Simply to give cheer...

My friend needed a little cheer, so I made her this card. The images are from Paper Trey Ink. I used Tumbled Glass ink to create the sky.  The sentiment came from Hero Arts.  I went over the hearts and the sentiment with my Sakura clear sparkling gel pen.
The image was colored with Copics.

The diecut is from Spellbinders.  There is a light lavender wood grain stamp from Hero Arts.  The sentiment came from Hero Arts.

The Dogs Meet Aunti Kimi and Lady Giz

 Today, the dogs and I went to visit my Aunti Kimi.  Here is Aunti Kimi, me, and the boys at a local eatery in Glendale. 

SamUL appreciated the fries that were being passed under the table to him from Aunti Kimi

Here is Lady Giz,... Aunti Kimi's 15 year old dog. 

And here's a card:

I used a stamp from Hero Arts that I recently bought at Stamp Fever.  I used Jenni Bowlin Brown Sugar ink.  The sentiment came from a Hero Arts set.  The die cut is a Paper Trey Ink die cut that I used to cut out the front window.

Lily Pad Challenge...

I love the videos at Lily Pad.  I also noticed they had a "Kissing" technique challenge.  Click HERE to see the challenge.  The technique is creating an image from stamps that 'kiss.'  For my card, I used a Hero Arts background print that I clear-embossed on white cardstock. I used Distress inks to bring color to the pattern. The umbrella is a die cut from Paper Trey Ink. There is a coordinating stamp set with the die cut. I used Soap Powder (Jenni Bowlin ink) to ink up my umbrella stamp image (1) that was part of a coordinating stamped image with the PTI diecut.  I then took the 'Spiced Tin' ink pad and stamped a Hero Arts background stamp  (2). I pressed the inked background stamp  (2) on the inked umbrella image (1).  This made a 'kissing' blend of both images.  I stamped the inked umbrella image (1) onto the diecut.   Watch this video. It's easier to understand:    
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=__qJ0ID1-Qo
 This is courtesy of Shari Carroll.    

I took silver Stickles and dressed up the umbrella and put glossy accents on the handle.  I put Faded Jeans distress ink on the edges of the umbrella. 


For the sentiment, I used the sentiment from the coordinating stamped set and stamped it in Spice Tin.

Here are links to the two Hero Arts Background Stamps that were used in this card.

http://www.simonsaysstamp.com/servlet/the-32841/Basic-Grey-Cling-Stamps/Detail

http://www.simonsaysstamp.com/servlet/the-26523/2010-Hero-Arts-Cling/Detail

Amuse-bouche:
I saw this video and just had to share.  Give it a minute... This guy was also featured on Ellen (DeGeneres) because this video went VIRAL.  The style of dance is 'dub-step.'

Thinking of You...

 This card was made by cutting out blue flowers from some pattern paper that I got from DCWV Blossom Stack.  I then glued to the card and used the Paper Trey Ink Scattered Showers stamp set.  The embossing was done with a Spellbinders Impressibilities pattern that I got on sale at Joann's. (You can use them in your Cuttlebug- I youtubed for the "How-To" video.).  The ink I used is from Jenni Bowlin (I ordered one of each color from 2 Peas in a Bucket.)

 This die cut and stamp  is a Paper Trey Ink set called "Flower Fusion #5".  I used Stickles in the center to bling it up a bit.

Amuse-bouche:

One of my sewing friends is making a quilt with all veggies and fruits. Look at this beautiful array of fabrics she got.  My teacher and I were trying to help her plan the order of the panels.  I can't wait to see her final quilt. The colors on each of these panels are brilliant!  I know you can get some of them at Joann's and she got a bunch in a quilt set that cost about $43 (that's what she said).

Sympathy Card for Minnie and more blah blah blah....

My cousin's husband has a 17 year old cat that recently passed away. I made him this card as a sympathy card.  Minnie was a long time family member (17 years!!!!)  and I'm sure she's hanging out with my herd of deceased pets (a chinchilla, tortoise, and a pack of dogs), hissing to her heart's content (especially at my Kodi and Emma who peed all over her backyard when they went up to visit.  I remember she stood at the window glaring at them as they ran through her backyard,... squatting and lifting).

It is always sad when your pet passes away however after 17 years, it is especially hard.

I made this card a while ago, so I can't remember the cartridge I used for the cat. The stamp was made with the Watermark VERSA stamp and the stamp image was from a clear stamp set from Michaels).  The sentiment was heat embossed from Scrappy Mom's.

I put pink flocking on the nose and silver Stickles on the neck..

I return to work tomorrow after having 5 days off. So, no cards for a few days. 

So... let me get my blathering out now, since I'll have NO excuse to post in the next few days.

1.  Cletha: thank you for the encouragement to do challenges. I have done 1 and I loved the challenge of working within constraints.  I appreciate your encouragement and will definitely try to participate.  Thank you!!!

2.  Update on my Relaxed Fit 550's.  Well, I went onto Levi's.com and found out that my 550's that I am currently oozed into, are not the same 550's that I may receive should I order online. It appears that  (like many products), the quality / texture of the jeans have changed since I last bought them at a store.  Luckily I read some of the 'reviews.'  It appears the material is thinner and now they're made with Spandex?  SO, I decided that rather than risk it... I would venture to my local Target / Kohl's, whatever... and see if  I can find anything suitable for my taste. I struck gold at Target.  Not only were they on sale for $15 but I AM A SIZE SMALLER in their jeans.  Heck, That SOLD ME!!!  haha.  AND.... (drum roll please...) I won't have to hem these.  AMAZING. It actually made my shopping experience MORE tolerable.  So, I bought 3 pairs so I won't have to buy jeans again for YEARS!!!! 

3.  The termite man came and gave me the wonderful news that I won't have to tent the house (and move all my animals to my parents' house).

4.  The rain has returned to So Cal and apparently will be here until Sunday (It's stopped for about 24 hours but due back Thursday night until Friday and then Saturday night until Sunday).  BOO!!! HISS!!!

5.  Lastly, I am complete addicted to Arrested Development- so funny with dysfunctional characters and great witty writing.  Granted, my idea of comedy is a little off the grid but...

6.  I just wanted to say that I'm so thankful to whoever anonymously donated so many wonderful Cricut supplies to Tristan.  Tristan's Cricut broke and he was still making cards but you could tell, he missed his Cricut.  His mother, Brandy, wrote a wonderful thank you note to that person and the Scrapping Community for supporting Tristan.  Even though times are tough, it's so nice to see people still trying to help others.

Thinking of you

I created a "thinking of you" card. I used the Create a Critter cartridge to get the flowers made (note: lots of stitching with a white gel pen). I also used some green Stickles for the leaves.
The stamp came from a sentiment set from Michaels. Lastly, I cuttlebugged (is that a verb? to cuttlebug-- you cuttlebug, we cuttlebug) the yellow paper. For some reason, I was in a mood to tear paper. And Ta-Da!!!!

I wanted to send a quick Shout Out to Sue who has written some really sweet comments but I have no way to email her. Thank you Sue!!! Totally appreciated!!!

Also, Ms. Marlene, the Queen, will be part of a really great blog on October 26. Please see the icon below. www.disguisedasagrownup.blogspot.com
Hop on it everyone!



There are always so many blog hops and fun challenges and I'm sorry I can't mention them all.

Amuse-bouche:
For those of you in the Miami area (a place I have never been)... there apparently is this really great eatery that has good desserts. I was watching Food Network the other day and they had some show on called "the best thing I ever ate- Sweets." Three of the celebrity guests named this place called Michael's Genuine as having the best dessert. There was one dessert called Popcorn and Peanuts. That looked awesome. http://www.michaelsgenuine.com/home.htmlAnd there was another called "Orange Creamsicle Pot de Creme" that one guy was going on and on about. All I can say, is if I ever hit Miami, I will want to try this restaurant.