Gale's Gallery XXVIII: Greeting Card Roundup

Hello!

I just got several new things that were announced at CHA's Creativation convention.  I can't wait to show you the latest and I think greatest.  There weren't as many "innovative" items, but several new designs from favorite vendors.  The big news seemed to be the Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks.  I have several and will play with them soon.

Meanwhile, back at the 'Creek I made some cards I'd like to share with you...

This features the Altenew Lotus stamp set (sentiment is from their Beautiful Day set.)  This was done with Inktense watercolor pencils, Versafine Tuxedo black ink with clear embossing on watercolor paper.  Pretty Pink Posh droplets finish it off.  Envelope by Hero Arts.

One of my first stamps 20 years ago (All Night Media) doing one of the first techniques I learned in a local stamp class.  This is white embossed vellum using Copic marker coloring on the reverse.  

This is another Altenew set called Layering Lilies using a technique from a recent Jennifer McGuire Ink You Tube tutorial.  Using the thinnest card stock you have, stamp with dye or preferably Hero Arts shadow/hybrid inks.  Turn over the paper and use a Copic blender pen and completely saturate the image for an easy watercolor effect.  Background stripes with Versamark watermark ink and Simon Says Stamp striped background stamp.

This is a WPlus9 Beautiful Bouquet Mum stamp on Bristol card stock.  I used Tombow markers and blended out with a wet brush, then added Spectrum Noir clear glitter brush marker for some shine.  However, this marker "splopped" all over the upper flower and continues to do that, so I will be going back to my clear Wink of Stella reliable markers, though the glitter is slightly gold.  Simon Says Stamp Audrey Blue card stock.

This is my first attempt at Prismacolor colored pencils on Neenah Desert Storm card stock.  The only way to do this is to stamp a solid image with white pigment ink (Hero Arts Unicorn), then color on top.  The textured background is from  We R Memory Keepers.  The shimmer envelope is from Simon Says Stamp.

This is basically the same technique as above, but I used Glossy Accents to add high gloss.  Card stocks are from Simon Says Stamp.

For some reason my software doesn't want to show any more cards, so maybe it knows best....

Until next time,

Gale

The Unstable Table

Hi Everyone!

I've been catching up on a few of my chores and ran across the pair of ringside grooming tables in my garage.  Here is how I got them:

I paid $85ish for a nice ringside table for toy dogs while at a dog show.  I don't show often, but hated lugging around my full size one, so I splurged.  I used it a time or two, then it sat for a few months.  I took it to a show and noticed immediately it was rocking--annoying to me and the dog.  I temporarily stuck napkins and such under it to level it.  After showing, I looked around, but the vendor wasn't at the show and nobody carried replacement "feet."

I looked around at hardware stores and realized these weren't common things--they are angled and screw in the table leg.  So, I called the manufacturer hoping to purchase a couple so I would have a spare.  Here is the conversation:

Me:  "Hi!  I would like to order a couple replacement feet for my ringside grooming table. "

Manufacturer's Rep.:  "When and where did you buy it?"

Me:  "At the Delaware, Ohio shows a few months ago."

Manufacturer's Rep.:  "What vendor?"

Me:  "I don't know.  I just want to order a couple feet."

Manufacturer's Rep:  "Why?"

Me:  "Because I lost one and can't find any replacements locally."

Manufacturer's Rep:  "How did you lose it?  Is the table defective?"

Me:  "No, one of the feet must have come unscrewed.  I need to order a couple."

Manufacturer's Rep:  "That shouldn't have happened. "

Me:  "No big deal.  Can I just place my order?"

Manufacturer's Rep:  "I'm sorry, we don't sell parts."

Me:  "OK.  Do you know who does?"

Manufacturer's Rep:  "No."

Me:  "So you mean to tell me I am going to have to live with a rocking table forever or pay for another table I don't need to replace a couple dollar foot?  Surely they make feet somewhere or they wouldn't be on the table... Do you have a defective table we can cannibalize for the feet?"

Manufacturer's Rep:  "Ma'am, we get those tables from overseas.  They come complete in the box.  So we don't have any parts and there aren't any defective tables here.  Do you have a receipt for it?"

Me:  "Probably somewhere.  If nothing else, my bank account will have it."

Manufacturer's Rep:  "If you can fax me the receipt or proof of purchase, we can send you another table."

Me:  "I really don't need another table, I just need the feet.  But, I will find receipt. "

Later that day...

Me:  "Did you receive the fax?"

Manufacturer's Rep: "Yes.  We can send you out a new table. "

Me:  Fine.  "Are you wanting me to send this one back?  That would cost more than the feet are worth."

Manufacturer's Rep:   "We have to send you the whole table.  You can keep the other table as well."

Me:  "Really?  Wow, thank you for your help, but are you sure you just don't want to take a couple feet off one and send me those? "

Manufacturer's Rep: "Then what would we do with the rest of the table?  We can't order parts."

Me:  "Well, you could save it for someone who has a damaged table, but the feet are okay...."

Manufacturer's Rep:  "We can't do things like that.  We would just send them another table."

A few days later a new table arrived.  I took the remaining feet off the old one and put them in a safe place for spares....if I could only remember where they are....

Until next time...  Good luck in NYC everyone!  I'll be watching!

Gale