The New Love of My Life

OMG, if you don't have the Papertrey Ink stamps, you must order them TODAY. Run, don't walk over to Papertreyink.com and order them. You will not regret it!!!

I ordered the Little Lady and Paper Tray sets, and then 2 days later the Green Thumb and Faux Ribbon sets. They all are fantastic! Here are a couple of cards I made over the last couple of days, hope you like them!

This card was made very quickly the other day. I stamped the spots, antennae, and trail on Paper Accents Pearlized White Cardstock (Same as SU Shimmer White), and then stamped the wings and flowers in Real Red Classic Ink. Then I added the sentiment from Paper Tray and tied a bow with my May Arts ribbon I got from Imprints. Love it! I can't wait to play more with this set.

This card was done for the Splitcoast Sketch Challenge 126. I really love the way it turned out. The stripes are done with the Papertrey Faux Ribbon set stamped in Real Red on Whisper White Cardstock. I also stamped the circle image from the same set on the Old Olive strips. Punched out the strawberries from Green Thumb stamped in Old Olive and Real Red , added a couple of layers on Pop Dots, and tied a ribbon. Did I mention I love this set???

First card: Papertrey Ink Little Lady and Paper Tray sets, Real Red and Palette Hybrid Noir Ink, Paper Accents Pearlized White Cardstock & May Arts Ribbon

Second Card: Papertrey Ink Green Thumb and Faux Ribbon sets, Real Red, Old Olive, White Craft and Palette Hybrid Noir Ink, Whisper White, Old Olive, and Basic Black Cardstock, Ribbon from Joann's and May Arts

Splendiferous Bella

I got to stamp yesterday with Peyton and her mom, Carey after shopping at Imprints! I got some great River City Rubber Works stamps and some yummy ribbon. Hopefully I'll get to play later today!

This week's featured stamper for the SCS Sunday challenge was Ked AKA Kirsten Dubosque. You can see her blog here. This challenge is to choose a card from Kirsten's gallery and CASE it, changing 2 or more things. The card I chose is this one. I just love the colors and hated to change them, but I loved the layout even more! So I'll probably be doing an orange and blue version later...lol. Hope everyone's having a fabulous Memorial Day Weekend!

Stamps: Flowahbella, Splendiferous Day and Skinny Oval by A Muse

Ink: Palette Hybrid Noir, Close to Cocoa

Cardstock: Whisper White, Cool Carribean, Real Red, Basic Black

Accesories: Prismacolor pencils and Odorless Mineral Spirits, Ribbon, Giga Square Scalloped Punch, Cuttlebug Spots & Dots Embossing Folder

The More I Stamp, the More Colors my Fingers Are

I'm home tonight watching an old episode of Saturday Night Live...it's really making me laugh. And no, I've not been drinking. Jaime Lee Presley is hilariously funny. It's the one with Corrinne Bailey Ray, I love her stuff. Anyway, I'm enjoying it while I stamp tonight. Finally a quiet house!!!

This is a project I did for Jen's Saturday challenge to make a "Genie" bag.

I've really been wanting to try one of these, and boy was it easy! I made quite a mess doing the Polished Stone background with Alcohol Inks. It's one of my favorite quick and fancy techniques (ok so it's one of my only quick and fancy tecniques), but I'm now covered in ink. When I first started stamping, my stamps were always clean, I put everything up when I was finished with it, and I never got my fingers dirty. I'm not quite sure what happened, but I think my stamping has gotten better although I am a wreck! LOL

Well I better get wind up the day and get to bed...I have a big day of shopping at Imprints and maybe some stamping tomorrow!!!

Stamps: Butterfly and Sentiment by Inky Antics, Flourish by Rhonda Farrer for Autumn Leaves

Ink: Palette Hybrid Noir, Alcohol Ink in Stream and Lettuce

Cardstock: Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise, Glossy CS

Accessories: Ribbon from Joann's, Martha Stewart Scalloped Square Punch

I think maybe I'd better build an ark...

Man has it been raining like crazy this week!! Actually I think we've had more rain this year than ever before, but really it was bad tonight. I think the worst is past and I still have power, so I'm a happy girl!

So since the sketch challenge worked out so great for me, I thought I'd give the color challenge a try. Other than VSN on Splitcoast, I have not done any challenges until this week. (shhh!! Don't tell!!!) By the way, can someone tell me why I did not get Mixed Bouquet before now?! Geez, I feel like I've missed so much!! I totally LOVE LOVE LOVE this set. I stamped the flower and leaves with Palette Hybrid Noir and then watercolored with the lid of my inkpads and reinkers and an aquapainter. I'm getting the hang of this! I inked up my Linen BG stamp and stamped it in spots on the WC panel to make it look kind of like fabric. Then I matted, popped up the main panel, and finished off with a bow. Not my usual color palette or style but I kinda like it!

Stamps: Mixed Bouquet, Linen, Bouquet Jumbo Wheel, Treasure Your Friendship by A Muse
Cardstock: Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive, Certainly Celery, WC paper
Ink: Palette Hybrid Noir, Old Olive, Elegant Eggplant, Close to Cocoa
Accessories: Stampin Up Narrow Organdy Ribbon, Aquapainter, Pop Dots

Yes, Another Bella!

I'm working on a project called...use up all these bella images I colored while waiting for Keegan to be born! I used the paper from My Mind's Eye again...this time the plaid paper. I just love this stuff! And I love the fact that it's two-sided with coordinating solids on the back. I put this together tonight at Recollections with a couple of my girlfriends, Peyton and Naomi. Usually more talking and shopping than stamping, but fun none the less. Anyway, I'm pretty happy with the way this turned out!

Stamps: Daintybella from Stamping Bella, Splendiferous Day & Skinny Oval from A Muse
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, MME DP
Ink: Palette Hybrid Noir, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: SU Chocolate Grosgrain Ribbon, Pop Dots

Aggie PMSabella

For some reason this chica looks like a college girl to me...you know the type. Sits around and eats everything in sight without gaining a pound. *Those were the days* (sung in my best Edith voice). So I colored her while waiting for my new nephew, and added some A&M colors just for Peyton. And I also thought she needed a cool black rug, so I drew that in there. I just love how my bellas pair up so nicely with my new A Muse sentiments. I'm trying to get around to using them all...I'm doing good! I've done more stamping this week than I have in the last 2 weeks. It's nice to know that someone is looking at my stuff, and especially nice when I get such sweet comments! {hugs!}

Stamps: PMSabella, Spendiferous Day by A Muse

Cardstock: Basic Black, So Saffron, Bravo Burbundy, SU Shimmer White, Basic Grey Stella Ruby

Ink: Palette Hybrid Noir, White Craft

Accessories: Primas, Prismacolor Pencils and Odorless Mineral Spirits, Making Memories Bling Brads, Ribbon, Ticket Corner Punch, Pop Dots, Cuttlebug D'Vine Swirls A4 Embossing Folder

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood!

Sorry, that song just popped up in my head. I had a great day, because today, I became an Aunt for the first time!!!!!!!! Keegan was born tonight at 6:44 p.m., and he's absolutely beautiful!! While we were waiting for him to arrive, I thought I'd bring some stuff to color. I just got my very first Bellas, and I love them!

This one is Daintybella, and I chose her because she really reminds me of my sister. These stamps are so much fun to color, especially with my Prismacolors and Odorless Mineral Spirits. I picked up this paper at Recollections today, isn't it *adorable*?! This card is for my sis to celebrate a brave step of faith she made this week that resulted in a great new job! YAY, Shelley! The layout is from last week's Sketch Challenge on SCS.

Stamps: Daintybella by Stamping Bella, Cheers and Skinny Oval by A Muse

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Serene Flowers/Orange Magnolia paper by My Mind's Eye

Ink: Palette Hybrid Noir, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa

Accessories: Ribbon, Tim Holtz Distressing Tool, Prismacolor Pencils, Odorless Mineral Spirits, Pop Dots

Adventures in Donkey Chasing...the true story.

So I teased you with the donkey chasing statement the other day and forgot to finish telling you about it...don't you just hate when that happens?! First, a little background (I'll try to keep the details to a minimum).

Last April my mom found a lump in her left breast. After a lumpectomy and tests, they found that it was lobular carcinoma, and that it had been there for several years. It was just starting to go to the lymph nodes, just barely. Really scary time for us. She ended up having a mastectomy and undergoing chemo, and finished up in December, cancer free! As a precaution, they went ahead and did a mastectomy on her right breast and started the process for reconstruction.

Fast forward to May 2007...mom had her reconstruction done the week before Mother's Day. It was fairly simple but she has had a very difficult time healing and recovering. As I mentioned in my Mother's Day post, they live on several acres and have 2 horses and a donkey. (Really, I'm getting to the story!!)

Since she is still not able to be as active as she would like, they decided to have the animals boarded at a local place for a week or so. On Wed. the people were scheduled to come get the horses first and then come back and get the donkey. I pulled in right behind them, and no one else was at their house. Somehow I got talked into trying to help catch the donkey. I am NOT a horse person by any stretch of the imagination, but I do kind of like the donkey. He's pretty cute, and his name is Sir Louis Sheffield Ba Donk-a-Donk. LOL

I was supposed to be home cooking dinner but instead spent an hour running around the pasture in my work top, jogging pants, and my mom's muck boots (which are like tight rubber rain boots) with 2 carrots in one hand and his brush in the other, trying to get him to hold still long enough for the other lady to get the halter on him. Finally, after much encouragement and not much help from me, they got him loaded and off to greener pastures.

So that's my donkey chasing story. More of a funny mental picture than anything else, but I wanted to share. I'll also share a card I made for a swap last night...so fun! It took me sooo many tries to get this right, but finally it came together, after a little layout inspiration from SCS. I will probably use this one over and over! I used my Best of Cluck set (again!) and colored with Prismacolor pencils and Odorless Mineral Spirits. Added a layer of Chocolate Chip, popped it up over my strip of Basic Grey Stella Ruby paper, added ribbon and brads, and stamped the sentiment in the top right corner with my Stamp-a-majig. I can't stamp a straight sentiment to save my life. LOL Last step was adding Diamond Stickles to the little red chick. Can't do a card without some bling! Hope you like it!

Stamps: Best of Cluck, A Muse Favorite Peeps

Ink: Palette Hybrid Noir, Chocolate Chip

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Mellow Moss, Very Vanilla, Basic Grey Stella Ruby

Accessories: Making Memories Brads, SU Ribbon, Pop Dots, Stickles

I'm a Donkey Chasing Diva

Boy have I had a week! Whew! But I am alive, in case you wondered. I haven't stamped since last Saturday night...how sad! We have been celebrating DH's birthday, Mother's Day, Caleb's field day at school, and in my spare time I've been working and chasing donkeys. More on that later. Here's a pic on my boys, the one in the middle couldn't resist having his pic taken too. No idea who he is. LOL. Caleb is on the far left, Cole is on the far right. This was near the end of the afternoon so they were pooped! (and so am I!!)

I finally stamped...woo hoo! I went to Recollections last night and hung out with my sis and Naomi, who I met at the SCS Arlington Shoebox Swap. We had fun! I kept reading about these 3x3 cards that were so easy and quick, so I decided to try one. Not quick, but it is TINY and very cute. I heart my new Amuse stamps!!

Stamps: Best of Cluck, Amuse Skinny Oval & Favorite Peeps

Cardstock: Cool Caribbean, Chocolate Chip, WC Paper

Ink: Palette Hybrid Noir, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Tim Holtz Distressor, Twine, Pop Dots, Sponge, Aquapainter & Reinkers

One Word

So I got this email from my mom a few weeks ago, and it said, "If you had to describe me in one word, what would that word be?" One of the replies she received inspired this card. I think her friend just made it up, but my mom said she probably just didn't have her glasses on. All it said was: INDOMTABLE. ??? Since then my mom has decided that it's French for "brave." LOL

So before I show you what I made for my indomtable mother, I challenge you to make up a word to describe me. How fun is that?!

This is the card I made for my mom. Inside it just says "Happy Mother's Day." Very simple (since I waited till the last minute-SURPRISE), but I kinda like it. I used my new Karen Foster Snap Stamps that I ordered from Cindy (love them!) and one of my brand new favorite papers - Cosmo Cricket Wanted Collection (get it here). This one is Slim Jim. I layered it on a sage shadow panel and then onto a Chocolate Chip card base. Tied a bow, and BAM! (sorry) ;-)

I found this box at Recollections tonight, and it was $5! Can you believe it?! It measures about 6" deep x 7" wide, and I covered it with the Cosmo Cricket Wanted Collection as well. I used the Slim Jim, Kissin' Kate, and Buffalo Bill papers on this one, in addition to fibers and ribbon (for that "cowgirl chic" look). My parents live on 5 acres and have 2 horses and a donkey, so Mom is really into the cowgirl stuff. I stamped her 5 Flour Sacks with my Chocolate Chip Craft Ink and B-Line Designs Cowgirl stamps, with sayings like, "My heroes have always been cowgirls" and "Does this saddle make me look fat?" They are so cute but weren't dry and honestly I'm too tired to wait to take a pic. Love you all but seriously I'm tired. I'll post them tomorrow, I promise. They're super cute, and will go inside this awesome box. She's going to love them!

Ok, so I'm off to bed. Don't forget, post a reply and make up a word to describe me! G'Night!

3 Cards

Happy Wednesday! As promised I did some stamping tonight using Julee's sketch for her contest found here. I really love this sketch and have a feeling I will be using it as one of my good old trusty favorites. Although I really only like 1 and 1/2 of these cards (one I really like, one is ok, and one, not so much) I'll show them all to you.

This one is the one I like. I haven't used my Basic Grey Scarlett's Letter paper yet, so I broke it out, and I got this flower (part of the Autumn Leaves Second Nature set) for my doorprize at the SCS Arlington Stamp Day last weekend from Sandy. I love it! I stamped the flower in Choc Chip Craft Ink and embossed it with Clear Detail EP. Then I colored it with my Prismacolors and Odorless Mineral Spirits. Sponged around the edges, matted on a Giga Scalloped Oval, and popped up for emphasis.

• Stamps: Autumn Leaves Second Nature, Linen
• Ink: Chocolate Chip Craft, Choc Chip Classic
• Cardstock: Real Red, Choc Chip, Old Olive, Whisper White, Basic Grey Scarlett's Letter
• Accessories: Pop Dots, Ribbon, Clear Detail Embossing Powder, Mega Circle Punch, Giga Scalloped Punch

The next card is OK...one of my first with absolutely NO STAMPING. I got my inspiration from the ribbon, which was sent to me in a package from my Big Sis in the SU Demo Secret Sister group. I finally splurged on some big Primas last weekend at Recollections while shopping with the girls from the shoebox swap. It was soooo hard to use them! But I did it, and I'm still alive. BTW...those brads really looked like they matched the celery CS in my stamp room...they're not really neon IRL, I promise.

• Cardstock: Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Basic Black
• Accessories: Primas, Making Memories Brads, Cuttlebug D'Vine Swirls Embossing Folder, Sweet Shop Ribbon Originals

So this is my "not so favorite" card. I don't know why I don't love it, I just don't. I got an order today from Stampin Up, and in the box was the Cool Caribbean and Blush Blossom Cardstock I ordered. They looked so pretty together I thought I'd make a card with them. Not lovin it now...

• Stamps: Petals Jumbo Wheel, Polka Dots & Petals, A Muse Sentiment
• Ink: Cool Caribbean, Pretty In Pink, Close to Cocoa, Choc Chip Craft
• Cardstock: Cool Caribbean, Blush Blossom, Close to Coca, So Saffron, Shimmer White
• Accessories: Ribbon (SU and May Arts), Primas, Brads, Pop Dots, Irridescent Ice EP, Mega Circle Punch, Giga Scalloped Punch, Distressor Tool, Stampamajig

Cinco De Mayo Blog Candy Winner is...

Lilian said...
my favorite tropical drink is pineapple juice and malibu rum. i don't know if there is a name for it... :)
Send me an email with your snail mail addy and I'll get your goodies in the mail!

I'll have some cards to post soon...I got my new Snap Stamps in the mail from Cindy yesterday!!! And Julee posted this CUTE layout contest, so of course I gotta play! But alas I actually have to WORK to support my rubber habit, so I will have to stamp later. See you soon!

Project Destroy Craft Room

So let me preface this by saying that I am covered in ink and my once clean craft room looks like it got hit by my 4 year old. I was stamping some Wish RAK images tonight and decided to try something new. So I watercolored! Be gentle.

This is another tribute to the fallen set, Best of Cluck, which is on the Stampin Up retiring list. I just got this set, have wanted it forever, and now it's going away!! (sob)

Now, keep in mind that I do not have the necessary tools to watercolor, but I found a little brush in my son's desk, got out my squirt bottle, and went to work! I used my So Saffron and Chocolate Chip reinkers, and a tiny bit of Really Rust from the inkpad lid. I distressed, sponged, pierced, and did some faux stitching with my Chocolate Chip Stampin Write marker, and then overstamped my Linen BG lightly over the main panel. I still have a hard time using my Hodgepodge Hardware, but I stuck some on there and tied on some fibers, and away I went! Whaddya think?

Stamps: Weathered BG, Best of Cluck, Linen BG

Ink: Close to Cocoa, Palette Hybrid Noir, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Really Rust

Cardstock: So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, Watercolor Paper

Accessories: Hodgepodge Hardware, Fibers, Tim Holtz Distressing Tool, Paper Piercer, Pop Dots

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with some Blog Candy!

Finally! I got my ducks in a row and am ready to post blog candy! Post a comment and tell me about your favorite tropical beverage. I will randomly draw a name on Monday, May 7th and post it here Tuesday morning. No fiesta is complete without some Studio G Clear Stamps, Primas, Chipboard Coasters, 2 Cats Eye Fluid Chalk Inkpads, a little round tin and an appletini card made by yours truly! So let's hear it! ;-)

My first Bella Card

EDITED TO ADD: I HAVE POWER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm alive!!


So I've been sick since Tuesday with a bad cold or something, but I have resurfaced thanks to antibiotics and steriods! LOL

It has been an eventful week around here, that's for sure! A big storm hit on Wednesday night and we have been without power since about 6:30 pm Wed. All hands are on deck trying to get power back on for thousands of people, but there was a lot of damage done so it's slow going and no real guarantee as to when we will have power again. Luckily there was not much in the fridge! So we're all holed up at my parents house hoping for power soon.

I was home sick on Wed. and Thurs., so I actually got some cards made! I'll show those to you later, this is one that I sent to my Secret Sis who happened to discover me a wee bit early, so I figured I'd share it. It is, after all, my first Bella card. This image was sent to me through a Wish RAK, and I ended up ordering this pretty lady! Isn't she sweet?!

I had hoped to post some blog candy yesterday, but it didn't happen as I planned. Hopefully I'll get it posted today or tomorrow, so be patient with me! Have a wonderful weekend!


Stamps: Stamping Bella Daintybella, A*Muse Sentiment
Ink: Palette Hybrid Noir
Cardstock: Real Red, Whisper White, Basic Black, And I can't remember who makes that fab patterned paper! I got it at Recollections.
Accessories: Paper Piercer, Photo Corner Punch, Black Gel Pen, Prismacolor Pencils & Gamsol, Stickles, & Ribbon from Michael's

Boy I Wish I could be Retired

Seriously, I'm tired! I'm still recuperating from this weekend and the weather has been nasty, causing me to not feel so good! Sorry, I'll quit whining now. So the Stampin Up! Retired List was unveiled today...wow! What a list! You can see it here. I wasn't expecting such a long list, and there were several that I wanted to order that I didn't think would be on there! I'm shocked that Best of Cluck, Roses In Winter, and French Script BG were retired...to name a few. I love my Best of Cluck.

So in honor of those fallen stamp sets, I thought I'd post a card I made back in March using stamp sets no longer available. We can hope to see Think Big in the July catty... but we'll have to wait and see!

Stamps: Linograph BG, Think Big

Ink: Buckaroo Blue, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip

Cardstock: Buckaroo Blue, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White

Ribbon: Olive Grosgrain from Michaels, White Ric-Rac from JoAnns