If You Like Pina Coladas...

or margaritas, today's card is for you! I have always loved that pina colada song and it goes without saying that margaritas are a lot of fun. The minute I saw the patterned paper in today's card, I knew exactly what I was going to make with it. Then, when the new Chillax set debuted at Taylored Expressions, I decided to CASE a catchy little sentiment from it for my card idea. So without further ado...

and the inside of the card...

This card was one of my entries for the Anni-Verve-Sary Sketch Challenge (AVS203). It was a great sketch for a card of this type which had a rather small focal point image and a short sentiment for the front of the card. I loved how my materials came together too. When I went to the scrapbook store, I knew I had the DP at home waiting but didn't know what I would put it together with for a card. Turns out, the citron cardstock was in the Archiver's bargain bin as was the beige linen print that I used behind the lime DP. The ribbon was from the dollar bin at Target. Talk about a jackpot! I never get that lucky with clearance and bargain bin scramp supplies. By the time I pick through the sale bins, it is usually down to mint green cardstock and flocked puce ribbon. Go figure.

Well, I hope you have enjoyed this card. The colors make it one of my recent favorites. I can't wait to send it to someone special. I have several extra which I plan to list in my Etsy shop too so if you would like to own it for yourself, drop by Etsy for a visit. If you aren't familiar with Etsy, drop me a line here and I would be glad to assist you. Have a great rest of the day!


Papers- Bo Bunny Homespun Maple Sugar; DCWV CS (coral red); Paper Co citron CS; Bazzill Vanilla CS; Citronella Strawberry Limeade by K&Co. Stamps- ANM/Stampcraft Beverages. Inks- Graphite Brilliance; Tools- Fiskars Apron Lace edge punch; EK 1 3/4 in circ punch; Mary 2in scalloped circle punch. Pens- Copic Y13, YG17, B000, YG03. Font- CAC One Seventy 18pt.

Soaring By...

Updated to add my supply list below...

Hi folks! I am in a hurry today but I wanted to share a card really quick on my way out. I am working very quickly to finish my card entries for the Verve sketch challenges in time for the release party tonight. Rush rush! So, I will post today's card and pop back in later with my supplies. I will go ahead and mention that my sketch came from Jen Del Muro's SFYTT on 7-24-09. I love her ideas! If you have any specific questions, post a comment for me. Make sure to stop back by over the next few days because I have 5 new challenge cards that i will be posting as well as several new cards that I finished during my blogging break. Have a great day!

Here is the inside of the card...

I hope you like it. See ya back here later for my materials list. Enjoy your Friday! :)
Papers- Little Yellow Bicycle Round About; SU Rose Red Pattern Pack; DCWV CS. Stamps- Verve Up, Up, and Away. Inks- Memento Tuxedo Black. Tools- Sizzix small cloud die; Coluzzle oval dies. Pens- Zig (denim, pure black, white chalk writer) Copic (R37, W5, W1, E25) Marvy blender pen. Font- Andy 20pt (inside 28pt). Sketch- SFYTT on 7-24-09.

Little Mice and Big Hearts

Hello, hello! I'm back again with something new. I went bright and bold for today. I don't often use black on cards unless it is for something like Halloween but this time, I used black, white, and pink. I really like how it turned out. So take a look and then I will tell you more...


I thought this one would make a great little thank you note, a Valentine card, or even just a sweet hello to someone special. My sketch came from one of Jen Del Muro's SFYTT. When I saw it on her blog, I thought it would be great done with several coordinates. I filed the idea away for a rainy day. Then, I got a "wild" idea (for me anyway) to pair up a few papers that don't technically coordinate just as sort of a challenge to myself. Sometimes, I guess I just get a little bored with all the coordinate collections even though I choose them often and love how matching papers look together.

So, I have established that it is a little out of my comfort zone because of colors and mix& match papers. That being said, I am thrilled with how this card turned out! I tried a little paper piecing on the mouse's heart which was fun. I also like how the edge border looks as part of the card. I may not ever get tired of this Apron Lace Edge Punch by Fiskars. I turn to it often despite the bin full of edge punches in my scramp room. It just adds so much to any sketch. It really is a fun punch!

I better get going for today. This week is just flying by for me. My kids are on their 4th day of school already! Stay tuned because I am diligently working on a few of the 5 sketch challenges that are posted on SCS in honor of the big Verve Stamps release this week. I would LOVE to win a few goodies from the new release items. I simply adore the Verve stamps I own already. They are fantastic! I love the clean lines, crisp images, and great spaces to color. Wish me luck! I am going to need it because I bet the compettition is pretty steep.

Papers- Paper Studio Pink w/ White Swirls; MM Black Small Dot; Black CS by DCWV; MM Black Gingham. Stamps- SU Happy Heart Day. Inks- Memento Tuxedo Black. Tools- Marvy blue 2in circle punch; SU 1 3/4in circle punch; Fiskars Apron Lace edge punch; EK sm 6 petal flower punch. Embellishments- Craft Essentials ribbon; Favorite Findings mini buttons. Pens- Copic N3, B91, RV10, 100. Sketch- Jen del Muro SFYTT 7-18-09.

Long Time, No See!

I'm back! I hope I haven't lost all of my 2.76 loyal readers! I took a much needed break and I am all the better for it. As I mentioned, my kids were getting ready for another school year, which is code for mom had to shop til she dropped and Visa laughed at her. The kids are shopped and dressed and orientated and now back in school on their 3rd day today. God bless those poor teachers! I would think the noise alone after a nice, quiet summer would be enough to drive them to drink. So, now that the rug rats are gone all day again, I have more Mommy time, which for me, means playing with paper every second of the day that I can get away with it. How about a new card?

I made lots of new things while I worked during the day for my kids but stayed up all night for me time. Today's card is one of my favs out of my latest work. It went in a slightly different direction for me than my typical material choices. The 2nd photo down is of the inside sentiment on this card. Check it out...


I have had this quote written in my idea book for years and I finally got the chance to incorporate it into a card. The sketch I used is courtesy of Cindy Lawrence/ DTGD. I loved the arrangement of her card for Dare to Get Dirty on SCS so I knew as soon as I saw it that I was copying it soon. I hope I did her idea justice!

My paper choice is another "blast from the past" since it has been in my stash for a LONG time. I know it is a Creative Imaginations Samantha Walker collection but beyond that, I have no specific name for you. I tried stitching over embossing across the top of the navy panel and I love how it turned out. I will certainly be trying that again. As always, if you have any questions about my technique or materials list, please ask. I love to chat!

I am going to cut it short on this first day back. I am off to a friends for a day of stamping and lunch. I will be back tomorrow with another new creation so I hope you'll drop back by here soon and often. It's good to be back. Have a wonderful day!

Papers- creative imag Samantha Walker; SU Night of Navy CS; misc red CS from stash. Tools- Marvy circ punches; MS frond punch; EK 5 petal flower; SU eyelet edge punch; coluzzle circles; CB swiss dots emb folder. Embellishments- Favorite Findings mini natural buttons; ribbon roses (no pkg); MM cream, navy stitches. Font- Papyrus 14 & 22 pt. Sketch courtesy of Cindy Lawrence DTGD.

I SEA something new at All That Scraps!

I think it is pretty obvious that I am a push over for the digi images at All That Scraps. On release night this week, when they introduced the new mermaid set, I had it ordered and printed by the end of the night. I LOVE it! The mermaid has the cutest hair and I had so much fun coloring her. I think she is my favorite summer image so far. The fact that she pairs nicely with my Bubbles set from Our Craft Lounge is an added bonus. The folks at ATS also introduced a "page" of cute summery sentiments that work well with the mermaid set or even the previous sets with the beach kids. It is too bad that summer will end and I will have to put away all these cute summery things! Take a look at my little mermaid!

And the inside...


Isn't she darling? I made her a birthday mermaid this time around. She looks like my daughter so this may end up being a birthday card for my daughter's friends with summer birthdays. Since I mounted her on a somewhat busy background, I kept the rest of the card simple. I just can't make myself use a ton of embellishment when I use a stamped scene background for the focal point. It ends up looking cluttered to me. I miss all my doodads though so I think I feel a "fancy" card coming up soon. I have been falling back to stamped/colored only cards lately but I miss all my primas and flourishes and border punches. Time to pull an all night stamp session!

The sentiment on both the inside and outside of the card came from All That Scraps. I typed them in Word and trimmed them myself but the idea came from ATS so I want to make sure credit is given where due. Miss Mermaid herself is popped up on dimensional glue dots so she looks like she is suspended on tidal currents. She wasn't too hard to cut out but those curls were a little tedious. I chose colors that were a little out of my comfort zone. I wanted to use something different and I did! I don't know the last time I used magenta on anything. I think next time I use her, I might color her with red hair and blue fins.

Well, I am out of time. My little hooligans are begging for lunch. I swear I just made breakfast! Have a wonderful day!

Papers- misc CS by DCWV (from my stash). Stamps- OCL Bubbles; Sugarplums Mermaid Emma digi-image by ATS/CC Designs. Inks- Memento Tuxedo Black. Tools- EK (1 3/4, 1 1/2, 1 3/8 in) circle punches; SU scalloped circle punch. Pens- Copic W3, E00, E02, E31, E33, RV09, RV23, BG10, BG13, BG18, BG72, B000, BG05, Y26, Y28, YG17, YR65. Font- Parade in 20 pt & 24pt.

A SUN-sational Free Digi-Image!

The other day, I was surfing around blogdom and came across a card made with an adorable cat image. The author wrote about how great it was that it was new and FREE from Hambo stamps. In my excitement, I clicked on the link and immediately downloaded the fabulous image but when I was finished, I walked away and didn't bookmark the blog where I saw it used. Now, I can't find the blog! I wanted to link to that blog since her work was precious and I would have liked to add it to my list. Alas, I just have a card with the coolest cat ever instead. I couldn't wait to print it out and use it on a summery card!

Not only does my card feature this cute cat but it also uses the Top Note die by Stampin Up which I have been dying to use. I borrowed it from my vacationing pal of yesterday's blog post. I really need to buy my own but since the economy issues have trickled down into Casa de Scrappy, I haven't been able to place that order quite yet. Oh, but for pockets full of money to buy scrap stuff!

As you can tell, this kitty digi-image is perfect for coloring. The lines are crisp and clean and the areas lend themselves to great shading with my Copics. I thouht about leaving this card sans sentiment but in the end decided to include one inside the card. Take a look...

In case the picture is too blurry, it says, "You are a SUN-sational friend!" As I mentioned, the learning curve for Adobe Photoshop is a little steep so I am still perfecting my editing techniques. I'll get there I suppose!

Ever since I started using Copics, I find that I gravitate towards colored images as focal points with rather simple card designs to accent the stamped panels. I want to break away and even set out to do that on many occasions but then get right back to the same old card styles. Those Copics are the "debil" I tell ya! So, that being said, today's card needs little or no explanation regarding my technique so I will end my post with my supply list and Happy Hump Day Wishes! Thanks for stopping by!

Papers- ki Memories cozy dotted line; DCWV CS from stash. Stamps- free cool cat digi-image by Hambo stamps. Tools- SU Bigz top note die; 1 3/4in cicle punch by SU. Embellishments- MM hand dyed buttons; American Crafts ribbon. Pens- Copic (RV11, YG17, YG03, YG25, Y11, B04, YR09, B000, C1, 0, E31, E33, B01, BG02, B04); Sakura clear star pen; Zig (coffee, chili pepper).

Ahhhh, NEW STAMPS!!!!

I have a fantabulous friend and she just happens to be an SU demonstrator. So, this friend went on vacation so I could feed her cats and bunny. Not really...I think they wanted to go to Disney and I just happened to be available for pet feeding. So anywho...while I feed her cats and bunny, I typically get "paid" with an awesome priviledge of using her stamp stuff while she is gone. And wouldn't you know she had just taken delivery of a new SU hostess set called The More the Merrier. Oh my gosh! This is a great new set! It pains me that it is a Level 3 hostess set which means I will have to place a bajillion dollar order to earn it but oh, how I love it. I stamped many copies of each image on a variety of card stock colors and finishes so I would have a few stashed to play with over the next few months which brings us to today's card.

I decided that my favorite image is the snowmen. They are quite similar to the snowmen on an older, retired set but they are a little more refined this time around. Did I mention that they color like a dream? I decided that getting started on winter holiday cards had to be a good idea so I could justify making a card with snowmen in July. So, take a look...


Please pardon the "new look" resulting from my photo editing. We got a new computer and it uses Adobe. Can I just say the creator of Adobe needs to have a knot jerked in his/her giddy up? That program is the farthest thing from intuitive that I have EVER used. I am familiar with MS Picture It/Image Pro and know it backwards and forwards. I am less than happy that it is no longer made or supported and can't be loaded with Windows Vista. So, you'll just have to bear with me as I learn this horrible product since I have no choice if I want to continue my scramping endeavors.

I bet you didn't pop in to read about my computer issues so let me tell you about my card. Like I said before, the stamp image is from a new SU hostess set which also includes pumpkins, love birds, an acorn, a dotted border heart, cupcakes, and 4 adorable sentiments. I love it and I can promise that you will see more of it here. I'll list my supplies below and I don't think any of my technique is too hard to figure out so I will leave you with fond wishes for a lovely Tuesday and sincere thanks for reading my blog everyday. This is my 100th post! I can't believe that I have stuck with it and that I actually have people that read what I write on a regular basis. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Papers- misc CS by DCWV from stash; DP by Imagine That (from Walmart). Stamps- SU The More the Merrier. Inks- Memento Tuxedo Black. Tools- EK circle punches (1 3/8 & 1 1/2 in); Martha Stewart snowflake punch. Embellishments- Michael's ribbon (white 3/8 in grosgrain); Offray 1/4in aqua satin; The Beadery 5mm round lt turquoise stones. Pens- Zig (chocolate, pure orange); BIC (hot aqua, lime sherbet, oceanview) Copic (BV00, B000, C1, C7, B91, BG02, B23)

Havin A Blast!

It has been so nice this week to have a few minutes to myself while my children were at Vacation Bible School. I used my 3 hours every day to do something alone that is generally more difficult with kids around. As you can tell from my title, I have had a blast! This brings me to the card I have to show you today. I am coming in right under the wire with the Mojo Monday sketch from June 22nd. It was a cute one so I really wanted to play with it. Take a look!

This card also works for the challenge over at Our Creative Corner this week that asks us to create something with stars. Since the Fabulous 4th is almost here, I thought a little patriotism would be in order. I have been waiting to try the cute little ribbon technique I have seen everywhere so I used it here. I have always loved red, white, and blue on paper projects! The Doodlebug DP is a perfect pattern for a sketch like this that uses a half & half arrangement. I like how a stripe brings the eye down to the focal point of the card.

I will probably give one of these to each of my little firecrackers next week. I made a few extras to list in my shop too so if you need a card for your own little firecrackers ( and you don't make your own), check out my Etsy shop!

Have a great rest of the weekend. Stay cool!

Papers- Gina K Pure Luxury 80#; Doodlebug Stars & Stripes. Stamps- Stampendous Fire Crackers. Inks- Memento Tuxedo Black. Tools- CB Swiss Dots embossing folder; Nestie deckle rectangles (lg). Embellishments- Offray Metallic ribbon; Favorite Findings star buttons. Pens- Copic @29, B18; Sakura jelly roll silver, clear. Font- Designers 18pt.

Long Time, No See!

I took a few days off. My kids have VBS this week and I have used those precious hours to run errands and get a few things done. I got a little time yesterday to stamp though so I wanted to show you my efforts. The stamp I used has a little bit of a tale behind it. It almost ended up being a twin! My kids and I ran to Michael's to return a defective punch and while I was there, I took a quick run down the stamping aisle. I found a cute little stamp and even showed it to my daughter. I carried it around with plans to buy it but then put it back when I realized that I didn't have my coupon with me. I decided I would return with a coupon the next day, while they were at VBS. So, we were driving home and i started thinking that the stamp seemed familiar. When i got home, I came up to my room and looked in my "new" basket of goodies and there it was! I had bought the very same stamp weeks ago and forgot about it before I even inked it up! I know if I had used it, I would have been sure of owning it already but it was still uninked and waiting to be loved. So, I used it right then and made a few cards with the images. Take a look!

The next photo is the inside of the card.

I thought this kitty was just too darn cute and since I have a naughty kitty of my own, I was quite familiar with the guilty look. I know I have seen other stamps using the "Fluffles" cat by Stampendous but usually, they aren't my thing I guess because this is my first to own. It was really cute to color though!

The inside of the card just finishes the message begun on the front of the card. Ityped both sentiments on the computer and trimmed to fit my spaces. I love this technique! It is perfect for when you have a cute phrase to use but don't necessarlity own the stamp that says it. I also do this when the stamped message doesn't fit into my allotted space for whatever reason...font is too large, or I want it set up differently.

I'll add my supply list below. I forgot to mention that one of the newer Nestabilities die sets was used. I love all the new labels dies! This one is Labels Three. I love how this one looks so good with circles. They really make a nice focal point together. So, there ya go! I hope you like it. Have a wonderful day and try to stay cool. It is in the 90s here. My kids burned their feet on our trampoline yesterday. Yikes!

Papers- green CS by Remember When; brown CS by Bazzill; yellow CS from stash. Stamps- Stampendous Flower Fluffles. Inks- Memento Tuxedo Black. Tools- Nestie Labels 3 die; EK photo corner punch; Paper Studio 2 5/16 in circle punch; Marvy pink 2.5in circle punch; corner rounder; piercer. Embellishments- 1/4in coffee grosgrain ribbon; paper studio metallic button brads. Pens- Copic YG17, R59, E09, RV11, YR31, W1, W3, W5. Font- Poor Richard 18pt and 14pt.

For the FUN of it!

Last night, I found myself just "itching" to make a card like I used to...no popular sketches, no challenges, no pressure to use a new and exciting technique, no "I need so & so in my Etsy shop soon...just make a card because some paper struck my eye and I knew I could use the card in my personal life. Well, I have had some of the new Doodlebug papers on my desk for a few weeks and they have looked so inviting! I haven't used them for one reason or another. Either they didn't work with the sketch I needed to use or I needed something with a different theme for my shop inventory or whatever. I just decided to make a card using them with no regard to anyone or anything besides the fun of creating for myself and using materials that I like just because they are cute. New or old, muted or bright...didn't matter last night. So, this is what I got...

I know I use cupcakes a LOT but isn't everyone thse days? They are everywhere and each one is cuter than the last. The colors are so delicious, it is no wonder we all love to eat them, stamp them, scrap them, and color them...A LOT! Right? Well, no mystery why I chose a cupcake paper for my "comfort card" I guess. I absolutely LOVE the trend of cupcakes. I have always loved cupcakes! I was paper piecing them on pages long before there was a plethora of cupcake images to choose from. I know the card is about as simple as it can be. When I finished, my first thought was BORING. As cardmakers, we have all done work that was a lot more innovative and exciting. I decided that this card had it's purpose and it stood up to the call with pride. When someone, my friend or family member who is having a birthday, opens this little ditty, they won't look at it and say, "What? No new papers? No new edge punch border? What the heck sketch is this? I wanted something more exciting!" They probably don't make cards themselves and hopefully, they will look at it and think that I set out to make them something a little more special than a $0.99 Shoebox Greeting from Walmart. Which I did. I'm hoping at that point simple will cease to matter. ;-)

Supplies:

Papers- Doodlebug Cuppycakes & Sundae Stripe; DCWV pink, blue, yellow. Stamps- SU Crazy for Cupcakes. Inks- Graphite Brilliance. Tools- Marvy 1 3/8in scalloped circle punch; EK buckle punch; EK 1 1/4in circle punch. Embellishments- MM pastel yellow dyed buttons. Pens- Tombow 703; Copic (Y21, Y13, B14, E31). Font- Johanne's Hand 20pt bold.

Edited to add: I am away from my home so the photo of today's card was not taken in my regular "bright spot" with great light and also, I was unable to edit my photo in my normal program so it is a little dim and blurry. I apologize!

Coco-NUTS For You!

Hello! I am back from a short little break. You never know when life will get in the way. Having my kids home for the summer is keeping me busier than a one armed paper hanger! Where does a day go? Everyday, we get up, I feed them the first of 19 meals for the day, clean up the kitchen, tidy up the house, and PROMISE MYSELF that today is THE day I will get caught up around here and then poof! I blink and it is 5:30pm again...time to make dinner and tidy up the house again. I was supposed to have an afternoon to play in my scramp room. I was supposed to have put dinner in the crockpot before it got too late for it to finish cooking. I was supposed to have taken my kids to do something fun. Well, it just isn't happening that way lately! So I stay up half the night just for some peace and quiet and we start all over tomorrow. Enough whining though. I have card!

Today's card is a relatively simple one. I still have all sketches for the week on my desk, waiting for me patiently, but I haven't played with them yet. I stamped the monkey a while back and so it was very easy to pull a card together in a hurry. I think I will give one of these to each of my little monkey children. They will get a kick out of it and since they love to get my cards for themselves, it will be sure to bring a smile to their faces.

My materials for this card were very simple, as was my technique. I am ready to dig in and make a more complicated card. It seems that I have been doing simple, in a hurry cards for a while. I don't remember the last time I made a really complicated card design and worked on it for hours just for the pure joy of it. Stay tuned and maybe one will pop up this week. The sketch for Mojo Monday is a doozie and so are the June Verve "with a twist" sketches. Hmmm...:-)

Papers- Frances Meyer bulk (#1015 & #1014) print papers; misc brown CS from my stash. Stamps- Autumn Leaves Mindy's Zoo. Inks- Graphite Brilliance. Tools- EK ( 1 3/4 & 1 1/2in) circle punches. Embellishments- Martha Stewart glitter in rubellite; MM springtime button brads. Pens- Tombow 755; Copic (G82, G28, E31, E57, E79). Font- Andy 20pt.

A little something for Dad

Father's Day is almost here so I figured a card for all the dads out there was in order. I, like so many others, struggle with masculine cards. I find it very hard to find a balance between attractive and too "froo-froo." My very own hubby appreciates silly so a lot of the cards I make for him lean to the whimsical side but there is always a need for cards that guys in general will appreciate. Today's card is my attempt to make such a card.


My Watermill stamp from Clear Dollar Stamps came to mind for a nice masculine image so I used that one and paired it with a conservative plaid. I used a strip of leftover card stock instead of ribbon with my little buckle. The inside is blank for a handwritten greeting.

Since my Monday's are almost always crazy, I will leave you today. It is time for me to hurry scurry to get a few things done. I hope your week is off to a great start. Thanks for stopping by!

Papers- Gina K Pure Luxury; Deluxe Designs Max's Room Plaid Blue; Bazzill blue CS. Stamps- CDS Watermill. Inks- Memento Tuxedo Black. Tools- SU word window punch. Embellishments- MM nickel mini buckles. Pens- Copic (R27, R59, G21, G94, G99, E57, B000, B91, B93, B95, B97, W1, W3, N1, N3, N5) Font- Rockwell Condensed 18pt.

And baby makes three...

The new digi images for June over at All That Scraps are just too darn cute. Today, I used little Ginger and she is in the family way. Hehe! I love the old fashioned term! She comes as part of a set of images that are all "new babyish." There is a pram and a pin and a bundled baby and so on. They are all precious and I can't wait to use them too. Here's my card...

I used the sketch from the OCC Sketch Challenge on 4-11-09 for my arrangement. There are a few changes but not enough that I would claim it as my own. I love this sketch for those times when you have a few coordinates to incorporate in the card. My papers are a little older and they are from Imaginisce. I love their stuff!

I am off in a hurry again today so I will leave you with my supply list and a wish for a lovely weekend. Enjoy!

Papers- Imaginisce Queen of the Crib & Oopsie Daisy; Bazzill Posie Pink; Gina K Pure Luxury White; misc taupe from my stash. Digi-image by All That Scraps. Tools- Coluzzle circle dies; Paper Studio 2 5/16in circle punch; Marvy 2in circle punch; Sizzlit button die; SU oval punch. Embellishments- Craft-T Products chalk; MM tan Stitches. Pens- Copic (YG13, G82, RV02, E00); SU- Close to Cocoa, Sahara Sand. Font- CAC One Seventy 20pt.

A Challenge in a Hurry

Edited to Add: I have since changed today's card so please scroll down for the newer version. If you will read my post and the comments, you will see why I changed it. ;) Thanks!

Howdy folks! I am in a hurry today. We are off for a little fun but I wanted to show you a card first. I played along with the sketch challenge hosted by Our Creative Corner this week. It was a really cute sketch and I know I will use it again soon but I can't say I am thrilled with my card. I debated about whether to even show it but I decided you can learn from my mistakes. So, let me show it to you and then I will tell you what I am unhappy about.

So, what don't I like? Well, I learned that I don't like a tower of cupcakes, stamped and turned at an angle. It makes the whole card look crooked. I will definitely use the sketch again but it will be with another image. Other than that, I like the colors and I love the paper. I have used it several times in the past. So, learn form my mistake if you agree with my professional assessment. :-D

And with that, I'm off for my day with the kids and friends. See ya soon! Have a great day!

New version: I made a few changes since I was unhappy with the arrangement and my pal Emily made a great suggestion too which I implemented. So here ya go...Version 2.0!



Papers-DCWV Birthday Green; SU Old Olive CS. Stamps- Studio G cupcake tower. Inks- Memento Tuxedo Black. Embellishments- Favorite Findings buttons; MM nickel birthday charm tiles. Pens- Copic R35, R32, B12, N3, Y21, YR61; SU Certainly Celery.

No Bones About It...

It's good to be home from vacation! We had a great time and my kids thoroughly enjoyed themselves ( as did their parents!) but Dorothy was right...there's no place like home. And for a scramper like me, being away from my stuff is just hard. No matter how busy I am, doing really fun things, I am always thinking about my next project...that picture of the kids is so cute, it's going to make a great page...oh look at those flowers, I'll have to remember that color combo for a card...and so on. I think that means I am hooked in the worst way, huh? Which brings me to today's card. I sat down at the first opportunity to stamp a little and worked on Jen Del Muro's SFYTT from this week. What a fun sketch! It worked really well with some new stamps of mine too. I finally broke down and ordered Pat the Dawg House from Our Craft Lounge. I already had Pat the Bad Dog but what dog is happy without a dog house? Not Pat! So, how about a card?



I don't have any apology cards in my Etsy shop so I thought one was in order. You never know when you might need to smooth a few feathers with a kind word. Pat the Dog can help you. I like cards that include a snetiment that is split between the front and inside of the card. This sketch is just darling despite its simplicity. I'll be happy to answer any questions though. Just let me know! I hope your week is off to a great start. Thanks for stopping by!

Papers- Neenah Solar White; Bazzill Pomegranate Splash; MM Watercolor Willow Cozy Plaid. Stamps- OCL Pat the Bad Dog and Pat the Dawg House. Inks- Memento Tuxedo Black. Tools- Provo Coluzzle Ovals; piercer; SU Mat Pack. Embellishments- Favorite Findings buttons; white embroidery floss by DMC. Pens- Copic R37, Y17, G21, G82, B91, B95, E00, E04, E31, E33, E35, W1, W3, C7, N3; Sakura White Jelly Roll pen.

Blow out the Candles!

It has been a while since I showed you a birthday card. Today's card is a simple one but still a cutie (if you ask me!) I used an old paper that I have had for a while. It is one of my fav color combos though...blue and green. My stamp is an old one too. It is from a retired SU set called Tags and More. That set is a keeper though. The images are timeless and oh so easy to color not to mention that the set has a little of everything for basic cardmaking. Enough chit chat though. Here is my card!

I don't use tearing very often on my cards since my projects usually end up looking like an accident but I used my tearing ruler here so I like it pretty well. Overall, it is a simple card. I like to keep a stash of basic b-day cards on hand so whatever doesn't sell on my Etsy site, I will stash away.

My supplies are below. Hope your week is fabu!

Papers- Scrapbook Wizard print papers; lime green CS by Paper Studio. Stamps- SU Tags & More; Hero Arts Sunny Birthday. Inks- Graphite Brilliance; SU Brilliant Blue. Tools- tearing ruler; paper piercer; EK 3/8in circle punch. Embellishments- ribbon, silver brads. Pens- Copic B21, B26, YG07; zig pure orange.

You're A Star!

I am thrilled to show you a card using one of the newly released Our Craft Lounge sets called Bubbles. These have become one of my favorite brands of stamps. The images are fantastic to color and the clean lines produce crisp, perfect images every time. So without further ado...

I wanted the stamped image to be the main attraction here so I chose a simple arrangement. It isn't very often that I don't use DP of some kind but with these colors and the adorable turtle, I felt like plain old CS was enough. You will see this set again! There are tons of combinations with all the images and sentiments included.

Since I am still on vacation with my family, I am off quickly today. My supply list is below. Have a great week!

Papers- Gina K Pure luxury CS; blue & coral CS by DCWV; green CS by colorbok. Stamps- OCL Bubbles. Inks- Memento Tuxedo Black. Tools- EK dotted wave edge punch; EK ( 1 1/8, 1 1/4in) circle punches. Embellishments- ribbon from Michaels; MM polo button brads. Pens- Copic (R35, R32, E31, N1, N3, G21, G24, BG13) Bic Mark It ( blue skies, tranquil teal) Sakura clear jelly roll pen.

Beach Bum

Happy Monday morning! I am officially on vacation but I have a few things to show you this week. Today's card is a fun one. I played along with Taylor's Cupcake Challenge (TECC70) and it came together in a snap. I will be using this sketch again. It is simple but still adorable. Here is a picture and then I'll tell you about it. The 2nd photo is of the inside of the card.



My image is from All That Scraps. It is available as a stamp but I ordered the digi image set called Summertime Fun. A card I posted last week used the same set (Totally Tubular) and I have one more image to use still so stay tuned. I love being able to print the images in any size I want. The freedom with these images is just great! The inner sentiment on this card is printed. I got the idea for the word "swimtastic" from ATS but I made up the rest. Not that it is a literary work or anything! ;-)

I think I will stop here and leave you with my supply list since my card is a simple one. I will be listing it soon in my Etsy shop. If you have any questions, please ask and I will answer as soon as I can. I have sevral more projects to show you this week and I also need to show you the award that my blog pal Emily gave me a short while back. I feel terrible that I haven't written about it in detail yet! Part of the award is passing it along to others and linking to their blogs. Not only can I not pin down my favs to pass it to, but I also have been in such a hurry lately that I haven't had the time to do anything but make cards and write a little blip about them here and there. So if you are reading Emily, I am touched that you thought of me and my blog and I AM grateful for the award. I will follow up asap!

Papers- Doodlebug Baby Boy Bubbles; blue CS by Paper Studio. Stamps- Imaginisce beach bum. Digi Image- ATS SUmmertime Fun. Inks- Memento Tuxedo Black. Tools- EK photo corner. Embellishments- colorbok white metal dots. Pens- Copic Y15, YG25, B23, C3, C5, B01. Font- CAC One Seventy 16pt bold.

Up, Up, and Away

Yesterday, my latest Verve order arrived in the mail and I immediately sat down to ink it up. This set is everything I hoped it would be! Those hot air balloons are simply adorable and so easy to color. I wanted to make a card that was a little masculine because I know I haven't made any cards fit for boys in a long time and I also figured something inspirational...maybe for a new graduate...would be in order. When I saw the balloons during the Verve release party, I thought the set might be good for that. I was right! Check out today's card...


I wanted to play with this week's OCC Challenge so I decided to keep my sentiment inside the card so that my arrangement stayed true to the sketch. The second photo is of the inside of the card. I chose a paper from my stash. It is an old Scenic Route print and I have always loved it, just never pulled it out. The girls at OCC gave us a great sketch, huh? I like the clean lines and symmetry. I realized while I was working that I don't very often make "even" cards. While I always strive for balance, I very rarely have a card that is symmetrical. I like this one though! The quote I chose is one of my favorites. I think it works beautifully here.

Well, I'm off! I still have lots of vacation stuff to do. Have a wonderful weekend...what is left anyway!

Papers- Scenic Route Forest of Plaid; CS by the paper Studio. Stamps- Verve Up, Up, and Awy. Inks- Memento Tuxedo Black. Embellishments- Mark Richards gold metalliques #1983. Pens- Copic E35, G99, B39, B000; Zig Root Beer Float. Font- Gigi 24pt.

It's A Cupcake Kind of Day

I have tried to space out my cupcake projects but that is really hard considering how many ADORABLE cupcake products there are out there. The stamp for today's card was only $1! You can't beat cupcake bargains like that. A buck is cheaper than a real cupcake these days! So, let me show you the card and then I will tell you about it.

I decided to try the Timeless Tuesday sketch for this week and went from there. I saw my relatively new cupcake stamp sitting on my desk...unloved/uninked...and chose that for my image so then DCWV's Sweet 8x8 paper pad came to mind. It is full of cupcakes, sweets, and gorgeous color combos. You must check it out if you haven't already. I like the 8x8 and mat size pads because the scale is smaller for the prints (better for cardmaking) and I don't feel obligated to use up a huge sheet of paper making multiple copies of a card I may not need too many of in the future. This printed paper, since I used it to wallpaper most of my card front, yielded 2 cards. Blue and brown is not typically my "go-to" color combination but I like it here. The DP is a soft blue shimmer so I chose slighter darker blue ink and gems.

It was funny when I saw the sketch for this week because I made a card months ago, before I was blogging I think, that fit the sketch perfectly with the exception that the center panel was a square and my sentiment was an oval. I apologize if I have shown you this one beofre. I am in a hurry this morning or I would research my archives a little more thoroughly. It just goes to show that there truly is nothing new under the sun. So many times, I have felt like I just came up with an exceptionally creative (:-D) idea only to find it used in a magazine within a week. Go figure. Here is my older card...

OK. I'm off for anopther busy day. My supplies are below. I hope your day is fantastic and springy and sunny and fun and...:)

1st card: Papers- DCWV Sweet 8x8 paper pad; DCWV and Paper Studio CS. Stamps- studio g cupcake; hero arts sunny bday. Inks- Memento Tuxedo Black; Tim Holtz antique linen distress. Tools- Paper Studio 2 5/16in circle punch; Marvy Clever Lever pink 2.5in circle punch. Embellishments- ribbon by AMM Herbanella; MAMBI icons rhinestone singles asst #2. Pens- Copic B91, E57; Staedtler maxum; Sakura clear jelly roll. 2nd card: Papers- DCWV CS. Stamps- SU Pun Fun. Inks- Brilliance Graphite. Tools- coluzzle oval templates; SU ticket corner punch. Embellishments- American Crafts ribbon; MM button brads. Pens- zig rose; root beer float. Font- Andrew Script.