Mom is ALWAYS right..uugh!

Let me first start off by saying that I am sorry for the layout of this blog!! I have spent about 30 minutes placing pictures, only to find they move and go where they want when I click on 'Publish Post'.. what a pain!! So.. here it is, I can't get them aligned.. Anyone out there know the secret? This seems to always happen when I post more than one photo and it goes especially bonkers when they are various sizes.. Whatever!! Onto the post...

The first spring after we moved into our house, I was very excited to get to work on the front flowerbed. The contractor had put in a few bushes and some monkey grass, but other than that, it seemed really barren to me. Determined to "fix that," I invited my parents up to help me out. In case you didn't know, my parent's have super-green thumbs and much to my Mom's surprise, this gene has also passed to me. I say surprise, because she is amazed that any plant and survive under my care since I always forget to water them.

Well, I was telling mom what I thought should go where.. and she said, "Bev, don't plant so much together because in time these plants will grow and need more room." Of course I didn't listen to that sage advice - uugh!! And now look.. she was right all along!!!! Sorry Mom for not listening - again! We spent this past weekend 'moving' plants, weeding, mulching.... you get the picture. I do love the way my crazy garden looks.. there really isn't any rhyme or reason for the placement of the plants, other than I just thought "that'll look nice there" Ha! There also isn't any symmetry, but I kinda like it that way..

So, I thought I would share pictures with you and my Mom (my #1 blog reader).. See Mom.. I know we talked about this on the phone, but now you can see.. What do you think? And look at the picture of the ivy.. I thought it had died.. but alas.. it' alive... it's really alive - ha! and.. just as planned, it is starting to creep up the side of the house. We had a discussion about this, should we let it continue to creep? My DH says it will destroy the masonry.. ok.. in about 100 years, and I really won't care then... right? What do you think.. keep it tame or let it grow?

Well.. I'm off to get some Lantana.. that is my new favorite flower this year- gotta fill in those brown spots - ha!! ...Oh, and the little white flags are to keep our Snuggles out of the flower bed.. Last year she dug up the beautiful Dogwood tree my kids gave me for Mother's Day, then chewed it to pieces!!! Anyone need a dog?? Just kidding, we love her.

IN OTHER NEWS....

Our nephew Kyle has been taking flight lessons and had his first solo flight this past Sunday. We all camped out at the base of the tower at the airport and watched as he did 3 touch and goes with his instructor, then again all by himself - eeekkk!! Congrats Kyle!!! We are so proud of you!!

FRIENDS + FAMILY = FUN

Here is a sneak peek of the new Camping stamp set that will be released in May!! WOOT! I love it.. Wait until you see the other images (8 total for this set alone).
Isn't this card so cute! And check out that sketch. Did you know QueenKat has many wonderful card sketches to help you get your card started? Check out the QK's Sketches located in the QKD Gallery for inspiration.

Whether you pictch a 'tent' in your family room with blankets or if you have a travel trailer and love to visit state parks, this set is for you. It is so versatile. I also plan to use it to scrap the pages from my daughter's Girlscout camping trips, this will really make the page pop! I can't wait for you to see the rest of the images in this set - 8 in all!
Happy Monday!! And thanks for stopping by,

ALLISON LOVES HORSES...

As I was working on some things yesterday, my 8yo daughter, Allison, decided to make a card. From the first time she saw Theresa Momber's new Out West set, she has wanted me to stamp some of the images so that she could color them...

Well, I did make her a coloring sheet the other day. Then today, she decided she wanted to make a card all by herself. Now, I don't know about you, but it is rare that I let my kids have free reign with my stamping stuff.... (especially after "Not me" broke my crimper).. Well, she is older and takes better care of things now. After she made it, she proudly brought it to me and asked me what I thought. Of course it is wonderful, after all, this is my kid's artwork!!! HA!

Then came the question, "Will you take a picture of it and put it on your blog?"... Of course!! So, here is her card.. Didn't she do a great job of making a scene. Thanks for looking and please leave her some love. And btw... she informed me this is a bay with black socks - LOL!

This set is now for sale at GinaK Designs...

Info:

Stamp set: Out West by GinaK Designs

Paper: baja breeze, whisper white

Ink: stazon

Accessories: crayola markers

A CARD & A CONTEST!!

Do you love challenges? Especially those where you have to opportunity to win something?

Well, GinaK has three challenges going on this weekend to celebrate the release of the new April stamp sets. There are three challenges, so you have three chances to win a stamp set valued at $24.95 or less.

I am hosting Challenge #2: Yummy Recipe Challenge and this is the sample card that I made. I hope you are able to join in on the fun.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL GINAK CHALLENGES AND CONTESTS..

GINAK PREVIEW DAY 4 - NOT FORGOTTEN

Have you ever started a card and once you got going ended up with a totally different one than you originally had in mind? I love it when that happens, it feels like the creative mojo just takes over. This card is one of those. I started out with something totally different. I even had all of my layers cut out for the sketch I was using... then it happened. I stamped the image and started coloring it. Then thought, what if I just sponged the edges... just a little. That was it, after sponging the main image panel, I knew my course was set for a different direction. I ditched most of the layers, cut a white base (originally it was going to be chocolate kiss) and the rest is history.. As with the Notes to Mom set, this Not Forgotten set is full of incredibly soft and touching sentiments that are spoken from the heart. I always struggle with sympathy or thinking of you cards. Most of the sentiment stamps I have seem so cliche'. The words are right, but the heartfelt meaning is missing. NOT so with this set. This will be 'the' one I go to from now on.

I decided to pair the sentiment with the boat from Rupa's Guiding Light set. That boat just looked so lost and vulnerable.. I've seen boats like this in real life where I grew up on the coast. They are abandoned, on dry ground, some of them barely visible under the tall grass that has taken over ~ haunting even. This image could easily be stamped and you could sponge the sea around it, or have it there covered in overgrown weeds... so many possibilites.

Want to see what other sentiments are in this set? Then start hopping and visit the rest of the team...

• GinaK
• Erika Martin
• Jessica Fick
• Donna Baker
• Carolyn King
• Melanie Meunchinger
• Theresa Momber
• Emily Giovanni
• Cindy Lawrence

Tonight's the night!! Join us in the GinaK Forum at SCS from 5 to 7 pm central, for the release party! There will be more eye candy, prizes, and three challenges - one hosted by me!! So, come on over and join the fun... I'll have a seat saved for ya!!

Well, what can I say? This is the last day for the GinaK April Release Previews and my last day in the 'spotlight.' It has been such a fun rollercoaster ride, but I have to admit I'm a little sad that it has come to an end. The week has passed so quickly. GinaK's team has been extremely helpful and are just as friendly behind the scenes as they appear in real blogdom. I have also enjoyed having new surfers arrive on my blog and leave such wonderful, kind, and encouraging comments. Thank you all so much for making this week a fun and memorable one.

All the best,

GINAK PREVIEW DAY 3 - NOTES TO MOM

Do you wish you could find just the right sentiment that really expresses exactly how you feel towards your mom? Well, look no further ~ it is here in the Notes to Mom set by GinaK. And what could possibly make it better? This set is the 'Free With Three' set!!

I decided that I really wanted the focus to be on the sentiment. In keeping with my brown and blue theme this week, I simply embossed the base with my Scor-Pal, then added some dsp backed with GinaK's chocolate kiss cardstock. I thought the prima stickpin adds a nice touch (I sponged the edges with the baja breeze ink - love how it turned out). The smaller photo is the inside. I hope my Mom will like it.

Mark your calendar and join us in the GinaK Forum at SCS Thursday, from 5 to 7 pm central, for the release party!

Want to see more?? Check out what the rest of the team made...

• GinaK


• Asela Hopkins


• Erika Martin


• Jessica Fick


• Donna Baker


• Kurtis Amundson


• Joanne Basile


• Carolyn King


• Melanie Meunchinger


• Theresa Momber


• Emily Giovanni


• Cindy Lawrence

GINAK PREVIEW DAY 3 - NURSE FEELGOOD

Isn't she great! What a super fun set by Carolyn King. Nurse Feelgood is the perfect compliment to Dr. Feelgood.

What a fun and super-easy card to make. Knowing that her uniform would be white, I stamped her in black craft ink and embossed with clear ep to add dimension and shine. I used my aquapainter with baja breeze ink to outline and for the cuffs and colar. The charm is another find from the Dollar Tree.

There is much more to this set, so hop on over to the following blogs for more previews...

• GinaK
• Carolyn King
• Erika Martin
• Jessica Fick
• Donna Baker
• Joanne Basile
• Melanie Meunchinger
• Theresa Momber
• Cindy Lawrence

Thanks for stopping by!

GINAK PREVIEW DAY 2 - FRIENDSHIP'S GARDEN

Aren't these flowers perfect for Mother's Day - or any day for that matter. This is one image of a set by Asela Hopkins. I love how she draws. There are so many fantastic images, it was hard to pick which one to show today. I went with this one because I think the flowers match so perfectly with the flowers in the dsp.

I stamped the image twice and popped up each of the flowers on dimensionals. I used my aquapainter to color the image and added some dazzling diamonds to the flower centers (sorry that the sparkle doesn't show so well in the photo).. I love the many layers of this card. And with so many layers, it made the card quite heavy, normally this would be a problem and cause the card base to buckle - not so with the GinaK heavy base weight PureLux cardstock. It really is the best choice to use as a cardbase. I also added a butterfly charm that I brought from the Dollar Tree.

Be sure to check out what the rest of the team made with this set... You won't be disappointed!

• GinaK
• Asela Hopkins
• Erika Martin
• Jessica Fick
• Donna Baker
• Kurtis Amundson
• Emily Giovanni
• Cindy Lawrence
• Joanne Basile

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

GINAK PREVIEW DAY 2 - OUT WEST

Yee Haw!! Theresa Momber has designed/illustrated an INCREDIBLE stamp set. There are so many images, you have to check out what everyone else made with this set.

Since my daughter is a horse lover and takes riding lessons, this set will come in handy - not to mention, I think it works well as another masculine set. Masculine cards are always SO difficult for me, however, when the stamp design is right - it is easy peasy.

The base of this card is made with Gina's Chocolate Kiss cardstock - LOVE it! It is really the perfect dark brown. I stamped the image with stazon, then used my SU! markers and ink with my favorite tool - aquapainter. I had some twine on my table and I started playing with it, the next thing I knew, that saddle had a rope on it - LOL! I added my favorite masculine embellishment - brads. I love how this turned out.

Be sure to check out other projects made by the team...

• GinaK
• Theresa Momber
• Erika Martin
• Jessica Fick
• Donna Baker
• Kurtis Amundson
• Carolyn King
• Melanie Meunchinger
• Cathy Tidwell
• Cindy Lawrence

eta: Do you want to win this set??? Then head on over to Gina's blog.. She is giving one away - woot!!

Also, Bertlady on SCS commented that this would make a great retirement or moving card - I couldn't agree with her more. Great idea!

Thanks for looking...

GINAK PREVIEW DAY 1 - GUIDING LIGHT

Today is Preview Day 1.

I just LOVE the Guiding Light stamp set designed by Rupa Shevde. It has so many wonderful images as well as sentiments that I had a hard time picking which one to feature on my blog today (I've already made 3 very different cards with this stamp set so be sure to attend the party in the GinaK Forum at SCS on Thursday to see the others ;). I love the way the sea gull is perched on the bulkhead. I can just smell the salt in the air and feel the breeze - I LOVE the sand, ocean, the breeze ~ so naturally, I adore this set.

For this card, I stamped the image twice, then cut out the gull and popped him up with some dimensionals. I sponged the background with baja breeze and used my aquapainter and basic brown ink to color the bulkhead. Next, I added some twine to for a 3-d effect on the posts. I simple punch a hole then ran it through just as I would ribbon, taping the loose ends on the backside. I added some Malibu sand by Muddpuddles to the base of the bulkhead under the grass (colored with my aquapainter and kiwi kiss ink). I stamped out the Dad sentiment and used my oval punch to punch it out, then combined it with my HPH. The narrow baja breeze layer was run through my cuttlebug with the swirls folder which I inked up with baja breeze to give it some depth. I also used my oval punches to create tabs which actually hinge the front to the back of the card.

Be sure to check out what the rest of the team has created with this set as well as the Wee Tees set designed by Melanie Meunchinger, also being previewed today.

• GinaK
• Asela Hopkins
• Erika Martin
• Jessica Fick
• Donna Baker
• Kurtis Amundson
• Joanne Basile
• Carolyn King
• Melanie Meunchinger
• Theresa Momber
• Emily Giovanni
• Cindy Lawrence

Thanks for stopping by, and check back tomorrow for Preview Day 2...

In GinaK's Spotlight!!

What a thrill to be among the wonderful GinaK team. As many of you know, I just love GinaK stamps.. what a privilege to get to be in the spotlight this month and participate in the April Stamp Release. I can hardly wait for next week!! - EEK! - You will love the stamp sets!

Thank you so much Gina!!

eta... Why didn't I send her a photo of me with a big cheesy grin on my face? ... that is what I really look like! Snort!

APRIL STAMP-A-STACK

Here is what we will be making at my April Stamp-A-Stack today. Edith will be hosting at her house. It is always so much fun and I look forward to spending time with my stamping girlfriends. Edith also requested the flower pot pocket card. I wasn't sure how it would turn out as I don't have any 'flower' punches, but I just used the scallop circle punch with smaller circles punched for centers, then made cuts on the scallop to the center to make them look like petals. I also love this dsp... so, it isn't a surprise that all but one of our cards will be brown and blue.. nice combo! Now, I have to give credit where credit is due. For nearly all of my SAS cards, I case cards from various stampers at SCS. I do this for two main reasons... it saves me time, and I am able to show my ladies how easy it is to make a great looking card by using another card as inspiration. So, thanks to Mercy Kerin for the Dreams du Jour card case.
Thanks for looking!

Remember VT...

Today around the great Commonwealth of VA, many people will be wearing their VT colors in remembrance of the 32 lost 2 years ago. Please take time today to remember the loved ones left behind...

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!

Thank you to everyone who left a comment to win the blog candy. After using the random generator, we have a winner - Valerie. This is what she wrote...

Valarie (vampme3) said...
Congratulations on all your hits, Beverly!! I do enjoy your blog regularly...you do great work!!
April 7, 2009 7:17 AM


Thanks Valerie, please email me your snail mail, and I'll get that candy to you!!
Happy Easter Everyone!

EASTER CRAFTS & TREATS...

Here are a couple of things I have been working on this week. The first is the little gift I will give my preschool class. I just love the jellybean prayer stamp. I used a small clear box and filled with jellybeans. The second is a grasshead that we made with my daughter's 1st grade class. They are so cool! One of the eyes on mine fell off after being handled so much by the kids, but I kinda like it as a cyclops - LOL!

Have a great Wednesday!

BLOG CANDY GIVEAWAY...

Well, as a thank you to my many visitors and regulars, and as I see my hit counter approaching 20,000 hits. I would like to celebrate by giving away some blog candy...
So, how could you win? Simply leave a comment on this post and when the hit counter reaches 20,000, I will randomly pick a name.
Thanks to everyone for visiting my blog!

LIGHTHOUSE SHADOWBOX

I made this for my friend Linda. She bought this lighthouse stamp for me because she knows how much I love the beach and lighthouses. I stamped the image twice onto watercolor paper, then used my aqua painter to paint the image with SU! inks. I cut the main image out and popped it up then added sand from Muddpuddles onto the image. The shadow box, sand, shells, seagull and ribbon came from Mikes.. Thanks for looking.

Additional Info
Stamps: lighthouse from stamps happen
Paper: watercolor, not quite navy
Ink: craft black, SU! in-colors
Accessories: clear ep, aquapainter, muddpuddles malibu beach sand, loose sand, shells, 3-d seagull, ribbon, twine, stickles