Frenchy's screamin' green stampin' studio

First Project 365 post

2012-01-23T22:50:00.000-08:00

I've actually been working on this in bits and pieces, but I've had some things that I HAD to get done for other people and such. It was FUN! I've already decided that while this one was more fun and bright and "boy-y" I will be using some of my prettier, flowerier paper that I don't always get to use. For this layout, I used some Polar Press paper that I've had for a long time. I saw a card made with it and had to have it...and there it sat until now. The baby food jar is from Cricut Imagine Nursery Tales, the font is Cricut Cherry Limeade. When I see a cool layout and want to find out more about it, I'm annoyed when I can't read the journaling. So, I took some detail shots that show some of the journaling. Enjoy - 53 more to come - I promise!

OK - I suck

2012-01-15T17:13:00.000-08:00

I know I was supposed to keep up better this year. I wasn't even going for daily - but weekly would have been nice. I have been keeping up with my photos for the Project 365. However, I've noticed that my photography skills are not as sharp as they used to be. So, I'm doing some research online and trying to improve my photo-taking.

Now - I do have excuses as to why I haven't been blogging. It's been a roller coaster of a new year so far - with my dad going into the hospital and my daughter deciding (against my wishes) to switch colleges. It has been a challenging past couple of weeks. Hopefully, things will start to calm down some - although it looks as if my dad is going to have to have a couple of surgeries. So, please forgive me if I'm not around. I do have good intentions.

And - I have been crafting. Again - like last year, I haven't always gotten a snappy of my project, but I have gotten some. I will share some of my thank you notes that I made - I didn't even get them sent until last week and, some of them, are still with me waiting to be written!

This one is done with an SU set - It's Snow Time, using Baha Breeze, Wild Wasabi and Cherry Cobbler with Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses DP and SU Wild Wasabi ribbon. I used a little liquid applique on the snowman's hat and for the snow.

I did all of my cards with the same Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses DP paired with Wild Wasabi, Cherry Cobbler, Baha Blue and a little Pink Pirouette. This one features a cute little penguin from SU Polar Pals. I used some glitter on the iceberg and a glitter pen for the heart on the penguin. The coloring on this card and the one above is done with copics.

Fun! Bubblegum and Bentos!

2012-01-03T21:27:00.000-08:00

This is made from a flower pot, two different sized flower pot saucers (is that what they're called? That sounds really awkward, but I'm not a gardener - I don't know) a glass flower bowl and a small wooden finial. I painted all the pieces with red acrylic paint (two coats) and then assembled and painted with glossy mod podge to make it shiny - and stick together :). As I said in an earlier post, I've been kind of nostalgic for the times when I would spend a Saturday afternoon at the Hallmark store taking in all the Hello Kitty stuff - I remember stationary sets and pen sets...so cute. So, I thought it would be perfect for my gumball machine candy dish. The image is from Hello Kitty Font, which I got for Christmas this year - thanks, Mom and Dad! BTW - I filled it with pretzel M&M's rather than gumballs. And, yes, those are Christmas M&M's with the green ones removed.

Kai was given an assignment to do a recycling project again this year. Last year, they made pillows made from jeans or t-shirts stuffed with scrap materials. His teacher said that if their pillows were still in good shape that they could make something else. She suggested a bird feeder made from a gallon milk jug. I do not like birds (bad experience as a child) so I chose the third option - find something on your own. I had planned to make a tie blanket quilt using Gage, my teenage son's t-shirts that he's outgrown, but still wants to keep. Unfortunately, Gage didn't want to give me his shirt. So, I looked around on the net and found some ideas. Then the other day, I found this little box in my bathroom. My daughter had gotten a make up set that came in a "bento box". So, I repurposed it as a gift for my son's teacher. We had some extra school supplies and I added them to the box. We bought the reward stickers, but everything else, we already had.

I suggested the paper and Kai helped pick the different colors of cardstock. He would have rather used a dragon (and we did put two dragons facing one antoher on the side of the box to cover the label), but I thought his teacher would like these dolls better. This is the top of the box. We used basic grey paper and my Pagoda cricut cartridge. All the paper was from my scraps box. The inside of the box was also lined with chocolate brown paper and has the chinese symbols for Teach, Wisdom, Learn in light pink mounted on red. Kai had a blast using my gypsy (his first time) and gluing all the pieces together. To finish it off, I tied some chocolate brown tulle ribbon I had saved from a candle I got a long time ago.

Hope you enjoyed! I had so much fun making both of these projects! And, Kai thinks my cricut is awesome - he can't wait to start working on his Spongebob birthday party - more crafts to come.

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T22:57:00.001-08:00

Well, here I am - another post already! Just realized that I forgot to take a picture today. My son has a friend over and they are watching a movie. I could go snap one...OK, got a couple. If they don't turn out to be what I want, I had considered using a snippet of the sheet music from the song I did at church today. We'll see. So, anyway...my best friend used to say that all the time. It was her seque to anything. The right way to do it is to have an upwards inflection on the "a" and kind of stress that part of the word. So, anyway - this little countdown calendar was purchased from Stampin' Up. I believe I might have gotten it for Christmas or my birthday last year and I'm just now getting around to using it. Very simple. I just cut the pieces from the Celebate with Flourish for the new year's clock and hat (no such fanciness for me last night, I stayed home and when Midnight came, I whispered "happy new year" to Gage). I mounted the die cut on Basic Grey Cupcake layered with real red and black. Since the New Year is here, I will need to make a birthday something since Kai and I both have birthdays this month.

I bought this planner for $1 at a local $1 store. The planner I was using was 8 1/2 x 11 and was a little big for my purse. It fit in there, but the top stuck out and made it hard to carry my purse. This is about 7 x 9 1/2 and will fit much more nicely. I used the Elements paper from CTMH along with the Love Life Stamps. I CASED the idea from the CTMH idea book. It was a layout and I changed it up, but the border and the tag are the same.

Well - I hope you all had a safe and happy new year. I had a nice relaxing evening and I'm looking forward to my last day off before returning to work tomorrow. It's been a very productive week for me...wish I had more time to devote to crafts and yes, even to cleaning. See you soon!

Please forgive me...

2011-12-30T19:30:00.001-08:00

it's been five months since my last post. :) I have been busily making name frames similar to the one in my previous post since my previous post. I have been selling them for my youth group at $15 a pop to help fund our trip to England in 2012. The orders have been steadily rolling in and have kept me pretty busy. Not to mention a promotion at work and a busy extra curricular activity schedule. So...I have been working on things, I just haven't been taking the time to post them. Quite honestly, I'm sure I've lost all of the followers that I once had. I wouldn't follow someone who didn't post for five months either.

Well, it's time for a new year - a new beginning. I am once again resoluting (is that a word?) to try to keep up with my blog...you can see how well I did last year. However, last February or so, I looked at two peas in a bucket for the first time in I don't know how long and a layout caught my eye. It chronicled the week of the designer. I read a little bit about the layout and discovered that it was part of "Project 365", in which the challangees, well...you know, chronicle their lives for the week all year. What a cool idea to really showcase our real lives, which is what scrapbooking is really all about. So, I decided then (remember, back in Feb. 2011) that I wanted to do that next year. Yes, I'm one of those perfectionist type people who would never jump right in and join in February. I say perfectionist type, because I am VERY far from perfect. Anyway, hopefully, I will be able to post at least something once a week this year.

Speaking of perfection - I've been revamping the screaming green studio. It's not quite finished yet, but I will post some pictures soon.

Now - onto my latest project...a Squinkie container for my son's new obsession. For those of you who do not know what Squinkies are, they are tiny little squishy toys that come about 12-14 to a package - they are pictured in the last photo of this entry posed on top of the lid. They come housed in tiny little bubbles, similar to what comes from a gunball machine, but much easier to open. And...they are addictive. My son has proclaimed "squinkies are awesome". When he opened them up at Christmastime, my sixteen year old son even got excited about them - very funny, they both got very excited about each other's gifts. I said we should just get them half the presents next year and they can share. Anyway, as I said, they are addictive. Kai got 2 packages, one from Santa and one from Grandma. He promptly went out the day after Christmas and bought four more packages with Christmas money and is asking for more for his upcoming birthday. He's really excited about the new Spongebob ones that are coming out soon. I think they're pretty cute, too. In fact, they have some Hello Kitty ones I'd love to get and scatter around the studio, just for cutes (I've been very into Hello Kitty lately for some reason - very nostalgic). Well - since squinkies are so tiny, but we now have a ton of them, we needed a container to...contain them. So, we went to squinkies.com and found the logo and a coloring sheetoved this guy, he's cute and ornery, just like Kai. Then we went to our trusty local hobby lobby and bought a big tin with a handle. (I reminded Kai that the last tin I made for his Cars got all bent up so if we were going to get a tin, he'd have to be careful and he informed me that he is seven now. I can be so silly sometimes.) The following pictures are the result of said supplies and a bunch of Mod Podges (yes, it is MOD Podge, not modge podge, that's one of my pet peeves). The paper line is Little Boys from Echo Park. I used spellbinders for the little signs, which say "No electricity required" and "Just add imagination". The image is colored with copics and the font for the lid is Cricut B is for Boys.

Hope you enjoy and beware, as I said...squinkies can become an obsession. And, to the folks at Squinkies - if you see my post and like it, feel free to send me a package or twelve of squinkies...remember the Hello Kitty ones! I'm sure if I have any followers, they'd love to have a squinkie give away :)

Name Frames

2011-07-12T21:05:00.000-07:00

The mermaid name frame is much cuter in real life - I used shimmery cardstock and also used glimmer spray and glitter chalk on the mermaid and the seahorse, which you can't really see in the picture. The DP is October Afternoon and the letters and images were made using the Life is a Beach Cricut Cartridge.

The superhero name frame is made with Rusty Pickle DP and using the Classic Font Cricut Cartridge.

These name frames were custom-made for one of the ladies in my church diosese. I offered to make them as a fundraiser for our youth group. We are trying to earn money to go on a trip to England next year.

No hugs allowed

2011-04-04T21:49:00.000-07:00

These are some shots from our Christmas Card several years ago. I'm sure I'm not the only one whose posed photo sessions end in meltdowns. Now I have 3, so it's even worse. The youngest is a ham, the middle one never shuts up, so it's hard to get a decent picture and the oldest, of course never likes any of the pictures taken of her! I used background paper from My Minds Eye. Just about everything else is from Bella Rose's For the Record line. The arrow, I've had forever and I added the pearl because I had no brass brads.

My very favorite picture EVER

2011-03-26T21:09:00.001-07:00

This is my favorite picture that I have ever taken. I used Basic Grey Jovial. Since I have started scrapbooking again - I have ordered some new supplies and will (maybe) be using something other than Basic Grey soon. However, I do LOVE BG. The border is made using SU corner punch. The "Dude that is so cool" is from Stampin up's "So cool" set. I cut the circles with my nesties. The penguin is from Doodle Factory's Arctic. I am not happy with the upper right corner and may see if I can find a more suitable embellishment later.

Hide and Seek

2011-03-22T20:20:00.000-07:00

This is another one of my favorite pictures. The journaling reads: We used to go to my Grandpa Hedrick's every Sunday. The kids would play outside. Sometimes, they convinced Papa Gordy (my dad) to play with them. One day they played hide and seek. Papa must have been tired because the kids found him sleeping in the car! Hide and seek, my foot - more like hide and sleep!
I used Basic Grey Wander paper and stickers. The journaling page is from making memories and the words and numbers are cut with cricut cartridges Lyrical Letters and Classic Font.

Beautiful Dog

2011-03-21T20:16:00.001-07:00

This is Suki. She died two years ago next November. She was such a sweet dog and I've been missing her lately. The ice cream truck drove through the neighborhood the other day playing "Do Your Ears Hang Low" and it reminded me of her. She was a full-size dog on short legs who thought she was a lap dog. She loved everyone - used to bed hop so that all of got a turn to snuggle with her. She didn't bay or slober (much) like most basset hounds do. And, she was so patient with Kai from the time he was baby to even when he was a terrorizing toddler. No dog will ever compare to her, so I haven't ever tried to replace her.
The layout is made using a Max and Whiskers kit from basic grey. The "beautiful" embellishment is a brad that I've had forever - no idea what brand it is. The rub-on heart is Elsie.

2011-03-19T07:41:00.000-07:00

Ihaven't done a scrapbook page in ages. The DP is Bo Bunny. I really like it for this picture because it has the bright green of the chair the kitties were lying on, but also has the pretty blue that brings out their eyes. I made the frame and the lettering for "Siamese" with my cricut, using Lacy Labels and Lyrical Letters. The "Twins" is done with fondue alphabet soup from KI.

scrapbox giveaway

2011-03-19T04:52:00.000-07:00

Someday I might win one of these if I keep entering their contests
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/TheOriginalScrapbox

Framed poem

2011-02-14T20:01:00.000-08:00

My boss requested that I make a framed wall-hanging of the poem "Invictus" for her cousin. His office is green - that was my direction. This is what I ended up with. The dp is basic grey paired with cream colored paper and black. Simple, as a wall-hanging should be, in my opinion. I really liked the way it turned out.

Cupcakes and valentines

2011-02-13T17:35:00.001-08:00

We have a family supper club at our church, Grace Episcopal in Hutchinson, KS. The host family has it either at their house, or the church usually (although we've met at the State Fair and other offsite locations before) and supply the main dish and beverages. Last night we had tacos at the Steens. I agreed to bring dessert. I had originally planned to take Margarita cupcakes in addition to these for the adults (there is tequila in the frosting), but as I suspected, the limes available at our local grocery store were not good. So - fried ice cream cupcakes it was. They are not exactly like fried ice cream - at least the kind I've had, which is Carlos O'Kelly's. The cakes are chocolate - basically a lot like the chocolate cake recipe I usually use, but with cinnamon. The frosting was supposed to be a can of white frosting with a jar of caramel ice cream topping. I don't like canned frosting and thought that sounded gross. So, I made my own caramel frosting. The fried ice cream part comes in with crushed graham crackers mixed with cornflakes. All I had was cinnamon graham crackers, so I used them. Then you top with a cinnamon tortilla chip (brush with butter, sprinkle with cinnamon and bake until crispy). Despite being exactly like fried ice cream, they were pretty tasty and seemed to go over well. I made the cupcake liners with my cricut cupcake liners cartridge. More time consuming than I thought, but very easy and cute. Just a tip, if you've just bought your own or are considering buying your own, you can cut the liners at 8 inches with cut to length selected. However, you can only make one at a time in order to use that option.

I made these today (nothing like procrastinating) for Kai's valentine party at school. I made some green, pink and blue ones as well, but these were the most "valentiney". I used real red and black paper with sheer black ribbon. The stamps are inkadinkadoo rockstar stamps. These were originally supposed to just be pencil pouches, but my son thought valentine's day would be incomplete if he didn't help his friends rot their teeth.

Happy birthday - again!

2011-01-29T12:48:00.000-08:00

Things have been pretty busy at our house the last week or so. My daughter had a banquet to go to since she is eligible for a big scholarship at the school she will be attending next year. So, I took a couple of days off work to take her there for two days. Since, I was gone from work, I had to hurry and play catch up before I left to get things done that had to be finished before I left.
But, we're back and I took a break from doing laundry to make a card for Kai's friend who is having his birthday party tonight.

I used a stamp from doodlefactory's The Great Outdoors, called Pogue. He's a cute little guy and I think he looks like he's singing. So, I printed the sentiment using Times New Roman and Opus. The card is made using Poppy Parade (yeah, I'm liking that color!), Night of Navy, some Bo Bunny dp I had and a little bit of green polkadot My Minds Eye paper leftover from Kai's birthday projects.

Double Birthdays

2011-01-17T19:26:00.000-08:00

Today is my birthday. So, what did I do? Well, I snuggled on the sofa with my youngest boy, had breakfast served to me by my daughter, listened to the kids bicker (while I reminded them that it is my birthday and I'd like to have a nice day), went to lunch with my youth group (thanks for lunch, Andy!) and finished up the birthday projects for Kai's birthday, which is Thursday.
I posted the invitations and a banner earlier with the same theme. This is the treat bag the kids will each get to take home. I used buckaroo blue, poppy parade, and peach parfait paired with my minds eye dp. I used SU Beary Best Friends and a build-a-bear logo that I printed from the internet.
The bags include a mini composition notebook, box of crayons, 4 mini playdoughs, a bag of gummy bears and of course, the bear that the child will "build" (not shown).
I had such a fun time with these projects, fully aware that this is my last chance to do a "cute" party - although the bears do have karate costumes and John Deere overalls. Next year, Kai will want to do a "cool" party.
But, that's ok, I've been browsing the batman cricut cartridge anyway :)

Break

2011-01-15T05:50:00.000-08:00

My littlest has been sick the last two days. Luckily, my daughter hasn't started classes yet, so she's been staying home with him until my son gets home from school to take over. Then I take the third shift, which means snuggling on the sofa constantly - even potty breaks are difficult. Thankfully, he's feeling better, although he still has a fever. But, I managed to get away this morning and make this journal for one of my daughter's friend's who is having a birthday today. I used my last office max journal with purely pomegranite, baha breeze, gable green and basic grey dp. The cross is cut using the Indie Cricut cartridge. I used a scallop corner punch from SU and I'm not sure where those little gems are from - I've had them forever! Hope she likes it!

Ouch!

2011-01-11T08:42:00.000-08:00

Well - I have had good intentions to create when I get home in the evening. However, my hip has been hurting me and it's worse when I sit in my studio chair for a while. So, I sat on the sofa last night with an ice bag on my bootie and rested.
Sunday evening, I did finish the "happy birthday" part of Kai's birthday banner, so now the whole thing is done. Maybe I'll make him feel special by hanging it up early and taking a picture of it.
Hopefully, I can get a card made tonight. I found out Sunday that my vocal teacher from college slipped on ice and broke her wrist and arm, so I need to send her a card.

A Banner Day

2011-01-06T19:58:00.001-08:00

Used the same supplies as the party invitation from a few days ago. My Minds Eye DP with Cherry Cobler - I think that's right...like I said, I don't remember the new names. I cute the flags using Cricut Lyrical Letters and cut the red freehand using pinking shears. The buttons are from Hobby Lobby. The oval shapes are nesties and the letters are cut with Cricut Classic Font. It is strung on jute. There will eventually be smaller flags to hang above it that will say "Happy birthday". But, I'm tired tonight, so we'll save that for another day.

Here's a pic with a little more detail:

Also - must share a deal I found. I was looking through the Hobby Lobby clearance stuff and found some Spellbinders for $5.39! I bought two and I'm thinking of going back and getting some more!

MOJO172

2011-01-03T16:40:00.000-08:00

I made this for the Mojo Monday Sketch for today. The stamps are SU Birthday Bakery. I used SU Blushing Bride and Chocolate Chip with Basic Grey, a floral embelishments flower, ribbon, a dew drop and little gems.
I tried last night to work on making a chore chart with Cricut Chore Chart, but it seems that it's kind of an ambitious project that will take a while. So, no post last night.

Happy New Years!

2011-01-01T17:19:00.000-08:00

I tried to work on the banner for Kai's party, but ran out of paper. I ran to Hobby Lobby only to find they closed early today :)

So, on to other projects. I made this journal to sketch ideas in. I've had the book for a long time - got it on clearance at office max. I used paper studio dp with black and real red SU cardstock. The Eiffel Tower is made with the cricut cartridge Summer in Paris.

Today is my last day with no children. While, I've missed the kids, I took advantage of the time by myself and did enjoy it. Today, I crafted, watched a movie and took an impromptu nap. Where did the day go? It really flew by!

New Year (almost) - New Posts

2010-12-31T11:18:00.001-08:00

Well, one of my resolutions for the new year is to craft more. I just got a new cricut expression and some new cartridges and I have stamps that I've never even used. While I have made some things (just neglected to post them here), most nights I come home and either, do housework or veg on the sofa. So - no more - I hereby resolve to create!

My littlest - Kai - has a birthday coming up. He's going to be six. We talked about themes and decided that we would buy the build-a-bear kits and make them at our house and have a build-a-bear slumber party. He's at my mom's right now and I told him I was working on his invitations. He asked what they looked like and I told him "remember, they're build-a-bear". He said that his friends liked "cool stuff" - NOT teddy bears. Never fails - just like Halloween costumes - they change their minds. However - I have my plans laid. So, I made the card and posted it on facebook with instructions for my mom to show him. He said "Thanks for letting me have my party - I like the card". So...build-a-bear it is!

I'm sure, should you come back - you'll be seeing more build-a-bear - party favors, maybe cupcake toppers or wrappers or perhaps a banner. In the meantime - here is the invitation, using Beary Best Friends from SU and Eat Cake from SU (for the "You're invited"). Cardstock is:Peach Parfait, Poppy Parade and Buckaroo Blue. The dp is My Minds Eye and Basic Grey. The image is colored with copics and the card is accented with buttons. Hope you like!

2010-04-02T19:59:00.000-07:00

This is my new prayer journal. I got the notebook at Office Max on clearance and the paper (bo bunny) on clearance at my lss. The stamps are clear dollar stamps - love this bug...use it all the time. They have some great Christian stamps. I colored the image with copics and prismacolor silver. The "Pray without ceasing" I did in word.
What better day to post it than the anniversary of the greatest gift ever given, the gift of eternal life when Jesus died for mankind's sins.

More Doodlefactory Blox Invites

2010-03-11T19:41:00.000-08:00

I used the same product for both of these pictures. I had them out, so why not? I used wild wasabi, baha breeze and chocolate chip cardstock. The dp is wild wasabi, baha breeze and chocolate chip. I added ribbon, flowers and brads. The stamp is Blox, the pig, from doodlefactory. Isn't he cute? Prepare to see a little more of him - I have about a dozen stamped and colored, just waiting to be used on more invites.

New Starving Artist Stamps

2010-03-07T17:51:00.000-08:00

These actually aren't newly released, but are new to me! I'm hosting family supper club at my church this month. What better way to get people to come than to invite them to "come pig out"? Right? I used Blox, the cute little pig, with Basic Grey Lemonade, Purely Pomegranite and Baha Breeze. The oval and the "label 10" are from nestabilities. I also added a few brads and ribbon.

This card is a get well card for my boss' husband. He is having hernia surgery. The inside says "Hope you're feeling squirrelly again soon". I really thought about adding "Sorry about your nuts". My boss would find it hilarious, but I'm not so sure about the patient, so I opted to leave it off. I used Cosmo Cricket Hello Sunshine with my fave, Wild Wasabi and a lemony yellow of unknown origin. The squirrel and the tree are from Doodlefactory's "Into the Woods".

SFYTT

2010-02-20T10:11:00.000-08:00

I'm now finished with my dinner invites. This layout is based on the SFYTT. It was a lot of fun. I rarely have a card that doesn't have a stamp as the main feature, but this paper is amazing. You can't tell, but the black flower is shiney, as are the small circles. The pitcher is embossed, so it has a sheen to it as well.

A little late

2010-02-17T20:50:00.000-08:00

It's been forever since I've done a sketch challenge at splitcoast! So, I thought I'd try one and get another one of my dinner party invites done. Well, I logged on and accidently did last week's instead of this week's. Oh, well. It was fun anyway! I used the porcelain basic grey again, with mellow moss, pirouette pink, chocolate chip and white. I embossed the flatware with silver this time and added a ribbon with wine glass charm.

Another SFYTT

2010-02-14T12:59:00.000-08:00

Another SFYTT. I know - same stamps - SU's Dinner Party and $1 sentiment, but I'm having a dinner party later this month, so two birds with one stone and all that jazz. I used so saffron as the base, layered with Basic Grey Urban Prairie. I used a sheer green ribbon and cut the circles with the cuttlebug. Really a pretty simple straightforward card, just lots of layers and pretty DP.

SFYTT

2010-02-12T20:14:00.000-08:00

This is for the February 6 SFYTT at http://iheart2stamp.com/ I used mellow moss for the card base layered with chocolate chip, pirouette pink and basic grey porcelain dp. I used my cuttlebug to cut the circles, ovals and label behind the "you're invited". I used some of the stickers from the basic grey collection and some flowers with dew drop to accent. The silverware is Dinner Party from SU stamped with mellow moss. I inked the edges of the oval a little with creamy caramel. The sentiment is from a $1 set and is stamped with chocolate chip.

Happy Valentines Day!

2010-02-11T17:17:00.000-08:00

These are the valentines I made for my 6 year old's classmates. The plan was to fill the baggies with conversation hearts and put them in the little baskets. But, as of last Saturday there were no conversations hearts to be found anywhere we went. So, we settled for conversation heart cookies. I used Penny Black Every Which Way stamps with my cricut to make the baskets. The stamps are colored with copics and the ovals and scallopped ovals were cut with the cuttlebug.

Yes, I'm still alive

2010-02-06T19:16:00.000-08:00

It is so sad how infrequently I get a chance to stamp - and even more infrequently have a chance to take pictures of my stuff and get them posted. But, what're ya gonna do? I've gotta work. My studio is now clean and hopefully that will inspire me to get some creating done!

This is a thank you note I made for my boss. The inside is already written on, so I didn't post it, but it has dp with chicks on it with yellow cardstock matted in chocolate chip and punched with the scallop punches. The punches are knew by the way and they do have a learning curve. I usually pick stuff up pretty quickly, but these took me a few tries and it's still not perfect.
I used basic grey dp with unknown yellow cardstock, baha breeze, chocolate chip and old olive. The stamps are from my days on the Clear Dollar Stamps design team - love this set, the little animals are so cute! They have some cute Christian sentiments that go with them as well!

Anyway, as usual, it felt good to get back into the studio and create something! Hope you like it - if there's any die hard "Frenchy fans" still out there.

A day of crafting

2009-10-17T14:01:00.000-07:00

It's been so long since I crafted just for fun. I've been so busy - and my daughter dragged me to a knitting class (ok, it wasn't that hard, but really, another hobby??). Anyway, Kai has the flu, so we're forced to stay home. He's feeling a little better, so I've taken the opportunity to get some crafting done. I finished a rosary that someone asked me to restring for them, started a bracelet made entirely of jumprings - needed a break from that for a while and made these projects. It's always so good to get back into my studio...I miss it SO much when I'm away, especially for so long.

I really liked the Just Buzzing By set from SU. So, I decided to make flavor infused honey for Christmas gifts this year. I found the bottles at Specialty Bottle. I stamped the images and colored them with copics. I cut them with my nesties and adhered them with mod podge. I will make a coordinating tag to hang around the neck of the bottle with the name of the honey - Orange, Ginger Lime, Tabasco (for my dad, sounds great for cornbread), mint or apple cinnamon, which was a special request from Emma. She wants to start selling honey. I don't think she realizes the time and money that would go into one little ol' bottle of honey!

This is actually my first set of nuggets. I got the stamps from Clear Dollar Stamps. So much fun! This will make great gifts for the kids in youth group! Shhhh...don't tell them!

Let's get organized!

2009-08-06T19:57:00.000-07:00

OK, since I've started couponing, I've outgrown my old planner. And, I don't have down time at this job, so no need to take my bills to work (I do miss being able to pay my bills at work, but hey, everything's a trade off, right?). So, I went back to a 3 ring binder with pocket dividers. I used Bear-ied in paperwork from the Gruffies line. I thought this little guy was really cute when I bought him over a year ago, but this is the first time I've used him! I colored him with copics. I stamped the layers of varied paper with flourish stamps and viola - my new planner. I printed the insides from organizedhome.com. Maybe now I'll enjoy paying bills and making my grocery list -hmmm... not likely.

Happy Bday to Jace

2009-07-23T20:52:00.001-07:00

My design team terms have all ended and I'm going to take a break for a while and stamp purely for fun. Here's my first for fun project. I used the Lots of Bots set from SU. I started with a gable green base, layered with pumpkin pie and basic grey dp. The nuts and bolts are stamped with brilliant blue stamped on gable green and layered with brilliant blue and pumpkin pie. I added some screw brads for fun. A birthday card HAS to have a ribbon right? So, I added pumpkin pie to mine. The robot is cut with a spellbinders label die.

The boss' bday and late father's day

2009-07-04T18:52:00.001-07:00

My boss likes coffee and she's always cold, so I made her a coffee themed fleece tie blanket. This is the card I made to go with it. I used a rose colored paper I've had forever - it may or may not be Bazzill. The flowers are paper studio and just silk flowers with a dew drop in the center. The stamps are flourishes, which I had to redo 4 times because I had a five year old trying to "help" me. The dp is from Me and My Big Ideas.

My ex-husband's grandma recently moved into a nursing home. He got a lot of her recipes. So, my daughter came up with the idea of making him a recipe box. He has this print hanging in his dining room. So, I suggested printing a bunch of french pictures and doing a collage with this as the focal point. I think it turned out pretty well.

The card is made with the same print and is very simple. I just used a nestability and some dots. The smaller black frame is handcut, because nestabilities still hasn't granted my wish and made the in between sizes that I need for this shape! C'mon guys - get to it. I promise to be first in line to buy them!

Time to celebrate Pamikins week and a new pic of the mascot

2009-06-13T20:24:00.000-07:00

Yes, that's right, another year has gone by and it's Pamikins week again. What? You've never heard of such a thing. Well, my sister Pam, decided many years ago that one day wasn't nearly enough time for her husband to spoil her as much as she deserves to be spoiled on her birthday, so Pamikins week was born. The nice thing about this is that her birthday is tomorrow, but since it lasts a whole week, this card won't be late! I used the SU set "Just Beachy". I stamped the fish and the surf wagon, colored them with copics and cut them out. I cut the circles with my nesties and stamped the fishes on the Cosmo Cricket wave dp circle. Then I adheared the cut out fish over them and added some google eyes, just for fun. Then I drove the surf wagon around the red circle. The base of the card is a tomatoey red cardstock paired with summer sun (SU) and a limey bazzill. Then more Cosmo Cricket dp. I was trying to decide upon what to add to the card when I remembered seeing a ribbon blossom like this about a hundred years ago. So, I pulled out a bunch of green ribbon and VIOLA! Happy birthday Pami!

And, for those of you who've been wondering what Wasabi has grown up like, here's a new picture of her. She rarely comes and sleeps on my desk anymore - she sticks to Kai's little chair in my studio. But, last night she came and got right up in the middle of everything, so I snapped this shot. Cute, huh?

A jewelry day

2009-05-30T19:47:00.000-07:00

I started this necklace last night. I did the first two strands and then wanted a heart with drill holes going through it widthwise, rather than lengthwise. I looked everywhere for one or even a pendant heart. No luck - who woulda thunk it?? Anyway, I went to the dollar store to buy cat litter at the end of the day and found this on a bracelet, which matched the other heart beads really well. So, I'm finished. This is the first 3 tiered necklace I've made that's turned out very well.

Her loss, my gain

2009-05-28T19:40:00.000-07:00

I tried to talk my mom out of buying this set. She has the SU set of wild animals - they aren't silhouettes and she thought she'd put them with the tree. I told her that she wouldn't like it. But, she didn't listen. So, now it's mine!

This is a bookmark for one of my son's Sunday school teachers. This Sunday is recognition Sunday. His teachers are a married couple who's granddaughter is in the class and they are so nice.

Kai asked me if I would make them a thank you card, but I figured I'd rather make them something they could use.

I started with post its, pumpkin pie, marigold morning, more mustard, cameo coral, brilliant blue, not quite navy and night of navy inks. After a few mishaps (I haven't used a brayer in a while), I got this, which I was ok with. The brayer, if you haven't ever used it, has quite a learning curve (at least for me). After inking the background, I stamped the silhouettes and inked the edges slightly with black, then mounted it on brilliant blue cardstock. I stamped the sentiment on marigold morning cardstock and inked it with pumpkin pie and a little black before mounting it on brilliant blue as well. The base is brilliant blue, layered with pumpkin pie. I hope that Kai's teacher likes this and gets some use out of it. I'm planning to make his wife a book thong with my beads, but not tonight - I'm tired.

No stampin' today

2009-05-25T07:24:00.000-07:00

My parents are coming for a cookout on this, the 3rd day of the 3 day weekend. A day for family and remembering those we've lost. Nothing is going as planned. I've been trying to get the house clean and there's still much to do. I have a closet in my studio full of stuff and I want to get it cleaned out. My bedroom, I'm embarrassed to admit looks like my closet threw up - clothes everywhere, on my dresser and my desk that need to be hung up and a clothes basket full of clothes that need to be put in the dresser. Why do I stress about this - because I want to be perfect. I know that I can't be. But, I guess I want to come as close as I can.
I fall short in every area of my life: as a mom, as an employee, as a daughter, a friend and as a person. I want to be the best person I can be. I can't be perfect, so why does anything less than that seem like failure.
And, I like most, try to think of a quick fix cure for whatever isn't perfect. There is no quick fix cure. I've made a schedule for our family to keep the house clean and if we follow it, the house will be clean. Still, there will always be things that aren't on that schedule - it still won't be perfect. I will always fall short, no matter how hard I strive - so why does it upset me so much. Do I really think that other people have it all together and I'm the only one like this? No, I do know that everyone has problems. So, why do I still, even after recognizing all of this feel like I'm less than I should be.

Naked baby fishin'

2009-05-20T19:42:00.000-07:00

I made this for my ex-grandma-in-law's bday. She likes the kewpies and I do, too. I colored them with copics, stardust pens and a white pen. The dp is from SU. It is paired with wild wasabi, bashful blue and so saffron. The flowers are paper studio. The ribbon is SU. The button is from my lss.

Chi-hua-hua

2009-05-06T19:00:00.001-07:00

Yeah - who wouldn't want a chihuahua on their birthday cake? This is another new stamp from doggonestamps.com. I colored it with copics and souffle' pens. The dp is Two scoops from Basic Grey. It's paired with pirouette pink and wild wasabi. The ribbon is from Walmart.

For all the kids who wish they were in Montana right now

2009-04-30T17:49:00.000-07:00

I know - late in the season for a sled card, but this is such a cute image, I couldn't resist. SEI paper again with black and tangerine. The ovals and circles were done with nesties. The image was colored with copics and stardust (to accent the snow).

Martini, shaken, not stirred...

2009-04-29T20:02:00.001-07:00

OK, I'm a chick...I don't watch James Bond movies. So, I had to go looking for a quote and "Martini, shaken, not stirred" was one I found. Well, my dad told me a joke...what did the duck say when he went into the bar? Put it on my bill. So, the inside of this card says: "Martini, shaken, not stirred. Put it on my bill."

This is another new stamp from http://doggonestamps.com/ Where they're having an awesome sale right now. This is Duck, James Duck. Too funny, huh? I paired him with one of my old loves that I've rediscovered - SEI DP. The ribbon is ribbonfx paired with a charm that I was lucky enough to have onhand. The sketch is from this week's sketch over at splitcoast.

Stamping - how I have missed you

2009-04-24T18:03:00.000-07:00

OH - I have missed stamping! I colored this frog last week and put the card together this evening. I colored him with copics and sakura glitter pens. The paper is k & co. I used chocolate chip, wild wasabi and an unknown lemony colored yello. The sentiment - dedicated to my future prince charming, wherever he may be - was printed on the computer and punched with two sized oval punches and a label punch. The background for my prince was done with my nesties. The flowers are paper studio, ribbon unknown and charm unknown.

Another new stamp from Dog Gone Dogs!

2009-04-04T13:21:00.000-07:00

That's right - it all started out with a few sketches of pups, but Dog Gone Dogs has more than just dogs. This beautiful stamp was just released. I stamped it with black ink and colored it with primas for a change - it just seemed to cry out for a lighter touch. I wish you could see the glitter on the wings! The card base is pirouette pink layered with wild wasabi and another layer of pirouette pink, stamped with a script background stamp. The flower girl is mounted on a curvy rectangle that I inked with a meadow scene, layered with wild wasabi and purely pomegranite. I stamped all of the flowers with the same script background and added a center of dew drops.

Bring on the Spring!

2009-04-02T18:23:00.001-07:00

I love this little girl. My "little" girl, who is about to turn 16, used to wear pigtails and hulahoop! This is one of my new stamps from doggonestamps.com. I used some previously hoarded su dp with wild wasabi, bashful blue, only orange and real red. The flower is a silk flower that I disassembled and paired with a polkadot prima. The eyelet is from We are Memory Keepers. It was kind of a muted orangey color, so I colored over it with an orange copic - just one of the great things about alcohol based markers. The eyelet says "You are my Sunshine". My dad used to sing when he shaved in the mornings and he often sang this song. The quote is part of the dp set and is by Ghandi. Come back soon and check out more of the cute new stamps I'm going to be creating with over the next few days!

My first card in a LONG while

2009-03-29T11:18:00.001-07:00

I haven't made a card for fun (rather than work) in a long time. I got this SU set - Hit the Road, just shortly after the Spring/Summer catty came out. But, I haven't had a chance to ink it up until now. What better way to spend a snow day than making a snow day card? The papers are baha breeze, red ridinghood and white. I stamped the baha circle with a swirl bg stamp (haven't used one of those in a long time either). I added some liquid applique snow and my pup had the perfect place to try out his 4 wheel drive (something I wish I'd had this morning, maybe I could have gotten out of my driveway and gone to church). I embossed the white with my cuttlebug. The snowman strip is from a piece of KI memories dp I've been hoarding. It's shimmery, so there is a little bit of a glare. The snowman is a metal tag...no idea where it came from. I have a bunch of them that I found when looking for an embellishment today. Ok, well, my son is ringing the bell, which means I'm supposed to be out there helping him clear the drive...hope you enjoyed the card!

Snowed in

2009-03-29T09:43:00.001-07:00

So much for spring! Actually, I've kind of enjoyed it. The kids have gone outside several times (for about 5-10 minutes each, the wimps). I imagine if they head out today, they'll stay out longer because it's not blowing and it's not as cold as yesterday. I've really been trying to get some things done around the house - the laundry is totally caught up. Or at least it was until the boys went out and got wet 3 times! But, to me, a snow day just cries out for one to be lazy. I have enjoyed cooking. I was going to make cookies and decided we didn't really need them. So, I'm going to make ham loaf. When I did a freezer inventory the other day, I realized I had a lot of leftover ham. The ham is thawing and I brought the grinder attachments to the KitchenAid mixer up from the pantry and have washed them all. I'm going to try the asian sauce I made the other night with shrimp with beef tonight. Unfortunately, Gage has drunk all of the orange juice. But, I have some clementines, which will work nicely - so sweet!

And, now - brace yourselves. I have set the boys up with a movie and I'm going to make a card! I know, hard to believe, it's been so long. I'm excited and a little nervous, actually - it's been so long, I'm afraid now that I actually have time, I won't be able to think of anything to do! So, wish me luck and come back soon to see what I did.

WOW - it's been a long time!

2009-03-26T10:27:00.000-07:00

Things have been absolutely crazy at work lately. I was tired when I got home several nights in a row and got nothing done. Now I'm trying to get caught up on housework. I did get most of my laundry caught up last night. We've invited the church youth pastor for dinner on Monday, so we have a deadline and have to get the house cleaned up!
I tried a new recipe last night - sort of. I made lo mein and then made shrimp cooked in garlic, orange juice, hoisin sauce and a little cayenne pepper. The sauce, while simple, was really good, but I think it lends itself better to beef. So, I think next time I'll dredge some thin beef in cornstarch and cook it in oil. The cornstarch might thicken the sauce just a little and I think it will taste great! I also think it would be better with rice. Throw in some crab rangoon or potstickers with broccoli and we'll be good to go! I'm getting better with Asian cuisine, although my crab rangoon isn't as pretty as what you normally see in a restaurant.

Birthday hound!

2009-03-04T20:55:00.000-08:00

Birthday Betsy has come to town! This is another amazing stamp from http://doggonestamps.com/ I colored Betsy with copics and cut her out. I LOVE to cut out my images - want a tip on cutting? I use cutterbee scissors - keep them SHARP! Put your thumb in the thumb hole and your middle finger in the other whole. This will give you more control over the scissors. It takes a little getting used to, but is very helpful. Finally, move your paper, turn the paper, not the scissors when you cut for a smoother line. Anyway, this is for the sketch challenge over at http://www.papercraftplanet.com/group/doggonestamps I used basic grey dp, pumpkin pie and pacific point.

Homage to star wars

2009-02-26T19:16:00.000-08:00

I loved this frog from the minute I saw him! Maybe it's because he's green, maybe it's the wisdom he exudes, but he reminds me of Yoda. Hence, the quote. I loved the asian-like print of the basic grey. All papers are basic grey except the card base, which is buckaroo blue. I colored the image with copics and for the first time, really got into using the blending marker. Love it now - expect to see it a lot more in the future. I colored the primas to match with copics as well. So, in the spirit of the Lenton season, I hope that you will be inspired by this to do or not do.

That's all folks!

2009-02-20T20:12:00.001-08:00

Another adorable stamp from doggonestamps.com! I knew when I saw this little piggy, for some reason, I wanted to make a very cartoony back drop for him. So, here he is in his cartoon meadow. I found the quote and it just felt right. I really like the cartoon feel of the picture paired with the elegance of the quote and the lines of the curvy rectangle nesties - it just feels like a story book. This is for the challenge on papercraftplanet.com in the doggonestamps forum. The challenge was to make a purple card. Well, I'm not much of a purple kind of gal. But, I do like almost amethyst. So, I paired it with certainly celery and so saffron. Then I threw in some black to ground all of those pastels a little bit. I'm not sure where I got the ribbon, but it matched well. And now a message to spellbinders - PLEASE make another set of the curvy rectangles! Everytime I use these I have to cut the second layer by hand because the next size up just seems too big to me. I promise -if you make them, I will be the first in line to snap them up!

Sweet giraffe

2009-02-15T19:08:00.000-08:00

Isn't this giraffe a cutie? I colored him with copics and cut him out. He is mounted on nestie ovals, layered with nestie labels. The card base is sunshine yellow, chocolate chip, and k& co. dp. The nesties are done in red and choclate with the same dp. I embossed the red layer. The giraffe ribbon has a sparkley ribbon slide. The flowers are prima and paper studio set off with a rhinestone brad.

Happy Valentine's day!

2009-02-13T18:39:00.000-08:00

I'm early! That hardley ever happens. This is my new stamp: Gabby and Zoey Bows, from doggonestamps.com This card is for my sister and brother in law who got married on Valentines day 22 years ago when they were just babies. They are total dog people. So, this stamp is perfect for them. I colored the pups with copics and cut them out, chopping the bow on the tall one's head to make her a him. The card base is tempiting turquoise layered with chocolate chip and twitterpated dp - an ancient relic from SEI. The pups are mounted on nestie's labels in pirouette pink, chocolate chip and tempting turquoise. The flower is a spellbinders die, embossed and inked with pink passion. The center is something I've had forever. Hope you all like it!

Doggone stamps!

2009-02-12T19:18:00.000-08:00

This is my first card with my new stamps from doggonestamps.com. This little guy is SO cute! He's called "Black Lab" and you can just tell he want's to play. It would make a cute valentine's card, too. Unfortunately, I have no recipients! I stamped the pup with archival black ink. I colored with copics and sponged the grass and sky. The dp is pet stack from DCWV. No idea where I got that brad, maybe oriental trading co. The cardstock is from Hobby Lobby, no idea of brand or color, just picked what matched the dp. I used su hardware on the sentiment and the ribbon is offray.

New Design Team

2009-02-06T11:25:00.001-08:00

I have just accepted a position on the design team at doggonestamps.com They are a new stamp company. You should really go check them out! They have the cutest stamps! I just placed my first order and as soon as I get them I'll get some cards posted here. Come back soon to see them!

Two posts in one day??!!?!!?!

2009-02-01T18:41:00.001-08:00

I made this card for the featured stamper challenge on SCS. I knew when I saw this card: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1139669?cat=500&ppuser=64518 in BevR's gallery I wanted to use it for the challenge. I changed the stamp set, the colors and papers, snowflakes to flowers and the shape of the sentiment. I just love this little beaver from Clear Dollar Stamps! He's so cute! And - believe it or not - no basic grey on this card! I used a new paper pad from Me & My Big Ideas - remember the stick people stickers from about 10 years ago?? The card base is mellow moss, layered with chocolate chip and MAMBI dp. I cut the panel on one side with jumbo scallop scissors and layered it with more MAMBI dp. I layered blue and moss ribbon to accent. The flowers are silk flowers that I've taken apart, primas and Queen and Co. The sentiment is stamped in Chocolate chip, layered with a chocolate chip oval. I just realized I forgot the corner punch - I do have it, will have to go stick it on.

No stampers were harmed in the making of this card

2009-02-01T11:49:00.000-08:00

I managed to avoid injuring myself this time. I made this invite for supper club, which we are hosting this month. Only 15 more to go, although I'll probably change it up a little. I did all of my Christmas cards the same one year and I've never used that stamp set again since then! I used Stampin' Up's Voila, which I haven't used for a while (one of my New Year's resolutions, rather than spending more money on stamps. On a side note, I had several things in a shopping cart at Treehouse Stamps and decided that I should not spend the money. So, if anyone at Treehouse Stamps is watching and would like to offer me a position on your design team, the answer is yes! Anyway, I stamped the chef on white Georgia Pacific cardstock and colored him with copics. The cardbase is made of real red, layered with black cardstock, which I embossed using my cuttlebug swiss dots folder and SU red and white DP. I added black sheer ribbon and ovals nesties. I put the chef on the ovals and added white dots.

It drew blood

2009-01-19T21:43:00.001-08:00

Now you know this cute little coon didn't bite me - nope, he's safe. It was all Magick's fault. For those of you who don't know, I adopted a cute little siamese - my mascot, pictured over here on the right, Wasabi. She fit just right on my desk. Well, then we inherited her much larger and not quite as graceful (yeah, I'm being nice, he's a big ol' oaf) brother, Magick. He is my self-proclaimed new and improved mascot, because, you see, he doesn't just sleep on the desk beside me and purr. No, he likes to get right in the thick of things and help out. This only becomes a problem when he jumps right in the middle of whatever I'm working on (3 or 4 times). Well, this time I was trying to poke my brad through two layers of that pretty ribbon and a layer of paper. I couldn't find my paper piercer, so I used a straight pin, which helped not a bit. So, when Magick crash landed on my desk, the brad went right through all those layers and into my finger. Oh, well, at least I got the brad through, right? So, if you've made it through the story and you're still reading, here's the card recipe. That cute little (not rabid) racoon is from Clear Dollar Stamps. Go check them out - they have amazing stuff. I colored him with copics and made him a little hairy with a fine line SU marker in creamy caramel. The card base is elegant eggplant, layered with basic grey (of course, is there any other kind of paper? I really need to get out more), chocolate chip and more BG. When I was little (like kindergarten) I loved green and purple together, so I really liked that this DP let me go back to that color combo. Anyway, The "frame" for the coon is made with curvy rectangle nesties, I hand cute the closer layers (the chocolate chip and the elegant eggplant) because I really don't like all the space that the curvy rectangles leave - are you listening spellbinders - make more sizes, I'll buy them! I added a cocoa-y ribbon layered with a limey ribbon and used my label punch with the flowered BG behind the hardware. I punched a lime oval stamped with the sentiment and layered it with a chocolate chip oval. I popped the ovals up for dimension. This is for the lady I work with who will be leaving us at the end of the month. She is so sweet, I will really miss her. I hope she likes the card, thank goodness I didn't get any blood on it!
OH - BTW, thank you to those of you who've wished me a happy birthday. We've had some sickies in the family and I've been finding it difficult to find time to stamp. I've missed it and I'm glad I finally got to make something! I spent my birthday at the bowling alley chasing a group of 5 year olds. My son's turning 5 tomorrow, so we had his party on Saturday. However, my mom has promised me a belated celbration at Olive Garden this weekend! :)

Back again

2009-01-08T10:54:00.000-08:00

OK - I haven't been doing too well keeping up with the blog this year so far. I do have an excuse. I had the stomach flu - I haven't been that sick for a long time and hopefully won't again for another long time. Anyway, here's my last thank you note (at least until my birthday in 9 days):

My mom and dad got me Stampin' Up's Under the Stars for Christmas. I paired the bear with this great camping paper from Cloud 9 Designs (it's from Fiskars, who knew?). The base of the card is cranberry crisp, layered with plaid dp, black and camping dp. I stamped the bear with jet black ink and colored him with copics. He is standing on a nestie-cut circle made with the camping dp, layered with black and nestie-cut ovals in plaid and cranberry crisp (wow, just seeing that makes me want to make fruit crisp for dessert tonight, but I think I'll hold off a while longer before trying food like that). The ribbon is twill and I stamped the sentiment on cranberry crisp layered with black and punched with SU ovals.

Grateful puppy

2009-01-04T18:11:00.001-08:00

This is my first time using this cute little puppy even though I've had him for a long time. I stamped the pup on a diamond shape and colored him with copics. Then I matted it with red and black. The card base is wild wasabi (my personal fave of all time) layered with black, red and K&Co dp. The ribbon is SU pumpkin pie. The little cactus and the sentiment are part of the pup set.

Frenchy's Friday Inspiration Face-Off

2009-01-02T05:00:00.000-08:00

OK - it's a brand-spankin' new year. What are your resolutions? Got 'em? Now - that's your inspiration for the day. Make a card inspired by your New Year's Resolutions. Here are a couple of mine that I was inspired by: Remember to be grateful (this is a thank you note), try to use more of my old stamps in a new way rather than buying new ones (ok, you know there will be exceptions in cases of emergency when there are great new stamps released, but for this card I used a retired SU set), simplify (although I'm planning to apply this to my life rather than my projects, this is a very simple card).

I started out with Big Celebrations, which I bought when it was retiring a couple of years ago, but I've only used it a few times. Rather than using my old stand by copics, I used SU markers with a watercolor pen to color it. I sponged a little baha breeze on the edge to compliment the blue color (You can't see it well in the picture) in the basic grey DP. I cute the image and it's black mat with nesties as well as the layers of the card. I placed them all on a real red card base, added dots ala markie's mom and tied on a ribbon. So, show me what you've got: make a card inspired by your resolutions and post a link here. If you post to SCS use the keyword FFIF12.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T13:12:00.000-08:00

OK - I finally got a chance to use my new flourishes sweet treats set. I love the cake stand! I stamped it on white Georgia Pacific Cardstock with Jet Black Archival Ink, colored the scallops and feet with copics, then stamped it on Basic Grey Two Scoops and paper pieced the "flat areas". I stamped each cupcake with walnut stain, colored the "icing" with glue pen and glittered it. Then I cut each one out and placed it on the cake stand. I used glaze pen for the cherry on top. The card base is from my brand new package of that lucious pink pirouette, layered with chocolate chip and basic grey two scoops dp. I stamped the sentiment in walnut stain on pink pirouette layered with chocolate chip. This is one of those "simple cards" that takes forever. The layout is simple, but the paper piecing, glittering and cutting out of each cupcake took a long time. I am happy with it, though. After all, who could resist glittery cupcakes?

Craving Chocolate?

2008-12-31T05:08:00.000-08:00

Oh, come on, you know everyone is going on a diet the day after tomorrow! Luckily, this chocolate has no calories (unless you fill the can with something yummy!). I used chocolate chip, baha breeze and blush blossom. I stamped it all over with these cute little candies and addressed it "From one cocoa nut to another". Here is a view of the lid:

CDS Rocks!

2008-12-29T17:05:00.001-08:00

And, now they smell good, too! This set is a Jan. 1 release and is SO cute! It's called Heaven Scent. I used baha breeze and white embossing powder to make these vanilla scented bath accessories. I tied on a cute little perfume bottle charm, just for fun! These were very quick and easy. I gave them to a co-worker as a gift and she loved them.

Another sneak peek!

2008-12-28T16:14:00.001-08:00

When I saw this adorable little bear, another image from Clear Dollar Stamps Spring Critter, to be released Jan 1, I thought he'd make a perfect polar bear. But, for some reason, I just felt he wanted to be a little brown bear for this card. I stamped him with black and colored him with copics. The card base is only orange layered with black and basic grey dp. The ribbon is offrey and the sentiment is stamped on only orange, punched with an oval punch and layered with black. The two buttons in the corner add the final touch (this was a sketch challenge for the design team, by the way). I love all the fun polka dots in this card!

Chocolate CDS Sneak Peek

2008-12-27T18:25:00.000-08:00

This is made with a new release coming out January 1st at Clear Dollar Stamps. The set is called Chocoholic. It is too cute! I made this cute little rescue bottle, stamping with chocolate chip ink on certainly celery, layered with chocolate chip. I punched the candy bars and bon bons with a small circle punch and the seven days sentiment with a bigger circle punch and hung it as a tag around the neck of the bottle. The bottle is actually a small bud vase I got at walmart. Below you can see the scroll inside the bottle: "Things are bad, send chocolate". Who hasn't felt like that once in a while!

New Releases from Clear Dollar Stamps

2008-12-26T06:56:00.001-08:00

This has got to be one of the cutest stamps I have ever seen! I stamped the little beaver from Clear Dollar Stamps Spring Critters set, being released in January, with black ink. I colored him with copics and accented him with a white signo pen. I started with a chocolate chip base layered with kraft and river rock. The dp is cosmo cricket. I cut the clouds out and popped them up with dimensionals. I added some real sticks and built a dam for mr. beaver. Be sure to come back over the next several days to see more new releases from CDS!

12 Drummers Drumming

2008-12-07T14:24:00.000-08:00

I got these cute Penny Black 12 days of Xmas stamps the other day. I love this little dog with the Elton John glasses. I colored him with copics and his drum set with stardust pens. The base of the card is Garden green layered with black, red bazzill and this great red and green striped number from the DCWV pet stack. I cut black paper and the bone paper (also from the pet stack) with my curved rectangle nesties. I cut the bone paper and the red and green striped with my oval nesties and the image with a circle nestie. I stamped the 12 drummers drumming and colored the 12 with a copic. I mounted it on black and trimed the edges to match the curved rectangle. I'm doing simpler cards to finish up my xmas cards (running late this year). This one is for my friend who loves dogs and her DH, who played drums in high school.

Yesterday's challenge card

2008-12-06T13:15:00.000-08:00

This is one of those cards that didn't come out the way I pictured it in my head. I don't know if I should have made the tree smaller to see if the guitar would wrap around it more or not, but I was afraid that if I did that no one would be able to tell it was a christmas tree. Oh, well. My dd will like it and it's for her. The guitar image is from inkadinkado, the tree is cut freehand. Paper is basic grey and cranberry crisp.

FFIF11

2008-12-05T05:25:00.001-08:00

This is today's Inspiration Challenge. I'm so sorry, I don't have time to finish the card that goes with it. I probably won't get it posted today, as my office Xmas party is tonight. I will post it tomorrow - in the meantime, have fun with this painting by Chris Buzelli and upload with the keyword FFIF11!

It's beginning to look a lot like....

2008-12-03T20:35:00.000-08:00

Christmas posts are going to be kind of sparadic. The only reason I did this challenge is because I need to be finishing my xmas cards! I also have gifts to make, though. And, I still have a few more cards to make. I got these cute Penny Black stamps in the mail today and had to use them. I used BG, red ridinghood (eating my words when I said that some of this year's colors weren't that different from current colors) and creamy caramel. I used my nesties - made a perfectly embossed curved rectangle to go under the hardware and broke my first cuttlebug plate - and then ruin the rectangle and went with a tiny bit of red oval peeking out instead of cutting a new curved rectangle. Oh - just almost posted this without the pic - time to go relax!

Ugh

2008-12-01T18:43:00.000-08:00

Nothing like Monday after a long weekend, huh? I am exhausted - I did do a few envelopes for some cards I sold on ebay, but no cards to post today. I'm going to go relax in front of the tree! Maybe I can drag myself out of bed early tomorrow to participate in the challenge.

Today's challenge and another sneak peek

2008-11-28T18:33:00.001-08:00

How does Christmas inspire you? I love Christmas and I want to get everything I can out of it, so I have to stay organized! So, today's project made with the new Clear Dollar Stamp releases, Christmas Tree Delight Wheel and Tree Delight Tag set. So, today's challenge - how does Christmas inspire you. Post on splitcoast with keywork FFIF10.

Time for another CDS sneak preview!

2008-11-26T17:05:00.001-08:00

This gift ensemble was made with the Clear Dollar Stamps new release, Christmas Tree Delight Wheel and Tree Delight Tag set . Other supplies include: a composition notebook, mini lunchbox, lip gloss, candy kisses, pen, ribbon, K & Co. DP, baha breeze paper and wild wasabi prints, and LOTS of bling. I had so much fun decorating all those cute little trees with gems! Hope you enjoy!

Here's a close up of the card, which I made with my new curved rectangle nesties:

Monday

2008-11-24T20:36:00.001-08:00

We have a lady who comes into our office once a week (or more if we need more help), who helps out. She's 79 and she can work hard! Last week she came in and announced the birth of her very first great grandchild. She said: "I've always been a great Grandma, but now it's official". So, I made this card to wish her congratulations on her brand new grandbaby. The image is one of the only baby images I have, mostly because I don't know alot of people who are having babies. It's from Bundle of Joy, from SU. I stamped the little bear and colored him with several different shades of brown, then went over him with ivory, using my copics. The card base is pirouette pink, layered with kiwi kiss and basic grey lily kate. I cut a circle with more lily kate and a scallop with kiwi kiss. I mounted the bear on it, grounding him with a ribbon, tied through the hardware with the matching sentiment. I think doodle this goes well with the bundle set, so I stamped a swirly and added a cute little flower.

Friday face-off 9!

2008-11-21T05:19:00.001-08:00

How obnoxious are those colors? But, how cute? And, besides, that's why they call it a challenge!

I decided to tone my colors down just a little, using the faux linen technique for the bg and mounting it on a kraft cardbase. The images are from doodlefactory's tropical set. I stamped the hut and the small palm tree on glossy cardstock and colored them. I sanded them then added a little bit of cool carribean and creamy caramel and sanded again. I layered it with baha breeze, pumpkin pie and wild wasabi. I colored the large palm tree and this cute little hula guy with copics and cut them out. I mounted them on nestie ovals and scallops in baha breeze, wild wasabi, real red and pumpkikn pie. I tied a couple of pumpkin pie ribbons across the card and mounted the ovals on them. I added baha breeze and real red corners with button brads. I'd love for you to join in and be inspired today - post with the keyword FFIF9!

Ick - I'm sick

2008-11-19T16:35:00.000-08:00

No cards today - I could barely drag myself out of bed to get ready for work, let alone whip up a card. I promise to post Friday's Inspiration Face-off, though!

Today's Challenge

2008-11-18T17:27:00.000-08:00

Yeah - finally got my Coon Wishes from CDS. This was the stamp of the month the month before I made the design team, but I had to have it! Today's challenge was Real red, kraft and black. So, I stamped the little raccon and decided that he just must have a buddy, so I stamped again! I colored both of the little guys with copics and cut them out. I cut into the one on the right a little so his buddy could sling his arm around his shoulder. Then I started with a kraft card base, layered with black, real red, kraft and basic grey. I cut basic grey and black with my curved rectangle nesties. The black was more than I wanted, so I just cut around the basic grey freehand. Next I stamped Hi, Friend on kraft, punched it with the small oval, added the large oval in black and tied on a ribbon. I also added ribbon to the card and called it done. It felt to me like it was missing something, but I was running late and had to get ready for work.

Today's Challenge

2008-11-17T15:15:00.001-08:00

Here is my spin on today's challenge. I do not do stuff like this - all the folding and stuff. But, it was kind of fun for a change. And, it was actually pretty easy. I thought it looked a little like a wreath, so I chose a basic grey holly paper and mounted it on a striped "door", mounted on always artichoke. The cute little bird is from my new hero arts set. The card base is creamy caramel layered with cranberry crisp and another bg dp. I stamped the sentiment on creamy caramel with crandberry crisp ink and inked the edges with always artichoke, then punched it with the large oval punch - they need to make those in bigger sizes. Yeah, I have my nesties, but I still love my oval punches. Then I mounted a circle punch of the holly paper on a cranberry crisp label punch and slapped the oval on the top.

Frenchy's OUT!

2008-11-15T05:14:00.000-08:00

OK - sorry no cards the last couple of days. I did check out the challenges - and of course, they were simple ones I could have definitely done! However, I've been SO busy! We're going to my dd's baptism this weekend and I've been busy getting ready for that. Plus work has been crazy - but good. Yestereday, I got everything marked off my TO DO list (well, that day's to do, Monday, there will be a whole new one!). Anyway, away for the weekend, so no posts until Monday! Have a great weekend - will return with the FFIF next Friday!

Today's Challenge

2008-11-12T16:11:00.001-08:00

This is for today's sketch challenge at scs. It is also for my dd's baptism, this weekend. I stamped "Sometimes you're the bug" from clear dollar stamps, adding the cross and "saved" on license plate from the matching set, "Heaven Bound". I colored the image, using copics, stardust pens and a glaze pen. The base of the card is taken with teal layered with certainly celery, bayou blue and this really cute basic grey dp (notice it has lady bugs on it). I cut the squares along the bottom using a coordinating basic grey dp then matted them with taken with teal and black. I tied this ribbon around it (can't remember where I got it, but isn't it pretty?). I cut the bug out and mounted it with dimensionals. Then I stamped the sentiment on certainly celery and punched it with the small oval punch, matting it with the large oval in taken with teal. I added a few primas and a dew drop, just because it need SOMETHING! The inside says "best taken with God". I sponged all the layers, including the sentiment with bayou blue very lightly. I just dabbed it heavily in ink and with the card laying flat on my su grid pad, I dab the sponge along the edge, just to give it a speckled, distressed look to match the BG DP!

Today's Challenge

2008-11-11T05:57:00.001-08:00

Today's challenge really was a challenge for me. I just don't like using grey. But, I did - it's in there, I promise! For this card I used the basic grey snowflake sticker, put it on some GREY cardstock and cut it out. I stamped Santa Collage with versamark and embossed it with silver. I inked the edges just a bit with chocolate chip, then matted it with pacific point, also inked in chocolate chip. Then I added little gems to each circle on the snowflake. The card base is certainly celery, layered with basic grey (see, I told you I used it), pacific point and basic grey dp, all inked with chocolate chip.

Today's Challenge

2008-11-10T06:13:00.000-08:00

Yeah - today's challenge was posted early enough for me to get it done this morning before work! Sorry there were no posts over the weekend. I was crafting like mad, but it was for a design team deadline and I can't show you anything - yet!

So, for today's challenge we got to make a cute Christmas tree box. I made mine out of, what else, basic grey. I actually wanted to use some old SEI dp I had, but I didn't have enough. Maybe I'll trying reducing the size and making one with it later. I cut a strip of white with mini scallop scissors and added glitter to it. I got these cute hero arts stamps this weekend, so had to use one. My dd loves penguins, so this will probably be for her. Cute, huh? I used silver paper with my cricut to cut the stars (the instructions called for the large SU star punch, which I don't have) and this polka dot ribbon.

FFIF8

2008-11-07T05:16:00.000-08:00

Here's this week's inspiration for the FFIF8. It's a great room with cute lambs and the sweet color combo of so saffron, black and white. Have fun with it. Here' s my sample card:

I started out by sponging certainly celery and bashful blue onto white cardstock. I used a stamp from watercolor mini's with wild wasabi to make the meadow's ground cover. The fence is simply tiny little scraps that were on my desk. I stamped the sheep jumping over the fence (very fitting, since I couldn't go to sleep last night) and then stamped it again on white cardstock. I made black swirls on his body, cut it out and mounted it on the sheep jumping over the fence. I matted it on so saffron and black, to which I added white dots with a white pen. The card base is so saffron, layered with black (dotted with white pen), white (dotted with black pen) and then another layer of so saffron, all tied up with this cute black ribbon with white polka dots.
Hope you have fun with the challenge - don't forget to upload with the keyword FFIF8!

Swedish Collage

2008-11-06T17:27:00.001-08:00

Ok, Swedish Collage is totally not my style, but...a couple of summers ago my oldest son went to culinary camp in Lindsborg, KS at the Stockholm Restaurant and Tea Room. Lindsborg is

rich in Swedish culture and Stockholm Restaurant is no exception. Well, last weekend when I went to help my dad at the Victorian Tea in St. John, the owner, Irene Nielson, was the speaker. She did a great job and I sold her cookbooks. As a thank you, she sent me a beautiful swedish crystal hummingbird. So, this is my thank you for the sweet gift.

The image is from starving artist stamps. It is the horse from the doodle factory fairy tale set. The card base is pacific point, layered with white and basic grey dps. I punched the corners for today's wt191. The chipboard letters spell "thank you" in Swedish.

Don't forget to join me tomorrow for Frenchy's Friday Inspiration Challenge!

Night Shift again

2008-11-05T16:37:00.000-08:00

OK - I'm home, dinner has been made and eaten and the oldest child is now doing the dishes. I actually finished this card this morning since Gage didn't have to go to school until 9:00. I just took both boys to school at the same time, so I did have a little time to work on the challenge. But, I didn't have time to post it. Better late than never The image is Santa Collage by rubber stampede. I stamped it in cranberry crisp. It is matted on cranberry crisp, beige bazzill and almost amethyst. The next layer is basic grey dp, cranberry crisp and almost artichoke. The last layer is basic grey dp, almost artichoke, beige bazzill and it's all on a cranberry crisp cardbase and tied up with some sheer cranberry ribbon.

The Tuesday Evening Post

2008-11-04T18:51:00.000-08:00

Ok, looks like my posts will be evening posts. I was up at 5:00 am with Kai B. But, alas, the challenge wasn't posted until much later. So, I started it this morning, worked on it a little at noon and just finished up. Also, I had to go to Hobby Lobby this evening - they had all kinds of beads on sale! How fun! So, here's my spin on the color challenge. The color combo lent itself perfectly to a Christmas card, of which I need plenty, so I chose Charlie Snowhorse for my image. I colored him as Charlie Horse buried in snow this time, with ornaments hanging off his "arms". He is mounted on nested ovals and oval scallopped in The Three colors - kiwi kiss, pink pirouette (I was out of pretty in pink) and ridinghood red (which I love, even though I was skeptical that these colors were much different than current colors when I first saw them). The card base is ridinghood red layered with pink pirouette, kiwi kiss & basic grey dp (got it in the mail yesterday, isn't it yummy?). I ticket punched the corners and added little pink gems. I tied on a sheer pink ribbon and stamped the sentiment on pirouette pink, oval punched and layered with ridinghood red. Then, just to give this simple card a little something more I added three more little pink gems on the red oval. Hope you enjoy! See you tomorrow for the Wednesday evening post!

Better late than never

2008-11-03T18:23:00.001-08:00

I got this fun comforter set from Target right before my surgery, back in August. I'd been meaning to replace the light blue candles I had that matched my other comforter since then. So, I finally got to it. I used some flourish stamps (I don't remember the brand) and SU Best Blossoms. I stamped them on tissue paper with Chocolate Chip and Pink Passion. I then wrapped the tissue paper around the candles and then heated with my embossing gun. The embossing gun melts the candle just a bit and the tissue paper like melts into the candle. It is awesome and SO easy! The best part about it is that those super cheap $ store candles work great for it. So, if you're looking for an Christmas gift idea - this is a good one! Here's a close up look of the candles:

And, here's a look at the kitty that seems to be neglected by my blog, Citrus (AKA Cityboy):

Well, for those of you who are wondering - I had a great first day at my new job! The people seem very nice!
I did look at the Technique challenge this morning and while I loved it, I had to skip it, because I don't have any corner punches. Maybe Santa will put one in my stocking! But, I will be sure to join in the color challenge tomorrow and maybe even TCP (The Cat's Pajamas) Tuesday!

No cards today

2008-11-02T18:50:00.000-08:00

Ugh - I'm so tired! I went to church this morning and then immediately drove out to St. John (where my parents live) to help my dad, the hopeless volunteer, with the Victorian Tea. I sold cookbooks from 1:00 to 5:30. My mom warned me, as always to watch for deer - they are lookin' for love this time of year and we all know what that does to your brains, so they forget that they aren't supposed to dash out in front of cars. I promised to watch for them, although, I must confess, I can't see the little boogers. My mom can - she'll even point them out and I never see them until we're right there. Well, on the way home a guy had his brights on and I couldn't see anything, so I flashed my lights at him. He no more dimmed them and I saw a doe running right out in front of me. I swerved (yeah, I know you're not supposed to do that) and, thank God she turned around and ran back the other way, so I missed her, but it was SO close! It scared me so badly! But, here I am, home, safe and sound. I'm starting a new job tomorrow (yeah!) and I've begun to worry about what I'm going to wear. So, I did what all good stampers do - I posted the question over on splitcoast and I'm waiting for sage advice from fellow stampers! I've been working on a project with the December releases for CDS (I know we just had Nov., but that's how it works), but I've finally finished it, so more stamping on tomorrow's blog, I promise! Maybe I'll even do Monday's technique challenge. No promises, though, I promised not to buy things just to do the challenges. See you tomorrow - hope you had a great weekend and will have a wonderful week to come!

Friday Face-off and the last of the sneak peeks

2008-10-31T06:42:00.000-07:00

I love the bright colors in this kids' playroom. Here's the card it inspired. Have fun! Be sure the put FFIF7 in the key words when you upload!

I made this card for one of my son's birthdays. The only inspiration I took from the room was the colors, which I thought were perfect for a birthday card. I stamped "Sometimes you're the bug" and colored it a great green color with my copics, then added some brightly wrapped gifts in the back with "In the Bug". The card base is a lime green bazzilllayered with black and basic grey dp. The panel is basic grey, which I cuttlebugged with the birthday embossing folder, matted with black, which I cut with some decorative scissors. Finally, I stamped the sentiment on basic grey, matted with black and punched with oval punches and added some more birthday gifts.

Doesn't Charlie Horse make a cute snowman? This is the new "Charlie Snowhorse" available Nov. 1st from Clear Dollar Stamps. I stamped him and then added lots of glitter for the snow and colored his scarf with, yep, you guessed it, copics. I framed him using this SEI frame from years ago and layered it with baja breeze, ridinghood red, and certainly celery. Then I added this great ribbon and cute charm frame, inside which I put a silver snowflake. The card base is ridinghood red, layered with certainly celery and baja breeze.

Here's another one with charlie snowhorse. I stamped Charlie and this time just added accents of blue glitter. I sponged the bg with bayou blue lightly and added bits of white glitter for snow. I used my nesties to cut him into a circle and matted him with a chocolate chip circle. The base of the snow globe is part of a trophy, which I cut with my cricut using the Disney Cars cartridge. The card base is grey layered with this great SU dp from last Christmas and black with another dp from the same set. I corner punched black and sage shadow and added those to the corner with a little gem.

This is another Nov. 1st release, Rodney Deer. I figured most people would use this for Christmas, so I wanted to give another spin on it. Besides, it was my friend, Cathie's birthday! I stamped the cute little guy on this SU dp and then again on white paper. I colored the white one and cut out the body, mounting it over the one on the dp. I used rub ons to write "Happy birthday (deer image) Cathie, Happy birthday to you!" and the presents are also rubons. I layered this with real rust, more dp and stuck it to the wild wasabi card base.
Well, I hope you've enjoyed the sneak peeks. Be sure to visit again. I'm working on the December projects right now and I'm really proud of how they are turning out!

More peeking and today's challenge

2008-10-30T08:41:00.001-07:00

Here's another Lampost Expressions card. This set is just so cool! I did this card for the design team challenge to use glossy cardstock. I liked the faux linen technique I used on the turkey card, so used it again on this card. I colored the image with copics and then sanded, added color with sponges and sanded again. I matted the image with layers of black and real red. The card base is always artichoke layered with basic grey. I tied on a ribbon and added the sentiment from Charlie Snowhorse (you'll see the sneak peek of it tomorrow, along with the Friday faceoff!).
Today's challenge on SCS was to get crackin'! I tried out the cracked glass technique with my mom's new scarecrow stamp. I told her that stamps don't stay uninked for long in my house! This poor ol' scarecrow isn't scary - so now he's free! I stamped the images and colored with copics. Then I did 4 layers of clear embossing powder and through it in the freezer for a bit. I made the sign with more mustard cardstock and the card with old olive, chocolate chip and SU halloween 2007 dp. I stamped the sentiment on pumpkin pie, layered with chocolate chip and old olive. I added a strip of brown polkadot ribbon flanked by two pieces of green polkadot ribbon. The flower was white, so I colored it with copics and added the brown polkadot ribbon. After I got the image out of the freezer I cracked it up and then mounted it on chocolate chip and old olive.

Sneak peek and todays challenge

2008-10-29T08:23:00.000-07:00

This is another great image that's being release Nov. 1st at Clear Dollar Stamps. The lampost has great sentiments that can go on the sign and cute little animals that can be place on or around it. I made this card for the design team color challenge - tempting teal, going gray and mellow moss. I colored the lampost with copics and embossed it. Then I used my brayer and sponges with several shades of blue to make the sky. I mounted it on layers of mellow moss and black. topping it with a decorative swirl. I stamped the sentiment in tempting teal on going gray layered with black. The dp is from basic grey layered with black. The card base is tempting teal.

This is for today's sketch challenge. The images are from Clear Dollar Stamps. I stamped the tree and used a sharpie to add some length to both ends. I stamped the squirel and added him to the inside of the tree hole. Then I stamped the sentiment on pumpkin pie and oval punched it, layering it with a chocolate chip oval. The waving squirrel was stamped and colored with copics. I mounted the three images on basic grey squares matted with real red. The bg is basic grey and is divided with pumpkin pie ribbon.

One more peek for today

2008-10-28T17:09:00.000-07:00

Here's another card made with In the Bug, the great new set that goes with Sometimes you're the bug. I thought it would be funny to have this poor puppy having an anxiety attack over this little boy taking him on a joy ride. So, what does a puppy say in such a situation? Ruh Roh! This card was done for the Clear Dollar Stamps Design Team Sketch Challenge. I used this fabulous Basic Grey dp with only orange, blue bayou and wild wasabi. The letters are plastic - I got them at target a long time ago. The ribbon is SU blue bayou.

Another Eat more ham card. I just love this little turkey. I used more basic grey on this card (love that stuff) with old olive, real red and pumpkin pie. The tree and the fence are basic grey die cuts. I cut the sentiment at the top with my oval scallop nesties. The turkey is stamped strolling along the fence tops and colored with copics.
Hope you're enjoying the sneak peeks! Come see some more tomorrow!

2008-10-28T06:25:00.000-07:00

This is one of the new Nov. 1st releases from Clear Dollar Stamps. This little Tom Turkey is just so thankful that you're having ham for Thanksgiving this year. I made this card for the CDS challenge to use glossy cardstock. Now, I have to admit that I have had glossy cardstock for over a year now and it was unopened before this challenge. So, I did a little looking over at splitcoast and decided to try the Faux Linen technique. It was a lot of fun and I liked the outcome - I even used it on another card featuring another Nov. 1st sneak peek, so you'll have to come back and look for that one.

I stamped the turkey on glossy cardstock, colored it with copics, sanded it down (after it dried), added some color with sponges and sanded again. So simple and it gives a really cool effect. I cut the turkey image with my circle nesties and matted it on a chocolate chip circle. I then mounted the circles on oval scallops in pumpkin pie and wild wasabi. For the background I used the same Faux Linen technique. I stamped the "Eat more ham" sentiment and various leaves, colored them with copics, sanded, added more mustard with a sponge and sanded again. I did the same background on a strip of more mustard cardstock and added some green ribbon from walmart. The sentiment is done on wild wasabi ovals matted with chocolate chip ovals and says: "Thankful...to get away"! The whole shebang is mounted on layers of chocolate chip and wild wasabi with a card base of pumpkin pie.

I hope you like the card - the stamps are SO cute! They would make fabulous placecards - even if you do plan to have turkey! Be sure to keep checking back for more great stamps from CDS!

This is for CC190 - Pixie Pink, Kiwi Kiss and Tangerine Tango. Mrs. Claus is sick to death of red and green, so she's decide to adopt this bright color combo for Christmas this year. You all know how much I love the Sometimes you're the bug set, right? Well, now Clear Dollar Stamps has an accessory set to go with it called In the Bug. It has cute little people, animals and accessories to go in the bug. I also added a stylin' hat on Mrs. Claus from the Just Nutty set. The bug is mounted on layers of white embossed with the cuttlebug in the snowflake folder, kiwi kiss & tangerine tango with pixie pink and all tied up with a cute little bow!

Mojo Monday (and sneak peek of CDS tommorrow!)

2008-10-27T07:13:00.000-07:00

Well, I knew saying that I was going to try to join in on challenges would come back to bite me. Did you see today's technique challenge?? Well, I don't have freezer paper and I don't have any leftover party napkins, so that challenge was out. But, I gave Julee's Mojo Monday sketch challenge a go. So, here's my card for it.

My sister is a SU demo. My mom order this stamp from her and my sister borrowed it. She never got around to using it, so when I saw her yesterday, she gave me the set back to return to mom. Well, I thought the poor little guy just had to be broken in! Besides - my ex-grandma-in-law loves red birds, so this will make a perfect Christmas card for her. I think I have about 5 Christmas cards made now!
So - about the card: The image and sentiment are from SU's A Cardinal Christmas. I used about 50 different shades of red, pink and yes, purple copics to color him. I pulled up an image of a red bird on google and I think I got the colors pretty close. The base of the card is basic black. The panel is wild wasabi with red glitter embossing. I matted the image with black, real red and wild wasabi. The sentiment is stamped in red then inked with wild wasabi and mounted on real red cardstock. I kept it pretty simple, but I like the way it turned out and I think Grandma Marie will love it.

Don't forget to check back with me tomorrow for sneak peeks from Clear Dollar Stamps! I've got some great stamps to show off for you!

Sunday Challenge

2008-10-26T06:40:00.000-07:00

OK - now that I have my computer (I'm a little excited after being without for so long), I've decided to join in on some challenges. Today's was the featured stamper challenge, in which one CASES a card from the featured stamper's gallery and changes at least 2 things. The featured stamper this week is SpeedyStamper. Here is the card I CASED from her gallery: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...amp;ppuser=646

Here is the card I made for the challenge:

I used the pumpkin and bat images from inkadinkado and the sentiment from studio g. I stamped the pumpkin on the su dp with craft old olive and matted the circle with a wild wasabi scallop (I meant to use old olive, oops!). I stamped it again on white and on pumpkin pie with old olive. I cut the pumpkins alone out of the pumpkin pie and inked them a little with old olive and pumpkin pie. Then I cut just the stems from the old olive and pieced them both together on the dp. I stamped the bats and then stamped them again on white and cut out some individual bats and popped them up a little. The background is blush blossom stamped with an SU canvas bg stamp then inked a little with pumpkin pie. The edges were inked heavily with creamy caramel. The ribbon is from walmart. I then matted the background on black and then onto the more mustard card base.

birthday card

2008-10-25T15:37:00.000-07:00

One of my good friends is turning 40 tomorrow. This is the card I made for her. Her daughter is having a rather impromptu surprise party, so I have to keep her busy for a little while tomorrow afternoon and manage to get her home at the right time. Wish me luck!
I used pink pirouette for the base of the card. The image, from cats pajama's, is stamped twice, once with white on certainly celery and one with black on white. I added black to the dog's nose and eyes and went over him with a souffle' pen to make his fur look kind of curly, like her maltese pup. I colored the cake using copics. The image is mounted on close to cocoa, pink pirouette and chocolate chip scallops made with my nesties. The background is certainly celery matted on chocolate chip with pink pirouette and close to cocoa scallops bordering basic grey dp. The certainly celery is ticked punched and accented with small pink gems. The scallops and the background are accented with dots made with chocolate chip marker and a white inksentials pen.

Friday Face-off

2008-10-24T17:08:00.000-07:00

After much crying and gnashing of teeth, I finally have internet service! So, check back often from now on - I will be trying to post daily! So - here's the inspiration challenge for this week. It's a monkey nursery set from pottery barn kids. And, here's the card which was inspired by it:

I used the monkeys with hands latched like in the bedding and liked the blue and brown together, but you know I had to have a little more color - especially to go with these cute Clear Dollar Stamps monkeys! These monkeys are so great - you can buy accessories to go with them like the umbrella! I put a cloudy sky background behind my little monkeys so they could be floating down from a banana tree, chasing those bananas. The paper is K& Co. with real red, chocolate chip and bayou blue.

Back from the dead

2008-10-23T13:30:00.000-07:00

OK -I have finally returned. After spening over two hours on the phone with direct tv the other day, trying to find out where my wireless router was, they finally discovered that my order had been deleted because they do not offer wireless internet in my area. Wow - would have been nice had they notified me and told me that. So, I will be having cox come out and hook up my internet tomorrow. So, I will be posting the Friday faceoff this week (and from now on), but it will be later in the day. So, sorry I've been MIA for so long, but hope to see everyone tomorrow afternoon!