Celebrate with Cooking It Up With Katie

I often give myself little challenges, besides the ones I find on the challenge blogs.  In the back of my head I've got a litany of them playing in the back of my mind.  It gets pretty crazy in my head with them,  and the song that inevitably gets stuck playing a few bars over and over, then there's the shopping list and the to-do list and you know all the daily junk that gets in as you go about your day.  Currently my little challenges are to 1.) make more masculine cards, 2.) color on card stock,  3.) try different folds and 4.) make some clean and simple cards.  There's other things that pop up on the list like make your Christmas cards early, or make a shaped card or try a new technique but having a current list of four things is enough to keep my head spinning, so the list changes almost as frequently as my undies or my mood. 

This card ended up being a clean and simple card, at least as clean and simple as I get.  Now you may think that it's quick and easy to make a clean and simple card, and it may be for you, but it isn't for me.  In the case of this card I was actually planning on coloring on card stock and I spent way too much time going through my stamp collection looking for an image that signified "Celebrate".  That's one part of the recipe for this week's Cooking It Up With Katie challenge #96.  I gave up on that idea when I was going through the last box of stamps where I found a long neglected set of stars.  Using such a big image makes me want to keep the rest simple.  The rest of this week's recipe is use ribbon and a die cut which is how I decided on how to finish the card. 

The star and the sentiment were both stamped with Close to my Heart "cranberry" on kraft card stock.  The star was fuzzy cut around the edges leaving a small edge to give the appearance of a mat.  The sentiment was die cut with one of Spellbinder's "Ribbon Tags Trio".  The gold ribbon was picked to give the card a little more pop. 

Here's the deets:

stamp - Close to My Heart "Shining Star"

ink - CTMH "Cranberry"

paper - October Afternoon "Report Card" dp; Stampin' Up "Kraft" card stock

miscellaneous - Spellbinder's "Ribbon Tags Trio"; ribbon; machine stitching

Here's the challenges:

Cooking It Up with Katie #96 - Celebration with ribbon and a die cut

Simon Says - Anything Goes

Fab 'N Funky #123 - Celebrate

One Stitch at a Time   #115 - Red, White and Blue

Simon Says Stamp and Show - One for the Boys (hubby is a 4th of July baby)

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll join us in the Cooking It Up With Katie challenge to "celebrate with ribbon and a die cut"

Graduation

CIC162

In just a few short days my little girl will be graduating high school.  I can't believe it, seems like just yesterday we were taking her home from the hospital.  We don't have a lot of family and friends in our new location and we are in the middle of having our kitchen remodeled so we aren't having a house party but if I were having one I'd sure as heck like to have this cake.  Just looking at this photo makes me want a cuppie so I better write this post fast and start thinking about how much I'd enjoy a celery stalk.

This week our challenge is sponsored by DRS Designs.  Please stop by the Cupcake Inspirations challenge blog to see what the other sweeties have created.  

I had purchased this stamp for making my daughter's graduation card long before this challenge was set up so my card is not showcasing our sponsor's images.   Everything in this card is really old.  I picked it all up about a year before her 8th grade graduation figuring I'd use it for scrap booking, which I did but I guess I went a little overboard because I still have enough stuff to cover college, graduate school and a PhD program.   LOL, I don't think we'll be seeing those events so I think I will be looking for some homes to send it to. 




don't forget the inside

Here's the deets:
stamp - My Favorite Things "ALM Grad Girl"
ink - Memento Tuxedo Black
paper - Creative Memories dp; black cs
miscellaneous - copics; baker's twine; star charm; Jolene stickers; bling; machine stitching, Stampin' Up Ticket punch

Here's the challenges:
Cupcake Inspirations CIC162 - photo
My Favorite Things MFTWSC73 - sketch
Charisma #20 - No Flowers Allowed
Moving Along with the Times - Celebrate, But No Birthdays
Southern Girls #45 - Dying to Die Cut or Punch
Card Making Mamas #46 - Feeling Punchy
Raise the Bar #106 - Congratulations


Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll join the Sweeties by making a card for the Cupcake Inspirations challenge blog.

Pile It On - More Than 2 Folds

Every now and then a challenge gives me a good prod to do something outside my comfort zone and to me that's a good thing.  This week our challenge at Pile It On is to make a card with more than 2 folds.  The only fancy fold I can make on demand is an easel card, anything else I have to look up the directions.  That's pretty much the only thing that holds me back, I just don't want to take the time to look them up.  So, I'm glad for this challenge.  I've been wanting to make another center step card for awhile but have been too lazy to make the effort and now that I have I'm glad I did.  If you don't know how to make one here's a link to a tutorial that's easy to follow.

Of course there are plenty of other fancy folds you can use.  One my sidebar there are labels, if you click on "Fancy Fold" you'll get all my posts for cards with fancy folds.  I think I put a link for the tutorial in all of them.  

This week the sponsor for our challenge is Digi Doodles.  I'm using the sewing basket image.  I think center step cards look best with a dominant image.  Since this is a digi stamp it can be made as large or small as your requirements.  You can also adjust the size of your card if you're daring.  I made my card larger than the tutorial by using a 6-1/2" x 11"piece of cardstock, this just requires a slight adjustment in your cutting lines. 

This image made me feel notalgic so I wanted a vintage/shabby chic llok.  To get that look I used tea dyed lace, Cosmo Cricket "Circa 1934" papers and sponged around the edges with Ranger Distress Inks.

Here's the deets:

stamp - Digi Doodles "Sewing Basket"

ink - hp printer; Ranger "Scattered Straw" and "Tea Dye"

paper - Bazzill "Beeswax" cs; scraps of grey and beige cs for die cuts

miscellaneous - copics; buttons; lace; burlap twine; pin cushion charm; My Favorite Things  "Sew Nifty" die-namics

Here's the challenges:

Pile It On #22 - Two or More Folds

Polka Doodles Week 21 - Make a Doodled Edge or Border

Southern Girls #45 - Dying to Die Cut or Punch

Charisma #20 - No Flowers Allowed

The Pink Elephant TPE149 - Buttons Galore

Creative Card Crew - Dimension

Partytime Tuesday PTT#49 - Vintage or Shabby Chic

the Sisterhood of Crafters - Old Fashioned Project

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll get adventurous and try making a card with 2 or more folds for the Pile It On challenge.

Teacher Appreciation Time

High School graduation is just around the corner so this is probably the last time I'll need a teacher appreciation card.   It's funny most moms get teary eyed when their children start school but I didn't have those feelings but now that her school days are almost over I am feeling a little misty.  On one hand I will be happy when the ferrying back and forth to school is over but on the other hand it's scary to see her going off on her own.  

This card was made using the My Favorite Things sketch from challenge MFTWSC72. 

Here's the deets:
stamp - My Favorite Things "ALM an Apple for Teacher"
ink - Memento "Tuxedo Black" and "Dandelion" for the sentiment; Ranger "Weathered Wood" distress ink
paper - unmarked navy cardstock; October Afternoon "Report Card" dp; Stampin' Up "Crushed Curry" cs for star border
miscellaneous - copics; baker's twine; apple charm; MFT "Star Border" die-namics; Stampin' Up "notebook" and "corner ticket tab" punches; bling; machine stitching

Here's the challenges:
My Favorite Things MFTWSC72 - sketch

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come back again.

Mix It Up

This week the Pile It On challenge is asking you to mix it up, that is, mix up the scale of your patterns.  Use a small scale pattern (my sample has the small stars dp) and a large scale pattern (my sample has the large outerspace dp).   The only other thing you have to remember is to make your card or project fit into at least one other challenge.  If you need some help finding other challenges then the Pile It On blog is perfect for you.  You can see what the rest of the design team came up with as well as all the challenges they are going to enter and lucky for you, there will be links to all those challenges.  Also on the sidebar there's lots of challenges with links listed. 
This week the challenge is sponsored by Jellypark where you can find some of the cutest images on earth (or in the sky like the one I'm using).  You have to play with us for a chance to win 2 digis.

don't forget the inside

My card uses space rocket and while I was making a card for a little boy this image could just as easily be used for a little girl.  All kids want to go into space. Some days we parents would like to send them there. 

Here's the deets:
stamp - Jellypark  "Space Rocket" digi
ink - hp printer
paper - unmarked blue cs base; Stampin' Up "Peach Parfait" and "Crushed Curry" cs; Crate Paper "Orbit " collection dp; October Afternoon "Campfire" collection dp
miscellaneous - copics; mini star brads; button; embroidery floss; Saturn charm; Spellbinder's "Labels Four" and Stars Five" dies; machine stitching

Here's the challenges:
Pile It On #- Mix Your Scales
2 Sisters #92 - Stars
Allsorts #155 - Buttons and Bows
Just Us Girls JUGS #137 - Blue, Yellow and White
Charisma #19 - Use Metal Charms
Truly Scrumptious #80 - Anything Goes
Crafty Sentiments - Bingo:  Patterned Paper, coloured image, punches or dies
Southern Girls #46 - About the Boys
Terrifically Thrilling Thursday - Show Us What You Got
Chocolate, Coffee and Cards #13 - For the Boys

Thanks for stopping by, I hope to see you here again.  Now go look through your papers and find some different scaled designs so you can enter the Pile It On challenge for a chance to win 2 digis from Jellypark.

Don't Bug Me

CIC161

I do not like bugs, who does?  OK, I know a couple people who do but they're strange in other ways too.  However I don't mind if they show up as cute little cakes like the ones in this week's Cupcake Inspirations challenge.  Notice there isn't a thousand legger or nasty tarantula...

This week the challenge is sponsored by Fresh Brewed Designs but don't worry if you win and you're not into bugs they've got plenty of other images from which to choose and I know you'll find something there you'll like.  If you need some more inspiration pop over to the Cupcake Inspirations Challenge blog and see what the rest of the sweeties created.  I saw a couple of them earlier this week and they put a big smile on my face, just too cute.  So when you finish up your coffee (or beverage of choice) and have seen enough eye candy for today, get busy making a card or project inspired by this week's cuppies.  we can't wait to see what you create.

Here's the deets:

stamp - Fresh Brewed "Mrs. Buggy;s Coffee Break" digi

ink - hp printer

paper - the Paper Cut "Banana Split" cs; Bazzill "Parakeet" cs; Jillibean Soup"Blossom

Soup" dp

miscellaneous - copics; Queen and Co. pearls; baker's twine; ladybug charm; Spellbinder's "Scalloped Square" die; My Favorite Things "Chevron Stripes" die-namics

Here's the challenges:

Cupcake Inspirations CIC161 - photo inspiration

Pals Paper Arts PPA135 - sketch

Secret Crafter  #186 - In the Garden

Fairy Tales #40 - Things with Wings

Papertake Weekly - In the Garden

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come to visit again.  In the meantime get out your crafting supplies and join us in the Cupcake Inspirations challenge.

Stampin' for the Weekend Challenge #10

Thank you Stampin' for the Weekend, I really needed an easy challenge this week.  Now, I don't know about you but I like a sketch challenge.  Truth be told I like most challenges but sketches are a great starting point.  AND when you can pick any image  and theme you want it's practically a gift.  You can fill in the gaps in your card stash or make something you know you're going to need soon.  Well for me, this time last year we were getting ready for Annie's wedding so I need an anniversary card.  So that's what I made but you can make any kind of card you'd like.

 Purple or lavender card are difficult to get to come out looking the same as the actual card.  This is close but it looks better in real life.  The flower on this card was made with several layers of the same paper.  To make the layers stand out I ran a blending pen with purple ink around the edges of the petals.  On the grey paper with the cross hatching pearls were added where the lines intersected.  They were made with a  Lilac Viva Pearl Pen.  If you are going to need a lot of pearls for your card or project you might want to invest in one of these .

don't forget the inside

I hope I've inspired you to play along with us at the Stampin' for the Weekend challenge.  You can get some more inspiration over on the blog.  The design team has created such beautiful cards you will swoon.  So stop over and check out what they've done, you'll be glad you did.  Then you can get busy making your own card.  When you've finished don't forget to link it up so we can see it.

Here's the deets:

stamps - My Favorite Things "WTG Can I Have This Dance" and "Clearly Sentimental About Anniversaries"

ink - Memento "Tuxedo Black" and Stampin' Up "Elegant Eggplant"

paper - unmarked purple cs; Heidi Swapp "Crazy Love" and "Lovely Grid"; American Crafts "the Grid - Tulle"; K & Co Susan Winget botanical pad; Stampin' Up Patterns Stack - Subtles"

miscellaneous - copics; My Favorite Things "Botanical Beauties" and "Skyline" border die-namics; Viva Lilac Pearl Pen; purple bling; machine stitching

Here's the challenges:

Stampin' for the Weekend #10 - sketch

Simon Says Stamp and Show - Anything Goes

Critter Sketch #115 - Flowers

Terrifically Thrilling Thursday - Show What You got

Moving Along With the Times - Keep It Real (no fantasy figures)

Truly Scrumptious #124 - Anything Goes

Sisterhood of Crafters - May Flowers

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come back again.

Cook Something Up

I get a kick out of this kid.  I've had this stamp sitting in my "want to use" basket for several months and am thrilled to finally get him inky.  Besides getting my sample done for the Cooking It Up with Katie challenge I also got to add a "boy" card to my stash.  I hardly ever have one when I need one.  It may not last in my stash for long because I think I may have to send this one off to my grandson.  I think he'll like it.

You can make any kind of card or project for Katie's challenge.  All we ask is that you follow the recipe which is pretty easy - use brads and twine and stamp (no digis for this challenge).  That's pretty simple so go get your supplies out and get inky.  We can't wait to see what you create.




don't forget the inside

Here's the deets:
stamp - Mo Manning "Bronte and Louis"; Taylored Expressions "It's a Banner Day 1"
ink - Memento "Tuxedo Black"
paper - Colorbok aqua and green cs; DCWV "the Pet Stack" dp
miscellaneous - copics; My Favorite Things Circle die- namics; Taylored Dies "Banner Day 1"; brads; twine; button; paw charm; machine stitching

Here's the challenges:
Cooking It Up with Katie - use brads and twind and stamp
Mojo Monday #241 - sketch
Totally Papercrafts #116 - No Pesky Girls Allowed
Allsorts Week 154 - For a Man or Boy


Thanks for stopping by, I hope to see you here again.

In the Nick of Time

I finished this card just in time to enter it into this week's My Favorite Things sketch challenge.  The bottom of the gold bag and the woman's top are paper pieced with Basic Grey paper.   I thought the bracket die I have is too large for this sentiment so I punched the corners with a SU ticket punch.  I'm a little annoyed that I didn't have a charm to put on this, I know I had a golf bag or golf club, I guess I used it and didn't have any more.  I guess I have to go shopping because I expect to make more use of this stamp.

Here's the deets:

stamp - My Favorite Things "WTG Plays Golf"

ink - Memento "Tuxedo Black" and Versa Magic "Aloe Vera"

paper - Neenah "Brilliant White" Classic cs; Stampin' Up "Blushing Bride" cs; Basic Grey "Two Scoops" dp

miscellaneous - copics; brads, ribbon, baker's twine, button; SU ticket punch

Here's the challenges:

My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club MFTWSC71 - sketch

Whoopsie Daisy - Spring Colors

Simon Says Stamp & Show - Anything Goes

The Squirrel and the Fox #17 - One for the Girls

Charisma #18 - Pink and Girlie

By the way, I had a different kind of handicap while I was making this card.  The cat, Shamus, sat on the desk the entire time I was making this card.  When he decided to plop down I had just stamped the image which he laid right on top off.  His body also covered the scissors I was going to use and the package with the rest of the stamps.  He was slighty miffed that I pulled the stuff out from under him but he didn't move so we shared the desk for the duration of the card making.  The only time there was a little to do was when I pulled out the baker's twine, that got his attention but he still didn't stir.  In fact he's still laying here, but he has moved now he's smack in the middle with his back to me. 

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come back again.

Ooh, La, la aka Oops La, la

Pinspirational #6

This card is inspired by the somewhat new "Pinspirational" challenge.  Seeing this little pooch made me want to dig out my Teddy Bo image with the poodle.

My family had several poodles, they were very sweet dogs and my mother loved them dearly.  I couldn't get my mom out of my head while I was making the card so I made the card for her as if she were still here.  Even though she never dyed her dogs pink I think she would get a kick out the idea, who knows if she were around when my brother had his grooming shop she just might have let him dye her critters.

Usually I pay attention when I'm putting my card together but this time I did a big whoopsie.  The opening is on the left and the decorated side is upside down.  I'm wondering if my mother was reaching out from the beyond so that I wouldn't be able to give her card to anyone else...(eerie music playing in the background)

Here's the deets:
stamp - Teddy Bo "Walkies"
ink - hp printer
paper - Melissa Frances "Olivia" dp; Marcella by K "Trend Paper Kit" dp; Stampin' Up pink cs
miscellaneous - copics; bling; ribbon; twine; dog charm; MFT "photo corner" and "oval doily" die-namics; machine stitching

Here's the challenges:
Pinspirational #6 - photo
Cupcake Craft #191 - Ooh, La, La
Raise the Bar #104 - Mother's Day
Simply Create Too #13 - Mother's Day/Feminine
the Crop Stop - Show Us the Animal in You
Crafty Sentiments - Mother's Day
the Pink Elephant TPE147 - All About Mom
Whoopsie Daisy - We Love Pink
Kaboodle Doodle #118 - Honoring Moms
the Squirrel and the Fox #17 - One for the Girls
Going Grey - Happy Mother's Day
Party Time Tuesday PTT67 - Mum's the Word

Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate that you've spent your precious time visiting me.

Miss You Mojo

For awhile I didn't have a clue of what to do with this week's Mojo Monday sketch.  So I looked for something else to do and checked out a couple other challenges and didn't have any inspiration for any of them either.  So I took a different path and started going through stamp sets to see if anything was screaming to get inky.  Several stamps spoke up but I couldn't seem to get any of them and a challenge to sync.  Fast forward and I finally decided on the froggie stamp and the Mojo sketch.   It's funny how one day the ideas are popping and the next they are no where to be found.

Here's the deets:

stamp - Stampin' Up  "A Fower for All Seasons"

ink - Memento "Tuxedo Black"

paper - Stampin' Up "kraft" cs; Basic Grey "Origins" dp

miscellaneous - copics; MFT circle die-namics; brads; staple; ribbon; frog charm; machine stitching

Here's the challenges:

Mojo Monday 240 - sketch

Thanks for stopping by, I hope to see you here again.

Rock Star

There's been some changes to the My Favorite Things monthly guest designer challenge.  Now it's posted for the month.  Now that can either give you a lot more time to think about what you want to do and then the time to do it well.  OR you can be like me and stress over the challenge from the moment you read it to the moment you see the winner's name posted.  Last month I decided I couldn't take stressing for an entire month and decided I'd just be a looky lou. 

The June challenge is a sketch, how great is that.  I love card challenges so I don't have to stress over this one AND as before you can enter as many times as you'd like. 

Yesterday I started making my card and I finished it up this morning.  Even though it took a lot of time I enjoyed every minute of it.  Who knows maybe this time I'll be lucky (do you hear Liza).

The challenge asks how you will represent MFT if you should win.  First of all someone will have to come over to my home and scrap me down off the ceiling and after that anyone who's looking for me will have to come to my craft room and try to pry me away from my new MFT toys long enough to do whatever menial housekeeping type thing they want me to do because I will be working away and getting inky making lots of new cards. 

I can dream can't I?

Here's the deets:
stamp - My Favorite Things "ALM Rock Star"
ink - Memento "Tuxedo Black"
paper - Bazzill "Frosted Teal" cs; Stampin' Up "Dusty Durango" cs and "Subtles" dsp; Piggy Tales "Old King Cole Collection - Fiddler's 3"; black cs scraps
miscellaneous - copics; Spellbinder's "deckled rectangle" die; My Favorite Things " "Jumbo Ric Rak", "Textured Board" "Clef" and "Ticket Tab" die-namics; the Cat's Pajamas "rosette" Cut Ups; mini star brads; machine stitching

Here's the challenges:
My Favorite Things MFTGUESTDT0612 - sketch
Crafts and Me #83 - Punches and Die Cuts
the Squirrel and the Fox #101 - For the Girls

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come back again.

Shhhhhh...

Don't wake the mouse.  Right now, in thousands of houses this very scene is very repeated.  Some days it's me, some days it's hubby.  Those little mouse naps sure are good except that for me they always seem to occur during the last 10 minutes of whatever movie or TV show I'm watching. 

I'm thinking this could be cute for Father's Day minus the flower and lace of course.

Here's the deets:
stamp - My Favorite Things "Do Not Disturb This Mouse"
ink - Memento "Rich Cocoa"
paper Stampin' Up "Soft Suede" cs; K & Co "Life's Journey" cs; Neenah Classic Crest "Natural White " cs
miscellaneous - copics; linen twine; charm; MFT "Faux Crochet", "Circles", "Royal Rose" and "Royal Rose Leaves" die-namics; machine stitching

Here's the challenges:
My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club MFTWSC70 - sketch

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come by again.

Pile It On - Fairy Tales, Fantasy and Daydreams

Are you ready for the Pile It On challenge, well you better be cause it's here.  How about this fun theme "Fairy Tales, Fantasy and Daydreams".  There's an awful lot of images that will fit this theme so finish your web browsing then go get busy pulling out your supplies.  This week we're sponsored by Stamp Fairy, the winner of the challenge will receive a $10 gift certificate to spend in the Stamp Fairy store.  I'm sure you'll have a fun time with that. 

For my card I'm using a "Garden Goblin" and Close to My Hearts "Route 66" paper because whenever I see a creature that looks like this I think about a story I saw on TV many years ago.  It was about a family who had a gnome like this on their front lawn and it was stolen.  Over the next couple months they received touristy pictures of the gnome from all over the country.   One day the gnome was home again.  They never found out who did it.

don't forget the inside

Here's the deets:
stamp - Stamp Fairy "Garden Goblins"
ink - hp printer
paper - Close to My Heart "Route 66" cs and dp
miscellaneous - copics, mini brads, linen twine, mushroom charm, My Favorite Things "Dainty Dots" die-namic, machine stitching











Here's the challenges:
Pile It On #19 - Fairy Tales, Fantasy and Daydreams
Chocolate, Coffee and Cards #12 - Sketch
Crafty Ann's - Stitching
Moving Along with the Times - Summer Sunshine
Digi Doodle #106 - Anything Goes
Crazy for Challenges C4C135 - Gardening or the Great Outdoors
Speedy the Fox #106 - Use Three of Something (3 different patterned paper)
Craft Your Days Away - Just for children
2 Sisters #90 - Anything Goes
The Stamp Man - Your Favorite Technique (machine stitching)
Totally Stampalicious - Masculine
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown - In the Garden
Going Grey - It's a Boy
Cute Card Thursday #215 - One for the Boys
4 Crafty Chicks - Your Favorite Embellishment (charms)
L'il Red Wagon - Stitch It Up
Crafty Cardmakers #67 - For the Boys

Thanks for stopping by, I hope to see you play along with us at Pile It On.

da Bomb

This week Kenny K Downloads is sponsoring the Cupcake Inspirations challenge CIC159 and that makes me excited because the design team gets to pick an image to use.  Well I fell in love with this one, she's "Da Bomb".  You should be excited too because you have the chance to win a Kenny K prize.  So get out you crafting supplies and make something that's inspired by our cupcake photo. 

There's a lot of colors and patterns on these cupcakes. So for this card I picked some papers that had decorated circles as the motif. There's so much color in the photo I think just about any paper would match it.   Have fun picking out what you'll use, if you're not having fun you've got the wrong hobby. 

We can't wait to see what you create so don't forget to link it up on the challenge blog.



Here's the deets:
stamp - Kenny K "Da Bomb"
ink - hp printer; Tim Holtz "Faded Jeans" distress ink around image
paper -Stampin' Up "More Mustard", "Dusty Durango" and "Bermuda Bay" card stock; Bazzill "Parakeet" card stock; Me and My Big Ideas "Ellen - Starfish" dp
miscellaneous - copics; Cuttlebug swirly embossing folder; My Favorite Things "Brackets Border" die-namics; brads; machine stitching; rock and roll pin

don't forget the inside

Here's the challenges:
Cupcake Inspirations CIC159 - photo
the Stamp Man - Your Favorite Technique
DYSU #70 - Circles
Digi Doodle #106 - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp and Show - a Kaleidoscope of Color
L'il Red Wagon #131- Stitch It Up
Crop Stop #70 - Emboss It (the Dusty Durango cs)



Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate every comment you take the time to leave.  I hope I'll get to see you playing along with us at the Cupcake Inspirations challenge this week.

Lotsa, Lotsa Layers

Seriously, lots of layers.  The challenge at Stampin' for the Weekend is "Lots of Layers - at least 4".  Break out those packs of matched and double sided papers and you'll do just fine (maybe not if your style is clean and simple).  Well whatever your style is we're looking forward to having you play along with us.  Need some more inspiration - check out what the rest of the design team has created.  They always post beautiful work.


Today we're celebrating our 3rd anniversay.  Yeah us and yeah for you too because this means that you could win a prize.  It's pretty easy too, all you have to do is follow along on a blog hop and leave comments.  That's pretty easy, and you'll get to see some great cards along the way.  So if you didn't come here from Gunn's blog you might want to go back to Stampin' for the Weekend to start at the beginning.  If you've been hopping along you're next stop is Helene's blog.  Good luck and happy hopping.

don't forget the inside

Here's the deets:
stamp - the Cat's Pajamas "Wish"
nk - Memento "Tuxedo Black" and "Dandelion"
paper - Stampin' Up "Lucky Limeade" and "Dusty Durango" cs; Bazzill "Maraschino" cs; October Afternoon "Sidewalks" dp
miscellaneous - copics; mini star brads; baker's twine; star charm; the Cat's Pajamas "Apron Border" die; machine stitching

Here's the challenges:
Stampin' for the Weekend #9 - Lots of Layers
the Cat's Pajamas TCPTUES208 - red, gold and lime green
L'il Red Wagon #131 - Stitch It Up
the Creative Belli - Animals

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come back again.

Random photos

Water doesn't fall of these feathers so after swimming the bird has to wait for the sun to dry them.

Even the beak is blue.

Why I don't put up a Christmas tree.

Hanging Out With Katie

Today I'm hanging out with Katie.  Challenge #94 at Cooking It Up With Katie is "Show me a Happy, Hanging, Heart".  This week's ingredients are 1.) make it happy, 2.) hang something and 3.) add a heart. 

What I learned this week - it's fun to use heart dies for something other than a Valentine's Day card.  In case you can't see it very well the charm on this card is a globe in the shape of a heart so I didn't need to use the heart dies cause I got the heart and hanging all in one item but I like the way the heart looks behind the stamp.

If you've been following me you know that on Saturday I took a copics class.  I tried to use the technique that we were taught for hair.  It's not great but it's not bad either.   

Now it's your turn, go get inky and show us what you got.

don't forget the inside

Here's the deeds"
stamp - My Favorite Things a la mode "You Mean the World to Me"
ink - Memento "Tuxedo Black" and "London Fog"
paper - Stampin' Up "Bermuda Bay" cs; October Afternoon "Boarding Pass" dp
miscellaneous - copics; Spellbinder's heart and scalloped heart dies; baker's twine; globe charm; brads; machine stitching

Here's the challenges:
Cooking It Up with Katie #94 - Show me a Happy, Hanging Heart
Simon Says Stamp and Show - a Kaleidoscope of Color

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come back again.

Some Photos

 Rummaging around I found a couple old photo cards. 

This is from August 2010.  Alison and I stopped at South of the Border on our way to Florida.  We tried on hats and these sunglasses.

Shamus likes to jump on the desk while I'm working there.  He likes to sit on the keyboard or my arm/hand.  However he can't watch the video of the osprey when he's on the keyboard. 

This is why it's a good idea to obey the speed limit, that and the cop around the corner with the radar gun

Did I mention that Shamus likes to sit on the desk while I'm working at it.  Now if I could just train him to pick out the markers.  It's a good thing he's cute.