February 22, 2010

Here's is my card for this week's CAS clean & simple challenge. This week's challenge is a makeover challenge, we were to pick one of our cards from our gallery and remake it. This is the card from my gallery that I decided to remake.

I used the same colors and I kept the same layout, but I decided to use my oval punch instead of my square punches. I also used a different stamp set, ribbon, and sentiment.

My background is embossed using my cuttlebug distressed stripes embossing folder. I decided not to layer the ovals on black card stock; instead I placed my ribbon behind them and I tied a knot in-between them.

I very rarely make any sympathy cards, so I thought I'd better start making some to have on hand. My sentiment is from SU's Thought's & Prayers stamp set (I stamped the words going across the bottom of my card).

Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes, Thoughts & Prayers
Card Stock: White
Ink: Black Stazon
Supplies: Ribbon, Wide Oval Punch, Cuttlebug, Distress Stripes Embossing Folder, Stamp-a-ma-jig
Technique: Dry Embossing

February 21, 2010

Today's card is for this month's challenge for the blog group that I belong to. The challenge is a color challenge and we were to create a card using the colors red and black and we were not to do any coloring on our cards. 

Well, I have to say that this really was a challenge for me! I find myself coloring on almost all of my cards, but this challenge made me think.

***I'm editing to add that the challenge blog I made this card for is no longer posted.  The blog was removed.

My card also fits Friday's Splitcoast limited supply challenge in which we were to create a card that uses ribbon and a border punch.

I used my SU markers to color my image and then I stamped it onto my card stock. I had to go over the stamp a few times using my markers in order to get a nicely colored image.  It helps if you stamp your image first and then cut it out.  This way you won't have to try and get it centered on your card stock.

I added a real red card stock layer behind my image and then I punched it using my EK Success Dotted Wave border punch. My sentiment and image are both from the same stamp set.

Thanks so much for looking! Have a wonderful rest of the weekend!

Stamps: Essence of Love
Card Stock: White, Black, Real Red
Ink: Black Stazon
Supplies: Ribbon, SU Markers, EK Success Dotted Wave Border Punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig

February 19, 2010

Here are two other cards that I was making as a sample thank you cards. I needed to use the colors black and so saffron. I used my Baroque Motifs and Sincere Salutations stamp sets on both of these cards.

On my first card I just stamped the swirly image in the lower left hand corner using black ink and then I added some saffron flowers in-between.

I stamped my sentiment in the upper right hand corner. This particular card is more like a note card. I was trying to design something simple and less bulky in order to keep postage down.


On my second card I again stamped the large swirly stamp in the lower left hand corner. Then I stamped a few so saffron flowers and my sentiment in the upper right hand corner.

This time I embossed my background using the cuttlebug folder Floral Fantasy. I decided to add two small ribbon tabs on the left side.

This card is similar to my first card, but this one has a few more layers and an embossed background. Both cards have a similar layout, which I love and I find myself using it quite often.

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day!

Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Sincere Salutations
Card Stock: White, Black, So Saffron
Ink: Black Stazon, So Saffron
Supplies: Ribbon, Floral Fantasy Embossing Folder, Cuttlebug, Stamp-a-ma-jig
Technique: Dry Embossing, 2 Step Stampin

February 17, 2010

I'm in the process of making some thank you cards for a friend of mine and this is one of the sample cards I made for her. She didn't end up choosing this card, but I wanted to share it with you anyway.

I stamped my image and colored it using my SU markers. It took a little while to color the image because I used so many different colors, but I really like the way it turned out.

The bottom half of my card is embossed using the Floral Fantasy cuttlebug folder. My sentiment is from SU's Warmest Regards and it's layered using my large oval and scalloped oval SU punches. I also used the Scallop border punch along the bottom of my strip of black card stock.

In the upper right corner of my stamped image I added a swirly clip and a small piece of black ribbon.

With in the next few days I'll post a few of the other cards that I made and which one she picks. Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Sweet of You
Card Stock: White, Black, So Saffron
Ink: Black Stazon
Supplies: SU Markers, Floral Fantasy Embossing Folder, Cuttlebug, Large Oval Punch, Scalloped Oval Punch, Scalloped Border Punch, Swirly Clip, Ribbon
Technique: Dry Embossing

February 15, 2010

Hi everyone! Here's my card for this week's Clean & Simple challenge. The challenge this time was to create a card for spring. This was such a great challenge and now that Valentine's Day is over I'll start making some more spring and Easter cards. I actually have some images colored and ready to go, all I need to do now is assemble some cards.

I decided to use my Garden Whimsy stamp set for today's card. My neighbor's driveway is all lined up with tulips in the spring time so that was my inspiration for my card. I cut the flower stem away from the tulip stamp so that it is two different stamps rather than one. It makes for easier stamping.

This card was so quick and easy. I just stamped the stems and then I turned the stem stamp upside-down and then I stamped some more stems. Next, I stamped the tulips just over the stems. (My tulip and stem stamp are cut apart and they are two stamps instead of one- it makes for easier stamping).

Then I stamped a few more tulips and I cut them out and placed them over some of the lower stems. The ladybug was also stamped and cut out, but I drew in the antennas by hand. My butterfly was first stamped using the rock and roll technique and then I colored the antennas and body using my black SU marker.

I hope you like my spring card, and thanks so much for stopping by!

Stamps: Garden Whimsy
Card Stock: White
Ink: Black Stazon, Only Orange, Apricot Appeal, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink, and Pale Plum
Supplies: SU Markers, SU Scissors for cutting the flowers and butterfly
Technique: 2 Step Stampin, Rock n' Roll

February 11, 2010

WOW! Did we ever get the snow yesterday! I spent a few hours shoveling and I've seen enough snow for this year, I'm so ready for spring! The piles of snow at the end of my driveway are as high as my mailbox. I'll have to post a picture tomorrow.

Today is my daughter's 15th birthday and I thought I would share her birthday card with you.
My daughter's favorite colors are pink and black and I decided to go with those colors. For most of the image I colored it using my SU markers. On the face, hands, and legs I didn't want the color quite as intense so I decided to used a wonder color crayon and blender pen using the color blush blossom.

I came across my crimper the other day and I wondered why I hardly ever use it so I decided to crimp my pretty in pink card stock. I used dimensionals beneath my stamped image and my ribbon is from Offray.

Have a wonderful day and thanks so much for stopping by!

Stamps: Pastry Chef (non SU), Crazy for Cupcakes- for the sentiment
Card Stock: White, Pretty in Pink, Black
Ink: Black Stazon
Supplies: Ribbon, Crimper, SU Markers, Watercolor Crayon, Blender Pen, Dimensionals, Stamp-a-ma-jig
Technique: Watercoloring

February 10, 2010

It's been snowing here all night and now it's starting to snow even faster this morning. All the schools are closed and the kids are home today. I'll be busy getting ready for my older daughter's birthday tomorrow. She wants homemade spaghetti and I want to make the noodles today.

I received this greeting card in the mail last week. It was from my grandmother and I really liked the card. After a few minutes I got to thinking that I could make a card just like it.

Often times I see a greeting card in the store and I think to myself 'hey I can make that card' and today I decided to give it a try.

My card was really easy to make. I just stamped my image and colored it using my SU Markers. I used my 2 way glue pen and dazzling diamonds dust to add some glitter on the flowers. (I know it's a bit hard to see in my picture).

Thanks so much for taking the time to read my blog. I hope all have a wonderful day and now I'm off to take my son outside to play in the snow. I thought I'd better take him out now while the baby is sleeping.

Stamps: Love Ya Bunches
Card Stock: White, Cool Caribbean
Ink: Black Stazon
Supplies: Ribbon, 2 Way Glue Pen, DD Dust

February 9, 2010

We are expecting a snow storm tonight into tomorrow and my son's preschool Valentine's Day party was changed from Wednesday to today. As I was getting his stuff ready for his party I realized that I didn't make a card for his teachers. (For the kids I just purchase the character Valentines, but for the teachers I usually like make a card).

I wasn't quite sure what I was going to make. I just started stamping and then cutting out the heart images and my card sort of just came together. I could probably leave off the embossed background next time, but I'm happy with my results.




I took a picture of my cards with the stamps I used, sometimes I think it helps if you can see the actual stamps that were used.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!




Stamps: Loving Hearts, Love Ya, Hugs & Wishes
Card Stock: White, Black
Ink: Black Stazon, Real Red, Pixie Pink, Lavender Lace
Supplies: Ribbon, Cuttlebug, D'vine Swirls Embossing Folder, Scor-pal, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Scissors- for cutting hearts
Technique: Dry Embossing

February 8, 2010

I hope you all had a great weekend! It's Monday again and I haven't played along with the clean & simple challenges for a few weeks, so I wanted to be sure and play along today.

Today's challenge is an inspiration challenge. My picture below is the piece that I chose for my inspiration.

You know it's funny, I was organizing my stamps the other day and I came across this stamp set and thinking how I've never used it. So as soon as I saw today's challenge I remembered right away that I have a gumball stamp.

I have such a hard time using small images. It's hard for me use them without them getting lost on my card and I also had a hard time deciding which colors of card stock I wanted to use. I was worried that my card was getting too busy. I ended up using Tempting Turquoise and Real Red.


I stamped the gumball image and then colored it using my SU markers. Next I decided to create my own pattern paper and I was trying to mimic the gumballs. I used the eraser of new pencil and I stamped the eraser into all different color ink pads and then onto my cardstock. I wanted it to be colorful, but not too crazy looking.

Once I was finished with my pattern paper I sort of thought that the upper portion of my card needed something, but my card was busy enough, so I decided to add a few decorative score lines.

My sentiment is from SU's Crazy for Cupcakes and I think it goes perfectly with my gumballs.

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day! I posted early today, so I have to get going and start my housework!

Stamps: A Little Love, Crazy for Cupcakes
Card Stock: White, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red
Ink: Black Stazon, Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Yo-Yo Yellow, Green Galore, Pixie Pink, Lavender Lace
Supplies: Ribbon, Scor-pal, SU Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8", & 1 1/4", & 1" Circle Punches, SU Markers, New Pencil, Stamp-a-ma-jig

February 7, 2010

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a great weekend. Hubby will be watching the super bowl today and I'm going to try and play catch up with my blog. I'm not much of a sports fan so I won't be watching the game today. My husband asked me who I would like to see win and I told him the Jets. Well, after my husband was finished laughing at me he explained that the Jets aren't playing in today's game....LOL Goes to show how much I follow sports!

I'll be back tomorrow with a new posting, but before I go I wanted to let you all know that I have listed all of my items for sale on eBay yesterday. If anyone is interested in taking a look, here are my auctions:

Scrapbooking Magazines
Stampin Up Standard Wheel Storage Cases- set of 2
Stampin Up Jumbo Wheel Storage Cases- set of 2
Lot of 22 SU Stampin Up Stamp Sets & Scissors
Lot of 20 Stampin Up Stamp Sets & Wheel Guide & More
90 + Yards of 1 2/2" Wide Offray Grosgrain Ribbon White & Burgundy

My husband also has some computer networking items for sale, if you click on 'see sellers other items' you will find our other listings. (I just thought I would mention this just in case anyone might be interested).

Thanks so much for stopping by, have a great day and enjoy the game!

February 1, 2010

Hi everyone! I'm sorry that today's post isn't stamping related, but I haven't been able to update my blog this past week and I wanted to share with you what I've been up to.

My youngest daughter just had her first birthday. I ended up having two parties for her, one on Friday and one yesterday.

This is a really busy time of year for me. Everyone in my family has their birthday during this time of year. We have 5 birthdays and Christmas all within 10 weeks...UGH!


This is a picture of one of her birthday cakes. Well, I made one chocolate and one vanilla. My second cake turned out better, but this is a picture of the first one I made. I used one of those new large cup cake pans and I topped it with pink icing and sprinkles.


When I made the second cake I decided to make a small cupcake for the baby and that way she could eat it however she wanted.

She certainly didn't waste any time diving into her birthday cake!!!



Here is one more picture of her eating her cupcake. You should have seen her once she was finished eating. I had to give her a bath, but she had a great time!!!

January 26, 2010

I recieved this sweet friends award yesterday from Lynn. Thank you so much, Lynn. You've made my day!!! Be sure to visit Lynn's blog and see her wonderful crafting!

Now it's my turn. I am supposed to list 10 things that make me happy, and then send this award to 5 other bloggers. I still feel as though I'm pretty new to the world of blogging, so I've decided to share this with my my friends whose blog I visit daily (I don't always have time to leave a comment, but I do visit you ladies daily. BTW- it was hard to pick only 5.

Cookie- Cards by Cookie
Trish- Encourage Joy
Dawn- Everything Under the Sun
Karen- Feline Creative
Carrie- Stamps, Scraps and Scissors

Be sure to stop by and check out thier blogs, they are all wonderful stampers and they give me such inspiration!

Now you ladies will need to copy and paste the award to your blog, note who gave you the award with the link to her blog, and then pass the award to 5 more bloggers. Be sure and visit their blog and let them know.

Here's my list of 10 things that make me happy (not in any special order):

1- family & friends
2- stamping & crafting
3- being in good health- my family included
4- my dog
5- being a stay at home mom- I've very lucky to be able to stay home with my children
6- when my children make me proud
7- peace & quiet during nap time...LOL if you have children you know what I mean
8- when I receive real mail- everything today is done through email or on the phone
9- hanging laundry outside- funny I know, but I love the smell of fresh clean clothes
10- when my husband says to me....honey, you know you were right! LOL