Welcome Baby Buttercup

Another Saturday brings another "Sketch for You to Try" by Jen del Muro. Jen added a fun twist this week -- we all used Bella stamps (not necessarily Bella herself, but images from any of the Stamping Bella lines). I used this darling Baby Buttercup from the Chichiboulie line, which, lucky for me, I had just picked up (along with a few others) last weekend while I was taking my Copic marker class. My first Bellas! And somehow this feels like only the first date in a hot, inky love affair to come!

Jen has the sketch, her Bella sample, and guest designer Toni Whitnell's sample at i{heart}2stamp. Don't you wonder which Bellas Carole, Shannan, and Susan chose? When you're ready to play, remember to use keyword SFYTT if you upload to SCS. (Please don't feel obligated to use a Bella -- of course you can if you want, but it's not a requirement!)

I did my coloring with Copic markers. I do really like them, but I need a lot more practice (and a lot more colors)! I added a second layer of a few of the petals and both leaves for a little dimension. The edges of the petals and leaves are all outlined with a Sakura Stardust pen, which you can see in this detail shot:



Note: Please pardon the smudges on my card (if you can see them). I overslept this morning, and awoke to find that my 1- and 4-year-olds got a hold of it. I don't know who did more damage - the baby or the 4-year-old trying to "rescue" the card.

Happy Saturday to all!



Stamps: Baby Buttercup (Stamping Bella); Stitched and Warm Words (SU!)
Paper: Basic Black, Certainly Celery, Regal Rose (SU!); Papertrey's White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko); White craft (SU!)
Accessories: Copic Markers, Sakura Stardust pen, classic and scalloped rectangle Nestabilities, dimensionals, large oval punch, Swiss Dots cuttlebug folder, scalloped scissors, black satin ribbon, 1/2" circle punch, buttons
Size: 5 1/4" square

Happy Cupcake Day

I thought I'd share an ATC that I made for a My Favorite Things swap last month, but forgot to post here. I've said before, but I'll say again - I love making these! Small enough to make quickly, but they still pack a big punch. It's amazing how much detail you can still fit within a 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 rectangle! My swap returns were over-the-top cute!

I stamped the cupcake in Versafine Onyx Black, then colored with markers (or reinkers? can't remember) and added sparkle with a Stardust glitter pen. The stamp set is called Icing on the Cake.

Thanks for visiting!



Stamps: Icing on the Cake (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise, Certainly Celery, Papertrey White
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Certainly Celery, Tempting Turquoise, Rose Red
Accessories: Swiss Dots cuttlebug, classic and scalloped circle Nestabilities, word window puch, white grosgrain ribbon, Stardust glitter pen, dimensionals

Just Because

Help! I can't get my Verve off!! Seriously, I'm having a really hard time putting down this month's sets. And I know I'm not alone -- these May sets are HOT, HOT, HOT!!! Got word from Julee yesterday that the Spring Launch Pack has sold out (did you get yours?!). There are individual sets still available, but hurry!

Today's card uses Floral Whimsy and a sentiment from Fluttering By. The three circles are actually windows to an inside panel:



I meticulously measured with a zero-center ruler to get equidistant spacing for the circles, but even still, my right inside mat is a little lopsided -- grrr!

Hope you have a super day!



Stamps: Floral Whimsy and Fluttering By (Verve Visual)
Paper: Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Rose Red, Groovy Guava, Basic Black
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Groovy Guava reinker; Rose Red, So Saffron, and Certainly Celery markers
Accessories: 1 1/4", 1 3/8", 1/4" circle punches, corner rounder, brush-tip Fantastix (to color Groovy Guava flowers), white gel pen, key tag punch, Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder, stitched black ribbon (Making Memories), double-stitched Groovy Guava ribbon (SU!), and black gingham ribbon (SU!)

Blog Candy Winner(s)!!

Random.org gave me #199, so congratulations go to Angel Wilde, who wins my 100K blog candy!! Funny enough, Angel and I have been cooking up some plans to meet in person this week (she's in Virginia visiting a friend who lives only 20 minutes or so from me). How's that for coincidence?! Angel is also a fellow design team member for Our Daily Bread Designs, and since she doesn't need another Fruit of the Spirit stamp set, she and I thought we'd find a second winner for that set. So, without further ado, congratulations also go to Kathi, with comment #49.

Kathi said...
My two favs are Danielle Steele & LaVyrle Spencer. Also
like Christian Fiction by Beverly Lewis & Janette Oake. Just finished Escape
by Carolyn Jessop & now reading Stolen Innocence by Elissa Wall. My favorite
non stamping blog is http://anewchelseamorning.blogspot.com/ &
http://www.xanga.com/copperswife---check them both out! Great reads!

Kathi, please email me your address (email address is on my sidebar, just under my picture), so I can get your set to you! (And thanks for the book and blog suggestions!)

Thanks to all who played along. I loved adding so many of your favorites to my "books to read" list. And there were lots of books and authors new to me, which is always fun! I usually have a long list of favorites, which varies according to my mood, but one author who consistently rises to the top is Barbara Kingsolver. Both her fiction and non-fiction works are always such an inspiration. "The Poisonwood Bible" and "Small Wonder" are two favorites I can read again and again.

Path of Life

Sorry for the late post today! My neighbor's daughter is home from college, so I'm taking advantage of an awesome babysitter while I have the chance! I did some shopping, some errands, and even spent about 20 minutes quietly reading a book** while waiting for my daughter's camp to let out. All while the baby was at home in super competent hands. Gotta love that!

Today's card uses an unbelievably gorgeous image from the new Path of Life set by Our Daily Bread Designs. I stamped on watercolor paper and colored with reinkers and an aqua painter. Canson Montval 140-lb. cold press is my favorite watercolor paper to use with the aqua painter and reinkers, by the way. I had a large tablet of this left over from my post-college days, but since it's almost all gone, I've been trying out some other brands. I haven't found anything else that I'm even close to happy with.

After I stamped and colored, I decided it might look cool to do the cracked glass technique. Boy did it really change the look of the image! It made some of the colors extra crisp and darker, and others (like my Soft Sky sky) became washed out or almost competely disappeared. Anyway, be advised :D

I also used some more of the delicious Prismatics card stock that Our Daily Bread Designs is now carrying. Here's another photo without the glare on the image's glazed surface:





** Speaking of books -- what are you reading? Leave a comment on my May 25 post with a favorite contemporary author for a chance to win some yummy blog candy. You have until Wednesday at noon ET. And by the way, yesterday I started reading Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. In the words of Tom Brokaw, it's "thrilling ... proof that one ordinary person, with the right combination of character and determination, really can change the world."

A B-I-G 100K Celebration

This is B-I-G!!!! My counter has passed 100,000! (That's not the big part ... keep reading...)

As I sit here scratching my head trying to sort out my feelings of amazement, confoundment, and delight, the single emotion that rises to the top is one of gratitude. Gratitude for this God-given talent that I can enjoy and share with others. And gratitude that so many of you choose to stop by here on a regular basis. From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU! I appreciate each and every visitor and am grateful for every single comment. You have given me a level of encouragement and confidence I never expected. I feel truly blessed to be part of this amazing community of stampers who love what they do and so freely share their creativity! It is humbling to consider that just as I have learned from and been inspired by so many others, in some small way I too can inspire in return.

I don't want to get too mushy on you, so let's get on to the celebration: Thanks to the amazing generosity of the owners of the companies I am lucky enough to design for, I've put together some B-I-G blog candy. One lucky winner will receive THREE stamp sets -- Father Figure by Verve Visual, Fruit of the Spirit from Our Daily Bread Designs, and Wild Birthday Wishes by H&M Stamps -- plus an assortment of Ranger distress embossing powders from Pez-A-Doodle Designs. [A quick word about Pez-A-Doodle Designs. It's run by a local friend of mine, Marti, who has her hand in all kinds of different crafty ventures, including Studio G stamps, Hampton Art stamps, and Ranger products. She's coming out with three of her own stamp lines very soon, too!] Thank you Julee, Kelley, Heather, and Marti!! Aren't they the BEST?!

How to win?! Just leave a comment on this post telling me either your favorite contemporary author or favorite current written work (fiction or non-fiction). Not much of a reader? How about a favorite magazine? A non-stamping blog you like to read? I will close comments on Wednesday, May 28 at noon EST, and randomly choose a winner shortly after that! Good luck!

I do have a card today, too, a celebration of a different sort. This cute little boy is from a set called Celebrate the Day, available today at H&M Stamps (along with two other new sets). Coloring is done with an aqua painter and reinkers. The ribbon, dp, and brads all came from a really old (July 2005, in fact) monthly scrapbooking kit from Paper Wishes. Feels good to use up something old!

Thank you for stopping by! I'm headed out of town this morning for some holiday R&R with the grandparents. Have a happy and safe holiday! 'See' you again on Tuesday.

Take Joy

I'm taking joy in the fact that I'll soon be heading off to a "Crazy for Copics" class at my local stamp store this morning! But first, my sample for Jen del Muro's Sketch for You to Try. I made this first one a few days ago, and while I really like it, I was feeling like I should have chosen brighter colors, so last night I scrambled to make a brighter version. In the end, I still like the first one better. But you get to see both:

The stamps all come from Petals & Stems, one of the new fab four sets by Verve Visual. Stitching is machine done. The buckle and brads are from the Pewter Hodgepodge Hardware kit, and the flower centers are done with the Pewter Build-A-Brad kit. Designer paper on the orange and blue version is by My Mind's Eye (Magnolia/Serene).

Go to i{heart}2stamp to see this week's sketch, as well as Jen's and guest designer Toni Whitnell's samples. As usual, you'll find even more inspiration from Carole, Shannan, and Susan. Remember to use keyword SFYTT if you upload to SCS, so everyone's creations are all in one place.

Have a fabulous holiday weekend!

Verve Color Challenge

Have you been keeping up this week with the Project Parade Color Challenge over on the Verve blog? The gals at Verve cooked up a color challenge based on an advertisement for cute summer sandals, and all this week and next, the Verve divas are showing off their samples. For details on how to play along for a chance to win $15 in Verve bucks, go here.

Funny enough, the inspiration for my card came from the color challenge graphic. I thought those color swatches looked so sweet and pretty lined up alongside each other, so that's the direction I went. The simple, minimal design is a refreshing departure from my usual "fuss," but I like how fresh and crisp the colors look against the black and white backdrop. Not only that, but the Filigree Fantasy stamp is just so pretty I wanted to keep the focus on it and not on a lot of extra fluff.

I stamped the filigree on squares of three of the challenge colors, then clipped off the four corners with a tag corner punch. I added a tiny, and I must confess, somewhat gratuitous helping of the fourth color by adding 1/4" pumpkin circles behind the black brads that adorn the centers of each filigree. I gave the card a little dimension by dry embossing the large black panel using the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder and by popping up each filigree on foam adhesive. Wide olive grosgrain provides the finishing touch.

I hope you're feeling inpsired by the color combo. Remember, you have until May 31 to enter!



Stamps: Filigree Fantasy (Verve Visual)
Paper: Stamper's Select White (Papertrey Ink); Basic Black, Soft Sky, Cameo Coral, So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie card stock (SU!)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: black brads, 1/4" circle punch, tag corner punch, wide olive grosgrain (all SU!); Swiss Dots Cuttlebug

It's Picnic Time

Another quick peek today at a new H&M Stamps set coming on Sunday. This one is called It's Picnic Time, and it is SO fun!!! With a grill, kebabs, a margarita, watermelon, fun sentiments, and so much more, it just screams S-U-M-M-E-R! I stamped in Onyx Black Versafine on Papertrey White, heat set, then colored with an aqua painter and reinkers.

Stay tuned for a blog celebration announcement a little later on. Check out my counter -- 100K -- how'd that happen?! I can't even believe! Woo hoo!



Stamps: It's Picnic Time (H&M Stamps); Stitched (Stampin' Up!)
Paper: Papertrey White, Wild Wasabi, Basic Black, Certainly Celery, Ruby Red
Ink: Onyx Black Versafine, White craft, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Ruby Red, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Old Olive
Accessories: paper piercer, ticket corner punch, black gingham ribbon, corner rounder, key tag punch, Ruby Red button, linen thread, sponge daubers

A Dino of a Day

H&M Stamps got off to a great start when it opened its doors for business last month, and I'm betting this month will be even better! Take a look at this adorable dinosaur stamp set, A Dino Day, one of three new sets coming this Sunday, May 25:

I couldn't resist pulling my papers from the Archaic line by Basic Grey. It's perfect for the dinosaur image! The layout is a slightly modified version of Jen del Muro's Sketch for You to Try from last Saturday.

Thanks for stopping by, and do have yourself a dino of a day!



Stamps: A Dino Day (H&M Stamps)
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Mellow Moss, and Whisper White card stock (SU!); Archaic (Basic Grey)
Ink: Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: vintage brads, photo corner punch, dimensionals, sponge daubers, corner rounder

Project Parade Challenge at Verve

Verve Visual begins a new Project Parade Challenge today on the Verve blog. Try your hand at the fun color challenge for a chance to win $15 Verve bucks! Shannan kicks things off today, and each day for the next two weeks, a different Verve diva shows off a new creation! Can't wait to see all the fabulous entries! Please join us!

Special Shipping Offer with H&M Stamps

Featured Stamper - dawnsing

I was so excited to see dawnsing (aka Dawn McVey) as the SCS Featured Stamper this week. She has an amazing clean, graphic style that I've been admiring for some time, so it was a real pleasure to choose one of her awesome cards to CASE. I picked this one because of its interesting layout and for its altered scallop punched circles. I kept the same layout and mostly the same stamps, but changed the colors and added a layer, the scalloped edge, and some bling.

[Edited to Add: The scallop circle punch is altered by snipping a "V" notch into every other scallop. Pretty cool, huh?]

Enjoy your day!



Stamps: All Holidays, Always, Frames with a Flourish (SU!)
Paper: Papertrey White; Basic Black, Pink Passion and Apricot Appeal card stock (SU!); dp from the "Secret Garden" Simply Scrappin' kit (retired SU!)
Ink: Basic Black, Pink Passion, Old Olive
Accessories: crystal adhesive gemstones (Hero Arts); scallop circle punch, corner rounder, 1/2" circle punch, and pewter build-a-brad kit (SU!); wide grosgrain ribbon (May Arts); foam tape (source unknown)

Always Look on the Bright Side

Here's my sample this week for Jen's super fun Sketch for You To Try. Hope you like it! Go to i{heart}2stamp to see the sketch, plus Jen's sample and guest designer Toni Whitnell's sample. Carole, Shannan, and Susan also have created their usual yumminess. Remember to include keyword SFYTT if you upload to SCS.

Have a great weekend, and thanks for stopping by!



Stamps: Fluttering By (Verve Visual)
Paper: Buckaroo Blue, Apricot Appeal, Whisper White card stock; Marina Dr collection (Heidi Grace Designs)
Ink: Buckaroo Blue, Apricot Appeal
Accessories: corner rounder, 1/4" circle punch, Apricot Appeal brads, Apricot grosgrain, paper piercer, sponge daubers, dimensionals
Supplies by Stampin' Up! except where otherwise specified.

Release Day at Verve!

Today, Verve Visual releases four new stamp sets, and they are all SO awesome! I showed a sample of Filigree Fantasy on Wednesday. Here's a look at some things I've done with the other three sets:



Petals & Stems is just too darn cute! Don't ask me why I chose Cameo Coral (it's definitely a "bottom 3" color for me). Come to think of it, I'm not sure why I pulled out Mellow Moss either (I'm much more of a Celery person). But as I laid the colors out, I thought they really worked with these fun, bright, fresh flower images. It's all just proof that this magical set can make even your least favorite colors sing! The layout is something I "saw" in a pile of paper scraps and sketched out. I had always assumed the rounded top edge would be layered against a traditional rectangle background, but after I cut the Coral panel, I decided to round the top of the card base too. Different, but fun!




A few years ago, when my daughter moved from her crib to a big girl bed, I ordered some really cute purple and green floral bedding from Pottery Barn Kids. I've always wanted to add butterflies to her room theme, but haven't had much luck finding them in purples and greens. So you can imagine how excited I was to see Fluttering By, with its two large butterflies (as well as two sentiments).

My daughter has been begging for a cork board ever since I put one up in her older brother's room (monkey see, monkey do with those two!). We found this one, along with a matching blackboard, in the Target $1 section (which now has $2.50 items - what's up with that? Smells like bait and switch to me!) It had some sort of ocean/seashell decoration at the top where I put the butterfly. Since it was already whitewashed and distressed, all I had to do was glue some ribbon and a few stamped flowers and butterflies to it. Easy!

The thumbtacks are embellished with ribbon slides from Stampin' Up's Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware kit. I filled them with Crystal Effects, then sprinkled on some purple glitter. I saw the ribbon slides altered this way a long time ago on Regina Cornelius's blog, and filed the idea away for "someday." Which is now today! Thanks, Regina!




Floral Whimsy is one of those amazingly versatile, "must-have" sets. It has twenty-nine mix-and-match images and sentiments - that's HUGE! My first thought when I got this set was how much it reminded me of the floral paper from Basic Grey's Sultry line, so that's where I started. The flowers are stamped twice, with the second flower trimmed out and layered onto the first with a pop dot. The flower centers, as well as the satin ribbon, are finished off with dew drops.

In addition to releasing four new stamp sets, Verve has some other exciting news -- a new Verve diva, Amber Hight! She is a phenomenal designer, and I'm so happy I get to work alongside her! Also, when you go to the Verve store, you'll see the May Flowers Pack, special pricing on the four-pack. Last, be sure to visit the Verve gallery to see all the fantabulous creations by the design team.

So glad you visited today!



Petals & Stems:
Stamps: Petals & Stems (Verve Visual); Stitched (SU!)
Paper: Basic Black, Mellow Moss, Cameo Coral, Whisper White card stock (SU!)
Ink: Cameo Coral, Basic Black, Mellow Moss, and White craft (SU!)
Accessories: page pebbles (EK Success), wide black grosgrain (May Arts), classic and scalloped oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), oval cutting system and scallop scissors (Creative Memories), Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder (Provo Craft), paper piercer

Fluttering By:
Stamps: Fluttering By, Petals & Stems (Verve Visual)
Paper: Lovely Lilac, Whisper White, Celery prints (SU!)
Ink: Lovely Lilac, Certainly Celery (SU!)
Accessories: corkboard (Target), paper piercer, classic and scalloped square Nestabilities (Spellbinders), polka dot green ribbon (May Arts), delphinium grosgrain (retired SU!); Certainly Celery buttons, Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware, thumb tacks


Simple Pleasures
Stamps: Floral Whimsy (Verve Visual)
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White and Pink Passion card stock (SU!); Sultry (Basic Grey)
Ink: Pink Passion, Garden Green (SU!)
Accessories: Robin's Nest Dew Drops, pink satin ribbon (Offray), classic circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Taste and See

When I saw the two new sets that Our Daily Bread Designs is releasing today, I felt like doing cartwheels I was so excited! Today's card uses Fruit of the Spirit, which comes with this lovely fruit bowl, four related Bible verses, and, as always, a signature stamp (is that what you call them? in this set it's "An original design by").

Almost as exciting as the stamp sets is the fact that Our Daily Bread Designs is now carrying Prismatic card stock by Prism! If you have not seen or tried this card stock, I highly and enthusiastically recommend it. One side is smooth and the other has a unique, almost leather-looking texture to it. But even the textured side takes ink nicely, as you can see on the sentiment here. The card stock comes in packs of twelve 12x12 sheets. Each pack comes with 4 dark, 4 medium, and 4 light variations of the same color. Kelley sent her design team samples of the colors I used today along with a color challenge. Didn't she pick out some gorgeous colors?!

Also, today is the last day of previews for the Verve Visual sets that will be released tomorrow. You'll find more design team peeks, along with a chance to win a free set, on the Verve blog. Good luck to you!



Stamps: Fruit of the Spirit (Our Daily Bread Designs); Stitched (Stampin' Up!)
Paper: Herbal Garden Medium, Herbal Garden Dark, Sunflowers Light, Blush Red Medium, Blush Red Dark; watercolor paper
Ink: Onyx Black Versafine, too many SU reinkers to count for the coloring, Always Artichoke, So Saffron craft
Accessories: aqua painter, corner rounder, 1/16" punch, paper piercer, artichoke twill

Here Comes The Bride

Tuxedos, evening gowns, and wedding dresses. Those were my first thoughts when I saw the elegant images in Verve Visual's new Filigree Fantasy (available, along with three other sets, this Friday). I love how easily these scrollwork images can be either combined and repeated to create beautiful scrollwork backgrounds, or used individually, as I've done here.

I started this wedding card with a single filigree image stamped in black. The secondary ring around the main image is done with the word "Love" from Wonderful Wishes Remixed. Several scalloped layers and lots of sparkle all combine to create an elegant medallion focal point. I've featured it against a backdrop of rich texture and lots of dimension to complete this "black-tie" look.

The diagonal pattern on the smaller of the two white backgrounds is created by scoring every half-inch on the diagonal, then rotating and scoring on the other diagonal. I dotted each intersection with Stardust Stickles. The larger background is dry embossed with the Textile cuttlebug folder. The wide black and silver striped ribbon is by May Arts.

Be sure to stop by the Verve blog this week, where you can see previews of all four sets, as well as enter drawings to win FREE sets!

Enjoy today!

Happy Mail

I've been really busy with projects for two upcoming releases this week. I got a little mixed up on some deadlines, so I'm working at a feverish pace to get caught up. Verve Visual is releasing four new sets on Friday. Sneak peeks began today on the Verve blog, and will continue tomorrow and Thursday. Be sure to head over there each day -- goodies await! Our Daily Bread Designs is releasing two new sets on Thursday. I'll have projects to show over the next few days, but until then, if I can't show you something I created, I'll show you some things other stampers have made for me.

As a card-maker, don't you especially love getting handmade cards in the mail? It's kind of like going out to eat. Even if you enjoy cooking, it's so nice to be spoiled by someone else's cooking. Here are just two (for now) of many wonderful RAKs I've received recently:



This one is from my online friend, Jennifer Meyer. She is a wonderful, sweet person that I "met" on SCS. Check out her blog, Jennifer's Sweet Designs. And if you frequent SCS, you'll recognize her as this week's Featured Stamper. Way to go, Jennifer!!





This Mother's Day card is from my upline, Sue Hyer. She is amazing, and I'm so proud to be in her group. Sometimes if I'm lucky, I'll get one of the many cards she sends to her group for top three in sales each month, but this Mother's Day card came as a complete surprise! Thank you Sue! Be sure to check out Inky Images, the blog of this six-time trip earner (or is it seven? eight? you kinda lose count after a while, lol!).

Thanks for stopping by!

Scrap Club

Just a quick post this morning to show you what my scrap club ladies made on Saturday night. I had a big collection of pictures from last summer that weren't very good, but yet still had significance, so I created this round-up style page (but I see now that I forgot to include the year underneath the title, ooopsie!). The photos are all about 2" x 2 3/4" each -- not big enough for the low quality to matter and small enough to cram a bunch on one page. On the left side, I included a picture of each child, along with his or her age and a couple of specific highlights. The bullet point journaling on the long white vertical strip corresponds with the pictures on the right and is computer-generated using one of the Stampin' Up! fonts.

Have a great day!



Stamps: Garden Whimsy, Live Your Dream, Big Deal Alphabet
Paper: Bashful Blue, Wild Wasabi, Real Red, Brilliant Blue, Whisper White
Ink: Bashful Blue, Wild Wasabi, Real Red, Brilliant Blue
Accessories: corner rounder, 1/2" circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, paper piercer, computer journaling
All supplies by Stampin' Up!

H&M Stamps Celebrates Mothers

Treat yourself - you deserve it! H&M Stamps

Have You Heard?

I fell in love with this Chicky Night stamp by Penny Black a few months ago after seeing it on Paula Williamson's blog. (Michelle at Stamper's Dream was nice enough to special order it for me!) The stamp is actually a row of four chicks, but I modified it to fit Jen del Muro's "Sketch For You To Try" for this week. You can see the sketch, Jen's sample and guest designer Toni Whitnell's sample over at i{heart}2stamp. Carole, Shannan, and Susan each have samples as well. I hope you play along, too! Remember to use keyword SFYTT if you upload to SCS.

I trimmed out my chickies and placed them outdoors (fringed Wild Wasabi on top of Soft Sky). Kinda looks like the 19th hole on a sunny day! It's hard to see in the photo, but I created some clouds by sponging white craft ink into the negative space left by the scallop punch. All coloring is done with an aqua painter and reinkers. The chicks are a little glammed up with some Hero Arts bling.

Speaking of Stamper's Dream, sadly my time as guest designer has come to an end. Thank you, Michelle, for the opportunity to design for your store! You have a true heart of gold, my friend, and I feel richer for getting to know you a little bit during the last month!

Tonight I have my scrapbook club coming over for a make-and-take and some crop time. Tomorrow, I'll show you the spread they're making. No peeks for my club girls this time - I want it to be a surprise!

Thanks for visiting!



Stamps: Chicky Night (Penny Black)
Paper: Papertrey White (for card base), Wild Wasabi, Real Red, So Saffon, Soft Sky, watercolor paper
Ink: Onyx Black Versafine, So Saffron, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Lovely Lilac, Pink Passion, White craft
Accessories: wide red grosgrain, 1/4" red grosgrain, "Heavenly" primas, white flowers from CTMH, Real Red button, paper piercer, swiss dots cuttlebug, pewter hodgepodge hardware, small oval punch, 1/4" circle punch, aqua painter, scallop punch, crystal gemstones by Hero Arts

First Holy Communion

Here I was last night cruising right along on today's post for Lori Craig's Divine Design Challenge. I had everything ready to go except the picture of the card (I usually take those in the morning so I can get good natural light). Then today as I was photographing the card, it finally dawned on me that this does NOT qualify for her challenge because it doesn't have Scripture on it. Doh! (Click the link to read about the challenge -- it's a great idea, and open to anyone!)

I had originally intended to use an absolutely lovely corresponding stamp of Matthew 26: 26,27 from First Holy Communion by Our Daily Bread Designs, but in all the arranging and rearranging of the design process, for space reasons, I switched from the Scripture stamp to this "God Bless You ... " sentiment. But I really do want to participate in the challenge again this month, so you might see me crank out another one of these today if I have time!

In the meantime, isn't this image a beauty?! Kelley at Our Daily Bread Designs has done it again. WOW! I stamped in Onyx Black Versafine on watercolor paper and colored with reinkers and an aqua painter. The two ovals that make the frame are cut with classic oval nestabilities. I nested the two dies on the Cuttlebug plate first, then cut the frame out in one pass. After that I ran the frame back through the Cuttlebug with the Textile embossing folder. I trimmed around the stamped image, so that parts of it would overhang the frame.

For the sentiment, I stamped in Basic Black classic ink on vellum (the pigment inks *never* dry on the vellum - ask me how I know, lol!), then attached it to a slightly bigger piece of Elegant Eggplant with Artichoke brads to make it a little more sturdy. Then all of that is attached to the dry embossed Elegant Eggplant background using dimensionals. The dry embossing on the Elegant Eggplant bg is done with the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder, and the Always Artichoke bg is done with Textile.

Any questions about anything else -- just ask!

And speaking of questions ... I've had a couple of requests for secrets to tying a knot in ribbon. I've seen a handful of video tutorials out there, but I have a twist to my knot-tying that may be helpful. I'm hoping to put together a quick video, since that seems so much easier than trying to explain the steps with just words. I have no idea what I'm doing as far as making a video, but I do have a digital video camcorder and my sister has a Mac, so I think I'll just put that whole Mac "plug 'n play" claim to the test :) (I'm moderately afraid I'll end up wanting one.) For now, I just wanted you to know I'm knot ignoring those questions. Yes I did that on purpose ;)

Have a blessed day!



Stamps: First Holy Communion (Our Daily Bread Designs)
Paper: So Saffron, Very Vanilla, Elegant Eggplant, Always Artichoke
Ink: Onyx Black Versafine (Tsukineko); So Saffron, More Mustard, Always Artichoke, Old Olive, Baroque Burgundy, Elegant Eggplant, Creamy Caramel, Sahara Sand, Basic Grey reinkers
Accessories: Textile and Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folders; Apricot grosgrain ribbon, Rich Regals brads, corner rounder, vellum card stock