Crabby Birthday

I've been a bad blogger lately. Sorry that I haven't posted in a few weeks. I've been busy with school. On the upside... only 3 more days of school until SUMMER VACATION!!! Teachers definitely look forward to summer more than the students do! :)

Today's featured stamper on SCS was Roxie, and I chose to case THIS CARD from her gallery. Here's my card...


RECIPE:
Stamps: Crab & Company
Paper: Basic Black, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, White, Summer Picnic DP
Ink: Momento Black
Accessories: crab eyelets, Copic Markers, Classic Rectangle Nestabilities, bazzil flower, red rhinestone brad, oval and scalloped oval punches, D'vine Swirl cuttlebug embossing folder

As you can see, I changed the colors and stamp set. I also reversed the dp panel so that the dp is on top and the cuttlebugged layer is underneath. I also added the flower and the scalloped oval.

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

Swimming Lily

Hello! Yesterday I tried to stamp for the color challenge on SCS, but I just wasn't feeling it. So I ended up putting my stuff away and curling up in bed early with a book.

Today I decided to give it another go and combined the color challenge with today's sketch challenge. I'm definitely ready for summer and I keep pulling out my summer stamps.

Here's my dual challenge card...


RECIPE:
Stamps: Lily at the Beach (Pink Cat Studio)
Ink: Black Momento
Paper: Summer Sun, Only Orange, Kiwi Kiss, White
Accessories: Cuttlebug Bloom Dots embossing folder, 5/8 inch old olive grosgrain ribbon, jumbo flower brad (SU), Copic Markers, dimensionals

I colored Lily with my copic markers to match the cardstock colors. The panel with Lily on it is also popped up with dimensionals. The ribbon is actually Old Olive, but when I put it side by side with the Kiwi Kiss cardstock I thought it was a pretty close match.

That's it for today. I'm not sure if I'll be able to stamp tomorrow because I have "Open House" at school. I'm thinking it will be a margarita night instead of a stamping night. *wink!*

Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful day!!! :)

Rustic Rooster

It's late and I need to be in bed, so this will be a quickie post.

Today's technique on SCS was the "bandana technique". Basically, you use a white gel pen to create the illusion of a bandana in the background. It took me a while to figure out ink colors that I liked.

Here is what I came up with...

RECIPE:
Stamps: Rustic Rooster, Wanted
Ink: Black, Ranger distressing inks
Paper: White, Black, Buckaroo Blue
Accessories: black and white gingham ribbon, hodgepodge hardware, white gel pen, distressing tool
Technique: Bandana

I might go around the actual white card base and sponge some distressing inks on it to take down the whiteness, but overall I'm pretty happy with it.

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

Beach Bum

Two posts in one day! Be sure you scroll down to see the other post too.

Today's challenge on SCS was the featured stamper challenge. I cased THIS card. I changed the stamp set, but left the layout the same. I also changed the colors, used smaller ribbon, and added brads.

Here's my card...


RECIPE:
Stamps: Just Beachy, sentiment from Gina K set "Just B-Claws"
Paper: Really Rust, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Bo Bunny dp
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Colored pencils, Classic Rectangle & Deckle Rectangle Nestabilities, brads, Vintage Cream twill ribbon (PTI), sewing machine, distressor

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

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Here's a couple cards I created for my mom and mother-in-law. I also created a card for my grandmother, but I'll share that on another day.

This is the card I created for my mom...

I used this week's sketch challenge on SCS to create the card. Pretty, isn't it!?!?

RECIPE:
Stamps: Bloomin' Beautiful (SU) and sentiment from PTI
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip, White, Basic Gray dp
Ink: Momento Black, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Copic Markers, Nestabilities, Oval punches, scalloped border punch, 1/4 inch chocolate chip grosgrain ribbon

And here's the card for my mother-in-law...


This card was cased from Jan Tinklenberg's blog.

RECIPE:
Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, sentiment from PTI
Paper: Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, White, Urban Garden dp
Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy
Accessories: Not Quite Navy brads, white satin ribbon

That's all for today. For mother's day we'll be heading out to dinner with my parents, my husband's parents, my grandmother, and my aunts and uncles. It will be quite a crew!

I hope everyone has a wonderful mother's day. Thanks for stopping by and looking! Have wonderful day!!! :)

I'm on a roll!!!

Holy cow! I'm on a roll! I've stamped three challenges in a row! AND posted to my blog on top of that!

I completed this card for the color challenge on SCS. Today's colors were Cameo Coral, Ballet Blue, and Garden Green. When I saw them this morning, I thought YUCKO!!! But once I picked out what set I was going to use, I actually flowed with these colors.

I just can't get enough of the newest Lily set from Pink Cat Studio. No, I don't design for them or work for them... but I'd love to!!! I just can't get enough of these adorable stamps!

Here's my card...


RECIPE:
Stamps: Lily at the Beach by Pink Cat Studio
Paper: White, Cameo Coral, Ballet Blue, Garden Green
Ink: Momento Black
Accessories: Copic Markers, Bloom Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder, Classic rectangle and square Nestabilities, flowers, pearls from the SU pretties kit

I have tickets to the Killers concert tomorrow night so I'm not sure if I'll be able to squeeze in post or stamping after work. We'll have to see.

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

Embossed Wax Resist

I participated in today's technique lover challenge on SCS and it was really a great one! Today's challenge was the embossed wax resist. If you've never done it, the directions are HERE. It's super easy and the results are spectacular!

Here's my card...

RECIPE:
Stamps: Summertime Fun by C.C. Designs
Paper: Taken with Teal, Kiwi Kiss, Glossy White, White
Ink: Taken with Teal, Black Momento
Accessories: Wax Paper, D'vine Swirls Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Classic Rectangle and Deckled Rectangle Nestabilities, Tag Spellbinders, Flower brad, Linen flowers, buttons, linen thread, Copic Markers, dimensionals, iron
Technique: Embossed Wax Resist

Isn't this cute!?!? I love how the swirls look like water!

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

Quickie Post Today

Sorry I haven't posted in a couple weeks. It's almost midnight here, so I'm going to post quickly and then go to bed.

This card is for today's featured stamper challenge. I chose to case THIS CARD. As you can see, I changed the main image, cuttlebugged background embossing folder, and used more muted colors, although I stuck with the same color combo.

Here's my card...


RECIPE:
Stamps: Lily at the Beach from Pink Cat Studio
Ink: Momento Black
Paper: Pacific Point, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango, White
Accessories: Copic Markers, Spica clear glitter pen, Classic Square Nestabilities, Dew drops, flowers, rhinestone stickers, D'vine Swirl Cuttlebug embossing folder, dimensionals

I colored the darker blue scales on the mermaid with the glitter pen too, so they shimmer. Thanks so much for looking! Have a terrific day!!! :)

Choo Choo!!!

I had this card in my head all day yesterday and just didn't have the time to put it all together. You know how that goes, right?! Yesterday was the "featured stamper" challenge on SCS. I chose to case THIS CARD from Jaymerz gallery. I changed the stamp set and colors... well, I changed just about everything except the general layout.

Here's my card...


Isn't this the perfect little boy card?!?! I don't have a little boy to give it to, but I'm not sure I'd want to give it away anyways. It's just too darn cute!

RECIPE:
Stamps: Choo Choo! and Right on Track wheel (SU)
Paper: Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, White, Summer Picnic dp
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Real Red, Basic Black
Accessories: dimensionals (train and main image panel is popped up)

When I saw this set in the SU Spring Occasions Mini, I knew I had to add it to my collection. I think it will just make the cutest scrapbook pages if I ever have a son. But until then I'll just have to find uses for it on a card here and there.

Thanks so much for looking today! I appreciate you stopping by. Have a wonderful day!!! :)

PaperCrafts Case

I saw this card in the May/June issue of PaperCrafts magazine and I knew I had to recreate it. The card was orginally made by Debbie Olson. Her stuff is always so awesome!!!

I changed the sentiment from the orginal design and made it a birthday card. I'm going to give it to my dad, since his birthday was this past Monday. I know, I know... I'm a little late, but being in Vegas kind of threw me off with birthdays and such.


RECIPE:
Stamps: Father Knows Best, Polka Dot Basics, Birthday Basics (all PTI)
Paper: Vintage Cream, Dark Chocolate, Kraft, Spring Moss (all PTI)
Ink: Dark Chocolate, Ripe Avacado
Accessories: Copic Markers, Sewing Machine and off-white thread, Classic Circle Nestabilities, Linen Thread and a green button
Technique: sponging

For my dad's birthday, I bought 4 tickets to see the Cirque du Soilel show that is coming to Cleveland next weekend. I'm really looking forward to it! I've seen many of the Cirque shows in Las Vegas, but my parents never have, so it should be fun!

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

Procrastinating!

I am the queen of procrastinating. I should be grading papers, but instead I stamped, went out to dinner, messed around on the internet, and am now watching "Ghost Hunters" while I post. I really will pay for this tomorrow... but at least I'm enjoying myself now.

I participated in today's sketch challenge on SCS. I really felt like coloring with my Copics today, so I pulled out one of my Pink Cat Studio Lily sets. She's just so much fun to color!

Here's my card...



RECIPE:
Stamps: Enchanted Lily (PinkCatStudio)
Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Pink Pirouette, White, Bella Rose DSP
Ink: Momento Black
Accessories: Copic Markers, Spica clear glitter pen (on her wings), green rhinestones, ticket corner punch

I'm still working out the best colors for skin tone when I color people with my Copics. I think poor Lily looks like she's been out in the sun too long, or is really swinging vigorously and working up a sweat, since her face is probably a shade to red. Oh well... Copics definitely have a learning curve and I'm still climbing it.

Lily's wings have a really subtle shimmer to them because I colored over them with a clear Spica glitter pen after I colored them with the Copic. They really are pretty and the slight shimmer fits for fairy wings.

That's all for today! Thanks so much for stopping by and checking out what I've done today. Have a wonderful day!!! :)

Vegas Baby!!!

Sorry I haven't posted in a couple of weeks. I've been in Las Vegas for my Spring Break. My parents bought a house there last year, so now my hubby and I head out west a couple of times a year since we have a free place to stay. We had a great time.... 13 casinos in 7 days! Pretty amazing for someone who doesn't gamble!

Here's a few pics from our trip...

This is a picture of my family in the gardens at the Bellagio. My brother, Mark, is on the left, then my mom and dad, and then me!

We went hiking in the Valley of Fire state park which is North of Las Vegas. My crazy husband, Jeff, seems to think he's invincible whenever there are rocks to climb. He climbs as high as he can get... without gear. For this reason, I refuse to go back to the Grand Canyon with him. He scared me half to death on that trip!!!


Um.... yeah... that's Jeff way up there. Can you understand why I won't go back to the Grand Canyon now??? :)


Awww! Aren't we cute? This is still in the Valley of Fire.


This is an honest to goodness picture. It looks like a postcard of the strip. We went to the top of "THE hotel" which is part of Mandolay Bay. There's a nightclub on the top floor (60th floor... yikes). Pretty awesome view... even though I was hugging the wall! :)



Okay.. enough vacation. I did do some stamping today. I participated in the color challenge on SCS. Today's colors were Bordering Blue, So Saffron, Pink Pirouette, and Chocolate Chip was an optional color. When I laid the colors out, I immediately thought of making a baby boy card. Most of my friends are currently expecting girls right now, but it never hurts to have a few baby cards on hand.

Here's my card...



RECIPE:
Stamps: Nursery Necessities
Paper: Bordering Blue, So Saffron, White, Sweet Slumber DSP
Ink: SU Markers in Bordering Blue, So Saffron, Pretty in Pink
Accessories: Classic Square Nestabilities, 5/8 inch So Saffron Grosgrain Ribbon, Blue SU buttons, linen thread, dimensionals

That's all for today!!! I'm hoping to post tomorrow, but I'm a little behind on grading papers since I didn't even crack my school bag while I was in Nevada last week.

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