Inspire Award

I received this charming blog award from Martha Kay, and I couldn't be more pleased. I love the word inspire. I love when I teach a class or show someone something new with papercrafts and rubber stamping, how excited they get and how they can't wait to get home and expand on an idea. I remember having two young women who were just starting their journey in papercrafts, in a class I taught and just in conversation I mentioned that I had learned this technique I was showing them at a class I took at a convention in Akron, Ohio (Adventures in Stamping) . They were seated next to each other and they turned to look one another in the eye and one said "they have conventions"!!!!!!


So, with instructions to pass this award to people who inspire me, I do just that as follows:



Priscilla of http://priscillastyles.blogspot.com/


Priscilla is the originator of the Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge. Which in and of itself would keep the average person busy, but she also has two small children, sells Stampin Up, is constantly coming up with new ideas to keep the challenge fun and exciting and is always there with a wonderful comment on your blog when you post your card each week. Always encouraging and generous with praise for your efforts. And, she makes beautiful art each week along with her design team. Priscilla, YOU inspire me.



Kellie Winnell of http://www.kelliewinnell.com.au/magnolia


Kellie is my new Austrailian blog friend and the originator of the Magnolia Down Under Challenge. And she has recently started another challenge. She also has children, sells Stampin Up, gets sponsors for the challenges, comes up with the ideas for the challenges, and is always right there when you post a card to the challenge with a glowing comment on your entry. She also takes part with the design team each week with a wonderful Magnolia creation for everyone's inspiration. And I have already caught on to a great sense of humor! I don't know how you do it all. Kellie, YOU inspire me.






Stephanne of http://stagnantlycreative.blogspot.com/


Stephanne is a young woman whom I met blogging. The first time I went to her blog to look at a card she had posted on a challenge, the description of the card was full of negatives about how she wasn't a very good colorer, etc. Well, friend your confidence and your work have grown so since that first day I visited you. Your cards are amazing. You are always there to sing my praises on every post I make. Stephanie, YOU inspire me.


Julia of http://scrapperjulia.blogspot.com/

I also met Julia through blogging. Julia takes part in more challenges than anyone I know. And she does it well. I especially love the ones she does for the movie challenge on PCP, always interesting and thought provoking. You go girl. Julia, YOU inspire me.

A JOB WELL DONE

Hi, I'm posting for a second time today because I want to get this card in the Midnight Madness Stamp Sketch Challenge #16. This is a digital image by M0 at www.digitalpenciltoo.com. These are the best digital images I have seen. They are detailed and a lot of them are of children (Mo is a children's book illustrator). And there are little boys!!!! I colored with a combo of Tombow and Copic Markers. I used a pumpkin colored card and the sketch from MMSC 16. There is a link to this challenge on the left, go check it out. You can use any form of art to create a card from the weekly sketch, so there is so much inspiration from the design team and those who post a card. Until tomorrow..............

BSS-MONDAY CHALLENGE #8-SHAKER CARD

Hello. Happy Monday. Today's card is for the Buffalo Stamps and Stuff Monday Challenge. I've created a shaker card. There is a great tutorial at www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/shaker_card
The stamp set I used is from Art Impressions and comes packaged as three stamps. The main image of the gal at the slot machine, the word Jackpot, and the words on the cherries, Life is just a ROW of Cherries. Is this a cute set or what. The Cherry stamp is from Rubber Stampede. The Cherry paper is from Doddlebug. Hope you have a great Monday and that you're inspired to try a shaker card. Until tomorrow................

Tilda in Hawaii

Hello everyone. I am so excited to tell you that I have been invited to join the Design Team for the Magnolia Down Under Challenge. It runs every two weeks and there is a link to their site on the left hand side of my blog. I was shocked when Kellie Winnell the founder of the challenge emailed me and asked me to join them. I had been participating in the challenges for awhile now, and have enjoyed it very much. So, this first challenge that I am doing as a DT member, was a recipe. Your project had to include one flower, two ribbons, three brads, and four different papers. I made a Tri-shutter card, featuring Tilda in Hawaii. Don't you just love the stamp of her head bobbing in the water, and that bathing cap, so cute! The Paradise stamp is by All Night Media. Aloha is by Rubber Stampede. Gone to the beach is a dollar stamp from Michaels. That Tilda sure looks like she is having a great time in Hawaii! Have a great Sunday. Until tomorrow..............

If I know love.........

Hi, posting late today. Went to a stamp show close to home. Was so much fun! The show was small, but I managed to spend the cash I had. Will be showing you some of the things I have purchased in the days ahead. Beautiful Christmas stamps of horses from Impression Obessession and new Magnolia stamps too. The wolf stamp above is by Onyx Xpressions. Anyone who knows me knows my love for wolves. We even planned a couple of vacations a few years back to different wolf preserves where we could see them in a natural environment. The sentiment stamp is by Whipper Snapper. I kept the card simple so you concentrated on the wolves!!!!! Hope you had a great day, but I'm beat. Until tomorrow................

The Pond

Thought I would share a couple of pics of the pond and the water lilies that are blooming right now. This plant has absolutely taken over the pond and we trimmed it down on Sunday. There are four large blooms and several bulbs near the top ready to pop any day now. Notice we have a little visitor on one of the leaves near the top left. Have a great day!

Better Get Better

It's Thursday, and I am posting bright and early today. Hope everyone is enjoying this last part of the summer and doing something they enjoy. Today's card is a Motivet Stamp of Doraline as a Nurse. I am thinking that Doraline is a squirrel. Here in the Eastern part of the United States, squirrels are grey, so that's how I colored her. She is a cutie and I ordered several more of them because I was inspired by my blogger friend Stephanie's cards made with these adorable images. And, I am going to post this in Kellie's Sketch Challenge, because Stephanie is a design team member and since she inspired me to buy these little cuties and Motivet is the sponsor of the challenge this month, I thought I would do just that. The pill bottle was an unmounted stamp I bought at convention in Ohio one year and I don't know from whom. Have a great day. Until tomorrow................

Clothes Line

Hey, it's hump day! Posting late again. Spent the day at my daughters with a dear friend and her grand kids. We were supposed to swim and sit on the new deck, but of course the best laid plans, it rained into late afternoon. We still had a great visit and the kids enjoyed getting together. And lunch was nice too. Today's card is one I have been wanting to try for some time. It is inspired by a tutorial by Michelle Zindorf she did awhile back. The background swirls are stamped in white ink, then you use colored pencils to add color. The background stamps are clear stamps by Inque. The clothes line stamp is by PSX. Nestibilities label 4 used. Have a great rest of the evening. Thanks for stopping. Until tomorrow..................

In Stitches

Hello. Good Tuesday everyone. Weather is marvelous here, humidity has finally picked up and left. Warm and sunny. I had five blooms on the water lilies in my small pond yesterday, absolutely beautiful. Should have run out and took a picture, but I didn't. Need to run out this morning and get some groceries (yuck) but wanted to post before I left. Today's card is for the Penny Black Challenge. Challenge was to use stitches on your card. Mine are all faux stitches in the background paper, and stamped on the little squares. Papers are by DCWV Crafty paper stack. Hope you enjoy your Tuesday. Thanks for stopping by. Until later....................

7th BSS Challenge/Inspiration-Color Challenge

Hello. It's Monday, and it's the 7th Buffalo Stamps and Stuff Challenge/Inspiration. Today's challenge is a color challenge. Make a card using black, white, and one other color of your choice.

I chose lime green. The image of the Panda and baby is by Onyx Xpressions. The inside sentiment is by Hampton Art Stamps. Papers are by s.e.i. Flowers are by Prima. Pearls are by Kaiser. Corners are punched with a punch by Paper Shapers. The card is a recessed window card and there is a great tutorial on SCS at www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/recessedwindow on how to make this card.

Have a great Monday. Thanks for stopping by. Until tomorrow........................

Father

Hi, happy Sunday. Hope you're getting some relaxing time in today. We finally got some cool air. Temps today in the low 70's YAHOO. Windows open and feeling good!! Today's card is for the Magnolia Down Under Challenge. The theme is Father's Day, because apparently Father's Day is coming up in Australia soon. So, I used Edwin, by Magnolia, and the sentiment stamp is
by Just For Fun. Papers are from the Green DCWV paper stack. Flowers are stickers by K & Company. Butterflies are an Anna Griffin punch. Have a great rest of the day. Thanks so much for taking the time to come by. Until later................

The Ice Cream Man!!

Hello. Hope your Saturday is going well. We did some pond maintenance this morning with the plants. Everything was overgrown. So hot and sticky still, even though it rained slightly this afternoon. Today's card is for the Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge (MMSC15). I broke down and downloaded four digi images (sorry, just can't call them stamps) from Sunshine, which is sponsoring this week's challenge. I'm not hooked. I guess I am just a rubber stamp snob, but although these images are cute and geared toward boys for a change, I found them hard to resize, and just simple line art that could be copied from a coloring book and resized on a copier. I like stamping the image, were I want it on the paper. I am still dealing with unmounted rubber and clear stamps for goodness sake. All that said, this card of the ice cream truck turned out cute. The words on the bottom are from a House Mouse Design stamp. Papers are from AC Patterned Paper, Backyard. I hope rubber and ink are around for a long time, there is just something about the creating process for me. Thanks for stopping by. Have a great finish to your Saturday and thanks for stopping by.

Monkey Business

Hello, posting late today. Had an off day and wasn't feeling up to par, so kind of did nothing today. Feeling better tonight and looking forward to getting some sleep tonight. Today's card is a cute stamp from Whipper Snapper Designs. The Papers are from the Debbie Mumm, Noah's Ark paper stack. The sentiment is computer generated. Hope to get some stamping in tomorrow, supposed to rain and storm all day. Got some new sets and looking forward to using them. Hope all is well with you. Thanks for stopping by. Until later...........

WILLOW THE BRIDE

Hello. I did some running around today, so I am posting late again! Still hot and muggy here, supposed to get some relief soon. YEAH! Today's card is Willow, from Whiff of Joy. Just a couple of cards back, Willow was a teenager in jeans and now here she is getting married. And like they say, Art imitates life! And how many times do you think I had to stamp Willow in the chair before I got her positioned right? Once, no. Twice, no. Three times, no. Fourth time was the charm. Because you have to mask her, it was hard to get her in the chair properly, either she was too much to the left or to high, yikes. Anyway, I like her as a bride, and in the same order I placed with Whiff of Joy, I got her as a Mom! That to come later. Paper is from the Luxury stack from DCWV. Flowers from the bridal dept at Michaels. Hope you had a good Wednesday. Thanks for stopping by. Until later............

Wreath

Good morning. It is unbearably muggy here. Supposed to get rain early afternoon, hope it brings some cooler air. Just don't feel like doing anything, especially outside. Soon we'll be complaining that it's too cold....never happy. Today's card is for the Penny Black challenge. It's another new Christmas stamp from Penny Black. The challenge this week was to use the colors blue, tan and cream. The word stamp is by Rubber Stampede. The idea for the feet on the card is from Mel at Melstampz.com. I stamped the wreath in blue embossing powder, then went back with stickles to highlight the bow and dots. Penny Black has some really nice word stamps to go along with these new Christmas stamps, was hard to chose. Hope you have a good Tuesday. Stay cool. Thanks for stopping by. Until later...............

BSS-6th Challenge/Inspiration - Hinged Card

Hi, and welcome in. Today is the Monday BSS Challenge/Inspiration Card. I do this for my local stamp store once a week and post it on their blog. Today's Challenge is to make a Hinged Card. If you have never done this before, you can get the tutorial on SCS Technique Lovers Challenge 222. It's a pretty simple little card, but something different. The base is 41/4x51/2, the bottom portion is 41/4x3, top half is 41/4x33/4 before punching border. You'll need one brad for

the hinge. Basically you glue the bottom portion to the base. Stamp message on base top portion. Punch border on top portion. Line up top portion with base and punch small hole

about 1/2 to 3/4 inches in from edge where top and bottom portions overlap. Insert brad so

top portion swings up. Decorate card as desired. Remember if you use an image, to only glue

half of it to top portion so it will swing freely. Add a panel to the back of the card slightly smaller than the card with sentiment. Hope you try this if you haven't already, it's a fun card project. The deer stamp is new for Christmas from Penny Black. The stamp on the back of the card is Inkadinkado. Have a great Monday. Until later...........

RAIN

This is a 6x6 Easel Card from a template by Penny Wessenauer. The templates are free. Google her name to find them. I tried to link to the site, but it's photobucket and I am unable to get it to work.

This is the inside of the card. Pretty neat hunh?

and this is the sideview.

Hi, hope you had a great Saturday. I am posting super late today, but better late than tomorrow! I made this card to enter on the Simon Says Stamp new group on Papercraft Planet.

They have a color challenge using the same colors as SCS this week, Cocoa, Celery, blush blossom, coral, white. This stamp company has to be the most generous people around. Every challenge website seems like they are giving a gift certificate for the prize for one week or another. I ordered stamps on Wednesday, and I got them today!!!! They are the easiest people to work with too, so friendly. No, they didn't pay me to say all this haha. So today's card is made from a template by Penny Wessenauer. The stamp image is Willow, Whiff of Joy Stamps, and the sentiment is Inkadinkado. Border punch is Martha. Thanks for stopping by. Until later..........

CHILL

Hi, hope your Friday went well and you're looking forward to the weekend. I made this candle for the Simon Says Stamp Challenge. The challenge was to make anything but a card. I bought this flicker candle at Michaels. It's a flameless candle with a battery and one of those wax bulbs that looks like a flame in it. I took a picture of it off and on so you could see the candle lit. The image is of course House Mouse. The sentiment is Penny Black. The glitter paper and mirror paper I used at the top and bottom is in the Citrus paper pack by DCWV. I stamped the mouse image on confetti velum and colored it in with Tombow markers on the reverse side of the velum. My daughter and her husband built a great deck and got new deck furniture this year so this little candle will look great on the wicker tables, and she won't have to worry about the blowing out the candle or the kids touching it. Have a great weekend! Thanks for stopping by.

Until later..................

Laundry Day

Hello, posting late today. Had some computer issues and my daughter came over today to help me sort them out. Of course, what you think will take you an hour turned into three. Wow, like I always said when I worked, computers are great when they work! Today's card is a stamp by Serendipity. I used colored pencils to color the little dresses on the line. The word stamp is by the house mouse people. The flowered paper is Basic Grey. The gingham is Martha Stewart, as is the border punch. The flowers are from the bridal department at Michaels, lose petals. I tied them up with ribbon in the middle. Pearls by Kaiser. Hope you had a great Thursday, hope to post a lot earlier tomorrow. Until later..............

Asian Femme

Hi, hope your Wednesday is going well. Today's card is for the Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge14. A link to their site is on the right. I used the Asian Femme stamp cube from Just For Fun. The Ginko stamp is by Rubber Stampede. The papers are from the K&Company specialty paper by Brenda Walton. The word at the bottom of the card in the oval is a chop from a beautiful stamp set a friend gave me. The words are the symbols for peace. Interestingly, the second symbol is the symbol for woman. (typically the peacemakers, right). Our county fair is starting today and it's one of the largest in the country. The lots that they park cars on are so wet, they are shuttling people from a local college parking lot to the fair grounds. But it is supposed to warm up considerably with sun for the next week, so it should dry up soon. Hope your day is good. Thanks for stopping by. Until later......

Pickin' Cherries

Hi, happy Tuesday. Wow it is hot and humid here, lots of rain and flooding. We didn't experience the flooding, thank goodness, but not far from here, there were some terrible stories of last nights thunder, lightning and rain storms. Even suspected Tornadoes! Pictures on the news last night showed big beautiful boats that were docked on rivers that swelled with water floating (very swift currents) away. Docks were long gone, so people could do nothing but watch because they couldn't get to them. Today's card is for the Penny Black Challenge. It was a sketch challenge. I think this is one of my favorite images. I love anything with cherries too. The word stamp is a dollar stamp from Michaels. The pleated flower is on split coast stampers techniques. Have a great Tuesday. Thanks for stopping by. Leave a comment if you can. Until later..............