The Lamb of God

It's Tuesday and that means my turn to host today's blog post over at KL Stampin' N Scrappin' blog! I just want to say what an absolute pleasure it is to work for Kelly Little. She works hard...not only with keeping up the ever growing online store, but she also has another job in which she just recently was promoted--congrats again Kelly ☺ But even with all the work she does, and the set backs she's had that comes with starting a new business etc. she always is so sweet and polite and handles herself with class. She takes really great care of her DT members too...so keep that in mind next time she has a DT call everyone ;P

For my card today, I wanted to show off my new Spring Magnolia stamp, Tilda with Lamb, which by the way is available for preorder and is always on sale! I fell in love with her as soon as I saw the preview. I followed this week's Mojo Monday sketch too. I love a good sketch-- it gives me that starting point to build on. The saying is computer generated, and I know it's kindof long, but I love this saying, so I wanted to share it with all of you as well. I will stamp Happy Easter on the inside.

I colored her with wc pencils and an Aqua Painter, except for her dress which is paper-pieced. Which brings me to this month's challenge we're having over at PCP! Today is the LAST DAY to get your paper-pieced card entered to win a pad of Basic Grey paper and a Magnolia...so don't waste any time! Using Magnolias is not a requirement to enter, but if you have 'em, why not use them?! ☺


OH, almost forgot! You have until Saturday, April 11th to enter to win this set of Spellbinders Julius font, alphas + numbers!!

Happy Stampin' N Scrappin'!!!

Riley's Playing Ice Hockey

I'm typing this up half asleep...seriously. My allergies kicked in overtime yesterday and totally wiped me out. It takes a few days for the meds to kick in--hopefully soon!

Anyway, when I ordered the large envelopes from SU! I ended up with the Extra Large ones, so I decided instead of sending them back, I'll just try to use them. So, this card is huge... 8.5"x 5.5" when folded.

The black piece in upper right is embossed with the Happy Birthday cuttlebug folder and then sponged lightly with white craft ink. Then the snow has lots of liquid applique so it's puffy like snow, and the ice (pond) is covered with dazzling diamonds cause ice sparkles when the sun hits it.

The blue layer is cuttelbugged with the spots and dots--kinda goes with the hockey pucks, and the sentiment stamp is one I got for free from Scrap N Win when my Sophia card won 2nd place! ☺ This is for a customer and I was told that it's for a girl who used to play on a boys' hockey team. So, I tried to add some girly things like the flowers and buttons, white dots, and stitched ribbon. Hope she likes it! Here's a close up of the snow/ice.

Stamps: Hockey Riley (Hanna Stamps); Park/Pond (Alota Rubber Stamps); Happy B-Day Ticket set (?)

Double Dutch Cutie Pie

I came across this really neat sketch over at Double Dutch challenge blog yesterday, and so I used it to make this Paper Pretties card to enter as my "Cutie Pie Contest" submission (hence, my title). This stamp is called Hippity Hop Sophia, which was my Feb. SOTM from Paper Pretties. Most of the dp is from my Spring Stack, by DCWV, and the yellow dp and cardstock is by SU!

Thanks for dropping by!! Hope you have a blessed Sunday ☺

How Would You Like to Win This?

It's a full set of Julius fonts from Spellbinders! It is retired now, but it sold for $159.99, and it could be yours!! Just go over to the KL Stampin' N' Scrappin' blog to read all about it and enter! ☺

And now I have another card to share. My sister and I started out with this cool faux quilting technique and then couldn't decide what to put on it, lol. I thought with the patterns we used that had flowers and butterflies, that a birdhouse would go fine. I ♥ the saying that comes in this C.C.Designs set that says "Have a Birdi-ful day" (from Olivia's Birdies set)... Cute, huh? But I couldn't fit it on the front so I'll add it to the inside.

So, my girls ended their Spring Break with a slumber party last night. 5 girls, ages 8-10-- it was a breeze! The weather was actually pretty nice so they played outside half the day. Then they came in and made this huge fort in my livingroom to watch movies and sleep under. I went out there at 12:00 to tell them to shut the t.v. off and get to sleep. Then about 3 a.m. my 8 yr old came in my room crying because so-and-so was on HER side and hogged all the blankets and she was cold. So she hopped in bed with us and that was the end for me. Glad they had fun. Now I want them all to go home so I can sleep!!

Have a Birdi-ful Saturday!! ☺

A Puppy Page and Announcement

I got some scrapbooking done and thought I'd share one of my pages with you today. This is our dog...about 3 years ago. Although many ask if she's a chow, she's not. The vet told us she's Shar Pei and Australian Shepherd. The only thing Shar Pei about her is her little triangle ears. There were 6 in the litter and 4 of them were very wrinkly, with dark course hair like Shar Pei's and 2 of them were little fuzz balls...too cute, so we took one of those. The journaling tag is a clear stamp by QKD and will be available April 1st.

And now for the announcement...
SCS is giving away over 100 prizes!! They're extending the deadline for the Non-Raffle til next Friday, April 3rd. All donations will go directly to the Australian Red Cross to help the victims that were affected by the fires a while back. Please consider giving a donation of $5 or $25 USD. All donators will be put in the drawing for over 100 fabulous prizes. Please go take a look at the gallery to see them! So far they have raised about $2,000 (USD) and were hoping to raise more like $10,000 as they did for the Midwest Flood Relief. With the economy, times are tough right now for us all, but they've been devastating to those who lost their homes etc. so please take a minute and consider what you can give. Thank you!!

I've Always Wanted to Quilt ☺

Stamps: Gingersnaps "Spring Things" (C.C.Designs)

Designer papers: SU!

I think it's officially Spring here in the high desert ☼. There was a digital sign in town that said, "It's warm...it's cold...it's snowing...it's sunny...it's raining...it's SPRING!" So true! Last evening it was lightly snow/raining and today it's sunny and ...okay, only 50 degrees, but better than it has been!

These cute little Gingersnaps are so much fun ☺ This time I patched a "faux quilt"--just punched out squares of dp with my 1 1/4" square punch, taped them down to a piece of white c.s. and ran it through my cuttlebug with the Top Note die. Then I added the "x"s for stitching, and popped the whole piece up with dimensional tape on my Spring green layer. She is also popped up with pop dots.



So it's Friday...which brings mixed feelings because I normally would be jumping for joy, but in this case it means the end of our Spring Break *sigh*. I've taken off work the whole week, so even though I like my job, it was so nice to take a whole week at a time off. I don't think I've ever done that. The girls want to have a slumber party with 3 friends over and I guess I told them a couple weeks ago that maybe during Spring Break. SO, here it is. House is a mess. So I told them they have to clean their bathroom, and then they have the choice between cleaning the livingroom or washing the car. They opted for the car! LOL. SUCKERS!!! Ok, now I guess I need to get off here so I can go clean up the livingroom. :( The next week-long break I have I'd like to veg out and not clean...do you think my family would go for that? lol. Ya, didn't think so either!



Have a super weekend!!

You Are Egg-stra Special

Can you tell I'm loving SPRING?! I had fun with my punches, egg-shaped template and my journaling tag, which will be available April 1st from QKD. I "blinged it up" with some stickles, pearls and pink gems, and all the eggs are pop dotted so they stand out. I hand wrote the sentiment. Love how this one turned out. ☺

Inky Impressions Freebie

Happy Thursday!! I'm so excited to show you this project today ☺ First of all, I don't want to "jump the gun" but I'm so thrilled that I made it past the first round of the Inky Impressions DT call! There were 122 applicants and now 26 will go on to round 2. I'm glad it wasn't me that had to pick because there so many amazing entries!! (Good Luck, ladies!!)

But whether you applied or not, Nicole is giving everyone a freebie!! This super cute little fairy is one they decided not to add to the line, and so it's yours for the printing, lol. Just jot on over to Inky Impressions Blog to print yours out!

So, I decided to make her into this cute little box...okay, actually it's more like a tote.

I saw this on Lorie's blog yesterday and thought I'd give it a try! For the box, I cut a piece of 5 3/4" x 7 3/4" and then scored at 2" on all sides. Then, just cut both scores up to the line on just 2 sides. Then you can fold up and tape the ends. Then I punched out the front and back pieces with my SU! Top Note die (my new favorite toy!) I also used my Labels 1 Nesties to cut out the stamped image.

The only problem, which at the time seemed to be quite the challenge, was that with my limited supplies, (I always use w.c. pencils and watercolor my images) and with printer ink, the image was smearing, but I think I was able to rescue it by covering it up with colored stickles and then for an added texture, I added some of that Flower Soft that's so "in" right now. Love that stuff!! I did use my SU! markers on the leaves and her hair. Here's a side view:

Would be perfect for some 3x3" note cards, a small gift or a bag of candy--ooo, maybe some Easter candies...or for a birthday gift etc! So, whaddaya think? ☺

Wonderful Wednesday

And why is today "Wonderful Wednesday"? Because I have 2 cards to show today! (and because I had no idea what else to title my post, lol)

This first card I made for Mojo Monday sketch challenge #79. I picked up a new designer paper pad called "The Spring Stack" by DCWV at JoAnne's on sale--180 sheets for only $10!! Great deal, and I'm loving the pretty papers. The stamp set is a little clear set I found in my sister's stash that had to name on it, so...can't help ya there! :) But I used my long rectangle scalloped Nesties for the front and my Top Note die on the inside.

And for my next card, I made this boy card with Hockey Riley, and added clear stickles to the "ice." I don't know about you, but whenever I start with designer paper, I only color with those same colors...so I felt a little confined to this combo which I'm not too happy with. I kept wanting to color him with red or green for some reason, lol!! :P

Well, I hope you have a "Wonderful Wednesday" --

now go Ink Something!! ☺

Ewe Are the Best

Happy Tuesday!! Here's another card I made while visiting my sister these last few days. We used Ginersnaps, "Spring Things" by C.C.Designs. It has 14 stamps in the set and is my favorite right now. I'm typing this Monday night and prescheduling my post for Tuesday, and even as I sit here typing, I'm missing my sister. We have so much fun stamping together and laughing etc. I think it's been a year and a half since I've driven up here, and we're leaving in the morning. But she'll be bringing my niece down to visit this summer which isn't too far off, yay! :)

This card is pretty self-explanatory... I did restamp the bunny ears, cut 'em out and pop dotted them (mostly to hide my bad coloring booboo). She and the lamb are pop dotted as well, and the ovals are cut out with Nestabilities.

Hope you find time Ink Something!! I saw that yesterday's TLC was to make a really cute mini Easter basket at SCS...you might wanna go try that!

xXx

Rain, Rain, Go Away...

Hi there...I'm back! Sorry I've been MIA these last few days, but it's Spring Break here and I took my girls and went to visit my sister and we're still here. Today is the first time I've been able to upload any cards here....but good news!! We've been stamping up a storm, so I should have plenty to show you the rest of this week :)

This card is made with the new C.C.Designs set called "Spring Things" --available to KLSNS! I stamped the girl and duck first, then masked them and stamped the puddle. Then I masked that and stamped the fence/grass. Here's a close up picture--you can see the Crystal Effects on her boots, the puddle and ducks feet/bill as well as the "fruit punch" stickles on all the hearts.

I found some cute umbrella buttons in my sister's stash, so I cut the ring off the back and glued it onto the sentiment...then added clear stickles to it. Not sure how this is looking on your computer, but since I'm on a laptop the colors look different. I even used the same photo editing software, but I'm just not use to this thing, lol.

Anyway, we've been having a blast here. Yesterday we (sister, niece, my 2 girls and I) all went to the mall, which was a big deal because it's HUGE compared to the little ones we're used to. My girls had never been on an escalator before, so they were excited about that (they're 8 and 10). My 8 yr old finally got her ears pierced, and my niece, sister and I all got a single piercing up high in one ear. My 10 yr. old didn't want to have anything to do with that! She said we were all "trying to be teenagers" LOL.

So, I'll have another cute card for tomorrow! Thank you to all my followers and friends out there that stick with me even if I don't post for a few days. See ya tomorrow :)

QKD Special Release

Queen Kat Designs is releasing 13 new vintage clear stamps this Friday. There's lots of sample cards made with them, so if you like the vintage style, then head on over to the forum on SNR this weekend, March 20-22 and join the party.

A Glitsy Thank You

Here's a card I made a couple weeks ago for a customer. Pretty simple. I added stickles to the flowers, and Basic Grey designer paper. The green curvy label is cuttlebugged with the Swiss Dots folder. The sentiment is computer generated. Here's the inside:

Stamps: ©Stampin' Up!

Inky Impressions 1st DT Call

Oh wow...I'm cutting it really close to the deadline here, but I wouldn't miss this DT call for the world! Nicole over at Inky Impressions is about to pick her very first Design Team! I got to see some of her sneak peeks on her blog weeks ago and fell in love with the adorable girl stamps! If you've been a reader of my blog for long, you'd know that girl images are my faves to color ;)

Anyway, we were to pick 2 of our best cards that show our coloring technique. My main technique is watercoloring. Also, we need to show that we can work "outside the box" and I think this first accordian style card shows that. We shall see! Here are my entries:

and this one. I made a video of how I watercolored this one a few days ago. Feel free to check that out as well ;)

Well, whoever the lucky designers are, you will absolutely ♥ these new Inky Impressions stamps for sure and I know you'll love working with Nicole--she's very sweet. Good Luck, and Congrats (by the time you read this, the winners will have been chosen).

EDITED TO ADD: You still have time!! The new cut off date for entries is March 22 and she's going to choose 2 additional peeps to go onto round 2, so get on over there and enter if you'd like!!

xXxXxXxXx

Have a super stampy week...now go "Ink Something!" ☺

More Sketch Cards - HM & Riley

Happy Tuesday everyone!! I hope you'll come join us this week over at House Mouse & Friends Challenge Blog!! KL SNS is sponsoring this week's prize!! The challenge is a really fabulous sketch...I've already created 3 cards using it, including these two here, and my original card I posted yesterday.

I don't have any HM sentiments, and I'm not even sure what the ocassion will be for, so I can add a sentiment later. I used Basic Grey's Bittersweet paper, along with my Labels 2 Nestabilities.

Since KLSNS is sponsoring the House Mouse and Friends challenge this week, I thought it only fitting to show you my daughter's furry friend - she just took this picture today:

I know most of you are thinking, "They're sure cute in stamps, but I wouldn't like to have one in real life!! :) Well, we are very pet friendly here. We also have 2 bunnies, 2 cats and a beloved dog.

OK, onto my 2nd card... I used the same sketch with my new Fishing Riley stamp. The paper and stickers are from an SU! pack I got for free. Not sure what it's called. Oh, Shoot! I just realized I forgot to add the mini brads to those little white spacers in the sentiment, LOL.

Hope you find time to Ink Something!!

House Mouse Challenge No.29

Happy Monday stampers!! I'm excited about today's House Mouse challenge!! Why, you ask? Because KL Stampin' N Scrappin' is this week's sponsor, and we (her DT) got to play along on the House Mouse Blog!! We were given this really cute sketch to use------> and you should see all the awesome cards their DT and ours did with it! YOU can play along too, to win a pad of Basic Grey 6x6 Two Scoops paper! Just go to the HM Challenge post and use Mr. Linky to link your card.

I want to thank my wonderful, awesome DT members that sent me bunches of HM images to use! So, not only did I have one to participate with, there's many more to come! Lucky for YOU, my readers! ☺ heehee. So, come play along this week!! Can't wait to see what you make!

OH,
almost forgot! You also have another chance to win some BG paper, as well as a Magnolia from KLSNS over at our Paper Craft Planet forum! This month's challenge is "Paper Piecing"--no particular stamps required, so hope you come play along!!

Stamps: House Mouse

Designer Paper: SU! free Saleabration pack

Accessories: stitched Wild Wasabi ribbon (SU!); Spellbinders Nestabilities; liquid applique

Riley's at the Fishing Hole

One thing's for sure...Riley sure knows how to enjoy the really important things in life--fishing! Or, at least that's what my husband would think is important, and the poor guy doesn't get to do it often enough!! He's been soo busy at work (he's a shop foreman--in charge of all his company's farm mechanics/trucks/etc.) and he works M-F and lately every Saturday too! I think he definately deserves a day off, don't you?

I got my first couple Riley stamps in the mail this week and this was the first card made with them. I used this Park/Pond scene (by Alota Rubber Stamps) before with Iceskating Sophia, but I think it works as a summery scene as well! Just added some "grass" instead of snow, and made a warmer looking scene. The sentiment is from an old SU! set. I feel my trees definately need some work. Oringinally my big tree blended in with my grass, so I added some darker green with a marker and I think I messed it up?? Oh well... I think Riley is the main focus here, and the saying really pops with that added white highlight.

The card base is Hunter Green and the next layer is Really Rust (on my 'puter they look like black & red) and once again, the whole card is watercolored using my cheapy wc pencils and an aqua painter except for sponging the sky and outlining the big tree with a marker.

So, what are YOU inking?

Whoo Hoo... You're a Dirty Girl!!

I have some awesome news to share with you today!! Just found out that my friend Melissa Bove is now an official member of the SCS' Dirty Dozen Design Team!! Woohoo!! I'm so proud of you Melissa! That's such a great honor and I know you will do us proud ☺

If you love SCS as much as I do, you will want to consider becoming a "Fan Club" member! You'll access to the all exclusive "Dirty Dozen Gallery" - chock full of awesome projects each and every month! I'm in my 2nd year subscription to the Fan Club and love it, and I think you will too!

I'd also like to give a SHOUT OUT to my friend, Helen!! We went to college together years ago and just recently found each other on FaceBook ☺. She just started blogging and showing the world her stamped creations. She loves the Bellas (I know there's a group for bellaholics, isn't there? lol) so please go check it out and leave her some kudos, or just welcome her to blogland!! :)

Praying For You

Here's a card I made today for a DT friend who's mother just passed away this week. She was very close to her 94-yr. old mother who was full of spunk and even worked part time up until she passed. It's always so hard when our loved ones leave us, but especially when our plans don't seem to mesh with God's timing. Jules, you're in our ♥s and prayers. {{hugs}}

Stamps: Branching Out by There She Goes (the tree); saying is computer printed
Cardstock: Wild Asparagus by My Mind's Eye; White c.s. by Gina K Designs; Chocolate Chip by SU!
Accessories: Lace border punch by Martha Stewart; Large Scallop Rectangle Nestabilities; Top Note die by SU!; machine stitching; white satin ribbon from Michael's; paper flowers by BazzillBasicsPaper; Clear Stickles by Scrapbookpal.com

Some Fun Blog Awards

I've been such a bad blogger when it comes to posting the blog awards that you've given me, and I apologize! I do feel a little weird to announce them about myself...I think I'm better at giving them than receiving them, but I just read on someone's blog that posting them ASAP is the "polite" thing to do. Now I feel so bad that I didn't acknowledge these publicly (although I did leave them a comment to thank them on their post). So here goes:

I'm very honored to receive these first two awards from my new friend and DT member, Carolyn of P.M.S. etc. Thanks so much Carolyn!! You are so talented, and just such a friendly and sweet person...I'm so glad I've gotten to know you!!

This next super cute award was given to me by my good friend Kelly of Wishin' I Was Stampin'

Awww...thanks sweetie!! You are one of my faves too! Kelly is the sweetest in a genuine kind of way, and it was soo good chatting on the phone with you!! xXx

This beautiful award came from Tonya of Olde Country Creations. Tonya was a winner of one of my recent blog candy posts, and I'm so glad she entered cause I got the chance to visit her awesome blog, and get to know her a bit too! Tonya has such a cheery personity and has become one of my loyal readers/commentors and I'm so thankful for you!!

With this one we are to list 7 things we love and then pass it on, so here goes:

1. My family, friends, and God
2. Stamping/Crafting/and blogging about it
3. Digiscrapping/Creating blog banners
4. Singing/leading worship at church
5. Playing with my kids
6. Walking barefoot at the beach
7. Making others smile/brightening their day

and lastly, this award was given to me by two people: Carolyn of P.M.S. etc as well as my co-DT member and new friend Jessica of Jess' Obsession. I just recently found out that Jessica is a vertinarian and she has some awesome dog & cat cards on her blog (go check em out!). Jess just oozes creativity! Check out this post from yesterday at our DT blog :) Thank you so much ladies!! I really do appreciate your kindness, and again, I'm so sorry I didn't post these right away. I've learned my lesson and I'll try to do better. I'm honored that you like my blog and/or my comments! Because I posted so many at one time, I can't possibly do the requirements if they had any, so I'd like to pass these along to ALL of my blog readers and commenters because I enjoy visiting all of yours as well, and your comments mean the world to me.

xXx

Splitcoast Cares!!

The Non-Raffle to benefit the victims of the Australian fires is now posted on SCS! Please click this button to go read about it on SCS and you can see all the fabulous prizes that are being donated!!

Lisa is also offering a chance at some blog candy to all those who take the button and post it on their blogs with a link to the SCS post, so get on over to The Craft's Meow to grab your button and leave your comment!

A Heart Full of Joy

Is it Thursday already??!! Wow, this week has just flown right by! Here is a quick and simple card I made the other day. There's no stamping, just a sticker, a lot of cuttlebugging, some Nesties, ribbon and pearls! Oh, and of course the sponged butterflies...can't forget those! Love them...they are a Martha Stewart punch. My colors of cardstock are Soft Sky and Chocolate Chip, although my photo makes it look black, compared to the shine on the ribbon it looks darker. I just want to say that my friends do add Joy to my heart and I just want to say "Thanks" for being YOU!! Almost forgot to add, this is also for my "Sister Challenge" this week...we chose to use this week's Mojo Monday sketch #77. Why don't you swing by Kathy's Blog to see what she made with this sketch (it's really super cute!!) ☺

Nestabilities Labels 1; Birds and Swirls (top layer); Swiss Dots (middle); and Textile Texture (bottom).

I'm Back with a Card & a Video

Hi everyone! We had a fabulous little mini vacation--short, but fun. I'll have pictures posted at my Family blog soon in case you'd like to see/read what we did. :)


So, now that I'm back, I read my emails and noticed several of you asked how I color my images, so I thought I'd humor you and make a little (amateur) video for ya! My camera really makes things look washed out, but the colors really are bolder IRL, as you can see in the photos above. Also, I apologize for the weird lighting...it kinda fades in and out during this video.

NOTE: I tried uploading this directly using Blogger video as well as Facebook, but it wasn't playing right, so I'm resorting to using YouTube. PLEASE DO NOT click on the links/thumbnails at the end of this video as I have NO control over what YT puts there! Thanks!!

Thanks for watching!! I'd love to know what you all use to color your images!

For this card, I used this week's sketch challenge #218. I also added stardust glitter pens to the flowers in her basket, but that's so hard to see in this photo and I can't remember if I got that part on video. I tried to keep my hands/fingers out of the video as much as possible cause I don't have nice purdy manicured nails--I'm a secretary and it really bugs me to hear my nails clanging against the keys! lol! Have a super stampy week... now go Ink Something!!