I'm going to be a scrapbooker again!

Good morning friends! I've been wanted to get back into my "scrapbooker" mode. While I was in Germany it was a challenge to get my photos, and since I'm not very quick with the digital aspect yet(but I'm working on it!) I have missed the paper and photos combo! So, I've made a goal to get back to my roots...as this is where I started my papercrafting love affair!

Today I have a layout I made about my daughter. I LOVE these photos from this summer. We were at the park with my sister and her kids while visiting my parents. It was a beautiful summer evening and I the 100% perfection of these photos. Well, perfection is relative isn't it!? Photography isn't my forte, but I am so happy to have caught these shots of my little girl. The pure joy she is having...I love that.
My journaling reads "Lovebird. I'm not sure where that name came from. Daddy started calling you 'Lucy Lovebird' a while ago, but now it is usually just 'lovebird.' You are such a ray of sunshine in our family. You are kind to everyone. You show love to everyone that you know. You are willing to help in whatever way you can. You acutally ask for what job you can do next...what 5 year old does that!? You are a wonderful loving sister and daughter. You help us all to show love. I love you my dear sweet Lovebird!"

I used a sketch from Jana Eubanks for the starting point on this layout. My products are a lot of SU stuffs. Patterned paper: Sweet Pea dsp, some old retired papers. Old Olive cardstock, MS flower bed border punch. MM Paperie Rouge journaling book, AC sticker alphabet. Stiched felt flowers from SU.

I'm really hoping to get more layouts posted...it felt SO good to scrap today...I'll be back in the saddle in no time! Now that I'm all done with my photo project...I finished putting our photos from Germany and Europe into photo albums...14 albums to be exact...that means 4200 photos! All the photos I have in my possession are organized and right where they make sense in my head! Now, I can feel good about scrapping...I know where the photos are that I love and that makes for one happy momma!!

I also did something that made my Lovebird very happy, I gave her all the photos that she took, with our little camera. We learned very quickly that a camera did wonders to keep our little people happy while on their long walks through foreign cities! It's fun to see things through her eyes, and she's excited to "scrapbook" her photos...yea!!

I hope you have a great weekend! Take care and I'll check in again Monday! Make it a great one!

You're the grate-est!

Happy Friday all!! I'm really ready for a weekend!! I've spent this week in the "spring-cleaning" mode. The sun was out, my windows were SO dirty!! And everything just really wanted to be cleaned! I feel more organized now, simplified in my ways and happy to have maybe one day before all my hard work is undone!;) My little 2 year old is VERY good at making what she calls "meh" which translates to mess. She's really a good mess maker!

So, onto a fun card for today. First, let me just say I'm SO in love with the SU Crushed Curry color! It's in everything and can be found everywhere right now...a perfect happy color if you ask me! i'm kind of stuck on that spool of ribbon as of late...love, love, love it!My stamps today came from my In the Kitchen stamp set from LAD. It was SO fun to watch the great response to this set at CHA, everyone loved it! I haven't had a chance to ink it up, until this week....and I LOVE it!:)

I stamped the grater/cheese image several times onto vanilla cardstock with brown ink. I added my sentiment, also in brown ink. I added a little apron lace chocolate chip border, with help from my apron lace border punch. I used some new Cosmo Cricket paper...yum! My patterned papers are from the Garden Variety paper pack, which you can now get in the LAD store, here! Crushed Curry ribbon, brown tulle, brown button...fun, funf, fun.

Hope you have a great weekend!! Enjoy and make it great!! Thanks so much for stopping by!

Release Day!

Good moring friends! Today is the day...these great new stamps are being released today! Fun, fun, Fun! It's been a fun week sharing little pieces of the stamp sets with you...I'm excited for you to see the whole set of images!
For my first card, I wanted a quick little note card for a good friend that just made my day yesterday! I think I might make a set of these to give her. I wanted to keep it simple and quick and I'm kind of stuck with the Curry and Red combo!:) My image is from the Tags-floral circles stamp set. I stamped it with red ink and then mounted it on a curry circle. I added my sentiment with red ink and then added my little ribbon detail, curry and red ribbon with a bit of tulle and a button. Simple but super happy mail, don't you think!?

This next card was super fun too. I really LOVE these beautiful images, this stamp is from the Foliage Fervour stamp set. It is in individual "branch", that I stamped with Sticky Toffee ink. I stamped it and then before re-inking stamped a couple of times for a nice soft filling in of the image. I mounted the foliage layer on some whipped cream cardstock and then used my corner comper to round 2 of the 4 corners. I added a white bow with a button, some whipped cream butterflies from a butterfly die(su), and then added my sentiment.

I hope you've enjoyed the fun this week! I'll be back tomorrow...see you then! Thanks so much for stopping by! Take care and make it a great one!!

Sneak Peek Day 3

Good morning friends! I hope you are all doing well! Wednesday already, yea!! I hope your week has been great...isn't it wonderful to have the Olympics going on!? It is so exciting to watch people work so hard and make their specific talent look so easy! I'm really enjoying the fun!

Today is day #3 of the Elzybells sneak peeks, which means that it's almost time for the release! The items are being released on Thursday, the 25th. Have you seen the great creations the design team have been sharing? Do take time to browse, there are lots of great things happening!
I used the Tags-Floral circle stamp set for this card. I have been in the mood to try a few circle cards...just something a tiny bit different for me! I used some pink pirouette and tangerine tango(su) cardstock and ink on this card. The patterned paper is from Basic Grey, the Nook &Pantry paper pad. I used my apron lace(fiskars) border punch and some old ruffled ribbon(su) as well. I used my largest scalloped nestie to cut the card out.

This next card, just hits my heart! I told you yesterday of my love for poppies...well, it's really ture! It's clean and simple and not much to be told, other that those red poppies sure do demand attention! The poppies are from the Floral Fervour stamp set, I stamped them in real red(su) ink with chocolate chip centers. The stems are from the Foliage Fervour set, stamped with old olive(su) ink. And then the sentiment is from the Tags-Floral circles stamp set, stamped with chocolate chip ink. I used my corner chomper to round the edges of the poppy layer and chocolate chip layer underneath. My ribbon is 5/8" old olive(su) grosgrain. I used my 1/4" circle punch and some real red cardstock to make my "faux brads" around my seniment.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I'm excited to have a fresh collection of spring floral cards to share with some dear friends that have been on my mind...isn't this hobby of ours wonderful!? Have a wonderful day and make it great!!

Sneak Peek Day 2

Good morning friends! Today is another fun day of sneak peeks from the new Elzybells Release and I've got some fun to share! I am having a really great time working with this great floral and foliage sets...perfect for spring!

Today I'll be sharing some of the images from the Tags-Floral Circles stamp set, as well as a few from the sets from yesterday! (I just can't get enough!). This first card is one of my favorite flowers...the red poppy! I was really excited to see it in the Floral Fervour stamp set...one of my all time favorite blooms for sure!
For this card, I stamped the red poppy several times with real red and chocolate chip inks(su)and then cut my square paper into 4 pieces to make my background. I layerd my poppy paper onto old olive cardstock. I used a border punch(su) to create this border out of Chocolate Chip(su). I layered old olive ribbon across the bottom of the card and added a nice red button. My center poppy was stamped first with red ink and then my sentiment-happy mother's day-was stamped with olive ink. I layerd my poppy on chocolate chip cardstock and the mounted it with foam adhesive.
For this next card, I have had these colors in my head for a few days. I used crushed curry and real red(su) for this card. My card is a white base, then a layer of polka-dot curry paper. I wrapped a ribbon around and tied a bow, added some tulle and a button(surprised!?). My stamped image is from the Tags-floral circles. I stamed this great little poppy image with curry ink three times, then added my sentiment with real red. I mounted my white paper onto the curry cardstock and then mounted it with dimensional adhesive.

I hope you've enjoyed the sneak peeks...tomorrow will be more fun and more samples! Thanks so much for stopping by today!! Take care and make it a great one!

Lizzie Anne Sketch Challenge-Post #2 for Today

Hello again! Thanks for letting me share again today! Keep going to the next post to see the sneak peeks of the new Elzybells stamps for today! I am "hosting" if that is the right word? hmmm...the Lizzie Anne Designs Sketch Challenge this week. The sketch that I created is for a circle card...something I've been thinking about but just haven't gotten to for a while! So, here is my take on the sketch. You can see the sketch here.

These stamps are images from the new March Mix, "Lucky You!" I love them as well as the rest of the mix images!! I started out by making a regular card base, then using my largest scallop nestabilites I cut this scallop circle, just making sure you live a little of the fold in the card! My card is made from Melon Mambo(SU) cardstock. I used my largest classic circle to cut the polka dot(AC) layer and then just added my other two strips. I used some Bermuda Bay(SU) cardstock and my apron lace border punch for the bottom border.

I stamped my image and added the sentiment and then colored my image with my copics. I added a bit of tulle, some twine and a button(PTI).

I hope you'll join in the fun this week and share your circle cards!! Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day!!

Elzybells Sneak Peeks! Day 1

Good morning friends! I hope you all had a great weekend! We really enjoyed the almost 60 degree weather! Blue skies...my husband even did yard work! We keep saying, "it's February," and there are trees blooming! This is not your typical Northwest winter...but I'm SO loving it!!

I have some fun to share with you today! This week, on the 25th Elzybells has a great new release! You'll really love the work Elizabeth has done...super great sets! Today I'll be showing you some samples from the Floral Fervour and Foliage Fervour stamp sets.

This first card introduces one of my favorite images from the Foliage Fervour stamp sets! I love the different foliage images that Elizabeth has included...so many great ones!

I stamped the image foliage image 4 times, 3 times in Ocean Tides ink(PTI)and then once in Aqua Mist ink(PTI). I used my 1 3/8" circle punch to punch them out and mounted them on 1 3/4" cirlces made from Aqua Mist and Chocolate chip(SU) cardstock. I love the combo of Aqua Mist, Ocean Tides and Chocolate Chip...YUM! My fiskars Apron Lace border punch had a job to do with the Chocolate Chip cardstock. I made a slit in the fold of the card to make a place for my ribbon to wrap around the card. I love this ribbon I just rediscovered...love shopping in my stash!
This next card is my favorite for today. This great stamp is a single "branch." It is also from teh Foliage Fervour stamp set. I stamped the image several times before re-inking, to give this great gradient effect. I only used one ink color, Ripe Avocado(PTI). I love how by simply stamping again and again you can get that great soft effect! I love the stark Ripe Avocado against the white cardstock! My ribbon is Ripe Avocado also. I fell in love with this simple and clean design! I think I'll make a few gift sets of these, the "just a note" sentiment will be introduced later in the week...and I sure do love it!!

For the next two cards, I used the Floral Fervour stamp set. It is a wonderful combination of flower blooms! It's really a great one that I'm sure will be a "go-to" set for sure! For this first card, I used the "Rock-n-Roll" technique for my stamping. I stamped the image first in So Saffron ink(SU), then I inked just around the edges by "rolling" the stamp in Pumpkin Pie ink(SU), then stamping the image.

I simply stamped the bloom over and over for my background, the mounted it on my pumpkin pie card. I used my corner chomper for rounding my left corner. I used my nestabilites to make the layered circles and scallop for my single bloom. I've added a little butterfly that was die cut(SU) from a piece of my leftover background paper. I've added a brown rhinestone to the center of the butterfly, it is from kaisercraft. My scallop border is from SU as is the striped ribbon and brad. I used dimensional adhesive to attach my scallop circle to my card. LOVE that cute sentiment...it too will be introduced later this week!

My last card for today was also made with the Floral Fervour stamp set. I love this bloom!! This set also has a few different width stem stamps..love that! I used Raspberry Fizz and Hibiscus Burst(both PTI) ink for the flowers and Old Olive ink(SU)for the stems. I used my oval nestabilites to cut my focal pieces out...love those dies! My paper is Old Olive and Raspberry Fizz. My ribbon is Hibiscus Burst(PTI). I gave my little butterfly(MS) some bling, it's from Kaisercraft. I also used my corner chomper on this card! The sentiment, yep, later this week!:)

I hope you get a chance to look at the rest of the DT's work(they are all linked on the right side bar)on these fun sneak peeks! Elizabeth has done a fantastic job on this release and I know you'll love them all!! Thanks so much for stopping by!! Make it a great one!

Happy Spring!

Happy Friday friends! I feel like today could be the first day of spring...my kids are in heaven getting to play outside! And yes, I am so happy to have them outside! We know the rain can't be far off, so we're really trying to enjoy every moment in the blue sky!

Speaking of blue sky, isn't this ribbon a delicous blue? I was looking for a bright blue, not really turquoise, and I found it in a drawer I don't use often--YEA! I'm still working on a ribbon solutino that REALLY works. What do you do with your ribbon? I'm a use the ribbon whilst holding the spool kind of girl, are you? I'd love to hear how you keep your ribbon under control! I've attempted several different ways, but it all comes back to me being able to hold the spool and get it back and forth easily. I do have a Ribbon Clip it Up! and I like it...well, I love it. But it isn't enough storage...and the ribbon does get a little bit dusty...so please, do tell!

Guess what the mailman brought to my house today!! A box of new stamps! I got the Lucky You March Mix stamp set from LAD! It's FULL of great images and I've had a good time working with some this afternoon. The image I used today might be my very favorite of the whole mix.
Can you stand those cute little chicks!? They make me so happy!! I stamped them onto white cardstock and then colored them in with my copics. I stamped the sentiment (also from the mix)and then tied it all up with some fun ribbon and yes, just a bit of tulle!;).

I hope you have a great weekend! I've got a lot of fun to create, with an Elzybells realease coming next week, Monday will start the sneak peeks! Then I'm also hosting the sketch challenge on Monday with LAD...so be sure to check back in and enjoy the fun!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Take care and make it a great one!! See you Monday

Elzybells DT Challenge

Morning peeps! I hope that your week is going well! Are you having any signs of Spring yet? I know that most of the US has been under snow! We have been enjoying bits of sunshine..and isn't it amazing how a bit of sunshine makes you feel so good!? Well, even if you aren't experiencing any Spring or bits of sun, let the beauty of new paper go to work for you!

I am participating in the Elzybells DT challenge today. The challenge was to make a card with more than one fold, so I thought of the "gate card". I used some spring colors...and it made me so happy! Yep, the stripe paper is from the Dear Lizzy line from American Crafts...love it!:) You can just see the bits of glitter on the stripes....yum! I used my Elzybells Heartstrings stamp set too!
I started my card by scoring my paper and then adding my patterened papers. The stripe is American Crafts and the Apricot polka dot is from SU. I used the back of the stripe paper--and a border punch from fiskars for the green you see across the seam of the two patternes. The green border is also the overlap of the two pieces of paper, so the green covers where the card opens.

I added a white top note, cut from my Big Shot and top note die from SU. I also busted out my lattice die, it's a goodie!! I used certainly celery for my lattice. I attached the lattice and then moved onto my flower. My top note is only attached to the left side of the card, so when the card is opened, the top note stays with the left side of the card.

My flower started as 5 hearts-cut from white paper and shaped by nestabilites. I stamped my heart image-a great heart with flowers in it-onto each of the hearts that had been die cut. I "wrinkled" them up a bit and mounted them each onto a 1 3/4" white circle, to have some base to attach them all to. After I had the hearts all attached, I added a couple of white flowers from American Crafts and a brown brad. The leaves of the flower are also hearts, this time smaller and scalloped, also cut with nestabilities. I stamped them with the same heart image with certainly celery ink, then scored each heart down the center, so it looked like the "vein" on a leaf. I attached the leaves to the flower and then attached the flower to my card with dimensional adhesive.

I stamped my sentiment from the Tags-Valentine stamp set, with chocolate chip ink and then used my word window punch to punch it out. I attached it with dimensionals. I have to tell you how much I do love this sentiment...isn't it great!?

Be sure to check out the other Elzybells blogs to see some great stuff!! And stay tuned...we've got sneak peeks coming next week...YEA! Thanks so much for stopping by!! Take care and make it great!!

LAD DT Challenge

Good morning friends! I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday! How today got to be Wednesday is so far beyond me...does anyone else feel the same way!? Anyway, I wanted to share some fun with you today! The LAD DT has a challenge today, we're all using this sketch and making a "peek-a-boo" window card. Be sure to check the other girlies blogs for a some great inspriation and fun! Check over at the LAD blog to get in on the scoop!

Another fun part about today is that I am using some new delicious paper!! I finally found some of my new bff's line, Dear Lizzy, by American Crafts! The whole line is simply divine...the display of it at CHA was...hmmmm....delightful! It was great to meet Elizabeth and chat with her a bit, she is so fun...exactly like I've always pictured her! Anyway, I've got some yummy new paper...so here goes!
I started by punching out my window on my card. I wanted to follow the sketch, but really wanted to use a round window, not square. So, I started out by punching a 1 3/4" circle out of my white card base. Next, I measured where the yummy Flowering Fields paper would overlap my window and punched out a 1 3/4" cirlce. I attache my floral paper to my card base and then moved on to my white border.

I used my new SU border punch and white cardstock to create a little "lace" border. Crushed Curry ribbon and scor-tape came next. I just stuck the ribbon to the card front first, then added a bow, a bit of tulle, and new leaf button.

I stamped my little flower from the Banner Birthday stamp set, with Memento Rich Cocoa ink. I colored it in with some copic markers and then punched it out with my 1" circle punch. I used the 1 3/4" circle paper that had come from my floral layer, I turned it over to display the beautiful green side and then attached it to the inside of my card. I attached my flower with some dimensional foam and then added a few pearls from kaisercrafts. I added a few pearls just outside my "window".

I didn't take a photo of the inside, but the inside of the card is the home for the Birthday Wishes greeting that is awaiting making someone's birthday just a little bit better!

I hope you have a great day. My wheels are turning about an up coming class, an Elzybells stamp release(SO GREAT!), and a new LAD monthly mix coming soon...so much fun to be had!!

Oh, I wanted to share something with you all. I love to cook. I love to bake, yep, I'm a foodie too. Well, my sweet little Ruby's birthday was Saturday, can you belive she is already 2!? Well, we were out of town on her birthday and celebrated it Monday. I was in serious pick up the pace mode Monday, threw a white cake mix into a bundt for her cake and then started the search for the perfect topping. OH MY! I found more than the perfect topping, I found the best chocolate frosting EVER! So, I wanted to share it...and please promise me when ever you need chocolate frosting, you'll make it, and then come tell me!!

For all of my purposes, I've taken it upon myself to rename it, "easy chocolate buttercream" just doesn't do it justice! So, without further ado, let me share with you, The Best Frosting Known to Man-and Woman!

The recipe come from Cooks Illustrated, American Classics.

10 T (1 1/4 cube) unsalted butter, softened
1 C confectioner's sugar
pinch of table salt
1/2 t vanilla extract
4 oz melted and cooled bittersweet or semisweet chocolate

Beat butter at med-high speed until smooth, about 20 seconds. Add confectioner's sugar and salt; beat at med-low speed until most of the sugar is moistened, about 45 seconds. Scrape down bowl and beat at medium speed until mixture is fully combined, about 15 seconds; scrape down bowl and add vanilla and beat at medium speed until incorperated, about 10 seconds. Gradually beat in 4 oz of melted chocolate. Increase speed to med-high and beat until light and fluffy about 4 minutes scraping down the bowl once or twice.

My family was in heaven the moment their little fingers touched this frosting. After I finished frosting the cake, the extra frosting was enjoyed by spoonfuls...it's really that good.

Thanks for letting me share...hope you have a great day today!! See you tomorrow for an Elzybells DT challege! Make it great!

Happy Birthday!

Good afternoon and almost evening friends! I'm in denial that it is 4:21 as I type this...wow, today has flown by! I wanted to share a fun little birthday card, my supply of birthday wishes is non existant, so I'm got a fire under me to get a little stock pile!

I saw the Sweet Sunday Sketch challenge, #56 and laughed, as I had just written a sketch just like this in my book! So, here is my take on the challenge, you can find the orginal sketch here.
I started by making a white card base, then a layer of chocolate chip paper. I used some retired SU paper, the upper right and lower left pieces. Then a new slice of heaven, the polka dots are from the new Letterpress line from American Crafts. I tied a nice bow around the center of the card, and added a little button.

I stamped my little cupcake and sentiment, which are from the Lizzie Anne Sixlet set, Banner Birthday. I stamped the cupcake twice, once onto my white paper, then again on my polka dot paper so I could paper piece the cupcake paper-to match perfectly! I colored the frosting in with a pink copic, then added some pink sparky fluff. I also colored the candle with a green copic. I mounted the cupcake onto some chocolate chip cardstock and then mounted that to my card with dimensional foam.

Hope you're having a great one! My kids go back to school tomorrow, so I think we'll get back into the groove tomorrow! It's amazing how a few days break from school throws us for some crazy days! Take care and thanks so much for stopping by!

Enjoy the ride!

Hello friends! I hope your weekend has been great! Did you have a wonderful Valentine's Day?! I hope so! I hope you are enjoying a day of no school and all sorts of fun!:) I just wanted to pop in super quick and share this card with you! The image is from the LAD February Monthly Mix, Singing in the Rain.
I used some scraps I've had laying around from a class I did last week...yep, there was another card last week posted using them as well!:)

Have a great one and see you tomorrow! Thanks for stopping by!!

A few more...

Hey there friends! Hope you all are enjoying the beginnings of a great long weekend! We sure have! I wanted to just pop in quickly to show you some fun and very last minute Valentine's we made to give to a few teachers/etc. Yes, I used the scrumptious paper I got from MME, and really, I'm in love!!

This first photo is a little take out box that we filled with some chocolate hearts...then tied up a nice tulle bow and added a sweet little tag. The tag is a real red scallop heart and then a heart from the MME paper. The sentiment is from the So Much Love LAD set...yep, it's definate keeper of a set! I stamped it in real red ink, then punched it out with my small oval punch and made an aqua large oval punch to put it on. I used my SU small heart punch again and added a bit of color. The same color combo(surprised?!) found it's way to a wrapped giant candy bar for Ms. Kari, my son's piano teacher. We really had fun wrapping it up and making it look pretty!! Same ingredients as above, with the addition of a beautiful red button and some twine!

This is a photo of the whole ensamble...loving my nestabilites today too!!

I hope you have a great Valentine's Day friends!! Enjoy a wonderful weekend! I'll be back Monday! Toodles and thanks so much for stopping by!

I heart you!

Hello friends! I hope you are doing well! Our long weekend has just started and we're all sorts of excited for a little family fun this weekend! Yea for days off from school! I got a fun box from the UPS man today, he brought me some DELICIOUS new papers! They are from My Minds Eye, from the Love Me Do collection...oh my word! You know when you get some new products and you just can't leave them alone!? Well, this is one of those collections! It happens to be in one of my favorite color combinations...Auqa, Red and Curshed Curry in my palette...simply divine. I think these papers will be great year round, nothing that screams "valentine's day"...so I'm really excited!

As soon as my daughter found the box on my front porch and brought it up to me...I was in love. I started cutting and mixing this great paper, and it was SO much fun! So, I'll quit the gabbing and get to my sharing! This is my take for the CPS sketch 153, that is the current sketch on their blog.

As mentioned above, I used Aqua Mist, Real Red and Crushed Curry cardstock on my card. My card is Aqua Mist and then I used two of the delicous papers from MME. I used a strip of crushed currry and a fiskars border punch to cover the seams of the papers and then a nice bit of tulle...sorry, I'm stuck!

I used my nestabilities, scallop and classic hearts. I mounted the large heart and then added the two smaller ones. I used a little bit of red bling...from Martha Stewart, and my little Ruby was chomping at the bit to get to those!;). My sentiment was stamped in real red ink. The sentiment says "i heart you", and is in the So Much Love stamp set from Lizzie Anne Designs. I covered the "heart" with a little heart I punched out with my new little SU heart punch.

I went to the post office and mailed all my valentines today--a full book of stamps worth, and then a few extra packages and got home and realized that I only have 1 valentine left in my stash! YEA! Isn't that fun? I'm excited for our loved ones to find some love in their mailbox! My niece that is at college will be so excited to get some happy mail---I'm doing good on my resolution to get more happy mail into my loved ones mailboxes!!

I hope you have a wonderful day! Make it great!

Here Comes The Rain Again...

Hello Friends! I hope you are all doing well! I am happy to report, that yes, it does rain in February in Seattle. Today, when we woke up the beautiful blue clear sky that we've known for a few weeks was no where to be found. It looked as though Jack Frost isn't quite ready to call it quits for the season...nope, it's winter!

Because my mood was slightly effected(ever so slightly) by the rain, I thought I'd find solace in a great umbrella! This beautiful floral umbrella is part of the February Monthly Mix, "Singing In The Rain" from LAD. It is so fantastic! I loved this image the moment I first laid eyes on it! And it did keep me out of the weather!
I started with a color scheme from the Cosmo Cricket paper I used. I used Kraft, Not Quite Navy, Very Vanilla, and Crushed Currry for my color palette. My card is a kraft base, then vanilla first layer. I uesd my new SU scallop punch and a strip of not quite navy to put right under my great "solar system paper"(as my son called it). I stamped my umbrella in curshed curry ink and then mounted it onto not quite navy paper. I added a few little "droplets" from Kaisercraft, to my umbrella, they are yellow also.

I added my sentiment in not quite navy ink, it is from the Everyday Sayings stamp set. I'm ready to admit that I'm slightly addicted to tulle! I think everything the last few weeks looks better with a bit of it!:) So, I layerd my tulle, vanilla ribbon, flower, and button and then tied them up with some PTI twine. I added them to my card with a pop up glue dot.

It's fun how a few rubber stamps, ink, paper and a few pretty details can brighten up a rainy day! I hope you have a great one! Stay tuned...more fun to come!

LAD Vintage Valentine

Good afternoon friends! How are you doing!? I hope your day is going well! It is amazing to me, I've been seeing all sorts of photos and hearing abou the snow that's been falling all over the country, and **we've got another sunny day!** While the snow for a lot of peeps is unusual and way more than they are used to, the SUN doesn't usually shine this much during the month of February!! Yep, crazy weather for you!!

I wanted to share a few more Valentine's today. I've almost got them all ready to get into the mailbox...but realized I needed just a few more. I used my LAD Vintage Valentine set...and let's just say it made me so happy! BTW, this set is 30% off right now!! Now, you know that Vintage isn't my forte. I love it and sincerely enjoy seeing people use it, but I'm kind of afraid of it...vintage. So, using this set forced me out of my comfort zone! And, I like the Valentine's enough to send in the mail...YEA for trying something new!

I stayed mostly to the same plaette for the whole set of cards I'm sharing today...some MME paper, Chocolate Chip cardstock, Vanilla Cardstock, Walnut Stain and Antique Linen Distress Ink, Prima Flowers, Dark Chocolate and Vanilla buttons.
For the little heart fun along the bottom of this card, I punched these hearts out with my 3 heart punch from su, I punched it twice. Then, I used the paper I punched out of as a mask for making my hearts. I sponged over the hearts with the distress inks and then added my senitment. I added some paper, ribbon flowers and button to finish it off. **Masking is so fun, I don't know why I don't do it more!**
For this next card, I uesd the tag image from the Vintage Valentine stamp set, cut it out, sponged it a bit, added my sentiment and then cut it out. I mounted it on some patterened paper, then added it to my little card front. Oh, I added a bit of tulle to the top of the tag-it is from Bazzill. I also added my fiskars Apron Lace border punch to this card.

For my main image on this card, I stamped the Cupid image onto vanilla cardstock and then yes, sponged it a bit. I mounted the image onto a chocolate top note die (su). I attached them to the far left side of my card. I added a strip of chocolate chip ribbon, a couple of flowers and yes, another button! I also used the LAD sketch challenge for the week for this layout. You can check the challenge out here.

For this last card, which REALLY could be my favorite, I kept it very simple. I stamped the heart and wings image with Antique Linen ink, then added my sentiment with the Walnut Stain ink. I added both cream and brown tulle for my bow and then added this great vintage button! Isn't that button to die for!?

So, there are a few more of my love notes that will be sent in the mail tomorrow! If you have any interest in this stamp set, and I know you do, head over to LAD and grab one while it's on sale!!:)

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great one!!

You are a blessing to me!

Evening friends! I hope that you have all had a great Monday. Is that possible? Can Monday's be great!? Mine was fine, not super great, but not bad either...I guess it was "just another manic monday"...as my friend Cyndi Lauper would say!

I wanted to take part in the PTI challenge that Nichole posted yesterday. She gave us the sketch and then colors according to what my last name started with. My color palette was Kraft, Lemon Tart(which I switched for So Saffron), Vintage Cream, Spring Moss, and Ocean Tides. I enjoyed the challenge of using all those colors and that specific sketch. So, here is my card!
My card base is Kraft. I used my beloved Corner Chomper to chomp all 4 corners. My next layer is So Saffron c/s stamped with Polka Dots from the Polka Dots 2 stamp set, with So Saffron ink. My next layer, Vanilla c/s stamped with polkas from Polka Dots 2 also, in Spring Moss ink. I added my sentiment, from Dawn's Signiture Greetings with Ocean Tides ink. My Ocean Tides layer was scalloped with my SU scallop edge punch and a hole was added to each scallop with my Crop-a-dile. I stamped some tiny polkas with Ocean Tides ink and then attached it to my vanilla layer.

I used a strip of scor-tape to attach my So Saffron ribbon. I've been asked about how I do this ribbon treatment...I lay a strip of sticky strip or scor-tape down, lay the left side of the ribbon down and then "fold" or ruffle the ribbon into small folds. I go across the card and then cut the ribbon once I've got the ribbon all just like I like it. I use mini glue dots to help keep the folds laying down. I hope that makes sense...let me know if you'd like more clarification.

The last part of my card came by way of my daughter saying, "Mom, that card needs something else..."so my brain started working on what that little something was. I've been enjoying these little scallop flowers that are starting to pop up everywhere-we even made them as a make-n-take at CHA! It was fun to see Wendly Smedly at CHA and chat with her, as it was her blog eveyone linked back to...she saw mine on my name tag and we had a fun chat about it!:) So, anyway, make 8 scallop circle punches(or that's how many I used). Line them all up and then make a hole in the center and add a brad to keep them together. Take each scallop and "wrinkle it up!" and once you've done that to all but the last scallop, you can attach it to the card. I used dimensionals to attach this over my ribbon--doubling the height of the adhesive by stacking them up. I added an Ocean Tides button and then a little pearl for my final touch.

Thanks so much for stopping by tonight! I appreicate it!:) I've got a few more Valentines to share tomorrow...so see you then!

Good Morning!

Good Sunday morning friends! I wanted to pop in quickly to share a card I made for the PTI challenge that Nichole posted a couple of days ago--Resist Embossing. We've been really enjoying beautiful weather...NOT a normal February by any means...and I think that the sun had a bit to do with my happy color combination!:)
I used the polka dots 2 stamp set for my background paper. I stamped the small polkas with Hibiscus Burst ink and then stmaped the larger polka with versamark and then embossed it with clear embossing powder. I used Raspberry Fizz ink to ink up the paper-I loved the tip Nichole gave in her video--to use paper towel to rub the extra ink on the paper, I think that might be my favorite method of applying ink!:) After I had enough Raspberry Fizz to suite me, I rubbed the embossed polks with a clean papertowel to clean off the extra ink...and make them pop a bit more.

I mounted my embossed layer on a bit of Raspberry Fizz paper, and promptly chomped 3 corners with my corner chomper(yes, I LOVE that tool!!). I used my wide scallop border punch and some pumpkin pie cardstock to make a little border. I stamped my sentiment from Dawn's fantastic stamp set, Signiture Greetings, with Raspberry Fizz ink. I attached my white strip, then my pumpkin strip then attached my layer to my pumpkin pie card. I added a little Raspberry Fizz ribbon...and there you have it! Oh, I also stamped the large polkas on my pumpkin pie card--with versamark.

Hope you have a great day today!:) Thanks so much for stopping by! Make it a great one!

Post #2 for today

Happy Friday afternoon friends! I hope you're having a great Friday! We're busy working on valentines to send to several of our dear ones...and I wanted to share something on someone fun with you! I'd like to introduce you to Red Fred Bodoni. Red Fred(as we call him) is this beautiful bird you see here in this valentine! He has his own blog and a great group of feathered friends known as The Jolly Troop. These birds are very close to my heart-as my brother is their creator-and to all those that know them! I want to share a few reasons WHY Red Fred makes me happy...

I'd love for you to take a few moments to fly over to the blog and take a peek at Red Fred and his wonderful Jolly Troop. If you have small ones-my children look forward to the posts on the Jolly Blog, they adore the coloring pages that are posted every Friday...they eat, sleep and breath these birds...yours will love them too!! If you don't have small ones around, I think you'll enjoy it all just as much!! There is fantastic writing, beautiful photography, great design...it's ALL fantastic, and I'm not just saying that! Take a peek and I'm sure you'll agree!!

For an examples, this valentine, is part of a series that will make a perfect little Valentine book for my kids! We've been printing the new page daily and my kids are really loving it! The poem is by EE Comings.

Another great thing to note about the Red Fred Blog, is that there is a link to a great online store that allows you to purchase t-shirts, sweatshirts, tote bags...and they are SO fun! Funny, I'm wearing on of the t-shirts today, and nothing makes my baby Ruby happier than seeing Yvette Garamouche on my t-shirt...(I'm excited that she'll be getting her own Yvette tee for her birthday from Grandma...thanks momma!). Even my 2(in just a few days, can you belive it!?) year old daughter has her favorite bird and gets all sorts of happy every time she spies her golden figure!

Thank you for letting me share...this brand of birds is fantastic, creative, smart, funny, you'll love it! I'd love to hear what you think(or love) about Red Fred and the Jolly Troop, so let me know after you've taken a peek! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!! See you soon!

Treasured Memories...

Good morning friends! I hope you are all having a great Friday! I want to share a couple cards made using the new LAD single "Treasured Memories." I think this is a beautiful sentiment and want to share a couple of ideas with you.
For this first card, I used some new Pink Paislee Bayberry Cottage paper..delicious!! It was a definate fun find at CHA! I can't wait to get more of this line...it is really great. I paired up the Bayberry Cottage paper with some Basic Gray paper from SU. I used the Basic Gray ink to stamp the image as well. My ribbon is Basic Gray and my flower is from Prima.

This second card stayed with Basic Gray but moved to the new Pink Paislee Queen Bee paper. I stayed pretty classic and clean. I used a couple of prima flowers, basic gray ribbon..a border punch..and a little 1/4" square punch.

I hope that you have a great weekend! I'll be back to post the Elzybells DT challenge this weekend. See you soon! Happy football and college basketball!:)