Happy Anniversary!

First off...there is some BLOG CANDY up for grabs in yesterday's post. Don't forget to leave a comment! :D Now onto today's business at hand! Today is my parents' 46th Wedding Anniversary. Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!

Things are very laid back here today, so I thought that I'd use the Featured Stamper Challenge over on Splitcoast to get my creative juice going! I'm very pleased with my card today. It was not easy to do all of the paper piercing, but I'm happy with how it all turned out. This Stampin' Up! Cutie Pie paper has been sitting in my drawer since September!!! I was thrilled to pull it out today and start using it. That really should be my New Year's Resolution...use more of the patterned paper that I have instead of always buying more! I know I'm not alone when it comes to saving this stuff...lol! Alright, back to the card...lol! The butterflies and swirls are from Stampin' Up's Priceless set and the saying is from Penny Black, Inc. That lovely striped ribbon is by May Arts and I just love how it matches the Bashful Blue in the right hand corner. The other two solid colors are Rose Red and Certainly Celery. All of these colors come right from the Cutie Pie paper. Just one of the wonderful things about Stampin' Up!...everything matches!

I'm so glad that you could stop by...Toodles! :D

BLOG CANDY!!!

I am so grateful to all of you who stop by to check in on my creative adventures, so I thought that I'd share a little something with you. Here are five of the new Studio G Clear Stamps Series 7. (I'll be sure to include a few other goodies as well!) All you need to do to be entered in the drawing is leave me a comment on this post by Tuesday, January 1st. I'll pick a number that evening for the winner!

I'm so glad that you could stop by...Toodles! :D

A Challenge from Sharon!

Sharon Johnson (aka...notimetostamp) is an amazing stamper! I have always admired her work. I discovered her blog not too long ago and she posts challenges for her readers. I finally got on the ball and participated in one. This particular challenge is to use something that you have acquired recently whether it be a Christmas gift or something that you've purchased for yourself. Well...after I saw her fantastic cards using the small Cuttlebug Embossing Folders, I knew I had to get my hands on some! My darling husband came through and purchased a few as part of my Christmas gift! Thanks Dear! I'm saving some of my Christmas funds to purchase a few more new accessories for my Cuttlebug!

Here is a card that I'll use as our Holiday Thank You cards. I used my retired Stampin' Up Snowflakes set. The stitched squares were made with the Cuttlebug Embossing Folders. (I made a little boo-boo on the middle snowflake, so I decided to layer a second one on top. I think that it adds dimension...don't you? LOL!) I do not own a Scor-Pal (yet), so I used my scoring blade from my paper trimmer to make the horizontal lines above and below the squares. The yummy ribbon is from May Arts and it reminded me of one of the many snow storms that we've been having around here lately! The papers are Stampin' Up Whisper White and Night of Navy and the ink is also Night of Navy.

I hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday. We certainly did here. Santa was very good to us and we were very grateful to be surrounded by our families. Thanks so much for stopping by...Toodles! :D I'll be back in a few with some blog candy!!!

Wow! It's Been a Month!!!

I cannot believe that I've been blogging for a month now! Trudee was right...I DO love it! She's right about a lot of things! ;) Thank you all for stopping in and checking out my little corner of the World Wide Web! I'm thrilled that I've had over 800 peeks at my little blog! I think I need to go shopping for some blog candy to share! Don't you? :D

The card I'm sharing this evening was made for one of the teachers at the school where I substitute. I made up some card sets for their Christmas gifts. The Stampin' Up Ruby Red card stock gives this card a Christmasy feel. I watercolored the flowers (SU On Gossamer Wings) with watercolor crayons for a softer shade of the Ruby Red. It is hard to tell in the photograph, but I have Star Dust Stickles on the flowers (big surprise there...lol) for some sparkle. The ovals were made with my Spellbinder's Nestabilities Dies. They really work beautifully on watercolor paper. The card base was stamped with the Floral background stamp from Stampin' Up. The black panel is faux stitched and the polka dotted ribbon is from May Arts.

Well my friends, I am so glad that you could stop by! I am certain that tomorrow will be filled with plenty of hustle and bustle here, so...I wish you all a very Merry Christmas...Toodles! :D

Four of Fifty-Seven!!!!!

Fifty-Seven would be the number of times I tried to get a blasted photograph of this card!!! FIFTY-SEVEN!!! This was the fourth photo that I took, and according to my darling husband...this was the best. So sorry! The card was certainly easier to make than photograph, and it is so much cuter in real life, if I do say so myself...lol!!! Ugh! Y'all are just going to have to imagine...lol! Here are all the details...My Starry Angel is stamped with Black Stazon onto watercolor paper and colored with watercolor crayons. I used my Spellbinder's Nestabilities Dies to cut her out and to make the scalloped layer. My card base is Elegant Eggplant. The faux stitched layer is Wild Wasabi and the Cuttlebug Snowflaked layer is So Saffron. This is today's Color Challenge over on SCS. The thick Martha Stewart grosgrain matches the Wild Wasabi quite well in person. In the photograph...not so good! My A Muse sentiment is stamped in Brilliance Moonlight White Ink. Yes...the sparkles are my beloved Star Dust Stickles! Well friends...thanks so much for stopping by...Toodles! :D

Lizzie Anne Happiness!

With Christmas just around the corner, I have been working away making cards for gifts for the teachers and the principal of the school where I substitute. Here is one of the designs that I came up with. It uses one of my favorite Lizzie Anne Designs sets! It is called Jolies Fleurs. Such wonderful images to watercolor! I also used the Warm Words set from Stampin' Up! I distressed the Lavender Lace and Black panels. Star Dust Stickles are on the centers of the flowers and on the black brads for some shimmer. The May Arts ribbon has these wonderful swirls in it. I definitely need to purchase some more! When I stamp random images, I sometimes find there to be too much white space showing. I like to take a fine tip black marker and add dots or doodles to fill in the white space. It seems to finish it off. I'm hoping to try the Color Challenge over on SCS today. I'll be back in a little bit. So glad that you could stop by...Toodles! :D

I've Been Tagged!

Well, I was tagged by Becky and Tracy. I'm not that interesting of a person, but here are a few fun facts about me.

1. I have 50 first cousins!!! I am the youngest of all of them! (I've lost count of how many second cousins I have...lol! Last count was somewhere around 69.)

2. I didn't like stamping the first time I was introduced to it...*insert shocked face*!!! It was a Stampin' Up! workshop and we made a scrapbook page. It seemed like a very expensive scrapbook page to me! We used about $50 worth of stamps and supplies and my thought was that I could buy a LOT of scrapbooking stickers for $50. Then we made a card with the Fishy Friends set and I was completely HOOKED!!! :D

3. I met my husband when I went for my first job after I graduated from college. It was a teaching position at a Catholic school. He was the bookkeeper at the rectory and he just happened to answer the door when I went for my interview. I got the job...and the bookkeeper!

4. When I'm having a bad day, I go through the drive-thru at McDonald's and order a Happy Meal. It really does makes me HAPPY...lol!

5. I love old reruns of Gidget with Sally Field.

6. When I was a little girl, I wanted to have braces so badly (some of my cousins had them) that I would wrap aluminum foil on my teeth! I got my wish when I was 14...lol!

7. I have never had a cup of coffee!!! I love tea, but I just don't seem to like the smell of coffee...ugh!

There you have it. Seven facts about me! Most of my blogging friends have been tagged, so if you are reading this and would like to share seven fun things about you...consider yourself tagged!!!

So glad that you could stop by...Toodles! I'll have something to share with you tomorrow! :D

My First Shabby Card!

Today's featured stamper over on SCS is Lisa Zappa. What talent this lady has! Her style works with elegant designs and whimsical ones as well. She is the queen of Shabby cards...not my comfort zone, but I thought that I'd give it a whirl anyway!

My card is based on her design with a few changes. I went with her layout and used my distresser on each layer. The two stamp sets are retired from Stampin' Up! The flowers are from Happy Harmony and the sentiment is from Warmest Regards. For the background on the So Saffron card base, I rolled my Leaves a la Carte Wheel in a bit of white craft ink and some So Saffron dye ink. I also sponged some So Saffron ink around the edges. The patterned paper is Denim Guest Floral from Chatterbox. I thought that it a had a shabby feel to it. (But what do I know...it's my first Shabby card...remember?) My accent colors are Certainly Celery and Not Quite Navy. I'm not sure if the Star Dust Stickles on the flower blossoms count as shabby or not, but I figured I'd be a little daring...lol! The pewter brads are from Making Memories. There you have it...My First Shabby Card!!!

We are in the middle of another SNOW storm today! If you are too...stay safe and warm! So glad that you could stop by...Toodles! :D

Happy Birthday!

Well...first off, I apologize for the shadowy picture. The light around here does not want to cooperate because we have A FOOT OF SNOW getting in the way!!! I do say that happily because I love snow! More so to look at from inside the house where it is warm or to take a quick walk through, but nonetheless, I have always loved the snow! It just makes me happy!

I have been busy filling card orders for Christmas gifts and making the cards that I need to give as gifts as well. Here is one that I'd like to share with you. It uses the Tiers of Treats stamp from Stampendous. I colored these yummy treats with my watercolor pencils and a Stampin' Up blender pen. Yes...those would be Star Dust Stickles making all the sparkle! (My love affair with Stickles continues...lol!) I wish that I bought more of this White Espresso Polka Dot patterned paper from Bella Press, but I was lucky enough to get the last two sheets from the store. It has such fun colors! My card base is Stampin' Up's Pretty in Pink and I used some Old Olive cardstock as well. The "Happy Birthday" is from a Studio G clear set that I picked up at Michaels for $1.00. I added some faux stitching for a little more interest.

Again, I wish that the photograph was a bit better. Sorry about that. Stay warm and cozy! I'm so glad that you could stop by...Toodles! :D

My Snowy Angel

I was thrilled when my order from Anna's eBay store arrived yesterday! Here is Snowy Angel from Stampendous Rubber Stamps...ain't she purdy!!! I also purchased Starry Angel. I can't wait to use her too! Thanks so much for getting these new stamps to me Anna! I LOVE them! Because life has been just too crazy around here lately, I decided to participate in the Color Challenge over at SCS to get my creativity going this morning! Today's colors are to use Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie, and Certainly Celery (my favorite). Snowy Angel is stamped with Stazon onto Watercolor paper and colored with my Stampin' Up! Watercolor Crayons. Star Dust Stickles are strategically placed to give lots of sparkle! I faux stitched the sides of the Celery panel and added some May Arts Ribbon that my friend Anne shared with me. (Thanks a bunch Anne!) The sentiment and snowflakes are from A Muse and I used my SU! Linen Background stamp on the Rose Red card base. I hope that you have a wonderful Tuesday! So glad that you could stop by...Toodles! :D

Thanks to a True Friend!

We had such a fun day...Christmas shopping, going to the tree farm for our Christmas tree, and then my in-laws came over for supper! I hope that you are having a wonderful weekend as well! I have a quick post to share with you today. Here is a card that I created as a thank you for a friend. It uses two Stampin' Up! sets...True Friend and Circle of Friendship. The eggplant and olive colors come right from the patterned paper. This paper is actually double sided. I love working with it! I used the other side when I made the card for my Winter's Song post last week. It is called "Out On A Whim" from Imaginisce. The eggplant grosgrain is from a local ribbon shop. So glad that you could stop by...Toodles! :D

Polka Dots Galore!

Happy Friday Everyone! I needed a quick and easy birthday card for today. Most of these items were out and about in my craft studio so I thought that I'd put them to good use! The card base is made from Papertrey Ink's Stamper's Selecet Card Stock. I can't say enough about this card stock...it's fabulous!!! The soft blue polka dot panel is from a DCWV mat stack that I picked up at AC Moore. I believe that Joann's sells them as well. The May Arts polka dotted ribbon came from a scrapbooking store that I like to venture out too (a little over an hour from home). My sweet little penguin is from Elzybells. He is colored with watercolor pencils and a blender pen. Just had to add some Star Dust Stickles! I can thank Trudee for my love affair with those wonderful things...lol!!! The circle is cut from my Creative Memories cutting system and the scalloped circle was made with my Mega Marvy Punch. I added some polka dot holes with my paper piercer. The "Happy Birthday" is from one of the Studio G $1.00 clear stamps from Michaels. What a great find! I love this almost cursive font! The long Real Red rectangle is actually a piece made with my Spellbinder's Nestabilities Dies. I had a few extra rectangles already cut and just sitting on my desk so I took one and cut it in half. Then I cut off a few extra scalloped strips from each middle section, and adhered the two pieces on top of each other. They fit perfectly, and you can't even see the seam!!! What a lucky break for me!

I'm so glad that you could stop by...Toodles! :D

Merry Mice

Hello Everyone! I didn't get a chance to post anything yesterday because I was called into work...AGAIN! Two days in a row...leaves little time for stamping! I'm not sure why my post from Monday says Sunday, but at least it worked! Right? Computers are not really my thing. I'm amazed that I can do what I can! On to my card...here is my attempt at today's sketch challenge over on SCS. I received this adorable image in the mail...I was elfed by Julia (aka...artystamper over at SCS!) How fun! I received a package full of goodies! I have always been a fan of Penny Black rubber stamps and this little image is no exception. I just had to use these little critters for today's challenge! My card base is SU Old Olive. I believe the patterned paper is from Chatterbox. It is two sided. I used the dots and stripes and the other side as well (the deep cranberry color). I watercolored my mice with watercolor crayons and added lots of Frosted Lace Stickles to make my Christmas snow sparkle! The sentiment is from the Stampin' Up! set called Warm Wishes. I also used my SU Oval Punches. And the great news...I have one more Christmas card finished!!!

So glad that you could stop by...Toodles! :D

Criss Cross Pocket ATC's

Good Morning Everyone! I have gotten called into work today, so this will be short. Here is an Artist Trading Card that I designed for a recent swap that I participated in (*waving* hello to Anne). Because Anne is such a fabulous stamper, I wanted to come up with something a little bit different and special for her swap. I was also in one of Taylor's recent swaps and did something similar to this (*waving* hello to Taylor).

This ATC was made with my Polka Penguins stamp from Stampendous. I usually get my Stampendous stamps from Anna's eBay store, but I found this one at Michaels. To get the horizontal pocket, I cut a strip of cardstock to measure 2-1/2" by 8-1/2". I scored the cardstock at 2-1/2" and at 6". Then I made a diagonal cut from the top of the first scored line to the bottom left. I then made another diagonal cut from the top of the second scored line to the bottom right. For this particular pocket, I stamped the snowflakes first and then folded the right side toward the center, applied a small line of glue to the bottom to secure it, and then folded the left side in toward the center and secured that side with a small amount of glue.

My pocket insert roughly measures 2-1/4" by 3-1/4". My penguins are stamped on this panel. They are colored with markers and there are Star Dust Stickles for lots of sparkle! I then punched a slot and tied on some red plaid ribbon (also from Michaels) to make it easy to pull the insert out of the pocket. There you have it...a Criss Cross Pocket ATC!

I said this was going to be short...right??? I guess I like to type as much as I like to talk...lol! Happy Monday Everyone!!! So glad that you could stop by...Toodles! :D