Hung by the chimney with BLING!!!

HI All!!!

I checked out the Create with Connie and Mary challenge yesterday - it was a sketch challenge - yummy!  Now -  a little background on me with challenges.  I usually let my mind "sit" ona challenge for a few hours (or days) to get my idea rolling......but when I saw the sketch for this week - I immediately knew what I wanted to do......but I didn't want to jump right in head first....I needed to ponder it a while to make sure i didnt' change my mind.  WELL - there was no other thought for me.....I HAD to execute what my inital vision was.  I had to......

Do you want to see the sketch???  I bet you do......

Well - what do you see? 
ALL I could see was rotating that sketch and a fireplace is born.......I couldn't get it out of my head......Wanna see what I did with my vision?

Yes......everyone of those bricks were cut and sponged - with three colors - lol!!!  I put them on a river rock base to imitate mortor.  See?

But - let's move to the fore front, shall we?  Those adorable stockings are a HUGE sneak peek item in the holiday mini catalog - which is 43 pages of  creative heaven.........{{sigh}}.
The stamp set is Stitched Stockings.....and there is a coordinating punch - Stocking Builder Punch - LOVE it!!!  Check them out - a little closer ;)

The one on the left was stamped with poppy parade.  The cuff, toe and heel were punched with the BRAND NEW silver glimmer paper - aahhhhhh........  :)  The middle stocking was stamped with baja breeze.  It was blinged up by adding small adhesive rhinestones and - did you see it?????  NEW BLING BABY - Dazzling Details......dazzling diamonds meets glittler glue........Oh yeah - that's right!!  Now onto stocking number three.  It was stamped with lucky limeade.  The toe and heel are poppy parade covered with that new dazzling details glitter glue.  And the htree buttons are from the trinkets button brads.  They are adhered to a soft suede mantle stampes with woodgrain background and sponged.   I adhered a little bow of baker's twine with a small dot of crystal effects.

WELL.....that about sums it up - I think ;)  I would love to know your thoughts on this - right below in the comment section....go ahead.......I double dog dare ya!

Happiest Wishes!!

Hi All!  wow - it has been a while, huh?  Sorry about that - I have been busy getting things ready for my retirement party Wednesday and with life in general.  I have really been neglecting the challenges over at Create with Connie and Mary - and boy have I missed doing them - so when I had a little time today to create - I headed straight over there.  :)  And this week, they are hosting a sketch challenge - take a peeky:

And I had to pull out my preorder goodies for the new catalog......I just had to.......hehehe......  Wanna see what I came up with today?  Well - If you don't want to see - turn your head ;)

Don't you just {luv}} that new designer series paper????  It is from a new set called "Just Add Cake."  There are some awesome patterns in that pack - I can't wait to get the chance to play some more with that.    You recognize the cupcake stack on the tag element, right?  It is from one of my favorites - Crazy for Cupcakes.  The tag itself is from the Two Tags Die - another favorite and must have item in the 'ol collection.  (I bet you are seeing a pattern forming here......lol!)   And the blingage - yummo on the glimmer brads returning to the New Idea Book and Catalog!!!  I added my two little somethings in the upper left hand corner instead of the lower right. like the picture, because I really felt my card needed some balance in that upper corner......let's call that - creative liberty ;)  I love the little flowers adorned with a simple brad - cute, huh?

Oh - you are wondering where that stamp for the main sentiment and in the lower portion of the card are from?????  Sorry - I was getting to that.....  Both of those stamps are from a new upcoming hostess set, Happiest Birthday Wishes.  Oh - the NEW hostess program - you are going to love it....that is all I am going to say - check back when the new catalog goes live to check it out....trust me, it is sooooo worth the wait.  ;)  Anyway, getting back to those stamps....the main one was stamped with poppy parade ink and punched with the 1 3/4 inch circle punch.  And the scallop circle mat - that is from the pennant die.....so sad to see this retire - just for that scallop circle alone.......so get it while you can.  The bottom of the card looks like it has been wheeled with a wheel, doesn't it???  Well, it hasn't.  It is one stamp that I stamped repeatedly across the bottom with wild wasabi classic ink.  This is one of the awesome benefits of the clear mount stamps - I was able to stamp that without having to use my stamp a ma jig.  Of course, the same effect could be achieved with wood mount stamps and the stamp a ma jig - I just got to skip that step.  A simple bow of poppy parade ribbon completes the front of the card.

I also had to pretty up the inside, as well.  I had to.......  hehehe

I started with a whisper white base and then added some stamps, designer series paper and voila - a cute card center.  well, at least I think it is cute - nothing like tooting my own horn, huh?  lol!!!

Let me know what you think.  I honestly had a hard time not ripping, tearing, sponging, distressing, etc.....but I think I pulled it off.....or maybe not ;)

I'm in the know.....

.....or am I on the go?.........

Actually - I am "On the Grow".........LOL!!!!  Yeah - that is the best I could come up with today ;)  I bet you are wondering where I am going with all this nonsense talk about what I know, where I go and what I grow..........

Well - You know - Create with Connie and Mary has a new challenge this week - a color challenge - check it out:

I immediately thought about flowers in water - you all have seen pacific point water, right?  lol!  Well - maybe they are in a tinted vase or jar ......AND, it just so happens that I still have new goodies in the house from the upcoming Summer Mini......and I thought you all might want another sneaky peeky.....

So, here is what I have to share with you today:

Still wondering where all the know, go, grow talk is coming from????  Well.....I am in the "know" since I am a demonstrator and I have the new mini catalog in my hands and Stampin' Up! allows us to preorder new merchandise.  I am on the "go"....well......that just rhymed!  LOL!!!  But -  this is "On the Grow."  The stamp set is called On the Grow!!!  {{luv}} that!  It actually screamed out at me when I was browsing through the mini - I had to get it.  (wink)

Do you see more sneaky peeky things here?????......Well, one more thing?  Really?  Look again:

Now do you see it?????  OH my word!  that is another triple layer punch - it is called the Doily Triple Layer Punch.  One punch.  Three different punched out images with just a slide of a lever - GENIUS.

Lets' start with the card base layers.  The card base itself is pumpkin pie.  I dropped my black staz on pad on it.....so we went with black staz on swiped on all edges.  crisis solved.  lol!!!  The printed dsp is newsprint.....listen all you stampers - if you don't have First Edition DSP yet - you really need to get it - this month before the current mini goes bye bye......I pull this out as my go to paper - lol!  I ripped off a corner and adhered some real red designer series paper from the brights pack behind just where the tears are - great way to use up some scraps :)

Like the ribbon?  It is actually a piece of wide striped pumpkin pie ribbon that I cut in half and frayed the edges to make a narrower striped ribbon - not my original idea - but genius,  just the same ;)

The jar of flowers comes from that new stamp set I was talking about earlier called On the Grow - absolutely darling, huh?  I stamped it onto watercolor paper with black staz on.  I stamped the image twice so I could color twice as much - JUST KIDDIN' - I stamped it twice so I could cut some of the flowers out to give it more dimension - see?

Some of the flowers were cut out and just adhered down with mini glue dots, others were cut out and adhered down with stampin' dimensionals.   so pretty {{sigh}}

I watercolored the images with classic ink refills and an aquapainter.  When you color an image like this, I find it takes on a whole new look if you "ground" it persay.  I am not an artist, by any means.....but I do think watercolored images need some shadows and a horizon if it is an object that would sit on a table or something.  you know what I mean?

Did you get a look at the jar?  I gave it a coat of crystal effects to make it look like glass.  Everyone need some of this in their goodies.  really. 

Oh yeah - one more thing.  The sentiment comes from the level one hostess set, Because I Care.  Another must have.  ;)

Well, I think that is enough of my rambling.  I would love to know what you think of this.

Come Sail Away.......

come sail away......come sail away with me......  Any Styx fans out there singing along with me?????

Oh Boy Oh Boy - Stampin' Up! has really out done themselves with the nautical collection in the new Summer Mini that starts May1st - I don't live on the ocean or even own as much as a row boat.....but I am really drawn to nautical stuff.  This is THE collection to own for go to stamps for men, that's for sure.  I started with the Mojo Monday sketch - no shock huh?  I am so addicted to sketches.......  {{sigh}}

Here is the sketch goodness:

Looks great like it is, huh????  Well - I rotated it to fit my needs :)  Wanna see what I did with it???

Okay - here is my sailing goodness:

Do you see the new goodies???  The designer series paper - Nautical Expedition, The stamp set - The Open Sea, punch - Postage Stamp Punch, and finally......Cherry Cobbler/ White baker's Twine - Hello!!!  These are some drop dead gorgeous things!!! 

I also used a game spinner hand on my compass.....{luv} it :)
take a closer look at the water colored sail boat and compass:

The ship and compass were stamped onto watercolor paper and water colored with my aquapainter and ink refills....ba da bup ba da.....i'm lovin' it!!!!  ;)

What do you think of The Open Sea?  I am totally smitten with the new collection......makes me yearn to see what the New Idea Book and Catalog will have in store for us.......  {{sigh}}

April Showers.....

....bring May flowers, right?  That is what "they" say......  ;)  My daughter has been keeping me in full supply of daffodils from our yard - she picks a few almost daily.  At least we get to see them inside, right?  hehehe....

Well - I gotta tell  you - I loved the Create with Connie and Mary sketch so much this week - I decided to give it another try.  I also just got my Summer Mini Preview order yesterday.....and I had to play with that, right?  Here is a reminder of this week's sketch:

I might have to admit - I think I am getting addicted to sketches....for both cards and scrapbooking....have you noticed the pattern here?  lol!  Anyway - wanna see what I did this time???  Do ya? Do ya?  okay

Well - isn't that the sweetest little thing?  I know - no modesty here today - lol!  Can you spot the new goodies that will be in the summer mini????? 

Well....let's take a closer look - maybe you can pick up on some things:

Did you see that flower?????  OH MY - Wait until you get your hands on the new triple layer punches!!!  Yes - you heard me right - T.R.I.P.L.E. Layer........that means three differnt layers on ONE punch - oh, my head just spins!!!  This punch here is the Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch.....{luv} it! 

Look at all the dimension here - i {luv} dimension :)

There are more new things here though.....Did you notice the embossing I did for the stem and butterfly?  Oh yes!  That is right stampers - new COLORED EMBOSSING POWDERS!!!!  I used wild wasabi and melon mambo here - and ther is one more color that will be available.  wanna take a stab at what it might be???  NO?  Well, I will tell youthen......tangerine tango.  HELLO......{{awesome}}

Did you notice the thread that ties the flower and button together????  Another new sneak peek - white baker's twine - I just can't stand it!!!!

Other things to note:  The stamp set used here is bold blossom - such a sweet little flower set.  The butterfly was embossed onto velum card stock and cut out to give it a little bit of delicateness.  Oh my - I am so excited about this new mini cattie....wait until you see what I have to share tomorrow......

Stamp Camp Sneeky Peeky!!!

Hi Stampers!

Today I have a card that evolved through a couple of challenges. First, I wanted to get working on my samples for the All Occasion Stamp Camp on the 29th of January. Second, I wanted to use the mojo monday sketch for the week. And last, I wanted to use today's color challenge - Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip and Rich Razzleberry. One of the cards I wanted to do for the camp was a feminine birthday....so this was all coming together :)

If you haven't registered yet for that camp, do so soon to make sure you have a spot.

Here is one of the cards we will be making:

It is very hard to see in the picture (argh!!) but the scallop circle and satin ribbon are chocolate chip. This is the new satin ribbon in the occasions mini - YUMMO!!!!

just had to use mini seed beads for the cherries.....are they sweet??

Here is a closer look at the cupcake tower.

What do you think? I think it is a very sweet card...I {luv} the cupcakes!

I can't put down the.....

New Sending Love Designer Series Specialty Paper!!!! Every sheet of it is absolutely divine!!! There is glitter around every corner :) And you all know how I feel about glittah!!!!

My sketch inspiration today came from mojo monday#120.

Instead of a scalloped circle in the upper corner....I decided to cut out a flower that is on the Sending Love Specialty Designer Series Paper!!! It was already glittered - perfect! I also accented the flower center with a brand new Red Corduroy Button matted with a scrap of basic black card stock that I added glitter to. It was so easy to bling up my flower center. I used versamark ink on basic black card stock and then heat and stick powder, I heated that just until shiny and topped it off with black glitter from the cosmo glitter collection. yummo!!

A little side note for you.....don't be afraid of elevating some layers. I adhered the flower center with regular snail adhesive and then rolled up a pop up glue dot for under each of the flower petals. Nothing happened to me.....you will be fine....just do it.....every body's doin' it ;) lol!!

The card base is very vanilla. All of the designer series paper is Sending Love. I matted them with basic black card stock. I also used the mat pack and paper piercer to line up the holes for my black brads, from the vintage brads collection. My sentiment banner "XOXOXO" is from Fundamental Phrases - an essential sentiment set to have in a stamp collection, in my opinion. I use it so often. I crinkled it up a bit and adhered it down in places with stampin' dimensionals so the wavy part would stay up :)

OOOooooo ..... did you see the brand new edge punch??? It is the scallop border edge punch - and you can get it for FREE!!!! That's right - FREE BABY!!!!! It is one of the many Sale A Bration Items that you can choose absolutely free with a $50 purchase ( American). I punched a strip of basic black and glittered it up the same way I did the flower center.

Picture this.....a part Italian girl - not near as much as Emeril - but just as passionate as he is about his "BAM!" I am stretching my fingers out to you and yelling "BLING!!!!" hehehe!!

I would love to know what you think of this creation of mine - I really enjoyed making it - Like I said I can't put down the new stuff....you just wait until you get your hands on it too :)

RemARKable LOVE Blog Tour - Day 3

Wowza, huh!??!?!?!? There are some really great ideas on this tour....I hope you aren't missing any of them. It is the "LOVE" tour and that can be interpreted in many ways - things you love, valentine's love, marriage and the straight out "love" theme. I focused on the straight out "love" theme for this one. Don't get me wrong...I could have easily said it was things I loved that are coming out in the next mini.....because it is!!

Well!??!?!?!?!

I really do love it! I did not put anything on the inside - i am still debating what I will do with this one - hubby's valentine, anniversary, wedding - who knows??? The card base is actually kraft - but you can't tell that all in the picture - the 1/16th inch border of card base didn't show up much ;) I was going to use more kraft on the card front but I kept leaning towards the chocolate chip - can you blame me? It is chocolate chip, for pete's sake!!!! lol!

The designer series paper is coming in the mini, Sending love Specialty Paper - and it is "Special" let me tell you!!! It is glittered and blingy all over!!!! delish! I made my own shabby lace by using the eyelet edge punch and folding it up in small sections. My scallop circle was made the "old fashioned way" - you know before we had the big shot scallop circle dies - with a corner rounder. None of the sizes of scallop circle dies I had were exactly the size I needed, so I made my own with the circle scissor plus and the 3/16th inch corner rounder. The birds are punched from a brand new punch, 2 step bird punch - lOVE IT!!!! I stamped the wings with the same heart stamp I used for the pink heart in the background - I {love} Hearts. This set is so awesome!!! After I punched the birds, I ran them through the big shot with my finial press embossing folder. All sponging is done with creamy caramel. The bow was made from chocolate chip taffeta ribbon.

Oh and did I mention D.I.M.E.N.S.I.O.N.???? I think I used like 32 stampin dimensionals on this card! I {luv} dimensionals!

I would love to know what you think of these love birds. If you have enjoyed the projects on my blog, I invite you to stop back - I have loved having you. Now - before you go - Click on the icon below and spread your love throughout the rest of the tour! :)

RemARKable LOVE Blog Tour Day 2!!!!

Wow....Can you believe that first day!?!?!?!? There are so many awesome things on this tour! We are all excited about the new Occasions Mini as well as the Sale A Bration Catalog and you will be too when you get your hands on them!!

On of the stamp sets that is in the Occasions Mini that I was drawn to immediately is Something Sweet.
I saw so many possibilities with the images that can go with or with out the sweet treat cups. Besides the obvious of putting candy in the sweet treat cups - which I will be doing for Valentine's Day!!!! - I decided to make a shaker card out of the gumball machine. This set is so versatile - you will need it! ;) My daughter loves bubble gum...the latest thing my hubby gave her that I didn't think she was ready for - what did I know?? She chews like a champ until it looses flavor and spits it out! That's my girl!! So I made her Valentine card today out of the bubble gum machine.

The heart image that fills my globe is also included in the set, I stamped them in real red, pixie pink and pretty in pink. The sentiment is from Grateful Greetings in the current Holiday Mini catalog. I put a bit of red micro beads and pink seed beads in for some shaking fun.

OOooo.......Did you see the new border punch???? That is also coming in the Occasions Mini!! Oh - and do NOT over look the red satin ribbon......I already said you will love the new mini....and I meant it :)

Click on the image below to continue your tour, thanks for stopping by today.

RemARKable LOVE Blog Tour

Well...here we are on Day one of the RemARKable Love Blog tour....I hope you have been enjoying your ride!!!



We are working together to show you things we love from the Occasions mini And the upcoming Sale A Bration catalog.



I have to say I am in love with the paper pack, Sweet Pea. It is a larger package than normal and it has some awesome designs in it!! Here is a card I whipped up using the BRAND NEW CLEAR MOUNT RUBBER STAMPS!!!!! WHOOHOOOOOO........ I am in love with those, for sure!



The stamp set used here is Vintage Vogue and Jumbo Wheel (on the card base - it is hard to see in the picture) Totally Vintage. LOVE IT!!!!



Click on the logo below to continue your tour

Is this a first???

Two posts in one day!!!! You all deserve it. I have been absent so long......

I started with a sketch challenge today. And I have included lots of new things from the Occasions Mini Catalog that will be out starting January 5th. yummy!!!!

Wanna see it?

Well.....What do you think? The stamps are from a new set called Vintage Vogue....and they are clear mount rubber!!!! Can you believe it....we will have the option of regular wood mounted or clear mounted rubber. Same detailed, awesome rubber images...you decide 0r regular mounting on wood or mounting on clear blocks that you reuse over and over again. Can anyone say "awesome storage??" {luv} it!

Here is what I used:

card stock: old olive, kraft, so saffron, very vanilla, sweet pea designer series paper

ink: sahara sand, old olive, barely banana, crushed curry, chocolate chip, creamy caramel

accessories: chocolate chip corduroy buttons, stamping sponges, kraft taffeta ribbon, and oh course - stampin' dimensionals! :)

Frosty Penny

Hi Stampers!!

When I saw the scs color challenge today - real red, kraft, chocolate chip and we could use black and/or white as neutrals - I immediately thought of my new set, cold and cuddly. It will be in the upcoming holiday mini catalog that starts September 1. It is 40 pages of "Oh My GOOD-ness!!!!"

I also went off of the mojo monday sketch for a starting point....I was going off of memory, so I am a little off - ok...a lot off! lol!!!!!

Isn't he darling!??!?! The card base is real red. I stamped the snowflake image from delightful decorations (also in the mini) in whisper white craft ink and embossed it with white embossing powder. I also stamped the north pole sign at the bottom just for fun :) All of the edges are sponged with whisper white craft ink with a sponge dauber. Moving up to the penguin tag....It is kraft card sotck that I stamped the iceburg in whisper white craft ink and embossed it with white embossing powder. I accented the sides of the iceburg with a two way glue pen and dazzling diamonds. Now that is what I call "chilly goodness!" I rounded both of the right corners with a corner rounder and matted it with chocolate chip. I inked up the penguin with stampin write markers and cut him out. He needed the red top hat, don't you think?? It has a band of dazzling diamonds around t as well :) The ribbon is also from the holiday mini - it is from the mistletoe collection of ribbon. It contains two full spools of ribbon - and this is one of them - {luv} it! I accented it with a kraft corduroy button and some crochet thread.

you gotta see Penny a little closer - he is a handsome fella!!

What do you think?

I am all fuzzy inside.....

....or would you call it on the outside???? Hmmmm????

Are you wondering what in the world I am talking, well - typing, about? lol! My mojo is on a roll, if I may say so myself. I am not one to toot my own horn...but I really love the card I made today.

The card base is soft suede.....a beautiful brown. seems a little strange using brown for a Christmas card base, huh? It just felt right.

Oh yeah! There are some brand new things here that will be in the Holiday Mini catalog - New designer series paper, new stamp, and a new punch. Oh how sweet you are new mini!!!! The designer series paper is from the beautiful new Christmas Cocoa. Oh my...wait until you see it all!!!! I matted it with old olive and rounded both layers with a corner rounder. The next layer is whisper white, even though it doesn't look white in the photo.....argh!! I stamped it with the flourish from baroque motifs in old olive and sponged the edges before matting onto old olive card stock. I punched a hole along the side with the horizontal slot punch and ran a piece of soft suede polka dot grosgrain through it before adhering it with stampin dimensionals. WHAT?!?!??! No polka dots?? Don't forget - it is only polka dotted on one side - plain on the other....perfect!

Check out that ornament! It is from a new set called delightful decorations. I absolutely love that set!!!! I stamped it in real red and punched it out with the brand new ornament punch. I tied some gold elastic cording in a bow and then took another piece and wrapped it to the back of the main panel to make it look like it was hanging. I had to add some bling! I used my two way glue pen and dazzling diamonds to accent the swirls on the ornament - LOVE IT!!!! The ornament is also mounted on stampin' dimensionals....no surprise there, huh?

Are you sitting there reading along, still wondering what in the world I am talking about being fuzzy??? lol!! Well, that is a sneak peek as well!! Take a close look at this paper:

Can you tell in the picture that it is flocked??? The damask design is flocked in white - it is soooo gorgeous!!!!!

I would love to hear what you think of this....I may have to do some serious producing of this card - I love it!

Wally is sending love!

HI Stampers!!

I jumped on scs to see what the color challenge was today and it is taken with teal, very vanilla and close to cocoa. I immediately thought of my new cold and cuddly set from the upcoming holiday mini!! I'm telling you - this upcoming mini ROCKS!!!! To be honest, I am still in awe of the regular catalog and then they throw this mini at us....my, oh my!!!

Well, I bet you didn't come here to listen to me drool over the catalogs.....I'm sure you do enough drooling of your own....lol!!!

Warning: I could not get this to look like taken with teal to save my life! But, trust me - it is!

Well?!?!?!? Isn't he the cutest thing ever??? Wait until you see his play mates! I used only the three colors that were listed. The taken with teal horizontal panel across the card front is embossed with the finial press embossing folder and the big shot. The very vanilla panel on the front is embossed with the new stampin' up perfect details texturz plate. This is sold by itself in the catalog for only $3.95!!!!! Everything is sponged with close to cocoa ink and a stampin' sponge. The main image panel (circle) was cut with the circle scissor plus.

Here is a closer look at Wally and his sparkly ice block:

It is hard to see in these pictures, but I blinged up his ice with a two way glue pen and dazzling diamonds!

Now, before you ask...Stampin' Up did not start naming their stamps in sets....that was my doing ;)

And you know how I am about dimension......so check out all of these dimensional panels:

What do you think? I think he is super cute!!!