Bragging......

Okay we all have something we like to brag about whether it's the ability to always find the best deals on the sales rack (gosh I wish that was me!)or, most importantly, the people we love! I can't tell you how many times I get asked if I have pictures of my kids! Well, not in my purse but every where else! So when I saw these little photo albums at the Target $1 spot (vortex to me - sucks me right in every time!) I knew exactly what I could do with them!

Here's what I'm talking about;

Before (this was actually the before of another book I did - I made quite a few of these!)


After


The process is easy actually. Simply remove the cardboard that comes in the front and back (save for another project or to use as insulation in your closet like I do!) and basically create a card front. One thing to remember is you'll see the back of the front and the front of the back (KWIM?) so use double sided paper or cardstock to keep it nice. For this particular book I found the cutest stickers on one of my Target "red sticker" hunting expeditions so, using my letters from PaperTrey Ink (which are clear), I was able to position the letters of the little boys name to look like the monkeys were holding them! The leaves are from the same sticker pack but the grass is actually a stamp from "The Rubber Cafe" - such a versatile stamp by the way! So, just decorate and fill with your pictures! At about $1 for each book and using your scraps, it's the cheapest, yet best, gift ever! I made one for my Dad even of our last marathon/5K walk event we did! He loved it! This particular one is for my daughter's friend who threw her baby shower recently, a thank you of sorts. I know I can hear my daughter, Jessica, now saying "Mom, where's Logan's"?! Ha ha ha the fun of telling her to wait....ha ha ha!

For the curious - my oldest daughter, Jessica, is due to have a baby boy any day now. He's going to be named Logan Greggory. Once he's born I'll need more of these as I'm sure I'll be getting lots and lots of pictures - right Jessica?!! LOL!

Can't Get Enough of These Dragonflies!

I'm sitting here in the "morning room" with the sunshine streaming through the window! I'm so warm, so lazy right now and just want to curl up next to my daughter! She's laying in the sun like a cat enjoying the warmth! Something else that makes me think of warm sunny and lazy days of summer are dragonflies. I love these dragonflies! This stamp is one that I am having just so much fun with. It's another one that I got from The Rubber Cafe as part of my DT package




I used a recent challenge from SplitCoast Stampers for this layout. If, by chance, you haven't discovered SplitCoast Stampers website go check it out now! It's an excellent source of inspiration!

Here's a breakdown of what I used to create this card;

Stamp - The Rubber Cafe Large Paisley Dragonfly

Ink - Timber Brown Staz-On ink

Paper - Basic Grey Marrakech paper pad, SU for the solid colors

Accessories - Prima flowers, Making Memories Star brads

Punch - Martha Stewart leaf punch

The holes were made using my SU Mat Pack and paper piercer

I have some more neat projects coming with these dragonflies so I hope you come back soon!

Until next time....

Keep Your Place.....

Are you as bad as me with your books when it comes to remembering where you stopped last?! I fall asleep or I close the book and think "oh I can remember where I stopped no problem"! HAH! Yeah right....5 minutes later I am still looking for familiar words to remind me where I left off! Well, what if you had one of these pretty bookmarks to put in there?!






I used two stamps from The Rubber Cafe that I received in my Design Team package this month! I LOVE these stamps! The butterfly is called Small Paisley Butterfly and is one of 6 different butterflies available there! The dragonfly is called Small Paisley Dragonfly and is available in 2 sizes! I love these stamps, wait I said that already! There is just so much that you can do with them! Seriously! Yesterday I posted a card with the dragonfly where I did colored ink and this bookmark is using the "emboss resist" technique where you emboss them, rub ink over the whole project but then rub the ink off of the embossed areas and it really "pops" out with the color! I used all SU ink for these, the colored flowers are "Prima's" with a tiny brad from "Making Memories" and, the white ones are from a pail of wedding confetti from Michael's. The leaves are from scrap paper and I punched them out using my Martha Stewart leaf punch!
They sort of make you want to go read a book just to use them don't they?! I just got done with the series "Twilight"! Yeah, I know, behind the curve but that's okay! I still enjoyed the book reading all 4 in less then 3 weeks! He he he! I never have to wonder where my kids get their love of reading from! LOL!

I hope you like them!

Until next time....

Hooray For Spring!!

This morning at 0744 it will officially be Spring! I am SO excited for warm weather to come AND stay! Thinking about this warm weather and playing around with my new DT stamps from The Rubber Cafe really made me want summer to come fast! I wanted to do something a little different here. A clean cut card so you could see all the detail in this dragonfly stamp!



It's part of the paisley designs that are available at The Rubber Cafe and is called "Small Paisley Dragonfly"! I see this as having so many possibilities don't you?! You could color it in, emboss it (which I have a sample to post next!) just do it in different color inks like I did, use it as a background stamp....so many options! I also wanted different words from what I was finding in my personal stash of stamps so, using my JustRite stamps with my "curlz" font I made my own! How often does that happen that you want words but to only use them once?! It happens to me a lot so I got these stamps and now I can put whatever I want on my cards! Here's a list of what I used to create this card;

Stamps - The Rubber Cafe Small Paisley Dragonfly ,
JustRite stamps

Paper - Kraft paper from PaperTrey Ink, black and white from SU

Inks - SU

Dry Embossed Lines - Scor Pal

Piercing mat and tool for the line of holes

Brads - SU

Sunny Days Are Here Again....

OMG! We have had sunshine for 2 days and the weatherman is promising ANOTHER day of sunshine! I am SOOOO excited! I have seriously had my fill of cold wet days, working out indoors.... all of it! The past few days have meant outdoor workouts, I'm training for another 1/2 marathon, this is huge for someone who hates treadmills! Have you ever seen the people who can do like these dances and stuff on treadmills? Not me! When I'm on one it's more like treadmill kill! LOL! Half the time I get into my music or my thoughts and lose speed and wind out flipping off of it somehow! Then again....I think it's probably entertaining for those around me! Treadmill comedian! LOL! The card I'm posting today is one that I made just because and thought I'd share with you all. Unfortunately life takes turns that you need these kind so the least we can do as papercrafters is, well pretty them up right?!



Well, what do you think? You can't really tell in that flower but I put a deep purple rhinestone that, of course, came from Target's $1 Vortex Spot that sucks me in every time! LOL! The DP is on that was actually strips of patterns that I liked at the time I bought it but since have decided I liked it better cut up! LOL! The base is SU cardstock, the green is The Paper Company, the flower is a "Prima" from one of their "Bitty Bags", I used two of my beloved SU punches here, the scalloped edge and the corner making punch (I love it so much I can't remember the name - shocker! LOL! It's 0500 what can I say?! LOL!), I also used an MS leaf punch. I colored the heart with my Copic markers and the edges are done with Tim Holtz distress ink (I caved and got one!) and the words are actually deep purple ink from SU - eggplant parmesan I think?! Well, okay maybe not parmesan but that's what I think whenever I see the name! LOL! Well, that's it for today! Tonight I'll be taking pictures of some other cards I've been working on. I have SO many done for my DT that I can't wait to share with you! I hope you come back to visit soon!!!

Until next time....

What Is It.....

What is it about being your own worst critic? I mean really! Shouldn't you be your own best cheerleader?! I have been putting cards together and think "that's not too bad" then, I start mentally picking it apart! Know what I mean?! Seriously, here I was just having a good ole time coloring away at this image and was thinking ahead to what all I was going to do with it and, in my mind, it turned out cute! Then, on paper...literally, it didn't turn out quite the same! LOL! Were I to do this again I think I'd ink up that yellow background and maybe break out some more of my bling I've been harboring like the rhinestone depression was coming! LOL! Well, here is the card I'm talking about!



I couldn't resist the balloons - look closely at their shape! The words - too cute! All from "River City Rubberworks"! They have the FUNNIEST stamps ever! LOL! I got the DP from JoAnn Fabric's open bin, the cardstock is from SU, the pink brads are from Making Memories, I used my tag punch from SU, I free hand cut the blue behind that white tag shape, my oval cutting tools (<--0500 mental mind block and can't remember what it's called UGH!) and I colored it with my Koh-I-Nor pencils! I think that's it!
I guess I opened the door for suggestions of how to "buck it up a notch" so, let me know what you think! I'm game since I'm always looking for ways to improve!!

Thanks for looking!

Until next time....

Blog Header Photo and a Thanks!

I just wanted to thank all of my great blog readers for your kind comments! They're awesome! I love getting each and every one of them! They totally make my day! Really! To think I don't have to threaten you with no dinner to leave me nice words or ground you until you compliment me....! LOL! Just kidding!! Seriously though, thank you ALL and keep on leaving them! I need that pat on the back!
Someone mentioned my new blog header photo too so I thought I'd tell you where it's from. It's actually from Germany. We were stationed there for 2 years and lived in a fabulous village, on a fabulous street going up on top of a fabulous little mountain (seeing a theme here?!!LOL!) and this was the, well... fabulous view of the village! We totally LOVED living there and would go back in a heartbeat if we could move into the same house! Oh, the name of the village would help huh?! It's Reichenbach Steegan, Germany! Just outside of Ramstein Air Base!

Until next time....

Make A Wish....

Well, at least I was told when you blow on one of these dandelion fluffy things and make a wish it's supposed to come true! I guess had I wished for my parent's lawn to be covered in dandelions it would have come through....! LOL! It's okay to dream right...now if only that cute boy had liked me or I had gotten those roller skates....! LOL! When I went to the new store "Paper Makeup" I fell in love (I'm sure that's what I wished for at least once, a fairy of my own...!)with her stamps! Hello ADORABLE! I'm not normally into fairy tales but these fairies are just SO cute I had to have at least one....sort of a starter kit! I bought the fairy called "Kirsten"! Now what I thought was pretty cool about this stamp was that I could buy it with the EZ Mount or without! Well, me personally am happy to have someone else put that on the stamps for me! It's seriously sticky, close to the stickiness of kid snot but, well, 3 kids later and that's another story! LOL! Okay, I know, I know - gross! LOL! Anywhoooo take a look at the card I made with her;



So here's the details - the purple and white papers are from SU, the green is from The Paper Company, DP - another pad I bought at one time or another, the brads are from JoAnn fabrics dollar section, the flowers are from a great bag of Prima's I bought at my LSS but, if you want them go to Mandy's store "Limelight" I saw them there recently! She also has a wealth of other great deals too! I also thought it needed some sparkle too! I mean, why can't Kirsten have it?! Tinkerbell did! LOL! I colored her with my Koh-I-Nor pencils and Gamsol! I'm sort of hooked on that technique right now!
I'm mailing this card off to a very special little girl in my life - my Wuzoo! Okay, maybe that's not her birth name, it's actually Sara but I think she'll always be my "Wuzoo"! LOL! Right now I can't even remember how she got that name from me either! LOL!

Well I hope you like it!

Until next time....

Guess What?!!!

Chicken butt!! LOL! OMG! It's been a bit since I've blogged! We've been going through a "thing" or two at my house but should get good news about it today! YEAH! Then, of course, my daughter and I both get a virus! Lucky her, she got it on Sunday. Not so lucky me got it yesterday! Came home, after my 6 month review, and slept until 5:00 this morning! All better today....hopefully!
So on to the real fun! This stamp set just cracks me up! I picked up all of them from High Hopes almost a year ago. The timing was perfect when I saw them as I had just been informed my youngest brother was going over to Iraq and that saying?!! Well it is his FAVORITE! LOL! He'd call me up and say that to me all the time! You know I had to get them then right?! Well, just for the heck of it I decided to make another card with this set. About half way through I got a phone call - bet you can't guess who from?! LOL! Yep! My brother! How ironic is that?! He's such a card! Get it - a card?! UGH! I know boooo! LOL! Well here's the card I made;

Outside;



Inside;


I used Tempting Turquoise from SU for the card base and the ribbon, the DP well I get so much (I'm such a junky!) I can never remember where I get it from, the brads are from Target Dollar Vortex (sucks me in every time!), the flower is from those little wedding buckets of flowers at Michael's, and I colored it with my Koh-I-Nor pencils and Gamsol!

I hope you like it.......hope that saying doesn't get stuck in your head! LOL!

Until next time....

Spring Fling Time!

YEAH! I get so excited when I think about Spring being almost here! I am SO ready for warm weather! I attempted to go outside to run a couple of miles but only made it down the sidewalk before I realized - too windy and cold wind to boot! I was sad since I had been thinking of it all night! Ready to run! So for my morning exercise I chose to do a routine with my resistance bands instead using a video demonstration from www.SparkPeople.Com - you so have to try it! I mean, really! The one I did this morning didn't make me even take my hiney out of my chair! How awesome is that?! I know I got a good work out though since it did include use of resistance bands and my legs hurt when I was done! Seriously check them out! Bikini season will be here before you know it! LOL! Yeah, right! Me + Bikini = nightmares for all who see! LOL!
On to the Spring Fling Fun! Over at Scrapbook News and Review they're starting their fun and I'm sure you're not going to want to miss out on it! Sign up for their newsletter while you're there and, better yet, sign up for their magazine! It's got some awesome ideas in it! So....whatcha waiting for?! Get going and have fun for the next two weeks! YEAH!!!!

Until next time....

Spring Flowers

I am SO loving making these shaped cards! I saw the first one on another "Michelle's" blog called "Twisted Chick's Creations". Go check her out because she is one seriously talented lady! I wish I had half her talent and ideas, stuff, cards, projects...LOL! JK! Well not really but I don't want her to think I'm a stalker...then again isn't feedblitz really all about being stalking friendly?! Okay before it gets too weird here's my version of Michelle's card;

Outside


Inside


I got my chipboard shapes at Michael's and, right now at mine, they have houses, amoebas and stars for a dollar! YES! I'm all about those good deals! LOL! The stamped image is from "The Greeting Farm", the circles are from my Nestabilities and the little clip that holds the card shut is from Making Memories! I colored my image with my Koh-I-Nor pencils and Gamsol! I got both of those at Michael's too! Sign up for their newsletter and you'll get coupons to make the purchase cheaper!

So this was also an entry for a DT call, won't say which one but I didn't make it! That's okay though since I know I have some serious competition! I am interested in critiques if you have any suggestions though! LOL! Thanks in advance !

Until next time....

Being Brave Here.....

Well, I've been brave as of late! I've tried out for another couple of design teams! One in particular is for the "Whimsy Stamps Design Team"! I'm nervous as I am pretty hard on myself, my own worst critic you could say! What the heck, you only live once! Not to mention you usually wind up pulling out ALL the stops when you do, and get a great card for your stash! Without further ado, here's my entry;

Outside


Inside


I was blessed with this doggy image from a kind lady from "Tavias Charms" so I'm not sure what the company is, the paper is more from my mega stash, the big eyelets are from SU as is the twine, flowers are Prima's and the actual house is from Michael's craft store! I actually hand wrote the "doghouse again" comment - you couldnt' tell could you?! LOL! I also used my nestabilities for the scalloped shapes too! I LOVE my nestabilities!! I have more coming in this week - caved on some more despite trying to save up for a big event coming soon!

I am sure we all know a guy or two we could send this rascal to eh?! Funny thing is though, in my house...it's probably me that would get it first! LOL!

Wanna give it a shot too?! Click here for more info! Want to see more "Whimsy Stamps"? Click here Here's more info

To enter our Design Team call you must...
- design a NEW card or scrapbook page specifically for this call. Artwork created for previous blog posts, challenges, events, etc. will not be accepted.
- make a card or scrapbook page using an animal image as the main focal point. If you have a Whimsy Stamps Animals stamp, please use that. If not, that's OK.
- use multiple layers of cardstock or printed papers and at least one form of embellishment, such as buttons or flowers.
- post your creation on your blog with details, info about our call and links back to this call post.
- post your creation in the SCS gallery and then PM me. We will view each piece of artwork and leave you a comment so that you know we saw your entry.

All Whimsy Stamps Design Team members will...
- be a member of the team for a period of 6 months.
- have his/her own blog to showcase and display Whimsy related artwork created with our stamps. You must have a personal blog to be considered.
- create at least one Whimsy related project each week and post on his/her blog with details.
- submit new artwork, weekly, to me for posting in our online gallery.
- participate in as many Whimsy sponsored events as possible.
- closely monitor our DT blog for news and updates to Whimsy related information.

Members of the Whimsy Stamps design team will....
- receive free stamps for the Collection he/she will be designing for and 25% off all other Whimsy products for the length of his/her design work with us.
- have a photo/bio on our design team page with links to his/her blog or website for the length of his/her design period.
- receive a DT member blog badge to display on his/her blog.
- get sneak peeks of upcoming Whimsy releases.

So, what are you waiting for? Get creative and show us your artistic talents! If you have any questions, please email me at whimsystamps@gmail.com. Remember, this call closes on Sunday, March 1st. No late entries will be accepted.

Good luck!

Until next time....