Here For You

Well, I found a dress for the wedding, and we had a really nice time! This is the only picture we took of the two of us. I hardly ever think to pull my camera out, even when I do take it to an event. And please, ignore my strange eyes. I have very blue eyes and the camera turns them demon-red. Then the red eye correction turns them into huge solid black circles. Lovely, hmmm?

Moving on...I made this pretty card which I thought would be perfect to tell someone, "I'm here if you need me", from the new Verve Stamps release, Here For You. The sentiment is embossed and the swirls are rub-ons. It was a little wishy washy, so I added black accents with a gel pen and by rubbing ink along the frayed paper edges.

What's In It?

Stamps: Here For You (Verve Stamps)

Paper: Whisper white, Almost amethyst Palette o' Prints (Stampin' Up!)

Ink: Versamark; Midnight black (VersaMagic)

Accessories: black GellyRoll pen (Sakura); decorative pin (Heidi Grace); beads (Halcraft); white detail embossing powder (Stampin' Up!); Wholy Cow rub-ons (Basic Grey); white thread and sewing machine, ribbon

Just a minute

I've only got a minute, but wanted to remind you that today is the last sneak peek and giveaway for Storage Units, Ink & More. It's going on at Dawn Easton's blog, Treasure Oiler Designz. She has a totally cute Boys 'n' Bugs card to show you. And remember, you only have until June 30 to enter the Motherload Giveaway. Gotta run. I need a dress for a wedding TOMORROW!!!

The Best Thing

Hey ya'll! For this card I pulled together some papers and colors from Stampin' Up's Bali Breeze designer paper. I used my slit punch to create the caribbean scallops. It makes a deeper scallop than the corner rounder, and that's what I was shooting for here. The pale pink panel, under the sentiment, is embossed with the Cuttlebug Textile folder. I finished things off with some pretty trim from May Arts and a prima with rhinestone brad center.

What's In It?

Stamps: All About You, Heart to Heart (Verve Visual)

Paper: pumpkin pie, tempting turquoise, cool caribbean, pretty in pink, purely pomegranate, whisper white, Bali Breeze (Stampin' Up!)

Ink: tempting turquoise, purely pomegranate (SU!)Accessories: square Nestablities dies (Spellbinders); Forever Flowers (Prima); crystal brad (Making Memories); Textile Cuttlebug embossing folder (ProvoCraft); slit punch (Stampin' Up!); fibers (May Arts); dimensionals

Today's Storage Units, Ink & More preview and giving away is going on at Kendra Giles' blog, Inkin' It Up. There's only one more day of giveaways, so don't miss it. Besides, she has the totally cutest card to share with you.

Exciting News!

Guess what?!? Yeah, I hate when people say that too. So I'll just tell you. I've joined the ultra talented Lizzie Anne Design Team! I am so jazzed about this, because I love their stamps already. I'm sure I'll be having lots of exciting LAD stuff in the months to come.

Here's one I put together today. I think it will be perfect for my good friend's upcoming baby shower. I stamped the hippo and monkey, then masked them and stamped the giraffe and elephant. I stamped the hippo and leaves on scrap paper to cut out and layer for dimension. Everything's colored with Copic markers, except the grass. I think that's supposed to be the giraffe's mane, but it makes great grass too when stamped with celery and olive. Then I ran over it with a water brush to blend a bit.

What's In It?
Stamps: Born To Be Wild (Lizzie Anne Designs)
Paper: white (Papertrey Ink); chocolate chip (Stampin' Up!); Cowboy (Crate Paper)
Ink: certainly celery, old olive (SU!); graphite black (Brilliance)
Accessories: Copic markers; Rectangle Nestabilities dies (Spellbinders); light blue gingham ribbon (SU!); dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by and sharing in my news!

Storage Units, Ink & More Winner

I used random.org to pick a winner for the Boys 'n' Bugs set from Storage Units, Ink. Here's what it came up with:

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:7
Timestamp: 2008-06-26 10:54:22 UTC

And, I can't complain about only having to count down to number 7. Thanks to all of you for sharing about the boys, both big and little, in your life. I enjoying reading your comments. The winner is:

Scrappinangler said...
This is so cute! Can't wait to see the rest of the set!! I have 2 little boys that would love to receive this card as well as plenty of little playmates of my boys that they would be perfect for as well!!Thanks!Tori

I'll be trying to get a hold of you Tori. If you don't hear from me today, or if you just get to me before I get to you, drop me an email with your address. Denise will be sending the package directly to you once I give her your info.

There are still more SU Ink giveaways going on as well. Today, Kathie Bailey has a card and blog candy using Get Your Goggles On! Check it out on her blog, Just an Inkling.

Days Like This

Doesn't he just looks like he's having "one of those days". So I paired this sweetheart with the sentiment from one of the Verve sets being released TODAY, Feeling Groovy. It's full of nifty sentiments taken from song lyrics. Go ahead, sing along. You know I am. "Mama said there'll be days like this..." I used to listen to the oldies station with my mom in the car and dance around our kitchen to songs like this. So I know so many of the 50's and 60's songs by heart.

What's In It?

Stamps: Feeling Groovy (Verve); For Father (Stampin' Up!)

Paper: White, Chocolate Chip (SU!); White, Spring Moss, Everyday Blessings (Papertrey Ink)

Ink: vintage photo distress ink (Tim Holtz); graphite black (Brilliance); Copic markers-YG03, YG63, E31, E57, R46, G21, Y21, B00, C1, 0; clear glitter pen (atyou Spica)

Accessories: chocolate chip taffeta ribbon (SU!); antique brads (Lasting Impressions); dimensionals

Stop over at Verve to see all the new releases, including a new line of stamps, Plain Janes. Check out the June Stamp Collection, available at a great price until June 30.

There's also another Storage Units, Ink & More peak and giveaway going on today at Leigh O'brien's blog, Sunflower Studio.

You Are Not Alone

This card uses another of the new Verve releases (June 25, tomorrow!) The set is called Here For You. You know those times when you want to be there for a friend or relative, but you just don't know what to say? This is the stamp set that says it for you. Simply. Lovingly. From the heart.

Such as the sentiment I used on this card, "You are not alone". Perfect for those tough times. I'm not good with words, personally, during tough times. I'll hold your hand. I'll listen and be there for you. I just never know what to say. So I love this set.

Now I'll just skip to the "What's In It". If you know who makes the ribbon, drop me a comment. I think it's either May Arts or American Crafts.

Stamps: Here For You (Verve Visual)

Paper: Very Vanilla, Bravo Burgundy (Stampin' Up!); Perhaps (Basic Grey)

Ink: Bravo Burgundy (Stampin' Up!)

Accessories: ribbon; small rhinestones; large adhesive rhinestone (Darice); oval punch (Stampin' Up!); scallop scissors (ProvoCraft); hydrangea strawberry and forever flowers (Prima); vintage die (Cuttlebug)

You can also pop on over to Debbie Fisher's blog, The Paper Garden, for todays Storage Units, Ink & More preview and giveaway!

SU Ink: Boys 'n' Bugs Peek and Giveaway

I am so excited to be the first to give you a little peek at Storage Units, Ink & More's soon to be released Boys 'n' Bugs! Isn't that little guy the sweetest? The sandbox is just one of the many other stamps in this set you can use to make a scene. You are going to love all of the mix and match possibilities.

I stamped the little boy, then masked him and stamped the sandbox. Everything is colored with Stampin' Up! markers and a water color brush, then shadowed with Copic's C-1 marker. The solid papers are the wonderful lightly textured Core'dinations, while the pattern paper and paper trim are from Crate Paper. Buttons from Stampin' Up!

Are you ready for your chance to win your very own Boys 'n' Bugs stamp set?!? Just leave on comment right here on this post telling me what boy(s) in your life would enjoy receiving a Boys 'n' Bugs card from you. I'll pick a random winner on Thursday, June 26.

Also, have you signed up for "The Motherload" giveaway yet? Do NOT miss THAT!

And keep checking in every day. I'll be telling you who's sharing a sneak peek AND a stamp giveaway each day!

Stamps: Boys 'n' Bugs (SU Ink)
Paper: citrus orange, sky blue (Core'dinations); water color (Stampin' Up!); Roller Coaster (Crate Paper)
Ink: onyx black (Versafine); chocolate chip (SU!); various SU! markers; Copic C-1
Accessories: Bands, Tags & Frames Carnival Collection (Crate Paper); soft subtles buttons, paper piercer and template (SU!); dimesionals; twine; glue dots; water color brush

Verve Visual Sneak Peek

The sneak peeks are starting again at Verve Visual. That means more giveaways at the Verve blog! Here's my first card using Asian Flair, available June 25th. I really like this sophisticated stamp set and can't wait to find some more time for it. So many possibilities!

This bold red, black and white color combo came to mind instantly for me with the thought of an Asian inspired design. I made the gate fold style card with one side slightly larger. That way the flaps meet off center and overlap. The little silver clip on top is just there to hold the card closed. Unless you like it. Then of course it's a Making Memories neutral Cheeky clip and was all part of my plan. ;-) I actually rearranged the alignment of the sentiment a bit, to fit into my circle. So easy to do with clear stamps and markers!

What's In It?
Stamps: Asian Flair (Verve Visual)Paper: basic black, whisper white, real red (Stampin' Up!)Ink: basic black, real red (SU!)Accessories: clear bubble (JoAnn Scrap Essentials); black (SU!); Swiss dots embossing folder (Cuttlebug); circle dies (Nestablities)

Also, pop on over to Susan Liles' blog, susiestampalot, for the next Storage Units, Ink & More sneak peek and giveaway!

The Beauty of Dreams

It's the final day of this month's Verve Visual project parade. You still have time to squeeze in an entry for a chance at $15 in Verve bucks. Get inspired by the following pictures and link your card a this Verve Visual blog entry by noon today.

So here's what I was inspired to create. I thought this Nana's Nursery paper, though pink instead of red, really mimicked the pattern in the quilt. I also used the curve of the nightstand leg to make the front edge of my card. I cut the card base curve by hand, then traced it onto the Nana's Nursery paper and cut again. The sentiment and flowers are from Floral Whimsy. And those little black dots? They're mini faux eyelets. Just poke a hole with your paper piercer, then trace around it with a black gel pen.

Stamps: Floral Whimsy (Verve Visual)
Paper: Pearlized White (Paper Accents); Nana's Nursery Baby Girl (DCWV); So Saffron, Basic Black (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: Onyx black (Versafine); Pretty in Pink, Sahara Sand (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories: paper piercer and template (Stampin' Up!); black Gelly Roll pen (Sakura); rhinestones; Forever Flowers #4 (Prima)

SUInk Featured Designer

Another day, another Storage Units, Ink & More giveaway. Today, Kimberly Gajewski's got the goods. Check out her sneak peek and your chance at another stamp set at her blog, It's So Pretty! It's So Cute!

MORE Giveaways!

Have I got the hook up for you!

To introduce the Storage Units Ink & More design team, a different designer will be featured each day, starting today, ending June 28th. You'll see so many great projects with these new stamps...AND...every single designer has a brand new stamp set to give away on her day. So I'll be directing you to the featured designer every day. You can also see the whole schedule here.

For today, DO NOT miss Lauren's gorgeous sparkly butterfly card and your chance at "Butterfly Garden". And if you haven't signed up for the MOTHERLOAD giveaway yet, definitely do so!

Personally, I hope to get some major stamping done today, so that I can actually share a card with you soon.

I'm Home! And WOW!!!

I had an outstanding vacation and hope to share a few pictures with you soon. I just got home last night and am now trying to catch up on everything I've missed. Speaking of things I've missed...

Have you seen?!? Have you heard?!?
There's a new stamp company in town! And it wants to give you "THE MOTHERLOAD"! That's right. Check out the Storage Units, Ink & More blog for details on this fab new company and how you can win "THE MOTHERLOAD".

"6 brand new Storage Units, Ink & More! Clear Polymer Stamp Sets!
6 Storage Units, Ink & More! Inkpads and Reinkers in our very own colors!
4 packages of Core’dinations Cardstock!
1 set of 8 Acrylic Blocks
1 bottle of Ultra Stamp Cleaner
& 1 set of 12 Copic Markers in our hand chosen colors!"

I can't wait until I can start sharing some samples with you. Totally awesome stamps! For that matter, I can't wait to see what great things the rest of this rock star design team has created.

Today's the Day!

I leave in a couple of hours to catch my plane! We have a quick stop in New York, and then we're London bound! From about 7 am until noon (when we catch the EuroStar to Paris) we'll be spending a little time in London (Jun 11). If you know what we can do (with luggage) for a few hours, I'd love to hear it.

I also wanted to remind you to check out Verve Visual's latest Project Parade. I'll be playing along when I get home, but you can get started now on your chance at $15 in Verve Bucks!

Talk to you all in a week!

Thank You Dawn!

Dawn, thank you so much for this darling card! Can you see the microbeads covering all of the bee wings? Too cool! I love it. You can see more of Dawn's awesome creations at her blog, Treasure Oiler Designz. It's definately worth a minute to check it out. She churns out tons awesome stuff.

Something Old, Something New

Does anybody else out there remember this old Pool Party designer paper from Stampin' Up? It's not THAT old, right? Anyway, I thought it would work well with this cute (new to me) little puppy from Inkadinkado.

I stamped the dog and colored with Copic markers. The stamp is part of a little set in which you also get that little paw print, the sentiment and a dog bone. So I stamped a trim of paw prints, and half the sentiment on the front. The other half of the sentiment is inside with the dog bone. (See pic below.) I added the little dots myself.


Stamps: Wag My Tail (Inkadinkado)
Ink: graphite black (Brilliance); Close to cocoa, choclate chip (SU); Copic markers-YG95, E31, E57, B00, o
Paper: white (Papertrey Ink); retired Pool Party, brocade blue, mellow moss (SU)
Accessories: square Nestabilities dies; Pinky swear sprinkle brads (Queen & Co); blue grosgrain ribbon (SU); dimensionals

RAK Thank Yous

Thank you to a couple of sweet ladies who sent me cards recently! Aren't they both lovely? If you have a minute, drop by their blogs to see what else they're up to.

From Deb "The Crafty Turtle" at My Little Crafting Corner.

From Tammy at Stamp With Tammy.