Frankie-baby!

After working with my new curly label punch on the note cards in my last post, I got looking at those little punches and thought, hmm...these could look like a baby Frankie?! Looking at Frankie's eyes, you can see that he's a little camera shy, his eyes going this way and that. Middle Frankie has clearly eaten too many Baby Ruths...a little chubby in the cheeks! Ok, enough about Frankie...sorta like the "Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!" thang.

If this sketch looks familiar, that's because it was Jen's SFYTT from this past Saturday--perfect for 3 Franks in a row, ah-hmm. The 3 shades of green are Kiwi Kiss, Old Olive and Always Arthicoke with Elegant Eggplant hair toppers. Scars and mouths are hand drawn and the head-bolts are simply black brads holding their little brains inside. I was determined to use my purple striped May Arts ribbon, and I rather like it--sorta looks like a little purple bat flyin' around. Patterned paper is SU!'s new Halloween paper, and the crimped banner piece is secured with an X of staples. Edges were run through my black ink pad followed by a smattering of black ink here and there with my color spritzer tool.

Thanks for pokin' in and have a spook-tacular day!

Paying it forward

About a week ago, one of Kendra's high school teachers mailed a personal note letting us know how well she's doing in her History class along with a comment about her talent for writing--wow, what a great mail day! I was so taken with this small act of kindness, not to mention the swell of pride I was feeling--yeah, Kendra!

Because of that, I've decided to pay it forward: making simple note cards for the teachers at my elementary school to use in a similar manner, on a voluntary basis of course. I'm planning to put these cards in a basket and set them in the teacher lounges, sort of like the delicious treats that some bring to share, except these will be calorie-free!

The stamping here is pretty simple--a sheet of Riding Hood Red stamped repeatedly with the pencil image from Kim Hughes' Making The Grade set, cut into 1"x5.5" strips, layered on a Kraft base, finished with a large oval stamped with a sentiment from the same set, set atop a Curly Label punch in black. BTW, our school colors are {cardinal} red and black!

Thanks for stopping over today!

JOYful sketch

Another great sketch from Jen this week! I pulled out Holiday Treasures DSP and started mixing and matching the patterns-- a little diagonal stripe, mini houndstooth and a bit of confetti dots on the punched snowflake. I was tempted to leave my chipboard letters naked, but decided to dress 'em up with snowy sparkle (that would be White Craft ink and Irridescent Ice ep). Chocolate grosgrain and a button with faux thread (a skinny strip of Baja Breeze cardstock), and this one's ready to go!

Be sure to check out Jen and her guest designer, Suzanne's creations as well as the rest of the team:

Susan
Shannan
Carole
Amy

Have a great weekend!

For Payton!

Remember last week (or maybe it's been 2 weeks ago already!) I posted a tomato thank you card for my sweet neighbor girl, Shelby? Well, her sister Payton really liked Shelby's card and Shelby really like showing off her tomato thank you card...you can see where this is going, right?...so, of course I had to make something for Payton! Payton is a year older than her sister and just started kindergarten at the beginning of the month, AND being a girly-girl, of course she likes pink, so I combined the school-thing and the color-thing and came up with this sweet little 4.25x4.25" card for her.

You'll notice a huge similarity to this lunch note/card I'd done for a SCS challenge a month or so ago using the same Lined Paper Backgrounder and pencil from Kim Hughes' Making The Grade set, available through Cornish Heritage Farms. The card base is Pixie Pink (don't you just love that name?) and the strip of Kiwi Kiss DSP is from the Bella Rose DSP pack. The black U & R were cut from my Red Tag Alpha run through my Cuttlebug. Two jumbo black brads and a few smatters of black ink using the color spritzer tool hold it all together.

I hope Payton enjoys this little ditty as much as I enjoyed making it for her! Now she can hang her card on the fridge next to sissy's tomato card!

Guess who...

...I had the pleasure of dining with last evening?! You guessed it--none other than the Carole Burrage/TruCarMa/Mother's Little Helper! It just so happened that she had business in Rochester, MN which happens to be just a hop, skip & a jump from my place (about an hour), so we hooked up! What an experience to finally meet one of my pretend friends in real life! I'll spare you all the boring details of our boring dinner, our so-so drinks, and our flat-line conversation, he he he! I will share a quick picture of the two of us--boy can we put on a happy face or what, huh?!

Sorry for our red-eyes...I couldn't find the darn red eye tool on my photoshop program! I promise, it wasn't the cocktails.

Cammie's Cause, Part II

Please read the post below for the details of Carolyn King/Cammie's (SCS name) ginormous blog candy giveaway in honor of World Alzheimer's Day. Cammie is doing so many wonderful things to increase awareness of Alzheimer's disease in honor of her Grandmother.

In order to eligible to win Cammie's splendiforous blog candy giveaway, she's asking that you send a card to a caretaker of someone with Alzheimer's disease. My card uses my new CTMH Perfect Day designer paper along with a retired SU! set, Botanicals. The main image is watercolored in Kiwi Kiss, Groovy Guava and Riding Hood Red with a combo of blender pen and aquapainter. I chose this set because of the person's family I'll be sending this to. This particular woman who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's earlier this summer always had the prettiest flowers that could be seen by the roadside whenever we'd drive past their farm. The poppy from Botanicals along with the sentiment seemed the perfect fit.

Cammie's Cause

Earlier this week I posted a clipboard and card that I was sending to a friend, and I promised more details would follow. Well, as promised, here they are: Carolyn King/aka Cammie (SCS) is raising awareness for Alzheimer's disease, and in conjunction with National Alzheimer's Day (today, Sept 21st), she's collected a ginormous blog candy giveaway (valued at over $1000!), my clipboard/card combo included. Oh my word, I just peeked at Cammie's blog and you wouldn't believe the blog candy--pictures of everything! There is something you have to do to win...easy peasy, but be sure to check it out!

In addition to that, Cammie has recently released her new stamp set a Whimsical Autumn through Gina K. Designs with 100% of the proceeds going to the Alzheimer's Assocation in memory of her Grandmother who recently passed away. To support her cause and find out how YOU could win some fabulous blog candy, skip on over to Cammie's blog.

Now, that's not all...Kim, owner of My Favorite Things, has also sweetened the pot with a great discount at MFT. Read the following for all the details:

"There's still time...to save 10% on all stamps using coupon code Cammie, as we raise finds for Alzheimer's! In addition to the 10% you save, MFT is donating 10% of all sales through Sunday, Sept 21st, which is World Alzheimer's Day.

As a special thank you, one lucky winner will also receive a Scor Pal and Scor Mat just for supporting the cause! Everyone who's placed an order during the fundraiser is automatically entered to win, and I'll even cover US shipping costs! If an international order wins, I'll discount your shipping by an equal amount.

Thanks for your support so far, and for allowing us an opportunity to help families worldwide!

Hugs,
Kim
My Favorite Things"

Take time to check out Cammie's blog giveaway and then head on over to MFT and Gina K. Designs to further support the Alzheimer's Association.

Hello, Saturday!

For Jen's Saturday SFYTT...can't believe another week has flown by and another fun sketch to try (I'm a poet and I didn't know-it, ha!). I used some new goodies I recently purchased from Close To My Heart (patterned paper) and Cornish Heritage Farms (Kim Hughes' Mocha Chica set), and I love the combo of the two! There actually wasn't a whole lotta stampin' goin' on here...a little paper piecing and a sentiment stamped right over the brocade design of the CTMH designer paper and that's about it. I just love paper packs because everything is all matchy-matchy, easy-peasy!

Here's Jen's sketch:

Last but not least...be sure to take a look-see at what the other chicas have done with the sketch today:

Jen
Susan
Shannan
Amy
Carole

Happy weekend Ü

Working in 3's

Have you ever noticed how things go in 3's? This is my third card using Karen Stolper images available from American Art Stamp this week. Today's card features a couple out caroling, snuggling close to stay warm, or maybe the fact that they're sharing music?! Whichever is the case, I think they're having a grand ol' time.

The main image and sentiment (I know, it's hard to see...look closely--bottom right corner) are both part of a cling mounted set. This particular set isn't showing up in the AAS store right now, but it should be back soon. If you like the fun and whimsy of these Karen Stolper images as much as I do, pop on over to AAS and look around because there are some fantastic holidays set that are currently available. Click here!

My main image and sentiment were stamped in Versafine Onyx Black ink and then colored with a blender pen dipped in Soft Sky, Always Artichoke, Sage Shadow and Certainly Celery reinkers. A piece of textured Soft Sky cardstock was cut to mimic a wide piece of ribbon and then held tight with a fancied up button. The button is from Basic Grey with a snippet of velvet ribbon secured with silver cording. Lastly, the patterned paper is retired SU!.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Putting up the lights...

Another whimsical Kim Stolper image from American Art Stamp. My little darling is decorating with a string of red lights this year decked out in a Cool Caribbean and Always Artichoke ensemble. All coloring was done with a blender pen and reinkers. The patterned paper is from Basic Grey's Figgy Pudding Collection.

Stop by the American Art Stamp blog for more eye candy compliments of the AAS Design Team!

Birthday {thank you}

Remember George's birthday invite a few posts down? Ok, it was more than a few posts ago, so here it is again. We had a great party last weekend: George had his first taste of cake, was showered with wonderful gifts and attention, and a good time was had by all! Now it's time to send out thank you notes, and George asked me if I'd make them for him--ha ha! Of course I'll make your thank you notes, dear!

I wanted something simple that coordinated with the birthday invites, and really wanted to break in my new Just Rite monogram stamper, so I put the two ideas into action. George's initial is stamped in Tangerine Tango, punched out with my 1 1/4" circle punch and then matted with a 1 3/8" Kiwi Kiss circle. The rest is pretty self-explanatory--a 3 1/2"x5" TT base with a 1" wide strip of Brocade Blue from which to anchor the monogram. Now to whip out another 15 of these and George can get busy writing, he he!

Walkin' the dog...

I had a wonderful surprise in the mail yesterday--new rubber from American Art Stamp! As you probably know, I'm fortunate to be a member of the AAS design team. I began my stint with AAS as a guest design team member and am now a full-fledged design team member.

AAS has started packaging cling mounted sets that come all ready to slap on a block and start stamping, isn't that the cats meow?! The set I'm using for today's card is called Dog Set, along with my new Parisian Summer DSP from SU!. The image is colored with a blender pen and reinkers in Bravo Burgundy, So Saffron, Sahara Sand and Pirouette Pink. A piece of pink twill is secured with a jumbo brad from my stash of no-name stuff, so I'm not able to give you a brand for either. The sentiment on the inside of the card reads: Enjoy life's simple pleasures. Ü

Have a great day!

Clipboard for a Cause!

I made this clipboard and matching card for a friend's blog giveaway, happening next week. The great thing about this giveaway is that it's for a great cause. Tune in for all the deets later this week! The clipboard and card both use SU!'s Holiday Treasures DSP which features the colors Ruby Red, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip and Baja Breeze--what a yummy color combo! I just checked the colors in the SU! catty and realized that it's Ruby Red, not Riding Hood Red (which I used), but guess what?! RHR looks great too...whew! That cute little snowgirl is none other than Kim Hughes' Snowy Sophie, and the sentiment is also Kim's from her Mocha Chica set. Kim's collection is available from Cornish Heritage Farms. Buttons are a combo of Basic Grey and SU!, and the chocolate snowflake is punched from the same designer paper using SU!'s snowflake punch. Finally, the clipboard sentiment is from Mona Lisa Moment's Motivational Centers set, available from...you guessed--CHF!

Here are a couple other single shots of the clipboard and card:

Ghouls...

...just wanna have fu-un, oh girls just wanna have FUN! Ain't that the truth? Whether it's stamping, sipping cocktails or just chattin' it up, we girls DO know how to have fun! Check out some other FUN ghouls and what they've done with Jen's Saturday Sketch For You To Try. Before I link you to their blogs, I just want to give a shout out to our main girl Bella featured here in her Halloween costume and all the fixin's! Here's some more fun info for you Bella lovers, lifted from Jen's blog:

"This week there is yet another prize up for grabs. YAY!! You will notice that all of us have done our creations with upcoming holiday themed Bellas {Halloween, Turkey Day, Christmas}. Emily has offered a $15 gift certificate to the Bella site for those who participate in the sketch using their Bellas. You don’t have to use holiday images; you just have to have fun!"

Now, get going, have some fu-un and don't forget to use the keyword SFYTT if you upload to SCS!

Jen & Suzanne
Carole
Amy S.
Shannan
Susan

veggie thanks!

For my sweet 4 year old neighbor, Shelby. She and her grandma Mary picked AND delivered a big pail of Roma tomatoes to our house this week, and what a welcome surprise! Our garden has been anything BUT prolific this year; more weeds than produce.

Card base is Kiwi Kiss with a strip of hounds tooth paper from SU!'s Holiday Treasures DSP. Below that is scalloped edge in Riding Hood Red tied together with a length of Chocolate grosgrain. The main image panel is the tomato stamp from the retired SU! Vegetable Garden set, and the sentiment is one I use over and over. It's from Kim Hughes' Making the Grade set available through Cornish Heritage Farms. If you've never checked out Kim Hughes' collection or Cornish Heritage Farms--do it! Seriously, they offer high quality stamps in many different styles--something for everyone!

Blessings

For Cindy's Teapot Tuesday Challenge #11, I created this card with the intent to make it look *vintage* yet clean and simple. Most edges are sponged with Ranger Walnut Ink and my Carved and Candlelit pumpkin is stamped in Really Rust with a Versamagic Oasis Green stem. Below the central image panel is an acorn scroll from SU!'s Country Blessings set, stamped in Palette Burnt Umber as is the "Blessings" sentiment. Card base is Really Rust with a layer of K&Co. designer paper from their Classic K Margo series. Buttons are SU! and Basic Grey tied with linen thread and Chocolate taffeta.

Be sure to check out Cindy's Teapot Challenge by clicking right here!

Oh by g*OWL*y...

...have a h*OWL*y, j*OWL*y Christmas this year! Ok, so after stamping the sentiment from Kim Hughes' URA Hoot set, I sat for the longest time, staring at it, wondering what in the *hay* it meant. I was reading it as "owl owl Christmas", but after closer inspection I realized that it actually reads, "hOWLy jOWLy" Christmas...duh! So, to save you some *duh* time (not that you'd be as lame-brained as me), I took a closeup shot of the sentiment, whoot whoot!

Below is a full shot of my card for today's SCS Color Challenge #183: Going Gray, Riding Hood Red and Green Galore--what a crazy combo! I pulled out the fun owl set because of the Santa hat and holly included--perfect for these Christmas colors, right?! The strip of RHR is repeatedly stamped with the holly in Versamark and then overstamped with that goofy sentiment. Maybe I'm just in a goofy mood? The scalloped strip was created with my handy-dandy scallop edge punch and the ribbon is new RHR taffeta from Stampin' Up!. Almost forgot--I added a bit of sparkle to Mr. Owl's hat trim with Dazzling Diamonds, adhering it with my 2 way glue pen.

Have a *hoot*iful evening and stop back this week as I hope to be a bit more prolific with my blogging!

Coming soon...

...today's SCS Color Challenge 183:

Riding Hood Red
Going Gray
Green Galore

I have been absent from my blog for the past few days, so I thought if I say I'm coming back with *something* I have to get it done!

Later 'gator!

Upsy Daisy Saturday Sketch

For Jen's Saturday SFYTT using my current favorite set, Upsy Daisy, in More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie and Riding Hood Red! I colored the UD stamp with reinkers and a blender pen, huffed and stamped. The lower image is UD stamped in Versamark on Pumpkin cardstock and the sentiment is one of SU!'s new rub-ons from the Chit Chat collection on acetate, framed in a RHR scalloped oval. The strip of RHR is stamped with CHF's Pretty Pattern backgrounder in Versamark as well.

Be sure to see what Jen and her September Guest Designer, Suzanne Dean, have been up to, as well as Carole, Amy S., Shannan and Susan! Here's Jen's fun sketch, so come play along and if you upload to SCS, use the keyword SFYTT, and/or post a link to your gallery or blog on Jen's blog in the comment section.

Have a great weekend!

Pocket Thanks

Pocket Silhouettes was one of the first new SU! sets to catch my eye! I'm finding it to be a great set for those 3x3's and even a 4.25" card, like today's feature. The greatest part about Pocket Silhouettes is that it's 15% off right now along with a bunch of great new sets (including my current favorite, Upsy Daisy!). You can read all about it below! Click on the picture to enlarge it so that you don't give yourself a headache trying to read it.

Supplies
Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes
Paper: Confetti White, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Baja Designer Series Paper
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Chocolate Taffeta, Scallop Edge Punch, Square Scallop Punch

Peaceful Wishes

I'd bought a few of these frames on clearance at our local ShopKo store and decided to pull one out and *do* something with it! I had Peaceful Wishes sitting on my stamp table and decided it was high time to get it inky. The pine branches are stamped in Versamark and them embossed with a mix of clear and Irridescent Ice embossing powders. The sentiment is a rub-on from SU!'s Chit Chat collection with a Real Red brad and thin strip of Chocolate Chip cardstock below and beside it. I like the simple and slightly modern look of my finished project. Although it looks quick and simple, it of course took me close to an hour to decide on the *final final*.

Thanks for stopping by...see you soon!

Upsy Daisy...again!

I have a confession to make...after I ordered Upsy Daisy, I started to regret my actions. I wasn't sure if I really liked the set, wondering if it would be one of those sets that rarely got used. Well, obviously that's NOT the case--I can't stop using it! The more I use it, the more I want to use it...uh, sounds like an addiction.

Here's my latest version of UD where I used a blender pen and reinker combo to paint the stamp, followed by a moment of *huffing* the stamp to remoisten it, and then the impression onto Whisper White cardstock. I was really pleased with the result; exactly as I'd imagined it, and all on the first try (that doesn't always happen)!

Supplies
Stamps: PTI Faux Ribbon; SU! Upsy Daisy
Paper: Pumpkin, Riding Hood Red, WW, Kiwi Kiss
Ink: same as paper, Versamark
Accessories: clear ep, RHR ribbon, round tab punch

So Thankful

Quick...think of 3 things for which you are thankful!

While making this card for Cindy's Teapot Tuesday Challenge #10 I decided I'd use my new SU! Chit Chat rub-ons, specifically So Thankful. It got me thinking about things that I'm really thankful for, and while I'm not going to divulge the details of my list, the important thing to me was that I took a minute to be thankful for those things. For me, I'm thankful to God for all things; you may thank someone or something else, doesn't matter...just be thankful for something today!

Here is Cindy's teapot from which I was inspired to create So Thankful.

U R grrreat!

I started this card a few days ago, for the Limited Supply Challenge over at SCS. My finished card doesn't meet the qualifications for *something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue* theme. I met 3 of the 4 criteria, but couldn't come up with any *borrowed*! Does that mean I own too many gadgets, stamps, paper, embellishments, etc?! Of course not!

As far as the 3 elements I did use: something new--Under the Stars stamp set; something blue--the U & R enamel letters; something old--my crimper (it's even dusty!) and the blue enamel letters. My cute and cuddly bear is paper pieced using a piece of retired DSP from SU! and SU! Kraft; the Always Artichoke grass is crimped, hand cut and hand crinkled; and the UR grreat sign is put together on a toothpick with a strip of Tangerine Tango and misc. button rounding out this card. I feel like I need some trees stamped behind my bear, but I don't have just the right tree stamp, so this is it for now!

Thanks for stopping by tonight...see you soon!