Why Oh Why...

Do I try to take pictures at night. I can never get a good one!!! I need to buy all the fancy equipment, but then I couldn't spend money on stamps and gas!!LOL This card is for the Technique Lover's Challenge over on SCS. The challenge was to do Paper Tole on a card, but the image could not be a flower. I had never tried this with a flower, or without, so I decide it would be a nice challenge to try. The idea is to do multiple layers of the same image to give it depth. I didn't do many, but the main image is on Whisper White and embossed in black(so were the other layers by the way). The second layer was cut out except for the antenna's that would just be ridiculous. The last layer is just the body of the butterfly. I colored the image in with my Pale Plum then my Perfect Plum marker. I then went over the whole thing with my aquapainter to take out some of the color. You can't see it, but the whole image is covered in Perfect Pearls to make it shiny. The background was created by inking the "reverse" side of the cuttlebug folder(back of the front) with Perfect Plum ink and running it through the cuttlebug. Then I took my Versamark pad and covered the whole thing and embossed it with clear embossing powder. My hardware is from the Stylized Silver hardware from SU. I colored it with my Sharpie first, but didn't like the way it looked, so I covered it in Versamark and embossed it with black. The rest is pretty self explanatory. The second picture is blurry, but it is of the layers. Thanks for stopping by and making my day brighter!!!
stamps- Circle of Friendship and Butterfly by Inkadinkadoo

ink-Versamark, Black Stazon and Perfect Plum

paper-Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Basic Black and Whisper White

tools-hardware, black organdy and brads, black embossing powder, clear embossing powder, perfect pearls, SU markers, aquapainter, cuttlebug, textile folder

My Pal Laura

When I first started getting involved in SCS back in October of last year, I was so scared!! Funny, I know, but scared none the less. I had so many fears about posting cards, and participating in challenges. I was really afraid that people wouldn't like my work and since some of the "groups" seemed so developed, they would think I was butting in. Around Christmas time, when everyone was elf ing people, I longed to be elfed, but still didn't know anyone. Since a lot of time had passed, and they had announced that they would not be taking any more "elf's", I pretty much thought my chances were up(I know now that I should have just done it myself, but I didn't). Then it happened, I got the PM, You've Been Elfed!! I was so excited when I saw it, and after reading it, sent back a PM with my address saying I would be honored, and also that I wanted to know who had done it, so that I could send them something too!! Well, turns out, the pm came from my elf Laura(scrapnextras). She said that I was always so nice to her, and leaving her such wonderful comments that she wanted to elf me, plus she noticed that I hadn't been elfed yet, and didn't want me to miss out. I was so happy I cried. She was the first person to reach out to me on SCS, and the rest is history. I now have tons of people that I consider friends and I feel so blessed to have met them. So, by now, if you read this far, you wanna know why I am babbling about this, well, FINALLY, Laura has been chosen as the FS over on SCS. YAY!!!!! I nominated her a while back, and have been (im)patiently waiting for her to have her time in the spotlight, and it has finally come. So this card is a tribute to her. Her gallery is fabulous, and a great source of inspiration. There are so many cards in her gallery that I would love to CASE, but since I have an ever growing collection of cards(6photo boxes full!!), I try to limit myself to one challenge card a day. I loved this card when I first saw it and wanted to CASE it, so I took this opportunity to do that. I did make my required changes, which were the images, sentiment, dp(same pack, different print), added some more brads and some piercing, a couple of layers, cause you know I love them, and the ribbon. I had just used the chocolate ribbon last night, and it makes my heart hurt when I use it, so I couldn't stand the pain of using it two days in a row. Oh why oh why didn't I buy some extra when it was on sale, now I live in constant fear that I will run out!!!LOL!! Well, I hope you are having a happy Sunday!! Thanks for stopping by, and for your continued support!!

stamps-Sweet Serendipity and Stampendous Changito Swing

paper- Close to Cocoa, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White and Berry Bliss

ink-Brown Stazon

tools-soft subtle brads, pink organdy, paper piercer and mat pack, SU markers

Paper Pretties

I am so excited about being a guest designer for Paper Pretties for the next few months, that I just had to make a card using their super cute set Look Who's Perky!! I originally fell in love with this set when I saw design team member Charmain Ikach's card here. It reminded me so much of Mrs. Potts from Beauty and the Beast, I just had to have it!!! I made this for a SCS friend that I haven't talked to for awhile. She is busy with life and work, and I just wanted to let her know that I haven't forgot her!!! I started with this yummy paper from DCVW Retro Stack. I got my colors from that paper. I didn't have quite the right blue to match, so I used Chocolate Chip and Sahara Sand. Normally, I don't do this, but I wanted you to see the sparkle on this image. The full picture of the card doesn't show it that well, so I wanted you to see up close what kind of sparkle it had!!! Don't mind my blurry picture, apparently I can't hold my camera still and hold the card at the same time!! My coffe cups were stamped with Black Stazon and colored with SU markers. I covered the Sahara Sand and the steam with my Sakura glitter pen. As you can probably tell, I am still loving my crystal effects right now, so I covered my cups with it to give them some dimension. It really changes how they look. For a little more depth I sponged the edges with Chocolate Chip ink and paper pierced around the image and under the sentiment. I added a row of white eyelets and a some chocolate satin ribbon and it was done. Hope she likes it, and I hope you all have a wonderful day!!Thanks for stopping by!!
stamps-Look Who's Perky by Paper Pretties
paper-Chocolate Chip, Sahara Sand, Whisper White and DCWV Retro Stack
ink-Black Stazon and Chocolate Chip
tools-eyelets, chocolate chip ribbon, paper piercer, SU markers, Sakura glitter pen, crystal effects

Saturday's Inspiration Challenge

First of all, I am so excited today....I bought my first gift for my new nephew!!! It is sitting here under my computer table and the more I see it the more giddy I get. yay!!! Today's challenge was to be inspired by something inside of your home. I decided to be inspired by this wreath on the wall in my dining room. My best friend from HS Kristen, and her family, sent it to me 2yrs ago when my second dad Mike passed away(step dad, but I like second dad better, it is definitely more fitting). It has been hanging on my wall ever since, and as long as it holds up, it will remain. I even think that when it gets too ratty to have on the wall, I will take it back to where they got it and have it reworked. I mostly used the colors, but the flowers had a little something to do with it too. The base of the card is standard A2 size in Chocolate Chip, then layered with Cranberry Crisp and So Saffron. The edges were sponged with CC ink. I then used CC ink and stamped both the French Script and Sanded background on Very Vanilla. i have seen a lot of people do this on SCS, and I love the effect it gives. The main image was stamped with Timber Brown Stazon on Very Vanilla and colored in with my SU markers and ink pads. The bucket was stamped separately, colored, and cut out. I used a gold pen to highlight the handle on the bucket, then glued it on top of my flower. And you know I can't not go around the image with my Prismacolor cool grey marker, it gives so much depth!!! I sponged chocolate chip on the edges of this too. The SU ticket corner punch was used on the corners of the main image so that I could add some brads from the Aged Copper Hodgepodge Hardware. The main image and sentiment are from the Whipper Snapper set Posies for You. I used some CC satin ribbon to tie my knot and then sprayed the whole card with Tattered Angels glimmer mist in gold. Well I need to get my butt in gear commenting. I have about a weeks worth of gallery entries to look at, and by now that could be 1000's of entries. Thanks for looking and have a great day!!

stamps-Whipper Snapper Posies for You, Sanded and French Script

paper-Chocolate Chip, Cranberry Crisp, So Saffron, Very Vanilla

ink-Timber Brown Stazon, Chocolate Chip and Cranberry Crisp

tools-aquapainter, gold pen, markers, hardware, chocolate satin ribbon, ticket corner punch

My Cup Runneth Over...

I just got done posting my 7 random facts and went to check my email . In it was a message with some big news that I have been DYING to share. I should have listed not being able to keep a secret in my random facts, but I have been really proud of myself lately. About a month ago, Christie Ortman from Paper Pretties contacted me. I had went to one of their new release parties and she saw someone new there and wanted to check me out. She sent me an email saying that she loved my work, and couldn't believe that she hadn't saw it before!!! She then asked me to be a guest designer for them from April to June!!! WOOHOOO!!! I wanted to explode, and am quite surprised that I didn't!! I had to keep it a secret, which was painful, but she just sent us an email announcing the big news on the Paper Pretties website and I am so excited!! I hope you will love seeing my samples from their wonderful products as much as I am gonna love making them!!! Thanks Christie for the wonderful opportunity!!! I am so excited to be given this opportunity, and honored to get to work with such a super talented bunch of ladies!!
On another note, I recieved this wonderfully beautiful, and truly heartfelt card from Carolina Buchting (craftycaro). I have gotten to know her through blogging and SCS and she is truly "one of the good ones". Not only is she super sweet and supportive, but she is so talented and wonderful. I really cannot think of enough adjectives to describe her. I had seen her post this card on her blog, and explain why she had made it, but I never thought that it would be for me. If the card wasn't special enough, the note inside of it is still making me cry. I won't share what it said, because I don't know how she would feel about it, but I will tell you that I am truly blessed to have ever "met" her. Her words touched my soul and I will remember them every time I feel like there is no hope for my quest to become a mother. Thank you for being who you are, and enriching my life. I have no idea how I will repay you, but I will find a way!! Thanks for stopping by again, and I hope you have a wonderful day!!!

Tagged Again!!

I got tagged twice more with the 7 random facts tag, so I decided I would post 7 new facts about me, so that we all can get to know each other better. I was tagged by one of my favorite stamp designers, Melanie Muenchinger. She designs for Gina K, and has a fabulous blog. The second tag was by Jana Weaver. She too has a fabulous blog, so go check her out too!! So the rules are, post a link to the people that tagged you-check. Post the rules-check, and now, post your facts. Okay here goes,



1. I can't swim. I know, sad, but true. I have tried, I even took lessons, but I think I stayed in tadpoles for like 2 years and finally gave up. Okay, so I can swim a little( I do a mean dead man's float-hehe), but I can't tread water, which is kinda important if you get in deep water. So to make a long story short, I can kinda swim, but if I have to stop, and I can't touch the bottom or hang on to something, CALL A LIFEGUARD(preferably a cute one)because I am gonna need one!!!



2. I was born in Germany, but left when I was 1 1/2. I would love to go back, but DH hates to travel(for fun, he will for business), so it will probably never happen.



3. I have a fear of being wrong. This fear is so strong, that even if I knew the answers in class, or whatever, I refused to raise my hand just in case. Seriously, it is so bad, that when I am wrong in front of people(or even when no one is watching), I blush so severely that I get super hot. It really holds me back a little in life, because I am terrified to fail.



4. This one is going to shock some of you, but I have a tendency not to pay attention to details. I watch a lot of crime shows on TV, and when the witnesses are asked to give details for a sketch, or what a person was wearing, or what they look like, I always think to myself, I hope I never lose anyone or witness a crime, cause I will be up poop creek without a paddle!!! I have to think about what color people's eyes are, and up until about a year ago when I forced myself to look and memorize their color, I could not tell you what my DH's eye color was.



5. I was a nanny for 5yrs for two beautiful little girls. I never wanted to leave them, but my boss could not accept the fact that I wanted a life outside of their home( I lived with them), so I had to move on. I still get a Christmas card from them every year, but I miss them with every fiber of my being. I started taking care of Emily when she was 11months old, and was there for the first 2 1/2 years of Olivia's life. When I left, it seriously felt like I was having my own children taken away from me. I will never forget the day I left for the rest of my life, it was one of the saddest days of my life. Olivia was too young to understand, and I am sure she has all but forgotten me, but I will never forget her.(BTW, I am crying now...I told you I am a cryer)

6. I can't stand to wear finger nail polish. Every once in awhile I will get my nails done(okay, have acrylic nails put on)but I always do the french tip manicure. I can't stand to see any color on my fingers(or my lips for that matter), it just never looks right.

7. I have secretly been in love(ya know, celebrity luv)with Matthew McConaughey since I saw him in the movie A Time To Kill. The movie was one of the most emotional movies I have ever seen(cried like a baby throughout a lot of it), but as a southern lawyer, well, he gave me the "vapors", so to speak!!! It was the first movie I ever saw with him, and can honestly say(with the exception of Texas Chain Saw Massacre) I try not to miss one with him in it. How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days, enough said!!!

Okay--check. Now I am supposed to nominate 7 more people, but I really had a hard time doing it the first time, so if you are reading this, and you want to participate, please do. Just be sure to link me to it, so I can learn more about you all!!

Unloved Embellishments....

whoever heard of such a thing!!!?? I don't know about you all, but I love all my embellishments, that's why I buy them. "Hoarded" or "can't figure out how to use them" embellishments, I have a TON of those. Why am I babbling about this you ask, well, it's because the limited supplies challenge over on SCS for this week is to use your unloved embellishments. Since we already figured out that I don't have any of those, I used some that I just had to have, but have never used. Do you know that I have 9 packages of dew drops that have not one been put on a card?? Well, you do now!! Since part of the challenge was to put those unloved embellishments on a card with flowers, I decided to use my new Bloomin Beautiful set from the SU Occasions Mini Catalog( I also used Beate's weekend sketch challenge layout). After seeing all of the WONDERFUL creations with this set, I just had to have it!! SU really should consider making all of their stamps pre-cut(makes it so much easier just to get started stamping), at least, I think they should!! This is pretty simple so I won't go into terrible details, but the image is on Very Vanilla and colored with ink pads and my aquapainter. Since I am kind of obsessed with my crystal effects right now, I covered the flowers with it to make them pop. The base is colored with my markers and the whole image was outlined with my Prismacolor Cool Grey marker. I covered the base of the flower pot and the sentiment panel with perfect pearls, which makes it sooooo sparkly. The hardware could technically fall under unused or unloved embellishments since I never(ok, hardly ever) use those little holder thingies(their name escapes me), and I never use this color of hardware. I have a special person I am sending this too, as soon as I can get some stuff together to send with it, she soooo deserves!! Thanks for looking and have a great day!!
stamps-Bloomin Beautiful and Warm Words
paper-Basic Gray, Groovy Guava, Purely Pomegranate, Very Vanilla
ink-Black Stazon, Groovy Guava, and Purely Pomegranate
tools-aquapainter, crystal effects, perfect pearls, dew drops, Antique Brass Hodgepodge Hardware, Prismacolor Cool Grey marker, Pomegranate satin ribbon

What a Day!!

My cousin-in-law Mallory, who is 7, wanted to come spend the night at my house all by herself because she has never got to do that. She is on spring break from school, so I told her we could do it today(I had plans all the rest of the week, amazingly-cause I am kinda boring). She isn't a patient girl, so she has been calling all week telling me what she wants to eat, where she wants to sleep, what movie she wants to watch, the whole nine yards. She basically planned out the entire sleepover, I just have to drive(and pay). We started out having lunch at her favorite pizza place, then went on the hunt for a Hannah Montana surf shop play thingy. We finally found one in the clearance aisle at Wal-mart and it was STILL $30. For shame, I mean really!!! These people should be ashamed of themselves, it's highway robbery!!! Her mom refused to buy it for her, probably for the same reasons I am shaming people($), so Mal saved all her money and gift cards until she had enough to get it. It took me a 1/2hour to get it out of the box, another 15minutes to get it all set up the way she wanted it, and then she played with it for about 20minutes, and was bored-$30 well spent if you ask me!!(NOT!!) Anyway, while she played with her set, I whipped out this card for the ways to use it challenge. Note to self- find your air art tool......where the heck could it be????I seriously scoured every container and basket in my room, and it has gone missing, so I used what little bit of Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist(snow or icicle-I can't remember) to "spray" on my card(which is what the challenge was). I don't know why I bothered though because for the life of me, I can't get it to show up for me!! So I guess you have to take my word for it, it is there!! The main image is from Rubbernecker and was colored with my SU markers. The rest is pretty easy!! Mal is done soaking in the garden tub(been in there for an hour) so I am going to rush off. Thanks for looking and have a great day!!! Oh yeah----This uses Julee Tilman's Mojo Monday sketch too!!

stamps-Rubbernecker and Whipper Snapper for sentiment

paper- Bashful Blue, Brocade Blue, Sage Shadow, Whisper White and Pool Party DSP

ink-Black Stazon

tools- Soft Subtles brads, SU markers, ticket corner punch, white taffeta, bashful blue grosgrain, and blue gingham from American Crafts, Prismacolor marker

New Rubbah!!

I got some new rubbah today from Mr. Brown, and couldn't wait to get into it. When I saw the sketch challenge for today, I knew that it would work perfect with this skinny chick from She's All That by SU. I have babies on the brain today, so I used the pregnant woman from this set. I didn't want the sentiment with it, so I put a sticky note over the sentiment and inked up my stamp. I put some crystal effects on her dress, shoes and purse to give it some shine and sponged the edges. The rest is a lot of layers and brads. My friend Kristen is due to have a baby boy any time now, so I made this to send to her when he gets here!! Thanks for looking and have a great day, I am off to bed(if I can walk that far, I may be off to couch, my mom and I worked really hard today!!)!!

stamps-She's All That and Warmest Regards

paper- Whisper White, Basic Black, Blue Bayou CS and DSP

ink-Black Stazon and Blue Bayou

tools-crystal effects, sponge, black brads, black organdy

I'm in Trouble!!

I am up way to late tonight and I am gonna be in trouble once tomorrow comes!!! I promised my Mom I would come help her clean, and I should probably(definitely) get some sleep before then. At this rate, I will be lucky to get 6hrs. and let me tell you, I don't function well with less than eight. I have always wished I could, but have never been able too. I can't take naps either, so that is working against me too. I don't know about you, but every time I try to take a nap, I wake up feeling worse than when I started out!! I knew I would be gone the better part of tomorrow, so I wanted to get the color challenge for Tuesday done. The challenge was to use Basic Grey, Whisper White and Soft Sky. The card base is BG and then layered with Soft Sky and Whisper white. The edges were sponged with SS ink to soften them. I added a piece of SS DSP to the bottom and wrapped a piece of SS ribbon around the two top layers to hide the seam. Since I love ribbon(and really, who doesn't)I added a piece of Basic Grey taffeta and White grosgrain ribbon to it too. The sentiment was stamped on WW with BG and punched out with the small oval punch. I sponged the edges of that piece heavily to really make it stand out. Because you all know that I LOVE brads, I added some across the bottom, don't you love how they are alternating sizes. All the hardware came from the Stylized Silver Hardware from Stampin Up. I sure hope they keep it around, it is fabulous!!! The flower was stamped three times in Versamark on SS. I then covered it in white embossing powder and cut it out in three different layers. There are pop dots between each layer to give it some depth. I layered it on WW, SS, and BG and sponged the edges of that too. Once I had all that done, I thought that the top corner was a little to bare, so I used my neglected Ornare piercing template to give it a little something more. Well, that is all for me for tonight, must get some sleep for tomorrow or I will be a very unhelpful zombie!!! Thanks for looking and have a great day(or night, whatever your case may be!!)

stamps-Fabulous Flowers and Small Script

paper- Soft Sky, Basic Grey, Whisper White, and Soft Sky DSP

ink-Versamark, Basic Grey and Soft Sky

tools- stylized silver hardware, ornare piercing template, soft sky ribbon, grey taffeta, white grosgrain, white embossing powder, small oval punch

Flap Fold Thanks

Today's technique lover's challenge was to make a flap fold card. Our guest hostess for this week is JoLynn, aka stampissues, and she chose to do this fabulous card that she found a tutorial for on the Scor Pal website. The tutorial is fabulous and very easy to follow, so if you have seen these(or you like mine), you should try it, it is so easy!! I started with a 3 1/2x8 1/2 sheet of Basic Black. I really wanted some more layers on this so I did a second layer in Rose Red(3 3/8x8 3/8). I used my circle cutter to round out the edge of both papers and I glued that together and scored it at 4 1/4 and 8 1/2. I then attached a piece of Rose Red DP to the bottom flap that measures 3 1/4x4. For the top piece of DP, I cut it at 3 1/4 and then used my circle cutter to round out the edge, I then flipped the paper to the side I didn't want showing and made a pencil line with a ruler to cut it off. There is probably an easier way to do this, but this worked for me. I used my circle nestabilities to cut out my lamb from Pun Fun(Thanks Jodi!!) and then layered it using my circle scallop nestibilities. The sentiment was cut out with my word window punch and layered it with RR and BB. I added the brads and the ribbon and it was done. I have to say that in the tutorial is tells you to use Basic Grey snaps to close the flap, but I really didn't have anything that would work for that, so the ribbon is actually tied around the bottom flap(the one with the brads) and I slid it up over the fold flap to keep it closed. That's it for now!! My dh just came home for lunch and asked if I was feeling okay, when I said yes, he just said okay and left. I think he wants me to clean or something!!!( I don't blame him)!! Since it is not going to clean itself, I had better go!! Have a great day!!
stamps-Pun Fun
ink- Basic black
paper- Basic Black, Rose Red, Whisper White and Rose Red DSP
tools- black brads and organdy, rose red marker, cool grey prismacolor maker, nestibilities, cuttlebug

Easter Sunday's Featured Stamper

Easter Sunday's featured stamper was the fabulous Amy Sheffer, aka Pickletree. If you haven't been to her gallery, go now!! She also has a fabulous blog, which you can find listed in my Blogs I Stalk. I was too exhausted to stamp yesterday, and truth be told, should really be cleaning right now, but I wanted to participate in her challenge, since I am such a fan!! I chose this card to CASE. I needed to start trying to figure out what to do for the invites for my sister's baby shower, since we don't have a lot of time left!!! As per the rules, I made a few changes to the card, but I kept the same layout. I did change some of the colors, added layers, did brads instead of piercing, changed the images, etc. In short, I kept the layout and changed most of the rest. I always start out trying to only change two or three things, but something always goes wrong!!!LOL What can I say, I love layers!!! I am not sure if this is what we will end up, but someone will end up getting it!! Thanks for looking and have a great day!!

stamps-So Many Scallops, Hugs and Wishes

paper-Wild Wasabi, Bashful Blue, Barely Banana, Whisper White and East Coast Prep DSP

ink- Wild Wasabi and Barely Banana

tools-cirlce nestabilities, swiss dots folder, silver brads, scallop circle punch, word window punch

Happy Easter!!

My nieces have been here since Friday afternoon and I am exhausted. Between running them around, chasing after them, doing all the fun Easter stuff, and learning of my sister's AMAZING news, I am too tired to even stamp, and let me tell you, that takes a lot. I am so bummed too because today's featured stamper over on SCS is one of my FAVORITE stampers Amy Sheffer, or Pickletree on SCS. I can't wait for tomorrow to get to case her, but first I will have to figure out how the heck I am ever gonna get my house clean again!! Since I don't have anything new to show you, I thought I would share two of the Easter cards I got in the mail . The first is from my pal Lavon. Isn't it so cute!!! The second is from my friend Judy(Judluvstostamp). Love the scoring on this one, I sooooooooo need a scorpal!!! Thanks and I hope you had a Hoppy and Blessed Easter, pun intended!!!

BTW Thank you to all of you for the prayers and well wishes, they mean so much to me. Each comment I read made me happier and happier and more positive about my situation. God Bless you all!!!

Do You Believe in Miracles?

If you came to my blog and only saw the title, forgive me, I am an airhead!! Anyway, do you believe?? If ever there was a time of year to believe in miracles, it would be Easter time. For me, it ranks right up there with Christmas. I promised when I started this blog, I would not get religious on you, and I am not going to now, but I am going to tell you a story that may make you believe. First, the background. My older sister Mary and I both suffer from what is known as PCOS in the medical world. It is PolyCycstic Ovarian Syndrome. For those of you that don't know what that is, it is basically a condition that causes you to ovulate irregularly if at all. The only way to control it is by diet, exercise and the only prescribed medication is glucophage. Basically with this disease, the heavier you are, the worse it is. So anyway, we both wanted to have a baby at about the same time. We both started seeing a DR. to get help to do so. I was immediately started on Clomid(causes you to super ovulate) and was having 2 to 3 ultrasounds a month to check for ovulation. On top of this all, I was having to take a shot when they thought I was ready to help me ovulate too. After 6 months of this, my regular DR decided that I needed to see a specialist. After 3 rounds of insemination, they decided that we needed to test Travis and see if anything was wrong with him, which of course, there was. His problem can be corrected surgically, but for right now, due to financial reasons, we need to wait. So during this time, my sisters DR wanted to have her tested to see if everything was alright with her( now remember, all this was happening at the same time). She had a test done that checks your tubes to see if they are open(which mine are) and they told her that hers were 100% blocked, so basically, the only way for her to have a baby was to do in vitro. She started seeing a specialist and he wanted her to start on the glucophage to get her body ready to ovulate, but wanted her to lose weight before he would start the clomid. She was a real trooper and started the low carb diet and lost 50+ pounds. At some point along the way, life happened, her husband switched jobs, and they lost his insurance which had the in-vitro coverage on it. For those of you that have done this, it is hugely expensive. So after some soul searching, they decided to give up and just live with the fact that they wouldn't ever have children together( he has a son from a previous relationship). I bet you know what is coming.........my sister called me today and is pregnant!!! I don't know how, I don't know why, but she is. So for the DR that told her her tubes were 100% blocked, you were wrong!!!! Talk about a miracle!!! Wanna know the funny part, she is 6MONTHS along!!! Isn't that crazy!!! I had to laugh at her, because I always make fun of those people on TV that don't know they are pregnant until they give birth. Thankfully, she didn't get to that point, but 6months is a long time to now know. She does say that looking back now, she should have seen the signs(the biggest one being that fact that she hasn't had a period since October), but when you get told that there is no way possible, it is the furthest thing from your mind. Do you wanna know how she found out....she felt him kicking!!! Awesome!!! So this card is for Mary and Russell, congratulations on your amazing news!! (BTW it is also for the Inspiration challenge over on SCS, you know I can make anything work the way I want it too!!) The main image is from the new Anna Wight set for Whipper Snapper called Bundle of Joy. It was stamped on watercolor paper with Black Stazon and colored with SU markers and ink pads with my aquapainter. I then outlined it all with my prismacolor cool grey marker. I rounded the corners(for Sharon's stamp simply challenge) and layered it with my card colors, Blue Bayou, Soft Sky and Sage Shadow. The rest is pretty easy to figure out, and my nieces are here, so I really need to get to bed, I have another story to tell tomorrow, but this post is huge!! Thanks for looking and have a miraculous day!!

stamps-Bundle of Joy by Whipper Snapper

ink- Black Stazon, Blue Bayou and Soft Sky

paper-Blue Bayou, Soft Sky CS and DSP, Sage Shadow, and Very Vanilla

tools-silver grads, silver cord, SU markers, aquapainter, cool grey marker, circle punches and soft sky ribbon

Which One??

Jen posted the Friday Limited Supplies challenge early, and I was so intrigued by it, I just had to get to work. Unfortunately, it took me forever to complete. The challenge was to make 2 to 4 cards using the same stamps and paper. You could change the embellishments, but you had to use 3 to 4 stamps, white or vanilla, and two other colors. Basically, it was to get back to the Basics, like when you first started and had a limited amount of colors and stamps. The first card(the verticle one) went rather quickly, but the second, kicked my butt!!! Not so much the layout, because I knew I wanted to use Julee's mojo Monday sketch again, but I kept screwing up the flower. I tried and I tried, and I finally decided to not cut out the flower, which is what I was trying to do in the first place. Then, I pierced the edges of it, and didn't like how it looked, so I had to start again. I finally got it to look good and realized I had screwed up the sketch, so it is SORTA Julee's sketch, we will call it inspired by Julee's sketch. Since both cards use the same things almost exactly, I am just going to list my supplies. Thanks for looking and have a great day(or night, whichever the case may be)!!! Oh yeah, which one do you like the best, I have a favorite, but I don't want to influence you, so let me know!!

stamps-Lots of Thoughts and Friendship Blooms

ink-Real Red and Black Stazon

paper-Real Red, Regal Rose, Whisper White, and Sassafrass Lass Candy Apple

tools-paper piercer and mat pack, rhinestone brads, bold brights brads, SU markers, white taffeta, pink and red gingham, oval punches, word window punch, crystal effects

Thanks Jodi!!

My good pal Jodi, aka kharmagirl, sent me a TON of images from the SU set Pun Fun and I have been hoarding them, up until today. I made this card for the Ways to Use It challenge which was to use tags on your card. You could use any kind that you wanted, you just have to have a tag on it somewhere. I automatically thought of the tags I recieved in my Elf package from Cindy(mothermark). It wasn't so much an elf package, as it was a retaliation package for the one I sent her!!! I started with a Night of Navy base and then layered Bordering Blue and Whisper White. I colored the whale with my SU markers and then highlighted the eyes with white gel pen. The check color, because I forgot to do it first, is a Sakura soufle pen. I covered the whole thing in crystal effects. The tag started out as just Navy, but it looked kinda plain, so I covered it in polka dots(Jodi will be so proud). I tied a piece of white grosgrain and a piece of navy organdy around the tag and popped it up. I love that dp that is on the strip, and have been dying to use it since I got it. It is from Sassafrass Lass. I put 3 white brads in each end, and then put the sentiment right up next to it. I thought it needed something, so I put the three navy eyelets in each corner. I still thought it needed something, so I pierced the border around the card and the tag, and VIOLA!! It was done!! This is for my husbands Aunt Bobbi, her favorite color is blue, and she just got out of the hospital, so this is for her. Thanks for looking and have a great day!!
stamps-Pun Fun
paper- Night of Navy, Bordering Blue, Whisper White, and dp by Sassafrass Lass
ink-Basic Black
tools-white gel pen, tags, navy eyelets, white brads, white grosgrain, blue organdy, crystal effects, SU markers, aquapainter, pink soufle pen, paper piercer and mat pack

WOOHOOO!!!

I got a few messages wondering where I have been for the last couple of days, so I wanted to show you what I have been up to. I got a new car. Now, by now, most of you are seeing the pictures of my old vehicle, a beautiful black Chevy Silverado. I loved my truck, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't very functional for what I needed it for. It was terrible to grocery shop in, hard for people to get in and out of, and a gas HOG!! I used to have a Grand Prix(which my MIL now has), so when Travis said I could get something else, I wanted one really bad!! Isn't she pretty!! I just wish I had picked a better time to get it. It is so rainy and windy here I had to spend the night at my sister's house last night so that I wouldn't wreck it on the way home!!

Go Laura!!

Today's sketch challenge was based on one of my FAVORITE stampers and friends, Laura Fredrickson aka scrapnextras. She has the most fabulous blog and gallery, and is super sweet to boot!! I decided to use up some of my many scraps of DSP that I have left over from Easter. I needed a birthday card for a stamping friend, but this is a little too masculine, so I think I need to find someone to send it to!! Do you think it would work for a girl?? Anyway, I started with Wild Wasabi and stamped the sentiment from the set Birthday Banter. I then pierced the lines on the bottom, I just love effect that gives. If I had known I was going to use the Birthday Whimsey set before I stamped the sentiment, I would have used the happy birthday from it, but I hadn't picked out the main image set when I started. The other colors on here are Apricot Appeal and Bashful Blue. All the dsp came from the scraps from my Prints Pack. I stamped the balloons in the three colors on my card and cut them out. Then I put crystal effects on them and let them dry. I glued the two down, and popped the third one up. I hand drew the strings with a black marker and then went over it with my silver pen. I used three different ribbons, and six white brads, and it was done. What do you think? Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!

stamps-Birthday Whimsey and Banter

Paper- Apricot Appeal, Bashful Blue, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, and Prints Pack DSP

ink-Apricot Appeal, Bashful Blue, Wild Wasabi, and Stazon Black
tools-crystal effects, blue striped ribbon, wasabi stitched ribbon, apricot ribbon, white brads, paper piercer

What A Combo!!

What a color challenge they had on SCS this week!! It was guest hosted by non other than the fabulously talented and hilarious, Carole Burrage(trucarma). She wanted to make us all have indigestion or something along those lines, so she was going to pick a truly awful color combo. After realizing she would have to make a sample with those horrible colors, she decided to pick three of her favorite colors and put them together. Her samples were wonderful, mine, ugggghhhlllyyyy!! I despise this card on so many levels, but it is just awful enough that my MIL should love it. I don't know if that says something terrible about my MIL, but I know, she would never tell me she thought it was ugly, so she is the only person I can give it too. The rest of the people I know are just to honest!!LOL. Okay really, it isn't that bad, but it is totally not me. I used Julee Tilman's mojo Monday sketch for the layout. The swirls are from Priceless(SU) and I outlined them with glitter pen. I punched out the holes with my paper piercer too, and then decided to do a frame around the card, which I actually like. The sentiment is from Warmest Regards and is also stamped in Sage Shadow. The flowers are from Petaloo(the orchid one) and Heidi Swapp(white and ghost). The Sage flower started out white, but I colored it with my SU Sage Shadow marker and then squeezed it between two paper towels to take out some of the color. Well, I hope you like it better than I do!! Have a great day, and try to stay dry(it has rained almost 8in here in the last 24hrs!!).

stamps-Priceless and Warmest Regards

paper-Kraft, Sage Shadow, Orchid Opulence, and Whisper White

ink-Sage Shadow

tools-white brads, ghost flowers and white flower from Heidi Swapp, Petaloo flowers, Sakura glitter pen, paper piercer and mat pack

Reverse Cuttlebug

As some of you may know, I am not a loyal fan of the technique lovers challenge. I prefer to do simple stamping stuff, otherwise I run out of room on my table!! I usually don't participate, but I loved the samples for this weeks challenge, and it sounded pretty easy. The challenge was to take your cuttlebug embossing folder and put ink on the negative side(back of the top side). Then when you run it through, it puts the ink around everything but the embossing. It is an awesome effect, if you ask me!! I used my brayer and inked the inside of my script folder with Always Artichoke. Then I placed a piece of Mellow Moss cardstock inside it and ran it through my machine. I immediately went and washed off my embossing folder and my brayer. Let's face it, there is no saving the brayer, but the folder washed off perfectly!! I layered it with Mellow Moss and my card base is Always Artichoke. I stamped the pail from the Whipper Snapper set Posies for You, designed SweetMissDaisy herself, Anna Wight. If you haven't bought any of her sets, go shopping right now, they are fabulous. She has four cling sets released right now, and I love all of them(I am still waiting for my new one to arrive, but check out her blog,in my blogs I stalk, for samples it is so super cute!!)!! Anyway, I stamped it with Black stazon on Whisper White and colored it in with my Mellow Moss and Always Artichoke marker. I used my aquapainter to blend the colors and then colored the handle with my silver pen. I cut it out and glued it on top of the flower I had stamped from the same set. It was colored with my Pale Plum marker and highlighted with my Perfect Plum marker. I blended it the same way and then outlined the whole thing with my Cool Grey prismacolor marker. I have been on a roll with my bows here lately(what I am not telling you is that it takes me 45minutes to get them right), so I tied a lavender organdy bow around it and tied a bow. That's it for me now, may be back later with some more stuff, if I can get my butt in gear!!

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

stamps-Posies for You

paper-Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Whisper White

ink-Black Stazon and Always Artichoke

tools- word window punch, silver brads, script embossing folder, brayer, aquapainter, silver pen, lavender organdy, SU markers

I'm Late, I'm Late, For a Very Important Date!!

I have to be at my MIL's in one hour for lunch, and I haven't taken a shower yet, do you think I am going to make it!! I cased two of this week's featured stamper's fabulous cards this week. Congrats to you BeckyTE!!! They are pretty self explanatory, so I am not going to go into a lot of detail. The first one is based on her card here, and the second on this one here. Thanks for looking, and I will be back later to add more details!!

EDIT!! Hi all, I am back from my MIL's with a killer headache. Note to self: When celebrating St. Patricks Day, drink the green margaritas in moderation!!! I am not a drinker, at all, and we had a few, ahemmm, glasses of margaritas with lunch, complete with colorful salt!! SOOO yummy, but wowee, who knew such a big girl could get tipsy over a few glasses of margaritas!! I need to practice more or something!!

Tag You're It!

I got tagged by my SCS and blogging buddy Chat aka nitestamper, to list 7 random or unknown facts about myself, so I definitely wanted to play!!

1. I am scared to death to climb ladders. I don't know what it is, but I am terrified of them!!

2. I started working when I was 14yrs(almost 15), and worked up until the summer before my 29th birthday. For that entire time, I held at least one job, sometimes two, and at one point three. So when people ask me why I don't work now I tell them, besides the obvious reason(I don't have to), I need a break!!

3. I was an honor roll student all throughout high school and college, but dropped out to be a Nanny for a Dr. and her husband. I worked and lived with them for 5 yrs. Sometimes I wish I had finished school, since I can't really get a good job without a college degree, but I wouldn't give up one day with the girls I used to take care of. I haven't been their nanny for almost 4yrs now, and not a day goes by that I don't miss them!!

4. My husband and I have been trying to have a baby since we got married 31/2 years ago. We both have infertility issues that are working against each other, so we have to have a lot of help. I refuse to give up though,!! Being a mom is the only thing I ever really wanted to be.

5. I cry A LOT!! I cry at movies, commercials, TV shows,(my #4 made me cry)comments people leave me, songs, you name it. I can cry on demand and it drives my husband bananas!

6. I hate to wear jewelry. In fact, I have to force myself to wear my wedding rings.

7. Last but not least(and by far the most embarrassing), up until about 3yrs(rough estimate)I couldn't tell my right from my left without thinking about it. I would have to hold up both hands in front of my face to be able to see which one was which. Can we say LOSER!!! Now isn't that the saddest thing!!! I was on the math team in high school and only had 1 B my entire high school career!! I was in the honor society for both hs and college, and still had to think about right and left. My family and friends finally gave up on me and started pointing instead of saying right from left. You know what they say though, sometimes people who are book smart have no street smarts!!

Well thanks for reading this!! I want to tag people, but I don't want to force anyone, so I am going to put your names here, but I am not gonna make you do it, OK!!
Linsey-Outside the Lines
Lee-My Reality, it's all good!!
Lesa- Punkydoodle Papers
Laura-scrapnextras
Carolina-Carolina's Creative Pad
and anyone else who wants to play!! If you choose to, send me a link to your post, so I can get to know you all better too!! Now, I really need to go to bed!!

I Finally Did It!!

No, I'm not done with Easter, yet!! Sorry for the false alarm!! What I was referring to is the fact that I finally made my chick from my Just So Hoppy set, hop!! I don't know why, but I just LOVE this Chickie, don't you!! I am exhausted from helping my Mom move today, so I am not going to ramble one, but I wanted to participate in the inspiration challenge for today. It was this SUPER CUTE clothing line called Candy Toss. It is so sweet!! The colors on the clothing are much brighter, but I did start with brighter colors, I just couldn't get it to work out the way I wanted. I thought this paper would work though, cause I think it is a fun pattern. It is from my DCWV Glitter Stack. I paired it with Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery and Lavender Lace. This card also works for Beates weekend sketch challenge. The main image is stamped on Whisper White with Black Stazon and is colored in with SU markers and my aqua painter. The sky was painted on with my AP and Bashful Blue ink pad. I hand drew the dots on the layered sentiment and put some colorful brads in it for some added embellishment(you know how I LUV my brads)!! That's all for me now!! Thanks for looking and have a great day!!

stamps-Just So Hoppy by Gina K.
paper- Pretty in Pink, Lavender Lace, Certainly Celery, Whisper White and DCWV Glitter Stack
ink- Black stazon and Bashful Blue
tools-SU markers, aqua painter, soft subtle brads, pink organdy, key tag-scallop-and circle punches, white gel pen, prismacolor grey marker

Easter Tulips

I went to a SU party tonight for a friend of mine, and man was it fun. I always love getting together with friends to do something I love. We talk, eat, stamp, and goof off, can't beat it. She had an awesome turnout, and was $600+ by the time we left, woohoo!!! That never happens to me when I host a party. I am a demo, but I still go to her parties to support her and my friend Lyndee, who is her demonstrator. Lyndee rocks, and lets me still have the demo discount(part of the reason why I still order, cause let's face it, if she didn't I probably wouldn't, I mean it only makes since, right!!). I think she knows that I would totally give her the discount too!!!

I got home, and of course, was having computer withdrawals, so I had to get on SCS and see if the Limited Supplies Challenge was posted, and it was!!! The challenge was to make a card using no specialty tools.......say WHAT!!!! No punches, no cuttlebug, no paper piercer, nothing. Be still my heart, can you make a card without that stuff??? Well, of course you can, but why would you, unless someone challenged you to do it!!! This card was so simple, and took about 10 minutes to make from start to finish. I don't know if it is my favorite card I have ever made, but I still like it. I made it to send to some of my more religious family members, you know the ones who think the Easter bunny isn't what Easter is all about, which is true(but I still LOVE my bunnies!!). It was stamped with Timber Brown Stazon on Whisper White and colored with SU markers. I put Crystal effects on it, layered it with Chocolate Chip and it was done. The rest of the card is pretty self explanatory, and I just want to go on record and say, I did not use a punch for the tag or the brads, I hand cut the shape behind the hardware and just poked the brads through the paper. That's all for me know, lots to do, and I still need to figure out when I am going to sleep. Thanks for looking and have a great day!!
Stamps-Both Way Blossoms and All Holidays
paper-Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Spring Flowers
ink-Timber Brown Stazon
tools-stylized silver hardware, SU markers, chocolate chip satin ribbon

GRRRRRRRR!!!

I learned a valueable lesson today- do not mess with things you do not understand. Case in Point, my camera. You see, it all started the other day when I took a picture of me and my dh. It was one of those ones where you hold the camera out as faaaaaaaaarrrrrrr as your arms can reach and put your heads really close together. It was the first time that we had both been cleaned up in a long time, and I wanted to post a picture of us so everyone could see my wonderful man. When I went to download it, the file size was HUGE!! I don't have a professional photo shop program(something I do need to purchase along with a computer that doesn't suck), so there wasn't a whole lot I could do with the picture to resize it. I used to have a program that worked, but ever since my computer freaked out, I haven't been able to get it to work, and rather than fix the old one, I am just going to get a new one, I just haven't got that far yet. Anyway, I started messing around on my camera and going through all the menu options. I found an option that said image size, hmmmmmm, so, I clicked on it, and saw that I was using the largest image possible. Soooooooo, I scrolled down and picked the smallest image, it asked me if I was sure and I thought, well ya, I clicked it didn't I??? Oh boy, I wasn't sure at all, let me tell you!!! It deleted my ENTIRE memory card!! The whole thing!!! I am so MAAAAAAAADDDDDDDD!!! I had pictures from my nieces birthday on there that I hadn't developed, pictures of my puppy, my friend's daughters birthdays, Halloween, Christmas, you name it. Yes I know, I should have had them developed a long time ago, but who knew!! Let me just say, lesson learned. So anyway, for the next couple of days, I am going to be messing with the settings, trying to get it the way I want it. What can I hurt now, I already deleted everything right??

My card today is for the Ways To Use It challenge over on SCS, which was to use no white or vanilla, and only one solid cardstock for the base. Basically, you have to use DP on every layer, even to stamp on. I have to admit, the challenge kind of overwhelmed me, so I struggled for a few minutes, and then it came to me-RUB ONS!!! These things are super fabulous, and free with a $50 purchase from now until the 17th, so if you haven't got any yet, call me, call your demo, email me, email your demo, just get some, they are worth their weight in gold,IMHO. I started with a Pretty in Pink Base and sponged the edges with Regal Rose and Chocolate Chip. All of the paper is from the Basic Grey Two Scoops collection. I will be honest and say that when I get a DP and the back side is a solid and not another pattern, I hate it, but It really came in handy today!! I used the Rub-ons for the butterflies and the sentiment, which is a little hard to see in photo but it says "A small thing done in great Love is a great thing", pretty right!! I rubbed the butterflies on to the paper and trimmed around them. Put some white brads in a lot of the corners, and made that pretty bow(attached with a pop dot) and it was done. Any questions? If so, just ask, I always try to answer, emphasis on the word try. Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!!

stamps-none

ink-Regal Rose and Chocolate Chip

paper-Pretty in Pink and Basic Grey Two Scoops

tools-white brads, pink organdy, and rub ons

I Love a Challenge!!

What a fun time I had at the Gina K. release party on Monday. If you can keep up, which is terribly hard to do on dial-up(I know wahhh-wahhh), it is a ton of fun, and the conversation is always interesting. The design team had some fabulous samples, and the new sets are awesome!! During the party there were 4 challenges issued. The first was a sketch challenge, the second was a scrapbook sketch challenge, the third was a color challenge, and the last one was to make a scene. I am not really a scrapbooker, so I only participated in three of the challenges. You can check out the challenges in the Gina K. member forum over on SCS. You have until tomorrow night to upload your cards, so there is still time to enter!!! I may get brave before then and make a scrapbook page, but it doesn't seem likely!! Anyway, onto my cards!! The first on was made using the Gina K. stamps for a cause stamp set How Sweet It Is. My cousin Mandy just had a baby boy, so I am going to send it to her. I stamped the stork in black Stazon on Whisper White. I colored it in using my SU markers and my aquapainter. I then outlined it in Prismacolor cool grey marker. It was matted with Ballet Blue and Bashful Blue. I ran the white piece through my cuttlebug with my new Perfectly Paisley folder. The bottom sentiment was also stamped with black Stazon and layered the same. The brads are from SU Soft Subtles and Rich Regals brads. I used a strip of paper from the SU Prints Pack and created the layered scallops with my corner rounder. I thought it needed a little, so I added the silver clips with ribbon on them. All of the ribbon is SU except for the dark blue gingham, which is by American Crafts.

The second card was for the third challenge which was a color challenge. I will go ahead and say that I don't like this color combo, BUT I do LOVE my card!!! I stamped the kangaroo from the Gina K. set Just So Hoppy. I colored it with my SU markers and blended it with my aquapainter. I outlined it too, because I really think that it makes it pop!! The balloons were stamped separately, colored with markers, and then had crystal effects put all over them. I don't know why, but the photo looks a little wonky, but it looks really good in person (IMHO). I hand drew in the lines for the balloons. The sentiment is from the retired SU set Riveting. It was stamped once in Taken With Teal and once with Pumpkin Pie. I layered them all together along with the other challenge color Soft Sky, punched holes in the scallops, and added a couple of silver brads The top panel is the challenge colors plus a piece of DP from Bali Breeze(SU). I put three white brads in the top and it was done!! This card measures 5 1/4square by the way!!

My final card is for the fourth challenge, which was to make a scene. Well, we all know I LOVE to do that. I stamped the image with black Stazon on watercolor paper. I used the bunny and tulip from Just So Hoppy, the grass stamp is from the Whipper Snapper set Spring has Sprung. I colored it in with SU markers and blended it with my aquapainter. The colors on this are Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue and Lavender Lace. I think it is pretty easy to figure out, and this post is terribly long, so I am going to leave it at that!! If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me!! Thanks for visiting, and have a great day!!!

Sketch Challenge

Okay, so if you came to visit me in the last, we'll say 30 minutes, I am an airhead!! I push enter instead of tab all the time, and post before I have done anything!! I guess I could call it my own little way of building suspense!!LOL Speaking of suspense, go check out Melanie Muenchinger's blog(she's listed over there in the blogs I stalk), she posted her Hoppy Mentions today, and guess who was mentioned, ME along with some other SUPER talented ladies, including my favorite blogging buddies(you know who you are, ALL of you)!!! I am so excited!! I love what I do, and I hope others do to, but it always helps to get a little affirmation, if you know what I mean. Anytime I am having trouble with a card, or life in general, I go to my gallery(or my blog) and read all the wonderful comments people leave me. They really help me through the rough spots and the blah days!! My card tonight is for today's sketch challenge over on SCS. I LOVED this sketch, and will probably use it often. It is so simple, but you really can do some cute stuff with it. I wanted to go all out, and really bling it up, but I got to the point where it is at, and thought, you know what, this is cute, leave it alone!! Sometimes I can spend an hour embellishing something that took me 5 minutes to put together, am I alone in this??? I stamped the chick from Just So Hoppy with Black Stazon on Whisper White, colored it with markers, went over it with an aquapainter, and then cut it out with my circle nesties. I drew the white dots on with my white gel pen, because I was in a dotty mood!! The rest is pretty easy to figure out, but as always, if you have ANY questions, just ask!!! I am always around to answer any questions anyone has!! Thanks for looking and have a great day!!

stamps-Just So Hoppy
paper-Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Barely Banana, Certainly Celery CS and DSP, and Prints Pack
tools-SU markers, aquapainter, cirlce nesties, cuttlebug, swiss dots folder, white taffeta, blue and celery grosgrain, white gel pen, prismacolor marker cool grey

Color Challenge

Tonight at the Gina K. release party Emily gave us a sneak peak at the color challenge, so I went straight to work(after the party was over of course). I knew I needed a thank you card, so I decided I would use this challenge for my card. The colors are Purely Pomegranate, Basic Black, and Basic Grey. I thought and thought of how I could use them for Easter, but decided since I needed this, it would work so much better!! The image is from Rubbernecker and can be found in the Stamp Oasis section. I stamped it with black Stazon on watercolor paper and used my markers and aquapainter. I used a heck of a lot of black tie pearl brads from Bazil, but I love the elegance they have to them. I really think the rest is pretty self explanatory, so if you have any questions please don't hesistate to ask. I did get a question yesterday about Nestabilities and the cuttlebug, and the answer is yes, you can use the Nesties with your bug(Ellen Hutson has a great tutorial on it). Thanks and have a great day!!
Stamps- All Holiday, Hearty Vase
ink- Black Stazon
paper- Purely Pomegranate, Basic Black and Basic Grey, Very Vanilla
tools- aquapainter, SU markers, stylized silver hardware, black pearl brads, black organdy

More Easter....we're almost done!!

I really, really, want to be able to be done with my Easter cards, so today I stamped out three scenes using Melanie Muenchinger's set Just So Hoppy and got to coloring!! She has created two of my all time favorite sets in the WORLD, which quite frankly is saying a lot, and tonight will release two more that I am sure I will not be able to live without. I know that one of them, thanks to sneak peeks, will be used for decorating altoid tins. As soon as I saw this I thought to myself, that girl is a genius!!! I can't wait to party tonight over on the Gina K. forum and see what other new goodies we have in store!! All of these cards, as I said before, were done using the Gina K. set, Just So Hoppy. I stamped all the images on Whisper White with Black Stazon, then colored them in with my SU markers and aquapainter. The only stamps that aren't Gina K. in these scenes are on the frog one. The grass stamp and the tulip are not from that set. I had stamped and colored that tulip(from My Favorite Things' Eggstra Special) and hadn't used it, so I cut it out for this card. The grass stamp I got from JoAnn's but I have no idea who it is by, but I think it is perfect for a water scene!! The colors I used on the frog card are Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Lavender Lace and Prints Pack DSP. I cut out the frog and tulip and popped them up. The ribbon is from American Crafts(blue gingham) and Embellish Online. I used my matt pack to punch the holes along the bottom, I am loving the way this looks on cards right now. The second card with the bunny, used Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery and the prints pack. I did some ribbon tabs with pink gingham and taffeta from SU. The last card is Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Lavender Lace, and the Prints Pack. The ribbon is white taffeta and blue gingham, both from SU, and green polka dot from Embellish Online. I was missing my button brads so I had to throw a few on here. Well that is all for me now, got a lot of commenting to do and not a whole lot of time!! Thanks for looking and have a great day!!
stamps-Just So Hoppy, Eggstra Special, and Prarie Grass
paper- Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink, Lavender Lace, and Prints Pack
ink-Black Stazon, Bashful Blue
tools-aquapainter, SU markers, button brads, ribbon, scalloped circle punch, circle punches, key tag punch, matt pack

Happy Sunday!!

I have to go to a visitation today for my dh's Granny's best friend. She died suddenly from a heart attack and it has really hit Granny hard. Since most of you don't know me personally, one thing you need to know is that this is my least favorite thing to do. I don't handle death, mourning, or funerals well at all, but really, who does. I know it is the right thing to do to go, but I seriously have to force myself. In fact, I refuse to make sympathy cards ahead of time because I don't want to think about having to give them away, so I don't make them. I had a couple of cards laying around that would work for a sympathy card, so I didn't have to make one for today, but I did make another Easter card to cheer myself up. I started with Lavender Lace, then Certainly Celery, Barley Banana, and then Whisper White which I got to run through my Cuttlebug with my new folder Swiss Dots. I tell you what, I had to look all over for this thing, and everywhere that said they had it, would be sold out. I finally went to Embellish Online the other day and saw that they had it in stock, so I hurried up and ordered it, before it disappeared again. All three ribbons that are used on this card were bought by the yard at Embellish Online too, yummy right!! The images were stamped in Black Stazon on Whisper White. They are from the Gina K. set Just So Hoppy. I colored it in with my SU markers and aquapainter. I cut out the image and all the layers using my classic circles and scallop circles nestabilities. I still believe that Nestabilities along with the Cuttlebug are by far the most genius things I have bought in a long time. I put my three button brads up in the top corner, and it was done. Any questions, feel free to comment or send me an email, I am usually pretty quick to answer. Thanks for looking and have a great day!!

stamps- Just So Hoppy and Spring has Sprung

paper-Certainly Celery, Barely Banana, Lavender Lace and Whisper White

ink-Black Stazon and Bashful Blue

tools-button brads, ribbon, aquapainter, SU markers, Swiss Dots, Nestabilities, Cuttlebug

Congrats Paris Otremba!!

Congrats to this weeks Featured Stamper over on SCS Paris Otremba. She has a fabulous gallery that I had never been to before tonight. The featured stamper challenge is where you pick a card from the chosen one's gallery and CASE it. You are required to change atleast two things. I changed everything but the layout on mine. The, colors, paper, ribbon, sentiment and images are all different, but I really loved the layout to this card. This card is pretty self explanatory, and I am exhausted so I will list the supplies, and if you have any questions feel free to leave a comment or send me an email, I will get back to you ASAP!! By the way, see the ribbon, I remembered to use it on this one, too bad it didn't make it on the card it inspired!!LOL

Have a great day!!

stamps-Eggstra Special(MFT) and Spring Has Sprung(Whipper Snapper)

paper-Certainly Celery, Barely Banana, Whisper White and Certainly Celery DSP

ink- Black Stazon and Bashful Blue

tools-button brads, green and yellow polka dot sheer ribbons, SU markers, aquapainter, large and small oval punches, ticket corner punch