Lavender Vogue Card

Do remember the game show "Name That Tune?" :) Well, that is the name of the challenge at Casual Friday this week to create using a song for inspiration. I had this Hampton Art stamp sitting on my work table and immediately thought of the old Madonna song "Vogue." That's one song I've been known to hit the repeat button on when I'm working. It's got such a great beat that it makes you a "snappy dancing diva stamper." :) All of my papers are by Diecuts With A View (new Chateau Lavender Collection). I heat embossed the Hampton Art image with black embossing powder and used a Sizzix Circle Framelit to cut the shape. I spelled "vogue" with Royal Brush alphabet rub-on letters. The flower is by Prima Marketing and the epoxy brad is by Diecuts With A View. Crazy 4 Challenges has a sketch I used for this card which made it even faster and easier than usual. :) All right that's it for me today. I'm taking the rest of the afternoon to nap and read. Reading the book "Wither" I borrowed from youngest daughter.
It's one of those futuristic dystopian novels. Is it any good? It must be because I was reading it at three o'clock this morning. Wink. :) (Explains the need for the nap too). :)

Merci, Merci Card

Cute Card Thursday has a "anything goes" challenge this week. I was itching to work with my new "Tres Chic" DCWV paper stack so this was the perfect timing. ;) Tres Chic has lots of Eiffel Tower images and pretty papers that just make you feel like hopping on a plane and going to Paris! :) OR maybe the next best thing like making a card (wink). :) I used stamps by Hero Arts and heat embossed the images with black powder. The black chipboard letters were cut with Sizzix dies. I used their Butterfly Kisses set which is one I have probably used more than any other alphabet set. The black lace is by Pink Paislee (Vintage Vogue) and the wrinkled ribbon is some I bought off Etsy. The tiny flowers are by Prima Marketing. I based the design on the sketch at Card Patterns too. Beautiful spring weather at my house today which is going to make going to see "The Hunger Games" an even bigger treat. This will be the second time youngest daughter has seen it too. She loves those books and even 'ole mom here thinks they are pretty interesting. Wink. :) Hope your Wednesday is a fun one...I'll save you a seat plus popcorn at the movies. :)

Thanks For Your Friendship Card

The Pink Elephant has a butterflies challenge while Stampin' For The Weekend
has a anything goes challenge. I used some papers and brad by Echo Park Paper Company (This and That/Grace Collection). The stamps are by Unity Stamp Company with brown ink by Clearsnap. The spiral notebook page was done with my Sizzix eClips (Basic Shapes design cartridge). I used my all time favorite Martha Stewart punch (the little butterfly). Throw in some jewels and baker's twine and there you have a quick and easy card. It's spring break time at my house. Last week my oldest daughter that's in college had hers and this week it is younger daughter's turn. We went to the Memphis Zoo Saturday for a fun day. Sleeping late and doing what we want, when we want this week. :) Planning an outing to see "The Hunger Games" later in the week. (That's my youngest daughter's favorite book series. She went to see it opening night but wants to see it again.) I've read two of the series and have to confess I'm looking forward to seeing the movie too. :) Thanks for stopping by and have a fun Tuesday!

Hoppy Easter Card

Paper Sundaes has the photo challenge above this week. I love the colors in this photo. I chose to do a quick and simple Easter card. The stamp is by Hampton Art. I used cardstock by Diecuts With A View and some Sizzix dies for the scalloped circle and rick rack
borders. The buttons are some I found on Ebay that begged to come to my house to live. :) I added a rub-on sentiment by Royal Brush. This card will also fit the challenge at Stampacular Sunday of using buttons.

Hope you are having a restful and relaxing Sunday afternoon. My youngest and I are sitting on the bed watching the "new" Footloose while I "type." :) I've been wanting to see the new one (although I always think of Kevin Bacon when I say the word "Footloose." :) I better hush, I'm giving hints of my age. Wink. :)

Lily Pad Cards and The {Stamps} of Life

The {Stamps} of Life is the sponser at Lily Pad Cards this week. The SOL design team was given a photo and a sketch (which is not shown at Lily Pad for some reason) to work with. I worked with both and the above is the results. My little chick has been busying laying lots of pretty Easter eggs. :) You can find the stamps I used here. :) I used my new Martha Stewart fringe scissors to make the grass. (Maybe I should have kept that a "secret" so you would think I'm super talented with scissors or something! Wink.)
Are you as glad it's Friday as I am? :) Next week is spring break for my oldest daughter at college. Yea!...I get to spend "mom" time with her. :)

Stylish Birthday Card

Stampin' For The Weekend has a photo challenge this week. The photo is full of soft colors and lots of white. I pulled out one of my favorite stamps by Gina K Designs for my image. This stamp always reminds me how much I liked to "design" dresses when I was a little girl. I was constantly filling notebooks with my designs plus coloring them....Ahhh, the good 'ole days and simpler times. :) The diecut was done with the Sizzix eClips using the Wedding Shower and Big Day Alphabet Design Cartridge. I love the way this turned out. :) Got to run and try to figure out something for our dinner. (I need a "cook"!) Wink! :)

Thanks Best Teacher Card

Creative Card Crew has a vintage challenge this week. I love doing vintage cards so I had to do this one. :) My papers are by Graphic 45 (they have some of the BEST vintage images, papers, etc.). :) I combined a couple of Hero Arts sentiment stamps and then used Authentique alphabet stickers to finish it out. The flower is by Prima Marketing and the brad is by DCWV. I also used an embossing folder by Sizzix. I used only the bottom of this folder to get the diamond grid pattern. So there you have my "vintage" fast and easy card.
Am I the only one dragging out of bed since the daylight savings time started? I'm still trying to find that "lost" hour of sleep! :) It makes me sleep later and then I'm scrambling around all day trying to catch up on "chores" because I did sleep later. Ugh! It's a vicious circle! Thanks for stopping by....at least you are up and running. :)

TTC112 Challenge Card

Here's my card for the Shinhan Touch Twin Markers color challenge. I colored my stamped butterflies the four colors requested. The stamps are by Market Street Stamps (who is their sponser this time around). The papers and cardstock are by Diecuts With A View. The light green pearls are by KaiserCraft. Hope you had a fun Saturday. I went fishing with my youngest daughter this afternoon. Well, actually she went fishing. I just took a folding chair and sit under a big pine tree in the shade reading my Kindle. :) It was a beautiful afternoon and it made my youngest happy that I had tagged along to watch her fish. :)

Happy Graduation Card

Play Date Cafe is using charcoal, ash and butter this week. I did a graduation card for this challenge. I used October Afternoon's Farmhouse collection which had some papers in these colors (sticker also from this collection). The embossing folder is by Sizzix. The sentiment stamp is by Hero Arts. The flowers are by Prima Marketing and the decorative brad is by Pink Paislee (Vintage Vogue Collection). Woke up to a beautiful sun shining on this Saturday morning. Looking forward to a day of crafty fun in my newly cleaned and organized craft studio. I spent a couple of days purging and re-organizing. I couldn't stand all the clutter and boxes on the floor any longer. I packed up several boxes of punches of the ones I don't ever use anymore. As much as I hated to box them up, I needed their drawers for other things (since I wanted to see my floor again). :) Hope your Saturday has some crafty goodness in it.

Fluttering By Birthday Card

Sharing a quick card I did for two different challenge sites. First, the
Cupcake Crafts Challenge is to create using red and yellow as your main colors. Then the new Casual Fridays challenge is called "for sentimental reasons" (sentiment is to be focal point). I used a new stamp and matching die set by Sizzix for this one. The embossing folder is by Sizzix too. I love the way this card turned out. It's bright and cheerful which is a good thing for a birthday card. :) I colored the butterfly images with alcohol ink markers and then dotted them. I have also posted this one at 52 Card Pickup. :) All right I can head to bed now...I'm pooped from cleaning my craft room plus visiting my mom and then grocery shopping. Thanks for stopping by and TGIF! :)

Sent From Heaven Card

PaperPlay has a "Something Old, Something New" challenge this week. On my Sent From Heaven card, the 3-D stickers are new (by Royal Brush) and the embossing powder is old (white fine detail by Stampendous). There is a "Seeing Double" challenge at City Crafter Challenge blog. You're supposed to use the positive and negative of a die or punch. I used my Sizzix Oval Framelits for this task. Tuesday Throwdown
has a new challenge called "new life" (babies, baby animals, spring, etc. themes). The stamp is by Hampton Art (from one of the new Little Darlings Graphic 45 cling sets). The bright vibrant (and super smooth) cardstock is by Diecuts With A View (Creamy Stack). I also used a polka dot embossing folder by Sizzix.
It's starting to feel like spring today. I'm headed out to do yard work. I can't wait for warmer weather so I can spend time outside on my front porch reading and enjoying nature. :) I do dread the pine pollen though...you know that awful yellow stuff that will be everywhere in a few weeks. Will be glad when it's gone and everything is washed off. I guess we take the good with the bad though....wink. :) Have a fun Tuesday...(and you know what Tuesday night means, don't you? Yep, Justified.) :) Love that show and it's been renewed for a fourth season....that made my day! :)

Hey Baby....How About a "Baby" Card?

Casual Friday's challenge #42 is called "hey baby." I had a baby stamp by Unity Stamp Company that had never seen "ink." (Gasp!) :) After looking at it's image, I remembered tiny star brads I had recently purchased. Then I knew I had to "play"!!! :) The embossing folder is by Sizzix (love this one....use it a lot!) :) Fast and easy (just like the women on the new show "GCB"! :) We watched the premier episode tonight.....made me smile. :) I needed the smile too after watching "The Walking Dead"....which killed off one of my favorite characters tonight...grrrrr. :) I seriously need to talk to the writers of that show! (he-he)

Filled With Luck Card

Feeling a little Irish today with my card. :) I was able to fit four different challenges with this one. Charisma Cardz's challenge wanted "masking." It's been a looonnnng time since I've done that stamping technique. :) I decided I would "mask" the mason jar image. The jar and sentiment images are stamps by Unity Stamp Company. Stamptacular Sunday's challenge is "text me" which is to put more than four words on your creation. Paper Sundae's challenge is to use green or good luck on your card. I based the design on the current CPS sketch. The papers and ribbon are by The Paper Studio (which is a Hobby Lobby brand). The flowers are by Bazzill and the brads are by Making Memories. I used my Dymo label maker to cover up "joy" on the stamped sentiment....wanted it to fit more of a St. Patrick's Day theme. Hope you like my lucky card and stop by again soon. :)

The {Stamps} of Life March 2012 Release

March has roared in (and I do mean roared...with all the bad weather the last two days). The sun is shining this morning though so I thought it would be a great time to introduce The {Stamps} of Life new March set. This one is called "mums2stamp." Flowers are always fun and useful stamps and this set is certainly no exception. I've tried to show in my samples how versatile and also the different looks you can achieve with this set. :) The first card simply uses five colors of ink (with matching cardstock and some two-step stamping. How fast and easy is that? :)

On the second card, I tried using a different color combo from what you would ordinarily think of using with it. Again, a fast and easy card with
black and garnet inks plus a punch (from Michael's Recollection punches).

I don't know if mums are fall flowers but that's when I think of them blooming. (All the gardeners will have to enlighten me on this subject.) :) So I chose some fall colored patterned cardstocks (by Diecuts With A View) and matched the ink to those. I used a large polka dot decorative brad by My Mind's Eye to give it a little something extra. So yet another easy peasy by yours truly. Thanks for stopping by and have a fun weekend. I need to get outside and clean up all the limbs, etc. from the last two days of storms. I tell ya there is always something FUN to do at my house. Wink. :)

Sucker For You Card

Quick post this morning as I'm off to visit my mom. Creative Card Crew has a humor challenge this week as does Casual Friday. There is also an "anything goes" theme at Party Time Tuesdays. The stamps are by Chicken Girl Designs The papers are by My Mind's Eye and the heart diecut is by Sizzix (Heart Framelits). The braid is by American Crafts. So there is another fast and simple card.....I hope I don't run into that big a mosquito though. :)