Nephew's Birthday Card & Challenge

I had to make a birthday card for my nephew's upcoming birthday and just got this set a few days ago.I also needed a card for Bela's Blogs Challenge. I am having a HOOT playing with it and of course learning my Copic Markers. I wasn't to sure if this card would fly for a 14 year old when I started, but I decided what the heck. He thinks his aunt is goofy anyhow.LOL! The set I used is a Kim Hughes design and sold by CHF. This set is so much fun to play with look for more samples soon!

Stamps Used

UR A Hoot - CHF

Paisley (Background) - CHF

14 - Wordsworth

Other Supplies

Adirondack - Espresso

Memories - Midnight Blue

Copic Markers

Golden cardstock

Tan cardstock

Linen cardstock powder blue and navy

Pop dots

Thinking of You

Emboss script folder onto DCWV stock cut to 5 1/4 x 4. Brush with Espresso Ink. Mount to card base. Layer brown to wine stock, stamp leaves using barn red. Attach brads to upper right side and glue to card front. Stamp wording using Espresso Ink in bottom corner. Stamp flower using Espresso ink, color using markers, mask flower and stamp linen background using dune and mushroom ink. Mount on wine stock attach ribbon mount to brown stock and complete using pop dots. I hope you can see it I had a real tough time trying to photograph it to show all the detail.
Stamps
Stampin Up Embrace Life
Other Unknown (Thinking of You)
CHF Linen Background
Inks
Memories Barn Red
Adirondack Espresso, Mushroom
Colorbox Dune
Other Supplies
Copic Markers E57, R29
Satin Ribbon -wine
Brads Metal
Cuttlebug Script Folder
Paper DCWV - wine,deep brown
Paper Ivory
pop dots.

Colorful Grad Card

Stamps Used
"G" Hero Arts
R,A Scrappy Cat
Congrats Joanne Sharpe
Cap PSX

Other Supplies
Paper Joann School Day Dollar Paper,Lasting Impressions
Inks Midnight Blue-Making Memories
Red - TAC
Red Brad
Embroidery Thread gold
Letter "D" chipboard K& Company
Pop Dots

5 Minute Graduation Card

This card was a super quickie swap card I made. It literally took me 5 minutes from start to finish. It is somewhat plain but would work great for a high school graduation card. All stamps are from Firecracker Designs by Pamela. I embossed the bottom of the card with Cuttlebug "Congrats" folder.

Blog Brownie Alert!

Heather has some awesome ribbon up for grabs on her blog. I found it while surfing today. You have until April 1 to enter so hurry on over and get your entry in. She recently moved to Maryland and went to the Offray Outlet, check out the deals she got.
All you have to do to win is simply leave her a comment with up to 3 favorite colors and your preference- satin, sheer, grosgrain or a mix. Ribbon is light to ship so this is open to international bloggers as well.

One Template Two Looks

I just received this template in the mail yesterday and had to play with it. The template is from Lasting Impressions one of their newest releases L9565. On the first one, stamped saying is from Savvy Stamps and I used melon, turquoise, beige and browns. On the second card stamp is Hero Arts and I went with grays and blue tones. All the paper is from Lasting Impressions .

I Won Blog Candy !!

Last week I won this blog candy on "Just Stamp It" site.Thank you Jackie, I love it all and I have already started playing with the goodies:) If you haven't been by to see Jackie's site yet, run don't walk she has a beautiful site filled with her lovely creations.

It's a Wrap

I needed to wrap a quick gift this morning and not wanting to dig through a box of wrapping paper I decided to cover the gift in paper to match the card. Since it was slightly bigger around then a 12x12 sheet of paper I did a 50/50 blend. I shared the card awhile ago. Now the gift and card is on it's way to the birthday girl thanks to Lasting Impressions paper and a bit of silk ribbon. Inside contents -Vera Wang bell going to a dear aunt who collects them.

Happy Easter

Who needs the Easter bunny when you have a DAUGHTER like mine! Check out all the goodies mom got in her Easter basket this year(pictured above). I just had to show you a close-up of the Copic Markers and Tutorial she made for me. Are they not the prettiest colors, great for spring cards! Besides, all of this she created the most incredible marshmallows ever. You really must run over to her blog and get the recipes from her. Each and everyone are to die for and so were the incredibly professional French fry containers they arrived in. I can't wait to get the template from her. I really think she ought to open up a shop maybe calling it "The Marshmallow Shack" and selling them. You may think I am partial but this is not the case, grab a recipe from her and make a batch; you will be a believer! To think this is a child that practically flunked Home Economics in school and excelled in woodworking! Sorry kiddo, I had to share that tidbit!

After seeing what she had done I decided I had better get off my butt and put something together for everyone. Not having planned on doing so until the last minute. I whipped up these baskets for everyone and made a couple batches of my delicious chocolate chip cookies to put in them. The template is one that is circulating on several blogs. It was easy to make and amazing holds 4 cookies and a bag of jellybeans each.

I hope you all have a wonderful Easter day. It looks like our yearly Easter egg hunt will have to be done with shovels again this year. The ground is pretty snow covered here. I always seem to finish last on the hunts so, I don't mind the snow, it makes it easier for me to follow the tracks! Can you all say CHEATER!! With that enjoy your day.

My First Award

I just recieved this award :You Make My Day" from Heidi. Thank you Heidi! If you have not visited her site yet you must check it out.

I would like to pass this award on to.. Kathy, Deb, Jennie, Heather and Kelly
Now, it's your turn to:
*Write a post with links to 5 blogs you find of interest and that inspire you.
*Acknowledge the post of the award giver.
*Display the logo "You Make My Day".
*Tell the award winners that they have won by commenting on their blogs with the news.
(P.S. If you already have this, no need to do it again.)

Sock It To Me Blog Winners

Since only 3 brave stampers took on the challenge and all of their cards and socks were out of site. I decided to take the lame way out and make them all winners! Congratulations go to Kathy, Heidi and Donna Lane.

This of course meant I had to toss together another pair of sock and card. Donna,one of the winners is all about embossing so I created this card for her. This card was created using Lasting Impressions L9256 template and papers. Adding polka dots to the blue flower was somewhat of a challenge. I first tried stamping purple and it was not bright enough. Then a lightbulb went off in my head and have this trick to share with all. The blue flower with purple polka dots was created by punching holes randomly with my mini paper punch and layering it on top of lilac paper. I am quite please on how this came out.

Be sure to check out all the winners blogs you will see why it wasn't easy too pick just one!

Supplies

Lasting Impressions template L9256
Lasting Impressions card stock
Linen white and deep blue card stock
Tiny paper punch
Computer generated Text
Cuttlebug - Polka Dot Folder
Blue, Purple and Sage Inks

Sock It To Me Challenge Card Submission

Here is an entry from a non blogger. They were created by a very talented Donna Lane. Donna is a master at dry embossing and has inspired me and many other embossers with her creations. Are those not the cutest socks you have seen? It is easy to see how she was able to create such a neat card with those socks as her inspiration!

She did send a note with her submission saying the socks are very purple and match the ribbon on the card, just did not photo as such. This is easy for me to believe because I had to photo my blue socks over a dozen times until I got my blue ones almost to match.

Final reminder - The challenge ends tomorrow evening and winners annouced on Wednesday.

A Party Freebie! Scallop Box Matching Card

I was blog surfing this morning and came acrossed a super party that had lots of FREEBIES for the taking. If you haven't seen it I suggest you check it out. I downloaded the template and this is what I came up with. I think I have a new favorite color because of it. I loved playing with the olive inks. I made the scalloped box using double sided paper and embellished it with a huge daisy that I embossed. I do confess, I did not take the time to read the instructions so to make the handle I used a wired flower from Chatterbox and threaded it through a button from Lasting Impressions to attach it. I am not sure what they suggest but a brad would work fine too. I couldn't stop at the box I had to make a matching gift card to go with it. The card measures 4x4 and again, I used another daisy that I embossed. I brushed the matching inks around edging to give it a more weathered look. I scalloped card edge using matching scallop pattern to complete. The stamped tag was one that came in a daisy set from See D and "For you" is from Hero Art. The project took almost a full sheet of 12x12 because I did make one of the flowers from it also.

What a fun template to play with.

Stamps Used

Hero Arts LL853

See D's Daisies - tag and daisy

Other Materials

Lasting Impressions M16 Template and buttons

Versa Magic Spanish Olive Ink

ColorBox Lime Pastel

Chatter Box Parlor Roses #20784 Paper

Chatter Box Embellishment Pack- (spruce olive) flowers in center

Offray Olive Ribbon

Scallop Scissors

Quick Baby Boy Card

I started to make this card intending to insert a dry embossed boat into the center or the scalloped circle but then discovered I had no template that would work. I then decided to use up an applique of this cute little bear that I got a super deal at a garage sale last summer. Someone was selling ziplock bags filled with different patterns for .25 to .50 cents a bag and of course me, not being able to pass up a bargain snatched up all the different patterns she had. The only stamping on the card is the "New Baby" by Obession Impressions and the bottom panel of the card. I liked the look of my spring card so much I did the same with this one. I used midnight blue and Azurite by Colorbox Ink on to a pale blue linen.

Challenge Reminder

I played all day but have nothing worth sharing. How sad is that! I am attempting to learn the art of coloring with Copic markers from what my Darling Daughter tells me I may need a special video or I'm hopeless! So needless to say my day was not a productive kind of day.

I wanted to post a reminder to everyone that you have until Tuesday to take part in the Sock It To Me Challenge. If you need more inspiration check out Kathy's and Heidi's blogs . Looking forward to MANY last minute entries for this FUN challenge:) I will post winners on Wednesday.

No Time To Stamp Challenge

I created this card for Sharon's challenge which was to use paper piercing on a card. I have had this paper piercing template for some time and thought I would pull it out and challenge myself today. While making it I had intended to emboss the wording in seafoam white but accidently picked up the holographic instead and if you think I was about to redo the paper piercing you're DEAD wrong, it adds a little sparkle:)! The stamp I used is one of my favorites and is by Great Impressions, an oldie but perfect for spring cards. "Easter Blessing "is a stamp given to me by a dear friend but believed to have come from I Brake For Stamps. Paper is from Lasting Impressions I used both the melon bold striped and checkered then mounted it on white linen stock so that the piercing would pop more. I colored the flowers in with watercolor pencils.

I had lots of fun taking on this challenge and plan to keep my template out for awhile.

Quick Birthday Card

I made this quick card for an aunt. The card measures 4x4 and was made with my new stamps that my Darling Daughter sent me. I tried and tried and could not get the color to photo right no matter how many times I tried so I apologize in advance for the cruddy scan. The paper colors are actually periwinkle and banana yellow striped by Lasting Impressions. I stamped flower on to plain periwinkle stock with frosted white Colorbox ink then embossed it with seafoam white.

Stamps Used
Stamping Up Whimsical Birthday and Friendship Blooms
Other Supplies
Ribbon is from Michael's
Yellow thread, sewing machine and generic buttons

Paper Quilters Spring Card Challenge

I decided to take on Ethel's challenge and create a spring card. The most diffcult part of this challenge for me was deciding which of my flower stamps I wanted to use. With all the snow we had last weekend I am so ready for SPRING! I just started stamping various flowers in different color inks until I came up with this color combo which is different colors then I am use to using. The bottom panel of the card I created by running the matching ink pad on an angle acrossed the sheet of paper then reversing and running in the oppsite direction. I think it made for a nice effect. Basically to create I just stamped flowers and layered on lighter matching violet and rose cardstock. I hope it's a winner because I have no Magnolia Stamps and the Tilda stamp being offered is so cute!
Thanks for visiting and I hope you enjoy my touch of spring I bring you today:)

Stamps used
Hero Arts Real Field Wildflower
Penny Black Lace Flower Trio
Dandilion Judith
Letters- clear unknown
Wishes - Endless Creations
Other Supplies
Oval punches
K&Company chipboard Letter
Linen white paper
Sewing Machine-pink thread
ColorBox warm violet, rouge and yellow chalk ink
Making Memories - sage green
Ribbon - rose & lilac

When Irish Eyes are Smiling

Since I have not made any St. Patrick's Day cards I thought I would jazz up my Kitty card for Allison's challenge this week. I made the background paper by inking and scuffing up some glossy card stock. The Cat stamp, one of my favorites, is from Stampin Up. Wording is from My Sentiments Exactly and I masked out people and inserted "cat's" from the Stampin Up cat set. The pipe and hat along with the clovers are resin and came in a single package that I bought on a closeout for .50 cents! They are by Darcie. The fish paper clip is from Oriental Trading Company.

Gina K New Release Challenge

Gina K will be kicking off a new release tomorrow you can join in. The challenge was to create a card using lilac & celery. Having only a few Gina K stamps and still wanting to participate because I just love all her stamps I came up with this card. It used her "Simple Pleasure" stamp and although the wording is similar to the one that comes in the set, it is actually from Stampin Up. Having no SU paper I substituted it with Lasting Impressions papers. I used celery and lilac papers from them. I added crystal lacquer to the flower pot and the flower centers to give it a little something extra. It was colored using Twinkling H20's. I hope you like it, wish me luck momma needs new stamps:).

Waiting for Day Break

I may not get much stamping done here today like I had planned. My area got hit with over 2 FOOT of snow and I think it all landed in my drive. I attempted to start on it yesterday and went out for about 1 hour. I had only an area of 2 x 4 foot done! Since my drive is 100' long I figure if I widdle away at it all day I may be able to get out in time to go to work tomorrow. I would gladly hire someone to do it but it seems all the snowplow trucks around here refuse to plow unless you buy a yearly contract which we didn't. Perhaps I can train the deer to eat it, why not they eat my flowers every spring. LOL Maybe, if I made a sign up "Free Snow Take All You Want" some sole might come along and take it away:) Of course, the snow blower is not working and won't work on snow of this magnitude anyhow. I am so dreading this, my back can feel it already. The last time I have seen this much snow in a 48 hour period was in 1978-79.

Wish me luck and have a nice SUNNY day!

A Quick Sympathy Card

I am thinking of submitting this one to Take Ten because it literally took 10 minutes to make. The paper is some one of my favorites from Lasting Impressions. The image is from SU "Embrace Life" and I colored the buds using oyster Twinkling H2O's. The buttons were found gems and I added a scallop edging to the bottom so that I could add wording which is Hero Arts. Add a ribbon and your done. Very simple card but yet elegant. What do you think?

Sock It To Me Blog Challenge

My first BLOG CHALLENGE opened to ALL bloggers!

What's a "Sock It to me" Challenge you ask? Simple, you buy a pair of funky socks and use them as your inspiration to create a matching card then choose another blogger and sock it to them! I created two pairs to offer up and send out to two lucky bloggers.

Here are the rules, I know everyone hates them but we have to keep order:)
1. Make a card matching your funky socks and link it to this post.
2. You can send it to another blogger gifting it as blog candy or any other method you wish. I will leave this up to you but you must pass them on.
3. I will hold the challenge open until March 18th
4. Two random winners will be selected to receive the cards and matching socks displayed with this post.
5. It is all about FUN, I hope you will take on the challenge.

Now for the basics on the cards.
The shoe one was created using navy, aqua, and turquoise card stock. I colored it in using Copic markers (B05, B29). For the leaves I used Prismacolor Marker (dark green). The flowers were white Prima flowers that I colored with Copic markers to match. The shoe stamp is from Make an Impression. Shoe stamp is my Sentiments Exactly. For the upper I used my circle Cuttlebug folder.
Socks came from Marc's Discount Store.

The second card flower I used a flower from the retro See D's set and stamped it on to turquoise card stock using black ink. The wording is from Dollar Store that I picked up in my travels and stamped it using teal Memories ink pad. The tiny buttons are from Making Memories. The upper is a Cuttlebug flower folder. Socks came from Target.

You won't believe how easy it is to gain inspiration from a pair of socks. The shoe one I created I would NEVER have thought to pair those colors together but it is great combo on paper.

I am so grateful for my daughter. I'm playing with the images she sent me. I have managed to make several cards from the few images she sent and I must say after creating this card I'm buying it! It is a must have set for me. All stamps used in this card are Stampin Up. It was basically a very easy card to make just many layers and some super paper I found in my stash. Kathy also sent me some of the flowers from Embrace Life pre-colored and embossed that was actually my inspiration for this card. Thank you Daughter! I used my cheap scallop scissors to scallop black mat and SU small slotted punch to insert black ribbon. Marvy mega and giant punches were used for the circles. Like I mentioned before background paper is unknown but it did come in a package with several other colors of the same pattern.

Thanks for stopping by.

Embrace Life

My lovely daughter sent me a goodie box filled with all sorts of goodies so she wouldn't hear me cry about not having any stamps, which by the way I have about 50 percent more then her...BUT mine are all old and I like so many of the new ones. I had mentioned that I really liked the new Stampin Up "Embrace Set" so she enclosed a few images for me to play around with. I think I really am going to have to buy this set! This card measures is 5 1/2 squared. I mounted the LI pattern paper on to black linen, colored the images in using my watercolor pencils and markers (see below for tip). I used my Spellbinder oval dies to mount word onto. For the corners, I had none that matched and since they were self adhesive I ripped off the top layer and got it down to plain chipboard, dunked it in my ink and it worked like a charm. I added a little sparkle to flowers with crystal Sticklers.

Tip: You can easily use the same method as you would with Copic markers to blend them. Scribble some of the color on a piece of acetate and use your watercolor blender to blend.

Geometric Card Challenge and Tagged

I created this card for Allison's Challenge. This was truly a challenge for me and by far not at all my best. I decided to attempt a circle card (my first) I used Lasting Impression papers and cut circles out by hand, can you tell ? I used a 3/4" punch to punch out circles on bottom then inserted Prima flowers and added crystals I had lying around. The saying is from SU as is the larger flower. In the center of the flower is a stamp by Hero Arts. Although I don't like this card it may give others ideas. You can adapt this card to be a purse by removing the scalloped circle and adding a ribbon for handle.

Now for the Tag

Allison is really making my week tough! First she post a tough challenge and now she ask tough questions.
What were you doing ten years ago?
Wow, that is a tough question I can't remember what I was doing yesterday! Ten years ago I working on closing out a business my husband and I ran and on weekends running back and forth to Pittsburgh to visit Kathy who was in college.
What were you doing 1 year ago?
I was working and still am working at a concrete company basically running all day to day functions including bookeeping and babysitting 12 helpless guys for a real jerk but its a job and pays for my stamping addiction!
Name your five favorite snacks.
1. Godiva Dark Chocolate filled with Raspberries
2. Musketeers
3. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
4. Pretzels
5. Popcorn
Name five things you would do if you were a millionaire.
1. Move and build a house with a BIG stamping room
2. Quit my Job and stamp more
3. Travel
4. Take time for myself and my body!
5. Donate time to Children's Hospital or Woman's Shelter
Name five things you like doing.
1. Stamping
2. Crafts in general
3. Hanging out with my daughter only wish could do more!
4. Reading
5. Going out to Dinner
Name five things you would never wear again.
1. Platform Shoes (they sell pretty good on ebay though)
2. Bikini
3. Clothes my mother made me.
4. Bra without an underwire
5. Hats - I hate hats!
Name your five favorite toys.
1. My Wizard
2. Computer
3. Digial Camera
4. Bind It All (Thanks Kathy)
5. My new Copic Markers (Again my wonderful daughter)

Five persons I am tagging Jackie,Tami,Heather,Kathi and Claudi

Oh Bunny Tails

Hey look you get to see another mailbox! No, I haven't run out yet:) I themed this one to be for Easter. Papers and templates are all Lasting Impressions for the most part. The "Tail" stamp is from TAC, since discontinued. It was a set I just had to have and couldn't find a good use for. The rest is computer generated text. I had fun trying to get all 4 sides to have same basic theme to it. Thanks for looking and comments are welcome, good or bad.

I am so Egg-cited!

I made this card this morning actually I am EGG-CITED to be feeling better today. Card is 5 1/4 squared. All supplies used for this card with exception of ribbon, wording and striped paper is Lasting Impressions. The striped paper I found in my old stash dated 2001 by an unknown company (Miller). Ribbon is from Joann's and wording is a See D stamp. When I tore the upper striped paper I saved the part I tore off flipped it over and used it for the botton section of the card.

The card is not the traditional colors you normal would see for Easter but I have a lot of this stock to use up thanks to my darling daughter.

Inks used ColorBox - Country Blue and Dune

Dainty Daisy Mother's Day Card

Not feeling well yesterday I was in a major stamping funk . I started this card and would go work on it a bit then leave the room and return each time adding this or that but not totally happy with it so I added more and more! Finally I tossed it aside to finish it this morning. I might add it is not at all what I had in mind when I begun.

The card is 4" x 4 1/4" but mounted to a 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 base. The paper is from Miss Elizabeth that I picked up at the local Dollar Store. It was too pretty and I had to find a use for it. I used a Hero Arts stamp for leaf flower stems and stamped the African Daisies by Rubber Stamp Tapestry onto a punched out 3/4" circle in Tangerine & Rouge Colorbox chalk inks. The saying is by Embossing Arts, not sure they are still in business. I stamped it on to a piece of matching stock and added some flowers from Oriental Trading and a button from LI.

Tip for today - I punched the circles used for wording from the pretty picture they use to show you what's in the package. Waste not, it looked usable to me :)
Supplies
Stamps- Rubber Tapestry, Hero Arts, Embossing Arts
Paper - Lasting Impressions. white linen, Miss Elizabeth
Bling - Crystals Unknown, Buttons LI
Punches - 3/4", Mega Scallop Marvy, 2" Punch
Misc- Ribbon Michaels, scallop scissors, pop dots, glue