Springtime Flowers!

Spring has Sprung! That is this week's Stamp Simply Challenge: to create a card with our current favorite flower. This is my new fave: PaperTrey Ink's "Friends 'til the End."

My simple design begins with a card base of Bazzill Textured paper, layered with Sugar Cookie "Jill" dp. I love the colors and retro feel of the paper, though you cannot see much of it here!

I stamped my PTI image onto PTI white cardstock with Memento Rich Cocoa ink, masking the center flower to layer the three blooms. I used Eclipse Tape, especially made for masking off.
I then colored my flowers with Copic markers.

A PTI Blush ribbon ties it all together.

Check out the rest of the Stamp Simply team's designs:

Sharon, Jennifer, Julie, Janine, AJ, Becky, Tammy and Barb.

If you would like to play along, please remember to link your ssnotime89 floral creation to Sharon's blog!

Hope your upcoming weekend is grand! Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Birthday Sam!

My nephew Sam's birthday is this coming Wednesday and we're having a party for him tomorrow. I bought him a DVD and gift card, and this is what I'm wrapping it in. You may have seen this set in my Splitcoaststampers gallery, as I made it up some time ago.

The stamp set that I used for the image is Stampin' Up's "In the Wild." This set is retired, but there are many fun zoo and wild animal stamps out there.

For the birthday card, I began with a SU Basic Black cardstock base. I then layered American Designs Traditional Bohemian Chic for the main color in the design. I stamped my image with Adirondack Pitch Black ink onto Neenah Natural White, and colored it with Copic markers. My sentiment is PaperTrey Ink's Mixed Messages, stamped with Versafine Black Onyx.

Some pre-stick buttons from Sticko Button Ups finishes the design.

My gift bag is a basic white gift bag purchased from Walmart. I covered the entire front with the Bohemian Chic paper. My frame around the image panel is black paper run through the wood grained CuttleBug folder, then die cut with a Spellbinder's Rectangle Nestie. A piece of striped Stampin' Up ribbon and more buttons round out the touches on the gift bag.

Hope your Memorial Day weekend is very enjoyable! Thanks for stopping by!

Stamp Simply Red, White & Blue Challenge

This week's Stamp Simply Challenge that Sharon posed to us was to use the colors red, white and blue to honor Memorial Day. Do you remember the little red paper poppies that used to be handed out for Memorial Day? I haven't seen them in awhile, so this is my Memorial Day Poppy. You can find the ssnotime88 challenge at her blog: No Time To Stamp?

This also fits into Splitcoaststampers Limited Supply Challenge: to create a design with circles, and just one stamp set. You can find the LSC221 here, and see all of the cards created here.

I began with some retired Stampin' Up's retired Cranberry Crisp cardstock (my favorite burgundy!!! Hardly any left!) for my base. I layered My Mind's Eye Bella Bella cardstock, along with Robin's Nest polka dot dp to create my blossom, base and panel layers. I lightly sponged all edges with Stampin' Up Craft White ink.

My blossom is created with Spellbinder's Peony Nestabilities, which you can purchase from Joan's Gardens, found here.

My sentiment is PaperTrey Ink's Mega Messages--same sentiments as the Mixed Messages, just larger! I've always loved the Mixed Messages-- a larger size gives more choices! I'll be certain to use them a lot! A Spellbinder tag die cut, narrow grosgrain ribbon from Walmart, and a Foof-a-La button tied it up.

If you participate in this week's Stamp Simply Challenge, please link your design to Sharon's blog. We certainly would love to see what you come up with! You can see the Splitcoaststampers ssnotime88 page here.

Make sure you check out the rest of the Stamp Simply Team's creations!

Sharon, Jennifer, Janine, Julie, AJ, Becky, Tammy, and Barb.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend!

DD/DDA Monthly Challenge: H2O

This month's Dirty Dozen/Dirty Dozen Alumni Challenge is: H2O! We were to create a design that featured water, watercoloring, and two additional embellishments.

My base is made with a trio of Bazzill Textured papers. The middle blue has a pearly sheen to it.

I thought that this Northwood's Rubber Stamp shell strewn beach scene would be perfect for today's challenge. I started to create my scene by inking up the stamp with Versafine Black Onyx ink, stamping it onto watercolor paper.

I used my Lyra Aquacolor's to watercolor the scene, then completely covered it with Stampin' Up's Crystal Effects.

I once again stamped the scene--this time with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto PaperTrey Ink's Basic White Cardstock. I proceeded to color the shells with assorted Copic markers, cut them out, and washed them with two coats of Crystal Effects. The shells have nice dimensional appeal after being glued to the image panel. Dimensional tape was used to pop the image panel from the base.

My final step was to create a twine bow (1st embellishment) with a real shell placed on the center (2nd embellishment).

Make sure to check out all of the Dirty Dozen Past and Present creations! You can find this month's DD/DDA gallery page here...

Bow Easy!!!!

Bow Easy!--and is it ever!!! This was my first time using this incredible tool-- I have always struggled with bows--tugging, pulling, twisting...YKWIM? Well, viewing Jerri Jiminez' (Touch of Grace) fabulous video tutorial, along with this soon to be favorite tool, made this gorgeous bow topping my design today! I can see many happy years with this inexpensive piece of plastic by my side!!!

Have you had enough of my fawning already? Final word-- you can get this must-have item at Sharon's (notimetostamp) Stamp Simply Ribbon Store, in the tool section, found here. Check it out! You will not be disappointed!

My design today is created for my church's Ladies Group-- they asked that I make up a card for another church who lost their Pastor's wife...they didn't want a sympathy card per se, more a card to send in remembrance. I hope this will fit the bill.

My base is Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip, layered with My Mind's Eye Bella Bella dp. I stamped this marvelous verse from Our Daily Bread Designs (Scripture Collection 1) onto PaperTrey Ink's Basic White cardstock with Memento Rich Cocoa ink. I sponged a bit of SU Soft Sky (retired) to the center of the verse, then layered it onto the MME paper, corner punching just the top. A copper brad from Michael's finished off the Bible verse panel.

I quickly made up a chocolate satin bow (SU ribbon) with my Bow Easy, and applied it to my design with a glue dot.

I hope you like it~~have a great week!

Bad to the Bone!!!

We have a dachshund named "Barkley." He really is a good dog, rarely any trouble at all! I decided to create a birthday card for my hubby, Paul (his birthday today!), to coincide with Sharon's (notimetostamp) weekly Friday challenge-- this week "For the Guys." We were to create a "man card" using twine, cording and such. As you can see, Barkley is escaping with a loose leash here (SU Silver cord)!

My base is made from Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip, then layered with Stemma 2-sided dp. My little pooch is a CuttleBug die cut that I purchased from Michaels.

So "Stamp Simply" there is no stamping here at all! A very quick and easy card that I'm sure will put a smile on my husband's face!

Check out the rest of the Stamp Simply teams designs:

Sharon, Jennifer, Janine, Julie, AJ, Tammy, Becky and Barb.

If you play, please remember to link your design to Sharon's blog here.

Thanks so much, and have a wonderful weekend!

May Splitcoaststampers Fan Club Sneak Peek!

A little sweet sneak peek at one of my designs for this month's Splitcoaststampers Fan Club gallery!

Make sure you stop by the gallery Friday, May 15th...if you are not a Fan Club member, you can check out the details on becoming one here...

Hope to see you Friday!

Mini Watering Can for Mother and Exciting News!

My project for today is for Sharon's (notimetostamp) weekly Friday challenge: "Just a Little Thing," to make a small, tiny gift for Mother's Day!

I've held onto this little (3 1/2" high) watering can that I purchased from Michaels just for today! One fresh daisy inserted in the top would be a perfect touch, but alas, no daisies here! In any case, this would make a quick and easy project!

I began by making a border for my watercoloring can with a Martha Stewart Picket Border punch, punching out Stampin' Up's retired Marigold Morning cardstock. (Check out Joan Fricker's Monday Sale at her blog, you may find this border punch there!) I then layered a strip of May Art's ribbon over the fence border. I purchased my May Art's Ribbon from the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store, found here.

Stampin' Up's "Stampin' Around Blooms & Bulbs" wheel provided my little seed packet images. I rolled my Blooms & Bulbs wheel across my Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad, applying it to Neenah's Natural White cardstock. I then colored my images with numerous Copic markers, before cutting them out to apply them to the can with red sticky tape.

I finished off the can with more May Art's ribbon, along with a linen thread tied seed packet hanging as a mini tag.

If you participate in the ssnotime86 "Just a Little Thing" challenge, please link your project back to Sharon's blog!

Check out these tiny treasures from the other gals:

Sharon, Janine, Julie, Jennifer, AJ, Becky, Tammy, and Barb, May's Guest Designer.

Well, my exciting news is this: I have been offered a spot on the Stamp Simply design team! Thanks so much to Sharon and the ladies for the pleasant welcome! I'm certain I will enjoy working with everyone!

Have a great Friday!

Blog Candy Winner!

The winner of the JustRite Baking Stamp Ensemble and Harmony Classic Circle Stamper is:

Number 52:

K said...
I love baking brownies, my boys love them.Kyla in KY
May 4, 2009 9:03 AM

Congratulations Kyla in KY! Please email your address to me so that I can send your goodies on their way!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks, all, for the great comments! Hope your week is going just fine!!!

"When Life Gives You Lemons--Bake!" Blog Candy

Well, I just realized this is my 100th post! Wanting to celebrate with some sunny, YUMMY fun, check out my blog candy offer below!

I just ADORE this lemon stamp from Lockhart Stamp Company! I purchased it from Ellen Hutson's store here (by the way, Ellen is having a Spring Fling Celebration until May 3rd with a 15% sale!) I thought it was perfect for Sharon Johnson's (notimetostamp) Friday challenge: Let the Sun Shine! I also created it for today's Limited Supply challenge over at Splitcoaststampers: use a border in your design--bonus points for using flowers as it is May Day! Well, I didn't get extra points today, but I'm pleased with my lemony result.

I used Basic Grey's Vagabond dp, as well as Stampin' Up's retired Buckaroo Blue to create my base. Stampin' Up's Good Morning Sunshine added the sunny POP! SU's corner and Notebook Edge (retired) punches added some interest to the layers.

A fun addition is my new Spellbinder's Octagon Nesties-- they frame out my image today, which was die cut with Spellbinder's Long Rectangles. I stamped my Lockhart Lemons with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, and colored them with numerous Copic markers.

I created my border with JustRite's Trompe Script Lowercase that I purchased from Joan's Garden. It's stamped with Versafine Black Onyx ink (my favorite for sentiments--so CRISP!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As promised, here is something to help create some YUMMY design: JustRite's Baking Stamp Ensemble, along with a 2 5/16" Circle Stamper. To enter, please leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite item is to bake! I will chose a winner Wednesday, May 6th at 6 p.m.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my youngest son, Joel! He turns 23 today, and graduates from Michigan Technological University tomorrow! We have a busy weekend before us, and are looking forward to enjoying seeing family members to celebrate! Hope your weekend is GREAT as well!