive a free stamp of "How Old Would You Be" for suggesting the quote!

Congratulations Yolande!

Happy Stamping!

You can see that stamp at work over at Art by Wanda. Her first creation with the new rubber uses "How Old Would You Be"! Thanks Wanda! Awesome!

And within 10 hours of receiving her new rubber stamp, Becca Feeken has used "You May Not Be Able to Leave Your Children". You can see her beauty right here! Thank you Becca!

Happy Stamping Everyone!

Winner of Now Show Us Yours

2011-04-25T14:21:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who has played in Now Show Us Yours! It's been a pleasure to visit so many blogs.
And now the winner is:

Congratulations to Karen!
Karen paints lovely watercolours - you can some on her blog at http://www.wildwoodwatercolors.blogspot.com/
and her website has even more eye candy!
http://www.karenfrye.com/
Since Karen is a painter, her prize is two tubes of Winsor Newton Watercolours valued at $20 plus the adorable Bokuchi "Palette/brushcleaner" valued at $15.87 for a total of approximate $36.

Karen, please email me with your snailmail address and your prize will be on its way!

Thanks again for playing and happy creating!

Snowbirds 2011

2011-04-16T18:45:00.000-07:00

You'll have to forgive me this little digression.

Every year the Snowbirds practice for three weeks in my backyard. Almost literally. This morning I tramped off to the local beach in the rain and hail assuming they'd do one fly-by and their annual show would be over due to the extremely low ceiling. Well we got a bit more than that! Yippee! I love these things! I have no desire to fly them, although I've been known to jump out of Cessna or two.... (I like to say I've taken off 7 more times than I've landed in an airplane) All these photos were taken today except for the one of #6 which was taken off our back deck a few days ago. The single gray aircraft is a F-18 Hornet and I couldn't believe I could see the pilots in my photo. I mean they were close, but not *that* close.
And I'd just like to say. Yay Nikon! I've never had a camera like this. fyi: it's an 18-105 lens.

Snowbirds website
Snowbirds on Facebook
and I haven't found their official Twitter or YouTube sites yet!

Hoppy Easter! Bunny Card

2011-04-15T18:05:00.000-07:00

If you've followed me for a while, you will remember this little fellow. He is covered with a used dryer sheet to make him look a bit fuzzy and he's closed at both ends to make a pocket for a wee book.

You can find a pattern for him here!

There is lots you could do with him! First thing I plan to do is roll him through an embossing folder....

What can *you* do with him?

I'd love to see!

Go ahead, use the Quietfire Bunny from the template to create a card and link your artwork back here! We'll be looking for your creations till April 24th!

Hoppy creating!

Now Show Us Yours!

2011-04-09T19:29:00.000-07:00

The Quietfire Designers have been sharing their creations all week,

now show us yours!

We'd like to see what you do! Share your blog with us by clicking on the Froggy below and entering your blog url.

I'm taking submissions until April 23, 2011 at midnight EST.

At that time, I'll do a random draw for a prize (as yet to be determined because I haven't had enough coffee today!!)

I look forward to visiting your blog!

And the Winner Is....

2011-04-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who has commented today! I've enjoyed your thoughts immensely!

And thank you for making this a wonderful week for the whole team of designers featured!

The complete list of winners will be announced in the Email Newsletter. If you're not already signed up, you may do so on this blog in the right hand column at the top.

And without further ado.....
the drum roll....

Our lucky winner #26 is TinaH

Tina, please email me within the next 48 hours to claim your prizes!

Thanks again to everyone who played.
See you soon!

Quietfire Design Spring Blog Hop

2011-04-07T00:29:00.000-07:00

Welcome to your final stop in our (almost!) week long Spring Blog Hop! Thanks so much for taking the time to visit us each day. I hope you've left your comment on every blog. Make sure you check back to see if your name has been drawn as a winner.

We have been celebrating the honour of Quietfire Design becoming a Preferred Product Partner with Spellbinders™ Paper Arts. We are so excited! Our objective was to show you some of the ways you can combine Quietfire Design rubber stamps with Spellbinders Dies. You can find a slide show on the Quietfire homepage with even more examples (and I think I can add even more to that slideshow now!)

A HUGE thanks to the Quietfire Design Team and Alumni and our Created byhand Challenge Shephardess for their beautiful creations and enthusiasm! They have really enjoyed your comments. We've learned a lot this week and I hope you have, too! A round of applause for them! Here is the list of their blogs once again. Visit anytime, they'd be delighted to hear from you.

Wanda Hentges

Becca Feeken

Monica Black

Yogi Grunwald

Robyn Josephs

Suzanne Cannon (right here!)

Here is how you win today's prize:

Each day a lucky participant will win one of the Quietfire Rubber stamps used that day plus Suzanne's choice of Spellbinders™ die! To enter, simply comment below by midnight EST and you will be eligible for a random draw.

The winner will be announced here tomorrow. If your name is announced, please claim your prize by emailing me within 48 hours or we will draw again!

Here is my artwork contribution to the Blog Hop:

The Queen of Everything Crown!

If you are signed up to received the newsletters, you will received notice when I have uploaded the directions for making this crown. And you'll read who won prizes this week, too!

Here are the Spellbinders™ Dies I used for this project:

Spellbinders™ Shapeabilities Fleur De Lis Doily Accents

Spellbinders™ Shapeabilities Banner Basics 2

Spellbinders™ Nestabilities Classic Ovals Small

Spellbinders™ Nestabilities Classic Ovals Large

Quietfire Design Rubber Stamps:

Queen of Everything

So leave your comment below to be eligible to win today's prizes - and come back tomorrow to see if you won in our random draw.

Thanks for visiting. It's been our pleasure!

Create without limits!

Suzanne

Quietfire Design/Spellbinders Spring Blog Hop

2011-04-01T08:57:00.000-07:00

Announcing the
Quietfire Design Spring Blog Hop!

Quietfire Design is celebrating the honour of being chosen as a Preferred Stamp Partner with Spellbinders™ Paper Arts!

Each day a different Quietfire Designer will post their amazing creations combining Quietfire rubber stamps and Spellbinders products in a blog entry (days and links to each blog below). Simply comment on their Quietfire Blog Hop post by midnight EST and you will be eligible to be chosen in a daily random draw. Every day a lucky participant will win one of the Quietfire Rubber stamps used that day plus Suzanne's choice of Spellbinders™ die!

The deadline for commenting on each blog post is midnight EST on the day the artwork is posted and the winner will be announced the following day on the blog you commented on. Once your name is announced in the follow-up blog post, please claim your prize by emailing the blog owner within 48 hours or we will draw again!

Here is our list of blogs and their special Quietfire Blog Hop days
Saturday, April 2: Wanda Hentges
Sunday, April 3: Becca Feeken
Monday, April 4: Monica Black Tuesday, April 5: Yogi Grunwald
Wednesday, April 6: Robyn Josephs
Thursday, April 7: Suzanne Cannon

See you on Wanda's blog tomorrow!

Thanks for playing! Happy Hopping and good luck!

New Designer Project

2011-03-12T14:53:00.000-08:00

Don't miss Yogi's project this week! It's in the Project Gallery with instructions (including details on making those fun flowers) and links to the products!

Honolulu Cookie Company Box

2011-03-10T19:20:00.000-08:00

Whenever you see good design, you just can't help but admire it!

When we were in Hawaii just after Christmas, we found the Honolulu Cookie Company. Now they make pretty fine cookies (their coconut shortbread is to die for!), but what I had to have was a box full of their cookies - because of the *box*! This box has lots of moving parts and is heavy. There is a little spot of velcro to keep it together - it should have a padlock...!

And how can you resist a little pineapple shaped cookie? They're so inviting. Another brilliant design element.

It must have cost a small fortune to produce these boxes. I have to stand up and applaud them for "going for the gusto"!

Very cool.
Very yummy.
Very creative!

Winterfest 11 on Two Peas

2011-03-07T20:50:00.000-08:00

Are you a member of the Two Peas Forum? Design Team Member Deborah March has posted a challenge on her Two Peas Blog. The rules are simple...her challenge is to create a card incorporating favourite quotations/sentiments (they don't have to be Quietfire but it helps you if it is!). The randomly chosen winner will received two Quietfire Rubber Stamps. Read all Deborah's details here.

Good luck and Happy Creating!

Artwork by Deborah March

This Week's Designer Project

2011-03-04T15:28:00.000-08:00

This is Deborah March's beautiful Empty Questions Box. More photos and complete instructions with links to the products can be found here! Thanks Deborah!

Heart are Trump Swap

2011-02-28T21:39:00.000-08:00

Several weeks ago I was involved in a skinny book swap organized by Jeneen Weekes, Queen of the local ATC Swaps. I met Jeneen several years ago in one of my bookbinding classes. I quickly learned she is able to pack more into an ATC surface than anyone I know!
Swap participants were spread far and wide and I had the pleasure of meeting several of them for coffee the day Jeneen first presented the bound books. Here was my contribution. Thanks to Jeneen for organizing this wonderful swap!

Page Synthesis:
Spellbinders Grand Calibur
Spellbinders Lacy Squares
Spellbinders Fancy Tags
Spellbinders Labels 4
Suzanne's Favourites, Digital Collage sheet
Fairy Flora Decorated paper
Black Cardstock
Cherish from the Life Journey Words
Puffy Heart
Glue Dots & Pop Dots
Double-sided tape

Thanks for looking!

If We Knew Each Other's Secrets

2011-02-27T18:31:00.000-08:00

Using another of the new rubber stamps.

I adore this paper!

Card Synthesis
If We Knew Each Other's Secrets
Brilliance Coffee Bean Stamp Pad
Eiffel Tower from the Francais Stamp Set
VersaMagic Turquoise Gem Dewdrop
Spellbinders Wizard or Grand Caliber
Spellbinders Labels 10
Spellbinders Large Labels
Parisian Elements Paper
Core'dinations Elements - Teal cardstocks (2 colours)
Core'dinations Nostalgia - Brown cardstock - sanded
Pearl Brad
Glue Dots and Pop Dots
Double-sided Tape
ribbon

Hope Perches

2011-02-26T00:12:00.000-08:00

This card is this week's Designer's Project! I just could not stop myself from using the new rubber and these gorgeous Kanban papers! We'll return to the regularly scheduled real designers next week!

All the directions and supplies for this card are listed here!

Several of the Design Team Members have also had a chance to create using the new Quietfire Rubber. Keep your eyes on their blogs for the next few weeks!

Yogi's first post with the new rubber is here.

Deborah's first post with the new rubber is here.

Thanks for visiting!

New Rubber Stamps!

2011-02-24T22:37:00.000-08:00

Here are some fresh new rubber stamps for your creative enjoyment! Hope you like them!

Click each thumbnail to see the full image.

All the new stamps are on sale 20% off until March 1, 2011
Thanks for looking!

Cupcake!

2011-02-23T21:10:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Dan!

Love that Iridescent Embossing Powder!

Card Synthesis:
Card Blanks
Let Them Eat Cupcakes Stamp Set
Brilliance Mediterranean Blue
Iridescent Embossing Powder
Core'dinations Elements
Spellbinders Wizard or Grand Calibur
Spellbinders Labels 2
Spellbinders Classic Ovals, Large and Small
Kaisercraft Magic Happens
Puffy Hearts
Glue Dots and Pop Dots
Double-sided Tape

Thinking of You (still!)

2011-02-22T19:42:00.000-08:00

Card Synthesis:
Spellbinder's Grand Calibur or Wizard
Spellbinder's Tulip Pendant Die Set
Thinking of You
Kaisercraft Lilac Avenue
Core'dinations ROY G. BIV
Stamp Positioner
VersaMagic Purple Hydrangea & Pretty Petunia
Brads
Glue Dots & Pop Dots
Ribbon

Thinking of You

2011-02-21T23:23:00.000-08:00

Because it's good to have at least one of these around. But it's even better to send one!

Card Synthesis:
Card Blanks
Thinking of You
Kaisercraft Lilac Avenue
Core'dinations ROY G. BIV
Stamp Positioner
VersaMagic Purple Hydrangea
Ribbon
Pewter Charm
Waxed Linen Thread - Plum

Grungepaper creations

2011-02-20T13:32:00.000-08:00

New to the Quietfire Design shelves is Tim Holtz's Grungepaper. Quietfire Design Team Member Wanda Hentges loves Grungepaper and uses it frequently. She says it embosses beautifully in embossing folders and
"I love that it can be stamped, cut, embossed, die cut, inked, painted, sprayed, sewed and it stays flexible. It can get wet and it doesn't come apart. You can curl/shape it and it will hold it's shape. It's fabulous!!!!"

Here are some of Wanda's beautiful creations combining Quietfire Rubber Stamps and Grungepaper.

Grungepaper comes in a package of 6 6"x12" pieces.

No One Can Measure

2011-02-16T14:36:00.000-08:00

Here is the card I uploaded the other day with no details - though you might like to know!

Card Synthesis:

Card Blanks

Core'dinations Cardstock - from the Elements pad

Hearts and Roses Embossing Folder (used on the red Core'dinations and then sanded to show relief)

No One Can Measure

VersaFine Black Stamp Pad

Kaisercraft Gypsy Sister Paper Pad

Thanks for stopping by!

Queen of Hearts Valentine Challenge Draw Winners Are...

2011-02-15T14:22:00.000-08:00

WINNERS!!

By Random Number Generator:
#18 Pat M
#12 Sandie R
#25 Jo Ann

Congratulations Ladies! Please email me your snailmail addresses and I'll get these prizes off to you.

Thanks so much to everyone who entered and shared their artwork. I'm slowly making my way around to them all. Awesome work. I am so impressed with all these entries.

Never stop creating!

Queen of Hearts Valentine Challenge 2011

2011-02-13T15:13:00.000-08:00

The Queen of Hearts Valentine Challenge 2011 is now open!!
Here are all the details for entering.

I thought I'd put this up now to give you lots of time!

Here is a quick card that I made to show the new Craft-Too Hearts and Frames Embossing Folder.

Instructions for Linking Your Entry:

Click on the Froggie saying Add Your Link. When the little form drops down....

Fill in the URL of your blog post - please be specific to the particular post!

Add your name and your email address in the form.

Then click Next Step. You can even choose the thumbnail of your entry. How cool is that? and finish.
(you will see a red x next to your own entry - no one else sees that and it would allow you to delete your link - but please don't!!!)
Good luck on the draw!
Thanks so much for sharing your artwork! Happy Valentine's Day!
Please enjoy visiting other entries and tell them how much you like their artwork!

Spellbinders - new dies for 2011

2011-02-10T23:43:00.000-08:00

Here is a little slideshow of the Spellbinders dies arriving soon! You can pre-order these here on my site. So many beautiful possibilities!

While I was at CHA, I was lucky enough to pick up the new Spellbinders 2011 Catalogue. They should have them available to download on their site soon (but it might be a month or so). I was delighted to see that they had included artwork by Becca Feeken featuring Quietfire Design Rubber! I've scanned the page so you can see it! Beautiful project! Thank you so much Becca.

I was also incredibly lucky to receive a complimentary copy of Spellbinders Nestabilities Basics & Beyond and have it signed by Stacey Caron, owner of Spellbinders. Once again thanks to Becca Feeken for her exquisite artwork. This project is included in the book with complete directions. The projects in this book range from cute to 3D to elegant and beyond. It's a great resource.

Just a reminder this week that the February Spellbinders Pre-orders are on sale as well as the Wizard. If you need to know the details of pre-orders, please email me. (If you already receive the email updates, you'll know all about it!) Click here to see all the Specials.

Here is a slide show of the soon-to-arrive selection of Spellbinder Dies.

Dreamweaver Stencils Update

2011-02-09T16:54:00.000-08:00

Just as Becca Feeken introduced me to carrying Spellbinders, Design Team Member Deborah March introduced me to Dreamweaver Stencils. I'm getting quite the selection in the stockroom! Deborah is also on the Dreamweaver Design Team so is well acquainted with them! She wrote a fabulous article a while ago which you can see here.

I was lucky enough to finally meet Lynell Harlow, creator of this oh-so-classy line of metal stencils at the CHA convention.

Below are the new stencils coming in soon. The Stripes can be used as stripes or can be used a second time overtop of your stripes at 90 degrees to the original orientation and you'll have your very own plaid pattern! You can see that done in the photo to the left. The Damask stencil comes in two sizes and we'll have both.

You might want to visit the Dreamweaver Blog for more ideas - in today's entry you can email Lynell for a copy of her Double Glitter Techniques handout shown. (which is the technique shown on the left using the Rooster stencil and sounds a lot like the Burnished Velvet technique)

Happy Stenciling!

Human Target Opening Credits

2011-02-07T23:39:00.000-08:00

I love watching movies with creative opening credits. I'm so amused when I can identify the typefaces. It's even more wonderful when the movie title has been hand-lettered such as Dances with Wolves, for example.

I find most TV show credits aren't that interesting, but this one sure caught my attention. I wonder why...? (okay, okay, yes! the lead actor is um, rather captivating, but that's not what I meant!)

Pretty cool, huh? Thumbs up to the designer of Human Target's opening credits!

You can see this better on my QuietfireDesign YouTube Account, but due to copyright, I couldn't embed that version here.

P.S. February 10, 2011. These credits received Emmy nominations for Karin Fong, Jeremy O. Cox and Cara McKenney for "Outstanding Main Title Design". Hardly surprising.

Queen of Hearts Valentine Challenge 2011 Announcement

2011-02-06T14:21:00.000-08:00

Last year byhandartist Judy Lawton suggested we should have a Valentine's challenge with a

Queen of Hearts

theme. It was so much fun, I thought we'd do it again and hopefully have even more players!

Here is what you do:

Create a piece of artwork using the theme Queen of Hearts. It can be a card or an atc or a tip in for your altered book or a journal page or a canvas or whatever you are working on these days. You do not have to use Quietfire products to play (although I'd love to see your artwork using them!).

Post your creation on your blog.
Then come to the Quietfire Style blog (that's here!) on February 14. I'll create a special blog post just for it.
Add a link to your blog post displaying your Queen of Hearts artwork to the special Queen of Hearts blog post here! Easy peasy! Addition of links will be cut off at midnight (PST) on the 14th, so make sure you add it in so you can be eligible for the draw prizes.
Prizes, you say Suzanne? Yes! We'll have draws for bags of rubber stamps! Three lucky people will receive $50 worth of rubber stamps each! Spread the word to your friends! The more the merrier

Don't have a blog? Come join us at Quietfire Creations, create a page and add your photo there! (don't forget to come here to add your link back to your artwork.)

Create without Limits!

Feel free to right-click, save and add this smaller badge to your blog with a link back here to the instructions at
http://quietfirestyle.blogspot.com/2011/02/queen-of-hearts-valentine-challenge.html

Have fun, my Valentines!

NOTE: This coming week's Created byhand Challenge is Queen of Hearts, so you'll have a head start when you join that! Shhhh! Don't tell Robyn I spilled the beans on that!

Please add your links to the Valentine's Day Post! Thanks!