Prettie Wednesday-Green&White

Two weeks ago Christie challenged us to make a card using green and white. I used my Cuddle Me Sophia and colored her in with my SU markers. The sketch is an older Sketch For You To Try from Jen del Muro. I had the hardest time getting it to work, and actually never ended up with a card for it until now. I just love it!! The top oval piece was run through the cuttlebug twice, once to emboss it and once to cut it out. The ribbon is from a share with Jody Morrow and from SU. I couldn't figure out where to put a sentiment, so I added a ribbon slide. Isn't it awesome!! This card is still here with me and will be until Jana gets back to the US!!!! Next week we will be posting Jules challenge to use trash on our card, still blowing my mind!! This weeks challenger is Charmaine, and I can't wait to see what she has in store for us!! Be sure to blurf around and check out the other Prettie Girl's creations. Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!! I will be back tomorrow after work with my sketch challenge card, and don't forget, Christie is having an awesome sell in the Prettie store so be sure to check it out along with Jule's new product review!!

stamps- Cuddle Me

paper-Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss, Whisper White, watercolor

ink- Black Stazon

tools-ribbon slide, white brads, ribbon, SU markers, Cuttlebug, Nesties and swiss dots folder

Made With Love

Today’s color challengeover on SCS is being guest hosted by Carole B.(TruCarMa). The colors she chose for today were Barely Banana, Groovy Guava, and Chocolate Chip….phewwwww!!! I was so scared when I saw she was the hostess!! I just knew she was gonna make us use Glorious Green or worse yet- YoYo Yellow!!! Thanks for taking it easy on us Carole!! I used my Lexi stamp from the Paper Pretties set Made With Love. Lexi’s dress is paper pieced with some paper from the SU DSP pack Ginger Blossom. I then colored the rest of Lexi in with my SU markers. The sketch is Julee Tilman’s Mojo Monday Sketch. I made my scallops with my corner rounder and then pierced a small hole in each one. The ribbons are both from SU and the brads are by American Crafts. I got them in the Prettie Boutique where Christie is having a sale on the Ribbon Slides and Ric Rac. Julie(jmasse) also did a fabulous product review on them, which you can find on the home page. Well, since I wasn’t supposed to have to work today, I am terribly behind, so I better get moving, LOTS of projects to work on!! Thanks for stopping by and as always, have a great day!!!
Stamps-Made With Love
Paper-Chocolate Chip, Barely Banana, Groovy Guava, Whisper White, watercolor and SU Ginger Blossom
Ink-Black Stazon
Tools-Cuttlebug, Swiss Dots folder, corner rounder, chocolate satin ribbon, brown brads, silver clip, guava ribbon, SU markers, white gel pen, aqua painter

Okay, so I have been trying not to gush over my nephew too much, but seriously, he is so cute, I can't help it. My sister just sent me this picture through my phone and I had to share. Isn't he awesome!! The sepia tone was through the phone, the second one was just one I took with my camera the other day!! He is getting so big!!

The Suspense...

is killing me!! LOL!! I am just kidding!! Today was my first try at a suspension card and I have to say, aside from the fact that I am teetering on the edge of being out of red line tape and the only dental floss in my house is on the nifty holder things, it was super easy. Beate did a wonderful tutorial for it on SCS, and it is really easy to understand and follow. If you are wondering why I decided to try this, because if you know me at all I am not a technique-y girl, it was because it was the technique lovers challenge on SCS today. I also tried(and failed)to incorporate the My Favorite Things sketch challenge with today's TLC. I missed a layer somehow(if you can believe THAT), that was supposed to be under the oval, but I think the girls will forgive me(right Cindy), because I am not taking this card apart AGAIN and starting over. LOL!! I used the Lavender image from the MFT presents line and colored it with my SU markers. For some shine, I added crystal effects to the flower pot. The DP is from the DCWV Nana's Nursery Baby Boy stack. I used my BRAND NEW punch that my pal Jodi(kharmagirl) sent to me. She was so excited when she found an oval punch that is a step bigger than the larger oval punch that SU sells, and since she KNOWS how much I love my layers and my punches, she decided to pick one up and send it to me!! Thanks Jodi, you ROCK!! Both the sentiments(the other side says Hi There) are from the MFT Essential Sentiments. I added some white dots with my white gel pen. All the ribbon is from SU and so are the brads. Of course, you know me, I had to add a spiral clip up at the top. To break up the white, I added a row of piercing to the top and bottom. Well, that is it for me now!! Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!!

stamps-MFT presents Lavender, and Essential Sentiments

paper-Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Whisper White, and DCWV

ink- Black Stazon

tools-oval punches, SU markers, crystal effects, soft subtle brads, ribbon by SU, Cuttlebug, Oval Nesties

PS: Paper Pretties is having a sale, go check out the home page for more details!!

ETA!!! Jodi got the punch at AC Moore, but it is by EKSuccess. The silver picture on the top of the punch says that it is 1 1/4" x 2". Hope that helps someone!!

Its My Turn...

to host the Great Swaps Girls weekly challenge and yep, it is another sketch!! Anyone who knows me knows that I love sketch challenges the most, so here is my challenge for this week. Anyone can play along with, just be sure to include the keywords GSGC11 in your keywords on Splitcoast and leave a link here so we can all go check out your work!! My sample was made with the Pick a Petal stampset and for the flower center I covered a clear button with some DCWV glitter paper. I added some glitter to the polka dots on the flower petals with my Sakura Stardust glitter pen. I added some polka dotted ribbon from Offray to the bottom and then some black gingham and white grosgrain to a spiral clip at the top. The brads are the circle rhinestone brads sold by SU.
That is it for me now!! I sure hope you decide to play along!! Thanks and have a great day!

Playing Catch Up

Here are two more cards that I did to get caught up on my Great Swaps Girls challenges. The first one was last weeks Featured SwapperBecky Carrafa(beccabatgirl). Becky has a fabulous gallery and blog. I chose this card of hers to CASE. I changed the colors, added some ribbon and a layer, and added some ribbon. The color combo is also the Prettie Weekly Challenge over in the Paper Pretties forum. The color combo was Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Creamy Caramel and Whisper White. Normally I would use Prettie stamps for the Prettie challenges, but I wanted to keep Becky’s card as close to the original as possible.
This second card was this weeks Featured Swapper, Dawn McVey(dawnsing). She also has a fabulous gallery and blog. I chose this cardof hers to case and I changed the colors, flowers, paper and I added some brads. The flowers are from Michaels, and they are technically bride confetti. I kept seeing all these fabulous cards made with them, so I just had to have them!! Both of these cards are pretty self explanatory, so I am not gonna bore you with the details, but if you have any questions, just let me know!!
Stamps-Always and Short&Sweet
Paper-Creamy Carmel, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, and Whisper White
Ink-Creamy Carmel and Regal Rose
Tools-kraft taffeta, pink gingham, build a brads.

Stamps-Short&Sweet
Paper-Rose Red, Bashful Blue, Whisper White and Cutie Pie DSP
Ink-Black Stazon
Tools-confetti flowers, brads, blue satin ribbon

Featured Stamper-{Teneale}

Don’t you just love Sundays? It is one of my favorite days because I almost always get to spend the whole day stamping or atleast doing whatever it is that I want to do. I also love it because it is Featured Stamper day. I love logging on to SCS and seeing who is in the spotlight and getting permission to CASE one of their cards. This weeks FS is {Teneale}. Her gallery is a new one for me, so it was super fun getting to go through it and pick a card. I chose this card to CASE. I changed the colors, images, and I added layers and embellishments. I am terribly behind on Great Swaps Girls challenges, so I decided to combine one of those with this weeks FS challenge. The challenge was issued a week or more ago, and it was a beautiful inspiration photo. I took the colors and fruit images from the photo to make my card. I stamped the orange stamp(which I have now decided is not only an orange but a lemon and lime too-don’t know why I didn’t think of that before) in Summer Sun, Only Orange, and Green Galore and punched them out with my 1 ¼”circle punches. I layered them with their CS color and Basic Black. I added some grosgrain and gingham ribbon to the top corner, silver brads to the centers of the fruit and the bottom corner and pierced a line extending from the top and bottom. The sentiment is from the SU Sweet Serendipity set and to highlight it I pierced a row extending from both sides of the sentiment. That is it for me now, I am off to do a bunch more stamping!! Hopefully, I will have more to share soon!! Thanks for looking and have a great day!!
Stamps-Tart and Tangy and Sweet Serendipity
Paper-Only Orange, Summer Sun, Green Galore, Whisper White and Basic Black
Ink-Black Stazon, Only Orange, Summer Sun, and Green Galore
Tools-circle punches, silver brads, grosgrain ribbon, black gingham ribbon

Happy Birthday Charmaine!!

WOOHOO!!! It's Charmaine's Birthday!!! Won't you all join me in a festive round of Happy Birthday!!

Happy Birthday to you...

Happy Birthday to you...

Happy Birthday dear Charmaine....

Happy Birthday to YOU!!!! and many more....

Welcome to one part of Charmaines(charmwarm) virtual birthday party. Since none of us could be with her for this very special day, we decided to throw her a virtual birthday party. Can you guess what I was assigned to bring???? You guessed it, BALLOONS!!! I don't know about you, but I love balloons. In fact, a party isn't a party without a balloon or too, if you ask me!! Be sure to blurf around and see what the other Prettie Girls brought to the party!! Have a great birthday Charmaine, we love ya!!!

Christie http://www.littlepinkflowers.typepad.com/little_pink_flowers/

Carolina http://www.creativepad.typepad.com/

Danielle http://www.fatcatstamper.blogspot.com/

Colleen http://www.creative-expressions-papercrafting.blogspot.com/

Jana http://www.stampwithjana.blogspot.com/

Jackie http://www.stampingsister.blogspot.com/

Jackie P. http://www.thescallopededge.typepad.com//

Jodi http://www.stampingalatte.blogspot.com/

Julie http://www.stampinwithjulie.blogspot.com/

Donna http://www.stampamaniac.blogspot.com/

Michelle Rodgers http://www.michellerodgers.blogspot.com/

stamps-Flutterby by Paper Pretties, Partygirlabella, and Riveting by SU

paper-Whisper White, Real Red, Old Olive, Basic Grey Cupcake DSP

ink-Black Stazon

tools-SU markers, silver brads, ribbon, corner rounder

SHHH, I've Got A Secret!!

ETA!!! So, my secret is out of the bag!!! Jen del Muro has chosen me to be this months Sketch For You To Try guest designer!! WOOHOOO!! I fell so honored and blessed!! Thank you to all of you who have stopped by with well wishes, I totally appreciate them. If you are new to my blog, WELCOME and I hope you come back!!

Okay, so I have been keeping a little secret from you, and until I am sure it is revealed, I am keeping my mouth shut!! It has been the hardest thing too!! When I get secrets like this, I tell my DH Travis, but bless his heart, he just doesn’t get it. I might as well tell him that I will be turning purple at midnight and floating off to live in space with the other purple people. Honestly, I don’t think even THAT would get him enthused…..what can I say, his ability to pretend he understands me was NOT the reason I fell in love with him!!LOL! So, as soon as the secret is revealed, I will be back with my news!! Here is my card for today. This SUPER CUTE image is next months Stamp Of the Month Club stampfrom Paper Pretties. She won’t be available to the public until September, so if you have to have her, which lets face it, you do, GO SIGN UP NOW!!! Just be sure to tell them that me(or my blog) sent ya!! I stamped my Howdy Cowgirl on Very Vanilla and colored her in with my SU markers. I then sponged the edges of her(for that matter the whole card) and layered her with Close to Cocoa and Really Rust. The squares were punhed out with my SU square punches and the DP is from the SU pack Outlaw. The brads are so cool aren’t they!! They are from Making Memories. After it was all done, I wrapped some hemp twine around the card. I have to work for a few hours this morning, so I wanted this to already be posted, I will edit it as soon as my BIG WONDERFUL EXCITING NEWS is revealed today!! I am such a tease!! Since I have revealed my secret, be sure to blurf around and see what Jen, Amy, Carole, Shannan and Susan have done with this sketch!! Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!!
Stamps-Howdy Cowgirl by Paper Pretties
Paper-Very Vanilla, Close to Cocoa, Really Rust, and Outlaw DSP
Ink-Black Stazon and Close to Cocoa
Tools-hemp twine, MM brads, SU markers,

Happy 4th!!

Okay, so I have a lot to show you and not much time. I stayed up to late, slept to late, and now I am late!!LOL

First of all, I know we just made our announcement for the new Paper Pretties Guest Designers, but we just couldn't leave well enough alone!! We decided to promote Jackie Rakoski(babitoons) from guest designer to Jr. Design Team member!! Jackie has been around since the beginning of paper pretties and has really flourished as a designer. We love her enthusiasm and watching her grow as a designer, so we wanted her to stick around just a little while longer(we have letting go issues, what can we say)!! Taking her place will be none other than Jackie Pedro(strappystamper)!! If you haven't been to Jackies blog, you gotta go, she is FABULOUS!! Jackie was recently at our Stampin in Your Jammies party and when Christie did a little research on her, she knew that is who she wanted to take Jackies R's place. So, besides a little name confusion, we are THRILLED to have her here with us. Be sure to blurf by BOTH of their blogs and leave them a little Prettie Love!!

So, the real reason you are here is some cards right? RIGHT!! I made these two cards for the recent release party over at Paper Pretties. At the party, Charmaine issued a challenge every hour for us, and since you know I love a challenge, you know I had to play!! My first card was for the first challenge which was a sketch challenge. I started with some yummy DSP from My Minds Eye, and drew my colors from there. I chose Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky and Pumpkin Pie(yummy right). I colored two of the trees from the Soakin Up the Sun set and cut one whole one out and just some palm leaves on the other and added them for some dimension. I added three brown brads and then wrapped the whole card with some hemp twine. The sun, which was part of the sketch, was punched out and sponged heavily and then the end was cut off. I added a sentiment at the bottom using my word window punch. I just love the sentiments from this set!! I believe one of the comments I got was, "Calgon, take me away"-I think she totally got it!!LOL!! By the way, the scene was made with my reinkers and aqua painter. I saw someone doe this once where they just brushed it on and left some white, looks so much more realistic. I think I need a little more practice, but you get the idea. I also cut a slit to hide the bottom of the tree and then distressed the edges of the main card for a weathered look.

This next card was made for the second challenge which was to use your school colors. Unfortunately, mine were Maroon and White, so I had to add a little black to soften the blow of the Burgandy!! I stamped Off To School Sophia on watercolor paper and used my SU markers to color her in. I used my marker to only use which part of the sentiment that I wanted and cut it out and layered it with the SU tag punches. I used the SU star punches to make the stars, which I sanded the edges on and added some silver brads to. There is a ton on here and I used the distressed stripes folder on the burgandy panel for some texture. I guess it could have been worse. My school colors could have been orange and blue like Jodi's!!LOL!!

Well that is it for me! I am going to leave you with two pictures that give new meaning to the words HOLY CARP!! Anyone who ever talks to me, knows that is what I say to sensor myself on SCS and while commenting, honestly, I know I learned it from someone there, just don't remember who!! Anyway, my nephew Jake called yesterday and asked if I could receive picture texts. Well, my phone is a RELIC and I can't but I can retrieve them through the internet. Imagine my surprise when I opened up my text. HOLY CARP!! Yes people that is what it is. My nephew caught it in the lake behind my sisters house. My BIL had to get in the boat and paddle Jake around while he wore this sucker down. Russell says at one point it was pulling the boat!! Can you believe the size of that thing!!

Hope you all have a happy and safe 4th of July!! Be safe!! Be sure to come back tomorrow for some FUN STUFF!!

Purrrrfect Friends

Hello again everyone!! Here I am in my second week of being Melanie's guest designer and I am still IN LOVE with this stamp set!!! I have used all the main images from her new Cuddles and Hugs set now, but I still have a ton of unused sentiments! She really gives you the most for your money!! I used this super cute image of the two kitties holding tails, aren't they sweet!!! I colored them in with my SU markers and aquapainter. I layered them with Close to Cocoa and So Saffron which were both cut out using my Nesties. I wanted it to look like a painting on a wall, so I used some Honey Pie pby Cosmo Cricket paper at the top and then put a piece of Close to Cocoa at the bottom that had been run through my Cuttlebug with the rough stripes folder. I added some silver brads in the corners, at the top, and at the last minute I decided to add some photo corners, which I am still not sure about, but I really love them so I left them! And you all know, I love my ribbon, so I put some on a spiral clip and around the center of the card. That is all for me for now!! Thanks so much for stopping by and a HUGE thanks to you Melanie for making me your Guest Designer, I am still so HONORED!!

Have a great day!!

stamps-Cuddles and Hugs

paper-Close To Cocoa, So Saffron, Very Vanilla, watercolor and Cosmo Cricket Honey Pie

ink-Black Stazon

tools-silver brad, SU markers, photo corners punch, aqua painter, Cuttlebug, nesties, rough stripes folder, spiral clip, all ribbon from SU