One more card

Well, today I made a card that I liked and I decided that I wanted to blog it! Go figure! This card was inspired by one of the great stampers of our time, Laurly from Splitcoast Stampers. Here is here gorgeous card. I saw this card and since I had the background paper already I knew I wanted to make some version of this card. I didn't have that stamp that she used or really anything like it so I decided to use the new set I got for my Christmas cards, Big on Christmas. It is really cute!!!

I had school last night and got home at about midnight. We stayed up until one catching up on missed episodes of the Office! Love that show! My stamp room was quite the mess so I didn't know if I would have to courage to go in this morning. But, after doing my morning blog surfing, I got inspired. I also broke into my new Simply Scrappin' kit, Winter Bright! I ADORE the colors in this kit! I know it will get alot of use. I was supposed to get to work on my card sets I give for Christmas gifts, but I didn't. Bad bad me!! :)

Supplies for this card:

Stamps: Big on Christmas

Ink: basic black, bordering blue, real red, only orange, mellow moss

Paper: Basic Grey Blitzen collection, real read, paper from Winter Bright SS kit

Accessories: red gingham ribbon, paper piercing kit, white gel pen, rhinestone brads fire

Blogging Break

I have been thinking alot lately about whether I would like to continue blogging or not. At times I consider it one more thing to cross off the list for the day and stamping has always been just the opposite for me. Stamping has been something that I do when want to forget about the list. I have really enjoyed having an easy way to stay in touch with my family and to share my cards
with everyone.

I can't decide if I want to completely stop blogging or if I want to keep it going but just update less frequently. I have decided that I will take a blogging break for the next month or so and see if I actually miss blogging. So, I just wanted to let everyone know why they won't see any new creations for a while. I am going to focus my energy on making my holiday cards and see if I can get some cards done for Christmas sets I like to give as gifts to my friends and family. I will still be checking out everyone else's stamping blogs I am sure.

Take care everyone and I will talk to you soon!!!!

Melisa

I'm Back!

Greetings all! I haven't blogged or stamped in a while, but it was fun to sit down and try the Who's Got Mojo Monday Challenge once again. I had quite a time finding something to work, but finally settled on this one. I am not sure my main image is quite as big as the sketch Julie gave us, but hopefully it will pass.
Here is the sketch we were to use. I used my stamped the background with close to cocoa and the Paisley stamp on whisper white cardstock. I stamped a groovy guava strip with the linen background stamp. I used my aquapainter and watercolor paper to color in the main image. This color combo came from the stampin' up catalog. For some reason it reminds me of neapolitan ice cream. It makes me hungry!
I have been very much preoccupied with our decorating project. It is really coming together nicely. The window treatments went up yesterday and they really look good. I can't believe how much difference some white curtains can make. We are feeling like it was worth the long wait. Now we are waiting our settee to come back as they had to take it back and cut down the legs. But, it will soon be done and things will look pretty put together. I am now working on getting the odds and ends like barstools and rugs, etc. taken care of.

I have also, as I mentioned in my earlier post, been going to Minneapolis for my physical therapy treatments for my bladder pain and I think (hate to even say it out loud) that they are starting to give me some relief. The therapist told me it can take a month to start to see if it is helping. I had about three really good days in a row and she said that is how it will start happening. So, it is making the hassle of going to the cities during rush hour worth it.

Well, so long for now!!!! Have a great week!!!

Recipe:
Stamps: Circus Train, Paisley, Hugs and Wishes (all Stampin' Up), Papertrey Ink
Ink: river rock, groovy guava, close to cocoa, sage shadow
Paper: groovy guava, sage shadow, close to cocoa, watercolor paper
Accessories: scalloped circle punch, 1 1/4 and 1 3/8 circle punches, chocolate ribbon
aquapainter

Bad blogger

Just to let everyone know, I have been busy last week and this week with our home makeover and going to the city for my treatments that I have had very little time left for things like blogging. I am so so so behind on my challenges, but I will post again when things calm down for me. Hope you are all having a great week!!!

-Melissa

Who's Got Mojo Challenge

Well, this is my card for the "Who's got mojo Monday" challenge. I was determined to put something together that I really liked because I haven't been liking my cards lately. I am happy with the final product. What do you think of this color combo? I got it from the Stampin up new in color idea sheet that Debbie Olson had on her blog a few days ago. I tweaked this one a bit and left out the Bravo Burgundy.

Things are cloudy here today. It seems to just keep raining and raining and raining. We aren't complaining about dry lawns here for that is for sure. Everything is green green green. I have alot of medical appointments this week so that is keeping me busy. Between that, school, work, and cards I seem to stay pleasantly occupied.

I have really liked this True Friend set from the Holiday Mini catalog. I have used it alot. You know how you some sets that you more than pay for with the use you get out of them and then there are some that you don't use as much as you should? This one has been worth it. Well, nothing much else to report today. I will get on with the recipe:

Stamps: True Friend, Paisley background stamp, Faux ribbon from Papertrey

Paper: whisper white, old olive, purely pomegranate, pale plum

Ink: old olive, purely pomegranate, pale plum

Accessories: paper piercing tool kit, scalloped scissors, old olive grosgrain ribbon,

earth elements brads, ticket corner punch

Cider Friend

Well, after I my mourning period ended yesterday (see previous post), I started stamping again. This card is made with the sketch that Beate had for a challenge several weeks ago. I didn't have a tool to cut out the circle with so I couldn't participate. Yes, I know, isn't is sad what a deprived stamper I am? (wink!). So, since I have to have every tool known to man that pertains to papercrafting, I began a search for some tool that would cut circles.

First, I got something at Michael's that did not work at all. Then, I carefully researched what all you gals were using for your circles and, sure enough, the coluzzle seemed to be the prevailing trend. I ordered my coluzzle and hadn't had a chance to rip it open until last night. I was perplexed by it a bit because I thought the mat they sent with it was just packing foam. Come to find out, you acutally need to use the packing foam looking thing. Being the mechanically inclined person that I am (NOT!!!!!), I figured out and it worked really well!!!!However, in keeping with my gluttonous pursuit of papercrafting tools, I will need to order the coluzzle companion so I can have the ability to make the appropriate layers. :)

Supplies:

Stampers: True Friend, Papertrey Faux Ribbon

Paper: really rust, apple cider dp, whisper white

Ink: really rust, choc. chip, and mellow moss SU markers

Accessories: coluzzle, scalloped scissors, large oval punch, river rock dS ribbon

Mellow moss grosgrain ribbon, choc. chip grosgrain ribbon

Have a great Sunday!

-M

Sad Sweetie!

Well, this morning it was so nice outside that I decided I would go to visit our friends at Starbuck's and pick up our coffee drinks and pastries for breakfast. I had just gotten home and was one the phone with my friend and was going to go out and enjoy the coffee on the deck under the canopy that my mom and I put up earlier this summer! I loved that thing! It was so nice and shady and was like adding on another room to your house. We got really comfy furniture to go under it and, as all my friends and family can attest to, I couldn't have been more tickled about it.

So, coffee and pumpkin loaf in hand, I open the blinds on the sliding glass window and was shocked to see that we no longer had a canopy! It appeared as though it had just vanished! I hung up with Katie and called Matt over to look at this shocking sight. We went outside and, sure enough, it was laying out in the yard in a mangled mess. Matt and I were going to bolt it down to the deck this weekend as we have been getting a lot of wind lately. I am so sad about it! It was my own little hid away! So, sorry Mom, for all the time and work you donated to help me assemble my canopy! I am sure you will be as sad as I am. Rest assured we WILL be getting another one next summer!

Beate's Weekend Challenge

I got back from school last night and Matt was at a concert and wasn't due home til about 1:30am. I decided I would stay up and wait for him to get home. I got to work on Beate's weekend challenge and finished right as he got home. I got out my much neglected designer paper that hasn't seen the light of day since Winter, at least. Aren't we stamping addicts fickle?

We HAVE to have certain products for about 2-3 months until the next thing come along. Then the "old" things get pushed to the back of the shelves to make room for the newest fad. Well this designer paper is a good example of perfectly good and acutally beautiful paper that is not longer the "in" thing. That is another reason I like challenges. Sometimes you need just the right thing and sometimes these older supplies are just the right thing. My problem is that I am clutter phobic so I often get rid of things when they are still perfectly good. Never fails the minute I get rid of them I find myself wishing I still had it around.

Well, it is a totally beautiful day in Minnesota today! I wanted to spend some time stamping, but I don't know if I dare stay inside on a day like today as these days are certainly numbered at this point in our neck of the woods. The leaves are turning which, to me, is about the most beatiful thing in the world, but at the same time it feels so fleeting as Winter looms around the corner.

Fall Leaves

Well, if these cards aren't perfect for today's weather I don't know what is. Although I am in a grumpy mood today the weather is gorgeous so I might have to think about snapping out of it. I just spilled an entire grande mocha all over my car! ug! Not a good way to start the day. I seem to have gotten cleaned it up pretty good but should probably get the floors shampooed.

This card was inspired by a card that Debbie Olson did a few weeks ago. Here is her GORGEOUS card!I have been behind on my challenges all week so one of these cards is a few days behind, but I still wanted to post. The card with the leaves was for the sketch challenge on Splitcoast. It was a good opportunity to get out my new With Gratitude set from Stampin' up. I love this time of year, but I will admit that the colors are not the kinds of colors that I gravitate towards, but I do like them.

Stamps: With Gratitude, Canvas background stamp

Ink: Late November

Paper: night of navy, really rust, whisper white

Accessories: earth elements brads, old olive grosgrain ribbon

This second card is a card I did for Julie's "Who's got Mojo Monday" sketch challenge. I was not happy with this one, which is not too unusual for me. I just got this set from Stampin' up. It was one of the sets offered this month for 30% off with a $30 dollar purchase. I used Stampin' up markers to color it in. I am thinking using the watercolor paper and the aquapainter might have been better. Maybe I will do another one and try that. I did get to use my new river rock ribbon which I have been trying to find a way to use since I got it. Well, on with the recipe:


Stamps: Thoughtfully thankful
Ink: really rust, garden green, chocolate chip, more mustard
Paper: choc. chip, apple cider dp, really rust
Accessories: river rock double stitched ribbon, photo corners punch, horizontal slot punch, 1 3/8 circle punch

No MOJO

Ever had one of those nights where you can't wait to get stamping and then you sit down and nothing turns out right? Well, that was tonight. I was a good girl and did everything I need to do today and so I decided I would catch up on some challenges I missed while being out of town this weekend. I attempted Julie's Who's got Mojo Challenge, but just couldn't get it to come out right so I decided I would post a card I made last week instead of my Monday Mojo card.

The card I am posting is another Halloween card! I still don't know what I will do for my mass production of Halloween cards yet. I guess I do still have time to think of something. The layout of this card was taken from a card I found in the oh so talented Atomic Butterfly's gallery on Splitcoast Stampers. Here is her card! It is just gorgeous! I decided to make it into a Halloween card so mine doesn't really resemble hers in the least.

It is a very busy week here. I am starting my new treatments on Thursday and am having to drive to Minneapolis several times a week, but we are hopeful it will help me and will be worth it. We are recovering from a fun by tiring weekend in Omaha where we helped throw Matt's parents a 40th Anniversary party. It was great to see all the friends and family come together for such a happy occasion.

Supplies:

Stamps: booglie eyes

Paper: basic black, Halloween Night, certainly celery, old olive, watercolor paper

Ink: lovely lilac, going gray, pumpkin pie, old olive, basic black, blush blossom

Accessories: stickles, bold brights brads, old olive grosgrain ribbon, aquapainter

Friends & Flowers

I put this card together for sketch challege 141. This picture is the sketch we were to use from Splitcoast Stampers. I played with this Simply Scrappin kit alot during selebration time, but haven't gotten it out since so I decided to pull it out again for this sketch. The minute I saw the sketch I thought of the border stickers that came in Friends and Flowers Simply Scrappin' kit. I think it worked out okay. I am really enjoying getting into the card challenges again. I was doing them alot, but then lost my motivation this summer. Now that school has started I am back into it! Go figure!

Well, I have a major update about my chronic pelvic pain condition. I went to a conference sometime this year and met a doctor who treats people with this condition. He lived in Colorado and I live in Minnesota so he recommended a pain specialist in Minneapolis which is about a hour from where I live. I went to that appointment yesterday and it was a great experience!

He offered different drugs and also several different options for treatment that I haven't tried yet. Among the options were acupuncture, physical therapy, nerve block injections, and relaxation training. I am very excited to try some different meds and treatments! Alot of my friends and family have been there throughout this five year battle so I wanted to be sure to let you all know that I now have some more options to try!

Back to stamping!!

Supplies

Stamps: bodacious bouquet

Ink: cool caribbean

Paper: chocolate chip, paper from Friends & Flowers SS kit

Accessories: choc. chip ribbon, stickers from Friends & Flowers SS kit

Color Challenge 131

Today is color challenge day! I didn't know what to think of these colors, but after the card came together I really liked the colors! They are so bright and cheery, just how I like it! The weather here is gorgeous today! This is my favorite time of year! I love the crisp weather and the leaves turning.

I just got a package from my favorite UPS driver! I after all the stamping I have done over the years I have never owned a coluzzle! There had been more layouts lately with large circles and I haven't been able to make cards without a tool to cut large circles. I got on thing from Michael's but then got it home and it didn't work right so I hope I like the coluzzle! I also ordered one of the 30% off sets so I am excited about them too.

Nothing too special about this card. The set I used is from the new Stampin' Up catalog. It is a set that I don't see used very often and this is the first time I have used it. I think it is a fun and versatile set!

Supplies:

Paper: Always artichoke, purely pomegranate, taken with teal, whisper white, Loves Me DP (from Winter 2005 Mini)

Ink: same

Stamps: So Happy

Accessories: rich regals brads, purely pomegranate double stitched ribbon

Who's Got Mojo Challenge

I love to participate in challenges and Julie at Poetic Artistry has started a new one every Monday called "Who's Got Mojo Monday". I think it is a totally cute idea! I love Tuesday and Wednesday and Sunday challenges on Splitcoast, but now I have one on Mondays too. So, this week she gave us a sketch but she added a catch. You had to use scrap paper or discarded images too pretty to throw away! Funny thing is that I thought I was the only one who had a drawer of those! So, this card is made entirely of discarded stuff! I love it! Makes me feel thrifty! (Stop laughing, it does!).

So, nothing much else to report today. I just had a normal Monday at work and then came home and did some studying. I did order some stamps from MissyB Designs. I got the idea from MJ Albright's blog, Beauty Lies Within It is a set that was made for Lauren Meader's daughter, Alexa with some proceeds going to Pediatric Cancer Research. Lauren is a very accomplished stamper in the blogging world and her daughter, Alexa, has had quite a time cancer and you can read Lauren and Alexa's story here. Here are what the stamps look like! Aren't they cute? I decided I needed more kid stamps lately so I thought these would be perfect!

So, with that I will get on with the recipe for my card. Since this stuff has been at the bottom of a drawer for a while I don't have names of all the stuff, but I will do my best! Thanks Julie for motivating me to get into some scraps! It was fun!

Supplies:

Paper: Chatterbox, old olive, whisper white

Ink: bashful blue, pumpkin pie, old olive markers, basic black ink

Stamps: Loads of love

Accessories: earth elements brads, word window punch, giga scalloped circle punch, and mega circle punch

Another Halloween Card

Well, I putzed and putzed with this card last night and just couldn't get it to come out how I wanted it to. I was thinking so hard I had a headache when I went to bed! Stamping just shouldn't be hard, should it? DH (darling husband for those non-stampers) was helping me, but I just couldn't get it. He has an intensely creative mind but it a very out of the box way which is the opposite of me. So, he thought of the idea of the black ribbon making bats this morning and I have to say I think it is just what the card needed! So, he must get full credit for that idea!

We stayed home last night and it was a good choice. We both had fun with our hobby of choice!

He played video games and I stamped. He is about as crazy about games as I am stamps. Luckily his games don't seem to cost as much! In stamping there is ALWAYS something you just HAVE to have! But, there is just nothing like it so I think it is worth it!

I know it is pretty early for Halloween cards but I have noticed that there seems to be quite a time lag between holiday cards for me. The last big batch of holiday cards I made were for Valentine's Day. I think that could be why we get so excited for Halloween cards. The fact that like 8 months separate them from our last good opportunity for a good mass productions of holiday cards puts us in holiday card starvation mode. I suppose some make 4th of July cards, but I have never gotten into them. So, with that I will stop blabbing and get to the recipe!

Supplies:

Stamps: booglie eyes

Paper: Halloween Night dp, pumpkin pie, watercolor paper, wild wasabi (my new favorite color)

Ink: going gray, wild wasabi, lavender lace, pumpkin pie, black, blush blossom

Accessories: aqua painter, stickles (first time using them), black grosgain ribbon

Happy Boo to You- WSC18

Well, happy Saturday to you all! I am having a glorious day! I had my first day of school last night and it was great fun to see my friends again after the summer break. There are alot of things about being in school that I love: that first day of school feeling, new books and pencils, and notebooks, and the chance to start something over, fresh! There's not much else like it. Not that I won't be happy when I don't have to do it anymore, but might as well find the positives while I am there, right?

Today I am participating in Beate's weekend sketch challenge! I love sketch challenges as you all know! this one I found especially challenging and I am not sure why. Maybe it was because it was a holiday card and not one of my normal Easter basket looking flower cards. Not sure, but it was still fun to try and fun to get my Halloween stamps out.

Matt is watching college football all day today and he is in HEAVEN! He enjoyed watching his team (Nebraska Cornhuskers) beat Wake Forest and is now thoroughly enjoying watching Michigan get wiped out by Oregon. He at his obligatory college game day chili dogs as well. That is now you know it is fall in our house: college game day, Cornhuskers, and chili dogs!

Supplies:

Paper: Halloween Night dp, wild wasabi, pumpkin pie, whisper white

Ink: going gray, black, lovely lilac, wild wasabi, pumpkin pie

Stamps: Booglie Eyes, Circle borders and corners from Papertrey Ink

Accessories: wild wasabi double stitched ribbon, silver brads, circle mega punch, scalloped circle giant punch

Sketch Challenge #140 - Last day of summer break!

Well, today I am busy soaking up my last day off before school starts back for me on Friday evening. Boy has it been a nice summer! So sad to see it go, but I do love Fall too! I love new school books, clothes, and pencils and the feel of Fall in the air!

Today's card is a card I made for sketch challenge 140 at Splitcoast Stampers. I had so much fun with it. I love crisp clean lines so this sketch was a good one for me. Gave me a reason to get out my Cutie Pie designer paper from Stampin' up! I love this stuff! The colors are yummy! I have put in a couple of orders to Stampin' up lately and I am anxiously awaiting them! Can't wait to

play with the new stamp sets. I am also starting to think about what to do for my Halloween cards! One of the best parts of fall is all of the fall and holiday cards! Stay tuned!

Supplies:

Stamps: All Holidays, short & sweet

Paper: bashful blue, purely pomegranate, cutie pie dp

Ink: almost apricot, purely pomegranate, wild wasabi, bashful blue

Accessories: pomegranate double stitched ribbon, pale pastel brads

CC130- Snail Fluffles

This is a card I put together for color challenge 130. The challenge was to use only groovy guava and almost artichoke! The layout was inspired by a card of Debbie's at Thinking Inking that I am in love with. Check it out here: I almost pulled it off, but had to add in a bit of blue bayou as I felt like it was getting to be a bit too groovy!

I was wishing I had the Stampin' up dp that has these two colors, but I guess that is one more thing for the list! ug! I really like this Stampendous fluffles stamp. I have had it for a while, but just got it out the other day. I had a hard time figuring out what to use for this one and I am about 65% happy with it. I think I might try another one later.

Supplies:

Stamps: snail fluffles, printed pattern

Ink: groovy guava, always artichoke, blue bayou

Paper: always artichoke, whisper white, groovy guava, blue bayou

Accessories: groovy guava double stitched ribbon, aquapainter,

giga circle and scalloped punches

Poetic Artistry Challenge

As I don't normally partake in any Splitcoast Stampers challenges on Mondays I decided to see if I could find another challenge going on in the blogging world. Sure enough, Julie at Poetic Artistry has a sketch challenge going on at her blog today. She will reward the winner with a card from her (which would be awesome because she is awesome) and possible a treat!

This is the card I came up with for her sketch challenge. It is sort of busy compared to what I normally do, but I do like how it turned out and so did my card critic, Matt (DH). I am really getting into this True Friend set from Stampin' up! It is from the holiday mini catalog and is pretty yummy! We are relaxing at home today. I must say that we are about in heaven not having to go to work today!

Supplies:

Stamps: True friend, Faux Ribbon by Papertrey Ink

Paper: really rust, American Crafts Play Scooter, Play Ping-Pong

Ink: stampin' up markers: night of navy, really rust, summer sun

Accessories: 1 1/4 and 1 3/8 stampin' up punches, earth elements brads ribbon from

Michael's

Featured Stamper Challenge!

Well, it is Sunday and around here that means in is time for the Sunday Challenge (as Matt so affectionately calls it). I love this challenge! It means you get permission to case someone's work! I like it because it really sparks my creativity! This card was cased from a card that was done by Inglishrea on Splitcoast Stampers! Great gallery, Heather!

I used supplies for this card that I have had laying around for quite some time but haven't found a use for. Challenges are great excuses to get these neglected stamping supplies to the front of the closet.

Supplies:

Stamps: Snail fluffles, All Holidays

Paper: groovy guava, wild wasabi. SEI dp (Winnie's Walls), dp from Special Delivery

simply scrappin' kit

Ink: river rock, purely pomegranante, wild wasabi, groovy guava

Accessories: wild wasabi double stitched ribbon, aquapainter

Minimalist Birthday

My husband says that this card is very minimalist, which I will have to admit that my style does tend to lean in that direction. I have never been a clutter person. Clutter is one of our flagship arguments we have at home. Matt wants to save everything and I want to get rid of things even if they are still usable to avoid things getting cluttered! Needless to say, this card is in no danger of being cluttered!

I sat down last night and did some stamping for just plain fun. I had nothing in mind when I started. I like to give away cards for Christmas gifts and if I am going to do that I must get going on them now. I give away alot and right now I have none! This card will be perfect!

I started with a whisper white base and then inked a background onto real red card stock. I then applied glue dots to some black grosgrain ribbon and then attached it on the back of the card. I attached the black and white brads from Square parts to the flower and attached them both with dimensionals. I then tied a small knot and attached that with a glue dot. I used my Papertrey sentiment set and stamped birthday wishes onto a file tab punch out and then using my 1/16 circle punch attached almost apricot brads to the tab and attached that with more glue dots. And wah-lah!!!! Thanks for looking and I hope you are having a great Labor Day weekend!

Another flower card

This is a card I put together while coming up with swap ideas. This would have worked out fine accept for the fact that I couldn't resist using my Papertrey Ink stamps for the circle. So, since it was a Stampin' Up swap I would out of luck, but that is okay because now I have an extra one to post on my blog.

It is Friday night and I just found out that Matt is going to be working late tonight and I was dissappointed. I have been waiting for him to come home so we could do something Friday nightish, but I guess that plan has been averted! bummer. I guess I will have to stamp! I guess that is not such a bad thing after all!

The supplies for this card are as follows:

Stamps: True Friend, Papertrey

Paper: real read, wild wasabi, whisper white, bashful blue

Ink: real red, bashful blue, regal rose, wild wasabi

Accessories: bold bright brads, ticket corner punch, scalloped punch, 1 1/4 and 1 3/8 circle punches, wild wasabi double stitched ribbon

Dear Friend

This is a little something that I put together trying to create something for the sketch challenge at Splitcoast today. I couldn't quite get it together so I decided not to mess with something I liked even if it doesn't fit the sketch. I am also trying to come up with something for my second swap card.

I really like these colors together! I stole the idea from page 45 of the Stampin' up catalog. They use these colors in the Winter Bright simply scrappin' kit that, no, I haven't purchased yet. I still have a wish list of stuff I have yet to order, but am wondering if I should just use what I have? Isn't that the age old stamping addict's dilemma? I am sure a few of you out there struggle with this question all the time!

Supplies:

Stamps: All Holidays, True Friend

Paper: wild wasabi, apple cider, real red, bashful blue, regal rose

Ink: bashful blue, real read, regal rose stampin' up markers

Accessories: bold brights brads, gingham ribbon, circle punches 1 1/4 and 1 3/8

A True Friend

This is a card I designed today for a Holiday Mini swap and I am in. Does it seem like swaps are all I have been doing lately? It does to me, but I really like them. The weather is a bit dicey here today. It is very dark out and for the second time today is pouring rain. I have heard weather warnings throughout the day. We have just gotten rain, rain, and more rain in Southeastern Minnesota lately. I don't mind, but I feel for those who have had damage to their homes and whose homes have been destroyed throughout the severe weather!

Supplies:

Stamps: True Friend

Ink: really rust, perfect plum markers, wild wasabi classic ink

Paper: river rock, really rust, wild wasabi, Apple cider dp

Accessories: silver brads, wild wasabi double stitched ribbon, aqua painter

Some Vacations Pics

Thought I would post of few of the pics that actually have people in them! This is me in front of my first dorm room in Greeley, Colorado. And the one outside is outside of the dorm. I lived in Belford Hall back in 1993. When we went in to visit a girl moving in asked me what room I was in. I thought that was funny since it has been 14 years since I was living in that dorm!

Back in action!!!!

Well folks, we are back! Back from our week and a half journey across the Midwest! We had a great time together and are a little bummed out to be back in the swing of things getting ready to go back to work tomorrow. We stopped in Omaha on the way home and saw Matt's brother, sister-in-law, and niece, and parents. We ate dinner with Matt's parents are the Cheesecake Factory. That was good! I have always wanted to try their cheesecake and try it I did!

Matt downloaded pictures off the camera today from vacation and there were 258! Yes, 258 and there were about 10 with people in them. He was obsessed with taking pictures of the mountains. He just loved it so much there. I wasn't as interested as he was so I sat in the car and knitted while he got out and took pictures of the mountains. It was a good arrangement!

This is a card I did for the featured stamper challenge this week! It is nothing too special, just a quickie to get me back in my stamp room!

Supplies:

Stamps: fresh fruit, paper trey

Ink: almost apricot, certainly celery, close to cocoa

Paper: close to cocoa, whisper white

Accessories: marvy circle and scalloped circle punches, word window punch, slot punch,

apricot ribbon from stampin' up

On our way home

Well, Matt and I are packing up right now and getting ready to start making our way back from
Colorado to Nebraska and then Minnesota. We have had a great time but we will be glad to get home too. We have had 6 great days of site-seeing, eating, and hanging out here in Estes Park, Boulder and Denver. We have seen our share of wildlife and mountains, that is for sure.

Just wanted to update to let everyone know we are alive and well and will be home soon!!


M

Me? The featured stamper? Are YOU sure?

Matt and I are having a great time on our vacation in the mountains. We decided that today would be our day to do absolutely nothing. We got some groceries yesterday so we didn't even have to go get coffee.

So, I lazily turn on the computer and log on to the wireless account and go to my blog to do an update. I had an unusually high number of comments so I went to read them and I found out that I had been selected as the featured stamper on splitcoast stampers! I couldn't believe it! I wish I was home so I could have beefed up my humble gallery. Had I known that everyone would be looking at it! Sheesh!

Well, I am honored and oh so thrilled! Thanks for picking me, Beth!

We made it!

Well, we just got into our suite at the Wildwood Inn in Estes Park, Colorado. This place is gorgeous. The view of the mountains off our balcony is beautiful! We were shocked at how much activity there is going on in this tourist town. I don't think we realized that it had half as much going on as it does. Although, we like our room so much we are wondering why exactly anyone would want to leave? Lol! I like having wireless access so I can stay connected to our world, but yet be in such a beautiful place.

I went to college at the University of Northern Colorado my Freshman year of college in Greeley, Colorado. I only went there for one year as I transferred to a school closer to home, but it was quite the experience while it lasted. Greeley happened to be on our way here so we stopped by and checked out my old dorm. We even got to go in. That was sooooooooooo fun! We even stopped by the old coffee shop I used to go to where I had my first Iced Mocha fourteen years ago! I had to have one. It is called Margie's Java Joint. It was exactly the same! No one was there but school starts in a week so I think we will go through on the way home and check out the University Center and pick up a sweatshirt or something.

Well, we will keep you all posted during the week and give a report of the different things we find to keep ourselves out of trouble! Have a great weekend!

Our Wedding Day

Since our 6th wedding anniversary is coming around the corner and we will be on vacation at that time I thought I would post a picture from our wedding day and tell a little bit about it. We decided to quasi-elope for our wedding. We got married on the beach in Lake Tahoe and what a great decision that was! We had eleven guests and most of our guests stayed with us in a house there. We had a great time making meals together and getting the wedding preparations done together. The only snafu was that I broke my toe the morning of the ceremony but it didn't interrupt the fun too much. We had our reception on a dinner boat. That was as great time too!

There was very little stress involved in getting married on the beach with eleven guests. Another great decision I made was marrying Matt! He is really the best partner I could ask for! Here's to another six great years!

Garden Silhouettes

Well, I am certainly glad it is Friday, that is for sure! I have been trying to get my mojo restarted this afternoon. I haven't had as much motivation to get in my stamp room lately. I have so many new toys from the new catalog to play with so I thought I had better get busy.

On the house front, the decorating is really coming along. The painting is officially done. The furniture should arrive in early September! I can't wait! Matt and I are also getting ready to go on our vacation next week. We are going to be gone for a week and a half and will be staying in Colorado in the mountains together for a week. We always try to spend a week alone together every year. We choose this week because it is Matt's birthday and our wedding anniversary. We will be celebrating our 6th year of marriage on August 25th! The time has flown!

Well, back to stamping! The supplies I used for these cards are as follows:

Card #1
Stamps: Garden Silhouettes
Paper: river rock, mellow moss, whisper white
Accessories: hodgepodge hardware kit, tab punch, mellow moss grosgrain ribbon
Ink: river rock, mellow moss

Card #2

Stamps: Garden Silhouettes

Paper: Uptown dp, so saffron, whisper white

Ink: wild wasabi, almost amethyst marker, basic black

Accessories: wild wasabi double stitched ribbon, aquapainter, hodgepodge hardware brads

The best book ever!

I have had this book on my blog for a while, but I decided I needed to actually make a blog entry devoted specifically to it. This book has been now recommended to me three times and it was not until the third time that I decided to actually read it. This book is AMAZING! Anyone who is married or in a long-term relationship MUST READ THIS BOOK! REALLY! I am a relationship sort of person. I am studying to be a therapist so these books are right up my ally, but people in my life who are not like me and not necessarily into this sort of thing have found this book to be life-changing so you really must read it!

2nd swap card

This is the second card I made for the demonstrator swap I participate in. The new papers from Stampin' up are right up my alley! They are just the kind of colors that I like! This set is a hostess set. I am having alot of fun collecting the new hostess sets this year.

It has been nice to have some time off this summer to be able to spend some time relaxing on my deck and/or in my new and improved stamp room! I still need to post pictures of my stamping space!

Materials:

Stamps: sidekick sayings

Ink: almost amethyst, wild wasabi, so saffron markers

Paper: almost amethyst, uptown dp

Assessories: wild wasabi ribbon, earth elements brads

Swap cards

I must first start by apologising for the neglect my blog has been getting recently. I am not quite sure what has been keeping me so busy. I had a swap to prepare for and my mom came and we redid the deck so that distracted me a bit as well. But, all in all, the summer is flying by as it normally does here in good old Minnesota.

I am posting a picture of my recent swaps. It was a new catalog swap so I was to use stamps, ribbons, and papers that were new in July. That wasn't too hard to do as the new stuff is absolutely fabulous! I am loving the papers and ribbons the most.

This card is using the following supplies:

Stamps: boatloads of love and loads of love accessories

Paper: cutie pie dp, rose red, watercolor paper, whisper white, and wild wasabi

Accessories: wild wasabi double stitched ribbon, soft subtles brads, scallop circle punch and

aquapainter, circle punch

Ink: purely pomegranate, bashful blue, almost apricot, wild wasabi, basic black

My First Official Splitcoast RAK

I officially joined the RAK (random act of kindness) club on Splitcoast Stampers recently. I never understood when everyone was posting RAK cards. It is a group you can join that gives you addresses of other stampers who frequent Splitcoast. Then you can send each other cards. It was such a great suprise to get this beautiful card in the mail from CMF1214! Isn't it cute?

Uptown

I have been doing a little more stamping this week. Matt has been out of town so I have had some time on my hands. My mom is staying with me while he is gone to keep me company. I have been noticing that since school has been out I have been stamping less? How is that possible? I have, however, been having a TON of fun playing with the new catalog stamps, papers, and ribbons!

This is a card I made on my way to making some swap cards. It is a new catalog swap. I like swaps because it pushes me to come up with original designs and helps me get a variety of different styles of cards for my customers to look at. If it were up to me I would make flower cards pretty much all the time! This card is no exception!

Supplies:

Paper: SU Uptown dp, almost amethyst, whisper white

Stamps: Sidekick Sayings hostess set from SU

Ribbon: apricot appeal, wild wasabi double stitched ribbon

Ink: wild wasabi classic ink, so saffron marker, almost amethyst marker

More cards

Special Delivery Boy

So, I felt like I was making far too many girl baby cards so I ordered the Special Delivery: Boy simply scrappin' kit. They are colors I would have never put together, but I really like them.

I also got a new box thingy to take pictures of my cards with and this is the first card I am posting with this new tool. I don't know what to think of it. **Update* I decided I didn't like the photo box thing any better than the photos I have been taking myself at home.

The kit goes on

So I am still playing with this Special Delivery kit. It is good to use when you don't feel very creative and want to play, but don't feel like really digging into alot of tools and stuff. It has been sitting on my desk in the craft room and I just play with it here and there. I ordered the baby boy kit and also the kit that has the western theme to it. I can't wait for the order to come on Tuesday!

I had my second class on Tuesday night. My friend, Cheri hostessed for me and we sure had a full house. It was alot of fun and we got alot of crafting done. I can't wait to do another one. It seems to be addictive to share this great love for stamping I have. My husband has reminded me that I am supposed to be resting for the summer and relaxing while school is out, so I will try to focus on that for the next couple of weeks.

Here is my latest Special Delivery creation and for anyone who doesn't have this kit yet you better add it to the list. You won't be disappointed, I swear!

I won blog treats: sort of................

One day one of my blog readers emailed me and asked the name of a book that was on my blog, but had been taken off. I emailed her back and told her that I was done with the book and that I would send her the book. Since then I have exchanged emails with her and yesterday she sent me a package very much resembling blog candy! It was so sweet! Her name is Shannon and she lives in Texas with TRIPLETS and another child and her husband. She is very busy! I am posting her cards that she sent because they are sooooooooo cute! She doesn't have a blog and I told her that she should because her cards are really really cute! In my package she sent a book, some brads, a pen that she somehow stamped on, a candle, ribbon, chocolate, and the list goes on and on...........Thanks so much Shannon! These are the first cards I have ever received from a blog friend so this has been sooooooooooooooooo much fun for me!!!!!

More Special Delivery

I should probably pace myself with this kit so I don't get burned out, but that is not the way I roll! That is for sure. I am just having so much fun! I think the best thing about the "in" colors is to see how they mix with the current colors. It really revitalizes what you already have at minimum expense!

I am really happy right now because my husband has completed hanging my new shelving and ribbon holder. He is now hanging up my stamp pad racks and such. I am going to be in 7th heaven in the stamp room. I have really tackled the organization of the room this summer and it has been worth the effort. Everything is much easier to grab and less trips back and forth to the closet. I will post pictures when it is more presentable!

We will be going to our city's block party tonight and seeing Sister Hazel. Remember them? I was a big fan in the nineties!

I will be fun to get out with our friends and enjoy a few cocktails. Tomorrow I will have to do some cleaning around the house. I have put it off for long enough!