DCWV Giveaway

Personally, I think every scrapbooker and cardmaker needs to have a good supply of DCWV paper stacks.  I am a big fan of the mat stacks, since I use them for cardmaking.  Working with a Mat Stack makes it so easy to combine patterned papers since all the work is done for you.  I honestly don't know what I'd do without them!  Speaking of  DCWV Stacks, check out this link DCWV giveaway to enter to win two great stacks:  Street Lace Stack and Colorful Life Stack.  They look like so much fun to work with!

Good luck!

Take time to get inky today!

Oh how I miss you!

Dear stamps, ink pads, paper, buttons, bling and blogging friends,

Oh how I miss you!  It's been so long since I blogged anything, and quite frankly, it's been way too long since I got inky!  I recently got a job and work a few evenings week and Saturdays.  Unfortunately, it's been 20 years since I worked retail, and forgot how exhausting it can be!  The store I work at started Christmas hours (and Christmas music) the day after Halloween, so there wasn't much 'easing into the craziness' for me.  Most nights I work from about 6pm to 12:30am.  The extra money and the store discount is great for holiday shopping, but there are some days I feel like a walking zombie - I'm so tired!

But, most of all, I miss you all!  I miss getting inky!  I miss being creative!  and I miss sleep!

I have a few ideas for Christmas gifts, so hopefully I will squeeze a little creative time into the next few days.  In the meantime, I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving surrounded by your greatest blessings. 

Enjoy this blessed season and take time to get inky!

Just Flying By.....

Hi!  Remember me?  It's been so long since I have posted anything.  I'm still adjusting to the kids being back in school and new schedules.  I honestly don't know what's taking me so long.  I need to get organized and get busy stamping!  I've missed it!

I finally got busy yesterday and popped out this card for this week's Stampendous Saturday Sketch Challenge.  This week there was not a sketch to follow, but rather a "recipe".  We were to create cards using ribbon, the color black and some sort of bling.  How fun!  That recipe just screamed "HALLOWEEN CARD!" to me.  So off I went.  I won this cute little stamp (Mini Witch Shoes) from a previous Sketch Challenge.  I decided the witch that wears these shoes must be a pretty ritzy gal, and gave her blinged-out shoes. 

If you have a chance, check out this week's Challenge, and see what you can create.  It's a lot of fun - and if your card is chosen as one of this week's winners, you could win wonderful Stampendous stamps (great incentive!)

recipe:  stamps:  Stampendous Mini Witch Shoes, Hero Arts Happy Halloween; DCWV Glitter Mat Stack, The Paper Co.; Crystal Stickles; Tsukineko Tuxedo Black Ink, Persimmon ink; Prismacolor Pencils, Goo-Gone, Tortillons; JoAnn's Ribbon

Fall Posie Doodles

My mojo seems to be on vacation lately, so I thought I'd give it a jump start today.  I've never participated in a Color Challenge before....until today.  This is my entry for this week's Stampendous Saturday Sketch Challenge.  It was really a lot of fun, and now I can't wait to try it again.  When I first saw the colors posted for this challenge, I struggled to decide which stamp to use.  This usually isn't a problem for me, usually I see a sketch for the challenges and a stamp immediately comes to mind.  Not so this time!  But then, the other day I was at church for a meeting, and I noticed the most beautiful fall floral arrangement on the altar with a big green bow.  Call it "Divine Intervention" if you want, but I knew right then which stamp to use.  I think I'll send this card to a church member or our Pastor...seems only right!

It's a dreary, rainy day here in the Chicago area....hope you're enjoying better weather wherever you are.  Take time to get inky today!

recipe:  stamps:  Stampendous Posie Doodle; Recollections card; DCWV Neutral Matstack; Prismacolor Pencils, Goo-Gone, Tortillons; Fiskars Border Punch; Crystal Stickles; JoAnn's Ribbon; Tsukineko Tuxedo Black ink

Stampendous Comfort

Sympathy cards are always hard to make.  Probably because I only make them when I need them, and then it's hard to create with a heavy heart.  One of these I will get organized, and make a bunch of sympathy cards to have on hand for whenever I need them.  It's nice to be prepared for those situations, a card means so much to a grieving family. 

The leaves and vines in this Stampendous Encouraging Words set are so graceful and elegant and the sentiments are perfect for many occasions. 

Take time to get inky today and create a few cards to have on hand when those around you need comfort and support - it means so much.

recipe: stamps:  Stampendous Encouraging Words; paper: The Paper Co, CM designer paper; JoAnn's sheer ribbon; Tsukineko Sand, Pesto inks

Posie Doodle Hello

I had a hard time working with this stamp originally, my mojo just wasn't flowing....until I turned the image on it's side.  Then all of the sudden this card came together for me.  I don't know why, but it just wasn't working for me with the image running vertically on the card.  Does that ever happen to you?  Strange how "mojo" works sometimes.

Get you mojo on today and get inky!  See you back here later!

recipe:  stamp: Stampendous Posie Doodle; Prismacolor Pencils, Goo-gone, Tortillons; The Paper Co.; Crystal Stickles; Fiskars Scalloped Scissors; JoAnn's sheer ribbon

My First Card Design

I'm in the process of uploading all of the photos on our computer to Shutterfly (what a job!).  While I was sorting through the pictures, I found pics of a bunch of cards I forgot I had ever made.  It was fun to take a little trip down Creative Memory Lane.  The card pictured above was the first card design I ever made.  I actually started making cards out of necessity.  It was my nephew's 2nd birthday, and by the time I realized I had forgotten to buy him a card it was too late to go get one.  So, being a scrapbooker and having a ton of paper and stickers, I decided to make a card.  This is the design that I came up with (although my nephew's card said "Brad" on it).  I made this card for every kid I knew for the next six months. That was six years ago, and I have not purchased a card since. 

Early on, my cards were mostly decorated with fancy paper and stickers.  It took me awhile to discover the joys of stamping (I wonder if I can find the photo of my first stamped card......hmmmm...I think I need to look for that!)  I'd like to think I've come a long way, it's been a fun and creative journey and I'm looking forward to see where this path leads. 

recipe:  paper: Creative Memories; stickers Making Memories Letters, Mrs. Grossman's stripe; CM Circle Punches; Sakura Micro Pen