Roaming Gnome

Happy St. Patrick's Day! - Okay this isn't a "traditional" card for the event but it's still got GREEN on it so that counts in my book.

Recently I participated in a Mystery Image swap where all the participants were sent the same stamped image and we had to create a card for our partner using that image. Once everyone had received their cards they were all posted so we could see what everyone had done with their image. It was pretty cool seeing how very different the cards turned out. This was the card that I sent to my partner.

He became a "Roaming Gnome" when I accidentally sent him to someone in Texas instead of the correct partner who lives in Wisconsin. So he travelled around a bit before he reached his final destination.

Card Stock: Summer Sun (Card Base) Ruby Red, Old Olive, Whisper White.

Stamps used: Gnome by Stampendous, Dot BG by SU, Hello by Papertrey Ink

Inks used: Palette Noir Black

Prisma Colored Pencils, Gamsol & Blending Stumps

Other: Silver EP, Piercing tool, Nestabilities Dies, White Liquid Applique, Felt Flowers (Maya Road), Silver Brads, Mini Brad (Queen and Co.), Foam Mounting Tape.

A BLESSING FOR YOU AND YOURS:

May the grace of God’s protection And His great love abide Within your home-within the hearts Of all who dwell inside.

BCG Wk 38 Celebrating Birthdays

This weeks theme for the Blogger's Challenge Group was Birthday Cards (any kind for any age)

I had a card that we made for my Stamp Club meeting already done but since it was a pretty much cased card from Northwoods Stamper on SCS http://splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/802078?cat=12324 I decided to do another card but am posting both cards.

Card #1 Uses (Birthday Whimsy) from the Sale-a-bration catalog.

Card stock used: Tempting Turquoise, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Whisper White and Bali Breeze Designer Paper.

I stamped the (Sanded BG) stamp with TT ink on the TT card stock. Then I stamped the birthday cake image with Old Olive and colored the flames in with Pumpkin Pie and distressed the edges with CC ink then mounted it onto a square of PP card stock & distressed the edges with the Cutter Kit. I layered a piece of the Bali Breeze DP on the Old Olive cs and added a strip of CC pierced and added 3 TT brads. I stamped the cake image again using Chocolate Chip CRAFT ink and Clear EP then cut out the cake and mounted it over the olive cake with foam dimensional tape.

Card #2 Uses (Birthday Whimsy)

Card Stock: Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red Textured, Old Olive, Whisper White and Designer Paper from DCWV(Die Cute With A View). I pierced a piece of Old Olive and layered that onto my RR textured card stock leaving a space between that and the designer paper. The corners were rounded with a small corner rounder. My cake was done the same was as in card one. I did use Nestabilities to cut out my circle and scallop for this card. I also embossed the sentiment and added Olive and Not Quite Navy brads to the sides and a piece of the Chocolate Chip PolyTwill ribbon at the bottom of the card.

If you have questions on how these cards were made feel free to e-mail me.

Check out all the other Birthday creations by clicking on the Bloggers Challenge Group icon on my sidebar.

Cattitude Monday - Meeting Callie Jo

Sure wish I could figure out why the pictures don't upload side by side. It looks uneven which I hate but until I figure out how to put them in differently I guess you'll just have to bear with me.
This weeks Cattitude Monday is all about CALLIE JO the newest member of the Krause household. So far Dottie is the only one of the older cats that has even somewhat accepted the new kitten. Here she is allowing Callie to lay next to her. Then Callie got a little to close in picture number 2 so she ended up hopping off the couch shortly after I got the shot.
My last photo shows the "curiosity" of a cat because she was very interested in what was on the computer screen. I was actually viewing Rubber Stamps at: www.addictedtorubberstamps.com . Doesn't she look adorable! - Yes I am a proud mommy!

Blogger's Challenge Wk. 37 - These Boots Are Made For Walking

Yee Haw! I did it. I was really stumped about this weeks challenge since creating a shaped card (other then a rectangle) is really OUT OF THE BOX for me. I wanted something fun and creative but really couldn't think of a thing to do. Thank goodness for Google Search because I found this template here: http://www.houseofstirfry.com/chia/templates/bootcard.html

I love Western Themed cards so this was something I thought I could handle. The tricky part was adjusting the pattern to my computers settings. I ended up printing out the pattern and then sizing mine at 5x7"

All Supplies SU unless noted otherwise.

For this card I used: Close To Cocoa and Ruby Red Card Stock and Chocolate Chip & Ruby Red Ink

After I cut out my card I stamped the Sanded BG stamp with Chocolate Chip ink and the used a sponge dauber to sponge some CC around the edges. Then I stamped a piece of CTC with CC ink using the Striped pattern block from the now retired set: Background Sampler. I cut out a portion to make the boot heel and glued it on.

Then I stamped the Paisley BG with Ruby Red Ink on RR card stock and distressed the edges with the RR ink and the Cutter Kit. I had to fit this piece to my boot pattern. Then I stamped the HOWDY (Cat's Pajamas Western Set: It's A Western Thing) with Chocolate Chip ink.

I again stamped the Paisley BG this time on Close To Cocoa card stock with Chocolate Chip ink and used the Key Tag Punch to punch out the boot strap. I pierced around it and the top of the boot and added faux stitching with a CC marker. The silver accent piece came off of a pair of old western star earrings that I never wear. I used glue dots to adhere it to the strap piece and then mounted that with foam mounting tape.

That's it. I feel so much better that I actually accomplished something that really was a "Challenge" to me. That's one of the reasons I love this group because it makes me get out of my normal stamping mode and try something different.

Be sure to check out all the other fabulous and fun cards made by the other members of the group. You'll find them by clicking on the Bloggers Challenge Banner on my side bar.

Meet Miss Callie-Jo

Tuesday after bowling my mom wanted to stop by the Pet Store so she could buy a fish for her tank. As is my habit when I'm there I took a peek to see if they had any cute kittens. Normally I just LOOK and leave. That wasn't the case this week. I saw this little beauty and was hooked immediately. Now mind you we have 4 other cats already so I really didn't need another cat. I called hubby (who happened to be out of town working) and he said, "NO, NO, NO...We do not need another cat." Of course I did my best to convince him that we did need one and that she was sooooo CUTE etc....but in the end he said his decision would be not to get one but he always leaves me to decide what I think is the right choice. Of course you know what my choice was. Yep, I bought her. She is part Siamese and part Calico (the owners were calling the Simaco's)

I decided to name her CallieJo (sounds like Calico if you say it fast enough). The first night we had her I barely got any sleep. None of the other cats liked her and I didn't think they would so I bought a big carrier to sleep her in until they get use to her. She mewed and mewed something awful. That of course caused our big male (also part Siamese) to YOWL at the top of his lungs. He could give a Howler Monkey a run for their money I think for loudness! Finally at 3:00 am still awake and exhausted from lack of sleep I got up and found a fuzzy teddy bear that I put in the carrier with her and within 5 minutes she was sound asleep. Ah, peace and quiet at last.

It only lasted though until 5:00 am when my husband would normally be getting up. He always lets the other cats out for a romp around the house and some cat treats before he goes to work so they started pounding on the door and meowing which woke the kitten up. Needless to say I was pretty tired the next day.

She is a sweet cat though and I think that she makes a nice addition to the family.

Pastel Chicks

I created this card for an "Embossing" challenge that I signed up for. I absolutely love Pastel Colors (although I rarely wear them as they make me looked washed out.) For this card I wanted the look of those cute little Easter Chicks you use to see that were dyed pastel colors for Easter. You know parents use to give them to their kids as Easter gifts. Poor little chicks usually didn't stand a chance of survival but they were cute dyed all those fun colors.

We could use any type of Embossing for our cards. For my card I used a Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (Swiss Dots) for the chicks eggs. I stamped the chick first on the color of paper I wanted with Basic Gray ink and then ran it through the Cuttlebug and cut out the egg portion. I then mounted the egg over the chick image that was stamped on Whisper White card stock and colored with SU Markers. I punched the chicks out with a Square punch and mounted them on matching colors of card stock then added a punched flower with brads to the corners.

The sentiment was stamped with a Versa Mark ink pad and Embossed with Bold Black EP and punched out with the Word Window Punch. I also dyed a white flower from the Pretties Kit with Certainly Celery ink and then pressed it onto the Versa Mark pad and embossed it with Iridescent Ice EP and added a half pearl to the center from the Pretties Kit. Then I adhered it to my bow of Pink Taffeta ribbon.

Card Stock: Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue, Apricot Appeal, Designer Paper (Lavender Lace)

Inks: Basic Gray, SU Markers: Barely Banana, Apricot Appeal

Other: 3 For You Flower Punch, Soft Subtles Brads, Foam Mounting Tape, Cutter Kit

It was hard getting a decent photo of this card for some reason. Tall cards seem to be difficult to photograph for me. Anyway I think the card turned out cute and I hope the receiver will as well.

"Leapin Lizards!" It's Blogger's Challenge Day

Don't ask! (That's in reference to the title of this entry)...I just wanted to make reference to it being Leap Day and that phrase came to mind for some reason. It has nothing to do with my card at all but it sounded good!

Before I get to the particulars of this card let me also say, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEGAN...my niece (the one who's cancer is in remission for those of you who remember my talking about her). She is celebrating her actual 5th birthday this year. Plus she is no longer a teenager as she turned 20 today.

Okay now back to our regularly schedule program...Card deets:

Oops I forgot to mention that we were suppose to follow the above sketch found on page 44 of the Spring/Summer catalog. I didn't really want to do a Sympathy card so I decided instead on a St. Patrick's Day card which will be going to a certain leader of another Group I belong too. (Let's see if she guesses that it's her)...

Card Base: Green Galore. Then I used one of my new Cuttlebug Embossing Folders (Distressed Stripes) on Gable Green Card stock. I stamped the sentiment (Ann-ticipations) first though in Glorious Green ink before embossing. I added 4 Green Brads (Queen and Co.) to the corners and distressed the edges with the Cutter Kit. Next a piece of Green Gable Card stock and some Clover Designer paper (Lucky Charms by Reminisce) which has a nice shimmery look to it. I added some tiny green rickrack that I found in a bag of old odds and ends that my mom had in her sewing stuff. Isn't it just the cutest little rickrack you've ever seen!

My Gnome (Gnome Clover by Stampendous) was stamped in Basic Black ink and water colored on SU watercolor paper using an Aqua Painter and various SU ink pads. A big shout out her to Anna Wight for her tips and encouragement on water coloring. I think this one turned out pretty good. For some added pizazz I used White Liquid Applique on his beard (see close-up photo) and then doodled a border with a BB marker. I also added a Lime Green Prima flower and another green brad. Then I mounted my focal image using foam mounting tape to complete my card.

I love how this turned out and I hope the recipient does as well. Don't forget to check out all the other great cards/projects using this sketch. You'll find them by clicking on the Blogger's Challenge Bar on my sidebar.

Cattitude Monday - Cool Cats

I haven't done one of these in a very long time and someone sent this picture to me and I just couldn't resist passing it on! - I will try harder now to get my entry for Cattitude Monday ready on a more regular basis.

Enjoy their "Coolness!"

A Good Egg for Easter

When I first saw this set I couldn't see myself buying it (so not my normal style) but then I kept seeing such cute cards done with it that I "caved" and purchased it. Thanks to all you "enablers" out there!

We did this card at my monthly Stamp Club meeting last week.

Card base: Certainly Celery, So Saffron stamped in SS ink with the Polka Dot BG stamp and distressed with the Cutter Kit.

Next I added a strip of CC and one of Pretty In Pink which I stamped the flowers on with Pixie Pink ink. I stamped the chick with Basic Gray ink and colored it with So Saffron & Apricot Appeal markers. Then I stamped the same chick on some Certainly Celery designer paper & just cut out the egg portion and glued that over the egg on the chick image. I punched this out with a Marvy Scallop square punch and layered it on So Saffron card stock. I punched out a flower with the Three For You punch box and added a Pretty in Pink brad and some Pretty in Pink taffeta ribbon. The sentiment was stamped with a Basic Black marker.

This is a quick & yet cute little Easter card if you are in need of something fast & fairly easy to duplicate.

BCG Wk 35 - Oh So Lovely

Today's Blogger's Challenge Group "challenge" was a Color Combo challenge. We had to use Brilliant Blue (a color I rarely use except for 4th of July cards), Purely Pomegranate, Old Olive. We could use White or Vanilla as an added color.

I must admit that this seemed like an ODD combination of colors to me when I first read the challenge and then I took the colors out and put them together and was pleasantly surprised at how nice they actually look together.

I discovered this morning that I actually own the SU set, (Oh So Lovely) as I found it in my stamp cupboard this morning while searching for a set to use for the challenge. I decided to go for a watercolored image using the berries in the set. Now everyone (well maybe not everyone) knows that I claim to be "watercolor challenged" but I have been working very hard on trying to get better. I used my Aqua Brush and ink pads to water color my image on Whisper White card stock. I added some Speckles (Itty Bitty Backgrounds) in Brilliant Blue ink stamped off a couple of times before I stamped on my image as I didn't want them to be to bright.

Then I added 3 Brilliant Blue brads and mounted the image on a piece of Brilliant Blue card stock.

My card base is Old Olive. Then I stamped the Fine Lace Background with Purely Pomegranate ink on PP Card Stock and layered that to my card base. I stamped the sentiment (Lots of Thoughts) with PP ink on WW card stock & added the leaf from (Sage Thoughts) with Old Olive ink stamped off once. I cut the circles out using my circle Nestabilities Dies. I punched out a photo corner of BB card stock & pierced it. The images and photo corner were mounted using foam dimensional tape. I also highlighted my berries with a Spica Glitter Pen.

I love how this turned out. - Be sure to check out all the other great cards from the Blogger's Challenge group on my sidebar.

BCG Wk 34 Layout Challenge

It's FRIDAY!!! - Yep, that means it's time for the Blogger's Challenge Group to post their cards/projects. We are now on Week 34 and for this challenge we were to use the "layout" on the Birthday Card found on page 42 of the Spring/Summer idea book. It looked like such a simple layout that at first I thought it was way to plain for my taste. I decided to try it out though and created not ONE but TWO cards with this layout.

Card 1 features very little stamping. The card base is Mint Melody (SU - Retired) I stamped the sentiment (SU-Curvy Verses) with Mint Melody ink (I'm sad that this color was retired as we have nothing even remotely similiar and I like the soft feel this color has.)

Next up I added a strip of some wavy stripped designer paper (Die Cuts With a View) and a piece of Rose Red card stock cut with Fiskars Cloud pattern scissors and pierced with a piercing tool. I also added a piece of Apricot Grosgrain ribbon.

For my main image the card stock is Rose Red, Apricot Appeal. I pierced the edges of the RR card stock & punched out the AA with a Marvy Scalloped Square punch. The Butterfly is actually a Dimensional sticker (Source unknown right now as I can't find the package they came in) The smaller butterflies are from the same package of stickers. I added a piece of ribbon by May Arts and a Certainly Celery brad.

Card 2 is my favorite this week. I just love these stamps. The stamps are by The Cat's Pajamas (Clearly Swanky - Havin' a Pow Wow and It's a Western Thing) Just to darn cute if you ask me.

My card base is Chocolate Chip which I layered with Creamy Caramel stamped with the Paisley (SU) background stamp in Close to Cocoa ink. 3 dark green brads (Queen and Co.) were added. Then I added a strip of Close to Cocoa layered with a piece of SU Outlaw Designer Series paper. I stamped the sentiment with Chocolate Chip ink & piecred the edges. My main focal image was stamped in Basic Brown inkon Whisper White card stock first, punched with the Marvy Scalloped Square punch and colored with various Prisma Color Pencils and blended with Gamsol. I sponged the edges with Sage Shadow ink and layered it to a piece of Choc.Chip distressed with the Cutter tool kit. I stamped the badge with Sage Shadow ink and punched it out with 3/4" circle punch and added a dark brown brad and a piece of 5/8" Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon. Image was mounted with dimensional tape.

What a FUN & easy layout. - I hope you've enjoyed these cards as much as I did making them.

Be sure to check out all the great creations by using the Blogger's Challenge button on my sidebard.

Exciting news - Verve Visual

Man I have been DYING to tell everyone but had to keep it a secret. I can now tell you that I was honored to be asked to be a Guest Designer over on Julee Tilman's (Poetic Artistry) Verve Visual blog: http://vervevisual.blogspot.com/2008/02/guest-designer-ida-krause.html

I had a lot of fun creating my cards & decided to go with a Seasonal Theme for the 4 cards I did so I could showcase the versatility of this FABULOUS new set.

Thank you so much Julee for this opportunity. It was a great experience. I have another card I did with this set that I will post later today.

BCG Wk 33 - Hope Springs Eternal

Today is of course, Friday and time for Week 33 on the Blogger's Challenge Group. This week we had a Color Combo challenge,

(Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Taken with Teal - White/Vanilla optional)

What an interesting combination. I realized right away that the colors were used for the Bali Breeze designer paper so I knew that I just had to use at least one piece for my card. It's really weird but when I start out to make a card my stamp room can be totally clean and by the time I'm finished it looks like a disaster area!

I also had no clue what I was going to do for my card and then I decided on using this cool bird image (bird images are really "in" right now) by Penny Black. I've had it for sometime but have only used it a couple of times even though I love it. The colors worked great for this image and the sentiment (also by Penny Black).

This year I'm trying to branch out (no pun intended) a little more and not always do a standard size card. Today's card is 4 1/8 x 1/2 and will fit inside a legal sized envelope.

My card base is Rose Red (distressed with Rose Red ink) with a layer of Old Olive stamped with the Canvas Background in Old Olive ink and layered with a piece of the Bali Breeze DP and a strip of Pumpkin Pie Grosgrain ribbon.

I colored directly on the stamp using SU Markers in the above color combination. I did have to use a Close To Cocoa marker for the tree branch. I lightly misted my card stock (Whisper White) and huffed on my stamp before stamping the image. The same procedure was done for the sentiment. It should have been moved down just a hair but I think it looks okay. I highlighted the bird with a Clear Spica Glitter pen (not sure if you can see that in the scan).

I used the ticket corner punch and layered this to Taken with Teal and added Old Olive brads and mounted my image with foam dimensional tape. Then on the side I added 3/4 punched circles of Taken With Teal and added an Old Olive button (I so rarely use buttons so this was another "Out of the Box" for me) with a tiny piece of Pumpkin Pie card stock as the thread. The buttons were glued down with glue dots and I mounted them with a piece of Sticky Strip so they would be sure and stay on the card.

So there you have it. I love Spring and find these colors very refreshing. I hope you do as well.

Check out all the other great projects by clicking on the Bloggers Challenge Bar on my sidebar.

Snow Much Fun

Well here we are again with the results of yet another snow storm.

We just got rid of the last snow and then yesterday it dumped on us again. Trust me this is the most snow we've had here in Walla Walla in 10 years or better!!! - Again I am not a big fan of winter and snow but I did venture out and took these pictures of Greta and Coleen having fun in the snow. Coleen just loved being out side in the snow. I am so glad that when I saw that snowsuit on sale for only $18 that I bought it because she's certainly got a lot of use out of it this winter.

What a fun creating they came up with. It's not your typical snowman but it certainly has character!

BCG Week 32 - Penguin Paradise

Tired of cold, wet, dreary weather? - Maybe this card will put you in the mood for Spring!
Today's challenge for the Blogger's Challenge Group (Week 32) was to do the layout on the cover of the SAB Catalog (Sale-A-Bration) - Which just happens to start today. - Now mind you when I looked at that layout I again thought, "You've got to be kidding me!" Again this was NOT something that I would have ever thought of doing. But once again I took up the challenge and came up with this cute little card. I just got this stamp yesterday. Isn't she the absolute CUTEST little Hula Penguin you've ever seen? Would you believe that she was only .99! - Talk about a bargain. I found her and a little boy Penguin, Flipflops, Popsicles and match paper here:

http://www.acherryontop.com/company/imaginisce/company/imaginisce/line/a_shore_thing

I had a few problems getting this card together as I ended up making 3 different Penguin panels before I manage to get the grass stenciled "right-sideup!"

Card base: Real Red, Penguin Paradise DP (A Shore Thing-Imaginisce)

Barely Banana stamped with the Sanded BG (hard to see in photo) with Apricot Appeal ink.

Penguin stamped on Whisper White, colored with Prisma Color Pencils & blended with Gamsol.

I masked my little penguin with Eclipse Art Masking Tape and stenciled the clouds with Bashful Blue and the grass with Certainly Celery ink.

I cut out a small strip of Certainly Celery cardstock and covered it with a glue pen and then sprinkle on Spring Mint glitter (Art Institute) and glued it down for a waistband on the grass skirt. I cut out a seperate flower and added some shinyness with a Clear Spica glitter pen and mounted it with foam dimensionals. I used some zigzag scissor for my border of Certainly Celery and pierced holes on the sides. Then I punched out a circle from the, Sweet Summer Breeze DP (A Shore Thing - Imaginisce) with the 1" Circle punch. It was a little to large to put down at the bottom like the sample so I "fudged" a little and moved mine up above the greeting.

The sentiment was stamped with Close To Cocoa ink and is by, (Inkadinkado). The ribbon is from Seaside Originals (SU - retired).

Be sure to check out the other cards. You'll now see a banner on my sidebar that says,

Blogger's Challenge, if you click on it it will take you to a page with all the members links to their blogs. - Have fun browsing all the great blogs.

A Winter's day

Well 2008 has really started out to be something else here in Walla Walla. First the horrible wind storm on January 4th and then yesterday we got hit with a snow storm. - Mind you I am so NOT a "winter" person so if it sounds like I'm whining & complaining I AM! - We had some freezing rain on Saturday night so it made going to church a little difficult yesterday morning and then when church let out it started snowing & it continued to snow the rest of the day. This morning my poor car had so much snow on it and dear hubby didn't think I was going to need to get out so he didn't shovel it off for me like he normally does. Oh well...as he did have to come home and help me get backed out of the drive so I could take Coleen to her pre-school. Most of the roads have been plowed so I was able to get around. I am just so looking forward to Spring and hope that this stuff doesn't last to long. I told hubby today WE NEED A GARAGE! - If we ever move from where we are living now that is my No.1 requirement for a new house, one that has a garage. It doesn't snow all that often here in Walla Walla but when it does I don't want to be out there shoveling the stuff off my car before I can drive anywhere. - Okay enough whining. Enjoy your day & stay warm.

I shot an arrow - BCG Wk. 31 Layout Challenge

It's Friday and that means it's time for another Blogger's Challenge Group challenge. This week our challenge was to use the layout feature on Pg. 141 of the SU Spring/Summer catalog. (see photo at left).

Okay I must admit that when I saw the layout I seriously considered skipping out on this week. I did not like that layout at all. However....I decided to go ahead with the challenge and see what I could come up with. After several attempts at getting my layout just the way I wanted it to be I finally came up with this card. I'm happy with how it turned out & hope you enjoy it too.

Card base is Whisper White which I covered with a piece of textured Ruby Red card stock.

I added a strip of Whisper White, Pretty in Pink and Designer Paper (OOH LA LA CUPID - by BO-BUNNY PRESS) and added the piercing.

I stamped my Cupid (HERO ARTS) on Whisper White card stock with Ruby Red Ink, cut out one wing with an X-acto knife and highlighted the wings with Dazzling Diamonds Glitter. The edges were distressed with the Cutter Kit & Ruby Red ink. Then I added a small piece of embossed Pretty in Pink card stock (Cuttlebug Hearts embossing folder) and pierced the top.

I stamped the Love sentiment (Hero Arts) with Ruby ink and added a tiny red heart (JoAnn's), then layered on the Pretty in Pink scallop (SU) and pierced this as well. The Scallop & Focal Image were raised up with dimensional tape.

While this may not have been a favorite layout I think it met the challenge and I had fun doing it. Be sure to check out all the other great samples. You can find the Blogger's Challenge Group on my side bar.

Techno Monday Sketch Challenge

Technostamper, Mary Jo Price-Williams started her own Monday Sketch Challenge. I didn't join the group doing the sketches but decided to participate in today's sketch anyway. So without further ado here is my sketch challenge card.

Card Stock: Purely Pomegrante, Basic Black, Designer Paper by, Heidi Swapp, Colorbox and Bazzill.

Stamps : Owl by Inkadinkado and Sentiment (SU-Holidays and Wishes).

Ink: Purely Pomegrante

Other: Spica Pink Glitter Pen, Island Blossom Dew Drops, Frosted Lace Stickles, Piercing Tool & Foam Mounting Tape

This turned out really cute (IMO) and I had a great time making it. Thanks for a fun sketch Mary Jo.

Do check out her blog as well as the other's who have done this sketch.

Color Challenge and Birthday Wishes

This week I decided to "kill 3 birds with one stone" so to speak. For the Blogger's challenge group our challenge this week was a "Color" challenge using, Blue Bayou, River Rock, and Real Red. It's an odd combination (IMHO) so I wasn't exactly sure how I was going to use the colors. We could use Whisper White or Very Vanilla as well.

Over on Julee Tilman's blog: http://poeticartistry.blogspot.com/ she has a Sketch Challenge on Monday's so I took MojoMonday - Week 20's sketch above and used it for my card.

Since today is also my mom's 79th birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!) I decided to make the card a birthday card for her.

So without further ado here are the particulars of this card. Card base: Blue Bayou, River Rock, Whisper White (stamped with River Rock and Blue Bayou ink) and distressed with the Cutter Kit and Blue Bayou ink. Then I added a small strip of Real Red which I ran through the Cuttlebug and layered onto River Rock. The bird image was stamped in Blue Bayou and the sentiment (Papertreyink) was stamped with River Rock. I also distressed the edges with the Cutter Kit and River Rock ink. I added faux red gem stones and some Waterfall Stickles (on the birds eye and flower centers). The flowers were stamped in Real Red ink and punched out with the 1/2" Circle Punch then layered on River Rock and Blue Bayou punched with 3/4" and 1" Circle Punches. The circles and the focal image were raised with dimensional tape.

Now this card seems a bit "BUSY" to me so I'm not entirely thrilled with it so I hope that my mom likes it. Just in case I bought her a card too! (LOL) - So let me know what you think and be sure to check out all the other great blogs as well to see how they used this Color Combination and go to Julee's blog as well as she has some great stuff there as well.

Always - Everything to Me

This is the 2nd card we're doing for my Stamp Club meeting this week. I absolutely LOVE this bird image. I wanted to showcase how you can use this set in a variety of ways. This card could be used for a Friendship, Birthday, Mother's Day or even a Valentine's Day card. It's so bright & cheerful looking (in my opinion).

My card base is Only Orange (a color I usually only use at Halloween). I stamped the Dotted Background stamp with Versamark ink on the card base.

Then I cut a strip of Old Olive and pierced it. Next a layer of Tempting Turquoise and finally a layer of Bali Breeze Designer paper.

I stamped the bird image on Whisper White card stock with Tempting Turquoise ink and stamped the sentiment with Old Olive ink. I rounded the corners and layered it to a piece of Apricot Appeal card stock. Then I stamped the flower with Only Orange ink and cut it out. I added an Apricot brad to the center and Dazzling Diamonds glitter to the flower petals for some sparkle. This was mounted with dimensional tape to complete the card.

Always - On My Mind

The very first set that caught my attention in the Spring/Summer catalog was (Always). I loved the elegant look of the heart and the bird image is so pretty. I wanted to make a Valentine card with this set and found this great card by, juliemlacey here: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/770839?cat=12461 and decided to "CASE" it.

I changed a few of the details but it's pretty much her card idea and I wanted to give her the credit & the "thanks" since I'll be using this for one of my Stamp Club projects this week.

The card base is Whisper White with a layer of Purely Pomegranate and then a layer of Basic Gray card stock. I added the piercing at the top and bottom of the gray piece using the Crafter's Tool Kit. Next I added a layer of Bali Breeze Designer Paper (those flowers are just so pretty) and tied some Gray Satin ribbon around it. I'd been wanting to use that ribbon since I first bought it so this was a great time to do so. I also added the 3 silver brads and stamped the sentiment with Basic Gray ink. Since there are no markers in the Pomegranate and Basic Gray inks I had to stamp 2 separate hearts and cut out the Gray one and layered it over the Pomegranate one. Then I raised this up on dimensional tape to complete my card.

I'll be sharing another card with this set tomorrow so be sure to check back.

Layout Challenge

This week we were challenge to use the layout on the "Save the Date" card found on page 37 in the Spring/Summer Collection. At first I thought there was no way I was going to be able to use that layout. It just didn't appeal to me at all. I had no time yesterday to stamp which was a "good thing" because my hubby cut out my new stamp set: (Always) this morning and I had a "light bulb" moment and decided to go with that set for my challenge card.

I also wanted to use some of the Purely Pomegranate & Wild Wasabi inks and card stock that I bought entire packages of and have yet to use much of it, even though I like the colors. I started with a Whisper White base and added a strip of Pomegranate stamped with the Canvas BG to give it the textured look. Then I added a strip of white stamped in Wasabi ink with the "You mean everything to me" sentiment and added some piercing to the side. I used a piece of my new Bali Breeze designer paper (aren't those flowers pretty?) and then cut a small strip of Wasabi card stock & crimped it. I then added a punched layer (Fiskars Border Punch) of Soft Sky. I stamped the large bird image (I love that bird!) in Soft Sky ink. Then I stamped the larger sentiment "Everything" in Pomegranate ink onto the bird image. I stamped a small flower in Wasabi ink cut it out and mounted it on the bird image with dimensional tape. You can't see it in the scan but the flowers on the designer paper, the small Wasabi flower and the birds eye have been dotted with a clear Spica Glitter pen that I purchased here:http://www.ellenhutson.com/servlet/Categories?category=COPIC+Corner%3AGlitter+Pens I had never tried them before but now that I have I can say that they are just "Way Cool" and add a nice sparkle to your cards.

Be sure to check out all the other great creations. There are a couple of new members to the group, Nikki Bond - Military Wife Stampin Spot and Amber Porter - Ramblings of a Sassy Stamper so be sure to WELCOME them to the group. - Good to have you aboard ladies!

2008 Roars In With The Wind

JANUARY 4, 2008 - Will certainly go down in "history" here in Walla Walla, WA. - My mom & I started out that morning to take some flowers out to the cemetery as it was the anniversary of my dads death 10 years ago. It seemed a bit windy outside but I thought, "Hey we might as well take the flowers out anyway" even though my mom questioned my judgement. Just as we pulled up to the cemetery entrance we discovered the gates were locked. Right then a gigantic tree inside the cemetery came crashing to the ground. Needless to say I was more then willing to head back home at that point. We had Coleen with us and the poor little girl was scared of all the wind and noise so I had to get her inside and calmed down. Once we got back home we discovered that our power was out. I kept noticing people driving down our street suddenly turning up one of the side streets instead of going on down the street and I wondered why so I ventured outside and discovered the reason, a tree just down the street from us had fallen across the power lines. I took Coleen over to my mom's and braved the elements to walk down the street and take a few photo's. It was a LONG day without power. My husband was out of town and I had a difficult time contacting him as my Cell Phone battery was nearly dead and then the service kept going out. He had to drive back to town with a truck and trailer and got home about 4:00 pm safe & sound! - Our power was restored about 5:00 that evening thankfully. As of today there are still homes without power even though the power company has had 22 crews working round the clock to try and restore power. Our parks and the cemetery look like disaster areas. Some of these pictures were taken the day after the storm. It was just amazing to see the damage that was done. The last official wind report that day clocked the winds at 78 mph. but they said they were probably much higher but they lost their tracking ability so there wasn't any way to say if they were or not.

We still don't have our Cable back on yet which is a bit of an inconvenience but hey, we only lost a few branches from our fir trees and had our power back on relatively quickly so I am not going to complain. It is a blessing that nothing worse happened at our place or my mom's and for that we thank the Lord.

Let's just hope that as 2008 progresses there won't be any more repeats of this historic storm.

In Love with Pink & Brown

This is my very first card of 2008! - When I saw that the challenge for the Bloggers Challenge Group was a color challenge and that the colors were Pink & Brown I just knew I had to create a card for this challenge. I had the "perfect" paper sitting in my storage cabinet so I got it out and started trying to figure out how I was going to use it.

I looked through my February issue of Crafts n Things (the magazine that bought The Rubber Stamper) and I found a really cute card on page 91 by Stephanie David that I really liked so I went with her layout idea for my card.

I started with a card base of Pretty In Pink (one of my favorites as it's so soft & delicate). Then I added a layer of the Paisley print (Making Memories) and topped that with a scalloped punched border (Fiskars) of Pixie Pink and some Brown satin ribbon (American Crafts). I had purchased a Paisley Heart stamp (Hero Arts) a couple of years back and figured it would be perfect for the designer paper I used. I stamped the heart with Pixie Pink ink on Very Vanilla and cut it out. Then I stamped the "Love" sentiment (Hero Arts) with Chocolate Chip ink. I layered this on Pretty in Pink card stock with a layer of Chocolate Chip & two brown brads (Not sure who these are from anymore). I love how it turned out & hope you do as well.

Make sure you check out the other challenge members blogs to see their work. I am off to do that myself! It's good to be back again. Happy 2008 to everyone!

A Tribute to my Dad

Henry Peter Antes - May 27th 1920-January 4th 1998

It's hard to believe that 10 years have already passed since my dad passed away. The memories of that night will be forever in my mind.

My niece's had been away for Christmas in Mexico so we were celebrating a late Christmas with them that evening. My husband and our kids had went down to my parents house to pick them up and take them with us to my sister-in-laws. Dad got up from the chair he was sitting in and asked me if we had everything and I said, "Yes, Come on dad, let's go."

We walked outside and as I started to get in the van I happened to catch my dad falling on their carport and yelled out that he had fallen. We all rushed right over and my husband dialed 911 immediately. There was an off duty Paramedic driving by who stopped in and started CPR right away but we knew that my dad was gone as his skin had already turned an ashen gray color. Still the ambulance arrived and they transported him to the hospital. Other family members were summoned and they worked on my dad until my mom told my oldest brother to tell them to stop. It was a very traumatic time for our family & for my mom as well. They told us that my dad either had a massive heart attack or that his heart basically exploded. It was just such a shock and hit each of us very hard and in different ways. Our family has been forever changed by my dads death but his memory lives on in our hearts.

My dad was a kind man. He loved hunting, fishing, bowling, stamp collecting, his model train, cats & his dog Rosie (who has also since passed on) - He was a hard worker and even worked 2 jobs when we were younger to make sure that his family had food on the table & clothes to wear. He & my mom were married 47 years before he passed away and while they didn't always have a perfect marriage they loved each other very much. I was always "daddy's little girl" even as an adult and being his only daughter made me even more of a daddy's girl (if that's possible). He was a "people" person and loved being out with other people and joking with them. One of his favorite things to do was walk up to someone and asked them what they had spilt on their shirt and when they would look down he'd tweak their nose. I have so many fun memories of my dad & I just wanted to say how much I loved him and how much I still miss him.

Rest in Peace Dad, I know you are in a better place now & someday I'll see you again. Love Always, Your little girl.