I have been trying to get my house in order before my hysterectomy on August 5th. Last night I was SO tired that I decided to sit down and finish this game set I'd had in the works for a while. I had a heck of a time finding the classic games I was looking for - I found the dominoes at target, the jacks, which are plastic and not the metal old style ones I wanted, I got at hobby lobby and I found the marbles in a dollar bin. I never did find the pick up sticks I wanted to add to the mix. Oh well. I got the lunch box and round tin at Michaels. The dp is shabby princess and all images are doodle factory colored with copics. I made the letters with my cricut.

Speaking of cricut - they have a Disney Cars cartridge coming out! I can't wait. My ds LOVES cars. It's officially on my wish list.

So, since I'm preparing for my surgery and I have a swap that I have to get out BEFORE then, I will probably not be posting again for quite some time. I'm hoping to be back to work and posting again in 2 weeks. But, I'm having an abdominal total hysterectomy and everyone is telling me that I'm delusional. Anyway, I'm pretty stubborn, so we'll see what happens! Wish me luck!

Busy busy busy

I haven't had much time lately to stamp. I should have been cleaning when I was making these cards. Things have just been so crazy lately.

This first card was made for DTGD08Jenn, which was to make a card inspired by this cake:

I NEVER make wedding cards, but I love this image. I used this paper studio dp that matched the cake perfectly, tied on a big green bow and added some little pearls to the nestie circles.

I did do one other card, but it is SO simple and I'm not thrilled with it, so I'm not even going to bother posting it here. If you want to see it you can visit my gallery at splitcoast.

I scream, you scream!!

Since yesterdays card just about made me scream, I decided to go a more simple route for last night's playtime. I'm trying to use some of the new stamps I've bought and haven't had time to play with yet (I'm not caught up yet!). So, I pulled out this one.

I new I wanted to use basic grey's two scoops, just because they both had scoop in the title! LOL! So, I thumbed through my 6x6 pad and chose this cute plaid patter that was perfect for a comfy pair of pj pants. The chair just had to be this pink with yellow flourishes, so to match the pants I added the wild wasabi flowers. I have to admit that I LOVE the shading on the carpet. I can't even tell you how I did it - I just played around until it looked like carpet you'd want to put your little bare tootsies on. For the base of the card (I have to quit using my wild wasabi for the big ol' base or I'm going to run out) I used wild wasabi. I matted a pink bazzill ticket corner punched, with black. I used the same swirl paper from the chair as a strip across the card, matted with black. The image is matted in black and then so saffron (I think I might add another mat of black on that to make it pop more. The spoon is a charm attached with glue dots. And, finally, I added amuse eye candy to the corners.

I have defeated the great white whale

I made this card for a co-worker who likes frogs and for the Color Challenge at SCS this week. I was looking through some things and came across Markie's mom's multi layer pop up slider card tutorial I had printed, but hadn't tried yet. So, I decided to give it a whirl! Over the last two days it became my white whale (you've read Moby Dick, right?). First I got confused about which side you didn't cut - yeah, I did it wrong, had to redo it. Then I punched the circle in the wrong end and didn't realize it until I actually tried to put stuff together. So, to fix that, I needed more of the basic grey dp. Off to Hobby Lobby over my lunch hour - and they didn't have it. No problem - I just cut the layers down below where I'd punched, evened it out on the other end and slapped it on some wild wasbi to add another layer so it would be the right dimensions. I think that was the last mistake I made, but it was quite an excercise in frustration. I need to learn to read the entire tutorial in advance and THEN start. I know, it seems obvious, but I am very much a fly by the seat of your pants stamper. Anyway, I finally finished it and I really like it. I'm planning to pick up more basic grey dp when I go out of town this weekend and make a matching jar. If you would like to see Faith's tutorial you can find it here:

http://stampinwithmarkiesmom.blogspot.com/search/label/Multi%20Layer%20Pop%20Up%20Slider%20Card

This card was made for Mothermark's Teapot Tuesday challenge and also MFTSC39. Both of these challenges took me out of my comfort zone and the card doesn't look much like soemthing I'd usually do, but I do like it! I made the base out of night of navy then layered it with very vanilla. I added the strip and the heart using bais grey dp. The bowl is paper pieced with basic grey dp. I used rub ons inthe ovals.

Afternoon delight

I thought I had this card finished and then when I was preparing to take the picture of it I noticed I had forgotten to put poor flopsey's clothes on - wouldn't she have been embarrassed! So, while I was at home over the lunch hour I got her clothes and she's now decent for a picture!

This is the MOJO34 sketch. I saw this fruit and veggie dp when I was in my lss the other day. I picked it up and bought it. As usual, the owner asked what I was working on. I told her that I had ordered some stamps and that I knew this paper would go with one, but I couldn't remember which one! LOL! I think I actually bought it to go with the Tom Allen "Gourd Friends" stamp I bought, but I thought it went really well with Flopsey and I can always go get some more! I used bazzill textured orange for the base, followed by a layer of wild wasabi and Karen Foster dp inked with wild wasabi. The circles are bazzill orange, real red and the Karen Foster DP cut with my nesties. I colored the image with copics and made the hat from yellow textured bazzill and the clothes from real red print dp. I added some ribbon to a strip of the orange and put that cute little seed packet on it. I made this in the morning before work. I'm really enjoying stamping in the morning. I can't usually do it, because I have an early riser, but since he's at Grandma and Papa's for the week, I'll take advantage of the extra time I have in the mornings!

Monday Blues

I decided that I need to go outside my comfort zone, so I've been trying to work with flowers more. Guess what? I've decided that I DO like flowers! I used the pearlescent water color paints that I got from MFT on this card. It's kind of hard to see from the photo, but it is sparkly and pretty. I also used Bazzill bling orange for my card base. I added a layer of black and then basic grey dp, sponged with pumpkin pie. The sentiment is also on basic grey dp sponged with pumpkin pie. I popped up the bottom flower and popped up the middle flower a little higher. I added the polkadot ribbon and the white dots on the black cardstock to match.

I got this set from MFT. Isn't it cute. I'm not really happy with his pants, but I couldn't find paper I wanted to use and didn't like it just plain either. I cut the hat from textured paper and added shading to look like a straw hat. The image is colored with copics, the sky is sponged on making clouds with a scallop punch. I used SEI dps with taken with teal and groovy guava. I started out with the MFTSC38, but it somehow took on a life of it's own and doesn't resemble the original sketch much now.

miss me??

I used up my last vacation day for this year yesterday (my year starts over on July 26th, so I had to use it or lose it). I went to yet another dr. apt. Dermatologist this time - he had good news for me, the bump on my nose was harmless and has no been cauterized. It's a little red, but in a week you won't even be able to tell I had anything there at all. He also praised me for the minimal amount of sun damage I have. It doesn't hurt that I'm not much of an outside girl, but I do take care to where sun block because my dad and grandpa both at skin cancer. You would think that since I was on vacation I would have gotten more than one card done - right? Well, my dd was helping me and it took much longer than usual! LOL! But, we had fun. I made this for a co-worker who recently became a grandparent again. I started out with brocade blue for the base, added a layer of real red and cut a scallop mat from the textured limey green. I punched the corners of the kids mat stack dp with a ticket punch and added glitter brads to bring out the glittery parts in the paper. I tied a green ribbon around and attached a saftey pin charm that I've had FOREVER - doing a little better this week using my stash. I stamped the monkey twice on GP cardstock and the baby monkey as well. I colored them with copics, put the baby with the mama, cut out the hands and attached them in the right place, cut out the head and popped it up and drew the arms. I matted it on real red and brocade blue. I inked the layers with old olive, brocade blue and real red.
Like today's title? Well, if you did miss me, get ready to experience it again. I will be going in for a hysterectomy Aug. 5th and won't have internet access until I return to work. I'm hoping for a week, but since it will be done abdominally, my doc told me to count on two weeks.

Teapot Tuesday Challenge

This is the teapot that Mother Mark posted for this week's challenge. I have exactly one set of stamps with ladybugs in it, so that's what I used! I have had this flower in my stash for YEARS and never used it, so thanks for that Cindy! I really like the fresh summery colors of the teapot and I love daisys. I made the base of the card with white, topped with a layer of barely banana, which I cuttlebugged with the swiss dots embossing folder - one huge plus about using the swiss dots when making a square card - it is SO easy to line up! Next I added a layer of certainly celery that I pierced and faux stitched with white gel pen. I colored the crafty secrets bugs life image with copics, sponged the edges with creamy caramel to give it a vintage feel and matted it with a scallopped certainly celery mat and a cuttlebugged barely banana mat. I made the photo corners with my rarely used basic grey notch tool (apparently I have that in common with a lot of people since they never have come out with new tips for that thing). I have decided that I NEED the photo corners punch. I stamped the dance line of ladybugs one more time and cut a couple out for the corners. The flower is just a silk flower folded in half with dew drops in the center.

Let's party!

I made this card for my best friend's dh. I used up some scraps that were laying on my desk - wild wasabi, cool carribean and summer sun. I inked them with cool carribean, wild wasabi and apricot appeal. I colored the pink cat studio party farm animals image with my copics and added a little glitter to the cupcake frosting. This was one of those cards that I planned - even sketched it out and then it took on a life of it's own. With all the layers I was going to use, the image didn't fit right. I had a layer of summer sun and a layer of the animals sounds stamped in different colors on white on top of that. Then I planned to put a strip of the chicks about a third of the way up across the card. I will have to give it another try with a bigger card this time. But, I think this one's cute, even though I had to simplify it quite a bit!

What a great weekend

Wow - I had such a great time this weekend - I wish it could've been even longer! We went to my mom and dad's for the 4th. We shot off fire crackers, had a bbq lunch, I made a deal for my color caddy that I've been trying to trade with, so I ordered my new ink pad storage, my dd took us for a ride with her new restricted driver's license (and did quite well) and I went and saw my best friend, Cathie, who was at her mother's for the 4th. A very full, very blessed day!
The boys stayed at my mom and dad's to go fishing with Papa the next day. Emma came home with me. We rented a movie and then on Saturday went to Wichita with my friend Christi. We ate lunch and went shopping. It, too, was a really fun day. That evening we played trivial pursuit (giving each other lots of hints so it didn't take as long) and then disney charades - it was so much fun!! Emma found a Sudoku book that I had bought at the $ store just to add to a gift basket sometime. She asked if she could have it and I said she could. I told her I didn't understand how to do them - I thought you just had to guess at what numbers went where and change them around if they weren't right. Well, I didn't realize that you have to make sure there are no matching numbers in the boxes - I was just doing lines. No wonder I could never figure it out! So, she taught me how to do them and I did 11 puzzles last night while waiting for Kai to go to sleep. He's been so clingy lately - It took him 2 hours to go to sleep! So, great weekend! Hope yours was good, too!

The picture at the top of the post is of our new kitty Magik. He is my dd's cat and has come to our house so that when she comes home he'll be here and will (hopefully) be adjusted. I really wanted to name him Wonton, but Emma picked his name. He is an ornery guy. He made me think of Faith (Markiesmom) this morning because when I got up, he had the bathmat all wrinkled up - I looked under it to make sure there where no stamps, but I had shut my craft room door last night - good thing, he probably would've shredded them!

Last post before a 3 day weekend!

These little turles are so cute - love them. I usually pick my paper first, then pick cardstock that matches and then color my image to go with them. Well, guess I was a little over excited about the turtles, because I just colored them (the innertube was originally red with blue dots). So, I picked a color combo - so saffron, certainly celery and cool carribean. When I held the turtles up to the so saffron, I didn't like the way it looked, so I changed to summer sun. Very fun summery combo - I like it! Then I saw this scrap of dp laying on my desk and it matched perfectly! I used this week's card sketch and cuttlebugged the certainly celery and cool carribean. I inked the summer sun with apricot appeal, the certainly celery with old olive and the cool carribean with blue bayou. I liked the way it turned out, but I think I'll not try doing a card backwards again - it was just luck that this one came together.

I did this card for the craft secrets challenge and Mothermark's teapot challenge (you can find it on her "glob"). I think that making a card inspired by one of her teapots sounds like SUCH a fun idea. So, I've been meaning to get to it this week. Well, I knew today was going to be SO SLOW at work and that not many people would be here. So, I stamped the image, grabbed some paper that looks sorta like the teapot and some copics and headed out the door. I wish I had some creamy caramel to ink the edges of the image so it matched the paper a little better. This started out as an A2 card with the star on the opposite side and a bunch of empty space along side it. I didn't like it. I even got as far as taking a picture of it and then it hit me - I should make it a mini card! It looks much better this way, but when Cindy says challenge I guess she means it - at least in my case!

Nakey nakey

My 13 year old son called me at work yesterday and told me that I got a package. I told him to open it and tell me what it was. He said "There's a stamp set of naked babies fishing in here - why'd you get that?". But, even he admitted that this card was cute!

I wanted to try out my new stamps, so I paired this crafty secrets fishing buds image with CC173: Purely wild celery. I used wild wasabi for the base then matted basic grey dp (which matched perfectly) with purely pomegranite. I made the ovals and circles with my nesties. I also embossed the certainly celery oval with my swiss dots embossing folder. The image was done in brown ranger distress ink. I colored it with copics and added bling with sakura glitter pens on the fish scales, water and kewpie wings. I inked the edges with creamy caramel and inked the other ovals and circles with inks that coordinated with the cardstock. The green ribbon is from offray (walmart) and the pomegranite ribbon is from SU.

Froggie Prayer Journal

I was keeping a prayer journal online. It's a little different from what I've been told most people's prayer journals are like. From what I understand, most prayer journals are a place to keep track of what you prayed for, what you need to remember to pray for and when the prayers are answered, how they are answered. I'm not very good at praying - unless I'm just someplace totally quiet (which I never am), I get distracted. So, I started keeping a prayer journal online - not published for anyone to see, just me, typing my prayers out to God. That might seem impersonal to some, but it works for me. Well, I went onto my prayer journal site one day last week and it's gone. I looked at a few other sites online that were supposed to be similar and didn't really care for them. So, I thought maybe I should just write them out in a prayer journal. So, I bought this cute little book at Alco for a $1 and here's what I did with it.

I just got this adorable image from cornish heritage farms. I pulled out my poor, neglected prismacolor pencils and went to work! I SO need new stumps - that's ok, anything that requires a trip to Hobby Lobby is OK with me! But, I filed and filed the little boogers that I had and got this image done anyway. I tried stamping the image in black. I didn't like the way it looked, so I tried brown and rejected that, too. I finally chose always artichoke to stamp it and colored in the mouth, the eyes, the ties, the buttons and the lady bug head and spots with black marker. I sponged the sky with bashful blue using a scallopped oval as a mask for a cloud effect. Then I inked the edges with bashful blue at the top and creamy caramel at the bottom. I inked the buckaroo blue oval with buckaroo blue ink. The background paper is basic grey.

Oh - just to pass the word along. There is a great giveaway at http://starvingartistamps.blogspot.com/. They are giving away the fabulous tropical set that I used on the summer fun movie set plus two sets of tropical sentiments!