Busy! Busy!

Sorry for not posting for a week! I haven't gotten in ANY stamping! This past weekend was my grandmother's 90th birthday party. We had family fly in from Nevada, California, and Wisconsin. Last Friday I spent the evening eating out with my California family and then driving to the airport in the pouring rain to pick up my Wisconsin family. Saturday and Sunday was spent doing family things. My Grandmother was thrilled to have her 4 children, 4 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren there to spend the weekend with her, plus all the other family and friends that came in to town to celebrate. I'll try to post some pictures next week. Even though my grandmother is 90 years old, she is still VERY with it. She's amazing!

My brother is still in town from Nevada this week so I've pretty much been doing family stuff after I get home from work. Throw in report cards that I had to finish up, and parent-teacher conferences which started tonight, and I've had absolutely no time to stamp! I was hoping to get in some stamping this weekend, however my husband's great aunt passed away (at the age of 95) late Wednesday night, so now I'll be with his family for funeral stuff this weekend. If I'm really lucky, I'll get some time on Sunday to get back into the groove of things.

Thanks for being patient! I promise that I'll be back with some stamping next week! Have a terrific day!!! :)

Summertime Fun... well, not really!

Brrrrr! Still cold here! We're supposed to get flurries this weekend. Blech! I'm going to have to imagine it's still summer and nice weather. So in honor of pretending that the weather outside is toasty warm and pleasant, I made a card today that's more suited for summer weather.

Today's "Ways to Use It" challenge on SCS was to use a single word on your card. I chose to use the word "Happy" and pair it with an adorable summery image from C.C. Designs. This set is called "Summertime Fun" and is just the cutest!!! I love all the images! They make such bright, cheery, summery cards.


I paired the image with some new paper that just arrived today on my doorstep from Papertreyink. I chose the polka dotted paper from the newest designer paper pack and then matched my colors from there. I tried to tie in pink also, for the Breast Cancer Awareness month challenge on SCS... but my pink is more like a light lavendar today.

The monkey is colored with Copic markers and the image panel is popped up on dimentionals. I stamped the word "Happy" from SU's Happy Everything set with Ripe Avacado Palette ink. Here's the complete recipe:

RECIPE:
Stamps: Summertime Fun from C.C. Designs, Happy Everything from SU
Ink: Black Momento, Ripe Avacado (PTI)
Paper: Ripe Avacado, Lavendar Moon, Plum Pudding, White, Polka dot Parade dp (all PTI)
Accessories: Copic markers, Classic and Scalloped Rectangle Nestabilities, Ripe Avacado twill ribbon (PTI), green button threaded with linen thread, dimentionals

Thanks so much for looking today! Again, sorry for the poorly lit photos. I'm still working on getting a new photo editing program. Hopefully soon!!!

Have a terrific day!!! :)

Wintertime Fun

Hello! Today's sketch challenge was a fun one on SCS. In addition to the sketch, we had to incorporate pink into our design. It's so cold here right now that I was picturing a light pink color with some sort of blue to combine into a wintery scene. I'm so addicted to my C.C. Designs stamps lately, so of course I pulled out one of my faves. This set is called "Wintertime Fun" and has the most adorable sentiment... "There's no day like a snow day". This is definitely a teacher's mantra, and a must-have stamp for my collection! I'm definitely not wishing for snow, but it's supposed to snow this weekend!

Here's an example of just how cold it is...











This is my fur baby, Mia. She is totally wrapped up in a down blanket. She buries herself in blankets when it's cold. Normally you can't see her head, but she was curious about what I was doing. She was just too cute not to snap a picture!

Anyways... back to stamping. Here's my wintery card...

I didn't get to use my favorite sentiment from this set, but I still love this card! I colored the image with my Copic markers. The image is framed with classic and scalloped rectangle Nestabilities. I also used the ribbon label Nestabilities to cut out and emboss the sentiment. I rubbed blue metallic rub-on paste onto the sentiment label to make the embossing stand out a little more. Silver ribbon from Papertreyink is threaded through the ribbon label. I used the Cuttlebug Snow Dots embossing folder on the elongated panel in the back. The main image and sentiment is popped up on dimentionals.

RECIPE:
Stamps: Wintertime Fun by C.C. Designs
Ink: Momento Black
Paper: Aqua Mist, Sweet Blush, White (all PTI)
Accessories: Copic markers, classic and scalloped rectangle Nestabilities, Cuttlebug Snow Dots embossing folder, Spellbinders ribbon tag, silver ribbon (PTI), corner rounder punch, metallic rub-on paste, dimentionals

That's all for today! Thanks so much for looking! Have a wonderful day!!! :)

Hey Chicky!

Greetings! I'm back again with more C.C. Designs stamps. I've had this set for a little while now, and it hasn't yet seen ink! Can you believe that?!? I think that these little chicks are just too cute not to use. I decided to use these stamps and incorporate them into today's color challenge on SCS. The colors were Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss, and Chocolate Chip... I immediately thought this was going to be tough challenge. But once I got going, it flowed quite easily! SCS is promoting Breast Cancer Awareness month through using the color pink in all of their challenges this week. I thought the "Hey Chicky" stamp set would work with these colors and theme.

Here's my card...

I thought this card would be great to send to a friend to remind them to go get a breast exam or to raise a girlfriend's spirits if they were down.



I colored the chick image with my Copic markers and then punched her out with my long rectangle Nestabilities. Once I assembled the layers, I lifted the image panel up over the ribbon and embossed panel with dimentionals. The embossed background was done with the "With Gratitude" cuttlebug embossing folder.


RECIPE:
Stamps: Hey Chicky by C.C. Designs
Ink: Black Momento
Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip, White
Accessories: Copic Markers, Sweet Blush polka dot ribbon (PTI), long rectangle Nestabilities, designer label punch, 1 3/8 circle punch, key tag punch, With Gratitude Cuttlebug embossing folder, pink rhinestone brads, dimentionals

That's all for today! I'm hopeful to get a new photo editing program soon. When my computer crashed a couple of weeks ago, I lost the one I was using. Thank you for putting up with the not-so-great photos lately. Soon I'll be able to have much better photos!!!

Thanks so much for looking! Have a wonderful day!!! :)

Vampire Bear

I really can not seem to get enough of these adorable C.C.Designs Halloween stamps! I felt the urge to pull out my Sizzix shaker box die too and make some more fun treats!

Here's my cutie-patootie box!

This is what it looks like closed.








I used the Martha Stewart drippy goo punch around the edge to make it look like it's dripping vampire blood. The lid is held shut with a small piece of velcro. I colored the bear with my Copic markers and popped him up with dimentionals. I sponged the moon with a little pumpkin pie ink to give it an eerie appearance. I used a craft knife to cut out the fence... I'm not THAT good with scissors!

Here's what the box looks like opened. POOF! The vampire has turned into the cutest bat ever! And the box is filled with delicious Reese's Pieces. YUMM-O!

The bat is also popped up with dimentionals and the moon on the inside is also sponged.

What do ya think?

RECIPE:
Stamps: C.C. Designs--Spooky, Spooky, Spooky and Spooky Scenes

Ink: Momento Black, Pumpkin Pie

Paper: Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Close to Cocoa, White
Accessories: Copic Markers, Martha Stewart drippy goo punch, velcro, Reese's Pieces, dimentionals, Sizzix shaker box die (used in the cuttlebug), acetate (for the shaker box window)

Thanks so much for looking! I hope you have a wonderful day!!! :)

Gobble 'til you Wobble

This card is for today's Featured Stamper challenge on SCS. I chose to be inspired by THIS card. As you can see, I changed A LOT! I kept the basic sketch but turned it on its side. I also kept the fall theme, but used new stamps that I purchased last weekend at the Inky Antics booth at the Adventures in Stamping Convention in Strongsville. I don't have any Thanksgiving stamps, so when I saw this adorable turkey and the great sentiment, I knew they must be mine!

Anyways... here's my card...

RECIPE:
Stamps: Turkey and sentiment from Inky Antics
Ink: Momento black
Paper: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, Very Vanilla
Accessories: 5/8 inch Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon, SU Naturals buttons, linen thread, 1 1/4 inch and 1 5/8 inch circle punches, Classic and Scalloped Rectangle Nestabilities, Autumn Type Cuttlebug embossing folder, Copic Markers, dimentionals

The inside of the card says, "Happy Gobbler Day!". Totally cute! This little guy was so much fun to color with my Copic markers too!

Thanks so much for looking today! I hope you have a wonderful day!!! :)

Spider Attack!!!

Blechhh! I hate spiders! I love fall but when the weather starts changing and getting cooler, spiders always seem to make their way inside. The other day, I opened up the front door to leave for work in the morning and a HUGE spider came running across the floor from under the door. He hid underneath one of my shoes that was next to the front door. I hate spiders, so of course I pushed down on the shoe with my foot and heard this disgusting crunching sound. You know a spider is big when it makes a "crunch" when you squish it!

Then a couple of days later I was getting ready in the morning when a spider lowered itself down right next to my head!!! I immediately made Jeff get up to kill it, but he would not get out of bed until I said, "What, are YOU afraid???". Then he got up and killed it. Come on! Did he think I was going to kill it?

Last night, there was a spider in the hallway! Did I mention that I HATE spiders!?!? I think read somewhere that humans EAT somewhere around 8 spiders in their lifetime. I think they crawl up your nose or into your mouth when you're sleeping! Yet another reason to kill every and ANY spider that finds its way into the house. Don't they know they're supposed to stay outside?

But these spider are pretty darn cute! They've been all over SCS lately so I had to make some. I made 27 spiders today! They are sooooo easy-peasy!














RECIPE:
Stamps & Ink: NONE!
Paper: Black & Orange (I used cheapo... from the days before I learned about good cardstock)
Accessories: SU punches... Scalloped circle & Photo corner; googlie eyes, glue dots

Even though he's a spider, he's still pretty cute!





It's a SPIDER ATTACK!!!










Did I mention that these little spiders are not only cute, but they are also DELICIOUS!?!?!? They have a peppermint patty sandwiched inside! What a fun Halloween treat!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a wonderful day!!! :)

Sweet Little Ice Cream Bear

Hiya! Well, I haven't gotten any stamping in yet, but Saturday is looking promising! I made this cute little ice cream bear card a little while ago. I just love those cute little C.C.Designs stamps! Totally adorable!














RECIPE:
Stamps: C.C.Designs "Sweet Treats"
Ink: Black Momento
Paper: White, Sweet Blush, Berry Sorbet, Pink Patterns dp (all PTI)
Accessories: Berry Sorbet double stitched grosgrain ribbon, SU flower brad, silver brads, Scalloped and Classic Square Nestabilities, dimentials

Thanks so much for looking today! Hopefully I'll be back tomorrow with more! Have a wonderful day!!! :)

Sorry!

HI all! Sorry I haven't been around this week. I'm in crunch time right now at work and busy, busy, busy doing report cards and preparing for conferences. I haven't gotten to any stamping and I'm not sure I'll get to any this weekend either. I'll be sure to post if I get to any "me" time. I hope you're all having a great week! I'm off to a hair appointment! Yeah! I really needed a hair cut! Talk to you soon! :)

Spooky Spooky Stairs

This card is for today's technique challenge on SCS. The challenge was to create a card using the "Stair Step" fold. This type of fold is actually great for creating a little scene. I was whisked back to my diarama days of elementary school on this challenge and had a lot of fun creating my spooky scene.

It had been a few weeks since I had played with my C.C.Designs Halloween stamp set, so of course I had to get it out and play! Here's my card...













RECIPE:
Stamps: Spooky Spooky Spooky & Spooky Scenes from C.C.Designs
Ink: Momento Black
Paper: Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Gray, Old Olive, Close to Cocoa, white
Accessories: dimentionals, Copic Markers

Isn't it a fun card? I had fun making it. I rarely make anything in under an hour (or two hours, usually!) and this was done in under an hour! Easy peasy!

The gravestones, dog, and eyes are all popped up on dimentionals. I cut the Old Olive layer with my papersnips to make it look like grass. I also sponged a little pumpkin pie ink onto the moon to give it a little "spooky" effect.

Thanks so much for looking today! Have a wonderful day!!! :)

Major Computer Issues

I'm back! My computer today died last week. I've spent the past week running back and forth to Best Buy and talking to the guys at Geek Squad. My hard drive bit the dust, but they were able to install a new one. So that's the reason for no posts. No computer=no blogging. So sad!

But now I'm back up and running so I can show you what I've been working on. My grandmother is turning 90 this month and we're throwing her a huge party. My mom asked if I was interested in making the invitations and I jumped at the chance. I wanted to make sure that I made something classy and beautiful. I flipped through the Stampin' Up! catalog for inspiration and found my inspiration on page 13. I modeled my card off of that sample, but made changes to that it would go through the mail easier. Here's my card...

RECIPE:
Stamps: A Rose is a Rose, Frames with a Flourish, Sincere Salutations

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Ridinghood Red, Old Olive
Paper: Old Olive,Very Vanilla, gold, Bella Rose dp
Accessories: Ridinghood Red tafetta ribbon, square punches, dimentionals

Didn't it turn out gorgeous? My grandmother hasn't seen them yet, but I'm sure she's going to love them!

I took her wedding picture to Target and cropped out my grandfather (sorry, Grandpa!). Then I used my square punch to punch out only her head for the invitations. I think this personalizes it a lot more.

Thanks so much for looking today! Have a wonderful day!!! :)

Silly Monkey!

I didn't get to stamp AGAIN today!!! Arghhh! I really have to get back into a groove with my stamping. Every other day just is not cutting it for my creativity.

Today I'm posting a card I did this summer. I'm totally in love with this little Changito stamp. He's so cute and silly! I love him! Anyways, I did this card for an Inspiration Challenge on SCS this past summer and have just now gotten around to posting him. Even though the weather is changing here (50 degrees today! Brrr!), I can still dream of warm weather and swimming pools, right??? I'll really be dreaming when the weather REALLY gets cold and we have one of our good ol' Cleveland winters!

RECIPE:
Stamps: Changito (Stampendous), Sentiment from Smarty Pants (SU)
Ink: Black, Taken with Teal
Paper: Tempting Turquiose, So Saffron, Taken with Teal, White
Accessories: 1/4 inch Apricot grosgrain ribbon, flower brads, Nestabilities, SU markers

I just love this silly little monkey!



Here's another card that I did with the same Changito stamp. Too cute! I think I made this card for a Featured Stamper challenge this past summer too! I really like this one because it's a round, gatefold card. It was fun to make!


RECIPE:
Stamps: Changito (Stampendous)
Ink: Black (Palette)
Paper: White, Blue Bayou, Basic Gray Cupcake dp
Accessories: Scalloped and Classic Circle Nestabilities, star buttons, dimentionals, Copic Markers, Crystal Effects (on his goggles)

This card opens like a gatefold and is actually quite a small card. I used my largest circle Nestabilities to cut the card base. It took many runs through the cuttlebug, and I had to use my scissors a little on the folds, but it actually cut through pretty well. I used heavy PTI white cardstock too!

Okay... enough silly monkeys for today! Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a wonderful day!!! :)

Color Challenge & Sketch Challenge

I didn't get to stamp yesterday. My husband and I spent the evening gathering up clothing, coats, etc. for the AmVets. It is truly sinful how much stuff we had. In all honesty, I really hadn't gone through my clothing since I moved about 6 years ago. Since then I've been a few different sizes and have moved from my early-mid 20's into my late 20's... so my style's changed A LOT! I ended up getting rid of something like 20 sweaters, 50+ shirts, many, many pairs of pants and shorts... the list goes on and on. Again... truly sinful how much stuff we had! You would think that I have nothing left in my closet to wear now... but it doesn't even look like I made a dent!!! I did clean all of my clothing out of our spare bedroom and emptied out a few drawers... now I can actually see the clothing that I DO wear! So.. to make a long story short, we spent the evening bagging up our stuff so that it was ready to go this morning.

Since I didn't get to yesterday's color challenge, I decided to combine it with today's sketch challenge. I've really been into making fall cards lately, so of course this was going to be another fall card! Anyways, here it is...


RECIPE:
Stamps: Thoroughly Thankful
Ink: Momento Black
Paper: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, Very Vanilla, Autumn Vine dp
Accessories: Copic markers, Cowboy dew drops, Paisley cuttlebug embossing folder, dimentionals


That's all for today! Thank you so much for looking! Have a great day!!! :)