Exotic Picnic

Good Morning! I have to say that I did not sleep very good last night so I hope that this post will make some sort of sense. I guess I might have been dreaming about new cars!! We sure had a lot of fun yesterday and one of them just might find a new home! Time will tell and you can be sure that I will keep you posted!

I just want to thank everyone for your wonderful comments! Every time I read them I get a nice warm fuzzy feeling! And whenever I am feeling 'yucky', I just go and read them again. Thanks!! You are the best!

Today's card comes from an older issue of PaperCrafts magazine. I really love that magazine! Sometimes I forget that I wanted to copy a card or use an idea and then the magazine just sits around cluttering up the place. So, I got it out and used it! A lot of things are different about my card. Instead of the flower (like on mine) they used a button. And I do think that their card was probably smaller. Sometimes it's hard to tell on that. It might be hard to tell from the picture, but the card base is made from Bashful Blue and then I cut another piece of Bashful Blue and scalloped the edge. Kind of a nice effect. Anyway, there you have it! Enjoy your day!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Stitched Exotics, Fundamental Phrases; Paper- Bashful Blue, Old Olive, Whisper White, Summer Picnic designer paper; Ink- Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive; Accessories- scallop circle punch, word window punch, corner rounder, Old Olive brad, Pumpkin Pie striped ribbon, dimensionals

Excitement!

Good Morning! Once again, it looks super hazy and smoky outside. No problem! I'll just stay inside and craft! My favorite thing to do anyway!! Actually, I do have to venture outside. I told my son that we would go and buy school supplies today. I like to beat the rush and swarms of people. Don't shoot me, but I prefer paying full price without all the people than finding a bargain and risk getting mauled! I also have to go to the school and test a fifth grader and then we are going to look at new cars! Not sure if we will buy anything (we are really in no big rush) but I find test driving very exciting!

I also wanted to let you know about the card that I posted last week for the color inspiration challenge. Kristina picks her top 10 cards and then randomly picks another 10 to highlight on her blog. Well, I was chosen as her top 10!!! I am so excited!! And because I did that I have gotten a lot of comments! Who knew? Anyway, that was so much fun that I will be trying again! You can view all of the top 10 picks and random picks here.

Today's card is one that I cam up with from a sketch. I have been wanting to use my arrow punch for quite some time but could never find the right time. Anyway, I thought it went great on this one. I actually made another card with this same layout that I like a little better but I will show you that one in a few days. I am going to use it for a shoebox swap that I am in. Just a little note about the 'thank you'. I inked up only the "thank" part in a Ruby Red marker, then I stamped the "U" in Bayou Blue on a scrap piece and cut it out. It is popped up as well as the white panel. A pretty simple card! Enjoy your day!!

Card Recipe: Stamps- True Friend; Paper- Bayou Blue, Ruby Red, Whisper White, Western Sky designer paper; Ink- Ruby Red, River Rock, Bayou Blue; Accessories- Bayou Blue double stitched ribbon, my way punch, dimensionals

Sweet Embrace

Good Sunday Morning! It is another beautifully, hazy, smoke-filled morning here in the valley. Woke up with a migraine so I took some medicine and am now drinking coffee to try to curb it a bit. In a little while we will be heading up the mountain to visit with my husband's brother and his family as they have come from Kansas. Should be a fun day! My in-laws live up the mountain and we always find it a good time when we are up there.

One of the things that I love to do are to browse other blogs. There are so many that have sketches that they offer to others. So, I am getting quite a collection of sketches! This is a sketch that I came across. I am sure that it's been around for a while but I will enjoy using this again and again! It is really a simple card but it packs a lot of "punch"! Can you believe that I actually used my corner rounder for what it is supposed to be used for? As always, if you have any questions just let me know! Have a great day!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Embrace Life; Paper- Pretty In Pink, Whisper White, Ginger Blossoms designer paper; Ink- black StazOn, Pretty In Pink, Cameo Coral; Accessories- blender pen; Very Vanilla wide grosgrain, corner rounder, black brad, dimensionals

Congratulations!

Good Morning! I had a hard time sleeping in this morning so I got up and started working on a card I could post. I need to get more cards done so I can stay caught up!! Stamping and a cup of coffee are a great way to start one's morning!!

Today's card is one I took out of the recent PaperCrafts magazine. Of course they used different paper and stamps but the layout is pretty much the same. The card is pretty simple but I really liked the way it turned out. I used my corner rounder to scallop the edge because my order from Stampin' Up! hasn't come yet with my NEW scallop border punch!! I can't wait to use that! My wonderful friend Sherry let me use her new toys last night!! Thanks, Sherry!! I hope that you all have a wonderful weekend!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Stitched Exotics, Hugs & Wishes; Paper- Whisper White, Old Olive, Bali Breeze designer paper; Ink- Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive; Accessories- corner rounder, build-a-brad, dimensionals

Color Inspiration

Good Morning! I had a really hard time getting a good picture this morning. The sun is up but the sky is really hazy with smoke from all the fires around here and CA. In fact they are warning people to limit their time outside especially if you have allergies due to the poor air quality. It's supposed to start raining on Sunday so I really hope it does and gets this smoke out of here!

Today's card is one I did quite a while ago. I loved this card when I first did it but wanted to do it again in colors that wouldn't retire. I had even thought about doing this card for convention but it did get a little time consuming. Don't pass out but I did cut three of the little blossoms out and pop them up. I just love the dimension! Anway, I have been a "lurker" of Kristina Werner's blog and she posts color inspiration challenges. I have never participated but have always wanted to. So, when I saw these colors in her challenge I just couldn't pass it up! I LOVE these colors!! So, I knew that I could make this card again and try it with these colors. I hope you all enjoy your day! The weekend is here!! Thanks for stopping by!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Embrace Life; Paper- Close To Cocoa, Really Rust, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip; Ink- Really Rust, Basic Brown, Close To Cocoa; Accessories- Chocolate Chip wide grosgrain, vintage brads, white gel pen, sponges, dimensionals, photo corner punch

Saffron Rose

Good Morning my wonderful blogging friends! I hope that your day is off to a fabulous start! I was able to sleep very good last night and even slept in a little this morning! Love it!!! I need to enjoy these "sleeping in" days as they will all too soon come to an end. For those of you who may be wondering about my leg and the little softball incident... well, it is practically healed up! It looks so much better! I still have an unusual lump on my knee so I may have to have that checked out but I am just happy that my leg is it's normal color! Thank you to all of you who were so concerned. I think that I may even try to do some DDR!

Today's card is one I made up from a sketch. I really liked the way it came out. I am using this same layout for my swap cards but I won't show you those until the time comes closer (not too long from now). This is really pretty simple! I did pop up the rose panel over the ribbon and then I stamped the rose again and colored it in and cut out just the rose bud and popped that up, too. Again, it's my favorite set! Have a great day and stay cool!!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Sanded background, Embrace Life; Paper- Whisper White, Basic Black, So Saffron, Old Olive; Ink- So Saffron, Old Olive, black StazOn; Accessories- black brads, blender pens, Old Olive wide grosgrain, sponges, dimensionals

Catalog Inspiration

Good Morning everyone! I have been busy working on swap cards for convention! I can't believe it is only a few weeks away! I really need to get busy! And then when I went to find a card to post I also realized that I need to get some more cards made for the blog! So much stamping to do. I am just glad that I have the time now! It won't be long and school will be starting and then I really won't have any time!!

Today's card is one I copied from the catalog (changing the colors and stamps, of course). You can find it on page 72. I have always liked that card and finally got around to making it. The catalog is filled with so many great ideas! I hope that you use it to help inspire you! Take care and have a great day!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Sanded backgrounds, Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Embrace Life; Paper- Not Quite Navy, So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, Sahara Sand; Ink- Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss, Sahara Sand, So Saffron; Accessories- Three For You punch, Chocolate Chip wide grosgrain ribbon, sponges, dimensionals, silver brads

Designer Friend

Good Morning everyone! I can't believe that we are into July already! I am trying not to think about the start of the school year but then there are some things that I really do need think about before I start! UGH! Anyway, I will deal with that later. When I was back in Kansas visiting with family, I learned that my cousin Becky visits my blog! I am so excited to know that!! Hi, Becky!! So, don't confuse my Beckies, now. I have one in Kansas (cousin Becky) and one here in GJ (teacher Becky). Teacher Becky does the card classes that I copy a lot of ideas from. Speaking of which, I will be going to card class tonight! YEA!! Last night I had scrapbook class with her. She made some really great pages. Now to get some pictures on them!

Today's card is a layout that I copied from teacher Becky. She had a card similar to this one in her basket and I copied it (well, the layout anyway). I don't know if it is my favorite. For me it seems a little busy. I would like to try this layout again and do something a little different. As always, if you have any questions just let me know! Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Card Recipe: Stamps- True Friend; Paper- Old Olive, Soft Sky, Kraft, Fall Flowers designer paper; Ink- Really Rust; Accessories- silver brads, Old Olive wide grosgrain, sponge, ticket corner punch, dimensionals

Friend/Flight Happenings

Good Morning! I am back safe and sound from my trip! I did have a most wonderful time with my family and extended family! The flight out was uneventful for the most part but the trip back was quite interesting! My husband and our friend accompanied us back home and we had some interesting characters on our flight! Nick and Pat sat next to each other a couple of rows behind Tony and I. In front of Tony and I was a young mom with a young child on her lap who was very LOUD! I think that her child might become deaf as well. She had an extremely offensive t-shirt on and kept wishing she could smoke a cigarette and drink more alcohol. Then there was the lady behind my husband and son who came on board so totally wasted that she had to scramble to the bathroom before we even took off so she could throw up! YIKES! Where do these people come from? And all this to tell you that we taxied out to the runway to sit for 30 minutes and then taxied back to the gate to wait for another hour before we flew to Denver. Yes, Denver was experiencing some really bad weather and that's what delayed us. My entire family made it back to their homes long before we even left the ground! Then when we finally got to Denver we had to sprint through the airport to find the next gate and made it with about 10 minutes to spare! We made it home about an hour and a half later than we were supposed to. But it did give me something fun to share with you all!!

Anyway, today's card is one that I got from a sketch. Again, it's getting close to convention and I need to come up with some ideas for swaps! This won't be one of them but I thought it turned out nice. It is similar to others that I have done. If you have any questions about the mechanics just let me know. Have a great week and as my son said, "It's good to be home!"

Card Recipe: Stamps- True Friend, Itty Bitty Backgrounds; Paper- Old Olive, More Mustard, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla; Ink- Old Olive, More Mustard, Chocolate Chip; Accessories- Crafter's tool kit, gold brads, Old Olive poly twill, sponge, dimensionals

If It Ain't Baroque...

Hello All! I hope that you are enjoying your weekend! We will get back tonight and I am sure that I will be able to tell you that we all had a fantastic time!

Today's card was inspired by a card I saw in the Cards magazine. Again, it looks totally different but the colors are pretty close. I really like the Soft Sky and Close To Coca together. I think that the brads could have been left out and it would have looked just as elegant but I just had to have them in there! Anyway, it was pretty simple to put together. I will be back tomorrow "live"! Talk to you then!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Baroque Motifs; Paper- Close To Cocoa, Whisper White, Soft Sky; Ink- Close To Cocoa, Soft Sky; Accessories- circle punch, scallop punch, Whisper White taffeta ribbon, corner rounder, piercer, vintage brads, dimensionals

Butterfly Kindess

Good Day everyone! I hope you all had a fantastic fourth! It's great to have it on Friday because the weekend is right there after it! I will be back tomorrow night so tomorrow's post will be the last "future" post.

Today's card is one I came up with from a sketch. I am not sure I totally like it but it's o.k. I think that next time I would leave out the swirls on the card. Anyway, it was fairly easy to put together. Enjoy your weekend! And, as always, you can leave a comment or e-mail me with any questions.

Card Recipe: Stamps- Priceless; Paper- Sahara Sand, Soft Sky, Whisper White, Bayou Blue designer prints paper; Ink- Bayou Blue, Basic Gray, Sahara Sand; Accessories- silver brad, Basic Gray taffeta ribbon, circle punches, sponge, dimensionals

Happy Fourth!

Happy Fourth of July! We are in such a wonderful country to have the freedoms that we do! I hope that you all have an awesome day!

I usually don't make fourth of July cards but Becky inspired me! I was at her house and she was making her cards and I thought that I should do one for the blog. So, here's mine! I was inspired by a layout in the Cards magazine. If I told you which one you would think I was nuts because it looks nothing like what is in the magazine! But I do like the way it turned out. By the way... The large white star was from a die that Becky cut for me. Enjoy your holiday!!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Celebrate Everything; Paper- Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, Ruby Red, Whisper White, Western Sky designer paper; Ink- Basic Black; Accessories- star punch, silver brad, Bayou Blue double stitched ribbon, dimensionals

Embrace The Heart

Hello! How's your week going? Are you ready for a day off? We are getting ready for a big barbecue and fireworks for tomorrow. I will even have a special card for tomorrow!! Stay tuned! And that's assuming that everything is working as it should!

Today's card comes from the Stampin' Up! catalog! I got it out the other day and picked layouts that I really liked and made them up. This card can be found on page 53. I haven't used the catalog much to copy layouts and I should! There are some really great ideas in the catalog. Enjoy!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Embrace Life, Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Holidays and Wishes; Paper- River Rock, Ruby Red, Whisper White, Ginger Blossoms designer paper; Ink- Groovy Guava, black StazOn, River Rock; Accessories- circle punch, Groovy Guava double stitched ribbon, black brad, blender pen, sponge, dimenionals

Simply Embrace

Hello again! Is it Wednesday? Did this post on Wednesday? I guess I will have to wait and find out!

Friday night, when I was at Becky's playing, I used a sketch to come up with this card. I really like the simplicity of it. I hope that you all find some inspiration with it. Can you believe that I didn't use any ribbon? I tried to find a place for some but then decided that it is better without it (gasp). Have you all guessed how much I like this stamp set? I am running out of titles for my posts when I use this stamp set. Now I can only think of goofy, cheesy titles. Sorry. Enjoy your day!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Embrace Life; Paper- Sahara Sand, Basic Black, Not Quite Navy; Ink- black StazOn, Not Quite Navy; Accessories- silver brads, Crafter's Tool Kit, blender pen, dimensionals

Embracing Ginger Blossoms

Good Day to you all! I am hoping this posts on Tuesday because that is what I am scheduling it to do. I hope that you all are having a great day!

Today's card is another layout that I found at Becky's! She was making Fourth of July cards with this layout (which are VERY cute, by the way). So, I switched out the stamps and paper and colors and came up with this! I really like the way it turned out! I hope you all do too! Enjoy your day!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Embrace Life; Paper- Pretty In Pink, Whisper White, Cameo Coral, River Rock, Ginger Blossoms designer paper; Ink- black StazOn, Pretty In Pink; Accessories- black brads, blender pen, River Rock double stitched ribbon, corner rounder, dimensionals