Prettie Tuesday

So sorry for the late post today, I had my first day of New Employee Training for the USPS today. I was joking with my friend Jodi telling her that I could officially "go postal" now!!LOL!! Before you ask, no I don't get a discount, but man wouldn't that be nice!! I made this card for today's color challenge, which was to use Chocolate Chip, Sage Shadow, and Very Vanilla. I stamped my image from the Paper Pretties set Simply Special in Black Stazon on Very Vanilla. I colored it in with my SU markers and went over it with an aqua painter to blend it. Then down the sides of the base I put three sage eyelets on each side and threaded some vanilla taffeta ribbon and put a piece of chocolate satin ribbon around the center. That is all for me now, I think I have over 100 emails to sort through, just from today!! Thanks for stopping by and have a great day(or night, whichever your case may be!!).

stamps- Simply Special and sentiment from the SU Fresh Cuts set

paper-Chocolate Chip, Sage Shadow, Very Vanilla, and Enchante DSP

ink-Black Stazon and Chocolate Chip

tools-sage eyelets, vanilla taffeta, chocolate satin, oval nesties, SU markers and aqua painter

Fresh Cuts

Today’s Technique Lover’s Challengewas to combine three past challenges, one TLC, one sketch, and one color. The catch was you had to pick from the first ten challenges ever posted. I gotta tell you, and I know some of you don’t believe me, but this REALLY kicked my butt. My final card really came together fast, but the process of getting there STUNK!!! At first I picked a sketch, color, and technique that I had never done, and found the most challenging- REALLY BAD IDEA!!! Note to self: if you already don’t like it just by looking at it, don’t pick it, it just won’t work!! I finally settled on CC06, SC02, and TLC06. The color challenge was to use Rose Red and Chocolate Chip-yummy combo(if I do say so myself). The technique I picked was to do spotlighting, something I am ashamed to say that in my 6+ years of stamping I have never done before. Don’t ask, I don’t know why!! I stamped the main image stamp from the SU sneak peek set, Fresh Cuts, twice with Chocolate Chip onto Whisper White. I punched out just the flower part and colored it with my SU markers and aqua painter. The rest is pretty easy, you know, big ribbon, brads everywhere, some sponging- my normal!! Hopefully no one else had this same idea or there is gonna be a fight!! Just know, I DID not look at the gallery before I started. That is one of my rules, because I would hate to be influenced subconsciously by someone else’s design. That’s it for now, I will be back later with something else, if I recover from this one!! Have a great day!! Thanks for stopping by!!
Stamps-Fresh Cuts
Paper- Rose Red CS and DSP, Whisper White, and Chocolate Chip
Ink-Chocolate Chip
Tools-Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon, Silver Brads, circle punches, SU markers, aqua painter

MFT Monday

Since Monday is the day that Cindy Haffner posts the My Favorite Things sketch challenge, I am deeming it MFT Monday on my blog(that is, if I get to do the sketch, hehe). Today's sketch is fabulous, as they always are, and here is my card for it. I wanted to make a card to match the bag I posted last week(I feel a gift set coming on), so I used the Punny Farm set for my images. I used watercolor paper, Black Stazon, and my SU markers(no aqua painter today). I used my Nestabilities to cut out the circles and sponged the edges of everything with Ballet Blue and Old Olive. The grass stamp is from the It's a Jungle Out There. I added a bunch of Primas and silver brads where I thought they needed it. Cindy Haffner, who now has a blog-yippeee!!, always has the prettiest flowers on her cards, so she was my inspiration. Be sure to check out the gallery for this challenge, there are some fantastic cards in there!! Hope you are all having a wonderful Monday, remember to be thankful to our Veteran's today, it's not all about BBQ's(although, BBQ does sound good!!). Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!! I am off to figure out what to do for the Technique Lover's Challenge, it's a good one!!
stamps-Punny Farm and It's a Jungle Out There
paper- Cameo Coral, Close To Cocoa, Old Olive, watercolor and Linen Prints DSP
ink-Black Stazon, Ballet Blue and Old Olive
tools-silver brads, Primas, SU markers, cream grosgrain, Cuttlebug, Nestabilities

Raks and Rewards

I have received this super cute award from two of my blogging buddies Silke(sparklegirl) and Jackie(strappystamper). I LOVE their work, so to get this award from them is just THRILLING!! I am supposed to give it to people that I get creative inspiration from, but the list is huge, so I tried really hard to narrow it down to a few(or more), but just know, I check over 100blogs, and you all inspire me!! So I am giving this award to:

Jodi(kharmagirl)-she is my rock!!

Laura(scrapnextras)-her talent is limitless!!

Lee(luvlee)-who is so supportive and as addicted to bling as I am!!

Melanie(mel mel)- who's talent and generosity astounds me!!

Laura(luv'n life n vegas)-she is AMAZING!!

Carole(trucarma)-whose use of color quite frankly scares me, but she is so good at it, and hilarious!!

Susan(susiestampsalot)-hello?? Have you seen the diaper cake and pooper scooper??enough said

Becky(tggrfriend)-super sweet and super creative, can't wait to stamp with her again!!

Chat(nitestamper)-she is so awesome, and so sweet!! I envy her stamping ability!!

Dawn(treasureoiler)-way beyond talented and super sweet to boot!!

Carolina(craftycaro)-She has a heart of gold, and make some of the coolest altered items eva!!

and last but not least, the Prettie Girls, who rock my world!!

Speaking of Prettie Girls, I got this super cute card in the mail from Danielle the other day. It is from our Wednesday challenge, and I {heart} it!! Thanks so much Danielle!! Okay, I promise, no more posts today(I think this is #6 in two days, a little much, LOL!!)!! Thanks for stopping by again and have a great day!!

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