ANOTHER Fun Shoebox Swap!

Last Saturday I attended a fabulous shoebox swap hosted by my friend, Amanda. Her swaps are ALWAYS so much fun!!! She does a fabulous job of being hostess! Here are the cards that I made at her swap (I can't remember who all created each card, but I put the name of the ones who I remembered- and I DO apologize for any crooked scans!!)

Vera

???

Theresa

(Theresa's original card was SO much better than mine! I got my sentiment off a little which threw off the entire card!)

???

???

Jane (?)

Cindy

Paula

Linda

Jeaneen

Mich

Mich's butterfly card above opens up to show butterflies 'flying' on acetate strips. SO cool!

Jean (aka Nana)

Fran (?)

Rose

Kimme

Kathi

Gloria

Amanda

Dawnmarie had us make the cutest little Tic-Tac covers, but I'll have to get the camera out to take a picture of that.

I LOVE these swaps and can't wait for the next one!!

Thanks, Vicki!

I have been blessed with some wonderful 'cyber" friends. One of those beautiful women, Vicki, gave me this Sweet Blogger award. You HAVE to check out her blog! Her work is absolutely gorgeous!

I would like to pass this award on to all of my blogging friends. If you would like, please grab this award! You all make me happy with your friendship and your inspiration. Thank you!!

Getting Ahead...

Well, I'm actually getting ahead on the cards that I will need in the upcoming months!!! Here is the first of the Mother's Day cards:

This image is from Stamps By Judith, and I LOVE it!!! I stamped it onto GP110 white cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored it using Copic markers. I then cut the image out and sponged the edges using Close to Cocoa ink. The card base is this years' "In-Colors" Soft Suede textured cardstock and is cut to make a 5-1/4" square card. The next layer is Crushed Curry and a layer of Razzberry Lemonade DSP. I put antiqued copper brads (Recollections from Michael's) in each corner and attached a length of Apricot Appeal grosgrain ribbon. The sentiment was stamped, punched out with the tag punch and sponged with Close to Cocoa. Antiqued copper brads were added, then I attached the sentiment and the flower image using dimensionals. I kinda like the color combination...I'll need to make one more Mother's Day card and a birthday card for my mom and my cards will be done through May! Woo Hoo!!

Meade Girl's Swap Card

On April 17th, I'll be attending the Meade Girl's Shoebox Swap. These swaps are always SO much fun! This is the card I made to take to the swap:

I made a card like this for an online swap years ago, but I love the way it turned out and it's so simple to do! SU's retired Paint Prints is an all-time favorite set of mine. One that I'll never get rid of. For this card, I cut a 3-3/4 x 4" piece of GP110 white cardstock. Using the "brick" image, I stamped it using Creamy Caramel ink in a brick pattern. I then randomly stamped the large flower image using Eggplant Envy and Certainly Celery for the leaves. Lastly, I used Memento Tuxedo Black ink to stamp the flower centers and the sentiment, which is from a VERY old SU set- I can't remember the name of it but it's something critters. I attached a length of Certainly Celery twill ribbon then a knotted length of Eggplant Envy grosgrain ribbon. The main image panel is layered onto a 4 x 5-1/4" piece of Certainly Celery and then that is attached to the Eggplant Envy cardbase. CUTE CRITTERS! That's the name of the set that the sentiment is from! I hope the ladies at the swap will enjoy making this card!

American Bombshell

Well, we're back from our trip to Florida. The weather started off rainy and cool, but warmed up nicely before we left. We drove all the way home from Sarasota on Thursday. It was a long drive, but it was good to get home. We saw 3 Orioles' spring training games while we were there, and they lost all 3. Oh, well- a bad spring training means a good season, right?!? Let's hope so!

I got a few minutes to stamp today. This card, although great in my head, didn't come out quite as well as I had planned...this is my version of an American Bombshell.

I used the sailor bombshell image from Bombshell Stamps' Ahoy, Sailor stamp set. She's one of my favorites. I stamped her onto GP 110 white cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored her with Copic Markers, then I cut her out. I found an American flag coloring sheet online that I printed out and cut a circle using my Cuttlebug and Nesties. I colored that using Copics and then layered it onto a circle of Brilliant Blue cardstock and then onto a scalloped circle of Real Red, both cut with my Nesties. The sailor girl is popped up using dimensionals. The card base is Brilliant Blue with a layer of retired SU DSP. The sentiment was computer generated. In an attempt to make it feel old, I sponged the image and sentiment with Creamy Caramel ink.

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Make sure to check out Bombshell's challenges for the month of April. Ms. April Bombshell, Cheryl, has a fabulous challenge of us...Baby Got Back- to create a card without patterned paper (gasp!!)- but to create our own patterned paper using the smaller Bombshell stamps. What fun! Kathi, our Sketch Queen, has created a wonderful sketch challenge for us as well. And don't forget our monthly Blog Hop challenge on April 28th! The challenge given to us by Kas is Pretty in Pink- to create a card or project using pink, pastels, or be spring inspired. We hope that you will play along. For each challenge that you play, you will be entered into a drawing for a fabulous prize from Bombshell Stamps! Check out all the details- plus lots more!-on the Bombshell Stamps' forum.

Bombshell's Hump Day Hop!!

Welcome to the first blog hop for this new term of Bombshell Stamps' new Design Team members!! Not only did some of the design team change, but also our Blog Challenge "Captain" changed as well- we had to say goodbye to Angela (aka Inky Button) who did a great job coming up with the challenge ideas for the blog hop over the past 6 months. She has passed her crown on to Kas who will be our fearless leader for this term. Kas is an artist and a fabulous stamper. I KNOW that her creative mind will come up with some fun, funky, and probably over-the-top challenge ideas for us!!

Okay, here is our first challenge..."Metallica-rt". Our challenge was to make something using metal, metal accents, metal embellishments, or even "Metal" music...Here is my submission for this challenge:

I used the hot rod image from Bombshell's Speed Shop hot rod stamp set. The image is stamped onto GP110 white cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with Copic markers. I used a silver metallic Spica pen to outline the "chrome" on the car. I sponged the edges of the image using black ink and layered it onto SU's Silver Metallic cardstock and then onto Basic Black. I added some silver brads from the SU Hodgepodge kit and some screw brads to the other corners. The card base is Basic Black, with a layer of patterned paper from the SU black and white DSP set (I can't ever remember the names of the DSPs- sorry!) I embossed a piece of the silver metallic CS in the Cuttlebug using the Diamond Plate embossing folder, then added a couple more screw brads. I inked the "Hot Rod" portion of the Hot Rod Classic stamp from the Speed Shop stamp set and stamped it onto white cardstock and then attached a square frame from the SU Hodgepodge kit using silver brads. I think this works for the "Metallica-rt" challenge, don't you think?

Since I am unable to post the entire blog list, please go to Kas' blog to start the blog hop. You will NOT be disappointed!! Oh! Don't forget, leave a comment on each of the blogs for a chance to win a fabulous prize from Bombshell Stamps!

"Booty" Log Challenge

Ms. March Bombshell, Patti, challenged us to create a "Booty" Log. In the papercrafting world this translates to an altered book of some kind. It can be a journal, notebook, diary, really any type of book you wish! I decided to make a sketch log.

I used the pirate girl image from A Pirate's Life. She was stamped onto GP110 white cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with Copic Markers. All other papers are Stampin' Up. I don't have a Bind-It-All or similar product at home so I had to use the plastic comb binder that we have at school. I don't like it as well, but what was I to do?? :) (Sorry the picture is a little blurry).

If you'd like to participate in the challenge contest, and possibly win a cool prize from Bombshell Stamps, here are the rules:

"Booty Log" CONTEST GUIDELINES CONTEST ENDS MARCH 31, 2010. Your creation must include the following:

1. use a Bombshell Stamp somewhere

2. project must be a book of some kind

3. post a photo of your "Booty Log" in this thread!


Here is the great prize you could win:

...but hurry! The deadline to enter is March 31st!!

Another Sneak Peek!

As promised, here is another sneak peek using the new digi-clothing for Bombshell Stamps' Bombshell Angel stamp. I love this outfit and wouldn't mind having one for ME! :)

Again, the Angel image is stamped onto GP110 white cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with Copics. The 2-piece outfit was printed onto GP110 white cardstock and colored with Copics. Copics work great with digi-images- no streaking or smearing!! I just cut out the images and adhered them to the stamped image. The card is 5-1/4" square. Not sure who the card base or the patterned paper are from. They are some that I got in a blog candy that I won. The ribbon is from Offray and the brads are Recollections by Michael's.

I'm really enjoying these digi-images and can't wait for them to be released!!!

Come back and visit again tomorrow. I'll be posting my submission to Ms. March Bombshell's monthly challenge- to create a "Booty Log". See you then!

Coming Soon!!!

Bombshell Stamps' most popular stamp set- Bombshell Angel- as a stamp- wears a very sexy swimsuit, but in the VERY near future, you'll be able to dress her up using digital images!!! There will be many "themes" to chose from- including occupational outfits and even some costumes. WHAT FUN!!!!! Here is a card I made using the business set:

I LOVE this card!! I love the yellow and red with the black. All papers are from Stampin' Up, the Angel image was stamped using Memento Tuxedo Black and the sentiment and the 2-piece suit was printed on the computer onto GP110 white cardstock and colored with Copic Markers. The red dotted ribbon is from Offray and the black brads are from Recollections by Michael's. I think I might use this card for one of the secretary's at my school for Secretary's Day next month. The business set comes with 3 different business suits plus 5 coordinating sentiments.

I had SO much fun making this card. I felt like I was playing paper dolls!! Ooh- I just had a thought (and yes, it DOES happen on occasion!)- if you have little girls, you could stamp the Angel image, cut her out and color her and mount her on chipboard, then stamp the clothes, cut them out and color them and then laminate them all for your little ones to play with!

Check back again tomorrow for another sneak peek using Bombshell Angel and the business clothing digi-stamps. See you then!!!

Published in Just Cards!

I just found out yesterday that I had a card published in the spring issue- Volume 17- of Just Cards!

My card is on page 83 in the holidays section. It's this Thanksgiving card that I made using a Sherrod Studio stamp set:

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

I just wanted to post a card to wish everyone a very Happy St. Patrick's Day! I made this card for Bombshell Stamps' March Sketch Challenge. Here is the sketch:

...and here is the card that I created for that sketch challenge:

I'm really tickled pink (or should I say green?) with how it turned out. The card base is SU's Chocolate Chip. The patterned papers are from Basic Grey's Lemonade series. The jar image is from Stampin' Up and the adorable little leprechaun is from Bombshell Stamps' Holiday Accessories stamp set. Both are stamped onto GP110 white cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with a combination of Copic and SU markers. I cut the jar lid out seperately and attached it to the top of the jar, then cut the entire jar out. I attached it to a piece of YoYo Yellow (that has been embossed in the Cuttlebug using the Dots embossing folder) using pop dots and then layered that on a piece of SU's brushed metallic gold cardstock. Some gold brads in the corners and then attached it to the center of the card. I then computer generated a little poem and sponged that around the edges with SU's Close to Cocoa ink and layered it onto a scrap of Chocolate Chip cardstock. More gold brads in the upper corners and then the poem is attached using pop dots.

If you'd like to play along with the sketch challenge visit the Bombshell forum here. You could win a fabulous prize from Bombshell Stamps!! Oh, and don't forget to mark your calendar for March 31st for Bombshell Stamps' monthly Hump Day Blog Hop!! Kas has a wonderful challenge for us to show you!! Hope to see you again soon!

Bombshell Hawaiian-Style

Over the weekend, we had some slightly warmer weather...finally...but, I was still wishing that I was somewhere even warmer (like maybe Hawaii?) and this card came to me...

The image is from Bombshell Stamps' Bombshell Angel stamp set. She is stamped using Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto GP110 white cardstock, and colored using Copic Markers. The hibiscus squares are from the Bombshell Patterns stamp set. The card base is SU's textured More Mustard. The patterned paper is unknown. The red layer behind the image is SU's Riding Hood Red, and the red grosgrain ribbon is from Offray. I attached self-stick red half-beads to the left corners. The colors and the Hawaiian "feel" made me feel just a little warmer!

Stamping with Attitude

So, I actually had time to get some stamping done today! I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to make, but I did get my blog hop card made for the Bombshell Hump Day Hop on March 31st...but you'll just have to wait to see that! :)

Then, I saw this frame that I had laying around...so I decided to make a wall hanging for my hide-away. Here it is:

I printed the "Stamping...with attitude" from the computer (I used the Vivaldi font, size 72 in Word). Then I speckled it and sponged it lightly with SU's Creamy Caramel to age it a bit. I had some red Magic Mesh laying on my desk so decided to use that and then layered 2 different creamy-colored ribbon scraps (both from Offray) across the middle of the mesh. I stamped the sailor girl from Bombshell's Ahoy, Sailor stamp set (I just love her!) onto white GP110 cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored her with my Copics. I also speckled and sponged the image with Creamy Caramel. I layered the image onto Real Red and Basic Black cardstock and then attached it the center of the image, then put it in the frame and...voila!! I love it! So? What do you think??

A BIG Thank You!

On February 1st, I declared February as "Julie's Month" in honor of my niece, Julie, who we lost to cancer. At that time, I pledged to donate $1.00 for every comment that I received on my blog for the entire month of February. I am thrilled to say that I received 146 comments this past month!!! THANK YOU to all of you who commented. I will be making a donation in the amount of $146.00 to my son's Relay for Life team benefiting the American Cancer Society.

If you would like to make a monetary donation to the cause, you may go to Brian's personal fundraising page found here.

Again, thank you so much for your support!!! It is SO greatly appreciated!

Maryland City/Laurel Swap

Tomorrow I will be attending an SU only shoebox swap in Maryland City. I really struggled with a card for this swap, but this is what I ended up with. I wanted to make a black and white card- a first for me- but I'm not quite sure I'm happy with this...

I hope that the girls will enjoy making this card, even though it's very simple and somewhat boring...

Make sure to stop back on Monday and Tuesday. The Sherrod Studio Design Team will be showcasing their brand new digi-stamps!

Drum Roll Please....

**Please scroll down for February's Bombshell Hump Day Hop entry**

WOO HOO! I was SO excited when I found out I had been chosen to be a full-time Bombshell Stamps Design Team Member!! If you’ve still not checked out Bombshell Stamps, go now! You’ll find a wonderful selection of pin-up, hot rod, sugar skull, and tattoo-inspired stamps that are great fun to create with!

Shannon, owner of Bombshell Stamps, announced her brand new design team in the Bombshell newsletter today. Here is the new line-up for the next 6-month term:

Kathi Rerek
Nicole Maki
Glittery Kate
Terra Serrano
Kas Mello
Stephanie Jones
Erika Taylor
and ME!

The monthly pin-up girls (guest designers) are:

Patricia Stigsell- Ms. March
Cheryl Valadez- Ms. April
Katja Andersson- Ms. May
Kelli Green- Ms. June
Alison Heikkila- Ms. July
Rose Manchester- Ms. August

I am so honored to be a part of such a fabulously talented group of ladies! I will post links to the new design team’s blogs on March 1st, after the current team retires. Keep an eye here as I share even more Bombshell creations!

Bombshell Hump Day Hop

Hello, again! Welcome to another Bombshell Stamps' Hump Day Hop and YOU can join in on the fun!!! Here is this month's hop challenge, given to us by our own beloved Inky- Mama Said Knock You Out! No physical violence here, just time to dust off your PUNCHES and use your NESTIES (QuicKutz, Sizzix, Big Shot etc.) to create a Bombshell Masterpiece! We all have some fun punches and cutting shapes lying around, so why not use these valuable items and get our money's worth? All you have to do, is make sure something on your card has been punched or die cut....extra credit if there's a hole in your card. Don't make Mama mad....just start knockin' things out. So, here's my submission for this months' challenge:

This is a 6 x 6" square card. The card base is Certainly Celery textured cardstock with a layer of Summer Sun textured cardstock. The patterned paper is from CTMH (Discovery DSP pack). The image, from A Pirate's Life, is stamped onto GP110 white cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with Copics. She was punched out using my scalloped oval Nestabilities and sponged along the edges using Summer Sun ink. I then stamped the Good Luck Horseshoe and the pot of gold images from the Bombshells Accessories stamp set and punched them out using my circle Nestabilities. They are colored with Copic markers and I used a gold Spica pen to color the horseshoe and the 'gold' in the pot. The Happy St. Patrick's Day sentiment is from a very old Stampin' Up All Year Cheer sentiment set. All of these 3 are also sponged along the edges using Summer Sun ink. I then attached Glitter Adornments (from MFT) using gem glue.

Now, hop on over to the other challenge players' blogs and see their creations. You won't be disappointed!!!

PerkyNihilist
BoHoRose
Patti
Stempelientje
Meredith
Erika
Angela
Sy
Cheryl
MaryG
Kas
Kathi
MissMagoo
Gabby
Steph
Kelli
Kim
Angie
Sunghee


Remember that you can win a great prize from Bombshell Stamps by either playing along with the sketch or monthly challenges or by leaving a comment on the blogs, but hurry- the contest ends February 28th!

FABULOUS Blog Candy!!!

Okay, you've GOT to check out Steph's blog candy!! Look at this HUGE pile of goodies that she's giving away!!!

In that pile, you'll find:

- A plethora of 6x6 papers that make her smile...some are DCWV, some are Autumn Leaves/Paperabilities, some are Me & My Big Ideas, and some are unknown...all are from various stacks in her stash, and all ones that she truly loves - and that pile is 5.5 inches high!
- 4 pretty little spice jars packed full of various flowers, buttons, baubles, ribbons and trims...
- A set of 4 glass coasters to leave as is, or alter as you see fit...
- 2 SU! Skinny Silver Tins...
- 2 packs of adhesive rhinestones in my most favorite colours (hot pink & teal)
- 1 pack of mixed colour adhesive half-pearls
AND...STAMPS!!!!

In the photo, you'll find 4 (all new):
- 'Changito Love Balloon' by Stampendous!
- 'Charlotte's Valentine' by Little Loud Stamps (found at PaperWorks Co.)
- 'Savannah' by The Greeting Farm
- 'XOXO' clear stamp by Imaginisce

And, even though it's not in the photo, she can't leave out her beloved Bombshells! She'll be putting in at least one set of the lovelies...but it could be two. She said she's having a hard time choosing a favorite! That's it! Maybe... or maybe not. Depends on what else she may or may not find before this is over!!!!

To take a chance on winning this absolutely fabulous candy, stop by Steph's blog!

Tuesday Throwdown...

Well, we're finally digging out from nearly 5 feet of snow that dropped within a couple of days!! Hopefully all the snowstorms will miss us from now on and that spring will be here SOON!!!

This week's challenge for Sherrod Studio's Tuesday Throwdown was to distress a card. Here, I used the Downhome Blessings stamp set for my attempt at a distressed card.


I'm not very good at distressing things. The card base is an unknown textured rust-colored card. The patterned papers and the dark yellow textured paper are unknown as well as I received them all in a blog candy that I won a while ago. The boy image was stamped onto GP110 white cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with Copics. It is layered onto a panel of dark yellow and Certainly Celery cardstock. To distress it, I sponged Close to Cocoa ink around the edges and then stamped it using the speckle stamp from Itty Bitty Backgrounds and Close to Cocoa ink. I also stamped the speckle stamp onto the patterned papers and then stamped the small circle from Simply Circles to resemble a coffee cup stain...then I used my scissors and drug them down the sides of the image to give it a worn look.

This card also works for the Meade Girls' challenge. Gloria challenged us with an old sketch challenge from Mojo Monday:

Just a reminder that ALL of Sherrod Studio's stamp sets are on sale for 40% off!!! NOW is the time to stock up on these adorable stamp sets!!! Now, hop on over to the Sherrod Studio design teams' blogs to see their take on a distressed card. Links to their blogs can be found in my sidebar. See you again soon!

Bombshell's Wet & Wild Challenge

Bombshell Stamps' Ms. February guest designer, Steph, posted a fun challenge for this month. The challenge is to get Wet & Wild - she wants us to go for a nautical theme, use a wet medium (ie: paint) or both, she just wants to see us get "wet"! So, for this challenge, I decided to use Bombshell's Ahoy, Sailor stamp set. Here's my card:


This challenge is open to anyone, so if you'd like to play along, here are the rules:

"Wet & Wild" CONTEST GUIDELINES: (CONTEST ENDS FEB. 28, 2010)

The creation can be a card, layout or altered item, but must:

1. use a Bombshell Stamp somewhere
2. project must involve a nautical theme, use a wet medium, or both
3. post a photo of your creation in this thread in the Bombshell forum!

Then upload your project in our Gallery, and on our Paper Craft Planet Group (PCP). We can't wait to see what you came up with!

Here's the prize that you could win:

You can enter as many times as you'd like by playing along with the Wet & Wild challenge and/or the sketch challenge or by commenting on the blogs in the Bombshell Hump Day Hop coming up on February 24th.

Now for the recipe for the card I made:

Stamps: Bombshell Stamps' Ahoy, Sailor; Stampin' Up's Itty Bitty Backgrounds

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Up's Creamy Caramel

Papers: Stampin' Up's Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue, GP110 white, CTMH Majestic Blue DP

Accessories: Copic markers, large copper brads, ribbon, linen thread, Nestabilities, Cuttlebug