His Truck

I decided once again to actually DO one of Gina K's challenges this last week. Gina offered her video of how to add some sparkle and shimmer to our cards by using a Sakura Glitter Pen. I LOVE these pens. They really require NO effort at all to draw or even color with. The ink just flows so easily. I rarely do "Gina's" technique challenges and I'm not sure why... other than maybe because they are in the middle of the week and well... I don't know... don't ask me hard questions!!! *smile* Gina does a truly AWESOME job on her video tutorials though and you really should just head on over and try a few. Her style is very quick, easy and step by step. Nothing seems complicated when you watch Gina in action! I used my Cuttlebug folder to make the diamond background for this card and my glitter pen as instruction by Gina. I can't believe how much glitter this pen emits. It's just super shiny in real life. My truck is from Asela Hopkins, "The Journey" set and I have used it WAY more than I would have ever imagined. I did cut the "wooden racks" off the back of the truck to make it look more like my husband's real truck. I have to tell you... he was SOOOO happy when he first bought this truck. He snuck out early one morning before I woke to run to the nearest QuickTrip to get us a "treat"... a hot cappuccino. Well... LOL... (sorry, I'm really NOT laughing)... on the way back... he uhhhhh... put BOTH cups up ON the dashboard... took a corner... and well... yeeeep... cappuccino everywhere in his BRAND NEW truck!!! *sigh* Needless to say... whenever he turned on the heater... years later still.. it smells of cappuccino. Now honestly... I'm NOT laughing... but... well... wouldn't you think ... oh... never mind. *grin* This truck is getting quite old... but I have to say... it does bring back many memories (and smells).. ha! Ooops. Have a great day and grab a cappuccino... they smell wonderful! *smile*

"But baby it's cold outside!"

Today's card was another I created using Carolyn King's new, "Warm Winter Wishes". For this card I used only the mug. The DP, I cannot remember where it came from but it reminded me of my daughter during winter. I have to get her all bundled up because, I always seem to say, "But, baby, it's cold outside!" after she moans... "Ohhhh mom... I'm fine!!!" Hee Hee And... when she comes in... the first thing I hear.... "Mom... I need some hot chocolate!". So this card definitely had her in mind when I created it. I LOVE the mug in this set because it reminds me so much of all the wonderful wintry memories I have. The heart just resonates wonderful happy memories for me. My DH and I are big hot tea drinkers in the winter and, as I mentioned, my kids like the hot chocolate after playing in the snow. It seems happy times for us center around a good hot drink... together. I actually stamped the mug on the inside and punched an oval thru the DP and base card stock to make a window. Just a small stamp from Carolyn's set but it brought back so many memories. Again... how you can NOT run over to Gina K Designs and put this in your shopping cart?! Have a great day! *smile*

Where's Rudolph??

OMGosh!!! I lost him!! Well... not really... but I DID have him... at least in mind. I wanted to add a tiny red rhinestone to the middle dear and well... I forgot. You surely have seen "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" on TV, right??? He lost his "nose cover" over and over. Hee Hee. My card was made for a Color Challenge over on Stamp TV a week or so back to use, tans, red and chocolate. I used my Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder and lightly went over it with my Momento Dew Drop, Desert Sand, ink pad. My ribbons are from SU and my wonderful little reindeer are from Gina K's, "Spirit of Christmas" set. With the last Release Party over you need to make sure you head over to Gina K. Designs to see all the NEW wonderful Christmas sets available!!! Have a great day! *smile*

Emily's School Years

Gina K put up the Scrapbook Challenge a couple weeks ago over on Stamp TV and we were to make a card from the same stamp set used to do a scrapbook page. Well... sometimes I just don't follow directions because... well... I don't HAVE to! Hee Hee Honestly, I wanted to do a scrapbook for my daughter of her school years. But, I realized after being ONLY FIVE years behind on my son's, that I needed a quicker way to catch up. I was creating his book using a 12" X 12" format and man... did I have some "shhhhtuff" in that book!!! Seriously people, I am running out of room to store all those ribbons, awards, drawings, etc. etc. etc. I NEED to simplify!!! A while back I saw this cute cute "tag" album that Carolyn King made for her son. Well now... even "I" can put a pic and a few words down a year, can't I??? So... I CASED Carolyn's book and made one for Emily. I am going to do Steven one as well. (I WILL, trust me!) I created one page for each year up to 8th grade. Then, when she heads off to High School, I think I will go to at LEAST a 6" X 6" album. But even with one page of the tag book, I still have room on the back of each page to write whatever I decide needs to be remembered. The front of each page will have her school photo (ONE of them at least... I am amazed they now take TWO a year!), her teacher that year, her favorite subjects, and some special memories. I'm sure we will add a few "best buds", etc. to each page. I used Rupa Shevde's, "Back to School" stamps on both the tag book and the card. If you need to catch up, try one of these cute books. They don't take long to make and boy, the time they will save. I think I will store whatever else I decide is necessary in Rubbermaid totes. But you know... when you're older, do you REALLY want all that stuff your mom saved for you??? Yikes!!! LOL That will be my KIDS' problem!! *snicker* Have a great day! *smile*

Cold Heart? I think NOT!

Today's set I did using Carolyn King's newest set, "Warm Winter Wishes". Carolyn definitely does NOT have a cold heart... if anything she has a HUGE WARM GLOWING heart!! Carolyn debuts another fantastic set in memory of her dear grandmother, Clare Lyons "Mamo". Last year Carolyn created "Whimsical Autumn" and donated 100% of the proceeds to Pennsylvania Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. Here is what Carolyn had to say...

In Loving Memory Of Clare Lyons "Mamo" September 26, 1916 - July 1, 2008 For those of you who read my blog, you know that my grandmother passed away in July. I wrote about it here. What you may not know is that for the past 12 years of her life, she was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. After she was first diagnosed, she moved into my parent’s house where I was living with my daughter. I saw first-hand how devastating this disease can be. I saw my grandmother go from a completely independent and meticulous women to a completely dependent person who lost all of the wonderful memories her life created. In many ways, my family has been saying goodbye to my grandmother for years...as her energy diminished, her weight plummeted and the memories of her life were erased from her mind. I had just finished drawing the images for this set when I received a call from my mother telling me that my grandmother passed away. Although part of me was rejoicing because she suffered too long…the selfish part of me was wishing for just one more visit...After returning from Pennsylvania and getting back to work—I had a resurgence of energy for this new set. I decided the best way for me to honor my Grandmother’s memory was to give back. And so, 100% of my proceeds from this set will be sent to the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. Always.

Again, Carolyn is donating 100% of her proceeds from "Warm Winter Wishes" to the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association in loving memory of "Mamo". She definitely has a warm heart.

Carolyn, let me be one of the first to say, "thank you". Thank you for touching so many people's lives with your warm heart... for knowing that even in the saddest times of our lives, we can all do something to honor those we lost and make a difference. I have no doubt in my mind your "Mamo" is still so very very proud of you.

That being said... my card was done using Carolyn's snowman. I wanted it to appear as though his heart was melting so I lightened up the upper part of his heart with my Copic coloring. Initially, I had the heart dripping but ewwww that looked pretty sadistic! LOL So... I redid him... aren't you glad? LOL I used a small strip of colored foil and embossed with my Cuttlebug. Though it's hard to see in the pic, I made his hat shiny using my Sakura Gel pens, as I did with the holly in his hat as well. I will definitely have more of Carolyn's card to show later in the month. Hope you enjoyed the Gina K Designs Release Party and I'm sure you'll want Carolyn's new, "Warm Winter Wishes" as well. *smile*

Hide Quick!!!

Hee Hee! I just LOVE LOVE LOVEEEEE this little fish! His expression just makes me giggle every time I see him!! He comes from Gina K Designs, Stamp TV Kit, "Eclectic Summer". I played along with Jessica's Sketch Challenge over on Stamp TV to create this card. My DP is from the Lime Rickey collection. Can you see the inside of my card, just a bit? That paper is also from the same collection and I think it reminds me of waves in the water. I used my nestabilities to mount my fish (hee hee) after I colored him in with my Copics and added my Martha Stewart Twig punch for "coral" along with some pebbles I had gotten long ago. You really should check out all the challenges over on Stamp TV. There are five challenges weekly and if you just can't get your mojo up and stamping, Stamp TV is the place to find it!! And if you don't want to try the challenges, you can always search the gallery. There are so many talented gals over on the site and they post faithfully every day. Have fun checking it out and quite "hiding" your talent!! (Pun intended... LOL) Have a great day! *smile