Butterfly in the sky...

...I can go twice as high. Take a look, it's in a book, a Reading Rainbow!Surely some of you will remember that show from when you were a kid? I used to LOVE Reading Rainbow, and whenever we went to my older sister's house or my grandparents I would immediately ask to watch it (because as a kid I had no idea of timeframes that tv shows ran in!). I think I had a small crush on LeVar Burton.

Ok, here's where I admit something. *deep breath* I've never liked butterfly stamps. Too froofy, silly, typical, whatever...I didn't like them. Only used them when I absolutely HAD to. Well, here's my confession: I like them now! Shhhhhh. Don't tell, ok? I have a reputation to uphold here!

I created this card for my stamping class ladies too. You should hear how they all groan when they see designs like this! They HATE cutting out ANYTHING! But when they were all done with this one, they loved it, so I rest my case. *wink*
It was fun stamping the butterfly in black on the red nestabilitie rectangle, and then cutting out 4 pairs of wings to adhere on top. I then cut off all the overhanging wings except for one. I used SU's red and sage CS and PTI's white. The wings were stamped and cut out from a piece of Cosmo Cricket PP, from the Dutch Girl collection. The ribbon came from Big Lots! All stamps are Verve Visual, and the PP can be found there too! I would normally have added a bit more to this card, were I sending it out, but it was just right for my class. It was SO hard not to add some sparkle or glitter to those butterflies!
Wait till you see all the butterflies I have to show you tomorrow! Good thing I like them now!

Bring out yer dead

I dug out some of my very first wood mounted rubber stamps the other day. Real pressed flowers from Hero Arts. Although I've been making cards since I was small, I only got into using stamps on them about 5 years ago. And these were some of the first one's I ever bought. I used them almost exclusively for many months!This is the simple card I designed for my stamping/cardmaking class on Tuesday. I think the ladies had a lot of fun using these stamps and all the different versacolor ink cubes I had out for them to try (15 colors!). The polka dot background is from CHF, and the sentiment stamp is from Verve. I used SU's Marigold and Bayou cardstock, and PTI's stamper select white.

I also showed the class the first card I ever made using rubber stamps, but I'm NOT showing it here, so don't even ask! *blushing*

Easter Eggs

I set this up to post automatically this morning, but it didn't work...*pout* I thought Blogger finally got around to enabling us to schedule posts!? Oh well...

I played so much with my new Verve Visual set, Easter Elegance, that I think I've made too many Easter cards! I love 2-step stamping, and this set is perfect for it. I stamped the egg outlines first with brown Staz-on and then inked up the individual egg centers and stamped them on top. Because these are clear photopolymer, it's so easy to see where your outlines are and make them line up perfectly.
The PP is from a new company called Scribble Scrabble, and Verve sells it! I like the colors in this collection (called Felicity), they match SU's sage and chocolate spot on!

I made the first card and then decided to give it some more "umpfff", so I made a small panel with more PP and some gold eyelets to place underneath the egg oval. Everything else stayed the way it was.

Staple it together and call it fair-weather...

...um um. "Jack Johnson"

So it's been a while since my last post, but that's not because I wasn't creating or stamping...I've been out of town for work and haven't had access to my personal PC. Did ya miss me?

I created this card for the release of the newest Verve Visual stamps. The set I used here is called Thankful Blossoms and it has so many possibilities! I really like this set a lot. For some reason, the leaves and stems on this card are not showing up as the correct color, but I promise IRL they match the ribbon!
This was a really simple card to make, but it packs a punch too! Go check out the other samples in the Verve Visual gallery, you may just be inspired to create something AMAZING!

In trouble again!

The color combo for today's card was inspired by my friend and blogging buddy, Bobbie, when she created THIS card for the Verve Visual Honored Guest Sketch Challange (Whew, that's a mouthful!) Although I didn't use the same colors, they were close enough that the "feel" was there. Again, I used stamps from VivaLasVegas Stamps. My three year old LOVEs this stamp, and always makes the same face when he sees it, saying,"He's in trouble Mommy."I didn't have matching brads, so I used some Alcohol Inks to color them, hence the color variations if you look closely. The face stamp is MUCH more vibrant when done with black ink, but I wanted to use my blue chalk ink that matched the paper anyway. The rust CS was stamped with a backgrounder from CHF, Houndstooth, with Versamark. I added some white gel pen dots (my pen is dying, can you tell?), and distressed the edges of the rust CS as well.
I LOVE this sentiment, and it fits well with the shocked look on the boy's face too!

Today is the two year anniversary of the day our kids moved in with us. Feb 21, 2006. Crumbgrabber was 6, Stickyfingers was 15 months. WOW! So much has happend in just those two years. I'm so happy we are a family now!

Gossip

I dug out some of my VivaLasVegas stamps to make this card! At one point in my stamping life, I was seriously obsessed with random funny images like these. The LO is based loosely on Julee's MOJO Monday sketch #25. I was in the mood for some bright colors, and I always think brights pair well with black, so I started with some super-bright hot pink, and some eye-watering neon green, and some black. But when I wanted to add some PP I realized that I most likely wouldn't have anything with those colors in it, so back to the drawing board it was!After toning down both the pink and green, the card came together quickly. I used an old Sizzix die for the black oval frame, and since my sentiment wouldn't fit perfectly inside, I popped it up on top after cutting it out! Add some Heidi Swapp pink jewels, a few white eyelets, and oh yeah, a touch of color to her cheeks and call it done!
I really intended to stick to Julee's sketch, but it wasn't working out. I moved things around, and then switched sides, and brought the ribbon lower and made a slit through the PP panel (Basic Grey PP BTW) so my ribbon could see the light sooner!

Back in the old day...

Do you yearn for the simpler times? When it was just you, your stamps, some ink, and some paper. Remember those times? Occasionally, I get so caught up in adding "more" to my cards, that I forget that simple can sometimes make a big impact. Not to mention that is can be much easier to mass produce! I used no embellishments on these cards. Only, ink, paper, stamps and adhesive. Using just white CS and one other color (thyme green here), I created a simple Mother's Day card. Repetative stamping can make pretty patterned paper. If I wanted, this card can easily be added to, using some ribbon, brads, glitter, etc.
I then took the same idea and made a Father's Day card. Simple. Quick. Unadorned. But lovely all the same.

Paper: white cardstock (PTI) , thyme CS (SU), tan CS (Bazzill)
Stamps: Serenity, Happy Thougths (Verve Visual)
Ink: Dark Moss, creamy brown (Colorbox liquid chalk)

A little bit political...

I'm so behind the times. Seriously. We don't have TV, haven't for quite a few years, so I get my news online and from AM talk radio (which I'm addicted to!). Forgive me if this is old news...just saw this video today on Youtube and wanted to share. I've been a "Mama for Obama" since he first appeared on the scene, but this video/song/speech really hit home with me.

geometric

Is anyone awake out there in blogland, or are you all sleeping in because you were up late for the Papertrey Ink release party last night? *grin* Some amazing stuff, huh?I'd like to have a stash of "generic" cards on hand for last minute things that crop up unexpectedly, but I enjoy personalizing a card too much to be able to think of good ideas. I usually start with someone in mind before creating a card...that way the colors, design and extras are tailored just to the reciever.
Well last week I decided to get down to business and make a few cards that could be for anyone.
I only made this one. It took me so long just to be able to think up this idea that I was exhausted by the time I was done! But my plan is to use this same sentiment stamp set (Happy Thoughts, by Verve Visual), and make a bunch of cards using this same general layout, but different colors and themes. I used another Verve set for the BG (Wonderful Wishes), and just alternated my placement of the square. I think it looks very cool and geometric. I also used some AI to color the brads to the perfect shade!

The more we get together...

Goodness, can anyone save me from the children's songs running through my head?! We've been listening to Raffi all morning, and while I DO enjoy his music and singing, I think I've reached my daily quota!Just wanted to share with you the Valentine I made my mom. I wasn't going to post this (I made it 2 weeks ago), but sentiment finally won. I saw that another AWESOME stamper made a card SO INCREDIBLY similar last week, and because she is so awesome, I thought if I posted everyone would think I CASEd her card. *chuckle* We are silly creatures, aren't we?! Anyway, I'm posting it, because I love my mom. This paticular sentiment stamp from PTI has a few errors in it, and that's why it looks sort-of sloppy and crooked on my card...it is. The "to" is missing completely from the first line, so I inked up the second "to" and tried to stamp it where the first "to" should go. Didn't work so well, but I was NOT going to start over!
I finally broke into my textured SU CS for this card. Why is it that we like to hoard paper instead of using it? *grin* The matting around the tiny oval is cut by hand, because I used the smallest Nestabilitie I had but then wanted small mats too. All stamps by PTI.

Happy St. Valentine's day!

I'm home with two sick children today. NO fun, let me tell you. I was up all night making cupcakes and hand-stamped goody bags for them to take to school and day-care, and now it was all for naught! I made heart-shaped pink pancakes for breakfast, drizzled with local honey and sprinkled with teeny candy hearts and my 8 year old couldn't even eat 3 bites. That's how I knew he was sick! My children RARELY get sugar from me, and NEVER food dye, so to have both in front of him and not eating it was a clear indication that things were not well in the stomach. He asked me to go to school for him today because he was so proud of the cupcakes (I'm that mom who send in only healthy treats, like cut fruit, nuts, whole clementines, air-popped popcorn), and he said "Can you go to school and get my valentines and hand out the cupcakes?" Poor baby. The little one has a temperature, but he ate the pancakes!
I hope you have a wonderful St. Valentine's Day filled with love.

Again? Aww mom...

Yes, I know. Another Valentine? Well, this one is actually a CASE of a layout that I saw last week. I liked the simplicity of it, and wanted to adapt it a bit for my students to do. Only now I can't remember where I saw it!

It is super cold here this morning, so much so, that my car wouldn't start. It has never done that before, so I was shocked and I HATE being late. Grrrr, it's one of my little pet peeves.

Did anyone have as crazy a weekend as I? I thought they were supposed to be for relaxing and having fun? NOT! Goodness, I was so busy playing catch-up and trying to get things done, I forgot to rest!

Hence the simple card today. *grin* PP and cute heart pin from Joann's, CS and stamps from SU, ink is Versamagic chalk, and Ranger black, clear EP from Sparkle n Sprinkle, ribbon from my stash.

Here's to a great week!

Another Valentine

Digging through my scrap pile last night I came across this piece of red CS that I had stamped white hearts all over and decided to put it to use. I rarely use the guava color from this year's in colors, but I thought it paired well with the red and black.

Nothing fancy, but I like how it turned out. I originally put a square knot bow under the sentiment, but it looked too froofy, so I took it off. Stamps are Verve Visual, Wild Thing.
CS and ribbon are SU. The only ink I used was black and white!

ATC note cards?

Is there such thing as ATC note cards? Well, if not, there is NOW! *chuckle* I was looking for the perfect little note card to keep in my office at work, so when something cropped up I'd have a card all ready to go. It seems like there is always someone in my building who is sick, having a rough time, has had a death in the family, or even that something wonderful has happened to, so I wanted something that could cover ALL those potential senerios! Impossible? I think not.
I started with tiny note cards the same size as ATCs, and went from there. The remixed Fancy Florals set from Verve Visual were the perfect compliment. I could easily interchange colors and the "thinking of you" sentiment seemed to fit every occasion possible! After making these three, I wanted to add one more, so I used a few shades of golden yellow and made a fourth one.

After I had all four, I wanted to add a touch of "bling" so two of them got pearl centers, one got bright red stickles, and one received a blue gem! Simple, easy, quick, and they can cover any senerio that might crop up among my co-workers! (except maybe the one where Bill was late because his dog chased a squirrel into the house and up the fireplace chimmney, and Bill had to climb in there to get the squirrel out, and it bit him and he freaked out and then got STUCK in the chimmney, and his wife had to call the fire department to come help get him out, and take him to the hospital to get a rabies shot, and THAT's why he was late to work!) True story from years ago.
But, even then, one of these little note cards might just be the perfect thing! *wink*

Stamps: Fancy Florals Remixed (Verve Visual)
Paper: Vanilla, black, olive (SU)
Ink: Palette Hybrid, Ranger
Accessories: Nestabilities, ribbon and bling from my stash

Buttons galore!

I made this card using one of the new Verve sets called Serenity. I embossed the stem of leaves using two different green embossing powders, and then stamped the sentiment in the middle. It is layered on a piece of Basic Gray PP and I surrounded it with various buttons from my stash. Added a small bow on top and called it done. Simple, yet elegant (if I do say so myself!).The newest Verve sets are available for pre-order TODAY! Julee decided that they should be released earlier due to Easter being in March this year. So if you place your order today, not only are you sure to get the newest stamps, but you'll also get 15% off ALL the sets you order! They will start shipping on February 11.

Just a quickie!

HAPPY MONDAY! Did everyone have an exciting or a relaxing weekend? Mine was hectic.
I needed a super quick, 5 minute, in-a-hurry card on Sunday for an unexpected reason, so I popped into my studio and came up with this. (it actually took me 6 minutes).

At the last minute I wanted to add some embellishments so I grabbed a bottle of Dew Drops and put 2 each in opposing corners. As soon as I was done, I wished I hadn't. *sigh* Ever added something to a card and then regretted it? Oh well, it was too late to rip them off, because I used tiny glue dots and those baby's STICK! So I was stuck with the result. Had it not been for an emergency purpose, I might have redone the white stamped panel too...Image and sentiment stamps by PTI, background stamp by CHF.

Just a "heads-up" that Verve Visual is having a SALE! That's right, for the month of February ALL STAMPS are 15% off! And Julee is offering free shipping now with any order over $40. I hate paying shipping and handling charges on anything, so that's a God-send to me!
And don't forget about the Honored Guest Sketch Challenge Contest too. Have you submitted YOUR card today?!

Forgotten card

This is a card my stamping /cardmaking class made in early December. I just discovered it in an old blog post that I never published. Kraft, pink, and red CS, and stamp by SU. PP is KI memories.
I was tagged by Shannan this morning, so I thought I'd play along.

Five things I was doing 10 years ago:
1. Studying in my 2nd year of college as a Musical Theatre major (Independant).
2. Dating my (now) husband.
3. Driving a 1984 Buick Skylard held together with 32 different bumper stickers about peace, love, animal rights, and rainbows.
4. Crying over the death of my Grandfather and my boyfriend's father.
5. Trying to learn who I was. (thanks Shannan!)

Five things on my to do list today:
1. Pack up the Christmas decor (I know, I KNOW!)
2. Collect and return the library books
3. Design Team Projects (Thanks Shannan!)
4. Make a molasses spice cake with tofu cream cheese frosting and brown sugar syrup
5. Go for a long walk

Five things I will do when I am a millionaire:
1. Build my mother an amazing apartment in her barn.
2. Quit my job and move into my childhood home.
3. Start an animal sanctuary on the property surround my home.
4. Contribute even more to the causes that get my money now.
5. Take my kids on a trip around the world!

Five things I will never wear again:
1. Leg warmers
2. My size 12 favorite jeans from HS
3. White gloves to church (my mother used to INSIST on me wearing those darned white gloves!)
4. Jelly shoes and moon boots
5. Jelly bracelets

Five of my favorite toys:
1. My white BlendTec Total Blender
2. My food processor
3. My digital camera
4. My hand made lightbox (courtesy of my DH)
5. My IngenuiTea pot

The five banes of my existence:
1. Mean people
2. War
3. Clutter
4. Bills (no, NOT the football team!)
5. Calories!

Five bloggers I'm Tagging:
RaeAnne
Elenor
Samm
Marlou
Jen

Shadow Cookie anyone?

Happy Groundhog's Day! Let's all keep our fingers crossed that Punxatawney Phil doesn't see his shadow today! I could use some spring weather here in upstate, western NY.

Yesterday was my SIL, Laura's, birth day, and this is the card I sent her. Can you tell I was in a spring mood? *grin*The bottom of the card base is stamped with the Linen BG stamp (SU) in Versamark, and the top part is stamped with a Paisley BG stamp (CHF). Main image is from Papertrey's Out on a Limb set, and the sentiment is from their Limitless Labels set. I like the pale apricot, olive green and brown together a lot.

So how about some cookies?

I like to make Spicy Groundhog Cookies on February 2nd each year. For my recipe click HERE. Aren't they cute? They are spicy with ginger, cinnamon, and cloves, and are chewy in the middle and crunchy on the edges...YUM! I've been sending them to school with my oldest, but since school was cancelled yesterday due to terrible weather, I guess we get to eat them ALL today! *chuckle* I think my DH would willingly do so if I let him!

Brrrrrrr...it's FREEZING here!

We're having a severe winter weather warning this morning so everything in the county is closed, including school and both mine and my husband's offices. I can't post from home, due to dial-up and a really old computer that doesn't have ANY photo editing software on it, so maybe when (if?) the sun comes out and the freezing rain and black ice disappear, I'll get into my office and post the card I had slated for today.

Anniversary Contest!

Today is my one year blog anniversary, and to celebrate we have a contest! I love card contests, don't you? *grin*
See this card? I made it based on the Verve Visual Sketch that Julee came up with for the contest. The name of the contest is:
The Verve Visual Honored Guest Contest!
If you've ever wanted to design for a stamp company, now is your chance. One lucky winner will be chosen (based on their card submission using the sketch below) to be the guest designer for the month of March for Verve Visual. The winner will receive the entire DT package that the rest of us do, including the pre-released stamp sets, and will need to submit 6 projects using those stamps and papers and other goodies!
Here's the sketch, courtesy of Julee Tillman.

To enter the contest, just submit a link to an online photo of your card to the post over at the Verve blog, here, by Friday, Februsry 15. Only links submitted throught the January 31st post on the Verve blog will be accepted. And remember, you DON'T have to use Verve stamps to enter, we want everyone to have a chance
A winner will be announced on Monday, February 18 and will be the Honored Guest for the month of March. I think there will also be some random prize drawings throughout the contest, so be sure to get your cards submitted! You never know what you might win!
There is no limit to the number of cards you can submit, and the contest is open to everyone, so get crackin' folks!
If you need some inspiration, check out the gallery here, where each member of the DT created a card using the same sketch! Remember to submit your entry to the Verve blog post of January 31.
So happy blog anniversary to me, and happy card contest entries to you!

Pop-up Surprise box

Man O man, the power has been out here since last night and so my office was closed today and so was the ski resort where my youngest attends daycare. It just came on at 10:15 am! All I could think about was not being able to post to my blog! *chuckle* I guess I know where my priorities are!

Today I posted a really cute pop-up box over at the Verve Visual Blog that I made a few weeks ago. I found the directions to construct it here. After scoring and cutting the template, I stamped and embossed some hearts on it.

Then I made a front piece and after constructing the box, covered the attached lid with ribbon.

Isn't it cute? Wait till you see how it opens! This is my favorite part!

The lid is attached, so it won't fall off or get lost. You just lift up and the center opens and you can see your goodies! I filled this one with some fun pink embellishments for my best friend for St. Valentine's Day.

This little box is not difficult to make at all, and it's perfect for teacher's gifts, or family and friends. All stamps from the clear Wild Thing set by Verve Visual.

Mojo Monday Sketch # 22

Has anyone noticed my blog colors and banner have changed? I was feeling slightly dated, so I played around with some colors and a new banner...not sure yet if I like them, but would LOVE some feedback! I think my banner has issues....

I really got into Julee's Mojo sketch last night! I even used the colors she did in her original drawing!

Isn't this fun? I dug out my really old (5 yrs.) Bazzill scraps and made this (almost) monochromatic card using the sketch she posted yesterday. I sewed the four rectangles onto black CS, and then stamped and embossed some of the panels before adding the sentiment, which I embossed in silver and white. I added the popped up heart embellishment in the perfect spot to look like it belonged over the row of hearts I stamped underneath. Then I stamped and cut out a few small hearts to add visual texture. *sigh* I used to HATE the color pink. What was I thinking? All stamps by Verve Visual. I used the Wild Thing set, it's fast becoming a favorite in my studio!

You...light up my life

Can't you just hear Debbie Boone singing this song? *chuckle* I used to have a 45 (that's a small record for you young folks) of that song as a kid, and I played it over and over!
I'm posting a bit late today...work has been hectic and this is my first chance at my computer.
The trouble with being on a design team, is that you make all this great stuff but can't show it to anyone until a certain date, so I have nothing I can post that's new today.
This card was made for the last Verve Visual release. I LOVE these colors together (pale peach, red-ish and dark grey)! I embossed some of the stars with sparkling ep, and stamped some in grey. The velvet grey ribbon adds a lot, I think. All stamps by Verve Visual, the Polka Stars set.

Gotta run!

CPS #48

Can you believe that CPS has had 48 different sketches? Amazing! I used this week's sketch to make two quick cards for some friends.

The first uses a BG stamp (polks dots) by CHF, a small piece of PP by DCWV, and an old Sizzix die-cut that I just had to have and never used! I used prismacolor pencils to add some shading to the leaves and smoothed it with gamsol. The SUPER LARGE green twill came from a package of Martha Stewart pillows that I bought a few years ago, isn't it fun? I have about 30 yards of the stuff!
The second card is a bit more traditional.

I used SU's linen BG stamp, RubberStampede's Cherry blossom branch and Verve Visual's sentiment stamp! I used a blender pen to color the image, popped up three of the flowers (hard to see), and cut the entire image into three pieces before mounting it. Added some SU ribbon and called it done.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Who's there?

Hello! This card is based on Julee's Mojo Monday Sketch #21. I really enjoy using sketches as a starting point sometimes, and lately it seems like I use them all the time! The lighting was a little off in this photo and the left side is a bit washed out, but you get the gist anyway, right?Last week while playing around with some new stamps I stamped, embossed and mounted this funky owl (Inkadinkadoo) and then didn't know what to do with him. Lo and behold along comes Julee's Mojo Monday and whaddaya know?! A perfect square in her sketch!

So even though he was already mounted, I added a few layers of matting to match the card base. I started with a base of Groovy Guava, because it is my least favorite color this year and I need to do something with it! I stamped it with GG ink using the CHF (Cornish Heritage Farms) houndstooth BG stamp, and then stamped the lighter brown CS with another CHF BG stamp (polka dots). The small "foot print" stamps on the sides are actually the leaf stamp from PTI's Out on a Limb stamp set, as is the moon above Mr. Owl.

I used one of my favorite techniques when heat embossing on the owl; I put a tiny bit of gold EP just on his eyes, and then covered the rest of him with the chocolate EP. I like the multi-color look when embossing, because some of it always gets where you don't want it to but ends of looking more realistic anyway! This card ended up looking slightly retro due to the peach and brown, so I added a fun sentiment to match. "You're Fabulous" is from the Uplifting Phrases set from Verve Visual.

My little one was home sick again yesterday, so we had all day to spend time together, and when I was looking at blogs with him on my lap, he said "where's me, Mommy?" every time he saw a personal photo on someones blog, so I told him I would put one on today.

Here he is this morning holding his lunchbox and attempting to eat snow while Mommy isn't looking!

Birdies, birdies everywhere.

I worked on some great stuff this weekend when I wasn't feeling blah, but I can't share pictures just yet!

What I can show you is my poor attempt at one of Jen's Sketch challenges. She posts a SFYTT (Sketch for you to try) on Saturday's and I gave it a whorl this weekend. What fun!

Because time was of the essence I tried to keep it fairly simple and straightforward. I glimpsed a corner of this PP in a pile in my studio and tried to build the card from there. It seemed so classy. Unfortunately my hands couldn't conjure up what my brain was imagining! *chuckle* I love this card though, regardless of how it was supposed to look. Bird stamp by Inkadinkadoo, sentiment by Papertrey Ink, PP unknown.

Mojo Monday!

Well it's been a while since I've had a chance to participate in Julee's Mojo Monday Sketch challenge, so last night I grabbed a few minutes to play!

I didn't have a lot of time and I just went with the first stamp set that I laid eyes on, but in retrospect, I don't think it was the "right" one.
The new Basic Grey paper is just gorgeous though! This piece coordinated perfectly with the new in colors from SU. And I used these adorable little gems called "Icons" from MAMBI that I received in my February DT kit from Verve Visual. They added so much sparkle, I may have to buy some more.
I've never been a real bling type person, but I think that's beginning to change! (I'm not one for trends, but lately it seems I like things that happen to be "in".)

I hope your Wednesday is fantastic!

Tagged and a Valentine

I was tagged by Julee of Verve Visual and PoeticArtistry fame (I know, I use that phrase almost every time I refer to her, but she IS famous in my book!) so I'm playing along here. If you want, feel free to skip over this part to see the card!

1. Name your two favorite scrapbooking topics?

Considering that I've only ever made 3 scrapbook pages in my entire life, and TWO of them weren't for me, I don't know. But when I look at other folk's SBs, I like reading the heartfelt honest journaling.

2. What are the two best places you've been to? Wow. Best can mean a lot of different things...I guess touring around China was cool, and I LOVED the time I spent in Costa Rica, but my favorite place to go/be/visit is my home: The Fingerlakes in upstate NY.

3. Name two things you do every day? Brush my teeth and drink LOTS of water.

4. Tell us two things that everyone pretty much knows about you? I'm an animal rights activist, and I LOVE to cook!

5. Two places you wish to visit? Venice, and New Zealand.

6. Two things you may not know about me are: I am the ultimate Balderdash player (I usually win), and I can't stand to use blue ink pens.

7. Two nicknames you've had at some time in your life: Sunshine and sweetpea.

8. Name two of your favorite drinks? Room temp water, and homemade freshly squeezed orange juice.

9. What are two interesting (in a good or bad way) jobs you've had in your life? I taught 1-2nd grade in a private Jewish academy and although most of my students could speak English, their parents could not. I learned a lot more Hebrew than I knew previously! At 14 I started working in the vineyards tying grapevines...let me tell you how HARD this actually is to do! Standing in a row reaching above your head and being cut all over your hands for 8 hours is no small feat!

10. What are two things you would like to learn? Fluent Russian, and to play the violin.

11. What two things would make your scrapping/stamping work space work even better for you? A personal secretary/organizer! and to purge a ton of dated stickers, paper and embellishments.

12. What are two of your best organizational tips for stampers that do not have a lot of space? Don't fall prey to the "newest, coolest"; stick to what YOU like to work with, use-up things before buying more!

13. What are your two favorite stamping toys? Versamark ink: couldn't live without it! and my stamp-a-ma-jig.

14. Here's my added question...If you could have TWO super-powers, what would they be? I've always wanted the ability to talk/communicate with animals, and I'd LOVE to be able to time-travel.

Okay, now that I'm done with my answers, I'm supposed to tag two people to answer the above questions and then to also add a question of their own. The only requirement is that the question must be in twos. I'm going to tag Mary because she needs to update her blog desperately, and Alli (because I secretly want to be as creative as she is!).

Here's the card I wanted to share with you today. I was going for a free-hand, weathered sort-of feel for this. I didn't quite succeed, but who cares, right? I had fun!

My favorite part was stamping the sentiment on and acetate sheet and then brushing some white acrylic paint on the back to make it show up when I glued it to the middle heart. I was so pleased with that little step! Stamps are by Verve Visual, this set is called Heart to Heart.

Anything is possible

Happy Saturday!
We are doing a major purge at our house this weekend. Anything not useful is going OUT! I just feel the need to seriously declutter and start this year off on the correct foot. I'm not a knick-knacky type of girl anyway, but I've noticed that having children makes for MUCH more "stuff" around the house, garage, car, yard, etc. Not to mention that my oldest can't bare to throw anything away. "But mom, I can maybe take this apart and use this side for wings when I build an airplane in my workshop! Or, or how about...blahblahblah?" He says this about everything I try to throw away, including the envelopes from bills! This kid is impossible!

(which brings me to my post this morning: Anything is Possible)

I made this card after an impulse buy from the clearance table at Borders. These small, thick, felt shaped stars were just calling my name! *grin* I turned two of them over and stamped on them using my Seeing Stars clear stamp set from Verve Visual. Then I mounted them on tags that I punched and matted and stamped with the swirly stamp. I sewed a piece of Daisy Bucket Designs PP (from the Rock Star Collection) to some white CS and adhered it to my black card base. While searching for some pink colored ribbon I came across this polka-dot ribbon that I've had for ages and couldn't believe how PERFECT it was!
I hand cut the ovals after stamping the sentiment, and then thought to add some tiny ribbon to the three tags.
Wanna know another secret? I always thought that the Fastenater Decorative Stapler was ridiculous, but I secret coveted the fun colored staples that I kept seeing. That is, until I figured out a simple, cheap way to make my own! I just open my stapler, use a sharpie permanent maker and color a few in the exact color I'm looking for! Hence the bright green of the staples holding the black ribbon in place! Clever, no?

I hope everyone has a relaxing weekend! See you on Monday!

christmas reject

I'm not a Christmas card maker. I don't send them at all, and they don't seem to come naturally to me, so in trying to design a lot of Christmas cards for my stamping class in December, I "trashed" quite a few. This is one of the rejected ones.

I thought I'd share it with you in the spirit of "See what dorky cards I create sometimes!" My plan was to double stamped the branch to make it pop out and give it a shadow, however, as you can see from the larger photo, it just looks blurry.

I did like the color palette, (grey, red, black, white) and the red of the cardinal matched the twill ribbon perfectly although it doesn't seem to in the photo. The white pigment ink was a bit too juicy, so I tried to emboss it to make it less so, but that didn't work either! All in all, this IS a reject!

Anyway, stamps are by Inkadinkado (SILHOUETTES Clear Stamp Set). Paper is by SU!, ribbon from Joanns, buttons from Joanns, ink by Ranger, SU! and Palette Hybrid.

Wild thing

So, today's the day! Verve Visual is releasing FIVE new stamps sets! All clear photopolymer too! Head on over there and check them out, they are shipping as we speak! There is a special going on too: You can get all FIVE sets for just $60!!!!!!! That's $18 off the price of them individually! The sale will end on January 24th, so don't delay. You won't be disappointed. Here's the link to the hearts and Star's bundle price: Launch Pack.I made this card using the Wild Thing set releasing today at Verve Visual. Be careful, if you are anything like me, the song will get stuck in your head while you are stamping! *chuckle* I used PP by Cosmo Cricket, the Dutch Girl collection, and it matches Stampin Up's river rock so well! Don't you just love the sentiment? *grin*

Be sure to check out the gallery over at Verve Visual for lots of inspiring ideas using these new sets. Almost 100 new projects have been added using the five new sets alone! WOWSERS.

thankful

Some of you know that I was teaching a stamping/cardmaking class in November and December. This is one of the projects I designed for the class along with a small blessing mix treat bag (for which I have no photo).
I wanted to share this card to day because I had a small scare this morning, and am very thankful that it was quickly righted!
My DH leaves for work before 6 am usually, and I get myself and the kids up and ready for work/school/daycare and make breakfast and lunches. My eight-year-old walks to school (we live within sight of the elementary school) at the same time that I and my three-year-old drive out of the driveway on our way to a town about 15 minutes away (Where I work and my little one attends daycare). We were running a bit late this morning, but I waited in the car at the end of the driveway until I saw my oldest get to the cross-walk, and then I drove away. About 15-20 minutes later I was walking into the daycare when one of the staff greeted my youngest and asked where his brother was. I looked at her quizzically, and she said, "Well, Little Valley School is closed today, they have no power, so I thought we might see Crumbgrabber here this morning."
I screamed and fled out the door! While driving I frantically called home using my work cell phone (illegally, I might add), hoping that he was wise enough to just turn around and go home. Our answering machine picked up and I quickly yelled into that if he was there to please pick up the phone. His small, scared sounding voice come on and says, "Hi, Mom!" Phewwwww. He said he was scared and I told him I'd be there soon and not to worry.
Turns out a police officer saw him in the cross-walk and told him there was no school and that she would give him a ride home. He said that he wouldn't get into her car at first (GOOD BOY!) because "you and dad told me not to get into any cars", but that she convinced him it was alright and then drove him home. He said she was nice.
I'm glad things are ok, but I was slightly perturbed at a few things.
First of all, why would she need to give him a ride, when we live basically across the street? And second of all, why would she make him get in, after he wisely said no, he would walk home?
Thirdly, she didn't bother to check if anyone was home when she dropped him off either. And our front door was locked, so he had to go around to the back. *shaking my head*
I'm thankful things turned out okay, but I did tell him that no matter what, he was not to get into a car with anyone without our permission. I explained that some people can dress up to look like police officers, and that of course they will seem nice, but if he can see our house, to just run home!
Did I do the right thing? I'm so new at the "mom" thing that I wonder sometimes.
Oh, and the adoption was official 2 days before Thanksgiving! Now both boys have our last name and new birth certificates too. Another thing to be "thankful" about!

Natalie Cole is running through my head...

This always happens to me. *goofy grin* I'll be happily stamping away and then all of a sudden the sentiment will make me start singing a song from the past! Without even realizing it, my brain will pick up on old song lyrics that I didn't even know I knew! For instance, "Miss you like Crazy" by Natalie Cole...this was a hit in like 1989 or something...I was 12. How on earth did I retain the words to a song I probably haven't even HEARD since I was 12???? The human mind amazes me.I whipped this up quickly last night for a friend who moved even further away than she was before. I stamped the poppy (SU!) in black archival and used a blender pen to color it in. The sentiment is from the Heartfelt Phrases set that Verve Visual released in December. The pink CS (SU!) matches the ribbon perfectly, although it doesn't seem to in this photo, and the base is made from Bazzill textured CS.

In personal news, my brother-in-law passed away on January 2nd, and I miss him too. My sister and my niece seem to holding up well, but John was only 58...too young. Cystic Fibrosis. He worked at Nazareth College in NY for 33 years, and so many of his co-workers were at his memorial service. It was the first time I've ever stood in a receiving line at something like that, and the line went on FOREVER. I actually had to leave before everyone had come through to speak their condolences. My sister is 30 years older than me, and folks just kept saying, "You're Janet's sister?"

So I don't end on a sad note though, I can't wait till I can show you the samples I worked up for the new Verve Visual release on Thursday! I'm so excited!

Shine On (you crazy diamond)

Well. How serendipitous it is that my last post was November 6th? Today is January 6th! A whole 2 months off from blogging. Seems strange. So much has happened. I'll play catch up later, I promise.

Isn't this card fun? It's a sneak peak! I used some new Verve Visual stamps that will be releasing on January 10th. FIVE new stamp sets will be releasing and they are all CLEAR!!!! They give really good impressions too, I'm talking high-quality photopolymer here! I cannot be happier.

I based this card on one I made last February for St. Valentine's Day. I just love the LO.
For stamps, I used at least one stamp from each of three different sets that will be released on January 10th. (ONLY FOUR MORE DAYS TO GO!) I'll even let you in on what these three sets are called, *wink*; Swirly Stars, Polka Stars, and Seeing Stars. Don't the names just make you want them?! *Sigh* I love stars. If you couldn't tell from the quote I have at the top of my blog under my banner!

I also used a pair of decorative edge scissors that I've had for longer than I've been stamping! I guess there's a first time for everything. Oh, wanna know a secret? I didn't have silver star brads, so I used white eyelets and painted them silver with a Krylon leafing pen! Worked like a charm too! And although you can't tell from this photo, the sentiment is embossed in silver also.

I'm glad to be back to posting and stamping...I've missed you all!
Happy New Year.