It's Mucksgiving Day!

Since oldest son is a Chef and he works his tush off on Thanksgiving Day we celebrate the holiday the day after. Thanksgiving is a day to be together as family and being grateful for each other as well as all the other blessings we enjoy so it really doesn't matter what day it's celebrated on. Our family consists of only 7 people but it is quality over quantity that is important and I have a fabulous family.  I also have an extended family of special friends that are the best in the world. So here is wishing all of you a very

Happy Mucksgiving Day

Til next time...

Day 3 Christmas Card

I saw a card similar to this in a magazine and I just knew I had to CASE it. I kept the design fairly close to the original except I used a stamped,colored and layered poinsettia instead of a silk flower and my sentiment is from StampinUp.

 

Stamps: PTI Poinsettia, Argyle; StampinUp Sentiment

Cardstock: StampinUp Crumb Cake; Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Ink: StampinUp Garden Green, Real Red; Memento Tuxedo Black

Copic Markers:

2 in a Row!

Hot stuff! Another post in the same week. Try not to get too spoiled. LOL  Today's post showcases a Christmas card I made with stamps from WaltzingMouse. I have loved Claire's work even before she started designing her own stamp line and I just adore her designs. With this card I was able to combine 3 of my favorite things - WaltzingMouse Stamps, Copic Markers and watercolor crayons. I'm not sure if you can see it in the photo but I also added a bit of sparkle to the tree with Copic's  atyou Spica Glitter Pens.

Stamps: WaltzingMouse

Cardstock: StampinUp River Rock, Soft Suede; Neenah Classic Crest Natural White

Ink: SU Cherry Cobbler, Soft Suede; Memento Tuxedo Black

Other: Copic Markers, Spica Glitter Pens, StampinUp Embossing folder  & watercolor crayons, Papertrey Ink Jute Button Twine

Til next time...

1st Christmas Card of 2011

In the weeks since I last shared a project I have been busy trying to learn some new software and to become more proficient with many of the programs I already have. I've also designed far more Christmas cards than I will need but the ideas just kept coming. Well they were until this miserable sinus thingy turned my head to mush. Sunday I felt well enough to line up all the cards I made and at least get them photographed. Planned on getting a post up on Monday but oldest son came over to spend some time with me so the blog got pushed to the end of the line again. Now, finally, here is the first of this year's Christmas collection...

If something looks familiar it's because I used the same Verve sketch as I did in this post .  I really like the look of this sketch and I imagine I'll be using it again in the future.

Stamps:  Papertrey Ink, StampinUp

Cardstock: SU River Rock, Bravo Burgundy

Ink:  SU Handsome Hunter

Other:  Aleene's Paper Glaze, SU Grosgrain ribbon, Spellbinders tag die

Til next time...

A Whole Month?

Wow! Sorry folks. I will need to get my projects photographed and posted soon. But not today - sore throat, chills etc.  I appreciate your understanding.

Life Musings

This week my oldest son turned 33 years old. Now 33 isn't usually considered a momentous occasion but for some reason it hit me hard. Where have all the years gone? Did I spend so much time being all things to all people that I didn't have time to be me?  Was I the Mom I wanted to be or did I fall short? I do know that he is a chef because of me and I have proof, written in black and white. In the article written about him when he made Junior Chef of the Year, he stated that it was my love of cooking and the fact that we always ate home cooked meals together as a family and the kitchen was the heart of our home that influenced him the most. I am proud of my son, the man he has become and the great chef that he is. Today we will be celebrating him by gathering around a table together as a family, sharing food and brew, love and laughter. So maybe I didn't do too bad after all. I only wish the clock would tick just a little bit slower.

Stamps, dies & jute button thread by Papertrey Ink

Paper, ink, button & brads by StampinUp


Embossing folder from Cuttlebug.


Til next time...

Loving My Hot Glue Gun

For the last year or so, I have been ignoring my hot glue gun in favor of my ATG gun and glue dots.  That all ended when I started making pleated medallions and rekindled my love of making flowers. A glue gun makes all the difference when making medallions and flowers especially if that glue gun has a fine nozzle tip and has loooonnnng glue sticks so you don't have to keep reloading. I have a small low temp gun that is easy to use but the nozzle just isn't small enough for those tiny, hard to reach places. I considered getting the Aleene's set but at $28.99 plus tax, it was a little too steep especially considering that I already have my little low temp gun as well as my big high temp one. Then I happened to spy a real gem at Walmart - Dual Temperature, fine nozzle, works cordless for up to 5 minutes and takes regular width, 10 inch long glue sticks all for a whopping $6.97. A bag of 2 dozen, 10 inch long sticks are $3.97. Ya can't beat that so into the cart it went. Oh yeah, and did I mention that Chris was paying cuz we were at Walmart to get him razor blades and a video?  Best deal yet! So what is all this leading up to? Today's card...

I combined VLV September's sketch challenge for Week 4 with this weeks PTI Make It Monday. The ribbon rose was a dream to make with the new hot glue gun and the combination of the rose, thick chipboard piece and ribbon loops never would have held with glue dots. With the hot glue it's not going anywhere! 

Stamps: Verve - Fancy Florals, Tag Time

Paper: Lilybee - Picket Fence; SU - Old Olive, Wisteria Wonder

Ink: SU - Old Olive, Wisteria Wonder; Versamark; Distress - Crushed Olive

Dies: Verve - Tiny Sweet Tags; Cuttlebug - Scallop Squares

Other: Stampendous - white embossing powder; Michaels - Grosgrain Ribbon; SU - Old Olive ribbon

Til next time...

Fall Fun

Fall is in the air. The leaves around here haven't started changing but the temperatures sure are getting pleasant. For the September VLV 3rd Week's sketch challenge I decided to go with a fall theme. I originally planned to use some Basicgrey DSP but once it was cut I just didn't like it so I had to go back to the drawing board. Ended up stamping my own paper but had fun doing it and it matched the ribbon I found in my stash. All in all it's not half bad even though it is so far removed from my original vision.

  Stamps: Verve - Autumn Splendor, Bountiful Harvest, Happy Fall, Sweet Treat, Ecclesiastes 3:11

Paper: SU - Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Peach Parfait, Cajun Craze, Rich Razzleberry, Lucky Limeade

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Peach Parfait, Cajun Craze, Rich Razzleberry, Lucky Limeade

Dies: Verve - Sweet scallop Tag, Embossed Oval; Spellbinders - Circles, plain & large scallops

Other: Tim Holtz Embossing Folder, ribbon from stash

Til next time...

Manic Monday

Hope you all had a great weekend. Our card club met Saturday and what a blast. We are making Fall medallion wreaths similar to what StampinUp has in their Holiday Mini. It's a bit involved so we have to do them in 2 sessions. Can't wait to share with you once mine is done. I plan on making another one for Christmas.

Obviously I have nothing to show at the moment. Friday was spent on errands and laundry, Saturday was club, which is held at my home and Sunday was, well, Sunday. Hopefully I will have something for tomorrow even if I end up photographing some of my recipe pages.

Til next time...

Monochrome Madness

Verve's Get Your Diva On challenge for September was to create a monochromatic card. I told Sankari that her challenge had me both stumped and intimidated at first. How do you even decide what color to go with? But then the light came on and I was off and running.

My first card (A) went together, zip, zap, zip once I had the color scheme figured out. I had been dying to use those loopy flowers from Verve's Making a Statement set as well as the leafy sprigs from Sunny Days and I love to antique things. Give me some Distress ink, a non-stick mat and one of Tim Holtz's blending tools and I could blend away for hours. I was quite pleased with the way it turned out but then it hit me - Why don't I try and take it up a notch or 2?


For the second card (B) I used the same color scheme (don't know why they came out different in the photos) and layout but used a different DSP, made lace flowers, sprayed some parts with Perfect Pearls Mist and added a lot more pearls. I honestly don't know which card I like better but I think I'll be doing more monochromatic cards in the future.

Stamps: Verve- Wishful Elegance, Sunny Days, Making a Statement (A); SU - Teahouse

Paper: SU - Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla (A), Bella Bleu DSP; Curious Iridescent Poison Ivory (B)

Ink: SU - Crumb Cake, Soft Suede; Ranger - Frayed Burlap Distress

Dies: Verve - Leafy Sprigs, Loopy Blooms; Spellbinders Ovals - Plain & beaded

Other: Michaels - Pearls; SU - lace; Ranger - Perfect Pearls Mist

Til next time...

Another Great Sketch from Verve!

Week 2's sketch for September's VLV Sketch Challenge is another good one. Like Week 1, this card just fell into place exactly the way I wanted. Hmmm... 2 weeks in a row... maybe I should worry. Normally, when I do a challenge, I try to use only stamps from the company hosting the challenge. This time, instead of limiting myself, I just grabbed whatever stamps I needed to get the effect I wanted regardless of which company made the stamp. Creating without limits is so much more fun!

Stamps: Verve - Hope Perches, Tag Time; SU - Silhouette Sentiments Hostess Set; PTI - Background Basics Newsprint.

Paper: Prima - Romantique; SU - Cajun Craze, So Saffron, Old Olive;

Ink: Ranger - Distress Old Paper; SU - Cajun Craze, Old Olive

Dies: Verve - Tiny Sweet Scallop; Spellbinders - flower, circles

Other: Martha Stewart Picket Fence punch; Twine from The Twinery; Antique Copper Brad from Making Memories.

Til next time...

Seeing Stars

Tripped in the hen house yesterday and landed flat on my face. Well, actually, it was more like a belly flop into the dirt. As I lay there, I looked over and there was Penny, with a worm hanging out of her mouth, bending over to see why I was down there. It was quite funny until about an hour later when the pain kicked in. A 200 pound woman makes a heck of an impact!

But that is not why I am seeing stars today.

I really liked the sketch for Week 1 of Viva La Verve's September Challenge. I like how this card came out even better. This was one of those times when everything just fell into place and my vision became a reality. Hope you like it too.

Stamps: Verve - Starstruck

Paper: Basicgrey - Out of Print; SU - Melon Mambo, Luck Limeade, Peach Parfait, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White

Ink: Ranger - Distress Black Soot

Dies: Verve - Tiny Sweet Scallop; Spellbinders - Stars; Quickutz - Star tag topper

Other: Ranger - Black Sparkle EP; SU - Daffodil Delight Taffeta Ribbon; PTI - Rustic Jute Button twine

Til next time...

Stamping Backgrounds

PTI's Make It Monday Challenge #31 was Creating Backgrounds With Non-background Stamps. Hmmm... wonder if someone told them how much I love stamping backgrounds? Had a great time making this card but I do have one complaint about the Spellbinders Fancy Tag die I used. I wanted to cut an oval to layer inside but the none of the Spellbinders oval dies are the right shape!!! I ended up using an SU punch.

Stamps: PTI - Fall Elegance, Simply Stationery, Embellishments

Paper: SU - Always Artichoke, Perfect Plum, Very Vanilla

Ink: SU - Cajun Craze, More Mustard, Always Artichoke, Perfect Plum; Ranger - Old Paper Distress

Dies: Spellbinders - Fancy Tags; PTI - Edgers #3

Til next time...

More Wild Colors for a Challenge

I have stepped soooo out of my box for this one! And I've used a few things that have been tucked away too long so at least that's a positive.  Had nothing planned for Labor Day and was recuperating from the previous day's Mountain Man Rondezvous in Wyoming so decided to tackle Waltzingmouse's Sketch Challenge #63.  This is what I ended up with.

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Cameo To Go, Faux Fun Circles

Paper: Prima - 6x6 Madeline; StampinUp - Baja Breeze, Rose Red, Whisper White, Pink Pirouette

Ink: SU - Chocolate Chip, Rose Red

Dies: PTI - Lace Doily; Spellbinders - Fancy Label; Sizzix - 3D Flower, Branch with Leaves, Embosslits Butterflies for SU

Other: EKSuccess - Border Punch; Rangers Liquid Pearls

Til next time...

Kooky Kolors for a Baby

Not that I'm a little behind or anything, but this card was made for Waltzingmouse Sketch #61 found here. It's a bit of a mish mash of techniques including making my own custom ribbon with Copic Markers (a Make It Monday challenge), making a custom brad with stamps and Glossy Accents, and doing a Tim Holtz Distress ink thing. I don't know why I chose this color combo other than it appealed to me. I created the paper that the birds and brad piece were stamped on using the Wrinkle Free Distress technique with a bit of a twist but I may have used a bit too much water.

Over all I am rather please with this project even if it is a bit weird for a baby card.

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Celtic Heritage, Faux Fun, Fauz Fun Circles, Fancy Flourishes, Vintage Circles

Ink: Distress - Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Black Soot; StampinUp - Tempting Turquoise, Basic Gray

Paper: StampinUp - Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Basic Gray, Basic Black

Other: Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Spellbinders Circle Dies, Copic Markers, Grosgrain Ribbon from Michael's, Glossy Accents from Ranger



Til next time...

Up, Up and Away

August 20th we had our first card club meeting of the new year and we had a fabulous time. Our fearless leader, Kim, designed a card for us to make that was based on a photo she had taken. Earlier in the summer she had gone to the Panquitch Valley Balloon Rally and took this:

And this is the card we made:

I hadn't planned on getting this stamp set from StampinUp since I have a really cute Hot Air Balloon set from Verve but after making this card it just had to come live with me. Yep, that Kim knows how to sell!

All products used are StampinUp

Stamps: Up, Up and Away, Nature Walk

Ink: Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Island Indigo

Paper: Baja Breeze, Calypso Coral, So Saffron, Whisper White

Other: Lucky Limeade Ribbon, Houndstooth Embossing Folder

Til next time...

Sending Some Sunshine

That's the theme for Verve's August Diva Dare. The challenge is to make an uplifting and encouraging card AND send it to someone in need of a little pick-me-up!  I chose to use the sketch from Week 5 of the August Viva La Verve Challenge and I'm giving it to my friend, Tracey.  Tracey has undergone a double masectomy and has survived both radiation and chemo in spite of the complications caused by Lupus. To look at her, you would never know what she has been going through. She is vibrant and alive, dyeing her 1/2 inch new hair a bright blonde in celebration. She loves bright and bold and bling so this card is definitely hers.

Stamps: Verve- Let it Shine, Tag Time

Paper: SU Daffodil Delight, Riding Hood Red; Basicgrey Indian Summer 6x6
Ink: SU So Saffron, More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Bravo Burgundy; Distress Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge
Other: Verve - Tagged Rectangle Die; Spellbinders - Inverted Scallop Die; Stickles; Ribbon from stash

Til next time...

Playing Catch Up

I've been trying to photograph some cards to post to the blog but have been running into a problem or two. Miss Maddie just has to be right in the middle of things.

I have finally managed to get it done so will be posting them over the next few days. In the meantime, I thought I'd show you my nifty neato dauber cases I just got from Scrapbook.com.  I LOVE these cases!!!

They hold 40 daubers so I have all my StampinUp core colors in one and the In Colors, Shimmer Paint, spare daubers etc. in the other. Being organized makes this textbook Virgo a very happy camper.

Til next time...

PTI August 2011 Blog Hop Challenge

WooHoo. Today is PTI's Blog Hop. You can find links to all the participants here. The challenge is to create something inspired by this photo. I knew what I wanted to do the instant I saw the photo. The challenge for me was to find the right paper and low and behold, it was hiding deep in my hoarded stash. The bow is my first attempt at wrinkled ribbon. I used SU taffeta ribbon to make a bow but it looked too formal so, knowing the ribbon was a synthetic, I used a heat gun on it.

Stamps: PTI - Vintage Picnic, Little Labels
Paper: SU - Cherry Cobbler, Confetti White; Chatterbox - Loft Bias Plaid;
Ink: SU - Cherry Cobbler, Bashful Blue; Memento Tuxedo Black
Dies: PTI - Mat Stack #5, Picnic Basket, Edgers #1; Spellbinders - Tag, Ribbon Slider
Other: SU Bashful Blue Taffeta Ribbon, twine from The Twinery

Copics Used:

Red Mat:

Til next time...

The Big Cheese!!!!

W00T W00T!!!!  I made this week's Big Cheese over on Waltzingmouse with this card.  The prestige is good enough but I actually get a $10 discount on my next order of stamps for winning. I make cards because I enjoy it and because I like to give them to people. I don't do it to win awards but sometimes a pat on the back feels so stinkin' good!
I don't have a card to post today because I have been working on my entry for Papertrey Ink's Blog Hop tomorrow. It's a cutie so be sure to stop by.

Til next time...

Another Week - Another Verve

Last week brought a wonderful sketch for Week 3 of the VLV August Challenges by Shannan Teubner. I had a lot of fun with this one, dragging out all kinds of dies, embossing folders, Copic Markers and even bling! Thank you Shannan for a fabulous sketch to work with.



Stamps: Verve Birthday Wishes Plain Jane

Paper: StampinUp -  Pool Party, Bermuda Bay, Groovy Guava, Whisper White; BoBunny - Gabrielle.

Ink:  StampinUp - Groovy Guava, Bermuda Bay; Memento Rich Cocoa; Ranger - Adirondack Snow Cap

Copics: E02, E95, BG11, BG15

Other: Cuttlebug Butterfly Cut & Emboss Set; Cheery Lane Doily Die, BoBunny Gabrielle Jewels

Til next time...

Looking For A Diva

The theme for Verve's August 2011 Get Your Diva On challenge was tags. Anything and everything to do with tags.  If there is a hint of Diva in me anywhere, its showing up is pretty hit and miss but I gave it a shot anyway. To be perfectly honest, I think I am too practical to be Diva material but I am happy with how this card turned out.

Stamps: Verve - Let It Shine

Paper: StampinUp - Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Whisper White, Delicate Dots DSP.

Ink: StampinUp - Bashful Blue, So Saffron, More Mustard

Misc: StampinUp Ribbon, Verve Charming Oval Die Set, Martha Stewart Border Punch, Assorted beads & jewelry findings from Michaels, Mini Envelope template from Hot Off The Press, old yellow brad recolored with a Copic Marker.

Til next time...

Glitter Die Borders

I hadn't planned on making a Sympathy card for this weeks Make It Monday technique. Then again, no one plans for a happy, healthy, loving and generous person to die without any warning. But someone special did die and I needed a very special card and this weeks technique fit the bill.

For Valerie Sorensen - August 15, 1952 to August 13, 2011

Stamps: StampinUp - Elizabeth, Simply Soft;  PTI - Half & Half, Round & Round

Paper: Bo Bunny - Gabrielle 6x6; StampinUp - Early Espresso, Bermuda Bay

Ink: StampinUp - Early Espresso, Groovy Guava; Versamark

Dies: PTI - Half & Half, Mat Stack #5

Misc: Stampendous Embossing Powder, Martha Stewart Border Punch, Ribbon, pearls & glitter from stash, Zig 2 Way Glue marker

Til next time...

Waltzingmouse Sketch #60

I had so many ideas running through my head for this weeks Waltzingmouse challenge but this is something I have wanted to try for a while.  It is a bit of a stretch but it fits. Hope you like it.

Hatbox Closed

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Asian Gardens Additions, Eat Cake, Very Vintage Christmas, Very Vintage Labels #5, Fancy Phrases

Cardstock: StampinUp - Rose Red, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White

Ink: StampinUp - Rose Red, Basic Gray, Pink Pirouette

Misc: Spellbinders Die - Labels #5, Organdy Ribbon & Ribbon Roses from stash










Til next time...

Yaba Daba Do, It's VLV Week #2

I am a paper hoarder.  I buy all kinds of designer papers with the intent to make all kinds of gorgeous cards and scrapbook pages but then I put them away and never use them. Why?  Because if I use them I won't have them anymore. I do the same with ribbon, brads, pearls etc. so I end up just using ink, stamps, cardstock and die cuts. I guess I need some kind of 12 Step Program. 

Any who way...

I was so inspired by all the phenomenal work done by the Verve Divas this week I just had to step out of my little box. Stand back everyone. THIS is a biggie! For Verve's Viva La Verve Sketch Challenge for Week 2 of August, I broke down and used a whole 4 1/4 X 5 1/2 inch piece of some hoarded My Mind's Eye paper from 2006.  And I used a piece of my cherished Blush Blossom cardstock that StampinUp retired along with 2 treasured pearls from Michael's. I told you it was a biggie! So here is my "Diva Wanna Be" creation:

Stamps: Verve - Bloom & Grow, Sweet Treats, Grateful Elegance, Celebrating You
Dies: Verve - Classy Label, Embossed Oval, Floral Circles, Elegant Leaves; Spellbinders - Large Ovals, Small Ovals.
Ink: StampinUp - Always Artichoke, Blush Blossom
Cardstock: StampinUp- Always Artichoke, Blush Blossom, River Rock
Misc: Martha Stewart Iron Fence Border & Corner Punches, Micheal's Pearls, My Minds Eye DSP.

Til next time...

Viva La Verve August Week 1

I decided to give Verve's VLV Sketches for August a whirl and tackled Week 1's sketch yesturday.  I'm not sure what direction I was going or hoped to go but looking at the mess I'd say I had a darn good time getting there.

My list of supplies for this 5 x 5 card is rather large. Am I trying to become a Diva or something? Check it out!

Stamps: All Verve - Accent Notes, Celebrating You, Hearts Desire, Love's Flower and Bloom & Grow as well as the Floral Circles and Elegant Leaves Dies.
Inks: StampinUp - Riding Hood Red, Early Espresso, Pool Party; Ranger - Walnut Stain Distress; Tsukineko - Memento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: StampinUp - Whisper White, Blushing Bride, Riding Hood Red, Early Espresso, Pool Party
Misc: Spellbinders Circle Die, EKSuccess Medallion Chain Punch, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Michael's Brads and Ribbon
Now to tackle Week 2's sketch!

Til next time...

August Apertures

This weeks MIM technique, Decreasing Apertures, was very enjoyable for me. I got to use a lot of layers which meant a lot of colors and different treatments on each layer. This made my husband very happy because it meant I finally used some of those stamps, dies and Impression plates I've been collecting in my singlehanded attempt to keep Papertrey Ink in business. On this card I used 8 dies, 5 stamp sets, both sides of an Impression Plate and 5 colors of cardstock not to mention the 3 dye inks and 12 Copic Markers.

The pitcher of Mums was stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa and colored with Copics.

All stamps, Impression Plates and dies are Papertrey Ink; Cardstock & Dye Inks are StampingUp.
Flowers were made using a technique from Nicole Heady featured in this post with the addition of a fringed paper center.

Til next time...

WaltzingMouse Sketch 58

Have I mentioned how much I love making my own backgrounds?  For this weeks WM Sketch Challenge I made a background using Dainty Doilies and Cameo Maker that is just perfect for a baby card. And just in time too because my friend Jamie is having her baby girl today.

All stamps are from WaltzingMouse; Ink & cardstock is StampinUp; Offray Ribbon; Cuttlebug Embossing Folders; K&Company brads; Spellbinders dies.


Til next time...

Metallic Ink Resist

I happened to pop in on my friendly StampinUp Demo just as she was checking out the Workshop Wow DVD she picked up at the convention last week and got to see this technique demonstrated by Heather Summers. I was intrigued and just had to try it myself.

You pour a small amount of the metallic All Purpose Ink onto a paper plate then dab it onto your cardstock using a scrunched up piece of plastic wrap, leaving plenty of white space.

Allow the ink to dry, then sponge on dye ink over the metallic ink.  Wipe excess dye ink off of the metallic with a tissue.

Once that is dry, you stamp over it with a solid stamp.  I used Archival Ink so you can see traces of the metallic through it.  I plan on trying it with StazOn to see if that will make a smoother, more opaque impression.

To finish the card I made a smaller piece of the resist for the sentiment panel.

You can try this technique with a detail line stamp and used sponges to color the image in.

Sources: Tsukineko All-Purpose Ink (Frost White); StampinUp Cardstock, Dye Ink & rubber stamps; Ranger's Archival Ink; Spellbinders dies; pearls from Michael's

Til next time...

Family Craziness

Sorry I haven't posted anything in a week. A friend has been out of town and we have had to care for her dogs. Then we had to rush our daughter-in-law to the hospital with appendicitis. On top of that, while I was waiting at the hospital on Saturday for my daughter-in-law to be discharged, my wonderful husband ran down to Petsmart for dogfood.  CAWS happened to be there with rescued dogs for adoption and "The Dogfather" found one he just couldn't walk away from. He had been abused so he's a bit skittish but he follows me everywhere. We took him to the vet yesterday for a complete checkup, shots, medicine for his eye and dewormer for his tapeworms.  Other than the irritated eye and the tapeworm, he is in excellent shape.  Once he learns to negotiate the staircase to my craft room, I'll be working on a few techniques I have wanted to try.

So here is MacTavish Muck-

Dry Brushing Make It Monday

Why is it that when the word Challenge is mentioned, things become harder than they really are? Or am I the only one who goes spastic over card challenges? Dry brushing (MIM technique found here)  is a very simple yet effective technique that should have taken me no time at all to do and here it is late Tuesday afternoon and I am just finishing up. Sheesh! My color scheme started out as Bravo Burgundy, More Mustard, Night of Navy and Very Vanilla but it ended up as Wild Wasabi, Rich Razzleberry, Pool Party, Island Indigo and Whisper White. I dry brushed white paint on the Indigo layer and then dry brushed the Pool Party layer with the matching Pool Party ink. I'm not sure if I like the paint but I think dry brushing with ink is a great alternative to sponging.

Cardstock, ribbon and ink from StampinUp

White paint from Making Memories

Snowcap White ink from Ranger

Stamps, basket and napkin die and Impression Plate from Papertrey Ink

Other dies from Spellbinders

White Lace and brad from stash

Til next time...

BBQ & Horseshoes

Sorry there isn't anything to show today. I have company coming and still have potato salad, cucumber salad and deviled eggs to make.  I would love to hear some opinions on the new blog design though. Tell me what's good, what's bad, what should be changed or kept. I'd really appreciate it.

Til next time...

Waltzing with the Mouse Again

Did you ever have a project that just refused to cooperate? I decided to do this weeks Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge found here and had a card pictured in my mind but it fought me tooth and nail. I lost track of how much paper went into the recycle bin. It still isn't exactly what I planned but this is about as close as my ink and paper would allow.

I used several stamp sets, all by Waltzingmouse, cardstock and reinkers from StampinUp, Versamark, and glittery embossing powder from my extensive collection.  The sentiment was cut out using a cute little die set from Verve.

Til next time...

What the Cluck!

I just had to show this card I made for a friend's 50th Birthday. He was so impressed with my chickens that this spring, he got 3 of his own, hense the chicken card.

The chick and party hat are from a Crafty Secrets set called Farm Chicks , Candles with stars are from a See D's Birthday set I picked up used, Gingham background stamp is from Waltzingmouse, sentiment was made with a JustRite alphabet and the cardstock is StampinUp's Real Red, Baja Breeze and Whisper White. Ink used was SU's Real Red, Memento Tuxedo Black, Antique Linen Distress Ink and Copic Markers.

Til next time...

Too Much Nightlife

Having a bit of a slow start today. Last night we went to the Triple-A Home Run Derby in Salt Lake City and had a fabulous time - Beer, peanuts, popcorn, hot dogs, live band, some incredible hits and a spectacular fireworks show. Got to watch a high school junior slam the ball right out of the park and take second place after the Pro.  Actually, if you add up his Home Runs from all 3 rounds, he hit more HRs total than the League Players did and only lost the Derby by 2. By the time the fireworks were over and we got to the car it was getting pretty late and once we got home we had dogs to take out and chickens to lock up etc. and it took me a while to settle down. Needless to say, I didn't get much sleep before it was time to get up, let out the dogs, open the chicken coop, feed the cats and take out the trash barrels and I don't do mornings at the best of times.

Today's card was made for my friend Kim and her husband's Anniversary. I used a new Verve set I had just gotten along with some PTI that hadn't seen ink yet as well as a StampinUp embossing folder that was still in the package.

Colors used are Pink Pirouette, Rose Red, Soft Suade, Certainly Celery and Always Artichoke all by StampinUp. Also by StampinUp is the ribbon and Tulip Border embossing folder Stamps are Verve's Bloom and Grow with the matching dies, PTI's Mat Stack 3 and Love Birds with their matching dies. 

Til next time...

Megafortress Monday

First I have to tell you... the last 24 hours have been unbelievable. Yesterday I discovered I had won a Top Mouse Award from Waltzingmouse Stamps for this card, then this morning I found out I won last week's Make-it Monday prize from Papertrey Ink for this card. I never win anything!! I've put up my Top Mouse blinkie in my sidebar and now I am going crazy trying to decide which stamp set I want from Papertrey Ink. I think it's going to end up being Daydreamer.  What do you think?

Now on to today's card.  My husband Chris is hooked on an old DOS game called Megafortress from 1991.  I recently upgraded our desktop to an Intel Core i7 Sandy Bridge Processor with 8 GBs of Ram, 1 GB of video Ram, a 240 GB Solid State Drive for the OS and programs and a 500GB Sata drive for all saved files and this man still wants to play Megafortress. Sheesh!  So our youngest, Alex, set up a DOS shell so dear old Dad could play his game and Dad is now a very happy gamer.

Now that you have the background you will understand why Alex asked me to make a Father's Day card for him to give his Dad that looked like the box the game came it.

Here is the game:

I used Make-the-Cut to create the cut file for the plane then cut it out along with some clouds and wonky stars.  The colors used were Poppy Parade, Pacific Point, More Mustard, Whisper White and Black from StampinUp. The Father's Day sentiment was from PTI's Masculine Motifs and the inside sentiment was created with an alphabet set from JustRite Stampers.  The Poppy panel was embossed with the Cuttlebug diamond plate folder and the Pacific Point panel was embossed with the stars folder.  I did the gray shading on the clouds with my Copic Airbrush System but I need a lot more practice with airbrushing.

So here is the card and it's not too shabby if I do say so myself.

Card Closed

Card Open





Til next time...