I've Got Nothing......

Okay, so I am officially in a funk...I think I hid it well til now, but seriously, if you knew how painful this card was for me today, you would be whining too. I started this MONSTERpiece at 11am and am just now done(4:30pm). How is that for a creative process. The harder I try to make a card, the more NOTHING comes to me.... she who has deadlines cannot have NOTHING!! I tried originally to make a shaker card using coffee, but it really wasn't that good, so I threw it away. Unfortunately, I had coffee on my mind by then, so I couldn't think of anything else to do for the challenge(btw, the Ways To Use It challenge was to use something from your kitchen cabinet). After thinking and thinking, I finally decided to die my twill tape with coffee. So once it was dark enough, I had to wait for it to dry. By the time it was dry, I was so sick of this card that I just threw it together. On another note, yes, I am aware that it isn't that bad, even my DH says so, but I think the process just wore me out and now I am to the point that I won't be happy with anything that I do. So am I alone here or what??? Please, someone tell me that this has happened to you...please??

Thanks for stopping by and listening to my rant, hope you have a fabulous day!!

BoooHoooHOOO

Well everyone, it is sad but true...this is my last week as Melanie's guest designer. I know, I am sad too!! hehe..... I made my card using the super cute cuddling lions image from Melanie's new set Cuddles and Hugs. I stamped it on watercolor paper and colored it in with my SU markers. I used a bunch of different ribbons from SU, included my favorite, the retired black organdy. I added three black brads in the top corner and then stamped my sentiment in the bottom corner. To accent the sentiment, I pierced a line underneath of it. The main image was cut out using my circle Nestabilities. Be sure to check out the card that I made for Melanie's blog too!! That is it for me now, I am off to pout about my term being over....Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!! And a great big thanks to Melanie for making me her guest designer!!! Can't wait to see what her new stamp set will be on the 24th, and I can't wait to see what her new guest designer will have in store for us!! Big Hugs Melanie!!

stamps-Cuddles and Hugs

paper-watercolors, So Saffron, Basic Black, Very Vanilla

ink-Black Stazon

tools-SU markers, spiral clip, black brads, ribbon, Cuttlebug and circle Nestabilities

New In Colors

I almost forgot all about today's sketch challenge....can you believe it!! My new in colors from Stampin Up got delivered yesterday, so I wanted to play around with them. I stamped my flower from Both Way Blossoms and colored it in using my aqua painter and ink pads. I cut it and all the layers out with my rectangle Nestabilities. The sentiment is a rub on from the Love and Happiness set. I added some pink satin ribbon and a spiral clip with some black gingham on it and silver brads in all the corners. I am not in love with the new in colors yet, but hopefully I get there. To me, they are kind of a disappointment after the last two sets. Am I alone?

Well, that is it for me for today!! Lots of blurfing and commenting to do!! Have a great day and thanks for coming by!!

stamps-Both Way Blossoms

paper-Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss, Basic Black and Whisper White
ink-Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss, Black Stazon

tools-rub ons, black gingham, pink satin, silver brads, aqua painter, spiral clip, Cuttlebug, Nesties

A Challenge and some RAK's

This week it was my turn to pick the Great Swaps Girls Featured Swapper. I chose Arin Burdo(arinstamps). Her gallery is fabulous and her coloring is AWESOME!! I chose this card of hers to CASE. I changed the images, sentiment, ribbon, eliminated the stitching and colors. I also added three brads up in the top corner. This was my first time using the Out on a Limb stamp set from Papertrey. I really love it!! I stamped the branches and leaves with Black Stazon and colored the leaves in with my SU markers(Always Artichoke). After stamping and coloring and adding the sentiment, I went over the whole thing with the Linen BG stamp using Creamy Carmel. Then I distressed all the edges. This card was super simple, but I think it is very elegant.
stamps-PTI Out on a Limb and Linen
paper-Basic Black, Kraft, Whisper White and Always Artichoke
ink-Black Stazon and Creamy Caramel
tools-kraft taffeta, marker, edge distresser


Here are some of my RAK's I have been sent. The first came to me from Nikky(Butterflyears). You should see this card in real life, there are so many layers on the main image. Thanks Nikky, it's gorgeous!!






This second one came from Jackie Pedro. I LOVE Jackie's work and this card is no exception. It is even more amazing in person. She also sent some brads and ribbon along with it...how awesome is that!! Thanks Jackie, I love it!








Here are some goodies I got from Jana the other day!! She sent me a Basic Grey Stella Ruby paper pack, some button blossoms, YUMMY ribbon, and a super cute stamp!! Thanks Jana, you rock!

Prettie Wednesday- Trash to Treasure

Welcome to Prettie Wednesday!!! Two weeks ago Julie challenged us to make a trash to treasure card using something that would normally be trash. I completely drew a blank!! After tossing around many ideas, I had pretty much given up when my new My Favorite Things stamps came. As I sat there transferring them to CD cases, I remembered a card I had gotten at the Southern Illinois Shoebox Swap. I decided to reuse the bag that the stamps came in(you know-the plastic package) to make my card. I don't know if this is considered a shaker card, but it has sand in the bottom of it and then I colored and cut out the tree from Soakin' Up The Sun, which is available at the Paper Pretties store. I was gonna put Sophia in with the sand and the tree, but I didn't steal enough sand from my cousins sandbox, so I decided to put her on the outside. The top panel was made with my corner rounder, since my new scallop punch had not yet arrived. I put some hemp twine through it and wrapped it around several times. I then sponged a little white ink and sanded the panel to make it look a little weathered. The paper is some that I picked up at the new scrapbook store I found close to my home. They don't have a lot of stamps, but they have a TON of paper and accessories, SO FUN!! My Sophia and palm tree were colored with my SU markers and aqua painter. This card gets to live here with me until Jana gets moved back home, yayyy!! Next weeks challenge was issued by Charmaine, and is sure to hurt my brain-we are only allowed one embellishment, the HORROR!! This weeks challenger is Jana and I can't wait to see what she has cooked up for us!! Be sure to blurf around and check out what the other Pretties have been up to, and as always, if you wanna play along, just leave us a link so we can check out your goodies!!

stamps-Soakin' Up the Sun by Paper Pretties

paper-Ruby Red, More Mustard, Whisper White and Karen Foster DP

ink-Black Stazon and White Craft

tools-hemp twine, white brads, corner rounder, SU markers, aqua painter, sand and plastic bag

Off To Work!!

So, I am totally gonna make myself late for work...again!! This is my card for the color challenge on SCS today!! I used my Off to School Sophia stamp and paper pieced her dress. The rest was colored in with markers. The flowers are prima sprites and all the yummy button brads came from the Prettie Store(but they are by Making Memories). I used the word window punch to make my sentiment and the photo corners punch to add to the corner. The ribbon is the SU Wild Wasabi striped ribbon and the polka dots is a some I got from Jody Morrow!! Off to work, may tweak this a little later to make it sound less like I was in a huge hurry!!LOL!! Have a great day!! Don't forget Paper Pretties is having sale, run and check it out!!

I'm Back!!

So, some of you noticed, but I actually took the day off from blogging yesterday to spend some much needed alone time with my DH. He has two business trips this week, and I knew I wouldn’t get to see him much so we spent the day laying around, watching TV, picking sweet corn and black berries, and making dinner together. It was the first time we have spent a whole day together in longer than I can remember and it was awesome!! So today, I wanted to jump right back into it, but I had to work, and then after work, I still couldn’t get my mojo going. I tried everything I could think of and came up with nothing. When I finally got inspired, it was for a card that I can’t even show you until Wednesday…sigh!! So here I sat, trying to figure out what to do, and then the mail came!! In today’s mail was a package full of goodies from my pal Jana. Silly me forgot to take a photo of it, but as she will probably notice, I already used some of the yummy Basic Grey Stella Ruby paper. I will try to add a picture later, if I remember(along with all the RAK’s I have neglected to post-whoops!!)!! Well to make a long story short, seeing this yummy paper got me jumpstarted and I finally got to make my card for today’s My Favorite Things sketch challengeas well as the SCS Technique Lovers challenge. The challenge was to use the grid technique..…it was my first time, obviously. Okay, let’s just say I tried. HUMOR ME PEOPLE!!! I have been reluctant to get a Scor Pal or Scor It, and I just need to bite the bullet and get one because this technique would be SO MUCH EASIER with it!!! LOL!! I also didn’t follow the rules exactly, but the grid is there, don’t ya see it? I stamped my image first and colored it with my….wait for it…..COPICS!!! Okay, so I am still not completely convinced that I NEED them, but I had to buy a few just to try. I have had them forever and finally just decided to color with them and see what I think….jury is still out, but they do cover fabulously!! I cut the image out in the shape of a heart after making my grid pattern(which I stamped the Sanded SU background on in Creamy Carmel) and layered it with Rose Red and Chocolate Chip-by far one of my favorite combos!! I sponged and sanded the edges just to rough it up a bit-as you can see, I struggle with the vintage look a tiny bit!! LOL!! The gorgeous flower was a present from my pal Jodi, and I thought matched perfectly with my colors and paper. So, the actual sketch that Cindy used was an oval where the bow is and a circle where the flower is, but I think it works, don’t you….hey, she forgave me last week!!! Must eat something, so I am done for now, but I will be back with some RAK goodies that I received in the last week……or two…
Stamps-Be Calm-MFT &Sanded-SU
Paper- Rose Red, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, watercolor, and Basic Grey
Ink-Momento Tuxedo Black
Tools-Copics(R59, R85,G21,B45), chocolate ribbon, prima, brads, flower brad

Another SFYTT

Here we are in my second week and I am STILL super excited that Jen del Muro picked me to be her Sketch For You To Try guest designer. I mean, seriously, what a HUGE honor!!! This weeks sketch is just as fabulous as last weeks, but man did it kick my butt!! I did my original card, which can only be viewed on Jen's blog, but I had yet to do another one for my blog. I had planned on stamping yesterday, but instead I went to my sister's and held my nephew for 6hrs while she helped her stepson study(long story). Jared was an angel, except when I tried to lay him down, until I left and then apparently he missed me so bad he was fussy for hours, at least, that is what I think happened!!LOL!! Just in case you are wondering, he is doing fine, but he definitely has colic, poor kid!! Anyway, I planned on stamping today, but I had a HORRIBLE morning, so I decided not to, and then at 10pm decided that I just needed to suck it up and make a card, stamping is my therapy anyway right? Plus, Jared is coming here to spend a few hours with me tomorrow while my sister and her husband do some much needed shopping and bonding time. Times like this are rough and if you don't take care of your relationship, it can fall apart. At least, that is MY theory, do you agree? Blah Blah, that's totally not why you are here!! SOOOO, I know I used this stamp on last weeks SFYTT card, but seriously, I found this awesome paper by Moxie, and I HAD to use it!! It is double sided paper that I found at my local scrapbook store(that I JUST found) and is super duper yummy!! Howdy Cowgirl- Sophia is the next stamp of the month club release, so you better get to signing up, ya hear!! Just be sure to let Christie know on your registration form that I sent ya!! Anywayyyyssss, I colored my Sophia in with my SU markers and then cut her out with my circle nesties. The paper was also cut out with the Nesties, but then I cut of part of it to finish my circle. The ribbon is chocolate taffeta and pomegranate stitched ribbon(closest to Rose Red that I had) and the brads are SU silver brads. I punched holes to put the ribbon through so it didn't have to go around the scallops. I sponged all the edges and added my sentiment which came from the SU All Holidays set. Well, that is all for me for now!! Be sure to go around and see what Jen, Amy, Carole, Shannan and Susan have done with this amazing sketch!!
Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a great day! Be sure to tell the people you love how you feel before you say goodbye, you never know what may happen!!
And don't forget, Paper Pretties is having a sale, run run run!!
stamps-Howdy Cowgirl and SU All Holidays and Sanded
paper-Chocolate Chip, Rose Red, Whisper White and Moxie
ink-Black Stazon and Chocolate Chip
tools-SU markers, Cuttlebug, Nesties, silver brads, chocolate taffeta, pomegranate ribbon

Happy Day

I am totally gonna be late for work, so forgive this super fast post!! I decided at the last minute to do the Inspiration challenge on SCS. They were pictures of gorgeous cakes, and I loved the soft colors. I decided to use my Simply Special image from Paper Pretties. I colored it in with my SU markers and cut it out with my nesties. I added some spiral clips, some yummy dp, a row of brads, and the sentiment which came from the SU Love and Happiness rub ons. This card is fairly simple, which is good because I have had a rather trying last couple of days. I am off to work!! I will add links and details later!! Thanks for looking!!
stamps-Simply Special by Paper Pretties
paper-Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, whisper White and DP
ink-Black Stazon
tools-Su markers, ribbon, rub ons, spiral clips, brads, Cuttlebug and Nesties

Big KISSSESSSSSS

Hello everyone, welcome to my third week of being a guest designer for the fabulous Melanie Muenchinger!! I am really in love with her stamps, and her new set Cuddles and Hugs is no exception!! I just love all the lovely cuddly images in it, and yes, I am totally including the snakes in that!! Now, as I have said before, snakes and I,well, we don't get along, but I would totally make an exception for these super sweet and cuddly snakes!! The main image was stamped on Whisper White with Black Stazon and colored in using my SU ink pads and aqua painter. The shadow was done with Soft Sky. The layers and image were cut out with my circle Nestabilities. I wanted to try doing a frame of baubbles, like Jen does, so I cut the first layer out a little bigger than the main image panel and attached my Bella Baubles with glue dots. Isn't it cool. I made the scallops with my SU corner rounder(man I can't wait for my punch to get here)and layered it with some DP from the Basic Grey Two Scoops line. The ribbons and brads are from SU and the sentiment was made by using my two oval punches by SU!! That is it for me now!! Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!
stamps-Cuddles&Hugs
ink-Black Stazon, Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, Wild Wasabi

paper-Whisper White, Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, Wild Wasabi, and Basic Grey Two Scoops

tools-corner rounder, silver brads, baubbles, aqua painter, stitched ribbon, Cuttlebug, circle nesties, oval punches