Mojo Thursday???

OK, so Mojo Thursday doesn't have quite the ring to it as Mojo Monday does, but I'm hooked on these sketches! Here's another card I created with the help of this sketch from week #69.

I used the new set Sweet Stems along with Raspberry Tart paper for this. These dainty little floral images are nice as both main images and used randomly for a background. If you look closely you can see that I used the leafy looking image on the background here. I created the main image with the help of my Stamp-a-ma-jig to combine the two different images into one floral design.

Stamps: Sweet Stems
Card stock: Pink Pirouette, Basic Black, Whisper White and Raspberry Tart DP
Ink: Basic Black, Pink Pirouette, Sage Shadow & Regal Rose
Accessories: Aqua Painter, Coluzzle, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Photo Corner & 1" circle punches, Vintage brads & the very last of my black polka dotted ribbon...along with some other because I didn't even have enough to make a knot. ;-)

Thanks for stopping by today...enjoy your day!

6th photo in 6th folder

While I was visiting my friend Vicki's Blog this morning she had a post about going to your photo files and choosing your 6th album and then the 6th photo in that album. Then you post it and tell about that photo. I thought that sounded like fun and decided to play along. (unless the 6th photo in the 6th album was something embarrassing! ;-) Besides, since I was born on the 6th day of the 6th month, weighing in at 6lbs, 6 oz, (and 6 is my lucky number), I was curious to see what the photo would be. As luck would have it...it was a good one!This is a photo I took of Kenny Wayne Shepherd. He's an amazing guitarist and I just love his music! We got really good seats for this particular show back in 2004. (yes, I need to remove some picture files off my computer! hehehe I do have most of them saved on a disk tho...so that's good, right?) His band - drummer & bass player who are shown in the background used to be Stevie Ray Vaughn's band - Double Trouble.

What's the 6th photo in your 6th album?

A Birthday Card for Dad

My Dad's birthday is coming up, so I needed a nice masculine card to send him. I pulled out a beautiful old retired set called Changing Seasons. It has four stamps showing a different covered bridge for each season. I guess the one I choose shows Fall. (I just couldn't bear to do the cold, wintery scene I guess!) This card uses this weeks sketch from Mojo Monday. I used all retired stuff to make this card except for one stamp...can you see it? Look closely at the Artichoke DP, and you can see the Sanded background over the top. I also sponged the edges with Chocolate Chip ink.

Stamps: Changing Seasons, Sanded background, Everyday Flexible Phrases & Fancy Flexible Phrases
Card stock: Kraft, Bravo Burgundy, Always Artichoke Designer prints, Ski Slope
Ink: Black Stazon, Bravo Burgundy and various others to watercolor
Accessories: Aqua painter, 3/8" Chocolate grosgrain, Antique Gold Hodge podge Hardware & Word Window punch

Thanks for stopping by today!

Plum Polka Dot Punches

I was checking out some of my favorite blogs yesterday and came across a link to a blog that offers weekly sketch challenges called Mojo Mondays. I really liked the sketch, and luckily I had time to play along this afternoon. I decided to use the upcoming SAB set Polka Dot Punches and the matching paper called Delicate Dots.

The flower image was stamped on Whisper White with Versamark ink and embossed in White EP. Then I watercolored it with Plum and Saffron inks, cut it out, and used pop dots to attach it to So Saffron & Perfect Plum squares matted on top of a scalloped square of Sahara Sand punched with the Scalloped Square punch. The Coluzzle was used to cut circles from Perfect Plum Designer Prints paper and So Saffron card stock. I used the Swirls Sizzlet to cut the 2 swirls from Sahara Sand card stock.

The sentiment, from the now retired Level 1 Hostess set Best Yet, is stamped in Plum. For extra detail I pierced the Plum layers and added White Taffeta ribbon.

Now, I'm going to head back downstairs to try another Mojo Monday sketch. I'm looking forward to tomorrow when they'll post a new sketch. Have a good night!

Bloomin' Beautiful Quilt

I combined elements from one of my favorite samples in the new catalog (check out page 85) along with a Top Note die quilt and a few of my own details to create this birthday card for my Mom.She's a quilter so I knew she would love the Top Note quilt. If you look closely, I also did a faux tile effect on the Eggplant layer by scoring diagonally at 1/2" intervals. The elements I copied from the catalog sample are the way that the piece of Styled Silver Hodge Podge Hardware was attached using Linen Thread and buttons. Since I don't have any of those pretty new latte buttons yet, I had to substitute what I had on hand along with a Filigree & Rhinestone Brad. I also loved the way the artist colored the image and added the blossom definition to the vase, so I did that as well.

Stamps: Bloomin' Beautiful, Dream du Jour, Fancy Flexible Phrases and Tags So Much
Card stock: Always Artichoke, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White, Perfect Plum Designer Prints, Haiku & Le Jardin paper
Ink: Black Stazon, Always Artichoke, Perfect Plum plus various others to watercolor

Since the challenge on Stamp Something this week is to stamp something with a birthday theme, I'm entering this card there...just in the nick of time! There's still time to play along - until 7:00 tonight...so get busy and stamp a birthday card!

Have a good one!

Love you

Sorry I've been MIA for the past several days. You probably just figured I was too busy looking at the new Spring~Summer catalog to take out time to post. I wish that was the case! I guess you could say my luck ran out as far as not catching the flu bug that the rest of my family has been passing around since just after Christmas. This morning I'm feeling pretty good, so I thought I'd finally share the other projects we did at stamp club on Friday.

This card was made with two of my all-time favorite backgrounds ever...Floral and Canvas. Unfortunately, as of Monday they were both retired. Hopefully you already have them in your collection...I know I'll never give these babies up!

The image from Dream du Jour was stamped in VersaMark and embossed with Black EP. Classic inks and the aqua painter were used to watercolor the image. The little envelope was created using the Big Shot and the SU! exclusive Scallop Envelope die. It holds an extra little note for the recipient. In this case it will be sent to my Mom for Valentine's Day.

Colors used: Real Red, Elegant Eggplant & Pink Pirouette.

For a final project everyone created this magnetic acrylic calendar using Eastern Blooms and the DSP and ribbon of their choice.

My sample uses: Green Tea paper (retired), Perfect Plum card stock and ink along with Celery grosgrain ribbon.

Bright Flight of the Butterfly

Last night was my last hostess club meeting for a while. I'm sure going to miss seeing these ladies every month! We had fun stamping, eating the delicious nacho bar our January hostess Teresa set up for us, and looking through the new catalog. It was fun looking and commenting about the new goodies with others who care...for some reason the hubby and sons just don't seem interested. Imagine that? One of the cards we did last night was this one using the Flight of the Butterfly.

The women were sooo incredibly thrilled to use the stamp-a-ma-jig so many times on this card! (in case you missed it...I'm being sarcastic, hehehe) I've found that most don't really like using the stamp-a-ma-jig, but once you get used to it it's hard to live without it. I suppose you could eyeball the layers to the butterfly, but that never works out well for me. OK, I admit it...it's because I'm a perfectionist, and if it doesn't line up it just bugs me.

Stamps: Flight of the Butterfly, Cute & Curly
Card stock: Pacific Point, Certainly Celery, Rose Red & whisper White
Ink: Pacific Point, Certainly Celery, Rose Red & White Craft
Accessories: Scallop edge & Curly Label punches, White Taffeta ribbon, mat pack, white gel pen, adhesive backed rhinestones and of course...the Stamp-a-ma-jig!

We did another card and an acrylic calendar, but I didn't get a chance to photograph those...so I'll post those next time. Have a great weekend!

Delicate Dot Pizazz

It's so freezing cold here today they had to call off school! I don't ever remember that happening before...it's usually the snow or ice that makes them call off school, but my son sure wasn't complaining! At least today's card will have you thinking spring-like thoughts. Speaking of Spring...I got my pre-ordered Spring~Summer catalogs! It was nice curling up under a cozy blanket with a cup of hot tea flipping through all the pages. There's some great new stuff...including the set I used here.I used the new Petal Pizazz set (available next week) along with the SAB papers called Delicate Dots (available in Feb). The larger flower shown here works with the scallop punch, unfortunately I had to hand cut all the other pieces...other than that this was a fast and easy card to make.

Stamps: Petal Pizazz, Big Bold Birthday (happy birthday! stem) & Cute & Curly
Card stock: So Saffron, Regal Rose, Whisper White & Delicate Dots DP
Ink: Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Regal Rose & Bashful Blue
Accessories: Certainly Celery grosgrain, Rich Regal brads, Curly Label & Scallop Circle punches

Stay warm and enjoy your day!

Spring~Summer Catalog Swaps

Yesterday I showed you the cards I made for a swap I was in. Today I want to share all the beautiful swaps I received in return. They are all created with sets that will be available in the new Spring~Summer Idea Book & Catalog. I'm still anxiously awaiting the arrival of my pre-ordered catalogs...maybe they'll be here today???

These cards feature some of the hostess sets that will be available:

Dream A Little - Level 3 by Marica

Dream A Little - Level 3 by Christy

Goody-Goody Gumdrops - Level 3 by Melissa

Echos of Kindness - Level 2 by Christy

Echos of Kindness - Level 2 by Rhonda

Itty Bitty Buds - Level 2 by Kim

Here are some more cards featuring sets that will be available to order starting January 19th.

Game Night by Kay

Sweet Stems with Raspberry Tart papers by Andrea

Sweet Stems with Candy Lane papers by Lisa

Petal Pizazz by Mary

Petal Pizazz by Barbara

Hope you enjoyed seeing all these great cards as much as I did! Enjoy your day...hope wherever you are it is a lot warmer than it is here! If not...stay warm & cozy!

Petal Pizazz

I did a new catalog swap with the swap group I belong to, and yesterday I got my return swaps! It's so much fun looking at all the cards! This is the card I did for the swap using Petal Pizazz. Hopefully I'll get a chance today to photograph all the beautiful cards I got in return and share here later.
After all the Christmas projects I had done, I was certainly in the mood for flowers and bright, spring-like colors when creating these...can you tell? This is a fun set that can be used with several of the punches. I started with a Whisper White Top Note die cut and stamped the flowers using the rock 'n roll technique along with some masking. I sponged the edges with Baja Breeze. One leaf and one small flower were cut out to add extra dimension.

Stamps: Petal Pizazz, Flight of the Butterfly, Cute & Curly
Card stock: Kiwi Kiss, Regal Rose, So Saffron, Whisper White & Raspberry Tart DP
Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Rose Red, Regal Rose, So Saffron & Baja Breeze
Accessories: Top Note die, Scallop Circle, Curly Label & 3'4" circle punches, Rich Regal brads, mat pack

Have a bright and cheerful day!

Raspberry Tart Quilt

When I saw the challenge on Stamp Something this week is "No Stamping Allowed," I knew it was the perfect time to do a project I've been wanting to try...a quilt using the Top Note die. The quilt pattern shows off several prints from the new bright and cheery Raspberry Tart papers. The idea to make a Top Note quilt was not my original idea...I saw this tutorial on another blog and knew I wanted to try it some day. Thanks for the inspiration Bev!If you want to make a Top Note quilt, you need to start with a piece of base card stock measuring 3-3/4"x5". Then, cut twelve 1-1/4" squares of patterned paper. (I used 3 each of 4 different patterns for mine.) Arrange the 12 squares until you have a pattern that pleases you. Adhere each square to the 3-3/4"x5" base. Center your quilt piece on the Top Note die and run through the Big Shot.

While I was at it, I also used a polka-dotted texture plate on the Kiwi layer and my new little Embosslit Die, called Sweetest Stem. This die embosses and cuts at the same time...how cool is that!? Even cooler...is that there will be several more of these offered in the upcoming catalog. I cannot wait to get my hands on the new catalog! Lots of demos have already begun to receive theirs, and I'm sure I'll get mine at some point next week...WOO HOO!!!

Ooops!...I think I went a little off track! The little embosslit leaf is layered on another print from the Raspberry Tart paper and then matted on 4 punched out scalloped squares adhered together. This is a good trick to create any size scalloped square you may need. Keeping with the no stamping theme, I used a rub on from the Love & Happiness collection for my greeting. To finish off my card, I tied on some White Taffeta ribbon along with a ribbon slide from the Styled Silver HPH kit.

On a personal note...I totally nailed #5 (several times over!) on my list of goals for the New Year!!! I can now make it through not only one song...but most all the songs (easy level) on my new Aerosmith Guitar Hero game! Yes...I ROCK!!! hehehe I found out the secret to playing good (for me, anyways)...just add alcohol! ;-) Unfortunately none of the above helped me achieve the other goals on my list! Oh well...I had fun anyways!

Thanks for stopping by...hope your day rocks!

Hoppy Birthday!

It's snowing like crazy and it's looking the the plans we had for later on tonight will have to be put on hold. Bummer, because today is my hubby's birthday and we had planned to go to dinner and a comedy club...but it's an hour drive (in good weather) and there are all kinds of winter weather advisories. I didn't even realize it was snowing again until I came up for a lunch break! I was too busy having fun stamping to even look outside!
Isn't this little guy sweet? I just fell in love with this little froggy from Whimsy Stamps. I watercolored him and then cut him out. He's popped up and covered with Crystal Effects to make him look all wet and shiny...that doesn't show up too good in the photo though. I added some balloons using the image from the Crazy for Cupcakes set and stamped those onto Always Artichoke and Certainly Celery prints paper and cut them out.

The Certainly Celery background is embossed using one of the Sizzix Texture Plates and the Big Shot. I've heard that Stampin' Up! is offering texture plates in the new catalog! Some of the designs will be exclusive to SU!, so I'm sure they'll match some of the stamp sets. I'm really excited about that!

Good morning!

Just a quick post this morning to share the beautiful view I saw outside me kitchen window as I made my coffee. I'm heading downstairs to do some stamping now...so I should have a card to share later.

Have a beautiful day!

More Christmas?

I am taking a break from putting away Christmas decorations...yuk! It's so much fun getting them out...but I hate putting them away! As I was going through the Christmas cards we received this year I thought it was a shame not to share the beautiful handmade ones we received. Plus that meant I could delay putting away all this stuff! hehehe (click on each photo for a closer look)
The sparkly snow card on top left was created by Miriam. She included a folded pop-up newsletter inside the card...it's so cool!

Cheri created the card on the top right. I love the background she created with the pine branches and the embossed snowflakes - they have rhinestone centers...so pretty!

The bottom card was created by Karman. I love the winter scene she created complete Snoopy on his motorcycle...super cute!
On the top left is a card created by Julie...she did a beautiful job watercoloring the snowman and adding lots of sparkle!

On the right is the gorgeous cardinal card created by Rachel. I love the way she used this set with the Top Note die...so pretty!

On the bottom is a card created by Denise using her new Whimsy duck stamp. I love the way she layered the papers and all the details...she even put snow on the cat tails! The card on the top left is created by Bea. I love the little window she created with the scallop & circle punches...the cute snowman couple are on the inside of the card...super cute!

On the top left is the tree card created by my ever so patient Aunt Roberta. She loved a sample I had, so after showing her how, she went on and made a bunch of these for everyone in our family!

The bottom card was created by Jodie. Look closely...does that happy snowman look slightly familiar? It is the skull from Just Jawing turned upside down! How creative is that!?

Thanks so much for the beautiful cards! I truly enjoyed receiving them! Well...I guess it's back to putting stuff away for me.

Cute & Curly Sweet Stems

I've been having fun playing with some new goodies! The Sweet Stems stamps (set of 4) and the Raspberry Tart designer paper will be available soon in the Spring~Summer Idea Book & Catalog! This also works for this weeks Stamp Something Challenge to stamp something using new stuff.
These delicate little flower designs are fun to water color and can also be used to create a nice background. The new Raspberry Tart paper is full of bright, happy colors and fun designs.

Stamps: Sweet Stems & Cute & Curly
Card stock: Kiwi Kiss, Regal Rose, Whisper White & Raspberry Tart DP
Ink: Black Stazon, Kiwi Kiss, Rose Red & Cameo Coral
Accessories:Curly Label, Scalloped Square & 1" Circle Punches, Buttons die



Check back soon to see more projects using sneak peek items from the upcoming catalog!

And the winner is...

Thanks to all of you who played along. It was fun to read all of your resolutions and goals for the New Year. It looks like many of us have the same idea about using up some supplies in the coming year by doing more stamping and scrapbooking. I few of you also mentioned getting out more cards and doing so in a timely manner. I need to work on that too! Heres to 2009 and doing our best to meet our goals!

And the winner is...

#22

Nancy Park said...
Congratulations and Happy New Year!! I don't make resolutions it saves the disappointment of not keeping them. I subscribe to your blog and enjoy your inspiration daily.
12:35 PM

Here are your random numbers:22
Timestamp: 2009-01-05 15:13:21 UTC

Nancy please contact me with your mailing address and I'll get your goodies mailed to you soon.

Blogiversary Blog Candy!

I cannot believe that it has already been 2 years ago today that I made my very first post on this blog! I've really enjoyed sharing my projects and stories here more than I thought. Knowing I have to come up with something good enough to post here, keeps me stamping regularly and trying new things. Plus, I've made a lot of nice friends through this blog that I otherwise would not have the pleasure of knowing. I really do appreciate hearing the nice comments you all leave for me when you visit. When I started this blog I wasn't even sure I'd even keep it up, now here it is 2 years later and I have over 300 subscribers along with over 63,200 hits...so I guess I'll keep at it! Anyways...in honor of making it 2 years, I thought I'd start the New Year off by thanking my readers with a little blog candy.

I'll be sending the following goodies to a lucky winner in the USA or Canada:

• a new & unmounted SU! set called Suitable for Framing
• 2009 magnetic coaster calendar made with the NEW Raspberry Tart paper and Petal Pizazz stamp set
• stack of 4" square coasters
• box of pastel printed ribbons
• plus an assortment of die cuts for you to play with - (Scalloped Envelope, Large scallop & Top Note)

To win my New Years Blogiversary Blog Candy, please leave a comment here on this post by 10:00 Monday morning - January 5th. Tell me what your New Years resolution(s) are for 2009. To be fair, I guess I'll share mine as well:

1. Be more health conscious
2. Do more scrapbooking instead of merely collecting beautiful papers and embellishments
3. Finish my Halloween scrapbook before our 20th Halloween party (this year!)
4. Be more organized with paper work
5. Finish an entire song on my new Aerosmith guitar hero game! ;-)

Now that it's in writing I have to stick to it...right?

Good luck! I'll post who the lucky winner is on Monday afternoon.

Happy New Year!

Sorry about the poor quality of this photo. This card is a lot cuter in real life, but since it's stamped on acetate, it's really difficult to photograph. There were a few friends that I had planned to send Christmas cards to, but ran out of time, so I figured I'd send them a New Years card instead.


I used White Stazon to stamp the background of snowflakes using the Snow Swirled set. I thought Mr. Penguin from the Punch Pals set would look like he was going out to celebrate in style with a top hat borrowed from Mr. Snowman. So, with the help of my Stamp-a-ma-jig and some masking I added the hat. Card stock colors: Pacific Point, Basic Black, Brushed Silver & Whisper White.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! It's been a while since I posted...I've been taking it easy and enjoying some of my new Christmas goodies. Actually, this is what has been taking all my time...

I got hooked on the HBO series about vampires called True Blood, so I thought I'd like to read the series of books the show is based on. They're really good! I'm so addicted that I'm already on the 5th book! They are a more adult version of the Twilight books. If you like the show, you'll love the books!

I also got the Aerosmith Guitar Hero for Wii. I'm not a video game player, but I LOVE Aerosmith. My BIL & SIL were here at Christmas and were shocked that I didn't have the game so they surprised me with it. Wasn't that sweet?! I thought that was so nice of them! I had to have the boys show me how to play it...I'll tell you what...it is really difficult! I still haven't made it through an entire song yet. A feel like such a pathetic loser to have my guitar hero - Joe Perry throw his guitar down, shake his head with disgust and turn his back on me. Steven Tyler kicked over his mike stand and headed off stage...the whole while I'm being booed by the audience. This happens over and over...I am SO BAD! It is fun though. My goal for the New Year is to make it through a whole song!

I hope 2009 is a happy, healthy, creative & prosperous New Year for you all!