Posted by toyzhaven @ 9:53 am

natural-friends.jpg  It IS a good morning!

We are spending today with family and friends at a barbeque, so I anticipate a good time to be had by all :).   We are still reeling a bit from the events of this past week, but we are faithful that our hearts will be mended.   Thanks to all of you who are sending up prayers….. it is exactly what is needed!

Today’s featured stamper on SCS is Susiestampsalot!   You can check out her gallery on SCS here.   I chose THIS card to case.   I love so much about her card that I really kept to it’s integrity.   I used similar colors ( I chose the new IN COLORS), changed the image and sentiment placement and because I loved Susie’s gorgeous butterfly, I added one on, too!

I’m in the middle of making a big crockpot full of calico beans and boiling up some ribs…. busy busy!   I hope you all have a fabulous Sunday, too!

Here’s my deets:  (I call this OLD meets NEW)

Stamps:  Natural Beauty, Make it Count (SU!)

Colors: Pirouette Pink, Kiwi Kiss, GP White, Bella Rose DP

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, Pirouette pink, Kiwi Kiss, copics

Accessories: brads, ribbon, dimensionals, scissors, oval scallop punches, mat pack (for piercing)

TFL!~ and have a blessed day!

Posted by toyzhaven @ 9:34 am

cream-of-the-crop.jpg  Good day, ya’ll….

Happy to have gotten to play a little this morning.   Today’s Featured stamper on SCS is Stephanie.Hargis.  I was not familiar with Stephanie’s gallery, but it is always a nice suprise when Beth comes up with these great galleries.

I chose this card of Stephanie’s to case.   It is a sketch from Julee’s Monday Mojo sketch….. but I loved it so that I had to give it a go!  I did change a couple things… like colors, images and I moved around the sentiment and the ribbon and brads.  I also left out the photo corners as there was just no room left!

We, (Dh, Ds and I) spent the day yesterday with Tracy (LodiChick) and her family.   My DH was helping to install her new kitchen cabinets while Tracy and I ran kids around and played in her studio!  It was alot of fun.   I treasure times spent with friends and Tracy is such a sweetheart.  Today is all about relaxing.

Here’s the deets on my card:

Stamps:  My Favorite Things’ Cream of the Crop

Colors: Basic Gray, Green Galore, Basic Black, Only Orange, GP White

Ink: Brilliance Graphite black, copics, Tim Holtz tea bag distressing ink

Accessories: mini brads, ribbon, dimensionals, scissors, stipple brush

TFL!~ and have a blessed day!

Posted by toyzhaven @ 8:57 am

made-my-day.jpg  Good morning, ya’ll.

Today’s Featured Stamper is Cindy (YLM).  Cool gallery, Cindy!  I awoke at 4am this morning (again!) and checked out Cindy’s gallery.  I found this little cutie to case. 

Although I was totally drawn to her simple layout, ya know I had to go and TOY it up.  I added a layer, a scallop border, brads and moved the sentiment. 

I took the opportunity to work with my new pearlescent watercolors (courtesy of Kim at My Favorite Things).  I stamped my image on basic black, embossed in white and went to coloring.  I tell ya, I am so not a watercolorer, but these babies are so beautiful (colors) and easy to use.  I really wish I could have captured the shimmer in this pic, but i couldn’t get right angle.  Trust me.. the colors are fab!  The black grosgrain is threaded through the prima and tied in a knot.

Here’s my deets:

Stamps: Chamomile (My Favorite Things Presents Annie LaPoint); sentiment from Sassy Sentiments (www.mftstamps.com)

Colors: Basic Black, GP White, Certainly Celery Designer DP, DCWV DP

Ink: Versamark, Brilliance Graphite Black

Accessories: brads, ribbon, dimensionals, oval scallop punch, large white Prima, slit punch, pearlescent watercolors, white EP

TFL!~ and have a blessed day

Posted by toyzhaven @ 12:45 pm

mfteaser-hey-sweetie.jpg   Happy Sunday, ya’ll…

I’ll warn you up front, I may ramble a bit.  There are a few things I want to say.  But first……

Today’s Featured Stamper is Maren (mmbc).  First off, I adore her name.   I’ll be the first to admit, I wasn’t familiar with her gallery, but i am now!  Wowzers… another stamper with a clean fresh style that is very eye-catching and definitely appealing.  

I chose  this card by Maren to case.   Maren’s card caught my eye first thing this morning and I couldn’t stop thinking about it all through church!  Don’t tell my pastor on me.. lol.    I changed the colors just a bit.  I kept the integrity of her sketch and only added one layer.   I also centered the sentiment as that is the only place it would fit :).

Quite a few people have asked me what punches I use alot.   Well, ya’ll know I LOVE my scallop punches.   I have it in Mega, Giga and Large (all Marvy).  I also love my circle punches and have them in all sizes, ranging from 1″ to 3″.   One particular person *wink* (you know who you are) asked about which circle punches I use with the designer label punch.  I use the 1 1/4″ circle, then the designer label, then another circle 1 3/4″ of a contrasting color.   HTH! :)

Now.. There’s going to be some excitement going on this week over at My Favorite Things!  New Releases!!  In fact, the image on my card today is a MF*Teaser* using the new What’s Up Cupcake MINI set.    The one thing I love about MFT’s minis are that they are so packed with fun!  This one you’ll want to have :).   Here are the details of the upcoming release party:

My Favorite Things (www.mftstamps.com) is having a New Release Cocktail Party on Wednesday, June 4 from 9-11 p.m. Eastern time. LOTS of fun (and a surprise release) is planned including finding out how YOU can be the next MFT Guest Designer. Head over to the MFT forum on www.splitcoaststampers.com to find out all the details and we hope to see you there on Wednesday night.

Finally…..

Deets on this card:

Stamps:  What’s Up Cupcake by My Favorite Things

Colors: Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, MME DPs.

Ink: Regal Rose, Graphite Black, copics

Accessories: brads, ribbon, dimensionals, scallop punch, Heidi Swapp crystal flowers, Icicle stickles, glitter glue, slit punch

TFL!~ and have a blessed day~

Posted by toyzhaven @ 11:29 am

remember-the-moments.jpg  Happy Memorial Day weekend, everyone….. 

I was so pleased this morning when I looked at the challenge for Featured Stamper Peanutbee!  Denise is an awesome stamper with such a clean fresh style.   I just received a sweet RAK from Denise in Friday’s mail.  I haven’t even had a chance to thank her, yet!  So, my card is for Denise.    I thought it fitting on Memorial Day to make her a ‘Remember the moments’ card.   Besides, nothing is finer than being a Featured Stamper…. it’s akin to being Queen for a day!   Congrats, Denise!!  You can view her gorgeous gallery by clicking here.

It’s a glorious Sunday in Western New York.  The sun is shining and the birds are chirping and I’m going to go out and play in the sun!  Anyone want to come along!?

 Here’s my deets:

Stamps:  Unpackaged  acrylics that are most likely Inkadinkadoo (they were given to me without a package, so if anyone knows who it is, please advise me.

Colors: GP White, Basic Black, Pretty in Pink, MM DP

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, copics, black fine tip marker for doodling

Accessories: MM brads, ribbon, dimensionals, scallop punches, slit punch, scissors

TFL!~ and have a blessed day!

Posted by toyzhaven @ 12:14 am

fs67-just-a-note.jpg  Good morning!  Although it is 1am!   Yup, another sleepless night for me.  It sucks getting old.. lol

Today’s featured stamper is none other than Dawnsing (Dawn).  You can view her gallery here.  Dawn has a very clean, crisp style and it was refreshing to look through her gallery.  I found this card that I chose to case.   Not only do I love her card,  it took me all of 10 minutes to replicate!   Gotta love that!

Here’s what I did… I stuck pretty close to her layout with a minor change on the scallops.  Intead, I used a rotary cutter to create the curve on the white.  I changed the chocolate chip to basic black and added some primas.  I also added brads.  Quick and simple!

Here’s my deets:

Stamps: Sentiment by Hambo Stamps (www.hambostamps.com)

Colors: Watercolor white, Basic Black, Gp White, Summer picnic Dps

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black

Accessories: Brads, Ribbon, dimensionals, rotary cutter, primas.

TFL!~and have a blessed Sunday!

Posted by toyzhaven @ 6:44 am

many-tanks-fs.jpg  Good Sunday morning, to you!   When I saw the Featured Stamper this morning on Splitcoaster, I was really excited!  I’ve been introduced to another great stamper….  NUTSYMUHL (Kim Muhl).  You gotta check out her gallery here or her blog here.   This girl rocks!  Thanks, Kim, for letting us CASE your beautiful work :).

I chose this card by Kim.   Layout usually catches my eye first, and this being no exception,  but the colors were fab, too.  Unfortunately, I am fresh out of soft sky cardstock, so I opted to change it up a little bit.  Here’s what I did:

 1) Kept the same basic layout

2) Stayed close to her colors

3) added layers

4) omitted one corner adornment

Here’s my deets:

Stamps:  Tank and sentiment by Hambo Stamps (www.hambostamps.com)

Colors: Chocolate Chip, GP White, River Rock, Close to Cocoa Designer DP

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, copics

Accessories: brads, ribbon, dimensionals, scallop punches, corner punch, slit punch, scissors

TFL!~ and have a blessed day!

Posted by toyzhaven @ 9:02 am

joyfully-casing-jodi.jpg  I have, I have!  I’ve been thinking of ALL my stamping friends this week as I’ve been a busy little bee.  I have all my swaps for the gathering to finish, though I’ve cut paper for them all. 

I took time out this morning to participate in the Featured Stamper challenge on SCS…. because today’s featured stamper is one of my personal favorites……  Kharmagirl (Jodi)!!!  I just love Jodi’s style.  She’s also a challenge chaser, like me!  Jodi is such a sweetheart.  You have to check the challenge out if you haven’t already. 

I chose to case this card by Jodi.  I am almost always drawn to layout first and this one caught my eye.  I changed up the colors, images and left the flower out in place of some lush brown velvet ribbon.  I also added brads.   All my images are Hambo (www.hambostamps.com).

This was a very quick card.  I needed something quick this morning as I have a male friend who is suffering some medical issues and I need to get a card to him. 

My Deets:

Stamps:  Hive and sentiment by Hambo Stamps

Colors: Chocolate Chip, Green Galore, Tempting Turquoise, GP White, Close to Cocoa Designer DP

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, Copics

Accessories: brads, brown velvet ribbon, dimensionals

TFL! and have a blessed day!

Posted by toyzhaven @ 9:16 am

worm-wishes.jpg  Good Sunday, to you! 

Today is a particularly melancholy day for us.  We are seeing off a family that has been with our church for many years.  They are moving out of state and will be sorely missed.  So, I used today’s Featured Stamper challenge to make them a going away card. 

Today’s Featured Stamper on SCS is BeckyTE.   I chose this gorgeous card of Becky’s because I loved the layout (my usual draw).  I kept her layout, changed colors, DP, image and sentiment.  I also moved the brads. 

DH and DS are feeling much better this morning, but I’m afraid the days of downtime have left my mojo wanting.  I am trying to use up some of my lesser used colors (brocade blue, barely banana for example)… and some older DPs.  I have new colors and DPs coming this week, and promised myself I wouldn’t break them open until I clear out some of the old. 

Here’s my deets:

Stamps:  Balloon Worm and worm wishes sentiment by Hambo Stamps (www.hambostamps.com)

Colors: Brocade Blue, Barely Banana, Certainly Celery, GP White

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, Certainly Celery, copics

Accessories: tiny brads, tiny grosgrain ribbon, circle punches, word window punch, designer label punch, stipple brush

TFL!~ and have a blessed day!

Posted by toyzhaven @ 9:25 am

very-punny-minis.jpg  Today’s Featured Stamper on Splitcoaststampers.com is ParisOtremba.  You can check out her gallery here.  I have to admit, I was not familiar with Paris’ work,  but a trip through her gallery and I was so inspired!  Really beautiful gallery, Paris. 

I have to say I’m on a mini kick right now.. I apologize to those that aren’t into them.   I chose this little group of cards by Paris to case.  I really loved the simple layout.. and I stuck to it pretty well.  I did use the same set as I just liked the way they fit so nicely on these little cards.  I changed DP, cuttled the added layer, added brads, changed the ribbon treatment and used a scallop circle instead of a square.

I’m going to make a box for these, you gotta know that! LOL 

It’s pretty WHITE where we are this morning.  The snow has fallen steady for the last day and a half.  We are at about 10″, but some areas around here have up to 2 feet!  I’m pretty house bound, but with the studio calling……… :)

Here’s my deets:

Stamps:  Very Punny by Stampin’ UP!

Colors:  Brocade Blue, GP White, Rebecca DPs (retired)

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, Copics

Accessories: mini brads, mini grosgrain ribbon, scallop punch, circle punch, cuttlebug EF, dimensionals

TFL!~ and have a blessed day.

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