cleaning house.....retired stamps for sale.....

I've been a madwoman today, digging through retired sets to see what I can part with. If you're interested, I've listed the following sets on eBay today.

Dots & Daisies Backgrounder, Whimsical Alphabet both Upper and Lower, Birthday Beauty, Clowning Around, Basket Full of Fun,

Love Matters, Toy Box, A Light Heart,

On the Farm (SOLD)

Here's a link to my "listings" if you have any interest.

Trust me, all the stamps are very loved, but its getting a **little** crowded down there.

I'm also going to be making up bunches and bunches of cards, notecard sets, notecard folios etc all for sale. I'm not sure if any of you that come to read might be interested, I know many of you are crafty yourselves. However, if you ARE interested you can drop me an email at stampedbyhand@comcast.net.

Have a great day.

Don't Forget - What You Got?

Just a reminder to anyone that is interested in playing, tomorrow I'll be announcing a winner for the April "What You Got" challenge that I ran with Nancy and Dawn.

You can read more details on this post here. I'm still collecting entries till tomorrow night at 10pm EST, I'll announce the winner (selected at random from all the entries) on Friday. So grab that Bali Breeze Paper and get stampin!

Sewn on a Limb

I picked up Paper Trey Ink's Out on a Limb expressly for "man cards." However, till now I've only used it for flowery cards. This time, I put it to the use I had originally intended for my little brother's birthday which was earlier this month.

Want to know something funny? I didn't sew this card for the asthetics of it. I sewed it because I was OUT of adhesive. So I HAD to sew it! Giggle.

This card is a 4.25 inch square card of kraft cardstock with Close to Cocoa sewn on top. The front panel is Always Artichoke with a Very Vanilla panel up top.

I need to just pick up a full spool of this striped chocolate May Arts ribbon because I keep buying it a few yards at a time, and then I'm ticked when I run out again. Its a wonderful color and so easy to make a nice little knot. I fully believe you can use ribbon on a guy card, if its the right ribbon.

Happy Stampin!

Best Buddies

Before I say one more thing, today is my kid sister's birthday! Happy Birthday Sweetie!! Wish you were coming here to hang out for the day, rather than having to go to your pesky work! But we'll celebrate soon on family vacation! HOORAY for that!

I paired Jen's Sketch For You To Try with the Making Memories Garden Party paper that I rediscovered during my cleanup the other night! This cute stamp is from Stamping Bella.

And the little flower embellies you see here are also from Stamping Bella. They are these super cute, teeny little flowers!! I put a little crystal into the center of each of them and adhered them in place with my glue pen.

As you can see, I'm having SO much fun with my Janome back in action. I don't think that I've made a card lately that I haven't sewed. LOL!

I've also really been having a blast playing with my Copic markers lately. Now that I've got a few handfuls of colors and a range of colors I've been able to work on shading and blending. The results aren't always what I'd expected, but its fun to play.

Speaking of my "cleanup" the other night, I bought a five drawer paper organizer that I've moved my designer paper collection into. I've got a drawer for my PTI paper, two drawers of SU paper, a drawer of my favorite "stashed" items from eP and my LSS and a drawer completely devoted to scrap! We'll see how long it keeps me organized, but for now, at least its a little more organized down there!

What a Hoot!

My girlfriends and I met up Saturday night for a girls night out - but before that, we had a nice shopping adventure at Colorful Creations in Hyannis (waves - Hi JEN!!)

Meri, Sarah and I were like kids in a candy store snatching up designer paper and going gaga for their amazing collection of stamps. (Kristin, Suzy and Michelle you were SO patient with our ogling and drooling over all the stuff!! Thanks for your patience with us paper crazies!) Jen, we're so looking forward to meeting up with you again for some Amuse Card classes at Ink About It!



We ran across some owl stamps that Meri was loving, and I said WAIT I've GOT owls. I just haven't had a chance to use them yet (shame on me!!). They're from Gina K's most recent release. Frances, you were way ahead of the curve girl because owls are now so hot!



Yesterday afternoon, I was draggin (a little too much fun on G.N.O. for me!) but pulled together some energy to stamp. This card is based off of Beate's Weekend Sketch challenge. However, her main panel was a vertical rectangle, and due to the shape of my image, mine is squared.



The owls were stamped in Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate and then colored in with my aquapainter and watercolor crayons. The cardstock is SU's retired True Thyme with the stitched True Thyme ribbon. The designer paper is Basic Grey Sugared line that I picked up at Eclectic Paperie, I thought that this green pattern was really natural with the owls.



Nesties would have been perfect for that matting, but my package hasn't arrived back yet. I'm going to call ProvoCraft later today to check on it. I miss my little green bug.

Hope you have a great day. Rainy and blah here today, but I'm just reminding myself its good for the grass flowers and bushes right?

Girls, thanks for an amazing night out, and lots of laughs. Whoever made me that little green thing knocked me over the edge. Oh blah, when did I get old? Already can't wait till our next time out. (((smooches)))

Spring Fling Fun Continues

While I had that green polka dotted spring fling paper and the cute wheelbarrow stamp out the other day, I couldn't help but put together another card.

I went into mass production mode and made several of these for a client order then added one extra for a friend's birthday adding "Make A Wish" with a rub on.

I'm going to use this card for my Stampin Up stamp a stack class as well. On this particular card, I used my copic markers, but I'll have my SU class work with the Many Marvelous Markers because many of "my girls" already have them. However, before the class, I'll have to find another sentiment to substitute in so that it isn't using a rub on!


Don't forget that I'm challenging you to Use What You'e Got. You can find all the details on this post and I'm drawing a winner out of the participants, so drag out that Bali Breeze and get stampin!

With the weather so beautiful we're trying to maximize the amount of time outside the house and then at night, I'm draggin! Hope you're having a little spring fun of your own!

Have a wonderful day!

Fins and Frogs

Carole is hostessing the challenge for The Cat's Pajama's this week- I knew right off the bat which Jimmy Buffet song I wanted to use as my inspiration "Fins." I totally remember dancing around in college with my girls yelling "fins to the left, fins to the right, and she's the ONLY girl in town."

Speaking of college days, I'm getting together tomorrow with my best girlfriends from college, we're all turning 35 this year, and to celebrate we're taking a night away, just the girls. I can't wait.

Whoops, got distracted there.... back to the card.

While I didn't have any fishy stamps for the challenge, I do have this little TCP frog princess, and just like the song, she looks just so thrilled (snort...) to be surrounded by prospective suitors eh?

So, since this is a card for Carole's challenge, it just had to be vibrant in color. They're frogs for goodness sake, so Wild Wasabi was the choice, and only diehard preppies like Carole and I pair Wild Wasabi with pink! (I actually notice while typing I'm wearing a pink and green polo shirt this morning....)

The top wasabi piece is stamped with one of the background heart circles from "Loving Mew" using versamark and the card is finished off with wild wasabi double stitched ribbon.

Off to pack up the boys for a little excursion to take adavantage of this beautiful day!

Have a good one!

Friendship

I'm embarrassed to say that I bought this stamp set with probably my first order out of the new catalogue in January, and sadly, I only trimmed it out last week. EEKS!

But I've been working on samples for my upcoming Stamp a Stack as well as filling come client card orders and thought since spring is finally here at last (hooray!) that it was about time to get this inked up and put to use!

The image was stamped onto Very Vanilla cardstock, with Stazon. Then stamped onto Spring Fling paper to paper piece the wheel barrow. The flowers were colored with my So Saffron marker and the wheel was colored in with my Going Grey watercolor wonder crayon.

I created a little notch for the ribbon with my slit punch. The only thing I need to change for my Stamp A Stack is to select a Stampin Up sentiment, this one is from Paper Trey Ink.

**The last time I mentioned my Stamp a Stack someone commented that they weren't familiar with the term. I'm offering a card class for my customers that they'll make a variety of cards with different themes, techniques etc and leave with a "stack" of both new cards, and hopefully some new ideas too!**

Have a great day!

Stitched it!

You know what happens when I clean my desk? I found several sheets of this paper that I'm totally in love with. Scenic Route Lyden Collection. I just love these colors! The card base is Soft Sky and the green is Paper Trey Ink's Spring Moss.

See all that stitching? Guess what I fixed! That's right, the Janome is back!! sweeeeeeet!! I re-threaded the whole thing, and fiddled with the bobbin compartment - and adjusted the tension and its fixed. I did a lot of sewing last night (card sewing that is... lets not get ahead of ourselves!)

The image here was stamped three times. Once for the dress onto a scrap of the Lynden paper, and twice onto Poison Ivory cardstock. I colored the flowers, flower pot and her arms on one, and used the other as the template to match everything back up. It is a wee bit time consuming to do all that trimming, but I just love the results so its totally worth it. Anything not paper pieced was colored with Copic markers.

Now, the only thing I'm missing, is my bug. Boring old square mats here, but hopefully all that stitching takes your eye away from that? Bug was due to arrive at Provocraft Monday, so I can only hope that my replacement bug is now making its way to me??

Did you see the super cute new watermark that Kim sent all the girls on the DT? Isn't it adorable?? Its created by Sara from Tweaks and Designs. I'm so excited that I'm making my way up the queue for her to work on my blog design. How fun!!

I know yesterday I promised an SU card today, but I just had so much fun with the Janome and the paper piecing that I was eager to share. I'll have some SU love for you tomorrow instead. Promise.

I need a card, quick!!

I've been filling client orders again, and today, in the middle of filling an order, I decided that I wanted to enter one of the cards for a pub call. So, I had to quickly replace one of the cards (I'd made two for the order) so that I could keep one on hand **just in case - fingers crossed** and still deliver the completed card pack to my client.

This is going to look really similar to a card you've just seen from me the other day for the Gina K previews.

However, this time, I switched up the sentiment to make it a new baby boy card. Luckily, I had tucked my mask from my hippo card into my stamp packaging! Sweet, what a time saver!

You'll see that I also used the treatment from my giraffe card last week to place the sentiment and some baby boy balloons on the inside of the card.

From a-ha moment of "I need a new card" to tucking the finished piece into my clients envelope, I seriously spent 20 minutes. In posting this, I'm wishing I'd had a little more time to add some additional embellishements to the front, a tiny tag, or something (but 1) I haven't yet recieved my replacement Cuttlebug from ProvoCraft, and 2) I was racing against the naptime clock big time!!)

This card was made using Just so Hippy and Hip Hop Accessories from Gina K Designs, as well as a sentiment from How Sweet It Is. There are a few challenges posted on the Gina K Member Company Forum and winners will be selected at random to win free sets! Get going!!

The weather has finally turned beautiful around here! Hooray! Hope Spring has finally arrived wherever you are!

Have a great day, I've got an SU card for you tomorrow!!

Don't Forget!

Quick post today, busy day with the family!




Don't forget.... today is Celebrate MFT day over on Splitcoast. Be sure to check out this thread for details. Here's a quick card I made this morning while the boys watched Diego.



And, also tonight is Gina K's launch party over on Splitcoast on her Member Forum. Four great new sets will be released, as well as a fun new embellishment. Hope to see you there tonight starting at 7pm CST!

Have a great day, and see you tonight!

Hippy Previews

Today I've got two more Gina K previews for you. I was over the moon when I heard that Melanie had a coordinating set coming out for her "Just so Hippy" and "Just so Hoppy" sets.

This accessories set contains miniature versions of some of the characters from the previous sets, great little coordinated accessories like a crown, a rattle, a lilly pad and you will not get over how many fun words are included to create the exact sentiment you need. All told there are 50 images in this sheet of rubber. FIFTY! Amazing!!

I thought that the baby giraffe would be so so sweet for a scrapbook page. Its so cute and petite. Within the accessories I found a rattle, a paci and a diaper pin. Using my Blush Blossom Cardstock and my versamark pad, I made a subtle overall background for the page.

There's no way you'll see it in this picture, but the background is so cute in real life. The little baby was stamped on Ivory cardstock then colored with my copic markers and trimmed out and popped onto a dimensional. I added the title "you're my princess" by lining up the "you're my" and then the "princess" on my clear block - I have a block with grid lines that is SO handy for thing like that...

The big ivory space, is clearly for a photo. I'm sending this off to a friend that just had a new baby girl, but if you come here a lot, you know I don't share photos of my kids or my friends kids for privacy reasons. You'll just have to imagine her sweet little face!

I've got a second card that shows a mommy and a baby hippy! The hippo. Look how sweet they are all nuzzled up together. LOVE IT!

With the help of my eclipse tape, I stamped the baby first with stazon, then I stamped her again onto a piece of eclipse tape to mask her. Then stamped the mom to the left and a little higher to place her "behind" the baby. Pull off the mask and voila! Snuggled.

The images are watercolored with an aquapainter and ink from the lids of my inkpads. This paper is Stampin Up's Afternoon Tea which I totally adore and I finished the card off with what I call a "Beate Style photo corner punch" (aka, loaded with brads LOL!)

This sentiment is my very favorite of all "I sure look up to you." I plan to get a baby and mama giraffe card made with this same sentiment next week!

Don't forget, Gina will be releasing four new sets and an embellishment Sunday night. Please join us for the Launch Party from 7-10pm CST on this thread on the Splitcoast Member Company forum.

Gina has even more previews for you on her blog today. Don't miss it!

Comfort and Peace

I have two previews for you today of the soon to be released "Comfort and Peace" set that is the new "Free with Three" set from Gina K Designs.

Gina designed this set for those most difficult of cards to make, either a sympathy card, or an illness that just might not get better. These somber occasions call for just the right sentiment, and Gina surely has developed some beautiful ones for this set.

For me, these are a challenging type of card to make, because it isn't about pink and girly and "stuff". I challenged myself to step out of my little box and create something really clean for this set.

The first card I did uses River Rock cardstock and an Always Artichoke matting. My nesties would have been perfect here, however, you may know my cuttlebug is broken (gasp) instead, I added subtle detail to the card base with the help of my Scor Pal and a thin strip of double stitched ribbon across the center.

For my second card, I decided that the lovely flowers in this sentiment would make a very nice background treatment.

I stamped with Versamark onto So Saffron cardstock and with the help of my coluzzle, trimmed an oval frame on the front half of the card.

I then stamped the flower on a piece of ivory cardstock and added it to the inside so that it would be seen through the frame. A small piece of Old Olive grosgrain ribbon finishes it off.

Hopefully, I'll never need to mail these cards, but if and when the occasion arises, I'll have something that will hopefully bring some comfort and peace to the recipient.

Gina has even more previews to share on her blog as well. Please be sure to visit to see what she's done with this beautiful set.

Four new stamp sets and a really fun new embellishment (shown on Gina's blog yesterday) will be released this Sunday night, April 20th. I'll have a preview of another one of the stamp sets tomorrow night!!

What You've Got

Nancy and Dawn are joining me for a monthly Stampin Up based challenge. This month, we decided to work with Bali Breeze paper, any SU stamp set, and we'd all work with LONG cards.

I pulled out a few sets that I simply HAD to have, but sadly, don't use that often. Do you have any of those? This long spaced card gave me a lot of room to play with. The stamps sets I used here are Wonderful Favorites, Definition and Stitched Exotics. I finished that flower off with some Felt Flower Fusion and a rhinestone brad.

I just love the really funky flowers that Nancy created for this challenge. I was totally in LOVE with this stamp set last spring, and used it on everything. This card makes me want to dig it out and get stamping. I'm totally CASEing this!

Dawn used the Pomegranate paper from this Bali Breeze collection and a stamp set that I must admit to coveting, but don't yet own. The pomegranate and black are such a great color combo.

Both the girls have some more Bali Breeze samples that they're putting up on their blogs later today, so keep your eyes peeled! I've seen them and they are aaaahhhhhmazing!

I'd love for you to join in our little What You've Got challenge. Here are the rules

1) Since the idea is to use What You've Got, you can either use Bali Breeze paper, or simply get inspired by the color pallette within the collection and use coordinating cardstock for this designer paper series.

2) Create a long card - the kind that fits in a business sized envelope using SU only supplies.

3) Have FUN! This challenge is about using what you've already got, digging out some things that you already own and putting them to use! Lets use up that Designer paper to make room for all the newness that will be released this summer with the new catalogue!

4) Post a link here with your creation, if you're using Splitcoast you can post with the code "WYG" so that we can see everything all together.

You can post a comment on this thread with the link to your creation to be entered into a drawing for a prize. This challenge runs through May 1st!

All That Afternoon Tea

My card club girls sold me on this "She's All That" set from SU. Hmm. Isn't it supposed to be the other way, that I'm selling them on things? LOL!

To be honest, I wasn't too sure when I saw it in the catalogue, (mabye its because I was just so in love with some other things in there??) but it sure is super fun to play with.

This is the second card in a card pack for a friend who liked my last preggers siloutte girl that she commissioned me to put together an assorted pack. The third card is just below....

Again, I know, with the swiss dots folder for my Cuttlebug. But, I can't help myself, its the cutest thing. This is another card I made before my bug busted. I didn't realize how often I use it till its gone. Sniff. But remember, provo craft ROCKS and is hooking me up. Love that.

The designer paper is Afternoon Tea and the colors are so delicate. I'm in full panic mode that Soft Sky is going away in just a few months. So, in the interim, you're going to see an abundance of Soft Sky and River Rock from me in the months to come. Then, I might just lose all sense of mojo, crash and burn. (Let's hope not.)

This second card is also She's All That and Afternoon Tea. The only thing I wish I had for this was the sweeeet rectangle nesties that are making their way to me - thanks to a sweet hookup from a friend! But, sniff sniff, no bug yet to put them to good use. In the meanitime, I added a soft sky mat and roughed it up with my edge distresser for that shabby look.

I spent a good two hours cleaning up my stamp area last night, and ran across the instructions for my Janome. Tonight, I'm going to see if I can fix that baby up because stitching all around that panel would also make me feel a little better, its feeling sort of naked and vast right now. Needs some lovin. In fact, I'm going to go pop this panel off and faux stitch it --- wish me luck

Bubbly Mojo

A sketch that needs playing, some stamps that need inking, new paper that hasn't been cut yet! Oh man!

This stamp set "Time for the Bubbly" is one of my all time favorite My Favorite Things images, but can you believe I didn't actually have it until quite recently.

The Mojo Monday sketch for this week was just perfect for this image, and then lo and behold, my Blue Hill Crate Paper arrived from eclectic Paperie (thanks girls!)


The image was stamped onto Cryogen White paper with my Brilliance Black ink and I set it aside to dry while I worked on all my matting layers.

The carstock used here is Blush Blossom and Creamy Caramel. The two blush panels are stamped with linen background from SU then all the blush mats are paper pierced.

Once the ink was set, I colored in with my Copics adding some sakura stardust to the mirror and the bubbles for some shine. The mirror frame was stamped with creamy caramel then trimmed out and added into place with my quickie glue pen.

I added a layer of shine to the mirror with my Diamond Glaze and left it overnight to dry before assembling the full card.

My bathroom is nowhere near as luxurious as this. In fact, right now it is harboring lots of bath toys and hooded towels for the boys. Maybe this is what my bathroom can look like in, oh another 20 years, but a girl can dream right?

Hippy Returns

I was so excited when an order for a few baby cards came my way. What a wonderful excuse to bring out the Hippy's and play!

This stamp set is "Just so Hippy" from Gina K Designs, which was illustrated by Melanie. If you don't already read her blog, get on over there! She has tons of really helpful hints and clever ways to extend your stamp sets. She's so stinkin' clever.

Okay, this is a color combination I'm totally stuck on lately, and don't you think its sweet for baby cards? Blush Blossom, Very Vanilla and Close to Cocoa.

Clearly I made this card last week before I busted my bug as it has my cherished "swiss dots" embossing folder. (Um which is now stuck in my bug, and somewhere over the US in a DHL plane headed back to provo craft - sniff sniff)

I stamped the giraffe twice and trimmed out just the back legs and behind to bump it out one level for a little added dimension. (um, an idea I got from Melanie!!) The whole thing is colored with my copic markers and I have to say, I love doing that, so relaxing!

I just couldn't fool with the front to add a sentiment, I loved it all clean like this.... so instead, I added some coordinating balloons and the sentiment to the inside of the card. The sentiment is actually from "How Sweet it Is" from Gina K Designs. This stamp set benefits both the American Diabetes Association and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. $7.00 of every set sold is divided evenly between these two organzations.

While I'm on the topic of Gina K, the next release party will be this coming Sunday, Sptil 20th! We will be having a release party on Splitcoast Stampers in the Member Company Forum 7:00PM- 10:00PM. Then, the new goodies be live in the store at 10:00 PM. Hope to see you there!

Have a great day everyone!

Can you help?

Kim at My Favorite Things Stamps is starting a promotion tomorrow to help raise funds for a friend who lost his wife this past week to a rare form of ovarian cancer.

Please be sure to check this very special post on Kim's blog. You can pick up some MFT stamps at a discount, but more importantly, you'll be helping to raise funds for this family in need.

Starting on Tuesday, Kim is offering a 10% discount on ALL stamps on the site. Use the coupon code Tish at checkout to receive 10% off all all the stamps in your shopping cart. (It won’t discount your other merchandise, just stamps.) The coupon code will run from Tuesday, April 15th-Friday, April 18th. 2) Kim will donate 10% of ALL proceeds (including money spent on other items on the site) to the family at their April 26th benefit.

Provocraft Rocks!

I have a busted bug, with an embossing folder trapped inside. Sniff.

However, I have to say how TRULY fabulous ProvoCraft Customer service is. All I have to say, is that they stand 100% behind their products, they are going to fix me up with a working bug, and I'll be very, very happy to continue to buy from them.

Oh, life is sweet. Thank you dear ProvoCraft for resuing me and my Cuttlebugging needs!

SU's back to play!

Quick post today, I've got some client orders to wrap up this week, a card got picked up for publication (hooray!!!) that I've got to make some tweaks to and get out in the mail, samples to make for my Friday challenge with Nancy and Dawn, and a project club to prep for on Thursday night!

I've got two quick SU projects using Stampin Up's Summer Picnic Designer paper.

I hope you're not tired of seeing these card folios that I show every now and again. But they just seem to look so cute with any paper I've got hangin' around (um, which is a lot)

Inside, I've tucked four matching notes and envelopes.

I also was way behind in a birthday card for a little friend of ours. The card was to celebrate this little cutie's birthday, but really, we all know the cards are for the moms right? I knew my friend would snatch it up before the little guy ate it!

I started trying to work with Taylor's challenge from two weeks ago, but couldn't get the proportions right.

I knew I wanted to use Summer Picnic paper, but I challenged myself to use something other than Tart and Tangy to go with it.

I reached for Big Bold Birthday and inked up the present and the bow to match with the designer paper.

Off to another crazy day around here. I've got some photo editing to do so I can share some of the new things I worked on this weekend!

Have a great day everyone!

Treasure!

I can't believe I completely forgot to upload this card earlier in the week. This lovely piece of Cosmo Cricket paper might be my favorite pieces of treasure I found in my scrap pile this week.

It is matched with a piece of Soft Sky cardstock and a kraft card base. This was in fact, the very first stamp that I purchased from Gina K back in November.

For this card, I stamped the image with Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate ink, then colored with my copic markers. You can't see it here, but the flower centers have just a little bit of clear spica pen for some shine.

I masked the sentiment to get it stacked up like that in the circle, it comes in a straight line.

Speaking of Gina K, I'm off to start two new swaps with the recently released "Kindred Spirits" line of stamps from Gina K. If you've picked up any of the stamps, please consider joining us! More details on the Gina K Member Company Forum on Splitcoast.

I've got some client orders to fill, a challenge card to work on, samples for my upcoming SU workshop. So, I'll have lots of new to share next week!

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

Sprinkle Returns

You may remember that I posted a card for the Cat's Pajama's Tuesday contest the other day and then realized, I'd used the wrong Sprinkle for the challenge. Well lucky for me, I had the right one! Gee shucks, I'll just have to play along again.

This sassy little cat cracks me up. I had this piece of Scenic Route paper on my desk (okay, it isn't a leftover scrap per say, but it was just sitting out on my desk saying - come on, I'm just waiting for you!!)

I love making triangle trifold cards, and haven't made one in a while. Now that I've got nesties, they're just perfect for the front panel.

Sprinkle is stamped with Brilliance Graphite Black ink. Then I colored in the eyes and nose with my copic markers, and outlined a faint shadow as well. I had these great rhinestones from Jana (thanks sweets!) that I turned into matching emeralds with my green copic marker. What a sweet way to make perfectly matched embellishments for any project!

Lucky me, my sweet friend Meri popped in for a visit, and fell in love with this little card, and now its probably sitting in her craft room! We just love to enable eachother....and I think The Cat's Pajama's now has a new fan in her!!

Feeling like a Kindred Spirit?

Sometimes, don't you feel like you need to be this chick to get everything done? I just wouldn't look so svelte in a cape and leggings. Giggle.

This super mom is one of the newly released "Kindred Spirits" and I used one of the "Kindred Greetings for Her" which are now available for sale at Gina K Designs. My two young boys were totally GAGA for this stamp when they saw it.

This super mom is stamped onto Poison Ivory cardstock, and colored with Copic markers.

I gave the cape a quick glimmer of shine with my spica pen and she's outlined softly in a grey copic marker to help her pop right off the page.

Yes, this is even more DP from my stash pile, this is the Cerise designer paper from SU. (Such a shame they retired that paper, I love it...)

Okay, how about one more Kindred Spirit for the day?

Anyone that knows me well in real life has heard me say "I only run when chased." Seriously, I'm not the girl that says "Let's go out for a run." Ever. But I do have lots of friends that enjoy that crazy past time.

This is a joy fold card, and the inside panel reads "You're Amazing." Because, really, anyone that runs, is seriously that - amazing.

I know now that the weather is improving, one of my crazy friends will sign up for some fundraising run and will commence training for said event. I'll tuck this away for that occasion.

Yes, again with the paper from my stash. These particular pieces are Crate Paper Cowgirl. Are you bored of looking at all my stash paper?

If you're picking up any of the Kindred Spirits stamps, please consider signing up for the Kindred Spirits Swap that I'll be posting on the Gina K Member Forum on Friday!

Have a great day everyone!

Kindred Spirits - The Journey

The Journey Continues - Meet Rebecca:


"My name is Rebecca and I live in Canada. We have had a longer winter than usual but I think spring might be around the corner. I am a work-at-home Mom with two little ones. I decided to do daycare in our home because I wanted to be able to stay home with our kids but we needed some extra income. This allows me to do both and I really like it too.

Life is never dull when you're watching four children under the age of 5! I try to have some sort of structure in my day. We start out with free play time. Sometime mid-morning we gather for a healthy snack. Then, if it's nice enough, we play outside in the snow or hopefully, not in the snow soon! I try to make something that all the kids will eat for lunch. Their favorite seems to be my home baked macaroni and cheese. I love it too, which is making it hard to loose those last 10 pounds of after baby weight!

Oh well. More of me to love!'

Rebecca's Baked Macaroni and Cheese

1/2 pound elbow macaroni
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon powdered mustard
3 cups milk
1/2 cup yellow onion, finely diced
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 large egg
12 ounces sharp cheddar, shredded
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Fresh black pepper

Topping:

3 tablespoons butter
1 cup panko bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large pot of boiling, salted water cook the pasta to al dente. While the pasta is cooking, in a separate pot, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and mustard and keep it moving for about five minutes. Make sure it's free of lumps. Stir in the milk, onion, bay leaf, and paprika. Simmer for ten minutes and remove the bay leaf. Temper in the egg. Stir in 3/4 of the cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Fold the macaroni into the mix and pour into a 2-quart casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese. Melt the butter in a saute pan and toss the bread crumbs to coat. Top the macaroni with the bread crumbs. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and rest for five minutes before serving.

Remember to save leftovers for fried Macaroni and Cheese.
---------------------

Okay, now its me, Joanne again! Seriously how excited was I when I recieved my packet of Kindred Spirits for this launch? After all, Rebecca and I share the same occupation! (If you didn't know, I operate a home based daycare too!) Wouldn't this stamp make a fantastic card for your care provider, or sitter? Did you know that May 9th is Provider Appreciation Day? I swear I'm not making it up, go google it!!

Its also great for cards for friends, or loved ones with preschoolers at home. Always with their arms full!

These stamps will be made available at one minute past midnight on April 10th. The Kindred Spirits are sold as single stamps, deepley etched rubber on cling vinyl, ready to be trimmed and used with acryic blocks. The sentiment I used for this card is part of a set that can be used with all of the Kindred spirits and many other stamps they already have. It is sold separately and comes in a tin.

To see more Kindred Spirits, you can continue the journey, by clicking here.

check back tonight....

Have you read this post over on Gina K's Blog? Intrigued?

I know what's going on, and even still, reading that post gets me all goosebumpy with excitement!

Check back here just after midnight CST and see what's next. (oops, realized I put 12 EST earlier, but you're going to have to wait a weeee bit longer. That's 1am EST for us East Coasters!)

Gotta Read the Directions

Oh, I was so excited to jump in and play with this weeks TCP Tuesday challenge, and I had the Mojo on my mind....but I didn't apparently pay too much attention to the directions. (Whoops.) I grabbed this cute Sprinkle from "Its a Western Thing" the because I think she's just so sassy and cute with her skirt and lassoo!

But, now, as I go back to post, whoops, I was supposed to use a specific sprinkle. Oopsie, that's what I get for being excited, and in a hurry! Well, it just gives me another excuse to play along right?



For now, here's the deets on the card. This is Julee Tillman's Mojo Monday challenge, and you can see that I'm still on my - use the scraps kick.

Whats really fun about this is seeing what lives in the stack o' scraps, and if I've got enough of any given piece to finish up a project. Its also gratifying to try to get my money's worth out of that pile - because apparently there are still lots of treasure in there! Its sort of like borrowing a jigsaw puzzle from someone, you're not sure if all the pieces are there, but you want to give it a go!



Sprinkle was stamped with my Brilliance Graphite Black pad onto Poison Ivory cardstock, then I paper pieced her dress with scraps of that Crate Paper Cowgirl (um, my first ever eP purchase last spring!!)

The rest of that sassy cat was colored in with my Copic markers. The medallion is an SU punch with the star from this Swanky set set on top and studdd with a copper brad in the center. I really wanted to stitch this with my Janome, but it went wonky on me and is creating a mess on my cards. Anyone remember when Cammie's janome attacked her cards and made all that mess? Well, mine apparently has the same sickness. Help??


So, faux stitching and edge distressing instead for me today. Okay, off to locate the correct Sprinkle and try again. My husband has been sick in bed now for two full days, so looks like a stamp-o-rama for me tonight!

Couldn't Miss It

I had such fun being Jen's Guest Designer for her Sketch for You To Try last month, that I couldn't miss playing along this weekend.

To up the ante for myself, I committed that I'd use only SU for this challenge, and in particular that I'd use the Summer Picnic paper (you know, that paper that I HAD to have, but I've been hoarding, afraid to cut into it because its so super cute.) Well, what good is paper if you don't USE it! Right? So cut away....

This card is going postal today to the leader of our local SU group. I've got to send in my RSVP and my registration for our upcoming Quarterly Meeting. Oh man, I've got to come up with something for a swap. Better get crackin!!

Hope you all have a wonderful day

MFT Monday

The MFT Sketch Challenge of the week went up late last night and I was so excited to have an excuse to add a little MFT to my "to do" list for the week. I recently picked up Let's Go for a Walk and hadn't had a chance to get it all inky yet.

The supplies here are all from my generous stash of SU paper. I used Summer Picnic Designer Series Paper, the yummy Bashful Blue Striped Grosgrain, a few Felt Flower Fusion pieces with a Gemstone Brad through the center, as well as a piece of chipboard.

I covered the chipboard quickly with the help of my Five Petal Punch, then after adhering the designer paper I inked up all the edges with a sponge and some Close to Cocoa ink.

The image was stamped with Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate ink, then colored in with my Prismacolor pencils, blended with OMS and a blending stump.

I pretty much followed the sketch, I just didn't add a sentiment where I was supposed to. I just couldn't make it work, it was junking up the layout where it was supposed to go. I skipped it. Whoopsie!

Its already been popped into the mail to one of my MFT pals!

I'm running an infirmary today instead of a daycare. My little guy is sick, my two clients are sick, and my husband is home sick in bed. Hope you all have a good day. I'm off to wipe noses....

Use "What You've Got"

As I've been mentioning, my SU stuff was feeling a little neglected. And, lord knows I've got a very decent sized collection. I thought it would be fun to challenge a few of my friends, to keep that SU momentum going.

So, once a month, I'm going to challenge Nancy and Dawn. We'll find some SU supplies that we all already own, and see what we can come up with. Since this is purely for fun, I'm giving us all two weeks to work, and then we'll show you what we came up with. At that time, the challenge is raised to YOU, then you will all have two weeks to see what you can come up with.

The first challenge has been issued to the girls. We'll have our projects for you next Friday and then I can't wait to see what you all come up with. The SCS keyword will be "WYG" for "What You've Got." The idea here is to get inspired by what already lives in your stamp collection, paper stash etc. I know we're all buying it... so lets see what we can actually DO with it!

I can't wait to see what the girls come up with, they're both madly talented.

have a great day!

Really I do....

I do truly still love my SU stamps, although I've been so busy lately that the poor were a bit neglected. I'm going to make it a priority to get at least one post a week fully dedicated to where it all began for me, Stampin Up.

I've been meaning to hold a stamp a stack class, but just hadn't the time to get the samples done. Hooray! I'm finally going to hold that class after all and its a great incentive for me to spend some time designing with Stampin Up Only supplies.

Here are the first two designs I've come up with for the class. I hope to have a few more next week....

The first one is "She's all That" which I've stamped with Chocolate Chip onto Very Vanilla cardstock. The mats here are Close to Cocoa and Blush Blossom. The designer paper is a Groovy Guava pattern from Ginger Blossom. I know "my girls" really like this silhouette chick - it sure does make for a quick card production. Since we're going to have a lot of cards to make that night, I need to make at least a few of them pretty straightforward!

The second card uses what is probably one of my most loved stamps from the new catalogue "Always." Admittedly, I did not make this card straightforward, but if I were just making this card once, I'd probably make it even more complex, for instance, I'd versamark, emboss and heat set the bird if I were doing it just for me, I did try to simplify for class purposes. I couldn't help adding some minor paper piercing across the bottom of the main panel and the very top of the card

The top is a piece of So Saffron designer series paper. I've stamped "Tres Chic" backgrounder on the bottom. You'll see I put the full gamut of SU's circle punches to use on the little medallion. If you haven't noticed, I love my punches!

For anyone local that is interested in attending a class, I'll post the dates, times and price for the class once I've finished up my samples. Until I know how much "stuff" I've got to buy, I won't have accurate pricing. The class will be held sometime mid May.

So, while we're on the topic, where did your "stamping adventure" first start? I'd love to know what your first stamping love was.....

Sketch Challenge Addiction

I read on the Gina K Member Company forum that Gina was the host of this weeks CPS Sketch of the week so I bopped on over to check it out, and what a FUN sketch. Yes, I'm addicted to card sketches, its such a quick jump on a project. And, I love seeing how everyone can look at the same diagram in so many versatile ways!

If you pop over there, you'll see that all the CPS designers are working with the current "Free with 3" set titled Spring Blooms. They have so many great examples.

Once I saw the sketch, I knew it had to be on my to do list for the week. The only question was which of my many Gina K sets would I use. I chose Heartfelt Hits for the job and found some blush blossom cardstock on my desk.

See, its a good thing I keep a messy desk, project ideas are right at my fingertips, literally. LOL!



This stamp is SO easy to work with, all you've got to do is select a dress color, fill in her hair, their faces and voila! I colored with my Copic Markers and then used Jen's tip of swooshing around your sakura stardust pen with an aquapainter for a quick and mess free soft glitter effect on the dress.

Yes, the buttons again. The sketch called for something, and yes, I'm on a button craze lately, that Making Memories collection I purchased is just chock full of them and I'm getting used to things maybe not matching all the time.

The sentiment is from Paper Trey Ink's Mixed Messages set. A true go to for me. My little guy was climbing all over me as I was trying to tuck the sentiment on an already finished card (always a dicey choice.... leave it alone or risk ruining it.) but the sentiment was just the right size, I held my breath, wished for the best and phew, I didn't blow it! Phew.

Its raining and cold today. I was going to head to my LSS to stock up on some paper for an upcoming DT project, but I'm going to be brave, and for a change work with all existing materials for the project. It really is quite obscene how much paper I already own, so I'm sure I can come up with something for the job using what I've got. Right??

Happy Prettie Mail

My latest batch of Copics arrived from Paper Pretties the other day. I've actually been so busy, that I forgot they were already on the way, so it was an even extra special treat when I found that Paper Pretties envelope waiting for me in my mailbox!


I couldn't wait for a little time to sit down and work with them. I though that the Night Blue worked perfectly for a mans sport coat, and got to work with my Sealed with a Kiss Paper Pretties Clear Art Stamp.


Ah man, I wish that I'd have someplace nice to go so I could get all dolled up like that. Sadly, a big excursion for me is more like the supermarket, the post office, or yes, the local stamp store! Wahoo!

Christie announced yesterday that the lovely and talented Danielle Lounds is now a Prettie Girl! Danielle has joined us the last few months as a guest, and I've loved dropping by to see all her beautiful creations! Congratulations Danielle!!


Earlier this week, the four new guest designers were announced. One of them is actually myfriend Colleen who is one of my monthly project club girls! What a small world is that! Be sure to stop by the The Guest Room to read their bios and get links to their blogs! Welcome girls!!! Can't wait to see your Prettie creations!

If you're looking for some deals, there's a sale section over at Pretties right now. Go pick up some patterned paper, ribbon or some ink pads or stamps (um....lots of sale stamps ladies, go go!!) at reduced prices while supplies last.

For a sweet baby...

I almost forgot to post the other card I mentioned with Jen's Sketch for You To Try this week.

Okay, I cheated a teensy bit here, because it doesn't have the row of embellies down the top right, but this big scalloped nestie didn't leave a lot of room for extra "stuff."

This stork image with the little baby all snuggled up is my new favorite choice for baby cards. Its so sweet.

This image is Gina K's latest Stamp for a Cause titled "How Sweet it Is." Seven dollars of each stamp set sold is split between The American Diabetes Association and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

I used Jen's tip about distributing the ink from my sakura stardust pen to give the entire stork a glimmer. The baby's bundle is paper pieced with the light blue designer paper, and the rest of the image is colored with copic markers.

This adorable paper is Making Memories noteworthy line and this, sniff, sniff, is my last of the supply I picked up a few weeks ago. However, I'm headed on an excursion to my LSS tomorrow, and very likely, I'll be adding some to my stash for any upcoming requests for baby cards.

This ribbon is to die for, and is also Making Memories. At my LSS it is sold by the yard, and also as part of a collection pack of ribbon. If you find it, go for it by the yard because it is delicious and ties so nicely.

I've had this card sitting around my kitchen all week for me to enjoy, but now its getting packed up and sent off to my friend that just had a new baby. After all, I do create these cards to eventually get sent out to someone, not for me to sit and admire right? (Am I the only one that finds it hard to let go of their creations? LOL!)

Bright Branches

I was so happy when Nichole showed us the latest color choices in her Perfect Match line, Sweet Blush and Berry Sorbet. This is the Sweet Blush, I've got some cards with Berry Sorbet next week.

I'm really a pink girl at heart, and Out on a Limb really just was crying out for cherry blossoms and coordinated designer paper. I did get a good work around with my chalk ink and my groovy guava - but I like these colors even better.

Honestly, I just LOVE this stamp set!

Hope I'm not boring you with this, as I've shown very similar cards in the past with this set, but I think these colors are just so fresh and clean, and besides, keeping the design simple and clean makes it ultra handy for mass production for my card clients, and I've got a few orders to fulfill.

I just asked my five year old what he thinks of this card and he said "its very pretty." Aw, he's smart, knows how to butter me up for a snack and he wants to head over to youtube to see what we can find in the way of star wars videos made with lego pieces!

Have a great day everyone!

Tonight's the night!

When I received my "Can Ya Dig It" set from MFR, I grabbed right into my paper pile to find this Daisy Bucket designer paper that I recently picked up. I saw it at CHA and just adored the texture of it.



I had to do a lot of masking to get the layers all right. The key is to stamp whatever you want in the front first, then stamp all your lower images after that.



That being said, I goofed however, and realized after I'd done my whole little scene, that I hadn't stamped the carrots in the field. I only had stamped the ones that she'd already picked.



So, I ended up trimming them out and popping them up for a little added dimension.



I colored the scene with my Prismacolor pencils and then went back over the dress, wheelbarrel and the hat with my copic markers to deepen the color.



It has been SO fun to work on MFTeasers and I've loved watching the gallery fill up with sneak peaks over the last few days. At last, tonight's the night! My Favorite Things (http://www.mftstamps.com/) is having a New Release Cocktail Party on tonight April 2 from 9-11 p.m. Eastern time.



Lots of fun is planned including finding out how YOU can be the next MFT Guest Designer. Head over to the MFT forum on http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ to find out all the details and we hope to see you there!!

Mask It

Whatever will I do when Soft Sky retires this summer? I'm sure SU will have some new color that I can't live without.... but this one, will be missed.

Two weeks ago, it was my turn to issue the Prettie Girl challenge. I don't know what I was thinking, I made the challenge to use some form of masking. Sorry girls!! I should have gone easy on you!

I stamped this little Stampendous bee onto whisper white paper and then stamped him again onto my eclipse masking tape. I applied the mask, and then using my ink pads and a sponge, I added in a background of both sky and grass. Then removed the mask and colored in the image with my copics.

I also used masking on my MFT card which I'm now off to go post. For that card, I masked to create the perception of depth, to sort of "stack" images to create a scene. I can't wait to see how the rest of the girls masked for this challenge, and girls, I promise I'll pick something easy the next time I'm picking challenges!

The card base here is Soft Sky, with Certainly Celery mattings. The flowered designer paper is Fall Flowers designer paper from Stampin Up.

Be sure to blurf around to the other Prettie Girl blogs (see links on the right) to see what they did for this challenge and to see what this week's challenge is as well!

Have a great day!

MFTeasin' Again

Every week over on the MFT Splitcoast Member Forum, you'll find a new sketch of the week. I had just so much fun working on this one.

I'm not sure what the name is of this pretty patterned paper from Scenic Route as I've had it in my scrap pile for ages, but I thought it was just perfect for this project. I love this cheerful palette!

For the main image, I stamped three times. Once onto Stampers Select to color in the flower pot, flowers and leaves, once again onto So Saffron cardstock which I then stamped with the polka dotted pattern from Behind the Scenes.

I stamped with Versamark, covered with white embossing powder and hit it with my heat gun. Then I stamped the image again onto a pice of Stampers Select to use as the base of the image. Lots of paper piecing, but it was so worth it, because I just love the dimension

Be sure to pop on over to the gallery on SCS to see all the other creations for this week!

This set is "Happy Mother's Day" from My Favorite Things. Don't forget MFT will be hosting a New Release Cocktail Party on Wednesday night (April 2) from 9-11 p.m. EASTERN time. A fun evening is planned including mfteasers of the newest sets and a chance to become MFT’s next Guest Designer. Head over to the MFT forum for more details.