SIMPLE HAPPY DAY...

Happy Friday everyone! I had so much fun making this card for Thursday's Ways to Use It' Challenge and today's Limited Supply Challenge.... and in the process learned a couple of things about myself.
But first, the challenges..

• Ways to Use it: Office Supplies, I used a clip
• Limited Supply - To Die For. I used the top note die and a die cut chipboard circle.

So, here is what I learned. I have a TON of rub-ons that I never, ever use but should be cause they are so easy. I have no chipboard (I used this circle - the only one I had other than alphabet chipboard). I don't like chipboard because I never know what to do with it.. and in my quest to locate chipboard, I found several things I had bought and forgotten about. I'm NOT a hoarder, so this was quite a surprise... most of the items are 3-d things that I can alter. So, I pulled a couple of them out and hope to work on them next week... But, I am a fickle crafter, so don't hold your breath. LOL! Also, I love that top note die!!! It is so quick and easy to use...

Be sure to stop back by tomorrow for the Anni-VERVE-sary blog hop. It begins at 11am est.... I'm certain it will be fantastic!

Additional Info
Stamps: lovely flowers
Paper: craft, chocolate chip
Ink: white craft
Accessories: Lovely Lines Rub-Ons, clip, black & white gingham ribbon, clear ep, top note die

Inky hugs,

The 'Old Salt's' Trip Offshore at Oregon Inlet, NC...

Well, I just got off the phone with my Dad, who was very excited and eager to share his latest fishing tale with me ~ this time backed by photos from the Oregon Inlet Online Fishing Report Page for July 29, 2009, 3rd photo in the series and also shared here. Dad tells me, Mom will be emailing additional photos forthwith (Ummm, still waiting Mom. Understandably you have been in the kitchen all day canning the spoils of the trip. Please save some for me!).

He and his friend, Carl, (both who would be considered 'old salts' in regard to the telling of fish tales), chartered a boat from Orgeon Inlet, NC. They traveled off shore to the the Gulf Stream Current (also known as the 'river' in the ocean), and although the water was extremely rough, they had a wonderful fishing trip catching large tuna and Mahi-Mahi.

I just had to share this photo of them after their return. I love hearing my Dad get excited about something he is so passionate about. Carl is on the left, my dad is on the right.

Of course they enjoyed the spoils of their catch with family and friends last night, and Mom spent today canning tuna. Mmmmm! I can't wait to get a jar of it!

I suppose that tomorrow I will call to tease him about spending all day catching 'chickens' - you know 'chickens of the sea'.

He sure is good at catching those sea chickens - LOL!

Friday.. edit to add..

Here are a couple of more photos emailed to me, from Mom, for your viewing pleasure.. The first is of the Mahi-Mahi, which is a gorgeous fish when in the water - a dazzling, bright, greenish fading to blue (my favorite stamping color combos) Unfortunately, it loses some of that brilliance once out of the water. The second is the tuna.

btw.... she is still canning tuna!

DARE TO GET DIRTY 09

Here are the cards and bag that I made for the 2009 Dare to Get Dirty Challenges over on SplitCoast Stampers. I'm so glad we were able to combine challenges. I had so much fun making these..
Thanks for looking!

IT'S COMING....

I'm so excited to be participating in the

Anni-Verve-sary Blog Hop this Saturday.

Verve will be turning two and is

celebrating with a fabulous Blog Hop.

See you on Saturday!!

DOUBLEDOG DARE CHALLENGE - Is it Edible?

This week's challenge is from Anne Harada aka Itsapassion on SCS (you can see the entire challenge thread on SCS HERE)...

The DDC challenge this week is to create a card...
1.) The main image should include something edible.AND,
2.) The inks and solid colored CS (not DP) colors MUST ALL be named after edible items!!!
So, for example, you can use Elegant Eggplant for purple, but you can't use Orchid Opulance. OR you can use Berry Sorbet (PTI) but you can't use Pixie Pink. This may be harder if you use Copics! (They tend to be more botanical/nature inspired!)
The exceptions:Black and White inks and CS are OK but all the other colors need to be edible.Embellishments of any colors are ok unless you make them out of CS (i.e., punches); then you have to go by the "edible" requirement.
Of course this is totally on the honor system as we can't really tell if you used Basic Brown instead of Chocolate Chip LOL!!!
Please join in and use DDC in your keyword when you upload!! We'd love to have you play along!!


I made this card for several challenges... today's color challenge: to use pixie pink, certainly celery, and appricot appeal.for the Doubledog Dare Challenge: to make a card with the main image being something edible and the colors with edible names.. so fun!and I used the Mojo97 sketch for the layout.

Thanks for looking. Have a yummy day!

Additional Info
Stamps: none
Paper: whisper white, certainly celery, appricot appeal, pixie pink, berry sweet dsp by K&Co.
Ink: none
Accessories: certainly celery ribbon, berry sweet sticker by K&Co., dew drops

CHINCOTEAGUE 2009..

Here are a few highlights from our trip to Chincoteague & Assateague Islands. First we stopped at my parents house. They live in Gloucester, VA which borders the York River and Chesapeake Bay. The kids helped Grandma snap some string beans before we left.
We had another wonderful time at the "little red house." (You can see our trip from last year on the bottom of this post).
This year, Dad took his boat and we were able to enjoy a day of fishing on Chincoteague Bay. We saw a pod of dolphin, a stingray, and a ginormous horseshoe crab. The beach was great and the kids enjoyed digging in the sand and playing in the surf. A couple of days the ocean had a lime green tint (which I had never seen). The lifeguard sad it was an algae bloom from the north. I don't know if this is the same thing as a green tide or not, but it was accompanied by a funky smell that permeated our suits. However, being the ocean lovers that we are, it did not deter us from riding the waves and swimming like fish.
This year we visited the Chincoteague Pony Centre. We attended one of their nightly shows and were very impressed. Allison was excited to see a "living" Breyer horse. I didn't think we would make it out of the centre (she could probably live there - LOL). I definitely think she will participate in a day camp next year.

Thanks for looking.. and I hope you are having a wonderful summer...

AN AWARD...

My dear friend Charlene gifted me with this award. Thank you Charlene!! I was away on vacation last week and was due to stay through the end of this week with my folks. We came home a little early. My Uncle Franklin passed away, so my Mom and Dad are headed down to Carolina to be with my Aunt Nezzi Mae. I have very fond memories of my Uncle Franklin. He had a shop where he could fix cars, tractors, etc. He was also a farmer and had hogs (that we used to terrorize) along with chickens, etc. Back in the days of no air condition, we would stay outside under the shade of the pine trees. Whenever we got thirsty, we would go to his shop where he would be working and ask for a drink. He had a refrigerator that was always full of Pepsi... a special treat back in those days. He only asked that we return the glass bottles so he could turn them in for a refund. (Remember those?) He was a man of few words, but he was always kind to us.

I just haven't been in the mood to stamp since I returned.

I'll share some photos of our vacation to the "Little Red House" on Chincoteague Island. We had a wonderful week. I already miss the sand, sea, and ocean breeze.....

I would like to pass this award along to some bloggers who inspire me...

• Edee
• Tabitha
• Betty Wright
• Heather Nichols
• GinaK
• Monday Mojo Blog

woohooo.....

My wonderful friend, Edith, just started a blog.. Please head on over to check it out and leave her some lovin'... she is a wonderfully talented lady. If you subscribe to her site, I am certain you will not be disappointed!!

HERE is the link!!

CHRISTMAS IN JULY!

For today's Ways to Use It Challenge!

Got this cute image from a friend..
Additional Info
Stamps: unknown
Paper: whisper white, basic black
Ink: stazon, ridinghood red, kiwi kiss, soft suede
Accessories: aquapainter, markers, stickles, crystal effects, liquid applique

TECHNIQUE LOVERS CHALLENGE...

For the TLC.. I also cased Sunday's Featured Stamper. You can see her original card here.

First time stitching.. in neon orange no less!! haha!

Additional Info
Stamps: TLC228, Verve
Paper: whisper white, basic gray, dsp
Ink: stazon, soft sky
Accessories: nesties, ribbon, brads, orange stitching
Techniques: stitching

...AND SOME MOJO...

For MOJO94 Sketch using Up, Up & Away......

Additional Info
Stamps: Up, Up & Away by Verve
Paper: whisper white, melon mambo, green galore, dsp
Ink: stazon
Accessories: punches
Techniques: paper piecing

HHN09 - SOVEREIGN...

I decided a couple of months back that I wanted to participate in Patter's His Holy Name Challenge. It is a year long challenge, so what better time to start that half way through the year - LOL. I got the first three attributes completed today, and hope to have the rest finished by the end of next week.

I am using scrapbook sketches by StampMama over on StampTV...

This page is for the attribute: SOVEREIGN

My verse: "How great you are, O SOVEREIGN Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you..." II Samuel 7:22

Additional Info
Stamps: Razzle Dazzle
Paper: whisper white, rich razzleberry, velum, dsp
Accessories: SU! markers, nesties, punches, brads

HHN09 - HOLY

I decided a couple of months back that I wanted to participate in Patter's His Holy Name Challenge. It is a year long challenge, so what better time to start that half way through the year - LOL. I got the first three attributes completed today, and hope to have the rest finished by the end of next week.

I am using scrapbook sketches by StampMama over on StampTV...

This page is for the attribute: Holy

My verse: "Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is the Lord God, the Almighty - the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.'" Revelation 4:7-9

This is also for the Limited Supply Challenge. I found this image of a seraph online. I printed it out in black and white and used my aquapainter and rich razzleberry ink color certain parts of the image.

Additional Info
Stamps: none
Paper: whisper white, rich razzleberry, melon mambo, bermuda bay
Ink: rich razzleberry,
Accessories: brad, ribbon

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH...

I made this for my DD.. Today she turns 7! Later I'll be putting a rock on her head so she won't grow any more..

Additional Info
Stamps: Bitty Birthday
Paper: whisper white, melon mambo
Ink: stazon
Accessories: SU! marker (melon mambo, bermuda bay, crushed curry), oval punches, border punch, stardust gel pen for sparkle

GETTIN' MY "VERVE" ON!

I made this for Wednesday's sketch challenge. This is my very first card made using Verve stamps.. I must say.. they are a wonderful, high-quality acrylic. I decided to do some paper piecing with some dsp that I have had for years.

This is also for the SCS Fan Club Gallery... the theme is "firsts".. Way back when I worked for RE/MAX, we would hire the guy to come and bring the hot air balloon and fly it over the area as a form of advertising. The entire process it amazing. I was the one who helped chase the balloon, after all the guys weren't familiar with our area, roads, etc. So, I helped the chase driver keep up with the balloon and get to wherever it landed. It was so fun. I even had the opportunity to go up in it a time or two. If you've never ridden in a hot air balloon, then put it on your list of things to do. There is nothing else like it. It seems as though you are floating along in the clouds.

Thanks for looking!

Additional Info
Stamps: Up, Up & Away by Verve
Paper: whisper white, real red, night of navy, various dsp
Ink: stazon
Accessories: bling brad, ribbon

QKD ROYAL BLOG HOP AND JULY RELEASE...

Welcome to the Queen Kat Designs Royal Wednesday Blog Hop and July Release Party. This week we are featuring the *new* July Release stamps. You should be arriving from Jule's Blog. If you just happened upon my blog and would like to start at the beginning of the hop, then click Here to start at the beginning.
I decided to share this card that I made with a new fairy from the Whimsical Ink line at QKD. Meet Annabelle. Isn't she beautiful! I love this new image.

Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy the rest of the Hop..
Next stop: Whimsical Ink Sorority Blog...