Serene Sunflower

I finally had a chance to use this stamp set by Stampin' Up! Serene Sunflower. I was inspired to dust off the set and use it for the very first time, thanks to Sunday's Splitcoaststampers Featured Stamper BobbiesGirl, FS186. I chose this card to CASE You're Are My Sunshine.

Along with this challenge, I'm participating in OCC Color Challenge: Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, So Saffron, & Old Olive. These colors were perfect to use for my sunflower card. I used colors that came close as possible.

The third challenge is a sketch challenge from Pals Paper Art: Simply Sketchy PPA57. I just discovered this new challenge blog and I really like it!

Thank you all for these wonderful challenges!

Harvey Wallbanger Cake

This is my second entry for "It starts with a mix..." recipe swap hosted by terrie.mcnulty over at Splitcoaststampers.

I love making this cake for New Year's. I came across this recipe years ago at a New Year's Day dinner. Susan was gracious to share her recipe with me. Thank you Susan...this cake has now become a tradition in our home.

I love the bright colors on the designer paper.

Snicker Cake

I love participating in recipe swaps, and if you're like me you never have enough! I signed up for "It starts with a mix..." hosted by terrie.mcnulty over at Splitcoaststampers. My first entry is Snicker Cake! I love Snickers...my fave! My Little Sister Tracie shared this recipe with me and let me tell it's delicious!

I paper pieced the apron and mitt.

All I Have Seen

I had to give Splitcoaststamper's color challenge, CC285, one more try! I was having a difficult time working Pacific Blue with Razzleberry and Old Olive.

I used Mojo Monday's sketch challenge: MOJO153

By using this sketch, it made easier for me to incorporate these colors. I really am happy with the end result!

The stamp set is from Stampin' Up! called All I Have Seen.

All I have seen

teaches me to trust

the Creator

for all I have

not seen.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

For You

Last night I started to make this card with 2 challenges in mind, but did neither.

The first challenge was from Splitcoaststampers: color challenge using Rich Razzleberry, Old Olives and Pacific Point. I just couldn't incorporate the blue with these colors!!!

The second challenge was a sketch challenge from 2S4U. Again, did not use!!!

In other words...I was color and sketch challenged!

So...I started playing around with the lace border punch...and voila!

Maybe I should just stick to one challenge at a time!!!

Life's A Breeze

I love summers!

Even though our summers here in the desert are pretty darn hot, we find ways to enjoy them! We find ways to keep cool...the pool, lots of icy cold drinks, ice cream, and air conditioned homes! I have to say I'm a little sad our summer is almost coming to an end, and all I've done so far is work very long hours. I'm not complaining...I'm very lucky to have a job, but not a real life at the moment.

I made this card for Splitcoasterstampers' Clean & Simple challenge CAS80. We were to use stampingout's sketch Bug Me! Great card and sketch Emily!
I used SU!'s Life's A Breeze stamp set. I colored the watermelons using SU!'s watercolor pencils and then used a blender.

inside of card...

Now, I'm craving a cold sweet juicy slice of watermelon...yum!!!

Clean and Simple

Two challenges in one!

I combine Splitcoaststampers' Clean & Simple color challenge, CAS81: kraft, turquoise and white...with Clean & Simple Stamping's sketch challenge, FTL104.

I felt like I needed to add a little more white, so I added the rhinestone stickers! Bling!!!

I really love the color combo! The ink on the stamp sentiment is called Cool Caribbean...the name itself makes me instantly feel so much cooler in this sweltering heat!!!

Blossoms Abound

Blossoms Abound

This week's Featured Stamper, FS 185, at Splitcoaststampers is Heather aka PrincessHeather. She has an amazing gallery! I chose to CASE this card.
I didn't stray too far from her card. I am not too crazy about 2-step stamping, but I had been dying to use Blossoms Abound stamp set, and this was the perfect opportunity. It was actually a cinch to do!

I was going for a "vintagey" look, and I hope I succeeded.

1. I distressed the paper as best as I could: crimped, spritz with water, crumpled.
2. spritzed all layers with SU!
3. Champagne shimmer paint
4. Used leftover ribbon
5. machine stitched - A first for me!!!

ABC

This card is my submission to Splitcoasters's Clean & Simple Fall 2010 Designer Team Search.

Challenge #1 is Teacher's Pet, CASfall10TP (the theme was left to our interpretation). I work for a school district, and the first thing that comes to my mind is the first day of school: primary colors, chalkboard, ABC, 123, and kindergartners. And this year is even more memorable because my 5 year old nephew Joshua started Kindergarten this week. He was so happy and ready to begin a new stage of his life. Love ya' bunches Joshua.

Part 2 of Challenge #1: use punches
I used 4: scallop border edge punch, circle punch, scallop circle punch, and a handheld punch for the tiny holes around the blue scallop circle.

For the pleated ruffle (designer paper), I first ran it through the crimper to make the paper easier to work with.

Well...I hope is simple enough and good enough for the challenge.
Thank you for stopping by... :-)

Stamp Camp

Vivian Potter hosted her Stamp Camp last Sunday. She introduced us to new stamp sets, accessories and colors from Stampin' Up! 2010-2011 catalogue.

These are 4 of 5 cards we made (2 each).

We watercolored...I'm not too good at it!

This color is called Poppy Parade...

We all agreed that this card could easily be turned into a Christmas card. Don't you agree?

My favorite.

We heat embossed the image, and then we bleached out each flower using aqua painter brushes.

Her next Stamp Camp is scheduled for October and we will be making Christmas cards!!!

It's a Boy

Today's featured stamper at Splitcoaststamper's is CaKath, FS184. She has an amazing gallery! I chose this card to CASE. It was an easy pick since I needed to make a card for a co-worker who just became a first time grandma. There was a little complication with the baby's birth. I am hoping and praying that by tomorrow morning I hear that mother and child are doing fine.

Clean and Simple

When you're in a jam, it's nice to have a true a friend.

Aren't we all lucky to have a friend we can count on no matter what!?! I have that true friend!

We laugh at silly stuff, we vent when the world just gets to be too much, and we confide in each other. We give without expecting to receive. We know if we need each other, we're there for each other.

I am blessed!

I had this stamp image for a long time and finally had an opportunity to use. My Big Sis Linda from My Little Yellow Cottage gave to me. Thank you Linda. The sketch is from Clean & Simple FTL103.

Clean and Simple

It has been a very hot hot day...I mean it's still hot!!! Right now is 106 degrees!!!

Doesn't this card make you feel cool! In this hot AZ desert weather you need to have cool thoughts to keep you from melting away...

So glad that Splitcoaststamper's Clean & Simple challenge for this week is Gardens, CAS79.

Ink: Almost Amethyst, Summer Sun, Mint Melody, Pretty in Pink

Accessories: ribbon, Scor-Pal

Birthday

I just can't stop using this sentiment stamp from SU!'s Whimsical Words! I wonder is it because most of my friends now have lots more candles to blow out...LOL!!!

I made this card using SCS's sketch challenge 298.

Happy Birthday Mike!!!

Doodle Flowers

After a long week at work (10-12 hour days!), I finally had a chance to play!!!

I started with one challenge: SCS Color Challenge 282: Blushing Bride, Riding Hood Red, Early Espresso, and a neutral

I didn't have any of these colors, but the neutrals. So I used Stampin Ups! Blush Blossom, Chocolate Chip, and Cherry Cobbler

This card was my oops! card...LOL!

For the second challenge I used Clean & Simple's sketch challenge 100th

...and lastly...I did EBTKS's challenge 20: use found buttons

I only had 2 of the same color buttons in my Button Jar which matches perfectly with the colors.

Well it was fun being creative...now off to take a well deserved nap...I'm so tired and sleepy!

A 2 Minute Card

I participated in today's SCS's Featured Stamper challenge: FS182

Today's Featured Stamper is Alanna. I was inspired by this card that Alanna calls A 2 Minute Card.

For the Featured Stamper challenge you must change 2 or more things on the card: color combo, embellishments, backgrounds, image, ...

I added a second layer and embossed it with Cuttlebug's embossing folder Bloom Dots. I've had the metal sticker for awhile and didn't know what to do with it...until today!