Cut It Out- Christmas Stampin All Year Long

Good morning!  It's  Friday and time for another challenge at Christmas Stampin All Year Long!  This week  we are paper piecing,  This is such a fun way to add different textures and layers to your images.  I chose to make this cute little pop out gift card holder.  Instructions to make your own can be found here.

For my paper piecing on my card, I stamped the monkey  image from Stampendous  twice on kraft paper.  I colored them both using copic markers and then cut out just the tummy on one.  I place that piece over the tummy on the other image, using pop dots to give it some depth.  The inside image is from  Just Rite stamps.

For more great inspiration, head on over the CSAYL blog and check out the teams great work.

McKenzie will be selecting her faves from this week to be featured in a seperate blog post and one person  will also be  chosen to be  guest designer for May.

Until next time, thanks for stopping by and have a great day!  TTFN

Hugs, Becky

Just Monkeying Around

Last week I dropped a couple of my midday runs so I could have more time for the things that needed to be done and more time for what I love to do. Stamping and crafting!

Today is the first day that I got to come home after my morning run and actually have time to get some things done. Wow! What a difference a couple of extra hours made. I was not only able to get my kitchencleaned and floors done, but I still had time left to make a card and post it. I think I'm gonna like this new schedule.

Today I pulled out my Changito stamps from Stampendous and inked them up and made this little cutie. I colored the image with my Copics and paper pieced the balloon and covered it with Crystal Effects. I drew the inspiration for the colors from the ribbon and ric rac. The DP is from My Minds Eye. I love this color combination. It's so clean and crisp.

I needed a card to send to my friend who I've known since the seventh grade. She does this Bunco fundraiser to benifit The Real Gift Foundation (helps homeless children) and it's getting close to the date and she's stressed. I love her to pieces and I just wanted to do something to put a smile on her face. I think this will do the trick don't you?

That's all for now folks! I gotta get a few more things done so I'll sign off for now. You have a fabulous day and thanks for stopping by! TTFN

Hugs, Becky

Featured on Stampendous

I wanted to share my excitement with all of you. I recieved an email on April 2nd from Martha Smallwood at Stampendous stamps, asking me if they could feature my Bee Trio card on their new blog. It was the one I had done for Taylors's challenge back in January.

Of course I said yes, that was after I had jumped up and down and did a little dance and sent a little note to Taylor asking if it would be okay.

Well today is the day it went live for all who visit to see. I love all things Stampendous and this is such an honor for me. I'm walking on the clouds. If you look up you might even see me. LOL

I plan on having something crafty to share with you tomorrow, but this is all I have for today.

Thanks for stopping by and joining me in my celebration. You are the best cyber friends a girl could have. Hugs to you all! TTFN

Hugs, Becky

TECC #52 A Year Of Cupcakes

Taylor is celebrating the one year anniversary of the Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge! Each of the ladies on the Weekly Cupcake Crew has designed their own sketch for the celebration. I'm featuring Sherrie Siemens'sketch challenge. You can check out the sketch on her blog and find out about the prize you can win by participating!

Here is the card I made using her awesome sketch.

I thought it was only fitting that I use one of my Changito's for this challenge since it was a Changito image that won me the honor of being a Featured Cupcake Stamper in the first place. I also wanted to do something unique and different. The idea to do the whole card in black & white with the exception of the cupcake came to me on Sunday. Isn't it cute? I printed the sentiment on the background using my computer and Bart font.

Look at that cherry! I used my embossing pen and clear ep to get the cherry to shine. Isn't that yummy?

Stamps:Birthday Cupcakes(Inkadinkado), Changito Bouquet(Stampendous). Paper: All Occasions Mixed Media Pack, White. Inks: Brilliance Graphite Black, Going Gray. extras: Cuttlebug & Just My Type Border Folder, Copics, Sponge, Cricut & George Cart, Clear EP and Embossing Pen, Threading Water Punch.

Check out the list of ladies doing this same challenge! I have to say I'm awestruck to be included in this list. Hop on over to their blogs and show them some inky love!

Lynn Mercurio: http://www.stamperosity.blogspot.com/
Cindy Haffner: http://cindyhaffnerscorner.blogspot.com/
Sherrie Siemens: http://sherrie-cardcreme.blogspot.com/

Don't forget to check out Taylor's blog, the anniversary celebration headquarters, for all of the sketch challenges as well as an awesome grand prize for one random winner who participates in ALL 9 sketch challenges! We hope you'll help us celebrate this yummy occasion!

Hugs to you and have a great day! TTFN

Another cupcake card

Good morning! I'm glad to report that I was able to sleep last night and I slept really good. Thank you to all of you who sent me sleep vibes, it worked!

I have a fun card to share with you today that I made yesterday. I wanted to try Taylor's cupcake challenge again, and this time include cupcakes. I had such a fun response to the bee card yesterday, I thought I would create another one using these cute little critters, so I did! Here is the fun part though. I made a valentine card and dressed those cute little bees head to toe in reds and pinks and white. So much fun.

Isn't that adorable and don't you just love that row of cupcakes at the bottom. There's lots of sparkle on this card.

Stamps: Bee Trio(Stampendous), Love Ya(SU), Row Of Cupcakes(Stamp Happens). Paper: Hot Pink Textured, White, V-day DP (Target). Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, red Pigment Ink. Extras: Ribbon, Red & Ice Stickles, Cuttlebug & Hearts Folder, Heat & Stick Powder, Glitter. Copics. Buttons.

The kids are out of school today and I am off for MLK day and I hope to spend it hanging out in my stamp room. I think I may even scrapbook today. That'll be different since I haven't scrapped in a while.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by! TTFN

Sleep challenged and a couple challenge cards

Good morning to you all! It's Sunday, about 4:45 AM and I can't sleep again. I should be tired, but I'm not, so what's a girl to do. Get up and try to wear herself out stamping I guess. LOL!

I guess sleeplessness can have it's perks.

Here are a couple of the cards I made while trying to wear myself out.

This one is for Julee's Mojo Monday challenge and uses the Expressions stamp set (Inkadinkado)that I got for Christmas but has just now seen ink.

Papers: Caramel and Cranberry (SU),and Retro Mat Pack (DCWV). Inks: Basic Brown and Caramel. Extra: Punches(Scallop Circle, Scallop Border, Butterfly, Fern),Cuttlebug & Circles and Flowers Folder, Ribbon, Buttons, Stickles, Piercing Tool, Sponge.

After playing around with all the rich earthy tones, I decided I wanted to make something fun and bright.

This one is for Taylor's Cupcake Challenge. What? There's no cupcakes on this one?

I know, I started with full intentions of doing a cupcake image with these cute little bees standing on top. Try as I may, I just couldn't make it look right, so I ditched the cupcake and just stuck with the bees( I had spent a good bit of time cutting those suckers out, of course I wasn't going to ditch them). LOL! Anyway, Taylor's guidelines say you don't have to use cupcakes so it still fits the challenge. Yeah!!!!!

Isn't is nice and springy?

Stamps: Bee Trio (Stampendous), Expressions (Inkadinkado). Paper: Bright Punch Out Pack and Best Occasions Textured (Colorbok), White. Inks: Brilliance Graphite Black. Extras: Cuttlebug & Swiss Dot Folder, Copic Markers, Primas, Buttons, Ribbon, Slit Punch, Dimentionals.

I'm finally getting sleepy! Yeah! Stamp therapy was a terrific success. Who knew?

I think I might be able to sleep now. You all have a fabulous day! Thanks for stopping by to see me! TTFN

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

Kittens that are naughty and get into the Christmas tree, that is! I'm sure we've all had one of them or know someone who has. We've had one or two in our lifetime. Why am I talking about naughty kittens you say? Well, it happens to be the subject of today's card.

I made this card for lasts week's Featured Stamper Challenge on SCS, but forgot to post it here. *Slaps self on forehead*. The featured stamper was ebethneu and can we just say, there's a lot of talent in her gallery. I had fun trying to decide on which card to case and finally settled on this one. I kept the layout the same but made it into a Christmas card, since that's what I'm into these days. I just love this fluffles image don't you?

I stamped the image twice with Brilliance Graphite Black and colored him with my copics. I cut out just the head and front legs on one of them and popped it up on dimentionals and he really looks like he is hanging in the tree. I added Crystal Stickles over the ornaments. The paper is Caribbean and scraps of DP I had in my drawer. Added some velvet ribbon, scalloped edge and snowflake embellishments and declared this one done. I laugh every time I look at this one.

We had a great time in the woods. It was very relaxing and nice to take a break from the norm. I still missed my mom, but not nearly as much as I would have if we had stayed home and done the traditional Thanksgiving. So glad to be back home, though.

I have a few more Christmas cards to post, but I'll spread them out over the week. I'm so glad you stopped by. Have a wonderful day! TTFN

I'm gettin nuthin for Christmas.....

I loved that song when I was a kid and I still find fun in singing it to my kids. Of course, they don't think it's all that funny! They would really have to do something very bad for me to cross them off my Christmas list. but it's still fun to tease.

That reminds me of a Christmas when I was about nine years old. My older brother told everybody he met, that he was getting a pair of skates for Christmas. He was very sure of himself because he had peeked at his presents. Well, when mom got wind of it, she pulled the package and unwrapped it, put a bundle of twigs in it and rewrapped it and put it back under the tree all while my brother was at school. You should have seen his face when he opened it up on Christmas morning. Don't worry, mom didn't let him whine and cry for too long before she pulled out his brand new skates, but I don't think he peeked in his packages anymore after that. At least, he didn't brag about it if he did.

Now that I've shared that with you, it's time for another Christmas card. I posted this on SCS the other day, but forgot to post it here.

I started with some Red and Olive card stock and some Daisy D DP. I used another one of my Changito Christmas stamps and colored him with my Copics (R46,R59,E00,E33,E47,G99). I added stickles to the ornament and the tips of his shoes. The oval was cut using my nestabilities and the borders were made using my Martha Stewart scallop BP and my Fiskars threading water punch. Add some cuttlebug embossing, some snowflake embellishments and the sentiment on dimentionals and this is what you get. I am so hooked on these stamps. I hope you don't get tired of them.

I'm off to do a taste test and make some money. Hope you have a great day and enjoyed the card and story.

TTFN

Christmas is coming the goose is getting fat.......

It's that time of year again. Christmas is coming and coming fast. It's my most favorite holiday. I love all the twinkling lights, decorating the tree, getting together with family, and I love making Christmas cards.

While at my LSS a couple weeks ago, I picked up some of the new Changito Christmas stamps and just fell in love with this one and couldn't wait to put him to ink.

Isn't he just the cutest thing ever? I just love how he's hanging there, peeking out of the fireplace in his Santa suit.

I stamped him in Brilliance Graphite Black and colored him with my Copic Ciao markers(E00,E33,E47,R46,R59YG63). Background paper is Daisy D and embossed using the snowflake cuttlebug folder. The red CS was also embossed using the Swirls CF. I added crystal stickles to his hat and gloves and the sentiment oval was made using my nesties. To put the finishing touch on it, I added buttons and ribbons with a little hardware.

Have a great day! TTFN

Just a little rant and some stamping.

Tomorrow will be a month since mom passed, and my husband and I drove out to her gravesite to place some flowers on her grave today. I was so upset and sad when we got there. We had this big, beautiful red vase that we had placed there for flowers and it was gone, someone had taken it. Who does this kind of thing? I had to arrange her flowers and just lay them on the ground. They were pretty, but they won't keep as long. Makes me so mad, I just don't understand how someone could do such a thing. Can you?

I did find some time to stamp this week. I had a get well card to make for my daughter to give to her boyfriends mom who just had surgery. I like stamping with a purpose. The cards just seem to come together easily.

Still playing with my Copics and loving them. They are so easy to blend. I also broke down and bought the oval nesties and the argyle cuttlebug folder and used them all for this card. The stamp set is Heartfelt Thanks (SU). I am in a fall color mood and I just love the way this turned out.

This card was made for a dear friend at work who is undergoing chemo and radiation for lung cancer. She is doing remarkably well, but I just wanted to give her some encouragement.

I went with my Changito stamp cause he's just so darn cute and who wouldn't be cheered up by him? The sentiment was made using my Karen Foster snap stamps. I used the same papers since I already had them out on my desk. My friend loved the card.

That's all I have for today. I think it's time to get started on Christmas cards before time gets away from me.

I hope you all are having a great weekend. Thanks for listening to me rant.

TTFN

Watercolor challenges and a little more

Howdy and Happy Saturday to you! Hope your getting all inky this weekend. I know I am! I missed my stamp time and have been trying really hard to get my stamping fix. I've been busy checking out the challenges on SCS and had the chance to do a few more of them. I don't think I'll be able to get to all of them, but I'm sure gonna give it my best try.
Here are a couple of the cards I made last night and today.

Both of these cards were for Christine's (ChristineCreations) watercolor challenge. The Changito card is also for Julie's white card challenge. I think I'm getting the hang of this watercolor thing. It sure helps if you have good watercolor paper to work with. Mine is Acquarello watercolour paper by Fabriano that I picked up in the art section at Hobby Lobby. Both of these were done using re-inkers and my aqua painter.
The Robin card is for Laura's (scrapnextras) distress it challenge and Julia's (JuliaS) sew it challenge. Don't you just love that cute little Robin. He's from Stamp Happens and I've had him for some time but I think this is only the second time he's seen ink. Poor little guy!

I also got the chance to do Joan Ervin's silhoutte challenge. At first I started to reach for my Blush stamp from Penny Black, but while I was searching for it, I came across my Seaside Sketches and thought that the little girl would make a great silhouette stamp. All I had to do was stamp her image and then fill her in with my black marker. I then sponged the colors of sunset around her and framed her in to emphasize her image a little more. I am very pleased with the results.

Card #1 Stamps: Changito's Love Balloons (Stampendous), Sentiment (Studio G). Paper: Acquarello watercolor (Fabriano), Pixie Pink. Inks: Black Pigment Ink. Accessories: Ribbon, Black EP, Aqua Painter, Reinkers.

Card # 2 Stamps: Robin (Stamp Happens), Sentiment (Studio G) Paper: Kraft, Cranberry, Chocolate, Acquarello watercolor (Fabriano), DP. Inks: Black Pigment Ink, Chocolate. Accessories: Aqua Painter, Reinkers, Sewing Machine, Sponge Dauber, Dimentionals, Ribbon.

Card#3 Stamps: Seaside Sketches, Print Pattern, Happy Harmony,Flourishes(Rhonna Farrer). Papers: Tempting Turquoise, Soft Sky, White, Black. Inks: Black Stazon, White Pigment Ink, Pink, Turquoise, Saffron, Sky. Accessories: White EP, Ribbon, Brads, Sponges, Sponge Dauber.

Happy Stamping and have a great day! TTFN

Just a splash of color and some monkey business.

Happy Friday to you all! I hope you all had a great week. We are in the final countdown here to the end of the 08 school year. This next week is gonna be a busy one. We have a birthday (our 14 yo is turning 15), two graduations (our fifth grader and twelth grader) and our 28th wedding anniversary, all in one week! Do we know how to cram all our big occasions into a little bit of time or what? Whew! Kinda makes my head spin just thinking about it!

Enough blabbering about me and lets get on to what you really came here for. Stamping stuff! I have two cards to show you all for today. Both are challenge cards. The first one is for Sharon's blog challenge. (I just love her blog because her cards are always so elegant.) Make a simple black and white card and add just a touch of color. This card was super quick and easy, but still looks elegant. I knew immediately that the splash of color was gonna be yellow cause I wanted to use this pretty ribbon that I picked up a while back in Michael's dollar bin.

Recipe
Stamps: Sentiment (Inkadinkado) Ornate Floral Backgrounder (Judikins). Paper: White, Black. Inks: Black Pigment Ink. Accessories: Black EP, Cuttlebug & floral folder, Fiskars Border Punch, Ribbon, Brad, Silk flower, Small scallop punch.

The second card is for Taylor's cupcake challenge. She posts a fabulous layout every Friday and if you participate, you have a chance to be featured on her blog. What a great deal, huh? Have you seen her blog! Her stuff is amazing!

Recipe
Stamps: Changito Birthday (Stampendous) Sentiment (Studio G) Cupcakes (Inkadinkado). Paper: White, Chocolate, DP from My Minds Eye. Inks: Black Stazon, Chocolate Chip. Accessories: Markers, Ribbon, Buttons, Hemp, Stickles, White Gel Pen, Cuttlebug and Circles and Flowers Folder, Dimentionals, Sewing Machine.

I just couldn't resist using my little monkeys for this one. I just love those little guys!

That's all I have for now. I am still trying to figure out how to make a template for my bag box. I may just have to resort to a hand drawn one. I'm self taught on the computer and everything I do is by trial and error (lots of error *wink*).

As always, have a great day and thanks so much for stopping by! TTFN

Mojolicious layout

Welcome to Monday and a new week! Let me start out this post with an update on my mom. Her Oncologist suspects that her Myeloma is rearing it's ugly head again. While she looks wonderful and seems to be in good health, her blood tests and some recent pain in her leg seem to suggest otherwise. He has ordered a Pet Scan as a visual confirmation. She has to go in early Thursday morning and we will get the results the following Thursday. If his suspicions are correct, it means another round of Chemo drugs. Please keep her in your prayers. The drug he is suggesting is one that she's taken before and had a stroke while taking.

With such wonderful news * sarcasm*, I needed some stamping therapy BAD. I can show you the one I did for Julee's Mojo Monday, but the other one will have to wait til Thursday. It's for my design team work. So without further ado, I give you another cute card with my *new* Watermelon Bee stamp from Stampendous.

Recipe- Stamps: Watermelon Bee (Stampendous) Celebrate and dots (Studio G). Paper: Green Galore, DP (unknown), white (GP). Inks: Black Pigment, Real Red, Black Stazon. Accessories: Piercing tool, White gel pen, Brads, Ribbon, Markers, Stickles, Sponge dauber, Cricut & George cartridge, Deckle scissors, Black EP, Dimentionals.

Well it's late and I have to get an early start in the morning. I have an order for 48 cards to crank out tomorrow. At least they are all the same design and simple. Should be a piece of cake *grin*.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by! TTFN

Bee Happy, I did Jen's Sketch For You To Try

Happy Sunday to you all! It's been a busy weekend here. Friday was Fun & Field Day at my son's school. *Sadness*. This is my last one. Next year he moves on to middle school and he's my baby so no more field days. Thank goodness, the weather was perfect.

Yesterday, B*** had a violin recital and we had to drive into downtown Dallas. She was so nervous, but she did such a great job. It takes a lot of courage to stand up in front of a group and play solo and i'm very proud of her.

Today, my mom was home for a visit and I made us all a big breakfst and colored her hair. She got tired around noon and decided to go back to the nursing home. It sure was good to have her here for a short while.

Even with all of that going on, I found some time last night to stamp. I was over on Jen's site yesterday, checking out her SFYTT, cause I love her sketches and it's been a while since I've done one. I mulled over the layout for a little while but couldn't come up with anything right away. Wouldn't you know it, just as I was getting ready to go to bed the lightbulb in my head came on, and I came up with this card. I got this cute little stamp last week and couldn't wait to ink it up. It turned out just like I wanted. Love it when that happens.

Recipe-Stamps: Biker Bee (Stampendous) Celebrate (Studio G) Stars (Studio G). Paper: White (GP) Real Red, Blue. Inks: More Mustard, Brilliant Blue, White pigment ink. Accessories: Ribbon, Brads,Markers, Stickles, Piercing tool, buttons, sponge daubers, sewing machine, Cricut.

Isn't it cute? I know it's a little while til July 4th, but I just couldn't resist.

Well, that's it for today. I have to take my mom to the Oncologist in the morning, but I will try to have some cards to share with you later tomorrow. It will be time for Julee's Mojo Monday, so that takes some of the guess work out of it.

Have a great day! TTFN

Sketch #44 and a few other cards and things

I'm a bad blogger! I can't believe it's been a week since I posted. There is just so much going on here. I feel like I'm moving in circles sometimes. I've been busy with a card order and a MDay project and then there is all that end of year, let's pack as much as we can, rush to the end of schoolyear stuff. Whew! I'm tired! How bout you?
I'm still trying to collect addresses so that I can send out graduation announcements. That's a big chore. We've had so many friends and family members move and or change their phone numbers. I've resorted to posting bulletins! LOL
I am going to post the pictures of some of my recent projects without the deets. I will edit this later and add them, but if you have any questions before that, feel free to email me.

Here is the collage that I put together for my mom. My sister and her husband made the frame and sent it to me to fill with pictures. She absolutely loved it!

Sorry it's so fuzzy! I tried and tried to get a good picture. In the corner are the words "A Mother's Love". Can you believe that's only about half of her children and grandchildren?

Here are some cards that I've been working on. I got a gift certificate to HL for my birthday and picked up some of those cute "Changito" stamps from Stampendous, and the very pretty "Modesty" stamp from Penny Black. I also picked up "Row Of Cupcakes" from Stamp Happens. Yeah me! I am having so much fun playing with all of them. I also picked up a block of Fabriano watercolor paper. Can you say fabulous? Any who! Here are the cards.

Modesty stamp.

Row of Cupcakes.

Changito B-day.

Changito Thank U

You know that this is Thursday and you know what that means. Sketches by Tamara. This is my card for sketch #44. Pop and over and check out the fantastic job the team has done. As always, we would love for you to play along and would love to see what you've done, so post a comment on Tamara's blog with a link to your card.

This is a 3x3 card and went together in less than tem minutes. The cutting took the longest! I hope you enjoy everything! Sorry this is such a long post, but that's what happens when I haven't posted for a while.

Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by! TTFN

Jens Challenge and a Christmas card

I have been a busy girl today. I had a birthday card to make for my DS's teacher and I liked the card so much I made three of them. I will share that card with you later on this week.
Today's card is one that I made yesterday for Jen's layout challenge. I waited til today to take the picture because the light is better. It's a pretty simple card. I made the bow by cutting 8 strips of DP (the paper studio) 3 inches by 1 inch. Folding them over and gluing them on themselves and then stacking them on a circle that I cut using my Giga Scallop Punch. Then gluing the image that I had stamped (Stampendous), cuttlebugged (square borders), punched (scalloped square) and colored (SU markers) over the top of the bow. It's a little bulky, but still cute.


I also made a gate fold sympathy card that I will also share with you later in the week. I am trying to stamp enough cards for the week and then post one a day so that I don't have gaps in my blog. The key word here is try. Sometimes I just get so excited that I have to share anyway. I am the same way about surprises. I just have the hardest time keeping the lid on my mouth. Hee hee!

Hope everyone had a great weekend and an even better day. We won't be traveling for the holiday but if you are traveling I will send prayers your way for safe travels.