Benzi Stampz

Pop-Up Card

2012-02-13T01:00:00.002-06:00

This is my first pop-up card and it was fun. The tutorial can be found here on Splitcoaststampers if you would like to make one. It really was easy. I'm using a couple of the stamp sets that will be released tomorrow (Tuesday) at Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company. The stamp set on the outside of the card is Dogwood Blossoms and the inside image/sentiment is Blessings. The DT will be having a blog hop starting Tuesday and going through Friday showing these and other sets that will be released. Hope you'll hop along with us.

My card is for the FOSTV challenge at Home of Speedy TV and it is to decorate the inside of your card. I used one of the pretty images from Blessings and cut out only the rabbit's head and propped on the sentiment. Love his long, floppy ears. I'll be showcasing that complete image later in the week.

A little tip: To get the purple nestabilitie the size I wanted, I put down the nestie and traced the outer edge and then cut out with scissors. My next nestabilitie size would have left a larger rim than I wanted. That is a litte trick I learned from Lois aka Clownmom, one of the MFP team members.

Recipe:
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company-Dogwood Blossoms and Blessings
Paper: Mark's Finest Papers-White Storm Premium and Garnet cardstock
Accessories: Marianne Designs Designables Swirls cutting and embossing folder, Spelllbinders Labels 4, pink pearls, Copics

Featured Stamper

2012-02-12T10:16:00.004-06:00

I know, I know, I've made a card just about every day this week. But, today the Featured Stamper on Splitcoaststampers is a DT member with me on a couple of teams and I just had to case one of her cards. It is Kathy aka Airborne. I cased this gorgeous card of Kathy's. Of course, I changed it up a bit.

I'm using a stamp from my sis again. Isn't she nice to gift me with crafting items? The image is LaBlanche Stamps and is called Wild Flowers. I decided I would leave the image as it except to color the flowers toward the bottom. Added some black cardstock strips and pearls and I'm finished. I think this card can be used for several occasions.

Paper is Stampin'Up! So Saffron, black scraps, and PTI white cardstock

I love the challenge at Stampalot Challenge this week. It is In the Garden. I think that is what my card says. I think they are looking forward to Spring and Summer and so am I, therefore, I'm entering their challenge.

I'm also entering this wonderful challenge, Sweet Stampin'. The challenge is do a CAS card and you must stamp something. I've used a LaBlanche Stamp image called Wild Flowers.

MFP Sneak Peek

2012-02-10T14:06:00.009-06:00

I really love this big ol' bear and he makes awesome, masculine cards... don't you think? Of course, it can be used for any occasion you prefer. My card is made to give a sneak peek of one of the sets being released next Tuesday at Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company. It is called North American Woods. The set has some great images and sentiments. The blog hop starts next Tuesday and you'll be seeing the complete release. Hope you'll join us.

I colored, cut out, and popped my image. Then, I sponged around the image for a sunny look. I think he is coming out early morning looking for food. That's my take on it, anyway. :-)

I want to enter my card into these challenges:
Hotshot Craft blog challenge #4 this week which is One For the Boys-any project male related

Crafty Ribbons Challenge #12- One for the Men or Boys

Celebrate the Occasion- #49-Anything Goes Birthday

Recipe:
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company-North American Woods
Paper: MFP-Old World Gold, Premium Heavy White, and Licorice Whips cardstock, dp is BoBunny Zoology Collection
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black for stamping, sponging is Memento Dandelion, Cantaloupe, and Tangelo
Accessories: Copics, EK Success Victorian corner punch, Cheery Lynn Designs fanciful flourish

Celebrate

2012-02-09T17:04:00.003-06:00

Another queen has been crowned on Splitcoaststampers. It is Jennifer G. Taylor aka JenMarie. I have cased this card of Jen's. Her image is a truffle tree! Now, who wouldn't want that growing in their yard? Yummmmmm

I went CAS and used a Gina K. Designs image called Celebrate in Style. It was a 'happy' from my sis. She is always giving me something crafty. How super is that? I used black and white and only one tiny rhinestone for embellishment. That's it!!!

Swirls, Pearls, and Flourishes

2012-02-08T23:00:00.002-06:00

Shirley at CCEE Stampers gave the challenge this week to make a card using a favorite sketch and add some brads. I love this sketch and it's from a sketch challenge (349) given by Rox71 on Splitcoaststampers. I've used it before and knew it was the one for this card.

We would love for you to join our challenge this week and show us your favorite sketch.

Recipe:
Stamps: Heartfelt Creations-Vintage Wildflower, Stampin'Up! Well Scripted (sentiment)
Paper: Stampin'Up! Cherry Cobbler and Baha Breeze, Bohemia 2-Bliss-Friends Red Brocade Paper, Deja Views-Sweet Romance (grey with white floral flocked)
Accessories: Copics, pearl brad, blue pearl swirl, Spellbinders Shapeabilities Foliage die, Fiskars cameo appearance-extra lg squeeze punch (sentiment tag), Cheery Lynn Designs Lace Rose and Flourishes

Award

2012-02-08T19:00:00.000-06:00

Bernie at Bernie's Craft Closet honored me with this award. Bernie is such a sweet lady and funny, too.
She told a story recently about how she was about to die cut something, the die just disappeared , she searched forever to find it...never did. Many hours later, she went the dinner table and hubby told her she had been wearing something on her sleeve all day and he was curious to know what it was....the DIE!! Except, her complete story was much funnier. She cracks me up.

The idea of the award is that it be given to bloggers with less than 200 followers in the hope that it will bring them new friends and followers.

It has very simple rules and they are as follows:

1 Show your appreciation of the award by thanking the person who awarded you and link back to their blog.
2 Reveal your five choices for the award and let them know.
3 Post the award on your blog.
4 Bask in the love from the most supportive people on the blog sphere - other bloggers.
5 Finally and best of all - have fun and spread the love.

I so appreciate this award from Bernie and hope she doesn't mind that I handle it this way as I don't like choosing bloggers to give awards to....don't want to leave anyone out. So, I'll just say to each person that visits my blog, consider yourself deserving (because you are) and pick up this award if you like because you all are fantastic. Is that o.k., Bernie? :-)

Ready for Dogwoods

2012-02-08T10:28:00.005-06:00

I know I'm ready for the dogwoods to bloom. I love every color of dogwood, lt. pink, dk pink, white...you name it. And, they are such a beautiful sign of Spring and Easter. Can't wait!

I'm using soon-to-be-released stamp sets from Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company. The sets are Dogwood Blossoms and for the sentiment a set called Blessings. The stamp sets will be released next week and the blog hop starts Tuesday. Hope you'll hop along with us.

I colored, cut out, and placed the dogwood on my folder.

Recipe:
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company-Dogwood Blossoms and a set called Blessings(sentiment)
Paper: MFP premium heavy white cardstock
Accessories: Marianne Design-Swirls cutting and embossing folder, Martha Stewart Flower Patch border punch, Cuttlebug textile and swiss dots embossing folders, pearls, Copics, corner rounder

A Simple Valentine

2012-02-06T01:00:00.004-06:00

It's not much more than a week until Valentine's Day so it is time to buckle down and get those cards made.
The Friends of Speedy TV (FOSTV) challenge #6 found at Home of Speedy TV is to make a Valentine card. I'm using a Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company stamp set called Love Remains and the paper from the same company is Cherry Slush, Licorice Whips, and Premium Heavy White.

I thought I would leave my rose without color and just put down some Stickles (star dust) for sparkle.. I used my Martha Stewart scoring board to score and added a ribbon. That's it...a CAS card!

We would love to have you join us for this challenge.

Hearts for Him

2012-02-03T06:41:00.008-06:00

I think this will be my hubby's valentine. I've made several but they were too feminine. I guess a woodland branch will be masculine enough and I really do like this one. I was glad to see it go up on Facebook when I posted it to SCS yesterday afternoon. That is always nice.

My card took about 3-4 minutes(love that) to make and honors the new Queen for the Day on Splitcoaststampers. The Queen is Terri aka Brat Cards and here is the card I loosely cased. I loved her crackled bg but didn't think it would fit with my long branch. This Woodland Branch by Memory Box may be one of my favorite dies at the moment and can see I will use it a lot. The punch is Martha Stewart and wish I could find it online and give it a name. For some reason, I didn't label it as I always do.

The stamp I'm using for the sentiment is from Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company and the set is Love Remains. I really love the font.

Challenges:
Pals Paper Arts-Just add any red
Little Red Wagon #118 wants to see Valentine's Day or Love in their challenge so I'm providing both.
Delightful Challenges-Use punches and dies---my branch is a Memory Box die (woodland branch) and the hearts are a Martha Stewart punch
DYSU Challenge Blog #57-Anything Goes

CCEE Stampers Need a Snowman

2012-02-01T23:00:00.005-06:00

Does anyone have enough snow to make a snowman this winter? I'm hearing very little about snow and we're certainly having warmer temps this winter. Suits me! I sure wouldn't mind having one big snow, though. How likely is that? Not very here in the deep south, although we had a good one last year. That could very well be it for another 6-7 years. :-(

Shirley challenged the CCEE Stampers this week to make a card with a snowman and add some scallops. I have been wanting to use my Marianne Designs Creatables Decorative Tags that I got for Christmas so this was my chance. I used a snowman stamp set my sister gave me. It is Crafter's Companion-The Snowman. I just love him. I like my snowmen with roundish noses more than carrot noses.

I also wanted to honor a Featured Stamper on SCS with a cased card. It is Holstein and here is her card. Yes, I know she was FS 1/15. That's how far behind I am.

Hope you'll check out the CCEE Stampers this week and play along with our challenge.

Recipe:
2/03/2012--Edit: For the person asking about this stamp, my sis got it from a UK website. Maybe it was crafting.co.uk
If you will google Crafter's Companion The Snowman stamp set, you will find some sites that have it, ebay included. Hope this helps. I tried to find a way to get in touch and couldn't.

Stamps: Crafter's Companion-The Snowman
Paper: PTI white cardstock, unknown double-sided dp
Ink: Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Martha Stewart polar stamp and punch, blue pearls, stardust stickles, Marianne Designs Creatables Decorative Tags, scallop punch for sentiment (cut), Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder

Mind Your Manners

2012-02-01T06:05:00.012-06:00

This card serves several purposes. One of the reasons is to honor Shirley aka wannabcre8tive as Featured Stamper on Splitcoaststampers. Some of you know her as Shirt. Shirley and I are on a DT over at CCEE Stampers and I happen to know she has a wonderful gallery of cards to case.

I'm also entering this card into the Splitcoaststampers Dirty Dozen's Monthly Theme challenge which is Mind Your Manners..all things please, thank you, I'm sorry. What a splendid theme.

I made the flower using a Spellbinders Blossom Two die cut. I used some fairly thin designer paper and it kind of looks like tissue, although thicker.

I'm also entering my card into the trulymadly Crafty Challenges-Anything Goes
Another wonderful challenge I'm entering is Divas by Design-Anything Goes
Die Cuttin' Divas Weekly Challenge Blog says Anything Goes this week (die cuts used shown just below in my recipe-under accessories)

Recipe:
Stamps: Flourishes-With Gratitude (sentiment)
Paper: PTI white cardstock, Stampin'Up! Perfect Plum, unknown dp for flower
Accessories: Spellbinders Shapeabilities Fancy Tags Two, Blossom Two, and Shapeabilities Foliage, Cheery Lynn Designs Victorian Romance Flourish die, Marianne Creatables Forest Branch, pearl from Hobby Lobby

Color Blocking and Honoring Kim

2012-01-30T09:01:00.003-06:00

Another post for today as I am trying to catch up on some things on Splitcoaststampers. I wanted to honor Kim Hahn aka Luv Flowers as Featured Stamper a couple weeks ago. I cased this card of hers.
The card also fit a couple of CAS challenges. One is a photo called Summer Gold which is a White Mountain Puzzle...I did the colors, not the scene. The other is a sketch and is using color blocking.
I blocked my colors by just placing a Spellbinders classic scallop nestabilitie on the image in different areas and sponging inside.

I'm using a Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company stamp set called Love Remains. The paper is also from Mark's Finest Papers and is Flecked Dirt and Premium Heavy White.

I'm also joining challenge #22 at For Your Inspiration and am inspired by the colors in this gorgeous photo, although I must say my colors are nearly as vivid.

I also want to enter the Simon Says Stamp Challenge-Anything Goes
Ink Used: Memento Rich Cocoa, Dandelion, Desert Sand, and New Sprout

FOSTV-Sentiment Ony

2012-01-30T01:00:00.003-06:00

It's Monday and that means it is time for another Friends of Speedy TV challenge. It can be found at Home of Speedy TV. The challenge this week is a sentiment only card. I'm doing another easy peasy and used a Cheery Lynn Designs die cut called lace rose and flourishes die. I just love it and have found many ways to use it. I posted this card using it a different way if you would like to see. The sentiment is from Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company and is the You Are Cherished set. The Atlantic Ocean Spray card stock is also from MFP.

Hope you'll join our challenge this week.

QFTD.....Again

2012-01-26T21:45:00.000-06:00

I know, I know, I've uploaded a zillion cards this week...third one today. That's probably a record for me. I think this will be it until Sunday or Monday. I have gotten behind and playing catch up.

The Queen for the Day on Splitcoaststampers is Toni aka ravengirl. She makes awesome cards and I'm on a DT with her so I couldn't just sit by and not case one of her cards, right? :-) A person can always find a reason to make a card.

This card was easy peasy. I punched my hearts with a Martha Stewart heart punch and I don't know the name. I'll post if I can find it. The sentiment is Stampin'Up! Whimsical Words and the paper is PTI white cardstock and Paper Pizazz green gingham.

Hope everyone has a spectacular weekend AND some good weather.

Late Post for the Queen

2012-01-26T16:59:00.001-06:00

I'm back with another post for today. Last Friday, Lisa Lara was named Queen for the Day on Splitcoaststampers. I'm dragging in late with a card to honor her. She has such a fun an creative gallery and I chose this one to case.

I made my flower with a Spellbinders Blossom Two die and ran my needle and thread up the middle of the ribbon to scrunch it so I would have a stem. Looking at the card, I wish I had made my stem longer for the large blossom. Anyway, added the sentiment and that's it.

Recipe:
Stamp: Flourishes Sweet Nature
Paper: PTI white cardstock, Stampin'Up! Melon Mambo
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: studiog printed buttons, Spellbinders Blossom Two die, Stampin'Up! Melon Mambo ribbon

CCEE Stampers-Happy News

2012-01-25T23:00:00.007-06:00

Before I tell you about my card, I want to announce that I've been asked to join a fun and very talented group of ladies at CCEE Stampers ( Cheers & Challenges Eclectic Ensemble). I know I'll enjoy working with this wonderful group and am anxious to get started.

Frances Byrne, our 'downunder' member, let us know today is Australia Day and challenged us to do an Aussie related card. Some of the options she gave us are to use the colors green and gold, create a beach scene as Aussies love their beaches, Australian animals, thongs (the kind you wear on your feet), etc.

As you can see, I went with the colors green and gold and made a CAS card. I am using a Cheery Lynn Designs lace rose and flourish die. I thought at 9 1/2" long, the die would be too much for a card but I've found several ways to use it. On this card, I have cut two ends and wrapped them around the corner and added a Prima. If I had not cut it, there would be a beautiful rose at the end. The sentiment is from Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company and is included in the set, Happy Pansies.

Hope you'll check out the cards from the rest of the team and join us for our Aussie challenge found here.

Tuesday Throwdown & A Farewell

2012-01-24T02:00:00.002-06:00

It's time for another challenge at Tuesday Throwdown. First, I have news that I am bidding farewell to the girls at Tuesday Throwdown. I so appreciate that these girls asked me to join them on their team last June. It has been fun getting to know them. I am on the Friends of Speedy TV blog team and then was asked to join the Sr. Design Team (Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company) and it will require a large chunk of my time. Also, I'll be working with another team really soon but it won't be as time consuming as even this one, so things will work out easier for me. Thank you so much TT team for your friendship while I was working with you and I wish you continued success with your blog challenge.

The theme this week at Tuesday Throwdown, challenge 82, is to use charms. I have this sweet bird charm sent to me from a good friend on SCS, Pam. The images were furnished to the team this week by Bugaboo Digi Stamps. I used an image called Flower Tags. Several die cuts were used on my card which are mentioned in the recipe below. Get out your charms and come join us!

Recipe:
Stamps: Bugaboo Digi Stamps-Flower Tags
Paper: PTI white cardstock, DCWV The Mariposa stack
Accessories: Spellbinders Shapeabilities Pendants (corner), Cheery Lynn Designs A2 Frame die small window, Spellbinders Shapeabilities Fancy Tags Two, bird charm, Celebrate It! ribbon, Copics

FOSTV-Happy Birthday

2012-01-23T01:00:00.006-06:00

Another weekend gone and I must say it was no fun. We're having work done in our house and the upstairs is completely destroyed with furniture and all kinds of things piled in all rooms. I can hardly get into my craft room. That is so maddening and to think of all I have to do when it is over....dust must be knee deep already. Ugh!

Then, last night the tornado siren sounded, as we expected, and up from the bed we came. That is rather an odd occurence for January...guess it has been too warm this winter and back and forth with cold and warm. We just have a lot of unstable air. Hope that's it until Spring when we know there will be plenty of tornado activity.

On to more pleasant things....my card was made for the FOSTV (Friends of Speedy TV) challenge #4 and the challenge is to make a birthday card. I use more of those than any other kind so I have another one for my stash. Sorry, Marisa...inside joke. :-) She'll understand. Happy Birthday, Marisa!! I know you'll see this.

My image is from Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company and is called Pucker Up. The sentiment is also a MFP mini stamp set called All About Love. I used a Heartfelt Creations layered scallop posy die cut and a Memory Box Amira Flourish die. The button is studiog printed buttons. I colored the image with Copics, cut out, and popped on. The designer paper is from a local scrapbook store and has no name listed.

You can find the challenge at Home of Speedy TV. Hope to see you there.

MFP, A Heinrich Company-Jan. Blog Hop Day #4

2012-01-20T02:00:00.007-06:00

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's January Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Love Remains Featured January 17
Cowgirls Rule Featured January 18
Sending Happy Thoughts Featured January 19
You Are Cherished Featured January 20

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!)We will announce all four winners on January 21, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win!) The winners will be chosen at 11PM EST on Friday January 20, 2012.

Here is my card for You Are Cherished.

My embossing folder is Cuttlebug Victoria. I stamped my image on a Spellbinders circle, scalloped nestabilitie and colored with Copics. The tag for the sentiment is Martha Stewart. I stamped the two word sentiment in the set, but separated the words. The pretty heart hat pins are from Mark's Finest Papers and can be found here. The ribbon is Offray and the heart button is from Jo Ann Stores. This is the last day of the hop and we sure hope you will join us.

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary
Dawn M.
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Harriet
Kathy
Silvia
Brenda
Mark's Finest Papers

MFP, A Heinrich Company-Jan. Blog Hop Day #3

2012-01-19T02:00:00.005-06:00

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's January Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Love Remains Featured January 17
Cowgirls Rule Featured January 18
Sending Happy Thoughts Featured January 19
You Are Cherished Featured January 20

I love the big 'hello' in this stamp set. This was a really fun card to make. The postal images are colored with Copics and I added a Martha Stewart punched, classic butterfly to connect them. My big button is chipboard. Now, it is time to hop along with us...hope you will.

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary
Dawn M.
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Harriet
Kathy
Silvia
Brenda
Mark's Finest Papers

MFP, A Heinrich Company-Jan. Blog Hop Day #2

2012-01-18T02:00:00.005-06:00

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's January Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Love Remains Featured January 17
Cowgirls Rule Featured January 18
Sending Happy Thoughts Featured January 19
You Are Cherished Featured January 20

What a fun stamp set! I stamped three of the images from this set, colored with Copics, cut out and popped up two of them on my Spellbinders long rectangle, scalloped die. Then, added the hat at the bottom. I used a Cheery Lynn Designs fanciful flourish and big, felt flower I found in the craft section at Michael's. The cardstock is MFP aged sunflower, mossy sage, and old world. Designer paper is from The Mariposa Stack. Hope you'll hop along with us.

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary
Dawn M.
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Harriet
Kathy
Silvia
Brenda
Mark's Finest Papers

MFP, A Heinrich Company Jan. Blog Hop - Day #1

2012-01-17T02:00:00.011-06:00

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's January Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Love Remains Featured January 17
Cowgirls Rule Featured January 18
Sending Happy Thoughts Featured January 19
You Are Cherished Featured January 20

I stamped my image and sentiment on a Spellbinders Labels 4 die and colored with Copics. Underneath is a punch around the page panel from Martha Stewart called eyelet lace. I added the pink tulle and a heart button from Jo Ann Stores. I'm using my favorite embossing folder from Cuttlebug called Textile. Hope you'll come along and hop with us.

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary
Dawn M.
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Harriet
Kathy
Silvia
Brenda
Mark's Finest Papers

Tuesday Throwdown-Neutrals

2012-01-17T01:00:00.002-06:00

It's time for the Tuesday Throwdown challenge #81 and the theme is 'neutrals'. My image provided by Stitchy Bear Digital Stamps is called Flowers All Over. Because it is a silhouette, I went with white, black, and gray colors. I think it makes a pretty, feminine, birthday card or could be used for many occasions. I did her big hat out of the box. I don't know about you but I love the hats ladies used to wear.
Hope you'll join us this week.

Recipe:
Stamps:-Digital image by Stitchy Bear Digital Stamps-Flowers All Over
Paper: PTI Stamper's Select white cardstock, Best Occasions Mixed Media Pack for dp
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and London Fog (sponging)
Accessories: gemstone embellishment from Michael's, Spellbinders Shapeabilities Fleur di lis, Spellbinders oval nestabilitie

I Need a Squeeze-FOSTV

2012-01-16T01:00:00.001-06:00

Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy...that's what this card happens to be. It was really easy and I love it as a CAS card. Of course, you can see where the Lemon Squeezy came about.

My card was made for the Friends of Speedy TV challenge #3 to use colored pencils only. Geez, it had been a while since I got mine out, and that would be since I started using Copics. So, I reached for my PrismaColor watercolor pencils and some watercolor paper and discovered once again how much fun it is to use them.

My stamp is from the Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company set called Pucker Up! I'm using a Cheery Lynn Designs die called Dainty Dutch Deco Frame and I really love it. It has a center piece which I didn't use on this card. I love the intricate details on this die.
My recipe is listed below. Hope you'll join our challenge this week. It can be found at Home of Speedy TV.

Recipe:
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company-Pucker Up
Paper: MFP, A Heinrich Company-Atlantic Ocean Spray cardstock, white cs, Canson watercolor paper 140 #
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Cheery Lynn Designs-Dainty Dtuch Deco Frame die, silver brads

SCS Queen for the Day

2012-01-12T21:38:00.001-06:00

My sister gave me this Sarah Kay card kit a while ago. I colored the image and put it aside until just the right time. Well, the time has arrived. The Queen for the Day on Splitcoaststampers is Judy aka jaydekay. She has a wonderful gallery and I chose to case this card.

All I had to do was color the image and cut it out with a Spellbinders oval nestabilitie. The papers, sentiment, and twine were all included. THANKS, SIS! That made it easy peasy.

I'm entering my card into the Simon Says Stamp Blog Challenge-Spots &/or Stripes

Guess what? It snowed a few snowflakes here in north Alabama today. We got only a dusting but it is pretty when it falls. Maybe later we'll get something to talk about...or won't. :-)

SCS Featured Stamper

2012-01-12T08:56:00.001-06:00

This week my blogging friend and pal (who happens to live fairly close to me) was chosen on Splitcoaststampers as the Featured Stamper. I just had to case one of her cards to honor her. This is the beautiful card I chose. You may want to check out her blog, too.

Of course, I changed a few things. The image is from a soon-to-be-released set from Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company called Love Remains. You'll want to check all the new sets being released next week during our blog hop.

I changed the top of Pam's card by using a Cheery Lynn Designs Lace and Rose Flourish (cut apart because of the length) and used a Cheery Lynn Designs exotic butterfly small. After the butterfly was cut, I went over it with a gold leaf pen. Sorry, I don't know the name of the Sizzix embossing folder.

Pam, I sure hope you're having fun this week seeing all the cards we crafters have cased in your honor. It is so deserved.

Bring on the Love and Hearts

2012-01-11T07:18:00.002-06:00

The Splitcoast #367 sketch challenge was a good one today and I'm using that sketch to make my card which features a soon-to-be-released stamp set from Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company called 'You Are Cherished'.
The set has some wonderful images and sentiments with it. I decided to do the big heart with the lovely pansies inside. I colored with Copics and added some buttons from my Marianne Creatables-Tag and Buttons die cut. I really like it because you can make the buttons any color and design you choose. The punch is Martha Stewart Flower Patch edge.

Challenges entered:
Cupake Craft Challenges #145-Something New ( My something new is the Marianne Creatables-Tag and Button die)
Stamp and Create- January Monthly Challenge-Anything Goes
Fashionable Stamping Challenges #12-Anything Goes Using New Stash-my new is Marianne Creatables Tag and Button die)

Baby, It's Cold Outside---Tuesday Throwdown

2012-01-10T02:00:00.004-06:00

This week, the Tuesday Throwdown challenge #80 has a theme called 'Baby, It's Cold Outside'. We are being sponsored this week by Catherine Pooler, Stampin'Up! Demo.

I made my base card with Stampin'Up! Bermuda Bay cardstock (love that color) and used my snowman from Flourishes Warm Winter Wishes set. I made some hills of snow with my cardstock and used my Sakura Gelly Roll pen for some sparkle. Colored my snowman with Copics and added a few falling snowflakes. This was a very easy card to make. Hope you'll join our challenge this week.

Recipe:
Stamps-Flourishes Warm Winter Wishes
Paper: Stampin'Up! Bermuda Bay, PTI white cardstock
Ink: Memento Tuxedo black
Accessories: Sakura Gelly Roll pen, Martha Stewart Aspen snowflake punch (remnants for snowflakes)

FOSTV Challenge-Thank You

2012-01-09T01:00:00.002-06:00

Welcome this Monday morning. My day is probably going to be full of rain but I hope my card looks like a day of sunshine. I love this crocus (and can't wait to see them pop out of the ground) from Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company stamp set called Winter Crocus. This card was made for the Friends of Speedy TV challenge #2 to make a 'thank you' card over at Home of Speedy TV. Hope you'll come along and join us.

Yes, my Cheery Lynn Designs Polynesian Sails Oval is a new Christmas present and I really love the lacy look it has. My butterfly, from the same company, is the Exotic Butterfly (small). The crocus is colored with Copics and I sponged with Memento Summer Sky while still in the die. It is cut out with the Spellbinders scallop rectangle die. Added my thank you sentiment (computer generated) using the Spellbinders nested pennants die and a piece of the Cheery Lynn fanciful flourish is peeking out behind it. I added a few pearls and it is all finished.

Challenges entered:
Fashionable Stamping Challenges #12-Use something new from your stash (I'm using my new Cheery Lynn Designs Polynesian Sails Oval die cut)
Crazy 4 Challenges #118-New toys or techniques (new toy is Cheery Lynn Designs Polynesian Sails Oval die cut)
Card Makin' Mamas-New Year card or Use Something New ) My new is the Cheery Lynn Design Polynesian Sails Oval die cut

Thanks, Selma!! Pink and Frilly

2012-01-05T21:45:00.008-06:00

I was just dying to try this card. I have several punch around the page punches and use them quite often but I had gotten one of the deep edge ones (Wild Flowers) and didn't know the measurements for using it around the page. My Sis gave me this punch back in the summer and there were no instructions. I was pouring over Selma's Stamping Corner, one of my favorite places, and she had a tutorial showing the measurements and how easy it was. Thanks, Selma!!! I am a happy girl. So, then I just had to make a card for Joan's Gardens challenge#1. This week, the challenge is to make a card or tag using some kind of hearts and use white with pink or red. Also, do some kind of embossing. I did dry embossing with my favorite Cuttlebug folder, Textile.
I punched a few very small flowers with the Martha Stewart hydrangea punch and added gemstones to the centers. My heart punch is the Martha Stewart Lace Scallop Heart. The rest of my recipe is at the bottom of the post.

My card is also for the Queen for the Day on Splitcoaststampers and this week it is Wendy aka Wendybell. I took many liberties case-ing her card but I think there is a bit of a resemblance. Eek!
Her card is shown here. Well, they are both square. :-)

Also entering the challenge at Simon Says Stamp-New Something (My Wild Flower punch around the page is one I've had a while but never used until this card).

Paper Creations Ink #16 wants us to use die cut and/or punches
House of Gilli #24-Anything Goes

Recipe:
Stamps: Sentiment is from Studiog (no name) Bought at Michael's and I love it
Paper: PTI white cardstock, Stampin'Up! Pretty in Pink
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Martha Stewart Lace Scallop Heart punch, Martha Stewart deep edge (Wild Flower) and corner punch, Martha Stewart hydrangea punch, tiny clear gemstones, Scor-Pal for two score lines under embossing

Wintry Birthday

2012-01-04T07:57:00.002-06:00

Winter is just getting started and we all have snow on our minds (maybe we'll even get some here in the deep south again this year). I have several January birthdays so I thought this pretty snowflake from Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company would be great to use. Plus, blue always looks like winter to me. The stamp sets I'm using are MFP's Ice and Snow and the MFP set All About Love mini (sentiment).

I got this new Memory Box Larue Flourish die for Christmas and layered it on top of my Martha Stewart eyelet lace punch around the page and behind the Spellbinders peony die on which I stamped my snowflake. The Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder always reminds me of falling snow so I added it for texture. Then, there is the large gemstone and sentiment and it is all finished!

Entering these challenges:
Speedy the Cat's Friends- #88 Use a snowflake
For Your Inspiration-#20-Use their photo as inspiration (I was inspired by the beautiful blue colors)
Simon Says Stamp Challenge Blog-New Something-I am using my new Larue Flourish die by Memory Box
Scrap-Creations-Something Old, Something New - (Old is my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder and new is my Memory Box Larue Flourish)
Paper Sundaes #101-Something Old, Something New (Old is my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder and new is my Memory Box Larue Flourish)

Something Shiny- Tuesday Throwdown

2012-01-03T02:00:00.002-06:00

Did you get one of these for Christmas? Well, I didn't but I could probably use a good bike right now for exercise. You know, all those holiday goodies we all ate? Several turns of the pedal sure wouldn't hurt, huh?

We're baccccckkkk...after a two week holiday break and Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps and More is furnishing the images for the DT this week at Tuesday Throwdown. I am using an image called Bicycle Built for 2. The theme this week is 'something shiny'. Makes me think UFO. :-) I added glossy accents to my bicycle for some shine and, of course, my gold brads are shiny. Get out your 'shinies' and come along join us this week.

Recipe:
Stamps: Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps and More-Bicycle Built for Two
Paper: Stampin'Up! Crumb Cake and Kiwi Kiss, PTI white cs, unknown dp from LSS
Accessories: Verano tan jute, raffia, mandarin twine, glossy accents, Copics, orange button, Mark Richards gold metal brads, Spellbinders classic scallop rectangle die, EK Success double embossed edger punch, Stampin'Up! punch for sentiment (partially with top removed).

FOSTV challenge #1 of 2012-Gatefold

2012-01-02T01:00:00.008-06:00

The holidays are almost over for me and I suppose most of us. Sooooo, it's time to get serious with our crafting again. Don't you love my big ol' Buffalo? I made this card for the FOSTV challenge #1 for the new year. You can find our challenge at Home of Speedy TV. The challenge this week is to make a gatefold. Folks, if you've never made one, they really are so easy. I wanted to make mine a masculine gatefold and that is why I chose this wonderful stamp set called Buffalo Spring. This set can be found at Mark's Finest Papers.

Want to see a bit of the inside?

I'm using Mark's Finest Papers Old World Gold cardstock and the ribbon is from MFP, Deepest Mahogany stitched grosgrain, shown here. I added a couple double punched corners with my EK Success punch and some brads. The dp is from a Making Memories scrapbook pad.
Oh, and he is colored with Copics.

Entering challenges:
{Lawnscaping} Challenge-#25-Birthday

Card Crafter's Circle-#3-Anything Goes

My Top Ten Favorites of 2011 (maybe)

2011-12-31T21:57:00.000-06:00

Over at Give A Girl A Blog, Kellie wants to see our top 10 favorites we've created for 2011. Well, that was very hard to decide and I had to leave some out. Boo Hoo... You know what, most of mine turned out to be CAS (clean and simple) cards.
Maybe that is telling me something for 2012. Oh, I can't give up the patterned papers, embellishments, and sparkles, though.

Here goes:

8/31/2011-Poppies

10/05/2011 Enjoying Nature

02/22/2011-Bird Among the Ferns

3/11/2011-Fuchsia and Pearls

3/20/2011-Vines and Flowers

06/03/2011-Want to Make a Hydrangea

06/01/2011-Mustang (My favorite masculine card)

10/03/2011-Black-Eyed Susans

07/10/2011-Farm Fresh at Flourishes

09/13/2011-The Raggedies (gatefold)

A Case for Miss Boo-QFTD93

2011-12-30T08:43:00.000-06:00

Jen aka Miss Boo is QFTD93 on Splitcoaststampers and I cased this card of Jen's. I think it is so cute and fun. I didn't go with Christmas and even thought this could be used as a Valentine for my hubby if I don't decide to go with hearts.

I'm using one of my new Christmas crafting gifts, Arboscello Tree from Memory Box (die cut) and stamped a sentiment from Stampin'Up!'s Well Scripted stamp set..a favorite set of mine. The embossing folder is Cuttlebug Victoria and I'm using Stampin'Up Rich Razzleberry ink. That's about it, folks. Hope you like it.

A Promise of Spring

2011-12-29T08:59:00.003-06:00

Are you ready for Spring?? I certainly am and can hardly wait. I know it is far away but I can smell the fresh mowing of grass, hear the birds singing, and see butterflies fluttering all around. What a picture!!! Guess that will be a while. :-(

I made my card today for the QFTD92, barbaradwyer82, on Splitcoaststampers. I usually do this on Friday but no time last week. I'm playing catch up today before I finishing taking down my Christmas decorations.

Here is Barbara's lovely card I cased. I added a fanciful flourish, different trellis (window), and used a punch on the sentiment piece instead of ribbon. I'm using a stamp set called Pussy Willows from Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company.

Challenges entered:
Simon Says Stamp challenge blog-Anything Goes
Tip Top Tuesday #66-Anything Goes
4 Crafty Chicks #70-Something New I am using new butterfly die cuts and window frame die from Cheery Lynn Designs
Dutch Dare Card Challenge #145-Your Favorite Things - Die cuts and punches are some of my favorite things to use when crafting. They are all listed below in my recipe.

Recipe:
Stamps-Mark's Finest Papers-Pussy Willows stamp set (sentiment only)
Paper: white cardstock and unknown dp
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Cheery Lynn A2 Frame die-small window, Cheery Lynn exotic butterfly-small #2, Cheery Lynn fanciful flourish, Martha Stewart classic butterfly punch, ribbon bow punch, and eyelet lace edge punch, Cuttlebug textile embossing folder

Winter Card----FOSTV challenge #13

2011-12-26T02:00:00.005-06:00

Christmas day will be over by the time this post shows up. We have our sons and their families visiting and still enjoying the holidays. Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and got plenty of new crafting supplies. I did.....even as I post this before Christmas I can tell you I ordered myself some goodies for hubby to give me. Can't wait to start using them.

This week's challenge at Friends of Speedy TV found here, week 13, is to make a winter card or use the color blue. I love doing wintry cards in blue. It always seems pretty and icy. Hope you'll go over to Home of Speedy TV and join us.

My image is from Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company and is called Ice and Snow. I masked the trees at the bottom, used some white ink and a clear, deep impression embossing powder from Stamp 'n' Stuff to make my snow on the ground and really like the way it turned out. After adding the Star Dust Stickles to the trees, I see they don't show very much. The punch around the page is Martha Stewart Woodland Branch edge punch and MS Bird and Branch corner punch. Added some silver cording and it's complete.

Christmas Cards I Have Received From Stamper Friends

2011-12-24T14:15:00.007-06:00

Quickly posting some beautiful Christmas cards I have received from wonderful stamper friends on Splitcoaststampers and some blogging friends. There is also a card from my talented sister in here. Of course, this picture does them no justice. I love each one and will post them individually on Splitcoaststampers to my albums when time permits. Then, you can really see how gorgeous they are. Thanks to everyone and hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas.

BTW, some stampers know how much I love sheep so I tied a bow around mine on their necks and got them in the photo. :-)

A Christmas CAS card

2011-12-19T02:00:00.003-06:00

Hope you all had a fun weekend getting ready for Christmas. The time is really winding down. I think I'm through shopping for all those gifts and that is always a relief. Hopefully, I'll be able to enjoy the rest of the week.

My card is for the Friends of Speedy TV challenge, week 12. We are asking for CAS cards this time and mine turned out to be a Christmas card. I think I'm finished with all my Christmas cards for this year. Of course, one may pop up here and there...just don't know.

I'm using an image from Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company called Greetings of the Season, mini stamp set.
I love those pine cones and branches for Christmas or on a winter card. I stamped, colored, and then embossed with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder. I think it looks a bit like snow coming down.
See the rest of my recipe below:

Recipe:
Stamps-Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company-Greetings of the Season mini stamp set
Paper: PTI white cardstock, Stampin'Up! Cherry Cobbler
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copics, Cuttlebug embossing folders-Swiss Dots and Snowflakes, Bead Party elastic sparkle stretch cord, Craft Ribbon from Big Lots Stores

For the Queen

2011-12-18T11:51:00.002-06:00

I made a CAS card today for the QFTD challenge #91. It was this past Friday and I'm finally getting one together and uploaded. I've been busy, busy...haven't we all?

The Queen this week is Christine aka whim6915 and I cased this card of hers. I am using an image from Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company called Buffalo Spring and the sentiment is from the same company and is from the Happy Pansies set.

The card was so easy. I just stamped the image, punched an eyelet lace punch around the page from Martha Stewart and add a few pearls and that finished it.

Recipe:
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company-Buffalo Spring and Happy Pansies (sentiment)
Paper: Stampin'Up! Chocolate Chip, PTI vintage cream, The Paper Studio Solid Pearl/Gold dp
Ink: Stampin'Up! Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Martha Stewart patp eyelet lace, pearls

Once Again..Snowy, Icy Scene

2011-12-15T07:07:00.009-06:00

A quick post...just wanted to add this card I made a bit ago. It was made with a digital image I won from Gingerloft Digi Stamps and is called Winter Trees. I love it! I made this card earlier using it:
http://benzistampz.blogspot.com/2011/11/icy-snowy-winter.html It is so easy, just colored some of the tree in green and added Star Dust Stickles and a ribbon.

Challenges:
DYSU Challenge Blog-#50- Winter Projects
Dolce Stamps and Cards DSAC07- Get Your Shine On (My stickles)
Cupcake Craft Challenges-Don't Look at the Light/shines, gleams, glints, or glitters

Off to make peanut clusters with Emily's (My Little Slice of Bliss) recipe. Yum!

Recipe:
Stamps: Gingerloft Digi Stamps-Winter Trees
Paper: PTI white and aqua Mist cardstock
Accessories: Copics, Offray aqua ribbon, Star Dust Stickles, Cuttlebug embossing folder-Swiss Dots

A CAS Thank You

2011-12-13T22:04:00.000-06:00

I had not made a card in about 4 days, just uploaded some made earlier. I was having withdrawals and had to get in the craft room. I'm making this card to enter into Speedy the Cat's Friends Challenge #85.
The challenge is to make a 'thank you' card. It is nice to make something other than Christmas, at least, this once.

I went rather CAS with my card. The image is from the Pussy Willow stamp set found at Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company. I'm using a retired sentiment as I don't have one of the MFP's thank you stamps. My recipe is found below.

Recipe:
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company-Pussy Willow
Paper: Stampin'Up! Chocolate Chip, PTI vintage cream and white, DP is from a scrapbook store and unknown name
Ink: Stampin'Up! Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page -corner is Bird and Branch and edge is Woodland

Tuesday Throwdown-My Grafico

2011-12-13T02:00:00.003-06:00

I'm here to share one of my last Christmas cards for this year. I may upload one or two more..not sure.
I'll miss making them as they are my favorite kind, although I will enjoy making some Valentines, florals, and such.

The team of Tuesday Throwdown is having their last challenge this week until the first of the new year. We are going to spend time with family and friends. So, we'll see you back on January 3rd.

This card is for the challenge on Tuesday Throwdown #78 and the theme is 'someone special'. I made mine for a friend. My Grafico is furnishing the DT with a set called Nature's Christmas Digital Stamp Set designed by Lindsay's Stamp Stuff. There are several very pretty images to use. As you can see, I chose the poinsettia.

I colored the image with Copics after stamping onto the Spellbinders peony die and behind that is the silver doily. I'm using some negative snowflakes from the Martha Stewart Aspen Snowflake border punch. The rest of my recipe is listed below. I know, I know...used that same ribbon and button as yesterday's card. I really love it but I'll give it a break. :-)

Hope you'll join us. Just click on the Tuesday Throwdown list above.

Recipe:
Stamps: My Grafico-Nature's Christmas Digital Stamp Set-Designed by Lindsay's Stamp Stuff
Paper: PTI white cardstock, K&CO Brenda Walton peppermint twist candy stripes-dp
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black for sentiment
Accessories: Stampin'Up! Cherry cobbler seam binding ribbon, button from Jo Ann Stores, silver doily, Martha Stewart Aspen snowflake border punch, Stampin'Up! Perfect Punches stamp set
(sentiment)

Nesting in the Pines

2011-12-12T02:00:00.005-06:00

It's been a weekend of decorating for me. I don't usually wait this long to get it finished, but decided to put up a slim tree in the breakfast nook and do several more things. I have my mantel and a few more things left to do. Hurry, hurry...it'll soon be time for it all to come down.

I got to use one of my new toys on this card and that is the Holly Background Set-Hero Arts Stamp Sizzix Textured Impressions Embossing Folder. I stamped the holly in Stampin'Up! ink (Always Artichoke) and then ran it through the matching holly embossing folder that came with the set. I really like the look.

My image is from Mark's Finest Papers and the stamp set is Peaceful Nuthatch. My card was made for the challenge on Friends of Speedy TV, week #11 to make a Christmas card. The challenge can be found here at Home of Speedy TV. We would love for you to join us.

Recipe:
Stamps-Mark's Finest Papers-Peaceful Nuthatch
Paper: PTI white cardstock, Stampin'Up! Always Artichoke
Ink: Stampin'Up! Always Artichoke
Accessories: Stampin'Up! Cherry Cobbler seam binding ribbon, Copics, button from Jo Ann Stores, Sizzix Hero Arts Stamp & Emboss textured impressions-Holly Background set, Spellbinders circle nestabilities

Lattice Hearts

2011-12-09T12:38:00.007-06:00

I hope my card is fit for a Queen because the new QFTD on SCS is Nancy Littrell. To honor her, I chose this card of hers to case. I just don't need any more Christmas cards so today I thought I would do a Valentine card. Nancy had made a card for the CAS141 challenge on SCS using a sketch from PH in VA so I guess I'm casing both of them.
My card is also for the Free for All on SCS. The challenge is 'All Girlie'. Pink colors and hearts are surely girlie.

My card is one of those CAS easy peasy cards. I had this heart punch that I bought last year and never used. I punched a pink heart and a white heart and placed one in an uneven fashion over the other. I thought it gave it a pretty look. I stamped my sentiment and that is all there was to finish it.

I'm entering the challenge #78 at Wee Memories

Papertake Weekly-Anything Goes
Divas by Design -challenge #16-Anything Goes

Recipe:
Stamps: Stampin'Up! Well Scripted
Paper: PTI white and sweet blush cardstock, Stampin'Up! Cherry Cobbler
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Martha Stewart Lace Scallop Heart Punch

Twas the Night

2011-12-06T02:00:00.005-06:00

It's time for another Tuesday Throwdown challenge and the theme is Celebrate the Season. I'm using an image from Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps and More...one I just love. It reminds me of Christmas Eve when I was little and expecting Santa to come down the chimney. The image is called Twas the Night Before Christmas.
I used Flower Soft Polar White for the snow, negatives from punches for the snowflakes (Martha Stewart Aspen Snowflakes) and holly (MS holly edge punch), and the embossing folder is Basic Grey Sizzix Textured Impressions-Christmas and Thin Ice (2 pk. set). I colored with Copics and the paper is PTI white cardstock and Stampin'Up! Cherry Cobbler. I also used SU Cherry Cobbler ribbon.

Challenges entered:
The Ribbon Reel-#16-Anything Goes-Be sure to use ribbon
Addicted to Stamps Challenge #18-Christmas card
Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog #42-Any Winter Holiday Sentiment
Sweet Stampin' Challenge Blog-It's all About Snow..snowflakes, snow people, snow,.....you get the idea...snow something
Simon Says Stamp-Anything Goes

You're on My Mind

2011-12-05T01:00:00.003-06:00

This image makes me wish for summer and a hot day. Yes, I love HOT weather. Anyway, I needed to do something besides Christmas. My card is for the week 10 FOSTVspeedytv (Friends of Speedy TV) challenge found at the Home of Speedy TV and the images are Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company Garden Wishes mini stamp set and the sentiment is from the Happy Pansies stamp set.

Hope you'll join us this week for our #10 challenge which is silhouettes.

Entering this challenge:
Speedy the Cat's Friends Challenge #84-Use your favorite embellishment (Fanciful Flourish is mine)

Recipe:
Stamp: Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company-Garden Wishes Mini Stamp Set and Happy Pansies Stamp Set
Paper: PTI vintage cream, Stampin'Up! Chocolate Chip, and unknown dp
Ink: Stampin'Up! Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Cheery Lynn Designs fanciful flourish, Martha Stewart eyelet lace punch around the page

Crowning a New Queen

2011-12-02T07:05:00.006-06:00

It's Friday (again already) and, of course, I'm here to crown the new Queen on Splitcoaststampers. Her name is Wendy aka Wendy2512. I'm honoring her by case-ing this card. I really enjoy trying to case other people's cards although I rarely do...usually, just this challenge.

If you know me, you know I love ornaments so when I saw Wendy's ornament card, I knew immediately that was the one I would choose. The only stamping on this card is the sentiment from a Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company set called Christmas in the Country. I used an ornament punch from EK Success called Ornaments. I picked it up during the Christmas holidays last year at Jo Ann Stores. The chain hanging my ornaments is a Flower Soft adhesive sticker. The other punches I used are from Martha Stewart-MS fir punch and a MS ribbon bow punch.

Challenges entered:
Cropstop Challenge Blog-#48 Punch Your Way Around the Holidays
The Paper Variety-Show Us Your Ornaments
Simon Says Stamp Challenge Blog-Anything Goes
Divas by Design #16-Anything Goes

Recipe:
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company-Christmas in the Country
Paper: PTI white cardstock, unknown dp (blue layer is double side of ornament paper), silver cardstock
Ink: Stampin'Up! Night of Navy
Accessories: Martha Stewart fir punch and ribbon bow punch, EK Success Ornament punch, Flower Soft adhesive stickers (chain)

Days Gone By

2011-11-30T06:33:00.005-06:00

I wanted to join the Splitcoaststampers November Fan Club Gallery challenge by making a card with this month's theme which is Child's Play. You can be inspired by childhood memories, toy or games, snowballing, etc. I found this stamp over the Thanksgiving holidays at a Michael's Arts & Craft Store. I really loved it and was anxious to use it. Don't you think it looks like a tricyle from many years ago?

My card is clean and simple. I didn't even have to color. I added a few layers of dp and cardstock, punched a snowflake and rick rack and it's all finished.

I am entering these challenges:
Sparkles Forum #25-Vintage Christmas
Stamptacular Sunday #140-Anything Christmas-must use a stamp
2 Sisters Challenge Blog #67-Holiday
Simon Says Stamp Challenge-Anything Goes

Recipe:
Stamps-Inkadinkado-Yuletide Greetings (according to Michaels website) No name on stamp
Paper-PTI vintage cream cs, My Mind's Eye Lost & Found Christmas, Red paper is Greetings of the Season Paper Pack (made for Hobby Lobby Stores)
Ink: Stampin'Up! Cherry Cobbler
Accessories: EK Success zig zag chain punch, Martha Stewart snowflake punch

Masculine Holiday-Tuesday Throwdown

2011-11-29T03:00:00.006-06:00

After an extended 2 week challenge because of the Thanksgiving holidays, Tuesday Throwdown is ready for a new challenge and it is to make a masculine holiday card. The DT is furnished digital images by Dude Time Doodles and I'm using their image called O' Christmas Tree.

I colored my image with Copics and went on a search for paper that I thought would be appropriate for a masculine card. At the same time, I wanted it to be 'not so drab' and a bit cheerful for the holidays.
I have some punched deer on each side of my sentiment thinking that will make it a bit more manly.

Hope you'll join us this week for Tuesday Throwdown's challenge #76. Just click the link here.

Challenges entered:
Lexi's Creations-#54-One For the Lads-man/boy card or project
Incy Wincy Designs-Create a project with a tree
Here Come the Boys-#16-For the Man/Men in Your Life

Recipe:
Stamps: Dude Time Doodles-O' Christmas Tree
Paper: Stampin'Up! Chocolate Chip cardstock, PTI New Leaf cs, PTI Spring Moss cs, unknown dp, PTI white cs
Ink: SU Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Spellbinders deckle nestabilitie, Mark Richards gold metal brads, EK Success reindeer chain edger punch (cut into for seperate deer), Stampin'Up! ticket corner punch, Copics

Favorite Sketch-FOSTV

2011-11-28T01:00:00.004-06:00

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. My hubby and I returned home Sunday night from south Georgia and we were certainly glad to arrive safe and sound. The interstate was horrible with traffic and it was raining buckets for the last 5 or so hours of our trip. We saw 6 car accidents and we were tied up in traffic for about 2 1/2 hours at different places. I guess we should STAY HOME on holidays. Nay!

Not posting a card for a week was very odd and I feel as if I am lost posting this one. I have to get back in the groove. My card is for challenge 9 with FOSTV (Friends of Speedy TV) at Home of Speedy TV and the challenge is to use your favorite sketch. I'm not sure I have a favorite but I sure like this one. It is from the sketch challenge on Splitcoaststampers and is #349. I'm using the stamp set from Mark's Finest Papers and Stamps, A Heinrich Company called Black Eyed Susans for Encouragement. I stamped the flower twice, colored and cut off the stems, just using the blooms.

You'll find the recipe below. Hope you'll join us for the challenge this week.

Recipe:
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers and Stamps-Black Eyed Susans for Encouragement
Paper: Stampin'Up! Chocolate Chip cardstock, Bazzill Basics Yukon Gold cardstock, Tim Coffey Blossomwood (reddish) dp, and an unknown dp
Ink: Stampin'Up! Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Mark Richards gold metal brads, Deco metal stickers, pop dots

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-21T03:00:00.003-06:00

I suppose this will be my last Thanksgiving card made this season. Appropriately, the challenge for FOSTV (Friends of Speedy TV) is to make a Thanksgiving card. Mine turned out to be a clean and simple card. I'm using the leaf from the Autumn Glory stamp set and just sponged a bit inside each leaf. Then, I add some raffia and a brad and it is finished.

I wish all my blogging pals and everyone out there where Thanksgiving is being celebrated, a very Happy Thanksgiving. This will probably be my last post for a bit as I'll be away for Thanksgiving.

Recipe:
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company-Autumn Glory
Paper: Stampin'Up! Cherry Cobbler, PTI white cardstock, Bazzill Basics Yukon Gold
Accessories: raffia, Happy Thanksgiving brad

Oh My...Frills and Glitter Abound

2011-11-18T08:45:00.005-06:00

I'm trying to wake everyone up as I post this early Friday morning. I think the glitter should do it. I'm doing my usual Friday Queen for the Day challenge on Splitcoaststampers. The new Queen is Carol aka BobbiesGirl. I found this card in her gallery and thought the stamp she used was absolutely gorgeous. I didn't have it so I tried to use die cuts to make a loose case of her card.

My card is made with a Cheery Lynn die, an embossing folder, and a Spellbinders die. Recipe is below.
I ran my embossing folder through the Cuttlebug twice and cut out the center flower, sponged it, and popped in on top of the holly motif die cut.

Hope everyone has a super weekend. I'll be off to a college football game Saturday. Go Bama!

Recipe:
Stamps: Hot off the Press-Christmas Words
Paper: PTI Razzberry Fizz and white cardstock, Best Occasions glitter paper pack for flourish
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Lady Bug (sponging flower)
Accessories: Spellbinders Shapeabilites Holly Motif, Sizzix Textured Impressions Winter Botanicals embossing folder, Cheery Lynn fanciful flourish, Star Dust Stickles, Gold Stickles

Going in Circles

2011-11-15T03:00:00.002-06:00

It's time for another challenge at Tuesday Throwdown. Challenge #75 is to do circles so I'm using my Spellbinders circle and scallop circle nestabilites. My Grafico furnished the Design Team digi images with all kinds of circles this week. They are from the Doodle Flowers Digital Stamp Set found here. I chose this pretty flower and the circle sentiment to work with. I really like houndstooth and I thought it looked good with the kraft and olive green. I made some pennants (hand cut) for the side using the dbl sided paper and added a gemstone to each. My ribbon finished it off.

We hope you'll come along and join the fun this week. Show us what you like to do with circles.

Recipe:
Stamps: My Grafico
Paper: Stampin'Up Kraft and Old Olive, My Mind's Eye-So Sophie Heavenly Houndstooth Paper (dbl sided), PTI white cardstock
Accessories: Cuttlebug embossing folder-Victoria, Spellbinders circle and scallop circle nestabilities, Copics, gemstones, Stampin'Up! Old Olive grosgrain ribbon

Nuthatch in the Pines

2011-11-14T01:00:00.002-06:00

Happy Monday Morning! I'm uploading this card on Saturday so it'll be here early Monday. I had a 'not so good' day. I was going to put up my Christmas tree today and it turned into something I didn't plan on. Hubby said we really should just get a new tree. What??? I was all set with the ornaments and wanted to have the tree finished before bedtime. No, we spent the day looking for a tree. I put about 10 ornaments or less on the tree and remembered I had not put on the silver garland that I always wrap around the trunk....a Christopher Radko tip. It really makes everything sparkle when the lights shine on it...so back shopping for that and some hangers. Would you believe Wal-Mart said their hangers aren't in yet? They have had trees and the Christmas dept. filled for ages.
I had no time to go anywhere else. I'll have to start anew tomorrow. Ugh! Plus, I had to get back
to the football game on tv.

We did a live tree for many years and finally gave up on it, but it really smelled yummy. I know it is a bit early to have the tree up but I always decorate early. It's just too much work to have it up for 2-3 wks. Anyway, I have so much to do between now and Christmas. Plus, we go out of town for Thanksgiving and I won't open the shutters until after that holiday.

Whew! Now to my card. This card is made for the Friends of Speedy TV challenge #7( a birthday card) at MFP Speedy TV. I'm using these beautiful soon-to-be released stamp sets, Peaceful Nuthatch and What a Fox (sentiment) from Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company. I colored and masked so I could sponge some blue around it and pop it out. I cut my Cheery Lynn fanciful flourish from gold mirror paper and framed with a Spellbinders Frameabilities die cut. Hand cut a pennant back for my sentiment. The rest of my recipe is below.

Challenge:
The Hybrid Chick-Card Caravan Challenge #6-Birthday theme

Recipe:
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company-Peaceful Nuthatch and What a Fox (soon-to-be-released)
Paper: PTI white cardstock, gold mirror paper, dp is unknown, rust colored paper is Recollections Capturing Special Memories
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Cheery Lynn Designs fanciful flourish, Spellbinders Frameabilities, Recollection floral embellishment, Copics

Icy, Snowy Winter

2011-11-11T09:49:00.010-06:00

Had to get up, get my card made, and get off to the lab this morning. That is no fun but one of those necessities of life. It really didn't take long so I'm back to crafting.

Today is the Queen for the Day challenge #86 on Splitcoaststampers. I did a case of a fabulous stamper, Karen B Barber. This is her card. She always makes fabulous bows. I didn't try to compete. LOL

I'm using a Gingerloft Digi Stamps image called Winter Trees. I won this digi a while back and have been really wanting to use it. I think it is just beautiful. I made it a Christmas card and stamped a sentiment at the bottom. Use a lot of Star Dust Stickles. Colored the tree green with Copics.

Challenges entered:
Inky Impressions IIC#32-Glitter It Up!!
Party Time Tuesdays Challenge Blog PTTI#41-Bling It On
Papertake Weekly Challenge-Make a Christmas Card for their first Christmas card challenge
Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge #108- use a digital image

Hope it was o.k. to enter this particular Flourishes challenge with other challenges. I did not see where it said we shouldn't. Hope I didn't overlook it.

Flourishes-The Snowy Delight Challenge -FLLCNOV11-Use glitter, Flower Soft, something to make your card sparkle

Recipe:
Stamps-Gingerloft Digi Stamps-Winter Trees, Hot off the Press-Christmas Words
Paper: PTI white and aqua mist cardstock, silver unknown, dp Christmas Magic by Fancy Pants Designs, Inc.
Ink: Stampin'Up! Always Artichoke
Accessories: Star Dust Stickles, Offray ribbon-Aqua

Fabric card

2011-11-08T11:35:00.003-06:00

I think this is only the second fabric card I've made. On Splitcoaststampers yesterday, the ' Try a New Technique' challenge was 'No Stamping Allowed'. What??????? Sounded a bit scary and then I remembered my sis gave me this fabric piece- Crafty Secrets Heartwarming Vintage Collection/Cotton Scraps. I think it is just a beautiful piece of fabric...maybe because I'm a bird lover. I added a chipboard frame at the top. I placed it on my ink pad to get a speckled look. I hand cut the pennant and used the Stampin'Up! Modern Label punch for my computer generated sentiment. Add the flower and found out I could make a card without stamping....although, I really wanted to. :-)

I'm entering these challenges:
The Crazy Challenge-#92 Something with wings (of course, my wings are birds)
My Partner in Crafting Crime #35-use something that is a freebie (My sis gave me the fabric I used)
Allsorts- #128-Anything But a Square

Recipe:
Stamps-None
Paper: Stampin'Up! Baja Breeze and Soft Suede, PTI white cs
Ink: Memento Soft Suede (for sponging around sentiment)
Accessories: Crafty Secrets Heartwarming Vintage/Cotton Scraps, Stampin'Up Modern Label punch,
chipboard frame, Recollection floral embellishment

Pot of Christmas Lights

2011-11-08T03:00:00.004-06:00

I'm really getting in the Christmas mood and it won't be too long before my Christmas tree goes up. This image from Stitchy Bear, Lite Brite really gets me in the mood for decorating. This week Tuesday Throwdown is giving the challenge to do your favorite color combo. Well, I have a few...black, red, and white....pink and brown. Really, I just don't know. But, I do know I love red and green for Christmas.

My sister gave me a magazine called Make Christmas Cards (Christmas 2011 Special Issue). My green dotted and red panels were cut from one of their designs. I liked the shape and cut my papers that way. No Spellbinders nestabilities this time.The dotted paper also came from that magazine. You know, some magazines include sheets of paper for you to use.

I glittered my star with Stampin'Up! Dazzling Diamonds and put glossy accents on my pot. The image is colored with Copics. I used a couple of punches for the snowflakes and a Cuttlebug embossing folder for the background.

Recipe:
Stamps: Stitchy Bear Digital Stamps-Lite Brite
Paper: PTI white cardstock, Stampin'Up! Real Red, dp from Make Christmas Cards magazine
Accessories: Martha Stewart Polar Stamp & Punch (large snowflake), Martha Stewart Aspen Snowflake (remnants for small snowflakes), Cuttlebug embossing folder-Snowflakes, Stampin'Up! Dazzling Diamonds, Glossy Accents (on pot)

Hope Your Holidays Are Happy

2011-11-07T02:00:00.000-06:00

This week at MFPSPEEDYTV, the Friends of Speedy TV Challenge 6 is to use ribbon. I'm making a CAS (clean and simple) card, the kind you can create quickly and still love it. The sentiment is from Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company set called Christmas in the Country. The embossing folder is a Sizzix's Thank You Set #5. The rest of my recipe is below.

Hope you'll get out your ribbon and join us this week.

Recipe:
Stamp: Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company-Christmas in the Country (sentiment only)
Paper: PTI white cardstock, Stampin'Up! Cherry Cobbler
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Stampin'Up Cherry Cobbler seam binding ribbon, Sizzix Thank You Set #5, button from Jo Ann Stores

Holly Wheel

2011-11-04T09:34:00.000-05:00

Friday again...already??????? My life is flying past me. I am once again doing the QFTD challenge on Splitcoaststamper-#85. The Queen for the Day is Vicky Gould. I chose this card to case, mostly keeping her sketch. Vicky inspired me to get out my Stampin'Up! Soft Holly wheel. I really don't think I've ever used it. I used a couple punches and added a sentiment...done!

Recipe:
Stamps: Stampin'Up! Holiday Happiness set (sentiment)
Paper: PTI white and vintage cream cardstock, SU cherry cobbler cs
Ink: Stampin'Up! Always Artichoke
Accessories: Stampin'Up! Soft Holly wheel, Martha Stewart Polar Stamp and Punch (snowflakes), Martha Stewart Frosty Village edge punch, Cuttlebug lg snowflakes embossing folder, clear gemstones

A Big Thanks

2011-11-01T03:00:00.009-05:00

At Tuesday Throwdown #73, the challenge is 'Thanks'. Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps and More is supplying the DT with the images we are using this week. I made my card with Carl the Snowman.
Once again, I'm using my Martha Stewart Punch all over the Page-snowflakes, punching three along the bottom. I'll give it a rest after this card. :-). The silver mirror paper was run through the machine with a Cuttlebug embossing folder, also called snowflakes. Carl was cut out and popped on, as are the sentiments. The recipe is listed below.

There are prizes to be won so we hope you'll come along and join us this week. Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps And More is offering the winner of this challenge 5 digital stamps or 4 digital stamps and 1 digital paper set of their choice.

Entering this challenge:
Card Makin' Mamas #32-Cut It Out

Recipe: Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps and More-Carl the Snowman, computer generated sentiment for thanks, Hot off the Press-Christmas words (Merry & Bright)
Paper: PTI white cardstock, Stampin'Up! night of navy,dp is Paper Adventure-Bubble Wash
Accessories: Cuttlebug embossing folder-snowflakes, Martha Stewart Punch All Over the Page-Snowflakes, RibbonFX-navy grosgrain

A Scrappy Christmas

2011-10-31T03:00:00.009-05:00

Challenge #5 for FOSTV (Fiends of Speedy TV)is now underway. I am making a card using scraps. Pulling out my scrap drawer, I found several Christmas papers to use for the pennants. I ran my embossing folder through the Grand Calibur. Why not the Cuttlebug????? Because I BROKE it. Ugh! I've had it about three years and assumed that day would come and it did...all my fault.

My image is from Mark's Finest Papers and is a stamp set called Cardinals in Winter.

I'm entering my card into Speedy the Cat's Friend's Challenge #79 and they are wanting us to use our scraps this week.

Recipe:
Stamps-Cardinals in Winter
Paper: PTI white cardstock, SU cherry cobbler
Ink: Tuxedo Memento Black
Accessories: Copics, Spellbinders Nested Pennants, Spellbinders circle and scallop circle nestabilitie, Flower Soft (adhesive gold stickers for hanging pennants), Cuttlebug snowflakes embossing folder

Snowflake City

2011-10-28T07:11:00.002-05:00

Here I am again with a card casing the Queen for the Day on Splitcoaststampers. It's every Friday and it seems the week flies by...rather scary. The Queen this week is an awesome, awesome stamper. It is Julie Warner aka justwritedesigns. Here is her card. I know, I know......it's gorgeous, as all of her cards are. I gave it a try and this is what you get.

My large pile of snowflakes came from the remnants of a border punch called Aspen Snowflakes by Martha Stewart and a MS Polar Stamp and Punch. What would we do without Martha? In my case, have a lot more money in my wallet.
For my glitter (you can't see, although that is a lot) on the snowflakes, I'm using my Jelly Roll pen by Sakura. I love that thing. The pretty pine cones/needles are Mark's Finest Papers called Greetings of the Season. I've torn the layers and sponged each one. I forgot my ribbon and sentiment piece until it was too late so I stamped my sentiment at the top.

O.K., I had a heavy week of card making and this will be it for me until Monday. Have a super weekend.

Recipe:
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers-Greetings of the Season
Paper: PTI white cardstock
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Summer Sky, Stampin'Up! Night of Navy
Accessories: Copics, Martha Stewart Aspen Snowflakes border punch, Martha Stewart Polar Stamp and Punch

Christmas Gatefold Card

2011-10-26T23:00:00.005-05:00

The challenge for the Stampin' B's Design Team blog challenge is to make a gatefold card and use items with the letter 'P' and tell what they are. Mine, of course, would be pine cones and pine needles. Don't you love that image? It is so beautiful for winter and Christmas and is a stamp set from Mark's Finest Papers called Greetings of the Season.

My punched snowflakes are from one of my new toys. It is a Punch All Over the Page from Martha Stewart. It has a guide at the bottom so you can line up if you're punching a lot.

Hope you'll join up this week. A gatefold is very easy to make. If you need instructions, here is a good place to find them on Splitcoaststampers. Of course, you can make changes in size and however you like.

Recipe:
Stamps-Mark's Finest Papers-Greetings of the Season
Paper: PTI white cardstock, Stampin'Up! Cherry Cobbler
Accessories-Stampin'Up Cherry Cobbler ribbon, Copics, Martha Stewart Punch All Over the Page-Snowflakes

Altered Tin

2011-10-26T14:04:00.007-05:00

Can't you just imagine this tin full of yummy goodies? Fudge, bon bons, gingerbread....hmmmmm
I got in the mood to alter something after seeing all the pretty altered items from Mark's Finest Papers
12 days of Christmas Blog Hop. I am using a Mark's Finest Papers stamp set called Christmas in the Country. I have layered a doily and a couple of nestabilities. The designer paper was already covered with white spots which look like snow. I stamped directly onto the designer paper and stamped a couple more times, cutting out the church and shrubs so I could pop them on.

The border is a Martha Stewart Frosty Village edge punch. The sentiments going around the tin are Love, Hope, and Peace and they are from MFP Seasonal Poinsettias.

Recipe:
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers- Christmas in the Country and Seasonal Poinsettias
Paper: PTI white cardstock, Stampin'Up! Night of Navy, Designer Paper is Me and My Big Ideas (no name)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Martha Stewart Frosty Village edge punch, Spellbinders circle and circle scallop die cuts, doily, Stickles Silver Ice glitter glue

Challenges:
Simon Says Stamp-Anything Goes
Shelly's Images Blog -Anything Goes

Sympathy

2011-10-25T11:54:00.007-05:00

This week the #38 Less is More challenge is polka dots. Well, I love polk dots and wanted to do their challenge. I am using the Stampin'Up! ornament punch trimmed at the bottom to make a flower pot. I added a Stampendous vine/sentiment, and did some scoring and the card is all finished. The vine was left uncolored so as to be more delicate. The burnt orange pot is what I chose because of the Fall season. Anyway, my card was very quick to make and may be the quickest I've ever made.

Edited: Sentiment was looking blue so I tweaked the photo until it looked like the brown it is

Let's Go to the Circus-Tuesday Throwdown

2011-10-25T03:00:00.004-05:00

The challenge this week at Tuesday Throwdown is 'primary colors'. The digital images are being furnished to the design team by My Grafico. I tried to make my card cheerful and fun. I'm using Spellbinders nested pennants to match the colors on my image. Hope you stop by and check out the rest of the DT cards and join us here on challenge #72. The recipe is below.

Recipe:
Stamps: Digital images by My Grafico, computer generated sentiment
Paper: Stampin'Up! Night of Navy and Real Red cardstock, unknown yellow cardstock, unknown blue and white designer paper
Accessories: Martha Stewart doily, Copics, Spellbinders nested pennants, Stampin'Up! modern label punch, blue gemstones

MFP Speedy TV - Halloween/Harvest challenge and an Award

2011-10-24T02:00:00.010-05:00

I hope you had a great weekend. Friday, my hubby and I went on business to a military base after first stopping at a scrapbook store. Then, some more shopping and dining out which made for a fun day. Saturday, we were off to see the University of Alabama football game...we won! Yay!! As of now, we're #2 in the nation. Brag, brag.....

I made this as a Halloween/Harvest card...love the pumpkins which are from Mark's Finest Papers stamp set called Thankful Mums and Pumpkins. I colored with Copics, then stamped the sentiment onto the pumpkin, also Mark's Finest Papers Daffodil and Anise. Added a ribbon, some raffia, and a button..all finished. The card is for challenge #4 on MFP Speedy TV. Hope you'll join us.

Challenges entered:
Kaboodle Doodles Challenge Blog- #90- Halloween/Fall
Paper Playtime #58-Say it With Sentiments and use buttons and bows
2 Sisters Challenge Blog - #62-Pumpkin Patch - create anything you wish but must use a pumpkin

Recipe:
Mark's Finest Papers-Thankful Mums and Pumpkins and Daffodil and Anise (sentiment)
Paper: PTI white cardstock, Stampin'Up! Cherry Cobbler, Peach Parfait, and Chocolate Chip, DCWV The Four Seasons Stack
Accessories: raffia, Offray grosgrain ribbon-Oatmeal, button

AWARD
I received this wonderful butterfly award from Carol at Our Little Inspirations. It has been a while so she will probably not remember giving it to me. LOL Sorry, Carol, to be so long posting it. I really appreciate you thinking of me.

When receiving this award, I am to answer the questions below:

Name your favorite color - coral

Name your favorite song - Don't listen to much music except my choir music...I love Amazing Grace in many versions...bagpipes, for one.

Name your favorite dessert - Lemon pie

What annoys you at the moment - Occupy Wall Street demonstrations

Your favorite pet -dogs

Black or white - Can't really say. For elegance, I like black. White for clean and crisp.

Your biggest fear - being in a space with no windows..I'm very claustrophobic

Best feature - kindness..I hope people see me that way.

Everyday attitude - easy-going

What is perfection? - the beach/ocean or the forest

Guilty Pleasure -Doughnuts

When you're upset you - Take on different moods..according to what I'm upset about. .. quiet, eat, don't eat..blow my stack, pout, slam things so as to make noise so SOMEONE will notice (that's not very kind, is it? Well, that is rare. :-)

I am supposed to pass this on to several more wonderful bloggers. I told Carol I don't like to choose so I'll just say to my blogger friends, take this award if you would like and say it is from me. You all deserve it. Thanks again, Carol!!!

How About Some Snowflakes

2011-10-21T20:42:00.003-05:00

I am late getting this card uploaded. I went out of town today and got to visit a super duper scrapbook store. Yes, I had fun, fun. I found some new toys to play with. One was a Punch All Over the Page...not like the original ones which I found hard to use. This one has a plate with the design underneath to guide which makes it easier to punch correctly. This is different than Punch Around the Page which I love. I'll be using my new toy soon. I got the scallop snowflake pattern. Also, I saw a new gadget for threading ribbons of different designs on your card...didn't get it yet. Maybe later. You my have seen these already but I hadn't. They look like fun.

Anyway, I made my card for the QFTD83 on Splitcoaststampers. Her name is Holly aka hollerinastamps. This is her pretty card I cased to honor her. She did daisies on the curve but because I am needing to make Christmas cards, I went with snowflakes.

I punched the snowflakes in white and glittered (which doesn't show because I was in a hurry) and punched again in green to put behind the white...all because the white was not showing up very well with the designer paper. I think it helped to do that. The rest of my recipe is below.

Challenge:
Christmas Inspirations-Make a Christmas card or project using die cuts or punches
Recipe:
Stamps: Hot off the Press-Christmas Words (sentiment)
Paper: PTI white cardstock, Stampin'Up! Cherry Cobbler cardstock and Jolly Holiday designer series paper, Stampin'Up! Old Olive cardstock
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Martha Stewart Polar Punch and Stamp (snowflake), Stampin'Up! Cherry Cobbler 1/2" ribbon seam binding, Sentiment piece is Carol Wilson Scrapbooking Kit called Snow Days (purchased a couple years ago), Cuttlebug large snowflakes embossing folder

Get Well Wishes

2011-10-19T23:00:00.006-05:00

The Stampin' B's Design Team challenge #133 this week is to use scoring on your card. I didn't do a lot of scoring but just what I thought this card needed. I have a double dose of pansies for you today. The pansies are from a Mark's Finest Papers stamp set called Happy Pansies. I colored them with Copics and added my sentiment, a strip of dp, and a little gemstone. That is it! Hope you'll join us this week.

I'm entering my card into the Speedy the Cat's Friends challenge #77 to use your image two or more times on your card or project.

Recipe:
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers-Happy Pansies
Paper: Stampin'Up! Bermuda Bay cardstock and PTI white cardstock, unknown dp
Ink: Stampin'Up! Rich Razzleberry
Accessories: Martha Stewart scoring board, Copics, gemstone

Jolly Ol' Santa

2011-10-19T11:40:00.006-05:00

I did the Sketch Challenge on Splitcoaststampers today. Love the sketch. I'm using a Mark's Finest Papers stamp set called Christmas Postage Due. Isn't Santa just so jolly looking? I colored him with Copics and added Crystal Glitter Glue. Recipe is below.

Challenges:
Stamptacular Sunday-#134- You Choose-Create any card or project you like
KB Cute Monday #31- Anything Goes

Recipe:
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers-Christmas Postage Due
Paper: PTI white cardstock, Greetings of the Season paper pack -Hobby Lobby
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Martha Stewart Polar Stamp and Punch (snowflakes), Gary M. Burlin Crystal Glitter Glue, Copics

OWH Fundraiser

2011-10-18T07:54:00.002-05:00

Operation Write Home is a not-for-profit organization that collects and sends handmade greeting cards to American soldiers for their use in keeping touch with their families back home. They need to raise $13,000 to cover holiday shipping costs.

Among other fundraisers going on at the same time, K 'n K Designs will be selling 7 new digi sets designed exclusively for this cause. These include 4 sets by Katlyn and 3 sets by Deedee Anderson. Each "set" includes an image and some greetings, in both Jpeg an PNG file formats, all in a zip file.
I'm using a set by Deedee Anderson called Snow Thankful.

These sets are available for just $2 each, or in various value bundles (e.g. get them all for just $10!), with all proceeds (minus Paypal fees) donated to Operation Write Home.

The sets can be purchased at the K 'n K blog (NOT their store) from October 17th thru noon November 1st.
The blog is here: http://knkdesignsblog.blogspot.com/ All purchases will be emailed out within 24 hours of payment clearance.

Those who don't craft but would still like to aid the cause can donate directly to OWH. Info on how to do that is at this page: http://operationwritehome.org/donate.html

If you are making a card, please read the guidelines. I have a large bow on my card which is probably not appropriate but can be easily removed before mailing.

Recipe:
Stamps: K 'n K Designs (digi image by Deedee Anderson) Snow Thankful
Paper: PTI white cardstock, Me & My Big Ideas dp (no name), Stampin'Up! Not Quite Navy
Accessories: ribbon FX red/white stripe, Copics

Shaped Card for Tuesday Throwdown

2011-10-18T06:23:00.003-05:00

This week's Tuesday Throwdown challenge #71 is sponsored by Catherine Pooler, Stampin'Up! demonstrator. Here is her website. She has a prize for the winner.

Our challenge is to make a 'shaped card'. I used my Top Note Die to make my card and
the Stampin'Up! set, Delightful Decorations. The ornament has been clear embossed to give it a sheen. It is hanging with a Flower Soft peel off sticker that resembles a chain. I ran my card through the Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder and used a Martha Stewart drippy goo punch (for icicles) to make the header. It is covered in SU Dazzling Diamonds.

We hope you'll join us with your shaped card this week.

Recipe:
Stamps: Stampin'Up! Delightful Decorations
Paper: SU Old Olive and Cherry Cobbler cardstock, PTI white cardstock
Accessories: VersaMark, heat embossing tool, Martha Stewart drippy goo punch for icicles, Martha Stewart glue pen, Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder, Flower Soft peel off sticker (chain), Stampin'Up! Dazzling Diamonds

Sweetest Day

2011-10-17T03:00:00.002-05:00

Sweetest Day? I have to tell you I had never heard of a holiday called Sweetest Day. That is the challenge at MFPSPEEDYTV this week. I looked it up and it seems, according to Wikipedia, it is celebrated primarily in the Great Lakes region and parts of the Northeast United States on the third Saturday in October. Being in the South, we never celebrated that day.

I asked my coordinator at MFPSpeedyTV about it and she said I could make something for my sweetheart. I am guessing this is kind of a Valentine's Day holiday. Hope I wasn't supposed to make something with candies as some people indicated the holiday was started by the candy industry.

I like my little froggie and the cheerful paper I used. The stamp sets are from Mark's Finest Papers, Our Side of the Pond and Our Family Tree (sentiment). I colored and cut out my froggie twice, popping only his head on double. I also popped the cattails. The sponging is for a look of sunshine and then I added brads. I'm using the MS punch around the page that looks like a frog to me (just take a long look). Do you see the frogs? Of course, that is not what it really is supposed to be.

Recipe:
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers-Our Side of the Pond, Mark's Finest Papers-Our Family Tree (sentiment)
Paper: PTI white cardstock, Stampin'Up! chocolate chip, unknown dp
Ink: SU Chocolate Chip and Memento Dandelion
Accessories: Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page (quilted), sponge, gold brads, Copics

Holly and Ornament--Deck the Halls

2011-10-14T08:06:00.000-05:00

You must know by now what Friday means to me....another card for Queen for the Day on Splitcoaststampers. It is none other than Joan Ervin. I think everyone on SCS knows who that is..the lady who teaches us so many new techniques. I didn't have much time so I went CAS when I cased this card. Do you see any resemblance? Ha I did try to keep the sketch, but changed the stamps and die cuts. I cut out my ornament two times, one green for the bottom and the red for top. I embossed with VersaMark and clear embossing powder to give some radiance to the ornament.

I also entered my card into the Free for All challenge on SCS. The challenge is to make a card that reflects something about the person for whom you're making it. This could be their hobby, favorite color, something they collect, and so on. My sister collects Christmas ornaments (surely in the thousands) :-)..though, I am a huge collector, also...so this card will be for her...one more ornament.
That's about it for me for this week. Have a great weekend. See you Monday.

Recipe:
Stamps: Sweet Stamps-Holly Branch, Hot Off the Press-Christmas Words (sentiment)
Paper: PTI white cardstock, SU Always Artichoke cs, and red from Hobby Lobby
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: QuicKutz ornament die cut, large rhinestone, crinkled ribbon, Copics, VersaMark, clear embossing powder

Winter Cardinal

2011-10-12T23:00:00.005-05:00

It's Thursday and time for another Stampin' B's Design Team challenge. Jojot wants to see birds, birds, birds on our cards this week. That is certainly not hard for me, being a bird lover. I am using a Mark's Finest Papers set stamp set called Greetings of the Season. Isn't this a beautiful image?
Hope you'll join us this week. Just go to the link above and use the inlinkz tool to upload your pretty bird cards/projects.

I picked up this wonderful paper pad from T.J. Maxx...one of those large pads that are normally $19.99 and I paid $5.99. It is a DCWV Thankful Seasons Stack. Sooo, if you have one of those stores, you may want to check it out. You never know what you'll find there.

Challenges entered:
Stampin' Sisters in Christ #110-Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly Challenge-Get in Shape (use 3 different shapes on your card) mine are square for the base, rectangle for the punch around the page, oval for the image die.
Anything Goes Challenge Blog-#51-Die cuts/punches or both

Recipe:
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers-Greetings of the Season
Paper:PTI vintage cream, DCWV Thankful Seasons Stack, red cardstock from Hobby Lobby, brown is unknown
Ink: Stampin'Up! Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Cheery Lynne Designs flourish die, Martha Stewart eyelet lace punch around the page, Copics, Spellbinders oval and oval scallop die cuts

Rust Colored Mums

2011-10-12T09:26:00.002-05:00

I'm so glad to have this card to post. You would not believe all that happened as I was making it. I won't go into details as I don't want to start to boo-hoo. LOL This card was completely finished and with a totally different look...and one I liked...but, things went downhill from there. O.K., in the end, I'm happy with it.

I am using the Sketch Challenge 354 on Splitcoaststampers. I really love the rust color cardstock I used and think it works so well in the Autumn creations. I embossed my panel (recipe below), colored my mums and cut a die cut swirl. The image is from Mark's Finest Papers and the set is Thankful Mums and Pumpkins.

Entering my card into the challenge at Sweet Stamps-#36-Clean and Simple

Recipe:
Stamps: Mark's Finest Paper-Thankful Mums and Pumpkins
Paper: PTI white cardstock, unknown rust color cs, Stampin'Up! Chocolate Chip and Old Olive cs
Accessories: Sizzix embossing folder-Fall Scene, Sizzix Scribbles Swirls die cut, pearls, Copics

Tuesday Throwdown-Use Pink

2011-10-11T03:00:00.009-05:00

Tuesday Throwdown is asking that everyone use pink for their challenge #70 this week. It is in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness. Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps provided the team with these wonderful digital stamps. The set is called Everyday Miracles. They can be seen here. We would love for you to join us this week. Remember those exams!!!
I added my card to the Hope You Can Cling To on Splitcoaststampers. You may want to check that out....good cause.

I am once again using a tutorial from Amazing Paper Grace to make my punched, bottom border. If you would like to try it, here is the link. The layer on top of that is a Martha Stewart punch around the page called Eyelet Lace. Next is a doily I sponged with light pink ink. The sentiment circle is a Spellbinders nestabilitie and the pearls are from Recollections. The butterflies are colored with Copics.

Challenges:
Stampin' Sisters in Christ-Anything Goes
Fab 'n Funky Challenges #93-Die cuts and Punches
Anything Goes Challenge Blog #51-Die Cuts and /or punches

A Little Whimsy

2011-10-10T09:42:00.004-05:00

Playing along with the SCS Technique Lovers Challenge today and thought I would use stamps from Mark's Finest Papers called Thankful Mums and Pumpkins and Autumn Glory. The challenge called for a stacked background. I've used the leaf stamp and 7 sentiment stamps. The pumpkins are paper pieced and I add rust raffia an a copper flower brad.

Recipe:
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers-Thankful Mums and Pumpkins (sentiments) and Autumn Glory (leaf)
Paper: PTI vintage cream, Stampin'Up! Chocolate Chip, green gingham (unknown)
Ink: Memento Potter's Clay, Rich Cocoa, Bamboo Leaves, and Tangelo
Accessories: Spare Parts copper flower brad, rust raffia, Tim Holtz bricked embossing folder

Friends of Speedy TV - Happy Anniversary

2011-10-10T03:00:00.003-05:00

I can't believe it is Monday again all ready and time for Mark's Finest Papers Friends of Speedy TV's second challenge. This week our challenge is to make an anniversary card. This is an easy card but I made it take forever and ever. I tried an embellishment I really wanted to use. No, it would not work. After a day or two of fooling around with this card, I went back to the beginning...isn't that the way it always goes? This should have been, could have been, and would have been a 10-15 minute card...tops.

I am using a Mark's Finest Papers stamp set called Just Dandy. Love those dandelions. My sentiment is from MFP Happy Pansies. The border punch is Martha Stewart called Eyelet Lace. I'm using PTI white cardstock and a black cardstock from Hobby Lobby.

Hope you'll come over to MFP Speedy TV and join our challenge.

Entering my card into the Speedy the Cat's Friends challenge at Mark's Finest Papers #76-No designer paper

Be Merry

2011-10-07T10:49:00.001-05:00

Another Friday, another Queen for the Day on Splitcoaststampers. I cased this card. It is time to get started on Christmas cards so I don't end up in a panic as it draws near. This is a card that could be made quickly. Of course, I like variety so we'll see.

Recipe:
Stamps: JustRite-Merry and Bright
Paper: PTI white cardstock, Stampin'Up! Night of Navy
Ink: Stampin'Up! Night of Navy
Accessories: Martha Stewart Aspen Snowflakes, Cuttlebug embossing folder-snowflake, rhinestones

Love Scissors

2011-10-05T23:00:00.001-05:00

I have a small collection of scissors and when I saw this stamp set from Mark's Finest Papers called
Sew What?, I fell for those beautiful scissors. My card is for the Stampin' B's Design Team challenge #131 given by Lois to do a one layer, no white card.

I used Kraft paper and a Cuttlebug embossing folder called Rebecca. Stamped the sentiment and tied the ribbon and I love the card. Maybe I should send it to my sister. She made the pretty box I'm showing below for me to store the scissors I'm collecting. It is really beautiful and she used a lot of gold and silver metallic threads (even in the background which doesn't show here). It stores a lot of small scissors.

Here are a few. I especially wanted the second pair from the left to show as they have beautiful flower designs on them. But, I see I didn't capture that. That is the only antique pair shown here. From the left: red, white, and blue (what I call my patriotic scissors), antique, rooster, and stork. I need to increase my collection. My sis has a huge collection...you should see.

Recipe:
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers-Sew What?
Paper: Stampin'Up! Kraft
Accessories: Offray ribbon in gingham check, Cuttlebug embossing folder called Rebecca

Enjoying Nature

2011-10-05T07:15:00.003-05:00

I decided to play in the Sketch challenge on Splitcoaststampers today. It has been a while. The sketch this week is really simple and I thought it would be perfect for my stamped and sponged image. My stamp is from Mark's Finest Papers-Adirondack Summer.
The sketch called for a ribbon down the center but I didn't want it to interfere with my sentiment so I made a pennant and stopped it short. Plus, I didn't think I had the perfect color ribbon. I have decided if you have a million ribbons, you never have the right shade, width, or texture you need. Ugh!

Less is More wants you to make a card using the color of your eyes. Mine are brown..so I've used plenty of SU Chocolate Chip.

CAS Sunday Challenge #23 - Must be CAS-Anything Goes

Recipe:
Stamps-Mark's Finest Papers-Adirondack Summer
Paper: PTI vintage cream, Stampin'Up! Chocolate Chip
Ink: SU Chocolate Chip

Tuesday Throwdown #69-Halloween

2011-10-04T03:00:00.001-05:00

It's October and time to do those Halloween cards. I've starting buying my treats and have several bags accumulated. I'll make a couple more trips to load up before the big night.

Tuesday Throwdown has a timely challenge this week and it is to make a Halloween card/project. I love this image from Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps & More. It is the Halloween and Fall Stamp Set.
I think this wagon load of pumpkins is adorable.

I used a couple of punches (listed below) and gave the bat some eyes with my Sakura Jelly Roll Pen.

We hope you'll come along and join us for a fun challenge: Tuesday Throwdown - challenge #69.

Recipe:
Stamps: Digi image by Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps & More-Halloween and Fall Stamp Set
Paper PTI white cardstock, Hydrangea cs (unknown), K&CO Ghostly Greetings die cut mat pad, Boo paper is unknown
Accessories: Martha Stewart bat punch, Martha Stewart ghost corner punch, Sakura Jelly Roll Pen, Copics

Black Eyed Susans

2011-10-03T12:57:00.001-05:00

Hope you saw my earlier post today telling you I had joined the design team for Friends of Speedy TV. I needed one more card today and wanted to use a stamp set from Mark's Finest Papers called Black Eyed Susans for Encouragement. I think this is such a pretty, single stem and the set has beautiful images and sentiments.

I used a punch around the page from Martha Stewart called French Scroll and colored my flower with Copics. Added the sentiment and a couple of corners. Of course, I'll be adding a pretty sentiment from the same set inside to finish.

I'm entering these challenges:
Mark's Finest Papers Speedy the Cat's Challenge #75-Use Polka Dots (My dp and Swiss Dots embossing folder..hmmm, hard to see that embossing folder)
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Whimsical Wednesday - Anything Goes

Recipe:
Stamps-Mark's Finest Papers-Black Eyed Susans for Encouragement
Paper-PTI white cardstock, My Mind's Eye Lost & Found Christmas paper pad
Ink: Stampin'Up! Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Copics, Martha Stewart French Scroll punch around the page, EK Success victorian corner punch
Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder

Friends of Speedy TV Design Team-Announcement & Challenge

2011-10-03T03:00:00.004-05:00

Hope you all had a great weekend! I am here with some exciting news. Faith of Mark's Finest Papers has asked me to join a new team, 'Friends of Speedy TV Design Team'. We are having our first challenge today and hope you'll join in. Here is the link to MFP Speedy TV. It is a fun place with tutorials, chats, videos, forums, and lots of inspiration. Check it out!!! Well be having a new challenge each Monday. Be sure to come along and join us.

Our first challenge is a masculine card. We all need those 'man' cards and sometimes we've made so many other kinds that we don't have one of those on hand. So, now is a good time to get that done.

I'm using a Mark's Finest Papers stamp set called Autumn Glory. I love stripes and think they can be very good for masculine cards (if they're not pink). :-) I did some sponging around the image to pop it out as I had not colored it. I just thought, for a guy, I would leave it in its natural state. Rest of the recipe is below.

Recipe:
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers-Autumn Glory
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, VersaMagic-Sea Breeze
Paper: Stampin'Up! Night of Navy cardstock, Cloud 9 Designs-Trvl stripe (dbl sided), white cs
Accessories: Spellbinders deckle nestabilitie, Mark Richards gold metal brads, Spare Parts clip by The Paper Studio, crimper

Autumn's Leaves

2011-09-30T08:45:00.007-05:00

Happy Friday morning! I would say it is a good day but I have allergies soooooooo bad. It is that time of year for me...April and September. Ugh! You know, the sore throat and all that goes with it. Never mind me..let's just get on with my card.

I wanted to case a card today for the newly crowned Queen for the Day on Splitcoaststampers. It is none other than Dawn aka dawnmercedes. Here is her card. I stayed pretty true to her sketch and changed the dp and images

I am using a Mark's Finest Papers set called Autumn Glory and what a great set it is for the Fall season. I stamped directly onto my designer paper and a couple leaves at the bottom, which I sponged with a bit of green.

Challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks #57-Anything Goes

Penny's Paper-Crafty #63-Anything Goes

Scrapalicious USA #18-Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp-Anything Goes

Recipe:

Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers-Autumn Glory

Paper: PTI white cardstock, Recollections dp-Field of Green, vellum paper-ribbon, Stampin'Up! Chocolate Chip

Ink: Stampin'Up! Chocolate Chip, VersaMagic chalk ink-aloe vera,

A-Haunting-We-Will Go

2011-09-28T23:00:00.003-05:00

With Halloween coming fast, Faith asked the Stampin' B's Design Team to make a Halloween card. I have a new stamp set from Mark's Finest Papers called 'Get Your Broom On' and it is perfect for today's card. I stamped and only sponged the pot which I tried to make look very hot. Stamped my sentiment, added some score lines, a ribbon and it's all done.
Hope you'll join us so we can take a look at what you're doing for your Halloween cards.

Recipe:
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers-Get Your Broom On
Paper: PTI white cardstock
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin;Up! Melon Mambo and Apricot Appeal
Accessories: spider web ribbon, Scor-Pal, sponge

An Autumn Queen

2011-09-28T14:21:00.002-05:00

How nice to be an Autumn queen ... or any queen for that matter. :-) I am late for the Queen's crowning on Splitcoaststampers, #78. I had something very important to do that day and that was to go see my son, his wife, and their baby. Wouldn't take anything for that.

My card was cased from the Queen's card. I tried to keep the sketch and it went a little haywire on the top panel as I didn't use an image to fit her sketch on that section. Tied a bow, made a mum and it's finished.

Challenges:
Scrapbook Sisters #54-Leaves
Simon Says Stamp--Anything Goes
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog #63-Anything Goes

Recipe:
Stamps: Studio112 ($1 stamp), Mark's Finest Papers-Autumn Glory (sentiment)
Paper: PTI vintage cream cardstock, ColorMates Light Graceful Geranium cs, Tim Coffey-TC Cottage Garden dp
Ink: Memento Potter's Clay
Accessories: Offray Verano Tan Jute, handmade mum, Stampin'Up! Word Window Punch, micro beads for flower center

Thinking of You-Tuesday Throwdown and Operation Write Home

2011-09-27T03:00:00.012-05:00

It's time for another fun challenge at Tuesday Throwdown #68. This week the challenge is: Thinking of You. We were provided some wonderful images from MY GRAFICO. I'm using the funky typewriter image (Posh 'n Trendy Stamps). Isn't it fun? What a super variety of inventory they have! You should really check them out.

Here is our post from Tuesday Throwdown:
This week, we have a we have a special DOUBLE challenge for you!

Main Challenge: "Thinking of You"

Bonus Challenge: Send your card to Operation Write Home

In case you're not familiar with Operation Write Home, they are a non-profit organization that provides handmade greeting cards to help American soldiers keep in touch with their loved ones back home. OWH is celebrating its birthday this month, and since it gets its stock from crafters like us, we thought we'd help them celebrate by helping them grow their stock of cards through our challenge this week.

To help inspire you to participate in our bonus challenge, we are offering a special bonus prize this week -- a $20 gift certificate to spend at My Grafico! To be entered into this drawing, you must mail your card to OWH, and then designate that by typing "OWH" after your name when you link up.

Due to a little mix-up, I'm not sure my card meets the OWH guidelines, but too late now.
I decided to make my first tent topper card. If you would like to try one, here is a good tutorial on Splitcoaststampers. I used a zig writer on the typewriter paper for the appearance of typing.
I've used a Stampin'Up spiral punch on the bottom. The complete recipe is listed at the bottom of my post.

Recipe:
Stamps: My Grafico-Posh 'n Trendy Stamps
Paper: PTI Enchanted Evening, Stampin'Up! Chocolate Chip, unknown dp
Ink: SU Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Cappuccino twine, Stampin'Up! spiral punch, pearls, Recollections florals, Spellbinders circle and circle scalloped dies, Copics, Zig writer

Glorious Autumn

2011-09-26T17:08:00.011-05:00

It has been so long since I've been able to join the girls at The Play Date Cafe. Soooooo, I had a bit of time this afternoon--not really,-- but because I love these colors so much, I decided to get a card made. And, oh my goodness, it is their 100th challenge (PDCC100) and they have a super prize to be won. Below are the scrumptious colors:

It certainly looks a lot like Fall to me.

I made my chrysanthemum from a tutorial from here. It is a tutorial by Carol Hurlock, a good friend. If you haven't visited her gallery, you will want to take a long tour. It's fabulous. The mum was made with a Martha Stewart cornflower punch.

My punched border tutorial was found here. It is by Becca Feeken. You'll also want to visit her blog.
She is another very talented lady. I love her tutorials. This was made with a Moroccan border punch by EK Success (not a punch around the page).

My stamp is from Sweet Stamps purchased at Cheery Lynne Designs and is called Leaf Corner. I absolutely love it.

More wonderful challenges:
Woodware USA has a Fall theme challenge-#45-Happy Fall Y'all
The Corrosive Challenge Blog #133-Punches and/or Dies
Card Makin Mama Challenge Blog-#29-Punches
Simon Says Stamp-Punches or Dies

Recipe:
Stamps: Sweet Stamps (purchased at Cheery Lynne Designs) Leaf Corner, Sentiment from Mark's Finest Papers-Autumn Glory set
Paper: PTI white cardstock, unknown name on my rusty color paper (purchased at a scrapbook store),
Accessories: EK Success Moroccan Border punch, pearls, ribbon, Martha Stewart cornflower punch

Fill Your Christmas Stocking

2011-09-23T10:03:00.003-05:00

On Splitcoaststampers, the new QFTD #79 is Liz aka lazylizard. I cased this card of hers. I was wanting to use this Sizzix stocking die that I bought last year and never managed to use. I used a K&CO border and a Cuttlebug embossing folder called snowflakes. No coloring on this card. The sentiment is from Mark's Finest Papers and is a stamp set called Christmas Postage Due.

Challenges:
Southern Girls Challenge #28-Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp-Dies to Die For-Use punches or dies
Shopping Our Stash-No Coloring Allowed
Anything Goes Challenge Blog-#50-Anything Goes at Anything Goes
jingle belles - holiday card that captures suzy snowflake (my snowflake embossing folder)
Recipe:
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers-Christmas Postage Due
Paper: PTI white cardstock
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Sizzix die-Christmas ornament, light, and stocking, K&CO Elizabeth Brownd adhesive stickers, Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder, Flower Soft gold braid, peppermint sticks from scrapbook store (no name)

You're Special

2011-09-22T10:24:00.008-05:00

I meant to spend the day organizing my craft room but I landed here instead. Do you ever go to your craft room to put things away and suddenly you're making a card? How does that happen? :-)

Mark's Finest Papers, Speedy the Cat's Friends Challenge #73 is to do a one layer card. I am using a
MFP stamp set called Just Dandy. This is one of the many sentiments included in the set.

My embossing folder is a Sizzix called Birds and Wreath Set. The folder is turned upside down to accommodate my one layer and I like it either way. I added a butterfly brad after removing the prongs that stick through and then popped on...didn't want them showing on the inside.

More wonderful challenges:
Less is More #33-Anything CAS
Truly Scrumptious Challenge Blog-#66-Clean and Simple
Shopping Our Stash-No Coloring Allowed
House of Gilli-embossing challenge

Merry & Bright

2011-09-21T23:00:00.001-05:00

Vicky Gould asked the Stampin' B's Design Team to make a card using at least two Spellbinder dies. Yikes! I may be in trouble as I used two but they are the same die. I didn't mean for that to happen but as the card went along, it had to happen...not good planning, I suppose. No challenge police....please.
There are no rules on this challenge so I feel fairly safe. :-)

I sometimes like to do non traditional colors on my Christmas cards. I wanted to use this stamp set from Mark's Finest Papers called Snowman Country and used only the tree, which I gold embossed. My dies are Spellbinders deckle nesties. I really like the designer paper which my sister gave me. It is My Mind's Eye-Lost & Found Christmas (pad)...which gave it a vintage look, therefore, the distressing. Rest of recipe is below.

Hope you'll get out your dies and join us.

Recipe:
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers-Snowman Country-sentiment is the dp
Paper: Stampin'Up! Chocolate Chip, PTI vintage cream
Accessories: Recollections floral embellishment, Spellbinders deckle nestabilitie, red gemstones, VersaMark Dazzle, Stamp 'n Stuff jeweled gold embossing powder, Offray-Galena metallic ribbon

Happy Fall-Tuesday Throwdown #67

2011-09-20T03:00:00.005-05:00

It's Tuesday again and we have another fun challenge at Tuesday Throwdown. The theme is Fall. I wanted to do this pretty image called Autumn that Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps provided the design team. I decided to do something a little different and paper piece my pumpkins with brown and white dotted paper. I colored the leaves and stems and added a flourish vine. I cut a Spellbinders Labels 14 to put my image on and used designer paper from a K&CO Ghostly Greetings die cut mat pad (green). The polka dotted paper came from a scrapbook store and has no name. I computer generated my sentiment and die cut with a Spellbinders nested pennant die cut.
We sure hope to see you playing along with us at Tuesday Throwdown. You may win some wonderful digi stamps. Check it out!

Recipe:
Stamps: Digital image by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (Autumn)
Paper: PTI vintage cream, Stampin'Up! Soft Suede, K&CO Ghostly Greetings
Accessories: Spellbinders Labels 14 die cut, Spellbinders nested pennants die cut, Cheery Lynne Designs vine flourish die, gold gemstones, Copics

Hot Cider/Chocolate, Anyone?

2011-09-14T23:00:00.001-05:00

Let's Get Punchin'...that is the challenge this week at the Stampin B's Design Team. We are to use at least two border punches. I used the Martha Stewart pine needles and the MS holly edge punch. My image is from Mark's Finest Papers, Snowman Country. I stamped it twice and cut out and popped up all but the handle. Added my sentiment from the same set. I colored with Copics and added stickles.

A short week stamping for me. I'm going away for a long weekend so this will probably be my last post this week. See you all when I return.

Challenge:
Mark's Finest Papers-Speedy the Cat's Challenge #72-Use a punch

Recipe:
Stamps-Mark's Finest Papers-Snowman Country
Paper-PTI white, Spring Rain, and Ocean Tide cardstock, Stampin'Up! Real Red cardstock
Ink-Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories-Martha Stewart pine needles and holly edge punches, EK Success corner punch, Stardust stickles

Choo Choo

2011-09-14T16:37:00.006-05:00

A quick post...I think I know two munchkins who will love this card (and another one I will need to make just like it)... my two yr old grandson and the other that just turned three. They love Thomas the Train and all the other trains that go along with Thomas. They know them all by name and, believe me, there are several. I think their attention span and their memories are much better than mine. :-)

I watercolored a scene and used this adorable train from Mark's Finest Papers set called All Aboard!
I jusmade my clouds with scissors just by cutting in a cloud shape and watercolored them. The sentiment and crossing signs are from MFP, too.

Challenges:
My Partner in Crafting Crime - Challenge #31-Trains, Planes, and Automobiles
Crafting When We Can-Do It Your Own Way-Anything Goes

Recipe:
Stamps-Mark's Finest Papers-All Aboard
Paper: PTI white cardstock, Stampin'Up! All Night Navy
Accessories: Tombow Markers, water and brush

The Raggedies

2011-09-13T03:00:00.008-05:00

This week at Tuesday Throwdown #66, Stitchy Bear Digital Stamps is supplying the team with digital stamps to use. Our challenge this week is pearls. My pearls are on the sentiment panel, six black pearls. I love this adorable digi called The Raggedies. My son had a Raggedy Andy when he was really small. He still has it although one of the feet is barely hanging on and needs repairing.

I decided to make an easel card. I colored the image with Copics, used letters from an alphabet I bought when I used to scrapbook, and used a heart punch.

Challenges I'm entering:
Stamps R Us Challenge Blog-Friendship
I Did It Creations Challenge Blog-#72-Anything Goes
My Time Made Easy Pretty Palette #26-red, white, and blue

Recipe:
Stamps: Stitchy Bear Digital Stamps
Paper: Stampin'Up! Real Red, PTI white cs
Accessories: misc. letters, Fiskars punch with no name, Copics, black pearls

Spook-tacular!

2011-09-09T10:40:00.001-05:00

I wanted to honor the Queen for the Day on Splitcoaststampers today. She is Shelly aka yo sam. I cased this card of Shelly's. I found these cute, little pumpkins at Wal-Mart in a set for $.97. They are Studiog. I stamped a couple of them twice and popped up. Ran a couple of panels through the Cuttlebug herringbone embossing folder. Finished it off with the sentiment, ribbon, and gemstones.

Entering these challenges:
Paper Play Challenges Wk. 36-2 or more stamped images
Pals Paper Arts PPA110-Halloween
Craft Us Crazy -Autumn Colors and/or favorite embellishments

Recipe:
Stamps-Studiog clear stamps
Paper: PTI Pure Poppy and white cardstock, Hobby Lobby black cs
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Cuttlebug herringbone embossing folder, gingham check ribbon, gemstones, SU word window punch, Copics

Happy Anniversary

2011-09-07T23:00:00.002-05:00

Anne Harmon is the hostess this week for the Stampin' B's Design Team and she asked we make an anniversary card. Why? Anne is celebrating her wedding anniversary today so a BIG congrats to her.
I should have made mine RED because that is her favorite color. Inking in Red is her blog if you would like to wish her a big, happy anniversary.

This was a really simple card to make. I stamped the beautiful heart from Mark's Finest Papers set called Hearts, Hearts, Hearts three times. Stacked them one on top of the other. I am using my punch around the page (double loop) by Martha Stewart and my all time favorite Cuttlebug embossing folder-Textile, Just added a ribbon and pearl and that's it.

Challenges:
Deep Ocean Challenge Blog-#7--Heart (s)
Crafting When We Can #1-Do it Your Own Way

Recipe:
Stamps-Mark's Finest Papers-Hearts, Hearts, Hearts
Paper-PTI white cardstock
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Spare-Parts brad, sheer ribbon, Cuttlebug Textile embossing folder, Martha Stewart double loop punch