Hello from Chicago!  I'm here at CHA having a blast looking at all sorts of cutie patootie paper and ribbons and bling - oh my!  I'll have lots of photos to share later, so be on the lookout :)

Today I stamped one of my absolute favorite Pure Innocence girl, Make Mine a Double with her yummy ice cream in Memento Rich Cocoa and colored her in with Copic markers.  I stamped her again on a sheet of Jack & Jill paper from My Mind's Eye and paper-pieced her dress over the top of the original image. 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  See you back soon!
Karen

recipe 

stamps: make mine a double (my favorite things)

paper: kraft, kiwi light, neenah natural white cardstock, jack & jill (my mind's eye)

ink: memento rich cocoa

accessories: oval/big scallop nestabilities (spellbinders), red satin ribbon, copic markers

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 79

Good morning - It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge! Here is the deal: make a card with this layout and use the InLinkz button down at the very end of this post to enter your card. The links will close on Friday at 10 PM (Mountain Time), and I'll randomly select one card to feature on my blog on Saturday. So, as long as your card is linked by 10 PM Friday, your card will be in the drawing. Be sure to link directly to the blog post or gallery image which features your card. You may post a picture of the sketch on your blog, but please save the image to your computer first. Use the keyword SSSC78 if you plan to post your card in an online gallery.

It has been a loooong time since I've used my sweet Verve stamps and when I made this sketch, I had my favorite tulips in mind. The papers, scallops and ribbon are all from the TE Summertime Project Pantry kit and I added a couple of the new brights buttons from SU. 

This weekend is my 20th reunion and its making me all nostalgic.  So I keep going back and forth - should I unleash the senior picture or keep it hidden, locked away forever.  Show it?  Or keep it?  Hmmm.   I sure don't want to scare anyone away with my blue eye shadow or crazy winged out hair.  Granted, my hair was definitely not as high as some, but way poofier than I ever want to see again.  I remember standing there with a can of hairspray and a hairdryer trying to get the sides of my hair to stick out - WHAT??  I'm surprised I never set my hair on fire.  haha!  Anyone else do that?  Maybe we should have a senior picture day along with the sketch posts - definitely!  hee hee! 

The Sweet Sunday Stampers have amazing sketch samples to show you today, so stop on by to see:

• Jennifer Tapler
• Joanne Basile
• Karen Motz
• Laura Fredrickson
• Lynn Put
• Nancy Riley
• Sarah-Jane Kale'
• Vicki Burdick 

Thanks for taking on the challenge this week! 
Karen

PS: Have a neat summer!

recipe - 

stamps: miracles blossom & thanks bonus stamp (verve stamps)

paper: all from the summertime project pantry kit

ink: certainly celery, memento tuxedo black

accessories: oval/scallop nestabilities (spellbinders), brights buttons (stampin' up!), swirl organdy ribbon

Sweet Sunday Sketch Winner

Hello!!  It's time to announce this week's Sweet Sunday winner - ready???  Random.org has chosen..........

#55 CherylAnn!

I'm a sucker for little baby cards, especially with cute little onsies on them - this is darling!  The added scallops and ribbon are the perfect touch.  Congrats, CherylAnn!  Please stop on by her blog, CherylAnn's Stampin Spot for more cuteness.

See you back soon for the next sketch - or check it out early on Facebook!
Karen

Sweet Birthday

Do you remember this card from Karen Motz?  It's the "to die for" chocolate frosted donut card everyone was talking about at CHA in January...  mmmmm.... donuts.... {in my best Homer Simpson voice}.  I bought some Espresso Dimensional Pearls just so I can make some yummy frosted items and wish they were real.  mmmm.... cupcakes....  My photo up top just doesn't do the pearls justice, so here's a close up.  I added the rhinestones to the cupcake from For the Love of Cupcakes while the Dimensional Pearls were still wet and now those sparkles are stuck in there like cement - so easy! The cupcake wrapper is paper-pieced with a sheet of patterned paper from the July Key Ingredients subscription kit and I added a couple corduroy button brads.  The layout is Taylor's TESC122 - so super fun!

Thanks for swinging by!
Karen

recipe -

stamps: for the love of cupcakes (taylored expressions)

paper: all papers are from the july key ingredients kit

ink: memento rich cocoa

accessories: corduroy brads (stampin' up!), pink stitched ribbon, circle nestabilities, espresso dimensional pearls (ranger), embroidery floss

Birthday Girl

Good morning, friends!  I am so happy it's Friday, aren't you?!  Today is the last day of the first week of our 4 week marathon of swim lessons {say that 3 times, fast!}.  My youngest and I are in the mommy/toddler class and I never realized how tightly she can squeeze my neck - yikes!  I feel horrible having her be so scared, but its something we need to do and I'm really hoping she'll start realizing I'm not there to torture her.  My poor husband has no idea what he's getting into next week when he takes over the lessons while I'm at CHA, haha!

I picked up another Pure Innocence Girl a little while ago and I just inked her up for the first time.  I just love this little girl and her balloon - she's part of the set, My Balloon.  Isn't she cute?  I'm finding myself needing more and more birthday cards for kiddos these days and I made this one to keep in my stash for the next party the kids are invited to.  I started by stamping the image in Memento Rich Cocoa ink and coloring her with Copic markers.  The patterned paper is from My Mind's Eye - part of the Lush Pink collection and I layered it over some textured cardstock from Bazzill. I kept the layout simple so this cutie pie stands out - seriously in love with these PI Girls!

Have a wonderful Friday!
Karen

recipe -

stamps: my balloon (my favorite things)

paper: textured cardstock (bazzill), vanilla cardstock, lush pink (my mind's eye)

ink: memento rich cocoa

accessories: copic markers, celery grosgrain ribbon, subtles buttons (stampin' up!), rectangle nestabilities, linen thread, dimensional tape

Taylored Expressions Blast From the Past Blog Hop

Welcome to another Blast From the Past blog hop sponsored by Taylored Expressions!  The party starts over at Taylor's blog and we're kickin' it old school!  Ok, well not really all that old school - I must have high school reunion on the brain, LOL!

The fabulously talented Sankari has whipped up another super fun sketch for us and I grabbed it and ran - I loved this layout!  I tried to keep it simple and not add too many layers underneath the panels and I really love the way the Fly a Kite paper looks over kraft cardstock - mmm, delish!  I'm using one of my favorite sets from last summer called Berries & Cherries and I've been itching to use it with this strawberry sheet of patterned paper from Fly a Kite for ages.  I stamped the strawberry blossom on Choice Buttercream cardstock with Memento Rich Cocoa ink and then masked over the flower so I could sponge the circle with Soft Sky ink.  I colored the image in with Copics and then popped it up on a scallop Nestabilities die cut.  I wasn't sure where to put the sentiment when I was finished, so I added it along side the top panel and I love this look!  It is so nice when I have happy accidents, haha!  To complete the card, I added some ivory satin ribbon and a few Kaisercraft Latte pearls.



Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

recipe -

Stamps: Berries & Cherries (Taylored Expressions)

Paper: Chocolate Chip, Kraft (both Stampin' Up!), Pear textured (Bazzill), Choice Buttercream (Taylored Expressions) cardstock, Fly a Kite (October Afternoon)

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Soft Sky (Stampin' Up!)

Accessories: ivory satin ribbon, Latte Pearls (Kaisercraft), scallop edge punch (EK Success), circle/scallop Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Sweet Sunday Butterfly

Hello again!  SO sorry this is late - and I'm not even completely sure I like it all that much.  It was kind of one of those "Gotta use some new stuff and stick it all over the card" sort of moments.  I think I need ribbon on it. Yep, that is it - it's missing ribbon!  I just ordered this fun butterfly embosslits and most of the new designer buttons from Stampin' Up! and I didn't even realize that SU had upped the number of buttons in the package - awesome!  The stamp is from a PTI set, Blooming Button Bits and I stamped it in Olive Pastel ColorBox fluid chalk ink.  Love this stuff!  It covers like craft ink, but dries instantly.  I added some linen thread for the butterfly antennae and the bow at the bottom of the leafy flower.

You can see all the entries for this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch in the post below, or simply click here.

See  you back soon!
Karen

recipe-

stamps: blooming button bits (papertrey ink)

paper: kraft, melon mambo, vanilla cardstock, fly a kite (october afternoon)

ink: olive pastel colorbox fluid chalk, memento rich cocoa

accessories: designer buttons (pastels & brights - stampin' up!), linen thread, scallop border punch (stampin' up!)

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 78

Good morning - It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge! Here is the deal: make a card with this layout and use the InLinkz button down at the very end of this post to enter your card. The links will close on Friday at 10 PM (Mountain Time), and I'll randomly select one card to feature on my blog on Saturday. So, as long as your card is linked by 10 PM Friday, your card will be in the drawing. Be sure to link directly to the blog post or gallery image which features your card. You may post a picture of the sketch on your blog, but please save the image to your computer first. Use the keyword SSSC77 if you plan to post your card in an online gallery.

I'm really sorry I don't have a card for you to peek at this morning - we went hiking on Saturday and I got a huge migraine. Needless to say, we got home and I took some meds and "rested" my eyes and the next thing I knew it was 12:30AM and I'm late getting the sketch posted! haha! I'll get a sample soon - one of the many pitfalls of last minute stamping, I'm afraid.

The Sweet Sunday Stampers have amazing sketch samples to show you today, so stop on by to see:

• Jennifer Tapler
• Joanne Basile
• Karen Motz
• Laura Fredrickson
• Lynn Put
• Nancy Riley - on vacation this week
• Sarah-Jane Kale'
• Vicki Burdick 

Thanks for taking on the challenge this week! 
Karen

Just Rite Week | Day 5

Today is the final day of Just Rite Week with Stamper's Dream and this morning I have a card featuring the new set, From Our House.  I started with a sketch from Clean & Simple {FTL98}, but made a few changes to fit the square images of the set.  I love the little sprig of holly berry branches around the border and added it to the center frame.  The images are stamped in Memento Rich Cocoa and colored in with Copic markers.  I love the way these little images look like postage stamps - how fun would it be to stamp on your Christmas envelopes?  I don't know why Blogger is messing up the clarity of my photo, but if you'd like to see a larger view of the card, please click on the photo.

There's more for you today from Christina and Laurie too, so stop on by their blog for some fabulous holiday eye candy.

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

recipe -

stamps: from our house (just rite stamps)

paper: sahara sand, real read, vanilla cardstock, dashes and dots dsp (su)

ink: memento rich cocoa

accessories: red satin ribbon, copic markers, large corner rounder, dimensional tape

Key Ingredients Challenge - July

Are you ready to get your bling on??  This month's Key Ingredients Kit is all about the bling! It's time to try out the Quickie Glue Pen (if you haven't already!) and apply glitter to any and everything! Create glittered chipboard pieces, write words in glitter, and bling it on even the smallest spaces! !  Oh really?  Gee, twist my arm to make my card all sparkly and fun!  haha!  I used The Sweet Stop's SSS64 for the layout and picked a few sheets of the super cute Paisley Parade patterned paper and traced some of the vines in the paper with the Quickie Glue Pen and added the Parisian Mist glitter - a quick tap around the back of the paper shakes off all the excess glitter.  The scooter and sentiment, from Feelin' Groovy, are stamped in Memento Rich Cocoa ink and colored in with Copic markers and I paper pieced the scooter body and added a final bit of glittery bling to the flower.  The Quickie Glue Pen makes it super easy to add fine and controlled lines of glitter to your project.  I wish I could photograph how sparkly this glitter really is - my pictures just aren't doing it justice.
Each month, Taylored Expressions mails out a new Key Ingredients Kit to subscribers.  When you subscribe, not only do you receive your kit on your doorstep each month, you also get a 10% off coupon delivered to your inbox - good for anything in the TE store!  We also have a KI gallery full of fun project ideas.
Half of the Baker's Dozen have more glittery eye candy for you this morning, so hop on over to see:

• Charmaine Ikach
• Donna Baker
• Jodi Collins
• Melissa Sauls
• and of course, Taylor VanBruggen

Just Rite Week | Day 3

Good morning and happy Wednesday!  This week, Stamper's Dream is celebrating a new Just Rite Stamps release with a week of fun peeks - a Christmas in July!  This cute little snowman is from Groovy Snowmen, which fits the 3-1/4" stamper - love these little snowmen!  My card base is 5" square and I stamped the snowman and border in Memento Rich Cocoa ink and colored it with Copic markers.  I used my circle and circle scallop Nestabilities to cut it out.

You'll be seeing this set lots more this week as well as other amazing images released this month.  Have fun - hop on over to see projects from Amy and Denise too!

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

recipe -

stamps: groovy snowmen (just rite stamps)

paper: garden green, old olive, real red, vanilla cardstock, retired christmas papers (stampin' up!)

ink: memento rich cocoa

accessories: nestabilities (spellbinders), celery satin ribbon, copic markers, dimensional tape

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 77

Good morning - It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge! Here is the deal: make a card with this layout and use the InLinkz button down at the very end of this post to enter your card. The links will close on Friday at 10 PM (Mountain Time), and I'll randomly select one card to feature on my blog on Saturday. So, as long as your card is linked by 10 PM Friday, your card will be in the drawing. Be sure to link directly to the blog post or gallery image which features your card. You may post a picture of the sketch on your blog, but please save the image to your computer first. Use the keyword SSSC77 if you plan to post your card in an online gallery.

I'm running out of sketch ideas in my head, so I looked at the new SU catty and chose a fun looking card to use as inspiration on page 10.  This sketch is pretty different in the way the image panel is placed as well as the size of the card.  I started with a 6.5" square piece of cardstock and folded it in half - this is my card base.  I never realized how much I loved this bench image from In the Park until I colored it - OH MY!  I adore the little flower basket - if only I could keep the flowers in my garden looking so vibrant, haha!  The minute I saw all of those lovely scallops, I thought of the scalloped borders in the Summertime Project Pantry Kit, so all of the papers, scallop stickers and ribbon are from that kit.  The buttons are Cosmo Cricket - Garden Variety.  I stamped the image on Choice Snow White cardstock with Memento Rich Cocoa ink and colored it with Copic markers.  I thought the green cardstock looked a little naked, so I stamped it with the new Stitched Plaid TE Big Background stamp and voila!

Usually I forget to keep the markers I used out so I can take a picture of them, but I didn't forget today! You can click on the image to see a larger view. 

The Sweet Sunday Stampers have amazing sketch samples to show you today, so stop on by to see:

• Jennifer Tapler
• Joanne Basile
• Karen Motz
• Laura Fredrickson
• Lynn Put
• Nancy Riley
• Sarah-Jane Kale'
• Vicki Burdick 

Thanks for taking on the challenge this week! 
Karen

recipe -

Stamps: In the Park (Taylored Expressions)

Paper: all from the Summertime Project Pantry Kit

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Old Olive (Stampin' Up!)

Accessories: Labels 11 Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Copic markers, Garden Variety buttons (Cosmo Cricket), embroidery floss, yellow grosgrain ribbon, dimensional tape

Sweet Sunday Sketch Winner

Hi!  It's time to announce this week's SSSC winner!  This week, random.org has chosen #39.....

Jess Willison!

Congrats Jess!   I love the way you colored the saddle and created such a wonderful masculine card.  Please stop by and see more of Jess's wonderful cards at her blog, Farm Fresh Designs.

See you back soon for another fun sketch!
Karen

Lovey Ducks

Happy Friday! I can't even tell you how excited I am that it is Friday - yes!  We're hoping the weather cooperates this weekend so we can take a family hiking trip (finally!!).
I picked up a Penny Black stamp from Stamper's Dream called Loving and Hugging - super cute!  The paper is My Mind's Eye Jack & Jill, one of my latest "go to" paper packs.  Love the patterns and colors!  The image is stamped on Neenah Natural White cardstock and colored with Copics, then layered over the Big Scalloped Oval Nestabilities die.  The sentiment is part a Hero Arts set called Just Find Me, packed full of different sentiments - I thought the "Smile" was cute for these little love ducks.  The card is finished with May Arts teal organdy ribbon and a few yellow pearls.
Thanks for stopping by!  Don't forget to check out all the new arrivals at Stamper's Dream - lots and lots of fun items!!

Karen

recipe -

stamps: loving and hugging (penny black), just find me (hero arts)

ink: memento tuxedo black

paper: bazzill textured, neenah natural white cardstock, jack & jill (my mind's eye)

accessories: big scalloped oval & small oval nestabilities (spellbinders), teal organdy ribbon (may arts), yellow pearls (kaisercraft)

Taylored Expressions Release Party

Good morning!  Today is the day the new sets and Project Pantry Kits are in the TE store!  I have a ton to show you today, so please hang with me for just a bit.  The month, Cuppie is quite the little traveler and he has his own little set of Stamps a la Carte, like snapshots of his summer vacation.

My first card features Cuppie in Destination Hollywood - superstar!  I love that Cuppie has little sunglasses - very Jack Nicholson, or perhaps  Drew Carey??  haha!  I colored Cuppie in his traditional colors with the Cuppie Copic Kit and then colored the sky, hills and sand around him.  I stamped the image again and cut out the clouds and popped them up with dimensional tape.  The sentiment is hand cut and curled to make a wavy banner - so much fun!  Papers and ribbon for this card are part of the Summertime Project Pantry Kit and I used TESC116 for the layout.

My second card features Cuppie in Destination Seattle - Yummy, coffeeee baby!!  I love the little cuppa he's holding out in the rain.  Such dedication.  The image is stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black and colored in with Copics.  The papers, ribbon, and scalloped die cut are all from the Summertime Project Pantry Kit and I added the Aqua rhinestones to the top corner for a little pizazz.  Did I really just type pizazz??  The layout is from the Sweet Stop - SSS61.

For my last card I'm using a new Apple Doodle Ink set called Weigh To Go - a really fun set to cheer on a friend or loved one making healthier choices and striving to live and eat better.  Seriously something I need to do - can you say Dr. Pepper???  I chose the little dress image, which would be SO much fun to use as a little black dress/girls night out image, don't you think?  I paper pieced the dress using paper from the Summertime Project Pantry Kit (Yes, totally am completely in l-o-v-e with this kit) and cut it out with a Labels 4 Nestabilities - and here is a tip for creating a nested look with the labels dies - using the same size Nestabilities die template used for your image, place it on a piece of cardstock and trace around the outside edge with a pencil and then cut it out.  Easy!  I added a scalloped edge with the Apron Lace punch and then some yellow pearls up top.  The layout is another fun Sweet Stop sketch, SSS63, which I kind of altered a bit because my very straight cornered brain couldn't handle the crooked panel, hahaha!

Don't miss out on all the eye candy this morning.  There is much more to see:

• Alex Maldonado
• Carolina Buchting
• Charmaine Ikach
• Donna Baker
• Jackie Pedro
• Jeanie Witmer
• Jodi Collins
• Karen Motz
• Melissa Sauls
• Sankari Wegman
• Taylor VanBruggen
• and superstar guest designer - Stacey Schafer

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Taylored Expressions Sneak Peek Day 2

Welcome back to Taylored Expressions sneak peeks!  I have another fun and happy card for you this morning using a set called In the Park.  This new set has all things summery with images that make me want to go read a book under a big shade tree.  I love big tree images, so that is the first stamp I reached for from this set and of course, I got it all inky with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and Copic markers.  The image is cut out with the large Labels 11 Nestabilities die and I sponged around the edges in So Saffron and Pumpkin Pie ink.  The papers and ribbon are from the coordinating Summertime Project Pantry Kit which features paper from Echo Park called Sweet Summertime - which is DARLING!  I stamped the sentiment twice, popping the center up on dimensional tape and cut the rest out with the Small Circle & Scallop Nestabilities dies - I used MOJO146 for the layout.

The Baker's Dozen have 2 sweet new sets to show you today - In the Park and Weigh To Go - stop on by and see:

• Alex Maldonado
• Carolina Buchting
• Charmaine Ikach
• Donna Baker
• Jackie Pedro
• Jeanie Witmer
• Jodi Collins
• Karen Motz
• Melissa Sauls
• Sankari Wegman
• Taylor VanBruggen

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

recipe -

Stamps: In the Park (Taylored Expressions)

Paper: Bazzill textured cardstock, Choice Snow White carstock, Sweet Summertime (Echo Park)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, So Saffron & Pumpkin Pie (Stampin' Up!)

Accessories: Labels 11, Small Circle, and Small Scalloped Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), orange sparkle ribbon, Copic markers, 3/4" circle punch

Taylored Expressions Sneak Peek Day 1

Slug Bug - BLUE!!  OK, sorry.  I just couldn't help myself!  I have had SO much fun using this new set from Taylored Expressions called Feelin' Groovy.  Actually, I had to steal it away from my daughter, because she thinks it was made for her - silly girl!  I stamped the car in Memento Tuxedo Black and colored it with Copics and then wrote in the 2010 on the license plate.  I added a little sparkle to the mirrors with a Stardust Gelly Roll pen.  The flowers in the little circle are stamped off in turquoise ink and then I used the Blossom and Circle Nestabilities to cut it out.  AND, how cute is the Daisy Chain punch with this set??  I added a few Tiny Twinkles to the daisy centers and then layered it over the scalloped borders.  The papers are from the coordinating That 70's Project Pantry Kit - this kit is loaded with fun accessories!  You can see Taylor's blog for all the details.  The layout is Taylor's TESC118.
Feelin' Groovy has so many possiblities - birthdays, a quick hello, background stamping - I can't wait to ink it all up!  

Hop on over to see what the rest of the Baker's Dozen have whipped up for you today - you'll catch  more of Feelin' Groovy as well as some fun projects featuring Cuppie on his own little road trip.

• Alex Maldonado
• Carolina Buchting
• Charmaine Ikach
• Donna Baker
• Jackie Pedro
• Jeanie Witmer
• Jodi Collins
• Karen Motz
• Melissa Sauls
• Sankari Wegman
• Taylor VanBruggen

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Karen

recipe - 

Stamps: Feeling Groovy (Taylored Expressions)

Paper: Prism Frosted Teal, Prism Papaya Puree Medium, Prism Razzleberry Light, Prism Intense Kiwi, Choice Snow White carstock, Doodlebug Feeling Groovy patterned paper

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Temping Turquoise (Stampin' Up!)

Accessories: Circle & Blossom Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Stardust Gelly Roll pen, Daisy Chain punch, Scallop Edge punch, Copic markers, pink polkadot grosgrain ribbon, Taylor's Tiny Twinkles

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 76

Good morning - It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge! Here is the deal: make a card with this layout and use the InLinkz button down at the very end of this post to enter your card. The links will close on Friday at 10 PM (Mountain Time), and I'll randomly select one card to feature on my blog on Saturday. So, as long as your card is linked by 10 PM Friday, your card will be in the drawing. Be sure to link directly to the blog post or gallery image which features your card. You may post a picture of the sketch on your blog, but please save the image to your computer first. Use the keyword SSSC76 if you plan to post your card in an online gallery.

In the spirit of American Independence day, I made a patriotic card using the 4th of July a la carte stamps from Taylored Expressions.  Love these swirly stars!  I added a couple star eyelets - wow, when was the last time I used eyelets??  I made the star using a Silhouette template (yep, a little addicted to that new toy at the moment).  I'm keeping this one short and sweet because I'm exhausted!  Happy 4th to everyone in the States - enjoy your day!

The Sweet Sunday Stampers have amazing sketch samples to show you today, so stop on by to see:

• Jennifer Tapler
• Joanne Basile
• Karen Motz
• Laura Fredrickson
• Lynn Put
• Nancy Riley
• Sarah-Jane Kale'
• Vicki Burdick 

Thanks for taking on the challenge this week! 
Karen

Recipe -

Stamps: 4th of July a la carte (Taylored Expressions)

Paper: kraft, Prism Island Mist, Prism Classic Red cardstock, We R Memory Keepers Old Glory patterned paper

Ink: Not Quite Navy (SU), Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories: square/scallop Nestabilities (Spellbinders), star eyelets

Sweet Sunday Sketch Winner

Happy Saturday!  It's time to announce this week's SSSCwinner!  Random.org has chosen #18............

K. Joy! 

This is the cutest little mouse ever!  He reminds me of the little mouse in If You Give a Mouse a Cookie - my kiddos read that all the time.  Yummy cookies and a sweet little mouse - love it!  You can see more of K. Joy's creations at her blog, Splashes of Joy - hop on over and take a peek!

See  you back soon!
Karen

Mark & Lisa's Wedding

Hi!  I feel like I've been hiding in a cave this past week - I'm so out of touch and I haven't been able to blog hop or get on Facebook (GASP!!) or even peek in for a quick hello.  So HI!!!  I'm so excited to be back among the land of the stamping :)
My sweet MIL asked me to make her wedding invitations and I'm so incredibly honored that she would ask little old me.  The order was simple enough, only 30 invites, but you know me and all my crazy embellishments.  So I made this task a wee bit more time consuming than I was planning on, but I LOVE the result!
I've been dying to use this little watercolor flower stamp from Hero Arts set called Watercolor Petals and it works so nicely as a little watermark image behind the script.  I printed the invitation on Neenah Natural White cardstock and then ran the panel through my Cuttlebug with a Curved Rectangles Mega Nestabilities and added little leaves and flowers to the corners.  Can't forget my favorite clear rhinestones either!  I was going to run the invitation through the Cuttlebug one more time with the embossing mats, but then came to my senses - 60 times through that thing might have sent me over the edge - hahaha!
Alright, enough chit-chat!  I've got to finish up the coordinating RSVP cards and get these in the mail today before the post office closes.

Have a wonderful Friday!
Karen

recipe -

stamps: watercolor petals (hero arts), summer afternoon (taylored expressions)

paper: perfect plum, pale plum, certainly celery, old olive, neenah natural white cardstock

ink: elegant eggplant, pale plum

accessories: 5 petal punch (ek success), leaves cut-out (silhouette), clear rhinestones (paper studio), curved rectangle mega nestabilities (spellbinders)

fonts: blackjack, century gothic