Martini Time!!

WOW!!! I can't believe it's now 2011!!! So much happened in 2010 - both good and bad so it's nice to have it behind us.  I feel like my stamping has grown leaps and bounds in 2010 and I can't wait for new adventures and opportunities.  In 2010, I had the honor to serve on a few design teams - Skipping Stones Design as well as Clear Dollar Stamps in which my terms have ended for both. I was Mercy's Guest Muse in August and this was such an honor as well. In September, I became a Junior Trendsetter at There She Goes and then Mid November I was invited to be part of Lori Boyd's By Lori Designs DT.  I'm truly blessed to be part of such an amazing stamping community. I have made so many amazing friends over the last year and for that I am truly grateful!!!  You know who you are and I love you all!!!

My Favorite Things knew how to make my year end just right!!! Check out the post here.

In honour of a new year starting, I decided to make a card using Mercy's last sketch challenge. I'm so sad that I won't have Mercy's inspirations on Tuesdays anymore but I understand the time to move on. 

Now who wouldn't love a little Martini time to bring in the New Year right?  LOL.  I've used the MFT Flapper Doodle set called "Cheers to a New Year" as part of this week's MFT challenge at SCS which is to create a card with a party theme. I\ve watercolored the image with my Tombow Markers and kept the card relatively simple.  I also made this card for this week's challenge of "Celebrating" over at Crazy4Challenges. Who doesn't love the idea of celebrating the new year?  Celebrating friends with drinks?  Martinis anyone???  

Happy New Years everyone!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Jodi!!!

Happy Birthday, sweet Miss Jodi!!! 

Can I just say Jodi Collins  is one of the sweetest girls around and I'll admit she's one of my stamping idols.  If you just happened upon my blog today, you'll want to go back to the beginning of the surprise blog hop at Karen Motz's blog.  As you can see by the list of ladies on this blog hop, we all love Jodi and want to wish her well on her birthday.  You should have arrived here from Torico's blog (another fantastically talented stamper!!).

For my card today, I've used one of the a la Mode images from My Favorite Things (I'm sorry... I'm not at home and don't have the set in front of me and it's out of stock right now at MFT.   Jodi is responsible for many of my stamping purchases.... (hehe).... She's a great enabler that's for sure.  Jodi's talent is beyond amazing, her color combos spot on and her coloring, what can you say?  It's divine!!!  I've watercolored the image with my Tombow Markers and the DP is from October Afternoon.  The layout is from Mercy's sketch challenge from last week. 

I'm the end of the blog hop so head on over to Miss Jodi's blog to leave her some birthday love!!!

MTSC101 Friendship warms the heart

How much do I love snow... I love it!!!  Over at SCS, the MFT challenge this week is about what you are thankful for.  I am lucky to be thankful for so many things in life but mostly I am thankful for my great family and friends.  So I made this card in honor of that - friendship.  I've used the MFT set called "Merry Kissmas" - one of my faves.  I know I mentioned yesterday about my coloring meltdown the other night so when I sat down on Wednesday night I decided I need to pull out my neglected Tombow Markers and took them for a ride.  I forgot how much I like them so I think I'll go back and forth between the Watercolor pencils and my beloved Tombows.  I have to be honest in saying that this card is one of the most fun I've had making a card recently.  I love the sketch - Thanks Mercy!!! Your sketches always rock!!! So you've guessed it... My card is for Mercy's Sketch Challenge this week.   As I was making this card, I kept thinking about the lighter DP panel and wondered what it reminded me of... and then I realized... "It's Snowing Gingerbreads" which is this week's Tuesday Trigger at the Moxie Fab World blog.

See... it's snowing gingerbreads... now if only that were true.  (it would make my Christmas baking so much easier). 

MTSC100 Congratulations

WOWZA!!! I can't believe that Mercy is at 100 sketches!!!  Congrats to Mercy!!!! Mercy has sketches like no other and I always try to do it each week as they are all so inspirational and I swear they just keep getting better and better! Thanks Mercy!!

I had so much fun with this sketch... even though I messed up one of the panels and made it too big... OOPS! I was trying to do it from memory (have I mentioned I'm getting older?  - let's just blame it on that). OOPS!!! I ordered this cutie a la Mode from My Favorite Things called "It must be Love" and apparently I love it because I accidentally ordered two of them.  Oh well... it's just money right?  LOL. Actually it will end up being a RAK for someone I know as soon as I get it in the mail....  I've watercolored the image with my watercolor pencils and then sponged the edge of the main panel with Wheat Versamagic Ink.  Each layer of DP has been dry embossed with various embossing folders.  And what's another great thing I love?  Jeanie Whitmer "The Spotted Chick" is back in action and so is her "That's Krafty Thursday" in which you need to use Kraft on your card. I've used Kraft to mat all my layers as well as the matting for the main image. Love it!

It's been a great week with a lot of cards being made for someone I know and I'm so happy to say, WAHOO!!! I'm done... 20 cards done and delivered! Now to start on my Christmas cards. 

MTSC99 Peaceful Wishes

Hey there everyone!! I hope you are taking time to remember those who have fought for our freedom.  Because it is considered a Statutory holiday in Canada, I have the day off work.  I'm not used to having a day off during the week so I'd been eye-ing up Mercy's Sketch Challenge for this week and decided I had to play.  I've used the set, The Light of Winter (illustrated by Kim Teasdale) for Clear Dollar Stamps and have watercolored it with my Watercolor pencils.  The DP I've used is from Cosmo Cricket's Wanted pad which has a more distressed feel to it, so I've dry embossed the DP using some of my Cuttlebug Embossing Folders and then sponged the edges of it.  I still wanted the card to look somewhat crisp so I haven't sponged the Ivory or Kraft layers of Cardstock.  Hope you like it!!!

Stamps/Images: The Light of Winter - CDS

Cardstock/Papers: Gina K Kraft and Ivory, Wanted by Cosmo Cricket, watercolor paper

Inks: Versafine Onyx Black, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa

Accents/Tools: Watercolor pencils, waterbrush, Nesties, Cuttlebug, Cuttlebug Embossing Folders, Clear detail embossing Powder, Sponges, Ribbon, Buttons, Linen Thread

Techniques: Watercoloring Dry embossing



MTSC98 I thought of you

I know my life can be busy but this week was out of this world busy. I had to go to some work related events two evenings this week which tuckered me out and by the time I got home I wasn't in the mood to make any cards.  But I had seen Mercy's sketch challenge on Monday night and I've been wanting to play with it ever since. I also noticed that this week's challenge at Crazy 4 Challenges is to make a square card - check!!  I woke up early this morning and got busy with "Gracie Lollipop" by Lori Boyd. Isn't she just so precious?  I've watercolored her with my Watercolor pencils and am loving them!!! I know I've been saying that this last week or so but my pencils are quickly becoming my number 1 coloring choice. Who ever thought that my Tombows would take a back seat to anything right?  The DP is from My Mind's Eye and I love the glittery look to it. You know me, I love my BLING!!  The sentiment is from a freebie set from MFT (I'll look for the link later).  I'm heading out the door shortly to meet someone but I wanted to quickly get this card posted because I'll be gone a few hours.  Then I'm home for a crafty weekend!!!

TSG Blog Hop Challenge - Snowy Days

Torico has been winning our hearts with her cute animals and this month she has done it again! Our favorite pooch from Puppy Love is all bundled up and ready for winter!! From Skiing and snowboarding to hanging out with a snowman pal, this adorable puppy will warm your heart just in time for the holidays.  I'm the first official stop on the blog hop after the TSG Blog. 

There are so many cute images in this set that it was hard to choose which one to use!! I struggled and went back and forth between a few of the images and eventually decided on this one. The snowman (or snowgirl I should say) and the dog are way too cute together!!  I think the dog is eye-ing up the carrot nose - what do you think? 

My goodness... I had so much fun with the first card that when I saw Mercy's Sketch Challenge this week, I just HAD to make another one - I LOVE this set.  It's so much fun!!

How can you resist this snowboarding cutie?  He's just too cute!  I have watercolored him with my Derwent Inktense pencils and miscellaneous watercolor pencils. The DP is from Echo Park and Fancy Pants Designs.  Check out that snowflake - it's a wooden snowflake from Magenta that has an adhesive background - I'm really wishing I bought more of them but I bought them out of town and not sure if I want to spend an hour and a half driving one way to pick them up. But I do love 'em!

The next stop on the blog hop is Corinna - I know she'll have some amazing eye candy for you!!
Snowy Days is a 4x6 stamp set that includes a total of 17 of stamps and will sell for $15.

Would you like a chance to win the Snowy Days stamp set? Here’s what you need to do- go to each of the Trendsetter’s Blogs and leave a comment on their Snowy Days Blog Hop Challenge post. After you have finished checking out the eye candy and have left some love, return to the TSG Blog and add your name to the Mr. Linky at the bottom of this Blog Hop Challenge post. A winner will be chosen randomly using a random number generator to receive their very own Snowy Days stamp set. The winner will be announced Saturday (Oct. 30th) during the Release Party Chat.


 

TSG Blog Hop Challenge - Gobble and In Stitches

Just in the time for Thanksgiving! Torico has illustrated this fun and adorable Turkey that has a lot to say ;) Not only can he hold a sign designed to say 7 different sayings but he also has his glass and fork ready just in time for the big dinner.

I'm the first official stop on today's blog hop after the TSG Blog. If there is a break in the blog hop, there is a list of the Trendsetters at the TSG Blog. 

This set is way too cute!!! I wish that Canadian Thanksgiving hadn't already passed because I would have used this set to make cute place cards.  The sentiments are perfect for any Thanksgiving meal and would be great for Christmas Dinner as well.... Ideas are in my head now....  I've colored the image with my Derwent Inktense and watercolor pencils. The edge of the main panel has been sponged with Wheat Versamagic Ink.  The layout is from Mercy's sketch Challenge last week.

Gobble is a 3x4 stamp set that includes a total of 13 of stamps and will sell for $7.

One of the biggest trends in stamping right now is using a sewing machine to stitch directly onto your hand stamped cards. While this technique gives a very detailed look, it can be a little frustrating trying to master! No worries, TSG is here with a quick and easy way to get that stitched look you love! This mini set not only has some beautiful silhouette border images but it also includes two styles of stitching that will give you that stitched look you are after.

Check out what the ladies from the team have made with this set - great eye candy I tell ya!!! The next stop on the blog hop is my BSF, Corinna!!!

In Stitches is a 2x6 stamp set that includes a total of 7 of stamps and will sell for $7.

Would you like a chance to win the Gobble! / In Stitches stamp sets? Here’s what you need to do- go to each of the Trendsetter’s Blogs and leave a comment on their Gobble! / In Stitches Blog Hop Challenge post. After you have finished checking out the eye candy and have left some love, return to the TSG Blog and add your name to the Mr. Linky at the bottom of this Blog Hop Challenge post. A winner will be chosen randomly using a random number generator to receive their very own Gobble! / In Stitches stamp set. The winner will be announced Saturday (Oct. 30th) during the Release Party Chat.

MTSC94 Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas.... no - not yet!!!! I'm notorious for saying I'm going to get Christmas cards out and year after year life is way too busy so I decided this year if I get a little head start on it, maybe I'll actually send some... We'll see...  I've used Mercy's Sketch Challenge for this week to create this cute card using the "Silly Goose SOM" at Clear Dollar Stamps.  I've watercolored the image with Jovial Basic Grey DP and then paper pieced the box with the same DP.  Antique Linen Distress Ink has been sponged around the edges.  Just a quick card to share with you this morning as I have to get ready for work now.

Another Christmas card down!!! Wahoo!!!

MTSC93 A lollipop for you

Wow... my blog has been busy this last week with sneak peeks for There She Goes and Clear Dollar Stamps.  Just before sneak peek time, I'm pretty busy and I had a couple of orders arrive - one of them being My Favorite Things.  I love this PI image called Lollipop Girl so when I saw Mercy's sketch challenge this week, I just had to play.  I also received some Delovely Cosmo Cricket DP from CDS so I had to use it.  With the yucky weather we've been having, I needed something cheery.  We've had so much rain here which kinda sucks considering what gorgeous weather we had this summer.  I was hoping for a little more sunshine. The image has been watercolored with my Tombow Markers and then I added a little bit of Glossy Accents to the lollipop (which I'm wishing I hadn't done because it dulled the intensity of the color). 

I have a few more Pure Innocence images that I bought and some of the a la Modes so you know I'll be breaking out the MFT stamps again soon. 

TSG Blog Hop Challenge - Hauntingly Delightful and You're a Hoot.

One of the things that Jessica has been wanting to add to the TSG stamp line is a cute owl themed stamp set so when Torico came to me with the idea of wanting to illustrate an owl set, she was totally on board! This fun stamp set includes owls in different shapes and sizes as well as fun sentiments and access images. (Believe me when I tell you I had a hard time choosing what owls to use for my card). 

I've been the beginning of the hop (after the TSG Blog)  all week and today is no different.  If there is a break in the hop, head on back to the TSG blog for the master list. 


You’re A Hoot! is a 4x6 stamp set that includes a total of 26 stamps and will sell for $15.

Hehehe... how fun are these owls?  Too cute I tell ya!!!  I put them close together so that it looked like they were holding hands and in love.  How cute eh?  The owls have been colored with Gamsol and Prismacolor pencils.  The sentiments are actually two different sentiments that can be mixed and matched with other items from the set.  The layout of this card is based on this week's Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge.

It’s hard to believe that Halloween is just around the corner! Torico has illustrated a ton of fun images that you are going to love creating spooky projects with! From witches to vampires and everything else in between, this stamp set is going to quickly become a favorite of yours to use for years to come.

I'll admit that I have never been one to make a Halloween card before but WOW!!! This set absolutely ROCKS!!!! I fell in love with it when I saw it and know that I'll be using it again and again.  This image is just one of many that I had a hard time choosing from.  Be on the lookout for many more cards with this set!!
Hauntingly Delightful is a 6x8 stamp set that includes a total of 36 stamps and will sell for $24.

Would you like a chance to win both of these stamp sets? Here’s what you need to do- go to each of the Trendsetter’s Blogs and leave a comment on their You’re A Hoot / Hauntingly Delightful Blog Hop Challenge post. After you have finished checking out the eye candy and have left some love, return to the TSG Blog and add your name to the Mr. Linky at the bottom of this Blog Hop Challenge post. A winner will be chosen randomly using a random number generator to receive their very own You’re A Hoot / Hauntingly Delightful stamp sets. The winner will be announced Saturday (Sept. 25th) during the Release Party Chat.

Head on over to the amazingly talented Corinna's blog!!! I know the eye candy will be amazing!!!

MTSC91 Going Vintage

We all know I love Mercy`s sketch challenges and I know I keep saying they get better and better each week but it`s true... they really do!!!  Mercy is most definitely the ``Master`` of sketches.  She`s absolutely brilliant!!! I never have enough masculine cards so I decided to pull out the CDS stamp set called ``Measure of a Man``.  I`ve watercolored the image with my Tombow Markers and then decided to use the Cracked Glass technique to make my card feel a little more vintage.  After all... Vintage never goes out of style right.... 

Mercy... thanks for rocking the sketches each week!!!

MTSC90 All decked out for Christmas

I had such a blast last month as Mercy's Guest Muse so I've made it my mission this month to make sure that I participate every week... no excuses.  Mercy always has amazing sketches and they just keep getting better and better. I don't know how she does it.

I've used a new release from Clear Dollar Stamps called Winter Critters for my card.  It's such a fun set and I figured I hadn't used the tree image so why not use it now?  I've watercolored the image with my Tombow Markers and then I've added Stickles (Yellow, Fruit Punch and Crystal) to different parts of the elements on the tree. The DP I've used is from Bella Boulevard and one of them is Bazzill Swiss Dots.  I just received an SU order and can I say I absolutely LOVE Cherry Cobbler??? Loving it!!!!

Have a great day everyone!!!

Another Christmas card done.... yeah!!!

MTSC89 From a Withered Tree

I can't believe the month of August is already gone....  :-(  It makes me so sad!!!!  It's my last week as Mercy's Guest Muse for her Tuesday sketch challenge and all I can say is I have enjoyed this month so much stamping with such an amazing group of ladies!!!!!  Mercy - you know I love your sketches!!!! Thanks for allowing me the opportunity to create for you.  I've always found you and your Muses to be such an inspiration!!!

For my card, I've flipped the sketch on it's side so that I could use the blossom from the There She Goes set called "The Journey" illustrated by Chris Dark.  I'm so loving this set (can you believe it's the first time I've used it).  I've stamped both the image and sentiment in Versafine Vintage Sepia - I love the look of it because it's not so stark as black.  I've watercolored the image with my Tombow Markers and around the edge to highlight it I used one of my blue Tombow Markers.  Each layer of DP has been dry embossed using a variety of Cuttlebug embossing folders and each layer as well as the Chocolate Chip layers have been sponged with Close to Cocoa.  Hope you like it!!!

Check out what Mercy and her Muses have created today.

Mercy Kerin
Cindy Haffner
Crystal Birr
Jackie Pedro
Jessica Diedrich
Julie Lacey
Pam Speidel
Pam Varnell

MTSC88 Dog-gone Cute

I know I said this last week but I really can't believe how quickly the month of August has gone. After this week, I only have one week left as Mercy's Guest Muse this month. I've absolutely loved working with all the gals and Mercy always has the most amazing sketches each week. 

For my card this week, I've used one of the new sets from There She Goes called Puppy Love. I fell in love with this set as soon as I saw it, so as soon as it was available I ordered it and then for a couple of weeks.... I stalked my mailman!!!  He knows when I ask... do you have any packages that he should be expecting to deliver one any time.  I've drawn my inspiration from this "Ducks in a Row" DP from October Afternoon.  For the main image panel, I decided to create a little scene so I sponged in some clouds for the sky using Soft Sky Ink (SU). I then used my Martha Stewart Grass Punch and my MS Fence punch as well.  For the actual images, I've watercolored them using my Tombow Markers and then popped them up using Dimensionals.  Each layer of DP has been dry embossed using a variety of my Cuttlebug Embossing Folders (Divine Swirls, See Spots, Kassie's Brocade).  I've added the ribbon treatment because I wanted to fit one of the sentiments from this stamp set in. 

Check out what Mercy and her Muses have for you to look at today:
Mercy Kerin
Cindy Haffner

Crystal Birr
Jackie Pedro
Jessica Diedrich
Julie Lacey
Pam Speidel
Pam Varnell

Have a great day!!!!

MTSC87 Does my Butt look big?

WOW! I can't believe we are over half way through the month of August - where has this month gone?   It's Tuesday already - wowza! And we know what that means this month right??? It's Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge (MTSC87).  This sketch had me so inspired and I had a ton of fun making this card!!! I know that I'll be using this sketch again and again! Mercy always has amazing sketches that allow for CAS or nice and fancy. 

I made this card with a set from Skipping Stones Design called Sassy Snow.  It was a special offer a few months ago but I have a feeling you'll be able to find it once we start getting closer to Winter.  Now I have always loved snowmen so when I saw this set, I knew I wanted to play with it again.  This snow"woman" is just too funny?  How many of us ladies stand with our hands on our hips and ask our hubbies if we look big in what we're wearing right?  And thankfully, we have smart husbands who know what the right answer is!!! The clear dew drops are meant to be part of the "thought bubble" extending out to the sentiment. The main image has been watercolored with my Tombow Markers - if you haven't tried them you really should. I know that Copics are all the rage but Tombows are so much fun.  How many of us have a stash of DP that we don't want to dig into and we just hoard?  I've been hoarding this My Mind's Eye DP since it came out (I looked on the back of it today and realized it's from 2008).  I absolutely love the colors in the DP because I'm a non traditional girl when it comes to Christmas colors.  You won't see me with much red and green but instead fun colors. Each layer of DP has been run through my Cuttlebug with different folders for a bit of texture and the edges have been sponged with Soft Sky. 

Mercy and her Muses have great eye candy for you today so check them out. 

Mercy Kerin (our awesome leader)
Cindy Haffner
Crystal Birr
Jackie Pedro
Jessica Diedrich
Julie Lacey
Pam Speidel
Pam Varnell

3 Christmas cards down... and many more to go!

MTSC86 Out of the Box

 

 

Hey there everyone!!! I know I've been a bit quiet on my blog this last few days but it was a busy weekend and I needed to play catch up around the house.  I'll tell you though it was well worth the wait because I have some fun cards to share with you this week.  This is my second week as the Guest Muse for Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge (aka MTSC).  As soon as I saw this week's sketch, I had this image called Allboxedup-abella from Stamping Bella in mind. I bought right after it was released and life got busy and you all know how that goes.... Who doesn't have rubber that hasn't seen ink yet? Tell me I'm not the only one please!!!

 

 

Do you ever have DP that you absolutely love but it was so hard to find - so you just don't use it???  Well that's the case with the floral DP on this card. I'd seen it for months on everyone's blogs and I finally found it!!! It was hard to cut into it for this card I tell ya but at the same time it was the inspiration for the color scheme for my card.  I've combined it with DP from October Afternoon.  The image has been stamped in Versafine Onyx Black and then embossed with Clear Detail Embossing Powder.  I've watercolored the image with my Tombow and SU Markers and a waterbrush.  I've been pulling my SU markers out more lately so that I have a few more colors to work with.  Each of the layers of DP have been embossed with some of my Cuttlebug embossing folders to add more texture. 

Check out what Mercy and her Muses have for eye candy today!!!
Mercy Kerin (The Head Muse)
Pam Speidel
Cindy Haffner
Jackie Pedro
Julie Lacey
Crystal Birr
Jessica Diedrich
Pam Varnell

 

 

Hehehe... I've made this card for one of my friends for her upcoming birthday.... I know she'll see it in my blog and love it!!!