A Happy Find

Happiness is finding something you knew was missing but gave up on looking for (why can't I write a sentence without a dangling participle?) 

I moved back in December and as I packed up my craft supplies I thought I was very organized.  Apparently I wasn't because to this day there are several things I can't find and for the most part have given up on.  So it was a most happy moment when I stumbled upon my Stampin' Bella stamps.  They now occupy a easy to find spot. 

This week the inspiration photo on Pinspiration is of two fairies in a garden so I got to ink up one of my freshly found Bellas.

I hope my Stampotiques turn up soon.

Here's the deets:
stamp - Stampin' Bella "Maisy Ketto"
ink - Memento "Tuxedo Black"
paper - Stampin' Up "Orchid Opulence", and "Pale Plum" cs, "Patterns Pack - Subtles" dsp;  K & Co "Susan Winget Spring Blossom" dp; Neenah Classic White Natural cs
miscellaneous - copics; Viva Glitter Liner "Holo Iridescent"; My Favorite things "Mini Rolled Rose" die-namics; Spellbinder's "Peony" and "Circle" dies; ribbon; Stampin' Up pearls; mini brads; lace

Here's the challenges"
Pinspirational #15 - photo
Whoopsie Daisy - Use Up Your Stash (there isn't a single new thing on this card, I'd guess everything is at least a year old - in fact most of these things were purchase when I still lived in NJ which was over two years ago)
Simon Says Stamp and Show - No Rules!
One Stitch At a Time - #122 - Anything Goes
Stamptacular Sunday #172 - Wings and Bling
Southern Girls #48 - Pearls
Daring Cardmakers - Lace and Pearls
Sketch Saturday #216 - sketch

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

Black or White

My bestest buddies (Eileen, Maddy and Edna, hi guys!) gave me a gift certificate to Stamping Bella for my birthday.  Now that's people who know me too well and they will be my friends 4ever because they know me so well.  They know where the bodies are, kwim.

The shopping's done and the goodies arrived a few days ago and today I got one of the stamps inky.  So what'd'ya think black or white? 

I'm trying to push myself in different directions.  This is one of my attempts at CAS.  Some people define CAS as one layer, in that case this doesn't qualify but this is my idea of clean and simple. 

Here's the deets:
stamp - Stamping Bella "Christmastini"
ink - versamark
paper - SU Black cs; white cs; Recollections silver card base
miscellaneous - Silver embossing powder; nesties circle die; Queen and Co pearls

Here's the challenges:
Do You Stack Up #36 - Texture
Paper Shelter #30 - Embossing
Going Grey - Winter Wishes

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


The Cupcake Fairy

Everyone's heard of the tooth fairy but few have heard of her younger sister the cupcake fairy.   No she doesn't go around leaving cupcakes, just the calories.  Next time you've gained a few unexpected pounds you'll know who to blame.

This week's challenge #12  for Stamping For the Weekend is "Wings and Things".   So I dug out my bag of long neglected Stampin' Bella stamps and picked "Cecily Cinnamon" to make my card.   You should check out the SFTW blog for more inspiration from the rest of the design team.  Once you've been adequately inspired get to work on your creation.  We can't wait to see what you create.

Here's the deets:
stamp - Stampin' Bella "Cecily Cinnamon"
ink - Memento Tuxedo Black
paper - Making Memories "English Garden"; Colorbok yellow cs; Stampin' Up "Wild Wasabi" cs; Colorbok blue cs for base
miscellaneous - copics; Taylored Expressions tiny twinkles in clear, blue and red; Gelly Roll glaze pen; Recollections blingy flourish; Tim Holtz flower ribbon; Stampin' Up file tag punch; Blue Bic pen for sentiment; mini brads; Nesties lacey square; sewing machine

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come back again.  Now go get busy making a card with "Wings and Things" for Stampin' for the Weekend.

Sweet!

Click the picture to enlarge

Today I'm the "Guest Sweetie" at the Cupcake Inspirations Challenge.  Want to know why?  It's because my "A Quick Kitty" card was one of Rachel's picks for the week.  It certainly wasn't because of my sweet and sunny personality.  LOL, can you hear me cackling.

 I LOVE cake and icing and every week Rachel tortures me with a photo of an over the top cupcake or cupcakes. I am crazy with desire for the goodies in her inspiration photos. This week is no different. Who could resist that swirl of chocolate icing. I wonder if there's some yummy white fluffy stuff on the inside...

This week the challenge is sponsored by Di's Digital Downloads. You can get all the details about the prize, and challenge rules over on Cupcake Inspirations, which is where you will link up your creation.

this week's inspiration





don't forget the inside

Here's the deets: 

stamp - Stampingbella "Cuppacakeabella
ink - Memento Tuxedo Black and Ladybug; Ranger Tattered Rose
paper - Georgia Pacific white cs; Bo Bunny "Gift of Love" dp; Bazzill brown cs for card base; Stampin' Up kraft cs for mats; Urban Oasis pink cs for heart mat
miscellaneous - copics; glitzy glitter; heart charm; divine twine; gelly roll pen; Creative Memories scalloped corner punch; round corner punch; Sparkle Gems heart bling


Here's the challenges:
Cupcake Inspirations - photo of chocolate cupcakes
Polka Doodles week 5 - With Hearts
Just Add Ink JA154 - a Colour Combo Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Rose Red and Regal Rose
Raise the Bar #52 - Hearts
Crazy 4 Challenges C4C73 - Valentine's

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come back again.  Now go make a card inspired by the photo so you can play in the Cupcake Inspirations Challange.

A Posey Picking Turtle

This is such a cute image. It's "Picking Posies" from Stampin' Bella and it's one of the stamps I won from Joanne Basile's blog "Just a Little Something". You never know when she's going to have a blog candy give away or challenge and in the meantime there's always something worth visiting to see.
I'm going to have to get this stamp inky again because it works up really fast and I think it could be used for a man, woman or child. What do you think?

I really liked the sketch challenge on L'il Red Wagon this week. It could be used for a quick and easy clean and simple card or it could be jazzed up . I added a few elements just because. You know that sometimes you just have to play with the stuff in your stash. Even with the additions it still worked up fast.

Here's the deets:
Stamp - StampinBella, turtle tots, "Picking Posies"
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black; Ranger Scattered Straw
Paper - SU cardstock; Basic Grey "Origins" dp
Miscellaneous - SU twill tape; Queen & Co. Pearls; Memory Makers Epoxy Eyelet Charms; SU Magic Mesh; nestibilities; copics; buttons; floss
Here's the challenges:
L'il Red Wagon - sketch
Cookin' It Up With Kate #19- Use Some Green, add some embossing (the edges of the nesties get embossed), include a little ribbon
OCC - Gotcha Cornered
Thanks for visiting; I hope you'll come back again. Do click on the pink ribbon, it's a good thing.

Desperate Housewife III - Can It Get Any Worse

Note to self - Do NOT Leave Home Without Your Mounting Block! I've been dying to ink up this buggy bug stamp that I won from the ever so generous and funny Joanne from "Just a Little Something" and wouldn't you know it, it won't stick to my camera! What's a girl to do? Here I go again, thrashing the house to find something that I can stick this stamp onto (I do this at crops too, yeah, that's me the lady leering over your shoulder at your supplies, I have invaded church kitchens to find a bowl to make a big circle) , I guess if I didn't mind getting the camera sticky I could have used it, but nah, no sticky stuff on camera. I tried a stamp pad lid and ended up with ink all over me and a very bad image, edges sloppy, middle non-existent. I finally found an acrylic box with lots of brads in it - Hey, it's acrylic, the blocks are acrylic, the light bulb in my head turned on and I was able to stamp again. another dilemma solved. Ah, I hope you could stand that suspense.

The other major problem of the day was deciding what shade of green I was going to use on the bug in the buggy. Oh, the heartache, trials and tribulations. I do not know how I make it through the day.

I tell you, life is good. Yesterday my sister-in-law took me and the family out for lunch. We went to a place on the water, and how sweet is it for people to pull up in their boat to the dock next to my table and get out for lunch and while they're eating the staff is washing the boat. I actually said "Life is good" to one of the women as she walked by, and she agreed. So maybe I don't have my mounting block with me, but I can sit by the water watching dolphins cruise by, pelicans coming and going and toss back a brewski. Not a bad day.

Today, we went to the pool, the water was cold, oh dear I had to go sit in the hot tub instead. If you are going through a rough patch, try to remember that this too will pass. Everyday of my life hasn't been this easy and there are many days I complain relentlessly about the trivial nonsense going on but in the end I have to say, "life is good".

I made this card using the sketch from Mojo Monday. I didn't have anything else in mind, just to use this stamp and play in Mojo. The first week of the month is the one with a prize, but there's a good sketch posted there every Monday. Since my first beetle was orange I had to make this little bug orange. I wanted the paper to be bright and cheery to go with the orange bug so I used Basic Grey Sugar Rush dp. I just love the Mays ribbon I got from Michele the Enchanted Stamper. She's one of the NJ SCS stampers I've met at a couple shoe box swaps. Lots of fun and she's got ribbon, what more could you want in a friend.

Here's the deets:

Stamp - Stamping Bella "love beetle" huggabugg

Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black and some no name orange from Michael's for edging

Paper - Basic Grey "Sugar Rush" dp, DCWV Neutrals cs

Miscellaneous - Prismacolor pencils, Stickles, dimensionals to pop up the tires and center circle, Pebbles orange candy dots, Glitzy Glitter on the wings, Mays ribbon.

The Challenges:

Mojo Monday 133- sketch

That's it for today, I hope you life is good too. If it's not so good today call a friend and go out for a drink or a walk and you'll feel better and eventually it'll get better. Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come back again. Don't forget to click on the pink ribbon, it's a good thing for you to do and it doesn't cost you a penny.

No Calorie Cupcakes

Stamping cupcakes is one way to make them without absorbing any calories, but eating them is more fun. If I had my way I'd eat them at every meal. Why is it that the really yummy foods are just not good for you?

This fun stamp, Cupcake Divs, is from Stamping Bella. It's stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black on white Georgia Pacific cs and colored with copics. The earrings are MFT pearls. The cherries are coated with SU Crystal Effects and there's a touch of stickles on the icing of each cupcake. The image and it's mat were cut with Creative Memories tools. The edges of both are sponged with Ranger Distress Worn Lipstick.

Here's the challenges:

1.) Pile It On #2 - Tie It Around It - use at least three ribbons (and use at least one more challenge)

2.) The Pink Elephant #50 - sketch

3.) All Sorts Week #35 - Color combination Pink and Brown

Here's the rest of the deets: The dp is SU Berry Bliss (sorry it's retired). The pink cs is from MFT, the brown cs is Bazzill. The punch if SU Scalloped Eyelet.

I really enjoyed making this card and am very pleased with the way it turned out. I need to pull out this stamp more often. It always makes me happy. Thanks for visiting, please come back soon and I hope you'll leave a comment.

Don't forget to click the pink ribbon.

Creatalicious Challenge

Today I found a challenge for a Design Team on a site called Bizzy Bec's Creatalicious Challenges. Sounded yummy to me. I wanted to get this stamp inky and a cupcake diva seems perfect for a creatalicious challenge. For the challenge they gave a sketch. The snag is that I may be late to the gate. So I'm gonna post and hope I made it in time

The image, Addy Tude Is a Cupcake Diva, is from Stamping Bella. It's stamped in Memento Black on white card stock and colored with copics. The cherries on her cupcakes are covered with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects. I ran a gelly roll pen over her jewelry, the lace on her apron, the lenses of her glasses and the icing on the cupcakes. It's subtle, looks great.

All the papers for this card are from the TLC Runway set. This image is mounted on the polka dot paper and then onto the solid card stock. On the solid I used a Stampin' Up corner punch.

The cupcakes are from the Inkadinkado (if you're a regular visitor you know that I love that name and can't help but mention it) set, Birthday Cupcake. I stamped it four times on white card stock and cut them out. I paper pieced the cupcake holders with the striped paper and colored the rest with copics. These cherries are also covered with Crystal Effects. I marked jimmies on the icing with the gelly roll marker. They got popped up on dimensionals. The flowers are from Prima. There are MFT yellow bling hot fix crystals n the upper right corner. They didn't photograph too well.

I enjoyed following the sketch so whatever the outcome I had a good time and I'm sure to return for the monthly challenge, but then again, I am easily amused.

Simon Says Buttons and Bows

Do you watch "Frazier"? Every time I see the phrase "buttons and bows" I think of the episode when Frazier sings "Buttons and Bows" on public television during pledge week. He totally screws up the lyrics and the scene switches to his apartment where Daphne and Martin are watching it over and over on video tape. It is one of the funniest shows they made.

This card is for three challenges, the Simon Says add buttons and bows to your creation, the Crafty Creations Challenge 27 to add a button to your project and the MOJO98 sketch challenge. As soon as I saw this stamp I had to order it. I don't particularly care for martinis but I still get a kick out of it. And I won't name any names but I do know a few people who do like a tini or two. Now if you're pouring bourbon, or malibu rum...

Back to the card. This stamp is called Addy Tude Loves Her Tinis from Stamping Bella. That's where the Sistahs hang out. You can click on the blinkie over on the left sidebar to visit. There's lots of fun stamps there, there's bellas, and kettoes and tudes oh my! You'll have fun if you go. Addy is stamped on white card stock with Memento Black ink and colored with copics. The martini glasses were touched with a clear gelly roll marker. The flower centers and teeniest pearls were made with stickles. The larger pearls are from Joy Craft. The lenses of her sunglasses are covered with Crystal Effect. The colored cardstocks are from DCWV, the martini paper didn't have a name on it, I think I picked it up at AC Moore. The ribbon is from MFT polka dot collection. The red square bling is Precious Finds, Adhesive Gems. So what do you think about buttons on cards. That's a question that keeps coming up, it's not nekkie, do you leave your buttons nekkie? Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. This time I actually sewed the button onto the ribbon which is why it isn't naked. If you have an opinion on this leave it in the comments section. I love reading your comments. Did you see the badge that says "your comments feed my blog"? Reading your comments is the best part of my day so take a second and tell me what you're thinking. What can I say, I am easily amused.