Debbie's Doodles

If I only had.... a Brain!

2008-09-04T07:36:00.007-04:00

I could while away the hours, conferrin' with the flowers, consultin' with the rain. Do do do do dee do....And my head I'd be scratchin' while my thoughts were busy hatchin', If I only had a brain!! (This should be my theme song!!!)
My dd's LOVE the Wizard of Oz (inspired by a play they saw by their friends over the summer). In fact, it's on right now as I type! They watch it as often as they can and when they are not watching it they are singing the songs. (which I have to say...surprises me b/c those flying monkeys scare me!! I can't believe they don't mind them!!) ANYWAYS, My oldest loves the scarecrow song. So when I saw this scarecrow (& sentiment!) in Bev Cole's Old Fashioned Hay Ride over at H&M Stamps I knew I had to ink him up! (Don't forget!!! FREE SHIPPING until 10/1 on all H&M Stamps!!!! Go check them out!)

I made this card for yesterdays sketch challenge over on SCS. I used my fabriano cards that my friend Beth gave me (Holla Holla Beth...I'm thinkin of ya sistah!!). NOTE: My friend Beth (freckledandfun) had to have some surgery yesterday to help her with some persistent back pain. If you want Beths address to send her a get well card you can get that from me...I'm sure she'd appreciate it!
Where was I? Oh yea, so I stamped the pumpkin image 5 times, colored them in with my copics and cut them out and layered them for the bottom panel. The scarecrow is colored in with copics as well. His bottom collar and nose are pieced for a little dimension that is lost in this photo! The scarecrow panel is popped up on dimensionals. Did you know that not all dimensionals are the same? SU dimensionals are a little smaller than some others I have, which I like. The SU dimensionals, in this case, gave my panel some dimension without popping it up too high. (Does that make sense??). The corn are colored with copics, cut out and glued in place. The flowers & brads are primas. And the ribbon is from my stash. I'm so upset b/c I wanted to sew on this card (its become kind of my "thang") but my sewing machine is BROKEN! GASP! Not sure how to fix it yet...but I've got to figure it out! The bobbin is doing something wrong and the thread keeps getting tangled underneath and then the needle gets stuck. Anyone know what is happening? Any advice is greatly appreciated!!!!! THANKS sistahs!

Recipe:
Stamps: H&M Old Fasioned Hayride
Ink: Palette noir
Paper: SU basic black, Fabriano
Accessories: Copics, primas, dimensionals, ribbon

Old Fashioned Hayride

color challenge

2008-09-02T20:37:00.004-04:00

Hey all! Gotta keep this short...I've got the onset of a migraine and dh is waiting patiently to get on the computer! Made this for todays color challenge which was to make a monochromatic card, any color. I used one of H&M Stamps new releases For the Love of the Game. This is such a FANTASTIC set...go check it out! I made so many mistakes that I had to cover up on this card its unbelievable...guess that's what happens when you have a killer headache all freaking day.

I'll post more tomorrow...PROMISE! (I'm being ridiculed by my neighbor Claire and my dh right now. HELP!!!)

For recipe please see my gallery on the right. THX!

Introducing Percy!

2008-09-01T21:15:00.008-04:00

Today is the day folks! Over at H&M Stamps Heather is releasing FORTY (4-0) sets with free shipping on any order from now until 10/1! Go on over and check it out! There are some of THE CUTEST sets around! This card is made with School Fun Percy. Isn't he adorable? I stamped him with palette noir ink and colored him in with my copics. I used the AaBbCc and 12345....images for the mid panel. I also used the ABC stamp for some tone on tone action with the so saffron panel. You can't see it well in the photo but it works nicely IRL. Think of all the cute cards and projects you could make with this set! I can't wait to play more with this guy...and there will be plenty of opportunity to! Percy finds himself in all kinds of situations! LOL! Check out the site for more on this guy and all the other wonderful sets!

Wanted to share a few more pics with you all from our trip to the OBX this past week:

This is of our 3 girls (Meg & Molly and my step daughter Melissa). M&M had so much fun with Melissa...but I think I had more fun with her!

And these 2 pics are of the nasty spider hanging out by the hot tub. This spider was about the size of a 1/2 dollar to give you some kind of perspective. The web was HUGE. And he spun it in a DAY (his previous web was destroyed by rain and wind). CREEPY! Dh had trapped it...or one like it...in a cup and went to dump him in the nearby woods. When he did 100's of spider babies went flying out of the cup! ACK!

OBX!

2008-08-31T14:26:00.006-04:00

Hey everybody! I'm back! What a fabulous vacation we had down at the Outer Banks (NC). The weather was great (most of the time....) and we were with FABULOUS friends. We couldn't ask for anything more!! Thought I'd share a couple pics with you all....

DH with M&M

Meg

Molly

We had such a great time....& I have a ton of pics I could share....but these are a few of my favs!

I'll be back tomorrow since its the Big H&M Stamps Release! 40 sets! WAHOO! Heather's got free shipping on all orders from 9/1 to 10/1 so head on over there tomorrow to see all that she has going on! It's all so exciting! WAHOO!

d

Tearing It Up!

2008-08-22T08:46:00.004-04:00

Hi there! Here is a card I made for this weeks Ways to use it Challenge (WT180) on SCS. The challenge was to tear your paper. Easy enough right? I also just subscribed to a blog called Color Throwdown "Weekly Papercrafting Color Challenges". WHAT FUN! This weeks color challenge is Ballet Blue, Apricot Appeal, Bashful Blue. Pretty colors right? So I made this simple card this morning and am pretty happy with it. What do you think?

I'm off for a little vacay for the next week so I'll be sure to post as soon as I get back! I'll have lots of sneak peaks for ya coming up for the Sept. H&M Stamps release! I'm so excited! The stamps are just so much FUN and so FABULOUS! Can you hear the excitement in my "voice"? LOL! So that's all for now! TFL!

Recipe:
Stamps: SU spring solitude
Paper: SU ballet blue, bashfull blue, ww, prints pack dp
Ink: apricot appeal
Accessories: nesties, sewing machine, word window punch

Cozy on Up!

2008-08-20T18:23:00.004-04:00

Hi there! I've only got a minute but wanted to share the card I made for this weeks Sketch Challenge (SC190) on SCS. I actually really like the way this turned out! I used ruby red as the base and layered it with choc. chip. The dp is from SU...I've used it before but can't remember the name right now! Sorry! I sewed all the edges with my sewing machine (having sew much fun with that...LOL!!!) The image is from H&M Stamps...Cozy on Up. Man I just LOVE this bear! I just rec'd my very first group of copics and I have to say I absolutely LOVE them! WAHOO! What took me so long? Anyways, the bear is stamped on very vanilla (used nesties for circles and scallop) and the sleeping bag is stamped on that dp I can't remember! I highlighted some of the bag with my copics...I was copic CRAZY! Anyways..thats it in a nutshell! Sorry so short.....Hope you all are having a great day!
HUGS!
d

Happy Tuesday!

2008-08-19T11:12:00.005-04:00

Hi there! Here is a card I made for todays Color Challenge over on SCS (ruby red, blush blossom, close to cocoa). I LOVE these colors together!! I'm not 100% happy with the card....but it'll do I suppose! The base is close to cocoa layered with blush blossom (sponged edges with close to cocoa). I then took some close to cocoa dp, cut it in half, distressed the edges and sewed both panels. The image I absolutely ADORE and its from a SU set called Touch of Nature. I don't own this set, my SCS friend Peggy (a/k/a marilynprestonn on SCS) sent it to me. (She is such a sweetheart!) I colored the flower in with my blush blossom SU marker and then went over it with ruby red and blender pen. The center of the flower is blush blossom and raised up on dimensionals. I cut into the flower petals to give it some dimension (plus I popped the entire flower up on a dimensional as well). I attempted to sew the very vanilla circle and didn't do that great of a job..LOL. But I had to try! Note to self: straight lines are MUCH easier!! I also colored in another flower and cut out some petals to have them falling from the main image.
So now here's the part I'm not crazy about....the velvet ribbon with the vanilla tag (sponged with cocoa and ruby) and the prima buttons. (they really don't go). I needed something and the buttons looked the best...but in this picture I really don't like them! Oh well! The sentiment is from my go to set "Happy Harmony" (SU!). What a versatile set it has turned out to be for me! (Holla Holla Beth!). Thats all for now....gotta run!

Have a Great DAY!

Congratulations Quickdraw!!!

2008-08-18T14:01:00.005-04:00

Congrats to my girl Jessie (otherwise known on this blog as "quickdraw") for being picked as the Featured Stamper this week! Woohoo! Jessie (knightrone on SCS) has unbelievable style and substance to her cards. I am lucky enough to have received a card from her IRL and let me tell ya...this girl doesn't fool around! Snazzy for sure!
So there are seriously a million cards worth "casing" in her gallery... I picked this one. I changed the colors and the layout a bit (making this for a clients wedding this weekend) but I was aiming more towards emulating her style.
So here are my deets! The card base is old olive with blue bayou layered on top. I then layered shimmery white on top of that. It is a wedding card after all...and a wedding card IMO should shimmah! (not sure why but that song with "shake it shake shake shake it like a polaroid picture" just popped in my head!!! LOL) Anyways, the Verve Visual Anniversary Birds are stamped on the shimmah white main circle and then I stamped them again on some more shimmah and cut and popped them on top of the original birds. I paper pieced some of the old olive leaves. I paper pierced around the main circle and layered that with old olive and then blue bayou scallops and soft sky scallops. I used my PTI shapes by design set to make up some dp using blue bayou and soft sky for the bottom (again on shimmery white). The ribbon I used is from MayArts but matches the soft sky nicely! I'm not 100% crazy about the bling I added on top...but they are on now and can't come off! The sentiment is from PTI's wedding day set and I stamped that on more shimmah paper and punched out with my word window punch (safer for me to do it that way than to try to center the sentiment directly on the image...and I always have to worry about the smudge factor!!). Well, that's all for now! TFL!

Recipe:
Stamps: Verve Visual anniversary birds, PTI wedding day & shapes by design
Paper: SU shimmery white, old olive, blue bayou, soft sky
Ink: SU old olive, blue bayou
Accessories: nesties, mayarts ribbon, bridal bling, paper piercer, word window punch

Something Exciting to Share!!!

2008-08-14T07:02:00.015-04:00

I'm so excited and thrilled to announce that I will be working with H&M Stamps as an illustrator and as a member of their design team starting in September! WAHOO! I am currently working on a number of sets (5+) that will be coming out in March 2009!! I love the superior quality of H&M Stamps and Heather (the owner) really goes above and beyond when it comes to her customers (and designers!!)!! Keep a look out in September....H&M will be releasing some FABULOUS sets (about 40 of 'em! Yup...you heard me right! 4-0!)...its all really exciting!

In the meantime, take a peak at some of the other Fab DT members!!

Tracy
Carolina
Emma
Julia
Nancy
Neva
Sarah
Shannon
Jennifer

Hope you all have a great day!
-d

Someone Thinks I'm BRILLIANT!

2008-08-14T07:00:00.001-04:00

LOL! A while back, my good friend Lori nominated me for the Brilliant Blogger Award! (I'm not too brilliant! Its taken me Forevah to blog this!!) Regardless, I am honored to receive such a prestigious nomination! Holding the title of Brilliant Blogger is a heavy responsibility and not one that I take lightly! I will do all that I can to be as Brilliant a Blogger as I can be! ;)

LMAO! Seriously, Lori, THANK YA GIRL! You are DA BOMB! Sorry I didn't post this sooner!! If you aren't already familiar with Lori, go check out her blog! She is just fabulous!

Here's the details of the award:
1. The winner can put the logo on their blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of those you’ve nominated.

Now it's MY TURN to nominate 7 FAB blogs! So here I go!

1. Heather
2. Janette
3. Denise
4. Cathy I.
5. Tracy
6. Jessie
7. Jodi

TFL!

Good Life

2008-08-13T08:44:00.006-04:00

Hello! I made this for today's sketch challenge over on SCS...not a layout I would normally choose to do. I like symmetry. Its hard for me to off-set things. I also used my friend Heathers Color Challenge (chocolate chip, tempting turquoise, sky blue, really rust) that she posts on her blog every Saturday. These are definitely colors I would NEVER pair together!! BUT I do like how this turned out! So see? Change is good!

I love this stamp set from SU (She's All That) and I hardly ever pull it out. It looks like the ink isn't dry on my main image...but it actually dried that way. Most of my SU inks are Spots (small 1 inch cubed stamp pads). I like the spots b/c they save on storage space and let's face it, they're cheaper!!! BUT on a large stamp it is hard to get an even coat of ink. I like the look on this particular card... how it gives it a pattern almost. But I'm not always keen on it and have to fiddle a bit to make it look just right. Its all about personal preference I guess and my mood at the time!:) Anyways, I'm rambling so I'll get going now! TFL and GEEZ FOLKS...leave me a comment on something! LOL! I know you're out there!!! :)

Recipe:
Stamps: SU! She's all That, Friendship Blooms
Ink: SU! temp. turq., really rust, sky blue
Paper: SU! temp. turq., choc. chip, sky blue, ww
Accessories: sewing machine, primas

Ralph Lauren?

2008-08-12T16:34:00.003-04:00

Here is another card I made using H&M Stamps Hoo-Rah set. I LOVE this flag image and the eagle. OMG. LOVE IT. This is for another one of Heather's sketch challenges over on her blog (HMSC7). The Hoo-Rah image is a new release over on H&M Stamps...go over and take a peak! Anyways, the colors on this card remind me of Ralph Lauren. LOL! I know! It makes no sense. But the whole time I was working on this card I was thinking ....Oooooh...this reminds me of Ralph Lauren. Maybe their tags are red, white and blue? Not sure! (I obviously don't purchase many Ralph Lauren items! BUT I DID just get a kewl bathing suit that is RL on super CLEARANCE..cheap cheap!...so maybe it was on my mind?) I have no idea! BUT I love this card! I made the dp using tone-on-tone flag stamping. I paper pieced the star section which is stamped in not quite navy on ww. The eagle was stamped in palette noir and colored in with my gray illustration pens...the beak was colored in so saffron.
I gotta keep this short (need to finish this up before dh comes home from work! LOL!). Thanks so much for looking! Leave me a comment and let me know what'cha think!

So many Brads!

2008-08-12T15:42:00.006-04:00

Hi Everybody! Hope you all are having a wonderful day! I've been busy stamping away...something I haven't done too much of lately. Boy it felt good! I made this card for this week's color challenge on SCS using H&M Stamps new release called Hoo-Rah and Hoo-Rah sentiments! What a great set with so many possibilities! Plus, if you order both sets, Heather will donate $5 of your purchase to purchase back packs for education to military families and Katrina victims who are in need. So go on over to H&M now and tell Heather I sent ya! Now... onto the card!

Every Saturday Heather posts a new sketch challenge (as well as color challenge) over on her blog so this is the sketch (HMSC6) from last saturday (8/2)...yea, I'm a little behind! The colors for the color challenge on SCS are elegant eggplant, taken with teal, and old olive. Not really my favorite combo...but I played along! So actually, I didn't have to think too much when it came to this card! LOL! I had the sketch and the colors! Can't get much easier than that!
I used my sewing machine again to stitch the edges of the eggplant panel (which is mounted on whisper white). Colored the soldier in with my blush blossom SU marker (nope..don't have the copics...yet!), old olive and taken with teal. I tried to give it a camouflaged look. I named this soldier Brad since I used so many on the card! ;) I stamped the dog tag stamp in old olive and cut away the inside of the "chain". I really wish I had a small silver beaded chain...like you see on key chains...do you know what I mean? Anyways, I added a silver brad and wrapped my paper chain around my PTI lavender moon ribbon. (the ribbon actually matches the card IRL very nicely!). And that's pretty much it. Hope everyone is having a great day! It's FINALLY beautiful here in NY! My kind of day....cool, sunny, breezy! AHHHHHHH!
TFL!

Recipe:
Stamps: H&M Hoo-Rah, Hoo-Rah Sentiments
Paper: SU elegant eggplant, taken with teal, old olive, whisper white
Ink: Palette noir, SU old olive, elegant eggplant, taken with teal
Accessories: SU markers, blender pen, silver brads (round and square), sewing machine, PTI lavender moon ribbon, circle nesties, corner rounder punch

Happy Anniversary Joe & Joan!

2008-08-09T13:43:00.004-04:00

Hi all! I realize I haven't shared any stamping in a while and wanted to share this card I made for my mom's friends wedding anniversary today! 50 years! YOWZA! They are not "fancy" people...rather laid back so my mom didn't want the "typical" 50 year card. I love Verve's anniversary birds so I decided to use them to whip up a quick card. This is actually kind of similar to a card I made a while back...and I didn't plan it to be that way. Just kind of happened! Anyways, I've been super busy with fun summer stuff (vacations, etc)...but I'll be back stamping with a vengeance I promise you! LOL! I've got some big stuff I'm working on....and will be posting about next week! (I'm so excited!!).

Hope everyone has a GREAT day (sun is shining here in upstate NY!). TFL!

Oh What a Night!!

2008-08-04T09:58:00.014-04:00

Here are pics of dh's (Chris) 20th (count 'em! TWENTY YEARS!) High School Reunion....

NIGHT ONE (Pre-party at local bar):

Beth and I before we really started rockin and rollin...

Chris is in center with best friend George (George didn't graduate in '88...he's much younger...but one year older TODAY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY GEORGE! WAAAAHOOOOO!)

Such a fun night! Chris and I just have THE BEST friends/family.
Here is Chris, George, Beth and Todd

CHICKEN MAN!

NIGHT TWO (the reunion):

Here we are with new...(and old)...friends!
(Do you see how tired and hung over I look?!)

Here are a bunch of the guys...

Thats all for now! Hope you enjoy the pics! I gotta get back on the stamp wagon...got LOTS TO DO!

Happy Birthday Xavier!

2008-08-03T15:00:00.000-04:00

I was supposed to upload this yesterday (oops!) but Friday was my Godson, Xavier's, FIFTH birthday! WAHOO! He is such a cute little man! Here is the card I made for the X-man. I was worried it may be a bit too "babyish" for him...but he loves dinosaurs. And I LOVE this dino set (coincidentally from my new favorite company - H&M Stamps!). So how could I go wrong? Right?! Heather, the owner of H&M is giving away some blog candy so go check out her blog to read more about it!

The card is made with todays color challenge (HMCC3) over on Heather's blog. I LOVE the colors together and had so much fun making this card.

I'm kind of dragging today...recovering from a CRAZY busy weekend...so I'm gonna sign off now!

I'm hoping to post some pics of the weekend later today...tomorrow definitely! TFL!

Recipe:
Stamps: H&M A dino day
Ink: gable green, night of navy
Paper: going gray, night of navy, gable green, sky blue, ww (all SU!)
Accessories: nesties, dimensionals, brads

H&M Sneak Peak

2008-08-01T11:30:00.006-04:00

I cannot BELIEVE how fast this summer is going! Seriously! And I can't believe August is already here!! H&M Stamps is releasing two new stamp sets this month (8/10) called Hoo-Rah and Hoo-Rah sentiments! They are military-themed sets and I just love them!! There are just so many possibilities for this set, even if you don't know anyone in the military (but really, everyone knows someone right?) And what boy doesn't like military stuff? Go over to H&M Stamps to check out the new sets! PLUS if you buy the sets, Heather will donate $5 of your purchase to support education for military and katrina victim families. To see more about this wonderful program and to enter to win some blog candy go over to Heather's blog!

So this is a card I made with the set. I made it for this weeks sketch challenge on SCS. I stamped the parachuters tone-on-tone in river rock and I also used a bunch of sentiments from the set tone-on-tone in old olive. I know I shouldn't draw attention to this but I have to - the right panel on this card is crooked but is fixed now IRL. I'm just that lazy that I didn't retake a picture of it to upload! LOL! Anyways, I stamped the flag on very vanilla with real red and night of navy. I then distressed all the edges. I once again whipped out what is turning to be my new favorite ribbon of the summer - twill! Amazing, I know! Anyways, I tucked one edge under and frayed the other edge and pushed silver brads through. Thats pretty much it. I hope to be uploading more cards with this set soon! I hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful day! (Want to send a little shout out to my Godson who is turning FIVE today! Happy birthday Xavier! - I'll be uploading his card tomorrow!!)

Happy August!

A Dream is a Wish your Heart Makes..

2008-07-31T07:03:00.005-04:00

...when you're fast asleep. Lalalalalalalala...what ever you wish for you keep." I could go on and on. Needless to say I've been "watching" a LOT of Cinderella lately! Which, between you and me...I don't mind too much! She is after all my favorite princess, and my girls favorite too! My dd's just walk around the house humming and singing "cindy songs". I just love being their mom!! :)

Ok, so I was away for a bit and now I'm back! We had such a great time visiting with my in-laws. Lots of late nights playing cards which is always fun! (Especially when you win a LOT! LOL!) When we got home, however, it was a different story. Our septic tank had backed into our basement while we were away. YUCK! It could've been so much worse (believe me, I know what I'm talking about here!!)...but it was not a nice thing to come home too. I felt so bad for dh who had to clean it up. We have the worst luck with water/septic issues. Seriously. Anyone who knows us knows this. My one friend thinks it's because my dd and I are pisces and my other dd is an aquarius (water signs). I'm not sure I buy into that. But I do feel there is some cosmic force plaguing us with water issues. Hmmmmm....I'm curious to know what you think about that! LOL!
So here is a card I made a few weeks ago (no water here!!) for a new friend of mine, Heather. I rarely use this color combo (apricot appeal and black)...in fact I rarely use apricot appeal (or many of the other SU yellows - besides so saffron) at all. This dp came in my SU prints pack and I LOVE it! So bright and sunny! I wanted to make a quick simple card and this fit the bill. Have I mentioned before how much I LOVE SU's Happy Harmony? Oh I LOVE it! And its funny b/c I would have never purchased this for myself! My bff Beth gave it to me as a gift a while ago. How great is that? To receive a gift that you love and use so often that you would've never gotten for yourself? Jackpot!

Well, thats all from me for now....but check back soon. I've got uploads waiting in the wings! One is a sneak peak for H&M Stamps August release and let me tell you...it is awesome! See ya soon!

CC176 Rockin Vanilla Skies

2008-07-22T18:35:00.004-04:00

Hello! I only have a minute to post so I've got to be QUICK! Today is Color Challenge day on SCS. This is actually a pretty color combo that I would've NEVER put together! River Rock, Soft Sky, and Very Vanilla. You can't see well in the photo but the twill ribbon on the edges of the card (the frayed ends) are sewed on the card...to prevent the fraying from spreading. The rest of the card is pretty straightforward, right? I used my old favorite standby Happy Harmony (thats the name right? LOL! I hope so!) from SU and will most likely use this as a sympathy card that I need. Now that I'm thinking about it, I think I'll use PTI's papertray set to stamp With Sympathy across the flowers....if I get a chance to change it I will and will be sure to take a pic to show! LOL! Anyways, just wanted to let you all know that I will be MIA for a few days. I know that some of you worry when I'm not around!! (yea, that's you Lori!!! LOL!) So I'll be sure to check in as soon as I get back. TFL!

COCONUTTY!

2008-07-21T12:58:00.015-04:00

First I have to say - you have to look close at this picture to see all that it has. Click on it. I almost didn't share this photo...but I spent so much time on this card that it would feel like a waste if I didn't post about it! So those of you who read my blog must know that I've got a "thing" for H&M Stamps! LOL! This is a sketch challenge that Heather (owner of H&M) posted on her blog on Saturday! The challenge is unique in that it was a color challenge (real red, only orange, yoyo yellow, so saffron) and a sketch challenge. You could do both or one or the other. I thought "I'm gonna knock some socks off and do both". So I started with a real red base and layered it with my new favorite dp, SU prints pack! I then took out some yoyo yellow and only orange paper (both of which I NEVER use). After a lot of fiddling around I scratched the color challenge! I just couldn't get the yellows to work. But I kept the orange, as you can see. My next layer is apricot appeal with some more of the SU prints pack dp layered on top! You can't see it well, but it is a paisley pattern. I sewed the two pieces together and then sewed the edges of the real red base. Yes, I'm totally addicted to sewing my cards now! They don't seem complete without it! ;) I sponged everything with real red. Cut two circles with my nesties and stamped the cute coconut drink from the It's Picnic Time set and colored it in using my blender pen. Ok, so I realize coconuts aren't orange! But I needed it to match! I then stamped the umbrella again and pieced it on top of the original image so it pops off the side of the circle. I stamped two sentiments in apricot appeal. The top one says "Freshly Squeezed" and the lower one says"Summer". You can't see them well at all in the photo but they look nice IRL. So then I had my card...and it looked so plain. So I stamped the strawberry image 3 times and colored them in with my blender pen (real red, only orange, old olive) . I then cut and paste them along the bottom. I still didn't like it so I added the red/white polka dot ribbon on top. I think the sketch is a great one...I just was off today! It didn't help that my phone would NOT stop ringing and my kids would NOT stop fighting! Argh! It's definitely been one of those CALGON days (are any of you old enough to know what I'm referring to there? LOL!) Oh well, I tried!! Now it's YOUR turn! Go over to Heather's Blog and take a look at the challenge! Leave me a link if you do it so I can see your fabulous creations! TFL!

Recipe:
Paper: SU! real red, only orange, apricot appeal, prints pack dp
Ink: Stazon timber brown, real red, only orange, apricot appeal, old olive
Stamps: H&M Its Picnic Time, PTI Shapes by Design
Accessories: Sakura stardust, sewing machine, MayArts ribbon, dimensionals

Life's A Picnic!

2008-07-20T19:38:00.006-04:00

Hey everybody! Today is Featured Stamper day on SCS! And what a Featured Stamper it is! Susiestampalot over on SCS has an AMAZING gallery! I am truly humbled by her work! So I've seen this card of hers (the apron card) before and I put it into my favs way back when but never got around to making it. So today I just had to try! I obviously got the proportions wrong...its a funky looking apron...but you get the idea! LOL! I was especially excited to case this card b/c it gave me an excuse (like I need one!) to ink up my It's Picnic Time set from H&MStamps! I unfortunately made the apron before stamping my utensils and oven mitt! They are very small in comparison! Its like its an apron for a giant or something! Oh well - I tried!

The changes I made from Susie's card are the dp and stamp set. I tried to keep the same layout...but I'm thinking that her card didn't open? Mine opens.
The twill ribbon is from my gigundo roll of wide twill from MayArts. I used my SUPER paper & craft scissors from SU to cut it into 3 strips. The first strip I used as the apron tie/neck part (I stamped on this with palette noir). The second strip I cut done to use as the handle on the tag (just like susie did!). The 3rd strip is still laying on my desk!

If you look at the tag closeup you will see that I versamarked some shiskabobs on it. All stamps you see are from the same set (It's Picnic Time from H&M!). I tell ya, the possibilities are ENDLESS! Thats it from me now...have to post quickly! Got lots to do! TFL!

Recipe:
Paper: SU buckaroo blue, dp prints pack
Ink: Palette Noir, real red, versamark, sahara sand
Stamps: H&M It's Picnic Time
Accessories: Sakura stardust, blender pen, sewing machine, silver brads, twill ribbon, sponge

Happy Birthday Genevieve!

2008-07-20T12:47:00.007-04:00

Happy Sunday everyone! Yesterday was Genevieve's First birthday (Beth and Todd's youngest)! HAPPY BIRTHDAY little girl! Man she is so stinkin' CUTE! This is the card I made for her. We had a great time up there yesterday...celebrated her birthday and saw Karen, Vickie and Bella in their summer camp play of the Wizard of Oz. Boy was I impressed! Really truly impressed!
So the card I made is for this week's sketch challenge on SCS. I posted it the other day on SCS but wanted to wait to put it here on my blog so Beth wouldn't see it! ;) The card base is SU blush blossom. The dp layers are all from K&Co except for the top layer (with the bear on it) which is SU very vanilla. I stamped the adorable, cuddly little bear from H&MStamps with close to cocoa ink on some of the pastel dp from the K&Co pack. Stamped his nose on very vanilla and pieced it onto the main image. Then cut him out and popped him up on dimensionals. The bear, from the set Cozy on Up is a new release from H&MStamps. Go check it out right now b/c this bear is seriously one of the cutest I have ever seen! The sentiment is from PTI's bitty baby set (another cutie set!) and is stamped in close to cocoa on very vanilla and cut out with my 1 3/8" SU circle punch. I then punched out a scalloped circle in blush blossom to hold the circle sentiment and popped that up on dimensionals as well. Since I'm all about sewing my cards lately I sewed a few panels and added some pink buttons from my stash. And that's pretty much it. Hope you like it! I happen to love it! LOL! One of the few right? TFL!

A Card of Firsts...

2008-07-15T17:18:00.006-04:00

I just got my package of stamps from H&M Stamps yesterday and had a chance to play for a bit today!! One of the sets I ordered is this one. OMG I {{HEART}} this set. It's called Fun in the Sun. There are so many pieces to this set that the combinations are endless! DD LOVES the sand castle/bucket/shovel/starfish combo b/c it reminds her of the ocean, naturally! She saw the card and said "ooooo! Mommy! This is my favorite!" She loves making sand castles, although our sand castles don't come out like this one! LOL!
I can see myself using this on some scrapbook pages of the girls when we head to the outer banks again this summer - I can't wait! (Could use it on last years outer banks pics too...) But first I have to start scrapbooking! LOL! I always take photos with a layout in mind...but just haven't done it...yet! Maybe this set will motivate me! Who knows!
So I mentioned that this card is a card of firsts....let me explain! It is my first time using an H&M stamps stamp set (but definitely not my last!!), it is the first time I've used my sewing machine in a WHILE (had to read the instructions on how to change the thread b/c I haven't done that in about 4 years! LOL!), AND its the first time I've used my giant twill ribbon roll from MayArts! I honestly didn't think I would ever use this twill. So I'm so happy I was able to use it on this! I have these new scissors...Craft & Paper scissors from Stampin Up! OMG! It cuts through ribbon like buttah! Such a nice clean cut! I LOVE 'EM! (Maybe this post should be called...FEEL THE LOVE!) Anyways, I trimmed both top and bottom of the ribbon and pulled some threads out to give it a beachy, frayed look. I then used the strings I pulled to tie knots on the shovel and pail. The cardstock I used (dp and all) is from SU!'s Simply Scrappin' Out & About kit. HEY! It's my first time using paper from this pack! Another first! I sponged sahara sand (thought it was fitting...sand and all!) all over this puppy. And distressed all edges. I'm pleased with the way it turned out (although they always look better IRL). I'll be back soon (hopefully!) with some more from my new H&M stamps!!

Recipe:
Stamps: H&M Fun in the Sun
Paper: SU! Out & About, blue bayou
Ink: Stazon timber brown, SU chocolate chip, really rust, sahara sand
Accessories: aquapainter, twill mayarts ribbon, sewing machine
technique: paper piecing, watercolor

Feelin' Right at Home

2008-07-13T15:54:00.007-04:00

Hi there! Here is a card that I made for my Aunt and Uncle as a thank you for letting us stay at their house while dh had his class in their neck of the woods. We all had such a great time (see post with photos of aquarium and beach!) and it was just so nice to visit with them. They gave up their room for us so we'd be comfortable, fed us**, and pretty much gave us (my girls) run of their house! ...like they had a choice!! LOL!

** When I say "fed us"...I mean FED US! My uncle is a chef and my aunt can cook and bake (brownies!!) too and WOWEE we had some good food! In particular this thing with green beans that I wish I was eating right now! YUM!

So now onto the card - This was actually more difficult than I thought it would be! I'm out of my comfort zone with the colors....picked the dp b/c I thought it would be something my aunt would like and then worked from there. The house was stamped on white, then on some so saffron-looking dp and then on chocolate chip. I cut out the saffron house and pasted it on top of the ww. Then I cut out the cc roof and pasted it on top of the saffron. I then screwed up the card so I had to cut out the entire house (all 3 layers) and paste it on the dp! LOL! The windows on this are bothering me....they need curtains or something. My aunt is ...well you know...I'm not sure what she does exactly! ;) She used to weave and have this big loom in her basement. Now she makes window treatments for clients. She's extremely good at what she does....very successful. So you can understand why I feel the windows in this house need decoration! LOL! Sorry aunt Terry! Ok, back to the card...I stamped the fence pieces on whisper white and cut them out and pasted them to the bottom of the dp to make it look like the house sits behind a fence. I used an exacto knife to cut the space between the porch railing and the house and then also added a slit on the side of the house for the ribbon to go through. I stamped the sentiment right on the dp and I wish now that I didn't b/c you can't see it very well. I'm not sure I am in love with the card....but I hope my aunt and uncle like it! And I hope you do too! I put a lot of time into it...too much...and there comes a time when you have to hang up the scissors, put away the stamps and mail it out! ;) I'm off now to play with some FUN FUN FUN H&M Stamps that I just received in the mail! YAY! Hope to be posting again soon!

Quick One!

2008-07-13T11:04:00.004-04:00

Hey Folks! Happy Sunday! This is a QUICK post today....I made this card for this week's FS75, Stephanie.Hargis. What a great gallery and super nice chick! The card I case'd is HERE. The changes I made are paper, stamps, ribbon (width) and colors. Sounds like a lot of changes! But it's still a very similar card! This was super easy/fast to make....which always makes me happy!

TFL! I'll be back soon!

Recipe:
Paper: SU sahara sand
Ink: PTI aqua mist, sweet blush, Stazon timber brown
Stamps: PTI Shapes by Design
Accessories: xtra wide brown grosgrain ribbon, making memories brad(?)