Happy Monday, Ya’ll

Today’s submission is a tribute to my Uncle Ben (and new Aunt Evie!) who were married this past Wednesday in a civic ceremony in San Jose, California.  

I have to tell you about my Uncle Ben (my mom’s brother).   My Uncle Ben is everyone’s favorite.  He is a joker and alot of fun to be around.  When we were growing up, all the kids wanted to hang out at Uncle Ben’s house.  He was cool….. still is.   When my mom passed away in 92, my Uncle Ben became a parent to me.   I’ve only met Evie once (in Colorado, a couple of years ago) and instantly fell in love with her, especially since she has made such a happy man of my uncle!

My brother, who still lives in San Jose, and also works at the courthouse, was able to video and photograph the ceremony so the entire family could see.   Here’s a picture of the happy couple  with his kids:

  Note the cowboy hat…. this is why I chose to make a non-traditional wedding card!  They were both wearing western shirts and the bride wore shorts!

As for the card… I picked Tracy’s brain on Saturday while we were staying out of the guys’ way.   She pulled out this stamp by Printworks and I KNEW it was perfect.   Uncle Ben loves classic trucks/cars!   I stamped it and colored the image while at Tracy’s, then finished it up this morning.   I added a steering wheel and rearview mirror to the image and used crystal effects on the sideview, rearview and breaklights on the truck.   The little hearts hanging from the rearview are drawn in with a copic metallic red pen.  The sentiment “Just Married” and the tag sayings were handwritten and tied to the bumper with floss.

Here’s my deets:

Stamps:  Truck by Printworks

Colors:  Basic Black, Basic Gray, Cloud 9 DP and GP White

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, copics, red metallic pen, black finepoint marker

Accessories: brads, ribbon, dimensionals, word window punch, photo corner punch, crystal effects

TFL!~ and have a blessed day!

 Good Friday, to ya!!  

I came home to happy mail yesterday…. I received my very first Verve Visual order.   My order was placed on Monday and it was in my hot little hands by Thursday!  They were packaged neatly and they are soooooo awesome!  Color me impressed!

Since I’ve been having a mojo problem, I went with an easy sketch for today’s THSC (one of my favorites).  Here’s today’s sketch:

   Please use THSC11 in your keywords and remember to post back here so I can take a peek!  Also, remember there is no wrong or right card….. have fun with it!

I’m working on new designs for both My Favorite Things (new releases coming May 7th!) and for Hambo Stamps.  I will be posting some *MFTeasers* starting on Monday…… keep your eyes peeled

Here’s my deets:

Stamps:  Polka Stars and Starlight Starbright Remixed by Verve Visual (www.vervevisual.com)

Colors: Night of Navy, Yo Yo Yellow, GP White

Ink: Night of Navy and Yo Yo Yellow

Accessories: brads, ribbon, dimensionals, scissors (lots of cutting!), scallop punch, oval punches, swiss dots EF

In retrospect, I think I would have liked this better if I had embossed the stars to make them shine, but 20/20 hindsight being what it is, I’m still liking it!   The background was made with the tiny stamps from the Starlight Starbright Remixed set.

TFL!~ and have a blessed day!!

  Ok, so I’m having a little trouble with my mojo since the gathering.  My head is still spinning with all the great ideas I saw.   So, I decided that instead of doing things that are pressing me (I have some deadlines looming), that I would just do something for fun this morning and hope my mojo came along with me.

I’ve been toying (haha) around with this idea for a couple days…. and came up with this little “Tri-fold” type card that can hold a bevy of goodies.  As you can see in the pic below, there is a place to tuck a business card or even perhaps a gift card. 

  On the inside there is a place to put a small sentiment, but the card also opens up as a regular A2 card and you can write to your heart’s content :). 

Now, I know someone is going to ask for measurements, so I came prepared today.  As I said, I started with a regular A2 size card (cut longways) in Real Red.  I cut the designer paper as follows:

  <—– click to enlarge and you will see the measurements.  Then I matted that on a piece of Bliss Blue cardstock measuring 5 1/4″ x 4″.  The sentiment is stamped on the card base and the layers are up on dimensionals.

I sure hope my mojo sticks around.. it’s been touch and go this morning and I really need to get some work done!

Here’s my deets:

Stamps: Tart and Tangy (SU!); Cherry on top sentiment by Hambo (www.hambostamps.com)

Colors:  Real Red, Bliss Blue, Summer Picnic DP

Ink: Real Red and Garden green SU! markers (huff stampin’!); Craft White

Accessories:  Ribbon, oval punch, circle punch, scallop punch, dimensionals

TFL!~ and have a blessed day!

   Good day!  Well, today was DH’s first day back to work.  I am celebrating by stamping all day :).  I love ribbon, so today’s TLC was right up my alley. 

I have to tell you, it felt strange to stamp this morning without DH hovering over me.  I actually felt relaxed and enjoyed what I was doing.  I won’t tell him that though… lol.  I’m working on a new Hambo sample for later today….. can’t wait to get that done, but first, I must start cutting paper for our upcoming SCS gathering!  19 days and counting!!!  It will be my first gathering and I am so psyched to stamp with other awesome stampers. 

Have you been to a SCS gathering yet?  If so, tell me about it!  I hear they are a blast :) 

Here’s my deets on today’s TLC card:

Stamps: Image by Rubbernecker Stamps, sentiment from Fancy Flexible Phrases (SU!)

Colors: Basic Black, Yo Yo Yellow, GP White

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, Copics

Accessories: brads, ribbons, dimensionals, scissors, oval punches

TFL!~ and have a blessed day!

  Ok, I’m feeling a little chatty tonight, so who knows where this will go. 

I, as some of you know, have been working diligently on my studio.  It is worse than I thought, initially, but we’re coming along pretty well.  It’s still a work in progress and I probably owe Marisa some cards by now…. if you’ll leave your address for me Marisa, I’ll get those right out! LOL. 

Well, I decided today I would give myself a little ‘motivational’ trip to JoAnn’s and AC Moore.  I am in desparate need of scalloped OVAL punches, but can’t find them locally.  Anywho, I ended up at AC Moore after striking out at JoAnn’s and found a really cool set of oval die cuts for the c’bug.  So, If I work my cards (hehe), I may not need those punches afterall!  Well, since I saved myself a ton of money on punches (the die cut was on sale for $5),  I decided to look at some of their stamps.  I’ve never liked their selection, but on the end of the isle was a display for Inkadinkadoo Clear Stamps.  *Geek*  I have always loved Inkadinkadoo.  I stood there and drooled.  The sets were on sale, too!  I chose the humorous birthday set.   With my die cuts and stamps in hand, I headed for the checkout… only to be sidelined when I saw their 12×12 paper on sale 3/$1.  Oops!  Ok, so I only bought 3 sheets…. but I might have to go back.. They have some gorgeous Cosmo Cricket papers (as I used here).

With all that said… I needed to make a birthday card.  Have you ever noticed that it seems like there are more birthdays all of the sudden? LOL.. maybe I’m just paying more attention! ha!   I’ve noticed that my friends are getting older, too… lol.  Not me, mind you, just my friends.. bwahahaha.

Here’s the deets for the Birthday Humor card:

Stamps: Humorous birthdays by Inkadinkadoo Clear Stamps

Colors:  Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Sage Shadow, Cosmo Cricket DP

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, Brilliance Cocoa Bean, Copics, Tim Holtz’s Tea Bag distressing Ink

Accessories: brads, velvet ribbon, slit punch, circle punches, scallop punches, dimensionals, stipple brush

TFL!~ and have a blessed night!

  Oops, I did it again.. I read the Limited Supply Challenge in my sleep.   I read ‘circles’ and I guess that’s where my brain fell asleep, because we were ONLY to use things with circles and no DP, no Cuttlebug, etc.  BOMB! LOL.   Well back to the drawing board on that one… if I get a chance. 

As for this card.. the reason it bombed is because A) I used DP and B) my ribbon doesn’t involve circles.  But I still like it.  Hopefully, my BFF will like it, too

Stamps: Circle sentiment by Kolette Hill, BFF sentiment by Memory Makers, Small butterfly from Small Sayings (SU!)

Colors: Wild Wasabi, Basic Black, GP white, Palette O’ Prints DP

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, white craft, signo gel pens, copics

Accessories: Brads,velvet ribbon, scalloped punches, circle punches, dimensionals

*******************************************************************************

Sooooo.. we’ll move on to today’s sketch.   Once again, I don’t have a sample yet.  My two youngest are sick this morning and made a special request that I give them a couple more hours of sleep.  

This is our sketch this week (THSC4):

  Lots of room for interpretation here.  Keep it as is, flip it, whatever you wish.  There’s no wrong way.  (I’m so easy!)..

I have a doctor’s appointment this morning, but I’ll be back with my sample asap.  Please feel free to play at will! 

Well, It’s after 5pm and I’m just now getting my sample done.  It’s been a weird day!  As you can tell, my schedule has a life of it’s own..lol.  Anywho,  here it is above.

Stamps:  Sentiment by Inkadinkadoo, Stars and Swirls Jumbo Wheel

Colors: Brilliant Blue, Summer Sun, GP White

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, Versamark, copics

Accessories: brads, dimensionals, star punch, circle punches, clear EP

Have a blessed day!

TFL!~

  Aww, well this is my LAST Valentine for 2008.  I thought I was done when I finished Noah’s “Nuts for You” card,  but then my 13 yr old, Levi, came to me with a special request.   You see, there’s this girl in his school and he’s been a bit smitten with her.  He’s rather shy, so when he told me he wanted to give her a valentine, I was a bit shocked.  I’m also very proud that he’s stepping out of his comfort zone and letting someone know he cares.

So, I know I’ve used this sentiment (a variation thereof) already, but this was just too perfect for my sheep that I *had* to use it.  Will Ewe be Mine?  (Levi asked if she is going to know what a Ewe is…. I said he could explain it to her and that would start a nice conversation!). 

I’m having way too much fun with this Pun Fun set.  The images and sentiments are really cute, but they’re also very versatile if you use some imagination ;).   I love the cup of coffee/tea/cocoa.  I want to put that with the sentiment, “Caution!  You’re HOT!”  I think this set is the best investment I’ve made in years.

I used Shelly’s Sketch Challenge for Wednesday February 13th.   The sketch is really awesome and can be interpreted in many fun ways!  I did, however, take too many liverties with the sketch, so I did not link it there.  I will say I did use it for inspiration

Stamps:  Pun Fun (SU!) Sentiment handwritten

Colors: Close to Cocoa, Pretty In Pink, Chocolate Chip, Berry Bliss

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, copics, black signo pen and pink fine tip marker

Accessories: heart brads, ribbon, scallop punches, circle punches, dimensionals

This card measures 5 x 5 ”

TFL!~

 Does this ever happen to you?  I went down to the studio after dinner this evening with full intentions of cleaning up the mess I’ve made over the last couple ’sessions’.  I sat down at my desk and started moving things around and found this little moose stamp that I purchased at my local stamp store a few weeks back.   My desire to clean went out the window.  I wanted to stamp..

I also need a few more valentines over the next couple of days, so I thought this moose would do nicely.  There are no frills here.. just plain stamping and coloring.  The heart background is just the little heart from “small sayings” (SU!) stamped randomly in regal rose and chocolate chip.  I even kept the layers to a minimum as I want to make a couple of these for my boys in different colors, etc.

To make a long story short, the card took me all of 20 minutes to make from design to photog.  I think I could do a better job on the sentiment, but for now I’m in like.   Now I have to come up with some more moosey sayings!

Stamps:  Moose by Judith; Sentiment by ME, small heart by Stampin’ Up! (small sayings set)

Colors: Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, GP White

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, white gel pen, copic markers

Accessories: heart brads, chocolate dotted ribbon, small scallop punch, circle punches, dimensionals

TFL!~

   Ahhhhhh, don’t you just love the smell of new rubber?  I received my SU! order this past week and I didn’t waste much time cutting into it.  

This new Berry Bliss DP is so luscious and warm looking.  I jokingly told my son (he’s 20), that it looks like wallpaper from some fancy bordello.   Not that I would know! LOL

The One of a Kind medallion is stamped on white in cranberry crisp, then layered with another image stamped in white on Chocolate Chip and finally the center was stamped in cranberry crisp on regal rose and cut out, popped and adorned with a Build a Brad.

Stamps:  One of a Kind (SU!)

Colors:  Chocolate Chip, Purely Pomegranate, Regal Rose, GP White, Berry Bliss DP

Ink: Cranberry Crisp and Versafine White

Accessories:  Build a Brad, ribbons, circle punch, ticket corner punch, scallop punches, dimensionals, brads

 TFL!~