A Western Hello!

I've been using this cute little western set from The Cat's Pajamas quite a bit lately, and I decided to stamp it on a piece of Basic Grey designer paper from their Recess line. I really liked the look of it without any paper piecing or color...it reminds me of black and white TV...you know, back in the *old days*, wink! My main image is stamped in Palette Noir Black ink as well as the sentiment from Cornish Heritage Farms For The Men set. A bit of ribbon and a sliver of black scallops finishes it off. Oops, almost forgot: I also stamped the buckin' bronco from FTM in Versamark on the Kiwi Kiss card base for a little added interest.

Happy trails y'all!

Pretty Hello

I had a few scraps lying around (So Saffron card base and piece of Cool Caribbean cardstock), so I put them together and started to laying different pieces of ribbon across to see what caught my eye. Well, my 5/8" Old Olive grosgrain won, but it still needed a little pop. I let it sit overnight rather than trying to force creativity, and came up with the idea to use some red glittery letters, and *wah-la*, I'd found my punch of color!

*One tip about using these sticky letters is this: place them gently into place, starting from right and working to the left, adjusting as needed before you actually commit them to the cardstock.

Supplies
Paper: So Saffron, Cool Caribbean
Stamps: CHF Pretty Pattern
Ink: Versamark
Accessories: Making Memories (?) glitter letters, piercing tool/template, 5/8" grosgrain, Scallop Edge punch

Jumbo Birthday Surprise!

I'm so excited to share something with you! It started out with a little birthday gift for a co-worker and turned into a little, or should I say *jumbo* birthday ensemble. First, I'll show you the ensemble which is the birthday card and a *jumbo* sour cream container which holds the *jumbo* birthday surpise.

Below is a shot of the card; I had taken a picture of the sour cream container solo, but somehow I lost it! The sour cream container is made from a 6x8 inch piece of designer paper, crimped on each end and finished up with a tag featuring a stamps from PTI's Faux Ribbon set. For detailed instructions on how to create your own sour cream container, click here for SCS's awesome tutorial.

Are you ready for the surprise?! You haven't guessed it yet?? Well, of course, it's a set of *jumbo* paper clips! You've seen these decorated in numerous ways, so my jumbo clips are nothing *new*, but I wanted to show them to you anyhow! The story behind these clips goes like this: my co-worker uses these to clip her ever-changing schedule to her shirt (I'm not kidding!), and she wore out the last one I gave her. So, being her birthday and all, I created a set that will last her from September 1st through January or so. I think I'll make her another spring-summer set for Christmas, he he! If you're wondering what the heck the clip on the right is supposed to be, it's our school letters along with our mascot: Spring Valley Cardinals. I think she'll get a kick out of these...at least I did!

Thanks for tagging along today...stop by again soon!

Dirty Challenge and Balmy Journey!

I have two things to show you today: my submission for Jacksonbelle's pink/black/faux stitching challenge and a Balmy Breezes card for my DH's nephew who is off to Morocco with his dad today where he'll be spending his upcoming birthday--wow, what a cool way to spend your birthday, eh?!

A note about the Balmy Breezes/journey card: the sketch is inspired by Jen's Saturday SFYTT from July 26th and also from this card by Kelly/Atomicbutterfly. I absolutely love everything Kelly does with the SU! set, Define Your Life, and had to copy the way she stamped the definition on the vertical like so.

Supplies

Stamps: MFT Ride Em Cowgirl; SU! Balmy Breezes, Define Your Life

Paper: Really Rust, MM memo pad, Basic Gray dp, Pink Pirouette, Basic Black, Crate Paper dp, Bella Rose dp

Ink: Baja Breeze, Really Rust, Palette Burnt Umber, Ranger Walnut ink (sponging), Versafine Onyx Black

Accessories: notebook edge punch, natural and black hemp, black satin ribbon, piercing tool, window sheet, round tab punch, May Arts striped ribbon

Sunday's Dirty Challenges...

I told you earlier this week that *yours truly* would be hosting one of Sunday Dare To Get Dirty '08 Challenges, so without further adieu, click here for my challenge along with three others from Carole (TruCarma), Lindsey (Jacksonbelle) and Natasha (Tashers). I'm only going to show you the cards I've made for Carole, Natasha and my challenges, but you'll have to click the above link to read all about the challenges themselves. Ü

I've still got Lindsey's challenge to work on and it's gonna be purty...that's all I'm sayin'! Now, get over to SCS for some Dirty Challenge fun!

Flap my fire, cowboy!

Kittie and Rose Ann are hosting two of the Dare To Get Dirty '08 Challenges today and my cowboy flap card fulfills their challenges. Kittie (kittie747) is *the* scene creator, so of course, her challenged called us to Make A Scene. Rose Ann (Cutterscallous) has a great tutorial for her flap card, so to follow suit her challenge is to make one!

You can view both Kittie and Rose Ann's challenges along with the others right here.

*F* is for...sketch for you to try Saturday!

Yep, it's Saturday and that means it's time for Jen's SFYTT! I had a really hard time with this one and I'm not sure if it was that I was trying to hurry or the creative juices weren't flowing or what, but after two different attempts, this is what I conjured up! So, I guess the *F* could stand for a number of things: frustration, fun or finally finished, he he! Don't get me wrong, I always enjoy my stamping time, and it's called a challenge because that's just what it is--a challenge, for peep's sake!

Don't forget to stop by these stupah-star blogs to see what the girls did with Jen's sketch!

Jen & her guest designer Jessie

Carole

Susan

Amy S.

Shannan

Supplies

Stamps: CHF For the Men

Paper: SU! River Rock DSP, River Rock, Whisper White, Rose Red

Ink: Craft White

Accessories: SU! Felt Fusion, My Pretties Kit pearls, sewing machine

Thursday's Dirty Challenges...

Hurumph, I only had time for one of the dirty challenges today...Sharon's/notimetostamp challenge. It was a good one, so click here for all the dirty details! Sharon challenged us to stamp simply, her mantra. Each week on Sharon's blog, she features a stamp simply day--something that doesn't eat up your day. Sharon challenged us to create something simple, elegant and beautiful. When I think elegant, I immediately think black and a beautifully contrasting color; Kiwi Kiss in this case. Sharon also suggested starting with a beautiful stamp set, and I had just the set from Inque Boutique called French Fancy. I finished it off with a piece of recycled black satin ribbon, in true notimetostamp style.

Without further adieu, here she is:

Supplies:

Stamps: Inque Boutique's French Fancy

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black

Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Basic Black, Whisper White, Bella Rose DSP

Accessories: recycled black satin ribbon

Wednesday's Dirty Challenges...

Ok, so I'm really having fun with the daily challenges at SCS for Dare To Get Dirty '08, but I ain't gettin' nuttin' else done around my house, but that's ok, right?! Ü

Here are cards for Lauren and Jenn's challenges. Lauren challenged us to create a monochromatic card, and I chose to use shades of Really Rust, a color I don't often use. Jenn's challenge was an inspiration challenge. The inspiration piece can be found here as well as the info for Lauren's challenge--check it out!

Supplies

Stamps: Baroque, Carte Postale, Hugs & Wishes; PTI Text Boxed

Ink: Really Rust, Versafine Onyx Black

Paper: Really Rust, Vanilla, Black, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White

Accessories: scallop edge punch, 5/8" grosgrain

Tuesday's Dirty Challenges...

Here are three challenges in two cards! First off is JulieHRR's clean and simple challenge to embrace the white space of a card using what other than...a white base!

The second card is a combination of Christine and Michelle's challenges. Christine's challenge was to use watercoloring, so I used an aquapainter and blender pen along with reinkers to color the *buckaroo scene*. Michelle challenged us to make a masculine card using earthy tones.

Click here for Christine's/ChristineCreations challenge.

Click here for Michelle's/sf9erfan challenge.

Click here for JulieHRR's challenge.

Monday's Dirty Challenges

Yesterday's Dare To Get Dirty '08 Challenge Hostesses were Laurie and Jody. I combined their challenges to come up with this card using vellum (Laurie's challenge) and this ribbon as my inspiration (Jody's challenge). Fun challenges, Jody and Laurie! I'd been wanting to use this pink/green ribbon that I received from a friend, so Jody's ribbon challenge was the perfect launch pad for me. As for Laurie's challenge--I have to admit, I'm vellum challenged, so again--the perfect challenge for me! I stamped my CHF Pretty Pattern backgrounder in Pixie Pink onto the vellum and secured it with Green Galore tabs and brads. I like the softness the vellum adds to this baby card.

Stay tuned for Tuesday's challenge card(s)...each day two new challenges are posted at SCS for DTGD '08...and be sure to tune in on Sunday, when yours truly will be hosting a challenge as well!

Supplies

Stamps: PTI Green Thumb & Mixed Messages; CHF Pretty Pattern backgrounder

Ink: Pixie Pink, Green Galore

Paper: Vellum, Pixie Pink, Green Galore, Whisper White

Accessories: ribbon, tab punch, brads

Inspired by MARTHA!

While flipping through the August issue of my Martha Stewart LIVING magazine, I spied a really fun color combo which I've identified as: Regal Rose, Kiwi Kiss and Marigold Morning (In Color '07). Here are three cards I created using the color combo.

Supplies

Stamps: Carte Postale; PTI Text Boxed; CTMH Say It In Style

Paper: Bella Rose, Kiwi Kiss, Regal Rose, Marigold Morning, Whisper White

Ink: Marigold, Regal Rose, Kiwi Kiss, Craft White

Accessories: circle punch, sewing machine, chipboard letters, ribbon, scallop row punch

A day in the life of a Dirty Girl!

Head on over to Splitcoaststampers for a week of fun, challenges and prizes starting today July 21st through Sunday, July 27th! Each day you'll be met with fun challenges hosted by past and present Dirty Girls (SCS Dirty Dozen Design Team members), so come play along! Click here for more general info and click here for the specifics of playing along. If you haven't joined the SCS Fan Club, click here to find out how to do so!

Featured Stamper #76!

I was so excited when I saw that my good friend, Susan was today's featured stamper over at SCS!! Susan or Susie has amazing talent, uses embellishements like no other and maintains a whoot-whoot blog as well! If you've never played along with the FS Challenge, today's the day! Click here to find out how to play; click here to see Susie's blog; and click here to see her SCS gallery.

To play along with the FS Challenge, you first select a card from the FS's gallery and then change it up in three different ways while keeping with the idea of the original card. My change-ups include stamps, designer papers and embellishments. Susie used an entire row of buttons, which I just love, but my card called for a single button. I think a row of buttons would have been too much for my single strawberry.

Supplies:

Stamps: PTI Green Thumb

Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip

Paper: Bella Rose dp, Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White

Accessories: button, grosgrain

Sailing In Colors!

It's Saturday, and you know what that means: Jen's Saturday Sketch For You To Try! So, without further adieu, here's Jen's sketch and here's what I did with it! I'm sure you're getting so sick of me paper piecing this cute little sailboat from Nursery Necessities, but when I looked at Jen's sketch, the star got me thinking cowboys or baby (you know, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star...). I'd originally planned to use the star from Nursery Necessities as well, but it just seemed to darn big! The designer paper you see here is new from SU!, available August 11th. It's called Bella Rose and is both fun and beautiful!

Have a great weekend and be sure to check on the other gals to see what they've done with the Saturday sketch. While you're at Jen's blog, be sure to check out her guest designer--Jessie Knight's creation as well!

Carole

Amy S.

Shannan

Susan

Jen

Writing In Colors!

I had a little extra time this afternoon, so I decided to make a card using Toy's sketch found here. It's a fun little sketch that worked perfectly with my AAS Writing stamp...sorry if you're tiring of this stamp, but I think she's just so darn cute with that jumbo pencil! The delightful stamp is from SU!'s It's All Good, which I've never even inked before--shame, shame, shame! The new In Colors I used are: Kiwi Kiss, Pink Pirouette and Tangerine Tango. Just one note about black ink--they aren't all the same. For the last week, I've been using VersaFine ink in Onyx Black and I am here to tell you that it is wonderful. It is especially effective when using stamps such as this one today with lots of fine detail...try it, you'll like it!

Hot Diggity Dog!

For yesterday's sketch challenge #185 at SCS. The center panel/main panel is not supposed to be crooked, but I just had to slant it a bit to give my pooch a little more on the take-off! Papers are from a friend, and I believe she picked them up at Target....Marcella K paper is the name that comes to mind...forgive me if I'm wrong. I've been playing around with two new sets that I just got from The Cat's Pajamas, and these images are from the set, It's a Mod Mod World. Once again, I'm pulling that stamp set name from my *sometimes not so reliable* memory, but I think I'm in the right ballpark?!

Just a note of advice: I just love these papers that were given to me, but had such a darn hard time finding ink pads to match the colors, so I decided to do a bit of paper piecing, and I love the results! So, next time you're color-match challenged, do as I did: paper piece parts of your image!

Have a great afternoon Ü

Sailin' With the Captain!

My dear cousin, Jane, turned the big *40* on Sunday and she loves to sail with the captain once in awhile (if you know what I mean!), and of course on her 40th birthday! I thought it would be fun to recreate a personalized label for the bottle of this kick-a-poo-joy-juice that I gave her on her big day! I ran a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock through my printer for the sentiment and then stamped and paper pieced that cute lil' pirate boy from SU!'s Ahoy Matey set. I also distressed the paper by crumpling it, sponging it and dragging my scissors blade here and there along the edges.

New In Colors!

Mr. Brown made a stop at my door yesterday with a SU! demonstrator preorder of the new scallop edge punch, In Colors '08 paper/stamp pads/reinkers, and a couple of the Decor Elements, and I have to admit my excitement over the new In Colors--much more excited than I thought I'd be! I just love the combo of Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss and Riding Hood Red seen in both cards today! I didn't have a lot of time for new layouts, so you'll recognize the 3 1/4 x 6 1/2" card if you stop by Ink About Me with any frequency. The second card uses the same color combo with my favorite stamp from All Holidays. Not much time for chatter today...lots to do!

Supplies:

Stamps: Gina K How Sweet It Is; SU! All Holidays; CHF Pretty Pattern

Ink: Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip

Paper: Bella Rose DSP, Chocolate Chip, PP, KK, RHR, Versamark

Accessories: Button Bouquet buttons (red), pink button, pink gingham, chocolate grosgrain, round tab punch, scallop edge punch

One more for SFYTT...

I decided to make one more 3x3 for Jen's Saturday Sketch using some delicious Crate Paper, Hodge Podge Hardware and a birthday sentiment from Amazing to Zany atop a Soft Sky card base. See my previous post for all the juicy details on today's sketch!

Jen's Saturday Sketch!

Big news, ladies: I've been asked to join Jen del Muro's SFYTT Team! This means that each Saturday I'll be bringing you my version of Jen's Saturday Sketch For You To Try (SFYTT). I'm so excited to be part of this great group of women--a big honor for me! The other gals in the group are Carole, Shannan, Susan and Amy S. (aka Pickler!). Click on each of their names to see their versions of today's SFYTT.

Today's card uses PaperTrey Ink's set, Green Thumb; a set I've had for quite some time now, and one of those sets that I go back to again and again. I just love the strawberry and pea/sweet pea stamps and if you browse through my SCS gallery or my blog, you'll see those stamps used quite a bit! I paired the stamp with Soft Sky and Old Olive with pretty simple, straight-forward stamping. This lil' sweet pea measures 3x3.

Thanks for stopping by today and be sure to check out the SFYTT Team's creations and play along too!

CC174 & TCP Tuesday!

Today's TCP Tuesday hipster hostess is Leigh O'Brien and her challenge is a sketch challenge inspired by yours truly! Can you believe it, a powerhouse like Leigh inspired by little ol' me?! Sent a shiver up my spine when I read this post! The colors of my card are for today's Color Challenge #174 over at SCS, guest hosted by the Carole Burrage!

Check out both challenges and play along if you wish!

Stamping To Do!

Do you make lists of cards you need to stamp, or projects you'd like to accomplish, or ideas that spring into your creative brain? I do! And as helpful as those lists can be...they don't truly serve their purpose if I can't find them, right?!? In order to make my lists more available (that's a fancy way of saying "so I can find them!"), I decided to cover this SU! 4 1/2 x 9 inch chipboard clipboard (try saying that 10x in a row, ha!) to serve as my list holder.

The clipboard is covered with WeR Memory Keepers designer paper from their Precious Metals line, called Vintage Brass-Bed Knobs (polka dots) and Treads (stripes). I adhered the paper, buttons and chipboard letters with Modge Podge. I wasn't sure of the holding power it would achieve with the buttons and letters, but so far--so good! I wanted to make a "fancy list" for the photo, so I stamped my new CHF Lined Paper stamp in Versamagic Oasis Green on a piece of River Rock cardstock and filled my list of stamping challenges and obligations that I need to remember. The chipboard letters are from On Board Lots of Letters and are also inked up with the Versamagic Oasis Green ink--that stuff if slick, dries in a flash and covers beautifully! Embellishments include three buttons tied with Linen Thread, a bit of velvet ribbon on the clip and another bit of ribbon on a mini library clip on the left side of my to-do list!

Now, go forth and make yourself something *real nice* to organize your lists!

More P&P!

If you tuned in yesterday, you saw the card I made using a piece of SU!'s retired Petals and Paisleys designer paper...well, the dp was still lying on my cutting table, so I used it again for today's baby card. I do that quite often--continue on down the same path until I tire of a stamp set, color scheme or designer paper. Today's card is nothing ground-breaking...a simple little paper pieced sailboat from Nursery Necessities. It seems that I can't sail this little boat without paper piecing it! I added two tiny button brads to the corner and a length of 5/8" Olive grosgrain for embellishments. You'll notice there isn't a sentiment--no place to stamp it on the front, so it will be found on the inside of the card.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Fabulous!

As you may have read here on my blog, I'm pleased to be involved in a three month designing stint for American Art Stamp Company. I decided to combine Jen's Saturday Sketch For You To Try (July 5th) with one of my AAS stamps, Writing by Karen Stolper. I'm in a *pink* mood today because I have we have a new baby girl in our family--Brea. Obviously, this card isn't a baby card for my new niece, but it got me thinking in pinks! The designer paper is retired SU!: Petals and Paisleys combined with coordinating paper and inks in Certainly Celery, Tempting Turquoise, Regal Rose and Old Olive. I used reinkers and a blender pen to color the main image and stamped the sentiment from Absolutely Fabulous in Palette Noir Black. I chose this sentiment set because I thought the handwritten look of these sentiments fit the squiggly line of her pencil.

Speaking of that pink pencil, I sure wish I had a big pink pencil like that one! Remember when you were a kid, and you might get one of those giant pencils while on a family vacation from some fun little gift shop?! Drop me a line today and let me know if you ever had one of those giant pencils, and you just might find something *real nice* in your mailbox! BTW, I don't think I ever got one, but I remember one of my friends having a giant pencil and being a wee bit envious!

Also, remember to check out Jen's Saturday Sketch and see what the rest of her team has done with this little ditty!

*sparkle*

I'm in the holiday mood today--this is my second patriotic themed creation for the day! This one uses Karen Stolper's Stars stamp paired with SU!'s *sparkle* sentiment from their Warm Words set. I added Xmas Red Stickles to her outfit, the red star and the red *sparkle* banner for a little firecracker action! The white and blue stars are covered in Crystal Effects for added shine.

Independence Day Celebration!

Happy (belated) Independence Day! We hosted a get-to-gether at our home yesterday, and with all the preparations, I didn't get a chance to sneak into my stamping (em, therapy) room for even a minute, except to occasionally pull pieces of ribbon or paper from George's mouth as he strolled through! I did, however, get a few minutes this morning to scrap (a rare thing for me!) a 6x6 page with one of my favorite photos from yesterday's party. The photo features both of my sons--Hank and George, along with their cousins, Jens and Anders...aren't they a handsome bunch?! I'm also sharing a few other photos from the day just in case any of my rellies stop by my blog.

Thanks for stopping by and have a relaxing weekend!

Supplies
Stamps: CHF For The Men
Ink: Night of Navy
Paper: Kraft, Night of Navy, Real Red, Whisper White
Accessories: star punch, ribbon, silver pen

Two cards--Two ways!

Here are two cards that I made using the same sketch with the designer paper flipped either vertically or horizontally for a little variety. The designer paper is retired SU!, card base is PaperTrey Ink (PTI) White cardstock and stamps are also by PTI: Faux Ribbon and Butterfly Kisses.

Thanks for stopping by...

Certainly Wild Sweet Pea!

For today's Color Challenge 173 over at Splitcoaststampers: Purely Wild Celery, which translates to Purely Pomegranate, Wild Wasabi & Certainly Celery. If you've never played before, click here to get yourself in the game. Playing along with the SCS daily challenges is a great way to grow yourself as a stamper, if that's where you'd like to go. I know that I have improved my stamping, made lots of new cyber-friends and kept abreast of new and fun technics and products that I may not have dared to try out.

This sweet little baby card is going out to my cousin and friend for the birth of her third girl--Aubrey (isn't that the sweetest name?!). I started with a 4.25" square base in Pomegranate and added a strip of Wasabi designer paper from the Hostess Level 1 paper pad. I knew I wanted to stamp the pea pod in Celery and the baby peas in Wasabi and I just love the contrast of the two greens--perfect! Sentiment was stamped in Pomegranate from the same set by PaperTrey Ink, Green Thumb. A length of Wasabi ribbon and two buttons finished this baby card off. Oops, almost forgot to say something about the layer of Wasabi beneath the stamped image, layered atop a scalloped square of Celery. I just love the softness the scalloped square gives to this card.

Thanks for stopping by, and like I said--go, stamp & play the CC173 today!