Basic Sunny Eggplant Mojo 106

For this week's Mojo Monday Sketch 106, I also used Color Combination 237 from SCS, which was  technically Crushed Black Razzleberries, but I don't own two of the colors and the alternatives were eggplant or burgundy for the razzleberry and summer sun instead of crushed curry...so I worked with what I had!

Stamps: Verve Circular Sayings, Petals & Stems

Paper: Basic Black, Summer Sun, Elegant Eggplant, Very Vanilla

Ink: Summer Sun, Elegant Eggplant

Accessories: Dimensionals, Very Vanilla Ribbon, Corner Rounder, Nestabilities

TESC84 with a Beary Special Friend

And I paper pieced!!

I really loved the sketch Taylor had done up for TESC84 and since my new Beary Special set just arrived, I had to use it.

Donna at Serenity in Stamping, who happens to be a part of the Baker's Dozen and Sketch Challenge team at Taylored Expressions, is always inspiring me with her awesome paper piecing, but the technique truly terrified me. Well, how can you be scared of something when it is done with this sweet bear? I finally did it. I paper pieced - and I enjoyed it. Between paper piecing and paper tole, I might actually get some of my paper used up...one day.

Stamps: TE Beary Special

Paper: Real Red, Bashful Blue, Summer Picnic DSP, Maine Blueberry DSP
Ink: Real Red
Accessories: Real Red Ribbon
Technique: Paper Piecing

A Cute Hippie

This week's challenge is a color challenge

which, to me, looked like Sage Shadow, Ruby Red & Navy ... and we used a Stitchy Stamps image! I colored up this cute little Hippie and used a little bit of my new Molasses Smooch to give some bling to her belt, jean tassles and necklace. That is some cool stuff! The sketch was from SC247 for this layout.

Stamps: Stitchy Stamps Hippie,  

Paper: Sage Shadow, Navy, Ruby Red, Autumn Vine DSP, White
Ink: Night of Navy
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Molasses Smooch

Check out the fabulous creations the other ladies have made... 
Boni, Darlene, Diane, Jackie, Micki, Raquel, Teri, Jennifer & Kim

Head on over to the Challenge Blog and get coloring for your chance to win this week. Remember to use D-IC004 if you're uploading to SCS or another online gallery and be sure to use Mr. Linky so we can check out your creations - and your chance to win this sweetie from Beary Dust Stamps & Clipart.

Don't forget about the raffle going on at the D-I Co Challenge Blog, too! Friday, October 2nd we'll also be having our Falloween Blog Hop =)

Wedding Gift

The friends of ours who were married in Kelowna in July still have this gift sitting on our kitchen table.  We'll be seeing them half way through October and I'm quite looking forward to giving it to them as a part of their wedding gift. I redid the green layer between the wedding paper and the photo so it's even and I was quite happy with how it turned out (but was too lazy to retake the photo since I'd wrapped it) They were married at a golf course and their wedding favors were the two golf balls on the sides. The third we purchased at the course where they were married on that crazy stormy night. 

Having now been to Kelowna, we can't wait to return in a year or two for the wine & food festival =) Wait - I may have a bit of a wine & dine problem....I had just a little too much fun at the wedding last night! Oh well - thank goodness for restful Sundays! Only one card to create. Head over to Karen's site to check out the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge.

It's Golden

The Viva la Verve Sep05 challenge was another great sketch by Amber - and the twist....specialty paper. I had yet to touch this gold paper that I'd had for quite a while, realizing only too well after the fact that it's bold. I love patterned paper and specialty paper, but I seem to just collect it an it never sees a card, so this was a perfect time to try it out.

Stamps: Autumn Splendor, Verve Circular Sayings

Paper: White, Chocolate Chip, Autumn Vine DSP, Gold

Ink: Galaxy Gold Dew Drop, Chocolate Chip Craft, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Nestabilities, CB Script Embossing Folder, Gold Embossing Powder, Sponge

I won't even go into details about how much work went into this card....let's just say some people need to pay attention when they are attaching their main panel to the base...because if you're not careful and you attach it upside down, you may end up creating an additional layer and trimming that to fit onto a whole new dark base.

Not saying I did that....just that it's been known to happen to stampers...I've heard =)

Off to a wedding of some great friends today and I'm so glad to be able to attend. I've been friends with the groom for almost 10 years and they're perfect together!

Oh yes - and on October 2nd, the talented people at Digital-Ink Co will be having a Falloween Blog Hop! This will be the first blog hop I've ever participated in and in addition to the prizes they're offering, I'm thinking I might have to do a little celebrating, as well. I'm just having so much fun and I want to thank y'all for that. Oh....and my Patriots aren't doing so hot, so I'm aiming to bring a little good juju into my life =) I hope you'll join me and the other ladies!

Bellarific Friday Again!!

Over at the Stamping Bella blog, Karen Motzabella challenged everyone with this sketch. I wanted to make a card in honor of a friend that I need to catch up with soon for some drinks from our not so local coffee shop...or at a local pub...I'm not picky! =)

Stamps: Javabellas

Paper: White, River Rock, Brocade Blue, Tangerine Tango, Watercolor
Ink: Staz-On
Accessories: Nestabilities, Silver Half Pearls, Watercolor Brush & Markers

Over at Scrap N Stamp, it's another Friday challenge sketch - check it out! Their Glitter Party is still going on, too, so be sure to go to their Studio K blog to see all the bling!

This was my card for this week's sketch =) Thanks for dropping by - hope you have a fabulous Friday! It's my Friday off, so here's hoping I can make the most of it and still relax. Oh yeah - and Chelsey - have a blast in Vegas, buddy!

Am I allowed

to say I LOVE THIS CARD?! Well, I did, so there's no taking it back now. I love this card. I love the stamps. I love the dimension. I had a blast with it and I'm not going to deny it any longer!

Stamps: Verve Party Time
Paper: White, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, So Saffron, Delicate Dots DSP

Ink: Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, So Saffron
Accessories: Real Red Ribbon, Dimensionals, Corner Rounder Punch
Techniques: Paper Tole

My newest Verve order arrived while I was in Banff and this was the first chance I'd had to ink up these awesome little balloons from Party Time. I used the SCS Color Challenge 138, which was Tempting Turquoise, Real Red and So Saffron, along with Mercy's Sketch 40. She's always got great sketches and this one was no exception.

I've really been loving the paper tole since I tried it for Dawn's Challenge on the Taylored Expressions 2nd Birthday Bash, so I had to use it for this set. The red ballon & tricolor balloon were both colored a second time and layered. The tricolor balloon was then colored a third time and layered - such fun!

 Here's one more of the layers.....because....I love this card!

Okay - so you know what I think....what do YOU think? Ever have one of those cards that just "works" for you?

Hooray for Friends with Flowers

I love the third Tuesday of each month - time to just have fun, crafting, with the most fab person...and Chelsey... =)

Mine's on the right, Chelsey's beauty is on the left.

Okay - so I'm not that much of an ego freak =)

I did find these directions from another blog and while I printed instructions, I failed to note the blog that I borrowed from. Anyone recognize? (Wait - found an SCS tutorial - and it was Stephanie Luman who had them on her site when I printed them off) I've seen quite a few different versions. Of course, I forgot to take a picture of the card pulled out, but the flowers are on the note card and make such a cute pull out card. They're also very easy, thankfully. Check out the tutorial & give them a try!

My Digital-Ink Co. Design Team co-crafter also let me know that this was a challenge this week at CCEE Stampers - check 'em out - lots of great creations.

Mojo 105 - TGITuesday =)

This week's Mojo sketch was such fun! My only problem was that I didn't have a punch that would do the scallops, so I used my nesties and cut out the full circles.

Stamps: Sincere Salutations

Paper: Baja Breeze, Soft Sky, Chocolate Chip, White, Green Tea
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Chocolate Chip Ribbon, Nestabilities

I really love these colors together!

Last night was a fabulous ride - back with Trapper, who didn't live up to his nickname of Tripper....much. It was nice to have a horse that response to signals to slow down. Running down fences is overrated in my books. HAHA

Tonight's stamp night with Chelsey, sure to be fun! Is it 4:30 yet?!

Time for another Digital-Ink Co Challenge

This week's challenge is a recipe - 2 patterned papers & 3 buttons, brads or eyelets - and we used a Beary Dust Stamps & Clipart image! I was pretty excited to color up the Bedtime Girl, as I'm a lover of bedtime. I used my friend Amy's Saturday Sketch from Sept 5th for this layout.

Stamps: Beary Dust Stamps & Clipart Bedtime Girl
Paper: Purely Pomegranate, Berry Bliss DSP, Close to Cocoa, White 
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Flower Brads

Check out the fabulous creations the other ladies have made...

Boni, Darlene, Diane, Jackie, Micki, Raquel, Teri, Jennifer & Kim

Head on over to the Challenge Blog and get coloring for your chance to win this week. Don't forget to use D-IC003 if you're uploading to SCS or another online gallery and be sure to use Mr. Linky so we can check out your creations! Don't forget about the raffle going on at the D-I Co Challenge Blog, too!

Survived my last race of the year

Well I finished yesterday! It wasn't pretty, but I made it past the finish line upright (although just barely!) Those stairs really kicked my butt. It was a 5K run with three sets of stairs, plus down one of the largest sets of stairs in the city. For someone who struggles with depth perception on those stinkin' stairs, it was a toughie! But good times were had by all, I think, and I suspect it was about 42 minutes worth of exercise, which is better than a kick in the butt in my mind at least.

Here's a card I found in my collection that I loved the soft colors of when I did it, way back in the day! I do love the puns...hope your Sunday is a great one!

Ohhhh...my first Christmas Collection findings...

Searching through my cards to choose donation ones, I discovered this is a collection that I put together last Christmas when I was trying to do a set. I used silver embossing powder, Bashful Blue, Whisper White & Basic Gray paper and the Scandinavian Season set. Pretty simple!

I'm off to do my Rock N Roll Climb of Hope this morning....fingers crossed!!

Happy Bellarific Friday!!

Yep! It's that time of the week again - my favorite day!! I think I'll celebrate with some wine. Check out what the talented ladies have done with the sketch here.

Actually, tonight we're going out with friends to celebrate their last weekend of their 'singleness' before their wedding next weekend. I'm sure it'll be fun. Last night, I was a productive-roo for running errands, so I put this card together when I got home. Not sure I love it, but it's got Winobella...and I gotta love her =)

Check out Scrap N Stamp for their third sketch challenge of the month!

Have a great weekend!

Mojo 104 and Michelle's Verve Challenge

This card used the Mojo Monday 104 sketch and the Verve Release Challenge by Michelle - a color challenge to use Pumpkin Pie, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip & Mellow Moss. There's no combining of the Verve challenges, so I took the opportunity to combine with the Mojo sketch, which are always fun! I don't think I'll get all of the Verve Challenges done before the deadline on Friday, but I'll have to put in a good effort tonight.

Since I just got my newest Verve order, I was pretty excited to get some ink on them. All stamps were from the set Enjoy. Love that set - and so versatile. You can use them as flowers or butterflies.

Had my first ride in two weeks and what fun...I'm no Beth Underhill or Beezie Madden, but it sure does make me smile!

You know what else makes me smile? Friends! Especially those with chocolate....and especially when that chocolate is Almond Joy! There's a saying in our household "Like Tanis on an Almond Joy" and it goes right along with "Like a fat man on a red smartie" or "Like white on rice" - things that just go together...and that's how it is with me and those darn chocolates that I have such difficulty finding. Well, my friend Amy at My Creative Clutter sent up two bags of mini bars along with the blog candy I'd won (a wonderful bunch of cards) so I was almost over the moon when I got home from Banff on Tuesday night. That, combined with my Taylored Expressions KI August kit and my new Verve stamps - it was almost too much to handle. Fortunately, I managed....but just wanted to give a shout out to the sweetie who really made my night!

A Weekend in Snapshots

I'll be around to check out blogs today because I'm back - and a little revitalized after checking out the Spruce Meadows Masters this weekend and then enjoying a couple days in Banff at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel for a work meeting. Here's a few of my weekend faves...

Eric Lamaze & Hickstead

Beezie Madden & Judgement
for Judgement's Retirement Festivities (he rec'd a HUGE bucket of carrots!)

Oh the fun that was had!! (If you don't count the second night in our hotel, which was spent above a rockin' wedding celebration until 1am...)

I also have a little comparison - two lights vs. four with the light box...

Two

Four

There's a few less shadows with four lights and I find it easier for editing if I have the four lights going (less shadows means less color correction extremes).

A Couple from Shauna's Set

Stamps: Upsy Daisy

Paper: Soft Sky, Not Quite Navy
Ink: Soft Sky, Not Quite Navy
Accessories: Nestabilities, Shimmery Ribbon

Stamps: Sincere Salutations

Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant

Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Elegant Eggplant

Accessories: Silver Brads, Brides Flowers, Scallop Cutter

These two cards were both in the set of six 4.25 x 4.25 cards I gave my good friend Shauna for her birthday. Both cards were very simple - I really love those Brides flowers for coloring easy flowers! Hopefully she can put them to good use.

Digital-Ink Co's Second Blog Challenge

This week's challenge is a sketch - and we used Reece's Designs! I was pretty excited to use some of these great images. I ended up using the to create this Halloween card for my nieces & nephew. They love getting mail and I thought I'd toss this in the mail along with some halloween goodies.

Stamps: Reece's Designs Haunted House, It's Halloween Stamp Pack

Paper: Tangerine Tango, Black, Trick or Treat Provocraft Patterned Paper, White 
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Corner Punch (inside)

As you can tell from how I wrote, adding "Uncle" was an afterthought because they're MY favorite boy and ghouls!

The Haunted House, Tombstone and Bat are all images by Reece's Designs? The bat and tombstone are from the It's Halloween Stamp Pack, which includes a large number of spooktacular images.

Check out the fabulous creations the other ladies have made...

Boni, Darlene, Diane, Jackie, Micki, Raquel, Teri, Jennifer & Kim

Head on over to the Challenge Blog  and get coloring for your chance to win this week!!