Warm and Cozy

I mentioned yesterday that I had lots of new stamps to keep me company. Well, I have even more new ones than you thought, because Launch Week again for Gina K Designs!

Would I be teasing you if I said that I've already had a chance to stamp at least a little "something" with each of the SIX new stamp sets coming out Thursday night??  

My first preview to share with you is from "Warm and Cozy Christmas" I think by now you know how much I adore snowman.  In fact, each year when we do our tree, my husband says "Another snowman? Really?"  I think we could do a whole tree with just my snowmen. (lightbulb! That would be fun!)

I'll have another peek tomorrow, but I'm saving the rest for the Launch Party thread!!

This card uses a new product for Gina K Designs. Pure Luxury Ribbon.  And let me say, the quality of this ribbon is fantastic. This particular one, the rich satin polka dot...is what I build this whole card around because I was so excited to use it!  Rich quality, an ideal width.  And polka dots!  Eeks.  The ribbon assortment will include 12 yards of ribbon for $5.95!!!

This ribbon is part of a precut assortment that is just perfect for all your holiday needs.  You'll be seeing others in the "collection" in upcoming posts!  This uses a fun new cuttlebug folder, and my copic markers too!

Please be sure to stop by Gina's blog for samples of both this set, and another set which is also being previewed today.  

Then, for even MORE eye candy, be sure to blurf on over to see samples from  Jessica, Emily, Melanie, Carolyn, Kurtis and Lee Murphy (one of our awesome spotlight designers this month!)

I'll be back tomorrow with another preview for you and hope to see you over on the Gina K Member Company forum October 2nd from 7-10pm Central Time for Contests, Challenges,Give Aways, MORE SNEAK PEEKS and more!

MFT Monday

Hope you've all had a great weekend.  It has been raining in Boston for days. How Dreary!  At least I've had new stamps to keep me company!

Today starts the DT Previews for this weeks My Favorite Things launch.  Right off the bat, I couldn't wait to play with "A Scarf for Three" illustrated by Stephanie Fizer. I just adore her style.  

This sweet trio was colored with my copic markers then I added liquid applique to the ear muffs, pom pom and hat trim for some fluff. 

I'm not a giant fan of snow in general, but snowmen.... that's a different story!

Then there are the  "Peppermint Cats" (also illustrated by Stephanie....)  Oh goodness were they so fun to color with my Prismacolor Pencils.  

In real life, I'm a dog person, not a cat person, but in stamp life...  they're adorable!  If my dad weren't terribly allergic, I'd probably allow my kids to get one as they're both obsessed.  

After I finished up with my card, I had so much fun coloring them for my card, that I had to give Jody's Boxy Bag a try.  

By the way....be sure to hop over to Jody's blog for details as to how to make your own boxy bag, while you're there, enter her blog candy contest too!  She's got a really fun giveaway including a fun new product from MFT!!

One last MFT Preview for you today using Annie LaPoint's "Chives" I think I used my last (gasp!) piece of Kraft cardstock for this. Going to have to add that to the list because if you haven't noticed, I use it just about all the time.  

The designer paper is from a fun new paper pack from American Crafts.  Lucky me, I found it at my  local AC Moore when I just happened to have a nice hefty coupon, so it was super inexpensive!  Dug into my secret stash of Soft Sky cardstock (now retired from Stampin Up) for my matting.  

My Favorite Things (www.mftstamps.com) is having a New Release Cocktail Party on Wednesday, October 1 from 9-11 p.m. Eastern time. This month there are SIX new sets being released, plus a new storage system for your MFT stamps that you are gonna love!

Head over to the MFT forum on www.splitcoaststampers.com to find out all the details and to find out how YOU can be the next MFT Guest Designer. We hope to see you there on Wednesday night.

This time, with pictures!

I don't know what happened to my Friday post, apparently the pictures were left off. I SWEAR I uploaded them... so lets give this another try!!

The next two cards are for Friday's challenge over on the MFT Member Company Forum.  Friday is "Oldies Plus Goodies" hosted by myself and Amber.  This week, you're welcome to use ANY MFT stamp so long as it is inspired by this beautiful creation by Jen.  I'm always inspired by Jen's work, and this beauty is no exception!

I created two cards for this challenge. The first is inspired by her color palette - I used Rose Red for the main matting, then 

My second card is inspired by her layout, and I switched all the colors to use this week's Splitcoast color challenge.  
I hope you'll come play along, don't forget, one lucky winner recieves a $5 gift certificate to the store, and is entered into the monthly $25 drawing!

You have until Monday at 9am EST to tuck a card into the galleries using the keyword MFTOPG2 for a chance at the prize! Go stamp something!! 

MFT Forum Fun

I have a few MFT cards to share with you today!  The first is for the sketch challenge held on Fridays and hosted by Cindy and Frances.  I can't believe that next week will already be the FIFTIETH challenge!  

Here's the card I made for yesterday's challenge, it uses the Mr Campy paper from Cosmo Cricket and I stamped the hiking Who's that Girl onto watercolor paper and then used my watercolor crayons, reinkers and a bit of white craft ink to color in the scene.  

Challenged!

Its been fun to get back into the swing of challenges over on Splitcoast.  I made two for this week's color challenge (one of which, you will see tomorrow) and then I made a card for the sketch challenge as well.

I happened across this fun paper from Scenic Route over at Right at Home.  I am SUCH a sucker for that paper.   This fun little stamp set is a recent release from The Cat's Pajamas. By the way, did you know that Alma is releasing new stamps tomorrow! I've been watching the Design Team's preview and they're adorable!

My next card couldn't be any more different from this pinky pink creation.  This is the SCS color challenge to use Very Vanilla, Kiwi Kiss and Baja Breeze.  

I decided to pull out the very first Gina K Designs stamp I ever purchased (in fact, I purchased it to submit for the Guest Design team, just about a year ago!)  These little kids all bundled up are just so sweet, as is their Frosty creation.  While I would never have come up with this color combo on my own, I really like how they blend together.  Thanks Cindy for suggesting it!

The Baja Breeze mat is cuttlebuged with a snowflake folder, then I used my nesties for the main image.  Lately I've been into bows with adornments tied on.  The sentiment "Got Snow?" is stamped onto a Cuttlebug Tiny Tag, then I fed in a little gingham ribbon, placed a snowflake rhinestone gem in place, then tied it all together with some elastic cording. 

This card is probably NOT mailable (the post office always glares at the envelopes I pack up as they're too big for ordinary postage!) but to me, it just looked naked without all the "stuff!"  

Thanks for dropping by, and have a great day!

How About Them Apples?

I'm sure you all read Carolyn Kings blog already, and if you don't then get over there!  If you've been then you've seen all the AMAZING things that have been donated!  If you haven't yet, you've got to get over there and enter the Heart to Heart Blog Candy  The prize package is valued at over $700!  Oh my goodness and its all amazing stuff!

I'm lucky enough to work with Carolyn both on My Favorite Things and also at Gina Designs.  We met in person this summer in Chicago and in addition to being madly talented, she's sweet and just so much fun!  

She illustrated this fantastic set titled "Whimsical Autumn" after her grandmother passed this summer.  All of her proceeds from the sale of the stamps will be donated to the Alzheimer's Association in her grandmother's memory. 

This card uses the Jen's most recent "Sketch for you to Try" as well as my copic markers, and Cosmo Cricket Mr Campy paper. 

Thanks for looking, head over to enter the blog candy contest, and have a fantastic day!

Heartwarming Christmas

World Cardmaking Day is nearly here! (My husband thinks that's totally hysterical by the way....) I've been busy making my next set of class samples for over at the store. 

I'll be teaching a "Heartwarming Christmas" class at Right At Home using Kim Hughes "Heartwarmers" set from Cornish Heritage Farms.  

We'll be working on paper piecing and all the cards are quick and clean! I love sending handmade holiday cards, but when you're mass producing for holiday cards you need those cute, but quick cards!

We'll make three cards as well as a bag and tag set - perfect for those little hostess gifts we all need this time of year!  

I must admit, I really love this little bag and tag set the most, here's just a peeky of the bag, isn't it sweet?  

Hope you're having a great day, and if you're in the Boston area, hope you can join us for a little fun at the store!! If you're not near here, be sure to check the World Cardmaking Day site to find a participating store near you!

Gettin Spooky....

Right at Home now has all the fun Cosmo Cricket "Haunted" line in stock - paper, stamps and ribbons too! I got to play around with it a little this past week.  This was a fun little set to work on and really has me in the Halloween spirit.  Now if only I could get my kids to settle on ONE costume each....

This first little altered tin I was thinking would be cute with those candy corn pumpkins - I haven't seen them in stores yet, just peeps and candy corn.  I stamped the tag with Memento Tangelo ink and then sponged everything with Distress Ink to age it. 

If you can believe it, I made a card with no stamping --- gasp!  The little pumpkins on the designer paper were adorable and I just loved the way they looked all on their own.  hard to see, but all the panels are stitched here...

This project was such a tease for my boys! It was so hard to keep them away from the peeps. They are most certainly not organic, which we let slide this week, because they are in fact a safe candy for their allergies.  and that, is becoming harder and harder to find... besides, Peeps make for a GREAT bribe to get them to eat dinner!  

This wallet o' peeps holds a cello bag of pumpkins tied closed with this fun skeleton ribbon, and the holder itself is held closed with magnetic snaps.  

Its just a modified version of the treat holder that Cammie showed recently... I just switched up my dimensions to hold the peep bag.......

The last item is a kraft takeout box that I covered with a band of the Haunted paper, matted with black cardstock and then all the edges were sewn up.  The band is then closed up with an oval nestie.  To really age this, I stamped it on vanilla paper, then sponged everything with distress ink.  Then went a step further to crack the glass.... I coated it with embossing powder four times, heating it each time, and then set it in the freezer for a half hour.  Afterwards, a little bending and crack... this fun aged look.  

Hope this gets all the shoppers at Right at Home into the Halloween "project mood".  

Have a great day!

Today is my little sister's baby shower - and its been a crazy weekend, so nothing stampy to share, and nothing green to share either.  Sorry!

However, the most important thing for you to do today is to head on over to Carolyn King's blog to enter her HUGE Blog Candy giveaway!

MFT Friday

Have you been following along over on the MFT Member Company forum?  I'm very excited that Amber and I will be hosting challenges each Friday!  This Friday challenge is to celebrate all the MFT stamps that may already be living at your house!  

Each month there will be two particular stamps that we'll challenge you to use.  One week we'll use a Design Team member card as an inspiration piece and you'll be free to use the My Favorite Things stamp of your choice and play along so long as you're "inspired" by the selected piece.  And one week a month, the challenge will also be an inspiration challenge, but, it will be a customer card as the inspiration piece!

You can find more about the challenge, how to play along, what stamp set you'll need to play along on the , and yes, what's in it for you! Come join us on this thread!!

Featured Stamper -

This past Sunday was a rainy icky day here.  A perfect chance for a little unexpected stamping. 

For those of you unfamiliar with Featured Stamper, each week, a different stamper is selected and you select one card from their gallery as your inspiration.

I selected THIS card from Liz's gallery to case, and put my Floral Fantastical stamp set as well as the Beauty of Dreams stamp (love those quotes) both from Unity Stamp Company to work.

These red rubber images are perfect for individually inking portions with different markers.  I stamped the paisley image down the right hand side and watercolored in all fall-ish shaeds.  I added brads through the center of some of the flowers for a little oomph.   Then added a divider between the sections with my scor pal for a little definition.

Its funny how I used to be totally afraid of one layer cards and now I adore making them.  

Have a great day everyone!

Sketched Out Yet?

I bet you all are thinking the same thing.  When will Jen put up a new sketch so Joanne will just move on??? 

But seriously.  In case you didn't notice, I'm having fun with this sketch.  Probably because it allows for just the right number of designer papers.  I really do like to try to get three on a card if at ALL possible.

And, since I just **happened** to have this fun paper from Gina K Designs.  Cammie and I promised Gina we'd stop referring to it as the BM paper. Whoops, I said it again.)

It is the Black Market Paper Society, and this particular paper package is called Rhythym.  I love the combinations of pink, brown and yellow.  I turned the daisies to black eyed susans and put those prismacolor pencils to good use.

Okay, Taylor and Beate will have new sketches posted tomorrow, then a new one from Jen from Saturday, so I'll now give this sketch a rest.  I promise, well, at least I **think** I can move on now!

Wine is Chillin' - Carstock is Cut - is it 7:30 yet??

I'm really looking forward to my workshop tonight. What a fun bunch of girls coming over.  The stamping is fun, but the real fun part for me are the funny stories, and just relaxing with my friends.

I'm off to make lunch for myself (starving!!!) but here's the last two cards we're making tonight.  

You can see the other two cards we're making tonight on this post.

All of tonight's cards use the new In Colors as well as new designer paper and that yummy striped grosgrain ribbon. This beautiful stamp set is titled Beautiful Borders.  

Best of all, getting ready for this class was a BREEZE with Die Cut Stamps. Thank you Thank you Stampin Up!  I love that new feature!

Its very hard to see, but on this second card, the Baja Breeze ink is heat embossed and the detail really pops in real life.  

Thanks for looking!!

Poppy-liscious

I shared a few Paper Trey cards for my grandmother's card pack yesterday, this filled out the balance of the order.  

Sweet Blush, Berry Sorbet and Spring Moss make for just a very sweet color combination.  And, these Poppies from Lisa Johnson's Remember Set are just so fun to play with.  I made six of these cards, in only about a half hour's time.  Once you get the design down, the process to repeat it is pretty quick.  For this card, I stamped the solid image in Sweet Blush, then added the outline with Berry Sorbet and the seeds with Black ink.  The stems and leaves are all Spring Moss.  The designer paper is from the Pink Patterns Collection. 

Since the stamps are clear acrylic, you can of course easily bend those stems however you need. Both a long, and a short stem are included, so added length with the short stem where needed.

This is a little card pack I'll be sad to see handed onto its destination. The colors are so cheery and bright they've made me happy every time I catch a glance of them all ready to be passed off to their new owner!

Have a great day everyone! 

Bella's Blossoms

I should go cook dinner, but thought I'd squeeze in one quick post! Giggle.

Today's Splitcoast Color challenge was just the inspiration I needed for my Bella Blossom's stamp from Stampin Up.  I've been trying to hold out till my top note die arrives, maybe tomorrow?  But.... the Emily's color challenge was just right for this card.

I think next month's Stampin Up workshop at my house is going to be an assortment of cards with Riding Hood Red, and just an assortment of colors that go with. Cause, I've got to say I'm really groovin' on this color.

The image was stamped one directly to the Very Vanilla cardstock, then I stamped just the bloom again, trimmed it out, popped it up and bent up all the petals so that they are facing up.  This is a 5 1/4 square card with Basic Grey for the matting and sentiment. Really should use that more often for my sentiments, it lends a nice subtle tone. 

Hope you'll forgive the brevity of this post, kids gotta eat!  

Giving Back....

I have a few samples from the most recent Gina K launch party that I had shared over on the Splitcoast Member Company forum that I thought I'd share over here as well.

Both Rupa and Carolyn have stamp sets illustrated this month, and they've both generously donating proceeds to a cause important to them.  

This time, Rupa's new set titled "So Grateful" was my choice for a one layer card as it seems I've been making one for each of the Gina K launches lately....Rupa will generously be donating a portion of her proceeds to "Feed the Children."

This strip of acorns was just screaming for me to watercolor!  I grabbed a few Stampin Up inkpads, my aquapainter and had fun playing.  I went back and added some white gel pen to the acorns for highlighting.  Really helps that white space to pop!  When I shared it at the launch party the other night, I almost fell off my chair when I got a note from Kurtis with a "gasp. Thud."  Totally made my day!

I couldn't help but think that this would make a really neat menu for Thanksgiving.  A few score lines for detail with my Scor Pal and some wide width grosgrain ribbon.  And, then I stamped the jumbo sized acorn on the envelope to match.

This second preview is with my friend Cammie's new set titled "Whimsical Autumn."  In addition to the fact that these images are just too cute I was so touched to hear that Cammie is donating 100% of her proceeds from this stamp set to the Alzheimer's Association in honor of her Grandmother.  

My grandmother suffered from Parkinson's which in many ways has the same devistating effect on both the patient, and the whole family.  Cammie my heart goes out to you.... but I think you already knew that. (((hugs)))  

As for the card details, the window on the front of the card was cut with my nestabilities oval and then the card was finished off with my wide chocolate ribbon.  Can you tell I love that stuff?And yes, I watercolored again, this time with my watercolor wonder crayons and an aquapainter.  

So, as if the stamps alone weren't great enough, you can feel good giving back by picking up a little somethin' somethin' over at Gina K Designs.  I'm already feeling itchy to watercolor again!

 

Going Out on a Limb

EEKS! Last night was the Paper Trey Ink release party for the fantastic new sets.  I own Boards and Beams and I fell hard for the accompanying set Home for the Holidays after I saw this beauty from Debbie.  Sine hubby was out late coming home from guys weekend in NYC, I chatted with the girls on line for a while, and then nearly fell off my chair when my friend Julie pointed out that I won for one of the categories of the Guest Star Stamper!!!  

I still can't believe it.  When my husband finally arrived home,  I was so excited about it, and had to tell someone.  He of course, well, didn't get it.  

So, I'll just tell all of you instead! Giggle.  Congratulations to the other winners, and honorable mentions too (Including my pals Kirsten and Charmaine!) So many fantastic projects in those galleries!  Hey, amazing stamps make it easy eh? 

Out on a Limb from Paper Trey is such a versatile and clean set.  I adore the simplicity of it, and I also love anything that you can freshen up with new colors for all year use.  I made lots of pink cherry blossom cards with this just after I purchased it this spring.  

This set is also ideal for my mass production projects-- assuming I can convince myself to keep the layouts pretty clean. 

This is the Paper Trey Pure Poppy cardstock and ribbon, matched with Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate ink and my Copic markers for the leaves. 

I embossed only the bottom half of my kraft cardstock with the swiss dots embossing folder and my Cuttlebug.   

To mix it up again, using all the same supplies and layout, I did another version that becomes a little more Christmas-y by using the Red Holly Berries instead.

These were both made for my Grandmother who is one of my best card clients. Every time I see her I get a big hug followed by "So, when can I get some more cards!"  I hope she likes them!

Bring on the Rain - and the Bling

Don't forget that today starts all the new Forum Fun over at the My Favorite Things Member Company Forum over on Splitcoast!

Today's challenge, to use "Rain or Shine" with a little bling, is hosted by Laura and Toni, and I hope you'll come play! This is the most popular MFT image to date, and I'd have to agree, it is one of my very favorites.  

Who's that girl, and her little dog too, is colored with my reinkers onto watercolor paper with an aquapainter  All the designer paper is Sweet Bella Rose collection from Stampin Up and all the panels were sewn together with my Janome sew mini.

If you play along with the challenge on Splitcoast, be sure to add the keywords "MFTWTG1" so that we can find your creations for the challenge, and "MFT" so that it will be added to the company gallery! 

Why should you come play, well of course, there's a chance to WIN a $5 gift certificate to the store, and all the daily winners will be entered for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate at the end of the month.  And, winning aside, who doesn't love a challenge!  

Hope to see you there! 

Not a Sketchy Bella!

My Bellas have been so patient. When I saw that Jen's Sketch for You To Try this weekend was Bellariffic, of course, it was time to play!!  Out came the bag, and a few girls are now awaiting their turn on the desk.  The others are currently waiting while I clean and reorganize (my table is a DISASTER, no lie.) okay, yes at the moment, I'm blogging, I had to take a cleaning break. Giggle.

I love to Copic my Bellas, and they're fun with my prismacolors too, but I think by far, my favorite thing to do with them is paper piecing. And, goodness knows I've got LOTS of paper in my "collection" to play around.  This sketch is a great one for all those scraps that you might have around. 

This set of "leftover" cardstock is from Collage Press and well, I think by now you might have an idea of how I seem to just gravitate to pink papers.  (wink.)

I've got another version of this sketch to post tomorrow, okay actually super late tonight, its for a challenge that isn't quite yet posted. But I hope you'll come back or check the MFT Forum for the second iteration of this fun sketch.

Rainy day reorganization project is calling.  Have a great one!

...just a little disclaimer( on my AC post) and an allergy free find!

I just wanted to follow up on my air conditioning post a few weeks ago.  I so hope I wasn't offending anyone with the AC thing.  Lucky for me, up in Boston, we have LOTS of days that AC is totally optional, but clearly for many of you -- it just wouldn't be practical, or hey, even HEALTHY to try to go without.  

In other news, thanks to some really diligent hunting by my husband, and a tip from my friend Ana, we've located some soap that **seems** to be okay for my allergy ridden three year old.  Kiss My Face makes a scentless soap in the shape of a whale.  They make a TON of wonderfula and yummy smelling things, however, our allergies are just complicated in that he can't have citrus (which rules out their orange and berry versions of this same soap) that is of course in addition to the nuts and coconut thing going on over here.

Its totally adorable and my boys LOVE it!  Unfortunately, it appears to only be available in Target.  My husband hit two of them this week and cleaned out the supply.  I'm going to start calling all the local ones to see if anyone else has it.  

I have one other organic and safe product for my boys that has been a huge hit around here!  I'm always so happy when I find a line of products that is created especially with allergic kids in mind.  Such peace of mind for me.  In this case, they make nothing but soybutter, and they test all their incoming ingredients.  I love that.  

Simple Food is actually based here in Massachusetts!  My very picky eater happily snarfs down his lunch now that he gets either a cinnamon soy butter sandwich, or as an extra special treat, a chocolate soy butter sandwich.  I brought sample jars to his open house at Kindergarten and many moms commented that their kids rarely try a new thing but that they loved it, and, wanted to know where they could find it.  

Okay, okay, I do feel a little badly that they fell in love with the chocolate version, but hey, now my kid isn't the "strange one" with the allergy, he's the lucky kid that gets a chocolate sandwich once a week!

Have a great day everyone! Back with the cards tomorrow.....

Stamp a Sweet Sketch!!

Its been fun to watch Taylor's new stamps pop up on all my blurfing around blog land.  I literally BOUNCED when I opened my little mailbox the other day and found my package of stamps.

I knew I'd hold off though till this week's Cupcake Challenge to see what fun layout she had in mind for all of us challenge junkies this week.  And what a fun little sketch it was. 

Turns out that naptime yesterday was the perfect opportunity to play, dragged out my nesties, embossing folders and copic markers and had a little playtime.  I loveeee Fridays!! I'm tucking this card into the mail to a very dear friend who is celebrating her birthday this week. Can you guess who it is.......

Hope you have a wonderful weekend, thinking of all my friends down in Texas and hoping everyone weathers the storm safely.  ((hugs))))

   

Forum Fun starts on Monday!

You may have already heard the news over on the MFT Member Company forum on Splitcoast, but on Monday we unveil our new MFThemed Forum Days!

Play along with Who’s That Girl? Monday
Find out more about MFT crew and fans on Thread Starter Tuesday
Chat it up MFT style Wednesday nights at 9pm(est)
Get a little sketchy on Thursday
Hum a little Oldie PLUS Goodie on Friday

I'm so excited that Amber and I will be the hostesses on Fridays. Goodness is she just ever the sweetest thing!  I'm working on my first sample card this weekend and looking forward to playing along with the crew on Monday as well.  Hope that you'll come play along with us - and chat too of course!

As if playing along weren't enough, a $5 store gift certificate will be awarded to one lucky winner each day! Then, the daily winners will be thrown into a monthly drawing for a $25 gift certificate! 

To get myself ready for next week, I played along with Cindy's sketch challenge - which will now be on Thursdays!  

Since I was feeling a little crabby and stressed yesterday, I reached for "Serenity Now!" which always just makes me laugh and think of Seinfeld!  

The designer paper is the Basic Grey Sugared Collection, I ran the first layer through my cuttlebug for extra texture, and relaxed while coloring with my Prismacolor Pencils.  I love those babies.  Don't forget, that My Favorite Things has the "My Favorite 48"now on special, and available only while supplies last! 

Have a wonderful weekend! And see you for the fun over on the forum next week!

PS - Revised with my inside photo!   

Allergy Reading

Having a rough day today, won't bore you with the mundane details... 

However, in my blog hopping today, I blurfed over onto a very interesting article on my list of allergy blogs...  this time on Peanut Allergy Kid.

There is a very interesting article titled "The Attack of the Killer Peanut Butter Sandwich."  Until quite recently I think my husband thought that I was just an over-reacter.  (Okay, I am that too, but its no joke, for my kids, they are deadly...)  This is a great explaination as to what the heck is so dangerous about a nut allergy, and thought I'd pass it along.  Thinking about tacking this to my son's shirt. Giggle. (Okay, I'm only about half kidding.)

Hope you're having a great day, and I'm looking forward to a better tomorrow....

Flying By....

With both boys now off to school, and daycare back in session I feel a bit like this little hummingbird flitting from place to place!!   Life is moving fast, but its all good! I've had to cut back on my super late night stamping adventures...  a girl needs some sleep to keep up with all these kids and their activities!

I'm excited though because this coming Saturday I'm teaching a card class over at Right at Home Scrapbooking!    We'll make five cards using the Kim Hughes "Pretty Birds" stamp set from Cornish Heritage Farms as well as the Copic Markers from the September Kit Club.

I'm looking forward to hanging out with my new pal Karen (waves "Hi Karen!") hopefully making some new stamping buds, and of course, checking out the recent additions to the store....

I snatched up this paper the last time I was there in fact, this cute paper is from Three Bugs in a Rug and I scoffed it for this class because I loved the whimsical patterns and rich color combinations.  This is a little pocket card on the inside that you could tuck in a special message or a gift card if you'd like.  

Speaking of CHF and Kim Hughes I finally got to play with my Mocha Chica paper which has been waiting patiently the last two weeks for its turn on the messy desk..... I will have some cards to share with you in the next few days!  

In Case....

In case you thought I forgot all about my love for Stampin Up I thought I'd share a few samples from my upcoming card class! And, share some exciting news from Stampin Up as well!

Online ordering is now available! EEKS!  

Now, honestly, its never a problem if you ever want me to place an order on your behalf....but if ever you just want something when you want it, and don't want to track me down.  It is possible to just order it and shazam, it will ship directly to you!   

I've started a Demonstrator Business Website for just this purpose and I'm in the process of filling it up, but for now, my calendar of events, and yes, ORDERING is possible too! (there's a little "shop now" button on the top of the page) I'm actually pretty excited about it.  If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to ask okay!!

So now, onto the cards!!

I'm holding my September class next week and I'm really looking forward to the girls coming over to play!

You'll notice that I've kept them more straightforward than some of my usual posts around here, but when I'm making multiples of a card, I've got to streamline. 

And, while I do love having my girls over to stamp really we don't have ALLLLL night! Giggle. 

I'll be adding at least one Christmas card to each of my upcoming classes so that the girls will see different color combinations, and layout possibilities.  Or, simply have a few cards on hand in advance!  

This striped grosgrain is a must have for me.  I've been a big fan of the 5/8 width of grosgrain, but the stripes, man.  Yum! 

This sweet little set is called "A Flower for All Seasons."  We'll be making cards for two of the seasons, Fall and Winter!  Here's the fall version, same layout, same technique just a different color combination.

I'm determined to make these girls like Kiwi Kiss.  I think its such a fun color!  Just needs the right partner that's all!  Here I paired it with Close to Cocoa for my fall version of the card above.

Details:  

Close to Cocoa Cardstock

Riding Hood Red Cardstock

Kiwi Kiss Cardstock

Bella Rose Designer Series Paper

Watercolor Paper

Best Yet (Level One Hostess Set)

A Flower for All Seasons

Watercolor Crayons

Aquapainter

Stazon Jet Black Ink

Striped Grosgrain Ribbon in Red Riding Hood and Kiwi Kiss

A little herb for you.....

I was so excited about this image "Rosemary" from My Favorite Things Presents, that I had inadvertently posted it a month early!   

When it came time to make my August samples, I pulled this little baby out of my pile of upcoming releases and put it to work with Cindy's weekly sketch. But WHOOPS it is a September release, not August.  eeks. A few of you noticed it in my gallery, but then I had to pull it right quick to cover my gaffe!  

So, here's Rosemary, its back and  I adore it.  The color combination here is Kiwi Kiss, Basic Black and Very Vanilla.  The pot is paper pieced, and the herbs are colored with my prismacolors then blended with OMS and a stump. 

Thanks for looking, and I hope you have a great day!

Enjoy it!

Since I'm addicted to sketch challenges and all, I can't believe that I haven't yet had a chance to play along in Taylor's Weekly sketch challenge.  Looking back, Taylor's blog was the very first blog I'd ever read. I of course, found it through Splitcoast.

I was so very excited to hear that she's started her very own line of stamps "Stamp a Sweet Expression". Which by the way, are totally adorable and just perfectly suited for her pretty well known addiction to cupcakes.  wink.  

So, of course, I had to stay up a little late last Thursday night to be sure I scoffed up one set to have on hand.  I mean, a girl can never have enough cupcake stamps right?  

This card is for my aunt who graduated from college this past weekend.  She's been working full time, putting her children through college and attending classes herself.    Even more impressive, she was the graduation speaker at her ceremony with a 3.99 GPA!!  

So, this is a non typical graduation card, I just want her to enjoy every moment of life, and celebrate all that she has accomplished.  We're all SO very proud.  

Have a great day everyone, enjoy every moment!

Back to School - Green Adventures Continue

Its back to school time, and it brings a few new green adventures into the mix.  But first, a quick card.....

I've really lucked out this year in that my son's kindergarten has a dress code.  I love that the code gets to be the bad guy, not me, saving me lots of money while school shopping so that I didn't have to buy all sorts of graphic tees that I'd never want him to be seen in outside of the house.  

The thing he's most bummed out about though, is not getting to wear a baseball hat to school.  (I'll be bummed out because I'll have to be more diligent with haircuts rather than slapping a cap on his head when it gets unruly!)  So to celebrate his first full week of school, and compliance with said dress code, I made him this card.  

Its green because 1)  Its his second favorite color.  2) We are from Boston - Go Celtics! and 3) I adore this Jack's World paper from Cosmo Cricket, just right for a school themed card...

As for the details, the stamp set is BRAND new from Gina K Designs and is titled "Just So Sporty."  This fun set was illustrated by my friend Melanie, who has such an amazing blog, I can't wait to see all the things she does with this versatile set!

Okay, so how about Being Green with back to school.  We decided to pay for the bus this year.  Not only is is massively more convenient for me rather than schlepping out all the daycare children to the school twice daily.  We also decided that it was both financially responsible and a good way to reduce our carbon footprint. 

The bus was going right by here anyways, so it isn't out of the drivers way.  And, otherwise, my car gets extra mileage each day and lots of idling time in the lot while I wait in the queue.  So, overall, despite the large payment we made to the town for the bus, I think it still in the long run saves money, gas and CO2 to have the big yellow bus stop by our house.

We're also **trying** to be really good about buying in bulk versus buying all those single servings for school.  For instance, single serve snacks, single serve applesauces etc.  Anything you can purchase with LESS packaging means LESS to throw away. 

So, if you shop at Costco or BJ's or any wholesale club, buy the bix box, versus the box with all the smaller packages.  I've got a little snack container for my guy to tuck his snacks -- trying to get away from ziplock baggies next.  

Tonight I'm off to search for a little sandwich container, and an easy open and close container for me to send yogurt in.  I'll admit, my green efforts backfired last week.  I tucked yogurt into a container he could open, but not close when he was done, and the excess leaked all over the lunchbag. Bleech.  My bad.  So, for this week, he was thrilled that he got the single serve yogurt (usually a big NO from me at the market.) I've actually seen the girl smile when she's heard me tell the boys "Sorry, we can't buy those yogurts, too much TRASH!"  

Another great example of this is the new soap I picked up tonight.  Kiss My Face is my new brand as it has no coconut oil, and some versions no citrus (my littlest has some really TOUGH allergies!)  My sweet husband and friend Ana both recommended this line and we're giving it a try. (Cross your fingers)  In addition to being allergy free for my family, I'm loving using the bar soap rather than a bottle of soap that then has to be recycled.  If you are using hand soap in a bottle, just be sure to add it to your recycling versus your trash at the end of the week!

Have a great week everyone! 

My New Role in Life.....

With kindergarten officially here and both my boys in school, my new role as "soccer mom" is officially here.  I'm finding already that I'm spending so much of my time shuttling the boys around to school and activities, we haven't even started fall soccer yet, but I know those mornings aren't many more weeks away.  

So this preview, from Melanie's upcoming set "Just So Sporty" celebrates my "Soccer Momness."  But of course, being a girly girl, my rugged sweatshirt, of course, has to be pink!!  

To my son's great embarrassment, I will, for sure, be his biggest fan on the sidelines (thus the go, go, go!)  Let me just say, in typical fashion, Melanie has made the most of every single millimeter of rubber on her stamp set, and you'll be able to make a card for any coach, fellow team mate or even to root on your own little (or possibly even not so little on) Possibilities are quite literally, endless.

I can't wait to see the all the sporty options I'm sure everyone is going to come up with.  I'm working on another version to share at the party tonight.  In keeping with last months "hers" and "mine" cards that I made with the little tees (one of which is going to be published -- hoooray!) I'm doing a "his" and "mine" with this set.  You're looking at mine, off to finish up his..

Till then, be sure to check out Gina's blog to see what she's up to with this fun set.  Melanie, the illustrator herself is sure to have a million ways to use this thing. I mean seriously, have you seen what she's been able to do with the t-shirt, I can't WAIT to see what her mind has in store for us this month!!!  And Jessica has something to share too!  Oh my goodness, how could I possibly forget! ASELA has a sample too, and I just love what she did with it. Be sure to check it out!

However, most of all, I hope that you'll be able to join us for quizzes, contests and giveaways this evening at the launch party over on the Gina K Member Company forum. There is sure to be lots of extra DT previews of the upcoming sets on the thread tonight. (I've got a few of those tucked away myself....)  

The party is TONIGHT Friday September 5th from 7-10pm Central time and then the stamps will be LIVE and available for purchase! Hope to see you there!

Branchin' Out

I posted this on the party chatter thread the other night, so if you were over there, it isn't totally new to you.  

But, since I was a tease about having lots of previews and only sharing a few the other day, thought I'd share the love over here as well.

This set "Branch Out" from My Favorite Things is so fun and versatile!  I love that there are all manner of different things you can place on the tree. Flowers, leaves, Christmas ornaments! Too cute.

And the sentiments have a built in curve to them.  However, you know what's fun about that, you can also ink them one portion at a time and stack them up.  I love how this gives movement to the sentiment, you know, sort of wind swept?

The tree was stamped and then the leaves added. Then I colored with my Koh-i-noor pencils from Gina K Designs.  I also used the pencils to draw in the sky and grass.  Looks like a bright autumn day no?  Makes me want to go pick apples, or buy sweaters or something.....

Have a GREAT day!

Couldn't Wait - Another Teaser!

I was going to post this tonight during the My Favorite Things New Release Cocktail Party, but couldn't wait! My order from Eclectic Paperie arrived yesterday, containing new pails, and I got right to work...

In our neighborhood, in early October, you can expect to be "boooo'ed" your doorbell will ring after dark and surprise, you'll have a little goodie bag full of treats, and then you pass along the favor 

to two new houses the next night.  

My eldest loves the "ding, dong RUN" and hiding to watch the neighbor's open the door and get their treats.  Well now, I've got one treat tin ready and just have to make one more. Oh right, and buy treats, but I don't dare yet, or I'll EAT them and have to just buy more.  

Luckily, I've created two addicted stampers in my neighborhood so I know Flopsey is going to a good home!  

This great designer paper is Cosmo Cricket's Haunted line - and the clear pail is from Stampendous. I should just place a standing order with Eclectic Paperie for them as I use them for just about everything! 

Flopsey is stamped onto Poison Ivory cardstock, and his ears and tiny toes and his treat bag are colored with Copic markers.  A faint outline with my W1 copic marker all around the edge of his sheet, followed by a glimmer of my spica pen all around the edges.  The little bag was stamped separatley, then trimmed apart so that I could hang the ltitle bag over his shoulder and then popped the bag up with a dimensional.

Ooooh, its so cute, I want to keep it.  Maybe I'l just have to buy more tins. Sigh.

My Favorite Things (www.mftstamps.com) is having a New Release Cocktail Party TONIGHT!  Sept. 3 from 9-11 p.m. Eastern time. This month there are SIX new sets being released, plus one from a new line at MFT: BCDzyns.

Week of Previews Continue!

What's better than one of my favorite companies having previews this week? How about BOTH of my favorite companies having previews this week!  You should just SEE what my stamping area looks like... check that, maybe you'd better not even think about it, its a disaster!!

I've got two Gina K Designs previews for you today, also don't forget that tonight is the big release - and I mean HUGE - over at My Favorite Things.  

First to the previews.....

This set is titled Spooky Silhouettes and its just perfect for techniques.  I'm sure blurfing around today you're going to see it used lots of different ways.  I'll admit, I'm always nervous to try a technique rather than go with something that I'm used to and comfortable with. 

That being said, when I saw this stamp set, I knew I wanted to challenge myself to try something out of the ordinary for me.  So, I've got two samples, one that is all "techniquey" and one that shows you can also make a very straightforward card without digging into the supplies for your heat gun and embossing powder. 

The first, is my technique card.  I stamped the house first with a layer of Versamark, then added black ink, stamped to Whisper White paper and then clear embossed with my heat gun.  I also stamped the moon in plain Versamark and heat embossed with clear.  

Using my reinkers and a sponge, I applied Really Rust ink to the top half and Old Olive to the bottom portion.  Then to blend the ink more, I softened some of the edges with my aquapainter.  Once I was happy with the inking, I wiped the moon and house with a papertowel to remove any ink sitting on top of the embossed images. 

I added a layer of ripped and distressed old olive cardstock and some scraps of Cosmo Cricket "Haunted" paper then added a card base of Basic Grey cardstock and another piece of the Haunted paper for the main card matting.  Finished off with some scrap ribbon from my ginormous box o ribbon scraps!  The kids today said "oooh..... spookey" when they saw me photographing it, so mission accomplished!

The second card is my technique free card.  Quick and easy!!  I stamped the "Trick or Treat" all over a piece of Basic Grey cardstock for a matting. 

Then I stamped the house silhouette with versamark onto another piece and  clear embossed quickly.  The card is finished off with some designer paper from some new 6x6 packs that Gina is adding to her store this week!   Now, I dove into the aforementioned ginormous box o ribbon scraps and couldn't find a single piece of black ribbon.  Huh?  A-ha, Copic Markers to the rescue.  I dug out a piece of River Rock double stitched ribbon and with a quick swipe of my marker, had black stitched grosgrain ribbon! 

To see more samples of this set, as well as the other set that's also being previewed today, be sure to check out the following blogs:

 

Gina (of course!!) Kurtis, Cammie, Jessica, Melanie, and Emily

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Don't forget!! 

The New Release Cocktail party for My Favorite Things is tonight!  Wednesday, Sept. 3 from 9-11 p.m. Eastern time. This month there are SIX new sets being released, plus one from a new line at MFT: BCDzyns.*The Girl Who Wants It All special for the The September Collection, which is one of each set being released (except for the BCDzyns set) is $58.95.

Head over to the MFT forum to find out all the details and to find out how YOU can be the next MFT Guest Designer.