Coupons - Michael's 7/5, JoAnn 7/19

Some new coupons out this week!

• 50% off one item at Michael's until July 5th.
• 40% off one item at JoAnn until July 19th. Also 10% off your entire purchase July 3rd through the 6th.

RAK From JenMarie

Just a quick "hi", we're deeeeeeeeeeep in house stuff & packing right now! I wanted to share this sweet RAK I received from JenMarie -- she won the $10 JessicaLynnOriginal gift certificate I had as blog candy during the big June release earlier this month and she made this CUTE card with her new goodies. Wasn't it sweet of her to send it to me? I *LOVE* happy mail! Thanks JenMarie! {She sent it right away too, I am just behind in posting things}.

You can see more of her work on her blog - Taylor~Made by JenMarie.

Altered Frame - Football

Here's a project I made for DH for Father's Day a couple of weeks ago using my new Football Fan stamps from Firecracker Designs by Pamela.

This is one of those frames from the Target ($25) Dollar Spot I picked up a couple of months ago. I haven't done a frame in ages so I thought I'd start with a cheap one, LOL! I traced it out onto plain white GP 110# cardstock and decorated it. All the images were stamped with Palette Noir ink and colored with SU markers (Garden Green and Summer Sun -- GO PACK GO!!) and Prismacolor markers.

I adhered it with ModPodge on the back ONLY (so the front is just the matte finish of the paper itself, no gloss).

The photo was taken last December when DH and I made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land (aka Lambeau Field) to see The Man (aka Brett Favre) play in person *at* Lambeau before he retired (I've seen him in Minneapolis a few times but it's just not the same. Viking fans throw beer at Packer fans when the puple ones play poorly. Yum.). As you can tell we are very, very bundled up in the photo (I'm not quite that fat!). If you wanna read about that adventure you can click here.

Everything Inque Day Coupon

Tomorrow, June 28th is Everything Inque Day. Save 20% on all products by Inque Boutique at participating retailers. Click here for coupon and details.

Unfortunately, no participating retailers are available anywhere near me. :-( There are some online retailers I might check out though. Either way, hopefully one of my dear readers can benefit from this deal!

Tutorial Thursday - 06/26/08

From Mel - French Faux Metal Cuttlebug and DIY Text Paper. GREAT stuff to check out here!

Watercoloring for Cheaters. I love the title, ha! Cambria is the best -- she shares some ideas she learned from fellow stamp rockstars. I have been trying to remember if I ever knew this before and I don't think I did - wish I had. It's all about the fast, cheap and easy!

Tag, I'm It!

I got a fun facts tag from Jenn B. over at StampinAngelJenn the other day. Have you visited her? She's an absolutely amazing person, she does so much volunteer work, spreads kindness and participating in RAKs and the like, I am very much not worthy to share her airspace. But I will at least participate in her tag and maybe something good will rub off on me.

1. Name 5 things that I do for myself:

• I'm with Jenn on this one, stamp stamp stamp. That is my special time. I can get lost in my stamp space and work hard to create something beautiful, whether it's for one of the amazing companies I design for, a special card for a friend or family, or a fun thing like doing a stamp camp for my neighbor's girl scout troop. The creativity restores me. {Also, too long without and I can get a little...stressed. BAD for the family! So I guess it's the gift that keeps on giving, LOL}.
• I love to read. I often read on the couch before crawling in to bed at night because there's so much going through my mind it's hard to shut down. Reading takes me into the story and gets my mind off my lists. I've always been a big reader, thank my mom & dad for that {hi mom!}.
• Having a girl's night. Either something out-on-the-town - a mom's night dinner/drinks thing, or every once in awhile we go dancing at a club downtown, or just going to Archiver's and doing the Scrap Mania - 6 uninterrupted hours to stamp away and have girl talk. It's bliss. This should have maybe been #1. Don't get me wrong, I adore my boyz {even the big one, LOL} but sometimes mommy needs a break!
• Getting a special treat for myself, which usually means a stamping-realted tool I've been drooling over {I drool for a LONG time over the pricey stuff before I can make any final decisions -- we have a budget after all}. Sometimes it means a cute new top or shoes too though. It's not often but sometimes ya need that!
• Burritos from Qdoba. mmmm.....mmm....mmm....{sorry} That's my favorite place to eat. Yes, I know it's "fast food". Don't care! AND, it's cheap! Woo hoo!

2. Name 5 kind things I do for friends, my children or partner:

• Send cards for birthdays/anniversaries/events. I also like to do little hand-made gifties, especially for people that go out of their way to be helpful to others, I'll drop off a little set of cards and envelopes, or a pen & notebook, nothing big, just a little "you're a rockstar, thanks for the help" thing. Everyone likes to be appreciated!
• Ssshhh....listen. I listen to DS #1 tell me....everything. I listen to DH talk about his day and his work {and obsess over things of course}. Try to offer advice if possible or else, just be there. I listen to DS #2 try to talk. That's the best part I think. :-)
• I clean this house every day, so that ten minutes after I'm done DS #1 can tear through like a Category 5 Hurricane and destroy the place. Again.
• Take my friends' kids sometimes if they need a break. I am home w/ mine anyway, so if they need to get rid of theirs for awhile {LOL}, send 'em over!
• I take care of all the "stuff" for the family. Cooking, errands, budget, banking, shopping, et al. DH works a lot of hours plus he has to travel -- has to go where the work is -- so I do...everything. Some days it's tough and some days I feel like nothing gets done, but I know it's a load off that he doesn't specific things looming; that gets too stressful for him. I take it back, I don't do everything because I don't mow the lawn. :-p I do everything else though.

3. Name 5 kind things I've done for a strangers:

• I try to step up to RAK requests when I see them. I feel like happy mail can bring so much to someone {I know it does to me!} so when I see people asking for cards for sick friends or special occassions I always try to send one.
• I am a Birthday Fairy in the Wish RAK Forum at SCS. I send a minimum of 4 birthday cards a month to other Wish RAK members. Before I joined Wish RAK, nobody ever sent me birthday cards -- probably in the last 8 years prior I'd gotten about 3. I guess it's not a big deal in the grand scheme, but for a papercrafter who just loves cards, it's kind of sad. So when they asked for Birthday Fairy volunteers, I signed up right away to try to do my part.
• If I am lucky enough to be out running errands without my WJs {I mean kids} I always let the poor mom who DOES have her kids go ahead of me in line.
• I always hold doors for people. It's just right. Everyone's going to the same place, are you going to get there any faster by rushing through the door without pause? And some days it's hard, because you don't know how many times I've been walking in to a store, DS #1 by the hand and carrying DS #2 and the person DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME lets the door slam in my face, or worse, on DS #1's little fingers. I mean, really?
• I smile at everyone. You know, at the store or on a walk or doing whatever. I don't know why. I guess I just think it's a nice thing to do. Most people don't smile back, but hey, that's ok. I'd rather smile than run around with a big scowl on my face all the time anyway, right?

4. Name 5 hobbies I enjoy {I practically copied and pasted Jenn's again. She's got good taste!!}:

• Card making/rubber stamping
• Scrapbooking
• Blogging and blurfing
• Reading
• Visiting with friends

My turn to pass on the tag! Please feel free to participate if you'd like. If you don't like, that's fine too. I'll still love ya. I mean, I might cry a little. But don't you worry about that! {hahahaha}

• Heather Rolin
• Scrappin{Jewlz}
• Angie
• Ashley
• Katie Skiff

Have fun girls! And if you read the post all the way down here to the end....MWAH!

Quick Thanks

Here's a quick card I made awhile back using some of my newer Prickley Pear Rubber Stamps. I needed some cards to send out when I mailed the paper piercing template blog candy packages so I made a bunch of quickies using these images. Fun! I colored the drink with my Prismacolor markers and added some chunky glitter for the salt around the rim of the glass. The colors are a Pomegranate, Green Galore, and white. I chose an easy 5-minute layout since i was making ten of these babies. I did the ovals with my Nestabilities and Cuttlebug. Ribbon from RABOM.

Thanks for stopping by!

Tipster Tuesday - 06/24/08

Tuesday again - and it's getting busy here. Packing to do, stamping to do....how will I ever choose which? LOL. Well I guess eventually the new owner is going to toss us outta this house and take the choice away from me, but I think I still have a few days' wiggle room!

• Here are some great ideas and tips for "finishing" cards from the DT girls over at CPS.
• Need to tie one on? Got a fork? Check out Di's idea! {Thanks to Mandy from Limelight Papercrafts for turning me on to that tip!}.

Scarecrow's Hat

Here's a really simple/fast card using just the hat from the Hangin' Around Scarecrow set from Firecracker Designs by Pamela. I SWEAR this was a sketch challenge too, but now couldn't tell ya which one -- no way, no how! If you know, please share!

The colors are Mellow Moss, White, More Mustard and some random patterned paper scraps that have been in my scrap pile forever, they are the gift that keeps on giving because I can't seem to use them all up no matter how hard I try! I very carefully inked just the hat from the Scarecrow stamp with my Palette Burnt Umber ink pad, and rubbed off any stray ink spots. Then I colored the hat with Prismacolor markers. The big giant brads are from Karen Foster.

Big Sale at Firecracker Designs!

Straight from the keyboard of Pamela herself...a enablement announcement!

Firecracker Designs by Pamela is turning TWO! Goodness, has it really been two years already?? I can hardly believe it!! SOOO, LET’S PARTY!!!

Just type in the coupon code: "5$OFF" at checkout. From now until the end of June, you can take $5 off of every order {minimum purchase $15}.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!!! There are hidden specials all over the place!!

For instance, if you order New Roost, Distress Dots, or Happy Everything, you can get Chicken Up on You for 20% off!! Or, order My generations, Heritage Boys, Heritage Ladies and get Women in Character for 25% off!! Order Hangin Around Scarecrow, get Fall Quotes for 25% off!!!

There are even MORE hidden specials, but I can’t tell you about them all, or else they wouldn't be hidden! ALL of these specials can be combined with the $5 off coupon for extra savings!!

When you order one of the hidden specials, the discounted items will pop up at check out, but you have to add them to your cart to get them!

Click here to go shopping!!

Michael's Coupon - 06/28/08

Here's the new M's coupon, good until June 28th. 40% off one item. Go forth and spend!

Lilac City Designs - First Card & TSSC22!

I know I have been a bad blogger lately; so sick, not checking in, no projects to share. I am sorry - I have missed you all very much. If I give you some eye candy, will you love me again?? Puh-leeeze?? *g*

What do you think? Do you LOVE LOVE him as much as I do?? This little man is the absolute cutest, I can hardly stand it. And he comes with the best little boy sayings too. Since I have two boys I knew just had to have these stamps. You can check out all of Kelli's offerings here.

This one also uses the sketch from MJ's TechnoStamper Sketch Challenge #22 {TSSC22}. I know it's been awhile since I've done her challenges, life's just been too crazy. This sketch went perfectly with my new little boy though, so I'm finally back in the challenge loop -- at least a little!

The colors on this one are Basic Grey, Real Red, Wild Wasabi and Buckaroo Blue. I stamped the little guy onto GP 110# white with my Palette Noir ink pad, and colored him with Prisma & Copic markers. I had to do his skin with Prismacolor pencils and gamsol because I don't have an acceptable flesh colored marker yet. I did the highlight with a Prisma marker too. The ground under his skateboard is also Prismacolor pencils. Take a look at this picture {sorry, I had to adjust the lighting to make the sparkley bits come out so the colors are a bit off}:

It's hard to see, but I after I colored the skateboard with a dark grey marker, I realized it was too plain. Of course this is a card for a BOY, so I didn't want it to be too fussy. But we all know that skateboard surfaces have that sandpapery/abrasive texture - so I coated the whole thing with a Quickie Glue pen and added Art Institute black glitter. You can sorta see the shiny flecks in the photo. It's still boyish though!

Shout Out to SheetLoad

Do you LOVE SheetLoad? I do! SheetLoad is a free monthly eZine featuring great stampin' projects, as well as a monthly layout and paper cutting template telling you how to make a "SheetLoad" of cards. It's a great way to make a bunch of cards at one, and the layouts are always great. Click to visit the site!

Stamp Sets & Updates!

I just looked in the Lilac City Designs etsy store, and as of right now, Kelli has snuck two more stamp sets in there! A skateboarding boy and a softball girl -- go get them while you can! You can check her personal blog and the Lilac City Designs blog for updates too, and info as to when more sets will be ready. The first batch she put up sold out in 14 minutes so RUN! LOL.

As for me, I am doing a bit better. All the tests came back negative - mono and strep-A. After my trip to urgent care last weekend for prednisone, I felt better for a couple days but then started going back downhill yesterday -- quite fast and a lot of pain and swelling came back. They *think* it is either a really strong non-strep-A bacteria or a non-mono virus that is just hanging on. They said they can't retest strep since I've been on antibiotics, so I guess we may never know. I am back on prednisone for a much longer period and also on stronger antibiotics so we can hopefully whip this bug once and for all. I just hope it's one of those two things and these meds, along with rest and all that will get me back. Great timing, huh? Hopefully I am on the mend, thanks to everyone for the happy & healing thoughts, I have needed them!

Lilac City Designs

Guess what? The fabulously talented Kelli Caslow has taken the plunge to turn her designs into stamps. The new kid in town? Lilac City Designs!

You really have to go check it out! You can click here to go right to the page that has the stamps. Tell me those are not about the cutest kid images you've ever seen! There's a lot of info on the website so be sure to surf around and take in all the sights.

In fact, make extra sure you click to Meet the Inspiration Team. *wink* Yes, I am joining Kelli and Angie on the first-every Inspiration Team for Lilac City Designs. Kelli put stamps in the mail for us on Monday so look for some new goodies coming soon! I've added Kelli's and Angie's blogs to my left side bar - give them some love when you get a chance.

That's all for now, I am still in the middle of this sickness, although hopefully on the upward swing, so I need my health & beauty rest. ;-) I will have a project to share with you tomorrow, I promise!

Tipster Tuesday - 06/17/08

Here's a good one on mask storage from Pamela. Great idea!

I got this indexing tip from Phyllis McKay, an TAC rep off of the Midwest Stampers Yahoo Group. "Tip: The way I store my unmounted stamps is to stamp the image on a 3 x 5" card. These will fit into a photo album found at most $1 stores or craft stores. Then I put the stamp itself into a CD plastic holder. Using a Sharpie I write on the edge of the CD holder a number. I put the co-oresponding number on the 3x5. This way when I am looking for a particular stamp, I flip thru the album until I see the image I want. Then I look for the number of the CD holder which I keep numerically. It makes find the stamp easy this way and takes up little room."

That's all for now, still recovering from my nasty illness. Enjoy!

More JoAnn Coupons & Archiver's Deals

Click here for the coupons - they're having their big Firefly Frenzy right now - lots of stuff on sale. The coupons are:

• 50% off one item through June 19th
• 50% off one item June 20th or 21st ONLY
• 40% off one item through June 28th

AND AND AND, I just got this from Archiver's -- spend $50 and receive a FREE 8x8 paper pack {24 sheets}. Nice!

An OTT-LITE Deal

Ladies - remember our discussions of OTT-LITEs awhile back? Well I was looking around on their website the other day and I saw this DEAL where you can get a combo pack of an OTT-LITE floor lamp and a smaller, tabletop OTT-LITE task lamp -- both for $100 with free shipping. UMMMM, yes!! Sign me up - that is a serious deal! I ordered mine, for my craft space at the new house - 24 days and counting! I am really glad I waited now, I was going to get at least one a couple months ago and just never got to it. Besides, mail order is so much easier. I don't have to take the two screaming Wild Jackals {thanks for the great description Allison -- it wouldn't be so funny if it weren't so true, right?!} into a public store and watch them attack.

News from Prickley Pear Rubber Stamps

Here's some info from Nicole over at Prickley Pear that I wanted to pass along...

I just wanted to let you all know September 5th and 6th, in TUCSON AZ, there is a new paper crafting convention coming to town! It is called papergatherings. It is a rubber stamping and scrapbooking venue. So far there are 15 FABULOUS vendors signed up, and more on the way.Go to this link to find out more information http://www.papergat herings.com to see the list of vendors and for show information! There will be plenty of make and takes, door prizes and again, fabulous vendors for shopping.

Also, PPRS designed 3 new half sheets of rubber!. For the month of June, if you buy 2 half-sheets from Prickley Pear Rubber Stamps, we will automatically ship out a FREE grab bag. Our grab bags contain 25 pieces of rubber, all checked for quality, a value of $8.95.

Nicole has some great images, head on over and check it out!

Finally Friday Favorites - 06/13/08

Woo hoo! Finally Friday and we closed on our new house today too!! Guess it's a good luck day around here. :) We're not moving for a couple weeks yet - the *previous* owners are renting back until they close on their new place. But at least we're no longer "homeless", LOL. Here's some favorites to check out to kick-start your weekend.

• Birthday Shaker Card by Maureen. I missed this one in last week's favorites list somehow, but it is good enough to eat!
• Tuscan Villa by Elyssa. Oh my, she did an amazing job watercoloring, I feel like I'm back in Italy!
• Happiness Layout by Linsey. Could this even BE cuter!?
• Baby card by HapEMomE. I think it's the glittery diaper that gets me on this one!

ETA - can you tell I started writing this post and scheduled it on Tuesday before I got so sick? I looked at it this morning in my e-mail from the subscription service and it sounds so upbeat. If only! But the house is definitely a huge deal. Now if I could only get rid of whatever buggies are trying to kill me before we move in that would be good.

Sick Again...

And the timing could not be worse. I don't know what is wrong with me but I have a bad suspicion that it may be mono. I had a strep test that was negative but my throat is SO sore and gross - and it's not getting better. This is what has happened in the past when I had mono - and every time it's a big arguement with the doctors who either just think I'm a wuss or a dumb girl or who knows what. Last time, I had 3 negative strep tests and actually went on antibiotics (for strep) before they concluded that I had mono. I'll take it easy, I'll drink fluids, I'll do whatever. But I first need this pain to scale back a little because I can barely breathe. I know the doctor yesterday thought I was being dramatic. She gave me an oral lidocane rinse to help with the pain. Guess what? It doesn't help. Neither does anything else I've tried.

So anyway, that's why I didn't post any projects yesterday and such. I think I have a Friday Favorites scheduled to go tomorrow, but after that I'll be lying pretty low for a bit until I can somehow start feeling better. Please don't abandon me! I love you all, every one of your comments brightens my day. I have lots more stuff already made to share with you, including THREE new tutorials, and another big announcement. Just give me a little time. Plus, assuming I don't die between now and then, we close on our house tomorrow! So that's exciting.

Tutorial Thursday - 06/12/08

From Lisa Johnson - Create Scallop Charms with Shrink Plastic. Oh, what a great idea, her project is SO cute and I have a whole bunch of shrink plastic...somewhere in my stamp room. Maybe I'll find it when we move?

Black Magic card making from Frances Byrne.

Tipster Tuesday - 06/10/08

Here's a great one from Julie Koerber about using stickers. I have a lot of tips from her lately don't I? She's a GENIUS! I love her blog - even when I get behind {overall} on my blog Readering, I she's in the group that I always keep up with.

Make your own memo cube from Carrie Gaskin. How smart is she?? VERY!

Adventure - SC166, ATS3

Monday again already - where did the weekend go? We are just about floating here with all the rain we have gotten - although we've been lucky as I see on the news - many have sustained heavy property damage. I'll be glad to see the sun again!

I made this card last night - it's a multiple-challenge card; sketch and color. The color challenge part is from this week's All That Scraps Wednesday Challenge. This is ATS #3, Wild Wasabi, Chocolate Chip and Summer Sun. It just happened to go PERFECTLY with what I wanted for this card, featuring the new Adventure stamp sets from Jessica Lynn Original. Amanda, the new Design Team Lead for JLO also challenged the DT to make a card using SC166 from Splitcoast.

Whew! Anyway, this is what I came up with. The paper-pierced truck and the vertical panel are patterened paper from DCWV Far East stack. I sponged the "scenery" around the truck, and added the shadow with one of my Prismacolor markers {imagine that desert sun beating down on your from almost directly overhead...}. I colored the rhinestone headlights and the babubles with a yellow Prismacolor marker. I colored the windshield with my white Glaze pen. The truck is on dimensionals and so is the panel it sits on. DTP on the underneath layer of Wild Wasabi.

Got Scarecrow?

Thought I would continue today's post-title trend! hehe. Here's another card with my Firecracker Designs by Pamela -- Hangin' Around Scarecrow set. I started with Sketch Challenge SC177 from Splitcoast. Stamped the corn stalks on the main panel, and stamped the scarecrow on a scrap piece. Colored him with Prismacolor and Copic markers {I have a mix} and cut him out. Stuck him up on dimensionals in front of the corn rows.

I randomly stamped the sunflower images in More Mustard classic ink on More Mustard cardstock and sponged the edges. I inked the sentiment with markers to omit parts and make it work on two separate panels. Matted with Chocolate Chip and viola!

Got Michael's? What About Jo-Ann's?

Thanks to UKmuminUS on SCS for posting this on the forums - 50% off one item at Michael's, now through June 14th.

ETA: I just rechecked my "newsletters" e-mail addy, and I got this M's coupon too. *roll eyes* Duh! I guess I should keep a closer eye on that one - don't want to miss any deals & steals!

I've also got a Jo-Ann one - 40% off one item good until June 14th. And if you need some Creativity help, get $10 off any Creative University classes held in July.

Boy do I have some shoppin' to do!

Got Archiver's?

If you do, you'll want this coupon! Get $5 off of a $25 purchase, through June 17th. {Sigh up for the e-mails ladies, that's how I got this one!} Sometimes they will even let you combine coupons - I just picked up one of the new Quickutz Cookie Cutter border dies {a 12" long by maybe 3" wide flourish - love love it!!} for $18 after multiple coupons. I know we are very lucky to have an Archiver's nearby, they always have the latest and greatest! Shop happy.

Shouldn't You Be Off Somewhere...

...SCARING CROWS? Ha ha ha! Ok, so my DS #1 love, love, loves Bob the Builder. And Travis the Tractor says that to Spud the Scarecrow in one of the episodes that we have watched several hundred times and I always think it's kinda funny. Maybe it's the way he says it. Or, maybe I need another couple of hour's sleep.

My June set for Firecracker Designs by Pamela is Hangin' Around Scarecrow. I think he is just adorable! This is a larger card because the image is pretty large - but I wanted to try something with this layout. So I made this 7.5" by 5" to have a larger palette to work with.

The patterned paper is this tiny little "micro bundle" I've had forever from Karen Foster. I pulled it out since I've never used it, and worked with the colors from that. The cardstock colors are White, River Rock, and Going Grey. I stamped Mr. Scarecrow and colored him with colored pencils and Gamsol {yes, again! I'm on a roll!}. I outlined him with a greyish Prismacolor marker for extra "pop". When it was all done I thought it looked too naked so I went back and added the brads - one extra on the long side of the card just to be different.

Thanks for stopping by!

Finally Friday Favorites - 06/06/08

The end of another week already? Or - a better way to look at it - the start of another weekend already? Wow! Here are my favorites from this past week - enjoy!

• Lil' Scrappers card by Moralia. A new blog for me, but some fabulous stuff to see!
• You Look Good card by Kelli. Funny, FUNNY and a great layout. Love how she did the ribbon and all the dotted borders.
• Forever & Always by Jennifer. I just loved the sweet colors on this card! Jennifer has lots of favorites to chose from, but today I'm thinkin' pink. Really like how she layered the main image too.
• Adore Layout from Karen Day. Amazing!! Karen is such a talented scrapbooker. I too love the girly stuff -- *sigh*.
• Blast from the Past by Natasha. Not from this past week, but not to be missed. I wouldn't have thought I would love this color combo - but I do!
• Make a Big Splash by Amy. Again, a little out of order date-wise, but I don't know how I missed this one last week - CUTE!
• Path of Life by Silke. I see I am going to have to try SC179. Another great card, beautiful coloring!
• Vintage Wood from Allison. I love Allison.
• Baseball Card by JanTink. And you should also read the post about the Sketches. Because frankly, it wouldn't be so funny if it weren't true. HAHAHA.
• Gift Bag from Kim Hughes. Scroll down. Of course everything Kim makes is great, and did you see she has more new stamps out at CHF!
• Cupcake from Monika. It looks good enough to eat!
• Giftbox & Card by Kisa. She's so stinkin' talented I can't stand it. If I didn't love her so much I'd probably have to be jealous!
• Sketch Card from Laurie. Great sketch!
• Pumpkin Flowers by Shannon. Love the layout and the cut out flowers!
• Yo yo yo by Vicki. It's just adorable!
• Get Packing card by Linda. What a great idea! Love the map.

Ok, I'm done and I think I'm caught up. Enjoy the favorites, I will be back tomorrow with more cards by ME! *grin*

Artful Inkables Get Well Card

Here's a card I made earlier in the week to send to Kristin over at Artful Inkables. I read on her blog that she and her daughter were in a bad car accident a few weeks ago and she sustained some injuries {but will recover}. I figured I could post it since she should have it by now {not that she reads my blog, I'm SURE, but I have this thing about posting cards I've sent specifically to someone before giving the USPS a fair chance to get it to them in person -- I'm weird}.

I had bought a whole bunch of her stamp designs last fall when they were first introduced over at Starving Artistamps and I really like her style. All of the flowers are beautiful and I think he animals are just the cutest! She now has her own commerce website and is selling the stamps herself - check it out if you have a few minutes. She's got some beautiful samples in the card gallery too.

This card uses the layout from Page Plans #6. I *really* liked this sketch, but unfortunately I didn't get to play while it was the "current" week. Ah well, time does fly, doesn't it? It's hard to see in the photo but the right side of the scalloped circle has tiny rhinestones. The rest of the scallops have a 1/16" hole punched in them. I colored the flower with colored pencils and gamsol, and outlined it with a Prismacolor marker. The flourish die is a new 12" one from Quickutz I got at Archiver's last week - I love it! I snipped it down a bunch to work on my card - it is so versatile! I can't wait to play with it some more.

The sentiment is from SU's Sincere Salutations, I still reach for that set probably 50% of the time when I need a sentiment. That's saying something! The scallop is up on dimensionals. The gems are from Hero Arts - they come in a line, and let me say it's a real pain to cut them apart to use!! LOL. But that was the size I wanted, so no choice there. :-) {Life is so rough, huh?}

Happy Friday!! The Friday Favorites will be up later tonight. Hope everyone has a stamperific weekend - we have TWO 3- and 4-year old birthday parties to go to so I'm sure I'll be all done in!

Tutorial Thursday - 06/04/08

Just a quick post for you - check out the Plaid-Making Tutorial over on the Kitchen Sink Stamps blog. If you haven't seen Kitchen Sink Stamps, you should check out the store while you're over that way. Maria just released like 8 new sets. {Don't tell my DH!} The whole acrylic (very high quality acrylics, by the way) three-step system she has going on makes the most GORGEOUS flowers, and other images really just pop off the page with the dimension and color depth you can get using the "layered" stamps. And since they're clear, no need for the Stamp-a-ma-jig. Although now that I know how to use it, I do. But clear is easier. And I'm all about easy. *g*

Oh, and also, check out Pamela's Check Holder Card. She did all the hard work for you, measurements included and everything!

A Bunch of Wild Animals

I made these Thank You cards as part of a baby gift for a friend of my dad's. She lives in Madison now, and just had twin boys. We got to go and meet them when my parents were here visiting last week. You can never have enough Thank You cards, especially with your first child(ren)! I stamped the envelope flaps with the sentiment "It's a Jungle In Here!" in Bashful Blue {but I forgot to take a picture of the back of the packet}. These went right into the gift bag with the onesies I got her - I didn't have a lot of notice to try to do anything more interesting with the packaging, but at least I got the cards made! The "thank you" is stamped twice -- because they're TWINS! Get it?

The colors are Bashful Blue and So Saffron. Ribbon from RABOM. Stamps from The Angel Company - Wild Animals and the "Thank You" is from SU's All Natural set.

The Rest of the May Sheetload

As promised, here are the rest of the May Sheetload cards I made. The images on these are from Prickley Pear. The colors again are white, More Mustard, Pale Plum, and Mellow Moss. The coloring was done with markers. The top card has a glittered flower but it's hard to tell in the pic because it's a light yellow (it matches the yellow in the patterned paper).

Tipster Tuesday - 06/03/08

Julie Koerber has some great info on toning down ink that is just "too bright" and adding some gorgeous shimmer at the same time. Go see!

A great idea from Pamela on using up those scraps - and dressing up your cards too!

Also one from Jeanette Blok - a cool use for those inexpensive plastic flowers designed for gardens (the english version of the post is at the bottom).

Fall Flowers - Half A Sheetload

Here are the rest of my May cards for the Firecracker Designs by Pamela design team - I had the set "Fall Flowers". What a fun set this was to work with! Love the leaves, words, different sizes of flowers - very cool. Normally I like one project per post because it's easier to describe it, or to talk with people who ask questions. But since these are all similar I put them together. Here's why - all of these cards were made using the Sheetload of Cards layout and instructions from the May issue {these *were* all done during May when all this was curent, I just hadn't gotten to posting them yet!}. I made half of my Sheetload {I just love saying that} using these FCD images. I'll post the other half of the group in another post. If you haven't checked out the Sheetload blog and e-zine, you should. The new June issue is up now!

The colors on these are white, More Mustard, Pale Plum, and Mellow Moss. The coloring on the flower cards was done using Prismacolor Pencils and Gamsol, and the leaves one was SU markers. Thanks for visiting!

I still need one more player for my Pay It Forward blog candy! Leave a comment on the post or send me an e-mail and you could be the one!

Pay-It-Forward Blog Candy

ETA - PIF candy is closed! Thanks to all who played - and look for more PIF candy from those girls coming soon to a blog near you. Happy stamping!

As promised - here is my Pay It Forward blog candy! Thanks again to Mudmaven for the PIF candy that I received! To continue the PIF string, I am offering three packages containing the following:

• One large, unmounted snowman stamp with cushion from Inky Antics!
• A bunch of shimmery ivory embossed flowers.
• A bunch of shimmery pink embossed flowers.
• Assortment of 6x6 patterned papers.
• Scalloped circle punchies.
• Several A2-sized cardstock pieces embossed with the newer line of Cuttlebug folders.
• A TON of stamped images from Prickley Pear Rubber Stamps, Firecracker Designs by Pamela, and Jessica Lynn Original.

I might even find a few more things to stuff in these packages before they actually go postal. The first three people to post a comment to THIS thread will win! My giveaway is open to all US, Canada, and APO/AE addresses. To be eligible, you must be willing to Pay It Forward yourself. This means you must be a blogger - and at some point you will put together three PIF packages to give away on your blog as "Pay It Forward".

Thanks for playing! I have some cards to post later too if these boyz will ever sleep {ever!}.

Thank You's - plus - PIF Candy Coming Soon!

Ok, so this is a long overdue post on all counts. Over the last probably two months I won a couple of blog contests and candy drawings that I never had a chance to photograph and post for everyone to see. I apologize to the awesome ladies that sent me these wonderful prizes for not getting recognition sooner. I have a "catch up list" that I am plowing through so I can be back on track and *timely* - starting now. That house hunting period really cut into my stamping and blogging time, let me tell ya!

This first one is from the amazing Linsey Rickett. I met her when I was the Guest Designer for Clear Artistic Stamps back in April. She's got a great blog with constant updates, go check her out! She is also a current Guest Designer for Gina K. You're a rockstar Linsey, thanks for the goodies! Here's a pic of my loot - there was so much it wouldn't all fit onto my little photo taking backdrop:

I also won a High Hopes stamp from Bela White at Bela's Creating Place. She asked to see some new cards made with floral images to help get spring sprung! Since High Hopes stamps are the *cutest*, I made a couple flower cards - and I got lucky! Bela also stuffed in a bunch of stamped images from other High Hopes stamps too, as well as some great designer paper. Bela, you're so generous. Thank you so much, I love Stanley! Here's the goods - and HERE is the stamp I got:

I also won a copy of the latest VSN magazine from Etha {not pictured} when she was published in it -- yet again! She's on fire! I was excited to win this because I hadn't seen the actual publication before, and I am mustering up all of my courage to try to get some stuff published - I have heard it's good to see the magazines you're going for to see their style, etc.

Last but not least, I got some Pay-It-Forward {PIF} candy from Chris {mudmaven}. The rules of the game were that in order to claim the candy, you have to keep it going by Paying It Forward with blog candy of your own. Well, from the better late than never files, here is the package and the card that I received from Chris, with a note to all my readers - I WILL BE POSTING some PIF blog candy of my own on Monday, June 2nd at noon. The first three respondants that are willing to take my candy and PIF with three sets of their own on their blogs will get 'em. So be ready - noon Central Time tomorrow, Monday, June 2nd for PIF candy. I'll put together the packages, take a pic, and post it, along with the details. US and Canada only please for mailing - I don't know yet what all I'm putting in there but if it starts getting heavy the USPS is pretty greedy when mailing overseas. Here's a picture of what I got when Chris PIF'd.

WHEW! All caught up in that regard. Thanks again to everyone and thanks for stopping by my blog!