Loopy Lops Strawberry Fair . . . Ca-YUTE!!

Thank goodness it's Tuesday!

Hope this beautiful day finds you enjoying yourself.  I'm in the process of getting ready to move back to Washington for the summer, so I'm not having a ton of fun.  But it must be done, right?!  Packing, organizing, and cleaning . . . not my idea of a good time.  But I know there's some yummy goodness at the end of the proverbial tunnel - my grandson will be born in just a few short months and I'll get to be there!  Woohoo!

Today's ABC Toys & Crafts Tuesday - I just love Tuesdays for that reason.  I thought I'd share this sweet little card that I made a couple of weeks ago (jammy stamping session - remember?) for Card Patterns Sketch #55.  I fear that I've missed the deadline for submitting it, but I wanted to share it with you regardless.  It features one of the new Stampavie/Helz Cuppleditch images that ABC Toys & Crafts now carries.  Oh my gosh - can I tell you how much I love these images?!!  They are all so stinkin' cute, and super fun to color with my Copics.  I used some new Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety pattern paper, a little bit of stitching, and a sweet little strawberry charm.  Cute, huh?  I really enjoyed this sketch, and am very happy with how this turned out.  I left it without a sentiment so that it can be an all occasion card.

STAMPS:  Loopy Lops Strawberry Fair (Stampavie/Helz Cuppleditch)
INK:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
PAPER:  Garden Variety DP (Cosmo Cricket), White CS (Neenah), Lipstick Red CS (Poptone)
ACCESSORIES:  Janome Sew Mini, 3D-Dots (EK Success), Satin Ribbon (SU), Strawberry Charm (Bunny Zoe Crafts), Copic Markers

Well, I've got a lot of packing to do, so it may be a few days before I can post again.  I hope you'll understand.  Thanks for stopping by today - it warms my little heart to know that you did.

Hugs!

Happy Easter!

Happy Monday!

I hope you had as great a weekend as I did.  I didn't do a lot, but I had a really good crafting weekend while hubby golfed most of the weekend.  We got to spend Sunday afternoon with my dad and his wife at the Tempe Arts Festival on Sunday . . . super fun!!  This week marks the last few days that I get to enjoy the Valley of the Sun here in Phoenix.  I'll be headed back to Washington on Thursday to start my grandma duties . . . my daughter is due in a few weeks, and we've got work to do to get her ready!  I can hardly wait to be a grandma . . . can you tell?!!

Today's card is one that I created for the CARDS Gallery Challenge - Easter Cards.  I don't usually make Easter cards.  Not sure why, just never have.  But this one came together so easily, so I could totally see myself mass producing this one, should I decide to.  I received a new Spring Slice Design Card last week, so I might try and make a couple more Easter cards - just depends on how much I can get done before I leave.

STAMPS:  Spring Baskets (Waltzing Mouse Stamps)
INK:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
PAPER:  White CS (Neenah), Lemon Tart CS (Papertrey Ink), Lemon Tart Bitty Dots DP (Papertrey Ink), Linen Vellum CS (Papertrey Ink), Mini Gingham CS (A Muse)
ACCESSORIES:  Lemon Tart Satin Ribbon (Papertrey Ink), Stampin' Dimensionals, Upper Crest Border Punch (Fiskars), Easter Egg Punch (Fiskars)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I'll be back tomorrow with my ABC Toys & Crafts Tuesday post.  I hope you'll stop be to check it out!

Hugs!

Always and Forever!

Happy Wednesday!

Thought I'd pop in and share another card that I made the other day.  It was inspired by THIS one that I saw on Debbie Olson's blog . . . I just love her work.  I just so happened to have the same exact stamp, but I thought it would look really cool with some new Webster's Pages DP that I recently received from Ellen Hutson.  Such pretty colors in this paper.  I also wanted the nest to look somewhat realistic, so I glued some rustic thread to the image to give the look of a nest.  Does it work?  I kinda like it.  I love how this turned out.

STAMPS:  Nesting Birds (Memory Box), Sweethearts (Waltzing Mouse Stamps)
INK:  Tuxedo Black (Memento), Sea Breeze Chalk Ink (VersaMagic)
PAPER:  Life's Portrait DP (Webster's Pages), Sno Cone CS (Poptone), Vintage Cream CS (PTI)
ACCESSORIES:  Cream Organdy Ribbon (May Arts), Rose Pearls (Kaiser Craft), Stampin' Dimensionals (SU), Long Rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Cuttlebug, Copics, Quickie Glue Pen, Rustic Thread (PTI), Janome Sew Mini, Big Scallop Die (PTI)

Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope you have a great Wednesday!!

Coco Cat Birthday!

Happy Tuesday!!

Have you missed me?!!  LOL  I can't believe I haven't posted anything since last Wednesday.  I've been so busy!  I had a garage sale on Saturday and sold a ton of my stamping stuff - it felt good to purge and create clean space.  I need to do that more often, even if to make more room for new stuff.  Right?

The ABC Design Team Fearless Leader, Justine, has posed a new challenge for all of us to play along with!! We would so love to see what your interpretation is for the theme "Spring is Blooming All Over!"  Really, these challenges are totally subject to interpretation, so if this sparks some inspiration in you, we'd love to see what you come up with!  All you have to do is create a project and link it up by Sunday, March 28th to Mr. Linky, located HERE.  There's a $10 ABC Toys & Crafts gift certificate for one random winner.  How easy is that?!!

When I heard what the theme was, I immediately thought of the new Helz Cuppleditch/Stampavie image that I received from Julie (owner of ABC Toys & Crafts) - Coco Cat Flowers.  Isn't she just the cutest ever?!!  I stamped her on cream card stock and cut her out using my Square Classic Nestabilities.  I then colored her with my Copic Markers.  I won't bore you with the rest of the details of how I constructed the card, but I'm quite happy with how it turned out.

STAMPS:  Coco Cat Flowers (Helz Cuppleditch/Stampavie), Birthday Basics (Papertrey Ink)
INK:  Tuxedo Black (Memento), Pixie Dust Chalk Ink (VersaMagic)
PAPER:  Kraft CS (Papertrey Ink), Vintage Cream CS (Papertrey Ink), Green At Heart DP (Basic Grey), Raspberry Fizz CS (Papertrey Ink)
ACCESSORIES:  Copic Markers, New Leaf Twill (Papertrey Ink), Janome Sew Mini, Scalloped Border Punch (SU), 3-D Dots (EK Success), Tag Die Cut (Spellbinders), Square Classic Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Cuttlebug

We're in the last few days of the ABC Toys & Crafts Design Team competition, so if you're in need of any of the new Nestabilities, the new Stampavie images, new Slice products, or even some new Copic Markers, then Julie's your girl!!  She stocks a fabulous array of products that come as close to a one stop shop as I've ever seen.  Her service is second to none, and I tell you this with first hand knowledge, but wouldn't say it if I didn't believe it.  Need new stuff?  Then click on the blinkie below, and that will take you directly to ABC Toys & Crafts.  Shop to your heart's content!!

Thanks for stopping by today.  I'll be back later on this week with some of the other cards I made during my "stamping in my jammies" session.  Lots of goodies to share!!

Happy Birthday!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Here's a card that came out of my four-day jammie stamping session.  I created this for the CARDS Blog Gallery Challenge - which was to create a card using birds (no owls!).  I recently picked up this darling little Memory Box stamp from Ellen Hutson - I love it and will be using it again real soon!  The cloud image is from a new American Crafts Dear Lizzy stamp set that I picked up at Hobby Lobby the other day - 40% off!  YAY!  I stamped it in Versamark and heat embossed it with Frost embossing powder.  Love that color!  The cute gingham paper is from A Muse.  I colored the leaves and birdies with my Copics.

STAMPS:  Dotty Tree Birds (Memory Box), Dear Lizzy (American Crafts), Birthday Basics (Papertrey Ink)
INK:  Versamark (Tsukineko), Rich Cocoa (Memento)
PAPER:  Mini Gingham DP (A Muse), White CS (Neenah)
ACCESSORIES:  Corner Rounder (EK Success), Hibiscus Burst Ribbon (Papertrey Ink), Copic Markers, Medium Scallop Border Die (Papertrey Ink), Cuttlebug, 3-D Dots (EK Success), Frost Embossing Powder (Zing/American Crafts)

Thanks for stopping by today!  It means the world to me that you take the time out of your day to visit.

Birthday Wishes - Caardvarks Inspiration Challenge!

Happy Tuesday!

I hope you enjoyed your weekend as much as I did.  I crafted in my jammies for four days!  Finally decided that I should take a shower, get dressed and make the bed yesterday.  Is that bad?!!  LOL  Hubby comes home today, so my jammie crafting is done for a while.  But it sure was fun while it lasted!  All I gotta say is "Thank God for Papa John's Pizza delivery!"  It's probably a good thing that hubby comes home today . . . if I kept eating pizza for too much longer, I probably wouldn't fit into anything but my jammies.  That's bad!  LOL

I wanted to share a card that I made for the current Caardvarks inspiration challenge.  The challenge is to create a card based on this picture.  The creative juices were flowing like crazy the minute I laid eyes on that photo. Isn't it sweet?  Of course, I had to get out my most favorite My Cute Stamps set of the moment - Elegant Birds.  Can I just tell you how much I love this stamp set?  The images are so clean and intricate and they stamp like a dream!  I stamped the bird cage onto pattern paper with Versamark and then heat embossed with white embossing powder.  The butterflies were punched using the Three Butterfly Punch, adhered with 3-D Dots, and embellished with self-adhesive pearls.  I think there's still time to submit something for the Caardvarks challenge if you want to play along.  I'm also submitting this for the Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger - Lovely On The Green.  All of the highlighted products can be found at ABC Toys & Crafts by clicking on the blinkie below!

STAMPS: Elegant Birds (My Cute Stamps), Simple Little Things (PTI)
INK: Versamark (Tsukineko), Tuxedo Black (Memento)
PAPER: Spring Moss CS (PTI), Vintage Cream CS (PTI), Vintage Moon DP (Pink Paislee) ACCESSORIES: Self-Adhesive Pearls (Hero Arts), Three Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart), White Embossing Powder (Zing/American Crafts), Upper Crest Border Punch (Fiskars), Retro Diamonds Embossing Folder (QuicKutz), Cuttlebug, 3-D Dots (EK Success)



Thanks for stopping by today!  I'll have more crafty goodness to share with you this week - hope you'll come back to see!

Thinking of You!

Hi Peeps!

Happy Sunday!  I wanted to pop in really quick on this beautiful Sunday morning to share another card that I made for the Moxie Fab Doilies & Lace Challenge.  I actually got some direction and assistance with this one from my sweet friend, and I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.  It's definitely an unusual color combination, but one that's growing on me.  I stamped the Circle Lace image in Versamark and heat embossed with Mustard embossing powder.  I added the ice blue pearls for added dimension and elegant detail.  What do you think?

STAMPS:  Circle Lace (Hero Arts), Looking Through the Trees (Papertrey Ink)
INK:  Versamark (Tsukineko), Smokey Shadow (Papertrey Ink)
PAPER:  Smokey Shadow CS (Papertrey Ink), River Rock CS (Facets/Paper Zone)
ACCESSORIES:  Ice Blue Self-Adhesive Pearls (Kaiser Craft), Ribbon (May Arts), Mustard Embossing Powder (Zing/American Crafts), Stampin' Dimensionals (Stampin' Up!), Corner Rounder (EK Success)

I'll be back to share my ABC Toys & Crafts sample on Tuesday.  But before I go, don't forget about our DT competition!  Just click on the blinkie above, and it'll take you directly to the ABC Toys & Crafts store.  Use the discount code as many times as you like until March 31st for 20% off your entire order!  Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Mini Cards - CARDS Gallery Challenge and Moxie Fab Doily/Lace Challenge!

Hi Friends!

It feels soooooo good to be back to creating.  I spent the whole day today stamping with one of my chickies, and I had so much fun!  Plus I was super productive . . . it felt good to get my fingers inky after what felt like weeks.  I was super inspired by this week's CARDS Gallery Challenge, which is to create Mini Cards, no bigger than 3" cards.  These two cards also qualify for the Moxie Fab Doilies and Lace challenge.  The lace image is a new one from Technique Tuesday.  I stamped it in Versamark, and then heat embossed with Zing/American Crafts EP - one in White, the other in Cricket.  Fun, huh?  For some reason, Grape Jelly was the contrasting color that kept jumping into my hands for both cards.  What do you think?

Thank You

STAMPS:  Borderline - Vintage Lace (Technique Tuesday), Through the Trees (PTI), Rose (Stamps By Judith)
INK:  Grape Jelly (Memento), Versamark (Tsukineko), Glue Pad (Hampton Arts)
PAPER:  Kraft CS (PTI), Grape Jelly CS (Poptone), White CS (Neenah)
ACCESSORIES:  Satin Ribbon (American Crafts), Glitter (Martha Stewart), Self-Adhesive Pearls (Kaiser Craft), Glue Dots, White Embossing Powder (Zing/American Crafts)

Thinking of You

STAMPS:  Borderline - Vintage Lace (Technique Tuesday), Simple Little Things (PTI)
INK:  Versamark (Tsukineko)
PAPER:  True Black CS (PTI), Grape Jelly CS (Poptone)
ACCESSORIES:  Satin Ribbon (PTI), Self-Adhesive Gems (Kaiser Craft), Stampin' Dimensionals (SU), Cricket and White Embossing Powder (Zing/American Crafts)

I've got a few more cards to share with you over the next couple of days.  And my husband is out of town until Tuesday, so I'll be creating into the wee hours some.  Doesn't that sound like fun?!  LOL  Thanks so much for stopping by today.  Have a great weekend!

Here Comes Peter Cottontail!!

Happy Tuesday!

Just popping in really quickly between BINGO games and losing on the slot machines to bring you my ABC Toys & Crafts sample.  I kind of cheated a bit this week in that my card features a stamp set that Julie doesn't carry.  HOWEVER, I hope I make up for that by the simple fact that I used TWO, count them, TWO Martha Stewart border punches that are super versatile and sweet for Easter cards.  I made this card for the Impression Obsession Easter card challenge for last week.  My random number wasn't chosen, but I'm still very happy with how this turned out.  I wanted to give the illusion that Peter Cottontail was hopping out of Mr. Green's vegetable garden!  LOL  Actually, I think Peter Cottontail hops down the bunny trail . . . I'm thinking I might have gotten him mixed up with someone else.  But hey, he's cute right?!  LOL

I stamped the bunny image on Kraft card stock using Versamark, then heat embossed with White embossing powder.  I cut Peter out and popped him up on 3-D Pop Dots to really give him the image that he's in mid-air.  I punched the fence out using the Martha Stewart Picket Fence Border Punch and then used one of the coordinating pattern papers and punched another border out using the Martha Stewart Grass Border Punch.  How freakin' easy is it to create grass with this border punch - SUPER EASY!!  This punch would be great for creating any kind of springy scene - maybe with little chickies, or duckies, or bunnies.  Right?!  It punched beautifully.  I wanted a lavendar panel behind Peter so that there would be more contrast - so I cut out a Labels 9 Nestabilities panel with my Cuttlebug.  I stitched the lavendar pattern paper onto a coordinating lavendar card stock panel, and then popped it up on 3-D Pop Dots and adhered it to a Kraft card base.  Added some Plum Pudding satin ribbon for a sweet touch.

STAMPS:  Easter Seals (Impression Obsession), Victorian Diamond Background (Rubbernecker)
INK:  Versamark (Tsukineko), Lavender Moon (PTI), Plum Pudding (PTI)
PAPER:  Kraft CS (PTI), Grapesicle CS (Poptone), Gossamer DP (Memory Box)
ACCESSORIES:   Janome Sew Mini, 3-D Pop Dots (EK Success), Grass Border Punch (Martha Stewart Crafts), Picket Fence Border Punch (Martha Stewart Crafts), Labels 9 Nestabilities (Spellbinders) Plum Pudding Satin Ribbon (PTI), Self-Adhesive Snowball (from stash), White Embossing Powder (Zing/American Crafts)

Just a reminder that we're still having the Design Team Discount Code Competition.  Click on the box below, and that'll take you to the ABC Toys & Crafts store - enter KL20 as the discount code upon check out, and you'll receive 20% off of your entire order.  Use this code as often as you like between now and March 31st.  New Nesties are in stock now, new Slice accessories, as well as the brand spankin' new Sarah Kay and Helz Cuppleditch clear stamps - SUPER CUTE!

Gotta get back to the BINGO hall!  I'll be back at creating on Thursday, so should have something new to share with you on Friday.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Family Time and a Little Vacation!

Hi Chickies!

Just wanted to let you know that I'll be a bit scarce over the next several days.  I have some family coming into town today, and they'll be here until Sunday.  Then on Sunday, my sister and I are headed to Lost Wages until Wednesday!! Woohoo!!  I'll be pre-scheduling my Tuesday ABC Toys & Crafts post, but won't be posting much of anything else until some time after next Wednesday.  I'll miss you, but I won't be gone long!!  Hope you'll come back then!

Hugs!

Hugs & Kisses!

Hello!

It's ABC Toys & Crafts Tuesday!  Yay!  I've had this card made for a couple of weeks now, and am so excited to share it with you today.  The new Sarah Kay images that ABC Toys & Crafts is carrying now are so stinkin' cute!  I had a blast making this card because it encompassed all of my favorite things about card making - fun shapes, really fun coloring, paper-piecing, and a sweet, sweet image.  Isn't that what cardmaking is all about?!!  It certainly is for me.

I stamped Best Friends Forever onto white cardstock using Tuxedo Black ink and colored her with Copics.  I then stamped her again onto the plaid pattern paper as well as the green gingham paper.  I cut out the pinafores for the little girl and her dolly, as well as the dolly's hair bow.  Sweet, huh?  I also wanted to give the little girl some dimension, so I cut out her pocket and her arm and popped them up with 3-D Dots.  I cut out the white image panel using my Labels 8 Nestabilities and then embossed it with a Swiss Dots embossing folder.  Check out that yummolicious lace!  I picked that up at Hobby Lobby a few weeks ago - isn't it delicious?!

STAMPS:  Best Friends Forever (Sarah Kay/Stampavie), Hugs & Kisses (Bild Milarna Stamps)
PAPER: White CS (Neenah), Certainly Celery (SU), Little Chick DP (3 Bugs In A Rug), Mini Gingham CS (A Muse)
INK: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
ACCESSORIES: Hibiscus Burst Saddle Stitch Ribbon (PTI), Lace (Hobby Lobby), ScorTape, Janome Sew Mini, 3-D Dots (EK Success), Labels Eight Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Cuttlebug, Copics, Xyron Sticker X

I told you yesterday about the ABC Toys & Crafts Design Team competition, right?!  Well, I've added the blinkie that I created to this post - all you have to do is click on it, and that'll take you directly to the ABC Toys & Crafts store.  Then enter my special discount code upon check out for 20% off your entire order.  This offer is good as many times as you want to use it between now and March 31st.  Click on the blinkie below and shop to your heart's content!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! 

Bundle of Joy . . . and NEW Nesties In Da House!!

Happy Happy Monday!

I had such a great weekend . . . super relaxing, but lots of fun crafting took place, so that's always a bonus at my house.  I hope you had a great weekend, too!

This is the card that I made when I was stamping with my chickies the other day.  I've been in love with these sweet baby shoes ever since I saw them on Debbie Olson's blog.  I have a friend whose first granddaughter was born this weekend, so this will be making its way to her house.  I hope she likes it.  I stamped the baby shoes and sentiment in Versamark on Kraft CS and then heat embossed with white embossing powder.  I then colored in the shoes with my Lyras and Gamsol.  The patterned paper is some that I picked up at Hobby Lobby many moons ago and knew it would make the perfect baby girl card.  I also picked up the same patterns in baby blue . . . yummmm.  The scalloped border was created using my new Papertrey Ink Medium Scallop Border Die and my Cuttlebug - I LOVE this die!!  I really like the scale.  The only thing I don't like . . . and it's a really small thing that I'll get over, I'm sure . . . is that when I run it through my Cuttlebug, it leaves an impression of the outside edge of the die.  Guess I'm going to have to mess with it a bit to see if I can fix that.  Added some stitching with my Janome Sew Mini, and some cute self-adhesive pearls.  Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!!

STAMPS:  Baby Stamp Ensemble (JustRite Stamps)
INK:  Versamark (Tsukineko)
PAPER:  Kraft CS (PTI), White CS (Neenah), Patterned Paper (Hobby Lobby)
ACCESSORIES:  3-D Dots (EK Success), White Satin Ribbon (PTI), Medium Scallop Die (PTI), Cuttlebug, Oval Classic Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Janome Sew Mini, Self-Adhesive Pearls (Hero Arts)

******* NEWS BITS ***********

• Many of the brand new Nestabilities are IN DA HOUSE at ABC Toys & Crafts.  If you've been waiting for them to arrive, they're finally here!  Julie also got a shipment of a lot of the new Slice products that were released at CHA - the Pink Bag, and several of the new design cards are now in stock!!  See my next bit of news for a HUGE discount.
• The ABC Toys & Crafts Design Team are engaging in a bit of a friendly little competition with each other.  Each of us has been assigned a specific discount code that we are to pass along to our friends and neighbors so that when you purchase any and all goodies at ABC Toys & Crafts, what you buy will be attributed to which ever designer code you use.  This very generous discount code entitles you to 20% off your entire order!!  You can use the discount code as often as you like from March 1 - 31, 2010.  My code is KL20, and just in case you forget it, I've created a sweet little blinkie on my right hand side-bar.  All you have to do is click on that blinkie and it'll take you right to the ABC Toys & Crafts store.  Just sign in and enter the discount code upon checkout.  I'm counting on you all to make me the winner of this competition!!  I don't want to have to get the voodoo dolls out and start sticking pins in my fellow designers!  LOL
• A little toot, toot - the flower basket card that I made last week for the Waltzing Mouse Stamps Customer Blog Hop was chosen as one of Paige Evans' favorites for last week's CARDS Magazine Gallery Challenge.  I just love her challenges - this week's is to use eyelets - now THAT'S a challenge!

That's it for me today, friends.  Thanks so much for stopping by.  I'll be back tomorrow with a sweet Sarah Kay birthday card for you, so I hope you'll stop by to see!  Hugs!