I had such a nice blog post almost ready to go and I lost it, poof, it's gone! Bummer... I guess I'll start over~

Isn't this a cute cowboy? He's from Alota Rubber Stamps, a new discovery of mine. They have Alota cute rubber stamps too! I used Stampin' Up! stamps too, the Paisley Background, the long retired Just Jeans Background and the Starstruck set. I've been having fun coloring with the Copic markers and have been making a point to read all I can about them and keep practicing.

I've been tagged by my new friend Linda over at My Little Yellow House. I need to tell seven things about myself and tag seven other bloggers.

So here goes:

I bet you didn't know that I have 3 children and that my first son was born when I was 29, my daughter was born when I was 40 and my youngest son was born when I was 41.

I bet you didn't know I'm a band member even though I can't play an instrament or sing. I have the priviledge of running the computer and sound equipment at our church on Friday nights and Sunday mornings.

I bet you didn't know that if you can make something... I want to. I also enjoy sewing, cross stitching, scrapbooking, building/remodeling projects around the house and yard, etc.

I bet you might have known that I love the Lord and I'm so thankful for the awesome friends He's put in my life.

I bet you didn't know that I live in a small town in Arizona on the Colorado River. I've lived in Parker for 26 years, we have a popluation of about 3500 people and it gets really hot here in the summer... and it's still summer. The temperature was over 100 degrees today.

I bet you didn't know that I have a hard time making "fall" cards.

I bet you didn't know I need to be organized, it's killing me to be living out of boxes waiting for my new kitchen/craft room cabinets to be ready.

I hope you're still awake...

On to the bloggers!

Ana at Ink A Stamp
Paula at Inking Addict
Mercy at Lord Have Mercy!
Rose Ann at Paper Delightz
Irene at Scrapperlicious
Wendy at Wee Bee Stampin
Joanne at Just A Little Something

I've Been Keeping A Secret...

I've been asked to join the design team at Clear Dollar Stamps!! This is like one of my Wildest Dreams!! My friends think I'm a nut... but most of them aren't stampers either. Our design team coordinater Laurie Wilson made the announcement today on her blog Clearly Delightful. I'm so excited!!

I'll be designing cards for the November release of their new stamps. So I have more secrets to keep it looks like. I'll be giving you sneek peaks starting the end of October.

I just noticed when I put the links in above that I've become Janet Hunnicutt. I've been called Jan since I was 10 years old so it seems odd to me. Call me what you want they called me! My card today is a sketch challenge from awhile back at SCS using Clear Dollar Stamps, the set is called Cute Critters. The paper I used almost makes me feel ill it's so bright. It's a nice birthday card for a child though and I'm trying to use up some of the patterned paper I've been hoarding. I can make a nice matching envelope to go with it now too, one less sheet of patterned paper in my stash.

I've been practicing coloring with my Copic markers today. One of the gals on the Clear Dollar Stamps design team has Copic marker tutorials on her blog. Her name is Suzanne Dean and her blog is Scrap Bitz, her coloring is wonderful and I totally enjoyed her tutorials and ended up linking off to other Copic marker tutorials. If you like to color you should check them out, they were excellent!

In other news today... it's the day. The deadline for my new kitchen/craft room cabinets to be finished and installed. I got a phone call this morning from them and you guessed it, they aren't ready. We had a good discussion on the phone and I aired all my concerns and worries and frustrations in a calm, taking the "emotion" out of it kind of way. We have a new agreement and will be setting a new date and putting it all in writing. I'm going to go visit them tomorow morning while the kids are in school to see just how far into production my cabinets really are and to draw up a new agreement in writing. I'm just trying to be a grown up and cover all my bases.

Ahhh, I sure do feel better now... Saying what's really on my mind to the person who I'm frustrated with and remembering to still honor God with my behavior is very freeing.

So far, it's been a good day. I hope yours is too!

OH MY GOSH!! YOU HAVE GOT TO CHECK THIS OUT!!

I was blog browsing this morning and linked onto Carolyn King's blog Heart to Heart, she has blog candy! Blog Candy like we've never seen before!! You have to go check it out because it ends soon and I know you won't want to miss out.

AND NOW ONTO SC195!

I couldn't sleep last night because the cabinet thing is on my mind, the deadline for the job to be finished and installed is tomorrow, Sept. 25th. I haven't heard a word from my contractor today so I don't expect to have new cabinets tomorrow.

Since I couldn't sleep I got out of bed and checked SCS to see if the new sketch challenge was posted and it was. I have new images from Rachelle Anne Miller and thought they might be just right for it.

I also used PapertreyINK's Polka Dot Basics set and Stampin' Up! Heard From The Heart, a Cuttlebug embossing folder on the brown panel that's kind of hard to see, and Crystal Effects on the lolipop. I used Copic markers to color the images too.
The next card is the sketch challenge too with another one of Rachelle Anne Miller's stamps. I made a slight adjustment to the challenge, the panels are supposed to be square but this stamp was longer than it was wide so I tried rectangles and it worked pretty well.

I used Stampin' Up! Berry Bliss designer paper for this card because I wanted to make a matching envelope to send with it. I have a new toy I bought over at Eclectic Paperie called The Enveloper, it's made by Crafters Companion. I thought it would be fun to be able to make my own envelopes to go with cards I'd be hand delivering and those silly 4" square ones are expensive if you can find them. Now I can make my own...

You might have noticed I'm one of those people who likes to make my own stuff. I'm really happy with the way The Enveloper worked! It looks almost like store bought with the exception of no sticky stuff to seal it. Not to worry I have just the thing...
This will be my entry for Carolyn's blog candy, the card part that is.

Okay, I'm off to post my entry for blog candy! Have a great day~

Technique Lover's Challenge

So, here I am at 12:40 in the afternoon still in my pajamas! I looked at the Technique Lovers Challenge last night and thought hmmm, that looks like fun I'm going to bed.

After taking the kids to school this morning I thought I'd have some fun and make a quick book mark before I got ready for the day... It wasn't as quick or easy as I thought it was going to be! But that's okay, because I had fun! My little boy Michael is seven and having a hard time learning how to read but making huge improvements as we practice everyday. This stamp came in the mail the other day and he thought it was so cute. I thought I should use it for a book mark to encourage him.
This is a picture of the back of the book mark. I wasn't sure what to do for little boy so I used his monogram.

Supply list: Paper - Tan, White, Nut Brown, Stamps - Rachelle Anne Miller's Lily & Milo clear stamp, Just Rite Stampers Curlz Font set, Ink - Palette Umber, Accessories - Copic markers, Circle Punches, Nestabilities Circles.

I think I better go get ready for the day before I lose track of time again and the kids find me this way when they get home from school!

Have a fun day!

SCS Limited Supply Challenge 186 - White Out

I just finished Splitcoaststampers Limited Supply Challenge, what fun!! I was browsing the recently uploaded gallery page and saw some of the most stunning cards and had to find out what they were all about.

I discovered they were part of the Limited Supply Challenge for this week titled White Out. I carefully read the directions and went to work... This set is by Stampin' Up! called Polars Bears, it's from 2000 but I'm not sure what year it retired. I just know I've always loved this set and have always had a hard time using it and being happy with what I came up with.

I totally love being challenged to get out of my comfort zone creating cards. It challenges me to be better at what I love to do.

Busy day doing sketch challenges

I've had a busy day doing sketch challenges and challenging myself to use up a packet of Stampin' Up! Cherise Designer Paper. And... see if I could make a card using each stamp in the Inkadinkado Cattitude stamp set.

The sketches have been great but I failed in the other two catagories! I still have plenty of Cherise Designer Paper and at least three more cat stamps from the set that haven't gotten inky!
My first card today is SC194, I made it last night before I went to bed. This kind of a sketch is a real challenge to me. I usually make my cards from the "inside out". I think what I'm trying to say is I build around the image in most cases and it just kind of comes to life.

I used Stampin' Up! Brillant Blue Prints Designer series paper accented with White and Brilliant Blue and stamped the Inkadinkado Guitar image in Brilliant Blue classic ink. It pools on the Acrylic stamps and I don't really like that but I don't think I have BB Craft ink and if I do it's packed away in a box somewhere. But we won't get into that!

This next card is also SC194 using Stampin' Up! Cherise Designer paper, Basic Black, Real Red and Very Vanilla. This is an A7 size card, I got a little carried away on my panel sizes but it worked out. I stamped the cat in Versa Fine Onyx Black, a much cleaner impression.
I tried SC194 one more time in my usual A6 size format and got it right. Yea! I used Stampin' Up! Circle of Friendship with the Inkadinkado Cattitude set.
Oh my, that's right... I went back to SC193 again for this next one. I just needed to see what it would look like using designer paper. I like it! And isn't this a cute cat? It reminds me of a Tom cat we used to have. He looks a little guilty to me.
This last one is a sketch from Julee's blog Poetic Artistry called Mojo Monday week 13. It's dated January 2008. I print sketches and set them aside so I can do them when I have time. Nine months is kind of embarassing though...

I should also mention that I used the Spellbinders Nestabilities Circle, Oval and Rectangle dies on some of my cards today.

Black - Red - Gray

I've been playing with sketch challenges and Black, Red and Gray card stock. I seem to be stuck on last weeks Sketch Challenge at SCS and modifying the Color Challenge from a few weeks ago.

My first card is A Sketch For You To Try by Jen del Muro. I didn't see the sketch in time to enter for the give away but I had fun making the card!
This set is called Cattitude from Inkadinkado. I love all the bold images of cats it has. I was out of town for the weekend and got into Michael's a couple of times and did some shopping. Along with a couple of clear stamp sets I discovered Versa Fine Onyx Black ink, ohhh I like it!
This next image is also Inkadinkado, the set is called Rock Star. I also used Stampin' Up! Circle Of Friendship for this card.

I also used the Cuttlebug A2 Swirls and Paisley embossing folders for the Gray panels.

For my last card I mixed Stampin' Up! Sincere Salutations with the Cattitude set and SC193 again.

While I was out of town I got to go to Kelly Paper too. It was our first stop, I felt like a kid in a candy store! The red paper on these cards is Via Vellum Red, the Black is just a Basic Black, SU Basic Gray is in there, Fox River Antique Gray Linen and the Gray on the top 2 cards I can't remember what it's called. I was given a few sheets as samples and I wish now I would have bought a ream. Luckily I have a friend who lives there and has offered to "run to the store" for me and deliver when she comes to Parker again.

SC193

Yesterday's sketch challenge at SCS was really fun. I was able to make my first card this morning after I got my kids off to school. I like all the layers it afforded, it seems to fit my "style".

The stamp I used is from a Penny Black clear set called Bubbly. I colored the Kitty with Copic markers and used a Cuttlebug embossing folder for some texture on the Green Galore panel. The round sentiment is from the SU Circle Of Friendship set. This was also the Color Challenge for Tuesday at SCS, I didn't have Going Gray so I used Basic Gray. I think I'd like to try again when I get some Going Gray. The second card I was able to put together this afternoon. It was tough! I pulled it apart a few times. I had a hard time with the colors, getting the 3 strips the same size, etc.

I guess I'm better first thing in the mornng with my coffee!

I'm always looking for Christmas card ideas. The image is from the retired SU set Miracle Of Christmas and the sentiment is PapertreyINK. Holiday Wishes and a background stamp from Eureka stamps.

My card stock colors are Nut Brown, Certainly Celery and Real Red. I used Copic markers for coloring and three antique brads.

I've been experimenting with a bigger size card again. That Poinsettia stamp was so big I made my card to fit an A7 envelope and I did the same with this Christmas card. The focal image was out of proportion on a smaller card body.

I have news about my kitchen/craft room cabinets, I'm not sure if it's good or bad. I called the guy about my cabinets yesterday because he hadn't called me and he was supposed to be installing them today. He gave more excuses and postponed again. I told him I wasn't waiting any longer he has until Sept. 25th (this year) to have them finished and installed or I'll file a lawsuit. He reconfirmed the deadline and we got off the phone.

I've done some more looking on the internet today and made some phone calls to the Better Business Buearu and the Registrar of Contractors to file complaints.

I'm not really sure what will happen now. I'll either have new kitchen/craft room cabinets the 25th of the month or I'll be traveling to Lake Havasu City to the Court Clerks office on the 26th.

I do feel better now that I've taken some action in the matter.

Thanks A Latte

This stamp is from a set called Smell The Coffee, I made it last week while I was experimenting with a color challenge using Rose Red, Kraft and Black. Brown just seemed to work better for this card so I used it instead. I used the Spellbinders Nestabilities Oval, circle and scalloped oval dies and the Swirl Cuttlebug embossing folder. I colored the flowers in the glass with an Aqua painter and white dye ink, finished it off with a Copic marker and added Crystal Effects to make the glass shine. It was fun!

I've been stamping and working on Christmas cards, luckily I have a few things made up to share because I'm assembling things by the dozen right now.

Today is one of my need to vent days... I called yesterday about the kitchen cabinets and was put off again and he's going to call me tomorrow, etc. They were supposed to be installed 2 weeks ago but there was a problem with the countertop being damaged.

I started thinking about it this morning and getting mad. I'm tired of feeling like I'm being taken advantage of and was starting to fume. I had the wild idea to look up their names and business name at Public Access To Court Information on line to see if they had anything like what's happening to me going on and been taken to court over it.

I found out they have a lot going on. Several cases in the past where individuals and businesses have taken them to small claims court for residential stuff. Hmmm... they also appear to be having some financial problems from what I could see in the court records. I've had this vision in my mind when they don't return my phone calls that they've packed up and left town. I can see myself going to their business and it's empty and they're long gone.

I feel better now, I think I have enough information that's a matter of public record to use when I talk with him again tomorrow. My name VS his name may be on the next court docket with the same judge in small claims court soon. I've never met her but it looks like she knows them quite well.

Pray for us all, this could get messy!

SCS192

I had time yesterday to make a second card for the sketch challenge at SCS, what fun!
I came across this stamp in Lake Havasu at The Sugar Shack. I didn't make it mine the first time I saw it, but I did the next time I was in.

My stamping space still isn't ready but I'm pressing on. I have my storage cubes set up with designer papers in my little boys room now. I found some papers from last year by Stampin' Up! so I thought they'd be nice with this challenge.

I used Copic markers R24, R29, R46, YG93, Y18 & Y19 to color the Poinsettia image. I stamped it twice, once with Palette Noir ink and the second time I used Palette Jardin Moss. I used the black stamped image for the flower. When I finished coloring the flower part I cut it out so I could pop it up on the leaves. I added Crystal Effects to the larger dots in the center of the flower, the shiny dots in the upper right corner are Dew Drops.

I didn't get to do any stamping today, the kids got out of school early and we had parent / teacher conferences. They're doing great and I'm so excited for them and proud of them too.

Enjoy your day!

SC192 & That Bug Again!

I just posted my sketch challenge card on Splitcoaststampers and promised that I've put this stamp set away.

Do you ever have a stamp or a set that you just can't get enough of? Me too... this one is it at the moment.

Anyway, I love sketch challenges and think this one will make a great Christmas card since I've put the "bug" back in the box. That's my goal this afternoon before the kids get home from school. Create a Christmas card with SC192.
Supplies: Paper - Garden Green, Certainly Celery, White, Basic Black, Blue Stripes by Provo Craft, Ink - Palette Noir, Accessories - Copic markers, Copic Spica glitter marker clear, Black Matte Brads, Cuttlebug Paisley embossing folder.

Happy stamping!