…Fluttering By

Happy Monday, peeps!  I’ve had a whirlwind weekend, but I finally got a chance to run up to the hospital and see Brooke this afternoon.  My guys and I have been having horrid sinus problems, so we didn’t want to go up there until we were feeling better…heaven knows we don’t need her getting sick right now.  Her white cell count and platelets are extremely low and she has a head cold, but she was in good spirits and cutting-up with us yet we could tell that she wasn’t feeling 100%.  Please continue your prayers for her, and I will keep you updated on her condition as the days go on.

Now let’s turn to some fun and cuteness!  I haven’t really been in the mood to do a lot of stamping lately, but when I do feel the “need” kicking in I almost always reach for my images from My Favorite Things.  As soon as I saw the MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge #13 from last week I KNEW what I was going to do, and here it is:

I decided to use the “Fred Bear & Butterfly” set, stamped the images in Black Ink, and colored them with Copic Sketch Markers.  I paired the focal panel with patterned papers from the Stella Rose- Hattie paper pad from My Mind’s Eye along with some Enchanted Evening, Harvest Gold, and White Cardstock. I stitched the edges of the horizontal panel, distressed the large floral panel, then pierced that edges of the focal panel.  I used the Die-namics Rolled Rose Die as the accent to the sentiment panel and added a Gold Rhinestone to the center.  After adding some Stickles, more Rhinestones, and several more Dimensionals the card was complete.  I’m so pleased with the way it turned out! :)

That’s it for me today!  Thanks for stopping by, and I’ll see you back here tomorrow night with the card that I took to Brooke today using an image from By LORi Designs!  Until then…

…Playing Catch-Up

I had promised to have some MFT cards for you yesterday, but I had only colored the images…no cards were made until this morning!  I have always LOVED the Wednesday Sketches from MFT, and I was so saddened when they stopped doing them.  Luckily, they began reissuing the sketches a few weeks ago so I was one happy girl!  Let’s play some catch-up on the last two challenge:

“Pure Innocence-Ladybug” for MFTWSC11

Supplies: Stamps: Pure Innocence-Ladybug (MFT), Papers: Riding Hood Red, Dark Brown, Vintage Cream, Simply Chartreuse, Stella Rose-Gertie DP(My Mind’s Eye), Inks: Memento Black, Accessories: dimensionals, sewing machine, rhinestones, nesties, big shot, mat pack, paper piercer, copics, scissors, fresh cut grass die-namics

…and “Pure Innocence-Being Cute Is What I Do” for MFTWSC12

Supplies: Stamps: Pure Innocence-Being Cute Is What I Do (MFT), Papers: Hawaiian Shores, Ripe Avocado, Raspberry Fizz, White, Stella Rose-Hazel DP (My Mind’s Eye), Inks: Memento Black, Accessories: dimensionals, sewing machine, ribbon, rhinestones, heart punch, flower punch, silver brad, copics

That’s it for me today!  Thanks for stopping by, and I’ll see you all back here in the next day or two with another card…and maybe a VIDEO!!!  Until then…

…Little Angel Creeper

It’s Tuesday, and I’m elbow-deep into spring cleaning!  Why in the world did I even start when I KNEW that I wasn’t going to be able to stop until EVERYTHING was done?  Because I’m a ding-dong…that’s why!  LOL!  Since I’m so busy (and crazy) cleaning my little heart out I thought I’d share the last of the cards that I made on our last Girls’ Weekend…ENJOY!

I don’t know about you, but I have been in love with these Creeper images since DAY ONE…and Sasha from the new “Creeper Crew Collection” from The Greeting Farm is no exception!  I think she’s a combination of Taylor Swift and America’s next American Idol…Lauren Alaina {Yes, I’m obsessed…and it doesn’t help that she goes to high school with my sons either}!  I stamped her in Black Ink and colored her with Copic Markers before cutting her out with a Nesties Die.I added a little shimmer to her eye shadow with my Gold Glaze Pen…ain’t she purty?  I used Kraft Cardstock as a card base {shocking, I know!}, then used Melon Berry as the larger background panel.  I paper pierced the edges and decided to sponge and distress it as well.  I paired the image with some patterned papers from the Be Loved paper pack by My Mind’s Eye, and used the MFT Die-namics Dainty Dots Border die as one of the vertical strips behind the focal panel.  The sentiment from MFT’s “Pure Innocence- Little Angel” set was stamped in Black Ink, and several Silver Nail Heads were added underneath.  After adding some Stitching, Ribbon, Buttons with Twine and Rhinestones, and TONS of Dimensionals the card was complete.

That’s it for me!  My muscles are aching, my back is killing me, and I’m tuckered out; but I WILL get this house clean if it kills me…and it just might!    Thanks for stopping by today, and I’ll see you all back here tomorrow with some more info on couponing…and I might even have a recipe for you this week as well!  Until then…

…Oh Baby!

Happy Sunday, everyone!  I had every intention to post a mini couponing how-to today, but my inbox and comments were filled with so many questions that I need more time to get everything typed out.  So I will be back here tomorrow with the first part, but today I wanted to share another card that I made at our last Girls’ Weekend.

TAH-DAH!  Whatcha think? I decided to use the “a la modes-Oh Baby!” set from My Favorite Things, stamped them in Black Ink, and colored them with Copic Sketch Markers.  I paired the focal panel with patterned papers from October Afternoon’s Modern Homemaker paper pad along with some New Leaf, Red, and White Cardstock. I pierced the edges of the large striped panel, then stitched the punched panel and red cardstock strip down the right-hand side.  The background on the focal panel was sponged using a Sponge Dauber and a Distress Ink Pad while the sentiment from the same set was stamped in Black Ink and cut out using the Word Window Punch.  I added a heart and flower by punching cardstock and patterned paper with the Heart Punch and Trio Flower Punch, then added a Silver Brad to the center of the flower.   I also added some Crystal Stickles to the bow on the giant teddy bear, and added three more Silver Brads down the upper right side of the card base.  After adding some Saddle-Stitched Ribbon and tons of Dimensionals the card was complete.  I’m so pleased with the way it turned out!

That’s it for me today!  Thanks for stopping by, and I’ll see you back here tomorrow with the beginning of my “How To Get Started With Coupons” class!  Until then…

…Hi Little Lady

Happy Hump Day!  I was up late last night perusing through the endless posts in my Google Reader when today’s MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge #10 caught my attention.  I had stamped off some of Jessie’s images this past weekend while we were together to use in the future, so I figured today would be as good a time as any!  So I sat down and came up with this…whatcha think?

I decided to use the “Pure Innocence-Emma Playing Mommy ” set, stamped the stroller image in Black Ink, and colored it with Copic Sketch Markers.  I paired the focal panel with patterned papers from October Afternoon’s Thrift Shoppe paper pad along with some Black, Red, and Vanilla Cardstock. I pierced the edges of the large floral panel, then stitched the vertical dotted panel to the that after adding a Red Cardstock strip down the center.  The edges of the focal panel were also pierced, then I used the Die-namics Dainty Lace Border Die to go across the lower part of the panel. The stroller was cut out and added to the same panel using Dimensionals.  The sentiment from the same set was cut out using a Classic Circle Nesties Die, then popped off of the card front with Dimensionals again.  After adding some Ribbon, Rhinestones, and several more Dimensionals the card was complete.  I’m so pleased with the way it turned out, but now I have to get some sleep! :)

That’s it for me today!  Thanks for stopping by, and I’ll see you back here in the next day or two!  Until then…

…Miss You A Latte

Thank goodness it’s Friday!  Can I get an “AMEN”? :)  I’m so excited to be spending some time with my bestie later today, and I’m hoping to get tons of images colored while we’re together.  But in the meantime I have a card to share with you that I created yesterday in between several loads of laundry.

I’m in LURVE with the new à la modes’ collection from My Favorite Things!  I know…I know.  You’re totally shocked that I’m not using one of the Pure Innocence images, but I was in the mood for something different.  I decided to go with the “à la modes - Miss You a Latte” set, and stamped the image in Black Ink.  I colored her with Copic Sketch Markers, then paired the focal panel with patterned papers from Cosmo Cricket’s Earth Day paper pad along with some Black, Kraft, and White Cardstock. The focal panel was created using a Nesties Die and the Sizzix Big Shot. I stamped one of the sentiments from the set in Black Ink across the panel, and added some sparkle to her shirt and shoes with a Sakura Glaze Pen.  The Scallop Border Punch piece was stitched to the striped panel, and the large polka-dotted panel was stitched to the Kraft Cardstock as well.  I added some Black Saddle Stitched Ribbon and a few Black Rhinestones to complete the card.

That’s it for me today!  Thanks for stopping by, and I’ll see you back here either tomorrow or Sunday with another Whimsie Doodles card!  Until then…

…You’ll Be In My Heart

Happy Saturday!  I can’t tell you how good it feels to be able to go to my little stampin’ spot and play along with other challenges again.  It was always so hard to play along when there were so many other obligations that had to take priority over “playing”…and I missed it!  Luckily, one of my favorite companies has started reissuing sketch challenges…and I get to play along this week! :)

 

 

This is my submission for My Favorite Things’ Wednesday Sketch Challenge #4 from this week.  I can't seem to stay away from their Pure Innocence line of stamps…I just think that they’re adorable!  I used “Love You With All My Heart” from MFT, stamped the image in Black Ink, and colored her with Copic Sketch Markers.  I paired the focal panel with patterned papers from the Laundry Line paper pad by My Mind’s Eye along with some Berry Sorbet and Aqua Mist Cardstock. The focal panel was created using Classic Circle Nesties and the Sizzix Big Shot. I added some Crystal Stickles to the heart, and used the Apron Lace Border Punch to create the edges of the striped vertical panel.  I forgot about having some acrylic hearts stashed away until I started digging through my craft drawers trying to find something to use along with the sentiment flag…it was the perfect touch, I think (as seen in the smaller picture above)!  After adding some Stitching, Ribbon, an MFT Button, and several Dimensionals the card was complete.  Whatcha think? :)

That’s it for me today!  Thanks for stopping by, and I’ll see you back here tomorrow with another Whimsie Doodles card!  Until then…

…A Few Of My Favorite Things from 2010

Another year has come and gone, and we’re at the beginning of a new one.  I wanted to take a look back and share some of my favorite things from this past year with you all today. 

It’s hard to believe that I was watercoloring at the beginning of the year, then my life changed with the arrival of my Copic Sketch Markers!  In the words of my sweet friend, Jessica Diedrich…”Taste the rainbow, baby”!  LOL!  My life hasn’t been the same since these little puppies arrived. :)

Then there was my favorite new recipe of 2010…Lemon Pasta with Roasted Shrimp:

 

My favorite trip of 2010 with my favorite people, Pam Varnell and Jessica Diedrich…Summer CHA in Chicago, IL (pictured with Sankari Wegman…she happens to be another favorite of mine):

And of course there are my favorite photos of my favorite fellas:

Christian- 16 years old

Gabriel- 14 years old (pictured with his best friend, Jessica)

And my gorgeous-yet-goofy hubby, Chuck (pictured with our niece, Danielle):

Then there are my favorite cards from 2010:

January 2010

February 2010

March 2010

April 2010

May 2010

June 2010

July 2010

August 2010

September 2010

October 2010

November 2010

December 2010

What are a few of YOUR favorite things?  Will you continue doing those things, or will you start a new adventure in the new year?  I don’t know about you, but I want the adventure…bring on the NEW!  I can’t wait to discover all of the soon-to-be favorite things, and I can’t wait to share it all with you in 2011!

That’s it for me!  I want to wish you all a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!  Thanks for stopping by for the trip down memory lane, and I’ll see you back here Tuesday with a card for By LORi Designs. Until then…

…Mercy’s Tuesday Sketch Challenge #97 (MTSC97)

Hello there, sketch fans!  Another Tuesday brings another chance to play along with one of my sketches…and today is no different.  Before I give you a peek at it I have to make a wonderful announcement!  It is my privilege to welcome SHANNAN TEUBNER back to the line-up of Mercy’s Muses!  We are so excited and thrilled that she is back with us…please make her welcome!

Now for this week’s Tuesday Sketch Challenge #97:

My Sample (using “Honey Bee” from My Favorite Things):

Heather Pulvirenti’s Sample:

Let’s see what the Muses have in store for you today:

• Cindy Haffner
• Pam Varnell
• Jackie Pedro
• Julie Lacey
• Jessica Diedrich
• Shannan Teubner 
• Heather Pulvirenti (October 2010 Guest Muse)

Now it's your turn! Create a card or scrapbook layout using the sketch above, and add your creation using the InLinkz linking system below.  Be sure to use the keyword MTSC97 when uploading to a public gallery.  Be sure that your link works before you leave the sketch post, and I will post “Mercy’s Magnificent Musings” on Sunday!

Happy Stamping!

…Tea-Licious Saturday

As some of you may already know, I was featured on the My Favorite Things Blog a couple of months ago as one of their Fabulous Friends.  I wanted to share the card with you that I showcased for that special day!  I used Stephanie Fizer’s “Tea For Two” stamp set for this sample.  I stamped the image in Black Ink onto White Cardstock,  then colored it with Copic Sketch Markers.  I used some patterned papers from SU’s Tea Party Designer Series Paper pack to coordinate with the colors of the image.  I added some dry embossing to create a tabletop and bead board background, then attached the cut out image to the focal panel using Dimensionals.  If you look closely you can also see some White Fluff on the bunnies little tail.  After adding some Stitching, a Button/Ribbon combo, and Pearls the card was complete.

That's it for me today! Thanks for stopping by, and I'll catch you all back here tomorrow with another round of Mercy’s Magnificent Musings!  Until then…

…Mercy’s Tuesday Sketch Challenge #90 (MTSC90)

Hello, everyone!  This is the beginning of a new month, and it is time to welcome a new Guest Muse.  But before we get to that, I wanted to thank Angela Thomas for being such a wonderful addition to the Muses last month.  Week after week she produced gorgeous and inspiring creations.  Thanks for all of your hard work and your friendship, Angela…we’ll miss you!

So without further adieu, I would like to introduce you to our Guest Muse for September, Lori Tecler of Inking Aloud!

Let's get to know a little bit about Lori in her own words:

“Hi, everyone!  I'm so honored to be joining the super-talented Muses for the month of September!  A little about me--I usually describe myself as a kindergarten teacher even though I left the classroom several years ago to work in the early childhood office of a large school system in the Washington, DC suburbs.  At night, I come home to my adorable and very active golden-doodle puppy, known as Chloe the cutie puppy.  We're still working on establishing who's the boss--LOL!   I stamp at night in between walking and entertaining her.  I've been stamping for about 7 years now and consider myself lucky to have to worked with, met, and become friends with so many fabulous people that share the very same obsession.”

Now for this week’s Tuesday Sketch Challenge #90:

My Sample (using “Little Loveosaurus” from My Favorite Things):

Lori Tecler’s Sample:

Now let’s see what the Muses have in store for you today:

• Pam Speidel
• Cindy Haffner
• Pam Varnell
• Crystal Birr
• Jackie Pedro
• Julie Lacey
• Jessica Diedrich
• Lori Tecler (September 2010 Guest Muse)

Now it's your turn! Create a card or scrapbook layout using the sketch above, and add your creation using the InLinkz linking system below.  Be sure to use the keyword MTSC90 when uploading to a public gallery.  Be sure that your link works before you leave the sketch post, and I will post “Mercy’s Magnificent Musings” on Sunday!

Happy Stamping!