Thank you!

Just a quick note of thanks to everyone for all the great birthday wishes, and for participating in my Birthday Blog Candy giveaway! I sure hope Rachel checks in here sometime soon to claim her prize!

I had a wonderful day, and the topper was my husband taking me out to dinner last night, and then coming home to a cake baked by my wonderful daughters. Then, because I'd had so much to eat, I ended up zonking out! Had to rush my daughter Kelsey to church this morning for the beginning of 1st Communion instruction (she'll take her 1st Communion on Palm Sunday!) and then rushed off to Kaylie's volleyball tournament! As of right now, I think I've been gone more than I've been home in the last 72 hours, and haven't done much stamping! Very, very sad! I promise I'll be back up and running with something to upload by tomorrow evening! Thanks for sticking with me!

My blog counter is climbing, and I just love it! Thinking maybe 20K posts calls for another blog candy giveaway??? I've got lots of great new stuff coming in soon at the store... Hero Arts, Inkadinkao, Bo Bunny paper.... stayed tuned!

P.S. And I have to tell you... the Birthday Blog Candy thing was a ton of fun, but it's so nice not to see that blasted "Over the Hill" balloon at the top of the page anymore! :)

Birthday RAK's

I also wanted to share with you today some more beautiful birthday cards I received in the mail!

This one is from my wonderful friend Patti, better know as MommaPatti to us Buckeye Babes! I just love this Boho-chic look here, and the colors are fabulous!

And this work of art comes from my super stamping friend Cindy, better known to all SCS'ers as Mothermark, the Master Storyteller! Isn't this card just beautiful? So much detail! I would never have the patience to do all that cutting out! I'm thinking I need to buy a frame for this one!Thanks Patti and Cindy for helping make my birthday extra special!

Hip Hop Hooray!

It's MY birthday! But you all should be more excited than me because someone is going to win all this loot today! And this card makes my final contribution to the blog candy basket... this one, plus 3 additional cards that I will make using this sweet new set from Kitchen Sink Stamps called 3-Step Honey Bunny! Is that not the cutest bunny you've seen in forever? He is created using a combination of 4 separate stamps, and it just amazes me how Maria designs these stamps, and the inked images coming out looking so awesome! You can get your own set of these stamps, plus some other great new additions for spring at the Kitchen Sink Stamps website beginning Monday, March 3rd!
Stamps: 3-Step Honey Bunny, flowers from Playful Ovals (Kitchen Sink Stamps); Cardstock: Pear, Whirlpool (Bazzill Basics), white (Hollo's), designer paper (Two Scoops by Basic Grey); Inks: Going Gray, Bashful Blue (Stampin' Up), Charcoal Versacolor (Tsukineko), Aloe Vera, Tea Leaves, Spanish Olive, Pink Petunia Versamagic chalk ink (Tsukineko); Accessories: scalloped rectangle (Spellbinders Nestabilities), white dotted organdy (May Arts), silver brads (craft supply), sponges, dimensional adhesives.

Sorrowful Rose

Good morning! We finally got a new computer last night, so I spent a good part of my evening setting it up, and then after I made my kids go to bed I got my turn to play and marvel at the speed and just general newness of it all! Our old computer was actually a hand-me-down from my Dad, and I haven't a clue how old it even is! So you can imagine what Heaven we're in now!

So needless to say I didn't get any stamping done, but I do have this card I made last weekend to upload today. It was for a friend who really needed it! I just love those rose stamps... so pretty and elegant, don't you think?

Stamps: Hearts & Roses, Never a Loss 4 Words (Kitchen Sink Stamps); Cardstock: white (Hollo's); Inks: Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Certainly Celery, Old Olive (Stampin' Up), Onyx Black (Tsukineko Versafine); Accessories: pink satin-edge ribbon (Offray), glue dot (Stampin' Up).And here (yes, I'm a day late!) is yesterday's addition to the Birthday Blog Candy! One yard each of 9 colors of grid ribbon from Impression Obsession! I used some of it on this card with the Penny Black hedgehog, and it is so cool! You just trim the ends, and give it a twist and it just curls right up! You'll love it!

One more day! Have a wonderful Leap Day

Black River Elegance

The color challenge on SCS this past Tuesday (use Stampin' Up colors Basic Black, River Rock and white) has just not stopped calling out to me, so even though I'm 2 days late, I had to give it a try. And the sketch challenge from yesterday was a good one too, so I combined the two challenges for this card. I was a little unsure about creating black flowers, but I love how this whole thing turned out! I will definitely need to save this card for someone very special!

Stamps: Garden Silhouettes (Stampin' Up), special day (Hero Arts); Cardstock: River Rock Basic Black (Stampin' Up), white (Hollo's), designer paper (unknown); Inks: River Rock (Stampin' Up), markers #076, #N25 (Tombow); Accessories: scalloped circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, ticket corner punch (Stampin' Up), Textile embossing folder (Cuttlebug by ProvoCraft), paper flowers (Hero Arts), white ribbon, silver brads (craft supply), sponges, dimensional adhesives.


And check out this adorable birthday card I received yesterday from my BFF Cindy! Isn't that bear the cutest! And she didn't even give me one iota of grief over the fact that I've never sent her birthday card to her (even though her birthday is in October!) Now, THAT'S a good friend! Thanks, dude!
Have a great day everyone! Thanks for stopping by!

A Sweet Sketch!

I gotta' say this is one of the best sketch challenges I've done in a long time! I just love this sketch! And if I get around to more stamping this week, I may just use it again! Here is the challenge from Jen del Muro's blog. If you have time, give it a try!

Stamps: Garden Silhouettes, Riveting (Stampin' Up), background swirls (Art Impressions); Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Old Olive (Stampin' Up), white (Hollo's), designer paper (Paper Salon Sorbet Collection); Inks: Versamark (Tsukineko), Old Olive (Stampin' Up) markers (Tombow); Accessories: striped ribbon (May Arts), scalloped circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch (Stampin' Up), orange felt flower (Creative Impressions), silver brad (unknown), sponges, dimensionals adhesives.

Simple, Sweet Strawberries

Here is another card I created over the weekend for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge found here. My design ended up being kind of simple, but I like it! Sometimes simple is better! Thanks for looking!
Stamps: Green Thumb (Papertrey Ink); Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Very Vanilla (Stampin' Up!), Leapfrog (Bazzill Basics), designer paper (My Mind's Eye); Inks: Warm Red, Olive Pastel (Clearsnap); Accessories: ribbon (May Arts), scalloped rectangle (Nestabilities), Old Olive brads (Stampin' Up), edge distressing tool (Ranger), paper piercing tool, sponges, dimensional adhesives.

Have a Special Day

I really had a great time this weekend using some sketch challenges I've found on various blogs for inspiration. Nothing gets my creativity going like a sketch challenge! This sketch comes from Amy Rysavy's blog found here.

I've got a few more cards from the weekend to share later today! Right now I'm going to take advantage of the fact that it's my day off to catch the postponed Nascar race on TV! Go Dale Jr.!

Stamps: turtle and ladybug (Gina K/Carolyn King collection), special day (Hero Arts); Cardstock: Chiffon, Pear, Cameo (Bazzill Basics), Robin's Egg Blue (Archiver's), white (Georgia Pacific), designer paper (Basic Grey Two Scoops); Inks: Palette Noir hybrid ink (Stewart Superior), Aegean Blue chalk ink (Tsukineko), markers (Copic); Accessories: scalloped circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch (Stampin' Up), yellow flower (Prima), scalloped rectangle (Spellbinders Nestabilities), clear embossing powder (Ranger), paper piercing tool, silver brad, sponges, dimensional adhesives.

Hedgie hoping for Spring!

Hope really hard, little Hedgie! I have had enough of winter!

I recently discovered that the awesome stamper Holly McMillen (Toy on SCS) has a sketch challenge on her blog every weekend, so I decided to give it a try and created this card! You can see the challenge here. Isn't her card cute?

I actually stamped a LOT today, but it's now almost 3:00 a.m. so I'm heading to bed and will have more to show you later in the day! Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: "seeing your face" (Penny Black), spring sentiments (Impression Obsession), flowery background (Great Impressions); Cardstock: Pistachio (Bazzill Basics), Certainly Celery, Old Olive, So Saffron (Stampin' Up), white (Georgia Pacific), designer paper (Reminisce); Inks: Palette Noir hybrid ink (Stewart Superior), Tea Leaves Versamagic chalk ink (Tsukineko), Versamark watermark ink (Tsukineko), markers (Copic); Accessories: small and large oval punches, corner rounder punch, Old Olive brads (Stampin' Up), paper piercing tool, sponges, dimensional adhesives.

Bedhead

The Limited Supply Challenge on SCS yesterday (to use your own handwriting on your card) was fun! And my wheels keep turning thinking of different sentiments I can put with some of my stamps, so I couldn't resist doing another card today. I bought a few of these stamps from Inky Antics for the store, and bought stamps to go with it that said "Bedhead... one of my better looks!" Well, the bedhead stamps sold, but I still had this one stamp of the lady in her PJ's so I decided to alter the sentiment a little for my card! If you didn't do yesterday's challenge, you should give it a try! I might have to start writing down the ones I think of or my CRS will kick in and I will forget them all!

This also gave me a chance to use my new Nestabilities scalloped rectangles!

Thanks for looking!

Stamp: In my PJ's (Inky Antics); Cardstock: Parakeet, Tink Pink (Bazzill Basics), Only Orange, Yoyo Yellow (Stampin' Up), white (Georgia Pacific), designer paper (Sonburn); Inks: Palette Noir hybrid ink (Stewart Superior), markers (Copic), black gel pen; Accessories: corner round punch (EK Success), scalloped rectangle (Spellbinders), apple green grosgrain (Stampin' Up), pink flower charm (Dress It Up Button Fun by Jesse James & Co.).

My Cup Overflows

One of the member companies over at Splitcoaststampers is Crafty Secrets, and they posted a challenge this week to make a card using their "Cotton Scraps." This is a really fun product to use... I definitely need more of these! So I used today's Limited Supply Challenge which was to use your handwriting on your card, and a Cotton Scrap to create my thank you card!

Here's a close-up of the Cotton Scrap. I used a small piece of double-sided sticky tape to attach the Scrap to my cardstock so that it wouldn't move while I was sewing. Then I put this on my sewing machine, and did a quick, running stitch around the edges, and frayed all the edges after I was done. My ribbon is distressed with some Creamy Caramel SU! ink to age it a little and make it match the rest of the card better.Thanks for looking!

Stamps: mesh background (Rubber Soul); Cardstock: Red Hot, Mocha Divine (Bazzill Basics), cream (unknown); Ink: Versamark (Tsukineko), Creamy Caramel (Stampin' Up); Accessories: Kitchen Cotton Scraps (Crafty Secrets), red gingham (May Arts), ticket corner punch (Stampin' Up), sponge, dimensional adhesive, sewing machine, thread.

Hello in Pretty Pinks

Just a new card that's been rolling around in my head, ever since I got this gorgeous new paper from Paper Salon! Hope you like it!

Stamps: flower spray (Great Impressions), Hello (Clear Art Stamps from Crafty Secrets); Cardstock: coral, pink, black (Bazzill Basics), white (Hollo's), designer paper (Karen Neuberger Sorbet Collection from Paper Salon); Inks: Onyx Black Versafine (Tsukineko), Warm Red Colorbox chalk (Clearsnap); Accessories: clear embossing powder (Ranger), black brads, corner rounder punch (Stampin' Up), rectangle slide (Start-Ups from Buttons Galore), giga scalloped square punch (Marvy), black dotted organdy (Offray), sanding block, sponges, dimensional adhesives.

Blech Color Combo!

Picture it... Orchid Opulence, Pumpkin Pie and Certainly Celery cardstock colors from Stampin' Up! Great combination? My first thought was BLECH! But I think it ends up being a lovely combination!

That's the color combo over at Splitcoaststampers today... you can see the challenge here and you can view all the cards made with that combo here.

And here is my card!

Stamps: Spring Holidays (Jessica Lynn Originals); Cardstock: Orchid Opulence, Pumpkin Pie (Stampin' Up), Certainly Celery argyle paper (Stampin' Up), white (Georgia Pacific); Inks: Palette Noir hybrid ink (Stewart Superior), Spanish Olive chalk ink (Tsukineko), markers (Copic); Accessories: clear embossing powder (Ranger), flower (Prima), gold brads (Stampin' Up), scalloped oval punch, oval punch (Marvy), orange organdy (Stampendous).

Gift Set of Roses

I am always inspired by Sharon Johnson's work, and one of the things she does that I love the most is coming up with a matching set of cards and a little bag or box to give them in. Very often I buy "sets" of designer paper, intending to create a great gift set of cards using all that matching paper just like Sharon does, but I never get around to it. If you go to Sharon's blog here and look under the categories of "gift sets" and "miscellaneous projects" you'll see some of her great creations that get me inspired! Well, I've had this gorgeous paper from Daisy D's that I got at Hobby Lobby a few weeks ago, and my 3-Step Roses set from Kitchen Sink Stamps is just begging to get inky! So I started this project over the weekend, and with a sick kid at home today, I was able to finish it in between tending to her needs. A complete supply list is at the end of this post, but if you have specific questions about any items, just give me a shout!

I created this Kitchen Sink gift bag months ago, and saw this one done by Beate that gave me inspiration for the ribbon attachments.

Stamps: 3-Step Roses, 3-Step Daisy for Happy Birthday, Never a Loss 4 Words for warmest wishes and many thanks, Backgrounds & Borders for swirls on first card (Kitchen Sink Stamps); Cardstock: Posie Pink, Sweetheart, Chiffon (Bazzill Basics), Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Old Olive, Certainly Celery (Stampin' Up!), white (Georgia Pacific), designer paper (Daisy D's); Inks: Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Close to Cocoa (Stampin' Up!), Creamy Brown, Dark Brown (Clearsnap); Accessories: scalloped punches, large circle and oval punches (Marvy), small oval punch (Stampin' Up), clear embossing powder (Ranger), vintage brads (unknown), ribbon (May Arts, Offray, Creative Impressions), sponges, dimensional adhesives.

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you like everything!

Such a doofus!

Yep, that's me! I realized today that I completely forgot my friend Fonda's 40th birthday a few weeks ago! Guess I'm too worried about my own 40th that is fast-approaching! :) So I used Jen del Muro's sketch challenge (found here) to create this card to send belated birthday wishes and apologies!

Stamps: Hedgehog (Penny Black), sentiment in circle (Hero Arts) background flowers (Great Impressions); Cardstock: Lavender (Prism), Parakeet, Petunia (Bazzill Basics), watercolor paper (unknown); Inks: Jet Black Staz-On (Tsukineko) markers (Tombow); Accessories: scalloped circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch (Stampin' Up), 1 1/2" circle punch (Marvy), gingham ribbon (May Arts), aquapainter, dimensional adhesives, sponges.

Get Well Wishes, very much needed!

This card is for my friend Gretchen, who remains in the hospital and has no solid answers as to what is causing all her health problems. Her spirits are very lifted by getting cards in the mail, so if you would like to help cheer her up by sending a card, please email me (go to the very bottom of this page and click on "View my complete profile" for a link to email me) and I'll email you her address!

I used Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge found here for this card. I really wanted to zig-zag stitch around the edges of the designer paper, but when I went to do that I discovered that my sewing machine isn't working properly and I couldn't get it to do anything but a straight stitch! Argh! Off it goes to the repair shop tomorrow!

Sorry I've been MIA lately with projects, but thanks for sticking with me! I'm working on a great set of cards right now using the 3-Step Roses set from Kitchen Sink Stamps so stay tuned! I hope to have it all finished and ready to upload by tomorrow evening!

Stamps: flowers in vase (Hero Arts), sentiment (Kitchen Sink Stamps); Cardstock: Petunia, Parakeet (Bazzill Basics), white (Hollo's), designer paper (ki memories); Inks: Jet Black Staz-On (Tsukineko), Pink Petunia chalk ink (Tsukineko), markers (Tombow); Accessories: Word Window punch (Stampin' Up), dotted organdy (May Arts), clear embossing powder (Ranger), silver brads, aquapainter (unknown), sewing machine.

Happy Friday!

(Google image)

I have been LAZY this week and have not stamped anything since Monday! Just wanted to say I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day and have a great FRIDAY! My daughter is having her sleepover tonight and we're taking them to see The Spiderwick Chronicles. Then back home for junk food (I just came from Wal-Mart!) and a new DVD called The Game Plan. Hopefully they'll sleep at some point! I intend to stay up quite late to monitor their activities and hope to get some serious stamping done during that time!



Have a WONDERFUL day everyone!

Faux Demo

I spent a good part of the past weekend preparing some cards for a demo that I scheduled for Tuesday, the 12th at the store. The demo was on different faux techniques. But Mother Nature decided it wasn't going to be a demo day and dumped enough snow and ice on our area to keep everyone out of the store on Tuesday! So I'll have to reschedule it, but in the meantime here are a few of the cards I created for the demo! These are all fairly simple designs, as you can see. I tend to keep them that way for demos because I want to focus on the product or technique I'm demo'ing and not all the elements of the card.

This first one is faux stitching, of course! Just an easy technique of poking holes around the perimeter of the green cardstock, and joining the holes with a white gel pen. I am so in love with that new Hedgehog image from Penny Black!

Stamps: Hedgehog, thinking of you (Penny Black); Cardstock: Sea Water, Lemonade, Petunia, Parakeet (Bazzill Basics), white (Georgia Pacific); Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine), Rouge and Yellow Citrus chalk ink (Clearsnap); markers (Tombow); Accessories: super jumbo scalloped circle punch, jumbo circle punch (Marvy), awl (Excel), white gel pen (Gelly Roll), grid ribbon (Creative Impressions), clear embossing powder (Ranger), dimensional adhesives, sponge, aquapainter, hole punch (miscellaneous).

This card was for my faux metal technique! I did a similar design to this last year when I had a Stampin' Up class at my house, and everyone loved the look so I decided to do it for the store. If I get some time, I will post a tutorial on how to do this technique! It's so easy but really creates an impressive look!

Stamps: decorative cube (Impression Obsession), thinking of you (Rubber Soul); Cardstock: Velvet, Sweethearts, Jade, Black (Bazzill Basics), white (Hollo's); Inks: Chianti pigment ink (Clearsnap); Accessories: silver embossing powder (Judikins), clear embossing powder (Ranger), gingham ribbon (May Arts).

This last card demonstrates a faux suede technique! I learned how to do this technique from Linda Bullard on SCS after I saw this card of hers! In her description of the card, she tells how to do the technique, so be sure to check it out and try it yourself!

Stamps: gratitude (Hero Arts); Cardstock: Aqua, Dark Denim, Black (Bazzill Basics), cream (The Paper Cut), brown paper bag; Inks: Versamark (Tsukineko); Accessories: brown Liquid Applique (Marvy), antique brass brads (Gary Burlin), Vintage Photo distress embossing powder (Ranger), dimensional adhesives.

Thanks for stopping by for a little Fe, Fi, Faux Fun!

Valentine Goodies!

At our church, we have a small group called Prayer Pals. Some of you may know this as Secret Sisters, too. We just give each other small gifts and goodies, and keep each other in prayers. So this is a goodie basket for my Pal, Nicole. I found this cute little metal "tub" at Family Dollar yesterday, and just attached some designer paper. That took a little effort to get it to fit the curves. I just used an old piece of 12x12 and formed it around the bottom and just kept pressing it against the edges to make creases, then just cut it out and tweaked it a bit until it fit nicely, then finished the edge with some ric-rac! Inside are crimped strips of cardstock, with chocolate hearts for Nicole and her hubby, Sweethearts for her 3 youngest kids, and some gum for her teenager (I thought she was too old for the Sweethearts!)

Thanks for stopping by! I've been busy working on some projects for a demo at the store today, and since we're in the midst of a snowstorm, I doubt that anyway will show up! Here's hoping for the chance to go home early today, and start playing with my new Kitchen Sink Stamps instead! Have a great day!

A great evening!

Yay! I found out tonight that I was selected as a finalist in the My Favorite Things Guest Designer challenge for the Movie Candy Invites that I made! You can check out the thread on SCS announcing the winners here! That certainly was a fun challenge to participate in!

And Dale Jr. won the Bud Shoot-Out tonight! What a great evening!