It's Christmas in July

It's Christmas in July at Stamping Bella!!! So of course, I had to play considering this cute Chichiboulie called Polly Packages has sat in my stash for two Christmases now UNINKED!! It's a travesty, I know.... Did you know Stamping Bella is looking for new Bella Babes? I've thought about applying but haven't convinced myself I should... The talent on that team is amazing!!

For my card, I've watercolored Polly Packages with my Tombow Markers and a waterbrush.  I then sponged around the edge of the panel with Creamy Caramel.  I've been trying to do this more often and just playing with it - I'm really starting to love the look of it even if my sponging skills aren't quite up to par yet. As you can tell, I've kept the layout really simple and the DP I've used is from Basic Grey and Bella Boulevard. 

Two Christmas cards down... how many to go??

CDS Sneak Peeks

Just a reminder that Clear Dollar Stamps is doing their sneak peeks for the August release- they're are some fantastic sets coming out so make sure you check them out.  Check my sidebar for a list of the DT members or check Lori's blog for a list of who is previewing on what days.

MTSC84 Happy Camping!!!

Happy Camping!!! Now if only I were a good camper... I went last summer for the first time in years... and of course it was my hubby and I in a tent while Kim and her family were enjoying themselves in their trailer. I must admit it was a fantastic trip minus me not seeing a divet in the grass and stepping into it, me falling over to the side (it was like someone yelled TIMBER and down I went).  Should I mention that I ended up with a sprained ankle our first full day there!!!  Only good thing about the fall I took was that my hubby and I had to stay an extra day (we had my car and he doesn't drive a Standard (or 5 speed as many Americans would call it) because I wasn't able to drive. 

Oh... I guess you weren't here for me rambling on about camping are you???  As soon as I saw Mercy's sketch for this week (MTSC84), I knew I wanted to play. But what stamps to use???  I found this Inkadinkado set that I've had for such a long time and it hadn't seen ink and realized how well it would go with the Joy Ride Cosmo Cricket DP.  I've stamped the image in Versafine Onyx Black and then embossed with clear embossing powder. I then watercolored the image with my Tombow Markers.  I tried to keep the colors soft like they were in the DP and it turned out just the way I wanted it to.  Yeah Me!!!

Hope you have a great day!!!

SSD035 Sweet Birthday

Hey there everyone!!! This is going to be a long blog post but definitely worth it. What's better than new stamps and a sale?

Welcome to Skipping Stones Design’s DT Blog Hop to celebrate the release of two new stamp sets, ""Friendly Fruit" and "Timeless Textures" (see pics below). If you just happened upon my blog today, you’ll want to go back to the beginning at Skipping Stones Design. You should have arrived from Chelsea's blog.

If there is a break in the hop, go back to Skipping Stones Design to see the master list. Just to let you know, I'm the last on the hop today but I hope you enjoyed seeing all the amazing eye candy from our DT and our Guest designers.

Now, you're probably thinking... my card doesn't look like it's used the new sets and you'd be right...  Sometimes getting things from the US to Canada takes a little bit of time (it ranges from under a week to more than two weeks to get things) and my new sets are somewhere between South Dakota and BC.  Maybe the Customs agents are stampers? What do you think?  I bet they're having a stamp party with my new sets!!!

For my card, I've used today's sketch which you can find on the SSD blog.  I wanted to play with one of my sets I have that had yet to see ink called Buns n Crunches.  I thought about the fact that there is a chocolate chip cookie in the set and the sketch had a circle shape as the main part so why not make a chocolate chip cookie?  I've used some of my Circle shaped Nestabilities and then used my Scallop Circle Punch to create the part of the cookie that looks like someone has taken a bite into it.  All layers have been sponged with matching inks to the cardstock. I used some Cocoa colored half back pearls as my chocolate chips.  This card was a fun one to make!! And almost looks good enough to eat right?

Aren't these new releases great? I can't wait for mine to arrive as I have ideas floating around in my head for cards to make.

Combined with the blog hop today, it's also Skipping Stones Sketch Tuesday which means the Design Team is showcasing another great creation from Kim Kesti. We'd love for you to play along with the sketch. Just remember to use the keywords SSD035 if you are uploading to any online galleries or link your card at the Skipping Stones Blog. We'll be looking soon for Guest Designers and a DT calll soon will be going out so you never know....

Did I mention a sale? Why yes I did!!! Heather has PMS.... Hehehe... Actually she's having a PMS Sale! The more stamps you buy, the bigger the discount.

P.M.S.~ in this case~suffering from the NEED to Purchase More Stamps!

Here is how it works:
Buy 1 stamp set save 5%, Coupon code: PMS1
Buy 2 stamp sets & save 10%, Coupon code: PMS2
Buy 3 stamp sets & save 20% (total savings $8.70) Coupon code: PMS3
Buy 4 stamp sets & save 25% Coupon Code: PMS4 for a total savings of $14.49 ~that's like getting one FREE
Buy 5 stamp sets & save 30%, Coupon Code: PMS5 for a total savings of $22.10 ~that is like getting 1 FREE and another one half off!!!

What to do: Put the stamps into your shopping cart as normal. When you are checking out there will be a box where you can type in a coupon/discount code. This is where you type the letters PMS and the number of stamp sets you purchase. For example if you are buying three stamp sets type in PMS3 into the box.

*This sale will last until Monday August 2nd at midnight

On a personal note, this will be my last post as a member of the Skipping Stones Design "Stamp Tramps". I've loved being a part of this DT and will treasure the friendships I've made with the girls and the opportunities I've had to work alongside some of my stamping idols who have been Guest Sketch Artists and Guest Designers.  I love the stamping community - there are so many of us and it's amazing how many friendships can be formed through the use of technology. To my fellow Stamp Tramps:  I'll be gone from the DT but I'll be back to participate in blog hops in the future. It's been a blast with all of you!! I'm going to miss you all!! But don't worry... I'll stalk your blogs to see all of your amazing creations!!

TSG65 A complicated drinking game...

I have a confession to make... when I saw today's challenge at There She Goes I almost died of fright.  Today's challenge is all about making an easel card - something I've never done.  I always thought they looked so pretty when people made them but for some reason, I thought they were incredibly hard to make... Well a trip to SCS to get the instructions, I pulled out the new set from There She Goes called "A Drink a Day" - how fitting!!! To be honest, an easel card is one of the easiest cards I've made if you think about the different types of funky cards you can make.  Easy peasy I tell ya!!!  I have a feeling that you will be seeing more of these in the future. 

For the layout of this card, I used Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge (SSSC79) for this week.  It lent itself to a simple, clean design for a card. I've used some My Mind's Eye DP as my inspiration to draw the colors from.  The images have been stamped in Versafine Onyx Black and then embossed with clear detail embossing powder. I then watercolored the drinks with both SU and Tombow Markers. Can you believe that this was the first time I've dragged out my SU markers in well over a year??? Can you imagine the dust on them?  Hehehe... Just kidding - no dust.

Hope you like it! See you soon!

SFYTT Smell The Coffee

Happy Sunday everyone!!! I'm having a quiet one at home in my craft cave make some cards just for fun today.  I love it!!!  Jen del Muro has an amazing sketch this week (see below) so I wanted to play.  As you know, I love making square caerds so this sketch was right up my alley.  I've used the set called Smell the Coffee from Impression Obsession.  It is one of my favorite sets that I own but it rarely sees ink.  I've stamped it with Versafine Onyx Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I then watercolored the image using my Tombow Markers.  Nothing fancy for this card here - just some ribbon, buttons and that too cute bow.  The DP is My Mind's Eye and I've been hoarding it a little bit as it was hard to find. 

Have a great day and enjoy your coffee!!! After making this card, it makes me want to make a quick trip to Starbucks to get a nice cold Frappucino.  YUMMO!!!

TSG64 Polka Dots and Spots and Chipboard Oh My

This is me in the morning.... Yeah right!!! If only!!!  Hehehe... Maybe in my dreams.  I am enjoying the weekly challenges at There She Goes. This week it's all about polka dots and chipboard, two of Lisa Henke's favorite things (she's the host this week for the challenges. I've used the set called Domestic Goddess which I just noticed is currently out of stock. I bought this set awhile back but hadn't had the chance to use it yet. When I saw that this week's challenge was about polka dots, I immediately thought about this cutie's dress so I thought why not use it?  I've watercolored the image with my Tombow Markers and then paper pieced the apron with more polka dotted paper (From October Afternoon).  The other DP I've used is from Basic Grey and Bella Boulevard. Now... I always look at chipboard when I'm out, sometimes buy it and never use it... Well can you imagine my difficulty to find appropriate chipboard for this challenge??? Then I realized I got some patterned chipboard at Christmas so out it came... Kinda disappointed looking at the card that it is a different brown than the other used on my card.  The Domestic Goddess set has some amazing sentiments but I wanted to keep it sentiment free for now until I have an occasion to use the card. 

Have a great day!

Angela

MTSC83 Beautiful Bride

Isn't she beautiful??? Mercy Kerin  has the most amazing sketches and this week's sketch is one of the best yet.  I'm loving it and know that this is one that I'll be using again.  For my image, I've used a limited edition "Sposabella" from Stamping Bella.   It was a free stamp from one of their anniverary celebrations and can you believe it - it hadn't seen ink yet? I stamped it with Versafine Onyx Black and then embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I've watercolored the image using my Tombow Markers and a waterbrush.  Have you checked out some of the DTGD challenges this week at Splitcoaststampers? You can only access the challenges if you are a Fan Club Member and I tell you that it is totally worth it just for the challenges.  One of the challenges is to use a variety of pattern papers so you know me... I was all about this one!!!

I know a few brides but they're all getting married next year... I guess this one is going in my stash.  

SSD034 You're a cupcake cutie!!!

Hey there Cupcake Cuties!!  It's Tuesday so you know what that means... It's Skipping Stones Sketch Tuesday and Kim Kesti has wowed us again with another great sketch!!! I'm loving the sketches this month and many of them, I'll be using again!! They're amazing. Thanks Kim for such greatness!!!! 

For my card, I've used the set called Cupcake Cutie. This set is cute and allows for a variety of cupcakes and the sentiments are fun too.  I love how well the Nook and Pantry Basic Grey DP goes with this set.  It definitely enabled me to keep my card simple and let the cupcake speak for itself.  The base of the cupcake was stamped with Versamark and then Close to Cocoa and embossed with clear detail embossing powder.  For the top of the cupcake, I stamped with Versamark and Regal Rose and then cut it out.  I added a button at the top to resemble a "cherry". I know what you're saying... that cherry isn't red... and you'd be right! Can I just say I'm glad to see Wild Wasabi back in the SU line up? Can you believe I still had a completely un-opened pack of it!!!

Our Guest Designers, Dina Kowal and Heidi Van Laar have some great eye candy for you as well as the rest of the DT. Make sure you check it all out.

If you create a card using this week's sketch, make sure you link it to our blog as Heather has goodies for the winner each week!!!

DTGD Wonderful You

I'm loving Dare to Get Dirty at SCS with so many challenges by the Dirty Dozen and DD Alumni.  It's making me want to create and leaving me inspired. If you are a regular reader of my blog, you know that I'm trying to "embrace the white space" so of course when I saw rsalamon's challenge I knew I had to create a clean and simple card, I just had to!!! But you know me.. I couldn't stop there so I looked through the other challenges that are listed so far and decided to work "texture" into my card, thus, the Cuttlebug Embossing folder and then added some "Glitz" to create a bit more interest... This card is a triple threat in terms of challenges.. GO me!!! I also made this card for Jeanie Witmer's That's Krafty Thursday.  The stamp is from the There She Goes set, Everyday Greetings. Of all the stamp sets, I own this is definitely my go to set.  I'm loving the look of Kraft and as you can see.... it's another one of my go to supplies lately.

Have a great day!!! Thanks for dropping by!!!

Happy Barkday to Lori

Happy "Barkday" Lori!!! It's Lori McCroskey's Birthday and the Clear Dollar Stamps Design Team has decided to throw our amazing owner a surprise birthday blog hop!!!  She has no idea!!! This was definitely a covert operation that's for sure.  Katie had to sneak onto Lori's Clearly iStamp blog to start it all off, and each participating DT member has created a special birthday card for Lori and is posting that creation today in their blog hop post.

If you just happened upon my blog today, you'll want to start at Lori's blog where you'll find Candy's creation.  You should have arrived from the amazing Katlyn's blog where I'm sure you saw some great eye candy. 

For my card, I've used Kim Teasdale's set, Dog Days and Dog Days Celebrations.  I've watercolored the dog with my Tombow Markers and a waterbrush.  I then sponged in a sky and some grass to create an outdoor type scene.  I used a button instead of the balloon to create a bit more dimension in the card.  I love how it turned out. The DP is from Crate Paper and Bo Bunny. I've had it sitting on my desk all week waiting for time to make this card.  It just screams fun!!! 

Thank you for visiting my blog today and your next stop on the blog hop is Sarah Taylor.  If for some reason, there is a break in the hop, there will be a master list at Lori's blog.   

Enjoy the eye candy that the DT has for you today!!!

DTGD There's snow place like home

Have you checked out the Dare to Get Dirty Challenges over at SCS?? Kim Teasdale aka blondie090277 came up with a great sketch that I just couldn't wait to play with!!!  You'll only be able to see the challenges and upload to the gallery if you are a Fan Club Member but you'll be able to see what people have made in the general upload section of SCS.  I bought this "Snow Gent" at my local stamp store, Crafty Capers, as part of the A-muse-a-palooza events and had been wanting to ink it up but couldn't think of a sketch and then bam... Kim had this one which worked perfectly.  I've used some October Afternoon DP (Fly A Kite Collection) and then I've watercolored my image (although there was incredibly little to color this time). I then pulled out my MS Snowflake punch, a cute green pebble and there you have it.  Not much to this one but I love it!!! And to think, 1 Christmas card down and how many to go... TOO many.... 

Have a great day and make sure you check out some of the challenges this week.

SFYTT Wishing you the Best

I had the urge to play today... although I had things I did need to get done.. OOPS!!! Cardmaking won out after my adventures with Kim.  I guess there's always the weekend for getting things done around the house right?  I've used Jen del Muro's SFYTT sketch from last weekend as my inspiration and I wanted to ink up one of my Addy's from Stamping Bella.  It hadn't seen ink yet so it was about time don't ya think?  I've watercolored the image with my Tombow Markers and then sponged around the edge with Pink Pirouette.  I love that color!!!  I just realized that I have no ribbon on this card.... that doesn't happen very often for me.  The sentiment is from the There She Goes set called Everyday Greetings.  I love the sentiments from this set - they are so versatile and I've already used them on a few cards. 

I'll be back on the weekend with a couple of more goodies for you. 

TSG63/MTSC82 The Balloon Stands...

Hey there everyone... my little old blog has been silent for a little bit... Did ya miss me??? Just kidding!!! It was a crazy week last week and to top it all off.... our internet went up and down for 4 days straight so we had to have a technician from the cable company come out but we finally have our internet back! My Goodness.... I could last without a phone... but internet - no way!!! I was lost without my faithful companion. 

Have you seen There She Goes?? They have fabulous stamps!!! They are quickly becoming my go to stamps!!!  They also have some amazing challenges every Monday and this week Heather Pulvirenti came up with this inspiration challenge (see photo above). Isn't it great?? I knew immediately when I saw the challenge that I wanted to use some of my My Mind's Eye DP from the So Sophie line.  It really brings out the brightness from the inspiration photo.  I've also used the layout from Mercy's Sketch Challenge this week. Between these two challenges every week, I'm inspired!!! I've watercolored the hot air balloons fromt the set, Aim for the Clouds with my Tombow Markers and then cut them out and popped them up using dimensionals.  The sentiment has been stamped using Versafine Onyx Black and then embossed with clear embossing powder. I then sponged this panel with Versamagic Aquatic Splashes Ink. I can't believe how well this color matched the DP. Spot on if you ask me. 

I have another busy week ahead but I'll be back soon with some cards using some of my new goodies that I bought during this week's A-Muse-a-palooza!!

Mojo146 Celebrate you

Celebrating you... Isn't this what pregnancy all about?  Or is that just the baby shower when you get goodies for your new little bundle of joy?  I looked at the theme for this week's challenge of "Baby" at "Always Playing with Paper" and it got me thinking about what baby stamps and I realized I don't have that many that are "fun".  I wanted something whimsical to match this Basic Grey DP and found this stamp from a set from Hampton Arts.  (Sorry I don't know the set).  So I got all my goodies out and then I was stumped... what was I going to do for a layout and then I remembered this week's Mojo Monday layout that I absolutely love!!! OMGoodness!!! Reminder to self: make sure you look at the sketch again and not do it from memory!!!! I made a big booboo and messed up on the main panel.  It should have had a smaller section of different DP on the left hand side.  YIKES!!! I still love the card anyway.... OOPS!!!   I've watercolored a portion of the image with my Tombow Markers and the top has been paper pieced with some October Afternoon DP.  I love the look of sponging around an image and it's something I rarely do so I've been practicing at getting it just right (I'm not totally happy with how the sponging on this card turned out but oh well...).  The sentiment comes from Alli Miles' set called Take Three:Summer.  I'm loving this set for both the images and the sentiments. 

Have a great day!

TSG62 and MTSC81 Dance Like no one is Watching

I'm loving playing lately and exploring new stamps!!! Isn't it fun to ink up new goodies? I'm inspired!!!! And what are some of the things that have been inspiring me lately? Challenges!!! For my card today, I've combined Mercy's Sketch Challenge this week with There She Goes Color Challenge to use red, orange and brown together. Now the colors.... WOW!!! These are colors I rarely use but using them together was a stretch. I searched through my enormous supply of DP (I'm addicted and need to stop buying it....) and found this Scenic Route DP (the red and white DP) and some My Mind's Eye floral DP. The sentiment comes from the There She Goes set, Dance.  It's a great set because $4 of each set goes to Amyloidosis Support Group.  So last night I was coloring away and I just wasn't getting the intensity in the flowers that I was wanting so out came these felt flowers which now when I look at it I like this better because the flowers perfectly match the flowers in the DP. The "leaf" is a flourish that I bought around Christmas time ( I had to cut it a little smaller though so it didn't poke out the other side of the flower.  I've sponged the edge of the sentiment area with Canteloupe Memento Ink.  Jodi Collins always does this and I love the way it looks - just highlights everything a little bit more.

I've really been enjoying playing this last month or so and am finding that my style is continually changing, I'm exploring new challenges,  being inspired by new stamps.  I'm coming out of my shell a little more and trying to be "adventurous" in creating.  Isn't it amazing how we progress over time?

SSD032 I thought of you and smiled

Hey there everyone!!! It's the first Tuesday of the month so we all know what that means!!! It's Skipping Stones Sketch Tuesday and we have a new sketch artist and guest designer.  We have the amazing Kim Kesti of Papercrafts with us this month as our Sketch Artist and Dina Kowal as our Guest Designer. How amazing!!!!

Kim created a great sketch for us to use this week and I hadn't used the set Whispering Wings yet so I decided to pull it out.  I've stamped the image in Memento Rose Bud on circles a total of 4 times and in the center of each of the hearts I've placed a matching rhinestone.  I love this DP and I've had it so long and I've never used it but thought it worked perfectly with the colors I've chosen today.  Hope you like it! 

We'd love for you to play along with us.  If you are posting it to an online gallery remember to use the keywords ssd032.  Check back next week for another great sketch.

BLOG CANDY WINNER: I put all of the entrants (minus the DT members comments) and then put them in a bag and out came Camishel's name.  Please email me with your address so I can get your Bras Vol#1 set to you.

Camishel said...


That card is very Cullenish..hehe! Love it!!

SFYTT/IC239 Now I have something to say...

I've long been a fan of Jen del Muro's sketches called SFYTT and every Saturday morning I check out her blog in awe of the samples that her and the team create and then I think oh cool... I could do something with that sketch and then I get intimidated by how amazing everyone is...  But this week - I decided I was going to go for it!! No more me being scared of the amazing sketches and just had to jump right in.  I was also surfing SCS and realized that it's time for the Inspiration Challenge (IC239) and this week the website chosen is Oompa.  I chose to use this bedding as my inspiration.  I loved the colors from the bedding which was my starting off point. 

I've had Gossipy Stella from Stamping Bella for way too long and it hasn't seen ink until now... scary I know!!!  I've watercolored the image with my Tombow markers (my go to markers) and I just realized that I had planned on using some Stickles on the wand and crown... Oops!!! Oh well!!! I like the card anyway.  The DP used is October Afternoon's Fly a Kite and Basic Grey's Nook and Pantry. I love how well these two paper packs went together. Score!!! These two DP's work so well with the inspiration bedding.  We all know I love my DP and I'm excited that I finally managed to get my hands on the October Afternoon DP - who knew it would be so hard to find! 

Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by today.

Many Thanks Moxie Fab Style

I'm pretty lucky to live where I do with so many great stampers close by!!! Kim Teasdale and I recently went to a Norwex Party at Alli Miles house and guess what.... Kim and I both left with one of Alli's amazing sets from Papertrey Ink!!!  I came home with the set called Take Three: Summer.  I had been longing to have this set since I saw Alli's previews with them awhile back but hadn't had the chance to buy it yet.  So this was an amazing surprise!!

One of the things I love about Alli's style is that it is clean and simple and so crisp.  I find CAS hard to do but I've been trying to make some cards in this style and I'm loving it!  I love how things seem to just pop off the paper.  I noticed this week's Moxie Fab Trigger Tuesday and knew that I had to create a card using Alli's set so I got out some of my inks (Memento Rosebud and Canteloupe) and Versamagic Tea Leaves and Aquatic Splash. The colors came out differently in the photo than in real life but I still love the card regardless.

Many thanks to you Alli!!! You're such a sweetheart!!!

MTSC80 Just Because

Just Because... that's what this card is for!!!  And of course to use more of my There She Goes goodies. I've been busy the last couple of weeks so I haven't had time for Mercy's sketch challenges for this one... I LOVED!!! So of course, I had to play. Mercy has such an amazing style and always has the best sketches - so clean and so fun.  For this card, I decided to use some felt flowers that I got at the local stamp store's garage sale ( I believe they were made using a Tim Holtz die) which I've layered and then attached using a rhinestone brad. The sentiment comes from the set called Everyday Greetings from There She Goes.  I woke up this morning and had this card completed in under 30 minutes... Go Me!!!