FIRST- thank you for the well wishes after the tornado thing. Also the advice. I think I got lots of info that I would not have otherwise. My heart goes out to all who experience this often, and any losses you have had because of it. Those who talked about it being the signs of the end of the world, unfortunately, I agree and get the heebie jeebies over it. 

I have the Saturday Sketch for you!

 please click to enlarge.

ALSO if any of you know of HOW I can make these with PaintShop Pro-email me!! (DAWN you know I’m talkin to ya girl! LOL!) Or any other program other than Paint. I can’t always get into more complex L.O. due to the regular Paint Program. Thanks 😀 I would love to learn to get better sketches done.

 I wasn’t going to post…………..lives are busy at this time of year, and people seem to not be doing them as often, so I really wandered if it was even worth doing this week. This week also leads to my insanely busy time of the month. I have stuff going on that would make your head SPIN I tell you! In fact today I had an idea for another BIG thing, but we will see where that goes!! This will make sense to you in time.

Please take note there is NO time limit or contest on my sketches. My point is for pure inspiration ONLY! I want to get your hiney OFF the computer (after you stop by here of course! LOL!) and get using all the products you buy.

 There are always so many challenges, so I figured what is ONE more. I have been doing these weekly sketches for well over a year now!! I thought maybe you all were sick of them, to be honest.  But if you all want it, then here you go!!

I am happy to hear so many do enjoy them at some point in their crafting 😀 I also thought maybe I should get some volunteers! Anyone want to do a weekly challenge? You don’t have to have a blog. Just some place to link-or you can send me your creation and I will upload it here for you (WITH CREDIT OF COURSE) Let me know.

OK now to the paper sample of the sketch…………………

It’s a Jungle

I LOVE this set-Born to be Wild from Lizzie Anne! I {HEART} Giraffes. Noah still has his little stuffed once he got when I found out I was pregnant with him. Jay and I had his named picked within 3 hours of finding out. All we needed was confirmation for a BOY!

Very recently Noah made me remove all his “Noah’s Ark” themed items from his room, stating “Mom, I’m not a baby anymore!” “I don’t need all this baby stuff” (AWE!!! WHAT does he mean he’s not a baby anymore?! He’ll always be my baby!!) But he did make sure I kept “Raffey”. That made my heart leap 😀 YEAH! He has sentimental value. That is something that can’t be taught. You got it or you don’t.

OK sorry about that. Everything I do always has a thought or reason, or a WHY I love it so much, and sometimes I go overboard in explaining that.

SO point is I have had it this set too long and had been unable to pull it out and use it. WELL-I finally had to play.  It was a lot of fun.

I used a Paisley & Petals collection by SEI, to inspire my colors. I also made white polka dots on my giraffe like in the paper. I thought these colors were so RETRO SAFARI!!! They are also a bit masculine. Love it. I love this layout. I am going to have to try it again (I think I always say that! LOL!!!!)

SO if you try it, or if you don’t, I hope you are just plain inspired to stamp. I encourage those of you who just gallery gaze and are afraid to upload to STOP!! Get your creations uploaded and into a gallery or something. I noticed this week I got a lot of emails about being afraid to upload, and you fear your work isn’t good, and all that non-sense!  We all are continuously needing to better OUR best. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else but you. SERIOUSLY!!!

 Even the very best artist make really crappy cards time to time-you just don’t see them. Not every vision turns a masterpiece. What you hate, some one else will love (this happens to me often and I think I have bad taste! LOL! My least liked creations or one’s I may not want to share become the most loved! I almost never shared my ONESIE card! LOL!) I still throw cards out. You should have seen the HOT MESS (channeling Christian from Project Runway-love that saying) that I made the other day. It was my worst card in a LONG time. REALLY BAD!

SO UPLOAD, SHARE!!! Be confident. If you have no confidence in yourself WHY would anyone else?

OK off the soap box. If you start a new gallery or something I’d LOVE to see it and send you some encouraging words-so drop me a link 😀 I’ll check it out.

Happy Saturday, and I cannot wait to see what YOU do.

Well I had NO idea what was going on yesterday. Got extremely dark with whipping winds and pouring rain. Weird noises. My pets going a bit wonky (guess they knew??) Living in New Hampshire/Massachusetts all my life a Tornado is something I (thankfully) never had to deal with, let alone worry about, except for the unfortunate people you see on the news.

Well wouldn’t you know it yesterday one whipped through the very next town over, and passed its way through to the other town over. Basically where I live is SMACK in the middle. We were totally missed. Some not so fortunate. I can’t get in touch with one of my friends who lives in where the damage was-but it is summer and she travels a lot to her mom’s in NY. Hopefully they are OK.

So here I am in my basement, with the kids (in my stamp room of course!Thank goodness that is in the basement huh?) they have their little table, coloring books, markers and what not, and Daisy gated in there (with the cats too! LOL! Who came down cause I think they were freaked out too). My space is small. It was crampped and the kids were scared. It was scary out. I don’t blame them one bit. I WAS SCARED! The news did, but didn’t help. Anyway-that is where we spent the afternoon till 6pm. I was nervous about Jay coming home since it was headed his way to where he works. He works in Portsmouth and that and the Maine area were under watch till 7pm. He thought I was being a little dramatic till he saw all the roads closed, trees broken off, and the news footage of just down the road when he got home.

Not till THEN did he realize why I was begging him to come home.  Anyway, we are thankful that we are safe now.

Is it just me, or is this world just going crazy? Talk about the weather rebelling the last few years. I mean really!! WHAT is going on. This is just awful. So many people losing their lives to treacherous weather. Weather like we have never had. Having this tornado hit down the street made me realize I’m really NOT safe. The worst part was I had no idea WHAT to do in that situation! No alarm sounded. NOTHING-till it was over. Would there have been a warning? Or would my roof getting blown off have been my warning? Just so scary and sad.

Is this really the effect of Global Warming? Awful.

My point-I had no Internet and it is still on & off! TRUST ME, as much as I LOVE my Internet I am NOT complaining. I missed it but I was thankful to be in one piece. Just know that I am around but my service keeps getting interrupted.

Anyway-here is my sample for today.

 Purple peppermint

Stamp is by Annie LaPoint from MFT and is called Peppermint

OK Im going to be honest and say I have NO IDEA what color this “peppermint” should have been. Nor did I feel like GOOGLING it. I wanted it this color so I took creative liberty and did it. I like not using the expected colors. If it is suppose to be this color then YEAH! LOL!

I used the faux fabric technique I shared HERE

I used Plum Pudding cardstock and ribbon. The paper is from the Guidelines collection.

Lastly Feel Better

 Feel Better

I LOVE this set. Sorry it took so long to share this. You would not believe how much stuff I make. Seriously! Much of it before a release, and I have to wait till after X date to share it. In the meantime I am still stamping, so sometimes I forget to share all of my other creations! LOL! This is yet another one. Coming up on another release always reminds me that OOPS!! I have more to share!

Anyway-I actually had the concept for this set Bunny Slippers a while ago. I asked Kim about it and here it is. I realized MFT had real no get well sets, in their signature style, when I had to send a friend a card, and wanted an MFT set. Now I am one happy girl!!!

Bunny slippers and a  pink fuzzy bath robe (this one is covered with CUPCAKE velvet flock )were so MY MOM!!! When she wore those bunny slippers till they were ragged, and then I’d hunt to get her another pair. Nothin was better than seeing my mom in her bathrobe, coffee in hand and those bunny ears hopping up & down as she would start the day. It was like a movie really. EVERY time I see bunny slippers I think of my mom. Makes me wonder what my kids will be reminded of for me when they grow up? Probably coffee-anything! LOL!

So the cardstock is sweet blush. I have to say It is my absolute FAVORITE color right now!! I am in LOVE! The flowers are by Maya Road (also velvet) and the little flower centers are the Bella Dots. LOVE THOSE!! I cannot for the LIFE of me remember the paper name :C SORRY!!

Well that is all for today everyone. Blog land has been QUIET!!

I hope you are checking out the Dare to Get Dirty Challenges!!

Tomorrow I’ll be here with my Sat. Sketch!! Hope you can join in. Maybe I should cancel it?? I’m sure everyone is busy with summer. I’ll think about it.

Later 😀 and stay safe.

Have you heard?

SCS is having a NON-Raffle to help raise money for the flood victims in the Mid-West. Read more HERE! There are SO many amazing donations that were made 😀 The write up there will explain how it all works. I am in awe of all the amazing, generous donations that were made! I have my eye on several things I’d be bouncin to win!! BUT, weather or not I do really doesn’t matter because I know that my donation will go to helping people in need. I know I cannot even tell you how many people from SCS reached out to me & my family when Alexa got cancer. It really made a difficult time easier knowing I had so much love & support from a ONLINE group of people. I was forever touched by that and will never forget it. Every card we got made a smile come across our faces. Now any chance I get, I want to be able to give back too.

Click HERE for the non-prize gallery.

If you read about it, you wont be confused I promise.

I was able to donate for 2 non-prize gallery  items

First was this Texted Box note-card set-seen here. Included with the gift set of notecards will be the Texted Boxed stamp set, as well as a package of vintage cream and kraft cardstock by Papertrey Ink

Next thing was for a group of my PSF’s (pretend stamping friends). They all got together and donated items for a basket. The theme decided was coffee/tea. We had so much stuff between everyone, that it had to be divided into 2 baskets!! I was in complete awe of the amazing things people made for the theme!!

Basket 1-HERE

Basket 2- HERE

Here was my part of the contribution (in basket 2)

You are looking at the Magnificent Moments set by Unity Stamp Co.. I just altered the tag part of the set. Then a glass canister I altered, filled with Starbucks chocolate truffles.

 Canister-top off

LOVE the Javabellas !! It was my very first (of MANY) stamp from Stamping Bella. I also LOVE theStarbucks truffles! YUM-O! It combines my two favorite things in life chocolate, and coffee!!

 Altered  Tag to stamp set.

Sentiment from Hot Stuff. I LOVE that sentiment.

I cannot wait to see who ends up with the baskets! WOW! They are in for a treat. The PSF’s did top notch work and put in lots of love into each creation. I LOVE you girls. You are the most thoughtful, wonderful, and amazing group of women I have (never) met! HUGS to you all.

Well I gotta run, much to do.

I hope you check in on the Dare to get Dirty 08 challenges as well. Later when I have time I need to go back in and do some more commenting. Everyone is putting out top notch, work!

OK That is it for now.

Till tomorrow………..

YIPPEE!!! Its my challenge day today over on SCS! I am so excited. I hope you will join in with me.

You can see my challenge and chat with me HERE.

I decided to go with a Monochromatic color challenge, and hope you all can play along. All the blah blah blah for that is on SCS in the link above.

The card I made for the challenge is for Jason’s grandmother. She is sick and I really hope this cheers her up! She is such a nature lover, and I thought this was just so soft. I love it.

NOTE: My buttons ARE the exact same color. I have no idea WHY this photo makes them appear otherwise. I even re-checked my card. Sorry. No idea how the editing process distorted the color. Oh well.

I decided for a soft color palette of greens- a mossy combination of natural ivory, white, kraft, spring moss and mellow moss.

This card uses 3 sets. I love when you can easily combine images from other sets. It maximizes the use of all your stamps when you do this. You don’t HAVE to use JUST images from a set for any card! Mix it up.

The Get Well Soon is from the Sentiments set. It has a nice assortment of greetings I have been drawn to. You can never have too many sentiments. I will say the store I got them from should get in some more of the sentiments. Their sets are priced so well, that I would have FILLED my already full cart with more if they had them! LOL! Plus they store in like a CD case type of thing so you can see what is in there, which I also love. They don’t over run my stamp room 😀 When sets are UM its like you can get double the sets for a fraction of the cost and storage space! LOL! DONT tell my hubby I said that OK. I just ordered some more consumables (like cardstock and stuff) and he came by the computer as I was finishing my total, and he had a heart attack. “Don’t you have enough stuff?!” he said. I replied “Honey Im sorry that I actually USE my cardstock and it doesn’t magically regenerate!!! It is a MUST have for the PAPER CRAFTER!! Hello!! MEN JUST DON’T GET IT! You would think after me stamping for the past 4 years, he would finally have that lightbulb moment. NOPE! Not gonna happen.

OK I got way off there…………….

I then chose the butterfly from Flutter By Butterfly. When you see this set you will know WHY it was a must have for me!! Oh the plan I have for that set, let me tell you!!! WOW!! Anyway, that butterfly was stamped in the cardstock base, then again on vellum using moss ink. I then cut the vellum butterfly out, and bent the wings forward for the taking flight look. I always attache my vellum with clear glue dots. I LOVE those things!!

When I sold all my stamps (HERE)I also sold Garden Silhouettes by SU!

Well I HAD to replace it!! I found this set, that I am just in LOVE with  called–>Silhouettes  I think I like it even better than that set I sold! The birds in the set are just so pretty. I could use them all day. I have used then on some other cards I have done, as they are just so elegant. Anyway………….I stamped the Fern in white, then the other flower (better brush up on my flower knowledge) in Spring Moss, then again in Mellow Moss, stamping off once for the 3rd flower image.

I used my color spritzer AGAIN! I tell you I have just been in a spritzing mood. NO! It is not a new tool for me, just a forgot about treasure that I am falling in love with again!!! It adds the perfect “something”. Its great to fall back in love with old tools!!

OK I gotta run so I can get chattin with the players! Who is in?!!

When Asela asked me to take part in her Flowers for Daisy set I was over the moon. I am always on board to do whatever I can to help with an Cause for a Cure!! Well this one is dear to my heart because the proceeds are to benefit the American Cancer Society. I know my life was forever changed by Cancer. As I go through each sample and write about this set I will share my thoughts on my creations.

NOTE: Unfortunately these samples have suffered my “back from vacation, and need to warm up the mojo” effects :C I plan on creating some more samples when the mojo returns.

It was so clear to me, having gone thought this ordeal with my daughter, that Asela designed this set with so much thought, and love for her dear friend, for which this set was created for.

 Trust in Him

This sentiment really grabbed me. I know this was at times a very hard thing to do when my daughter Alexa was going through rough and scary times. It was especially hard when she first got diagnosed. I felt like we were abandoned by God. Then that first night I was overcome with the feeling of peace and comfort. I knew Alexa was in God’s hands and he was caring for her. There was a reason. We don’t always know why, but there is a purpose.

(For this I stamped the flower onto vellum cardstock, and dry embossed it from behind. I left it that way as it was perfect as is)

I’m not just sitting here typing some “blurb” that means nothing. I don’t get paid to do any of the work or promote any cause, this is all from my heart. Something I truly believe in. Gina K is an amazing person for all her efforts in promoting awareness for many causes and I applaud her!! Someday I hope to meet her face to face and give her a big old hug 😀

 My refuge

I love the sentiment on this card. I really wanted it to be the main focus. I stamped the Daisy cluster in white ink on chocolate. I also feel this has a little cheeriness to it. Just what someone may need on a rough day. I also used polk adot ribbon by Papertrey and well as the Maya Road sheer blooms

I LOVE being able to take what you love (stamping) and using it to somehow make a difference! I invite you to read more on this set in Gina’s own words: 

Copied from Gina K’s Blog:

“Flowers for Daisy” is the newest stamp set by Asela Hopkins. It’s a gorgeous set of beautiful daisy images and sayings. Each of the sayings were carefully chosen by Asela. Several of them are Daisy’s favorite bible verses. These saying will make great cards of encouragement, friendship and love.

$4.00 of every retail set sold will go to the American Cancer Society until the end of August through a donation of part of the proceeds from both Asela Hopkins and Gina K. Designs.

Cancer has touched the lives of so many. Everyone knows someone who has suffered with cancer in some way. It’s so hard to see the lives of family and friends get turned upside down with this horrible disease but you can help make a difference by purchasing this beautiful stamp set.

———————————————————————————————–

 You’re in my prayers

Sometimes there are NO WORDS other than that, that can be said. Nothing else to help. Sometimes that is all we need-is your prayers. They mean so much, and I believe make a huge difference.

Yellow is the color of HOPE! We could all use HOPE.

Now I ask you-

Do you have a bunch of cards just laying around in a box? Is there NO WAY you will send them all out? Well then maybe you can find a Chemo Angel (or become one), or donate them to a great cause that you believe in! I know Ill be getting ready to donate more cards to Cards for Cancer , and I recently sent a few boy themed cards to a Chemo Angel named Ellie (Ellie I need your blog addy if you read this!).

NOTHING in the world feels better than knowing your creations are being sent to people going through a tough time, and making them smile!!!

 Daisy Spots

This card can be super cheery and for EVERYDAY use-like the card above. I used a GORGEOUS Magenta Shimmerz Paint (Check out their Shimmerz blog-WOW!) This was my very first time using it, and I only got ONE color (WHAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now I need more).

Nothing brightens up a day like some BLING!

I also LOVE the pop of a bright pink & black combo.

 Here is a close up!

 I just painted my cardstock, let it dry (you can use a heat gun too) and stamped my Daisy cluster. I then popped out the images I wanted with my circle punch. REALLY pretty in person.

Since I had my Shimmerz out, I decided to PAINT directly on my stamp of Daisy clusters

  Shimmery Daisy

Simply stamped across the card, then added my sentiment in black, with a little black spritzed with my color spritzer

 See the shimmer???

Last but not least a very simple card

 Filmed Daisy

This one uses a sheer vellum layer, with the daisy bloom stamped and popped out using Fantasy Film in baby bonnet. I colored the center with a Copic Marker.

So there you have it. Make sure you check Gina & Asela’s blogs for more inforamtion about the set. and release, as well as samples and sample links 😀

I want to thank you for reading, and the support you have given me and my family. I kow many of you have been affected by this disease as well. Even if you have not, the set is so pretty, and a portion of the proceeds go to a fabulous cause.

Tune in tomorrow where I will be hosting MY Dare to Get Dirty 08 challenge!! I cannot wait 😀

Thanks for reading.

Well every year around this time Splitcoaststampers has a fun week of challenges for Fan Club members, hosted my Past & Present Dirty Dozen members.

 Each day you will want to check the Dare to Get Dirty thread—->HERE!! For challenges, and chatting 😀

 If you didn’t know, my term was March 2007 to August 2007. It was the beginning of many great things. It is truly an HONOR to be asked to be a part of the talented group of women.

Be prepared for a week of F-U-N!!!

“I” am hosting my own challenge Wednesday! So I hope you will pop in to join my challenge too!!

SOOOOO…………Lauraly decided she was going to do a Got Vellum? Challenge. I think I did a vellum challenge last year, and I also think I did the same technique! LOL! Oh well. I enjoy it.

 She emailed me to say said she thought of me and asked me to join in to make a sample for her! Well, of COURSE I would LOVE to. Vellum is my favorite thing 😀 Well that, acetate, and some bling 😀

So I went to work!

 Blue Bouquet

Mini-Bouquet was calling my name with this technique. I had just received my goody box of happy mail, and wanted to turn what seems like a very fun & whimsical set into something more elegant! I also wanted clean and simple-this was perfect-o! I am still in shcok that I used NO RIBBON!!

So for the vellum-I LOVE my vellum cardstock.  I stamped my flowers on the vellum with my Momento Ink (Tuxedo Black). I have to quickly say this is my new favorite black ink to use (yes it works with Copic’s like a dream!).

I turned my stamped vellum over to the back, layed it onto a mouse pad, and then took my embossing stylus, and “rubbed” in the open spaces. This makes the vellum pop forward like a 3D image in those areas. It also turns it white. I then took my Copic markers, and colored in the embossed areas. The white takes the color so nicely, and it lends a subtle 3D bloom.

When done turn over-VOILA!!

TIPS:

Use vellum CARDSTOCK! Not paper, there is a difference. Papertrey Ink sells it as does Stampin Up and some craft stores.

Don’t press too hard-your stylus will break through the vellum and ruin your creation

I found for even MORE pop of color color the FRONT of the image, after it is dry embossed!! The color is much more vibrant.

Adhere vellum with vellum adhesive or I personally LOVE clear glue dots! Simply place them UNDER the colored images and your won’t even notice they are there! Or you can use brads or eyelets as well.

Now for the rest of the card………….

I stamped the same flowers up along the right side, then colored! Gave it a nice look I think. I like ONE solid and ONE neutral. Its always a nice flowing palette that gives you a bit of POP! Black is always a great color for POP!!

 I added some glitter with my Copic glitter pen to the flower petals. I then added a few touches with my white gel pen.

DONE! Easy Peasy!!

I hope you get to try the challenge out. If you aren’t a SCS member this is the best week to join. Membership is pretty instant!

Well I have SOOOOOO much to do and catch up on since my mini vacation.

VACATION INFO-for those who want to know how it went……………

Jay and I had so much fun 😀 Nothing over the top to report. It was a RELAXING trip. That was the entire point. Just do nothing! LOL! We went boogie boarding (or should I say “I” went). The OCEAN was too cold for him. BIG BABY!!!

 I hadn’t done that since I was like 10 or 12. Brought back great memories. I had fun and I think he had fun watching, since I am sure it was amusing. I was cracking up the entire time as I’d try to catch a wave, then I’d miss, or fall flat on my face! LOL! It was all good till a wave went over my head and the salt got in my eyes. I was blinded for like 10 minutes! Kids get in the water, salt gets in their eyes they pop up and get going again. Boy talk about feeling old. Jay had to go get the towel and I STILL couldn’t see. I think the FUNNIEST part was we bought the KIDS boogie boards, and we used those for our venture! LOL! There I am swimming with a tiny Dora the Explorer board. Jay said people are going to think you are crazy. I really didn’t care. I was having fun, not hurting anyone, and hey-you live this life ONCE!

We basically just shopped, ate, relaxed and kept it LOW key!

We did get to meet with Melissa Bickford ( stamp designer for Papertrey Ink), and her hubby Rodney. They traveled our way for a nice meeting. We had lunch at Barnacle Bills. It was so much fun. They were super nice and the conversation just flowed. We were so wishing they lived closer by the end of lunch. They would be great to hang out with more!!  We talked stamping together while they sympathized with each-other! LOL! It’s amazing how all the men are the same, and all the stampers are the same. Jay apologized to Rodney several times as I encouraged Melissa on a few must have purchases! LOL!

Well that is it for today. Lots to get back to. Gee take a few days off and and all that is on the TO DO LIST  really PILES up!

Enjoy the challenges 😀

Ill be back tomorrow with a special post-

Even God rested on Sunday!

I had pre-posted all my posts (since Wednesday)before going on our mini vacation.

THAT was exhausting. I needed a vacation from blogging and typing. So I am not posting today.

GASP! I know! I know! I just need a BREAK! My hand hurts from typing and my brain is now SLUDGE

So no blabbering today…………….unless I get home and NEED my fix!

Although Im sure the kids will want to spend time with us and I will ahve a nice amount of laundry to do.

Anyway-thank you so much for checking in here.

I want to thank all of you who visit and comment. I get some of the best comments! You all take the time to stop and say some of the most wonderful things a person could ever want to hear. I so enjoy reading every comment and the thought so many put into it is just amazing. You all warm my heart, and brighten my day like you would NOT believe.

There are no words to share my appreciation.

Cyber hugs to all of you 😀

 100% ADORABLE ALEXA

Oh how long it has been since I inked Alexa’s Set ?! TOO LONG.

I wanted to create a fun and funky card with my new  Mini Build A Tag. It was the PERFECT set to go with my Groovy Girl Alexa! ( I honestly would LOVE to have the Groovy Girl line to carry a doll in honor of Alexa! I swear SOMEDAY I will get that to happen!!( PS if you are from that line at Manhattan Toys and some how find this CALL ME! LOL! I swear my daughter has the largest collection of any girl! She has been collecting them since 14 mos old, and play with EVERY SINGLE ONE EVERYDAY!!!! You would buy an Alexa Groovy Girl wouldn’t you?? That would be her dream come true!)

I made this image to look like a clothing tag you would find on some clothing. I love all the little details on this using the images from that set. Just so perfectly cute. I have seen other people do more shabby chic stuff or vintagey stuff with the set, but I wanted to FUNKTIFY it! LOL! Mission accomplished 😀

The colors were pulled from my American Crafts ribbon 😀 Love it

SOOOOO-I had to use it for this weeks card sketch (WARNING it is a challenge!!) but that is the POINT 😀

 Click to enlarge, and feel free to MIX it up! DONT BE AFRAID!

If you try the sketch, just send us all a link here so we can see your take 😀

This was ANOTHER pool side sketch!! LOVE that pool time. Speaking of pool and Alexa-while at swim classes Wed. night she was “swimming on her own, and went RIGHT UNDER the water (by accident) I almost had a heart attack!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She popped right back up, spit out the gallon of water that she chugged, and just kept swimming. One of the other mom’s asked me if “I” was OK. She said my face was priceless and I turned pale white. I of course wasn’t, but Alexa was, so I sucked it up. OYE! That girl is definitely going to be what KILLS me someday. No one else in the world has ever put my heart through so much! GESH!

SUPER DUPER NEWS: Alexa’s set is now back up for sale!! YIPPEE!!! If you don’t know about this set here is a little info:

Alexa’s set was created in honor of MY daughter Alexa! I am super proud that Missy B allowed this set to be created, and 100% of the proceeds go to Pediatric Leukemia and Lymphoma research! The set is SUPER cute, and it even has Alexa’s signature 😀 If you want to know more about my daughter and our LONG battle-visit HERE It has been updated as well. FINALLY!

Thanks for reading 😀 Have a super day!

It’s been a few weeks since I last played with my Magnolia images, so I figured I better get inking 😀

I truly adore this little girl with the basket of daisies. So deep in thought. No sentiment needed! This card could be from anything from a with sympathy, to thinking of you, miss you, love you, just because, to any other sentiment you could possibly imagine.

I got all distressy with her. Rubbed the flower in ink too! I don’t think I have EVER done that! I don’t know WHY but I have been back to using my color spritzer! Sometimes you just need a splatter.

I have to say I was UBER proud of my coloring with her. I get really stressed when it comes to living up to the Copic ROCK STARS! LOL! I think this is great. Not perfect, not rock star caliber, but Im proud all the same.

I use my Copic markers just about everyday. It is one of the BEST investments (lets be honest it is an investment when MARKERS cost that much-but worth every red cent) I have ever made! Not a second passes that I regret that purchase. I am still learning and perfecting. I don’t think you can really TELL someone HOW to do it, it just needs to be learned over time. Maybe that is just me?

 I have 2 others done-one is like a winter, the other is summer, this is spring………now I need to try a fall one! I have a uber cute image for that one 😀 OH I know by now while on vacation  I am having creative with-drawls!!!

OK on the card again-

I have to say this particular paper pattern from the Infuse collection by Basic Grey is my FAVORITE! I pattern pieced her dress a little, and I think its SO adorable. Her wings just sparkle too.

MAGNOLIA info (I always get asked a million questions when I post with these so here you go)

I got mine from Diana (she is the owner/creator of Scor-Pal and will ship to US and Canada :D) contact her at [email protected] if you NEED any! LOL!

OK back to life 😀 Thanks for reading!

Tomorrow is my Saturday Sketch! Don’t miss it!

Its Thursday! Jay and I are leaving for the beach. Won’t be home till Sunday 😀 I’m getting excited. Should be fun.

I have posts ready to go live each day while I am away. Please know I will have NO Internet access while I am gone and won’t be returning emails or answering ?’s till Monday, maybe Tuesday since Jay is off from work.

THANKS!

Now for the post.

 Gear up!

I cannot even begin to tell you how cool I think this set is.

This is yet another “pool side” sketch! I have to say I like it. I think these swimming lessons are really helping my mojo 😀 Alexa is doing AMAZING with her lessons! I am one proud mama. OK before I go off on another direction…………lets get to the card 😀

This is the new Gizmo’s & Gears by Lizzie Anne Designs. It is being made available on the 19th. If you have boys, you must have this set! LOL! Its really SUPAH cute. I am all about cutesy so I freaked when I saw this set.

I also cannot tell you WHEN the last time “I” was inspired to create my own patterned paper! But that is what having all the super cute gear images did for me. Got me makin my own paper. I remember “back in the day”, my early stamp days I made my own paper ALL the time. I also think I stamped and embellished every corner and had like 8 layers on my cards as well! My, how times change! LOL! Now, I am a simplistic style. Clean and simple. Don’t get me wrong, I can distress with the best-its just not my usual THING. KWIM?

I hope something inspires you to create your own paper too. Its a great way to use the smaller images we get in sets that sometimes go neglected for lack of inspiration to use them.

Well that is all for me today. Enjoy the week!