Life Is Keeping Busy Where There Is No Time To Stamp

So it has been a long time since I have blogged or stamped or showed what I have stamped. I am attaching a few cretions from Valentine's Day just to show I haven't forgot how to stamp.

23 Valentine's for my daughter's pre-school class.

Loads of Love for my Husband

A card prepared for my daughter to give her friend.

Special Valentine for a little girl I watch in the mornings.

Finally Updating My Blog

Ok...it has been a very long time...6 months is just way too long. It has been a little crazy around here, but I actually made a card! This card is for my husband as we are celebrating 16 years of marriage today. Here are the deets to the card...

Stamp Set - Loads of Love, Lovely as a Tree, a retired Heart Wheel

CS - SU! Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Whisper White,

Ink - Black Stazon, Pacific Point, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Real Red, Pink Passion, Pixie Pink

Accessories - Dazzlin' Diamonds, Blender Pen,

I know I am using retired CS, but these were my favorites last year and I have so much of it. Plus, I needed something a little masculine.

I hope to be posting more great creations!

Thanks for looking!

I Have Been Tagged!!!

So I was checking out all of my SC S friends’ blogs and found out that I had been tagged! Thanks Dawn for adding me to your list! If you would like to check out Dawn’s blog, here it is. Amusing Musings & Things She always has music going…its pretty cool and she has great artwork as well!

So here it goes!!!

8 TV Shows or movies that I watch regularly:
- One Tree Hill (I know…still a teenager at heart)
- Grey’s Anatomy
- Private Practice
- ER
- American Idol (when it is on)
- Jon & Kate Plus 8 (with my girls who love it)
- The Big Bang Theory
- How I Met Your Mother

8 Things that happened yesterday
- I managed to get the girls to chorus on time
- It was payday!
- I received Happy Mail from my DSS Big Sis
- Oldest DD received letter from Grandma
- The 3 year old I watch had two potty accidents!
- Her dad was here early to pick her up!! Yeah
- Got a free pretzel from Aunt Annie’s
- SU! Shipment arrived!

8 Favorite Places to Eat
- My Cousin Maria’s when my Aunt Mary is visiting
- Outback Steakhouse
- BD Mongolian BBQ
- Friaco’s Mexican Cantina
- Puleos Grill while in Knoxville, TN
- Dean’s Grill (local place that has awesome breakfast)
- Cheesecake Factory
- Clara’s Italian Kitchen (local)

8 Things I am Looking Forward To
- Friday, the 6th…going to Nuthouse (all night of stampin)
- End of February when my parents close on their new house
- Spring Break in April so I can take my kids to see their grandparents
- SPRING…tired of the snow
- Our family vacation to Orlando…look out Mickey Mouse (June)
- Family reunion in Tennessee over 4th of July weekend
- SU! Sell-a-bration over the next two months!
- Enjoying my pool with my kids over the summer!

8 Things on my Wish List
- Big Shot
- Bubble Bath
- Clinique Happy
- Rachael Ray’s Big Orange Cookbook
- New stamps
- A desk/office chair
- Hardwood Floors
- Peace and happiness for everyone around me

8 People Tag
- Deb
- Michelle
- Holly
- Jackie
- Diane
- Sara
- Kathy
- Kim P. aka the other Kim

Stoppin' in with Some Cards!

Hey Stampers! I was able to create a few cards on Monday…just now posting them. One was a sympathy card for a customer of mine who lost her mother a few weeks ago. It didn’t turn out the way I wanted…but I wanted her to know that I was thinking of her!
I made this card using Echoes of Kindness and the same technique as the painted black card below.

The second post is from the Demo Challenge section of SCS. I would paste the link, but you have to be SU! Demo to get in there. Sorry! Anyway, it was from the Wicked Monthly Challenge that normally has a sketch challenge, color challenge, and a technique challenge. I used Just Buzzin’ By with the color challenge…to use Baja Breeze, Blush Blossom and Cameo Coral. That combo was tough! But some how I pulled it off. I hate to use to many extra colors with the color challenges so I just used Whisper White and Basic Black for my neutrals.

I hope you enjoy them. Until the next time, happy stampin’!

Painted Black Challenge

So I finally got a chance to do a Challenge Card! Woohoo! I worked on this card last night. It was Friday’s Limited Supply Challenge. Here is the link to look at the details.

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=413661
Basically the challenge was to use black as the main background to allow the images and colors to pop more. Well, I racked my brain for two days trying to decide which set and layout I wanted to use. So yesterday morning, I received a tutorial email from Michelle (here is the link to her blog) http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/. She inspired me to use this new Just Buzzin’ By set and to try a new technique as well.

The card didn’t turn out as well as I liked. There are too many lines from my brayer, but I thought I did pretty well for the first time. I also used Whisper White instead of glossy paper. I think if I had used the glossy stuff, I might have been better off. I will try that next time.

Anyway…here is the supply list:

Stamps: Stampin’ Up!© Just Buzzin’ By and Echoes of Kindness
Paper: Basic Black, Yoyo Yellow, Whisper White
Inks: Versa Mark, Basic Black, Bashful Blue, Tempting Turquoise, Certainly Celery
Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, Gold Embossing Powder, Versa Mark Pen, Brayer, Sponges, Stampin’ Up!© Markers: So Saffron, More Mustard, Apricot Appeal, Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Always Artichoke, Close to Coca, Chocolate Chip, Summer Sun
Techniques: Brayer and Heat Embossing

Learning from Michelle, I dipped my stamps into versa mark then the basic black ink. Added clear embossing powder and heat set. Then I colored in all of my images. To make it so the additional colors don’t stick to the images, color the areas with versa mark pen (you need to clean it like you do with blender pens when switching colors) and heat set with clear embossing powder. After all of the images are embossed, I used the brayer in Bashful Blue at the top. Then I used it in Tempting Turquoise at the very top. Added certainly celery at the bottom the bottom to give the image some grass. Then I used a very important tool to remove excess ink…paper towel! I have learned that I need to add paper towels to the stamp cabinet. LOL I layered the card and Viola…it is finished.

What do you think? TFL!

It's 2009 and this is my 1st Post!

I know I vowed to share my art and publish on my blog more often....well life happened! My parents have officially moved to Tennessee. They are currently house hunting. I have been so behind on everything that deals with stampin' and fun! I just now took down all of the Christmas decorations and I am trying to get my house back in order. I also need to clean the stampin' area because the cable guy needed in my space to hook up all of the new cable. UGH!!!

So since I have not stamped, I thought I would share some a card I received from my Secret Sister. I love it! What a wonderful way to start out this round of Divine Secret Sisters!

Where Have I Been?

Well, I know I made myself a promise to stamp every day and blog every day. Well that promise has been broken! I have been super busy with assisting my parents with the sale of their home. A while back, I mentioned they were moving to Tennessee...well since then...they were really lucky and found a buyer for their house. They are closing on Monday. We have been cleaning out the house, carting boxes every where and now it is about over. I ended up with their entire pantry...so I spent all day Tuesday organizing my pantry. You would think I would not need to shop for a year, but not so...we are piggies in this house! LOL

Not only have I been busy with them, I have been exhausted from keeping a friends 3 year old and two year old on top of my own kids. They totally wear me out, plus I feel like all I do is cook and clean up messes! I don't know how daycare providers have the energy. I keep thinking next year will be easier since they will be in pre-school a few days a week...NOT...their mommy is having another baby and due in February. All is good.

I have not been totally useless as far as stamping. I did manage to have a few stamp camps and a World Card Making Day event. Here are some samples of my cards that I made. If you want the details, here is the link to my Splitcoast Gallery. http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=83394

Thanks for looking and checking things out! Off to try and organize the basement for more of the items I have accumulated from my parents' house! LOL

BLOG CANDY!!!

I was visiting my SCS friend's blog and she referred me to this blog for some fun Blog Candy. Here is the site! http://starvingartistamps.blogspot.com/2008/09/delicious-candy-just-in-time-for.html Be sure to leave them a comment and you might get something from above!!!

Good Luck!

A New School Year Begins

So today was the first day of school! Can you believe how fast the summer went? Well, below is a picture of my kids waiting for the bus. So hard to believe that my oldest is starting 5th grade. He wasn't to excited about his big day...but he was doing better. My middle child was starting 4th grade and she has been ready since school let out in June. She loves school! She was even more excited to know that some of her close friends from last year were in her class too! Then there is the baby with her wild hair. She is only two and will be home with me...which she loves :o) She will be busy with her little friends that will be over three days a week and the rest of the time helping mommy!

Enjoy the picture and Happy New School Year to everyone!

So I was Wrong

I know...I said I was back and then everything went wrong again! I ended up going to Tennessee for a long weekend with my kids and my parents. Then it all came to be a real possibility that my parents were moving to Tennessee. Now, it is official and we have been working on cleaning out their house! My father is leaving next week since school is already back in session. My mother is staying behind to sell the house and get as much time with the kids as possible. It has just been plain nuts!

With school out, my kids are making it very hard for me to get on the computer or even stamp. I hope to get back in the swing of things very soon!

Guess What?! I am BACK!

I have made myself a promise to stamp every day and blog every day! It has been a little crazy here. We were in PA for a few days and the kids and I are taking a short trip to TN this weekend. Then it is all about Stampin' in my free time! I am going to push my business and have fun with it too!

See you soon!

I know I know - So Behind!

Ok...I have not been putting projects on my blog. It is not that I am not stampin'...I have been. I have just been busy with life in general to upload pictures. My goal is to start bloggin more frequently and stampin' everyday. I am hoping that by the middle of next week, my schedule will be somewhat normal again and I will be back on track!

Stampin' Two Days in a Row!

I was able to stamp another card today! I am so excited...maybe I can get more creative! This is last weeks Splitcoast Color Challenge and today's Sketch Challenge.

Here are the links to both... http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=315774 and http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=313331. It is a pretty simple card, but I was able to play a bit and that is all that matters to me! The colors were Barely Banana, Wild Wasabi, & Blue Bayou. Of course, I went to look in my cardstock file and I was really low on the Barely Banana so I won't be able to use this as a January stamp camp, unless I order it today... I used some Crystal Affects to add something to the Banana Blossoms...not sure if you can see it. If i could do it again, I would add a background stamp to the Barely Banana. Thanks for looking and let me know what you think!

Finally Got to Stamp!!!

Ok...so I was finally able to stamp a little bit yesterday! I stamped the Splitcoast Color Challenge. Here are the details if you would like to know...http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=315464 Anyway, the colors were Rose Red, Apricot Appeal and Sage Shadow. So I decided to pull out my new set...Time Well Spent...and put a card together. I left the card blank so that I could add a sentiment later. I used several of the stamps as background on the colors. I didn't use any colors but those specified in the challenge (except for Very Vanilla). I couldn't find my Rose Red marker, so I used the Blender Pen to color in the butterfly. I also sponged Rose Red around the butterfly to make it pop a little more. I hope you like it!

Gifts I Made for C'mas

I made these two tiles for my parents and my brother and his wife for Christmas. My brother and I only exchange gifts for the kids, but I wanted to use some of my talents and give them something for their kitchens.

I was so excited that they turned out the way I wanted! I stamped the images with Black Staz-on and proceeded to sponge the outline of the tile with craft ink. I wasn't even sure if it would work...totally playing here! Well it worked! I wanted an aged look and it seemed to have worked...also gave it an Italian feel...Tuscan colors! Used Really Rust craft ink and a sponge and just kept on going until it looked right. Then I used another sponge and blended in More Mustard. I colored in the images with SU! Watercolor pencils and used the Blender pens to bring the color to life. When it was complete, I sprayed with Krylon spray and popped some felt dots on the back to save the wood.

I hope you like them!

HELLO 2008

I know...I have been MIA...well I haven't been stamping much either! The holidays and family took away my stampin' time! I plan on being back and full strength this week!

Tiles, Tiles, Tiles!

Here are several tiles that I have done recently! I love tiles! They are the most in-expensive gift to make and everyone loves them! This one is from my daughter's 3rd grade fall festival. I was the lead mom for the party so I chose tiles for their craft project! They loved it! Even the boys wanted to make more! I actually gave these samples to the other moms who helped with the party. These were both made with Black Stazon, Watercolor pencils, & Blender Pens. The main stamp sets used were Autumn Harvest & Autumn Apparitions. The rest came from SU! retired set Tags & More.

The second tile was for my October stamp camp. This one was made with Autumn Harvest. The third one was a donation for the school bingo night. I included it with a catty and 10 hand made cards. I used the Jolliest Time of Year Santa. I really love this Santa!

Trying to Catch Up!

Ok - I know I am so behind as to getting this updated! I have lots of new creations to add to my blog today! I hope you like them. So I apologize for all of the different entries today!

Check out my Slide Show!

Updating the Blog - Finally!

Yes I know, it has been a long while. I have been busy to where I haven't had a chance to update the Blog or stamp...but today, I was able to stamp some! YEAH!

I made a card for the VSN Mini - the Sketch challenge. It is a birthday card for CCRAK that I missed...so sorry Rhondag...but it will go out in tomorrows mail!

Anyway, I wanted to used the SU! 07 Colors that I have so many of from last year. I used the Cool Caribbean CS along with layers of True Thyme, Vintage Violet and Marigold Morning. And I actually used my crimper! For the recipe for the card, look at my details on my gallery at SCS... http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/701332?cat=500&ppuser=83394.

Now let's see what else I can get stamped today...if I still get a chance...I hear the baby up from a nap so it could end my fun!