TGI Fab Friday

Hi stampers!  Thank GOODNESS it's finally Friday!  And by Friday I mean a Friday before a weekend I don't have to work!!!  Well except for teaching turbo kick at the Y Saturday and Sunday....but that's not really work....it's getting paid to work out, right?  I really wish I had a weekend with NOTHING planned but this is better than working 20+ hours like the past few!  Fridays just aren't the same when you know you'll be putting in tons of hours!  We only have one more out of town football game with the season winding down so hopefully that means I'll have more time to stamp!  That is IF I can get my workouts in before that!  I've gained a few pounds that I have to get serious about taking off so I've started a formal running program in hopes that I don't have any excuses not to work out:-)  So, if you don't see me around it means I'm probably out running like a good girl!

Now onto the challenge at Fab Friday!  Last week's color challenge was just that for many people, a challenge!  But I'm happy about that!  Sometimes it's good to have a challenge that well....challenges you!  I know not many of us would have put those colors together but everyone did a great job!

This week we have a clean and simple sketch for you.

And this is what I came up with.

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  For the birds
Paper:  Watercolor, real red, marina mist, polka dot parade DSP, patio party DSP, summer smooches DSP
Ink:  Staz on, various for watercoloring
Accessories:  Dazzling details

This card came about because I wasn't really in a stamping mood the other night but I wanted to do SOMETHING creative (I have two favorite saying 1-To do something creative every day and 2- to sweat every day...not that either actually happens on a daily basis, ha) so I thought I'd color a bit.  I inked up my for the birds set and colored this cute little scene.  And after it set on my desk for a few days I thought it would look super cute with this sketch.  Remember, sketches are just a starting point so feel free to change up the shapes or flip them!

And it's hard to see but there is dazzling details on the little butterfly.

Now head on over the Fab Friday site and see what everyone came up with.  And don't forget to play along with us!  Remember you have almost two weeks!

Happy stamping!

Ok, don't yell

Hi stampers!  Now, I know I told you to yell at me if I start posting Christmas cards instead of fall cards BUUUUT I've been in a terrible slump this past week or two so I'm happy I can make ANY card regardless of the theme.  I almost felt as I'd forgotten "how" to stamp the other night!  Seriously!  And then I remembered that maybe I should find a challenge or something as a starting point.  Well, I had seen the Sweet Sunday sketch earlier in the week and knew I wanted to try it.

And the ONLY idea I had for it was a Christmas card:-)  And I have to say this is exactly what I needed as it's the first card I've been really happy with in a week or two!  Yay!  So please don't yell at me:-)  I swear I'm trying hard to come up with fall cards!  But this one is just too cute!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  More merry messages
Paper:  Very vanilla, cherry cobbler, festival of prints DSP stack
Ink:  Cherry cobbler, island indigo
Accessories:  Houndstooth embossing folder, merry mini punch pack

I had originally planned to use the Christmas tree punch on this card but once I got to making it I realized it wouldn't work for the trees to be upright so stars it was....which also made me change my DSP.  I was going to use the snow festival with the trees but it didn't feel right with the stars!   I wanted to use those teeny punches to make some of the DSP show through and it worked beautifully!  I think it adds a little more interest than just slapping some punched out pieces on there!

And a little tip on lining the punches up....I just used a ruler and drew a line on the back side of the cardstock.  Then it was super easy to make sure the punches were straight.

I debated wether to use the retired starburst embossing folder but in the end I went for a current folder.  I kind of wish I had used the starburst to go along with the star theme.  And I sponged around both the outside of the card and the embossed panel to make it a little richer.  And that's another one of my tips...I rarely emboss a whole card front.  I usually cut a panel to 4" x 5.25" and emboss that and attach it to my card front.  I think it looks more finished and you can't see the embossing when you open the card!

I hope the stamping streak continues over the weekend!

Happy stamping!

A card for SuziQ

Hi stampers!  I tried to blog yesterday but it just didn't happen.....sigh.  My job is kicking my butt the past few weeks.  I'm hoping I can get my life together this week, ha!  I did manage to get a card made the other day.  This one is for my good little friend Suzi who turned 21 on Saturday (where we were both stuck at a volleyball tournament, ha).

So....what better set to use for a 21st birthday than happy hour????

Stampin' Supplies
Stamps:  Happy hour
Paper:  Whisper white, basic gray, primrose petals, patio party DSP
Ink:  Basic gray, summer starfruit, primrose petals
Accessories:  Apothecary accents framelits, large scallop edgelit, primrose petals satin stitched ribbon, paper piercing pack, chevron embossing folder

And that's it for me!  I hope to be back tomorrow with something to share if I have any mojo left by the time I get off work and go running tonight!

Happy stamping!

HSS 137

Hi stampers!  It's Tuesday and time for a new challenge over at Hand Stamped Sentiments!  This week is a fun theme challenge.  This one reminds me a bit of my granny!  She was always canning yummy stuff!

Fun huh?  And we have the perfect set for this challenge!!!!!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Perfectly preserved
Paper:  Very vanilla, sahara sand, perfect plum, watercolor
Ink:  Stazon, perfect plum, bashful blue
Accessories:  Cannery framelits, bitty banner framelits, lacy brocade embossing folder, perfect plum taffeta ribbon, delicate doily sizzlits, basic pearls

It was super easy to make a blue jar!  I just used watercolor paper and the cannery framelits!  And I love those flowers, they remind me of alums.  Our neighbor used to have some right out my bedroom window when I was growing up...lots of memories in this challenge!  I don't use a lot of perfect plum (or purple for that matter) but I thought the flowers would look really pretty in plum.  I finally pulled out my perfect plum ribbon too!  I just had to have it when I saw the picture of it in the catalog!  So pretty...and then I haven't used it, ha!  I also used the lacy brocade embossing folder from the Holiday catalog.  I resisted it for a while,...but alas, I had to have it *sigh*.

Now go on over and see what everyone else came up with and play along!

Happy stamping!

Toxic Mailable Monday

Hi stampers!  Sorry it's been a while but work's been nuts so there hasn't been much time for stamping let along blogging!  This was probably my toughest week of the fall season for me.  I worked over 24 hours between Friday and Saturday alone....and Friday's game was far out of town and in the pouring rain....fun times!  So, after sleeping in and grocery shopping, working out, shopping shopping (but that's fun, hehe) and the laundry I did manage to get one card stamped yesterday.  And this card has actually been in the works since about Wednesday!  And I was going to blog it last night but my blogger was going BATTY so it didn't happen!

Working a ton of hours really zaps my mojo so I had a hard time getting started and I'm afraid the same will happen tonight especially since I'm getting a late start (and have to stop at 9 for the return of TV time with the hubs...we haven't had our special time over the summer but now that our fave shows are back on we'll be spending some QT together...it's Castle tonight!!!!!!).  So....

This card was inspired by the printer's tray I got for recruiting....which I need to put together one of these days:-)

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Toxic treats
Paper:  Crumb cake, very vanilla, howlstooth & scaring bone
Ink:  Lucky limeade, basic black, versamark
Accessories:  White baker's twine, adorning accents edgelits, black EP, color spritzer

Ok, so it's seriously cute, no?  I really love that tangerine polka dot paper!  The banners were super easy to do.  I just folded some scraps of DSP and cut in a V then  slipped them over the baker's twine and closed them up with a glue dot.  And it's hard to see in the photo but the little image is embossed.

Ok, I'm off to TRY to stamp....but the doggy on my lap is making that kind of hard....if it's not one thing it's another!!!!!!!  :-)

Happy stamping!

Fall Frenzy

Hi stampers!  Quick post today before I head off to work because I finally have a fall card to share!  The frenzy part is because this is my busiest weeks of football season so I won't get much stamping done in the next few days.  I've got a game waaaay out of town tonight and not only football tomorrow morning but an all day volleyball tourney too.  Annnnnd guess who woke up with a back strain yesterday?  THIS girl, ugh!  Perfect timing right?  It happens once or twice a year and I never know how it happens I just wake up with it.  It didn't fee too bad yesterday and I'm a mission to lose a few pounds that I've gained do I went ahead and lifted weights and had to teach Turbokick too....well that wasn't the smartest idea I've ever had....

Anyway, here's my card.  This uses one of the backgrounds I made with crayon rubbed embossing because I thought the woodgrain folder would look cool with it.  I think I want to play around some more with different card stock and ink color combinations with this folder and technique!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Wonderfall, Woodgrain background, retired wheel (name escapes me)
Paper:  Very vanilla, crumb cake, raspberry ripple, champaign glimmer
Ink:  Crumb cake, early espresso, more mustard, lucky limeade, raspberry ripple
Accessories:  Window labels framelits, autumn accents die, naturals buttons, linen thread

My colors were inspired by a color challenge over at Create with Connie & Mary.  My sentiment is from a retired wheel that I cut up.  I can't remember the name and I'm not in my office....and I'm not about to get up and penguin waddle in there to look with my back pain, ha!  I'll have to get up to go to work in minutes so I'm sitting here as long as I can:-)

Hopefully I'll get some stamping in on Sunday and have more stuff to share!

Happy stamping!

More mittens

Hi stampers!  I have a problem!  I can't stop making Christmas cards when I should be making fall-themed cards!  Help!  I have all this stuff and I'm not using it and time is running out????  Anyone with me?  I have no idea what the deal is as I LOVE LOVE LOVE fall and Halloween!  Soooo....that's the goal for this next few weeks (I'd say weekend but have to work 15+ hours Friday and that or more on Saturday so that's not going to happen, ha)!  You guys need to keep tabs on me and keep me in line if I don't start sharing FALL cards!  :-)  Hopefully the cool fall weather we just started having will help me!   It's getting to be sweater and sweatshirt weather!  Love it!

Anyway....as I mentioned yesterday, I've been in a stamping slump the past week or so.  But I got my monthly demo magazine last week so I sat down Sunday and decided to case one of the projects from it (and there are a LOT of cute ideas I want to make in there).  That usually helps me get my mojo going...and it did!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Make a mitten, teeny tiny wishes
Ink:  Crumb cake, whisper white craft, cherry cobbler, versamark
Paper:  Crumb cake, cherry cobbler, snow festival DSP
Accessories:  Mitten builder punch, clear embossing powder, cherry cobbler baker's twine, brights glimmer brads

I cased the card pretty much exactly as it was except I added a few details.  The inspiration card was only one layer but I really like to add another layer sponged in white when using craft.  It just looks more "wintery" to me.  I also sponged the mitten to give it a little more depth.  And just because I'm lazy (lol) I used the red striped strip instead of green because I didn't feel like cutting my DSP up more, ha!  And that's how I got my strips of paper....they are actually a pattern of the DSP and I just cut them into individual strips.  Just think how many cards you could get out of ONE sheet like that!

I really didn't think I needed this stamp set back when the seasonal catalog came out....but you know how that goes.  And I'm super glad I broke down and got it before my magazine came so I could make this card!  There are still a FEW things I've resisted....but the catalog isn't over yet, ha!

Now, don't forget to hold me accountable for some fall cards:-)

Happy stamping!

Mashed-up Mittens

Hi stampers!  Sorry I've been kind of quiet over here!  Last week and this week are probably my two busiest of the football season so there hasn't been much stamp or blog time....and if there has I just haven't felt like doing either.   Too bad I can't stamp at work:-)

I had last night off (one of only TWO nights off this week) so I was determined to stamp.  Of course I had high hopes of getting a LOT done but that wasn't the case.  BUT, thanks to Rita's sketch and technique challenge over at the Friday Mashup I did make one card and it turned out really well and makes me feel like I'm back in the groove!  Hopefully that continues tonight after work and my run!

I really do love the starburst technique, it just looks cool!  I had lots of ideas for the sketch but finally settled on a Christmas card because I just got this stamp set and DSP (after telling myself I didn't like them at first...you know how that goes)!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  make a mitten, greetings of the season
Paper: Whisper white, crumb cake, cherry cobbler, snow festival DSP
Ink:  Crumb cake, whisper white craft, cherry cobbler
Accessories:  Circle punch, mitten builder punch, window frames framelits, whisper white taffeta ribbon, silver dazzling details, basic rhinestones

ACK!  I was so happy with it which was nice because I haven't been too pleased with most of my recent creations.  I really do like the colors and patterns in the DSP after not being too fond of them in the beginning of the holiday catalog.  I really like how the main image came out as well.  I didn't feel like using my stamp-a-majig to stamp the reverse mitten (never mind that I ended up dragging it out to use for the sweater trim pattern along the bottom, ha) so I wanted to make my own mittens.  I stamped the bottom of them with one of the borders from the set and sponged around the edges.  And then since my mittens were white, I couldn't punch my circle in white so I got the idea to use tone on tone with the white sponging and it worked well!  Yay!

Took me a while to decide on the sentiment too.  I ended up stamping a bunch of them on scratch copy paper, cut them out, and used those to figure out what I liked the best.  Anyone else do that?

Ok, gotta head to work and then hopefully stamp the night away!

Happy stamping!

HSS 136

Hi stampers!  It's Tuesday again and you know what that means!  I fun new challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments!  This week is a technique challenge and I have to say I wasn't thrilled when I first saw it.....

Why?  Well because we don't have kids yet so I didn't have any crayons around the house and I kept forgetting to pick any up-)  BUUUUUT after a quick trip to Walgreens I came home and got to work and ohmygosh is this fun and looks so cool!  I may or may not have had to try it out with ALL my embossing folders once I got going, ha!  Seriously it's so fun!  And that's why I love these challenges!  They push me out of my comfort zone and make me try things I wouldn't normally do!  And now I have a box of crayons (minus the white one...which no one really uses anyway) for if the soon-to-be niece and nephew come over!

You can find a great tutorial HERE if you aren't familiar with it.  Now, while I made a bunch of backgrounds, I chose to do my card with the one I had the original idea for since I need to get a move on the Halloween cards!  As a side note the woodgrain embossing folder looks wicked awesome like this!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Googly ghouls, spooky bingo bits
Paper:  Whisper white, basic black, rich razzleberry
Ink:  Basic black, rich razzleberry, tangerine tango, versamark
Accessories: Circle and scalloped circle punches, basic black polka dot ribbon, spider web embossing folder, googly eyes, crayon, stampin' spritzer, brayer, black embossing powder

Eeek, isn't it cute?:-)  These are seriously some of the most cool backgrounds I've ever made!  One detail you may not be able to see is that I embossed the spider.  He's shiny and cool!

Now head on over and see what the rest of the DT came up with!  And don't forget to play along!

Happy stamping!

Fab Friday 02

Hi stampers!  Well it's time for a new challenge over at Fab Friday!  We had SO many fabulous projects for our first challenge!  I was totally overwhelmed!  I can't wait to see what you all do with this one!

This week is a color challenge!  I was afraid it would be a little boring but I was wrong!  The samples that the team came up with are A-MAZ-ING!  Make sure you head on over and check them out.  Here is what I came up with:

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Petite pairs
Paper:  Whisper white, sahara sand, neutrals and subtles DSP stacks
Ink:  Sahara sand
Accessories:  Corner rounder punch

I kept it super simple which is pretty much all I've been able to do lately secondary to being tired and working a ton!  But I think CAS works well with this color combo so it can shine in and of itself!  Speaking of work I had a long night last night (or tonight as I'm making this post) so this will be a short one.  Please send a little prayer up for one of my athletes who dislocated his ankle...which is part of the reason I'm late tonight.  I hate when the kids have injuries that I can't fix or make better!

Now head on over to the challenge site to see the other cards and play along!

Happy stamping!

Christmas in September

Hi stampers!  I've got a Christmas card to share today!  I SHOULD be making fall and Halloween cards but I just can't seem to make many of those lately....maybe next week!  I don't even want to know how close we are to Christmas since I haven't even focused on fall yet as much as I should......

Today's card was super simple and I got the idea from our demo magazine from a few months ago.  I whipped it up pretty quickly last night as I've been dog tired after work this week and have been working late hours and there are more long hours and late nights to come!  Boo!

I made my own "garland" and will shoot a video soon on how to do that.  It's super easy!  You basically sandwich your baker's twine between two punches or die cuts.  Easy-peasy-lemon-squeezie as Bonnie Thurber would say:-)

I modified this a bit from the original sample by only using three ornaments instead of four and I added some "pizzazz" with some extra embellishments.  And I LOVE that sentiment from greetings of the season....in fact I love ALL four of those stamps!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Ornament keepsakes, merry minis, greetings of the season
Paper:  Whisper white, real red, silver glimmer
Ink:  Real red, pool party, lucky limeade
Accessories:  Merry mini punch pack, circle punch, pool party baker's twine, ornament framelits, bright brads, basic rhinestones, dazzling details

Don't forget that you can get the ornament keepsakes stamp set and matching framelits at a discount by purchasing them in a bundle in the holiday catalog!  It's hard to see in the photo but the star on the red ornament is covered in dazzling details.  I love this simple yet festive card and I have a feeling I'll be making more like it!

Happy stamping!

HSS 135

Hi stampers!  Happy Tuesday!  Where did Monday go?  I thought I'd get off work early last night but I didn't...and then I had to come home and run and make dinner and do laundry and then I wanted to stamp but had a crummy headache!  Boo!  So no stamping and I have to work late tonight so double boo!  Good thing it's challenge time over at Hand Stamped Sentiments so I have something to show you!

This week is a super fun challenge that's just right for this time of year....back to school...it's all about alphabets!

Sadly this challenge came about a week too early as I'm getting a new alphabet stamp set this week (aaaand it was FREE....gotta love that)!  So, I had to rely on my old standby - broadsheet alphabet.

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Greeting card kids, broadsheet alphabet, family reunion
Paper:  Watercolor, very vanilla, real red, island indigo
Ink:  Black staz-on, various for watercolring, island indigo
Accessories:  Window frames framelits, paper peircing pack

It's the perfect time for a back to school card for a great teacher!  I may not have kids yet but my step mom and best friend are both teachers and know either one would enjoy this card!

Now head on over the the HSS site and see all the other amazing ideas and play along!

In other news it's my gma's 91st birthday today!  I gotta go scrounge though my cards for an extra special one!!!!

Happy stamping!

Mailable Monday - For the birds

Hi stampers!  And another weekend is in the books.  Where did it go?  Of course mine went way to fast because we went to see my mom and there's never enough time when we go there.  It was nice to be able to spend time in her new house now that it's done.  We hung out on her big comfy couch and watched a movie after going to dinner.  I really love having our own room and bath room with shower......we all used to be crammed into the living room of the old farm house with one bathroom and a creepy shower in the cellar:-)  I wish I could just take a whole week off and go do nothing down there and hang out with my momma!  Oh well....speaking of my mom today's card is one that I sent her a week or two ago.

I got this set as part of my Artisan finalist goodies/freebies and wanted to ink it up so I made a quick and simple....and mailable card.

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  For the birds, distressed dots
Paper:  Watercolor, pool party, summer starfruit
Ink:  Staz-on, pool party, summer starfruit
Accessories:  Primrose petals satin stitched ribbon

I sent it to my momma because she loves birds!  She feeds goldfinches and hummingbirds and has a bunch of bluebird houses.  She wishes she could attract indigo buntings (they are sooooo pretty) but hasn't found out how yet.  She had it out on her kitchen island this weekend, hehe!

Happy stamping!

I'm about to fall asleep...

Hi stampers!  I'm about to fall asleep here!  I meant to post this earlier but got sucked into Pinterest, ha! I've been downloading fonts to use in MDS and totally forgot to blog!  Eeek!  So this will be short since I still have to make my mailable Monday post for you tomorrow:-)  We spent the weekend at my mom's farm and new house so that must have worn me out!  It sure wore the dog out...she was passed out on my lap until my hubby came up for bed!

I was able to stamp a little when we got home so I have a two-fer for some challenges.  I combined the Create with Connie & Mary sketch with the Colour Q challenge this week.  I flipped the sketch just a bit and subbed pool party for soft sky since I don't have any.  I didn't get into the in colors until after the first couple of groups.

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps - Lovely & lacy
Paper:  Whisper white, chocolate chip, pool party, floral fusion DSP
Ink:  Chocolate chip, so saffron, pool party, calypso coral
Accessories:  Calypso coral ruffled ribbon, in color printed brads, finishing touches edgelits, large basic pearls, basic pearls, basic rhinestones

I love the way it turned out!

Happy stamping!

Freaky Friday

Hi stampers!  It's freaky Friday....well not really...I have a Halloween card but it's more cute than freaky:-)  This one comes courtesy of our demonstrator magazine and my freebies from the Artisan contest.  There was a project in this month's magazine for a treat bag or box  that I turned into this card. I had been on the fence about the big doily die for a while and the project pushed me over the edge...and I could get it for free which was even better!

I was worried about how long it would take to poke out all the holes but really it wasn't too bad.  Now, I wouldn't want to make a large number of cards with it but again, it wasn't too bad:-)  I'll try to shoot a video soon on some tips for getting the hanging Chads out.  I know I haven't posted many videos lately but I'm still working between two computers and I just haven't had time to switch my videos over and then the interwebz quit working on my laptop last week and I haven't had the time to mess with it.  I promise I'll have one or two soon!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Toxic treats
Paper:  Very vanilla, crumb cake, basic black, silver glimmer, brights DSP stack
Ink:  Crumb cake, Basic black, tangerine tango
Accessories:  Large doily sizzlit, labels collection framelits, perfect pennants die, basic gray and black striped satin ribbon

It's hard to see in the photo but I used the pennant die to cut out a scalloped circle of silver glimmer paper and stuck it behind the doily.  It's cool looking in real life!  And for some reason the basic gray striped ribbon (which is SO fun and looks totally like a witch's stocking) looks purple in the photo...it's not...it's gray.

The background is a little plain.  In the magazine they had used that cool naturals paper but I didn't have any.  I think I should have sponged or spritzed the background....I still might do that:-)  Maybe I'll be back soon with the "updated" version....

I'm off to work 15 or 16 hours today....the fun never ends:-)

Happy stamping!

Tuesday on Thursday

Hi stampers!  I've got a quick card I whipped up before work on Tuesday to share today.  I saw the Try Stampin' on Tuesday sketch pinned on Pinterest Tuesday morning and knew I had to play along!

I just can't resist a sketch with banners!  I think the sketch would even make a pretty card in and of itself, lol!  So, since I knew I had to work late I squeezed in making this card after teaching at the Y and lunch!  I knew it would come together fast which is great and probably another reason I love this sketch!  The timing was perfect also because I needed a birthday card (as if I didn't have hundreds lying around, lol) for my step mom!  But I thought she'd really like this one and it's a good fall birthday card.

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Perfectly penned
Paper:  Very vanilla, midnight muse, comfort cafe DSP
Accessories:  Summer starfruit satin stitched ribbon

I'm so ready for fall ESPECIALLY after how HOT it was out at work yesterday!  I think yesterday was my most miserable and hot day in 7 years!  I'm ready for cooler weather and to be able to break out my sweaters and sweatshirts....comfy!!!!  So, since I'm ready for fall I wanted to use my comfort cafe DSP.  I LOVE this DSP, both the patterns and the colors and I have not used it nearly enough since I got it!  I also thought the perfectly penned sentiment would go great with this DSP and I haven't used it enough either....are we seeing a pattern? :-)

It also uses the in color satin stitched ribbon which is so pretty and you can get FREE with every $40 spent for the month of September!  You know you need some:-)

Happy stamping!

Whoopsie Wednesday

Hi stampers!  I goofed again this week....I missed the deadline for the Colour Q challenge...again.  For some reason I always seem to miss this one, what's up with that?  This card took a while to come to fruition (the Christmas card I shared on Monday was actually the first base I made for this one) but I had it done well in advance of the deadline....I just plain forgot to blog it over the weekend...I was actually stamping, lol!  Whoopsie!

So I'm not sure I love it but here it is:

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Best of everything, friendly phrases
Paper: Whisper white, crumb cake, gumball green, Bermuda bay, neutrals DSP stack
Ink:  Crumb cake, gumball green, Bermuda bay
Accessories:  Labels collection framelits, paper piercing pack, dazzling details

I hadn't used the Best of Everything set for a while so I dug it out and I also dug out my Bermuda Bay paper and ink.  I was too lazy for a while to actually get it out and was going to just use tempting turquoise in place of it but once I remembered how pretty the bay was I had to pull it out and I'm glad I did!  It's hard to see but I put some dazzling details on the little birdy's wing.

That's it for today!  I'll be back tomorrow!

Happy stamping!

HSS 134

Hi stampers!  It's Tuesday and because it was a three day weekend I'll be thrown off all week, ha!  Guess that's not all bad if it turns out to be Friday and I'm thinking it's only Thursday!  Anyway it's time for another challenge over at Hand Stamped Sentiments.  This week is my favorite!  A color challenge!

I have to admit I kind of struggled with this one.  I think it was because they are kind of boyish colors and I'm 110% girl...proved by all the shoe and clothes shopping I've done in the past few weeks (shhhh...don't tell the hubs, lol).  I also sort of have an aversion to certainly celery since pear pizzazz came out.  I think this may be the first time I've used celery in a couple of years, ha!  I secretly hope pear will replace it soon, lol!  I do finally have some boy sets though, yay!  I would have used I dig you but I kind of forgot I had it, lol!  Guess that happens when you have too many stamps!  So, I used moving forward.

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Moving forward, bitty banners
Paper:  Whisper white, daffodil delight, tempting turquoise
Ink:  Daffodil delight, tempting turquoise, night of not quite navy, certainly celery, subtles DSP stack
Accessories:  3 inch circle die, bitty banner framelits, cupcake builder punch, dazzling details

Aren't my cupcake clouds fun? :-)  And it's hard to see but the little banners on the blimp are covered in dazzling details.  I was hesitant to use sparkles on a boy card but it just needed something!

Now head on over and see what the other HSS girls came up with!  And don't forget to play along!

Happy stamping!

A LABOR day card

Hi stampers!  And by Labor Day card I mean labor intensive:-)  This card is pretty much the opposite of a mailable Monday card but I made it this weekend and couldn't wait to share it!  I love clean and simple cards but sometimes it's just fun to go a bit over the top.  The base for this card was actually made for another card that didn't work out.

I've had the fun flourish designer frames and the ornament bundle for quite a while (anyone else just HAVE to have things and then they just sit there waiting for you to actually use them?) and finally broke them out this weekend.  Oh, and I finally cut into my champaign glimmer paper too!  I had seen one of my friends use her designer frames and I couldn't wait to come up with something for them, they are so pretty!  The ornament bundle is also super cute!  Don't forget that you can get the stamp set and coordinating framelits at an extra discount when you buy them together!  That's so awesome!

So, I finally ended up with this card!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Greetings of the season, ornament keepsakes, daring adventure, alahambra wheel
Paper:  Whisper white, neutrals DSP stack, champaign glimmer
Ink:  Crumb cake, cherry cobbler, versamark
Accessories:  Pewter embossing powder, flourish designer frames, mini brads, merry minis punch pack, circle punch, holiday ornaments framelits, large scallop framelit, cherry cobbler seam binding, vintage faceted buttons, linen thread

Wowzas, it sure took a while to make but it was well worth the effort.  It's too bad that the Holiday catalog usually isn't included in the Artisan contest because my first thought was to save this to enter, hehe! And you probably could mail it, would just cost a little extra postage and use a padded envie.

The frames are meant to be used with the mini brads.  All I did was punch out some CS with the decorative label punch and adhered it to the stamped panel before attaching my frame so that the frame itself was blank.  I love all the sparkle and shine on the card with the glimmer paper and then the contrasting metal finishes of the frame and the ornament in pewter.

I hope you have a very relaxing labor day and get some stamping in too!  That's what I'm about to do!

Happy stamping!

Back to Spool!

Hi stampers!  No that's not a spelling error in the title....it's the name of the September Stampin' Up promotion.  It's back to spool time which means for every $40 you spend with me you get a FREE roll of the new satin stitched ribbon in any of the new in colors!  Wahooo!  It's so pretty!  Just look how pretty three of the colors are in this card!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Make a cake, petite pairs
Paper:  Whisper white, summer starfruit, primrose petals, midnight muse
Ink:  Summer starfruit, primrose petals, summer starfruit
Accessories:  Finishing touches edgelits, argyle embossing folder, basic pearls, satin stitched ribbon in summer starfruit, primrose petals, and midnight muse

Isn't it cute????  The card and the ribbon I mean:-)  I've had this one stashed away in the vault for a while and today was the perfect time to share it!  Seriously who doesn't love ribbon and FREE ribbon at that?????  Just click the shop now button over there on the right to get yours!  Sale ends at the end of September!  And there's no limit!

Here's the details (click to enlarge):

And here's a KOOKY video from Stampin' Up!  This seriously made me laugh out loud this morning!  Frozen drinks anyone????  :-)

Happy stamping....and embellishing:-)