You're Amazing...

I know! I have MIA for almost a week now! Because all four of you that visit my blog have been wondering (lol), I'll fill you in. I got too caught up in other parts of my life and let the stamping go. I hate when I do that! Here's the boring details. Last week was the first anniversary of my mom's death and it was a little rough for me. Especially trying to help Dad through it.... Besides that, I worked, had doctor appointments, a back treatment, spent a little time with my grandson (Zach). Luckily, I did get to stamp with my (crazy) friend Lynda this past Friday night! It was fun! Anyway, I'm back with projects in hand. Today's card was done using Gina K . It's a thank you card...

The Recipe:

Stamp: Gina K (the sentiment was made in the computer)
Paper: SU Pomegranite, Pretty in Pink, Carribean Blue
Ink: Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, More Mustard
Accessories: star punch (SU), white ribbon, white brads

Riley Says Thanks

This is a new stamp I just got from Hanna Stamps. I just love the fact that you can put your own message in the banner! I guess I'm going through a polka dot phase. I seem to want to put dots on everything! I received an order today from someone I work with for six thank you cards. Of course I only had four, so here I am really tired tonight, trying to (creatively) make two more cards. This is one of them. Most of my stamps are flowers so it's always kinda fun to work with something different. (I bought a new Hanna set too which I can't wait to use). I never stamped a moose flying an airplance before! lol!

HSPJ2 Hanna

On Splitcoast this past Friday they had a forum party for Hanna Stamp's new releases. I have just recently "re-discovered" Hanna Stamps. My dear friend Lynda had Hanna stamps on her Christmas list last year (which I bought her) but all of sudden they really clicked with me. I want them all! I was so busy this weekend that I wish I could have participated in more, but here's one card I made for it. This challenge was to use stars somewhere in your card. The paper is SU Really Rust and Elegant Eggplant. I added a little *bling* to Hanna by attaching these tiny pearls to her belt and button. Hope you're having a nice weekend...

Stamping Divas Challenge 3

This is our third challenge now. This one is hosted by Lynda. We received this image and could create whatever we wanted (and OMG Lynda "cheated" and DREW A POOL!!!) but could only use Yoyo Yellow, Tempting Turquoise and Gable Green. This is what I came up with and below are the links to the other Divas cards. If they didn't post theirs yet, they will be soon. HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!

Lynda
Michele
Simone
Kim
Sharon

Dotted Hanna

I made this card for my friend Luanne (thus the "L") using stamps from Hanna Stamps. I stamped her on watercolor paper and colored using Tombow Watercolor Markers. I've decided that markers are definitely my favorite tool for coloring. I tend to reach for them first almost every time. As I was putting the card together I thought it needed something more so I added the circle. I still wasn't satisfied so that's when I started adding all the brads. It's crazy how one thing leads to another when we stamp, isn't it? The little teardrops I found in a dollar bin at JoAnn Fabrics. Just one more day and it's the weekend. Ahh...

Lilies

I just had to take a picture of these gorgeous Lilies in our garden. Lilies are one of my favorite flowers. Well, keep in mind that I am a flower lover and don't think I've ever seen one I didn't like, but these really are exceptional. I had no idea that I even planted anything new this last year... I was in such a "fog" with my mom dying that I hardly even remember last summer but what a nice surprise it is that this beauty bloomed. I have a lot of orange Tiger Lilies but they haven't bloomed yet, maybe in the next week, so this one really stands out in the garden.

Hero Arts Gift Card Holder

We made this gift card holder in a class I taught a few days ago. The original idea for this is NOT mine (and I am not taking credit for it) but I did revise it a little from it's orginal size that I was taught to do it with so that it fit into a 4 3/8 x 5 3/4 envelope. I'm not sure where this originated but my friend Sharon found directions on someone's blog and then showed it how to make it at our last stamping Girl's Night Out. This is (obviously) the front of the card. The image is from Hero Arts. I stamped the image on Watercolor Paper and used Tombow Watercolor Markers to color it. The scallop punch is Martha Stewart. The Designer paper is from Stampin' Up. I used the SU Word Window Punch to make the slit for the gift card to fit into. I cut the paper five inches wide and the full eleven inches long. Then I scored at four inches, then at the eight inch line and then scored for the last time at the last two inches which are left. I put Pop Up Dots at the botton of the scallop so that the card opens and closes like a matchbook.

Section 2

Inside View With Gift Card

Bodacious Poppin Pastels

This is one of the cards we created last night in a monthly stamp class I teach at my Park District. This is the Poppin Pastels technique. I stamped the image (from Bodacious Bouquet) on black cs using SU white craft ink. Then using daubers, I dabbed Only Orange and Gable Green chalk onto the white ink and this is what I got! Easy, easy, easy but everyone loved it! My scanner was dirty and I didn't realize it until I uploaded it so the card IRL is not dirty! ;-)

Happy 84th Birthday Dad!

Well, we had Dad's birthday party here this last Saturday. My dad is an amazingly loving, kind and devoted man and I am proud to have him for a father. Dad is a wonderful role model and was my mom's caregiver for several years before she passed away this past June 20th. He never complained once (that I know of) about caring for, who he called, "the love of his life". It is an amazing love they have for one another. True soulmates. This was another "first" for our family... Dad's first birthday without her in 62 years!!! We did pretty well though. I'm sure that Mom was smiling down from Heaven. Lots of laughs, good food, swimming and I think a good time was had by all...

Hanna Gets Physical

This image is from Hanna Stamps. I made this for a friend who has just started working out again. I just got a new Fiskars scallop punch (Threading Water) and I just had to use it immediately. Today I am having an 84th birthday party for my Dad! I still have some last minute things to do so I won't be blogging too much today. Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend! It's a gorgeous one here where I live in Illinois...

The Six Hour Card...

I know what you're thinking. "THIS card took her six hours?" Yep. It started out as a SCS Sketch Challenge but then it took a weird turn and I finally had to stop myself from changing again. The ribbon was on then the ribbon was off. One ribbon, then two, then one again. The brads were on then off, etc... You know the drill. I guess we've all been there. The stamps are from Lizzie Anne Designs.

Wishing You Peace

This gorgeous fairy is from Artful Inkables. I just love their whimsical stamps! I stamped her on watercolor paper using Tombow Watercolor Markers (which are awesome on watercolor paper if you've never used them). I bought these little charm embellishments in a dollar bin somewhere and thought it would look nice as the head of my Prisma flower. The dp is from Going Grey. I wanted a softer look for the Sage Shadow paper so I sponged a little Craft white ink on it to soften it up. Hope your having a good day...

My Copic Marker "Tease"...

Yep, it has been raining here on and off for over a week! This last Saturday a tornado touched down just fifteen miles from our house! So, with our rainy weather in mind, I created this card using a stamp from Hanna Stamps. Isn't this image adorable? I stamped with some friends last Friday and I was lucky enough to use some of Michele's(huge set) of Copic Markers. This was my first time ever using them so I didn't know exactly what I was doing but I used them enough to know that I love them and wish they were affordable to me. They're not and I need to get over it! I feel alone out there, like I must be the only person who can't afford to spend several hundred dollars on these babies... (My husband wants to retire from his job in the next few years and we need to watch our spending). Oh yeah, and by the way Lyn, I did NOT use my photo corner punch! See, I CAN make a card without it!!!

Little Red Bug

One of the women I work with (who buys a lot of cards from me) just bought a (used) red Volkswagon Beetle for their daughter in college. They surprised her with it by driving it down to school to her. It was so fun watching Elana and her husband plan on how they would surprise her with it. They changed the plans everyday! They were SO excited. Anyway, I made this card for their daughter (who I've met a few times before). It's sort of a congratulations/good luck kinda card. I used the old, retired Groovy set from Stampin'Up but left off some the "flower power" stuff as it wasn't that kind of card. I put a tiny red rhinestone over the peace sign. Is it really Sunday already?!!!

TAC Gerber Thank You

Remember the other day I said I had made two cards with this Gerber Daisy stamp from TAC? Well, this is the second one. The details are below. Happy happy Friday!!! I'm excited 'cause I'm going to be stamping with Michelle, Kim, Sharon and Lynda tonight at our monthly stamp "thing" we do. I can't wait. They make me laugh...

What I used:

Stamps: TAC Gerber Daisy, SU French Script and sentiment
Ink: Black Stazon
Paper: Rose Red, Regal Rose, Basic Grey DP, Watercolor paper
Accessories: White Gel Pen (for the faux dots), Square brads, Rhinestone Brads by Yellow Bicycle, Watercolor Crayons

SC179 At the Beach

This is what I made for yesterday's Sketch Challenge over at SCS. This set from
Crafty Secrets was one of those "must haves". I love beach scenes, lighthouses, pretty much anything that has to do with water... I found these images to be something really special to add to my collection. I used glossy paper and SU markers for the image. I have to say this too, I think that these Swiss Dots EF that Cuttlebug came out with is my very favorite. I took a dauber and rubbed a little in over the dots to bring them out a little more.

Whooo's There?

Just me... tee hee! Okay, check this out. There's an Ebay store called SimonSaysStamp that I buy from a lot. Why? It's everything I want. Fair prices, Cheap shipping, FAST shipping, and tons of cool merchandise. They have just created their own line of (clear) stamps and you won't believe their promotion... If you buy one of their new exclusive sets (they're $14.89) between now and June 15th, make a card and e-mail it to them, you can choose another stamp set FREE! Well, duh! I wanted one anyway. Well, actually there's like five I want but I'm trying to pace myself. lol! So here's card number one. I e-mailed it to them last night and now I'm waiting to see what happens next. I really "needed" some owls because of all the dang cute cards you all have been making!!!

Here's what I used:

Stamps: Simon Says Stamp
Paper: SU Really Rust and Chocolate Chip, Going Grey Designer Paper
Ink: Black
Accessories: Photo corner punch, Creamy Caramel, Summer Sun, Old Olive and Really Rust SU Markers, Copper Brads, ribbon, piercing tool

Gerber Daisies

These are one of my favorite annuals. (at least they're annuals in Zone 5!) This stamp is (ironically) called Gerber Daisy and it's made by TAC. I used Lavender Lace and Garden Green Markers. The paper is Elegant Eggplant, Cream and Lavender Lace. I absolutely adore this silk ribbon I bought at Michael's. I was excited to use it again on this project. Hope your week is going okay... I kinda have the blues right now. I've been thinking about my mom even more than usual lately. I can't believe she'll be gone a year on the 24th... Boy, time sure flies, huh? If you still have a mom, go hug her or call and tell her you love her RIGHT NOW!

Pink Stipple Rose

Boy, did the weekend go FAST! I went in my pool today for the first time this year!!! It was wonderful... I am SO glad that I bit the bullet and bought a heater for the pool last year. It was great to swim in water that was 82 degrees... Anyway, my friend Lynda always tells me how much she loves this stamp and what great sympathy cards it makes. I think I have to agree with her. I have an order from someone who buys a lot of my cards for three sympathy cards. This is what I made for one of them. I used SU Rose Red and Regal Rose Watercolor Crayons for the flowers and Artichoke and Certainly Celery for the leaves. I stamped these on watercolor paper. I layered Basic Grey DS on the bottom. I am starting to enjoy using eyelets again (which is good because I have a ton of them)! I kinda have been pushing them aside for the ease of brads but now I've decided I'm going to utilize alot of the stuff I already own. Hope you're enjoying the weekend too!