Oh What a Night!!

If you didn't make it to the pj party tonight, you missed a great time!!! Charmaine hosted three fantastic challenges and Christie made a big announcement!! Christie has asked me to join their design team and be an official Prettie Girl!! YAYY!!!! She asked if I wanted to finish my guest designer term and I told her it was up to her! She officially promoted me and found herself another guest designer. The new guest designer is Jackie Rokowski and she is super talented, be sure to check her out in the guest room!! Also, be sure to read the note about shipping on the front page of the Paper Pretties site when you go shopping. There are a few glitches, but I assure you Christie will make it right!!

On to my challenge cards!! The first challenge was to make a card with Bold and Bright colors-gaggg!! I loathe the Bold Brights, but I sucked it up and eeked this card out. I tried to make myself feel better by using mostly purple since it is my favorite color. The colors on this are Lovely Lilac, Orchid Opulence, and Gable Green. I colored the image from Simply Special with my SU markers and blended it with my aqua painter. I then outlined the whole image in Prismacolor Cool Grey marker. To make it pop out, I covered the whole thing with Crystal Effects. To offset the bright colors, I used mostly white on this and added some texture with my Swiss Dots embossing folder.

stamps-Simply Special and Warmest Regards(SU)

paper- Orchid Opulence, Lovely Lilac, Gable Green and Whisper White

ink-Black Stazon

tools- SU markers, crystal effects, perfect pearls, swiss dots folder, cuttlebug, narrow organdy.

The second challenge was to make a card using glossy cardstock. You could use any technique you wanted, so I chose to use the faux linen technique. I got the instructions for this from a wonderful tutorial over on SCS by Beate. She really is a master at that stuff!! I started with my glossy paper and then stamped the Filigree background stamp in Rose Red. I sanded my paper going in both directions(up and down, and across) and then sponged on some So Saffron ink. I then sanded it again to soften it. I was surprised, but it really does feel like linen, who knew!!LOL!! I then stamped Cuddle Me Sophia in Black Stazon on Whisper White and colored her with my SU markers. Lucky me, my oval Nestabilities got here today, so I used them to cut her out.

stamps-Cuddle Me

paper-Rose Red, So Saffron, Whisper White and Glossy White

ink-Black Stazon, Rose Red and So Saffron

tools-Cuttlebug, Nesties, SU markers, wine organdy, gold brads, sanding block

The third challenge was to make a long card. I have to say, this one hurt a little!! I started with this paper that I was dead set on using. I picked colors to match it, and then COULD NOT get it to work the way I wanted. I ended up some how keeping the colors of the paper, but not using the paper. You only have an hour to finish these challenges, so I really didn't have time to scrap it and start over so I had to make it work. So what did I do, I covered it with ribbons and white brads and called it good!! This card is HUGE by the way, 4x9. It will fit in a business sized envelope. I colored Lexi with my SU markers and silver pen and cut her out. She is layered on Real Red, So Saffron and Regal Rose. I used some Real Red and So Saffron DSP too. Thanks for looking and have a great day!! I have a bunch of RAK's to post, but they may have to wait until tomorrow!!

stamps-Made With Love

paper- Real Red, So Saffron, Regal Rose, Whisper White, Prints Pack and So Saffron DSP

ink-Black Stazon

tools-SU markers, silver glitter pen, rose grosgrain, white taffeta, white brads

DIY DP LSC.......

I don't know about you, but that is a few to many initials for me!!LOL!! To spare you the phone call Mom, it means "do it yourself designer paper". Friday's limited supplies challenge was to make your own DP. I love it when they post the challenges early, so I got right to work. Tomorrow night is the Paper Pretties Pajama Party, so I will have some cards from that to post tomorrow night. We would love to have you join us tomorrow night for the party. It starts at 8pmEST(7pmCST) and will have a challenge posted every hour for 3hrs by Charmaine and there will be prizes!!! I wanted to do something for my SU friends, so I decided to use some SU stuff for the LSC. I started with a piece of Very Vanilla and drew my lines on it with my Pale and Perfect Plum markers. I used a ruler to keep them straight and my grid paper to keep them evenly spaced. The flower was stamped three times-once with Pale Plum craft ink, once with Perfect Plum, and once with Pale Plum and then I rolled the edges around on the Perfect Plum pad. I then embossed all three with clear embossing powder and cut them out. I used pop dots to separate the layers. I colored my hummingbird with my SU markers and then added some glitter to the belly and wings with my Sakura glitter pen, although you can't see it in the picture. I thought it was missing something, so I stamped the sentiment from the SU set Warm Words and then added pewter brads to all the corners. That's it for me now!! Hope you have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by!! BTW, the storms weren't nearly as bad here as they predicted, thank goodness, but thanks for all the concern!!

stamps- Pretty Amazing and Warm Words

paper- Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Very Vanilla

ink- Pale Plum and Perfect Plum craft ink

tools-clear EP, SU markers, organdy ribbon, glitter pen, and pewter brads

Sneak Peek NO. 3

Hi everyone, hope you are having a great day!! Our weather is icky here, and said to be getting worse, so I am trying to hurry. Whatever storms that passed through OK and TX last night, are headed here, so we are braced for a big one. Actually I have to be honest, my DH and I are the most unprepared people in the world. I don't even know where the flashlight is, so after posting this, I am going on a hunt for it, and getting my closet ready in case we have a tornado warning!! I am a worry wort when it comes to the weather so I will probably be freaked out all day!!

Anyway, this is a sneak peek of one of the three new sets being released Friday at Paper Pretties. She is perfect for mother's day and so versatile and easy to color. This is just one of the many sentiments that comes with her, isn't she lovely!! She looks like the kind of Mom I want to be, totally together and happy!! I colored Lexi with my SU markers in Real Red and Pretty in Pink. Here hair is Creamy Carmel and Chocolate Chip. I colored her pearls and earrings with a red glitter pen and the tray was colored with a silver one. The SCS challenge for today was to use eyelets in a creative way, so I used them to create my background. I started with a piece of Loves Me DSP (retired) from SU and used my large eyelet whole punch to punch out holes in a 3-2-3-2-3 pattern going down the card. The eyelets I used are also retired SU and I alternated them in Real Red and Pretty in Pink. The ribbon, also retired(grrrr SU!!!), was tied in a big red bow. I cut out Lexi with the out of the box technique so here tray sticks out from the matting. I had a hard time picking which sentiment, but I really love this one so I went with it. I am sure some lucky Mommy will be receiving this this Mother's day, I just don't know who yet, maybe it will be you!! Don't forget to come tomorrow night to our Paper Pretties Pajama Party. It starts at 8est(7cst) and is sure to be a hoot!! We launched our new website yesterday, so you should go and look around, check out the gallery, and pop into the forum and say hi!! As always, have a great day, stay safe and dry, and thank you so much for stopping by!!

stamps-Lexi Baking

paper-Pretty in Pink, Real Red, Whisper White and Loves Me DSP

ink-Basic Black

tools-SU markers, red and silver glitter pens, red organdy, flower eyelets

Check Me Out!!

Look who's the featured stamper on Queen Kat Design's blog!! I think you guessed it by now!!!! I also received two RAK's in the mail today. The first is from Carolina(craftycaro) congratulating me for winning the guest designer challenge for My Favorite things. Isn't it so super cute!! thanks Carolina.

The second is from Juanita(schmoopie). I had inquired on here about starting an RAK group, and she was one of the few wonderful people that responded. Ever since then, I have been sending her RAK's just because. Isn't she a sweetie!!

That's all for now!! Hope you are having a great day!!!

Simply Special Sneak Peek No.2!!!

Hey everyone, hope all is well where you are!!! This is day two of my sneak peeks for Paper Pretties, and I couldn't be more excited. We even launched our new and improved website today!!YAYYY!!! So if you haven't checked it out, what are you waiting for!!LOL Paper Pretties will be releasing 3 new stamp sets on Friday at our Prettie Pajama Party!! The fun starts at 8EST(7CST) so be sure to be there to chat, stamp, win prizes, and of course SHOP!! My card today was made using the new set Simply Special. I stamped it on watercolor paper and colored it in with my SU markers and aquapainter. I highlighted some areas with my white gel pen and then outline the whole image with my Prismacolor cool grey marker. I wanted to participate in the sketch challenge over on SCS, but don't have any kind of oval cutter yet(got an email today saying my ovals were postal, yayy!!), so I had to improvise. I used my circle Nestabilities and cut out two circle from Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Cranberry Crisp and Recollections DSP. Then I layered them together to form an "oval like shape". I think it works. I put three organdy ribbons around it and tied bows, added three brads in each corner, and then stamped the sentiment from this set at the bottom. At the last minute, I decided to sponge the edges to soften up the Very Vanilla. Well, that is all for me now!! More sneak peeks later and I hope to see you at the party on Friday!! Thanks for looking and have a great day!!

stamps- Simply Special by Paper Pretties

paper-Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla, Cranberry Crisp and Recollections DSP

ink- Black Stazon and Cranberry Crisp

tools- Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, SU markers, aqupainter, wine, moss, and cream narrow organdy ribbon, brads, white gel pen, Prismacolor cool grey marker

A Prettie Sneak Peek!!

This is my second week as a guest designer for Paper Pretties and I am proud to say that we are having a Prettie Pajama Party on Friday night(April 11th) where three new stamp sets will be revealed!! The PJ party will be hosted on the Paper Pretties forum by the fabulous Charmaine Ikach. Starting at 8EST(7CST) she will post one challenge every hour for three hours. You will have 45minutes to complete your card and get it posted to the forum. It is sure to be lots of fun!! And just so you know, if you are a little intimidated by the whole challenge thing, just come hang out and chat with us, but we would love to have you there no matter what!! Visit Christie's blog for some more sneak peeks and more info about the party, challenges, rules, and PRIZES(woohoo!!)!! Be sure to visit the other Prettie Girls this week for some more sneak peeks!!

Charmaine, Christie, Jana, Jillian, Julie, Joanne, Danielle, Lesa, Linda, Colleen

On to my card!! I used Julee Tilman's mojo Monday sketch for this card as well as, the SCS color challenge for today(now come on, you KNOW I didn't pick those colors myself!!) I stamped the watering can from one of the new sets coming out on Friday with Black Stazon on Whisper White. I colored it in using my SU markers and aquapainter and then covered the whole thing with crystal effects. The paper is from the SU Prints Pack, and I have almost gone through the whole thing-the horror!! I was in a ribbon layering mood due to today's TLC challenge, so I used some wide red grosgrain, navy narrow organdy, and some white taffeta. I thought it needed a little something, so I added the brads to the top corners, the other three were part of the sketch.

stamps- Paper Pretties

paper- Real Red, Night of Navy, Glorious Green, Whisper White and Prints Pack

ink-Black Stazon

tools- SU markers, navy organdy, red grosgrain, white tafetta, crystal effects, white brads, Petalloo flowers

My second card, because let's face it, who needs sleep(LOL), was made using the color challenge and Beate's weekend sketch challenge. I always forget about that one til it is too late to get in her drawing, but I loved the sketch, so I wanted to try it. The main image is from the SU set Pun Fun and was colored in using my SU markers and Aquapainter. I then highlighted certain areas with my glitter pen. To make it shiny, I covered the whole image with crystal effects. I punched out the sentiment with my small oval punch, and layered it with an oval punched out with the large one(Night of Navy). I added the brads, and then thought it looked kind of dull, so I added the dots. I liked the way they looked on the Navy, so I did it on all the navy cardstock for this card. Cute huh!! For embellishments, I added the red gingham with some white taffeta, and some red brads. The image and layers were cut out using my Cuttlebug and Nesties. I got the image from my pal Jodi(kharmagirl) cause she is SOOOO sweet!!! Thanks Jodi!!

BTW: I need someone to send this too, so if you have a little guy having a birthday or one who has been sick and needs a pick me up, let me know, and I will get it right out!! I have sent out 8RAK's this week, and would love to keep going!!

stamps-Pun Fun

paper-Night of Navy, Real Red, Glorious Green, Whisper White, and Prints Pack

ink-Black Stazon

tools- SU markers, glitter pen, red gingham, crystal effects, white tafetta, red brads, Cuttlebug, Nesties

Layered Ribbon and a Sketch!!

Did you know that they have a sketch challenge for My Favorite Things?? Well, they do!!! It is hosted by Cindy Haffner and you can find all the details in the MFT members forum. I don't know about you, but I sometimes get overwhelmed by the amount of stuff I just had to have!! This sketch challenge helps me to get out my MFT stamps and actually use them!! I also wanted to participate in the technique lovers challenge which was to stack ribbon. Easy Peasy!! I started with this yummy paper from My Mind's Eye. I stamped the main image from my Ride em Cowgirl set on both sides of the my DP. I cut out the skirt on the printed side and the sky on the reverse side. I then colored in what was left with my SU markers. I put some crystal effects on the boots to make them shiny!! The rope is hemp twine rolled up and attached with a a glue dot. I layered it on Really Rust and Chocolate Chip. The bigger panel is Chocolate Chip and the reverse side of the DP. I added a row of brads down the side. The sentiment was stamped in Chocolate Chip on Very Vanilla and punched out with my small oval punch. I added two more brads, because lets face it, at this point, what are two more gonna hurt!! The rest is pretty easy to figure out!! I will saw that I distressed almost all the edges and sponged everything with Chocolate chip to soften the edges. Don't you just love that big flower!! It is a Bazil bling blossom, the rust colored one is from Petaloo and the flower brad is something I picked up at Archivers(and I have no idea who makes it, sorry!!)
That's it for me now!! I still haven't got my house in order from my weekend long party with my girls, and DH had me make chili last night for the guys at his work, so my kitchen is horrid!! Thanks for looking and have a great day!! Don't forget to read my last post and send an RAK to Faith and her Mom, they are in need of a boost!!
stamps-Ride em Cowgirl
paper- Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, Very Vanilla, My Mind's Eye
ink-Chocolate Chip
tools- SU markers, flower brads, Bazil bling blossoms, Petaloo flowers, vanilla wide grosgrain, chocolate tafetta, hemp twine, oval punched, crystal effects, pewter brads

What a Great Day!!!

A couple of days ago I made a card for the My Favorite Things guest designer challenge. I called it Out of the Box, because it was a stretch for me!! I loved what I had done, but it was way different from what I normally do. The contest was posted on Wednesday night, and the results were posted on Saturday, and to my surprise.......I WON!!!!!YAYYYYYY!!! I have since recieved some of the sweetest emails and pm's on SCS from people wishing me well and telling me how happy they are for me. I can't wait to recieve their next new release stamps and get to post with the fabulous design team. Thank you to all of you that took the time to send me a message and congratulate me. Your words of kindness and sincere well wishes mean so much to me!!

MOM!!! I did it!!!YAYYYYY!!!

On to the good stuff, a card for today's Featured Stamper Challenge. I had my two friends staying here this weekend with me and I wasn't able to stamp all day yesterday. I am so happy Spring is here(at least for now), but those girls ran me ragged. I called them my friends because they are not technically my nieces, one is my cousin-in-law and the other is my friend's daughter(who is also a cousin to my nieces but on the other side). They wanted to match, so I had to buy them new shirts that match(thank goodness for Wal-mart clearance racks!!) Here is a picture of them!! Anyway, this week's FS over on SCS is and amazing stamper named Kristi, aka Mommyluvs2stamp. She has a fabulous gallery and as soon as I saw this card, I knew what I wanted to do. Now, since this is a CASE, I did have to change it a little. I moved the sentiment up, added a bunch of layers(ya know how I love them), changed the colors and embellishments(added a bunch, cause ya know how I love them too!!). I tried to keep the same layout, and use the same images, but with the addition of all the layers, I had to move my sentiment. I made this card to send to Faith, aka Markie's Mom. If you have been around SCS, you have most likely seen her work. She has a huge fan base, including me, and a fantastic ability to tell stories. She posts one almost everyday on her blog, and usually they are hysterically funny. Here lately though, they haven't been so. Faith's mom was hospitialized recently with several things wrong with her, the worst being Luekemia. For all the details(which I haven't commited to memory because I have a hard time thinking about stuff like this), you can visit her blog. In the mean time, Faith has found out that she is not in remission anymore for Ovarian cancer and is having to under go treatment as well. I figure, if anyone can use a pick me up right now, it is Faith and her mom. Here is a link to the thread started by our FS hostess Beth requesting RAK's for Faith and her mom. If you read through it a little bit, Faith has posted her address. Please, join me in showering Faith and her Mom(and family) with love and support!!

stamps-Women Of Life by PTI

paper-Garden Green, Rose Red, So Saffron, Whisper White

ink-Garden Green, Rose Red and So Saffron

tools-clear dew drops, clear page pebbles, white brads, green organdy, pomegranate stitched ribbon, white tafetta, spiral clip

Inspiration Challenge

Saturday's inspiration challenge over on SCS is this unique bedding by Boodalee. I don't normally do this, but I am going to post a picture of the bedding so that you will see what I was inspired by. Now at first glance, you are gonna think I am so far out in left field it is ridiculous, but remember, it is inspirational, open to interpretation!!! At least that is what I keep telling myself. Do you see it yet...keep looking...there on the head board??? It's a little red moped!!! I don't have a moped stamp, but I automatically thought of the bicycle stamp from Time For You from SU. I colored it in with my markers and paired it with Soft Sky, Ruby Red, and Chocolate Chip. I am on a satin ribbon kick, so I added that on to. The sentiment is a rub on from SU. It was in the Love and Happiness rubons that were offered as a Sellabration set. My piercing looks a little wonky in the picture, but not so much in real life, oh well, what can you do!!! This may be one of the simplest cards that I have made in a long time, but I am so pleased with it!! Isn't that image the cutest!!
That is all for me now, I am exhausted and need to get some sleep before my nieces wake me up in the AM. Thanks for looking and for all your support!! Have a great day!!
stamps-Time For You
paper- Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky DSP and CS, and Whisper White
ink-black stazon
tools-chocolate chip ribbon, rub ons, paper piercer, SU markers and prismacolor cool grey marker

Always in Pomegranate

Today's limited supplies challenge over on SCS was to make a card with only one color and white. No other colors allowed!! WOW, that's a tough one!!! My cousin-in-law Mallory was here last weekend(and will be back on Saturday) and she told me that she wanted me to make her a birthday card with hearts on it. I asked her what color and she said pink, do you think this will work!! I started with a Purely Pomegranate base and layered it with Pearlescent White that I just got from the Verve Visual store, and then another layer of Purely Pomegranate. On that layer I stamped the branch from the Always set in Versamark all around the edge and embossed it in white. I then stamped one heart from the Always set in PP on white and another with Versamark on PP and embossed it in white. I cut both of them out and layered them with dimensionals. I took some of my stylized silver hardware and embossed it in white. Other than that, it is pretty easy to figure out, but if you have any questions, feel free to ask!! Thanks for looking and have a great day!!

stamps-Always and Small Script

paper-Purely Pomegranate and Pearlescent White

ink-Purely Pomegranate and Versamark
tools-white brads, white EP, pomegranate satin ribbon, stylized silver hardware