School days, school days...

Incase anyone was wondering, no, I haven't dropped off the face of the earth. I was fortunate enough to get a job at a local elementary school and have started working FULL TIME for the first time in oh, about 9 years! Not counting the whole mother thing, of course. The boys all started school yesterday and 2 of them attend the school I work at, so it's been wonderful being able to see them, even for a second here and there, throughout the day. Helps me to not feel like a bad mom for getting a job, kwim? That being said, if anyone has spare energy and mojo they'd like to send my way, it would be GREATLY appreciated! ha! I get home and all I can think of is S-L-E-E-P! Guess you can call me a wuss til I get used to this routine.
So, as soon as I find my mojo and a spare few minutes, I'll post a new creation!

Thanks for peeking in!

Your Next Stamp 1st Design Team Call

Hi everyone! Yes, you guessed it, I'm applying for the "Your Next Stamp" design team call! These are a couple of my favorite cards I've made lately, so hopefully they like them, as well!! Wish me luck!!

A cameo pop flower

Is that what these are called?? Ya know, when you make a flower just from tearing some paper in a circle? Anyhoo, this is my first time making one of these and yes, I was trying to channel the uber-talented Divine Ms. Dawn McVey while I was making this. (a link to her blog is on my sidebar) Very simple card w/ a little stamping. The sentiment is from Flourishes Sweet Violets set. The small text on the blush layer and celery leaves is from the CDS Gladiolas set. I cuttlebugged the top portion of my ivory layer then added this yum-0 ribbon that I have yards and yards of, but have yet to use because it's just so darn pretty! Added a button w/ hemp and used my loopy border punch again (*loooove it*). I also made this for Flourished birthday blog challenge. Tell me whatcha think ~
Thanks for stopping by ~~~

Catching up on bloggin'

We're back from our trip to OK and I'm trying to catch up on my blog hoppin'. I came across some *blog candy* from Michelle and wanted to share it with you!

Hope to be back w/ some card posts soon!

Chillin' Charlie

Here's Summer Fun Charlies in turquoise and
pumpkin. I watercolored him this time.
Love this sentiment! Kinda went for a clean and simple look and added some brads, a button w/ hemp and strip I punched out w/ my new loopy punch.

Amethyst aliens are here!

This was made for the CDS August Guest Designer Challenge! This is an 8x4 card. I colored the spaceship w/ copics and the aliens w/ SU markers. I rarely use my Amethyst cs, so I thought, hmmm, why not some little purple aliens! The spaceship is up on pop dots. The square brads had a pewter like finish, but I colored them w/ a black slick writer and like that they ended up looking dark purplish. Lots of faux stitching to finish it off.

Thanks for looking!!!!

Happy Gladiolas!

Here's a sweet little elegant card I made using
one of July's new sets from CDS, Gladiolas. The flowers were colored w/ copics and everything else was watercolored. The main image is up on dimensionals.
How ya like that loopy punch??! It's one of the
new Martha Stewart punches and I love it!
It was hard to resist buying all of the punches,
but I did! This comes w/ a coordinating corner punch that I hope to get next week! Thanks for stopping by! And don't forget, sneak peeks for the new CDS stamps being released in August have already started on the DT's blogs!!!!

What have you done this summer?

I don't know about you, but I've been soaking up a little bit sun lately. We've had a little break from baseball (Hallelujah!!!) and have enjoyed taking it easy. We'll be heading out of town for a few days, but not to worry ~ I'll have some auto posts set up for the rest of the week ;}. On to the card~
I colored Charlie, or is it Charlene, w/ copic and SU markers. The grass was done w/ a copic, then I drew lines on it (so it looked 'grassier') w/ my olive SU marker. The sky was done by sponging using turquoise ink. This also uses some of the new SU In Color cardstock (love that some of them match this new Basic Grey dp called Lemonade!). Hope you like it and OH!!! Go check out what the CDS Design Team is up to ~ August Sneak Peeks!!!!!!! Too cute!!!!!!!!

Beam me up!

Ha, so whatcha think? The CDS color challenge at PCP (Paper Craft Planet) over the weekend was basic grey, teal and orange. I already knew I was going to paper piece the spaceship w/ this dp. As I was working on it, this idea came to mind. The orange is cut at an angle, not sure if you can tell, so that it looks like a beam of light coming from the spaceship! Another one of those cards that's way cuter IRL! The window of the ship is coated w/ crystal effects, as are the stars near the sentiment. The stars and dp are up on dimensionals. This would fit in a standard A2 envelope.







card info: stamps ~ CDS. paper ~ orange, dp, ww. ink ~ black, pumpkin. access. ~ crystal effects, markers.

Multi challenge waterlily card

Ok, here's the run down of all the challenges this card was made for:

FTTC25 ~ add shimmer
CC228 ~ pink, rust, navy
WT228 ~ add a charm
DTDG09KrystieLee ~ add something clear
DTGD09eggette ~ something w/ wings
DTGD09Becca_Stamps ~ use die cuts/punches
DTGD09Lauraly ~ use ribbon
DTGD09One_Happy_Stamper ~ this sketch

Yep, that's 8 challenges on one card!!!! Everything just seemed so easy to add, that it just all fell together. The waterlilies were spritzed w/ Gold Glimmer Mist (I don't have any Shimmerz). The stamped using my navy marker, then again in versamark and embossed w/ clear ep. The gems are clear domes. Not much of the rust on here, but I used a rust marker on my flowers (click on the picture and you may be able to tell). Thanks for stopping by! I'm working on more Dare To Get Dirty challenges and will have some Clear Dollar Stamps card to post soon, so don't go far!

It's a Sunny release day!!!

It's RELEASE DAY!!!!!!!!! Here's my final sneak peek for you using a different image from the same Mini Messages set that I used yesterday.


This also uses yesterdays' Sketch Challenge on SCS. The beach balls are up on dimensionals and I colored them w/ my SU markers. I love using up retired dp rather than just seeing it sit in my room!! Used a border punch on the bottom black strip, pierced the top black strip, added a little gingham and a sentiment from the same Mini Messages set and voila! Clean and simple w/ a pop of color!! Ok, now RUN to the Elzybell store (link on the sidebar--->) and see the full sets! Which ones are you getting???!!!
Thanks for stopping by and hope you enjoyed the peeks! Also, this is my last new release as an Elzybell DT member. It's been wonderful and I can't thank Elizabeth enough for giving me, someone not well known in the "stamping world" (didn't want to use your exact words, debi!), a chance to a be a part of her team. I've really enjoyed getting to know everyone else on the team and will continue to follow their work and stalk their blogs *wink*.

hugs,

Gladiolas on a grid

If you haven't tried this technique, I suggest you do because it turns out so cool!! Doncha think??! I wanted these Gladiolas from CDS to be the focus, so I kept everything black and white except for the image.
Thanks for stopping by! My latest Elzybell sneak peek is in the post below ~~~

3rd day of Elzybell Summer sneaks!!!

Here's a sweet little card that uses 2 images from one of the new Mini Messages sets being released *TOMORROW*!!!! The sentiment is also from that set. I colored the palm tree image w/ copics, then masked to create a little sunset scene. The flip flops were clear embossed on the saffron layer. A few rows of piercing and ribbon finish it off. The palm tree image is up on pop dots. This is a 4x4 card.
Thanks for stopping by and remember, tomorrow is ***RELEASE DAY*** and the last day of sneaks!!!

hugs,

2nd day of Elzybells UK Summer release!!

Well, whatcha think???? I wanted to show how one little stamp and a sweet sentiment could make a *supah cute* card sure to put a smile on someone's face!!! I think I accomplished that goal and hopefully you agree! That Sunflower is a new rubber single image being released on Thursday. I stamped it repeatedly and colored it with... can ya guess?? Nope, not copics! All SU markers! I used summer sun, pumpkin and cocoa. Now, this sentiment is actually 2 separate stamps that come in a new sentiment set called, Swirly Greetings. I guarantee that this will be your new *Go-To* set for many sentiments! It has 2 different fonts and covers many occasions from retirement and wedding to anniversary and graduation!!!!! It is AWESOME!!! To finish off the card, I used a corduroy button (that I've been hoarding for many months...) w/ a little hemp bow tied through it and brads on the corners. This is a 4.5 x 4.5 card, btw. Thanks so much for stopping by ~ hope ya liked it!!! Don't forget that the rest of the 'Belles have some gorgeous goodies for you to drool over, as well!

hugs,

card info: stamps ~ elzybells UK. paper ~ ww, chocolate, pumpkin. ink ~ black, choc. access. ~ nesties, button, hemp, markers, pop dots.

Another snippet of what's in store tomorrow!

Yea, so I like to tease!!! Just trying to enjoy my last new release with the Elzybell UK Team while I can!!!!!!! See ya in the morning!!!

1st day of Elzybells' Summer release is here!

Introducing the sweet *Sunflower Fun* Elzy!!! I love her cute little outfit and those big ol' sunflowers! She was colored using copics except for her shirt, which I used SU's pixie pink then used the fine point of my real red to draw lines on her shirt and headband for kind of a plaid look {click on the pic so you can see it better}. Once she was colored, I realized that this dp matched up w/ her perfectly! The *Sunshine* sentiment is also a new release. I love this one, too, because I call my boys "sunshine" all the time, but usually when they're being grumpy, hehe! I fought w/ where to put the sentiment at first, but am happy w/ it now. Used a border punch for the red strip and added hemp to 3 little buttons.
Keep checking back every day until the 23rd which is final sneak and RELEASE day!!!! And be sure to scope out what the rest of the 'Belles have for you!

hugs,


card info: stamps ~ elzybells UK. paper ~ celery, red, ww, dp. ink ~ black. access. ~ border punch, copics, SU markers, buttons, hemp.

A sneak of my sneak!

I just finished this up a bit ago and took this pic sitting here at the computer. Thought I'd throw out a tease of my Elzybell sneak peek card that I will post in the morning ~ after I'm able to take a good pic of it in some natural light!

G'night!!!!

Chillin' Charlie

This is what the boys have been wanting to do all summer ~ chill at the pool across the street (it's the neighborhood pool)!! This Summer Fun Charlie is, well, FUN!!! I paper pieced his swimsuit and his floatie, except the floatie is up on dimensionals. The sentiment is from the same set, thought it's not curved ~ I curved it on the block before I inked it up and stamped it because I knew I wanted to punch it out w/ a circle punch. Used up some SU retired dp that I still have plenty of, added piercing and brads. Husband is off work today so, yes, we'll be chillin' at the pool shortly! Have a good one!


card info:
stamps ~ Summer Fun Charlie by CDS. paper ~ bashful, red, olive, ww, dp. ink ~ black. access. ~ copics E31 and E33, brads, piercer, punches, dimensionals.

Time for an Elzy sketch challenge

Here's a fun sketch from Elizabeth, the Elzy Queen, herself! I love these Spring Cube images! I used copics to color it in. I've had this dp for oh, say at least 2 yrs, probably a little more and whaddya know ~ it matches the new SU Melon Mambo cardstock perfectly!! Love it when that happens! Added some white brads and grosgrain to help tone down the brightness of this card! Thanks for stopping by and be sure to come back on the 20th for some ***sneak peeks*** of the new goodies that will be arrivng in the Elzybell store soon!!!! You will NOT be disappointed!!!!

hugs,

Lavendar aliens!

What??!!! Didn't you know aliens are lavendar and all sparkly?? hehe! I had so much fun w/ this new set from CDS! I used a copic and SU marker to color them, covered their eyes w/ crystal effects and the rest of them w/ stickles! Their spaceship was embossed w/ clear ep on the banana layer ~ look closely, it's there! Went w/ a tag theme for Flourishes blog challenge.

TFL!!!

Apricot Gladiolas are tempting!

Hi all!! Here's my first card using one of the newly released sets over at CDS ! This set is called Gladiola ~ August flower of the month. Ain't it beautiful?!!! The image was mostly colored w/ SU markers and is up on dimensionals. I watercolored the sky w/ turquoise ink and an aquapainter. The lower left flower is cut out and popped up (because I made a coloring mistake, hehe!). The layer to the left was done using the emboss resist technique. For the sentiment, I used the large oval and word window punches. Some bling and ribbon finish it off.
Thanks for stopping by!!


hugs,

Blog candy winner!!

Thanks for all the 'congrats' comments! I used random.org and lucky #4 was chosen!!!!! So, Rachel, come on down and give me your addy!!!!!!!! You can pm me on SCS, if you like!

I hope to be posting some new schtuff in a little while. Super busy w/ baseball this week ~ my middle one is in a "World Series Tournament" that started on Sunday w/ opening ceremonies, and won't be over until the championship game on Friday, which we hope to be playing in!!!! GO TITANS!!!!!!!

CDS color challenge on PCP

Every Friday, CDS hosts a color challenge on Paper Craft Planet. Check out this weeks' challenge here: PCP CHALLENGE. This week, we were to make a card using Barely Banana, Real Red and Baja Breeze. This is such a cool set to make easy boy/guy cards! The 4-wheeler is up on pop dots and was colored w/ SU markers and also watercolored. I had to add a little something else to it, but didn't want it to be "girly", so I went w/ a small ribbon tab and star brad. And of course, some piercing. Thanks for stopping by and check out the "BLOG CANDY" post below!!!!!!!!!!

hugs,





card info: stamps: CDS set Dirt Rides. paper ~ baja, red, banana, ww, dp. ink ~ black, basic grey, baja. access. ~ markers, piercer, brad, ribbon, markers.

A surprise announcement!!!!!!!!!

*****this blog candy will be open until Monday, 6 July at 8pm, cst*****


Check out the post here: CDStamps Then come back and leave me a comment on this post because I'll be giving away some *blog goodies* to celebrate my great news!!! I'm SOOO excited to have the opportunity to work w/ Clear Dollar Stamps!!! (I'll gather some things and take a pic of it later so you know what you're trying for)

And incase you missed it, check out the post below to see my newest Elzybell Challenge card this week: to make a card using the colors from your country's flag!

Ready for an Elzy blog challenge???

Good!!! Because it's time for one! This week we had to make a card using the colors from our country's flag. Good ol' red, white and blue for me! I love the images in the Spring Cubes set! The only blue on the card is the vase, which is watercolored using SU's brilliant blue and the brads, which are also brilliant blue (though they look darker in the pic). The rest of the image is colored using real red and green galore. The sentiment is from the Mini Tags set. The main image is up on dimensionals. I cuttlebugged the larger white layer for a little something extra, but wanted to keep this one fairly clean and simple. Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out what the rest of the Elzybelles have for you!

hugs,

My first Charlie card

Ain't he cute? I was fortunate enough to get this sweet set from a very generous friend and I *adore* it!!! I made this for the Clear Dollar Stamps Guest Designer Challenge, which you can read about here: http://clearlyistamp.typepad.com/my_weblog/

I've had this designer paper, which I believe is from Crate Paper, FOREVER! Once I decided to keep the flowers white, this dp immediately came to mind and once I found it amongst all the other thousands of sheets of dp I have (please tell me I'm not alone on that one!), I knew it was perfect. The flowers on the smaller circles were stamped on white and cut out, then added to the blue circles. Charlie and the grass were colored w/ copics. The sky was watercolored and I used an SU marker for the flower centers. Such a fun layout! Thanks for stopping by!

card info: stamps~ clear dollar stamps. paper ~ bashful, ww, dp. ink ~ black, brocade. access. ~ nesties, piercer, ribbon, hardware, gel pen, markers.

hugs,

Phunky Phresh sneak and Elzy *RELEASE DAY*

So whatcha think of my "phunky phresh" card?? Hehe, guess I was in a "phunky" mood this morning! A good card for a teenage girl, I suppose? The row of "beauty necessities" is a single stamp that I just stamped repeatedly. Everything is colored w/ SU markers, then I added some white gel pen highlights here and there. The sentiment is from a new set called *Best Things*. It's a great set of sentiments that are all in a row, but I decided to stamp it so that it'd fit in the oval. There's also piercing at the top and bottom of the black layer. Thanks for stopping by, now go check out all the new goodies available at the ELZY store!!!!

hugs,