Always Inking

Sweet Sunday Sketch 152

2012-02-12T17:34:00.001-07:00

Happy Sunday blogger friends. While hopping around the blog world today I checked out the Sweet Sunday Sketch, and just loved the sketch! I knew immediately I wanted to play along, but finding the time was a little trickier. I also knew right away what I had in mind for the sketch. Here is the sketch:

Here is what I did with the sketch:

The inside and outside

I used all SU products. The DP is the new Everyday Enchantment Series Paper. The color of CS for the base of the card is Lucky Limeade. The sentiments also SU were stamped in versamark ink and embossed with white EP..as were the butterflies. The butterflies were punched out with SU butterfly punch.
I really enjoyed putting this together....love the colors SU has this season!!
This post will be short.....family just arrived.....hope you all have a wonderful wonderful week!

God Bless.........................Tammie

BACK TO BLOG LAND!!

2012-02-07T14:06:00.000-07:00

Its a cold blustery snowy day here in South Dakota. I am kind of enjoying it though. I got off work early, so decided to use a little extra time to see if I could get my new computer set up enough to do a post. I have missed posting to my blog! My faithful computer that I had for years that I knew inside and out went kaput a few months back and I have just not gotten up to speed on my new one. My goal this month is to work on getting to know her. (I think she is a she)

I have been creating some, just not posting anything. A fellow stamper (Susan, you know I mean you) encouraged me last weekend to get with it. So, Susan, I am finally going to post something today!

I have been having SOOO much fun with some of the products from Stampin Ups new mini catalog! I love everything in it! I ordered the Mixed Bunch set and the punch that went with it as one of my purchases. I thought today I would share a set of cards that I made using that set.

I also purchased the Color Coach cards for the new In Colors and used them to put together these color combos....combos I never would have used otherwise! I had so much fun, and loved every combo. Here is a close up of one of the cards.

This one used Lucky Limeade and Island Indigo. I used a cuttlebug embossing border folder to emboss the Lucky Limeade strip. The whole card is very very quick, making it perfect to make many of and put together as a gift set.

I hope to continue to post all the creations I make as I play with my new products. Susan....thanks for the encouragement....hope you like the cards!

God Bless! Tammie

Inspiration Showcase Finishesd Canvas

2011-09-23T11:38:00.000-06:00

Well....I know I said I would try to share some of my creations using the techniques in Jennifer McGuire's on-line class I have been taking. I did not get any posts done...sorry....I was busy enough just getting the canvas completed Now with that complete I can hopefully have more time to make cards using some of her wonderful ideas.
I do have my canvas completed however, and can share that with you....This was SOOO much fun to do. Each tile is a different technique.....

Isn't it fun? Now I can hang this in my Stamping area for instant inspiration.....LOVE IT! This class was truly a fun thing for me to do...it has gotten my creative juices flowing and all I think about is wanting to be stamping and creating. Never enough hours in the day to play!

Hope your weekend is a wonderful one! God Bless......Tammie

Inspiration Showcase Day One Card Sample

2011-09-14T20:16:00.000-06:00

Good evening fellow bloggers.....I have not posted anything for over a month I know, but I was overwhelmed with last minute wedding details for my sons wedding. The wedding was over last weekend and was a beautiful affair. I now officially have the most awesome daughter-in-law! This is especially exciting for me as I never had any daughters of my own, only sons....no sisters either! So....Another female has been long overdue. WELCOME Becky to our family!! I plan to post some pics of the invites and favors we did for the wedding later this month.

With the wedding over and my design team term with Skipping Stones Design completed in August also I was looking for a new project and found it!! A wonderful on-line class from the fabulous Jennifer Maquire. It is a technique class and I will hopefully have time to not only get the technique projects done, but also post some of the creations I try as I go.
The first day was 5 different resist techniques. This is the card I created using one of the resist tips:

I first stamped the text in black ink on while CS, then the leaf background stamp over it in versamark ink, embossing it with clear embossing powder. I then sponged the background in with distress inks and this is the magic that happened! Fun!

I am going to keep playing and hopefully will share a creation from Day 2 later this week.

Have a wonderful week!

SKIPPING STONES DESIGN TUESDAY SKETCH 88

2011-08-09T05:00:00.002-06:00

Good Morning everyone! Hope this finds you all having a super wonderful Tuesday. Welcome to my blog today and the newest Tuesday Skipping Stones Design Blog sketch challenge. We are very fortunate to be able to design to the fabulously talented Teri Anderson. This is her sketch this week.

I used an older set this week called "Friendly Fruit" for my CAS cards......

I did two cards using the sketch format:

Nothing fancy, just yummy looking!! Please jump over to the SSD blog to check out the other Tramp creations! Hope you also link your own take on the sketch!!

Have a wonderful day, and thanks for stopping by!...........Tammie

SSD TUESDAY SKETCH CHALLENGE 87

2011-08-02T05:00:00.002-06:00

Good morning blogger buddies! Happy Tuesday and welcome to my blog today. Tuesday always brings another sketch over at Skipping Stones Design Blog. We have a brand new sketch artist this month that I am really excited about.......Teri Anderson!! I have been following her work as one of the Go To Gals for Papercrafts magazine for quite some time. She seriously rocks, and I am very excited to have the opportunity to design to her sketches! Lets get to the sketch for this week shall we?

LOVE IT!! Sometimes I struggle with a sketch, but this one had me right from the start and I knew just how I wanted to tackle it. I flipped the sketch for my take. I also used a stamp set that we will be releasing later this month as a little sneak peak for you all......you seriously are going to love this set!! Here is my card.

The bird, swirls, and sentiment are all 3 in the new soon to be released set....be sure to stay tuned to Skipping Stones this month as we will be having a blog hop to celebrate its release Audust 16th.   Anyway, I love kraft CS and had to use some on my card. I also love white embossing on kraft so did the swirls in that. I decided to stamp the bird on PTI Razzberry Fizz CS and cut her out....also enhanced her with a white gel pen to sorta tie things together.....and of course I had to throw in another of my favorite things...buttons. I really like my little birdie..and isn't that sentiment nice too?
Hope you like!   Do not forget to hop on over to the SSD blog to see what the other Stamp Tramps have done. Also we have some new Guest Designer this month:
Karen Baker
Kryssi Ng
Maureen Plut
Stephanie Mino

These girls all do such beautiful things you just gotta check them out!! While at the blog don't forget to give a try yourself at the sketch, and upload your creation for a chance to win SSD stamps!   This is such a fun sketch....so go on...give it a try!! You do NOT have to use SSD stamps to enter if you don't have any yet.....you may want to check out the SSD Store   if you have not purchased any of Heathers wonderful stamp creations.

Have a wonderful day, and please let me know you stopped by my blog by leaving a comment....I love hearing from you!       God Bless...........Tammie

SKIPPING STONES TUESDAY SKETCH CHALLENGE # 86

2011-07-26T05:00:00.002-06:00

Its Tuesday sketch day at Skipping Stones Design. We have one last sketch from the fabulous Kim Kesti. Here it is.........

For my take I pretty much totally flipped the swirls on the side and used a die cut approach......this is what I made for this week....

I used the new set released this month, Victorian Summer....

Beautiful set.....I used the butterfly and thank you sentiment. Do you ever have a day where no matter what you try to put together doesn't flow?....that was me, today, with this card. My creativity is lacking greatly....probablly because I am loking at a barely started stack of wedding favors to stamp and put together...150 x 2 different things. Once they are done maybe my MoJo will resurface!

Have a wonderful day, and stop over at Skipping Stones to check out what the rest of the Stamp Tramps and guest designers have done with the sketch! Happy Stamping! Tammie
1

SSD 85 TUESDAY SKETCH CHALLENGE

2011-07-19T05:00:00.004-06:00

Happy Tuesday all, and welcome to my blog today. It is once again Tuesday sketch challenge time for we Stamp Tramps from Skipping Stones Design. We have another wonderful sketch from the super talented Kim Kesti! This is her sketch this week.

This is my take on her sketch using the new SSD release "Victorian Summer".

I love the feathers in this set, so decided to use those instead of the square shapes. I hilighted them with a white gel pen, and embossed them also....IRL they really stand out....very pretty and fun image to play with.

Hope you enjoy this weeks CAS card......don't forget to head on over to Skipping Stones Design Blog, and see what the other Stamp Tramps created, and upload your own take on this fun sketch.

Have a wonderful week!! Tammie

SSD SKETCH 84 AND BLOG HOP

2011-07-12T05:00:00.000-06:00

Welcome to my blog today, Skipping Stones Design Sketch Challenge 84, and the release of Victorian Summer! If you just came from Wendy's blog, you are in the right place. If you just happened along my blog today, you can start at the beginning of the hop at Skipping Stones Design blog. The entire hop order is there and you can hop from blog to blog with ease.

Be sure to hop along and leave comments on all the fabulous designers blogs. This month we are welcoming Kim Kesti, Karen Baker and Karen Christensen to our team as Guest Designers! Kim will be providing all the fabulous sketch inspiration this month including the fantastic sketch we're using in today's hop!

So..lets get started by looking at Kims fabby sketch!

So very fun!! This is the set we are releasing this month called "Victorian Summer".

This is my take on the sketch and stunning new SSD set.....

I love the softness of this set. The flower stands alone beautifully! All of the images are so super versatile...definetely a must have set!

I will keep this post short so you can keep on hopping.....next head on over to Kim Kesti's blog, our super talented sketch designer this month.

Have a wonderful week and thanks for stopping by! Tammie

TIPS AND TRICKS THURSDAY

2011-06-23T05:00:00.002-06:00

Welcome to my blog today and SSD Tips and Tricks Thursday. Today I have a quick way to add a bit of fun to a card! We are going to make a card you can scratch and sniff! It is very quick and simple to do...Kids LOVE to help with this! Lets get started......

You will need: Craft or embossable ink in color of your choice, clear embossing powder, embossing gun, stamps, and SUGAR FREE Jello in your choice of flavor.

Start by mixing 1 1/2 parts of clear embossing powder with 1 part sugar free Jello. Be sure to use sugar free or the sugar will burn when you heat it. I used a teaspoon and a half teaspoon from my measuring spoon set and mixed 1 1/2 tsp of EP with 1 tsp jello....I am playing with lime and strawberry today!

Stamp image or images with ink and sprinkle with powder mixture. Heat emboss until melted. When cooled, scratch and sniff!! If you do not have craft ink, you can stamp the images with regular ink in your choice of color, and then color in the part you want embossed with a versamark pen....this works super well also... FUN! Endless posssibilities and combinations to play with here. I used SSD "Friendly Fruit" set for my card which matches with lime, strawberry, watermelon, cherry and razzberry jello....perfect set to use....

This is the card I made using this set and the lime and strawberry set....

I cut out the images and put them on pop dots. It really does work....you can scratch the fruit and they smell exactly like they look!

Hope you have fun with this technique and the SSD set "Friendly Fruit". This is a perfect summer time card making project.

Happy Thursday All!

SSD TUESDAY SKETCH 81

2011-06-21T05:00:00.003-06:00

ITS TUESDAY SKETCH TIME!!!!! Once again....lets all us blogger gals check out this weeks sketch from Latisha Yoast, our fabulous guest designer for Skipping Stones Design all this month. Her sketches have really been wonderful to design to....out of the box sort of designs that make you think...think... think...this is her sketch for this week....

I was thinking alright!.....WOW! a circle! What image...where should a sentiment go.....what fun can we have here....I would have loved to play with this alot longer, but here is my excuse....I am UP TO MY EARS in WEDDING INVITATIONS, for my oldest son who is getting married 9-10-11, and they would like them out by July 1st or so....and of course I wanted to do them myself....my beautiful DIL to be is right there helping, but this weekend is the crunch time for the last of it...I got sooo engrossed I forgot about Sketch 81 until the last minute.....but let me share what I did in my last minute panic....

Simple yes, but look at the beautiful SSD image on the background from the set "Timeless Textures"...stamped in VersaMark and embossed with clear. The black bling edge against the white swiss dot cuttlebugged strip, is a zipper from an old garmet that I knew had some potential...(the rest will become a zipper flower)...but I liked the black with the red. In place of the bow on the sketch, I chose to put my sentiment there...the sentiment is from "Dandelion Dreams"...a saying I try to embrace every day.....LIVE! LAUGH! LOVE! I do wish I had more time to add to this but I do need to do this post and get back to invitations and RSVP cards!....two hundred and twenty five stamped and embossed images need to be colored!
Hope you all have a super week...before you go please say HELLO on my comments, and then stop on over to the Skipping Stones Design Blog, to see what the rest of the Stamp Tramps have been doing.

God Bless.......Tammie

SSD SKETCH # 80, AND BLOG HOP

2011-06-14T05:00:00.001-06:00

Good Mornin to all you fellow blog hoppers out there!! Hope your week is off to a fabulous start!

Welcome to Sketch Challenge 80 and the release of Dogs Vol 1! If you just came from Karin's Blog ,you are in the right place. If you just happened along my blog today, start at the beginning of the hop at Skipping Stones Design. The entire hop order is there and you can hop from blog to blog with ease.

Be sure to hop along and leave comments on all the fabulous designers blogs. This month we are welcoming the super talented Latisha Yoast, Dina Kowal and Karn Akesdotter to our team as Guest Designers! Latisha will be providing all the fabulous sketch inspiration this month including the awesome sketch we're using in today's hop! So without further chit chat lets look at Latisha's sketch for this week!

Pretty fun right? I had some trouble at first with my MoJo on this one.......this is what I came up with using the new "Dogs Vol 1" release.

Lets take a look at the new set!!

Adorable doggies right? There are so many pet lovers out there that would love to use this set!

Thanks for stopping by today......please continue on the hop.....

Head over to Barb's Blog blog for some more Skipping Stones Design inspiration!

Have a wonderful week, and please let me know you were here today...I love visiting your blogs in return!

FEATURE FRIDAY

2011-06-10T05:00:00.002-06:00

TGIF Fellow blogger buddies. This week is my turn as the Stamp Tramp from Skipping Stones Design Co., that does Feature Friday. What Feature Friday does is feature an older SSD stamp set. I chose the set "You know you are getting Old...." . I have used this set alot, but I decided to just profile the Birthday cake in this card. This is the set:

This is the card I made using a sort of fun fold and closure.....Sorry about the poor quality....camera issue so it is a scan that didn't work very well...however you will get the idea.....

One simple image in a set sometimes can become a focal point with the right layout. Hope you like.....have a wonderful blessed weekend! Tammie

SSD 79 TUESDAY SKETCH

2011-06-07T05:00:00.001-06:00

Good Morning blogging friends! Welcome to another Tuesday sketch from the Skipping Stones Design Blog. We have a new guest sketch artist this month...Latisha Yoast! She has a fun line-up of sketches for us. Lets take a look at the one for this week.

Very Clean and simple...just my style. So, I kept my card CAS as well. This is my take on the sketch using Healing Wings.

I colored the butterfly with copics...it really is a beautiful stamp! Please stop on over to the SSD blog to see what all the other Stamp Tramps and our guest artists for this month have created....don't forget to upload your own creation!
Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful week! Tammie

SSD 78 TUESDAY SKETCH

2011-05-31T05:00:00.001-06:00

It is Tuesday sketch time once again over at Skipping Stones Design. This is the sketch we got to play with this week:

I really liked this one and had alot of fun creating my card. This is what I decided to do with the sketch.

I used my sewing machine for a change....The images are all embossed and look nice and shiny IRL. I love this new set of stamps called "Sassy Shoes", and decided to combine it with one of the purses from "Birthday Purses". These two sets really are fun to combine. This is "Sassy Shoes" .....

Stop on over to the SSD blog to see what fun the other Stamp Tramps have come up with. While there stop by the store and do some shopping! Also, why not try your hand at this weeks sketch and upload it to the SSD blog...you could be this weeks winner of a free stamp set!

Thanks for stopping by today and have a wonderful week! God Bless.............Tammie

SSD 77 SKETCH CHALLENGE

2011-05-24T05:00:00.001-06:00

HELLO!....And welcome again to my Tuesday blog post for the Skipping Stones Design sketch challenge. Our sketch this week is once again from the fabulous Danielle Flanders. This is her sketch for this week:

This is my card using "Heartsong":

Hope you stop on over to the SSD blog to see what the other Stamp Tramps have created from the sketch. While there take our challenge...use the sketch and share your card with us....we love to see what you all create!
Have a super week! Tammie

SSD SKETCH 76, BLOG HOP AND NEW RELEASE

2011-05-17T05:00:00.002-06:00

This is a special sketch Tuesday over at Skipping Stones Design Blog. We have the second sketch this month from the very talented Danielle Flanders. The sketch this week is also being combined with a blog hop to celebrate the release of Heather's new stamp set "Sassy Shoes". You should have arrived here from Barb Turpin's blog....if you just happened on my blog today and want the whole blog list just hop to the SSD blog . So....lets begin the fun shall we by starting with Danielle's sketch for this week.

So we have the sketch to play along with...now lets look at the awesome new stamp set called "Sassy Shoes"!

Now is this set fun or what!!...One can do soooo much with these shoes! The sayings are great too! This is the card I did combining the two.....

I used PTI CS and address labels cut down for a quick way to do the border. I stamped the shoes and colored them with copics....notice the red shoe...that shoe used copics blender pen to "remove" color to create designs etc. I did dots and stripes. It may be hard to see but is really a fun technique to play with.

I will not waste alot of time on my post so you can get on to the rest of the hop. You should hop from my blog to Ann Kranitz. Before you go though let me tell you quickly about Heathers sale this week...Buy 3 sets get one free....or buy six sets, get two free....you get the idea right? What a deal!

Hope you have fun and find inspiration on our hop...have a wonderful day! Tammie

SSD 75

2011-05-10T05:00:00.007-06:00

Hello Blogger friends!....hope you are having a terrific Tuesday! Today is sketch challenge day over at Skipping Stones Design blog.....we have the first sketch from our Guest Sketch Artist this month Danielle Flanders. This is her sketch this week:

I chose a fvorite older SSD set this time called "Dandelion Dreams".

I love the versatility of this set. This is my card for this week.

I have to be honest and say I did struggle with this....My mojo has been suffering a bit as I have been a bit under the weather the last week or so. I decided to use SU new "IN COLORS" for my color selection...concord grape, pear pizzaz, and pink blush. The buttons and lace are from the vast stash my mother has supplied me with. I do like the birds and butterflies and the way you can flutter them about the foliage....and the sayings in this set are fun too.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today...hope your week is a good one! Please stop by the SSD Blog, to see what the other Stamp Tramps have created this week!

SKIPPING STONES TUESDAY

2011-05-03T05:00:00.001-06:00

Good morning to you all...Happy Tuesday! I cannot believe it is May already!! I am so anxious for spring. Tuesdays bring another sketch challenge over at Skiping Stones Design....however, this week we have a little twist to the sketch challenge. We were able to choose our own sketch to design a card to, AND use any SSD Stamp set! I went to my library of previous sketches and chose this one.

This was sketch 63 by Lea Lawson. I chose Birthday purses for my stamp set to use....

My card is a little busier than I normally do, but I could not resist using a DP by Cosmo Cricket that had litle purses all over it, and colors I liked. I thought it would pair well with the purse stamps. This is what I came up with.

I stamped the purse and paper pieced the handle. The circle is a nestabilities die. I shaded the purse a bit with a copic marker. I found the tiny yellow button in my stash and added it to the purse closure.

Don't forget to stop over to the SSD Blog, and see what sketches and cards the rest of the Stamp Tramps have used to create their cards!

Hope you have a blessed week!

SSD TUESDAY SKETCH # 74

2011-04-26T05:00:00.001-06:00

Good morning everyone! Hope your week is off to a great start! We had a wonderful weekend in sunny Las Vegas which was a great change of pace from the snow in the Black Hills.
Since today is Tuesday it brings another sketch challenge over at Skipping Stones Design Blog. This is saddly our last sketch from Laurie Schmidlin. Here is her sketch.

I made my card for this challenge last week before our trip, and was not thinking that Easter woud be over when this post would go up....soooo....my card is an Easter card. Silly me!

However, this same idea could be used for a "Hoppy Birthday" card using the other bunny in the set. I have used this set many times because I like the bunny so much! I made this card for my sweetie for Easter so kept the colors a bit less girly, but still wanted it Easter like. The colors of the DP are Pear Pizzaz and Peach Parfait by Stampin up. I used a Nestabilities egg shaped die and used the out of the box technique so parts of the bunny were outside the egg.
Hope you like. I will keep it short and to the point this week so you can check out what everyone else has created.....have a wonderful week! Tammie

SKIPPING STONES TUESDAY SKETCH 73

2011-04-19T05:00:00.002-06:00

Its Tuesday sketch day over at Skipping Stones Design Blog. We once again have a fabulous sketch for you to play along with from our guest sketch artist this month Laurie Schmidlin. This is her fantastic challenge this week.

We Stamp Tramps were told we could use any stamp set we wanted, so I chose our new release this month "Uplifting". The sketch reminded me of rolling hills and blue skies somehow.....this is how I interpreted the sketch this week.

Let me show you "Uplifting" again, and you will be able to see that with this set you can create a whole scene...clouds, hills, sun, and fun things to put in that sky, and on those hills and grass.

The other nice thing about this set is the number of versatile sayings you get. Anyhow, you can get this set at the SSD Store. While on the blog take the time to link your own card using the sketch of the week....you may be the lucky winner of a stamp set this time.
Hope you all have a super week. Tammie

THURSDAY TIPS AND TRICKS...THE "ICING ON THE CAKE"

2011-04-14T05:00:00.001-06:00

Good morning everyone! Today is my turn over at the Skipping Stones Blog, to do the weekly Thursday tip, trick, or tutorial. My tutorial today is a technique I learned from my friend Laurie...(thanks Laurie)...how to make puff paint at home in any color you want for just pennies. We are calling it "frosting" for todays post. Soooo.....lets get busy and frost a cupcake, shall we? Here are the basic supplies to start with.....

Equal amounts of salt and flour....be sure you use salt NOT sugar.....stamps, ink, water, heat tool and cardstock.

Begin by mixing the salt and flour together, and then slowly add water and stirring until you get a thick glue like consistency....add color of choice if desired....I wanted pink frosting. I used food coloring.
Reinkers work great too.

Then I got out the SSD Cupcake Cutie set and stamped the solid image frosting for the cupcake in Stampin-Ups Blushing Bride, on white cardstock.

Pick up a small amount of the colored frosting and starting from the center, push it out to the edges of the stamped image...I just used the stir stick to do this. Do not make it too thick..it will be hard to dry as you will see in the next step.

This is how thick I layered it on. Now we begin to dry the the frosting with the heat tool. Start from the backside of the cardstock first and when you can see it starting to dry a bit and puff up, finish drying it drm the fron...do not get too close or you will burn your frosting....We're cookin now, huh? Isn't your frosting fluffy!

All my pics of the dried image blurred, so this is a bad picture of the puffed up frosting getting ready to get decorated. I applied a two way glue pen lightly over the frosting and sprinkled glitter on it..looks like colored sugar on frosting!.....soooo yummy looking! You could also add any other number of fun things instead like confetti or courser glitter etc to make your frosting look delectable! Here is what mine looked like when done....

I cut this image out and mounted it to the cupcake base I had previously stamped and cut out with a nestabilities die......This is my finished card.

It is really hard to see how cool this ooks IRL from the picture....but it is all puffed up and actually looks like frosting on a cake. You can use this recipe for anywhere you could use puff paint....white for snow, snow men, bunnies....etc....you get the idea right?
Hope you enjoyed the tip....It really is not hard to do at all. I used a Tablespoon each of the flour and salt and about 4 tsp of water to make mine and had alot of frosting. You may want to scale it down, or have several stamped images ready to paint at once. One idea I had would be to stamp a few other images where you would use white puff paint and paint them first, then add color to the rest of the paint and do a few cupcakes and cakes etc.
Have a wonderful day! Tammie

SSD SKETCH # 72 AND BLOG HOP

2011-04-12T05:00:00.001-06:00

Welcome to my blog today, and the Skipping Stones Design Blog Hop to celebrate the release of Uplifting! If you've just happened upon my blog today, make sure to start from the beginning at Skipping Stones Design Blog. You should have arrived here from Jennifer's blog. Let me show you Heather's newest set...."Uplifting"

Balloons are so very popular right now, and this set gives you lots of ways to use that theme!

Combined with the blog hop today, it's also Skipping Stones Sketch Tuesday which means we're showcasing another great creation from our Guest Sketch Artist this month, Laurie Schidlin! We'd love for you to play along with the sketch and link your card at the Skipping Stones Design Blog. A free stamp set is up for grabs to a lucky winner that joins our sketch challenge! This is her sketch for this week.....

She does such fun stuff!! This is the card I did using Stampin-up In Color Concord Crush and Peach Parfait.

I know you have more blogs to get to, so will keep my post to this today...have fun!! Don't forget to stop at the Skipping Stones Store, if you want to purchase this set. To continue on the hop, go to Gladys, and see what fun she has created!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful week! Please take the time to let me know you stopped by today by leaving a comment...I love to visit your blogs too! God Bless! Tammie

FEATURE FRIDAY

2011-04-08T05:00:00.001-06:00

TGIF! TGIF! Happy Friday to all my blogger buddies...hope your weekend is going to be a great one! Mine has started off great beause my second eldest son came home for the day and I had not seen him since last September....that is a long time for me to not see one of my 3 boys....he is just passing through today to travel on tomorrow to a new job he just accepted. So....we had a wonderful time of good food and visiting......wish he could be here longer, but good news is that he was living in Atlanta and now will be in North Dakota which is alot closer to the Black Hills of South Dakota, which makes his mother happy.

Today is my turn for a new weekly post for Skipping Stones Design called "FEATURE FRIDAY"....we Stamp Tramps LOVE all the cool, clever and funny sets Heather has created.....some of the older sets may have been a bit forgotten as she has introduced some of her new fabby sets, so......every Friday we will be highlighting an older set that we want you to be aware is still very fun, wonderful and available.

I have to be honest.....I wish I had had more time this week to do a super fabulous project with the set I chose..but sometimes life throws you a few curve balls that snatch your creative time away from you and that happened to me this week....however.......
I do have a simple card to share from the first SSD set that I purchased....It made me laugh, as so many of the SSD sets do, and I was hooked on Heathers stamps. The set I bought was "You know your get old when"....this is the set....

I have to tell you...I have used this set ALOT!......don't know how to make a card for a guy?....this set makes it easy.....just make the card funny! The card I am sharing today is a girly sort of card, but I have changed the colors, etc and used it for my guy friends too....it is a great great versatile set. This is the card I did.

I saw a sketch for a long card, and thought it would be a fun change from the normal A2 size I normally do....so I designed this card using several of the sayings from the set, cause they were all so fun I could not choose just one....hope it gives you an idea how versatile this set can be!

If you want to check this set out, or any other of Heathers fabulous creations just go to Skipping Stones Design Blog, and go shopping at the Store!!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend full of fun and spring type weather....that is what I am hoping for.....

Til next time......God Bless.....Tammie

SSD 71 TUESDAY SKETCH CHALLENGE

2011-04-05T06:00:00.002-06:00

HAPPY APRIL!! Hopefully Spring is soon in coming...as I do this post we again are getting snow in the Black Hills..I am SOOOO ready for it to be over and warm weather to begin. Today is also the weekly Tuesday sketch over at Skipping Stones Design Blog. Since it is a new month we have a new sketch design artist....Laurie Schmidlin! She has supplied we Stamp Tramps with some amazing sketches!! This is her fabby sketch for this week:

Pretty fun right? I sure enjoyed it. I decided to use Chick Chat for my set of SSD stamps this week. I love these cute little chicks....Here is my card...

This is the Chick Chat Set....

I used Stampin-ups new In Color Peach Parfait, and Concord Grape for my colors. As is my usual, I kept it Clean and Simple......hope you enjoy!
Please head on over to Skipping Stones to see what the rest of the Stamp Tramps have done with Laurie's wonderful sketch.
Thanks for stopping by my blog today!! Hope to see your creation from this sketch uploaded to the SSD blog....I would love to see YOU be the winner of free stamps!
Have a super wonderful week...hopefully it brings you April sunshine and smiles!! God Bless....Tammie

SKIPPING STONES SKETCH # 70

2011-03-29T06:00:00.002-06:00

Good morning bloggers and thanks for stopping by today. It is Tuesday which brings another sketch challenge over at Skipping Stones Design. We have enjoyed designing to the fabulous sketches that Heidi Blankenship has supplied us with this month. Here is her last sketch for us.

I chose to use an older stamp set this week for my card...."Healing Wings".

I love the butterflis in this set, and use them often. I kept my card clean and simple this week letting the butterflies take the stage.....Here is my card.

I will keep my post short today so you have time to check out the Skipping Stones Design Blog, and see what the rest of the Design Team has created. While there, check out the store, and do a little shopping. We would also love for you to play along with the sketch and share your creations with us...just upload your card to the link at the botttom of todays post on the Skipping Stones Blog....you may be this weeks winner!

Have a wonderful week, and thanks for stopping by today! Tammie

BLAST FROM THE PAST!

2011-03-25T05:00:00.000-06:00

TGIF!!!! WOW....has it been a long week for me. Work left me little time to play,but I do have a post today...it will be short however!
Today I am welcoming you to a special addition of a Skipping Stones Design Blog Hop! We do our weekly Tuesday sketches of course and introduce SSD new sets, but the purpose of this hop is to bring attention to some of our older sets. So our challenge for this hop was to use one of our oldest SSD sets and create.....I have to be honest...I was really short on time this week so my card is very simple. Here it is:

I used Chocolate volume # 2 for my "Chocolate Gift Card"....I stamped three of the chocolates and cut them out and adhered them to a doily stamp by Stella Rose that I cut out. I used DP from "Pinkpaislee" for the front and inside. Let me show you the inside.....

I used left over strips of DP, and put some chocolates in a saved plastic folder from a cuttlebug embossing folder I purchased...don't throw them away!! I use them for all kinds of things...even mising markers etc to watercolor with etc. Anyhow, the inside left says "That may be true, but do we dare take the chance?..that saying tickled me...that is what I like about SSD stamps..they are soo fun and unique.

Since this is a hop you will get to continue on from here to see what some of the other Stamp Tramps did with their choice of a SSD older set of stamps. You should have arrived here from Heathers Blog, and from here you will go to Amy's Blog.

Skipping Stones Design has a super sale right now....Buy three sets get one FREE! Your coupon code is
31FREE.
Thanks for stopping by today, and enjoy hopping around to see what some of the other Designer have done with some SSD older sets!

Have a wonderful weekend!! Tammie

SSD 69 TUESDAY SKETCH

2011-03-22T06:00:00.001-06:00

Happy Tuesday fellow stampers and bloggers. It is that time of the week again at Skipping Stones Design Blog, when a new sketch is posted for all to play along with. Our sketches all this month are from Heidi Blankenship.....wonderful fun sketches. Here is this weeks challenge:

We Stamp Tramps were assigned to use either "Gray Hare" or "Chick Chat" sets.

This is "Gray Hares" set:

This is "Chick Chat"

Both adorable sets that have been available for awhile, but are being revisited this week. I chose "Gray Hares" for my set to use this time. This is the Birthday card I made from the sketch.......

The Front.......

and the inside..........

I really like all the sayings in this set..definetely a good choice with Easter coming up as well. The DP I used is all from Stampin-up. I stamped the bunny on gray DP, and cut her out, and shaded and accented with my prismacolor pencils. Very simple card.

Hope you like.....as always, thanks for stopping by, and if you can, let me know you were here by commenting. Also please stop on over to the SSD Blog, and see what the other designers created. While there stop by the SSD store, and pick up one of these fun sets before Easter is here.

Have a wonderful week!! Tammie

SSD TUESDAY SKETCH CHALLENGE # 68

2011-03-15T06:00:00.001-06:00

Hello All....and welcome to my blog today! My post today is in honor of a new release from Skipping Stones Design called "Green Birthday"! This new release is being celebrated by a blog hop of the Stamp Tramps, and some really AWESOME guest designers....definetely something you want to hop along with. The set and blog hop are also being done in conjunction with our fabulous sketch this week from Heidi Blankenship. If you have just happened upon my blog today, make sure to start from the beginning at Skipping Stones Design. You should have arrived here from Heidi. Here is her sketch.

This is my card....

The DP is from Stella Rose. I used Spellbinders die cuts for the top and bottom and hand cut the banner...and of course had to use buttons from the stash my wonderful mom gave me. I guess I should skip to the big part of the Todays post and hop and introduce you to "Green Birthday"! Here is the new set!

This set really has some fun sayings..which is what SSD is all about...Heather loves to create sets that are unique and amusing....hope you like it, and also hope you stop on over to Skipping Stones Design blog, and get a set for yourself...and while there try your own hand at uploading your creation...don't worry if you don't have a Skipping Stones Set to use....use what you have to create to Heidi's sketch, and you may be the lucky weekly winner that wins a set!
I am so glad you stopped by today...I want to keep my blog short so you have time to see what everyone else did with the sketch and our wonderful new set. From here, to continue on the hop you need to go to Amy's blog....
Thanks so much for stopping by, and as always, please let me know you visited...it makes my day to here from you.

Tammie

SSD SKETCH CHALLENGE 67

2011-03-08T06:00:00.001-07:00

Hey fellow stampers!! Happy Tuesday and welcome to my blog today. Tuesdays are the day the "Stamp Tramps" share their designs using a sketch and stamps from Skipping Stones Design. This month our sketches are from the fabby Heidi Blakenship! Lets take a look at her sketch for this week.

I also decided to add a bit more of a challenge this week by using the Color Trends Challenge at Embellish. This is the color challenge with the additional challenge of using music also.

Of course, given the music theme, I had to use one of my favorite sets from SSD called "Heart Song"...I know you have seen us Tramps use it over and over, but it was perfect for this challenge. This is my card.

I used a Spellbinders Die to cut a window and make a frame for the window. I then stamped the little bird on the inside of the card. This is the inside of the card.....

When closed the birdie peeks through the window. The sentiment reads "you make my heart sing".....so I also punched out the hearts and stamped music on them as well.
Hope you like! Don't forget to check out the Embellish site as well as the Skipping Stones Blog....try your hand at the sketch and link it to the SSD blog.....
Please let me know you visited today.....it makes my day to hear from you! Have a wonderful wonderful week and God Bless! Tammie

SSD 66

2011-03-01T06:00:00.001-07:00

It is that time of the week again to check out the new Tuesday Sketch Challenge over at Skipping Stones Blog. We have Heidi Blakenship as our sketch artist this month. She has some fabulous sketches for us to create to....here is her first one.....

Looks like alot at first glance, but really isn't...designing to a basic sketch allows one to interpret it using your own style..you can "dress it up", or look at it with more of a clean and simple eye. I tend to usually do more simple cards allowing the stamp to be the focal image. For my take this week I did go simple but with alot more bling than I usually do...and I do hope I let the stamp shine....literally! I used one of the butterflies from the set "Always Here" and colored it with copics. I then added bling on it and all around it. This is my card.....

The bling does not show up real well but looks nice IRL. Please take the time to stop over to the SSD Blog to see what the rest of my Stamp Tramp pals have created. Also stop by the Store, and see what is new and on sale.
Thanks for taking the time to check out my blog today..please let me know you were here by leaving a comment... Have a wonderful week!

SSSC 103

2011-02-27T17:13:00.000-07:00

I decided to try my hand at the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge this week. I have followed it for awhile but never seem to get a card done and linked. I did not have much time today but I did do a quick take on the sketch. This is Karen Giron's sketch this week.

This is my take on the sketch using "Sassy Snowman" from SSD. I love this set and although I am very tired of snow and winter, I decided to do a winter card after being in the snow today.

The Designer Paper is from The Paper Studios Four Seasons Collection. I colored the snowman with copics.
Hope your weekend was as good as mine! I had my grandson overnight and we did a hockey game, ice skating and a multitude of other fun little things!
Have a wonderful week! Tammie

SSD # 65 SKETCH CHALLENGE

2011-02-22T06:00:00.001-07:00

Happy Tuesday once again! Time for the weekly Tuesday sketch over at Skipping Stones Design blog. We have another sketch by Lea Lawson. This is her challenge sketch....

This is the card I made.....

I used SSD set Dandelion Dreams for the main image. The CS is all from PTI, and the background paper on the strip is from Stella Rose. Sorry about the poor quality of the pic...my camera is giving me problems...(more than likely user error).
The other Stamp Tramps have been busy also so be sure to stop over at the Skipping Stone Design Blog and check out their work too. While there, enter your creation using the sketch and you may be the one to win free merchandise this week.
Thanks for stopping by and please let me know you were here! Have a wonderful week! Tammie

SSD # 64 SKETCH CHALLENGE AND BLOG HOP

2011-02-15T06:00:00.001-07:00

THIS IS A SPECIAL TUESDAY OVER AT Skipping Stones Design BLOG!! Today is a combination post...the usual Tuesday Sketch Challenge AND...the release of a brand new SSD set called "Pumpkin Seed Sentiments", celebrated by an AWESOME blog hop with tons of cool design ideas!
I will back track and start with the fabulous sketch from our very talented Guest designer all this month...Lea Lawson! Her inspiring work is everywhere you look, and I feel tickled to death to have the opportunity to design to a sketch she gave us! Here it is!

To add to the fun of an amazing sketch, we have a fun new release from Skipping StonesDesign called "Pumpkin Seed Sentiments" to design with....this is a super versatile set of background stamps and simple sentiments that are a must for your stamping collection that I know you will use over and over. This is the set..

Like I said.....lotsa fun to play with right? So,... I showed you the sketch, we looked at the amazing new SSD set and now lets get on to the fun of the BLOG HOP!! You should have arrived here from Angela Thomas, one of our fabby guest Designers this month.....Awesome creation she posted !!! Since we have so many fun things to see today, I will cut to the chase...my take on the Sketch using "Pumpkin Seed Sentiments"...since today IS Valentines Day...

You all know by now my love of kraft CS.....sorry to use it again...BUT..it works sooo well with this set and white ink.....don't ya think? OK...so I used PTI kraft, the stamp stamped with white ink and embossed with white EP. I cut around the shape and layered it onto PTI Razzelberry Fizz CS...embellished with Razzelberry Fizz ribbon and buttons, and PTI New Leaf ribbon. Pearls from my ecclectic basket of goodies my Mother gave me..Swiss dot CB background layer...and a pretty little flower I bought a long time ago that needed the right moment to shine....I enhanced her with a Razzelberry Fizz buton and pearl, added a quick sentiment and there she is!! My take on the sketch using our fabby new release....BUT...WAIT...I have one more little pic to share using Pumpkin Seed Sentiments before we move on to our next person on the hop...I created a few mini 3X3 cards I wanted to quickly share....

Simple...YES....Quick YES...Great Gift Set..YES!!....Just one more idea....NOW PLEASE hop on to the next person on the hop...one of us "Stamp Tramps" Wendy Jordan. At the end of the hop please please play along with the sketch and link your card at the Skipping Stones Design Blog . A free stamp set is up for grabs to a lucky winner that uploads their creation to the sketch challenge.
Thanks for stopping by today and joining our hop. Hope you have a wonderful week!! TAMMIE

SSD TUESDAY SKETCH CHALLENGE # 63

2011-02-08T05:00:00.001-07:00

This weeks sketch caught my eye right away! The fabulous Lea Lawson has done it again!! I liked it because I immediately saw the potential to use one of my Prima flowers I recently purchased. This is her awesome sketch.....

And this is what I did with it this week........

I used a soon to be released SSD stamp set called "Pumpkin Seeds" for the background, stamping it repeatedly in Versamark ink lining it up each time with my stamp positioner...(I think I stamped it three times)...then I embossed it with clear EP and when cool colored the little dots with a white gel pen. In real life the background is really quite shiny and pretty. I then used my Prima flower over the top of some leaf ribbon I bought many moons ago from PTI. The words on the banner are also from "Pumpkin Seeds". This set will be released along with our blog hop next Tuesday...Hope you plan to hop along.
My post today is short and to the point...Hopefully you check out the other Stamp Tramp creations over at the Skipping Stones Design Blog, and upload your own creation....you can win free stamps! Also check out the store. Heather has designed some very very fun sets that are very reasonably priced and unique.
Have a wonderful week blogger buddies and be sure to let me know you visited by leaving a comment.
God Bless! Tammie

PINWHEEL CARD

2011-02-06T17:41:00.000-07:00

This is my second post today while I watch the Super Bowl so scroll down if you want to see my earlier post today using the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge by Karen Giron.

This card is just a simple experiment...I am not quite happy with how it turned out, but wanted to try a pinwheel card. I am using it as a Valentine for my Mom who means the world to me. I used DP scraps so can't tell who the Paper is from. The white from PTI as is the Sweet Blush CS and Sweet Blush ribbon. The buttons are from my stash my mom helped me collect! Love you Mom....

SWEET SUNDAY SKETCH CHALLENGE 103

2011-02-06T17:02:00.000-07:00

The Super Bowl is on, and while I am listening I decided to do the Karen Girons Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 103. I liked the sketch and decided to play with some of my watercolored butterflies and dragonfly from the Skipping Stones Design set called "Always There". Here is Karens sketch.

And here is my card. Soft and lacey like.....I so long for Spring. One of the sayings in this set says "Change can be beautiful"....lets change out the snow for Spring!!

Hope you all have a wonderful Sunday, a great week, and if the Super Bowl is your thing...that your team wins!! Tammie

TIPS AND TRICKS THURSDAY SSD

2011-02-03T05:00:00.001-07:00

Happy Thursday and hurray the weekend is almost here! Yeah! The good news here in the Black Hills also is that the weather is warming up a little for the weekend...it goes from one extreme to the other all in the same week...-24 to 44 degrees! crazy....never dull though.
I just have a quick post today as my son from Minneapolis is visiting today and I want to make a nice meal and hang with him and his lovely girlfriend. They are so great together!

I just wanted to show you two cards I made for the Thursday Tips and Tutorials over at Skipping Stones Design blog. They are very very quick and simple, but that is what the post is all about....I created a masterboard by covering a sheet of watercolor paper with a soft wash of color. I also added a generous spray of glimmer mist to the finished piece while still wet. Let it dry completely.

I then Stamped several images on the paper from my favorite SSD sets in black Momento ink, and embossed with clear EP.

From there I created the two following cards, and put the paper away for a future quick card where I may need an already "colored" image. These are the two cards I made, from two of the images I stamped.

For a more detailed tutorial you can check it out at the Skipping Stones blog. While there go to the store and do a little shopping for some of the pretty stamps I used today.....and create your own masterboard for future quick card creations!
Have a wonderful day, and thanks for stopping by! Tammie

SSD TUES SKETCH CALLENGE # 62

2011-02-01T05:00:00.001-07:00

Hello fellow bloggers and Happy Tuesday. Welcome once again to my blog today. It is once again time for the Stamp Tramps to post their creations to this weeks challenge at Skipping Stones Design. All this month we have the pleasure of designing to the FABULOUS Lea Lawson!! I know you have seen her work over and over again in various publications and online galleries. She is fabulous! This is the sketch she has given us to design to this week.

Simple and very fun to play with. Great for using different background papers and a simple sentiment, ribbon, paper strip scraps.....you get the idea! It has possibilities galore. I kept my card very simple this week all though the prep work behind it was a little more time consuming. Let me show it to you and explain.

I used the butterflys from "Always There" and decided tsso mount them in a linear pattern instead of a ribbon or strip of paper. I am soooo tired of winter and wanted to do something springlike this week.
I made a master board of sorts to stamp the butterflies on. I took water color paper and wet it real well and painted various pastel colors of watercolors here and there allowing them to run together. When dry I stamped these butterflies and still have paper left over to use in another project sometime. I stamped the butterflies in a dark brown chalk ink and embossed with clear EP. I then cut them out and as a last thought sprayed them with glimmer mist. Hard to tell from the photo I know. They turned out so pretty I did not want much more pattern in my card to detract from them. So I kept the rest of the card plain. I stamped the sentiment on a cream colored ribbon by Tim Holtz and was done. A very quick card and once you get a masterboard done you can make alot of different things with it.
Hope you have had fun checking out what the rest of the Tramps have been doing. Please create something of your own and link it on the SSD blog....there are prizes to be won!
I best get moving as I have an early day at work tomorrow....and COLD COLD COLD weather here...17 below right now without wind chill....wish I could play hookie and stay home tomorrow and stamp, but my boss occasionally reads my blog! Ha! Ha!....she is an awesome stamper herself and fun to stamp with when we get the rare chance.
Take care blog friends and don't forget to leave a comment if you visit so I know you have been here, and have a WONDERFUL week. God Bless....Tammie

SSD SKETCH CHALLENGE 61

2011-01-25T05:00:00.001-07:00

Its Tuesday again and time to have the fun of designing to a new and fabulous sketch over at Skipping Stones Design blog. Our talented sketch artist this month is Amy Sheffer. I have so enjoyed her sketches...lots of layering which can really be fun...pulling out papers one hasn't looked at in awhile etc. This weeks sketch was no exception. Here is Amy's sketch # 61.

I missed a birthday in my family this week and needed a Birthday card, belated sort of card, so for my take on this sketch used "Funny Coffee" Vol. 1. I pulled out some designer papers that coordinated from an old Stampin-up set...can't remember the color..but it appealed to me today..seemed kind of sunny on a dreary winter day. I used my spellbinders to die cut the circles. and embossed the inner one. I then stamped the coffee cup twice on coordinating papers and paper pieced the cup together. I raided my big basket of lace and found the banner lace which I have used before as a banner, but could not resist using it again...it looked kind of kitcheny if you know what I mean. Then I found the tiniest little buttons that I accented the banner and cup with. Very quick once I had it all layed out. This is the card.

I hate being late forgetting anyones birthday, but it is nice to have a set that lets you acknowlege your "oops" and apologize. So here is to you Anna, the girl who keeps one of my little brothers in line!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY A LITTLE LATTE! Hope it was a good one!
Don't forget to stop on over to the Skipping Stones Design Blog, and check out what the other Stamp Tramps created with the sketch....lots of cute ideas to inspire! Why not upload your own card using the sketch and have a chance to win free merchandise from SSD.
Hope you all have a very blessed week. Thanks for stopping by and please comment and let me know you were here! Til next time........Tammie

SSD Sketch Challenge 60

2011-01-18T05:00:00.001-07:00

PURSES!! Don't you just love them? The stamp set I am using for my post today is all about purses....and is it ever a cute set! Heather really nailed it with this set. WELCOME to my blog today and sketch challenge Tuesday at Skipping Stones Design. Last week we celebrated "Birthday Purses" release and this week we had the challenge to use the set with another sketch from the awesome Amy Sheffer. This is her sketch this week.

Now it looks a little complicated at first glance with all the layers etc, but was really fun to play with. I used some coordinating DP from Memory Box called Gossamer, a doily for the circle layer and kraft CS base from PTI. This is my card.

This week I decided to show you the inside of the card as well, as I tried to coordinate it and used several of the sentiments from the set too. Here is the inside.

I really like this set..playing with the purses can go on and on...you can paper piece them, stamp them on textured paper, Designer papers, color them......you name it..and the sentiments are so fun too. This is the set once again.

I hope you take the time to stopon over to the Skipping Stones Design blog, and check out what all the other Stamp Tramps have created. Also try your hand at the sketch challenge and upload your card for a chance to win a free stamp set or 1/2 off any set.
I hope you all have a wonderful week!! Thanks for dropping by....as always I love it when you leave a comment, so please feel free to do so!

SSD SKETCH CHALLENGE 59 AND BLOG HOP

2011-01-11T05:30:00.024-07:00

Hello all you stampers out there! Thanks for stopping by my blog today. Today is special because not only is it the Tuesday sketch challenge at Skipping Stones Design, we are celebrating the release of two new SSD sets "Heartsong" and "Purse Birthday" with a blog hop! Today the DT and Guests of SSD will be featuring cards using "Heartsong" and sketch # 59 from our Guest sketch artist this month, Amy Sheffer! If you just happened on my blog today be sure to start from the beginning at Skipping Stones Design. You should have arrived here from Wendy's blog. Lets begin shall we?! OK....first lets look at the two fabulous new releases.

HEARTSONG

BIRTHDAY PURSES

Fabulous sets are they not? Can't you just feel your creative juices kickin in? The possibilities are endless. Here is sketch # 59 and my take on it using the cute little birdie from "Heartsong".

Hope you like! We would sure love for you to play along with the sketch and link your card at the SSD blog. A lucky winner that joins our sketch challenge will win either a free stamp set or half off any stamp set in the store! Also Heather at SSD is offering a special sale you can't beat! From now until midnight on Monday the 17th, if you buy 3 sets you get one free! All you have to do is enter the code "1free" when checking out and the discount will be applied.....GREAT opportunity to stock up or buy gifts for some of your stampin buddies.
Again, thanks so much for joining the hop today....I am so glad you stopped by. I always love hearing from you so don't hesitate to leave a comment...it makes by day! Next on the hop is for you to jump on over to the fabulous Tami Mayberry! You can see the whole hop line-up at the Skipping Stones blog. I know you will find inspiration today hopping along with us. HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEK!

SSD 57 TUESDAY SKETCH

2010-12-28T05:00:00.001-07:00

Well....did everyone survive the Christmas Holidays? I am still celebrating because as you read this I am on our sailboat in the Sea of Cortez soaking up some sun. It is such a nice break from the cold of South Dakota! The only bad thing about being on the boat is that it doesn't have all my stamping stuff I love to play with. So....I draw sketches and think of ideas, and color prestamped images I bring along.

Over at Skipping Stones Design Blog, it again time for the Tuesday sketch challenge. We have one last sketch from the fabulous Maile Belles! It has been such an honor to design to her work this month. I have been a follower of hers for quite some time. I love her style. This is the sketch she gave us this week.

And this is the card I did....

I used the Happy Brrrrrthday set again this week. I love the beautiful selection of snowflakes this set has. I know the colors that I chose are not very traditional for snowflakes, but was tired of Christmas and winter type colors. Snowflakes can be pink right? I think so, so my snow is pink. I hope you like my odd little card.

I sure hope you stop on over to the SSD Blog, and look at what the fabby Guest Designers and Stamp
Tramps have come up with this week. Do some shopping, and upload your own card take on the sketch!

HAVE A HAPPY HAPPY NEW YEAR! I will be out of internet service after this post for a bit but will be back with you all right after the first of the year. I may share a few sailing pics of our adventures on our sailboat, the "Quantun Leap". Thanks so much for stopping by!

SSD 56 TUESDAY SKETCH

2010-12-21T05:00:00.001-07:00

WOW!! The last Tuesday before Christmas !! Where did the month go? The holidays will be over before we know it.....Welcome today to my blog. It is my Tuesday post to highlight the Skipping Stones Design weekly sketch challenge. Again our marvelous sketch this week comes from the awesome Maile Belles! This week the sketch is very simple.

Lots you can do with this right? With the normal time restaints we all have this time of year I kept my card clean and simple as well. CAS does not have to be boring though. In this case a simple snowflake from SSD new release this month "Happy Brrrrthday" set takes center stage with a simple saying. I curved the saying to go with the round shape of the doily.

I kept a country sort of feel with the kraft, twine, button and doily. This is a super quick card to do. Hope you like! I am keeping my post super short today so you have plenty of time to check out all the other "Stamp Tramp" and guest designers creations too.....this is truly a super versatile set with a cute little penquin and awesome sentiments. Don't forget to stop on over to the Skipping Stones Design Blog, to check out the rest of the creations, to shop, and hopefully play along with us to score your chance at winning a free stamp set!
Hope you all have a wonderful and very very Merry Christmas!!!

SSD SKETCH CHALLENGE 55

2010-12-14T05:00:00.004-07:00

Welcome to my blog today for another Skipping Stones Design sketch challenge and BLOG HOP, to celebrate the release of two new stamp sets from SSD....Sentiment Frames # 1, and Brrrthday! You should have arrived here from Kandi's blog. If you just happened on my blog today you can start at the beginning at Skipping Stones blog.
Our sketch this week (and all month) is from the awesome Maile Belles. This week the stamp set the Stamp Tramps are using is Sentiment Frames # 1. Very versatile set. Next week we will feature creations using BRRRthday. Here is the sketch we are using this week.

The Sentiment Frames set worked so well combines with this sketch. I had to do one last Holiday card.....

I decided the Sentiment Frame worked OK as an oval so tried that..the possibilities with this set really are endless..a very good basic set to have for any occasion. I apologize for not having a picture of the set, but couldn't get my set to scan well enough to do it justice....But to see them check out the Skipping Stones Store, or follow the Hop and I know someone will have them posted.

So, since we are all short on time this time of year, I will not drone on and on but send you on your way to the next person on the hop after me...Wendy! Enjoy the hop and hope you get lots of ideas and inspiration!!

SSD CHALLENGE # 54

2010-12-07T05:00:00.003-07:00

Again..a very Happy Tuesday to all and welcome to my blog today. This is the day for Skipping Stones Design Tuesday Sketch, which we stamp tramps have the wonderful oppurtunity to design cards from the sketches of some of the top designers in the paper crafting industry. I feel so fortunate to be able to have this kind of fun enjoying my hobby. This month the sketches are from a super talented gal I have followed for a long time...Maile Belles! I love her stamping style, and go to her blog for inspiration often. Her beautiful creations have been published many many times.

This week we have a different sort of sketch to play with...it leaves lots of room for all kinds of creativity...

FUN Huh?......well....trying to be unique in this challenge with the other tramps being sooo very creative, and having a time constraint this weekend left me scrambling a bit. But I did my signature CAS card and liked how it turned out....

If you follow my blog at all you know I love kraft CS, and buttons and lace.....etc....for this card I used kraft CS, and white, accented with a tish of bright pink....I added bling to the flower and die cut, but it doesn't show much in the pic. The stamps of course are from SSD...
TIMELESS TEXTURES

ALWAYS HERE
I love both these sets! The background stamps in "Timeless Textures" are so versatile, and the butterflies in "Always Here" so beautiful. These sets will be go to sets for me over and over.

Once again, don't forget to stop over to the Skipping Stones blog, and see what the rest of the "Stamp Tramps" have created this week. Also check out the SALE!! Heather is offering one last pre-christmas sale....and it is a good one! For every three stamps sets you purchase by midnight December 14th, you get one of two pre-release sets FREE!! Either "Birthday Purses" or "Heart Song"....both super cool sets! Check out the ordering details on the SSD blog to take advantage of this super deal.

Thanks for stopping by today! Have a wonderful week!

TIPS AND TRICKS THURSDAY AT SSD

2010-12-02T05:00:00.002-07:00

It is my turn as the Stamp Tramp that does the Thursday Tips, Tricks, and Tutorials at Skipping Stones Design blog. I decided on a very quick and simple tutorial today using CD envelopes that you buy in bulk. I made CD envelope shaker cards. This time of year everyone is busy and short on time, and anything "quick" is helpful. I have always thought shaker cards were fun, but can be alot of work, layering, messy and time consuming. This technique is much easier, and quicker. I am all about quick! Lets get started!

You will need a CD envelope..(they are 5x5 inches square), stamps and inks of choice, and a piece of CS cut just under 5 x 5 inches to fit inside the envelope. In this card of course I chose a SSD set...one of my favorites.."Sassy Snowmen".

I stamped the insert the way I wanted it, and also the outside of the envelope. The possibilities at this stage are endless...that is why this technique appeals to me so much. I stickled the parameter of the CD acetate window with stardust stickles, and let it dry. Meanwhile I stamped the insert, sort of eyeballing where the wording should go.

I stamped the snowgirl, cut her out and then started to assemble the card. I adhered the snowgirl and any embellishments first. Then I inserted the stamped CS into the envelope, and before sealing it added an amount of glitter that seemed to look good. I then adhered it to a piece of yellow CS measuring 5 1/4 in square.

Easy huh? Like I mentioned earlier the possibilities are endless, and today I could not stop at one shaker card..soooo here is another quick idea..using another SSD set "Funny Coffee vol 1". This set has been very popular and is back in stock!

This time I used coffee beans as the shaker item. I used DP instead of stamping the background image and just stamped the cup and sentiment...I stamped the cup twice. Once on white CS, and once on kraft, cutting out and paper piecing the wrap around the cup....like Starbucks does! I used two spellbinders die cuts to make the frame around the acetate.....

like this. Works pretty cool. I really like my Spellbinder die cuts. I have ALOT of them so far, and that brings me to the "TIP" part of my post. I found a way to store my spellbinders that works beautifully for me, and may for someone else too....so thought I would share. I had two old frames in the closet that had no use and were on their way to the garbage. Being the green girl I am, I started thinking mmmmm.......

I wanted the die cuts where I could see them...not in some binder, so I used the frame. I left the glass in and bought sticky backed magnetic sheets at Hobby Lobby. I adhered the the sticky side of the sheets right to the glass. The frame became a showcase for my Spellbinders. They stick right on to the magnetic sheets and are easy to see and remove. I did use both frames, but have them hung in a small hall and couldn't get far enough away to get both in my picture. Anyway...it works for me, and may for you!

Hope you enjoyed my quick little tutorial and trick today! Have a wonderful day...Friday is almost here! Thanks so very much for stopping by today, and don't hesitate to leave a comment, or an idea you want to share...I so enjoy hearing from you!

SSD 53 TUESDAY SKETCH CHALLENGE

2010-11-30T05:00:00.001-07:00

And another Happy Tuesday to all! I have always enjoyed beginning a card project with a sketch or layout. It makes creating so much more fun for me. I have collected sketches for years, and made up some of my own as well. It is always such a great starting point to jumpstart a project.

Tuesdays at Skipping Stones Design brings a new sketch, and this month there is one last November sketch from the very talented Shannan Teubner! I have so enjoyed the opportunity to design to her fabulous sketches. Here is sketch # 53! Love the scallops!! We Stamp Tramps were able to pick our set to use on the sketch this week, and with Christmas coming soooo quickly, I decided to use the "Christmas Swirls" set again. This is such a pretty set! It can be both elegant, CAS, country, vintage...works well with almost any theme. I went a little more country this time.

I wanted to use the Christmas DP I bought from SU, so started with that....The colors are Old Olive, and Ruby Red. I stamped the SSD star in Ruby Red, and cut it out, then layered it into Old Olive CS. For the rest of the card I followed the sketch, using lace and buttons from my stash. Hope you like! The ornament or Dove from the set would work well with this sketch as well.
Please head over to the Skipping Stones blog, and see what the rest of my Stamp Tramp buddies have come up with..they are all so fabulously talented, and also we have some awesome guest artists this month as well. We love seeing you all share your creations with us from the sketch as well, so link up your cards and you could be our next Wednesday Winner!
SALE!!! Don't you love the word? Well, while you are checking out the sketch and designs at Skipping Stones, don't forget to check out the store, and go shopping.......because...Heather is offering a super fantastic deal!
A Crazy Tuesday (one day only) sale. For every $30 gift certificate you purchase you get a FREE stamp set of your choice! Absolutely FREE! Pretty cool deal huh? You could give the gift certificate as a great Christmas gift, and you get a fun gift for yourself...how cool is that? Just hop over to Skipping Stones, and get the details on how to order your gift certificate. Just remember that the deal ends today by midnight!
Hope you all have a wonderful week! Thanks for stopping by today, and don't hesitate to leave a coment or two...I love hearing from you!

SSD 52 SKETCH CHALLENGE

2010-11-23T05:00:00.001-07:00

It is once again time for the weekly sketch challenge from Skipping Stones Design. We have another amazing sketch from the very talented Shannan Tuebner.

This is the card I made...I flipped the sketch and again used last weeks new release "Sassy Snowmen". I love the snowmen in this set. The inside of the card says "Does this snow make my butt look big?" The whole set just cracks me up!
I paper pieced the hat and scarf from the SU Christmas pack of DP, and used the swiss dots CB folder for the white layer. The CS is also from SU Christmas pack....Ruby Red and Old Olive. The lace and buttons are from my stash.
I will make this post short and sweet today because my wonderful mom is visiting me and I treasure every moment I am blessed to spend with her. If you want to see what she does for one of her creative outlets just scroll down and see my two Sunday posts! Fun!
Please don't forget to stop on over to the SSD site to upload your own creation....you may be our Wednesday Winner!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday!

BUTTON BUTTON WHO'S GOT THE BUTTON

2010-11-21T19:00:00.000-07:00

I LOVE BUTTONS!! But as much as I enjoy them, my mom enjoys them more. She collects them just for the pure joy of fingering through them, sorting them, admiring them, and putting them in fun containers to showcase their beauty. They make her happy. She never tires of searching garage sales and thrift shops for treasures to add to her "stash". As she ages I hope never to find her in a state of dementia, for I fear she will have a scissors hidden in her pocket cutting buttons off of clothes people still have on! LOL. Just kidding mom!
As I mentioned in an earlier post today, my mom is here visiting me for a week or two, and brought a whole suitcase full of buttons to sort through and organize while I was at work. Scroll down to my earlier post today to see a picture of the suitcase!! I am not kidding one bit! I just want to share a couple of quick pictures of some of the button jars at her home....notice I said "some" of the buttons.....

She found this coffee table as someone elses throw away item, refinished it, had glass made for the shadow box areas and filled it with buttons. Even kids that come to her house love to look at the table.
I do have the Making Memories Embellishment Center with quite a few small jars I got at Michaels filled with buttons....but I also had a ton of small baggies in a big bowl that had a few buttons of one style or color etc. Today mom organized them for me while I was stamping.....We got bead containers from Michaels and she put my mess in order. The pics are not real good, but you will get the idea. She filled three cantainers for me, and they look soooo pretty...and it will be soooo much easier to find what I need.

Isn't it awesome!! I just wish the pics would show how pretty they all look together. Thanks mom over and over..you are so very awesome, and I love you! P.S.....can I have your button collection someday?

BLOG CANDY WINNERS

2010-11-21T14:58:00.000-07:00

Hello, and Happy Sunday! Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend, and that is warmer where you are, than it is here in the Black Hills!
This week we Stamp Tramps from Skipping Stones Design, did a blog hop for SSD sketch 51, and the release of "Sassy Snowmen."
On my post, I had up some blog candy!!!......I have the winners!!!!

Congratulations to Patti on winning the lace package from Leslie's Etsy shop at Christopher Pines. She will be sending you out a awesome little package of goodies!

Also Congratulations to "Snowflake Dreams" on winning the SSD stamp set!! I know you will love the set I send out to you....I will let it be a surprise!

I have done a little bit of creating this weekend with the new SSD "Christmas Swirls" set....this is a very versatile set that has images that are so intricate and pretty that they hold their own very well as a CAS card as the focal point which is what I have done here with these two cards. I also wanted to show the versatility with the dove by doing an elegant card with gold embossing, and then a more casual look on kraft Cardstock. It works well with both don't you think?

Hope you all have a wonderful rest of the weekend! My mom is here from the cold land of North Dakota, and is organizing my buttons!!! How cool is that! When she gets a little further along tonite, I will take a photo or two and share them with you. She has been so much fun to have! She arrived with only two suitcases....one with her clothes, and one FULL of buttons she is sorting through!!! I KID YOU NOT!! I couldn't believe it when I lifted the one suitcase! She had dumped 5 gallon jars of buttons in a suitcase to sort and organize while I was at work...Here is the proof!

I told you I wasn't kidding....and this is after she pulled alot of them out to sort through. She has the most amazing collection of buttons I have ever seen! She is the source of most of the buttons I use on my cards. Thanks Mom for sharing! You rock! I will share a few more fun pics later! Right now I need to make a quick trip to Michaels to get more organizing containers.

SSD SKETCH 51 AND BLOG HOP

2010-11-16T05:00:00.001-07:00

It is Tuesday, and not only is it our weekly sketch challenge at Skipping Stones Design, it is also the celebration of the release of a new set called "Sassy Snow". I seriously LOVE this set....even though I don't especially like snow, I love snowmen. This set is soooo cute, and true to her witty and funny sets, Heather designed this set with a couple fun sayings....like "does this snow make my butt look big", or "I smell carrots!" I never thought about what a snowman may say, and laughed when I saw this set!

To celebrate this new set being released we Stamp Tramps have some fun for everyone today....a blog hop to show off some ways to use this fun set, AND.......some BLOG CANDY!! We also were very fortunate to recieve a gift package of beautiful laces and such from the very kind Leslie Christopher who has a wonderful etsy shop with super good deals on ribbons, trims, and vintage treasures. It is called "Christopher Pines".....you gotta check out the link.......COOL stuff! AND...there is more!!! Leslie will give a lucky winner from each of our blogs the same fun package of lace we recieved! Believe me this was fun to get in the mail! Isn't that nice of her!! So...without blabbing on so much you lose interest in following along , let me move on.....here is the SSD sketch #51 from the fabulous Shannan Teubner....we have been so fortunate to work with this wonderful, talented gal.

Once Again... a very CAS design with huge creative potential. You rock Shannan! This is the card I created using the sketch, the SSD set "Sassy Snowmen", and some of Leslie's wonderful laces and trims she so graciously gave us! Thanks Leslie!

I also used a copic marker that matched the CS I chose, and colored one of the pieces of sheer white ribbon lavender...really worked well! I used a Spellbinders mitten die instead of the oval, which I thought fit the theme well. The snowflakes on the lavender layer were stamped with versamark, and embossed with clear. The scarf, mittens, and snowflake were colored with copics.

Lets get to the hop!! You should have arrived here from Amy Tsurutas blog. I am last on the list of gals on the hop, but if you just happened upon my blog today, you can go to Shannan Teubners blog, and begin the hop there. If you lose your way, or the link is broken, just head on over to the Skipping Stones Design blog for the whole list of both Stamp Tramps, and guest designers blogs to see everyones creations, and also don't forget to stop there to link your own creation following Shannans sketch to have a chance at being the next Wednesday Winner! While there don't forget to go shopping at the store.

Now....for one last fun little detail....THE BLOG CANDY! There will be two lucky winners on my blog today.....one will recieve Leslies package of lace and trims, and someone else will recieve a free SSD stamp set.....to have a chance at one of these goodies, just leave me a comment at the end of this post with info on how to reach you so I can get your candy to you!

Hope you all have a wonderful week that not only brings work, but a chance to create a little as well! We are supposed to get some snow this week in the Black Hills, so this set kinda sets the mood ahead of time ya know? LOL! Thanks so much for stopping by, and reading this lengthy post today. PLEASE leave a comment so you have a chance at the blog candy....plus I so love hearing from you, and in turn visiting your blogs!

SSD SKETCH CHALLENGE 50

2010-11-09T05:00:00.001-07:00

WOW!! I feel bad I have not posted since last weeks sketch, but this week has been very busy...4 super long days at work, then off to Minneapolis to visit my youngest son. So, my creating time took a back seat this week. I did however get the sketch challenge completed for sketch # 50 over at Skipping Stone Designs blog. The sketches this month are from the awesome Shannan Teubner...she rocks, and you won't want to miss any of her sketches this month. Hopefully you will hop on over to SSD and link up your own creation from the sketch, and be one of our Wednesday Winnners! This is Shannans sketch!

Again...very clean simple lines that lend itself to so much potential FUN!! This is what I did with the sketch, using our featured stamp set "Christmas Swirls". This set is beautiful!! It can be used so many different ways. I used just the star and three of the sayings.

This card uses the stamps in a more "country" style way...I just got the paper and embellishments at my local scrapbooking store Altered Playground. Cathy always keeps the coolest things in stock, and is always so helpful and full of inspiration. I feel lucky to have such an awesome store here in our small town! Anyway..the embellishments and paper are called "tinsel and twig" by "the girls paperie". I so fell in love with how it all worked together that I just started pulling things off the wall and couldn't wait to use it. Lucky we were to use the "Christmas Swirls" this week! I stamped the star in the set on the word printed side of the paper and embossed it with clear EP. Then I sponged it with a coordinating green ink using the star image as a resist, and cut it out. Then I put the rest of the card together using the sketch as a guide, and stamped the three words from the set last.
This set could sooo easily be very elegant using silver or gold embossing powder etc....You will be seeing me use this alot this season!
Hope this finds your week going well....to see the set I used for this card, and view all the other super cool creations from the rest of the "stamp tramps" visit the SSD web site...I know you will find some really fun ideas...we have some super talented guest designers this month too..don't miss out!

SSD SKETCH CHALLENGE 49

2010-11-02T05:00:00.001-06:00

Hello and welcome to my blog today...it is Tuesday, which brings a new sketch challenge over at Skipping Stones Design blog. This week we are starting the month off with sketches from the very awesome
Shannan Teubner....all month!! You will not want to miss her sketches. They are very versatile, easy, and fun sketches to play with, so please hop on over to SSD and link your own version of the sketch, and grab a chance at being our next Wednesday winner...here is the sketch!

I flipped it so the oval was on top..worked better with the set I chose...I love this set..."Funny Coffee" #1. I seriously cannot do Christmas or winter yet...just a thing with me...Fall is my favorite time of year and all the pretty colors and stamping opportunities to use that palette get away from me by being overshadowed by Halloween, and then right into Christmas! So for me...I had to do some earth tone colors this week. After this I will move on to more "snow" related themes. This is my card take on Shannans sketch....the DP is "Nutmeg" by "CosmoCricket"...love it!

I did the buttons by hand using clear buttons, and leftover DP...easy to do, and always match perfectly! Have a wonderful week!

ALTERED HALLOWEEN ITEMS

2010-10-27T17:51:00.001-06:00

Happy hump day! It is very cold and extremely windy here in the Black Hills today! I hate the wind! It is blowing things all over and making terrible messes. The only thing it is not blowing around yet is SNOW!
I am so glad for that. I know in North Dakota where my son works, there was a blizzard today, with alot of snow. So, I will stop whining and show you what I am taking to work tomorrow for all my co-worker pals.
I have been into altering saved items lately in an attempt to clean out my stamp room. I did get rid of a few things as you can see from the picture, but made a huge mess creating the treats....so...I still have a mess. I have come to the conclusion that if my stamp room is spotless it means I have no ideas or projects waiting to be completed, and that is not good. I love coming down here to my space, and seeing something I thought of, did not have time to do, and start to play. I look forward to every spare minute I can hang out down here...even if it is just to look at all the pretty paper and stamps while blog hopping.

I have had the wonderful opportunity to be on the Design team for Skipping Stones Design stamp company, and used the "Boo" set for most of these projects. Last month, I did a tutorial on how to alter a cuttlebug folder. To view the tutorial, click on my side bar under September and it is there. The picture shows a few of those in the back, and then various other packaging I saved from different bought stamping products in the front. Not a very good picture I know, but hope you get the idea....and maybe some ideas!
I have enjoyed making Halloween items, but am ready to move on to a new Holiday. If you want any more info on any of the projects, comment, and I will get back to you. I love hearing your comments. Also, if you have any good altering ideas please share.....I would love to see what some of you are repurposing. You can be sure as Christmas approaches, I will share more little things here and there on my blog.
Have a wonderful rest of the week! Remember that tomorrow is Tips and Tricks and Tutorials over at Skipping Stones Design blog.....check out what our very talented Gladys has in store for everyone....a very cool idea resulting in a beautiful project that just wowed me!!

SKIPPING STONES DESIGN SKETCH # 48

2010-10-26T05:00:00.002-06:00

Tuesdays bring a new fun sketch challenge from Skipping Stones Design. Our guest sketch artist this month has been Karen Giron, who has suppplied us with 4 amazing sketches. This is her layout for this week.

We were to use the new set "Grunge" on our card. I chose the woodgrain background stamp to make the squares behind the focal image. With October being breast cancer awareness month I also wanted to use the newly released "Cancer Schmancer". This is my card for this week. Please remember to hop on over to the SSD blog, and see what the rest of the "Stamp Tramps" and guest designers have created! Have a wondeful day!

SSD SKETCH # 47

2010-10-19T06:00:00.002-06:00

It is Tuesday, and Tuesday brings a new sketch challenge over at Skipping Stones Design blog. All this month our sketches are from the amazing Karen Giron. Last week SSD released two new stamp sets, "Cancer Schmancer", and "Grunge". We used the cancer set for last weeks sketch, and are incorporating "Grunge" into this weeks sketch. This set is is geared towards creating projects for the men in our lives. That can be a tough one sometimes. It really is a great set! This is the sketch we used:

Love the sketch! Lots of room for fun creations!! I chose to base my card around kraft CS which I love! This is the card I made using "Grunge".

I only used two of the stamps from the set....the scalloped border, and Happy Birthday. The CS is from PTI. I used warm red chalk ink, and Black momento. This card is very quick and easy to do. The look could be dramatically different with a simple color combo change. Hope you like!
Don't forget to head over toSkipping Stones Design blog, and check out what the other Stamp Tramps and guest designers have created as well. Upload your own project and you may be our Wednesday winner!
Hope your week is going well, and thanks for visiting my blog today!

RELEASE CELEBRATION BLOG HOP

2010-10-15T05:00:00.007-06:00

TGIF......And time to celebrate the release of two new stamp sets from Skipping Stones Design, with a blog hop! You should have arrived here from Wendy's blog. When done here, you will go to Shannan's blog. If you just happened upon my blog today, Welcome, and I will have the whole hop listed at the end of this post. The hop will showcase the new set "Cancer Schmancer", and follow a sketch from our very talented guest artist this month, Karen Giron. Are you ready for some fun and inspiration?? Lets go!!!

This is sketch # 46 that we are using this week:

A very simple, classic sketch that is easy to use with most any stamp set.....but we got to use the new set called "Cancer Schmancer", which made it all the more fun! This is a delightful set full of beautiful, useful images for anytime, but especially this month with October being breast cancer awareness month. So, here....ta da!, is the set I am rambling on about.

I didn't lie did I? At the end of this post, I will list the blog hop order, and you can continue your hop for inspiration and ideas using this awesome set! First though..let me show you my take on the sketch, using the boots!

Of course I had to use pink, and add a little kick some booty bling. I used the faux leather technique on the boots as well...thought they should show some attitute! Before I send you onto the next blog I want to show you the second set being released today called "Grunge".

This set is geared toward the men in our lives..seems like I never have enough ideas for the manly cards. This set just made it easier. Love it! Both sets can be purchased here. Don't forget that until the end of the month the purchase of the "Cancer Schmancer" set will give a $4.00 donation to the Susan Koman foundation as well! Shopping for a cause! How great is that!

Here is the complete list of designers on our hop today. Once again don't forget to check out the Skipping Stones shop, to obtain these wonderful new sets!

http://skippingstonesdesign.com/ SSD
http://papertherapy-wendy.blogspot.com/ Wendy
http://alwaysinking.blogspot.com/ Tammie....you are here!
http://withfeathersandsequins.blogspot.com/ Shannan
http://leascupcakesandsunshine.blogspot.com/ Lea
http://kgiron.blogspot.com/ Karen
http://kraftykandikrafts.blogspot.com/ Kandi
http://justjingle.blogspot.com/ Jennifer
http://gladyschia2010.wordpress.com/ Gladys
http://sweetpapertreats.wordpress.com/ Brenda
http://barbsboys123.blogspot.com/ Barb
http://stampwithme-ann.blogspot.com/ Ann
http://tsurutadesigns.blogspot.com/ Amy

Thanks so very much for stopping by. Have fun hopping, and don't hesitate to leave a comment on my post! I love hearing from you! Have a wonderful weekend!

TUESDAY SNEAK PEEK!

2010-10-12T07:00:00.002-06:00

Hello, and Happy Tuesday! Today is normally Tuesday Sketch Challenge day at Skipping Stones Design. This week however we have a special treat...the release of two new stamp sets. To celebrate this release date of the 15th, we will do a blog hop on Friday, showing the sketch, and cards designed by the Design Team. Today you get a pre-release peek at the sets you can order starting Friday. Here are the two new sets being released the 15th!

This set is called "Cancer Schmancer".....isn't it awesome!!! The fund raising effort for the Susan Koman foundation continues at Skipping Stones all this month as every one of the sales of this set has $4.00 donated to the foundation! Great way to shop, obtain an awesome set, and also make a donation to the Susan Koman Foundation. This set is available for pre-release sale so there are more days to accumulate funds for the cause. To purchase the set shop here.

Also being released on Friday is the new set "Grunge".....a wonderful set of background stamps, and sayings more geared towards the men in our lives. The possibilities are endless with a set like this. Check it out!

Isn't it great?! Can't you just see this is your stamp collection for those times when you need something for one of the men in your life?

Stop back on Friday for a very special hop featuring a new sketch, and projects created for the sketch using the "Cancer Schmancer" set,....and GO SHOPPING! I know you will find something to inspire you!

Have a wonderful day....don't forget to stop by Skipping Stones Design Wednesday for "Winners Wednesday", and Thursday for tips and tricks day!

ALTERED ITEM

2010-10-08T11:05:00.000-06:00

Good morning and HAPPY FRIDAY!! I am pressed for time today, but had promised you all I would share another few upcycled items this month. The altered project today started off with leftover packaging that an acrylic block by Paper Studios came in. This is what I turned it into:

I covered the back with DP. On the top inside where the original paper studios label was, I replaced it with the black dotted DP. I wrapped hershey nuggets in coordinating DP, put them inside, and closed it. Then on the outside front, I put the lace and button, stamped the ghost and Boo, cut them out, and adhered them. The adorable stamp set is from Skipping Stones Design. This set also has a "Boo" poem that is very cute, and I stamped that on the back of my treat container.
Hope you like, and look around the house for things you can turn into something fun! Have a wonderful weekend!

SKIPPING STONES SKETCH # 45

2010-10-05T06:00:00.001-06:00

Happy Tuesday to you all!! It is again time for the Tuesday sketch at Skipping Stones Design. All this month we will be designing to the sketches of the very talented Karen Giron. This is sketch # 45:

Very cool sketch right? I had alot of fun with this especially since we are using the stamp set "Halloweenie" this week. I really like this set from SSD. It has adorable images, and a poem that fits on an index size card perfectly. We were to also create a "Boo" item. This is my card, and "Boo" item:

For the card, I used PTI New Leaf cardstock, as a card base. I used the mesh as the second layer, and the circle and scallop on the third layer are designer paper from Echo Park. I stamped the ghosts and cut them out. I also covered the entire ghost with Versamark ink, and emobossed with clear embossing powder that I added glitter to. You cannot see the glitz very well on the photo...sorry!

The bottle is an individual size wine bottle I saved from my last plane trip! On that trip, I spilled that red wine on my white capri pants, and "had" to get a new pair. The tag on the bottle was the tag on my new pair of pants I bought. So I made a memory out of the little accident that became my tagged bottle, filled with orange M&M candies, to go with the card. The inside of the card has the "Boo" poem...mmmm who should I "Boo" with this? I love making treats at Halloween, but really like altering things to put them in more. Come back periodically this month to visit...I will have more altered items posted that may inspire you to look at things twice before you toss them!
Hope you have a wonderful day..don't forget to head over to Skipping Stones Design Blog, to play along with us and upload your own creations! While you are there also check out the store, and do a little shopping. There are so many awesome sets to choose from!

WORLD CARD MAKING DAY

2010-10-02T05:00:00.002-06:00

Today is the fifth annual World Card Making Day!! Our design team at Skipping Stones Design is celebrating WCMD by doing a little blog hop, highlighting some of the cards we have been making with some of the Skipping Stones Design stamps. You should have arrived to my blog from Barb's blog. When you have finished here, you can head on over to Heathers blog.

I decided to use a new set released this past month called "Wisemen". I created this very clean and simple card using the camel/wiseman image, star, and one of the sayings.

I wanted the saying to follow the line of the die-cut, so curved the stamp accordingly on the acrylic mounting block...that is one of the benefits of polymer stamps! I used PTI select white CS for the base, and SU night of navy for the second layer. The images were all stamped with versamark ink, and embossed with detail gold EP. A very simple card that one could mass produce for Christmas cards.

I also am going to post another card I made using the "Happy Halloweenie" set by SSD. With Halloween right around the corner, I have been using this fun little set alot lately...I love the ghost!

I glittered the ghost after stamping and cutting it out. I stamped the witches hat on black and purple CS, paper piecing the purple hat band. The designer paper is by Echo Park, and buttons from my stash from a Halloween set of buttons from last year. I used the swiss dots cuttlebug folder on the CS base which is New Leaf by PTI. The scalloped circle is a Spellbinders die, and the black border is SU scallop border punch.

Hope you have fun on our little hop, and also stop by the SSD store, and check out all the other great stamps sets SSD has to offer! Again, the next stop on the hop is Heather. Have a wonderful weekend, and hopefully you have found something on our blogs today to inspire you!

TIPS AND TRICKS

2010-09-30T07:00:00.001-06:00

Today is Tips and Tricks at Skipping Stones Design, and my turn to show a tip, trick, or tutorial. My tip today is an altered item,using the "Halloweenie" set from SSD.
I love, love, love to alter things utilizing my stamps. I save all sorts of containers, using the excuse of being "green". At work they jokingly call me the bag lady, and hand me all sorts of treasures they think I may be able to use! In all seriousness though, it is a nice green thing to do....repurpose items when you can, right?

Right. Well, today I decided to repurpose an item stampers and papercrafters just may have saved, or will next time they purchase them....cuttlebug folder packaging!

Take the folder out and store it away as usual, but don't throw away the front plastic panel, and the backing.

I took the back panel, and covered it front and back with DP. Then I stamped the "You've been Boo'd" saying at the top.

Then I took four Ghirardelli chocolates and covered them with DP strips cut 11/2" by 5". I positioned them below the stamped poem using pop dots. By then I was tired, needed a break and a piece of chocolate...know what I mean? Moving on......

Position the front plastic piece around the poem with the chocolates, and embellish the front of the plastic however you like.....the possibilities are endless don't you think? Hope you like my little altering tip!

SSD SKETCH 44

2010-09-29T09:16:00.000-06:00

Tuesdays bring the new sketch of the week over at Skipping Stones Design. I did get my sketch design in to SSD on time, just forgot to upload it to my own blog!! I just loved the sketch this week by Ashley Cannon Newell. I will be keeping it in my favorites file. This is the sketch:

We used "Halloweenie" for the stamp set this time on the card. I sure like this set! The ghost is adorable, and I really like the "You've been boo"d saying that fits on an index card perfectly. This is my go to set as I create my Halloween goodies this season.

This is the card I made using the sketch, and "Halloweenie" set. I used designer paper for the background. I stamped the ghost on white cardstock, and the Boo on orange DP. The lace I found in my basket of lace scraps, and thought it fit the banner theme perfectly...and of course rarely is a card of mine finished without a button or two! Hope you like, and try your own hand at the sketch. Just go to SSD, and at the end of the cards the design team made there is an area to link your card...you could win $ toward a stamp set from SSD! To purchase "Halloweenie, see here, and scroll down to the bottom of the stamp set selections. Happy Halloweenie!

HAPPY 50TH TIMELESS TEXTURES SSD

2010-09-28T20:20:00.000-06:00

This week is my brothers 50th birthday..( I can't say if he is my younger or older brother! LOL!). I made a card for him that he really liked. He has been lamenting the fact that his hair is almost all gray, so the Hoppy Birthday set from Skipping Stones Design with the cute little gray "hare" seemed perfect. The inside read: "Just what you wanted for your birthday...another gray hare....but don't worry about getting older...gray hares are cute....Hoppy Birthday!" I made the card while out of town at my moms, and only had black ink, and white paper along to play with...It seemed to work out ok being black since he turned 50 and all! The bottom of the card uses another Skipping Stones Design stamp from "Timeless Textures", that I really like to use as a background stamp. Here is my brother Randy's simple 50th birthday card that made him laugh!

SCS CAS 86 UPSY DAISY BIRTHDAY

2010-09-28T19:50:00.000-06:00

Just a quick post tonight..I have had a hard time finding time to stamp recently. Tonight though, I needed a quick birthday card for a gal in my stamping group, and needed something quick. When I checked the CAS challenge on SCS for yesterday, I found my quick inspiration. A simple sketch that I will use again and again...maybe even yet tonight! Hope you are having a great week so far. Please check back on Thursday, as I have the Thursday tips and tricks turn on Skipping Stones Design, and did a tutorial on altering an item you may already have saved! Here is my Clean and Simple challenge design for this week:

BLOGS FOR BOOBIES UPDATE

2010-09-23T10:38:00.002-06:00

Good morning to you all!! Just a quick reminder that today is the last day of the "Blogs for Boobies" silent auction. You have until 8:00 PM MST tonight to bid on any of the cards on the hop. A BIG THANKS to all of you who stopped by my blog and left such sweet comments! I loved reading each of them, and in turn checking out some of your blogs! This was my first experience participating in a blog hop, and it was so much fun and for such a great cause!

Also thanks to Nettiepop for the highest bid so far at $7:00. As I said on my original post, I will match the winning bid. Once again, this is my card up for bid, with proceeds being donated to the Susan Komen foundation. For bidding information and another look at all the wonderful projects created for this auction, scroll down to my "Blogs for Boobies" post below.

Thanks and have a wonderful day...the weekend is almost here!!

SSD SKETCH # 43

2010-09-21T07:00:00.002-06:00

Hello and Happy Tuesday....Tuesdays always bring a new sketch challenge from Skipping Stones Design art stamps. We are so lucky to have the honor of designing from the sketches supplied by the very talented Ashley Cannon Newell, the whole month of September. Here is Sketch # 43, and my take on the sketch....we used the SSD stamp set "Wisemen" to interpret Ashley's sketch. This is a new stamp set that is just being released. Check it out here. I stamped the wisemen images on enchanted evening CS by PTI (I love their CS..so sturdy), Then I outlined the star and image with bleach so as to mimic moonlight. Following the sketch design I added some crinkled ribbon I just bought and tied loose knots along a length of it and adhered to the card. The black CS is black Bazzil Bling, and the card base kraft, once again by PTI. Hope you enjoy! Please hop over to Skipping Stones Design and check out the rest of the cards by the other design team members, and upload your own take on the sketch....a great way to win discounts on SSD stamps!! Have a wonderful day....Oh and if you have not followed our blog hop featuring the new release Bras # 2, and the silent auction to benefit breast cancer, just scroll down one post here on my blog for all the info.....there are some of the top designers in the country participating in the two day blog. The cards and projects are amazing to say the least!

BLOGS FOR BOOBIES BOUNCE/FUNDRAISER

2010-09-16T05:02:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the 1st annual "Blogs 4 boobies" blog bounce (hop)! I am so excited and honored to be part of this very special hop which is a fund raiser for breast cancer. I expect each of us have been affected by this terrible cancer in one form or another..some personally, some from experience with family or friends going through it. I am very happy to say my favorite aunt is a survivor of a very aggressive form of breast cancer...I am going to visit her this weekend, and so glad I can!! This is a very worthy cause that is near and dear to my heart! This is day number two of the blog. For more cards/projects and fun go to Skipping Stones Design Home Page, for the links from yesterday...(day one), to see more awesome artists that have joined in this blog bounce/fund raiser by uploading cards and projects they created.

I am so glad that you joined us today. This is a very special hop because every card/project that is show here in the "blogs 4 boobies" blog bounce is up for auction! We are teaming up with Skipping Stones Design to help raise money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Skipping Stones Design is an awesome art stamp company that I have the honor of designing for the next six months....check out the link!!

There are 3 ways that you can help us in this special fundraiser!

1. Go shopping! For every stamp set that you purchase during Sept 15th through the 23rd SSD will donate $2 to the Komen Foundation. Stamping and shopping that you can feel good about ! This blog hop is combined with the release of two new stamp sets by SSD: These are both awesome sets with tons of possibilities, but check out the Skipping Stones Store to see other fun and artisitc choices as well.

BRAS # 2 AND..... WISEMEN

2. Bid! If you see a card or a project that you like, bid on it in the comment section of the blog post. See "how to place a bid" below, for more detailed instructions. If you are the highest bidder September 23rd 8:00 p.m. mountain time then you WIN the card/project that you bid on.

3. Tell your friends about the hop and stamp purchasing specials. Introduce them to SSD stamps and show them that one can find art stamps to make funny and amusing projects as well as serious!

"How to bid":
Step #1
Find the comment section of the blog that shows the "Blogs 4 boobies" card or project that you want to buy. *Please note you may only bid on the card/project shown in the specific "blogs 4 boobies" post. *Any bids not placed on the correct post will be considered
invalid.
Step # 2
Once you are in the "blogs 4 boobies" comment section fill in the dollar and cents amount of what you are willing to pay for the card/project.
Step #3
Next to your $ bid please type in your email address. During a silent auction bidders sign their name next to their bid. typing your email address is the electronic equivalent of signing your bid. Also it will help the blogger contact you if you are the highest bidder.
Step #4
Watch and wait!
Once you have entered your bid/comment sit back and wait. If someone out bids you then you may bid again. Bidding will continue until 8:00 p.m. Mountain time September 23rd.

* Please note that the participating stampers/bloggers will probably re-post their Blogs 4 Boobies card/project on the 23rd of September. If/when the blogger re-post their project then the bidding will continue on the NEWEST post and that comment section.

"What do I do once I place a bid"

Watch and Wait

The "Winner of the Auction" will be the highest bid (that includes an email address)in the comment section of the MOST RECENT blogs 4 boobies post as of 8:00 p.m. Mountain Time on September 23rd

Things to keep in mind:

Near the end of the bidding you may not see bids as they come in. Most blog have a comment feature where the blogger must approve comments before they are published. So bid high. You might have the highest bid that is published, but someone might have outbid you in an unpublished comment/bid.

This is the sketch # 42 for this week, posted by our guest designer this month, Ashley Cannon Newell.

This sketch has so very many design possibilities! We feel so fortunate to be able to design this month using Ashley Cannon Newell's sketches...published over and over again, this very talented designer rocks!!!

This is the card up for auction that I created using Bras # 2, and Sketch 42. I decided on the camo background paper to symbolize prevention, which is always the best defense against any disease. The envelope has a matching camo border. To bid, click on the comment section at the end of this post, and follow the instructions above for bidding...don't forget your e-mail address. We hope for a minimum bid of $5.00....I will match any dollar amount bid on my card, for this cause!! To continue on the hop/bounce, follow the links below. You should have arrived here from Amy Tsuruta's blog. Just in case you just happened upon my blog today, I have all of the blog participants listed....check them all out, and put out some bids, and go shopping for some awesome stamps at The Skipping Stones Store! Thanks so much for stopping by! If you have any questions I have not answered please ask them in my comments!

Kim Hughes http://paperhugs.typepad.com/paper_hugs/
Kandi Phillips http://kraftykandikrafts.blogspot.com//
Sharon Harnist http://paperfections.typepad.com/
Amy Sheffer http://pickledpaperdesigns.blogspot.com/
Jennifer Buck http://www.thebuckstampshere.blogspot.com/
Amy Tsuruta http://tsurutadesigns.blogspot.com/
Tammie Beaton http://alwaysinking.blogspot.com/ you are here
Rae Barthel http://simplyrae.blogspot.com/ This is next!
Wendy Jordan http://papertherapy-wendy.blogspot.com/
Sarah Martina Parker http://sarahmartina.com/blog/
Leah Lawson http://leascupcakesandsunshine.blogspot.com/
Teri Anderson http://terisplace.wordpress.com/
Deb Felts http://withastampandasong.blogspot.com/
Kimberly Crawford http://kimberly-crawford.blogspot.com/
Gladys Chia http://gladyschia2010.wordpress.com/
Jen Del Muro http://iheart2stamp.com/
Maile Belles http://mailebelles.blogspot.com/

SKIPPING STONES DESIGN SKETCH 41

2010-09-07T09:00:00.003-06:00

Happy Tuesday to all....wow it was nice to have a long weekend! When I was not enjoying the beautiful fall like weather we had in The Black Hills this weekend, I did carve out some stamping time.

Today on Skipping Stones Design, you can view the first sketch of the month by Ashley Cannon Newell. This is the sketch.

It was a very fun sketch to play with. I used the Skipping Stones Design set Funny Coffee Volume 1. I love the girl image with her coffee, not quite able to move for the day yet without her coffee...how about that hair! Reminds me of a stamping weekend at my house last fall when my friend Joell came upstairs looking for coffee with her morning hair-do! LOL! I paper pieced the robe.....Hope you like!

Hop on over toSkipping Stones Design and check out what is going on. Play along with the challenge !!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

2010-09-04T12:36:00.000-06:00

Happy Saturday all!! It is an absolutely gorgeous day here in the Black Hills of SD. I am enjoying a quiet house this morning, and between enjoying some time outside on the deck enjoying the weather, I am getting some stampin done. I had a couple birthdays I needed to do cards for.

This a quick card to do using "Elements of Style" by Stampin up. I used my nestabilities round die cut to create a reverse mask, and stamped the flowers with it in place, removed it and stamped the rest...very easy. I saw a similar card on SCS.

This flower card is using an image from Papertrey inc...lets me use my buttons which I so love. I added some lace from the stash my mom gave me. This is for my most favorite aunt! Happy Birthday Auntie Jan!

SKIPPING STONES SKETCH 40

2010-09-01T20:13:00.000-06:00

Happy September to you!! Is it not amazing the summer is gone and school has started? I really don't know where the time went! I am excited for this fall however...for me it brings a new beginning. I start this month as a "Stamp Tramp" for Skipping Stones Design . I am more than excited to begin this new venture of being on a design team. The team of gals I have the honor to work with are so very talented! I can't wait to begin.

I will begin my post today with the introduction to this stamp set that SSD just released called "Always Here".

This is a beautiful set with endless possibilities. For more information about this set click here.

Also this week on SSD is Maren Benedicts last weekly sketch. Her sketches have been so much fun to follow. This is the sketch for this week. Please feel free to hop over to the SSD website and join the challenge!

This is my take on the sketch created very quickly after work tonight. I stamped the butterflies on vellum and then flipped them over and used a stylus on the back. This turned the butterflies white where I used the stylus, and gave them dimension. I then cut them out and spritzed them with vanilla smooch to glitz them up a bit. Sorry the pic does not pick that up...I am practicing with my camera, just didn't have much time tonight! The CS I used was white and black Bazill bling...very shimmery and pretty! Hope you like! I need to get some sleep as I was told our work day tomorrow at the surgery center will be from dawn to dusk. I would so rather be stampin! LOL!

LIKE FINE WINE SSD

2010-08-28T18:03:00.001-06:00

This is the inside and outside of a card I made today using one of my SSD http://skippingstonesdesign.com/category/card-sketches/ sets. I really like how many of the sets from this line allow you the option of making less serious cards sometimes. Hope you like!

TAKE TEN PUBLICATION

2010-08-26T15:54:00.002-06:00

Hey everyone! I am so excited!! I just got home from work and had a Take Ten magazine in my mailbox. Since I didn't order it, I wondered if they had put one of my cards in the publication. Sure enough..they did! They published 4 of my cards!! I had responded a few months back to a challenge using buttons. If you know me at all you know my love of buttons. My mom and I both collect them. It was a challenge I had to do! Anyway, I was so excited to finally get published.....my first time! Actually years ago I did have a card published in Take Ten, but my name must have been misplaced, because it had anonymus artist by it, so I didn't get credit for it.

This new fall issue is due out September 1st. My cards are on page 4,71, and 121. They also did a close up detail photo of two of them that is on pages 125 and 126.

Also on the news front is that I was accepted as a Design Team Member for Skipping Stones Designs. I am officially now a "Stamp Tramp" {starting September 1st} I really like these stamps, and am very honored to have been chosen as one of the DT. Hopefully you keep checking my blog to see my progress as I enjoy my very first designing experience!! Please feel free to comment anytime on my blog....I would love to hear from you!

My goal for tomorrow is to get my stamp area cleaned and organized in preparation for lots of stamping and inking in the next six months. I also am going to try to make a light tent to help photograph my cards. Have any of you had any experience with light tents, either purchased or homemade?

I best get busy....I promise my next post will be a creation, not just words!!

Tammie

SCS CAS81 CHALLENGE

2010-08-25T18:08:00.000-06:00

When I saw the CAS challenge this week on SCS, I had to hit my stamp area...I LOVE kraft CS, and turquoise is one of my favorite colors!! So, even though I was on limited time, I put together this sympathy card. My thoughts while creating this were with a friend of mine who has had a tragic loss this past weekend, that leaves you without words to say to comfort them. The stamp set I used was from http://skippingstonesdesign.com/category/card-sketches/ The turquoise lace from a basket of lace etc my mother gave me...Thanks mom!

SKIPPING STONES SKETCH # 38

2010-08-18T15:37:00.001-06:00

This is my take on Maren Benedicts Tuesday sketch challenge # 38 on http://skippingstonesdesign.com/category/card-sketches/. I used a Skipping Stones stamps set as well. Fun sketch, and fun set of stamps!!

SKIPPING STONES SKETCH

2010-08-14T13:20:00.002-06:00

Another quick CAS card using the SSD sketch of the week by Maren Benedict. Stamp by Hero Arts. Colored with prismacolor pencils and OMS.

I made this yesterday while my 6 year old Grandson Taylor stamped his own project. Taylor loves to do "art" and stamping and using Grami's tools. He just finished his first season of baseball [t-ball], and did a simple scrapbook page to frame.

His finished project...isn't he adorable?

SKIPPING STONES SKETCH

2010-08-10T18:00:00.000-06:00

Hi all! I was so excited to see what sketch Maren Benedict had on the Skipping Stones Design blog today as the weekly challenge. As always it was the springboard to many possibilities. This is my first creation using the sketch and I had such fun playing with it I may do another! The stamp set is also from Skipping Stones. I used a little paper piecing for the bow. Hope you like!

TAKE TIME TO SMELL THE FLOWERS

2010-08-09T20:58:00.000-06:00

HAPPY MONDAY!! This is my card created for the SCS Monday CAS challenge...something to do with the garden. I thought this cute little guy was reminding us all to stop sometimes, and take time to smell the flowers. The stamp is obviously from House Mouse, the papers from PTI [rasberry fizz, new leaf, select white, and kraft. Ribbon from PTI in new leaf, and the button from my stash. Have a wonderful week!

GET WELL

2010-08-07T15:07:00.000-06:00

A very quick and easy get well card using yet another stamp from Skipping Stones Designs. This little bunny just makes me smile so thought he would cheer up someone under the weather.

SKIPPING STONES SKETCH

2010-08-07T07:51:00.000-06:00

I have been following the Skipping Stones web site recently, and each Tuesday they post a new sketch challenge. This month Maren Benedict one of the "go to " gals from Papercrafts magazine, is the guest artist supplying the challenge sketches. I have followed her work for quite some time, and really enjoy her sketches..They always leave lots of room for interpretation. This layout was no exception. I tried it with a new set of stamps I purchased this week at the Altered Art and Scrap Playground from SSD.....the inside of the card says "especially when the salt accompanies a drink and good friends!" Isn't that fun?! I am really enjoying the stamps in this line. Hope you enjoy.....have a wonderful weekend!

BLEACHED UPSY DAISY

2010-08-06T11:51:00.000-06:00

I found out that enchanted evening cardstock bleaches beautifully! I stamped the moon with bleach, then stamped upsy daisy over it also in bleach. I then inked upsy daisy with black ink, stamped it just a bit off the bleached image and clear embossed it. Instant moonlight!! Love it! I also used vanilla smooch last, to give it the effect of stars...FUN!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

2010-08-06T11:42:00.000-06:00

This card again used the same stamp set from Skipping Stones Design.."You're getting old." This time I just used the cake and stickled it a bit to match the glitter DP. I used a "fun fold". The cake was stamped on lavender moon cardstock from PTI, and cut out.

YOU KNOW YOU'RE GETTING OLD....

2010-08-06T11:35:00.000-06:00

I have recently discovered a wonderful line of stamps from Skipping Stones Design. Heather's stamps are very unique. Many of them are very funny, and allow one to have the fun of creating less serious cards all the time. I have used this set to make mini cards for a friend at work who had a birthday....every so often throughout the day she recieved another "you're getting old" card on her computer. This card uses three of the sayings in the set......cute, and sadly all too true!

FLOWER HEART

2010-08-06T11:24:00.000-06:00

A cool stamp from Hero Arts inspired this card. I also love craft cardstock and white ink. I stamped the heart on kraft, embossed in white embossing powder and embellished with felt flowers from Stampin up. The kraft piece was sewn to the ripe avocado cardstock, and layered onto rasberry fizz cardstock, both from Papertrey. Ribbon also ripe avocado from PTI.

ONE OF A KIND

2010-08-06T11:16:00.000-06:00

I again use my favorites...buttons, lace, and my cuttlebug. I loved this row of birds stamp from Inkadinkadoo....just hangin out shootin the breeze. The card stock is from Papertrey...stampers select white, raspberry fizz and aqua mist.

TRIO OF BUTTERFLIES

2010-08-06T11:09:00.000-06:00

The next few cards are what I have been working on the last week or so. This one is utilizing my butterfly punch and stamp set from Stampin up that I have used many times since I purchased it. As you will see from my work, I love buttons and lace. I describe my style as clean and simple....I like the stamps to be the focal points. I used the Spellbinders label one die cuts behind the butterflies, and the dotted border around the inner die is from Papertrey's Vintage labels set of stamps. I thought it matched the butterfly stamp well! And of course I had to use my cuttlebug and favorite embossing folder....swiss dots.

MY FIRST POST!

2010-08-06T10:57:00.000-06:00

This is my first post on my newly created blog. I am so excited to begin posting some of the results of the time I spend in "my room". I have been a papercrafting and rubber stamp addict for over a decade. I am creating this blog so I can have a log of my creations, and share them with my long distance friends. I hope to inspire others with some of my work just as I am constantly inspired by all of the talented designers out there. So....here goes a new experience of having my own blog!