Hallowe'en in June ...

Hey, there you are! Happy Monday ... hope you had a fantastical weekend!

I know it's early, but I jess love Halloween ... and I really love creating Halloween cards and projects. This card was created using this uber-fun craft stamp from Janlynn's "Stamps Happen, Inc." This kewl stamp is available HERE.

This card turned out to be perfect for SCS's current Ways to Use It challenge, WT224, "Bold & Bright." For all the challenging deets, clicky HERE. To go straight to the WT224 card gallery, clicky HERE. For the ginormous view of my card, clicky there on the photo.

I stamped my witches shoes on white card stock, colored the image in with Copic markers, then cut the image out and mounted it on purple card stock.

I added a C'bugged back ground, some rick-rack, a few brads, and some creepy black spiders. Easy-peasy!

I'm thinkin' that you could use this craft stamp year-round. Simply by coloring in the image with seasonal colors, you can create Christmas Wishes Witches, Valentine's Wishes Witches, St. Paddy's Day Wishes Witches, and so on.

For all the spooky product info, check out the supply list, below.

Sooooooo, this weekend, Sheila had her Mom & Dad over for the weekend and invited the DH and I to come on over and help them eat some BBQ. Well, that's a no-brainer ...

When we got there, Reid-the-Wild-Child's Grammy was telling him what her own childhood had been like:

"Oh, we used to pack a picnic lunch and stay all day out on the lake. And I had a swing made from a tire; it hung from a tree in our front yard. We rode our pony. We picked wild raspberries and blueberries in the woods. We fished in the pond, and rode our bicycles everywhere!"

Reid was wide-eyed, taking this all in. At last he said, "Darn, I wish I'd gotten to know you sooner!"

~Hugs,

• Card Stock: Purple Textured Card Stock by Bazzill Basics; Purple Card Stock by DCWV; "Stampers Select" White and Black Card Stock by Papertrey Ink; "Tangerine Tango" Card Stock by Stampin' Up!
• Craft Stamp: "Witches Shoes" by Janlynn's Stamps Happen, Inc.
• Ink: "Tuxedo Black" Memento Dye Ink by Tsukineko
• Color Medium: Copic Markers (100, Y06, G14, V15, and YR68)
• Accessories: Brads by American Crafts; Rick-Rack by Wright's; Black Plastic Spiders
• Tools: Die-Cut Machine by Provo Craft; Spider Web A2 Embossing Folder by Provo Craft; Ticket Corner Punch by Stampin' Up; Foam Tape; Scotch ATG 714 Adhesive
• Finished Size: 5" x 7"
  

Happy Birthday, Michelle!

Happy Friday, stampers!

And b-i-g Happy Birthday hugs to the wonderful Michelle Rodgers at Stampers Dream! Heartfelt wishes are flyin' your way, Michelle! Hey, why don't y'all hop on over to Michelle's blog to wish her a happy day ... clicky HERE to visit Michelle's blog.

Michelle, I hope your day is beyond fantastical ... full of love, smiles, pretty packages, and cupcakes!!

Today's card was also created for SCS's Clean and Simple challenge, CAS20, "Paper Piecing." For all the challenging deets, clicky HERE. To go straight to the CAS20 card gallery, clicky HERE. For the ginormous view of my card, clicky right there on the photo.

For all the astounding product info, check out the supply list, below.

Soooooooooo, Sheila and I have a friend who has been lately ... ummm ... slightly ... well, impossible.

Suzanne's DH recently landed a big new job with a huge increase in his pay. And Suzanne doesn't let us forget it. Between braggin' on her husband's new Mercedes, or her new BMW, or her son's new private school, she's showin' off all kinds of new designer clothes, handbags, and jewelry. It's fun for awhile, but it's gettin' old ... fast.

Anyway, her son, Toby, and Sheila's Reid-the-Wild-Child, are buds. And, since Toby's birthday is coming up, Sheila needed to shop for his gift. 'Course, I got dragged along for all the fun.

After looking at a thousand games, trucks, trains, and craft kits, Sheila announced that she couldn't find a thing for Toby.

"Ummmm, maybe a video or something educational?" I suggested.

"No, that's not it," Sheila replied.

We continued wandering aimlessly through the aisles until something finally caught her eye: a laser gun with flashing lights and 15 different high-pitched sounds.

"This is perfect," she said, beaming. "Suzanne will hate it."

Uh, oh, she's crossed the line now ... stand by for "Revenge of the Birthday Gifts!"

Thanks for sharing part of your very busy day with me ... have a great weekend!

~Hugs,

• Card Stock: Papertrey Ink
• Designer Paper: DCWV; Junkitz; and Paper Love Designs
  
• Stamp: Sentiment from "Heard from the Heart" Set by Stampin' Up!
• Ink: "Chocolate Chip" Dye Ink from Stampin' Up!
• Accessories: Brads by American Crafts
• Tools: Martha Stewart "Cupcake" Punch; Foam Tape; 1/4" Circle Punch by Stampin' Up; Pen by American Crafts
• Finished Size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
  

Baby's First Photo ...

Yay, it's Friday! Hope you have lots of fun stuff planned for your weekend!

Today's card project was created using a "frame" I created with card stock, the track of a paper trimmer, and a bone folder. Once made, I distressed it and sponged on a variety of Distress inks.

I framed my stamped image, added some die-cuts, leaf punchies, a twill ribbon, a felt bird, and a Prima flower. I'll add the sentiment to the inside later ... when I figure out how I'll use this card!

For all the heart-pounding deets, check out the supply list, below.

So last night, Sheila and I went out for our 'dessert and monthly meet up' with some of our friends.

'Cuz Sheila's DH was out on a glass job, Reid-the-Wild-Child had to come with us.

When we arrived, Sheila plopped him down in a chair and gave him some pencils, crayons, and paper to draw on. And strict instructions to pipe down and mind his own business.

After dessert and a milkshake, Reid piped down and got busy ... drawing pictures of all us.

We "oooohhhhh'ed and ahhhhhh'ed" over each of our likenesses as he finished them. Finally, he turned to our friend Barb, who's just the weensiest l'il bit overweight, and said, "Here ya go, Aunt Barb, here's you!"

Barb reached across the table to have a look at it and said, "Hey, that's great, Reid! You made me look so tall and slim."

"Yeah, I know," he said, "but I was running out of paper."

Hope you're weekend is full of cake and milkshakes!

~Hugs,

• Card Stock: Bazzill Basics Textured Card Stock; "Dark Chocolate" Card Stock by Papertrey Ink; "Very Vanilla" Card Stock by Stampin' Up!
• Stamp: Diva Impressions
• Ink: "Old Paper," "Antique Lace," "Vintage Photo," Distress Inks by Ranger; "Chocolate Chip" Dye Ink by Stampin' Up!
• Accessories: 3/8" Twill Ribbon, Unknown; Felt Bird by Maya Road; Black Pearl by Mark Richards; Flower by Prima
• Tools: 12" Paper Cutter; Bone Folder; Sharp Scissors for Distressing Edges by EK Success; Die-Cut Machine; Shapeabilities Flourish Die by Spellbinders; Rock Fern Punch by Punch Bunch; Pine Branch Punch by McGill; Sanding Block; Scotch ATG 714 Adhesive; The Ultimate Glue by Api
• Finished Size: 4 7/8" x 5 3/8"
  

It's Your Birthday, Have Some Balloons ...

Happy Thursday, stampers! Hang on: only one more day to get through 'til the weekend!

Today's card project was created for SCS's "Clean and Simple" challenge, CAS19. This week, it's a sketch challenge. For all the challenging deets, clicky HERE. To go straight to the CAS19 card gallery, clicky HERE. For a ginormous look at my card, clicky on the photo.

For all the heart-stopping product info, check out the supply list, below.

Sooooooo, yesterday Sheila told me she was done complaining about her DH's awful driving.

"Well, Deb, I decided to stop worrying about Ken's driving and take advantage of it."

"Umm, what? Errrr, how?" I asked stupidly.

"I got one of those bumper stickers that say, 'How's My Driving?' and put a 1-900 number on it. At 50 cents a call, I figger I'll make about $40.00 a week."

~Hugs,

• Card Stock: DCWV; Papertrey Ink; Stampin' Up!
• Stamps: "Birthday Whimsy" and "Upsy Daisy" by Stampin' Up!
• Ink: Close to My Heart; Distress Ink by Ranger; Memento by Tsukineko; Palette Hybrid
• Accessories: Grosgrain Ribbon; Martha Stewart Drawing Pen
• Tools: Die-Cut Machine; Nestabilties Die; Scotch ATG 714 Adhesive; Foam Tape
• Finished Size: 4 7/8" x 5 1/2"
  

Dig Those Snazzy Dresses:

Happy Tuesday, race fans!

Today's card project was created for no-good reason using this vintage-inspired stamp from Inkadinkado's "Tin Can Mail" collection.

I scored my Cosmo Cricket DP working off the pattern in the paper, then sanded the score lines and applied some "Old Paper" Distress Ink.

I paper-pieced the gals' dresses using more paper from this collection, then tied on some Sinamay ribbon and a bit of waxed linen thread.

For the rest of the exciting product deets, check out the supply list, below.

Soooooo, yesterday, I accompanied Sheila while she had a biopsy on this crazy-lookin' lump on her leg.

She was pretty nervous and mentioned it to her nurse.

"Not to worry, dear," the nurse assured her, "you're just having a little autopsy."

We laughed till we cried!

And she's fine ... totally benign. Yay!

~Hugs,

• Card Stock: "Vintage Cream" and "Dark Chocolate" by Papertrey Ink
• Designer Paper: "Hello Sunshine" Collection by Cosmo Cricket
• Stamp: Inkadinkado
• Ink: "Old Paper" Distress Ink by Ranger; "Chocolate Chip" Dye Ink by Stampin' Up!
• Accessories: Sinamay Ribbon; Waxed Linen Thread by 7gypsies
• Tools: Die-Cut Machine; Nestabilities Die by Spellbinders; Scor-It Board; Sanding Block; Foam Tape; Scotch ATG 714 Adhesive
• Finished Size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
  

Cake Minus Two Makes Glue ...

Happy Monday, stampers! Hope your weekend was fantastical.

Today's card project was created for SCS "Sketch Challenge," SC232. For all the challenging deets, including a look-see at the sketch I followed, clicky HERE. To go straight to the SC232 card gallery, clicky HERE. For the ginormous view of my card, clicky on the photo.

For all the mind-blowing products I used, check out the supply list, below.

So, this weekend Sheila popped in while I was whippin' up a yummy layer cake.

"How come when you mix water and flour together you get glue. And then you add eggs and sugar and you get cake? Where did the glue go?" I pondered aloud.

"You know darned well where it went! That's what makes the cake stick to your butt!" Sheila replied.

Food for thought, huh?

~Hugs,

• Card Stock: "Dark Chocolate," "Vintage Cream," and Kraft Card Stock by Papertrey Ink; "Riding Hood Red" Card Stock by Stampin' Up!
• Stamp: Diva Impressions
• Ink: "Antique Linen" Distress Ink by Ranger; "Chocolate Chip" Dye Ink by Stampin' Up!
• Accessories: Button by Making Memories; White Twine; Grosgrain Ribbon by Stampin' Up!
• Tools: Die-Cut Machine; Cuttlebug Photo Corner Die by Provo Craft; "Swiss Dot" A2 Embossing Folder by Provo Craft; Foam Tape; Scrap Fusion by Ivy Scraps
  

Birthday Wishes ...

TGiF, stampers!

Today's card was created for my birthday stash using this so-cute craft stamp from Stamps Happen by Janlynn. You can see the stamp HERE. Oh! Don't forget about Janlynn's huge 80% off clearance sale ... click HERE to go to the sale page ... and check out that yummy embossing powder on sale for just $1.00! Better hurry: the sale ends Sunday, June 14, 2009.

I stamped my Birthday Presents craft stamp directly on my card base, then once again on the patterned paper. I cut out the bows and two of the presents and paper-pieced them on the original image. I stamped a sentiment, added a patterned paper border, and finis!

For the rest of the exciting details, check out the supply list, below.

Sooooooooo, Sheila and I share a locker at our gym, and one morning this week she mentioned that we needed a new combination lock.

"I'll pick one up tonight," she told me.

Late that night it occurred to me that I might not talk to her before I got to the gym in the morning and wouldn't have the new combination. When I arrived at the gym, I found that she had left me a note:

"Deb, to find the first number subtract 142 from your high score the last time we went bowling. The second number is 16 less than that. To find the third number, subtract 1.87 from the amount you owe me."

Have a great weekend!

~Hugs,

• Card Stock: "Stamper's Select" White Card Stock by Papertrey Ink
• Patterned Paper: "Red Kitchen Notes" by A-Muse
• Stamps: "Birthday Presents" Craft Stamp by Stamps Happen, Inc., Janlynn; Sentiment from "Heard from the Heart" Set by Stampin' Up!
• Ink: "Tuxedo Black" Memento Dye Ink by Tsukineko
• Tools: Stamp-a-Ma-Jig by EK Success; Threading Water Border Punch by Fiskars; Scotch ATG 714 Adhesive
• Finished Size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
  

You Bring Out the Happy in Me!

Oh, yes, you do!! So, big, happy, Thursday hellos, and a very happy National Hug Day to you!

Today's card was created for SCS's "Clean and Simple" challenge, CAS18. This week's challenge is a color challenge: pink/coral, kraft, and one other color of your choice. I, obviously, chose New England Ivy green. Not to be confused with Southwest Ivy green ... or Deep South Ivy green. Geez, who names these ink pads? Wouldn't a simple "Ivy Green" suffice?

For all the challenging deets, clicky HERE. To go straight to the CAS18 card gallery, clicky HERE. For the ginormous view of my card, clicky there on the photo.

This card couldn't been any simpler ... cleaner maybe, but not simpler! For all the breath-taking product info, check out the supply list, below.

Sooooooooooooo, I was babysitting with Reid-the-Wild-Child the other night and he startled me by asking, "So, Auntie, where does poo come from?"

"Yikes! Can't you ask your Mother these kinda questions?" I responded.

"She'll just make something up; you'll tell me the truth."

"I'll do my best ... okay, so you know what you ate for dinner tonight?" I started.

"Yup." Reid answered.

"Wellllllll, the food goes into our tummies and our bodies take out all the good stuff, and then whatever is left over comes out of our bottoms when we go to the toilet ... and that is poo." I expertly explained.

Reid-the-Wild-Child looked perplexed and stared at me in stunned silence for a few seconds ... then asked, "And Tigger?"

YIKES!

~National Hugs,

• Card Stock: Coral Textured Card Stock by Bazzill Basics; Kraft Card Stock by Papertrey Ink; New England Ivy Card Stock by Close to My Heart
  
• Stamp: "Daisy Crazy" Set by Stampin' Up!
• Ink: "New England Ivy" Dye Ink by Close to My Heart
• Tools: Die-Cut Machine; Nestabilities Long Rectangle Dies by Spellbinders; "Arch Lattice" Border Punch by MarthaStewart Crafts; "Flower" Dies by Quickutz; Foam Tape; Scotch ATG 714 Adhesive; Scrap Fusion by Ivy Scraps
• Finished Size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
  

Earth Laughs in Flowers?

Hello, my wonderful stampin' friends! I've missed all of you bunches ... and the rest of the Internet ... and email service and stuff.

Due to worthless Comcast circumstances beyond my control, I haven't been able to post to my blog OR respond to comments and emails. I apologize in arrears ... I can double-back on the post comments, but if you've emailed me, oops! Please resend.

I promise to get around to all of your blogs as soon as possible to see all the beauteousness y'all been creating while I was incommunicado.

Today's belated card project was created for SCS's "Sketch Challenge," SC231 ... right in time for this week's sketch! For all the challenging deets, including a look at the sketch I followed, clicky HERE. To go straight to the SC231 card photo gallery, clicky HERE. To see the ginormous view of my card, just clicky there on my photo.

So, one of the kewl things I wanted to mention to all of you is that Janlynn, the makers of Stamps Happen craft stamps, is having a HUGE sale!! And I do mean huge! The prices, 80% off!, are phenomenal and the items on sale are all paper-crafting-must-haves. You need to race over there right. now. and check out all the sale-priced goodies. Sale ends on June 14, 2009. Clicky HERE to check it out.

I'm gonna hustle over there myself and fill up a cart ... provided I don't lose the Internet between now and then ...

And now, your Sheila-fix for June 10th:

So, this past Sunday while I was hangin' out with Sheila enjoying her donuts company, her DH, Ken, was sitting opposite us, reading the paper.

He came across an article about a beautiful actress that was about to marry a celebrity ... who was known primarily for his lack of smarts and common sense.

"I'll never understand why the biggest idiots get the most attractive wives." Ken said.

"Why, thank you, dear!" Sheila responded.

And that's when I left. But I'll be back tomorrow ... the mediocre-Comcast willin'!

~Hugs,

• Card Stock: "Stampers Select" White by Papertrey Ink
• Designer Paper: "Bali Breeze" Collection (Retired) by Stampin' Up!
• Stamps: Sentiment from "Make My Day" Set by Close to My Heart
• Ink: "Cote d'Azure" Hybrid Ink by Stewart Superior
• Accessories: Pearl Rhinestones by Michaels
• Tools: Die Cut Machine; Nestabilities Dies by Spellbinders; Shapeabilities Die by Spellbinders; Pine Bough Punch by McGill; Tag Maker by Making Memories
• Finished Size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
  

You Make My Heart Flutter. Do I Need a Doctor?

Happy Tuesday, stampers! I was enjoying my weekend so much, I decided to let it last a little longer.

Today's card was created for SCS's Limited Supplies challenge, LSC222, "Plenty of Patterns." This weeks challenge limited players to:

• ½ sheet of plain card stock for the card base—no other plain papers;
• Plenty of patterned paper;
• NO coloring supplies ... no Copics, pencils, markers, crayons, nada; and,
• Keep the embellishments simple.
  

For all the challenging deets, clicky HERE. To go straight to the LSC222 card photo gallery, clicky HERE. To see the ginormous view of my card, clicky right there on the photo.

I stamped my butterfly ... a birthday gift from my dear friend, Annapurna, on patterned paper from MME, cut it out, and popped it up on dimensionals. I stamped my sentiment, from the same stamp set, on another paper from MME's "Bloom" collection, tied on a twill ribbon, added some Kaiser Craft pearls, and finis! Easy-peasy and ready to serve in, say ... 25 minutes!

Soooooooo, this past weekend, Sheila and I took Reid-the-Wild-Child out for ice cream. As we were sitting at the ice-cream bar, we watched a sweet older man shuffle in. He v-e-r-y slowly, and obviously painfully, pulled himself up onto a stool.

After catching his breath, he ordered a banana split.

The waitress asked kindly, "Crushed nuts?"

"No," he replied, "Arthritis."

The Wild Child is still asking what was so funny!

~Hugs,

• Card Stock: Bazzill Basics
• Designer Paper: "Bloom" Collection from "Bloom & Grow" by My Mind's Eye
• Stamps: "Butterfly Wings" Set by Close to My Heart
• Ink: "Tuxedo Black" Memento Dye Ink by Tsukineko
• Accessories: Twill Ribbon by Provo Craft; Pearls by Kaiser Craft
• Tools: Scissors by Cutter Bee; Foam Tape; Scotch ATG 714 Adhesive
• Finished Size: 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"