Canine Capers in New Colors

I love the new color Early Espresso! It took me a long time to fully appreciate Chocolate Chip and now I don't know how I could live without it. I see a lot of potential for the Early Espresso in my future.

This weekend's challenge in our group was to use 3 of the new core colors. I chose Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, and Cherry Cobbler. The colors were perfect for a dog card. So, I broke out my retired and beloved set Canine Capers.

I stamped everything using Early Espresso and "tied" it together with the new Espresso ribbon ;) Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Tropical Kind Of Mood

This weekend, our sketch challenge was FTL49. I decided to break in my new Tropical Party set and paired it with the Island Oasis DSP. We'll be going to Maui in September and my in-laws will be watching the house, kitties, and bunny. I think I'll leave this card for them with a gift card for dinner on us :) I colored in the palm tree stamp with Garden Green and Chocolate Chip. I also used my new very fine Flower Soft - doesn't it look like sand? I love it! I stamped the sentiment in Pumpkin Pie and punched it out.

I hope we get those thunderstorms they are calling for later today to help cool it down. It had to have reached 100 yesterday and the weatherman just said it was already in the 80s! I hope you have a cool, fun filled day!

Meet Fluffles!

Well, what an exciting and exhausting weekend this has been. It started Thursday night as we had Friday off. One of my husband's friends called. His daughter's friend decided to get rid of her pet bunny. Don tried to find it a home, but no one would take it :( Knowing we had pet bunnies for years, he asked us as a last resort. We couldn't say no and subject this poor bunny to a horrible end. After the call, I rushed out and had to re-buy all the bunny supplies (new cage, litter box, hay, etc.) I had it all set up when Don brought "Disco" to us (hate that name and will never mention it again!) The first thing I did was give *her* a bath. We were told it was a female. Well, while I was bathing our new little bunny, I saw male anatomy. I will take him to the vet for a check up and get a definitive answer, but I'm already saying "him". We will also get him neutered.

My husband named him Fluffles and it just works. Fluffles is fearless! We've never had a bunny that didn't mind hard wood or laminated kitchen floors. He walks on anything. We've also caught him going up the stairs. I was on the sofa and he jumped up on me! I'm telling you, this little guy does some amazing things. We've had 4 rabbits over the last 17 years and none has ever done these things. He's keeping me on my toes! Kimba, our male cat is so happy to have a friend and another bunny in the house. He grew up with bunnies, so he couldn't be happier. He just gets a little rough playing sometimes and I have to remind him to be gentle. He's so good with Fluffles! They've bonded instantly and it is so cute! I can't get good pictures of them snuggling because they move too quickly for my camera and it comes out a blur. He's definitely perfect for our family because he loves to lay on the AC vents! Anyone who knows us knows we love a cool house :) So, he fits right in!

I love bunnies and am a strong advocate for them being excellent pets. However, I'm also the first one to say that they are very high maintenance and very expensive. Rabbits should have at least 6 hours outside of their cage, they need timothy hay at all times, and fresh greens every day. They also require exotic veterinary care, which is much more expensive than regular vets. So, if you are thinking about getting a bunny, please do the research (House Rabbit Society) and know that they are not pets for children or someone that wants low maintenance.

Thanks for letting me share our new furry one! Have a great week and give your furry ones a headrub for me :)

Altered Magazine Holder

My first passion is to cover things in paper/alter items. I found some plain, white cardboard magazine holders at IKEA. I decided to try covering one in DSP. I pulled my open packs and decided to use some Razzleberry Lemonade paper. I traced the sides of the holder, cut the paper, and adhered with a glue stick. I then covered the front and back. I pulled out the Melon Mambo polka dotted ribbon and wrapped it around the whole holder. I then made a double bow and stuck that on. I wanted an area to write, just in case I make a lot more and want to categorize my magazines, so I added some hodgepodge hardware with a little sheet of Melon Mambo to write on. I like the way it looks and think it would be cute with the others on my bookshelf. If I get around to making the others, I'll post them together.

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend!

Friendly Birthday

I used my Friends Never Fade set for this card. I love the images in this set - very pretty! I only used one for this card though. I used the Create with Connie and Mary sketch challenge 101 and the K Werner color challenge 26. I was a bit skeptical about the colors together, but I do like them together!

I found a scrap piece of retired DSP that happened to be Rose Red with light polka dots. I thought it was perfect for this. I don't like plain backgrounds, but don't want my background to overpower my main image either. So, I scallop edged it and committed with adhesive :) I used some brads from my Soft Subtles pack that I think are actually Apricol Appeal. But, they look like So Saffron to me, so I used them to go with the Saffron ribbon.

Thanks for looking and have a great week!

Happy Card

I've given up my duty as challenge picker in our SU! group and Sherri has kindly taken over the task. This week, she chose the Clean and Simple Fall To Layout sketch challenge (#94). I paired this with the Diva Coffee Break Designs color challenge (#180). I used my new Punched Posies set.

I opted for the clear set over the wood, but I now see why the wood is better for solid images. I had to sand down the large flower design to get a clean stamped image. It was very hard to do this on the clear block. It kept coming off. So, I had to hold the rubber image in my hands while sanding; not an easy task! But, for storage options, you can't beat the clear sets.

I love these colors together. They make me smile and think of happy times, being young and enjoying the summer. Oh to be a kid again, right? Anyway, thanks for looking and have a great day!

From The Heart

I love my new Watercolor Trio set. The flower images are very soft and romantic.

I used a sketch challenge, but I forgot to write down which one!

I paired the stamps with the Porcelain Prints DSP. I pulled the colors (Blue Bayou and Wild Wasabi) from the paper and used my new Wasabi marker and Blender Pen with Blue Bayou ink pad to color in the stamp image. I thought it needed just a little something extra, so I added the heart brads which goes with the saying! I love when it all comes together like that ;)

TFL and have a great day!

Have A Yappy Day!

I love this little dog set. When I saw the color for the Stamping 411 color challenge, I knew I could do something with this set. The double lines of the image does make it hard to cut out though!

I also used the Diva Coffee Break Designs sketch challenge (#179) for this card as well.

I used Certainly Celery to stamp the bones on the CC card stock. I used a Chocolate Chip corduroy button to wrap around my Dusty Durango polka dotted ribbon. I stamped the dog house using Dusty Durango on So Saffron card stock. The sentiment was stamped using Chocolate Chip.

The dog is just too cute, no? Anyway, thanks for looking and have a yappy day!

Because I Care

Friday was an exciting day. I received my pre-order of SU! goodies. I enjoyed sitting and looking through the new catalog and have already started my lists!

We received this Hostess Level 1 set (Because I Care) and I knew I wanted to use it for some challenges this weekend. For the sketch, I used Clean and Simple's Fall To Layout #93 and Stacey's Curtain Call Color Challenge Act 33. Stacey also used this set and did an amazing job; take a look-see at her card!

I stamped the image in Night of Navy, then colored it in with Bashful Blue and Certainly Celery markers. I used Certainly Celery ink for the background piece. I love this layout - very clean, but not too simple. The buttons add just the right touch.

Happy Monday! Have a great day.

Finally Caught Up!

Well, I finally finished the sketch challenge from two weekends ago! Whew!

I used the TechnoStamper 122 sketch for this card. A while ago, I bought some small wedding favor frames at the dollar store. It was perfect to use for this card. So, I disassembed it, covered the front with DSP, and got to work on the rest.

I didn't want just plain circles on the bottom on the frame. So, I decided on the retired snowflake stamp. The size was just right and I thought they would look more like little flowers with this DSP. I used some brads I bought in bulk for the centers.

This stamp is from the set Everyday Celebrations. It was a set that you created by selecting 4 of 8 images/sayings. I really loved that option and would be so happy is SU! decided to do that again. This little girl makes me smile :) I colored her in with my markers and added the ribbon bow as the finishing touch.

Thanks for looking and Happy Friday!!!!!

Flower State of Mind

I seem to be into flowers lately! There are just so many lovely flower stamps out there, it is hard to choose, but easy to use for a challenge!

For this challenge, I used the colors from the Curtain Call Color Challenge Act 31. They are such pretty colors together. I also used the same sketch as yesterday's card (eventhough I posted the wrong one!) I used The Kitchen Sink's Challenge #25.

For this card, I ran the Amethyst card stock through the Big Shot with the Pattern 2 texturz plate. I colored the stamp (from Kind and Caring Thoughts) with markers and stamped off twice, so got a softer image with the bold image. I also used Prety In Pink satin ribbon and corduroy brads.

Thanks for looking. Have a great day!

Now That's A Lot Of Colors!

I'm behind in my weekend challenges, but trying to catch up! I wanted to play along with K. Werner's color inspiration challenge (Combo No 1). It was fun, but kind of overwhelming with so many colors to use! I also love this design sketch (The Kitchen Sink's Challenge #25) I loved it so much, I used it twice this weekend!

I pulled my cardstock and then pulled ribbons that could be used. I can't tell you how many times I changed my mind on this card! I wanted to use my favorite Kiwi Kiss satin ribbon (one of my all time favorite ribbons), but it just wouldn't work for this! It is actually why I chose this color challenge - I saw Kiwi Kiss and thought of my beloved ribbon immediately!

My challenge then became the stamp image - what to use? I've been wanting to use my Friends Are Like Flowers set because I love the images in this set. But, the main stamp is pretty big, so it hasn't worked out in other designs. However, it was perfect for this one! I mean, the water can needs to be gray, right? Right! ;)

I used markers to color in the image. For the Kiwi Kiss leaves, I used my ink pad and a blender pen.

So, this is what I ended up with. I think it is a fun friend card. Thanks for looking and have a great week!

Stamps: A Little Birthday and Friends Are Like Flowers

Cardstock, Markers, and Accessories (Ribbon and Buttons): Baja Blue, Kiwi Kiss, Rose Red, Pretty In Pink, Going Gray, and White

Flowers - Pretty Any Time

I don't know why it has taken me so long to use the Kind and Caring Thoughts set. The flowers and sentiments are truly beautiful. But, I did break it out this weekend and made a couple cards with that set. For this card, I paired it with one of the stamps from Petal Prints; I think they go well together. I just wanted a little something on the background.

I made this card for the Stampin' Royalty Challenge #21. The colors are so pretty and perfect for a flower card. Colors really do set the tone for what stamp set I decide on.

I used Pink Taffeta ribbon, which I haven't used in forever! It's so pretty - I'll have to use that more too! I also used a Fiskars border punch for this.

Thanks for looking and have a great day!