Birthday Wishes

I'm finally getting a chance to post the many birthday cards that I received for my birthday (6/24). I've been super busy, but decided tonight I was going to start loading them! They are all so wonderful and really made my birthday SUPER special. Thank you so much to each and every one of you who sent me a card or birthday wishes!!

This card was received from Jan (Tweetybugshouse over on EBB) . Love the die cut flowers and button in the corner!!

This was a RAK I received from Sandy. I traded her some things for 2 Stamping Bella stamps!! Woohoo!!! :) This was the cute card that she sent with the stamps and numerous stamped Bella images. You can check out more of her work at Sandy & Kim's Creations.

Jane Bosi sent me this super cute birthday card. I love the pp, ribbon, and colors she used!! Check out her work on her blog Jane's Addiction. Thank you!!

Amanda sent me this BRAK as part of the Blogger RAK group. Is this just not the cutest card?!?!! The balloons have crystal effects on them to make them shiny! Too cute!! Be sure to stop by Amanda's blog Inkspirations.

This was another great card I received through the Blogger RAK group. Nancy used this cute Michael's stamp (yep - have it myself :) and scalloped punches (love them) and a cuttlebugged background (love that too). :) Don't let Nancy's blog name throw you - it is anything but a Creative Mess.

I have many more to post, but need to run out for a bit. I will try to get some more loaded tonight.

Blogger Challenge

A group of stampers and myself are going to be doing blog challenges. I know - I have tons on my plate already, but I've always wanted to do a challenge with other bloggers, so I joined them! :) Of course, today was our first challenge posting and I have TONS of other things I need to do (ie: laundry, cleaning, getting ready for vacation), but I did the challenge today in between everything. I still have TONS of birthday cards that I was showered with to post as well. I can't wait to show you all of the awesome cards that came for me!!!

Ok - now for the challenge. We were to take the sample (of the elephant) on pg.10 of the SU Fall-Winter Preview Brochure 2007 and CASE the layout. We could change the colors and stamp sets, but the layout was to remain the same. We'll be posting our samples on Fridays.

Here is my CASE of the layout -

Supplies Used SU! unless otherwise Noted:

Stamps: Pick a Petal, Sincere Salutations
CS: Orchid Opulence, Pixie Pink, Certainly Celery, WW
Ink: Orchid Opulence, Pixie Pink
Other: Vintage Brad, Pink Grosgrain Ribbon, 1" Circle Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

This isn't the best image, but I'm still trying to figure out my digital. I got it awhile ago, but can't seem to get a good, clean image yet. The sentiment on the card says "Get Well Soon". I'm sending this to a friend whose been having some medical problems and thought this would help cheer her up.

Be sure to check out the other Bloggers who are taking part in the challenge -

Splendiferious Creations
Stamping with Sheryl
Stamp with Sarah
Snickerdoodle Dreams
Sunflower Studio
Faith Artistry
Basement Stamper
Toni's Adventures in Stamping & Scrapbooking
Stamp with Sue
The Technique Trail

More Catty Info - Ribbon

Here is some more information in regards to the new catty - this is about the Grosgrain Ribbon, since most of it was on the retiring list.

These are the ribbons that are *really* retiring...

Taupe
Chocolate
Tangerine
Maize
Apple Green
Hunter
Bluebird
French Blue
Light Orchid
Rose

And these are the ribbons that are still available, just repackaged (with current name in parenthesis):

Basic Black (black)
Whisper White (white)
Very Vanilla (cream)
More Mustard (mustard)
Apricot Appeal (apricot)
Pretty in Pink (light pink)
Real Red (red)
Bravo Burgundy (burgundy)
Elegant Eggplant (eggplant)
Night of Navy (navy)
Tempting Turquoise (turquoise)
Certainly Celery (celery)
Mellow Moss (spring moss)

New Catty Sightings

I've been trying to catch up on Aimee's post on SCS - she got her Fall/Winter Collection Catalog in the mail today - and she's been posting some highlights.I thought I'd share some with you (and also Lisa S (www.lisasomerville.blogspot.com) for posting this too):

New Sets:

Christmas Sets
Sports Themed Sets (Hockey, Basketball, Soccer, Baseball, Football, Golf, Tennis, Baseball)
School Sets
Lots of new Backgrounds
New Simply Sent Kits
Fly Fishing Set
Nautical Sets

Ribbon Update:

Double Stitched Ribbon In Colors only - 15 yds. for 8.95

Taffeta Ribbon 3/8" 10 yds. for 6.95
Whisper White, Very Vanilla, Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Basic Grey, Mellow Moss,Bashful Blue,Pretty in Pink

Ribbon Colors 1/4" 15 yds. for $4.95
Basic Black, Whisper White, Very Vanilla, Pumpkin Pie (new), More Mustard, Apricot Appeal, Pretty in Pink, Real Red, Bravo Burgundy, Elegant Eggplant, Night of Navy, Tempting Turquoise, Bashful Blue (new), Certainly Celery, Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke (new)

Grosgrain 5/8"15 yds. for 7.95
Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Bravo Burgundy, Real Red ,Regal Rose ,Brocade Blue ,Certainly Celery ,Old Olive

Other great NEW stuff:

Textured Card Stock
35 Punches in the new catalog
New Designer Series Paper
New Kits
New Scrappin' Kits
New Brads
New Brass Templates

I'm so excited and hope that my catty arrives soon, so I can look through it all!! This is such an exciting time of year!!

All Star Turtle

Sorry it's been so long, since I last blogged. I was having internet issues for a few days. Then when I finally was able to get back online, I was forever clearing out the emails. Not to mention work and Madison's baseball games - I was swamped! I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel (at least I'm hoping!). I still have a few swaps I need to work on and get mailed. Anyway, enough about that - onto the artwork!!

I made this card for a swap I was in to use Inky Antics animals. I chose to make a girl card and a boy card. I used the Sporty Turtle (Clear Stamps) from Inky Antics for my boy card. I decided to have my swap cards donated to Keiki Cards. The person that hostessed the swap makes cards for Keiki Cards and we were able to donate our cards if we wanted to. I colored the turtle using Prismacolor Pencils. I also sponged Chocolate Chip around all the edges.

Supplies:
Stamps: Inky Antics (Sporty Turtle Clear Set)
CS: Morning Marigold, Ballet Blue, Chocolate Chip, WW
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Ballet Blue, Palette Noir Black
Other: Chocolate Grosgrain Ribbon (from Jody's ribbon shares), Stamping Sponge, Prismacolor Pencils

We're a Blog RAKin'!!

This first RAK is from Janine Tinklenberg better known as JanTInk on SCS. Janine also blogs and if you haven't read her blog, well you are missing out BIG time! She is a riot and each post has me laughing and nodding my head in agreement with her. Be sure to check her blog out at Stamps, Paper, Scissors. I love this card - I've always liked this set, but never purchased it. The saying is perfect as well. Thanks so much Janine!!

Boy do I feel special!!! I received another Blogger RAK - this one from Michelle Madden. Michelle just recently joined the Blogger RAK ranks and I got this awesome card from her! Not sure if you can tell, but she did paper piercing in the upper right. The flower is paper pierced as well! Be sure to swing by Michelle's blog to see some more of her work - you can check it out here at Michelle Stamps. Thanks Michelle for sending this to me - LOVE it!!

Thanks to you both!!

Mother's Day Card

This was the card that I made for my mom for Mother's Day. I have had the Butterfly Kisses set from Papertrey Ink and had never inked it. I was dying to use it, so I did on this card. :) The 'blessed' is from the Paper Tray set from Papertrey Ink. The blue 'label' behind blessed is the Designer Label Punch from SU!. I tried to match the colors in the Basic Grey paper to the inks I used.

All supplies SU! unless otherwise noted:
Stamps: Butterfly Kisses (Papertrey Ink), Paper Tray (Papertrey Ink), Designer Label Punch/Stamp
CS: Ballet Blue, Ruby Red, Close to Cocoa, WW, Basic Grey
Ink: Ballet Blue, Ruby Red, Close to Cocoa
Other: Blue Gingham ribbon (from Jody's ribbon share), Stampin' Dimensionals, Designer Label Punch, Circle Punch

More Blogger RAKs

Thank you so much Allison for the RAK! I love the 'hidden' message (the circle piece slides open to reveal a greeting)! Thanks so much for thinking of me! Love checking out your blog - still don't know how you do it all girl! :) Just in case you haven't checked out Allison's blog (I don't see how you couldn't though - she posts TONS of information there), you can go to Stampin When I Can to see more.

Thank you Tammy for this awesome blogger RAK! I love these long notes and always forget to use them. Super cute! Thank you again! You can see Tammy's work on SCS in her gallery Tkfite. Also be sure to stop by her blog at Stamp with Tammy.

Thank you again to you both for brightening my day!!

Confirmation Blessing

My niece (God-daughter) was confirmed last weekend and this was the card I made for her. I used a color combo from the Inky Antics message board (Color Challenge #28). The patterned paper is Basic Grey Stella Ruby. The flowers are Marvelous Match-ups (Inky Antics) and I made them into flowers - the flower is actually 3 different stamps in the set. The blessed is from Papertrey Ink's Paper Tray set. I have fallen in love with Nichole's designs and have all, but the last one. I didn't order it right away and thus it is sold out for now. I will be getting it though! :) The blessed is stamped on SU!'s Designer Label stamp/punch. I then punched a Not Quite Navy circle and placed it behind the punched label.

All Supplies SU! unless otherwise noted:
Stamps: Marvelous Match-ups (Inky Antics), Paper Tray (Papertrey Ink), Designer Label Punch
CS: Gable Green, Not Quite Navy, Chocolate Chip, VV, Basic Grey Stella Ruby
Ink: Gable Green, Not Quite Navy, Chocolate Chip
Other: Chocolate Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin Dimensionals, Circle Punch

1-on-1 Card Challenge

I made this card for a 1-on-1 Challenge for a group I belong to. They post a 'challenge' and then when everyone signs up, you are paired up with one person. The goal behind it is to do your absolute best work, since you are making 1 card. The challenge for this card was No Square Corners. The size of this card is 5x5 and I round the corners using my Coluzzle. I also used the Doodle This set and the sentiment from Simply Said. I really liked how this turned out. I made this while at a crop. During the crop, the organizer (Korin) held a scrapbook page and a card contest. Well, I entered this card in the contest and it WON!!! I was so excited!! :)

All supplies SU! unless otherwise noted:
Stamps: Doodle This, Simply Said
CS: Taken with Teal, Rose Red, WW, Petals & Paisley DP
Ink: Black, Taken with Teal, Rose Red
Other: Lt. Pink Grosgrain Ribbon (from one of Jody's Ribbon Share), Marvy Giga Scallop Circle Punch, Coluzzle, Sakura Glitter Pen, Stampin' Dimensionals, Blender Pen

Stamp Club - Last Card

This was the last card that we did at my stamp club last month. This was my favorite one. I used SC68, which can be found here. I love how the Shimmery White card stock sparkles and the color of the roses. This would make a good Mother's Day card - for those who made this. :) I didn't use greetings on all of the cards this time, so that they would be able to stamp a greeting and send if they wanted to.

All Supplies SU! unless otherwise noted:
Stamp Sets: Both Way Blossoms (Hostess); French Script BG (Both sets being retired, so get them while you can)
CS: Shimmery White, Pumpkin Pie, Apricot Appeal
Ink: StazOn Black, Pumpkin Pie
Other: Apricot Appeal, Pumpkin Pie, Garden Green Markers; Apricot Grosgrain Ribbon

Tagged

I was tagged by Shannon to post 7 things about myself - not sure how exciting my life is compared to others that I've read about, but here goes. :)

1. I'm the 6th out of 7 kids in my family.

2. I live 3 houses down from my parents (this can be both good and bad). :)

3. I work part-time in a clothing consignment shop.

4. I had to have my gall bladder out 6 months after my 2nd child was born.

5. I LOVE candy and junk food! So much so that when I was a kid, I had 12 cavaties at one dentist visit. My nieces (I only have 3 nephews and they don't hang out here much. :) love coming to my house - they say it is Aunt Karen's Candy Store!! :)

6. I'm a sports junkie! I love to watch almost any kind of sporting event on tv - better would be to attend a sporting event in person. My favorite *show* is SportsCenter on ESPN.

7. My favorite actor is Jim Carrey and I own almost all of his movies. I love his sense of humor!

So - there you go! Not a whole lot of exciting tidbits, but nonetheless - tidbits!!

Another Stamp Club Card

Here is another card we did at my stamp club. CC26 is the color challenge I used and SC102 is the sketch.
I love these colors together - so soft and pretty. The white is Shimmery White CS and it really sparkles IRL. I love using it, but do so sparingly - it is the 'hoarder' in me...don't want to run out of it!

All supplies SU! unless otherwise noted:
Stamps: Flowers for a Friend (Hostess), Floral BG
CS: Gable Green, Lavender Lace, Tempting Turquoise, Shimmery White
Ink: Gable Green, Lavender Lace, Tempting Turquoise
Other: Celery Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin Dimensionals

Stamp Club Card

This was one of the cards that my stamp club made. I used a sketch challenge from SCS - SC119. The set used is Fresh Flowers - an old set, but my first time using it. I had to have this set and traded for it, but never pull it out to use. So, I was determined! :) (Of course, now that the Retired List is out - I see that Fresh Flowers is on it.) The background pieces were created by stamping pieces of the flower. I really liked how this card seemed to *pop*. The center of the flower is a black brad.

All supplies SU! unless otherwise noted -
Stamps: Fresh Flowers
CS: Pink Passion, Green Galore, Basic Black, WW
Ink: Pink Passion, Green Galore
Other: Black Gingham, Black Brad, 1/16" Circle Punch

Office Accoutrement - Spring Mini

This was one of the cards that we did at my March Stamp Club. Yep - just now getting a chance to post it...only a month behind! The sketch and color combo came from the SCS Challenges. I don't remember off the top of my head, which ones, but will look and update later. I wasn't sure about this set at first, but I really like it - the big flower is awesome!

All Supplies Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted:
Stamps: Office Accoutrement
CS: Sahara Sand, Vintage Violet, WW
Ink: Sahara Sand, Vintage Violet, Pink Passion
Other: Vintage Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Staples, Stampin' Dimensionals

Tagged

Ok, so I've been tagged. Not just once by 2 other bloggers (Sharlene at Sharlene's Craft Room and Kim at We Luv Cardstock). So, in turn I've tagged the following:

Jane at Jane's Addiction
Barb at No Ink Time
Sharon at My Own Little Stamping World
Julie at Julie Jean Designs and Doodliedoo
Dee at Stampin cuz I luv 2

So - be sure to check out their blogs and leave them some lovin'!!

Blog Candy

Not from me (yet - although be watching here soon for that), but from another friend's blog. Be sure to check out We Luv Cardstock for your chance at some great blog candy. While you're there be sure to check out the artwork they post. Beautiful work by themselves (Kim & Sandy), as well as friends of theirs!

I promise to post some things I've done. I've been a bit under the weather lately - with working I've been tired, but have also been battling migraines on a daily basis. Definitely hasn't been fun and has been limiting my computer time because of them. UGH! Just took Mackenzie to the doctor as well and they think she has strep throat. I'm on my way to go get her antibiotic in a bit as well. Poor little thing!

Blogger RAK - Teresa Shaw

Unfortunately, this picture does not do this card justice (and is also way overdue for thanking)! It is so gorgeous - love the designer paper Teresa used!! I'm going to guess that the chipboard flower pieces were made using the Cuttlebug - if not...they are a close second! I've always enjoyed seeing Teresa's cards and what she makes next! You can too by going to her blog at Inkfully Yours and her SCS Gallery at jtkshaw. She has the new Papertrey Ink sets and Bellas too I see!!

Make sure to leave lots of praise in the galleries of the Blogger's and posts on their blogs to let them know you stopped by!

Blogger RAK - Lori Tecler

This is a long overdue thank you to Lori for this great RAK she sent me! I love the colors and this set too!! I also love the felt ric rac and designer paper!! She is a Marylander as well. :) You have got to check out her blog at Inkingaloud - I love seeing her work and case'ing her ideas! :) While you're checking out that - make sure you swing by her SCS gallery to see more awesome things!

Stamps for a Cause

I know - I haven't posted any actual stamped items for some time. I have some things to post, but just haven't had the time to photograph and get them loaded to my computer. I've been so busy and when I do get some free time...I'm either checking emails or sleeping. :)

Anyway - I wanted to post this now 1) it's for a very worthy cause and 2) I don't have my pictures ready yet. :)

Autism - did you know that autism affects 1 in 150 children? That is one too many children affected! You need to check out GinaK Designs. She has a special set that she designed where a portion of the sales will be going towards Autism Speaks. Be sure to get your set today and help support such a worthy cause!!