Friday, May 30, 2008

Bloggers Challenge - In a GREEN mood!

Sorry I have been MIA again. I am just trying to keep up with normal life and sleeping extra with being pregnant and trying not to barf. But I am pleased to announce that I made it to 11 weeks as of today . . . so hopefully morning sickness will be departing soon and I can get back to stamping lots and lots.

It is Week 49 on the Bloggers Challenge Yahoo group and todays challenge, I felt like, was a really easy one -- it was ANIMALS. I decided to make a Riley card (after all, he is a moose). I would have had my cards uploaded earlier today, but I wanted to do some sewing on them and I was helping DH sew last night, and when I let him go on his own, the machine jammed and my needle broke and it was the only one I had. Anyway, so I went into town today to get a new one and then I completed the cards I was working on today. And besides, it is technically still Friday here, so it is all good right???

This card was so simple. I wanted to make a Fathers Day card since I had not made any of those this year yet and it is getting closer and closer to that deadline. The layout is from Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge -- I always want to do her sketches and often get too busy or forget. I really liked this one though and had to do it! I hope you like it!

Stamps: Riley Golf, SU Fancy Flexible Phrases Paper: Prism Papers Intense Kiwi, Chatterbox Mini Poolhouse Argule, SU Bordering Blue, Whisper White Ink: Versafine Onyx Black Accessories: Pewter Brads, SU Oval Punch, Sansodor, Blending Stumps, Prismacolor Pencils, KI Memories Self Adhesive Ribbon, Singer Sewing Machine, white thread, 3D Zots Glue Dots

This second card of the day was made for HSC19 in the Hanna Stamps Forum on SCS. The challenge was to have some paper piecing and to have some BLING somewhere on the card. Easy peasy! I used SC 178 as the layout for this one, only I decided to make a longer card -- It measures 4x7 when folded. The color on the dress is sort of wonky, because in reality it matches well with the old olive colored background. My daughter wanted me to color Hanna's hair the same as her hair color -- and so we matched a colored pencil to it and it was funny how close it matched the sugared paper.

Hope you will check back next week starting Monday for some awesome previews of the new Hanna Sets to be released June 6th.

Stamps: Spring Time Clear Stamp Set by Hanna Stamps, Sentiment by Penny Black Paper: Old Olive, Basic Grey Sugared, SU Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Old Olive Ink: Versafine Onyx Black Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Blending Stumps, Sansodor, Pale Pink Polka Dotted Organdy, Gem Brads, Singer Sewing Machine, white thread, August Gladiolus Prima Flowers

Saturday, May 17, 2008

A Little Crazy on the Stitching . . .

Happy Saturday! Thanks for stopping by! Are you having a good day so far? Are you taking lots of time to relax, stamp and drink lots of water? Or maybe that is just me, being preggo and in the desert, but water seems to be always going into me! *giggles* My hubby and I are off to shop for appliances for our old house so we can rent it out. We gave up on trying to sell it for awhile since the market is just SO bad here. Hopefully, we can rent it and when things pick up we will sell.

I think I am starting to actually believe that more is more (thanks Jami) when it comes to stitching on the cards I make. Sometimes, I do some stitching and then just HAVE to add some more because it just works. This card though, I went a little crazy. I think it works, and I love the fun playful color scheme!

DON'T FORGET: Desperate Housewives - Season Finale tomorrow night!!! *giddy*

Stamps: Tubing Riley (Hanna Stamps), Family Phrases (SU!) Paper: Basic Grey - Two Scoops, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White, Wild Wasabi, Prism Baby Pink Dark Ink: Versafine Onyx Black Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Sansodor, Blending Stumps, Turquoise grosgrain ribbon, Scalloped circle punch - Marvy/Uchida, White Gel Pen - Inkssentials, Sewing Machine, White thread, brads, diamond stickles.

Friday, May 16, 2008

Bloggers Challenge Week 47 - Layout Challenge

I am quite sure that the bloggers challenge gang are about to kick my butt out of their group, I have missed so many weeks in a row and totally just because I space it and end up stamping other stuff. The challenges are awesome. This weeks challenge was the layout on page 21 of the Occasions Mini Catalog (SU!) -- the dog card. I had fun making a Riley card that is very much not SU! looking, even though the layout is stolen from there. I only made one modification and that was to add the sentiment tag -- I preferred to put it on the side rather than squish it in my image space. Hope you like it! There is stickles on the pink part of the birthday cake. I got a little carried away with the dots, but hey, it was fun! LOL

Stamps: Riley Birthday Cake (Hanna Stamps), SU Family Phrases Paper: Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, Basic Grey Sultry Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Purely Pomegranate, Wild Wasabi Accessories: White Inkssentials Gel Pen, Wild Wasabi Striped Ribbon, Aquapainter, Prismacolor Pencils, sansodor and blending stumps, hodgepodge hardware, paper crimper, sewing machine and white thread.

My First Riley . . .

So I joined Hanna Stamps Design Team, after the Riley and Sophie stamps had been released, and so I asked some team members if they would send some images for me to play with. Well, Kristi, being the super awesome sweetie she is, sent me my own set of the stamps to play with, as well as some new release ones coming soon . . . (CHA is not that far away - save your pennies cause you are going to WANT the new ones - consider this fair warning).

Anyway, since I had not touched ink all week (being sick with the pregnancy and then finding out my uncle in Canada passed away, keeping up with household chores and my kids are having some issues). I really needed to stamp. I have been trying to stamp at night, but every night by the time I get to about 9 pm I am SO tired and basically pass out in bed as soon as the kids are asleep.

I did wake up around 6 am this morning though, and I made it stamping time -- here is my first ever Riley card! I used SC 176 for the layout and the color scheme came from the paper I chose to use -- Basic Grey Two Scoops. I used the grid technique on the soft sky paper in the background of the card! It is so simple and adds a little something.

Stamps: Riley - Hanna Stamps, SU Family Phrases Paper: Wild Wasabi, Not Quite Navy, Soft Sky, Basic Grey Two Scoops Ink: Versafine Black Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, sansodor, brads, wild wasabi striped ribbon, 3d Zots glue dots, singer sewing machine, chocolate brown thread, Oval punches (SU!)

Friday, May 09, 2008

How I Had Time to Stamp Today . . .

I was cleaning up my office all this morning and then I came in and found my cutest little boy taking a nap, apparently he fell asleep watching cartoons. It is moments like this that I will treasure forever . . . they just look so sweet when they are asleep. Look at his pretty long lashes! *sigh* ENJOY!





Thursday Night TV -- How Sweet It Is - Elzybells

Okay, can you believe I actually missed Greys Anatomy last night! SHEESH! That is just awful! I was putting the kids to bed and by the time I looked at the clock and had finished, the clock said 8:56 pm. *sigh* I did catch up this morning and since I have not posted about Greys for awhile, I just thought I would say how much I LOVED this episode. I seriously still want Mer and Der together and this episode gave me hope. I just loved the way they ended it and I cannot wait to see next week, which is an improvement over the other two most recent episodes that left me feeling like it was just okay. Anyway, someone call me and remind me to get those kids into bed early on Thursday nights . . . please *grins* McDreamy does not like to wait!!!

I didn't want to post this card till I was sure the recipient had it in her hot little hands . . . but I know she does now. I made this one for Jen Marie to say thank you for the awesome Cupcake book she sent. She is such a good blogging friend, always posting me comments and just being generally sweet and awesome!!! I used all my new toys on this one (from the coolest store I found this past weekend called StampWorks in Chandler). Background paper is Basic Grey - Sultry paper pad. White piece is embossed using my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder (not from that store - but new still), Stamp set is new to me -- My Favorite Things (How Sweet It Is). Oh and I believe I used my new Inkssentials White Gel Pen to make the polka dots on the flowers. The whole image was watercolored using my ink pads and my aquapainter for a soft look. I sponged the edges of the background paper before I sewed it on to make it all blend well. Happy Friday! Hope you have an awesome weekend. I am still stamping, so we will see if I get time to schedule some posts for this weekend.

Stamps: My Favorite Things (How Sweet It Is) Paper: Basic Grey Sultry, Close to Cocoa, Whisper White Ink: Vintage Sepia Versafine Ink Accessories: Chocolate with White Polka Dots ribbon, Cuttlebug, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Sewing Machine, Brown thread, 3D Glue Dots.

I made this quick card for Jody -- I know she was not feeling well before she went away to the Texas Gathering, so I made it and was planning to send it Saturday, so it would be at her home when she was . . . but alas, that did not happen, I think it made it into the mail Tuesday . . . oh well, the thought is what counts right? Such a simple card -- layout was inspired by Lucy Chesna -- although as usual I adapted it to make it happier (read: even simpler than it was) for me to use. Background paper is by Basic Grey - Two Scoops. Sentiment and Stamp are by Elzybells. I bought them at Stamp Works the other day too. I had so much fun in that store.

Stamps: Elzybells Paper: Basic Grey Two Scoops, Sage Shadow, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White. Ink: Versafine Black, Pretty in Pink, Sage Shadow, Close to Cocoa. Accessories: Stickles, Pretty in Pink brads, sewing machine and white thread

I have a couple more cards to upload sometime today . . . one is a Hanna Color Challenge I have been fiddling with today and the other is a bloggers challenge Mothers Day card that I stamped yesterday with a friend of mine -- she chose earthtone colors - which I would never have chosen for Mothers Day, but her mom likes them, so we made something with them and I think it turned out cute! Anyway, thanks for visiting today and hope you'll check back again soon!

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Sketch Challenge 175 - Rubber Romance Mini & Cupcakes

I am in love with the sketch today! Thank you Lynn for creating such a fun sketch for us all to play with! WOW!

I watercolored the diva's dress and gifts using my aquapainter and the lids on my ink pads. I covered a chipboard circle with some paper by Making Memories and cut it in half. I like the depth that using the chipboard gave the card. I wanted to do something a little different in the corners, so I put ribbons and it worked perfectly to put it across the extra pink space at the bottom of the image. I originally had saved that space to put a sentiment, but I think the way it ended up looks even better! What do you think?

A Manda card would not be complete without some stitching, so I stitched basic zig zags around the outside edge and over the ribbon to hold it all together. I truly love this sketch and if I get some more time today, I will try to stamp another card with it!!

Stamps: Rubber Romance, SU All Holidays Paper: Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, Prism Vibrant Pink, Making Memories - Brooke Paisley Ink: Versafine Black, Wild Wasabi, Regal Rose Accessories: Aquapainter, SU striped Wild Wasabi ribbon, Cuttlebug, Birds & Swirls folder, silver cord, small SU oval punch, red tape, singer sewing machine, white thread

It has been awhile since I have made cupcakes. Today I saw a card on SCS by jovialjudi, which totally made me want to make some with fluffy frosting. Since I have been sick, I was too lazy to bake them from scratch, so I made some using a cherry chip cake mix and then this awesome frosting recipe that I got out of a book called Cupcakes by Susanna Tee that I got in the mail over a month ago from Jen Marie (a friend here in the blogging world). The recipe is for white chocolate cream cheese frosting! I thought that sounded really yummy to go with cherry chip. Anyway, these are basic and simple, but I had fun making them. Might have to make some more cupcakes soon, I almost forgot how much fun it is to decorate them!!!

White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

8 oz. white chocolate
2/3 c. cream cheese

Break the chocolate into a small heat-proof bowl and set the bowl and set the bowl over a pan of gently simmering water until melted. (Or, do it in the microwave being super careful not to burn the chocolate -- in like 15-30 second intervals with stirring in between is good, until it is smooth). Let cool slightly. Put the cream cheese in a bowl and beat until softened, then beat in slightly cooled chocolate. Frost completely cooled cupcakes. Let chill in refrigerator for 1 hour before serving.

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

CC165 - Playing Around in My PJ's

Do you ever have days when you just feel like being a bum all day and know you can get away with staying in your PJ's all day long and then just do that? Well, that is today. I did do some housework, I vacuumed and cleaned the entire downstairs of my house . . . but I am still in my PJ's and it is 3:15 pm now . . . so that is pretty bad right?

Well, at any rate . . . I stamped this image by Rubber Romance and I say if she can wear her jammies all day, so can I *grins* -- I won these awesome Rubber Romance Mini girls (ATC size) at SOCAL StampMania -- they were in a prize packet donated by Daisy at Eclectic Paperie. They are just so cute! Thanks again Daisy!

The colors did not photograph quite right, but since I am in my jammies and too lazy to go outside (plus it is windy, I think it might storm,) to get them to be right, I will just tell you that the color challenge colors today are Lovely Lilac, Pretty in Pink and Certainly Celery. Kind of bright and fun! Very girly! Anyway, this was my first time playing with this color combination and with this image and I had a blast! The idea for this layout came from Heather Scott -- she has some layouts and as I browsed, this one stuck out to me. Hers was quite a bit different though . . . but for sure it inkspired mine. *smiles* Thanks Heather!

Stamps: Rubber Romance, River City Rubber Works (sentiment) Paper: Sandylion Designs, Certainly Celery, Whisper White Ink: Versafine Black Accessories: Pink and White Prima Flowers, Certainly Celery brads (SU!), White sheer dots organdy ribbon, Singer sewing machine, white thread

Monday, May 05, 2008

My Best Friend/Small Breeds Dog

I decided to play with these sets because I got them in the mail with the new releases and they looked like fun. The colors did not turn out exactly true to how they are in the actual card -- but the color inkspiration came from Scraptitude (link on right) -- I paired chocolate chip, with kraft, bravo burgundy and sage shadow, totally not colors I would normally think to put together myself, but they work surprisingly well with one another. I had fun with my fingertip control exacto knife by Fiscars, cutting out around Hanna and the puppy dog face to make them exploding out of the box. I added some glaze pen to her sash and on her shoes to make them more interesting and dimensional looking.

Stamps: My Best Friend (Hanna Stamps), Small Breeds Dog (Hanna Stamps) Paper: Bravo Burgundy, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Sage Shadow, Doggy Paper (Unknown-No label on back) Ink: Memories Black Dye ink, bravo burgundy, sage shadow, wild wasabi (grass) Accessories: Fiscars Fingertip Control Craft Knife, Prismacolor Pencils, sansodor, blending stumps, Singer Sewing machine, aquapainter, Corner punch, ZOTS - 3D Large dots