So busy!!!!

I'm so busy! I've been really busy making halloween costumes for my kids, party invites and party favors for my daughter's birthday party. Plus, I'm making goodie bags for my preschoolers. I have lots of new stampin' toys I bought way back.....but just no time to stamp. I'm hoping to have time soon to just sit and make a card. :)

Fall Bunny

Unfortunately, we had Hurricane Ike come through our city. Those of us in the part of town I live in were extremely blessed and really not affected by the hurricane. But for those people in Galveston and other parts of Houston there was substantial damage as well as loss of lives. My heart, prayers and thoughts are with those people. If you've seen the news you can see that it is absolutely tragic!

I peeled myself away from the television, I've watched it pretty much none stop since our power came back on at noon on Saturday afternoon. I needed some time to relax and take my mind off the huricane for a while. So I decided to participate in Kristina's Color Inspiration Challenge. The best way for me to relax is to watercolor. So, I decided to use my Serene Spring set. I was very hesitant about ordering this set because it is very much a spring set. But, I think it looks pretty good in fall colors. My daughter loves bunnies so I'll definetly ink this set up a lot which is my reason for ordering it.

All materials Stampin' Up: Stamps: Serene Spring; Inks: Chocolate Chip, Bravo Burgundy, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Old Olive; Papers: Very Vanilla CS, Watercolor Paper, Bravo Burgundy CS, Spring Flowers DSP; Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Bravo Burgundy Ribbon, Aqua Painter, Mat Pack, Piercing Tool.

For More details about the color inspiration challenge click here:

http://www.kwernerdesign.com/blog/

Quincenera Card

I've seen these on other blogs and I wanted to make one for a long time. We attented my niece's quincenera the day before Labor Day and I thought this would be the perfect card to make for her. It really was quite simple to make which surprised me. For those of you that don't know what a quincenera is....basically it's a sweet 16. Only in the hispanic tradition the party is given to the young girl that is celebrating 15 years and it basically costs a a small fortune! I told my own daughter that we'd probably skip the quincenera and save the money for her college education. She's okay with that...luckily! I used the same colors that were used through out her party for this card.

All materials Stampin' Up unless noted: Stamps: Pick A petal, Designer Label Punch Box; Inks: Purely Pomegranate, Pretty In Pink; Papers: Old Olive, Pink Piourette, Whisper White, Vellum; Accessories: Halfback Pearls, Purely Pomegranate Ribbon, Style Silver Hodgepodge Hardware, Square Rhinestone, Felt Flowers, Ticket Corner Punch, Cuttlebug, Divine Swirls Embossing Folder.

Easy Sock Monkey For Color Challenge #20

This is the very, very easy card I made for this weeks color challenge. I only had a few minutes to stamp so I really had to keep this simple. I love this color combination that Kristina picked out. If you'd like to participate click on the following link. http://www.kwernerdesign.com/blog/

All materials Stampin' Up: Stamps: Sock Monkey, So Many Sayings, Papers: Loves Me DSP (BTW I hoard this paper), Very Vanilla CS, Pink Piourette CS, Chocolate Chip CS; Inks: Chocolate Chip; Accessories: Certainly Celery Ribbon, Pop Dots.

Simple Flowers

Just a simple little card I made for a swap I attended at my former upline's house. It's been a long time since I used this stamp set and I wanted to make it look a little different. I curled the ends of the petal using a thin paintbrush. I punched holes through both sides of the card and looped the ribbon through. So you have to pull the bow to open the card. I went over the dots on the flowers with a white gel pen (hard to see in the picture).

All Materials Stampin Up: Stamps: Doodle This, Stem Sayings, Three For You; Papers: Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Old Olive, Soft Sky; Inks: Basic Black, Old Olive; Accessories: Halfback Pearls, White Gel Pen, Black Gingham Ribbon, Crop-A-Dile.

Little Pink Zebra

I've been envisioning this little zebra from the Zoofari set in pink. I finally got a chance to play! Super quick, fun card to make. My endless summer days of making cards will soon come to an end. I'll be teaching again pretty soon, my kids will be in school and their activities will begin again. My kiddos go back to school on the 25th of this month. I'm really bummed about it...I love having them at home. If I had more discipline I'd home school them. But, I'm afraid we'd be making cards all day and taking too many field trips! HA!

All materials Stampin' Up: Stamps: Zoofari, Warm Words; Papers: Spring Fling, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Whisper White; Inks: Timber Brown Staz On, Regal Rose; Accessories: Wide Grosgrain Ribbon in Certainly Celery, Scallop Edge Punch, Corner Rounder Punch.

I {HEART} The Bird

Here is a very simple quick card I made with THE bird. Okay, so I admit it...I only bought the Always set for the bird image, But eventually all the stamps in the set grew on me. But the bird is still my favorite!!! I'm kind of obsessed with him, I stamp him on just about everything I can get away with!!! I was very excited to find out that SU made him into a Decor Element. So he'll probably live on a few walls in my house. I can totally envision him perched on my chair rail in my dining room. So you probably get it right???? I love this bird! Can anybody relate?



All materials Stampin' Up: Stamps: Always, Warm Words' Papers: Pink Piourette CS, Bali Breeze DSP, Whisper White CS, Purely Pomegranate CS; Inks: Bashful Blue, Pretty In Pink, Purely Pomegranate; Accessories: Felt Fusion Flowers, Pretties Pearl, Button Bouquet

KWERNER COLOR CHALLENGE # 18

This is the card I made for this week's color challenge. You can click here if you'd like to participate:
http://www.kwernerdesign.com/blog/

These colors really were a challenge for me. But I was happy with the outcome! I'll add it to my stash of cards to give to my pre-teen daughter. I know she'll think this color combo is extemely cool.

All material's Stampin' Up (unless otherwise noted): Stamps: Stitched Exotics, A Beautiful Thing; Papers: Rose Red Designer Prints, Bali Breeze DSP, Basic Black CS, Whisper White CS; Inks: Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black; Accessories: Black Brads, Green Ribbon (Hobby Lobby), Corner Ticket Punch, Pop Dots.

Two Windows

I knew I had to order this new Stampin' Up hostess set. It reminds me so much of my daughter when she was little. Her hair was usually bobbed and she always had a big bow in her hair. I colored the cat to look like her first pet.

All Materials Stampin' Up (unless otherwise noted): Stamps: Window Dressing, So Many Sayings; Papers: Whisper White CS, Bashful Designer Prints; Inks: Old Olive, Pixie Pink, Basic Black; Accessories: CTMH Flowers & Brads, SU Black Ginham Ribbon, Scallop Edge Punch, Crop-A-Dile.

Convention Case

I cased this simple card from a convention picture I saw on someone's blog. I added the fluttering butterfly and a sentiment. The funny thing is that purple is my favorite color and I rarely use it in a card or scrapbook page.

All materials Stampin' Up; Stamps: Fabulous Flowers, Kind Thoughts, Happy Harmony; Paper: Whisper White CS, Old Olive CS; Ink: Pale Plum, Old Olive.

Wedding Gift Box/Bag

This is the box I made to match the wedding card I made for my niece to put a gift card in. Her favorite color is green. This is really prettier IRL, the rhinstone brads add so much sparkle that you can't see in the picture. I'd seen these boxes all over people's blogs and SCS. I was a little intimidated to try making one. But, when I went to my stamp meeting Tara demo'd it for us. I was surprised by how easy it actually is to make it. They are so much fun to make too!

All materials Stampin Up; Stamps: Fancy Flexible Phrases; Papers: Fall Flowers DSP, Soft Sky CS, River Rock CS, Old Olive CS; Accessories: Tab Punch, Crop-A-Dile, Felt Fusion Flowers, Rhinestone Brads, Soft Sky Ribbon, Scallop Edge Punch.

A Wedding Card

I made this for my niece, I feel too young to have a niece that is already married. She is my husband's brother's daughter, when I started dating my husband she was only 3. Know she's all grown up and married! Wow, time flys!!!

All material's Stampin' Up; Stamps: Fabulous Flowers, True Friend, Happy Harmony; Papers: Fall Flowers DSP, Soft Sky CS, Old Olive CS, River Rock CS; Accessories: Ticket Corner Punch, Mat Pack, Piercing Tool, White Gel Pen, Soft Sky Ribbon, Pretties Half Back White Pearl, Scallop Edge Punch, Crop-A-Dile.

Always Bella Rosa

I played around with these gorgeous new Stampin' Up designer papers today. They are very nice and so easy to make a card with. The first layer is clear embossed with the heart from the Always set (kind of hard to tell in the picture).

All materials Stampin' Up; Stamps: Always; Papers: Pink Pirouette CS, Bella Rosa DSP; Inks: Chocolate Chip, Pretty In Pink; Accessories: Button Bouquet, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Scallop Edge Punch.

Tres Chic Teddy Bear

Another card I made with another one of my oldie but goodie sets. Favorite Teddy Bear is another one of my all time favorite Stampin' Up sets. It is such a versatile set!

All materials Stampin' Up (unless otherwise noted); Stamps: Favorite Teddy Bear, Tres Chic, Fancy Flexible Phrases, Very Punny; Papers: Close To Cocoa CS, So Saffron CS, Watercolor Paper, Whisper White CS, Regal Rose CS, Pretty In Pink CS, Wild Asparagus DSP By My Mind's Eye; Inks: Creamy Caramel, Pretty In Pink, Regal Rose, Timber Brown Staz On, Chocolate Chip; Accessories: Circle Punches, Flirty Ribbon, Light Pink Gingham Ribbon, Ticket Corner Punch.

POODLE ON THE SPOT

So I went to my Stampin' Up club meeting yesterday! I was so excited to be part of a club again. It saddens me a little that I will no longer be a demo after this month but once I start teaching Preschool again I really will not have the extra time that it takes to be a demo. My kids keep me pretty busy too between Boy Scouts, baseball, dance and maybe softball or piano. Plus, I was getting really tired of being my own best customer. So I contacted Tara about joining her club when the new catty came out and luckily she had an opening right away! Yesterday I attended my first meeting, it was so much fun! Tara is such a fabulous demo and I'm really excited about being part of a club again! Can you tell I'm EXCITED??? It was great to attend a meeting and just play and not worry about doing any of the work. BTW, Tara's house is really cute too!

I got this retired On The Spot background stamp from Tara. I had my eye on it when it was current and never got around to ordering it. So when she gave us first dibs on her retired stamps I grabbed it right away! There is so much you can do with this background stamp. I just love anything spots, dots and stripes! Most of the papers in my stash have one or the other. I also pulled out an oldie but a goodie retired SU set: Parlez-Vous Francais. I ran the tip of my Apricot Appeal marker along the edges of the Very Vanilla ribbon to match the card. This card will go into my stash to give to my daughter Lily.

All materials Stampin' Up; Stamps: Parlez Vous Francais?, On The Spot. Warm Words; Papers: Apricot Appeal CS, Old Olive CS, Regal Rose CS, Whisper White CS; Inks: Staz On Jet Black, Pretty In Pink, Old Olive' Accessories: Brads, Very Vanilla Wide Ribbon, Apricot Appeal Marker

Go visit Tara's blog, it's so fun:

http://stamp-a-licious.blogspot.com/

KWERNER COLOR CHALLENGE # 17

Here is the card I did for the color challenge. It really bugs me that I can't get the colors to look like they do IRL! Even after I edited this photo. Maybe it's time for a new camera.....mine's pretty old. I love this old stamp set, even though it is retired I hold on to it.

All material's Stampin' Up (unless otherwise noted); Stamps: You Make Me Happy, Papers: Soft Shadow CS, Whisper White CS, Regal Rose CS, Inks: Rose Red; Accessories: Regal Rose 1/4" ribbon, Spiral Punch, Autumn Leaves Buttons.

Click on this link to check out Kristina's color challenge and blog:
http://www.kwernerdesign.com/blog/

Simple Boho

Just a quick, simple, super quick card I made with my new Boho Backgrounds and Kind Thoughts SU sets.

All materials Stampin' Up (unless noted) : Stamps: Boho Backgrounds, Kind Thoughts; Papers: Au Chocolat, Soft Sky CS, Very Vanilla Cs; Inks: Chocolate Chip; Accessories: Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware, Making Memories Jumbo Blossom

Girly Bronc Buster

I just love when a typically boyish stamp set can be used for a girl as well! On this card I used all the supplies I've been hoarding. My beloved Flirty Ribbon, Stlyled Silver Hardware and my Au Chocolat DSP. But, it was worth it for this card...since I'm giving it to Lily my daughter. I'm stamping a stack of cards this summer to give to my kids in the fall. Because once I start teacing preschool again there will be little time for me to stamp. I always like to have a little stack of cards I can give to my 2 angels. I love to sneak cards into their lunchboxes and backpacks!!

All supplies Stampin' Up: Stamps: Bronc Buster, Boho Backgrounds; Papers: Very Vanilla CS, Chocolate Chip CS, Pretty In Pink CS, Au Chocolat DSP, Pretty In Pink DSP; Inks: Chocolate Chip; Accessories: Flirty Ribbon, Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware, Large and Small Star Punches.

Torn Rose

Isn't this rose neat? It's a torn rose....no stamps required. Julie has a great tutorial on her blog. Click on the link below to check it out. I got a little messy with the embossing....but I was not about to redo it after all the glueing I had to do on this card. I really need to remember to order the SU embossing buddy.

All materials Stampin' Up!: Stamps: Stitched, Warm Words; Paper: Soft Sky CS, Old Olive CS, Very Vanilla CS, Summer Picnic DSP; Inks: Chocolate Chip Accessories: Pretties Kit, White Embossing Powder, Heat Gun Tool
http://paperpleasing.typepad.com/my_weblog/

SOCK MONKEY CARD FOR MY SON ANDREW & KWERNER COLOR CHALLENGE # 16

This is the card I made for the Kwernerdesignblog color challenge, you can check out her link by clicking on the link below. I promise I used all the colors she provided for this challenge, it always looks so different when you take a picture than in real life. So anyway I'm giving this card to my son Andrew he's seven and loves monkeys.

All Materials Stampin' Up!: Stamps: Sock Monkey, Rough Edges Alphabet; Papers: Soft Sky DSP, Certainly Celery DSP, Summer Picnic DSP, Very Vanilla CS, Certainly Celery CS, Pumpkin Pie CS; Inks:Chocolate Chip, Pretty In Pink; Accessories: Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware
http://www.kwernerdesign.com/blog/

I LOVE SEASHELLS

Okay so I'd been wanting this SU Seaside set forever. I just never got around to ordering it because I really thought I wouldn't use it too much. So I recently did a CDO trade over at SCS and had someone else order it for me. I figured if I didn't use it at least I didn't actually spend my own money on it......I know silly. When it came in last night I immediately mounted it... I love this set so much!!!! I wish I would have ordered it a lot sooner. I don't have the Sanded SU background stamp so I just stamped my Chocolate Chip ink pad directly onto the kraft cardstock. I stamped the small seashell onto the twill tape with my Timber Brown Staz On ink pad. Click on the image to get a better up-close look of the twill tape. This set reminds me of why I got into stamping in the first place. I can't draw beautiful images like this but at least I can stamp a beautiful image someone else drew and make something creative out of it. I'll be using this set a lot...for sure! Thanks for looking and for all your sweet comments.

All Material Stampin' Up! (unless noted): Stamps: Seaside, Warm Words; Cardstock: Kraft, Soft Sky, Chocolate Chip; Inks: Chocolate Chip, Timber Brown Staz-on (on twill tape); Accessories: Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware, Twill Tape, Twine (Just $1 at Dollar General!)

KWERNER DESIGN COLOR CHALLENGE #15

I made this card for KWERNER DESIGNS AKA STAROFMAY color challenge. Check out her blog http://www.kwernerdesign.com/blog/index.html

All Materials Stampin' Up: Cardstock: Close To Cocoa, Real Rust, Whisper White, Certainly Celery; Stamps: So Much, Paper: Au Chocolat, Accessories: Jumbo eyelets.

Pink Western Cowgirl Card

Okay, so I'd seen a lot of girly cards made with this set over at SCS. So, I had to make one of my own. I love when stamp sets can be used for both boy and girl since I have one of each.

All materials Stampin' Up!: Stamps: Wanted, Weathered; Paper: Very Vanilla, Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, Accessories: Small Star Punch, Pink Brad

Fabulous In Pink And Green

Another SU "Boho Set" I love. I'm working on mailing out some cards to a lady so here is another simple card I came up with. I love that all the "Boho Sets" carried over into the new catalog. I hope to see new additions to this style in the new catty.

Stampin up stamp set: True Friend; Paper: Spring Fling DSP, Kraft CS, Very Vanilla CS; Ink: Chocolate Chip, Pretty In Pink, Certainly Celery, Accessories: Pretties, Wide Grosgrain Ribbon in Chocolate Chip, Spiral Punch, Crystal Stickles

True Blue Friend

I really love all the boho SU sets! I plan on pulling them down a lot more and using them.

All materials Stampin' Up! Stamps: True Friend; Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip; Inks: Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue; Accessories: Blue Gingham Ribbon, Styled Silver Ribbon Slide, Ticket Corner Punch

With Sympathy For Anita

I made this card for a dear and long time friend of mine that recently lost her Father-In-Law. I used the bird from Stampin' Up! sets: Touch Of Nature.

All materials are Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Touch Of Nature, Weathered, Warmest Regards

Ink: So Saffron, Creamy Caramel, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, River Rock, More Mustard

Papers: So Saffron DS Prints, Old Olive Cardstock, Kraft Cardstock, Chocolate Chip Cardstock, Watercolor Paper

Accessories: Brads, River Rock Double Stitched Ribbon

Here are some little 3 x 3 cards I made using my very neglected set Bugs & Kisses. I'll probably put these into my Valentine's Day stash. Between teaching prescool and two of my own kids we have a lot of valentine's to make every year. I find myself using Kraft cardstock a lot, it is so versatile. It may be hard to tell looking at the picture but main image is popped up.

All supplies Stampin' Up: Bugs & Kisses, Felt Flower Fusion, Label Classics, Pretty In Pink ink and Designer Series Paper, Old Olive ink, Chocolate Chip ink, brads, wide grosgrain ribbon in Chocolate, Kraft cardstock.

Altered Frame

Here is a frame I altered to match Lily's room. I actually got the frame as a set at Target a few years back it was a kit that came with a frame, mat and embellishments. I wrapped the mat in some toile paper I've had for a couple of years. The little silver embellishment says "The Sweetest Thing", it's hard to tell in the pic. I'm also working on a matching little mailbox. I'll repost an up close picture of the mailbox when it is complete.

Lily's Room Redo

I'm redoing my daughter's room so I just wanted to share some pictures of items I've collected so far for the room. Her last room was a whimsical Parisian theme. This time I wanted to go with something more classic that would last for years to come. So, I'm trying to make it Shabby Chic with vintage combined.

Always Bird

Here is a card I did for Kristina Werner's color challenge. Check her blog out: http://www.kwernerdesign.com/blog/

All materials Stampin' Up:

Stamp Sets: Always

Inks: Taken With Teal, Chocolate Chip

Cardstock: Kraft, Taken With Teal, Old Olive, Whisper White

Ribbon: Old Olive Wide Grosgrain

Hula Girl

Here is a card I made with a "new" to me stamp set I just traded on SCS. The background of the card I cased from SCS. The card layout I got at Card Positing Systems, I've included the link below. Check it out if you've never been there before, it's an awesomest blog. I'm sending this card to some friends of our that live in Hawaii. It's hard to tell but the hula girl is popped up. I thought about adding some ribbon but I just didn't have room anywhere on the card to put it.

All supplies are Stampin' Up:

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Sage Shadow, Very Vanilla

Inks: Groovy Guava, Chocolate Chip, Sage Shadow, Apricot Appeal, Creamy Caramel
http://cardpositioningsystems.blogspot.com/2008/03/cps53-part-4-reader-spotlight-reader.html

Stampin' Up Cardstock

I just placed an order of Stampin' Up goodies for myself yesterday night. Really I should say very early this morning ( I was up very, very late last night). I finally orderd cardstock and designer papers. I know this may sound silly to the rest of you, but everytime I place an order I end up only getting stamps. Then I get my stamps and have nothing to stamp on.....I know silly! I have to say though when I originaly signed up as a Stampin' Up Demonstrator I did order several packs of the assorted cardstock in every color family. However, I quickly learned that I really don't use all the colors of cardstock that come in the assorted packs. What do you do with Glorious Green, Yo-Yo Yellow, Handsome Hunter and Bravo Burgundy etc.? If you have advice on how to sucessfully combine these colors with other cardstock colors to make something nice......please post a comment lettting me know.

Lily's Easter Card

This is my very first post and I just started my very own blog!!!

Here is the Easter card I made for my daughter Lily. She loves bunnies so I thought this image was perfect for her! I used my cuttlebug to emboss the background for the bunny. Now that I see it here, I'm thinking maybe I should have inked a little bit of color onto the embossed area. The bunny is popped up, I think it's kind of hard to tell from my picture.

Ingredients-

Stamps: CTMH A Birthday Wish

Paper and cardstock: Stampin' up Barely Banana, Stampin' Up Whisper White, unknown designer paper I had in my scraps.

Ink: SU Basic Black, SU Pretty In Pink.

Accessories: Cuttlebug folder Bloom Dots, SU wide grosgrain ribbon in Old Olive