BOO! Final Day of Sneak Peeks!

It is more blessed to give than to receive...that's what my Mom always taught me and I hope I can instill that into my own children. The verse, Acts 20:35, from Clear Dollar Stamps, will be available for purchase tomorrow, November 1st. I wanted it to be the highlight of the card. I also have shyed away from many challenges asking for a lot of white on white to be used, so out of my comfort zone I went! The card base is white, the next layer, yep, you guessed it, is white and embossed with the Ornaments embossing folder. The other two colors are Bermuda bay and Basic black. The verse was stamped on white the popped up directly on top of another white panel -- I warned ya, it's a lot of white!! I had to use my new Martha Stewart loopy border punch, a little gingham ribbon and some black pearls. Check out these blogs of other ladies showing off this verse:

Tricia

Sarah

Candy

Now this card is showing off three new single stamps - present, tree, and Seasonal Wishes sentiment. The little holly sprig is from the set Sassy Scallops. Another card using a lot of white, what has gotten into me??!! Anyway, I stamped the tree in Old olive and the present in Real red and colored them in with my red and green glitter gelly roll pens. What fun sparkle. The eyelet border punch by SU was used on the red cardstock. The sentiment was stamped and punched out. The bow treatment is actually done in two pieces - the bottom piece was cut and the corners snipped. I then made a loop and stapled it in place, knowing I could hide the staple by popping up my sentiment. Simple, fun and sparkly...everything a holiday card should be!! There are other single stamps being released and you won't want to miss out on them!



Something else you don't want to miss out on is the Great Candy Caper. Why are we having a Great Candy Caper? We are celebrating something.....does anyone know what that would be? For 5 days, we will be giving away 5 prizes, to 5 people each day, to celebrate 5 years of????? Be sure to find out all the details November 1st!

Mini Christmas Scriptures

Wow, day #3 of sneak peeks for Clear Dollar Stamps already! This set I'm showing you samples from is called Mini Christmas Scriptures by Laurie Wilson. What a lovely set of verses! This card I used the December Flower of the Month set and colored it in with my Copic markers. Colors of cardstock include Always artichoke, Chocolate chip and White. I'm big on using non-traditional colors for Christmas cards. The DSP is PTI's Friends Till the End collection. Yes, I simply HAD to add some stitching...as well as brads and ribbon!!

This set of 4.25" square cards were fun and fast to make! I think I'll be making more for my Christmas cards this year!! They're flat and fit into an A2 envelope so no extra postage required. I used a set called Ornament Accents and added color with Copics. The cardstock is various colors from PTI as well as the coordinating shades of DSP called Bitty Star Basics. The most time consuming part was the stitching. Inside reads "Jesus is Born." I also added a strip of the DSP to the inside as well. You really should check out the other DT members showing this set off:

Tricia

Sarah

Stacy

Katie

Laurie

Candy

Let's Go Caroling!

Day two of Clear Dollar Stamps sneak peeks of some totally adorable sets being released Nov. 1st. This set is called Billy & Maggie Carolers by Wendy Hall. Talk about sweet! Being a self-proclaimed lazy stamper, I stepped out of my box and not only paper pieced Maggie's skirt but cut out that adorable little kittie and popped him up! Wow, I'm tired now!!!! LOL!!! The DT was challenged with the designer papers and ribbon to use on a project. I loved the colors and the way they coordinated so wonderfully. Colors of cardstock I used were Kiwi kiss, Baja breeze, and Purely pomegranate (trying to use up my stash!). The kiwi layer was embossed with the Allegro folder.

Now Billy is so handsome in his tux of blue and gray. I used DaisyDs paper I found in my scrap bin for this sketch we were challenged with. Of course I had to use my Cuttlebug once more, this time using the Swiss Dots folder. Fun ribbon from the Dollar Store and the fabulous Glitter Dots from Gina K Designs and the card is complete.

Check out these blogs for more inspiration:

Katie

Sarah

Wendy

Candy

Nov. CDS Sneak Peeks - Day #1

Welcome to day 1 of Clear Dollar Stamp's sneak peeks -- all these adorable sets will be available Nov. 1 and you won't want to miss out on a single one!!! The first one I'm showing is called Holiday Patterns by Laurie Wilson. The first card I tried to do the Versamark resist technique - when I say tried I forgot one step of the process, to emboss the images!!!!! I stamped all the images on glossy, got distracted, then simply ran my inked-up brayer over the paper! The images still came thru but not at all the way I had intended! Some zig zag stitching around the two layers really adds some pop. The snowflake is several layers of felt snowflake made by SU and held in place with a rhinestone brad. Then I decided to pull out my label maker to add a sentiment! Is that cheating??!!

The second card is what you call quick and simple. It is utterly ridiculous how much designer paper I have, so anytime I can make a card that uses some, I will! And who wouldn't think Christmas with the colors red, yellow, green and brown!!!! The sentiment comes from the set that I seem to be going to a lot, Christmas Blessings. You really must check out these DT member blogs for more inspiration:

Candy

Laurie

Katie

Nancy

Sarah

Here's another Laurie Wilson set called Railroad Memories. Having two boys of my own I am really drawn to the masculine sets. And trains were a big part of their growing up...and we still have all their Thomas the Tank Engine trains, books, and videos (and they're 10 and 14!). This card I put the four individual stamps in line on my acrylic block (after getting the boys' help as to the order of the cars!!) and stamped away!! Alright, I had to add my need for flowers and pearls by using Basic Grey's bling and Granola DSP! Check out the other projects these talented ladies created with this set:

Laurie

Tricia

Nancy
Stacy

Cassie

Now this cutie if from the set Dinomite by Guest Illustrator Heather Rolin. Such an adorable set!! I heat embossed this cutie on water color paper then colored her in using my Tombow markers. I cut her out and popped her up over an oval and scallop oval I cut out using a Nestie. The designer paper I found in my endless stash that never seems to go down. The black strip is cut out in a wavy pattern then zig zag stitched into place. The individual words in this set make some wonderful phrases, for this one I chose "Friend You're Dinomite." You need to check out the other DT Members who are previewing this set, they have some fabulous samples for you:

Tricia
Stacy

Tori

Candy

See you tomorrow for even more sneak peeks!!!!!

Our New Kitten!

Believe it or not, this is actually my second post for today! I know a month or so ago I showed you a picture of a kitten we were "test driving" named Sydney. Well, Sydney simply never fit into our family. She was so painfully shy all she did was hide under the dressers in our bedroom. We returned her to the family we got her from where she is blossoming. I think she just didn't like being separated from her sisters. We convinced ourselves that we would be fine with one cat when my friend offered us this darling little boy. We've named him Mojo -- now I can never say I lost my Mojo because he is by me almost all the time!!! Talk about a perfect fit, he is so friendly and playful, always wanting attention, especially from our other cat who isn't quite convinced he should stay!!! He squeaks instead of meows, which makes me laugh at him all the more!!! We are very lucky to have him! I'm sure I'll have lots of fun stories to tell so I'll keep you posted!!

No, You're Not Seeing Things!!!

Not only am I posting to my blog, but I also made a card!!!!!! I used the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge to make it. AND, just this morning, I purchased this digital stamp from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. Gotta love digitals!!! I added color with my Copic markers and sparkle with Stickles on the flame and flower center. With the snowflake embossing folder, I ran a piece of snowflake vellum thru my Cuttlebug. I then sewed in place the vellum onto some Bashful blue cardstock. Other colors on this card include Basic black, Real red and Cameo coral. I then added a few vintage buttons. Thanks for stopping by.

The Stamps of Life

Wow, it's amazing how much time can go by in-between postings!! I had one VERY stressful week at work last week, not much stamping got done. Then I needed to finish up my Clear Dollar sneak peeks -- which I did by the way (you're gonna love the stamp sets coming out next month, too adorable!!!). Now I tried to do a fun Thanksgiving card with my new stamps from The Stamps of Life...but I failed. I decided to post it anyway just so you knew I was alive and kickin' (literally, since I'm a karate instructor. LOL!!), but my mojo has hit the road! Now all I need to do is go back to the drawing board, or should I say the stamp desk, and try again!! I also need to get ready for stamp club this Sunday. There's always something going on!!!

Flying By...

to say good evening!!!! I worked today till 1:30 teaching then went to a karate tournament to help judge. Just recently got home and wanted to show you this card I made using a stamp set released this month at Clear Dollar Stamps called Flying By. What a wonderful stamp set designed by our very own DT leader Laurie Wilson, great for those masculine cards! I stamped this plane and colored it in with my copics, only to make a boo-boo. Not wanting to waste my efforts, I decided to do the spotlighting technique by coloring up a second plane and punching out a circle to cover up my smudge!! Quick fix for a fun effect! The designer paper is actually Air Force paper - I cut around to get the plane sketches only and avoid their emblem. No disrespect intended, I have to admit I really liked these white sketched planes.

Joy to the World

I am soooooo far behind on my Christmas cards!! I was trying to keep up with them by making 10 each month, but I have failed miserably!! My goal is to keep them simple so I'm not spending extra on postage. I also like to use non-traditional colors. This one uses two PaperTrey Ink sets, Peaceful Poinsettia and Signature Christmas. Colors are Cameo coral, Pretty in pink, Purely pomegranate, and White. The DSP is Raspberry Tart - not one of my favorites so I wanted to use it up! Love the loopy punch by Martha Stewart - I got it in a combo pack that also included the loopy corner punch! In the center of the poinsettia I added yellow liquid pearls. I simply couldn't let it go without some sort of bling, therefore I added the rhinestones.

I'm trying to do better keeping up with my blog. I've been busy with my Clear Dollar Stamps sneak peeks for November (yes, I said November!!!). I also check out a lot of the challenges that are being posted, with good intentions to do them, but never seem to follow thru. Ah, such is life!

Bible Verse Challenge

I've been trying to keep up with the monthly Bible verse challenge on SCS - here's one for October. I already had this Autumn Traditions DSP and all the cardstocks right at my desk (that's why it's always messy, I never put things away from previous projects!!) so why not use it!! The stamp comes from Our Daily Bread Designs, Scripture Collection 1. Quick and simple - the sewing was the most time consuming thing on this card!.


Have a great Wednesday!!!

Wait for the Lord

This card was made for the Unity Stamps WCMD challenge on SCS - let the verse be the main image of your card. I used a Unity stamp set called Something Within. I stamped it in brown, cut it out and embossed it, then while it was still in the nestie, sponged a light layer of cameo coral. The rest is totally clean and simple and went together in no time! Why don't I do more cards like this??!! The card base is chocolate chip with cameo coral and really rust layers. The DSP is Basic Grey's Indian Summer as are the glazed brads. I added some rich velvet ribbon and a few pop dots and presto, a completed card. Told you it was simple. Pictures of this card are floating somewhere out there in cyber world because I tried five different times to upload it to my SCS gallery with no success! If you find it anywhere, please send it back home!!!!!

World Card Making Day

There were so many fun challenges this past weekend for World Card Making Day it was hard to keep up. I started off on SCS Saturday with challenges only to come to a screeching halt because I couldn't get them to upload to the gallery!! How frustrating! I've never had that happen before. Be ready over the next couple of days I figured I would post them instead to my blog. This one is for the Verve challenge -- it was a color challenge, using the world flag colors as your inspiration. I chose the flag of Sri Lanka - red, yellow, green and orange. Perfect fall colors!!! The pumpkins came from the Verve Stamps set called Tall Oaks. I used my copic markers on them then sponged with a little creamy caramel. The sentiment was punched out with the wide oval punch and also sponged with the caramel. The image and words were then popped up for that dimension I love! The left side of the card needed a little something so I ran some crooked lines of stitching down it. And of course I had to add some brads, ruby red ones. The DSP is from the Autumn Traditions pack and layered with crushed curry. The card base is always artichoke and layered with old olive and river rock embossed with the Swiss Dots folder. My youngest, Kevin, had to add the pumpkin he picked out from the hay ride he went on the other day -- a perfect addition, don't you think?!!


The sun is out, but the temperature is a bit cool. I'm still going to hang my laundry up outside. I love how it smells when it's dry, especially the sheets!! Hopefully I can find some stamping time. Have a great Monday!

Talk About a Color Challenge!!

Only orange, Green galore, and Orchid opulence!! Great Halloween colors, but what if you didn't want to do Halloween??!! I actually tried to make a Christmas card but was running out of time, after all, this was for the Clear Dollar Stamps weekend color challenge over on Paper Craft Planet...and the weekend is almost over!!!!! And besides, the Steelers play tonight!!!! So I ended up using a CDS stamp set called Just Divine. I love that it's a two step stamping set. I cut the leaves out and popped them up over the grapes. The designer paper is Basic Grey's Offbeat. The embellishments are by Kaiser Crafts and Basic Grey. I'm off to finish watching the game -- go Black and Gold!!!!!