And any time you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain...don't carry the world upon your shoulders...

Happy Friday, y'all! How have y'all been? We have been running crazy getting ready to go back to school in a week...not like I'm counting. *wink*

I have a few more cards to share with you from the Dare to Get Dirty Challenges. This one features the new Strawberry Twine, Text Objects background stamp from Verve, and a cute little stamp set and papers from Basic Grey.
A closer look:
Next up is a clean and simple card with more Verve stamps:
I used two of the flowers from Abundant Blessings in bright colors, then stamped the sentiment from Fabulous You in black Versafine ink. Then I added some coarse crystal glitter to the flower centers.
Well, that's it for today...thanks so much for stopping by! I'll have more for you soon, I hope you have a great weekend!

Hey Friend Card:

Stamps: Text Objects (Verve), Basic Grey Birdies & Sentiment

Paper: Barely Banana, Basic Black, Kraft, White, Urban Prairie DP from Basic Grey

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Versamark, Memento Rich Cocoa

Accessories: Strawberry Twine (The Twinery), Circle Punch, Dimensionals, 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Black Gel Pen

Fabulous Flowers Card:

Stamps: Abundant Blessings, Fabulous You (Verve)

Paper: White, Regal Rose

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Memento Rosebud, Daffodil Delight

Accessories: Quickie Glue Pen, Coarse Crystal Glitter

Shiny, happy people laughing...meet me in the crowd...people, people...throw your love around...

Hey y'all, happy Tuesday! I have a surprise for you today...some crafty stuff! I've been playing along with the Dare to Get Dirty 2012 challenges over on Splitcoast and having a great time! I've completed 2 cards (of the *ahem* 21 challenges that have been posted), but I sure had fun! 

Here's my card for Lydia's Challenge:
I used an old Cuttlebug alphabet die set (Red Tag Alpha I think it's called?) Then I covered the letters with Glossy Accents and dipped 'em in coarse crystal glitter. Here's a closeup:

Polka dots, scallops, and glitter. Makes me happy!

 

The next card I made was for Stacy's Challenge, and I LOVE how it turned out:

I paired stamps from Back in the Saddle from Waltzingmouse Stamps with papers from the Wanted collection by Cosmo Cricket. A match made in heaven! I stamped the sentiment first in Black Stazon on Kraft cardstock. Then I stamped the horse and rider image in Versamark on top. Here's a closer look:

I had a little helper who decided that my OTT-Lite was a perfect warmer and a great spot to nap, so I thought I'd show you. *grin*

 

Thanks for stopping by...hope to have some more good stuff for you to see soon! Have a fabulous day!

But you'll look sweet upon the seat of a bicycle made for two...

Hey, y'all! I have a few things to catch up on post-wise, and here are a few of them! During the month of January, I was honored to be one of the guest designers for the Splitcoast Color Challenges. My LSS recently started carrying Wplus9 stamps & dies, so I made a few samples for them to display at the Heirloom Stamp Convention a few weeks ago.

I pulled out A Pocketful: Valentine for CC356: Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo, & Basic Gray. Of which I had...Gray. Improv time!



To be totally honest, this isn't one of my favorite cards by a long shot. I think if I had left off the glitter and the lollipops weren't olive green, I'd feel better about it. But the stamp set and dies did sell out the first day of the convention. So I guess somebody liked it!

This week's challenge (CC360) was White, Island Indigo, & Pool Party. Of which I have...white. *giggle* I inked up Love You More for this one because the dessert option for the challenge was using a sentiment as your main image.



I used VersaMagic inks...I love how they look on Kraft. A very Clean and Simple layout, but I think it works for such a fantastic main image.

The last card I created was what happens when I get to sit down and just PLAY. Ever since I played with Love You More, I wanted to layer this image with one of the hearts from Heartfelt Mix. I am LOVING how it turned out!



I cut a piece of thin kraft colored chipboard with the Label Layers 2 Die, then stamped the houndstooth pattern heart in red Versamagic ink right in the middle. Then I stamped the cute line/strand image and the love banner in Versamark and embossed them with white embossing powder. Then I added the Hugs Kisses sentiment inside the banner and embossed with black detail embossing powder. A teensy pink felt heart cut with the Love Notes Die looked too cute in between the words so I added that as well. I wanted the image to look like it was hanging by the heart, so I tied some Caribbean Twine from The Twinery across the strand image, then tied a bow around with Buttercream Twine.

The background layer was stamped with the houndstooth heart image repeatedly, then sponged on the edges with Daffodil Delight. A strip of Echo Park Yours Truly paper was great along the bottom edge, and to finish it off I added a doily spritzed with Chalkboard Glimmer Mist and three heart cutouts.

Well, that's it for me today...I will be back soon with some Bella fun. Until then...have a fabulous day!

A Pocketful: Valentine Stamp Set by Wplus9	Love You More Stamp Set from Wplus9	Heartfelt Mix Stamp Set from Wplus9	Love Notes Die from Wplus9	Hearts & Clouds Die from Wplus9
Label Layers 2 Die from Wplus9	Buttercream Twine from The Twinery	Caribbean Twine from The Twinery	Memento Tuxedo Black Ink	Copic Markers
Detail Embossing Powder by Ranger	Tutti Frutti Two Scoops Cardstock by Bazzill Basics	Versamark Watermark Ink	Glossy Accents	Stickles
Hug Snug Seam Binding	White Paper Lace Doily	Versamagic Turquoise Gem Inkpad by Tsukineko	Versamagic Sea Breeze Inkpad from Tsukineko	Stampin' Up Ink

InLinkz.com

I've been living on the wrong side of the law for so long, I don't know which side I am on...

Happy Tuesday, y'all! It's January Release day at Skipping Stones Design, and time for another sketch! Not that it would matter to me, because I did the completely WRONG SKETCH! GRRRR So please just enjoy my card and ignore the fact that it in no way resembles the sketch for this week. Sigh.

Since I'm also a guest designer for this month's SCS color challenges, I did a two-fer. Or I guess a 1.5-fer. Riding Hood Red, Blushing Bride, Baja Breeze were the colors for today's challenge, so here's my card, with a few substitutions:


I used the new Grunge 2 set being released today...this is such a fabulous set. It has several masculine sentiments, but some wonderful grungy images that are trendy and awesome. The zig-zag pattern was stamped in Baja Breeze onto Soft Sky, and the fleur de lis was stamped in Real Red onto white circles. I added the sentiment and frame from the set in Espresso ink, then tied a strip of dyed seam binding in a bow.

Thanks for stopping by today! Be sure to hop over and take a look at what my teammates (and our special guests) have created with the ACTUAL sketch this week!

Skipping Stones Design

Jingle 

Joann Valderama 

Pamela Young 

Karen Baker 

Katie Gehring 

Candice Fields 

Stephanie Mino 

Emily Leiphart 

Taylor Usry 

Wendy Price 

Julie Day

(Copied from Taylor's Blog:) And for some extra fun, Jennifer Ingle (Jingle) is giving away a FREE Skipping Stones Design set to a random commenter along the hop today. The more comments you leave, the better your chances to win! Be sure to stop by everyone's blog and leave them some love!

 

Have a fabulous day!

They're singing "Deck the Halls"...but it's not like Christmas at all...I remember when you were here...

Hey y'all! Happy Saturday! I just wanted to pop in and say hi really quickly, and show you a clean and simple card I created using last week's Fall-to-Layout #170 from the Clean and Simple Stamping blog. I love these sketches...even when they don't end up so simple.


Here's my card, using some new Verve stamps and dies:


When I saw this week's Color Challenge over on Splitcoast, I knew that the 25 Days of Christmas Collection from Simple Stories would be perfect to use. I knew I wanted to use the Snowflake Tidings die set, so I cut three small snowflakes out of Kraft cardstock, then stamped and embossed the small snowflake from Glad Tidings in white. I sponged the edges with Soft Suede ink and added Swarovski crystals to the center of each snowflake. Here's a closeup:


The main panel was cut from my 25 Days of Christmas 6x6 paper pad and matted with Early Espresso. I wrapped a piece of Always Artichoke seam binding around the top part before adhering the three snowflakes on foam dimensionals. Finally, I stamped the gorgeous sentiment from Bright Spirits in Early Espresso and then secured the panel to my white card base with foam dimensionals. Very simple, but I love how it turned out!

Thanks for stopping by so say hello...I hope you have a wonderful weekend and a fabulous day!

Just dance...gonna be okay...just dance...spin that record babe...

Hey, y'all! Happy Saturday! I just wanted to say hi and post a quick card I made tonight. The Sketch Challenge on Splitcoast is a great one this week, so I used that as my jumping off point.


Pink, Sparkles, Scallops, Butterflies...all the things that I love! I knew I wanted to use the new Rounded Scallop Frame die from Verve. So I started with that and then stamped the coordinating image from Making a Statement in Versamark and embossed with clear embossing powder. Here's a look up close:


For the inside of the frame, I stamped the Notebook Paper Plain Jane and embossed in white on kraft paper. Then I stamped my favorite quote from Blue Skies in black on top, along with a couple of flourishes in Crumb Cake. My Teal strip was looking a little plain so I ran some Scor-Tape across the center and added Glamour Dust glitter...love that stuff. The finishing touch was some butterflies with cork bodies.

Well, I better run...first soccer game tomorrow, so we have lots to do around here! Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a fabulous weekend!

Now I'm banging on the door of an angel...the end of fear is where we begin...the moment we decided to let love in...

Gooooood morning, my friends! How's life treating you this week so far? We're doing great at the Teubner Haus, just trying to stay healthy!

I sat down for a few minutes in my craft room last night, and my mojo went crazy...I finally (at a wee hour I will not disclose *wink*) forced myself leave my ideas on my desk and go to bed. Hopefully they'll still be there when I come back.

Sankari's Viva La Verve Sketch from Friday was calling to me, and I noticed that today's Color Challenge on Splitcoast was already posted when I got started, so I thought I'd play along. I chose some "vintage" Verve...Bountiful Backgrounds and Thankful Blossoms. When I pulled out the colors Betty selected, I have to admit...I thought she had lost her mind. But lookie:



Can you believe it? Soft Suede, Elegant Eggplant, and Riding Hood Red are actually gorgeous together! That's why I love the Splitcoast challenges...you discover things you never would have tried before!

So I just typed up instructions and my computer froze. Nice. So I'll have to come back later and try again, ok? Please forgive me. If you have a question you can always email me, ok? In the meantime, enjoy a closer look at the details of my card. *wink*



I hope you have a fabulous day...I'll see you again soon!!

Ingredients
Stamps: Bountiful Backgrounds, Thankful Blossoms (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Kraft, Riding Hood Red (I think! LOL), Elegant Eggplant, Soft Suede, White, Vintage Sheet Music
Ink: Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Early Espresso
Accessories: Nestabilities, Scalloped Circle Punch, Paper Piercer, Linen Thread, Button, Sponges, Scalloped Edge Punch, Pearls

And if you really try...you'll find there's no need to cry...in this place you'll feel there's no hurt or sorrow...

Hi y'all! Happy Saturday! I realized today that I hadn't shared this card with you yet, even though I uploaded it to my Splitcoast Gallery. Shame on me!

When I first got into coloring stamped images, I bought a set of Prismacolor Pencils and colored everything I could get my hands on using the Gamsol Magic technique. My friend Paula inspires me week after week with her awesome creations using colored pencils, so I got a wild hair to dust off my pencils and odorless mineral spirits and give it a try again. Here's the result:


Not too shabby, huh? I have to say, I was quite impressed with myself! *grin* You should notice a few Paula-inspired details on this card, as a matter of fact.

The first thing I did was ink up Polly Packages from Stamping Bella in Brilliance Graphite Black on Bella's Bestest Paper. I wasn't sure how Memento would react with the OMS (odorless mineral spirits), so I decided to just use Brilliance and heat set it. Then I began to color...wow! Not only did I not forget how to do this, but I think I'm better at it than I was before! Who knew? Not to brag at all, it just shows how practicing with shadows and layering color, even with different mediums, makes such a huge difference! Let's see if I can find a card that I did back in the day...ok. Found one...this one is from 2007...just six months or so after I started stamping.


This was one of my very first Bellas...Flowahbella. I still lovey her soooo much! But look at the difference in the shading! WOW! There are so many ways to grow and learn in this hobby...that's one of the reasons I love it so much.

Anywho, back to my card. I decided that the image was perfect for this week's Sketch Challenge on Splitcoast. So after I got my image colored, I cut and embossed it with my Rectangle Nestabilities. Leaving the die in place, I sponged Versamagic Wheat Chalk ink around the edges of the rectangle, giving Polly kind of a white "glow." Once I cut and embossed a Chocolate Chip scalloped mat and adhered the main image to it, I decided to be brave and see if I could stitch around the edges of the rectangle without losing the embossing. Success! It was so stressful...I sewed soooo slow! And it's still not totally straight, but, well, it's pretty darn good I think. *giggle*

The next thing I did was cut a base layer from the Treasure blue polka dot pattern from Bo Bunny's Tis the Season Collection. I sponged the edges with Close to Cocoa and Chocolate Chip ink, matted it with Chocolate Chip, and stitched (not-so-straightly again) around the edges. The bottom strip with the snowflake print is actually the back (or is it the front?) side of the Treasure paper, which I sponged with Cocoa and Chocolate inks as well before adhering to the base layer. I then chose the Stripe pattern and cut it with my Nestabilities Labels One die so the stripes were diagonal instead of vertical. I sponged the edges of that one as well, then adhered it for my side panel.

Right before I popped up the main image on dimensionals, I wrapped a piece of coordinating ribbon around the card base layers. After the main image was down, I tied a cute little bow on the left side. I needed a little something on the top right, and three small dark cocoa glitter dots were just perfect. The finishing touches were a little Diamond Glaze on the berries on her hat and some Diamond Stickles on the gift bow. Of course. *wink*

Well, it's late, so I better wrap this up. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!! OH!!! One more thing....I have started sign-ups for a LULU Blog Hop over in the Bella Forum. Here's the link...go check it out! We'd love to have you play with us!

There will be no white flag above my door...I'm in love, and always will be...

Happy Wednesday, y'all! I hope your week is going great so far! I have tried writing this post 4 times...hopefully this time is a charm! I've just been busy! For my American sistahs...don't you love the 4 day week? I'm lovin' it! The boys are doing great in school, and baseball practices starts next week...should be fun and entertaining! *grin*

Last night I cleaned my stamp room a bit...my mojo was hiding in the piles of SCHTUFF in there, and I hadn't felt like stamping because of it. After I threw away a bunch of JUNK that had accumulated, I had a few minutes to stamp (whoohoo!!). So I pulled out a few Verve sets and whipped up this card for this week's Color Challenge on Splitocast, which was to use Basic Black, Old Olive, and Elegant Eggplant. Once of my less frequently used, but most loved combo.


I think it turned out quite yummy, don't you? I stamped one of the background stamps from Bountiful Backgrounds in Old Olive on my Vintage Cream card base, then sponged the edges with Old Olive as well. I intended to use Fall to Layout #58, and you can see the resemblance, but I just couldn't find three elements to use that were different sizes. And somehow discovered that my Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch is missing...so upset!! Hopefully it will turn up.

So my main image panel is Vintage cream, and after stamping the sentiment in Versafine Onyx Black, I inked up my favorite flowers from Because of You with SU Markers and stamped them on the left side twice. I distressed the edges before matting it with the black panel and added three Pewter Kaiser Craft Pearls to the top right. Finally, I cut a strip of Elegant Eggplant, and punched the edge with the EK Success Embossed Curve punch and adhered it under the main image. A quick and easy 20 minute card! (that includes searching for three elements in different sizes and my MS butterfly punch. *frown*)

Well, peeps, I gotta run...hope you have a fabulous 09/09/09! Do something fun today, k?

I've got sunshine....on a cloudy day....when it's cold outside...I've got the month of May...

Hey, y'all! How's your week going? Mine is great, just kind of crazy, as usual! We got the boys signed up for baseball this week...which should be interesting. Caleb has played soccer, but Cole has never played any organized sports, so it should be very entertaining. Luckily the fall season is mostly instructional. *chuckle*

Anywho, I had a few minutes this morning and made this card for this week's Sketch Challenge on Splitcoast. I had this image colored, cut and matted, so I changed the main image to an oval instead of a rectangle.

And yes, I used another one of the Lulu images from Stamping Bella. This one's Emma Lulu. I stamped her in Memento Black ink on Bella's Bestest Paper, then colored her with Copics. I used my Oval Nestibilities to cut and emboss the main image and layers. Then I cut a 5" square of my white cardstock, matted it with black, and added the Marigold panel embossed with the Paisley embossing folder. I pierced a little triangle in the bottom right corner and then tied some black grosgrain ribbon in a bow around the base before popping the main image up on pop dots. The Fantabulous Day sentiment was stamped in the bottom left corner, and to finish the card off, as always, I added some Diamond Stickles to Emma's dress and flowers.

Well, folks, that's about all I have for ya today...we are skipping Bellariffic Friday this week, but Em has posted the sketch for next week already. Don't forget to check it out HERE. I'll be back tomorrow with more eye candy, so till then, have a fantabulous day!

Buy an ice cream and see how far we can drive before it melts kind of feeling....

Hey, blog world, what's up? I just have a quick second before work, so I wanted to pop in and say hi, and show you this card that I made this morning. I used yesterday's SCS Sketch Challenge, which I think is a really fun layout!

Isn't Little Witchy the cutest? She is colored with Copic Markers on Bella's Bestest Paper. I embossed the Apricot triangle with the Swiss Dots embossing folder, then sponged over the edges and the dots with Tangerine ink. The striped paper is from Bo Bunny, which is where my color inspiration came from, and the border punch is the Scallop Dot from Martha Stewart. I stamped the word Spoooooooky, then hand-wrote the words "have a" and "day" to create a fun sentiment. Hope you likey!

Don't forget to play along in this week's Bellariffic Friday challenge....you can find the sketch HERE.

Ok...I'm off to work...have a fun day!!

And you wish for a dream...give it time you will see...

Happy Thursday, everyone! What are y'all up to? I'm just working like a busy little bee, but wanted to take a second and post my card for this week's Sketch Challenge over on Splitcoast. It was an easy one, with a long rectangle panel, so I decided to color up one of my favorite Bellas...Cakeabella. Isn't she scrummy? (Emily's new word)

Once I stamped her in Memento Black on Bella's Bestest Paper, I chose orange and turquoise for my main colors and colored her with Copic Markers. Then I cut and embossed her with my Mega Rectangle Nestabilities, and decided to try Paula's trick of sponging the edges with Versamagic Wheat ink using a sponge dauber. The ink is so rich, and it gives the image a nice, warm glow, don't you think? I added a Chocolate Chip scalloped mat and some Diamond Stickles to the cake, then set her aside to dry.

Next I took a solid orange sheet from my Basic Grey Marrakech 6x6 pad and matted it with Chocolate Chip for my base layer. I stitched around the edges and then adhered it to my Barely Banana card base. (The stitching was supposed to be straight, but I took Joanne's advice and used the surprise method...aka didn't check my machine and got a surprise when I started stitching! I decided I liked it after all...*wink*) Anywho, then I chose a pattern from the Marrakech collection, as well as a strip of Paisley embossed Tempting Turquoise, for my other panels, matted them with white, and stitched them (straight this time!) to the card base. I didn't really want to add a sentiment panel or strip, so I pulled out my Chocolate Chip marker and hand wrote "Make a Wish" on the main image panel. I kinda like it! To finish off the card, I added three small Light Cocoa Glitter Dots to the top right corner. Whatchathink?

I don't know if you've seen this week's Bellariffic Friday Sketch yet, but it's by none other than Li'l ol' ME! You still have time to play...just make a card and send it to Emily by Thursday night (midnight), and you could win some Bella Bucks! Here's the sketch in case you missed it.
And...if you do play...link me up so I can see and comment on your creations, k? I can't wait!

Ok, so I gotta run...hope you have a wonderful day!

'Cause you're beautiful like a flower, more valuable than a diamond, you are powerful like a fire...

Hey, y'all, Happy Thursday! How has your week been so far? Mine has been good, but very busy! And I haven't even started back to school shopping yet! *gulp*

I was up really late last night, but I really wanted to stamp something since I hadn't been in my room since Monday. So I decided to do a Clean and Simple version of this week's Sketch Challenge on Splitcoast.

I got some new stamps from Serendipity last week, so I decided to ink up this image from the Butterfly Cube...isn't it gorgeous? First I cut and embossed my Neenah Solar White cardstock with my Large Deckled Rectangle Nestabilities and sponged Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, and a little Memento Black inside the die. Then I stamped the butterfly image in Memento Black, removed the die, and colored them with Copic markers. I then added some white accents on their wings with my white gel pen from Ranger.

My card base is Berry Sorbet from Papertrey, and I added a black strip punched with my Martha Stewart border punch. I had intended to tie ribbon around the card base into a bow, but it just didn't look right, so I did a little grosgrain/button treatment. Then WHOOPS! I forgot the circle panel of the sketch...so I whipped out my little circle piercing guide and pierced three rows in the top right corner. *whew!* This "quick little card" ended up taking me an HOUR...which I guess for me is pretty good, but I sure wish I could do 10 minute cards sometimes! Oh, well...I enjoy the time I spend usually more than I enjoy the finished product, so I guess it's the process.

Anywho, I better run...just wanted to pop in and say hi and post this real quick. I'll see you tomorrow with my Bellariffic Friday card, k? Have a fabulous day!

Give me just a little help and to show how much I care...I bring you Apples, Peaches, Bananas and Pears...

Happy Tuesday, people! So...who watched the Bachelorette? I did, and I have to say I am kind of sad she told Reid no, even though I know she should have. But I think, I dunno. I think he was the right one. But what do I know! *hmph*

I have a quick little card to show you today that I made for a couple of challenges yesterday. The Clean and Simple Challenge was a sketch, and I also added a couple of the Dare to Get Dirty challenges. I'm slowly crossing them off the list! *grin*

My Whipper Snapper sets hadn't seen ink in a while, so I decided to pull out Sending Happy Thoughts designed by my friend Anna and play with it. The pear was stamped in Black Stazon on watercolor paper and colored with a waterbrush & reinkers. Once it was dry, I added some shimmer with my Stardust pen and spread it around with my waterbrush. I trimmed down some October Afternoon paper and added a scalloped edge to the bottom before tying a piece of twill around the panel. I also rounded the top corners, just for fun. Then I stamped the sentiment in the bottom corner of the Kraft panel.

Well, that's about it for me today...I hope you have a fabulous day!!