Always

Here it is...my card creation for Jen's Saturday Sketch For You To Try (SFYTT). If you're a follower of my SFYTT cards, you'll note that two weeks ago I made a Halloween card; last week a snowman Christmas card; and threatened to do something in a Valentine's Day theme for this week! That's pretty much what I did, although I sent this card off to someone in the mail already.

I've been visiting a blog favorite of mine Pine Is Here by Heather Nichols, and I really like the homespun sweetness of her new set Rustic Branches available through PaperTrey Ink. Seeing all of the wreaths using Heather's set made me want to create my own sort of wreath, so I punched out 4 different colored hearts, arranged them in a circle on vellum with bits of adhesive (just enough to make them stick but not too much) and then fired up my sewing machine and went around and around, about 3 or 4 times. I actually hadn't decided on a sentiment to use prior to making the heart wreath, but when I found always on my mind, forever in my heart, it was a match made in heaven! The additional heart/button/linen thread highlights the sentiment and pulls it all together in a symbolic sorta way.

Here are links to the other SFYTT chicas and their eye candy...check it out! And hey, come play along...make your card according to the sketch, upload to your blog or SCS and use the keyword SFYTT. Have a great weekend!

Jen & Bonnie
Carole
Amy S.
Susan
Shannan

Silhouette Trio

After finishing my Urban Upsy card from the last post, I kept on stamping and made a trio of 3x3 cards with a matching box using the same Urban Garden DSP and my new Pocket Silhouettes set. The talented Laurie Schmidlin created this tutorial on SCS a couple of weeks ago for the beautiful box that holds the 3x3 cards. For some reason the top of my box is a little larger than it probably should be, but the taffeta ribbon holds it all together nicely! I am really loving this color combination: Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze and Basic Gray and the way the Urban Garden papers pull them all together so perfectly.

Be sure to tune in tomorrow for Jen's Saturday Sketch!

Here's a sneak peek...

Urban Upsy!

Yesterday was my first official day of teacher inservice, followed by another inservice day today and an open house this evening. When I finally got home, I found my first order from the new SU! catalog waiting for me, so after tucking George into bed and making sure my teen daughter was locked in her room (just kidding!), I tore open the box and grabbed one of the new sets, Upsy Daisy, and the new paper pack, Urban Garden. I had a moment of panic, wanting to create something really fun and exciting that wasn't going to take me until midnight but knew I was "rushing it"; trying to do too much in a short amount of time and just making yourself crazy in the process. Why do we put so much pressure on ourselves? Is that a female thing? Are you sick of my questions?

Anyway, I forced myself to *keep it simple*...Sharon/notimetostamp would be so proud of me...and I am pleased with the result of my simple effort. I so admire other stampers who create simply beautiful things that look so awesome, yet so effortless. Check out my sidebar to see a little *effortless awesome* work by Val Stangle, Sharon Johnson & Dawn McVey. Don't get me wrong...I don't mean their work is effortless; they just make it look effortless. Ok, so I've typed *effortless* so many times that it appears to me that I've spelled it incorrectly...mebbe that means it's time to stop typing and get some shut-eye, ha!

Just a note about the card: the main image is stamped twice--once full strength Kiwi Kiss and again a smidge to the right without reinking...it's hard to see the *shadow* in my picture.

Thanks for stopping by...see you tomorrow!

Supplies:
Stamps: Upsy Daisy
Paper: Basic Gray, Kiwi Kiss, Baja Blue, Urban Garden DSP
Ink: Basic Gray, Kiwi Kiss
Accessories: scallop edge punch, round tab punch, Kiwi Kiss ribbon

Teapot Tuesday

Well, like I said in my last post, I was off to check out my buddy Cindy's Teapot Tuesday Challenge. This is the 9th week of her TT challenges, and the first time I've participated. Cindy is one of the most talented stampers and on top of it all I *know* she could make a substantial living as a stand-up comedian, and on top of that she's just an all around nice person; did I ever tell you that she threw a baby-card-shower for me last fall when I had George?! If you ever need a good belly laugh, check her out her blog. Cindy has a *thang* for teapots and as a result must have quite a collection, so each Tuesday she's featuring a picture of one of her teapots as stamping inspiration. First is the picture of the teapot and then my card.

*ETA: I went back and added a trio of buttons because it just needed them!

Supplies
Stamps: Mixed Bouquet, CHF Motivational Centers & Pretty Pattern backgrounder
Paper: Naturals Ivory, Pink Pirouette, Baja Breeze, River Rock
Ink: Palette Burnt Umber, River Rock, PP, BB, Versamark
Accessories: scallop edge punch, ivory organdy, Irridescent Ice ep, sponge, aquapainter

Birthday Invite & A Challenge

Two things to share today and then I'm off to check out Cindy Motherway/Mothermark's Teapot Tuesday Challenge.

If you tuned in for the previous post, you saw a birthday card for George's first birthday coming up in a few weeks (can't believe it!). I'd started on the invites at that point but no *final final* except for the color combo: Kiwi Kiss, Brocade Blue & Tangerine Tango. George really seems to be taking a liking to dogs and is even saying something close to the word "dog", so I thought I'd go with the whole *dog* thing! The invite combines two different stamps set in a mod sorta way: SU!'s Eat Cake and TCP's It's A Mod Mod World. I know it's not baby-boyish, but I like it and it was easy peasy to mass produce. I always figure that half the bunch receiving this invite doesn't give a hoo-hoo about stamping, so why spend oodles of hours creating something that's going to end up in the round file anyway, eh?!

Second card is for TLC183: Faux Embossing...a fun technic using your trusty stamp-a-ma-jig! Click here for all the details. I've always loved this set, Peaceful Wishes, but hadn't ordered it until it was retiring and just inked it for the first time for this card. Here's what you do to achieve the faux embossed look: stamp image in white craft ink and then stamp image again in coordinating cardstock color ink just off to either side a smidge using your SAMJ. Get it? If not, check out the link above for more detail.

Invite supplies
Stamps: TCP It's A Mod Mod World; SU! Eat Cake; Hero Arts Clear Designs Alpha (1)
Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango, Brocade Blue, WW
Ink: same as cardstock

Challenge card supplies
Stamps: Peaceful Wishes
Paper: Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, Naturals Ivory
Ink: RHR, Craft White
Accessories: scallop edge punch, SAMJ, ivory taffeta, mini library clip

Happy Birthday Big Boy!

I was checking out a few of my favorite blogs this morning, stopped by Taylored Expressions and decided to participate in her weekly Cupcake Sketch Challenge. Seems I have to be challenged to sit down and create lately, so this was the perfect opportunity to get started on a birthday card for George's 1st birthday! His birthday isn't for a few weeks, and I haven't finished the invites yet, but I do have the colors picked for them, so I went with the same colors for his card: Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango and Brocade Blue.

If you'd like to play along with Taylor's sketch, just remember to use the keyword TECC30 when uploading to Splitcoaststampers and then leave a link on her blog Taylored Expressions. Here's the sketch:

Supplies
Stamps: SU! Everyday Flexible Phrases; Hero Arts Clear Design Bird Branch Alphabet
Ink: Basic Black
Paper: Confetti White, Kiwi Kiss, Brocade Blue, Tangerine Tango
Accessories: Cuttlebug dots folder, American Crafts Thickers (glittery dots), circle punches, Target $1 spot mini flower punch, sewing machine & thread

Inspiration Challenge #142

For today's Inspiration Challenge over at Splitcoaststampers...taking inspiration from a Marimekko brand umbrella. The umbrella I chose as inspiration can be seen here. The colors in my card are a bit more contrasted than my inspiration, but I wanted to pair the new In Colors, Riding Hood Red and Tangerine Tango, and I'm pleased with the results. Because the colors are so bright and bold, I chose to keep my layout and embellishments simple.

Supplies
Stamps: All Holidays, Dotted
Paper: RHR, TT, WW
Ink: RHR, TT
Embellishments: scallop edge punch, mini library clip, May Arts striped ribbon

Snowy Merry Christmas!

For Jen's Saturday Sketch For You To Try, featuring this sketch:

Last week, my SFYTT card featured a Halloween theme, so of course this week I moved on to a snowy Christmas theme...I suppose next week will be Valentine's Day, ha! The main image panel features snowmen from The Angel Co., paper pieced and layered on Baja Breeze and Kiwi Kiss. The patterned paper is Basic Grey's Figgy Pudding collection and sparkly snowflakes are Thickers by American Crafts. Sentiment is from PaperTrey Ink's Mixed Messages set. Diamond Stickles by Ranger are dotted here and there for extra sparkle.

I've found that I really enjoy paper piecing, especially with coordinating patterned papers and it reminded me of days long gone playing with paper dolls and their coordinated outfits...didn't you just love when everything was all *matchy-matchy*?! Try your hand at paper piecing today and enjoy your memories of playing with paper dolls! Don't forget to use the keyword SFYTT when uploading your creation over at Splitcoaststampers if you so wish.

Don't forget to check out the fabulous designs of my SFYTT chicas:
Jen & Bonnie, her August guest designer
Carol
Amy S.
Shannan
Susan

Happy Saturday!

A Quickie!

Got your attention, didn't I?! Don't have much time for chatter as I'm off to Milwaukee for a few days to catch a couple Brewers games, so this is going to be a *quickie* post! I wanted to share a few things from the last week before I head out the door: baby shower cards, a 50th birthday card and one miscellaneous. Here they are!

Inside reads: 50 years old and you're still a stud!

Thanks for stopping by...have a fabulous day!

Featured Stamper #80

Jessie Knightrone is today's Featured Stamper over at Splitcoast and here is my submission for the challenge. This girl has a rockin' gallery and is always leaving sweet comments here on my blog--I appreciate it, Jessie! Click here to see her gallery and here to find out how to play along with the Featured Stamper Challenge.

I changed up the colors, stamps and ribbon from Jessie's original card. I've been wanting to *set up* a date between Pink Pirouette with Basic Gray, and I'm glad I did because I really like this cute little couple! The DSP is retired SU! Charbon and stamps are by Amuse, Sushi & Party Time sets.

Thanks for stopping by!

Ed's Birthday!

I'm going to show you two cards are for my DH's birthday (today!) and I worked on them this morning during George's naptime. I'll start off with the card I gave DH followed by George's card for his *da-da*!

The reason for the *fishing* themed card is that DH is going fishing next weekend, sort of a belated birthday *thing*...you all understand, right?! Ü

This is George's card to his Daddy...two pictures of the two of them. I think their favorite thing is spending time with each other.



Here's George's signature...

Happy Birthday Ed!

Spooky Halloween

My goodness, I haven't been a very prolific blogger this week...haven't posted since Wednesday. In my last post I alluded to a card I'd made using a new set from American Art Stamp called Halloween2 but couldn't yet share it with you because it was for Jen's Saturday SFYTT, so without further adieu, here she is:

Be sure to stop back later this weekend as I'll be posting a few things I stamped this past week but just didn't have the extra minutes to post!

Speaking of things to check out...check out my SFYTT teammates' eye candy using this fun sketch of Jen's! Come play along with today's sketch, and don't forget to use the keyword SFYTT so we can see what you've created!

Jen
Carole
Amy S.
Susan
Shannan

Supplies
Paper: Enchante dsp (retired), Bali Breeze dsp (retired), Kiwi Kiss, BB, WW
Stamps: American Art Stamp Halloween2
Ink: Palette Noir Black, Pumpkin, Kiwi, Perfect Plum
Accessories: Bazzill chipboard, ribbon, CB tag, black hemp, brads

New American Art Stamp set!

I just received a new set from AAS and they're using new packaging and *cling* mounting--yeah! The set is called Halloween2 and you can view the entire set here. There are new and old stamps that AAS has converted into cling mounted version. They've also taken the guess work out of image and sentiment combining by doing that little dirty work for us! Click here to head on over to AAS to view all the cling mounted sets.

Here is my second card created with my new Halloween2 set...I can't show the first card I made until Saturday because it's for Jen's Saturday SFYTT, he he he! My little trick or treater is wearing a frock of Basic Gray, Kiwi Kiss and Riding Hood Red which was colored with reinkers and a blender pen. Her treat bag is paper pieced using a bit of Basic Grey's Scarlett's Letter paper as well as a strip of it on the card base.

Supplies
Stamps: AAS Halloween2
Paper: Kiwi Kiss, WW, BB, Basic Gray; Basic Grey Scarlett's Letter DP
Ink: Palette Noir Black, Craft White
Accessories: CB tag, gray taffeta, corner rounder punch, red hemp, black brads

Final Fishing Invite!

If you tuned in for my last post, you heard about my cousin's request for a wedding shower invite in the colors of red and black with a fishing theme. Fast forward 12 hours, and here's our *final final* invite. I had no idea how fun and cool a fishing themed wedding invite could be until my cousin, Laura, brought the invite and we got going on the shower invites--it was very cool. The colors of the invite actually matched (retired) Baroque Burgundy, so our colors changed to BB, Black and Vanilla. I'm so pleased with the results!

Supplies:
Stamps: Angler (retired SU!), Hugs & Wishes, Mixed Messages
Paper: Baroque Burgundy, Vanilla, Basic Black
Ink: Palette Noir Black
Accessories: scallop circle punch, 1" circle punch, May Arts striped ribbon

Themed Invite

I had a call from my cousin yesterday wondering about a wedding shower invite in the colors red & black with a fishing theme...huh?! When I think fishing, my mind goes to the Earth Elements color family, so black and red threw me for a loop, or should I say a sinker, bobber, worm?! Well, I haven't even called her back yet but I did get to work, and here's what I've come up with so far. Just in case it isn't obvious...the *pull* is a bobber layered on a black scallop circle...what do you think?! See below for the *big picture*.

A Sketch For You To Try!

Wow, can you believe it's already Saturday?! That means it's time for another round of Jen's Saturday SFYTT. Remember to use the keyword SFYTT when uploading to SCS, so we can see what y'all have done each week. Believe it or not, I got an early start on this week's sketch and came up with 2 cards; one Christmas and the other school-themed.

Be sure to check out the SFYTT gang's creations as well.
Just click on their names below:

Jen & Bonnie
Carole
Susan
Amy S.
Shannan
*********************************************
Supplies
Paper: TAC patterned paper, Crate Paper 5th Ave., So Saffron, Riding Hood Red, Vanilla, BB
Stamps: Lined Paper & Making the Grade CHF, The Snowflake Spot, Holidays & Wishes
Ink: Bordering Blue, Versamark, RHR, Palette Noir Black
Accessories: gold ep, ivory taffeta, sewing machine, circle punches, sponge, mini library clip, notebook edge punch, color spritzer tool, photo corner punch

The one and only...

...Brett Favre. Even if you're not a Packers fan or a Brett Favre fan, there's no denying that he's one of the *greats* in football history; a legend in his own time. There has been so much drama surrounding the whole break-up (if you will) of Favre and the GBP over the last few weeks and quite frankly, I'm sick of it and sick over the outcome. As you've probably heard, Favre is no longer wearing #4 for the Pack...he's #4 for the Jets...just give me a minute, I'm feeling a bit verklempt.

So, to honor the one and only, Brett Favre as a GBP, I made yet another *lunch note* for LSC180 over at SCS. This one's for me...I think I'll just leave it in my desk drawer at work and slip it into my lunch bag whenever I'm feeling a little lonely for #4!

Lunch Notes!

Today's Limited Supplies Challenge (LSC180) is to create an ATC size card. If you're not familiar with the likes of an ATC (Artist Trading Card)--it is a 2.5x3.5 inch trading card for stampers. The twist with LSC180 is to make this into a card, where a typical ATC is not folded...clear as mud?! I cut my base 3.5x5 inches and folded it in half, making my card size 2.5x3.5 inches. Enough about size...on to the whole theme for the challenge!

Create an ATC card that you could slip into your loved one's lunch box, laptop case, wallet, etc. I had CHF's Making the Grade set on my stamping table--perfect for a school lunch note. I decided to use two of the new In Colors--Tangerine Tango and Pacific Point, along with So Saffron. The TT letters are cut from the Red Tag Alpha dies and the *notebook paper* is stamped with CHF's Lined Paper stamped off twice in PP. I colored my pencil image with a blender pen and reinkers in SS, PP & TT after I'd stamped it and the sentiment using Ranger Walnut Ink. A couple of silver star brads and silver mini library clip with a bit of May Arts striped ribbon round out the embellishements. All edges were sponged with the same Ranger Walnut Ink.

Have a great Friday and thanks for stopping by!

Pirate's Booty!

Look no further than my friendly skull for my jewels--mine eyes have seen the treasure, argh! For today's Ways To Use It Challenge #178: Be-jeweled! The challenge is to use jewels *somewhere* in your creation, so I thought it'd be fun to add some bling to my skull's eye sockets! I still had my Creepy Crawly DSP within reach from the Halloween mini bucket a couple posts down, so I added a mini library clip holding layered More Mustard and Pumpkin tags and a few staples to my Irridescent Ice embossed image and there you have it! The bit of ribbon is leftover from last year's Martha Stewart Halloween ribbon.

A double challenge...

...of this week's Color Challenge 178 and Sketch Challenge 188 over at SCS. The CC178 was to pick and use any, but only the retiring SU! In Colors, of which I chose Purely Pomegranate and Soft Sky. I watercolored the American Art Stamp Writing image with a blender pen and reinkers and then added Diamond Stickles to her pencil for some extra glitz to go along with the rhinestone trifecta! See that *Pomegranate* taffeta? That is actually vanilla taffeta sponged with PP ink--cool, huh?!

I'm truly sad to see the In Colors go, especially River Rock and Soft Sky; I'll miss them the most. While I'm truly delighted with a few of the new In Colors, the remainder need to grow on me a bit. How about you...which of the old In Colors leave you feeling a bit *verklempt*?! (I'm thinking I spelled that wrong!).

A couple more...

...mini buckets! See this post for all the deets. I've found that I'm not as much of an *originator* of cool ideas as I am a someone who takes those cool ideas and runs with them. That's how my brain has been focused since I saw these cute mini bucket totes on Val's blog a couple of days ago. I think they'd be the *cat's meow* as Halloween treat holders and of course, after Halloween comes Christmas!

Are you more of an originator of cool things or someone like me, who loves others' originals and puts a new spin on them? I'm hoping my friend Carole reads this post, because I just know that there's a word out there for my kinda creativitiy...easy, Carole!

Monogram Mini Bucket (s)

Have you ever found something really cool on the web or on someone's blog and just had to recreate it?! Well, that's exactly what happened to me about 30 minutes ago! I was browsing one of my favorite stamper's blog and found *the* cutest paper bucket bag, sat down and recreated it in about 10 minutes and decided I'd share it with you here at Ink About Me. Before I show it to you, I must give credit where credit is due. Valerie Stangle/11valerie11 is one of my most favorite stampers, and here is her mini version of Diana Gibbs' Box In A Bag. Diana has a wonderful tutorial on her blog for the original bag that can be seen here. Thanks so much Diana, for your original version and inspiration, and thanks Val, for your mini version--both are cute, cute, cute, and as Val said *easy peasy* to recreate! One last note: Cambria Turnbow also has an excellent and as always, fun, tutorial on her blog that can be seen here! If you've never visited Val or Cami's blogs, you must do so!

*ETA: I decided to make *one* more with a transparency sheet, Bella Rose designer paper and died-to-match taffeta ribbon (sponge and reinker)...here she is:



Supplies
Stamps: SU! Typeset Lower Alpha, Make It Count
Ink: Versamagic Pink Petunia, Kiwi Kiss
Paper: K&CO. Classic K Margo 12x12 pad, Wild Wasabi, Kiwi Kiss, Bella Rose DP
Accessories: scallop edge scissors, 3/4" & 1 1/4" circle punches, jumbo brad, WW grosgrain, Linen Thread, transparency sheet, round tab punch, taffeta ribbon, sponge

Jen's Saturday SFYTT

Good morning! When I first looked at Jen's sketch for today, I thought, "...no problem, easy peasy!"...uh-huh. So, what I was thinking would take me oh, 30 minutes to accomplish turned into 2 hours and a margarita (or two...cuz they bring on the creative juices, don't you know?!). Well, long story short--I had fun and got a quick start on the weekend with Jose (Quervo)! Dear hubby even liked the end-result...or is that because he {hearts} fishing....hmm...one must wonder???! Who can resist Riley, fishing for croppies' sake?! Take Riley's advice to slow down this weekend...enjoy your family and your summer cuz we're headed toward the end of it!

Just a couple notes about Riley: his had and boat (don't know the make and model, so don't bother asking) are paper pieced and his honey hole and blue sky are water colored using reinkers and an aqua painter.

Ok, enough about me and Riley...go forth and click on the names below to see what the rest of the team has created with Jen's fabuloso sketch today! (Note: the Carole Burrage/Mother's Little Helper/TruCarma is on a little vacation with her family, so she is MIA this weekend. Hi Carole!)

Jen & Bonnie (Aug. Guest Designer...welcome, Bonnie!)
Shannan
Susan
Amy S.

Supplies
Paper: Blue Bayou, Wild Wasabi, SU! water color paper, K&Co. Margo dp
Ink: Palette Burnt Umber, various reinkers (including Margarita sweat!)
Stamps: Riley fishing (Hannah Stamps!), CTMH Hook, Line & Sinker
Accessories: Vintage Brads, aqua painter

Clear {Thanks!

I've been on a Kiwi Kiss quick lately, as well as using acetate on my new *favorite* card size -- 3.25 x 6.5". This card combines all three elements in a clean and clear style and also uses one of my favorite patterned papers, Crate Paper's 5th Ave. collection. Back to Kiwi Kiss...when I first opened my pack of KK cardstock, I thought to myself...this looks much like Old Olive...and as much as I like Old Olive, I really like Kiwi Kiss and find it to be a bit *lighter*, for lack of a better term. Not so much lighter in color, but in the way it blends so well with other colors. In teacher talk, we'd say that KK "plays well with others...", ha!

Have a wonderful Friday, and don't forget to tune in tomorrow for Jen's Saturday SFYTT!

Supplies
Paper: Kraft, Kiwi Kiss, Crate Paper 5th Ave. collection
Ink: Stazon Black
Stamps: SU! Make It Count (hostess set)
Accessories: acetate, black brads