Hi everyone!  TGIM! 

As I’m sure you already know, this Saturday is World Card Making Day, a holiday created four years ago by the Paper Crafts team to bring people together through card making and to help kick off the busy card making season.  It’s a great day to get together with friends, make cards, (eat junk) and just have fun!  

Looking for some paper crafting inspiration?  Check out the Paper Crafts/CK Online Store where you’ll find the new Holiday Cards & More, Paper Crafting for Kids and much more creative goodness.  How about a coupon to save 25% off your order?  Simply use code ENVN-6FNC-HPYG at checkout.  The coupon is valid through October 12th.  

Would you like to participate in Paper Crafts’ World Card Making Day Blog Tour?  Add a link to your blog here.  (You may need to register to participate, but don’t worry.  It’s quick and easy.)

I have a super-quick card to share today.

Welcome Baby

My cards usually take hours…sometimes even days (sadly, I’m not kidding) but this one came together very quickly.  And I think it’s really cute (if I may say so).  I added a tiny dot to the elephant’s eye using a black 3-d glaze pen.  It adds just a touch more interest to the card, I think.

I hope you’re able to enjoy some crafting time on Saturday…or today…or tomorrow.  :) 

For even more inspiration, paper crafting news, celebrating and just plain ol’ fun, check out the World Card Making Day website, Cath’s Moxie Fab World and Paper Crafts Connection.

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

Stamps:  Cornish Heritage Farms “Zooper Fun” and “Baby Love” (Kim Hughes Collection)  Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black   Cardstock:  Prism Crabapple Dark   Patterned Paper:  Basic Grey Lemonade paper pad   Accessories:  Zva Creative felt flower, button, jute string, black Sakura 3-d glaze pen.  Finished size 5 ½” x 4 ¼”.

Hi.  I’m back. 

Just wanted to let everyone know I added a couple more sets to my “Stampin’ Up For Sale” page (here). 

I also decided to sell all of my SU Classic ink pads (sold by color family) and my Craft ink Stampin’ Spots.  All classic ink pads have been freshly reinked, and all of the spots are either barely used or unopened.

Thanks!

Hi everyone! 

I’m hoping you will help me clear out some Stampin’ Up! stuff I no longer need or use.  I’ve added a new page in the upper right-hand corner above my banner (or click here) where I’ve listed lots of stamp sets (some current, many retired) and some accessories.

Please let me know if you have any questions.  To send an email, click on the “Contact me” button to the right (under my photo).

I needed two “Arizona-ish” thank you cards, one for my very generous and hospitable in-laws and the other for one of their friends who brought toys and games for the kids to play with while we were visiting.  It truly was a fabulous vacation and we’re looking forward to going back.

Muchas Gracias

I used Inka’s Muchas Gracias which I purchased from Jacksonbelle Embellishments (whom, by the way, is having a 25% off EVERYTHING sale now through Monday.  Enter code SPRING09 -all uppercase- at check-out to receive your discount).  I popped up the little dog’s ears and paper-pieced the hat, cactus and pot.  I found the paper (by The Paper Loft) at a scrapbook store in Arizona.  I hope I can find more here!  I love that flower print (and you will see it again very soon on a different card).

Here are some pics from our trip.  You can click on the thumbnails for larger views.

A pretty desert pic, a “giraffe” and the backyard view.

The desert isn’t all brown.

A visiting critter, some sleepy kitties and a little hummingbird in her nest.

Another pretty hummingbird and some pool fun.

I want to go back. 

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

Stamps:   Inkadinkado “Muchas Gracias”   Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black   Cardstock:  Prism Suede Brown Dark, Natural Smooth   Patterned Paper:  The Paper Loft Cosmic “Fusion”   Accessories:  Copic markers (E31, E33, RV42, C1, C3, C5, C7, E37, E47, E57, BG93), “Mens” Dew Drops, Sakura black 3-d gel pen (on eyes, nose and cactus needles), clear embossing powder (sentiment), pop dots.

Hi everyone!  I don’t usually do these things, mostly because by the time I get it, everyone has already been tagged.  But I was tagged by three friends (all in one day–thank you Lori, Carole and Amy! lol) so I thought I better do this one.

I’m to post my sixth photo in my sixth photo folder and look what I found…my children acting like they actually like one another.

We’d just spent a busy day in Disney.  Here we’re leaving the park.  I noticed this small moment of camaraderie and asked my husband to quickly take a picture so we’d have proof that they sometimes do get along.  Usually if one touches the other in any way, it becomes a big battle of name-calling, tattling and shouting.

I’m now supposed to choose six friends to tag…but honestly, I think everyone has already done it!  So I’m going to be a party-pooper and not tag anyone.  (I’m sorry.)

Thanks for stopping by!  I’ll be back tomorrow with our monthly JFF Challenge (I think…if not I’ll have something else for you to see.)   Have a great day!

I love stamping (obviously) and look forward to my paper crafting magazines making their way into my mailbox each month.  But one of my favorite publications is Paper Crafts’ new Stamp It! Cards because it focuses solely on stamping (and because it’s fabulous).  

In Stamp It! Cards there are so many great ideas and such wonderful inspiration.  You can find it in your local craft or book store, or on-line here.

Have you been to Cath’s Moxie Fab World?  There’s a party going on over there!  Be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Stamp It! Cards, American Crafts stamps and embossing powder as well as a potpourri of stamps from other great manufacturers. (Comment on this post by Sunday, March 22nd, for a chance to win 15–yes, FIFTEEN stamp sets!  Wow!  )

AND there are MORE give-aways on the Paper Crafts Connection blog!  Check it out!

Lots of fun stuff, that’s for sure!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Hi everyone.   I have a bit of news to share today.  Not big, huge life-changing news (thank goodness)–just “little” (but still important) news. 

As most of you know, I’ve been part of the Cornish Heritage Farms Design Team  for a while.  I’ve had a great time being part of the CHF family, and I truly appreciate all of the wonderful opportunities that experience has afforded me, as well as all of the dear friends I’ve made there, but I have decided to leave the team.  I’ll still be using CHF images (at a minimum, you know I can’t go without the fabulous Kim Hughes sets), but I’ll have a little more free time for publication work, F-U-N (isn’t that what stamping is supposed to be about?) and who knows what else.  It’s a big change for me, but I feel certain it’s a good one.   

Now, moving on…

Warm Wishes

I waited a long time (or so it seems) to find this image by Whiff of Joy.  So cute.   I’m still experimenting with shading backgrounds and might have gone a bit overboard with the “glow” here.  Maybe she has a candle behind her…or maybe her sweater is on fire.  Eek!  Anyway, I’m practicing. 

As an afterthought, I decided to add a bit more dimension to the card so I stamped the image a second time, colored the sweater cuffs, her hands and the cup and cut out only those parts (as one piece).  I glued the cuffs over the image but placed a pop dot under the cup.  Much better!

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I hope to get back to my more regular timing with posting, but my first goal is to clean my stamp room.  It is a very scary place right now.  But I’ll be back soon!  I have a “Just for Fun” challenge with Carole just around the corner!  Have a great day! 

Stamps:  Whiff of Joy “Willow with Hot Chocolate”   Ink:  Adirondack Pitch Black   Cardstock:  Prism Natural Smooth; Stampin’ Up Chocolate Chip   Patterned Paper:  My Mind’s Eye “My Sunshine”   Accessories:  Copic markers, Stampin’ Up felt flowers, mm brads, Creative Memories cutting system, sewing machine, pop dots.  Card size 5” x 5”.

Random.org

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:
29  <——JENNIFER SCULL  ————————#1-Magazine
79  <——SUSAN LILES (susiestampalot)—#2-Magazine and the Loot

.

Congrats!  Please email to me your address and I’ll get your goodies out to you!  (Or I’ll email you.)  :)

Thanks, everyone, for visiting!

Welcome to my first ”Say it Like it Is” Saturday!    I’ve decided to periodically post some silly, maybe a bit rude, slightly obnoxious but totally honest projects just for fun.  (Don’t worry…I won’t be too bad.)

For the past two weeks, I’ve been totally immersed in the Stephanie Meyer Twilight series.  I don’t usually seek books about vampires and werewolves.  When my friend first mentioned this saga I just smiled, nodded and thought “ok…you go right ahead and read about your monsters and I’ll stick to David Baldacci.”  But I was in need of a good book and I thought, “Eh, what the heck.  Let’s see what’s so intriguing here.”  Wow, is my interest ever piqued.  I’ve just begun the third book, Eclipse, and like the first two, I have a hard time putting it down once I have it in my hands.  I am thoroughly enjoying these characters, their differences and (as much as each would deny) their similarities. 

I’m not Listening

So here I am, reading my book, my favorite latte by my side.  If someone talks, do I see lips moving?  Only if I have to.  Am I listening?  Not unless it’s something REALLY important.  Is the house on fire?  Did your brother cut off your head?  No?  Well then, carry on.  (Ok…I’m exaggerating…a bit, but you get my point.)

I do love a good read and the Twilight series is outstanding.  Definately one of those I will hate to see end.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope your weekend is wonderful!

Cardstock:  Prism White (base), Super Smooth White   Patterned Paper:  Basic Grey Eva paper pad   Stamps:  Rubber Romance “Julia”, sentiment by Starving Artiststamps Quirky   Ink:  Adirondack Pitch Black   Accessories:  Copic markers, mm chipboard flourish, brads, sewing machine.  Card size 4 ¼” x 5 ½”.

Sorry about the delay in posting but thanks so much for checking back!   I had a GREAT time in Chicago…site-seeing, CHA, visiting family …it was a week packed FULL of fun.  It was so great to meet my friends, face-to-face.  Some I’d seen before but many I had not.  Lots and lots of laughs and good times, that’s for sure!  Ahhh…memories. 

Tiny Miracle

There are DTGD (Dare to Get Dirty) Challenges going on over at Splitcoast Stampers this week hosted by past and present Dirty Girls.  (Info and links here.) 

My friend, Julia, asked me to make a sample for her challenge today.  I’m sure it will come as no shock to those who know her (and who doesn’t?) that her challenge is to stitch on a card.  I thought I’d make a little patchwork-ish baby card using Baby Love from the Kim Hughes Collection at Cornish Heritage Farms (one of my favorite of Kim’s sets). 

I like using non-traditional papers for different themes.  Here I used Basic Grey’s new Euphoria. (I got mine from Jacksonbelle Embellishments but it looks like she’s currently out of stock.  The pink ribbon is from JBE as well.)  I used Copic markers to color the images, stitched around all the patterned paper edges and added lavender Stickles to the butterfly.  I also bent the one little wing up a bit to add some dimension.

Cardstock:  Prism White (base), Super Smooth White, Razzleberry Light   Patterned Paper:  Basic Grey Euphoria paper pad   Stamps:  Cornish Heritage Farms “Baby Love”   Ink:  Adirondack Pitch Black   Accessories:  Copic markers, ribbon, Ranger Lavender Stickles, sewing machine, pop dots.  Card size 5” x 5”.

MY CHA Favorites (click on the thumbnails to see bigger pics)

My favorite new paper: October Afternoon Night Light.  I *ADORE* these monsters and can’t wait to get this paper (and some of the coordinating accessories)!

Basic Grey:  New Chocolate Chip Albums & Alphas!!  Can’t wait to get these too!

A new project I *have* to try:  Karen Foster 3-d Countdown Calendar.  How fun would this be to count down to a special occasion, vacation or other event?

My favorite decorated bra:  Melissa Frances booth  (AMAZING)

My favorite metal/altered book:  Tim Holtz idea-ology.  I think a lot of what’s used on this book is from the Winter release but it’s all new to me.  I *love* the metal pieces and fragments.   

Fabulous displays:  Sizzix (I don’t even have a Sizzix but I thought the display was adorable.)

And my pictures didn’t turn out for these (and I couldn’t find online links to some…I don’t think they’re up yet) but my favorite new stamps are:

• Stampendous Changito monkeys (for Halloween and Christmas/winter)
• Hero Arts Clear Designs Jolly Christmas and Owl-oween sets
• Unity Stamp Company’s Distressed Dots and Create Yourself.

And who wouldn’t LOVE all those new Spellbinders dies. I really need to just stop thinking about them and buy them!

Thanks so much for stopping by!! (I’ll be back soon with that other monkey card and my “Just for Fun” challenge with Carole (whom I *finally* met)!!!!   Have a great day!   :)