Sunday, July 31, 2011

Notes From Home - A Look Inside My Craft Room

I hope you are having a blessed Sunday, my post today is a quick look at some of my craft area.


My craft room is our kitchen, the area you see in the picture is where I like to work on craft projects.  There is a mirror above the desk and cabinet if it looks a little odd to you.  My Spellbinders Grand Calibur is there along with a Scor-Pal, paper trimmer and other supplies.  The cabinet everything sits on is full of craft supplies and two of my printers are hidden away inside.  I'll open the doors another day for you to have a peek inside.


I also have cabinet space in our garage/laundry room for my craft items.  I store things that won't melt in our extreme Arizona summer heat out here.  The cabinet pictured holds craft goodies and did you see the rack my husband made to hold my punches beside it?  He recycled our old kitchen cabinet doors and the hanging rods that come with these white cabinets to make the punch storage rack for me.  It's so nice to have them out where I can see all of them.


Edited to add, Cely left a comment asking if I'd show a close up of the punch storage rack so she'd have a better idea of how it was made.


Here's a peek inside that closed white cabinet above. 


I also store some of my ribbon out here.


I told my husband I'd like to store my ribbon so I could get to it easily and see all of it too.  We weren't using all of these two cabinets over the washer and dryer so he put wooden dowels in to hang my ribbon spools on.  It works really well for me, I can't have either of the cats out here when I make my ribbon selections though...  

I hope you've enjoyed a look inside my "craft room" today.
Thanks for visiting my blog -


Saturday, July 30, 2011

Penny Black Mimi


Hello blog friends I have a just for fun card to share with you today!  At our last crafty get together one of my friends brought this cute Penny Black Mimi stamp and asked if I'd like to use it and of course I said YES! 

I've been playing with fancy folds and decided I'd like to make a "Joy fold" card with Mimi.  She's colored with Copic markers R0000, R59, R39, R37, R21, R81, RV10, BG0000, YF24, YR21, Y21, E74, E71, E42, E41, E00, E000, E0000.

The patterned papers I used are from My Time Made Easy, the Fresh Flowers collection and are digital.  The cardstock is Cranberry by thepapermill.com and Neenah Solar White.  I stamped the Mimi image with Tuxedo Black Memento ink, used some of my Spellbinders dies to help create a fun card. 

Hey!  I have some news for you about the cloud tutorial some of you have asked me to do using Copic markers.  I've ordered myself a neat little video camera so after it arrives and I practice a bit I'll be making that "Coloring Clouds Background With Copic Markers" tutorial for you!  I'll be sure to practice with the video camera first on Maxine...


 she's usually into some kind of mischief!

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:
Happleigh Scrappin' - Shaped or Special Fold
Stamp With Fun - Friends
  Top Tip Tuesday - Make It Girlie
Amber's Crafts & Stuff - Use Patterned Paper 
Little Darlings - Girlie
Papercraft Star - Anything Goes
Inspire Me Friday's - Anything Goes

Friday, July 29, 2011

Inspired Stamps Let It Snow


Hello blog friends!  I have a Christmas card to share with you today using the "Let It Snow" stamp set from Inspired Stamps.  Inspired Stamps is sponsoring the Fussy & Fancy challenge and I have the privilege of being one of their guest designers for their challenge. 

For my card I colored this cute snowman with Copic markers YG17, YG13, YG11, B23, B21, B12, G0000, T5, T3. Since I've been obsessed with circle frames lately I tried a Spellbinders Octagon and embossed my frame with a Cuttlebug Snowflakes embossing folder and added the Spellbinders Scalloped Octagon for a little pop of color under it.  Noel is one of the sentiments from the versatile Inspired Stamps Perfect Christmas Sentiments stamp set.  I added a layered snowflake that I made with a Die-namics snowflake die.  It's super dimensional so I thought what the heck, I'm going to add a button to it :)  

My cardstock colors are Via Vellum Leaf Green, Neenah Haviland Blue Linen & Solar White, Discount Cardstock's Royal Blue.

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges:
Fussy & Fancy - Christmas
Craft Your Passion - Christmas In July
Paper Creations Ink - Christmas In July
Pollycraft - Christmas In July
Creative Craft Challenges - 3 D It
Crafty Creations - Christmas In July
Bloggers Challenge - Embossing

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Stamps R Us Birthday Blog Hop Winners!

We have our Stamps R Us Birthday Celebration Blog Hop winners to announce today!
There is a winner for each of our design team members blogs and are listed below.
Congratulations to our winners & a big thank you to our sponsors!

Tammy’s winner – Gemma  - Sponsor – Whimsy - $15.00 gift certificate
Collette’s winner – Kimberly - Sponsor – The Stamping Boutique –  5 digi images winners choice
Marilyn W.'s winner - Carolina Girl - Sponsor - K 'n K Designs 4 digital stamp sets winners choice
Kathy’s winner – Pat - Sponsor – Oozak - $10.00 gift certificate
Lynn’s winner – Meagan - Sponsor - Inspired Stamps – Acrylic stamp set winners choice
Jan – Sandi De Falco - Sponsor - Clear Dollar Stamps - $10.00 gift certificate for digital stamp sets only - winners choice
Carol’s winner – Billie A - Sponsor - Squdgi Digi – 4 digis of the winners choice
Marilyn S.’s winner -Renee - Sponsor - Through The Craftroom Door magazine, 1 year subscription
Paige's winner - Georgia - Sponsor - Michelle Perkett Studio one pre selected digital birthday image
Shannon's winner - Carol - Sponsor - Cardmadfairy's 5 digital images winners choice
Joe-Anne’s winner – Stephanie - Sponsor – Bizzy Bec’s – 10 digis of the winners choice

We will be in contact with our winners soon!
Again congratulations!!!

A Day For Daisies Strawberry Cake Birthday Fairy


When I saw this cute A Day For Daisies digital image I thought it was so cute and wanted to color that cake!  

I used Copic markers YR24, YR21, Y21, Y11, R27, R24, R22, R39, R37, R32, E44, E43, C00, C1, RV00, RV0000, YR00, E00, E000, YG61, YG63, B91, B93, G0000.  The layout is Splitcoast Stampers sketch challenge #341 from Wednesday, July 13th.  I framed the image using Spellbinders Squares and added "happy birthday" using Spellbinders Circles.  The pink panel is made with the Red Violet markers and I stamped the Penny Black Circular Design background stamp using Papertrey Ink Perfect Match Pure Poppy hybrid ink.  The red panel is Neenah Red Linen, the white panel embossed with a 5 X 7 Cuttlebug dotted embossing folder and the blue cardstock is by Carnival, I was trying to match Stampin' Up! Bliss Blue some time ago. 

It's been awhile since I've participated in any sketch challenges at Splitcoast Stampers, it's a great sketch I'm so glad I did!

Thanks for visiting my blog today - 

Challenges:
Cardmadfairy's - Use A Digi & Oh So Girly
2 Sisters Challenge - Anything Goes
Daisy Doodles - Anything Goes with a Digial Image
Simon Says Stamp & Show - Anything Goes
Party Time Tuesdays - Anything Goes
Scrapbook Sisterz - Happy Birthday

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Doodle Pantry Garden Hose Ants


I have a cute card and a fun story to share with you today.

First things first, my card...  I used Doodle Pantry's Garden Hose Ants in the pre-colored version, sized and printed it to fit the card layout I wanted to use (I love that about digital stamps!) and got busy.  The layout is a sketch I've used before and really liked and could picture in my mind the finished card, I love it when that happens too. 

The cardstock colors are Via Vellum Black, Mohawk Bright White, Sorbet Lemon, Stampin' Up Brilliant Blue.  For the dots on the Brilliant Blue I used a stamp from Papertrey Ink.  The sentiment is cut out using Spellbinders Mega Ovals and Scalloped Mega Ovals dies.  

My card is for our newest Midweek Throwdown challenge at Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps, the challenge theme is "water".  

And now for the funny story-

Last Saturday my husband was watering the grass in our yard and had to leave for a few minutes.  Maxine our dog was outside and I was inside at my desk when I heard a strange sound.  I got up to look out the window and discovered the hose and sprinkler at the front door spraying the front window and door.  I also realized that for me to do something about this I was going to get really wet!  


So I opened the front door and ran out to pick up the sprinkler and hose to put it back in the grass.  Luckily it was around 105 outside so I dried pretty fast.


Maxine thought I'd come out to play too...


I did go back in the house for my camera


and then she picked up the hose again and ran toward me!  


But stopped to play with the sprinkler a little more


and then ran toward me again as I ran away trying to keep my camera dry!  lol

It's really too bad we didn't get this all on video, but I still laugh looking at the pictures and remembering.  I suppose that's entertainment in a small town in Arizona!

I hope you enjoyed my story, Doodle Pantry card and will play along in our "water" themed challenge at Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps this week!

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:
Operation Write Home - Water
Fussy & Fancy - Summer
Creative Card Crew - Animal Antics
The Pink Elephant - Fun In The Sun
Order of the Opus Gluei - Beat The Heat
Paper Sundaes - Beachy or Summer
Craft Your Days Away - Summertime
Easy Craft Projects - Summertime
Divas By Design - Summer

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Inspired Stamps Birthday


I have another birthday card to share today using the Inspired Stamps Birthday stamp set.  This is a wonderful acrylic set and I've barely scratched the surface of it today and can't wait to use it again!

I stamped the "happy birthday to you" circle with Stampin' Up! Night Of Navy ink on Neenah Solar White cardstock and cut it out with a Spellbinders circle die and layered it onto Carnival Navy using a second Spellbinders circle die.  I was inspired by the stars in the sentiment so I made a big star from Neenah Red Linen using Spellbinders dies to put my circle on.  It still needed something so I cut another Spellbinders circle in Kraft and embossed it with Cuttlebug Dots embossing folder and layered it onto a Navy Spellbinders Labels 3.  The white panel is embossed with the Cuttlebug Stars embossing folder and I added a little patriotic ribbon from my stash.

I also would like to announce the winner of the Inspired Stamps free stamp set of choice winner!  Congratulations Lisa Oliver it's you!  To see her wonderful art work go visit Lisa at Stamping With A Mission - 

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:
The Cheerfull Stamp Pad - Going Around In Circles
Oh La La - Circles
Squigglefly - Kraftastic

A Day For Daisies Bitsy Bug Rosa


I have some fun to share with you today!
I won at Use It Tuesday a couple of weeks ago and when that happens they ask if you'd like to be their guest designer for a future challenge and you know I said yes!

The challenge is to use 2 hoarded items on your creation.
I know my card does not look like I've used anything I've been hoarding so you get to join me for a little tour today.

The first thing I've been hoarding are all the papers but the Via Vellum Black.  If I don't have a full ream (250 sheets) of cardstock I tend to hoard it.


You are looking into one of the drawers under my kitchen table where I store cardstock.


This is a view of under the kitchen table storage for paper and other craft stuff.


I opened the door and drawer so you could have a peek inside.


Here's what the kitchen table looks like from the other end of the room.  There is built in storage for my craft stuff at each end and doors in the center that open for more storage.  In the design I planned for every inch of usable space to be taken advantage of.

The next thing I've used on my card that is hoarded is the ribbon I made the little bow with.  

Step out to the garage with me where I keep some of my craft items that won't melt in the extreme summer heat here in Arizona. 


These cabinets hold "most" of my ribbon stash.  January of 2010 I won 1300 yards of ribbon when Susan and I went to CHA in Anaheim.


I know it's hot out here, let's go back inside now.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Supply List:
Stamps/Images:  A Day For Daisies - Bitsy Bug Rosa, The Cutting Cafe, What Little Girls Are Made Of
Papers/Cardstock:  Via Vellum Black, Hero Hues Lilac & Aubergine, Neenah Haviland Blue & Solar White, Polka Dotted paper is digital
Ink/Markers:  Copic YR24, YR21, Y21, BG0000, BV0000, BV000, E00, E000, R20, E74
Accent/Tools:  Spellbinders Circle dies, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Black & White Gingham Ribbon

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges:
Use It Tuesday - Use 2 Hoarded Items
Crafty Catz - No Pink or Blue Allowed
Paper Cutz - Anything Goes
Little Claire's - Things With Wings
The Crafty Pad - Embossing

Monday, July 25, 2011

Whimsie Doodles Penelope

Welcome to our Stamps R Us Birthday Celebration blog hop!
If you've arrived here from Collette's blog you're on the right track, if not you really should start at the Stamps R Us challenge blog.  You can read about all our awesome prize sponsors and the prize packages you just might win too! 

Please remember to leave a comment at each stop on our Birthday hop to be eligible to win one of the prizes from our fabulous sponsors!

I know I just told you to leave comments on each design team blog and I LOVE reading your comments too.  I have an InLinkz widget for you to use to enter for the prize drawing on my blog so please add your link below:




Our sponsor at Stamps R Us for our Birthday themed challenge is Whimsie Doodles!


To help Stamps R Us celebrate our birthday Whimise Doodles is giving our fans a 10% off coupon good for 30 days from the start of our current challenge!  For your shopping pleasure the code for a 10% discount is SRU10.

For my first card I used Penelope and colored her with Copic markers R20, YR00, E000, E0000, B21, B23, Y21, YR21, YR24, C00, C3, C4, C6, E44, E43, E42.  I tried a fun layout using Spellbinders circle dies, a Martha Stewart border punch, Dew Drops and Cuttlebug embossing folders as well as the retired Stampin' Up! French Script background stamp.  My "happy birthday" sentiment is from a Woodware USA clear stamp set. 


My second card is for my SIL's birthday using the Whimsie Doodles stamp set called Paws I Care.  The image is colored with Copic markers V17, V15, V12, R27, R24, R22, E44, E43, E42, C6, C3.  I used the Spellbinders Grand Circle dies, Ovals, Doodle Parts a Quickutz die flower & Heart border by Die Namics.  There's even a piece of acetate in there, next time it's going through the Cuttlebug!  

I hope you enjoy our blog hop and I wish you the best of luck winning some of our fabulous sponsor's prizes!

Your next stop is Joe Anne at Jo Jo Scraps!

Here's a list of our design team blogs in case you get lost along the way:



Thanks for visiting my blog today - 

Challenges:
Stamps R Us - Birthday Theme
Die Cut Dreams - Animal Antics (4 Legged)
Amber's Crafts & Stuff - Circles & Swirls
Fab  'n Funky - Animal Magic
Freshly Brewed - Animals
Inspire Me Friday's - Anything Goes
Stampin' For The Weekend - Paws For Thought
Totally Gorjuss - Die Cuts & Punches
The Corrosive Challenge - All About Kids
Make It Monday - Linky Party

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Notes From Home

Do you remember this mess?


I can almost say me either...


I went out to check the mail yesterday and as I turned to walk back into the house this caught me eye.


Sometimes after a project is finished you forget to stop and appreciate the beauty of the creation.  


We started this project back in April 2011 and I forgot to take pictures of after we put the plants in around the end of May.  I wish the stucco around the front window was looking a little better but that's from the project of replacing old windows July 2010.  The inside is done but the outside is a work in progress now.


Our planters along the sidewalk filled with Vinca's don't look so much like the mausoleums at the cemetery anymore. The purple Lantana are thriving in the 110+ degree heat.


Here's a view looking across the driveway.  The planter the farthest away has lipstick red Hibiscus that will one day grow up and be a hedge.

I hope you enjoyed my "notes from home" on a Sunday afternoon.

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Evangeline by Sureya


 I have a fun card to share with you today!  I was looking through challenge blogs recently and came across a beautiful card made with one of Sureya's anime images.  I really like anime and find them challenging to color so I had to click the link...  I found the most wonderful coloring book!

If you click the link and collect some of her anime images please remember to leave a comment to let her know you were there and to thank her.  

Supply List:
Stamps/Images: Sureya’s Open Coloring Book @ Divient Art, Stampendous Birthday Assortment clear set
Cardstock/Papers:  Neenah Solar White & Linen Navy, Via Vellum Scarlet, Kraft
Inks/Markers: Copic markers – YG67, YG63, YG61, YG11, YG13, YG17, YG03, YG25, YR24, YR21, Y21, BG0000, BG000, YR00, E00, E000, C0, B97, B95, B93, B91, R17, R14, R12
Accents/Tools:  Spellbinders Grand Circles & Scalloped Circles, Regular Circles & Mega Ovals and Mega Scalloped Ovals, EK Success Flower punch small, Dew Drops
Techniques  Making a cloud background with Copic markers

Thanks for visiting my blog today!
Challenges:
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
The Kraft Journal - My Favorite Things, Digital images & Copic markers :)
Top Tip Tuesday - Shaped Cards
My Mum's Craft Shop - Cards 4 Teens
Crafts 4 Eternity - Shaped Cards
Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Cards 4 Kids

Friday, July 22, 2011

Inspired Stamps Lamentations 3:41 Praying Girl


I have an Inspired Stamps design team card to share with you today!  Antoinette asked that we showcase a Scripture for our cards this week and I chose to use Lamentations 3:41.

I used Spellbinders circle dies to cut a frame and the scalloped circle to accent my frame.  I thought the Inspired Stamps Girl Praying would be perfect to go with this verse too.  I paper pieced her outfit using Basic Grey Kioshi patterned paper to match the other Kioshi papers I've used.  She's colored with Copic markers W7, W5, W3, B12, R21, YR00, E00, E000.

Antoinette has a big giveaway planned for CHA week...

You will have a chance to win an Inspired Stamps stamp set of your choice between now and Friday, July 22, 2011 on my blog!  I've provided an InLinkz widget for your entries that will close July 22, 2011 @ 9:00 PM MST.  To enter add your info to the InLinkz widget and you might be the lucky winner!



Edited Sunday 7-24-11 to add, I've had to select a new winner for the Inspired Stamps drawing.  I've done my best to contact my winner and haven't received a response I'm sad to say.
Congratulations Lisa Oliver you're the new winner of a stamp set of your choice from Inspired Stamps!  I'll be in contact with you soon.



Be sure to check out our other Inspired Stamps design team members blogs, they have the same give away!  The links for our Inspired Stamps design team are in my sidebar to the right.

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges:
Cute Card Thursday - Going Round In Circles
Annabelle Stamps - Say It With Circles

Clear Dollar Stamps Jargon Mix


I have a card to share with you today using the Clear Dollar Stamps Jargon Mix digital stamp set.  I used the pre-colored flowers image that comes in the set, my layout is a sketch from Crazy For Challenges back in June.

I used Stampin' Up! Orchid Opulence & Cameo Coral, Via Vellum Black and Mohawk Bright White cardstocks.  I did a little paper piercing around the main image, added a little texture with Cuttlebug embossing folders and some black organdy ribbon.  The Miss You sentiment comes with this digital stamp set.  

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges:
Crafty Ann's - Embossing
Lollipop Crafts - Anything Goes
Kaboodle Doodles - Embossing
KB Cute Monday - Use A Digital Stamp
Simon Says - Embossing
Clear It Out - Anything Goes

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Inkadinkado Special Bird


I couldn't leave you today with just informational blog posts I had to share a card too!  

I've been playing with Inkadinkado mini sets that I bought at Sugar Shack in Lake Havasu.  This one is called Special Bird and I've colored it with Copic markers and framed it with a Martha Stewart punch around the page punch set.  I'm always amazed at Copic markers, I love the way the bird came out.

I have a supply list for you today:

Copic markers:  R24             B23            YG63
                R22              B21           YG61
       R20                       

Ink – Memento Tuxedo Black

Cardstock – Stampin’ Up! Cameo Coral, Discount Paper Co. Royal Blue, Neenah Solar White

Tools/Accents –

MS Deco Shell punch around the page set
Spellbinders Ovals
Cuttlebug Dots 5 X 7 embossing folder
White half pearls

Thanks for visiting my blog today - 
Challenges:
Shelly's Images - Anything Goes

Clear Dollar Stamps Summer Blog Hop Winners

We have winners for our Clear Dollar Stamps Summer blog hop to announce today!  Congratulations

Kelly
&
Nikki


From Jerusha's blog, I Love Paper Crafting - Nikki from Graphix and Designs.

Please go to the Clear Dollar Stamps blog to claim your prizes!

Stamps R Us Birthday Celebration!


I'm so excited about our birthday celebration at Stamps R Us this coming Monday, July 25th!

We have a line up of fabulous prize sponsors for the party and I thought it would be fun to tease you with sponsor names...


















There you have it!  

I hope you'll join us at the Stamps R Us challenge blog this coming Monday, July 25th for our first birthday celebration!

Thanks for visiting my blog today -