Fab Friday #182

Considering I felt dirty and stinky and GROSS ... I'm pretty happy with how my creation for this week's Fab Friday Stampin' Challenge turned out. I spent most of the day over at my sweet mama's house doing some cleaning for her (and this was AFTER I had gone and stinked myself all up at the gym). Having spent several HOURS doing cleaning chores from bathrooms to closets to laundry, I was feeling DESPERATELY in need of a shower!! ICK! But I knew that I had cards to create and some other things that needed my attention before I could even THINK about showering (did I mention anywhere that my daughter's very cute doggie who was visiting for the day ate something that didn't agree with him and left me some, uhhhmmm, presents as a result??? NO???? Well suffice it to say that this incident also added to my overall feeling of disgustingness)!!

How HAPPY I was to be able to make this sweet and simple little card using this week's Fab Friday Color Challenge AND the Thoughtful Blooms Stamp Set and Small Bloom Punch (not to mention the very versatile and lovely Stone Embossing Folder). Making it at least made me feel a little bit better about my sad stinky self!!


Stamps: Thoughtful Blooms
Paper: Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana, Melon Mambo, Whisper White
Ink: Merry Merlot, Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana
Accessories: Stitched So Sweetly Dies, Small Bloom Punch, Subtle Embossing Folder, Stone Embossing Folder, Trio Corner Punch, Metallic Pearl Basics

Valentines, Spring ... what will YOU celebrate with the color combo??









Here's a link to the Fab Friday Challenge Blog so that you can play along:

Fab Friday Challenge Blog

Mindy Backes
Heather Heroldt
Brian King
Amy Koenders
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers

Wish me luck, my dears!! The next few days are going to be DOOZIES!! In addition to a 6-mile training run and a stair-climb workout, I will be starting prep for a colonoscopy I have scheduled for EARLY next Tuesday morning (nothing wrong, just preventative). Which means I can't eat any of the things my family is making in preparation for our Super Bowl Party (aka EatFreeFrestival). White bread, cheese, pizza, meat, rice ... these things I can eat ... fruits, veggies, GOOD bread, nuts ... these things I canNOT eat!! Pretty sure I'm gonna grab a bag of really horribly bad for me Doritos and drown my sorrows in them whilst drinking a diet coke ... delicious but will probably make e sick ... but I WILL be watching Groundhog Day during the Super Bowl (so shoot me!) ... besides, being a Bay Area born-and-raised girl ... I KNOW the 49's got this one, baby! I don't need a 6-hour game to tell me something I already know! HA!! So pass the Dulcolax and leave me a spot on the sofa!

Stampin' Fancy Friday - Shake It Up Challenge!

I'm SUPER EXCITED, y'all!!! I was recently asked to participate with the AMAZINGLY-TALENTED ladies on the Stampin' Fancy Friday Blog Hop!! WOOT! WOOT!!! Every single one of these gorgeous gals was a member of Stampin' Up's Artisan Design Team at one point or another. And let me tall ya ... they are SOOOOOO super talented and AWESOME!!! Soooo ... a little info you need to know ... we're shaking things up this year on the Fancy Friday Design Team! This will be our last official 'blog hop' because we're moving in a new direction! We'll be posting a challenge on the first Friday of every month over on Instagram and Facebook. And then we'll show you our team projects as the month progresses. We can't wait to have you around so any time you're inspired by our challenge, tag us in or use hashtag #stampinfancyfriday. Ok, it's time! Go follow us on Instagram and Facebook - @stampinfancyfriday. Stay inspired. See you there!

Hearts anyone???? This card is going to have to go to someone that I LOVE TO DEATH!!! Our challenge was to SHAKE IT UP (make some sorta shaker card or something with dangly tassels, etc.). I haven't made a shaker card in, like, FOREVER!!! NOT kidding!!! I was SUPER happy that I even remembered HOW to do it!! I used my sponges to create an ombre effect as my backdrop, then just layered the new and GORGEOUS Detailed Hearts Die on the top ... and couldn't resist the Well Written "love you" ... which I used not that long ago, but since it's nearly Valentine's Day I figured it was ok to give these particular words a little mileage, know what I mean???? But, alas, this took longer than I had anticipated ... so I'm gonna have to give it to my hubby or one of my kids because it took me a while!
Stamps: NONE
Paper: Whisper White, Flirty Flamingo, Mango Melody, Rich Razzleberry, Sparkle Glimmer, Window Sheet
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo, Flirty Flamingo, Mango Melody
Accessories: Stitched So Sweetly Dies, Well Written Dies, Stitched Rectangle Dies, Detailed Hearts Die, 5/16" Braided Burlap Trim

Here's what it looks like with all the little "bits" shook up! I used the hearts that were cut OUT of the Detailed Hearts Die as my shaker pieces ... this one is making me happy!

And seeing as it is 7:00pm on a Thursday night an I have yet to get into the shower, I figure I had better remedy that BEFORE I go to bed! I HATE going to bed all gross ... and I'm pretty sure my hubby won't love it if I do that either!

Next up??? Terrifically Talented  ... Tanya Rees!! WOW!

Monday Montage #156

Here I am AGAIN!! I really need to get my New Year cards finished (I am VERY close!)! I took another "timeout" from the New Year cards to make a little something for this week's Monday Montage. I love the Set Sail suite of products SOOOO much! Since I have been creating so many things with "new" stuff for the last few months, I decided to dial it back a bit and go back to the annual catalog. There are STILL a LOT of things in there I have on my wish list!

Black and white ... perfect, timeless, classic. And just what I needed to make a good ol' dude card!

Stamps: Sailing Home
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, Come Sail Away DSP
Ink: Black Memento
Accessories: Stitched Nested Labels Dies, Stitched Rectangle Dies, Night of Navy/Sahara Sand Baker's Twine, 3/8" Glittered Organdy Ribbon, Frosted Epoxy Droplets, Stapler






Here's a blog roll just in case you get "stuck" trying to hop around ...

Monday Montage Hoppers
Amy O'Neill - Amy's Paper Crafts
Breelin Renwick - Craft-somnia Momma
Cathy Casey - Sugar Shack Designs
Charlet Mallet - Painted Orange - SITTING OUT THIS WEEK
Cheryl Curtis - Pomp and Sustenance
Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner
Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots
Julie Warnick - Julie Warnick Stampin' Up! Blog
Melissa Stout - The Stamp Doc
Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations - YOU'RE ALREADY HERE!!

How is it that the weekend is already OVER and we are back to MONDAY again??!!? I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to stay home for an entire MONTH!! Sleep in, watch Netflix, get crafty, online shop ... wouldn't that be GREAT??!!? Although it would be even HARDER to go back to "normal" after taking such a nice, long "staycation", wouldn't it??

Click "Next" to see what Amy O'Neill has created ... and "Back" to check out Melissa Stout's ... SUPER great!

Freakin' Sharin' the LOVE!

We interrupt this last-ditch effort of making New Year cards to be sent out in place of the Christmas cards that were never created to bring you a couple of LOVEly cards I created this afternoon for the Control Freaks Blog Tour! Melissa Davies ... isn't she AWESOME??? Her wooden heart door hangers are ADORABLE!!!

I haven't gotten around to ordering either of the new DARLING Valentine sets/bundles from the latest mini catalog. I still PLAN to, but I didn't get to it in time to create for this particular blog hop. SOOOOOooooo ... I pulled out some other new goodies that I have recently acquired to play with. I am OBSESSED with the "See a Silhouette" DSP ... lately it seems like it goes perfectly with EVERYthing I make!!! I used it to fill in the water lilies and cut out the stem/leaves. Paired with the Stylish Scroll embossing folder and VOILA!!! Instant Valentine for ANYone!

Stamps: So Sentimental
Paper: Whisper White, See a Silhouette DSP
Ink: Real Red
Accessories: Stitched So Sweetly Dies, Lily Pad Dies, Whisper White Bakers Twine, Stylish Scroll Embossing Folder

And ... because I got carried away when I was cutting out this lovely water droplet edge die from the Lily Pad Dies, I just made another card to share the love. I made the little tiny heart on the sentiment label from a couple of extra droplets ... cute, right??

Stamps: NONE
Paper: Whisper White, Blushing Bride, Flirty Flamingo, Lovely Lipstick, Real Red
Ink: NONE
Accessories: Stitched So Sweetly Dies, Lily Pad Dies, Well Written Dies, 5/8" Whisper White Polka Dot Tulle Ribbon, 5/8" Whisper White Flax Ribbon

We got a Traeger grill for Christmas. Ok ... well ... my mom and I purchased one for my hubby for Christmas. We have been having a GREAT time making #allthethings in it. Tonight we had pork ribs with a homemade rub and sauce. OHMYGOSH!! I could eat about a GAJILLION of them!!! I may need to invest in a "diet" smoker/griller cookbook. SHEESH!

Next up??? Superb  ... Cindy Elam!! LOVEly creations!

Fab Friday #181

I'm feeling the vibes from this card SO HARD that it makes me wanna get on a plane and go somewhere TROPICAL!! How about YOU??? Who's with me????

This week's Fab Friday Stampin' Challenge is a very interesting and unique sketch challenge ... and in spite of it being kinda out of mj comfort zone, this card came together rather quickly!! YA FOR ME!


Stamps: Well Said
Paper: Poppy Parade, Close to Clover, Pineapple Punch, Whisper White, See a Silhouette DSP
Ink: Poppy Parade
Accessories: In the Tropics Dies, Coastal Weave Embossing Folder, 5/16" Braided Burlap Trim

I'm SUPER excited to see what y'all do with this one ...









Here's a link to the Fab Friday Challenge Blog so that you can play along:

Fab Friday Challenge Blog

Mindy Backes
Heather Heroldt
Brian King
Amy Koenders
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers

So this morning I am participating in a one-mile challenge run ... to basically see how fast I can run a mile! I'm SUPER nervous about it (we are only competing against ourselves in an effort to better our time before the challenge is run in another six months).  I am really wanting to push myself, but really hoping I can at least do a time CLOSE to what I am hoping for!! Wish me luck!

Monday Montage #155

It has only been about three weeks since I was diagnosed with a sinus infection and prescribed antibiotics to clear it up. They worked pretty quickly, but the laryngitis I also had has only started to improve markedly in the past week. Guess what??? I have a nasty cold AGAIN!! What the HECK??? It IS January ... so I am saying that this is the first and LAST time I'm getting sick this year!! I'm just getting it over with as soon as possible! At least I have Monday Montage to distract me, right???

These BEES!! I am hoping with all my heart that this stamp set and accompanying dies carry over FOREVER!! I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE them!! I had the vision for this card in my head before I even started ... I knew exactly what I wanted to do ... which pretty much NEVER happens!! It came out just how I had pictured it in my head!! YAY!

Stamps: Honey Bee
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, Golden Honey Specialty DSP
Ink: Black Memento
Accessories: Detailed Bee Dies, Stitched Rectangle Dies, Champagne Rhinestones, Trio Corner Punch




Here's a blog roll just in case you get "stuck" trying to hop around ...

Monday Montage Hoppers
Amy O'Neill - Amy's Paper Crafts - SITTING OUT THIS WEEK
Breelin Renwick - Craft-somnia Momma
Cathy Casey - Sugar Shack Designs
Charlet Mallet - Painted Orange
Cheryl Curtis - Pomp and Sustenance
Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner
Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots - SITTING OUT THIS WEEK
Julie Warnick - Julie Warnick Stampin' Up! Blog - SITTING OUT THIS WEEK
Melissa Stout - The Stamp Doc
Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations - YOU'RE ALREADY HERE!!

I have a LOT I need to do before I have my book group friends over on Thursday ... not the LEAST of which is taking down not only my Christmas tree/decor, but also my mom's! It's going to be a busy/crazy week!

Click "Next" to see what Bree Renwick has created ... and "Back" to check out Melissa Stout's ... Happy New Year, my friends!!

Fab Friday #180

Blink ... blink ... blink ... yep! The holidays are OVER! How did THAT happen??? Not gonna lie ... I didn't get my Christmas cards done ... but not to worry - I'm working on New Year's cards!! HA!! Took a little time out to play along with this week's Fab Friday Challenge. NOT gonna lie ... this one was HARD for me!!

This poppies suite is WONDERFUL! I'm glad I had this because I had NO idea where else to go with this color challenge! I used the Basic Patterns Decorative polka dot mask to create the little dots for the background. Weirdly enough, I put a layer of vellum over the top of the polka dot piece ... and it looks JUST LIKE the Rococo Rose cardstock, don't you think??

Stamps: Peaceful Moments
Paper: Poppy Parade, Rococo Rose, Highland Heather, Whisper White, Vellum
Ink: Poppy Parade, Rococo Rose, Highland Heather, Black Memento
Accessories: Poppy Moments Dies, Stitched So Sweetly Dies, Rhinestone Basics (colored with Sharpies)

What do you think??? Go get 'em with this challenge!









Here's a link to the Fab Friday Challenge Blog so that you can play along:

Fab Friday Challenge Blog

Mindy Backes
Heather Heroldt
Brian King
Amy Koenders
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers

So now I guess I gotta take down my Christmas tree, right??? UGH! I just wanna keep it all up for at least another month!