Happy Sunday! Hope you're having a great weekend! It's been pretty nice here in Dallas. Ran to Joann's earlier to take advantage of 40% off all storage/organization supplies...must get this stamp room into order, mainly my paper, ugh! But it's a good ugh! I need to do some serious purging, and I'm going to try, but no promises! lol!The card above is the last one of my Splitcoast VSN cards...it was for the CSI challenge...CSI for "framing someone" so you had to use a frame on your card. My frame is from a Paper Salon chipboard set that I've had for a looooong time. I love the look of the smooth, white chipboard.Now to share some wonderful happy mail I received! Yay! First, this beauty from my fabulous upline and friend, Jackie Ross. I love the way she used the Top Note die and the embossing on the Old Olive background piece.
Next, Cindy Major sent me this uber-fab card as a thank you for being a guest stamper on her blog Encre, Papier, Ciseaux. I love all the layered flowers, the fun mix of things and the beautiful, unusual color combination.
Okay, so off to do that organzing, and get stacks of paper out of the hallway...hee! hee! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!
RecipeStamps: Say It With Scallops.
Cardstock: Kraft, Whisper White, My Mind's Eye black polka dot.
Ink: Bashful Blue.
Accessories: 1" Circle Punch, Bashful Blue Double-Stitchded Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals, office metal-edged tag, Paper Salon chipboard frame
Happy Saturday! I squeezed in a little time earlier (when I should have been cleaning house!) to play with Kazan's Sketch #27. It was a tricky one for me, so this is what I ended up with! I finally opened my package of SU Bright Delights rub-ons, it's about time, right? lol! Here's the inside:
Okay, I guess it's time to find something for lunch and tackle that nap, I mean housework! Hope you're having a great weekend! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!RecipeCardstock: Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White, Almost Amethyst, Almost Amethyst Patterns DSP, Bella Rose DSP, Good Morning Sunshine DSP.
Accessories: Bright Delights Rub-Ons, Kiwi Kiss 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Linen Thread, Latte Designer Button, Corner Rounder, Dimensionals, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Big Shot, Go Go Alphabet, Billboard Alphabet strip.
Happy Friday! Yay! First, I have to say thank you for all your nice comments and congratulations on winning the Stampin' Up! Artisan Award. I couldn't believe it myself when Brent Steele called last Friday...I was in bed with fever and flu after school, but when I saw that "801" number on my cell phone, I got my happy, perky voice on fast! lol! Second, this post is going to be long, but good!, with lots of photos of cards from my stamp club members and stamp club projects from my bff and downline Lori, so you might want to grab your favorite beverage! lol!Lori gave us these materials to use on our challenge cards. You can always add more goodies, but you have to use these and that's what I used on my card above:
I mentioned in a previous post how I add *chipboard* behind patterned paper sometimes to make it *sturdier* on the card, like here...
...but it's not always regular chipboard...
So I guess it's a partly *green* card! Look in your recycling bin, you probably have lots of good chipboard options!Okay, now for the cards from some of the club members...Below here is Beverly's super cute card, love that chipboard "U" she added and the rhinestone brad in the center of the "g"!
Next is this beauty from Michelva, don't you love that die cut she added, and how she cut the scallop square in half and cut out the two little birdies?! Darling!
I'm excited to show you Rachel's card below. This is the FIRST card or paper-crafting of any kind that she has done, and she did it all by herself!! How awesome!
Lastly is this wonderful card from Valerie, her ribbon treatment is the coolest, and I love how she added the bird house and sentiment!
We had a little random prize of hardware goodies (the container top is decorated with cute flowers and a big brad you can't see here!) for the participants and Michelva won! Beverly couldn't make it last night, so she can see the papers here that her name was included! hee! hee! 
Now for the super cute projects that Lori created for us (she's helping me out and kind of taking over hostessing the club, but they're all my best friends so I'm still going, of course!). This is a darling box made from the scallop square envelope die with the Big Shot, and we made three little notecards with envelopes to go inside it. She told me who she got the idea from, but I can't remember, oops! If it was you, give me a shout out so I can give you credit and a link!
And lastly, she showed us this precious little business card holder, also made from the scallop envelope die and Big Shot. I believe she said that she saw it on Patty Bennett's blog, and I found the tutorial here if you'd like to try!
Schwooo! That was long, so if you're still here, give yourself a pat on the back from me! I guess I'm off to school. Is it our last day? NO! Is it Field Day? yes, ugh! lol! I'm old, out of shape, and I don't like sweating, so wish me luck! ha! Hopefully the kids will have fun and I'll get some great pictures to scrap!Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!
Happy Thursday! Busy night with stamp club last night (more pics of that soon!), so here's yet another of my Splitcoast VSN cards...this one for the Card Buffet Challenge...a card inspired by food! Not a problem for me, I'm always inspired by food!I thought immediately of this Basic Gray cupcake line, and miracle of miracles, I was able to find it! Super simple card with the Big Shot and blue large Scallop die with the circle cut using the Coluzzle. The sentiment was stamped from the hostess Sweet Little Sentiments stamp set, then cut out and popped up on Dimensionals.NSR: Marisa asked how old my doggy Nick is...he's 17, can you believe it? He's deaf as a doorpost and can't see very well and almost died from a stroke last summer, but he still has a lot of pep left in him and snuggles just as good as ever! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping! RecipeStamps: Sweet Little Sentiments hostess level one.
Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Basic Gray Cupcake paper.
Ink: Staz-On Brown.
Accessories: Coluzzle Circle Cutter, Big Shot, Scallop Circle #2 Die, Pink Pirouette 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals, 1/8" Circle Punch
Happy Wednesday! I'm loving this short week, how about you? Last night, after work, a trip to the doctor and a 2 hour nap (!), I played around with Dawn's Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #7. I would never have put these colors together, so it was really fun! The card below is the first I made...I was really trying to go back to the basics...all stamping, no patterned paper, no big bows and buttons, lol! So, of course, when I was done, I had to make another card so I could *cheat* just a bit!
Thanks for all the love you left for my doggy Nick on yesterday's post, as well as get well wishes! We really appreciate it! Hugs and happy stamping!Recipe 1Stamps: Friends 24-7, All Holidays.
Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke, Always Artichoke Patterns DSP.
Ink: Always Artichoke.
Accessories: Eyelet Border Punch, Linen Thread, Minie Glue Dots, Autumn Leaves button, ribbon unknown.
Recipe 2Stamps: Oval All, Lots of Dots jumbo wheel retired.
Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Pink Passion, Always Artichoke, Whisper White.
Ink: Always Artichoke, Pink Passion.
Accessories: Wide Oval Punch, Small & Large Oval Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Certainly Celery 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals.
Happy Tuesday! It's a short week, yay! I finally made one card last night for Kristina's Color Inspiration #53. She used a photo from the sweetest and most talented blogger, Anthonette Chavez, be sure and check out her amazing artwork. And isn't her son just the cutest?!I'm running late, so this is quick, but wanted to leave you with a photo of my darling Nick taken on my lap with my iphone. We watched a LOT of America's Next Top Model re-runs while sick, so I decided to do a photo shoot with him yesterday. He needed a lot of instructions, like "I need a longer neck!" and "More emotion from the eyes!" but I think he nailed it with this one!
Have a wonderful Tuesday! Thanks for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!RecipeCardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White.
Ink: Real Red marker, Versamarker.
Accessories: SU Urban West rub-ons retired, Pacific Point 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Heat & Stick Powder, Heat Tool, Chunky Red Glitter, Cuttlebug, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Maya Road chipboard, Autumn Leaves button.
Happy Monday! Hope everyone is enjoying their long weekend! I came down with the flu (again!) Thursday night, went to work Friday, and have spent the time since lying in bed or on the sofa, ugh! I think today I'll be able to join the land of the living...at least in the upright position! lol! Haven't stamped, but I still have some cards from the Splitcoast VSN challenges to share, thank goodness! This card was for the Non-Traditional Wedding card challenge, where you had to use bright, bold colors. I stamped the hearts from Love You Much set on glossy white cardstock (haven't used that forever!) and then punched them out with the Heart to Heart punch. I thought I was arranging them in a wavy line, but while playing had the idea to try a heart shape. It looked okay, but I decided maybe some stitching around it would define it more. I'm afraid it looks a little bit like I was under the influence while stitching, but I promise I wasn't, not this time! lol! Hope you have a great Memorial Day! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!RecipeStamps: Love You Much, All Holidays.
Cardstock: Pink Passion, Glossy White.
Ink: Pink Passion, Staz-On Black.
Accessories: Heart to Heart Punch, Wire Clip, Black Gingham Ribbon, Dimensionals, and Janome Sew Mini.
Happy Friday! Yay!Here's another of the cards I made for the Splitcoast VSN, this one for the Slots of Fun Challenge. You had to use the sketch resembling a slot machine. I had trouble with using the paper squares and getting it how I liked it, so I ended up using big buttons and stitching around it. The American Crafts paper were scraps on my desk again, gotta love those scraps!Hope you have a great Friday and Memorial Day weeekend! Thanks so much for stopping by ! Hugs and happy stamping!RecipeCardstock: Old Olive, Ameican Crafts floral paper.
Accessories: 1 3/8" Square Punch, Janome Sew Mini, Autumn Leaves buttons, Linen Thread, Making Memories "smile".
Okay, post #3 today, had to get this in for Dawn's Raspberry Suite Challenge #6! Am I a blog hog or what?! I'll give you a break after this! Thanks for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!
Recipe
Stamps: Cute Converse (retired) Cardstock: Cool Caribbean (retired), Whisper White, Cameo Coral, Pink Flamingo DSP. Ink: Staz-On Brown. Accessories: Eyelet Border Punch, Cuttlebug, Swiss Dot Embossing Folder, Chocolate Chip 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Cameo Coral button, Linen Thread, Paper Salon chipboard flower, Bo Bunny chipboard "u".
Oops! Post #2 today! I made this last night and forgot to post it this morning! It's for Kristina's Color Inspiration #52!Edited to add at 6:30: Okay, I came back with a better photo taken outside just now, including the card inside also. I think this might be a little *too* simple, but I tried for the longest time last night to get a sentiment on the front of the card, and I just couldn't get it to work. I finally gave up and stuck it inside! lol!Now, I still need to make a card for Dawn's challenge and that deadline is 8:00, yikes! Not to mention catch up on my Google Reader and come up with some projects for Stamp Club this month! My stamp club friends have been in it for so long and they are soooo talented, it's getting very hard to come up with new, exciting things to show them! They are all qualified to teach the class now as it is! lol! Hmmmm, maybe I should suggest that! hee! hee!Thanks for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!
Recipe
Stamps: Tiny Talk
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Sahara Sand, More Mustard Patterns DSP.
Ink: Baja Breeze.
Accessories: chipboard star, So Saffron 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Janome Sew Mini, Dimensionals, Cuttlebug & Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Linen Thread, Autumn Leaves button.
Happy Wednesday! Here's a super simple card I made for the Splitcoast VSN Hitting the Tables challenge: use only red, black, and white. I had also seen on Amy's blog that Limelight was having a challenge to use tulle, which I wanted to try, and since I only have black tulle, it worked out perfectly! I used the Big Shot and cupcake die to make the cupcake, with scraps on my desk, of course, lol! Very simple, but I like it. Here's the inside: 
Congrats to my best teacher friend...the long-awaited arrival of Ben finally came yesterday! I went to the hospital after school and they were both doing great. I get to spend a little more quality time with them this weekend when I make a decorating house call. Ummm, yeah, they moved into a new house Sunday and she went to the hospital Monday night. Words can't describe her! I'm sure Ben will be reading any day now! lol!Okay, gotta dash...stayed up too late again last night, agh! I have been counting down the days until spring break, but somehow yesterday I agreed to teach summer school! *)#%#@ I know! It's only 8:00 - 11:15 from June 8 until July 2. I can handle it, right?Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!RecipeStamps: Sweet Little Sentiments
Cardstock: Whisper White, Sweet Slumber DSP, My Mind's Eye black polka dot paper
Ink: Black Staz-On
Accessories: Big Shot, Big Bold Cupcakes die, White Designer Button, Black Tulle, Bo Bunny black button, Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dot
Happy Tuesday! Hope your week is off to a good start! DH is getting a new computer that arrives today (prompted by his 10 year work anniversary Apple gift card bonus!), so I get his old one (yay!), and I decided to put it in my stamp room. Well, that started a MAJOR renovation/purge/overhaul in my stamp room last night, which it needed badly but I had planned on waiting until school was out. Aye yi yi, what a mess!In the meantime, here's one of my Splitcoast Viva Las Vegas VSN cards...for the Bingo challenge. You had to use some sort of "grid" technique to make it look like Bingo squares and a "sponging" technique. I am not a fan of the sponging, so that was hard for me! A few other first drafts got thrown away! lol! There is a tiny bit of sponging around the oval...I used a sponge dauber to rub some Chocolate Chip ink on!I used all scraps from my desk for this one and most all of my VSN cards actually. The oval was a rejected piece from weeks ago, and the brown flower paper is American Crafts. I do love white core paper like that so when you sand it, the white shows through. Let me know if you have any other questions!Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!RecipeStamps: Oval All
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Confetti Cream, Hand Drawn Hostess DSP, American Crafts brown floral
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie
Accessories: Large & Wide Oval Punch, Old Olive Button, Linen Thread, Sponge Dauber, Dimensionals, sanding block, Scor-Pal, orange gingham ribbon unknown.
inside: 
Happy Sunday! Hope everyone is having a good weekend! I've been a little bit on the lazy side, oops! Today we finally got sunshine and a beautiful day, and I ventured out of the house with dh to see the Star Trek movie. We haven't been to a movie since Slumdog Millionaire (we knew it would be hard to beat for awhile!), but Star Trek was actually very good, and I was never really a fan before.Okay, on to the card...I finally took some time last night to make a card for the Moxie Fab World Rainy Day Challenge. The challenge: create an encouragement card that incorporates some type of rainy day wear such as umbrellas, wellies, and rain coats. I used my American Crafts Splish paper, isn't it adorable?! You still have until Monday night at midnight to get your submission in, and there aren't that many entries yet, so hurry! I've shown you how good their prizes are, so go for it!Okay, need to finish up some laundry and housework before the season finale of Survivor! Thank heavens Coach finally got voted off last week, schwooo! Thanks for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!RecipeCardstock: Baja Breeze, Cameo Coral, SU Bella Rose DSP, American Crafts patterned paper.
Accessories: Big Shot, Go Go Alphabet (question mark), Billboard Alphabet strip, Chocolate Chip 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Linen Thread, Scallop Edge Punch, Autumn Leaves button, Maya Road pom pom trim, My Little Shoebox Mini Alphabet Stickers.
Happy Saturday! It's Viva Las Vegas Virtual Stamp Night over at Splitcoast Stampers...a fun-filled weekend full of challenges. Read more about it here. I managed to get the first challenge done last night, Double Down, before getting sucked into internet surfing for the rest of the night! lol!For the Double Down challenge, you had to make two identical cards using several different themes built around "fun". I used a large playing card cut in half that I had bought at the Target Dollar Spot a long time ago. I had planned on using the Queen side, but ended up liking the back side better. And the exciting news...I used a stamp from one of my Scarlet Lime kits! I think that's a first! I vaguely remembered one of their stamp sets having card suits, and I found it! Isn't the little ticket image cute too? To finish it off, I made the "u" from the Go Go Alphabet with my Big Shot and stamped the "Congratulations" inside from a SAB set.What are you up to this weekend? Next weekend is crazy, so I need to get a lot done this weekend, but it's not looking good so far! lol! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!
Happy Friday! Can you say TGIF?! I decided, after some rest, to stamp a little something around 11:30 last night...what is wrong with me?! I seriously need someone to come and hit me over the head with a club and knock me out and put me to bed at a decent hour! lol! Since I was getting a late start, I decided to go with the Clean and Simple look and went with the fabulous Fall-to-Layout #41. I flipped it to make room for my three little owls. Seeing this card finished just further convinced me that I should never attempt watercoloring! lol!Okay, need to get to bed! Must get up soon! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!RecipeStamps: Owl Together Now
Cardstock: Almost Amethyst, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, Apricot, Patterns DSP in Pretty in Pink, Apricot, Amethyst, and Regal Rose.
Ink: Staz-On Brown, markers in Chocolate Chip, Almost Amethyst, Regal Rose, Apricot.
Accessories: Chocolate Chip 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, 1 1/4" & 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Aquapainter, Dimensionals.
Hey y'all! Hope everyone is having a good week! I haven't been in the stamp room much, but decided at 10:30 to give Kazan's Sketch #26 a go, crazy, right?! I did have a *short* nap earlier, shhhhhh, don't tell!Anyway, here's what I came up with while watching Sex and the City re-runs. I decided to use the Oval Scallop Punch while looking at the sketch, but now I'm not sure they show up very well with the black and white polka dot paper...scraps laying on my desk, you know! While looking for ribbon I decided I should start using up more of my SU In Colors as they will soon be replaced in July, so that led to the Tangerine Tango ribbon, which then led to the Pink Paislee chipboard letters...not an exact match, but close enough. To keep it from looking totally *Halloween* I went with the Baja Breeze card base, which is embossed with the Big Shot Backgrounds 1 Texturz plate, hard to see in the photo. And that was that...I should try to get to bed I suppose! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!RecipeStamps: Simple Salutations.
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Tangerine Tango, My Mind's Eye polka dot paper.
Ink: Basic Black marker.
Accessories: Oval Scallop Punch, Tangerine Tango Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals, Basic Black Library Clip, Baja Breeze Corduroy Button, Black Hemp, Big Shot, Backgrounds 1 Texturz plate, Pink Paislee chipboard letters.
Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day! It was rather restful and uneventful here. Didn't stamp much, but I did make this little card Saturday night for the fabulous Dawn McVey's Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #5.
Are you wondering about those stamps? I was lucky enough to receive a fabulous box of goodies on Friday from Cath at Moxie Fab World for winning the Mother's Day gift card contest with this card you may remember. (By the way, my wonderful mother-in-law received it and loved it!) Do they give good prizes or what?! The stamps are from American Crafts, yummmmm... 
Okay, gotta dash! Hope you have a super Monday! Hugs and happy stamping!RecipeStamps: American Craft
Cardstock: Basic Gray, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White.
Ink: Going Gray, Regal Rose.
Accessories: Corner Rounder, Regal Rose 1" Double-Stitched Ribbon, Wide Oval Punch, Dimensionals, Big Shot, Background 1 Texturz Plate, Autumn Leaves button, thread.
Happy Saturday! I was so flattered that the very talented Cindy Major over at Encre, Papier, Ciseaux asked me to be a guest stamper this week for her weekly blog challenge! Of course, I said yes, then she told me the challenge...use the color purple...and I thought, "Oh no, I never use purple!" lol! So it truly was a good challenge for me! I tried to use one purple from three different SU color families, and here's what I came up with...For the first card I made, I used Almost Amethyst from the Soft Subtles color family, and I used white as an accent. It's hard to see, but the card is embossed with the Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plate using the Big Shot, and the baby carriage is from Puns From the Past. The letters are by Making Memories, and I picked them up at Target because I thought the pastel colors would work well with this challenge. 
This next card, my wild one, uses Lovely Lilac from the Bold Brights color family and Sassafrass Lass paper, chipboard frame, and flower. The chipboard letters are from Pink Paislee, so yummy! The "good friend" is embossed in white on Chocolate Chip cardstock. The ribbon, rhinestone brad, and crochet flower are all by SU. 
My last project uses Elegant Eggplant (yes, I had to look up the *official name* of this color, yikes!) from the Rich Regals card family. I used my Big Shot with the Matchbox Die, it really is the quickest and easiest box to make! I threw in black as an accent color and a little bit of white. The "u r" are Black Tie Thickers, and the "everybody's favorite" is from a retired SU set Cute Converse. 
Be sure and check out Cindy's creations here! I hope you will take the color purple challenge too and let us check out your creations! If you have any specific questions, let me know and I'll get back with you! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!
