A Friend Like You

For Flower Friday!

I just got back from 3 hours of stapling test practice packets for Brett's class and have paper cuts and sore thumb pads! Here is the card I promised earlier, the battery is fully charged now!

Simple stamping is the theme today, paired with some delicious patterned paper. Seems like I always incorporate patterned paper these days. When I began stamping I rarely used it, however, there is just so much pretty paper out there! The color scheme reminds me of one of Jay's favorite desserts; Orange Dream frozen yogurt with crushed Heath Bar. I'm more of a Peanut Butter frozen yogurt with crushed Reese's cups kinda gal.

Okay, let's get back to the card before I need to run down to the yogurt store for lunch! I wanted to try a different color paired with SU!'s Au Chocolait Designer Paper than what I typically use and began pulling scraps out to see what look interesting. The apricot and pumpkin with the chocolate was what I decided on; card base is Linen stamped with SU! classic ink in Pumpkin Pie. A strip of Au Chocolait is adhered to the right side of the card. The simple vanilla image panel uses the flower from SU!'s Polka Dots and Paisley set that I have markered in Old Olive and Pumpkin. Sentiment is stamped in Chocolate Chip. Layered the finished image panel on Chocolate Chip, and attached to a Pumpkin Pie layer with dimensionals. Tie a length of apricot grosgrain, add a couple of olive brads, and this card is completed.

Simple, clean, and delicious!

Have a fantastic Friday!

Supplies: Stamps: SU! Linen, Polka Dots and Paisley, In My Thoughts, Ink: SU! Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Paper: SU! Apricot Appeal, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Au Chocolait, Accessories: Mini brads, Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals, Stamp a majig

The battery is charging!

After finishing my newest card for Flower Friday I set up my usual picture taking setting - I opened the blinds, threw on the overhead lights, placed a couple pieces of white card stock as the background and turned on 2 OTT lights. After placing the card just so, I trotted off grab the camera from the den- dead battery. So, please check back later this morning after the battery has gotten juiced!

Just Because

Today is another busy day, but I wanted to start with a bit of creativity before the ball started rolling! I pulled out the *popular, had to have papers and set* from last spring to begin this card. Cards made with these items were all over last spring! For this layout, I headed over to Splitcoaststampers and the weekly Sketch Challenge, altering the original sketch from a standard A2 size into a square 4.5" x 4.5" card. Cut the patterned paper to fit base card, tie a chocolate ribbon around card where designs meet, stamp the harlequin image onto the vanilla panel in SU! Barely Banana classic ink, followed by the big flower in Cameo Coral. A bit of DTP with Chocolate Chip, then distress the edges with a distressing tool, layer onto a chocolate panel. Add corner brads and mount to card with dimensionals. Tie an olive button onto a clear button with gingham ribbon and attach to the flower center with a dimensional. For the sentiment, stamp the greeting and punch out with an oval punch, attach to card with a brad. A coordinating envelope and I think I'll drop this card at the desk of one of my very favorite friends on my way to teach art class this morning.

Have a wonderful day!

Supplies - Stamps: SU! Looks Like Spring, Expressive Flexible Phrases, Paper: SU! Blush Blossom, Spring Flowers Designer Paper, Chocolate Chip, Vanilla, Ink: SU! Barely Banana , Cameo Coral, Chocolate Chip, Accessories: Brads, Ribbon, Oval Punch, Clear and Olive Button, Mat Pak, Dimensionals

Wednesday Chaos!

I had every intention of creating a card to share with you today, but *things* just happened that prevented me from doing so. Today was judging day at the San Diego Greater San Diego Science Fair and I began my morning early, 6:30 a.m. to be exact, driving Morgan and 2 other classmates to Balboa Park. Traffic starts early around here and it took almost 50 minutes to get there. We are so proud of her, she advanced from the school level, to the district level, to the San Diego level. Tomorrow evening is the awards ceremony and it sure would be the icing on the cake for her to place, no matter what happens, it was such a great experience for her to participate in.

Upon returning, it was time to do a little business around here, and then prepare for a class I volunteer and teach for 3rd grade students at our school. Today's lesson was color value. They made a value scale and from what they learned, painted the picture they drew of a clown. Tomorrow begins a different lesson in Brett's class; torn paper still life. It should be really fun too! I still need to create the example for them, so I must get going on that. This is a wonderful volunteer program the school is participating in, and I get such joy seeing what the kids create! Momentarily, Morgan and I are heading to the final meeting for the 8th grade Washington DC trip. She leaves Sunday and is so excited she is about to burst! In addition to DC, they are going to Philly and NYC. I wish I was going!

Okay, back to card making. The partial pic of my stamp area above represents just how my day felt today. You don't want to see the rest! Cluttered and too much going on was the theme. Started and stopped a few styles of cards and didn't clean up in between; that is why you see the aquapainter, markers, inkpads, Chalks inks, scissors, thread, all totally unrelated! I think that is why I wasn't successful today, too much clutter! I am someone who has to start with a clean surface each and every time I stamp, and I didn't take the time to do that today. Anyway, I did work on the card you see among all that mess. I just am not happy with the result. It's part of the Featured Stamper Challenge that Splitcoaststampers posts on Sunday. My friend, Bethie, is the hostess and each week she picks a gallery and the challenge is to CASE a card from the artist's gallery she choose. Modify it, keep it the same, let someone else's work be your inspiration. I've participated in a few of them and I find CASEing is very difficult as it crimps me too much, I am constantly looking at the original trying to keep the sameness there. Maybe I'll rework this one, maybe I won't. Sometimes it's better to just stop and start another day. But I did try, really I did! Off to clean up that mess!

I hope you enjoyed your day!

You Make Me Smile!

After 2 days of computer woes, my creative side was feeling a little neglected and my brain was tired. Sitting in frustration can sure eek the energy away. Anyway, time to stop all that mind work, and stamp to bring back some fun into my evening!

I've wanted to make one of these shadow box cards ever since I saw the tutorial by Dawn over at Splitcoaststampers, so tonight was the night. Click here for the tutorial. They are very fun to make and a definite crowd pleaser.

Card base is Cool Caribbean, saran wrap stamped with Taken with Teal, then a subtle starfish from SU!'s Fishy Friends is stamped with Cool Caribbean. Saran wrap is so fun and easy, just crumple up a piece, dip into your stamp pad, and press onto the cardstock. It creates a textured look that is just wonderful. Inner panel is stamped in StazOn Jet Black and watercolored with ink from the lid of the stamp pad, markers, and reinkers. I used Whisper White, something I normally do not use when watercoloring, so a very gentle touch was necessary to keep the paper from pilling. Outlined in Sahara Sand marker to make him pop a bit, add a little shine to his scales with a little Dazzling Diamonds, and he is ready to swim happily in his aquarium. Words are cut apart from a phrase stamp, layered, and adhered to front panel along with the starfish from Fishy Friends. Add a gingham bow and this fun project is finished!

Try making one of these, you're sure to have fun!

Good Night and Sweet Dreams!


Images: SU! Fishy Friends, Simple Sayings II, Paper: Cool Caribbean, Whisper White, Taken with Teal, Marigold Morning, Ink: Taken with Teal, StazOn Jet Black, Marigold Morning, Cool Caribbean, Take with Teal, Pixie Pink, Accessories: Circle Cutter, Sticky Strip, Gingham ribbon, Cool Caribbean reinker, Taken with Teal, Only Orange, and Pixie Pink Stampin' Write Marker, Dazzling Diamonds glitter

Geek Squad to the rescue!

After an overnight stay at Best Buy and the Geek Squad Suite, our computer is back home and working again. What an ordeal! Not a driver issue, though, even though that was the error message. Anyway, all is good, now. I bought an external hard drive to back up everything important should the unexpected happen. We've been meaning to purchase one for some time, but either forgot or it moved down the list of must haves, you know? Nothing scares me more than losing all the data we have on here, so I will be installing that later on for a little peace of mind.

I'd like to say I'll have a project uploaded today, but maintenance may prevent that. We'll have to see how the afternoon pans out.

Happy Monday!

BIG plans gone astray!

I had big plans today to get started on my niece's graduation announcements. I have already saved to a CD the font and pic that she wants incorporated into her announcement. So, after my Sunday morning ritual of coffee and the paper I load the CD in....wait, wait, wait....nothing...absolute stillness. It appears our computer has lost its driver or something. I hop online (thank goodness that still works!) to download the firmware or whatever you call it, well, it's too old and not listed anymore. Off we go to buy another CD-RW, do the operation, replacing the old with the new. It still doesn't work. This has been 4 plus hours of wasted computer time. Sometimes I really dislike computers, you know?!

So, back to Best Buy I go....

I hope you are having a relaxing Sunday!

PJ Stampin'!

My friend, Bev, sent me a fun little envelope of goodies to spark some stampin' creativity. Thanks, Bev! In the envelope was a sample of ribbon, a layout challenge, and a few other fun ideas. This morning, while the house was still waking, and still in my pj's, I incorporated 2 of the envelope elements to create this card.

I started with the ribbon, her instructions were to let the ribbon be the inspiration for the colors in the card. Basic Grey's Blush line, SU!'s Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, and Chocolate Chip were the perfect match. Glancing at her layout sketch, I chose images from the new Butterfly Wishes set by PaperTreyink. The images are richly stamped in Color Box Chalk inks. A few pierced accents, a little distressing, hardware, an appropriate sentiment and this pj session is finished! All it needs is an addressed envelope and to head east for a special friend.

Now off to tackle Saturday morning stuff to prep for Morgan's Movie Night here. A handful or more of her friends are coming over tonight for a evening of movie fun. Happy Saturday!

Images: PaperTreyink, Paper: Basic Grey Blush, SU! Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, Whisper White, Inks: Color Box Fluid Chalk Inks: Rouge, Chesnut Roan, Peach Pastel, Rose Coral, Creamy Brown, Accessories: SU! Hardware brads and picture hanger, Mat Pak, Ribbon (unknown source), Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Flower Friday!

After doing my usual Friday morning routine I came home and worked on my first Flower Friday card. That first card took 2 hours and in the end found its way into the circular file. I was trying too hard, I think, to replicate a style that I abandoned long ago. I took a break from that session and took my dog, Riley, for her daily walk and during that time cleared my head. I came back and this card came to life in 15 minutes! I love how it turned out and I especially love the clear/blue button combination for the flower center.

Most of my cards nowadays are like this, quick, easy, and fun. It's just where I have evolved as a stamper and where I feel the best. For this card, simple, bold images from SU!'s Mixed Bouquet set combine with the fun Merry-Go-Round (Carnival Collection) patterned paper from Crate Paper. The flower is stamped with Colorbox chalk inks; Tangerine, Lime Pastel, and Blue Lagoon. I love the coverage and wonderful, rich look of these inks. Finally, a little edge distressing, the button embellishment, and finish it off with some delicious striped ribbon by May Arts, and this card is ready for the mailbox!

Stamps: SU! Mixed Bouquet and Amazing to Zany, Ink: Colorbox Fluid Chalk ink, Papers: SU! Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, Crate Paper Carnival Collection- Merry-G0-Round,
Accessories: SU! Slot punch, Buttons, May Arts Striped ribbons

It's Flower Friday!

Happy TGIF!

After putzing around yesterday, tweeking, rearranging, adding blogs, etc. to {stampin' gal val} creating paper sunshine, I realized that this new venture is not only fun, but time consuming! I'm sure it will streamline for me, but let me tell you, my kids sure wanted on the computer yesterday; our wireless is down right now, so we are currently a one computer home, much to their dismay!

Anywho, I'd like to thank Beth Silaika, banner and watermark maker genius who created my banner! If you would like to add a fabulous personal touch to your blog, or have a watermark made please contact Beth at Freckled FunDesigns.

Also, future uploads will have more design information included, I was just a tad overwhelmed yesterday. :) I'd like to add that the card below I was inspired by pinefeather and her use of stamping on colored cardstock (usually kraft) with a white layer showing behind the layer. Thanks pine, you are such an inspiration to me!

Finally, I decided in the wee hours last night that Friday around here would be Flower Friday, after all, most of you who know me know that I LOVE floral stamps and papers, so tune in later today for the first installation of Flower Friday!

Happy Day!

Well I did it! I started a blog today, what a happy day! I made this card to usher in spring, and it was perfect for my first upload to {stampin' gal val} creating paper sunshine! Enjoy!

A simple Happy Day card using my new PaperTreyink stamps I ordered recently. My first dive into the clear, unmounted arena; a change for sure! I am a die hard wood and red rubber fanatic. However, I just love the images and words in Nicole's sets and thought it would be a fun way to start the clear journey.

I'm glad you stopped by for a visit, please come back soon!

Stamps: PaperTreyink, Paper: SU! and Chatterbox, Accessories: SU!, Inks: Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink