A Cheap Hello.....

LOL!!!!!! I kill myself with these titles sometimes!!!!! And then there are times when I can't think of a witty thing for a title.....Isn't this bird from cheap talk the cutest thing??? I luv it!

I will try to come back later and add the deets....but I am "on a time schedule today," as I would tell my daughter.....lol!

I am so sorry I have been a bad blogger lately...I promise to get back on the saddle real soon and get back to the regular show already in progress......

Retired on Earth Day

Happy Earth Day everyone!!!

In honor of Earth Day, I decided that I would use retired goodies instead of letting them sit. I have a tendency to do that.....I buy a ton of accessories...cause I luv 'em, right?.....and then once they retire, I look at them as unwanted step children! How could I do that to my stash???? One button should not feel any less worthy just because it can't be bought anymore....as a matter of fact, it is a hotter commodity, right??? Just ask the delinquents that spend several hundred thousands of dollars on a mustang that they could have bought for a few thousand when it was first produced at the Barrett Jackson auction. Does you hubbies watch that program??? Mine does on occasion...but seriously people......come on!!

Anyway....got a little off track there, huh? One might say I have issues......well, more than one! lol!!!

Here is my card for the day....the designer series paper is retired, the eyelets are retired, the button is retired....but the kiwi kiss, chocolate chip and whisper white card stock are current.....and trendy trees....does it get any more current than that!?!??!?!?! LOL!!!

I will be sending this out to a friend that lives in the DC area....I haven't talked to her in a while and I decided not to just drop in with an email......I want to start getting more personal by sending my hand made cards.

Got Mojo?

lol!

Make sure you scroll down for another post for today.....I am posting two for you today :)

This card is for two challenges.....today's color challenge - basic grey, pink pirouette and regal rose - as well as yesterday's mojo monday sketch. I was away all day yesterday, so I didn't get to stamp at all yesterday :(

I first have to say that I love this card....I did change the sketch a bit. I moved the sentiment over and I didn't put anything in the place of the butterfly in the corner...I just couldn't get anything to look "right." Does that happen to you? So....I left that element out....I hope it doesn't break any big rules..... :) The base (5 inch square card) is basic grey. All edges were sponged with basic grey as well. The background panel is regal rose that I stamped the damask image from friends 24-7 all over, using my stamp a ma jig. The horizontal panel is whisper white that I punched the edge with my scallop edge punch and then used the stamp a ma jig to align the stamp from all scallops in basic grey. I love how it fits right in the scallop punch!!!! The middle of that is basic grey. I then tied a bow around that panel with white organdy ribbon. It was adhered over the smaller background panel. It is whisper white stamped with upsy daisy in pink pirouette, matted with basic grey. The main image panel was stamped with upsy daisy in pink pirouette and regal rose. I then took my two way glue pen and added some dazzling diamonds accents. It was matted with regal rose and mounted on stampin' dimensionals.
The sentiment is from upsy daisy, stamped in regal rose with the damask stamp in pink pirouette. I punched it with the wide oval punch and adhered it with stampin dimensionals.

Now the inside.....I had to do the inside.....

The stamping is pretty straight forward.

What do you think? I absolutely love this card!!! (not to toot my own horn...... {blush} ) I hope you do too!

Rockin' Daisies!!!!!

HI everyone!!

Here is a card I made over the weekend for a design team call of "the" Lauren Meader. She is amazingly talented and she is looking for a design team to do her weekly challenges. She gave three sketches, and rockin' daisies came to my mind right away with the circle in the middle!! There is barely any stamping on this card....one sentiment to be exact...but it sure does show my love for dimension!

What do you think? I absolutely love the rockibility designer series paper! And the new brads??? What is not to love? And that daisy die......I can't seem to get enough of it! The sentiment is from on your birthday.

here is a shot of the rockin' daisy:

Oh yeah.....I did the inside too...sorry the picture is blurry. For some reason I couldn't get a focused picture of the inside. ARGH!!!!

I didn't put a sentiment inside....because we could celebrate a number of things. When I put this card to use, I will appropriately stamp the inside.

This is a very "clean lined" card....not really my usual style, but I am trying to make my projects diverse...I don't want them all to start looking alike.

Do you like it? I really do....for a "clean lined"card. :)

Monday and Friday's challenges on Saturday???

HI stampers!! It felt sooooo good to get into my studio this afternoon. Hubby came home from work, mowed the grass and he and the little one are outside for play time so mommy can have some playtime!!! Truth be told, I was actually "working....." I have two water color workshops coming up this week...and I had to watercolor, right????? HEY! That is my story and I am sticking to it!!!!

So, when my water coloring was done for class I figured....hey, why not get caught up on some things that I needed, well....wanted, to do for this past week. My hubby's birthday is next Friday and I wanted to crank him out a card. Sure, I have masculine samples in my box....tons of regular birthday samples......I could have taken one of those out.....but what would I have stamped today???? I have more excuses to stamp than anyone I know.

Truth is, I need to create. It makes me feel so good. Creating is something that is all mine. Not to sound like a selfish brat....but I kind of lost "myself" when I quit my job to stay at home to raise our little one. I am not complaining at all.....I would not want it any other way...and I know that there are many moms that would love to be in my position....but I still need "my thing." You know?

Anyway....I am rather chatty today. huh? Sorry...it is probably the morning filled with Handy Manny and singing along to an Alvin and the Chipmunk sing along movie with my little one. I keep telling myself to slow down and enjoy her.....before I know it she will be singing songs with her friends all holed up in their bedrooms practicing their make up applying skills and giggling about boys. Oh my...just to type that out makes me well up.....

Oh...off track again, huh? LOL!!!!

Anyway....I made a card today to combine two challenges. Monday's mojo challenge and Friday's blogger challenge.

When I sat down to stamp....this card wasn't what I had envisioned at all. I wanted to use two of the FREE stamps that Stampin' Up is giving away this month with the Get Connected Campaign, and I only ended up using one....texturz plates were flyin', brayers were a rollin', and accessories were jumpin' around.....

Here is the mojo monday challenge:

Blogger's challenge was a color challenge this week. We were to use sahara sand, always artichoke, chocolate chip, and sage shadow. Now, mind you I would have never put these colors together myself. The chocolate, sahara and one of the greens...yes, but not two.... Now I want all of you to turn to page 158 in your Stampin' bible.....Yes, that is your current Idea Book and Catalog. See the colors of the To the Nines Specialty designer series paper?????? Exactly what we were to use. Genius!!! I have been telling my club ladies to turn to these designer series color schemes. I get so many compliments on the colors I put together....and you know what??? I don't put them together...I let Stampin' Up do all of the work....that is what I LOVE about our catties. They are so much more than a place that merchandise is for sale from.....I use mine for alot of inspiration.

Ready to finally see the card??????

The base is sahara sand. The background panel is always artichoke ran through the big shot with stampin' up's exclusive texturz plates. LOVE that...but I wanted to add more to it....so I took out my brayer and went to town with chocolate chip ink. me like :) I tore the bottom edge instead of scalloping...doubt my hubby wanted scallops..... And then layered it with a mat of chocolate chip. Did you see my ribbon treatment??? It is the double stitched chocolate chip ribbon.....I pulled out the white stitches....luv it! And then my corduroy buttons.....did you see 'em???? Double stacked!!! Oh my!!!! Kraft on chip.....how darling!!! I mean, masculine!!!! The kraft buttons go very well with sahara sand as well as kraft. That is double dippin' in my eyes as far as accessories go!

My sentiment, birthday wish on page 208, was double stamped with always artichoke and sage shadow. I really love sage shadow, but I really thought that one main green was enough...I left sage to be a supporting green....lol! Maybe they are up for emmy awards.....main character and supporting character....Oh my....I need caffeine! The brads in the main image panel is from vintage brads. I used my matt pack and piercer to place the holes for them. That panel is mounted up on stampin' dimensionals.

What do you think? Think my hubby will like it? I will tell him that he should feel good about getting two of my corduroy buttons......I mean there are two of them, people?!?!?!??!?!

Soft Summer, will you please......

.....bring a soft spring? Not a muddy Spring! lol! Here in western PA, it is so dreary....I would love to curl up on the couch with a heavy blanket and a chic flick. Do you think my little one will cooperate???? That is a no-brainer....NO! lol!

Anyway.....I pulled out my Soft Summer set this morning to do a little water coloring. If you signed up for my watercolor workshop, you will be getting this set as a part of your registration fee.....so hopefully this is some inspiration for you! :) I am going to try to come up with a gift to coordinate with this card....so when (if - let's be real here) that comes to fruition, I'll be sure to show you!

I don't know why the colors look so vibrant in the picture...it is softer in real life. WHY CAN"T I TAKE A DECENT PICTURE OF MY CARDS!??!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!

The branches were stamped on the main image base, which is water color paper. And I then stamped them again on another piece of watercolor paper. I colored the entire image with watercolor crayons, a blender pen and an aquapainter. Then, I colored the flowers and leaves on the second set the same way. I cut out the leaves and flowers of the second set to adhere to my main image. The leaves were adhered with tombo mono multi glue. The water color paper just adhered to water color paper gives a soft dimension....especially paired with other things adhered with stampin' dimensionals, I think....for what I know. So the flowers were adhered with dimensionals.

This is why it is important to color the entire image when you are going to adhere flowers on dimensionals:

You wouldn't want someone to tilt the card and see plain white flowers under that dimension, would you???? I didn't think so :)

The card stock I used was chocolate chip, ruby red, cameo coral and the designer series paper is raspberry tart.

What do you think?

ok.....my creative "time out" is over....i hope!!!

HI all!



I put my self on a creative "time out." I am down to the wire here for filing taxes.....so I told myself at the end of last week that I wasn't allowed in my studio (unless it is to clean or organize.....and BELIEVE me...it needs it!) until my taxes were filed.....argh!!!!!



So, this morning.....

whooohooooo!!!!! Now if the mountain of laundry were done.......LOL!!!!!

I will be doing my best to get something new done and posted for you soon......I NEED to......

Monday's Mojo came a little late :)

I printed out the monday mojo sketch challenge on Monday....but I couldn't get to it until last night when the hubby was supervising a bath for our little one....and let me tell you....I needed some fun stamp time! lol!

I had all the stuff out from yesterday's flower pot card....card stock...designer series paper....ink....accessories....extra flower die cuts....you get the picture.....I put nothing away since the last project. I loved the colors so much that I decided to use them again, as well as my friends 24-7 set that was still out :) Have I intrigued you????
The parisian breeze specialty designer series paper is so beautiful.....if you haven't bought yourself a pack...get with it....you will not be able to stand it until you do :)

I have to be super quick today....I have tons of stuff to do. (don't we all?) I colored the images with a blender pen and ink refills. I used the color spritzer on both images. I absolutely love the die cut flowers! (if you haven't seen yesterday's pot of posie post - be sure to scroll down. {please} lol!) I did add velum card stock leaves from the little leaves die.

Look at the dimension this baby has.....i {luv} dimension.....if you couldn't tell. ;)

And I even had time to whip up an inside. I left it blank....This will go to someone special...that's for sure...but I'm not sure what occasion. Maybe a Mother's Day for one of my Grandmas??? Hmmm....What do you think?

I have planted a pot of posies!!!!

Now if you know me personally......you know I did NOT plant real posies in dirt....I would not be able to keep them alive....and if you are familiar with the color wheel....I have a "red thumb." (red is the complete opposite of green on the wheel.....it would neutralize it to brown....hence dead plant! LOL!!!!) But.....I did plant a pot of paper posies! Wanna see them???

Aren't they gorgeous!??!?!!? If I may say so myself? I can't go into extreme detail of each flower...but I will list the dies that I used in the big shot then I'm sure the light bulb will go off for all of you :)

flower, daisies #2, flower layers, Stampin' Up little leaves sizzlet, Stampin' Up! birds & blooms sizzlet

The flower centers use various accessories from kraft corduroy buttons, baja breeze corduroy buttons, latte buttons and button bouquet. The buttons are stitched through all the layers of flowers with linen thread.

One more thing about die cut flowers, well...die cut lots of things....

If you are afraid to wrinkle up your paper or card stock a little bit....YOU ARE MISSING THE BOAT HERE!!!! Imagine how flat this would have been if I were afraid of a little manipulation of card stock?!?!??!?!

I embossed the pot (except the rim) with the Stampin' up! backgrounds #1 texturz plates and then sponged over it and all edges of the pot to highlight it's dimension. It is so hard to capture that on camera....but trust me, it's there :) I punched the edge of the pot rim with my scalloped edge punch....still lovin' it!

My tag was inked with a close to cocoa stampin write marker, omitting the flourishes on the stamp from all holidays. I then stamped the flower branch from friends 24-7 in close to cocoa over it that had been stamped off several times. It tied around the bow with linen thread. Did you get a glance of that bow????? I love this ribbon!!! It is satin baja breeze ribbon from the valet ribbon originals. It is pure heaven to work with....way to go Stampin' Up! :)

Oh yeah...I forgot to tell you all of the card stock that was involved here.. :) close to cocoa, very vanilla, baja breeze, old olive, parisian breeze specialty

Here is a shot of the card open.....I left it blank, I want to be able to write a personalized message here.

I really love this card...if you do too, please leave me some love - I am a comment junkie :)

It's all about texture, baby!

I have been having a swell time with my big shot and all the new texture plates and the brand new manhattan flowers texture folder!!! Unfortunately, this time it was for a sympathy card.

The card base is pink pirouette. The rose texture is from running a piece of vellum card stock through the big shot with the manhattan texture folder...let me tell you ...in real life it is so cool! I then stamped my sentiment from thoughts and prayers and embossed with white embossing powder. Then, it was matted onto a layer of regal rose with pink brads from the soft subtle brads. I tied a bow across the top with the white organdy ribbon - that ribbon is so luxurious!!! Speaking of luxurious....have you seen the new white satin ribbon in the Occasions mini???? OH MY..........

Maybe this angle will show you more of the texture:

And, of course, I had to embellish the inside as well. I punched a strip of regal rose with the eyelet punch to line the horizontal panel of pink pirouette. The base for the inside is whisper white. I stamped two roses from fifth avenue floral in pink pirouette and the sentiment, from thoughts and prayers, in regal rose.

I actually made this card over a week ago.....I am not going to get any "fresh" stamping in today. This morning, when I usually try to crank something new out, my daughter just wanted me to play. Nothing big...just play...so I did. (she promised me kisses.....what could I do?) We did what ever she wanted to do....and I will tell you, that doesn't happen near enough. I always catch myself saying...later...after I do..."whatever....fill in the blank..." And then after a whole morning of saying that to her...I think she loses interest in me. So today...I thought...you know what....we are going to play! We worked on laundry in between our playing and she loves to help me put the clothes in the dryer, push the button, put the dryer sheet in, put the fabric softener ball in the washer.....so to her that was even a treat. Oh well...enough of my rambling! I had F.U.N. with her this morning....did I mention I had music playing through the computer and we even danced - cheek to cheek!

Anyway...if you are still reading, you are a dear! lol!

Happy Stampin'!

Oh how I long to see my dogwood tree in bloom.....

I planted a dogwood tree several years ago and it didn't bloom until about two years ago. I look forward to it blooming now. Anyway...when I saw the Soft Summer stamp set in the occasions mini catalog...I HAD TO HAVE IT!!!!! I think it is the perfect set to have my water coloring workshop with.

Here is my little beauty for the day:

For the first time, in I think - ever - I did not have a color scheme in mind before I started cutting and stamping away. I stamped the dogwood branch from soft summer and started water coloring away! It led me to my card stock and designer series paper choices. How is that for a "type A" letting things roll?!??!?!?

Anyway....I stamped the branch twice..once for the card and once for the dimension. I cut out the second set of flowers and adhered them down with stampin' dimensionals. The leaves, I cut out and just adhered down with SNAIL adhesive. The watercolor paper is nice and thick, so a layer of it lends itself to a little dimension.

The designer series paper is from candy lane...had it out from yesterday and I thought....ooo...how pretty would this be? My buttons are form bouquet button collection. I actually stitched them on with linen thread right to the card stock. The ribbon is 1/4 inch chocolate chip grosgrain and the snippet of saffron ribbon is the saffron poly twill ribbon in the catalog.

What do you think? I had so much fun coloring this baby!