Peace . . . and Cyber Monday Sale!

Happy Monday!!

I had such a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration with the part of my family that were here in AZ.  My kids celebrated with the other half of my family in WA, so they were sorely missed . . . especially my sweet little Brecken.  But we were grateful to have the family that we did have here, and celebrated our gratitude for all the blessings that we enjoy in our lives.  I hope that your Thanksgiving was just as precious and fulfilling as mine!

STAMPS:  Sabine Watching Snow Fall (Stampavie/Sarah Kay), Merry Christmas Trees (Hero Arts)
INK:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
PAPER:  Ripe Avocado CS, Scarlet Jewel CS, Kraft CS, and Vintage Cream CS (Papertrey Ink), Tradition DP (Fancy Pants)
ACCESSORIES:  White Liquid Applique (Marvy Uchida), Classic Rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), 3D Dots (EK Success), Copic Markers, Scarlet Jewel Grosgrain Ribbon (Papertrey Ink), Dazzling Diamonds (Stampin’ Up!), Janome Sew Mini, Cuttlebug

So it’s Stampavie week at ABC Toys & Crafts.  My sweet DT sisters will all be sharing their favorite Stampavie image with you all, and I’m starting the week off with my fave Sarah Kay stamp called “Sabine Watching Snow Fall.”  Is she not the sweetest thing ever?!  And check out that sparkly snow!!  That’s White Liquid Applique and Dazzling Diamonds applied while still wet, then heat set with my embossing gun.  I am so in love with the effect that the heat has on the White Liquid Applique – it just pops right off the page and adds some amazing dimension, don’t you think?

I stamped Sabine onto cream cardstock using Tuxedo Black ink.  Then I colored her with my Copic Markers – I haven’t had those babies out in a while and it felt good to play with them again.  I cut the image out using Classic Rectangle Nestabilities and my Cuttlebug.  The sentiment came from a new Hero Arts holiday set called Merry Christmas Trees (currently out of stock)– isn’t it pretty?  The layout is a SHAMELESS CASE of a card I saw on Julie Lacey’s blog HERE.  I even used the same DP and everything!  The only changes I made were the image and the sentiment.  I’d been feeling a little under the weather all day yesterday and my brain just wasn’t working right.  Julie’s work always inspires me so thank you, Julie, for helping me knock this out.

So, did you all do any Black Friday shopping?  Not me, folks!  I did that last year with my daughter, and it took me three days to recover from it!  LOL  I did, however, venture out on Saturday for a hair appointment AT THE MALL and feared that I’d never find a parking place!  I was pleasantly surprised to find a spot right out front of the salon, so I had me some PARKING KARMA!!  LOL  Anyways, I plan to do a bit of “Merry Christmas to Me” Cyber Monday shopping – how about you?!  ABC Toys & Crafts is having an amazing sale, offering EVERYTHING IN THE STORE at 25% OFF!!  Wow, how cool is that?!!  Oh, and just so you know, Santa has already delivered some of the brand spankin’ new Slice Elite’s to ABC Toys & Crafts.  AND rumor has it that there is going to be a pretty hefty price increase on the Slice Elite as well as it’s accessories in the very near future, so if you’re on the fence about buying any or all of the Slice products, you might want to take advantage of this sale NOW!!  The sale ends November 30th – just click on the blinkie below to shop, and use Discount Code BFCM2010.  Come on – you deserve to treat yourself!!  I heard you’re on the “Nice” list.  Hehehe


That’s it for me today, chickies!!  I’m so appreciative of your visit today, and hope that you’ll stop by again real soon!

Thankful For . . . .

 

Happy Monday, Crafty Friends!

 

I’m here to share another ABC Toys & Crafts project with you.  This week the Design Team is featuring the newest Fall and Christmas Sarah Kay/Stampavie images.  I chose Francesca in the Winter Field.  Isn’t she sweet?  I chose to make her more of a fall girl rather than a winter girl.  With all those beautiful leaves, I just couldn’t help myself!  I colored her with my Copic Markers and cut the image panel and Pumpkin Pie layer out using Classic Square Nestabilities, and framed the image using the Lacey Square Nestabiltiies.

 

STAMPS:  Francesca in the Winter Field (Sarah Kay/Stampavie), Fall Fest (Practicing Creativity)
INK:  Rich Cocoa (Memento)
PAPER:  Kraft, Simply Chartreuse, and Vintage Cream CS (Papertrey Ink), Pumpkin Pie CS (Stampin’ Up!), Autumn Forest DP (Reminisce)
ACCESSORIES:  Classic Square Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Lacey Square Nestabiltiies (Spellbinders), 3D Dots (EK Success), Simply Chartreuse Twill, Janome Sew Mini, Wood Leaf Buttons, Scrapper’s Floss (Karen Foster)

 

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As I colored this sweet image, I thought about all the things in my life that I’m thankful for.  I’m most thankful for my sweet, sweet hubby, as well as my amazing daughters, and my adorable grandson – so family is at the top of my list.  I’m also so thankful for the blessing of being able to be in sunny Arizona during the winter.  I’ve finally arrived here, and immediately felt the heat of that sunshine.  Ahhhh . . . happy happy!!  What are you thankful for?

 

Be sure and stop by the ABC Toys & Crafts Design Team Blog every day this week as each of my amazingly talented DT peeps share the other Sarah Kay/Stampavie images with you.  Thanks so much for stopping by today.  Have a great day!

Live Richly!

Happy Monday, Friends!

I hope you had as nice a weekend as I did.  I got to stamp all day on Saturday.  Sooo fun!!  Yesterday we celebrated my oldest daughter’s 27th birthday, which is today.  Happy Birthday, Ash!!  Today, I’m babysitting my sweet little munchkin . . . can’t get enough of that little snuggle bug.  How about you – any fun happenings over the weekend?



I’m here today to share another project for ABC Toys & Crafts.  Today’s card features a sa-WEET set from Stampavie/Rachelle Anne Miller called Tea Time.  There are three images in this set, and I used the tea pot.  Isn’t it fun?!!  This card measures 4” x 4” – I love making mini cards every now and then.  Plus, it gives me a chance to use the Ornamental Bigz Die from Sizzix/Tim Holtz in a unique way.  I love cutting it out, and then cutting it down for a cool border.  Looking at the card now, I wish that I had stamped the sentiment, which is from a clear stamp set from Hero Arts called Essential Messages, on a banner or tag so that it showed up better.  Oh well . . . live and learn, I guess.  I also used my Lacey Circle Nestabilities to layer behind the main image.  I ADORE those Lacey Nestabilities, don’t you?!

STAMPS:  Tea Time (Stampavie/Rachelle Anne Miller), Essential Messages (Hero Arts)
INK:  Rich Cocoa (Memento)
PAPER:  Kraft CS (PTI), Vintage Cream CS (PTI), Restoration Collection DP (Crate Paper)
ACCESSORIES:  Lacey Circle Nestabilities and Classic Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Ornamental Bigz Die (Sizzix/Tim Holtz), 3D Dimensional Dots (EK Success), Xyron Sticker Maker (Xyron), Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers), Janome Sew Mini, Button, Rustic Button Twine (PTI), Glue Dots, Cuttlebug

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That’ s it for me today, peeps!  I hope you have a wonderful day.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Be Merry!

 

Hello Cute Friends!!

 

Popping in today to share my ABC Toys & Crafts project with you!  This week my sweet ABC DT peeps are sharing projects using the Stampavie/Penny Johnson designs, and oh my goodness are these images CA-YUTE!!

 

STAMPS:  Snowy & Rudolph (Stampavie/Penny Johnson), Get Merry (Hero Arts), Magical Background (Hero Arts)
INK:  Tuxedo Black (Memento), Fresh Snow (Papertrey Ink), Spring Rain (Papertrey Ink)
PAPER:  Spring Rain and Pure Poppy CS (Papertrey Ink), White Embossed Dots CS (Bazzill), White CS (Neenah)
ACCESSORIES:  Copic Markers, Labels 16 Nestabilities (Spellbinders), 3D Dots (EK Success), Classic Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Cuttlebug, Medium Scallop Die (Papertrey Ink), Dots Embossing Folder (QuicKutz), Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers)

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Look at that sweet snowman and reindeer – are they not the cutest, ever?  They so remind me of the snowman and reindeer in “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” so that’s how I colored them.  One of my most fave holiday movies, and now I have a card that reminds me of those sweet holiday memories!!  Awesome!  The red panel behind the image panel was created using the new Labels 16 Nestabilities.  I adore this shape – I feel like it is super versatile and will be so useful in so many designs.  The sentiment is from one of the new Holiday clear stamp sets from Hero Arts, called Get Merry.  It contains so many great sentiments and images that will be timeless for many years to come.

 

Be sure and stop by the ABC Toys & Crafts Design Team blog every day this week to see what the other DT ladies have created to share with you.  Oh, and while you’re there, take a look at the post about our very first Friend of ABC Toys & Crafts – Erin Thiem.  She is a super sweet girl, and oozing with talent and creativity.

 

Last bit of news – Julie is running at 15% off everything in the store promotion right now.  Just enter the discount code – OCT102015 at checkout.  This discount code is good through October 31st.

 

I plan to do lots of stamping this week, so I hope to have more goodies to share with you.  Thanks so much for stopping by today – it means the world to me!

Thanks Sow Much!

Hi Peeps!

Hope you had a wonderful weekend.  Mine was nice and relaxing . . . my favorite kind of weekend.

It’s ABC Toys & Crafts Tuesday, and today I’m here to share a sweet little card using one of the cutest images I think I’ve ever worked with.  This week, the ABC Toys & Crafts Design Team is featuring some of the amazing images from Stampavie, including this image designed by Helz Cuppleditch called Flower Planters.  I broke out my Copic Markers to color it up, something I haven’t done in quite a while.  Boy, it felt good to  play with those babies again.  I adore the detail in these Stampavie images.  And check out that adorable little water can charm – isn’t it perfect for this?!

STAMPS:  Flower Planters (Stampavie/Helz Cuppleditch), Flower Garden Sentiments (PTI)
INK:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
PAPER:  White CS (Neenah), Spring Rain CS (PTI), Green Apple CS (Poptone), Jubilee DP (Memory Box)
ACCESSORIES:  Janome Sew Mini, Copic Markers, Rectangle Classic Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Cuttlebug, 3D Dots (EK Success), Lace (JoAnn’s), Spring Rain Gingham Ribbon (PTI), Glue Dots, Chartreuse Button (PTI), Scrapper’s Floss (Karen Foster), Water Can Charm (Charm Gallery/Michael’s), Inkssentials White Gel Pen (Ranger)

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This card also meets the requirements for a couple of challenges:

Stampavie Challenge #24 – use my favorite colors.
Cardabilities Sketch #3 – sketch challenge.
CARDS Magazine Blog Challenge – create a “punny” card

In celebration of the Stampavie feature this week, Julie is offering free standard shipping on all Stampavie products (use Discount Code FREESH529 on checkout).  Sa-WEET!!

That’s it for me today!!  Thanks so much for stopping by.  I hope to be back later this week with more stamping goodies.  Have a great day!

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!!

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! 

Wishing You Sunshine and Some Fun News!

Hi All!

STAMPS:  Home Sweet Home (Helz Cuppleditch/Stampavie), Scattered Showers (Papertrey Ink)
INK:  Tuxedo Black (Memento), Pixie Pink Chalk Ink (VersaMagic), Thatched Straw Chalk Ink (VersaMagic)
PAPER:  Sweet Blush CS (PTI), Lemon Tart CS (PTI), White CS (Neenah), LilyKate DP (Basic Grey)
ACCESSORIES:  Lemon Tart Saddle Stitched Ribbon (PTI), Pink Slice (Making Memories), Vintage Findings Design Card (Making Memories), Piercing Tool and Mat Pack (Stampin' Up!), Rectangle Classic and Scalloped Nestabilities (Spellbinders), 3-D Dots (EK Success), Quickie Glue Pen (Sakura), Dazzling Diamonds Glitter (Stampin' Up!), Lemon Tart Buttons (PTI), Glue Dots, Rustic Button Twine (PTI), 1-1/4" Circle Punch, Lyra Colored Pencils, Gamsol

Here's a sweet little card that I made the other day while hanging with my girlies, Kim and Terri.  I created it for Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #99.  Taylor always has the cutest sketches, and I rarely play.  But since my New Year's Resolution is to participate in more challenges, I decided it was time I play along.

I used a Helz Cuppleditch/Stampavie image called "Home Sweet Home."  I love how sweet and detailed her images are, and am so excited that ABC Toys & Crafts is going to be carrying her newly released images very soon!!  I created the sunshine with my new Pink Slice and the Vintage Findings Design Card.  Love my Pink Slice!!  Kim suggested that I add the layered buttons - and I LOVE how that turned out, don't you?!!  Such a clever girl . . . .  I colored the image with my Lyras and Gamsol and pulled the color scheme from the LilyKate Basic Grey patterned paper - it's some of my favorite!!

NEWS!!

So how about some super fun news!!  First, one of my goals when I started my blog was to get one of my cards published.  But I really haven't pursued that goal very assertively.  So, the other day I got an email from Jennifer Wuthrich over at ScrapStreet.com - an e-zine (online magazine) that's been around for awhile now.  She saw one of my cards on Two Peas and asked if she could use it for their April 2010 issue.  Well . . . you can imagine my response - "DUHHHH!!"  I was equally flattered and humbled, but thrilled to pieces, too!  So, when the issue goes live, I'll remind you again to check it out.  But until then, you should check out their current issue.  There's some really interesting stuff in there!!

One final bit of news . . . and then I'll let you go.  I received another super flattering email from Kathy Peterson at "Craft for Health," a blog that features people who have been healed in some way by their art.  Kathy asked if I'd be willing to be a guest blogger, and I jumped at the chance.  So my guest blog post will happen on February 19th, and I'll have a bit of blog candy to share in celebration of this fun event.  So, I just thought I'd give you a heads up that this will be coming up very soon, and to also send you in the direction of "Craft for Health" - the stories shared there are really inspiring.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you have a great weekend!!

Feel Better, Friend!

I know!  Another post!!  Pretty sure this is a record . . . I don't think I've EVER posted so many times in a week.  I've been having so much fun creating.  Got to spend the afternoon yesterday with three of my favorite stamping peeps . . . so grateful to have such good friends and fun ladies to hang out with.  I usually don't get too much accomplished on these days, but I did manage to get one card completed, so I thought I'd share.

STAMPS:  Ruffles Get Well Soon (Helz Cuppleditch/Stampavie), Scattered Showers Additions (PTI)
INK:  Tuxedo Black (Memento), Colorbox Chalk Ink (Clearsnap)
PAPER:  Bitty Baby Blessings DP (PTI), White CS (Neenah), Barely Banana CS (SU), Mini Gingham (A Muse)
ACCESSORIES:  Stampin' Dimensionals, Embossed Scallop Border Punch (EK Success), Taffeta Ribbon (SU), Copic Markers, Square Classic Nestabilities, Janome Sew Mini, Buttons (PTI), Scrapper's Floss (Karen Foster)

I managed to cram two challenges into this card . . . the first one is the Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #98, as well as the Paper Crafts January Gallery Challenge (which is to create a card featuring marker coloring skills).  You should play along, too!

I received this stamp in the mail on Wednesday and knew that it would go perfectly with the Bitty Baby Blessing paper pack that I got from PTI ages ago (and had not cracked open until yesterday)!  How freakin' cute is this puppy?  Love that big overstuffed chair, too . . . actually, love everything about this image.  It's called "Ruffles Get Well Soon" by Helz Cuppleditch (Stampavie).  I got one other from the same line, and can't wait to get it inky, too.  The sentiment on the card is from the "Scattered Showers Additions" from PTI.  Two more stamps that have never been inked up - TAKE THAT, Terri!  LOL

Well, that's it for me today.  I hope you all enjoy your long holiday weekend.  Any fun plans?  We're having dinner with our neighbors tonight, so I'm looking forward to that.  Otherwise . . . got lots more crafting left in these veins!  Thanks for stopping by - you have no idea how much it means to me that you do.

Hugs!

Someone's Having a Birthday Soon!!

This is a really busy birthday month for me. Lots of friends celebrating birthdays, and a couple of them in just a few days. This is a card that I made for one of my friends for her birthday . . . not gonna say which one because that would spoil the surprise, right?!! LOL I guess posting it here is kinda spoiling the surprise, too. Oh Well!! LOL

I just love these Ooh La La Girls from Stampavie! Leere Aldrich is a very clever artist - all of these fun girls just make me smile. This one is called Going Places. I may have gone a little overboard with the gingham car . . . I don't know. Probably should have stopped there. LOL I hope my friend likes her birthday card, and the other fun goodies that I've collected for her. Hehehe

ETA: It's a happy coincidence that this card also fits the requirements for the the RES-Q Challenge #6, which was to create a card using pink, black and white. I think I might have gotten this done just under the wire, but if you want to play along with this fun group of ladies (my VSN peeps), you can check out the deets right HERE.

Before I forget, just wanted to mention a few things.

FIRST, there's still time to play Twisted Thursday - see the post below this one for all the details. Entries due by midnight tonight to be considered for the free stamp!!

SECOND, instead of Twisted Thursday this coming Thursday, Shirley's 2 Girls is having a Blog Hop to show you the brand new DARLING images that they'll be releasing. Oh my gosh! You're not going to want to miss this!! And there will be prizes . . . cute images and prizes - WHAT MORE COULD YOU WANT?!! So be sure and check out the Ladies With Attitude blog on Thursday, May 7th.

Stamps: Going Places (Stampavie)

Paper: Alissa Kissable DP (Bo Bunny), True Black CS (PTI), White CS (Neenah), Pretty In Pink CS, Black Bitty Dot Basic DP (PTI), Gorjuss Ginghams (digi)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)

Accessories: Circle Classic Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Stampin' Dimensionals, Shimmery Chalks (Pebbles), Copic Markers, Quickie Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Pink Rhinestones (Jolee's), True Black Gingham Ribbon (PTI), Buttons, Black Scrapper's Floss (Karen Foster), Glue Dots

Thanks for stopping by!