HELLO.....

Hello Monday!!!!  Using my Lawn Fawn stamps, here is a simple Hello Card...

Enjoy!!!!

Another Sweet Hello Card...

Another sweet Penny Black image, with a Spellbinder Impressibility embossing sheet.  I don't think I put enough cardstock to make the embossed image more defined  :(
I put a white gel pen dot in the middle of all the flowers.  It's hard to see here.

The little 'hello' came from a Paper Trey Ink set.

Have a great weekend, my friends.  Ezra has a doctor appointment on Saturday to have a bump on her face looked at (Oh joys!  She is NOT going to be happy at the doctor poking around her mouth).

10 Minute Challenge inspired by Christy Gets Crafty....

I wanted to take small break from my trip to Pioche because I saw this inspiring video from Christy Gets Crafty....
She cracked me up as she tried to make a card AND SUCCEEDED in 10 minutes.  I totally related to what she was saying.  So, I decided to try (minus the video).
Check her video out HERE by going to her blog posting.  Her video is great.  I'm sure we can all relate.


So, here's what my card ended up looking like (after 13:19):

THE SET UP:

I had preset out my 2 stamp sets (by Paper Smooches) and 1 5.5x4.25 craft cardstock and my Memento Tuxedo Black stamp pad and Versamark... as well as my two Spellbinder dies and Cuttlebug.

I set my timer for 10 minutes and here's what I had at the 10:00 mark.
A mess!

Doh!!!!


AND HERE'S WHAT THE DESK LOOKED LIKE AFTER THIS HOT MESS WAS OVER.... AT 13:19.

WHY YES... THAT WOULD BE A BOWL OF YAMS ON MY DESK. LOL.

I should admit that while I was doing this challenge, I had my Netflix on... and snuck a few glances to see what was going on "The Tudors"... My bad.  Lost a good 20 seconds, right there!

Come back tomorrow to see some super special photos of Cathedral Gorge, NV.

Chow, Baby!!!!

I hope you had a fabulous Labor Day!!!!!

I had bought this stamp set featuring some Asian images from Michaels  (Recollections/ clear set) a year ago.  I decided to finally use it.  I created a background with the fan image that came with the set. (I colored over the stamp with my Sakura clear gel pen).  I colored the image with Copics and used my gold gel pen for the cuffs.  I put Glossy Accents on the hair to make it 'shiny.'  I put the image on a deep blue cardstock that coordinates with the banner that 'Chow, Baby' was embossed on.  The sentiment came from 'Scrappy Moms.'

I love making coordinating envelopes.  I used a "Hi There" from Hero Arts and the pink blossom stamp and the other little girl was from the same Michaels' Recollections clear stamp set.  Stamp Ink is Jenni Bowlin.

Speaking of envelopes: I forgot to share you this one that I made to go with the 8/29/12 posting.  I used Paper Smooches sentiments, stamped with Jenni Bowlin ink and a Hero Arts tree branch/bird image (colored with Copics and spiced up with a sparkling 'Sakura' gel pen).

Using Lawn Fawn to create background paper... my entry for the challenge

Lawn Fawn is having a challenge and I thought I'd take the challenge.
Here's my entry...
So, I took the Lawn Fawn Summer watermelon set and stamped my line of ants in Memento Tuxedo Black ink. Then I stamped the large ant (from the set) in Green (Hero Arts MidTone).  I used Copics to color the little watermelons and cut them out and glued them to the background paper.  The background paper is white but I used "Pumice Stone" ink pads to color up the edges and make the paper look worn.
The image is one I got at a stamp convention 13 years ago.  I believe the company is Inky Antics.  I love this moose.  I colored him with Copics. The ribbon is from Michaels $1 bin.

The die cut is from Paper Trey Ink stamped with a Hero Arts woodgrain stamp and the sentiment is from Scrappy Moms Camping sentiment set.

A little message for you--- have a great weekend!

Using my new Lawn Fawn stamp and some Distress Inks and Copics, I created this beauty.
The 'hello' embellishment came from a embellishment set I got a few years ago.

Have a great weekend everyone.  It's going to be super weather again in So Cal.

More photos from Comic-Con

This one is for you, Glo!

A card for a girl who likes to read... and a reading tool

Scroll down to the bottom to see my 'reading' tool.

As you can see, I've been making square cards.  This card is 4.25x4.25".  I used my Lawn Fawn tv set stamp.  I stamped it with my Hero Arts Stamp pad.  I adhered some buttons that I had from Joanns' (and put various embroidery thread or Baker's twine through it).  The sentiment is from Lawn Fawn.

 This is from a wonderful stamp set that I got at Stamp Fever by Impression Obsession.  I don't see a name on the stamp set....  I'll have to show you a photo  of the set in the future. It's got sentiments that have to do with books.  I stamped it with Stampin' Up's Melon Mambo

For those of you who read books (as opposed to Kindles) and need something to hold your book open, this is the BEST thing ever. It's about $3 at The Container Store. I'm not sure where else you can get it.

It's the BEST device to hold your book open-- on the stair stepper, at lunch, while you brush your teeth--- you get the idea. 

I typically string a colorful ribbon through it so I don't lose it in my purse.

Enjoy....

Piggly Wiggly... and another SYTYCD video clip

Do you remember those books?  Mrs. Piggle -Wiggle???

My friend LOVES pigs.  I create this little pig to brighten her day.  The pig is on an Action Wobble.  The pig was cut out (along with flag and clouds) from a Cricut Cartridge (Create-a-Critter).  I put some flocking powder on my clouds.  The pig's body was passed through the Cuttlebug for some texture.  The pink nose is actually a white nose with Spun Sugar Distress Ink sponged on it.

The Smile sentiment came from a Hampton Arts clear stamp set I just bought at Michaels.  I'm not crazy about their quality of polymer stamp.  Not very sharp.

Amuse-bouche:
And here's another SYTYCD video audition that stuck in my head... awesome.

Glorious Treats-- and a card :)

I previously posted a link to a blog that I found called Glorious Treats.  WOW!!! Great ideas and recipes. I highly recommend it.  Please check it out HERE.

I bought a lot of cake box mixes and I've been making cupcakes every weekend.  And now that I have this great website to get inspiration from, I have been trying my hand at frosting decorating. This was my first two batches. The top photo was made with cream cheese frosting from the can and a ziploc bag and decorating tip (that I purchased at Michaels).  The pink sugar was purchased at Target. 

This cake was made with Red Velvet Cake mix (from the box) and homemade Cream Cheese Frosting. I got the recipe from Glorious Treats.  My friends LOVED it.  I used my pink sugar topping again. I also put it in my cupcake caddy that I purchased at Michaels with a 50% coupon. (If you would have said 4 years ago, that I'd be buying a cupcake caddy, I probably would have laughed at you).  Sorry for the bad lighting.

NOW FOR MY CARD:
I made this for my uncle who sent me a whole packet of goodies from a pet fair he attends in Bethesda, Maryland called "Strut Your Mutt."  The stamp is a Brian Lock digi stamp from Squigglefly.  I used Prismacolor Pencils (with odorless mineral water) and Glossy Accents.
The die cut is from Paper Trey ink. The stamp "HELLO" is from Paper Smooches.  If you scroll to the bottom, you can see that I coloring the interior of the sentiment with black dots. I liked it much better. The paw prints are white powder embossed with a stamp from Paper Smooches.

The fish stamp is from a clear Michaels Stamp that I got and Jenni Bowlin "Weather Pane" ink.

Paw Prints from Paper Smooches and Many Thanks from Paper Trey Ink

HANGING OUT WITH FRIENDS...

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY EVERYONE!!!
I hope you're having a wonderful weekend and spending it with friends and family, like these critters above.
This is a Penny Black stamp (from the London series!).  Isn't this cute???  I just love LONDON and these stamps really speak to me... the Underground, the double decker buses, the CHIPS!!!!  :)

This image was colored with Copics and I used Glossy Accents.

PENNY BLACK LONDON STAMP

I made this card a while ago but hadn't posted it (due to my computer woes, which are still ailing me and impeding my card making progress).  Having said that, here is my card that I wanted to share with you.... I love London and I love this Penny Black series.  I used Copics and also put Glossy Accents on all the window panes.  The blue sky was made with a finger dauber and combination of Tumbled Glass and Broken China.  The sentiment is from Paper Smooches and I wrote over the sentiment with my Glittery Gel Pen from Sakura.

Amuse-bouche:
The dogs are loving the warmer weather... more walks.

Anything Goes at Simon Says Stamp

I LOVE Simon Says Stamps.  It's where I get my Penny Black stamps and Distress inks....

Keeping in line with my New Year's resolution to make ALL original designs, here is an entry that I'm going to put into their Anything Goes challenge.  You can find it HERE.    You have to use My Mind's Eye products. The only product I have is a 6x6 paper pad so I used that (see the flower paper).  On the backside of the flower paper is a pink gingham paper. I used that for the corners and the sentiment matte.  The sentiment came from Paper Smooches (stamped in Jenni Bowlin ink).  The stamp is from Penny Black, colored Copics.   The image was cut out with a Spellbinders Nestabilities.   I also put a tiny dot of Liquid Pearls in my flower center. 

Have a great week  :)

Yadda, yadda, yadda... blah blah blah

 I used to use both of these phrases a lot.  I found this stamp at Joann's and HAD to get it.

 As I said on a prior post, I have been watching a lot of Britta Swiderski's videos which inspired me to do some Copic coloring and cut out stamped images.  (Alas, my Cricut is getting dusty with my sewing and my new stamping techniques so I will need to get that warmed up!!!).  I used some gold Liquid Pearls on the butterfly wings and some Stickles on the flowers.  The sentiment came from a clear stamp set at Michael's:  "Stampendous'  Notes for a Friend."

 

A VERY simple card... VERY. SIMPLE.

This was a VERY simple card.  The image came from Pink Cat Studio.  The sentiment came from the clear acrylic stamp set from Michaels.  I used Copic markers and Recollections flowers with Recollections brads in the center.  The stamp pad used was Stampin'Up's Melon Mambo. I put black Stickles in the hair and a bit of bling on the flowers.  Lastly, I used my Zip 2-way glue and glittered some of the clouds.

The stickers were from an old Disney embellishment set where Mickey and Minnie are in hula gear (???)

FURRY SHOULDER PADS?

Meet Dwight and Jim...

No, NOT THOSE GUYS....   THESE GUYS....

   They're Standard Grey chinchillas who love to run on their wheel, eat (Organic) Shredded Wheat, and (Organic) Banana Chips as they lounge in their privately Air-Conditioned room.  Chinchillas need to live in a temperature that doesn't exceed 75 degrees.   They're typically made into coats.  Seeing how it takes thousands to make a big coat, I have enough for some furry shoulder pads or a bra.

 Speaking of furry, how about this little wolf.  I actually got this stamp from a stamp convention about 10 years ago.  I colored him with my pencils.  I then took my polka dot embossing folder (Cuttlebug) and altered the embossed paper with a purple gel pen.  I cut trees from a Cricut cartridge  (can't remember which one) and created the sentiment on my computer.

Crooked shot

The Giraffe Test

My friend sent me an email called "The Giraffe Test."
It's an amusing little test. I've re-printed it down below.

The card was made with Create a Critter. The ribbon is this weird faux fur ribbon that I got at Michaels.



THE GIRAFFE TEST:

1. How do you put a giraffe into a refrigerator?

Stop and think about it and decide on your answer before you scroll down.

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The correct answer is: Open the refrigerator, put in the giraffe, and close the door. This question tests whether you tend to do simple things in an overly complicated way.



2 How do you put an elephant into a refrigerator?


Did you say, Open the refrigerator, put in the elephant, and close the refrigerator?

Wrong Answer.

Correct Answer: Open the refrigerator, take out the giraffe, put in the elephant and close the door. This tests your ability to think through the repercussions of your previous actions.


3. The Lion King is hosting an animal conference. All the animals attend .... Except one. Which animal does not attend?


Correct Answer : The Elephant. The elephant is in the refrigerator. Didn't you just put him in there? This tests your memory. Okay, evenif you did not answer the first three questions correctly, you still have one more chance to show your true abilities.


4. There is a river you must cross but it is used by crocodiles, and you do not have a boat. How do you manage it?


Correct Answer: You jump into the river and swim across. Have you not been listening? All the crocodiles are attending the Animal Meeting. This tests whether you learn quickly from your mistakes.

According to Anderson Consulting Worldwide, around 90% of the professionals they tested got all questions wrong, but many preschoolers got several correct answers.

Anderson Consulting says this conclusively disproves the theory that most professionals have the brains of a four-year-old.