Another Sympathy Card...

I should never have ordered the In Loving Memory set from Little Paper Shop! (They were on sale, and I wanted to have them on hand) I have cursed myself, and the set is not even here yet. I got news this morning that my Step-Father's sister passed away yesterday. It was not entirely unexpected, as she has suffered from complications of obesity for years, and was completely unwilling to change her lifestyle. However, in the past 5 years, my Step-Father has lost his mother, a brother, now a sister, so my heart goes out to him.
This card came together from a new set I won from Joanne. They are Clear Art Stamps from Crafty Secrets, called Wildflowers. It also emcompasses Sharon's No Time to Stamp? challenge of black and white plus one. The plus one is True Thyme, partially because I really like that color and partially because I could not find any Kraft scraps near the top of my pile. The sentiment is SU! So Many Sayings, applied with the Stamp-a-ma-jig. I used Brilliance Moonlight White for the flowers and accented them with my Spica glitter pen, and a touch of the Glaze Pen.

The corners of the main panel have been altered with the Ticket Corner Punch, and I added a dot of Black Glaze Pen for accent. The ribbon is gorgeous May Arts silk ribbon that I got long ago from Verve Visual.

Can you believe tomorrow is June 1st? Yikes!! I hope you are all ready for summer! Thanks for looking.

CPS 66 - Summer!

Last week, Cindy sent me this adorable summer paper from the Paper Patch. The patterns are Sunshines and Aqua Summer Plaid. When I saw the CPS sketch for the week, I knew I wanted to use these papers to celebrate summer. I used my Curvy Cutter to make the circle card from Marigold Morning cs. Then I used my Nestabilities to make a scalloped circle of each pattern, and cut them in half to mount them on the card. The larger aqua circle is a piece of scrap puched with the Marvy Giga Scallop Circle punch, and the small scallop with the image is cut from my Nestabilities. I sponged the edges of the small scalloped circle with Marigold Morning ink, then used an aqua gel pen to make the dots in the scallops. The stamp is from A Little Love and I added bling to the flip-flops with rhinestones. To make the piercing on the aqua scallop stand out, I outlined them with a white gel pen. On the patterned scallop, the piercings are outline with my Spica Glitter pen. The ribbon is from Target and I used Yellow Stickles in the centers of the suns on the ribbon. Fun and summery, no?

Thanks for looking!

Sympathy Card

Last week, one of DH's colleagues unexpectedly lost his mother. It was very sad, she went from the picture of health to having a brain hemmorage that proved fatal. DH asked me to make a card for his team to sign and send along to the family.

I have avoided adding Sympathy sets to my collection, because I don't like to have to send Sympathy cards. However, it is unavoidable and I created this simple card from Filigree Fantasy by Verve Visual. I used Close to Cocoa ink on the vanilla base card, layered with panels of chocolate and blue. The sentiment is from a set that I don't have the name for, but it has many sayings that can be used for multiple occasions. I went over the sentiment and some of the swirls with my glaze pen, and added a simple knot in the chocolate satin ribbon. It seems to me that a sympathy card should be understated, and I hope our thoughts helped them through this difficult time.

thanks for looking!

Mixing It Up

Today's Try a New Technique challenge at Splitcoast was to choose one each of the first ten color challenges, sketch challenges, and technique challenges and create something new. I chose Color Combination 02, which was Ruby Red, Barely Banana, and Not Quite Navy. The technique I chose was TLC01, Kissing; and the Sketch was #10. Since my hair dresser is having a baby soon, I thought I would make a card for her. Toy Box was a natural pick, as she is having a boy and already hoping he is sports-minded. The background paper was done with Linen BG and kissed with the star from Toy Box. The sentiment is from So Many Sayings and punched with the Word Window Punch. The stars on the bottom are popped up. I hope you all had an enjoyable weekend. Back to the grind for us tomorrow, but we did have an awesome weekend filled with a 7.5 mile training walk for me, outdoor play, and a trip to the craft store. Thanks for looking!

Taylor's Cupcake Challenge #17!

I just love the sketch Taylor posted this week for the Cupcake Challenge, #17. Here's what I had in my mind, that actually made it onto paper today. My card is full of cupcakes, and I am very pleased with it.

I used Cuppacakeabella, an image I got from my SBS Sister Rachel. Don't you just love this Bella? She was tons of fun to color, and I used my Prismacolors and blended with OMS. The sentiment, the cupcake stamps on the side and the shadow under the main cupcake are from MFT, Icing on the Cake. The sprinkles on the cupcakes is the tiny flower stamp from Verve Visual's Floral Whimsy. The dp is Miss Elizabeth's from the dollar store and the panels are mounted on yellow and purple scraps. The small cupcakes are cut and mounted on pop-dots and have red rhinestones for cherries. The large cupcake has red Stickles for a cherry, and a stem drawn with a black glaze pen. The ribbon is from the craft store and I paper pierced the white panels to dress them up a bit.

I hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend - one more day to go! DH left for Europe on business today, so it's just me and DS for the week again. Let's hope he cooperates better than last time! Thanks for looking!

CPS 65 and A Big OOPS!

So I worked for about an hour on this card, piecing it together, deciding on colors, etc. I'm not a fast stamper. Once in a while a card comes together quickly, but most of the time it takes me ages to create one card. That's why I love Sheetload of Cards so much - most of the thinking is done for me (i.e. measurements, how many layers). I should rename my blog The Pokey Stamper or something like that.

Anyway, tonight I wanted to tackle the CPS sketch of the week. I chose SU! Basic Gray as a base, and I had some Soft Sky scraps on my table. I also had this yellow scrap laying around, so used that as well. The stamps are all Filigree Fantasy by Verve Visual. I am loving this set, as well as the new floral sets, so you'll be seeing them a lot in the next couple of days! The ribbon is SU! Basic Gray Taffeta. The flowers in the centers of the filigree are mini Primas. They are so tiny, I love them, too. They are attached with Queen and Co Mini Sprinkles brads. Under the yellow flower is a paper pieced flower from Verve Visual Petals and Stems. The sentiment is from Fluttering By (also Verve Visual).

Overall, I was very pleased with this card. Until I attached the final bit and discovered that it is *backwards*!! Yes, it opens on the left instead of the right. DH joked that I can give it to my left-handed mother. Of course I used super strong ZOTs to adhere it, so there is no taking it apart without tearing the paper. I may just cut off the front and mount it onto another base. Any suggestions?

I MUST mention that today I got the best Happy Mail package from Cindy at Creating with the Heart. We all know Cindy for her generous weekly blog candy, but I know her from Grad School (I won't say how many years ago now). We met again through blogging and she sent me the most outrageously generous package today, filled with paper, Cuttlebug dies and embossing folders, stamps, punches, tags, stickers, etc! I was thrilled. She is expecting a baby girl in the next few weeks, so go by her blog and give her some kind words while you check out her great creations.

Thanks for looking!

Psst...Wanna Make a Sheetload?

Of cards, that is. I find myself returning to Sheetload of Cards on Sundays when I finally get time to stamp and want to produce a bunch of cards in one sitting. This week, I toured the archives and used the January 2008 template to make 9 of these:

Yes, 9 cards in one sitting! From only a few sheets of paper! The dp is from CTMH, the ribbon is from the craft store. I used Liquid Pearls in the corners of the image, which is from MFT. It's a great way to use your stash of DP. And just think, the more you use, the more you can buy. I know we are all in that habit of hoarding *something.* For me, it's ribbons and dp. Oh, and Primas and brads, too.

I have been receiving lots of donations in the mail for my Avon Walk For Breast Cancer and I needed a bunch of Thank You cards. This template from Sheetload fit the bill, and I will be making more this week! Go check them out and make your own Sheetload of Cards!

Thanks for looking!

I Am Smitten...

...With the new Verve Visual stamp sets! I splurged on Friday and bought the entire May Flowers package. It arrived today - how fast is that? Utah to New Jersey over the weekend!! Julee Rocks!

They are gorgeous, and stamp an image so smoothly, I am so happy with that splurge purchase. I used them immediately to tackle the Try a New Technique Challenge at Splitcoast, which was to make a double pocket bag. I will definitely be making more of these, and also making some little notecards to tuck inside this one. That will have to wait till tomorrow night, though.

For today's bag, I used some CTMH paper that was in my stash. The stamps are from the Floral Whimsy set from Verve. I used my glaze pen over the word "beauty" in the sentiment, and my Spica glitter pen over the flowers. I stamped the vase twice, once on the paper and once to cut and mount over the ribbon. Ink colors are Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron and Cameo Coral. Ribbon is grosgrain from Ribbons and Bows, Oh My. Below are close ups of the sentiment and the flowers.

Have a good night, and thanks for looking!

Has It Really Been A Week?

Since I last posted? Yikes! I don't know what happened to this past week. I feel like I had a dark cloud over my head that followed me from day to day. Thank goodness it's gone now and we are enjoying a busy weekend! The weather is gorgeous (although clouds are rolling in as I write this), and we are off to our 2nd birthday party of the weekend later.

Perhaps my Sundays should be called Sheetload Sundays from now on. I am working on another pile of cards for Thanks Yous to all who have donated so far to my Avon Walk for Breast Cancer fundraising. Picture of those will be posted later - I'm waiting for the Liquid Pearls to dry.

Meanwhile, here is a card for DH's cousin who is graduating from high school next weekend. I wanted a masculine card that incorporated his school colors. This is what I came up with, and I like the simple style of it. I used the Crosshatch background in red and black ink. The large black panel is a piece of corrugated paper, and the sentiment is from SU! Favorite Greetings. The ribbon is SU! Striped Grosgrain. Easy peasy and fits the bill. Now I just have to write him a check and get the card in the mail and I'm ahead of the game...

I hope you all are enjoying the weekend. Just think, those in the States - only 6 days till a long weekend :) Thanks for looking!

Sheetload of Cards!

This month's Sheetload of Cards is a great, universal layout. Go check it out HERE. I took some liberty and changed up the sketch for each card just a bit. But it was a successful day of producing 8 cards that I can use for any occasion!

I hope the photos are OK. It is dark and gloomy here and not the best day for photography.

As I was looking through my stash of embellishments last week, I came across this sheet of cardstock stickers by Fiskars. The pattern is Heidi Grace Wild Daisy Lane. Now, I thought, that pattern looks familiar. Why? Because I had the papers in my paper stash, that's why! So that's the paper I used also, Wild Daisy Road by Heidi Grace. Seriously, they have both been in my stash for about a year and I just made the connection. You may even recognize it from the double-pocket card I made a while ago. Sometimes I'm a little slow...

For this batch, I used a combination of Studio G dollar stamps, SU! All Year Cheer, Love Without End, and Best Blossoms. Embellies include the stickers, round and square snaps, Primas and brads, along with thin twine. I think I'm going to make another Sheetload and make a batch of Father's Day cards, and another for kids' birthday cards. It feels so good to crank out a whole collection of cards in one day, rather than the usual 2-3 I get to in a week.

Ok, time to cook dinner before DH and DS get home. I'll hopefully get some more time in my stamp room tonight, but I have a headache starting, so might veg on the couch instead. Thanks for looking!

Today, It's Just Me and My Stamps!

DH's gift to me today was the opportunity to use my day as I wish. He has already taken DS to the park, gotten him lunch, and put him down for a nap. Between laundry and a shower, here's what I've produced so far on my day off.

Each Friday, Taylor posts a sketch for her Cupcake Challenge. Each Friday, I print them off. Each week, they get pushed aside as other things come up. Today's the day I pulled her challenge from the pile and completed it! Yeah, me :)

I used the Hugs and Kisses set from Kim Hughes, available from Cornish Heritage Farms. I am saving my allowance this month to make a big purchase of some backgrounders from CHF. The hardest part is deciding which ones to make mine, they have SO many great ones! The strawberries are covered in red stickles. The papers are CTMH on a Certainly Celery base. The other panels are from my scrap pile. I used the new SU! twill that I have received in RAKs recently, and used my Crop-a-Dile to put the holes in the scallops, which were made using a corner rounder punch.

Have a great Sunday! Thanks for looking!

No Stamping? No Problem!

Another challenge completed for this week! I'm on a roll...

The Limited Supply Challenge at SCS was to make a card with no stamping involved. Since I still had some Berry Bliss paper out on my desk, that's what I grabbed. The center is punched with the Giga scalloped oval, then I cut a white oval with my Curvy Cutter and added a "Thanks" sticker. The flowers are primas, and the center is a pewter brad from Making Memories. The pink striped ribbon was also out on my desk. I have a ton of it and don't even remember where it came from. I ran it through a We R Memory Keepers buckle.

Well, I'm off to the craft store to make an exchange. I bought some Basic Grey Magnetic Snaps and one is missing from the package. The only silver lining about driving there is that I get to use another 50% off coupon...

Tonight, and tomorrow, I plan on making some cards in colors other than PINK! I'm tired of seeing pink. Time to clean off my desk and start from scratch. Wishing all of you Mothers out there a Happy Mother's Day! May you be spoiled and treated to stamp time :)

Thanks for looking!

Chippy Frames

DS was content to "be busy" with me in the craft room yesterday, and I was able to complet the Ways To Use It challenge on SCS. It was to use chipboard on a project. I got these very cute letters from Teri a while ago and have been wanting to use them. Yesterday was the day the lightbulb went on over my head and out came these IKEA picture frames!

I made one frame each for our nieces, who live in AZ. They are girly-girls and I think they will like them. I used Berry Bliss dp from SU! and added some ribbons and primas for a bit of decoration. Can I say how much I LOVE Mod Podge??? Every time I use it, I am amazed at how that stuff sticks. These letters are not falling off the frames! It's hard to see the pink pattern in the photo. It's been raining here and the lighting was not great in my craft room last night.As I was cruising around the web today, I spotted the Scotch ATG gun at Overstock.com for $49.99 with $2.95 shipping. Has anyone purchased from them? I'd like to hear some feedback before placing an order. They also had a bunch of Nestabilities listed, who knows if they're actually in stock or will be backordered.

Tonight, I am babysitting my girlfriend's daughter, and will be alone with her and my DS. Hopefully they will cooperate at bedtime and I will get to play some more. If not, I will have to wait until Sunday, when the boys give me some quiet time to craft. I've been in a pink rut lately, and have to use more colors before you all get sick of seeing it! We have some birthdays and my brother and SIL are celebrating 15 years of marriage next month. I'll see what I can come up with for them. I might just have to go to IKEA to get more frames, too :)

Hope you all have a nice Friday! Thanks for looking!

Well, I Thought I Was Ahead of Myself...

I thought I would take advantage of being home with a sick DS today and get the SCS challenge completed on the day it was posted. Today is Thursday, which is a Ways to Use It challenge. I went onto the forum and the first one I saw as a monochromatic challenge. Only after finishing it and getting ready to post, I saw that this was NOT today's challenge! I didn't pay attention to the number sequence, and completed this challenge from December 2007. Oops :)So, there you have it, I'm not ahead of the game after all. Today's *actual* challenge is to use chipboard. I will tackle that later. Meanwhile, though, I DID use the Techno Stamper Lunchtime Sketch Challenge for this week, so all is not lost. I really like how this card came out. DP is Miss Elizabeth's, on a black base. The pinks for sentiment and image are scraps and ink colors are Basic Black and Rouge Colorbox Cat's Eye. I used my black and clear glaze pens to outline the flowers and color in the centers, just to give them a bit more dimension. I also used the black glaze pen to draw the line between the two pink panels. The image is from Best Blossoms and the sentiment is Quick & Cute, both SU! Rick Rack is from my stash.

Here's a close-up of the flowers.

Thanks for looking!

I Stink You're Sweet!

Today is the first day I've been able to spend any time in my stamp room. It's only because I picked up DS from preschool and he didn't want dinner, or stories. Just wanted to go to bed. NOT a good sign - he has a slight fever and is complaining that his belly hurts. Of course, DH is out of town and we will probably be having a "home day" tomorrow. I'm just hoping there's no vomiting on the horizon...

My SIL had a Stampin' UP party, and even though I couldn't attend, I did send her an order. I finally got Pun Fun and some cardstock. I was able to cut the stamps and mount them the other night while watching tv. Tonight I put these two quick cards together. The image is stamped in Staz-On and watercolored with the SCS color combo this week. My Lovely Lilac is very dark, and using the watercolor pen turned it almost blue. The skunk's stripe is Certainly Celery, and the flower is Pretty in Pink. Both cards are mounted on Certainly Celery bases, and the dp is CTMH and Making Memories (Stardust Flowers Purple) from YEARS ago. The other layers are scraps I had in my pile.

I try to use the scrap pile for each card I make lately, so I can avoid using full sheets of paper. (I would say so that I won't have to buy more for a long time, but that would be a lie.) I was at the dollar store just today and picked up a few packs of Miss Elizabeth's dp!

The sketch I used is TechnoStamper's Lunchtime Sketch Challenge, for week 15.

Here's hoping all my readers are healthy! I am planning on spending Mother's Day holed up in my stamp room, so will be posting again soon. Have a good rest of the week. Thanks for looking!