Color Me Sparkled!

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

If you're in my swap, this is a spoiler! Yep, this color combo is a lot of fun so I had to make another card using it - besides, I had glitter I colored in Orchid Opulence so I gotta use that too! lol Anyway, this is what I came up with. I'm gonna miss that Because of You set so much!!!! For applying this glitter, I used the 2-way glue pen because i wasn't using solid images to add bling to.

If you're doing the color-your-own glitter, I have a tip for you that I will repeat: Even after you add the color to the glitter, you have to add a bunch more glitter to it to absorb all the liquid and reduce the smooshiness (okay, it's not a word, but whatever) of it. Then you have to let it DRY WELL, or it will give you problems with not sticking to your project. I hope this helps some of you who I know are having trouble with this technique.

On this card, I colored in the orchid flower with a blender pen and puddle techinque before applying glitter. On the blue flower, i just use the 2-way glue pen on the white image and applied the colored glitter directly to it. You can see the delicate variation in color, so if you want richer color, color the image first.

For the wheel, I just ran it over the Cool Carribbean inkpad to ink it up. No need for a cartridge on this project.

On the tag, I used the CM circle punch 1 1/4", and then the SU! 1 3/8" punch and layered. Add one silver eyelet and it created a finishing touch for the grosgrain to go through.

Set: Because of You, Petals jumbo wheel
Colors: Orchid Opulence, Cool Carribbean
Other: Dazzling Diamonds (colored with Orchid Opulence), 2 way glue pen, silver eyelet, orchid grosgrain.

You're Neat!

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

You're Neat, oh yes you are! And to celebrate, here's a card for you! Okay seriously, you ARE neat, but I did this card for the SCS Color Challenge #116. AND, I just got this embossing folder delivered to my front door yesterday, so I'm totally excited and had to put it to use right away! lol One thing that bugs me about scanning pictures is that the white looks like it's like glow-in-the-dark and it tends to make the other colors look funny, but hopefully you can appreciate it the way I do here at home. lol

Set: You're Neat
Colors: Chocolate Chip, Cool Carribbean, Garden Green
Other: silver eyelet, chocolate grosgrain, dimensionals, cuttlebug dry embossing folder

Hope you like it! Remember, I think you're neat! ; )

Sympathy

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

I decided to work with a set I purchased because it's retiring, and since it was "new rubber" I needed to use it before it's officially retired. SO, this is what I came up with.... a simple sympathy card that deviates from the typical black or gray coloration.

It also gave me the opportunity to pull out my Watercolor Wonder Crayons, too - which I haven't touched in a while.

Set: Close as a Memory
Colors: Old Olive, Brocade Blue, Vanilla
Other: Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Versamark, Aquapainter, celery organdy ribbon, 1/4" punch, 1/16" punch, silver brads, slit punch

New In Color colors...

If you haven't already seen these, here's the swatches for the new colors arriving soon to SU!'s collection:

I don't know about you, but I can't wait to get my hands on most of those!!!

Color Combo Challenges/challenged

I have to thank my friend Jenny for sharing this wonderful link with me, because it's a resource I'm sure everyone that uses SU! colors can appreciate. Are you looking for colors to challenge yourself with or are you color-challenged? Well, here's the resource for you:

http://www.scraptitude.com/colorcombo/

Just pick any color or colors you want to find combos for, and it will find them for you. Not only that, but it's not just names of colors - they show you the colors! It's WONDERFUL!

I just wanted to share that with you and hopefully you'll get some use out of it as well. Don't get me wrong, our color wheel is great, but can you or our color wheel find 444 color combinations that go with Going Gray? I didn't think so. ; )

Blog Candy Winner is...

Thank you to EVERYONE for your posts and opinions on what you like about your favorite blogs. I was happy to see all the responses! So, now for the winner....I put names in a hat, and the winning post is:

Cheryl said...
Hi Gina, well since I am creativity challenged I come to the blogs for ideas from the posted cards and the tutorials. I am a very good CASER, but tend to change things up. If I have to look at a blank cardfront, I can come up with NO ideas unless I have seen something else done. I am really that bad. So, keep on blogging cause I love your blog.Cheryl Sims

CONGRATS Cheryl! Please email me your address to send the goodies to. I hope you'll enjoy it!

Keep your eyes out for the next candy - I'm not sure when it will be or what milestone I'll do it for, but surprises are always around the corner, so come back often!

Feelin' Mellow

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

Yep, it's a nice quiet Sunday here in IL... and I just got back from spending time at my sister's house for my nephew's 4th birthday... fun! The sun is out and the entire drive home from her house is all farms. There's something so wonderful about breathing in the nice cool air from the outdoors with nothing but farmland for your view (versus the normal route we take which is half farms, half tollway). I have not been home all day, but the peaceful drive inspired me so I dug up this card from my archives that I made quite a while ago.

It encompasses two types of embossing - regular and resist. The horses are embossed with craft ink and clear powder. The word "peace" is done in Versamark and clear powder, then wiped over with creamy caramel ink to get the resist look.

Sets: Bareback, Wonderful Words
Colors: Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel
Other: Caramel grosgrain ribbon

YoYo Yellow

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

YoYo Yellow - yep! It's one of those colors that many people have in their stash but don't use that often. I use it probably more than others, but it's been a while. SO, when the gals over at SCS posed the challenge to use it, I decided to go for it. As my own personal challenge, I dug out the Handsome Hunter. I'm tellin' ya, I don't think I've used it probably even once since I bought it, but today it seemed to fit. I even opened a brand new spool of hunter ribbon for this! LOL

Now YYY seems to get kinda bright, so I mellowed it a bit with some Marigold Morning in a soft pattern on the background to give it a glow but not get-the-shades-my-eyes-are-killing-me bright.

To emphasize the flower, I did three things - first, stamping the label separately on YYY and then again on Confetti Cream (which I then cut out just the center rectangle) for extra emphasis on the flower, then popping it up is a MUST. Next, to give it some shine, I gave it 3 layers of Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (powder). It's just like doing cracked glass, without the cracking.

Throw in some yellow and hunter ribbon, some gold cord for extra dazzle, and that's how I came up with this. I hope you like it.

Sets: Floral (BG), Heartfelt Thanks, Label Classics
Colors: YoYo Yellow, Marigold Morning, Handsome Hunter
Other: UTEE, dimensionals, gold cord, Yellow and Hunter grosgrain ribbon

Since the Barbecues start this weekend...

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

Yep, this set is long since retired, but it's a fun card that is befitting this weekend. Time for barbecues, good times, and kicking off the beginning of the "season." This one was FUN to color in (lol), but totaly worth the effort for me. Besides, who doesn't love some coloring therapy once in a while?!

Set: BBQ Fun
Colors: Real Red, Brilliant Blue, Whisper White
Other: Markers (lots of em - buns are Creamy Caramel), eyelets (real red & brilliant blue), dimensionals


I hope you all have fun this weekend! We're FINALLY going to have a patio put in at our house after 1 1/2 years! WOO HOO!! It's going to be a brick patio, and since we have a partial exposure in the back of our house, it's going to require a bunch of stairs and stuff, but it will be well worth it in the end... we have no landscaping at all yet!!! They won't have it finished this weekend, of course, but at least it's finally getting started!!!!

Don't forget there's still blog candy up for grabs, so if you haven't posted to that thread yet, you have until Sunday night! Good luck!

Color Challenge card

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

Vintage Violet. It's a nice color, and when it came out I rushed off to purchase the inkpad and cardstock right away. Then it SAT there. I made one or two cards with it and never touched it again. So sad to let a perfectly good color of anything sit untouched....

...and then came the SCS challenge 115. Vintage Violet, Certainly Celery, Old Olive. Now THAT sounded nice, so I gave it a whirl and I love it!!!!

Actually, this is the first time I've touched this hostess set, too, so today's creation was all about trying something new!

The way I did this butterfly was a bit of a different take on the rock and roll technique. If you blend green and purple too much, it ends up looking sorta brownish-black. SO, I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to stamp first in Certainly Celery (stamping off the edges first), then edging in Vintage Violet. It gives a better color distinction, even if it takes an extra step. Worth the effort, in my eyes.

Now it's your turn to try something new!

Set: Reason to Smile
Colors: Vintage Violet, Certainly Celery, Old Olive
Other: 1/4" punch, 1/16" punch, slit punch, silver brads, glue dots, dimensionals, Stamp-a-ma-jig

Blog Candy!

Hi! I'm feeling so happy after yesterday's news that I decided to offer a little blog candy! What I have to offer is a mini photo album (perfect for altering - just take out the inserts and make your own art), a packet of quilled dragonflies, a container of different colored paper clips (these make great embellishments, and the container is AWESOME for storing punched tags or smaller shapes for quick access), and 4 gel pens (pink, lavender, light blue and light green). Everything is brand new and unopened, so if you're interested, please play!

Okay, here's what you do:

I want to hear what you enjoy most about your favorite blogs. Is it the cards? The tutorials? The blog candy? What brings you back day after day to the blogs you frequent? Post your comments here for your chance to win!

I'll leave this contest open until Sunday at 11:59pm. After that, I'll pick one name at random and the winner will be announced on Monday.

SO, get posting!

Friendship Flowers

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

Looking for a bold way to brighten someone's day? This is one way to do it! I decided to find a way to feature the Hologram Highlights embossing powder in a way that is somewhat unexpected, and it's just enough to highlight without overpowering. I stamped the flowers in black craft ink and heat embossed them with the HH. After that I used a blender pen and the "puddle" technique to color in the flower on the white cs.

The rest of the card explains itself, I think. ; )

Sets: All Natural, Crosshatch (BG), Wonderful Words

Colors: Black, Taken With Teal, white

Other: Hologram Highlights ep, dimensionals

It's BENIGN!!!

Oh friends, I just can't tell you how relieved I am today - I found out that the results from my biopsy came back and the tumor is not cancerous! YAY!!!!!!!!!! It's just a fibroidenoma, or fibroid tumor. It could grow larger, but it's not large enough to need to be removed yet. SO, for now, I'm good. I'm just so happy!!!

I have to thank all of you that have been praying for me and sending healing thoughts and wishes my way. It has meant the world to me, and has helped me tremendously.

Bless you all, and thanks again. Time for the happy dance!!

Sparkle!

images (c) Stampin Up!, 1990-2007

Yep, I have been playing again! I read the June Stampin' Success and decided that making my own colored glitter was something I simply HAD to try, especially since anything that sparkles is a great thing in my eyes!

So here's my version of how I colored my glitter:

1. add one or two drops of water and one or two drops of reinker into a container
2. Add about 1 tsp of Dazzling Diamonds glitter. Mix well.
3. Add more glitter and continue to stir until liquid is absorbed. Glitter will be sort of "fluffly". Continue adding and stirring until you are satisfied with the consistency.

Tip: let glitter mixture dry before using, otherwise is may be a bit clumpy when you use it, although I used it wet for this card!

As for the card itself, I stamped flowers in versamark on glossy cs. I then used Heat & Stick powder to create the base to hold the glitter (tip, I ALWAYS heat H&S from underneath to ensure I don't over-heat it). Then I poured the colored glitter on the sticky images and then used a brush to tap the glitter down to be sure it stuck. I heat set from underneath, then brushed off the excess.

For the flower centers, I just used a 2-way glue pen and applied the glitter. Simple!

For the rest, I stamped the blue flowers on the glossy, and then punched out the flowers and popped them up on top of the blue flowers for added dimension.

After some serious paper piercing, the rest came together, and it was FUN FUN FUN!

Hope you enjoy it!

Sets: Warm Words, Big Pieces
Colors: Orchid Opulence, Cool Carribbean
Other: Dazzling Diamonds, Heat & Stick, 2-Way Glue pen, Silver brad, Orchid grosgrain, 1/4" circle punch, diemsionals, paper piercing kit

Get Well - Chic Batik

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

Well, I decided to play with the Chic Batik technique after receiving a wonderful card from my friend Lori Tisdale using it! Thanks Lori! Anyway, after one attempt that was BUTT-UGLY, I came up with this one that seemed to work okay for me.

I thought if I made it look like sunshine it could be worth cheering someone up, so that's where I went with it. Did it make you smile too?

Sets: Big Pieces, Sincere Salutations

Colors: Summer Sun, Cameo Coral, Confetti Cream (background and sun cutout), mulberry paper

Other: Gold Cord, Clear Embossing Powder, Versamark, Flower punch, distressing tool (SU!)

OKAY, so how did I do it? Here's a brief instruction:

CHIC BATIK

1) Stamp images with Versamark on Mulberry paper

2) Pour clear embossing powder on images, shake off excess, heat until powder is melted.

3) Wet a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol, and drop a few drops of reinkers in random pattern on the cotton ball.

4) Dab cotton ball over mulberry paper (tip: do this over a paper towel because liquid will soak through the mulberry paper pretty quickly) to completely cover images. The embossed areas will resist the ink.

5) Using a paper towel, wipe off embossed areas because liquid will bead on it, and gently pat the mulberry paper dry.

6) Mat your beautiful piece of art on a solid neutral piece of cardstock to let the lightness of the images shine through.

7) use as desired on project.

OH, one more tip for the gold cord "rays of sunshine" I used on this card: using a 1/16" punch, make a little nick in the edges of the cardstock just large enough for the cord to sit in. That will keep it from slipping up the sides of the card later, and it's virtually invisible to the recipient!

Okay, so that was easy - now go get inky and make something beautiful yourself! Have fun!

Played on SCS

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

I was browsing SCS challenges last night and ran across the Featured Stamper challenge this week, my good friend Kyla Maestas (see a link to her blog on my Friends' Blogs list)! I was so excited I had to run off and play. Now anyone that knows me knows that I rarely, if ever, CASE anything, but in this case I made an exception. And you know what? It was fun!

I cased this card http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...00&ppuser=7133

For my version, I had to use Confetti Cream for my neutral color because I needed to match the twill tape I used for the ribbon. I stamped the tape with Vintage Violet to coordinate with the cs, and the scan makes it look sorta dark, but it blends better in person.

Set: Because of You
Colors: Vintage Violet, Cool Carribbean
Accessories: 1/4" punch, 1/16" punch, silver brads, dimensionals, blender pen, 1.5" circle punch, 1 3/8" punch, silver cord, paper piercing kit

Because of You

images (c) Stampin Up!, 1990-2007

This set was fast becoming one of my faves, and now it's retiring already!! *sniff* I may just have to hang onto it even after it retires because it makes me happy to look at it, and anything that makes me smile, stays.

As for the scan, it's hard to tell (as usual), but the color in the flowers and butterflies actually shimmers. Want to know how I did that?

Mix liquid Gum Arabic with Pearl Ex powder. Then using a watercolor brush, simply paint it on. Let it dry - the nice thing is it doesn't take long if you don't over-wet it.... and then you're done!

If you have leftover mix, don't throw it out! Just leave it to dry out in the open air (DO NOT COVER), and it hardens like a watercolor cake. Then you just need to wet it later and use again. Cool, huh?

As for the lines on the background, I stamped first and then just scored it with the scoring blade on my cutter in even measurements. It's an easy way to create some extra dimension!

Set: Because of You
Colors: Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, Confetti White
Other: gum arabic (not from SU!), PE in blue/green, Flamingo Pink, Lavender

Shimmering Pearl Ex Tutorial

Want to know how to do a neat technique? This is called Pearl Ex Gloss, and it gets GREAT results, so follow along with me and I'll show you how to do it.

First, what you need is: Bold image stamps, Pearl Ex in your favorite colors, Black glossy CS, Versamark, heat gun, Heat & Stick powder, Embossing Buddy, small watercolor brushes, paper towel, Powder Pal tray (optional)

Now, here's how you do it:

1. Rub CS with Embossing buddy first. Then stamp bold images with Versamark onto black glossy cardstock.

2. Pour Heat & Stick powder over stamped images.
3. Shake off excess powder.

4. Heat gently from underneath cardstock, just until the powder gets shiny (DO NOT OVERHEAT!)

5. Using small brushes, apply Pearl Ex in a dabbing motion on top of the sticky images.

6. Heat again from underneath to set the heat & stick powder.

7. Using a paper towel, gently buff images to remove excess powder from around the images.

8. Finished sample.

9. Complete project as desired.

Nifty Stamps!

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

I actually made it down to my therapy room (stamping area) and did some stamping for an upcoming swap, and this is what I came up with. I just got this stamp set, too! I ordered it after the retiring list went up, because it's one I wanted but never bought. Well, I am just waiting for this thing to end up as a collectors item because of the fun stamping-related stamps in there!

The other thing that was a nice surprise today was that my scanner has magically begun to work again, so I don't have to take the dark pictures with the digital camera. The down side? Well, scanners tend to distort the colors just a bit, but you'll get the idea.

Stamps: Stampin' Fun for Everyone, Polka Dots & Paisley (dots on the regal rose layer)
Paper: Designer Series "Loves Me"
CS: Taken With Teal, Cool Carribbean, Regal Rose
Other: Tab punch, silver brad, 1/16" punch, blender pen, dimensionals

I thought of adding glitter to the picture, but I decided against it just to keep the swaps clean as they travel (just this once!).

I hope you like it!

Sorry it's a little slow...

But I have been sorta busy this week with preparations for my daughter's birthday tomorrow (gonna be the big 6!), and then today I had my mammogram to investigate the lump I found. Well, looks like it's a mass, not a cyst, and I have to go in on Monday for a biopsy. UGH.

So, wish me luck, and I think I'm going to try and stamp today because the next couple of days could be tricky since I have to get ahead of my cleaning schedule because after the biopsy I can't lift or move much for the next 3 days.... double ugh!!

I'll post when I can... but until then, keep your eyes out because you never know when I might pop in and post a little something special anyway!

Fabulous!

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

You'll have to view this card larger to see more of the detail on it, so just click the picture to see it more up close.

Okay, so this is not a card that I made today - I made it quite a while ago, but I love this card and wanted to re-live it while this set is still current. If you've seen this card (or have one), I hope you don't mind seeing it again... if you haven't seen it before, I hope you enjoy it. It's one of the first cards I ever did using the faux dry embossing technique, and I had so much fun coloring in the multiple colored bubbles, it was pure therapy.

You can't see it really well, but there's glitter all over the bubbles, too - so it looks like this gal is really enjoying her bath!

Sets: Bubble Queen, Print Pattern BG
Colors: Pretty in Pink, Barely Banana
Other: Bashful Blue, blender pen, 2-way glue pen, Dazzling diamonds

NSR - Get Checked!

Yep, this is non-stamping-related (NSR). I just want to remind everyone how important it is to get mammograms and do self-exams regularly.

My mothers day was completed by me finding a lump. Yep, my heart went in my throat. I went to the doctor yesterday (hence no posts yesterday), and I'm going to have to get a mammogram now, but the belief is that it's not going to turn out to be anything serious.

However, this is a great wake-up call and a perfect opportunity to remind anyone that is reading this to be sure to take care of yourselves. Too many women don't get pay enough attention to their female health, and after having survived ovarian cancer already thanks to early detection, breast cancer is something I personally don't want to find too late.

SO please take care of yourselves! Check yourself, and get the exams you're supposed to, even if you don't like doing it. It could very well save your life.

Blessings, friends.

Mother's Day

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

So, tomorrow is Mother's Day! Woo hoo!! I figured yesterday was too soon to post this card (since my mom will be getting it tomorrow!), but today she's probably not online so it's pretty safe. My mom is usually into the really girly things - pink, flowers, all that jazz - but she is also a stamper and an artist, so I figured I'd mix it up and create something different for her this year.

I dipped into my soon-to-retire pile (which incidentally is MUCH larger than my not-going-to-retire pile) of stamp sets, and mixed Right at Home with the Just So Sayings from the Spring Mini and mixed it with the newer fibers to create a fresh approach to your typical Mother's Day card.

Adding a little bit of a cuttlebug embossing accent was just what I did because I can't stop playing with my Cuttlebug! lol

I hope all you mothers out there enjoy your day tomorrow, and that all of you who aren't mothers but have mothers you love - create something she'll love - a hand stamped card (and gifts don't hurt, either!).

Sets: Right At Home, Just So Sayings
CS Colors: Kraft Natural, So Saffron, Certainly Celery
Other inks/markers: Apricot Appeal, Creamy Caramel, Barely Banana
Other goodies: SU! Ribbon, Soft Subtles brads, Cuttlebug embossing folder CATS

Hope you lke it!

Do YOU have blog candy?

I have found that it's great when someone posts other people's blog candy, so if you're offering any right now, just post to this feed telling us that you're offering some, and then anyone who wants to go and enter to win can just click your name and/or link and give it a go!

So, now's your chance to spread the word....

Cheers everyone!

Smiling Croc

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

So today I made my mom's Mothers Day card, but I went to upload it and realized that it's possible that my mom may read this blog (hi Mom!!), so I decided against it. I did make a card just for fun today, too, and here it is.

I'm trying to make use of the sets I have that will still be current after the new book comes out, so that's where I picked Wild About You and Tiny Talk.

Embellished with some black brads and some fun design on top, I hope this one catches smiles.

Life Is Big

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

Okay, so this is a SAB set, but this card was kinda cool to play with. The scan sorta washed out the colors a bit, but you get the idea. Making a fun background plays up the colors of the flowers, and it is all done with Versamark and the SU! Soft Subtles embossing powders. Okay, so the black is not included in that, but you get the idea.

Double Challenge Card

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

So today I got an email from my friend Kyla Maestas challenging me to make something for SCS sketch challenge #122 AND using a color challenge, too! SO, I decided to challenge myself with CC113 for this card, and here's what I came up with.

The extra bonus is - my hubby's birthday is tomorrow, so this is his card! Whew - talk about killing THREE birds with one stone! lol

Sets: Crab & Company, Little Pieces, On the Spot BG
Colors: Taken w/Teal, Marigold Morning, Cool Carribbean
Other Items: Tool kit, orange eyelets, blender pen, dimensional

Hope you like it!

Happiness is Knowing You

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

I'm trying to get as much use out of my soon-to-be-retired sets as possible. This one I used the Rubber Cement technique for the background. By keeping the other elements simple, it features the background properly. Soft colors give this a soft feeling - just what I was going for.

Set: Winged Things
Colors: Blush Blossom, Sahara Sand
Technique: Rubber Cement
Tools: Rubber brayer

RAK thanks

Thanks to Yvette for the wonderful RAK I received yesterday! What a wonderful surprise!! If ou want to check out Yvette's work, check out her blog!

The Blog Candy Winner is....

...user name cakvd (also known as Cheryl from WI)!! Congrats Cheryl, you're the winner of my first ever offered blog candy!

Thank you to everyone that has subscribed and linked to me thus far - I really appreciate your interest, and I hope you will continue to enjoy this blog as much as I enjoy offering more to you. You subscribers will get all the latest updates delivered right to your inboxes, but if you're not a subscriber yet, you still can be. OR, just come back and visit me. I'll keep giving you more reasons to come back, I promise!

Thanks for playing, everyone, and I will be offering more blog candy soon, so keep your eyes open, anyone can be a winner!

Congrats again, Cheryl! I'm going to be emailing you to get your mailing address to send you the goodies you won!

Have a great day, everyone!

Joy in the Little Things

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

Here's another fun one created today. I played around with the Polka Dots & Paisley paper from SU!, and some of the newer ribbons. With a little faux stitching and some dimensionals, this card whips up and becomes a great card to tell someone you're thinking about them, or just to cheer them up if they're feeling low.

The Pixie Pink flowers and cardstock blend much better in person, but due to this digital photography, the colors are a bit distorted. However, Regal Rose or Cameo Coral would work nicely with this paper, too.

Trust me, I know what I'm doing! lol

Baby Cards

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

Yep, I dug into my soon-to-be-retired stash and had to come up with some baby cards because there are MANY people I know having babies (or have just had them in the last month - must have been something in the water)! SO, here's what I came up with.

Meanwhile, my scanner just DIED as I tried to scan these cards, so I'm SUPER SAD! I don't know what I'm gonna do! Thank goodness for the digital camera! The lighting isn't as good, but you'll get the idea anyway. Be sure to click the picture to get a better look, I personally think it looks better up close.

So these are the boy and girl versions together. I hope you like em. After I get them posted, I'm going back down to my creative center and making more goodies just for fun.

Sets Used: All-Around Argyle (hostess set), Baby Firsts, All About U, Trimtastic
Colors: Bashful Blue, Barely Banana, Pretty in Pink
Inks: Classics in same colors, Basic Black, and craft White and Craft Bashful Blue
Other: dimensionals, Soft Subtles embossing powder in Pink and Blue, Whisper White embossing powder, word window punch, soft subtles brads

Update coming today...

I was up for nearly 23 hours straight yesterday (and into the wee hours this morning), so I'm super tired, but I'm still planning on coming up with something fun to post here today... so keep your eyes open, the update is coming!

Hmmm, what will I create? ; )

Happy Birthday

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

Played with my cuttlebug again, and here's just a fun birthday card I came up with. The best part is, I just used a Pixie Pink marker to highlight the happy birthday sentiment, no extra stamping required!

Stamps: Polka Dots & Paisleys
Paper: SU!
Colors: Pretty in Pink, Cool Carribbean, Certainly Celery
Accessories: Celery grosgrain SU!, cuttlebug embossing folders (Cat and Happy Birthday)

Blog Candy!

Okay, so I'm newly addicted to this blog. I hope those of you who are enjoying it so far continue to do so! If you like the work here, please come back - I have been adding to it every day, and will try to keep it up for you.

I have decided to cave to the blog candy gods and decided to offer some of my own. The picture above includes 2 ready-to-alter puzzles (5x7), and 3 bundles of fibers. One is just like Cool Carribbean, the other is a great combo of pastels and the last is a golden color, similar to So Saffron.

ALSO included will be 1 sample card that is featured on this blog somewhere. I won't tell you which one, so you'll just have to be surprised!

SO, wanna know what you gotta do to get it? First, you gotta post a comment here on this entry telling me one of two things: 1) that you've added a link to my blog from yours, OR 2) that you've subscribed to my blog (no anonymous entries, please, or I can't verify). I'm going to verify all entries, and will choose one winner to be announced on Monday.

That's it! Good luck to everyone - and tell your friends. All entries are welcome!

Snappy Birthday

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

This set was just MADE FOR ME! I swear when I saw it in the Spring Mini it just screamed my name! Okay (taking a deep breath now)... on to the card. I decided that D'Vine Swirl worked for this card, too, and so it was born.

Shrimp, starfish and Mr. Happy Crab himself - all come together to wish a "Snappy Birthday." How fun is that?! Certainly scans don't always show as much dimension as there is on a card like this, because the shrimp, one of the bottom starfish and the starfish in the crab's claw are all popped up, but it's kinda hard to tell.

Anyway, it was another fun card to make that launches me full-on into Summer mode - even though it's not summer yet! But, I'm in my house with the windows open anyway. When I start needing a coat, then I'll close em up. lol

Details about the card:

Stamps: Crab & Company
CS: Basic Black, Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Sahara Sand, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black, Real Red
Markers: Sahara Sand, Creamy Caramel, Cameo Coral, Pumpkin Pie
Other: Cuttlebug D'Vine Swirl embossing folder

Hope ya like it!

Cracked Rose

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

Here's another one that is on its way out, but I had to put it "out there" anyway... because it's one that I love and will probably not let go of. This one would double as a wonderful Mother's Day card with the right sentiment - because whose mom doesn't love flowers?!

This uses the Cracked Glass technique, which is relatively simple but still requires a bit of finess to complete.

First you need Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (UTEE for short) and Versamark to pull this one off. Basically all you do is:
1) stamp your images
2) cover the image with Versamark
3) Pour UTEE over the surface, tap off excess, and heat until melted.
4) REPEAT steps 2 & 3
5) While the UTEE is still warm from the second layer, just pour UTEE on it without using versamark, because the melted powder will be enough to keep the next layer on.
6) Let COOL completely. Some people will tell you to put it in the freezer, but I do not recommend this step, as it makes the UTEE more brittle when you go to crack it, and it could shatter all over the place.
7) When cooled, very GENTLY bend just until the image cracks. Do this in a few different places on the image, but not too many. Excessive cracking causes pieces to fall off.

I hope some of you will try this, because I love this technique and use it all the time. You too can enjoy it if you give it a try.

Have fun!

Other stuff I used on this one:

Stamps: Roses in Winter, Watercolor Minis
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Versamark
CS: Rose Red, Mellow Moss, Whisper White
Other: UTEE, heat gun

Hope you like it!

The Retired List

UGH - I'm so sick right now - I have 90+ sets and 11 wheels retiring (not including hostess sets!), and many of them are my most favorite sets! Looks like I'm going to have to be stamping with a lot of retired stuff soon!

If you want to see what you have that's retiring, check out the SU! website and download the list. You'll be surprised, I think!