Long Tall Sally

Today's limited supplies challenge is being guest hosted by Sherry Cheever(badsherry), Jen was sick so she filled in. Hope you feel better soon Jen!! So for Sherry's challenge she wanted us to make a long card, which meant the measurements had to be atleast 4x8. I usually do 4 1/4x9, but I decided that for what popped in my head, 4x8 would be plenty of room. The other rules for the challenge were to limit the layers and use no designer paper......say it ain't so Sherry!! This is a tough one for me, I mean, you don't get the nickname"Jessica Jean the Layer Queen" for NOT liking layers(thanks Melanie M. for the super fun nickname). So my card is 6 layers, since I average around 12-15, I thought 6 was very limited!! I started with some Kraft cardstock and layered it with Handsome Hunter. I then took a piece of Confetti Cream CS and stamped the French Script BG in Handsome Hunter. On top of that, I stamped the Sanded background in Mellow Moss. Twill tape from SU was used to hide the "seam", and hunter organdy was tied around that for some color. The ribbon was tied in a square knot first, then I took two seperate pieces and tied them around the knot to make it bigger. The main image was stamped twice in Mellow Moss and once in Handsome Hunter. I added some aged copper hardware and it was done!! Thanks for looking and have a great day!! Don't forget to sign up for my Blog Candy!!!
stamps-Garden Silhouettes, Sanded, and French Script
paper-Handsome Hunter, Mellow Moss, Kraft, and Confetti Cream
ink- Mellow Moss and Handsome Hunter
tools-hunter organdy, twill tape, aged copper hardware, and small oval punch

Searching My Stamp Room....

for something acrylic led me to the decision, that I definitely am not as organized as I thought I was!! Today's Ways to Use It challenge on SCS is to use something acrylic on your card. At first I was a little stumped, but after reading Julia's list of acrylic things you can use, I wasn't worried anymore. I made my first card, and while I was trying to load it, my Internet got really slow, so I had to reboot my computer. While I was waiting, I decided to make another card because I wasn't completely happy with the first one. I recently while searching around on SCS stumbled upon a conversation people had been having about people only uploading their good work and not their bad. I honestly upload everything I make, no matter if I love it or hate it. I figure that a. I am human and I make mistakes and have off days, and b. sometimes what I think isn't that great, someone out there will love. I have also come to the conclusion that I am not always going to create the most wonderful things, and I need to stop being so hard on myself. With that said, I have two cards for you today. The first is using the SU set Pun Fun. I colored the cup in with my watercolor pencils and a blender pen. I then covered the whole cup with crystal effects. I cut it and the layers of Mint Melody(my last sheet) and Chocolate Chip. I wanted to use that yummy polka dotted ribbon, so I dug out this last lonely sheet of Mint Melody to go with it. The DP on this came from the SU Apple Cider DSP. I had seen on Carolyn King's blog where she talked about faux stitching, and since I had never tried it, I wanted to give it a try. I also added some polka dots around the scallops and MM layer with my CC marker. My acrylic part is the dew drops in the two corners, I still haven't quite figured out how to use those things.

stamps-Pun Fun

paper- Chocolate Chip, Mint Melody, Whisper White and Apple Cider DSP

ink-Basic Black and Chocolate Chip

tools-Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, dew drops, paper piercer, SU markers, chocolate ribbon, other ribbon by American Crafts, crystal effects, blender pen, watercolor pencils, stylized silver hardware and designer label punch

The second card was made while my computer rebooted. It was made using the SU set Pick a Petal. I stamped the petals in Pink Passion and the border with Black Stazon. I filled in the polka dots with Black Stickles. The button is from SU and I attached a piece of DP from the DCWV Glitter Pack. I then put a round rhinestone brad in it and attached it with a pop dot. I put the three black brads in both corners and then attempted to stamp a sentiment, which of course went on crooked, so I re stamped it twice, once in black and once in PP, and used my designer label punch to punch it out. I hand cut out the pink part and glued it on.

Well, that is all for me now, don't forget to sign up for my blog candy. I am really enjoying reading all the answers!! Thanks for looking and have a great day!!

stamps-Pick a Petal and Sweet Serendipity

ink-Black Stazon and Pink Passion

paper-Basic Black, Pink Passion, Whisper White and DCWV Glitter paper

tools-Black stickles, designer label punch, stylized silver hardware, rhinestone brads, button, black organdy, pink ribbon,

It's Candy Time!!

So I have thought all day long about what I want to do to celebrate my 10000+ blog hits, and I finally came to a decision. I could have gone out and bought a bunch of stuff to make up a basket, but I have to drive atleast an hour to get anywhere good, and with all my RAKing I have been doing, I am running low on goodies!! So after a lot of thought, I decided to give you what you want(within reason that is!!LOL), and just what is it that you want? So happy you asked!!! I am going to award the person that wins my blog candy drawing a gift certificate for SU, redeemable through me for up to $29.95(and it will be shipped directly to you, don't worry about the tax and shipping, it is on me, so you actually get to get $29.95 in merchandise). Yes I know I am crazy, but I figure, by the time I go out and buy the stuff(and all the stuff I will have to have),buy lunch and gas, I will have spent WELL over that!!LOL
So now you are wondering what you have to do? Good question!!! Just leave a comment on this blog post telling me your all time favorite song(this one is for you Jodi) and your least favorite song!! Easy Peasy right!! I will accept comments until midnight on Saturday and announce the winner on Sunday. Only one comment per person please!!

ETA: I didn't think of this before, but if you live outside the US, your prize will be shipped to me, and then I will ship it to you, otherwise, it will come directly to you. Keep those comments coming!!!

WOOHOO!!!

This has got to be one of the best days I have had in a long time!! First, I get up this morning and get to go shopping for shoes, yay!!! Then, I got to eat dinner with my Mom who I hadn't seen for a while, HI MOM!! Then, lo and behold, when I log on to SCS I see that the dirty dozen gallery is open. Imagine my surprise to find that the two dirty girls are non other than Jodi(kharmagirl)who has a brand new blog, yay, and Laura(scrapnextras), my two elves, and the two people that make me keep stamping everyday!!! Both of these ladies have a special place in my heart and always will. I know I probably sound like a broken record, but seriously, they are two of my biggest supporters, and I am their biggest fan. I feel like a proud momma, I just wish that they lived closer to me so I could give them both a big HUG!!!! Congrats you guys, you are so worthy of dirtiness!!!

Today is also Prettie Wednesday(started this post on Tuesday so don't get confused on me!!), and as my first official Wednesday as a Prettie girl Jillian had posted our challenge, unfortunately for me, it was to take the week off and rest!!! So my first official Prettie Wednesday will have to be next week, when we are to make a card using polka dots for Jana's challenge!! This weeks challenge is being hosted by Joni, and I can't wait to see what she has in store for us!!

Then I noticed that my blog counter has rolled over 10,000 hits!!! YAY!!! So tomorrow morning I will post my blog candy contest, as soon as I make up my mind about what it will be!! Thanks to all of you that keep stopping by, I love it when you do!!!

Lastly, the sketch challenge got posted early, and lucky me, a card popped in my head, so I had to make it!!! I started with some yummy Afternoon Tea DSP and layered it with Groovy Guava, Wild Wasabi and Chocolate Chip. I sponged all the edges with Chocolate Chip ink and then tied a CC satin bow around to hide the seam. I love my brads, so I put one in each corner. I used the same colors on the strip across, but I used a piece of Very Vanilla so that I could stamp my sentiment from All Holidays on it. I put brads in the corners of this too and popped it up on dimensionals. The main image is from Bloomin`Beautiful. I stamped it(three times) with Chocolate Chip and used my blender pen to color in the bloom and the stems. I then cut out different parts of the petals and popped them up too. the edges were sponged again, and I added some white gel pen for highlights. That's it for me tonight, I am about 4days behind on my blurfing, and I need to get caught up before this weekend!!! Thanks for looking and have a great day!!!

stamps-Bloomin Beautiful and All Holidays

paper- Chocolate Chip, Wild Wasabi, Groovy Guava, Very Vanilla and Afternoon Tea DSP

ink- Chocolate Chip, Groovy Guava, and Wild Wasabi

tools-silver brads, blender pen, chocolate satin ribbon, and white gel pen

What Can I Say...

I am a total challenge stalker. I was just about to give up and go to bed when I saw that Emily had posted the color challenge over on SCS. Thankfully, this weeks combo didn't leave me with an upset stomach like last week(glorious green-gag!!). Today's combo was to use Basic Gray, Blush Blossom, and Groovy Guava, now that I can do. This card came together relatively fast for me. I got my new oval Nestabilities on Saturday, and I have been having a blast using them. I used them tonight to cut out my Sophia from the Cuddle Me set by Paper Pretties. I stamped her in Black Stazon on Whisper White and layered it with Groovy Guava and Blush Blossom. The panel under the main image is the same colors plus a piece of Whisper White that I ran through the Cuttlebug with my Swiss Dots folder. Do you ever stop and wonder how we survived before the Cuttlebug?? I do, and I seriously want to send a big THANKS out to the person who invented the Nestabilities, pure genius!! Anyway, the image was colored in with my SU markers and ink pads. I used an aquapainter and blender pen. After I was done, I covered the dress with Perfect Pearls by Ranger, they really add a beautiful shimmer. I stamped the sentiment with Basic Gray ink and put three silver brads in each corner. I am obsessed with ribbon and brads, so of course, I tied two pieces of gray taffeta ribbon and one piece of guava around the middle strip. That's it for me now, I will be back tomorrow with more, once I get all my shopping done. I am about to go over 10,000 hits on my blog, so I think some CANDY is in order!!! I will have more info tomorrow!! Thanks for looking and have a great day!!

stamps-Cuddle Me by Paper Pretties

paper-Blush Blossom, Groovy Guava, Basic Gray, and Whisper White

ink- Black Stazon, Groovy Guava, and Basic Gray

tools- Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, silver brads, gray taffeta, guava ribbon, perfect pearls, SU markers, aquapainter, blender pen, Swiss Dots folder

Still Stamping

Do you ever just get in the mood to stamp, and nothing else matters? I have tons of things I could be doing, but instead I have spent half of the day at my stamp table. In my defense, my first card(my last post) took almost two hours. It had a lot going on, and a lot of embellishments, which meant a lot of decisions. The two that I am getting ready to show you were a result of my obsessive need to participate in lots of challenges. The first on is for Jen Del Muro's Sketch For You To Try. Every Saturday Jen posts a fabulous sketch and I always love blurfing around and checking out all of the fabulous samples. She has a fabulous sketch team and they come up with some of the most gorgeous cards. I loved this sketch when I initially saw it, but was completely sold when I saw Amy Sheffer's version. It was so beautiful and elegant, yet simple, I knew I wanted to try it out. I started with my favorite paper right now(I wish SU would sell it by the sheet, I would buy a ton of them)from the Afternoon Tea pack from SU. I cut it into strips, layered it on Chocolate Chip and sponged the edges. Now, you all know that I have a little obsession with brads, so I put one at the top and bottom of every strip and popped them up on my Whisper White CS. I then stamped the bench from Time for You and used my markers and ink pads to color it in. I layered it on Soft Sky, Groovy Guava, and Chocolate Chip and sponged the edges with Chocolate Chip ink. I then stamped the sentiment from Small Script on WW with CC ink. I used my small oval punch to punch it out and some hardware from the stylized silver hardware from SU. As always, I thought it needed some ribbon, so I tied a bow around the card with chocolate taffeta.

stamps-Time for You and Small Script

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

ink-Black Stazon, Groovy Guava, Soft Sky and Chocolate Chip

tools-stylized silver hardware, chocolate taffeta, blender pen, aquapainter, SU markers

The second card was made using the My Favorite Things sketch posted in the member forum over on SCS. It is hosted each week by Cindy Haffner and she really does an excellent job of coming up with a wonderful sketch and always has a gorgeous sample. I used the Punch a Bunch stamp set from MFT for this one. I started out by stamping the stems in Gable Green and the flowers in Rose Red. I colored the flowers in with my Regal Rose marker and then used my scalloped Nestibilities to cut it and the layers out. Then I stamped the flowers again and colored them in the same way. My white gel pen was used to color in the center of the flowers(and make the dots on the scallops) and the flowers were cut out and popped up on dimensionals. The ribbon is from American Crafts and the brads I got from Paper Pretties. The sentiment is from SU's Warm Words, and punched out with the oval punches. For the second layer, I cut out a big oval punch and trimmed around it til I got the size I wanted. These colors are a bit out of my comfort zone, but I really enjoy them together. On another note, MFT is having a special until Friday, read this post for details, it is for a good cause!!

stamps-Punch a Bunch by MFT and Small Script

paper-Rose Red, Gable Green, Whisper White and Rose Red DSP

ink-Rose Red and Gable Green

tools-oval punches, white brads, ribbon, SU markers, photo corners punch and white gel pen

This last card I received in the mail today from Laura(Lov'n Life n Vegas). She sent it to me to congratulate me on winning the guest designer challenge for MFT. Isn't it fabulous!! I am so honored to have a card made by her, I love her work!!! Thanks for looking and have a great day!!!

Double Pocket Card

Today's technique lover's challenge was to make a card using this wonderful tutorial on Judy's(stampingqueenjar). It is really easy to follow, and the end result is fantastic. I started with a piece of double sided designer paper from the retired SU pack Enchante`. I followed the directions for the tutorial and assembled my card. I then stamped the flower from One of a Kind and colored it in with my markers. I stamped it twice and cut out part of it and popped it up on dimensionals. I added a build a brad into the center of the flower. I then stamped the three flower punch three times in each color and punched them out. Then I layered them all together and added a pewter brad to the center of them to hold them together. Down the left side(my left), I put 6 Lavender Lace brads, but didn't like how they looked, so I added pewter brads to all of those. The sentiment is from Warm Words and it was punched out with a small oval punch and I used an oval frame from my Pewter Hodgepodge Hardware. The tags are just DP right now until I can figure out who I am going to give this too. All I know is that I am going to have to hand it to them in person because this thing weighs a TON!!! Thanks for looking and have a great day!!! I have also included and RAK I got from Vicky Gould. Isn't it beautiful. It is so sparkly IRL and I love all the texture and popped out flowers, thanks Vicky!!

stamps-One of a Kind and Warm Words

paper- Lavender Lace, Very Vanilla, Sage Shadow and Enchante`DSP

ink-Black Stazon, Lavender Lace, and Sage Shadow

tools-cream taffeta, mellow moss gingham, pewter hardware, pewter bab, SU markers, three flower punch, oval punch, circle punch, lavender eyelets

I Told You!!!!

I told you that my friend Jodi, aka Kharmagirl, ROCKS!!! I was so excited when I went to see who today's featured stamper was going to be and saw that it was none other then my favorite SCS buddy Jodi!!! We talk A LOT, and have really gotten to know each other, she really is what I would consider a true friend. I mention her here all the time, but just for a recap, Jodi was one of the first people to reach out to me on SCS(along with Laura(scrapnextras)). She elfed me back at Christmas time, and we have remained in constant contact since then. She is one of my biggest supporters, and I am(hopefully she agrees) one of hers. Jodi is there to pull me back up when my mojo is running low, and I try to be there for her. This is one of the things that I love the most about SCS, all the wonderful people I have met!!!

I HAD to participate in this challenge as soon as I saw it!!! So here is my card for today's featured stamper challenge!! Jodi is a SUPER DUPER talented(don't believe me, check out her gallery) and AWESOMLY SWEET person. She is constantly leaving comments on everyones cards and she makes some of the most AMAZING cards I have ever seen. I chose this card to case. As per the rules, cause let's face it, this card was already perfect, I changed the colors, main image, dp(same pack, just different print), added three more brads, changed the sentiment and only used one piece of ribbon. I also used the paper tole technique on my flower to give it some dimension. I used my aquapainter and ink pad to color the flower and added some white gel pen to highlight the flower. Thanks for looking and have a great day!!!

stamps-Bloomin Beautiful, All Holidays

paper- Close to Cocoa, Groovy Guava, Soft sky, Whisper White and Afternoon Tea DSP

ink- Black Stazon and Groovy Guava

tools-chocolate taffeta, brown brads, white gel pen, aquapainter

Lucky Me!

I have recieved so many RAK's recently and I have been so bad about posting them!! I wanted to let everyone who has sent me one, thanks and I really appreciate all the beautiful stamped goodies I am getting!!! The first one is from Lee(luvlee) and it is super gorgeous!!! So sparkly and well, perfect!! She also included some goodies-two spools of ribbon, some bling, and a clear stamp set!! Thanks so much Lee, your rock!! The second is from the fabulous Jana(janacb)!! She is one of my fellow Prettie girls and send me this rockin' card!! Isn't it cool!! The last two are from Beth. I had gotten her name off the RAK list over at Paper Pretties and she sent me these two super cute cards as a thanks!!! You ladies all made my day!!! I'm off to try to stamp, my mojo is a nogo today so I am trying to get it in gear!! I think it is this screaming headache I got at my "friend/cousin in laws" bday party today. She turns 8 later on this month, but due to all the weddings(one each weekend for the rest of the month), she had to have her party today. Of course, I had to bring my nieces so there was lots of yelling, arguing, loud singing and Hannah Montanna madness!! Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!! Hopefully I have something good to show you later!!! Off to check out some challenges!!!

Oh What a Night!!

If you didn't make it to the pj party tonight, you missed a great time!!! Charmaine hosted three fantastic challenges and Christie made a big announcement!! Christie has asked me to join their design team and be an official Prettie Girl!! YAYY!!!! She asked if I wanted to finish my guest designer term and I told her it was up to her! She officially promoted me and found herself another guest designer. The new guest designer is Jackie Rokowski and she is super talented, be sure to check her out in the guest room!! Also, be sure to read the note about shipping on the front page of the Paper Pretties site when you go shopping. There are a few glitches, but I assure you Christie will make it right!!

On to my challenge cards!! The first challenge was to make a card with Bold and Bright colors-gaggg!! I loathe the Bold Brights, but I sucked it up and eeked this card out. I tried to make myself feel better by using mostly purple since it is my favorite color. The colors on this are Lovely Lilac, Orchid Opulence, and Gable Green. I colored the image from Simply Special with my SU markers and blended it with my aqua painter. I then outlined the whole image in Prismacolor Cool Grey marker. To make it pop out, I covered the whole thing with Crystal Effects. To offset the bright colors, I used mostly white on this and added some texture with my Swiss Dots embossing folder.

stamps-Simply Special and Warmest Regards(SU)

paper- Orchid Opulence, Lovely Lilac, Gable Green and Whisper White

ink-Black Stazon

tools- SU markers, crystal effects, perfect pearls, swiss dots folder, cuttlebug, narrow organdy.

The second challenge was to make a card using glossy cardstock. You could use any technique you wanted, so I chose to use the faux linen technique. I got the instructions for this from a wonderful tutorial over on SCS by Beate. She really is a master at that stuff!! I started with my glossy paper and then stamped the Filigree background stamp in Rose Red. I sanded my paper going in both directions(up and down, and across) and then sponged on some So Saffron ink. I then sanded it again to soften it. I was surprised, but it really does feel like linen, who knew!!LOL!! I then stamped Cuddle Me Sophia in Black Stazon on Whisper White and colored her with my SU markers. Lucky me, my oval Nestabilities got here today, so I used them to cut her out.

stamps-Cuddle Me

paper-Rose Red, So Saffron, Whisper White and Glossy White

ink-Black Stazon, Rose Red and So Saffron

tools-Cuttlebug, Nesties, SU markers, wine organdy, gold brads, sanding block

The third challenge was to make a long card. I have to say, this one hurt a little!! I started with this paper that I was dead set on using. I picked colors to match it, and then COULD NOT get it to work the way I wanted. I ended up some how keeping the colors of the paper, but not using the paper. You only have an hour to finish these challenges, so I really didn't have time to scrap it and start over so I had to make it work. So what did I do, I covered it with ribbons and white brads and called it good!! This card is HUGE by the way, 4x9. It will fit in a business sized envelope. I colored Lexi with my SU markers and silver pen and cut her out. She is layered on Real Red, So Saffron and Regal Rose. I used some Real Red and So Saffron DSP too. Thanks for looking and have a great day!! I have a bunch of RAK's to post, but they may have to wait until tomorrow!!

stamps-Made With Love

paper- Real Red, So Saffron, Regal Rose, Whisper White, Prints Pack and So Saffron DSP

ink-Black Stazon

tools-SU markers, silver glitter pen, rose grosgrain, white taffeta, white brads