MY POOR, NEGLECTED BLOG

It's a busy time at our house right now ... it's my daughter Allie's senior year and we have many year-end/senior events going on, and graduation party preparations. I haven't been feeling particularly creative in the evenings, as my day job pretty much wipes me out. I won't be posting as regularly as I normally do until June, and hope very much that you'll all still be here when I get back in full force! I do plan to keep up with my weekly iPICKS, and will share original artwork as it happens.

In the meantime, I wanted to share a few of Allie's Senior Photos with you ....

iPICKS, Week 24

Welcome to iPICKS where I post a selection of my favorite cards and projects found during my week of blurfing and SCS stalking. There's no formal rules or guidelines ... just inspiring projects that catch my eye, clever ideas, and exceptional designs. These are projects that inspire me and I hope they inspire you too! Here's my iPICKS for Week 24 ...

Ilina Crouse's Just Buzzing by Pop Up Card (My Creations).

Mary Fish's Darling Dots Card and Just Beachy Summer Card (Stampin' Pretty).

Beth's Summer By The Sea Card (Big Sky Paper and Design).

MrsBoz's Mother's Day Card (MrsBoz on SCS).

Dawn O's Manhatten Flower Mother's Day Card (DOstamping with Dawn).

iPICKS, Week 23

Welcome to iPICKS where I post a selection of my favorite cards and projects found during my week of blurfing and SCS stalking. There's no formal rules or guidelines ... just inspiring projects that catch my eye, clever ideas, and exceptional designs. These are projects that inspire me and I hope they inspire you too! Here's my iPICKS for Week 23 ...

Carole Burrage's Saddle Up Card (Mother's Little Helper).

Riley's Great Friend Card (Stampin' & Dancin' With Riley).

Melissa's Great Friend Card (Simply Pink).

Michelle Yungbauer's Happy Birthday Card (Stamp and Smile).

Julie's Explosion Cherry Scrapbook Box and Faux Alligator Purses (Thoughts that Stick).

Cindy Lawrence's Baskets & Blooms Bin (Stamping Inspirations with Cindy).

Amy Rohl's From The Desk Of (Ink About Me).

Stacey Schafer's A Special Note of Thanks Card (Stacey's Stamping Stage).

Michele Kovack's Recipe Box (Thoughts of a Cardmaking Scrapbooker).

Laura Fredrickson's Because of You Card (Scrapnextras).

Heather's Too Cute To Spook Scrapbook Layout and Pop Up Flower Pot Card (Stamp With Heather).

Vicki's Deer Forest Friends Card (It's A Stamp Thing).

Chat's Trendy Trees Card and Echoes of Kindness Card (Me, My Stamps and I).

Danita's Ahoy Matey Card (Danita's Daily Dish).

GRADUATION

One more graduation card to check off my list! This one uses Taylor VanBruggen's Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge #64. I used Allie's high school colors of Brilliant Blue, Gold (the school calls it Vegas Gold), with Basic Black accents.

What you don't see in the photograph is that I used the Classic Stars Jumbo Wheel and Versamark on the large Whisper White background piece for a subtle pattern. Also difficult to see in the photograph is the paper piercing done with the Priceless Classy Brass Template on the Basic Black Circle that backs the gold star medallion.
RECIPE
Stamps: Great Grads, Classic Stars Jumbo Wheel
Paper: Brilliant Blue Prints DP (retired), Brilliant Blue, Basic Black, Whisper White, and Brushed Gold Cardstock
Ink: Jet Black Staz-On
Embellishments: Gold Brads
Tools: Star Punch, 1/4", 1", and 1 1/4" Circle Punches, Priceless Classy Brass Template
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

NUMBER 15 for FEBRUARY

This adorable little card made a surprise appearance in my mailbox this week from Janice Weightman to congratulate me for being #15 in sales for the Stampahowlics SU Demo Group for February 2009.

IN BETWEEN THE TRASH FILE AND PUBLIC DISPLAY FILE

Remember last week when I was whining about my missing mojo? I thought I'd share the cards that didn't make the trash but didn't thrill me to publicly share them. I'm really hoping to get some challenges done this weekend that I'll be excited about sharing with you ... in between finishing up Allie's graduation announcements and cleaning out some closets.

This first card uses Weekend Sketch Challenge #74 along with a few new items from the Occasions Mini Catalog ... Walk In The Park Designer Paper, Oval All Stamp Set, and Scallop Oval Punch.




RECIPE
Stamps: Oval All
Paper: Walk In The Park DP, Basic Gray, Pink Pirouette, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Basic Gray and Pink Pirouette
Embellishments: Whisper White 5/16" Jumbo Brads
Tools: Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Blender Pen, Paper Piercer & Mat Pack
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

This next card uses Weekend Sketch Challenge #73 with the Level One Hostess Set Darling Dots and Rockability Specialty Designer Paper.
RECIPE
Stamps: Darling Dots (Level One Hostess)
Paper: Rockability Specialty DP, Riding Hood Red, Basic Black, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Riding Hood Red and Jet Black Staz-On
Embellishments: Riding Hood Red 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon
Tools: Scallop Square Punch, 1" and 1 1/4" Circle Punches
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

This last card uses Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge #82. The graduation image is from the retired stamp set, Sketch An Event. I've used several more new items from the new Occasions Mini Catalog on this card too ... Walk In The Park DP, Whisper White 5/8" Satin Ribbon, and Black Jumbo Grommets.
RECIPE
Stamps: Sketch An Event (retired), Fundamental Phrases
Paper: Walk In The Park DP, Basic Black, Basic Gray, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Basic Gray Classic and Jet Black Staz-On
Embellishments: Basic Black Jumbo Grommet, 5/8" Whisper White Satin Ribbon
Tools: Word Window Punch, 1 3/8" Square Punch, Scallop Border Punch
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

iPICKS, Week 22

Welcome to iPICKS where I post a selection of my favorite cards and projects found during my week of blurfing and SCS stalking. There's no formal rules or guidelines ... just inspiring projects that catch my eye, clever ideas, and exceptional designs. These are projects that inspire me and I hope they inspire you too! Here's my iPICKS for Week 22 ...

Mercy Kerin's Ahoy Matey Card (Lord Have Mercy!).

Mary Elliott's Mother's Day Card (Everyday Elliott).

Vicki's Trendy Trees Card (It's A Stamp Thing).

Jackie Wright's A Good Friend Card (Jackiestamps4fun).

Vera's Dear Graduate Card (Vera Stamps).

Christine's A Honey of a Day Card and Framed Art (ChristineCreations).

Debbie's Petal Pizazz Card (Stylish Creations by Debbie).

Renee's Wild About You Card (Stamping for Sanity).

Cindy Lawrence's Easter Blessings Card (Stamping Inspirations).

Susan Liles' Summery Color Challenge Card and Disney Card (Susiestampalot).

Jill Hilliard's Big Shot Baby Carriage Invitation (Jill's Card Creations).

LeAnne's Pretty Colors Card (Wee Inklings).

Happy Easter!

FINALLY !!!!

I was finally able to design a card tonight that I was satisfied with! I hope that means my mojo is here to stay for awhile! I guess my public whining helped (see previous post)!

It's a fairly simple card but I thought it showed off this color combo very well. I used SCS Sketch Challenge #223 with Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge #49 of BASIC BLACK, PACIFIC POINT, KIWI KISS, ROSE RED, and WHISPER WHITE.RECIPE
Stamps: Trendy Trees
Paper: Rockability Specialty DP, Whisper White, Basic Black, Rose Red, Pacific Point, and Kiwi Kiss CS
Ink: Basic Black and Pacific Point
Embellishments: Pacific Point 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Kiwi Kiss Corduroy Brads
Tools: Stamp-a-ma-jig
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

CREATIVE FUNK

This week I'm finding myself in the biggest creative funk I've ever been in. I can't tell you how many designs I've attempted and have ended up in the trash!

We ordered printed graduation announcements for Allie's graduation, and I've been trying to design a very simple little open house invitation insert to go inside the announcement. Nothin's workin' for me!!! UGHHH!!!!!!!! I'll tackle it again this evening, and hopefully I'll come up with something I can live with.

Yesterday, I attended a bridal shower for Lorri Heiling's son's fiance. Do you think I had a card appropriate for the occasion? Of course not! I figured with my track record this week, I'd better play it safe and CASE something. I've always admired the Laurie Froehlich's Scallop Edge Medallion cards and found this one to be appropriate for the bridal shower. The Scallop Edge Medallion cards are so easy, and I love the way Laurie layers them! You can find a tutorial for Scallop Edge Medallion cards HERE on SCS, and more of Laurie's Scallop Edge Medallion cards HERE, HERE, and HERE. RECIPE
Stamps: A Happy Heart, All Holidays
Ink: Riding Hood Red and Old Olive Stampin' Write Marker
Paper: Bella Rose DP, Whisper White, Riding Hood Red, and Pink Pirouette CS
Embellishments: Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon
Tools: Scallop Edge Punch, Paper Piercing Tool & Mat Pack
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

Thanks for the inspiration, Laurie! I hope to be back very soon with some original artwork!

weSTAMP MARCH MEETING & SWAP

Last week was our monthly weSTAMP Stampin' Up! Demonstrator Group Meeting & Swap. This month, instead of a meeting, we changed it up a bit and "played" by making one of Becky Roberts' Tote-ally Awesome Totes! OMG! Becky's tutorial are AMAZING! ... so incredibly easy to follow with full color photos and step-by-step instructions. Well, let's just say that all the weSTAMP girls but myself were able to follow along easily! LOL! Have I ever mentioned that I'm a solo stamper? When I stamp with other people, you'd swear I was a beginner and that I had no idea what I was doing! I made one mistake after another and eventually gave up for the night. Oh boy! ... did Becky ever have a hay day relentlessly teasing me via e-mail with that information (which she got from Lorri) !!! Becky will be happy to know that I did complete my Tote-ally Awesome Tote the other night in the privacy and quiet surroundings of my studio ... ALL BY MYSELF !!!! and without error! I haven't completed the cards yet. When I do, I'll photograph my ensemble to share with you.This is Becky's sample ...Our swap theme for March was anything floral/springy using any combination of the colors of Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, Basic Gray, Almost Amethyst, and/or So Saffron. Here are our swaps (I am missing photographs of two of the swaps and will post them as soon as I can).
These are my swaps, and they are very similar to one of my class projects offered HERE (scroll down to the bottom of the post).
Ginny Schembri made these little gift bags for everyone in attendance with a special gift inside ...

iPICKS, Week 21

Welcome to iPICKS where I post a selection of my favorite cards and projects found during my week of blurfing and SCS stalking. There's no formal rules or guidelines ... just inspiring projects that catch my eye, clever ideas, and exceptional designs. These are projects that inspire me and I hope they inspire you too! Here's my iPICKS for Week 21 ...

Laura Fredrickson's Egg-stra Special Easter Card (Scrapnextras).

Emily Wundrock's Flopsy Card (Emily's Expressions).

Kelly Lunceford's One Of A Kind Card (Flutter by Atomicbutterfly).

Amy Rohl's Just Because Card (Ink About Me).

lbirus' Trendy Trees Card (lbirus on SCS).

Julie Davison's Congratulations Baby Card (Julie's Stamping Spot).

Tessa Wise's Eastern Blooms Bouquet Card (Crafty Girl Designs).

Susan Liles' Beach Glue Project (Susiestampalot).

Mary Jo Albright's Pop Up Cards (Beauty Lies Within).

Dawn Easton's Candle Holder Project (Treasure Oiler Designz).

Amy Sheffer's Superhero Card, Greatest Love Card and God's Beauty Card (Pickled Paper Designs).

LONG TIME, NO BLOGGING

This is one reason why I've been absent from my blog this week. Yep, my daughter Allie went to her Senior Prom last night with a group of girlfriends. What made it so interesting is that she decided to go to Prom only several days prior!

I've come home from work each day this week completely wiped out or have had to run the kiddos somewhere, and have not stamped. I'm dying to sit down to stamp but have other projects on top of the priority list right now (maybe tonight?!). I did stamp with our weSTAMP demonstrator group Tuesday night. I will get our swaps photographed and posted soon.

I'll be back tonight with my weekly iPICKS! Thanks for stopping by!

Edited to Add ... Just to clarify ... I did not make this dress. I was simply busy helping with plans, etc.