ALLIE'S SENIOR HOMECOMING and a TAG

This weekend was my daughter, Allie's senior homecoming dance. I just love this group of kids and had to share a photo here! Allie is in the center in blue. Remember my good friend, Paula? (see here, here, here, and here). Allie's date is Paula's son, and the other two girls in the photo are Paula's daughters, along with their dates. They all had a GREAT time!I received an "I love your blog! Happy Autumn!" award from Jenn at Designs By Boo. Please feel free to consider yourself tagged with this award and you can pick your own autumn themed photo here. Thanks for stopping by! I'm putting the finishing touches on my weSTAMP swap cards tonight for Tuesday night's meeting & swap.

SCS FEATURED STAMPER CHALLENGE FS90 SPEEDYSTAMPER

Today's Featured Stamper #90 on SCS is my good cyberspace friend, Kay Kaltoff, speedystamper! You can see Kay's fabulous artwork in her SCS gallery, and on her blog, Stamping to Share. CONGRATS, Kay!

HERE is Kay's card I chose to CASE for the challenge. I kept the same "large flower theme" and the same general layout. I used the stamp set, Doodle This to create the Poinsettia flower by stamping in Chocolate Chip onto the Old Olive DP (1X) and Ruby Red DP(2X) -- ALL DP is from Holiday Treasures. I then cut each flower out, staggered, and layered. A Build-A-Brad adorns the center of the Poinsettia flower with another Holiday Treasures Ruby Red DP pattern as the inside (1/2" Circle Punch). I rolled the petals of the flower around a pencil to make them curl for depth and interest. The ribbon is Riding Hood Red Tafetta, and the sentiment is from the Level One Hostess Set, Best Yet. It is punched out with the Large Oval Punch and backed with another staggered Ruby Red CS Large Oval Punch and raised up on Stampin' Dimensionals. I used Ruby Red ink to sponge around the border of the oval sentiment.

I don't know why I've been making so many Christmas cards lately, because I am so much more of a Fall/Autumn person. Seems like I've skipped that season altogether! I'm off to create my swap cards for Tuesday's weSTAMP swap. Will share a homecoming photo or two when I get a chance.
RECIPE
Stamps: Doodle This, Best Yet
Paper: Holiday Treasures DP, Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Chocolate Chip and Ruby Red
Embellishments: Riding Hood Red Tafetta Ribbon, Ruby Red Brads, Build-A-Brad
Tools: Paper Piercer + Mat Pack, 1/4" and 1/2" Circle Punches, Large Oval Punch, Pencil or like kind tool to roll poinsettia petals
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals, Sponge

SFYTT CHRISTMAS

I'm still here! ... just haven't had time to stamp or blog this week. I ended up having a cortisone shot for my heel spur so I am walking better ... let' hope this is the fix I've been needing! It's Homecoming week (Allie's Senior Year!) - parade and game yesterday with the dance tonight .... you name it, it's happening here!

I did, however, find time to make a couple of samples for Jen del Muro's Sketch For You To Try Challenge. I have been Jen's Guest Designer for the SFYTT Challenge this month, and this is my last week in the honorable position. What an enjoyable experience it has been!

Please visit Jen's blog, i{heart}2stamp to see the sketch, Jen's sample, and my other sample (a Halloween card). You can see even more samples of the sketch by visiting Jen's friends ... Amy R., Amy S., Carole, Shannan and Susan. I hope you will play along!

This card uses the stamp set, Snow Swirled, along with the I Wish Simply Scrappin' Kit. The overall card measures 5 1/2" x 5 1/2". The star on the top of the tree, and the scallop medallion with sentiment are all self-adhesive die-cuts from the I Wish SSK. The circle snowflakes on the tree are punched from the Real Red snowflake dp in the I Wish SSK with the 1/2" Circle Punch. It's difficult to see in the photo, but there is paper piercing on the photo corner piece. RECIPE
Stamps: Snow Swirled
Paper: DP and Real Red and Chocolate Chip CS from I Wish Simply Scrappin' Kit, Whisper White
Ink: Old Olive
Embellishments: Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Self-Adhesive Die Cuts from I Wish Simply Scrappin' Kit, Real Red Brads
Tools: 1/2" Cricle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Word Window Punch, Paper Piercing Tool & Mat Pack, Photo Corner Punch
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

SCS FEATURED STAMPER CHALLENGE FS89 INK-E

This card was created for SCS Featured Stamper Challenge #89, featuring the beautiful gallery of Ink-E, Emily. HERE is Emily's card I chose to case. When searching featured stamper galleries, I'm usually very conscientious about not choosing a card that was made using a sketch challenge (one of the Featured Stamper Challenge rules). It wasn't until I was in the midst of case-ing Emily's card that I realized it was a sketch challenge card. So, not only is this a case of Emily's card, it uses Sketch Challenge #97.

I don't know what the deal is with this card, but I must have photographed it 50 times! ... and it's still not that great of a picture! Is Pink Pirouette the new River Rock? LOL! (River Rock was always difficult to photograph.)
RECIPE
Stamps: Lots of Thoughts (retired), In The Stars (retired)
Paper: Sweet Always DP, Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, Pumpkin Pie, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Chocolate Chip and Pumpkin Pie
Embellishments: Regal Rose 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Styled Silver Star Brads from Hodgepodge Hardware
Tools: Paper Piercer & Mat Pack, 1/2" Circle Punch
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

SFYTT OVAL PUNCH PUMPKINS

Here is the third card I created for Jen del Muro's Sketch For You To Try. I am so pleased with the way this design turned out ... (if I do say so myself!) If you're a regular reader, you know I don't always love what I create. Thanks to many wonderful readers who leave such nice comments about my work, I have gotten more confident. This is probably one of my all-time favorite cards I've ever created ... I'm such an Autumn kind of person ... love all the colors!

This card uses the new Autumn Vine Designer Paper from the current '08 Holiday Mini Catalog ... YUMMY!!!! The pumpkins are created using the Small and Large Oval Punches with the middle layer raised on dimensionals. The stem of the pumpkins was created from Sage Shadow 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, and the vine was created by wrapping a sliver of Sage Shadow cardstock around a pen to give it the curl. There are many raised layers to this card ... even the main designer paper panels backed in Chocolate Chip CS are raised. Natural Hemp Twine was tied through the Antique Brass Jumbo Eyelets.RECIPE
Stamps: Holidays & Wishes
Paper: Autumn Vine Designer Series Paper, Really Rust, Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, Sage Shadow, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Embellishments: Antique Brass Jumbo Eyelets, Natural Hemp Twine, Sage Shadow 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon
Tools: Small Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Crop-A-Dile
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

BASIC PIROUETTES + BEATE'S SKETCH

This card is sooo not my best work but thought I would share anyway. It just didn't turn out on paper like it appeared in my head. I used Beate's wonderful Weekend Sketch Challenge #62 and SCS Color Challenge #188 of Pink Pirouette, Basic Black, and Whisper White. The polka dot designer paper is from Sweet Always, and the stamp set is Enjoy Every Moment. It's difficult to see in the photo, but there are paper pierced holes in each scallop of the borders.
RECIPE
Stamps: Enjoy Every Moment
Paper: Sweet Always DP, Pink Pirouette, Basic Black, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Basic Black
Embellishments: Black Brad, Black Gingham Ribbon, Flower Fusion Too
Tools: Scallop Circle Punch, Paper Piercing Tool, 1 3/4" Circle Punch

SFYTT SNOW SWIRLED with I WISH SSK

Jen's offering another wonderful sketch for her weekly Sketch For You To Try challenge! Boy, do I ever like this sketch! ... so much so that I've created three cards for it! This first one uses the stamp set, Snow Swirled, combined with the I Wish Simply Scrappin' Kit. You can see the card I created as Jen's October Guest Designer HERE, and be sure visit my blog again over the weekend for my third card!

Visit Jen's blog to see Jen's rockin' sample and for details to play along ... i{heart}2stamp. See more samples from a few of Jen's stampin' friends ... Amy R., Amy S., Carole, Shannan and Susan!
RECIPE
Stamps: Snow Swirled
Paper: DP, Real Red, and Chocolate Chip Textured CS from I Wish Simply Scrappin' Kit, Whisper White CS
Ink: Old Olive
Embellishments: Red Circle Fire Rhinestone Brad, non-SU self-adhesive red rhinestone (round & star)
Tools: 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" Circle Punches
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals
Note: Sentiment "JOY BECAUSE I LOVE YOU!" is a self-adhesive die cut from the I Wish Simply Scrappin' Kit.

CHRISTMAS MOJO

If I don't get to bed soon, I'm going to regret it all day at work tomorrow. I just couldn't go to bed without sharing this card first, so I'm going to make this post real quick.

This card uses Julee Tilman's Mojo Madness #56 Sketch, along with the stamp set, Merry & Bright (a personal favorite!), Holiday Treasures Designer Paper, and Little Felt Flurries from the Holiday Mini Catalog. The tree image is stamped in Chocolate Chip onto Holiday Treasures DP, then paper pieced. The snowflakes are randomly stamped in Baja Breeze by stamping off first.
RECIPE
Stamps: Merry & Bright, All Holidays
Paper: Holiday Treasures DP, Baja Breeze, Old Olive, Ruby Red, and Very Vanilla CS
Ink: Chocolate Chip and Baja Breeze
Embellishments: Little Felt Flurries, Ruby Red Brad
Tools: Circle Cutter (I used my CM CCS)
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals, Pop-Up Glue Dot

RAK from DAWN EASTON

My good friend, Dawn Easton ... Treasure Oiler Designz ... mailed this beautiful card to me! Dawn's card uses the stamp set, Upsy Daisy with Sweet Always Designer Paper. I loved this card so much, I CASED it a couple of weeks ago ... here's mine.

FAMILY STUFF - NOT STAMPING RELATED

Today is my son Drew's 14th birthday! We celebrated by taking him and three of his friends out for lunch. They then saw a movie without John, Allie and me, and one friend is spending most of the weekend with us. I love the young man Drew is becoming ... he's got a wonderful sense of humor, and he's lovable, caring, and respectful. And even though he won't keep his hair as short as I'd like him to (LOL!), I love him and am very proud! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DREW !!!!

Allie is in the midst of her senior marching band season, and is at a band competition tonight. Last weekend, they received a rating of Excellent, and were awarded all their captions but one. Their show is really coming along! I just LOVE watching those kids perform!

You may remember me mentioning my foot problems that started the first part of August ... OR, if you're a local friend, you've watched me hobble, gimp, or walk with my left foot in tip toe position for two months! Thinking I could baby my foot myself and live with what I thought was plantar faciitis, I put off seeing a doctor for it until Thursday! (I know, I know ... ridiculous! ... I'm kind of stubborn that way!) The pain has become unbearable, and I know I'm screwing up other parts of my body by walking funny for so long. Come to find out, I have a heel spur and am starting physical therapy on Tuesday. If by three sessions, there's no improvement we'll be considering a cortisone shot or surgery. I understand that the cortizone shot in the heel is pure torture, and surgery is no piece of cake either (4-6 weeks on crutches). UGHHH!

SNOW SWIRLED SFYTT

This is my second week as October Guest Designer for Jen del Muro's Sketch For You To Try. Again, Jen delivers another fantastic sketch to work with, and her sample is awesome! This is one of the cards I created for the challenge, and you'll have to CLICK HERE to see my other design.

This card uses the stamp set, Snow Swirled, and uses the bleaching technique demonstrated by my friend and downline Leah Sinatra at our weSTAMP demonstrator meeting last week. The three Snow Swirled circle medallions are embossed with Black Embossing Powder, then "colored" with bleach. Leah demonstrated this technique using a paint brush, and I even tried filling my Aquapainter with bleach ... worked like a charm! I decided I liked this technique so much that I designated a separate Aquapainter just for bleach, boldly labeled of course!

The sentiment is stamped in Versamark and embossed with Gold Embossing Powder. The small medallion is stamped in Versamark on the the Old Olive background piece, then the Ticket Corner Punch was used and Gold Brads added.

RECIPE
Stamps: Snow Swirled
Paper: Basic Black, Old Olive, and Riding Hood Red CS
Ink: Versamark, Basic Black Craft Ink Pad
Embellishments: Gold Eyelets, Gold Cord
Tools: 1 1/4", 1 3/8", and 1 3/4" Circle Punches, Circle Cutter for 2" Circle, Ticket Corner Punch, Aquapainter
Supplies: Black and Gold Embossing Powders, Stampin' Dimensionals, Bleach

I hope you'll play along with the Sketch For You To Try Challenge, and be sure to check out more samples by Amy R., Amy S., Carole, Shannan and Susan!

RAK from MARIA GILBERTSON

This beautiful Upsy Daisy card was sent to me by Maria Gilbertson, Up North With Magoo.

I'M JEN'S SFYTT OCTOBER GUEST DESIGNER !!!

I've been bursting at the seams with this exciting news for quite some time! TODAY is the day that I can finally share this news ... I am Jen del Muro's Sketch For You To Try October Guest Designer! Oh yeah! Jen's sketches have always been one of my favorite regular challenges, and to be asked to be a Guest Designer is an incredible honor!!!!

Here is one card I've done using today's Sketch For You To Try. Go to Jen's blog, i{heart}2stamp to see the other sketch sample I've created, Jen's sample card, and for all the information you need to play along!

I was completely inspired by Wendy Bond's adorable card HERE. Frankenstein has GOT to be my all-time favorite Halloween "characters"! This Frank image is from the retired stamp set, Booglie Eyes. I purchased the Smarty Pants stamp set just for this sentiment! The designer paper is from Ghostly Greetings, and the striped Perfect Plum panel is from Perfect Plum Patterns.RECIPE
Stamps: Booglie Eyes (retired), Smarty Pants
Paper: Ghostly Greetings DP, Perfect Plum Patterns DP, Basic Black and Whisper White CS (Perfect Plum, Pumpkin Pie, and Kiwi Kiss CS for the small 1/4" circles behind the brads)
Ink: Basic Black, Perfect Plum, Kiwi Kiss, Pumpkin Pie, and Going Gray
Embellishments: Basic Black Brads, Kiwi Kiss 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon
Tools: 1/4" Circle Punch, Blender Pen
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals, Googlie Eyes (non-SU)

HALLOWEEN - weSTAMP STYLE!

Last Tuesday night was our weSTAMP Stampin' Up! Demonstrator meeting and swap at Lorri Heiling's home.

This month's swap theme was HALLOWEEN/AUTUMN, ANYTHING BUT A CARD. Here are the swap projects ...

Ginny Schembri provided this Make 'n Take project, along with a wonderful demonstration of the new Stampin' Up! Sissix Big Shot. We made these small folders that help show what the Big Shot can do. Inside the folder pockets are examples of many of the Big Shot dies, along with various materials including designer paper, cardstock, cork, felt, vinyl, soda cans, and various fabrics.Lorri had these charming Halloween treat purses for each weSTAMP participant.This next photo of the weSTAMP girls being SILLY. We're all wearing the plastic dracula teeth which were part of Tara's swap. Front row: Terri Guyman, Tara Hilde, Rachele Sanclemente, Nancy Riley. Back row: Ginny Schembri, Adrianna Gray, Jessica Blair, Pam Wood, Lorri Heiling, Leah Sinatra, Jennie Portonova, Toni Santanello

PROUD MAMA

It's been a busy week with no stamping time (so far!) ... just had to check in - no better way to say "I'm still here!" than to brag about my kiddo, right?! This morning my daughter Allie was awarded Student of the Month for Outstanding Performance in Visual & Performing Arts for the second year in a row + Rotary Student of the Month at her high school! Allie is having a great senior year and it's going WAY too fast!

It's been a crazy busy week! I'll have more to post Friday night and throughout the weekend!

Off to bed ... I attended the first grade field trip today ... VERY HOT & EXHAUSTING!