Couple of Challenges

While we're dealing with reaching a record high today of 91, but back down to freezing by Sunday morning (talk about crazy weather!), Sharon is having cabin fever way up there where she lives. So for her Stamp Simply challenge this week, she wants us to create something to show signs of spring. This is also for the Crafty Secrets challenge on SCS, which is to create a single layer card. The stamp is from Crafty Secrets Glamour Girls, stamped with Colorbox ink and embossed with clear EP, then colored with Prismacolors. Background stamped with SU! crackle stamp with lady masked off. The Crafty secrets flourish was stamped off once before stamping it on the CS. Glued Flower Soft where the lady was holding flowers. The ribbon is threaded through a sticker from Crafty Secrets Greetings & Sentiments sheet, then added pink rhinestones to the stickers. Sponged around edges.

Stamps: Crafty Secrets Glamour Girls and Flourishes, SU! Crackle background.
Paper: The Paper Studio.
Ink: Colorbox Queues.
Accessories: Flower Soft, ribbon, Crafty Secrets stickers, rhinestones.

Whiff of Joy Guest Designer Call

I love the new Spring Stamp Kit from Whiff of Joy; the images are gorgeous!! The current Whiff of Joy challenge is actually a guest designer call. While I don't stand a snowball's chance in south Texas of being chosen (it was 89 degrees here today - this is February, right?!?), what an honor and treat it would be if I were selected! At any rate, Katarina posted a gorgeous sketch for us to follow and post for a shot at the guest spot, and I'll use any excuse to ink up these WOJ beauties! :) I stamped Willow With Sunhat using Stazon, colored with Prismacolor pencils. Chalked around the image with Pebbles chalks. All DP is new Basic Grey Porcelain - gorgeous papers! Used MS doily punch on a couple of the layers, as well as for the sentiment mat. Left that mat intentionally lopsided, just thought it looked cute. Added Flower Soft to the flowers in Willow's hand and on her hat. Dew Drops in the corner, and a couple of flowers on the opposite side.


Stamps: Whiff of Joy Willow With Sunhat, Verve Artful Elegance sentiment
Paper: Basic Grey Procelain DP, The Paper Studio CS.
Ink: Stazon, Colorbox Queues.
Accessories: Dew Drops, Flower Soft, foam tape, MS border punch, corner punch, daisy punches, rhinestones, ribbon.

House Mouse #26, Something for Mom

This week's House Mouse Challenge is to make something for a mother. It doesn't have to be for our own mom, it can be for a friend, aunt, daughter, neighbour, anyone who's a mom. I went straight to this stamp, because it reminded me of our little family when I was growing up. Before my mom married my step-dad (whom I called Daddy), there was some major penny pinching, and she came up with some pretty, uh...unusual meals. :) I've even done that a few times since we've been on our own in the last six years. Got a respectful request from my kids to "Please don't make that again". hee hee! This image is called "I Don't Do Bugs". Stamped with Stazon and colored with Prismas. Layered with different DP from My Mind's Eye. Sponged around the circle and added Stickles to the centers. Flowers in lower corner are made with MS hydrangea punch, sponged, curled and Stickled in the middle. Mom is from Kitchen Sink set. Lower sentiment I did as a rub-on from my computer. Oh, I thought the scrapping sketch on Papercraft Planet was cute, so followed that and made a card.

Stamps: House Mouse I Don't Do Bugs, Kitchensink Stamps.
Paper: My Minds Eye DP, The Paper Studio CS.
Ink: Stazon.
Accessories: Computer, MS hydrangea punch, Stickles, outline sticker.

Black Ink Only, And A Couple of Tags

Sharon's Stamp Simply Challenge turned into a bit of a mind boggle for me because I couldn't decide what to use. Her challenge is to use black ink only, "no markers, no pencils, no chalks, no inks - just black ink only". Gulp. Okayyyyy, here's what I came up with. I used the Flourishes Thank You set for the focal image, and managed not to color in the tulip. :) From here decided to use the layout in the Clean and Simple (CAS)challenge on Splitcoast. I layered stamped image on a brown mat and then attached it to the background DP from The Paper Studio. Added the flowers from Michael's bridal section. Quick and easy...after I finally settled on the stamp set. :)

Stamps: Flourishes Thank You.
Paper: The Paper Studio CS and DP.
Ink: Colorbox.
Accessories: Die cut flowers from Michael's.

I had a couple of tags from some wonderful crafters:

Blog buddy Karen from 6 Wacky Women tagged me with this cool award, saying that I measure up. : ) Thank you, Karen for thinking of me. I stalk Karen's blog daily to check out her awesome Penny Black creations, as well as her other beauties! As there were no rules with this tag, I'll pass it on to some other wonderful crafters!

Karen W.
Jan
Lauri
Carolyn


Next, here's a fun way to kind of get to know a bit about our friends here in blogland. Juls hit me with this purse-of-the-day tag. Pay her blog a visit and check out her beautiful and unique creations!

The Rules:

1. Post a picture of whatever bag you are using today - not last weekend when you and your hubby went out to that fabulous restaurant. No cheating!!!
2. Tell us how much it cost. This is a no-judgment zone -- there will be no ridiculing or eye rolling here. And, if there is a story to go along with how you obtained it, I'd love to hear it.
3. Then, I pick 5 people to post on their blog!

My usual MO when it comes to everyday purses is find one that will last an entire season - for here that would be hot and not as hot (AKA winter/fall). I do have a great collection of gorgeous little evening bags, mostly beaded, but haven't used one since December, so... Okay, here's the leather bag I happen to be alternating with my regular blah purse (was too lazy to look for another one when the like wore off of my regular one), and thankfully was "caught" with this one today. This bag was actually a freebie with any purchase over $50 at Coldwater Creek. I ended up with two - this one and a brown one (after all, didn't need two black ones). Though I still have a job, the work load is dwindling down to very little on a day-to-day basis thanks to technology and voice recognition, so I have been out pounding the pavement and filling out applications and leaving a resume everywhere I go. All the paperwork fits perfectly in this bag without folding.

So now to tag five bag buddies!

Barb
Karen
Nina
Vicki
Darlene

Oh, It's a SKETCH. Oops.

I was bouncing around on Splitcoast and landed on this week's sketch challenge SC216. When I looked at the sketch my brain registered gatefold card and that's what I made, rather than just doing what I was supposed to do and follow the sketch. Duh. Guess we all have our dense moments and I was just in overdrive. hee hee! Oh well, it's done. Guess I could stick it closed and call it a sketch. Nah. Just need to put brain in gear before fingers go in motion next time. : ) The pale green CS is from SU!; sorry don't know the color. The DP is Anna Griffin. Frame and rose are cut with Spellbinders dies, My Mind's Eye DP for the frame. Popped the rose oval up on foam tape, and added Liquid Pearls all around it on the frame. Cut some tiny flowers with an MS punch and added those to the side after putting Stickles on a couple and in the centers. Attached matching CS to inside where sentiment is to be written. Stamped the flourish in the center, after stamping off once to make it lighter.

Stamps: Crafty Secrets Flourishes.

Paper: SU! CS, Anna Griffin and My Mind's Eye DP.

Ink: Colorbox Queues.

Accessories: Spellbinders, Liquid Pearls, Stickles, MS Hydrangea punch.

Christmas COTW #8

I almost forgot to do my Christmas card this week for my personal challenge. I love the angel in this SU! set, she's so pretty. I used scraps from my Cosmo Cricket Wonderland pad. Embossed the angel and sentiment with gold EP, then cut out the angel with rectangle Nestabilities. A couple branches done with MS branch punch. Can you guess what that embellishment is? Hint...it's been sitting on my desk since I stepped on it and said un-nice things at Christmas. It's the top to a glass ormanent. I tried to straighten it out but then just flattened it and thought it would be a cool embellishment to stick on something. Added the big pearl brad from Michael's bridal dept.

Stamps: SU! On Angel Wings.

Paper: Cosmo Cricket Wonderland, SU! base CS.

Ink: Versamark.

Accessories: Gold EP, Martha Stewart branch punch, pearl brad, Ornament cap I found with my foot.

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday

I actually had time this week to join in the Flourishes Timeless Tuesday challenge. I also have lots of their sets and need to use them more. The colors I used for the card are muted, but this picture is a little pale due to bad lighting. I stamped the magnolia images from the Lilacs set with Colorbox Queues, then I watercolored the blossoms (*gasp* no Prismacolors! hehe). First public viewing of my watercoloring, still lots of improvement needed here. I cut out an oval with Nestabilities from center of the green paper, then ran it through CB folder twice (paper too wide for one pass). I attached the paper with the image to the back of the embossed paper, then that stack to the base CS. I then stamped and watercolored two more of big blossoms and popped those up on foam tape to come outside the frame. Sentiment from another Flourishes set, cut out and embossed with small oval Nesties. I then used Pebbles chalks because they haved such a pretty shimmer and chalked around the sentiment and top of the blossoms with peach, and around the blossoms with pale pink. Pale pink Kaiser pearls in the corner.

Stamps: Flourishes Lilacs and Many Sentiments sets.
Paper: SU! CS, My Mind's Eye DP, The Paper Studio CS.
Ink: Colorbox Queues.
Accessories: Nestabilities, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Kaiser pearls, foam tape.

Crafty Secrets Challenge on PCP

I have quite a few Crafty Secrets sets and have been wanting to play in some of their challenges, so trying the one Darlene Pavlick is hosting in the Crafty Secrets Group on Papercraft Planet. The theme is springtime and I thought I would use my new Fairyland set. The base card is 6.75 x 3.25. I got a bunch of these with envelopes in some blog candy from Chris Mott; think they may be SU! Anyway, stamped this cute little image with Stazon, colored with (what else?) Prismacolor pencils blended with baby oil. Cut it out and embossed with a long rectangle Nestie. The little notes were from a differen tCS set. Chalked all around it, then added Stickles to the flowers by the fairy and on her dress and wings, and also a "fairy trail" behind her wings. Went all around the base CS with Fiskars lace borders punch, the cut DP from My Mind's Eye to go over it. Sentiment cut out with smallest scalloped rectangle Nestie, embossed, chalked and popped up on foam tape.

Stamps: Crafty Secrets Fairyland and Bird Notes.

Paper: The Paper Studio CS, My Mind's Eye DP.

Ink: Stazon, Colorbox Queues.

Accessories: Nestabilities, Stickles, Fiskars border punch, foam tape, Pebbles chalks.

House Mouse #25

This week's House Mouse Challenge has a great sketch by their featured sponsor, 2 Red Bananas, who also offered up a great stamp for this week's prize. I used the Signing a Card image, stamped with Stazon and colored with my Prismacolor pencils and blended with baby oil. Cut out the image and mat with round Nestabilities then chalked around image with Pebbles chalks. Green paper and the DP are from My Mind's Eye, all layered up after inking the edges. The ribbon I got from Target's Dollar Spot. I wrote on the card with a regular pencil. I actually do write better than that...remember, this is a mousie. : )


Stamps: House Mouse Signing a Card.
Paper: The Paper Studio, My Mind's Eye.
Ink: Stazon.
Accessories: Ribbon, Pebbles chalks, Dew Drops, Nestabilities.

Whiff of Joy Mojo

I combined two challenges with this card. For the Whiff of Joy challenge we had a recipe of three patterned papers, two flowers and either a brad or a button. I followed the Mojo Monday 74 sketch. Melinda was stamped with Stazon and colored with Prismacolor pencils, blended with baby oil. Added Watercolor Stickles to her wings, Patina to her necklace and bracelet, and Fruit Punch to the flower on her bookmark. I cut her out with a rectangle Nestabilities, then chalked around her. Blue background is Basic Grey Lilikate, layered on DP from HOTP. The mat behind Melinda is also from HOTP. My two flowers are actually from the same sheet of HOTP DP. : ) The pink butterfly is actually a brad by Creative Charms. Have no idea where the ribbon came from, was a piece in my stash. Sentiment was stamped on same BG CS and cut out with scalloped Nestabilities.

Stamps: Whiff of Joy Melinda Reading Book, Crafty Secrets Glamour Girls.

Paper: The Paper Studio, Basic Grey Lilikate, Hot Off the Press.

Ink: Stazon, Colorbox Queues.

Accessories: Nestabilities, Stickles, ribbon, Fab Brad by Creative Charms, Pebbles chalks.

Stamp Simply Monograms

I love making monogrammed cards, and Sharon's challenge this week was to make something with a monogram, be it a card, 3-D, etc. I finished this set this past Friday as a gift for my friend Lyne (her card was posted on her BD a few days ago here). I had meant to take it to her Saturday night, as a bunch of us went to a Valentine's dance, but I forgot it. Oops. I dropped it off at her house today. All papers are Basic Grey Stella Ruby (I love that paper), with the base card being kraft CS. Corners were rounded. There are two each of four different color schemes. Found different ribbon in my stash to go with each. Used JustRite Special Occasions font and one of the damask borders, stamped each in a coordinating color of Colorbox Queues ink and embossed with clear EP. Cut those out with round Nestabilities, and mat with scalloped Nestabilities. Inked the edges of each and attached to cards, added some tiny rhinestones for some blingage. Quick and easy to make. The box was made with Kraft CS, and a fifth pattern from the Stella Ruby pad for the box top, and a coordinating paper "ribbon" from the pad. Monogram stamped with coordinating ink again and embossed. Then I went over it lightly with the same color ink on tissue paper to add a bit of something different. Okay, that was to cover up the little blop made when the ink pad slipped out of my hand and [of COURSE] landed on the monogram. ;) I dropped these off while she was work; haven't heard from her, but I think she'll like them.

Stamps: JustRite Monogram Special Occasions font, Damask border.

Paper: SU! Kraft CS, Basic Grey Stella Ruby.

Ink: Colorbox Queues.

Accessories: Clear EP, ribbon, rhinestones, Nestabilities.

Happy Valentine's Day, Chuckie!

Since Chuck keeps telling me I'm stuck with him (like that's so terrible), I wanted to make a really nice card for today. He's such a sweetie. I started this card over at least three times, have parts laying all over the place from the previous attempts. I have no idea who made this heart stamp; it was hanging in a zip top baggie at the stamp store with no company or image name so I had to make it mine. :) It's pretty good size... 4.25 x 4.5". This is a gate fold card. Folded the sides in then centered the heart, stamped with Versamark and embossed with gold EP. Cut the upper border along borders of the heart. Cut the side folds to match the lower border of the image, same with the DP before I attached it. The cherub was also embossed with gold EP, attached up on foam tape over a cutout layer of red, and there is one side of a small flat magnet between those layers. I stamped another cherub and cut out the "banner". Stamped the sentiment I made from the smallest Trompe Script font and tiny letters by JustRite, and attached that up on foam tape as well. Then attached that stack only on the left side fold. Added the tiny Cuttlebug flowers with rhinestones; was going to make something trailing down then changed my mind, but the flowers wouldn't come off without messing up the card, so had to leave them.

Open the card, and I did the same thing here with this Anna Griffin DP - cut the edges to mirror those of the heart and card edge. The verse I printed from my computer...the first verse to Annie's Song, by my all-time favorite, John Denver. The other side of the magnet is attached under the DP, then made the tiny vellum envelope and attached it to the right side fold. Put a little tag in there with words stamped from Crafty Secrets Cherish set. Can click on small image to see detail. Please excuse the edges of my "background"...with the card open you get a peak at a bit of the distaster I call my craft space because I couldn't fit the card in otherwise. : ) I am very happy with the way this card [finally] turned out.

Stamps: Cherub by Prima Mktg, Crafty Secrets Cherish, scroll heart by unknown.

Paper: The Paper Studio CS and DP, Anna Griffin DP, vellum, tag by Hot Off The Press.

Ink: Versamark, Colorbox Queues.

Accessories: Craft knife, Cuttlebug, rhinestones, foam tape, flat magnet, computer.

A Fun Blog Candy!

I "won" a homemade gift by leaving one of the first 5 comments on Tammy's blog, so now I'll see who my first 5 are. The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you!
This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2. What I create will be just for you.
3. It'll be done this year! (I will get it to you in the next month or so, hopefully - grin).
4. You have no clue what it's going to be. I have tons of ideas, but who knows what it will be? Not you, that's for sure!
5. The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog! (then come here and post, I WILL check your blog *wink*) The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a homemade gift by me! Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!

So....who will be the first 5 people?????

Showing Some Love

Another post today. Might be a third, but haven't quite finished it up yet. This card I made for the Crafty Secrets Challenge on SCS. I got this new set couple weeks ago and it has such pretty images. This card was super simple. Card base is sage green. The pretty CS with the scroll is double-sided, called Front Room/Parlor. I don't like using double-sided papers for cards because I feel like I'm wasting that other gorgeous side, but I attached this to the base and tried not to think about it. Cut a piece of vellum the size of the card plus 1/2" so I could wrap that around to the back of the card and that's how I attached the vellum. Stamped this gorgeous image with Versamark and embossed with gold detail EP. The little cherub is actually a button, though I wouldn't want to attempt to button that one! hee hee. Snipped off the shank and attached it to the vellum. Bada bing...super easy card, but I really like how it turned out.

Stamps: Crafty Secrets Cherish.

Paper: The Paper Studio CS and vellum, Paperloft double sided CS.

Ink: Versamark.

Accessories: Gold EP, cherub button.

Tall House Mouse Order

Tall and thin...oh, if only I were describing myself! haha! This week's House Mouse Challenge calls for a tall and thin card. Hard to find a HM image that fits the thin description, but here is the one I ended up using. Love the expression on the little critter's face. For some reason I was on a turquoise kick and a lot ended up on this card. Craft CS base, cut 7x7 and folded in half. Image was colored with Prismacolor pencils, blended with baby oil. Waterfall Stickles added to the cup. Cut out with round Nestabilities, as was the tissue paper mat. The little flowers were cut with two different Cuttlebug dies, cupped, and Stickles added to the centers. The upper corner looked a bit bare so I stamped the scroll up there and added gold Liquid Pearls to it. Sentiment printed from computer, cut with oval Nestabilities and attached with foam tape.

Stamps: House Mouse Feeling Rosy, Verve Filigree Fantasy
Paper: Florentine - Venetian; gold embossed by ??, The Paper Studio. Tissue paper.
Ink: Stazon, Colorbox Queues.
Accessories: Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Liquid Pearls, Stickles, foam tape.

Birthday Card for Lyne

Today is another friend's birthday; made this card for her following the Saturday sketch challenge on Papercraft Planet. The DP is Basic Grey Stella Ruby. Edge punched with MS Cornice punch. Stamped Inkadinkado image with Colorbox Queues, cut out and embossed with Labels One Nestabilities, rhinestones added to flowers. Inked a couple of Prima flowers, added a pearl and attached. The tiny flowers in lower right are from MS hydrangea punch with rhinestones in center. Scrap of ribbon is from gift packaging, brad by Spare Parts. Used gold outline stickers that say happy birthday along right border. Hard to see in the picture, but they really stand out IRL.

Stamps: Inkadinkado Nostalgia.
Paper: The Paper Studio, Basic Grey Stella Ruby.
Ink: Colorbox Queues.
Accessories: MS border punch, rhinestones, pearl, brad, ribbon, Prima flowers, Nestabilities, outline stickers.

A MOJO73 Birthday

I have a very good friend I went to chiropractic college with many years ago, and yesterday was his birthday. Oops, slipped past me. He and his wife moved back to their home in Toronto, Canada and he finished chiro college up there. We take turns calling each other every month, and his wife and I heckle each other on MSN couple times a week. :) I had a hard time making a masculine card that I was happy with. I really like this week's Mojo Monday sketch, just not sure I'm jazzed with this card for a guy, but he's getting it anyway. :) I used DCWV mat pack for all DP; gray CS is Paper Studio. Stamped the image with Colorbox Queues, and inked edges of all layers. Ovals cut with Nestabilities, as was the tag. Sentiment is rub-ons. Yummy ribbon I scavenged from packaging from a Christmas gift. Can't remember who made that brad. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HOWIE!!

Stamps: Prima Mktg My Rose set.
Paper: DCWV Far East Mat Stack, The Paper Studio CS.
Ink: Colorbox Queues.
Accessories: Nestabilities, ribbon, brad, rub-ons, SU! slot punch.

Whiff of Joy #17

First of all, I'm standing up and doing the happy dance. Thankfully none of you can see me, because it's pretty embarrassing. :) I received the results of my PET/CT yesterday, and am over-the-top happy to say...I am 100% CANCER FREE!!! Finally! This has been a long hard road, and I am so happy to finally hear this news! I would like to thank each and every one of you who have sent kind messages here on my blog and via e-mail, wishing me well, telling me I was in your prayers. You have no idea the power that has! So, thank you, thank you, thank you!


So I'll stop dancing [for now] and get to my card.

I had not used this Whiff of Joy image yet, still have a few that haven't seen ink, so here it is on this card for Whiff of Joy Challenge 17. This week was a great sketch by Donalda. I turned it on its side. This image is called "Melinda's Books", stamped on a piece of sepia DP, then colored with regular and metallic Prismacolor pencils, without blending on the books. Added gold Liquid Pearls to the spine, and Stickless to the bookmark flower. Cut and embossed the image with Curved Rectangle Nestabilities. The border was colored and blended with Prismacolor pencil and baby oil. All DP is from Hot Off The Press, including gorgeous Background vellum with different handwritten looking notes. Border punch from Fiskars, and the flowers are from a MS punch called Hydrangeas. They have Weathered Lavender Stickles in the center; these don't sparkle like the regular Stickles, are called "distressed" so are more muted, but still gorgeous. Sentiment from Verve. Used Dew Drops for my corners.

Stamps: Whiff of Joy Melinda's Books, Verve Fairy Tales.

Paper: HOTP Scrappapers and Heritage paper packs, The Paper Studio CS.

Ink: Stazon, Colorbox Queues.

Accessories: Distress Stickles, Fiskars border punch, Dew Drops, corner rounder, Nestabilities, Liquid Pearls, MS Flower punch.

Mojo Slider

I had wanted to do this Mojo Monday sketch all last week, but the days just slipped by, so I'm literally sliding it in today. : ) Already have ideas for the next sketch and a birthday card. Used DCWV for background, all pink CS is Bazzill. Stamped the sentiment on cream colored CS, cut it out with Labels One Nestability. Attached it a bit off kilter, because after all...it is Dr. Suess. Had to add the little kitty paw print. ;) Instead of actually attaching something, I stamped the flower from the same Verve set onto the patterned CS and cut out some petals for peek-a-boo effect, with Stickles in the center. Foil butterfly with rhinestone added for a finishing touch.

Stamps: Verve Beautiful You, Pink Cat Studio.
Paper: Bazzill, DCWV Pocket Full of Poseys mat pack, The Paper Studio.
Ink: Colorbox Queues.
Accessories: Nestabilities, Stickles, craft knife, foil butterfly, rhinestone, SU! scalloped border punch, foam tape.

Two Christmas COTW

These are my Christmas cards of the week. The second one I actually made yesterday but didn't have time to post, so technically it's last week's. Whatever, right? hee hee! Now, I don't mean to be negative, but that's what Sharon's Stamp Simply challenge said to do. : ) Actually what she said was to use the negative image of a punch or die, or use a negative image or reversed out stamp. Check out her post for details. Made this one this morning, using same stamp set as yesterday's. This is week #7 card. Stamped image directly onto Kraft CS, embossed with copper EP. Sponged burgundy ink all around and added rhinestones; also sponged around all paper edges. Used Nestabilities curved rectangles to cut out the center from the Wassail DP, attached it up on foam tape. So that's the negative part...used what was left rather than the actual die that was cut out. Gave this a framed look. The leaves are from the same same set, embossed with mixture of copper, gold and green EP. Burgundy Stickles on the berries, and a couple rhinestones added to the leaves.

COTW #6 here. Tyler had a JROTC competition yesterday and I made this card in the morning while I was waiting for him to get ready. I took the picture but didn't have time to post before leaving for the competition. Got back after 6 and was too tired to do anything. Attached DP to Kraft CS. Stamped the image with Versamark on manila folder scrap, embossed with mixture of copper and gold EP I had left over from card a couple days ago. Added some rhinestones, inked the edges. Leaves from same set, but added some green EP to the same mix before embossing. Burgundy Stickles on the berries and a couple of rhinestones added, and the leaves were mounted on foam tape. This card actually gave me the idea for the first one in this post for Sharon's challenge. :)

Stamps: Inkadinkado Christmas Silhouettes.

Paper: Kraft CS, Basic Grey Wassail (top card), Memory Box Winterberry (bottom card).

Ink: Versamark, Colorbox Queues.

Accessories: Embossing powder, rhinestones, stickles, foam tape.

Blog candy winner

Time to pick a winner for the blog candy. I used Random.org. Drum roll....and the winner is:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:


17


Timestamp: 2009-02-08 13:45:24 UTC

...Ilina Crouse. Yay! Please contact me so I can get your address and send you the goodies!

TLC206

This week's Technique Challenge to create a card with a recessed window really intrigued me, but baffled me at first when I looked at the directions. Took a bit for the light bulb to come on, but when it did, I had so much fun with the first one, I made another! My son had asked me to make a card for his girlfriend for Valentine's, so I asked my daughter if she wanted me to make one for her boyfriend. Tyler got to pick the stamp he wanted me to use, but had to wing it for Shelbie's card since she's in Vermont. No sentiment inside the cards...I left that to them to "mushy up". : )

I had just gotten this Inkadinkado stamp when Tyler pointed to it on my desk and asked me to use it for his card. The kid has good taste! :) Stamped it with Versamark and embossed with silver EP, blinged it up with rhinestones. Doesn't look centered in the picture but it really is. Background DP from My Mind's Eye. Cut out a frame from Labels dies, inked with several colors. Flowers on right are from Michael's, curled and stacked on each other. The rest of the flowers and the flourish are from Cuttlebug dies. Put the tiny flowers on foam and pushed down in center with embossing tool to get them to cup, put rhinestones in center of each. Sentiment from SU!, directly on background.

Stamps: Inkadinkado Love Birds, Stampin Up! Fresh Cuts.

Paper: The Paper Studio, DCWV, My Mind's Eye

Ink: Versamark, Colorbox Queues.

Accessories: Rhinestones, silver EP, Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, die cut flowers.

For Shelbie's card to her boyfriend, I used the hands from a new Firecrackers Designs set, stamped with Stazon and colored with Prismas/baby oil, Tiara Stickles on the bracelet. Inked around the edges. Background DP is from Hot Off the Press, inked around the edges with three different colors and blended, though can't see in the pic. Beige vellum from same pack was cut to same size as background, then embossed the Papertrey Ink vine with copper and gold EP mixed together. Attached vellum to the background, cut out the window and around the vine. The word was a silver metal, colored with gold Deco marker, dotted with copper one; let that dry then tapped it with dusty rose and verdigris colored inks. Heated a bit with heat gun and rubbed with a piece of felt; gave it a pretty burnished look. That little booger was hot too...duh! :) Added the lacy plastic heart, inked edge of entire card with same colors as background DP. Shelbie said she loves it, and it's on its way to her so she can mail it to her boyfriend.

Stamps: Firecracker Designs Parisian Romance, Papertrey Ink With Sympathy.

Paper: Hot Off the Press DP and vellum, The Paper Studio.

Ink: Stazon, Colorbox Queues.

Accessories: Metal word, heart from Dress it Up, Stickles, Deco marker.

A Couple of Valentine Challenges

I had thought I would try participating in more different challenges starting out this year, but that doesn't seem to be working out like I wanted it to. I do keep doing three of my favorites though, and they all have the same theme going right now...make a Valentine card, because love is in the air! : )

First is my Whiff of Joy Challenge card. This will be a double duty card, working well for Sharon's Stamp Simply challenge. This is really...pink...but I like it. Used Willow With Umbrella image, masking off the umbrella. Colored her with Prismacolors blended with baby oil. Chalked around her with some Pebbles chalks, cut out with regular and scalloped oval Nestabilities. Where the umbrella was, made her a "heart sign" using smallest heart Nesties attched on foam tape, and she is holding a tiny key charm dangling from thread. Love stamp is from Crafty Secrets, tiny heart sprays from See D's. Background DP is Basic Grey Bittersweet, inked all around. Stamped that gorgeous vine from Papertrey Ink with Versamark, embossed with silver EP. Stamped some little Rubber Stamp Tapestry hearts on the vine. The sentiment was printed from my computer, cut out with SU! punch, attached on foam tape to a Cuttlebug flourish. Foil butterfly with pink rhinestone added in the lower corner.

Stamps: Whiff of Joy Willow With Umbrella, Rubber Stamp Tapestry hearts, Papertrey Ink With Sympathy, See D's Romance, Crafty Secrets Cherish.

Paper: Basic Grey Bittersweet, The Paper Studio.

Ink: Stazon, Colorbox Queues.

Accessories: Silver EP, charm, foil butterfly, rhinestones, Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, SU! punch, Stickles, foam tape.

I had a hard time getting a good picture of this card for the House Mouse challenge, but finally got some that are okay. Had an attack of Nestabilities here. Used the largest scalloped heart for the base. Traced around the inside of that die to get the folding heart from the red CS. Stamped both sides with new Inkadinkado flourish using Versamark, embossed with silver EP, added some rhinestones. Colored the mousey image with Prismas/baby oil, cut out with plain and scalloped ovals. Chalked it up with Pebbles. Attached this little stack to the left hand side of the opening heart. At first attached the photo tab where the little rhinestone flower is, but it wouldn't hold the card closed well enough. So out came the brad and covered the hole with the rhinestone flower. Probably shouldn't have tattled on myself there. Little picture shows the inside...another heart Nestie, sentiment printed from computer. Stamped some hearts by Rubber Stamp Tapestry, and there's a little pink rhinestone flower to cover my oops brad hole from the inside. :)

Stamps: House Mouse Chocolate Heart, Rubber Stamp Tapestry hearts, Inkadinkado Flourish 99040-K

Paper: The Paper Studio.

Ink: Colorbox Queues, Stazon.

Accessories: Nestabilities, rhinestones, photo tab, brad, silver EP.

On a more serious note I suppose: Today I will be having my post chemo tests. Blood work and a PET/CT scan. Was supposed to have these couple of weeks ago, but cost of the PET scan went up since last time so needed to wait until another payday to plop down $500 more. Ouch. Darn...now some of those crafty wish list items will have to wait. ;) Put this post in schedule mode, so we'll see how that works. With this behind me after today, hopefully will finally feel like I'm out of this limbo state. This is something that has been looming in the back of my mind so feel like my creativity hasn't been flowing like it should and I haven't been as charmed with my stuff lately. Oh well...onward we go, right? If you're still reading, thank you for stopping by, and please know that any comments are greatly appreciated.