Lia, I went to Kmart and got a nice sturdy plastic storage container roughly 16x20" in size. It is light blue clear plastic and has a nice flat bottom. I cut a hole in one side and covered the short ends with contact paper. I stick a small flourescent strip light inside and run the cord out thru the hole. On the long sides I taped strips of silver metallic poster board and I cut another piece the size of the bottom. I just lay the silver cardboard down on the table and set the light on top of it and put the plastic box over it all. The cardboard helps reflect more light giving you a brighter effect when you are trying to trace something. I can use the box for storage the rest of the time. It was probably $7 for the container and maybe $10 for the light.

Another great list!!! BTW That one stamp lady was on Carol Duvall's today. She usually uses one stamp or set of stamps to make so many different things.

Connie, what kind of ink? Did you use your printer or use a stamping ink? If you used pigment ink, it will take forever to dry. And even then I wouldn't trust it to be totally smear-proof. You can emboss, but you have to be careful with the heat. I think with both printer and pigment stamping ink, I've had to allow for drying overnight. Some vellum papers may be a bit different, though, I suppose... And maybe a little heat or dry air would help speed things along. Let us know how you work it out!

Stephenei: What got me hooked was a section on home made cards in a Feb issue of either MM or CK magazine. And I REALLY got hooked! Card making has replaced (for the time being) scraping. As for ideas, I got some from the aforementioned magazine, some from looking at cards in card shops, and some from my own imagination. ItÂs amazing what creative creatures we can be when doing something we enjoy! One idea for an Easter card came from a quote I found onlineÂÂGive hugs, if you carrot at all! My sonÂs best friend calls me ÂAunt Carront, so I made a little card out of lime green card stock. I made three little carrots out of orange and brown card stock and cut thin strips of dark green card stock for grass. I attached the grass and the carrots to the front of the card with pop dots (for the 3D effect) and outlined the edges of the front of the card with thin strips of orange card stock. I made one large carrot for the inside to hold the latter part of the quote. It turned out to be a cute card and the idea came after seeing the quote. Other ideas come from looking through my materials and Âplaying with them,Âi.e., seeing what goes together. IÂve never scanned anything for use on the computer, but if you like, IÂd be happy to try and scan and post-to-you some of the cards I made to help you get started with ideas. I know what itÂs like to feel like...where do the ideas come from?! And once you get started, believe me, thereÂs no stopping!!!!!!! Also, some others have posted about tea-bag/paper folding which I have tried yet. As Sally said, when your scraping and stamping, the ideas just seem to flow. p.s. there are also books on card making and paper projects. My husband gave me one for a present and one was referenced in the magazine that I have been looking for but have yet to find. Hope this helps. karen