Throwback Thursday, a Triple Challenge, and a BIG birthday!

Happy Thursday Everyone!

Today my Throwback card features two discontinued sets - "So Many Scallops" and "Priceless."  I think So Many Scallops must have been a Sale-A-Bration set because the rubber is purple.  Those of you who have been around Stampin' Up! for a while will understand that.

I combined three challenges with this card:
1.  The Paper Players Challenge #19.  This challenge was to make a clean and simple card that incorporated a tag.
2.  A La Card Monkey Challenge #92.  This was a sketch challenge with anything goes for the theme.  That's where my layout comes from.
3.  The Friday Mashup #42 which was a color challenge using Riding Hood Red, Blushing Bride, and Early Espresso with paper piercing.  I didn't have  Blushing Bride, so I used Pretty in Pink.

I'm not overly thrilled with this color combo, even though pink is my thing.  But it stretched me out of my comfort zone, which is a good thing.

To jazz up the tag a bit, I added Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details to the candle flames, and clear embossed the large swirl stamp from Priceless on the tag itself.  I also used the swirl stamp on the base layer of the card for some background interest.

And since this is a birthday card, I guess this could be my birthday card.  On Monday the 23rd, I turned 50.  I'm not sure how I feel about that milestone.  On one hand, I'm thrilled to have made it to 50!  On the other hand, I don't feel like I have a lot to show for 50 years of being on this Earth!  But in the end, it is just a number, so I guess I won't sweat it.

You all can help me with a belated birthday present however!  I would like to reach 100 followers by the end of February.  If you currently aren't following my blog, would you please consider doing so?  And, of course, feel free to pass along my blog to anyone who might find it of interest.  Thank you very much!!


Thanks for looking at my blog. I appreciate all the wonderful comments everyone leaves. Happy Stamping!

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday #138

Ok, so it's actually Tuesday evening and I'm working two projects and cleared things between them.  But you'll get the idea.

First, I'm trying to create a mini album from 6 X 9 envelopes.  I couldn't find exactly what I was looking for online, but mostly I'm following Laura's design.  (Check out her blog and You Tube channel for some awesome stuff.)  Instead of using the coin envelopes, I'm using regular A2 envelopes for the additional flap/pocket.  I hope it works!

It's kind of hard to see since I'm using all white envelopes on a white pad that I work on!!  In the first photo off to the right, you'll see some print outs.  This leads to my second project, which is experimenting with "One Sheet Wonder" cards.

I'm using Sharon's direction for a quarter sheet wonder layout using a 6 X 6 sheet of patterned paper.  If you decide to do this, I did find a mistake on her template for cutting the 6 X 6.  She shows 1.75" X 1.75" piece for "card e."  This should actually be 1.75" X 2.75", which I didn't discover until AFTER I cut my paper (of course!).

You can see the beginnings of the card layouts in the second photo.  Haven't quite decided what I'm going to do with that mis-cut piece.  But hey!  When life gives you scraps, make cards!

Have a great week everyone.  Thanks for stopping by.  Be sure to head over to Julia's blog to see all of the other cool desks!

By the way, I'm trying to hit 100 blog followers by the end of February.  So feel free to help me out in that endeavor!  :)

Thanks for looking at my blog. I appreciate all the wonderful comments everyone leaves. Happy Stamping!

Freshly Made Sketches #18

Good Monday Morning.

Just whipped together a quick card to make the deadline for Freshly Made Sketches challenge #18.  For some reason, this card came together super quick.  And masculine cards seem to always be in short supply, so that makes this a win-win!

Here's their sketch:

And here's my rendition:

I added some sponging and distressed most of the edges to enhance the "worn" feel.  Too bad this set of papers has been discontinued.

Hope you enjoyed my card.  Have a fantastic week!


Thanks for looking at my blog. I appreciate all the wonderful comments everyone leaves. Happy Stamping!

Stamping 411 and Our Creative Corner Challenges

Happy Saturday Everyone!

Today I have combined the "Oh Baby Inspiration" challenge at Our Creative Corner with the Saturday Sketch Challenge at Stamping 411.  Make sure you hop on over to both blogs and check out the details and all of the wonderful entries.

The inspiration photo at Our Creative Corner definitely appealed to my color sense.  I was also inspired by the flowers and the repetition of circles throughout the photo.  Using the sketch at Stamping 411, here is what I came up with.

I am totally loving the Labels Framelits.  And I think I managed to sponge pretty much every edge there is, including the inside panel!  There's a small strip of Calypso Coral organdy ribbon between the two panels of DSP.  Unfortunately, it doesn't show up very well in my pictures!

I sponged the blue Framelit panel while it was still in the Framelit.  It didn't leave as pronounced of an edge as I would have liked, but that's a lesson learned!  The focal image is stamped with Staz On on watercolor paper, and I used my ink pads and aqua blenders to watercolor it.  A few basic pearls cap off the focal point of the card.  The DSP, pearls, and three circular flower pieces echo the circles in the inspiration photo.

This card remains fairly clean and simple, but with a bit of added dimension and detail.  I hope you like it!

Thanks for looking at my blog. I appreciate all the wonderful comments everyone leaves. Happy Stamping!

Throwback Thursday and A La Card Monkey #91

I've decided to start a weekly feature on my blog that's been bouncing around in my head for a while.  I'm calling it "Throwback Thursday."  I'm going to try to post a card or project each Thursday that features old but loved items, be it a retired stamp set, retired colors of ink, markers or cardstock, or other older stuff I find in my stash.  Just because you can't buy it currently doesn't mean it's not good stuff!! 

The card I've made for you today features one of my all time FAVORITE Stampin' Up! sets called Nice & Easy Notes.  This was one of my first SU sets and is still one I reach for regularly.  I'm also entering this card on this week's A La Card Monkey weekly challenge.  Be sure you check out their blog and the other entries.

Other retired items I used are Cameo Coral and Ruby Red cardstock and ink pads, as well as some retired Certainly Celery ribbon.

I watercolored this sweet little girl with my blender pens and a combination of ink pads, markers and watercolor pencils.

I added a little "bling" to her shoes with a couple of basic rhinestones.  I think they're a tad big, but that's ok.  I also colored three larger rhinestones with a green permanent marker and added them to the strip of ribbon.

I hope you enjoyed this first edition of Throwback Thursday! 

Thanks for looking at my blog. I appreciate all the wonderful comments everyone leaves. Happy Stamping!

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday 137

Happy Wednesday Everyone!   My desk is a little messier this week.  I'm still working on that mini paper bag album.  There's also a pile of card materials that I'm working on for a new feature on my blog I'm going to call "Throwback Thursday."  I'm going to **try** each Thursday to post a card I've made with old but loved items.

My Throwback project is going to feature a retired stamp set (Nice & Easy Notes) that I will n.e.v.e.r. get rid of!  Also some retired SU cardstock colors (cameo coral and ruby red).

I think I'm also to a stopping point with this mini album.  Because of who it's intended for, I don't want to over frou-frou it.  I did make a little rosette (or lollie) for the cover.

I added some small journaling panels, and there are a total of six big pull out double sided "tags" for photos or other memorabilia.

There are two other smaller tags, one inside each cover panel.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Be sure to head over to Julie's blog and see what's on everyone else's desk today!

Thanks for looking at my blog. I appreciate all the wonderful comments everyone leaves. Happy Stamping!

Friday Mashup #41 and Freshly Made Sketches #17

Happy Monday everyone!  I'm having a little fun this morning combining two card challenges.  First I used the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.  {Waves to her "neighbor" Rita in Texas.}  Then I used the Friday Mash Up which was to make a thank you card and/or use patterned paper.  And here is my result:

I used the new Labels Framelits dies.  Love them!  I stamped the image on watercolor paper with black Staz On ink, then used my aqua pens and pads to watercolor the image.  For the ribbon, I layered some of the Lucky Limeade organdy ribbon that will be available January 24 in the Sale-A-Bration catalog over the white grosgrain ribbon.

For a tiny bit of bling, I colored two basic rhinestones with a pink permanent marker, then punched the greeting from Teeny Tiny Wishes with the Word Window punch.  Voila!

Be sure to hop on over to each of the card challenge sites and check out all the great entries!

Thanks for looking at my blog. I appreciate all the wonderful comments everyone leaves. Happy Stamping!

Vagabond Giveaway

If you've ever wanted a Sizzix Vagabond machine, head over to Card of My Eye's You Tube channel and leave a comment for a chance to win.  Drew is a talented young man who has made a name for himself in the craft industry while still in high school.  Amazing.  Be sure to check out his videos, especially the one regardin the Vagabond giveaway.  Simply leave a comment and you're entered!

Thanks for looking at my blog. I appreciate all the wonderful comments everyone leaves. Happy Stamping!

What's on your workdesk Wednesday 136

Not a lot has changed since last week.  I'm a little farther along on the paper bag album, and a couple of finished "challenge" cards are hanging around waiting to be filed away.

I had some comments about my Target dollar bin containers.  Yes, they are small, and it's just small stuff that gets thrown in there.

For my larger scraps, I have file tubs under my desk which are sorted by SU color families and individual colors.  The scraps go into expanding pocket files.

Another tub on the other side under my desk houses retired colors of SU cardstock filed in the same manner.  However, the scraps there just go back into the regular folder for that color since my supply is dwindling.



And for those of you wondering about that paper bag album, here are some updated photos.  I'll be adding more tags with pull out tabs for photo mats and/or journaling.  Of course, more embellishments will be added also.  Because of who this album is intended for, it won't be loaded down with stuff or over girlie.

Be sure to head on over to Julia's blog and check out what's on everyone else's desk!

Thanks for looking at my blog. I appreciate all the wonderful comments everyone leaves. Happy Stamping!

Try Stampin' on Tuesday #47 and The Paper Players #77

As soon as I saw the sketch for Try Stampin' On Tuesday,  I thought "gate fold card."  Then I saw this week's theme for The Paper Players of "love" and decided to combine the two.

I've just started playing with the Labels Framelits and I really like them.  I added a bit of vanilla Smooch Spritz to the main image panel.  It's hard to capture in photos but if you click for the "zoomed" image on the first photo below, you can make it out.  I also added a few pearls to jazz up the centerpiece and sentiment.

I used a little different color combo for me, but I like the way it turned out.  (Paisley Petals DSP, Wild Wasabi, Baja Breeze and Crumb Cake.)  I originally had the second frame layer in Marina Mist, but I just didn't like it.  I guess I'll be using that for something else!  ;)


Thanks for looking at my blog. I appreciate all the wonderful comments everyone leaves. Happy Stamping!

Freshly Made Sketches #16 Birthday Card

I had a bit of fun using my new Labels Framelits die and am giving you a sneek peek of the Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper and Ribbon on this card.  Those items will be available January 24 in the Sale-A-Bration catalog.  I used a color combination of pool party and calypso coral.

I added some dimension by popping up the central image with dimensionals, as well as adding basic pearls.  Enjoy!


Thanks for looking at my blog. I appreciate all the wonderful comments everyone leaves. Happy Stamping!

Happy New Year and What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday 135

Another year has come and gone with its share of ups and downs.  All in all, I'm very blessed and I want to work very hard at keeping that in the forefront in 2012!  Wish me luck!

What's on my workdesk?  A bunch of assorted stuff!

I have some new gadgets and toys after dragging my husband with me to an Archiver's store in Katy.  Good thing that place isn't closer to where I live.  Sheesh!  I also went to Michaels to spend the gift certificate my oldest daughter got me for Christmas (Thank you, Erica!).

I now have a Copic colorless blender, clear, silver and gold Spica pens, and a set of Bic Mark It permanent markers.  I've been intrigued by Copics, but didn't know really where to start in purchasing them.  Then I saw a video on Stamp TV showing how to get started with alcohol markers on a budget.  I haven't tried it yet, but since I've never outgrown coloring from my childhood, I bet I like it!

After my quasi-success with Top Note Die mini albums for Christmas presents, I'm now trying my hand at a paper bag mini.  This is as far as I've gotten so far.

See those little blue bins in the background?  I picked those up in the Target dollar bin one day.  Right now one is holding scraps, one is holding small pre-stamped pieces looking for a home, and the other is holding my most-used ink pads so they're right at my fingertips.

So, what's on YOUR workdesk???  Check out all the other amazing desks by going to Stamping Ground.


Thanks for looking at my blog. I appreciate all the wonderful comments everyone leaves. Happy Stamping!