pretty peony thank you stamp camp card

This was another stamp camp project for today... it seemed to be one of the favorites. I love when I put a card together quickly using what I like and it ends up being a favorite! I stamped the background on only the right hand 3/4 of the card using river rock ink and the Tres Chic background. The peony is first stamped in Blush Blossom and then over stamped using Purely Pomegranate. The leaves use river rock. The base layer of the leaf is stamped off and the top layer is "full strength". In the center of the flower, I sponged blush blossom ink and then used a bit of tombow adhesive and sprinkled clear microbeads. Thanks for stoppin in!

Summer's here! Popsicle Card

Don't these make you want some ice cream? I saw these done on a favorite blog of mine... patty's stampin spot and just had to try my own.
They are super easy and what a fun summer card which I think would be a great end of the school year thank you for all those school people that help our kids along their journey! I'm also considering using these as invitations to my son's upcoming bday party. hmmm.... I have the sudden urge for a fudgesicle :) Stamp Campers - we will be doing a creamsicle on saturday.

Big Kahuna surf board

Here's another one made with stamps that I got at the Expo this weekend. The surfboard stamp came from DeNami Design (they had lots of cute stuff), the sentiment came from Rubbernecker Stamps (they had lots of cute stuff) are you seeing a pattern here? After the card was assembled, I decided that I should have sponged the edges of the surfboard mat to soften it a bit and attempted to do it while it was assembled (I don't recommend this - it didn't work very well). It still looks cute IRL... the surfboards are covered with crystal effects and they look dimensional. While I really want to play with my new fun flock, it's such a beautiful day out, I guess I'll go back to planting flowers.... Thanks for stoppin' by!

Meet Mimo and Twinkx

Here's Mimo (the big whodunit looking guy) and twinkx the little dancing lizard guy. Aren't they freakin' adorable? I was in such a hurry to use some of my new expo finds, that I just started stamping! This is what transpired... not great, but it gives you an idea of the cute little starving artist doodle factory stamps I found. I know they are a bit quirky, but so am I :)

proceed with caution - crazy stampers!

Here are some fun pictures from the day



This is Arlene (she's really thirsty). How cute are those plastic cups filled with ribbon? They contained 8 1 yard pieces of coordinating ribbon with a cap and straw (and umbrella) for $5.99. What a great hostess gift or doorprize!


















And here are some of the girls, Renee, Arlene and Sue are standing and Stacey got real comfy sitting directly on the floor! Aren't they cute?!?

Expo finds - new rubbah!

WOWZERS... Did I have some fun today!! I attended the Stamping and Scrapping Expo with some freinds today (and saw lots of other friends there... hi other friends!) It was held today in Syracuse, NY and while I know a SU demo should not have so much fun with "contraband", I just couldn't help myself! I just HAD to get this stuff! I can't wait to be able to play and show you creations made with my finds today, but right now I gotta head to a baseball game. I think my favorite find of the day were the starving artist "Goofy guys" (close up of the red unmounted rubber). They are really cute and unique and with my sick sense of humor - I'm sure they will come in handy :) Hope your having a great saturday too!

p.s. Yep... that's a penquin chillin' out in a fridge :)

you're a blast!

Here's one that was a blast to make!! It was quick and easy, yet I think it turned out cute... which makes it a blast :)

That new pun fun set is so cute and I hadn't gotten around to making a spaceship card yet. This paper was lying on my desk from another project (where I used the backside). Also sitting on my desk - yes! my desk is messy - was the pun fun set and even though this paper is flowers, it said spaceship to me... I know, I'm weird - what can I say. I spend too much time indoors sitting at a desk :)

Things you might not notice about this card by looking at the picture

1. The spaceship was stamped and then cut out in the shape of an oval using my coluzzle. When I got to a spaceship part while cutting, I skipped over it and then went back and cut the piece outside of the oval with my scissors. The "wings" are totally cut out and curled up a bit for added dimension.

2. The spaceship is mounted to the card using dimensionals.

3. The stars are stamped onto the jersey shore designer paper.

4. The rivets on the spaceship and the stars on the orange band are filled in with my sakura glitter pen and really do sparkle IRL.

5. The orange and blue ovals backing the spaceship are cut using the coluzzle.

Thanks for stopping in today - have a great day!

I stink you're sweet!

Here's one for today. I just love this little skunk from the level 3 hostess set Pun Fun. Pretty simple card, designer paper in rose red for the base, the skunk stamped on whisper white, colored with inks and the blender pen. His little stripes are stickles so they shine IRL. The bottom swirl is from an acyrlic set I bought at Joanne's a while ago. Thanks for stopping by today.

wallet for dad or grad

I had to try one of those wallets that I've been seeing on my blurfing expeditions. Here's my version which really isn't too much different than other versions... how can you really change a wallet that much? I thought the designer label punch dad thing kinda resembled hardware that you might find on a "good" wallet. It looks better IRL (in real life). I stamped with gold pigment ink onto close to cocoa scrap and then embossed using black embossing powder. It worked and made it look "metal-ish". TLF! Hint...For those of you wondering what we might be doing at stamp camp this month, this may be seen!

Featured Stamper Challenge

I am having a fun "inside day" today. After the dreading spring job of cleaning the garage fridge and doing some weeding before it started to rain, I can stamp this afternoon guilt-free! I again went to SCS for some inspiration and participated in the featured stamper challenge. It's where you choose a card from the featured stampers gallery to copy (with minor changes). The things I changed on this card are the color combination and I used some of the SU's new felt flowers and the Build a Brad to complete this card. It was fast and easy and I think it turned out cute.

A little birdie told me...

I got a chance to play today since it's raining and I don't do soccer in the rain (and sometimes not even in the sunshine). I checked out this weeks Sketch Challenge over at Splitcoast and this card is made using that sketch. After the gathering yesterday, we went to a local stamp shop and I got this patterned paper in the form of a 4 x 4 cube. It's double sided and has some really fun patterns. This is actually the backside of the front cover. The card is pretty self explanatory. The umbrella is paper pieced. This is done by stamping your image once on your card and then again onto the patterned paper and cutting just inside of the lines, then attaching on top of the image stamped on the card. See how it allows the handle and the top piece to still be there after cutting...

CNY Gift Swap

One of the funnest (that's a word, right?) parts of the CNY gathering day is the gift swap. Everyone who wants to participate brings a wrapped gift valued at around $5 for a yankee trader style swap. It's so much fun to watch which gifts continually get "stolen" throughout the process. This was my submission this year and I'm happy to report that my little purple box was stolen it's fair share throughout the day. I believe it was Winona who ended up with it.... I hope she likes to "fuel up" on chocolate while she stamps. Each little acrylic box is filled with some mini chocolates (twix and milky ways to be exact). The round "boxes" were saved from Christmas time when the arrived at work full of world's finest chocolates and had a personalized merry christmas from label adhered to the top (I think you can order them this way online or something). Have a great day!

CNY gathering

Another gathering here and gone! Today we had a group of around 36 stampers from all across Central New York gather in Syracuse to share our ideas and stamp together.... here are some of the projects we made.

The top left picture is of the shoebox projects from my table (go Pomegranate!)
Top left is a clear envelope picture book designed by Kris (conductorchik),
Top right is a post it note holder/coaster designed by Kari (Norway76)
Bottom left is a card designed by Kirstin (CrabbyAbbe)
Bottom right is a card with a chipboard star designed by Jackie (Librarystamper)

The top right picture is of the rest of the shoebox's from my table...
Top left is a pretend pocket note card (the card opens like normal) designed by Karen (KMK24)
Top right is a card designed by Ginni (Ginnijay)
Bottom is a Buckle card designed by Jenn (NatureJenn)



These are 3 of the 4 group make n takes. In addition to all of our table projects, some generous stampers are nice enough to bring projects for the whole group of 36 stampers to do. Pictured are a black Just Beakcause card featuring Nancy's (NJBaker's) new nestabilities, a cool book mark brought by Sandy (SandyM) and a photo magnet coaster thingy brought by Judy (Judy K). Thanks to these girls for some great projects! Judy - your project (pictured here) won this gathering's best of show according to DH!!

What a fun day - now I'm all tired out!

Diva Kim

<--------- Another Diva, another cake!! This is Diva Kim (isn't she sweet?) She brought cake tonight for snack. It was the most delicious low fat orange cake. We were so excited to cut into it that I didn't even snap her picture before we dug in:)

Here's the recipie for her Orange Creamsicle Cake:

Mix together 1 white cake mix and 12 oz. of diet orange soda. (no eggs, oil, etc). Bake as directed.

For frosting, combine 8 oz. lite cool whip and 1 pkg of sugar free orange jello mix. That's it! And boy is it YUMMY! I wonder how lemon-lime would be, or how about cherry!!

I have the CNY swap tomorrow - can't wait! I'll post my goodies when I get home! Have a great weekend everyone!

May Diva Club - Faux suede

This is the card for this month's Diva's. The hostess (hi Kim) wanted to do ghosting and faux suede for her 2 techniques. I had designed this card as a possible Demo Quality cardfront for the upcoming CNY gathering, but decided I wasn't a good enough watercolorer to try to create 16 of them and have them all look good. This card features faux suede (the long close to cocoa piece) and SU's watercolor paper - boy you can really add color to that stuff without it tearing apart like the cheaper stuff. I don't have the tech cards printed out yet (I'm so behind), so I can't show you those yet. Anyway, thanks for stopping by today!

Hodgepodge Hardware Retiring!

This was just posted on the Stampin Up! Website...

Hodgepodge Hardware Finishes Retiring!

The Hodgepodge Recruiting promotion features the Aged Copper, Antique Brass, and Pewter finishes of the Hodgepodge Hardware (page 188). Please note, however, that when the new Fall-Winter catalog debuts, these finishes will no longer be available; they will be retiring with the Spring-Summer Collection 2008

When accessories hit the retiring list, they are first come, first serve, so if anyone NEEDS any Hodgepodge Hardware before it goes, be sure and send me an email... mention this post and I'll include 2 yards of White 1/4" grosgrain ribbon for free!

3 x 3 notecards for Grandma

I've been guilted into making "just one more" project before heading into work. These were SUPER FAST. I used SU's love notes (cardstock already cut and scored to 3 x 3 with envelopes). I found an old sheet of (non SU... sssh!) designer paper that sorta matched all 3 colors of cardstock (soft sky, wild wasabi and vanilla) and just got 4 pieces that were 3 x 2 and 4 pieces that were 3 x 1 stuck them on, stamped 3 wasabi "B's" (for my Grandma Betty) and 3 Blue Bayou "B's" I wanted to bring the darker blue back in as the light was really too light for the paper, but I wanted QUICK. The scallops (yes, you DO need the scallop punch Kim) were then punched out of the same designer paper and adhered to the fronts. easy peasy! (and now I'm off the must post hook for another couple of days, right? :) These will be a little mother's day gift for my grandma - after all she's the mother of my mother!

Pixie Stix bird-day

Well, I feel just horrible that I haven't gotten anything done lately to post here. I've been working on swaps for an upcoming gathering and those girls are sneaky and I want to surprise them with my "stuff". I am posting these which will be my shoebox project for that gathering only because we don't know who will be at what table until we arrive this year. Hope who ever gets stuck at my table likes them:)

I found instructions for these adorable pixie stick holders while blog surfing one day and thought they'd be something cute and different for a group project. Well, the problem I ran into is that I really don't like the colors of the pixie sticks themselves, but had to incorporate those colors into the design... how'd I do? It was a challenge without even knowing it! Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Weekend!

Hey everyone! Just wanted to pop on and say I haven't forgotten about you... or crafting! I've been working diligently on my swaps for the upcoming Central NY gathering. The good news is I'm almost done with 16 demo quality card fronts and my gift swap prize! The bad news is I can't share them with you until the 17th as that's when the gathering is. I'll leave you with some pictures from last week...

Isn't DH the greatest!! He works for our local highway dept and they had "dumpster day" where the residents of the town bring their junk to get rid of once a year. Someone brought this toolbox in and he quickly snagged it away from another worker thinking it would make a "good tote for my shows". When he told the other worker why he wanted it, the other guy conceded and said that was a better use of it... LOL! So I got this great garage sale find - only with no garage and no sale! I have cleaned it up (although it was pretty clean to start with) and plan to put some rub ons on it and in true "tilly" fashion, pimp it out a litte bit!

I've been nominated for an award!

well, not a real award, but a cyber-award...







I've been nominated by Kristin for an award!! The Arte y Pico award. (Thanks Kristin) This award was originally designed by Eseya at arte y pico . You pick five blogs that you think earned this award based on their creativity, design, interesting material, and contribution to the blogging community. List the names on your blog and link to their blogs. Leave a comment on one of their posts to let them know of the award! Each winner has to show the award and put the name of the person who gave them the award with a link to their blog. Also show the link to arte y pico.


Here are the 4 girls I'm passing on the award to:

Kirstin
Angie
Diane
Virginia

New Blogger Endless Inkabilities

I'm so excited for my new downline, Kim! She should receive her starter kit today and has already set up her SU website and her new blog Endless Inkabilities (cute name, huh?) Stop by over there and introduce yourself, theres not much there yet, but she'll have some great inspiration there soon! Hi Kim!

May Stampin Up! Specials!

Get On Board with Chipboard!
Take an extra 25% off Stampin' Up!'s chipboard products!
For the month of May, when you spend $35 on any Stampin' Up! products, you'll get 25% off all On Board chipboard products from pages 178-179 of the Spring-Summer Collection 2008!
Stampin' Up!'s On Board chipboard collections offer a fun and easy way to embellish projects, create custom greetings, and decorate scrapbook pages. The exclusive, versatile, die-cut chipboard is designed to coordinate with many Stampin' Up! stamp sets and accessories.
Contact me today to take advantage of this special offer!

Cutting Combo Pack Special Offer
From May 1 through May 31, when you purchase a Cutting Mat (p. 184), you'll receive a FREE Hobby Blade with five refill blades (p. 184)--a $4.50 value! The Cutting Combo Pack is a great tool for cutting card stock and Designer Series paper to layer over Stampin' Up!'s On Board chipboard products. Use combo pack item number 113421 when placing your order to receive the free blade. To take advantage of this special, limited-time offer,contact me today.

Expand Your Toolbox!
We've got a great way to expand your toolbox! For the entire month of May, join Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator and get 20% off the Starter Kit, PLUS a free tin of Hodgepodge Hardware (p. 188) from the Spring-Summer Collection 2008 (a $27.95 value!).*
The Starter Kit (p. 209) comes complete with all the tools you'll need to start a successful business--$359 worth of stamping and business supplies for only $159! Construct your kit by selecting the nuts and bolts of your stamping supplies, and take your toolbox to the next level!
Contact your demonstrator to get 20% off the Starter Kit and FREE Hodgepodge Hardware! Signing up is easy - just contact me today for my password and you can sign up online via my Stampin' Up! Website