Kathi's Corner

Snow Friends

2009-11-15T19:32:00.002-06:00

While I can’t say I’m all excited about living with the fluffy white stuff, which is sure to come our way one of these days, I love Snow Friends. Have since the first time I laid eyes on them and am pretty sure I always will.

I’m also loving this color combination – Heavenly Blue and Holiday Red. The card is my take on Weekend Sketch Challenge #106 as featured on the Fresh & Fun blog. I was at a loss as to what to do about a sentiment until I punched a 1-inch circle and realized it “fit” inside one of the embossed circles. Just right!

Materials & Tools: White Daisy, Holiday Red, and Heavenly Blue cardstock; Black, Holiday Red, and Twilight ink pads; Grey Wool, Heavenly Blue, Holiday Red, Goldrush, Orange, and Baby Pink markers; Snow Friends and Say it in Style stamp sets; Ribbon from Wal-mart; Diamond Stickles; 1-inch circle punch; Fiskars Apron Lace border punch; Dove blending pen; Cuttlebug w/Snow Dots embossing folder.

Why stop when you’ve got a good thing going? LOL. Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #91 provided yet another opportunity to make a card with my beloved Snow Friends. For the snow, I tried my hand at making faux Flower Soft. My sweet friend Jeanne sent me this link she found on the Hog Wild About Stamping blog. The Styrofoam I found at Wal-Mart, however, was extra hard, and I kinda ended up with what I’ll call Flower/Snow Dust. On the card, it created the look I was hoping to achieve though, so it was worth the effort/mess. Thanks, Jeanne!

Materials & Tools: White Daisy, Holiday Red, and Heavenly Blue cardstock; Heavenly Blue Gingham paper (retired); Black, Holiday Red, and Twilight ink pads; Grey Wool, Heavenly Blue, Holiday Red, Goldrush, Orange, and Baby Pink markers; Snow Friends and So Sweet Seasons stamp sets; Ribbon from Wal-mart; Red mini brads; Small white pompom; Diamond Stickles; Dove blending pen; Cuttlebug w/Snow Dots embossing folder and Nestabilities Classic Circles set.

I had so much fun making these cards on Friday evening. That’s the way it’s supposed to be, isn’t it? As for the rest of the weekend, I haven’t enjoyed much of anything – having spent at least 85 percent of my time in bed. I was fine yesterday morning. By early afternoon, however, I had a very sore throat, the chills, and a headache that made me feel like my eyeballs were going to pop out. I finally got up and had supper tonight and am feeling somewhat better.

What a waste of a weekend … I certainly hope yours was better. I’m about to go check out my favorite blogs and find out for myself. Then, I’m going to put myself back to bed with hopes of getting up and going to work tomorrow. Take care, and have a great week!

Very Simple Saturday

2009-11-14T06:59:00.001-06:00

My vision for this card was quite different from what you see. What I imagined was more colorful with ribbon and brads and whatever other doodad struck my fancy as I put it together. Instead, the tiny red bird is the only spot of color against the snowy background, which, I thought, best conveyed my simple, albeit impassioned, sentiment. Further adornment would have only distracted from the peaceful feeling I hoped to impart.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy, Chocolate, and Stampin’ Up Kraft cardstock; Cranberry, Chocolate, and White Daisy Pigment stamp pads; Impression Obsession Birds of a Feather and Close To My Heart Say it in Style stamp sets; Retired CTMH Speckled Background stamp.

I’ve been up for a couple of hours already after having gone to bed early and then, my sleep disturbed by my hunter who showed up at home at 3:30 AM for the purpose of retrieving a set of keys. I don’t know what his story was and wasn’t in the mood, at the time, to ask. He said something about having locked his keys in his pickup. Good grief…

With that, I’m going to go have some breakfast and find some chores to do. I have a feeling a nap will be in order by mid-afternoon. LOL. Have a great Saturday! Later…

Wisdom Begins in Wonder

2009-11-13T17:09:00.002-06:00

I love this quote. As for my card, it was inspired by items laying out on my desk and the direct to paper background technique I used in my “Pretty Paper Makes Stampin’ Easy” post below. I sometimes forget what I can do with plain paper, a stamp pad, and maybe a sponge or two. It’s fun to create your own when that perfect piece of pretty paper is devoid from one’s collection.

Here’s a close-up of my sparkly butterfly, which was created by “painting” the wings with Orange Peel Stickles and attached to the card with foam mounting tape. The sparkle made all the difference.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Vanilla Cream, Black, and Stampin’ Up Creamy Caramel cardstock; Black, Brown Bag, and Bamboo ink pads; Goldrush and Autumn Terracotta markers; Close To My Heart and Wordsworths Men Collection stamp sets; Black mini brads; Round sponge; Sponge dauber; 3M foam mounting tape.

Happy Friday! I’ve got lots of projects lined up for the weekend. Activities will include my Stamp Club meeting on Sunday night and time with family – the details still yet to be worked out. How about you? Anything fun planned? I’ve noticed a few fun-looking sketches in today’s blogosphere and am hoping to try a few. Check back.

Thanks for stopping by! Your comments and support warm my little heart … Talk to you again on Simple Saturday.

Inkspired

2009-11-12T19:00:00.001-06:00

You know? As much as I don’t like to miss a day of posting, I think I’ve finally figured out I can’t be everywhere all the time. Last night was my bowling night, and the little boys stayed with us. Thus, when I got home at 7, I opted to spend my time with them instead of rushing to create and post what very well might have been a sub-standard card. The good thing is I’m happier and feeling more creative tonight because of it.

This evening’s card was inspired by this very pretty card on Karla’s Life is Good blog.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White and Twilight cardstock; Grace Paper packet; Twilight, Cocoa, and Bamboo stamp pads; Close To My Heart Solo “E,” Renaissance by Design Darling Damask, and Waltzingmouse Stamps Blessed by You stamp sets; Ribbon from Wal-Mart; Stampin’ Up Build-a-Brad; Sponge dauber; Sanding block.

One more day, and the weekend will arrive. Hooray! Marv left for the hunting camp today, so I’m on my own again for a few days. As much as I like having him around, it’s amazing how much I can accomplish when he’s not here. As for this evening, I’m going to make myself a bite to eat, take a nice relaxing bath, put on my favorite flannel pants and a T-shirt, and clean up my corner in preparation for some creative time in the coming days. Sounds good, doesn’t it? I hope you are having a great week.

Thanks for stopping by!

Pretty Paper Makes the Stampin’ Easy

2009-11-10T19:26:00.001-06:00

Here’s my card for Mojo Monday Week 112. The card didn’t require much stamping but rather a lot of fooling around to try to get my cardstocks to coordinate with the patterned paper.

The piece the sentiment is stamped on is Vanilla Cream. I used my Brown Bag ink pad to distress it. I also stamped up the background with a butterfly stamp, stamping it off first on a piece of scratch paper. Stampin’ Up’s Creamy Caramel worked well for the matting with the exception of the scalloped piece I used to back the sentiment. It needed something more. The best match I could come up with was New England Ivy, sanded and then distressed with Brown Bag to tone it down. Very simple but to my way of thinking, the best card I’ve come up with in a while. LOL.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Vanilla Cream, New England Ivy, and Stampin’ Up Creamy Caramel cardstock; Studio 45 Botanicabella Collection Eden’s Symphony paper; Cocoa and Brown Bag ink pads; CTMH Butterfly Kiss and Wordsworth Men Collection stamp sets; Ribbon from Wal-Mart; Pewter Bigger Brads; 1-inch circle punch; Cuttlebug w/Nestabilities Classic Circles set; Sanding block; Sponge dauber.

I hope life is treating everyone well. I’m busy these days no matter where I’m at, which is a good thing. It felt good not to struggle so in my corner. Maybe my mojo is making a comeback … No, I’m off to do a few domestic chores before calling it a night. Take care, friends, and as always, thanks for stopping by. Later…

ABC …

2009-11-09T21:38:00.001-06:00

It’s still no mojo for Kathi. This is a card I made last week. While it’s not the worst (they’re in the trash), it’s nothing great. The stamps are from a cute little set, “A is for Apple,” from Renaissance by Design.

Materials & Tools: Stampin’ Up Kraft and Black cardstock; Black, Holiday Red, Cranberry, Topiary, and Brown Bag ink pads; Renaissance by Design A is for Apple stamp set; Fiskars Apron Lace border punch.

How was your day? Mine was great … for a Monday. LOL. Before it’s time to go to bed, I’m going to go take residence in my corner and see if I can make something happen. Oh, and if you’re interested, I finally got my hands on a few wedding photos and posted them on my This is the Day blog. Have a great Tuesday, and thanks for stopping by!

Simple Saturday … on Sunday

2009-11-08T11:03:00.001-06:00

I’m a bad blogger and for the past few days, an even worse stamper. And, it’s not for a lack of trying. The wastebasket in my corner is lined with my Friday and Saturday attempts to create something.

This morning, however, I spotted this week’s CPS sketch and Angie Hagist’s great sample (the top one) and thought, “I can do this.”

Materials & Tools: Stampin’ Up Kraft cardstock; CTMH New England Ivy and Naturals (retired) cardstock; Graphic 45 Botanicabella Collection Eden’s Symphony paper; Black, New England Ivy, and Bamboo ink pads; Brown Bag marker; Walzingmouse Peace and Plenty and Papertrey Ink Mixed Messages stamp sets; Corner rounder; Sponge dauber; Sanding Block; 3M foam mounting tape.

Besides being creatively crippled, I’ve been busy this weekend. Yesterday, I went shopping in Grand Forks with a friend, and I’ve got a major kitchen-cleanup project I’ve been working on.

I hope you’re enjoying the weekend! Now that I’ve finally created a card I deemed acceptable enough to post, I’m hoping my mojo draught is over. We’ll see …

Who Gives a Hoot?

2009-11-05T19:42:00.001-06:00

Here’s my take on Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #42 posted on The Sweetest Thing blog. There isn’t a lot to say about my card with the exception that I love the owls in Close To My Heart’s You’re a Hoot stamp set, and 8x3-1/2 inch cards are a pain in the derrière to photograph.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White and Chocolate cardstock; Twitterpated paper packet; Chocolate, Olive, Honey, and Bamboo ink pads; Bamboo, Olive and Honey markers; You’re a Hoot stamp set; Antiqued Copper Itty Bitty Brads; EK Success Dotted Wave Edger punch; Corner rounder; Sponge dauber.

Woo hoo! Tomorrow is Friday. I have a quiet weekend ahead of me, the first of three consecutive deer hunting weekends in the hunting zone where my husband’s hunting cabin is located. I’m saying “hooray” today but am certain I will be wary of the whole thing by the time it’s over. Anyway, I have some projects planned for my alone time. There will most likely be some (or maybe a lot) of stamping going on, too. Before that happens, however, I have one more work day to get through. I hope you are having a great week, and thanks for stopping by! Talk to you again tomorrow. ‘Til then, take care.

In Everything Give Thanks

2009-11-04T16:13:00.001-06:00

Here’s my take on Mojo Monday #111. What the camera failed to capture is the sparkle and much of the dimension.

To make my flower, I stamped the three flowers from Verve Stamps’ Abundant Blessings with Twilight ink on Colonial White cardstock that had been colored with ink from my Twilight pad using a round sponge. Then, I cut the flowers out and “painted” them with Diamond Stickles. When they were dry, I put the flower together with 3M foam mounting tape. The sentiment was stamp on Colonial White cardstock embossed with a rectangular Nestabilities die. I added a little Stickles to the punched branches as well.

Usually, when there’s a contest on the Mojo Monday blog, my mojo disappears – a psychological thing, I think. This week, however, I’m happy enough with my card and love the color combination.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White and Chocolate cardstock; K&Company ancestry.com Designer Mat Pad; Twilight and Chocolate ink pads; Verve Stamps Abundant Blessings stamp set and Thessalonians 5:17-18 Plain Jane stamp; Hero Arts pearl accent; Antiqued Copper mini brads; Diamond Stickles; Martha Stewart Branch punch; Cuttlebug w/Nestabilities Classic Rectangles set; 3M foam mounting tape.

Happy Hump Day, friends! Another week is flying by, and I’m still having a hard time absorbing the fact it’s November already. No, enough chit-chat. I’m off to the bowling alley to show off my athletic prowess. That was a joke. It’ll be fun anyway. Hope you enjoy the evening, too! Later …

Just Monkeying Around

2009-11-03T17:06:00.002-06:00

… with a few sketch challenges and a new set of stamps I won in a random drawing on the

Card Positioning Systems blog a few weeks back. I had my choice of any set from sponsor Inky Antic’s clear stamp line. And while it was a tough choice with so many cute stamp designs, I kept going back to “Monkeys Hanging Around” and finally decided that was the set for me. Winning was fun, particularly when I didn’t even realize there was a drawing. Surprise!

Fittingly, the top card was made with this week’s CPS Sketch #140 on the CPS blog.

This second card is my take on this week’s A Sketch for You to Try on the i{heart}2stamp blog. I colored all of the images with Prismacolor pencils and OMS and used papers from the Animal Cookies paper packet. It probably goes without saying these are cards for kids!

This last (but not least) card is my take on Unscripted Sketches #29.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy, Tulip, and Dutch Blue cardstock; Animal Cookies paper packet; Black, Tulip, and Dutch Blue ink pads; Inky Antics Monkeys Hanging Around and Close To My Heart Happy Birthday stamp sets; Tulip mini brads; Prismacolor colored pencils; Gamsol odorless mineral spirits; Blending stumps; Corner rounder; 1 and 1-1/4 inch circle punches; Black My Legacy Writer; Stampin’ Up Photo Corner punch; Cuttlebug w/Nestabilities Classic Circles set; 3M foam mounting tape.

How’s that for a lot of monkey business? LOL. How has your day been? So far, mine has been great. And if my evening is as productive as the workday was, I’ll go to bed a happy, albeit tired, camper. Thanks for your comments on my last post. I’m glad some of you found my one-word answers to the questionnaire to be amusing. As for the place I go over and over, I think it’s an old-lady thing that I don’t always find so darned funny. Might as well laugh about it though. Anyhoo, enjoy the evening! Later …

An Award and a Card

2009-11-02T17:18:00.002-06:00

I recently received this blog award from the very talented Lisa of Lisa’s Creative Corner. What a sweetheart and such an inspiration to me and so many others. Thank you, Lisa!

Along with the award, there’s a little questionnaire. The rules are as follows:

1. You can only use one word to answer the questions.

2. Pass this along to your five favorite bloggers.

3. Notify them that you have given them the award.

4. Have fun.

One word… This is going to be a challenge.

1. Where is your cell phone? purse

2. Your hair? half-white

3. Your mother? beautiful

4. Your father? missed

5. Your favorite food? Snickers

6. Your dream last night? dumb

7. Your favorite drink? coffee

8. Your dream/goal? self-employment

9. What room are you in? den

10. Your hobby? stamping

11. Your fear? none

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? home

13. Where were you last night? out

14. Something that you aren't? organized

15. Muffins? bran

16. Wish list item? Copics

17. Where did you grow up? farm

18. Last thing you did? ate

19. What are you wearing? jeans

20. Your TV? off

21. Your Pets? deceased

22. Friends? awesome

23. Your life? good

24. Your mood? optimistic

25. Missing Someone? yes

26. vehicle? car

27. Something your not wearing? bra

28. Your favorite store? online

29. Your favorite color? green

30. When was the last time you laughed? tonight

31. Last time you cried? wedding

32. Your best friend? Marv

33. One place that I go to over and over? bathroom

34. Facebook? lurker

35. Favorite place to eat? home

As for passing the award on. It’s for you – each and every one of you who take the time to stop by. Your visits, your kindness are so very much appreciated.

Here is a very simple card I made over the weekend. I embossed my cardstock with a rectangular Nestabilities die and stamped and paper-pieced the pear. As simple as that. I love it.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy, Crystal Blue, and Sweet Leaf cardstock; Twitterpated paper packet; Black ink pad; Brown Bag marker; Waltzingmouse Peace & Plenty and CTMH TLC stamp sets; Cuttlebug w/Nestabilities Classic Rectangles set.

‘Tis Monday again and a good day... so far! I hope your week is wonderful. Later …

A Few Sketch Challenge Cards

2009-11-01T09:14:00.001-06:00

Here’s my take on last week’s Mojo Monday Week 110 sketch. As for the card, I can’t think of a thing to say that “the list” wont explain.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Olive, and Honey cardstock; Cosmo Cricket Early Bird Mini Deck; Black, Olive, and Twilight ink pads; Sunflower, Cranberry, and Grey Flannel markers; Whipper Snapper Designs Standing Chicken stamp; Impression Obsession Anytime Sentiments stamp set; Stampin’ Up Old Olive grosgrain ribbon; Dove blending pen; Spring chalks; Sponge dauber; Fiskars Apron Lace border punch; Cuttlebug w/Nestabilities Classic Ovals set.

This is my card for Weekend Sketch Challenge #104 as posted on the Fresh & Fun blog. Again, not a whole lot to say about the card.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy and Cocoa cardstock; Basic Grey Indian Summer 6x6-inch pad; Cocoa, Honey, Orange, and Autumn Terracotta stamp pads; Renaissance by Design Roots & Wings stamp set; Brad from my stash; Cuttlebug w/Nestabilities Classic Circles set.

Finally, here is my adaptation of Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #89. I colored “Megan" with colored pencils and OMS and paper-pieced her top.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Sorbet, and Cocoa cardstock; Cosmo Cricket Earth Love Mini Deck; Black and Cocoa ink pads; Whipper Snapper Designs Megan stamp; Close To My Heart Happy Birthday stamp set; Ribbon from Wal-Mart; Prismacolor colored pencils; Gamsol odorless mineral spirits; Blending stumps; 1 and 1-1/4 inch circle punches; 3M foam mounting tape.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend! Out last night, I was more than glad to retrieve the hour we lost last week and get an extra hour of sleep. With that, I’m off to face the “busyness” of the day! Thanks for stopping by, friends!

Doubling Up for Simple Saturday

2009-10-31T10:32:00.002-05:00

Home alone last night, I stamped away the evening, coming up with not one but two Simple Saturday offerings. This first one was made using the Darling Damask stamp set again.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy, Crystal Blue, and Black cardstock; Black and White Daisy Pigment ink pads; Renaissance by Design Darling Damask and CTMH Gracious Greeting stamp sets; Black chiffon ribbon; Stampin’ Up Photo Corner punch.

My second card was inspired by this card I spotted in the gallery on Ellen Hutson’s Simple Dreams blog. To keep the soft look, I stamped the sentiment with Desert Sand. If you can’t see it in the photo, it reads, “May you never forget the promise of spring.”

Materials & Tools: Vanilla Cream cardstock; Desert Sand, Garden Green, Blush, and Baby Pink ink pads; CTMH Simple Blossoms and Renaissance by Design Roots & Wings stamp sets; Colonial White organdy ribbon; Kaiser Kraft pearl accents; Cuttlebug w/Swiss Dots embossing folder and Nestabilities Classic Ovals set.

Happy Halloween! I hope everyone’s day is fun and safe. For now, I’m off to do some chores. And then? Maybe I’ll stamp some more! Thanks for your visits and comments. They are appreciated! Later …

I’m Back …

2009-10-30T16:48:00.001-05:00

After a busy week, I’m back and with a new respect for people who are busy all the time – working moms with kids at home, kids’ activities – something going on darned near every day and night. Twenty years ago, I might have been able to “keep up.” No more. After a week of “busyness,” I will be delighted to resume my quiet, somewhat boring “grandma” life next week. As for getting “caught up,” that didn’t happen. Oh well.

About my card, it’s all about the color. I love turquoise.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy, Black, and Ocean cardstock; Black and Ocean ink pads; Renaissance by Design Darling Damask and Close To My Heart Gracious Greetings stamp sets; Black organdy ribbon; Stampin’ Up Build-A-Brad; Martha Stewart Doily Lace Edger punch.

Yup, I’m back. I hope everyone didn’t give up on me during my little hiatus. That said, I’m off to my corner to first clean it up and then mess it up again, so I’ve got something to post tomorrow and beyond … Hope yours is a fun weekend! Thanks for stopping by!

Boo!

2009-10-26T22:31:00.001-05:00

Here’s a simple Halloween card I made last week – most of it anyway. I managed to eke out enough time last night to finish it. There isn’t much to explain. I random-stamped the pumpkins, bats, and dots, used my Speckled Background stamp to fill in the background a bit, and then added a little white pigment ink to the edges. A ghostly touch, don’t you think?

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Black, and Stampin’ Up Kraft cardstock; Black, Orange, Chocolate, Desert Sand, and White Pigment stamp pads; Papertrey Ink Spooky Sweets and CTMH Star Struck and Say it in Style stamp sets; Retired CTMH Speckled Background stamp; Orange brad from my stash.

I hope your week got off to a great start. Mine did. I hope, too, to touch base with you again soon! Thanks for stopping by. Later…

Simple Saturday …on Sunday

2009-10-25T20:10:00.001-05:00

Hi! How was your weekend? Mine was good. Yesterday’s wedding was beautiful. Time with family is priceless.

My Simple Saturday offering is a birthday card for my brother who is turning 50 on Tuesday. He was the fifth child in our family and the first boy. The oldest, I was barely six and in first grade when he was born. I remember my teacher picking me up and hugging me when I told her I had a new baby brother. She was so excited about the fact the baby was a boy, something I didn’t understand at the time. I thought girls were fine. LOL.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White and Stampin’ Up Kraft and Chocolate Chip cardstock; Retired CTMH Abundance paper packet; Cocoa, Sunflower, Goldrush, Autumn Terracotta, Vineyard Berry, and Bamboo ink pads; CTMH Happy Birthday and Waltzingmouse Peace & Plenty stamp sets; Ribbon from Wal-Mart; Circle punches; Sponge dauber.

Over the course of the next couple of weeks, my posts are going to be “hit and miss.” I have some “life” to catch up on before the snow flies. If you follow my blog and check it every day, you might want to consider subscribing it via Google Reader. That way, you’re notified of updates and don’t have to waste your time checking a dormant blog. If you have questions about Google Reader, the information here might be helpful.

I hope your weekend was great, and although I say it frequently, thank you for your visits and comments. They mean the world to me. I doubt my posts will be all that scarce, as I can no more stay out of my corner than I can the refrigerator. LOL. I just need to move stamping and blogging down a couple of lines on the priority list … until I’m caught up! Take care, friends. Later…

Fun Friday

2009-10-23T17:12:00.001-05:00

Fun stamps + Fun papers = A Fun Card. There is no lack of colors and texture here. The stamps are from Close To My Heart’s new Grown with Love set. The papers are from Cosmo Cricket’s Earth Love Mini Deck. There isn’t much to say. I stamped the tree with Cocoa ink, colored over it with a Brown Bag marker, cut it out and ran it through my Xyron before mounting in on my layered-paper card base. The “leaves” were cut from various paper patterns with a half-inch circle punch. I glued the majority of them down “flat,” saving seven to layer using foam mounting tape.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White and Cocoa cardstock; Cosmo Cricket Earth Love Mini Deck; Cocoa and Bamboo ink pads; Grown with Love stamp set; 1/2-inch circle punch; Sponge dauber; 3M foam mounting tape.

Happy Friday, friends! I hope, like me, you have had a good week. Do you have plans for the weekend? My nephew is getting married tomorrow. I’m excited about seeing my mom, sisters and brothers, and nieces and nephews again. Other than that, I need to catch up on some household stuff and make preparations for a little family gathering next week.Oh, and I’ve already spotted some fun sketches and a challenge or two I want to try, so most likely I’ll have something to show you. Whatever you’re doing this weekend, I hope you and yours are healthy and happy. And like always, thank you for stopping by. Later…

Drummer Boy

2009-10-22T18:43:00.001-05:00

Isn’t this a sweet image? It’s Drummer Boy from Stampendous and part of The Nativity Cast. A friend brought the stamp to me the other night. Little did she know that Katherine K. Davis’s “The Little Drummer Boy” has been my favorite Christmas song since I was just a little girl. I caught the message of the song early on.
I am a poor boy, too … I have no gift to bring …That’s fit to give the King … Shall I play for you … On my drum? … Mary nodded … The lamb and ox kept time … I played my drum for Him … I played my best for Him … Then He smiled at me … Me and my drum. Life isn’t about having the most or the best. It’s about trying to be our best.

Now, about my card. I colored the image with Prismacolor pencils and OMS. I kept thinking the little guy should be dressed in red and green and had to keep reminding myself that he was a drummer and not an elf. As for the patterned paper, it’s from Basic Grey’s Wassail collection. The 6x6-inch pad I bought last year is pretty thin and my favorite patterns gone. I still love it and need to get some more. Oh, and because I’d stamped my image on Colonial White cardstock, I had to “unwhiten” (new word) the patterned paper. To do so, I used my Bamboo ink pad and the “direct to paper” technique.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White cardstock; Basic Grey Wassail 6x6-inch paper pad; Black, Barn Red, Bamboo, and Twilight ink pads; Stampendous Drummer Boy stamp; CTMH Peace on Earth stamp set; Natural twill ribbon; Prismacolor colored pencils; Gamsol odorless mineral spirits; Blending stumps; Dove blending pen; Black My Legacy Writer; Sponge dauber.

How was your day? Mine was A-OK, and it’s Friday tomorrow! Yeah!! Being it seems I had to tell a story at the beginning of my post, I’ll keep the end short again. Enjoy the evening, friends! Later…

Truly One of a Kind

2009-10-21T20:37:00.002-05:00

Tonight’s “stamping story” began on Monday evening with the Mojo Monday Week 109 sketch, a “bright” idea, some pretty patterned paper (see below), and this pile of buttons. You guessed it. I was going to make a card with a cherry image – as in button cherries. Wouldn’t you have thought in this pile of buttons I would have had two that were the right color and size. Nope. I had one. The others were either too big, too small, too bright, too pink. Darn. I don’t even remember where I got these buttons.

OK. I don’t have two of the right buttons. I don’t have a cherry stamp. I was hellbent on cherries. So, I thought, I have a publishing program on my computer that has a ton of clip art, fine art, photographs … but no cherry image I wanted to use. Darn. I turned to Google, searching for “digi stamps cherries.” Almost immediately, I found one! It was perfect and only $1. I put it in my cart, and paid for it with PayPal.

I already had my card base put together last night as I waited for my digi image to show up (within 24 hours) in my Inbox. By 10 o’clock, it hadn’t shown up. A no show. Darn! I’m rather disgusted by then. I picked up a black pigment pen and drew a simple image using the cherries on the patterned paper as “models.” I colored them with markers. I distressed the image with my Speckled Background stamp and a couple of sponge daubers with Bamboo and Brown Bag ink. I was neither happy nor unhappy with the results, but I didn’t finish the card. I’d give the digi image one more day…

When it wasn’t here tonight, I finished the card with my one-of-a-kind hand-drawn image. If I could change one thing, it would be the angle of the cherries. I love the way the distressing worked out, even though the photograph kind of washes it out. Quite a story, huh? I’m not an artist… but I really wanted this thing off my desk. As for my $1 digi image, I’m willing to bet there will be an message from my email carrier with all of the recent messages that got hung up in its spam filter, and it will be there. Darn.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Black, and Topiary cardstock; Studio 45 Bee’s Knees and Copacetic from the Times Nouveau Collection; Black, Bamboo, and Brown Bag ink pads; Topiary, Holiday Red, and Cranberry markers; Retired CTMH So Sweet Seasons stamp set; Retired CTMH Speckled Background stamp; Black My Legacy Writer; Ribbon from Wal-Mart; Cuttlebug w/Nestabilities Classic Circles set; Piercing tool; Sponge daubers.

After all that, I’ll simply thank you for putting up with me and wish you a wonderful Thursday. I promise if there’s a story to go with tomorrow night’s card, it will be short… and sweet! Later…

P.S. As I was writing this post I received a message from my email carrier. My digi image was stuck in the spam filter just like I predicted. I have it for next time ....

In Search of a Good 12-Step Program …

2009-10-20T18:34:00.001-05:00

LOL. My card this evening was inspired by this card on the Little Princess Cards blog. Sarita’s gorgeous card also inspired me to purchase the EK Success Diamond border punch. Sigh. That is how this disease … obsession … whatever you want to call it …. manifests itself. I see. I ponder (briefly). I buy. And, I’m only joking around.

In reality, I’d been looking for a large scallop punch for quite a while. It was her card and a couple of other pretty ones I’ve seen that convinced me it was the EK Success punch I wanted. I wouldn’t mind having the pretty stamp she used, too, but due to the fact that I have some self-control, I don’t and “made due” with a stamp from CTMH’s Vintage Valentine set. I was also struck by the pretty color combination Sarita used and attempted to emulate it with Brown Bag, which is a very pretty caramel color that I rarely use. Oh, and I “picked up” my punch from an eBay store.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Brown Bag, and Black cardstock; Black ink pad; Vintage Valentine and Gracious Greetings stamp sets; Black chiffon ribbon; Pewter Designer Brads; EK Success Diamond Lace border punch.

Another day almost done as we push towards the end of October. The calendar is reminding me I need to make a few Halloween cards. It wouldn’t hurt to get a little jumpstart on some Christmas cards, too, even though I’m hoping to do a photo card with a family photograph from the wedding. That’s if the photographer comes up with the proofs in a timely manner. I’m kinda funny with my card-making … much more apt to make a spring card in February than a wintery card in October. It has to do with my disdain for the bitter cold that accompanies the fluffy white stuff in the frozen tundra.

On that note, I’ll let you go with a wish that you enjoy the evening and my thanks for your having stopped by! Later …

Sometimes…

2009-10-19T18:05:00.001-05:00

… I make a card I don’t like initially, and then, for whatever reason, it grows on me. Such is the case with this card, which is my take on Unscripted Sketches #27. As for what I didn’t like, I don’t know what it was. Perhaps I thought the flower was too cutesy for the rather sophisticated patterned paper. I dunno. It looks fine to me today. I colored my flower with markers, using Garden Green, Holiday Red, and Cranberry.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White and Black cardstock; Studio 45 Communiqué Collection Society Page; Black, Bamboo, and Brown Bag ink pads; Hero Arts Special Moments Cling stamp; CTMH Thank You set and retired Speckled Background stamp; Grosgrain ribbon from Wal-Mart; Black Bigger Brads and mini brads; Sponge dauber; 3M foam mounting tape.

It’s been a quiet Monday, and I’m looking forward to it staying that way. I hope yours has been a good day, too. With that, I’m off to have a bite to eat and then, see if I’ve got any mojo. You’ll find out tomorrow! Until then, take care!

Peace & Plenty

2009-10-18T13:26:00.001-05:00

Here is my take on Weekend Sketch Challenge #102 as featured on the Fresh & Fun blog. I colored my image with Prismacolor pencils and OMS.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Autumn Terracotta, and Cocoa cardstock; CTMH Retired Abundance paper packet; Black, Cocoa, Bamboo, and Twilight ink pads; Waltzingmouse Stamps Peace and Plenty stamp set; Gold mini brads; Stampin’ Up Old Olive grosgrain ribbon; Cuttlebug w/Autumn embossing folder and Nestabilities Classic Circles set; Prismacolor colored pencils; Gamsol odorless mineral spirits; Blending stumps; Dove blending pen; Sponge dauber; 3M foam mounting tape.

This next card is my adaptation of the sketch for Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #87. Again, my image was colored with Prismacolor pencils.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Autumn Terracotta, Cocoa, and Olive cardstock; CTMH Retired Abundance paper packet; Black and Cocoa ink pads; Waltzingmouse Peace and Plenty stamp set; Gold mini brads; Piercing tool; Fiskars Apron Lace punch; Cuttlebug w/Nestabilities Classic Circles set.

How’s your weekend going? I’m doing OK, although the clock seems to be moving faster than it does during the week. This afternoon, I’m preparing a project for stamp club tonight in between loads of laundry. I’m looking for to this evening and wish the laundry would do itself. LOL. That’s it for now. As always, thanks for stopping by! Later …

Simple Saturday

2009-10-17T14:30:00.001-05:00

When I saw this pretty patterned paper in the Grace paper packet, I immediately saw its potential for this 10-minute, Simple Saturday card.

Materials & Tools: Twilight, Barn Red, and Stampin’ Up Kraft cardstock; Grace paper packet; Cocoa ink pad; Happy Birthday stamp set; Cocoa grosgrain ribbon; Martha Stewart Doily Lace Edger punch.

I hope you are having a wonderful day! I certainly am. After a trip to the grocery store for a couple of ingredients, Bjorn, Mathias, and I are about to make chocolate chip cookies. Yum! I’ve stamped a bit, too, so I’ll have something to show you … later!

Easel Card

2009-10-16T17:34:00.002-05:00

You know by now I don’t usually attempt the fancy stuff, but when I spotted some of the easel cards that have appeared on various blogs this week, I thought, “I can do that!” I found the directions here, so you can try it, too!

As you can well imagine, when I saw the cool tree in the Childhood Portrait set, I immediately visualized it with Autumn Flower Soft. So long as there are leaves on the trees, I’ll be using this stuff, and then I’ll have to get my mitts on some of their new Polar White. It’s sparkly! Back to this card, I wasn’t so sure about the two leaves on the focal point image until I added the third with the sentiment. It works. As for the curly wire, we don’t see much of these days … a little added texture.

Oops! One more thing … my easel card measures 5-1/2 inches square. I believe measurements for 5, 5-1/2, and 6-inch square cards are provided on the link I shared. I’ve seen smaller ones, too.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White and Barn Red cardstock; Retired CTMH Abundance paper packet; Cocoa, Goldrush, Autumn Terracotta, Barn Red, and Bamboo stamp pads; Childhood Portrait and Nature’s Vein stamp sets; Ribbon from Wal-Mart; Gold wire; Cuttlebug w/Nestabilities Classic Ovals set; Sponge dauber; 3M foam mounting tape.

Woo hoo! Happy Friday! I'm tickled pink that the weekend is (finally) here. I’ve seen several sketches posted that I want to try over the course of the next couple of days. We have visitors, too. Bjorn and Mathias are with us until tomorrow afternoon sometime. It should be a good time. I hope your weekend is wonderful, too. Thanks for stopping by! Talk to you again soon!

Gettin’ Krafty

2009-10-15T18:02:00.001-05:00

The challenge this week for Stamp Simply #108 on the No Time to Stamp? blog was to make a card (or something) using Kraft and Black paper. Not a problem. I love Kraft cardstock! And, while I think I’m the exception instead of the rule, I tend to keep my cards simple for the Stamp Simply challenges. That’s not a problem either cuz’ simple is what I do.

About the flowers on my card, I’d love to say they’re Primas but instead, they are from a ~~cheap~~ little bush of silk flowers I picked up at Wal-Mart. For whatever reason, I have a difficult time buying paper flowers online. Perhaps, they are one of the few (very few) things I need to see before purchasing. I dunno… Anyway, I kinda like my card – cheap red flowers and all. LOL.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy, Black, and Stampin’ Up Kraft cardstock; Black ink pad; Holiday Red marker; My Cute Stamps Ashley’s Blossoms and Waltzingmouse Stamps Blessed by You stamp sets; White Bitty Brads; Silk flowers from Wal-Mart.

Happy Thursday (as in the day before Friday)! Thank you for your comments in my last post (all posts, for that matter). In the most recent, you must have wished me back to health, because I’m feeling much better today. Eighteen or so hours of sleep might have helped, too. LOL. Oh, and my stack of “pre-made” cards isn’t quite as big as I might have made it sound like it was, which means I should mosey on over to my corner and see what transpires! Hope your day has been a good one, too! Later…