jump on in...

We sent our youngest son off to yet another camp yesterday. This makes his fourth of the summer. Oh, to go too! But instead, I'll just slip this in the mail today. With a 5'er for a last day mocha concoction.

This card fits this bill for the Limited Supplies on SCS to use a die-cut on your card, only stamping as a background and the 365 Card Blog, Tag You're it! I love the Snorkel paper from Cosmo Cricket...using the fish (School's Out) and the Jump On in sticker mounted on one of their buck naked buttons! The life buoys are also a sticker. The ocean waves from the K&Co Daydreams group were hand cut. I slipped &D's tag amongst the waves. The kickstand card is on GP white cs. The Stampin Up background cheesecloth was inked with Adirondack latte. I finished it off with a yellow ribbon that says fun in the sun!

Hope you've got plans to jump right in to whatever strikes YOUR fancy! I know I do.

I love nerds

I'll be back to fill this in...just wanted to get the pic loaded

Sorry to be a bit looong in the tooth..ya know what happens, laundry, boy runs home, sleeps and is off again to another camp...oh these crazy days of summer!

I was fortunate to have this card fit two challenges today! The Ways to Use it over on SCS was all about office supplies (staples and a mini clip) and the 365 Card Blog was to have a flap on your card. Well, how about a office supply envelope flap??? I used Artistic Outpost's ever so funky Geek is Chic and the Mini-Masterpieces plates of un mounteds. If you like more details, check out the commentary in my SCS gallery.

So does anyone out there remember the days of pocket protectors and slide rules? I remember my first college Chemistry class, no calculators were allowed (and in those days there were the Texas Instruments big hulking guys!), you had to be proficient with the slide rule. Ever seen the holster belt for carrying one of those to class????? Now my Palm holds a zillion bits of info and I've resigned all those numbers I once carried in my head to that nifty hand held computer. Modern, aren't I....guess that gives me more room to be creative! Have a happy Thursday, you guys and gals!!!

more, please

Well, I've been good long enough! I feel the need for new stamps. And today's sketch challenge on SCS provided the perfect backdrop to give myself permission to go shopping! These empty hands from American Art Stamp just look like they need to be filled with loads of new images, don't you think? They are washed up from doing home lovin', polished and ready to get inky.

Speaking of American Art Stamps, they are having a summer warehouse sale with prices 25-35% off. You have to check them out, so many different lines of artists' represented...you're sure to find something your hands need to be wrapped around! I love the Ken Brown line, funky and quirky, but there is also the new Zenspirations.

If you are interest in the details of how I created this card, check out my gallery on SCS. Thanks for stopping by, and you have MY permission to add to your rubber collection!

scraplifting my friend, Amy

oh, what fun, today's challenge over at 365 Cards is to scraplift one of the DT's cards. Well, I felt it only right to case my friend, Amy...she's the one who introduced me to the 365. We've been friends here in cyberspace and have met up in person. I just love her style and have watched it evolve over the past year. I chose this card to case...the ruffled Stampendous flower was one of the very first stamps I had. What I like about Amy's card is the bold graphic punch of the one image repeated several times. I do believe her red makes for a much prettier card than my violet.

I actually cut the ruffles on the bottom of the blooms to give the card some depth. The sentiment comes from B Line Designs

don't tell Kristi #2

My across the street neighbor is crazy for paper and stamps, too. Yesterday was her birthday and of course, I was late! But only one day. We talk more via computer than across the stamping table. IS that SIC or what!!! It's a big joke now to say, well, I've already 'seen' that one via the web than to hold the original in one's hand. But she's always scoping Craigslist for sales to peruse and there are several in our neighborhood this weekend. When I read the 365 Card Blog to make a mirror card I went ECK...I'm just not that kinda of girl. I like off kilter things, heck, I'm off kilter myself! But in honor of my across the street neighbor, who loves symmetry I took a deep breath and dove in. The Limelight blog sketch for the week was just perfect for having all my dots in a row!

I couldn't resist going with the new Basic Grey June Bug polka dot paired (mirrored) with the stripes from last years' Two Scoops. I added scalloped edges, cuttled the polka paper with Swiss Dots. My banner is from Pink Persimmon! I just love the girly edge to it. Now, I did add the jumbo ric rac across the top...I tried my best to get it tied in the exact middle...how'd I do?

a charmed, inspired card

oh, to be creating again! I am practically singing...MIL had a fab checkup with the surgeon yesterday, is feeling like staying by herself and it's given me back so of "MY" time. Yep, I feel like dancing too!

And so, in honor of the 365 Card ad inspired pillow and the Ways to Use it on SCS...it was like being in a fabric store and bead shop all rolled into one. I reversed the orientation of the pillow on my card, using Basic Grey's Ambrosia papers. Tim Holtz's crow stands in for the parrots. The butterflies are from Cornish Heritage Farms...linked with Memento Tuxedo Black and embossed with clear ep. I colored the Monarch with Copics and the brilliant blue is a shimmer paper. I added the 'no's' and numerals from a set by Purple Onion Designs called Observation. At the bottom of the crow are some postmarks stamped lightly in Tim Holtz distress ink Frayed Burlap. These along with the tiny postage stamp were gifts from Amy when we visited together earlier in the year. I didn't have a coolio poms for the trim so I took the simpler route with white twine.

Thanks so much for having a peep...and Pam, you are right about Amy, she has the GIFT of encouragement! I am happy to call her friend. Have a deLIGHTful day!

new creation

I wanted to post my challenge card for the Cornish Heritage Farms Summer Stamp Star. It was week 3: Resist. I had a wonderful time using this technique. I stamped the CHF flowers and lace backgrounder with VersaMark and embossed with Ranger Sea Foam powder. It is a pale cream. I used ChalkBox inks for my rainbow of color. The scripture is also from CHF...it was inked with black Stazon onto recycled packaging and edged with a scallop border. The lace panel was pierced for more dimension. I added a hand dyed silk ribbon and vintage velvet flowers on the left side. The tiny keyhole is from Melissa Francis. On the right side is a pretty black foil German scrap edge.

This was one that sat on my counter for several days as I fiddled with just the right touch. In the end, I kept it simple...I wanted the scripture and the texture of the pattern to shine.

Thanks so much for stopping by...

another cup o' Joe?

I've written many times about my passion for coffee. And I've even admitted I am a coffee snob. So when I got the chance to play with Ken Brown's Morning Coffee, I simply couldn't resist! Check out the American Art Stamp Blog when you get a chance...there's angelic to zany to be found!

I stamped my Joe on to GP white cs with Memento Rich Cocoa (how about that!) and embossed just Joe with clear ep. The mongo cup is paper pieced with Paper Trey Ink's spring rain. The challenge on the 365 Card Blog is to paper PIERCE. I chose the aroma swirls to pierce. There is a touch of Flair coffee DP, a bit of Basic Grey Periphery, Brazzill linen texture brown. I ran the small PTI spring rain panel through the argyle Cuttlebug ef and used VersaMagic Chalk inks to color. The wonderful epoxied Cup o' Joe is from Creative Imaginations.

I'd love to hear where your coffee loyalties lie! I am on my third home espresso machine. A small price to pay for such JOY in a cuppa....

Admit two

tickets, tickets, who's got the tickets? When Michele issued the challenge today for the Ways to Use it over on SCS, I had to jump in with a quick card. It's been too long since my fingers have been inky...due to some family medical caring. The challenge was to use two of something on your card. I had to bring out the fabUlous Artistic Outpost Cracker Jack plate, I mean it IS baseball season and use the Admit 1 tickets from the Vintage Circus collection. More details on the actual creation in my commentary at SCS.

Hope your week is going smoothly!

cake making

...just when I think it's safe to stay out of the kitchen, along comes the 365 Card Challenge with the photo of a cake as my inspiration! Oh, don't get me wrong, I love to bake, but my cakes are never pretty on the outside...

which reminds me, I think I'd rather be pretty on the inside...oh yes, I should get back to my paper cake. And paper piecing the cake makes it attractive on the outside, don't you think!

I'd love to share a slice with you...it's a yellow cake with cherries.

Recipe: Basic Grey Lemonade and Urban Prairie

Flourishes 2 step Cake Decorating Set

Stampin Up Argyle

Memento Tuxedo Black

VersaMark and silver pearl embossing powder.

GP white cs

gem brads

thinks, Dr. Seuss

and thanks for the inspiration and permission to be silly! You've made millions wordsmiths of the highest art! I simply had to use this encouragement for my card today. On the 365 Card Blog, there was an inspiration room with a One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish shower curtain and a bright and cheery rug...

Now I'd love to know what you THINK!

trust me,

would you? Well, maybe me, but Humpty? Pam of 365 Card Blog challenged us today to create a card that made her laugh. Hope that's the case with this 'lil card of mine. When I found this nursery character over at Stamp Francisco and the GREAT wall of China...well, I couldn't resist! Double good was the sketch on SCS...#236.

I used PTI poppy red for the kickstand base. GP white cs for the images, inking them with Nick Bantock's Charcoal Grey. I colored Humpty with Copics and popped him in the heavens. Right in front of Basic Grey's awesome cloud paper from the Mellow Collection. The trust is from the Just Rite Little Stampers and the ME is a Making Memories rub on.

So tell me true, did I make you laugh, cajole, snicker, grin...inquiring minds want to know!

patterns of living

Hey, out there gals! Hope your Tuesdays' going great. And you had a fab birthday celebration. We're not so bad for 233 years, are we?

I'm playing in the Cornish Heritage Farms Summer Stamp Star Design Challenge. It's 5 weeks of different techniques and this is week 2. Paper piecing~~~my favorite! I just had to bring out this totally cool Tim Holtz pattern collage to use. I managed to piece 7 items on the main panel and the 3 lipsticks. The hand mirror (Museum of Modern Rubber) was stamped, embossed, and I used CHF's Mona Lisa Moments Abraham Lincoln quote in place of the mirror. It is held in place with a piece of vintage velvet trim. The oval mirror on the right side was 'hung' on the wall with a bit of teal chiffon ribbon. I added the sentiment 'effortless beauty' on the bottom. My lipsticks rest on top of a button from my grandmothers' button box. The lipstick image is a Stamp Francisco one. Cornish Heritage Farms fab fishnet backgrounder flacks the main panel.

Thanks for having a look, and do check out the details over at CHF.

it's a fish fry

I've got great news all. Michelle Giraud asked me a few weeks ago if I would consider a guest DT position over at American Art Stamps. She had commented on my style of art and thought I would be a good fit for Ken Browns' line of retro, funky images. I adore his sense of humor and just wait until you see the stamps! I've posted a card over on the American Art Stamps blog as well as here. Hop over there and see what everyone else has been up too. And I hope you'll be watching for more!

Have a safe and blessed Fourth of July!

Redeemer

The challenge over on 365 Card Blog today was to use your computer to create a sentiment or document. I've been learning all year in PhotoShop Elements how to manipulate 'things' like text and layers. This 6x6 scrapbook page was created for a year long challenge I am a part of: His Holy Names 09. The date of April 26 was when this particular name was issued; just another example of my running behind! My page is a combination of stamping, digital, and scrapping. I selected two scriptures that spoke to me regarding the name: Redeemer. In PSE, I was able match the color to my papers and pick the font style. I used Basic Grey papers as well as Making Memories journaling page. The Redeemer is stamped using the Rubber Stamp Madness font from Ma Vinci Reliquary. I meticulously cut the letters and pasted them in 'real' life to my page. The fancy cross is an Anna Griffin image and the believe coin is from Tim Hotlz idea-ology line. I used Cornish Heritage Farms dragonfly hinge and a tiny bit of bling~~~the page lifts up for hidden journaling. The key is a K&Co product and I used a bit of vintage French silk ribbon to attach. The date is part of a Crafty Secrets calendar set.

I do enjoy mixing the two arts, digital and stamping...I will always have to be hands on, inky hands on at that! So I'd love to hear what you think about the digital revolution and of course, my Redeemer page! If you are interested, I have my other HHN Challenge pages here. Thanks for stopping by

a Happy Blog~o~versary

to Ann , she's celebrating 1 year out there in blog-O-sphere and has put together a fabulous batch of blog candy. Check it out! Here. You've got until July 7th. Congratulations, Ann!!