Puttin' on the Glitz

I joined Lori's MFT (My Favorite Things stamp company) swap. She tempted me by offering a challenge with an awesome prize. So I signed up for 2 spots using the colors turquoise and orange. According to Lori's challenge ORANGE and TURQUOISE MUST BE USED AS THE BACKGROUND AND THE PRIMARY COLORS OF YOUR STAMPED IMAGE.

I took on the challenge BEFORE I discovered how difficult it is to find designer papers in this color scheme. EEK!

So......... I was on my trip - you know the one. It was when I was MIA from my blog for two weeks - and I stopped in SEVERAL scrapbook stores. I just HAD to do that because there was this swap in need of designer paper. AND I found the most gorgeous paper. I was ELATED!

Here's the card I made with the beautiful turquoise and orange designer paper:

The good news is I found the perfect turquoise and orange designer paper for this card. The bad news is the challenge requires me to make TWO different sets of cards.

Image: MFT Puttin' On the Glitz
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Copic markers
Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Black, Really Rust, and Tempting Turquoise
Designer Paper: Paper Studio Surfer Boy Orange Texture and TPC Studio Mediterranean Summer Grecian Blue
Embellishments: American Crafts Spring & Summer Dragonfly Ribbon, Colorbok Metal Dots, and Scribbles Sparkle Crystal Gel 3D Paint

A Golden Oldie

I received an awesome card kit some time ago for a swap I'm in. Thank you, Sandye!

Here is the card I made with the contents:

Because this kit was given to me, I don't know who the vendor is for most of the items. I'm sorry. The ribbon slide is from the Sabrina collection of Making Memories. The cardstock is Stampin' UP! Black, Confetti Ivory, and Pretty in Pink.

Let's Go for a Swim!

Stamp 'n Doodle Challenge - Anything Goes

If you've ever thought about participating in a challenge, now's the time. It can't get any easier than this!
First, there is a free image with which to create. Woo Hoo!
Second, the challenge is ANYTHING GOES! No sketch. No color restrictions. No design limitations.
Third, Challenges are fun!!!

Here's my card:

Stamp 'n Doodle Bryce Swimming

Doesn't it make you want to go jump in the nearest body of water to cool off? BUT before you do that, please participate in the Stamp 'n Doodle Challenge. I want to see what you create!




Image: Stamp 'n Doodle Bryce Swimming
Ink: Copic markers
Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Ballet Blue, Green Galore, and Real Red
Designer Paper: from my scrap file
Embellishments: Dew Drops and 3-D flip flops and life preserver

Treasure Hunt - Wallpaper Isn't Just for Walls!

My most recent TREASURE HUNT produced some interesting finds. I had a difficult time choosing one to use for this week's Treasure Hunt post. Finally decided to spend a dime and get crafty!

Here's what I bought at a local Yard Sale:

a partial roll of wallpaper border - cost 10 cents

When I saw this treasure I was immediately drawn to the cut/shape of one side and thought it would surely be useful in my Treasure Hunt creation.

Here's a close-up of one of the cards I made:

And here's the other card:

In retrospect (they say hind-sight is 20/20), I wish I'd made a third card, too. I envision using the wallpaper border as the background designer paper on a card with a cute little girl image, colored with Copics, of course, and wearing a paper-pieced dress (cut from the wallpaper border). hmmmmmmmm... I may have to make that card soon.
Wherever you go this week, remember to keep your eye open for TREASURES along the way.
And remember, I TREASURE each and every one of you who take time to check out my blog!
Hugs!



Cardstock for Card Base: Stampin' UP! Sahara Sand
Designer Paper: Wallpaper Border found at a yard sale
Other Papers: from my scrap file
Embellishments: K & Co. Chipboard Glitter Letters, Stampin' UP! organdy ribbon, grosgrain ribbon, pearl heart buckle, and Kaiser pearls

I ♥ Tim Holtz!

Oh my goodness! Have you seen the Tim Holtz embossing folders... do you have any? I drooled over the bricked one online forever... then finally got it! Woo Hoo!!! But haven't had a chance to play with it until now. It is soooooooooo cool!!!

Take a look!

This card would be absolutely boring if it were not for that incredible brick wall!

I think I love Tim Holtz! (shhhhhh... don't tell my husband) . LOL!

Image: Stampin Bella lil' artist
Sentiment: unknown vendor
Ink: Stazon Forest Green, Memento Tuxedo Black, and Copic markers
Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Ballet Blue, Green Galore, and Summer Sun
Embossing: Tim Holtz Bricked
Embellishments: ribbonFX, Stampin' UP! Maize grosgrain ribbon, a bread tab, and a brad

Recycle! It's fun!

After two weeks hiatus, it was fun to get back in my Hideout and do some stamping/creating.

I made this card for a swap I'm in, hosted by Debbie on splitcoaststampers.com. The requirement was to recycle something in the creation of my card. hmmmmmmmm... what to use? What to use??? (I really struggled with this, for some reason.)


I ended up digging into the packing materials we have at our house (one of the benefits of owning an online book business... lots and lots of packing materials.) I pulled out some corrugated cardboard and some foam packing material. Perfect!

I also wanted to try out my newest die (the Sizzix Tim Holtz Tattered Florals one) so I started cutting layers of flowers with it in varying textures. That is the focal point of my card. I added a strip of torn corrugated cardboard, some ribbon, designer paper, and a sentiment.

Here's a close-up that shows the layering.

Now, if you'll excuse me... I need to make five more of these and get them postal.

Hugs!
Jeanette



Sentiment: Hero Arts
Ink: Versafine Jet Black
Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Bravo Burgandy and Rose Red
Designer Paper: Memory Keepers and Michael's Glitter Paper
Recycled Products: corrugated cardboard and packing foam
Embellishments: Michael's Dashes, Dots and Checks ribbon and a brad

I was MIA, but for GOOD reasons!

Whew! It's been two weeks since I posted to my blog! I've missed you, but I've also had the most amazing time. The first week my two young adult children - who each live over 800 miles away in OPPOSITE directions - came home to visit. It was the first time in over two years that we (our family of five) have all been together at our house. I had so much fun with them and barely let them out of my sight while they were here. Hence my absence that week.

Almost immediately when both of them were gone, I left on a 2,100 mile trip - yes, I drove alone - to Mississippi to be with my daughter since she was having a minor surgical procedure and needed a designated driver. The precedure went well, and we also enjoyed shopping, eating out (Italian, Sushi, Mexican... yum! yum!), coffee house outings, sight-seeing in the town she's living in this summer, and time at a gorgeous park eating snow cones (oops! In Mississippi, I think they call them snow balls).

I am now home again, drove in last night - but to keep life interesting, my dear husband left today for a week. (Go! Go! Go!!! That seems to be our motto.)

I hope to head to my Hideout this afternoon and create a card so I can post a picture to my blog tomorrow. I haven't created a thing in the past two weeks, so I have nothing to show you today.

Hugs!!!

Heard Any Good Jokes Lately?

Do you remember jokes from your childhood?

I remember just a few of them. Here's one...

What's black and white and red (read) all over?

Answer: a Newspaper (tee hee!)

This joke really was funnier when I was six or seven than it is now.



Black, White, and Red are the colors I chose to use in the Crafty Ho's Challenge this week.

It's a Color Challenge - Black and White and One Other Color


Here's my card:

What will color will you use with black and white???



Sentiment: Stampin' UP! Whimsical Words
Ink: Memento Red
Cardstock: Gina K White and Stampin' UP! Black and Real Red
Special Treatment: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing
Embellishments: Michael's Damask Steel Ribbon, Imaginisce Eye of Newt Brad, two white mini brads, and silk flowers

Letters from Home

Who doesn't love getting mail?

(Well, personal letters, anyway. I guess none of us like getting bills.)

This equestrian and his dog seem to be enjoying what they received in their mailbox today!

Stamp 'n Doodle - Cowboy News

This week's Stamp 'n Doodle Challenge is a Challenge Sketch.

Here's the sketch:

While the sketch is a standard size card, I chose to tweak the sketch a bit, making my card a 5 1/2" square card.
All of the details for this week's Stamp 'n Doodle Challenge (along with the freebie image) can be found at Blog-a-Doodle. Check it out! Get creative! I'd love to see what you come up with for this Sketch Challenge.




Image: Stamp 'n Doodle Cowboy News
Sentiment: rubber stamp (vendor unknown)
Ink: Versafine
Coloring Agent: Prismacolor Colored Pencils
Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Creamy Caramel and Garden Green
Designer Paper: Design Originals Postcards, K & Co. Addision Swirl Collage, and Paper Pizazz Barnwood
Embellishments: Sheer Creations Ribbon, Gold Brads (from office supply store), and Gold Cowboy Hat Charm

Treasure Hunt - Oops! That's One UGHly Shirt!

TREASURE HUNT

disclaimer - today's treasure was found by accident!

I don't know... maybe it's just me... but sometimes I buy something at a yard sale and then wonder Why oh Why did I buy THAT?? Anybody else do that? Well... see, it's like this. I have lost 4-5 clothing sizes in the past several months (woo hoo!) and am not ready to call it quits yet, so I don't want to buy new clothes. Therefore I am finding clothes at yard sales to tide me over until I reach my goal (whatever that goal is. I still don't know that.)

I bought what I thought was a nice enough shirt... and it was cheap! BUT when I got it home, I thought UGH! So, what's a girl to do??? Cut off the buttons, of course, and use them in card-making. LOL! (Oh, and I cut off one of the labels, too.)

Buttons and Label from an UGHly shirt - Cost 10 cents

Here's the card I created:

I could have sewn the buttons onto the card, but I have those teeny tiny little brads that I love, so decided to use them instead. Perfect fit!

Here's the inside of my card:

Image: In Style Journal Cynthia
Senitment: Print Works You Add Sunshine
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Copic Spica Pens
Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Barely Banana, Bashful Blue, and Pretty in Pink
Designer Paper: from my scrap file
Embellishments: tag and buttons from a shirt and Recollections teeny tiny brads

Who Brought the Marshmallows?

No Campout is complete without a campfire and lots of marshmallows for roasting!

featuring a Stamp 'n Doodle image

I used a combination of Stampin' UP! pastels, Copic markers, and Stickles to color this awesome camp scene.


Here are the Challenges I'm posting this card to:

Ooh La La - Simply Summer
Drunken Stampers - Summer/Vacation
Secret Crafter - Water
Quirky Crafts - Ribbon
Nutty Nutshells - Summertime Fun
The Crazy Challenge - Make It In an Hour
By the Cute and Girly - Warm Summer Days
Pile It On - My Favorite Things
Prairie Fairy - Anything Goes



Image: Stamp 'n Doodle Camp
Coloring Medium: Stampin' UP! pastels, Copic markers, Stickles
Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Black, Blue Bayou, and Sahara Sand
Designer Paper: Stampin' UP! Blue Bayou
Embellishments: Stampin' UP! Blue Bayou ribbon, a black button, hemp, and two black brads

Celebrate the 4th of July with some Fun in the Sun

Happy 4th of July!!!

Let the fireworks begin! Enjoy a family BBQ!

Celebrate our nation's independence!

have some

FUN IN THE SUN!!!

The Crafty Ho's Challenge this week is a theme challenge - Fun in the Sun! I think it's a perfect theme for this time of year. I hope you'll get out your summer-y stamps/images and play along.

Here's my card:

Shirley's2Girls Love Bug

Image & Sentiment: Shirley's2Girls Love Bug
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Black, Copic markers, and Copic Spica pens
Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Barely Banana, Certainly Celery, and Rose Red
Designer Paper: Paper Studio Girl Flowers and Girl Stripes
Embellishments: Making Memories rhinestones and Recollections teeny-tiny brad

Howdy Partner!

Yee-Haw!

Sew Many Cards Donkey Cowboy

Isn't this the cutest donkey image? I think it goes well with the hay, denim and weathered designer papers and the horseshoe charm and gingham ribbon.

I hope you like it, too!

Image: Sew Many Cards Donkey Cowboy
Ink: Copic markers(Cadmim Red, Lipstick Red, Neutral Gray 10, and Warm Gray 1) and Prisma markers (Light Tan and Sand)
Cardstock: Stampin' UP!(Buckaroo Blue, Riding Hood Red, and So Saffron)
Designer Papers: from my scrap file
Embellishments: Stampin' UP red gingham ribbon and gold cord, 3 denim blue brads, and a horseshoe charm

Thank You to our Military Personnel!

Stamp 'n Doodle is having a Challenge.

Theme: Canada Day or July 4th

As a design team member, I was given a marvelous Stamp 'n Doodle image to use for this challenge. It features three military personnel. As soon as I saw it, I was overwhelmed with appreciation for the many men and women serving our country. Therefore I thought it was appropriate to team this awesome image with a thank you sentiment.

Two simple words that come with so much gratitude... thank you.

Stamp 'n Doodle is also offering a wonderful opportunity for all paper-crafters to create a card to be sent to the Armed forces (Canadian & US.) to say thank you for a great job and for putting your lives on the line for your country. If you'd be interested in participating in that project, go to the Stamp 'n Doodle blog for all the details.



Image: Stamp 'n Doodle
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Night of Navy and Riding Hood Red
Designer Paper: Frances Meyer flags and a piece of vellum
Embellishments: star brads and red/white/blue ribbon