Whoaaaa!!

Have you SEEN the Inspiration challenge for today(tomorrow)??? The challenge is to be inspired by a website called Cake Nouveau, and I am telling you, when I clicked on the link my JAW hit the desk..these cakes are UNREAL!! I needed to make a card for my niece who's birthday is tomorrow, so I decided to use this challenge as well as the MFT sketch to get er' done. She is having a cowgirl karaoke party(I am planning on being heavily medicated), so I wanted to make her a cowgirl card to go along with the theme. When I saw this cake, it reminded me of my Ride Em' Cowgirl set from My Favorite Things, so I decided to use it. I stamped it with Momento Tuxedo Black and colored it with my SU markers. I then layered it with Rose Red, Close To Cocoa and Whisper White. The edges were sponged to soften them and I did some piercing. The background is some Close To Cocoa embossed with my paisley embossing folder and then I used the SU scalloped edge punch on it. I added the sentiment( from You Take The Cake) with some Stylized Silver hardware. The ribbons are all from SU, but I think the Close To Cocoa is retired. Well, I better go, I have been cleaning and reorganizing my stamp room(long story), and I still need to make another card before I go to bed!! Thanks for stopping by!!

It's A Celebration!!

So, if you haven't already heard about Melanie Muenchinger's Blogaversary Extravaganza, where have you been??LOL!!! Here are some details!!

"Please go help Melanie Muenchinger celebrate a year of blogging and stamp designing over at her blog “Hands, Head and Heart”. Melanie and her guest designers will be sharing cards and projects from all her sets released through Gina K Designs this past year and prizes will be up for grabs every day! Sponsors include, Gina K Designs, My Favorite Things, Scor-pal, Paper Temptress, and Melanie herself, who is donating, among other goodies, a brand new box of Copic Ciaos! There will be also be challenges, contests, and a Who’s Who “Where are the Now?” on several of her past contest winners and guest designers! Come join in the fun and help spread the word, see you there!"

Sounds AWESOME right?? I thought so too!! So, if you don't remember, I was one of Melanie's very first Guest Designers, and I am still to this day HONORED to have been given the chance to work with her for an entire month!! Not only that, I got to room with her in Texas when I went there for the Arlington Shoebox Swap, which more fun than you can even imagine...completely exhausting, but fun!!

I made this card awhile back, but I have never shared it here. It is super special to me, so I have no clue why I haven't but never the less, here it is!! This is the card that I made for my sister to send out as her birth announcements. It is pretty simple, but like I said, it was super special to me. I had to go with something simple and easy(because I made 70 of them), so I decided to use Lauren Meader's Baby Onesie tutorial. I used Georgia Pacific White cardstock for the base. I stamped my frog's from Just So Hoppy with Black Stazon ink and then colored them in with my SU markers. After coloring the frogs, I ran the base through my Cuttlebug with the Swiss Dots folder. Using her tutorial, I added the scallops on the neck and legs. The balloons were stamped on Bashful Blue DSP and then cut out and glued on. Easy Peasy right!! After making 70 of these, I now have carpel tunnels and I had to replace my circle punches...nice.

Well, that is it for me now!! Be sure to check out the other designers that are helping out as well as Miss Melanie herself!!

Melanie Muenchinger

Cindy Lawrence

Donna Baker

Prettie Wednesday- ATC/ATC Card

So, two weeks ago, Jackie P.(who is a new Verve Diva, SCORE!!!) challenged the Prettie Girls to make an ATC and then make it into a card. I gotta say, I am not a big fan of ATC's, I guess I don't really "get" them..but it was kinda fun!! Anywho, I used my Basic Grey Sugared DP along with my Sweets For the Sweet stamp set(from Paper Pretties) to make my card. I stamped the muffin tin image on Whisper White and colored it with my SU markers. I then layered it with Pink Pirouette and Chocolate Chip. The ribbons are from SU, as well as the felt flower and button. My brads are just some random ones I had in my stash(sorry, don't remember who makes them). Since I started this card at 9, took me til 11 to make, started posting at 12:40 and am just now(2pm) getting back to it(blame Jared, it is all his fault, but I still LOVE him), I am gonna go!! Be sure to blurf around and check out what all the other Pretties are up to!!! I am PRETTIE sure my girl Julie has some CANDY to give away, so make sure you go there!!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!

Julie Masse

Charmaine Ikach

Jillian Winters

Danielle Lounds

Jodi Collins

Jackie Rakoski

Jackie Pedro

Jessica Diedrich

Now THAT'S a Challenge..

Seriously, have you SEEN the color challenge for today on Splitcoast....crazy!!! I think it is the Handsome Hunter that does it in for me, but since I am a trooper(not really, but let's pretend), I went for it!! Usually I refuse to look at the challenge gallery before I start working...I would hate it if I was ever influenced unknowingly(kwim), but I had to take a peek to see if anyone had even braved this one. Gotta tell ya, the gallery was pretty awesome, so I decided to give it a go!! When I saw the combo this morning, this rose was the first stamp that I thought of and the paper from Parisian Summer(SU) was the second. My flower comes from the Gina K. Designs stamp set, A Year of Flowers. It was designed by my friend Melanie and it is GORGEOUS. I stamped the flower on Gina K. Pure Luxury 120lb card stock with my Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad. I then used my aqua painter and Blah-vo Burgundy re-inker to color it. The leaves were done with my marker....and look weird in this photo...but trust me, they look well blended in person(don't you hate that). I used my Oval Nesties to cut out the oval layers and emboss them. I then stamped the stem directly on the white...all the other pieces were colored and cut out then added on. I did some piercing, added some grosgrain ribbon on a spiral clip and added it to the base. For the base, both DP's are from the Parisian Summer DSP, and I connected them with some Saffron Poly Twill and some retired Hunter Organdy from SU. A few brads, some piercing, and a sentiment punched out with my SU oval punches and it was done!! That is it for me now..gotta get back to the stamp table!!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!

It Doesn't Get Easier Than This!!

So, have you seen this months Stamp of the Month from Paper Pretties. I have only shown her on my blog one time..which is almost shameful..but my best project(or most creative at the very least) with her is here now for your viewing pleasure!!! This months SOTM was called Sending You Love. It will be released to the public on the first but we WILL NOT be having a party or Cutie Pie contest this month...my Pretties need a little break, kwim!!! Anywho...She will be released on the 1st and I couldn't be more excited because I haven't been able to show this project til now!! Awesome right!!! To heck with those store bought Valentine's, who needs em right!! A few sheets of cardstock, some ink, coloring tools, and a stamp and you have the ability to make your own Valentines...genius right?? I first made this project for the Stampin In Your Jammies party last month, to make a project for kids. What could be better than letting your little girl help you color her own Valentines?? Nothing in my book!!!

I am super tired and trying to post this, so I will come back later with details!! Be sure to check out the Stamp of the Month Club at Paper Pretties...this month's stamp is Gliding By and she is GORGEOUS!!

Mojo Monday

I can't even begin to tell you the last time I actually got a Mojo Monday sketch done on Monday, but today is the day people...I DID IT!! Now, to be honest, this card should have never been made...I have WAY more "high priority" stuff to do, but seriously...awesome sketch, awesome stamps, awesome colors, SEVERE CUPCAKE CRAVING...what can you expect when you combine all those things together??? Now not to sound like Jan Tink(my GOSH is that woman funny!! and talented to boot)...but seriously, isn't this card GORGEOUS???!!! Okay, maybe gorgeous is stretching it a hair, but I think it's gorgeous and that's all that should matter.......here it is, wait for it...yes, .....I love myself, LOL!!!

Okay, enough fooling around..here is my card!! I made it using the Verve Stamps set, Cupcake Affair(which is on sale people so run, don't walk...). I followed today's, yayy me, Mojo Monday sketch to create this card. The DP is from the SU Bella Rose DSP as well as the Chocolate Chip Patterns DSP. I paired it with Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red and Pink Pirouette. The cupcake was colored with a combination of SU markers, re-inkers, and a blender pen. I then outlined the whole thing with my Cool Grey No. 3 copic and covered the icing with Crystal Effects. To add some extra blinginess(yep, it's a word...ask me, I'll tell ya again), I placed pearls in the centers of the flowers as well as the corners of the card. To finish it off, I added some Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip Taffeta and Riding Hood Red Taffeta ribbon, a spiral clip and it was done!!

Well, I think I have am done patting myself on the back...now to pat my sister on hers!! Here is some baby eye candy...you know you crave it!! By the way, for those of you new here...this is my nephew Jared and his best friend, my dog Sophie...too cute!!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!

I love the last picture...could you tell he had had enough of the flashin by then, LOL!!! I call it his " NOW LOOK HERE WOMAN" picture...LOL!

FS99 Stampfilled Dreams...

Today's Featured Stamper was the super talented Barb Schram(stampfilleddreams). I really enjoyed going through her gallery, and I subscribe to her blog through my google reader, so I get to see what she is up to all the time!! I chose this card to CASE, and I have to tell you...it kicked my buttttttttt.... Seriously, I started it LAST NIGHT and just now got done with it!! Sad part is the fact that it turned out NOTHING like I wanted it to...I don't know where I went wrong. Anywho, since it took me HOURS to create, I am posting it..whether I like it or not(before you yell at me, as you all always do, I do like it, I just don't LOVE it, kwim)!! I love this stamp set from There She Goes called Butterfly Happiness. It is full of gorgeous images and fabulous sayings...I just couldn't get them to work for me. I started by stamping the vine branch thingy in Chocolate Chip ink and then I did a shadow with Creamy Carmel. The butterfly was stamped with Pale Plum and Chocolate Chip. My DP is from the retired Enchante DSP from SU. On the Chocolate Chip layer, I stamped my Canvas background with Chocolate Chip ink. The brads are from SU, I did a lot of piercing, used some retired cream organdy from SU, and added a little clip to the sentiment and it was done.

Well, that is it for me now!! Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!

Raspberry Tart DSP=YUMMYYYY!!

Okay, so I am OFFICIALLY in LOVE with this paper, and I think I MAY have a new favorite color combo!! I had to go out and run some errands with DH, but while I was gone, all I could think about was getting home and stamping more with this yummy paper and combo. A few weeks ago, I won a blog candy giveaway from my friend, Julie Lacey. She sent me a few of her favorite things, which happen to be MY favorite things, so it was DEFINITELY a win/win!! I got some YUMMY May Arts ribbon, pearls, and a handful of stamped images from Stampin' Bella. I actually own this particular Bella, but shamefully, she has never seen ink. Since Julie's images were laying on my desk, I decided to go ahead and use the ones she sent me!! I started by coloring my LatteBella with my SU markers and then outlined it with a Cool Grey Copic No. 3 marker. I have been throwing around the idea of getting copics, and actually got enough money from friends and family for Christmas to get a BUNCH of them, but I am so fickle about it...do I need them..do I HAVE to have them??? Jury is still out, but let me tell you, I am VERY tempted!! Anywho...I colored her and then layered her with Rose Red CS. Using the SCS sketch from this week, I adhered my panels to a piece of Whisper White that had been run through my Cuttlebug with the Paisley folder. I decided to also use this card for the Holiday Extravaganza Challenge number 4, which was to use one piece of DP, two main colors and a neutral, and at least 3 punches. Since I had to use three punches, I added the sentiment panel..but after investigating the Sketch Challenge gallery, I decided that I wasn't the only one, so no worries. I also saw at the last minute that for the HEC04, we were supposed to use ribbon and no other embellishments...so.....pay no attention to the brads in the corner...hehehe.(thing Wizard of Oz..I know, I am TOTALLY lame)!!

While looking at the Holiday challenges, I saw that challenge number three was to make a "scrap-ling". Now, I have never heard of one before, but I decided that I would TRY to make one...good grief, you don't realize how small 1 1/4ins is until you try to work with it. I decided to use the same colors, ribbon, and stamps as my Lattebella card and the fabulous card I posted earlier. I don't know what these are supposed to be used for, but I thought I would use it as a book mark to send to my friend who just had a birthday today...hmmm, wonder who THAT could be???LOL!! Luv ya Jodi!! I didn't do anything special on this, except for cut out the flowers and glue them on...easy peasy!! It was a GREAT way to get rid of scraps though!!

Well, that is it for me for right now..off to work on the Featured Stamper challenge...I am on a roll baby!!!

Yayy, New GOODIES!!

I wasn't going to pre-order any of the new SU sets, but the thought of new stuff at a discount APPEALED to me, so I broke down and placed an order!! For my card today, I used the soon to be released set, Sweet Stems and some YUMMY Raspberry Tart DSP. My sketch is from Jen del Muro's Sketch For You To Try. I also used the second Holiday Extravaganza challenge(to use scallops, a square card, no glitter, ribbon, and a three word sentiment) and today's Inspiration Challenge. I chose this chair from the Mackensie Childs store...GOOD LORD DID YOU SEE THE PRICE ON THAT THING!!!!! YIKES!!! Can you imagine all the stamping supplies you could buy with that much money...much wiser investment if you ask me, LOL!! Anyway, I stamped the stems with Black Stazon on Whisper White and colored them in with my SU markers. The outline was done with my Cool Grey Copic marker No. 3. I cut the scalloped Cameo Coral layer with my long rectangle Nestabilities. For the stems, I used a blender pen and my Kiwi Kiss ink pad to color them. Then I stamped and colored extra of the flowers and layered them on the big flowers. To accent the center of the flowers, I added some silver brads from SU. The sentiment is one of my FAVORITES from the SU set, Absolutely Fabulous. I did some piercing and it was done!! My mojo is SLOWLY coming back....at least I only needed 3 challenges to get this card going...sheeeshhh!!

Thanks for stopping by and have a GREAT DAY!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JODI!!

So, today is Jodi(kharmagirls) Birthday and we Pretties are celebrating in STYLE!! If you are just now hearing about our birthday party blog hop for Jodi(yep, that's what this is), then head on over to Christie's blog to get started!! If you know Jodi at all, you would know that she has a serious Starbucks addiction...that girl loves her lattes, hence the coffee theme!! I am suffering from serious stamper's block(yep, it's true), so I decided to use a few challenges to try to get me in the stamping spirit!! I chose the Holiday Challenge Extravaganza challenge number one, to be inspired by a onesie from Old Navy. I chose the colors to be inspired by. Next, I used Taylor's Cupcake Sketch challenge(but I did change the sentiment a little). Then I decided to go with Friday's Limited Supplies challenge(to use no Christmas stamps, images, papers, colors...no Christmas). And Finally(literally, FINALLY), I made this card for this past Wednesday's Put a Hole In It Prettie Wednesday Challenge. This is the first time in the history of the challenges that I have been late, and I truly apologize for it...I have no real excuse, cause I had plenty of warning, it just didn't happen and for that, I am sorry girls(never again though, the guilt is KILLING me)!!

Anyway, I started with one of my FAVORITE Prettie Stamps(it is after all the only reason why I went to the Paper Pretties SIYJ party in the first place, that and my friend Lesa(luv ya babe)), Look Who's Perky. I stamped the cup images on Kraft Cardstock and colored them with my SU markers. The outline was done with my Going Gray marker, and the steam was colored with my white gel pen, Creamy Carmel marker, and a glitter pen(Sakura). The DP is from the SU Patterns DP(hostess level one reward). I cut the image and it's layer out with my Label One dies and them pierced a border. The ribbon is from SU and so are the brads( the clips are from Making Memories). For my sentiment, I cut a scallop circle out of Chocolate Chip, then a 1 3/8ths out of Night of Navy. I then punched a hole through the entire card front. The sentiment is from the Paper Pretties set, Bugs and Fishes, and was stamped on Whisper White. I then lined the holes up and glued it to the card base. The card front is popped up to give it some depth. With all that said, I am not thrilled with this card, so Jodi, after work tomorrow, I am TOTALLY going to redeem myself(so I say)!!! Just know that it took half a pot of coffee to keep me awake and FOUR challenges to get motivated....yeoooowwwww!!

Thanks for stopping by...now for the rest of the hop!!! This is "technically" your last stop...next, head on over to Jodi's blog to tell her HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Thanks for stopping by...have a great day!!!(what are you still doing here, go wish her well already......)