Plant Smiles

Hello everyone...Guess what!!!! We finally got a little rain last night...Whoohoo!!!! It wasn't much but we will take anything we can get!! I ran out outside and put all my plants on the deck so they could get a little drink. They were all happy and perky this morning!! That's why I pulled out my Paper Smooches Perky Plants set to play with today!!! The adorable flowers were all paper pieced with Making Memories Flower Patch paper. This is my entry for the Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge!! This week it is an inspiration challenge and I took my inspiration from the beautiful colors of the bracelet/necklace.
This is also for the Sunday Featured Stamper challenge on Splitcoast which honors Linda (morningsun47)....she has such  a fabulous gallery to explore!!! I chose her IC260 Bloom with Happiness card as my inspiration. I kept the same basic layout and colors but changed the stamps, placement of the sentiment, and used patterned paper instead of the rack rack.

Thanks for visiting today...have a great Sunday!!!

Sweet Little Tilda

Good morning everyone....I am still alive and kicking ...we are down to 4 Grands now after one went home last night. We all went to the water park yesterday and they were so worn out last night that they went to bed before 11:00 PM which is a miracle!!! The house is quiet this morning...the quiet before the storm...LOL!!! Anyway....

I made this card Sunday for the Featured Stamper Challenge on Splitcoast. My sweet friend, Carole (Carole of Brum) , who lives across the pond in England sent me the prettiest card and some images...this adorable Tilda was one of them. Carole is such a FABULOUS artist...her coloring is absolutely gorgeous...sure wish a little of her talent would rub off on me!!! My coloring isn't that great but I did have fun creating this card!! The Featured Stamper was Taylor (STAGCCVA).
I chose to case her adorable Going Swimming card. I kept the same basic layout, colors, and papers but changed the stamp, ribbon, and added the lace. The image was colored with Copics and cut out using the out of the box technique (the flower was cutout and placed outside the Nestabilities before the image was cut out). The papers are from Cosmo Cricket's Salt Air and the seam binding, button, and twine finish it off.

Thanks for stopping by...have a great day!!!

Weekend Stamping

Hello everyone...hope you had a great weekend!!! We went to Jonestown, Texas to see our eldest son and his family on Saturday and then went to see our youngest son and his family this evening...sure was good to see our grandkiddos!!! They grow up way too fast!!! Anyway....

I did a little stamping today. The TLC challenge on Splitcoast is a fun one...to use something on our card that we wouldn't normally use and to make it a different shape other than an A2 or square shape. Can you guess with the item is I added that I wouldn't normally use on a card??? The background was made with a Pamper pull up that my DGD left here the last time she came to visit!! I took it apart and used the pretty scallop and heart section, attached it to a piece of white cardstock, cut it out with a round nestie, and attached it to the Chocolate Chip round scallop shaped card base. The sweet little Rubbernecker Bear in Carriage image was stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa and colored with Copics. The sentiement, also from Rubbernecker called Greater Gift Text, was stamped, punched out with a tag punch, mounted on a Chocolate Chip matt, and attached with dimensionals. The wrinkled seam binding, button, and brown twine finish it off.

This is also for the Dream Valley Challenge to make something for a new beginning.

Recipe:

Stamps: Rubbernecker Greater Gift Text #88-18, RN Bear in Carriage #88-14

Paper: Chocolate Chip, White

Ink: Memento Rich CocoaAccessories: Pamper, Copics, Round and Scalloped Nestabilities, Large and Small SU Tag Punches, Wrinkled Seam Binding, Twine, Buttons

The Featured Stamper Challenge on Splitcoast today featured Neva (n5stamper)!! I am just thrilled to see Neva in the spotlight today...She is such a wonderful person and fabulous stamper....every card in her gallery is gorgeous!! I finally decided to case her Thoughts and Prayers card. I kept the same layout and colors but changed them up a bit. I changed the stamps to Rubbernecker's French Script Background, Floral silhouettes set #2 for the sentiment, and the Weeds #497-14 stamp. The pearl butterfly and flourish finishes it off. Congrats, Neva, and enjoy your special day!!!

Recipe:
Stamps: Rubbernecker French Script, Floral Silhouettes 2 #468, Weeds Stamp #497-14Paper: Vanilla, Black, Prism Desert Coral, Prism Classic Orange
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Memento Tangelo
Accessories: Zva Pearl Butterfly and Flourish, Nestabilities, Black Twill, EK Success Scalloped Punch

Thanks for visiting....now I'm off to bed and it's not even midnight....how did that happen???

Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger and the Featured Stamper Challenge

The Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger this week is the Deconstructed Rose Pillow Cover from West Elm

Hello everyone...are you watching a little football??? I'm really excited to see the Steelers ahead at halftime 24 - 3...Whoohoo!!! Anyway...I did a little stamping during the Chicago/Green Bay game....I wanted to make a card for Card Patterns Sketch challenge and the Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger. It's been a while since I joined in the Tuesday Trigger fun!!
Layers of Color Art Stamps is the sponser of Card Patterns Sketch #99 this week so I just had to play along!!!

My card features stamps from the Layers of Color Touch of Elegance set and a sentiment from their Sent With Love set.

The sentiment was stamped with Versafine Vintage Sepia onto the My Minds Eye Bella Bella dp and embossed with clear embossing powder. The image from Touch of Elegance was stamped over the sentiment with PTI's Chamomile ink. More images were stamped on the Fancy Pants dp with Versafine Vintage Sepia...they were stamped off once for a muted look and then the image under the sentiment layer was stamped darker to create the top of the sentiment layer. The background layers were sewn together, the top was scalloped with an EK Success punch, and the ribbon and rose trim finish it off.

Recipe:

Stamps: LOC Touch of Elegance and Sent With Love

Papers: Sahara sand, Fancy Pants Bouquet dp, My Minds Eye Bella Bella dp

Ink: Versafine Vintage Sepia, Chamomile

Accessories: Nestabilities, EK Success Scallop Border Punch, Ribbon, Rose Trim, Sewing Machine, Clear EP

This is the card I made today for Splitcoast's Featured Stamper Challenge...today's FS is Emily (Artsy_EM). This was the first time for me to look in her gallery and I gotta tell ya...it was FABULOUS!!! It was hard to choose but finally decided to case the Stitched Daisy card....I kept the same design but changed the stamps, added the ribbon to the button, and used Tempting Turquoise instead of the Bazzill cardstock. The Rubbernecker Bold Ornament stamp was stamped with Versamark and embossed with white ep. The sentiment, also from Rubbernecker, was stamped with black and the button with the dotted ribbon is the only embellishment.
Recipe:
Stamps: Rubbernecker Bold Ornament, Stamp Oasis Petite Word Set
Paper: White, Pure Luxury Kraft, Tempting Turquoise
Ink: Versamark, Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Button, Ribbon, White ep

Thanks for visiting...I have got to get back to the football game...the Jets just made a TD...yikes!!!!!

Something a little Shabby

Good morning everyone...it's almost 1:00 AM and I'm wide awake!! Hope you had a wonderful New Years Day!!! Did you watch a little football and the Rose Parade?? I spent more time watching Oprah's new network...she is going to have some wonderful shows!!! I also spent some time cleaning and organizing...the last couple of weeks have really been hard on my poor old house!! Anyway....after I cleaned up my craft room, I messed it all up again creating this card......

The Featured Stamper challenge on Splitcoast today features the fabulous gallery of Marisa (WhiteRockMama). I chose to case her Verve Release Challenge Sketch card because of the wonderful sentiment and gorgeous colors!! I kept the same basic design with the sentiment as the main image, the butterfly, colors, and the ribbon. I added the frame, buttons, pearls, and dp. The sentiment is from Gina K's Inside and Out set and the butterfly is from Gina K's Hugs and Prayers.The paper is Prima's Annalee and the frame is from Pink Paislee. The pearls, buttons, twine, ribbon, and lace finish it off.

Recipe:
Stamps: Gina K's Hugs and Prayers and Inside and Out
Paper: Vanilla, Melon Mambo, Prima's Annalee dp
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Pearl Flourish, Buttons, Twine, Artisan Element Frame, Silk Ribbon, Lace, Sewing Machine, Glitter for the Butterfly

Thanks for visiting .....after church in the morning I hope to work on some fun projects that were ignored during the busy holiday season. Have a wonderful Sunday!! Now I better get to bed before I turn into a pumpkin!!!

Birds, Cupcakes, and a Sundance Update

Hello everyone!!! Hope all is going well with you!!! We are still busy working on my son's house and taking care of the horses in the evenings. It has been in the 100+ degrees for several days but according to the news we are to have a cold spell at the end of the week...temps in the 90's...LOL!!! Well, it's better than 106!!! Anyway....on with the show!!

It took me 2 days to finish this card...it's for the Sketch challenge on Splitcoast and the Color Challenge on Splitcoast to use Rich Razzleberry, Pacific Point, and Old Olive....yikes!!! What a combo!!! I kinda struggled with the colors because they were so bold but after two days and lots of trial and error, it finally came together!! I used the adorable There She Goes stamp set called Birdie Wishes...used the snowflake embossing folder on the background and the paper ric rac, and popped the little blue bird just for fun!!!
Recipe:
Stamps: Birdie Wishes form TSG
Paper: White, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Pacific Point
Ink: same as paper plus Basshful Blue, Barely Banana
Accessories: Silver pearls, Ric Rac die, Snowflakes embossing folder, Nestabilities, Round Circle Punch

This is the card I made for the Featured Stamper Challenge on Splitcoast to honor Heather (princessheather). I was really excited to see Heather as Featured Stamper...she is such an awesome stamper!!! Heather's gallery is sooo fabulous...I spent quite a while there looking at all her beautiful cards. I finally decided to case her CAS22 Happy Birthday Cupcakes card. I kept the same cupcake theme, piercing, colors, and pearls but changed the stamps to Rubbernecker's Party Time, changed the embossed background, and added a bow with a button.
Recipe:
Stamps: Rubbernecker Party Time
Paper: Vanilla, Pink Pirouette
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copics, Ribbon, Vutton, Floss, Stickles, Pearls, Cuttlebug, Embossed Frame Folder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sundance Update

A couple of months ago we adopted another rescue horse named Sundance...she is a Morgan with such a sweet disposition. She looked pretty pitiful when we got her but as of today she has gained about 100 lbs and is doing great!!!

We take them over the fence to our daughter Holly's back yard to graze a little in the evenings. Since we have cows and donkeys sharing our pasture, our grass is not as plush. How would you like to mow a back yard like that??? Yikes!!

Midnight and Sundance love my husband George....they follow him around like little puppies and this is what it is like when he gets in the truck to leave....too funny!!!

They are saying goodby....

Thanks for dropping by today....hope you have a great day!!!

Dare To Get Dirty Challenge Days Two and Three

Hello everyone....I am going to share some cards I made in the last 3 days for the Dare to get Dirty challenges on Splitcoast. These challenges will go on all week and they are presented by the Dirty Girls and Alumni for the Fan Club Members. If you're not a Fan Club Member, this is the perfect time to become one! You can get all the info here on the Fan Club information page. We'd love to have you play with us this week! There are 33 challenges to choose from - play one or play them all.
I made this card for three DTGD challenges today:
DTGD10Rainy
DTGD10gbedwright
DTGD10peanutbee
The sweet little Penny Black stamp called Betsy Bluebell from Stampers Dream was colored with copics. The paper is from BG's Material Girl and the buttons and ribbon finish it off.
Recipe:
Stamps: Penny Black's Betsy Bluebell
Paper: Vanilla, Black, PrismBlush Red Medium. Basic Grey's Material Girl dp
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copics, Nestabilities, Buttons, Ribbon, Foam Tape
I combined the DTGD10rsalamon challenge with the DTGD10justwritedesigns01 challenge. The roses from Melanie Muenchinger's Pressed Flowers set were stamped with Vivid Aqua and the leaves were stamped with Kiwi Kiss. Two of the the flowers and leaves were cutout and popped up with dimensionals. The sentiment from Gina K's Inside Out set was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black, cutout with a Nesties shape, and sponged with the Aqua ink while it was still in the die. The punched butterfly was added to finish it off.
Recipe:
Stamps: Pressed Flowers, Inside Out
Paper: White
Ink: Vivid Aqua, Kiwi Kiss, Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Nestabilities, Martha Stewart Punch, Dimensionals

I made this card yesterday for the Featured stamper challenge....I was really excited to see Latisha (1busymomof2) as Featured Stamper in the spotlight...her gallery was such a delight with lots of gorgeous cards to case!!!! I chose her Best Wishes card for inspiration....I kept the same flower theme and white textured space but changed the flowers to Nina Brackett's Hugs and Prayers set, added the paper pieced butterfly, glitter, framed sentiment, and ribbon. This is also for all of these DTGD challenges:

DTGD10AmberDawn01

DTGD10StamperSharon

DTGD10CraftyCaro

DTGD10DeborahLynneS

Recipe:
Stamps: Hugs and Prayers
Paper: White, Real Red
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Real Red and Old Olive Markers, Wide Gingham Ribbon, Glitter, Nestabilities, Cuttlebug and Embossing Folder

I made this super fun Retro card for two challenges: Bev's DTGD10Bevmom ( I just love the food channel) and Kim's DTGD10Blondie090277 . I used papers and stickers from the the cutest scrapbook kit I bought at my LSS called Mom's Diner *Cookbookin* by PJK Designs from San Antonio, Tx. I backed the stickers with black cardstock so they were a little stiffer and easer to work with.
Recipe:
Paper: Prism Frosted Teal, Black, Cookbookin dp from PJK Designs
Accessories: Ribbon, Dimensionals

Anne (Itsapassion) hosted the Inspiration Challenge on SCS Saturday and chose the coolest web store called "Georgie Love". It's a source for Australian artists in Victoria to promote and sell their works to the world. I found my inspiration from the Black & White Damask Pleated Wristlet purse simply because I already had the black and white paper sitting on my stamp table from another project. I just love it when a plan comes together!!! The flower silhouette and sentiment both from Rubbernecker was stamped with Versafine Onyx Black, embossed with clear ep, cutout with a Nesties shape, and attached with foam tape. The silk ribbon and prima finish it off.
Recipe:
Stamps: Rubbernecker Floral, Rubbernecker Party Time
Paper: White, Prism Intense Kiwi, GCD Studios dp
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, Prima, Ribbon, Nestabilities

Whew!!! I think that's all today!! Be sure to check back tomorrow for the Taylored Expressions Blast from the Past Customer Blog Hop....I just love me some cuppies!!!!! Have a great day!!!

Happy July 4th!!!!

Good Sunday morning everyone.....and HAPPY JULY 4th!!! Our rain had finally stopped and the sun is shining this morning so maybe all the celebration parties won't be rained out!!! I stayed up late last night to make these cards for the Featured Stamper challenge on Splitcoast but waited till this morning to upload them....I'm getting toooo old to be burning the midnight oil!!! I got a new Papertrey Ink set called A Year of Flowers - Roses last week so I used it for both cards. Today's Featured Stamper is Charlene (cookiebaker)...her gallery is sooo awesome!!! I chose to case Charlene's CAS19 Love on Fifth Ave card. I kept the same design with a rose stamped in black and the piercing but changes the stamps and added the red ribbon and the Swarovski Crystal to the center of the rose. I stamped the images twice and popped them for a little dimension.
Recipe:
Stamps: Papertrey Ink's Year of Flowers - Roses
Paper: White, Black
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Ribbon, Swarovski Crystal

I loved Charlene's gallery so much that I just had to case another card!! I chose to case her CAS03, IC232 Thanks So Much card. I kept the same layout and punched felt butterfly but changed the stamps, punch for the border, papers and colors. I used the sentiment from the same PTI set and the first card and used PTI's Ocear Tides cardstock and ribbon. The designer paper is from Cosmo Cricket's Joy Rider collection.

Recipe:
Stamps: Papertrey Ink Year of Flowers - Roses
Paper: Vanilla, Ocean Tides, Cosmo Cricket Joy Rider
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Martha Stewart Punchs, Felt , Silver Pearl, PTI Ribbon

Thanks for stopping by this morning...I have got to head to the shower...church starts in an hour. It's a good thing I only live about 5 blocks away!!! Have a great July 4th!!!

Sunday Stamping

Hello everyone....hope your Sunday was super fun!!!!!! We have had a crazy busy week with school graduations, programs, and our big family birthday party yesterday but first I want to tell you about the cards I made this afternoon. This one is for the Queen for the Day challenge on Splitcoast to honor Grace Nywening (scrappigramma2). Whoa...doesn't Grace have the most amazing gallery!!!!!!???!!!!!! It took me 2 days to find a card that I could case and still do justice to her design!!! Every card in Grace's gallery is sooo gorgeous and elegant...I am sooo in awe of her talents!!! I finally decided to case her Octagonal Framed Scripture card. I kept the same basic layout with the frame, flowers, and pierced corners but changed the colors, stamps, frame shape, and added the bird and ribbons. The sentiment stamp from Rubbernecker was stamped in Old Olive over the stamped flower image from Rubbernecker's Floral Silhouettes #467 set onto the Basic Grey dp. The frame was colored with cream acrylic paint and them sponged with Pink Pirouette, stamped with Rubbernecker's Script and Canvas background stamps, and sponged a little with Regal Rose ink. The flowers, leaves, gold cording, and the bird were all attached with glue dots and sewing was done around the background edges.

I made this card for today's Featured Stamper Challenge to honor Emily (Scoopy)...this is my first time to visit Emily's gallery and what a treat!!! She has so many awesome CAS cards to case!!! I finally decided on her Holiday Drinks card...I kept the same layout and theme but changed the color of the card base from red to white, added the red matting layer and the ribbon, and changed the stamps to Rubbernecker's Birthday Borders set for the drinks and RN's Party Time set for the sentiment.
Recipe:
Stamps: Rubbernecker Party Time amd Rubbernecker Birthday Borders
Paper: White, Old Olive, Real Red
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Nestabilities, Ribbon, Cuttlebug and the Dotted Swiss Folder, Copics

We went to Caitlyn's Pre-K program Friday night...those little two year olds are sooo cute..Caitlyn is the littlest one in her class.

Can ya tell we live in Texas...even the two year olds wear cowboy boots!!!

This is our son Steve, his wife Christina, and their children, Ryan and Caitlyn....they are such a sweet little family!!!

We went to Cole's kindergarten graduation Friday morning....he was sooo excited to have his dad, our son Brian, and his Grandpa George there!!

Here he is receiving his diploma......

Congrats, Cole!!!!!!

We celebrated our May/June birthday party on Saturday. We had 7 birthdays and 2 anniversarys.....it's getting kinda hard to keep them all straight!!!!! Cole got a bike from his parents...pretty cool!!

Holly made the cupcakes and Steve and Brian are getting them all lit....we had a lot of help blowing them out!!!

My dear sweet Mom and my youngest DGS Jacob!!

We have 4 more school programs next week.....stay tuned for more pictures!!!! Thanks for stopping by...have a great week!!!!

Ways to Use It Challenge, Featured Stamper Challenge, Sketch Challenge and Stamp TV's Color Challenge

Hello, everyone.....hope you are having a great Thursday afternoon!! I am really excited because we are going to my DGS's first baseball game tonight!! He is all pumped up and of course, the whole family will be there to cheer him on!! I'll take some pictures to show you tomorrow. Anyway...on with the show!!
The Ways to Use it Challenge on Splitcoast was to use chipboard. I have had some chipboard buttons for over a year and finally got to use them today!! This is also for Sunday's Featured Stamper Challenge to honor Gloria (GloriousGreetings). She is such a sweetheart and if you have not been to her gallery, check it out...it's FABULOUS!!! I decided to case Gloria's CC221 OCCC Home is Wherever You Perch card....I used the same Clear Dollar Stamps called Pretty Perches and the same colors but changed the green dp, added the gingham ribbon, and added the chipboard butterfly for the challenge today.

The birdcage image was stamped on a scratch piece of white cs and then cutout and popped up on the cardstock stamped with the sentiment. Clouds were sponged on with Bashful Blue and the branch with leaves from the same set were stamped above the birdcage. The bow was attached with glue dots and raffia was tied in the butterfly chipboard button.

Recipe:
Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps Pretty Perches
Paper: White, Old Olive, CDS's Tangelo Smoothie, SEI dp
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango, Bashful Blue
Accessories: Gingham Ribbon, Chipboard Butterfly by Prima, Raffia, Dimensionals

I made this card yesterday for the Sketch Challenge on Splitcoast and for the color challenge on Stamp TV to use the colors on Tina's card...they came from the Cosmo Cricket's Material Girl paper pad. The images from Gina K's Spring Florals set were colored with copics and the flowers were cut out from one of the Material Girl papers. The butterflies with tiny pearls finish it off.
Recipe:
Stamps: Gina K's Spring Florals
Paper: Vanilla, Barely Banana, Baja Breeze, Ruby Red, Cosmo Cricket's Material Girl
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Brad, Pearls, Candy Dot, Nestabilities, Martha Stewart Butterfly and Fern Punches, SU Flower Punch

Thanks for visiting....have a great day!!!