COURTNEY'S 1st BIRTHDAY CHALLENGE

This little sweetheart is Libby Hickson's daughter Courtney, and she's celebrating her first birthday today! For the past year, Libby has been holding "From Courtney's Closet Challenges" each week on her blog, Libby's Little Addiction, where she dresses Courtney up in one of her cute outfits, and encourages others to use it as inspiration for a card. It's about the cutest idea I've ever seen for a stamping challenge! It has been so much fun seeing photos of Courtney each week during her first year, and am thrilled to help Libby celebrate this special event, along with these other talented ladies ...

Carole Burrage, Mother's Little Helper
Leslie Miller, Running With Scissors
Maria Gurnsey, Scraps by M
Melissa Sauls, In Stamping Mode
Rose Ann Reynolds, Paper Delightz
Sue Kment, Sue's Stamping Stuff

Libby has some amazing and generous blog candy to give away too! Check it out HERE!

Here's my card inspired by Courtney's "Cute As A Cupcake" shirt ...
RECIPE
Stamps: Simple Birthday Thanks, Think Happy Thoughts
Paper: Tempting Turquoise Prints DP (retired), Green Galore, Pink Passion, Real Red, Close To Cocoa, Yoyo Yellow, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Basic Black, Pink Passion
Embellishments: Tempting Turquoise and Green Galore SU Brads, Yellow and White Brads (non-SU), White Taffeta Ribbon
Tools: Swiss Dots Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, 3/4", 1 3/8", and 1 1/4" Circle Punches
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY, COURTNEY !!!

EMBELLISHMENT AND DESIGNER PAPER SHARES UPDATE

THANK YOU for the overwhelming response to the Embellishment Shares and Designer Paper Shares! The Stampin' Up! order for three Designer Paper Shares and four Embellishments shares was placed over the weekend. If you've paid me through Paypal, you're in one of those groups. Now it's just a matter of time for the product to get to me ... waiting, waiting, waiting! I'm headed back to my day job tomorrow so I'm praying that the order arrives before the weekend. Wouldn't it be nice if I could get all the paper cut, and all the embellishments sorted, and everything prepared to be mailed over the weekend?

Interest for more shares keeps coming in! I will continue to coordinate Embellishment Shares and Designer Paper Shares as long as there is an interest, and as long as we can get groups of eight. If you e-mail me regarding the shares, please remember that I'll be at my day job during the day where I have no computer access (*gasp*). I will return e-mails and send Paypal invoices in the evenings. My e-mail ... nrileycm@cox.net.

See all the details for the shares here ... EMBELLISHMENT, DESIGNER PAPER, and DETAILS.

PRETTY AMAZING RASPBERRY TART

I got a chance to create with some of the goodies that Connie Collins sent to me (see my previous post)! This is my first time working with Raspberry Tart DP, and I love it! I used one of my favorite stamp sets, Pretty Amazing ... and Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #3.

Details about this card that may not be obvious in the photograph ... a) the perimeter of the large flower print dp panel is paper pierced, b) the large flower was stamped off in Pretty in Pink and randomly stamped on the Whisper White panel, c) the hummingbird image is paper pieced by stamping in in Jet Black Staz-On onto Raspberry Tart DP and cut out, d) the large flower was created by stamping it three times onto Whisper White CS ... once in Real Red, again in Rose Red, and again in Pretty In Pink. All three layers were cut out with scissors, attached with a Pink Circle Brad, and adhered with a Pop-Up Glue Dot. You can see an excellent tutorial for the flat-tailored bow by Joanne Basil HERE.
RECIPE
Stamps: Pretty Amazing
Paper: Raspberry Tart DP, Kiwi Kiss, Pretty In Pink, Rose Red, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Real Red, Rose Red, Cameo Coral, and Pretty In Pink Classic, and Jet Black Staz-On
Embellishments: Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon, Pink Circle Rhinestone Brad, Rose Red Brads
Tools: Paper Piercer & Mat Pack
Supplies: Mini Glue Dots, Pop-Up Glue Dot, and Stampin' Dimensionals

RAK from CONNIE COLLINS

Look at the fun surprise I received in the mail the other day from my blogging & stamping friend, Connie Collins, Constantly Stamping! This super cute, teeny tiny card measures about 2 1/4" x 3 1/2" , and is designed with this little bird from On Board So Tweet. In addition to this adorable card, Connie mailed GOODIES!!! .. a sampling of chipboard from On Board So Tweet, and 6 x 6 samplings from Tea Party DP and Raspberry Tart DP! WOW! These are all new Stampin' Up! products that I don't own, so I really can't WAIT to create with them!
Connie and I share several common bonds ... we both have feet problems (ugh!), and both have a true passion for papercrafting! You've GOT to visit Connie's blog, Constantly Stamping ... it's jam-packed with inspiring projects!

PROUD CARDINALS FANS

This photo is of my family ... my daughter Allie, me, my son Drew, and my husband John ... proudly wearing our Cardinals t-shirts. We celebrated Superbowl at family friends' John & Gaylene's house. That was some nail biter of a game, wasn't it?! A very disappointing loss for Cardinals fans, but we're very proud of what our team accomplished this year! I thought we had it in the bag after Fitzgerald's exciting touchdown! Imagine approximately 40 adults jumping up and down screaming at the top of their lungs! That was so exciting, and so disappointing to see them lose the game. There's always next year! We {heart} the Arizona Cardinals!

iPICKS, Week Twelve

Edited to Add: I hit a wrong button and accidentally published this post early.

I wrote this post in advance and had it scheduled to publish. Right now, I am at a Superbowl party cheering on our home team, the Arizona Cardinals.

Welcome to iPICKS where I post a selection of my favorite cards and projects found during my blurfing (blog surfing) and SCS stalking for the week. GO CARDINALS !!! There's no formal rules or guidelines ... just inspiring projects that catch my eye, clever ideas, and exceptional designs. GO CARDINALS !!! These are projects that inspire me and I hope they inspire you too! Here's my iPICKS for Week Twelve ... (GO CARDINALS !!!)

Chat's Cherish Card, Clean and Simple Card, and XOXOXO Card (Me, My Stamps, and I).

Ilina Crouse's Sending Happy Thoughts Card (My Creations).

Mary Elliott's Winter Club Projects ... my personal favorite is Project #3, One Sheet Box (Everyday Elliott).

Donna Centamore's Quarter Fold Heart (Butternut Sage Designs).

Carrie Gaskin's Define Old Card (Artistic Avenger).

Diana Ball-Seitz' Kiwi Kiss SAB Pocket Card (Diana Ball-Seitz).

Christine's SAB Botanical Blooms Card and Sweet Love Card (ChristineCreations).

Dawn Olchefske's Sweet Always Project (DOstamping with Dawn).

Monique Hawrelluk's A Flower For All Seasons Card (Self Expressions).

Connie Collins' Top Note Valentine Pocket Card (Constantly Stamping).

Mercedes' Fun Valentine Punch Art (Share~Inspire~Create~).

Enfys' Unique Storage Solution for Stickles bottles ... see 4th photo ... (Going Buggy).

Julie Buhler's A Rose Is A Rose Card Purse and Card Purse Tutorial (Paper Pleasing Ideas).

CASEing KAREN with MAKEESHA'S SKETCH

Thanks to all of you who have been asking about my foot! The infection seems to be slowly going away, and I am able to spend more time without my foot elevated. You know what that means! ... Stampin' time! As I was blog surfing for inspiration this morning, I came across THIS CARD by Karen Thomas, and knew I had to case it! I love how she worked in all those different images from the one stamp set, A Happy Heart, so beautifully! Karen's card and my card both use Makeesha Byl's sketch found HERE.

I had a heck of a time photographing this card, until I finally settled for this shot. What you can't see in the photo is that I used the Priceless Classy Brass Template to paper pierce the 1 3/8" Basic Black circle behind the Feb. 14 image. There are several different layers popped up on dimensionals. As always, all products are from Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted.RECIPE
Stamps: A Happy Heart
Paper: Candy Lane DP, Basic Black and Pink Pirouette CS
Ink: Riding Hood Red
Embellishments: Button Bouquet, Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon
Tools: 1/2", 1" and 1 3/8" Circle Punches, Priceless Classy Brass Template, Paper Piercing Tool w/ Mat Pack
Supplies: Mini Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals

JANUARY weSTAMP MEETING

The other night, we had our local Stampin' Up! weSTAMP demonstrator meeting and swap at the home of Leah Sinatra. We hadn't had a meeting since the first part of December, so there was alot of catching up and lots of excitement over the NEW 2009 Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog!

No meeting would be complete without a special treat. Pam Wood provided these beautiful and delicious cupcakes ...Our swap theme this month was to create a SIMPLE, demonstrate-able card with minimum layers and embellishments ... a card ideal for a beginning stamper class.(Please note that my swap card {above} was case'd from Jen at My Stampin' Spot).

Diana Knight prepared our Make 'n Take, this beautiful waterfall card. You can find a tutorial on SCS for Waterfall Cards HERE.Thanks for looking!

EMBELLISHMENT and DESIGNER PAPER SHARES

Thank you for the overwhelming response to my Stampin' Up! Embellishment Shares and Designer Paper Shares posted yesterday! Several groups of eight have already filled, and I will continue to take orders for new groups of eight.

Again, if you would like to participate in either of these shares (or BOTH!), all you have to do is e-mail me at nrileycm@cox.net stating which shares you'd like to participate in, along with your e-mail and shipping address. I will then e-mail a Paypal invoice to you.

Here are some other questions that have come up ... so if you're in the share groups, please read...

* Please send payment through Paypal as soon as possible, as there are other share group members counting on this whole process to move quickly.

* Once I receive all payments from a group of eight, I will immediately place the order with Stampin' Up! Please allow time for me to receive the order, separate & cut, and mail. Please know that I won't "sit" on the product, and will get it mailed as soon as possible. (I have visions of me cutting paper and sorting brads & buttons until the wee hours of the night! LOL!).

* If you committed to both a Designer Paper Share AND an Embellishment Share or more than one share of either, there is no additional shipping charge. I can ship both together in the same package.

* If you are local (Phoenix area) ... you can either pick up your share with no additional charge, or I can mail to you with the standard shipping charge of $5.00.

THANK YOU for your participation! I am so excited that we'll all be getting a sampling of the new Stampin' Up! embellishments and designer papers!

Nancy

EMBELLISHMENT SHARE

Would you like to receive the new Brads, Buttons, and Clips from the NEW Stampin' Up! catalog!? I am organizing an Embellishments Share right now where you can rreceive a sampling of the items described below at a fraction of the cost of buying a full package of each new item! You can buy one package of each new item for approx. $107 plus tax and shipping, OR join this share and get one of everything shipped to you for only $16.00!

Your embellishment share will include these 52 pieces:

• 3 Kiwi Kiss Corduroy Buttons, pg. 176
  
• 3 Chocolate Chip Corduroy Buttons, pg. 176
• 3 Kraft Corduroy Buttons, pg. 176

• 3 Pacific Point Corduroy Buttons, pg. 176
• 3 Pumpkin Pie Corduroy Buttons, pg. 176
• 3 Summer Sun Corduroy Buttons, pg. 176
• 3 - 1/2" Library Clips (one Chocolate Chip, one Old Olive, one Whisper White, pg. 176
• 3-5 Latte Buttons (one of each style), pg. 176
• 10 Jumbo 5/16" Brads (one Chocolate Chip, one Very Vanilla, one Whisper White, one Silver), pg. 174
• 4 Jumbo 5/8" Brads (one Chocolate Chip, one Very Vanilla, one Whisper White, one Silver)
• 9 Clear Rhinestone Brads, pg. 174
• 4 Flower Assortment brads (one Pumpkin Pie, one Pretty in Pink, one So Saffron, one Chocolate Chip), pg. 175

This share includes the 52 pieces described above, and they can be seen on pgs. 174, 175 and 176 of the NEW 2009 Spring-Summer Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalog.

This offer is for local customers and iSTAMP readers within the United States. If you are interested in joining my Embellishment Share, please e-mail me at nrileycm@cox.net with your name, shipping address, e-mail address, and the quantity of shares you wish to purchase. Once I receive eight shares, I will send you a Paypal invoice for easy payment. If you need your share shipped there will be an additional shipping charge of $5.00. Local customers may pick up their shares.

I am also offering a Designer Paper Share HERE.