Clean and Simple Monday round 2

Had time to play in the SCS CAS133 Color Challenge today.  I love this color combo.  Kraft with primary colors...a touch of white is permitted.  I used the awesome sketch from the Moxie Fab Vertical Sketch Challenge .   I think this LO has so many possibilities.

Supplies:

Cardstock - PTI Kraft, SU RR, YY, Blue

Stamps - PTI Big Birthday Wishes

Ink - Colorbox Pigment White

Other - Detail White embossing powder, May Arts Ribbon, (yellow came from the stash), SU border punch

Shhhhh....blog candy coming tomorrow for my followers.

Clean and Simple Monday - Boo-ed

The final round of the CAS Fall DT search is underway on SCS.   As a past DT member, I can't officially play but I had to make at least one of the challenges... This last one is a phrase challenge "You've been Boo-ed".

Supplies:

Cardstock - Neenah, PTI Orange Zest, Black

Stamps - Rubbernecker Stamps - Skeleton 474-04, sentiment - 475-06

Ink - Versafine

Foodie Friday - BLT Pasta

One of our favorite restaurants is Carraba's.  Our budget doesn't allow for frequent trips but when we find a pasta dish this fabulous and this easy to prepare, eating at home is pure bliss.  Add a bottle of your favorite red wine, a loaf of crusty bread and some candlelight.  You'll have an elegant dinner on the table at a fraction of the price.  This recipe is truly company worthy. 

I found the original recipe in Food Network Magazine.  I scaled it down to serve 4 and made a few minor changes. 

My DH said he could eat this every day...me too!

You can find a link to a printable copy of the recipe at the Recipe link at the top of the page.  Let me know if you try it...I'll be right over!

Buon Appetito!!

spooky!

Have you seen the fun Cards Sketch Challenges on Moxie Fab World this week?  I'm working backwards!

This is for the Vertical Challenge...Since I'm a bit vertically challenged myself, I rather enjoyed it!  I kept things clean and simple....and spooky.

Here's the sketch:

Supply List:

Cardstock - PTI Orange Zest, Black, Halloween Prints

Stamps - PTI Spooky Sweets

Ink - Versafine

Accessories - Martha Stewart Drippy Goo punch, Art Institute Black Glitter, May Arts Satin Cut Outs, small google eyes

Horizontal Vintage Style

Well, we've spent time getting the yard ready for some gusty winds but thankfully not a hurricane...this time anyway!

I popped over to Moxie Fab World this week and just got time to play along with one of the sketch challenges for Card Ideas Week.  This card is for the Horizontal Sketch Challenge...I did it by memory and didn't get the sentiment low enough.   Grrrr....

You've got until the 9/19 to play along!

WOYWW116 - Home Sweet Home

First of all, a little peek at the project I have over at the May Arts blog for our Blog Week with Our Craft Lounge. 

I had so much fun working with the OCL images.  Head over the MA blog to see how I created this little housewarming gift and what else I made to go with it.   Of course, you know we're giving stuff away there too!  Woo,Hoo!!

I wanted to show you what I keep on my workdesk.  This is the very first rubber stamp I owned.  I didn't know a thing about cleaning stamps then...can you tell?!  There's no manufacturer name on it and I love the funky shape.  I think I was making tags or something but I haven't used it since.

Head on over to Julia's for WOYWW116 to see what crafters the world over are making this week...or maybe just a busy desk or two. 

It's May Arts/ Our Craft Lounge Blog Week!!

Be sure to head over to the May Arts and Our Craft Lounge sites to see the awesome projects and win some fun prizes as well!

Teapot Tuesday - The early bird...

Sorry for the lack of a CAS Monday post...we were preparing in case Hurricane Irene decided to take a swing at us...I love the tropics but NOT hurricane season.  I'm so thankful they can more accurately predict them now.

On to my TT MMTPT160 card!  This one is headed to Barbara in Marblehead, MA.  Barbara was diagnosed with Stage 3 ovarian cancer a few years ago, has had multiple surgeries to remove masses and after another recent surgery is having a difficult recovery.  She loves humorous cards, so hope this one brings a smile.

I used the fun Kittie Kit Cause a Beach Scene Master and Cause a Scene What's for Lunch  and Kittie's fabulous tutorial to create the beach scene.  My gooney beach bird is cut out and popped on dimensionals.

If you'd like to try this technique, guess what!?  Mr. Rubbernecker, aka, Dave, is having a super sale on Spellbinders and Rubbernecker Stamps!!! 

Supplies:

Cardstock - Neenah, SU Tempting Turquoise

Stamps - Rubbernecker Kittie Kits, Sentiment 504-18

Ink -

Be sure to check back in because there's another post...can you say BLOG HOP?

Fabulous Felt

Don't you just love felt?  Soft, yet textural, easy to sew and colors...oh, my the colors.

Moxie Fab World is hosting a Fabulous Felt Challenge in the Moxie Fab World to use felt in an innovative way.  I really had to do some thinking on this one!  I decided to see if the Papertrey Box dies would cut felt...it took a few times through the Big Shot but guess what?

It worked!

My little box would stand on it's own but I wanted it to be a bit sturdier so I cut another box base from ivory cardstock and a liner from PTI designer paper.  I think I like it.  I like it even better filled with Hershey Kisses.  Roses, pearls, chocolate....and felt, oh yes! 

This also qualifies for the challenge at ICRC9 Celebrations + to have no stamping except for sentiments.  This is a new challenge to me.  Head over and check them out.

Supplies:

Cardstock & Designer Paper - Papertrey Ink

Felt - Papertrey Ink

Accessories-  MFT Die Namics Rose die;  Martha Stewart stick on pearls, leaf punch; string pearls; sewing machine; hot glue, strong double sided tape

Share your Oopsie for a Chance at some May Arts Ribbon!

Come on, admit it.  We all have a project that makes us "cringe"...like "what WAS I thinking!?"

This weekend we are all about Crafty Cringes! That's right, May Arts wants to see the least favorite project of yours! A real "oopsie"!

There are 2 ways to post your pictures: email it to Bethney@mayarts.com or post it on our Facebook Page! Better yet, do both!

Did you destroy the evidence already & not have a picture? ;) That's ok too! Tell us all about it with a comment.

The prize?

3 spools of May Arts Ribbon - Your Choice!

Winner will be posted Monday, August 22nd.

I can't play but here's mine:

I changed it to this:

It makes a big difference. don't you think?

Less is More Challenge (missed) Get Inky!

If you've noticed, I don't do messy techniques often.  My mom would tell you that's it's because I don't like to get dirty (unless it's a Dirty Girl challenge on SCS, that is!) and she would be right.  She said I would cry if I got anything on my hands.  Well, I don't cry anymore, but I'm still not wild about messy techniques.

This card was inspired by the challenge on the Less is More blog to "Use Ink".  What I forgot was the part of the challenge that said ONE LAYER..oh well, botched that challenge, but I still love the look of this card.

                             
What it's hard to see is the awesome shimmer of the paints..

I used these (got them at CHA 2 years ago....and haven't used them...horrors!)  Mica Gloss Paints from Judikins.

They look awesome on black glossy cardstock (which I also bought)  but I used them on watercolor paper here because I wanted to see what they would do.  They didn't spread but they didn't soak in either.  I used a Tim Holtz blender to swipe them across the paper and love the results.

Supplies:

Cardstock:  140 lb. cold press watercolor paper, PTI Aqua Mist

Stamps: Rubbernecker Bud Set - 505,  Wildflowers - 496-03

Ink:  Tim Holtz Walnut Stain, Judikins Mica Gloss

Other: Tim Holtz blender

Rub it On, Gingham, WOYWW and candy too!

I've got another fun tutorial for you over at the May Arts blog.  We're using Rub-ons on ribbon to create our own designer ribbons!

I've got 2 more card samples over at the May Arts blog for you and........just for leaving a comment at the May Arts blog...

the Ribbon Lady is going to give one lucky winner 3 rolls of ribbon of your choice and I'm giving you "What's on my Workdesk".... Yep...all those rub ons, stickers and tattoos.   You've got until next Tuesday evening to leave a comment to win.

This also qualifies for the Gingham Challenge #124 on the Creative Belli Blog.  You know you love gingham so play along!

After you do that, head on over to The Stamping Ground and WOYWW 115 to see what's on workdesks all over the world.  I missed last week...I think the daily thunderstorms are wearing us down..they're spraying for mosquitoes tonight...thank goodness!  When I go out to walk the dog we have to keep moving or get eaten alive!

There's a complete supply list at the May Arts Blog as well.  Make sure to leave a comment there to win.

hope you're feeling better

I'll try to keep from being too "wordy" since I have to pack alot into this post.  First of all, I combined the Clean and Simple CAS131- Partial Images and Teapot Tuesday  MMTPT159 challenges.  Our cards this week are heading to fellow teapotter Connie Jo aka Con-Air who is having knee replacement surgery this week.  Ouch! 

I used the beautiful Flourish Tree from Rubbernecker Stamps, leaving off a portion of the image for the Partial Image challenge CAS challenge and we're to bring Connie Jo either snow or trees.  It's still too hot here to even think snow!

Supplies:

Cardstock- Papertrey Ink

Stamps- Rubbernecker Flourish Tree 556;  sentiment-Papertrey Everyday Button Bits

Ink - SU Chocolate Chip, Copic E59 marker

Other - stick on pearls

Don't forget to scroll down to Monday's post and check out the Rubbernecker Blog Hop...You could win a $25 gift certificate!

And...be sure to check out this post on the May Arts blog.  Larissa, one of our new Video Ribbonistas has a cool tutorial and a giveaway for you on the May Arts YouTube  site.

Rubbernecker Stamps Blog Hop!

Welcome to our little HOP!! We are SO happy that you could join us in celebrating some NEW stamps.   Mr. Rubbernecker released some SUPER cute images, a few weeks back and we wanted to share them with you!! They are SO adorable that we just HAD to show them off! 

We have sweet SCOOTER KIDS, some new ANIMALS, and some cute new FRIENDS! You can find them by visiting RUBBERNECKER STAMPS and clicking on the 2011 NEW RELEASES.

 Hey, wait, there is MORE! We also have something else to CELEBRATE! Our design team has a NEW name!! We are SO excited!!  We are NOW the……………………………..

We are going to have SO much to share with you!  It will TRULY be a SISTERHOOD, for sure!

 OK now, a HOP would not be a HOP without a little PRIZE, right? So, in honor of our news AND our new images, if you visit ALL the participants and leave some LOVE,  You will have the chance to WIN a………………………………….

                               $25 RUBBERNECKER STAMPS CERTIFICATE!!

Our winner will be announced on TUESDAY, so you will have plenty of time to hop! You will find the HOP ROUTE below!! Have an AWESOME day!!!

•Charlene Merrick

•Frances Gumprecht

•Jacquie Peifer

•Jen Charboneau

•Joan Ervin

•Judy Rozema

•Julia Aston

•Juliana Swanson

•Kecia Waters

•Kittie Caracciolo

Moxie Fab - Luminous Layers

I LOVE the Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger...love it!  I would so wear these Luminous Layers with a sweet pair of strappy sandals...Yes!

I also love my SEI Moonrise paper.  It's so elegantly luminous in it's own right that it doesn't need any embellishment.  The flowers and the striped panel shimmer with gold foil highlight.  sigh....

                                           

Supply List:

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink, SEI

Stamps: Papertrey Ink Damask Designs

Ink:  Dew Drop Brilliance Galaxy Gold, Gold EP

Foodie Friday - The Staff of Life

Homemade bread -- is there anything in the world that smells better or tastes better than a slice of bread warm from the oven?

This recipe is so easy that even a novice will have success...I promise. And it only takes just a little bit of time.  It freezes beautifully as well.   I've been making this recipe for over 30 years and it's never failed... not ever.  It's versatile...you can make it whole wheat, rye or white as I did here since we were taking dinner to a family from our church.  You can bake it in bread pans, braid it as I did here or shape it into fun shapes for the kids.

The crumb is fine and beautiful...perfect for sandwiches! 

See that gorgeous shine?  That comes from brushing the bread with an egg wash before baking...you can see the difference it makes if you look at the loaf on the right where I missed a spot.

You can find the recipe on the Recipe link at the top of the page. 

I've been working on DT projects so it's been a busy week even though I haven't posted every day.  We are also getting ready to remodel the master bath...circa 1988.  Waaaay overdue!!    I'll have before and after pictures for you.

CPS230 - be the kind of woman....

Yesterday was a difficult day.  Not personally, but because I need to try to make sense of why some people make the choices they do. I was left wondering if they will ever understand how their choices impact the lives of those around them.   Sadly, I think not.  We took dinner to a family who has a member in the hospital.  Her life is changed forever, her family's life is changed, her friends lives are changed, all because of her choices. 

The experience left me more determined however to:

I used the sketch from CPS230

Supplies:
Cardstock - PTI , Girls Paperie, Neenah
Stamps - Rubbernecker 582-10
Ink - Versamagic
Other - Flower - Petaloo, MS punch, corner rounder, string pearls, foam tape, SB circle dies, double sided tape

Teapot Tuesday

This week's Teapot Tuesday cards MMTPT158 are headed to the Bronx, NY and Patrick aka PJ who's been diagnosed with two types of cancer.

Here's PJ's story as told by his sister:

Patrick (goes by PJ) was originally diagnosed with testicular cancer and had that taken care of. Soon after, a tumor was discovered in his stomach by his kidney. They had hopes to remove it surgically after his last round of chemo but that didn't happen. His tumor markers went up again. He's had a total of 8 weeks of chemo already. They are also doing stem cell recovery this time which is kinda new so hopefully his recovery should be quicker. He also recently has had to have all of this teeth pulled as a result of the chemo.

PJ is a New York fan so the GIANTS and YANKEES are his teams. I think alot of funny cards right now will be great! He is 41 years old. He loves animals. He has a golden retriever named April. Here is my brother's address:

PATRICK WARD
4410 CAYUGA AVE # 3C
BRONX, NY 10471

If you'd like to send PJ a card to let him know there are people who care, I know he'd appreciate it.  His sister requested funny cards so I thought he might get a kick out of these cute puppies.

If you click to make the picture larger, you can read what the pups have been up to!

I found the puppies online, I can't remember where I got the little baseball player. 

Meet the New May Arts DT and win yourself some ribbon!

Click here pop over the May Arts blog and meet the Prima Ribbonistas.  Leave a comment or more to welcome the new team  because we'll be giving away ribbon ALL WEEK!  Come on over and say hi!  Then click here to welcome the rest of the team!

Clean and Simple Monday - Life

I so needed the sentiment on this card today...one of the brave young Seal Team 6 soldiers who was among those shot down was the son, brother and brother-in law of 3 members of our head worship team at church.    Our prayer is for them to find peace in the midst of their grief. 

This is for the CAS130 sketch challenge on SCS today casing the divine die cut diva.   She's got a great one layer sketch that's great for quick cards.

I used an image and sentiment from Rubbernecker Stamps.

Card size - 5 x 4.25

Supplies:

Cardstock: PTI

Stamps: Rubbernecker 496-03,  Life is measured 582-11

Ink:  Tim Holtz Walnut Stain, Peeled Paint