I Will Survive!!

As promised, I am back with some cards I have made for the Great Swaps Girls challenges. I love the challenges that we post every Monday, but what I really love is that anyone can play. Yep, that means you, so feel free to stop in on Monday’s and Wednesdays and see what we have cooked up. The Monday challenge can be anything from a color challenge to an inspiration challenge. Two weeks ago, Maren(mmbc) posted a Survivor Style challenge, which is basically like a limited supplies challenge. The challenge was to use things you can’t live without, but you could only use 2 colors, 1 stamp set, 1 tool, 1 embellishment, and as many neutrals as you want. You could also use DP too. Now that I am typing this out, I realize I may have broke the rules(used my paper piercer and SU markers- whoops!!), so lets pretend I drew those dots on with my marker-okay? OKAY!! So, I stamped two of the flowers from Bloomin Beautiful on Whisper White with Black Stazon. I colored them in with my SU markers and then cut out certain parts of the flowers and paper pieced them onto the original. It is hard to tell from the picture, but it really does add some dimension. The sentiment is stamped in Black Stazon. I added my dots to the corners with my MARKER(wink) and tied a white satin ribbon around the middle where I had attached a piece of Lovely Lilac DSP. Well, I warned you this challenge was tough, but I love this card, so I hope they forgive me!!
Stamps-Bloomin Beautiful
Ink- Black Stazon
Paper-Lovely Lilac, Always Artichoke, Whisper White and Lovely Lilac DSP
Tools-SU markers, white satin ribbon
This next card was made for the Featured Swapper challengeon the Great Swaps Girls blog. It is posted on Wednesdays, and features a member or our group. The idea is to go to their gallery, pick a card and CASE it changing just a couple of things. This weeks FS was Lisa Henke, and she has a fabulous blog and gallery.I chose this card of hers to CASE. I changed the colors, image, added sentiment tabs, added the cord, changed the embellishments on the side to buttons, and changed the DP. What’s that you say, that’s more than a couple things, you are right(work with me here people)!! I always start out with good intentions not to change to much, but this is where I end up!! Oh well, it’s super cute if you ask me!! The main image was colored with SU markers and my aqua painter. The rest is pretty easy to figure out( I hope). Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you are having a super fabulous Memorial Day weekend, but be sure to not lose sight of what it is really for. Have you thanked a soldier today? I have!!
Stamps-Pun Fun
Paper-More Mustard, Ruby Red, Garden Green, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White and East Coast Prep DSP
Ink- Black Stazon
Tools- SU markers, aqua painter, glitter pen, silver cord, word window punch, silver brads, buttons

Found a Peanut

This weeks featured stamper over on SCS is Denise(Peanutbee), and she has an AWESOME gallery and blog!! She is also super sweet and always leaves me the sweetest comments. I had a super hard time picking a card for the challenge, so I had my pal Jodi(kharmagirl) pick a card for me to do. Does she know me or what!! She picked this card here, and as you can see, I changed a few things. I changed the colors, ribbon, added piercing to the sentiment but didn’t go all the way around the image, and the sentiment. The main image is actually one that I received from Jodi in a ridiculously huge package of stamped images. I believe it is from Inky Antics along with the sentiment. The flower is from the Paper Pretties set Rainy Day Friends. I colored all the images with my SU markers and used an aqua painter to lift some of the color.
Stamps- Rainy Day Friend and Inky Antics
Paper-Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Celery DSP and Prints Pack
Ink-Black Stazon
Tools-SU markers, aqua painter, white taffeta, silver brads
My second share for today was made for the third challenge at the Paper Pretties release party Thursday night. The challenge was to make a box. I chose to make a 2,5, 7, 10 box using this tutorial from SCS. I started with a Tempting Turquoise base and stamped the dots from the Sassy Circles set by PP. The main image is Flutter By by Paper Pretties and I paper pieced her dress with some paper from Imagine That. The rest of Sophia was colored in with my SU markers. The sentiment was made using several circle punches and the Riveting set from SU. I added some button brads to make it cuter!! The top flap was punched with my Martha Stewart edge punch and I added some white taffeta to hold the box close. I can totally see this as the favors at a little girls birthday party, so cute!!
Well, that is it for now. I have one more card to share, but I will post it later, just incase I decide to finally tackle the GSG survivor challenge, it’s a hard one!! Thanks for stopping by and I hope you are all having a happy and safe weekend!!
Stamps-Flutter By, Sassy Circles by Paper Pretties and Riveting by SU
Paper-Pumpkin Pie, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White and DP by Imagine That
Ink- Black Stazon and Tempting Turquoise
Tools-circle punches, scallop edge punch, white taffeta, SU markers, glitter pen.

Don't Worry

the funk is over, at least I think it is. I no longer feel like it should be Sunday, and I am stamping, so it must be okay, right? Right!! Anyway, this is my card for the Great Swaps Girls challenge that was posted this past week by Monique. I am still trying to figure out what to do for the challenge posted two weeks ago(Survivor Style), but this came pretty easy. Cameo Coral has been making appearances on my cards a lot lately, which is good thing since I am still using the same package I bought two years ago!!LOL!! Monique challenged us to make a card using Cameo Coral, Certainly Celery and Kraft. I started with a Kraft base(4x8 folded) and layered it with the other colors. My images are from the SU set Embrace Life and are stamped on Whisper White with Black Stazon. I then colored them with my SU markers. I initially intended to do two large eyelets with ribbon going through it, but couldn't get any of my ribbon to look right, so I added another big eyelet and some rhinestone brads to make it sparkle(see the saying). I am almost caught up now, I even got to get on SCS today and post some comments, but I hate to see how far behind in my Google reader!!YIKES!!!
stamps-Embrace Life and Warm Words
paper-Cameo Coral, Certainly Celery, Whisper White and Kraft
ink- Black Stazon
tools-SU markers, large eyelets, rhinestone brads, white taffeta
Here is the card I made for the second challenge posted at the Paper Pretties release party. It was to use Dark Brown, Light Blue and Celery. I chose to use this cute puppy from the Rainy Day Friend set. I used my markers to color him in and cut him out using my Cuttlebug and Nestibilites. This card is 4x4 with a Chocolate Chip base then layered with Bashful Blue and Certainly celery. I pierced around the edges and added three different ribbons. That's all for me for now!! Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you are all having a safe and happy weekend!!

stamps-Rainy Day Friend

paper- Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Whisper White

ink-Black Stazon

tools-Cuttlebug, nestabilities, SU markers, ribbon, paper piercer and template

Am I Alone

I swear to you, yesterday was the longest day of my life!! Am I alone on this one?? I swear it drug on forever and now I feel like today should be Sunday. Oh well, what can you do!! To the shock of many that know me, I think I was only on the computer for maybe an hour yesterday and went to bed by 9:30!! Of course, that meant that at 5:30 I was WIDE awake and still groggy, makes it kind of hard to stamp! Unfortunately, or fortunately(depends on how you look at it), today is my Dad’s birthday and I HAD to stamp, because with everything else that I have been doing, I forgot to make him a card. Yes I know, I am a bad daughter. I did call though, and we have a lunch date tomorrow, so I really don’t need it till tomorrow(can you tell I am trying to make myself feel better). Since I was in no mood to stamp, I decided to make it easy on myself and use both the inspiration challenge and Beate’s weekend sketch challenge. The inspiration piecewas some gorgeous advertisement pictures for an interior design company. I was inspired to use some new paper I had picked up at Michaels yesterday by K and Company(they have all their paper packs 25%off,yayyy). Since I needed it to be masculine, I picked one that was sorta manly(hey I tried) and matched it with Not Quite Navy, Wild Wasabi, and So Saffron. The top is Very Vanilla and was run through my Cuttlebug with the Paisley folder. I added three pewter brads to the top corner because it was looking kind of bare. My dad is a no nonsense kind of guy, so I probably pushed it with the ribbon, but hey, it’s a sickness!! The sentiment is from Circle of Friendship and I used various sized SU punched to create the layers. The scalloped layer is actually two scalloped circles glued together and then punched. The build a brad was made using the reverse side to my paper. Isn’t it yummy!! I really liked the other side, but it was just a tiny bit too fru fru for Dad.
Stamps- Circle of Friendship
Paper-Wild Wasabi, Not Quite Navy, So Saffron, Very Vanilla, and K&Co. DP
Ink- Wild Wasabi
Tools-Cuttlebug, cream wide grosgrain, wasabi stitched ribbon, pewter brads and build a brads, circle punches, paisley folder
This second card is one that I made for the first challenge at the Paper Prettiesrelease party. The challenge was to use buttons, something I don’t tend to use to often. The main image is one of the newly realeased sets Look Out World and features Cooper, Sophia’s little brother(atleast I think he is, if not, he should be). I stamped him on watercolor paper with Black Stazon and colored him in with my SU markers. I blended it with my aqua painter. The colors on this card are Ballet Blue, So Saffron, and Whisper White. I cut out the main image with my Cuttlebug and Nestabilities. That’s it for me now! Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!
Stamps-Look Out World
Paper-Ballet Blue, So Saffron CS and DSP, Whisper White and watercolor paper
Ink-Black Stazon
Tools-Blue wide grosgrain, SU buttons, SU markers, Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, aqua painter, spiral clip, white taffeta, striped ribbon

I Should Be Sleeping...

I should be sleeping, but instead I am up making a card for the Limited Supplies challenge. Today’s challenge was to make a card without hardware. The catch was, that not only could we not use hardware, but we had to use something to replace where the hardware would normally be. HMMMMM, is it possible for me to make a card without brads on it??? This was a truly difficult challenge for me and unfortunately, I should have waited til morning, but alas, I didn’t. I really love this Time For You set, the images in it are so fun. I colored it with my SU markers and then layered it with Cameo Coral and Chocolate Chip. The DP is from the Linen Prints DSP, and I honestly intended to use the other side of it, but it was too busy for me. Instead of finding another piece, I just flipped it over. The sentiment is from the SU Love and Happiness rubons, and so are the flower faux brads(hope this counts). I pierced a small line under the sentiment and tied a chocolate grosgrain bow around it. Hope you like it!! Thanks for stopping by and I will be back later tomorrow to share some of the things I revealed at the Paper Pretties Release Party last night. If you didn’t get to attend, you missed a ton of chatting and fun(mostly aimed towards my DH) and some great projects. Be sure to check out the PJ party gallery at the Paper Pretties website and stop by the store to pick up some super cute stamps, my orders already in, Yayyy!!
Stamps-Time For You
Paper-Chocolate Chip, Cameo Coral, Watercolor and Linen Prints
Ink-Black Stazon
Tools-chocolate grosgrain, rub ons, SU markers

Oh Happy Day!!

My title has absolutely nothing to do with my post, but it was the first thing that popped in my head. First of all, I couldn't be more excited about last nights American Idol finale, David Cook rocks, and I was so happy to finally see a true artist win. I am in no way denying that David Archuleta can sing, but enough with the same old same old, ya know. He will be fine, I am sure, but anymore, I don't like to listen to sad, slow music, which after his HORRID rendition of With You, is apparent, it is all he is good at, ya know what I mean?!! The only thing I worry about is the fact that they now own David C. , I just hope they don't try to turn him into something he isn't!! Second thing that makes it a happy day is the fact that tonight at 8pmEST is the Paper Pretties PJ party. I sooo look forward to these parties, they are so much fun and you get to chat with some super sweet and talented people. We sure hope you can join us, and we would love it if you would participate in our challenges! Charmaine does a wonderful job of hosting, and I have to say, I am in LOVE with my samples!! I stamped so much yesterday I thought my hand was gonna fall off!!LOL!! Also, yesterday while I was out feeding my DH's dogs(he has hunting dogs), I saw that the rose bush the lady that lived here before us had planted was in full bloom and GORGEOUS!! Here are some pictures of my favorite bush(there is a red and a yellow, but honestly, I don't think flowers get more gorgeous than this). The other flowers are my feeble attempt at gardening by my front steps( I say steps because I am still begging for the porch that I want). Aren't they beautiful!! I wish I had thought to take pictures of the tulip trees and the lilac bush I planted before they went out. OH well. Please, don't be impressed by anything you see here, I have a black thumb, and most of what is blooming in my yard has to be a hoax, or requires little to no maintenance!!LOL
Since all that up there is probably NOT why you are here, on to my card for today!! This is the card that I made for today's Ways to Use It challenge, to do a masculine card. I chose my trusty Noble Deer set and stamped it in Brown Stazon. I then colored it in with my SU markers, blended it with an aqua painter, highlighted the chest and tail with a white gel pen, and sponged the edges(of the whole card) with Creamy Caramel. The sketch is Julee Tilman's Mojo Monday sketch, and I love it because I got to use some DP scraps. The hardware is from the Aged Copper set, and the ribbon is Twill Tape, and some thin ribbon from one of the retired Rustic Retreat Ribbon Originals from SU.
That's all for me now! Thanks for stopping by and checking me out, I love it when you do!! Hugs!!
stamps-Noble Deer and All Holidays
ink-Brown Stazon
paper-Creamy Carmel, Old Olive, Bashful Blue, and Whisper White
tools-Aged Copper hardware, SU markers, twill tape and ribbon originals, aqua painter and white gel pen

Prettie Wednesday

Happy Wednesday!! Two weeks ago, Jules challenged the Prettie Girls to find something that we were inspired by, a blog, a website, a catalog, a piece of art . . . anything! Then make a card using that inspiration piece. I chose this gorgeous bedding from the JCPenney’s website. I loved the colors and the flowers on it. I also decided to combine this with the sketch challenge Danielle posted in the Pretties Challenge forum last week. Anyone can play along, and we really hope that you do!!I started with my Simply Special set from Paper Prettiesand stamped the image on watercolor paper, colored it with my SU markers, and cut it out using my oval nestabilities. I coved the whole watering can image with some crystal effects to make it shiny. To mimic the walls in my inspiration piece, I ran the Ruby Red layer through my Cuttlebug with the Distressed Stripes folder. The SU ticket corner punch was used on the corners and then I put some pewter brads in the notches. The DP is from the Close to Cocoa SU pack and the ribbon is some that I got through a ribbon share with Jody(texasjodylynn).
Last week Charmaine challenged us to make a bookmark and we would love it if you played along, just make sure to leave us a link!! This week it's Jana's turn to challenge! This card is actually on it’s way over to Jana as we speak, but as per my usual, it’s gonna be late!! One week, I swear my card will reach the person before it is time to post it, ya right!!Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!

Don't forget, we are having a Prettie Pajama party on Thursday evening starting at 8pmEST in the Paper Pretties forum!! We can't wait to see you there!!
Stamps-Simply Special and All Holidays(SU)
Paper-Ruby Red, Close To Cocoa CS and DSP, and Watercolor paper
Ink-black stazon
Tools- Cuttlebug, Distressed Stripes folder, SU markers, aqua painter, crystal effects, satin ribbon, pewter brads, ticket corner punch, oval nestabilities.

Look Out World, Here I Come!!

Isn't that sentiment the cutest!! This is another set being released by Paper Pretties on Thursday night, and I am just in love with it!! It is called Look Out World and features this cute little guy and sentiment. I colored him in using my SU markers and ink pads and aqua painter. I stamped the oval below him using the Paper Pretties stamp set Sassy Circles. It is fabulous for grounding images! The sketch is from the SCS sketch challenge for tomorrow. Be sure to join us on Thursday night at our Prettie Pajama Party. Charmaine will be posting a challenge every hour for three hours in the Pajama Party Forum, starting at 8pmEST(7pmCST). It is a TON of fun, and a great chance to meet the other Prettie girls, and maybe win some free goodies!! Also, Christie is running a special that night, ANYONE WHO ORDERS PAPER PRETTIES' STAMPS DURING THE RELEASE PARTIE WILL RECEIVE A 25% COUPON FOR THEIR ENTIRE NEXT ORDER!!! I sure hope you will be able to join us!! Thanks for looking and have a great day!
stamps- Look Out World and Sassy Circles
paper-Bashful Blue, Wild Wasabi CS and DSP, and Watercolor paper
ink-Wild Wasabi and Black Stazon
tools-spiral clips, ribbon, SU markers, aqua painter, dew drops

One of Those Days

This Thursday night(May 22nd), Paper Pretties will be releasing three new stamp sets!! The Prettie Pajama Party starts at 8EST(7CST) and will be hosted by the fabulous Charmaine(charmwarm). She will be posting a challenge every hour and there will be lots of fun, chatter and prizes!! Hope you will come join us at the Paper Pretties forum to stamp and chat!! Here is a peek at the new set One of Those Days, hilarious right!! I just love this image, and honestly, I think we can all relate!! One thing I love about this one, is you don't have to be the best color-er in the world to make it looks super cute. I can totally see this as a plain white egg, like I have left it here, or paper pieced with some DP to make it kinda funky!! For this card, I used the color challenge over on SCS. The colors are Certainly Celery, Blue Bayou and Soft Sky. I colored in the duck with my SU markers as well as the grass(no I didn't hand draw the grass blades, they are from one of my Whipper Snapper sets). The sky was sponged in. I stamped the image separately and popped it up with dimensionals. I used three different DP panels on this and added some brads and ribbon. What do you think? Hope you will be able to join us Thursday night, be sure to check out the other Prettie Girl blogs to see what they are up to!! Have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!!
stamps-One of Those Days and Spring Has Sprung by Whipper Snapper
paper-Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, Certainly Celery and Whisper White
ink- Black Stazon and Soft Sky
tools-ribbon, silver brads, sponge, markers

Double Pocket Purse

I decided to combine today's technique lovers challenge with the My Favorite Things sketch challenge. The TLC challenge was to make a double pocket purse following this tutorial. I started with a piece of DP from the SU Linen Prints pack. Following the tutorial I assembled my bag and used some wide Chocolate Grosgrain ribbon for the handle. The main image was made using my SU markers and the MFT set Punny Farm. I stamped the pig and girl on a separate piece of paper and colored them in with my SU markers and my aqua painter. I created my "scene" with my SU markers, aqua painter, and the grass stamp from the MFT Jungle Set. I added some primas with silver brads to the handles and the oval sentiment which was made using my oval nestabilities. I thought that it needed something, so I added a piece of cream taffeta around the middle of the card. I still think it needs something, but I do like it! Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!

stamps-Punny Farm and It's a Jungle Out There

paper-Linen Prints DSP, Cameo Coral, Close To Cocoa, and Old Olive

ink-Soft Sky and Black Stazon

tools-SU markers, silver brads, aqua painter, primas,chocolate grosgrain, slot punch, cream taffeta