Alex Sings From The Heart

Good Sunday Evening!
Just a quick post to show you the card I  made for the StampitCraazy challenge this week.  The task is called "Alex Sings from the Heart" and must contain black, red and pink as well as ribbon.  As you can see, I screwed up on the ribbon part.  I tried and tried but could not fit a ribbon into the design.  (and, silly me, did not see the ribbon criteria when I read our instructions.   For that I do apologize. 

I am on my way to using my scraps.  Everything on this card came from my stash - hooray!

Please visit StampitCrazy to check out the other Design Team examples.  I am sure you will love them.

Well, I am back to work on the new challenge blog which will open on February 8th.  There will be a new challenge every Tuesday and, you will have a chance to win monthly prizes!
Thanks for visiting!
Happy Stamping!

Sweet Stampin Happy Birthday

Good Morning!

Well we have another cold snap here in the Sault.  So I will have to bundle up on my way to work.  BRRRR!!

Today I have my example for the Sweet Stampin Challenge this week.  It is a sketch challenge ( these are my favourite) and a cool one at that.  My card is another one for my stash.  I am trying to build up my inventory as I am selling a few cards and do not like scrambling to make them if someone mentions they need a card for a specific reason.

I hope you visit The Sweet Stampin Challenge Blog today to view the examples from the other ladies on the Design Team.  They are awesome!  You may want to give our challenge a try - there is a prize every week.

And, since it is such a chilly day, it would be a great time to stamp.

Happy Stamping!

Easter Blossom

Hi, Thanks for being patient with me.  I really appreciate it.  Today I have a card made with the new Build A Blossom stamp set and punch.  I love this set - and that is strange since I do not particularly like flowers. 
For the card I used Pretty In pink and Old Olive. The tag is the Two Tags die and the Big Shot.  I stamped the flower with Chocolate Chip ink on Brumb Cake cardstock.

I figure I should get a jump on my Easter projects now since the next few weeks will be very busy for me.

On February 8th (that's a Tuesday), I am launching a new challenge blog - STAMP SOMETHING ON TUESDAY.  This will be a weekly challenge with prizes one week a month and a winner's badge the other weeks.  In the next few days, I will be announcing the Design Team and giving you the blog address where you can become a follower.
Right now I am knee deep in blog design and the quicker I get it done, the sooner I can give you the address.  Stay tuned!

Well, enough for now - see you later.

If Monkeys Could Fly

Hi!  I know it is late but I finished this project while a few of us were chatting on Skype.  We figured how to do a group video chat and it was fun seeing Kristen and Tracey at the same time rather than just typing. 

This basket is my entry into the Stampin' Royalty Challenge this week - anything with wings.  We are to showcase our winged creature.  When I first checked out the challenge, I immediately thought of monkeys - don't ask me why!  So I decided to make little winged apes ; then I had to figure out what to do with them.  My answer is this basket (Blossoms and Blooms die and the Big Shot) from Early Espresso cardstock.  The moneys have butterfly wings glued to the back of them which I punched with the butterfly punch out of vellum.  I filled the basket with heart shaped candies, adhered two monkeys to the front and then attached one more to the top of a sucker stick and pushed it down the centre of the candies.  I topped it off with a Valentines flag (Kristen's idea) and voila, this treat is finished.  Very quick and easy!

This would make a cute little valentine for a friend or sweetheart and you could fill it with other candies or paper grass and a tiny present.  Hope you get a smile from this project.

Until tomorrow, Happy Stamping!

Crazy Loopy Lady

Good Sunday Afternoon!

Here I am late again and I was being so good.  Finally I have my new computer, all the files transferred and the internet issues fixed.  I have been on the phone at least seven times in the last two days trying to solve internet and email problems with the new computer - and it turned out that it was only partly my fault.  My provider had issues as well.

This afternoon, I have my example for the StampitCrazy Challenge this week.  The them is to make a loopy feeling card.  As the blog mentions, we all feel a bit loopy or crazy once in awhile so we were to convey that through our projects.
On the inside of the card, the phrase "I don't know why...." is finished with "But I'm loopy for you!!"  This would be a great Valentine.  And the challenge colour scheme lends itself to Valentines as well (red, grey and black). 

I continued by quest to use up scraps by rooting through my stash for all the small pieces.  In fact, the DSP is Halloween paper.  Cool, don't you think?  The flowers are daisies I had left in my trinket box which I turned over and used the back side of.  I sponged black ink on them and put red 1/2" circles in the centres.  They are stuck on with glue dots adhereed to the flower fronts. 

I hope you visit StampitCrazy to get a look at examples which are just a little bit out of the ordinary.  While you are there, enter to win an awesome assortment of stamps. 

Wishing you a great day and - if, like us- it is cold where you are (here it is -22 degrees right now) stay warm and bundled.

Until later,  Happy Stamping!

Unscripted Gorilla

Good Morning! 

It is very cold here today (-21celcius or -6 Fehrenheit).  REALLY COLD!!!

So I have a card with just a hint of the tropics to it.  Our Unscripted Challenges Sketch this week seemed perfect for this image and the papers in the background look so natural and "jungly".
And everything I used was scraps ( another step on the way to decreasing my stash - hooray!)

You have to visit Unscripted Sketches this week.  The examples from the other ladies on the design team are ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!!  The ideas are all so different and diverse - and beautiful!  I cannot help but be inspired by them.

On a personal note, in case you do not know me, I just wanted to tell you that gorillas are my very favourite animal.  I even have an adopted gorilla in the lowlands.  I donate to her yearly and get pictures and updates about her and her family through the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.  These gentle giants need all the help they can get  against poachers and we need to learn as much as we can about them.  (Sorry for my ramblings)

Hope your day is good and you have the time to stamp.  I am off to my grandson's hockey game this afternoon so my day will be great!

Snuggle up and Happy Stamping!

Plain and Simple Suitcase

Good morning!

Today I thought I would show you the project I did for the most recent UStamp with Dawn and Friends Year End Blowout.  I was a guest designer for this session and here was my entry.  I used Pumpkin Pie, Basic Gray, Pear Pizzazz and Pacific Point.  The stamp set isPlain and Simple.

On the card, I used a piece of an old atlas instead of DSP and I think this is my very favourite touch.

Each session of UStamp proves to be more exciting than the last.  There are more than forty projects AND the instructions for each.  If you would like the instructions for this project you should contact Dawn Rapsas at inkeruptildawn@yahoo.com.

Well, thanks for visiting today and I hope to see you tomorrow.
Happy Stamping!

Summer Hedgehog

Happy Noon!

First let me say that I am soooo glad I have had the last two days off!  I really needed it - and it has given me a chance to catch up on some play time (a.k.a.  stamping).  And, with the weather being so cold, I am thrilled I happened upon this challenge from Digital Tuesday Challenges.  The theme is Tropical Warmth.  Last time we were in the Caribbean, I saw children swinging in the school yard in Panama and this image reminds me of that.

This cute little hedgehog ( an image from Spyder's Corner)  is swinging from a tree with big, Tropical flowers growing on it.  So sweet and summery.  Hmm, only five months to go till warm weather here - oops, now I'm bummed out again.  Oh well, I choose to live in the north so I guess I have to pay the price.  But dreamin' is good!! Don't you think?

With this card, I added a new resolution to my list for this year.  I  am going to finish each one I make - totally - including the inside sentiment.  That way, I will have a stash of ready-to-send cards and not a collection of card fronts.  Who knows, I might even decorate the envelopes as well.  Whoa-----this is way too organized for me. LOL!!
Oh well, maybe you can teach an old dog new tricks.  Hope so.

Enough of my rambling.  Enjoy your day.
Happy Stamping!

Cupcake Birthday

Good evening to all!

This evening I have the card I made for the Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge #157 on Mary Jo Price-Williams' blog this week.  Build a Cupcake punch.

The DSP is from a stack pack from last year and the Bermuda Bay layer was run through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice embossing folder.

With the dreary days of January here and winter lasting a long time yet, it is just fun to make a bright and lively card.  I am sure you would agree.

This week, Mary Jo is starting something new with this challenge - a blog hop. 

Happy Stamping!

Hi again!  Just a note to tell you that the next UStamp with Dawn and Friends will begin on February 11th, 2011.  With over 40 projects (and all the instructions) this could be the best UStamp yet.  If you are interested, please contact Dawn Rapsas for all the details.  Oh, and by the way, I am again designing a project for this session.

Thoughtful Tree

Good Tuesday Afternoon!

Today I have a card I made for The Cards and Things Challenge this week.  Krista has a sketch challenge for us this time around.  At first glance, I knew exactly what I wanted to do for this challenge but - can you believe- it took me 2 1/2 hours to get it all together.  Every design had something wrong with it.  In the end, I changed the circle to an oval and it suited what I wanted to do.  The image is from Lovely As A Tree and I stamped it on glossy 

white cardstock and then sponged around it with Marina Mist and Not Quite Navy.  The DSP is left over from somewhere.  I ran the Navy cardstock through my Big Shot for the bottom half.  Just a touch of bling in the form of stick on rhinestones finishes it off.

Hope you like it.
Happy Stamping!



Stylish Blogger Award

Hi, I want to share this award I received from my blogging friend, Sandi Dailey.  She passed it to me on January 10th but I have been really bogged down so I was not able to acknowledge it until now.  Sorry, Sandi.  It was very rude of me.

As the recipient of this awesome award, I have to tell you eight things you may not know about me.  Well, here goes:

1.  I have been married to the same wonderful man for 39 years this coming February 26th.
2.  I have participated in duathlons and half marathons and love to run.
3.  One of my very best friends is Kristen who I met on Skype (a fellow stamper) and I have never ever seen her in person but we chat alot on the computer.
4.  I love to travel to the Caribbean  at least once a year and enjoy hiking in the jungles and snorkelling in the ocean.  I am an online travel agent in my spare time.
5.  I am an avid reader and my e-reader goes with me everywhere I go.
6.  I have swam with dolphins, stringrays, and sea turtles but I really want to come up close and personal with a whale.  I am hoping that we will see whale sharks on our trip to Roatan this March.
7.  My grandfather was my favourite person in the world, and, even though he is no longer here, I still consider that to be the case.
8.  Here is a funny one - I cannot put on eyeliner.  I have tried and a girl at work has helped me but I just cannot do it.

Now that you know these little tidbits about me, I am going to pay this award forward to eight other bloggers.  To accept this award, just post eight interesting facts about yourself on your own blog and then send it on to eight others.

Jenn Picard's A New Ink On Life - for her inspiration
Alex Lundgren's Paper and String - for her imagination
Tracey Old's A Stamper's Touch -for the beauty of her work
Kristen Conant's Rubber Hugs by Kristen - beacause I love her
Gardenia Pepworth's A Little Less Useless - for her versatility
Suzanne Bier's The Sparkling Scrapper - for the fun in each of her designs
Fiona Robertson's Fi's Cards and Crafts- for her blog's amazing look
Corinne Somerville's Stamping With Roxy - for her great ideas

Please visit these ladies' blogs and see for yourself how wonderful they are.

Happy Stamping!

Prancing Pony

Mornin' to you!

I have a simple little birthday card for you today which I created for a little girl's special day.  All pink and pony, it is just plain whimsical and fun.  I coloured the pony image with Stampin Pastels and Stampin Markers.  And then I kept the embellishment simple by using two ribbons and that's all.  Hope it brings a smile to your face.

It is very cold here today so I guess I better bundle up on my way to work.  Oh well, I choose to be a northerner so I shouldn't complain - but I sure do wish I was on vacation.

Until later, Happy Stamping!

Sweet Annie

Hello again!

Here is post #2 for today.  A sweet card for my sister for Valentine's Day.  It is my example for The sweet Stampin Challenge this week.  I am on this DT and our challenge this week was to add a photo to our project.

I chose to use this photo of Annie when she was two and I printed it three times increasing the red tones each time. (Perfect for Valentine's).  The background of the card is the scalloped square die run through my Big Shot.  The flowers are Baha Blossoms stamped using Punch Potpourri and punched with the co-ordinating punch.  For the hearts, I used an assortment and then sewed a button in the centre.

I love the examples that the team at Sweet Stampin Challenges come up with every week and I love the happy feeling I get being part of the team.  Please visit the site and maybe even give our challenges a try.  You may win a prize!!! Woohoo!!

Well, I am off to work -ugh- so I guess I will see you later.
Happy Stamping!

Unscripted Flight

Good Saturday Morning!

Alas, i am so far behind in posting that it is not funny.  But again this week I worked six days (no time for fun)!  I have nothing to say but "I am sorry".

Today, though, I have two posts.  Here is the first.

As a member of the DT for Unscripted Sketches Challenges, our challenge was twofold - to use the sketch and to piggyback it with a masculine theme.  I am very pleased with this card.  I used the new stamp set "Plane and Simple" and DSP from last year's mini to create a birthday card suitable for any male.

I am very proud to be a member of the team at Unscripted Sketches  and learn from these ladies every week.  I invite you to visit the site, check out the work of the other members and please enter our challenge.

Have a great snow day!

Happy Stamping!

Dreamy Fairy

Hi and Happy Sunday!

Today I have the card I made for the StampitCrazy challenge this week.  As part of the Design Team, I was given the image of the fairy and we had to make a card using pink and purple, ribbon and glitter.  This is my version.
First let me say that this is totally NOT ME!  I never use those colours and I had a really hard time coming up with a design.  In the end, I decided to copy the image on vellum and then I coloured the reverse side with markers.  It gives her a dreamy quality - don't you think~  The background paper is from an old stack I have (using up "stuff" again-hooray) and the brads holding the vellum on (since glue would show) are Stampin Up! ice brads.  To finish it off, I dotted clear glue around her wings and then sprinkled Dazzling Diamonds (more SU) on.  When I tapped off the excess glitter, I did not worry that some stayed on - looks like pixie dust!
In the end, I love how this card turned out AND it was a totally new style for me.  I am so happy to be on the StampitCrazy team.  The designs really challenge me and that is how I will grow in my craft.  Please visit the site and the blogs of the other team members to view some amazing work.
Thanks for stopping by and
Happy Stamping!

Unscripted Sweets

Good morning!

It's Saturday again and that means it's time for an  Unscripted Sketches Challenge.  I am part of the Design Team and my example for today is this Valentine entirely made of red and white.

I have had this ribbon for at least ten years and never used it until now - part of my New Years resolutions is to use up "stuff" I have been collecting.  The image is from the stamp set "Something Sweet' from Stampin Up!  Since I was only going to use red and white, I had to add texture to the background so the card is not too boring.  I used two different embossing folders and the Big Shot to accomplish this effect.  Once the card was finished I sat back and examined it and, I have to say, I cannot say it is one of my favourites.  But that is the chance we take when we  try something different. 

I strongly reccommend that you visit Unscripted Sketches  and, from there, jump to the Design Team's individual blogs.  These are very talented ladies and I am sure you will be inspired by them to create something amazing.

Please enjoy your day and Happy Stamping!

Sunflowers and Sweetness

Afternoon!!

I am on a roll today.  I'm almost caught up with a project a day!  This afternoon I have the card I created for the Crafting With Deedee's Digis challenge .  This week  is  a "fellowship"  challenge.  Deedee asked us to create a  card to send or give to someone who we did not spend enough time with through the last year or who we had a falling out with or who we just want to get to know better.
I chose to make a card for my sister.  We seem to have grown apart a bit the last year and that is upsetting to me.  She loves sunflowers and I love this scarecrow.  This card is therefor for both of us.  And the message is perfect for the relationship I would like us to have again. 
Both the sentiment and the image are from Deedee's Digis store and the papers are from Stampin Up!

Hope you have a great afternoon and , if you know someone you would like to reconnect with, maybe send them a card.  You will be happy you do.
Happy Stamping!

Elegant Hearts

Hi gang!

I know,  I am late but I guess life happens.  Today I have my first Valentine card of the year.  I made it as an entry into Stamping411's Sketch Challenge this week.  I decided to use Basic AGray and Lavender for my colours -very feminine and soft - and very unlike me.  I just received my neutrals DSP and could not wait to use it.  The key is one of our new Trinket Keys.  I love these so much that I added three more packages to my next order.  I am a sucker for unusual buttons and embellishments and have a drawer full.  One of my resolutions is to use up some of my "stuff".  And I am going to try really hard to keep that resolution!!!!  Wish me luck.

Until later,  Happy Stamping!

A Toast to Miss New Year

Good Morning!

It's Sunday and that means it's time to StampItCrazy! 

This week's challenge on the StampItCrazy challenge blog is to create a project with the words "Happy New Year" somewhere on it.  Members of the design team were given this image of Miss New Year to use.
I chose to make a wine bottle sleeve and stemware tabs using the image, a great hostess gift for the big party!

The sleeve has a black background with a pink crimped layer on top.  I used sticky strip to attach the medallion since it is much stronger and the project had to bend around the bottle.  For the glass  tags, I cut a 3" oval, punched a hole in one end and then slit the end to the hole so it will go on to the glass.  I shrunk the image very small and attached it to the oval.  Each of the tags is a different colour so that everyone knows her own glass.  This project would work for any celebration - just change the logo.

I encourage you to visit StampitCrazy to see the wonderful designs by the other ladies on this talented team and  maybe even give the challenge a try.  It's a lot of fun!!!  and you will love the examples by Nancy, Nataliya, Audrey, Alex, and Lynx.

Until tomorrow,  Happy Stamping!

Margaritaville in January (Dream)!!!

Happy New Year!!!!!!

I am back and I thank all who have sent emails to me showing concern.  I had the most horrible December - worked all but 4 days and besides am still fighting that flu bug or virus I have had since early fall. I have some stamping commitments that I have to catch up on and will work really hard to get that done.  Hopefully 2011 will get me on the right track. 
And I promise to post EVERY DAY.   I apologize to my followers for my neglect.

Today I have my example for the Sweet Stampin Challenge Blog this week.  The theme is "use a song for inspiration".  Anyone who knows me, is aware that I love Jimmy Buffett and I consider his song "Margaritaville" as my anthem.  It makes me think of the Caribbean and the the island way of life.  I am a displaced "beach bum" at heart.  This calendar uses an image from Tiffany Doodles (our sponsor this week) and it is totally chillin'.  Hope you like it!
I want to thank the gang at the Sweet Stampin Challenge for inviting me to be part of the design team.  This is an extremely talented group of ladies and I am honoured to be part of the group.  I am sure that I will grow and develop in my crafting by being part of the team. 
I encourage you to visit the site and check out their examples, visit the individual blogs and especially participate in the weekly challenges.

Until tomorrow, enjoy your celebrations, Happy 2011 and Haqppy Stamping!