Bloomin' Birthday Wishes

Alright, I promise this is the last of the WRAK contest cards for May! This one required using your favorite embossing folder. Well, I can honestly say I don't have a favorite, I just use whichever one feels right to me at the time! I don't know if you can tell by the picture but the two saffron panels are embossed using the folder with the birds on it (oops, don't know the name of it!!). I really like this rose image from the Bloomin' Beautiful set, I will have to request more because I used quite a few of them!! Yep, I used my Copics to color it and have it and the scalloped sentiment popped up. The colors of cardstock are night of navy, bravo burgundy and so saffron. I don't often reach for my Rich Regals, so I thought I'd give 'em a try. Thanks so much for looking.

Riley's Picking Flowers and Friends

Here's another WRAK contest card - to use an animal image. I received several Riley images and had so much fun with them, I ended up buying several of my own!! He is so easy to color, I used my Copics for this one. I've always wanted to try a tent card, how simple they are!!! Found my paper in my scrap bin, after a little cleaning out! The sentiment is from the Green Thumb set by Papertrey Ink. I also received the Primas thru WRAK. These ladies are just so generous!

Spring Song

I made this card for the monthly WRAK Card Contest using Sketch Challenge #143 on SCS. I used the images I had received thru WRAK from the set Spring Song. What a gorgeous set, another one I may have to breakdown and buy!! I colored in this bird with watercolor pencils but didn't exactly like the way it turned out. I decided to use it anyway. I found some scraps in my recently cleaned out scrap bin (notice I said cleaned out, not organized!) -- DSP by My Minds Eye, Chocolate chip, So saffron, Soft sky and White papers was used. Lots of layers are popped up, I love the added dimension. The bottom layer was embossed with the Swiss Dots embossing folder. I will definitely be using this sketch again!!

Wish RAK Memorial Day Challenges

This weekend in the Wish RAK forum was a VSN-like day of challenges. No time limit but we had to use something we had received thru WRAK. This challenge had to do with being in the garden. I had received images from Bloomin' Beautiful (from the Mini Catalog) and absolutely love this flower. It's very simple to color (a good thing for me!!), I used my Copics. Very simple layout too. Yep, you're right, I used Groovy guava and Wild wasabi.


I'm trying to listen to the hockey game while I'm typing this so please excuse any mistakes. I'm so bummed that the Pittsburgh Penguins are down. They just need to bring it home. Fingers are crossed. GO PENS!!

Birthday Wishes Out on a Limb

I was so excited to see that Denise (peanutbee) was today's Featured Stamper. I've had her SCS gallery linked to by blog for quite sometime because I visit often for inspiration. Today I decided to case this card: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/837337?cat=500&ppuser=122849. I really liked this particular layout (also a sketch challenge) because I wanted to use some of my designer papers. Out on a Limb by Paper Trey Ink was exactly the set I could see on this sketch. I used PTI papers as well -- Aqua mist, Spring moss, Lemon tart and Summer sunrise. The DSP is also by PTI. Paper piercing and some white brads finished this card off. Now I need to put a sentiment inside and mail it off to my friend in Nevada. Thanks for looking.

Catalog CASE Challenge

I decided to attempt a personal weekly challenge of my own -- CASE the Catalog. I will choose a card each week from either SU, TAC or CTMH catalogs and case it. Very simple and yet so fun. This card is from page 84 of the SU catalog for the Embrace Life set. I liked the "scalloped" edges - I used a 1/2 inch circle punch and taped them underneath the amethyst layer. I also borrowed SU's idea for the primas on the Never Ending Joy set as seen on page 30. I glued rhinestones in the center using Stickles, that way when you press the rhinestones into the glue, some of the glitter "oozes" out and you get some added glitz. The card measures 4 1/4 square and I think the ribbon overwhelms it a bit. But when I found it in my stash of unused ribbon, the colors were perfect so on it went. The pearls, a gift from my sweet friend Vivian, were added.

Hooray, the sun is out but the air is still a bit crisp. Almost reminds me of an autumn day instead of end of May. I'm off to hang up some laundry -- my small way of helping out the environment! Yesterday I bought all kinds of hockey shirts for the family to get us ready for the first game of the Stanley Cup. GO PENS!!!!!

Spread Your Love

I found a weekly sketch challenge on Technostampers (http://technostamper.blogspot.com/). This is from a couple weeks ago. I also used a recent color challenge from SCS - Basic black, Purely pomegranate and Soft sky. The butterfly is stamped in Blue bayou on soft sky, cut out, and popped up. Stickles were added for glitz. The ovals I used my Nestabilities to cut out and emboss. Now that I've got the hang of 'em, I use those darn things all the time! Even bought myself a set of tags.

Hubby just got home...that means it's time for me to get ready to head off to work. Hope to get more stamping done tonight. Last night I colored a few images in preparation for the Wish RAK Memorial Day challenge Sunday starting at 1pm. Hope I can find lots of time to play!!

For My Little Sister

This card is meant for my Divine Secret Sibling on SCS --- sure hope she doesn't surf a lot of blogs!! I haven't used this set (Espressoly for You) in quite some time either (seems like I say that about a lot of my stamps!!!) so out of the dust it came. I used my copics to color the image then sponged around the edges with creamy caramel. The white dots were then added. I think the scraps of designer paper are by Daisy Ds (another favorite of mine). Of course ribbon and brads had to be added too! The coffee in the cup is highlighted with Crystal Effects for a bit of shine. Colors of cardstock include close to cocoa, real red, barely banana, more mustard, and chocolate chip. I am including with this a card kit from my local stamp store. I'm sure she'll like it because the stamps included in the kit are of owls.


The sun is shining today, finally, but the temps are still rather chilly. My beautiful hanging baskets have been chosen by some finches and sparrows as their home. I'll keep taking out the nest unless there's eggs in it.


I'm off to the post office then to work. Hope everyone has a most wonderful day, thanks for stopping by.

Arte Y Pico Award

What an honor to have received this award from friend and fellow blogger Sue of http://bensarmom.blogspot.com/ - Trusting in the Lord for All Things. Now for the rules:

1. Pick 5 blogs that I consider deserve the award for creativity, design, interesting material, and also contribute to the blogging community, no matter what language.
2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his/her blog to be visited by everyone.
3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her/him the award itself.
4. The Award winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of “Arte Y Pico” blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.
5. To show these rules.

Here are the blogs I love to visit and be inspired:

http://vivlyndesigns.typepad.com/my_weblog/ - VivLyn Designs - My good friend Vivian has just recently started a blog and is off and running with many fabulous designs. She is one very talented lady!!

http://stamperosity.blogspot.com/ - Stamperosity - Lynn's blog is absolutely wonderful. Her designs are so fun and fresh! I so enjoy checking them all out.

http://www.verastamps.com/ - Vera Stamps - You have to check out Vera's blog. Every card she creates is beautiful and is always an inspiration to me. I have received several of her creations and they remain on my desk forever.

http://rainy.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/ - Rainy Day Creations - I have always admired Susan's work on SCS! And her blog is full of beauty and elegance. Check it out!!

http://comestampwithme.blogspot.com/ - Come Stamp With Me - I so enjoy checking out Michelle's blog for all the wonderful, fun and very inspirational work she shares. Thanks Michelle!

Please check out all these blogs...you'll be glad you did.

I Thought of You Today

And smiled! This sentiment is from Close to my Heart (called Because of You) and I really like them! I am on a mission to use stamp sets that have seen little or no ink (gasp at the thought!) AND paper scraps. I didn't succeed much with the paper scraps but I did use the CTMH set and Easy Elegance, both of which I haven't used in quite some time. This is actually a Featured Stamper challenge card of dawnsing's gallery. You can see all of her wonderful cards by clicking on her link on the right. I cased this card of her's: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/674401?cat=500&ppuser=61311. I loved the layout and the fact designer paper was used!!!

I really need to get off to bed...it's 3:15am right now and I have stamp camp in a few hours!!!! A lot of the ladies couldn't make it this month which eased my stress level tremendously!! They still submitted orders though!!! How fabulous is that!! I'll let you know how it all went! Thanks for stopping by.

Cast Your Cares Upon Him

Okay, are you tired of seeing the cards I've made for a swap?? Yep, this is another one. I plan on making extras though because I am in need of a sympathy card. A very simple and clean card, which is what I think of when it comes to using Papertrey Ink stamps. The sentiment comes from the Everyday Blessings set. I used my Nestabilities to cut and emboss the sentiment layer. I also used the scallop die for the scallop layers. For the swap, the card needed to make use of a wheel (here I used Leaves a la Carte) and a sentiment. I know I keep saying Groovy guava is not one of my favorite colors ----- but here I go again using it! Could I be becoming a guava convert?? Well all I know is I hate when I'm wrong about something!!!!!! I used my Cuttlebug for another layer, this time using an embossing folder. The gold brads, pearl brad and Prima flower finish this card off. Thanks so much for looking.

Dreams

Here is the card I cased from Lovetostamp6's gallery for the featured stamper challenge: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/644854?cat=500&ppuser=68112. What a glorious gallery Jennifer has...check it out, I have it linked over to the right. I am running very late for work so I can't chat about the card. Thanks for taking a peek at it though and have a great day.

Flowers For You

Yep, you guessed it, this is another swap card. It needed to have spring colors but I'm not sure if I was able to pull that off. I used the Flowers for You DSP which called for Tempting turquoise, Certainly celery, Lovely lilac and Regal rose for coordinating colors. I just went with the celery and turquoise and added the black. Hopefully the flowers themselves look springy enough. Anyway, I got to play with my new Copic markers -- Happy Mother's Day to me!!!! I bought two sets and love 'em. What took me so long getting them??!! I also bought the Score It and still need to use it -- maybe today.

Thanks for stopping by. Wishing all Moms out there a wonderful day, whether you're a Mom with kids, dogs, cats, fish......

Love This Color Combo!

Such classy colors -- River rock, White and Black. This is another swap card to use an elegant flower set and this color combo. I used the layout from a Featured Stamper, just don't know who. I'll have to do a little research to find out who it was. Thanks for looking.

I also made a card for my DSS last night but didn't want to post it, just in case she was surfin' the blogs. Have a wonderful Mother's Day -- I hit the stamp store pretty had this week for Mother's Day and all for myself!!! Now for some time to play!

Paula Abdul is My Big Sis!!

I didn't even know Paula stamped!!!!! Hehe!! Actually, Paula is my Big Sis for the Divine Secret Siblings exchange on SCS. I was thrilled to receive this card today from her! It's a real beaut! Thanks so much Paula!!!!! I love hearing from you!!

Now That I Have It Together...

I can finally get stampin' and post a card!!!!! I was away last week for a work related camp and what a fabulous time I had. I spent my time in sunny St. Petersburg, FL but was kept so busy that I didn't spend much time on the beach. I made use of poolside to lounge and read whenever there was any free time -- and believe me, there wasn't much.

This card I cased from StampOwl for my swap - the theme was western, designer paper and hardware needed to be used, and no ribbon. Of course I pulled out my Bronc Buster and Wanted sets along with Stamp of Authenticity. The DP is by Creative Imaginations. As for the cardstock colors, I used Close to cocoa, Bravo burgundy, Groovy guava (okay, this color is starting to grow on me), and Very vanilla. The star, medallion, and verbage are all popped up on dimensionals. Fun, fun, fun!!!!