It's All My Husband's Fault!

So now I'm REALLY a liar... but it is dh's fault. I'm sitting here watching the Pistons with their oh-so-huge four point lead (can you hear my sarcasm?) and fiddling on my laptop (hey, a girl can multitask!) I checked out Kristina Werner's blog and find that she has indeed posted a color challenge this week, just on a different day than usual. I casually commented to my hubby that I wasn't going to do the challenge this week since we're busy with a house guest. He said something like "Really? I can't believe YOU aren't going to do the color challenge!" So of course, I had to get up and go stamp something! Here is her color inspiration picture:


Here is my card:


I am going through a jumbo eyelets phase. If you don't have a Crop-o-dile, you need one. These eyelets went in easy-breezy in about 2 seconds flat, and without a sound!!! Whoever invented that tool must have had a napping baby in the house, because it is such a gift!

Well, I guess I won't say that I won't post again until Monday, because at this point I might be lying for a third time! :-) I'll just "see" you when I "see" you.

Have a splendiferous weekend!



CARD RECIPE
Stamps: all except background (SU!) by Unity (leaf from Gratitude=Joy, sentiment from Sentiments O'Simple, dotted lines from Amazing Me)
Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Not Quite Navy, Old Olive, So Saffron, Whisper White
Ink: Old Olive, So Saffron, Not Quite Navy
Accessories: jumbo eyelets, hemp twine

So I Lied...

Okay, one more post before my father-in-law gets here. I was cleaning all the stamping stuff off of my dining room table so we will have a place to eat when he's here (where have WE been eating, you might ask? ha-ha!) I found a printout of the Verve Project Parade challenge for May, which I have been meaning to take part in! Since the deadline is tomorrow, I figure I'd better get busy. I broke out my beautiful new Verve stamps, Petals and Stems, which I have only used once, and inked those babies up! They are so pretty! I still have to play with them some more, but I figured I'd better limit myself to one card, since now I'm going to have to clean up the dining room table again! :-) Here it is:

I knew with all of those colors, I wanted just little bits of them so the card wouldn't be overwhelming to me. The last time I did a challenge with more than three colors, I really didn't like my card. I like how this one turned out!

Okay, this time, really--have a great weekend, and I'll "see" you next week after my father-in-law has left.


CARD RECIPE
Stamps: Petals and Stems (Verve)
Cardstock: Shimmery White, Certainly Celery, Pumpkin Pie, Soft Sky, Regal Rose, So Saffron
Ink: Certainly Celery, Pumpkin Pie, Soft Sky, Regal Rose, So Saffron
Accessories: celery grosgrain ribbon

Trying Something New...

Well, I did it. I submitted my entry for the Unity Stamps design team. Who knows what will happen, but I figure I'll never get anywhere if I don't try new things now and then! I had difficulty picking the three projects to submit. I didn't want to submit things I had already shared on my blog or on Splitcoast. I don't know why, but that was important to me. I'll wait to show you what I chose. For now, you'll have to enjoy one of my rejects. Only a reject because it had only one stamp used. But I truly love it ! I love altering notebooks to make journals for people. This one is for me!!!!

I don't know what I will use it for yet, but I will figure it out! (Edited to add: I started using this
as my quote journal--a place to write inspirational quotes that I want to remember--this is an idea I got from the gals on the Unity forum at Splitcoast. Thanks gals!)

Shh.... I have a secret to share with you, but I want to tell my mom first, just in case she reads this. So stay tuned!

Have a great weekend! I doubt I will post again until Monday, because my father-in-law is visiting us for the next few days. Take care, and happy stamping!


CARD RECIPE
Stamps: Create Yourself (Unity single stamp)
Cardstock: Whisper White, Green Galore, Pixie Pink, unknown patterned paper
Ink: SU! markers--rose red, green galore, pixie pink
Accessories: notebook, ribbon, bling

Butterfly Beauty!!

Well, we've been home for a couple of days now. I guess I should get back into the swing of things! So I didn't stamp today, but I did yesterday. Here is what I did:


This was such a fun technique! AJ posted a challenge on the Unity forum at Splitcoast. I finally got a chance to try it out. If you like what you see, check her post out to see how it is done! You'll be hooked! The images end up so sparkly and fun! (You can't really see how sparkly it is in the picture, darn it!)

See you later! I'm watching my Detroit Pistons lose. :-(


CARD RECIPE
Stamps: Butterfly Beauty (Unity Stamp Co.)
Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White (SU!)
Ink: Staz On Black
Accessories: Acetate (window sheet/transparency), Crystal Effects, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter

Happy Day!

Happy Memorial Day weekend, my friends! I am not at home and I am not stamping, so there are no cards to show you! However, I AM at Chippewa Lake in Michigan with my parents and brother, and Isaac seems to be enjoying himself. Here we are yesterday during his first pontoon ride! He wasn't quite sure of what to make of all the sunshine and the lifejacket, but he did great!

I hope you have a fabulous rest of the weekend. Stay tuned for some more stamped projects... especially since I'm fairly positive I will have a new Unity stamps shipment on my doorstep when I get home! Wahoo!

Take care,

A New Challenge

There was a release party for GinaK stamps on Splitcoast the other night. I don't have any of her stamps yet, but since I'm starting to branch out a little, I thought I'd try to win some! So I entered two sketch challenges. Here are the two cards I came up with:

I would write more, but the Pistons are on right now, and I have to watch, because the lost the last game when I didn't watch. I'm sure that made a difference! :-)

SCS Color Challenge

Hey Peeps! (that totally made me smile, because now I'm thinking of you all as little yellow and pink marshmallow bunnies and chicks... hee hee!)

Today I tried the Splitcoast color challenge of Soft Sky, Blue Bayou and Certainly Celery. These three cool colors look so lovely together! Here is what I came up with:


I think these turned out fabulously! I used my new Unity kit, Fanciful Dots. You can still get that kit for FREE if you order the oh-so-cool handles. I don't know how long that offer lasts, so jump on it while you can!

Oh yeah, and I think I'm going to put this gift set up for sale at my etsy shop... what should I sell it for? Any thoughts?

Off stamping, tonight is the final of American Idol, and I'm not sure I care who wins. This year I really didn't become attached to any of them as I have in the past. I don't know why... am I just getting tired of the show? Or is it because I have new meaning in my life with my baby, so I'm not as "in" to it? Who knows... I will watch it anyway.

Take care!

Mojo Monday

Hello and Happy Monday!

It has been an pretty good day. The baby is teething and is fussy, but he took a long nap today. That's unusual, because you can usually set your clock by him--he takes EXACTLY half hour naps most of the time.

Once again, it is time for Julee's Mojo challenge over at Poetic Artistry. Here is her sketch:


Here is my card:



I think because of the colors, it should probably be for a man. I might even use it for my dh, since I DO thank my lucky stars for him!

Sorry it is so short today, but I wish you all a happy week!

Dragging my feet today...

Good morning!

I'm tired. The baby slept horribly last night. Up lots of times, not easy to get back to sleep... this is unusual for him. He usually sleeps from when we put him to bed at 7ish until 5 or 5:30am. Needless to say, a variation from that schedule makes for a very tired Mommy! But, while Daddy was sleeping in (grrr...) I played with the baby and then put him down for an early morning nap. Instead of trying to nap like I should have, I stamped. I guess that's a sign of a truly addicted stamper... when stamping is more important than a basic bodily need. :-)

Anyway, I finished up some small retirement gifts for my husband's co-workers. These were super easy. The cards are flat notes with matching envies that I found on clearance at Target, and I just stamped the flowers and sentiment at the bottom. So quick and so cute!

Then I had to play with my Whimsical Birthday Unity stamp kit again. The large images are so fantastic for watercoloring! I think I will be doing this layout again. I'm not sure you can tell, but I put glitter (stickles) on the streamers, polka-dots and at the ends of the banner.


I may try to sell some of my cards on Etsy. Who know if anyone will buy them, but I suppose it is worth a try! I'm off to figure it out...

Have a nice day!

Wonderful Weekend

So I know it is only Saturday night, but I had a wonderful weekend! How do I know? Well, today was great, and I just know tomorrow will be too! Today my dh took our nephew to Hocking Hills State Park, which (for those of you non-Ohioans) is a gorgeous series of parks with waterfalls, and hiking trails and neat-o rock formations. While he was gone, I got to go with my best friend and her 3 year old to the park to play and have a picnic. I can't wait until the baby is old enough to join in and play! Well, I CAN wait, because I want to enjoy every little moment along the way.

Anyhoo, I didn't get any stamping done until this evening, which is why I'm so late posting. I was playing with my AMAZING Unity stamps again tonight. I can't get over how much I love these. Some of them are HUGE! That makes them really fun to play with, and figure out how to use. The dandelion from the WISH kit was so big, I felt I need to make a really long card to do it justice. Here it is! If you want deets (details), check out my gallery at Splitcoast.



Then I stamped this one, with the Giggle Grove kit. I love this tree from the kit. All the trees are fun, but this one is particularly playful.


Here's one I stamped yesterday but didn't post. It is using the bird from Giggle Grove and the word "playful" is from Little Labels 1, both Unity kits.



Well, I suppose I should go get some sleep. Have a splendid Sunday!

WOW wow wow!!!!! I love Unity Stamps!

Don't you just LOVE getting packages? Mr. UPS man came for me today, and left me a present! My new Unity Stamps!!!

So, I felt a little bit like I was cheating, or as JanTink said, committing Rubber Adultery... ha! But, I caved and bought a couple of Unity stamp kits and their neat-0 handles. What fun! You get the best of both worlds, the flexibility and space-saving of acrylics, but the comfort of your wood block to stamp with. LOVE them! I created two cards tonight, and I LOVE them! I hope you enjoy them too... For details, check my SCS gallery.

For the first card, I used the Giggle Grove stamp kit.


For the second card, I used Giggle Grove and Whimsical Birthday.



These cards were so much fun. I will share more with you tomorrow if I get a chance to stamp. The baby is teething, so he has been having trouble sleeping and napping. Hopefully tomorrow will be better. Naptime is stamp time for me!

Mojo Color Inspiration

Good morning (nearly afternoon)!!

Monday came and went, and I didn't have time to do Julee's sketch from Poetic Artistry. Tuesday came and went and I didn't have time to do Kristina's color challenge from kwernerdesignblog. Well, actually, it wasn't posted until late last night, so I'm not too far behind! Anyway, the baby is teething, but I FINALLY got him to take a long nap (it has been an hour and a half so far, and I'm still hoping to get this posted before he wakes up...) so I was able to stamp today! So I could get both challenges done, I combined them. This is Julee's sketch:


This is Kristina's color inspiration photo:




Here is my card:


Do you like it? It is a much different style for me. I usually have one focal image, and here I just have a pattern. It looks sort of Hawaii-luau-ish to me! What would I use this card for? Just some good news for someone?

Well, he's still not awake, so I better clean up my stamping mess! Have a great day!

Last Two Challenges ...

Happy Saturday, people!

Today we took the baby out for lunch and he sat in a restaurant high chair for the first time. He did an amazing job, and was so good. We fed him bananas while we were eating, and he just was so laid back and cute! Yay!

I did two more of Jen's challenges for Stampin' Out! Alzheimers. You can still donate and even participate up until midnight tonight!

The color combo was completely different for me, and I'm not sure I love it: Going Gray, Ruby Red, Summer Sun and Soft Sky. Here's the card:


The other challenge I did earlier this week, but was too embarrassed to post. It is my first try at a scrapbook page, and I don't think it is very good. I also didn't stamp on it. Here it is, nonetheless.


I am going out with some girlfriends tonight. I hope you have a lovely Saturday and Sunday! "See" you later...

Challenging Challenges!

Who ever thought that a challenge would be challenging? Ha! I stamped for two of Jen Tapler's Stampin' Out Alzheimer's challenges today: SOA#6: Marvelous Metal and SOA#13: Purely White. I found them both difficult. But I did them anyway. The metal one was hard for me because I had made up my mind to use the metal pieces you see on the card, but I couldn't figure out HOW to use them. I think it turned out okay, but I don't love it.

The White challenge was difficult because I'm so used to "prettying up" my cards with layers, color, embellishments, etc., and I wanted to keep it simple. I ended up doing two, just coloring in line images. On the plus side, I got to try out two stamps that hadn't seen ink yet: my Bella and my cupcake from Lizzie Anne. I love cupcakes!!




The baby is six months old today! Wow! I took him to get his picture taken, and he did fabulously! We got tons of cutie pie pictures, and he smiled and even sat up all by himself for them!

One final challenge for today was Jen's Box of Kindness challenge. This one was so much fun! I love the Berry Bliss DSP, so I used that as my inspiration. And can you believe, I FINALLY used some of my flowers from my Pretties Kit and dyed them with my markers... SO easy, and SO beautiful!! Why have I been hoarding them for so long??? Here are three pics of the little box and matching cards:


I actually made six little cards for the inside, two thank you, two celebrate, and two happy birthday. I have to dig around for envelopes which I know I have somewhere, and then figure out who is getting this adorable thing!

Have a wonderful weekend!

kwerner Color Inspiration Challenge #8

Good morning, almost afternoon! The Pistons lost last night, so that was a bummer. It's raining today, but I don't really mind. It just means I can stamp without feeling guilty about not being outside! The baby is just waking up from his nap, so I will have to do this quickly.

I love the colors from Kristina's Inspiration Challenge at kwernerdesignblog. They are most of the colors from the Jersey Shore Designer Paper: Brilliant Blue, Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie and Whisper White. I was in a near panic (not really) when she didn't put her challenge up at the usual time. I felt a bit like a stalker, checking her sight every hour or so. I was so glad to see it last night before bed, but I wasn't able to stamp it until this morning.

Here's my card:

I am loving the Jersey Shore paper, and hadn't used this swatch yet. I noticed that my new Lizzie Anne Flower might match perfectly, and it did! I was so happy! Please ignore and/or forgive the white speck under the flower . . . I'm so rusty at embossing that I forgot to use my embossing buddy. I am going to remake the card later today if I have time, and do a better job.

Okay, I think I must go get the baby! The sentiment on this card says "happy today, happy tomorrow, happy everything" and that is what I wish for you all today!
Edited at 5:25pm to add:

I loved this color combo so much, I had to do some more! I did Jen Tapler's SOA#11: Nifty Notepad for her Stampin' Out Alzheimer's event. Come on, guys, you still have time to do this! Go check it out!

I love how cute they look as a set! I think I will send them to my aunt in Florida, to brighten her days as she's going through chemo...