Alive (...But Not Quite Kickin'!)

Hello to my lovelies out there in blogland!  I thought I'd load things up for a fly-by post - assuming anyone is still reading after my many months of being out of commission.  My knee surgery from this spring is still in the rehab phases, baby steps to getting back to "normal" but not there yet.  I am hopeful I can get back to stamping in the near future, it's no longer an issue for me to get downstairs, but the bulk of my time is still spent on exercises and work catch-up.

For all those who still pop by from time to time, I thank you, you know that I luuuuuuuurve you so!  We can look forward to the return of craftiness together!  :)

Paper Pretties and 365 Colors!

TGIF people!  What a week.  We have begun the remodeling of our house after the dust finally settled from the move so today I need to get everything out of the kitchen because tonight the cabinets are coming down.  Wish me luck being without a kitchen for 3 weeks!  So that's the crazy & messy, but what is GOOD about today?  Well, it's time for another fantasmic color challenge from 365 Cards!  

A very soothing color combo for you to play with today!  Here is my creation. 365 Cards is sponsored this week by SK Digis, and she's offering a great prize of digital images from her shop!  Check out the details at 365 Cards!  Unfortunately I had technical difficulties in printing so I wasn't able to use the adorable image I had chosen :(.  Our new printer HATES cardstock, even the thin GP cardstock, and I could NOT get it to feed.  I need to have hubs take a look at it, he has gotten it working for me before.  Our little old cheapie inkjet never had an issue with cardstock, this new fancy one throws a fit every time I try.  Go figure.

So pinch hitting, this cute image is from Paper Pretties. The current PWC (PWC247) is getting PUNCHY.  So bust out those punches and have some fun!  You can check them out at the Paper Pretties Blog.  It's another chance for you to win!

Here is the official color swatch from 365 Cards:

That's it!  I hope I have inspired you on this Friday morning. :) Thanks for stopping by, happy stamping, don't forget to link up!  

PWC246 - Circle Card

Happy Wednesday! Halfway to the weekend, thankfully.  February is my busiest month, personally, and this one is worse that normal!  Between crazy deadlines at work, "regular" family stuff, and this year potential school changes, I am running ragged.  But I am happy to have taken some time to stamp - a break in the action for another Prettie Wednesday Challenge!  If you play along with us you could WIN digis from Paper Pretties! Check out the Paper Pretties Blog for all the details!

For this week's challenge (keyword: PWC246), we want to see CIRCLES!  Create a circle card to share with us!  This is as close as I could get to a circle because my Nestabilities are all still packed (perish the thought!) and I couldn't easily lay hands on them when I went down to get stampy.  So, one lonely set of Octagon Nesties, which for some reason were not in the binders with the others but still in the package and snuggled in with the ink pads (WHAT?!) were my salvation.  

Now, we'd love to have you join the fun!  To play along, just make a card that fits the challenge, then link up on the Paper Pretties Blog to enter.  

This image is from the beautiful clear stamp set Follow Your Rainbow.  I just love the font on these great sentiments, and the images are straight out of a perfect fantasyland!

Thanks for stopping by today!  Don't forget to head over to the Paper Pretties Blog for a full list of the week's eye candy and all the challenge (and PRIZE) details!  You link up THERE for your chance to win this week's prize!  Happy stamping everyone!

PWC244 - A Valentine

Happy Wednesday! Halfway to the weekend, thankfully.  Time for a break in the action and another Prettie Wednesday Challenge!  If you play along with us you could WIN digis from Paper Pretties! Check out the Paper Pretties Blog for all the details!

For this week's challenge (keyword: PWC244), we have tasked you to make a Valentine!  How very appropriate.  :)  To play along, just make a card that fits the challenge, then link up on the Paper Pretties Blog to enter.  Here is my contribution:

This image is from the awesome clear stamp set Holiday Sweets I from Paper Pretties.  I love every one of these yumm-o-liciuos cupcakes!  What fun!  There are also two sets of Holiday Cheer DRINK stamps - you know those are right up my alley!  Speaking of, I think I need to get those out again, it's been much too long...

Anywhoooo..thanks for stopping by today!  Don't forget to head over to the Paper Pretties Blog for a full list of the week's eye candy and all the challenge (and PRIZE) details!  You link up THERE for your chance to win this week's prize!  Happy stamping everyone!

365 Cards - Day 25

TGIF people!  What a week.  Wish me luck today as I have a long commute to the office and we're supposed to be having snow.  NOT GOOD.  But what is good about today?  Well, it's time for another fantasmic color challenge from 365 Cards!  We have changed the 365 Cards calendar to coincide with the actual calendar, and reset the clock, so we're looking at Day 25 of our 2013 year!

A very masculine color combo for you to play with today, always helpful for the stamping process, I know I struggle making cards "manly". Here is my creation. This great image, Scout Cooper, is from Paper Pretties. LOVE him!

Here is the official color swatch from 365 Cards:

That's it!  I hope I have inspired you. :) Thanks for stopping by, happy stamping, don't forget to link up on the 365 Cards Blog!  

PWC 242 - Try A New Technique

Happy Wednesday! Halfway to the weekend, thankfully.  Time for a break in the action and another Prettie Wednesday Challenge?!  If you play along with us you could WIN digis from Paper Pretties! Check out the Paper Pretties Blog for all the details!

For this week's challenge (keyword: PWC242), your challenge is to make a card using a new technique.  That's new to YOU, it can be anything.  To play along, just make a card that fits the challenge, then link up on the Paper Pretties Blog to enter.  Here is my contribution:

This is the Oh So Tropical digi, isn't he adorable??  For my new technique I did coloring and blending with watercolor markers (instead of Copics).  I have so many of these and they rarely, if ever, get any love.  Sadly, they do NOT work nearly as well as Copics for me, I have seen some gorgeous cards where they colored images like that, but either I need a LOT more practice, or it's just not going to be my niche!  It was a lot of fun to try it though, I ALWAYS reach for the old stand by, and change can be very good!

Thanks for stopping by today!  Don't forget to head over to the Paper Pretties Blog for a full list of the week's eye candy and all the challenge (and PRIZE) details!  You link up THERE for your chance to win this week's prize!  Happy stamping everyone!

365 Cards - Day 18

Happy Friday everyone!  That means that it's time for another fantasmic color challenge from 365 Cards!  We have changed the 365 Cards calendar to coincide with the actual calendar, and reset the clock, so we're looking at Day 18 of our 2013 year!

A very nice color combo for you to play with today, one I have turned to more than once, so this was a fun way to jump start the creativity again, since I haven't had a ton of stamping time since the move. Here is my creation. This great image, Celebrate Sophia, is from Paper Pretties. She is one of my favorites, I just love her hair and her HUGE smile!

Here is the official color swatch from 365 Cards:

Alright, that's Day 18 you guys!!  Thanks for stopping by, happy stamping, don't forget to link up on the 365 Cards Blog!  

PWC241 - Ribbon!

Happy Thursday! I'm a day late on this one, fighting off yet another sickness.  But still, are you ready for another Prettie Wednesday Challenge?! I bet you are!  If you play along with us you could WIN! Check out the Paper Pretties Blog for all the details!

For this week's challenge (keyword: PWC241), your challenge is to make a card that includes ribbon.  To play along, just make a card that fits the challenge, then link up on the Paper Pretties Blog to enter.  Here is my contribution:

For this card I actually decorated the inside!  I don't often do that, so I snapped a photo of that as well.

I actually made this card awhile back but never blogged it.  I made it for a SUPER AMAZING teacher that we had to leave when we moved over here toward Milwaukee, and we miss him very much.  It is special to me and I hope that you enjoy it. Thanks for stopping by today!  Don't forget to head over to the Paper Pretties Blog for a full list of the week's eye candy and all the challenge (and PRIZE) details!  You link up THERE for your chance to win this week's prize!  Happy stamping everyone!

365 Cards, Day 11

GOODNESS!!!  Let's see if Miss Jen remembers how to BLOG, shall we??  I have missed it....and YOU, fellow stampers!  *group hug*

Well, yes.  Happy Friday everyone!  That means that it's time for another fantasmic color scheme challenge from 365 Cards!  We have changed the 365 Cards calendar to coincide with the actual calendar, and reset the clock, so we're looking at Day 11 of our 2013 year!

A very nice masculine or natural color combo for you to play with today! Here is my creation, this great image, Skater Zac, is from Paper Pretties!

Here is the official color swatch from 365 Cards:

For your reference, the color equivalents I used on my card are all Stampin' Up! - So Saffron, Wild Wasabi, Basic Black and Going Grey.  Plus, a few dozen Copics for coloring ;)

Alright, that's Day 11 you guys!!  Thanks for stopping by, happy stamping, don't forget to link up on the 365 Cards Blog!