Sad but true...

Yes folks, it's sad but true - I have no flutter by card for you today!! For those that don't know, last Thursday I had surgery and although everything went fine I totally underestimated my recovery time & strength! My body totally feels like I'm getting over the flu!! I just wanted to take a quick moment and THANK YOU all for your thoughts and prayers - I believe they totally worked as the surgery could have been much worse! Also, obviously I'm not on the computer so I'm not blogging or blog hopping - please know that I'm thinking of you all and will get back to creating soon! I think it's very important to take the time to rest now and not pay for it later!

Be sure to check out Danni's blog for her wonderful flutter by creation - the challenge this week was to use red, white & blue along with your butterfly or fairy. Also, check out Nancy's blog as she is the featured team member. Her work is awesome!! You can find all the other team member's links on the right so take a moment to stop by and see all the gorgeous red, white and blue creations!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Christmas Reindeer

Well it's Monday so it must be time for another Christmas Card!! This week we are using the wonderful sketch below provided my Maria.

And here is my card:

This card is a little bigger than I'm used to - it's a 6x6. I've seen a few Christmas cards with reindeer's and remembered I had picked this stamp up in a dollar bin. I thought it was the perfect image for the sketch.

Remember to stop by the Christmas blog to see all the wonderful creations as well as play along! We'd love to see your Christmas Cards!!

Thanks for stopping by & for looking!

Card Details:

Card Size: 6x6

DP: SU!

Stamp: unknown

Flutter By Wednesday #16 & AMYRS65 Sketch

Happy Wednesday to you! Today I'm so freakin' excited to share some wonderful news. This week our guest designer is none other than Lauren Meader!! Have you seen her work?? I just love it and she also designs the Timeless Templates for PTI which I'm in love with!! They are awesome!! And if that wasn't enough, Jodi is the featured team member!! She is so nice and talented as well! Be sure to check out her blog to see her amazing creations!! Ok, on to my card - this week there was no specific challenge so we could do whatever we wanted as long as we used a butterfly or a fairy! Well, my friends, I used both! For my card I used Amy R.'s sketch #65 shown below:

cool sketch, huh? And here is my card:

See the sparkle??? Isn't she beautiful? I'm digging this image - and for those loyal readers out there I colored her hair blond - yep!! Can you believe it?? Normally I use brown just cause I'm used to those copic colors but today I dared to do something different. The image was given to me as a RAK from Kristie - Thanks so much! Can you see the little butterfly I added?

A few more things - if you want to play along just visit Danni's blog to leave a link to your creation. While you are there you'll need to check out her card - I'm sure it will be absolutely adorable as they always are!! To see the other team members cards, just visit their blogs which are on the right side of my blog!

I'm going to try and schedule some post while I'm out this week. Tomorrow is my surgery and even though I'm supposed to get out soon I probably won't feel like walking up and down the stairs to the computer for a few days :o). Thank you to everyone for your kind words - they mean a lot!

Thanks for stopping by and happy flutter by!

Card Details:

Stamp: PMS (image) & TAC (sentiment)

DP & Cardstock - SU

Other: button, scrappers floss, copics, crystal stickles, martha stewart butterfly punch

Happy Mail Day!!

Yesterday the mailman rang my door to personally hand me my mail. I got so excited as I thought it was my order from Funky Kits arriving. Instead there were were cards from wonderful online friends to me! How very exciting - and each one of them had goodies for me too!! The cards were so cute I just had to share them with all of you!

First up is my friend, Tina. She's so nice, answers all my questions and has this great clean style to all her cards! She does a great job coloring and I enjoy looking at her blog everyday! Her card is beautiful and has tons of layers to it - it's so pretty and the paper is to die for!! Plus she sent me a bella stamp (WHOOHOO) and tons of images!! Yep, I'm going to be doing a lot of coloring over the next week! Thanks Tina - you're the best!

Next is my wonderful and dear friend, Danni! We first met on a Yahoo group and I've been stalking her every since, LOL. Seriously though, she's freakin' amazing! Each one of her cards is a coloring masterpiece. She also deals with my emails and phone calls - she helps me in anyway she can. I mean I told her I wanted this image and she sent it! This card is absolutely beautiful and Danni always decorates the insides of her cards so it's like two cards in one!! Thanks a bunch Danni - you rock!

Thanks for thinking of me, girls - you've touched me deeply!

CAC Sketch Card - Cupcake Birthday

With all the different things going on I haven't been able to participate in the CAC sketches the last couple of weeks. This week's sketch was a fun one and it just spoke to me. The sketch is provided by my friend, Heather and is one I know I'll be using again and again!

Here is my card:

Yummy, huh? The colors DO match, I promise! I was going to add some Scrapper's Floss to my button & ribbon but totally forgot - oh well! I was going to use my new Maya Road Cupcake Stamps but saw these cute cupcakes sitting on my desk and knew I just had to use them instead!

Thanks for stopping by and looking!

Card Details:

Card Size: 4 1/4 x 5 1/2

DP: DCWV Sweet Stack

Cupcake: Martha Stewart

Stamp: Stampendous

Discontinued List from TAC

It's that time of year where The Angel Company needs to make room for all the new stamp sets that will be appearing in our new catalog. The follow stamp sets are available at 25% off regular price and are limited in quantity - when they're gone, they're gone so HURRY!! Get the ones you want today!

I'm sorry if you are having trouble reading this. HOPEFULLY you can click on the list and it will be larger so you can actually read it. If you have any trouble just email me and I'll email you a copy. If you would like to place an order, you will need to email me your order. By doing that, we'll make sure you get all the freebies that you are eligible for as well as have it shipped directly to you!!

Just to let you know there are a lot of AWESOME sets on the list - something for everyone! So what are you waiting for - get to shopping, LOL!

Merry & Bright

This week on the Christmas Stampin' All Year Long Blog, we were given a sketch to use. I was excited about the sketch as I could see many different stamp sets being used not to mention 3d stickers & rub-ons. I decided to change the sketch a bit and instead of 3 circles, I used squares.

Whatcha think? It's a pretty bright card, isn't it! I decided to use some black cardstock & ribbon to try and tone it down a little!

Be sure to stop by the Christmas Stampin' All Year Long blog to see what all the team members created. We'd love to have you play along as well! Now's the perfect time to start on those holiday cards...there are only 249 days left until Christmas :o)

Thanks for stopping by and looking! I hope your Monday is a good one!!

Card Details:
Card Size: 4 1/4 x 5 1/2
Stamps: Hero Arts (sentiment) & SU
Paper: American Crafts
Other: Super Jumbo Square Punch, Fiskars Apron Lace Border Punch, Cuttlebug Tag Die, L'Amore Red Palette ink

Notebooks Galore

Happy Friday to you - Today I thought I'd share some notebooks that I made recently. I don't know about you but those darn $1 bins at Micheal's really do me in! I just can't resist the stuff! One of my favorites from the bins are the notebooks. I love getting them and altering them. It's fun to personalize them for each recipient.

I decided I wanted to start trying to lose a little (ummm I mean a lot, LOL) weight. One thing I've heard to do is write down everything you eat. I know when I do this it really makes me think twice about eating those 15 cupcakes...**note: I know you don't know me but I hope you know I don't EVER eat 15 cupcakes - I think 10 is about all I could handle :0) - can you tell I'm a smartbutt???LOL)** ANYWAY, I wanted to make myself a notebook to record my daily eating habits and here is what I came up with. This is the front:

and here is the back:


what was neat about this notebook the inside covers were already white. I decided just to stamp them and add a quote that I liked


These next notebooks were made by request. I tell you it was pretty tough making the first set seeing how I went to KSU and pretty much bleed purple - but I managed.


This one was for a girl whose favorite colors were blue and brown. I really liked how it turned out - blue and brown is such a pretty color combo and that DP is one of my FAVS!

So what do you think? I hope it's inspired you to try it. It really doesn't take too long to do one and they make great gifts! Everyone can use paper - there's always a need: telephone messages, grocery lists, errands, to-do, etc! I actually should STOP buying notebooks though since I have quite a few of them in my closet waiting to be altered! I tell you it's an addiction!! **you agree, right???**

Thanks for stopping by! I'm not sure I'll be posting again over the weekend so hope you have a good one. Thank you for all your prayers & comments re: my health. Just a little update - I will be having surgery on Thursday morning. Good news is I might only be in there for a day so keep the thoughts & prayers a comin'!

Flutter By Wednesday #15

Happy Flutter By Wednesday! The challenge this week on the Flutter By team was to create a card using punches/diecuts and of course, butterflies or fairies. I'm running low on birthday cards so decided to make one of those. I used the sketch at OCC this week for the layout.

I forgot that my butterfly would be on the blue paper so I ran it through my Cuttlebug embossing folder and then inked it with green ink. I thought it still needed something so I outlined it with my black pen and then applied shimmerz to it. Here's a close up:

We have some new team members so be sure to check out their blogs. I've included their links to the right. Stop by Danni's blog to see who the featured team member is. Why not make a card and share it as well. Danni has set up a Mr. Linky for you to post your creation.

I wanted to thank all of you for the emails and comments I received about my health issues. I REALLY appreciate it!! I've been a little tired so I'm behind in responding but I will do that in the next day or so.

Quick Abby share - yesterday was Kindergarten Round Up. She was so excited to go and see her new school. When we got there kids were outside playing and she asked why there were so many big kids at her school. I guess to a Kindergarten a 6th grader does look pretty big!! One of the things that the kids got to do was take a bus ride. For many of them this was their first and boy were they excited. Abby was no exception. She kept smiling and insisted that I take a picture of her.

Doesn't she look happy? She then decided that I needed to take a picture of her making a funny face on the bus.

You're laughing aren't you? I know I do - we call this her google eye look. :o)

Thanks for stopping by and looking!

Card Details:

Size: 4 1/4 x 5 1/2

Stamps: TAC (flower stems) & Amuse (Sentiment)

DP: BasicGrey

Other: Quickutz Butterfly Die; flowers; brads; Shimmerz; Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (swirl); Scallop circle punch; circle punch

Monday, Monday

I have that song running through my head as it's going to be one heck of a busy Monday, Monday for me! Today I'm volunteering at Abby's school all morning and then this afternoon I have another doctor appointment. I actually have a couple more scheduled over the next few weeks and all of them are in a different city which means I have to do some driving as well. Oh well - things are bound to get better!!

I'm excited about today's Christmas card because I didn't do a bit of stamping! So for those blog readers that want a fast, CA-UTE card, well pay attention!

See - CA-UTE, right? The card is from a Christmas pack by MME. I added a strip of red cardstock and punched one edge with my border punch. The squares were made using my punches. The santa is a 3 dimensional sticker that I got a year ago (yeah, using old product!). I added red Stickles to the berries and holly Stickles to the scallop square. The Merry Christmas is a rub on. It was a fast card to create and I'm planning on making at least 5 more of them today. I don't think I'll add the holly Stickles to the scallop - maybe I'll pierce it or just leave it alone. Sometimes less is more, right?

Be sure to stop by the Christmas Blog - Stampin' All Year Long - to see all the wonderful cards the team members created. Oh and I should mention that the challenge this week was to use a sketch which was given to us by Maria - she's one talented and awesome lady!

Thanks so much for stopping by! If you don't mind, I really could use your thoughts and prayers right now - I've got a few health issues I'm dealing with and I could use all the help I can get!! Please know that I'd really appreciate it and am thankful to have such nice and loyal blog readers!

Card Details:
Size: 4 1/4 x 5 1/2
Card: My Mind's Eye
Other: Ribbon, Fiskars Apron Lace Border Punch, Marvy Uchida Extra-Giga Scallop Square punch & Giga Square Punch, Stickles - Red & Holly, Making Memories Rub-on, 3-d sticker

Preschool Easter Gifts

Today is Abby's Easter celebration at preschool so I made a few things for her friends & teachers. I think they turned out really cute and they really came together rather quickly - which shocked me! The thinking part is definitely the longest part of the process for me!!

First up are little boxes I made for her teacher & staff. I used a Timeless Templates from PaperTrey Ink. LOVE how I can print the template right on my paper, cut out, decorate and assemble - easy peasy!!

I used scrap paper to decorate. Each box is filled with grass, mini Easter eggs filled with chocolate eggs and some other treats thrown in there. I know Abby's teacher & the staff will love this! Here's a close up:

I have to tell you that I colored the bunny with my watercolor pencils & Dove blender pen. It's AWESOME! I got the idea from Julie (thanks!). The cool part - it goes so fast! I colored 15 of these bunnies in no time! LOVE IT!

Next, I made little baskets for each of the kids in Abby's class. I first showed these here.

They are just the right size to hold small Easter eggs & a few treats. Abby enjoyed filling the eggs and putting the grass in each of the baskets. Of course, she asked me a million times if she was going to get one of these too, LOL!

So what do you think? I think they'll be a hit - I know Abby loves them and really isn't that all that matters?

Speaking of Abby, I have a story for you - Last night Abby got mad at Jay & I because I told her she had to get off the computer (she was playing Nick Jr. Games). It was time to take a bath. I should tell you that on Wednesday's she stays all day at school so she's usually pretty tired, although she won't admit it. Anyway, I knew getting her off the computer was going to be rough so I started counting down at 15 minutes. You know, "Abby, 15 minutes and you have to get off the computer cause we have to take a bath". I continued doing this every 5 minutes. Sure enough when it came time to get off she threw a little fit. I'm finally learning that me getting upset doesn't help the situation (although it's hard not too sometimes). So in my calmest voice I told her that if she didn't stop she'd lose her computer time tomorrow. She kept crying and screaming so I told her she lost her time. She marches upstairs, grabs her Easter basket, milk, camera and pink boo and tells me she is leaving and going to live somewhere else. WHAT??? running away from me is already starting?!?! Ok, it's a bluff right...NOPE she opens the back door and tells me good bye. I asked her if she had clothes because she'd need them. She said nope she'd be back in a week. At this point tears are coming down her face but she's being brave. She opens the door and stands outside (in the dark) staring at me through the screen door. I walk over and ask her if she's really going to leave at which she replies yes. So I shut the main door. I know - harsh. I turn to Jay and said what the heck is this about?? This is my little girl and I'm not ready for this. He said it was him she was mad at not me - whatever, doesn't help what I'm feeling. I can hear her talking outside but not sure what she's saying. We open the door and ask her if she's staying. She replies yes. She comes in and with the most hurtful look she says to me "Who would take care of me if you weren't there Mommy?" (awww yes that's my heart swelling with emotion). She then hugs me and tells me that she NEVER wants to leave me and she wants to be with me forever. I casually remind her that she was leaving us not me leaving her. Needless to say bath and reading time was pretty much cuddle and love time. We'll see how long that lasts when I remind her that she can't get on the computer later today!

Thanks for stopping by! I really appreciate all the comments that you leave and for taking the time to visit my blog - thank you!!

Flutter By Wednesday #14

Yeah it's flutter by time and this is the first week that we can use fairies or butterflies!! Yipppeee!!! I have quite a few fairies that have never been inked so I was so excited to make my card this week with a *new* stamp :0) Plus it was an "open" week which means ANYTHING goes!

This week the guest designer is Lynn Put from The Queen's Scene She's one talented lady so be sure to check out her creation. You can find it as well as Cassie's, who is the featured team member, on Danni's blog. Danni has set up Mr. Linky on her blog - so if you decide to play along, be sure to add it there so we can all see it!

Ok, on to my card. I realized after I had finished it that I made another card with similar color schemes. I'm really enjoying purple, green, pink, blue colors right now! I think it has to do with wanting Spring and warmth to be here! So without further ado here is my card:

Isn't she pretty? The image is a Faerie Song Art Stamp, Lost in Thought, from Susana's Custom Art & Card Design store. She has a whole collection of different Fairies, most of which I got for Christmas and haven't used yet - I know shame, shame! Here is a close up of her:

see her wings? I finally was able to capture the shimmer and shine! WhooHoo! I used glitter & shimmerz on her wings. Totally cool and so awesome IRL! I had planned on using a different fairy but I totally ruined her mouth/face and had to start over. That's when I decided to use this image instead. I'm really glad I did!

Thanks for looking!

Card Details:

card size: 4 1/4x 5 1/2

sketch: from Heather's blog

stamps: Susana's Custom Art & Card Design & Hero Arts (sentiment)

other:Copic Markers, Prima Flower (pink), Making Memories Flower (green) & button; brads; white ribbon, Lavendar Scrapper's Floss, Judikins Ultra Fine Prisma Glitter, Butter Cream Shimmerz, Fiskars Apron Lace Border Punch

Christmas Card #11

Sorry for the break in posts. My neck really started to bother me and I just couldn't stand sitting at the computer. I'm happy to report that my neck is doing better. I had an appointment to see the doctor on Friday for some blood work and a check up before this neck thing even started. I ended up having to get an x-ray & an ultrasound done as well, both of which had NOTHING to do with my neck. I should get the results today and am hoping this is the first step in feeling better. Enough about that you're here to see a Christmas card, right?! Well this week we were given the following sketch:

and here's my creation:

Isn't it cute? I just love this image! Quick story - one of the things I love about blogging and being a part of different groups is the people that you meet. I've talked with so many different people and it's so fun to get to know each one. I joined a image swap on the Christmas Stampin All Year Long group on PCP and was partnered with Linda. We've kept in touch and swapped some other images since then. This last time she sent me two actual stamps and this is one of them! Isn't that too cool - she's just so sweet and I'm glad we've met. Okay enough about that... Here's a close up of the image:

Want more samples? Visit the Stampin All Year Long Blog or visit the other team member's blogs. Of course, if you are creating a Christmas Card why not play along? We'd love to see your creation!

Thanks for looking!!

Details:

Card size: 5x7

Stamps: Whiff of Joy; Gel-a-tin (sentiment)

Paper: BasicGrey, black cardstock and yellow#3 DCWV

Other: Copics, Marvy Uchida Super Jumbo Oval & Mega Scallop Oval Punches; Black ribbon

Card and a Layout!

Yep, it's true..not only am I going to share a card with you but also a 12x12 scrapbook layout!! Both of these were samples I made for my display board in my booth. I really LOVE how they both turned out. First up is the card. I actually created a little scene for my bunny.


I used AMYRS58 for it. I really enjoy that sketch! The rabbit was part of the Fresh Spring Things kit and is no longer available. Everything else - the flower/grass stamp, sentiment, buttons & paper are still available. Here is a detailed shot of the bunny:

Doesn't it just make you smile??? He's soooo freakin' CA-UTE! I colored everything with my Prismacolor Pencils & OMS. Next up is a layout. I used a sketch from the super talented Valerie Salmon. The pattern paper I wanted to use, Gentle Beginnings, is an 8x8 pad but I scrapbook mostly 12x12. What I LOVED about this sketch is that I could incorporate the 8x8 sheet and work around it.

It's hard to see in this photo but I stamped a flower image on the 12x12 pink using VersaMark just to give a subtle look to it. I'm hoping that you can click on the picture and it will enlarge (let me know if that's NOT the case and I'll see what I can do!) On the blue cardstock strip I used the Running Stitches stamp set to give the look of sewing. This set has different stitches and is just AWESOME!! Here is a close up of one of the corners and you can kind of see the flowers on the background.

I colored the lamb with my Copics. I used scrappers floss in the buttons - so easy to use! The scallop borders was cut with my Quickutz Border die. I really enjoyed making a layout and am happy to report that last weekend I ordered pictures so I can continue to make pages. I hadn't ordered pictures since May of 2008!! Abby is at that age where she wants to know everything about when she was a baby - what better way to do this then by showing her pages! I mean I have thousands of photos and tons of memories so I need to get those down on paper fast! Actually I have journals and 3x5's full of detailed memories to go with all the pictures so there is no real hurry - except that they'd look better in a book then on a shelf in a box!

It's raining today so we won't be doing too much - hopefully I'll get a few things done in my room. I've had this neck pain for about 2 days and it seems to be getting worse rather than better so really all I want to do is lay around! Hubby says it always feels worse before it gets better so lets hope he knows what he is talking about!

Thanks for stopping by and for looking!

Flutter By Wednesday #13

Boy do I have a busy day planned today! Lots of errands and I have to finish up my taxes, arghhhh. Oh well at least after today I can say - they're done! Today's flutter by creation was a fun one for me. I got to use a stamp that I've had for about a year and never used. A friend of mine that I met in Memphis would teach this awesome Holly Berry Class at the LSS. In case you didn't know, I worked at the LSS (HI GUYS!!) and had the pleasure of scheduling all the classes and working closely with the instructors. They were a bunch of VERY talented ladies! I rarely had the opportunity to take classes though - I was either working or taking care of my daughter since my husband was busy with optometry school. Before I moved though, I made sure that I learned how to use these Holly Berry Stamps.


So our challenge for this week was to use NO pattern/designer paper!! You guys know how hard this is for me! Then I realized that the Holly Berry Stamp would be perfect since that takes center stage. Now this is my FIRST time EVER doing a Holly Berry creation so be gentle...

A few things I realized that would make the process a lot easier - make sure you have enough time, make sure you have multiple sheets of the cardstock colors you choose, and don't have your "base" be one of the main layers of your card! So I had to improvise - that's why the green "base" is sponged with charcoal ink (to make the butterfly pop a little more).

Here's a close up of the butterfly and it's layers:

It's a little hard to tell but I stamped & embossed the image on two sheets of green cardstock and one on pink and yellow. I then cut out each section that I wanted to highlight. The yellow section is adhered to the green without foam tape. The reason I had to even stamp on the green was so the butterfly's antennas would show. I mean I couldn't cut those out!! Then the pink is cut and layered with foam adhesive. Lastly the green section is done the same way.

I was going to add glitter but the embossing really sparkles and I wasn't sure how it would turn out so I decided not to chance it...especially since I didn't have anymore of the right cardstock colors! I've already started thinking of what colors I want to do next - and this time it should go a little faster since I KIND of know what I'm doing, LOL!

So what do you think? I'd love to know so leave me a comment! Why not play along? Just go to Danni's blog and leave a link to your creation. While you are there see the card that the featured artist, Ann, created. Or if you'd rather upload your creation to an online gallery like SCS or PCP just use keyword FBW. This week I'm happy to report that we have a new team member, Nancy. Be sure to stop by her blog and welcome her to the team!

Have a fluttering day and thanks so much for looking!