Saturday, January 31, 2009

hugs 'n kisses valentine

hugs 'n kisses ... and valentine wishes - that's my phrase for the day! here's a simple valentine utilizing my latest stamp set and border punch, with some cute ribbon I'd picked up at Mike's last year. Love's the subject of Sharon's ssnotime72 challenge this week.

stamps: SU's Love You Much (popped up using dimensionals); paper: CM's contemporary pk red, SU's whisper white cardstocks; ink: StazOn's jet black, studio g's red; accessories: Mike's 5/8" ribbon

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

sale-a-bration catty

I was checking a few blogs today to see what's new from CHA and happened upon a link to the new SU Sale-A-Bration catty! Click here or on the picture at left to view the PDF version. Enjoy!

A gal can never have too many flowers; don't you agree?! The Botanical Blooms set on p10 is calling to me so I'll be putting together a $50 order so I can ink that baby up! What's speaking to you from this catty? The curious want to know!

Monday, January 26, 2009

Chrissy's celebrating 80K hits!

... and aren't WE all glad?! - she's celebrating with blog candy! So run, don't walk, to leave a comment at her site, folkes! Thanx, Chrissy!

love is in the air

I won some Just Johanna Odd Bird Planet stamps from Christine of Scrap Time blog fame a while ago - isn't it sweet?! - and recently purchased the sentiment stamp on sale from A Muse Artstamps, thinking of using them together. I went hunting thru my stamps to find the set to make this, case'd from this one by the lovely and talented Susan Roberts (aka Rainy) of Rainy Day Creations blog fame. It's for my DH.

I reused the owl for the inside with a studio g sentiment.

stamps: A Muse Artstamp's Love Is In The Air, Just Johanna Odd Bird Planet's hot air balloon, little cloud, owl-bert little owl (so many owls, so little time); paper: SU's Kiwi Kiss Patterns Designer Series DP, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White cardstocks; ink: StazOn Jet Black, Tri-C watercolor markers; tools: Cuttlebug w Just My Type embossing borders; accessories: SU's Kiwi Kiss striped grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals (izzat a tool or an accessory?!)

happy b'day Michigan

On this day in 1837, Michigan became the 26th U.S. state admitted to the Union, so happy birthday, Michigan! I was transplanted here and enjoyed the read - if you're able to access the Britannica Online article, I recommend it ... or look up your state.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

senior citizens RULE!

You're only a kid once, but you can be young for a lifetime ... at least, according to one of the Inkadinkado mini stamp sets I picked up at this past year's Mega Meet from the kind folkes at the Scrapbook Zone booth. She's a cutie, eh?!

The gals at OCC's sketch challenge are holding a random drawing for a chance to win a new custom banner and watermark, and we all know how creative my own are, right?! Yeah, RIGHT! Last week was another of my fav sketch challengers' b'days, so here's a belated Happy Birthday SHOUTOUT to Sharon Johnson of No Time To Stamp blog fame who's now 55 years! Sharon issued this ssnotime70 sketch challenge on her birthday! Whoo hoo! And if Toners' daughter Nattie knew just how long I'd collected bunnies (no, not rabbits - bunnies!) she'd feel compelled to pick my birthday card to win her Day 5 sketch challenge (complete w Bunny Slippers stamp set). You gals ROCK - let you never tire of providing challenges - I love 'em!

stamps: Inkadinkado's Only A Kid Once, studio g's series 26; paper: Reminisce's Infinity Pool DP, Paper Reflections' black, SU's Pink Passion, Sahara Sand, Whisper White cardstocks; ink: StazOn Jet Black, Tri-C watercolor markers, VersaMark; tools: Creative Memories' circle cutter and EK Success punches

Saturday, January 24, 2009

sweet valentine stuff

I went to a new catty open house at Crystal's this a.m. - just caught the tail end, but that's a whole 'nother post in itself - where we made this card. I'm SO glad to see this DP will play nicely with the Purely Pomegranate cardstock - I've plenty of that at home but am running low on Rose Red (which surprises me - at first glance I'd not thought I'd use it all that often ... I don't consider myself a "pink" kinda girl - I'm more drawn to earth tones). And I've only recently become a devote of SU's DP. I owe that (blessing? curse?) to Linda H of When The Rubber Hits The Road blog fame. She made me do it, Ma! LOL! I'm LOVIN' this stamp set too - it's high on my wish list!

the deets? as it was a workshop I'm not positive but think I've got it right (Crystal, correct me if I'm wrong if you catch this post!) ... all SU product unless otherwise noted.

stamps: Sweet Stems; ink: StazOn Jet Black; paper: Raspberry Tart DP, Old Olive, Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Whisper White cardstock; accessories: Pretty in Pink 1/4" grosgrain ribbon

Friday, January 23, 2009

tres valentine

I had an appt this p.m. just down the street from Mike's and I try to always keep a few coupons in my purse JUST IN CASE ... so I stopped by and got this Martha Stewart embossed zigzag border punch today. I'm trying to pick up a punch each month using 40-50% off coupons.

This card's based on Amy's Friday Sketch #46 and Cuttlebug Challenges' Back To Basics challenges. I like its clean simple lines, don't you? Methinks that qualifies it for Sharon's Stamp Simply #71 - Modern Edge challenge. It started as a 4-1/2 x 5-1/2" standard sized card but then I found a 4x4" piece of leftover Rose Red cardstock (I hoard scraps, LOL) so I trimmed the card base down. I'd ordered a DP share from Linda H of When The Rubber Hits The Road blog fame last year (and again, just recently - if you're interested, check her DP shares here ... and tell her SueB sent ya! This time I picked up only the latest DP from the new catty.) and used some for the strip at the bottom of the card and heart punch, then used a bone folder to emboss a line above and below the sentiment.

stamps: studio g's series 26; paper: SU's Rose Red Patterns Designer Series DP, Rose Red and Whisper White cardstocks; ink: StazOn's Jet Black; tools: Martha Stewart's embossed zigzag border punch, bone folder

Thursday, January 22, 2009

new catty, new wish list

It didn't take long to update my wish list - but they're not all new, and they're not all stamps. I perused the catty at my leisure this past weekend and crooked down the corners of the pages with the following:


  • Love You Much - p27
  • Blooming with Love - p30
  • Crazy for Cupcakes, Cupcakes - p41
  • Boatloads of Love - p42
  • Font of You - p46
  • Pun Fun - p48
  • Forever Flowers - p60
  • Something Fishy - p70
  • Neighborhood - p77
  • Romance, Bella's Bloom - p83
  • Trendy Trees, Funky Forest - p91
  • Sweet Stems - p99
  • Branch Out - p100
  • Always in Bloom - p113
  • Bella Rose, Candy Lane, Patterns Designer Series DP - P159
  • Raspberry Tart DP - p160
  • Pillow Box - p197

So, how 'bout you? What're your favorites so far?

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

SU spring-summer catty

The kind folkes at Stampin' Up! have introduced their new spring-summer 2009 catty (whoo hoo, eh?!). I keep a list of relevent SU links on the right-hand side of my blog, but clicking on the catty pic at left will take you to its PDF version on the Stampin' Up! Web. If you'd rather use their online ordering system, check it out (here)!

enabler alert

Quick post to note there be blog candy at Christine's Creative Journey blog - go visit and I'll hopefully be back later today to post again!

Monday, January 19, 2009

a cupcake sketch valentine

I'm making Valentine's Day cards of late and thought I'd make a dark one with some pretty Cosmo Cricket Fleuriste DP I'd ordered online a while ago. I'm still trying to make two for each design, sending one to Pat's ultimate Cards 4 Kids challenge (see this post) and hope you can join me in making some for her! This one's based on Taylor's Cupcake Challenge #48 and the pinks make it a candidate for TruCarMa's first two-fer challenge (those heart rain drops are pink and mauve tho' they may look red).

stamps: Technique Tuesday's Things I Love About You, studio g's series 26; paper: Cosmo Cricket Fleuriste DP, Paper Paradise's black, SU's Cameo Coral and Whisper White cardstocks; ink: Brilliance Graphite Black; tools: small heart punch; accessories: Cloud9 heart rain drops, Prima's Clearly IOD ribbon tape

Sunday, January 18, 2009

love you much

I'm in full Valentine's Day mode here! I'm hoping to get a few more cards made this weekend and catching Last Chance Harvey with my DH. Other than that my schedule's pretty clear! Here's a few more projects from this month's scrappin' get-together - yesterday's post were the red projects and today's we're into pink! Thanx again, Mary, if you read this - I loved 'em all!

All supplies SU except my Amuse Artstamps prop - I just got my latest order and hope to ink 'em up this weekend!

2-4-6-8 box - stamps: Love You Much; paper: Pink Pirouette Patterns Designer Series DP, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White cardstocks; ink: StazOn Jet Black, Pink Pirouette, Pumpkin Pie; tools: scallop and circle punches; accessories: 3/8" Pretty in Pink taffeta ribbon
(for directions to the box, see this 3-D Design Challenge blog post - complete w template)

Hugs 'n Kisses Sweet Scallop Pouch - stamps: Love You Much; paper: Pink Pirouette Patterns Designer Series DP, Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White cardstocks; ink: Chocolate Chip; tools: Sizzix Big Shot 'n Scallop Circle die, scallop and circle punches; accessories: pink grosgrain ribbon

Love You Much card/candy holder - stamps: Love You Much; paper: Pink Pirouette, Whisper White cardstocks; ink: StazOn Jet Black, Pink Pirouette; tools: Trio Flower punch; accessories: Pink Pirouette 5/8" striped grosgrain ribbon

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Shout Out to Sheetload

There are only a handful of online mags that I devour religiously. This one, Sheetload of Cards, provides not only sketch layouts but tips to efficiently mass produce those sketches - a t'riffic idea for Christmas (or whatever holiday, for that matter) cards. This month's issue is now available - see the January '09 issue at this post - and they also have a link on their blog to the archive of past issues. Check 'em out! This month they're offering blog candy, folkes! Sweet!

hugs 'n kisses

... 'n Valentine's Day wishes! At left are a few of my fav projects from this month's scrappin' get- together led by the lovely and talented Mary Allen (sorry folkes, no blog for me to refer you to).

We're both big fans of Angie Kennedy Juda of Chick n' Scratch blog and Dawn Griffith of Dawn's Stamping Thoughts blog fame and Mary uses lots of their projects in our meetings, usually switching colors and/or stamps for upcoming holidays. If you don't already follow these blogs, you really should (tell 'em SueB sent ya)! Mary has an AMAZIN' sense of color and picks perfect stamps and projects each month - so glad we found ya, girl!

All supplies SU except my Amuse Artstamps prop - I just got my latest order and hope to ink 'em up later today!

Happy Valentine's Day gift card holder - stamps: Holidays & Wishes, You & Moi; paper: Kraft, Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla cardstocks; ink: Close to Cocoa, White; accessories: Riding Hood Red/Vanilla grosgrain ribbon

Hugs 'n Kisses gift bag - stamps: Love You Much; paper: Kraft, Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla cardstocks, Craft Bags; ink: StazOn Brown, Close to Cocoa; accessories: Riding Hood Red/Vanilla grosgrain ribbon

Envelope gift card holder - stamps: Love You Much, unknown "To/From;" ink: Red Riding Hood; paper: Whisper White (envelope 'n cardstock), Red Riding Hood cardstock; accessories: 5/8" Red Riding Hood striped grosgrain ribbon

Thursday, January 15, 2009

FYI re SU price increases

Just a quick "heads up" to advise that I read on Colleen Laux's blog, Stampin with the Goddess, that several core supplies are increasing in price, so if they're on your wish list, you may want to place your order before the price increase! Snipped from Colleen's blog:

Item - Price through January 18 - Price on January 19

Classic Ink Pads - 5.25 - 5.95
Classic Ink Refills - 2.75 - 2.95
Embossing Buddy - 4.95 - 5.95
Heat Tool - 26.95 - 29.95
6x6 Page Protectors (post or ring) - 5.95 - 6.95
12x12 Page Protectors (post or ring) - 9.95 - 10.95
Stamp n Scrub - 14.95 - 16.95
Stamp n Scrub replacement pads - 8.50 - 9.50
Stampin' Mist - 3.95 - 4.50
Stampin' Mist Refill - 8.95 - 9.50
Adhesive Remover - 1.95 - 3.50

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

you deserve it all!

Here's the last card to share from this past weekend's Hero Arts 2009 catty preview. I like how this main image includes a border of fun birthday-related words around the main picture. They remind me of the Technique Tuesday Borderline stamp sets I LOVE that I've used in past cards (you can search on the "TT" label at right to scope 'em out).

And I realize that most of the scrapbook pages I've created have included distinct borders; I've really got to pull the scrapbooks out again. I seem to enjoy my hobbies in spurts, whether it be blogging, card-making, needlework, reading, scrapbooking, whatever ... I'll do one thing for a while, then slack off in that while mainly playing on another ... and so on and so on ...

(all deets Hero Arts unless stated otherwise) stamps: Paisley Swirl, You Deserve Card, studio g celebrate sentiment; paper: green apple card/matching envelope, unknown orange cardstock; ink: asst'd LePlume and Zig watercolor markers, Memento Black, Versamark; accessories: citron gemstones, Ranger Diamond Stickles™ Glitter Glue, unknown flowers

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

a love-ly two-fer

Two cards today - one for me 'n one for Julie Koerber's mom, Pat (see this post) - based on Jen del Muro's 12/27 SFYTT sketch challenge and inspired by the lovely and talented Nancy Riley. I'm trying to kick out two of each design I do for Valentine's Day this week so I can forward one on to a worthy cause and would love for you to join me in this endeavor!

stamps: Inkadinkado's love, SU's Always, studio g's Happy Valentine's Day; paper: Cosmo Cricket's Fleuriste DP, A1 Natural White 'n Bazzill's unknown-but-to-match BasicGrey's Stella Ruby cardstocks; ink: StazOn's Jet Black; accessories: Cosmo Cricket's Fleuriste Ribbon pkg

Monday, January 12, 2009

happy delurking day


did you know? ... that today is National de-lurking day?! That means all you people who read but never comment are suppose to leave a comment.

celebrate the day

Here's another quickie from this past weekend's Hero Arts 2009 catty preview - an easy peasy birthday card! My DH and I are watching TV and I'm multi-tasking by also checking blogs and methinks will get in some crafty time as well so I'll make this a short post tonight!

(all deets Hero Arts unless stated otherwise) stamps: Birthday Frame and Message; paper: pink card/matching envelope, unknown DP; ink: asst'd LePlume watercolor markers, Memento Black; accessories: pink gemstones

Sunday, January 11, 2009

cabbage roll casserole

The lovely and talented Cambria Turnbow of Stamp A Little Love, Baby blog fame has blog candy in exchange for recipes (and LOVES her crock pot, hint! hint!) ... so head on over if you're interested in participating! Here's a fav of mine that I haven't made in a while. Do you like cabbage rolls? Then you'll LOVE this one!

Cabbage Roll Casserole
from the kitchens of Paula White & Martha Kuchar

1 lb hamburg, browned
1/2 onion, chopped
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
6 tbl uncooked instant rice
add tot meat and simmer 3-4 minutes

(see shortcut below or add these ingredients and mix well:)
1 10-3/4 oz can tomato soup
1 soup can water
1 8-oz can tomato sauce
1 tsp sugar

(the shortcut? I just use my fav 28-oz jar of spaghetti sauce)

1 sm head cabbage - cut into medium pieces and line bottom of 2-qt casserole
gently pour meat mixture on top - DO NOT STIR!
cover and bake 325 degrees fahrenheit for 2 hrs

Enjoy! I'll try to remember to post a pic next time I make it ... maybe this week!?

loads of love

I'm sending this blank loads of love card to Julie Koerber's mom, Pat, to forward so that a patient at Children's Hospital in Detroit will be able to use it this Valentine's Day. Julie Koerber of OutToImpress blog fame wrote in this post that her Mom was challenged to gather 1,000 cards. Care to join in the challenge? See Julie's post for more info! She and a couple of her bloggin' friends are offering candy in exchange for cards, if you're interested, but you've gotta make it snappy! Keeping it pretty simple, I just double stamped the image - on white and red cardstock - and the truck and pile of hearts are paper pieced. This card's based on Six Chicks Sketch Challenge #12.

stamps: SU's Loads of Love; paper: Paper Paradise's black cardstock, SU's Rose Red Patterns Designer Series DP, Rose Red and Whisper White cardstock; ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, Creative Memories' Silver Precious Element, Tri-C watercolor marker; accessories: Cloud9 Design's self-adhesive heart rain dot

Saturday, January 10, 2009

donate heartfelt wishes

Today my buddy Pat and I went to CAM for a Hero Arts 2009 catty preview led by Marsha Novara. We made 3 cards for $5 and received a $5 discount toward the purchase any Hero Arts stamps ... an offer I couldn't refuse, y'know?! Here's one of the cards I made today.

This one's heading to Julie Carlisle of Dallas Baptist University as I'm participating in a project of stampers providing cards to a group of international students there - care to read more about the project? Check Jen Del Muro's blog posting (here), and I hope you can join me!

(all deets Hero Arts unless stated otherwise) stamps: All Occasions Messages, Hugs and Hearts; paper: Blossom card/matching envelope, unknown DP; ink: ColorBox Rose Coral, Memento Black; accessories: pink accent pearls

Thursday, January 8, 2009

thanks a bunch

This is my first time inking this cute retired SU Best of Cluck stamp set that I'd purchased used this past year. I only recently picked up the CHF Chicken Wire Backgrounder to use with it, so stamped this quick thank-you card for my sis.

I generally just say thanks in person to folkes when exchanging presents but my sis and her DH hosted our extended family's Christmas day this past year ... and, what the heck, I had this cute stamp set to break in, y'know?! Also, Sharon Johnson of No Time To Stamp challenged us to post thank-you cards (ssnotime68) and I'm a sucker for challenges, don't 'cha know?!

stamps: CHF's Chicken Wire Backgrounder, SU's Best of Cluck; paper: Paper Paradise's black and SU's Kraft cardstocks; ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, PC-generated inside sentiment, Tri-C watercolor markers; accessories: Offray 5/8" black satin ribbon

new catty news

While there aren't pics nor names of stamp sets, if you're interested in hearing news of the soon to be released SU catty, stop by to visit Linda Heller of Where The Rubber Hits The Road blog. Some catty info is on the QT 'til its January 19 release date. There are multiple newsy posts starting about January 7th that Linda confirmed she can share in advance - enjoy!

And thanx for sharing, Linda!

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Michigan Winters

It's winter in Michigan
And the gentle breezes blow
Seventy miles an hour
At twenty-five below.

Oh, how I love Michigan
When the snow's up to your butt
You take a breath of winter
And your nose gets frozen shut.


Yes, the weather here is wonderful
So I guess I'll hang around
I could never leave Michigan
'Cause I'm frozen to the ground!

Monday, January 5, 2009

my heart is happy

I'd noticed this stamp set in a couple blogs recently and had planned on heading out in search of it - figuring to try Mike's or Walmart's this week to check local store supplies - but learned today I don't have to now! A few of my lunch crew gals had postponed our Christmas gift exchanges 'til after the holidays 'cuz one of our crew was away visiting her daughter. Today we returned to work and exchanged presents before lunch ... and voila! ... my buddy Kim gave me the stamp set in question! Whoo hoo! Thanx again, Kim!

This card's based on CPS' sketch #98, and used a few other new toys - I've begun picking up some of the border punches using my 40-50% off coupons and this is my first time using this and the heart punch, and I'd recently picked up some Valentine's Day studio g dollar stamps and used one for the sentiment. Thanx for stopping by! If you've time, care to share what stamping supplies you got for Christmas?

stamps: Martha Stewart's Christmas tree stamps, studio g's series 26; paper: SU's Riding Hood Red Patterns Designer Series DP, Whisper White cardstock; ink: StazOn Jet Black; tools: Martha Stewart lacy border and Marvy mega heart punches

updates

Just a quick note tonight - to share that SU's retiring accessories list is out and that the latest Hero Arts catty is now available online - see links at right. The picture at left will link you to the online catty.

Dawn of Dawn's Stamping Thoughts noted that she'd keep her SU retiring accessories list updated as supplies are exhausted, so here's a link to her blog post as I'm not an SU demo. Supplies are available 'til January 18th or as supplies last, friends!

Saturday, January 3, 2009

a CAM valentine

Hi folkes! I've just returned from my QuicKutz club meeting (more in a later post as my project's unfinished) and make-'n-take Saturday (most Saturdays noon-2, if you happen to be in the Flint MI area), where we made this easy peasy valentine card. I added the harlequin diamond background when I got home but liked it plain as well! I've gotta check what valentine's stamps I've got in stock now!

stamps: unknown you and me, Inkadinkado diamonds BK; paper: valentine DP is positioned in back of negative heart - the cut out heart was popped up and lightly inked; ink: ColorBox burgundy chalk ink, VersaMark 4 background

Friday, January 2, 2009

happy (belated) anniversary

My DH and I called his brother and sis-in-law and left a singing telegram of sorts this past week - do you recall the Flintstones episode when Fred sang to the Rubble's? I made this for their anniversary and picked up a gift card for dinner for two at a local restaurant and a DVD for them (Stranger Than Fiction, hence the card front). It's a belated gift as we haven't but intend to catch up w them over the holidays still. The inside sentiment reads: Wishing you the best on your anniversary and every happiness in the year ahead, so I'll post it as a belated entry to Gina K's New Year's Inspiration challenge and I used Paper Craft Planet's SK122708 sketch challenge in a square rather than #10 layout.

This card uses a new toy (new to me, anyway - tho' I've seen it used on yummy cards on ) - the Prima transparent scrapbooking tapes - and using new toys is the subject of Sharon Johnson's ssnotime67 challenge. I'd contacted my fav local scrapbooking store before Christmas to check whether they'd be carrying these tapes, and they put in an order for four different tapes and were nice enough to hold one of each style aside ... so I picked 'em all up - for me and a scrapping buddy.

stamps: SU's Vases In Vogue; paper: SU's Rose Red patterns designer series DP, Whisper White cardstock, Paper Reflections' black cardstock; ink: SU's Rose Red, StazOn's Jet Black; accessories: Prima's Clearly IOD scrapbooking tape (#811020), black satin ribbon, SU Rose Red grosgrain ribbon

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Happy New Year peeps!

happy b'day Mom

Friday's my Mom's birthday, and the family's getting together at her house this weekend to celebrate. My brother and his family's in town and then heading west again. My sis-in-law Mary was made an offer she couldn't refuse and they're moving from Maryland to California, not far from where they lived a couple years ago. Since his move east, I've gotten used to his every other month visits, which I imagine will become more infrequent ... sigh

Mom's a crossword fan so I decorated a clipboard for her to provide a hard surface to work on them when she's not at a table. I love having a small notebook in my purse so I made her one to match the clipboard, then the card. The matched set's all based on Stamp Something's DRS Sketch Something and Sharon's new toys challenges. I used my new toy (my DH's Christmas present to me - a QK Silhouette) to create the snowflakes used on the inside covers of notebook and on inside of card (some sprinkled around photo as well). I made some snowflakes from Whisper White and Vellum Cardstock for my boss as part of her Christmas present but forgot to take pics. Of all the things I miss, I miss my mind the most, y'know?!

stamps: SU's Heard from the Heart (inside sentiment), PC-generated tags; paper: CTMH's Aspen DP, SU's Sage Shadow cardstock, some pretty wrapping paper w the trees images; ink: CTMH's New England Ivy, PC dark green; accessories: Heidi Swapp icee bling; tools: Silhouette w snowflake shapes, circle and scallop circle punches, Zutter Bind-it-All and Stamp On This' 4x4 chipboard coasters for notebook