Paper, Ink, Scissors, & Stamps

Joyful Trees ...

2009-07-13T04:00:00.001-04:00

Yay, it's Monday again; hope your weekend was fantastical!

Today's card project was created for SCS's "Ways to Use It" challenge, WT226, "Christmas in July."

I created my holiday card for the challenge with this fun craft stamp, Joyful Trees, from Stamps Happen, Inc. by Janlynn. Clicky HERE to take a look at this kewl stamp. And while you're there, don't forget to check out Janlynn's "Christmas in July" sale ... it ends tomorrow! Clicky HERE to go right straight to the sale.

I paper-pieced the image using DP from Daisy D's "Snowflakes & Holly" collection, die-cut some l'il stars, and added some grosgrain ribbon. Easy-peasy!

For all the Christmas in July challenge deets, clicky HERE. To go straight to the Christmas in July card gallery, clicky HERE. For the ginormous view of my card, clicky right there on the photo.

For the rest of the joyful product info, check out the supply list, below.

So, this weekend, Sheila called me and begged me to take Reid-the-Wild-Child off her hands for an hour or seven.

"Goin' shopping?" I asked.

"No, no, nothing like that. I have a splitting headache and the aspirin bottle says, "take two aspirin and keep away from children."

"But, but, but ..." I sputtered.

Yup, I lost that argument ...

~Hugs,

Card Stock: Stampers Select White by Papertrey Ink; Always Artichoke by Stampin' Up!
Designer Paper: Snowflakes & Holly Collection (Retired) by Daisy D's
Craft Stamp: "Joyful Trees" from Stamps Happen, Inc. by Janlynn
Ink: "Tuxedo Black" Memento Dye Ink by Tsukineko
Accessories: Grosgrain Ribbon by Stampin' Up!
Tools: Die-Cut Machine by Provo Craft; Long Rectangle Die by Spellbinders; Snowflake #2 Die by Provo Craft; Scotch ATG 714 Adhesive; Foam Tape
Finished Size: 7 1/2" x 5"

A Campy Birthday to You!

2009-07-10T04:00:00.002-04:00

Even if it's not your birthday!

Today's card project was created using one of the sentiment stamps from Theresa Momber's newest stamp set, "Happy Camper." Clicky HERE to check out the rest of the stamps in this fun set.

The flower stamp has been in my stamp collection for hundreds of years and it's perfect for the Crayon Resist Technique.

For tutorials on the Crayon Resist Technique, you can clicky HERE to visit Gina K.'s StampTV ... or, you can clicky HERE and visit Splitcoast Stampers tutorial. What's the difference? Well, when you visit StampTV, you get to watch a video and SCS's tutorial is printable text and photos. OR, you can do like I do, and visit both!

For all the mind-boggling product info, check out the supply list, below.

So, yesterday Sheila and I took Reid-the-Wild-Child to the Palm Beach Zoo for the day. It's a great Zoo; if you're ever in South Florida you should plan on taking the kidlettes to the Zoo here in West Palm Beach.

We were having a great visit and we saw lots of animals and birds. However, when we came to the monkey cages, there wasn't a monkey to be seen. We did see the monkey keeper, but I don't think he counts.

"Excuse me," Sheila asked the keeper, "where are all the monkeys?"

"It's mating season," the keeper replied. "they're inside."

"Do you think they'd come out for peanuts?" Sheila asked.

"Probably not," answered the keeper.

"Well, why not?" she persisted.

"Would you?"

Ya know, I must say that I've never seen Sheila's face turn that particular color before ...

Have a great weekend!

~Hugs,

Card Stock: Stampin' Up!
Glossy Card Stock: Unknown
Designer Paper: "Bohemia" Collection by My Mind's Eye
Stamps: Sentiment from "Happy Camper" Set by Gina K. Designs; Flower by RMW Artworks
Ink: "Jet Black" StazOn Solvent Ink; "Sunflower" Dye Ink by CTMH; "Pacific Point" and "Tangerine Tango" Dye Inks by Stampin' Up!
Accessories: Grosgrain Ribbon by American Crafts
Tools: Die-Cut Machine by Provo Craft; Nestabilities Die by Spellbinders; Perfect Layers Tool by Stampin' Up!; White Crayon by Crayola; Sponges from the Dollar Tree; Paper Towels; Scotch ATG 714 Adhesive
Finished Size: 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"

My Tent or Yours?

2009-07-09T04:00:00.003-04:00

Happy Thursday, campin' stampers!

Today's card project was created using the fantabulous "Happy Camper" set by the uber-talented, Theresa Momber for Gina K. Designs. You NEED this set ... it's so wonderful that it makes even MY coloring look good! For a look at the entire set, clicky HERE. Oh ... and while you're there, check out Theresa's previous stamp set, "Out West." Love that one, too ...

I stamped the mountains directly on my card stock base, then stamped the tent, the lantern, the campfire, and the marshmallow sticks on scraps. All the card elements were colored with Copic markers, cut out, and adhered to my card base using foam tape. I added just a teeny bit of Liquid Applique to the tiny l'il marshmallows.

I used a freehand acetate template and fluid chalk ink to create my cloudy sky ... if you click on the photo, I think you can see it ...

For the rest of the stupefying product info, check out the supply list, below.

Sooooooo, last night Sheila and I decided we HAD to go to Mike's ... and we had to bring Reid-the-Wild-Child with us.

As we're ridin' along enjoying the tropical scenery and stuff, Reid suddenly asks, "Auntie, what does 'horny' mean?"

"Yikes! Well, Reid, your Mommy is sitting right here and I know that she would LOVE to answer your question. In fact, she might be very hurt and sad if you didn't let her answer. You wouldn't want that, would you? And, know what? I'm glad you asked Reid 'cuz I've wondered what that word means too."

"Thanks. Thanks a LOT. I WILL get you for this." Sheila whispered through clenched teeth.

So for the next ten minutes Sheila nervously explained what horny meant in a sweet, romantic, PG-13 kinda way. But she was clearly suffering; and I couldn't help but giggle ... jess a little. To myself. She was so stressed, it was hard to watch ... almost.

When Sheila finished, I couldn't resist: "Hey, Reid, where exactly did you hear the word 'horny?'

"Well, today at Scout camp, my den leader was talking about the animals we would learn about tomorrow. And he said one of them is the Horny Toad."

Oh. Horny Toads ...

~Hugs,

Card Stock: "Stampers Select" by Papertrey Ink
Stamps: "Happy Camper" Set by Gina K. Designs
Ink: Dark Brown and Sky Blue Fluid Chalk Inks by Clearsnap, Inc.
Color Medium: Copic Markers
Accessories: Foam Tape
Tools: Acetate Cloud Template; White Liquid Applique; Heat Tool; Olfa Craft Knife
Finished Size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Bats and Cats and Witches Hats ...

2009-07-08T04:00:00.003-04:00

Happy Stump Day, hampers!

Today's card project was created with this fun craft stamp from Janlynn's Stamps Happen, Inc. This just happens to be one of my favorite Stamps Happen stamps ... and it's a blast to color, too!

To check-out this kewl craft stamp, clicky HERE. BTW, while you're there, you just might want to take a look at their Clearance section 'cuz there's a ton of awesome craft stamps on sale. Stamps? Stamps on sale?!? Well, hello Dolly, these are a few of my favorite things! Clicky HERE to go directly to the craft stamps on Clearance.

And just between you and me, there's a "Christmas in July" sale going on at Janlynn's too. Clicky HERE to check it out.

I stamped my image on PTI's "Stampers Select" white card stock with Memento dye ink, then colored the image using Copic markers. I added some glitter to the hats with a Sakura Stardust pen, then matted the image on textured card stock. I painted a silver Stampin' Up! ribbon slide with my black Copic marker, added some grosgrain ribbon, and some creepy-lookin' spiders.

For the rest of the frightening product info, check out the supply list below.

Soooooooo, I was babysittin' Reid-the-Wild-Child when he asked me why all of his cousins in Wisconsin "talk funny."

"Well, just like they think we have a Florida accent, we think that they have an accent too." I 'splained.

"We don't have an accent," Reid declared.

"Everyone speaks in different ways." I explained. "To them, it sounds like we speak very slowly and that all of our words are drawn out a bit."

Reid's eyes went as big as saucers, "What? You mean they hear funny too?"

Give it a minute, it'll grow on ya ...

~Hugs,

Card Stock: Bazzill Basics; DCWV; Papertrey Ink; Stampin' Up
Craft Stamp: "Witches Hats" by Janlynn's "Stamps Happen, Inc."
Ink: "Tuxedo Black" Memento Dye Ink by Tsukineko
Color Medium: Copic Markers (#'s 100, B00, G14, Y06, V15, YR68)
Accessories: Grosgrain Ribbon; Ribbon Slide by Stampin' Up!; Spiders from My Basement (Not Really, Just Seein' if You're Paying Attention); Spiders Really from Party City
Tools: Sakura "Stardust" Gelly Roll Pen; Fiskars Border Punch; Scotch ATG 714 Adhesive; Foam Tape
Finished Size: 7" x 4"

An Absolutely Fabulous Foursome ...

2009-07-06T04:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday, stampers ... hope your holiday weekend was safe and happy!

Today's card project was created for no-good reason using this vintage-inspired collage style stamp from Diva Impressions.

I added some sanded vintage-style photo corners, some Stampin' Up! twine and ribbon, and a cute l'il sentiment from Papertrey Ink.

For all the mesmerizing product info, check out the supply list, below.

Sooooooo, this weekend Sheila and I went downtown to do some ~~window~~ shopping. After driving around for 15 minutes, we decided to go park in the expensive-but-convenient parking garage.

Our bad luck continued as we ended up driving around and around the garage in search of an available space. Nothing. Suddenly, Sheila noticed a couple walking just ahead of us.

"Going out?" she called to them.

"No," replied the man, "just friends."

~Hugs,

Card Stock: Textured Card Stock by Bazzill Basics; "Stampers Select" White Card Stock by Papertrey Ink; "Riding Hood Red" Card Stock by Stampin' Up!
Stamp: Collage-Style Stamp by Diva Impressions; Sentiment by Papertrey Ink
Ink: "Riding Hood Red" Dye Ink by Stampin' Up!
Accessories: Striped Grosgrain Ribbon by Stampin' Up!; Twine by Stampin' Up!
Tools: Die-Cut Machine by Provo Craft; Vintage Die by Provo Craft; Tiny Tags Die by Provo Craft; Sanding Block; Edge Distressing Tool by Tim Holtz; Scotch ATG 714 Adhesive; Scrap Fusion Adhesive by Ivy Scraps; Foam Tape
Finished Size: 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"

Lose Yourself in Nature ...

2009-07-02T09:28:00.001-04:00

Happy Thursday, stampers! So nice of you to swing by and visit the ole blogstead!

Today's card project was created using stamps from the hand of the fantabulous artist, Theresa Momber. This set, "Happy Camper," is Theresa's newest set from Gina K. Designs. Clicky HERE to take a look at this must-have collection of outdoorsy stamps!

I was beyond thrilled when Theresa asked me to design some cards using this versatile set; I just ~~prayed~~ hoped I could do the collection justice. I'll let you be the judge ... in the days to come, I'll show you some of the other projects I created with this set.

This card also qualifies (just barely ... ), for this week's SCS Clean and Simple challenge, "Make it Sparkle." If you clicky on my photo, you'll notice I used glitzy brads from KI Memories ... and the ribbon is kinda sparkly, too. Right. So humor me. For all the challenging deets, clicky HERE. To go straight to the sparklin' CAS21 card gallery, clicky HERE.

For the rest of the heart-warming product info, check out the supply list, below.

So, the other day I was hangin' out at Sheila's when she got a phone call. Since it wasn't me, I figured it would be short and sweet.

Wrong. After about 20 minutes, I finally mouthed, "Is everything okay?"

Ken, her DH, laughed and said, "Don't worry, Deb. She'll only be another 40 minutes or so."

With that, Sheila hung up the phone.

"Wow," Ken said, "You were on the phone for less than half an hour!"

"Yeah," Sheila replied, "it was a wrong number."

~Hugs,

Card Stock: "Dark Chocolate" by Papertrey Ink
Designer Paper: "Berry" from Funky Vintage - Lizzie Collection by Making Memories
Stamp: Sentiment from "Happy Camper" by Theresa Momber for Gina K. Designs
Ink: "Chocolate Chip" Dye Ink by Stampin' Up!
Accessories: Glitzy Brads by KI Memories; Ribbon by American Crafts
Tools: Die-Cut Machine by Provo Craft; Nestabilities Dies by Spellbinders; Scotch ATG 714 Adhesive
Finished Size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Hallowe'en in June ...

2009-06-29T04:00:00.002-04:00

Hey, there you are! Happy Monday ... hope you had a fantastical weekend!

I know it's early, but I jess love Halloween ... and I really love creating Halloween cards and projects. This card was created using this uber-fun craft stamp from Janlynn's "Stamps Happen, Inc." This kewl stamp is available HERE.

This card turned out to be perfect for SCS's current Ways to Use It challenge, WT224, "Bold & Bright." For all the challenging deets, clicky HERE. To go straight to the WT224 card gallery, clicky HERE. For the ginormous view of my card, clicky there on the photo.

I stamped my witches shoes on white card stock, colored the image in with Copic markers, then cut the image out and mounted it on purple card stock.

I added a C'bugged back ground, some rick-rack, a few brads, and some creepy black spiders. Easy-peasy!

I'm thinkin' that you could use this craft stamp year-round. Simply by coloring in the image with seasonal colors, you can create Christmas ~~Wishes~~ Witches, Valentine's ~~Wishes~~ Witches, St. Paddy's Day ~~Wishes~~ Witches, and so on.

For all the spooky product info, check out the supply list, below.

Sooooooo, this weekend, Sheila had her Mom & Dad over for the weekend and invited the DH and I to come on over and help them eat some BBQ. Well, that's a no-brainer ...

When we got there, Reid-the-Wild-Child's Grammy was telling him what her own childhood had been like:

"Oh, we used to pack a picnic lunch and stay all day out on the lake. And I had a swing made from a tire; it hung from a tree in our front yard. We rode our pony. We picked wild raspberries and blueberries in the woods. We fished in the pond, and rode our bicycles everywhere!"

Reid was wide-eyed, taking this all in. At last he said, "Darn, I wish I'd gotten to know you sooner!"

~Hugs,

Card Stock: Purple Textured Card Stock by Bazzill Basics; Purple Card Stock by DCWV; "Stampers Select" White and Black Card Stock by Papertrey Ink; "Tangerine Tango" Card Stock by Stampin' Up!
Craft Stamp: "Witches Shoes" by Janlynn's Stamps Happen, Inc.
Ink: "Tuxedo Black" Memento Dye Ink by Tsukineko
Color Medium: Copic Markers (100, Y06, G14, V15, and YR68)
Accessories: Brads by American Crafts; Rick-Rack by Wright's; Black Plastic Spiders
Tools: Die-Cut Machine by Provo Craft; Spider Web A2 Embossing Folder by Provo Craft; Ticket Corner Punch by Stampin' Up; Foam Tape; Scotch ATG 714 Adhesive
Finished Size: 5" x 7"

Happy Birthday, Michelle!

2009-06-26T04:00:00.001-04:00

Happy Friday, stampers!

And b-i-g Happy Birthday hugs to the wonderful Michelle Rodgers at Stampers Dream! Heartfelt wishes are flyin' your way, Michelle! Hey, why don't y'all hop on over to Michelle's blog to wish her a happy day ... clicky HERE to visit Michelle's blog.

Michelle, I hope your day is beyond fantastical ... full of love, smiles, pretty packages, and cupcakes!!

Today's card was also created for SCS's Clean and Simple challenge, CAS20, "Paper Piecing." For all the challenging deets, clicky HERE. To go straight to the CAS20 card gallery, clicky HERE. For the ginormous view of my card, clicky right there on the photo.

For all the astounding product info, check out the supply list, below.

Soooooooooo, Sheila and I have a friend who has been lately ... ummm ... slightly ... well, impossible.

Suzanne's DH recently landed a big new job with a huge increase in his pay. And Suzanne doesn't let us forget it. Between braggin' on her husband's new Mercedes, or her new BMW, or her son's new private school, she's showin' off all kinds of new designer clothes, handbags, and jewelry. It's fun for awhile, but it's gettin' old ... fast.

Anyway, her son, Toby, and Sheila's Reid-the-Wild-Child, are buds. And, since Toby's birthday is coming up, Sheila needed to shop for his gift. 'Course, I got dragged along for all the fun.

After looking at a thousand games, trucks, trains, and craft kits, Sheila announced that she couldn't find a thing for Toby.

"Ummmm, maybe a video or something educational?" I suggested.

"No, that's not it," Sheila replied.

We continued wandering aimlessly through the aisles until something finally caught her eye: a laser gun with flashing lights and 15 different high-pitched sounds.

"This is perfect," she said, beaming. "Suzanne will hate it."

Uh, oh, she's crossed the line now ... stand by for "Revenge of the Birthday Gifts!"

Thanks for sharing part of your very busy day with me ... have a great weekend!

~Hugs,

Card Stock: Papertrey Ink
Designer Paper: DCWV; Junkitz; and Paper Love Designs
Stamp: Sentiment from "Heard from the Heart" Set by Stampin' Up!
Ink: "Chocolate Chip" Dye Ink from Stampin' Up!
Accessories: Brads by American Crafts
Tools: Martha Stewart "Cupcake" Punch; Foam Tape; 1/4" Circle Punch by Stampin' Up; Pen by American Crafts
Finished Size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Baby's First Photo ...

2009-06-19T04:00:00.000-04:00

Yay, it's Friday! Hope you have lots of fun stuff planned for your weekend!

Today's card project was created using a "frame" I created with card stock, the track of a paper trimmer, and a bone folder. Once made, I distressed it and sponged on a variety of Distress inks.

I framed my stamped image, added some die-cuts, leaf punchies, a twill ribbon, a felt bird, and a Prima flower. I'll add the sentiment to the inside later ... when I figure out how I'll use this card!

For all the heart-pounding deets, check out the supply list, below.

So last night, Sheila and I went out for our 'dessert and monthly meet up' with some of our friends.

'Cuz Sheila's DH was out on a glass job, Reid-the-Wild-Child had to come with us.

When we arrived, Sheila plopped him down in a chair and gave him some pencils, crayons, and paper to draw on. And strict instructions to pipe down and mind his own business.

After dessert and a milkshake, Reid piped down and got busy ... drawing pictures of all us.

We "oooohhhhh'ed and ahhhhhh'ed" over each of our likenesses as he finished them. Finally, he turned to our friend Barb, who's just the weensiest l'il bit overweight, and said, "Here ya go, Aunt Barb, here's you!"

Barb reached across the table to have a look at it and said, "Hey, that's great, Reid! You made me look so tall and slim."

"Yeah, I know," he said, "but I was running out of paper."

Hope you're weekend is full of cake and milkshakes!

~Hugs,

Card Stock: Bazzill Basics Textured Card Stock; "Dark Chocolate" Card Stock by Papertrey Ink; "Very Vanilla" Card Stock by Stampin' Up!
Stamp: Diva Impressions
Ink: "Old Paper," "Antique Lace," "Vintage Photo," Distress Inks by Ranger; "Chocolate Chip" Dye Ink by Stampin' Up!
Accessories: 3/8" Twill Ribbon, Unknown; Felt Bird by Maya Road; Black Pearl by Mark Richards; Flower by Prima
Tools: 12" Paper Cutter; Bone Folder; Sharp Scissors for Distressing Edges by EK Success; Die-Cut Machine; Shapeabilities Flourish Die by Spellbinders; Rock Fern Punch by Punch Bunch; Pine Branch Punch by McGill; Sanding Block; Scotch ATG 714 Adhesive; The Ultimate Glue by Api
Finished Size: 4 7/8" x 5 3/8"

It's Your Birthday, Have Some Balloons ...

2009-06-18T04:00:00.001-04:00

Happy Thursday, stampers! Hang on: only one more day to get through 'til the weekend!

Today's card project was created for SCS's "Clean and Simple" challenge, CAS19. This week, it's a sketch challenge. For all the challenging deets, clicky HERE. To go straight to the CAS19 card gallery, clicky HERE. For a ginormous look at my card, clicky on the photo.

For all the heart-stopping product info, check out the supply list, below.

Sooooooo, yesterday Sheila told me she was done complaining about her DH's awful driving.

"Well, Deb, I decided to stop worrying about Ken's driving and take advantage of it."

"Umm, what? Errrr, how?" I asked stupidly.

"I got one of those bumper stickers that say, 'How's My Driving?' and put a 1-900 number on it. At 50 cents a call, I figger I'll make about $40.00 a week."

~Hugs,

Card Stock: DCWV; Papertrey Ink; Stampin' Up!
Stamps: "Birthday Whimsy" and "Upsy Daisy" by Stampin' Up!
Ink: Close to My Heart; Distress Ink by Ranger; Memento by Tsukineko; Palette Hybrid
Accessories: Grosgrain Ribbon; Martha Stewart Drawing Pen
Tools: Die-Cut Machine; Nestabilties Die; Scotch ATG 714 Adhesive; Foam Tape
Finished Size: 4 7/8" x 5 1/2"

Dig Those Snazzy Dresses:

2009-06-16T04:00:00.001-04:00

Happy Tuesday, race fans!

Today's card project was created for no-good reason using this vintage-inspired stamp from Inkadinkado's "Tin Can Mail" collection.

I scored my Cosmo Cricket DP working off the pattern in the paper, then sanded the score lines and applied some "Old Paper" Distress Ink.

I paper-pieced the gals' dresses using more paper from this collection, then tied on some Sinamay ribbon and a bit of waxed linen thread.

For the rest of the exciting product deets, check out the supply list, below.

Soooooo, yesterday, I accompanied Sheila while she had a biopsy on this crazy-lookin' lump on her leg.

She was pretty nervous and mentioned it to her nurse.

"Not to worry, dear," the nurse assured her, "you're just having a little autopsy."

We laughed till we cried!

And she's fine ... totally benign. Yay!

~Hugs,

Card Stock: "Vintage Cream" and "Dark Chocolate" by Papertrey Ink
Designer Paper: "Hello Sunshine" Collection by Cosmo Cricket
Stamp: Inkadinkado
Ink: "Old Paper" Distress Ink by Ranger; "Chocolate Chip" Dye Ink by Stampin' Up!
Accessories: Sinamay Ribbon; Waxed Linen Thread by 7gypsies
Tools: Die-Cut Machine; Nestabilities Die by Spellbinders; Scor-It Board; Sanding Block; Foam Tape; Scotch ATG 714 Adhesive
Finished Size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Cake Minus Two Makes Glue ...

2009-06-15T02:45:00.003-04:00

Happy Monday, stampers! Hope your weekend was fantastical.

Today's card project was created for SCS "Sketch Challenge," SC232. For all the challenging deets, including a look-see at the sketch I followed, clicky HERE. To go straight to the SC232 card gallery, clicky HERE. For the ginormous view of my card, clicky on the photo.

For all the mind-blowing products I used, check out the supply list, below.

So, this weekend Sheila popped in while I was whippin' up a yummy layer cake.

"How come when you mix water and flour together you get glue. And then you add eggs and sugar and you get cake? Where did the glue go?" I pondered aloud.

"You know darned well where it went! That's what makes the cake stick to your butt!" Sheila replied.

Food for thought, huh?

~Hugs,

Card Stock: "Dark Chocolate," "Vintage Cream," and Kraft Card Stock by Papertrey Ink; "Riding Hood Red" Card Stock by Stampin' Up!
Stamp: Diva Impressions
Ink: "Antique Linen" Distress Ink by Ranger; "Chocolate Chip" Dye Ink by Stampin' Up!
Accessories: Button by Making Memories; White Twine; Grosgrain Ribbon by Stampin' Up!
Tools: Die-Cut Machine; Cuttlebug Photo Corner Die by Provo Craft; "Swiss Dot" A2 Embossing Folder by Provo Craft; Foam Tape; Scrap Fusion by Ivy Scraps

Birthday Wishes ...

2009-06-12T04:00:00.003-04:00

TGiF, stampers!

Today's card was created for my birthday stash using this so-cute craft stamp from Stamps Happen by Janlynn. You can see the stamp HERE. Oh! Don't forget about Janlynn's huge 80% off clearance sale ... click HERE to go to the sale page ... and check out that yummy embossing powder on sale for just $1.00! Better hurry: the sale ends Sunday, June 14, 2009.

I stamped my Birthday Presents craft stamp directly on my card base, then once again on the patterned paper. I cut out the bows and two of the presents and paper-pieced them on the original image. I stamped a sentiment, added a patterned paper border, and finis!

For the rest of the exciting details, check out the supply list, below.

Sooooooooo, Sheila and I share a locker at our gym, and one morning this week she mentioned that we needed a new combination lock.

"I'll pick one up tonight," she told me.

Late that night it occurred to me that I might not talk to her before I got to the gym in the morning and wouldn't have the new combination. When I arrived at the gym, I found that she had left me a note:

"Deb, to find the first number subtract 142 from your high score the last time we went bowling. The second number is 16 less than that. To find the third number, subtract 1.87 from the amount you owe me."

Have a great weekend!

~Hugs,

Card Stock: "Stamper's Select" White Card Stock by Papertrey Ink
Patterned Paper: "Red Kitchen Notes" by A-Muse
Stamps: "Birthday Presents" Craft Stamp by Stamps Happen, Inc., Janlynn; Sentiment from "Heard from the Heart" Set by Stampin' Up!
Ink: "Tuxedo Black" Memento Dye Ink by Tsukineko
Tools: Stamp-a-Ma-Jig by EK Success; Threading Water Border Punch by Fiskars; Scotch ATG 714 Adhesive
Finished Size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

You Bring Out the Happy in Me!

2009-06-11T04:00:00.003-04:00

Oh, yes, you do!! So, big, happy, Thursday hellos, and a very happy National Hug Day to you!

Today's card was created for SCS's "Clean and Simple" challenge, CAS18. This week's challenge is a color challenge: pink/coral, kraft, and one other color of your choice. I, obviously, chose New England Ivy green. Not to be confused with Southwest Ivy green ... or Deep South Ivy green. Geez, who names these ink pads? Wouldn't a simple "Ivy Green" suffice?

For all the challenging deets, clicky HERE. To go straight to the CAS18 card gallery, clicky HERE. For the ginormous view of my card, clicky there on the photo.

This card couldn't been any simpler ... cleaner maybe, but not simpler! For all the breath-taking product info, check out the supply list, below.

Sooooooooooooo, I was babysitting with Reid-the-Wild-Child the other night and he startled me by asking, "So, Auntie, where does poo come from?"

"Yikes! Can't you ask your Mother these kinda questions?" I responded.

"She'll just make something up; you'll tell me the truth."

"I'll do my best ... okay, so you know what you ate for dinner tonight?" I started.

"Yup." Reid answered.

"Wellllllll, the food goes into our tummies and our bodies take out all the good stuff, and then whatever is left over comes out of our bottoms when we go to the toilet ... and that is poo." I expertly explained.

Reid-the-Wild-Child looked perplexed and stared at me in stunned silence for a few seconds ... then asked, "And Tigger?"

YIKES!

~National Hugs,

Card Stock: Coral Textured Card Stock by Bazzill Basics; Kraft Card Stock by Papertrey Ink; New England Ivy Card Stock by Close to My Heart
Stamp: "Daisy Crazy" Set by Stampin' Up!
Ink: "New England Ivy" Dye Ink by Close to My Heart
Tools: Die-Cut Machine; Nestabilities Long Rectangle Dies by Spellbinders; "Arch Lattice" Border Punch by MarthaStewart Crafts; "Flower" Dies by Quickutz; Foam Tape; Scotch ATG 714 Adhesive; Scrap Fusion by Ivy Scraps
Finished Size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Earth Laughs in Flowers?

2009-06-10T04:00:00.002-04:00

Hello, my wonderful stampin' friends! I've missed all of you bunches ... and the rest of the Internet ... and email service and stuff.

Due to ~~worthless Comcast~~ circumstances beyond my control, I haven't been able to post to my blog OR respond to comments and emails. I apologize in arrears ... I can double-back on the post comments, but if you've emailed me, oops! Please resend.

I promise to get around to all of your blogs as soon as possible to see all the beauteousness y'all been creating while I was incommunicado.

Today's belated card project was created for SCS's "Sketch Challenge," SC231 ... right in time for this week's sketch! For all the challenging deets, including a look at the sketch I followed, clicky HERE. To go straight to the SC231 card photo gallery, clicky HERE. To see the ginormous view of my card, just clicky there on my photo.

So, one of the kewl things I wanted to mention to all of you is that Janlynn, the makers of Stamps Happen craft stamps, is having a HUGE sale!! And I do mean huge! The prices, 80% off!, are phenomenal and the items on sale are all paper-crafting-must-haves. You need to race over there right. now. and check out all the sale-priced goodies. Sale ends on June 14, 2009. Clicky HERE to check it out.

I'm gonna hustle over there myself and fill up a cart ... provided I don't lose the Internet between now and then ...

And now, your Sheila-fix for June 10th:

So, this past Sunday while I was hangin' out with Sheila enjoying her ~~donuts~~ company, her DH, Ken, was sitting opposite us, reading the paper.

He came across an article about a beautiful actress that was about to marry a celebrity ... who was known primarily for his lack of smarts and common sense.

"I'll never understand why the biggest idiots get the most attractive wives." Ken said.

"Why, thank you, dear!" Sheila responded.

And that's when I left. But I'll be back tomorrow ... the mediocre-Comcast willin'!

~Hugs,

Card Stock: "Stampers Select" White by Papertrey Ink
Designer Paper: "Bali Breeze" Collection (Retired) by Stampin' Up!
Stamps: Sentiment from "Make My Day" Set by Close to My Heart
Ink: "Cote d'Azure" Hybrid Ink by Stewart Superior
Accessories: Pearl Rhinestones by Michaels
Tools: Die Cut Machine; Nestabilities Dies by Spellbinders; Shapeabilities Die by Spellbinders; Pine Bough Punch by McGill; Tag Maker by Making Memories
Finished Size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

You Make My Heart Flutter. Do I Need a Doctor?

2009-06-02T04:00:00.004-04:00

Happy Tuesday, stampers! I was enjoying my weekend so much, I decided to let it last a little longer.

Today's card was created for SCS's Limited Supplies challenge, LSC222, "Plenty of Patterns." This weeks challenge limited players to:

½ sheet of plain card stock for the card base—no other plain papers;
Plenty of patterned paper;
NO coloring supplies ... no Copics, pencils, markers, crayons, nada; and,
Keep the embellishments simple.

For all the challenging deets, clicky HERE. To go straight to the LSC222 card photo gallery, clicky HERE. To see the ginormous view of my card, clicky right there on the photo.

I stamped my butterfly ... a birthday gift from my dear friend, Annapurna, on patterned paper from MME, cut it out, and popped it up on dimensionals. I stamped my sentiment, from the same stamp set, on another paper from MME's "Bloom" collection, tied on a twill ribbon, added some Kaiser Craft pearls, and finis! Easy-peasy and ready to serve in, say ... 25 minutes!

Soooooooo, this past weekend, Sheila and I took Reid-the-Wild-Child out for ice cream. As we were sitting at the ice-cream bar, we watched a sweet older man shuffle in. He v-e-r-y slowly, and obviously painfully, pulled himself up onto a stool.

After catching his breath, he ordered a banana split.

The waitress asked kindly, "Crushed nuts?"

"No," he replied, "Arthritis."

The Wild Child is still asking what was so funny!

~Hugs,

Card Stock: Bazzill Basics
Designer Paper: "Bloom" Collection from "Bloom & Grow" by My Mind's Eye
Stamps: "Butterfly Wings" Set by Close to My Heart
Ink: "Tuxedo Black" Memento Dye Ink by Tsukineko
Accessories: Twill Ribbon by Provo Craft; Pearls by Kaiser Craft
Tools: Scissors by Cutter Bee; Foam Tape; Scotch ATG 714 Adhesive
Finished Size: 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"

If You See My Mojo, Would You Mind Sendin' it Home?

2009-05-29T04:00:00.004-04:00

'Cuz it took off a couple of days ago and hasn't been seen since! And, since there's nothing worse than 'forcing it' ... I'm not. After all, we do this for fun ... don't we?!?

Okay, if you've been following my blog for awhile, you know I periodically show off pix of my darlin' babies ... meaning my bee-you-tea-full orchids. Oh, and my totally weird banana trees. If you're interested, you can see more FLora + Fauna photos in my blog labels, or search for "flora" in the search box, above on the left.

So, in the spirit of a stamp release party, presenting Miss May:

Miss May is a gorgeous young phalaenopsis orchid and the newest member of my large family of purple orchids. I love Miss May's soft lavender/white coloration ... isn't she purty?!?

My DS and DIL sent this beauty to me from Wisconsin for my birthday ... and let me tell you, she was sooooooooo happy to see that her new home was in the sub-tropics! And since it's monsoon season down here, her happy state should continue until say, November. After that, not so much.

Soooooo, yesterday afternoon I called my friend Barb to leave a message in her voicemail. Instead, I got Barb.

"Hey, what are you doin' home?" I asked.

"Wellllllll," she explained, "when I was driving to work, I took a wrong turn. And then I just decided to keep going."

Hey! Maybe that's what happened to my mojo!

~Stampin' hugs,

Kraft "Best Blossoms" Redux ...

2009-05-27T04:00:00.007-04:00

Happy Hump Day, stampers! This week's flyin' by, huh?!?

Today's card was created for SCS's "Clean and Simple" challenge, CAS16. This week, the challenge was to remake one of your own cards. For all the challenging deets, clicky HERE. To go straight to the CAS16 card gallery, clicky HERE. For the ginormous view of my cards, clicky right there on the photos.

So, this ^ is my do-over of this card:

This ^ card really did need a make-over ... it's just ~~way~~ a l'il too busy. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but the execution? Ummm, not so much.

As you can see, I eliminated the patterned paper, the too-large bow, and the excess leaves. I also eliminated the sponged-on white ink around the edges of the focal image.

What I did do was swap the kraft mat for a mat cut from a book published in 1897, and stamped a sentiment. Otherwise, these cards are identical!

For all the mind-boggling product info, check out the supply list, below.

Sooooooo, this weekend, the DH and I went downtown for dinner. We decided to take a stroll through the nearby park to 'walk it off.'

So after we'd walked ~~forever~~ a bit, we sat on a bench to rest and almost immediately could overhear voices coming from a secluded spot behind us.

"Omigosh," I whispered to the DH, "he's gonna propose to his girlfriend!"

Not wanting to eavesdrop at such an intimate moment, I nudged the DH and said, "Whistle and let that couple know that someone can hear them."

"Whistle?" the DH asked incredulously, "Why should I whistle? Nobody whistled to warn me!"

Yikes!

~Hugs,

Card Stock: "Kraft" by Papertrey Ink
Other Paper: Vintage Book Page Published in 1897
Stamps: "Best Blossoms" Set by Stampin' Up!; Sentiment from "Bella Blossoms" by Stampin' Up
Ink: "Vintage Cream" Hybrid Ink by Papertrey Ink; "Chocolate Chip" Dye Ink by Stampin' Up; "Cranberry" Dye Ink by Close to My Heart
Accessories: 5/8" Chocolate Brown Satin Ribbon by May Arts
Tools: Die-Cut Machine by Provo Craft; Nestabilities Die by Spellbinders; Foam Tape; Scotch ATG 714 Adhesive
Finished Size: 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"

All the Good Card Shapes Were Taken ...

2009-05-26T04:00:00.003-04:00

by the talented Caardvarks Design Team!

Today's card project was created for the Caardvarks "Shape Up" challenge. For all the challenge deets, clicky HERE. And while you're there, take a look at the DT's cards ... wowza, not only is the talented team huge, it's hugely talented! By reason of sheer numbers, all the good card shapes were taken ... like that taco-card ... so I decided to make a boring shirt-card {*yawn*} for my dear FIL.

The card is pretty simple ... and pretty simple to put together, too. I created my shirt using less than one sheet of DP from Cosmo Cricket's "Get Happy" collection and stamps from Close to My Heart and Hampton Art.

After I cut out my shirt-card, I added some vintage buttons from my half-vast button stash.

TIP: Using a guillotine cutter, slice super-skinny strips of your DP to create "thread" for your buttons. It creates less bulk than real thread or floss and always matches your project!

For all the exciting shape-shifting product info, check out the supply list, below.

So, this past Sunday, Sheila was working with her Sunday School kids preparing them for their First Communion. Father John assisted her, instructing the kids to cup their hands to receive the Host when he said the words, "God be with you."

After Church, Reid-the-Wild-Child called me and pleaded with me to come over to watch him practice for the big day.

I think his exact words were, "'Auntie, you HAVE to get over here RIGHT. NOW. 'cuz I'm your favorite-est godson and you love me," or maybe it was, "get over here RIGHT. NOW. before Mommy eats all the Sunday donuts!" Either way, I had to go ...

When I got there, I found Sheila in her kitchen using a tiny cookie cutter to create the "Host" out of white bread.

"You've lost it." I observed.

"Whatever," she sighed, "I'm not in charge here anymore."

"Okay, Mom," Reid demanded the second she finished making the bread thingies, "first, I'll be the priest and you be the kid!"

Reid carefully explained to Sheila that she had to kneel, bow her head, think of Baby Jesus, and then cup her hands to receive the Host.

Never one to skimp on details, Reid put on his Batman cape ... while Sheila got down on her knees.

Then, holding the bread-Host-thingie in a most priestly way, he said in a solemn voice, "God will get you."

Omigosh, my sides still hurt!

~Hugs,

Designer Paper: Snappy/Twist & Shout Sheet from Como Cricket's "Get Happy" Collection
Card Stock: "Stamper's Select" White by Papertrey Ink
Stamps: "Love," and "thinking of you" by Close to My Heart; "DAD" from Hampton Art's Mini-Alphabet Set
Ink: "Cranberry" Dye Ink by Close to My Heart
Marker: "Cranberry" by Close to My Heart
Accessories: Vintage Buttons
Tools: Tag Corner Punch by Stampin' Up; Glue Dots by Mini-Glue Dots; Scotch ATG 714 Adhesive
Finished Size: 5 1/2" x 6 1/2"

Tri-Shutter Birthday Greetings:

2009-05-22T04:00:00.004-04:00

TGiF! And welcome to the first day of your long holiday weekend!

Today's fun card project was created for SCS's "Try a New Technique" challenge, TLC221. For all the challenging deets, including instructions on how to make your own Tri-Shutter card, clicky HERE. To go straight to the Tri-Shutter card photo gallery, clicky HERE. To see the ginormous view of my card, and you should, clicky right there on my photo.

Paper ~~hoarders~~ crafters, you need to create a card like this! It looks complicated but it's embarrassingly easy. It's all in the scoring ... and just two long cuts ... and so quick and easy you'll never want to make a regular-shaped card again!

My card was created using "Double Mates" 90 pound card stock from WorldWin in "Coffee Brown," and less than one sheet of double-sided designer paper from the "Bloom" collection by My Mind's Eye.

I stamped my images, added some sparkly glitter brads from KI Memories, die-cut some coordinating flowers, and punched out ten butterflies.

I'll be honest: it took less than an hour to create this card ... and four days to get a decent photograph of it! All the angles makes it ... ummm ... difficult to photograph. And now I have two photos I can't decide between. Just pick your favorite and clicky on that one.

The really neat thing about this card is that it folds up to fit in a regular A2 size envelope. Here's a lookie at the card folded up, ready to mail:

Why not give this project a a try sometime over the weekend ... you'll be glad you did! Oh, yes, you will!!

For all the heart-pounding product info, check out the supply list, below.

So, last Sunday, Sheila and her family, including Reid-the-Wild-Child, and my table-for-two family, went to the Baptism of our friends' new baby together.

During the service, it was obvious that Reid-the-Wild-Child was entranced with the proceedings. His mouth was shut and his eyes were wide-open, glued to all the details of the event.

As is normal, the minister stood at the Baptismal font, and quietly spoke while pouring water over the infant's head.

Suddenly, the good-Reid-timer ran out as Reid-the-Wild-Child loudly asked, "Why is he brainwashing the baby?!?"

Thanks so much for spending part of your busy day with me; I hope you enjoy your holiday weekend! And sometime this weekend, why not spend a moment reflecting on, or praying for, those brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

~Hugs,

Card Stock: "Vintage Cream" by Papertrey Ink; "Coffee Brown" Double Mates by World Win
Designer Paper: "Bloom" Collection by My Mind's Eye
Stamps: Sentiment from "Sincere Salutations" Set by Stampin' Up; Flowers and Stems from "Daisy Crazy" Set by Stampin' Up
Ink: "Chocolate Chip" and "Kiwi Kiss" Dye Inks by Stampin' Up; Palette "Cote d'Azure" Hybrid Ink by Stewart Superior
Accessories: Sparkly Glitter Brads by KI Memories
Tools: Die-Cut Machine by Provo Craft; Nestabilities Die by Spellbinders; Stamp-a-Ma-Jig by EK Success; "Flowers" Dies by Provo Craft; Perfect Layers Tool by Stampin' Up; Craft Knife by Olfa; Scor-It Board by Hammonds; 1/4" Circle Punch by Stampin' Up; Butterfly Punch by Martha Stewart Crafts; Foam Tape; Scotch ATG 714 Adhesive; Glue Dots by Mini-Glue Dots

B.Y.O.S. ...

2009-05-21T04:00:00.002-04:00

And B.Y.O.B. while you're at it!

Today's card was made in a flash using this fun "girlfriend" stamp from Unity Stamp Company, sunshiney designer paper, and a strip tease from Cosmo Cricket's "Hello Sunshine" collection.

Using a SAMJ, I stamped my image three times on white card stock, then again on scraps of designer paper. After I paper-pieced the funky girlfriends images, I added my strip tease, a scrap of designer paper, a ribbon, and finis! Easy-peasy and ready to serve in ... oh, say ... 25 minutes.

For all the gory product details, refer to the Supply List, below.

Sooooo, Sheila's DH, Ken, owns a glass company and he's currently running an ad for an experienced glazier.

"Well," I offered, "with so many people out of work, you shouldn't have too hard a time finding someone."

"Let's hope," Ken answered, "a good glass man is hard to find." Well, I let that go ...

But while we were hangin' out, he took a phone call from a man who said he had over 10 years of experience.

"Fantastic!" Ken said to the caller, "Where have you worked as a glazier?"

"Dunkin' Donuts," the man responded.

Yeah, he didn't get the job ...

Thanks so much for spending part of your busy day with me; you rock!

~Hugs,

Card Stock: Papertrey Ink
Designer Paper: "Hello Sunshine" Collection by Cosmo Cricket
Other Paper: Strip Tease from "Hello Sunshine" Collection by Cosmo Cricket
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company
Ink: "Tuxedo Black" Memento Dye Ink by Tsukineko
Accessories: Ribbon, Unknown
Tools: Die-Cut Machine by Provo Craft; Nestabilities Dies by Spellbinders; Cuttlebug "Swiss Dot" A2 Embossing Folder by Provo Craft; Stamp-a-Ma-Jig by EK Success; Foam Tape; Scotch ATG 714 Adhesive
Finished Size: 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"

Nothing Says "Thank You" Like Paper-Pieced Trees:

2009-05-20T04:00:00.002-04:00

Happy Hump Day stampers!

Today's card was created for my 'thank you' card stash using stamps from Unity Stamp Company. This funky tree stamp is from Unity's "Fresh Beginnings" kit. To see this kit in it's entirety, clicky HERE. I won the tree stamp, and another from this kit, for next to nothing on eBay. The "Thank You Words" set came from my friend, Annapurna who, for some unknown reason, didn't want them anymore. Or maybe she just knew I wanted 'em ... either way, thank you, Annapurna!

Unity Stamps are really startin' to ... ummm, grow on me! I love their fun and funky designs ... I'm just not all that crazy about their sliding wood mounts. But most of their stamps can be purchased mounted on E-Z Mount Foam and that works fine for me. The stamps are all deeply etched red rubber and are all die-cut! Yay, no cutting rubber! I have absolutely no affiliation with Unity, I'm just a happy stamper.

To my card base, I adhered a 4" x 5 1/4" piece of patterned paper from Cosmo Cricket's "Hello Sunshine" collection. Using my trusty Stamp-a-ma-Jig, I stamped the tree image twice right on the patterned paper; then again on scraps of paper from the same collection. I paper-pieced the tree tops onto my card, stamped my sentiment, and tied a ribbon around the card. Finally, I adhered the whole shebang to my card base. Easy-peasy!

If you wanted to spend more time, you could paper-piece the l'il birdies, too ... but I chose not to; maybe next time.

For the rest of the exciting product info, please refer to the Supply List, below.

Sooooooo, I was hangin' out at Sheila's when her DH came in and mentioned that their wedding anniversary was coming up.

"So, my dear bride," Ken started, "what would make you happy for our anniversary?"

"Hmmmm," Sheila answered, "I want something shiny that goes from 0 to 200 in about 3 seconds."

"A scale it is then!" Ken exclaimed.

Even though it was a joke ... Sheila is nowhere near over-weight ... she smacked him, told him to get his own dinner and to sleep on the couch. Ah, hah! She's working on a car after all!

~Hugs,

Card Stock: "Stamper's Select" by Papertrey Ink
Designer Paper: "Hello Sunshine" Collection by Cosmo Cricket
Stamps: Tree Stamp and Sentiment by Unity Stamp Company
Ink: "Chocolate Chip" Dye Ink by Stampin' Up
Accessories: 1/2" Twill Ribbon by Cosmo Cricket
Tools: Stamp-a-ma-Jig by EK Success; Scotch ATG 714 Adhesive; Scrap Fusion Adhesive by Ivy Scraps

You're the Apple of My Eye ...

2009-05-19T04:00:00.003-04:00

Okay, so what the heck does that actually mean, anyway? I once asked my eye doctor, and he just laughed at me ...

Today's card project was created for no-good reason using this uber-cute stamp from Stampin' Up's "Farm Fresh" set. Well, I do love this ribbon and wanted to use it Right. Now.

For the rest of the amazing product info, check out the Supply List, below.

So, this weekend the DH, who's a computer repair techie, got this call:

DH: "So, what's the problem?"

Customer: "There's smoke coming out of the power supply."
DH: "You'll need a new power supply."
Customer: "No, I don't! I just need to change the start up files."
DH: "Sir, the power supply is faulty. You'll need to replace it."
Customer: "No way! Someone told me that I just needed to change the start-up and it will fix the problem! All I need is for you to tell me the command."

So, it's 10 minutes later and the Customer is still adamant that he is right. The DH is getting frustrated and fed up:

DH: "Okay, okay. We don't normally tell our customers this, but there is an undocumented DOS command that will fix the problem."
Customer: "I knew it!"
DH: "Just add the line "LOAD NOSMOKE.COM" at the end of the CONFIG.SYS. Let me know how it goes."

Then, 10 minutes later, the customer calls back:

Customer: "It didn't work. The power supply is still smoking."
DH: "Hmmm, what version of DOS are you using?"
Customer: "MS-DOS 6.22."
DH: "Okay, that's your problem there. That version of DOS didn't come with NOSMOKE. Contact Microsoft and ask them for a patch that will give you the file. Let me know how it goes."

1 hour later:

Customer: "I need a new power supply."
DH: "Oh. So, how did you come to that conclusion?"
Customer: "Well, I called Microsoft and told him about what you said, and he started asking questions about the make of the power supply."
DH: "And?"
Customer: "He told me that my power supply isn't compatible with NOSMOKE. So, I'll be bringing it by for a new power supply, if that's okay with you?"
DH: "Sure, bring it by anytime."

Hangs up. Turns to me and says:

"Duh. Remind me to over-charge him."

He didn't though ...

~Hugs,

Card Stock: Textured Card Stock by Bazzill Basics; "Stamper's Select" White by Papertrey Ink
Stamp: "Farm Fresh" Set by Stampin' Up
Ink: "Riding Hood Red" Dye Ink by Stampin' Up
Accessories: 5/8" Ribbon, Unknown; Silver Metal Hinges and Brads by Close to My Heart; Silver Ball Chain
Tools: Die-Cut Machine by Provo Craft; "Distressed Stripes" Cuttlebug A2 Embossing Folder; Sanding Block; Scotch ATG 714 Adhesive

Clean and Simple? You Tell Me:

2009-05-18T04:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday, Stampers! Hope your weekend felt like a week!

Today's card was created for SCS's Clean and Simple challenge, CAS14, "Let's Rock and Roll." For all the rockin' challenge deets, clicky HERE. To go straight to the card photo gallery, clicky HERE. As always, clicky on the photo for the ginormous view of my card.

While the Rock 'n Roll Technique is certainly fun, and creates a really kewl effect, I find that I always stain my wood mounts. And since I'm way too anal, I then spend hours sanding the stains off my wood mounts. Do you do this too?

I'm also wondering how "clean and simple" this card is ... I'll upload it to SCS anyway, but it seems to be a bit busy for a CAS card. Whaddya think?

TIP: Try doubling up on your foam tape to add even more dimension to your stamped images. This is especially effective when you have more than one cut-out image on your project.

For all the rockin' product info, check out the Supply List, below.

Soooo, this weekend Sheila needed a birthday present for one of Reid-the-Wild-Child's little friends. And, of course, she needed my help. So, off we go to our local Wal-Mart to find a ~~cheap~~ nice birthday gift.

As we were wandering aimlessly through the store, we heard the intercom come on:

"I have a customer in hardware who needs assistance at the paint counter."

Then, a few minutes later, we hear the intercom come on again and, in a tentative voice, we hear a woman page:

"I have a customer by the balls in the toy department and need assistance."

We weren't the only ones in the store who cracked up ... and of course, THEN we had to go to the toy department to ~~check it out~~ shop!

Never a dull moment ...

~Hugs,

Card Stock: "New England Ivy" Card Stock by Close to My Heart; "Vintage Cream" Card Stock by Papertrey Ink
Stamps: "Bella Blossoms" Set by Stampin' Up!
Ink: "New England Ivy," "Sunflower," and "Autumn Terracotta" Dye Inks by Close to My Heart
Tools: Die-Cut Machine by Provo Craft; Nestabilities "Labels One" Die by Spellbinders; Nestabilities "Long Rectangle" Die by Spellbinder's; Foam Tape; Sanding Block

happy birthday ... and many more ... presents!

2009-05-15T04:00:00.003-04:00

It's finally Friday!

Today's card project was created for my birthday card stash featuring this beautiful "presents" craft stamp from Stamps Happen by Janlynn. I love the jaunty line of presents on this stamp and thought it would be perfect for paper-piecing. Clicky HERE to purchase this affordable and versatile craft stamp.

I simply stamped my image on 2 1/2" x 4 1/4" piece of designer paper from October Afternoon, then stamped the image again four more times on scraps of paper from the same collection. Finally, I cut out all the packages and adhered them over the original stamped image. Easy-peasy! And there's so many different looks you can create depending upon the patterned paper you chose to use.

I stamped my sentiment on my card base, tied on a buttery-soft satin ribbon, and finis!

Sooooooooo, last night the DH and I went over to Sheila's for barbecue ... her speciality. Yum!

When we all sat down for dinner, Sheila said, "By the way, I met this really horrible, rude man downtown this morning. Funny, but right away I knew he was a troublemaker. He started to insult me ... and he used really bad language. He even threatened me!"

"Omigosh, Sheila, how did you meet this guy?" we all asked.

"Well," she said, "we met by accident. I hit him with the car. But enough about me, what's new with you guys?"

{In the interest of full-disclosure, I actually knew about this ^ before dinner ... in fact, the DH and I were invited to dinner to help diffuse the situation ... and so's I could bring my husband-softening homemade strawberry shortcake.}

Thanks so much for spending part of your busy day here. Have a great weekend!

~Hugs,

Card Stock: "Vintage Cream" by Papertrey Ink
Designer Paper: "County Fair" Collection by October Afternoon
Craft Stamps: "Presents" from the Tara Reed Collection by Stamps Happen by Janlynn; Sentiment from the "Birthday Whimsy" Set by Stampin' Up!
Ink: "Tuxedo Black" Memento Dye Ink by Tsukineko
Accessories: 5/8" Satin Ribbon; Scotch ATG 714 Adhesive
Finished Size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"