Poppies & Miracles

Whew!! What a week! Girls' Camp last week was AWESOME!! We all had such a good time! When I got home on Friday I think even my HAIR was tired, but it was all worth it! (Isn't this a GREAT photo??? LOVE these girls!!) I'm STILL trying to catch up on all the sleep I missed!

I spend the better part of the weekend creating things for the August Dirty Dozen Gallery over on SCS. Six months gone already!! WHOOSH!! Can't believe this was my last official month in the Dirt Pile. Time sure went FAST. I still feel sooo honored to have been asked. SUPER cool! I hadn't created a THING for the gallery before I left for camp, so I was stamp-stamp-stampin' all week. If you wanna see what I made, be sure to join the Fan Club over on SCS. Lots cool perks if ya do!!

The sentiment on this card has long been a favorite of mine ... I have used this stamp many, many times!! And I kinda used the embossing folder BACKwards on this, but I like how it turned out! And thanks to my friend Deb (Deb Felts) for inspiring me on this one. We were Skype-stamping one day and she showed me her lovely dishes ... LOVED the color scheme and flowers, so this is what was created as a result!!!

I guess I'll hafta clean the disaster I created in my craft room ... maybe ... today ... or maybe not ...

Stamps: Word Collection by Stamp Oasis
Paper: Marina Mist, Peach Parfait, Very Vanilla
Ink: Marina Mist, Peach Parfait, Poppy Parade
Accessories: Large Oval Nestabilities, Flower Garden Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, MS Butterfly Punch, Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon, Pearl Stickers

Dragonfly Path . . .

I love the combo of elements on this card. I found this scrumptious paper made by DCWV (actually, it is from one of those GIANT paper pad/stack things . . . which I almost NEVER buy, but couldn't resist on this one!! It was on sale . . . and I hate to admit that I actually bought two other different ones as well). This paper is from the "La Creme" collection. It is felted and elegant and GAWgeous!!!

I also got to use some of my most favorite Spellbinders dies (as I am now the proud owner of more than I can count, thanks to being on the Design Team for over a year!).

I didn't have any large black brads, so I cheated. I took one that I had, dipped it in black craft ink, then clear embossed it. Voila!! Just what this little card needed!! It all came together very quickly, making this actually very easy and fast to put together.

I hate Mondays . . . I wish I could stay home and stamp all day, since I actually cleaned up my stamp room yesterday. But, alas, it is not to be, so I will just have to get my act together and get movin'!!

Have a great day, everyone!!

Stamps: Word Collection by Stamp Oasis
Ink: Basic Black Craft and Classic
Paper: Basic Black, Very Vanilla, DCWV La Creme
Accessories: Spellbinders Classic Frame (S5-102) and Bugs dies (S4-008), Stickles, black organza ribbon, pop-up glue dots, large brad, clear embossing powder

The Elegance of Black and Gold . . .

. . . AND of inverted scallops! Hooray!! The first time I saw a photo of these inverted scallop dies I just about jumped out of my chair!!! I just couldn't wait to share with you what I was able to do with them . . . don't you just LOVE-LOVE-LOVE how you can pair them with the traditional Classic Scallop dies and get such an amazing border????

If you haven't seen it already, click on the link to the right for Michelle Wooderson's blog (Mish Mash) to see how she used these dies to emulate the look of a lovely postage stamp!

Now, I know what you are thinking . . . I NEED me some of those dies!! (And you would be RIGHT about that!!) Be sure to check out Sherry Cheever's blog today (BadSherry on SCS) to see the fabulous new dies she is sneak-peeking for you AND for a chance to win not only the dies she is introducing, but also all of the dies introduced so far this week by Debbie Olson, Michelle Wooderson and Holly Craft as well!!! Excellent!! Here's a link to Sherry's blog:

Walkin' on the BAD Side!

Stamps: Word Collection by Stamp Oasis (a new favorite of mine!)
Paper: Basic Black and Brushed Gold by SU
Ink: Gold Encore by Tsukineko
Accessories; Spellbinders Classic Scallop Square - Small (S4129), Classic Inverted Scallop Square - Small (S4197), and Rose Blossoms die (S4044), gold edged gold organza ribbon (Papertrey), pearl sticker embellishments (unknown), gold embossing glitter by ClearSnap, pop-up glue dots

Roses in Winter - Spellbinders Style! & BLOG FRENZY!

One of my favorite old stamp sets from SU is "Roses in Winter." Funny thing is, I didn't initially like it, 'cause it looked like a "grandma" set to me! It was another case of "the more you see it, the more you like it!" Anyway, I digress . . .

Fast forward to now. Yesterday on SCS the limited supply challenge (LSC201) was to make a card using "my favorite things." Well, this card was created using the Rose Blossom diecut from Spellbinders. I totally love that baby!! When you do the reverse stenciling/embossing technique, you can get absolutely stunning results!! Here is a link to a tutorial I did clear back last May. You can see how to do this technique (super duper easy) by clicking on it:

Reverse Stenciling Technique

A few of my other "faves" included on this card include embossing glitter (who doesn't love bling?), my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder, and this wonderful sentiment from Stamp Oasis. AND pop-up glue dots! I use so many of those babies I should buy stock in the company!! Oh! And Purely Pomegranate cardstock from SU. I was very sad indeed when that color retired. Good thing I stocked up!! And of course, my Nestabilities dies! They are definitely a "must have"!!

Also, y'all need to check out out the Spellbinders Pre-CHA blog frenzy starting on Monday, January 5 (that's only two days away!!). There will be LOTS of chances to win FREE dies!! Check out the frenzy schedule to the right for links to all of the sneak peeks!!

Beginning Monday, January 5th and continuing through January 20th, a different Spellbinders’ Designer will preview at least one of more than two dozen new die templates set to debut at Winter CHA. These exclusive sneak peeks will be available ONLY through Spellbinders’ Designers’ Blogs!

In addition to getting the first look at these new die templates, you’ll find innovative project ideas and can sign up during specified times for a chance to win daily prizes, as well as become eligible to win the Grand Prize … a complete set of all new release die templates valued at more than $600! Wahoooo!! Who doesn't LOVE free????

Stamps: Word Collection from Stamp Oasis
Paper: Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Purely Pomegranate
Ink: Silver Encore
Accessories: CTMH Silver Embossing Glitter, silver ribbon, silver cord, Spellbinders Rose Blossom (S4044), Classic Large and Small Oval Nestabiities (S4110 and S4112), Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder, horizontal slot punch, pop-up glue dots

Magic of a New Day

My son sent me this picture several months ago. He actually took it of himself (not quite sure HOW . . . just know he has some thingy called a Gorillapod that holds his camera for him!). I think it is amazing, so I am sending it back to him, via a butterfly card. This makes card #67 in my "Follow the Butterflies" challenge (there is a link to the right of this post if you have no clue what I a talking about!).

It's pretty simple and straight forward, but it makes me happy!



Stamps: Sentiment from Word Collection by Stamp Oasis, Stampendous Butterflies
Paper: Elegant Eggplant, Basic Gray, Whisper White, Basic Black
Ink: Black Stazon, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Pumpkin Pie, Ruby Red, Summer Sun, More Mustard, Bashful Blue, Old Olive
Accessories: NONE (can you believe it???)

Butterfly #59

I was able to combine TLC190 yesterday with a couple of other things that are amongst my faves . . . butterflies and fall!! I did one of these fun and funky folds a couple of weeks ago for the first time, and I loved it!! It was fun to see it as part of a challenge on SCS.

You need to cut the base piece of cardstock to 10.5" x 5". Then, score it at 1.25, 2.5, 4.25, 6 and 8.25. Fold it "accordion style" and you are ready to go!!

So I am now officially pushing 60 in my "Follow the Butterflies" challenge!! Wahootie!!! Getting closer all the time!!

Stamps: Autumn Harvest, Butterfly Beauty (Unity) and Word Collection (Stamp Oasis)
Paper: Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Really Rust, Old Olive, Very Vanilla
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Really Rust, Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard
Accessories: Oval Nestabilities, Maple Leaf die/embossing folder by ProvoCraft, 5/8" chocolate chip grosgrain ribbon, Leafy Branches embossing folder

Inspiration and LAST DAY for Winners!

I have to admit that this card was a bit of an experiment (for WT186 - to use a favorite quote or sentiment in your creation - love this quote from Stamp Oasis!). My friend Connie (cmc2stamp) and I were talking about which kinds of cards get a lot of views vs. which ones don't. She had mentioned that just about ANY card she has done lately with Pocket Silhouettes gets a lot of views. I realized that that was true for me, as well. So I decided to try and see if it really WAS true. Not bad . . . this card is approaching 700 views since I posted it yesterday! I guess there does seem to be some sort of love affair with Pocket Silhouettes! I will have to refrain from using it every day, then, I guess (wink-wink-wink!!)!

Today is your LAST CHANCE to sign up to win a lovely stamp set from There She Goes!! Be sure to post a comment to the post I made two days ago (the one with the flower pot card) for your chance to win one of two sets that I will be giving away. Visit the other blogs connected to that post for more chances to win!! Aaaaahhhhhh! Free!! My favorite!

Oh! And speaking of winning . . . remember that funky fold seashell card I posted last week? I entered it in a monthly contest on Kitchen Sink Stamps . . . it won for "Fresh and Fun" design!!! How cool is that??? Now I get to pick a little bit of "free" for myself from Kitchen Sink!! Hooray!!

I'll post the TSG stamp set winner first thing tomorrow, so come back and see if one of the winners is YOU!!

Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes, Word Collection by Stamp Oasis
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Family Treasures Daisy punch, 1/4" circle punch, paper piercing tool/mat, brown gingham ribbon, paper distressing tool, Cuttlebug Distressed Stripes ef