Double the Pleasure, Double the.....

no, not double the gum - I'm not talking about Doublemint gum today folks. I'm talking about double challenges. And I kinda have to laugh. Some of my customers and I were having a chuckle about blogs the other day. When one of them introduced me to a blog that I don't follow - *gasp* there is a blog I don't follow???* - she made the comment, "yah, and she posts almost everyday." The other customer said, and "she is always participating in challenges."

Well, you two know who you are, and I hope you are laughing all the way to your stamp rooms!! Not only have I posted almost everyday this week - I have participated in not one, not two but now FOUR challenges this week. Amazing - huh?

So this card incorporates the Mojo Monday Sketch and the Tuesday Trigger from Moxie Fab. I had a blast with both, and am remembering this week why I like a good sketch - I can make them my style, but don't have to really think about layout. It makes it easy for me. And the Tuesday Trigger was really pretty easy. The polka dot paper came to mind instantly - it's from Cosmo Cricket's Togetherness.

I used a couple of different textures as the sweater was full of gorgeous texture. And I just love the polka dot ruffled paper. Like. Really. Love. It. All in all, I really love this card. Even with it's somewhat monotone colors, I think it's stunning. What do you think? Go ahead, leave me some comments.....I love to hear your thoughts.

SSSC90 - Winter Wish

Alrighty folks, I know, I know....we don't want it to snow yet. But it is coming, and as a matter of fact, we had some flurries today, some rain, and even some sleet! I actually don't mind the snow, as long as I've got electricity, heat, and coffee - I'm good! So, here's to winter...

I decided to play along with this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch. I love a good sketch, and this one was great. I might whip up another...

This set came to me in the mail and I had to ink it up right away.....I'm a sucker for this Friendship Jar and all of the filler sets....darn Papertrey Ink anyway....

This one was really quite easy to create. Stamp jar, stamp handle, stamp filler (cocoa), stamp marshmallows, color marshmallows. done. Well, besides the assembling....that was pretty easy.

And here is where I used the die from Taylored Expressions to cut the felt. Pretty adorable - huh? You like the added rhinestones? I just felt this card still needed something.

So, question for you, my dear readers....do you mind that for the past two days I've shown you stuff from other companies? I'd like to know.....would you rather I kept this blog solely Stampin' Up? Or is it okay to throw in an occassional miscellaneous company. I ask because I feel guilty, to an extent, showing you non-SU things. I really love some of these stamp sets from other companies; and while I try not to buy too much from other companies, the stamp Gods just keep tempting me. the stamps, the dies, the paper..... Since I write this blog to keep you happy, that's what I'll aim to do...just let me know how you'd like me to proceed. Leave me some comments so I know how you feel.

Thanks all!

Recipe: Winter Wish
Stamps: Friendship Jar, Friendship Jar Winter Fillers (PTI)
Paper: Kraft, Baja Breeze, Jolly Holiday DSP, Vellum Cardstock
Ink: Early Espresso, Choc. Chip, Cherry Cobbler, Baja Breeze
Accessories: Ocean Tides Felt (PTI), rhinestones, snowflake punch, scallop die (TE), white chalk

CPS190 - So Tweet!

Howdy folks. If you are looking for the 2010 Christmas Stamp-A-Stack options, head over here or scroll down to yesterday's post.

Now, for today's project. As many of you know, Taylor Van Bruggen was our special guest at my Stamp Out Parkinson's fundraiser. She has an amazing line up of stamp sets and other fabulous paper crafting supplies. Be sure to check out her blog for lots of inspiration. She'll be finishing up her 12 days of Christmas projects this week. You'll surely find some grand ideas. I couldn't resist buying several of her stamp sets on Saturday. The one I used on the card below - Tweet Hearts - is also one that she did a make and take with. It's adorable. I'm dreaming up a Christmas card with this one too.....my head is just thinking it out....

She's also got some great dies - that scalloped trim on the card is one of her dies. It's awesome. I even cut some felt with it - and it worked like butter. Just wait for tomorrow's post!

Recipe:

Stamps: Tweet Hearts (TE)
Paper: Poppy Parade, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Togetherness (Cosmo Cricket)
Ink: Choc. Chip, Sage Shadow, Poppy Parade
Accessories: Lots of Tags die, Scallop die (TE)

Here they are....the 2010 Christmas Cards!

drumroll please!!! Here they are folks - your first set of options for Round 1 of the 2010 Christmas Card Stamp-A-Stack! Round 2 will be announced in the next few days, and do not fear, it WILL include a photo card, and possibly a gift bag or two. Please keep your blogging channel tuned into Stamped Silly for further details! Many of you may not be familiar with my Christmas Card Stamp-A-Stack, so let me fill you in briefly.

During the holiday season, it can be a treat to get the mail. Tossed in among the bills and catalogs and such is fun mail - cards and greetings from friends and loved ones that we may not have heard from in a while. They come in different sizes, shapes. Some are elegant, some are simple, some sparkly, some comical. You may even get some that are handmade. Those are the ones that you will turn over, admire, turn over some more. And you realize that someone took some time to make this card. They are the ones that are cherished. Don't you want to be the one to give someone a work of art and bless their day? You can, and in a stress free way!

Here's the nitty gritty: You pick a card from below. I will cut and score 10 of that card for you. You stamp and assemble, then admire your work! In the allotted time, you should be able to create 2 "stacks" without a problem. So, feel free to choose 2 cards if you can't decide! All supplies are included - just bring yourself and the adhesive of your choice!

When: Saturday, November 6th; 8 am
Where: Denison Municipal Utilities Bldg.
Fee: $20/stack

Option 1: Sparkly Snowflake Greeting

Option 2: Snowflake Peace on Earth:

Option 3: Musical Greetings

Option 4: Sparkled Wreath

Inside:

Option 5: Ornament Happy Holidays

Option 6: Embossed Snowflakes

Once you have your decisions made, just send me an email to let me know which ones you are making and I'll get to cutting! We always have a blast - come and join us!!!!

change in plans....

Okay, I know, it's My Digital Monday.....but, this week, I'm going to have to delay that. After a huge weekend, I've got a workshop to prep for today, and I need to get you all the details of the upcoming Christmas Stamp-A-Stack. So, I'll be spending some time in my stamp room, photographing those cards for you to see, and preparing for tonight.

I am still in HEAVEN after the weekend of Stamp Out Parkinson's, and can cross one thing off my bucket list - to stamp with Taylor Van Bruggen! OMGosh. She is adorable, and really tall!!!! That will be an upcoming My Digital Monday project! Watch for it....

I'll be back.....

My Digital Monday!

Hello! Gosh, I almost forgot to post this today! I feel like it's been a whirlwind morning! I've got a babe that is overly clingy today (anyone have any tips on how to fix this?) She won't take a bottle for me, for her dad, for grandma or anyone!, she cries the second I leave the room, and doesn't like to be left anywhere. Don't get me wrong - I love her to pieces, but trying to get anything accomplished is next to impossible. She's got to get over this!!! And I've got to figure out how to get her to take a bottle! We'll be working on that one all week. She'll be at Grandma's all day Saturday, so she's gonna need to drink.

Anyway - here is this week's digi project. These are pictures that my sister-in-law had taken of her daughter ( our niece) Lia. As Will puts it - "she's the cutest ever"! , he says that about Aubrie too..... But Lia is a doll. And it was so much fun to put together a girly page. This one was super quick. Just grabbed the background paper, placed my pics, added some ribbon (which was great to be able to stretch quite a bit wider than what it actually comes), threw on some flowers. Done. Seriously. That easy.

That's it folks, I gotta keep moving!

2S4Y - Birthday Balloons

Alrighty, I had so much fun with this weeks sketch over at 2 Sketches 4 You, I'm posting another. Wish I had time to show all of the ones I make with this sketch....but time is a factor! This one, I'll be using at a Mom and Me workshop this weekend. I can't wait to see what those little gals think of this one:

It's bright, it's clean, and it's really pretty darn easy!

You likey????

2S4Y - Merry & Bright

I've always loved Kazan's sketches over on 2 Sketches 4 You blog. This week, they are having a design team search. I'm feeling the pressure! I've played with the sketch, threw out a few cards, then decided, ahhh.....this one will do. I wanted it clean and simple like the sketch:

In fact, I really didn't venture away from sketch at all. I stayed pretty literal. My gut feeling was to use a snowflake. But, I couldn't find a snowflake in the right size, so here I used the negative image.

I inked the chipboard up with Real Red Craft Ink, then used clear embossing powder on it. I attached a piece of vellum cardstock to the back to see what that looked like. Just alright. How about some sparkle. So, I broke out the Martha Stewart Snow Glitters that I've had for quite some time. Like. Two Years. I know.... I put some glue on the vellum, and sprinkled the snow glitter on. And, I really like that look.

The card is pretty clean. Almost too clean??? Nah.....I wouldn't want to distract from the sparkly snowflake!

That's all folks! ta-ta!

Stamp Out Parkinson's News

Yippee Skippy!! I'm getting excited. My Stamp Out Parkinson's is getting really close! How close is it? Next Saturday, October, 23rd. Wanna come paper-craft with us? There are still tables available, but you better act fast, we are filling up! And you know why you should be sure to join us? Well, the super talented Taylor Van Bruggen is joining us, and she just notified me that she is bringing not one, but TWO of her very crafty design team members!!! How awesome is that?? Want more information? Check out this post. Taylor will have some great things to show you - don't disappoint yourself - just reserve a table and get here! Otherwise, you'll be making this face:


The design team members that she is bringing with her are Sankari Wegman and Tori Wild. Check out their blogs - they are amazing! There is a reason they are on several design teams. We'll all be sure to learn something from them! Spread the word. Gather your friends. Come and craft with us! We don't want to see you throwing a tantrum like that little 2 year old in the pic above. (Alex does this at least 3 times a day. Here it was because I wouldn't open a third pack of fruit chews.)

Wanna see a card today?

Are you sure?

I'm gonna cheat again today.

Is that alright?

Just show it already?

O-kay!

I know, it's just a little sneak peak.

Do you like so far?

Fine - calm down. Here is the whole thing:

Thanks.

Good coloring huh! You likey?

That paper is now two years retired. I miss it. And while I've been hoarding it now for two years, I still wish I had more. I love it that much.

Okay - I must crash now. I'm a little dilusional. It's from lack of sleep.

Yet again....I digress!

Alrighty folks, I once again am showing you a non-SU card. It's a rare occassion that it happens, but I just love this stamp set, err, sets...and I really love this card. And what is it that I really love about it? Well, I must say, I did a damn good job of coloring!!! (patting self on back) :)

Isn't it adorable? Yeah, I know! Other that the stamped images, every thing is SU.

Just how did I do such a fab job of coloring, you ask? All it is, is watercolor paper and Stampin' Up Markers, with a blender pen. It takes a little practice, but really it's pretty darn easy. I simply put the color in the dark areas, and blend it towards the light areas. If I get too much color here or there, clean your blender pen, then remove the color - like in those highlight areas. You achieve a look much like that of the ever expensive Copics. And, sure, I'd love some Copics, but they are WAY out of my price range. IF you are reading this, dear lords of the Copic Marker land, I really would pamper your markers and do them a great justice!!

Alrighty, enough begging....back to this card!

I'm beginning to love little snippets of crocheted ribbon on my cards, and I really {heart} those adorable button brads from Stampin' Up! Aren't they too cha cha for words? They come in a package - Vintage Trinkets - along with some cutesy safety pins. In a variety of colors. You really should get yourself some. Contact me, I'll hook you up!

My Digital Monday!

Howdy Folks! It's My Digital Monday - and I want you to know, I quickly created these 2 pages this morning with pics that I took yesterday on our outing. I had to wait for Aubrie to lay down for her morning nap, so want you to know that creating digitally IS really quick and easy! If I wasn't in such a hurry to get these pages uploaded to the ol' bloggy, I would have photoshopped them so you could see them side by side. (hence the lone 'n' on the second page - when you put the pages together, it would say "Orchard Fun" across the bottom!) Just imagine in your head that they are side-by side! The simplicity here is that I used pages that are already designed as far as the sketch is concerned. I did add the pic of Aubrie that is laid on top of the other pics. I also added all of the elements, stamped images (leaves and title) and paper options. All I started with was a blank page, that showed me where to put my photos. Then I duplicated that page and flipped it, to have symmetrical pages. I'm that kinda person - I like things in order - just don't look at my craft room! It's the exception! Anyway - these two pages probably took me a whopping 30 minutes to create. And one thing I love about this program, I can flip my photos. You know the age old rule that the people in your photos should be pointing toward the center of your album - ie: one the right hand page, subjects should be facing left. Well, with this program, it's a click of a button to flip your photo to accomodate that rule! I love that! Cropping is easy, adding elements is easy.

My deal for you today (since it's my birthday week!), if you order My Digital Studio, I will send you a package of buttons of your choice! Can you say hybrid pages??? (Hybrid pages are digital pages that you print, then add actual embellishments to)

For those of you that took advantage of my 10 for 10 deal yesterday - thank you! I am mailing out your $10 gift certificates today - watch for those in the mail!

Get your My Digital Studio ordered today! Contact me to do so!

10-10-10

Do you know that Sunday is 10-10-10? October 10th, 2010. Do you know what else special is happening on Sunday?? It's my BIRTHDAY!!! I don't usually do much on my birthday anymore - hubby is almost always in the fields harvesting. This year, the kids and I along with my mom are going to make a trip to the apple orchard. I'm hoping for a great day. But I wanted to give something back to you - yes YOU! To my faithful blog readers and customers. So here's the deal:

On 10-10-10, if you purchase 10 items, I will send you a $10 gift certificate that you can use at a later date. I'm sure you can find 10 items can't you? You can shop at my online store, you can email me or you can phone me your order. Buy 10 get 10. How can you beat that? So, what are you waiting for, get making your wish list so you can send it to me on 10-10-10!!!

I {heart) Autumn!!!

Hold onto your seats - while this card is a Sympathy card I have to say, it rocks the autumn themed cards of all time!!! Okay, I'm being a little prejudice, but I do love it. It just screams Autumn to me.

Isn't it go-jus? Granted, I did use a retired leaf set - can't recall the name, and I'm too lazy to go look - it's snuggle time right now with my youngsters. I'm multi-tasking while they are resting. Anyway, I think it's Autumn Days....I used that oldie but goodie technique of rock-n-roll on the stamps to get the variegated look to the leaves. This was a great way to make my own patterned paper. For the tree, I inked it up in Crumb Cake, then thumped the leaves with my More Mustard and Cherry Cobbler markers.

Aren't those leaves neat? And I couldn't get any ribbon on here except for that little snipet. Worked pretty good tho.

Here I want to show you how I used the stamp off technique - I'd stamp onto the card, then twist the stamp and stamp again for a lighter look. ka-chow.

I even went a little bit crazy and inked up the inside....sweet - huh?

Be sure to check out this post for tomorrow's big 10-10-10 day!

Because I Care...

Remember I told you I had a couple of Sympathy cards to make and send....I finally am showing them to you! Here is one anyway.....

While hydrangea's normally are in bloom in the summer, but I couldn't resist making a card with some fall paper - retired from two years ago. Anyone else a hoarder of all things designers paper? I always buy an extra pack of my faves - "just in case"!! The stamp set is a hostess set - Because I Care. Isn't it beautiful???

Don't forget - if there is something on the clearance rack - you better get your little mitts on it before it's gone. There are so many things at awesome prices - especially some of the Big Shot dies - they are rock bottom priced! How do you shop the clearance rack? Well, head on over here you silly~!

Clearance Rack Thank You

Have you checked out Stampin' Up's HUGE Clearance Rack?? If not you better - go on over here. I know that you will find something you need. And at prices up to 80% off, you don't want to miss it. As an added bonus, I'm sending the above card to those people that order from my website. Some of you have already received this card, some will have one in your mailbox tomorrow. Go on, go check! Isn't it fun to receive a handmade card in the mail? Yup. Sure is! Maybe you should go to your lil' stampin' spot and create one to send to someone special.