OCC Emboss Resist Challenge

Today's OCC challenge is to make a card/project with the Emboss Resist Technique. I know, a technique challenge, EEK! Technique challenges scare me. However, I did it and so can you! {smile}



Here are links to all the projects from the OCC girls: Dawn, Lynda, Jackie, Silke, Kim, Laurie, Julee, Cindy, Amy, and Jennifer.

I stamped the Impression Obsession Friendship sentiment in Versamark onto Neenah 80 lb White CS and then heat embossed it with JudiKins Detail Gold EP. After it set and cooled, then I cut out the sentiment with my new Labels One Nestabilities, left the die in place, and sponged both Creamy Caramel and Close to Cocoa ink all over the panel. Both of the layered Labels One panels are up on Dimensionals, so are the prima flowers. Both flowers started out looking like the white one on the left. I painted the one on the right with Pink Shimmerz. You can get all the linked supplies at Stamper's Dream.

The layout is last week's SFYTT from Jen Del Muro.



SUPPLY LIST ~
Stamps: Impression Obsession Sarah Phelps CL220
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Neenah 80lb White, Basic Grey Bittersweet DP
Ink: Versamark, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa
Accessories: Bittersweet DP, Bittersweet Glazed Brads, Dimensionals, Primas, Pink Satin Ribbon (from Michael's), Labels One Nestabilities, JudiKins Detail Gold EP, SU Scallop Edge Punch, Ornare Piercing Template, Pink Shimmerz
Technique: Emboss Resist, Dry Embossing, Heat Embossing

That's it for today. Have a great weekend!

It's *done* enough to show you...

Okay, there are still some odds and ends that need to be done....like moving my cork board to where the perpetual calendar is hanging, adding the handles to the cabinets, etc., but it's done enough and I'm moved in enough that I can show you my newwwwwww stamping spot!

We got one heck of a deal on the cabinets, drawer and countertop at a discount builder's supply store in Reading, PA. It's called Heeby's.....definitely worth the trip if you're here in PA!

I know some of you have full stamp rooms (that I absolutely drool over), but my stamping area is on one side of my office. One side is set up with my printer, desktop computer, transcription equipment, etc.....BUT THIS is the FUN side of my room now! It used to be a junky wall with full sized file cabinets, a paper shredder, huge trash can, etc.

Here's a picture of the entire wall. My husband even installed lighting under the cabinets for me, moved the outlets up above the countertop, and put some extra ones inside the cabinets.

I used to store all my stamping stuff in bins and ziplock bags in my closet and every time I'd want to use something, I'd pull it out to use it and then put it all back. Well, one of the most exciting parts of this new space (for me) is that I can keep my Cuttlebug OUT on the counter all the time and I won't have to pack it back into a storage bin all the time. Soooo, one of the first things I did once my husband was finished putting all the cabinets together was set up the magnetic strips inside the cabinet doors for my Spellbinders dies like I saw on Laurie Schmidlin's blog. You can see her post HERE. Here's a picture of the inside of MY "Nestie cabinet," which is the cabinet all the way on the right above my Cuttlebug and ink pad storage (oh, and the ink pad storage is from Organize More).



Everything is pretty spread out in there right now. Like my husband says, "there's still lots of shovin' room!" to pack more stuff in there. {smile} Most of the containers are "Snapware" containers from Target.

Here's a picture of how I store my 8.5 x 11 CS. Each color is in a clear string envelope (I got mine at Staples) with a label showing the color name and color family. I might eventually set up hanging files and store them in a file cabinet like Nancy Riley posted on her blog, which you can see HERE....but in the meantime, this is what works for me. With the labels in the upper left corner like that, I can flip through and find the color I'm looking for.



Here are the Sterilite containers where my 12x12 paper is stored. They're also from Target.



Here's the cabinet on the left with a bunch of stamps...I need to reorganize it all somehow, but that'll happen later. The middle cabinet (not pictured) holds my SU sets.



So, that's my stampin' spot. If you have any questions, let me know.

What's a cowberry muffin??

Hi all! Lookie here...my first Magnolia card!



My sweet, sweet friend Terri sent me a bunch of these Magnolia images to try out. I have to admit I wasn't a big Magnolia fan all along...I didn't think they were *my thing* at first. Well, after seeing all the great cards Terri has made with them (she rocks them every time) and now that I've colored up a bunch, I'm converted!! They're totally fun to color...I especially like this one with the cupcake. Well, actually the stamp is called Tilda with Cowberry Muffin....what exactly is a cowberry muffin?? LOL!

Thanks for all the images, Terri! I have five more images all colored and ready to go. I got on a roll one night while watching TV and couldn't stop. Hehe!

The layout is today's SCS Sketch Challenge (SC211). The punched hearts and the scallop rectangle are all up on Dimensionals. Diamond Stickles were added to Tilda's wings.



SUPPLY LIST ~
Stamps: Magnolia Tilda with Cowberry Muffin, Taylored Expressions SASI Love is Sweet (sentiment)
Paper: Taylored Expressions Choice White CS (80lb), Brocade Blue, Real Red, Misc Blue Gingham DP (probably from Michael's or AC Moore)
Ink: Black
Copics: R46, RV21, RV23, B21, B24, E00, E02, E25, E33, E35, W1, W3, G24
Accessories: Red Organdy Ribbon, Diamond Stickles, Dimensionals, Creative Memories Heart Punches, Hero Arts Summer Mixed Gems, Rectangle and Scallop Rectangle Nestabilities

Have an awesome day!

Back from Orlando!

Hi everyone, I'm back from Orlando!! I had SUCH a great time! The weather was so nice, sunny and warm. It was in the mid to upper 70's pretty much every day!!

As you know, I spent the weekend with my friend Silke. She and I have been emailing each other practically every day for almost a year and we finally got to meet! What a sparkly personality (her screen name really fits her)! Love ya, Silke!! I had a BLAST with you this weekend!

What I hadn't mentioned in my other posts, because I didn't want to jinx anything, is that we were also meeting up with some other stamping friends...Deb Felts (incredibly sweet!) and her upline Kathy (oh my word, what a hoot!..one of those people with a contagious laugh), Silke's friend Penny (totally fun to hang out, a real sweetheart), AND....I finally got to meet one of my fellow dirty girls, someone I totally admire, Jerri Jimenez! As soon as I knew Silke and I were registered for the seminar, I emailed Jerri to see if she'd be free to meet up with us for dinner one night. I was SOOOOO excited when she said yes! She's every bit the sweetheart I knew she'd be! Love ya, Jerri!!

Here's a picture of me and Silke at Regionals:


Here's a picture of all of us at our table. Standing from left to right in the back is me, Silke, and Penny. Sitting from left to right in the front are Kathy and Deb.


The next picture is when we went out to dinner on Saturday night to Don Pablos to meet up with Jerri. Standing from left to right in the back are Deb, Penny and Kathy. Sitting in the front from left to right is Jerri, Silke and me.


Guess who else I saw at Regionals??....my friend and upline Carol (from PA!) and my up-upline Tina. I had no idea they were going to be there, it was a total surprise!! I was at the registration table getting my project packet and when I looked to my left, there they were registering at the same time!! Hehe! Here's a picture of all of us. Carol is on the left and Tina is on the right.


Here's a picture of Penny in a dreamy handbag and shoe store. I love this picture of her!

On Sunday, Silke and I went to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. No, I didn't get her on a roller coaster, BUT, we did go on the Jurassic Park water ride and it had a HUGE drop. We got totally soaked! It was funny how we watched other people come down that big hill and they didn't seem "that" wet....and yet when we went down, we got SOAKED! LOL! Anyway, here's a cute picture of Silke in front of the Spiderman ride.


...and here's a silly picture of me with Scooby and Shaggy. I couldn't help it, I had to get a picture with them...I love Scooby Doo!


So, now I'm back in PA and I've got a ton of work to do...back to reality, huh?

Have a great day and thanks for visiting!!

TSG Embossed Topiary

Here's a card I made using a couple of my sets from There She Goes. The pretty topiary image (that I LOVE!) is from the Welcome Home set and the sentiment is from Butterfly Happiness.



The cool layout was created by Amy Rysavy (atsdtc20) and you can see the sketch HERE. The topiary panel is up on Dimensionals. I left the Curved Mega Rectangle Die in place and sponged Pale Plum all around the image to get the border.

SUPPLY LIST ~
Stamps: TSG Welcome Home, TSG Butterfly Happiness (sentiment)
Paper: Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Mellow Moss, White
Ink: Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Memento Tuxedo Black
Copics: G99 G21, YG67, E33, E35, E47, E04, R59, 0 Colorless
Accessories: Purple/Green Ribbon, Mega Curved Rectangle Nestabilities, A2 Leafy Branch Embossing Folder, Just My Type Embossing Border, Pearlized Mini Brads

That's it for today. Thanks for stopping by!

Rose's Garden

Hi everyone and happy Sunday! As promised, I want to try and post Sarah Kay cards on Sundays. It may not *always* happen, but I'd like to try it for a while anyway.



The adorable Sarah Kay Rose's Garden, Impression Obsession Mini Messages sentiment, and Basic Gray Urban Prairie DP are available at Stamper's Dream. Michelle has a great selection of Sarah Kay stamps from Collection I and Collection II. She also now carries those awesome Rachelle Ann Miller stamps. Check it all out HERE. Have you ever shopped at Stamper's Dream?...Michelle has incredibly fast shipping too. Love that!

The layout for my card is from last week's Magnolia vs. Stampavie Challenge, which you can see HERE. I'm so excited that I found these challenges because they post new ones every Sunday, so that totally fits in with my Sarah Kay Sunday plan. {smile}

The card is 5.25" square. The large white panel on the base of the card, the Ballet Blue mat behind the Rose's Garden imge, each prima flower, and the sentiment oval are all up on Dimensionals. The two white primas were sponged with Regal Rose ink.

I'm sorry I don't have a picture of the inside of the card to share. See the little white thingies at the bottom of the card??.....it started to SLEET when I went to take my pics of this card. Yikes! You should have seen how fast I snapped the picture, picked up the card, and raced back inside, LOL! Anyway, the inside of the card has a Regal Rose piece of CS matted against white, and I did some piercing all around the edges with the same Ornare Piercing Template that's on the card front.

SUPPLY LIST ~
Stamps: Sarah Kay Rose's Garden, Impression Obsession Mini Messages
Paper: Ballet Blue, White, Regal Rose, Urban Prairie DP
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics (B21, B24, RV21, RV23, R35, G21, G24, E00, E02, E08, E33, E35, W1, W3), Regal Rose
Accessories: Ticket Corner Punch, Dimensionals, Coral Prima, Primas and Rhinetone Brads from SU Pretties Kit, Oval Nestabilities, Ornare Piercing Template, White and Pink Ribbon from Michael's
Card Size: 5.25" Square

Have a GREAT day!! ....wonder if I can get Silke on a roller coaster today?? Hmmm??

OCC Color Challenge

Hi everyone, hope you're enjoying the weekend so far! I myself am with Silke at the Orlando SU Regionals...this post was prescheduled so I hope it comes up okay. If you're at the Regionals or you're heading down there today, be sure to look for us and say hi, okay?? {smile}






















Today's OCC challenge from Jennifer is to create a card using two shades of blue. Check it out on the OCC blog! For more detailed info on everyone's beautiful cards, here are links to their blogs: Dawn, Lynda, Jackie, Silke, Kim, Laurie, Julee, Cindy, Amy, Jennifer, and our special guest this week is Julia Aston!!!

My card is a 5.25" square card, and the two shades of blue that I used are Bashful Blue and Ballet Blue. This cute mailbox with the cupcakes is from the new Special Delivery set from There She Goes. I stamped the cupcakes onto Ballet Blue and Bashful Blue CS, cut out the ones on the Ballet Blue CS, glued them down with adhesive, cut out the cupcake tops from the Bashful Blue CS, and popped the tops up on Dimensionals. The sentiment circles are also on Dimensionals. The layout is another awesome sketch from Amy Rysavy (Sketch AMYRS21).

SUPPLY LIST ~
Stamps: There She Goes Special Delivery
Paper: Neenah Natural White, Canson Watercolor Paper, Ballet Blue, Bashful Blue, Basic Black
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Ballet Blue, Bashful Blue, Basic Black, Certainly Celery, Real Red
Accessories: Ballet Blue Ribbon and Brads, SU Scallop Edge Punch, Dimensionals, Ornare Piercing Template, Circle and Scallop Circle Nestabilities
Technique: Watercoloring
Card Size: 5.25" Square

Okay, now go have FUN stamping...like I'll be doing! Weee!!

More Penny Black Chickens

Does this card look a little familiar?? Yeah, it's the same layout as the card I posted yesterday...Tosh's fun Stamper's Dream sketch!



For this card, I just used different colors and a different Penny Black stamp....another one that I bought from Michelle months ago and never inked it up. I can't believe it took me so long to make a card with it. I love it!



The card is 5.25" square. Just like yesterday's card, I stamped the image three times so I could layer the chickens, balloon and flowers twice, and the envelope a third time (paper tole technique).

Check out the inside of the card, LOL!...I LOVE this sentiment from Anna Wight's Crazy for Chickens set...cracks me up every time. I made the card for my cousin Kim who celebrated a birthday this week. She emailed me to say she was crackin' up the whole ride home from the post office!! hehe! I knew she'd get a kick out of it. The girl loves to laugh!



SUPPLY LIST ~
Stamps: Penny Black Coop Party, Whipper Snapper Crazy for Chickens cling set (by Anna Wight)
Paper: Real Red, Real Red Designer Prints, Basic Black, PTI Summer Sunrise, Canson Watercolor Paper
Ink: Real Red, Marigold Morning, Wild Wasabi, Basic Brown, Soft Sky, Versafine Onyx Black
Accessories: May Arts Checkered Ribbon, Dimensionals, Square Nestabilities, Oval and Scallop Oval Nestabilities
Card Size: 5.25" Square
Technique: Paper Tole, Watercoloring with Reinkers

Hope you have a GREAT weekend!! I know I'm looking forward to mine...because right now as of the time of this post I should be in the air and on my way to Orlando for the Stampin' Up Regionals with Silke!! Yay!!! I decided to leave my laptop at home (GASP!) so I'll be completely offline this weekend....BUT I have posts scheduled for each day and I'll definitely have pictures to share when I get back!

'Til then,

Stamper's Dream Monthly Challenge

Hi everyone! It's time for the Stamper's Dream monthly challenge....and this month Tosh has a FUN sketch for us. Thanks, Tosh!

You're all welcome to play along! Just make a card following the sketch and using stamps from Stamper's Dream, and then post a link to your project on Michelle's blog....she's going to have a PRIZE for one lucky participant! If you upload to SCS, use SDDC4 in the keywords.



My card is a 5.25" square card. The Penny Black Side by Side stamp is from Stamper's Dream and I stamped it three times so I could layer the chickens and frog (paper tole technique). There's a close-up picture below so you can see the dimension on the card. I got the black and white checkered May Arts Ribbon from Stamper's Dream too.



SUPPLY LIST ~
Stamps: Penny Black Side by Side
Paper: Certainly Celery, Certainly Celery Designer Prints, Basic Black, Canson Watercolor Paper, PTI Summer Sunrise
Ink: Marigold Morning, Wild Wasabi, Soft Sky, Riding Hood Red, Basic Brown, Versafine Onyx Black
Accessories: Black/White May Arts Ribbon, Square Nestabilities, Oval and Scallop Oval Nestabilities, Dimensionals
Technique: Paper Tole, Watercoloring with Reinkers
Card Size: 5.25" Square

Here's the sketch from Tosh:


Here's what you can win in Michelle's drawing!



Don't forget to check out what the rest of the Dream Team has come up with for the sketch. Here are links to their individual blogs: Michelle, Tosh, Carolyn, Charmaine, Cindy, Kim, and Laurie.

Have an awesome day and I'll see you tomorrow!

Teacher Valentine's Gifts

Hi everyone!

As soon as I saw these CUTE heart handle boxes at Taylored Expressions, I ordered a bunch of them so I could make Valentine's gifts for my 4-year-old to give out.


Here are two boxes I made up for her to give to her teachers using the new Love is Sweet and Year of Sweet Sentiments stamp sets that were just released. I left the tissue paper out of the one so you can see what the box looks like without the tissue paper. They're both going to be filled with Hershey's Kisses and the tissue paper....I thought Hershey's Kisses would go well with the kissy mark on the cuppie's cheek. Since I still have a bunch of these left (I ordered ten), I think I'll make some for her classmates too...I'll just change out the sentiment.

The Prism papers, DP, Ribbon, and Heart Brads are all from the Valentine Key Ingredients. The large red crystals are also available at Taylored Expressions.

If you haven't checked out the Favor Boxes section in Taylor's store yet, run on over there and take a look. She has all sorts of colors and shapes available. They're already cut, scored, and ready to go!

SUPPLY LIST ~
Stamps: SASI Love is Sweet, SASI Year of Sentiments
Paper: TE Classic Red Heart Handle Bags, Prism Blush Red Light, My Mind's Eye DP
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Copics: E33 Sand, E35 Chamois, R17 Lipstick Orange, E08 Brown, 0 Colorless Blender
Accessories: Ribbon, Heart Brad, ZVA Red Rhinestone, SU Word Window Punch, Ornare Piercing Template

See ya later!

Progress on the stamping space

Hi everyone!

Here's an updated picture with the drawers and countertop! DH ran some outlets up so they'd be above the countertop (for my heat gun and stuff) and he wants to add some lighting underneath the cabinets that'll shine down onto the workspace (he takes such good care of me!). He's also going to build a shelf under the smaller overhead cabinets for things that I need to grab fairly often but I want out of the way when working...like my paper cutter!

It's been a lot of work this past weekend...and my house was an absolute disaster, oye!...with reorganizing and moving things around, but I'm really excited. I'm also having a lot of fun checking out the Stamping Spaces gallery on SCS for ideas on how to organize all the stamps, paper, ink pads, etc. One thing that I reeeeeally can't wait to do is put some magnetic strips on the inside of the cabinet doors for my Nestabilities dies. I saw Laurie Schmidlin did this a while ago and I TOTALLY can't wait to do the same thing. Here's a link to HER POST (pure genius!!) if you want to check it out! Ohhh, to have everything at my fingertips is gonna be great!

We bought some handles for the cabinets so those need to be added, and I need to go shopping for a tall chair too. Weee!

Peek-A-Boo!

Hi everyone! I know last week I mentioned trying to post Sarah Kay cards on Sundays...and I really want to do that. I even found a weekly challenge blog specifically for the stamps, which you can see HERE. Anyway, this weekend I didn't get a chance to make a Sarah Kay card, but here's why...

We're converting half of my office into a permanent stamping space!! OMG, I'm so excited!! Right now all my stamping supplies are stored in my closet and every time I stamp I drag everything out and then put it all back when I'm done....kinda a pain. Well, now I'll have everything in my reach. Under those cabinets, I'm going to have an 8' long countertop with drawers underneath. Yay! I'll post more pics when it's done.

I do have a card to show you today....my first Rachelle Ann Miller card!!




















Thanks so much Michelle for sending Peek-A-Boo to me and for the cuuute heart stick pins too! You're the best!

The card measures 5.25" square and the layout is from last week's SCS Sketch 209. Waterfall stickles were added to the sparkles and butterfly trail on the main image, and opal liquid pearls were added to the heart on the sentiment to match the stick pin. The main image and punched hearts are up on dimensionals.

The stamps, ribbon, stickles, and liquid pearls are all available at Stamper's Dream.

SUPPLY LIST ~
Stamps: Rachelle Ann Miller Peek-A-Boo, Impression Obsession Mini Messages
Paper: Purely Pomegranate, River Rock, Apple Cider DP, White, Basic Black
Ink: River Rock, Purely Pomegranate, Groovy Guava, Wild Wasabi, Soft Sky, Black
Accessories: May Arts Checkered Ribbon, Waterfall Stickles, Opal Liquid Pearls, Rectangle and Scallop Rectangle Nestabilities, Creative Memories Heart Punches, Pearl Heart Stick Pin (Joann's), Dimensionals, Ornare Piercing Template
Technique: Watercoloring, Paper Piercing

Have a great day!

OCC Sketch Challenge

Hi everyone! It's time for another OCC challenge and today Jennifer has a sketch for us. You can check out the sketch and all the GREAT samples from the OCC girls on the OCC blog.


















For more detailed info on all the cards, here are links to everyone's individual blogs: Dawn, Lynda, Jackie, Silke, Kim, Laurie, Julee, Cindy, Amy, Jennifer, and our special guest this week is Shannon Erskine!

The main image is up on Dimensionals and so are the punched sentiment hearts. I added some self-adhesive pearls to the centers of the small pink flowers too.

SUPPLY LIST ~
Stamps: Inkadinkadoo Rose 90438-X, There She Goes Special Delivery (sentiment)
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, Canson Watercolor Paper, SU Bella Rose DP
Ink: Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss, Wild Wasabi, Versafine Onyx Black
Accessories: SU Riding Hood Red Ribbon, Kaiser Adhesive-Backed Pearls, Creative Memories Heart Punches, Dimensionals, Martha Stewart Border Punch
Technique: Watercoloring with Reinkers

Have an awesome day and I'll see ya tomorrow,

SASI Release Day!

Okay everyone... it's time to go shopping! All the new stamps, Valentine's Key Ingredients, Choice CS, and calendar products are NOW available for purchase at Taylored Expressions!!























I used the Love is Sweet set again for today's card. The Prism Papers, DP, and Ribbon are all in the new Valentine's Key Ingredients....and I just have to say again how much I LOVE the Valentine's Key Ingredients! The colors are awesome!

Have any of you tried Taylor's storage binders for the SASI stamps? If you haven't tried them, they're definitely worth it! You can store up to four SASI stamp sets in them, they sit neatly on the shelf, and there's even an index printed on the front of the box so you can write down which sets are stored inside. I love mine!

RECIPE ~
Stamps: Love is Sweet
Paper: Intense Teal Prism CS, Vibrant Teal Prism CS, MME DP, Taylored Expressions Choice White CS
Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Memento Tuxedo Black, Ruby Red
Copics: BG49 Duck Blue, E33 Sand, E35 Chamois, R17 Lipstick, W7 Warm Gray, YG03 Yellow Green, YR15 Pumpkin Yellow
Accessories: Square and Scallop Square Nestabilities, Spellbinders Ribbon Tags, TE Polka Dot Ribbon, Dimensionals, Hemp Twine, Paper Piercing Tool & Mat Pack
Technique: Faux Stitching
Card Size: 4.75" Square

Don't forget to check out the eye candy from the rest of the Baker's Dozen: Taylor, Jami, Jen, Laurie, Carol, Monika, Steph, Terri, Donna, Ana, Sharon, and Charmaine.