Well, it’s Saturday…. not yet ready to call it “Good” yet, though…. and I’ll tell you why in a moment..

I really needed a distraction this morning, so I decided to check out the IC challenge and see what I could come up with.   You would think that with 1000’s of stamps in my studio, I could find a rooster, but nope!  I did have an outhouse, though… so I went with that.   Besides, I haven’t played with my Hambos in a few days and was beginning to feel the withdrawals. 

Unfortunately, my mind is not on stamping or much happy things this morning, as we have had a major tragedy hit home.   My ‘adopted’ son (Mike) returned from Iraq yesterday for what was to be a very happy homecoming (although only a 1 month leave).  Well, Thursday night, his mom’s fiance was killed in an auto/train collision.   Mikey is my Zeke’s best friend for years and we basically adopted him as he spent so much time at our house.   We, as well as our community, are in shock.

Sorry, I don’t feel very chatty this morning..

 Here’s my deets:

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

Colors: Chocolate Chip, Pirouette Pink, Bella Rose DP, GP White

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, copics

Accessories: brads, ribbon, HPH, dimensionals, ticket corner punch

TFL!~ and have a blessed day

  Good Friday!

Thankfully, today’s Limited Supply challenge was an easy peasy one.   Even with the layer restrictions!  I think I may be getting better (not much) at minimalizing layers.   When I read the title of the challenge “Break out the Sunscreen”, I knew exactly what stamps I wanted to use as they have been sitting at my elbow for the last several weeks :)   My hambos!

Not much ’splaining to do here.  Image colored with copics and the rest is all scraps!   I even found a little tiny piece of orange stitched ribbon that was about to go in the trash when I decided to add it to the card :).

Here’s the deets: 

Stamps:  pool  girl and Sun-sational summer by Hambo Stamps (www.hambostamps.com)

Colors: Cool Caribbean, Pumpkin Pie, Night of Navy, GP White

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, copics

Accessories: brads, ribbon, dimensionals, swiss dots, scallop punches

TFL!~ and have a blessed day!

   Happy Independence Day!

When  Judy (StampingQueenJAR) contacted me about doing a sample for her Limited Supply Challenge,  I didn’t quite know what I was  getting myself into….. limited is NOT my middle name, you know.

Today’s challenge is all about the 4th.   We were to use patriotic colors, only 4 layers, 4 embellies/tools… well you get the picture.   I had the toughest time with the 4 layers deal..lol.   The first layer/background was created with Hambo’s hamburger stamp… stamped randomly and colored. 

What a great day it’s going to be!  We have a bbq  this afternoon with lots of fun food and friends.   We will also be celebrating the return of our ‘adopted’  son…. he’s finally home from his mission trip and to  top that, we’re looking forward to the return of our other ‘adopted’ son  from Iraq this week!    Mama’s happy!

Here’s the deets on my card:

Stamps:  BBQ man and hamburger by Hambo Stamps

Colors: Night of Navy, GP white, Real Red

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, copics,  white gel pen

Accessories: brads, ribbon, oval  punch, dimensionals

 TFL!~ and have a blessed day!

  Well HI there!

I bet ya’ll thought I’d never update this blog..lol.  I’m real sorry for the absence, but it was necessary.  I have not stamped in nearly a week, but I’m starting to feel the itch again.  

Today’s early submission is a Hambo Challenge.   Our challenge was to use one of Hambo’s ’signature’ stamps to create a card/project.  Now these stamps are generally used on the back of a card, but we wanted to show that they can be used on the card itself, too! 

Shortly after getting the challenge handed down, I knew what I wanted to do.  I made this little truck card using various punches and alot of prayer that it would work out… heehee.   It is paper pieced together with various levels of dimension. 

Here’s the deets:

Stamps:  How’s my Stamping by Hambo Stamps (www.hambostamps.com)

 Colors:  Yo Yo Yellow, Basic Black, Real Red, Cool Caribbean

Ink: Versamark, black and white gel pens

Accessories: dimensionals, circle punches, scissors, corner rounder punch

I’ll be back later to link the other challenge cards as they get posted.   What a fun challenge….. thanks, Monica!

TFL!~ and have a blessed day!

    My oh My, it’s Friday again.

It’s that time again… the Dirty girls have posed a challenge to the group.  We were to make a patriotic card (our interpretation) and we were to decorate the inside and the envelope! 

I knew I wanted to make this BBQ invite, in fact, I need to make 4 more, as we are having a small gathering (BBQ) here on the 4th.   I need to get these mailed TODAY!!   Nothing like waiting til the last minute..lol. 

I knew this image from Hambo (www.hambostamps.com) was perfect and thanks to Monica for suggesting the little hamburger to go along with it!!   I don’t own any ‘invite’ sets, so I had to handwrite the inside and the “You’re Invited” sentiment.

Oh, and we were not allowed to use ribbon!!  The horror!! :)  Instead, I crimped a piece of blue paper to give just a little more texture.  I cuttlebugged the white piece with the bubbles EF, as it looks like tiny hamburger buns, to me!

Here’s my deets:

Stamps:  BBQ Man, Hamburger and ‘Summer’ sentiment by Hambo Stamps.

Colors: Brilliant Blue, GP White, Real Red

Accessories: brads, dimensionals, scissors, blue fine tip marker, cuttlebug, crimper

TFL!~ and have a blessed day~

 ….. by the Pool!

I totally got into today’s Ways To Use It Challenge.. (ric rak).  I have been hoarding ribbons forever, but way in the back of my drawer, I knew I had this awesome string of star ric rak and had to use it.   This could be a pool party invite (only I don’t have a pool!)… heehee.

Ok, so I received a wonderful ‘care package’ from Monica at Hambo Stamps yesterday and I could NOT wait to ink up new rubber, so I picked out this adorable hippo sunbathing in his kiddie pool.  Since it’s almost summer, I chose red/white/blue combo, because that just makes me think summer! 

Summer IS almost here, though the cool temps are keeping us inside most of the day.  Is the weather just too weird or what??  Hmmmm….

Ok, here’s my deets:

Stamps: Pool Hippo and Stay Cool by Hambo Stamps (www.hambostamps.com)

 Colors:  Night of Navy, Bashful Blue, GP White, Real Red

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, White Craft, copics

Accessories: tiny brads, dimensionals, red and blue ric rak, white star ric rak,  swiss dots EF

TFL!~ and have a blessed day!

  Happy Saturday, Ya’ll….

Today’s submission is a dual challenge for me.   I was inspired by the Inspiration Challenge photo of Snow White.  I love the brilliant colors.   I also challenged myself to make a card without scallops or my precious cuttlebug!  No punches, either!

This came out so far from where I started.  I originally wanted to do Snow White’s Rose, but the colors would not allow it, so I went with something really fun, instead :).   I adore this seal image from Hambo.   He’s got lovestruck in his eyes.  So, I made up my own sentiment “sealed with a kiss”. 

It’s going to be a busy weekend in the studio…. have some deadlines looming.  I can’t wait to show you!

Here’s my deets:

Stamps:  Seal and seal stand by Hambo Stamps (www.hambostamps.com); XO are karen foster snap stamps; sentiment is handwritten

Colors: Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Yo Yo Yellow, GP White

Ink: Real Red, Yo Yo Yellow, Brilliance Graphite Black

Accessories: brads, ribbon, dimensionals, scissors

TFL!~ and have a blessed day!

  Happy Saturday

 I’m a hunting widow this morning.  DH awoke at 4am (I was already awake) and we had coffee together before he headed out.  It was so quiet in the house! :)  He asked if I was going back to bed, then added “Not likely if you get on that computer”.  I hate it when he’s right..lol.   I jumped online and caught the inspiration challenge.  You can view it here.

I was immediately drawn to the first photo.  The greens and creams and browns are so gorgeous and rich.   Since I chose to go with rich colors, I decided I was going to keep it simple and tidy.   The old olive layer is 1/2 embossed with Swiss Dots.  The flower and pot are cut out and popped on dimensionals.   I didn’t even want a bow, so I went with a little buckle for accent.  I added the handwritten sentiment as I’m sending this to my brother and his wife who have moved to Texas just a few months ago.  I really miss my bro!!

Here’s my deets:

Stamps:  Flower pot set by Hambo Stamps (www.hambostamps.com)

Colors: Chocolate Chip, River Rock, Old Olive, Very Vanilla

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, copics, brown fine tip marker (for sentiment)

Accessories: walnut brads, velvet ribbon, HPH buckle, circle punches, swiss dots EF

TFL!~  and have a blessed day!

  I love a challenge, don’t ya know.. :)  Well, a couple months ago, Monica at Hambo Stamps sent the girls on the design team a couple of these clear plastic nametag holders and asked us to create something using it.. The timing was perfect, as I needed a nametag quick for our Western New York gathering.  Monica rocks. 

Well, I get this e-mail the other day from Monica (addressed to all us girls) saying she was going to ‘deadline’ us so we’d get them posted :)  I guess Monica knows me better than I thought as I work most comfortably under a deadline.  So, Monica, this is for you :)  I made it! LOL 

You can see all the other nametags by visiting the girls’ blogs here:

Isabelle Mung - Inkerbelle’s

Colleen Schaan - Distinctive Touches

Libby Hickson - Libby’s Little Addiction

Monica Hunter - Talk to the Ham

 Here’s what I did… I put a mat of Jersey shore DP on Night of Navy cardstock, wrapped some ribbon around the corner, put some tiny brads in the corner (you can hardly see them as they match the paper just a little too well!) and did a little piercing along the bottom.  I stamped the image (Garden snail), colored it and cut out just the snail.  He’s attached to the outside with dimensionals, of course!  Then I punched holes in the top of the tag and loaded it up with matching ribbons.  I decided just to write my name on the tag as I don’t own any alphabet stamps of the right size.. isn’t that a shame!?  LOL :)  I’m told my writing is decent though

Here’s my deets:

Stamps: Garden Snail by Hambo Stamps (www.hambostamps.com)

Colors: Night of Navy, Jersey Shore DP

Ink: Copics, Brilliance Graphite Black

Accessories: nametag holder, ribbon, dimensionals, brads, paper piercing tools, hole punch

TFL!~ and have a blessed day!

  Happy Wednesday, ya’ll

Can you believe I made my card for this morning’s Sketch Challenge without ribbon??   I can’t!  I had every intention of putting ribbon on this card, but as I assembled .. it just didn’t work.  So sad… lol.   I am such a ribbon freak. 

Anywho.. this morning’s SC177 is very cool… lots of possibilities.  I love the big panel in the center.  I’ve been wanting to make another card with this image and this new sentiment for days.  I {heart} this shopping pig by Hambo Stamps (www.hambostamps.com).

I’ve got to take a kid to the doc this morning, so I’ll leave this short.   Noah took a header off his bike and wasn’t wearing a helmet!  He thinks since he’s nearly 16 that he is invincible.  Ssheeeeesh!

Here are my deets:

Stamps: Sale Pig and sentiment by Hambo Stamps

Colors: Watercolor white, Gp white, basic black, regal rose

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, Copics, white gel pen (accents on her bags)

Accessories: brads, dimensionals, scalloped oval punches, swiss dots EF, scissors

TFL!~ and have a blessed day.