It's time!

It's here!   The fun new sketch challenge starts TODAY!   Are you are excited as I am?   I hope so!   Lesley started us off with an awesome first sketch.  Doesn't it look fun?!   I had a blast creating my card and I bet you will too if you'll play along with us!    Be sure to check out the blog and see what the other design team members came up with!

Now here is my take on the sketch.   I LOVE the new Spice Cake designer paper from the Holiday Mini!  Because my husband and I are following the South Beach Diet, real cake is a no-no for me.   I don't even care though!   This spice cake paper is yummy, calorie-free, and makes pretty cards.  Much better, right?    :)   We are going to say it is anyway.  I wanted to do some cards for fall, so I used my Day of Gratitude set for the beautiful sentiment and leaves.   Every card can use a bit of texture and embossing folders are a great way to add that while keeping your card clean.

I hope you'll join us and I can't wait to see what you create.

Stamps:  Day of Gratitude
Ink:  Pool Party, More Mustard, Soft Suede
Paper:  Soft Suede, More Mustard, Pool Party Spice Cake DSP, Whisper White
Accessories:   Regals brads
Tools:  Big Shot, Square Lattice and Houndstooth embossing folders, paper snips

PPA109

Last night and today I took some time off of "work".   I decided to just stamp with no thoughts of what was retired, what my customers might like, etc.  It's nice to just have a fun day doing whatever strikes your fancy.   My goal is to get back to participating in a challenge every day.   I enjoyed doing it before and my skills really improved during that time.  

This card was made for the Pals Paper Arts challenge to use Calypso Coral, Riding Hood Red, and Basic Gray.   Not being a fan of the coral and red, I definitely found this one to be a challenge!   As I looked through my stamps, Paisley Prints caught my eye.   I LOVE paisley and had to buy this set last year right before it retired.   I figured it was time to use it again, so I inked up my leaves and got busy.   The slightly cooler temperatures we've had the last 2 days has really helped me get in the mood for fall.     I never thought 90 degrees would feel like fall, but when you've had a summer of 100+ temperatures it kind of does!  We have some nice lows at night this week, so I'll be cuddling up in my blanket and enjoying them!

Stamps:  Paisley Prints (retired), Falling Leaves
Ink:  Calypso Coral, Riding Hood Red
Paper:  Basic Gray, Calypso Coral, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White, Neutrals DSP stack
Accessories:  Basic Gray taffeta ribbon (retired), In Color Dotted Brads
Tools:  Paper snips, paper piercing tool

Two challenges

This first card was made for the colourQ challenge.  Of course I missed the deadline for that one; I always seem to have issues with that challenge deadline!    I need to do better next week and get it submitted on time.   The challenge was to combine a past colourQ challenge with a sketch from Clean & Simple Stamping.   I loved the fall colors of Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Pear Pizzazz, and Peach Parfait from challenge #50, so I used those for my card.   I did do a bit of distressing, so it's not a total CAS card.     

While I had all those gorgeous colors on my desk, I decided to do a card for the sketch challenge over at Just Add Ink.    I left out the peach on this one and I think this just might be one of my favorite new color combinations!     It is a super fun sketch, so go check it out!

Tired!

Well, I didn't get to stamp much yesterday, but I did get my room under control a bit by working through the evening and this morning.   I had friends over yesterday and when we went in my room for a minute, I was super embarrassed.   It looked like a scene from Hoarders!    I worked on purging much of my unused supplies and now it looks much, much better.   Here's my uncluttered desk!  Yay.   My ink pads and old-style punches are close at hand.   The baskets hold my adhesives and paper scraps.   And best of all, I have lots of room!

Here's my little cubby shelf (from Target of course).    I love it and it holds all the miscellaneous stuff like coloring tools, supplies for 3-D items, etc.   The top is a great place for me to stash the completed and in progress projects for the local store I sell in.  

Stamps!  I put both my current and retired ones here.   I love being able to go to one shelf and browse for inspiration.  :)   I tucked my Village of Cuteness among them to add a little fun.

Finally, here's my Big Shot station.    I love having my dies handy and ready to go.   Other miscellaneous tools and card samples are homed here as well.  

I'll have some card pictures to share tomorrow.  I didn't stamp until late tonight, so there's no sunlight for pictures.  :)   

Happy Labor Day!

PP61 Sketch

Well, I decided to take my own advice and go stamp something rather than cry.  :)    I have to say, I just be more creative when I'm near tears because I am LOVING this card!   I wanted to try two of my new toys out and thankfully they worked well together.    The new Fancy Fan letterpress plate is awesome and I owe Ann a big thank you for inspiring me to get it.    It is going to be a favorite for sure!   I also just got the Fun Flowers die after hearing how much everyone LOVED it.   It has been sitting there for a few weeks now staring at me, but I was clueless what to do with it!    Well, I think it is great now that I pulled it out and used it!    (and seriously, Tempting Turquoise and Basic Gray are super terrific together; I LOVE that combo!)

Stamps:  Tiny Tags
Ink:   Basic Gray, Versamark
Paper:  Tempting Turquoise, Basic Gray, Brights DSP stack
Accessories:  Brights buttons, White Baker's Twine, Basic Gray Taffeta ribbon (retired I think....)
Tools:  Big Shot, Fancy Fan letterpress plate, Fun Flowers die, Jewelry Tag punch

Button Buddies Tutorial

I'm in a bit of a stampin' funk, so I haven't been very motivated to go make anything today.  I can usually tell if I'm struggling a bit with sadness when I am not participating in challenges.   So, time to work on turning that frown upside down!    I think I'll go clean up my room in a bit; maybe a nice clean space will get my mojo going.   :)   

Anyway, I just wanted to share a set of the cards from my Button Buddies tutorial.   This was one of my favorites because it shows how a bit of embossing and a punch can make a huge difference in the look of your card.   It also shows that the set works great without putting buttons on the images.   The tutorial contains all the instructions for these cards and ten others.    

Happy Labor Day Weekend!   

Happy Holiday Mini Day!

The Holiday Mini is LIVE!    Woo Hoo!    It is packed with so many awesome goodies for the upcoming holidays.   The best?   SIMPLY SCORED!!!    If you start to notice more 3-D items and/or cards with scoring on here, it's because I love using this great new tool.   I think you will as well, so contact me today to order yours or to set up a time to come try it out!   

There are so many other great products as well.    Halloween, yummy fall fabric and designer paper, and of course, TONS of Christmas including stamps, paper, Big Shot items, and my favorite?  STOCKINGS!    I knew the stocking die was a hit when my husband asked me to make a garland for our fireplace AND offered to help!   :o)    

So go check it out!  I'll be ordering later today, so call me if you need anything!  Remember you can order 24/7 on my website as well.  

Miscellaneous

I finally decided to redo and update my space at a local shop and I thought these candles might be a nice gift to add to my display.   Maybe they could give a teacher a break from receiving yet another apple thingy.   :)  

My next project was to add a few more packets to my Kids Card Kits. I made up three new ones with some old favorites, including my adorable sock monkey and crab.

Finally, I had a custom order for some bag tags.   I love making these so much.   They are quick and easy, but oh so adorable!  

Jason was nice and worked on making me a display to show off my bag tag samples.   I love it and can't wait to go hang them on there tomorrow!

Finally, be sure to check your orders very carefully.   I found a huge surprise in my last one!   :o)

Gotta love Bandit and his silly antics.