New Challenge on SCS

Well, I got together (cybernetically, of course!) with my fellow LSC (Limited Supply Challenge) hostesses over on SCS and had a serious discussion about the LSC. We unanimously decided that its hey-day had come and gone and that it was time to shake things up!! As of today, the LSC has been RETIRED and a NEW fun challenge has taken its place - Free for All!!

The whole idea of this challenge embodies what Forest's mama always told him ... "Life is like a box of chocolates - you never know what you're gonna get!" Each Friday we plan to mix it up with something new ... a sketch challenge, a color challenge, a combo challenge (sketch/color, technique/inspiration) ... who KNOWS??? It's going to be a "Free for All" each and every Friday!! I am SOOO excited about this!!

Soooo ... to kick this off I started the first one off (F4A1!) with a challenge I called "Textures, Colors and Patterns" which basically means what it says ... to use textures (embossing, ribbons, 3D embellishements), colors (okay, well, I asked everyone to create something using at least ONE color that they typically avoid!), and patterns (an optional part of the challenge to incorporate some patterned paper). Pretty easy, eh?? The gallery is already starting to fill up with some pretty impressive stuff!!!

I NEVER use Gable Green, yet I have used this color combo TWICE in the last week!! What is UP with THAT????

Stamps: Good Friend
Paper: Gable Green, Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Gable Green
Accessories: Tiny Bubbles Cuttlebug ef, Retro Diamonds Quickutz ef, Perfect Polka Dots SU ef, Beautiful Wings embosslits die, leaves sizzlits die, wide oval punch, whisper white satin/organza ribbon, pearls, pinking hearts border punch, paper distressing tool

ISC Sketch/Color Challenge and FREE Rubbah!!

Wanna play???? Wanna get some FREE stamps??? Okie dokie, then!! Here is whatcha do!!

Innovative Stamp Creations is hosting a sketch/color challenge. Use the sketch (posted below) with the colors shown in the photo (red, green, vanilla, brown) below. Be SURE to use your favorite images from ISC!! Then, post your lovely creation to the ISC blog, located HERE, and then you will be entered to receive the FREE ISC stamp sheet of your choice! (post a link to your card - posted on your blog or in an online gallery - in the comment section on the post dated February 25 on ISC's blog). That's it!! Super easy, right?? Then what are ya waiting for??? Go get 'er done, friends!! 'Cause who doesn't LOVE FREE???!!?? It is my favorite price, that's for sure!!

Stamps: Dandelions by ISC
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Paper: Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla, retired dsp by SU
Accessories: Paper distressing tool, D'Vine Swirl Cuttlebug embossing folder, sanding block, 5/8" chocolate chip satin ribbon, word window punch, sewing machine

You have until March 7 to play ... soooo, good luck and have FUN!!

Three Days ...

... that's how long it took me to make this card!! Sheesh!! I initially started this card last Wednesday for the sketch challenge over on SCS (SC268). Started it, then ran out of time 'cause I had to go to work (dang!). I looked at the technique challenge (TLC258) on Thursday to see if perhaps I could incorporate IT into the card I had in my mind for the sketch challenge (I had the rose mostly done at this point). The technique challenge was to incorporate ORANGE into our creations. ORANGE??!!?? What??? I already had a rose that was Ruby Red, Riding Hood Red and Pretty in Pink ... hmmm .... so I started sponging a bit of orange onto it ... had a CRAZY day Thursday with NO time, so I didn't get it done that day, either!!

Friday ... the limited supplies challenge (LSC260) was to add some ribbon and use a border punch to your card. Okay, THAT I could handle, but then I was back to the sketch challenge and trying to figure out HOW I was gonna incorporate all of the stuff from the other two challenges AND make it work with the sketch ... hmmmm ... I FINALLY was able to complete this baby. Wasn't too sure about the orange, but at least I got 'er done!!

Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, Tiny Tags
Paper: Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Pretty in Pink, Ruby Red, Riding Hood Red, White
Ink: Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Ruby Red, Riding Hood Red
Accessories: Perfect Polka Dots textured impressions folder, white taffeta ribbon, half pearl, 1/2" circle punch, scallop trim border punch, dimensionals

Freaky Fun!!

I always look forward to our Freak Blog Tours. My fellow "freaky" friends always come up with the BEST ideas!! You should have just come from the fantabulous blog of Erin Blair.



I actually started making this card last week when my super cool friend (and fellow Freak), Jan Tinklenberg, was named as the Featured Stamper for the week on Stampin' Up's demo website - Stampin' Connection. I was inspired by one of her layouts (click here to see it on her blog - it's the Halloween one!) to make this. I am sooooo ready for SPRING!!! Hence, the happy, springtime colors.

Stamps: Vintage Vogue
Paper: Perfect Plum, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, Barely Banana, Whisper White
Ink: Perfect Plum, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, Barely Banana
Accessories: Sending Love epoxy brad, silver eyelet, word window punch, 1/2" circle punch, white taffeta ribbon, Elegant Bouquet textured impressions folder, dimensionals

Don't you LOVE it when you are frantically trying to leave work so you can run some errands so you can run home and create something SPECTACULAR for your blog post, only go have your darling daughter call you on your way out and say, "Mom? Ya know that party I have to go to this evening? I need TWO presents to take 'cause it's for TWO of my friends!! Any ideas?" WHAT????!!???? Hence, these fun little matchbook giftcard holders. Again, I couldn't resist springy colors (especially since the dang gift card was lime green and RED!!! Sheesh!!)!!

Stamps: Well Scripted, Tiny Tags
Paper: Gable Green, Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink, Soft Suede, Bermuda Bay, Whisper White
Ink: Melon Mambo:
Accessories: Perfect Polka Dots textured impressions folder, Two-Step Bird punch, pinking hearts corner and border punches, scallop trim border punch, wide oval punch, Beautiful Wings embosslit, satin/organza whisper white ribbon, three-flower punch, 5/8" pink satin ribbon, dimensionals






And last, but certainly NOT least, I had to just throw in another scrapbook layout that I did using MDS (did I ever mention I absolutely LOVE this program???? Probably ... )







Now HOP on over to the fabulous blog of Dannie Graves ... you are gonna LOVE what she has made!!

Birthday Wishes

A good friend of mine (Hey, Kelly!) has had the unfortunate circumstance of having a cast on her hand/wrist for the past six weeks. She is also an avid stamper, so this has been a form of TORTURE for her. To top it off, her brother had a birthday last month and has been "whining" for a birthday card from her (her word, not mine!). Several of us (her friendies) have decided to send him a card, so this is what I came up with yesterday (she got the cast off last Friday. so she was able to make one for him herself as well!).

Yesterday's color challenge on SCS - CC258 - was to use Soft Suede and the "two plums" (Pale Plum and Perfect Plum). I was shooting for something much more "manly" when I started this, but, alas, I am afraid I am just a girl-y girl! What can I say??

Stamps: Thoughts & Prayers, Well Scripted
Paper: Soft Suede, Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Whisper White
Ink: Soft Suede, Perfect Plum
Accessories: Corner Rounder punch, wide oval punch, whisper white taffeta ribbon, half pearls

Double Holidays!

I don't know if I EVER recall a year when we have had Valentine's Day and President's Day back to back. I know, I know ... it probably HAS happend ... and maybe even more than once ... but I certainly don't remember it! (and I am SURE I am gonna get e-mails about it, too!).

So.....these cards are kinda holiday "backwards" ... since I made this one for President's Day LAST Friday, while I made the following card YESTERDAY for Valentine's Day!

This card was sooo fun to make. I used it as a sample for the LSC (Limited Supply Challenge) that I hostessed on Friday (LSC259). The supplies weren't really limited, but the IDEA was ... I limited everyone to be "Inspired by the Presidents." They had to make something and tell us how they connected to any one of the US presidents. Kinda like "The Seven Degrees of Kevin Bacon" - have you ever heard of that game? Basically, you take anyone in Hollywood (past or present) and give your opponent the opportunity to link them to the actor Kevin Bacon - in seven steps or less. Get it?

I linked this card to our current president, Barack Obama. He lives in the White House. The White House is on the Mall in Washington, DC. Every March/April they have the most WONDERFUL display of cherry blossoms on the Mall. Hence, my cherry blossom card. See??? Now that wasn't so hard! There were sooo many terrific cards, and people came up with some fascinating presidential factoids!!

Stamps: Well Scripted
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo, Old Olive
Ink: Melon Mambo, Basic Black
Accessories: Cuttlebug Forest Branches and Swiss Dots embossing folders, Cricut Pagoda cartridge, Beautiful Wings embosslits die, scallop trim border and corner punches, wide oval punches, small black brads, black polka dot organza ribbon

Which brings me to this card. This is the card I made for my husband yesterday morning (EARLY) for Valentine's Day. A Valentine's card with an AIRPLANE on it??? What the????? Actually, my husband has been building an airplane for close to TEN years now (yes, seriously!! A REAL honest-to-goodness-fly-in-it-and-go-somewhere airplane!). He was FINALLY able to start up the engine last week and drive it to the end of the runway and back, just to make sure the engine and everything were hooked up properly and worked! (Ya can't make it airborne 'til it passes about a BILLION inspections! Which is GOOD, right?)

We can hardly believe it is done (except for some vinyl we are having custom-cut for the outside ... easier and quicker than a fancy-dancy paint job). Incredible! Hence, the sentiment "The Best is Yet to Be" has a great double meaning as we are just a few weeks away from our 25th wedding anniversary, too!

Stamps: Love Matters (retired SU)
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Night of Navy, Ruby Red, So Saffron, Very Vanlla
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Cricut Heritage Cartridge, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, word window punch, small heart punch, brown/vanilla gingham ribbon

I can hardly WAIT to do two things: (1) LEARN how to fly this baby MYSELF, and (2) actually GO somewhere TROPICAL in it!!

Happy President's Day, all! Hope ya have some SERIOUS stampin' time!!

Look What's New from ISC!

Here are some cards I created for this month's ISC (Innovative Stamp Creations) release. I had a LOT of fun creating with this lovely new stamps (c'mon, be honest ... who DOESN'T love playing with something NEW??)!

This first card was created with the stamp set I used in yesterday's post called "Eclectic Butterfly." And y'all KNOW how I feel about butterflies!! (For anyone not familiar with my, um, obsession with butterflies, see the "Follow the Butterflies" link and slideshows on the sidebar to the right!!)

This card seriously only took me about 10 minutes to put together. I LOVE it when something comes together quickly AND looks pretty good, too!

Stamps: Eclectic Butterfly by Innovative Stamp Creations
Paper: La Creme dsp by DCWV, Basic Black, Very Vanilla
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: Spellbinders Classic Frame (S5-012), pearl stickers, black organza ribbon, pop-up glue dots

Moving on to set #2 ... Delicate Daisy!! WOWZA!! Totally LOVE this big, lovely daisy, don't you??? I had waaayyyy tooo much fun playing with this one!!

Since I am soooo ready for spring, it was fun to play with something, well ... spring-y!! Daisies are my FAVORITE flowers (no, seriously, even before Meg Ryan professed that in "You've Got Mail" ... they truly ARE a happy flower!). And who DOESN'T love greens and purples together??

Stamps: Delicate Daisy by ISC
Paper: Perfect Plum, Old Olive, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black, Perfect Plum
Accessories: Pearlescent Chalks (Jewel Tones) by Pebbles, Fleur de Lys border punch by EK Success, Tartan and Swiss Dots embossing folders by Cuttlebug, whisper white satin/organza ribbon, Sweet Pea felt leaves by SU, large oval punch, sponge

Which leads me to yet ONE more daisy card ... I put a little bit of Crystal Effects in the centers of these babies, but, unfortunately, you can't see how cool it REALLY looks from the photo! (HATE it when that happens!)

Stamps: Delicate Daisy by ISC
Paper: Kraft, So Saffron, Night of Navy, Whisper White
Ink: Night of Navy, So Saffron
Accessories: Stylized Flowers embossing folder (Cuttlebug), small oval punch, modern label punch, pearl stickers, white polka dot organza ribbon, navy organza ribbon, Crystal Effects, paper piercing tool/mat, pop-up glue dots

And can ya stand ONE more??? I'm not quite sure where I was goin' with this layout (kinda funky with those "polka dots" don'tcha think??), but I DO love these Dandelion images. I also have always had a "thing" for dandelions ... okay, okay, I KNOW they are a .... dare I say it?? ... they are a WEED! But, admit it - y'all LOVE to blow on these and make a wish, right?? And you STILL do it when no one is looking!! (you KNOW you DO!!)

Stamps: Dandelions and Netting by ISC
Paper: Mellow Moss, Blush Blossom, Very Vanilla
Ink: Mellow Moss, Blush Blossom
Accessories: Marvy double scallop corner punch, 3/4" circle punch, moss polka dot organza ribbon, blush blossom grosgrain ribbon, pop-up glue dots

Now, wouldn't ya LOVE to see what the other Creative Architects for ISC have done with these love stamps??? Well, check it out!!

Kathy Tucker
Connie McCotter
Sabrina Jackson
Joanne Grzelak
Julie Warner
Karen Dunbrook

Sneaky Peeky!

Just thought I'd give y'all a little sneak peek at one of the new sets - Eclectic Butterflies - that is being released by ISC tomorrow!

I was able to incorporate this card into two challenges on SCS, too!! I used CC257 - Chocolate Chip, Dusty Durango and Sage Shadow (a color, I am sad to admit, that sits neglected in my cardstock drawer much, much too often!) and SC267. I like doing sketch challenges because I sometimes feel like all my cards start looking alike!! (Isn't that what they say happens to people and their DOGS??? Hmmmm.....I have a toy poodle.....)

Tune in tomorrow to see some more FABULOSA new things from ISC!!!

Stamps: Eclectic Butterfly and Netting by ISC
Paper: Dusty Durango, Sage Shadow, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Manchester and To the Nines dsp by SU
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, Dusty Durango
Accessories: Sizzix Damask embossing folder, D'Vine Swirl Cuttlebug folder, 5/8" satin chocolate chip ribbon, chocolate pearl stickers, pop-up glue dots

My Puppy Valentine???

When my daughter saw the little Valentine Milk Carton Carrier I put together in this post, she fell in LOVE with it. She said, "These would be fun to make for ALL my friend for Valentine's Day! Maybe we should make some ..." WE??? She came down and looked at paper and such ... did a lot of staring ... then said she was tired and went to bed!! (Hehehehe!! We actually do a LOT of crafting together, but she has had a nasty cold/cough thing this week which has made her more tired than teenagers typically are!).

Anywho ... since her friend, Emma, has FOUR doggies at the moment, she thought it would be really great if "we" made her one with a doggie theme. Which was pretty danged easy since my daughter seems to rope me into buying doggie/pet-themed paper, brads, stamps, etc., ALL THE TIME!! Not that "we" ever MAKE much with it!! But "we" HAVE it, and that is really the point anyway, right???

So here is the little milk carton carrier "Valentine" for doggies that I came up with. Woof!!! LOVE the cute little dog bone paper clips, don't you?? Now I just gotta go find some tiny little doggie treats to put inside!

I guess "we" may be making a kitty-themed one, as well as possibly a "safari" theme and something a little "spring-y" ... "we" love making these, though, so it shouldn't be too difficult!!!

I have been informed by many of you "in the know" that this tiny version of milk carton carrier found its origins on Becky Roberts blog - Inking Idaho. I have seen many of these carriers popping up all around the past few years, but I would have to admit that she ROCKED it for the little bitty milk carton die, that's for sure!!

Stamps: Bow Wow (retired Stampin' Up)
Paper: Pets Stack (DCWV), Baja Breeze (SU), Very Vanilla (SU), Deep Chocolate (PTI)
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Bigz Mini Milk Carton die, large and small oval punches, corner rounder punch, 1" and 3/4" circle punches, Perfect Polka Dots textured impression folder, The Paper Studio dog paw brad, dog bone paper clips by Creative Impressions, small gingham brown/cream ribbon (Offray), large gingham brown/cream ribbon (unknown), pop-up glue dots

LOVE This Die Cut!!!

Oh. My. STINKIN'. GOSH!!! (Sorry for the Utah swear words, friends, but I just could not help myself!!)

I have been dyyyyyyying to get my hands on this adorably-darling milk carton die cut ever since I spied the little milk carton carrier on someone's blog (I don't really know WHO to give credit for on this, 'cause I have been seeing these all over the place!). Ain't this just the CUTEST thing EVER????

I have to apologize for using RETIRED designer paper on this, too! I am really loving the "Sending Love" Valentine's paper that SU has out right now, but I have used it and used it and USED it and wanted to try something different. This paper is actually from the Fall Mini catalog and is called "Night and Day" .... isn't it just GAWJUS???? I wish I had bought several packages of it before it sailed off into the sunset ... sigh ...

Anywho ... I think I discovered something semi-brilliant!! See??? Don'tcha just LOVE how the Embosslits Heart die makes a PERFECT border on this little milk carton carrier??? It fits EXACTLY around the edges of this baby!!! I just folded the corner ones down the middle and wrapped 'em around the corners. VOILA!! I used pop-up glue dots on the middle hearts around the box so that they would, well ... pop up!!! LOVE it!!

And what, pray tell, would one PUT in such adorably-darling (said that already, didn't I???) little bitty milk cartons??? Glad you asked!! Each one has something delicious in it ... dark chocolate Dove hearts, M&M's, chocolate kisses, and, of course, the obligatory Conversation Heart candies. YUMMO!!! How in the HECK (sorry 'bout the swearing again!) am I gonna keep my lips off of THESE???

Stamps: I {Heart} Hearts
Paper: Basic Black, Real Red, Whisper White, Night and Day dsp
Ink: Basic Black, Real Red
Accessories: Bigz XL Milk Carton Die, Perfect Polka Dots textured impressions embossing folder, Whisper White Satin/Organza Ribbon, Heart Embosslits die, Heart to Heart punch, small heart punch, large oval punch, corner rounder punch, small library binder clips, pop-up glue dots

Now ... wouldn't you just LOVE to see another adorably-darling milk carton carrier??? SURE ya would!!! Jump on over to my good friend JanTink's blog ... she has one there for you to see!!

I also posted another one I made here ...

I {Heart} Valentines!!

It has taken me several days to recover from my trip to CHA in Anaheim (why IS it that we need a vacation to recover from our vacation??)

I made this card for Featured Stamper #2 over on Stampin' Connection (which, I know, many of you can't see 'cause you are not SU demos ... sorry 'bout that!). The featured stamper was my good friend, and fellow Control Freak, Mary Brown! She is AWESOME, and AMAZING, and I am SURE you will get lost on her blog if you click on the link I put on her name ...

Here is a link the card I used as inspiration: Where's the Birdie?
(Lucky for me she has it posted on her personal blog, too!!)

Stamps: I {HEART} Hearts
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Sending Love dsp
Ink: Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink
Accessories: 5/8" Chocolate Chip satin ribbon, Perfect Polka Dots textured impressions folder, Real Red epoxy brads, pop-up glue dots