Welcome to Wacky Wednesday!

Ok, so why is it wacky?   I woke up on the wrong side of the bed.. at 4am sharp.    What to do, what to do.   Couldn’t go back to sleep, especially KNOWING my DH would only wake me at 5am  anyway.     So…. I snuck into the DDA forums and decided to get a jump start on today’s Dare to Get Dirty Challenges.    I had three cards made before 7am.   Two of which,  you will never see! LOL.   I really need a life.  

Today’s sample is from Jenn’s (jbalcer) Inspiration challenge.    I wish I could post a pic of the inspiration piece here, but since the DTGD challenges are for Fan Club members only, that would be a no-no.   Awww!   More reason to join the SCS Fan Club, if you aren’t already a member!   You can gain Fan Club membership here.

My cake was made using Brocade Basics…. stamped in versamark on basic black and then embossed in white.   I lined the layers with little pearls and added a bow.   This is the third day I’ve used Kiwi Kiss.   I am not a ‘green’ kinda girl, but I absolutely love this color.   I wish I had a more elegant ribbon to use, but even with a boatload of ribbon, I am lacking when it comes to the greens.

My question to you is…..what inspires you?   I am often inspired by colors… be it a tv ad, a blouse someone is wearing, or nature itself.   I’m a very visual person and geometric shapes also inspire me.   It helps that I have 2 brains (an analytical one and a passionate one)… one time I will see something for only what it is (the analytical part) and the next I will see the same thing with passion and it takes on a whole new meaning.   So tell me…. what inspires you?

Here are my deets:

Stamps:  Brocade Basics (SU!) and sentiment by My Favorite Things

Colors:  GP White, Basic Black, Kiwi Kiss

Ink: Versamark, Brilliance Graphite Black

Accessories: ribbon, dimensionals, corner rounder punch, swirls and birds EF, 1/2 pearls, white EP.

TFL!~ and have a blessed day!

  Happy Tuesday!

Ok, so there are three Dare to Get Dirty Challenges this morning…. I knew with my schedule, I could only pick one today.   I wanted to do a combo, but couldn’t quite wrap my brain around that!  So…. I went with the toughest one for me….. JulieHRR’s challenge. 

This was HARD!   First of all, I am a layer girl and ya’ll know that.   I didn’t even know where to start, so I studied Julie’s gallery for awhile and I think I ‘get it’ now.   I was scared to stamp on the white piece of cardstock in front of me, at first, as I knew this was it!  I couldn’t cut it out or pop it up or layer it.   I was sweating! LOL  

For this card, I chose this Pretty Petals set by Kitchen Sink Stamps (www.kitchensinkstamps.com) .  I first stamped the flower center in Kiwi Kiss, then alternated petals in Regal Rose and Bali Breeze.   I punched my trusty ribbon punch on the side and ran some green piped organdy ribbon through… added a sentiment and popped on a 1/2 pearl and voila!  This took me all of 10 minutes to do, after I figured out the ‘concept’.   I really really love it!  Thanks to Julie for all the inspiration!!

Here are my deets:

Stamps:  Pretty Petals by Kitchen Sink Stamps, sentiment by My Favorite Things

Colors: GP White

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, Kiwi Kiss, Bali Breeze, Regal Rose

Accessories: 1/2 pearl, ribbon punch, ribbon

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A Little Funny for You:

How to Tell the Sex of a Fly

A woman walked into the kitchen to find her
husband stalking around with a fly swatter

‘What are you doing?’
She asked. ‘Hunting Flies’ He responded.
‘Oh. ! Killing any?’
She asked.

‘3 were on a beer can,
2 were on the phone. ‘

TFL!~ and have a blessed day!

Oh, wait, but that’s not all!   Read this important announcement by Jenn Balcer!   You’ll want to play in all of the challenges this week to get in on some awesome prizes!  Yes, that’s right… prizes!!  Not only is every Fan Club member encouraged to play along, but if you’re not yet a Fan Club member, now is an awesome time to join!   See Fan Club information HERE.

I’ve decided to do Jody’s (Texasjodylynn) challenge first today.   Jody is all about ribbon… a true ribbonista.   I have tons of ribbon and even more ribbon bits (scraps)… so, here is what I did :

   Now before you choke on the ton of ribbon I used, let me add that it’s all my scraps from a recent project.   I had about 7″ of ribbon left over from a big pack of matching ribbon and thought I could use these scraps to make a ribbon bow.  Each piece is folded under and adhered on each end, then adhered in a layering pattern.   Oh, yeah… this one will defintely be one of those ‘hand deliver’ cards … lol.   I used my new Wow Flowers set to make the center and for the sentiment.

Speaking of ribbon scraps, how do you store yours?    I purchased a small (1.5 gal) fish bowl from my local craft store.    I just stuff my ribbon bits in there and can see what I have at any time.   I’d be interested in hearing your creative storage ideas!

Here are my deets:

Stamps:  SU’s Wow Flowers

Colors: Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, MME DP, GP White

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black

Acceessories: ribbon pieces 7″ long, circle punches, scallop punch, brads, ticket corner punch, dimensionals, tiny prima.

TFL!~  and have a blast today!! 

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!

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

So…. a few us (DD/DDA) were chatting about all of our stamping friends heading off to CHA in Chicago and leaving the rest of us behind.   We had a momentary pity party, then decided we would have some fun while they are all gone.    So, Emily came up with the idea of some blog challenges to keep us busy.

Today I went with Diane Z’s (cookiestamper) sketch challenge seen on her Papercookies blog.   Holy cow was this a tough one.   First, I was stumped by the ‘heart’…… I took it literal and went with the only heart stamp I could find.   Then I had to work around my lack of wide ribbon.   This ‘christmasy’ ribbon is all I had, so it really dictated the colors I had to use.   Hmmm… I think it came out ok, but after looking at Diane’s sample, now I wish I had added something in the bottom left corner… I may still!

Here’s my deets:

Stamps:  Always by SU!

Colors: Garden Green, Real Red, GP White

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, versamark, garden green, Tim Holtz firebrick red distressing ink

Accessories: brads, wide ribbon, dimensionals, scissors, green and red EP, HPH,  stipple brush

TFL!~ and have a blessed day!

Ok, so you can’t set your calendar by me…… we are going to use this opportunity (a rare moment of downtime) for this week’s sketch challenge :).   I know, I know, it’s not Friday yet, but I have been having some really crazy Fridays lately, so I figured it’s better early than not at all

Here’s the sketch:

  this is THSC18…. hard to flip this one, but if you do… more power to ya!  Have fun with it and remember to use the keyword and/or link back here so we can see what you came up with.

For my card, I stamped the image on black and embossed in white, then I colored the flower with irridescent watercolor paints (similar to H2Os).  The Pink Passion and Garden Green layers are stippled with Tim Holtz tea bag distressing ink.  I probably should have left out the doodling, but it’s a case of 20/20 hindsight.   I will likely need a 12 step program for 1/2 pearls after awhile…lol.    I am STILL thanking Vicki for such a timely giftie!

Here’s my deets:

Stamps:  Oh So Lovely and Fancy Flexible Phrases

Colors: Basic Black,  Pink Passion, Garden Green and GP White

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, Versamark, Tim Holtz tea bag distressing ink

Accessories: 1/2 pearls, ribbon, ribbon punch, stipple brush, circle punches, white gel pen, watercolors, dimensionals

TFL!~ and have a blessed day!

Here is my submission for this morning’s SCS Sketch Challenge.   This card wouldn’t have come together without the friendship of Vicki B (justcrazy on SCS).    I have been searching all over for 1/2 pearls.  I’ve been to Michael’s, ACMoore and JoAnn’s without luck.   Well, yesterday I opened my mail and this is what I received:

  would you look at all those 1/2 pearls???    Vicki rocks!!   So, I decided to use her gorgeous card as inspiration for today’s SC card.    I feel very honored to have received such an awesome RAK.  WOW!

It was a great mail day… I also received this cutie pie from Tracy (LodiChick):

   My DH did some work in Tracy’s new kitchen and she sent this as a thank you.   Well, Tracy, it was our pleasure…. sharing talents is what life is all about :).

Ok, here is the deets on my card:

Stamps:  Baroque Motifs (SU)

Colors: Basic Gray, Basic Black, GP White

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, SU Craft White

Accessories: ribbon, 1/2 pearls, oval punch, HPH square clip, dimensionals

TFL!~ and have a blessed day!

How’s it going!?   I didn’t think I would get a chance to do the challenge today (CC), but I squeezed out a few minutes as I wanted to play along with Em’s first challenge as a new Dirty Girl!!

You have to wonder what I did before I had the swiss dots embossing folder..lol.   Well I used it up but good today because I am eagerly awaiting my new EF releases and I’m sure there will be a new one in there that I’ll fall in love with.   I finally found a good use for the Martha ribbon I bought way back when, too.   I love this ribbon.. it’s so silky!   The image was stamped on GP white, colored with copics and then run through the cuttlebug.  I like the effect of embossing right over the image.

Oh!!  Before I forget….. Here is comes!    I invite all of you to join in the Dare to Get Dirty ‘08 fan club challenges beginning July 21st and running through July 27th on Splitcoasters.   I will be hosting a sketch challenge!!   I will give more info and you will find more info on SCS as we get closer to the dates.   Mark your calendars!

Ok now for my deets:

Stamps:   Be Calm by Annie LaPoint for My Favorite Things (www.mftstamps.com)

Colors:  Almost Amethyst, Wild Wasabi, So Saffron, GP White

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, Copics

Accessories: square brads, Martha Stewart Ribbon, swiss dots EF, scallop circle punches, dimensionals

TFL!~ and have a blessed day!

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!