My Secret Sister Revealed!

Happy Sunday!   My stamping group, The Meade Girls, has been doing a Secret Sister card swap for the past 3 months.  My secret sister has sent me some beautiful cards!!!  Look at the one I just got a couple days ago:

I LOVE the colors and the layout of this card!  I have that stamp and I will definitely be CASEing this card!!  I had no idea who my secret sister was until I received the above card and then I had a hunch.  I thought this card just "screamed" her name!   :)

Yesterday was the Secret Sister Reveal lunch/cookout at Amanda's house, but, unfortunately, I woke up sick.  I didn't want to go and infect anyone, so I missed out on the fun!  I did, however, get to find out who my secret sister was and it was........KATHI! 

Here is the card and little giftie that she gave me...and I love them both!!!

The card she gave me is beautiful!  So soft and spring-y!  Kathi makes such beautiful cards!

Now, look at the little giftie she also gave me...I'm loving this!!!

She made a little tea and cookie holder!  How cute is this!?!?!  (Sorry, I thought I had the bow straight before I took the pictures...guess not!)

The little "Cup of Thanks" card slips out of the pocket:

Thank you SO much, Kathi!!  You have been my secret sister a couple of times and you always do such a great job!!!  Thanks for the beautiful cards, but most of all, thank you for your friendship!!

To my other Meade Girls, I'm sorry I had to miss out on the reveal...I hope you all had a great time.  I was there in spirit!!

DTBST #122- Christmas

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

It's Thursday, so that means it's time for another Dare To Be Sassy Thursday challenge! This week's challenge is to make a Christmas/Holiday card using a sentiment. With it being almost May, it was hard to get into the Christmas "mood" but here is what I came up with using Ellie the Elf from Sassy Studio Designs.

A close up:

As I was coloring her, I remembered watching The Santa Clause movie and seeing that the girl elves "sparkled", so I used a glitter pen on her hair and left it white.

Please make sure to stop by the Sassy Studio Designs blog to see what the rest of the design team came up with! If you'd like to purchase Ellie the Elf, or any other SSD images, check out their store here.

Stamps:  Ellie the Elf (Sassy Studio Designs), Merry Christmas sentiment from Holiday Accessories set  (Bombshell Stamps)

Papers:  Old Olive, Morning Marigold (Stampin' Up), Neenah 80# white, patterned paper from St. Nick pack (Fancy Pants)

Ink:  Old Olive (Stampin'Up)

Accessories:  Copic Markers, glitter pen, small oval punch, scalloped oval punch, large oval punch, stick on gold glitter adornments (Michael's), pop dots

Bombshell Hump Day Hop- Homage to Bettie Page

Welcome to April's Bombshell Stamps Hump Day Hop!! You should have arrived here from Kelli's blog. If you didn't, head on back over the the Bombshell Stamps' Blog to start the hop there! We have a fun hop for you this month so you won't want to miss anything!!!!

Our resident Hump Day Hottie, Alison, gave us this challenge:

"On April 22, 1923, a star was born. A star that we all know. A star that, without her, Bombshell Stamps may not even exist (if I may be so presumptuous). Who is it? None other than Bettie Page. What better month to pay homage to the Pin-Up Queen herself than the month of her birth? So for this hop, I want you to give Ms. Page some love."

Here are a couple of photos of Bettie Page that I used as my inspiration for my project- Jungle Bettie:



To be honest, I hadn't heard of Bettie Page before this. My love of "bombshells" came from my love of World War II nose art. After seeing Bettie's hairstyle in these photos, I knew I had to use my beloved Bombshell Angel, and here is what I came up with...I hope you like it!

To continue on your Bettie Page journey, please head on over to Laura's blog. In case you get lost, here is the complete blog list for the hop:

Bombshell Blog: http://bombshellstamps.blogspot.com/

Alison: http://alisonsrandomthoughts.blogspot.com/

Kelli: http://www.cajunstampingqueen.blogspot.com

Mary G.: http://www.mystampinhide-away.blogspot.com

Laura: http://craftylittlewoman.blogspot.com/

Susie: http://whiteribboncards.blogspot.co.uk

Rachael (Etsy Ketsy): http://rachaelshandmadedesigns.blogspot.com/

Jennie: http://piratejennie.blogspot.co.uk/

Jodi (Elam): http://www.elamdesign33.blogspot.com/

Emily: http://bombshellemsartisticexpressions.blogspot.com/

Torrey: http://left-field-studio.blogspot.com/

Kim: http://www.craftypinkanchor.blogspot.com

Alaine: http://missalaineousmosaics.blogspot.com/

Theresa: http://mommameasfavoritethings.blogspot.com/

Stempelientje: http://stempelientje.blogspot.com/

Mary (Sparkly Engineer): http://sparkly-train.blogspot.com/

Kathi: http://kathstales.blogspot.com

Stamps: Bombshell Angel
Papers: Leopard print DSP (Me & My BIG ideas), Garden Green, Basic Black, Creamy Caramel (Stampin' Up), Neenah 80# white
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Copic Markers, Cuttlebug, Woodgrain embossing folder, square scallop Nestabilities, pop dots, 1/8" hole punch, black brads (Recollections from Michael's)

SSD Release Day Blog Hop!!!

Welcome to the Sassy Studio Designs' April Release Blog Hop!!! We have several brand new sassy images to share with you that are on sale in the SSD store today!! You should have arrived here from the multi-talented Lori's blog. If you did, you're on the right track!! If you didn't, please go back to the Sassy Studio Designs' blog to start the hop at the beginning. You won't want to miss a thing!!! Make sure to leave a comment on each of the DT blogs! There will be 2 prizes for one new image each for randomly drawn comments on the DT blogs. You never know which blog will have winners!

First of all, we are supposed to talk about our most favorite and our least favorite stamping tools. Coming up with my favorite tool was hard- there are so many that I love. Well, my absolute all-time favorite tool (are they really a tool??) would be my Copic Markers!!! I fell in love with them the first time that I used them!! I recently took the Copic Certification class, but I know I still have LOTS to learn about using them properly! My very close second favorite tool is my Cuttlebug. I probably use my Cuttlebug with embossing folders or die cuts on most cards that I make, including the one I'll be showing you in a minute. Coming up with a least favorite tool was easy- it's my Stamp-a-ma-jig. I have one that is still in the package unopened. I've used it at shoebox swaps and just don't like it...I know some people swear by them, but for me, it just doesn't work! We'd like you to leave a comment on the SSD blog telling us what YOUR most and least favorite tools are! If you do, you might win 3 of the brand new images!!

OK, now onto my card! The image that I am spotlighting today is called Elizabeth Laura Bennett and she is a beauty!! As soon as I saw her I thought "wedding card"! I need a card for an upcoming bridal shower and thought she would be perfect for it!

She is just so beautiful...

Now hop on over to the uber-talented Rachelle's blog. I know what she has to share will knock your socks off!!

Just in case you get lost along the way, here is the complete blog hop list:

SSD blog
Abbie
Angela
Ashley
Belle
Christine
Christy
Debbie
Jackie
Jamie
Jen
Jovan
Julie
Karen
Kate
Kathy
Kim
Lori
Mary ...You are here!
Rachelle
Rebecca
Regan
Ruza
Sara
Shari
Soma
Starla
SSD Blog

Stamps: Elizabeth Laura Bennett, sentiment by Just Rite stamps
Papers: Basic Black, Blushing Bride (Stampin' Up), Neenah 80# white, patterned paper unknown
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (for sponging)
Accessories: Copic Markers, Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, Fancy Tags 2 (Spellbinders), flowers (from a blog candy I won from SSD DT Kathy!), glue dots, sponge, stick on rhinestone flourishes

I will also be entering this card into the following challenges:

Card Making Mamas-Make it Girlie
CRAFT # 151- Wedding/Anniversary
Just Keep on Creating # 1- Anything Goes
Oozak # 1- Anything Goes
Fairy Fun Fridays- Anything with Flowers

DTBST #121 AND a Sneak Peek!!!

Hello!! Welcome to another Dare to be Sassy Thursday!! This week's challenge is "Flowers and Flourishes". This is the card that I'd like to share with you:


This is New Sassy Cassie and she is available from Sassy Studio Designs here.


Please stop by the Sassy Studio Designs blog to see more flowery and flourishy creations by the rest of the design team.

I entered Sassy Cassie into the following challenge:

Tammy's Scrappin' Corner- A Splash of Green- entry #34

Now for some exciting news!! Sassy Studio Designs will be having a new release and blog hop on Saturday!!! Today, I have a sneak peek at one of the fabulous new images!! This is Kutie Kim Roller Girl. Isn't she fun?!


Check her out close-up!


Make sure to check out the Sassy Studio Blog through Saturday! There will be more sneak peeks tomorrow and then a blog hop on Satuday with prizes to be won!!

New Sassy Cassie card:
Stamps: New Sassy Cassie (Sassy Studio Designs), sentiment from Stampalicious
Papers: Bashful Blue, Basic Black (Stampin' Up), Neenah 80# white, Pocket Full of Posies glitter paper
Ink: Bashful Blue (Stampin' Up)
Accessories: Copic Markers, stick on pearls (Martha Stewart), pearl flourish (Prima), pop dots, sponge

Kutie Kim Roller Girl card:
Stamps: Kutie Kim Roller Girl, sentiment was computer generated
Papers: Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Bashful Blue, Basic Black (Stampin' Up), Neenah 80# white, patterned paper (The Paper Studio)
Ink: Bashful Blue for sponging (Stampin' Up)
Accessories: Copic Markers, Cuttlebug, Peace Sign embossing folder (The Paper Studio), Modern Label Punch (Stampin' Up), pop dots

What a Class!!

On Saturday, a group of Meade Girls got together at Jane's house for Angie to teach us how to alter cigar boxes. What a fun project!!!

Working hard...


The hardest part is deciding on which papers to use- Paula's here TRYING to decide!

Our boxes are coming along...


A woman and her power tools-it's a wonderful thing! :) Angie drilling holes for the knobs...


Here's a group shot of our boxes. They are still unadorned but beautiful none-the-less! And each one is SO differnt! You can see Pete and I have very similar tastes in papers! :)


Here's my box once I got it decorated...I love it!!! (That green flower isn't really that bright in person!)

From the side...

Inside...


I can't wait to make some more!! I think I'm going to make a wedding box for a bridal shower gift and maybe even put a matching bag album inside...we'll see...

Thanks for stopping by!!

More Happy Mail!

I recently received a beautiful card from my secret sister. Look at this!!


What a fun image!!! Inside it said "Stamping is an addiction and a therapy rolled into one!" Well, isn't THAT the truth!?

Thanks, Secret Sister! I can hardly wait to find out who you are!!!!

I also recently received a birthday package from a dear friend, Tracy, who now lives in Alaska.

Here's what she sent me:

Yumm, Peeps! :)

Thank you, Tracy! You are so thoughtful!!

Happy Birthday to Me!!

A while ago I found a beautiful altered cigar box online. I sent a picture of it to my friend, Gloria, and kiddingly said "you can make this for me for my birthday". Well, lo and behold, she actually DID!!!! Look at this beautifully awesome altered cigar box she made for me!!!!

From the front:


Open- she lined the inside with felt and pretty flower trim and even put a mirror inside!!

I was SO excited and I truly LOVE it!!!! Now to find the perfect spot to put it so that I can show it off but it'll still be "safe" from getting hurt! :)

Gloria, thank you SO much for your thoughtfulness. You truly are a wonderfully special friend!!

Birthday Happy Mail!

Not only was April 8th Easter Sunday, but it was also my birthday! Check out the happy mail that I received from some very special ladies!!

from Gloria:

from Amanda:

from Paula:
from Angie:


from Pete:

from Jane (notice the special "treat" that was inside the little bag!):


from Rose:
from Cindy:


from Kathi:

from Terry:

A very BIG thank you to all of you!!! I love each and every one of my birthday greetings!! I sure had fun going to the mailbox!!

Dare To Be Sassy Thursday- 04/12/2012

This week we have a fun challenge for you. Kathy created this fabulous sketch for us:


Sketch challenges are always so much fun- I love seeing all the different images that people use and the different "takes" on the sketches. Here is MY take on this month's sketch (and I pretty much stuck right to the sketch):

I used Cowgirl Debbie (Sassy Cowgirl) and she was a "hoot" to color. I cut her out and sat her on a fence digi-image from Bombshell Stamps. Here's a close up:


You can purchase Cowgirl Debbie here. Make sure to stop by the Sassy Studio Designs blog to check out what the rest of the design team has come up with this week!

Stamps: Cowgirl Debbie (Sassy Studio Designs), fence digi-image (Bombshell Stamps), "Howdy" sentiment from Western Gal (Bombshell Stamps)
Papers: Marigold Morning, Basic Black (Stampin' Up), western-themed patterned papers (The Paper Studio), Neenah 80# white
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copic Markers, Crop-o-dile, large antiqued copper brads (Recollections), black and red gingham ribbon (Circle B Enterprises), scallop border punch (Stampin' Up)

I'm Such A Tease!

Here is a little tease as to what I'll have for you on Dare To Be Sassy Thursday:


Make sure to stop back by on Thursday to see the rest of this card! I think you'll like it! I know I do!!

Chelsea With Her Chicks

Every week, Sassy Studio Designs has a Fabulous Freebie Friday over on Paper Craft Planet. The freebie is only available for a 24-hour period. The images that they offer as freebies are retired so if you don't get it when it's offered, you'll miss out forever! This is the freebie that they offered the week of March 30th- Chelsea With Her Chicks:

Make sure to check out the Sassy Studio Designs group on Paper Craft Planet and make sure to stop by and pick up the next Fabulous Friday Freebie image tomorrow!

Dare To Be Sassy Thursday 04/05/2012

Did you know April 5th is "Go For Broke Day"? Our challenge for this week is to make an extravagant card, using more than one patterned paper and lots of embellishments (especially some of those we've been hoarding).

Here is my card for my first challenge at a SSD DT member:


This image is called Syrena. Isn't she beautiful?

Here's a close-up:

I hope you enjoyed my card. Please stop by the Sassy Studio Designs blog to see what the rest of the DT has to inspire you!!

To purchase Syrena, or any other SSD images, please visit their store.

Stamps: Syrena digi-image from Sassy Studio Designs, Make a Wish from Stampin' Up
Papers: Basic Black (Stampin' Up!), Neenah 80# white, patterned papers from The Paper Studio
Ink: Bashful Blue (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories: Copic Markers, Gold Spica pen, Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, string pearls, 1" black grosgrain ribbon (Michael's), pop dots, sponge, clear self-stick rhinestones

I have also sumbitted this card to the following challenges:

Anything Goes #64- #135
Paper Take Weekly- Anything Goes- #291
Pollycraft- Water, Water, Everywhere- #19
Tammy Scrappin' Corner- Anything Goes= #52

Yipee and Doing Cartwheels!!!

I am so, SO very excited to announce that I have been asked to be on the Sassy Studio Designs Design Team!!! I am in love with their images and can hardly wait to get started as a honest-to-goodness design team member for them!

Make sure to check out Sassy Studio Designs' blog and their Paper Craft Planet group.