Tea Party Fun

Good morning!!! I finally had a chance to play in the Tea Pot Tuesday Challenge on Splitcoast

...it's been a while since I have been to a tea party. This week da Mudder wanted us to go back to school because she was afraid we couldn't count so we were to add numbers to our card but according to Mudder, "there's gotta be at least two of that sumthin' on your card! We wanna be challenged, how hard is it to count one thing? As a matter of fact, if you brought just one thing you had to come in the back door"!!
Papers from October Afternoon's Schoolhouse were used for the background layers and the children. The numbers are stickers and I have two clips and two ribbons....hope I followed all the rules!!

Recipe:Paper: October afternoon's Schoolhouse, Vanilla, Kiwi Kiss
Accessories: Stickers, Clips, Ribbon, Spiral Punch, Sewing Machine

This is also for the Paper Cupcakes There's Magic in the Air challenge to make something that reflects the 1920-1930 era and the Craft Your Days Away challenge to make something vintage.

Thanks for visiting today....stay cool and be happy!!!!

Hanging Around

Good morning everyone!! Can you believe this is the last weekend in June?? Where have the days gone?? I was kinda non productive today....that sounds better than lazy!!!!!! I had a fun day yesterday... did nothing but stamp...Whoohoo!!! I call that a real productive day...LOL!!! Anyway....The Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger picture was great inspiration!! I don't normally work with grays so this was a real stretch for me!!

I just love the wonkey layout in the picture and used it as inspiration for my card along with similar colored papers, distressing, ribbon tabs, and sewing. The adorable Lemur stamp from Rubbernecker was colored with copics, cutout, and popped up with foam dots. The coordinating sentiment was stamped on the patterned paper.

Recipe: Stamps: Rubbernecker Lemur stamp #SKU 569-16 and sentiment #SKU 568-16 Paper: White, Basic Gray, Stampin Up! dp, unknown dp Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Accessories: Sewing Machine, Ribbons

I made this card for the Inspiration Challenge yesterday on Splitcoast. Stef picked a great site called Sundance and when I saw the colors on this Mt. Timpanogos t-shirt, I thought about a winter wonderland!! I have been on a Christmas and winter card roll this week because it's been sooo hot!!!! The Stamp Oasis tree image from Rubbernecker called Snowy Night was stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa, colored with aqua pastels, and aqua pearls were added to the shining stars. The background Cosmo Cricket dp was distressed, sponged, and sewing was done around the edges. A felt snowflake, lace, stick pins, seam binding, button, and Baker's Twine finish it off.
Recipe: Stamps: Rubbernecker's Stamp Oasis Snowy Night #SKU: 1691 SO, Paper: Vanilla, Cosmo Cricket dp, Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Accessories: Stick Pins, Seam Binding, Button, Twine, Pearls, Felt Snowflake, Sewing Machine, Lace, Nestabilities

Thanks for stopping by tonight....now I'm off to visit a few of my favorite blogs!!

Wishin for Winter!!

Good morning everyone....hope you are having a wonderful weekend!!! I can't believe I have the whole day to myself....no cooking, no cleaning...just stamping all day...Whoohoo!!!! We are going to our favorite German restaruant tonight.....ooooh boy....can't wait!!! It's been so hot here that I almost hate to go outside...enough already with the 100 degree weather!!!! That's why I made a winter card yesterday for the Free 4 All challenge on Splitcoast...I thought it would cool me off a little...LOL!!! The adorable little snowman image was a gift from my sweet friend Carole who lives in the UK....sorry but I don't know the name of the stamp. He was colored with copics and the background striped paper (the challenge was to use stripes) was from Echo Park.

The snowflakes were punched from Marina Mist cardstock with Martha Stewart Punches and the pearls, sewing, ribbon, and button with twine finish it off.

This is for a few challenges:

1. Card Makin Mama's Challenge - red/white/blue
2. Stamp Something - red/white/blue
3. Meljen's designs - stripes or plaid
4. Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge Blog - red/white/blue
5. Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT Challenge Blog - use red somewhere on your project



Thanks for stopping by...have a great Saturday!!!!

Taylored Expressions June Customer Blast from the Past Blog Hop

Hello everyone and welcome to the Taylored Expressions' June Blast from the Past Customer Blog Hop!!!! You are going to find sooo much inspiration along the hop...each project will feature Taylored Expressions Stamps and products. The theme this month is Old Glory...I used the awesome inspiration sketch by Sankari Wegman and the adorable For the Love of Cupcakes set.

Now, you are probably asking yourself, "why is she using cupcakes for a 4th of July card"...well, that's an easy question to answer! If I were going to a 4th of July picnic, I would want red, white, and blue cupcakes........what better way to celebrate!!!!

The adorable cupcake image was colored with copics...sewing was done around the layers and Baker's Twine was wrapped around the bottom. The papers are scraps from Stampin Up! and the seam binding, star button, and twine finish it off.

This is also for PaperCrafts Color Challenge #6 to use red/white/blue/ and black and the Papercraft Star Challenge for a S.T.A.R recipe. My card includes: S for seam binding, star, and sewing, T for twine, A for alcohol markers (copics) or adhesive, and R for rick rack diecut trim.

Thanks for joining in on all the fun....I hope you enjoy the hop and find lots of inspiration!!!

Creative Belli Challenge #120

Welcome to another Creative Belli Challenge!! The challenge this two weeks is to make a card or project with things that start with a G!! You can use glitter, grass, glamour, gems, gauze, or make a giftcard holder, game card, or geometric design...what ever your little heart desires!!! Be sure to use something old and forgotten from your stash, too...the Belli Challenge is all about using your old stuff and forgotten treasures!!!

My card features the adorable Girlfriend stamp and sentiment from Woodware Stamps. The Girls were colored with copics, cutout, and popped up over the cloud and wave dp scraps and the kraft sand. The Gulls from the same set were stamped with Versafine Onyx Black and the Grass was made with a MFT's Die-namics. The castle, pelican, and the Grass stamp used on the kraft *sand* are from Rubbernecker's Kittie Kits #6 and #2 . To finish it off, the Girls were Glammed up a bit with Glitter .

This is also for a few other challenges:
1. Anything Goes Challenge Blog - here comes Summer
2. Bearly Mine Challenge - Summer is here
3. Sweet Stampin - things with wings (gulls and pelican)
4. Stamptacular Sunday Challenge - fun in the sun

Be sure to stop by the other Belli Girls blogs to see what they made for you today....you will find lots of awesome inspiration!!! If you upload a card to Splitcoast , PCP, Stamp TV or another online gallery be sure to add CBC120 in the keywords section.

Anne Harmon Jessica Stockmeyer Shelly Schmidt Maria Matter Mary Marsh Karen Wallace Joy Hadden Robin Parker Ceal Prichard

Thanks for stopping by...have a great day!!!

TLC330 Old World Look

Hello everyone....hope you had a wonderful weekend!!! It's my turn to host the TLC challenge on Splitcoast and my challenge to you is to make a card or project with the *Old World Look*

There are lots of techniques to age your paper...here are a few of them:

1. The easiest technique for me is to distress the paper with a distressing tool or use an old butter knife.
2. Sponge your project with distress inks...I like to use Vintage Photo. If you lay the paper down over a rough surface while sponging, you will get a textured look. You can also drag the ink pad over the paper for a really rustic look.
3. Use Walnut Ink Crystals and water. After mixing the crystals with water you can sponge it on, paint it on, or dip the paper in it.
4. You can do the same thing with tea or coffee. In fact, you can use a wet tea bag to rub over the paper or blot it on for a blotchy effect.
5. After sponging your project, stamp over the finished product with a script background stamp or a Weathered looking stamp...this is what I did to my sample.
6. Brayer on texture...ink up the brayer and spritz with water before applying to the paper.
7. Rub chalk over your image for a dusky, muted look or add it to the roughed edges.
8. Use sprays like Glimmer Mist or glazes...apply with a sponge for more texture.
9. Use lemon or lime juice to *burn* the edges of the project. Apply the juice to the paper with a sponge and heat with a heat gun.
10. You can also age something with sweetened condenced milk....apply it with a brush and heat with a heat gun...this looks really cool!!! I used it once on an owl image for the feathers.
11. Wrinkle your paper by misting it with water, wadding it up, and them smoothing it out. This works best on a finished project. Don't try to color an image after you have wrinkled the paper!! You can iron it a bit if it's too wrinkled and misting with a dark glaze or rinker and water mix will highlight the wrinkles.

My card features Rubbernecker's Flower Basket stamp #SKU 532-11...it was colored with Copics and sponged with Ranger Vintage Photo Distress Ink. It was then stamped with the Stampin Up's Weathered background stamp and Stampin Up's French Script stamp using Vintage Photo. A Nestabilities oval die was used to cut out an oval frame from a piece of Pink Paislee's Butterfly Garden dp and the Soft Suede matting. The frame was also sponged, distressed, and stamped with the Weathered background stamp. Pearls, seam binding, and a metal flower finish it off.

Thanks for visiting...hope you join us for this fun technique!!!

Happy Father's Day!!

Good morning everyone!!! Guess what.....I am grandchildless!!!! The last of the Grands went home yesterday afternoon and I am still recovering...LOL!!! I actually went to bed before 10:00 last night...I think my body was in shock!!! I finally got a couple of Father's Day cards finished...this one is for my Dad. He was in the Navy during WWII stationed at Pearl Harbor so I know he will love this nautical themed card. I used papers from Webster's Pages Yacht Club and the ship is the coordinating Unity Stamp called Celebrate. The large ship on the right was stamped on the dp, colored with copics, cutout, and popped up on foam dots. The anchor was punched out of the dp and the sentiment stamps were from Taylored Expressions Boys Will be Boys set. Brads, clip, and ribbon finish it off.

Recipe: Stamps: Unity's Celebrate, TE's Boys Will be Boys, Paper: White, Soft Suede, Chocolate Chip, Webster's Pages Yacht Club, Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Accessories: Copics, Brads, Clip, Ribbon, Round Punches

This card is for my fisherman husband...I actually made this card three years ago for a challenge and since I was pressed for time, I recycled it for Father's Day.....don't tell my sweet hubby!!! I just love this adorable little fisherman from Whipper Snapper...it was watercolored with reinkers on watercolor paper and the background was created with the Going My Way jumbo wheel from Stampin Up! The Father's Day sentiment is from Taylored Expression's Boys will be Boys set and the brads, piercing, and the little fish brad at the bottom finish it off.
Recipe: Stamps: Whipper Snapper, TE's Boys Will be Boys, Stampin Up Going My Way Jumbo Wheel, Paper: Cool Caribbean, Blue Bayou, Wild Wasabi, Watercolor Paper, Ink: Stazon Black, Reinkers: So Saffron, More Mustard, Blue Bayou, Creamy Caramel, Wild Wasabi, Regal Rose, Blush Blossom, Old Olive, Cool Caribbean, Accessories; Brads, Ribbon, Punches, Fish Brad

Most of my African Violets are in full bloom and I just had to share a couple of pictures...I grow my plants from leaves. At one time I had over 50 but have scaled down to about 7.

I have a burgundy violet that is sooo pretty but it's not blooming at this time. This deep purple one is my favorite!!

This is a light blue violet that I grew from a friend's plant. I have had this plant for almost 8 years.

Thanks for stopping by...I hope you have a wonderful day and can spend it with your special father/husband/son/brother/uncle/friend!!!

Vellum Poinsettia

Hello everyone....it's 2AM and all the Grands are sleeping...whoohoo!!! I only had 3 Grands this week but tomorrow we will have 2 more for the day....we are going to have a Wii dance contest and I bet you can guess who won't win...LOL!!!! By the weekend I should be down to only one granddaughter...we won't know how to act!!! Anyway....I wanted to upload this Christmas card before I went to bed. I made it for the Ways to Use It challenge on Splitcoast this morning. The challenge was to use vellum...... I love the soft look vellum brings to a card design!! The poinsettia from Waltzingmouse's Big Bloom Poinsettia set was first embossed on the kraft and then embossed on the vellum, cutout, and popped up. Pearls were added to the center and the black silk ribbon finishes it off. I'm not sure I like the blank space under the bow...I may have to add a leaf or something. It looks kinds naked...LOL!!!

Thanks for stopping by...have a great Friday!!!

Patchwork Birthday Wishes

Good morning everyone....hope you are all staying cool!!! It is sooo hot here that I think we could fry eggs on the sidewalk...LOL!!!! We don't have any rain in out forcast so I'm sure we will go into water rationing....I just hate to see the grass turn brown. I may have to buy some green spray paint...LOL!!! Anyway....

I made this card yesterday for the Technique Lover's Challenge on Splitcoast. Holly challenged us to use a patchwork on our card. I used papers from Pink Paislee's Butterfly Gardens and the Happy Birthday Square from Rubbernecker. Sewing was done around the blocks and Primas, seam binding, twine, lace, and a Spellbinder's die finish it off. This is also for the Shabby Tea Room's challenge to use pink, green and flowers.

Thanks for visiting today....hope you have a wonderful Tuesday!!!!

The Dream Team and Special Friends June Blog Hop!!

Hello everyone ...are you ready for some fun?? I am just thrilled to be part of the Dream Team and Special Guests Blog Hop for the Stampers Dream Store.....Whoohoo!!! What a privilege to be hopping with such fabulous stampers!!! Thanks, Michelle, for inviting me again to be part of such a fun event!!!!

My card features stamps from Alesa Baker's Home Sweet Nest set by Impression Obsession. The nest was stamped on the Bo Bunny Gabrielle dp and colored with Copics. The birds were also stamped on the Bo Bunny dp, lightly colored with Copics, cutout, and popped up with foam dots. Sewing was done around the background layers, and a Spellbinder's diecut, doily, lace, button, twine, and silk ribbon finish it off.



Here is the blog hop list. Be sure to leave a comment for each and every one of them when you visit their blog post today because there is hidden blog candy on one of the blogs!!! Check out all the goodies in the picture above!!!

Debbie Olson
Becca Feeken
Michelle Rodgers
Laurie Schmidlin
Amy Sheffer
Denise Marzec
Tosh Leyendekker
Mona Pendleton
Cindy Lawrence
Silke Ledlow
Arlene Cuevas
Charmaine Ikach
Mariana Grigsby
Lea Lawson
Joan Ervin
Teresa Kline
Jeanne Streiff
Kellie Fortin
Christina Fischer
Jo Thompson

Thanks for stopping by and have fun on the hop!!!

Whale of a Good Time!!!

Good morning everyone...hope you are having a wonderful weekend!!! I spent yesterday afternoon at the clinic having a cyst removed from my back...my post procedure instructions included not lifting anything over 10 pounds and not reaching or stretching for things so I don't pop the sutures sooooo....I couldn't unload or load the dishwasher or take clothes out of the washer to put in the dryer....ooooh, darn!!!! I wonder if 6 months will be long enough for everything to heal...LOL!!!! Ok, Ok...I won't milk this for toooo long!!! Anyway....

I was playing last night with the little Whale stamp and coordinating sentiment from Rubbernecker...the little whale was colored with copics, cutout, and attached with foam dots. The little boat is from RN's Kittie Kits Cause a Scene #6 and was also colored with copics. The waves were cut out with a wave die from The Cat's Pajamas and the cloud dies are Die-namics from My Favorite Things. This is for the Inspiration Challenge on Splitcoast. Stef picked out a great site for us to find inspiration....I chose the Cute Jumping Whales as my inspiration.
Recipe: Stamps: Rubbernecker Whale and sentiment, Rubbernecker's Kittie Kits Cause a Scene #6, Paper: Marina Mist, White, Real Red, Prism Baby Blue Light and Baby Blue Medium, Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Accessories: Baker's Twine, Cloud Dies, Wave Die, Copics

I used the same RN whale stamp and sentiment...it was stamped on Bo Bunny Timepiece dp and colored with copics. Different embossing folders were used for all the circles and the wave...a MFT's Die-namics was used for the scalloped edge, a wave die was used for the wave, and the button and ribbon finished it off.
Recipe: Stamps: Whale and sentiment from Rubbernecker Stamps, Paper: White, Prism Herbal Garden Light, Baby Blue Medium, Baby Blue Dark, and Candle Glow Medium, Bella Blvd Camped Out dp, Bo Bunny Timepiece dp, Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Accessories: Button, Ribbon, Nestabilities, Wave die, Embossing Folders, Scalloped Border Die-namics

My sweet granddaughters Autumn and Mackenzie made a couple of cards....they really love it when they have free reigh in my craft room!!!

Grandpa and Cole picked up more baby chicks yesterday.....these are Rhode Island Reds. The other chicks are half grown now and will graduate to the chicken coop soon. They are sooo cute at this age!!!!

Thanks for visiting....have a great weekend!!!!

The Skinny Girl Within

Good morning everyone....hope you are having a great Friday morning!!! We rented True Grit last night and had a movie night with popcorn and chocolate!! The best part of the movie was watching Matt Damon...he was sooo easy to look at!!! My granddaughters thought he was an old man....now I know I'm over the hill...LOL!!! Anyway....
I'm still playing with my new Rubbernecker Stamps. The Vintage Kids image called Abigale was stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa and colored with very pale Copics. She was then cutout and draped over the Spellbinders Fancy Tags diecut and the Rubbernecker sentiment. The background paper is from GCD Studios Ella Blue and sewing, pearl flourish, seam binding and lace finish it off.

This is for a few challenges:
1. The Hotspot - dies
2. AI Factory - use something new (my new rubbah!!)
3. Crafts and Me Challenges - stamp something
4. Bunny Zoe's Crafts - lace
5. Sassy Studio Designs - stitching

Thanks for visiting...have a great Friday!!!

More New Rubbah!!

Good morning everyone....I was down to 3 Grands yesterday until my son called. He wanted to take his wife out on a date last night so he brought his 3 boys over. Talk about a wild household with 6 kiddos!! The 18 month old was just too quick for this old grandma...he scampered up on the chairs and table within seconds and then tried to jump off....We decided next time we would put some weights in the diaper...LOL!!! Anyway....It's time for another Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger.

I have been playing with my new Rubbernecker rubbah..... I just love the Vintage Kids stamps!!!

This one is called Jesse...he was stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa, lightly colored with Copics, and sponged with Crumb Cake. The paper inside the Spellbinders Frame is Bo Bunny's Butterfly Garden and the ribbons, lace, seam binding, and brad finish it off.

Recipe: Stamps: Rubbernecker Jesse, Paper: Vanilla, Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Pure Luxury Dark Chocolate, Bo Bunny Butterfly Garden, Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Crumb Cake, Accessories: Ribbon, Spellbinders/Nestabilities dies, Copics, Seam binding, Pearl Brad

Thanks for stopping by ...hope you have a super FABULOUS day!!!

Creative Belli Challenge #119

Welcome to another Creative Belli Challenge!! The challenge this two weeks is to make a card or project with a branch - you can use a branch stamp, real branch, punched branch, branch on patterned paper, or draw one yourself!! Be sure to use something old and forgotten from your stash, too...the Belli Challenge is all about using your old stuff and forgotten treasures!!!

My branch is from Taylored Expressions Branching Out set....all the stamps were stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black and colored with Copics. The birdhouse and birds were all stamped on scrap white cardstock, colored, cutout, and attached with foam dots. The designer papers were from Memory Box's Brioche collection and a MFT's Die-namics was used for the scallops. Sewing around the background layers, Baker's Twine, and a button finish it off.

This was also for a few other challenges:
1. A Spoon Full of Sugar - here comes summer
2. Creative Card Crew - wings
3. Ooh La La Creations - Happy Birthday
4. Charisma Cardz Challenges - something that flies
5. Pile it On - Summer Heaven

Be sure to stop by the other Belli Girls blogs to see what they made for you today....you will find lots of awesome inspiration!!! If you upload a card to Splitcoast , PCP, Stamp TV or another online gallery be sure to add CBC119 in the keywords section.

Anne Harmon Jessica Stockmeyer Shelly Schmidt Maria Matter Mary Marsh Karen Wallace Joy Hadden Robin Parker


Thanks for visiting....have a great day!!!

Sweet Little Tilda

Good morning everyone....I am still alive and kicking ...we are down to 4 Grands now after one went home last night. We all went to the water park yesterday and they were so worn out last night that they went to bed before 11:00 PM which is a miracle!!! The house is quiet this morning...the quiet before the storm...LOL!!! Anyway....

I made this card Sunday for the Featured Stamper Challenge on Splitcoast. My sweet friend, Carole (Carole of Brum) , who lives across the pond in England sent me the prettiest card and some images...this adorable Tilda was one of them. Carole is such a FABULOUS artist...her coloring is absolutely gorgeous...sure wish a little of her talent would rub off on me!!! My coloring isn't that great but I did have fun creating this card!! The Featured Stamper was Taylor (STAGCCVA).
I chose to case her adorable Going Swimming card. I kept the same basic layout, colors, and papers but changed the stamp, ribbon, and added the lace. The image was colored with Copics and cut out using the out of the box technique (the flower was cutout and placed outside the Nestabilities before the image was cut out). The papers are from Cosmo Cricket's Salt Air and the seam binding, button, and twine finish it off.

Thanks for stopping by...have a great day!!!

TLC328 Decorate the Envie

Hello everyone!!! Boy, have I had a wild weekend...5 of my grands stayed with me while Grandpa was at a fishing tournament in East Texas...I'm not sure that I am seeing straight tonight but that's ok!! My house may never be the same...LOL!!! We have the Wii set up in the first guest room and the two little boys have only come out to be fed and to feed the turtle. Cole couldn't be parted from his pet turtle. In fact, it stayed with me in my bedroom last night...I think we bonded...LOL!!!!! Anyway....

It is my turn to host this weeks TLC challenge on Splitcoast. I found my inspiration on my sweet friend Denise's blog...she colored this adorable envelope and I absolutely loved it!!! Soooo, the challenge this week is to color a scene on an envelope or create a design on the envelope to match a card you have already made....let's make it easy on ourselves...LOL!!

I created a collage effect on the kraft envie to match the card I made for a swap I went to a couple of weeks ago. The images from Rubbernecker's Paris 1908 set were stamped with Memento's Desert Sand and Rich Cocoa. The to and from were hand written with an artists pen.

This is just tooo easy and fun....join us if you can!!! Thanks for stopping by!!

Tuesday Trigger on Friday

Good morning everyone!! It's been a while since I've done a Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger challenge but when I saw this gorgeous picture, I knew I had to get inky!! I had a little trouble matching the blue....Night of Navy was too dark and Pacific Point was too turquoise.

I finally settled on Not Quite Navy and a new background stamp from Rubbernecker called Toile Panel #SKU:527. The sentiment is from RN's Party Time set #SKU:439 and it was layered on the Fancy tags Nestabilities diecut. The silk bow and flowers finish it off.

Thanks for visiting!! I am headed to the shower so I can get ready for the last of the end of the year programs for my Grands....the kids are all so happy that school is out but I can't say the same thing for the Moms and Dads...LOL!!! Have a great day!!!

New Rubbah!!

Good morning everyone....I got a whole bag full of new rubber yesterday from Mr. Rubbernecker and I have been inky ever since!!! I just love the sweet little vintage girls...this one is called Shirley. She was stamped with Crumb Cake onto vanilla cardstock and lightly colored with copics. The edges of the image were sponged with Creamy Caramel and Crumb Cake while it was still in the Nesties. I used the sketch from Card Positioning Systems and papers from Pink Paislee's Butterfly Gardens. Distressing, sewing, pearls, seam binding, ball fringe, twine, and a button give it a shabby vintage look.

This is also for a few other challenges:

1. ABC challenge - V for variety - use 3 different embellishments. I used a button, pearls, and fibers.

2. A Spoon Full of Sugar - flower power

3. Divas by Design - florals
4. Crafty Hos' Challenge Blog - twine

Thanks for visiting....hope you have a very inky day!!!