Saturday's Inspiration Challenge

First of all, I am so excited today....I bought my first gift for my new nephew!!! It is sitting here under my computer table and the more I see it the more giddy I get. yay!!! Today's challenge was to be inspired by something inside of your home. I decided to be inspired by this wreath on the wall in my dining room. My best friend from HS Kristen, and her family, sent it to me 2yrs ago when my second dad Mike passed away(step dad, but I like second dad better, it is definitely more fitting). It has been hanging on my wall ever since, and as long as it holds up, it will remain. I even think that when it gets too ratty to have on the wall, I will take it back to where they got it and have it reworked. I mostly used the colors, but the flowers had a little something to do with it too. The base of the card is standard A2 size in Chocolate Chip, then layered with Cranberry Crisp and So Saffron. The edges were sponged with CC ink. I then used CC ink and stamped both the French Script and Sanded background on Very Vanilla. i have seen a lot of people do this on SCS, and I love the effect it gives. The main image was stamped with Timber Brown Stazon on Very Vanilla and colored in with my SU markers and ink pads. The bucket was stamped separately, colored, and cut out. I used a gold pen to highlight the handle on the bucket, then glued it on top of my flower. And you know I can't not go around the image with my Prismacolor cool grey marker, it gives so much depth!!! I sponged chocolate chip on the edges of this too. The SU ticket corner punch was used on the corners of the main image so that I could add some brads from the Aged Copper Hodgepodge Hardware. The main image and sentiment are from the Whipper Snapper set Posies for You. I used some CC satin ribbon to tie my knot and then sprayed the whole card with Tattered Angels glimmer mist in gold. Well I need to get my butt in gear commenting. I have about a weeks worth of gallery entries to look at, and by now that could be 1000's of entries. Thanks for looking and have a great day!!

stamps-Whipper Snapper Posies for You, Sanded and French Script

paper-Chocolate Chip, Cranberry Crisp, So Saffron, Very Vanilla

ink-Timber Brown Stazon, Chocolate Chip and Cranberry Crisp

tools-aquapainter, gold pen, markers, hardware, chocolate satin ribbon, ticket corner punch

My Cup Runneth Over...

I just got done posting my 7 random facts and went to check my email . In it was a message with some big news that I have been DYING to share. I should have listed not being able to keep a secret in my random facts, but I have been really proud of myself lately. About a month ago, Christie Ortman from Paper Pretties contacted me. I had went to one of their new release parties and she saw someone new there and wanted to check me out. She sent me an email saying that she loved my work, and couldn't believe that she hadn't saw it before!!! She then asked me to be a guest designer for them from April to June!!! WOOHOOO!!! I wanted to explode, and am quite surprised that I didn't!! I had to keep it a secret, which was painful, but she just sent us an email announcing the big news on the Paper Pretties website and I am so excited!! I hope you will love seeing my samples from their wonderful products as much as I am gonna love making them!!! Thanks Christie for the wonderful opportunity!!! I am so excited to be given this opportunity, and honored to get to work with such a super talented bunch of ladies!!
On another note, I recieved this wonderfully beautiful, and truly heartfelt card from Carolina Buchting (craftycaro). I have gotten to know her through blogging and SCS and she is truly "one of the good ones". Not only is she super sweet and supportive, but she is so talented and wonderful. I really cannot think of enough adjectives to describe her. I had seen her post this card on her blog, and explain why she had made it, but I never thought that it would be for me. If the card wasn't special enough, the note inside of it is still making me cry. I won't share what it said, because I don't know how she would feel about it, but I will tell you that I am truly blessed to have ever "met" her. Her words touched my soul and I will remember them every time I feel like there is no hope for my quest to become a mother. Thank you for being who you are, and enriching my life. I have no idea how I will repay you, but I will find a way!! Thanks for stopping by again, and I hope you have a wonderful day!!!

Tagged Again!!

I got tagged twice more with the 7 random facts tag, so I decided I would post 7 new facts about me, so that we all can get to know each other better. I was tagged by one of my favorite stamp designers, Melanie Muenchinger. She designs for Gina K, and has a fabulous blog. The second tag was by Jana Weaver. She too has a fabulous blog, so go check her out too!! So the rules are, post a link to the people that tagged you-check. Post the rules-check, and now, post your facts. Okay here goes,



1. I can't swim. I know, sad, but true. I have tried, I even took lessons, but I think I stayed in tadpoles for like 2 years and finally gave up. Okay, so I can swim a little( I do a mean dead man's float-hehe), but I can't tread water, which is kinda important if you get in deep water. So to make a long story short, I can kinda swim, but if I have to stop, and I can't touch the bottom or hang on to something, CALL A LIFEGUARD(preferably a cute one)because I am gonna need one!!!



2. I was born in Germany, but left when I was 1 1/2. I would love to go back, but DH hates to travel(for fun, he will for business), so it will probably never happen.



3. I have a fear of being wrong. This fear is so strong, that even if I knew the answers in class, or whatever, I refused to raise my hand just in case. Seriously, it is so bad, that when I am wrong in front of people(or even when no one is watching), I blush so severely that I get super hot. It really holds me back a little in life, because I am terrified to fail.



4. This one is going to shock some of you, but I have a tendency not to pay attention to details. I watch a lot of crime shows on TV, and when the witnesses are asked to give details for a sketch, or what a person was wearing, or what they look like, I always think to myself, I hope I never lose anyone or witness a crime, cause I will be up poop creek without a paddle!!! I have to think about what color people's eyes are, and up until about a year ago when I forced myself to look and memorize their color, I could not tell you what my DH's eye color was.



5. I was a nanny for 5yrs for two beautiful little girls. I never wanted to leave them, but my boss could not accept the fact that I wanted a life outside of their home( I lived with them), so I had to move on. I still get a Christmas card from them every year, but I miss them with every fiber of my being. I started taking care of Emily when she was 11months old, and was there for the first 2 1/2 years of Olivia's life. When I left, it seriously felt like I was having my own children taken away from me. I will never forget the day I left for the rest of my life, it was one of the saddest days of my life. Olivia was too young to understand, and I am sure she has all but forgotten me, but I will never forget her.(BTW, I am crying now...I told you I am a cryer)

6. I can't stand to wear finger nail polish. Every once in awhile I will get my nails done(okay, have acrylic nails put on)but I always do the french tip manicure. I can't stand to see any color on my fingers(or my lips for that matter), it just never looks right.

7. I have secretly been in love(ya know, celebrity luv)with Matthew McConaughey since I saw him in the movie A Time To Kill. The movie was one of the most emotional movies I have ever seen(cried like a baby throughout a lot of it), but as a southern lawyer, well, he gave me the "vapors", so to speak!!! It was the first movie I ever saw with him, and can honestly say(with the exception of Texas Chain Saw Massacre) I try not to miss one with him in it. How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days, enough said!!!

Okay--check. Now I am supposed to nominate 7 more people, but I really had a hard time doing it the first time, so if you are reading this, and you want to participate, please do. Just be sure to link me to it, so I can learn more about you all!!

Unloved Embellishments....

whoever heard of such a thing!!!?? I don't know about you all, but I love all my embellishments, that's why I buy them. "Hoarded" or "can't figure out how to use them" embellishments, I have a TON of those. Why am I babbling about this you ask, well, it's because the limited supplies challenge over on SCS for this week is to use your unloved embellishments. Since we already figured out that I don't have any of those, I used some that I just had to have, but have never used. Do you know that I have 9 packages of dew drops that have not one been put on a card?? Well, you do now!! Since part of the challenge was to put those unloved embellishments on a card with flowers, I decided to use my new Bloomin Beautiful set from the SU Occasions Mini Catalog( I also used Beate's weekend sketch challenge layout). After seeing all of the WONDERFUL creations with this set, I just had to have it!! SU really should consider making all of their stamps pre-cut(makes it so much easier just to get started stamping), at least, I think they should!! This is pretty simple so I won't go into terrible details, but the image is on Very Vanilla and colored with ink pads and my aquapainter. Since I am kind of obsessed with my crystal effects right now, I covered the flowers with it to make them pop. The base is colored with my markers and the whole image was outlined with my Prismacolor Cool Grey marker. I covered the base of the flower pot and the sentiment panel with perfect pearls, which makes it sooooo sparkly. The hardware could technically fall under unused or unloved embellishments since I never(ok, hardly ever) use those little holder thingies(their name escapes me), and I never use this color of hardware. I have a special person I am sending this too, as soon as I can get some stuff together to send with it, she soooo deserves!! Thanks for looking and have a great day!!
stamps-Bloomin Beautiful and Warm Words
paper-Basic Gray, Groovy Guava, Purely Pomegranate, Very Vanilla
ink-Black Stazon, Groovy Guava, and Purely Pomegranate
tools-aquapainter, crystal effects, perfect pearls, dew drops, Antique Brass Hodgepodge Hardware, Prismacolor Cool Grey marker, Pomegranate satin ribbon

What a Day!!

My cousin-in-law Mallory, who is 7, wanted to come spend the night at my house all by herself because she has never got to do that. She is on spring break from school, so I told her we could do it today(I had plans all the rest of the week, amazingly-cause I am kinda boring). She isn't a patient girl, so she has been calling all week telling me what she wants to eat, where she wants to sleep, what movie she wants to watch, the whole nine yards. She basically planned out the entire sleepover, I just have to drive(and pay). We started out having lunch at her favorite pizza place, then went on the hunt for a Hannah Montana surf shop play thingy. We finally found one in the clearance aisle at Wal-mart and it was STILL $30. For shame, I mean really!!! These people should be ashamed of themselves, it's highway robbery!!! Her mom refused to buy it for her, probably for the same reasons I am shaming people($), so Mal saved all her money and gift cards until she had enough to get it. It took me a 1/2hour to get it out of the box, another 15minutes to get it all set up the way she wanted it, and then she played with it for about 20minutes, and was bored-$30 well spent if you ask me!!(NOT!!) Anyway, while she played with her set, I whipped out this card for the ways to use it challenge. Note to self- find your air art tool......where the heck could it be????I seriously scoured every container and basket in my room, and it has gone missing, so I used what little bit of Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist(snow or icicle-I can't remember) to "spray" on my card(which is what the challenge was). I don't know why I bothered though because for the life of me, I can't get it to show up for me!! So I guess you have to take my word for it, it is there!! The main image is from Rubbernecker and was colored with my SU markers. The rest is pretty easy!! Mal is done soaking in the garden tub(been in there for an hour) so I am going to rush off. Thanks for looking and have a great day!!! Oh yeah----This uses Julee Tilman's Mojo Monday sketch too!!

stamps-Rubbernecker and Whipper Snapper for sentiment

paper- Bashful Blue, Brocade Blue, Sage Shadow, Whisper White and Pool Party DSP

ink-Black Stazon

tools- Soft Subtles brads, SU markers, ticket corner punch, white taffeta, bashful blue grosgrain, and blue gingham from American Crafts, Prismacolor marker

New Rubbah!!

I got some new rubbah today from Mr. Brown, and couldn't wait to get into it. When I saw the sketch challenge for today, I knew that it would work perfect with this skinny chick from She's All That by SU. I have babies on the brain today, so I used the pregnant woman from this set. I didn't want the sentiment with it, so I put a sticky note over the sentiment and inked up my stamp. I put some crystal effects on her dress, shoes and purse to give it some shine and sponged the edges. The rest is a lot of layers and brads. My friend Kristen is due to have a baby boy any time now, so I made this to send to her when he gets here!! Thanks for looking and have a great day, I am off to bed(if I can walk that far, I may be off to couch, my mom and I worked really hard today!!)!!

stamps-She's All That and Warmest Regards

paper- Whisper White, Basic Black, Blue Bayou CS and DSP

ink-Black Stazon and Blue Bayou

tools-crystal effects, sponge, black brads, black organdy

I'm in Trouble!!

I am up way to late tonight and I am gonna be in trouble once tomorrow comes!!! I promised my Mom I would come help her clean, and I should probably(definitely) get some sleep before then. At this rate, I will be lucky to get 6hrs. and let me tell you, I don't function well with less than eight. I have always wished I could, but have never been able too. I can't take naps either, so that is working against me too. I don't know about you, but every time I try to take a nap, I wake up feeling worse than when I started out!! I knew I would be gone the better part of tomorrow, so I wanted to get the color challenge for Tuesday done. The challenge was to use Basic Grey, Whisper White and Soft Sky. The card base is BG and then layered with Soft Sky and Whisper white. The edges were sponged with SS ink to soften them. I added a piece of SS DSP to the bottom and wrapped a piece of SS ribbon around the two top layers to hide the seam. Since I love ribbon(and really, who doesn't)I added a piece of Basic Grey taffeta and White grosgrain ribbon to it too. The sentiment was stamped on WW with BG and punched out with the small oval punch. I sponged the edges of that piece heavily to really make it stand out. Because you all know that I LOVE brads, I added some across the bottom, don't you love how they are alternating sizes. All the hardware came from the Stylized Silver Hardware from Stampin Up. I sure hope they keep it around, it is fabulous!!! The flower was stamped three times in Versamark on SS. I then covered it in white embossing powder and cut it out in three different layers. There are pop dots between each layer to give it some depth. I layered it on WW, SS, and BG and sponged the edges of that too. Once I had all that done, I thought that the top corner was a little to bare, so I used my neglected Ornare piercing template to give it a little something more. Well, that is all for me for tonight, must get some sleep for tomorrow or I will be a very unhelpful zombie!!! Thanks for looking and have a great day(or night, whatever your case may be!!)

stamps-Fabulous Flowers and Small Script

paper- Soft Sky, Basic Grey, Whisper White, and Soft Sky DSP

ink-Versamark, Basic Grey and Soft Sky

tools- stylized silver hardware, ornare piercing template, soft sky ribbon, grey taffeta, white grosgrain, white embossing powder, small oval punch

Flap Fold Thanks

Today's technique lover's challenge was to make a flap fold card. Our guest hostess for this week is JoLynn, aka stampissues, and she chose to do this fabulous card that she found a tutorial for on the Scor Pal website. The tutorial is fabulous and very easy to follow, so if you have seen these(or you like mine), you should try it, it is so easy!! I started with a 3 1/2x8 1/2 sheet of Basic Black. I really wanted some more layers on this so I did a second layer in Rose Red(3 3/8x8 3/8). I used my circle cutter to round out the edge of both papers and I glued that together and scored it at 4 1/4 and 8 1/2. I then attached a piece of Rose Red DP to the bottom flap that measures 3 1/4x4. For the top piece of DP, I cut it at 3 1/4 and then used my circle cutter to round out the edge, I then flipped the paper to the side I didn't want showing and made a pencil line with a ruler to cut it off. There is probably an easier way to do this, but this worked for me. I used my circle nestabilities to cut out my lamb from Pun Fun(Thanks Jodi!!) and then layered it using my circle scallop nestibilities. The sentiment was cut out with my word window punch and layered it with RR and BB. I added the brads and the ribbon and it was done. I have to say that in the tutorial is tells you to use Basic Grey snaps to close the flap, but I really didn't have anything that would work for that, so the ribbon is actually tied around the bottom flap(the one with the brads) and I slid it up over the fold flap to keep it closed. That's it for now!! My dh just came home for lunch and asked if I was feeling okay, when I said yes, he just said okay and left. I think he wants me to clean or something!!!( I don't blame him)!! Since it is not going to clean itself, I had better go!! Have a great day!!
stamps-Pun Fun
ink- Basic black
paper- Basic Black, Rose Red, Whisper White and Rose Red DSP
tools- black brads and organdy, rose red marker, cool grey prismacolor maker, nestibilities, cuttlebug

Easter Sunday's Featured Stamper

Easter Sunday's featured stamper was the fabulous Amy Sheffer, aka Pickletree. If you haven't been to her gallery, go now!! She also has a fabulous blog, which you can find listed in my Blogs I Stalk. I was too exhausted to stamp yesterday, and truth be told, should really be cleaning right now, but I wanted to participate in her challenge, since I am such a fan!! I chose this card to CASE. I needed to start trying to figure out what to do for the invites for my sister's baby shower, since we don't have a lot of time left!!! As per the rules, I made a few changes to the card, but I kept the same layout. I did change some of the colors, added layers, did brads instead of piercing, changed the images, etc. In short, I kept the layout and changed most of the rest. I always start out trying to only change two or three things, but something always goes wrong!!!LOL What can I say, I love layers!!! I am not sure if this is what we will end up, but someone will end up getting it!! Thanks for looking and have a great day!!

stamps-So Many Scallops, Hugs and Wishes

paper-Wild Wasabi, Bashful Blue, Barely Banana, Whisper White and East Coast Prep DSP

ink- Wild Wasabi and Barely Banana

tools-cirlce nestabilities, swiss dots folder, silver brads, scallop circle punch, word window punch

Happy Easter!!

My nieces have been here since Friday afternoon and I am exhausted. Between running them around, chasing after them, doing all the fun Easter stuff, and learning of my sister's AMAZING news, I am too tired to even stamp, and let me tell you, that takes a lot. I am so bummed too because today's featured stamper over on SCS is one of my FAVORITE stampers Amy Sheffer, or Pickletree on SCS. I can't wait for tomorrow to get to case her, but first I will have to figure out how the heck I am ever gonna get my house clean again!! Since I don't have anything new to show you, I thought I would share two of the Easter cards I got in the mail . The first is from my pal Lavon. Isn't it so cute!!! The second is from my friend Judy(Judluvstostamp). Love the scoring on this one, I sooooooooo need a scorpal!!! Thanks and I hope you had a Hoppy and Blessed Easter, pun intended!!!

BTW Thank you to all of you for the prayers and well wishes, they mean so much to me. Each comment I read made me happier and happier and more positive about my situation. God Bless you all!!!