Have a Sizzlin' Summer!

Hi Everyone,

I have tons of info in this post, so let's get right to it ok? 

#1. The Hambo Howdown Challenge:

This week it's Dots and Stripes.  If you didn't play along last week and get your free digi, just use any Hambo stamp and join the fun.  I went with a summer time theme on my card today, probably because I'm still waiting for the spring to arrive in these here parts. Let's just say I've been using an umbrella for something besides shade! lol.  Want to know a secret?  After coloring my stamped image, the blue in the umbrella totally didn't match the blue in the paper.  So instead of coloring a second image, I just colored the umbrella and paper pieced it on top :)  Yippee for an easy fix!

Here are the stamps I used for this nautical themed baby.

Life Guard Stand #3418

Sizzlin Summer #3204

#2.  My term for Hambo Stamps is coming to a close and the powers that be have put out a design team call for a new group.  So, if you have always wanted to be a Bacon Bit ( Don'tcha love that name?!) details can be found here. 

#3. It’s a Hambo Blog Hop! And you can join us!

Our jammin’ theme is “Hamming it Up At the Movies.” Using any Hambo image, either rubber or digital, create a project that represents and depicts a movie title. Maybe it’s your favorite movie, or maybe it’s one that you don’t even like. Whatever it is, we want to see your movie creations!

The hop is scheduled for Friday, May 20, and is set to go live at 7:00 AM CST. All blog hop posts must stay at the top of the page for that whole day. A prize will be awarded to the customer whose movie-themed creation tickles the Bacon Bits’ fancy in a hammin’ jammin’ way! The winner will be announced on the Hoedown blog, as well as on the Hambo blog on Wednesday, May 25.

If you are interested in participating, please email Judy at hambodesignteam@gmail.com

 by 11:00 PM CST on Wednesday, May 11. The blog hop order will be emailed to you on May 16.

Sample blog copy for the hop will be available after you sign up, if you desire to use it.

Come to the movies with us and thanks for visiting today!

Challenges for this card:

Frosted Designs-Stripes and Dots

Crafts 4 Eternity-Anything Goes

Paper Cutz-Anything Goes

Digi Doodle-Anything Goes

Details not listed above-Paper: The Paper Company, Cosmo Cricket, Ink: Momento, Markers: Copic, Twine: Martha Stewart, brads from my supplies.

Spotlight on the Basket

Hi Everyone,

This is the card I will be giving to my mother in law for Mother's Day this year.  I used the Daisy Basket stamp from DRS Designs for the focal image, along with the spotlight technique. Have you ever tried this before?  I really should use it more often because the effect is really cool.

 I stamped the image and cut it out with my Nesties. Then I stamped the image a second time on a separate piece of cardstock, cutting out a portion using a 1 3/4" punch.  This circular part is the only thing that is then colored, and adhered onto the main image with a pop dot.  I cut out one of the butterflies from the Three Butterflies stamp and used it like an embellishment, and of course my favorite Polka Dot stamp from the latest release had to make its way onto the card :)

With the dots and the bow at the top, I needed to balance out the bottom with some black as well, so I used a Martha Stewart border punch and some bling to make it even more girlie.

Thanks for visiting and I'm also posting at DRS Designs today, so stop by over there and say hi!

Challenges for this card:

2 Sisters Challenge-For a Mom

Crafty Calender-April Showers bring May Flowers

Stamp Scrap and Doodle-Mother's Day

Sweet Stampin' Challenge-Try something New (Spotlight Technique)

Crafts 4 Eternity-Anything Goes

Prarie Fairy-April Showers bring May Flowers

Fairy Tale Challenge-Mother's Day

If the Shoe fits...-Things with Wings

Fussy and Fancy-Spring

Paper Cutz-Anything Goes

Phindys Place-Glitter, Glamor, Glitz

Stamp Something-Things with Wings

Totally Papercrafts-Glitter

Wags n Wiskers-Die or Punch

CCEE Stampers-Add a Butterfly

Charisma Cardz-April Showers bring May Flowers

Craft Us Crazy-Mother's Day

Dutch Dare-For Mom

Papercrafting Journey-Bling

Rubber Cafe-Mom

Some Odd Girl-All About Mom

Little Red Wagon-Mom

My Mums Craft Shop-Flowers

Paper Shelter-Mom

Sisterhood of Crafters-Mom

Paper Variety-Polka Dots

Stampin Sisters in Christ-No DP

Clear it Out-Ribbon or trim

Ladybug Crafts Ink-Going Dotty

Details not listed above-Paper: The Paper Company, Ink: Momento, Stickles, Bling: Love 2 scrap, Ribbon: JoAnn's

Mr. & Mrs.

Good Monday morning !

I made this card to play along with a few of the wedding card challenges, which I'm sure were inspired by the wedding of the Prince last week.  I was one of those watchers, just like I watched when Prince Charles married Diana back in the day.  It was a beautiful wedding, but I have to say my favorite part was the dress of the sister! Omgosh....LOVED IT! 

Ok, on to the card.  I used the Wedding Cake image from I Brake for Digis along with some traditional stamps from my stash.  Some Stickles, ribbon and pearls were all that it needed.  Now I just need someone

 I know to get married so I can give this away...lol.

Remember to use the code SAVE10KARIN when shopping at I Brake For Digis and you will save 10% off your purchase....Cheers!

Challenges for this card:

Creative Inspriations-Use a Digi

Easy Craft Projects-Inspired by the royal wedding

Cardmadfairy's Digi-Wedding

Stampin for the Weekend-Wedding

Totally Papercrafts-Glitter

Crafty Sentiments-Wedding

Fresh Brewed Designs-Wedding

Just Some Lines-Wedding

Details not listed above-Paper: The Paper Company, DCWV, Stamps: PTI,  Ink: Momento, Ribbon: Joann's, Nesties, Markers: Copic

Music Saves My Soul

Hi Everyone,

After having some speaker issues and the Easter holiday, I'm finally playing along with Music Saves My Soul Saturday again.  The song is These Days from the new Foo Fighters CD. 

Stop by Marcea's blog and link up your song pick and I will be by to check it out :)

Happy Birthday Medallion

Hi Everyone,

Guess what?  Lindsay's Stamp Stuff has been in business for 2 years and that means there is a big sale in honor of the celebration!  Everything in her shop is 40% off through April 30th.  Now that's something we can all celebrate!

I went to a rubber stamp convention a couple of weeks ago and purchased something called a Geo-Die.  I was so excited to use it, so I printed out a piece of paper from the Bold Black and White paper set.  The die cuts your paper into a medallion shape along with making cuts on the inside of the shape as well. Then you fold back the inside cuts and it reveals the other side of the paper.  I'm probably not explaining it well, but look how cool it is on my birthday card.  The swirly paper design was perfect for this!

The center Happy Birthday circle is from the All Around Phrases set and I finished it off with a button embellishment.  Both of these sets along with everything else is 40% off at Lindsay's Stamp Stuff!

Don't forget to stop by Lindsay's Blog for lots of how to's and freebies!  Have a great day :)

Challenges for this card:

Stamping Scrapping Central-Anything Goes

Creative Inspirations-Use a Digi

Sparkles Forum-Anything Goes

Amber's Crafts and Stuff-Use a Digi

Details not listed above-Paper: The Paper Company, Georgia Pacific white, Embossing Folder: Darice, button and gems from my supplies.

Cool Pig

Hi Everyone,

A couple of weeks ago I played along with a sketch challenge over at Splitcoast Stampers. I decided to use some of my Hambo Stamps for the making of it, so I thought I would show off the card for that on the old

 blog-o today. 

I used my Cool Pig stamp (I love his grin!) and paired it with the sentiment (Stay Cool) that I used on my Popsicle card last week. I also learned how to make my own fabric Yo-Yo's, so I used that for my embellishment on this card. 

Have you been to the Hambo Stamps store recently? They have a big sale going on right now, and it's the perfect time to stock up on your wish list items for 25% off!

Also, there is a new challenge starting today at the Hambo Hoedown, and it's a girlie theme this week. Time to get out those flowers and lace :) Please stop by and check out the great cards from the Bacon Bits and be inspired to play along!

Have a great day!

Challenges for this card:
Partytime Tuesdays-Anything Goes

Details not listed above-Paper: The Paper Company, Colorbok, Ink: Momento, Markers: Copic, Fabric and button: JoAnn's, Punch: McGill

Ladybug Get Well

Hi Everyone,

I have a get well card for you today that I made with one of the new stamps from DRS Designs.  I was happy to receive this new Caught a Bug Greeting stamp because it gave me the opportunity to use this cute Ladybug Stackup which I don't think I've ever had the chance to use yet on the blog.  It was colored with Copic and Bic Mark-its and accented with black Stickles.  I chose to use the dark gray Mark it, it let the cute smiley face come though on the ladybugs. Also, I heat embossed the sentiment, but I don't think it shows in the photo :(

Again I used the Polka Dot background stamp along the side and finished it off with a checked ribbon.  If you are interested in seeing another one of my bug themed get well cards, buzz on by the DRS Designs blog today!

Challenges for this card-

Stamps R Us-Bugs and Embossing

Corrosive Challenge-Animals

Little Claire's-Animals

Totally Gorjuss-Bling it on (Stickles)

Details not listed above-Paper: The Paper Company, Ink: Momento, Stampin' Up, Punch: Stampin' Up, Ribbon: Offray

Wishing you all the best...

Hi Everyone,

I hope you all had a great Easter Sunday.  We had a busy day filled with lots of food and family :)

I love having masculine cards in my stash, and this Lighthouse from I Brake for Digis is a great image for that purpose.  I colored it with Copic markers and then went back and added highlights to the water with a white gel pen.  I thought the red bakers twine fit the nautical theme and buttons and twine seem to be my go to masculine embellishments.

Well, I still have lots of post holiday clean up, so my post is short and sweet.  If you want to save 10% off, remember to use the code SAVE10KARIN when shopping at I Brake For Digis.

Have a great Monday!

Challenges for this card:

Cheerful Stamp Pad-Cards for Men

Creative Inspirations-Use a Digi

One Stitch at a Time-Father's Day

Sparkles Forum-Anything Goes

Delicious Doodles-Anything Goes

Polka Doodles-3 Patterned Papers

Raise the Bar-Blue White and Stripes, Nautical

Aud Sentiments-Anything Goes

Meljens-Masculine

Paper Shelter-Nature Inspired

Bunny Zoe-One for the boys

Cards for Men-Circles

Craft Your Passion-Layers

Stamp N Doodle-Masculine

Details not listed above-Paper: The Paper Company, Cosmo Cricket, Stamp: PTI,  Markers: Copic, Twine and Punch: Martha Stewart, button from my supplies.

Happy Easter!

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to post something this weekend that celebrates Easter, so I found these cute little boys on You Tube singing "He Arose" on Easter at church.  They are so sweet.  (They remind me of Spanky on The Little Rascals when he was very young ;) )

Happy Easter!

Easter Time

Hi Everyone,

I'm currently in full shopping, cleaning, setting up and cooking mode right now.  Easter is my holiday to host the family for dinner, so I'm taking this week off from creating something using Lindsay's Stamp Stuff.  I will be back with something for you next week. 

 In the mean time, I encourage you to stop by her personal blog, The Frugal Crafter this week.  She has a great post about making your own Baker's Twine and it's super cool!  A definite must see.  Trust me.

Also, here is a look at some of my favorites from her store.  Everything is 25% off starting tomorrow!  I'm hoping to use these sets in the coming weeks.

Strawberries and Watermelon

Steampunk Style

On The Line

Thanks for stopping by and have a great crafty day! 

Spring-y Bunnies

Hi Everyone,

When I tried out for the Hambo Stamps design team, they sent me two digis for me to use on cards for my audition.  I showed you one of the cards a while back (Click here to see it again), but I realized I never posted this one.  I figured I better do it today or I'd have to wait until next Easter...lol.  I made a Z Fold card (my favorite "fancy fold" because it's super easy) and popped up a couple of these adorable bunnies, so they would be leaping off the page.  I swear I smile every time I look those faces.  I know I have said this before, but I LOVE their artwork.  Every stamp is cuter than the next :) 

Here is a close up of the bunnies and you can find that Spring Bunnies digi stamp by clicking here.

You do realize you can get free digis by playing along in the Hambo Hoedown each Wednesday, right?  Details can be found here.

Thanks for popping by and Happy Easter!

Challenges for this card:

Penny's Paper Crafty-Easter

Simon Says Stamp-Embossing

Sisterhood of Crafters-Easter

Creative Craft-Embossing

Scrap Creations-Digi Image

Kaboodle Doodle-Spring/Easter

Stamp N Doodle-Easter

Crafty Pad-Easter

Creative Inspirations-Easter

Dream Valley-Easter

I Did It-Easter

Scrappy Frogs-Easter

Sparkles Forum-Easter

Details not listed above-Paper: The Paper Company, Reminiscence, Markers: Copic, Embossing: Cuttlebug

Stay Cool

Hi Everyone,

It's Wednesday and that means it's time for another challenge at the Hambo Hoedown.  Sadly I did not get a chance to play along this week, but the theme is "announcement cards".  That means birth announcement, moving or graduation or...YOU decide on what to announce!  All the details can be found at the Hambo Hoedown blog.

Now before you leave, I do have a card that I made with some of my cute Hambo Stamps.  I know it's not quite summer yet, but I couldn't resist making a creamsicle card using this adorable Popsicle stamp (#3421)!  Ahhh!  I just LOVE it.  Along with the cute Stay Cool (#1516) sentiment, that yummy May Arts ribbon is also from Hambo!

Seriously, look how great that Sheer Pinstripe ribbon is...And the selection at Hambo is HUGE and the prices are right in your budget :)

Thanks for stopping by today!

Challenges for this card-

Ladybug Crafts Ink-Anything Goes

Top Tip Tuesday-Open Challenge

Magical Monday-Monochromatic

There She Goes-Monochromatic

Pile it On-Rubber Stamp

Amber's Crafts-Ribbon and Bows

Details not listed above- Paper: The Paper Company, Doily: Martha Stewart, Ink: Momento, Markers: Copic, Punch: Stampin' Up!

Sorry to hear of your loss

Hi Everyone,

I have a sympathy card for you today made with newly released stamps from DRS Designs.  The background was created with what you already know is my new favorite, Polka Dot background stamp. 

I stamped the new Background Branch twice and colored it with my Copics and the Medium Daisy Bloom was stamped on a separate piece of paper, colored and cut out and pieced on top in the center of the leaves.

The Sorry for your loss sentiment is from the current catalog and was stamped in black ink to match the outlines.  The entire image panel was matted in black which I think makes it pop.

Thanks for stopping by today, and if you need more inspiration, drop by the DRS Designs blog today and visit my other card there ;)

Challenges for this card:

Pile it On-Use Rubber Stamps

Totally Gorjuss-No Patterned Paper

Inspire Me Friday-Joyful Stamper-Anything Goes

Craft Your Passion-Dots

Paper Cupcakes-Green, Yellow and Orange

Details not listed above: Paper: The Paper Company, Georgia Pacific white, Ink: Momento Tuxedo black, Stampin' Up So Saffron, Markers: Copic

Cupcake Trio

Hi Everyone,

What's better than a cupcake?  Before you say "nothing", how about three cupcakes?  lol.  I could always use a little extra sugar, especially on a Monday, so these little cuties make my day!

The Cherry Cupcake image is from I Brake for Digis and I simply copied it so that there would be three.  Piece of cake. (Or rather, cupcake ;) )

The doily is actually a heart doily that I bought around Valentine's, but I hid most of it behind, so you really can't tell.  Gotta use up those supplies, right?  I added the bakers twine because it matched the theme and the button is there because it's cute.  My husband will always ask why this or that is on a card.  Like everything has to mean something.  Sometimes it's just for cuteness and that's reason enough. 

You can save 10% off your purchase by using the code SAVE10KARIN when shopping at I Brake for Digis.

Have a great start to your week!

Challenges for this card:

Aly's Sunday Challenge-Bakers Twine

Kenny K's Krafy Girz-Anything Goes

Wee Memories-All thing Adorable

Details not listed above-Paper: The Paper Company, My Mind' Eye, Copic, Punch: Stampin Up!, Twine: Martha Stewart, Doily:Darice, button from my supplies.