APPLE CIDER DP CRISS CROSS CARD CASE

I'll admit it ... I'm a SCS lurker, and have oodles and oodles of fabulous cards saved in my favorites. Quite often, I come across a fabulous design that I feel compelled to CASE (Copy And Steal Everything). This Criss Cross Card was one of them by ncmorgan. See her original card HERE. Click HERE for a tutorial for Criss Cross Cards.

The only things I changed from ncmorgan's original design: a) omitting the hemp twine going around the card band, b) omitting the three eyelets on the band, and c) I think she used Pewter Brads and Eyelets ... I used Antique Brass.

I just love the way ncmorgan designed the layered medallion! The center of the medallion is Apple Cider DP punched with the 1" circle punch with an Antique Brass Brad in the center. The next layer is Really Rust CS pierced using the Priceless Classy Brass Template and punched with the 1 1/4" Circle Punch, then a 1 3/8" Circle Punch layer of Wild Wasabi CS, and then Really Rust punched with the Scallop Circle Punch and pierced on the scallops.
I also loved ncmorgan's unique tab on the insert portion of the Criss Cross Card. The small starburst from Baroque Motifs is stamped in Wild Wasabi on Wild Wasabi CS and punched out with 3/4" Circle Punch. An Antique Brass Eyelet is in the center of the starburst with the hemp twine threading through and around the Round Tab Punch and tied.RECIPE

Stamps: Baroque Motifs (pg. 126)

Paper: Really Rust, Wild Wasabi and Very Vanilla CS, Apple Cider DP (Holiday Mini '07, pg. 19)
Ink: Really Rust and Wild Wasabi Classic Ink Pads
Embellishments: Hemp Twine, Antique Brass Eyelet and Brad
Tools: Round Tab Punch, 3/4", 1", 1 1/4", 1 3/8" Circle Punches, Scallop Circle Punch, Priceless Classy Brass Template
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals, Sticky Strip

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

This is a card I did a couple of weeks ago with the intention of using it for my upcoming class .... until I discovered a version of it I liked better. I'll be sharing that one with you on Wednesday or Thursday. This card was inspired by the one shown on pg. 22 of Stampin' Success (SU Demonstrator Monthly Publication).

The Halloween scene was created by using the brayer and the Pumpkin Patch Spectrum Ink Pad on Whisper White CS. Before using the brayer, punch a Post-It Note (with some of the sticky portion) with the 1 3/8" Circle Punch and temporarily place it on the Whisper White CS ... that portion will remain white, creating a moon (masking). After brayering the Pumpkin Patch Spectrum, the Spooky Skyline Jumbo Wheel is wheeled across in Basic Black Classic Ink. The More Mustard CS border is Paper Pierced, and the More Mustard and Old Olive borders are torn.
RECIPE
Stamps: Spooky Skyline Jumbo Wheel (pg. 26), sentiment from All Holidays (pg. 143)
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, More Mustard, Old Olive, and Really Rust CS
Ink: Pumpkin Patch Spectrum Ink Pad, Basic Black Classic Ink Pad
Embellishments: Black Gingham Ribbon
Tools: Brayer, Paper Piercing Tool/Mat/Template, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Stampin' Around Jumbo Handle
Supplies: Post-It Notes
Techniques: Masking, Paper Piercing, Brayer

DREWMAN

A couple of days ago when I was braggin' up my daughter, I said I'd try to get a shot of my son, Drew, at his football game since I've never shared a photo of him on my blog. Drew is on the right, and that's his best friend Halen on the left. This photo was taken right after their football game so they're stinky sweaty boys here! Drew's in 7th grade and will be turning 13 next week. I'm going to have TWO TEENAGERS .... HELP!!!! (just kidding!). Maybe then I'll get a nice photo of him to share when he's all clean and groomed! Drew and Halen are best buds and are having a blast playing on the same football team!

RAK FROM DIANE GILBERT

Look at this beauty that showed up in my mailbox the other day! This gorgeous card is from Diane Gilbert, My Little Stampin' Spot!, aka djluvs2stamp on SCS. Diane and I started our blogs about the same time, and we both agree that our stampin' styles are very similar. So, if you like my style, you're gonna LOVE Diane's! I have to admit that when Diane asked for my mailing address, I was secretly hoping that she might send me this one .... and she did! I love how she put the Rhinestone Brads INSIDE the Jumbo Eyelets! How cool is that?!

MAN MADE CARD

If you're a rubber stamper, you've GOT to see this hilarious video! This guy creates a card using tools and supplies from his garage! Very creative!

PROUD MOM

This morning John and I attended a breakfast and ceremony at Allie's high school in recognition of Allie being selected Student of The Month. She, and her co-section leader, were chosen by their band director for outstanding performance in the Fine Arts Department. Allie is a Co-Section Leader for the band's 21-member clarinet section.

We had received the invitation in the mail a little over a week ago. My mom and I had walked down to the mailbox ... you know how you open all the good and/or interesting mail before you get back to the house? ... well this letter was opened immediately, and we couldn't WAIT to get back to the house to show Allie. We were so excited to see her reaction! Talk about major disappointment! She read the letter, and acted like it was an everyday occurrence! Ughhh, teenagers!!!!

We tried to impress on Allie what an honor this Student of The Month thing was! I'm not sure exactly how many students are in her Junior class, but I know there are hundreds! Aside from that, there are 127 kids in her band and there are only so many months in a school year! I think she finally grasped the concept of the recognition this morning, especially when she realized that her band director (her fav. teacher!) was the one that had selected her! That's my proud mom moment for the day!

Notice Allie's short hair? (see her picture here in August). I love her new haircut! I don't think she's had it that short since she was a toddler!

I don't think I've shared any photos of my son, Drew yet. Hope to get some football shots this weekend to share.

I took my mom to the airport this afternoon ... she was here for three weeks. I so very much enjoyed having her here! Although we didn't do anything adventurous or exciting during her stay, we enjoyed each other's company and sense of humor (she "gets" me, and I "get" her!). I think she was more than ready to get home to some peace and quiet, away from our busy schedule! (In case you're new to my blog, my mom lives in Omaha, had surgery, and couldn't bend her right arm .... so I was her right arm!). I told her my waiting on her for three weeks was my partial payback to her for me being such a rotten teenager! Trust me, I totally owed her!

SCS COLOR CHALLENGE CC134 and SKETCH CHALLENGE SC143

This card combines today's SCS Color Challenge (CC134) of Blue Bayou, Chocolate Chip and River Rock ... and last week's SCS Sketch Challenge (SC143). Have I ever mentioned how weird River Rock is to photograph???? Sometimes it looks so green! Just so ya' know ... the color in the photo that is not Chocolate Chip and not Blue Bayou IS River Rock!

I used my handy-dandy Crop-A-Dile to set the Antique Brass Jumbo Eyelet in the center of the flowers which are stamped in Chocolate Chip on Blue Bayou Prints DP, and adhered with a Pop-Up Glue Dot. Before adhering the flower, I curled the petals around a pen. The River Rock CS circles surrounding the Antique Brass Eyelets were punched with the 1/4" Circle Punch.


RECIPE
Stamps: Doodle This (pg. 99), "for you" from All Holidays (pg. 143)
Paper: Chocolate Chip and Blue Bayou CS, River Rock and Blue Bayou Prints DP
Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic
Embellishments: Antique Brass Jumbo Eyelet, Antique Brass Brads, Blue Bayou Double Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon
Tools: 1/4" Circle Punch, 1/16" Handheld Circle Punch, Crop-a-dile
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals, Pop-Up Glue Dot

SCS FEATURED STAMPER CHALLENGE FS34 BALCERIFIC

I got a little stamping time in late last night after everyone went to bed. Woohoo! Luckily, Beate had just posted this week's SCS Featured Stamper Challenge (FS34), featuring the gallery of Jenn Balcer. You can view Jenn's SCS gallery HERE. She is one talented lady!

I was drawn to THIS CARD of Jenn's to CASE for the challenge. I think what drew me in was Jenn's use of Elegant Eggplant, a color I haven't used in a very long time. I defenitely wanted to use Elegant Eggplant, but wanted to change it up a bit, using a color combination I've never used before. With the help of THIS SU Color Combo website, I stumbled across my color combo of Elegant Eggplant, Apricot Appeal, Sage Shadow, and Basic Black.

I really liked the way Jenn used the "inside" sentiment on the outside of her card .... I never think of doing that! I always think of the sentiments from In My Thoughts as ones that would normally be used for the inside of a card. Love it when stampers think outside of the box that I always seem to be on the inside of!

The things I changed from Jenn's card: a) color combo, but inspired by Jenn's use of Elegant Eggplant, b) stamp set ... mine uses Bud Basics and Basics Outline Jumbo Wheel, c) I mocked Jenn's "scallop" border across the bottom of her card. She used the Polka Dots & Petals stamp set for a scallop look, and I used the Slit Punch on Apricot Appeal CS for my scallop, d) different sentiment, but same stamp set (In My Thoughts).


RECIPE
Stamps: Bud Basics (pg. 94), and Basics Outline Jumbo Wheel (pg. 94)
Paper: Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant, Apricot Appeal, Sage Shadow
Ink: Basic Black, Elegant Eggplant, Apricot Appeal, Sage Shadow Classic Ink Pads
Embellishments: Apricot Appeal Button, Black Gingham Ribbon
Tools: Paper Piercer/Mat/Template, Slit Punch, Jumbo Wheel Handle
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

HALLOWEEN ALTERED FRUIT CAN

My apologies for lack of posts this week, and for lack of original artwork. What LITTLE time I've had to stamp has been stamping for my upcoming stamp class (and I try to keep those projects a surprise for my local stampin' friends). As I've mentioned before, my mom has been here for two weeks recovering from surgery. In between helping her (which I'm very much enjoying!), driving kids to and from schools and activities, laundry, grocery shopping, cooking, and TRYING to keep the house fairly clean, there's been NO chunks of time for some serious stamping! Bummer!!!

Drew joined a tackle football team and is taking guitar lessons, and Allie's marching band season is in full force. I can't tell you how many trips my husband and I make in one day back and forth from schools and activities ... it just plain NUTS! I can certainly tell October is approaching! Seems like October, December and May are always CRAZY months at the Riley house! (Now that I think about it ... when ISN'T it a crazy time at the Riley house?). Bear with me ... I am trying really really hard to get some stamping time in!

I have a photo folder on my computer for photos of cards and projects I find in various places. I totally CASEd this altered fruit can from Sarah Moore. See her original HERE.

This can was originally a Del Monte 4 oz. can of fruit. I opened it from the bottom with a Pampered Chef Can Opener which opens cans without the sharp edge. After taking the fruit out, wash the can and remove the label, decorate, fill with Halloween goodies, and glue the bottom lid back on the can. E6000 glue works well for this, and can be found at your local craft store and Walmart.

I did use the retired Stampin' Around Wheel, Boulder Bits, and some of last year's retired Halloween Night DP and ribbon for this can. My all-time favorite Halloween character has got to be Frankenstein, and love it when green and purple are added to the traditional orange and black colors for Halloween!


RECIPE
Stamps: Booglie Eyes (pg. 29), Builder Bits Stampin' Around Wheel (retired), "HAPPY HALLOWEEN" from All Holidays (pg. 143)
Paper: Lovely Lilac, Basic Black and Whisper White CS, Halloween Night DP (retired)
Ink: Basic Black Classic Ink Pad, Green Galore, Lovely Lilac and Only Orange Markers
Embellishments: Green Galore Brad, Tangerine, Apple Green, and Delphinium Grosgrain Ribbon (all three retired)
Tools: Tag Punch, Word Window Punch (folded in 1/2, attached to tag with brad and looped through Tangerine Ribbon)
Supplies: E6000 Glue, Pampered Chef Can Opener (both non-SU)

TAG and BLOGGER FRIENDS

This is a tag from Michele Force, The Stamping Link. Take time to visit her blog ... you will truly be inspired by her fabulous artwork!

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet, current car) Candy Sedona

2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (favorite ice cream, favorite cookie) Strawberry Cheesecake Chocolate Chip

3. YOUR FLY “GUY/GIRL” NAME: (first initial first name, first 3 letters last name) N-RIL

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal) Really Rust Dog

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born) Ann Onawa

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (first 3 letters last name, first 2 letters first name) RILNA

7. SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd favorite color, favorite drink and add” the”) The Pumpkin Pie Coke (left out the "diet" in Coke)

8. NASCAR NAME: (first names of your grandfathers) Milton Marvin

9. STRIPPER NAME: (favorite perfume, favorite candy) Mackie Bing Cherry

10. WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s and father’s middle names) Ann Merlin

Okay, now I'm supposed to tag some others. Here's a list of some of my favorite fellow bloggers who I think haven't been tagged yet:

1. Heather

2. Angie

3. Lorri

4. Joanne

I received this Best Blog Friend Award from Roxy, Stamping With Roxy. Roxy's blog is jam-packed with incredible stamping ideas, and her award-winning enthusiasm is contagious! HOLY SMOLLY MACARONI! (this is a term Roxy uses when she's really excited about something, which is often!) She's so funny!
I'm nominating some of my newest blogging friends that I've just met recently:
1. Linda
2. Dawn
3. Amy
4. Vicki