Baby card & what I did this weekend!

Here is a sweet baby card I made for the last SCS VSN (virtual stamp night) which was a lot of fun!  I used Melanie’s Spring Basket & Basket of Blessings with these cutie baby animals!  I just adored how she put the drape of fabric upside down and it fits ‘into’ the basket like it was meant to be!  I made the little animals peeking out of the liner for dimension.  This card is pretty clean & simple because the animals can be colored pretty fast (especially the elephant that I didn’t color at all-I paper-pieced its ear only!)
So what did I do this weekend?  Well first of all, a few months ago when I was reading my new Austin Monthly magazine, I discovered there is a restaurant in Austin that serves fried chicken & waffles!  That is one of my favorites from CA!!  So, I’ve been bugging John to take me and we went on Sat and met one of my co-workers and her husband, who are also from CA and familiar with the delicious combination.  WOW – it was gourmet and I enjoyed it a LOT!  It was a little on the pricey side but well worth it and it’s called 24 Diner (and it’s open 24 7-ha!)
Then we went shopping so we could complete decorating our master bedroom!  Last month while we were out in San Marcos, we went to a cool little store called The Paper Bear we used to frequent often and I found a GORGEOUS lightweight bedspread with the perfect combination of colors!  It was made in India (not surprised) so we trekked to Garden Ridge one of the best places to shop ever with the bedspread in tow and found items to decorate the room with.  Here are some pictures of what we found:

I just LOVED the selection of pillows!  I had it in my mind I would make my own, but with these great prices, I just couldn’t pass them up!  From $7.99 (bolster to $9.99 square) Since the bedspread was so ornate, I wanted the colors & textures of the pillows to vary and we were able to achieve that here!

We went to a fabric store and John found this nice upholstery olive green fabric remnant – it was less than $4 for me to cover both nightstands!  So I DID make SOMETHING!  I know I need more decoration here – that will come slowly. For now, I just have a candle a stamping friend made me and my cell phone.  Usually there is a book there because I like to read before I go to sleep.

Next up is a photo of the corner of the room where Elsie loves to nap with the sunshine on her.  The chair is comfy; it was handed down to us by DMIL, she used to rock John in it as a baby.  It was re-upholstered years ago by our friend’s dad and he made 2 matching square pillows for it.  I felt like it needed some COLOR though. 

Here is a closer picture of our dresser.  We found all this décor for great prices and it all went well together, bringing COLOR into the room with the bedspread.  Vases were $4 to $9.99.  Sign $7.99 and the best part about all this?  My jewelry box matched and so did our one of a kind painting by an old friend Christopher Fitzgerald who gifted it to us years ago!  It is called Bonita.   I’m just pleased as punch - oh and ready to get in that comfy bed!  Thanks for taking a peek into our room with me!
Supplies:
Stamps: Spring Basket, Basket Blessings
Cardstock: Innocent Pink, White Pure Luxury, Basic Grey Hopscotch
Ink: Rich Cocoa Memento, Antique Linen distress
Accessories: twine, pearls, paper rose

Inch by Inch & Meeting someone famous

Here’s a card I whipped up this morning using Garden Party Critters by Taylored Expressions for today’s Featured Stamper Challenge at SCS {FS187}.  It was fun to make *I love the clean & simple designs!*  I chose this card of Emily’s to case, changing up the stamp,s ribbon and cardstock but stayed with part of her color scheme of red & white – I just wanted to use some of the pretty sunshine yellow silk ribbon in the TE store – if you haven’t tried that yet and LOVE ribbon, it’s a must have!!  After I colored my worm, I had to make him shine with some Glossy Accents!  I love that I was able to capture the shine in my photo so you can see!
Now for some personal stuff about meeting someone famous, if you read my blog yesterday I said we were heading out to San Antonio to geocache and check out a few consignment/antique stores on the hunt for an apothecary piece of furniture.  Well, one of the stops would also be at the famous Toilet Seat Museum by Barney Smith.  I wasn’t sure what to expect other than there was a geocache at the museum and the reason we needed to go was because it was not going to be around for much longer.  I found out Barney (a retired plumber of 35 years) is 89 years old and his lovely wife of 71 years is very ill (given 4 mos to live about 9 months ago). 
It was truly an amazing little adventure looking at all his elaborately decorated toilet seats which commemorated popular culture like Star Wars, Cinderella and McDonald’s to legendary stars like Marilyn Monroe, Elvis and Michael Jackson to Vietnam Veterans, Red Hatters and the President. Some of my favorites were the travel ones!  I forgot to mention he has been featured on television shows like the Early Show, The View and Montel Williams!  He had a whole section of magazines and books he has been featured in and even played the above segments on a little t.v. he had in the museum.  He had 4 Geocaching toilet seats!  #3 and #4 are what they are holding in the picture above. In this picture, John is signing #4 with both of our geocaching names (he is thenkengrene and I am serenity_girl) so there is a little piece of us in the famous museum now!!

View Full Album

Here is an album with over 20 pictures so you can see more of my favorite toilet seat art!
We ended up staying in there for at least an hour, Barney was very talkative but I enjoyed every minute of it, especially toward the end when we were talking about his ‘birthday’ toilet seats which span the years ‘70 - ‘89.  He asked us if he told us the story of a little boy when he was young who broke both his arms trying to impress a little girl (twice) and how the little boy ended up marrying her and how they even played together as babies!  Of course he was talking about himself and his wife!  The story brought tears to my eyes just thinking about how blessed they have been to spend all these years together as best friends!! 
***I will always remember this special little geogaching trip, John!  I know I complain a lot when we’re on them about how hot it is and how much longer we plan on doing it, but it’s times like these I am thankful for this crazy hobby you like so much!*** Thanks to Lee & her husband James for introducing it to us!!

FS186: Monochromatic Green Blooms & Butterfly

Here is a card I whipped up today using today’s Featured Stamper challenge on SCS {FS186}.  I have to admit, I am having a difficult time getting motivated to stamp these days since the majority of my stuff is packed up while we wait for a close/move date!  But, life goes on and I have to make time for my craft!  I chose this card by Bobbiesgirl to case.  I realized afterward, the butterfly on my card is lost on the pattern paper I used on the card!  OH well *sigh*

I used Garden Party Blooms and Garden Party Critters by Taylored Expressions for my card and Vivid ink Lime, sorry I can’t remember the name of the pattern paper I used, it’s from my stash and not labeled *shame on me*. I used vintage crochet trim over the green polka dot ribbon.  I put some Clear Taylor’s Tiny Twinkles on the blooms and butterfly, applying them easily and quickly with Embellie Jellie – I LOVE that stuff!!

We found a great dining room set on Craigslist and bought it yesterday and took it out to the shed for storing.  It is a rich dark wood and we love the carved out details on it, it’s nice & comfortable too.  Easily fits 6 chairs when the leaf is not in it. The people we bought it from said they have fit 10 chairs around it before!  I can’t wait to move!!

I hope you have a great day /week!!

SC295: Well Read who’s that girl?

Did you see the MFT VIP who’s that girl ‘Well Read"’? I actually fell in love with it last week and lifted my 2-month long spending freeze until we move (just temporarily) so I could buy it!  It’s not even released to the general public yet, that’s what’s so cool about it too!  I got a big ‘ol package of goodies today so I had to play!  It had the set, a mini uppercase Wendy alphabet, mini brads, 5 different pretty ribbons, a basics white Basic Grey paper pad and the cool border Die-Namics that is not even released yet that I used for my border on the sketch!!

I used today’s SCS sketch 295, which was just PERFECT for me to showcase this set.  If you know me – you know I LOVE to read, that is why I fell in love with it!  I adore the sentiment in the set that says, ‘the best days are spent curled up with a good book’ which I agree with!  I wish I could tell you what fabulous papers I used on this card for my fun paper-piecing, but I don’t remember what they are, sorry!   I used Gina K. buttons as an embellishment though.  I finished the sentiment on the inside of the card which says THE END.  HA! 

Thanks for stopping by today! 

***In case you’re wondering about where we stand on closing and moving in, no close date yet.  We are waiting on getting last minute stuff done.  I’m getting impatient.  We got our awesome appliances delivered yesterday!  Take a look at them on my husband’s blog – just scroll down for multiple posts from him, you can even take a look at our gorgeous granite countertops!!  I can’t wait to cook in there!!

***I’m MORE excited about the fact that my oldest sister, her husband and my niece and nephew are coming to visit in November!  Woo hoo!  It’s been a long time coming, I must get busy with my planning – ha!!

SC294: Recipe for sweet friendship!

Here is a fun friendship card I made using Cuppie in the Kitchen by Taylored Expressions with today’s sketch challenge at SCS!!  I have been itching to stamp since the past few days have been busy with house stuff so I had to make sure I made time to play when I got home from work.  I have already did my house stuff for the evening too (submitting a draw request to pay our subcontractors) and now it’s time to rest & relax. 

I used my Cosmo Cricket Fly a Kite papers (I love the strawberries on the paper so I made sure it was featured when I cut it!).  The TE store is out of this paper right now but there’s GOOD NEWS – there are the BRAND SPANKIN’ NEW papers in the store available!!  I added some feminine ivory silk ribbon and a Jenni Bowlin vintage cream button for embellishments!  Notice how I placed my sentiment on the sides of my panel – it’s just perfect to make the long sentiment work although my main image panel was too small to accommodate it.  That’s one thing I love about making cards, you can always improvise to make it work for you!!

Thanks for stopping by today!!

Live * Laugh * Love: Happy Birthday!!

I got a chance to play in the featured stamper challenge this morning before we got busy for the day!   I wanted to make a card to send to a dear stamping friend whose birthday is this week, Randi Barrett!  Here is the card I cased from the featured stamper; I changed the stamps I used although I managed to have the same greeting on my card using Tweet Hearts and Branching Out by Taylored Expressions.  I used Blush Red Medium prism cardstock, yellow glimmer ribbon and yellow Kaisercraft pearls.  The greeting was stamped inside one of the new Taylored Dies, Take Note frame 2.  Just like the featured stamper, I stamped the images with versamark on the cardbase.  This was a quick & fun card to make – I hope Randi will like it!

Gotta go – we are going out to the house to see what the progress was made at the house yesterday since we were only out there a short while to drop off the glass tiles for the shower and saw them just starting to build the deck.  Here’s a picture!  I think this was the most people I’ve seen at one time working on the house! There were at least 5 more guys in the house working on the tile.  It’s hopping out there now!  I’m so excited to have a deck on the side of the house to extend our entertaining area off the living room and I can imagine eating breakfast out there in the mornings on the weekends.  Bliss…

Thanks for your feedback about suggestions on naming my stamp studio – please keep ‘em coming!  I think I may have a little something to send a random participant in it! 

FS179: With Sympathy

I’m sad to say I had an occasion to make a sympathy card this past weekend.  My childhood friend’s (Allison) mom Carmen died on Friday.  I was numb when I read her post on Facebook on Saturday, not surprised since Carmen had been sick off and on for months prior (and was 82 years old with recent heart problems). 

I was sad because she was one of the first of many mother figures in my life.  Growing up, there were times I spent more time over their house than my own since she lived around the corner from me and there were no kids my age who lived on my street at all!  I was thrilled when my mom allowed me to start going walking over there by myself (many times someone would always have to walk me to the corner until they would see me walk up to her house).  Allison and I met at 5 years old and have kept in touch all these years even after graduating although we haven’t seen one another in about 10 years – we have many many happy and fun memories which is why I said in this card I mailed to Allison that her mom & dad (who died last May) will always hold a special place in my heart!  I hope this card gives Allison the feeling of a hug in the mail since she and her family are in my thoughts & prayers.

When I sat down on Sunday to make this card, I reached for my Care & Comfort set by Taylored Expressions and paired it with Miniature Motifs (background sentiment stamped on) and CreativiTEA set (label) as well as papers from October Afternoon Fly a Kite.  I used the SCS Featured Stamper Challenge {FS179} and used this card of Stephanie’s to CASE.  I embellished my card with a few punched flowers & cream glitter candy dots and some of my favorite ribbon!  Lastly, of course I had to distress everything a little with some Tim Holtz distress inks (I am SO hooked on that lately!)

Thank you for stopping by today…

SC285: Thank You

I need some Thank You cards since a few weeks ago I had a birthday and I want to send them to a few people who blessed me so on to today’s SCS sketch 285 for my starting point!  I knew I wanted to use Garden Party Critters by Taylored Expressions and reached for the Udderly Sweet Project Pantry kit for my cardstock, papers and embellishments because I wanted my cards to be super cheerful!

Here’s a close up of the Green Apple Smooch I colored the butterflies with!  I also added some Mango Kaiser Pearls to their bodies and in between the ‘inchies’.

 

I used the same papers and cardstock on this other card, but used 2 different images on the inchies and used some Tim Holtz tumbled glass distress ink which is a pretty blue to match my cardstock!

I hope you’re having a great week – it’s almost the weekend!  It’s been rough for me; every day after I get off work I have to lay my head down and take a cat nap alongside my cat Elsie and then I get to bed normal time too!  I’ve gotten back into reading again – one of my other hobbies which I missed while I was attending school.  I started reading Eat. Pray. Love by Elizabeth Gilbert and got about 100 pages in and had to put it down – the author is funny but the story was so slow.  So then I picked up Dear John by one of my favorite authors, Nicholas Sparks – it’s instantly good!  I’ve read quite a few of his books and have not been disappointed yet so I will continue with this one for now and maybe get back to the other one after!

Thanks for stopping by!

FS175: Summer ‘Lemonade’ Afternoon

 
Anyone else happy about Summer approaching?  I am in most aspects but I’m not entirely thrilled about the extreme heat/humidity in Central Texas-ha!!  Here is a card I made for today’s SCS Featured Stamper challenge {FS175} using the new Whimsical Wishes set Summer Afternoon by Taylored Expressions!  I used this card for the inspiration of my card by LeAnne Pugliese which is also very Summery with the cherries on it!

I used my Basic Grey Lemonade papers which reminds me of a great summer drink – have you ever tried strawberry lemonade by Country Time?  It takes me back so many years; the first one we visited friends in Colorado Springs and I fell in love with it – we ended up bringing some back with us from our first trip to a Super Target there!  Since then, our taste in summer drinks has changed a little because we don’t use instant tea anymore, we drink cold tea made from loose tea in our tea maker – Assam is our favorite (it’s a black Indian tea).   

Here’s a close up of the sparkle from my copic atyou spica pens on the blooms and dragonfly. The yellow cardbase is Sunflowers Medium prism cardstock and the ribbon is white glimmer ribbon from the TE store. 

Blast from the Past Customer Blog Hop

There’s going to be another Taylored Expressions' Blast from the Past customer blog hop later on this month.

If you haven't singed up for the hop, there's still time – you have until this Thursday, June 17th to sign up and hope you'll be able to join in on the fun!  Here are the details:

Hop Rules: Create a card or project featuring any Taylored Expressions stamps released through March 2010. A challenge will be sent out to all participants that is completely optional, it's more of a way to get you started in case you're stuck on what to make. Your post with your card or project must be live by 8am PDT on June 22nd with a links to all blog hop participants. A code which will contain all this information will be sent to you in order to make it easier for you.

How To Sign Up to Play: Send an email to bloghop@tayloredexpresions.com with the subject line "June 22 Hop". In the body of your email simply list the following information: your first and last name, the name of your blog, and your blog address. By sending this email you are committing to posting a creation on your blog at 8am PDT on June 22nd as detailed on the Hop Rules above. Once you sign up you will receive the following:

• An email confirming your spot on the hop. That email will also include the optional challenge, a list of excluded sets (released after March 2010) and recap of the rules.
• You will receive another email 2 days prior to the hop with a list of all participants and links to include in your post along with the Hop badge.

BONUS: One random participant will be select to win the stamp set of your choice from Taylored Expressions! Someone will also be chosen to have their card featured in an upcoming newsletter.

Thanks for stopping by and hope you will join the fun!

FS172: Life is short…

So Cuppie says, “eat dessert first”  and I do too!  I made this cute little matchbox treat for today’s SCS Featured Stamper challenge {FS172} using the new set Cuppie in the Kitchen by Taylored Expressions.  Here is the matchbook treat I cased by Nikki.  I used fun Green at Heart papers by Basic Grey, saddlestitch neutral ribbon and a fun open button as an embellishment.  This was also made for Friday’s Free For All challenge {F4A13} to use buttons & bows in a new unique way so I did!!

Here’s the inside of the matchbook treat; I put a Ghirardelli square inside, covered with the pattern paper and punched a sentiment from the set onto it.  The chocolate is super yummy, dark with a caramel filling…hmmmm. 

Thanks for stopping by - hpe you enjoyed!  I will be back later tonight (10 pm CDT) for day 1 previews of Gina K. Designs May release!!

Sketch & Free For All Butterflies

I have a pretty butterfly card to share with you today using 2 SCS challenges; he sketch from this week {SC280} and Free For All from last week {F4A11: Just Gellin’} using the current Gina K. StampTV kit Spring Mix!

I adore the Basic Grey Origins paper, they are a beautiful complement to Creme de Menthe and Black Onyx cardstock by Gina K, in addition to some other colors but those are the ones I chose to go with these pattern papers which I LOVE!  I added black gel pen faux stitches to the layers, this is definitely not a sketch I would pull out of my head, but it is a great one, nonetheless! 

I hope you have a beautiful day; stay tuned, I have that special post coming next, promise!  We need to go get a few errands done and then I can devote some time to sharing a few things with you, my loyal readers!

FS164: Going on an Egg Hunt

I am totally supposed to be studying for my upcoming tests in Medical Terminology (Apr 1) and Anatomy/Physiology (Apr 5) but I woke up early this morning and couldn’t resist playing with this week’s Featured Stamper challenge {FS164} because I found this cute card of Brandi’s to CASE!!  I knew right away I wanted to make a scene with the little peeps on an egg hunt in the meadow using Favorite Peeps by Taylored Expressions!  This card was SO much fun to make and now I have a card to send to my niece Gabby!  I used all supplies from the Easter Key Ingredients (except a few buttons and the sugar sparkly fluff for the clouds , which I hand drew). 

As promised, here are a before & after photo of our dog Shelby since we took her to the beauty parlor yesterday – she was such a good girl and I KNOW she missed us while she was there but so HAPPY to smell, look and feel good for the Spring!  She gets this short haircut a few times during Spring through Fall when she doesn’t need the extra fur!

Here she is in all her glory – it took me SO many times to try to get a good picture as she was walking all over the place when we brought her back.  She is looking up at John in this picture who she adores; that’s one reason I like this one so much.  I bought her that chicken chew treat as a reward and she walked all over the house strutting her stuff and showing off her treat for about 10 minutes!  She really cracks me up – I am counting my blessings she is still with us after her November diagnosis of lung tumor.  I appreciate all the prayers that have been given up for her, they are working and God is allowing us more time with her. 

I hope you have a great week!  This may be my last post until my work/school week is over because I really need to hit the books!  Although I am averaging an A in my Med. Term. class, I’m averaging a C in my A&P class and that is just not acceptable to me!  Please pray I can focus and retain all this info and God helps me when it comes time to take my test so I remember the answers!  Thanks for stopping by today! 

Easter is almost here!

I am thrilled that tomorrow (or today depending on when you’re reading this post) is the first day of Spring!!  I can’t believe I spent the majority of my Spring Break from school recovering with my hurt lower back.  I am feeling much better but I am operating about 85-90% better which is more than my Dr. was hoping for me by this time.  I just know I have to take it easy and be careful with everything I do.  I am planning a fun, relaxing weekend before I have to get my nose back in my books!

Here is a card I made using this week’s SCS sketch challenge {SC272} and today’s Free for All 4 {F4A4} to make either a basket or a card with a basket on it plus to use the colors Barely Banana, Certainly Celery and Perfect Plum; easy enough!  I used my new Favorite Peeps stamp Whimsical Wishes set by Taylored Expressions!  I just love this set and figured I should get as much use out of it before Easter comes and goes!  But, I am also excited that there are plenty of images in the set I will be able to use long after Easter like the chicks and sentiments that say, ‘sending you a warm fuzzy’, ‘you’re one of my favorite peeps’, and ‘we need some chick time’ – how fun are those?!?  Great for a friendship card to surprise a girlfriend!

Hope you have a fun weekend – thanks for stopping by! 

Masculine Postage

I don't do it often enough but it's kind of fun making masculine cards, you know cards without all the fuss; no ribbon or bling or anything feminine. I always feel such a sense of accomplishment when the card comes out nicely.

This card I made using Mojo Monday sketch 107 was combined with this week's SCS color {CC239} combo of Kraft/Taupe (I used Soft Sand), Mellow Moss & White, which fit the bill for a no-frills masculine birthday card! I naturally wanted to use my new Special Delivery set by Gina K. Designs, in which a lot of the images can be used for a masculine greeting! I used the simple postage stamp with a few postage elements including non-real postage cost and added a little sponging for interest. The gauze digital paper I used is a freebie at StampTV called Summer Fabrics (it's fun to use year-round)! I finished my card off with some white metallic adhesive dots.

Thanks for stopping by - hope you're having a great day!

WCMD shares

Here are a few cards I made using new Gina K. Designs stamps for a few World Card Making challenges on SCS Saturday. I managed to make 6 cards even though we left in the middle of the day to get a few Geocaches, watch a movie (Extract-so funny!) and pick up a new hard drive for my laptop that crashed last week! Well, it ended up really being the memory so now I have more memory and a new hard drive! The next thing I'm looking forward to is getting Windows 7 when it is released in a few weeks with my student discount! Yes!!

This first card uses Hip to be square on some designer paper Linnie Bell collection. Now that I look at this card, I wish I had stamped the sentiment on some solid paper---better fix that before I forget-it just looks a little too busy for my taste. I do, however love the look of the adirondack dimensional pearls around the perimeter of the stamp and around the sentiment. This challenge was to use Beate's weekend sketch (WSC100) and something chocolate (used the expresso dimensional pearls) and a Thank You card.

For my next card, I combined 3 challenges (Flourishes sketch) and (Gina K. Designs Color Challenge of pumpkin spice, chocolate chip and ivory) and the (Crazy 4 Challenges Sew Happy-stitching, C4C5). I just adore these colors, adding some Cosmo Crickett Earth Love paper! I used A Year of Leaves for this Get Well card, which will go out this week to a gal on STV who will be having surgery. I love using my new sewing machine, in fact I also made a few Christmas gifts this weekend using it too I will share in the future with y'all.

Did you see StampTV has a new IDEA CENTER? You have to check it out, there is a ton of inspiration, samples by the illustrators, tip sheets for all the sets Gina sells in the store.

Hope you have a great week!!

CAS17 & 18: Pretty Bear

I managed to miss last week’s Clean & Simple Challenge so I figured I would combine it with this week’s so I can stay current. It’s the only challenge at SCS I have been committed to so I may as well follow-through!

For last week’s challenge {CAS17}, we were to draw inspiration from beach totes/towels and I used the little bear hooded towel below so I could use my newly released Giving Tree sets Whimsical Wishes Beary Special & Beary Special accessories, by Taylored Expressions!

For this week’s challenge {CAS18}, we are to use pinks/corals, kraft & one other color cardstock. I chose to use pattern paper, prism cardstock colors & embellishments from the April Key Ingredient Subscription kit by Taylored Expressions, because it fit the feel I set out to achieve for my pretty bear!

I colored my bear with prismacolor pencils and blended with odorless mineral spirits and placed a paper-pieced bow by the bear’s ear to make her pretty! I can’t help but smile when I look at this bear!

Remember, a portion of the sale of each of these sets goes to a worthy cause, The Hospital for Sick Children (Sick Kids) a health-care community dedicated to improving the health of children. Their mission is to provide the best in family-centered, compassionate care, to lead in scientific and clinical advancement, and to prepare the next generation of leaders in child health. The hospital is located in Canada, but is known around the world for its innovation and leadership in research. You can read more about their much needed and very effective work by visiting their website. I just knew when I first saw this set it was going to become my favorite and you will see another reason why soon when I have a special Stamp a Sweet Impression project to share with you!

CAS07: Punched Blooms

The Clean and Simple challenge for today was posted late last night so I was able to play but knew I wouldn’t upload until today (I’m on my lunch break on my laptop). I am so excited about the Marvy Flower punches I got from Gina K Designs which coordinate with the Bold Flowers from the Floral Frenzy stampTV kit. If you’re not interested in purchasing the whole kit, never fear…the sets will be available to purchase separately after the new kit debuts.

CAS07 is to use Punches but keep it Clean and Simple still! I grabbed a few bright colors {Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun and Pink Passion} to stamp my flowers and punch, adding a coordinating Fire rhinestone brads by SU! on top of a 3/4” Black Onyx center. To tie in the black, I stamped my sentiment from Tag Lines and outlined the flowers with a black pen. I used Kurtis' sketch challenge {STVSC4} at stampTV for this card too!

Since I loved those colors so much, and it never hurts to do 2 cards in one sitting rather than just one, I decided to include a slightly stepped-up card. I love the pop of black, so I used the larger flower punch for a black onyx layer. The centers of these flowers to add more white accents are white metal dots I got at Joanne’s last year. Of course I had to add some embossing since that is a no-no with CAS but since this is MY stepped-up card it was o.k.!! I added a few swatches of ribbon {pumpkin twill and pink grosgrain} from Taylored Expressions to coordinate and chose to use another punch for my sentiment from the set. I just love BOTH cards!!

P.S. if you would like to see a bigger view of the cards I post, you can click on them.

P.S.S. Gina K has some nestability blog candy to giveaway in honor of her last video on stampTV
using Nestabilities in your Cuttlebug!

Thanks for visiting today!

Gina K challenge sketch cards

I'm happy to be hosting several challenges for Gina K on StampTV & SCS this week!  I wanted to share the cards & sketches with you so if you'd like to play for a chance to win some free stamps you can.  The first card is using the new set A Charmed Life illustrated by Melanie
One thing I love about stamping is trying to think outside the box while mix & matching sets - her sets tend to lend themselves to such fun that way!  I inked up the top of the wine glass in her set and masked in tulips from A Year of Flowers set.  I added a flourish punch & tiny little flowers from the charms in the set in between my two left panels that were stamped with a sentiment from the set.  I finished my card off with some gingham ribbon & brads from the Gina K Floral Frenzy kit.  The black onyx cardstock I used for layering is new by Gina K - the thickest cardstock I've ever had and a 'true' black!  I love it.   

Here is my sketch & link to the challenge on StampTV for details on how you can play along!  I hope you do play - if you use Gina K stamps on your card you get 2 entries for the drawing!  

My next card also uses the same sets to make a floating lotus flower in a water bowl.  The colors were inspired by the new digital papers Rich and Shabby made by Emily on the design team, I just love them and the sheer bloom I found at my LSS was the perfect touch for my embellishment!  The relax sentiment is from Perfectly Polished.  

Here's a close-up of the sparkle from the copic atyou spica pen on the lotus & gloss from crystal lacquer.  
Here is the sketch & link to the challenge on SCS if you'd like to play along!  

Fun with ATC and < 30 Min Card Doodlefactory-Style!

Have you even seen the cuteness that is Doodlefactory Easter yet?? You still have a few more HOURS to get in the drawing for a free set at the Starving Artistamps blog! Go there after you see what I made using the set!! The Ways to Use it challenge {WT208} on SCS this Thursday was to make an ATC (Artist Trading Card 2.5" x 3.5" canvas) which I think are a lot of fun to make! Mine showcases the adorable Georgie popping out of the easter egg excited bunny-style! I got my inspiration for the colors from the ribbon below that I got from my sweet friend Lee (a fellow lover of pink & brown!)
and here is Georgie on a full-sized card pairing it with papers from the DCWV Sweet stack, an assortment of sweets and fun patterns using sweet colors!! I ust love the sentiment, 'where's the chocolate' from Doodlefactory All About Easter set. See the inspiration ribbon I got the colors for this card from? It really IS sweet and ties in the spots on the egg!

For those of you who have seen Georgie is facing right in the set and wonder how I got him facing left to work with the egg, I used a mirror image stamp (it's a solid stamp). You just ink your image and stamp on the mirror image and stamp on your paper. I usually get a much lighter shade than the ink I'm using so after I color, I usually will go over the image with a permanent marker (in this case in Savannah, GA I found a great art supply store and got a nice brown pen, it's made by Faber-Castell-it's Indian Ink, waterproof). I think it really makes him pop because it's darker than my coloring.

My next card I made for the Limited Supplies challenge on SCS - {LSC210} to make a card in 30 mins or less and I thought the safest way for me to pull that feat off since it takes me much longer than that nowadays, was to make a one-layer card. Uses Gina K's base weight white cardstock which is sturdy, takes ink like a dream and there is no bleed through with coloring. On this card, I used all of Georgie (on the left) and his girlfriend Freckles who he is presenting with a flower from his garden. The sentiment is also from All About Easter. Like their fuzzy tails? I searched high & low for my pink pom poms but ever found them. However I realized I had some white felt and it serves the same purpose. I like to improvise like that. They are colored with peerless watercolors.

Hope you enjoyed these fun Easter images! I'll have more to share this week! In case you don't win the DF set, you can always go shopping with a 10% discount code {savetendb} in the store for any Starving Artistamps or Doodlefactory stamps!

GKD Challenge: Buttons & Bows All Askew - Congrats

how's that for a title?  Here is the card I made for Joanne's Gina K December challenge on SCS

"create something with any combination of buttons and bows, your card must use both (they don't necessarily need to be together) and something on your card must be on an angle. You could have a tilted main panel, or a tilted sentiment - be creative, just keep it crooked somehow!"

For my card, I used all sets by Melanie for Gina K Designs: Little Tees set (shirt, arrow) Just So Sporty (baby), Say it with Flowers (happy) and A Year of Flowers (for you) and Basic Grey Urban Prairie dp & buttons and the rose satin ribbon is from Taylored Expressions.  Last but not least, the sketch I used is from Lauren's Saturday sketch16 from a week ago, better late than never, right?  

Gina K is also hosting  series of daily challenges in the forum on SCS, Dec 27-January 1st.  Go check them out - there have been 2 great ones so far I haven't been able to participate in yet (not because I don't want to, I haven't had the energy! I got sick on Christmas Eve and is still lingering, my body's way of telling me to slow down and I am listening).