Sarah and the Stampstars!: Win Some Crafty Stuff!

Awesome Blog Candy - be sure to check out Sarah's blog! I wish I lived closer to the get together - sounds like they are going to have a ton of fun. The link to Sarah's blog is listed below - she has a fun 'guessing' game too!

Sarah and the Stampstars!: Win Some Crafty Stuff!

Bella Yahoo Group

Woohoo!! So, if you are a Bella addict...now there is a group for us to get even more addicted (is that even possible!?!!)!! Want to chat, share ideas, etc - then don't miss out on another minute and get into the group now!! Em (creator of the Bellas) and Jenna are working on things still since the group just started (already 70+ members)!!

Go here to join the Bella Yahoo Group!

Circlin' Fun

I got this awesome Spunky Stamps set called Silly Circles in my last 2Jills scrapbooking kit. Aren't they awesome!! They are all different sizes of circles. I used the Color Challenge #92 for this card. I really like how the red and blue go together. It's hard to see, but I stamped different circles on the Real Red cardstock with Real Red ink. The velvet ribbon is from the Flirty Ribbon collection that was in the Winter Mini. Of course, I added some Prima flowers - one of my favorite embellishments and then topped it off with a Real Red brad. The 'birthday' stamp is from TAC's February stamp set of the month.

All supplies SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Silly Circles (Spunky Stamps), The Good Life (TAC)
CS: Cool Caribbean, Real Red, WW
Ink: Cool Caribbean, Real Red
Other: Flirty Ribbon, Prima Flowers, Real Red Brad, Corner Rounder

Mixed Bouquet Birthday

I made this for a friend for her birthday (Happy Birthday Martha!)!! I am late as usual because she celebrated her birthday on Sunday and this is going out in the mail Monday. Go figure - I had it ready to be mailed Sat., but forgot! UGH!!

I used the Cool Caribbean Long Notes (with envelopes) that were available in the Winter Mini. I then decided to go to the Color Challenges on SCS. I thought this was a nice 'springy' combo.

All supplies SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Mixed Bouquet, It's Your Birthday
CS: Cool Caribbean, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, WW
Ink: Cool Caribbean, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink
Other: Flirty Ribbon

2Jills - Lucky or Not Challenge?

Over at 2Jills there is a blog challenge. This week is to post about whether you feel you are Lucky or Not.

Well, for those who have been around me for the last week would have heard me say 'if I didn't have bad luck, then I'd have no luck' a ton of times! It just seemed like if something could go wrong it did. However, looking at life in general - I am very lucky.

- I have 3 wonderful children to love and cherish
- a great husband (for the most part ;) )
- awesome friends
- my parents close by to watch my kids, so I can work
- I'm able to stamp and scrapbook each week (albeit not a lot of time, but some)
- my brother came home for a visit (first time in 3 yrs)
- my sister is recovering from being very sick

So, overall - yes I am Lucky!! There are so many other things for which I am lucky as well - of course, this will start to become a noval if I keep going.

TAC - Garden of Life

Well, it's been a couple days since I posted last (sorry R!!). I made this card the other night and have been meaning to post it. This set is Garden of Life from TAC. I got a new order in of TAC stamps and had to use them right away. I had some time to stamp and actually finished this card in one sitting - which for me lately is quite an achievement!! Usually when I sit down to stamp - all 3 of my kids flock to me and start grabbing, touching, pulling, etc and I end up stopping and putting things away.

Anyway - back to the card...this is a neat little set that has greetings included. I'm trying hard to use up scraps of card stock and not cut into whole sheets of card stock. So, this card uses all 'leftovers' I had. I stamped the flower 'border' from the set on Gable Green with Gable Green ink. I also sponged the WW edges with Bashful Blue. Then all layers were sponged with Close to Cocoa. The Gable Green piece is mounted on the Cameo Coral card base with dimensionals.

Supplies - all SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps - Garden of Life (TAC)
CS - Cameo Coral, Gable Green, WW
Ink - StazOn Black, Gable Green, Cameo Coral, Summer Sun, Close to Cocoa, Bashful Blue
Other - Wide Celery Organdy Ribbon (SU retired), Flower Brads, Stamping Sponge, Blender Pen, Stampin Dimensionals

Blogger RAK - Charmaine

I got this super cute Blogger RAK from Charmaine the other day! I had some technical issues and couldn't get the image off of my camera until now. So, happy to finally post it because I just think it is so adorable - love the sparkle to the whale!! Of course, it has lots of green as well - my absolute fav color!!! Be sure to check out Charmaine's blog - she does awesome work and has some wonderful ideas posted to her blog!! Also, be sure to check out her gallery over on SCS - her id is CharmWarm.

Blogger RAK - Susan Liles
Images Copyright Stampin' Up!

Woohoo - got my first Blogger's RAK!! Isn't this just a super cute card!!?!?! Also - notice all that green used - my absolute fav color!!! Yeah me!! I am so thrilled to have gotten this awesome card!! Thank you so much Susan (susiestampalot)!! Be sure to check out Susan's blog. Love the scalloped oval of course too!! *grin*

Do you have a craft blog? Want to join the special Blogger RAK group? Go here to find out the details of how to join.

Ribbon, Oh My!

Yep - you're seeing it right...more ribbon!! This is the rest of the ribbon I ordered from Jody's ribbon share. If you want in on any ribbon shares, be sure to check out her blog and sign up for the updates. She does them frequently and she is awesome!! You definitely won't be disappointed!

Isn't this striped ribbon delicious!?!!! Or as my 2yo says - 'licious'!! *grin* I'm so excited and can't wait to cut into it - well, that may be awhile because I like to just keep my ribbon nice and neat for some time. :)

More Goodies

Ok - I have the absolute BEST friends evah!!! Seriously - my girls take care of me and know how to cheer me up!! This awesome assortment of goodies was sent to me by my best friend, Rachel (hey girl!!). I used to go to her house all the time so the kids could play (ok, so we could play really!). Then they moved for her DH's job. :( I've missed her terribly and the boys too! Thank you so much girl! You really have no idea how this made my day!!! THANK YOU!! I love all of these goodies and can't wait to play with them. And YES - I do plan to do a layout using the pictures you took ages ago of Trenton and I. I'll be sure to send them to you when I get them finished.

Thank you again girl - love ya!! Mwah!!!

Stamp Club - Card #3

This is the final card that my stamp club made. This was my personal favorite of the 3. :) All the cards that they made were Spring theme because I am tired of winter, cold, snow, ice, etc. This card was CASEd (Copy and Steal Everything) from another stamper on SCS. You can view her original card here. I changed the stamp sets, but kept the layout and colors basically the same. I sponged the Coral on the edges of both of the Confetti White pieces. The main flower was colored using the markers. If you want to line up the outline on the main flower better - you can use the Stamp-a-ma-jig. We didn't because I can't find where I put mine. *blushing*

All Supplies SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Heartfelt Thanks, Floral BG
CS: Cameo Coral, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Confetti White
Ink: Cameo Coral, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Basic Black
Other: Cameo Coral & Certainly Celery Markers, Celery Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, Stamping Sponge

Stamp Club - Card #2

When this set first came out - I just had to have it! I have hardly used it though, since its purchase - not sure why because I think it is such a cute set! Again - I used a sketch from SCS which can be found here. The frog is watercolored using the ink pads (ink in the lid) and a blender pen.

All Supplies SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Frolicking Frogs
CS: Confetti Cream, Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss
Ink: Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Ruby Red, StazOn Black
Other: Mat Pack, Gold Brads, Blender Pen

Stamp Club - Card #1

This was one of the cards that my stamp club made last night. I got the sketch from the SCS sketch challenge. I know I've mentioned the challenges over at SCS before, but seriously - they are awesome to jump start you. This sketch was fairly simple and was a nice change to trying to do an *over the top* sketch card. I used the Roses in Winter set and the birthday greeting is from It's Your Birthday. I also used my Itty Bitty Backgrounds for the *speckle* on the card. The rose itself is a 3-step flower - meaning there are 3 stamps to create it. The base, the middle (which was stamped off once), and then the top layer.

All supplies SU! unless otherwise noted
Supplies: Roses in Winter, It's Your Birthday, Itty Bitty Backgrounds
CS: Lavender Lace, Not Quite Navy, Confetti White
Ink: Lavender Lace, Lovely Lilac, Not Quite Navy, Old Olive
Other: Olive Narrow Organdy Ribbon

Cakeabella Birthday

Another belated birthday card, this one is for my niece though. Another Bella stamp used here - Cakeabella. I used my Happy Birthday Cuttlebug embossing folder on the yellow card stock. This was a fairly simple card to do, which is what I needed since I was already late! I colored in Cakeabella using various inks as the previous card. Layered her onto Cranberry Crisp card stock. I tied the ribbon around the card first and then popped up Cakeabella with Stampin Dimensionals.

All supplies SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Cakeabella (Stamping Bella)
CS: WW, Yoyo Yellow, Cranberry Crisp
Ink: Basic Black, various colors for watercoloring
Other: Aqua Painter, Cranberry Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin Dimensionals, Happy Birthday Cuttlebug embossing folder

Flowahbella Birthday

I love the whimsical look that these Bellas have! There are so many to choose from and all have cute little names. If you don't know what I'm talking about, check out Emily's site at Stamping Bella. This one is Flowahbella and it is a belated birthday card for my SIL. I colored her in using an Aqua Painter and the ink pads (squeeze the pad so the ink gets on the lid for coloring). The patterned paper is from TAC and I believe it is the Genevieve collection (off the top of my head). The Happy Birthday is also TAC. I used the word window punch from SU! to punch the greeting out. I wrapped Orchid Grosgrain around the whole card to finish it off.

All Supplies SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Flowahbella (Stamping Bella), Happy Birthday (TAC)
CS: Not Quite Navy, Orchid Opulence, WW, PP (TAC)
Ink: Basic Black, various colors for watercoloring
Other: Word Window Punch, Orchid Grosgrain Ribbon, Aqua Painter

Spring Mini Catalog

This set is in the SU! Spring Mini Catalog that will be available for purchase starting March 1st. There are so many sets and items in the Spring Mini that I want. I only have a couple of the items from my preorder, but I'm hoping to get a couple more sets that I put of preordering. This card uses the Polka Dots & Petals set and the saying is from the Polka Dots & Paisley set (both in the Mini). I really like these colors together as well. It reminds me of Spring, which I would really like to come soon! This cold weather is no fun anymore - especially today. The wind makes it even colder - quite chilly taking Madison to school this morning!! WOW!

Ok - back to the card. *grin* The base of the card is Cool Caribbean (love this color and wish it would stay, but come July it will be retired). I took the little flower type stamp and stamped all over WW in Certainly Celery ink (another fav color of mine). I randomly stamped a smaller piece of WW with the other stamps in the set - Cool Caribbean, Certainly Celery, and Barely Banana. I layered this piece onto Certainly Celery card stock. I stamped the flower in the circle and punched it out - layered onto Certainly Celery. I put a brad in the center and popped it up with a Stampin Dimensional. After this whole piece was adhered to the WW, I wrapped ribbon around it. Then adhered the whole piece onto the Cool Caribbean. I stamped the greeting in Cool Caribbean (a little crooked I see now). *grin* The colors are so refreshing - I figured it wouldn't hurt to stamp cards and maybe the weather would change sooner! :)

All Supplies SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Polka Dots & Petals, Polka Dots & Paisley
CS: Cool Caribbean, Certainly Celery, WW
Ink: Cool Caribbean, Certainly Celery, Barely Banana
Other: Barely Banana Brad, Circle Punches, Celery Grosgrain Ribbon, Ric Rac (Flirty Ribbon), Stampin Dimensional

Creative Blah

Well, lately I've been in a creative blah. We've been sick again at our house and it truly drains me. My oldest also had her tonsils out this past Monday, so on top of being sick...I'm trying to keep her as comfortable as I can. I feel so bad for her when the pain medicine wears off. She's been a huge trooper though and for the most part is doing really well. So, with everything going on...I just haven't felt like stamping or scrapbooking. Could also be the mess in my area because I have no energy (nor desire :) to clean it up. I had to withdraw from a couple swaps as well because I just don't have it in me.

This all said - on one of the many message boards I belong to (2Jills), one of the owners of the business/board is battling cancer. I wanted to send her a card to help brighten her day, as my days in no way compare to what she is going through. So, last night I sat down and stamped her this card. I really like how it turned out as well - a shock since I've been in a scrampin' rut. Hope it helps to put a smile on her face if only for a short while.

I used the D'vine Swirl for my Cuttlebug machine. I got the embossing folder at All That Scraps - she has TONS of items in stock and offers free shipping on orders over $10. Can't beat that even going to the store (gas, time, tax, etc). :) I also use my new SU! tag punch that is in the Spring Mini (will be available for purchase come March). I first embossed the greenish paper (from TAC ). I then sanded the raised swirls to reveal the white core of the patterned paper. I stamped the flowers from Happy Harmony (SAB set from SU) with markers. I edged the certainly celery card stock with the Taken with Teal pad to make it *pop*. I used the Tag Punch (so glad I bought it!!!) and adhered it to the flower piece with black brads. I stamped 'smile' first before attaching. The smile is from TAC, as is the Just Because. I used both Oval punches from SU! and the Horizontal Slit punch to thread the celery ribbon through. Both the flower piece and the oval piece are popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals.

All supplies SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Happy Harmony (SAB), both greetings (TAC)
CS: Taken with Teal, Certainly Celery, WW, PP (TAC)
Ink: Taken with Teal
Other: Tag Punch, Small Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Horizontal Slit Punch, 1/16 Circle Punch, Markers - Taken with Teal, Bordering Blue & Certainly Celery, Celery Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sanding Block, Black Brads (from Vintage Brads pack), Cuttlebug D'vine Swirl Embossing Folder

Overdue UHU Review

This is a way overdue review on UHU glue products. On Maria's blog they were offering free samples to crafters who had a blog. All we had to do was post a review on their products on our blogs after trying it out. Well, after some time, I've finally had a chance to use the UHU glues I received - the UHU stic and UHU twist & glue. The glue stic is like any other glue stick except that this is colored. It states that it dries clear, however, I used it with a transparency on a scrapbook layout and you can see some of the purple still. It isn't all that noticeable (unless you are looking for it though), so I didn't mind too much.

The twist & glue I used on the coaster magnet below. I made them for a swap I was in. I covered the coasters with SU!'s Designer Paper on the front and just regular card stock on the back (since this is where the magnet was going - no need to waste good designer paper :). I used the twist & glue and liked how it is 2 different sized applicators. There is a fine dispenser or twist it and it becomes a wider dispenser for covering more area in less time. I really like how well the glue held the paper and didn't cause it to curl or warp either. I will say that either I am overly sensitive to their product or it is just strong in general - be sure to work in a ventilated area when using the twist & glue. :) Of course, I did make a couple of these, so maybe that is why I noticed the glue smell more.

Sorry for the blurry picture here - I thought it was clear enough and had already packaged these up to mail out.

All items SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Polka Dots & Paisley (SU Spring Mini)
CS: WW, Old Olive, Designer Paper (forget from which collection I used though)
Ink: Old Olive
Other: Markers - Old Olive & Elegant Eggplant, Eggplant Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, Stamping Sponge, UHU twist & glue, Magnet

Thank you Lynne!

I had a friend over the other day to stamp. We were working on swaps (I know - what else!). Anyway - she shows up at my house with all these goodies for me!!! I was totally shocked! I truly appreciate all the goodies Lynne! She got me stamps, Stickles, Glitter Gel Pens, candles, and a cute little pail that she put it all in.

I've been meaning to post this since she gave it to me, but life had other plans for me. So, thank you from the bottom of my heart Lynne!! *grin*

Cool Caribbean and Pixie Pink Swap

I told you I was in a few swaps...yep, this was another one I did. It was for ATC's and I had picked the color combination of Cool Caribbean and Pixie Pink (the hostess had a couple different combos to sign up for). I used the Festive Four set and the Loves Me Double-Sided Designer Paper. I thought they turned out really cute actually. *grin* I got my other swaps back today and they are all fabulous!!

All Supplies SU! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Festive Four, Expressive Flexible Phrases (I think that is the right one)
CS: Cool Caribbean, Pixie Pink, WW, Loves Me Double-Sided Designer Paper
Ink: Basic Black
Other: Blender Pen (with various inks), Black Gingham Ribbon, Word Window Punch, Black Brad, Stampin' Dimensionals, Square Punch