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!