Hello From the Beach!

Yes, we're on vacation at the beach...and lovin' every minute of it!! Well, maybe not every minute when little Kevin decides he needs to get up at 5am the past three mornings!! Believe me, I am far from a morning person, so I'm a bit grumpy! I have no pics (GASP!) to show you, but hopefully I'll remember to take my camera with me this morning.

Clear Dollar Stamps starts their sneak peeks today, so head on over to Lori's blog to get a look see at some of the sets being released August 1st. You are going to love 'em!! I know I can't wait to get my hands on them!!!

Here's to You!

A super cool sketch is waiting for you at Sweet Sketch Wednesday. You need to play along, because you could be the winner of a $10 gift certificate from this week's sponsor, Shirley's 2 Girls. Talk about some fun images!!

I had the privilege of using their Un Grande Artiste image, and here's what I came up with:

I used Copic markers to color her in, giving her some funky colors of clothes! I love the pink slippers!!!!! I found some paper I've had for a looooong time, and decided to use it. Colors include Pacific point, Kiwi kiss, Rich razzleberry, and Tangerine tango. The bottom right hand corner needed and embellishment, so a flower made out of buttons seemed to hit the mark!! I added a few leaf punches too and well as sewing (of course!) and ribbon. Now hop on over to the Sweet Sketch Wednesday blog to check out the inspirational pieces from the rest of the Design Team, you will be happy you did.

Turtle Greetings

Ever have a week where all you seem to do is make one mistake after another?! This is my week! It might be because we have a lot going on...getting ready for vacation!!!!! I am not at all an organized person, believe me I try, but it just isn't in my nature! So while trying to get things together at work, home, blogland, etc., I've just been making silly goofs along the way that have put me back two steps for every one I go forward! Here is a card I made for the Friday Sketchers challenge. I used a new digi from Clear Dollar Stamps called Turtle Greetings. What "goofs" did I do here you ask...I forgot the sentiment plus I used the same turtle I had done for the July digital release! There are four different turtles to choose from, along with four sentiments, all for only $3! Great deal for some real cuties! Thanks for stopping. Look out beach, here we come - tomorrow!!!!

Another Sweet Sketch Wednesday...

on Thursday!!!!! I couldn't resist using this week's Sweet Sketch again, and I paired it up with Clear Dollar Stamps' free digi stamp A Tweet Day. I actually colored it late last night, then went to find papers that coordinated - I usually do it the other way around, guess I was tired. I was so excited when I found the fun Cosmo Cricket Early Bird dsp, I stayed up till 2am finishing this card! We leave for vacation Sunday, so it's been a little crazy here trying to get things organized. Stamping calms me, even at 2am!!! Thanks for stopping by.

Christmas in July Sweet Sketch Style

It's Wednesday, and once again we have a fabulous sketch for you to try at Sweet Sketch Wednesday. Play along, you could win a most wonderful prize from our sponsor, DigiStamp Boutique.

Sally Ann is offering free digi images - but not just one, or two, or even three...no, no, no, this generous lady is offering 10 FREE DIGI IMAGES!!! So what's stopping you??!! With that fabulous prize on the line, you'd better get stamping!!!

And here is my card using Arlana's super fun sketch and Digi Stamp Boutique's adorable image, Christmas Robin. I've always had fun with Christmas in July!! I printed this image onto watercolor paper and used my Tombow markers and blender pen to color it in. The DSP is an older SU paper called Merry Moments. Colors of cardstock include Chocolate chip, Real red, and Cameo coral. The sentiment is a rub-on...I'm starting to use these more and lovin' them. The snowflake is felt, the brad is corduroy, and the red candy dots were a last minute decision (that's what I get for rushing thru the sketch and not paying attention to the details!!). Of course a little stitching and chocolate satin ribbon finishes it off. Now remember, play along, you might be our next winner!!! Check out the Sweet Sketch Wednesday blog for more great inspiration from the rest of the design team.

Merry Christmas...in July

I couldn't resist making a Christmas in July card. Back in the day when I was a SU demonstrator, I used to hold monthly stamp camps. I found all the unused leftover kits that were made up for the camps whenever people would cancel. I decided it was time to start putting them to use...so I have challenged myself to use them up. I will use the papers and ribbons in each kit as they are, not changing up the sizes or anything. Now I have allowed myself some ability to add papers or embellishments, but to try really hard to keep them simple and mailable. This card colors are Taken with teal, Sahara sand, Ruby red, Basic grey and White. DSP is Holiday Lounge. I used an old background stamp, By Definition, inked in versamark on the red layer, then stamped the sentiment over top. I finally pulled the bird punch out of its wrapper and put it work! It was fun making this, especially with half the work already done. I've made other cards with the kits, so keep coming back to see!!

Q & E Notecards

Yep, that's what these note cards are, quick and easy! I've had this Fillable Frames stamp set and die cut for some time now and finally decided to put it to use! I used colors that were within reach at the time - Melon mambo, Ballet blue, and Bashful blue. After die cutting the shape, I stamped the frame in white craft. I ended up making 9 all together - the melon says thank you, the ballet blue says for you, and the bashful blue says happy day. I even put my Scor-Pal to use by scoring two lines on the white background. Hopefully you can see it by clicking on the photo to enlarge it. I need more simple cards that don't cost and arm and a leg to mail, and I think these fit the bill. I might make more, they were so fun and fast (is that the same as quick and easy??!!).

BLOG HOP BIRTHDAY BASH!

"Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday Dearest Lori, Happy Birthday to you!!!" Done in my best singing voice too!!! How fun, boss lady and owner of Clear Dollar Stamps, Lori McCroskey, is celebrating a birthday today! And for fun the CDS Design Team decided to throw her a blog hoppin' birthday bash!!! Hopefully you came to see me after being at Christi's glorious blog. If not, start at the beginning at Lori's blog so you don't miss a thing. There are so many wonderfully inspirational cards that will knock your socks off! For my card I used several fun CDS sets - Pretty Perches, Plumes and Blooms, and Cute Quips. Colors of card stock include white, melon mambo, kraft, and pink pirouette. To keep traveling on this blog hop, go visit Tricia's blog, she will amaze you!!!

So Lori, did we surprise you??!!!

My Two Faves!

Okay, gotta admit, these last two digi stamp preview cards from Clear Dollar Stamps are my favorite. This one uses the set Wool Ewe Pray, which contains 1 image and 4 sentiments for only $3. And talk about quick to color, just a little bit from the Copic markers and some sponging while still in the nestie die, and we're done!! I used papers from one of my Key Ingredient kits from Taylored Expressions. And that gorgeous felt flower, it's by Maya Road - isn't it stunning?!

This set is called Peaceful Shore, and talk about a real beaut of an image here!!! I fell in love with it the moment I saw it. We leave in 8 days for the beach, so I am anxious for my peaceful days ahead! A very different color combo for me, I simply used what was within arms reach at the time - teal, kraft, pink and white. Thanks for stopping by, I truly appreciate it. Be sure to come back again tomorrow for a little surprise!!

Church Mouse

I'm back with day 2 of my samples of newly released digis from Clear Dollar Stamps. This little guy, Church Mouse, comes with 4 sentiments. How cute is he???!!! And I can say that about this mouse!!! I used my copic markers on him, along with some Stampin' Up dsp and card stock in Basic grey, Kiwi kiss and Not quite navy. The tiny pearls along the scallop borders was a long strip that I cut off each one after they were stuck down in place. I have one more round of previews to show you tomorrow, so come on back now, ya hear!! Alright, a little corny, but bear with me, it's almost 1:30 in the morning and I'm tired!! Good night...or is it good morning?!

It's a Digi Day!

Today is Digi Day over at Clear Dollar Stamps. Actually, 6 new digital stamps are being released today, so head on over and take a look! Over the next three days I will show you samples I've made of these sweet stamps. First is A Tweet Day, free with any purchase (yes, you heard me right, FREE!!!). We all have our inspirations for the cards we create, and this one started with the chipboard flowers. I have had these forever, and wanted to start using what I've got, so I used my Bic permanent markers and colored them up. The rest, as they say, is history. Funny the things that inspire us!!

Now this cutie comes from the Turtle Greetings set, which contains 4 images and 4 sentiments...talk about options!!!!! I printed him up on watercolor paper and used my Tombow markers. When visiting my parents over the 4th of July holiday, I took him along to color, and my Mom was simply amazed and how fast it was to watercolor with these markers. I had to use bright fun colors with him because I just got this new BoBunny paper and couldn't wait to put it to use! And the finishing touch, the cute little ladybug brad. There are more ladies putting on a talent show for the digi release, so go check 'em out:

Laurie

Tricia

Sarah T
Vicki

Trudy

Lisa

Cassie

You're So Sweet Sketch Wednesday

How would you like to win 3 digi images from Digi Stamp Characters? All you have to do is play along with us at Sweet Sketch Wednesday. And here is the sketch our fearless leader Arlana created:

Totally fun and absolutely fabulous!!! And here is my card I made using this adorable image:

I used my Copic markers on the lad. The sentiment is a Stampin' Up rub-on that I've been saving (more like hoarding!!) for just the right moment as this. The card stock and DSP comes from a CTMH paper packet called Tinkerin' (except for the red, that's a piece from my scrap bin). You really should check out the rest of the design team, you won't be disappointed!! Can't wait to see what you create!!!

Yummy Strawberries!

Welcome to another Sweet Sketch Wednesday. Isn't this a fantastic sketch by Arlana, our fearless leader?! I have so much fun with this group, I can't even begin to tell you. Join us and you can have some fun too!
The fun comes from the fabulous prize that our most wonderful sponsor, Digi Doodle Shop, is offering...a $10 gift certificate!!!! And the whole store is up to 50% off the entire month of July, so what are you waiting for, head on over and fill up your cart!!!

Who doesn't love fresh strawberries that this time of year brings. I could almost taste them when I saw this image. I printed this digi onto watercolor paper then used my Tombow markers and blender pen. This is now one of my top favorite ways of coloring! I even added a little Crystal Effects onto the strawberries to give them a little extra shine. This fun strawberry DSP was found in my stash - I really should inventory my stash to know what I have in there!!! Colors include Melon mambo, Regal rose (I love this combo!), Garden green and White. I used this gold ribbon to bring out the little bit of yellow I added to the strawberry blossoms. Thanks so much for stopping by! Be sure and stop by the rest of the teams' blogs because they will blow you away with their talent and creations. Stay cool!

Thank you, With a Cherry on Top!

Welcome to the monthly Clearly Inspired Challenge! Our theme this month, Thank You cards. I always am in need of these type of cards. I used the Cherry Pie individual stamp that I stamped three times and colored in with Copic markers. The sentiment is from the Fruity Fun set. I went with this week's Unscripted Sketches as my inspiration. We would love for you to play along with this wonderful challenge. Use your CDS if you have them, but they are not required. Is there a prize you ask...only the newly released stamps!!!!!!!!!! For Free!!!!! Other DT members have created samples that you really must check out on the CDS Blog.

I am in Need...

of a quiet space to rock my cares away!!!!! Summer is tough on a Mom! You are expected to be an entertainer, taxi cab, cook and cleaner upper...all while trying to re-arrange your own work schedule to accommodate all of this!!!!! I have had this image from Clear Dollar Stamps called Quiet Rocking Chair, colored for a few days now, simply needed to turn it into a card. And of course, when I was just about done coloring it in (I used my Tombow markers and blender pen) ol' Miss Inky Fingers leaves a big smudge that is all covered up now by the sentiment! I went with the sketch I found over at the Crazy 4 Challenges blog, turning it into a 5" square card. I used Clear Dollar Stamp's Spring Whispers card stock (Soft mint, Pretty porcelain) and ribbon (Sweet cheeks). The DSP is Memory Box's Jubilee. Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to check out the new releases over at Clear Dollar Stamps. Also be sure and stop by again tomorrow for the Clearly Inspired Challenge!!