Jump for Joy

You may recall I mentioned joining an SCS swap for Stampin Up stamps, a while back. I missed posting about a few of the interim cards, but I am back with the most recent. The theme due in March was "Jump for Joy". I knew immediately what stamp set to use, but as usual, the rest of it was up in the air. (Ha! No pun intended)

Came across this sketch while googling. My kangaroo circles were already cut and colored; I could not have found a better fit!

Since I was cutting it close with the due date, there may have been some jumping for joy when I discovered it







Card Details:

Image: Stampin Up

Sentiment: N/A

Cardstock: Hammermill, SU

Ink: Ranger Archival Jet Black
Coloring: Copics

Tools: Nestabilities, Embossing folder

Embellies: Unknown ribbons

Happy 50th Birthday, Joe!

Another big event at our chorus retreat, was a celebration of the 50th birthday of our coach, Joe Connelly. I needed to make a card that was roomy enough for everyone to sign, and was special enough to double as a "gift"

Here is what I created:

I used images of items from his childhood (well, except for the big-wheeled bicycle) and followed a sketch from Freshly Made Sketches (#177)

 The inside is an exploding box with a cupcake in the center. It is supposed to be a cupcake anyway, but I had attached the base to the base of the card before I realized I had forgotten to run it through my crimper; it does not have that cupcake wrapper feel, but I was not about to take it apart to fix. 

The images from the outside of the card were stamped inside with Versamark, so it would not be so plain, but would not impede signatures. 

The frosting is embossed and the candle is a drinking straw. The flame was made by tying different lengths of orange ribbon and securing them with a brad (so they would not shift) then stuffing all of that into the straw. 

Other than the crimping mistake, I am quite pleased with how this came out. 








Card Details:

Image: SU

Sentiment: SU

Cardstock: Bazzill, SU, unknown dp

Ink: Memento, Versamark
Coloring: N/A

Tools: Nestabilities, embossing folder, unknown brad

Embellies: unknown ribbon, drinking straw

Happy (Humorous) Birthday, Barb!

I think of myself as a rather entertaining person; I can usually get a good guffaw out of ya at least once in a conversation. But I will admit, coming up with an idea for a humorous birthday card stumped me. Over the course of a few days, whenever it would cross my mind, I put in varying search terms in Google Images to find something funny that I could replicate. Nothing too difficult, as I was going to need to make multiples. 

Finally, FINALLY, I hit pay dirt. A sentiment made one of my stamps jump to the forefront of my mind. It would be complicated, as it would involve much detailed cutting and numerous maskings, but I have plenty of time (cards are not due until October, after all); I decided to go for it. 

This time around, The Deconstructed Sketch (#111) provided inspiration for the layout. 

About five minutes in, it became very clear, that the idea was beyond my abilities to produce once, never mind eight times. A quick search through my birthday drawer and I found another image that would work just fine; and a card was born.

I alternated between punches for the border. At first I had the candles dripping red wax (different punch than shown here), but Princess A stated that it looked more like blood, which had also crossed my mind. Not exactly festive.

I punched icicles, turned them upside down and put them along the top, and she agreed it could pass for flame. All those candles would produce a mighty blaze. 





With the way Barb and Jeanette are always ragging each other, I think this card's message is perfect. 








Card Details:

Image: Hero Arts

Sentiment: American Art Stamps, computer generated

Cardstock: GP, SU

Ink: Memento
Coloring: Copic Markers

Tools: Martha Stewart punch, SU punch, Nestabilities, Embossing folder

Embellies: Unknown brad

What Happened to Flopsey?

Some weeks ago, LJ opened a swap for a stamp company I do not own and have no desire to acquire. I checked out Linda's stash, but nothing jumped out at me. She and I discussed it and decided to request LJ host a My Favorite Things swap so I could join it. (Sure, I could have hosted it myself, but I really wanted to join an LJ swap.)

Here we are more than 30 days later, and I have just finished my cards. But, since they are not due for 20 more days, I am actually ON TIME!!!

Back to MFT... What happened to Flopsey?? I went on the site to see if there were any new Flopseys I needed for this swap and there was not a single one! I read a little further only to find out Flopsey was discontinued?! WHAT?!? How could they do that to this bunny that reminds me so very much of Princess A's own special Mel??

[This was Mel on Princess A's first First Day of Fifth Grade (I say first First because she had a second First Day when we moved). He is sitting on the front steps waiting for her to come home from school so he can present her with the gift we made for her while she was away.]






I cannot believe that my six sets of Flopsey are all I am ever going to have of him. I guess Mel will have to live vicariously through the critters of some of my other stamp sets instead...

I found the sketch for this card on Sketch Saturday (#266) after reading Kelly's post about it. I had never heard of this blog before, but it is now bookmarked and I hope to continue to find inspiration there.

  


















Card Details:

Image: MFT, Artful Inkables, Cover-a-Card

Sentiment: N/A

Cardstock: GP, SU

Ink: Memento, SU

Tools: Embossing Folder, Nestabilities, IO Mega Mount, SU punch

Coloring: Copic markers, Prismacolor markers

Embellies: Unknown dimensionals

Barb's Fabulous Flowers

I was doing so well earlier in the year with getting my swaps in on time, that I signed up for not one, but two spots in Barb's Fabulous Flowers before my cards were finished. Here we are at the last minute and I just finished the second set. Technically set #2 was finished over the weekend, but since I was making extras for another occasion, I did not consider the entire set finished until just now. 

The first card I made, featured Tuesday Morning Sketches (#203) and was actually finished on that same Tuesday. Sadly I did not have time to scan it until this morning so I missed the entry deadline  

Can I just mention how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Cover-a-Card stamps by Impression Obsession? I may never buy designer paper again!

Card Details:

Image: PSX, Impression Obsession Cover-a-Card, Denami Design

Sentiment: N/A

Cardstock: GP, SU

Ink: Memento, SU

Tools: Embossing Folder, Nestabilities, IO Mega Mount

Coloring: SU Watercolor Crayons, Aqua Painter

Embellies: Unknown ribbon












Card #2 features Sweet Sketch Wednesday (#211). Unfortunately, there is not title on that particular blog post so I cannot link directly to it. If they should fix this, I will adjust the link accordingly. 

Card Details:

Image: Riley

Sentiment: SU

Cardstock: GP, SU

Ink: Memento

Tools: N/A

Coloring: Copic Sketch Markers

Embellies: Unknown rhinestones

Green With Envy Over Your Recent Make-Over

I spent some time the other day perusing SCS, but I could not find another swap that interested me; Hence another "What Women Want" card was born. 

I knew immediately what stamp set I wanted to use, so off to Tuesday Morning Sketches I went. The sketch(#189) was perfect! 
Oh, but wait, there's a catch. A color scheme is attached. I know I have been out of it for a while, but I do not remember ever seeing that before. Oh well, who says a make-over card has to be pink anyway?! After all, my favorite color is green...

You may notice in the original sketch there is a little swirl around the image, or in the case of this card the sentiment - I know, I know, I said I was not a fan of sentiments, but in this case I made an exception. Anywho, back to the swirl. I do not have anything like that and am too cheap (not to mention lazy) to go out and purchase, especially as I would need not just one, but eight. (I almost always make swap cards in sets of eight. Six to send, two to keep.) To compensate for my lack of funds/desire/energy I used a swirly embossing folder. I think it worked just fine.

After my card was made, I remembered I needed to check Loves Rubberstamps Challenge blog to see if I won anything last week (I didn't). While I was there, I discovered this weeks challenge(#43) is "Shades of Green" so this card will be entered there as well. BONUS!

Card Details:

Image: Stampin Up

Sentiment: SU

Cardstock: SU, GP

Ink: SU

Tools: Cuttlebug, embossing folder

Coloring: N/A

Embellies: Prima - Iced Got Flowers, unknown rhinestone brad

Planting for Thanksgiving

When I read that this month's theme (and by this month I mean March/April) for the Sisterhood of the Traveling Cards is "What's Cooking?", my first though was my little Inky Antics chefs. They have been staying with Linda for a while, but she said she could send them back home again. I was not, however, positive that that was the direction I wanted to go, so I went sketch challenge blurfing for inspiration. 

I browsed at least five different challenge blogs, but it was not until I saw Freshly Made Sketches(#76) that I was inspired. To the stamp room I went and started opening drawers. Suddenly I remembered I had a fruits and vegetables drawer! On top was this lovely set from The Angel Company (now out of business) and I knew right away what I was going to do. 

Embossed lines on the brown card stock evoke planting rows (or that was the plan anyway). My first thought for the designer paper panel was to find something kitchen wallpaperish but the ones I found were too busy; I opted for the muted print instead. The sketch calls for a sentiment, but I did not know what to say. First I tried "Happy Thanksgiving" cuz these are all (intentionally) Thanksgiving veggies, but, no wait, they are seed packets and should have planted long before the holiday. Next I looked at "Thinking of You" cuz I am thinking of you as I plant the veggies for our Thanksgiving dinner, but that seemed too much of a stretch. Truth is I am not a fan of sentiments - what if the sender wanted to say something different with this card? It took a while, but I finally decided upon a plain knotted ribbon instead.

Originally I was planning to make a tomato seed packet, but then I suspected that Jeanette does not like tomatoes, so I went with corn. At least it gave me a little color contrast against the carrot and pumpkin. When the card was all put together, I felt it needed a little something, so the "O" in corn got a little jewel. Livens things up a bit don't you think?

Card Details:

Image: The Angel Company

Sentiment: N/A

Cardstock: SU, GP

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa

Tools: Cuttlebug, embossing folder

Coloring: Prismacolor markers

Embellies: Basic Grey ribbon, unknown bling

Clear and Cold

I admit it, I did not look out the window on New Year's Day. Well, I am sure I did, but not specifically to check out our weather. Fact is, I did not know that was the Sisterhood theme til about the 7th. So from what I can remember it was clear, cold with some snow left on the ground from the day after Christmas - also known in my house as the day before the year's Most Important Holiday!

The pond in my yard never freezes completely; I expect this little girl and her pooch have found the one at the back of our property, or perhaps the one across the road. Yup, there are a lot of ponds around here, and all, but mine, are frozen.
 
I read somewhere that what you do on New Years is what you will do in the coming year. "Cool!", I thought, "we are going to do more socializing!" Then I realized it was not referring to New Year's Eve, but rather New Year's Day. Oh well, looks like 2011 will be much the same as 2010 as I spent the first of the year playing with my Christmas and Birthday goodies (techno gadgets), reading and watching movies. Bummer. I was really looking forward to hosting more friendly get-togethers...





Card Details:
Image: Mary Engelbreit for All Night Media
Sentiment: N/A
Cardstock: GP, SU
Ink: Memento, Memories
Tools: Nesties, Cuttlebug embossing folder
Coloring: Prismacolor markers
Embellies: unknown ribbon, Stickles

A Little Night Music

My, my, my it has been a loooooong time since I have posted.

This week a good portion of the Hos are in North Carolina enjoying themselves at the HPC (Ho and Pimp Convention, I believe). Sadly I could not attend this year. Again. I cannot tell you how many times I have kicked myself for not going when it was in NJ. But I was new to the stable then and feeling rather inadequate. If only I knew then what I know now...

So anyway, as I was saying, since many of the Hos are away from their computers and more importantly their crafting desks, I figured it was high time I did my part for this DT and made a card.

Audrey came up with the sketch challenge this week,

and a challenge it was.

I just was not sure what to do with that split panel thing in the background. I knew right away what image I wanted, but nothing else. Once I decided on background, however, it all came together.

I will leave it to you to decide, is this little girl staying up way past her bedtime, or is she dreaming?

Card Details:
Image: SU
Sentiment: SU
Cardstock: GP, SU, unknown designer paper
Ink: Memento
Tools: Cuttlebug embossing folder, SU Punch
Coloring: Prismacolor markers
Embellies: Unknown brads, generic pop dots

Missing Vickie

Every day at 2:30 I have a cup of tea and think about Vickie. Almost since I joined SONE, she and I have been roommates on overnight trips. We both wake up pretty early and enjoy a good cup of tea first thing. She also had the most glorious gardens at her home which she let my mother and I raid before she sold it. We moved at about the same time. Me, to the other side of the state, but she went clear across the country. Now we play Scrabble on Facebook and sometimes use the chat feature, but it is just not the same.

I was thinking of Vickie as I made today's card. Ironically, I was putting the final touches on it at about 2:30. I did not have tea though, cuz it was a crazy 86°F this afternoon and the screens are not in the windows yet (since this is not typical, nor expected to last) so I could not open most of those downstairs.

The layout comes from Tuesday Morning Sketches (#40) tweaked a bit, obviously. I am also entering it into Meljen's Design Challenge (#1) where 'anything goes'!

The bunny is colored with Prismacolor markers to resemble Princess A's own special bunny Mel. The two of them started a blog today called "Bunny Thoughts".

Many people are making Springtime cards that are in full bloom and full of light or bright colors. Around here that is not quite how things look. The trees are still bare, though there are some buds, but mostly they look like sticks. I tried to represent that with the embossing folder and the green tips to the trees. With the crazy temperature out there today, this bunny is probably wishing there was a whole lot more shade. I know I was!

I hope Seattle was more comfortable for its newest resident...






Card Details:
Image: MFT
Sentiment: N/A
Cardstock: GP, SU
Ink: Memento, SU
Tools: SU punch, Cuttlebug embossing folder
Coloring: Prismacolor markers
Embellies: unknown ribbon

Free to Be...

It is Teapot Tuesday Time again! (I have missed playing along and drat, but there have been some great parties in my absence...)

This week Mothermark has been inspired to write poetry:
Meet Brutus, the Bunny
Who's just a smidge funny!

He's totally of his rocker,
I know! It's a shocker!

His mom, bless her heart,
It's been hard from the start!

And throughout the years,
She's been driven to tears!

There! Look at that! He peed on that log!
What is his problem? He's a wannabee dog!

Be quiet! You'll hear it! The most incredible moan,
It's the pleasure he gets from his big juicy bone!

He's been known to just hollar!
It's pink! Not a dog collar!

He's a disgrace to all rabbits,
with the most annoying of habits!

He hates those orange carrots
Gives them all to the ferrets!

And when there's work to be done,
To bring children some fun....

He just sits on his keester,
Ignores all that is Easter!

Can you see? Don't you see? Why Thumper and Peter,
Are completely convinced, he's a big Easter Cheater!

Awww...Come on There Brutus!
Help us out or just shoot us!

Look at me! Look at me! I'm not a big fake!!
Look at me! Did you see? Now I can shake!!

(That's a puppy dawg shake ifn' ever I saw one!)

And here is the challenge:
"So, here's the story, Mory! Mory is Brutus' best friend. He's a ferret and the recipient of many a carrot! (At least 42,000!) He's a little reserved, a little shy, not a *in your face* kinda guy! He's not quite sure how to handle this whole identity crisis for his friend, Brutus. Part of him wants his little buddy to be a dog but part of him loves his cute widdo bunny friend! One thing is for certain, he is tired of stressing about this dilema. That's where we come in!
With only about a week before Easter, we need to either convince Brutus to be a bunny and step up to the plate and help out at Easter. Or we need to convince him to leave that life behind permanently and buy a new dog house! So, depending on your most valued opinion of this whole deal, bring a bunny, an Easter basket, pink ribbon or a carrot or two. On the other hand, bring a fire hydrant, a collar, a dog house or a dog bone or two! And if you are the wishy washy type (like me!) then bring a doggie in a bunny costume! Snort! You know the drill!"


I don't know about you, but this whole story reminds me of My Dog is a Plumber from Free to Be... You and Me (Am I dating myself? Oh, who cares? I don't have any problem admitting I was a child of the 70s):

My dog is a plumber. He must be a boy,
Although I must tell you his favorite toy
Is a little play stove with pans and with pots,
Which he really must like, 'cause he plays with it lots,
So perhaps he's a girl -- which kind of makes sense,
Since he can't throw a ball and he can't climb a fence,
But neither can dad -- and I know he's a man,
And mom is a woman and she drives a van.
Maybe the problem is in trying to tell
Just what someone is by what she does well?

Do you see the connection? I am all for letting a person (or a bunny as the case may be) be himself. For you, Brutus, here is my card...

The layout came from Sweet Sketch Wednesday. (#43);  I doubt it is going to win any prizes over there though. While looking for cardstock to match my ribbon, I came upon a piece that had been folded so the opening was in the center. It occurred to me that this sketch lended itself perfectly to that!

The bottom panel is embossed with flowers in circles, cuz it was the closest thing I could find to Easter eggs, so just pretend they are oblong, ok?

The top panel is a tribute to Brutus' true self. I hope his friends and family stop giving him such a hard time. How many Easter Bunnies do we need anyway? There is only ONE Santa after all...






Card Details:
Image: Peachy Keen Stamps, Inkadinkado, PSX, Stampendous
Sentiment: N/A
Cardstock: SU, GP
Ink: Memento, SU
Tools: Cuttlebug Embossing folder, Nesties
Coloring: Prismacolor markers
Embellies: Generic ribbon, SU dimensionals, Stickles

Double Dare

My first attempt at double embossing. For that matter, my first attempt at embossing with nesties. Not so simple as others make it seem, I can tell you...

Vivian is hosting a swap with your choice of double embossing or blank embossing. I decided to try my hand at double and if that did not work, easy enough to fall back on the blank. (OK, so it was a swap not really a dare, but doesn't the alliteration sound better?)

This stamp set always makes me smile. For some reason, I missed it in the SU catalog, but discovered it at a tag sale and had to have it. Sometimes I just like to look at it. Always good for a grin. I think of Miss Congeniality and Gracie Lou Freebush. That movie cracks me up! Oh, and of course Benjamin Bratt... drool! He is on my list...

It took quite a while (and a few sheets of cardstock) for me to get the right "sandwich" to emboss leaving the middle clear. Then another while to outline a frame in the center instead of cutting it out. Thank goodness that was the hardest part - I don't think I could have taken much more frustration. Using a real ribbon for her sash was a strike of genius, I thought; Pity the scanner crushed it, cuz it truly follows the image on the card when left to its own devices. Finally, there are Stickles on her shoes, her crown and on her single tear. (Aww!) 






Card Details:
Image: SU
Sentiment: SU
Cardstock: SU
Ink: Memento
Tools: Prismacolor markers, Marvy punch, SU punch, embossing folder,nesties
Coloring: Prismacolor markers
Embellies: Stickles, ribbon, generic bling

Bleeping Digital

Digital is the wave of the future. Digital books, digital music and what some people call digital stamps, though I usually just use the word 'images' Michele has a swap right now for cards made using digis. Within it she has a category for Fancy Folds/Techniques/Shapes card. Thinking I should try something new, I signed up for this one.

Now I am fairly computer savvy, but digis just stump me. They never come out the size that I want. And oh, for this card, I used two, cuz the fish is a digi, a whale actually, that I altered a wee bit (I can do that no problem). I know how to change the size, but cannot seem to figure out how that translates on the paper. At least I am no longer resizing by percentages anymore - OY! That was a bear of a math problem. As for the whale, altering the image was easy; took some time to alter the frame around the image (cuz after all that is the size you are changing, not the picture itself.) Printing it how I wanted - ERG, that took many, many trips through the printer to perfect.Only one sheet of paper, though, cuz I am cheap (green?) like that. Finally I got the whale shape printed and cut out. The turtle was a little easier as I was using him as is and his frame is already tight, so though he took quite some time to get sized correctly, he only one test print. (I used the test page from Belassiz; did I mention I am cheap? In fact, once a page is too full to continue to print, it becomes my desk protector when I do real stamping. I say that cuz after I made this card I thought I will never do digis again! I will, though, and I will get better at it. Certainly could not be any worse...

An inked embossing folder was used for the underwater section of the "fish", and there are Stickles on both the fly (on the fishing line) and the edge of the whale tale. Originally I planned on a Happy Fathers Day sentiment, but did not like any of the placements, so I ditched it. Even without, I think GB will likely be finding this in his mailbox in June.





Card Details:
Image: Dustin Pike - with some parts of the image removed (card shape) , Bugaboo
Sentiment: N/A
Cardstock: SU, GP
Ink: Memento, SU
Tools: Embossing Folder, Brayer
Coloring: Prismacolor markers
Embellies: Stickles, ribbon

Two Embossing Folder Challenge

Don't you hate when you finish a card (or even worse a set of 8) and you see a bunch of things that you could have done differently, but just don't have the time? That is how I feel about this card. Well, to be truthful, there is really only one thing I can think I should have done differently (other than the whole card itself) and that would be the ink color of the sentiment. Should have matched the green I think. Or at least tested that to see which was better.

I could not think of any embellies to add, so there are none. At least I fulfilled the swap requirements of using at least two embossing folders.

I admit it, I do not love this card and I feel guilty to sending it to Paola, as I do really like her. Of course, one of the great things about Sweet P is her forgiving nature. Looks like I will be putting it to the test with this one!




Card Details:
Image: N/A
Sentiment: SU
Cardstock: SU, GP
Tools: Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (x2) 
Coloring: N/A
Embellies: N/A

True Love for Bodacious?

Renovations to Bodacious' villa are going to take quite some time, so I am bringing Belassiz something to read. She is, of course, an intellectual, so those glossy magazines with their gossip just won't do. A classic novel is what she needs...

Perhaps it is an ulterior motive on my part. After all, we want her to choose from her heart and not what those decorator mags tell her she "should" like. Though honestly I question Bodacious' choice of love. Anyone who would agree to such a wager may not be the catch he thinks she is. I am willing, however, to put my doubt aside and do what I can to help Bodacious. I am sure that if he IS her true love then he will know her and what will most likely move her, so she has nothing to fear. (But again, her doubts make me question her suitability for a mate for Bodacious - oh wait, that's right, I am supposed to be putting these thoughts aside... Please excuse me)
 
Bernarde just might be making a lucky escape... Whoops! Did I say that out loud?

If you are visiting me for the first time, Welcome! If you have been here before (also welcome!) then you are probably getting used to these crazy posts. No? Well, you will be soon, cuz I am hooked on Teapot Tuesdays!



Card Details:
Image: Elizabeth O. Dulemba 
Cardstock: SU, GP
Tools: Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Nestabilities 
Coloring: Prismacolor Markers
Embellies: (unknown) mini rhinestones, SU Stampin' Dimensionals

Fruitcakes and Snowflakes

The theme for this month's Sisterhood swap reads as follows:
"January brings a new year, a new beginning and the idea that anything is possible. It is also a cause to celebrate self and the wonderful person YOU are. So… this month’s swap is to create a card celebrating the month that the world was graced with your sweet selves. Each month has a flower, a jewel, a color, a zodiac symbol that is unique to it. Use any icon from your birth month to create a card that is pure you. Two layers of cardstock and one embellishment is all that is required but feel free to add more if you wish. This card/month is all about YOU ~ the sky is the limit!"

I Googled December and found out my birthstone is turquoise, my zodiac sign is a goat and my flower is narcissus (Daffodil for December? Seems to me it would make more sense for March.). OK, here is what we got to make a card, a turquoise goat eating a daffodil. Uh... no.

Moving right along; how about obscure holidays? Lets see what falls on December 27. Hmm, "National Fruitcake Day" and "Make Cut-Out Snowflakes Day"... And a card was born. Do you recognize the sketch? It is sketch challenge #264 on SCS. (Incidentally, when I told Main Squeeze that my birthday was National Fruitcake Day he laughed and said, "how appropriate!")

I love this stamp (Love You to Bits, no longer in business). I admired it at my sister's and she went out and bought me one of my own! All these years I thought it was a boy cook with really big ears, but when I was coloring this time I thought the ears looked rather lumpy and realized it was more likely hair sticking out from the chefs hat.
Today she is a girl chef with brown hair just like me! She also has a white cat similar to my Iisis and a canary, though I have an African Grey. As for the baking, who eats fruitcake anyway? Certainly not I, so instead she has made loaves of bread (perhaps with chocolate chips hidden inside - that is more my style. The loaves are popped out from the card with generic pop-dots

In the background are embossed snowflakes (Cuttlebug embossing folder) for 'Make Cut-Out Snowflakes Day'. The bird cage is painted with Twinkling H2Os (Thank you Linda!). And of course, I mustn't forget the birthstone, especially as it is one of my favorite colors of cardstock lately, so all of this is mounted on a Turquoise card.

Snow 'Person' Challenge - SA02

My first challenge of the New Year! I am fairly new to participating in challenges, I just never seem to get to them before the deadline. And then the New Years Resolution comes into play and here I am...

My friend Lorie is hosting a challenge over on the Stamping Around blog on behalf of Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps. "Use a snow(wo)man on your creation." I sent her a quick message to ask if my snow person had to, in fact, be human. She said as long as it is snow, anything goes. So here is my take on the challenge.

In honor of the two critters that we adopted in November, a snow kitty! Although I am happy with most elements of this card, I still think it needs a little something. I have until the 12th to fulfill this challenge, so if you have any ideas to spice up this little guy, feel free to leave a comment below! In fact feel free to leave a comment even if you do not have any ideas



I have not quite gotten the knack of these side photos, but wanted you to see the dimension between the Cuttlebug embossed layer and the cat, plus the liquid applique snow...


Thanks for looking and thanks, Lorie for hooking me up with this challenge

Happy Birthday Kathleen

Yesterday was my friend Kathleen's birthday. I found out rather late, around 10AM, thanks to a reminder from Facebook. Having just a few hours til her quartet's dress rehearsal, I ran to my workshop. (Also known as the table and requisite supplies that have taken over the living room) (and perhaps I did not really run, but I did put it first on my 'things to do today' list)

Here is a card very similar to the one I whipped up. For after finishing Kathleen's, I decided to use the same design for Mary's Getting Ahead swap; and this morning finished a batch. This is Lily from Pink Cat Studios. (For Kathleen she had black hair, a teal outfit and a purple alien). Lily is stamped on GP, colored with Prismacolor markers and mounted on pop-dots on a newly discovered (by humans anyway) cuttlebugged planet. All cardstock besides Lily is SU.

I must give a shout out to Main Squeeze who listened to how I wanted the alien to look and made one for me to trace onto cardstock. Trust me, this was not as easy as it may sound.

On the inside I wrote, "Hope your birthday is Out of this World!"

(Mayhem, the quartet, during whose dress rehearsal a birthday celebration was planned, upon seeing this card, has requested that I make them 23 of design of my choice for them to give to the other competing quartets. Oy! ...Breathe...)

Ring around the Rosy, Dragon Picked Some Posies...

Do you know Dustin Pike? I just discovered his blog and am anxiously awaiting his opening of his new website. I admit I was not a fan of digi stamping, as I don't consider it stamping if there is no rubber involved, but this dragon and all of his cohorts have won me over! So no, I can never call it 'stamping', but they sure make for some cute cards! And for all you diehards (like me!) he is coming out with a line of rubber stamps starting in May!!

This cute little guy was a freebie at Easter time; the original image has him holding an egg with a chick. I put him into my photo editing software and removed the egg and chick and then drew in the missing part of his hand. A technique akin to masking in my mind. He is colored with three different shades of green Prismacolor Markers coordinating with the greens in SU's Bold Brights family. (This card and 5 others just like it will be sent off as part of jbmak's Color Family swap on SCS.)

The flowers are Doodlebug Paper Posies which I must have received in a secret sister swap, cuz I am certain I did not buy them. In fact I have no idea if any shops around here even carry them. A Cuttlebug embossing folder was used for the background and all cardstock except the white is SU. The white is GP.

I hope you love this guy as much as I do. As I told the swap hostess, I am going to have to just close my eyes to get these in the mailbox; otherwise I don't know how I will part with them!

Recycled Tea

This month's theme for the Sisterhood of the Traveling Cards is Green/Recycling. In other words, the card should be green and have something recycled on it. I had lots of fun digging these tea tags out of the garbage, I'll tell ya! Just kidding, I ripped them off tea bags I had yet to use, but I drink enough tea that I will go through them in a trice.

Image is from House Mouse Designs. Funny thing about this stamp. I always think it looks so relaxing (what I wouldn't give for a hot tub!), but then I think of mice in my tea and Eeew!

I stamped with Memento onto Georgia Pacific 110lb White and paper pieced (seems to be my "thing" lately) with SU dp. The edges are torn and inked with SU (Garden Green to be exact) then layered onto SU cardstock embossed with the D'Vine Swirls embossing folder run through the Cuttlebug. Tea tag is popped up with pop-dots and the sugar cubes are enhanced with glitter. As usual, non-paper-pieced sections are colored with Prismacolor Markers. Oh! I almost forgot - the steam is drawn over with a glitter pen. Gives a very subtle sparkle. You will have to trust me on that last detail.

This card has been given the Princess A seal of approval; she has already requested one for herself...