When things are hard.....

....or when life gives you lemons.........you make a card for it! I sent this card to someone very close to me who is going through a heartbreaking situation in life. I wanted to send her a card with an uplifting message. And no, it does not say 'make lemonade' on the inside, because, although I do try to look at the positive angles to any situation, and I do believe that everything that happens in our lives happens for a reason, and believe that we become stronger from our trials in life, sometimes you just have to be sad for a while and let the hurt out before you are able to move on. I know God has a plan and a purpose for each of us in this life and that plan involes joy and sorrow. This is how we grow and learn to love, and learn to lean on Him for peace, comfort and the healing of our hearts.

I hope that time will heal her sadness, and that she will be happy and joyful again shortly.

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!

A Party Elephant!

I mean who doesn't love an elephant in a party hat!

It feels like forever since I have taken part in a challenge over at the CAS-ual Fridays blog! This weeks' challenge was to use stickers!

I found these little party hat stickers a few months ago, and thought they were just so cute! I think they will work well to make birthday cards for kiddos, which is what this card is for.

The last time I went to my favorite stamp store, my oldest son, Cody, asked me if I would get a stamp of an elephant. I saw this stamp and thought it was super cute, so Cody got his wish!

t feels good to take part in a challenge once again, and I am hoping that as of Wednesday when the three big boys go back to school, that I will be able to put the baby down for a nap and ignore all the other things I have to do, and make some cards!!!! Yay for fall, yay for school and yay for getting to once again do the things I love on a more regular basis!

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!

Yes, I am still here!

I cannot believe it has been a month since I have last posted! Yes, I am still alive, and yes I am still paper crafting and card making! August was just a crazy month for us. It was one vacation after another, with just a few days in between each one....just enough time for laundry!

Here is a card that is basically the same as the last card that was posted. The colors were just changed up a bit and the size was changed to a regular A2 sized card.

Gonna keep this super short.....the 3 big boys go back to school on Wednesday, and I have a TON of things to do!

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!

Oh, What a Happy Summer It Is!

I should not be doing this right now. For any number of reasons. But I couldn't help myself! Again, what a super fun challenge over at CAS-ual Fridays.

Here is my card. The challenge was to create a 4 x 9 card (which I believe this card to be the first I have ever made) and leave the space open! So tough! But I just made mine super CAS. Almost too much, perhaps!

Here is a close up of the image and sentimnet.I received another check from publications the other week, and so I decided to purchase some new stamps and things. One of the things I got is this Sand by Flowersoft. Ooooh, I love it. And I wanted to try it out, so I came up with this card.

Gonna Keep this short......I have so much to do........and the baby is sleeping!

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!

Supplies:

Crumb Cake CS by SU, Textured White CS by Bazzill, Whisper White CS by SU

Sentiment by Impress, Summer Splash by SU

Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black, STampin Write Markers in Poppy Parade, Crushed Curry, and Pacific Point

Flowersoft Sand and Adhesive, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter by SU

How's Your Day?

When I saw this sentiment stamp about a month ago, I just had to have it. I absolutely loved it. I envisioned using it to make a card with a stack of laundry....but I have yet to find a stamp of a stack of laundry. If ya happen to see one out there....let me know!

It has been a few weeks since I have been able to play along with all the fabulous talent at the CAS-ual Fridays blog! Life has just been crazy for me since summer began, but with teaching card class last night, I was forced to clean up my craft room, and so it's still looking pretty good, and it inspired me to make a card! I can't believe there have been 11 challenges so far....my how time flies! I decided to use this ice cream stamp for my 'sweets', since I thought a bunch of different scoops would work well with the sentiment.

I have been working really hard the past couple of weeks to clean up and clean out my house which has included my craft room. Plain and simple, I just have too much stuff and I have felt that it has been weighing me down. So I have been purging my house hard core! This week I sold over 70 stamp sets! Wow! And I still could probably purge some more. And a little over a week ago, Kerry filled up the truck and took a load of stuff to good will! And I have a few larger items that I'm going to try to get up on Craigs list this weekend as well.

Sorry, usually I don't go on like that (on my blog anyway)! If you are interested in stamps, please visit my for sale page here on my blog.....I am going to try to update it within this next week.....I will have more SU stamp sets, some brand new that have never seen ink, as well as PTI, Verve, and individual wood block stamps too! I so want them to be loved and used and go to good homes!

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!

Supplies:

Crumb Cake and Whisper White Card Stock by SU.

Sweet Scoops Stamp Set by SU. Sentiment by Rosie's Roadshow Rubber Stamps

Chocolate Chip, Pool Party, Poppy Parade, Pear Pizazz Ink by SU

Jute Twine by PTI, Pearl by SU, Signo White Gel Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter by SU, Dimensionals.

Hello Flowers for a Friend

I have to admit, I am one of those card makers that produces and produces massive amounts of cards.....but it seems like I don't send too many of them out. I need to do that more. I mean, everyone loves to get mail right? I have gobs and gobs of cards sitting around in bins just waiting to make it out into the word! Does this sound familiar to anyone?

Well, this card, I did in fact send to a friend the other day. I felt that she needed a little sunshine in her life....she's havin' a tough time with one of her kiddos! I just wrote a simple message inside letting her know that I love her and that I'm thinking of her and keeping her in my prayers.

I think I'm going to try this....start small, like try to send one card a week to someone I know.....just because!

Gonna keep this short, I could go on for a while, I feel, but I'm teaching card class tonight and I have a few little odds and ends to finish up before everyone arrives!

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!

Hello, Bicycle!

Here's a card for the challenge over at Moxie Fab World in celebration of the Stamp It! Cards publication that hit stands a couple of weeks ago. And boy am I celebrating this publication!

I don't know if you know....but I had 3 cards published in this sweet issue! So if you haven't picked up a copy, you definitely should.....and you can see some of my creations! This card was one of the ones published in there!

Gonna keep it short and sweet!

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!

Supplies:

Textured White Card Stock by Bazzill.

Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black, Daffodil Delight Ink by SU

Bike Stamp by Hero Arts. Hello Stamp by Impress Rubber Stamps. Crosshatch stamp by Impress Rubber Stamps

Stampin Write Markers in Baja Breeze, Tangerine Tango, Poppy Parade, Pear Pizazz, Pink Pirouette, and Regal Rose by SU

Poppy Parade Ribbon by SU

Rhinestones by SU

Corner Chomper by We R Memory Keepers

Stamp It Cards Publication

My dream has finally come true. Well at least one of my dreams. I have 3 cards which were published in the latest issue of Stamp It! Cards, which is now available. This magazine is fabulous. I was so excited to have my work in here, and then when I got my copy of it, I was blown away at all the amazing card that are in here. So inspiring, and so humbling that my cards are in here amongst some super duper stamping talent! There have been a few (okay, perhaps more than a few) moments when I have thought that my cards are not up to the caliber of everything in here, but slowly, I am coming to the realization that they are in fact worthy. Its been a bit of a journey. Here is my favorite card that was published in the magazine, on the very last page, mind you! With everyone I have shared the magazine with, I have joked that I barely made it! Those birch trees are one of my favorite stamps I do believe! It was a super fun card to make!

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!

Happy Birthday.....Little Birdie!

Hello All-
It has been quite some time since I have posted.....don't know if there's anyone out there who is still even stopping by my little place here......
School ended and we have been on a roller coaster of summer activity ever since. Sadly I have not had much time for stamping or crafting. Well, I have had time, but I have just chosen to do different things with it, like hanging out with my boys and enjoying the sun that has finally decided to join summer in my little corner of the world!This was a card that I made for the latest PC call, but just didn't get around to submitting it....it's not the greatest card anyway, and I'm pretty sure it would not have been picked up!
Gonna keep this short....the two older boys are at Scout Camp, and Sam is begging me to come upstairs because he's claiming Kellan won't stop hitting him!
Hope you all are having a fabulous start to the summer!
Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!

Color Blocking in My Own Way

I just finished a post a little bit ago, and was planning on trying to relax for a few brief moments before I have to go pick up my wrecking crew from school, but then this thought came to me as I was cleaning up my paper (now there's a first: me, cleaning up directly after making a card! HA!) from this card that I made this afternoon.

I thought that this paper from Cosmo Cricket would lend perfectly to making a card for this week's challenge over at the CAS-ual Fridays Challenge Blog, which is Color Blocking.

Here's my card:

Now I must say that color blocking is totally not my forte, or one of my go-to styles for creating cards, but I gave it a try! I think it turned out okay! What do ya think? I know it's not solid colors, but I thought it was cool!

Last night I made a card for this challenge, and then the more I looked at it, the more I really didn't like the exact colors I chose, so I am re-doing it.....if I get it finished, I will try and post it to the challenge as well!

Gonna keep this short....I have to run and get the boys!

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!

Summer Weddings

It is that time of year, my friends!

Wedding Season!

Usually I don't pay much mind to it, mainly due to the fact that everyone I know is married.

Needless to say, I don't receive too many wedding invites these days.

This year however is an exception.Next week, a good friend's daughter is getting married. I wanted to create a fabulous wedding card for her, that captured summer. Usually when making wedding cards, I don't tend to lean towards such bright colors, but I just love these bright swirls of colors in this Cosmo Cricket paper. It actually makes me think of a Hawaiian wedding, which by the way, some family friends of mine(they were like my second family growing up) youngest son is getting married tomorrow in Hawaii. And I so wish I was there! Weddings and bright tropical colors have been on the brain! I might have to make another card like this for them, as they are having a reception back here in our area in July!

I also have to admit that this card was also created with a dual purpose in mind. I have been hearing about the Paper Crafts Magazine Gallery Idol 2011 Competition, and although have toyed with the idea of entering, really wasn't planning on it. Even thought I have had multiple card picked up for publication this year, I just still don't feel like the cards I create even come close to matching up to the amazing talent out there.....especially for the Gallery Idol Competition.

Well, I'm going out on a limb here, and I am entering this card into the competition.

Just for fun!

Because that's why I create and stamp!

Hope you all have a most fabulous Friday!

I have a card that I made last night for the CAS-ual Fridays challenge, that I want to redo before I submit it....so check back, there might be another card posted today...

Or it might be tomorrow!

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!

Rainbow Birds

Here is another card I whipped up super quick for this week's Tuesday Trigger over at the Moxie Fab world! This week's trigger is right up my alley. I have really been in love lately with cards using a rainbow effect. And I love birds too, so this was perfect for me!I bought this stamp some time ago, but this was the first time it has seen ink! What a fun challenge for it to make it's maiden voyage!

This trigger picture of these brightly colored spools is simply divine, or as Cath would put it...... absolutely Moxie Fab! Thanks Cath, for such great inspiration and a great challenge!

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!

Supplies:

Bazzil Textured Card Stock

Birds on Wire Stamp by Penny Black

Cherry Cobbler, Tangerine Tango, Crushed Curry, Pear Pizazz, Tempting Turquoise Ink by SU

Jute Twine by PTI

Blue Flowers

I was over at Karen Baker's blog, The Bald Dragonfly, the other day, and saw that she had played along with a challenge that Virgina Lu had over at her blog that combined inspiration photos and Hero Arts stamps! How fun! I just had to play along! So here's how I Stamped My Hero Heart Out! This was the card I came up with after seeing this sweet picture that Cath had posted over at the Moxie Fab World. The colors just jumped out at me, and I since I love blues, I decided this was the inspiration pic I would use!

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

Supplies:

Baja Breeze, Soft Sky, Whisper White Card Stock by SU

Flower Medley Stamp by Hero Arts

Soft Swirls embossing folder by cuttlebug

Baja Breeze Ink by sU

Certainly Celery 5/8 Grosgrain ribbon by SU

Dazzling Diamonds Glitter by SU

A Rainbow of Butterflies

This weeks Tuesday Trigger: Rainbow Bright, over at the Moxie Fab World inspired me to make the following card!

I have really love the Modern Basics stamp set from PTI, and have wanted a chance to play around with it more, but really haven't had the time. These butterflies were perfect, I thought to lend to the rainbow effect! The sentiment is also from PTI: Think Big Favorites #2, I believe! The inks and paper are all Stampin' UP!

Gonna keep it short today, as I have lots I want to accomplish!

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!

Dies and Flowers and Gems.......

....and a little embossing too! Oops! There are actually 4 elements here on this card which is my second attempt at the CAS-ual Fridays Tic Tac Toe challenge! Last night as I was posting my first card for the challenge, I was just messing around and had the beginnings for this card here!

With all the fun elements to choose from in this weeks challenge, I found myself last night, going through a bunch of my crafting supplies looking for all the fun things that I could play around with to create cards for this challenge!

This sure has gotten my creative juices flowing!!! Thank you, ladies over there at CAS-ual Fridays for coming up with such an inspiring challenge! It was just what I needed to get my stamping mojo back in gear. I have been so extremely busy lately with everything else in life, that crafting has had to take a back seat (like the third row, back seat......)!

Now I just want to stamp and be creative! And it couldn't have come at a better time. Kerry is taking the three older boys on a father/son camp out tonight, so if I can get the baby to go to sleep early, I can have the whole night to myself!!! I might even have to bop down to my favorite little stamp store, and get myself something new since my FIRST CHECK from having some cards published arrived yesterday! I have told myself for the past few months since getting things picked up for publication, that I wouldn't spend any money on supplies until I actually saw the money! And it came! And now I can go spend it! Yay!

And I just have to say (again) that I have really enjoyed these challenges! They are so much fun for me, they have caused me to step out of my comfort zone a bit, which is great, and all the cards from the Girl Fridays, as well as all the cards made by all the wonderfully talented gals who play along each week are truly inspiring. It makes me want to try harder, craft more, and be the best that I can be, so thanks to all who participate as well as leave such encouraging, sweet comments for me, I truly appreciate it all!

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!

Buttons & Ribbon & Chipboard!

Yup, those were the three items I chose for this weeks CAS-ual Fridays challenge! The challenge was to play a tic-tac-toe of sorts and pick three items in a row that you see displayed below and create a card with them!I know that I have used this Medallion stamp on the last three cards I have made and posted here on the blog.....but I am just in love with it. On this card, I stamped it on some Inchies, which are 1 inch squares of cut mat board......that counts as chipboard, right? I then added some ribbon at the top with a button, and there ya have it, folks!

Sorry the picture is so poor, but I wanted to snap a picture tonight, and its dark out, so I had to settle for inside. Because, if I left it for tomorrow, who knows if it would get done. Life has been so incredibly busy with the end of the school year upon me, and all the kids' sports and activities coming to an end. It seems like I just don't have any spare time at all.....so I had to quickly take these few minutes tonight, and make this card and get it posted so I could be a part of this weeks challenge over at CAS-ual Fridays. I so missed playing along last week...

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!
Supplies:
Medallion Stamp by Impress
Baja Breeze card stock by SU,
Chocolate Chip Ink by SU,
Early Espresso 1/8" Taffeta ribbon by SU
White Inchies
Buttons by PTI
Corner Chomper

Tuesday Trigger: Take Two!

I made a second card yesterday for this weeks Tuesday Trigger over at Moxie Fab World. I made it while I was writing the post for the first card I made.

I was going to add it to the original post, but wanted to get a decent photo of it and it was kind of a gloomy rainy day, and I ended up running out of day......where does the time go?I used the same stamp as my first card,(love this stamp) but changed up how I used the colors and switched the sentiment and added a few different embellishments. I think I like this card better than the first one.

Today was the first day since the beginning of April that we have not had something going on. No soccer practice. No games. No Cub Scouts. No Track. No activities of any kind. So I'm going to keep this really short so I can go and enjoy the evening with all my boys!!!

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!

Supplies:

Chocolate Chip Card Stock by SU, Whisper White Ink by SU,

Doily Stamp by Impress, Sentiment by Savvy Stamps.

Ric Rac by May Arts, Pearls by K& Company

Tuesday Trigger: Neapolitan

My kids LOVE Neapolitan ice cream. Even better are the Neapolitan ice cream sandwiches. And I have fond memories of eating Neapolitan ice cream at my Grandmothers house when I would go and spend the night there on Friday nights as a child.

So I just had to play along with this weeks' Tuesday Trigger over at the Moxie Fab World! Isn't this picture just yummy?Here's the card I whipped up, being inspired by these wonderful colors!

Gonna keep this one short today....I'm trying to get a bunch of things done while the baby is sleeping!

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!

'Sew' Happy to make this Card!

I had just a second this morning to take a little peek around blog land, and came across the latest challenge over at the Moxie Fab Word: The I'm Sew Excited Challenge.

With all the craziness that I have been experiencing lately with the school year finishing up, I have not had as much time to craft as I have wanted. So I seized the opportunity this morning when the idea for this card popped into my head.

When I came across the challenge, I so wanted to play along, but among my enormous collection of stamps, I don't have any that have to do with sewing. I have had my eye on the Sew Lovely set from Lawn Fawn for a while, but in my efforts to try not to spend money on stamps or crafting supplies until I see the money from my upcoming to be published cards, I just haven't purchased it yet.

I did remember however, that I had a little mini deck of Cosmo Cricket's Material Girl paper, so I pulled that out, and put the card together! I can't believe I did not use a single stamp! Wow! I found some letter stickers from K & Company that I had lying around to make my sentiment, since again, I didn't have any stamps that would work exactly! Improvise, improvise, improvise! I then threw on some buttons and twine, and there ya have it!

Gonna get going now, the baby has been a bit cranky through my efforts of creating this card, so I'm going to go love on him, and encourage Sam to get dressed for school!

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!

Tuesday Trigger: Inspired by Pyrex

When I saw this picture for the Tuesday Trigger over at the Moxie Fab World, I immediately fell in love! The colors, the images, everything just stirred up emotions from my childhood! I so remember the patterned Pyrex bowls my mom had in our kitchen growing up! We didn't have this exact set, but we had ones with flowers and mushrooms.....totally 70's......totally cool!
Aren't these bowls just amazing? For a moment, I almost thought about collecting vintage Pyrex. In fact it lasted for more than just a moment! I found myself on a couple of different blogs, craigslist, and even eBay! Then I decided I don't have the time, money or space to have this addiction.....perhaps I'll have to claim it later in life!

Okay, so onto the card, or cards in this case! I just loved the colors in the trigger picture, and I also loved the images of the birds as well, and thought of this Unity stamp set that I have that I thought would be perfect! I made two different cards, and I posted them both because I just couldn't decide which one I liked best. The first one is more simple, but I am just in love with this cross hatch background stamp. I think I have used it on like 3 of the last 4 cards I have made!Do you have a favorite? Let me know, I would love to know what y'all think!

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!
Supplies:
White textured card stock by Bazzill. Whisper White smooth card stock by SU
Real Red and Tangerine Tango Ink by SU. Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black.
Crosshatch bkgrnd stamp by Impress, Bird stamps by Unity, Hello stamp by Savvystamps
Black hemp twine and rhinestones by SU, Corner Chomper

A Little Out of My Element

Hi everyone!

So I have to admit, that I am a little out of my element on this challenge. And in the past if I have come across a challenge that was out of my element, I just opted not to play!!! But I just am in love with this challenge, and all the lovely people who follow it, play along with it, as well as those Girl Fridays, that I had to give it a chance.

Graduation cards are not my strong suit. In fact, I think that this is the first one I have ever made. Can you believe it? I have no graduation stamps to speak of, so I had to completely improvise this one!! And this is how it turned out! One of my husbands' cousins is graduating from the University of Oregon next month......perhaps this card will have to go to her!!!

For the year '2011' in the circle, I just printed it out on some card stock from Word, since I didn't want to mess around with my number stamps, and I don't have any that are this small anyways! Then I stamped over the top of the numbers and punched it out with a circle punch, layered it on some card stock the same color of the ink, and then again on some AC glittered CS which was punched out with a scalloped circle punch. Stamped the cross-hatched bar across the card, the sentiment, and there ya have it!!!

Gonna keep this short, all my boys are watching MLS Soccer, and then we have the Mariners Baseball Game on Tivo to watch as well. Gonna go join them!

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!

Supplies:

White textured card stock by Bazzill. Soft Sky Card Stock by SU. American Crafts Glitter Card Stock

Certainly Celery, Soft Sky ink by SU. Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black.

Crosshatch bkgrnd stamp by Impress. Seeing Spots Stamp Set by SU

Rhinestones by SU

A Bit O' Bling and a Story

Oh, my do I have a story for you guys today! But first I will show you the card I made for this week's CAS-ual Friday Challenge!

I am hoping that this card is in fact CAS.....I got a bit scared as I was reading this weeks' challenge post over there at CAS-ual Fridays. I used my retro background basics stamp from PTI, and added some bling over the tiny circles in between the diamonds. Then I had to use one of my favorite leaves that I stamped on some textured card stock....sometimes I really like how the texture of the card stock comes out through the ink., and the sentiment also is one of my new favs. I think it's pretty clean and simple....hopefully the Girl Friday's will think so as well!

And now for the story:

So as many of you may know, today was the day that the acceptance emails went out from Paper Crafts Magazine for the 'A Card a Day 2012' publication. I submitted 26 cards this go around, the most I have ever submitted, and was sure that at least one would get picked up. Well this morning I checked FB, and saw that things were started, but had so much going on today, I couldn't just sit by the computer......flash to right after picking the boys up from school this afternoon, I came home and checked one more time. All the emails had been sent out, but there was no happy mail in my inbox. I went ahead and made a comment on Paper Craft's FB post congratulating everyone who had made it, and saying that I had submitted a boat load, but it wasn't my turn this go around.

After another hour or so of being outside with my kids, and over at the neighbor's house, I randomly came down and checked my email, and I COULD NOT BELIEVE MY EYES. There it was, an email from Susan that two of my cards had been picked up! I was so happy and so excited, and so feeling like I wish I wouldn't have eaten all that Belgian Chocolate in my moment of upset-ness. Then I went back to FB to make another comment and saw that Paper Crafts had posted on the feed that OOPS! Somehow they had missed me and that an email was coming my way! (I originally didn't see that in my inbox.....I had eyes only for the email from Susan!)

Well I am a bit happier than I was a few hours ago, and yet once again feel so blessed and honored to have my designs and creations on the pages among such talented women! It is truly an honor!!!

What a day it has been...actually it's been a really crazy past couple of days. Yesterday I had to trap a live mole that one of the cats decided to bring in the house!!!! And that was only the tip of the ice burg from yesterday!!! Ha! From card maker to exterminator(don't worry I set the little guy free outside!), my talents never cease!!!

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day.
Supplies

Chocolate Chip and Whisper White Textured Card Stock by Stampin UP

Chocolate Chip, Taken with Teal, and Old Olive Ink by Stampin UP

Background Basics Stamp set by Papertrey Ink, Best Wishes & More Stamp Set by Stampin UP, Thanks Stamp by Impress Rubber Stamps

Rhinestones by Stampin UP

Lawnscaping Challenge #10 - Polka Dots!

Here is the card I made for the latest Lawnscaping Challenge: Polka Dots. You can check it out here! My only problem, if you can call it a problem, is that I only own ONE Lawn Fawn stamp set. (And I bet y'all are getting sick of seeing me use the same set for these challenges!) I'm eagerly awaiting the upcoming release and want to acquire a few more sets!

In the meantime, for this card, I used the Happy Birthday sentiment from Bake Me a Cake. I used a polka dot background stamp from Savvystamps to make the present.
Gonna keep this short, I was up late last night submitting 26 cards to the latest Paper Crafts call. If you read my post from a few days ago, you know that I was having a tough couple days creating anything that I was happy with. Well, last night the stamping mojo sprung a leak from where ever it was hiding, and all these ideas popped into my head with like 38 minutes left before the submission deadline. So I was submitting cards online, while trying to stamp and create others.....all in all it turned out pretty well. Only two cards didn't make it to being submitted because the time ran out! Oh well, perhaps I'll post them in the next couple of days, or save them and see if they will fit another upcoming call!

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!
Supplies:
Whisper White and Pacific Point Card Stock by SU
Pacific Point and Tangerine Tango Ink by SU
Bake Me a Cake Stamp Set by Lawn Fawn,
Large Reverse Dot Background Stamp by Savvystamps
Tangerine Tango Striped Ribbon by SU
Rhinestones by SU
Dimensionals and Glue Dots

UGHHHHHH & Buttons & Twine, Oh My!

So it has been one of those days that we all have. Nothing is turning out right! I have been so uninspired by what I have been doing that the thought crossed my mind to just give it a rest for a while. Quit crafting. Uh-oh!

I can't tell you how many cards I have attempted today that I haven't even finished because when I get a good way through them, I just don't like what I see. Its like the paper just can't come close to what I see in my mind! Ever have one of these days?

I have a really tough time walking away from crafting on a bad note. I just have this yucky feeling with me until I create something that I am happy with. And so I have been down here in my crafting dungeon trying desperately to come up with something so that I can get some good sleep tonight(baby permitting)! And so I finally came up with this card. It's not my ultimate favorite, but I'm happy enough to put it here on my blog. And enter it into the CAS-ual Fridays Challenge. If you haven't checked out the CAS-ual Fridays Challenge blog, you definitely should. Especially this week. There are some entries over there that will blow you away! Super amazing cards!

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!

Supplies: Crumb Cake CS by SU. Blue Divine Twine. Vintage Buttons by PTI. Jute Twine by PTI. Chocolate Chip and Poppy Parade Ink by SU.

CAS-ual Fridays Challenge #2....Probably the Best that I Know of!

I don't know how many of you caught the line from Napoleon Dynamite in the title of my post, but I just have to say that I think the CAS-ual Fridays Challenge is in fact the best that I know of. What a great group of women these Girl Fridays are, and what a lovely bunch of all of you who stop by my blog here from the CAS-ual Friday Challenge Blog, and leave such wonderful comments! Its so great to be a part of something so fun and uplifting.

Sometimes for me in my crafting world, I can get quite discouraged. Either a card doesn't turn out the way I thought it would from the picture I had in my mind, or cards that I think are AMAZING don't get picked up for publication....what ever the reason, I have to say over the past week or so, I have really enjoyed all the sweet comments y'all have left me here! So Thanks! You all are the best that I know of. Okay, getting on with things. Here is the card I made for the buttons and twine challenge. If you have followed my blog for some time, you know that I had a little phase where I was a bit obsessed with party hats. Well, it's been a while since I made a card with a party hat and I thought this challenge would work well using one.

For the poof on the top of the hat I took some black 5/8" satin ribbon from SU, and cut into in like I was making grass out of card stock. Then I adhered it in a circular motion on a 1" circle I punched out of card stock. It's kind of a variation of a flower that Karen Baker made out of ribbon over on the May Arts Blog a while back. Anyway, I then added a vintage button from PTI, and tied some black Divine Twine around some Memory Box Patterned Paper that I made the hat out of. The birthday sentiment is from Impress Rubber Stamps and is stamped in Poppy Parade ink by SU!

I am now officially going to bed!

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!

Another CAS-ual Friday Text Challenge Card

So I'll start off with the disclaimer that I don't even know if I can enter more than one card in this challenge! I should probably go check and see.
I can't tell you all how excited I am that this challenge started. I first began my blog a little over two years ago because I wanted to finally enter some online challenges that I had been stalking for quite some time. For a while there, I was playing along with a number of different challenges, it seemed like there was a card to post each and everyday! But with the way life goes, most of the challenges I began with have either run their course, or I have played them enough, and so I was so happy that the CAS-ual Fridays challenge has been born! I guess what I am trying to say is that it was my love of challenges that got me started in the paper crafting blog world, and it feels good to sort of get back to my roots so to speak-get back to why I started doing this crazy blog thing in the first place.

I love challenges because they get my creative juices flowing and many times pull me out of my comfort zone. I never thought that 8 years ago when I began stamping that I would have ended up where I am. Stamping, blogging about the projects I have created, and even being able to have some of my work published has been an amazing journey, one that I hope continues for a long time to come. I am so humbled and honored to be rubbing shoulders (in an online way) with some truly talented and creative women. I feel even more humbled when people actually comment on my work. I do this first and foremost because I love stamp and create paper crafts, but I can't tell you how much all your comments and well wishes have meant to me.

Okay, I seriously did not mean to ramble on like that.....I don't know what got into me. With that said, here is the second card I made for the CAS-ual Fridays Text Challenge! This idea just popped into my head as I was coming home from taking Sam up to Kindergarten, and since Kellan went down for a nap, I had a chance to make this card!

The flower I stamped in Pink Pirouette ink, and then I inked up a French Script background stamp that I have with Baja Breeze Ink, and using the kissing technique, stamped the flower onto the background stamp to pick up the text over the pink, and then stamped it on the white card stock. Added a sentiment, a few little pearls, and slapped it on the card base. Couldn't be simpler than that! I have to say that I am really pleased with how it turned out with the text on the flower petals. Cuz you know, sometimes I get these crazy ideas that look real nice in my head, but don't work their way onto paper very well! I'm happy this one worked!

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!

Supplies:

Whisper White and Basic Black Card Stock by SU

Fabulous Flowers Set by SU. French Script Bkgrnd Stamp by SU, Think Big Favorites #2 by PTI

Pink Pirouette, Baja Breeze Ink by SU, Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black

Pearls by SU

Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger: Skirting the Issue!

I can't remember the last time I played along with Tuesday Trigger! It's been a while. And I must say that it was quite refreshing to make this card today! Last night was crazy for me trying to get all my cards submitted for the Nov/Dec Issue of Paper Crafts! I always tell myself I am going to submit the cards online as I make them, but it never happens....it seems like every Monday night deadline, here I am sitting at my computer until super late trying to get it all done!

Anyway, enough of that rambling! Like I said before, I really enjoyed making this card for the Tuesday Trigger Challenge over at the Moxie Fab World! You should check it out and play along if you get the chance!

Love all the spring colors in this skirt! I decided to go with the lines on the skirt and try to incorporate them into my card, and I knew exactly which stamp I wanted to use! So I grabbed a handful of ink pads that seemed to somewhat match the colors in the skirt, and in what felt like no time at all, the card was finished! Quite CAS, I must say! And I couldn't resist adding some little pearls around the sentiment, too!
Well, I'm happy I got a post in today! Didn't think that was going to happen! And now I am off to fold a few loads of laundry while Mr. Kellan is sleeping, and before I have to go pick up the other 3 boys from school! Cody has a soccer game tonight as well as Scouts, so I only have about another hour of peace before the craziness of my afternoon and evening begins!

Thanks for Stopping by and have a beautiful day!
Supplies:
Crumb Cake and Very Vanilla Card Stock by SU
Regal Rose, Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz, Pink Pirouette, Peach Parfait, and Chocolate Chip Ink by SU
Long Stripe w/Dot Border Stamp by Savvystamps. Hello Stamp by Impress
Pearls by SU, Old Olive Satin Ribbon by SU
Corner Chomper, Sponges for distressing

It's CAS-ual FRIDAY CHALLENGE at last!

I have been so excited for this challenge to begin, and today is the day! I should totally be working on all the 60 plants I still have to wrap up tonight for the final day of Staff Appreciation Week up at school, but I just couldn't resist. I guess it will just be a very late night.Here is the card I made using text. I used some patterned paper that had text on it from SU, I am too lazy right now to look up the name, but I used it with the Top Note Die. The I die cut the butterflies, and ran them through my Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder, added some rhinestones, and there you pretty much have it!

Sorry the picture is so poor. I wanted to get this posted tonight, and well, it's dark outside!

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!

Supplies:

Black, Peach Parfait, Concord Crush, Poppy Parade Card Stock by Su

First Edition PP by SU

Top Note Die, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Pear Pizazz Twill Ribbon by SU, Rhinestones, Dimensionals

A Spring Hello

Hi!

I just wanted to share a card I made that I did at my card class in April. I used this tree image from Taylored Expressions, and added some of the Sweet Pea Flowersoft. Love that stuff!!!I hope that I haven't posted this card here on my blog.....I don't think that I have, but I didn't take the time to check. I have been severely needing to get my card/craft blogging stuff organized. The way I have things now just isn't working. With all of the publication calls that I am trying to participate in, and all the other cards I'm making as well, it is tough for me to keep track of where they all belong. Which ones are for publication, which ones are just for my blog, which ones am I going to use to teach card class, which ones have been photographed, which haven't, which ones have been submitted, which ones haven't. I think you get my point. Right now, they are just sitting in random piles on my computer desk. Not really a good plan.

I told myself that I would get completely organized before I stamped anymore cards. But it's so tough. It seems like if I get a minute, I want to create something, not sit around and organize. Plus, it is staff appreciation week, and I am in charge of it at my boys' school, which is making me even busier this week. I have cards to make for teachers.....so I guess I'm going to have to stamp!!!

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!

A Quick Card for Lawnscaping Challenge #9

Hi!

I was just doing a little bit of blog hopping and saw that my friend Winter is the guest designer for May over at Lawnscaping!!! I am so happy for her! How exciting!

After seeing her post, I decided to play along! So here is just a quick card I whipped up for the latest Lawnscaping Challenge, which is all about celebrations. I know this card is super simple, and not really up to the caliber of what is submitted to this challenge, but I thought I would play along anyway! I added the little pearls to the cake in honor of the Royal Wedding this past week! They seemed to add that little bit of a distinguished touch to the cake, which jux opposes the crazy little sentiment!

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!

Supplies:
Crumb Cake and Whisper White Card Stock by SU
Bake Me a Cake and Party Hearty Stamps Sets by Lawn Fawn and SU
Basic Black ink by SU. Baja Breeze Stampin Write Marker, Copic Markers
Pearls by Stampin Up, 1/8 Taffeta Ribbon in Black by SU, Scallop Trim Border Punch by SU