Notice anything DIFFERENT on my sidebar?

MY BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!
For those of you who know me, you know that I have long been considering joining a

Design Team.  With more time at home, and my parents' health currently stable,

now is a great opportunity!

Starting in October, I have very kindly been offered a position as

a DesignTeam member for Do You Stack Up? 

If you are not familiar with the site, they are a digital image and rubber stamping card creating blog that has some amazing gals on board! I am so proud to be a new part of the team!  from now on, you will see their weekly challenges posted here on my blog, along with my DYSU projects. There are always some wonderful challenge prizes offered up and great tips and techniques shared by some terrific talent.

The owner, Alison, also has a wonderful online digi-stamp store called,

Stretch n' Bubbles!

She even offers freebie images!

Oh, and BTW, she is offereing up some Blog Candy to celebrate having 200 followers!  Someday...that will be me...(fingers crossed)

As a matter of fact,

there is a new DYSU challenge this week;

Swirls!

Since this can be any type of swirls added to your card, layout, or project, I know some of you are thinking like me!  Bling!  Like in Zva, or Recollections, or Want2Scrap? 

Or break out that Cuttlebug or Cricut, and die cut some swirls! 

This week's Sponsors:

Dearie Dolls Dearie Digi Paper Doll and Four Outfit Pages for Different Holidays and Everyday

Stitchy Bear Designs Prize

Crafty Individuals

Prize Package

So head on over to DYSU and check out the details! 

You could win some great goodies!

With the grandson here this week, I haven't had much time to hole up in my scrap room, but I hope to have a card ready for that challenge very soon! 

The challenges run from Thursday to Wednesday every week.

Check back here for future challenges, too!

Inspire...

I have been dying to get this little fairy all inked up since she

arrived in my mail the other day!

I used the challenge sketch at Craft's Meow who makes this

amazing little stamp!

When I make cards, I usually even make a larger size card, but this week I decided to try something new. At least one thing...every week... so this week it is to make an ATC card!  Not easy for me. Normally such a tiny canvas in with which to work!  But, in this case, the folks at Simon Says Stamp & Show stated that it need not be a traditional size ATC.  (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") Whew!  So I added less than an inch each direction and went with a 3 1/4" by 4" card base. I know! Not a lot of difference, but baby steps, baby steps....

I had already stamped the second sentiment in the center when I realized the sketch calls for the sentiment on the bottom. (I also noticed several of the DT had used more than one sentiment...just sayin'....)

If you look closely, you'll see my tiny, wee sentiment along the bottom of the card.

I also flipped the sketch a bit, but stuck to the basics of it.

For my next trick of the week, this is the first time I have ever stamped and heat embossed on vellum! Yea, I know...under a rock...

It turned out really nice! I stamped the little fairy with my Momento black ink, sprinkled it with black powder, and carefully heated it up! Not so tough! It melted properly and never even looked like it would melt or burn! Love it!

So, in a nutshell, I have learned several new techniques this week and all because of a few wonderful blog challenges!

Supplies used:
Paper;  Graphic 45, "Renaissance faire Collection"
Stamps; Craft's Meow, "Butterfly Kisses"
Dies; Cricut, Art Philosophy
Rub-on; Scenic Route paper Co.
Pearls; Recollections

This little creation will be entered into the challenges at:
Craft's Meow Shop Sketch Challenge
Simon Says Stamp and Show (ATC card)
Crafty Creations (Fabulous Fairies)
Simon Says Stamp Challenge (Dies to die for)

Verve CASE-A-DIVA Card!

The September challenge at Verve is to CASE a DT member! (CASE means to copy and share everything.) And that is just fancy talk for copying! 

Well, when I decided to use my Kindred Spirit stamp set for a birthday card,

I went straight to the

Verve Design Team Gallery for inspiration!

And I found this gorgeous card!

Kindred Monogram

by Susan Liles

I changed it up a bit by leaving off the bow and adding a few more

trim pieces and the black pearls.

I also used a sheet music print paper rather than the solid black.

Supplies used:

Paper: 7 Gypsies, "Avignon"

Stamps: Verve, "Kindred Spirit"

Dies: Cricut, "Art Philosophy"

Bling: Want2Scrap

Others: Momento black ink, Stampendous embossing powder, Helmar 450 Adhesive

This card is entered in the challenge at:

Verve (CASE-a-Diva)
Simon Says Stamp (Use a die or punch)
City Crafter Challenge (Let's face the music!)
Stamptacular Sunday (Just Sayin')

It's time for a "Blast from the Past" with Taylored Expressions!

This month, Taylored Expressions is hosting a customer Blog Hop to feature stamps from the past releases! How fun!  Along with that, because September's theme is Birthday/Birth Day and Taylor, herself,  was due somewhere around today, we are also going with BABYcards!!! Turns out that little "Madelyn Grace" decided to make an early entrance and was born September 13th!  Congratulations,Taylor and family!

I have chosen the Apothacary Shelf for several reasons. First, I absolutely love the many options there are to decorate this little shelf! Anything you can put on a real shelf or mantle, you can add to this tiny sweetie!  Actually, it's not all that small! The length is a whole 4 inches long, and leaves plenty of room for sweet, tiny embellishments.  Taylored Expressions also has a wonderful stamp set of jars made especially for this shelf to make it uber simple to use!
Secondly, and sadly, it's the only Taylored Expressions stamp I have SO FAR!  I plan to expand my collection very soon! LOL!

Here's my card:

I didn't know if Taylor was having a Boy or a Girl, but a dear friends' daughter is expecting a little boy soon, so I decided to spell out BOY with the tiny little baby block beads I had on hand.  My DH thought the blingy chandelier too "girly" for a boy, but I explained that when it comes to newborns and new Mother's, there's never enough of the sweet, sweet bling!

The tiny crocheted doily is from Close To My Heart! They recently had a sale on some of their items, and I grabbed a few of these little darlins!

I can not resist popping out those little drawers! On the last card I made using this stamp,
(See it at    http://scrapnsurprise.blogspot.com/2011/08/flourish-challenge.html  )
 I only popped out one drawer to make it stand out. I love the way stamping these twice and popping them out makes the card that much more 3D!

Hope you enjoyed seeing this stamp "pop up" again!  I know I loved pulling it back out!

The supplies used were :
Papers; Martha Stewart, "It's a Boy"
Bling; Recollections
Doily;CTMH
Rub-on Stickers; K & Company
Clothespin; Darice

This card is entered over at The Pink Elephant ( Photo Inspiration, Crocheted doily, baby theme, etc)

JUST FOR FUN!

I made this second card just because I was having so much fun with the first!

Again, I used the Apothecary Shelf and, as you can see,

this stamp is so versatile!  You can go romantic, juvenile, or spooky!

Please check out the rest of the Hop partcipants! I know they all have some delightful new ideas for these terrific stamps!

Blog Hop Tomorrow!

Don't forget!

Tomorrow is the Taylored Expressions "Blast from the Past" Blog Hop!

Yours truly will be on that list and there are tons of ideas and techniques to be gathered from this terrific group of ladies!

Join us!

Card and a Half Challenge #5

Boy, when you realize you forgot your Brother-in-Law's birthday, it's pretty embarrassing! Especially when you're known as the family card-maker!  I made several cards last week, and the week before that, and for the last year...  I should have, at any time, made him his card!  All I can say is, "I'm sorry."  Not being big card-senders themselves, I'm sure he and my sister will forgive me.

So, I went online last night and found this great sketch challenge to get me kick started!
I find it so difficult to make "guy" cards!

Here's what I came up with...

I felt that just to say "Happy Belated Birthday" wasn't enough.

I needed to plead forgiveness!  LOL!

(The inside has even more pleading...)

The paper clip is the "recycled" item used, along with another one inside the card.

Perhaps by using the bingo markers, I'll remember that date next year!

This card will be entered in the sketch challenge at: Card and a Half

This is my first time entering the challenge on their blog, and I suggest you check them out. It's a great little blog that has a growing following and some fantastic sponsors.

I am also entering this card at the "Use a recycled item" challenge at "Do more with less". 

Thanks, Lynn and Yvonne!

Prima Perfection!

Have you seen the newest products from Prima?  Oh my goodness! Too many wonderful goodies to even list! My favorites have to be the gorgeous Resin pieces!  Go here to see what I mean and you, too, may win some of this goodness!

http://prima.typepad.com/prima/2011/09/september-bap-ppp.html

GO NOW!  oooohhhhh....too pretty.......

Weekly Waltzing Mouse Challenge!

This week's Waltzing Mouse sketch challenge was such a simple one, yet left so many options... sometimes it's just easier to have fewer decisions to make!  LOL!

I love the whole western look of the Vintage Labels #18, this particular one reminding me always of a cowboy's belt buckle.

I have used it several times and always loved the outcome!

And the fact that it is made to work with the Spellbinder's Labels #18 is fantastic!

Easy Peasy!

Here's a close-up of the heat-embossed "buckle".

I chose to make it girly so that I could send it to any one of my gal friends

out here in Arizona who knows well the term,

"Cowgirl Up!"

Also, entered into TEXTURE challenge at "Do You Stack Up?"
and the weekly challenge at Kraft Journal!

Pretty Woman Revisited!

I love the movie "Pretty Woman", (who doesn't) and whenever I see a dress, shoes, or outfit with red on white or white on red polka dots, I fondly remember that movie.

While browsing through an old issue of Papercrafts the other day,

I came across the pattern for a shoe.

Not just any shoe, but this fabulous heel. 

So I grabbed my DCWV paper and decided to go VINTAGE!

First I constructed the adorable shoe!

IF I were younger, and IF I were so inclined to dress up enough to wear heels,

this is the shoe I would want to wear!

Rather "Jimmy Choo" looking, don't you agree?

The bow I made months ago and it was just waiting for the perfect project!

I needed a card to go with the adorable little 3D gift, so I decided to go with a
SQUARE card this time.

I love my new Cricut cartridge, "Art Philosophy", which is only available through your Close To My Heart representatives.  It cost a bit more than others, but comes with

three terrific stamps sets, and many of the shapes we all really love. 

No, I'm not a  CTMH rep, nor do I get any kickback,

but I can direct you to a very sweet gal if you need one!

I was able to  cut out the black outline frame in seconds on my Cricut!

Sorry, but because of there being more than one object to focus on

and my camera SUCKING,

I wasn't able to get a really clear picture.

Here's the inside of the card:

My fingers aren't working very well today (even WITH the Lyrica) and I slipped and fumbled with the shoe stamp, so you'll see a bit of a blur on the card.

Yes, it always happens when you have your entire project almost finished!

Supplies:

Papers; DCWV, "Lady Couture" Stack

Stamps; Skipping Stones Designs, "Shoes"

Twine; On-A-Cord from Hobby Lobby

This cute card/gift set will be entered into the challenges at:

Simon Says Stamps (More than one fold)

The Pink Elephant (Vintage)
Do You Stack Up? (Texture)

Paper Sundaes (Finishing Touches)

For a Dear Friend...

I have a longtime friend who has been having difficulties "health wise", and as many of us have done, gotten jerked around by the medical field long enough.  She is undergoing surgery on the 16th and having a hysterectomy. I must admit, there have many times I had wished I could just go in and have everything that WAS or COULD cause problems later removed.
But now that she's actually scheduled, it's pretty worrisome.  I will be on pins and needles (oh, don't say needles!) on that day until I hear she's ok and nothing serious was found.
I hope my card makes her feel a bit better and she'll know I'm here for her, even if it is 1500 miles away! If she needs me, I can be on a plane in hours.

This card was made for the Verve "SENDING SOME SUNSHINE" challenge to encourage everyone to actually SEND their cards out.   I must admit, about half of mine are earmarked for someone before I even finish them.  I do have a few "Sympathy" cards put aside for those unforeseeable times... and a "Get Well" or two...

I love the way the little added pearl makes the cameo look so elegant!

Supplies used: 
Paper; K & Co.
Stamps: Verve, "Kindred Spirits"
Momento Ink, Recollections pearls, Helmar 450 Adhesive
Cameo purchased online.

For this card, I also used the inspiration from the sketch challenge at
Card Positioning Systems. This is the first time I've been to the blog,
and they have a great  Design Team and wonderful sketches!  I believe the prize this week is a Unity Stamp set! How cool would that be?  I really need sentiment sets!

Flashback Fridays is at it again!

This has become one of my favorite blogs!  Flashback Friday Challenges has issued the new challenge for this week.  I have been going through all of my old files looking at my earlier projects and, I have to tell you, it isn't always the pleasant experience you may think it is.  As I'm cruising down
Memory Lane, I'm thinking, "My goodness, what was I thinking?" or "I should have definately done that differently!"

Anyway, this week's challenge is "First Fall Card".
Not only was the card very simple, but my photography was horrible.  I had no backdrop set up or lighting issues solved. Just shoot and post! 
So, yes, the card isn't the best but it's not as bad as it looks in the picture!  I ended up sending about a dozen out to family...

I hope that I have improved over the last two years...

Falling Leaves....

This card is simple, yes. But I wish you could see the glittery shine on those leaves!

I just couldn't get the light right so that you could see the glimmer!

The leaves were stamped and hand cut, then spritzed with Glimmer Mist. 

They are so sparkly IRL!   I curled the edges to look more real.

The red trim is machine stitched onto the card,

along with the stitching to add a bit of drama.

Supplies Used:
Stamps (Leaves and sentiment), Skipping Stones, "Everyday Blessings"
Nestabilities: Labels Nine
Tattered Angels, "Jingle Bells Glimmer Mist"

Entered in the sketch challenge at Skipping Stones Designs

And at the DYSU- DoYouStackUp Challenge Blog!

(Texture)

Waltzing into Fall!

I am trying so very hard to get into the spirit of  Fall and "Trick or Treat", but when the temperatures here are looming way over 100, it's really difficult. But I'm also reading that most of the country is experiencing above average temperatures, so I feel a bit better as I sit here in Phoenix sweating my you-know-what off!

I loved the sketch over at Waltzing Mouse this week, and had to make it a Fall card! I've been dying to use these little pumpkins that come with the

"Bountiful Baskets Additions" set, but decided to go without the basket this time.

Feeling cooler already.....

OK, now I think I'm really ready for Halloween and pumpkin pie, and candy corn....

I love that the Spellbinders Labels Eighteen and the coordinating

Vintage Labels 18 from Waltzing Mouse are so easy to work with!

I used my new Cosmo Cricket, "Odds and Ends" paper pack,

a bit of embossing and inking, a few black pearls from Recollections,

and some jute twine and done!  I wanted to add some natural texture that the "garden" could be growing in...and it was so much easier to stamp the pumpkins onto

pattern paper than to color with the Copics today (hands just not cooporating).

Thanks for looking today! It would REALLY make my day if you left a comment!

This card has been entered in the challenge at

Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge