I've had my Thanks embossing folder forever & it's the first time I used it for this card. Sorry the angle of the card is wonky, so it's hard to see the layering of the focal sentiment. It's simple yet perfectly gets the point across to say thank you.
I just realized my Godson's 13th birthday is less than 3 weeks away! I'm looking forward to seeing him when we go to CA for the arrival of my nephew - we arrive 2 days after his birthday so I definitely will bring his present with me (which will either be a gift card or cash) and I plan to slip it in his holder I made. This was for Try a New Technique Challenge last week (TLC165) 
Since it's for a boy - I kept the design simple & didn't out too much on the inside. Plus, for a 13 yr-old boy - it's more about the contents.
My DH's 2nd cousin had her 3rd baby this past week & this is the card I made to send using Melanie's new set Hip Hop Accessories by Gina K. I used Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge 45 See the binky sticking out of the baby giraffe's mouth? Too cute. Used my DCWV glitter stack.
I love this SU! set Pun Fun - when you purchase by the end of April you get the Sweet Stars wheel (on the paper in the lower card) for free!
Today my sweet niece turns 2! I haven't talked with her yet because the party animal was still asleep a while ago because she burned the midnight oil by staying up past 1:00 a.m.! Mommy was trying to get ready for the big party this afternoon (insert sad face because we can't be there). We will see her in 3 1/2 weeks though - I'll be starting to count down the days! She is such a HUGE blessing to us all & everyone's lives now center around her (even mine and I live over 1,000 miles away!) We'll start sharing the love with her brother soon though. 
Here is my first project that I envisioned when I first saw the set! Do you remember Colorforms? Do you remember paperdolls? Well those 2 were some of my favorite toys growing up! I had a monchichi colorforms set that I ADORED! Well, I decided to make Gabby her own modern set incorporating my love of stamping! This project turned out to be the most intensive labor of love just yet for my sweet niece but she TOTALLY deserves it! I got my set on Thursday evening & went to work on it right away and just finished it up this afternoon. I started with stamping & coloring LOTS of the images. Then, I cut them out & laminated them, cut AGAIN and stuck magnets on the back of EACH of the pieces. Last year I bought this magnetic bulletin board from clearance at Michael's for $4 and had NO clue what I was going to use it for but when the idea came for Gabby's paperdolls I knew it would be PERFECT! score....
Next, I got Melanie's What's in Your Tin set 1 by Gina K (which coincidentally arrived yesterday) and made an tin to house all Gabby's Dress-Up Accessories. Some are so tiny, I hope she is very careful & doesn't lose any. If I know my sisters, I think they will be sure she doesn't because they will appreciate the time I spent making it all. The back of the tin is covered with a magnet so it will stay real well on the board! Here are some close-ups of the dress up Gabbys. You'll see some of them have paper-pieced clothing. Some are using Prismacolor pencils & OMS and some Copics. I jazzed them up with Sakura glitter pen, stickles because Gabby has to be dressed to the 9's
Angel Gabby
Ice Cream Gabby 
Princess Gabby
Party Animal Gabby (oh yea)
Mod Podge Gabby (not sure what I was thinking when I dressed her in this ensemble?)
and my favorite Easter Bunny Gabby
I have to confess - I was squealing with delight as I was putting this together & was having so much fun playing with it that I was almost wished I made a set to keep for myself. I know, weird...because I'm 36 and still a kid! Guess that's a good reason to have one of
my own someday *wink* ?!?!
*insert sad face* Well, here it is - my Anything but a Card challenge project on Cornish Heritage Farms Forums. I intended (without realizing, to use my Tyson earrings from the other day for this challenge that I stamped on polyshrink & realized duh, I didn't use a backgrounder). So I had to come up with another idea {all week I thought about it but it wasn't until the MIDDLE of the night - so inconvenient when you're trying to sleep - that this idea came to me} I HAD to make it this morning BEFORE I left for work because of this addiction I have. I stamped my Pretty Pattern backgrounder in white StazOn on black polyshrink and cut it with my Nestabilities scallop circle - how cool, huh? I think I will make a set of matching earrings next. I realized I can't use hemp (looks so neat though) because it irritates my skin too much. So I will transfer it to some tiger tail soon. But, it would make a nice gift for someone whose skin was not weird like mine. Hope y'all have a great weekend!
Tomorrow will make the end of the CHF Backgrounder Blitz (insert sad face) - and their release of 2 new backgrounders!!! I sure have enjoyed all these challenges, and chatting with the gals participating in the threads. Today's challenge to to use masking of backgrounders in your creation. I decided to make a faux layer card (instead of calling it a one layer card) - using my coluzzle to make a frame for my focal image. I used my Pretty Pattern BG in Soft Sky ink & sponged around the mask with River Rock before removing it. Then, I stamped my Petal Prints in Soft Sky & Blue Bayou over it. Finished off with my Warmest Regards (retired SU!) sentiment.
Today our challenge is to stamp with 2 or more backgrounders. I chose Beate's Weekend sketch 44 from last week (recognize the colors from my green owl on Monday?) for my layout and black accents for POP! Don't ya just love the black cherry on the cupcake? Those are Sprinkles brads (Kissy Fit by Queen & Company) I got at All That Scraps! They are itty bitty - just too cute!
Today's Challenge (BC04) is Smooches! Kissing backgrounders. I had a little difficulty with this because I don't have a really solid backgrounder yet, so I had to use my Large Polka Dot backgrounder (inked in Soft Sky) and on top of that Pretty Pattern (Blue Bayou ink). I really love how it turned out, though even if it is very subtle. Remember my renewed love for all things embossed (dry & heat now?) well, I stamped my flowers (SU! Embrace Life) in versamark on vellum cardstock & embossed with black detail embossing powder and cut them out. They are so pretty on the Blush Blossom with the splash of black on the matting! I added a pearl center I got from Ellen Hutson's store. I like this card so much I didn't want to mess with a greeting until I am ready to mail it to someone special so I have the right greeting at the time I need it.
This is my 2nd week to participate in the weekly challenge put on by the CHK chicks. This week, a sketch. First time to use my Tres Jolie paper (I bought nearly a year ago *GASP*) the night owls {Kim Hughes' U R A Hoot} are showing they are in love with the moonlight in the background. My heart (sorry I couldn't get a close up, is embossing in Groovy Guava ink! It is SO pretty. I sponged the ink on my cardstock & pressed it into my versamark pad then sprinkled clear embossing powder over it. I stamped the heart from Kim Hughes' set Baked with Love on the back & cut it out because I did not want the lines to show. I love the dimension with the owls & heart on dimensionals. Owls are colored with Copic markers.
I just realized I manage to do Beate's weekend sketch every other weekend, interesting. It doesn't mean I don't want to do it every weekend, but sometimes I just don't have the time to squeeze it in. This time I did and it's a great one - WSC44! I think my proportions are a little off, but I was using scraps from another challenge I did with these same colors for the backgrounder blitz at CHF. I will upload that one the day of the challenge because I was making it in advance. If I make a card with a particular combo I like, I try to do at least 2 to use up my scraps. This one is bright & fun so I definitely wanted to use it again. Have you ever seen a green owl? I haven't but one of the most fun things with stamping is that you can let your imagination soar! 
I had the idea to make one of these kits ever since the day I got Melanie's set What's In Your Tin 2 last month and I finally had a free moment to make it. I picked up the kit at the $ store, because our Mamaw, some time last year, had a sewing emergency and nothing to the rescue such as this. Now her dilemma is solved, can't wait to send it to her.
Kraft is back!? Did you miss it? Here is Tyson (the stamp of the month) stamped with Burnt Umber Palette Ink & colored with Twinkling h2o's from the Kit 1263 I got from Cornish Heritage Farms. I used Mint Julep, Rain Forest (greens) and Sapphire on Ice (blue). Wish I could really capture the twinkle on these in my photo. These cards are for today's challenge #2 (BC02) Partial Backgrounder stamping - fading or stamping part of a layer. I used my Large Polka Dot Backgounder in VersaMark & embossed with clear powder (embossing is so fun!) Wonder how (or why) I have the open arrow on the card? Well, I made a boo boo with the sentiment & had to get creative because the card was almost done {all the layers, focal image assembled} so I took the scrap cardstock I punched my arrow out with & cut a small border around it & made it to highlight the part of the sentiment I didn't mess up! So now there was a cute green button to the rescue and the sentiment was complete. I kinda liked that mess up!
Here is where I took a turn - to step up my card a notch! Since I was using my cb embossing folder on half of my card, I thought about Sharon's post on Friday to put a strip of coordinating cardstock on the inside of her card but didn't do that - thought why not use a portion of the embossing folder on it to match?! LOVE IT but I didn't stop there --- I decided to run my envelope through it too. I ADORE how that turned out! You know embossed stationery & matching envelopes are expensive! I think I see a stationery set coming on using these elements. How lovely would that be?!? 
My first card was made with the Leaves 3 Backgrounder - stamped in VersaMark on Soft Sky cardbase. I have a renewed love for embossing as a result of my last stamp club meeting. The hostess wanted to learn embossing. I taught them about 7 ways to use it and that's just the tip of the iceberg with it. Everyone sure enjoyed it, though including me so now I am using it more often. The leaves from Petal Prints are embossed with silver powder; I love the soft elegant look of it.
My second card uses the Stained Glass technique of embossing on vellum cardstock with a line art image and coloring the back with markers. I used the Always Heart for this, which seemed to be most everyone's favorite technique to learn--they were just wowed by it! I used Regal Rose, Rose Red and Always Artichoke, a few of my favorite colors.
How fun is this card for a 2nd Grade teacher who is retiring? I love using Cornish Heritage Farms Lined Paper Backgrounder - PERFECT for a teacher, huh? I had a few teacher stamped images from a swap (so glad) because she is made for this card! I love the spiral punch to go with this backgrounder too. The center of the prima flowers is a silver dew drop by Robin's Nest (first time using it) I purchased at All That Scraps.
I don't think I've ever made retirement cards before but a customer requested some for her fellow teachers. This is using Kim Hughes' U R A Hoot by Cornish Heritage Farms is for a Texas Longhorn fan (so I used my Really Rust c/s) I saw how others used rhinestone brads inside their jumbo eyelets so I did mine on top of a chocolate button (Sultry by Basic Grey purchased by All That Scraps-free shipping with a $10 order!) I just cut off the prongs with my pliers & used a mini glue dot to adhere it. I used my Paisley cb embossing folder (the negative effect) again because it gives added texture! Lastly, the owl's eyelids & claws are layered with dimensionals for more depth. FUN - I LOVE this owl!!! I colored him on Kraft cardstock with my prismacolor pencils & OMS and then highlighted with Twinkling h2o's (the gold color)
Since it's Kim's Birthday 37th today and I don't have her snail mail address, I figured I would send her a virtual birthday card using her Cornish Heritage Farms Stamp of the Month (SOTM) Tyson! How cute is he? I just realized recently that once these stamps of the month are gone I don't think you can get them again. He comes with a sentiment, "take time to enjoy your day" and he works with her other sets! Here, I paired him up with U R A Hoot, also by Kim for his party hat & balloon.
I had this image leftover from my demos at my workshop on Sat showing watercoloring so I figured I would turn it into a card not realizing the colors I chose looked pretty nice together (IMO) Pink Passion, Garden Green {and I believe So Saffron?) then threw in some black for POP! After I finished, I realized I probably should have layered a pink passion under the focal image. Oh well. I used my Cornish Heritage Farms backgrounder Pretty Pattern.
Door Prizes - these cute nugget purses (thanks to Elizebeth) were quite a hit! Everyone loved them! Who wouldn't?!
Make & Take - Using the Pun Fun/Sweet Stars Jumbo Wheel from the Free Wheelin' Promo through April 30. Everyone loved making this card, it was simple yet cute (see, Kraft c/s again) with the spiral punched square of Summer Picnic Designer Paper. Used the Pure Color Pencils on the birdie, which are also fun to use especially on darker cardstock.
I'll post the hostess gift another day (I still have to finish photographing it)
Monika M.A.D. Stamper awarded me the You Cheer Me Up Award- how sweet?! I'm so glad I decided to send a BRAK (birthday RAK) to Monika March 2007 - but totally missed her birthday this year, how awful! Anyway we have sent one another RAK's ever since and I've enjoyed the surprise of every one of them! I totally LOVE this episode of I Love Lucy, I think I would do the same if I worked in a candy factory (would NOT be a good idea for my lack of a waistline, it would just keep expanding) I say this as I see a few pieces of chocolate next to my computer - HA! but they ARE miniatures ones *wink*
Here is the hostess gift I made because she loves DP and has the 5-in-1 Envelope template. The big one uses the template here is the tutorial for it by Amy Celona: Amy's 5 in 1 Template Pocketbook It's really difficult to photograph something like this, you almost need a stand that the ribbon handle can hang from it order to see it well. On the sides are jumbo eyelets and ribbon connected with Fire circle brads to match it.
The adorable mini purse is by Elizebeth and here is her tutorial: Elizebeth's Favor Bag Tutorial and there are nuggets inside matching the DP. Both items are held closed with velcro pieces.
The hostess adored them, as well as everyone else.
I found this awesome Banana Cupcake with Honey-Cinnamon Frosting recipe on a link on Carolina's Creative Pad I just tried looking for it, but she has several links on their to other people's cupcake blogs - another reason I am so happy I found Carolina's blog!! Well, when I saw these one day, I printed up the recipe but didn't save the link. Sorry! But let me tell you, they are DELICIOUS cupcakes! So moist, and I think good for you since it uses REAL butter you know margarine is not good for you so butter is healthier *ha* and I put Organic Sugar in mine instead of the white sugar (which is not all that healthy either). Anyway I made these to send to our friend's mom who gave us farm fresh eggs a few weeks ago as a thank you (also in hopes of being offered more eggs, I know...shameful) talk about yummy - if you've never had a farm fresh egg & just the ones from the store let me tell you that you are seriously missing out on some wholesome goodness! My DMIL said she heard a Christian doctor say eggs ARE good for you (especially when you have your yolk not cooked all the way and that's exactly how I like mine).
