Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Another Stamp School Sneak Peek

The last 3 days of each month, you will be treated to some beautiful creations by the Stamp School Faculty. Each month, Stamp School releases 2 stamp sets per month.  The first part of 2012, Stamp School will be releasing 4 colors of Poptone cardstock and matching inks until all of their 24 colors are stocked.  Stamp School also will be releasing 100% wool felt along with the cardstock each month.

Today I want to share my third and final creation for Release Week. All of the new stamps, inks, cardstocks, and felts will be available for purchase TOMORROW, March 1! Be sure to visit A Walk Down Memory Lane to see all of Stamp School's products!
Today I made a baby card using the Graduates set. I love how versatile these sets are -- so that they can be used for more than one occasion! I stamped my images in Stamp School's Black Licorice ink on Sweet Tooth cardstock. My card base is Sour Apple with some Gumdrop Green and Blue Raspberry for contrast. The designer paper is by Creative Imaginations. I hand cut my banner, added some DP and Baker's Twine, and a matching button. The whale circle is popped up for some added dimension.

Be sure to check out all Stamp School has to offer, and take a look at what my fellow Faculty members have created to show you today:
Stamp School Owner Lisa will be highlighting her creations on the Stamp School blog, so head on over there to see all the excitement!

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Reveal Day #2 at Stamp School

I love the fresh greens that Stamp School is releasing this month. Just reminds me that Spring is on the way!  Today I used new cardstocks, inks, stamps and felt that will all be available for purchase on March 1st from A Walk Down Memory Lane!
The felt cuts so beautifully and is the frame for my sentiment. The colored circles are a single circle stamp (so many options to use that with!) that comes in the Graduates stamp set. I stamped my circles on Sweet Tooth cardstock using Blue Raspberry, Wild Cherry, Sour Apple and Gumdrop Green inks (YUM!), and the sentiment was stamped in Gumdrop Green ink.  The felt is 100% Merino Wool - in Sour Apple! All these yummy names are making me hungry for some sweets!

Be sure to check out all Stamp School has to offer, and take a look at what my fellow Faculty members have created to show you today:
* Rochelle * Vicki
Stamp School Owner Lisa will be highlighting her creations on the Stamp School blog, so head on over there to see all the excitement! Thanks for stopping by today!

Stamps: Graduates, To The Future (Stamp School)
Paper: Stamp School Poptone Cardstock - Sweet Tooth, Sour Apple, Gumdrop Green, Basic Grey DP
Ink: Stamp School Sour Apple, Blue Raspberry, Wild Cherry, Gumdrop Green
Accessories: Sour Apple felt (Stamp School), Green Apple Satin double ruffled ribbon (Really Reasonable Ribbon), paper flowers (Prima), die cuts (Spellbinders), pearls (Kaiser), embossing folder (Cuttlebug)

Challenges for this card: 
Ooh La La Creations - Photo Inspiration
Crazy Challenge - Anything Goes
All sorts - Anything Goes
Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Celebrations (graduation) 
House of Gilli - Green 
Nettie G's Digital Gems - Anything Goes 
Paper Pretties - Rainbow

Monday, February 27, 2012

It's Stamp School Reveal Day #1 for MARCH!

Wow!! I can't believe it will be March this week! Goodness, the days are flying by.....

And I have to give a Happy Birthday salute to my adorable lab, FIONA!! She is four today! Such a doll!

Now on to the sneak peek for Stamp School!
In March, Stamp School will have a glorious green look, as the new release includes four shades of luscious green. I used Gumdrop Green and Sour Apple for my card today:
The other shades are called Jelly Bean Green and Limeade. MMMMMmmmmm!

My images are from the two new March sets: To The Future and Graduates. I stamped the hats (Graduates) and sentiment (To The Future) in Sour Apple ink on Sweet Tooth cardstock. After cutting out the sentiment with my Spellbinders die cut, I sponged the edges with Sour Apple and Sno Cone inks. I scored three lines across the bottom of the front panel using my Scor-Pal, and cut some pennants out of DP stash. The white double-faced satin ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

Be sure to check out all Stamp School has to offer, and take a look at what my fellow Faculty members have created to show you today:
* Rochelle * Vicki
Stamp School Owner Lisa and DT Coordinator Samantha will be highlighting their creations on the Stamp School blog, so head on over there to see all the excitement! Thanks for stopping by today!
Stamps: Graduates, To The Future (Stamp School)
Paper: Stamp School Poptone Cardstock - Sweet Tooth, Sour Apple, Gumdrop Green, Cosmo Cricket DP
Ink: Stamp School Sour Apple, Sno Cone
Accessories: white satin ribbon (Really Reasonable Ribbon), paper flowers (Prima), die cuts (Spellbinders), pearls (Kaiser)

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Stampin' Sisterhood Sketch Challenge at Rubbernecker!

See my For Sale post with pictures HERE.
My computer was acting up for several days, but now I am back in business!

Today is a new challenge at the Stampin' Sisterhood blog at Rubbernecker Stamps! We have a sketch challenge today. Take a look:

Here is what I designed for the challenge:
I used the Tree Inchies (SKU:430) set from Rubbernecker Stamps for my square panel, and Be Yourself Text (SKU:1771 SO) for my sentiment.

I hope you will join our challenge! You might win some awesome Rubbernecker Stamps if you play along!
And for the next two days, check out the Rubbernecker Stamps blog hop!
Check out the Stampin' Sisterhood blog HERE to see what it's all about!


Other challenges for this card:
  

Thursday, February 16, 2012

I Love Poetry

I love poetry. Oh to have a way with words -- like Wordsworth :)
My dad was a writer - short stories, a few longer ones, but mostly poetry. When I was in 8th grade, I had to have an operation on my arm and he wrote me a beautiful poem called "Little Bird."
It is one of the few things I have memorized! What was really special about it was that we didn't have computers in those days, and although he could have typed it, he hand wrote my copy, which I still have. The first part (it's many lines long) goes like this:

"Little bird with wounded wing
Although you cannot fly, you still can sing
Safe in God's care, and therefore bring
Joy despite this illness-thing."

He instilled in me a love for poetry at a young age, and had stories to tell of many poets whom he knew. Robert Frost was one of those, and probably because of the stories and conversations he had with Frost and then with me, Frost is my favorite poet (although I have others that are close - including one that lives right in my town!).

I loved this Wordsworth quote - and as I get older, I say a lot more often "...to be young was heaven!"

The heart is grungeboard that I covered with Raspberry VersaColor ink, followed by Encore Metallic Gold, and then embossed with Ocean Spark embossing powder.

I hope you have a blissful day!

Challenges for this card:
Friendship's Garden - Love + 3 embellishments 
Little Darlings Challenges - Favorite Embellishments
Penny's Paper-Crafty - anything goes
Celebrate the Occasion - Valentine's Day
Crazy Amigo Challenge - Hearts
Creative Craft Challenges - Valentines
Sweet Stamps - Roses

Paper: Kraft, Madeline DP by Prima
Ink: VersaColor Raspberry, Encore Metallic Gold
Accessories: Wild Orchid flowers, Tim Holtz Grungeboard, Sparkle N Sprinkle Ocean Spark Embossing Powder, French Market hand dyed crinkled seam binding, K & C. journaling tag, Colorbok Emotion Velum Quotes

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Puppy Love

I love this sweet little image from There She Goes. It is part of a darling set called - you guessed it - Puppy Love. It has SO many images that are so adorable! This is the valentine I made for my daughter. I am traveling to visit her this weekend (she is in college over 700 miles away) and am taking it with me, along with some other belated valentine gifts. She is a Theatre major and her acting debut as a college student is this weekend, so I am excited to go and see her play! We have two dogs that she misses a lot, so I thought this was a perfect card for her.

I will have some fun things to show you while I am gone, so be sure to come for a visit!  Today is my last day as a current Dirty Dozen Design Team member. Tomorrow will make six months - and time to turn the reins (and reign!) over to a new Dirty Girl -- you will LOVE what they have made, so be sure to check out the Splitcoast Fan Club tomorrow! If you are not a member, you NEED to be!!

Have a GREAT night!

Challenges for this card:
Can You Digi It - Puppy Love
Clear It Out! - Valentine's/Love Twist Use your pink/red scraps 
Crafty Sentiments - Love
Creative Craft Challenges - Valentines

Stamps: Puppy Love by There She Goes
Paper: Kraft, Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Radiant DP by Crafty Secrets
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic markers
Accessories: sewing machine, silver half pearls (Mark Richards), Large Circle & Scalloped Circle dies (Spellbinders), button, Baker's Twine & White Diamond Satin Ribbon (Really Reasonable Ribbon), border punch (EK Success)

Monday, February 13, 2012

February Really Reasonable Ribbon Blog Hop!

Welcome to the February Blog Hop with Really Reasonable Ribbon! If you arrived here from True's blog, you are in the right place! If you just happened along, be sure to start at the beginning at the RRR Blog (I am the third stop, so you don't have far back to go!) so you don't miss out on the awesome projects, fun news, and a prize from Really Reasonable Ribbon!

This month we are showcasing the fun greens and whites in the February Monthly Ribbon Club Kit. If you really love ribbon and would like to have a wonderful assortment of ribbons sent to you automatically each month, just join the Really Reasonable Ribbon Club! Monthly ribbon club assortments are selected and pre-packed to reflect a specific theme, color, or holiday season. The assortments vary from month to month, but an average assortment has 5-8 different ribbon styles and consists of 10-15 yards of ribbon.  You will love it!

Here is what I made this month:
My images are from a new digi store/site I just discovered this weekend! Check out all the wonderful, fun and whimsical designs at Dearie Dolls Digi Stamps and tell Mary Ellen that Judy sent you!

I used one of the cute floral satin ribbons from the assortment and made a rolled flower to go with my design. I added a bow using Green Apple Baker's Twine.


Bonnie will be giving away a February Ribbon Monthly Club kit to a random commenter so please make sure and comment on all of the girls' projects to increase your chances of winning! 

Now off to BONNIE'S brand new blog, where you can see that not only is she an amazing businesswoman and our fearless leader, but she is an amazing designer as well!

Thanks for stopping by today!
If you are in a find-a-deal mood, check out my GARAGE SALE.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Stampin' Sisterhood Challenge #10 at Rubbernecker Stamps!

See my For Sale post with pictures HERE.

If you are looking for a way to get some fun new images, how about joining this week's challenge at Rubbernecker Stamps? We had a fun photo to inspire us:
I loved the striped pattern on the heart, and decided to use that for the basis of my card. Pink is my favorite color, so I kept with that color scheme, even for  my horse and grass!
I used Horse and Horsin' Around for my images. I happen to love Valentine's Day (one of my favorite holidays) and it's always fun to use non-Valentine specific stamps to make something new for that holiday!

I hope you will join our challenge! You might win some awesome Rubbernecker Stamps if you play along!

Check out the Stampin' Sisterhood blog HERE to see what it's all about!

Other challenges for this card:
CRAFT - colour combo
Craft us Crazy - anything goes
DYSU - anything goes
Joanna Sheen - love is in the air
Fairy Tale - love, love, love
Delicious Doodles - all loved up
Addicted to Stamps - valentine/love
OSAAT - with love
Cupcake Crafts - red and pink
Victorine Originals - love/valentine
My Mum's Craft Shop - it must be love

Saturday, February 11, 2012

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G Photos

Yes, there are AMAZING photos at the SCS Inspiration Challenge today! I am Guest Hostessing a second week while Stephanie was on vacation, and I chose a site called Better Photo. It's kind of like Pinterest - as you can get lost for hours looking at incredible photos from around our world, by people that know how to take them! I hope you will play along!
I chose a group of colorful beach chairs for my inspiration, and used the color order for my hearts. Wishing I was on this beach -- as it's -8 right now, with a wind chill of -23. Brrrr!


Other challenges for this card: 
Card Crafters Circle – Valentine 
Card Makin' Mamas - Valentine  
Crafty Catz - Valentine  
Delicious Doodles – All Loved Up 
Fairy Tale - Love, Love, Love 
Totally Papercrafts – Rainbow
 
Stamps: A Little Lovin by Paper Smooches
Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Pink Passion, Summer Sun, Tempting Turquoise, Ballet Blue, PTI White
Ink: Palette Noir Black
Accessories: Spellbinders Classic Heart die cuts, Cuttlebug embossing folder

Friday, February 10, 2012

Getting the Most Out of Your Stamps

Over at the Stamp School blog today, I am showing ways to get the most out of your stamps! Here is the card I made -- go have a peek and see what it's all about! :)
Feel like shopping? Come to my Garage Sale!

Challenges for this card: 
4 Crafty Chicks - Valentines/Love 
C.R.A.F.T. - Valentines 
Hanna & Friends - Be My Valentine 
Little Miss Muffet Challenges - Valentines & love 
Rainbow Lady's - Have a heart 
Sarah Hurley Challenges - Love is all around 
Just Inspirational Challenges - Inspired by picture 
Crafting for all Seasons - Love is in the Air 
Creative Belli - hearts/Valentine

Thursday, February 9, 2012

It's a Foggy Snowy Day!

How is it in your corner of the world?  

It's 18 degrees here right now (7 degrees wind chill) and there is a white blanket of fog everywhere. It's very quiet and calm. So it's time to shake things up a bit and make some snowmen!
Click on the photo to see a close-up. This is a fun set I got a long time ago from Close to My Heart. I love how you can dress the snowmen all differently!

What are your plans for the weekend? I have a lot of stamping to do, plus just some organizing that I would like to get done. Have you taken a peek at my Garage Sale?? There are some goodies in there you might NEED.  :)
Hope you have a great weekend!

Challenges for this card:
Crafty Creations - Swirly Whirly (snow)
Little Darlings Challenges - Favorite Embellishments (glitter)
Scrapbook Sisters - anything goes
Whimsical Wednesdays - red, white and one other color (blue)
Paper Take Weekly - Anything Goes
Stamps: Close to My Heart
Paper: Not Quite Navy, Bashful Blue, Cherry Cobbler, PTI White, The Four Seasons DP by The Paper Studio
Ink: Copics
Accessories: snowflake stickers (K & Co.), tag, rub-on letters, Crystal Stickles

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

For My Poppy

When I was in college, I received a treasured gift from my dad, which hangs in my living room today. It was an oil painting of a poppy garden. I was young (17), but loved art, music and the humanities, and my dad also knew that I loved flowers with bright colors. We didn't have a lot of extra money, and I knew that he had sacrificed a lot to purchase it.

It was a rather unique gift, I thought, because it made me feel like an adult. I owned a beautifully framed oil painting!

Over the years, as we have moved, it has always hung in my living room. I love the warm, rich hues of the petals and the muted impressionistic background. I started acquiring several different types of poppy artwork, and have hung them all in the living rooms in our homes.

Incidentally, I didn't call my dad "Dad." To him, and to my sister, he was always "Poppy." Now that he is gone (a little over two years), it brings me so much comfort to see his gift and the warmth of his smile in the picture of the two of us right below it on the end table, and I am grateful for the man he was and the father he was. I miss you, Poppy.

Stamps: Poppy Patch by Flourishes & French Script by Stampin' Up!
Paper: Always Artichoke, Kraft, Pumpkin Pie, Mellow Moss, Very Vanilla, Apricot Appeal, watercolor, DP by K & Co.
Ink: Apricot Appeal, Pumpkin Pie, Mellow Moss, Certainly Celery, VersaMark, VersaColor Bamboo, Paprika and Topaz, Antique Linen Distress
Accessories: Grand Ovals, Circles Large, Labels 10 (Spellbinders), grungeboard (Tim Holtz), MS punch, metal heart charm, stick pin, crinkled seam binding (French Market), Chino Pearls (Kaiser), Diamond Stickles, Clear EP (Ranger), distressing tool, Cuttlebug EF


Saturday, February 4, 2012

I am Guest Hostessing the IC Today! Come Play!

See my updated For Sale post with pictures HERE.

Today I am excited to be Guest Hostessing my favorite challenge at Splitcoast - the Inspiration Challenge! I hope that you will check it out and play along!

This week’s Inspiration Challenge comes from a site that makes me long for spring! Charleston Gardens Home and Garden Collection has a wide variety of indoor and outdoor items for any size garden. I chose this beautiful clock/thermometer for my inspiration piece and came up with this:
I stamped my image from Artistic Outpost in Memento Black ink, and then cut out using my Grand Calibur and a Spellbinders die. I sponged on Antique Distress Linen ink, and then added some Kaiser Champagne pearls. The leaves are a new-to-me Sizzix die and the bird is a Martha Stewart punch. The Cuttlebug embossing folder was perfect for my theme.
3733 Bird Clock/Thermometer by Charleston Gardens
There are many really neat garden items at this site. Come play along!

Other challenges for this card:
Catch The Bug - February Anything Goes
Drunken Stampers - Use Something New (Sizzix die)
Stamp, Scrap and Doodle - Die Cut or Punches
 
Stamps: Serenity by Artistic Outpost
Paper: Naturals Ivory, Basic Gray, Basic Black, PTI White, Stash DP
Ink: Memento Black, Antique Distress Linen
Accessories: pearls, Sizzix die cut, Spellbinders die cut, Kaiser pearls, Cuttlebug EF, MS bird punch

Friday, February 3, 2012

Want Your Entire Order Free? Here's Your Chance!

Hambo Stamps' 4th Annual Super Bowl sale is going on NOW! 30% off everything in stock, plus a chance to win your order free!! 
Check it out!

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Stampin' Sisterhood Challenge at Rubbernecker!

See my For Sale post with pictures HERE.

If you are looking for a way to get some fun new images, how about joining this week's challenge at Rubbernecker Stamps? We had an awesome photo to inspire us:
I chose to use the nature theme and colors to make my card using Rubbernecker's Flourish 30-09:
I stamped my image in Lovely Lilac ink and the tips of the flower in Elegant Eggplant. I then colored with my Lavender Spica Glitter pen. The gorgeous ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon's satin collection: Pastel Green with Grosgrain Edge. It adds such a nice spring feel to the design.

I hope you will join us and play along!

Other challenges for this card:
Fabulous Friday – Ribbon and / or Twine
Hotshot Crafts – Flowers
Stamp Man - Embellish It
    

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

FOR SALE

Updated with what is still available......more to be added on Saturday!
I have a regular FOR SALE page here and also some pictures of things I am posting today. I have so many things that I don't use because I just run out of time! I take paypal and MO's. Email me (see right sidebar) if you are interested in anything or want to bargain or are just interested in individual sets! Shipping is not included in the posted costs and will need to be determined according to where you live. THANKS! More to be added over the next few days.
Spellbinders Wizard, brand new, package never opened, never used. Orig. box. $70. Free die included, plates, instructions.
My Favorite Things Punny Farm (new, never used) $12, Verve Thankful Blossoms (used once) $15 or both for $22.
Various 6x6 papers - most from the Provo Craft Mini Slab shown. The Basic Grey pad has 4-5 sheets out and the Black Market pad is new. Over 250 sheets of 6x6. $10.
Provo Craft Scrap Pads - each pad new was 32 sheets of 5 1/2 x 8 1/2" paper - I used maybe 3-5 sheets at the most from each set. All seven pads for $10. Approx. 200 sheets. Just found another one like bottom left. so 8 pads!
Clear Dollar Stamps Charlie Horse sets.
Charlie Frolic, Charlie Snowhorse & Hoofin' It are all new, others used once. Individual sets are $3 each, All seven for $17. $32 new retail.
Pink Persimmon Small Carnival Alphabet (new, never used) $5, Stampendous Petal Plus Set (used once) $9, Unity Stamps Celebrate (Webster Pages, new, never used) $5. All for $15.

Stampin' Up sets, used in excellent condition.
Gifts From the Orient $8, Small Script $5, Graceful Words $8, Tassel Time $12. All $30.

PaperTrey Ink - 5 sets, all used once.
Birds of a Feather ($15), Believe ($10), Green Thumb ($15), Butterfly Kisses ($15), Little Lady ($10) or all 5 sets for $45.
The SaltBox Studio - four brand new, never used sets. $20 for all or $8 each.
Clear Dollar Stamps. All new except the elephant that was used once. $15 for all.
Mark's Finest Papers.
TRAIN SET IS SOLD. Jungle set is $10.
Storage Units Ink Valentine set (new) and Inkadinkadoo Bird set (one bird used once), $9 each or $15 for both.
Six Unity kits - one (treble clef) used once, all others new $25 all or $10 each for 
Shine On! and Rain & Flowers and $5 each for the remaining four.
Tiny Trinity & Stylin' Stars (one or two) used once. The rest are new, never used. Stylin' Stars and Retro BBQ are $10 each. The other three are $5 each or all five kits for $30. Unity Stamps.
You're A Star only one available. $3.
Each pad used once or twice. Colors as shown on tops. All for $8.