Wow! What a Gift!

About 2 weeks ago, The Meade Girls had their Secret Sister reveal dinner. The person that was my secret sister was unable to attend due to illness in her family. Last Saturday, we came by the shoebox swap to drop off my gift...and boy, what a gift it is!!!

First of all, my Secret Sister was Amanda. She really had me guessing! I had no idea that it was her!! My Secret Sister, through Dawnmarie, had asked for 6 of my favorite pictures from our trip to Sturgis this summer, so I sent 6 pictures to DM, who in turn sent them to my SS (Amanda). Well, I couldn't figure out what she had planned, but never in my wildest dreams did I expect anything like THIS:

I know the picture isn't that great and it's SO much more beautiful in person!!!! She printed out the 6 pictures that I sent. She also printed out maps of the areas where the pictures were taken. Each location is visible near the picture (if you click on the picture, it'll show it larger). The rhinestones, those beautiful flowers, all that ribbon on the handle....I just LOVE it!!!!! I can't wait to get my stamp room moved downstairs so I can hang it on the wall for all to see!!!

Amanda, you rocked as a Secret Sister! I loved the cards and I love this wall hanging!! Thank you SO much for everything!!!!

"Delightful"-ly Adorable!

****If you're here for the Bombshell Stamps Hump Day Hop, click HERE****


Take a look at this sweet little face:

This is Lara Pumpkin and she is simply ADORABLE!!! She is from Digital Delights by Louby Loo and I love her!!! She is so easy to color and has the sweetest eyes! Check out the Digital Delights store more this image and many, many others! AND their Halloween and fall images are on sale! To see their "specials", click here. You can also visit Digital Delights' blog to see what the other DT members have for your stamping inspiration!

Stamps: Lara Pumpkin
Paper: Basic Black (Stampin' Up), Neenah 80# white, patterned paper from the Toil and Trouble Halloween pack (Making Memories), 1" black grosgrain ribbon (Offray), 1/4" Pumpkin Pie grosgrain ribbon (Stampin' Up), pop dots, Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, Basic Black marker for doodling, Copic Markers

It's the Hump Day Hop!!!

What time is it? It's time for another FABULOUS Bombshell Hump Day Hop!!! You should have arrived here from Sparkly Mary's blog. If you didn't, head on over to the Bombshell Stamps Blog to start the hop at the very beginning. There is too much talent on their design team to miss anything!!

The next few months will be packed with assorted and various holidays. Our Hump Day Hottie, Alison, challenged up to create a card for our favorite holiday! I love Halloween but I love Christmas more, so I decided to use my Bombshells to create a Christmas card:


For this card, I used A Pirate's Life and colored her to be one of Santa's elves. She might be an elf, but she's still a "naughty" girl and all she wants for Christmas is Santa's naughty boy list... :)

Your last stop on our holiday hop is Alaine's blog. If you somehow get lost along the way just head on back over to the Bombshell Stamps' blog to find your way.

Stamps: A Pirate's Life
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Papers: Neenah 80# white, Soft Suede textured cardstock (Stampin' Up), Eskimo Kisses DSP pack (Basic Grey)
Accessories: Copic Markers, Modern Label and Photo Corner Punches (Stampin' Up), Cuttlebug, Nestabilities Labels Eleven, stick-on gold beads. pop dots

Anything Goes!!

Welcome to Party Time Tuesdays' Anything Goes Challenge #35! This week's sponsors are The Paper Shelter, Gilli and Creative Clear Stamps.

My image this week is Birthday Cupcake and here is my card using this image:

Now head on over to the Party Time Tuesdays blog to see what the Party Planners have to share!! And while you're there why don't you play along? You could win a fabulous prizs- a $15 gift certificate from The Paper Shelter, a Gilli Goodie Bag or a Creative Clear Stamp set!! Thanks so much to our fabulous sponsors for letting the Party Planners showcase your products!

Make sure to come back tomorrow for the September Bombshell Stamps' Hump Day Hop!!

Stamp: Birthday Cupcake
Papers: Rich Razzleberry, Pixie Pink, Neenah 80# white, patterned paper by Provo Craft
Ink: YoYo Yellow (for sponging around candle flame)
Accessories: Prisma Pencils, 1/16" hole punch, 1/8" hole punch, raspberry brads (Basic Grey), C1 Copic Marker for shadowing

Rainy Day Dilly Note Paper Holder

Happy Monday!! Today, I am the hostess over at the Digital Delights by Louby Loo blog. Each week, a design team member is spotlighted. Today, I shared this cute little note paper holder:


I used Rainy Day Dilly as my main image, coloring her using Copic Markers. Isn't she just adorable? I love that face!


On the inside, I inserted a 2012 calendar. Those little tear-off calendars are perfect for this!!

These little things are so quick to make- you can throw it together in about 10-minutes when you need a little gift!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Stamps: Rainy Day Dilly (Digital Delights by Louby Loo)
Papers: Summer Sun (Stampin' Up), blue plaid patterned paper (unknown)
Accessories: Note Paper Holder (ABC Distributing), Copic Markers, Cuttlebug, oval and scalloped oval Nestabilities, dew drops, Aleen's Jewel It glue

Hambo Design Team Call!

Hambo Stamps is having a design team call. I love Hambo Stamps! They're SO cute and so fun to color! I was sent two digi-images to use in the application process. One is Wee Henrietta Witch here:


... and Banana Kid here:


If I don't make the team, that's okay, because I had a lot of fun creating these cards and using these adorable images. If you haven't seen Hambo Stamps, go check them out NOW! I know you'll fall in love with them like I have! Oh, and also check out the Hambo Hoedown Challenge Blog! You can get free digi-images if you play along...yes, FREE! Hurry, go now!

Today, I'll be spending a fun-filled day at a shoebox swap. Come back tomorrow to see the cards that I make!

Card 1:
Stamps: Wee Henrietta Witch digi-image by Hambo Stamps
Papers: Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie (Stampin' Up), Neenah 80# white, Toil and Trouble
Ink: Going Gray (for sponging edge of image)
Halloween paper pack (Making Memories)
Accesories: Copic Markers, Cuttlebug, Nestabilities Label Eleven, orange dew drops, Aleen's Jewel It glue, pop dots, sponge

Card 2:
Stamps: Banana Kid digi-image by Hambo Stamps
Papers: Summer Sun, Melon Mambo (Stampin' Up), Neenah 80# white, plaid DSP unknown
Accessories: Copic Markers, Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, 1/2" yellow satin ribbon and 1/4" raspberry satin ribbon (Offray), gold stick-on beads (Recollections)

Finally!

Okay, so it's Friday, I'm just a couple days late getting my PTT # 34 card posted. It's not because I didn't get my card done in time, it's because an ink pad decided to JUMP off the shelf above my desk and fall, face down, onto my completed card before I could get a picture taken of it. So, I had to go back and remake my card.

If you'll remember, this is the sketch that we were to use to make our card:

...AND the card was to also be monochromatic. Here's my card, and as you can see, it's based VERY loosely on the above sketch...

Hope you like it and hope you think it was worth waiting for! :) OK- now I want a chocolate cupcake!

Stamp: Lovely Cupcake by Heart Song Designs, sentiment is a freebie from Pink Cat Studios
Papers: Chocolate Chip, patterned paper (Stampin' Up), Neenah 80# white
Accessories: Copic Markers, Word Window and Modern Label punches (Stampin' Up), mulberry paper roses (Recollections)

A Very Special Hoedown Challenge #34

This week's challenge is a very special challenge for us as we are teaming up with OPERATION WRITE HOME (their blog: Stars and Stamps) to celebrate their birthday and send the cards we make this week to the TROOPS that protect and serve our country!

I didn't get to play along last week with the Hoedown, so I didn't get the freebie image, but I wanted to play this week. I decided I would use Hambo's Camouflage Bear. Isn't he adorable?


Here is the card that I made for this week's challenge. I will be mailing this to Hambo Stamps to be forwarded to Operation Write Home. I sure hope that whoever receives this card will like it!


Stamps: Camouflage Bear digi-image with sentiments (Hambo Stamps)
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie (Stampin' Up), Neenah 80# white, patterned paper unknown
Ink: Going Grey for sponging edges of images (Stampin' Up)
Accesories: Copic Markers, Cuttlebug, Circle and Scalloped Circle Nestabilities, key tag punch (Stampin' Up), silver eyelets (Doodlebug), Crop-o-dile, silver brad (Recollections), pop dots, sponge

Happy Fall, Mr. Straw!

***If you are looking for the Oldies But Goodies Blog Hop, please click HERE or scroll down***

Well, tomorrow is the first day of fall...and it's starting to FEEL like fall around Maryland!! There's a nip in the air and the leaves are starting to turn into the beautiful fall colors that I love! Fall is my favorite time of year!

Today's card celebrates those beautiful colors and the coming of fall. This scarecrow image, called Mr. Straw, is the perfect "spokesperson" for the season! He just makes me smile. I hope you enjoy it!!!


By the way, Digital Delights has their fall and autumn images on sale! Check it out HERE.

Stamps: Mr. Straw, Happy Fall sentiment by Digital Delights by Louby Loo
Papers: Cranberry Crisp, Summer Sun (Stampin' Up), Neenah 80# white, striped patterned paper unknown
Accessories: Copic Markers, Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, pop dots, Prima flowers, antiqued copper brads (American Crafts)

Oldies But Goodies Blog Hop!

It's time for another Design D.I.V.A.S. "Oldies But Goodies" Blog Hop! You should have arrived here from Dru's Garden of Dreams. If not, go on over to Carolyn's blog to start at the beginning!

Our challenge is to use stamps, embellishments or other stamping "stuff" that is at least 6 months old. My card uses things that are WELL over 6 months old!! I found a spool of checked ribbon in a Michael's bag with the receipt still in the bag...dated 2009! Then I found my Razzleberry ink pad which was still in the cellophane wrapper just like I got it from my SU demo! What's it been? 2 years since Razzleberry was an In-Color? So, there you go...those are my oldies but goodies items that I used on this card:


I wanted to make a clean and simple card. I love the way they look, but I think I still need practice on the whole concept!

Now head on over to Debbie's blog- the last stop of you Oldies But Goodies adventure!

Stamp set: Come to Bethlehem (Stampin' Up)
Paper: Whisper White
Ink: Rich Razzleberry
Accessories: checked ribbon (Dots, Dashes, and Checks from Michael's), stick-on clear rhinestones, pop dots

PTT #33- Getting Sketchy AND Monochromatic!

**Note: My card will be posted later in the week...I had a fight with a ink pad and lost! :( Actually, I knocked over a stack of ink pads on a shelf...several fell to my desk, and one just HAD to come open and land smack dab in the middle of my finished card- face down! ARG! So, my replacement card isn't quite ready to post. Check back later this week...but here are the details about this weeks challenge:

It is Sketch week again here at PTT! We have another option for all of you who make cards then find challenges(that would be me!hahaha)! This week if you would like to use our sketch....great! But we would also like to see Monochromatic! So here are the options....Sketch Or Monochromatic....OR BOTH!!!



We have a 3 fantastic sponsors this week!

My name is Jenn Camargo and I'm a SAHM of 7 kids...6 girls ages 18-3 and a surprise baby boy age 4 months. I've been scrapbooking/card making for 18 years, and started digital designing three years ago. I LOVE my work...it's my creative outlet. I am thrilled to be sponsoring this challenge and loving all the fantastic works of art on the site!

We are a small family Craft business that came about when as a card making family, my daughters and young granddaughters and I that is! Not our men who do not make cards, although my husband has had a go....Could never find the stamps and crafts that we had seen advertised! So, in the end we decided to start up Crafts and Me, so that we could get the products we wanted not only for us, but to offer to other crafters like you. We love the different ranges of stamps and crafts that we get from all over the world and we hope you will love them too.... Our aim is to give you the best possible customer service that we can, and to treat our customers just as we would want to be treated ourselves.

Heart Song Designs offers hand drawn digital stamp images perfect for all your papercrafting needs. We offer a variety of images from elegant to super cute. Come visit us at www.heartsongdesignsshop.com and find digis that make your heart sing.

Paula's Reveal Gift

**If you're here for the Bombshell Reveal Hop, please click HERE**

Last night, the Meade Girls met at The Olive Tree restaurant for our Secret Sister Reveal Dinner. I think everyone was surprised at who their secret sister was!

Now, here are pictures of the desk set that I made for Paula. I used Bombshell Stamps' Retro Cowgirl, which is one of my favorite sets. I sure hope she liked it! (I apologize now for the poor pictures- everything seemed to have a glare on it when I took the pictures!)


Here is the card. It's one that I had previously made for a Bombshell DT-only technique challenge so if you regularly follow my blog, you'll remember it.

I used the "cracked glass" technique on this card- a first for me, and I was happy with how it turned out. So happy, in fact, that I made her gifts to match the card.

I was looking through an ABC Distributing catalog one day and saw that they had these cute little note paper holders. When I received them in the mail and opened the box, there was one in a color that nearly matches Stampin' Up's Summer Sun color, so I decided to "decorate" it up a bit, using the same papers, colors and Retro Cowgirl image as the card...and here's how it turned out:


...and on the inside there was a place for a photo, so I put the Retro Cowgirl inside, too, and then stamped "Howdy" on the first sheet of note paper. I really like how this turned out!


Next, I found a small wooden clip board that I had bought at Michael's a while back. I removed the metal hardware from the clip board and stained the wood using a rub-on liquid stain. Once dry, I covered the front with matching DSP using quite a few coats of Modge Podge. I stamped the Retro Cowgirl image, colored her using my Copics and then cut her out and adhered her to the front of the clip board, coating her in several more coats of Modge Podge. Once dry, I reattached the hardware. It didn't come out quite as well as I had hoped...


In the bag with the clip board, I found a travel mug that I had bought and forgotten I had, so I decorated the mug again using the same papers, and image, but this time, I also used the other Retro Cowgirl, too. It was tricky getting the images lined up properly but all-in-all, I guess it turned out okay.


Lastly, I made an 8x8" recipe page for "Cowgirl Beans".


I hope that Paula liked having me as her Secret Sister as much as I enjoyed BEING her Secret Sister and I hope that she enjoys her desk set!

Stamps: Retro Cowgirl, Western Gal from Bombshell Stamps
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Creamy Caramel (Stampin' Up)
Papers: Summer Sun, Cranberry Crisp (Stampin' Up), Neenah 80# white, star design patterned paper unknown
Accessories: small clip board, travel mug (Michael's), Modge Podge, note pad holder (ABC Distributing), star brads (Stampin' Up), Cranberry Crisp stitched ribbon (Stampin' Up), Copic Markers, sponge, Cuttlebug, Oval and Scalloped Oval Nestabilities, large star punch (Stampin' Up)

Here are some pictures that Angie took at our dinner:

The Meade Girls minus a few:

Angie with the gift her secret sister, Tilly, made her- a beautiful altered tin filled with even more beautiful cards:

Please excuse the devil's horns- Jane was being bad...again! :)

Gloria with the gift her secret sister, Kathi, made her- a yummy Dunkin' Donuts gift set- complete with mug, and DD coffee in an incredible handmade box!!


Jane with the gift that her secret sister, Angie, made her- a paper "designer" Angie original purse filled with all sorts of goodies...including CHOCOLATE and an amazing quilted card to match!

Kathi, getting some help from friends, with the gift that her secret sister, Cindy, made her- a shadow box with interchangable seasonal inserts. Gorgeous!

Paula with the gift that her secret sister, ME, made for her using my beloved Bombshell stamps:

Pete with the handmade gift that her secret sister, Gloria, made her- a beautiful card organizer complete with a collection of cards, inserts, monthly reminders AND postage stamps and to top if off, she put it inside a gorgeous handmade box!

Cindy with her handmade gift from her secret sister, Jane...yeah, the Jane who said she can't make anything...you should SEE this! An ABSOLUTELY gorgeous box with Cindy's picture on the ornament:

We were missing 2 people who participated in this round...Jen, whose secret sister was Paula and Amanda, who was my secret sister. We missed you girls!!

It's spooky. It's fashionable...and it's a secret no more!!

Check out what's BRAND NEW at Bombshell Stamps!! Halloween Digi Costumes for your Bombshell Angel stamp!! How fabulous are these???


First of all, you should have arrived here from Alison's blog. If you didn't, head on over to the Bombshell Stamps Blog to start the hop at the beginning. The Design Team has created some FABULOUSLY fashionable and ghoulishly glorious creations to show off these fun new images.

I was able to get 2 cards made using 2 of the 3 costume images. They're very simple cards, though...there just isn't enough hours in the day! :) (You can see a previous card I made using the 3rd image here .)

Sexy Vampiress
Bride of Frankenstein

Both are made using the same papers and similar layout, but aren't these images awesome?!

Now head on over to Katie's blog to continue your spooky fashion show...think of it as Fashion Week in Transylvania! :) If you get lost along the way, just head on back over to the Bombshell Stamps Blog to pick up where you left off. Enjoy!!

Stamps: Bombshell Angel, Halloween Costume digis
Papers: Green Galore, Pumpkin Pie, Concord Crush, old Halloween DSP (Stampin' Up), Neenah 80# white
Ink: Pumpkin Pie (for sponging)
Accessories: Copic Markers, wide orange grosgrain ribbon, 1" purple grosgrain ribbon (Offray), 1/4" Pumpkin Pie grosgrain ribbon (Stampin' Up), green webbed ribbon (May Arts), pop dots, gold Spica pen, stick-on orange rhinestones

Secret Sister Revealed!

The Meade Girls had so much fun with their first round of secret sisters that we decided to do it all over again!! This time I was Paula's secret sister. I had a blast sending her cards and little gifts over the past 3 months. On Saturday, we met to have lunch and to reveal our identities, and now that Paula knows it was me, I can post the creations that I made for her.

This first card is made using a digi-image that I purchased from Victoria Case. Isn't this little guy adorable?
I printed the image onto GP110 white cardstock and colored him using my beloved Copic Markers. Real Red and Basic Black cardstocks are from Stampin' Up, the yellow embossed paper is from Michael's. I'm not sure where I got the Treasured Friend sentiment. The ribbon is from my stash- most likely from the Offray Ribbon Outlet.

The second card that I sent her was in celebration of the arrival of summer...I used a digi-image from 2 Cute Rubber Stamps. I included a cute little ice cream cone appliqued dish towel along with the card. (I "borrowed" the picture that Paula took because I forgot to take one with the dishtowel).
How cute is this penguin?

I used Stampin' Up's Chocolate Chip, Gable Green and Pixie Pink cardstocks, Neenah 80# white cardstock and Making Memories' "Cheeky" patterned paper. It just reminded me of ice cream! The large brown button is SU and the small white one was from my button stash. For the marshmallow cream I used liquid applique but I just let it dry naturally instead of using a heat gun so that it had a smooth appearance like marshmallow cream. Note to self- buy a "mint" colored Copic marker!

This next card is made using an image that I found online. It is actually a child's coloring page that I shrunk to fit onto a card. I had colored this image a while back when several challenge sites were having challenges in tribute to Japan after the earthquake. I'm not sure why I never used it. I think she's beautiful!

Close-up:

Apricot Appeal and Real Red cardstocks are from Stampin' Up. The patterned paper is some that I received in a blog candy that I won a while back so I'm not sure who makes it. I thought it had a somewhat Asian feel to it. The black stick-on beads are from BasicCraft. The strip of Apricot Appeal was run through my Cuttlebug using the Square Lattice embossing folder. I love that folder!!

Here's another card that I sent Paula. The image is called Tender Tootsies from the Plump 'Uns line from Phindy's Place.

This is a new color cardstock for me...it's Peach Parfait from Stampin' Up. I thought it went well with the glitter DSP.

This is the last card that I sent Paula through the mail in secret. The image I "won" in a challenge on the Cards for Men challenge blog. The image is from the sponsor The Stamping Boutique. The image is so cute and it was so much fun to color. I hope Paula liked it.

Close up:

I will post her "reveal gift" in a seperate blog post soon. Hope you'll come back to check it out!!

Sing Your "Art" Out Blog Hop!

Welcome to "Sing Your Art Out" sponsored by Hambo Stamps! Today Hambo friends, customers, and the Bacon Bits Design Team are bringing you fun creations that depict song titles! It might be a favorite song, or just one that was fun to design. If you arrived here from Paula's blog you are in the right place! If not, you might want to start back at the beginning at the Hambo blog to make sure you are eligible for the hopper prize! You sure don't want to miss anything!!

A prize will be awarded to one participant whose song-themed creation tickles the Bacon Bits’ fancy in a singin' wingin' way! Another prize will be awarded randomly to a hopper who comments on all the blogs along the hop. The winners will be announced on the Hoedown blog, as well as on the Hambo company blog, Talk to the Ham, on Wednesday, September 21.

I had a really hard time deciding on a song for my card, but I finally decided on Surfin' Safari by the Beach Boys. It's a song that can take me back to the beach even in the middle of winter. I remembered I had an image that I had gotten in an image swap called Surfer Pig and thought he'd be perfect for my song-inspired card. Here he is:


Early in the morning well be startin' out
some honeys will be coming along.
We're loading up our Woody
with our boards inside
And headin' out singing our song.

Come on baby wait and see
Yes, I'm gonna take you surfin' with me.
Come along pretty baby wait and see
Yes, I'm gonna take you surfin' with me.

Lets go surfin' now
Everybody's learning how
Come on and safari with me
(come on and safari with me...)

Yep- now you've got that song stuck in your head!! :)

Now hop on over to Jenn's blog for another great sing-along song! If you get lost along the way, remember you can go back to the Hambo blog to pick up where you left off!

Stamps: Surfer Pig (#3221) by Hambo Stamps, Speckle stamp (Stampin' Up)
Papers: Brocade Blue, Summer Sun (Stampin' Up), Neenah 80# white, assorted scrap DSP
Inks: Brocade Blue, Creamy Caramel (Stampin' Up)
Acessories: Copic Markers, sponge, Cuttlebug, embossing folders (D'Vine Swirls, Swiss Dot, Dots), gold stick-on beads, orange felt flower, button (Stampin' Up), pop dots

Let's Party!

This cute little mouse is Pippin and, from the way he's in his cups and with those pink cheeks, he looks to me like he's about partied out! :) The image and sentiment are from Digital Delights.

Close up:

Check out the Digital Delights store for more adorable images...and don't forget to check out the Digital Delights blog, too!!!

Stamps: Party Pippin, Let's Party sentiment
Papers: Green Galore, Basic Black (Stampin' Up), Neenah 80# white, DSP from Basic Grey
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black for sponging
Accessories: Copic Markers, Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Bubbles embossing folder, stick-on pearls (Reflections), sponge

Ribbons and Fibers and Trims...oh, my!

I can't believe it's already time for another Party Time Tuesdays challenge!! This week our challenge is Ribbons and Fibers and Trims, oh, my! It's pretty easy to figure out that our projects all had to use ribbon, fibers or trims...

This week's sponsors are: Circle B Enterprises, Tiffany Doodles and Jen's Digis.

My image for this week, Girl with Coffee, is from Jen's Digis.

Close up:

She was lots of fun to color using my Copic Markers.

Head on over to the Party Time Tuesdays blog to check out what the other design team members have to share!

Stamps: Girl with Coffee from Jen's Digis
Papers: Neenah 80# white, Real Red, Basic Black, Night to Day DSP (Stampin' Up)
Accessories: Copic Markers, 1/16" hole punch, red brads (Recollections), pop dots, red gingham ribbon (Circle B Enterprises), gold Spica pen for eye glasses