Inspiration Challenge and a RAK!

Hi all! Hope you're having a great weekend so far!

Today's Inspiration Challenge on SCS was to choose a piece from the Dreaming in Color Website. I chose this piece here for the different shades of pinks and green. I thought it would go great with this new stamp and flower punch I got at Stampede this week. There's a picture below showing what the actual stamp looks like and how it gives you an open area to fill with punched paper art. When we went to Stampede, there was an entire display board showing how you can use punches with these different stamps by Make an Impression to make dimensional cards. There were, of course, instruction books as well...I probably should have bought one.

I stamped the Lilac/Leaf stamp in Colorbox black, and heat embossed it in clear embossing powder. Then I colored the leaves with an olive grey copic, the border with a SU cameo coral marker, and hand cut the image right around the square border. I punched the flowers in cameo coral, regal rose, and pretty in pink. They're glued down with Tacky Glue, and I used a stylus to push in the centers while bending up the petals. I don't know if that's the right technique or not, but that's how I got it to work today (my first attempt). The card is 4.25" x 4.25" square.

Here's the picture of the actual stamp and punch.

Recipe ~
Stamps: Gina K Kindred Sentiments for Her, Make an Impression Lilac
Paper: Papertrey White, Always Artichoke, Cameo Coral, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose
Ink: Colorbox Black, Olive Grey Copic, Bark Copic, Versafine Black Onyx
Accessories: Flower Punch, Brad, Word Window Punch, Clear Embossing Powder, Tacky Glue

I also received a BEAUTIFUL card from my friend (and upline) Carol that I wanted to share with you. I hope the picture captures her awesome coloring....it's stunning in real life. The image is colored with the prettiest shade of blue, and she added dimension behind the flowers and leaves by watercoloring in a really pale blue. Thanks Carol! You're a sweetheart to think of me for mother's day. When I opened it up from the envelope, I said "Oh Wow" outloud. It's gorgeous!!

Thanks for stopping by!

I thought we were stamping ...and fun friends!

Today's Limited Supplies Challenge on SCS is to make a card without any stamping. I followed Amy's Sunday Sketch from last week...love this sketch, Amy! I just turned the sketch so I could use the long panel for the sentiment. I used SU's Outlaw DP, made the sentiment on the computer, sponged around the edges of the sentiment panel, and used some new goodies that I picked up yesterday.

Recipe ~
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, SU Outlaw DP
Ink: Basic Brown (sponging)
Accessories: Brown Primas, Hodgepodge Hardware Brads, Bangle Beads, 3-D Glue Dots (sentiment panel and large very vanilla panel on the base)
Technique: Sponging, No Stamping

Speaking of yesterday, I got to spend the entire day shopping with my friend Janice (catcrazy). We had a blast!! Thank you, Janice, for all the great stores you took me to. You sure can find awesome deals, girl! ...and you're just plain FUN to hang out with! Looking forward to next weekend too!

We went out for lunch at Cracker Barrel (yummm-o!), then hit Scrapbook Junction where we found some really GREAT 12x12 laser cut scrapbooking sheets (made to order even), went to Stampede (love that store!), picked up some paper at a discount store, and then made a quick trip into Michael's where I picked up the antique bangle beads (the three hardware pieces that look like brads) on the card I made today. I got the brown primas at Stampede yesterday as well. Way to put things right to use, huh?!?!

The day was even more exciting yesterday when our long-time friend Lori (LMcAree) called us while we were at Scrapbook Junction. Lori, it was great to finally hear your voice after all these months of chatting online!! You're a hoot and I can't wait for our weekend getaway. It's not too far away now! Can't wait, my friend!!

...and last, but definitely not least....my blogging friend LeAnne (wee inklings) gave me an AWARD yesterday! How sweet!! LeAnne, I'm so sorry that I missed your post yesterday since I was gone all day, but you totally made my morning!!! You're such a great friend to talk to and I can't wait to meet up with you as well. You always make me smile!

It's a rainy day here in PA....BUT....it's Friday! I hope you have an awesome day. :)

Ice Cream and Giraffes

Early this morning I made a couple cards before leaving for my daughter's last day of mommy-and-me preschool. It's a gorgeous day here in PA, bright and sunny, and it's supposed to go up to 80 degrees!! Our last day of preschool was spent at a local park where the kids had storytime on a picnic blanket, had a scavenger hunt, played on the slides, and we got a class photo of all of them in some t-shirts they painted. Fun morning! It was a nice way to end the school year.

So anyway, I'm just now getting a chance to upload pics of the cards I made this a.m.

The first is for yesterday's SCS Color Challenge (Lovely Lilac, Pretty in Pink, and Certainly Celery). These colors remind me of candy and ice cream so I pulled out this new stamp I got at AC Moore about a month ago. The scoops of ice cream are up on dimensionals. Stickles (in all different colors) were added to the scoops, the cherries, and the drips of ice cream. It's very sparkly in real life.

Recipe ~
Stamps: Stamps Happen Ice Cream Cones #30021, SU Short & Sweet
Ink: Versafine Black Onyx, Creamy Caramel, Lovely Lilac, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery
Paper: Papertrey White, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery
Accessories: Stickles, Sm and Lg Oval Punches, Brown Satin Ribbon, Lavender Organdy Polka Dot Ribbon, Dimensionals
Technique: Watercoloring

The second is for today's SCS Sketch Challenge. I wasn't real crazy about the way the edges of the half, off-set circles stuck out...so I hid them with some punched stars. Probably illegal for the challenge, but I did it anyway {smile}.

Recipe ~
Stamps: Great Impressions #2006
Paper: PTI Summer Sunrise, Lemon Tart, and White; SU Chocolate Chip
Ink: StazOn Timber Brown
Accessories: yellow bling stars, Nestabilities circle die, Creative Memories star punches, Prisma pencils, 3-D glue dots (the double-layered stars at the top and bottom are up on dimensionals)
Technique: Baby Oil

Thanks for stopping by my blog, and I hope you're having some gorgeous weather too!

Silly Birthday Cat

While waiting for the SCS Color Challenge and Beate's Inspiration Challenges to be posted, I got some birthday cards done this morning.

Recipe ~
Stamps: Penny Black Bubbly (Transparent Set)
Paper: Papertrey White, Lemon Tart, Basic Black, Creative License Simply Scrappin' Pack
Ink: Versafine Black Onyx, Warm Grey Copic #1
Accessories: Nestabilities Circle and Scallop Circle Dies, Green/Yellow Organdy Ribbon, Prisma Pencils with baby oil and stumps for blending
Technique: Baby Oil

Did anyone celebrate Cinco De Mayo yesterday? We did... accidentally. We decided to go out to dinner at an outdoor place that's set up like a beach....sand and all. There's even a whole corner set up for kids to play. We had dinner and then our DD made friends with some other little kiddos. DH and I relaxed, had a drink, and listened to island music while DD made sand angels and hunted for "treasure" in the sand with the other kids. It was awesome!! We were looking during dinner and saying, "Wow, it sure is crowded for a Monday night." Then we realized it was because it was Cinco De Mayo!

Hope you enjoy your morning!

Featured Stamper 05/04/08 ~~ nutsymuhl

Today's Featured Stamper on SCS is Kim (nutsymuhl)! What an awesome gallery to choose a card from...beautiful work, Kim! You have a really great blog too!

Here's her card that I chose to CASE. I was immediately drawn to the three panels of Afternoon Tea DP and how they're linked with faux stitching. I also loved the scallops and the layout. I didn't have her stamp set (wish I did though) so I used my new CC Designs Love Ya Much set. I used the Nestabilities Circle Dies instead of the rectangles, and added a couple layers as well as some green swarovski crystals.

Recipe ~
Stamps: CC Designs Love Ya Much, SU Short & Sweet
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky, White, SU Afternoon Tea DP
Ink: Versafine Black Onyx, Groovy Guava, Soft Sky, Basic Brown, Creamy Caramel
Accessories: Nestabilities Circle and Scallop Circle Dies, Groovy Guava Double-Stitched Ribbon, Corner Rounder, Green Swarovski Crystals, 3-D Glue Dots (chocolate scallop circle), Mat Pack
Technique: Faux Stitching, Watercoloring

Hope you're enjoying your morning!

National Scrapbooking Day!

Happy National Scrapbooking Day!!

I started scrapbooking about nine years ago. Last April though, I discovered stamping and card making...and my scrapbooking kinda got put to the back-burner. I've finally gotten back into it this week! Earlier in the week, I did a page of my oldest daughter right after she graduated, and now today I got a chance to do more of my youngest daughter. These pics are from last summer...just spending some time helping Daddy wash his motorcycle. I'm having so much fun getting back to scrapping!

Anyway, I followed today's Scrapbook Sketch Challenge on SCS. This is the first scrapbook sketch I've followed on SCS. Very fun! Here's a picture of the sketch...

Recipe for my page ~
Paper: Basic Black, Creative Memories (red and yellow)
Accessories: Boho Blossoms Punch, Scallop Punch, Nestabilities Circle Dies

I'll add the journaling in the white circle after I finish posting. I do think personal handwriting in a scrapbook is important.

Hope you're enjoying your Saturday!

I just LOVE this set!

For Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge, I thought I'd play with my new Papertrey Ink Garden of Life set some more....I just L-O-V-E it!! It's so versatile. I'm new to PTI products, but I'm totally hooked! Not only are the stamps awesome, but the new CS colors are gorgeous!

I cut a piece of 8" x 8" White Papertrey CS and folded it in half to get the 4" x 8" measurement. It fits in a standard #10 envelope. I know I've said this before, but I have to reiterate how much I love using PTI's white CS as a base for cards. It's so much heavier than the other whites I've tried. It just seems to "stand" better. It's sturdier.

Anyway, I used my corner rounder to make the scallops on the black piece of CS, glued down the summer sunrise and lemon tart layers, and then punched it with my horizontal slot punch so the ribbon could run through the opening. The flowers were stamped in lemon tart and then I edged them in summer sunrise using the rock-n-roll technique.

I'm really on a kick lately with these cards that have a lot of "white space" showing too.

Recipe ~
Stamps: Papertrey Ink Garden of Life
Paper: Papertrey White, Basic Black, Summer Sunrise, Lemon Tart
Ink: Versafine Black Onyx, Lemon Tart, Summer Sunrise
Accessories: Summer Sunrise Satin Ribbon, Corner Rounder, Horizontal Slot Punch
Technique: Rock-n-Roll
Card Size: 4" x 8" Long Card

What do you think?

Circle Challenge

Today's Limited Supplies Challenge on SCS was to use circles....any stamps, any color, any embellishments, but only circle tools such as circle die cuts, circle punches, and circle cutting systems. I also incorporated Tuesday's Color Challenge (basic black, purely pomegranate, and soft sky) since I didn't get a chance to play with the combo earlier in the week.

Recipe ~
Stamps: Hero Arts Cupcake
Paper: Purely Pomegranate, Soft Sky, Basic Black, White
Ink: Versafine Black Onyx, Soft Sky, Purely Pomegranate, Copics (warm grey #1 and #3)
Accessories: Purely Pomegranate Double-Stitched Ribbon, Black Brads, Nestabilities Circle Dies, 3-D Glue Dots
Technique: Watercoloring
Card Size: 5" x 5" Square

I think the next challenge I want to tackle is the color combo on Kristina Werner's blog (soft sky, close to cocoa, chocolate chip, and very vanilla). So pretty!!

Christmas for Heroes and a RAK

I know, I know....did I say Christmas?....in May? Believe me, I'm totally in Spring and Summer card making mode, just like you. However, Cards for Heroes is in need of Christmas Cards for the troops. So, I got myself motivated and made 20 cards today!

I was a little stumped on what to do....but then I found this GREAT 10-minute card that Sharon (notimetostamp) posted on her blog yesterday....and it happens to be a Christmas card!! She's such a great inspiration. All her cards are so clean and simple, yet they have such great impact. I thought her layout would be perfect for mass production.

The card on the left is Sharon's layout. I just tied my ribbon differently, used a different stamp, and made my main panel a square instead of a rectangle. I got the cute High Hopes Meowy Christmas images from my friend Lori on the PIF thread (thanks Lori!). Oh, and speaking of the PIF thread, my friend Alison (Hi Alison!) is running a blog candy contest for people who send in Christmas Cards for Heroes. Here's the link to her blog candy contest if you want to check it out.

Recipe for the Cat Card ~
Stamps: High Hopes Meowy Christmas, SU Short and Sweet
Paper: Textured Red from Mike's, Basic Black, White
Ink: Versamark Black, Warm Grey #1 Copic
Accessories: Black Velvet Ribbon, Pop Dots, Prisma Pencils
Technique: Baby Oil (same as Gamsol Magic Technique)

Recipe for the Tree Card ~
Stamps: SU Lovely as a Tree, SU Short and Sweet
Paper: White, Textured Red from Mike's, Basic Black, White, SU Wintergreen DP
Ink: Versamark Black
Accessories: Red Velvet Ribbon, Red and Blue Stickles (on tree), Frosted Lace Stickles (on ground), 1-1/4" Circle Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch

Finally....guess who I got a RAK from today??....Stephanie (SmilynStef)!! You know...she's the one who runs the Inspiration Challenges on SCS on Saturdays! How cool is that?! Check out her card. I love the two rows of ribbon and her cuttlebuggin'. It's a card to say hello and to have a marvelous week. Thanks Stephanie!! You made my day today. I hope you have a marvelous week too.

That's it for today. Hope you had a really great Thursday. One day closer to the weekend!

My daughter, the young woman

Here's a 12x12 scrapbook page I made of my oldest daughter. She graduated last June, and this picture was taken just a couple weeks after graduation when we were camping. I love this picture of her, and how she looks so deep in thought.

I found the poem on http://www.scrapbook.com/ and thought it was so fitting for this picture! I copied it into Word and printed it out on White CS. If you click on the picture, you'll get a close-up to read the poem.

Recipe ~
Stamps: SU Short & Sweet
Paper: SU Afternoon Tea DP, Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky, Wild Wasabi, Groovy Guava
Ink: Basic Brown
Accessories: Groovy Guava Double Stitched Ribbon, Scallop Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch

Hope you have an awesome Wednesday. Thanks for stopping by my blog!

a RAK...and The Butterfly Story

I received this really pretty RAK today from my friend Janette (blessingsx3).
Janette, I absolutely love this!! I love the cool fold/closure, and the large Butterfly from Garden Whimsy is one of my favs.....especially done up with sparkle!

The first pic is the card all closed up, showing what it looks like from the front.

The second pic is what is looks like open. I'm sorry that I couldn't take a picture outside today. It was just too windy and the card kept falling over. I hope the picture captures what it looks like IRL, and you can really get an idea of how the closure works. The blue strip threads through the word window punch. Totally cool!

Whenever I see a butterfly....even on a card...I think of my "Nan" (grandmother) ...and it makes me smile.

Would you like to hear "The Butterfly Story"?? Okay, good...because I feel like sharing it. {smile} It's going to start off sad, but it has a really cool ending. So bear with me...

My Nan was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997. Unfortunately, it rapidly spread and she passed away not even a full year later in June of 1998....exactly one week before DH and I got married. In the state she was in, she wouldn't have been able to attend the wedding because she wouldn't have been able to leave the house. The wedding went on as planned. We had a really pretty outdoor ceremony in front of a gazebo....beautiful weather and all. In the receiving line, our friends Bill and Jeanne came up to congratulate us. They laughed and said that "what they saw" of our ceremony was beautiful, but they missed most of it because they were engrossed in watching a butterfly. They explained that just a few minutes into the ceremony, a butterfly flew up and landed on the man's shoulder who was sitting in front of them, and STAYED on the man's shoulder for the entire ceremony. They were totally engrossed in the fact that this butterfly just sat there until the ceremony ended, and then it flew away. We thought that was pretty cool. They moved on through the receiving line. The pastor's wife happened to be behind them and heard what was said about the butterfly. She said to us, "I heard the story your friends told you. That was your grandmother coming to see your wedding." {getting choked up}

The story gets even better though because in wedding video, you can see a butterfly flying around the gazebo in the beginning. I like to think it's that same butterfly.....and every time I see a butterfly now, it makes me think of my Nan.

So that's my butterfly story. If you've made it this far, thanks for listening.....and maybe next time you see a butterfly, it might just make you smile.

Welcome for the Twins

My neighbor just had TWIN BOYS this past Thursday, so I made this card for her.

The image is called Squeaky Clean by Whipper Snapper Designs. I stamped the image once, then masked it and stamped again to get the two side-by-side tubs and babies. I added their names on the tubs too. The blue layer behind the main image is up on dimensionals.

There aren't a lot of bells and whistles on this one...just a simple card to welcome the boys, Henry and Wyatt.

Recipe ~
Stamps: Whipper Snapper Squeaky Clean, SU Warm Words
Paper: Papertrey White, Bashful Blue, Lemon Tart
Ink: Versafine Black Onyx, Bashful Blue, Barely Banana, Apricot Appeal, Blush Blossom, Pretty in Pink, Copics (warm grey #1, #3, and #7)
Accessories: Bashful Blue Striped Ribbon, Photo Corner Punch, Dimensionals
Technique: Watercoloring

We have a lot on the agenda today, so that's it....short and to the point today. Thanks for stopping by!

Arte Y Pico Award

My very dear and incredibly talented blogger friend, Silke (sparklegirl on SCS), surprised me with this really cool award. Thank you, Silke! You're one of my very favorite stampers, so this is a true honor to receive it from you.

If you haven't checked out Silke's blog or gallery, please take a moment to stop by and check out her stuff. She's amazing....and makes everything look easy!

Now, the rules of the award are:

1. Pick 5 blogs that I consider deserve the award for creativity, design, interesting material, and also contribute to the blogging community, no matter what language. 2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his/her blog to be visited by everyone. 3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her/him the award itself. 4. The Award winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of “Arte Y Pico” blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award. 5. To show these rules.

It's REALLY hard to pick only 5 blogs!!! I could truly list everyone from the links in my sidebar, as they're all inspiring and I enjoy visiting their blogs every day....but here are my picks:

Jodi (kharmagirl) - Stamping a Latte
Laura (scrapnextras) - Scrapnextras
Jen (J-Bo) - Inkypinky Inks
Sandy (swap4fun) - {got stamps?}
Jen (Jen70) - Stamping Therapy
Shannon (E3stamper) - Hoppy Creations

...oh, was that more than five??...look away! look away! hehe

**I know some of you have already received this, so no worries about mentioning it unless you want.**

A sketch, today's FS, and a thank you

Happy Sunday, everyone! I have to show you something my oldest daughter (aka "Peanut") drew up for me last night. She made me a picture of my screen name on SCS. How cool is that?? A bee....lounging on a peanut! I love the little smile on his face....kinda ornery, LOL!

Thank you, "Peanut." I LOVE it and I know you worked really hard on it. Your drawing talent amazes me! Mwah!

Did you know my SCS screen name is a combination of the nicknames I have for my daughters? Peanut is what I used to call my oldest daughter when she was little. She's 19 now so I haven't called her that in a while, but she'll always be my Peanut...no matter how old she gets. Bee is what I call my youngest daughter because her very first Halloween costume was a bumble bee. She's been my "Bee" ever since....maybe it's because she's always "buzzing" around too (3 years old).

Today's featured stamper on SCS is my friend Michelle (sf9erfan)! How totally exciting! Congratulations, Michelle!!!!!!!! Here's her card that I chose to CASE. I kept the same layout, floral theme, and ran my ribbon across the top of the card. I just used different stamps, satin ribbon, changed the colors, and added some crystals.

Recipe ~
Stamps: Papertrey Ink Garden of Life and Paper Tray, SU Hugs & Wishes
Paper: Papertrey White, PTI Berry Sorbet
Ink: Berry Sorbet, Old Olive
Accessories: Berry Sorbet Satin Ribbon, Swarovski Crystals

I also wanted to give a quick shout out to my friend, Silke (sparklegirl), who gave me an award on her blog yesterday!! That was an incredibly nice surprise. Thank you, Silke! I'll be sure to post a picture of the award in a few days or so. I have to put some thought into who I want to pass the award onto.

Thanks for stopping by my blog!!