Sale

Hi Everyone,

Just popping in to let you know about the sale over at My Grafico where Lindsay's Stamp Stuff is.  Get what you need while it's on sale, or heck, just buy what you want :)

Here are some great things you can get for summer parties and birthdays and they are all available right now at Lindsay's Stamp Stuff for 40% off!

I hope you have a great day and are enjoying the summer.  Be sure to stop by my blog tomorrow because I have an exciting announcement to make ;) 

Thank You

Hi Everyone,

Let me start off by saying I am the absolute WORST at showing off RAK's.  Why? Laziness.  Pure and simple.  Nope, not even going to try and sugar coat it in any way, cuz that's it. Plain and simple truth.  So today I'm trying to rectify that by showing off this beauty from my friend Tanis.  She can rock a sketch like nobody else I know and her use of color is always so fabulous.

See?  Amazing. Sigh.

Stop by Tanny's blog and say hi, by clicking right here.  Then drop by the  DRS Designs blog and visit me and Florence :) We are almost at the end of the Stamp A Day Give Away, so don't miss out on your chance to win.

Thanks as always for stopping by. Summer has turned out a bit more busy than I expected, so I have had to limit my blog visiting days...If I haven't been by to see you, have no fear, I'm on my way eventually.  And if you know how to get 30hrs. out of a day, let me in on the secret!

Have a good one!

Happy Retirement!

Hi Everyone,

I'm showing off another fun card made with my DRS Designs stamps. I just love this little guy with his prize catch...He looks so proud!  The stamp is very apporpriately named Proud Catch Fisherman and I thought I would pair it with the sentiment Happy Retirement.  What better time to pursue those favorite hobbies but when you have all the time in the world, right? 

DRS Designs has all kinds of great background stamps too, so you never have to scramble for patterned paper, you can always make your own, just like I did here.  I used the Interlocking Circles because I thought they kinda looked like bubbles in the water.

I gave the fish a googly eye and added some twine and buttons.  Those are my go to embellishments for guy cards ;)

Have you been playing along with the Stamp A Day Give Away at the DRS Designs blog this month? You only have until the end of June, so drop by the blog today and check out my card featured over there.  Oh, and have you seen their new releases for summer?  You can check them out right here...So cute! 

Have a great day!

Challenges for this card:

Challenge Up Your Life-Circles

Card Cupids-Boy themed

Creations by Gill-Blue

Paper Creator's Crafts-Men

Digi's with Attitude-Anything Goes

Phindy's Place-Circles

Wags n Wiskers-Summertime (Fishing)

Delightful Challenges-Fun in the Sun

Southern Girls-Anything Goes

Details not listed above- Paper:The Paper Company, Ink: Stampin' Up!, Momento Tuxedo Black, Markers: Copic, Twine and buttons from my supplies.

It's Father's Day Weekend for Me

Hi Everyone,

This coming weekend we are celebrating Father's Day.  Last weekend was my niece's graduation party, and I knew I would be in a coma from prep and small talk, so we're a week late with the holiday.

Now, English is my father's second language, so I do give him some slack.  However, he's been here since the 50's, so there really is no excuse for this blatant grammatical baloney.

So to celebrate our Father's Day, here are my favorite DAD-ism's from this week:

We are on our daily walk, reaching the top of an incline, when he says to me, " I really feel like I'm expiring!"

Me: Are you ok? (Thinking his heart is racing, and he's going to keel over) What exactly is wrong?

Dad: Well, it's so warm.  I don't think I should have worn an undershirt.

Knowing it will do no good, I explain the difference between perspire and expire.

Second:

We are discussing the heat when he says, " That's why so many people in Mexico eat at 10:00 at night.  It's just too hot to cook dinner before then. 

Me: Yes.  Lots of people eat later than we do.

Dad: Yeah, and that's why they have fiesta's during the day.

Again, I explain the difference between siesta and fiesta, knowing it will do no good.

Third:

We see this tiny little frog/toad hop in front of us on our walk. 

Dad: I've never seen one so small.

Me: Well, I used to see tiny ones in Florida as a kid, when we went to visit Ricky.  Sandy and I would catch them and little tadpoles at the lake.  Thank God I did that then, because I wouldn't go near them now.  So gross.

Dad: Well, didn't you have to ingest them during science class in school?

Yet again, knowing it will do no good, I explain the difference between dissect and ingest.

It was a banner week for Dad-ism's for me.  If I could write, I would write a book.  However, as Pam from Amber Ink told me, this topic has already been covered in a book named Bleep My Dad Says.  Not nearly as good as my walks with dear old dad ;)

Have a great weekend!

Big Cupcake

Hi Everyone,

Today I'm sharing another birthday card I made for my stash.  I decided to use a digi from the set Sweet Stuff by Lindsay's Stamp Stuff.  I printed out the cupcake image pretty large and colored it and added some sparkle for sugary frosting. The background embossing is all cupcakes too, but I think most of it got covered up by all the other stuff. 

Here is a close up of the pearls I added to the doily like cut out.

And a look at the entire set:

This set sure does tickle my sweet tooth ;)  It's one of my favorites and I'm so happy it didn't get retired last week.  Yay!

Now, have you been by Lindsay's Blog lately?  She has videos with all kinds of great tips, so be sure to check her out!

Thanks for stopping by!

Challenges for this card:

Creative Stamp Friends-Birthday

Kaboodle Doodle-Food or Drink

Shabby Tea Room-Inspiration Photo & Dots or Gingham

Wee Memories-Party Time

Details not listed above-Paper: The Paper Company, KI Memories, Markers: Copic, Embossing Folder: Nestablieties, Cuttlebug, Ink: Stampin' Up, Stickles, Glossy Accents, ribbon, pearls,and brads from my supplies.

Two Ways to Win Stamps!

Hi Everyone!

I'm here to tell you that you have two ways to win some DRS Designs stamps.  The Stamp a Day Giveaway is still going on this month at the DRS Designs blog.  All you have to do is leave a comment at the DRS Designs blog, and then check back tomorrow to see if you were the randomly chosen winner.  Easy as pie :)

DRS Designs is also the sponsor this week at the Card Patterns Sketch blog.  If you play along and link up your card using the sketch below, you have the chance to win a $20.00 voucher to DRS Designs.

Here is the sketch:

And for some inspiration, my card made with some Christmas stamps from the current catalog at DRS Designs.  I've decided to make a holiday card every chance I get from now on.  By the time the season rolls around, it always seems like I never have enough.

Here are the stamps I used:

Have a Jolly Holiday

Christmas Music Background

Thanks for dropping by and remember to comment at the DRS Designs blog for your chance to win the stamp of the day!

Challenges for this card:

Christmas Cards All Year Round-Anything Goes

Hooked on Crafts-Anything Goes

Make it Monday-Anything Goes
Scrappy Frogs-Use Red

Details not listed above-Paper: The Paper Company, Ink: Stampin' Up, Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug, Epoxy Stickers: EK Success, Ribbon: Darice

My Dad

Happy Father's Day!

Bomb Pop

Hi Everyone!

I made this card when I so should have been doing something else.  Like a million other things.  Sometimes though, you just hafta stamp.  That was me.  I loved the color challenge they were having over at the Hambo Hoedown (red, teal and white), so when I hatched this idea knew and HAD to play.

Is it wrong to be this excited about a little CAS card? 

The colors reminded me of a bomb pop, so I used my favorite Popsicle stamp and Stay Cool sentiment from Hambo.  Now I have a creative little Fourth of July card :) 

Ok, gotta run and finish up the food for the graduation party...Thanks for stopping by!

Other challenges for this card:
The Poodle Parlor-Anything Goes
AI Factory-Summer Fun
Aud Sentiments-Summer
Delightful Challenges-Anything Goes
MelJens-Red, White and Blue
Rubber Cafe-Summer
Stamp Insanity-CAS
Southern Girls-Anything Goes
Alota Rubber Stamps-Summertime
Crafters Companion-Here Comes Summer
Crafting for All Seasons-Summer
Little Darlings-Summer
Anything Goes-Here Comes Summer
Bearly Mine-Anything Goes
Top Tip Tuesday-Open Theme

Other card details: Paper: Georgia Pacific White, The Paper Company, Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Markers: Copic

Holiday Magic

Hi Everyone!

I mentioned last week that I was invited to guest design for Sparkle and Sprinkle this month, so I'm back today, excited to show off what what I've made. 

I used this super cute Reindeer stamp from the set named Rudy along with a sentiment from the same set.  I stamped him and colored him with my Copic markers and then set out to make the card.  Since the background paper had some glittery embellishment on it, I thought it was the right time to use some of my Tear-ific tape and make a coordinating panel.  I put the tape across my white cardstock and then sprinkled it with some Red Apple embossing powder (EP276) and then heat set it.

Here is a close up of the embossed stripes and the bit of powder I put on Rudy's nose as well :) 

I know it's only June, but have you thought of getting started on your holiday cards?  It sneaks up fast every year...lol! 

Well, that's it for me.  I have a busy weekend ahead, so I gotta get a move on.  Thanks for dropping by to see me today and stop by Sparkle and Sprinkle to see all their fabulous stamps and glitter.

I hope you have a great weekend!

Challenges for this card:

Craft Your Passion-Magical

Magical Monday-Punch and Embossing

Stamping and Scrapping Central-Embossing

Card Cupids-Animals

Christmas Cards All Year Round-Anything Goes

Bling it On-Embossing

Fresh Brewed Designs-Inspired by a song (Rudolph, of course!)

Paper Shelter-Punches and Dies

Moving Along with the Times-Inspired by Song ( Rudolph! )

Details not listed above-Paper: The Paper Company, American Crafts, Punch: EK Success, Twine: Martha Stewart, Brads from my supplies.

Retirement Sale

Hi Everyone,

I don't have a card today, but I wanted to let you know that a bunch of sets from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff are retiring in the next couple of days.  The happy news?  They are on sale for $1.00!

Here is a small sample:

Drop by Lindsay's Stamp Stuff soon, because when they are gone, they are GONE!

Have a great day!

Hot Diggity Dog!

Hi Everyone,

Today I get to show off my card that I made with newly released stamps from DRS Designs.  The main stamp is aptly named Rascally Russell and he is perfect for Fathers Day if you haven't made your card for dear old dad yet :) 

I created the background using the Woven Plaid background stamp and the panel was made with the Polka Dot background. (I love that it works on so many types of cards!) Before I was done with them, I stamped and extra piece of paper, so that I could make Russell's clothes by paper piecing them on him.  I love how match-y match-y this makes the card!

The Hot Diggity Birthday stamp seems like a good pairing with this spry old timer, so a birthday card it became. 

Have you been playing along at DRS Designs to possibly win the stamp of the day?  Here is a peek at the card that I made for the post over there today.  Leave a comment at the DRS Designs blog and you could be tomorrow's winner!

Good Luck!

Challenges for this card:

Amber's Crafts-Special Man

Crafts and Me-Stamp Something

Fab N Funky-Magnificent Men

Paper Shelter-Celebrate

Sisterhood of Crafters-Special Man

Stampin Royalty-Dad

Paper Variety-For a Man

AI Factory-Use Something New (Stamps)

Craft Us Crazy-Masculine theme

Digi Doodle Shop-No Designer Paper

Do You Stack Up?-Birthday

Paper Play-Masculine Card

Shelly's Images-Anything Goes

Some Odd Girl-Masculine

Stamp Insanity-Masculine

Creative Inspirations-Dad

Dream Valley-Father's Day or Masculine

Sentimental Sunday-Masculine and a Sentiment

Stamptacular-Dads or Grads

Crazy for Challenges-Masculine

Little Claire's-Cards for Men

Secret Crafter-Men

Fussy and Fancy-Masculine

Poodle Parlour-Anything Goes

Details not listed above-Paper: The Paper Company, Ink: Momento, Stampin' Up, Markers: Copic, Punch: Martha Stewart, brad and buttons from my supplies.

Monday

Hi Everyone,

I hope the weekend was good to you.  We managed to squeeze in a little fun for ourselves in the form of the new Woody Allen movie, Midnight in Paris. I thought it was very charming and the best movie he's made in a while.  Maybe my favorite movie I've seen so far this year.  It's reminiscent of The Purple Rose of Cairo for me, and the fact that it was set in Paris in summer didn't hurt either.  If you've never wanted to go there, you will after watching the gorgeous shots of the city :)

We then went out to the Winking Lizard to catch the running of the Belmont.  I was looking forward to watching it out somewhere, in a group of people. We got a seat right by the TV and put an order in, and then the horses were off and running.  So fun.  I'm cheering, the jockeys/horses are making a run for the finish line....Who will it be?  Who's that coming up from the back?  Then....Nothing.  Frozen screen.  The satellite goes out.  The race ends.  The screen remains frozen.  Sigh.  So much for watching it in a crowd.  Oh well, at least my portabella sandwich was very tasty :)

So this is my small attempt at flowers this year.  The deer (chipmunks and rabbits too) eat everything.  I hate marigolds, but they are in the deer resistant category so I give those a try every year.  They last awhile, but always get sampled here and there by the wildlife.  I'm also giving zinnias a go.  So far so good.

This is on my deck.

More of the same in a planter off the deck on my brick walkway.  That thing on the metal stake is some deer repellent gizmo.  It was a new item at the garden supply store and unlike the spray, I don't have to reapply it. Fingers are crossed.

Here is my lounge chair.  It's under a tree and my favorite spot to read in the summer.

And a shot of my herb garden.

This empty pot has mint seeds.  My mint didn't come back this year, so I have to start from scratch.

This coming weekend is Jennifer's graduation party.  I feel like I've been working on these favors for forever, so I even got Uncle Rod to help me.  They are a triangle boxes filled with orange and white M&M's.  School colors are a must have.

A close up...Only 22 more to go and I will be done. Whew!

Challenges for this favor:

Stamptacular Sunday-Dads or Grads

Craft Your Days Away-Monochrome (Triangle box)

A couple of months ago, I helped a friend make the favors for her son's graduation party.  He's a golfer and the school mascot is a bee.  Aren't they cute?  I used the small bee stamp from Hambo Stamps.

I've also been working on anniversary invites and favors for someone, but I'm no where close to showing those off yet, so I guess I will end it here. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a great crafty day friends :)

Challenges for this favor:

Stamptacular Sunday-Dads or Grads

Designed 2 Delight-Use a Bug

Details not listed above-Paper: The Paper Company, Georgia Pacific White, Ink: Stampin' Up, Stamps: PTI, Stampin' Up, Hambo Stamps, Punches: Marvy, EK Success, Nesties

Staying Cool

Hi Everyone and Happy Friday! 

I love Friday.  I think it's always the happiest day of the week.  My hubby gets the job wrapped up and then you have the whole weekend looming ahead, full of endless possibilities :)  Ahhh, ain't life grand?  :) :) :)

I'm going to finally let you in on a secret.  I was asked to be a guest designer for the month of June for Sparkle and Sprinkle!  WOO-HOO!  If you haven't heard of them, you HAVE to check them out!  Not only do they have really CUTE stamps, but they have TONS of really great glitter, embossing powders, flock and so much more.  The prices are reasonable as well.

I was in heaven while working with all the fun product when making this card.  Since it's been in the 90's where I live, I decided to "cool off" by making a holiday card with this darling snowman from the stamp set named Christmas Rudy.

I LOVE snowmen and he is just about as cute as they come :)  I colored him up with my Copics, and then set out to embellish my card with some of the flock and glitter they carry in the store. 

First I started with my background paper.  The big white dots reminded me of snowballs, so I added some Snow White Flock (FL101) to each one with a glue pen.  While that dried, I put a dab of glue on each snowflake dot on my image and then sprinkled on a bit of Crystal Ice (G1058) a semi-transparent glitter. They dried and stayed 3 dimensional and look really cool!

 

Here is a close up of the detail:

I was having so much fun that I didn't stop there.  When I went to assemble the card, I ran my glue pen around the last layer of the image and then sprinkled that with Sparkling Snow (G1003), which has a more sparkling look than what I used on the snowflakes.  

Ok, so I hafta show you the whole card again :)  (I love his crooked little smile!)

Here is a peek at the entire stamp set:

The last product that I used, that I have to share with you, is their Tear-ific Tape (SAT01).  It's double sided, permanent, acid free, heat resistant, and super high tack.  It's 1/4" wide and comes on a massive roll.  The best part?  This stuff REALLY works!  I love it.  We have all used that cheap-o tape and the next thing you know, some heavy panel you attached to your card is slipping off.  Not here! When it's glued down, it's on for good.  It also works great for attaching glitter too, but that I will have to save for another post (wink!)  

Until I'm back with another card made with my Sparkle and Sprinkle supplies, why not check out their blog?  The design team there is fantastic, and they showcase all kinds of cool techniques using the product available at Sparkle and Sprinkle.

Before I go, I have to say thank you to Judy for recommending me, and to Donna for extending this invitation to guest design for them. I'm absolutely thrilled and it's a complete honor. Thanks ladies!

Thanks for dropping by and have a great weekend!

Challenges for this card:

Crafts and Me-Stamp Something

Creative Craft World-3 or more Brads

My Mum's Craft Shop-Use a Punch

Karen's Doodles-Brads or Eyelets

One Stop Craft-Texture

Pixi Dust-Christmas or Winter

Details not listed above: Paper: The Paper Company, Georgia Pacific White, Recollections, Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Punch: Martha Stewart, Brads and Gems from my supplies.

All Occasion Card

Hi Everyone!

I'm starting out this post with the sale banner today.  It's a quick one, today only, so pop by and check out

 Lindsay's Stamp Stuff today for your 40% off savings :)

Depending on what you buy, maybe you can make this:

I made an all occasion card for my stash, and used the hot air balloon image from Steampunk Style, printing it on Kraft paper.  I thought about glittering it up, but after looking at it, I decided less is more, since there really is MORE on this card already. The ribbon and doily make it foofy enough, so I just let it be.

Here is the entire set from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff:

Since I'm running late today, I'm going to keep the extra chit chat for a different post.  Be sure to check out Lindsay's blog, she always has something new to share and if it's hot where you live, (it was a scorcher here yesterday!) remember to Stay Cool!

Challenges for this card:

Digi Stamps 4 Joy-Wings

Flutter By Wednesday-Polka Dots w/wings (Polka dots on my DP)

Anita B Stampin-Lots of Layers

Bearly Mine-Anything Goes

Craft Room Challenge-Anything Goes

Crazy Amigo-Summer

Creative Card Crew-Wings

Deep Ocean Challenge-Anything Goes

Digital Tuesday-Garden or Outdoors

PaperTake Weekly-Anything Goes

Bunny Zoe-Lace (Lace Doily)

Craft Your Passion-Anything Goes

Critter Sketch-Kraft (Image on Kraft)

Card Cupids-More than 3 layers

MyGrafico-Anything Goes

Details not listed above-Paper: The Paper Company, Pink Paisley, Ink: Versamark, Stamps: PTI, Doily & Ribbon:: Darice, Punch: EK Success, Dome Butterfly: Pink Paisley

Purr-Fect Birthday

Hi Everyone,

Today I wanted to show off a birthday card I made with one of the newly released stamps from DRS Designs. I love this totally stamp-y card, it's one that I would make again in a heart beat to send off to a cat lover for their special day.

I used one of my many background stamps that I have from DRS Designs called Cat Paw Background and created my own designer paper.  The newest stamp is the Purr-Fectly Birthday sentiment and I was able to add this cute Happy Cat Sitting for an embellishment.  

I added a striped ribbon in coordinating colors above my punched border (it's my newest punch and I love it.  I think I got a bit carried away and used it on a boat load of new cards.  Hope you like it too, cuz you might get sick of seeing it...lol!)

Have you been playing along with the Stamp A Day Give Away at the DRS Designs Blog?  Here is a peek of my card that is featured over there today.  If you leave a comment over there at the DRS Designs blog, you could win the stamp of the day!

Good Luck!

Challenges for this card:

Scrappy Frogs-Birthday

Drunken Stampers-Birthday

Just Some Lines-Monchromatic

Send a Smile 4 Kids-Dogs & Cats for Kids

Word Play Weekend-Tails

Bloggers Challenge-Pets

Fairy Knoll-Birthday

GuyLou's-Monochromatic

Moving Along with the Times-No Designer Paper

Sassy Studio-No Designer Paper

Details not listed above: Paper: The Paper Company, Georgia Pacific White, Ink: Stampin' Up, Nesties, Punches: Martha Stewart, EK Success, Marvy, Ribbon: Inique Boutique, Stickers: EK Success.

My Convertible Hair

Hi Everyone,

I really wanted to play along with the Hambo Hoedown Challenge this week, so I was happy to find a bit of time.  The challenge is buttons, and they provide the digi to you each week if you play along and also email them a photo of your card.  The digi for this challenge is named Strawberry Kid and also comes with this darling little thank you sentiment.  Besides birthday cards, thank you cards are my most needed, so I'm always happy to add to my stash.

I did some messy stitching around my strawberry paper and added those little matching dome stickers.  If you are wondering where my button is, it's that little white flower on my ribbon bow. It's one of those with the do-hickey behind it.

See?

Since I have less design team commitments now, I'm trying to keep up with my resolution to blog about more personal stuff, so here goes. 

I got my hair cut last week and I've been keeping it blonder for the warm months.  So here is a kinda not so good picture of me with shorter, layered hair. I like it.  I told my husband that it looks like convertible hair.  As in, if it gets wind blown with the top down in our new Corvette I can just shake it back into place. (Insert a big long stare at me from him right here.)  I'm pretty sure I'll have to continue driving  my convertible hair around in my non convertible, seven year old Saturn Ion.  

Also book club meets this week, so I thought I would share the selection.

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

I enjoyed it.  It's very sweet, and a fun summer read.  If you need something deeper, you can join Rod in his reading of Moby Dick.  Seriously.  The man is reading this because he wants to.  Who does this? 

Our sweetheart niece Jennifer graduated high school on Saturday.  Both she and her sister are now adults. Sigh.  I love them so. One more year, and Julianne will graduate from OSU.  She will then be off to some other school studying for another four years for her degree in Pharmacy.  For now, she passed the test to be certified as a pharmacy tech and will get paid this summer, instead of just being an intern working for free...Woo Hoo!  

(Doesn't it look like the guy in the background is checking them out? EWWWW!)

Had to sneak in a photo of us too :)

The other crazy thing that happened on Sunday was this.  We open the garage to leave for church, when there's this odd little white bird in our driveway.  Thinking it's some rare breed, I go closer to check it out, when I discover it's a parakeet! It was white with a little blue underneath and was SOOOO cute.  It looked so pitiful, and I was freaking out telling Rod we needed to save it! I was racking my brain trying to figure out how to catch it quickly, but we didn't have anything to put him in.  Sadly we just ended up leaving and I just prayed that it would still be there when we got home from church. No luck...I hope someone else out there finds it and is better equipped to help... I'm choosing to believe that it got away on accident, and not that someone let it go on purpose :(

I guess that's it for now.  Have a great rest of the day and thanks so much for visiting me!

Challenges for this card:

Stamp Something-Use a Digi

Totally Paper Crafts-Get Fruity

Wags N Whiskers-Stitching

Stamp Insanity-Anything Goes

Paper Creations Ink-Ribbon or lace

Hambo Hoedown-Buttons

Details not listed above-Paper: The Paper Company, DCWV, Markers: Copic, Stickers: EK Success, Nesties, Ribbon, lace and button from my supplies.