Pastels are Precious

Pastels??? Noooo BABIES are precious!!!  And I LOVE babies!!!  But, since I''m not allowed to even look at babies, I guess I'll settle for making pastel cards! HA!!

Actually, this card was for Carla's Color Challenge last week on StampTV to use pastel colors..  I used Melanie Muenchinger's adorable, "Wee Tee" for my main image.  I found this adorable little DP and just knew it was perfect for a onesie (Is that how you spell it??? LOL).

I added several pastel layers on top of yet another "sparkly" DP. 

A few buttons and a sheer pastel ribbon and that's it.  All there is to making me THINK babies at least. *smile*

I wonder what Carla has in store for us next week??!!  Hop on over to StampTV and check out all of this week's challenges.  If you enter a card, you have a chance at winning a FREE stamp set of your choice from Gina K Designs valued at $24.95 or less!!!!  How's that for a prize??!!

Have a great day!! *smile*

Have a GROOOVY Birthday!!

I find I am doing more and more FUN and bright birthday cards lately.  I think there's a reason behind that... don't you??? Hee Hee  (Yes, I'm dreading mine... which isn't an easy one to swallow. *smile*)  Thus... I'm attempting to "cheer" myself, if you will.  Ha!

My card today was done with Melanie Muenchinger's, "Little Tees".  I heat embossed the hearts from Melanie's newest set, "Candles On Your Cake" to begin. 

Then I took some of those wonderful Tim Holtz Distress Inks that Gina K just put in the store and sponged on my colors to give it a Tye-die affect.  I think I HAVE this shirt!!! LOL  I used my coordinating Memento Markers to ink up my sentiment and mounted it all on top of those wonderful summer color Pure Luxury Heavy Base Weight card stock from Gina K Designs.  I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder, "Spots and Dots" to a few of the card stock pieces. 

I added just a few of the self adhesive pearls to the corners and there you have it... a happy, bright, grooooovy birthday!

I hope you have a great day and if your birthday is soon... make it a groovy one! *smile*

Take Cover!!!

Well... that's what my son's DOG would want to say!!!!  It's almost the 4th of July weekend and you know what that means???? Fireworks... snaps and booms and all those wonderful things DOGS love!!!  Ok... so Biscuit, my son's yellow lab, doesn't!  AT ALL!!!!

Now... I'm not sure this will work... but... I made a card for Biscuit this week!! HA!!  She has a dog house... but no mailbox.  Hmmm... wonder whatever I will do with it? LOL  Honestly, my son thought it was funnier than heck so I will probably give it to him to keep in his stash of "memories" he treasures.

I used Creative Clear Stamps sentiment, the ever funny... "Whoop De Do", for this card because I know if Biscuit could talk she's be saying that same thing as she heard all the booms and bangs from all over our neighborhood, like she does every year!! She just runs around the yard like crazy... tongue hanging out... all hot and barking at everything... she never takes a breath!  Poor thing! 

I also had this awesome "flag" ribbon that I knew would be perfect for my card.

On the inside... I kept it pretty simple with just a few DP blocks tucked in behind my plain white paper and I used the "Patterns Alphabets and Numbers" to stamp out my sentiment. 

Yep... the fourth of July means NOTHING to our dog but turmoil because she can't do anything about it.  But... I certainly hope YOU have a nice one and that if you have a dog,I hope it doesn't suffer half as much as ours does.

Late Colors... :-(

My card today has been a couple weeks coming.  I had made it a while back for one of Carla Suto's Color Challenges over on StampTV.  But... silly me... I forgot I needed to post it the night before the new color challenge is posted. Duhhhh.... did I say I hosted this same challenge for the THREE prior MONTHS???!!!  Getting old isn't fun! Hee Hee

So, I will share my card with you today to at least give you an idea of the FABULOUS colors that Carla is bringing out for us to play with lately. Orange, pink and green were the colors for the week I missed. 

I LOVED these colors together.  I used the new Free with Three set, "Friends are Forever" and colored the image in with my Copics.  My DP is none other than some FREE DP from Gina K on the StampTV site.

I took my wonderful WHITE adhesive backed pearls and colored them with my Copics to match my card colors.  I just LOVE doing this.  It's probably my most favorite bling since I know I can coordinate with ANY color!!  I hope to do better next time and make sure I get my cards posted BEFORE the deadline.

Have a great weekend!!! *smile*

Go Ahead... Kiss Him!

I soooo love frogs!  This frog from InStyle Stamps is no exception!! OMGosh look at those dreamy eyes... hee hee.  I think this little guy would make an awesome Valentine card with all those little hearts on his pad.

I went with the typical frog colors when I used my Copics to color him and his pad.  I thought the Blossom Nestabilitie was perfect to use with him.  I sponged some Memento Danube Blue along the bottom to give a look of water and used the Summer Sky as a lighter color on top.

For my base card I used my Impressibilities to sponge on some darker green to give a bit of a patterned background.

A little DP and some lime Jute ribbon to add a bit more texture and a small piece of twine to tie some Jute as a bow.

On the inside I used my swirl punch and some DP to keep it a bit simple and clean.

Have a great day!!!  *smile*

Patriotic/Summer Time Hop with ISS

Friday, Friday!!!!  What a WONDERFUL way to start a weekend!!! AND... even better... we are hopping with InStyle Stamps showing you some patriotism and what we all love to do... be outside on a fabulous day enjoying the weekend!!!!  I hope you came here by way of Kimme's blog.  If not, you might want to see what she created for you.  ;-)

I am using this wonderful hamburger image.  Now what says summer more than a hamburger with some baked beans and chips?!!  Can you imagine the family reunions, the day of fishing on the banks, or the cool breeze as you watch your DH flip those burgers as you lie on a blanket watching the kids in the park?  Oh yeah!!! Summer is here!!!

I colored my image with my Copic markers and used my oval Nestabilities and scalloped ovals to accentuate the shape of my plate.  And nothing says summer to me more than the reds, bright yellows and oranges that start showing up on clothes and accessories everywhere!!

I used a few words to create my background on my base card stock.  A little bit of digital wood paper I had in my stash to add a bit of nature to my card along with the twine I added to the layered card stock.  Even more, something for that sun to bounce off of... a few self-adhesive nail heads.

Now hop on over to Jodi's blog and see what she has in store for you.

Remember to leave some love on the blogs and end over at InStyle Stamps Blog to tell us your favorite project.  You could be a winner of some fabulous prizes!!!  Have fun and enjoy the hop!!!

Book of Memories...

Last Saturday was our 6th wedding anniversary.  Though we have been together 12 years, we have only been married six of those years.  I always try to give from my heart when it comes to our anniversary and this year was no exception for me.  I decided to try my hand at a book for my  husband.  One that was inspired by Donna Downing. 

I took her board books and did some simple swipes and swirls from different Tim Holtz Distress ink pads, Memento ink pads and Vivid ink pads.  My husband loves dark wood so I used my distress ink to start swiping over the cover.  This was very easy and I used a couple different colors to try to mimic wood.  I added a sheet of paper to the left side and used a sanding block to just wipe away some of the color.  I love how the base color was burgundy and when I swiped it with the sanding block the white came out. But on the board side...it was inked and only small amounts of the original white board came thru.  Sort of an opposite effect.  I added just a few stickers for the year and used not only some Donna Downing stamps but a few Gina K stamps as well.

No.. I didn't put a black blob on the right hand side of the inside pages... I just covered the writing up.  My husband is a very private person and I KNOW he'd never want his book read by everyone. *smile*  But my first page I used a few images from Theresa Mombers stamp sets from Gina K Designs as well.  Our first date was honestly at a park and we spent the afternoon... well into the night sitting and talking on a bench watching the river and enjoying a picnic of sorts together.

I wanted to keep a bit of  "America" in the book since my husband was retired from the Navy after 20 years and I also know he thinks he shouldn't be praised for doing this.  We once attended a convention together and the whole last day was dedicated to our men and women of the armed forced and he wouldn't stand to be thanked alongside the others because he felt it was his "duty" to do what he did and didn't think he should receive any special acknowledgment for this.  So, this page was my sort of "tribute" to his Navy days.

I LOVED the way this page turned out using Tim Holtz Distressed ink, Old Paper.  I also used the Memento London Fog on the edges and swiped it with some black though here it looks blue.  My son and I decided it looked like an old piece of worn paper and here is where I put sentiments from various Gina K Designs stamps and a few of the things he says that inspire me.  I was so thrilled when Gina K started using some of the old sentiment that we hear time after time. 

Again... some swiping with various ink pads and a few stamps from the Gina K Design line.  LOVED how these pages turned out.  They two of my favorite pages.

Lastly I will show you the brightest pages in my book.  A sun, done with a few swipes of ink again and on the last page I just threw some dots here and there using my ink pads again and LOTS of bright fun flowers... my fav!! And... two wonderful sentiments from Melanie Muenchinger's set, "Say it with Flowers"... one of my favorite stamp sets along with "A Year of Flowers". 

He really really enjoyed the book and there were more pages though I didn't photograph them all.  I will tell you there is nothing quite like remembering old times and your first few days and days together.  Always brings a smile to both our faces.  And I must share with you my philosophy of a good marriage.  I HAVE been married three times you know... so I figure I have some expertise in this area by now! LOL  Let's hope!!!  But truly... I have always believed that to make a marriage work and stay fun and exciting... you have to ALWAYS remember what it was like those first few days, weeks, months, years that you met.  Remember those things that the other person did or said that made you fall in love with them.  Remember them and relive them... as often as you can.  We STILL go on dates... we STILL write love notes to each other (and actually mail them!!)... we still take time to do those things that made the other swoon.  It's important.  It keeps up happy... it keeps us attached and more importantly... I think it keeps us falling in love with each other over and over and THAT is an awesome feeling!!!  As an example... I must share.  One evening he had gone to bed earlier than I... I'm sure I was stamping or something like that... hee hee.  Anyway... before I went to bed... I grabbed a Post It Note pad and started writing... "I love you"... on almost a whole stack!! I then proceeded to stick them EVERYWHERE!!!!  They were on his computer, on his chair, on the coffee pot, on the TV screen, going down the wall to the basement... I mean EVERYWHERE!!!

Do you know what inspired me to do that?? LOLLOL  I put one inside the jar of coffee grounds because I knew she made coffee every morning!  Both my parents got the biggest kick out of this and when I woke the next morning...I went into the kitchen (they always sat there, talked and read the paper before dad left for work) and asked.. "Mom, did you put my jeans in the dryer?"  She looked at me and said.. "OH, I forgot!"  I about died!!! Then they both started laughing.  Hee Hee  A fun memory and it was something I do over and over now and then... to my husband AND for my kids.  *smile*

Have a great day and remember... you have to ALWAYS remember.  *smile* 

My Dancing Gal

Today I am sharing a card I created for my darling daughter, Emily.  She just started dance for the first time last night and she was sooo nervous but I snuck up to the window and took a peak... she was doing wonderfully!! I could tell she was shy, but I knew she would be and after the class was over, I saw the joy in her eyes and she was just ecstatic!!!  So, though my wonderful InStyle Stamps image, "Dance Girl", is a ballerina, I know she will love getting such a girly card in all pinks. 

I used my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder for the pink layer behind my image and colored the image in with my Copics.  Once again I used my large scallop Rectangle Nestabilitie and did some light sponging around it before removing the Nestie from the card stock. 

I added a layer of pink satin ribbon under the Nestie and then the bow at the top.  A few blings in the corner completed my card. 

On the inside I did simply a small message to let her know I knew she could do it!  My wonderful lace came all way from Croatia from my sweet friend, Nina Brackett. 

I know she will be just fine and get over her shyness sooner than she ever thought she would.  She did the same thing with gymnastics...until she broke her arm and couldn't go anymore.  :-(

I hope you have a great day and thanks for checking in with me.  See you tomorrow!! *smile*

For Ashley's Baptism...

My dear friend Jessica's daughter, Ashley, was baptized last week at their church.  I am so proud of her faith in God and I wanted to send her a special little congratulations card.  I used my InStyle Stamps, "Drea".  She was perfect for little Ashley.  I colored her with my Copic markers and I added a small silver cording to hang a cute little cross charm for Ashley to keep as a reminder of a her special day.

I also decided to do Ashley's card in red, white and blue and hope that not only was it her decision to follow God, but also a wonderful tribute to America that we have the freedom to choose our faith.  I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends like Jessica and I thank all those wonderful soldiers who fight for our right to be free and believe in our religious preferences. 

On the inside I kept it simple and just added a few bits of the DP from the front and a simple message to Ashley.  I am so very proud of her decision as I know her family is as well.

God bless you and keep you, Ashley.  You are on your way to being a wonderful young woman and I know God will hold you close watch over you in all your choices.

*HUGS to Jessica and her DH for raising such a beautiful child and a child who, obviously, knows the first step to make her life bloom.

Have a great day!! *smile*

There's Comfort in Faith

Happy Tuesday everyone!!!  It's my turn to share my  Creatively Clear Stamps Blog designs again.  Today I wanted to share a more "manly" design card for you.  I used the Creatively Clear Stamps set, "Time for Prayer". 

I used a couple different digital "wood" DP that I had on hand to help make this more masculine.  I also used hemp instead of ribbon or other type of embellishment.  You know how men are about anything frilly... hee hee.

I colored the image with my Copic markers but the cross I paper pieced; again with the digi wood paper.  I used a small amount of Tim Holtz Distress ink, Antique Linen, around the edges of my Nestabilities Deckled Rectangle. 

On the inside I did a simple "Kraft" paper and simply stamped my sentiment in brown and also the corner floral stamp in dark green.  Again I used just a tad of the digi wood DP.  A few self adhesive nail heads (a man's best friend... compared to pearls!!!! LOL) and done.

A perfect sympathy, encouragement card good enough to give any man's man.  Right? *smile*  Have a great day and I'll be back next Tuesday with something fun!! 

Christmas isn't Far Away!!!

You REALLY don't want to think about this, do you??? *smile*  Well... honestly, it's not always about the rushing, the crowds, the money, etc.   Sometimes... it's about getting prepared ahead of time and that is what I am grateful for when it comes to challenges like the new one on Stamp TV.  CHRISTMAS CARDS!!!!  Oh yeah!  If you have a big family like I do then trust me... it takes forever to get all my cards done!  So I was thrilled to be getting a start on these!

Last year I stamped 48 cards... just the main image... and embossed with my Cuttlebug all in one night and ... well... ended up with "stampers elbow".  Or... as the doc said, tennis elbow.  AND... my wonderful friend Melanie Muenchinger said SHE sends a different and unique card to each person instead of all the same.  Well now... why didn't I do that anyway???? I guess I thought a chain of sorts while stamping would make it faster.  Not really... perhaps just painful. LOL

My card was done with a stamp sentiment actually designed by Melanie called, "Festive Frame"  I LOVE this set because OF the frame, but it just so happens the sentiment is one of my favorites as well.

I heat embossed it in silver and added the silver cording and cross charm to it to set it off.  That BEAUTIFUL lace is from my dear friend, Nina Brackett... all the way from Croatia!!!  She was so sweet to send me an assortment of their fabulous lace.  I couldn't be more grateful.

I hope you stop over to Stamp TV and try the Christmas Challenge.  It not only will give you a head start on your cards, etc., but you could win a free stamp set of your choice from Gina K. Designs just for being so prepared! *smile*

Have a great day!!! *Smile*

Striped Inspiration

I totally LOVE hot air balloons!!!  I live in Des Moines, Iowa, but I am in Warren County which means I am closer to Indianola, Iowa, where they have the annual International Hot Air Balloon Classics.  They even have a museum celebrating this event.  Every summer we see hundreds and hundreds of balloons flying over our home.  It is just an awesome site!  You can get up on most any given morning and see at least one hot air balloon in the sky all summer long.  I love it!  Now my dog... that's another story! LOL  Sometimes they fly pretty low and last year we had one look as though it was going to land in the back yard.  In fact, you could hear the exhaust from the flames as the operator opened and closed it and the dog was going nuts!!! LOL  

Gina K's hot hair balloons from the Stamp TV Kit, "Eclectic Summer" seemed perfect to use for the Inspiration Challenge that Brenda posted last week on Stamp TV.  You can see Brenda's beautiful picture HERE.  I colored them with my Copic markers and instead of just masking them, I cut each balloon out and mounted it to my Pure Luxury Heavy Base Weight card stock base.  The balloon in the middle was popped up even more with some Pop Dots (have you ever used these??? They are my FAVORITE pop dots ever!!!  The paper is sooo easy to remove from them.).

I added some cute little flowers from Melanie Muenchinger's, "Little Tees" to accent the bottom of the card. 

If you notice in the picture for Brenda's inspiration there is an area of all hot pink.  I tried to somewhat mimic this with the hot pink scallop oval punch under my punched white.  I look at this and see a cloud with a pink lining behind it... but then when I look again... my mind can see what COULD be a punched out area with a hot pink background inside.  Which isn't the case, but I love the illusion on both ends. 

Have a great day and if you have time... stop over to Stamp TV and play along with all the challenges.  You could win a free stamp set!! *smile*

Happy Anniversary!!

Today my husband and I are celebrating our 6th anniversary.  Though we have been together 12 years, I played hard-to-get because I wouldn't give him a date. LOL  We were actually engaged 2 years before I decided I couldn't put him off any longer. Ha!!

It was a beautiful day outside and we couldn't have asked for anything more perfect.

I think he had me from the first date, but I never wanted to admit that before. LOL  I mean come on... I got sick on our very first date and it wasn't pretty.  He cleaned my car out... it was miserable cold outside and he actually went to a car wash and made it perfect... in the cold and snow!!  AND... since I was living alone in an apartment... he actually slept ON THE FLOOR beside my bed that night to make sure I was ok.  Then got up and made me breakfast.  A perfect gentleman and he STILL opens doors, seats me at restaurants and always says.... "Ladies first."  Chivalry is not dead!!!  I still get flowers for no reason at all... and on occasion when I hop in my car to head somewhere I will find a card he placed there as a surprise.  I have been very blessed.

My card today will hopefully remind him of things he'd done for me (not only in a possession, but also in my heart) that have meant so very very much.

I told him very early in our relationship, when we were "just dating" that I used to play violin and how very very much I loved it and how I could no longer take lessons due to no one being close enough for my mom to take me to lessons any longer after 8 years.  So I eventually had to quit.  On my first birthday we spent together, he bought me a violin!!!! My very own!!!!  I could not believe he had remembered our talk about that much less how MUCH I know he had to spend on it!!! It's just beautiful.  And though I still haven't had time to pick up lessons again... I do play it now and then.  All from memory.

My image is from InStyle Stamps, "Violet".  Not only was the image appropriate for a card to my DH but... her name was as well.  I LOVE purple!!!  Any shade of it.  So, why not... I colored her in violets and purples.  *smile*

I used my Copic airbrush system to throw just a slight bit of grey to the image and the heart as well.  I am sure he will smile when he sees it.

So here's to another magical 6 years and longer. (HE wants to be married for 100 years!!!  I told him God wouldn't do that to ANY woman!! LOL *wink*)

Have a great day!!!  *smile*

A BRIGHT Daughter!

Isn't it amazing how kids are just HUGE fans of bright colors??? I mean... seriously... I am!! LOL  But my daughter is as well.  She spyed my Neon Copics in my collection the other day and was just ooohing and awwwing over them all!  Of course she knows momma doesn't allow them to play with her Copics so.. what's the next best thing??? "Mom, can you PLEASE color something for me with them?"  Well, of course!  I never use them and I wasn't sure how they would blend with anything else anyway... so why not.

I used Gina K's awesome new "Botanicals" set which has this wonderful printed word stamp and made my own background or DP, if you will.  Then... I went in search of big flowers.  Since I guest designed for Theresa Momber when she released her "Purrr-fectly Delightful" set, I knew I had to use the wonderful vase of flowers she had in that set. 

I am always struggling with exactly how to color my water AND a glass (vase) together so this is good practice for me with her stamp.  I did use the neon blue in the Copic set for the glass and one of the pale blues in my regular Copics for the water.  (I suppose I should actually remember to write down the actual Copic numbers but I do so many at once I just forget.  Perhaps I'll work on that. *smile*)

I really liked how the flowers turned out and as I said, I have never really used the neons for anything so this was fun to see them work together.

On the inside I used the flowers from the "Botanicals" set and stamped them in Vivid Ink, Raspberry and Lemon Ice and they seemed to match my "neon affect" perfectly.  *smile*  Though she has already seen this, my daughter, I will save it and give it to her someday when she least expects it. 

Have a great day and enjoy something bright and cheery! *smile*

Graduation... InStyle Stamps Way!!

Today I am sharing my first graduation card of the season.  I am VERY shocked about that since I have a HUGE family and realized there is not ONE person graduating this year!!! OMGosh how can that be???  But... I must admit... the relief is welcoming! LOL

My card today was created with "Jessica" from InStyle Stamps!  I just LOVE the Anime images that ISS has to offer!! Not to mention ALL the other super cute images!!  AND.. you can purchase digi stamps or rubber!!!!   Most are available in both.  Can't beat that!!!

I colored Jessica with my Copic markers and mounted her on a Labels Nestabilitie.  I used our local high school colors because there are far to many relatives that are, have and will go there so I know this card will be used.

I used my wonderful WHITE self adhesive pearls and colored them with my Copics to match my DP and card stock.  Can't beat always having the perfect color on hand when you need it!! *smile*

Check back this weekend because I have more InStyle Stamps cards I will be sharing.  You won't be disappointed seeing the adorable images, I promise.

Have a great day!!!

I Have a Teenager Now!!!

*Sigh*  My baby boy is growing up... TO fast!!!  And what's worse...  he's not even here with me today.  He's off... all by himself, ok maybe not ALL by himself... with his classmates and a few teachers in Washington, D.C. on a five day trip.  It's hard enough to see him becoming a teenager, but to know he's out there in this great big world WITHOUT ME???!! Oh boy... will I ever survive him someday moving out??? LOL

I've always referred to Steven as my "Angel Baby" and luckily, he's not offended or embarrassed by this... at least not yet. HA!  When I was 35 years old I decided it was time to have my first child.  It only took me about a year of trying before I went to find out why I wasn't getting pregnant.  Then... it took another 6 months of infertility treatments.  If you've ever had to endure the daily shots or even the EXTREME PMS that comes with this... you know how very grueling this was on me.  Finally... $12,000!!! later,  I decided I couldn't do it any longer.  Not only could I not afford it any longer, but mentally it was draining.  I cannot even begin to tell you how much and how long I cried realizing I would probably never have a baby and for no known reason other than perhaps... God just wanted it that way.  Then... a whole YEAR later... I became pregnant.  No meds, no shots, nothing... just the good old fashioned way.  I was ecstatic to say the least!!  My whole family was thrilled beyond words for me.  I happen to go out of town with my mother-in-law to visit her sister and we had soooo much fun that few days we were there.  On my last day there, I woke up and told them I felt the baby move.  They laughed.  I was only 3 months along.  They told me there was no way I felt it move that early.  Well... I did.  But sadly, what I felt was my baby beginning to abort.  The doctor said he believed I felt it separating from my womb.  It WAS a thud.. and I remember how it felt to this day.  Sadly, I didn't find out until my husband and I went for our first ultrasound and they had told us to bring a blank video tape and they would record the baby for us.  Then to have the technician tell us... "I can't find it." I went home that evening and looked up my doctor's HOME phone number.  Yes... I called him at home. He told me he thought I would abort the baby very soon.  He was right... the next morning I had.  I don't believe anything... not one thing... can explain the sadness my husband and I felt that day.  I remember I couldn't stop crying.  They told me to go to the hospital and the doctor would meet me there.... I cried all the way.  When he came in to talk to my husband and I ... I was still crying.  And... when I came out of surgery.... I awoke crying and hugging my mom.  I couldn't stop.  The next day I called my dad at the office and told him I was ok and asked if he wanted me to come in... all the while crying.  Then I apologized to him and said.. I didn't know how to stop myself from crying.  Being dad... he said... "I'll have your mom call you." Ha.  I know he didn't know what to say... no one did.

I remember waking up one morning... a couple weeks later and just lying in bed talking to my husband he was getting dressed in the bathroom  next to our bedroom and I told him... "I don't want to try to have a baby any more."  I know I couldn't go through such an ordeal again.  You know they say God works in mysterious ways... he did just then as well.  Little did I know at that very moment, I was already pregnant with Steven.  Thus.. my angel baby was born.  *smile*

You ever wonder how kids end up the way they do??? I do.  Steven is my "sensitive/emotional" one of my two kids.  I honestly believe, I was so full of ups and downs and truly scared to death the whole time I carried him that I think... somehow... he got all that from me and what I went through to get him.  I couldn't be prouder of him... he's a straight A student... going to Central Campus for the second year in a row and taking advanced classes.  Actually high school work he is getting credit for towards his GPA.  He has taken piano for going on 9 years now and clarinet for 4 years.  Steven is loved by everyone and I am so proud to be his mom and yes... he was worth it all and still is.  *smile*

Ok... enough bragging. Hee Hee (Hey, this is NOT just any old birthday! LOL)

My card for Steven was made with Melanie Muenchinger's newest set, "Candles on Your Cake" from Gina K Designs.  I made sure the cake was orange (Steven's favorite color) and added the numbers for candles adding a wick with my Inkssentials White Opaque Pen.  If you count the candles I did in various colors AND the #1 and #3 ON the cake... it comes up to 13.  Clever, huh? LOL  And... it just wouldn't be a card from mom without purple in there somewhere.  *smile* (Oh by the way... my post went up when Steven was born... 8:52 AM today. *smile*)

Happy Birthday, Steven!  I am so proud and honored to be your mom!  *HUGS & KISSES*

A Place to Reflect...

Once again I am submitting another entry for Gina K's DT spot for next month.  As I mentioned in my last post, Nina Brackett's newest set, "Fine Furnishings" and "Fine Furnishings Additions" reminded me so much of when my mom worked for an expensive furniture store and I'd get to go downtown and visit her now and then.  This was the most well known store for buying those "Fine Furnishings" and I LOVED seeing all the awesome and unusual furniture that we definitely didn't have in our home. *smile*

But when I came home from school one day, I had received a white canopy bed from that very store!!!  From my Grandma and Grandpa for my birthday!!  I felt like a princess and it was covered in yellow swiss dot material from the canopy to the pillow shams and bed ruffle!!!  It was so expensive and Grandma had saved for it and made payments on their layaway plan.  It was my most precious possession for years and when I got older and married, I finally let my mom loan it to someone in the family.  Before I knew it, they had loaned it out as well and eventually I lost track of my wonderful canopy bed.  I was miserable for so long that someone dare get rid of my bed and not return it to me... or at least my mom.  Now all I have are the memories of how long it took my Grandma to pay for such a wonderful piece of furniture.  It was my hope to someday give it to my daughter.  Sadly, I never got that chance.

One of my favorite things about going to mom's job was riding in the elevator with her and seeing all he different floors and furniture.  EVERY floor was done different and had different areas of the home furnishings in it.  I NEVER heard of a "fainting couch" before and to see these unusual things was a real "fantasy" for me.

I did my card in some of the "richest" DP I could find and of course, HAD to add a touch of MY fantasy with it... a purple tea set. *smile*

On the inside I threw a bunch of pillows around to add to the soft comfy feeling that I was sure was how every piece felt.  I wasn't allowed to sit on any of it for fear I would get something on it or get it dirty in any way. Hee Hee.

I hope you play along and enter Gina's contest.  You have until 8PM CST on June 17th to enter.  You can find all the details on Gina's Blog.  Good luck and have fun remembering your favorite summer childhood memory.

Style AND Class!!

Gina K is having another challenge and a chance to join her DT and receive the next set of Stamp sets being released.  All you have to do is create something using one of the current stamp sets that reflects one of your favorite childhood summer memories.  You can find all the details on Gina's Blog.  Deadline is Thursday, June 17th at 8:00 PM CST. 

For my entry, I chose Nina Brackett's newest set, "Fine Furnishings" .  My mom use to work for one of the most expensive home furnishings stores in Des Moines.  Believe it or not... she use to run the elevator!!!  Yep... she was an elevator attendant.  I use to love to go see her at work whenever someone would take me downtown because she had this really small elevator and a tiny little chair that she would sit on when the elevator wasn't being called to a floor.  I remember she had a tiny fan mounted in the upper corner because it would get hot in the little thing during the summer.  It was so cool and it was a manually operated elevator.  I was so impressed when the "big boss" would get on and ask her if I was her daughter.  He was always dressed so classy and LOOK REALLY rich!!! LOL

I remember looking at all the furniture... it was all so pretty.  Then one day... I came home from school and guess what????  My grandma (who USE to work as the elevator operator as well), bought ME a REAL princess canopy bed from that store!!!!!  I couldn't believe it!!!  I knew how expensive the furniture there was and my grandma and grandpa really didn't have much themselves.  But Grandma has put the bed on layaway and it was all paid for and ALL MINE!!!!  It was just gorgeous... painted white with yellow swiss dot canopy, comforter and pillow shams to watch!!!  I couldn't believe they made WHITE furniture! LOL  This was a very special memory for me and I use to love to leave my windows open in my room and watch the canopy sway in the breeze. 

Nina's set reminds me so much of all those classy and expensive pieces of furniture I use to look at in that store.  AND... I was soooo proud of my mom for being the "elevator operator".  You know... she had to actually make sure the floor matched the elevator level floor... LOL  I could never figure out how she knew when to stop that thing. LOL

I decided to go with a simple but, hopefully, classy look to my card.  I stamped my image in Memento Tuxedo Black and used my oval and scallop oval Nestabilities to mount it.  I Cuttlebugged the card base with my Textile embossing folder.  Using Gina K's Pure Luxury Heavy Base Weight card stock really shows off the embossing and I love that!!

A few crystal blings to add to the chandelier and make it shine and a simple black bow to hang from.

I really liked how this came out and on the inside... I tried to go simple as well.

I was thinking this would also be a GREAT invitation for a "Black Tie" event.  And to think I really didn't know how I'd USE this set... but, I am so happy that somewhere in the back of my mind, I KNEW I needed it!!! 

Have a great day and never underestimate your decisions to purchase more stamps than you need!!!! Hee Hee   There's still time to get your entry in so hurry up and stamp, stamp, stamp.  Share your favorite summer memory with us... I love reading all the entries.  *smile*

Wrinkle Remover!!!

NOT that "I" personally know about any of this... hee hee.  But... if you want to cheer someone up that perhaps is feeling bad about their age... (ha)... this just might be the card you need!  *smile*

I split up a few stamp sets to create this "happy" card.  My image came from "Officially Single" stamp set from Creative Clear Stamps.  I love how happy she looks... not a care in the world! 

I stamped my image on white and used my Nestabilities to mount her on the front of my card.  Before removing the Nestie, I sponged around the edges to match my DP.  I colored her in using my Copic markers.

I used the first part of the "Prevent Sagging" single sentiment on the front of my card.  Simply inking only the part I wanted with a Memento marker.  

Added a bit of DP the the card base and popped on a layered flower in the corner.  See that tiny pearl I used in the center of my flower??  I ALWAYS buy white pearls and clear crystals and once I've decided on my colors, I use my Copics to match them to my card stock or image.  Saves a ton of money and I never have to search through color after color for just the right pearl/crystal.

On the inside, I again used the "Prevent Sagging" sentiment and again only inked the part up I wanted to show.  I used my large scallop rectangle Nestabilitie and added some swirls punched from the card stock I used on the front in the corners. 

Now I KNOW YOU don't need this card... but maybe a "friend" could use a pick me up?? Hee Hee

Have a great day and I'll be back next Tuesday with more fun images from Creative Clear Stamps!! *smile*