You Rock!

Well, I finally got to stamp for a bit today! I'm still feeling tired and dizzy, but at least I can sit without the room spinning. WHEW! Anyway, a quick story: A couple of weeks ago, my mom bought this shirt for me that has the little skull & crossbones on it (perfect for this season!), and I am wearing it today for the first time. AND, I just got my new Just Jawing set last week so I'm excited to play with it - so I took the color scheme from the shirt and put it into this card. Here's the card:
I heat embossed the skull and then cut out the cameo coral hearts and glued them into the heart eyes. I thought it was kinda fun! I hope you like it!

Set: Just Jawing
Colors: Black, Sahara Sand, Cameo Coral
Other: Silver brad, silver swirl slips, silver cord, white embossing powder, dimensionals

I'm sick!

Sorry I haven't posted in the last 5 days... I have been busy with life the last couple of days and then yesterday I had a massive headache, then today I woke up feeling weak and dizzy. It's been icky all day, so I have missed 3 good stamping days - boo hoo!!! I miss it! I'll try to get something posted in the next day or two, but thanks for your patience, friends. I miss you!
Okay, it's back to bed for me for now....

Hugz~

Blog Challenge

Hi friends! I have a new color challenge posted on my MSN group, but before I make my own project later this week I wanted to pose the challenge to you bloggers, too! Here's the color scheme: Pacific Point, Pink Pirouette and Elegant Eggplant. SO, if you are up for a challenge, simply create your own project using that color scheme and then post a comment here with a link/URL to your blog post.

If you are checking the comments, be sure to check out others' projects as well. You will LOVE seeing what other people do, and they will love getting your comments, too!

Happy stamping!!

Paper Piecing...

I finally tried to do paper piecing. I had always liked the way it looked, but I was always too lazy to try it. Well, the concept is simple, and the execution is not as difficult as I thought (click here to see the SCS tutorial). So, I plan to do more of this when I have good images to try it on. Meanwhile, I was so into the whole thing that I decided to do some out-of-the-box stuff and stippling and piercing too! I kinda liked how it looked, too. So without further ado, here's the card:
Isn't he just so fun?? His jacket uses the DP, as you can see, and I think it really adds to the appeal of this card. And though I did the paper piercing in the corner, it just didnt' have enough emphasis, so I went in with a Stampin' Write marker (FINE tip end) and touched each hole so that it was more black. It totally made the difference.

Set: Voila!
Colors: Tangerine Tango, Certainly Celery
Paper: SU! DP series "Sarah"
Other: Stipple brush, dimensionals

I hope you like it!

CC182 Monochromatic!

I haven't done a monochromatic card in a long time, so this SCS color challenge was fun! Here's the card:

Set: Heartfelt Thanks

Colors: Black, White, Going Gray

Stuff: Paper piercing tools, dimensionals, black organdy ribbon, silver cord

Masculine Birthday

I actually enjoy doing masculine cards. It's a nice change of pace from the normal frilly dilly stuff we usually do. This one is the one I made for my dad's birthday. You have already seen the one I did for my brother to use, this is MINE: This one I did using a tip I saw on someone else's blog (please forgive me, I've forgotten who it was already or I'd link to it here. If you are that person, please contact me and I'll edit this post!), by stamping the tree in one color, then using my Stamp-a-ma-jig to add another layer with a different color of splotches, and then a third and fourth layer of colors. This tree is seriously multi-layered! I finished it up by stamping in Versamark and then giving it a layer of clear EP over it for shine (which you can't see in this photo). The word stamp is stamped in Chocolate Chip craft ink and then clear embossed as well. It's much classier in person. Here's the deets:

Sets: Canvas, Lovely As a Tree, It's Your Birthday
Colors: Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, Really Rust, Old Olive
Other: clear embossing powder (EP), distressing tool, more mustard eyelet, wide twill tape, hemp twine, dimensionals

Jackpot Birthday!!

THIS is an interesting story - my dad's birthday is coming up in a couple of days, and my dad is VERY difficult to shop for. He doesn't really "need" anything. My parents like to spend some time going to casinos, though (when he's not playing golf).... and my brother decided to give him money to gamble with. So he wanted to express the casino theme in a card for the money, and he asked ME to make the card for him to use! Well, SU! doesn't have any GAMBLING sets, and I don't have any off-brand sets either with that theme. I also don't have time or money to go out on the search for the images, so I decided to improvise and find images online and print them on cardstock to use instead. My mom gave me that tip once and I have never done it until today! Anyway, I took the printed images, added some stamping and embossing and markers and.... well, here's the result:What do you think?? Does this say "gambling" or what?? I can't wait to see what my brother and dad think of it!

Set: Stars jumbo wheel (jackpot and card/die images printed, not stamped)
Colors: Black, Green Galore
Other: Hologram Highlights embossing powder, markers, dimensionals, paper snips

Inspiration Challenge

Hi! I had posted a new challenge on my MSN group, called an Inspiration Challenge. I chose an image I found online, and used it as an inspiration to create a new card. Here's the pic I used as inspiration:

Then I created this:

I had also gotten these new Halloween stamps from the $1 section at my local Target! I was shocked to find them, but happy as can be!! Then I drew in the spider web by hand since I don't have a web stamp. The total dimension of this card is 4.5"x4.5". Square was perfect for this card, and it will still fit in the regular invitation sized envies!

I hope you like it~ NOW, if you're not on my group and want to play in this challenge, just make something, post it on your blog and then come to this post and leave a comment with the URL of your creation so I can see what you did. This will be fun!! Now, get out there and stamp!!

Have a great day~

Sets: Linograph BG (SU! retired), Halloween set ($1 section at Target)

Colors: Black, Orchid Opulence, Only Orange

Other: Black SU! marker, 2way glue pen, dazzling diamonds glitter, dimensionals, scalloped edge punch, scalloped circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch.

The Winner of the Candy is....

Hi everyone! I am posting late in the day because my internet connection has been down most of the day (grr!), but now that it's back up it's time to announce the winner of the blog candy!

After my very scientific method of choosing (I asked my daughter to pick a number between 1 and 18 [the number of entries] and she didn't know why I was asking but humored me anyway and picked the number 8)....and the #8 entry is - STAMPIN' MEG!!

Congrats, Meg, please get me your email address so I can contact you for your address to send this stuff to!

Thanks to everyone else for entering!!

I will have more cards to post later in the week - I have some cards to make for sure, so I'll be back to regular programming soon! ; )

Word Verification

Hi friends - quick note this morning.... since I know so many people hate having to do that funky word verification thingy when making comments, I've decided to temporarily disable that on my blog. If I start getting spam, I'll probably put it back on, but for now, commenting on this blog should be one step easier! Thanks for visiting!

SCS192 and Card Challenge

I made this card yesterday for SCS Sketch challenge SC192, but it's more than that! A friend of mine had sent a bunch of us loose pieces from a card she never finished to see what we could come up with. She sent the base, a full Saffron layer already embossed and distressed, and the white piece with the flowers and canvas details on it. I cut the saffron piece to use it for the SC192 challenge, added the brocade blue piece, added glitter to the flower centers (you can see it better in person, it really adds something to the look), made a tab, matted it on a cocoa piece and added the ribbon. Whadya think?

Sets: Watercolor Garden II, Totally Tabs, Fancy Flexible Phrases, Canvas
Colors: Close to Cocoa, So Saffron, Brocade Blue
Other: Tab punch, wide chocolate grosgrain ribbon, 2 way glue pen, dazzling diamonds, dimensionals, paper piercing tool

WSCC5 - Amazing

Hi stampers! I have a color challenge posted on my MSN group to use at least 3 of 5 colors, and the 4 I chose were Chocolate Chip, Kraft, Bordering Blue, and Vanilla. This is a color combo I have been LOVING and have been wanting to work with, so today is the day!! lol Here's the card:

created by Gina Pacheco

images (c) Stampin' Up!

I think the flow of thiscard really works for me, and it uses lots of layers, which is also fun! I hope you like it, too~

Set: Amazing
Colors: Chocolate Chip, Bordering Blue, Kraft, Vanilla
Other: French blue and chocolate chip grosgrain ribbon, antique copper brads, blender pen, dimensionals

Celebrating 20K!!

Hi everyone! I logged on this morning to see that I've reached the 20k hit mark on my blog! WOO HOO!!!! I have to take a moment to thank you all for visiting me. I love to have visitors, and I read all the comments, and I do my best to visit all of you who do comment because I think it's a great thing to return the favor.... so for all of the visits, comments, and other support, I say THANK YOU to each and every one of you. NOW, I have decided to celebrate by offering a little blog candy for you!

Since we're all crafters, what better than to give you some items you can craft with?? Here's what you get:

1 - 8x10 frame (holds a 5x7 photo)

1 - full sheet of On Board Accents from SU!

2 - 6x9 board puzzles

1 - mini photo album (see my Christmas in July post for project idea!)

ALSO, I will include a card from this blog so you can see it in person. You never know what you're gonna get, either! Do you like surprises? I do!!

SO, here's how you can get in on the fun:

1. post a comment on this post. NO annonymous entries. One entry per person.

2. share this opportunity with those on your blog, your friends, whatever. Just spread the word! I'll check your blog out too (fun!). And if you're looking at the comment list, be sure to check out other people's blogs that post here. I'm sure everyone loves to have visitors!

3. Either include your email address on your entry or check back here to find out if you've won, and you can email me then. Then I send you the goodies!

So, does that sound like fun? COOL! I'll pick a winner on Tuesday, September 9, so keep coming back to find out if you've won!

Happy Birthday Smoosh

Hi Stampers!! I finally broke out my Spectrum pads to do a technique I haven't tried before - Cuttlebug Smoosh! When I took the photo, the super light band is not as glaring as it is in the photo, but the flash really made it bright. Anyway, I also used some scraps for this card, too . The white layer was a scrap, the pink sunburst (actually it's the flower from Amazing [SU! set], can you believe it?)! Another unique feature to this card is that it uses two stamp sets you wouldn't think to put together, and it also uses them in ways you wouldn't expect.

I used this glue pad to stamp the flower and apply dazzling diamonds glitter to make the cupcake really pop. I had purchased this Martha Stewart glue pad a couple of weeks ago, and I was initially excited about the fact that it came with a glue refill, and then I noticed that the glue pad was dry to begin with, and the glue is super wet.... it was odd. I have the Palette glue pad and like it much better, but I don't know where to get refills. Hmm. So anyone that knows, please post a comment and let me know, kay? lol Okay, okay, so here's the card:
Sets: Sock Monkey, Amazing
Colors: Pink Passion, Black
Other: Happy Birthday CB folder, glue pad, dazzling diamonds, black grosgrain, pink gingham ribbon (non SU!), Spectrum pad in Parfait, dimensionals, sponge brayer

5 Minute Card

First, I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday weekend in the USA! If you're outside the USA, I hope you're having a wonderful weekend anyway!!

So yesterday I had a baptism party to go to, and my husband announced to me that he needed me to make a card and I had about 10 minutes to do it! Men!! lol Anyway, so I had limited time and limited options because I had to make the card in Spanish and I only have one set with Spanish sentiments, and it's Saludos (SU! retired forever ago). SO, here's the quickie card. It's super simple, but it's the best I could come up with on such short notice: The baptism was for a boy who's about 2 years old, so it was an interesting challenge. I hope you like it!!

Sets: Inspirational Images (SU! Retired), Saludos (inside)

Colors: Bashful Blue, Barely Banana

Other: Swiss Dots embossing folder (CB), white ric rac (unknown brand), dimensionals