Use It Challenge #15

2 posts in one week! Don't fall over! My hours at work have finally been cut back to 16 so I have a little more time for my neglected friends Paper and Ink. (Between folding socks and keeping the little monkeys fed, of course!)

I made this card for the Use It Tuesday challenge...to use an uninked stamp. The only difficult part was choosing which uninked stamp to use! And if my husband is reading this, I only had 2 to choose from. If you are a crafter, you know I may have underestimated that number just slightly. ;)

At any rate, I picked up this sweet fairy from Paper Makeup a while back. I got her to use on birthday cards. She lends herself to coloring, which I love to do. :) And the sketch came from my friend Susanne at Scrap, Stamp and Doodle Saturdays.

We would love to have you play along with us at Use It Tuesday! Link a card using an uninked stamp to the blog by 23 Sept! You know you have an uninked stamp...or 2! We would love to see what you make!

Back To School

Yes, I realize it is only June 25th. And I am obviously dreaming. Let me live in my own fantasy land!!

We are so excited to be working with Robyn's Fetish this week at SSDS! She has some darling digital images, one of which that I used here on my card! I made my little backpack red because it reminded me of the little schoolchildren in Japan who carry red backpacks jam-packed with gear! So stinkin' cute!

And, this week is a SKETCH challenge! Now, I am not sure who made that sketch (me), but it looks like fun so you surely want to play along, RIGHT?! :) As an incentive, Robyn's Fetish is giving away a PRIZE!! So link up by Friday! And good luck!!

Stamps: Robyn's Fetish Backpack, sentiment is Lawn Fawn
Paper: DCWV School Pack, SU for cardstock
Ink: Copics and Memento Tuxedo Black, PTI Fresh Snow
Accessories: SU Ribbons and Brads

Retro Lights

So, apparently you CAN teach old dogs new tricks!

I told y'all (and yes, I used to live in Texas so I can rightfully use that word!) that until last week I had not ever used digital images. Well, this week I challenged myself to make a scene using them!

And nope, it was not the type of profanity laced, computer throwing scene you were probably thinking of! It was a sweet scene, full of fun digis!

And guess what?? I got 3 digis on this one card! Since they were the focus of the card front, I was able to whip out this CAS creation in 15 minutes!

But wait, there's more!
Did you say that in your best infomercial voice??

I saved it on my computer so I can recreate it at the click of a button! Although DH might get a little jealous if I sent this to just anyone! ;)

Stamps: Mod Kitch Kitsch and Say it Like it's 1959
Paper: PTI Stampers Select White, DCWV Tahiti
Ink: Copics to color
Accessories: SU Gold Twine & Brads, Stickles because all cards need a little bling :), Amuse Scallop Edge Die

Sketchy Saturday

First and foremost, sorry for my 'silence' lately. (Or maybe that was really a blessing to you! HA!) It seems blogger is having a little tiff with Firefox. I keep trying to get into my blogger account...only to be in an endless loop of entering my password and being sent back to the log-in screen. Mind you, I can get all my emails...**sigh**.

Then...an epiphany! I tried using Safari...and viola! I am baaaccckkkk! Just in time for our SSDS challenge, too! :)

So this week we have a fabulous sketch made by one of our own, Sue!

We would love to have you play along! A Cuttlebug Embossing folder is up for grabs! Just link your creation up to the challenge post by Friday!

I hope all my American friends have a restful and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend!

Stamps: Hero Arts

Paper: Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise, White, unknown patterned paper

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics

Accessories: Felt, Stickles, PTI Cloud Dies, SU Embossing Plate, Grosgrain Ribbon, Nestabilities, Eyelets, Half-backed Pearls

SSDS Celebrating Mom

This week celebrates Mom over at Stamp, Scrap and Doodle Saturdays!

I had fun with this card...used a new stamp I picked up a month or so ago during a sale at JoAnn's. LOVED coloring it with my Copics...hope my Mother In Law and Grandma like it...I made one for each of them!

We would love to have you join us this week! Just link up your Mother's Day creation by Friday on the SSDS blog.

Spring has totally sprung in Alaska! We are enjoying 16+ hours of daylight now, growing by 7 minutes a day! Yes, the kids are all going crazy! ;)

Stamps: Inkadinkado, sentiment is SU
Paper: Basic Black, Baja Blue, Tangerine Tango, PTI White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics, Versamark
Accessories: Swirl Clip, Top Note Die (SU), Seam Binding Ribbon (SU), Stickles, Embossing Folder, Stickles, Clear Embossing Powder

Happy to enter this at:
-Hand Stamped Sentiments (Mother's Day)
-Joyful Stamper (Anything Goes)
-Totally Papercrafts (Glitter)
-Paper Cutz Challenge (Anything Goes)

SSDS Numbers

Yay for another Saturday!

This week at Scrap, Stamp & Doodle the theme is numbers! I hope you can see mine embossed behind the image panel. Sad but true...I have had that embossing folder for 3+ years and it has never been used...until now! Why don't you join in the challenge and use your stash as well?

Stamps: A Slice of Life (SU), sentiment (PTI)
Paper: Pacific Point, Whisper White, Tangerine Tango, Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry, PTI Stampers Select White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics
Accessories: Rhinestones (CTMH), SU Melon Mambo Ribbon, Nestabilities, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Stickles

I hope you have a fabulous weekend! Thanks for dropping by!

Love is in the Air

The challenge this week at Scrap, Stamp & Doodle Saturdays is to make a card about love. Very fitting for the week, no?

I am in the mode of using sets that have yet to see ink, so I went to my stash of TAC sets and found this darling little girl holding a balloon! With a little help of the Hearts & Brackets Sizzix die, I changed the shape of her balloon. :) Much better for the occasion!

Stamps: main image is TAC, sentiment Timeless Love (Paper Pretties)
Paper: PTI Stampers Select White, Poppy Parade, Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise, Wild Asparagus patterned paper
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics to color
Accessories: Poppy Parade ribbon, skittles, Hearts & Brackets Sizzix die, stickles. Glassy Glaze, white gel pen, SU Scallop Edge punch

Hope you have a fabulous long weekend!

PWC141 Cards for Kiddos

With 3 kids in the house under 10 (for another day, anyway!) I am always in need of a birthday card for a child. Both of my girls are soooo into horses! Needless to say, when they saw this image from Paper Pretties, they were immediately enamored!

And just to elaborate so no one thinks anything bad, my son turns 11 tomorrow! I am not sending one off into the wildness for some boot camp...yet anyway. Heh. ;)

This week's challenge at Paper Pretties is to make a card for child! One random lucky participant will win the set ""Wade E Bug"" You do not need to use Paper Pretties stamps in order to play along, but if you do, you will get a bonus entry into the drawing! Please be sure to mention our challenge and link back to the Paper Pretties blog in your project posting. When uploading to SCS or PCP please use keyword PWC141.

Stamps: Horsin' Around
Paper: Basic Black, Riding Hood Red, Kraft, PTI Stampers Select White, patterned paper from my stash
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics
Accessories: Kaisercraft black rhinestones, Crystal Effects, Stickles, Distressing Tool, SU Scallop Border Punch, Seam Binding Ribbon

Horseplay is allowed...hope you play along!

SSDS Stripes and Dots

When the Scrap, Stamp and Doodle Saturdays challenge was for stripes and dots, I knew exactly what I was going to do! I have a friend expecting a baby girl and I wanted to give her a card that reflects what girls are all about: animal print, bling, and shoes. Enough said. ;)

Don't know if you can tell, but the black shoe is done up in Crystal Effects so it can look like patent leather. Only the best for the new little lady! ;)

Stamps: Shoebag (stampingbella.com)
Paper: Basic Black, Temping Turquoise, Pretty in Pink, Pretty in Pink DSP and my scraps of the zebra print paper :)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Copics
Accessories: Crystal Effects, Stickles, Dimensionals, Dew Drops, SU Ribbon

Sketchy Chick

Isn't this the cutest chicken stamp?? I just fell in love with it the moment I saw it! And the whole set comes with the most darling sentiments that are so versatile! I will be using it a lot for sure!

It was so fun playing with the sketch this week at Paper Pretties! One random lucky participant this week will win the set "Angel Wings Sophia" You do not need to use Paper Pretties stamps in order to play along, but if you do, you will get a bonus entry into the drawing! Please be sure to mention our challenge and link back to the Paper Pretties blog in your project posting. When uploading to SCS or PCP please use keyword PWC139.

Stamps: Cluck Part II (Paper Pretties)
Paper: Basic Black, Cajun Craze, Daffodil Delight, PTI White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics to color
Accessories: Nesties, Kaiser Black Rhinestones, Stickles, SU Gingham Ribbon, Dimensionals

I hope all of my virtual friends who are getting pounded with snow and cold weather are hanging in there. This would probably be a bad time to say we are having gorgeous weather here...positive 24 today. You can thank me for sending you that little arctic blast later...no cards required!

Wild Stitches

It is Wednesday and that means another challenge over at Paper Pretties! This week was scary for me...we were asked to used some form of sewing on our creation! As you can tell, I cannot sew well at all...not even in a straight line, but I think that just adds character, no? ;)

(And of course you could have used faux sewing, but if I tried that my little Janome Sew-Mini would have mocked me the entire time I made the card, being quite the distraction.)

One random lucky participant this week will win the set "One of these Days" You do not need to use Paper Pretties stamps in order to play along, but if you do, you will get a bonus entry into the drawing! Please be sure to mention our challenge and link back to the Paper Pretties blog in your project posting. When uploading to SCS or PCP please use keyword PWC138.

When I chose to use this darling stamp set, I immediately thought of attitude and sassiness! Don't you just love that shoe?! And I knew I had the perfect paper to pair it with (no pun intended)!

Stamps: Sassy Shoes (Paper Pretties)
Paper: Basic Black, Pink Passion, Whisper White, Zebra paper from my stash
Ink: Versafine Black, Copics to color
Accessories: ribbon, Stickles, rhinestones, circle/scalloped circle nestabilities, my trusty ol' Janome Sew-Mini :)

We are having a little warm spell here! Tomorrow's forecast...a high of 7! YES! A positive 7! It is the little things...;)

Hope you have a blessed day!

PWC137 Paper Piecing

Yay for another Wednesday challenge at Paper Pretties! This week's theme is Paper Piecing! I love this technique! It helps me use my stash...which I have a **slight** tendency to hoard. ;)

One random lucky participant this week will win the set "Simply Special" You do not need to use Paper Pretties stamps in order to play along, but if you do, you will get a bonus entry into the drawing! Please be sure to mention our challenge and link back to the Paper Pretties blog in your project posting. When uploading to SCS or PCP please use keyword PWC137. Hope you play along!

Isn't this little Sophia darling? She comes with a gorgeous Thank You sentiment. I chose to pair her with the Happy Birthday sentiment because I always seem to need birthday cards! She was fun to paper piece as well! Her dress really lends itself to the technique.

Stamps: Giving Thanks-Sophia, Make A Wish Sophia (sentiment) all from Paper Pretties
Paper: PTI Stampers Select White, Certainly Celery & Bashful Blue (SU), Patterned Paper from my stash!
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics to color
Accessories: Stickles, Rhinestones, Buttons, DMC Floss

I am officially surviving winter here in Alaska. Last night on my drive home, the car thermometer read -30! On the bright side (no pun intended!) we are gaining 7 minutes of daylight a day. Yippee! Summer here rocks and I cannot wait for it!

Wishing you a blessed day!

SSDS How Many Buttons...

...can you get on one card?! The challenge this week at Scrap, Stamp, & Doodle Saturdays was to use...BUTTONS! (I know, betcha could not tell!)

I had a blast with this card! I tend to be a hoarder so it was freeing to have "permission" to use the stash. ;)

This card is based on an altered notebook I made previously for my friend Naomi. I did change it up a bit with colors and layout. I must admit, I love this sketch (from SCS) and I know I will use it again!

Stamps: Minty Coffee & Sentiment (StampingBella.com)
Paper: CM patterned paper from the stash, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, PTI White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics
Accessories: Buttons! (American Craft, SU), Ribbon (SU), Embroidery Floss, dimensionals, Stickles

Thanks for dropping by!

Falling in Love with Ketto!

Fall is my favorite season! I just love the changing colors, the crisp air...unfortunately, in Alaska, we only get 2 weeks of it! I woke to the "s" word on Sunday! It was only a dusting, but still! :)

I made this card for Stamp, Scrap and Doodle Saturday's weekly challenge and for Bellarific Friday, as they both called for Fall Themed cards! Additionally, Flutterby Wednesday's theme was open this week, so I got this in just in time!

I could not resist this navy gingham ribbon I found in my stash! It guided my whole project this week.

Stamps: Anise Ketto (StampingBella.com), sentiment: PaperTrey Ink
Paper: All SU: Night of Navy, Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry, PTI white
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics, SU Night of Navy
Accessories: SU Embossed Dots background, Stickles, ribbon from my stash

I do have some fun news to share! First off, I won the Artist Pick from Hand Stamped Sentiments for my card made in the post below. Then, I got 4 cards published in the latest issue (Fall 2010) edition of Just Cards! I think this deserves some sort of celebration! What shall I get myself as a "reward"?? :) Unfortunately I just spent a good bit on some Decor Elements for the house, so I am looking at the reward on my wall! And boy, are they pretty! I will have to post some pics so you can see, too!

Thanks for stopping by!

HSS Color Challenge!

Nothing made me happier this week than to participate in one of my favorite blog challenges over at Hand Stamped Sentiments! This week's color challenge was to use Pear Pizzaz, Real Red, Early Espresso, and Pacific Point.

I decided to pull out a fun Stamping Bella image that had yet to see ink (sad, I know!) because I really wanted to use my Copics! Of course, since I was in tool withdrawal, I had to find an excuse to use my Big Shot (embossing). As I pulled open an embellishment drawer, my beloved Stickles were just begging to be used! Oh. My. Gosh! It feels so good to have my stuff back again! :)

I used the SU Background stamp, Dotted on the Pear layer with Versamark to give it some dimension, which you can barely make out in the picture.

Stamps: Daisy Balloon (StampingBella), sentiment (PTI), Dotted (SU)
Paper: Early Espresso, Pear Pizzaz, Real Red, PTI White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Sepia, Versamark
Accessories: SU Ribbon, SU Brads, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Stickles, Dimensionals, Spellbinders Nestabilities

Thanks for a fun challenge, Hand Stamped Sentiments! I missed playing with you lovely gals!

Diaperbella Bag

So tell me, is this not the cutest diaper bag stamp ever?! I know! And I love it paired with the DCWV mat stack. Just perfect for that little bundle of joy!

I know I said previously we had a lot of babies in our squadron this year. I think I still might have a few more shower cards to share, but don't quote me! While my house is completely cleaned out, my computer is not! I had planned to use this time of "living simply" to clean out my electronic life, alas I am finding other things to keep me busy!

Speaking of keeping busy, I did get the chance to make cards on Saturday with my group here. :) We had a blast. It was also "fun" to make cards with very limited supplies! Pictures, you ask? Ha! I am not that organized yet! For now, you get to see the files that I already have on the computer!

My limited supply list: Stamp by Stamping Bella, Sentiment by Papertrey Ink. Paper is SU and DCWV. Ink is Copics and Memento Tuxedo Black. Accessories: Robin's Nest Dew Drops, Yummy SU Ribbon, misc button, CB embossing folder, SU punch.

Thanks for dropping in! T minus 30 days until we land in Alaska!!

Babies Galore!

Babies are a dime a dozen here right now, which is fun because it gives me a great excuse to make some fun shower cards!

This card was made for my friend Anna's shower. I did not know it, but her daughter's room is brown and pink! How perfect is that?!

I had so much fun with this one...I found those clothespins at the 100 yen store and I love them! Of course, I bought 3 packs of them in various colors because I am a hoarder. :)

You can't tell from the picture, but the main panel and the clothes are all up on dimensionals.

Stamps: Kettos' Clothesline and Baby Set (StampingBella.com)
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette, DCWV stack, PTI white
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics
Accessories: Linen Thread, Wooden Clothespins, Brads, Pink Pirouette Ribbon, SU Button

My Spring Cleaning has slowed, but I am forcing myself to do something each day. I have all that yucky stuff left, like the file cabinets...and my closet...which is depressing in more ways than I care to mention!! HA! Once I finish though, I will have a ton more time to craft...so that is motivation for you! (...or maybe I can reward myself with some new paper!! LOL)

Thanks for stopping by today!

On the Move!

As many of you know, my husband is in the military. This means, among other things, every few years we uproot and move. As much of a pain the rear moving is, it sure is a great excuse to clean (well, be forced to clean) out the closets!

This looming move is why I have been absent from the blog world for a little bit. The kids were out on Spring Break, so I took the opportunity to clean house...and clean house we did! I only have a few more rooms to tackle...but it will be easy peasy with help from the DH!

Speaking of DH, he took a look at my craft area tonight and had to audacity to ask if I would be getting rid of anything. Silly boy...how long have we been married? NO, I am not giving up my toys. I would give up a child before I did that. Kidding, of course. Partially. ;)

So, where am I moving, you ask? Just wait...

Now for the card. This is ironic...a friend here asked me to make a card she could send to her friend in Alaska. She requested a thinking of you theme, with a little of Japan mixed in with Alaska. And she loves the Bella line of stamps. This is what I came up with!

Why is it ironic? Because soon thereafter, I found out we were moving Alaska!

While I am admittedly more than ready to be done with snow (California girl has had enough after 13 years, but who is counting?!), I am so excited for this adventure! And if I have to live in the snow, why not go to such a magical place?! We are lucky enough to have several friends already there and more moving in this summer. Plus, what makes the winter pass more quickly than to stamp it away?! :)

And hey, look at the bright side...I don't have to live in a State that likes the Cowboys! (That was for my football fan friends who know how much I **love** the Cowgirls! Ironically enough, that move to Texas almost happened!) Enough of the football smack-talk! ;) You can now bombard me with Sarah Palin comments in retaliation! I am ready for you...with my lipstick on!

Thanks for stopping by!

Maisy Ketto for Three!

Finally...I have finally done it! I made one card work for three challenges! All you hot shots out there that do this all the time, my hat is off to you! ;)


I used the Bellarific Friday Sketch (but obviously turned it...it has been an upside down week already anyway...), met the requirements for Flutter By Wednesday's #103 Color Challenge, and, drum roll please...completed the requirement for making something with wings for Scrap, Stamp & Doodle Saturdays!

Hope you like the end creation! How can you resist Maisy Ketto? She is just darling, isn't she?!

Stamps: Maisy Ketto (Stamping Bella), Mixed Messages (PTI)
Paper: PTI White, Bashful Blue, Old Olive, Cutie Pie DSP
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics
Accessories: Old Olive ribbon, Felt Flowers, Rhinestone Brads, Opal EP, Versamark Pen, Rhinestones

As a side, my kids know they are not allowed to touch anything on my craft table. I am not sure why, but I think someone was sitting in my chair...and touching things! Humm...

I asked my 4 year old, who vehemently denied the accusation. Um hum. Maybe it was the dog. ;)

Thanks for stopping by today. :)

Domo Arigato

Hey Blog Buddies! Have you missed me? ;) I apologize for the longer than anticipated hiatus. I seriously think for each single day you take of vacation, you should get 3 days to compensate for all the things you have to accomplish upon your return...namely laundry. :)

At any rate, I did want to share a thank you card I made recently. I am not sure why, but it never previously occurred to me to paper piece my washi paper with these Ketto stamps. I must admit, I am just smitten with how it looks!

Stamps: Wasabi Ketto (StampingBella.com), Asian Poetry (SU)
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Brushed Gold, Mellow Moss, Regal Rose, Washi Paper
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics, Versamark
Accessories: SU Brads, Gold Cord, CC Ribbon, Nestabilities

Thanks so much for stopping by today!