TOO CUTE To SPOOK with my Mini-Guests :)

Happy Halloween!!! 
and good Monday to you all :) 
It's Halloween :) Lots of fun things going on today!!! 
My kiddos have been sick the last few days, crossing fingers that they will be going to school and will be able to enjoy the trick-or-treats today :) 


There is also a Monday Funday Challenge at 
The Greeting Farm - Farm Fresh Challenge blog today!!! 
This week's challenge is to create a Halloween themed card/project... 


Here's the card that I originally created for today :) 
I used "Hallo Pumpkin" Digi and some scraps of 
Bella Blvd's Too Cute to Spook... 

And then yesterday, my boys wanted to get a bit crafty for Halloween :)
So we dusted off my "Spooktacular" Stamp Set and got inky!!! 


Here's a card by my Nicky... 

... and a card created by my Matthew :)

And of course, I just had to play along too ;)

Super Halloween fun :) 

To play along, please see all of our deets HERE!!! 
and be sure to visit the DT's spooktacular designs too :) 

Jessica Diedrich

April Davis

Joni Wilson

Lisa Gobea

Sharette Smith 

Happy Trick-or-Treating!!! 
Be safe :) :) :) 

Taylored Expressions Holiday Hoopla Blog Hop!!!

Taylored Expressions is hosting a Holiday Hoopla today and I'm excited to be a part of it. You should have arrived here from Taylor's blog!!!  

Which is also the beginning of the Holday Hooplay Hop!!! Be sure to go to 

Taylor's blog first for the full list of participants :)

There are 22 designers showcasing Christmas/Winter/Holiday stamps sets from TE with samples that include all sorts of projects from cards to gifts and beyond!  We want to inspire you to get your holiday crafting and card making into high gear!  

Be sure to stick with me all the way to the end of the post to get a 

coupon code for 25% off holiday stamp sets at Taylored Expressions! 

The sets I'm showcasing today is the "Banner Holidays" Stamp Set and 

the Banner Day 1 Die... along with Moka Angel... 

I love the Banner Stamp Sets SO much!!! 
It is such a fancy way to add your sentiments and give your card/project that extra 'something-something' to it :)  

Here's my trio of cards...
I stamped Angel and my Banner sentiments onto Choice Buttercream Cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink... I did a bit of coloring on my Angels with Copic Markers...

Did some paper piecing :)

and added a touch of sparkle on their halos and wings :)
using my Spica Glitter Pen!

Here are all the stamp sets and dies that I used: 

While creating for this hop I decided to keep myself to using only a small amount of designer papers and cardstock; I knew that I was going to have to do something with my scraps and decided to keep going with another Christmas card using the Trim the Trees Die... a sentiment from the Banner Holiday Stamp Set, some Kraft Cardstock and the Medium Scallop Border Die too :) 

Are you getting in the mood to stamp?  

Be sure to check out Taylor 's 12 Days of A Handmade Christmas Video Series for lots of easy gift ideas. I especially love Day TWO of the series!!! 
I really do hope that I can create a fabulous calendar like Taylor's found HERE!!! 
I'm thinking of creating TWO calendar's, one for each of my boys! LOL! 
They have SO much going on, it would be a fun way to document all their fun-ness on their own personalized calendars :) 

Now, who loves a SALE ?  

Use Coupon Code HOOPLA2011 to get 25% off the following holiday stamp sets (released in 2009 and 2010) at Taylored Expressions now through November 2!!!

 Here are those sets: 

Christmas Blessings, Enjoy!, From the Heart, Hangin' Out -  At the North Pole, Holiday Wonder, Home Sweet Home, Keeping Tabs, Merry Little Cocktail, Penguin Pals, Season's Sweetings, Sparkle & Cheer, Tag Treats , Tag You're It, Take Note - Holidays , Wings of Joy, Winter Wonderland.

The coupon code is case sensitive. 

Follow these instructions to apply the discount to your order:

1. Add the desired stamp sets from the above list to your shopping cart.

2. Insert the coupon code into the Promotional Code box.

3. Click the Update Cart button.  Your discount should now be applied.

4. Proceed to checkout to finalize and submit your order.

Thank you SO much for stopping by today!!! 
Your next stop is Jami!!! 

Happy Hopping :) 

My December 25th... with a Sketch!!!

Good morning Monday!!! and to all you lovely peeps :) 

I had a bit of candy corn earlier and I am still feeling the sugar-y stuff now, lol! 

We had a wonderful fun-filled weekend and I am hoping to start the week off with the same fun-filled good times vibe too!!! 

It's Monday Funday at The Greeting Farm - Farm Fresh Challenge Blog today!!! 

and guess what?!?! 

I made a sketch!!! To which Marie was so sweet to digital-ize for me! 

Thank you, Marie :) and a thank you to Jess, for all her help too! 

I hope you all decide to play along with it! 

Just remember, you must use a TGF stamp/image and we must be able to recognize the sketch on your card - you can flip or rotate it, add some extra embellies too ;) 

Here's my card, and of course, I couldn't even follow my own sketch to the exact look, LOL! 

but you can still see it ;)  

I used one of the latest clear stamp sets, "Clear Christmas"... 

Had a bit of fun with the gems on this one! 

Isn't that the sweetest little Christmas tree you've ever seen! 

I love all of the stars as ornaments! Makes me want to decorate my house with stars rather than the snowman theme we have every year! but don't let me snowmen hear about this, okay!? LOL! 

I love this set, so versatile! 

I can't wait to use the sleigh and other embellie-type of stamps in the set soon too:) 

Please be sure to visit the DT too today :)

(Sorry, blogger is not letting me add any other links to the post at the moment, ugh! Be sure to visit my sidebar, please!) 

Have a wonderful Monday!!! xoxo 

Angel of Hope...

Hi again!!! It's still Friday!!!

and I am enjoying some muuuuch needed alone time today :) 

Catching up on some emails, posts and comments while watching a movie, Catch and Release and probably some Edward time after that ;)  

It's now time for Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge!!! 

We have a special challenge for you this week! Since Taylored Expression is a proud sponsor of the Hope You Can Cling to card drive at Splitcoast, we thought we'd include an extra challenge with this week's sketch and encourage you to mail your cards to the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center. So if you're up for the extra challenge, then create a card that includes the color pink and send it along for the card drive. It's sure to brighten someone's day and that's what this hobby is all about, right!? You can find details for participating in the HYCCT challenges and sending your cards to the cancer center HERE. 

For my card today, I used Moka Angel... 

I paper pieced her gown and decided to change the rectangle panel for an oval :) 

Sometimes I feel like I need to make the sketch my own with a slight change, LOL! 

Can't help myself sometimes ;) 

Here's the amazing sketch... 

Create a card using the above sketch as inspiration. You're not required to use TE stamps to play, but there's a bonus prize if you do! To be entered into the prize drawing you must upload your card to Splitcoaststampers using  
keyword TESC148 by Thursday, October 27th. 

Don't forget to check out the amazing DTs creations too!!! 

Cassie Trask 

Lisa Hjulberg 

Lori Craig 

Monika Davis 

Taylor VanBruggen 

Tracy Clemente 

Enjoy the rest of your Friday TOO!!! 

Knock, Knock! Who's there???

CANDY CORN!!! 

It's release day at Pixie Dust Studio

and it's the SWEETEST one yet!!! 

"Gumball Smiles" 
"Sweet Santa" 
"Candy Corn"
"Pixie Kiss" 
"Miss Lolli Pop" 

Be sure to visit the rest of the DT to see their delish treats for today too!

and stop by the STUDIO and pick up your bag of goodies!!! 

You can't beat a zero calorie treat ;) 

Happy Friday! xoxo 

It's THE Riley and Company CIRCUS Blog Hop!!!

The CIRCUS has finally come to town!!! 

Today is release day!!! and Riley and Company is celebrating with a HOP!!! 

If you just happen to stop by and would like to start from the begining,
please go to the Riley and Company Blog
and you'll get all of your info and the hop-list there ;)
AND!!!
You are going to finally see ALL 16 NEW images, 22 accessory images AND 21 sentiments,
they are all available NOW!!!

They are all available in wood, cling or unmounted.
AND!!!
be sure to leave a comment here and for the other Moose-mates too!
Each one of the Design Team Members has a NEW Circus stamp to give-away! Woo Hoo!!! 

I have two cards to share with you today :) 

First is "Trapeze Riley and Sophie"   

... and for my next card, I used "Animal Balloon Riley"

Your next stop is... Therese Boyd :)

Thanks for stopping by!!! and enjoy hopping!!!
and don't forget to leave your comments for a chance to win a NEW Circus Riley Stamp :) :) :)

Trapeze Card Details:
Stamp(s): Riley and Company "Trapeze Riley and Sophie" Stamp and Circus Word Set Sentiment
Paper(s): My Mind's Eye DP, Taylored Expression Cardstock
Ink(s): Memento Tuxedo Black Ink, Copic Markers
Accessories: Taylored Expressions Medium Scallop Border Die, Button and Baker's Twine

Balloon Riley Card Details:
Stamp(s): Riley and Company "Animal Balloon Riley" Stamp and Circus Word Set Sentiment
Paper(s): Cosmo Cricket DP, Taylored Expressions Cardstock
Ink(s): Memento Tuxedo Black Ink, Copic Markers
Accessories: Small Circle Nestie, Dew Drops, Crinkled Ribbon

Up Up and Awaaaaaay... and my mini-Guests :)

*Please scroll down a smidge for my Taylored Expressions Blast from the Past post! Thank you :)

The PIXIE CIRCUS is coming to town!!!

I have a sneak peek to share with you! and my 2 little GUESTS have joined me with their own sneaks too!!!

"Up Up and Away"

This lil guy reminds me of the Disney movie, Up :)

I found some scraps of Cosmo Cricket Lil Man DP and just knew that I had to put the two together...

Next, my little Matthew, who will be 5 next month and will become a Kindergartener this Fall {sniff, sniff} needed to have ALL of these images in order to create a 'Circus theme' Circus :)

He used "Up Up and Away", "Goin' Bananas" and "Wink Blasts Off" digital images...

My Nicky (who wants to be called Nicholas now and is 7 AND A HALF, sigh...) created his own scenes for his images too!... For his first pic, he used "Goin' Bananas" and put this funny lil monkey on a tropical island :)

For Nicky's next image, "Wink Blasts Off"... he drew in the inside of the Big Top with his own Ringmaster :)

Thanks so much for looking and for the sweet loving comments! I know that my boys will be checking first thing in the morning, lol!

Enjoy!!!

Card Details:
Stamp(s): Pixie Dust Studio "Up Up and Away", "Goin' Bananas" and "Wink Blasts Off"
Paper(s): Cosmo Cricket Lil Man DP, Papertrey Ink Kraft CS
Accessories: Cosmo Cricket Lil Man Die Cut Stickers, Baker's Twine, MFT Open Scallop Die-namic

Taylored Expressions May "Blast from the Past" Blog Hop

It's another "Blast from the Past" Blog Hop with Taylored Expressions!!!

This month's theme is to... "Make it Masculine!" 

Where's my blue??? LOL!

Yes, I live in a house FULL of BOYS!!! and creating something boy-ish always has to pre-approved by them! NO bows, sparkles, ribbon or... a whole lotta other stuff! geesh!

My cards for today have been pre-approved by the almost 5yo, 7yo and 35yo, hee hee!!!

For my first card, I used my "Belated Birthday - Stand Out" A La Carte Stamp;

I just had to have me some Cosmo Cricket Social Club DP!...

and I used it as my 'embellishment' for this card... I have tough critics ;)

For my next card, I decided to go even simpler and use my "Much Appreciated" Stamp Set...

I some red ink since it's hubs fave color, and stamp directly onto the Kraft CS;

I used a scrap of Cosmo Cricket Social Club DP for the sentiment and a bit of twine with a wood button...

Clean and simple seems to be the thing for 'men' :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Enjoy the hop :) :) :)

Card Details:
Stamp(s): Taylored Expressions "Belated Birthday - Stand Out" A La Carte Stamp
and "Much Appreciated" Stamp Set
Paper(s): Cosmo Cricket Social Club DP, Taylored Expressions Jacaranda CS, PTI Kraft CS
Ink(s): ColorBox Lipstick Red Chalk Ink, Memento Tuxedo Black Ink, Copic Markers
Accessories: Small Tags Nesties, Baker's Twine, Wood Button, MFT Notebook Edge Die-namic

Riley on the Box! Riley in the Box!

HELLOOO everyone :)

I've missed you all! I've missed blogging and creating!!!

but I'm done being a baby ;) I'm feeling SO much better! and went to the dentist today and got my stitches all out! Yippeee! Such a relief now! and I am still waiting on my Diner Cheeseburger and Fries, lol! Hopefully by the weekend I will be able to munch on that ;)

In the meantime, I have 2 full weeks of awesome challenges and sneak peeks of all kinds to share with you!!!

Today we have another rockin' Riley and Company Challenge for you!!!

This week, Silke has challenged us to create a Gift Box!

I have to admit, I was a bit thrown off with this challenge, hee hee!

It has been a looong time since I've created or altered anything and my brain has been so fogged, I had no idea what I was going to create...

but then I received my order of Riley stamps :) :) :)

Riley came in this awesome clear box! I knew exactly what I had to do ;)

Sorry girlies, but this gift box is for me ;) hee hee!

My Rileys's will be stored in there and place on my shelf for easy access play!!!

I used "Stamping Riley" - he's my new BFF!!!

Every stamper should have him :)

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!

Riley and Company's May Release is almost here!!! and this is our BIGGEST release EVAAA!!!

It's HUUUUGE!!! You won't want to miss it :)

SNEAK PEEKS: Saturday, May 21st - Thursday March 26th

BLOG HOP with FREE Blog Candy: Thursday, May 26th, 10 pm EST (9pm CST)

New Releases Available on Riley Web Site: Thursday, May 26th, 10 pm EST (9pm CST)

THANKS SO MUCH for passing by today :)

Happy Tuesday!!!

Now it's time to go visit the other Moosmates and see what they've created today too :)

Cindy Haffner - http://cindyhaffnerscorner.blogspot.com/ 

Frances Byrne - http://stampowl.blogspot.com/

Heather Prince - http://princessscrapperstamper.blogspot.com/

Jovita Torres - http://everydaylifeinmymind.blogspot.com/

Joy Stagg - http://daiseyfreak.blogspot.com/

Juliet Huang - http://www.julietshuang.blogspot.com/

Kelly Santi - http://sandcastlestamper.blogspot.com/

Laurie Clout - http://stampinvirgo5.blogspot.com/

Margie Cortina {Me!} - http://ohbumbleismemargie.blogspot.com/

Michelle L - http://www.enchantedstamper.blogspot.com/

Sarah Gough - http://www.thinkingstamps.blogspot.com/

Silke Kittmann - http://www.silli-silli.blogspot.com/

Therese Boyd - http://www.paperfrolic.blogspot.com/

Gift Box Details:
Stamp(s): Riley and Company "Stamping Riley" Rubber Stamp
Paper(s): Cosmo Cricket DP, Taylored Expressions Cardstock
Ink(s): Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers
Accessories: Small Circles and Scallop Square Nesties, Dew Drops, Ribbon

Hannah and Emma {A Baby Bud Designs Twin Release!}

*Please scroll down a smidge for my Riley and Company B'day Blog Hop Post!

Thank you :)

TWINS!!! New Baby Buds have joined the family :)

Please meet Hannah and Emma!!!

You can definitely tell that they are sisters ;)

Both can be found now in the Baby Bud Designs Etsy Shop!!!

It's been a long while since I've enter any challenges!

and I am so happy to have found much inspiration for my cards today :)

I am entering BOTH of my cards into the following challenges:

- Baby Bud Designs Challenge:

Must use a Baby Bud image and create with Punches and/or Dies

- The Cheerful Stamp Pad Challenge #17: "Little Girls with Curls"  

And I am entering my Emma Card into these challenges TOO! ;)

- Crazy 4 Challenges #86: Flowers

- Mojo Monday Sketch #190

- Ribbon Carousel Challenge #1: Be Inspired by the Ribbon Carousel

Baby Bud "Hannah"

Baby Bud "Emma"

I hope all you Mommies had a wonderful Mother's Day yesterday :)

I am off to color up some more images/stamps and get comfy with a couple of movies tonight!

I am having oral surgery tomorrow at noon and I my nerves are all over the place! LOL!

Thanks for stopping by!

I hope to be well enough to be back on Thursday with my Pixie Dust Challenge card :)

{hugs to all!!!}

Hannah Card Details:
Stamp(s): Baby Bud Designs "Hannah" Digital Images
Paper(s): Cosmo Cricket DP, Papertrey Ink CS
Accessories: MFT Twill Ribbon, MFT Flower Trio and
Scalloped Scallop Die-namics, Prima Pearls

Emma Card Details:
Stamp(s): Baby Bud Designs "Emma" Digital Image
Paper(s): The Girl's Paperie Kitch DP, Papertrey Ink CS
Accessories: MFT Notebook Edge and Flower Trio Die-namics,
Small Oval and Scalloped Square Nesties, Ribbon, Gems

Ryley Boy

Good morning :) 

I'd like you to meet my new freckle-y friend, Baby Bud Ryley...

I adore this card! Unfortunately, I don't think it looks so great in the pic above, lol! I dropped my camera a few nights ago, and it works when it wants to now :(  It changes its settings all on its own, and even sets the 10 second timer! So annoying! I'm in the process of looking for a new camera! I want something simple enough for my cards, but also need something better with a killer zoom lense for kiddo pics! 4yo's award ceremony and 7yo's baseball games are getting pretty demanding for better close-ups and color!!! Any suggestions/tips would be greatly appreciated :)

Ooops! Sorry, back to my card ;)

I also bought a few sheets of Cosmo Cricket's Social Club DP and knew that sweet Ryley would be perfect for it! I used The Pink Elephant's Sketch Challenge #99 and I paper pieced his jumper and tried to keep him in a monochromatic theme... fun!!! I hope you likey!

Baby Bud Designs new challenge for the month is up!!!

To play along, create a card/project using Dies/Punches using a Baby Bud Image!!!

We can't wait to see what you'll create ;)

Happy TGIF to you ;)

Card Details:

Stamp(s): Baby Bud Designs "Ryley" Digital Image

Paper(s): Cosmo Cricket "Social Club" DP, Papertrey Ink CS

Accessories: Button (from my Gap Capris!), Baker's Twine, Dew Drops 

Swimming Dolly

Hey! Did you see the calendar???
It's May 2nd! How the heck did that happen?! Geesh!
Did you also see that sneak peeks have started popping up for Pixie Dust Studio's latest release,
"Splash!"???

I've got a sweet lil girlie girl to share with you tonight :)

Here's "Swimming Dolly"...

Isn't she incredible-y sweet!?!?!
I didn't intend to make her eye color so dark, but I grabbed the wrong Copic and just had to go with it! I'm kinda liking it now... and LOOK! I'm not hording my new papers! Ha!
I finally got a few sheets of Cosmo Cricket's "Salt Air" a few weeks ago and just knew that I had to use it right away :)  Those gorgeous flowers are by Recollections!!! I looove how well everything coordinated so well together without even me trying to, lol! Y'all know me, everything has to be matchy-matchy ;) 

This has to be the cutest collection yet!!!
Don't miss Pixie Dust Studio's release and new challenge on Thursday, May 5th!!!

Thanks for stopping by!!!
Good day :) :) :)

Card Details:

Stamp(s): Pixie Dust Studio - Splash Collection: "Swimming Dolly" Digital Image

Paper(s): Cosmo Cricket "Salt Air" DP, Papertrey Ink CS

Accessories: Recollections Flowers and Pearls, Cosmo Cricket Tiny Letter Stickers, Ribbon  

Cars Racing! Racing Cars!

Let's GO!!!

It's time to play along with Pixie Dust Studio's challenge again :)

This week's theme is...  

"Let's Play!!!"

Create a card/project using your favorite sport/game/team as inspiration.

I decided to go with Car Racing!

Now don't be offended, but car racing is definitely not my fave sport...

problem is, I don't have a fave! LOL!

I do like Baseball a bit, my 7yo loves it and the season has just started! I've frozen my butt off for 2 nights in a row now, but it's out of love for him, not the sport... and there isn't anything in the world that could get me to sit down and watch an entire game of it either, too long!... I do watch a bit of car racing sometimes, but again, I can't sit and watch a 4 hour race! and after a while, they all kinda blurrrr by on the screen and I can't tell who is who! LOL!

I am so happy to have finally been able to use some of my Cosmo Cricket "Joy Ride" DP! I've been hoarding it for a looong time now! Just waiting for the perfect lil car image ;)

and of course, "Wink's Ride" is just right!!!

Please do stop by and visit the other Pixies

and see what they've come up with for this week :)

FYI!!! Pixie Dust Studio also has some FUN things coming up next month and this summer!!!

Pixie will be having a 15% Off Sale

on May 1st!!!

Woo Hoo!!!

Please "Like" Pixie Dust Studio on FB to get the latest Pixie News and Sneak Peeks!!!

and join the chatter that's happening over at Pixie's PCP Page too!!!

Thanks for stopping by again!!!

Happy Tuesday :*)

xoxo

Card Details:

Stamp(s): Pixie Dust Studio "Wink's Ride" Digital Image

Paper(s): Cosmo Cricket "Joy Ride" DP, Papertrey Ink CS

Accessories: Cosmo Cricket Tiny Letter Stickers, Tim Holtz "Play" Ticket Stub,

Dew Drops, MFT Scalloped Scallop Die-namic