Thank You (and a House Update!)

Hello friends!  Today is a little bittersweet for me as it is my last day as part of the Rubbernecker Stamps design team.  I have loved every minute with that talented crew and will miss their creativity and spunk!  Thank you all for everything and best wishes for a bright future!

For this card, I used a wonderful text stamp that has the text from the Elizabeth Barrett Browning poem "How do I Love Thee" and stamped some patterned paper with the text in a pale brown ink.  I stamped the "thank you" sentiment on a large circle die cut and then inked the edges.  I finished the card with some brown twine, flowers, and gems.

Next up I have some house pictures!  We got the keys last Tuesday and have made several trips up in the 10 days we've officially owned our house.  We picked out paint and the painter started this week.  I wish I had some "befores" because there is quite a difference!  Here's a bedroom that used to be yellow that I've turned into my craft room!  I'm in love with that pale aqua and am planning on all white furniture and storage.  Fun!

This is the view from the "hobby room" into the kitchen. We replaced a very bright yellow with this more subtle version -

This is our living room - we kept the paint intact in the main living space and the hallway since it was in really good shape - more $$ for craft storage!  :)

We expect the paint to be finished next week and then we get to pick out carpet.  Moving day is in about 3 weeks and we can't wait to be in the new house full time!  Thanks for visiting today!

Supplies:  Stamps (RN), DP (IOD), Ink - Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip (SU!), Tea Dye Duo (PTI), Cardstock - Crumb Cake, Whisper White (SU!), Flowers (Petaloo, Prima), Gems (Hero Arts), Twine (May Arts)

We Love to Laugh - PDCC 147

Hello friends!  Today marks the start of a brand new challenge with The Play Date Cafe and I'm so excited to be one of the first to share this gorgeous color story with you!  And, not only did we have these fabulous colors to work with, we also had some fun stamps provided by our sponsor this week, Gel-a-Tins!

I started off with an olive card base and used some houndstooth patterned paper as the background panel.  I stamped the "We Love to Laugh" sentiment circle onto some white cardstock using evergreen ink and then cut it out and adhered it to a circle die cut with a star border.  I finished the card with some gray and pink flowers, a glass leaf stick pin, and some pink trim.  

Thanks so much for stopping by today and I can't wait to see what you create using these fabulous colors!

Supplies:  Stamp (Gel-a-Tins), DP - Linen collection (Teresa Collins), Flowers/Ribbon (Webster's Pages), Stick Pin (Petaloo), Cardstock - Old Olive, Forest Foliage (SU!), Dies (Spellbinders), Cuttlebug, foam squares

Paper Made Bakery - Final August Sneak!

Hello friends!  Today is my final sneak for the August kit over on the Paper Made Bakery blog so I hope you have a chance to head over there for the full reveal!  I've had so much fun working with this kit and will be sad to see the daily inspiration come to an end with this beauty.  But, we will be revealing the new September kit very soon (blog hop on the 3rd!!) and you'll be amazed with what the DT has come up with!

 Thanks for visiting today!

J'adore

Hello friends!  Today is Saturday and I'm thrilled to be one of the first to reveal the newest sketch at Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge!  Check out this beauty inspired by DT member, Mona -

I was rifling around in a drawer that has a bunch of ephemera in it and found this old library card catalog card.  I think it must be a card for one of the videos this particular library offered.  I'm going to wander down memory lane a bit now and say that I love public libraries!!  Now I haven't been since we moved to San Francisco but I've spent a good number of hours at the library since I was a wee kid and my mom took me to story time at our local branch.  I've always loved to borrow books, records, and even movies!  And, for some reason, all of the movies I've borrowed over the years have been those great musicals of the 50s and 60s!  Okay, now you know why this little card was such an inspiration...  :)

I used some patterned papers to back the card and stamped one of the sentiments from Compact Sentiments on the bottom.  I then stamped the small rose and leaves from Roses in Bloom onto some coordinating papers and pieced them together.  I used a small pink brad for the center of the rose and pieced the center again to pop it up a bit.  I finished the card with a wooden button.

Thanks so much for visiting today and I sure hope you have a chance to play along with us this week!

Supplies:  Stamps (WMS), DP/Button/Brad - Konnichiwa collection (Basic Gray), Ink - Basic Black (SU!), foam squares, Cardstock - Pretty in Pink (SU!)

Love at First Sip

Hello friends!   Today I have my final card that I made for the Verve anniversary challenges this week - my take on the clean and simple challenge!  Tonight's the big release night and I'm afraid my credit card is going to get a workout!  :)  This was a clean and simple challenge and I went with one of my favorite sets, Better with You.

I started off with a cream background and stamped the "stain" in light brown ink and the sentiment over the top in dark brown.  I then stamped the three cups and pieced some cork paper for their little sleeves.  I was quite tempted but resisted the urge to dig through my trash can for an old (gross) cork coaster to make real ones.  I think the recipient of this card will thank me!  :)

I am also submitting this card to the Moxie Fab World repetition challenge in honor of the new Card Design Handbook.  I just ordered my copy and can't wait to get it!  I think I remember a lot of the principles from art school but it is easy to forget them and rely on my eye a little too much, lol! 

Thanks so much for visiting today!

Supplies:  Stamps (Verve), Cardstock - Vintage Cream (PTI), Ink - Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake (SU!), DP - Story Teller collection (Crate Paper)

Spooky Scary - PDCC 146

Hello friends - today marks the beginning of a new Color Splash at The Play Date Cafe!   Check out this fun green in the color story this week -

I sure hope you can play along with us this week because we're sponsored by SRM Stickers and the winner will be receiving a wonderful prize from them!  I kept this card CAS and had a lot of of fun using a number of border stickers from SRM to create this fun Halloween card.  I don't use many stickers on my cards and was really impressed by how seamless and easy to use they were!  I finished the card with a few black gems for some sparkle.

Thanks so much for visiting today and I'll see you in the Cafe!

Supplies:  Stickers (SRM), Cardstock - Select White (PTI), Gems (Prima)

Twinkle, Twinkle

Hello friends!  Today I have another card that I made for the Verve anniversary challenges!  This one is a color challenge and it is to use pink, green, and brown!  I've had this little Plain Jane stamp for a long time and haven't ever used it!  I thought it went perfectly with my Bo Peep collection so I put it to good use!  I stamped onto a tag from the collection and filled in the stars with a bit of Stickles.  I finished the card with a wooden diaper pin, some coordinating stickers, and a big bow.  

Happy anniversary, Verve!  This is some release and I can't wait to get my hands on some of those wonderful stamps!

Supplies:  Stamp (Verve), DP/Embellishments - Bo Peep collection (Crate Paper), Ribbon (Kate's Paperie), Cardstock/Ink - Chocolate Chip (SU!), foam squares, Stickles

Paper Made Bakery - Sneak Peek #3

Hello friends and happy Tuesday!  Today I'm sharing a card on the Paper Made Bakery blog that I made with the wonderful August kit - Garden Art!

I hope you had a chance to get one of the August kits because I heard they've sold out.  If not, I hope you get a chance to check out the September kit before it is gone!  These kits are just perfect for cardmakers - they typically include a 6x6 pad of paper, a stamp set, cardstock and envelopes, and enough embellies for at least 10 cards though you'll get a lot more out of it for sure!!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Birthday Wishes

Hello friends!  I'm so excited about the new release coming up at Verve to celebrate their 5th anniversary!  Part of the festivities are a number of challenges over at Splitcoast and I made this tag for Challenge #5 - Anything But a Card.  I thought the birthday sentiment was appropriate.  Happy birthday, Verve!

Things are getting hairy in my "studio" (and what I really mean is our dining room that has been converted to Glen's office and my craft room that we've shared for the 6 years we've lived in our apartment) now that we're packing to move to our very own home!  I've kept a few collections of patterned paper and my stamps will be the last thing I pack but my time to craft will start getting limited for sure! 

Anyway, I digress...  I started off with a large shipping tag and covered it with some patterned paper from an old Crate collection.  I stamped the flowers and leaves from Love's Flower on coordinating papers and pieced them.  The flowers are layered for dimension and finished with a colored pearl.  I stamped a greeting from Big Wish onto the tag and finished it with a little bee die from the collection, some found raffia and some twine.

Thanks for visiting today!

Supplies:  Stamps (Verve), Tag (Uline), DP/Embellishment - Neighborhood collection (Crate Paper), Pearls (Recollections), Twine (PTI), Raffia (my stash), Ink - Chocolate Chip (SU!), foam squares

Love You

Hello friends!  Guess what - it's time for a new challenge with Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge!  We continue our inspiration from DT creations and this week we have this lovely from Julia -

I was rifling through my sets and came across Nordic Spring and realized I hadn't used any of the stamps from that set except the butterfly - isn't that a shame?  Well, I certainly remedied that with this card using the tulip flower and stem stamps to build the background and then using the birds on a label (Very Vintage Labels 18 which is new to me and I love it!!) and one of the sentiments from Compact Sentiments.  I finished the card with a white silk ribbon and a vintage button tied with some baker's twine. 

Thanks so much for visiting today and I can't wait to see what you come up with using this fun sketch!  Remember, one random participant will win their choice of sets from WMS!  Fun!!

Supplies:  Stamps (WMS), Cardstock - Select White (PTI), Ink - Real Red, Garden Green, Night of Navy (SU!), Ribbon (May Arts), Twine (French General), vintage button, foam squares

WMS Blog Party (and a House Update!)

Happy Friday!!  Today is the 17th and that means it's blog party day with Waltzingmouse Stamps!  If you have no idea what I'm talking about, head over to the blog to get started - you might even have time to participate yourself! 

I knew I wanted to use neutrals and go with an elegant birthday look so I started off with a piece of gray patterned paper from my new Studio Calico kit and a gray card base.  I grabbed one of the tags from the kit and stamped it with the small flower from the French Country set using silver ink.  I then stamped one of the labels from VV Labels 18 and a sentiment from Fancy Phrases.  I finished the card with some sparkly ribbon and a few gems. 

Oh, I promised a house update!  Well, all of the papers are signed and we're scheduled to get the keys this coming Tuesday!  We can hardly believe it and are so excited to move into our new home!  Now the craziness begins, right?!  We have to paint and replace the carpet before we move so our moving date is unknown but are planning to be out of our apartment by the end of September.  Here's the first photo we saw of the place and where we started to fall in love with it.  I have absolutely no idea how to care for a pool but can't wait to spend time in the huge garden!  And, best of all.... my own craft studio!  I'll be sure to post pictures as I start working on that!  Whee!!  A huge thanks to everyone who has supported this dream of ours and I promise I will be back out here visiting blogs more often as soon as things settle down.  It has been a wild ride!  :)

Supplies:  Stamps (WMS), Cardstock - Basic Gray (SU!), DP/Tag - August Kit (Studio Calico), Gems (Prima), Ink - Silver (Encore), Going Gray, Basic Black (SU!) 

Oodles of Love - PDCC 145

Hello friends!  Today is the start of another wonderful color story at The Play Date Cafe!  I sure hope you can play along with us this week because I can't wait to see what you create using these wonderful colors -

I started off with a piece of slate patterned paper and then stamped the wonderful frame using some gray ink and the sentiment inside using Dusty Durango.  I finished the card with some mustard crinkle ribbon, a yellow flower, and some crystal stick pins. 

Link up by 11:59 ET on Tuesday to be eligible for our prize sponsored by Momenta!  The "Cup of the Week" will be announced during the next challenge!

Thanks so much for visiting today!

Supplies:  Stamps - Very Vintage Labels 5, Compact Sentiments (Waltzingmouse Stamps), DP (Prima), Ribbon (my stash), Flower (Petaloo), Ink - Basic Gray, Dusty Durango (SU!), Pins (Maya Road), foam squares

Paper Made Bakery - Sneak Peek #2

Hello friends!  It's my day to feature a creation over on the Paper Made Bakery blog and here's a little sneak of what I'm going to show you there!  Head over for all of the deets! 

Thanks for visiting today!



Work with a Smile

Happy Sunday, friends!  Today I've got a card to share with you that I made for a couple of challenges.  I started out with the inspiration in this week's "Type Hype" Tuesday Trigger and thought of my October Afternoon papers right away.  I cut the type paper and layered some ledger paper that I splattered using a stamp from Typically Teen.  I added a coordinating journaling tag that I applied some word stickers to and then finished the card with a coordinating brad.

About halfway through the card, I realized I was using so much mint green, I thought it was perfect to add to the "Minty Fresh" challenge at Moxie Fab World as well.  I do adore this color!

Thanks for visiting!

Supplies:  Stamps - Typically Teen (TCM), DP/Embellishments - 9 to 5 collection (October Afternoon), Cardstock/Ink - Basic Black (SU!), foam squares

Best Sister

Hello friends!  Today is Saturday and guess what that means?!  Yep, a brand new challenge at Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge!!   This week we've got a sketch inspired by one of Laurie's creations -

I started off with some fun papers from the Neapolitan collection and stamped a tag with words I assembled from Compact Family to make this great sentiment.  I really piled the goodies on this card this time and added crochet trim, several chipboard accents, and a fun flower "thingie."  I had a lot of fun and think my sister will love it!  Off to figure out how to get it through the mail without squishing it!

I'd love to see your take on this week's sketch!  Three luckies will be chosen Top Mice for the week and one random participant will win their very own WMS stamp set!  Thanks for visiting today!

Supplies:  Stamps (WMS), DP/Embellishments - Neapolitan collection (American Crafts), Ink - Basic Black (SU!), Ribbon/Trim/Twine (May Arts) 



The Craft's Meow - Want2Scrap Blog Hop!

Hello friends! Today's the day - the big The Craft's Meow/Want2Scrap blog hop!  If you're here from AJ's blog, you're in the right spot.  If not, head over to the Want2Scrap blog to get started! 

For my first card, I used some new papers from Crate Paper and stamped one of the sentiments from Inspired By Audrey on the floral background paper.  I stamped the tulip stems (have I mentioned they are my absolute favorite flowers?) from Flower Garden onto a coordinating journaling card and then stamped the blooms in rose ink, cut them out, and popped them up for some dimension.  I finished the card with the wonderful corner flourish from Want2Scrap!

I had so much fun creating with the W2S bling, I couldn't stop at just one card!  :)  For the second card, I wanted to make something a bit more "black tie" and used the W2S pearl brackets around a January calendar, also from a sheet of Crate Paper.  I stamped the sentiment and images from Ladies and Gents and then pieced the parasol with another piece of coordinating paper.  Since our wedding was in January, I thought it would be a perfect card to give my hubby for our next anniversary.  Here's to hoping he won't see the blog before then...  :)

Now for the fun part!!  Each company will be giving away a prize for lucky participants who complete the hop and leave a comment on each blog.  The deadline for leaving comments to win is Sunday, Aug 12^th and winners will be announced on the each blog by Tuesday, Aug 14^th.

Thanks for visiting today and now head over to Aimes' blog for some more wonderful inspiration!

Card 1 Supplies:  Stamps (TCM), DP/Journaling Card - Bo Peep collection (Crate Paper), Cardstock - Vintage Cream (PTI), Bling (W2S), Ink - Rose Red, Garden Green, Basic Black (SU!), foam squares

Card 2 Supplies:  Stamps (TCM), DP - Portrait collection (Crate Paper), Cardstock/Ink - Basic Black (SU!), Bling (W2S)

Be Mine - PDCC 144

Hello friends!  Today I have an exciting announcement - I am a new member of The Play Date Cafe design team!  Talk about an honor to be crafting along side women I've been fans of for a long time!!  Wow!!  :)  Check out this wonderful, summery, color story...

For my card, I started off with some Neapolitan papers, stamped the sentiment from The Craft's Meow set "Happy Owlentine's Day", added a pinwheel embellishment with a chipboard banner I stamped with some hearts from the same set.  I finished the card with a bamboo drink stirrer tied with some twine.

I hope you have a chance to play this week as we've got a wonderful prize provided by Simon Says Stamp!

Thanks so much for visiting today and for all of your wonderful support!  I'm looking forward to bringing you some fun color inspiration every week with the PDCC and I can't wait to see what you create!!

Supplies:  Stamps (TCM), DP/Embellishments - Neapolitan collection (Dear Lizzy), bamboo stirrer, Twine (The Twinery), Cardstock/Ink - Regal Rose (SU!)