A Garden of Flowers

For today's SCS Inspiration Challenge 182: Book Covers

I chose this beautiful book cover HERE for my inspiration (and ordered the book!). I love this Unity sentiment and it fit perfectly with what I wanted to do today!

Stamps: Birdie Inspiration (Unity Stamps), Flower Factory (SU!)
Paper: Whisper White, K & Co. Que Sera Sera DP
Ink: LOTS!
Accessories: Ornare piercing template, Nestabilities, Pretties kit, satin trimmed organdy ribbon, pearls (Kaiser Craft), corner rounder. Cuttlebug EF

Sneak Peek #3!

For today's SCS Limited Supplies Challenge 222: Plenty of Patterns...

I used Memory Box Sugardrop Designer Paper for my card, with one layer of Sahara Sand for my cardstock base. There is another layer of Sugardrop behind the Sahara Sand.

The verse is from Ask, Seek, Knock -- a new June 1st release by Our Daily Bread designs~

I think I seriously need my camera adjusted or something -- all of the sudden the pictures are all dark -- I usually can get a good picture in three tries. This is very dark after about 20 tries, and PSE wouldn't even fix it. Hmmmm.....a gremlin in my camera.......I am not happy with this picture at all, as this is such a soft card, so I will keep messing with it today and see if I can come up with a better picture!


Stamps: Ask, Seek, Knock by ODBD
Paper: Memory Box Sugardrop, Sahara Sand
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: lace trim, pearls, Nestabilities, Cuttlebug EF

Life is a Song - Sing It!

Today's SCS Ways To Use It Challenge 220 was to use buttons! We all have a LOT of those, I think! At least I do, and I don't use them often enough! The button on my tag has a paper "thread."

I inked up at new set from Unity Stamp Co. called Birdie Inspiration. It has some neat sentiments and fun images. Click on the picture for a close-up view!

A short post today - thank you to those who have been praying for my dad - he is out of the hospital after three weeks and a stay in ICU!

Have a wonderful day!


Stamps: Birdie Inspiration by Unity Stamp Co.
Paper: Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla, Basic Grey DP: Bittersweet & Urban Prairie
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa
Accessories: ribbon (American Crafts), buttons (Winter Craft Buttons by CTMH), Fiskars border punch, Scor-Pal, sewing machine

New Releases at Hambo Stamps!

I am so excited to share these new images with you -
and also some fun news about new digital images at Hambo Stamps!

To start off, there are 22 new summer designs available at Hambo right now!

Take a look here!

And Timbo has some fantastic digital images to buy - and a FREEBIE to try out!

My card today is made from the SCS Sketch for Challenge 230:

It was a little bit of work, but I like how it turned out. Click on the picture for a close-up view.
Isn't this juggler adorable? Both the juggler and the sentiment are new Summer releases by Hambo Stamps.

The cool thing about him is that the juggling ball comes separately, so you can make as many as you want, in any shape that you want. I think a heart shape for a special card or for Valentine's Day would be really cute!

This sketch was perfect to highlight all these fun rainbow colored papers and my giant dot brads by The Paper Studio. There are Crystal Stickles on his hat, shoes, and sleeves. I am using my Copic markers for the first time, and I certainly need practice! I think I need a few more shades of the same colors to highlight, which I didn't do at all on this image.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Stamps: Juggler - 3422; Jester Note - 3413 (Hambo Stamps)
Paper: Designer Paper by The Paper Studio, Whisper White
Ink: Palette Noir Black, Copics
Accessories: Crystal Stickles, brads by The Paper Studio, paper piercer, large oval punch, designer label punch, dotted grosgrain ribbon (Hobby Lobby), Nestabilities

Sneak Peek #2!

Today I want to share with you the second set that will be released on June 1st by Our Daily Bread designs. It is called Quiet Waters.


I always think of the song "As the Deer" when I read that Psalm 42 verse! It's an old song, but a favorite of many.

My colors today came from the SCS Color Challenge 220: Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie, and So Saffron. Click on the picture for a close-up view.

After stamping in VersaFine Black Onyx Ink, I watercolored my images. My deer were painted first with So Saffron and then with Pumpkin Pie.

Designer paper is Que Sera Sera by K & Co.
Stamps, paper, distressing tool and ink are all available at ODBD.

Thanks for stopping by today!
Check out more Sneak Peeks by the Bread Basket here:
Angella
Chris
Jane

Stamps: Quiet Waters by ODBD
Paper: Que Sera Sera DP by K & Co,. Whisper White, Bashful Blue, So Saffron
Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Mellow Moss, Bashful Blue
Accessories: pearlized brads by Island Lagoon, linen thread, sewing machine, distressing tool
Techniques: watercolor

Sneak Peek!

Today's SCS Technique Challenge 222 was to make a Hinged Card. I used this tutorial to make my card.
Click on the card for a larger view.
My images are from one of the new June 1st releases by Our Daily Bread designs called Ask, Seek, Knock. I am so excited about this set because the door reminds me so much of many doors I saw on my trip to Ireland last year (we left one year ago today!). Take a look at this picture:


This door is part of a beautiful castle
near Sligo that has been a girls' school.


Here is a view of the inside of my card (click the picture to see it close-up):

The designer paper I used is Brandywine and Sugardrop by Memory Box - both available at ODBD, as is the EK Success Punch I used for my border. Be sure to watch for my peeks coming from the Bread Basket this week! See the sidebar for all the ODBD Design Team (Bread Basket) blogs!

Stamps: Ask, Seek, Knock by ODBD
Paper: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Sahara Sand, Memory Box DP: Brandywine and Sugardrop
Ink: Pallete Noir Black, various
Accessories: brads, key charm, organdy ribbon, Nestabilities, paper pierce, EK Success Scallop Diamond Border punch

Hugs Sand Kisses!

Isn't this dino adorable? You can click on the card for a close-up view. This is one of several new releases for summer by Hambo Stamps. Check out all of the fun new designs HERE. I just love them all and am excited to show you some more projects later this week. Take a look at Mr. Hambo's (Timbo!) digital designs as well!

I made this for today's SCS Featured Stamper Challenge 220. I was thrilled to see Mercy Kerin as the Featured Stamper. She does wonderful work and has such a great gallery. I chose to case (copy and share everything!) THIS card.

I kept her layout and embellishment placement, but changed images and paper. I added a clip and the sentiment. My images are stamped in Palette Noir Black ink on watercolor paper and then watercolored using reinkers and an aqua brush. Designer papers are Wild Raspberry by K & Co.

I am off to the airport (three hours away) to pick up my son - home from college for three weeks! Yay! Have a wonderful day!

Stamps: Sand Box Dino - 3403; Hugs Sand Kisses - 3412; Sun - 3420 (Hambo Stamps)
Paper: Wild Raspberry DP by K & Co.; Ruby Red, watercolor
Ink: Palette Noir Black, Blue Bayou, Creamy Caramel, Ruby Red, Summer Sun, Apricot Appeal, Close to Cocoa
Accessories: clip, word window punch, large oval punch, stitched grosgrain ribbon, brads, paper piercer
Techniques: watercolor

The Fairest Blossom

I loved today's SCS Inspiration Challenge! The handbags and purses on today's inspiration site have such awesome patterns and colors. I am a sucker for purses and bags, even though I hardly carry one! I can't ever keep track of them. In fact, I really have no idea where my driver's license and wallet are right now. Better find those today.....

I chose this handbag for my inspiration,
and used the patterns and colors to make my card today.

You can click on the card to see a larger version for a close-up look. I decided to put my two ribbon layers on a little skewed from each other -- my friends will tell you I am so "straight line, centered" about my embellishments that I decided for this week I was going to try to do something not so centered and straight on each card. We will see if that works! :)

My son comes home from college for three weeks tomorrow, and we are so very excited here! He lives in North Carolina now,
and we don't get to see him very often!
Have a great weekend!

Stamps: Oh So Lovely (SU!), Beautiful You (Verve)
Paper: Best Occasions DP (WM), Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun, Whisper White (SU!)
Ink: Palette Noir Black, Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun, Only Orange, Old Olive, Certainly Celery
Accessories: Nestabilities, stick pin (Heidi Grace), organdy and grosgrain ribbon, button (Stickopotamus)

Sweet Friends

I made this card today for the SCS Ways To Use It Challenge 219: Stamp It Again.
I needed to make a sympathy card today for a friend who lost her brother and I have always loved this Stampin' Up! set, Embrace Life, for so many different occasions. The sentiment is from Always in My Thoughts.

I want to thank several friends today for giving me a special award. It is a humbling honor and I wanted to thank them for their generosity and kindness. Sharing Christ is the most important thing I do in my life.

Barb G., Betty W., Chris O., Dawn L., Diane N., and Faith W. awarded the to me. Thank you so much!

"The Exalting Christ Blog Award" is given to bloggers who consistently exalt the name of Christ on their blogs. What a joy to see crafters blend their passion for Christ and paper crafting. This award is given to bloggers who share Christ through their posts or through the design of their artwork. We are commanded in Scripture to be 'salt and light' sharing the Good News of Jesus no matter where we are (Matthew 5:13-16). This award is just a way members of Women to Women: Sharing Jesus can say thanks for exalting Christ with us!"

Rules:

Post the blog award in a regular post on your blog with the explanation, including the original link to WTW and the rules for passing the award along

1. Name five people to whom you want to offer this award and link to their blogs. The blogs need to obviously exalt Christ in some manner.
2. Contact the bloggers you have named to let them know they can pick up their blog award from you.
3. Invite them to permanently display the WTW blog badge and/or the award on their blogs. The badge can be obtained on the WTW site."

I am awarding this to Juliana, Diane,
Christine, Holly, and a brand new blog from Sandee!
(You can see Sandee's artwork here while we are waiting for her blog!)

Stamps: Embrace Life (SU)
Paper: Temtping Turquoise, Whisper White, DCWV Textured Turquoise and DP
Ink: Palette Noir Black, Pacific Point, Tempting Turquoise, Taken With Teal
Accessories: EK Success wavy border punch (inside), white organdy ribbon, Nestabilities, designer label punch, square punch, brads, paper piercer

Free Pearls Without Oysters!

Wow! 95 degrees here today! Whew! We had to turn on the air-conditioning. That is pretty hot for this time of year here. Another sign of summer - tomorrow is my last regular teaching day of the school year! It is strange -- it just doesn't seem like it! But I am happy about it anyway!

My card today is made with the wonderful
Waving Wildflowers Set from Rubber Stamp Tapestry.
Click HERE to see how I made this card and for a list of supplies.

This week at Rubber Stamp Tapestry, all orders over $30 (before shipping) get a FREE Self Adhesive Pearl Pack in the "Pearl" color!
Be sure to check out the website for all the awesome monthly specials too!

(I like my pearls without the oysters! How about you?)

TV Cameras Are Intimidating

Update on the Auditions for the TV Show:
Well, are we ever exhausted! Saturday night we got home at just after midnight -- we didn't actually eat dinner until 9:30 p.m. -- but I guess we were eating on California time! It was fun - we got to know all the Production Company people from L.A. and they got to know us. GREAT food~

Sunday was absolutely exhausting. We started at 11 AM. Each person had to do an a capella solo with these GIANT lights on them, and three cameras and one of those huge hot dog microphones hanging down. The rest of us were sitting in chairs waiting our turn - watching those on stage. We have ALL sung and performed in front of audiences before but this was SCARY!! We were all so nervous -- one very seasoned performer just did a total blank when she got up there -- couldn't remember her words or the melody. The cameras make it totally different - I will tell you that!

My husband and daughter and I did fine - but we were ALL nervous as could be. My knees were shaking - I was glad I had a skirt on so you couldn't see that! :) My husband sang "Be Our Guest," my daughter sang "A Change in Me" and I sang the theme song "Beauty & the Beast." All the songs had to be from that show.

After that (there were like 35 people), we had to wait around while they did interviews with about 15 people (15 minutes or so). My daughter went first and she was in there about 20 minutes. (She was in heaven and loved talking to them, and they called her "charming!") So that took FOREVER -- some people went home and got games to play, some had books, some iPods, some had Blackberrys and were on the internet. Some just chatted. Some napped. It was so like the footage you get on American Idol as they are waiting their turn to sing! I was even nervous for the interview.

After the interviews 6 people were chosen to read a scene and be taped for that. I was picked to play the vocal coach "high British" diva -- it was fun the first two times, but we had to film it a LOT of times from various angles and so on. After LOTS of times, then they decided they wanted costumes, so we had to wear these WOOL capes, hats and skirts. Four more takes....

We thought we were done, but the younger auditioners had been downstairs singing and dancing and now they had to tape that. It took about 10-12 takes of that. Finally at 9:30 PM, we were through. It had been a LOOOOOOONG day! (And I still had to make my House Mouse card for today!)

Today my husband is doing yet more interviewing and taping, along with a few others, and then tonight the team comes and watches us run auditions for our summer show, "My Fair Lady." Whew!

We find out this coming weekend whether they chose our theatre for the TV show and production, or the one in the East. Either way, it was a fun experience, and made me appreciate what goes on behind the scenes!

And NOW, for my House Mouse card! No wordy explanation - just a sketch challenge that I made up for this week on House Mouse & Friends! Be sure to check out ALL the beautiful DT cards HERE.

I used Kraft, Pink Pirouette and Whisper White for my colors.
Thanks for reading and all the good wishes!

No Small Miracles

A quick post today - I am off to church and then we all have our auditions with the TV producers this afternoon! (More on this later!) If our theatre is chosen - that is no small miracle! HA!

I made this card for SCS Inspiration Challenge 180 HERE.

I used the colors and flowers for my inspiration and made a rather funky patterned card.

The May Arts twill is frayed on the left side and there are two loops as well, which are hard to see. Paper is Glitterati by Memory Box and the flower is from the Prima Juliette Collection Berry. Sentiment is by Verve. This is a standard A2 sized card.

If you are here for the Unity hop, scroll down one post.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Stamps: Verve Stamps
Paper: Glitterati DP by Memory Box, Kraft
Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black
Accessories: Juliette Collection Berry by Prima, May Arts twill, paper piercer, black brad

Hop Hop Hoppin' Along!

Today I am taking part in the KOTM Blog Hop at Unity Stamps!

If you arrived here from IHEARTART you are in the right place.

To start at the beginning of the hop, go HERE.

My project today is made in honor of one of my friends, Debbie Corbari, who was the Featured Stamper at SCS this past Sunday. I haven't had a chance to CASE her yet, so today is the day. Here is Debbie's cute card I chose, and here is my Unity Stamps version from the April KOTM:


The black strip in the middle looks so cute with its Cuttlebugged Swiss Dots, but it doesn't show up in the picture. Papers are Romance by Crafty Secrets.

If you don't know about Unity Kit of the Month, you really need to check it out! FUN STUFF!

Next on the hop is super talented JESS at My Sanity Depends on Stamping!

And my quote for the day:

I will love the light for it shows me the way. Yet I will endure the darkness for it shows me the stars. — Og Mandino

Thanks for stopping by today! I appreciate all comments! If you like what you see, "Follow" me! See the right sidebar~

Lots To Catch Up On - A Long Post!

First of all, let me apologize to all my blog candy entries -- I have been crazy busy with various things that have taken me away from my blog for several days. So first things first:

Congratulations to

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

10 

Timestamp: 2009-05-14 17:20:03 UTC

LOVELY LINDA! Linda, email me your address and I will get your goodies out to you tomorrow! Here is what Linda won: a package of Prima Dandies, a bottle of Shimmerz, a Crafty Secrets stamp set and some lovely ribbon! Congrats, Linda!

My dad has been in the hospital for over a week now, but is doing much better! He was in ICU for several days, but has now been moved to a different floor and is improving each day! Thank you to those who have been praying for him and for my mom!

For most everyone in school, things are wrapping up for this school year. I have been involved with all sorts of things there, from the talent show to doing grades for my 250 students, to attending end-of-the-year banquets and award assemblies and graduation parties --- just like a lot of you are doing, I am sure!

I am proud to report that my daughter won an Acting Award from her school for her portrayal of Sally Brown in "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown"!

And speaking of acting - something else that has kept me away from posting: auditions for "My Fair Lady" at our community theater are coming up on Monday and Tuesday, and I have been working on music and choreography for that -- brushing up on the script and characters!

AND -- (I still don't believe this one) producers from the Lifetime Channel from Los Angeles (owned by Disney) are coming this weekend to visit our community theater. They are doing a television series this fall on one community theater from around the country - we applied and became one of five finalists and now we are one of TWO! So this Sunday I will talking with them, and auditioning for "Beauty & the Beast" (which is what we would be doing for the series if we are selected). A little nerve-wracking! Guess I will make sure my jeans are clean! HA!

Now on to today's project!

The SCS Ways To Use It Challenge 218 today was to alter tins. If you follow my blog at all, you know I don't alter very often. I am a card girl. But I thought I would give it a try and this is what I came up with:

My "bandaid" tin is covered with Patriotic Stars Masterpiece Designer Paper, various ribbons, and the beautiful eagle image from In God We Trust by Our Daily Bread designs. The twill is stamped with one of the sentiments from God Bless America.

You can find several tins to alter here.

I altered this tin to hold what coin collectors call "Wheaties" - pennies with wheat backs on them, rather than the Lincoln Memorial. My dad is an avid coin collector and I still come across Wheaties just about every week. So I made this tin for his pennies.

This was so fun and easy to make. I know it won't be such a long time before I do another!

And just a reminder for all you sketch lovers: Tomorrow at noon is the deadline to participate in this month's ODBD Sketch Challenge! I hope you can play. The prizes are wonderful!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Stamps: God Bless America and In God We Trust by ODBD
Paper: Patriotic Stars Designer Paper by Masterpiece, Real Red, Whisper White
Ink: Black Stazon, More Mustard, Close to Cocoa
Accessories: twill ribbon, striped twill ribbon, patterned star ribbon, Cuttlebug Swirls EF, distressing tool

I Told Her She Couldn't Look!

For SCS Inspiration Challenge 179...

I chose this pillow for my inspiration to make my Mother's Day Card for my beautiful Mom, who celebrated her 80th birthday last week~
She reads my blog, and I told her she couldn't look until Monday! :)

Sentiment is from Beautiful You by Verve. Paper is Bella Rose by Stampin' Up! This paper is so beautiful you hardly have to do anything to make a pretty card! This is a standard A2 card.

Today I will be drawing a winner for my Blog Candy and I will post the results tomorrow!
Thanks for stopping by today!

Stamps: Beautiful You by Verve
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, Old Olive, Bella Rose DP
Ink: Rose Red
Accessories: lace trim, pink brads, Nestabilities

THAT'S a Holiday?

I just can’t believe we are into the second week of May already! Mother’s Day is almost here, and Memorial Day is later in the month. But there are many other holidays in May too.

The SCS Limited Supplies Challenge today is all about celebrations! I am hosting and I hope that you will play along!

Today we are making projects that reflect and represent any May celebration or holiday. I have listed a few fun ones, and some traditional holidays as well, but you are welcome to Google “May holidays” as there are MANY more! (Who decides this stuff anyway?)

Did you know May 8^th (today) is NO SOCKS Day and HAVE A COKE Day?? Sounds good to me!

And Moms will like May 10^th – CLEAN UP YOUR ROOM Day!

May is:

American Bike Month

Asparagus Month

Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month

National BBQ Month

National Egg Month

National Strawberry Month

During May:

Save the Rhino Day (May 1)

Teacher Appreciation Week

National Pet Week

Mother’s Day (second Sunday in May)

Twilight Zone Day (May 11)

National Dance Like a Chicken Day (May 14)

Armed Forces Day (third Saturday in May)

Pack Rat Day (May 17)

Circus Day (May 19^th)

Memorial Day (May 30^th-observed last Monday in May)

Here is my sample for Armed Forces Day. I am sending it to one of our friends, whose husband is deployed in Iraq right now. She is a special gal and I know it's hard being away from her newlywed husband!

My images are from a new May release from Our Daily Bread designs called In God We Trust. I stamped the eagle in VersaFine Onyx Black ink on watercolor paper and then watercolored with my stamp pads and one of the Aqua-Flo brushes from this set. I used my Labels Three Nestabilities to cut and emboss my eagle and the mat on Naturals Ivory cardstock. I used Brandywine DP from Memory Box for my patterned papers, and scored the burgundy piece with my Scor-Pal two directions. The border is punched with a Fiskars border punch. My brads are by The Paper Studio (did you see the ones in the lower right-hand corner too? They are hiding!)

I used a sketch I made for this month's Bread Basket Challenge at Our Daily Bread designs:


Click HERE to find out how you can win one of three new releases for May when you play along! The deadline is May 15th, so you have a whole week to play!

Last day to enter my Blog Candy drawing here. Today I am adding a roll of pretty ribbon to use with the stamp set, Prima flowers and the Shimmerz!

Thanks for stopping by today!

George Says It Like It Is!

Today's patriotic card was made with stamps from God Bless America, one of the new May releases from one of my favorite stamp companies, Our Daily Bread designs. This flag just looks like it's waving in my Nebraska breeze!

The SCS Ways To Use It Challenge today uses one of my favorite cardstocks -- Kraft! It's perfect for the idea I had about an old, distressed flag. When we went to Washington D.C. as a family several years ago, one of the most interesting and moving exhibits to me was the actual "Star Spangled Banner" - the flag that was flying over Ft. McHenry in 1814, and the one that Francis Scott Key saw when he penned the words to our national anthem. It is in an air-tight case, with very dim light, because it is deteriorating. I just stood there for a very long time, looking at it, and at the exhibit. I thought it was just amazing that that was the real thing! What a wonderful representation of our country and its fight for freedom.

My flag image is stamped in Black Stazon and colored with Real Red and Brilliant Blue Stampin' Up! markers. I then rubbed Tim Holtz Tea Dye Distress ink all over the image, crumpled it up, sprayed it with water, and let it dry. The Bella Rose red designer paper is from Stampin' Up! I sewed a little "X" on each side of the flag with linen thread.

The George Washington quote is stamped in Night of Navy ink, then with the Tea Dye ink. All edges are distressed with the Tim Holtz Paper Distresser. The hardware and patterned star ribbon is from my stash of "stuff" that I have had forever.

If you are interested in Blog Candy, see this post! Today I am adding a package of new Prima flowers!! I will post a picture of everything a little later this week. Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: God Bless America by ODBD
Paper: Kraft, Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Stampin' Up! Bella Rose DP
Ink: Night of Navy, Black Stazon, Real Red, Brilliant Blue, Tim Holtz Tea Dye Distress
Accessories: photo turn, hardware frame, star charm, patterned ribbon, linen thread, needle, distressing tool

Why Does She Sing?

For today's SCS Sketch Challenge 227....

I turned the sketch and made my decorated edge a separate flourish (Just the Edge by Bazzill Basics Paper). The little half flower at the top of the card is hardware by Close To My Heart (Edge Anchor in Indian Corn Blue).

I needed a little stamping therapy today, so chose some of my favorite colors and designer paper! Stamps are by Artistic Outpost.

I am adding one bottle of beautiful Shimmerz to my Blog Candy. Be sure to read about it here, and post on that same post to be eligible! I will be back tomorrow with something else to add!

Stamps: Serenity by Artistic Outpost
Paper: NQN, Bella Bleu, Whisper White
Ink: NQN, Close to Cocoa
Accessories: hardware by CTMH, brads by The Paper Studio, Just the Edge (Bazzill), paper flowers, fabric trim, Nestabilities

Blog Candy - Won't Add To Your Hips!

Good morning!

Today I am offering some Blog Candy to celebrate my second blogaversary on May 3rd. Keep reading!

To be eligible, just leave a comment on this post, and mention my candy on your blog with a link back here. A winner will be drawn on May 9th! One entry per person.
Thank you to all of my readers and subscribers! Keep reading!

Today I want to show you my little May baskets. As I said here, I like to use recycled anything to make other things. This was a pineapple can. I like the tin look, so I left that part intact, and didn't cover it up totally with designer paper. But you could certainly do that too.

Here is the "basket" empty:
First I punched my border using Martha Stewart's lace doily punch. My paper is from the Crafty Secrets line - called Radiant. I attached it to the can with Sticky Strip. On top of that I used glue dots to add a lace trim. I added two little stickers - also from Crafty Secrets "Wonderful Women"- and a giant Prima flower with a pearl in the center. (Click on either picture for a close-up view - the sentiment sticker says "Love You.")

The lilacs are in full bloom in my yard (see these pictures from a previous year at how many I have!) and I cut a couple of groupings to put in my basket. This would be so cute for Mother's Day this weekend!

It is now ready to hang on a doorknob belonging to the recipient! And now for the blog candy! Since I used Crafty Secrets products on my baskets, and also am so thankful for my stamping friends' support of my work and my blog, and just me (!), I am offering this darling acrylic set called "Support the Girls" by Crafty Secrets! I will be adding something every day for the next three days~

Remember to post a comment here and also on your blog telling about my blog candy with a link back here! I am hoping to have 100 followers by the end of May! (More candy then!)
Thanks for stopping by~ I hope you all have a wonderful day!

House Mouse Monday !

I hope you all had a good weekend! We did! My husband just finished a two-week run of "Rough Crossing" at the Community Theatre. What a funny play. I sure enjoyed it - even after seeing it about 6 times! (I work out there most shows)~

Today is House Mouse Monday, and over at the Blog we have a Gatefold Card challenge for you! There is a prize for one lucky participant, so be sure to check out this post!

I made a birthday card for my gatefold:

I colored my image with Copic markers and added some matching brads. I love my new EK Success wavy border punch. It pierces as you punch! A little trim, a clip, some glitter on the candle, and my mousie is ready for CHEESE! My card is 4.25 inches square.

Thanks for stopping by -- come back a little later this afternoon for a Blog Candy post!

Happy Days Are Here Again!

For today's Featured Stamper Challenge 117 I chose this card of sparkplug17's to case. I loved the layout, so I kept that, and the overall theme. I changed images, papers and added ric rac to pick up the colors in the paper and the bird's wing. (Click on the picture to enlarge)

I decided I better get inking my Unity Stamps Kit of the Month from March, as May's will be on its way to me soon and I haven't had much of a chance to use the one from March yet!

That being said, today is my Second Blogaversary! That is a happy day! Thank you to all my subscribers through Google and Feedblitz and those that stop by when they can!
I am offering up some Blog Candy starting tomorrow -- so be sure to come back to see what it is -- and I will have a House Mouse Challenge card as well!

Don't forget tomorrow's deadline for Hambo's Cool Cat contest! (see yesterday's post)
Have a good day!


Stamps: March KOTM by Unity Stamp Co.
Paper: Wisteria Basic Grey DP, Elegant Eggplant, Naturals White
Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black, Creamy Caramel, Elegant Eggplant, Mint Melody, Baja Breeze
Accessories: buttons, Cuttlebug EF, ric rac, EK Success wavy border punch, Nestabilities

A Contest, A Challenge, and Lots of Prizes!

Have you seen this Cool Cat? No? Then head on over HERE and download this digi-image by Tim Hunter of Hambo Stamps for FREE! You can play with the image and see how you like digi-images, then check out the rest of Tim's designs in his Etsy Store. Read all about how to use Cool Cat on the Hambo blog, Talk to the Ham, and check out the awesome contest and prizes HERE.

Hurry~! The deadline to enter is May 4th! And don't miss out on all the SALE and RETIRING stamps at Hambo too! Click HERE to see the awesome deals!

You can see one of my cards with one of Tim's digi-images HERE.

After you have made your Cool Cat Contest Card, head on over to the Our Daily Bread designs blog, where we have a Sketch Challenge for you to try, and PRIZES for four winners!!

Here is the sketch:

And check out these beauties from some of the Bread Basket Team for inspiration!

Amy
Angella
Kim

Have a great day!

May Day, Another Birthday, New Release Day!

Wow! May 1st is a busy day today!

First of all, Happy May Day to all!
Happy Birthday to my black lab, Lucy! She is five today!

And check out the NEW RELEASES at Our Daily Bread designs!

I just love patriotic "stuff" and these sets are perfect for all those occasions when I want to send a little "American Greeting" LOL~

Today I want to share with you the new single stamp release: I Pledge Allegiance. I chose red, white, and blue for my colors, as I will be using this card for Memorial Day wishes. I wanted to make something that was simple and that I could reproduce easily, so I kept with basic rectangle shapes.
Take a look at all three fabulous sets (click each to enlarge):



I had hoped to show you a picture of my May baskets today, but didn't get a chance to take one, as we had some unforeseen circumstances that kept me away from my stamp room and the computer most of the day! But I hope to have one posted tomorrow - you can use the same idea for Mother's Day for friends or special women in your life. But I do have a quick explanation of what I used.

We are all about being as "green" as we can be, and we recycle everything in this house! Usually in the past I have made May baskets out of paper or acetate. This year I am recycling tin cans for my baskets. My example (check back tomorrow!) was a can of pineapple in its previous life!

Take a tin can of any size, wash, dry, decorate if you desire (or leave it a "natural" tin color!). I used my Crop-A-Dile to punch my holes in the side -- added ribbon around a chenille stem for the handle, and added lilacs from my yard. The tin can is perfect for holding water for your indoor bouquets! Leave a few on friends' doors! Hang several in your own house for a refreshing scent of the outdoors indoors!

Thank you to all who wished my mom a Happy Birthday yesterday! She had a great day and we had a lot of fun! (And good cake too!)

Tomorrow I will have a sketch challenge for you to play along with! Kelley (the fantastic owner of ODBD) is offering Blog Candy for participants, so be sure to come back and see what it's all about right here!

Stamps: I Pledge Allegiance (ODBD)
Paper: Whisper White, Brilliant Blue, Real Red (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: Night of Navy
Accessories: brads (The Paper Studio), paper piercer, Nestabilities, paper flowers (Hero Arts), branch punch (Martha Stewart)
Techniques: piercing