Little Red Wagon

I was inspired by my little guy to create this card. He just graduated pre-school a couple of weeks ago. And I must say I was very impressed with the "ceremony"!! I cried with laughter and with sadness at the realization that my last little baby is growing up sooo fast! I thought I would try out bloggers video tool and share with you a short little clip of one of the songs they did. My little guy had the arm swinging, hoedown step down pat :0)

Lyrics to Little Red Wagon ( in case you can't quite make out what they're singing :0) )

Bumping up and down in my little red wagon

Bumping up and down in my little red wagon

Bumping up and down in my little red wagon

Won’t you be my darling

One wheel’s off and the axels broken

One wheel’s off and the axels broken

One wheel’s off and the axels broken

Won’t you be my darling

We’re gonna fix it with a hammer

We’re gonna fix it with a hammer

We’re gonna fix it with a hammer

Won't you be my darling

Bumping up and down in my little red wagon

Bumping up and down in my little red wagon

Bumping up and down in my little red wagon

Won’t you be my darling

Have a rootin' tootin' day !!

Recipe
Stamps:AI Originals
Paper: We R Memory Keepers, Neenah, SU!
Ink: Memento, Copics
Accessories: twine, brad, tracing wheel

Flip Flop Blog Hop w/ PTI !!

This is my submission for my first ever PTI blog hop!! A little nervous, but excited all at the same time :0) I really love the Star Prints set and knew I wanted to use it. But I was having trouble finding a summer picture to inspire me. For some reason I kept telling myself I had to find a picture with a star in it. Once I saw the bright colors and stripes in this picture of flip flops, however, my brain snapped back into creative gear and I decided to use those as the starting point for my card.

I used blue as my base, just like the blue background in the picture. I used a summery striped background paper to tie in with the stripes on the flip flops, and I used the green from the straps to pull in the color of the large sparkly star. I wanted to use some sort of cording at the top like in the picture, but I opted for the brown and pink pom ribbon to tie in with the colors in the pp and to give it just a touch of "girliness" :0) Finally, I used a white banner flag to stamp my sentiment on to match the white frothy ocean foam at the bottom of the picture.

This was fun . . . hope you like it and that perhaps this card inspires you in some way :0) Thanks for stopping by!!

Recipe:

Stamps: StarPrints b Papertrey Ink

Paper: Bazzil, Neenah, We R Memory Keepers - Sunsplashed Cardstock

Ink: Ranger Distress Ink, Copics, Memento black

Accessories: Chipboard letters, ribbon, twine, button, chipboard star

Kwerner Color Inspiration Challenge #55

Here is my submission for Kwerners Color inspiration challenge. It's been a few weeks since I've had a chance to participate so it felt good to get back in the saddle again, although I am cutting it close to the wire :0)

I tried to keep it simple and not too much detail, but I loved the texture of the corrugated rust cardstock. I think it really draws your eye to the heart.

Hope you like it! Thanks for peeping in!

Recipe:Stamps: None

Ink: Sakura white gel pen

Paper: SU!, Crate Paper Inc., The Paper Company

Accessories: Sizzix die, scallop border punch, Cuttlebug, SU! Copper cording

Hey Now,You're an Allstar!

Paper Makeup Stamps offers some fun challenges every Monday. Sometimes a color challenge, sometimes a design element challenge, yesterday was a sketch challenge! You can use whatever stamps you want, they don't have to be from PMStamps. BUT!!! I was so excited when my new monster came in the mail this past weekend. I immediately fell in love with this little guy when I saw him. He just cracks me up :0) I really need to find a stamp that says "Wanna Play!!" I think that would be perfect for him. I've decided to call him "Ralph". I don't know why, I just think it fits. In the past, the monsters from PMS have always had names; Argus, Dreck, Gus . . . for some reason this guy is just "Football Fan", . . . but I like Ralph better. If you think you've got a better name, let me know. I'd love to hear it :0)

ETA: My 10 yr old suggested the names Pickle and Tug, going along with the pickle theme, my coworker suggested Dill :0)

Anywhoo, I used papers from the We R Memory Keepers - MVP line and Varisty Boy letter stickers from Colorbok. It fit right in with the theme of this card. "Wanna Play!" hop on over to PMS Blog and link up your sketch! Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Recipe: Stamps: Paper Makeup Stamps
Ink: Memento, Copics, Ranger Distress ink
Paper: We R Memory Keepers, SU!, Neenah White
Accessories: Colorbok Letter stickers, Me and My Big Ideas Chiboard Heart, Basic Basic twill ribbon, grommets, twine, sewing

2S4U - Top 20 Sketch!!

I can't believe I am posting my card for Laura and Kazan's 2 Sketches 4 You - Ultimate Card Showdown - Top 20!! To say I am thrilled would be an understatment. Lil ol me and my lil piece of blog world in the same league with some amazing artists with amazing talent. This is just too fun!! So here's the sketch we had to work with this week . . .




And here's my card and interpretation of the sketch! Anyone who knows me knows that I am am a notorious procrastinator. So, with Father's Day just the day after the challenge deadline I thought it would be very PROactive of me to create a card that served both purposes :0)

I decided to created a card with a belly band and use the band to fulfill the design elements of the sketch. Plus, I just love to watch the recipient (usually a non-cardmaker) try to figure out how to open the card and then the "Wow!" factor when I show them :0)

I tried to go with a vintage meets modern theme. For the vintage feel I used some gorgeous papers from Teresa Collins Spooktacular, and Tis the Season line. I just loved the look when I added some distressed Ranger ink in sepia. I also used stamps from Clear Art Stamps Crafty Secrets, Favorite Fellas. I love their vintage images, they are so fun! Finally, I used some not so great stitching! My sewing machine is on the fritz, so I had to pull out my $6 battery operated Crafty Stitcher. Not so good, but it definitely gives that one of a kind look! I must say, however, that after using it I had the strong urge to bake a cake in my Easy Bake Oven!!!

Here's a view of what the front of the card looks like with the belly band removed. The green letters are actually glitter rub-on's. These letters, the bright colors and the texture would be the "modern" elements of the theme.

And finally, here's a view of the inside. I don't normally get around to doing anything on the inside, but I thought the Teresa Collins ledger look paper was perfect! I heat embossed another Favorite Fellas sentiment and image in black. I thought they just went perfect with the look and feel of the card.


And that's it! I hope you like it and wish me luck for the next round!! If I don't make it, it was super fun playing. I wish all the best to the other Top 19. I have been inspired and awe'd by all of your creations!!


Recipe:

Stamps: Clear Art Stamps Crafty Secret Favorite Fellas

Paper: Teresa Collins, Su! , Bazzil

Ink: Staz On Black, Versamark, Tim Holtz Ranger Distress ink - Vintage Photo

Accessories: Cuttlebug embossing folder, crimper, EK Success scallop border punch, American International Letter rub-ons, Crafty Stitcher, Basic Basic Ribbon

Monthly Card Swap Challenge - Finally!

I finally got a chance to make my cards for the June monthly swap with my friends at work. The theme this month was an older 2S4U sketch challenge. When I was looking through my latest issue of Scrapbooks Etc. magazine the other night I saw this cute, whimsical, kitty. They are offering it as a FREE download on their website to use as an iron-on transfer. I just couldn't resist his cuteness, so I saved it to my computer, sized it down and printed it on cardstock. I cut it out and added the mismatched button eyes for extra added cuteness!! It's my own version of a digi stamp, only this one is already colored in for you!! The rest of the card was simple easy-peasy! Thanks for looking!! Have a Great Day!

A Couple of PMS Whoo Hoo's and Candy!!

I don't have a card to post today but thought I would provide you with a couple of links to check-out!


First of all, let me profess my love and obsession with PMS (Paper Makeup Stamps). I was drawn to them by this monster card I saw on SCS. Then, when I went to the website and saw the rest of their images I was hooked :0). Add to that - they are a young fresh company and the owner Katie Cotton is just the sweetest!!


I was surprised to see Katie posted one of my cards on the PMS blog!! You can check that out HERE.


Katie is offering some awesome blog candy on her blog!! You can check that out HERE.

Check them out, their stamps are high quality red rubber images and are a ton of fun to play with!

2Sketches4You - Ultimate Showdown Week 2!!

This week has been crazy fun!! I was beyond ecstatic when I found out MY card was selected as one of the Top 30 in the 2Sketches4U - Ultimate Card Showdown! Then my head and stomach both started turning, wondering how I was going to be able to come up with something creative enough to be in the running with the other 29 awesome artists! The first thing that came to my mind when I saw the large circle was the moon, so I stayed with that idea. AND it just so happened that I had just got these two awesomely adorable stamps from AMUSE!!

To create the moon I used an amazing technique I learned from Amy Sheffer to emboss your dry embossing! First, I cut out a circle and ran it through my Cuttlebug with the embossing folder. Next, I flipped it over and lightly coated it with VersaMark ink and embossed it with clear embossing powder - being sure not to let it get into the recessed circles to give the "crater" look :0) . Finally, I sponged the edges with a grey chalk ink and layered a silver circle of the same size underneath it to give a shadow effect. I used a clear piece of polka-dot vinyl sheet for the scalloped edges - love this stuff! It cuts so smoothly and has a nice weighty feel to it.

Well, I hope you like the card! I have to thank my stamping pals for their creative criticism and support. It's hard for me to look at a card and say "I'm Done". I don't envy the judges. From what I've seen so far, they are going to have some pretty tough decisions to make :0) Thanks so much for stopping by! It makes my day :0)

Recipe:
Stamps: AMUSE
Paper: SU! silver, black textured CS, Neenah White, PP -Kewl Strips Imaginisce, Sheer delights polka 2 K&I Memories
Ink: Versamark, Copics, StazOn black
Accessories: Offray ribbon, paper studio button, blue twine, white glitter star, silver brad, star punch

2 Sketches 4 You Top 30!!

I am still all giddy about the exciting news I received on Sunday! My submission for the 2 Sketches4You Ultimate Card Showdown made it to the top 30!! I was so amazed by the talent and creativeness of ALL of the entires and I am just so very humbled to be considered in the top 30 with some women whose blogs and cards I've admired for awhile now :0) Laura and Kazan did an awesome job of creating a great challenge! Now for the next card . . . the wheels are turning and my stomach is churning !! :0)

You can click on the 2Sketches4You link on the side bar to check out all of the fabulous entries!


Here's a quick little card I made to give to my sons teachers. My youngest graduated from Preschool this weekend and my oldest is leaving his grade school to enter Junior High! I got this cute little cookie cutter stamp at the $1 store. I thought it went well with this box of cookies. I hope they taste as cute as they look :0) I loved the little bluebird in a nest on top of the box!

This 4x4 card was made using SU! DP, Cardstock and Anna Griffin Ribbon. I colored it with Copics.

Thanks for stopping by and HAVE AN AWESOME DAY!

2Sketches Showdown!!

2 Sketches 4 You is having the Ultimate Card Showdown. They are celebrating their 1st Anniversary in a BIG way with BIG prizes!! I have never participated in the challenges before because the talent in the group of participants is absolutely amazing!! But with so much good stuff and so many opportunities to win, I thought I would give it a try :0)

This card came together as a result of recent purchases :0) First I made a trip to a local outlet store and found some scalloped DP "on sale", then when I got home there was some DP in the mail from SU! I found the butterfly in my stash - already precut in a coordinating paper!! And that's how the paper pushing, fuddling and fidgeting began. I used a SU! rub-on for the sentiment and then decided to add some more black and interest by adding more rub-ons to the DP - not sure if that was a good move, but it's growing on me. I thought this would make a nice wedding card.

There are some AWESOME interpretations of this sketch, so go check them out or even better yet, play along - you've got until midnight tonight!!

Have a great weekend, thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment, they always make me smile.

Recipe:
Paper: SU! Urban Garden, Making Memories 5th Ave die cut stack, Neenah white
Accessories: Offray Rribbon, Paper Studio buttons, Making Memories brads, Making memories chipboard frame, SU! Rubons, Cuttlebug, Swiss Dot embossing folder, SU! butterfly die, hemp twine

PMS Challenge - Spring Snails!

The Monday challenge over at the PMS blog was to create a pop up card using the spring technique! I'd never seen or even heard of it before so I was intrigued to try it out. But like always I never follow directions - and I wonder where my kids get it from :0) I used the same technique of making the "springs", I just made them smaller and used one per snail.

Having 3 boys I'm not really into cutsey - girlie stuff, but when I saw this fairy image with the little snail and the coordinating big snail AND the matching sentiment - well heck - it was in my basket in an instant :0) I used a little envelope stamp I had from a Studio G $1 set to stamp on the snails back. I used my Sakura Stardust pen (LOVE IT) on the snails shell, on the fairy's wings and to mark the little trail the snail left behind :0)

PMS will be having their biggest release EVER this month! Lots more monsters and dinos and fairies - Oh My! You'll want to check them out for sure!

Hope you have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

Recipe:
Stamps: Paper Makeup Stamps, Studio G
Paper: Paper Studio, SU!
Ink: Memento black, copics
Accessories: Sakura stardust glitter pen, Offray Ribbon, tracing wheel

Paper Challenge Card #1

Well, I FINALLY got around to some stamping!! I made these monogramed cards for the Paper Challenge with some girls at work. The challenge is to take 1 - 12 x 12 sheet of patterned paper given to you by someone else and create at least 1 card for the 5 people in the swap! I still have some paper left so we'll see if I can get the mojo flowin' for at least one more card for each participant :0)

This Paper Studio paper from Joan and was very bright and cheerful and I thought would be pretty easy to work with . . .wrong! It has such a bold patterned, I had a hard time trying to get something as a focal point that wouldn't get lost in paper. I "settled" for these Forest Friends cardstock letters I found on clearance at Michaels. Luckily none of the girls had names that started with the same letter !! :0)

Thanks for stopping by!

Recipe:

Stamps: None

InK: None

Paper: Paper Studio, SU!, Walmart

Accessories: Paper Studio buttons, SU! Ribbon, tracing wheel, Forest Friends cardstock letters