HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD

I made this card for my Dad, who just turned 70! I just love the way this turned out and wanted to send a shout-out to my friend Debbie came over today to craft with me and showed me how to do this! I am also working on a Big Shot scallop box to go with it.

Thanks for looking!

INSIDE---->

Additional Info
Stamps: lovely as a tree
Paper: night of navy, not quite navy, baja breeze, glossy white
Ink: basic black, kiwi kiss, not quite navy, baja breeze
Accessories: circle punch for moon, scallop edge punch, sponge daubers

Sorry that I have been away for so long... This week just seemed to fly by and didn't leave me much time for stamping.. so, I decided to make up for it today with some really cute cards. For two of them I used a design template that I downloaded from KWerner designs (there is a link on my sidebar to her blog)... and the other is from a Card Kit that I purchased from Annapurna... love this kit and it is for a super cause (there is a link to her blog as well on the side)... Thanks for stopping by and for looking.

Until next time...

Additional Info

Stamps: Booglie Eyes
Paper: tangerine tango, basic black, kiwi kiss, whisper white
Ink: stazon, ridinghood red, tangerine tango
Accessories: aqua painter, SU! markers, wiggly eyes, ribbon, brads

Additional Info

Stamps: bugs & kisses
Paper: whisper white, basic black, kiwi kiss
Ink: none
Accessories: SU! markers, paper piercer, black sharpie

Additional Info

Stamps: CTMH
Paper: colonial white, summer sun
Ink: kiwi kiss, ridinghood red, tangerine tango

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US!

Today is my anniversary. David and I have been married for 16 years. Almost seems like yesterday....


Here is the card that I made for him.

...cased this card by strappystamper
Additional Info
Stamps: kind thoughts
Paper: gp white, elegant eggplant, almost amytyst, certainly celery
Ink: elegant eggplant (craft & classic)
Accessories: SU! markers, brads, rub-ons, stardust ep, circle punch, paper piercer
Techniques: embossing

And some other projects I've been working on...

This is for Cindy aka Mothermark's Teapot Tuesday Challenge.

I made this for Cindy's (mothermark) Teapot Tuesday challenge. I love that pretty little teapot (tho' we (true Southerners) only drink iced cold sweet tea)... I use my one and only teapot to boil water for hot chocolate in the winter - tee hee!Thanks for another pretty challenge Cindy! This card is a case of rascal's.

Additional Info
Stamps: freshcuts
Paper: whisper white, not quite navy, certainly celery
Ink: not quite navy
Accessories: ribbon, siral punch, circle punch, brad, SU! marker, scor-pal
Techniques: grid

And this is just something I've been wanting to try...

I've seen these little bag-in-a-boxes all over the gallery, and just had to try one. They are super easy. HERE is the tutorial I followed by Inking Addict.

Additional Info
Stamps: define life
Paper: tempting turquoise dsp, basic black, whisper white
Ink: tempting turquoise
Accessories: round tab punch, circle punch, ribbon, corner rounder (for scalloped edge)

GRADUATION 2008!

This is for our nephew who graduated last night... I cased the layout from Anne H. aka Itsapassion.. just love her work.. check out her gallery here. I used Kyle's announcement.. cut out the school crest, layered with the scallop punch and popped it up. I really like how it turned out! The inside has a pocket at the bottom for holding cash - what every grad wants! Remember when $100 used to be a lot of money - now it is just a tank of gas *sigh*!!

Additional Info
Stamps: baroque motifs
Paper: whisper white, basic black
Ink: versamark
Accessories: gold ep, scallop punch, brads
Techniques: embossing

Some NOT so WILD Animals, a CARD, and an update on BLACKJACK

On Monday I went with my DD, Sarah, on a much anticipated field trip to the Virginia Safari Park. It threatened to rain most of the day and was a bit chilly..which was great because all of the animals were quite active, not to mention hungry.. Here is a peek at some of the animals we encountered.. and we did literally "encounter" them. We rode on a wagon pulled by a tractor through the park. Our driver stopped several times so that the animals could come up and we could feed them. Everyone got a bucket with some pellet feed in it... The only animal who could not fit it's head into the bucket was the buffalo.. This however didn't deter them and we found out they have very loooong tongues. We fed them by holding our fists above their heads and dropping pellets down onto their super-long, super-slimey tongues. The kids really loved it when they stuck their tongues down their nostrils to retrieve any pellets that happened to go that way. I was just so glad that he didn't sneeze on us. Lots of giggles and "oooo, that's nasty".. followed by.. let me try it to touch my nose with my tongue. The cutest thing we saw was some baby pot-bellied pigs. They are so tiny, I don't know how they kept from getting trampled by some of the larger animals. Yikes... I didn't want to see any smushed bacon bits, if you know what I mean. Another highlight was getting to pet a baby kangaroo and holding an ostrich egg. By the way, camels not only spit, but they also will steal your food bucket!

Now.. on to the card. I made this card for Tuesday's color challenge and Wednesday's Sketch Challenge. I used an image sent to me by my DSS. Thanks! I just love little Lola from Sugar Nellie. She is so sweet. Thanks for looking.

Additional Info
Stamps: "Lola with Flowers" by Sugar Nellie
Paper: whisper white, basic black, SU! dp, non-SU blue, only orange
Ink: jet black stazon
Accessories: SU! markers, sakura gel pen, signo white gel pen, label punch, primas, brads, ribbon

So, the Humane Society called us and told us that Blackjack had been exposed to Parvo.... poor thing. He is in isolation, and since we do not want to risk the health of our dearly, beloved Snuggles, we will not be taking him. I hope he makes it through and that another family will adopt him. Some good news, is that later today we are going to see a big boy hound named BJ. He is in foster care and is looking for a forever home. He is house-trained, crate-trained, neutered, and UTD on his shots.... The only downer is that he is a big boy, weighing in at 86 lbs. I am hoping that he is a gentle giant. So, will let you know tomorrow after we go check him out tonight.. wish us luck!

R U READY FOR SUMMER?

Check out the pool babe! Glammin' it up for the pool! I am so ready for school to be out and the lazy days of summer..

Thanks for looking!

Additional Info
Stamps: art impressions (I think?)
Paper: whisper white, tempting turquoise, basic black,
Ink: basic black
Accessories: SU! markers, bling, scallop punch, ribbon, crystal effects, friskars circle cutter, circle punch

Weekend Sketch Challenge by Beate and my Clothespin for Edith...

Well, I decided to participate in Beate's weekend sketch challenge. Seems like I'm cathcing up on those days last week when my creative mojo took a vacation and I was left in a "BIG-TIME" funk!...So, what's a girl to do when her mojo is gone..well, she just turns into a gallery gazer and leaves lots of comments and even gets some much needed housework done! The weather is so fantastic this weekend! Where was all of this when we were camping last weekend? Happy stamping and crafting! I think I may paint that clothespin today that I need to make for Edith and get that going!

Additional Info
Stamps: stampingbella
Paper: whisper white, basic black, non-SU! dp
Ink: jet black stazon
Accessories: SU! markers, ribbon, black cm marker, hole punch

I had so much fun altering this large clothespin that I got on sale at ACMoore! I made this for my friend and neighbor Edith.. It is pretty self-explanatory.. I did give it basecoat of paint, used decoupage to adhere the cutie pie dp, then sanded the edges.. "CREATE" is computer generated.Thanks for looking!

Additional Info
Stamps: define life, kind thoughts
Paper: whisper white, garden green, cutie pie dp
Ink: jet black stazon
Accessories: ribbon, scallop punch, white signo pen, gemstone brad, ep, deco art paint
Techniques: heat embossing

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT IS MAY?

...and with May comes lots of birthdays.. So, I have two completed cards to share with you.. Both of them I just love and enjoyed making!

This first one is for Papa Don
...and also for TLC166.. Two-way open.. I am so excited that I actually made a "man-card".. hooray! This is for Papa Don... he is celebrating his birthday this weekend.. and what better gift than a handcrafted card with a gift card holder on the front. That's right.. I love the gift card holders.. but they are so small, so I just mounted mine onto a card front.. and that way the kids have the inside to sign (since they are K and 1st and write REALLY BIG!) And the entire thing was made from scraps.. I didn't even use the first full sheet of anything.. yep, I have a huge scrap pile.. need to work on that!

Additional Info

Stamps: birthday whimsey
Paper: very vanilla, river rock, not quite navy, always artichoke, non-SU! dp
Ink: not quite navy
Accessories: ribbon, brads
Techniques: 2-way open gc holder

Here is the next one...

I just LOVE this image!! It take me forevah to color it.. but in the end, it is sooo worth the effort.. even if I don't have any copics *sigh*pout*.. I needed a birthday card and loved the Limited Supply Challenge for today, which was to use circles.. so, there are lots of circles and dot on my card.... The sentiment is computer generated - in a circle - woo hoo!! and, I just had to post the inside.. that is the best part!Thanks for looking and have a Happy Friday!

Additional Info
Stamps: art impressions birthday gang
Paper: whisper white, basic black, pink passion, various dp
Ink: jet black stazon
Accessories: SU! markers, various circle punches and cutters, brads, corner rounder

Oh... and I wanted to also share this..

My upline had a class showing her ladies how to makes these fun and funky name frames.. I loved it so much, I tried my hand at it! How easy and fun, especially with the cutie-pie dp.. and I know.. I should have some bees on it.. I may go back and add some.. thanks Tabitha for pointing that out to me *wink*....

Additional Info
Stamps: alphabet
Paper: whisper white, purely pomegranate, wild wasabi, cutie pie dp
Ink: purely pomegranate
Accessories: hph, flower punch
Difficulty (1-Easy 5-Advanced): 1

MOM.. DON'T LOOK AT THE NEXT TWO!!!

So, I can't take credit for this.. I actually cased it from the Stampin' Success magazine that demos get every month.. As soon as I saw this I knew I had to make one for my mother (who has everything, but this!) Next came the weekly challenge from Fran for the DDC that I participate in with a couple of fabulous stampers.. and the challenge was to use a bird or other animal on a mother's day card.. we this is not a card so I hope I'm not disqualified.. btw.. the MOM is computer-generated as I don't have an alphabet set.. crazy right?! what demo doesn't own at least one of those!

Additional Info
Stamps: define life, fun & fast notes
Paper: blue bayou, soft sky, river rock, porcelain prints dp, very vanilla
Ink: jet black stazon, blue bayou
Accessories: SU! markers, square punch, ticket corner punch, corner rounder, brads, primas, ribbon

Additional Info
Stamps: all-year cheer II, fun & fast notes, kind thoughts
Paper: handsome hunter, very vanilla, blue bayou, soft sky, river rock. porcelain prints dp
Ink: jet black stazon, not quite navy
Accessories: punch, oval templates, ribbon, brads, ep
Techniques: heat embossing

COLOR CHALLENGE TUESDAY and ANOTHER FS CARD

This is for today's CC.. to use certainly celery, chocolate chip and pretty in pink. A fun and fresh combination. I decided to mount my new cosmobella given to me by my DSS, Tabitha aka Savvykat. She asked me yesterday if I had made anything with her... and I had to sheepishly reply that I had not even mounted her yet.. So, here she is Tabby...Cheers to you! She will be on her way to you tomorrow *wink*! Thanks for the bella.. I just loove her to pieces! I cased Janacb's layout of her Bella Ball #4 Layout.. thanks for the inspiration.. and thanks to those who take a peek and leave a comment! Cheers!

Additional Info
Stamps: cosmobella
Paper: chocolate chip, whisper white, certainly celery, pink dp by Glitterstack
Ink: jet black stazon
Accessories: SU! markers, blender pen (for hair), ribbon, crystal effects (for glass), rhinestones, punch, computer-generated sentiment, cuttlebug
Difficulty (1-Easy 5-Advanced): 1

ANOTHER CASE OF SUNDAY'S FEATURED STAMPER FOR A DEMO-SWAP!

OK.. so I just had to make another card for the featured stamper challenge.. I mean, great day.. her gallery is full of awesome cards. I am doing a swap with some local demos and I opted to showcase SU! DP.. So, naturally this card does the trick. I loved the layout and kept that the same.

What I changed:

1. colors

2. accessories

3. layers and use of dp.

Thanks for looking.

Additional Info
Stamps: kind thoughts
Paper: very vanilla, not quite navy, garden green, porcelain prints DP
Ink: night of navy craft (for butterfly embossing), not quite navy (for sentiment)
Accessories: stardust ep, ticket corner punch, brads
Techniques: heat embossing, paper tole
Difficulty (1-Easy 5-Advanced): 2

TIME FOR SOME INSPIRATION...

This card is for today's inspiration challenge and a double dog challenge that I participate in with several wonderful stampers. I love the quilted look of today's inspiration piece. I took several different dp's and wove them together. The ddc is to use a timepiece.. and this clock is the only one that I have... I love the fun, fresh colors... and happy for some spring-like weather! Thanks for looking..

Additional Info
Keywords: IC124 DDC4_8
Stamps: time for you
Paper: whisper white, cameo coral, dp by Mrs. Elizabeth's patterns and K&Company designer mat
Ink: jet black stazon
Accessories: SU! marker, eyelets
Techniques: paper weaving
Difficulty (1-Easy 5-Advanced): 3

Combination of Challenges from Last Week

So... here are the cards I made combining this past week's challenges.. Here is a list of the challenges.

MON: Double-pocket card

TUE: Color challenge: groovy guava (cameo coral), blush blossom, basic grey

WED: Sketch Challenge

THUR: Limited Supply - use acrylics

FRI: Long-tall card, limit layers, no dp.

I wanted to make something special for Corrinn and Parker, children of my best friend who both had their tonsills taken out this past Wednesday. Thanks for looking!

Playing Catch-UP!

This is for today's LSC..to use white with one other color... I chose elegant eggplant. I used my craft ink and embossed everything with stardust ep by Stampendous... it really adds a nice sparkle and shine to darker images. I needed two Thank You cards and wanted to be from the same stamp but different.. kwim? So, I went all the way back to the beginning sketch challenges and used SC01 (left) and SC02 (below)... After I made them I had a hard time deciding which way to turn them for the photo, because you can really use them either way. I decided to dot one up and leave the other crisp and clean.. I have to say that after starting the Faith-dots, it is hard to not do it on a card.... I also used my cb folder the bg paper to give it some dimension. It is the textile folder.. I just realized that I forgot to add one of the butterflies that I embossed to the card on the right.. so I will be adding that somewhere - lol.... I guess it is time to clean up my room! Thanks for looking!

Additional Info
Stamps: essence of love, sincere salutations
Paper: whisper white, elegant eggplant
Ink: elegant eggplant (craft)
Accessories: tag punch, circle punch, cuttlebug, stardust ep
Techniques: heat embossing
Difficulty (1-Easy 5-Advanced): 2

*************************************************************************************

I combined this weeks Sketch Challenge with the Ways to Use It, ... also, Anne (aka jdmommy) dared me to make a card with only an umbrella on it, neutrals with one color, and a sentiment. So, I may have violated the "dare" since I have two sentiments, but I'm considering the 'love' as the handle of my umbrella and the rub-on as my sentiment - hope that's ok Anne *wink*... and you didn't say no cuttle bug or dp or fibers.. so I used those also The umbrella is stamped using the paper tole technique, everything is popped up and you can't really tell from the photo, but irl it looks really cool. Thanks for looking.

Additional Info
Stamps: send a celebration, wonderful words
Paper: whisper white, basic black, tempting turquoise, tt dp
Ink: jet black stazon
Accessories: SU! marker, love & happiness rub-on, adornments fiber, white signo pen
Techniques: paper tole
Difficulty (1-Easy 5-Advanced): 2

Color Challenge Tuesday

Last night I had a call from my neighbor Kelly, who also cuts my hair... Her daughter and my daughter are best friends and it was time for "S" to come home... While chatting, I realized that I forgot my appt last week - YIKES! I should've know, cause my hair was a mess, right?! Not to mention my eyebrows were goin' crazy! Anyways, I took the kids and we went to visit my folks for Spring Break... and I totally forgot! How could I forget the one thing that I do for myself where I get to go by myself and relax, have someone wash my hair (which I love) and come out looking good and feeling better about myself! I was so embarassed.. and good ol' Kelly was so good, she worked me in today!! There is a minimum 6wk wait to get an appt with her! And she worked me in!! I am soooo grateful! Now I will look good for my upcoming trip. I wanted to give her a little something as a "thank you," so I used today's color challenge and made this card for her... I wish I had, had time to put the title as the sentiment on the front using my new HPH, but alas.. I just didn't have enough time. Thanks for looking, and by the way, my hair looks FABULOUS! Kelly if you are reading this, "THANK YOU," you are so nice!

Additional Info
Stamps: don't know - (I recieved this in an image swap)
Paper: whisper white, basic black, mellow moss
Ink: jet black stazon
Accessories: SU! markers (creamy caramel, mellow moss, apricot appeal, cameo coral), black cm journaling pen for tub legs and faucet, ribbon

Sketch Challenge and Just Spray It

SKETCH CHALLENGE

So, I am a little late on uploading this challenge. I was at my parent's for the week and suffice it to say - her dino computer and my camera were not friends... you know, the gizmo wouldn't fit in the whozi-ma-whatzit! I loved the sketch Rox.. and am very pleased with how this card turned out! I used Boho Backgrounds (looove it) set with Friendship blooms. The "thank you" sentiment is computer generated as I couldn't take ALL of my stamps with me - lol! Thanks for looking!

Additional Info
Stamps: boho backgrounds, friendship blooms
Paper: whisper white, blue bayou, soft sky
Ink: blue bayou, purely pomegranate
Accessories: brads, label punch JUST SPRAY IT!

For this challenge it was to use some sort of spray. Here is what I did...

I was at my mother's (spring break and all, yada, yada, yada) - she is just nuts about birdhouses and everytime I go, she has another one for me to paint! (while I was there she bought about 5 more from the dollar tree... ) So, this time I suggested that I stamp on them - no problem. Did one, but with the wood grain I wasn't pleased with how it turned out. The lines are not sharp and I ended up going over most of them with paint. It is cute, my mom likes it, but the stamper in me was really disgusted with it.. So, onto birdhouse #2.. Here is how I used this challenge...I stamped the entire bloomin' beautiful set onto some whisper white cardstock. Then I colored everything with either SU! markers or with my blender pen and the blue bayou ink pad. I then sprayed it with a fixative so that I could cut it out and decoupage it onto a birdhouse.. It is the cutest thing! In order for this to work with the SU! markers, the ink must be set with a spray of some sort, otherwise when you wipe it with the decoupage it will smear into an inky mess and all of the hard work of coloring is destroyed!!!It is sooo cute. Birdhouse #1 is the green roof.. notice the not so sharp images - yuck! The decoupage is Birdhouse #2.