Dreaming of the Dominican

I miss the Dominican SOOOO much and in just over a month we will be returning!  I can't wait to see the little girl we sponsor, Ana Raisa (9), and her little sister that my mom sponsors, Mirianyeli (6).  It has been a year and a half since I last visited, so I am sure they have grown so much!  Also new to me will be the high school.  It was recently built and finished for the new school year, so the students in last year's graduating 8th grade class are able to continue their education!  What a blessing from God!  None of this would be possible without Rod and Nancy Wildman and their dedication to 2nd Mile Missions.  If you would like to sponsor a child or make a donation, visit their site or shoot me an email and I can answer any questions you might have!  

My first visit to the DR changed my life.  The spirit of God is so strong there.  You can feel His presence EVERYWHERE.  The people there have nothing but God.  It really was amazing to see how blessed they felt by God, even though they had so little.  We take so much that we have for granted.  I was really touched by a church service we attended while there.  I felt like God was telling me to proclaim my Christianity publicly in some way.  I was saved when I was a little girl, but never baptized.  Another woman on the trip was getting baptized the day before we left, and the pastor asked if there was anyone else who was feeling led to be baptized.  Here was my chance!  I raised my hand and was blessed to have the opportunity to be baptized in the Caribbean.  What an amazing experience!

I found a beautiful picture of the beach where I was baptized and decided I wanted to make it into a card so I could display it in my stamping room.  I could not believe it when I found THREE challenges that fit with the theme of my card.  I got the layout from retro sketches.

 

Then I saw this cue card over at CASology:

 

 

 

Are you kidding me?!  There is no place that is more relaxing than the DR!  It is completely different from the fast-paced life we live here in the United States.  I truly have never felt more stress-free in my life than when I was there! 

 

Then I came across a new-to-me challenge site, SUO Challenges.  The challenge this week is to create a project using a photo!  This could not have been more perfect!  The funny thing is, I was able to create a VERY simple card with these three requirement and it is my favorite card I have ever made because of the meaning behind it. If you look closely at the sentiment, it ties the whole thing together for me.  It says "Live Simply, Love Generously, Care Deeply, Speak Kindly, Leave the rest to God."  I hope you enjoy it!

 

 

 

Stamp Set: Trust God

Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Whisper White

Ink: Bashful Blue, Night of Navy

Tools: Labels Collection Framelits, Stamp-a-ma-jig to offset sentiment shadow

 

Accessories: White Organza Ribbon, Dimensionals



I think I am coming down with something...

Yup, it's true.  I have the cardmaking bug.  I told Brett that I think I need to check myself into CA (Cardmakers Anonymous). :)  I honestly am obsessed with making cards and doing challenges as of late.  So much so that I have to post two cards in one day in order to get them entered into the challenges on time!  Colourq has a gorgeous color combo this week, so I decided to start there.

 

I also liked the sketch over at The Paper Players, so I decided to combine the two challenges into one card. 

 

 

As a demonstrator, I don't keep product after it retires, so I didn't have any Bermuda Bay on hand.  I decided to use Pool Party instead.  I folded up some babywipes and put drops of Pool Party and Gumball Green reinkers on it to stamp the largest stamp from Clockworks, another one of my favorite go-to masculine stamp sets!  I LOVE how the background turned out! The Pool Party mixed with Gumball Green almost looks like it could be Bermuda Bay! The whole background reminds me of a wall covered in graffiti. 

 

 

 

There is a simple trick to getting the squares to match up with the background.  Cut your squares, use temporary adhesive to stick them down to the background piece of cardstock and stamp away.  There will be little gaps when you pull up the squares, but if you mat them with cardstock you can't even see them!  Easy peasy!  This is one of those cards that doesn't require any supplies other than cardstock and ink, but ended up being one of my favorite cards ever! 

 

Stamp Sets: Carry On, Clockworks

Cardstock, Basic Gray, Whisper White

Ink: Basic Gray, Crumb Cake, Gumball Green, Pool Party

Tools: Stamp-a-ma-jig

Accessories: Dimensionals



My baby is turning 4...

I can't believe that my baby is turning 4in less than 3 weeks.  He's a little bully sometimes, but a sweetheart most of the time.  He will always be my baby.  The thought of having just one more is now a distant memory.  We had all of our kids 2 years apart, all in even years, so the timing would just be off.  I like consistency like that, so I will just have to settle with babysitting the twins. :)  Since Easton will be 4, the challenge over at Pals Paper Arts seemed very fitting.

 

 

It's funny when I see a sketch and parts of the sketch start screaming at me, but I am not kidding.  It happens!  Those four rectangles in the back were just screaming to be made into candles! 

 

 

 

 

I wanted the candles to have some texture so I first used the diagonal plate for the Simply Scored score board and scored rectangle pieces of cardstock diagonally.  Then I put glue along one long edge and rolled them around a pen to give them their shape.  They are adhered to the card with glue dots.  I wanted the "4" to pop and look like it was on a medallion.  To get this I punched out a scallop circle,  adhered it to a scrap piece of cardstock for a handle, put it back in the scallop circle punch, rotated it and punched again.  I love this trick!

 

Stamp Set: Delightful Dozen

Cardstock: Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White

Ink: Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Tempting Turquoise

Tools: Blossom Petals Builder Punch, 1 3/4" Scallop Circle Punch, Typeset Alphabet Bigz Die, Houndstooth Embossing Folder, Simply Scored and diagonal plate

Accessories: Brights DSP stack, White Baker's Twine, Dimensionals





Flowering Flourish Fun

I have been having a lot of fun with this set, Flowering Flourishes.  Two of the images in the set are so big that they really can become the focal image of your card quite easily.  This is actually one of the few stamp sets that I have that I color on directly with markers MOST of the time.  The multiple colors on the image really make it look like it took a lot of work, when it's really quite easy!  The brush tip on our markers are perfect for direct-to-stamp coloring.  Just make sure you start with the lightest color first and work toward the darkest color so you don't get the darker ink on your light-colored markers.  Here I started with the Daffodil Delight, then added the Primrose Petals ink and finally the Old Olive ink.  A trick that I used on this card was to conserve my ribbon.  It looks like the Daffodil ribbon wraps all the way under the Primrose cardstock, but it is actually two short little pieces!  I cut my ribbon too short and by the time I pulled out a strand to ruffle it, it was WAY too short.  I didn't want to waste it so I cut it into two sections and covered it up so you can't even tell!

Stamp Sets: Delightful Dozen, Flowering Flourishes

Cardstock: Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Primrose Petals, Whisper White

Ink: Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Primrose Petals, VersaMark

Tools: Elegant Lines Embossing Folder, Labels Collection Framelits, Heat Tool

Accessories: Daffodil Delight Seam Binding Ribbon, White Embossing Powder

Color Me Beautiful!!!

I am SOOOOO excited to announce that I have been chosen to be a designer on a BRAND NEW challenge site, Color Me Beautiful!  The deadline to apply was 10 pm last night.  Wouldn't you know that I didn't find the site until about 9:53 and it would not let me send in my samples!  I left a comment that I had tried to apply and this morning, guess what was waiting for me?  An email saying that the ladies loved my blog and would love for me to design for them!!! A HUGE hug to Carole and Ann Marie for choosing me so late in the game!

Here are the details of the challenge: Each week, a new Stampin' Up! color palette will be posted on the site.  Your challenge is to use at least three of the colors to create a project.  There is already a gorgeous combination called "hens and chicks" for you to try out.  Make sure you post your project to your blog and link up with us at Color Me Beautiful!  I can't wait to see all of your creations!  If you stop by on Friday you will get to meet all of the designers and see a sneak peek of all of our creations for the "hens and chicks" challenge.  Then the first challenge will go live on September 1st!

Life IS a daring adventure!

Daring Adventure has to be one of my favorite stamp sets of all time.  The quote is so true and the fonts are amazing.  I LOVE the footprints too.  The stamp set just screams at me to make a card with it!  It is my go-to for a masculine card!  The team over at Create with Connie and Mary did not disappoint once again this week and gave me a great sketch to work with! 

 

 

I first thought I would stick exactly to the sketch and make a big flower to put where their's is, but then I decided that was too predictable, even for me. :)  The quote from Daring Adventure fits perfectly in that framelit, so I decided to add it in place of the flower.  I should take this moment to apologize to Helen Keller.  Her name never seems to make it onto my cards because then it doesn't fit this framelit quite so perfectly!  I'm sure that is some big faux pax, but it is what it is! So sorry, Helen.   It IS an amazing quote.

 

 

 

My favorite thing about my card is that it has so much texture and dimension.  The Cherry Cobbler and Whisper White cardstock is spritzed with ink; the Early Espresso cardstock is embossed with the Houndstooth folder; the Night of Navy DSP is scored, folded and sanded; the Pumpkin Pie cardstock is embossed with the new Early Espresso embossing folder and popped up on a double stack of Dimensionals.  This is one of the reasons why I cannot push myself to do digital scrapbooking and cardmaking.  The main reason, really!  I love it when you can feel all of the different elements of a card.  The flat printing of digital just doesn't do it for me.  Maybe one day I will try hybrid...maybe.

 

Stamp Set: Daring Adventure

Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Night of Navy, Pumpkin Pie, VersaMark

Tools: Houndstooth Embossing Folder, Heat Tool, Early Espresso Embossing Powder, Simply Scored Score Board, Labels Collection Framelits, Color Spritzer,  sanding block, 1 3/8" Circle Punch to round corners

Accessories: Regals DSP Stack, Dimensionals



As STRESS-FREE as it gets!

Well, you don't get any more stress-free than this card!  I decided to play along at a new challenge site (new to me, that is), The Friday Mashup!  The challenge this week was to create a card with Midnight Muse, So Saffron, Soft Suede and Tempting Turquoise OR create a thank you card OR mash it up and do both!  I decided to mash it up and ALSO combine that with a sketch over at clean & simple stamping.

 

 

Easton's 4th birthday is coming up and I am going to need lots of easy thank-you notes to mail out, so I  thought this would be perfect!  I love this color combination.  It really is not something I would put together on my own so this is another case of a challenge coming to my rescue!

 

 

 

 

See, didn't I tell you this was simple and stress-free?!  And aren't Button, Button and Circle Circus the perfect stamp sets for this layout?!  There are so many different combinations you could come up with with just those two stamp sets alone!  Change up the colors and sentiment and you could have a card for any occasion.  I just love the versatility of this design.  Plus, this one is so simple that I might even have the kids help me stamp these out!

 

 

Stamp Sets: Button, Button, Circle Circus, Kindness Matters

Cardstock: Midnight Muse, Soft Suede, Whisper White

Ink: Midnight Muse, So Saffron, Soft Suede, Tempting Turquoise

No tools or accessories!!!



Colorful Caterpillar

 

One of the best things about being a demonstrator is getting access to special demonstrator-only materials.  Each month we get an amazing magazine in the mail, Stampin' Success, which is filled with ideas for workshops and classes.  We also get a special invitation to join a demonstrator website, Stampin' Connection.  On this site, you can chat with other demonstrators and view thousands of samples posted by demonstrators.  I have gotten so many ideas from demonstrators, and found a caterpillar idea from the wonderfully talented Lynn Pratt that worked perfectly with the sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches this week.

 

 

 I don't know about you, but I have thousands of minuscule scraps of designer paper lying around my craft room.  I have a problem with getting rid of them because I might need them sometime!  Well, this was the perfect project to use some of them up!  

 

Once I got the idea in my head, this card came together SOOOO quickly!  If you have kids who like to scrap along with you, like my daughter that is 8, this would be a great sample for them to recreate!

Stamp Set: Friendly Phrases
Cardstock: Basic Black, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White
Ink: Real Red, Basic Black
Tools: Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, 1/2" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Simply Scored Scoring Tool
Accessories: Dimensionals

Two birds with one stone

I have been super busy this week!  Brett is leading another missions trip to the Dominican in October, and I get to go on this one!  In order to raise money for everyone to go, they have garage sales at his work and sell all of their leftover clothes.  On Thursday I helped put everything on hangers and on Friday I worked the garage sale.  This has not left me much time to craft! lol!  I had two challenges I wanted to do and only about an hour to do them both, so I decided to combine them!  Over at Hand Stamped Sentiments the challenge was to use the herringbone technique, which I have never done before.  

 

Colourq had this awesome color combination that I never would have put together, so this was quite a challenge for me!

 

Once I did the herringbone background (which was surprisingly easy and FUN!), I immediately thought it looked very halloweenish.  My little witch hadn't seen ink yet, so I decided to add her to my card.  That sentiment from Delightful Dozen was a perfect fit for the witch.  I think it looks like she is tap dancing on top of it!

Stamp Sets: Googly Ghouls, Delightful Dozen
Cardstock: Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black, Basic Gray, Pumpkin Pie, Tempting Turquoise
Tools: Labels Collection Framelits, 1/16" Hole Punch, Color Spritzer
Accessories: Brights Collection Brads, DSP Paper Stacks (Brights and Neutrals), Dimensionals

Frankenstein Fun

I have a confession.  I have never made a card for halloween.  Ever.  I have never even owned a halloween stamp set!  Sure, I've had pumpkin sets (well, I actually don't think I ever even mounted those sets!), but never anything that screams halloween.  Well, when I saw the Holiday Catalog, I KNEW Googly Ghouls would be my first true halloween stamp set!  It is so stinkin' cute, and at only $12.95 for the clear mount set, I knew it had to be mine!  PLUS, for only $4.00 more, you can get the bundle, which includes the stamp set AND the Ghoulish Googlies Designer Kit.  The kit includes glassine bags, googly eyes (which I am now OBSESSED with!), baker's twine and tags that you can stamp on.  I will be using these for my kids' treats at school this fall!  I was so excited to use the stamp set and they had the best challenge over at casology this week.  Here is the cue card for the week:

 

 

My immediate first thought was FRANKENSTEIN!  And I now have one so this was an easy one!  The best thing about casology is they want Clean and Simple cards, so it doesn't take a lot of supplies and they can easily be recreated.  I had a lot of fun with this one:

 





It doesn't show up very well in the picture, but I used shimmery white cardstock, so it looks really cool in person!  I sprayed my piece of cardstock with water and then I took reinkers and dropped them on the cardstock.  Then I sprayed it some more to make them run all over the cardstock.  When I had to add reinkers and spray a few times until I was satisfied with the results, and then I took a paper towel and pushed it on top of it to soak up all of the water.  The BOOOO probably didn't need all of the eyeballs, but I am obsessed with them and have been putting them everywhere! ;)

 

Stamp Set: Googly Ghouls

Cardstock: Gumball Green, Shimmery White Cardstock

Ink: Certainly Celery, Lucky Limeade, Gumball Green

Tools: 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Blender Pen

Accessories: Googlies

Clean&Simple 203

I found a new challenge blog that I am in love with, Clean and Simple Stamping.  The sketches are right up my alley!  Here is the sketch that I worked on last week and the card I came up with:

For the frame, I was able to use two of the dies from the Apothecary Accents Framelits.  First I cut the outside of the frame in Early Espresso Core'dinations Cardstock, which is brand new to the Holiday Catalog.  That stuff is awesome and I can't wait to get the other two colors that are being offered, Cherry Cobbler and Gumball Green.  Then I stuck the smaller tag die to it with two small post-it-notes to hold it in place and ran it through the Big Shot.  After I had my framer, I embossed it with the Woodgrain Embossing Folder and sanded it with sanding blocks (both also new to the Holiday Catalog).  I think it looks awesome and really looks like a wooden frame!  If you are coming to Stamp Camp tonight, this is another one of the cards we will be making. :)

Stamp Set: Just Believe

Cardstock: Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple, Whisper White, Early Espresso Core'dinations

Ink: Old Olive, Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple

Tools: Apothecary Accents Framelits, Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Stampin' Sanding Block

Accessories: Dimensionals

rs#25

There was another fabulous sketch over at retrosketches this week, so I decided to play along!

 

 

Now, as much as I have been loving the sketch challenges, they have been hindering my creative ability just a bit because I keep thinking I have to follow the sketch EXACTLY.  In my mind, this card should have had two more rectangular blocks of cardstock or DSP.  I decided, however, that I needed to try to think outside of the box (or block :) and do something different in place of those blocks.  If others can do it, why can't I?!  Here is my take on going outside of the box:

 

 

 

Do you see how I added the sanded woodgrain tag in place of the back rectangle, and the leaves in place of the front rectangle?  Don't think you have to stick to a sketch exactly.  Change things up a bit.  I added the button like the sketch, but that could have easily been a different element.  The fun is making it all your own! 

 

Stamp Sets: Gently Falling, Tiny Tags

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso Core'dinations

Ink: Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade, More Mustard, Raspberry Ripple

Tools: Apothecary Accents Framelits, Woodgrain Embossing Folder, sanding block

Accessories: Orchard Harvest DSP, Designer Naturals Buttons, Linen Thread, Lucky Limeade Ruffled Ribbon, Jewelry Tag Punch



 



CCMC214

At first glance this card looks to me like it would be for a sketch challenge.  I don't normally do color blocks like this, so it was something different for me!  However, it is actually a color challenge over at Create with Connie and Mary. 

I just love this color combo.  It would be great for a little boy's birthday card, but I thought that was too predictable so I decided to break out a stamp set that I haven't used in a LOOOONG time, Morning Cup.  I loved this set when I first saw it, but I don't even drink coffee (or tea for that matter), so it doesn't get used very often.  Now, I will definitely not win any coloring awards with this one, but I still think it turned out cute.  I should have used Watercolor Paper for my cups and tea pot, but I already cleaned off my stamps and put them away and was too lazy to get them back out, so it is what it is. :)  I love all of the texture I added to this one with the embossing folders.  It really adds dimension and makes the card look so much better!

Stamp Set: Morning Cup

Cardstock: Daffodil Delight, Gumball Green, Midnights Muse, Whisper White

Ink: Black StazOn, Daffodil Delight, Gumball Green, Midnight Muse

Tools: Blender Pen, Chevron, Perfect Polka Dots and Stripes Embossing Folders, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, 1/2" Circle Punch

Accessories: Dimensionals







Twin Tuesday

I have declared today Twin Tuesday, as it is my first day watching my friends' new twin baby boys, Bryce and Grayson!  I thought it would be fitting to show you the card I made for them when they were first born.  I don't have any baby sets, so I decided to do something a little bit different and make twin birds.  I know the birds don't look alike, but neither do Bryce and Grayson, so I guess it's okay. :)  I haven't used this sentiment from Word Play for a baby card before but it really is the perfect sentiment for the occasion.  You wait and wait and wait for your baby to get here, but in the end it is SOOO worth it!  I think this card is the perfect example that you don't have to have a stamp set for every single occasion.  Just take what you have and tweak it to make it work!

Stamp Sets: Betsy's Blossoms, Word Play
Cardstock: Summer Starfruit, Whisper White
Ink: Gumball Green, Midnight Muse, Summer Starfruit
Tools: Oval Accent Bigz Clear Die
Accessories: Betsy's Blooms wheel, dimensionals

Loving CAS!

I am loving making clean and simple cards!  They really do help me to release my stress and focus on what I love-stamping!  Here is one that I threw together with a bunch of new things from the annual catalog.  Pretty soon it will be fall and I will be using lots of leaves and fall colors, so now I am sticking to flowers and summery themes.  One tip if you are using the edgelits on the same layer as the embossing folder: use the edgelit first and THEN emboss the cardstock.  How do I know this?  I embossed mine first and then used the edgelit and it smashed the image so I had to emboss again. That's how I know. ;) 

Stamp Sets: Flowering Flourishes, Perfectly Penned
Cardstock: Perfect Plum, Primrose Petals, Whisper White
Ink: Perfect Plum, Primrose Petals, Wild Wasabi
Tools: Fancy Fan Embossing Folder, Finishing Touches Edgelits

Happy Birthday, My Love!

Today my dear hubby has caught up with me and joins me at 33!  Yeah!  He can't say I'm older than him for another 7 months; we are both 33!  I loved the sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches and wanted to use it to come up with a quick birthday card for him. 

My to-do-list for the day was SOOO long, so I only had about 30 minutes in my craft studio to get this card done!  I thought the sentiment "bring on the cake" was quite fitting for the piggy and NO I am not implying that Brett is a piggy! lol!  At first glance, the Summer Smooches DSP seems rather feminine, but there are several sides that look masculine enough.  That is one of my favorite things about our double-sided DSP; they are so versatile!  Oh, and how about those googly eyes?!  When I first saw them, I KNEW I would be using them on this piggy.  They give him so much personality, don't ya think?  And the best part is that they are adhesive-backed so no worry about getting glue all over your fingers or project!  One final detail that is hard to see in the pic is the word "cake."  I thought it needed some color, so I added little polka dots in the letters to give it some oomph.  Love the fine tips on our markers for that detail work!  If you are planning on coming to this Friday's Stamp Camp, this is one of the cards we will be making.  Marian, if you are reading this, I know you can always use another birthday card! lol! 

Stamp Sets: Bring on the Cake, Button Buddies
Cardstock: Island Indigo, Whisper White
Ink: Daffodil Delight, Island Indigo, Tangerine Tango
Accessories: Brights Designer Buttons, Summer Smooches DSP, Googlies, Dimensionals

A fitting theme for the week...

I'm doing my Saturday post a few hours early because I wanted to enter it on a challenge site and will be busy all day tomorrow.  The cue card over at CASology this week is so appropriate...

Since today was the first day of school, I wanted to make a card to remind my kids that I love them and am thinking of them as they head back to school.  I literally came up with and created this card in less than 10 minutes.  That is how simple it is!  I love doing cards like this that can be recreated so easily.  I used my grid paper and ruler to quickly draw in the lines to create the look of paper.  Since we don't have the spiral punch anymore, I used a hole punch to make the holes in the notebook paper and then cut into them with my paper snips and roughed up the edges a bit to make it look torn.  I think it came out looking pretty cute! 

Stamp Sets: Every Little Bit, Itty Bitty Banners

Cardstock: Daffodil Delight, Whisper White

Ink: Bashful Blue, Basic Gray, Daffodil Delight, Primrose Petals, Black StazOn

Tools: Bitty Banners Framelits, hole punch, ruler, grid paper, paper snips

Accessories: Dimensionals

First Day of School!

Well, it has happened once again.  Summer is over and school started before I even knew what had happened!  I can't even believe it is possible, but Talan is in 1st grade and Janae is in 3rd grade!  Where in the world does the time go?  I know everyone tells you to enjoy the time because it flies by, but I am so in denial!  Here they are, all ready for Grandpa to pick them up to take them to the bus stop. 

They were so excited to pack their lunches for today. The first day of school menu was hot dogs, so I didn't blame them for wanting to pack.  Haven't all kids been eating hot dogs ALL summer?  I know we have!  I made little cards to put in their lunch boxes for a nice little surprise at lunch, but of course I forgot to take a pic of them.  I can't wait to see what their reactions were when they get home from school!

The morning wouldn't be complete without a picture of my little ornery Easton.  He is 3 and I wish he was old enough for kindergarten because I would send him for sure.  He is a little booger but very smart.  This picture captures his orneryness (did I just make up a word?) in the best way. :)  Those eyes just look like they are up to something!

An early morning a day early

School doesn't start until tomorrow so WHY am I awake at 5 today?!  I guess my body is just getting prepared for the early morning. :(  Yesterday my bestie Steph helped me to make up a bunch of these as thank-yous for people that helped us out at the annual 50s Car Show and Drive-In the youth group held at our church.  This is a nice, simple layout if you want to make a lot of cards fast!

Stamp Sets: For the Birds, Friendly Phrases

Cardstock: Daffodil Delight, Pool Party, Tangerine Tango, Watercolor Paper

Ink: Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Pool Party, Real Red, Tangerine Tango, Basic Black StazOn

Tools: Apothecary Accents Framelits, Chevron Embossing Folder, Extra-Large Oval Punch, Blender Pen

Accessories: Dimensionals

Create with Connie and Mary Challenge CCMC213

My card today was created for a challenge over at Create with Connie and Mary.  I had my card finished last night but had to wait until today to get a picture and post it.  I got my card ready to photograph, and lo and behold, my camera is NOWHERE to be found.  I've got two hours left to get my card posted. UGH!  I found an old camera and got the picture, but my laptop won't recognize the device!  Oh no!  I spent another half hour searching for my camera and found it underneath the ottoman.  Yeah!  So, just in the nick of time, I am getting my card posted!  Here is the sketch for this week. 

I wanted to use up some scraps of Twitterpated Designer Series Paper that I had laying around, so here is what I came up with.   It came together really quickly.  The only bit of "extra" work I had to do was run the Basic Gray piece of cardstock through the Big Shot twice, overlapping it in the folder the second time, because it didn't fit in the folder the way I wanted it to.  If only the Big Shot was a little bit wider!  I have seen that some people have cut a little bit of their embossing folders off since they are wider now, but I am not that brave! 

Stamp Sets: Papillon Potpourri, Trust God
Cardstock: Basic Gray, Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red
Ink: Black StazOn, Island Indigo, Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red
Tools: 1 3/4" Circle Punch, 1 3/4" Scallop Circle Punch, Elegant Butterfly Punch, Fancy Fan Embossing Folder, Finishing Touches Edgelits, Blender Pens
Accessories: Twitterpated DSP, Basic Pearls, Frost White Shimmer Paint, Dimensionals

Retro Sketches Challenge #24

If you can't tell, I am now obsessed with challenges! I was in a slump for a while and they have really helped me to get back into loving my hobby again.  Here was the sketch over at retrosketches and the card that I came up with. 



After seeing that beautiful rainbow after the storm last week, I knew I wanted to do a rainbow card.  I added a few clouds with sponge daubers and white craft ink.  I always thought those little charm things from My Friend looked like raindrops, so I added those at the end in place of the little swirly in the sketch.  I had a lot of fun with this sketch and can't wait to play again next week!

Stamp Sets: My Friend, Word Play

Cardstock: Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Pacific Point, Pool Party, Real Red, Rich Razzleberry, Tangerine Tango, Vellum Cardstock

Ink: Pacific Point, Real Red, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White Craft

Tools: Decorative Label Punch, Sponges

Freshly Made Sketches #47

Good morning!  This is my first time doing a challenge over at Freshly Made Sketches and it was a lot of fun!  I love being able to have a sketch to get my creative juices flowing. It saves a lot of time if you just want to sit down and make a card without too much thought!  I really loved the sketch this week. 

Those strips of DSP at the bottom were just SCREAMING to become banners, but it seems like I have been putting banners on everything lately, so I decided to try something different.  I have a lot of scallop dots ribbon laying around from a great deal I got on a bundle last year after Thanksgiving, so I started with that.  I put a glue dot on the end and rolled the ends a little so you could see the polka dots a bit.  I don't usually do Christmas cards this early in the year, but the colors of my ribbon worked well for Christmas so I decided to break out my new stamp set and framelits also!  The new ink stays wet just long enough to add a little bit of embossing powder, so my mug smells like peppermint which is a nice surprise for the recipient of the card!

Stamp Sets: Scentsational Season, Tiny Tags

Cardstock: Basic Black, Old Olive, Whisper White

Ink: Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive

Tools: Jewelry Tag Punch, Holiday Collection Framelits, Northern Flurry Embossing Folder, Embossing Buddy, Heat Tool

Accessories: Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon, Pool Party Baker's Twine, Peppermint Sticks Embossing Powder, Dimensionals, Glue Dots

Loving Simplicity

Here is another simple card that I made using a sketch from a sketch challenge. Why, oh why, can't I find the challenge?! I have a feeling it might be the same challenge I was looking for before, because the layouts were both pretty clean and simple, my favorite way to design.  I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig and grid paper to get my doilies lined up and evenly spaced.  After I stamped I adhered that piece of cardstock to the card base and ran the whole card front through the Big Shot using the Square Lattice Embossing Folder.  I love the quilted look it ended up giving my card!

Stamp Sets: Curly Cute, Delicate Doilies

Cardstock: Island Indigo, Summer Starfruit, Whisper White

Ink: Island Indigo, Raspberry Ripple, Summer Starfruit

Tools: Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Grid Paper

Accessories: Basic Rhinestones, Dimensionals

My first challenge!

My wonderful downline and friend, Aimee Cretsinger, has been playing around with some challenges and has encouraged me to join in on the fun.  This is my first one and boy am I nervous abut sharing my work with those that I consider professionals! :)  This is Challenge #149 over at colourQ.  I love this site because they give you all Stampin' Up! colors to work with!  Here are the colors we are working with this week:

My good friend Clay's 29th birthday is on Sunday and I thought these were pretty good colors for a masculine card.  He is always teasing us, saying how we are so old and close to 40 (I'm 33!), so I thought it would be fitting to put a clock on his card to let him know that his time's a tickin' too!

Stamp Sets: Clockworks, Itty Bitty Banners

Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Gumball Green, Midnight Muse, Summer Starfruit, Whisper White

Ink: Certainly Celery, Gumball Green, Midnight Muse, Summer Starfruit

Tools: Bitty Banners Framelits, Simply Scored Scoring Tool, 1/8" Handheld Circle Punch, Square Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch

Accessories: Mini brads, Dimensionals

My new favorite!

I found a new card layout that I am completely in love with.  So much so that I have two cards to share!  I found this layout on a blog challenge somewhere, but now for the life of me I can't find the site again!  Now I know from now on that I must write things down. :( 

Even though it is not even close to Valentine's Day, I decided to make a lovey dovey card for my dear husband, Brett.  He does so much for me and puts up with so much from me that he shouldn't have to, but he does anyway because he loves me.  I love you too, Hon!

Stamp Sets: Delightful Dozen, Letter It

Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Whisper White

Ink: Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple

Tools: Small Oval Punch, Adorning Accents Embossing Folder

This next card is one of my favorite Clean and Simple (CAS) cards of all time!  Everyone was making such a fuss over this hostess set that was temporarily unavailable due to legal reasons that I HAD to grab it when SU! brought it back!  Funny how that happens, huh? ;) It's hard to tell from my horrid photography, but I covered the top of the cupcakes in 2-way glue then dipped them in Dazzling Diamonds and adhered them with Dimensionals to add a little depth.  Love them!



Stamp Set: Carry On (Hostess)
Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Whisper White
Ink: Certainly Celery, Marina Mist, Perfect Plum, Pretty in Pink, So Saffron
Tools: Stamp-a-ma-jig
Accessories: 2-way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Dimensionals

Ready to roll!

Laptop charged...check.  Router connected and set up...check.  Internet connected...check!  Yeah!  It works!  I will finally be able to update my blog during the day...tomorrow.  I can't wait.  Updating at night is for the birds!  Hopefully this is my last late-night post for awhile.

Lovely as a Tree is such a classic set.  It is SO versatile.  The mirror technique is one of my favorite things to do with this set and is super easy, especially with our new style of ink pads, which allow the ink to stay wet just a smidge longer.  First stamp the tree image where you want it on your cardstock.  Then stamp it on the stamp-a-ma-jig imaging sheet.  Turn the imaging sheet upside down under the trees you stamped on your cardstock and rub the ink onto your cardstock to create the mirror image.  See, I told you it was easy!  After that I sponged on the colors with sponge daubers and used the white gel pen to create ripples in the water.  Easy peasy!

Stamp Sets: Curly Cute, Lovely as a Tree
Cardstock: Early Espresso, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White, Wild Wasabi
Ink: Baja Breeze, Certainly Celery, Early Espresso, Marina Mist, Whisper White, VersaMark
Tools: Chevron Embossing Folder, Stamp-a-ma-jig, heat tool
Accessories: Wild Wasabi embossing powder, white gel pen, sponge daubers, Naturals Designer Buttons, Linen Thread, vellum

My first HughesNet post!

Today is the day that I finally get to say goodbye to dial-up and hello to HughesNet!  It only took the installer almost 5 hours! to complete, but it is finally all set up and I could not wait to see how it works!  I must say it is MUCH faster than my dial-up and what a JOY to be able to be online and the telephone at the same time!  I am moving up in the world. :)  One day, I am sure I will get to have my very own cell phone too, but that is still a ways away according to the hubster. :( 

Stampin' Up! announced today that they are having a sale on some discontinued fabric.  While supplies last, the following discontinued Designer Fabrics from the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog (see p. 196 of the old catalog) will be available at the low, low price of just 99 cents on all order types—customer, workshop, and online!  You can place your order by clicking on the Shop Now button to the right of the page, and selecting me, Shana Gaff, as your demonstrator. 

Item	Description	Price
121716	Deck the Halls Designer Fabric	$0.99
121715	Candy Cane Christmas Designer Fabric	$0.99
121817	Springtime Vintage Designer Fabric	$0.99
121818	Sweet Stitches Designer Fabric	$0.99

A Spook-tacular deal!

Howl-o-ween Project Kit Promotion

Stampin' Up!'s New Demonstrator Starter Kit is completely customizable! Build your Starter Kit your way! For just $99, you get: Your choice of up to $125 worth of any current Stampin' Up! products! A business supply pack valued at $65!. That's a total value of $190! Plus, during August, you’ll get a FREE Howl-o-ween Printer’s Tray project kit—a $60 value—just for doing what you already love and joining the Stampin’ Up! family. For more information, visit my demonstrator business website at www.shanagaff.stampinup.net and click the Promotions tab to get all the details.

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Computer stress!

I was all set to post my card for today, turned my computer on and it tells me I only have 5 minutes until the battery is dead.  I go to get Brett's computer cord (mine no longer works for some strange reason) and he left it at work!  Argh!  I have all of my cards edited and ready to go on my computer, so I will have to wait til tomorrow. :(  I do have a picture I want to share though.  I took this on Saturday night right after we had some tornado-like weather.  Do you see the double rainbow?   Pretty cool, huh?!