A Geography Lesson Bombshell-Style!

You should have arrived here from Katie’s blog. If not, why not start the hop at the beginning?? Head on over to Kas’ blog. She’s the first leg of your geographical adventures.

School is back in session, the kids are learning their lessons...and the theme for this month’s blog hop is Geography: travel, foreign lands, or exotic colors. With me being a biker, I knew I just HAD to use one of Bombshell’s motorcycle images.

It's so much fun to travel the roads and visit new places on a motorcycle! These bike images are so great...this one that I used- from the Harley Bikes stamp set- is very similar to MY bike, however, I don’t ride a Harley...I ride a Victory Vegas (Harleys’ are over-rated!) :D Anyway...the card base is Stampin’ Up’s now-retired Brilliant Blue. I embossed the card front in the Cuttlebug using the Diamonds in the Rough embossing folder. I then cut out circles using my circle Nestabilities from SU’s retired Marigold Morning, Basic Grey red dotted DSP and a scrap of map (snitched from my dear husband’s road atlas...) The bike image is stamped onto GP110 white cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with my Copic markers. The sentiment is from a very old unknown motorcycle set that I’ve had for a long while...both the bike image and the sentiment are popped up using dimensionals.

Now, if you’d like to continue your geographical journey, head on over for a visit with Cheryl, one of our newest design team members. She never disappoints!!

Have a safe trip!

Maryland City SBS a.k.a FUN TIME!!!

This past Saturday I attended the Maryland City/Laurel shoebox swap hosted by the hostess with the mostest- Kathy. Oh, my, what a fun, FUN time we all had!!! A great group of ladies attended and they brought a fabulous lot of cards for us to make!!!!!

First of all, here is the card that I took to the swap. My mojo was pretty much non-existent, and of course, I waited till the last minute...I attempted and discarded 4 different designs before I finally decided on this card with less than 12 hours to go before the swap...

I used Stampin' Up's Come to Bethlehem stamp set. It's such a pretty set. The papers I used are all from SU- their new Cherry Cobbler (my NEW favorite color!), Old Olive, Very Vanilla and Jolly Holidays DSP. It's a simple card, but I like it.

Now, here are the other cards that I made at the swap:

top- Eva/ bottom- Mary B.


left- Angie/ right- Lynn
(the card on the right is not completely finished, I still need to add the sentiment to the bottom)


top- ??/ bottom- ??

left- Gloria/ right- Maranda

left- Sharon/ right- Theresa

left- Susan/ right- Rose

left- Ruth/ right- Kathi

top- Jeaneen/ bottom- Lori

top- Kathy/ bottom- Fran

top- Michelle D./ bottom- Michelle M.

left- Pam/ right- Michelle G.

top- Cindy/ bottom-Donna

I love how each and every card is so different...I think we all had a great time and we can hardly wait till the next swap!!! I'm sorry I don't know who designed the 2 cards with ??. The other ladies at the swap were Marcia and Michelle. If anyone knows who belongs to these cards, please let me know!

World Card Making Day Is Coming- October 2, 2010

World Card Making Day is on October 2, 2010. Why don't you help Bombshell Stamps celebrate the weeks leading up to it?? The design team at Bombshell Stamps will be posting challenges to get your creative juices flowing. Every couple of days, a DT member will post a fun and fabulous challenge. So far, there are 3 challenges to show your talent...an "icon" challenge, an inspiration challenge and a "bling it" challenge. Check out the Bombshell WCMD challenge thread here. Post your challenge cards to that thread. For each project that you post, you will be entered into Bombshell's monthly prize drawing AND you will receive a 25% off coupon good on any Bombshell purchase!! So, head on over to the forum to check out the challenges that have already be posted and be sure to check back to see the challenges that will be coming next week!

Bombshell Published!

Well, I FINALLY had one of my Bombshell cards published in a magazine!!! Today, I received both my subscription copy AND my comp copy of Just Cards! Volume 19.


This is the card that was published on page 102:

I love spreading the Bombshell love and I'm so happy that one of my Bombshell cards was finally published! (Sorry for the crooked scan!)

Two of my friends had cards published in this issue- Amanda had 2 cards- "Decorative Shack" on page 30 and "Happy Blessings" on page 93. Tracy had "Just for You" published on page 32. Great job, girls!

Make & Take Fun!

Amanda invited us over for a mini-stamp camp/make & take today. Getting together with the Meade Girls is ALWAYS a fun time!! We chat (about ALL sorts of things!), eat and stamp...here are the projects that we made using the SU owl punch- which is now on my GOTTA HAVE list!!

This first project is a mini Mason jar (from Walmart). The circular disks are cut from Nestabilities and decorated using Amanda's new favorite patterned paper from SU. The owls are popped up on dimensionals.

We had our choice of M & Ms or "owl droppings" (aka brown dew drops) to put in the jar. I chose the owl droppings. :)

This next project is just adorable...a mini Post-It note holder. We used the owl punch to make a penguin and attached googlie eyes. SO cute!!

Here is another view of the Post-It note holder. We used a glitter pen to highlight the snowflakes which were embossed using the Snowflakes Cuttlebug embossing folder.

Next we made this wonderful owl card. The black card is embossed using the spider web embossing folder. LOVE how the owl and moon seem to POP off the card!

This card is so precious...beautiful colors and great layout!! The sentiment says "From the Heart".

We also made these cute little luggage/craft bag tags. On the back of the tag is a place to write your name and phone number. Love the gem on the initial. These colors will match my craft bag perfectly!!

Amanda also made each of us an owl bookmark using the large paper clips, but I must have left mine at her house since it wasn't in my bag with the other projects. You'll just have to trust me that it was just as adorable as these other projects!!

Thanks, Amanda, for having us over and for providing all of these fun projects!!! It was good to see everyone again...and I finally got my meet Michelle, my cousin-by-marriage, who just moved back to the area. Can't wait for the next get-together!!!

Card Patterns Sketch 79

Now that my mojo has returned, I decided to participate in this week's Card Patterns' Sketch 79 challenge. Here is their original sketch:

...and here is MY take on their sketch:

I made the card a standard 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" size. The card base is Stampin' Up's Night of Navy cardstock. The patterned paper is also from Stampin' Up, but I can't for the life of me remember the name of the pack, but I know that it's now retired. I ran the patterned paper through my Cuttlebug using the stars embossing folder. The image is from Bombshell Stamps's Ahoy, Sailor stamp set. I love her. The image is stamped onto GP110 white cardstock and colored using Copic Markers. The image is layered onto SU's Real Red and Night of Navy. 1-1/4" circles of Night of Navy were punched using the small star punch and layered onto 1-3/8" circles of Real red. All punches are from Stampin' Up. Using my Crop-o-dile, I punched holes in the center of the punched out star (well, I THOUGHT they were in the center, but looking at the card now, I see not ALL of them were! Oh, well!) I then inserted yellow star eyelets from Doodlebug, then attached them to the left side of the card and the layered image to the right side. I omited the ribbon from the original sketch. Hope you like it!

September Bombshell Sketch Challenge

Well, here it is September 1st- a brand new design team and a brand new set of challenges on the Bombshell Stamps' forum. Kathi, our sketch genius, has come up with a wonderfully fun sketch for us this month. Check it out:
I don't make many long cards so this one was fun to make. Here's my take on Kathi's sketch:

I used Stampin' Up's textured Razzleberry cardstock for the base of the card. The card measures 4-1/4 x 8-1/2" so it will fit in a regular legal-sized envelope. The patterned paper is unknown. It's some I picked up in a "yard sale" at my local stamp store. Instead of making just one panel for the image, I made 3. Two are cut from SU's silver metallic cardstock and embossed in the Cuttlebug using the Diamond Plate embossing folder. The center panel is GP110 white cardstock. The motorcycle image, from Bombshell's Harley Bikes stamp set, is stamped using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored using Copic Markers. The "Girl's Ruin" banner is from Bombshell's Girl's Ruin stamp set. I thought it went well with the motorcycle, afterall, a motorcycle CAN be a girl's ruin...you wouldn't believe the cost of accessories for a bike! :D The skull image is from Bombshell's Speed Shop Hot Rod stamp set and is punched out using a small oval punch, layered on a scalloped oval of textured Razzleberry CS, which is layered onto a large oval of GP110 white. All punches are from Stampin' Up. The scrap of black and white dotted ribbon and the lace are from the Offray Ribbon Outlet.


I hope that you'll play along with us on this sketch challenge, as well as the other challenges on the Bombshell Stamps' forum. We can't wait to see what you come up with!!

Introducing....

...the new Bombshell Stamps' Design Team!!!

A new term for a revamped DT- we welcome 3 fabulous artists to the team- Cheryl, Alison, and Kelli. I am SO excited to be working with these ladies...check out their blogs!! You'll be amazed at what they do! In welcoming these ladies, unfortunately, we have to say good-bye to 3 equally talented artists- Nicole, Terra, and Erika. I guess it really isn't "good-bye" because once a Bombshell ALWAYS a Bombshell, so I know we'll still see lots of them!!

We also introduce a new set of guest designers for the next 6 months...drum roll, please...and here they are!! Meet the monthly pin-up girls:

Ms. September- Meredith

Ms. October- Mary Ann

Ms. November- Mary H.

Ms. December- Diana

Ms. January- Alaine

Ms. February- Dawn

Check out the Bombshell Forum if you haven't already done so! There are lots of fun challenges and prizes to be won!!! Also check out Bombshell's brand new stamp sets! WOW!!

I'm off to my hide-away now, so check back soon to see what I've been up to!

5 Times AND a Cover Girl!!!

I received my Just Cards Holidays, Volume 2 issue in the mail today and I was THRILLED to see one of MY cards on the cover!!!!!! Being published is still all new to me, so please bear with me!

This is the card that was published on the cover:

Not one that I personally would have picked for a cover card, but hey, I'm still thrilled!!! :) It's on page 73- "Blessings"- in the Thanksgiving section.

Here is another card that was published on page 65 "Best Witches":

...page 99 "Snowflakes Are Winter's Butterflies":

...(THIS one is my favorite!) page 95- "Merry & Bright":

(The card above I sent in over a year ago, so if you send cards in for publication, be patient!!)

...and finally this card on page 114- "Celebrate the Season":

Two of my Meade Girls friends was also published- Amanda and Tracy. Congrats girls!!! Pick up a copy of Just Cards Holidays, Volume 2- there are tons of fabulous cards in there!!!

You Warm My Heart!

A new online stamping friend from the Facebook Maryland Stampers group, Angie, had this stamp set called Tiny Teapots. It's a long-retired Stampin' Up set- so old that Splitcoaststampers doesn't even have a gallery for it...so, she started a teapot challenge to create samples for this set. I was first on the list, so she mailed me the set. It's a very cute set of 4 different teapots and a sentiment, but I wasn't quite sure how I wanted to use it...after some hemming and hawing, this is what I came up with (and please excuse the crooked scan!):

It's a very simple card, but I like it. The card base is GP110 white, with a layer of Basic Black, then a layer of GP110 which has been embossed using my Cuttlebug and the circles embossing folder. I cut a strip of Basic Black and ran that through the Cuttlebug using the Dotted Swiss embossing folder. I stamped each tea pot in a different color and punched them out using my 1-1/4" square punch (couldn't find my 1-3/8" square punch- go figure!). Cardstock used was Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink and Certainly Celery. Ink colors used were Bashful Blue, Rose Romance and Old Olive. I attached the teapot squares using pop dots. The sentiment is stamped using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I attached small green gems to the one teapot- he looked like he just needed "something".

I will now pass the stamp set on to another friend, Gloria, to see what she can create using it. Thanks, Angie, this is a fun "swap"...instead of swapping cards, we're swapping a stamp set!!

7 Kids Challenge Blog!!

Just wanted to let all my cardmaking friends know about the brand new 7 KIDS CHALLENGE BLOG which opens today!! Their first theme will be "Pink & Polka Dots". The 7 Kids Design Team is fabulous and I can't wait to see what they've come up with for this theme!!!! There will be one randomly chosen winner who will win a $50 gift certificate to the store and three winners chosen by the DT for their excellence in card making, one of whom will be invited to be the guest designer on the next challenge!

So, if you want to be challenged, make sure to check out their new challenge blog...Let all of your cardmaking friends know and go ahead and snag the blinkie below for your blog!

My Secret Sister Strikes Again!

Here are a couple of cards that my Facebook Maryland Stampers Secret Sister sent me the past couple weeks...

This card is adorable! Love the paw prints sentiment!


You can't tell it in the picture but the white space behind the pets is sparkly.

This birthday card I received in the mail today. Love the horses! It's such a masculine card!

Thanks, Secret Sister- whoever you are!! (And I guess I won't find out until the end of October when this round ends!) :)

She's A Firecracker, Alright!

It's time for this month's Bombshell Hump Day Hop!! This month's theme is "She's A Firecracker, Alright!" Kas wanted us to:

1) Use Red, White and Blue
2) Use "Firecrackers" (Bombshells stamps, of course!)
3) Have a Military theme
4) or make them sparkle like a firework!

As it turns out, I wasn't able to get a project made for this month's hop, but I wanted to list the blog list so you can check out what the others made for this fun and fabulous hop!

Check 'em out:

Kas
Katie
Kathi
Jodie
Cheryl
Steph
Meredith
Alison
Erika
Danielle
Keely
Angie
Laura
Kelli
PerkyNihilist

Remember that if you leave a comment on the blogs above you'll have the chance to win a fabulous prize from Bombshell Stamps!! The more comments you leave, the more chances you'll have to win free stuff- what's better than that??

A Trip Down Memory Lane...

Each month, Bombshell Stamps hosts a challenge contest. The winner wins a fabulous prize. You can win 3 different ways- by leaving a comment on the blogs of those participating in the Hump Day Hop, by playing along with the sketch challenge or by playing along with the monthly challenge.

The monthly challenge is created by the Bombshell of the Month (aka- guest designer). This month’s Bombshell, Ms. July- Alison, challenged us to use photos on our project and called the challenge “Photo-Synthesis”. I had an idea that I had wanted to do since last month’s challenge (which I didn’t get to participate in). Ms. June- Kelli, challenged us with the theme “Memory Lane”- to create a memory box or similar project.

A friend had given me a wooden book box. For a long time I had wanted to alter it, but I’m not very good at altering things, so, I kept putting it off. When I saw Kelli’s and then Alison’s challenges, I knew I couldn’t put it off any longer, so…

I pulled out the box, found some small crocheted doilies, old photos of my parents, some scraps of ribbon, stick-on gems, some flowers, and a couple of Bombshell images and this is what I came up with:

The box was already covered with DSP when she gave it to my (thanks, Rhonda!!). I printed out the photos that I wanted to use, trimmed them down to size and then mounted them onto Ruby Red and Chocolate Chip cardstock. I attached scraps of Cranberry Crisp stitched ribbon to the sides of each photo and some burgundy self-stick gems (Bling It from Basic Grey) to my Mom’s photo. I stamped the No Regrets (from Bombshell’s Girl’s Ruin stamp set), the rose verse (from Bombshell’s Rose’s Portrait stamp set) and the measuring tape (Impression Obsession) onto confetti white cardstock using Chocolate Chip ink. Burgundy roses would have been perfect if I had any, but…I was running out of time and I had to use what I had on hand! The yellow flowers were a bit bright for the rest of the items on the box, so I toned them down a bit by sponging on Cranberry Crisp and Chocolate Chip ink. Everything is attached to the box using glue dots.

I love the photos I used. They were taken probably in the mid-1940s. My parents will be celebrating their 55th wedding anniversary on Friday! Although I’m not good at altering, I’m very happy with how this turned out! I think it’s the perfect memory box in honor of my parents. Thanks Kelli and Alison for the fabulous challenges!!!

A Cool Car & A Hot Chick...

It's been so HOT and we're all attempting to stay COOL. This is another card that I created while keeping cool in my hide-away. Bombshell Stamps are known for their "hot chicks" but did you know that they also have "cool car" stamps?? This card is made using a combination of stamp sets- the "hot chick" is from the Bombshell Angel set. The "cool car" and the flag image are from Bombshell's Speed Shop set. The "Built for Speed" sentiment is from the King of the Road set.

All images are stamped onto GP110 white cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Blak ink and colored with Copic Markers. The "hot chick" (aka Bombshell Angel) is cut out and adhered to the front of the car panel. The card base is Basic Black and is sized at 5-1/4" square. The next layer is silver metallic cardstock that has been embossed using my Cuttlebug and Diamond Plate embossing folder. As I was rummaging through the mess that is my stamping room, I found some red, yellow and green brads and thought they looked like a traffic light, so I added them to the card as well. This card kind of reminds me of the drag racing scene in the movie Grease. I'm pretty happy with it. What do you think?

Bombshell's July Sketch Challenge

It's like a million degrees outside today, so I thought it was a good time to catch up on my stamping challenges.

Kathi, Bombshell's resident sketch guru, gave us a fabulous sketch for this month. Take a look:

It's an easy sketch, but one with SO many possibilites!! Here's my take on her sketch:

I LOVE how this turned out!! I really like the olive and burgundy color combination. The card base is Basic Black. The Old Olive panel is embossed using one of my Tim Holtz embossing foldes- Retro Circles...did I mention I LOVE my new Tim Holtz embossing folders??! Well, I DO! I used 2 different patterns of DSP as the background layers...both from Basic Grey's Lemonade pack. The image, from Girl's Ruin, is stamped onto GP110 white cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with Copic Markers. Self- adhesive "Bling It" burgundy gems from Basic Grey were attached around the edge of the Nestability-cut ovals. Nothing hard or extreme about this card, but instead it's a simple but pretty card...or at least I think so!! :)

Now, do you want to play along and possibily win a fabulous prize? Create a card using Bombshell Stamps and the sketch above and post it to this link. We can't wait to see what you create!!!

Bombshell Stamps' DT Call!!

Bombshell Stamps is looking for new design team members!!! We are looking for crafters who are excited about stamping, and would love being part of a fun and friendly design environment.

Term and Open Call: If chosen, your term will run for 6 months beginning on September 1, 2010 thru March 1, 2011.

Application Process: All submissions must be received by 12:00am PST, Aug. 14, 2010.

View our Design Team Call here.


C'mon, you know you want to apply!!

I'm Back!

Well, I've been gone the better part of a week. We went down to Myrtle Beach and then up to the Outer Banks. We had a good time, but, boy, was it steamy!!!! When we went to Cape Hatteras yesterday , it was only 82 degrees but it was 79% humidity!! But, despite the heat and humidity, we had a good time...the only pictures that I took were of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Isn't this pretty??

Now that I've settled back into being home again, I'll be stamping away the day tomorrow (it's just too hot to do anything outside, anyway!!) I'll be working on a couple of challenges for Bombshell Stamps, so make sure you check back in. Oh, and don't forget the Bombshell Hump Day Hop this Wednesday! See you then!!!

I Feel the Earth Move...

This morning, a little past 5am, I was rudely awakened by a 3.6 magnitude earthquake. It was centered in Rockville, MD, about 25 miles from here as the crow flies. I actually don't remember "feeling" the earth move but I did wake up and look at the clock, and it was 5:05am, so I'm thinking maybe that's what woke me up?? Who knows...

Anyway, over on Facebook, I'm part of a group called the Maryland Stampers. We decided it would be fun to do a secret sister similar to SCS's Divine Secret Sisters.

Well, my mailman was very good to me today!! In the mail I had not one but TWO envelopes from my Secret Sister!!! Here is the first card I opened:

I LOVE that cupake and she did a fabulous job coloring the image ...and inside, she had tucked in a pack of the prettiest blue print flowers from Hero Arts (very similar to Primas). I can't wait to play with them!

In the second envelope was this very cool lighthouse card:


The lighthouse and sailboat are stamped, cut out and attached to the card. Wonder if she knew I like lighthouses??

I think this 4 month round of Secret Sisters will be lots of fun! Hmm...I wonder who she is?? (I didn't recognize the handwriting- darn!) :)

Check back in a day or two-I hope to have a couple new things to show...until then, stay cool!

Another Fabulous Meade Shoebox Swap!!!

Yesterday I attended the Meade Girls' shoebox swap and had SUCH a great time!!! Good friends, tons of delicious food and some of the most wonderful cards to make! Take a look at all the cards I got to make!

This is Jane's card. Sorry for the poor photo- because of that fun little flower, I couldn't scan it. Oops- looks like I'm missing a button! Hmm...where is my button jar??

Top- Jen/ Bottom- Sharon

Top- Dawnmarie/ Bottom- Stacy

Top- Paula/ Bottom- Me

Left- Rose/ Right- Kathy

Top- Pete (Evelyn)/ Bottom- Kathi

Left- Amanda/ Right- Mary T.

Left- Sara/ Right- Linda

Left- Vera/ Right- Lynn

Left- Mich/ Right- Ann

I think everyone had a fabulous time stamping the day away! Thanks to Amanda for hosting another fun get-together! I can hardly wait till the next one!!