Monthly Archives: February 2009

Thank You!!

Posted on February 28, 2009 | 18 comments

Happy Saturday!  At least I hope your Saturday is happy! 

We’ve been up since before the crack of dawn to get our son in for his fifth brain MRI in the last 18 months.  (He’s had one every six months since his surgery just to monitor progress.)  Everything has been fine and so far he’s been able to handle the procedures without sedation but I was a bit worried this morning.  He kept moving his little feet to the beat of the noises the machine was making.  It was actually kind of cute but I wanted to jump out of my chair and hold those bopping feet still.  The procedure ended up taking two hours instead of the usual 45 minutes.  Every time the technician came into the room, I was afraid he was going to tell us we’d have to come back at a later time for sedation.  But he was very patient and it all worked out (thankfully).    We have an appointment on Wednesday with the neurosurgeon but I expect everything to be fine.  And hopefully the next MRI won’t be for another year or two.

I want to thank all of you for the birthday wishes here on my blog and for all the emails and cards I received!  You have no idea how much it means to me.  🙂   I have so many thank you cards to send.  Here’s the first.

Thank You

   WSTY

I used Anna’s Fish Friends set by Whipper Snapper Designs.  I used Copic markers to color the image then added some 3-d black dots on the flower and ladybug.

WSTYCU

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great rest of the weekend!

Stamps:  Whipper Snapper Designs “Fish Friends”   Ink: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black   Cardstock: Prism Papaya Puree Dark, Intense Teal, Natural Smooth   Patterned Paper:  My Mind’s Eye Bloom & Grow “Little Blossom”   Accessories:  Copic markers, Queen & Co. brads, Sakura black 3-d gel pen, sewing machine, pop dots.

18 Comments

Posted in My Designs, Whipper Snapper

Grin & Bear It

Posted on February 27, 2009 | 28 comments

TGIF!  I’ve decided to make today a lazy day.  It’s my birthday so I’m entitled, right?  I’ve just been listening to my iPod in my new docking station, enjoying the music.  It’s so nice to not have those little rubbery plugs in my ears.  They make my ears kind of itch.  Is that weird?  (I think it is. lol)

Grin & Bear It

     G&BI

I used one of the latest Kim Hughes releases, Bear Hugs.  (She’s just so darn talented.)  The trees and bear were colored with Copics and the main panel is raised on pop dots.  I GABICUstamped and colored the bear a second time so I could pop up the more forward piece, then added a shiny nose and eye with a clear gelly roll pen.  All stitching is faux.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a great weekend!

Stamps:  Cornish Heritage Farms “Bear Hugs” (Kim Hughes Collection)   Ink:  Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black   Cardstock:  Prism Suede Brown Dark, Natural Smooth   Patterned Paper:  Cosmo Cricket Mr. Campy   Accessories:  Copic markers, EK Success punch, piercing template/needle, pop dots.  Card size 5 ½” x 5 ½”

28 Comments

Posted in Cornish Heritage Farms, My Designs

Just For Fun-Bittybloom Style

Posted on February 25, 2009 | 25 comments

Hi everyone!  It’s time for our monthly Just For Fun challenge with Carole, Alli, Lori and Julie.  If you’re just popping into our challenge for the first time, here’s how it works.  Each month one of us sends the same patterned paper to all and once the paper is en route, the image chooser reveals her choice to the group before she receives the paper.   It could make for an interesting challenge if the paper isn’t just right for the image, but so far we’ve had good matches.  I know….one of these times…but that’s what makes it fun.  The surprises! And it is Just For Fun.  🙂

A Wonderful Friend

        URAWF

I was thrilled when Alli chose the very sweet Bluebell Bittybloom by Stamping Bella as our image this month.  All of the Bittyblooms are just adorable.  

Julie sent to everyone paper from Cosmo Cricket’s new Girl Friday line.  We used “Saturday.”  Love it!

BBBBCUI paper-pieced my Bittybloom with the dotted paper, coloring in her socks, shirt and top of her hat with an olive marker.  I wanted my embellishments to be small, like the Bittybloom, so I added two thin strips of olive cardstock with tiny buttons on the one side.

My sentiment is from Anna’s fabulous Friendly Expressions set. 

Head on over to see what Alli, Julie, Carole and Lori have done with the same supplies!  I can’t wait to see!  🙂

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!

25 Comments

Posted in Just for Fun Challenge, My Designs, Stamping Bella

Howdy

Posted on February 24, 2009 | 11 comments

Hi everyone!  Nothing exciting on my agenda today.  I have something I *need* to get done this morning and then I *must* clean my disastrous stamp room.  I was in a frenzy yesterday trying to get some things done on time so there are hundreds of “things” all over the place.  Deadlines.  Gotta love em.

Howdy

     HDCHF

This was a very simple card (other than the linen stitches).  I used Kim’s newest set, Happy Trails.  One ink, no coloring, easy layout.  I totally love this new Basic Grey Porcelain paper.  (It’s the same thing I used on yesterday’s post.)  I promise tomorrow will be different!

I hope you’ll come back tomorrow for our monthly Just For Fun Challenge with the JiFFy Girls (assuming everyone is ready…Carole.)

Have a great day! Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Cornish Heritage Farms “Happy Trails” (Kim Hughes Collection)   Ink:  Tsukineko Memento Rich Cocoa   Cardstock:  Stampin’ Up Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke  Patterned Paper:  Basic Grey Porcelain   Accessories:  Piercing template/needle, linen thread, Basic Grey button.

11 Comments

Posted in Cornish Heritage Farms, My Designs

Thee Weekly Spotlight

Posted on February 23, 2009 | 10 comments

MFTSLLOGO

TGIM! 🙂

The “Essentials” stamp sets are in the spotlight this week at My Favorite Things.  

Your Spotlight Savings: 

Spend $50 and choose Behind the Scenes or Setting the Stage for free!   (This offer is good from 2/23-2/27.)

 I Love Thee     

      MFTILT2

I used Behind the Scenes to ‘enhance’ my patterned paper.  I stamped the flowers/swirls onto the cream paper and the dots onto the pinkish paper. 

To add a bit of dimension, I placed a rolled glue dot beneath each flag on the castle and beneath the knight’s shield. 

ILTCUMy banner/sentiment is also wavy with a small pop dot under the middle and end. 

The focal panel is raised on pop dots as is the entire front panel.  The card is a bit thick but it’s not like I’ll be mailing it to anyone.  😉

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!

Stamps:  My Favorite Things “Good Knight” and “Behind the Scenes”   Ink:  Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black and Rich Cocoa; Adirondack Sandal by Ranger   Cardstock:  Stampin’ Up Chocolate Chip   Patterned Paper:  Basic Grey Porcelain paper pad   Accessories:  Copic markers (for shading), American Crafts button, Queen & Co. mini brad (on castle door), glue dots, pop dots.

10 Comments

Posted in My Designs, My Favorite Things

Cute Baby x 2

Posted on February 21, 2009 | 17 comments

It’s been several days since I’ve shared Whipper Snapper children (you know how much I love them), so how about two babies?

Welcome Bundles of Joy

      WSTB

I just love their fat little cheeks!  🙂 

I kept this one pretty simple.  These little babies are very quick to color with Copic markers.  I added some stitching, tied some ribbon and used a sentiment from Anna’s Bundle of Joy set, adding an ‘s’ to the end of “bundle. ” 

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great weekend!

Stamps:  Whipper Snapper Designs “Bella” and “Bundle of Joy”   Ink:  Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black    Cardstock:  Prism Papaya Puree Dark, Super Smooth White   Patterned Paper:  My Mind’s Eye Wild Asparagus Birthday Girl Plaid and Dots/Aqua   Accessories: Copic markers, ribbon, safety pin, sewing machine.

17 Comments

Posted in My Designs, Quick and Easy, Whipper Snapper

A BEAR of an Invitation

Posted on February 20, 2009 | 21 comments

TGIF!  Today I thought I’d share my daughter’s birthday party invitations.  Not because I think they’re out-of-this-world over-the-top (although I do like them), but because they were SUCH a pain to make. 

You’re Invited

            BABI2

I don’t usually make party invitations, mostly because I hate mass-producing anything.  But since my daughter’s party is at Build-a-Bear, I thought I could come up with something much cuter than any of the store-bought invitations.  (I’ll admit I didn’t look very hard though.)

I found this Sizzlit set with the cutest little bear die cut.  I am generally not a “die-cut” user but I thought I’d give it a whirl.  The bear on the package was so cute!  Holy moly….never again.  Cranking out 12 of these things…twice so I could get the lighter muzzle…not to mention all of the ovals and scalloped matting. 

Then there were the eyes.  See those tiny little eyes?  I wanted to just color them with a black marker.  They kept falling out.    I thought about leaving them out and coloring the space black but then they looked like little freak-bears with eye sockets and no eyeballs.   I finally got the eyes back in and colored, then when I ran my adhesive over the back of the bears to attach them to the ovals, the blasted eyes stuck to the adhesive. 

As for adding shading and highlights to the bears, after I dipped a Q-tip into a white ink pad and added sloppy highlighting, it ocurred to me…oh, I have chalk.  Duh.  Too late.  Sloppy bears.

I finally got them all together, the insides written, stuffed into envelopes, addressed …then I realized I forgot to add the cupcake Card Scents around the edges.  I PROMISED my daughter the invitations would smell like cupcakes.  (She was so excited about that.)  So I ripped open all the envelopes, added the Card Scents, stuffed and readdressed. 

So anyway, they are out the door, Katie is thrilled with them and that’s all that matters.  (Right? lol)

As for MY eyes, they are fine…just dry.  So I’m wearing my contacts only for short bits of time.  The doctor gave me these “gel” lubricating eye drops…ICK!  But at least my eyes aren’t falling out.  🙂

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great day!

Stamps:  Whipper Snapper Designs “Happy Birthday” (Anna Wight)   Ink:  Tsukineko Memento Rich Cocoa; Stampin’ Up White Craft   Cardstock:  Prism Natural Smooth, Suede Brown Dark   Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket Dutch Girl  Accessories:  Sizzix Sizzlits “Stuffed Animal” die cut set, Spellbinders Nestabilities, white gel pen, Copic markers (for shading), Cupcake Card Scents, A Lot Time and Not-So-Much Patience.

21 Comments

Posted in My Designs

Water You Up To?

Posted on February 19, 2009 | 13 comments

Happy Thursday! 🙂    Another quick post for me as I’m just about to run out the door for another eye appointment.  I’m not looking forward to it as every time I enter that office, the receptionist runs out with her ammunition (dilating drops) and then I can’t see up close for hours.  (That means I clean my house instead of stamp.  What fun is that?)

Water you up to?

      WYU2

Today’s challengeat SCS is to use stripes.  I found some wavy striped paper to use for my undersea background and paired it with Kim’s little striped seahorse.  I’m fairly certain that in real life they are not blue and brown striped, but in my world, today, they are. 🙂

WYU2CUThe little seahorse and clam shell are raised on pop dots and I added a dot of clear 3-d gel pen to the seahorse’s eye.  I think the card is a bit plain with all that white space and no other doo-dads, but it’s “very mailable.”    (That’s a plus, right?)

I’m out the door!  Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Cornish Heritage Farms “Ocean Friends” (Kim Hughes Collection)   Ink:  Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black   Cardstock:  Prism White (base), Simply Smooth White   Patterned Paper:  Creative Imaginations   Accessories:  Copic markers, clear 3-d gelly roll pen, pop dots.

13 Comments

Posted in Cornish Heritage Farms, My Designs

It’s Just a *Little* Twisted

Posted on February 17, 2009 | 50 comments

Hi everyone!  Welcome to the Twisted Too blog hop with My Favorite Things.  If you’re just stopping in here, you may want to start at the beginning of the hop with Kim. 

Today’s release includes Twisted Too, a fun new sentiment set, and two new Spring and Summer paper packs.  The papers have been previously available in an 8 1/2″ x 11″ digital form, but are now also available in 6″ x 6″ printed packs.  I really like them…mostly because I need a new printer so having them already printed is a plus for me.  But secondly, the patterns are scaled down a bit to fit the smaller size.  I love the smaller prints. 

It’s Not PMS…

Disclaimer:  I was not drinking when I stitched this card.  I failed to check my stitch selection before I began and so ended up with something other than what was intended.  In an attempt to “save the project,” I decided to make all of the stitching “freestyle-ish.”  (That’s my fancy way of saying “sloppy.”)   INPMS

I used one of my favorite sentiments from Twisted Too and two prints from the summer paper pack.  (And, oh look!  Flowers!!)  🙂

Since I wanted the girl to have an irritated look, I used a Memento Dew Drop to ink the image so that I could easily omit her eyebrows and draw them in myself, a bit furrowed.  (I considered making her eyes red but decided that might make her look too much like a vampire.)  My husband thinks she still looks happy so I either failed at my attempt or maybe he’s basing his judgement against my usual expression…hmmmm… 

To continue on with the hop, you’ll want to visit Christina next.  

Thanks SO much for stopping by!  Happy twisting!

Stamps:  My Favorite Things “Daydreaming” and “Twisted Too”   Ink:  Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black    Cardstock:  Stampin’ Up Ruby Red; Prism Frosted Teal, Simply Smooth White   Patterned Paper:  MFT Summer Paper Pack   Accessories:  Copic markers, Prima flowers, Basic Grey brads, Queen & Company mini-brad (earring), EK Success large oval punch, sewing machine.  Card size 5” x 5”.

50 Comments

Posted in My Designs, My Favorite Things

Friends Forever

Posted on February 17, 2009 | 13 comments

  I didn’t sleep all that well last night, between this cold that’s driving me nuts and the many things hanging around in my brain, so I’ll keep this short and sweet.  🙂

Forever Friends

          WSFF340

I’ve finally had the chance to crack open Anna’s Friendly Expressions set that was released last month.  So many wonderful sentiments!  (I like the fonts too!)

The flowers were watercolored with Adirondack inks, then outlined with a gray Copic for a bit of shadow.

After I added the button to the end of the sentiment, I decided it needed just a bit of something to make it stand out more. The top and bottom edges were getting lost in the patterned paper.  So I added a circle of the dark coral cardstock behind it (cut just the tiniest bit bigger than the button).

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a great day!

Stamps:  Whipper Snapper Designs “Friendly Expressions”   Ink:  Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black   Cardstock:  Prism Desert Coral Dark, Natural Smooth; Stampin’ Up Basic Gray   Patterned Paper:  Cosmo Cricket Ever After   Accessories:   Adirondack Rust, Terra Cotta, Juniper and Lake Mist inks by Ranger, gray Copic marker, Spellbinders Nestabilities, button, linen thread.

13 Comments

Posted in My Designs, Whipper Snapper