Funny Bunny

Isn't this little guy super cute? He was created Kirsta from Anglestar Stampin Creations. If you would like to make one you can find the tutorial here. You would not believe how much heart ache this little guy caused. I saw the tutorial and then couldn't find my mini milk carton die. It's so frustrating when you have to clean your Stamping room just to create a project. Oh well, guess I learned to keep my room clean. This little guy also inspired a completely different project as well, but you will have to come back later this week to check it out! I hope you enjoy him.

Red Hot Reader Month

Monday starts Red Hot Reader Month at my children's school. I've been so lucky to have been blessed with an entire family who likes to read. My hubby and daughter are avid readers as am I, and my kindergarten son, Jay, is so excited that he is finally able to pick out some of the words himself. I was sitting around bored the other night and found this adorable book worm on Ellen Kemper's blog. I thought they would make adorable bookmarks for Jay's class. What do you think?

CCS Funky Friday Challenge

This weeks Funky Friday Challenge was hard....I mean really really really hard. I'd like to punch whoever picked those colors, right in the mouth......Oh wait.....that was me. Yes folks. I did it to myself. I picked Almost Amethyst, Apricot Apeal, Tempting Turquois and Ballet Blue. Ewww....what was I thinking? Oh well, here is my attempt. I like the card idea, I just am so not in love with the colors! Don't forget to visit us over at Cornwall Crafty Stampers and play along!

More cards for my Brave Friend.

The fact that Michelle is doing this, leaving her daughter and going to a war zone for a year, has really gotten me thinking. I wonder if I could do that? I have to say that I'm pretty sure the answer is no. Michelle had a choice, but there are so many men and woman (my husband included) who do this over and over again, never even questioning, just so I can make the decision to say no, I couldn't do it. Thank you to all of you out there who have given up the choice so I could make mine.

For One of the Bravest People I know

One of my dear friends has made a really hard decision. Due to the economy, she has decided to help her family out by going to Iraq for a year to work in the post office. As if that wasn't brave enough, she has to leave her 6 year old daughter behind to do it. We had her going away party a few days ago, and I thought that she might need something to send home to her daughter. My Upline Sara and I got together and put together a gift of cards that she can send home. They might not all be current, but they were all put together with her in mind. I'll show you a few a day for the next few days. I would hate for you to get burned out (ok,ok, the truth is I'm afraid to post them all at once or I won't have made anything new for my blog :) ). These three cards were all made by Sara, I hope you enjoy them!

My Upline to the Rescue!!!!

Ok folks,
Just in case my card yesterday wasn't completely current......(Can someone please tell me what stamp that is??) my upline, Sara, made another card for this challenge. Just looking at all the yellows, pinks, purples, and pastels in general are making me long for Spring. Come on Easter Bunny.......

LNS Think Spring Challenge

This week must be my lucky week. I got to determine not one, but two!!! challenges. The first challenge I set was for the Late Night Stampers group. Create a card using only Soft Subtle colors and a neutral. This one should have been easy. Of course, I may have over thought it. And now, as I sit here looking at this card, I'm wondering if that stamp is even current. I can't remember which set it came from. Oh well, hopefully it will at least make you think Spring!

Another One of Sara's Cards

Here is another card that Sara made. She was helping inspire me for the Butterfly challenge LNS hosted a few weeks ago. I love when we get together......she always brings out the best in me. I have to admit, this is one of my favorite color combinations. Something about shades of Olive Green and Purple always make me smile.....what about you?

Calling all New Stampers......

Over at one of my demo groups we have been having a discussion. What do you recommend for purchase to those who have never stamped before. First off, I can't believe that there are still people out there who haven't stamped!!! Don't you know what you are missing?! It's cheaper than therapy and sometimes works better in my case :) But anyway....of course people are recommending stamping spots, stamps, cardstock, blender pens, aqua painters, and lots of other stuff. Personally, what I always recommend is one of the Stampin' Up's Simply Sent Kits. These kits are amazing. They come with everything you possible need to make a card....and even better than that, they come with directions! Here are a couple of cards that I made with the Petite Pansies Simply Sent Card Kit. I have to admit, this is my favorite kit in the whole catalog, but there are several others to choose from. It includes ink, stamps, pre cut and scored card stock, an aqua painter, and envelopes. Everything you need (and of course the directions!). What are you waiting for? Let's get stamping!!!!

Funky Friday Challenge

It's time for the CCS Funky Friday challenge. This week, our challenge is a sketch challenge. Ok, I admit it, I tend to be a bit literal with these types of challenges. I take the sketch and make my card look exactly like the sketch. Some people out there make these great creative leaps with sketch challenges, but that just isn't my cup of tea (wow...the CCS challenge even makes me think British). I did change up one element in this sketch though, I made the large focal point a circle instead of an oval......Wasn't I daring :) Anyway, I hope you enjoy my take on this challenge...and don't forget you can join us. Just visit The Funky Friday Challenge and grab Mr. Linky. I'd love to see what you create.

Who's the Boss.....My upline of course!

Remember a couple of days ago when I told you about the "Who's the Boss" challenge over at Late Night Stampers? Well, I was lucky enough to get my upline, Sara, to participate as well. She's not a group member, but we were together stamping, and she played along (and gave me permission to post her card on my blog....it's a win win!). I really love the way this card turned out. The embossing in the center of the flower is so pretty in person. Sometimes when we stamp together I get so flustered by the stuff she makes. In my mind, it always looks so much better than mine. Keep an eye out here on my blog, I have some more of Sara's cards coming your way soon!

Who doesn't want a pony?

My little next door neighbor turned five this past week. Like any little girl, she is all about princesses, Barbies, and ponies. Admit it, if we could get away with it, I know several of us who would spend our days wearing tiarra's as well! Anyway, I figured such a special girl deserved a special card. I was all set to just make a pony card, but my daughter pointed out that a fantasy pony would have wings.....so the vellum wings were added. I love the way the vellum makes the pony a little softer. Needless to say, the card was a hit, both with me, my daughter, and the Birthday girl!

Get Punchy!!!

This week on LNS the design team is hosting a punch challenge. You can use any punch or big shot die to make your project. Well, whenever I hear the word punch, I automatically think of Punch Art. Who wants to use a punch to only make it's original shape? Not me! For my challenge card I created a Toucan. He isn't perfect, but I think that gives him character....Please ignore the palm tree in the back, it's a perspective thing...he isn't really that tall! :)

Whose the Boss Challenge take 2!

I told you that love card from yesterday was bad......this card isn't nearly as ambitious, but I still had problems figuring out how much pressure to put on the stylus. Even though this still isn't perfect, it is a major improvement. What do you think? (In case you can't tell....the flower is embossed.)

Stampers Block Be Gone!

Now can you guess what actually worked to break my stamping block? That's right! I've been asked to be a guest designer again on Ustamp with Dawn and Friends Spring Soiree!!! This is going to be awesome. All Spring and Easter projects. After this horrible winter of nothing but SNOW! SNOW! SNOW! I think we all need a little bit to "think Spring". I also want to announce that joining me for USTAMP will be Tammy Howell. She is the winner of my stampers block Blog Candy....A FREE membership to USTAMP Spring Soiree! Tammy said
"I just had some block recently. I was so overwhelmed with work and life that I had lost the joy of stamping. I dreaded preparing for classes and just didn't enjoy it. I stopped and thought about when I first started stamping and how amazed I was when I made some of my first simple cards. I was so excited. I just picked up a Stampin' Success magazine and browsed through it finding a simple card and recreated one of my own. I was so excited to make a card just to make a card, not for a class or for my blog or for a challenge. It was just fun to stamp and I am still enjoying it! I love the challenges and the inspiration I get on the group and other's wonderful blogs."

Tammy, I took your advise and just stamped for the pure joy of stamping. I stopped looking at what I "HAD" to do, and just did what I WANTED to!!! It turned out to be one of my favorite cards ever. I liked it so much, that I turned it into my project for USTAMP's Spring Soiree. Want to see what I made? Then join Tammy and I at USTAMP! Spring Soiree begins March 19th and runs until April 16th. I can promise you, for that month, there will be no stamping block!!! The projects are amazing, and you won't be disappointed.

Thank you all for the wonderful comments you left on my blog. I know I had several emails from others that were suffering just like I was. And not only did you manage to unblock me, but you all helped several others. This is what the stamping community is all about!

My Daughter's Valentine

Katie is starting to turn into a girly girl......just last week she went to a Father/Daughter dance. We borrowed a dress from the neighbor, and boy did it make her look grown up! With that in mind, I decided that I should probably not make a poop card for her :) Instead I used some of the elements from the Love Sparkles Simply Scrappin Kit to put together this girly looking card. Do you think she will like it?

Speaking of Valentines...

I had so much fun making cards for my family at Christmas, I thought I would go ahead and make them a Valentine card as well. The one I showed you yesterday will be for my hubby. A little mushier than his Christmas card....don't you think? This card will be for my son. He is six and totally into potty humor. I think he will get a kick out of this card. I forgot to take a picture of the inside...but it says "Loads of Love". Nothing like a poop reference to warm a six year old boy's heart!!!

Funky Friday Challenge for CCS

Remember how I told you I'm an honorary Brit? Well I think they may take my title away! The last couple of weeks, I have been slacking big time. It probably has something to do with my lack of Mojo and stampers block that was occuring at the time. Well this week, I have a huge surprise (ok, maybe not to you, but definitely to me!) I actually made a card for the challenge! I didn't recycle one i had made earlier, but actually sat down and created. The challenge this week was to make a card using Valentine Colors....well, my card might be a bit unorthodox as a V-day color, but I really love it. What do you think? Oh, and don't forget that you can join us as well. Just make a card and then grab Mr. Linky from the Challenge blog so we can view your creation as well. Can't wait to see what you come up with!

Whose the Boss Challenge

This week on LNS the challenge is "Whose the Boss.....Emboss that is". This week we are suppose to make cards with any kind of embossing on them. I decided that I was going to try something I hadn't done before.....Embossing with the Brass plates that SU! sells. Unfortunately my first try (the love card) did not turn out quite the way I wanted it to....but I thought I would show it to you. Maybe some of you can learn from my mistakes! I did decide to go with something a bit simpler until I got the hang of using the plates and the stylus....but I'll show you that card next week.

Another Butterfly Card

Ok, I made this at my upline's house too....can you tell where I spent last weekend? We had tons of snow, so there wasn't anything to do but sit and stamp. This uses the butterfly background stamp and some colored markers. It took a while to color the background, but I have to admit that the results are definitely worth it!

Butterflies....

Last week on Late Night Stampers we had a challenge to use butterflies. I actually managed to make not one...but two cards for this challenge. This is one of my favorite. My upline had made a great background with ink and shimmer paint for a swap she did.....and had some left. I saw it and immediately thought butterflies.....The card was super simple, but I absolutely love how it turned out. What do you think?

I Scrapbooked!!!!

I know, you can't believe it can you? Well, you probably shouldn't. It wasn't actually me. My wonderful Upline actually put the majority of this page together for me. We have a good friend leaving our area soon, so we made her a memory book of all the families in our squadron. Each family was required to make one page. I did do a little bit though....I stuck the picture on and made the flowers. Other than that, it was all Sara. But, at least there will now be a Scrapbook page out there somewhere with my family on it!