Saturday Stamp-a-Stack

This afternoon, I spent the afternoon with a great group of ladies. Pete had us over for a stamp-a-stack. First of all, our demo, Amanda, wasn't able to make it- her 6-year old son, Nate, had emergency surgery yesterday, so she was a little pre-occupied. She sent her husband to bring the projects and supplies to Pete so we'd still be able to hold the SAS. Here's a little message we sent Nate via Facebook:


Nate is home now and seems to be healing quickly. YAY, Nate!!

Here are the projects that we made at Pete's...even without directions and Amanda's guidance, I think we did pretty good!

This is a cute little treat holder made using Stampin' Up's Petal Cone die and the Mixed Bunch stamp set and Blossom punch from the Occasions catalog:



Next we made this beautiful "card" made using SU's Tea Shoppe stamp set, also available in the Occasions catalog.


Here's a close-up of the stick pin. It's SO pretty!


The "card" is attached to a plastic box. Inside the plastic box is a decorated piece of cardstock with a couple tea bags attached. This is also adorable with chocolate treats inside, too! My friend, Gloria, gave me a couple of these boxes and I can't wait to try this at home!


Thank you to Pete for opening her home to us (and for "sharing" her 2 beautiful cats with us!) Thanks to Amanda for creating these fun projects. We missed you, but we're glad Nate is home and doing well!!!

SAB Kick-Off Party!

Due to illness and having a couple of wisdom teeth pulled, I'm a little behind in getting things posted to my blog. A couple of weekends ago, my friend, Amanda, had a Sale-A-Bration Kick-Off Party for The Meade Girls to showcase items that are available in the Occasions Mini-Catalog and the Sale-A-Bration catalog. She created some fun and beautiful items for us to make. We made 2 of each card plus the Password Log (which I desperately needed!)

Check out these fabulous projects that we made:












All projects are made using Stampin' Up products. All stamp sets are available now in the Occasions Mini and the SAB Mini.

Thanks for looking and don't forget to leave a comment!

PTT #36- Getting "Shape"ly

****Please scroll down to the next post for my Party Time Tuesday's Breast Cancer Awareness card and Link Up For Pink submission****

The month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Here at Party Time Tuesdays we want to reconize the 2.5 million women who survived breast cancer!! You all deserve a standing ovation!!

Please take the time to get a mamogram....

About 1 in 8 women in the United States (12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.

The most significant risk factors for breast cancer are gender (being a woman) and age (growing older).

These statistics came from www.breastcancer.org

Thank you to our 2 fabulous sponsors!

Here is a little bit about Crafty Sentiments designs. We are a small online based company selling both digital, clear and exclusive rubber stamps to cardmarkers and scrapbookers, started in October 2009 by me (Suzette), we offer a wide range of exclusive images as well as some lovely sentiments, with some essential crafting products including punches & soon to be released exclusive die-cuts!

Winner will receive 4 digis

Hi my name is Stitchy and I am Co-Owner of Stitchy Bear Stamps...we started this store April 1st, No Fooling haha..I live in upstate New York with my husband and two TEENAGE adults haha, I do say that loosely as they think they run the show here, NOT...

I been creating stamps for a little less than a year now and I am totally addicted to the craft..I started about 4 years ago making digital scraps and I knew there was much more out there, so a friend of mine introduced me to digital stamps...and the rest they say is history...I look forward to seeing all the beautiful creations come through...good luck everyone..stitchy xoxox"

Winner will receive:

We would like to see what kind of shaped cards are out there these days! So this weeks challenge will be show us your shaped cards AND/OR any Breast Cancer Awareness card regardless of the shape!

This week's Party Time Tuesdays challenge was a fun one! We were to make a shape card. This is something that I never do...my cards are always rectagle or square, so this was really a challenge for me. When I saw my adorable little image, Boo Bear, I got an idea!! I noticed that the bear in the image was holding a basket full of apples, so I decided to make my card in the shape of an apple.


I love how it turned out!! For my "first" shaped card, it's not too bad at all!! :)

Make sure to check out what the other Party Planners have to share. You will NOT be disappointed, I'm sure!!!

Stamps: Boo Bear from Stamp Insanity
Papers, Real Red, Green Galore (Stampin' Up), Neenah 80# white
Inks: Real Red, Green Galore (for sponging apple and leaves)
Accessories: Copic Markers, Cuttlebug, Nestabilities Labels Eleven, sponge, red and white gingham ribbon from Circle B Enterprises

"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

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)

Moving Myrtle

Hello, and welcome!! Today I want to introduce you to Myrtle, Moving House Myrtle to be exact. She is from Digital Delights by Louby Loo.

With this image, I attempted to use my Prisma Pencils and odorless mineral spirits again. I need more practice, though! :) (My greens matched much better before I took the photograph!). Oh, well...

Check out the Digital Delights blog today to see what the rest of the Design Team has to show you.

Stamps: Moving House Myrtle, New Home Sentiment
Papers: Pretty In Pink, Certainly Celery (Stampin' Up), Neenah 80# white, Eskimo Kisses patterned paper (Basic Grey)
Accessories: Prisma Pencils, odorless mineral spirits, W-3 Copic Marker, dotted ribbon (Michael's), 1-3/8" circle and scalloped circle punches (Stampin' Up), pop dots, stick-on rhinestones (Bling It by Basic Grey)

Sweet As Honey!

Take a look at this adorable little guy...his name is Larry...and I love him!!!

It's the eyes, I think...just SO cute and so sweet!!! You can get him, too, from Digital Delights by Louby Loo. This image is called Sitting Honey Pot Larry but also check out their other adorable images!! And, best of all, Digital Delights is having an end-of-summer blowout sale! You can get up to 75% off of selected images! But hurry, this sale won't last for long!

Stamps: Sitting Honey Pot Larry digi-image, Sending You Smiles sentiment
Papers: Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight (Stampin' Up), Neenah 80# white, glitter patterned paper (ABC Distributing)
Accessories: Copic Markers, stick-on rhinestones (Studio 18), 3/8" ribbon (Dots, Dashes & Checks from Michael's), pop dots

Meade Girls Ribbon Challenge

I spent the day with the Meade Girls at a Halloween-themed shoebox swap. It's always a great time when we get together!! I will post pictures of the cards I made today in a post tomorrow, but for today, I have something more fun...

Our shoebox swaps are never boring...good conversation, delicious food and the most wonderful cards that you can imagine!!! This swap was no different...but this time, there was a challenge...Amanda and Cindy, our SBS hostesses, challenged us all to create a card or other project using the ribbon that they provided us. Cards would be given a number and swappers would vote on their favorites. Whoever's card receives the most votes wins all of the challenge cards! We received our strip of green ribbon with black (or was it brown? I think it's black!) and orange dots on it in the mail a month before the swap. Everyone put on their thinking caps...as soon as I saw those dots on the ribbon, I remembered I had an image called Rex Loves Cake from Pink Cat Studios. I thought the dots on the ribbon matched the dots on Rex's cake. Take a look...whatdya think??

Close-up view:

Isn't Rex adorable??? And don't those dots match perfectly? Then I remembered the scraps of old Halloween DSP from Stampin' Up that sort of kind of matched the dots...so...that's how I ended up with this card. It's "busy" but I like it! :) Inside it says "Have a RAWR-ing good birthday!" I think it would be great for a young boy's October birthday...now if I only KNEW a young boy with an October birthday!!!!

Congratulations to Amanda for winning the ribbon challenge! She gets all 19 of the cards that were entered into the contest!! And they were ALL fabulous!!!

This is the second time that Amanda has given us a ribbon challenge...I sure hope there's a third!!

Stamps: Rex Loves Cake by Pink Cat Studio
Papers: Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Certainly Celery, retired Halloween DSP (Stampin' Up), Neenah 80# white
Ink: Basic Black for sponging
Accessories: Copic markers, sponge, dotted ribbon and orange satin ribbon (Offray), large orange button (Stampin' Up), Cuttlebug, Oval and Scalloped Oval Nestabilities, glue dot, pop dots, black embroidery floss

Cracked Glass Tutorial

I recently challenged the Bombshell Design Team to use a technique that they have never tried before. This challenge was more to challenge myself. I usually don't try new techniques...I usually stay with what I know. I decided to try the Cracked Glass Technique. I've been wanting to try this for SO long, but for some reason, I never did. I even bought the UTEE, which has been sitting collecting dust for years!! So, this was my opportunity to give this technique a go!

Here's the card that I made using this technique:

Close up to show the "cracking"

I don't know WHY I wanted so long to try it...it was SO easy to do and I love the antiqued look that it gives to the image. I thought Bombshell's Retro Cowgirl was the perfect image to use with this technique. What do you think?

Here is a quick tutorial of how to do it in case you're interested in giving it a go...

Cracked Glass Technique

1. Stamp image onto cardstock.
2. Color image as desired.
3. Cut image to desired size.
4. Coat entire image panel evenly using Versark or Embossing pad.
5. Sprinkle UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel) evenly over image.
6. Using heat gun, heat until melted.
7. While image is hot, sprinkle with another layer of UTEE (if image
has cooled, just reink with Versamark or Embossing pad).
8. Heat until melted.
9. Repeat several times until image is completely smooth.
10. Place in freezer for 2-3 minutes or until completely cooled.
11. Remove from freezer (image might be warped at this time but that’s okay!)
12. Gently bend image to crack the glaze. Repeat until you’re happy with the
way it looks.

If desired, rub dark brown ink across the image to show the cracks more. Adhere image to card as desired.

**If you need a “visual” tutorial, check out Split Coast Stampers’ Cracked Glass Tutorial here. They have pictures AND a video!

Make sure to stop by the Bombshell Stamps' blog to see what new and exciting techniques the Design Team has to show!

Stamps: Retro Cowgirl (Bombshell Stamps)
Paper: Cranberry Crisp, Creamy Caramel, Summer Sun, Very Vanilla (Stampin' Up!), star patterned paper by KCCompany
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Creamy Caramel, Close To Cocoa
Accessories: Cuttlebug, oval and scalloped oval Nestabilities, Copic Markers, star brads (Stampin' Up!), Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel, heat gun, sponge

Best "Fishes"!

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


A friend's 10-year old son had surgery and I wanted to send him a card. He enjoys fishing, so I thought I'd make him a card using this cute fish image from Elizabeth O. Dulemba's Coloring Page Tuesdays website. She draws the CUTEST images!!!! Here is the card that I made for Dylan:

Inside it says "I hope you're back in the swim of things soon!" I hope he likes it.

Stamps: Fish (Coloring Page Tuesdays), Feel Better (Penny Black)
Papers: Mellow Moss (Stampin' Up!), patterned papers from the Origins pack (Basic Grey), Neenah 80# white
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Mellow Moss for sponging
Accessories: medium oval punch, scalloped oval punch, pop dots, Copic Marker, green dew drops, Aleene's Jewel It glue, ribbon (Stampin' Up!)

Shiver Me Timbers! It's A Bombshell Hop!

Welcome to another Bombshell Stamps' Hump Day Hop! You should have arrived here from the multi-talented Kelli's blog. If you didn't, head on back to the Bombshell Blog to start at the beginning!!!

Alison has a fabulous theme for us this month! Here's what she wrote:

In honor of the latest Pirates of the Carribean flick, and the start of summer (cruises and such...work with me here, folks) I decided what better theme than pirates! More like the phrase "Shiver me timbers!" Now, I am thinking pirates...but what do YOU think of when you hear that phrase?

Well, I love pirates so that is the way I went with this challenge!!! Bombshell's A Pirate's Life was one of the first sets that I ever bought...and of course, I just LOVE Capt. Jack Sparrow...I'd like to shiver HIS timbers!!! :D Oh, sorry, I got a little carried away in my thoughts...uh-hem...so, here is my card for this month's hop but I must say it looks much better in real life:

This compass image is from Bombshell's Homeward Bound set:

Stamps: A Pirate's Life, Homeward Bound. sentiment and treasure map are computer-generated
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Red Riding Hood (for sponging)
Papers: Creamy Caramel, Cranberry Crisp (Stampin' Up), GP110 white, patterned paper from the Majestic Blue series from Close To My Heart
Accessories: Copic Markers, 1/16" hole punch, large antiqued copper brad, pop dots, distressing tool, Modern Label Punch, 1-1/4" circle punch

Now head on over to Sparkly Mary's blog to see what she's created for you!! In case you get lost, just head on back to the Bombshell Blog to pick up where you left off! Thanks for hopping with us!!

I've Discovered Designed 2 Delight!

This is the first time that I've used a Designed 2 Delight digital-image. Isn't this pretty?

It's a simple card but I love those flowers! Their images are so easy to color and are beautifully drawn. I know that I'll be using D2D images a lot more in the future!!

Stamps: Pail of Flowers digi-image (Designed 2 Delight)
Paper: Real Red, Bordering Blue, red checked DSP (Stampin' Up!), Neenah 80# white
Accessories: Copic Markers, Cuttlebug, oval and scalloped oval Nesties, square lattice embossing folder (Stampin' Up!)

Congrats, Grads!

I received several graduation announcements this year. The first one was my niece, Cara. I've already posted her card here. Girl cards are always SO much easier for me to make. The other two that I received were for boys...hmm, MUCH harder!! Then I remembered I had a freebie digi-image called Kurt the Graduate from Dude Time Doodles that I could use! Here are the two cards that I made using this image- same layout just different colors and embellishments:

Card 1:
Close up:
Card 2:

Close up:



Card 1 was entered into the Tuesday Throwdown Challenge to make a masculine card.

Card 2 was entered into the Cards For Men Challenge to make a masculine card with stars. You can't tell in the picture, but the yellow panel has raised embossed stars on it.

Card 1:
Stamps: Kurt the Graduate (Dude Time Doodles), sentiment is computer-generated
Papers: Neenah 80# white, Brilliant Blue, Real Red and Newsprint DSP (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories: Copic Markers, black stick-on beads (Recollections)

Card 2:
Stamps: Kurt the Graduate (Dude Time Doodles), sentiment is computer-generated
Papers: Neenah 80# white, Brilliant Blue (Stampin' Up!), yellow star-embossed (unknown from Michael's)
Accessories: small star punch (Stampin' Up!), gold stick-on beads (Recollections), Copic Markers

Let's Take A Spin!!!

I found this adorable digi-image that I got a while ago. It's from the Diamond Graphics CD, which is full of wonderful images!! I had a scare earlier- my computer shut itself down and wouldn't restart. Thankfully, it was able to do a restart rebuild (whatever THAT is) and it seems to be fine now. All I could think about was all of the digi-images that I would lose!! Guess I'd better back them up somehow!! Anyway, here is that adorable image:

Stamps: Motorcycle Couple from the Diamond Graphics DD, sentiment from Harley Bikes (Bombshell Stamps)
Papers: Basic Black (Stampin' Up), Neenah 80# white, patterned paper from the Pocket Full of Posies with Sparkles pack (DCWS)
Accessories: Copic Markers, red satin ribbon (Offray), gold stick on beads (Bling IT by Basic Grey)

A FABULOUS Color Combination!

This week's Hambo Hoedown was a FUN one! We were to use the Laughing digi but this was also a color challenge. We were to use red, teal/turquoise and either white, vanilla, or kraft. Now what was funny (or at least to me) was that right before I saw this challenge, I was playing a game called Bubbles on Facebook. The bubbles are all different colors and you "pop" at least 3 of the same color in a row. As I was playing, I had a screen full of red and turquoise-colored bubbles and I thought "wow, that would be really pretty on a card!" Then the next day, Hambo's challenge is to use those exact colors. Anyway, here is my card for the Hambo Hoedown Challenge #20:

Make sure that you come visit the Hoedown and play along!! Who doesn't like to get FREE digi-images? I know I do!!! A new challenge is posted every Wednesday morning! What are you waiting for???? GO!

Stamps: Laughing digi-image by Hambo Stamps
Papers: Real Red, Cool Carribean, glitter DSP (Stampin' Up!), Neenah 80# white
Accessories: Copic Markers, Glimmer White flowers and Bold Brights Glitter Brads (Stampin' Up!)

Wild Thing!!!

***If you are here for the Design D.I.V.A.S. Oldies But Goodies Blog Hop, click HERE***


Hello, and happy Thursday! Ms. June Bombshell, Emily, came up with a fun and fabulous challenge theme for June- Wild Thing! She challenged us to create a card or other project using animal prints...so I went on a search through my mile-high stack of patterned paper for animal prints. Well, can you believe that I had not one piece of animal print in all of my collection???? WHAT??? Well, along came the art teacher at my school, Heather. She gave me several different patterns to chose from. Thanks, Heather, for saving the day! :)

I had this really cool idea in my head of a card to create...well, when it came time to put it to paper and ink, it just wouldn't come out like I planned. Okay- here's "Plan B". I'm not thrilled with it, but I do love the reptile print paper that Heather gave me!! Here's my card:

Head on over to the Bombshell Blog to see what the other design team members created for this Wild Thing challenge and to play along and have a chance at winning a fabulous Bombshell prize, just create a card or other project using animal print and Bombshell Stamps and link to this post using the InLinkz tab. Can't wait to see what you create!!!

Stamps: Bombshell Angel, Harley Bikes, Vintage Raceway
Papers: Basic Black, Green Galore (Stampin' Up!), GP110 white, reptile print patterned paper (unknown)
Accessories: Copic Markers, silver brads, 1/8" hole punch, pop dots, Modern Label punch (Stampin' Up!)

Thank You "Berry" Much!

T.G.I.F.!! I'm am SO glad that it's FINALLY Friday!! Now on to a fun weekend!

It's time for the Hambo Hoedown again! This week for challenge #18 they're showing off the new kids on the block!! Check out these adorable fruit kids digi images!! Because I played along in the Hoedown last week, I was sent this too-cute Strawberry Kid to use on my card AND we had to use buttons somewhere on our card...and here it is! Isn't it cute??

Look just how adorable this little guy is up close!

Stop by the Hoedown Challenge Blog to see what the brand new Bacon Bits (AKA the Hambo Design Team!) have created! This is one talented group of ladies...and I'm really partial to one of the new Bacon Bits- my good friend and fellow Meade Girl Paula Riley!!! Go check 'em out! And while you're there, also check out the submissions for this challenge!!

Stamps: Strawberry Kid digi-image (Hambo Stamps)
Paper: Real Red, Summer Sun, Green Galore (Stampin' Up!), Neenah 80# white, patterned paper from the Eskimo Kisses pack (Basic Grey)
Accessories: red gingham ribbon (Offray), Bold Brights buttons (Stampin' Up!), Copic Markers, glue dots, pop dots, Cuttlebug, Swiss Dot embossing folder, Nestabilities Scalloped Oval

Happy Graduation!

My niece, Cara, graduated from high school tonight and this is the card that I am sending her. I hope she likes it!

Close up of image:
Stamps: Tessa digi-image (Anita Be Stampin'), Congratulations (Stampin' Up!)
Cardstock: Basic Black, Real Red, DSP (Stampin' Up!), Neenah 80# white
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copic Markers, red satin ribbon (Offray), gold stick-on beads (American Crafts), pop dots, gold Spica pen

Hoedown #16- Sumo and Chipboard

This week's Hambo Hoedown Challenge was a fun one!!! We were to use the Sumo digi-image, one of the accompanying sentiments plus use chipboard somewhere on the card. I rarely use chipboard, although I DO have a bunch of those chipboard square coasters that I've been hoarding...so, I pulled one of those out. covered it using patterned paper and Modge Podge, and used it on my card...and here's what I came up with:

Close up of the sumo image:

Stamps: Hambo Sumo digi-image

Paper: Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up!), GP110 white, patterned paper unknown (maybe CTMH?)
Ink: Always Artichoke (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories: square chipboard coaster, Modge Podge, sponge brush, Copic Markers, Cuttlebug, Square Lattice embossing folder, round Nestabilities, medium oval and scalloped oval punches, pop dots, sponge, red line tape, metal coins (The Stampinton Company), glue dots

Head on over to the Hambo Hoedown Challenge blog and join in the fun! The more you play, the more FREE digi-images you get! Check it out!!

A Tisket, A Tasket...

A tisket, a tasket, we have a little basket! That's the theme for this week's Hambo Hoedown #13. Our challenge was to use this adorable heart-filled basket digi-image and the sentiment to create a card, BUT...we also had to use flowers and lace.

This image, Heart Basket-digi, from Hambo Stamps, is perfect for many occasions- Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, or just to say "I love you" for no reason! Hop on over to this week's challenge and see everyone else's take on this challenge!

Cardstock used is all Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Gable Green (Stampin' Up!), GP110 white and the patterned paper is Stampin' Up! Accessories used are lace from my stash that must be at least 10 years old!, mulberry paper roses (Recollections), Copic Markers, pop dots, glue dots, sponge, Gable Green ink pad (Stampin' Up!) and medium and scalloped oval punches.