Stamping slump

Hi stampers!  So I have a confession....I've been in a HUGE stamping slump the past few weeks.  In addition to being busy with work and the holidays I just haven't been able to stamp.  I've wanted to but don't feel like I have any good ideas or it's just easier to sit on my butt and watch the tv:-)  Which by the way I totally have a fave new show....Nashville!  I am totally obsessed with it and think it's cool the actors sing their own songs and I'm double obsessed with Claire Bowen and Sam Palladio!  Their songs are great and they are just the cutest!!!  Anyone else a fan of the show?

But, I was determined to stamp last night so I sat down with this challenge from my friend Rita at Freshly Made Sketches.

And this simple sketch was just what I needed I think because I came up with a card that I really liked!  And that hasn't happened in a while!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Scentsational, More merry messages
Paper:  Very vanilla, cherry cobbler, bashful blue, festival of prints DSP
Ink:  Crumb cake, cherry cobbler
Accessories:  Holiday collection framelits, scallop circle punch, circle punch

Sorry the photo isn't great.  I took it at night which I normally don't do.  I hadn't used this set much (or at all maybe) so I felt like it needed some love.  I always feel really guilty if I haven't stamped in a while since I have so many stamps and things that haven't got much (if any) use.  And that of course doesn't help the slump:-)  It's a vicious cycle I tell ya!

Hopefully I'll be able to create more this week and in the coming weeks.  Too bad I have a lot to do today plus work late tonight and then we'll be busy over the weekend!  Of course my mojo returns when I'm busy, ha!

And one more note....these cute treat kits were just released and available until Jan 2.  How cute are they?

Click on the flyer to see it enlarged.

Happy stamping!

HSS 146

Hi stampers!  It's time for a new challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments and this one is FUN!

Isn't it a pretty picture???  I love the colors and all the sparkle!  I took my cues for the colors of my card from the photo and also I kind of focused in on the green ornament with the snowflake and came up with this card:

It's hard to see in the photo but I outlined the ornament in dazzling details and it's sparkly.  It's late when I'm posting this and I'm sleepy so please excuse the lack of supplies!  I'm a bit hazy on the details:-)  That will teach me to wait until the last minute!

Now, head on over to the HSS site and check out the rest of the projects and make sure to enter one of your own!

Happy stamping!

Wanted.....

......my mojo!  Hi stampers and happy Monday!  I hope you all had a good Thanksgiving weekend!  Although mine was busy and I had to work on Friday and Saturday it was filled with food and family!  Too much of the food....but oh well:-)

I *thought* I'd have a ton of time to stamp but it didn't turn out that way.  We went to my mom's on Wednesday which we don't usually do but it was nice to not have to rush around on Thursday morning so that night was out.  Then, on Thursday we had lunch with all my cousins and had to come back home and eat again four hours later with Jon's family:-)  So, that day was out too.  Friday was early Black Friday shopping with my mother in law and work and Jon's birthday dinner...so no stamping again.  Which brings us to the weekend and I just couldn't seem to sit down and stamp on Saturday or much of Sunday.  Then when I DID finally make one card the power went out!  Figures, right????  Now, what we should have done is just gone to my in laws right after it went out because finally after a few hours that's what we did and then halfway there we heard it was back on near home.  So....back we went and our street was still dark....but it came on literally when we pulled in the driveway, ha!

Anyway, I'm hoping this card which I used the Mojo Monday sketch for has kick started my stamping mojo and I can create away this week (after I clean this mess of a house I have, lol)!  I missed the deadline to enter but no bother...I was just happy to stamp something:-)

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Snowflake soiree, border banter
Paper:  Very vanilla, crumb cake, cherry cobbler, midnight muse, cherry cobbler core'dinations, orchard harvest, DSP
Ink:  Crumb cake, cherry cobbler, island indigo, midnight muse
Accessories:  3.5" circle die, circle punches, snow burst embossing folder, snow flurry die, in color polka dot brads, basic pearls & rhinestones, large basic pearls

I haven't used a Mojo sketch in a while as sometimes they overwhelm me and I seem to really be on a CAS kick the past six months or so but this one was fun!!!!  I used the DSP as the starter for this card as I wanted to incorporate it on a holiday card.  My idea was to make it look kind of "country" but I'm not sure that actually panned out...but I still like it.  Hope you do too!

Happy stamping!

Fab Fri 07

Hi stampers!  Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!  I'm a stuffed turkey!  And now it's onto the next thing....hubby's birthday is today and it's the big three O!  Plus it's the big turkey tournament we host at work so busy busy!  But it's time for a new challenge over at Fab Friday so head over and check it out!

Here's my card:

I kept is super simple as I was short on time this week obviously with the holiday, birthday, and work, hehe!

I do hope you'll go play along!

Happy stamping!

Gobble gobble

Hi stampers!  It's almost turkey day!  And I'm busy with work and holiday preparations!  I have to work Friday and Saturday...boo!!!  And I'm going to try to get my Christmas decorations out Friday and Saturday too!  I doubt I'll have a post for you tomorrow so I wanted to say Happy Thanksgiving now!  I'm going to TRY not to eat too much tomorrow....but we'll see how THAT goes:-)

So, here's a happy Thanksgiving card from me to you!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Wonderfall, teeny tiny wishes
Paper:  Very vanilla, soft suede, summer starfruit, comfort cafe
Ink:  Soft suede, midnight muse
Accessories:  Autumn accents bigz die, linen thread, square punch, corner rounder punch

I used the sketch from Sweet Sunday this week.

It is super cute and I'll probably use it again!

Hope everyone has a great holiday!  And thanks for visiting!  I'm so thankful for my readers, customers, and friends!  I have made SO MANY GREAT friends through this crazy hobby and I love you all!

Happy stamping!

HSS 145

Hi stampers!  Wow, it's Tuesday already and almost turkey day!  Where does the time go?  I'm super busy this week with the turkey tournament that we host at work plus the holiday and my hubby's birthday so there won't be much time to stamp.  But there will be time to bake...today is baking day:-)  I need to make a pumpkin pie cheesecake for Thursday and I told Jon I'd make him red velvet cake balls for his birthday.  Maybe I can fit some stamping in there too, we'll see!

But, at least it's time for a fun challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments!  This week the theme is FUN FOLDS!

Fun right?  So I went in a little bit of a different direction with this.  Instead of using a fun fold FOR my card I used one ON my card, see:

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Greetings of the season
Paper:  Very vanilla, early espresso, cherry cobbler, festival of prints DSP stack, early espresso core'dinations, champaign glimmer paper
Ink:  Cherry cobbler
Accessories:  Merry mini punch pack, circle and scallop circle dies, sanding block, dazzling details

I had seen these folded trees (made from a half circle of paper) quite a few places so I googled a tutorial for them.  They look terrific with the festival of prints DSP!  And they are EASY!  It's hard to see in the photo but I lined all of the curved edges of the tree with dazzling details.  So sparkly!

Now go check out the rest of the design teams fancy folds and play along with us!

Happy stamping!

Snow Way! BIG SALE!

Hi stampers!  It's Monday (darn) BUT it's a short week AND there's a BIG sale on my website this week!  Through next Wednesday you can get up to 50% off select items with super awesome door busters today and next Wednesday!  Can you say BIG SHOT and MDS on SALE????  The big shot is 20% off today and MDS is FIFTY percent off the whole sale!!!  Make sure you click the shop 24/7 link to the right or click HERE to check out the deals!

Seriously, there are some CHEAP stamp sets on sale now!  Like Snow Much Fun which is super cute and has snowmen!!   And speaking of snowmen, I just HAD to have this stamp set and hadn't inked it up yet.  It's cute too!  AND it works perfect with the sentiments from snow much fun!  Just check out this cute little card that combines the two!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Frosty friends, snow much fun
Paper:  Whisper white, baja breeze, cherry cobbler, snow festival DSP
Ink:  Staz on, various for coloring, stripes embossing folder

Accessories:  Cherry cobbler baker's twine, regals buttonsm blender pen,
Ack!  I just love that little sentiment!  This was a card I cased from the textured boutique video SU put out. They sold out of those cute little embossing machines quick so stay tuned if you wanted one, maybe they will bring them back.  Anyway, isn't this cute!

Ok, time to go to work...make sure to check out the sale, ok!? You can avoid some of the Black Friday crowds and getting up early!  Shop with me in your PJ's, hehe:-)

I'll try to stamp and post this week!  It's a CRAZY week with the holiday, a big basketball tourney and my hubs birthday....the fun never ends:-)

Happy stamping!

More news

Hi stampers!  There is more exciting news from SU...it just doesn't stop!  Starting Monday and through November 28th we are having an ONLINE EXTRAVAGANZA!

There will be amazing deals with some items up to 50% off!  There will also be extra special deals on the first and last days!  Make sure to check out my online store HERE to see what's on sale.  Get some gifts for the crafters in your life and some for YOU!  :-)

And now a quick card!  I missed the deadline for the sketch I used at Retrosketches since I had to work late last night and then got sucked into a new book...before I knew it, it was after 1 am and I HAD to get to bed as I was running 5K this morning, lol!  It ended up ok, I wanted to run in under 28 minutes and I made it in just over 27!  Yay!

So this card is now only for the Colour Q challenge which I loved this week and immediately made me think of big cosy sweaters (which is what I'm wearing almost exclusively now, ha) and mittens of course!  What do you think?

And I came up with this cute card!

Now, don't mind the mittens because they are both left but I couldn't get that stamp to do a right mitten:-).  I also thought the argyle folder lent itself and texture well.

Hope you like it, I'm off to spend some time with my momma!  Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the sale or any of the fun things going on with SU!  I'd be happy to help you!

Happy stamping!

A lot going on...

Hi stampers!  Man, there is a lot going on....and I'm NOT just talking about my life (which there is a lot going on as per usual, ha) but about Stampin' Up!  They have bombarded us with crazy fun announcements today!  Yikes!  Now, if you stick with me though all this I promise a pretty picture at the end, ok? :-)

First up, for all of you iPhone users there is a FREE.....did you hear that?  FREE app that's like a mini My Digital Studio and lets you make cute little cards with pictures from your phone to send to your friends!  How fun?!?!?!  And it's free, did I mention that?  You can find it HERE.

Now, it isn't available for android phones yet because I guess those take a lot more time to make but stay tuned, ok!

Next up is a special limited time offer.  We are doing a test run of the Sizzix texture boutique machine.  This machine is super cute and just for embossing.  So, if you've ever wanted to use our folders but don't have a big shot or other die cut and don't need one you can get this machine to emboss!  Did I mention it's cute? :-)  

But, it's a limited offer!  When they are gone they are gone!  If they sell well we may offer them in the future.  Here some details from SU:

Give the gift of texture. The Texture Boutique works with Textured Impressions Embossing Folders to transform ordinary cardstock, paper, metallic foil, or vellum into an embossed, textured masterpiece. This machine embosses only; it does not die cut. We have 4,000 available to be sold only while supplies last. If this product test goes well, we may offer the Texture Boutique again in the future.

To help you with your gift-giving needs, we're offering a special Texture Boutique Bundle (item 132700) that includes the Texture Boutique Embossing Machine and the Flower Garden and Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folders for $39.95 (a $45.85 value). Or purchase just the Texture Boutique Embossing Machine (item 132657) for $29.95.

And finally, we are also offering these neat little things called Talking Tags.  

Essentially they are stickers that you can put in a card (or on most anything really) and record a message on your smartphone (works with any smartphone) and then the recipient can use their smart phone to listen to it!  Such a neat idea!  And here's the info you need:  you get 10 tags for $7.95 (item 129723).  And here's a video!

Ok, I know it's a lot of info!  Sorry...they kind of bombarded us today:-)  But that's fun, right???   So here's a pretty card for you!  

Stampin' Supplies:

Stamps:  Watercolor winter, greetings of the season

Paper:  Very vanilla, early espresso, cherry cobbler, lucky limeade, festival of prints DSP

Ink:  Early espresso, cherry cobbler, lucky limeade

Accessories:  Wide oval punch, lots of tags sizzlits, scallop square duo bigz die, basic rhinestones, petals a plenty embossing folder

I've had this made for a while and I used a sketch at Try Stampin' On Tuesday that I didn't get time to play long with. I love the festival of prints paper!  It can make a fun bright card or a very elegant card!  

So there you have it!  Feel free to contact me if you have any questions!  I know there's going to be some:-)  All of these items are available in my online store or directly through me!  I'm going to TRY to post more in the next few weeks but it's crazy here so bear with me!

Happy stamping!

HSS 144

Hi stampers!  It's Tuesday and time for a new challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments!  This week is snowflakes!  Which is quite fitting since it went from about 70 degrees on Saturday to 30 some today!  And it looks like it's going to stay that way for a while.  I'm hoping we don't get any snow for a while though:-)  I like it around Christmas and then that's it!

I had this midnight muse panel stamped with the illuminate ink for a while just sitting out on my desk and decided it was perfect to use for this challenge!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Snowflake soiree, sweet essentials
Paper:  Whisper white, early espresso, cherry cobbler, island indigo, midnight muse, silver glimmer
Ink:  Early espresso, cherry cobbler, island indigo, illuminate
Accessories:  Basic rhinestones

Now head on over and see the winter wonderland the DT has created and play along!

Happy stamping!

It's about time!

Hi stampers!  Sorry for not posting yesterday!  I went to Ikea with my mom and stepdad and FINALLY got some bookshelves for my "new" studio.  Maybe I can finally get it finished and share  photos or a video!  I wasn't able to get them every other time we went because they were literally an inch or two too long to fit in my SUV.  So, we took a big truck today:-)  Now, if I can get hubby to put them together for me!!!


So, here's a card I made by mistake.  Somehow I got a couple of color challenges mixed for a Hand Stamped Sentiments challenge and ended up with this...which I didn't realize was wrong until the night I had to send it in, ha!

I didn't think the colors went very well at first but I'll be darned if it didn't turn out all right in the end!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Wonderfall, teeny tiny wishes
Paper:  Very vanilla, early espresso, more mustard, island indigo, howlstooth & scaringbone DSP
Ink:  Early espresso, more mustard, island indigo
Accessories:  Linen thread, natural buttons

I do wish I'd thought to use the core'dinations paper as the espresso background embossed with the woodgrain folder but oh well.....

Hoping I can get some stamping done tonight and tomorrow since I took the day off tomorrow!  But my parents are here.....and I have a lot of design team stuff to work on...so we'll see.  And now I need to run before it rains!  If I don't blow away!!!!  It's sure windy!!!!

Happy stamping!

Fab Fri 06

Hi stampers!  It's Friday!  Hooray!  And it's time for another challenge at Fab Friday!  Can it get any better?  Well maybe if we were off work, right!  Anyway this week is a color challenge and I LOVE these colors.  They are very fall and perfect for November/Thanksgiving!

I had a hard time narrowing down what set to use because I have to say there were many that came to mind.  I finally settled on blooming with kindness and I'm glad I did!  Just lookie:

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Blooming with kindness, French foliage
Paper:  Very vanilla, crumb cake, midnight muse, comfort cafe DSP
Ink:  Crumb cake, more mustard, midnight muse
Accessories:  Clear oval accents bigz die, midnight muse stitched satin ribbon, linen thread, vintage faceted buttons, naturals buttons

Sorry the photo is a bit blurry but for whatever reason I just couldn't get my phone (yes I use my iPhone) to take a good photo yesterday.  Maybe I'll try again today.

I went a little overboard with the buttons but once I added the faceted button dropping it in the regular mail was out of the question anyway:-)

Now head on over and see what the design team came up with!  They really hit it out of the park this time (although they always do)!  And then don't forget to play along with us!

Happy stamping!

Going retro again

Hi stampers!  I've been kind of MIA lately.  Sorry...I have no good reason other than I've just been lazy:-)  And I'm ok with that!  Sometimes it's nice to just veg out in front of the TV after work!    And I've been going to bed earlier than normal.  Tuesday I got up at 6 to go vote (which is saying something because I don't get up before 7 unless I absolutely have to, ha) and then I got up early yesterday morning to go run before work since it's dark when I leave work now.  Not sure how often that will actually happen but I kind of liked getting it out of the way....kind of:-)  And it wasn't super cold out....that will end up making a difference soon I'm sure;-)  Oh and I've been a bit addicted to Pinterest this week as well....and paying for it....in the form of online shopping, lol!  Someone stop me!!!! LOL!

But, I did get some stamping done this week.  I just haven't felt like blogging....so I didn't.  Please don't be mad at me:-)

I liked the sketch at Retro Sketches this week (I'm so happy I found their site!) but I was kind of stumped as what to do with it.  It's a great sketch and really unique!!!!

I'm still not sure I love the card I came up with but it is what it is....kind of like the way I've felt the past few days about the election, hehe:-)  I'm so glad all the hub-bub has seemed to die down today and all the ads are done-zo!!!!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Many merry messages
Paper:  Whisper white, baja breeze, primrose petals, snow festival DSP
Ink:  Cherry cobbler
Accessories:  Flourish designer series frames, mini brads, regals buttons, primrose petals stitched satin ribbon, clear oval accent die, apothecary accents framelits

I didn't know exactly what to do with the blue panel so I just left it now I'm not so sure about it BUT I think anything else might have been too much going on......

I really do like the colors in the snow festival DSP....it's not traditional but it's fresh and wintery and fun!  Now I'm off to work on my card for the new Fab Friday challenge!  I kind of waited until the last minute this week, eek!  Make sure to check it out tomorrow!

Happy stamping!

HSS 143

Hi stampers!  Happy Tuesday and happy election day!  Don't forget to get out and VOTE!  Your vote counts!!!   And be an informed voter!  Don't go off of what you've seen on the internet or others have told you!  I'm so tired of seeing the garbage on facebook that just flat out isn't true!!!  Anyway.....I won't be getting political on my blog although I do have strong opinions but I have to say I will be so happy to not have to listen to the trash talking political ads!  Can we get a candidate for ANYTHING that doesn't smack talk the other guy and just focuses on what THEY believe and stand for????  Geez!!!!

Anyway, I have to tell on myself for todays challenge over at Hand Stamped Sentiments!  As I was downloading the cute little challenge logo last night I realized I did the WRONG challenge...actually I think somehow my brain mushed up TWO color challenges, lol!  AND one of them was an old one.  How didn't I realize it????  I think I must have been having a small stroke this weekend or something!

So, I ended up putting together a very simple card so that I could get one in this round!  It's based on a card I did for the dirty dozen design team over on SCS.  I changed up the layout, die cut, and stamp set.      Guess I'll be reading the challenge a bit more carefully next time:-)

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps: French foliage, seasonal sayings
Paper:  Very vanilla
Ink:  Early espresso, old olive, more mustard, elegant eggplant
Accessories:  Brads (might be retired, can't remember), apothecary accents framelits

The leaves look a bit brown but they are eggplant and the water spots are espresso stamped off once.
Now head on over and see what everyone else came up with!  And don't forget to play along and link up!

Happy voting and happy stamping!

An extra hour

Hi stampers! Even with an extra hour this weekend I still don't have time to get everything done!  Anyone else know that feeling?  But, I've got a few minutes to blog I guess as I sit here with ice on my knee:-/  I had a 50 minute run yesterday and any time I seem to go over 4 miles my right knee doesn't like it very much.  But I made it for the 50 minutes and about 4.7 miles.  So, when I got up today and it didn't hurt I thought I'd be ok to run again....after about 15 minutes I thought wrong!  So, I walked home and here I sit with some ice.  Anyway....

I played along with the Paper Pal Arts color challenge yesterday!  I thought it was really classy and pretty!

Sadly, I wasn't paying attention and I used cherry cobbler instead...oh well...it's still pretty:-)  I also used the sketch from the last Paper Players challenge since I didn't seem to get around to  using it last week.

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Watercolor winter, greetings of the season
Paper:  Very vanilla, crumb cake, cherry cobbler, festival of prints DSP stack
Ink:  Crumb cake, cherry cobbler
Accessories:  Delicate doilies sizzlit, scalloped border punch

Hope you like it!  I better shower and get some more laundry going before we go meet the in-laws at Panera for lunch.  No-Panera October is over, yay!  We may or may not have been there twice already this weekend;-)

Happy stamping!

Getting Inked

Hi stampers!  HOW can it be November already?????  November is going to be INK-redible!  Why you ask?  Not because we are all getting Stampin' Up! tattoos but because between November 1st and December 16th you can get an entire collection (brights, subtles, or regals) of ink pads FREE!  Say what?????  This is a GREAT way to build up your inks if you don't have them all yet or are trying to switch over the to the new firm foam style (which are AH-MAH-ZING).  And what's even better is that there are TWO ways to earn them!  First, host a $450 workshop or place a $450 order via my online store and you'll get your free ink!

Also, if you take advantage of our $99 fully customizable starter kit and join my team you can earn yourself a set of free inkpads!  So, in addition to getting $125 of any supplies you want you get another $49.95 value on TOP of that!  How awesome...it's ink-redible!

Let me know if you have any questions!

And now onto the project for the day!  I've had this card done for a while and totally forgot to share it!  And guess what?  It's NOT a Christmas card, ha!  While I feel less guilty about Christmas stamping now that H-ween is over I still need to make some more fall cards!  Especially since I have a bunch of cute sets like perfectly preserved!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Perfectly preserved
Paper:  Very vanilla, crumb cake, orchard harvest DSP
Ink:  More mustard, lucky limeade, raspberry ripple
Accessories:   Naturals buttons, linen thread, island indigo ruffled ribbon, cannery framelits, ribbon slide

I actually made this a while back for a sketch challenge but somehow never got around to posting it.

I also posted some information on my upcoming cyber class on the cyber class page!  Make sure to check it out and I'll have more details and the official announcement sometime next week!

Oh and ONE MORE thing, lol!  The stampin' trimmer is FINALLY available!  Yay!  I have to say it's great!!  So don't forget to add it to your order!  It will get you all that closer to those ink pads, ya know!

Happy stamping!