Embrace Life

This card was for a current SU! catalog swap I was in. I wish I would have seen a catalog before joining, as I didn't care for the artwork this time. Last year's was soooo full of cool things. Anyway this is a CASE of page 19.

October Sneak Peek #2

Sorry I'm late posting this. I stamped my card with the wrong set. I wouldn't have caught it, if I hadn't checked to see what the gals made yesterday. WHEW!!

"Bountiful Harvest" is the Storage Units, Ink & More stamp set that I am using today to show you a sneak of what is coming in October.

I used Core'dinations orange, brown and green cardstock and the stripe is from my Basic Grey Mellow 6 x 6 paper pad.

I also coordinated this with Splitcoaststampers Featured Stamper today: Terry. You can go here to play along. This is the card that I cased of hers: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/690008?cat=500&ppuser=17031&sorttime=all&sortby=v&way=desc

Be sure to check out

Leigh's blog today too as she shows you her project using "Vote for Me"

Cookie Box

My friend Michelle and I are swapping cards each week and then once a month we take turns challenging each other to do a project. This month it was Michelle's turn and she chose this mini pizza box that Jen del Muro designed and the stipulation was we had to send a cookie. I was able to fit THREE monster cookies in this little box. Ü This was so much fun to make and I know I will be making more of them.
I used Core'dinations brown, Bazzil blue and Basic Grey's Archaic (polka dots) for the box. I made the box exactly how Jen describes on her blog (click on her name above to find the instructions). I used SU!'s scallop circle punch (sponged with Chocolate Chip ink) and Storage Units, Ink & More's "Leaf It To Me" stamp set. Tied it shut with SU!'s retired brown ribbon (sure wish they would bring this back as this was my LAST piece).

Whatcha' Doin' Wednesday 9-24-08

Today's challenge on Storage Units, Ink & More is to create a card/project using the above sketch. Here is my take on this challenge: I used the tree from Leaf It To Me and Basic Grey patterned paper. The solid is Core'dinations.
Let me know if you play along so I can check out your challenge.

Largest Blog Candy Ever!!

WOW! Have you seen Cammie's blog? She is offering the largest blog candy give-a-way ever and it is for a WONDERFUL cause! Go here to see details. I will send this card to one of the nurses caring for grandpa. They say he has "dementia", but I'm thinking it's alzheimer's. Grandma never liked that word and thought dementia sounded better. Either way, it's alot of work, working with people like grandpa. When g'ma passed away, there were so many who told us how much she was going to be missed, because they could visit with her and that is so rare in the nursing home.

Pumpkin Girl

This 6 x 6 scrapbook page uses stamped image from Kookie Kostumes by Storage Units, Ink & More. The image was stamped on SU!'s natural ivory carsdstock and colored with Gamsol and colored pencils. Photo corners were cut with SU!'s corner punch and then ran through Cuttlebug's Dots embossing folder. I then sanded the photo corners to make the dots "pop". Some vintage lace and SU!'s chocolate ribbon were added as accents.

Featured Stamper Challenge 9-21-08

Today's Featured Stamper Challenge on Splitcoast is E3Stamper. The rules to this challenge are to pick a card from the featured stamper's gallery and change 2 or more things and create your own. This is the card I chose to CASE in Shannon's gallery.

I used the same colors as Shannon for the background but used Core'dinations cardstock. For the yellow, I used Cuttlebug's Swiss Dots embossing folder and then sanded to get the lighter dots. I used Storage Units, Ink & More's stamp set Leaf it To Me.

Veggie Basket

We are still canning veggies from our garden and this basket of veggies is one of my favorite images from the Leaf It To Me stamp set by Storage Units, Ink & More.

Ribbon is by Basic Grey, machine and hand stitching and distressing with sandpaper and edge of scissors. Coloring done with Gamsol and colored pencils. I used Core'dinations cardstock and the layout idea came from a Close to My Heart catalog. They have some of the best layouts in their catalogs!

Corn Candy Trick or Treat

I have always loved corn candy (esp mixed with peanuts) and when I saw this stamp set "Kookie Kostumes" by Storage Units, Ink & More, I knew I had to do something with this image first.

I stamped the image in black on white cardstock and colored with Gamsol & colored pencils. I added Yellow, Orange Peel and Crystal Ice Stickles to the corn candy sections as well as orange to her socks and crystal effects to her shoes to make them shiny. Stamped image is layered on Core'dinations dark brown cardstock. I stapled two scraps of ribbon to top left of panel and on the bottom right only inked up first line of sentiment and stamped in black.

For card background, I cut orange, yellow and white Core'dinations cardstock and butted together, then used "x's" rub ons by Making Memories along edges where colored cardstock met.

Don't forget....Denise is sponsoring a contest at the Storage Units, Ink & More Blog. From now until midnight on Saturday, September 20th the person who links a card with the MOST stamped images (all images MUST be different) on that one card will win ALL FOUR OCTOBER 1st NEW RELEASE STAMP SETS! All you have to do, is link your card to THIS POST ON THE SUINK BLOG. If you are uploading to Splitcoast, type in keyword SUINKWWC6 . As always, you do not have to use Storage Units, Ink & More! stamp sets.

Take Me to Your Leader

Is this saying too cute or what? Ü This "Genie" bag would be perfect for the boys in your life. Patterned paper is by Cosmo Cricket. Solid red, yellow & turquoise is by Core'dinations.

To add color to the panel edges without layering, I rubbed SU!'s Chocolate Chip ink along the edges. Tab is made with SU!'s rounded tab punch.

Images are from Storage Units Ink & More's "Out of this World" set and colroed with Gamsol & colored pencils. Other used: mini paper bag.

Rub On Challenge

Friday was Friday Challenge day on Embellish It Online. The challenge was to use rub ons. Go here to see what everyone created.

Here is the card I made. I used Storage Units, Ink & More's Leap Frog set and SU!'s rub ons.

Into the Wild

That's kinda how I feel some days LOL!! But this phrase comes from this card that I made using Basic Grey's Archaic 6 x 6 paper pad and 12 x 12 sticker sheet. Brad is Archaic too. Added zig zag machine stitch and cut along two sides of top phrase with pinking scissors to emulate the points on the dinosaur.

Missing you....

grandma Feb 15, 1919 - Sept 12, 2007

Happy Surfin' Birthday

Another card made for this month's DT for EIO. The stamp image is one that someone sent me. I hand wrote the "happy birthday" around the circle. Used Basic Grey's 6 x 6 Archaic paper pad.

Enjoy Your Day

Here is a pocket card I made for this month's DT requirement on EIO. I used Basic Grey's Archaic 6 x 6 pad, SU! scallop and tab punches as well as Riveting stamp set.

Basic Grey Box in a Bag

Here is another Box in a Bag, but a different size. My friend Michelle and I swapped one with each other and wanted to fill them with just little goodies. This is the one I made for her. I used Basic Grey's Blush, Prima Flowers and pink brads are unknown. I also used SU!'s Round Tab Punch. I love their punches!!

The original size and pattern can be found here. A mini size and pattern can be found here. BUT we needed an in between size so I came up with these dimensions. I used the same technique as the other gals, so check out their blog for the directions:

box: 3.5" x 3.5" (score at 3/4" on each side

bag piece: 4.25 x 11"

very important tip: use tacky tape on all of the steps that you have to tape together. I didn't on the tabs and they kept popping off, so had to add the tacky tape.

If you make one of these I would love to see it. These are so fun to do and I will be making lots more of them.

Still here...

I'm still here. Just had alot of late nites and activities going. I do have some things to post, but haven't been able to take pics at nite to upload. Hopefully I can get a week's worth preposted this weekend-in between canning tomatoes. Ü

Yesterday was Benjamin's first x-country meet. Last year he came in 22nd (there are twenty medals given as there are alot of class A schools there). This year he rec'd a medal for 19th place! Very exciting!! My goal this year is to develop pictures after every meet and get them scrapbooked. I am hoping to do that this weekend.

He also has improved his time a great deal. Usually, the improved time is 30 seconds (give or take a few). Last year his best time was about 19.22 or somehwere arount there. I need to ck for sure. Yesterday, he said his time was 18.04!! That is an awesome improved PB (personal best) in a year. I look forward to seeing what he does next Saturday as it is a home invite.

My First "Twinchie"

A "Twinchie" is a card/project made with a 2" piece that is the main focus. I believe Anna Wight is the first person to come up with this name. This is for a challenge I was in. All products had to be current SU! which is getting harder for me as I haven't ordered for awhile. I colored the skunk with chalks. I can't remember the last time I used chalks! This was a good challenge for me as it's been awhile since I've used all SU! on a card.

Roughin' It for you

This happy camper has been out looking for flowers for mom. Ü Two Storage Units, Ink & More sets were used: Roughin' It (boy) and At a Snail's Pace (flower). I used a sketch layout from My Favorite Things blog. I turned the sketch on it's side to come up with this: The *deets*:
I pierced the holes to hand stitch the "x's". I cut slits above and below his fingers to "hold" the flower. Brown circle was cut with Cricut as I don't have a 1.5" circle punch. "For you with love" is mounted with mounting tape.

other stamps: SU! (for you)
paper: Basic Grey's 6 x 6 Archaic pad
ink: SU! Basic Black
other: brads-unknown, Gamsol and colored pencils, embroidery floss, SU! piercing kit

Snowy Trees

I tried to do a "Kittie747" (SCS username) technique, but mine doesn't even come close to the awesome job she does every time. I used a dry brush and added white embossing ink, but I used too much. Then white embossing powder and a little bit of glittery for a snowy look.
Trees are from "Roughin' It" set by Storage Units, Ink & More. I like to think of "out of the box" ideas to share to show you how you can get lots of uses out of a stamp set.

"joy" is SU!
The circles and oval for "joy" were cut from Cricut cartridge Plantin Schoolbook

papers are Basic Grey's "Figgy" 6 x 6

layout for card was inspired by Maria Bell & here on her blog.

At a Snail's Pace

Here are a couple of projects with SUInk & More's new stamp set At a Snail's Pace. The first one is a fun little holder for stick suckers. It DOES take a long time to lick one, so I thought right away of enjoying one at "a snail's pace". I just wraped some cardstock (in this case 6 x 6) around 3 pieces of candy to get my measurement. I sealed it on the bottom and used a corrugator to roll up a little way (thank you Karen-need to get a corrugator). Then with a square punch I punched the "V" at the top. Colored a snail with Gamsol and colored pencils, cut scallop with Mini Monograms Cricut cartridge and added a "band" for the holder.For the card I used an embossing folder and Basic Grey paper. Snails are colored with Gamsol and colored pencils here too.

Friday Challenge

WOW! Where did the week go? Time is a flying here! It's time for the Friday Challenge on Embellish It Scrapbooking. This weeks challenge is by my friend Michelle. The challenge is Paper Folding. You can go here to read the details and play along with us.

Here is the card I made. I can't believe it, but there is NO stamping on this card! This is called a criss cross card and you can find a step by step tutorial here with pictures! For the band piece I folded two 1" pieces to look like pleating. It takes alot of paper just to do the front!

Sneak Peek Time & another bear

Today starts the first of sneak peeks for the September releases for SUInk & More. You can see the first two sneaks on Susan and Lauren's blog.

Pop back in tomorrow to see where the next two can be spotted. This is another card made with SUInk & More stamp set "Bear with Me". I just love this teddy bear set. I colored it using markers on watercolor paper to give it the same textured look as described yesterday.

Whatcha' Doin' Wednesday

I am a little late posting today, but hope you all will still try to play along. The challenge for today is to use chipboard. Here is a chipboard coaster album I made using the Bear with Me stamp set exclusive to SUINK & MORE. Click on SUInk to see what others are doing and to play in this challenge.

Do you see the texture on the teddy? This was fun to do and just happened by accident. I will post another card using this same technique. I doubt I came up with this, though I haven't seen it posted before. I used watercolor paper, then colored with my markers. I was trying to blend colors like I do with my Gamsol and colored pencils. Anyway, adding layers and layers of ink, "roughed up" the paper and gave this cool look. So I let it dry and it looks kinda like fur. You can click on the picture to see a larger image and see what I am talking about.

New job note: I am tired!! Ü It is a LONG day leaving at 7:15 AM and getting home between 6 and 6:30 PM. Starting after Labor Day, I will not be getting home til 7 PM or later. It is hard to make cards and projects away from home because no matter what, I don't end up taking something I need. Ü So, I will have to be very organized and do all my stamping and preposting on the weekends.

I ended up in the High School instead of the Middle School. There was a gal that had to take an extended medical leave, so I will be filling in there instead. It's a bit different with High School kids. I feel bad for Benjamin, cuz what teen wants their mom at school with them. Ü

I am exhausted by the time we get home and haven't been on line. I try to stamp and feel like I lost my mojo!!!

coolest youtube video

Have you all seen this? This is sooooo cool! I hope this link works:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBK8Bxt8NCE

Sixteen years ago....

I gave birth to my first son. WOW! Where does the time go? Why does it go slow when we are young and FLIES by when we grow older ~ and flies faster and faster every year?

Also, why is it I can remember every detail of his birth, but can't find my grocery list (or whatever)?

So... Happy Birthday Benjamin! I hope time moves very slow from now on out! I'm not ready for you to leave home in two years!!

Changes...

I want to thank everyone who e-mailed me with comments that they would be praying for our family. I can now share what is going on in our lives. There is alot I can't share (like alot of the why's), but I can tell you some of what is going on.

I applied for a job this week at the schools in Broken Bow and was hired to be a paraeducator for the middle school. I will be working with students who need extra help. I haven't worked full time for over 20 years, so this has been very nerve wracking for me. Add on top of that, my thyroid out of whack and you have a very unsettled person. Ü Oh yeah about that! They quit making my thyroid meds, so we are starting over-fun.....NOT!

Benjamin and I will have the same hours and I will be able to be home when the boys are home. Bruce will homeschool Aaron as he (Bruce) needs to be able to do chores and finish haying (one more cutting). So it only made sense for me to be the one to find a job.

I am okay with this as I know it is needed. I have concerns with how my back is going to react to this, so please pray that I do okay. I love working with children, so this is a good job for me. Aaron has lots of learning difficulties, so I have lots of experience right there. He has come farther than any dr. ever said he would (so glad I refused to listen to them), so I hope I can be an encouragement to those that need it the most.

So what this means for my blog is that I may not be able to post as regular as I have been. I am HOPING that I can make several things while I wait 2.5 to 3 hours every day while Benjamin runs and be able to prepost. We will see how that goes.

I will still be posting my design team challenges, so hope you all stay around to see what I'm up to. While I can't post anything personal about my job (for child privacy), I'm sure there will be stories about new things I learn that I can share.

Friday Challenge on EIO

It's Friday and that means another challenge hosted by a DT member on Embellish-It Scrapbooking. Today's challenge was to alter something for decor. I picked up several scrap mat boards quite awhile back that a gal that used to frame had for free in her store-can't beat FREE Ü I got the idea for this from a friend of mine who had made one. She got hers in a kit, but I have no idea who the kit was by. Here is how I made mine:
I cut two pieces of mat board 8.5 x 11.
Punched holes in the corners and center bottom
Wrapped each matboard with patterned paper
Punched holes thru the paper
Decorated the front piece (close up of embellishment)
Screwed the two pieces together in the corners with short screws
Used long screw in the center with rubber stopper. This keeps it from scratching my shelf that I set it on. Here is the back view at the bottom. Come and play with us. Click here to see the challenge.

Sunny Side Up

This card of mine is featured on Inky Antics website this week.
colored with Gamsol and colored pencils, used paper scraps for the card and large rick rack also unknown (some I had picked up at a crop)

I know I've been quiet and I will explain by this weekend. There are lots of changes going on in our family right now. Lots of emotions, tension and everything else that comes with change. By Saturday, I will be able to share...so hang in there with me and if you believe in prayer, we could use that too.

Circle challenge

I apologize in advance for the poor photo. I took several, but wasn't able to get to the computer to make sure they turned out ok before mailing off-and they didn't. If anyone can tell me how to prevent the "blue" look, I would sure appreciate it.

This card uses all SU! supplies and was made for a circle challenge.

Whatchadoin' Wednesday

Over at Storage Units, Ink & More, we the design team along with Denise will be starting a weekly challenge called "Whatchadoin' Wednesday" and we want YOU the readers to play along.

Here is what Denise says about today's challenge:

This weeks challenge...EMBOSSING FOLDERS...
You know you have them laying around...lets use them...Cuttlebug, Sizzix, Nestibilities...the list goes on and on...
Pick a folder, and use it somewhere on your card/project. We would love to see what you can do...Come join us...because, WHATCHADOIN' this WEDNESDAY?


Just click on the logo above or the green words in my post and it will take you right to today's challenge. If you participate, I would love for you to leave a link here for me too. If you don't have any embossing folders you can still play. Read Storage Units, Ink & More blog for more information.


Here is my card for this first challenge: I love the Core'dinations cardstock, but embossing it with Cuttlebug embossing folder templates and sanding the raised design makes for even more fun with this paper. For the top turquoise panel, I just sanded the already raised texture in the cardstock. For the bottom, I used Cuttlebug's swirls embossing folder and sanded the raised design. I like how the swirls imitates the swirls in the snail.

Is this snail cute or what??!! This snail is from the newly released stamp set "At a Snail's Pace". Just click on the name to see all the other adorable images in this set. I love how you can just ink up part of a sentiment and see exactly where you are stamping. I did that with "slow down" and then on the inside it says "and smell the flowers". This is a good reminder to all of us as we get so busy with life, that we miss the small blessings. So, slow down today and take some time to stamp a card for a friend "just because" and play along with us in this challenge.

Recipe:
Stamps: At a Snail's Pace
Cardstock: Core'dinations French Roast from Coffee Cafe & Arctic Pool from Turquoise Waves; SU!'s Rose Red, Wal-mart white
Other: Swirls Cuttlebug embossing folder, Hobby Lobby ribbon, 2" scallop punch, Prima flower, brad-unknown, sanding tool, pop dots