Resisting the Urge

Monday, March 9, 2009

We just had the best weekend with the most gorgeous weather!! Talk about a mood lifter! The sun was out and it was a balmy 52 deg F. Trust me; that's not cold when the temps have been below freezing all winter long! I could finally crack open a window without the fear of getting blasted with frigid cold air. It was just what the doctor ordered.

The anticipation of Spring also inspired me to update the look of my blog. Do you like it? I am VERY happy with it. It feels refreshing and clean! I liked the old one but I was getting frustrated with blog buttons not fitting on my sidebar because the colums were too skinny. I was also told that it wasn't behaving itself in other web browsers, so it had to go! :D Please let me know if you have any issues viewing my blog so I can try fixing it.

I have been dying to show you this stamp since I colored it up weeks ago. It's from Whipper Snapper Designs and an illustration by Anna Wight.

Isn't this the perfect sentiment for this stamp? I've had this sentiment from MFT's Rain & Shine set for a while now, and when I saw this image, I had to get him! I really like to mix and match stamps and sentiments when I can.

I colored this Springtime Chick in dark, intense colors to emphasis the 'under the weather' theme, but if you changed up the colors and made the umbrella a light green and the background behind the chicken a pale blue, it would make a great springtime 'April showers' card. Love versatility!

Now getting back to my post title; when I was piecing together this card, I had a hard time resisting the urge to add something extra to it. I tried some ribbon, toyed with brads, then a button and nothing seemed to fit. Finally I just said "Enough!" and accepted the fact that sometimes a card doesn't need anything else but an image and a sentiment to make it complete. Less is more right? :D

Hope you have a wonderful Monday! Toodles!


Supplies
Stamps: Whipper Snapper 'Springtime Rain Chick', MFT 'Rain or Shine'

Inks: StazOn 'Jet Black', More Mustard, Really Rust, Ruby Red, Sahara Sand, Elegant Eggplant

Papers: Canson Watercolor, Bazzil cs, Georgia Pacific cs, PP - K & Company 'Daydreams'

Access: Dimensionals

Friends Forever

Friday, March 6, 2009

I'm a big believer in the saying 'Friends are the family you pick'.

When I was in high school there was a gaggle of us, hanging out together at lunchtime and doing things together on the weekends. Now days I have just a handful of good friends that I treasure more than anything. There are a couple of long, long time friends in Australia, one dear friend here in Keene, and my bossom buddies on SCS (you know who you are!).

In my humble opinion, every girl needs a good set of shoes, a great handbag, a boy toy, and at least two fabulous friend. Well, Miss Anya definitely has some of those going on!

Last week I showed you the curly haired Miss Anya, since she was the one who resembled me the most. While I was making that card, I thought it would be great to make a similar card for the other two Miss Anya's and make a nice little set of them.

These Miss Anya's are just so fun to color! All the cards used double sided patterned paper and a coordinating piece of Bazzil cardstock. I did the sentiments the same way, but changed out the saying. I think they'd be really cute packaged up with some matching envelopes in a small box. I'd have to make the box of course.....hmmmm, anyone know where I can find a template for a standard card box?

By the way, these Miss Anya's are currently out of stock on The Greeting Farm's website, but Marie has said that the store will be restocked this coming Wednesday. (Just didn't want you all to be bummed out if you were really hoping to get some!)

I hope you've all enjoyed the cards I've shown you this week. I had a blast creating them. I have a bunch of images itching to be made into cards, so who knows what you might see next week! hehehe Oh, and one more thing...don't be too surprised to see my blog with a bit of a facelift over the weekend. I've struggled with the narrow sidebar for a while now and it's also been brought to my attention that my blog does funny things in other web browsers. I'm hoping the new changes will behave themselves.

Have a good one!!

______________________________________

EDITED: I am FREAKING OUT right now!! I was just visiting TGF's blog this morning, as I do every morning, and my dear and sweet friend (one of those SCS ones I was just talking about) Kadie Ensley, was just annouced as a GARDENER for the company for the next three months!!! Wahoooooooooooooooooo!! CONGRATULATIONS KADIE!! This is awesome news! I'm so proud of you girl!!

Supplies
Stamps: The Greeting Farm 'Miss Anya's', sentiments by Karen Foster Snap Stamps
Inks: Too many to mention!
Papers: Canson Watercolor, Bazzil cs, PP - Card 1 'Chatterbox Decorative Cardstock - Chocolate Tapestry', Card 2 'K & Company - Day Dreams' and Card 3 'K & Company Classic K Margo'
Access: Ribbon, dimensionals, rhinestone adhesives

Need A Hug?

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Doesn't this guy look like he just needs a good hug?? Poor monster.

He's called Monster Bedtime and he's from Victoria Case's line of monster stamps. Remember when you were little and you swore that there were monsters under your bed, or in your closet? Or your imaginery monster friend? Victoria has captured these characters just perfectly!

So last week Victoria issued her customers a challenge. It was to create a card using the colors pink and brown and use one of her rubber stamps (vs. her digitals). I have a few of her stamps, so I picked a monster I hadn't colored yet, and I immediately thought of this polka dot paper in my stash. (Yes, there is ALOT of polka dot paper in my stash.)

My sewing machine pretty much permanently lives on the dining room table now, so I ran around the edges of the card with some brown thread. I didn't want to cover up that gorgeous paper, so I just popped Mr. Monster on some Bazzil cs and then popped that off the base with dimensionals. That thread on the button is some of that crafter's dental floss. Strange stuff to play with! And that pretty much it covers the whole card. I hope it's enough to win the challenge because the winner gets Victoria's yet to be released 'Sock Monkey' rubber stamp! And that would make me very happy. :D

Remember that Miss Anya card I showed you last week?? Well tomorrow I'll show you her friends!

Supplies
Stamps: Victoria Case Stamps 'Monster Bedtime', sentiment by Studio G mini alphabet set
Inks: StazOn 'Jet Black', Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Cool Caribbean, Old Olive, Vintage Violet
Papers: Canson Watercolor, Georgia Pacific cs, Bazzil cs, PP - Basic Grey '
Access: Button, dental floss, sewing, decorative scissors, dimensionals

Rolling along...

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

I have a confession to make: I can not stop smiling at this card! I'm such a gooba, I know, but I can't help it! It makes me wanna smile.

I'm loving all the polka dots and the image is just plain old fun, but I think I just love how it all came together so well....and easily!! That almost never happens. LOL

I bought this stamp for no other reason except that I knew it would be fun to color! (What other reason is there?!) Then I made up the other reasons (would make a great bon vogage card, see you soon card, or just a we're visiting card) in case The Man asked me why later! hahaha Speaking of that polka dot paper, it's from the new paper collection I found at my Michaels store. I bought it last week with my 40% off coupon, which is always great value, but when the guy rung it up, it scanned in at an orginial price of $9.99, then I got 40% off on top of that!! So the 12x12 pad only cost me $5.99!?! Surely it was meant to ring up at $19.99? Someone screwed up something!! hehehehe LOVE a bargain!

The image is watercolored with my SU inks, and not that you can tell in this photo, but I applied clear embossing powder to the headlights for a glassy look. I decided against doing the same thing to the windscreen -thought it'd be too much and detract from the image. I decided the card needed nothing else but some ribbon and a little sentiment.

I should send this to my mum in Australia. She'd love it. :D Tomorrow is a MONSTER of a day! ;)


Supplies
Stamps: Whipper Snapper 'Ford Chicken', sentiment by Karen Foster Snap Stamps

Inks: StazOn 'Jet Black', Buckaroo Blue, Cool Caribbean, Sahara Sand, More Mustard, Really Rust, Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, Ruby Red, Going Grey and Distress Inks 'Black Soot'

Papers: Canson Watercolor, Kraft, Georgia Pacific cs, Bazzil cs, PP - K & Company 'Day Dream Collection'

Access: Ribbon, dimensionals, scissors

You Can Do It!

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

It's Tuesday already and you know what that means - another sketch challenge from the very talented Madelynn. I sometimes have to remind myself that she's 8 years old!

This week's sketch is another great one...except for one thing: it uses oval nesties! It's a conspiracy I tell you! LOL There's a plot to make me give in and buy some! hahaha Not really. The sketch is meant to be a guide, so I just substituted the ovals for rectangles instead. :)

This week I used this pitcher image from Doggone Stamps. I have like zero (ok, maybe one) boy images so I had to snag this one! He's called Pitcher for obvious reasons! I love his expression and the way his hair pops out the sides of his cap. I showed DH the card and all he could see was that there wasn't a B on the cap for his beloved Boston Redsox! Poor guy. :)

For those of you who love their dogs and would love some dog stamps, Doggone Stamps has added some really, really fun images that you need to check out. My friend Lorie created a card recently using the Nikko stamp which is just too doggone cute for words! Love it Lorie!!

Getting back to my card, it's a really simple card, but great for a guy don't you think? And would you look at that - I can use the color blue on a card! LOL This one's for you Heather! hehe I was telling Heather last week about how I have an aversion to the color blue on cards. Truth be told, I had my eyes closed the whole time I made this card.... ;)

Want to see more cards using Madelynn's sketch?? Check out Madelynn's blog for this week's featured designer who happens to be the very fabulous Heather Schlatter I was just talking about! The rest of the Twinkling team have some spectacular cards this week too! If you'd like to play along, please upload your card using the keyword MTTSC12 and post a comment on Madelynn's blog post linking back to your creation!

I wanted to mention that I have been given some blog awards over the past week or so which I'm very, very thankful for, but I unfortunately don't have enough hours in the day to comment or participate in all of them. I hope those who have nominated my blog understand this dilemma and know that I do sincerely appreciate the sweet gestures ((hugs)). Thank you to all of you.

Tomorrow I have a really FUN Whipper Snapper card to show you!

Supplies
Stamps: Doggone Stamps 'Pitcher', sentiment by MFT
Inks: StazOn 'Jet Black', Creamy Caramel, Not Quite Navy, Cool Caribbean, Really Rust, Old Olive, Distress Inks 'Black Soot'
Papers: Canson watercolor, Bazzil cs, PP - K & Company 'Day Dreams Collection'
Access: Ribbon, dimensionals

Release Day!

Monday, March 2, 2009

A happy Monday morning to you all! I had a great long weekend. DH and I had Friday off so we skipped off to the mall where I did some more clothes shopping and found some great bargains! A very successful weekend for sure! ;)

I was also busy over the weekend creating and posting a bunch of sneak peeks for Hanna Stamps because tonight is the March release party! Kristi, Vicki and the other DT girls will be hanging out in the Hanna Stamps SCS forum thread tonight starting at 9pm EST.

There are three sets and two Rileys being released tonight. I've shown you Dress Up Hanna, Rockstar Hanna and Spa Riley, but there is also Wee Hanna and Timber Riley which Jeanne, Joycelyn, Adela and Bev have beautifully shown.

I have another Spa Riley card to show you today!

I love this blue and tan color combination. It feels so light and cheery. I must admit I didn't come up with this combo myself. Silke K., one of this month's guest designers, made her Spa Riley card with this combo and I just loved it's fresh look, so I created my own version. Hope you don't mind Silke!!

This sentiment isn't the original stamp. I used Karen Foster's snap stamps to recreate it because the original stamp (from Whipper Snapper) is much larger and wouldn't work with this layout. I used my SU reinkers instead of my copics for this image. No reason except I just felt like coloring with them this time around. Sometimes I just like to paint! :D

Ok, so that's all the sneak peeks I have for you. Thanks for all the very sweet comments you've been leaving; I really appreciate every one of them! I hope to 'see' you tonight at the release party! :)

Supplies

Stamps: Hanna Stamps! 'Spa Riley', sentiment by Karen Foster snap stamps

Inks: Staz On 'Jet Black', Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Cool Caribbean, Ballet Blue, Sahara Sand, Going Grey

Papers: Canson Watercolor, Bazzil cs, PP - Chatterbox Scrapbook Walls collection - 'Meadowlark' and 'Stepping Stones'

Access: Ribbon, Martha Stewart edge punch, circle punches, dimensionals

Sneak Peek: Dress Up

Sunday, March 1, 2009

A happy Sunday to you all!

Introducing Dress Up Hanna! Isn't she a bombshell? Notice anything different about this Hanna? Dress Up Hanna is a paper doll stamp set - she has interchangeable dresses, shoes, handbags and jewelry!! So cool!

I wanted to make a super feminine card and so I used lots of sheer ribbon and this oh so pretty paper from Crate Paper (loooooove this collection!). The patterned paper is lightly sponged around the edges to give it some depth, and the circle panel (Canson watercolor paper) was also sponged with Antique Linen, but much more heavily. I cracked out the decorative scissors again to do the scalloped circle. When using the scissors, the scallopes never quite line up end to end, so I hide that section behind Hanna's head. The faux dew drops added just a bit of sparkle.

You all are going to have SOOO much fun interchanging her outfits and accessories!

I just couldn't help making this next card! When I saw this dress in the set I HAD to make a princess card for my little princess! I used Bazzil Bling paper for lots of sparkle. I think you can see it if you click on the image. I love this color combo don't you?! So colorful! I stamped the dress on some matching patterned paper, cut it out and ran the Sharpie around the edges to hide the white paper. I couldn't resist adding more sparkle to the card with adhesive rhinestones and some stickles on her earrings. And that ribbon has some sparkle to it too! Can't have too much sparkle on a card! LOL

Don't worry; Miss Hanna is very much covered in a very sexy little number underneath that figure-hugging dress!

I completely forgot to mention that this month's Guest Designers are Silke K. and Jennifer Buck. Please check out their wonderful work! They'll be partying with the rest of the DT tomorrow night. :)

Ok, that's just about it from me today. Don't forget, tomorrow night is the release party which starts at 9pm EST.....HERE!

Supplies
Card 1
Stamps: Hanna Stamps! 'Dress Up Hanna'
Inks: StazOn 'Jet Black', Creamy Caramel, Morning Marigold, Pretty In Pink
Paper: Canson Watercolor, Bazzil cs, PP - Crate Paper Blue Hill Collection - 'Rain'
Access: Ribbon, faux dew drops, decorative scissors, Fiskars circle cutter, dimensionals

Card 2
Stamps: Hanna Stamps! 'Dress Up Hanna', sentiment by MFT
Inks: StazOn 'Jet Black', Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip,
Paper: Canson Watcolor, Bazzil Bling cs, PP - Making Memories 'Glitter Dots Pink' & We Are Memory Keepers 'White Out Collection - Hoopla-Thrill'
Access: Ribbons, adhesive rhinestones, Prima flower, sewing, dimensionals, decorative scissors, circle punhes, sponges, stickles