I LOVE COTTAGE WALL!!!!

I had to (absolutely HAD to) participate in a weekend challenge with my Stampin' Up group, the Little Debbies. Cindy scours the web and each Friday sends out a color challenge and a sketch challege. Normally, I get lazy and combine the two, but this week I had an idea for the sketch that did not fit the colors, so I forced myself to make two cards. Hard work, I know, but I was up for it....

The first card is my take on the color challenge ---Bravo Burgandy, Tangerine Tango, Green Galore and YoYo Yellow. You can find the color challenge here. The stamp set is A Flower for All Seasons. Even though this is not made from the sketch challenge for our group, it is from a sketch challege from Pals Paper Arts, which I found on Stampin' Pretty here. Hers was super cute using button birdies. Be sure to check it out.

The next card is using the sketch challenge Cindy found from Mojo Monday here. This sketch is great. I used the Cottage Wall DSP and took the other colors from the colors in it. I am probably going to need to stock up on this paper and the Orchid Opulence, since they will be retiring when the new catalog/color renovation kicks in. But, I am thrilled that Rich Razzleberry will be joining the standard colors line-up. I can't get enough of it. The stamp set is Delight in Life. And check out the brad on this baby --- it is from the Build-A-Brad kit that I have had for (ahem) awhile, but have never used. I love how this card turned out. So much so that I decided to give it to my sister-in-law for her birthday (April 25th).

But I also wanted to do a little extra for her. Since I had not used my Milk Carton Die yet, I figured what better time. Inside are some Hershey's Milk Chocolate Nuggets. Every girl needs some chocolate on her birthday (or everyday, for that matter).

Ain't it the cutest little thing??? Happy Birthday, Ann!!!!!

Thanks for stopping by & have a Great Day!!!!!

FOR THE TEACHERS.....

Now that it is time to gear up for the end of school (YAY!!!!), I am going to take you back to another time. Christmas to be exact. I wanted to do a little something for the teachers and found these great planners for 2010 at the dollar store. They actually came in a plastic protector --- how cool is that??? I covered each of them in a different (retired) DSP and put their names on the outside (cut out with my Cricut). I also personalized a couple of ink pens by inserting the DSP into them to match.

My favorite changes each time I look at them. Now I have to come up with something for the "End-of-the-Year" gift.

Thanks for stopping by & Have a Great Day!!!!!

JUST IN 'CASE'......

As a demonstrator for Stampin' Up, I receive a magazine (Stampin' Success) every month that has articles and samples galore. There are some awesomely talented folks out there, let me tell ya. The big news this month is that Stampin' Up is having a HUGH color renovation for their cardstock and accessories and I am thrilled. There are a few colors I hate to see go, but the new ones will more than make up for their loss.

I fell in love with more than a few of the projects in this month's Stampin' Success. Last weekend, I needed a couple of birthday cards for a couple of friends that are a couple (got that???). Her birthday was the 19th and his was the 20th --- and she is quick to let you know that she is 364 days younger than him. So, I decided to "CASE" a couple of them for my cards. "CASE" means Copy And Share Everything (I think that's right, anyway). I do this alot, especially when I am in a hurry to get something done --- or when I just fall in love with the card. Of course, you need to give credit where credit is due.

This card was done using the a la card template they have in the back. They give these to help come up with simple, yet striking, cards for workshops & classes. Stampin' Up is a great company if you ever decided to start a business --- they never stop helping you with tips to help build your business. I used the Sweet Pea DSP and felt flowers for this one. I really like that paper, don't you? If you remember, I also used it on my sister-in-law's card here.

This card was a CASE of one done by Shelley Bohan from Canada. I always seem to have problems coming up with cards for the fellas, so when I saw this one I knew it would be perfect for the gents in your life --- not too frilly, but still festive. No ribbons or bows to be seen. All products used on both cards are Stampin' Up, except I used another brand of embossing folder for the Tangerine Tango one. I also used several of the "retired" In-Colors that SU! will be bringing back as part of the new color renovation I spoke of. The base is Tangerine Tango and the blue is the Pacific Point.

Thanks for stopping by and have a Great Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL OF THE LITTLE PEOPLE........

Lookie, lookie --- I got an award!!!!! My good friend & fellow Little Debbie team member, Cindy Blekas, has awarded me this great Sunshine Award. Yes, me. Wow!!!! She claims that I inspire her with my talent, but I'm pretty sure she just loves me for my quick wit & striking good looks. Whatever it is, I am supremely honored to receive this. And from such a talented person, that makes it all the better. Thanks so much, Cindy!!!

 But, of course, with all awards come responsibilities. Now, I'm supposed to award others that inspire me with their creativity. Here are the rules:

1. Put the Sunshine Award on your blog and/or within your post.

2. Pass the award to 12 other bloggers.

3. List the nominees within your post.

4. Let them know they received this award by leaving a comment on their blog.

5. Share the love and link to the person from whom you received the award.


Here is my list:

1. Debbie Naylor, Unfrogettable Stamping (my fearless SU! leader)

2. Sherri Gough, Blissfully Unique Stamping (one of my fearless sidelines)

3. Beverly Cole, Beestamper (another sideline)

4. Karen Russell - Snapshots {of a good life} (an amazing photographer)

5. Rita Johnson - Rita Harder Johnson (an amazing artist)

6. Candace Grahl - Twiggie Makes (also one of my sidelines)

7. Mary Fish - Stampin' Pretty (don't know her personally, but love her stuff)

8. Nancy Dawson - Creative Wishes (love how she recycles everything)

9. Kari V. - Dragonfly Impressions (my sideline from CA)

10. Evita Erk - Evita Scraps and Stamps (another sideline)

11. Lori Subosits - My Stampin' Blog (yes, another sideline --- quite a talented bunch, aren't they?)

12. Cathy Indelicato - Crafty Thoughts (one of the first blogs I started to follow)

And don't forget to check out Cindy's blog, Simply Cindy Crafts. She would be on my list, if I could have named her. She is an awsome crafter!!!! Thanks, again, Cindy!!!!

JUST A SWAPPIN'....

Every month, my Stampin' Up group (the wonderful Little Debbie's) has a swap. One of the demos will pick a theme and we go at it. For April, Tammy Russell was our hostess and she picked Spring Flowers as our theme. After the winter we had, I think everyone was more than ready for Spring flowers. Since she stated that this was an "anything goes" swap, I decided to go with my first love -- scrapbooking --- and make a 6 X 6 page. I was inpired by my side-line, Sherri, to do this, because she had done the cutest 6 x 6 page for another swap. Anywhoooo, here is what I came up with:

I had an idea on the swap before this one to use the hemp twine as a gift bag handle, but could never get it to do what I wanted. So, when I was thinking of flowers, I thought of maybe using the twine as the stamen on the inside of the flower. I punched out the flowers using the 5-petal flower (from the big catty) and the Extra Large Fancy Flower (from the Occasions Mini). I attached them together with an Antique Brass Jumbo Eyelet. Then, I tied a knot in the end of my piece of twine, stuck it through the middle of the eyelet and taped it to the back of the flowers. Everything was then raised up on Stampin' Dimensionals. The leaves are punched out from the Extra Large Two-Step Bird (also from the mini) and the vase is the Ornament Punch with the bottom trimmed off. The vase was also ran through with one of the texture plates, but you really can't tell that from the picture, and it is also raised up. I sponged around the outside of the large flower and used the Color Spritzer Tool to add some interest to the backgound. The "Cherish" sentiment is from Warm Words and the other is from Stem Sayings.

Thanks for stopping by & have a GREAT day!!!!!!

SPRING BREAK!!!!!

Who said "break"? This has been the busiest week I think I have had all year. I had last Friday and Monday off from work for the Easter holiday, but they filled up very quickly. Here was my week:

FRIDAY: Easter parties at school. This is Lindsey's last year in elementary school, so all the fun ends here. Her class actually did breakfast (scrambled eggs, sausage links, tater tots) and then had their egg hunt. Logan's class had their party and egg hunt in the afternoon. In between, I got to have lunch with a friend. Not a bad day at all.

SATURDAY: I did chores at home (Does laundry ever end???), in addition to my Walmart trip (3 hours of my life down the drain).

SUNDAY: First up was Sunrise service at my sister-in-law's church (my family, my mom & my mom-in-law went together). They served breakfast afterwards. I then went home to cook my part of Easter lunch at my mom's. After lunch, I came back home to cook for my part of Easter supper at my sister-in-law's house. After supper, I went home and passed out from food overload.

MONDAY: Jimmy and I took the kids for their long overdue birthday pictures (at least I got to them within the year) and then we went to see "How to Train Your Dragon" --- in 3-D, no less. Great movie --- I highly recommend it.

TUESDAY: Long overdue doctor's checkups for the kids (2 shots for Logan & 3 shots for Lindsey --- always a fun time) and eye exams for me and Logan. Yes, bless his heart, Logan will be getting glasses. He not only got my good looks, but my bad eyesight, too.

WEDNESDAY: Back to work for me. We went out for supper with the neighbors --- their treat for my hubby keeping their driveway cleared of snow this past winter.

THURSDAY: Went to work early so I could get off early to go get Logan & bring him to get fitted for his glasses.

FRIDAY & SATURDAY: Cleaned, cleaned & cleaned a little more. I started on Friday after I got home from work hoping I would have a free day this weekend. We went through all of the kids clothes to see what still fit & what didn't. I also switched out my winter/summer stuff. Hopefully, this will not cause it to snow again.

SUNDAY: My semi-free day. I still had a couple loads of clothes to do, but in between these I loaded my My Digital Studio software onto my laptop & played a little. I also got to play along with a couple of my SU! groups challenges. I am going to try to post those soon.

MONDAY: Back to the grind of work & school. Spring break my foot.........

Here is my first MDS project. I'm not sure why the center section didn't come out clearer, unless it has to do with me saving in as web/e-mail size. But not bad for a computer challenged novice. I can't wait to play with it some more.

Thanks for visiting and have a GREAT day!!!!!

FOX & FRIENDS FOR A FRIEND

A friend in my Stampin' Up group (Hey, Kacey!!!) sent us an e-mail about a local 4 year old girl who just underwent a very major surgery, which is one of several she has endured. She was asking our group if any of us could send her some cards to cheer her up. No need to ask me twice. I love to make cards and, when it is used for good, I love to show my superpowers. Okay, maybe super is a bit strong, but............. So, this is what I came up.

All products by Stampin' Up

I used the Fox & Friends stamp set from the Occasions Mini Catalog. The sentiment is from Fundamental Phrases out of the Idea Book & Catalog. The colors were from a colour Q challenge that our SU! group does each week. This one was cQc#20. Check it out here. The sketch was from a sample of a Mojo Monday sketch here done by Mary Fish here. I just love this sketch and I love Mary's take on it --- she has such a great style. I wanted the colors to be bright, since it was for a child and this combo really fit the bill. The dsp is the Sending Love paper out of the mini. It has a little sparkle to it that I don't think you can see in this picture. I crimped the Brilliant Blue layer to add some texture.

I hope this will brighten her day just a little. I think I will go hug my kids now.

Thanks for stopping by & have a great weekend!!!!!