Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Can You Help the Weiman Wranglers?


This is Ethan Weiman. Little Ethan lost his battle with neuroblastoma, an always fatal brain cancer. We personally know a little girl who is battling this same disease. Melissa of Pink Cat Studio has designed a special set of digital stamps to honor the life of this little cowboy who lost his struggle with this terrible disease.

100% of the monies raised will go to the Make-A-Wish foundation.
You can purchase and download these adorable stamps for immediate use.

Please pray for this family as they mourn the loss of their little cowboy.

Blessings,


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Monday, June 22, 2009

Extra, Extra, Read All About It!!

Exciting News to report...check this out:

and be sure to give the ladies a shout out! This should be fun!! WOO-HOO

Humble Blessings!


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Saturday, June 20, 2009

Joie de Vivre!


Happy Saturday! A triple play for you today...a 3 challenge card! This little French number is for Sketch Challenge 214, Limited Supply (LS)224, Internationa Flair (use another language on your card, and Ways to Use It (WT) 223 to use text on the front of your card.
I have just this stamp and the French Script background so my choices were simple. I found this Inkadinkadoo stamp in the $1 clearance bin at Michael's awhile ago. The Making Memories Sabrina paper pack has that antiquey French feel so I immediately knew I wanted to use it.
You can find the dimensions for each panel here on Roxie's excellent post. I stamped the image with Versafine Black, then heat embossed with clear EP. Colored with marker. I distressed all the DP edges with scissors and sponged them in black. The pearls are stick on's from Michael's. I cut the image panel with the Spellbinders Label die and mounted it on a slightly larger square that I corner rounded. The next size label dies were too big.
I will be MIA for a few days...the new washer/dryer are coming today and laundry hasn't been done here for 3 weeks!!! The tile floor is finished and my dear sweet hubby is cutting the baseboards this a.m. I am chief painter person.
We are also going blackberry and peach pickin'!!! My most favorite time of year. Needless to say, I will be making jam and freezing peaches for a few days. Be sure to check back in as I'm sure I'll make some yummy creations to share the goodies.
Thanks for stopping by...your comments are precious and appreciated!
Blessings!
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Thursday, June 18, 2009

Life is More than Just a Bowla....

I just couldn't wait to try out Lauren Meader's new Pack a Picnic Template for Papertrey Ink.

I've had a idea for awhile to package my pancake mix but didn't know just what I wanted to do. This week's color challenge (CC223) and my card pushed me over the edge. :-)
Apologies for the background in my photo...my photo box isn't big enough for this big display. Scroll down. Everything really does all fit inside this HUGE absolutely precious picnic basket!

The cherry image on the tag is from another of those 50c clearance packs from Michael's. The heart was cut with the Spellbinder's Heart dies and stamped with the wording from SU's Yummy. Ribbon is Papertrey Poppy Red. Didn't have an exact match but this works ok.

I printed the recipe with my computer using Whisper White CS. The DP is Bella Rose (oh how I'm going to miss it...didn't get my order in quick enough!!) The cherries on the card are SU's Tart and Tangy colored with markers and shined up with Crystal Effects. I clipped the ends of the top piece with my square punch.
The secret to the mix is that I mill my own wheat. It's a blend of 3 different whole grains. Soft and hard white wheat and barley. It makes the most delicious flour! This mix makes delicious waffles as well. That gourmet syrup is Walnut....can you say YUM? Everything really does fit in the picnic basket as you can see in the bottom picture. That towel is a perfect match. It's from an old set of Martha Stewart Days of the Week teatowels that I've been hoarding...brand new.
Now who to give it to? Hmmmmm........
Thanks for stopping by.. Blessings!
Supplies:
Stamps: Yummy, Tart and Tangy (SU)
Paper: Baja Breeze, Ruby Red, Whisper White, Bella Rose DP
Accessories: Pack a Picnic, Spellbinders heart & circle dies, SU square punch, cherry sticker, brads, manila tag, Crystal Effects, ribbon, Martha Stewart border punch, computer, clear bag, syrup


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Wednesday, June 17, 2009

CC223 - Life is Just a Bowla...


SCS (CC223) Color Challenge this week uses Ruby Red, Baja Breeze and Whisper White. A challenge for me to pair these colors with white but I'm really liking it. I'm thinking a whole set of fruity cards would be fun for summer.

I found those little cherry images on a strip with several other fruits in the clearance bin at Michael's for 50c . Such a deal as they're already on dimensionals. I trimmed them down then put a coat of Crystal Effects on the cherries. Not sure if you can see them close up or not.

Overall card size is 5-1/2" x 4-1/4". The rest is pretty self explanatory.

Supplies:
Stamps: PTI Friends 'Til the End
Paper: SU
Accessories: button, ribbon, Spellbinders long rectangle dies

Thanks for stopping by! Blessings and Happy Stamping!



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Tuesday, June 16, 2009

CAS19 - Fifth Ave. Floral again!

Three posts today so be sure to scroll down.

This one is 4 x4 inches. Edges of white layer sponged.

Stamps: Fifth Ave. Floral, no name on the Wish
Paper: Bazzill Textured, SU -black,white
Ink: Versafine black

TFL!!

Blessings!


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CAS19 - Fith Ave. Floral

Quicky post today...hubby is grouting the tile floor in the laundry...woo,hoo! Of course, there's always a downer...had to have my car towed to shop this morning...wouldn't start...grrrrr

SCS Clean and Simple Challenge. These literally take minutes...Another to follow using the same set.

4 1/4 x 4-1/4"
Stamps: Fifth Ave. Floral
Paper: SU black, white
Accessories: Paper piercer

TFL!!

Blessings!




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Monochromatic Wild Bird and "Golly!"

This quick card was inspired by Inspiration Challenge 184 and the Clean and Simple Challenge 210. If you haven't checked out Stephanie's Inspiration Challenges, you are missing out on some INCREDIBLE eye candy, even if you don't participate in the challenges.

I don't know where she finds these sites, but holy cow are they gorgeous. This week's challenge was to choose an image from Lovely Package. I chose the 3rd image down on this page but make sure you look around.

This card is 5" x 5"...bigger than my normal but these gorgeous images from Fifth Ave. Floral can handle it. My base is PTI Dark Chocolate with Kraft. The ink is Dew Drops Jumbo Java. The bird, believe it or not, came from the Michael's $1 bin. I stamped the bird then cut and embossed it with my Spellbinders square dies. The sentiment is from Fifth Ave. Floral as well. Clean and Simple Inspiration.

The "Golly" is because of this. I was featured on Miss Boo's (aka jen70) blog along with some really talented, and I mean really talented ladies. I'm humbled to even be listed on the same page with these awesome stampers.

Thanks for stopping by today! Your comments are always appreciated and treasured.




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Monday, June 15, 2009

FS123 - Butterflies & A Daisy


This card is for SCS Featured Stamper Challenge. You are supposed choose a card from the chosen FS, CASE but change at least 3 things. Sumtoy's Gallery was chosen this week. The card I chose to case is Butterflies and Flowers.

Her coloring is awesome. I literally only had 15 min. since we're hosting our Bible Study group tonight so I used grabbed a Cuttlebugged Swiss Dots background that I had in my stash, cranked out two buttflies using my new Spellbinders butterfly and embossing folder die, sponged the edges, glued down some flat back beads, popped them up on dimensionals and added the Martha Stewart Daisy. Finally, I added the corners from my stash that were punched for the spiders.

That gorgeous orange paper has a subtle design on it. A whole pack was gift from my friend, Marybeth. Not sure where she got it but it's called Caribbean Colors. They are so rich and alive. The weight is wonderful, too.

Thanks for dropping by! Comments are always appreciated. Makes me feel less lonely in the cyberworld.

Blessings!


Paper: SU Black, White, Caribbean Orange

Accessories - Cuttlebug, Swiss dots embossing folder, Spellbinders Embossed Butterfly, flat back gems (Michael's), Tombow Mono Multi, Martha Stewart daisy

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Sunday, June 14, 2009

Tiny Miracle Gift Card Holder

Thanks for all the sweet get well wishes. I'm not quite there yet but almost. Doc said the coughing and blowing would last awhile...kinda like a beached whale? At any rate, I do feel like playing with paper and ink again and that's a good thing.

I love making gift card holders! They're simple and a much nicer way to give someone a check or gift card.





To make one, simply take a half sheet (4x1/4" x 5-1/2") sheet of CS. In this case, I used Neenah Classic Solar White (for strength) then I trimmed off 1/2" at the bottom. I wanted to use my Martha Stewart scalloped edge punch but it wouldn't go through the Neenah cardstock so I took a 1" scrap of SU's white as it's a bit thinner and punches easily and attached it to the lower edge of my Neenah White using my glue gun. (love that thing!)





I covered everything using Papertrey's Spring Moss Dotted Paper cut to fit right up to the top edge of my scalloped piece (make sure you use lots of tape so the paper doesn't pop up) then I used my trusty Scor-Pal, laid my paper horizontally, and scored at 2-1/2" and 6". To create the pocket, place a strip of redline or Scor-Tape along each bottom edge and seal.



Time to embellish away. The sentiment was from a $1 set at Michael's cut with the Spellbinders smallest rectangle die. The sticky strip pearls are Michael's as well. To close everything up, I used a Basic Grey magnet.



Thanks for visiting. Have a wonderful day!




Stamps: Michael's $1
Paper: Neenah Classic Solar White, Papertrey Spring Moss
Accessories: Scor-Pal, Scor-Tape, punch, sticky pearls, PTI ribbon, Spellbinders Rectangle die.




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Saturday, June 13, 2009

Push, Pull, Slider, Gift Card for David

I'm coming out of the bronchitis fog. Haven't been "in bed, the light hurts my eyes, I have a fever, I need a doctor" sick in awhile. Antibiotics are a good thing.

I was wondering, does coughing until your stomach hurts count as a single or multiple crunches and I used to lose a pound or two when I didn't eat but does being 59 mean that's over?

At any rate, when I started coming to, I realized our grandson's birthday was looming and I hadn't bought a present, made a card, nada. Not good.

I wanted something special and interactive so I went looking through my stamps for Billy from Pink Cat Studio. There are some blinkies on the right side bar to take you there. Now Billy was too small for what I wanted to do, so I took him and his skate board to my printer and enlarged them 150%. I then took that copy and copied it again onto some Neenah Classic Solar white.

Don't you just love that DP? It's from the Crate Paper Zoom Collection. Perfect for little boys! The colors are muted and rich at the same time.

Billy's clothes and skate board are paperpieced. I colored the rest of Billy with Prismacolor markers, cut everything out, and popped them up on dimensionals. The circles were made with Spellbinders circle dies and JustRite Stampers. The background was on the circle image was stamped off with SU's Itty Bitty Backgrounds and dotted with SU markers in matching colors. I sponged everything in SU Chocolate Chip for some added depth and I added some stickles to the wheels for some sparkle. The number 4 is from Autumn Leaves. I stamped it onto my mirror image stamp, then onto the paper so I could get the side I wanted. I cut it out and adhered it with Tombo Mono Multi.

The right side of the card pulls out a bit more for writing and are you ready for this cool part? The left side got a Target gift card attached to it! It slid in and out perfectly!! I told you I was late so took the card and my tape gun with me to Target, attached the gift card in the parking lot and took it straight to the post office so that's why there's no photo of the gift card attached.

Now that I have the mechanics of this card figured out...(my brain is still filled with snot, I mean mucous...doesn't sound any better but can't think of a nice word) so it probably took longer than it should have. I found the tutorial on SCS a bit unclear but found a great video here . Dawn does a nice job of explaining just how to do it.

Thanks for stopping by. Your comments are appreciated!



Stamps: Pink Cat Studio - Billy, SU Itty Bitty Bkgrd., JustRite Stampers, Autumn Leaves
Paper: Crate Paper Zoom Collection, Neenah Classic Solar White
Accessories: Copier, plastic bag, SU Tab punch, dimensionals, Scor-Tape, Mono-Multi
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Wednesday, June 10, 2009

SC230- Love in Black Orchid

Hey, how do you like my new blog? I'm so excited! A special thank you to Hilary at Simply Yours Designs for being so patient with me.

This card is for the SC230 on SCS. I used the Black Orchid paper pack from SEI for all but the base card and the white piece under the butterfly. I used Neenah Classic Solar White for those. The Black Orchid paper pack has gorgeous textured, foil, embossed and plain papers. Makes matching a no brainer. The little "buttons" are SEI as well.

Thanks for visiting...I just got back from the doctors and have an acute case of Bronchitis. Think maybe breathing those indoor/outdoor carpet glue/mineral sprits may have been a contributing factor. I'm off to rest and drink hot liquids so please bear with me if I don't post for a couple of days.


Blessings and Happy Stamping!







Paper: Neenah Classic Solar White, SEI Black Orchid
Stamps: PTI Wedding Day
Accessories: Spellbinders Butterfly, Cuttlebug, SEI stick ons, sponge, bling (Michael's)




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Monday, June 8, 2009

TLC224- Carpobrutus edulis


How's that for name? For this challenge (SCS TLC224 Technique Challenge) we were to choose an image, copy it with the printer onto a transparency in grayscale, then color it from the back side. The flower image I chose was brighter and lighter than my rendition but the lighter colors wouldn't show up on the transparency. I would have to say this is one of the more difficult challenges I've attempted.

I used Prismacolor alcohol markers (similar to Copics) and though they dry fast, the ink still slid around on the transparency. I used an acetate from Papertrey ink. I will definitely try this technique again, perhaps with a different type of transparency to see if there's a difference.

I noticed that the smaller, less complicated images used by a few of the other stampers gave a better result...will try again later.

Give it a try and see what you can do!





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Saturday, June 6, 2009

Tea Time Digi Chick Style


Well, got unstuck from the floor, did some internet research on how best to remove that awful glue from the floor (see previous post if you missed the excitement), sent DH to the store to buy two 4" scrapers and we got to work. Much easier than using a long handled scraper. Still took us all day, but it's done...today he begins the tile work. Pray for us.
I grabbed a few minutes last night (and this a.m.) to put together another quick Digi Chick Funky bag and used my leftover scrap (about 3-1/2" square) for a card to go with it.
The DP is from Martha Stewart's fall pack, the teapot, sentiment and buttons are from Papertrey Ink (Time for Tea), leaf punch and border punch - Martha Stewart, ribbon - Michael's, in is Tsuekinedo Brilliance Chocolate. It gives the teapot a lovely shimmer. I filled my bag with Snapple Honey Apple tea bags....yummy!
Thanks for stopping by...back to the laundry room!
Charlene
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Friday, June 5, 2009

And so it Begins...the Ugly

I told you we were beginning the tear out of the laundry room...it has begun. The room is now 21 years old including the Maytags that just won't die. We thought, when we bought the house 6 years ago, they would be the first thing to go but hey...they just keep working. They will be donated to a charity when we get ready to put in the new ones. So you'll know what I'm doing instead of cardmaking, I thought I'd give you a peek.

Can you say 1980's mauve? I mean they loved that color but it's time to go...notice the floor? Stay tuned. There's a story coming.

Upper cabinets down and DH taking out the sink. What you can't see is that he has a walking cast on his left leg. He's a trooper...so far.

And here, boys and girls, is where the story turns ugly....very, very ugly. That purple stuff on the floor is indoor/outdoor carpet. Been on that floor for nigh on 21 years, it has, but that glue, well it's a fresh as the day it was put on...oh yeah, nice and tacky.
We read on the internet that mineral spirits would soften the glue so it would scrape right up. Well, it softened up alright. Remember I told you my DH is wearing a walking cast? The other foot sported a Croc shoe. Both rubber, both made to hold you securely to the ground...yesiree ladies and gentlemen...you see, when my DH stepped onto that glue, that rubber held fast. Neither foot would move. That boy wasn't going anywhere. Now then, I found the situation rather hilarious and wanted to take a picture . He, on the other hand, failed to see the humor in it. He was "madder'n a snake" and threatened me with all sorts of bodily harm if I went for that camera.

I finally had to mix some TSP and liquid detergent and wet down the floor so that the mineral spirits would neutralize....at least temporarily so the poor guy could move. He's thinking the EPA should outlaw that glue and the guy who invented it...and indoor/outdoor carpet..bad stuff, very bad stuff.

He had a meeting today but we'll be back at it tomorrow....He went to buy some hand scrapers...um, I'll keep you posted. It can only get better from here.....right?

Blessings (we need them!)
Charlene
Head on over here http://confessionsofacountrygirl.wordpress.com/ and show her some comment love...She's got some good sounding recipes, too.
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Thursday, June 4, 2009

3d11 Digi Chick Bag

Isn't this little bag just precious? Tammy Hershberger at Stamp Happy
and Kelleigh from the Digi Chick made it available last month but I just got a chance to play with it. So easy, just print out on CS or DP assemble and embellish away.

I used Crate Paper (Samantha, I think) to print out my Funky bag. I cut a strip from the striped sheet in the package, flipped it to the red side and punch with the Martha Stewart scalloped lace border punch. I found the pretty blue ribbon at Tuesday Morning. A real find on an old fashioned spool with 5 more gorgeous ribbons to go with it. The buttons came from JoAnn's . I tied them with cream twine from Papertrey Ink. I adhered the border and ribbon with Scor-Tape and the buttons with Crystal Effects.

The bag is held closed with a velcro button. The flower treatment is simply one of the floral images from the Crate Paper that I cut out. I used a pearl stick pin from Michael's and added some of the same blue ribbon and a few beads. I stuck the pin through the image to draw it up a bit, then adhered it with dimensionals.

Pray for us...we got the cabinets out easy peasy from the laundry room...
the indoor/outdoor carpet is another issue. Photos to come...if I can get my feet unstuck from the floor!
Charlene


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Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Sunflowers all Year Long

I thought I'd never want to do another calendar after those 150 but this size was easy and since I was only making 1 and it was for a special little girl to give to her teacher, it was pure joy.


My neighbor, Gillian, needed a gift for her teacher who loves sunflowers. I knew I didn't have a sunflower stamp but I remembered I'd been hoarding this piece of Bo Bunny sunflower paper so construction was quick and easy. I got the calendar case at http://www.calendar-case.com/. If you go looking, this is what they call their CD calendar case. I love these because there's a ledge to hold the calendar in place.


I cut the DP, mounted it on Brocade Blue CS, then matted the calendar and quotes and adhered them. I glued a piece of the DP to some lightweight chipboard with Mono-Multi, then cut out two of the sunflowers which I adhered with dimensionals.

I think you can see the ledge a bit easier in this photo. I tied a piece of blue gingham ribbon around it for gift giving. There's even room for Gillian to write her teacher a note on the back. Judging from the smile on Gillian's face, I think she liked it.
I hope you do, too!
Blessings and Happy Stamping,
Charlene

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Tuesday, June 2, 2009


I always check out the clearance aisle at Michael's (shoot, I check out clearance everywhere...who am I kidding?!) :-)On one of my forays, I found this set of K&Co. note cards...That's 6 cards, 6 classy envelopes, 6 envelope seals, and a sheet of rub-ons for....drumroll....$2!!! At $.33 each, that's what I call a deal.

I decided not to use the rub-ons, so I'll save those for another day.The pink and green textured strips are Bazzill CS from my scrap drawer...ditto the ovals and ribbon. I just used my Spellbinders Oval dies, stamped them using Stampin Up's Elegant Thank you with Tim Holtz Distress Walnut ink, sprinkled on some clear embossing powder, sponged the edges and glued them on. Don't overlook those card kits (especially if they're on clearance!) when you need multiples in a hurry.


Thank YOU for visiting...I appreciate you and your comments.


Charlene
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Monday, June 1, 2009

Someone's NOT Happy

This is Chloe. Chloe is our 3 year old (going on 6 months!) Goldendoodle. Chloe is NOT happy with me. I had to mop the floor. I mean, there's only so much doggy drool on the hardwood I can stand and I was at critical mass.

Chloe does not care if the floor is wet. She just wants to BE where I am...I mean in the exact spot where I am standing or in very close proximity. Now try mopping a floor with a 45 lb. dog attached to your side. I know, I know....I did it with kids on my hip but they grew up and live in houses of their own. This "happy dancing" puppy will be with us for a long time. (Will explain happy dancing later)

I ordered her to her "place"...and she went dutifully, but this is the look I got when she got there...Now just how much guilt is one mother (I just actually called myself my dog's mother...geesh!) supposed to handle?

I'll be back with some stamping later...we start on the laundry tear out tomorrow...any guesses where Chloe will be?

Blessings,
Charlene
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IC182/WT219 - Kaleidoscope of Color

I finally found a work around to uploading my images on blogger. It's a great service but when it's down....it's so frustrating!

While trying to dredge up some Mojo, I went to SCS to see what the Inspiration Challenge for Saturday was. What a super cool challenge. We were to find a book cover and use it as our inspiration piece. I immediately drawn to this cover with all of that beautiful color. I probably never would have combined all these colors without that inspiration. WT219 (Ways to Use it) asked us to find ways to use a single stamp over and over....or in this case, and over, and over, and over...... ;-)

I used Papertrey's Text Boxed for the background and image panels. The colors are: Real Red, Pink Passion, Tango Tangerine, and Green Galore. To bring in the blue on the boys shirts I matted the background on Bashful Blue and used black as my neutral. Card is 5-1/4" x 5-1/4". I used the Ribbon Blossom technique...I actually realized I forgot to add the green to the ribbon blossom at the last minute so dug through my stash for this piece of fuzzy stuff to add to it.

It makes me happy to look at it. Hope you enjoy it and give this challenge a try. There are millions of book covers to inspire you. :-)

Blessings and Happy Stamping,

Charlene

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