Think Spring

We still have snow on the ground from the last couple of days, but I've got spring on my mind. It's the optimist in me. I just love the warmer weather. Hey, at least we've got loads of sunshine today. So I pulled this Garden Whimsey stamp set off the shelves to indulge in some wishful thinking.

I colored all of the bugs with markers, directly to the stamp, to get the different colors. Then I did a little water coloring around the butterfly for grass/sky effect. Can you see the snail trail of Star Dust Stickles? Not my idea, but isn't it cute! The background is embossed with the Cuttlebug Bloom Dots folder, then I rubbed over it with a small white stamp pad. The sentiment, from Papertrey Ink) is heat embossed.

What's In It?
Stamps: Stampin' Up! Garden Whimsey, Papertrey Ink Green Thumb
Paper: SU! Caribbean, Celery, White, Red, PTI White
Ink: SU! Red, Black, celery, turquoise, olive, cocoa, Versamark, cloud white VersaMagic
Other: detail white embossing powder, star dust Stickles, white gel pen, water brush, Nestablities die, Bloom Dots Cuttlebug folder

"Excellent!"

I was given the "E for Excellent" award. Wow! Thanks Kylie. I'm thrilled that you find my blog inspiring. I must say that I really enjoy looking through your creations as well.

I read so many blogs, but here are a few random ones that I find inspiring and enjoyable:

Alli Miles

Lisa Strahl

Sharon Johnson

Joan Bardee

Sophia Landry

New Releases from Verve Visual

Have you dropped in at Verve Visual lately? If not, today would be a great day to do it! Yesterday Julee released four new stamp sets! AND, all stamps are 15% off for the entire month of February! AND there's free shipping over $40. AND there's still time for you to get an entry into the Honored Guest Sketch Challenge Contest. Obviously, great things are going on at Verve. This card features the new set called Happy Thoughts. The set contains the word Happy in two different fonts, along with some mix and match words for quite a few sentiment options. This makes it so easy for a two-toned sentiment like the one I made here.

This card is done on a folded piece of 5.25 inch by 10.5 inch transparency film. All of the layers are sandwiched over the transparency, so that none of the glue shows. I'm including a picture of the inside too, so you can see where I made a place to write your message.Some of the other design elements were done with Webster's Pages Classical Garden Rub-ons. (Just a hint...They're on clearance for 40% off while they last.)

What's In It?

Stamps: Happy Thoughts(Verve Visual)

Ink: Timber Brown (StazOn); Bordering Blue (Stampin' Up!)

Paper: Parlor Collection (Webster's Pages); Chocolate Chip, Bordering Blue, Very Vanilla (Stampin' Up!)

Accessories: Multipurpose Transparency Film (3M); circle and scalloped dies (Nestablities); Antique brads (Lasting Impressions); Classical Garden rub-ons (Webster's Pages); dimensionals; Mono Multi glue (Tombow)

For the Sophisticated Mother to Be

I needed a baby card for some friends of ours. Really it's the father who is friends with my husband. I don't know the mother real well, but she definately strikes me as simple and sophisticated. So, that's what I had in mind when making this card.

Stamps: Sweet Love (Papertrey Ink); Family Phrases (Verve Visual)
Ink: Certainly Celery (Stampin' Up!); Versamark
Paper: Certainly Celery (SU!); white (PTI)
Accessories: detail white embossing powder (SU!); coluzzle; Gemstones (Hero Arts); dimensionals

RAK Thank Yous

I am hanging my head in shame right now. Would you look at these fabulous cards I have received from some amazing fellow stampers? Can you guess how long I've had some of them without sharing them here with you? Obviously, some are from clear back in December. But they are just too gorgeous to not share. So, here they are:

This card by Allison Fillo from Stampin When I Can is SO FUN! I love the shape, colors, and especially the fibers! Thank you so much for thinking of me!

Amy Westerman really came up with the most unique focal point here. Check out that embossed foil bell! It is so awesome!

Lila Holgate's beautiful bird card just has class written all over it. The colors in the bird are so thick and vibrant. Mmmmmm...and that card! Fabriano?

Yes, Julee Tilman is a creative genius. So it always thrills me to get a card from her. Like this unique three dimensional card. It folded flat for mailing, but pops into a box when you take it back out of the envelope. How cool!

This is the prettiest thank you I received from Michelle at A Stamping We Will Go. I thought it was an awesome card as soon as I opened the envie to see a file folder card. But then I opened the card, and it was even better. I LOVE the primas that she added to the inside!

And last, but certainly not least, is this SO SWEET card from Joanne Basile. She really created a "feeling" with this. Not an easy thing to do. The femine pink ribbon and soft color palette. I actually want to reach out and hug that little girl. Thank you Joanne!

I'm a Guest Designer!

Have you seen? I'm the guest designer for the month on Jen del Muro's blog: i{heart}tostamp! Pop on over and see my little write up and my first card. I'll be playing along with Jen's weekly Sketch For You To Try for the whole month of February. Thanks Jen!

The Friday Funny

These men are installing and setting solid steel pillars in concrete to stop vehicles from parking on the pavement outside a sports bar in downtown Norman, OK.

They are cleaning up at the end of the day.

How long do you think it will be before they realize where their vehicle is parked?