A request from Mom ...

One more post for today! My Mom called and asked me to make her a card for an upcoming wedding and this is what I came up with.

I love the look of the textile embossing folder for the Cuttlebug as the background. I've added some mini pearls by Mark Richards as well as sprays of pearls I had in my floral design stash. The image is from the Crafty Secrets "Joys of Life" booklet and the ribbon is May Arts.

I think she'll like it ... how about you?? What are your thoughts?? I don't have much call for wedding cards so I'm not sure if this is appropriate or not. Maybe I should have done white on white??? Somehow I think I'll be back in the craftroom tonight!!! Thanks for stopping by!!

SCS Sketch Challenge #203

Here is my card for today's Sketch Challenge over on SCS. This one gave me a little trouble at first but then it finally came together.

My images are by Crafty Secrets and can be found in the "Glamour Girls" set. The sentiment is by Stampin' D'Amour. The base card is Basic Black and the images were inked in Versamark Black onto Whisper White. The bordering was done with a Marvy Blue Metallic Marker and the dots were done with a white Gelly Roll pen. Added a few prima flowers and that was it!! Hope you like it!! Thanks for stopping by!!!

Color Challenge Cards

I did cards for two different color challenges today. First is my card for the Color Throwdown Challenge using Elegant Eggplant, More Mustard, Sage Shadow & Ruby Red.

My friend Tammy Hershberger is today's hostess and she came up with this color combination while sitting outside in her car waiting for her daughter to fill out a job application at Panera Bread. As many times as I've been to Panera, I can honestly say I never realized this was the color scheme they use! How about that!! Inspiration is EVERYWHERE!!

The card base is Ruby Red and I cut a strip of Elegant Eggplant on an angle for my background. My main image was Very Vanilla cuttlebugged with "leafy branch" which I inked up on the negative side before running it through. I also inked the edges with More Mustard. Double mounted using Sage Shadow and More Mustard which was distressed. The ribbon is from a Hobby Lobby $1.99 pack and the sentiment was done using my Nestabilities, a little sponging and the sentiment is by the Stamp Pad Co.

My second card is for the color challenge found over on Papercraft Planet. Here we were to use the colors Kiwi Kiss, Elegant Eggplant, Chocolate Chip, Creamy Carmel & Very Vanilla.

I used Chocolate Chip as my base card. After cuttlebugging a piece of Creamy Carmel using the Stylized Flowers embossing folder, I sponged the edges using Elegant Eggplant and did some piercing. The Kiwi Kiss panel was also cuttlebugged using one of their new border folders and was also pierced. For my main image, I used the new SU Top Note die cut which I folded in half, sponged around the edges with Elegant Eggplant and folded over the Creamy Carmel panel. The sentiment "Friends" was inked with Elegant Eggplant and clear embossed. My accent flower is from the SU "Embrace Life" set, inked with Elegant Eggplant, cut out and popped up. A dew drop was used for the center.

Thanks so much for stopping by and I appreciate your comments!!

Crafty Secrets Challenge - Thankfulness

Yesterday's challenge over on the Crafty Secrets forum on SCS was hosted by Pammyjo. Her clues on Monday were real brain teasers ... the phrase "I am truly thankful" written in four different languages ... yea, how fun was that!

Of course since I haven't used my french in over 40 years, I cheated and went to the internet and had the phrase translated. Sure was easier than trying to remember 40 years back ... heck I'm lucky to remember what I did yesterday let alone that long ago ... some of you probably know what I mean ... right!! Anyways, on to the card!!

I certainly have a LOT to be thankful for this year. We are not totally out of the woods yet, but after 1 more pet scan I'm praying that DH's cancer is GONE. We'll know the answer to that sometime in December. But after all he's been through this year, he is feeling really good right now and his double cataract surgery last week was a huge success.

My card base is duplex hunter green/ivory cs. I had a few fall colored scraps laying on my work table which I used for my background and the main image is from my Crafty Secrets Fall Cotton Scraps. The images on cotton scraps are fantastic for quick & easy cards. I've rounded just 2 of the 4 corners using my corner rounder by Creative Memories and the leaves are also made from a Creative Memories punch. The ribbon was purchased at Hobby Lobby.

Hope you like it and thanks for stopping by to see what I've been up to. Come back later to see what I can come up with for today's SCS sketch challenge ... should be fun!!!

PCP Cuttlebug Challenge

Hello everyone .... it is now 4:55 a.m. and I've been awake since 3:00 a.m. You know how sometimes you just can't get your brain to shut down ... well, seems tonight is my night for brain overload. Nothing bad or upsetting ... just "stuff".

So, here are a couple of cards I was going to upload in the morning ... and since it is "MORNING", I may as well get them done now. (will give me more time to play later, lol)

This is a card I did for the PCP (Papercraft Planet) Cuttlebug Group challenge. Vicki posted 3 folders (swiss dot, perfect paisley, leafy branch) and asked us to use at least 1 of these on a card. I had 2 of the 3 so used them both. The upper panel was done by coloring the negative side of the leafy branch folder using a ZIG green marker ... spritzed lightly then ran it through onto ivory cs. The lower panel was done basically the same way except I covered the entire negative side using my real red pad then ran it through onto ivory cs. I put the two together, matted onto glossy black cs and used 2 ribbons (both from Hobby Lobby) where they joined. The main image is by Paper Inspirations, stamped using Versafine black the colored using chalks and a make-up applicator. I added a little red Stickles for dimension. The outer edge of the whisper white card was edged using a gold Pilot marker. Hope you like it.

Eggs for "Eggette"

Here is a "cutsie" card for a challenge called the Creative Name Featured Stamper (CNFS) from SCS over on the CCEE Stampers blog. Charlene (LilLuvStampin) is the hostess for the month and her selection is Bonnie (eggette).

Apparently Bonnie gathers chicken eggs from over 12,000 chickens on their farm. (WOW, what a woman!!) Her favorite embellishment is ribbons and she loves the color green. So, the instructions for this challenge was to make a card that had an EGG on it somewhere, shades of green and ribbon.

I drew great inspiration from the team over on the CCEE Stampers blog but when I started looking through my stash my brain stalled out! Check out some of the other ladies work like Tosh, and Cindy just to name a couple ... the other gals did a remarkable job too!! I decided to just use a plain white card base and the eggs I stamped across the bottom are actually (bird) eggs from the Crafty Secrets - bird lover set. My daughter has chickens and she has one breed that lays what they call "Easter Eggs" and they are actually green, yellow, pink & blue so I didn't have any problem coloring a couple of these eggs "green". Of course, we've all seen brown eggs! The chicken/eggs is a $1 stamp I purchased at Pat Catan's a long time ago. I used Creative Memories letter/number stickers for the "sentiment". Hope you like it ... it was fun!

Please stop back tomorrow when I will have my creation for the Crafty Secrets forum challenge hosted by Pammyjo. Her clue to us today was: the same clue written out four different times in four different languages ... none of which were English! Had to do a little research on this one!! See you tomorrow!!!

Blog Challenge by Heather

Last post for today ... I know, you probably don't think I do anything but stamp ... and sometimes that is true! Like today ... the only work I've done is make a run to the grocery store to get what DH wanted prepared for dinner ... we just finished dinner (shrimp alfredo over pasta) and I'm back.

I made this card right before preparing our dinner and just had to share!! I made this card for a blog challenge over on Heather's blog (Scrappy Dayz Are Here Again). We are to make any type of card using Certainly Celery, Regal Rose, ribbon, brads, and any image other than floral. She's running this challenge until the 26th at which time she'll draw a name and send some goodies to the winner.

There is actually NO stamping or inking on this card. My image and designer paper are from Crafty Secrets. The image is from the "Girlfriends Images & Journal Notes" and the paper is "Pastels". The sentiment is a part of the image which I cut, positioned brads and popped up with dimensional tape. The other portion of the sentiment is on the inside of the card and reads: "My dearest wish could not come true ... Unless today brought joy to you". I did faux stitching with a "regal rose" marker and a ruler. Wrapped and tied a pretty bow made from Stampendous sheer white ribbon ... added a few more brads and here you have it!! A quick and easy card that will work perfectly for an upcoming birthday! Thanks for stopping by ... I can't tell you how much it means to me!! Hope you've had a wonderful weekend.

Kreativ Blogger Award

Thanks to Heather (scrappinmominky) for this awesome award!!


Please check out Heather's blog ... she is very talented and deserves a some extra "stampin love".

Here are the instructions on this award:
1. The winner may put the logo on their blog.
2. Put a link to the person who sent you the award.
3. Nominate 5 blogs.
4. Put links to their blogs.
5. Leave a message for your nominees.


I will be back later to let you know what 5 nominees I have selected. Thanks again Heather ... I am so honored and thrilled that you like my blog. Please come back!!!


WOW ... I just found out that I was awarded this honor a 2nd time ... by my Crafty Secrets Challenge friend DRU. Thanks girlfriend ... I am so honored. PLEASE check out Dru's blog (garden of dreams) ... she is SO talented and also deserved extra "stampin love".

I'm back with my five nominees. I will have to give this award again because there are SO many others who are so deserving of this honor.

1. Marissa (marisa-isa)

2. Heidi (embellished dreams)

3. Amy (amy's creative pursuits)

4. Lori Lynn (just a note)

5. Joanne (Ambrosia & Iron)

Please check out these ladies blogs for some wonderful ideas and fun!! Thanks again Dru and Heather!!!

More Holiday Cards

Here are a couple more cards I came up with for my friends and family.

This card was fun to make. The images are from the SU mini catalog "Winter Post". I just love the "vintage" appeal of this set and these skaters are fun to color. I used my Nesties for my main image panel and added a little Stickles icicles for the snow. I'm trying not to get too carried away with my new Martha Stewart branch punch ... this time of the year you could just use it on everything!! Just a few springs here to "set the mood". I found this awesome Provo Craft Candy Cane designer paper at my friend Tammy Herbergers store (Toyrifix) and couldn't wait to put it to use. The ribbon came from a pack of "leftover ribbon pieces" I purchased from Hobby Lobby for the price of $1.99. There is a TON of ribbon in one of these packs ... very narrow to very wide ... certainly worth the $2. What do you think??

okay ... moving on ....

This is a card I started playing with because I had cut the Nesties piece I needed for the card shown above and decided (after I'd cut it) to use it for a card of it's own. Had I thought of this earlier, I would have centered it better ... hence the use of the white ribbon!!

I also have been working on 44 tree ornaments for my friend's business holiday party (future posting) and had a piece of clear acetate laying on my worktable that was BEGGING to be used!! This card, however, will be a prototype. I didn't have any Stazon White so used craft white (which never dries on a glossy surface), clear ep & heat gun. Some acetates do not like the heat gun as you can see in this photo. I was very careful, but there was still some buckleing going on.

Here is my card in "open" form. The main image is by Northwood and was colored using prisma pencils. There is just enough room at the top and bottom (which will be covered by the front cover) for well wishes and signature. I love this concept, but certainly need to work a little more at perfecting it!! The snowflake stamp is by Inkadinkado and the Merry Christmas sentiment stamp (on front) is by AMuse. The green sprigs are from the Martha Stewart branch punch, the red snowflake is a punch by EKSuccess and the white ribbon is by Darice ... purchased at Joanne's.

Back to the craftroom to work on today's Featured Stamper challenge over on SCS (and more of those 44 ornaments) ... so glad you stopped by ... please come back! Happy Stamping!!

Papercraft Planet & OCC Challenges

Here is a card I did for a couple of challenges over on the Papercraft Planet. I found the sketch challenge to be intriguing and the colors for the color challenge (put on by the Treehouse Stamps - Ashley Bowen group) are some of my favorites.

Have you checked out the Papercraft Planet yet? I am still loving everything going on over on Splitcoaststampers, but am also enjoying some of the additional freedoms and styles of this new site. Check it out!! I'm sure you'll see some familiar faces ... at least one - mine. HaHaHa!!

This card is 5-1/2" square and the base card is Old Olive. The second panel is 5-1/4" and cut from Very Vanilla. I sponged around the edges using old olive. The designer paper used for the third panel is by Making Memories (snowflake Falala) which I purchased from my friend Tammy Hershberger at Toyrifix and the main image is by Stampendous. The snowflakes are by Creative Impressions and I inked them with old olive & certainly celery. I used a little diamond Stickles for a touch of sparkle and distressed the edges of the main panel before matting it with old olive.

This was a fun card and really liked the combination of colors and layout! What are your thoughts?? As always, thanks for stopping by and hope to see you again soon!!

My friend Tammy (mentioned above) also clued me in that this card fits the OCC challenge for this week Silouettes. I had this challenge printed out to work on but forgot what the topic was!! (memory isn't what it used to be, LOL!) Thanks Tammy!! This is another fun challenge ... when you get a chance, please check it out!!

Stamp Simply #61 - Fun Folds

Can you believe I nearly missed doing Sharon's challenge this week ... OMGoodness, where is my head!!!

Sharon Johnson's blog challenge (notimetostamp) was to make some fun folds. Well, I couldn't seem to get my mind wrapped around this very well so I decided to make a "card within a card". That's fun folds ... right!! (sorry Sharon, I'm fold challenged today)! Please check out Sharon's card on her blog and don't forget to take a peek at what the other ladies on her DT came up with too ... awesome work!!

So, here's what I came up with. The image on the left is the card in "closed" form. The center image shows the main image 3" x 3" card with verse inside and the last image is a view of both cards opened. Kind of different I thought, it was fun to make, and very simple. The main image is a stamp by Seaside Stampin and I colored it using make-up sponges and chalks. The verse inside the small card is by Stampendous and the verse inside the A-2 card is by Great Impressions. The base card is duplex huntergreen/ivory cardstock and the designer paper is by Making Memories Snowflake Falala. I was visiting my friend Tammy Hershberger at Toyrifix yesterday and found some GREAT new holiday paper ... this one included. Couldn't wait to get creative with it. Tammy is also a member of Sharon's design team ... check out her blog for the card she made ... it's really clever!

Hope you like this card and thanks for stopping by! My day is complete when I hear your comments ... thanks for that!!!

Dropped from DT - how sad!

A quick note on the subject and that's all I'm going to say about it!

Today several of us on The Rubber Cafe Design Team got our pink slips. The team was rather large (20 ladies) and the owner felt the need to cut it in half. Unfortunately I was included in the half that was cut. I only had the pleasure of designing with this group for a short 2 months, but in that length of time I made some new friends and learned some new tricks. I am not bitter ... only disappointed and feel somewhat like I have failed the team in some way but better days are ahead and I am looking in that direction. I wish all the remaining girls on the team "good luck"!

Okay ... moving on now!!

Cuttlebug Christmas Cards

Here are a couple cards I made for a new group/challenge over on the Papercraft Planet (PCP). It's a group for "Cuttlebuggers". This looked like a good group to join ... can always use more information and hints on using my cuttlebug folders as well as things like Nestabilities!! Should be great fun ... will let you know if I learn any really cool tricks & tips!!

Here is a closer view ... not really much to this card other than cuttlebug swiss dot embossing folder (ef), scor-pal and a few images (Inkadinkado). I did decide to embellish it with my new Martha Stewart leaf sprig punch and a snowflake from the EKSuccess snowflake punch that I had laying on my worktable.

The burgundy card didn't come out very good on the embossing ... needed a steadier hand with the Versamark pen! But, you get the general idea. Thanks for stopping by!!

Color Throwdown #19

Here is my card for the challenge over on the Color Throwdown blog! I would not have put these colors together but LOVE how this card turned out!! The colors today are: Not Quite Navy, Bravo Burgundy, Bordering Blue & White.

I chose to use Stampin' Up's "Home For Christmas" as my main image. I inked it up with Not Quite Navy onto glossy white cs then mounted it onto Not Quite Navy cs. I used Creative Memories fine tip markers to do a little coloring around the door. The snowflake ribbon I purchased yesterday at Michael's and the snow flake punch is by EK Success. What do you think??

Colorful Cardinal Christmas Card

Here is a card made to cover two different location challenges. First today's Sketch Challenge over on Splitcoaststampers and then the PCP Color Challenge over on Papercraft Planet.

I flipped the sketch in order to use this beautiful cardinal image which is in the new SU "A Cardinal Christmas" set. The color combination is one I would have NEVER put together but am really pleased at the outcome. The colors are: Riding Hood Red, Really rust, Basic Gray (or going gray) and Whisper White. The three images used on this card are all from the same set.

What do you think?? I'm really pretty happy with this card ... may have to use this layout again soon! Thanks for stopping by and saying hello ... always good to hear from you!

Crafty Secrets Challenge - Punches

(Ooops ... I was supposed to tag this to post on Tuesday ... oh well, it's been a long day and I messed up ... so you get to see this post late Monday night .... sorry!)

Today's Crafty Secrets challenge over on SCS is hosted by "yours truly" and I've asked the gang to be creative in using their punches along with their Crafty Secrets product!! Why not come play along ... it's great fun!!!

I have seen SO many awesome ideas on everyone's blogs lately using corner punches, border punches and even images punches. I can't wait to see what these talented ladies come up with!!

On my card I have used the ever popular Martha Stewart doily lace border punch. My main image panel is made by cutting a 2-3/4" square piece of cs then centering it in the punch on all four sides. My image & Happy Birthday sentiment are from the Crafty Secrets Glamour Girls set and the other sentiment is by Hero Arts. I've used ocean green vellum with peach satin ribbon from Hobby Lobby, Hero Arts gems and Prima flowers. It's difficult to see in the photo (you can click on the image to enlarge) but I used a ZIG ocean green marker and did faux stitching across the bottom which is actually on the inside of the card.

Thanks so much for stopping by ... hope to have a few more things to share with you later in the day. Happy Stamping!!

Paper Craft Planet Color Challenge

Being a new member of the Papercrafters Planet (click on the side bar badge to view "my page"), I have joined in on a few groups. I am still finding my way around but having fun in the process. Today I noticed that the color challenge (in the Treehouse Stamps Group - Ashley Bowen) was to use kiwi kiss, baja breeze and white (or colors close to that).

So, not having the new SU - IN colors, I used old olive, soft sky and white. I also used a new SU set called "Nature Silouettes". The designer paper I used is Basic Grey-Boxer and I even took the time to clip out around the end flowers to give it a little more dimension. (you can click on the image for a larger view) The sky is a stamp by Ala Art and I made the moon by stamping a large sponge pod into summer sun and rocking one edge in pumpkin pie.

I'm happy with the outcome ... what do you think?? Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!

Stampin' D'Amour challenge with a RAK

Kris Dickinson (parkerquilter) over on Stampin' D'Amour has posted a "Get Ready for Christmas" challenge! (Yikes! Christmas is only 45 days away!!!) Kris is giving us until Nov. 17th to make/post a card and qualify for the awsome RAK she is putting together for this challenge. How great is that!!! If you are not familiar with Kris's work, please check out her BLOG which is jam-packed full of wonderfully creative projects. I am always in AWE of her work ... such a talented artist and sweet, sweet lady!!!

Anyways, back to the challenge! All you have to do is make a card, tag or ATC following these three simple guidelines: 1) Must be a Christmas Theme ... 2) Must use RED somewhere ... and 3) Lets see some sparkle or bling. That's it! So, what are you waiting for??? Get those sparkley, red, holiday card juices flowing and "show us what's you've got!!"

Oh yea, here's my contributions to the challenge. I used the same Stampendous image on both the tag & card.

The tag is sponged using SU real red ink ... image stamped using versamark then embossed with gold sparkle ep. Edged with a gold Pilot marker ... added a couple sprigs of ribbon and ta dah ... tag!

My card is whisper white and the Christmas red cs has been bordered using a gold Pilot marker. The image was stamped with Versafine Black and embossed with clear ep. I stamped the image again on whisper white and using my swivel craft knife, cut out the baby Jesus so I could use pop dots for dimension and focus! The ribbon is Jo Ann's gold organdy and the gold gems are from Michael's.

Thanks so much for stopping by and saying hello! I always LOVE hearing from you all!!

SCS Featured Stamper #92

OMGoodness ... this is my 3rd upload today!! Hope I'm not overloading you!! I've just finally had some time to play!!

Here is my card for today's Featured Stamper (Wendy Bell) over on SCS. Wendy has a great style and it was fun casing one of her creations. THIS is Wendy's card I cased and made it my own!!

My santa image is from the Vintage Christmas set by Crafty Secrets ... the HoHoHo is by Our Lady of Rubber and the stockings (3 on the stamp) is by Brother Sister Design Studio. My base card is actually basic black (hard to tell in the photo unless you click for a larger view) and the scene was created on glossy white which I inked using various SU inks and sponge pods. I cut out a circle using my Eclipse masking for the moon and positioned before sponging. I stamped the stockings on whisper white paper then cut around them with a swivel craft knife. I colored them using Creative Memories fine tip markers and attached using Making Memories brads. The snow is Icicle Stickles. Thanks again for stopping by and being so kind with your comments ... LOVE hearing from you when you have the time!!!

Papercraft Planet Sketch Challenge

Here is a card I made for the sketch challenge going on over on the Papercraft Planet ... have you checked out this site yet??? You really should, it's great fun and you'll probably see someone you know!!!

This was a "simple" sketch that really packed a PUNCH when completed!! The image is just a simple $1 stamp I picked up in my travels and I wished the photo showed it better, but I have embossed it using "black opal" embossing powder and it really has a festive sparkle. The red cs has a sparkle to it also and the designer paper is by The Paper Studio. I bordered the red matting circle with a silver Pilot marker (not the best job) but it helped make it stand out from the red bg without using another layer.

The sentiment is from Rubber Stampede and after stamping with SU real red, I cut it out using Fiskar postage stamp scissors ... mounted it onto the same green as the card and cut again. The snowflakes are from a EK Success punch. I'm happy with how this turned out and I can check another Christmas card off my list ... how great is that!!! Thanks for stopping by ... always good to hear from you!!!