Hogs and Sketches!

It's Hogs and Sketches time at Hambo Stamps! Starting now, each month a new sketch will be offered to you for inspiration in your card-making. And since this is a Hambo-sponsored challenge, we want to see your Hambo stamps (rubber or digital) being put to use! HERE are two freebie digital images by Timbo for your use -- if you have other Hambos, let's see 'em!

What's in it for you? FREE STAMPS from Hambo Stamps! Monica has kindly offered to provide a prize package for one lucky participant. Melissa Edwards is sponsoring the sketch challenge each month and will put all the participants' names in a jar and draw the name of the winner on September 30th. You must link to Mr. Linky HERE to be eligible! All samples must be posted to Melissa's blog using the Mr. Linky no later than midnight (EST) on September 29th.

I am having trouble with my right-click on my mouse and can't get a picture of the sketch here, but you can see it at the blogs listed below!

Check out these cool ideas from the rest of the Hambo Team!
MacKenzie
Monica
Melissa
Jane

And what else? A SALE!! Check this out:

Stamps: Skeleton - 2215 (Hambo Stamps)
Paper: Lovely Lilac, Basic Black, unknown DP, Whisper White
Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black, Copics
Accessories: Rolodex punch, distressing tool, chipboard arrow, Diamond Glitter, Nestabilities, foam alpha stickers, colored brads (Paper Studio), slit punch, printed grosgrain ribbon

Grin and Bear It

A quick post today before I am off to church! For SCS Inspiration Challenge 195 we were given a wallpaper (and more!) site to peruse and I chose the Black Bear Lodge Bathroom and Accessories.

I made my bear brown, though! He is part of Into the Forest, by Chicken Girl Design Stamps, available at i {heart} papers. I paper pieced his kerchief with the background paper.

Also from IHP: Labels 9 Nestabilities and Standard Circles Large Nestabilities, Hugs From A Bug (grass stamp).

I loosely used the Our Creative Corner sketch challenge for this week as well.
Have a blessed day!

Stamps: Into the Forest (Chicken Girl Design Stamps)
Paper: Real Red, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, SU! DP
Ink: VersaFine Sepia, VersaFine Onyx Black, Wild Wasabi, Copics
Accessories: Clear EP, Primas, brads (Paper Studio), word window punch, Cuttlebug EF, twill tape (May Arts), Labels 9 and Large Circles Nestabilities, 1.5 circle punch

Ants in My Pants

I don't like shoes.

The first thing I do when I get home from work is take them off. And if I am not working, then I hardly wear them except when I go out. So earlier this week I walked out the front door to get my mail (I could see the package from iCopic and was pretty excited!). No shoes (we have outdoor carpet on the porch). Because I was looking ahead to the package (two feet away), I wasn't paying attention to where I was stepping. So I stepped out and thought I had stepped on a leaf of something. I looked down and it was a big wasp, attacking a bigger gray, hairy spider. Well, #1, I am allergic to wasp and bee stings. #2 Spiders are the thing I hate the most. Needless to say, I forgot about the Copics I ordered and sort of freaked out then. Bare feet on a wasp, let alone a yucky spider is not my thing, you know?

Another box was also there and it had a FedEx doorknob sticker on it. I ripped that off and batted at the wasp - he flew away. But there was the spider, on his back. BLECH!!! I do not squish spiders, people! When I find one in the house, I get my hair spray and say "Stick 'em up!" Then call for reinforcements! So I took the doorknob sticker and flipped the spider over and then scooped him off into the yard. All fine, no stings (amazing), but it's the thought that makes you crazy.

At school this week I noticed something moving on my floor at breakneck speed. As big as a quarter. Turned out to be a wolf spider. BLEH! Get out the trusty hair spray. Call for reinforcements.

Yesterday after school I walked into my guest bedroom sans shoes (I keep my clothes in that closet), and before I even noticed, I am stepping into thousands of ants. Now I go into this room probably three to four times a day. They were not there when I got ready for work yesterday morning and this is 4:45 p.m. They were already dead even! And I am not kidding about thousands. Call for reinforcements!! They were in the curtains, on the bed, in my closet and in the clothes in my closet! All dead.

The exterminator is coming Monday. Inside the house. Outside the house. I am happy. It's worth the $95.

Today I am wearing shoes.


So in honor of the ants - who are going marching thousands by thousands to some other place of abode, here is a card I made using a CUTE ant from Hugs From a Bug by Chicken Girl Design Stamps. You can find this darling set (I like to stamp bugs, just not get to know them up close and personal!) exclusively at i {heart} papers. The Spellbinders Nestabilities are also available there.

And here is the card I that I said I would show again (with my added buttons) from the IHP Design Team challenge:


Have a wonderful day!! (Take along hair spray and wear shoes!)

Stamps: Hugs From A Bug (Chicken Girl Design Stamps)
Paper: Pink Passion, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black, Copics
Accessories: Nestabilities, black brads, gingham ribbon, clear embossing powder, Cuttlebug EF

Stamps: Into the Forest (Chicken Girl Design Stamps)
Paper: Kiwi Kiss
Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Palette Noir Black
Accessories: orange ribbon, Kiwi Kiss corduroy buttons, word window punch

Family Means the Most

Today is Hip Hop Hangover so sit down, relax, and check out some awesome Unity Customer Creations!


Visit the Unity blog to see the list of participating blogs in the hop today!

My card is made with Tiny Trinity.

Thanks for taking a peek!

I love this little "family tree" set. And I love my family a lot!
Give yours a hug today!

Always

I made this card today using some of my favorite things from Our Daily Bread designs. The images are from the August release: Jesus. I stamped the image of Jesus in VersaFine Sepia ink, and the verse in ODBD Turquoise ink. The card base is Copper Metallic by Prism, and has such a beautiful sheen. The flowers are Prima Artistry flowers.


Thanks for stopping by today!


Stamps: Jesus bu ODBD
Paper: Making Memories Journaling Page, Copper Metallic (Prism), textured turquoise (Paper Studio), unknown DP
Ink: VersaFine Sepia, Turquoise (available at ODBD)
Accessories: Prima Artistry flowers, chocolate satin ribbon (SU!), brown brads (Paper Studio), photo corner punch

A Hop, Skip and a Jump!

Today the Design Team at i {heart} papers is having a challenge and I get to play along!
It's a 1-2-3 Challenge and we hope you will play too!

1 sentiment
2 embellishments
3 layers

This little 4.25 square card is made with Basic Grey's Lime Rickey paper, in both the 6x6 and 12x12 sizes. You can find this paper at i {heart} papers HERE. I used the smaller design for the background and then cut out one of the birds from the bigger design to add as a layer.

The sentiment is from Into the Forest (Chicken Girl Design Stamps), available at IHP HERE.

I added a cordouroy button and ribbon from my scraps and made a cute little gift card for a friend!

Now hop, skip and jump on over to see these fun creations:
Kate (i {heart} papers)

Carolyn (bklynstamper)

Cathleen (Crooked Card Creations)

Deb (With a Stamp and a Song)

Gretchen (Happiness Is. . .)

Lynn (Stamperosity)

Megan (Megan Lock Designs)

Tracy (Who IsTracy?)

Loretta (Love To Create)

Tammy (Stamp Happy)

Lori (Inking Aloud)

Kendra (Kendra's Card Company)

Someday I will get these 1-2-3 challenges right the first time. My first card had images, and my second card had two embellshments, but two different types.
I originally had three buttons and one ribbon and that is four.......
And that is probably what I will keep to send! I will show you that one tomorrow!
Gotta go hide from the Challenge Police!

Another for Joanne!

My second to honor Joanne {jojot}, the SCS Featured Stamper this week!!

Joanne has so many incredible cards in her gallery, and I loved THIS ONE.

She said it was one of her old sets, and it's brand new for me! In fact, I cut out and mounted my Blossoms Abound (SU!) today just to make this card! I bought it when it retired, knowing I would love it and I do!

I changed colors and punch, added pearls and a sentiment. I used designer paper instead of a Cuttlebug EF.

Note to self: Don't EVER put the whole card together and then decide you need a sentiment -- it's too scary! (I could have totally messed it all up - but this time it worked!). This is a standard A2 card.

I hope you have a wonderful Monday! My daughter is auditioning today for a part in her high school musical. They are doing "Les Miserables" - my most favorite Broadway show ever. We won't know what part she got until Friday afternoon, so it's going to be a looooooong week!
Have a good one!


Stamps: Blossoms Abound (SU!)
Paper: Certainly Celery, Very Vanilla, Textured Rose (The Paper Studio), Rose Romance (retired SU!), Basic Grey Bittersweet DP
Ink: Camomille Distress Ink (PTI), Rose Romance (retired SU!), Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Old Olive
Accessories: stamp-a-ma-jig, paper piercer, pearls (Kaiser), ivory satin ribbon (May Arts), Martha Stewart border punch, Pink Stickles
Techniques: piercing, sponging

Congratulations, Joanne!

CONGRATS to jojot!!! I am thrilled that my friend, Joanne, was chosen for the Featured Stamper 133 this week, as every card in her gallery is just so awesome. I have so many favorites from her I couldn't decide. So I will be doing more than one!

But HERE is a really cute one that I loved because of the pink and black.

I changed colors and images, but kept her layout and theme, and I added a button and some brads.

Thanks for taking a peek! Cheep!

Stamps: Everyday Adorable by Unity
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, Basic Grey DP, textured cardstock
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Yoyo Yellow, Barely Banana
Accessories: Prima flowers, stitched ribbon, brads, word window punch, button Nestabilities, Cuttlebug EF, Diamond Stickles

Beads and Blessings

I love it when I can play in Saturday's SCS Inspiration Challenge. It is so much fun to see what everyone comes up with from looking at something else. Today (#194) we had a great whimsical site for a NYC boutique called Pylones.

I chose the beaded ring HERE for my inspiration. My orange button is reminiscent of the center of the ring, and the tag and spiral paper edge remind me of all the beaded holes.

My images are from Happy Birthday by Our Daily Bread designs. I only needed a part of the sentiment to fit in my tag, so I colored the "Blessings" with a Basic Black Stampin' Up! marker and used that portion. The flowers and watering can are colored with Copic markers.

There are Crystal Stickles on the butterfly and the nozzle of the watering can.

For more inspiration using this set, check out these beautiful designs:
Betty
Deborah
Loretta
Silke

Thanks for stopping by today!

Stamps: Happy Birthday (ODBD)
Paper: Kraft, Very Vanilla, Ruby Red, Wild Saffron DP by K & Co., Making Memories Journaling Book
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics, Camomile Distress Ink (PTI)
Accessories: Prima flowers, orange button, RHR striped ribbon, sewing machine, Wild Saffron tags by K & Co., Crystal Stickles

Tee-rific!

I am hosting the SCS Limited Supplies Challenge today and I hope you will play along. To see the challenge, click HERE. It is all about masculine cards for those men in our lives who are teens and adults~

My golf ball and sentiment are both by Hambo Stamps. I stamped each with VersaFine Onyx Black ink, and the golf ball was then colored with Copics. I stamped the ball again, and cut it out, then ran it through a Cuttlebug embossing folder.


I rummaged in my husband's golf bag for a tee, and added that for a little fun. Thanks for stopping by today!

Stamps: Hambo Stamps
Paper: Kraft, Sage Shadow, Whisper White, DP by My Mind's Eye
Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black, Copics
Accessories: golf tee, twine, jumbo eyelets (The Paper Studio), bitty brads (CTMH), threading water punch (Fiskars), photo corner punch (SU!), Cuttlebug EF, Nestabilities

Stick Together!

Today my good friend, Holly, is guest hosting the SCS Color Challenge 232, so I just had to make time to play along! The colors were Close to Cocoa, Taken With Teal and Very Vanilla.

I used some of my fun Hambo Stamps for this card. The porcupine is stamped in Palette Noir Black ink and then watercolored with Close to Cocoa ink. Isn't he cute?

Yesterday was Back to School and it went very well! The kids were glad to be back, I think, and we played instruments all day long! But I do treasure my stamping time today and was glad to be able to stamp!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Porcupine - 3225; Stick Together - 3213 (Hambo Stamps)
Paper: Taken With Teal, Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla, Kraft, DP by Stampin' Up! and My Mind's Eye
Ink: Palette Noir Black, Close to Cocoa
Accessories: tag die, aqua brush, large brads (The Paper Studio), Nestabilities, May Arts Twill ribbon, Yarn Bee fibers, button, linen thread, sewing machine
Techniques: sewing, watercolor

Bee My Honey!

For today's SCS Featured Stamper Challenge 132 . . .

Congratulations to Stamp Muse!!

Here is her cute card I cased.

I changed the images and colors, but kept her layout and overall bug theme! There are Diamond Stickles on the wings, and the bees are embossed with Clear EP.

I also made this for Mothermark's Tuesday Teapot Challenge 59 HERE.

My stamps are from Hugs From a Bug, an August 9 release from Chicken Girl Design Stamps, carried exclusively by i {heart} papers!

The Urban Prairie DP (also available at IHP) has bees already printed on this particular design, but I wanted a few more, so I cut some out and then added them with dimensionals (which happen to be the exact same shape! lol).

Thanks for looking!

Stamps: Hugs From a Bug (Chicken Girl Design Stamps)
Paper: Urban Prairie (Basic Grey), Papertrey Ink CS
Ink: Palette Noir Black, VersaFine Onyx Black, Copics
Accessories: Nestabilities, large oval punch, word window punch, stitched grosgrain ribbon, Fiskars border punch, Primas, diamond stickles, Ranger Clear EP

What Time Is It?

Thank you to those who "checked" up on me this week to see if all was well. All is well -- just different! It has been a week since I have posted - certainly unusual over the summer. But all has changed this week here in Nebraska. We are Back To School!

I teach music part-time in an elementary school here, and it is time for my regular job again. Sad, isn't it? I will definitely miss stamping every day, but do have to pay for my hobby (and college tuition!) somehow, so work it is!

And it is exciting to arrange my room, and unpack things, and get ready for a new school year. My daughter and I took an overnight trip earlier this week to buy some school clothes and supplies and that was fun. Saw a great chick flick - "The Proposal" -- I recommend it for some fun and laughs and awesome scenery!

So what do I have today? Well, a BLOG CANDY winner for one -- keep reading!
And a card using this week's SCS Inspiration (#193) and Sketch (#241) Challenges.


I chose this embroidered work by Jessica Polka for my inspiration. And HERE is the sketch, which I turned sideways.

I stamped one of the verses from Jesus (Our Daily Bread designs) in Not Quite Navy ink and cut and embossed with the Large Rectangles Nestabilities. The border along the bottom is the Grand Illumination Border from Spellbinders. It is 12 inches long, so I just cut what I needed. I sponged Bashful Blue ink on the border before I took it out of the die.

The designer paper on the top is by My Mind's Eye, and the bottom is K & Co.

I love blue and white together!

You can see more designs using this set from two ODBD Design Team members:
Connie
Lorelie

And now for a long-awaited Blog Candy winner! Last Sunday I posted the two new sets from Chicken Girl Design Stamps, and was offering Hugs From a Bug as blog candy. I used random.org to choose my winner. Congratulations to PEGGY!!

Here are your random numbers:

31 

Timestamp: 2009-08-15 15:19:31 UTC

WOOT WOOT! Peggy, I will email you the information on how to get your set!!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Stamps: Jesus by ODBD
Paper: Papertrey White, NQN, Bashful Blue, DP by K & Co. and My Mind's Eye
Ink: NQN, Bashful Blue
Accessories: Pretties kit, Offray ribbon, Nestabilities, Borderabilities, pearls by Kaiser, Prima flower
Techniques: sponging

Today Is The Day! And Blog Candy Too!

Click on the photo to see the cute owl DP!

Today is Release Day for ChickenGirl Design Stamps - available exclusively at i {heart} papers!
Jannie Ho, famed illustrator (I have one of her books!), has drawn two adorable sets for this premiere, and they are available today!
Take a look:

INTO THE FOREST HUGS FROM A BUG
Check out all of the wonderful samples from the rest of the Design Team:
Kate
Lori
Meredith
Natasha
Shelly
Shannon
Tammy
Kendra
Loretta

For a chance to win Hugs From a Bug, leave a comment on this post and I will draw a winner on Tuesday morning! Thanks for coming by today!

Stamping Items For Sale

STAMPING ITEMS I HAVE FOR SALE

Pure in Heart

For SCS Inspiration Challenge 192 . . .

I chose this vase as my inspiration and used the colors to design my card.

I used a verse from one of the August releases from Our Daily Bread designs: Jesus.
I stamped the verse with Encore Metallic Gold ink and then embossed it with Ranger's Queen's Gold embossing powder.

To see other samples using the two August releases, check out these Bread Basket designs:

Becca
Deb
Jane
Lorelie
Loretta
Sandee

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Jesus by ODBD
Paper: Rose Red, Basic Black, Whisper White, white embossed handmade DP
Ink: Encore Metallic Gold
Accessories: Queen's Gold EP (Ranger), satin ribbon (May Arts), Nestabilities, pearls (Mark Richards), Primas
Techniques: embossing

Peppermint Petunias

Today I want to share with you a card using peg stamps from Rubber Stamp Tapestry. This set is called Peppermint Petunias. I have these in my garden! See the supplies needed and how I made this card HERE.

Susan has some simply wonderful tutorials on her blog, Tapestry Stamp Techniques. Check out the new set, Believe/Dream/Peace Designer Block Prints on her most recent tutorial HERE.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Sucker!

Today it's Sneak Peek #2 for one of two cute new sets being released August 9th by Chicken Girl Design Stamps, and carried by i {heart} papers. This set is called Hugs From a Bug -- which I will be giving away as Blog Candy in a few days! So stay tuned!

The SCS Sketch Challenge today was perfect for my mosquito.


I stamped the mosquito and sentiment in Palette Noir Black ink and then embossed with Clear Embossing Powder. I then colored with Copic markers, and added Crystal Stickles to the top of the wings. I cut out my image with Spellbinders Nestabilities Rectangles. The tag was made from Spellbinders Double Ended Tags. Click HERE to see all the Spellbinders items from i {heart} papers!

The designer paper is from the Basic Grey Lime Rickey Collection, available at i {heart} papers.

Check the rest of these talented Chicken Girls this week for their sneak peeks!

Lori
Meredith
Natasha
Shelly
Shannon
Tammy
Kendra
Loretta

Stamps: Hugs From a Bug (Chicken Girl Design Stamps)
Paper: Basic Grey Lime Rickey DP, Papertrey White, Only Orange, Really Red
Ink: Palette Noir Black, Copics
Accessories: crystal stickles, red grosgrain ribbon, paper piercer, photo corner punch, decorative scissors, Spellbinders dies, red gems

Chicken Girl Design Stamps Sneak Peek!

Today's SCS Color Challenge 230 was perfect for a sneak peek of one of two cute new sets being released August 9th by Chicken Girl Design Stamps, and carried by i {heart} papers. This set is called In the Forest. Later this week I will show a peek from the other set - which I will be giving away as Blog Candy! So stay tuned!

The colors today were Blush Blossom, Cameo Coral, Certainly Celery, Close to Cocoa and Whisper White.


I stamped the squirrel in Palette Noir Black ink and then embossed him with Clear Embossing Powder. I had to be quick before the ink dried! I then colored with Copic markers, and added Crystal Stickles to the top of the acorn. I cut out my image with Spellbinders Nestabilities Circles. The tag was made from Spellbinders Double Ended Tags. Click HERE to see all the Spellbinders items from i {heart} papers!

The cocoa heart designer paper is from the Basic Grey Bittersweet Collection, and the trees are from Memory Box's Twiggy DP.

Check the rest of these talented Chicken Girls this week for their sneak peeks!

Lori
Meredith
Natasha
Shelly
Shannon
Tammy
Kendra
Loretta

Be sure to stop back later this week to enter the Blog Candy giveaway!


Stamps: In the Forest (Chicken Girl Design Stamps)
Paper: Ceratinly Celery, Cameo Coral, Whisper White, Twiggy DP by Memory Box and Bittersweet DP by Basic Grey
Ink: Palette Noir Black, Copics
Accessories: crystal stickles, stitched grosgrain ribbon, Prima and silk flowers, designer label punch (SU!), wavy border punch (EK Success), brads (The Paper Studio), Nestabilities, Clear EP

It's Something New!

Wow! Where does the time go? August is here and that means new releases at Our Daily Bread designs! Today Kelley is releasing two new sets: Happy Birthday and Jesus. My card today uses a portion of one of the Happy Birthday sentiments.

This card was made for SCS Limited Supplies Challenge 231, hosted by my friend and ODBD August Guest Designer, Wendy Weixler! We were to use a die cut as the focus of our card, and could also use a sentiment. I inked up the two words I needed with VersaColor Bark and Pinecone ink, and then cut them out with a Spellbinders die.

The Spellbinders Pendant is a beautiful new die cut that looks so elegant! I added a Prima flower, and that became my card focus for the challenge!

To see another of my creations with Happy Birthday, click HERE.
And to see the images from both new releases, and to order, click HERE.

Now to share some fantastic designs,
check out what these Bread Basket members have in store for you today:
Deborah S.
Sandee S.
Jane W.
Wendy W. - New Guest Designer!
Loretta L. - New Guest Designer!

And now for more new stuff! When I became a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, my Stampin' Up! upline was a marvelously fun and talented person that I got to know online. I finally met her last January at CHA. Many of you know her as the owner of i {heart} papers -- Kate Baldwin!

Kate asked me awhile ago if I would help her launch her new stamp line, and of course I said yes!
I am pleased and proud to announce that I will be a Guest Designer for Chicken Girl Design Stamps!

I am joining a host of extremely talented stampers and am excited to help Kate with this new venture, as she helped me as a demonstrator and friend! Tune in later this week for a peek at the new sets! You can read all about it HERE.

Thanks for stopping by today to share some NEW stuff!


Stamps: Happy Birthday (ODBD)
Paper: DP by K & Co., Kraft, watercolor, Whisper White
Ink: Bark and Umber VersaColor
Accessories: Spellbinders Pendant and Tag Dies, Prima flower, May Arts ribbon, Hero Arts pearls, sewing machine