RAK from LEAH SINATRA

Look at this beautiful card I received in the mail from my friend and Stampin' Up! Downline, Leah Sinatra! Isn't she just awesome?! Thanks, Leah !

TWO MOJO MONDAYS!

Today, I was able to create two cards from Julee Tilman's Mojo Monday (MOJO41) Sketch. This first card was completely inspired by Kelly Lunceford's card HERE. Kelly's selection of papers, stamps, and embellishments is brilliant, and I was compelled to use them with this sketch.
RECIPE
Stamps: Define Your Life, Defining Alphabet
Paper: River Rock, More Mustard, and Very Vanilla CS, Wild Wasabi Prints DP
Ink: Wild Wasabi and Chocolate Chip Classic Ink
Embellishments: Little Reminders No. 2 Accents & Elements, Antique Brass Jumbo Eyelets, Antique Brass Brad, Wild Wasabi Striped Grosgrain Ribbon
Tools: Paper Piercing Tool & Mat Pack, Crop-A-Dile
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

Here's my second card using the colors Real Red, Bashful Blue, and Barely Banana. The main flower image was created by layering an assortment of self-adhesive die cuts from Build-A-Flower Accents & Elements. In addition to the vertical line of paper piercing, there is paper piercing within the For a Friend stamped image. There are Real Red CS 1/2" circles backing the Bashful Blue buttons.

RECIPE
Stamps: For a Friend (Level One Hostess, Spring-Summer 2008 Collection)
Paper: Real Red and Barely Banana CS, Bashful Blue Prints DP
Ink: Real Red Classic Ink Pad
Embellishments: Bashful Blue Buttons, Real Red Brad, Real Red Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Build-A-Flower Accents & Elements
Tools: 1/2" Circle Punch, Paper Piercing Tool & Mat Pack,
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

Thanks for looking !!!!

TWO SKETCH CHALLENGES WITH CREW KIDS GIRL

Here I go again -- using Stampin' Up!'s Crew Kids Girl Simply Scrappin Kit to make super easy cards! You can see other cards I've made with this SSK HERE.

This first card uses Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge #51, and combines the Crew Kids Girl SSK with the stamp set, Enjoy Every Moment. The photo on the right shows a close-up of the main image, stamped from Enjoy Every Moment, paper pierced, and several layers raised up on Stampin' Dimensionals. The Wild Wasabi Rick Rack Border is from self-adhesive die-cuts from the Crew Kids Girl SSK.

RECIPE
Stamps: Enjoy Every Moment
Paper: Crew Kids Girl SSK DP, Regal Rose, Wild Wasabi, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Regal Rose and Wild Wasabi Classic Ink Pads
Embellishments: Wild Wasabi Double Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Pretty In Pink Brad, Crew Kids Girl SSK Self-Adhesive Die Cuts
Tools: Paper Piercing Tool & Mat Pack, 1/2" and 3/4" Circle Punches
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

This next card uses SCS Sketch Challenge #179 (SC179) . It's difficult to see in the photograph but right below the ribbon on the left hand side, is the word "friend", a self-adhesive pre-printed die cut from the Crew Kids Girl SSK. The large main image flower and the smaller flower in it's center are also self-adhesive die cuts from the Crew Kids Girl SSK. RECIPE
Paper: Crew Kids Girl SSK DP, Whisper White and Wild Wasabi CS
Embellishments: Pretty In Pink Brads, Wild Wasabi Double Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon
Tools: 1/4", 1/2" and 1" Circle Punches, Creative Memories Custom Cutting System (non-SU)
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

GREAT SWAPS GIRLS SWAPS

I recently participated in two Great Swaps Girls Swaps. All the swappers should have received the swapped cards by now so I think I'm safe showing my contributions to the swaps (wanted the swappers to see them IRL first!).

This first card was for a non-A2 card swap. An A2 card (in case you don't know) is a standard 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" greeting card size. For the swap we could do any size or shape of card we wanted other than A2. I chose to design a square 4 1/4" x 4 1/4" Tart & Tangy card ....

RECIPE
Stamps: Tart & Tangy, Fundamental Phrases
Paper: Real Red and Bashful Blue Prints DP, Bashful Blue, Real Red, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Real Red and Old Olive Markers, Basic Black Classic Ink Pad
Embellishments: Real Red Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Real Red Brads
Tools: 1/4", 1 1/4", 1 3/8" Circle Punches, Scallop Punch, Word Window Punch
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

This next card is for a Get To Know You or NVR (No Vendor Restriction) themed swap. Usually, the Great Swaps Girls swaps are Stampin' Up! only, but for the Get To Know You swap, we could use any stamps we chose, from any vendor. I stuck with my all-time favorite, can't-be-beat Stampin' Up! stamps! ...

RECIPE
Stamps: Enjoy Every Moment, Tart & Tangy
Paper: Summer Picnic DP, Real Red, Old Olive, Basic Black, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Basic Black, Real Red, and Old Olive
Embellishments: Black Brads, Old Olive Poly-Twill Ribbon
Tools: 1/4" Circle Punch, Ticket Corner Punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

TART and TANGY GIFT SET FOR SALE

Remember this Tart & Tangy Gift Set I offered last month as a local class? It was such a hit that now I'm offering the completed, fully assembled set for sale here on my blog!

You will receive the variety of four A2 (5 1/2" x 4 1/4") greeting cards with coordinating tote completely assembled ... by me! I gave these gift sets to my kids' teachers on the last day of school, and each one of them raved about how cute they were! They make wonderful gifts, or purchase one for yourself! I don't make junk, so you can be sure they will be handmade with the highest quality standards!

You can see each card, and the tote in greater detail HERE on this previous post. The last day to order will be June 30, 2008, as that is the last day I am able to order certain supplies for this gift set from Stampin' Up!. U.S. and Canada shipping addresses only, please.

Happy Birthday Tart & Tangy Gift Set
$29.95 + $10.00 Shipping & Handling

Thank You Tart & Tangy Gift Set
$29.95 + $10.00 Shipping & Handling

* Please allow 7-10 business days from the date in which your order is placed for your Gift Set(s) to ship out to you (this is the length of time I need in case I need to order supplies from Stampin' Up! + assembly time).

* U.S. and Canadian Shipping Addresses Only, Please.

RAK from JENNIFER MEYER

This card was designed by, and sent to me, by Jennifer Meyer. Jennifer is also known as lovetostamp6 on SCS, and her blog is Jennifer's Sweet Designs. I absolutely fell in love with this card when Jennifer posted it a couple of weeks ago ... I gushed and gushed over it! I love the fabulous colors combination, the Flower Fusion, the paper piercing, and the dry embossed background! See all the details about this fabulous piece of work HERE. Thank you, Jennifer!

SCS COLOR CHALLENGE 169 REAL RED * SOFT SKY * BLUE BAYOU

This doesn't happen very often, but I really like this card! (I usually don't get too excited about my own work ... I think they call that lack of self confidence? LOL!) I showed it to DH this morning, and he crunched up his nose and said, "is the star supposed to be obscure like that?". He didn't like it! That's unusual too ... he usually likes my cards, although sometimes I think he says he does just to humor me! Leave me a comment and let me know what you think of it!

I used this week's SCS Color Challenge (CC169) of Real Red, Soft Sky and Blue Bayou ... perfect combo for 4th of July! My card was completely inspired by THIS CARD by elizard on SCS. The layout of elizard's card really caught my eye! The large star is a chipboard piece from On Board Accents, covered in Real Red Prints DP.

RECIPE
Stamps: Independence Day, Fundamental Phrases
Paper: Summer Picnic DP, Blue Bayou and Real Red PRINTS DP, Real Red, Soft Sky, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Blue Bayou Classic Ink Pad
Embellishments: On Board Accents, Styled Silver HPH Star Brads
Tools: Paper Piercing Tool & Mat Pack, 1/2", 3/4", 1 1/4", 1 3/8" Circle Punches
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals, 2-Way Glue Pen

Edited to Add: Marta asked where she can get the awesome star brads on this card .... they are from the Stampin' Up! Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware in the Occasions Mini Collection 2008 (pg. 7). Click HERE to view.

SO MUCH FOR MY MOJO

I've owned the stamp set, So Much for quite awhile and haven't been inspired to do much with it .... UNTIL I saw THIS CARD by SeattleStamper on SCS. I loved the idea of the crystals on each dot of the circle! I would have preferred small half back pearls for my card instead of the rhinestones, but this is what I had that fit, thus the card not turning out the way I wanted. Funny how the mojo disappears when you haven't stamped for a week!

I incorporated the Great Swaps Girls Sketch Challenge (GSGC07), changing the oval to a circle ... and the SCS Color Challenge (CC168) of Chocolate Chip, Sage Shadow, and Very Vanilla.
RECIPE
Stamps: So Much
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Sage Shadow, and Very Vanilla CS
Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic
Embellishments: Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon, Rhinestones (non-SU), Love & Happiness Rub-Ons
Tools: Circle Cutter (Creative Memories), Cuttlebug and Swiss Dots Embossing Folder
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals, Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive

SCS FEATURED STAMPER CHALLENGE FS69 MMBC

Yesterday's Featured Stamper (FS69) on SCS was Maren Benedict, aka mmbc on SCS ... and fellow Great Swaps Girl. I've had no time to stamp this week, but managed to quickly put this together last night. It's a super simple and quick card that cases Maren's fun card HERE. You can view Maren's beautiful gallery HERE, and see her blog, Zany Not Crazy HERE.

As you can see, I changed the color scheme and theme, and Maren's card appears to be shorter than my A2 (4 1/4" x 5 1/2") card.
RECIPE
Stamps: Independence Day
Paper: Real Red Prints DP (Level One Hostess), Brilliant Blue CS
Ink: Basic Black
Embellishments: Brilliant Blue Brads, Jumbo Pewter Eyelets, Real Red Striped Grosgrain Ribbon
Tools: Crop-A-Dile, Star Punch
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

CELEBRATE 90 YEARS and 18 YEARS

This weekend we celebrated my mother-in-law, Ada's 90th birthday! Several out-of-town relatives were in for the weekend, and my SIL, Norene did a WONDERFUL job hosting the weekend celebrations! She is an amazing hostess, and makes it all look so easy!

... and today, John and I celebrate 18 years of marriage! We just can't BELIEVE that it's been 18 years! Where DOES the time go? This is one of my favorite photos of our wedding day, June 2, 1990. We look so young!!!!Our sweet and thoughtful friends, Dan and Lorri Heiling, sent this beautiful hand stamped anniversary card to us!