Christmas At Our House...

The tree is trimmed, the lights are hung... and there's a cat in there! My youngest cat is a real character. Our tree has been up for a couple of weeks, so far she's been good with it.

She just couldn't help herself tonight though...

I've been taking an unintentional break from blogging lately. Christmas is difficult this year being the first without my Dad. So many things remind me of him and all the old traditions that just don't apply anymore. I'm happy and sad all at the same time, it's weird. I'm pretty sure it's part of the mourning process.

The kitchen a.k.a. craft room cabinets are still an ongoing saga so that is anxiety causing too.

I'm currently waiting on a bid from a different contractor to see what it will cost for him to finish this job.

The best part is I have people around me that love me and care about me and can help me pull my head out of that dark place I tend to put it.

January sneak peaks for Clear Dollar Stamps are coming soon, I'll see you then!

Merry Christmas!

I think I have a sketch obsession...

Have you ever made a card using a sketch and then feel the need to make that same sketch with different paper and stamps again and again and again? Me too...

In my travels blog browsing I saw a card on Nichole Heady's blog Capture The Moment and really liked the simplicity of the layout. I decided I needed to try it and that's where my second card below started. I had a class and we used the sketch for the Stampin' Up! Polar Bear card and now I can't seem to get it out of my system!

This card above uses Stampin' Up! Wintergreen designer paper and the snowman family by Cornish Heritage Farms. The cardstock colors are Bayou Blue, Basic Black and White. The stitched ribbon is Stampin' Up! Bayou Blue. The Stampin' Up! paper is retired, unfortunately I can't keep up with what is current or retired there. So much good stuff out there, I can't use it up when I first collect it. My second card is from the class I had Tues/Wed. The Polar Bear is from a retired Stampin' Up! set by the same name that is well loved and used! I also used a PapertreyINK set called Holiday Treats and a new Verve Visual set called Snow Wonderful. I LOVE the snowflake background stamp and had to have it for this card for the class project.

I have something else on my mind today. I'm thinking about aquiring a Spellbinders Wizard, I love the Spellbinders dies. My Zip 'E Mate and I have a love/hate relationship. We've never worked through those issues completely. The Zip 'E Mate is no longer available and getting the cutting mats for it isn't easy either. WHAT'S ON MY MIND? If anyone has a Wizard please leave me a comment and tell me what you think of it.

I gotta go! We're having a yard sale this weekend and I have to go sort! Have a super weekend!

Polar Bears Revisited

I had my first class in a long time last night and this morning, what fun to get together with friends that love stamping as much as I do!

Below is a picture of the 3 cards we made using the retired Stampin' Up! set Polar Bears. In all the construction going on in my kitchen/craft room I've uncovered so many stamp sets that have been neglected. I think it's time to break them out and use them again!
In this batch of cards we also used PapertreyINK and Verve Visual sets. The images are colored with Copic markers and we also used Cuttlebug embossing folders for some texture.

We also started a new Beth Moore, Daniel bible study this evening in our small group that meets at my house. The kids are in bed and the house is quiet again, time for this Mom to go relax. Have a great day!

Happy Birthday Kaitlyn!

I feel really beeeeeehind! Where'd the time go?? What's the date?!!

I've been invited to a birthday party today for Kaitlyn, she's turning eleven. What a fun opportunity to make one of Lauren Meader's purses! I purchased the download from PapertreyINK., they are called "Timeless Templates", the file is stored in my documents file so I can print one out and fold it up anytime I need one. Love it!

I don't know Kaitlyn very well but I did ask her favorite color the last time I visited with her, it's pink. The templates come with easy to follow directions and additional ideas so they are quick to make.
I used Papertrey's Sweet Blush cardstock and Pretty Pink Petals designer paper on this project, some flowers with a Stampin' Up! rhinestone brad, I also used a Basic Gray magnet for my closure. I've been having trouble getting the magnet attached to the purse body to stay stuck to the cardstock. Crystal Effects to the rescue! I haven't found anything Crystal Effects won't hold together.

I stuffed the purse with eleven one dollar bills. What girl wouldn't like to get a purse full of money for her birthday?! I'm sure glad she's only turning 11!

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families, happy Saturday!

SNEAK PEAKS! CLEAR DOLLAR STAMPS!!

Good Morning! I'm so excited to share the projects I made for Clear Dollar Stamps December 1st new release stamps! These new sets are called Tree Delight Tag & Christmas Tree Delight Wheel.
This months' Design Team Challenge was to make a gift ensemble. We usually get to choose which stamps we'd like to work with but this month Laurie chose for us based on our stamping style. I love the sets she chose for me!

You can buy these at Clear Dollar Stamps December 1st!

On to the stamping fun! Christmas Tree Delight Wheel is a clear acrylic stamp that fits on a wheel much like the Stampin' Up! Stampin' Around wheels, you can buy these at Clear Dollar Stamps. It's so nice to store these "wheel" stamps because you take them off the wheel and store them flat. Or... if you're like me you mount them on an acrylic block and stamp with them that way. I love having the option of using these stamps on an acrylic block!

I had so much fun putting this gift ensemble together! I wanted to see if I could use up the entire package of Basic Gray Wassail Christmas paper on this project and I almost did. Once I put pictures in the mini album I'll have reached my goal! You can buy this great Christmas paper at Clear Dollar Stamps now, it comes in a 6 X 6 pad and has buttons and brads that coordinate with the paper pack.

For the gift bag I used Basic Gray Wassail paper & Brads, Clear Dollar Stamps Christmas Tree Delight Wheel and Tree Delight Tag sets. The other supplies I used were, Arjo Wiggins Curious Iridescents Cryogen White cardstock and Stampin' Up! True Thyme cardstock, Dew Drops and half pearls, the Spellbinders Snowflake die, the Sizzix Frames die and large Tag die. I colored the trees with Copic markers and cut two of them out and popped them up on foam tape. I finished off the tag with a scrap of Organdy ribbon from my stash.

For the tall coffee tin, I used Clear Dollar Stamps Christmas Tree Delight wheel and cut out a couple of the trees, colored them with Copic markers and added Liquid Pearls to them because I'd run out of the little half pearls. I'd never tried Liquid Pearls before, it's a nice product. I used the snowflake from the Spellbinders Snowflake die on the top of the can and round punches to make the From Me To You tag. I wrapped the tin in Basic Gray Wassail paper.

The clear Nuggets box comes from Clear Dollar Stamps and was quick and easy to make. I used the Tree Delight Tag set to stamp on return address labels and colored in the trees with Copic markers and added Liquid Pearls to the trees. I made a belly band for the box using a few scraps of Basic Gray Wassail paper and left over Snowflake pieces from the Spellbinders die. The little tag is a Spellbinders die too. The white cardstock again is the Cryogen White, I really like the sparkle and it's takes the Copic markers beautifully.

The Christmas card uses Basic Gray Wassail paper and the Tree Delight Tag set, the tag is again a Spellbinders die.

The mini album was big fun, I used the Bind It All, you can find one of those at Clear Dollar Stamps too! I again used the Basic Gray Wassail paper and Brads, Christmas Tree Delight Wheel stamp and Copic markers, Dew Drops, half pearls and a little Stampin' Up! Crystal Effects.

Whew! A long post for me today! Thank you for letting me share... =)

"Ace" by HighHopes Rubber Stamps

I made this card last weekend for a birthday party my kids were attending. I almost hated to part with it!

I think Ace is so cute, I had so much fun making this card! It was a spin off of a sketch challenge on Paper Craft Planet for 11-08-08. I used a new Nestabilities die for the main image and sponged the edges with brown ink and colored Ace with Copic markers.
I chose some odd colors to put together for this one. The cardstock colors are Thepapermill.com dark Pine, Nut Brown, Via Vellum Cyan, Mohawk Satin White and a Tan that I can't remember who's it is.

I chose a Cuttlebug embossing folder that I thought might have the texture of this creatures skin and used another Nestabilities tag die for the Happy Birthday stamp and added a brad from Basic Gray.

I finished the 80 Christmas card project I've been working on and need to start another project for 200 that are all the same. I need to talk to these people and see if I can take creative license and make a little of this and a little of that all year long! Who knows... they might go for it?

I've also been working around the house. The grout in the new kitchen tile needed to be sealed so I took care of that project Monday. What I thought was a job that would take "oh, maybe an hour or so"... actually took 5 hours. I've inspected every ceramic tile in the kitchen and entry way up close and personal now and don't want to do that any time again soon!

So if I'm missing that's where I'm at! I also have a design team project that I can't tell you anything about I'm working on. Sneak peaks for Clear Dollar Stamps start November 26th, I have some fun stuff I can share with you then.

Happy stamping, I'll be back soon.

Timeless Templates!

Look what I found last night! This is a purse I made this morning using Lauren Meaders Timeless Templates. You can get them at PapertreyINK, this is one of their November new releases.

It's so simple and quick to make, print out the pattern on cardstock of your choice, cut and score, fold it, secure it with adhesive and you're done!
I used Birthday Basics PapertreyINK designer paper and their coordinating cardstock for this project. It's not as vibrant as I'd like but I thought it was a good start and I can keep going from here. There are endless possibilities for dressing this up or keeping it simple.

Just a quick post this evening! I wanted to share this cute little project!

Just Had My Hooves Polished...

I just love this image from High Hopes rubber stamps! It's been sitting on my desk unmounted for too long now.

I've been working on a project making 80 of the same Christmas card and I needed a break today! I thought this image with Splitcoaststampers sketch challenge 202 would be perfect together so I brought out the Copic markers this morning and started coloring. As I was coloring I was wondering what the artist was thinking when he or she put the reindeer in the sleigh instead of Santa... and then it occured to me that she'd just had her hooves done! How's that for a totally female point of view?

I colored the image with Copic markers and used Stickles Ice where the snow is and then painted a little Stampin' Up! Crystal Effect on the reindeer's hooves. I used the Cuttlebug Snowflakes embossing folder on the 1 1/2" squares and used a scrap of old designer paper called Holiday Words by Flair Designs 2005. The card stock colors are Stampin' Up! Real Red and Old Olive, the white is Mohawk Satin White.

Okay, it's time to get back to making 80 pieces of what goes next on the cards.

Have a great day!

Paula's in town!

What a great day we had creating yesterday! I belong to an awesome group of ladies who are Stampin' Up! demonstrators in the next town over from me, Lake Havasu City. Once a year we have the opportunity to spend a day with Paula Goff when she vacations in Lake Havasu. This is my 3rd year spending a day like this and it was so fun!

I was going to say we spent the day stamping but we didn't actually stamp anything. Paula loves to make boxes so she showed us how to make several of her cool boxes and a mini album. I learned yesterday that she's a design team member for Scor-Pal and was the first guest designer for Verve Visual. This is a picture of Kim above holding several of the projects Paula brought to show us how to make.

This next picture is Linda and Kim showing us the inside of the mini albums Paula created.

To get started yesterday morning we all took turns introducing ourselves and telling a little about us. Everyone was a Stampin' Up! demonstrator but me and after we got to going I felt like I should get back into it!

The last picture is of the backpack I made following Paula's directions. I think it turned out pretty cute. She said the tutorial for it is on her blog.

I'll work on finishing my mini album so I can take pictures and show it to you soon.

Have a great day!

So many stamps so little time...

I was blog browsing yesterday looking for inspiration and definately found it on Nichole Heady's blog Capture The Moment. My card is C.A.S.E.d from a project she made on the final day, October 25th of her Stamp + Cruise.

I'm not all that crazy about "Kraft" card stock but have been using it lately because I have a ream of Via Vellum 12x12 Kraft card stock and have had for a couple of years now. Nichole can make "Kraft" card stock look really good! I was inspired by her project and had to see if I could capture it as well. My yellow card stock is Stampin' Up! Barely Banana and I didn't have the matching ink so I used circle punches for my flower centers instead of ink. I used several stamp sets here too, they are PapertreyINK Spiral Bouquet, Polka Dot Basics, Beautiful Blooms and Verve Visual's Anniversary Birds for the Anniversary font. The ink is Palette New Canvas, Palette Burnt Umber and Palette Jardin Moss.

I wonder if you have the same problem I do? I have stamps that I haven't used yet "waiting" for me. I ordered these stamps pictured below several weeks ago from High Hopes rubber stamps, they are from Canada so they take a little longer to get here but they're well worth it! Anyway... I need to mount them on cling foam and they'll be ready to use. I didn't order all of these some of them were extras that were put in my order, what a neat surprise! I saved the envelope for the return address so I can mail a card off to thank them!

I need to go work on some Christmas cards and then I can play again! Inky my black kitty is up on my desk with me in front of the keyboard so I'd better go before she changes something here for me. Get your paw off my keyboard girl!

SC199

I'm a little behind on sketch challenges, lets face it... I'm feeling a little behind on everything!

After spending all of last week with the "tile guy" I'm finally back on track today and getting some stamping accomplished. It felt really good to spend the day by myself working, if you'll call it that! I have a big project I'm working on for Grace Assembly of God church here in town. I ran into their Pastor a week ago Sunday and told him I hadn't forgotten about his Christmas cards and he added to my list of cards to make for them.

My card today is my take on SC199, it's been sitting here on my desk for awhile now. I think I'd like to rework it in different colors for Grace Assembly's Christmas cards this year. I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder for the white strip of Cryogen Poison Ivory paper, the shiney strip is a piece of metalic silver and the blue papers are Brilliant Blue and Bliss Blue. The stamp is by Stampendous. I just noticed my picture is a little blurry, sorry about that.

I've had some time this evening to play with a new toy that arrived last week. A big thank you to all the ladies on Splitcoaststampers who bought my old stamps so I could add something new and fun to my collection! I bought myself the new Bind It All. I'm so glad it came with a DVD! The instructions are in a little tiny book and the print and pictures are so small I wondered if I'd ever really know how to use it properly. I made a little book... oh boy! does it have a lot of holes in it... One more thing that I need to practice, practice, practice!

Have a great day!

Happy Halloween!

Today is my last sneak peak for the November 1st new release stamp sets available NOW at Clear Dollar Stamps.

This set is called Jesus Nuggets. The stamps in this set are just the right size to use on your return address labels and then wrap around Hershey Nuggets candies. What a fun gift idea! The clear boxes I used for these are from Clear Dollar Stamps too.

All of the November new releases are available now at Clear Dollar Stamps. I hope you've enjoyed my sneak peaks! I've had a lot of fun being part of this design team and look forward to the new projects I'll be working on.

Have a fabulous weekend!

Clear Dollar Stamps Sneak Peak #3

More great sets coming out November 1st from Clear Dollar Stamps! This one is Lamp Post Blessings and it has a companion set called Lamp Post Expressions. I used both sets for my cards I'm sharing today. My first card above was for a challenge using Glossy Card stock. I haven't used any glossy card stock in quite a while so it was a bit of a challenge alright! I made the sky and moon with the glossy card stock and then used regular card stock for the brick work and lamp post.

My second card was also a challenge card. The challenge was to make your own paper. I love making my own patterned paper so that was really fun and just kind of came together by itself. I used Stickles Ice on both of the lamps and covered the Stickles on this second card with Crystal Effects to try to give it a bit more shine. I got more of an odd texture than anything else.

I have new Clear Dollar Stamps for our next projects sitting on my desk. I can't wait to play with them! But... I can't tell you anything about those...

My blog has been having a lot of visitors lately, thank you so much for stopping and looking at what I've been having fun making. And of course what seems to be "the drama of my life" right now with the home repair projects going on. One of the bathroom toilets decided to overflow this evening during bath time for my kids. I made a few phone calls and one of my friends came over and saved the day. Thank the Lord, for the people He's put in my life! I don't know how much more of this "excitement" I can stand...

Clear Dollar Stamps Sneak Peak #2

It's been a busy day at my house, the floor tile is finished in my kitchen/craft room. Yea! I've been busy reclaiming my space after the tile guy left. Mostly cleaning and getting rid of the construction grit and dirt once and for all.

I have another sneak peak for you today! This stamp is a single called Rodney Deer.
I made a gift card holder using "Rodney" and a Merry Christmas stamp from Clear Dollar Stamps.

My first picture is of the gift card holder open. I also made a matching envelope to go with it.

My second picture is the front of the gift card holder and the matching envelope. You'll be able to buy the Rodney Deer stamp November 1st at Clear Dollar Stamps!

It's late and I need to get some sleep! I'm giggling again about the name of this stamp, Laurie had no way of knowing that my first husband's name was Rodney when she chose this stamp for me. It's a cute stamp and I think the coincidence is funny.

I'll have another sneak peak for you tomorrow!

Would You Like To See Some Sneak Peaks?

Clear Dollar Stamps that is!

I wrote my text right after I made these cards because it was weeks ago so this post is rather long...

You can purchase these stamps at Clear Dollar Stamps and the new release called "In The Bug" November 1st. As the name implies the set has lots of fun stuff to put "in the bug"!

And for now I gotta go, the tile guy is here doing my floor and I'm in the way!



I made this card for our Clear Dollar Stamps design team sketch challenge using November 1st new release stamps.

The stamped image is a combination of sets made by Clear Dollar Stamps. These are the sets I used: Sometime’s You’re The Bug, Heaven Bound and the new Nov. 1st release “In The Bug”.

When I saw the new “In The Bug” set I knew I had to have it! I absolutely love coloring this Bug and to be able to put people and other things in it would be fun. I set about my first design team assignment and discovered that this wasn’t just going to be the usual job of masking that I’d thought. It was going to be a challenge! As it turns out I stamped the images that go inside the Bug first and then put the masks on them and stamped the Bug over them. It took a little practice and thank you Clear Dollar Stamps for making them just that, CLEAR!

After letting the ink dry I colored my image with Copic makers. I used BV00, BV08, BV11, C0, C1, C3, C8, R29, R00, R46, R29, R21, R24, E43, E50, E55, E53, YR23, YR31, YR32 and a Copic Spica Clear glitter marker on the rear view mirror.

I stamped “Life is a journey…” from the Heaven Bound set after I colored the bug.

I then needed to follow the sketch challenge and finish my card.

This is a 6”x6” card, the base is Stampin’ Up! Lavender Lace, the black is just a Basic Black, the pattern paper is from my stash, Provo Craft Star Bright (copyrighted 2002 {told you I can’t buy anymore patterned paper!}). The white paper is Mohawk Satin finish Radiant White. I think it’s a good choice with my Copic markers when I use Versafine inks.

I ran the Lavender Lace triangle through my Zip’ E Mate in the swirl Cuttlebug embossing folder. My triangle was a little big to fit the embossing folder so I thought, hey it’s only paper… and folded the edge that stuck out back into the embossing folder and ran it through. If you look closely you can see that in the upper right corner the swirl is debossed. But only if you look closely! I then made sure that my Cuttlebugged panel was exactly the same size as my patterned paper triangle. I had to use a ruler and draw a couple of lines so I could go back and straighten it up with my paper trimmer.

I next started matting everything in black. I laid all my pieces out on the card body and needed to find something to balance the sketch. I came across these clear acrylic star snaps made by Paperbilities in my stash of goodies. Cool! My patterned paper has stars and swirls on it. The only problem with them is they had white eyelets in them. I really wanted black to stay with my color scheme. I checked my eyelet/brad stash and found some nice ones that were the right size and depth to work just fine. I love it when a plan comes together! Now I needed something on the bottom. I thought this card might be nice for someone who’s moving or leaving home to go out on their own, so I chose “Let God steer you in the right direction” as the sentiment to finish it off and make it all
balance.

Supplies:

Stamps – Sometimes You’re The Bug, Heaven Bound, In The Bug all by Clear Dollar Stamps

Paper – Stampin’ Up! Lavender Lace, Basic Black, Provo Craft Star Bright patterned paper, Mohawk Satin finish Radiant White.

Ink – Versa Fine Onyx Black

Accessories – Copic markers BV00, BV08, BV11, C0, C1, C3, C8, R24, R29, R00, R46, R24, E43, E50, E55, E53, YR23, YR31, YR32 and a Copic Spica Clear glitter marker. Cuttlebug Swirls embossing folder, Paperbilities eyelet snapsThis card was a Clear Dollar Stamps design team challenge. Laurie gave us several challenges this month and I combined two of them for this card. It’s the color challenge and sparkle challenge.

The color challenge was Teal, Mellow Moss & Gray. My paper colors are Via Vellum Cyan, Thepapermill.com Light Pine and Neenah Graystone Linen.

The stamps are all by Clear Dollar Stamps, the November 1st release “In The Bug”, Sometimes You’re The Bug and Bugs & Kisses. I masked and stamped the images, colored them with Copic markers and set it aside for a few days to “rest”.

I was really waiting on the cabinet guy to arrive and needed something to do because I was feeling anxious and then had to put it away. Coloring is good therapy!

I came back to it and pulled the three colors of card stock and looked through my sketch book. I thought the World Card Making Day sketch from Splitcoaststampers might be fun to try with this big image. This card fits an A7 envelope.

I love the polka dotted bag in the bug and wanted to play off of that in the design of my card so I used the Cuttlebug dots embossing folder. I scored my green sheet of paper, put it in the embossing folder and folded over the paper that stuck out and ran it through my Zip’e Mate. I didn’t want the embossed dots under the strips of Gray and Cyan paper and basically wondered what would happen if I… It’s only paper.

I matted the strips of Gray onto the Cyan and attached them to the green base, trimmed it up and attached that to the Cyan card body. I then stamped the “To Bug You…” on the last strip. The stamp actually says “Sorry To Bug You”, but not me… I’m working on becoming a pest! I used a post it note on the stamp to cover the “sorry” part and inked the stamp, peeled off the post it note and stamped it.

I thought it needed more dots so I used my ¼” hole punch and punched a scrap of Cyan paper 5 times. Ran the tiny dots through my Xyron X and stuck them on the card, I added clear Dew Drops on top of them with Crystal Effects. (I’m getting better at it!) The two on the right side of the card were an after thought, I was trying to draw your eye across the card. Did it work?

I then added Stickles Ice to the bumper, rear view mirror and tail lights of the bug. When I use Stickles on something like this I usually use a very small paint brush to move the glitter glue around where I want it.

SC199

I made this card for Splitcoaststampers SC199 last Tuesday evening before I went to bed. I'm in Arizona so if I check in at SCS before I go to bed I can check out the sketch challenge for the next day.

This is a stamp set I got in the mail the same day. Aren't these two cute?! The stamp set is by Local King Rubber Stamp Co. and located in Canada. I used Copic markers to color the image and a new Cuttlebug embossing folder from Clear Dollar Stamps I purchased recently. I used Cryogen White sparklie paper in the embossing folder and really liked the effect.

I haven't done any stamping the since I was here last. The floor tile is going a lot slower than I expected. It should be finished Tuesday. I certainly hope so! The being under construction thing is getting to me again this weekend.

Happy Stamping~

SC197 Halloween Smiles

It's been a busy couple of days! My kitchen/craft room is getting the floor tiled and I've been having fun selling surplus stamps and craft supplies on SCS. I even listed one stamp set on E Bay, the auction is over in about an hour.

I'm not going to be able to get to my computer tomorrow, I have a feeling I'm going to be a pest to the tile guy! Too bad I don't have the wireless keyboard anymore...

This is the final image in the 2003 Halloween Smiles set by Stampin' Up! I've been playing with. I thought these pumpkins would be fun to use for Splitcoststampers SC197. I changed my colors slightly from the last cards and colored with my Copic markers.
Supplies: Paper - Basic Black, White, Light Purple, Pumpkin Pie, Stamps - Stampin' Up! Weathered background, 2003 Halloween Smiles, Accessories - Black Brads, Copic markers, Stampin' Sponges, Ink - Versa fine Onyx Black.

Once the floor tile is finished I can start bugging the cabinet guy again to get my doors, drawer fronts, pull outs, etc. installed and the project finished. I'm also supposed to have a new kitchen table.

I'll be back with you as soon as I can walk on the kitchen a.k.a. craft room floor again! Have a good day~

Halloween Smiles

I had a productive day stamping today! Fun too...

Can I tell you my story first? I feel like an idiot. I was sitting here a few minutes ago looking at e mail when my black cat "Inky" started playing with something beside me. It was a rather large scropion, yikes!

I picked her up and got her away from it so it didn't sting her I hope and ran and found a a a a something to put over it so it couldn't escape! Then I sat there and watched it, lol. It looked mad... So I called my boyfriend and asked him if he'd come back over here and kill it for me. He did.

I killed my own scorpions before I met Rick...

As I was cleaning out boxes of stamps Saturday night I found another scorpion in a box that was in my bedroom. It was dead and it was bigger than the one this evening. I didn't sleep very well that night.

I get it, it's that time of year. But they still freak me out. I think maybe tomorrow I'll go to the Dollar Store and buy myself a can of spray starch so Rick can come over and carry away the corpse at his leisure.

On to the cards! As you know I've been going through my stamps and finding all kinds of treasures. This is a Stampin' Up! set from 2003 that had ink on one stamp, the verse.

I had a great time coloring the image with Copic markers and making it into a ... what the heck is that? Sorry I can't tell you today!

Supplies: Stampin' Up! Halloween Smiles 2003, Stampin' Up! Weathered Background, Copic markers, Nestablities regular and scalloped rectangle, Spellbinders Tags die, Black brads, Ribbon my kids gave me off a treat box they received.
The second card today uses the same stamp set with Stampin' Up! Print Pattern background. I used Black paper and ink instead of Brown this time. I made a 3rd card this evening but the picture is still in my camera after the scorpion incident. And no, I didn't have the presence of mind to take a picture of the scorpion.
I do have a couple of cute pictures of Inky the cat though. I was working at my desk this morning and she found a good spot to lurk.
I think she likes my new desk. I can't wait to be able to fill those file drawers with card stock! I haven't done that yet because the cabinet maker said he'd have to dump the drawers out when he put the facings on them. He told me to put stuff in them and use them, he has no idea how much paper I have!

Happy Monday!

As you can see I'm still going through boxes of stamps, I have a bunch to find homes for!

I'll be posting some pictures for you. Maybe you'll see something that you "need" for your collection.

You can e mail me at gonestampin@gmail.com

I can accept PayPal for payment, buyer pays shipping. I've posted these on Splitcoaststampers in the buy/sell forum and I'm thinking about E Bay and having a yardsale too!

I guess this is my blog yardsale~

Stampin' Up! Alphahearts alphabet set $15.00
Stampin' Up! Alphahearts Numbers $5.00
Stampin' Up! Favorite Greetings vintage 1996 $11.00
Stampin' Up! Peace w/ brass embossing template 2002 $15.00
Stampin' Up! Sassy Stems $11.00

Thanks for stopping by today!

STAMPS 4 SALE!

Hi! I don't have any picutures for you today. I've been busy going through all my stamping goodies and trying to put them away and I'm finding I have more stamps than I have room for... so I'm offering some of them for sale.

If you see anything you might possibly "need" e mail me at gonestampin@gmail.com . Buyer pays shipping and I can accept PayPal.

If there's a specific set you're looking for... ask, I might have it and be willing to part with it!

Thanks for stopping by today! Jan

$5.00 RETIRED SU STAMP SETS!

2006 Around The Block NUM
1999 Mini Medley’s
2001 Star’s & Swirls
2006 Small Sayings - sold
2006 Perennial Favorites
2003 Let’s Party
2004 Spring Fling
1995 Cherries, Checks & Posies
2005 Small Script - pending
2005 Season By Season
2004 Alphaheart Numbers
2004 Tiny Talk
2006 Sweet On You
1998 Sassy Seasonals


$11.00 Retired SU Sets!
2002 SU Holiday Greetings
1996 SU Favorite Greetings
2005 SU Haute Couture
2003 SU Greetings Galore
2004 SU Love Is In The Air
2001 SU Heart Blocks
2004 SU Happiest Of Holidays
2004 SU On Angel Wings
2007 Hero Arts Joyful Greetings Clear Christmas set
2004 Petal Prints
2006 SU Terrific Tags
2006 SU Taggers Dozen
2006 SU Alphabits
2003 SU Buds & Blossoms
2003 Wedding Elegance
2006 Be Happy
1997 Definitely Decorative Race Car - sold
2006 Artfully Asian - sold
2005 Label Classics
2006 Sassy Stems
2001 Definitely Decorative Old Glory
1998 Funky Favorites
1998 Definitely Decorative Fun Flowers
1998 Definitely Decorative Posey & Bee
2004 Mini Messages
2001 Inspirationals
2004 Yule Bits & Borders
2003 Sparkling Season
2005 Peace & Love - sold
2004 Shapes & Shadows
2003 Holiday Basics
2004 Sassy Sayings
2006 World Tour - sold
2002 New Beginnings
2004 Occasionally
PUNCHES~ You can e mail me for pictures of the punches.

Making progress...

Okay, here's where we're at... making progress on the kitchen a.k.a. craft room cabinets.

The last few days have been wonderful, horrible, exciting, disappointing, etc. all at the same time.

My cabinet maker arrived yesterday at 10:00 a.m. and left just after 6:00 p.m., the pictures below are what I have installed so far. The bodies of the new cabinets are here but I don't have any doors, drawer fronts or all of the pull outs. I've been told he will have those ready soon and be back to install them. I also need a few more holes cut into my desk to get my wires going in the right direction.

The cabinets with the desk pictured below are a new addition for my crafting area, other wise known as my kitchen. We only have one because the house came with it? He he The bottom cabinets were replaced because of the water damage from the pipe under the floor breaking waaaaayyyyyyyyy back in March of this year. I think he did a beautiful job matching the finish to the top cabinets that are 20 plus years old.

I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed today. I have to find a place for everything I've moved out of the cabinets over the past 7 months. I called my tile installer this morning and asked if he'd start that job next Monday. He was supposed to start today but I don't have a kitchen sink that's hooked up yet or a dishwasher. I think those should come before floor tile.

And... I have a bible study every Wednesday evening at my house and my living room is wall to wall stuff.

My last picture is of my kids, Michael and Jenny and my boyfriend Rick planting some tomato and pepper plants in the "garden" out front. It's really a flower bed and we'll add some of those later. Tomatos, bell peppers, flowers, they all work together here in Arizona. It's just nice to be able to open the windows and enjoy the cool air and actually spend some time outside again with day time temps in the 70's & 80's.
So that's what's happening at my house right now. I have a design team deadline coming up pretty soon too, I'll be back as soon as I'm a little more organized and have something else fun to show you!

I'll have Clear Dollar Stamps sneak peaks coming up at the end of the month too - how fun!

Monkey Madness

I'm still having fun with the Clear Dollar Stamps Monkey Madness set. My friend Gabriel's little boy has a birthday coming up and asked me to make a card for him. My kids are out of school this week and we had the birthday boy over to spend a day with us while his Dad worked. I found out he really likes monkeys so I just had to use this set again for his birthday cards.

This first card is the one I made for Gabriel to give Zack, I used Beate's weekend sketch challenge #60 with a couple of modifications. The orange panel in the sketch is at the bottom of the card but I needed it's help to make the palm tree leaves "pop". I also added the circle with the sentiment, I felt I needed to put Zack's name on his card. The next card is from my family and I made a nugget gift box for him too.

That CDS Jungle Vine stamp is so cool, I had to try it again on return address labels and see how the Copic markers worked for those. It all came out pretty well, I won't tear off the paper around the address labels next time. My ink smeared on the waxy part and I know better but wasn't thinking clearly I guess.

My paper and ink colors are pretty much the same as in my previous post.

I haven't kept up with my blogging very well this week. It's a lot busier here with the kids out of school. We've had a nice time and they will be returning to school on Monday.

I was going to say it would be peaceful then but my new cabinets are supposed to be delivered and installed this Monday. Oh! I can't wait!! They could have been installed today but I wouldn't have any countertops until Monday so I opted to wait.

I may be missing again for a few days. Sunday afternoon we'll be tearing out the old cabinets and clearing out my kitchen getting ready... don't worry I'll call my cabinet guy before we remove anything!

The Day After World Card Making Day

Happy the day after World Card Making Day! I didn't get to spend the entire day working on cards but I was able to complete a couple of challenges and will keep working on them for a few more days.

My card today is a Splitcoaststampers World Card Making Day color challenge and limited supply challenge. I got the color challenge but I'm not sure if I got the limited supply challenge. It said no patterned paper, show us some stamping. I stamped my patterend paper and colored it. Does that count?

I think you know how much I like making my own patterned paper and I've got to tell you about this one. Since I'm a member of the Clear Dollar Stamps design team I went shopping the other night and my package arrived Saturday so I had to use my new goodies for some of the challenges!

Anyway... Clear Dollar Stamps has neat clear stamps that go on a wheel like Stampin' Up! Stampin' Around Wheels. These are even cooler! They actually stick to the wheel and you can peel them off when you're done. Or if you're me, you can stick them on an acrylic block and use them. That's how I made my patterned paper for this card, I stamped the Jungle Vine stamp several times on the white cardstock and then colored it with my Copic markers. The biggest reason I like making my own patterned paper is I know it will match everything else perfectly! So there you have it! I'll show you some more of the challenges I did from World Card Making Day soon.

Supply List:
Stamps - Clear Dollar Stamps Monkey Madness,
Clear Dollar Stamps Jungle Vine

Paper - Sorbet Mango, Lime Green, White, Nutbrown

Ink - Versa Fine Onyx Black, Palette Jardin

Accessories - Copic markers, Stitched grossgrain ribbon

I have another deadline coming this week with my new kitchen a.k.a. craft room cabinets. They are supposed to start installing them on Friday Oct. 10th. Please say a prayer for me that it really happens this time.

Practice, practice, practice!

There's was a slight change in plans for today, the tile guy canceled. He's working on another job and they uncovered a mess and it's going to take longer than they anticipated. I didn't really feel like taking my computer apart today anyway, I felt more like stamping!

My card today isn't actually "stamping", it's what I've been practicing coloring. I've been looking for larger images to practice on so I can get better at shading and adding details. I printed the image off of a free Manga coloring page site and after I colored it my kids wanted it. Hmmm, this might make a good birthday card.

I used Copic markers to do the coloring. I ran out of one of the pink shades in the middle of her top and decided to keep going with the other two colors and see what happened. I did use one stamp from SU Sincere Salutations set and used some of my retired SU designer paper wih Brilliant Blue and Pretty In Pink cardstock.

Happy stamping!

I'm Going To Be Missing For A Few Days...

Good morning! I thought I'd better get on here and let you know I will be missing for a few days. I just got off the phone with my "tile guy", he's ready to start the job! He will be laying ceramic tile in my kitchen and entryway and you guessed it, my computer is in the kitchen.

He called last night and I've been thinking about whether or not to have him do the tile right now. The kids get out of school for 2 weeks Friday and the only way to get in and out of our house is going to be over John working. Hehehe, I did warn him!

The other thing is... he has to do some grinding on the floor where the plumbers cut into the concrete to fix the broken pipe and it makes such a mess! Rick cut a path in the concrete this weekend and put an outlet in the floor for me, I was just starting to get the layer of grit off of everything from that. What better time to start this project right?

It will be so nice to one day have a kitchen a.k.a. craft room that isn't under construction.

How about my card today? I made it a few weeks ago after visiting a gals blog, I noticed she'd run acetate through one of her Cuttlebug embossing folders, wow did that look cool! So I had to try it too.
I also wanted to let you know that Clear Dollar Stamps has new releases on their website today. I went to check out the site last night and couldn't resist shopping! There are so many cute sets and I have several coming to play with, I can't wait! I updated my blog a little this morning too, check out the Clear Dollar Stamps design team ladies on my side bar. Click their links and you'll be able to see cards they've made using the new stamps. And... I put a link to Clear Dollar Stamps under the design team ladies so it will be easy to get there from here to go shopping!

Have a great day!

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~