Can You Believe It!!

Okay, picture this. My nieces are all here(4 under the age of 7) and I am desperately trying to get caught up from whatever mayhem my life was in that week. It was a Monday night, and it was stormy. The girls are all FINALLY asleep in my bed, and I realize I hadn't entered Melanie Muenchinger's guest designer contest and it ended the next day!! So, I sucked up all my mojo, stayed up til midnight(which I paid for DEARLY the next day) and cranked out two WILDLY cute cards-in my humble opinion(or in the words of Jan Tink-yes, I love myself!!) I sent them to Melanie without any hope of hearing back. Imagine my surprise when in my inbox appears a simple note from Melanie---"What are you doing on the 20th?". COULD IT BE????? Yep you guessed it-I WON!!!WOOHOOO!!


I have to tell you that I am a huge Melanie fan(not just as an artist, but as a person). She has created some of the CUTEST animal sets I have ever seen and I love what her stamps allow me to do. On top of all that, she is so helpful to us all with her tip sheets and super duper cool projects. I am honored to be her guest designer and I can't wait to be featured during the Gina K. release festivities this week. Thank you Melanie and Gina for this wonderful opportunity. I can't wait for the party. Do you wanna come to? Well then, meet us at the member forum on SCS tomorrow night at 7pmCST. There will be awesome games, challenges, prizes, conversation, EYE CANDY, and then the stamps get released and it is like a feeding frenzy to get to the Gina K site fast enough. I have already spotted some MUST HAVES in the releases. And trust me when I tell you, YOU WANT Melanies new set, it ROCKSSSS!!! If you already own some of her stamp sets then you need to check out her contest she is having on her blog. She is giving away one of her newly released stamp sets as the prize(again, trust me, you WANT IT!!). Visit her blog for more details, and I hope to see you at the Par-TAY!!!

Bloomin' Ric Rak

Today's Ways to Use it challenge is to use ric rak on your card. I am not a huge fan of ric rak, but I did happen to have some here so that I could play!! The ric rak I used was part of the Beachfront Ribbon Originals from SU. The main image was stamped on watercolor paper with Black Stazon and water colored using my SU markers and ink pads. After coloring it, I cut the whole image out and cut the base off of the flowers. I glued the whole base to the paper and then popped up the flowers just a bit. I then covered the whole image with crystal effects. I cut out the layers with my square nestabilities dies and pierced holes around the edges. The card base is 5 1/4sq. and it is Chocolate Chip then Soft Sky. The DP is from the Afternoon Tea DSP. I wrapped around a piece of Chocolate wide grosgrain and then layered the ric rak on top of it. I then added a spiral clip with some Soft Sky ribbon and Chocolate taffeta. The sentiment is also from the Bloomin' Beautiful set and it was stamped in CC, then pierced along the paper at the top and bottom. I thought it looked kinda bare, so I put some tiny flowers with pearl brads through them at the bottom. I am not sure if that is the direction I should have gone, but what's done is done!!

stamps-Bloomin Beautiful

paper-Soft Sky, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, watercolor and Afternoon Tea DSP

ink-Black Stazon, Soft Sky and Chocolate Chip

tools-aqua painter, white pen, SU markers, spiral clip, ribbon, pearl brads, flowers, crystal effects

Absolutely Fabulous

So, last night I spent the night at my sister's and helped her out with the baby, so FUN!! I am thoroughly exhausted, but I loved every minute of it. He really is a good baby, and only fussed one time in the night and that was about 1:30. Other than that, I had to wake him up to feed him because the dr. wants him feed every three hours. It was nice getting a little bonding time with him. What was even nicer is seeing my sister get some sleep and a shower(a long one that is)!! She is still adjusting but is doing absolutely fabulous!! This card is for her!! I used the sketch challenge on SCS today for the layout. I added tons of hardware from the pewter hardware kit and some primas, cream organdy and kraft taffeta. The paper is from K&Co. I had a hard time finding a card stock color to match until it dawned on me, duh, other side!!Don't you hate it when that happens. The main image is from Artfully Asian and the sentiment is from Absolutely Fabulous. I colored it in with markers and my aqua painter. That is all for me now, thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!
BTW-here are a couple of pictures of Jared. The first one is him in his carseat on the way to his first drs. appointment, the second one is my sister holding him. Ain't he CUTE!!!

stamps-Absolutely Fabulous and Artfully Asian

paper-Confetti Cream, Kraft, K&Co.

ink- Black Stazon

tools-hardware, cream organdy, kraft taffeta, aqua painter, SU markers, primas

Prettie Wednesday

Hello everyone!! Two weeks ago I challenged the other Prettie Girls(you can find their links in my sidebar) to make a card using BRIGHT colors including orange. This is what I came up with. I used some retired Dots and Dashes DP from SU and colored my Cooper-Look Out World image to match. I used my SU markers to color him in and layered it with Green Galore and Only Orange. You know me, so I had to put some brads, gingham ribbon, and spiral clips on to embellish it. The sentiment is from the SU She's All That stamp set and I just markered the sentiment only and stamped it on white. I used my circle punches to make the layers punched little holes in the scallops. This weeks challenger is Danielle, and I can't wait to see what she has in store for us!! Feel free to play along in any of our challenges just leave us a link to your work!! We would love to have you join us!!

stamps- Look Out World and She's All That

paper- Only Orange, Green Galore, Dots and dashes and Whisper White

ink- Black Stazon

tools-silver brads and clips, gingham ribbon from American Crafts, SU markers, circle punches

Special Friend

I have to say that this is one of my favorite images( Simply Special)from Paper Pretties. I love my Sophia's, I love my Cooper, and I love Luke and Lexi, but this watering can is so serene and pretty. I feel, and you don't have to agree, that it can be used for any occasion really. From a thinking of you card to a birthday card, I think it really goes with any occasion. This card is for this weeks SCS color challenge to use Soft Sky, Basic Black and Kraft. I stamped my image with Black Stazon on watercolor paper and used my markers, ink pad, and aqua painter to color it in. I even added some white gel pen to the flower to make it look brighter(and to correct my mistakes). The sentiment at the bottom is from the SU Sellabration Love and Happiness rub ons. I put a bunch of black brads, some kraft taffeta and black gingham and it was done. Thanks for looking and have a great day!! I have a lot of catching up to do!!

stamps-Simply Special

paper- Kraft, Basic Black, Soft Sky CS and DSP, watercolor

ink-Black Stazon and Soft Sky

tools- black brads, kraft taffeta, black gingham, white gel pen, SU markers, rub ons

A Few More Challenges

Okay, so in an effort to catch up, I decided to combine three challenges again, gooo mee!!!LOL!! This card is for two of the Great Swaps Girls challenges and the Technique Lovers Challenge-what can I say, I am a sucker for some shimmer!! Last weeks featured swapper challenge was hosted by me, but I was so busy with my sister that I never got my sample done in time to post it with the challenge(I am so sorry Vickie, you have to know I think you rock, I chose you right? RIGHT!!). Vickie W. was our featured swapper, and she has a fabulous gallery and blog. I chose this card of hers to CASE, and I changed a few things on it, only cause you have to, because I love it the way it is. The other GSG challengewas this weeks challenge to use a soon to be retired set from SU with bonus points for using soon to be retiring in colors. I don’t know about you all, but I hate when the retired list comes out, just makes me sad. Luckily for me, there wasn’t anything on it that I didn’t really need. Anyway, I used the soon to be retired Weathered and stamped it on Whisper White with Chocolate Chip. The DP panels are from Spring Showers DP from SU. My main panel has the flower from Pretty Amazing stamped three times in Purely Pomegranate and then I popped each layer up. The hummingbird was colored with my SU markers except for the belly which I did with my PP pad and blender pen. I added silver brads to the corners, a spiral clip with some chocolate taffeta ribbon and purely pomegranate ribbon, and then covered the whole panel with Perfect Pearls. Then I put a chocolate taffeta ribbon around the bottom and fastened it with a ribbon slide from the SU Stylized Hardware kit. My sentiment is from the soon to be retired set Circle of Friendship. It was stamped in chocolate chip, punched out with my 1in circle punch, and then framed with some more hardware. That is all for me for now!! Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!
I wanted to leave you with an RAK I got through the mail from Donna B., isn’t it awesome!! Thanks so much Donna, you really brightened my day!!
Stamps-Pretty Amazing, Weathered, Circle of Friendship
Paper-Chocolate Chip, Purely Pomegranate, Whisper White and Spring Showers DP
Ink- Chocolate Chip, Purely Pomegranate, Black Stazon
Tools- hardware, silver spiral clip, chocolate taffeta, purely pomegranate stitched ribbon, SU markers, perfect pearls, blender pen, 1in punch

Finally!!

I can’t believe I haven’t stamped since Wednesday night, no wonder I am cranky(DH nods head in total agreement)!!! If you know me at all, you know I love the SCS challenges, so when I don’t get to play, I have withdrawals!! I seriously thought about going back and playing all of them, but instead, if I can work them in with a current challenge, that is the only way they will get done(only so many hours in the day ya know!!). My card today actually combines three challenge(woo hoo), the My Favorite Things sketch challenge, the SCS Technique Lover’s challenge, and the Great Swaps girls weekly challenge from last week. I started by using the sketch that Cindy provided and stamped my new Take A Break image from the MFT presents line. It was stamped with Black Stazon on watercolor paper and colored in with my aqua painter and SU markers. The paper is from the Nana’s Nursery Baby Boy stack, which completely blows my mind because last time I checked purple was NOT a boy color-oh well!!! The layers for the main image were cut out using my Cuttlebug and Nesties . The strip of Sage Shadow(gasp!!) was run through my crimper(gasp!!) which was what the GSG challengewas(to use your crusty dusty old crimper-LOL!!). I tied a silver organdy and lavender polka dot organdy ribbon around and tied it in a knot. I then added some silver brads everywhere and a silver spiral clip, because lets face it, what’s a card without some hardware!! The flowers are primas that Jodi sent me, and they matched my colors perfectly, so I had to use them. To finish it off, I rubbed Perfect Pearls all over the card to give it some shimmer(that was the TLC challenge). That is it for me now!! I have a ton of stuff to catch up on, and I finally got my stamp room clean, so I am headed back to my table for another challenge(maybe even three at a time-you never know!!). Thanks for stopping by and checking on me, I really appreciate it!!
Before I go, I wanted to share an RAK that I got through the mail from my pal Lee!! Thanks so much Lee, I love it(if you are wondering where the altoids are, my DH stole them, but don’t worry, I fight dirty and I WILL get that tin back!!LOL!!)
Stamps- Take A Break by MFT presents
Ink-Black Stazon
Paper-Lavender Lace, Sage Shadow, watercolor, and DCWV Nana’s Nursery Baby Boy
Tools-silver brads, silver clip, silver pen, perfect pearls, silver organdy, lavender organdy, SU markers, aqua painter, Cuttlebug, Nestabilities

Let's Party!!

Hi everyone!! I am exhausted, but I wanted to post some eye candy for you all so that you don't abandon me altogether!! Geez, you don't post for a day or so, and noone even comes to check on you!!LOL!! This is another card I made using the Gina K. set Jumping for Joy that was designed by Melanie Muenchinger. It features my favorite animal out of the set, the seal and I tried to make it look like he was bouncing the ball in the air. The ball was colored, cut out, popped up and has crystal effects on it. I used my nesties and my SU punches to make the circles. The paper is from the retired SU Dots and Dashes. I am obsessed with spiral clips right now, so I have one on here with some ribbon tied to it. I cut out the seal seperately so he could hang a little outside the circle. I don't have a coluzzle, so if I want an out of the box circle image, that is what I have to do!! That is all for me now, I will be back tomorrow with some more hopefully!!

BTW, thank you for all the well wishes for my nephew Jared and sister Mary. They are both doing amazing, and Mary is really taken to motherhood. She is a complete natural and is doing a fabulous job. Jared is as awesome as ever too, and will go to the dr. on Wed. to get his weight checked, he is eating really good, so hopefully it will go really well!! Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!!

stamps-Jumping For Joy

ink-Black Stazon

paper-Green Galore, Only Orange, Whisper White and Dots and Dashes

tools-spiral clip, ribbon, crystal effects,white gel pen, silver brads, cuttlebug, nesties, circle punches,

You Rock!!

Hello again everyone, I was so busy showing off my nephew, I forgot to share my card!! LOL!! By the way, thank you so much to everyone who has been writing to check on me, and offering prayers, I truly appreciate your support!!

I made this card using my new Gina K. set Jumping for Joy. It was designed by Melanie Muenchinger and it is absolutely fabulous!!(She is having a contest using her stamps that will get you free stuff, so be sure to check out her blog!!) I love all of her stuff for Gina K., and if you haven't seen it, or bought it yet, you should go now, of course, AFTER you check out my card!! It was made using the zebra from the set. I actually stamped the zebra three times, twice in Black Stazon and once in Real Red. I cut out the whole zebra and popped it up and then I cut out just the heart on the last one and paper pieced it on the zebras forehead. The background paper is from the SU Prints Pack. I tied a big organdy bow around the whole card, and I added some spiral clips with black and red gingham on them. The zebra striped brads, aren't they fabulous, can also be bought at the Gina K. store. That is all for me now, I am off to see my nephew!! Thanks for looking and have a great day!!
stamps-Jumping For Joy
ink- Black Stazon and Real Red
paper-Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red, Prints Pack
tools-zoo brads, spiral clips, red and black gingham, black organdy, paper piercer

Meet Jared!!

I just had to share some pictures of my new nephew Jared. He was born on Thursday at 12:45pm. He is a tiny little guy weighing only 4lbs 7.5oz, but he is as healthy as a full term baby. His pediatricians only concern is making sure he gains weight instead of loses, so we have been feeding him around every two to three hours. He is starting to eat more and more with every feeding and is doing great!! Knock on wood, he hasn't spit up yet at all, and he rarely ever cries, unless he is cold(as you can tell from one of the pictures-I just got done changing his diaper and he was MAD!!) or wet, and he just lets out one little squeak, and he is done. And trust me when I tell you, his digestive system is working fine!!! He is also super alert, and has a full head of strawberry blond hair. I have spent the last two days at the hospital with him and my sister. I was supposed to be in the delivery room with my sister, but he came a day earlier than he was supposed to(she was scheduled for induction) and I missed it. Let me tell you, anyone who came into the PO in Macedonia saw me crying from around 1 to 3:30!!! I left straight from work on Thursday and got home this morning in time to get ready for work. Now I am taking care of my responsibilities, and I am on my way back. I am completely obsessed with him already!! Isn't he a CUTIE!!! In this last picture he is holding up his own pacifier, isn't it adorable!!