And the Blog Candy Goes To:

Thanks so much everybody for stopping by and entering for these great new Verve Visual stamp sets. Without further ado, your winner is:

True Random Number ServiceRandom Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:3

Timestamp: 2007-12-31 13:05:02 UTC

Wow, it pays to be early for once. The third comment was Michelle's:

How exciting! I hopy you had a wonderful Christmas! Happy
Boxing Day! I think it's actually bigger in Canada than the US
though!
Michelleblog.michellescrapbooking.com

I'll try to get in touch with you Michelle, so I can get your package out right away.

My blogging will probably be sporadic at best for a little while. My husband, Josh, and I and ten other friends are leaving today for Buffalo, NY where we'll be attending the NHL Winter Classic, an outdoor hockey game between the Penguins and Sabres. WooHoo! GO PENS! Don't worry, I have lots of thermal clothing packed. Brrr, it's going to be cold.

We'll get back tomorrow, in time to get ready to leave for two separate week long vacations during January. Cancun with friends, then Fort Myers, Florida with Josh's family. YAY!!! I'll try to pop in whenever I can. {HUGS} to you all.

Crazy in Love

I did it again. I stepped out of my box a bit. Just tiptoeing around, nothing big. I've been enjoying Daniela's blog, For the First Time, for a while, and finally decided to try my hand at what seems to be her style. It's not a copy of any particular card. I had in mind pattern papers, yes, plural, papers. And black ink. Not too many layers. And no real stamped focal image. The flower is pretty much the focus. Hmmm, maybe as such, I shouldn't have put it so far off to the side? A learning process for sure. So thanks for your inspiration Daniela!

And since I'm giving away a couple of Verve Visual stamp sets (see post below), I thought I'd use a Flirty Phrases saying on this card, get your creative juices flowing.

Gotta run, again. Off to my mom's for the day.

What's In It?
Stamps: Flirty Phrases (Verve Visual); Swirls (Rhonna Farrer)
Paper: White (Papertrey Ink); Perhaps (Basic Grey)
Ink: Onyx black (Versafine); Versamark
Accessories: corner rounder, 1/2 inch circle punch, Making Memories crystal brads, chipboard, Prima flower, detail white embossing powder, Black Gelly Roll pen, Star Dust Stickles

Blog Candy!

I know everyone is so busy this time of year, myself included! But if you've got a moment, just leave a comment, any old comment you'd like, to be included in this blog candy drawing. Verve Visual released some great little sentiment sets earlier in the month, and I've got two of them just for you.

Flirty Phrases and Uplifting Phrases

I love the fonts used in these sets, and they're sized perfectly to fit onto just about any card design.

You have until Sunday night, December 30th to leave your comment. I'll pull a name sometime after midnight (Eastern time). Be sure you leave a way for me to contact you. Stop by to visit the other Verve designers as well. I think most of them have give aways too. Here's a list of blogs.

Bohemian Butterfly

Is this not one of the coolest, simplest, most stylish layouts you've ever seen? I couldn't wait to find a little time to play with it. The sketch actually came courtesy of this month's Dirty Dozen, for those who are Fan Club members at Splitcoast. And I thought it would work perfectly with this Papertrey butterfly, which has a certain Bohemian feel to me. So, it took a little experimenting to get the colors just right, but I LOVE my shiny butterfly! Pearl Ex will change colors based on what paper you apply it to.

I stamped the solid background with my Essential glue pad and applied Aztec Gold Pearl Ex with a stipple brush. Then you can layer on the swirl stamp with the same glue pad. No drying time required! Love that! I can't stand to wait for things while I'm stamping. Then just stipple on the Blue Russet Pearl Ex.

The ribbon is actually one piece of Rustic Retreat layered over two pieces of gold May Arts.

I tried for a closeup, so maybe you can see the shimmer?

What's In It?

Stamps: Butterfly Kisses (Papertrey Ink); Heartfelt Phrases (Verve Visual)

Paper: Blush blossom, very vanilla, ruby red (Stampin' Up!); Gretel: Butterflies (Cosmo Cricket)

Ink: Versamark; Essential Glue pad

Accessories: Aztec Gold and Blue Russet Pearl Ex; Detail white embossing powder, paper piercer, stipple brush, word window punch, retired Rustic Retreat ribbon (SU!); gold ribbon (May Arts); dimensionals

A Friday Funny

Are you a Martha or a Maxine?

Martha

Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a cone to prevent ice cream drips.

Maxine

Just suck the ice cream out of the bottom of the cone, for Pete's sake! You are probably lying on the couch with your feet up eating it, anyway!

MARTHA.......

To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.

MAXINE.....

Buy Hungry Jack mashed potato mix, you can keep it in the pantry for up to a year.

MARTHA......

When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead and there won't be any white mess on the outside of the cake.

MAXINE......

Go to the bakery! They'll even decorate it for you.

MARTHA........

If you accidentally oversalt a dish while it's still cooking, drop in a peeled potato and it will absorb the excess salt for an instant 'fix-up.'

MAXINE.....

If you oversalt a dish while you are cooking, that's too bad. Please recite with me the real woman's motto:"I made it and you will eat it and don't complain about it"

MARTHA...

Wrap fresh celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.

MAXINE....

Fresh Celery? Never heard of it!

MARTHA......

Brush some beaten egg white over pie crust before baking to yield a beautiful glossy finish.

MAXINE......

The Mrs. Smith frozen pie directions do not include brushing egg whites over the crust so I don't.

MARTHA...

Cure for headaches: take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.

MAXINE.......

Take a lime, mix it with tequila, chill and drink!

MARTHA........

If you have a problem opening jars, try using latex dishwashing gloves. They give a non-slip grip that makes opening jars easy.

MAXINE.......

Go ask the hot, young neighbor if he can open it for you.

MARTHA..............

Don't throw out all that leftover wine. Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.

MAXINE.............

Leftover wine???????????

HELLOOOO... !!!!!!!

two little lovebirds

This card uses today's sketch challenge as the layout. Well, it's so late, it's now actually yesterday's sketch challenge. The birds and heart are from the Cute Curls stamp set by Kim Hughes at Cornish Heritage Farms. Aren't they darling? And how cute is this new sentiment from Verve Visual? Just perfect with all the popular bird images right now.

I stamped on Pearlized white paper and colored with a water brush and inks. The sentiment is stamped on a word window punch and layered on a large oval punch with added dots. The taffeta ribbon is layered on a strip of card stock.

What's In It?
Stamps: Cute Curls (Cornish Heritage Farms); Canvas (Stampin' Up!); Flirty Phrases (Verve Visual)
Paper: Pearlized white (Paper Accents); CoCo Collection (Webster's Pages); Chocolate Chip, Bordering Blue, Very Vanilla (SU!)
Ink: Onyx black (Versafine); Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Brocade blue, pretty in pink, ballet blue, regal rose, creamy caramel (SU!)
Accessories: chocolate taffeta ribbon (SU!); large oval, small and large circle, word window and photo corner punches (SU!); white Glaze pen (Sakura); Gemstones (Hero Arts); dimensionals; water brush

I can do Shabby too!

If I cheat.

I don't always play along, but I always check out the Featured Stamper challenge every Sunday at Splitcoast. I was so happy to find a little time to play today, because this week's stamper is Lisa Zappa! I chose this card to CASE.

I was pretty happy with my end result, but let me tell you, I am going to have to do something about my photography. Lately, I make a card. I'm happy with it. I do the whole photo, edit, etc. process. I load it to my blog and think "Ugh. Bleck." So, I'm considering a photo studio box. If you have one, let me know what you think about it.

Sorry, back to my card. I changed the stamps and papers. None of the papers in my stash were quite soft enough, so I brayered these with White craft ink. Works for me. The center of the flower is stamped in Not Quite Navy, then covered with clear Micro Beads.

What's In It?
Stamps: Beautiful Blooms, Text Boxed, Paper Tray (Papertrey Ink); Swirls (Rhonna Farrer)
Paper: Soft Sky, Whisper White, Bravo Burgundy (Stampin' Up!); Cherished Flowers (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Choc Chip, Soft Sky, Always Artichoke, craft white (SU!)
Accessories: Essential Glue Pad, Brayer, Art Accentz clear micro beads, Mesh embossing folder and Cuttlebug, corner rounder, cropodile, Sakura white glaze pen

Also, I was recently tagged by Adelina. So I'll try to come up with seven random things about myself sometime soon. I'm just not a very exciting person though.

happy travels

Hi Stampers! Just a quick one today. I have a good bit to do before getting ready to go out this evening. A couple of our friends are having the Grand Opening party for their new Pilates studio downtown.

This should be the last of my vacation stick people cards for a while. I used this week's sketch challenge from Splitcoast for my layout. Colored with markers and a water brush on water color paper. And there is a rather faint line of piercing across the bottom, in case you didn't notice.

What's In It?
Stamps: Vacation (Wordsworth)
Paper: Chocolate chip, really rust, certainly celery, water color (Stampin' Up!); plaid is Screen Door by My Mind's Eye; blue is Boho Chic from Making Memories
Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine); celery, caribbean, rust, real red, going gray, blush blossom (SU!)
Accessories: decorative brad by K & Co., antique brads by Lasting Impressions; paper piercer; water brush, May Arts ribbon, Nestabilities scalloped square die, Cuttlebug Stylized Flowers embossing folder, dimensionals

Vacation!

Told ya I'd be having more cards with this Vacation set from Wordsworth. I think it is so darned cute. Just check out this little chickie. She's stamped on Papertrey Ink white card stock with Onyx Black Versafine and watercolored with classic Stampin' Up! inks.

The scalloped rectangle was actually done with my square Nestabilities die. I cut about a half inch out of the center and taped it back together, then covered the seam with that wide polka dotted ribbon. The dots around the scallops were done with my Stardust glitter pen: so fast and easy. Oh yeah, I highlighted her shades with the glitter pen too, because she's so glam, ya know?

What's In It?
Stamps: Vacation (Wordsworth)
Paper: Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Soft Sky (Stampin' Up!); Gypsy (Basic Grey); White (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine); Real Red, Cool Caribbean, Softy Sky, Close to Coco, Blush Blossom, Barely Banana, Old Olive (SU!)
Accessories: Hero Arts Gemstones; Nestabilities scalloped square die; Cuttlebug spots and dots embossing folder; Stardust glitter pen; ribbon (unknown); water brush

Classically Styled

For today's card I paired up Bashful Blue with gold for a classic look. Reminds me of old French bedrooms. Ooh la la. LOL! Anyway, I thought it went well with this classically styled stamp from Gina K Designs, which I won from one of Gina's many blog give aways. Thanks Gina!

The frame and sentiment are stamped in Versamark and embossed with gold ep. Can you see the faint blue shadow to the words? I had first stamped them, slightly off, in bashful blue. I embossed the blue background with the Textile folder in my Cuttlebug. Then ran a thin line of glue all around to heat emboss the edge in gold as well. This is such a large stamp that I just embellished with a few brads. Also makes it easy to mail.

What's In It?
Stamps: Festive Labels (Gina K Designs)
Paper: Creamy Caramel, Bashful Blue, Very Vanilla (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: Versamark, Bashful Blue (SU!)
Accessories: Gold embossing powder, gold brads (SU!)

More Great Verve Deals

Sorry I missed telling you yesterday. But there's big news at VERVE VISUAL. The stamps are now high quality photopolymer CLEAR, for a quicker and easier stamping experience. I am so excited to not have to cut out my stamps before I can get them inked up now. Six new clear stamp sets were released yesterday. And I don't know how they're doing it, but Verve's having another big sale. Up to 30% off. Check it out. You may find just what you've been looking for, and at a great discount to boot.

I'll be back shortly with a card for ya today. Wow. Two days in a row.

Antoher ATC Card

Here's another ATC I started for the My Favorite Things challenge on Splitcoast, but I didn't finish it in time. This one actually uses stamps by Wordsworth, a set called Vacation. This saying cracked me up big time, "Like you blend". HA!

I made the ATC, then finished off the card with Julee's Mojo Monday sketch from last week. The ATC has Heidi Swapp jewels, but the hidden hoarder in me didn't want to use six more for the card. I hadn't realized I was a hoarder until writing this post. Hmmmm...blogging really does spawn introspection. Anyway, to avoid using another six jewels, I applied dots of Crystal Effects, then covered them with retired Stampin' Up! turquoise glitter. I actually really like the contrast.

You should be seeing a few more cards with this set, because I want to send them to my friends before we leave for Cancun in January. I'm so excited. If you haven't quite figured it out yet, I hate being cold.

I haven't been to see my mom for the past two weeks. Each time she has called in the morning to say the roads were too bad, which they weren't. Not being a mom, I can blithely say, "Moms sure worry a lot." No such concerns today though, as we are expecting a balmy 40 degrees here in the lovely northeast. (Tongue firmly in cheek.)

What's In It?
Stamps: Vacation (Wordsworth)
Paper: Real red, tempting turquoise, cool caribbean, water color (Stampin' Up!); Gypsy (Basic Grey)
Ink: Onyx black (Versafine); Real Red, tempting turquoise, blush blossom, yoyo yellow, going grey (SU!)
Accessories: pewter hodgepodge hardware, orange grosgrain ribbon, crystal effects, glitter (SU!); icee jewels (Heidi Swapp); dimensionals, black thread, Janome sew mini, water brush

An ATC to a Card

Cammie posted a challenge on the My Favorite Things forum over at Splitcoast. Make an Artist Trading Card (ATC), then turn it into a card. So that's what I did here. I guess it's all self-explanatory. So, I'll show you a pic of just the ATC, then list what I used. Have a great evening.


What's In It:
Stamps: Let's Go For a Walk (My Favorite Things)
Ink: Onyx black Versamark and various Stampin' Up! markers
Paper: Really Rust, Very Vanilla (Stampin' Up!); Coco Collection (Webster's Pages)
Accessories: paper piercer, waterbrush, SU! choc chip tafetta ribbon

Dropping You a Line

Wow, these Bellas are popular! My local stamp store is not too close for me (probably a good thing). So I don't go too often. But I know they carry Bellas. I love it. No paying for shipping and then w-a-i-t-i-n-g...... But they tend to always be out of the ones I most want. So on my last visit, I picked up this Staceyfishabella and Teeoffabella. I'm thinking of making my highly under-used golf clubs a golf bag tag.

I remembered that I had this sentiment from Inky Antics, too. So I didn't have to buy the one Stamping Bella makes (same sentiment, different script). And it makes a using a fishing bella so much more practical.

I stamped Bella on watercolor paper, drew the line for the ground and colored with SU! markers and a water brush. Cut the sentiment oval with my Coluzzle and trimmed out the scallops with scalloped scissors.

What's In It?
Stamps: Staceyfishabella (Stamping Bella); sentiment (Inky Antics)
Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine); black Micron pen; pumpkin, close to cocoa, choc chip, bashful blue, blush blossom, caramel, garden green (Stampin' Up!)
Paper: water color, close to cocoa (SU!); Cowboy Collection (Crate Paper)
Accessories: ribbon (SU!) provocraft scallop scissors, lasting impressions antique brads, square Nestabilities die, Cuttlebug

Sorry I haven't been posting much lately. Or getting around to visit all of your blogs either. Life's been busy (in a fun kind of way) and I hadn't been stamping a whole lot. I went to the Steelers Monday Night game vs. Miami (the mud bowl) a couple weeks ago, the Sunday Night game vs. Cincinnati this week and a couple of Penguin games in the mix too. All of our tickets just happened to fall together.

So thanks for stickin' with me and stopping by. I'd love to hear from ya.

RAK Thank Yous

Boy, last week was my week for cards! I received three RAK's all in one week. WooHoo! And here they are:This first one was from Flossie at Flossie's Follies. I wish I had taken a picture of the envelope too, because it is just too pretty. I think she made it herself from designer paper. Seriously gorgeous. Thanks Flossie, for the beautiful card.The second one is actually a RAK back I guess you could say. I had sent Regina a card and she sent this one back. Would you look at that adorable little envelope with the sentiment inside?!? I was just checking out Regina's Splitcoast gallery, and it is one of those where you ask yourself, "How could I have missed this?" It is so worth a few minutes to take a peek. Thank you Regina!

And here is the last one from Lila. We work together on the Verve Visual design team, and she is such a fabulous stamper. See more of her work at her blog, Lila's Creative Corner. But first, how amazing is this card design?!? I love the star shape and how it opens. So cool! Thanks for thinking of me, Lila.

A Bookmark Card

This is a slight variation of a card design I came up with a while back. That circle element, with the sentiment, actually comes off the card and is a bookmark. Too cute, huh? I'm a fairly avid reader, and this style of bookmark is awesome. It has magnets inside so that it doesn't fall out of the book. That's especially nice if you're reading while traveling.

So, here's how you do it:

1. Stamp the circle frame and sentiment from Wonderful Wishes and the stars from Starlight Starbright. Punch with 1-3/8 inch circle punch.

2. Cut two layers of scalloped circles. I used the Nestabilites scalloped circle dies measuring approximately 1-5/8 and 2-1/8 inches.

3. Cut the folded circular piece you see above. The widest part of this circle must fit through the word window punch. This will be important later! I again used a Nestablity die measuring about 1-5/8 inches. To make this cut: Use a folded piece of card stock and position the die so a small portion lays over the fold.

4. Now glue all the pieces together to make the bookmark.

5. Add magnets to the back of the bookmark, making sure they are going to stick to each other properly. I just used some from one of those magnet rolls available at office supply stores. I would suggest Basic Grey magnetic snaps for a neater look, if you'd like.
6. Design your card front as desired, punching a hole with the Word Window punch where you will insert your bookmark. Insert the bookmark. No adhesive is needed, as the magnets will hold it in place, also allowing your recipient to remove the bookmark later. NOW, with the bookmark in place, glue your card front to the card base. This will make sure it's not too tight to fit the bookmark into place.

A Note: The black embellishments on my card are dots of Crystal Effects covered while wet with black glitter.

Recipe:
Stamps: Starlight Starbright, Wonderful Wishes (Verve Visual)
Paper: Pearlized white (Paper Accents); Magnolia (My Mind's Eye) used front and back; white (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Tempting turquoise, old olive (Stampin' Up!); Onyx black (Versafine)
Accessories: Black grosgrain ribbon, Word window punch, Crystal Effects, circle punch (Stampin' Up!); Nestabilities dies (Spellbinder); Cuttlebug, scalloped scissors (ProvoCraft); black thread and sewing machine, magnets, black glitter

A Pooch With Mojo

I actually try my best NOT to "think snow", but it doesn't really help. It's not even winter yet, and I'm already sick of being cold. But, I think winter has the most adorable stamp images. Like this little Poochie Christmas set from the Cat's Pajamas.

I used Julee's Mojo Monday sketch for this card. I started with Poochie's panel, and built out from there. The oval is cut with a Coluzzle. The scalloped oval I trimmed by hand with scalloped scissors. His sweater is paper pieced with some Basic Grey Lollipop Shoppe designer paper. I watercolored the ice, swirl, and outline with classic inks and a waterbrush. The large panel is sponged with always artichoke and chocolate chip to even out the designer paper's slightly distressed look.

Thanks for stopping by, and thanks for the challenge Julee! By the way, one of my favorite parts of winter: watching my dog play in the snow.

What's In It?
Stamps: Poochie Christmas (The Cat's Pajamas)
Ink: Timber Brown (StazOn); Red Magic (Versamagic); soft sky, cool caribbean, blush blossom, cameo coral, mellow moss (Stampin' Up!)
Paper: white (Papertrey Ink); chocolate chip (SU!); Blitzen, Color Me Silly, Lollipop Shoppe (Basic Grey); Mint Espresso (EK Success)
Accessories: Stardust Stickles; Making Memories crystal brads; May Arts ribbon; waterbrush

It's so ME!

I know these aren't quite the usual style for the paper crafting world, but I couldn't be more pleased. They are so "ME".

I embossed the five inch square cards with my largest Nestablities die using Nichole's instructions here. You have to stamp the flower first though. I wanted the flower stem to extend beyond the embossing, but not quite to the bottom of the card. So I laid a sticky note where I wanted the stem to end, then stamped with onyx black Versafine. Then emboss, then stamp the sentiment, then color. I colored with an aquapainter and classic Stampin' Up! inks. Last, I added very little Stardust Stickles to the flowers.

I stamped the same sentiment on the inside as I used for yesterday's card. Just in black.

Maybe you all do this already, but I just thought of it. Sometimes I'll see tutorials that I want to use later, like this one of Nichole's that I know I'll use over and over. I don't want to print them all out. Too much clutter. But I have a hard time finding them later. So I copied and pasted it to a Word document and saved it on my computer.

Does anybody know what the blue flower is supposed to be? I wasn't even sure what color to make it.


What's In It?
Stamps: Oh, So Lovely and Close as a Memory (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: Onyx black (Versafine); old olive, always artichoke, brocade blue, night of navy, real red, apricot appeal (SU!)
Paper: white (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories: stardust Stickles; aquapainter; large square Nestablities die; Cuttlebug

Simple, Serene, and FINISHED!

I needed a few sympathy cards quickly. I really should have some of these on hand. We never want to make them when we need them it seems. I also made two others that I'll share with you tomorrow.

I stamped the flowers several times with Always Artichoke on River Rock card stock. Color the flowers with a white Sakura glaze pen. (This takes a few minutes to dry.) Draw light shadows in Sahara Sand around the stems. Stamp the background (Paisley) in Sahara Sand on River Rock. Stamp sentiment on vellum card stock using black StazOn and attach with brads.

Tah Dah. Simple, serene, and most importantly -- FINISHED!

Because the card is so dark, I layered some Paper Accents pearlized white text weight paper inside for the sentiment and my own message.

What's In It?

Stamps: Close as a Memory; Oh, So Lovely (Stampin' Up!)

Paper: Basic black, vellum card stock, always artichoke, river rock (SU!); Pearlized white text weight (Paper Accents)

Ink: Black (StazOn); artichoke, sahara sand (SU!)

Accessories: vintage brads (SU!); white pen (Sakura)

Great Deals!

Just wanted to share these great deals with you going on at Verve Visual!

Shop at the Verve Store this weekend, (Friday, November 23 - Sunday, November 25) and you'll find the following sale prices in effect.

10% off all Verve Visual stamp sets and acrylic blocks
15% off all Ribbon, Embellishments, Inks and Adhesives
15% off all Pearlized Card stock
20% off all Bind-it-All Coils
25% off all designer paper
Additional discounts throughout the store

In addition to the sale prices listed above, orders over $50 will receive an additional 10% off! To receive this special discount, you must use coupon code THANKFUL at checkout (scroll down to the very bottom of the shopping cart page and enter the coupon code and click apply). After applying the coupon, your additional savings will automatically be reflected in your total. This coupon and the sale prices listed above will expire at 11:59 PM Mountain Time on Sunday, November 25, so hurry up and get your VERVE on!

No Coloring Required!

Have you tried any of Cornish Heritage Farms' Thomas Kinkade stamps yet? Oh my word! I'm in love. I put off buying them because I figure I won't be able to color them. But you don't need to color them. They stamp so beautifully and with such depth and shading, using only one ink. I inked up the stamp with my brayer to get even coverage, (Can't remember where I read that tip.) and stamped onto whisper white.

And one of Verve Visual's most recent releases, Wonderful Wishes, works so well with these classic images. This one reads "Wishing you life's greatest comforts". What a heartfelt sentiment, hmm?

I made this card using today's sketch challenge at Splitcoast. Thanks so much for stopping by and happy stamping!

What's In It?
Stamps: It Doesn't Get Much Better (Thomas Kinkade by Cornish Heritage Farms); Wonderful Wishes (Verve Visual); Canvas (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: Bordering Blue, Close to Cocoa (Stampin' Up!)
Paper: Bordering blue, Not Quite Navy, Ruby Red, Whisper White (SU!); Screen Door (My Mind's Eye)
Accessories: 1-3/8 inch circle punch, chocolate chip taffeta ribbon (SU!); antique brads (Lasting Impressions); scallop circle die (Nestabilities); dimensionals

Like It a Latte

Just a quick post for ya today. I'm watching the Steelers game as I type. I used my retired Like It A Latte stamp set. This is the first time I've pulled out my Essential Glue Pad. Just LOVE that thing! I had given up on loose glitter. Heat 'n Stick is not my friend. But this is great. The glitter for the steam and heart are also retired from Stampin' Up! I rubbed the cuttlebugged background with an Oasis Green Versamagic dewdrop pad. The small brad was colored to match with a Sharpie marker.

What's In It?
Stamps: Amuse small skinny oval, Stampin' Up! Like It A Latte
Ink: Essential Glue pad by Tsukineko, Versamagic Oasis Green, chocolate chip, more mustard
Paper: more mustard, very vanilla, choc chip, close to cocoa, Cosmo Cricket Gretel
Accessories: cuttlebug spots and dots embossing folder, we r memory keepers Peasant designer snaps and eyelets, SU! brad, cropodile, word window punch, retired SU! glitter

ETA: Thanks so much to everyone who left an opinion on yesterday's post for me. Looks like most of you agree. In this case, less is more.

Is More Always More?

Please, satisfy my curiosity. Is more always more? I started this card for the sketch challenge at Splitcoast this week. I think I like the plainer version better though. Although, the one with background papers is growing on me. What do you think?
This stamp is from my recent purchase at Cornish Heritage Farms. It was the first time I ordered from them, and I couldn't be happier. What a variety of stamps! I can't wait to use the rest of them. I even decided to give a Thomas Kinkade stamp a try. I got the guy fly fishing, since i have no masculine stamps. It's actually called "It Doesn't Get Much Better". But this one is from the Asela Hopkins artwork, "West Quoddy (Lighthouse)".

I colored with markers and a watercolor brush, then added a VERY thin layer of star dust stickles to the lighted areas (lighthouse and windows).

What's In It?
Stamps: West Quoddy lighthouse (Cornish Heritage Farms); Thoughtful Phrases (Verve Visual)
Paper: Watercolor, very vanilla, choc chip (Stampin' Up!); Old World mat stack (DCWV)
Ink: onyx black (Versafine); chocolate chip, ruby red, cert celery, so saffron, old olive, going gray, close to cocoa, sahara sand
Accessories: Star dust stickles, paper piercer, watercolor brush

The Friday Funny -- On Sunday

Sorry I didn't get you a funny on Friday. But this is appropriate anyway. I live in Pittsburgh, a football town, a Steelers town. So you may not all be as amused by this as me. AND we play the Cleveland Browns today, the rivals.

So here it is:

A Steelers fan liked to amuse himself by scaring every Browns fan he saw strutting down a Pittsburgh street in an obnoxious orange and brown shirt. He would swerve his van as if to hit them, then swerve back just missing them.

One day, while driving along on the North Side, he saw a priest walking along the street. He thought he would do a good deed, so he pulled over and asked the priest, "Where are you going, Father?"

"I'm going to give Mass at St. Francis church, about two miles down the road," replied the priest.

"Climb in, Father. I'll give you a lift!"

The priest climbed into the passenger seat, and they continued down the road. Suddenly, the driver saw a Browns fan walking down the road, and he instinctively swerved as if to hit him. But, as usual, he swerved back onto the road just in time. Even though he was certain that he had missed the guy, he still heard a loud THUD.

Not knowing where the noise came from, he glanced in his mirrors but still didn't see anything.

He then remembered the priest, and he turned to the priest and said,

"Sorry, Father, I almost hit that Browns fan!"

"That's OK," replied the priest, "I got him with the door."

Verve Release Day

Hey! It's Verve Visual's release day. You can go here to see the two new stamp sets, Starlight Starbright and Wonderful Wishes. And to sweeten the deal just a bit more, there is a Veteran's Day Sale going on too. Lots of your favorite papers and accessories are marked down. So get while the gettin's good!

Here's a sample to tempt you a bit. This uses three of the stamps from Starlight Starbright. I mixed them with papers from Crate Paper's Cowboy line. And this was actually my very first attempt at machine sewing on a card. Kinda fun.

If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment or email me. I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Have a great weekend. I'm off to watch the Penguins game tonight.

What's In It?
Stamps: Starlight Starbright(Verve Visual)
Paper: Cowboy (Crate Paper); Very Vanilla (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: Timber Brown (StazOn); So Saffron and Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories: Pewter Hodgepodge Hardware (Stampin' Up!); Ribbon (May Arts); thread and sewing machine; Ghost Shape Stars (Heidi Swapp); jump ring

Who Wants It? v.2

Sorry I've been quiet for a few days. My laptop, which includes my photo editing software, was being very persnickety. I finally got it to work this morning though.

So, what do you see? New Elyzbells stamps! AND...I sewed! I finally ordered my Janome Sew Mini. Then I fiiiiiiiiiiinally set it up and used it! Yeah. I kept trying to find my old sewing machine, but apparently it got lost forever in one of our moves over the past few years. Kind of like socks in the dryer. I only could find one color of thread in my stash though, white. So my sewing is rather muted.

In addition to the sewing, I stamped my Elzybells "A Winter Song" (distributed by A Muse Art Stamps in North America) on watercolor paper with Versafine Onyx Black ink. Then I colored with markers and a watercolor brush. I added star dust stickles to the snow and liquid applique to Elzy's coat and hat fur trim. The sentiment by A Muse fits perfectly into this tag from the Cuttlebug Tiny Tags die set. The embossed square and the scalloped square were made with the Nestabilities dies.

I had so much fun the last time I mailed out cards, so I'm going to do it again. The first person to leave a comment on this post saying he/she wants this card (and includes an email address for contact), gets it! The second person will get another card from my stash.

I almost forgot..It's Friday. I'll see if I can come up with a Friday Funny and post later. Have a great weekend.

What's In It:
Stamps: A Winter Song (Elzybells); A Little Note (A Muse Art Stamps)
Paper: watercolor and old olive (SU!); stampers select white (Papertrey); Multi Dots (Sandylion); Tressie Collection (Top Line Creations)
Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine); close to cocoa, choc chip, cert celery, ruby red, pretty in pink, regal rose, blush blossom, bashful blue, apricot appeal
Accessories: brads (Lasting Impressions); scalloped square and square Nestablitites die cuts; Cuttlebug Tiny Tags die cut; ribbon (May Arts); Janome Sew mini and thread, Liquid Applique, star dust stickles

Something Blue

This is the other card I made while I was in Vegas. See that sentiment in the stylish double oval frame? That's an extra little peak for you of Verve Visual's November 10 release, Wonderful Wishes. There are all kinds of great sentiments to fit into a variety of frames. You're going to love it. Both this set and Starlight Starbright are being previewed at the Verve Visual blog all week long. By the way, both Winter Wonder and Seasonal Circles are back in stock as well.


Two corners on the cake panel were cut with my corner rounder. I just cut out the sentiment by hand and added a couple more silver brads to attach it over the ribbon. It needed just a little something in the bottom corner, so I knotted a bit of ribbon and glued it on with MonoMulti. Held like a charm.


It's hard to see in the picture, but the bottom of the card is scalloped with my corner rounder.


The blue papers are from Memory Box (Echo) and the flowered piece is by Basic Grey.


What's In It?
Stamps: Wonderful Wishes (Verve Visual); Piece of Cake (Papertrey Ink)
Paper: Echo (Memory Box); Perhaps (Basic Grey); Stamper's Select White (Papertrey Ink); Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: Bashful Blue, Creamy Caramel (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories: Ribbon (May Arts); Corner rounder (EK Success); Silver brads (Stampin' Up!)

Limited Supplies, Very Limited

Can you believe that I was in Vegas for an entire week and didn't take a single picture? Well, it's true. We were there on business, but I did manage to squeeze in a stop at the Bellagio spa. Mmmmmm. The Las Vegas hotels have the most amazing spas and I try to go to at least one each year while we're there. What a treat!



I also took a few stamping supplies with me and managed to put together two cards, this being one of them. I actually stamped these three Hambo penguins at home and just took the stamped image with me. Aren't they so darling? I colored with markers and a water brush on watercolor paper. The sentiment is by A Muse, and then I added the swirls on each side. Where did the swirls come from? I was rather proud of this (ya know, limited supplies and all): I inked only these swirls on the frame stamp from Papertrey Ink's new set, Piece of Cake. Don't they make darling little accents?

What's In It?

Stamps: Penguins (Hambo); Warm Winter Wishes (A Muse); Piece of Cake (Papertrey Ink)

Paper: Stamper's Select White (Papertrey Ink); Black, watercolor (Stampin' Up!); Perhaps (Basic Grey)

Ink: Onyx black (Versafine); pumpkin pie, bashful blue, sahara sand (Stampin' Up!)

Accessories: water brush; ribbon (May Arts); white pen (Sakura); silver brads, ticket corner punch (Stampin' Up!)


Have you been checking out the Sneak Peaks over at the Verve Visual blog? There'll be a new project every day until November 10, because on that day TWO new stamp sets will be available. I'll be chiming in with a card on Friday, so make sure you stop by.

The Friday Funny

Hello all of you out in blog land. I'm still in Vegas for the week, but I pulled out a Friday Funny for you. I hope to be back to my regular blogging schedule (sporadic as it may be) by Monday.

The Elevator Confrontation

A middle aged business man got on an elevator in downtown L.A.

When he entered, there was a young blonde already inside who greeted him with a bright, "T-G-I-F."

He smiled at her and replied, "S-H-I-T."

She looked puzzled, and repeated, "T-G-I-F," more slowly.

He again responded with, "S-H-I-T."

The blonde was trying to keep it friendly, so, she smiled her biggest smile and said as sweetly as possible, "T-G-I-F."

The man smiled back at her and once again said, "S-H-I-T."

The exasperated blonde finally decided to explain, "'T-G-I-F' means, Thank God It's Friday." Get it duuhhh, you nasty minded old man?"

The man responded, "Well Blondy, S-H-I-T means, Sorry, Honey, It's Thursday. Have a nice day now and don't be late for work tomorrow!"

The Friday Funny

This is the message that the Pacific Palisades High School ( California ) staff voted unanimously to record on their school telephone answering machine.This is the actual answering machine message for the school This came about because they implemented a policy requiring students and parents to be responsible for their children's absences and missing homework. The school and teachers are being sued by parents who want their children's failing grades changed to passing grades - even though those children were absent 15-30 times during the semester and did not complete enough schoolwork to pass their classes.

The outgoing message:

"Hello! You have reached the automated answering service of your school. In order to assist you in connecting to the right staff member, please listen to all the options before making a selection:

* To lie about why your child is absent - Press 1

* To make excuses for why your child did not do his work - Press 2

* To complain about what we do - Press 3

* To swear at staff members - Press 4

* To ask why you didn't get information that was already enclosed in your newsletter and several flyers mailed to you - Press 5

* If you want us to raise your child - Press 6

* If you want to reach out and touch, slap or hit someone - Press 7

* To request another teacher, for the third time this year - Press 8

* To complain about bus transportation - Press 9

* To complain about school lunches - Press 0

* If you realize this is the real world and your child must be accountable and responsible for his/her own behavior, class work, homework and that it's not the teachers' fault for your child's lack of effort: Hang up and have a nice day!

*If you want this in Spanish, you must be in the wrong country.

Let It SNOW!

Okay, so here's what's going on with me for the next few days. Today I'm trying to completely clean my house, because someone is coming to stay here with Buster while we go to Vegas for the week. Tonight we have hockey tickets to the Penguins game. Tomorrow Josh and I are going to my mom's to take her to radiation. We live pretty far away so this will take most of the daylight hours. That leaves Friday evening and any spare minutes I can find to pack for our trip to Vegas. We leave early Saturday morning. It's a business trip for Josh, so I'm going to try taking a few stamping supplies in case I have some extra time to blow while he's busy. I also try to go to a different one of the spas each time I'm there. (We go every year, pretty much.) They are so over the top. I love it!

So here's a card that I finished earlier and haven't shared with you yet. It's basically self-explanatory except for perhaps the trim across the bottom. That's the "other" side you get when you make scallops with the slit punch. Then I added a dot of Crystal Effects, covered in glitter, to each of the points.

If you like those lovely snowflakes behind the "SNOW", Verve Visual plans to have more in stock by early November. It's such a great set at a great price (ten bucks) that the original shipment sold out.

I'm off to do some more cleaning. YUCK! Hope you're having a great day!

What's In It?
Stamps: Winter Wonder (Verve Visual)Paper: White (Papertrey Ink); Pearlized White (Paper Accents); Old World Mat Stack (DCWV); Vintage Violet, Certainly Celery (Stampin' Up!)Ink: Night Sky, Tea Leaves, Aegean Blue, Sea Breeze, Key Lime (Versamagic)Accessories: Chipboard (K-ology); Crystal Effects, Slit Punch Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder(Stampin' Up!); Crystal glitter (Stickles); Pop Dots (All Night Media)

Dinner Party

Here are a few little ideas to add some character to your next dinner party. All of the circle elements are identical, using Verve Visual's Seasonal Circles stamp set. I stamped the solid center flower in Bashful Blue, the solid ring of flowers in So Saffron and both outlines in Chocolate Chip, all on Whisper White. I cut these out with my Coluzzle, mounted on Chocolate and trimmed with scalloped scissors. This would be much quicker if you have the right punches or Nestabilities, but alas, mine are on back order. According to Julee, the Super Jumbo punch is the best size.



For the napkin ring, the loop of card stock going around the napkin is about five inches long, then the decoration is just adhered right on top. The base of the name card is about 2.25 by 3.25 inches. The name is handwritten, because I thought that looked best with the crumpled, torn paper. You could also print it off a computer.

You can get the template for the Peek-a-boo box here, as it was this week's Technique Lover's Challenge. Sorry I can't show you the box filled...I refuse to keep chocolate in the house "for crafting". LOL. I think it would work great for two or three small peppermint patties or some Andies Candies though. You can also see here how I threaded the ribbon through a hole punched in the middle of the flower before knotting it. Feel free to add a hand written sentiment of appreciation for your guest.

What's In It?

Stamps: Seasonal Circles (Verve Visual)
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White (Stamping Up!); Urban Couture: Cashmere (Basic Grey)Ink: Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue, So Saffron (Stampin' Up!)

Accessories: Coluzzle; scallop scissors (ProvoCraft); Antique Brads (Lasting Impressions); Taupe Grosgrain ribbon (Stampin' Up!); acetate window sheet

Baby Steps

I am so happy with this card! Is it the greatest card in the world? Of course not. But I stepped out of my box a bit. It was just a baby step, but it's a start. What box? I am such a "linear" stamper. Everything is a box, square, layered precisely. It's just how I think. But, when I'm looking at others' cards, I really love designs that are looser, abstract, for lack of a better description. So, what do you think, did a make a little progress? I hope to keep working at it.

I saw on Daniela's blog that she had posted a challenge over at Create My Keepsake to make a fall/thank you card using fall colors, ribbon, and a stamp. So I used my bucket of apples stamp, again. Yes, you may be getting sick of it, but I just love this stamp. It's stamped on watercolor paper and colored with markers and a watercolor brush. The same goes for the cut out leaves.

By the way, the watercolor paper is so thick that it makes great little cut out embellishments.

I also faux stitched my background paper (with a paper piercer and chocolate chip marker) and rolled up the edges. The sentiment was stamped (chocolate chip) on watercolor paper and punched with the word window tab.

What's In It?
Stamps: Give Thanks (Stampin' Up!)
Paper: Stamper's Select White (Papertrey Ink); watercolor, retired Bravo Burgundy (Stampin' Up!); Everyday "Cherished" (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine); chocolate chip, various markers for coloring (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories: Purely Pomegranate stitched ribbon, word window and slot punches, Crafter's Tool Kit, watercolor brush (SU!); Giga scallop punch (Marvy)

Surf's Up!

I love cute stamps, and this little penguin from Memory Box really fits the bill. I stamped him with Onyx Black Versafine on watercolor paper and colored with markers and a water brush. I picked these funky papers from Pink Martini and chose my colors from there. I love how the swirls in the paper mimic the waves I *tried* to paint under my little surfer. The "surf's up!" is stamped with Karen Foster mini casual snap stamps. Thanks to Beate for her Weekend Sketch Challenge, which I used for this card.

What's In It?
Stamps: Surfer Penguin (memory box)
Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine); Going Gray, Taken with teal, old olive, pumpkin pie, bashful blue, soft sky (Stampin' Up!)
Paper: basic black, taken with teal, watercolor (SU!); Orange Creamsicle (Pink Martini)
Accessories: water pen; star eyelets (SU! retired)

Thanks Allison!

I just wanted to pop in to show off this gorgeous RAK from Allison at Stampin' When I Can. Actually, it's a RAK-back! LOL. That is too funny. Thanks Allison. I remember admiring this when you posted it on your blog. The colors are so pretty and cheerful, just like that smiling Bella.

Calling Cathy M. and The Friday Funny

Cathy M. you left a comment for a RAK yesterday, but I have no way of getting hold of you. Email me your address, and I'll get your card out right away. Just click "Email Me" -----------> over there, under my picture. If I don't hear from you today, I'll choose another commenter. Thanks.

And now, on to your regularly scheduled Friday Funny:


These are from a book called Disorder in the American Courts, and are
things people actually said in court, word for word, taken down and
now published by court reporters who had the torment of staying calm
while these exchanges were actually taking place.

ATTORNEY: Are you sexually active?
WITNESS: No, I just lie there.
______________________________________
ATTORNEY: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact?
WITNESS: Gucci sweats and Reeboks.
______________________________________
ATTORNEY: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And in what ways does it affect your memory?
WITNESS: I forget.
ATTORNEY: You forget? Can you give us an example of something you forgot?
_______________________________________

ATTORNEY: What was the first thing your husband said to you that morning?
WITNESS: He said, 'Where am I, Cathy?'
ATTORNEY: And why did that upset you?
WITNESS: My name is Susan!
_______________________________________

ATTORNEY: Do you know if your daughter has ever been involved in voodoo?
WITNESS: We both do.
ATTORNEY: Voodoo?
WITNESS: We do.
ATTORNEY: You do?
WITNESS: Yes, voodoo.
_______________________________________

ATTORNEY: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his
sleep, he doesn't know about it until the next morning?
WITNESS: Did you actually pass the bar exam?
_______________________________________
ATTORNEY: The youngest son, the twenty-year-old, how old is he?
WITNESS: Uh, he's twenty-one.
________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Were you present when your picture was taken?
WITNESS: Are you shitt'in me?
________________________________________
ATTORNEY: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And what were you doing at that time?
WITNESS: Uh.... I was gett'in laid!
________________________________________
ATTORNEY: She had three children, right?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: How many were boys?
WITNESS: None.
ATTORNEY: Were there any girls?
WITNESS: Are you shittin me? Your Honor, I think I need a different
attorney. Can I get a new attorney?
_________________________________________
ATTORNEY: How was your first marriage terminated?
WITNESS: By death.
ATTORNEY: And by whose death was it terminated?
WITNESS: Now whose death do you suppose terminated it?
_________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Can you describe the individual?
WITNESS: He was about medium height and had a beard.
ATTORNEY: Was this a male or a female?
WITNESS: Guess.
_________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a
deposition notice which I sent to your attorney?
WITNESS: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.
_________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Doctor, how many of your autopsies have you performed on dead
people?
WITNESS: All my autopsies are performed on dead people. Would you
like to rephrase that?
_________________________________________
ATTORNEY: ALL your responses MUST be oral, OK? What school did you go to?
WITNESS: Oral.
_________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?
WITNESS: The autopsy started around 8:30 p.m.
ATTORNEY: And Mr. Denton was dead at the time?
WITNESS: No, he was sitting on the table wondering why I was doing an
autopsy on him!
__________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Are you qualified to give a urine sample?
WITNESS: Huh....are you qualified to ask that question?
__________________________________________
And the best for last:

ATTORNEY: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a
pulse?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for blood pressure?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for breathing?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you
began the autopsy?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: How can you be so sure, Doctor?
WITNESS: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
ATTORNEY: I see, but could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?
WITNESS: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing
law.