For Sale

Well, it's that time of year,
when everyone wants to make room for new stuff,
so it's out with the old!

If you are interested in any of these items,
please email me at the address in the right sidebar.

All items are trimmed and mounted,
and in excellent condition,
with no stains on the rubber or wood,
unless otherwise noted. Cases included.

Prices do not include shipping.
Thanks!

STAMPIN' UP!

Birthday Best $5
Alphabits (set of 3 - script not included) $4
Garden Silhouettes (hostess, partially mounted) $15
Essence of Love $10
Alphabet Soup $5
Simply the Best $10
Starstruck $4
Tag Punch Box (incl. 6 stamps, 3 ink cubes, tag punch) $25
Noteworthy (UM) $10
Just a Note $5
Beautiful Batik and Batik Wheel $15
DD Branch $8
Seeds of Kindness $8
Happy Harvest (foam-mounted) $3
Painted Posies (UM) $10
Favorite Greetings $15
Tangerine Tango Ink Pad and Refill, almost full pkg. cardstock $15
Pacific Point Ink Pad and Refill, almost full pkg. cardstock $15
Marigold Morning Ink Pad $5
Basic Black Ink Pad $3

PAPERTREY INK

Believe (black ink stains on Santa and tree) $10
Butterfly Kisses $18 (one butterfly stained pink)

Plant a Tree and Enjoy Some Unity!

It's Hip Hop Hangover and time to enjoy some Unity!

Visit the Unity blog to see the list of participating blogs in the hop today!

I used Plant a Tree paired with Cosmo Cricket's Early Bird designer paper for my card today. The flower has a frayed twill "leaf."

Thanks for stopping by!
Now on to ***HEIDI***!!

I’ve learned….that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become. — Unknown

Stamps: Plant a Tree (Unity Stamp Co.)
Paper: Early Bird DP (Cosmo Cricket), Baja Breeze, SU! Watercolor
Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black, Certainly Celery, Gable Green, Baja Breeze, Marigold Morning, Close to Cocoa
Accessories: paper flowers (Prima), button (SU!), paper piercer, ivory grosgrain ribbon (SU!), twill ribbon (May Arts), Cutter Tool (SU!)
Techniques: paper piercing, watercoloring, distressing

I Love Days Like This: 07/08/09

I guess I must love numbers, as I love days that make a pattern or are sequential -- like today!
It's 07/08/09! It's going to be a good day!

I loved Jennifer Buck's sketch so much that I decided to make another today - and with my Unity Stamps again. Their Kit of the Month is such an awesome deal. For this 6 inch card I used the June KOTM - Perfect in Every Way. It's on sale today!

I pieced the pear tree with K & Co. Wild Saffron DP. LOVE that paper! This is for the Shabby Chicks Monthly Challenge: NATURE. See all the Shabby Chicks blogs in my right sidebar!

Thanks for stopping by! Happy Birthday to my good friend, Juliana!

Stamps: Perfect in Every Way (June KOTM): Unity Stamp Co.
Paper: Kraft, Blue Bayou, Papertrey Dark Chocolate, K & Co. Wild Saffron
Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: photo corner punch, large vanilla brads and chocolate clip, jumbo gold eyelet, smal blue brad (The Paper Studio), circle punches (1" and 1 1/4"), Prima flowers
Techniques: paper piecing

Embrace Each Moment

For SCS Color Challenge 226....

I used Unity's Bevy of Butterflies and K & Co.'s Wild Saffron designer paper to make this 5.5 in. square card.

My sketch comes from Jennifer Buck's sketch HERE.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Stamps: Bevy of Butterflies (Unity Stamp Co.)
Paper: Papertrey Dark Chocolate, Apricot Appeal, Close to Cocoa, K & Co. Wild Saffron DP
Ink: Close to Cocoa, Baja Breeze
Accessories: Crystal Stickles, chocolate square brads (The Paper Studio), linen thread

Party Sheep and a SFYTT~

I am definitely going away from the "norm" and not posting a RWB patriotic card today! To see some awesome RWB patriotic creations, click HERE. These sheep are still ready to party though.....

I promised a Hambo Stamps design and here it is! I used Jen's SFYTT HERE.


Monica (Hambo Stamps owner) is having a huge sale - some images are as low as 25 cents! Check it out!

Happy Independence Day!

It's Time for Hip Hop Hangover!

Visit the Unity blog to see the list of participating blogs in the hop today!

I used Unity's Love Ewe with Basic Grey Urban Prairie DP. The button "thread" is paper cut from Urban Prairie. The lamb has Crystal Stickles on his wool.


Check out this super sale!!! You can get some GREAT Hambo deals! I will be back tomorrow with some fun Hambo projects!
Have a great celebration tomorrow on the 4th!

Trust

I am at the end of my five day ODBD week and I have one more project to show you!

I used images from the new release Mother Teresa and my three ODBD ink pads for this project as well: Spring Green, Sunflower and Raspberry.

I stamped my lotus flower with VersaFine Onyx Black and then watercolored using an Aqua-Flo brush.

I love the Wild Raspberry paper from K & Co. It goes so well with these colors and images. I added Angel Wings Shimmerz to the middle of the flower and on the water. Here is a close-up that shows that (click for an ever closer view!). Shimmerz is 25% off through tomorrow!


The quote says "I know that God will not give me anything I can't handle; I just wish that He didn't trust me so much." This Mother Teresa quote is probably my favorite in the whole set -- it just seems to fit life right now for a lot of people! I think it also shows Mother Teresa's sense of humor - and we certainly need a lot of humor to get through a lot of life's bumps and hills and obstacles!

The frame around the lotus was actually a mistake! I was cutting out the frame with my Nestabilities and it didn't quite cut. I couldn't re-do it, as the paper came out of the metal frame. So it is what it is, and I ended up liking it embossed!


Thanks for sharing this release week with me! I hope you will join in the Guest Designer contest that ODBD is having this week! You can read about that HERE!

Thanks for coming by!

Release Day Is Only A Hop Away!

Wow! July already!! That means it's Release Day at Our Daily Bread designs! You will love the five new sets that Kelley has designed!

The Bread Basket has some fun stuff in store for you today, so make sure you start at the beginning of the Hop with Our Daily Bread designs Blog HERE where you can see all the new releases! The Hop goes live at 9:00 AM CST.

If you came here from Chris Olsen's blog, Twinkles Glow With Stamps, you are in the right place! Doesn't she do amazing work???

Kelley is also offering blog candy to three winners today, so be sure to visit all the Breadsticks' blogs to see what is up with that! You will love it!

Click to enlarge and see the brad design.

Our Design Team challenge for this month was to use three colors from Kelley's new line of ink pads. We had to choose our colors before we saw the new set designs, so it could have been a real challenge! But I chose my favorites (had to have a PINK!) and it worked out! I chose Raspberry, Spring Green and Sunflower. At only $3.50, they are a GREAT deal!

Here is what I came up with:


I used Let Us Begin and embossed the flowers with Ranger's Gold EP. I then watercolored the lotus flower with my chosen colors. The lotus is the national flower of India, where Mother Teresa did her life's work and held citizenship. It starts as a small flower down at the bottom of a pond in the mud and muck. It slowly grows up towards the waters surface continually moving towards the light. Once it come to the surface of the water the lotus flower begins to blossom and turn into a beautiful flower.

My designer paper is from the K & Co. Wild Raspberry Collection.

I love this new set and the accompanying Mother Teresa!

July 1st marks the first day of our Guest Designer Contest! That's right! YOU could be the next Guest Designer for ODBD! We are looking for two designers to join the Bread Basket for a month in August and in September! If this is something you would be interested in, email three samples (.jpeg files) of your best work to me at lidaroseroz@GMAIL.com by July 9th! That's right - you only have NINE days! ODBD images are preferred, but not required. But what is required? If you are chosen, you will be working with two beautiful stamp sets during your "Guest Month" and will make a total of six projects for that month. Can you stick to a deadline? Do you have photography skills that can show off your creations? We want to hear from you!

Include your name, address, and a link to your blog and SCS Gallery in your email. Tell us a little about yourself and why you would like to be in the "Bread Basket" (our Design Team). We will announce the Guest Designers on the ODBD blog on July 11th!

Now on to the amazingly talented ***SILKE*** where you will see a delight for your eyes! We are thrilled to have Silke join us in the Basket for the next six months!

Thanks for stopping by today! Tomorrow I will have a card from Mother Teresa with the same colors for today's DT color challenge!

Don't Burn the House Down!

I just noticed as I was opening Blogger today that this will be my 501st post on here! That is a lot of yakking and card-making. I am sure my family would wish I had done 501 other things..... just kidding; they are very supportive.

I went shopping in the next town with my 16 year old daughter on Saturday, and after many clothing stores for her, took a quick trip to Joann's. We don't have one here, so it was a treat! I get there about 3 times a year! We were walking down the aisles (with punches and paper and so on) and she said, "I think it's so funny that you love all this paper and metal stuff and I don't!" We are a lot alike, so we will see. I wasn't stamping at 16 either!! :)

I usually don't do the SCS Try a New Technique challenges, as I am always "running" somewhere and feel like I won't have the time to do a good job. But I had to do today's as it was perfect for Amazing Grace Hymn, a July 1 (Wednesday!) release by Our Daily Bread designs.

I had some stuff on my table that I hadn't yet put away (You've never had that experience, right?) from earlier this week, so I used it to help design my card for today's Faux Burnt Edges challenge.

I stamped the music image on Very Vanilla, using VersaFine Sepia ink, then tore the edges. I used these inks in this order to "burn" the edges:
1. Papertrey Camomile
2. Papertrey Chai
3. Tim Holtz Tea Dye Distress
4. VersaFine Sepia
5. VersaFine Black

Amazing Grace Hymn is a single stamp release. See my other post about this image and hymn HERE.

The sentiment is stamped on twill (just like earlier this week! lol) and is from Grow in Grace, another of the FIVE new set releases this Wednesday. Come back then for a fun BLOG HOP and the opportunity to win THREE of ODBD's new inks!

What a fun technique this was, and no house on fire!

Stamps: Grow in Grace & Amazing Grace Hymn (ODBD)
Paper: Papertrey Dark Chocolate, SU! Very Vanilla, Memory Box Twiggy DP
Ink: VersaFine Sepia and Black, Papetrey Chai and Chamomile, Tim Holtz Tea Dye Distress
Accessories: hardware (The Paper Studio), Primas, paper piercer, twill ribbon (May Arts)
Techniques: faux burnt edges, paper tearing, distressing, piercing

Featured Stamper Challenge - A Sweet Friend!

For SCS Featured Stamper Challenge 125....

Congratulations to my friend, Dawn Lusk, for being chosen this week as SCS Featured Stamper!
Dawn is a fabulous stamper and I had a hard time choosing, but finally narrowed it down.

I chose this beautiful card to case!

Images are from Grow in Grace, a July 1 release from Our Daily Bread designs.

Participants for this challenge are to change at least two things from the original. I kept Dawn's theme and overall layout. I changed colors and images, flower and sentiment placement, added pearls, and left off one border punch.

I love Cameo Coral!!

Thanks for stopping by today and have a blessed Sunday!


Stamps: Grow in Grace (ODBD)
Paper: Papertrey Ink White & Pure Poppy, Cameo Coral, DP by Debbie Mumm
Ink: Cameo Coral
Accessories: Primas, MS branch punch, Nestabilities, pearls (Hero Arts), Fiskars border punch, lace trim, Scor-Pal

A Great Gift

Today I want to show you a Sneak Peek of one of the new releases by Our Daily Bread designs!
There are FIVE new sets that will be available on July 1st, and I really love the verses and quotes that Kelley has chosen this month.

Grow in Grace is probably my favorite of the five. I think that grace is one of God's greatest gifts to us, and this stamp set really captures that. Click on any photo for a close-up!

"'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear; and grace my fears relieved....."

The music background is from Amazing Grace Hymn. "Amazing Grace" is one of the most known and well-loved hymns in recent times. I have really come to love a new arrangement of that called "Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)" by Chris Tomlin. Have a look (it's really neat):



I used the Direct to Paper technique with my first layers, because I felt it shows the distressed state that we are in before the gift of God's Grace. The dogwood panel and sentiment panels are clean, with no layers to peel away -- just like we are, after the gift of mercy and grace from God.


Except for the Very Vanilla and Close to Cocoa, I used my new cardstock from PaperTrey Ink and I LOVE IT! It has such a nice weight to it and the colors are beautiful! I stamped my images with VersaFine Sepia ink and then embossed with Ranger Clear Embossing Powder. I then watercolored with Pretty in Pink and Certainly Celery ink.

Thanks for stopping by today! Check out these Sneak Peeks from our multi-talented Guest Designers:

Grace
Kathy
Sandee

Today is the last day for the Prism Paper sale! 25% off! Check it out! Click on the SALE link on the home page.

Stamps: Grow in Grace & Amazing Grace Hymn (ODBD)
Paper: Very Vanilla, Close to Cocoa, Papertrey Ink: Dark Chocolate, Sweet Blush
Ink: VersaFine Sepia, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa
Accessories: May Arts twill ribbon, brown brad (The Paper Studio), Ranger Clear EP, scraps of grosgrain and organdy ribbon, Copper Vellum tag (SU!)
Techniques: embossing, watercoloring, distressing

HHH & Happy Birthday to Michelle!!

Today is my friend, Michelle Rodgers's birthday {Stamper's Dream}, and many of us are wishing her a wonderful day today!! Hop on over to her blog and wish her a happy day!

Michelle, I hope your day is filled with lots of fun and surprises!!

Here is the card I made for her birthday -- and for Hip Hop Hangover! Click on the photo for a close-up~

My images are from two Unity Stamp Co. Kits of the Month. My designer paper is by K & Co. and has cool embossed circles on the printed paper! I am having fits with the camera I am using this week (not enough light) -- I can't find my battery charger to my "good" camera -- now both batteries are without juice, so time to go on a "hunt"!

Visit the Unity blog to see the list of participating blogs in the blog hop today! Or you can see the list HERE or start with ***AJ!***!

Next up is ***SUZ***!
Thanks for stopping by! I am off to teach my last day of summer school!

Stamps: Unity Stamp Co. KOTM
Paper: Kraft, Naturals Ivory, Very Vanilla, Groovy Guava, DP by K & Co.
Ink: Groovy Guava and Close to Cocoa
Accessories: paper piercer, Cutter Tool, May Arts twill ribbon, slit punch
Techniques: distressing

Sweet Violets

For Ways To Use It Challenge 224: Bold & Bright

I suppose this isn't as bright as it could be, but Orchid Opulence has always been a bright color that I don't use very often, and today I got the chance!

I stamped my violets {Flourishes} in VersaFine Onyx Black ink and then watercolored them with Orchid Opulence and Elegant Eggplant on top. The leaves are done with Green Galore and Mint Melody (retired). The surrounding color wash was done with Marigold Morning (retired). The flowers were then painted with Angel Wings Shimmerz.


I also made this for the Dirty Dozen/Fan Club Inspiration Challenge HERE.
Two more days of summer school and I am back to stamping every day! Tomorrow I will have a special fun card for someone special, so be sure to come back and see!

And how about some more Sneak Peeks for the July 1st releases at Our Daily Bread designs??
Check these out:

Angella
Deborah
Grace
Sandee

Stamps: Sweet Violets (Flourishes)
Paper: watercolor, Orchid Opulence, DPs by Basic Grey, K & Co.
Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black, Elegant Eggplant, Orchid Opulence, Green Galore, Marigold Morning, Mint Melody
Accessories: Cuttlebug Corner Die, Cuttlebug EFs, satin ribbon (HL), Angel Wings Shimmerz
Techniques: watercolor

Sneak Peeks and a Great Sale!

Today is the first day of Sneak Peeks for the new July releases from Our Daily Bread designs! Check out what these Bread Basket members have been working on:

Betty
Chris
Connie
Jane
Kathy
Silke

If some of those names look new to you, they are!
We are welcoming four new members to the Bread Basket and I am thrilled to be working alongside them on the team!

There will be more Sneak Peeks (and mine!) later in the week!

Be sure to check out the Prism Paper sale going on through Saturday night. The new Super Sunday Special at Our Daily Bread designs : ALL Prism cardstocks are 25% off! That means the sale includes Prismatic Packs, Simply Smooths and Metallics!

The Prismatic Packs are wonderfully textured on one side and smooth on the other. The Simply Smooths are fantastic for clean, crisp stamped images. The Metallics give you elegant, iridescent sparkle.

You can't go wrong with Prism and this sale is definitely right on! Sale ends June 28 at 12:00 AM EST. NOTE: Sale prices will be reflected in your shopping cart.

Thanks for coming by! I am off to the Petting Zoo with my summer school class today! And then my aunt and uncle are here from Colorado to help celebrate my dad's birthday. It will be fun to visit with them.

Happy Birthday to My Dad!

Today is my dad's 79th birthday! So I wanted to wish him a happy day!!

I am teaching summer school all this week in the day and having "My Fair Lady" rehearsals at night, so I will probably be back with a project at the end of the week.

Some fun stuff (news) tomorrow though - so come back then!

Tea and Scones with Potato Peel

Sounds rather strange, doesn't it? This morning I am having tea and scones with some dear friends while we discuss our book club selection, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

I finished it a few days ago and am anxious to see what my reading cohorts think. I thoroughly enjoyed it; it's the kind of book that is easy to pick up and read a bit at a time, and come back and not be lost!

I think one of the things that really impressed me with this book was that it is all in letter form; letters to and from characters. Letter writing is such a lost art, isn't it? We email and text and leave comments and messages and there is nothing to show for it -- no stories to be told, or love letters to be found by generations to come. It's kind of a sad thing for this generation. I am hopeful that there are people who still journal though, and maybe our love for scrapbooking, and those treasures, will be what we pass down instead of letters.

Looking at today's Inspiration Challenge 185 reminded me of when my son could fit into little shoes! So I got out his scrapbooks and reminisced for a bit! I have to get busy on my daughter's - she will graduate in two years (high school) and I am only done through 5th grade! YIKES!

Here is my inspired card for today:


and here is the pair of shoes from BUGALOO that inspired me:


They look so comfy, don't they? I wanted to keep the design of my card simple like the shoes. Click on the photo for a close-up view~

The verse is from Quiet Waters by Our Daily Bread designs. I used my Scor-Pal for the top and bottom scores on the base.

Today is the last day to order your EK Success, Martha Stewart, and Fiskars punches at 25% off! Don't miss out! CLICK HERE. Sale price is reflected in the shopping cart.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Stamps: Quiet Waters (ODBD)
Paper: PTI White, SU! DP (retired)
Ink: Certainly Celery
Accessories: silver pearls, white organdy ribbon, Scor-Pal, Paper Frills by Doodlebug, Nestabilities

Hip Hop Hangover!

What an awesome lightning storm we had here last night! It brought a bit of rain, but what I loved was the flashing and noise! This morning is that wonderful calm after the storm......

But it's exciting times over at Unity Stamp Co.!
Today is Hip Hop Hangover!!

Visit the Unity blog to see the list of participating blogs in the blog hop today! Or you can see the list HERE or start with ***CARLY!***

Here is my card for today:


I used my June KOTM stamps and Cosmo Cricket's Early Bird DP. There are Crystal Effects on the popped up cherries. Thanks for stopping by!

Next stop is ***RYANN***!!!

Stamps: June KOTM
Paper: Cosmo Cricket Early Bird DP, Kraft, Riding Hood Red, Naturals Ivory
Ink: Palette Noir Black, Copics
Accessories: May Arts twill, paper piercer, Crystal Effects, red paper clip, sewing machine, Cutter Tool

The Key is to . . . . .

Ask, Seek, Knock!

I made this for today's SCS Ways To Use It Challenge 223: Texting.


I repeatedly stamped the verse in Close to Cocoa ink and then overstamped the door image on all three panels before matting and adhering them to the card base. The door is fairly light on my card, and if you haven't seen it, you will want to check it out here. It's an awesome image!

Images are from Ask, Seek, Knock by Our Daily Bread designs. Click on the photo for a close-up view! The key has some fun bling on it!

Here are the details of the NEW WEEKLY SUPER SUNDAY SPECIALS!! Every Sunday ODBD will offer a different item at a sale price at Our Daily Bread designs that will be effective for a whole week! Check back often to see what new item is up for special pricing.

For this week's Super Sunday Special it's a Punch-A-Bunch Frenzy! All Martha Stewart, Fiskars and EK Success punches are 25% off! There will be no rainchecks so make sure to get in on this fabulous deal, but hurry! Punch sale will end Sunday, June 21 at 12:00 AM EST.

NOTE: Sale prices will be reflected in your shopping cart.
Be sure to be on the look out for the next Super Sunday Special announcement!

And talk about special! This is a yummy tea recipe for summer!

Amaretto Tea

8 1/2 C. water
1 family-size teabag
12 oz. can frozen lemonade concentrate
1 Tbsp. almond extract
1 to 1 1/2 C. sugar

Bring 4 C. of water to a boil; pour over teabag. Steep for 3-5 minutes; discard teabag and set aside. In a 2 quart pitcher, mix lemonade and remaining water. Add tea, almond extract and enough water to fill the pitcher. Add at least one C. of sugar. Stir frequently before serving. Serves 6-8.

Enjoy! Thanks for stopping by today!

Stamps: Ask, Seek, Knock by ODBD
Paper: Bella Bleu DP, Sahara Sand, Basic Gray, PTI White
Ink: Close to Cocoa, Blue Bayou
Accessories: pearls (KaiserCraft), key charm (Charm Me), Spellbinders Flourish Accent, ribbon tirm, large and small oval punches

Double Dipping

Today I am double dipping and putting two SCS Challenges together - something a lot of people do all the time, but I usually just have enough of a time with one challenge!

Today I combined Color Challenge 223 with Sketch Challenge 233. Click on the photo to see a close-up.

I extended panel #4 to fit my image better. Stamps are from a new Flourishes release called Patriotism on Parade. I love patriotic stamps and this is a really cute set! Part of the proceeds from this set will go to the Wounded Warrior program. This project aims to honor and empower our soldiers:

• To raise awareness and enlist the public's aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women
• To help severely injured service members aid and assist eachother
• To provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of severely injured service members.

Isn't that a great cause?! You can read more about it HERE.

I have also FINALLY found my favorite white cardstock base that is heavy enough and still stamps well. It's Papertrey Ink's Stamper’s Select White Cardstock. It has taken a lot of white paper samples to find the perfect cardstock base paper, but I think this is it! If you are looking for a nice weight for your card base, check it out!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Stamps: Patriotism on Parade (Flourishes)
Paper: PTI White, Ruby Red, Baja Breeze, Bella Rose DP
Ink: Ruby Red, Baja Breeze
Accessories: large and small oval punches, paper Cutter tool, striped grosgrain ribbon, Cuttlebug EF, buttons (Hero Arts)

Breathing in the Fragrance

When we were in Colorado two weeks ago, one of the things I noticed I kept doing was breathing deeply to take in the fresh, clear mountain air. I live in a humid part of the country (although not as humid as the south or east!) and it is also an agricultural area. Those two things combined make for air that is hard to take in most of the time. It's thick, and it's full of "stuff" from pesticides and pollen and weeds and so on. When I got to the Rocky Mountains, I felt like I was in air heaven.

I breathed in the "fragrance" of the air. It was so refreshing and made me feel alive again. Sometimes my husband and I feel deadened to the area where we live. We are "transplants" -- here for jobs, and not because we chose the place. But God chose it for us for now, and we have loved raising our family here and have loved our good friends.

I can't breathe that Rocky Mountain air now. But I remember it and can take in the fragrance of the memory!
These flowers, by Rubber Stamp Tapestry, are from Rose Trio, the set special for June. You can see how I made this card and what supplies I used HERE. This week all orders over $30 get a FREE sparrow stamp - while supplies last!

Thank you to those praying for my mom and dad. Yesterday my mom had a total hip replacement and today my dad had some minor surgery as well. It has been a crazy couple of days. My son left yesterday to fly back to North Carolina (he won't be back here until Christmas!), and got stuck overnight in Memphis due to weather related issues. He finally did get home today around noon! Right after our rehearsal for "My Fair Lady" last night, our weather here turned crazy. They were predicting 80 mile per hour winds and up to 4 inch hail - which, thankfully, passed us by! But it was a crazy rain night. The streets were flooded and we now (overnight!) have hundreds of mushrooms in our backyard! Too bad they aren't the eating kind!

I hope you have a blissfully fragrant day!

Shake Your Tail!

For Inspiration Challenge 184 ~ Lovely Package....
and Sharon's Stamp Simply Challenge #91 ~ Half Circles....
and for Limited Supplies Challenge 224....

Today's SCS Inspiration Challenge had such a fun site to browse! It's all about packaging, and as most of us are such visual people, I think many of you would find it fun. It's called Lovely Package. I found these whale salt and pepper shakers for my inspiration!

I hosted the LSC yesterday and would love to have you play along! I challenged everyone to use the colors of water and sand, plus ribbon/hemp/fibers, brads, and piercing. My piercing is done with a Scor-Bug (the negative side). Have you seen those little tools? Take a peek HERE.

Sharon's challenge is to use half circles in our designs. I embossed first with the Cuttlebug and then cut mine with a large Circle Nestabilites and positioned it so it could cut only half.

All my stamps are by Hambo Stamps. Be sure to check out the new Hambo catalog HERE! You are sure to find something to tickle your funny bone!

Have a GREAT day!

Stamps: Whale - 0415; Get Whale Soon - 0801 (Hambo Stamps)
Paper: Whisper White, Soft Sky, Baja Breeze, Pacific Point, Que Sera Sera DP by K & Co.
Ink: Palette Noir Black, Copics
Accessories: white gel pen, sanding block, Cuttlebug EFs, Paper Frills (Doodlebug), brads (The Paper Studio), Nestabilities, Scor-Bug, Pacific Pont striped grosgrain ribbon

What a Fun Weekend!

This time last week my family was on their way to Estes Park. It was such a wonderful weekend. Once your kids are older and in college, and so on, it's harder to schedule family trips. So this one was special. I thought I would share a few photos today of our time there.

We stayed at the YMCA, which is a fantastic place for families! It was just awesome and had incredible scenery right from our cabin door!

I will be back tomorrow with a fun new project to show you!

Fields of Poppies and Friends with Personality!

I would love to have a field of poppies. They have always been one of my favorite flowers, ever since my father gave me a painting of some poppies when I was in college. I love this Flourishes Poppy Patch set - the drawings by Marcella Hawley are so realistic and easy to work with. I used SCS Sketch Challenge 232 for my layout. Click on the picture to see it close-up!


After stamping in VersaFine Onyx Black ink on watercolor paper, I used my Tangerine Tango reinker and an aqua brush to paint the flowers. Tangerine Tango retires this month, and I have hardly used it, so I am putting it to work on this card!

I used some of my stash of Magic Mesh for the 3A and 3B panels, as I didn't want to cover up any more of the poppies than I had to to follow the sketch. I made panel 2 slightly larger.

My designer paper is from the Brandywine Memory Box collection, and I used it to frame the poppies. Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge this week was to find ways to use designer paper.

And now to share my friends with personality! This past weekend, after our trip to Estes Park, I was able to catch up with my wonderful friends, Cindy (Mothermark) and Holly (Toy). We didn't have a lot of time, but we were able to share some yummy Italian Sodas and coffee drinks while we chatted. And here is the obligatory picture that they graciously posed for. It was a windy day! In fact, as soon as we left the shopping center (we were at a Barnes & Noble) there was a fierce hail storm and tornadoes touching down in the surrounding area! But it was all worth it to see my friends!

They forgot to tell me about the dress code though, so I could wear pink! You can click on the picture to see it REALLY close up -- I do actually have eyes -- I was just squinting in this one!

Thanks for visiting my blog today!


Stamps: Poppy Patch by Flourishes
Paper: watercolor, Pumpkin Pie, RHR, Apricot Appeal, Memory Box DP
Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black, Tangerine Tango, Certainly Celery, Summer Sun
Accessories: Diamond Stickles, Magic Mesh, designer label punch, organdy ribbon, heat gun
Techniques: watercolor

Want To Win Free Stamps?

Today's card is made using one of my new Rubber Stamp Tapestry sets called Rose Trio. It is on special this month! There are MANY other wonderful sets and supplies to make beautiful floral cards as well. Click here to see exactly how I made this card and what supplies you will need!

There is a fabulous animated demo of this set here. Be sure to check that out, as well as a beautiful tutorial by RST's owner, Susan, using the Dainty Floral peg set. Leave a comment on her tutorial post and be entered in a weekly drawing for a free stamp set from RST!

And for more enabling, check out all the new products here!

I had a wonderful time in Estes Park, and hope to share some pictures with you tomorrow!

Just Like a Ladybug!

Today I want to share a simple card I made using some of my new Unity Stamps! These images are from Everyday Adorable. I love this versatile and fun set! My colors were chosen to play along in Jeanne's "Just Like a Ladybug" Color Challenge at the Unity Hip Hop today~

It's time to share one of my favorite summer recipes.

Chilled Vanilla Coffee

2 T. instant coffee granules
3/4 C. warm water
14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp. vanilla
4 C. ice cubes

Dissolve coffee in water; blend in milk and vanilla. Pour mixture into a blender and gradually add ice cubes; blend until smooth. Serve immediately. Makes 4 servings.

I am off to Estes Park for a weekend with the whole family, so I will see you on Monday! Thanks for coming by!

Garden of Life

For today's SCS Color Challenge 221:
Riding Hood Red
Kiwi Kiss
Tangerine Tango

Loved these colors together!

I used the Flourishes Nasturtiums set and watercolored my flowers with the three colors above. I made a frame for my sentiment and large flowers for the Flourishes "Frame It" Challenge today -- Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge (FTTC18) ~

Thanks for looking!

Stamps: Nasturtiums by Flourishes
Paper: RHR, Real Red, Basic Black, Very Vanilla
Ink: RHR, Tangerine Tango, Kiwi Kiss
Accessories: Fiskars border punch, Crystal Stickles, Hero Arts pearls, leaf trim, corner rounder, Nestabilities
Techniques: watercolor

Featuring..........giraffes!

I was so thrilled to see Roxie Glaza chosen as Sunday's Featured Stamper on SCS. She is a delight and is such a wonderful Sketch Challenge hostess each week too! I found a wonderfully perfect card to case right HERE.

Of course I had to change it to giraffes! Here is my card for the challenge:

I changed papers and images, and brad/twine placement and kept her overall layout and theme.
I have a bit of different giraffe patterned paper, but I do love this by Paper Pizazz. It has that really fun border across the bottom with the silhouettes!

My Fair Lady rehearsals are in full swing at the community theater! I am the Music Director, Accompanist, and Choreographer this time, so it's a bit more work, Usually I am just one of those things for a show. But I do love this musical, and when you can't find anyone else, you just pick up the leftovers!

We won't hear anything about the Disney/Lifetime Channel/Beauty & the Beast "thing" until about two or three weeks from now.

My son is getting all of his wisdom teeth pulled today -- poor guy!

Thanks for stopping by today! I keep playing around with my background to see if I can find something summery I like -- I thought the last design was too hard to read for the sidebars. What do you think of this one? Too hard to read still? Too busy? (I will not be offended by your sincere comments - I really want to know!)

Stamps: Audrey by Mostly Animals
Paper: Paper Pizazz DP, Basic Black, Kraft
Ink: Palette Noir Black, Copics
Accessories: twine, Nestabilities, HPH

A New Month and Two New Stamp Sets!

Today is Release Day at Our Daily Bread designs!

I am excited to show you the two new wonderful sets that are available today! First is Ask, Seek, Knock:


I love this set because of the European feel to the door's design. You can see my samples for this here and here.

The next set is a beautiful forest scene with some of my favorite scripture verses. It's called Quiet Waters:
You can see one of my samples for this set here and also the sample I made for today's release:


My image is stamped in VersaFine Black Onyx ink, and then colored using markers. My dotted designer paper is by Memory Box, from the Sugardrop collection. I used an Ornare template to pierce my flower on the Not Quite Navy cardstock. I love this peaceful scene!

Check out what some of the other Sticks in the Bread Basket (aka Design Team) have created:
Kathy Jones
Lorelie Kim
Sandee Shanabrough
Amy Sheffer

Just a note to House Mouse fans, I stepped down from the House Mouse & Friends Design Team beginning in June due to time constraints in my summer schedule. Thank you for all your comments on my House Mouse cards. I am sure I will still be stamping with those cuties from time to time. Be sure to visit House Mouse & Friends today to see all the wonderful Design Team cards with the theme of weddings and love!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Quiet Waters (ODBD)
Paper: Memory Box Sugardrop DP, Not Quite Navy, Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla
Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black, Certainly Celery, Creamy Caramel, Green Galore, Bordering Blue, Ballet Blue, Tempting Turquoise, Copics C-1 and C-3
Accessories: white gel pen, Ornare template, stitched grosgrain ribbon, black brads, Primas, Cuttlebug corner die, Nestabilities, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots EF, ticket corner punch

A Garden of Flowers

For today's SCS Inspiration Challenge 182: Book Covers

I chose this beautiful book cover HERE for my inspiration (and ordered the book!). I love this Unity sentiment and it fit perfectly with what I wanted to do today!

Stamps: Birdie Inspiration (Unity Stamps), Flower Factory (SU!)
Paper: Whisper White, K & Co. Que Sera Sera DP
Ink: LOTS!
Accessories: Ornare piercing template, Nestabilities, Pretties kit, satin trimmed organdy ribbon, pearls (Kaiser Craft), corner rounder. Cuttlebug EF

Sneak Peek #3!

For today's SCS Limited Supplies Challenge 222: Plenty of Patterns...

I used Memory Box Sugardrop Designer Paper for my card, with one layer of Sahara Sand for my cardstock base. There is another layer of Sugardrop behind the Sahara Sand.

The verse is from Ask, Seek, Knock -- a new June 1st release by Our Daily Bread designs~

I think I seriously need my camera adjusted or something -- all of the sudden the pictures are all dark -- I usually can get a good picture in three tries. This is very dark after about 20 tries, and PSE wouldn't even fix it. Hmmmm.....a gremlin in my camera.......I am not happy with this picture at all, as this is such a soft card, so I will keep messing with it today and see if I can come up with a better picture!


Stamps: Ask, Seek, Knock by ODBD
Paper: Memory Box Sugardrop, Sahara Sand
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: lace trim, pearls, Nestabilities, Cuttlebug EF

Life is a Song - Sing It!

Today's SCS Ways To Use It Challenge 220 was to use buttons! We all have a LOT of those, I think! At least I do, and I don't use them often enough! The button on my tag has a paper "thread."

I inked up at new set from Unity Stamp Co. called Birdie Inspiration. It has some neat sentiments and fun images. Click on the picture for a close-up view!

A short post today - thank you to those who have been praying for my dad - he is out of the hospital after three weeks and a stay in ICU!

Have a wonderful day!


Stamps: Birdie Inspiration by Unity Stamp Co.
Paper: Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla, Basic Grey DP: Bittersweet & Urban Prairie
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa
Accessories: ribbon (American Crafts), buttons (Winter Craft Buttons by CTMH), Fiskars border punch, Scor-Pal, sewing machine