Be Back Soon!!

Taking a family vacation
be back soon!!!!


PS This is a stock photo from the internet.... not mine!!! :)

A gift in the present

When material objects are given as gifts, in many cultures they are traditionally packaged in some manner. For example, in Western culture, gifts are often wrapped in wrapping paper and accompanied by a gift note which may note the occasion, the giftee's name, and the giver's name. In Chinese culture, red wrapping connotes luck.


Ok, have you noticed Ive been trying to be 'smart' lately when I post, adding some tidbit of trivia or trivial information?? Here's a little inspiration (I like that word better than case-D) which seems so harsh. If talented artists are leaving their beautiful inspirations on their blogs or through their galleries, I am just using their inspiration to
create my own little piece of artwork. So, no longer will I be casing...
I am being inspired!!!
This cute little gal I drew is based off of the Elyzabells.... as she wishes someone a happy, HAPPY birthday, carrying a cute little gift with a sparkle of glitter embossing on the bow! Used the grey copic marker to add a little shadow. The bling in the corner is a glitter button... came in a package of 20 assorted little sizes and you can just peel and pop it anywhere!

You can't have enough cupcakes!

Okay, so I got super inspired with the cupcake idea. I came up with a few more layouts... thanks to Markie's Mom.... her dotted frames and layers are just awesome, you could add any image and make it work with the layout. The black frame seems to make the card pop. I think the most layers I saw on a card of hers was over 17!! Does she mail these cards out??? I used my color wheel to get a sense of what might work together on the cards! Then for this little card pack, I made a special cup cake card case. The box is made like a pizza box and the ribbon can slide off. If anyone is interested I can do a

card box tutorial... there are so many cute ways you can package your cards for gifts!!!

Now, the one thing I want to learn is posting to my blog, and being able to have the words next to the image, not at the bottom of the post. Anyone know how to do that??

Happy Friday!!

Howdy Partner

A cactus (plural: cacti, the word derives from Greek, thus the Latin plural "cacti" is etymologically inappropriate, though it is frequently used nonetheless as is otherwise singular "cactus") is any member of the succulent plant family Cactaceae, native to the Americas. They are often used as ornamental plants, but some are also crop plants.

Cacti are distinctive and unusual plants, which are adapted to extremely arid and hot environments, showing a wide range of anatomical and physiological features which conserve water. Their stems have expanded into green succulent structures containing the chlorophyll necessary for life and growth, while the leaves have become the spines for which cacti are so well known.

This is a case-d card... the image I drew is based off of Maryse Carrier designs. I'm not sure if she is in business anymore? But her animals are so simple and cute. This little doggie has a bandana on. Tried to do the background sort of Zindorf-ish.... with the green as the sponged on ground cover, a little sponged blue sky, and yellow sun glow!! I think this card would be great for a southwest lover!

Witch Which?

Well, I have been in a creative mood, but have a few items I can't share yet on my blog until they make their destination. So I thought I'd bring back an 'oldie'. I think Halloween will be the next card making craze time of the year!! I love Witchy poos shoes and funny socks!! Oh, I've seen cards too that have this image, The Witch will see you now! or the Witch is in!!

Time for a coffee break

Coffee is a widely-consumed stimulant beverage prepared from roasted seeds, commonly called coffee beans, of the coffee plant. Coffee was first consumed in the 9th century, when it was discovered in the highlands of Ethiopia.[1] From there, it spread to Egypt and Yemen, and by the 15th century had reached Armenia, Persia, Turkey, and northern Africa. From the Muslim world, coffee spread to Italy, then to the rest of Europe and the Americas.[2] Today, coffee is one of the most popular beverages worldwide.[3

Are you a coffee drinker? I can't say I am, really. I currently hold a $5 gift card to Starbucks (That was given to me as a RAK)... but my last time there, I had Chai Iced Tea. I like the smell of coffee (at times) Tried espresso once, yucky!! I like the flavored creamers! And haven't found the need for coffee caffeine... I do that with soda (pop if you're from Illinois and elsewhere?) and Sweet Iced Tea. I have difficulty conceiving the thought of drinking hot coffee on a hot day! It makes me sweat! Sissy is relieved that non of the 5+ Starbucks in town are on the list for closing.

This card is case-D. Love the paper piecing of putting the coffee cup together with the saucer. Created a little steam coming out of the cup. Inside it says "You and me?"

Happy Birthday Bubba!!

15 years ago today, which I believe was a Monday also (how does that work out in the math??) I was walking into the hospital to be induced to deliver little Monkey Boy!!! Eight hours of labor later this 8lb 6 oz boy wonder was here!!! My first! Today, he is 5' 7-1/4" and 120lbs!! Happy Birthday Bubba!!!

Card Book

To 'show off' my cards to potential customers, I would let them page through my card book. Inside are plastic sleeves that you can flip through and easily see and take the cards you like. It was a plain ole binder, starting to fall apart, so I decided that I'm a scrapper, I could re-do the book. So, here is the before and after. Actually, I have two books.... so this is really one and the other, now I need to cover the plain ole one!! I had fun with this. Click on the picture to see it closer if you'd like!

CupcakePALOOZA

I was just going through some of my cards that I posted here on my blog and noticed I had a few cupcake type of cards.... they sure are cute {wink}. I've gone on to a few other (maybe 100) galleries and blogs, and have seen so many shapes and types of cupcakes! Are they all for birthdays? No, not necessarily... some say 'hey cupcake'... as a way to get your attention...or as a thank you 'your sweet'.... however cupcakes are used, they are sure to brighten someone's day! What saying can you come up with?

Check out my Slide Show!

Sly "Cooper" Robinson

Sly Cooper is the main protagonist of the Sly Cooper video game series (the first game in the series is known as Sly Raccoon in Europe, but the character's name remains the same in both versions) as the main character and hero of three platform games developed by Sucker Punch Productions for the Sony PlayStation 2.
Cooper n
One that makes or repairs wooden barrels and tubs

Well here's the puppy! (He's not really a puppy, but it's one of his many names... Bubba calls him his feline friend... yes, I know canine... but that's Bubba for you)
Cooper has been release up to the couch! But ain't he cute? I'm hoping some of my funds from whatever job I get in the fall will help to pay for new furniture... the plaid stuff is sort of dated. And now with the dog making his cozy little burrow there!!! Yikes.... Can you see me working in the background???

So, Cooper is named after the racoon character 'Sly Cooper'.... it is such a slick name, we love it and love him!!

To have and to hold

Marriage vows are promises a couple makes to each other during a wedding ceremony.

Civil ceremonies often allow couples to choose their own marriage vows, although many civil marriage vows are adapted from the traditional Catholic wedding vow "To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish 'till death do us part."

So the whole 'design' team (my family) loved these cards, but wanted to know who was getting married!!! Nobody that I know of, but my great SU! Demo is on an Alaskan Cruise, so I thought "What the perfect time to borrow some of her stamps"... so she let me and I did!!

I went to SCS and found the gallery for this stamp set, and I went to work using and implementing great designed cards!! I especially love the idea of cuttlebugging the brides dress... look closely to find that one. Used stickles for the flowers, it's neat how they turned beautiful colors depending on what color ink I originally stamped the image. In most cases too.... I used the glitter embossing powder on her veil!! Now, I have a stash of very pretty wedding cards!!

TFL!

Check out my Slide Show!

Basement bathroom 'Splash' paint

Before and after photos of the basement bathroom. Went from blah cream to a 'splash' of blue from the ocean. I wanted a little cottage beach theme to this small bathroom!

Just for you

There are 264 known extant species of monkey.

This little guy was a case-d card from SCS. It took a while to create with all the layers and pieces. I used my coluzzle to make the oval. The monkey himself is layered with his head and hands popped up. I like the color combination used as well.

Q. What do you call a Monkey in a tree?
A. A Branch Manager!!!

With Deepest Sympathy

Sympathy is a social affinity in which one person stands with another person, closely understanding his or her feelings.

Sympathy cards are the hardest for me to create.
A. They are not fun and whimsical, like I try to have most of my cards express.
B. Yet they have to express sincerity

Here are a few cards I made last week. I am enjoying butterflies lately, and I think they work intertwined in a sympathy card... floating up to heaven as a new life from the cacoon! Used Watermark ink to just leave the stain of the image. I also found some rub-ons from Big Lots($1) and thought the stark white box on the card looked simple, yet elegant.

Off to funner things... or more fun subjects! Or something just simply fun!

One serving per visit!!

A cupcake (the common US term) or fairy cake (the common British term, although it is now used interchangeably with the US term) is a small cake designed to serve one person, usually made in a small paper cup container; another reason why they are sold in groups. As with larger cakes, frosting and other cake decorations, such as sprinkles, are defining characteristics of modern cupcakes.

Spotted this cute simple image on SCS, yesterday. What a great way to create the cupcakes.... used the paper crimper for the the base, and then cuttlebugged a nestabilitie scallop circle, cut that in half. I can't tell which I like better, the sprinkle topping (beads) or the cherry topping (small punched circle with the circle embossing folder). This is too cute, I could make more!!!

It's a piece of cake

The birthday cake has been an integral part of the birthday celebrations in Western cultures since the middle of the 19th century. Certain rituals and traditions, such as singing of birthday songs, associated with birthday cakes are common to many Western cultures.

It's birthday month around here! This is just a card to add to my stash. I like the color combo!

I get by with a little help from my friends

Your friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you

This card was made at stamp camp. Love this SU! set. Added prima flowers instead of coloring in the image. The Asian word is outlined with a gold gel pen. Little white gel dots add dimension to the flowers. Simple, yet elegant!

What's my card average?

That was a recently asked question by Cheryl! Hi!! I know Kim has asked that type of question before too, and those who receive my cards often ask, how and when do I do my 'cardmaking'? It's not that I'm different... but I am a highly organized person... my kids are both teenagers (yikes the baby just turning 13 last week)they don't NEED me other than to take them here and there, or watch their sporting events, I walk my dog about twice each day, my husband works fulltime (away from the home)... and cardmaking is my hobby! I love to do it! I miss it if I'm away from creating, I make a point to do it daily... and quite frankly... I don't go to the gym, I don't make tee times, I'm not off at the 'club', I have healthy parents, the social level in my neighborhood is minimal if not only on the weekends, and I'm currently 'off' for the summer because I was a teacher's aid (paraprofessional). My social calendar is pretty quiet... If I am truly inspired, I could sit and create in my office up to 5 hours a day (I go in and out, clean a floor, put in a load of laundry, check an email, make a card, take a kid here, walk the dog, start a new card, putzs in the yard, read a chapter, go to the dollar store, make a meal, finish a card... see the method of my madness??)

So, to answer the question... at least one card a day... if I am inspired and having a slow mom day, up towards 5 or 6 cards.

This card creation is for Charley. Her mom needed a 'thank you' because they were on vacation and someone was dog sitting her, and the host family are Cub fans!! (booo, but I had to make the card!!)

From Zindorf tutorials

I have really been inspired by the cards and tutorials that Michelle Zindorf has! She has taken stamping and inking to a new creative level, that I just love to try and copy, duplicate, learn!!!! I look forward to creating more sunsets, shadows and palm trees!
here

Check out my Slide Show!

July is National Ice Cream Month

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of the month as National Ice Cream Day. He recognized ice cream as a fun and nutritious food that is enjoyed by a full 90% of the nation's population. In the proclamation, President Reagan called for all people of the United States to observe these events with "appropriate ceremonies and activities."

Check out my slide show below. I believe if you have your cursor on the pictures, you can see what number card you are on, 1-7. Here's for all the ice cream lovers out there... there is a month just dedicated for you. Yum-mo!!!

Check out my Slide Show!

Wanted!

Went to stamp camp, almost two weeks ago now, and here are a few cards we made. A lot of distressing ink, crumpling the paper, and a bit of twine to make these cards look a bit old!! I like this stamp from SU!.. but I can't say I like all the stamps that come in this set. My demo was able to mix up a few and combine the horses, sheriff stars etc.... I think these cards turn out great for a male-ish type of card.

Happy Birthday America!

Needed to find a card in my recent stash that helps to celebrate America! Well, here is one that relates in color, red, white and blue. This stamp set is wonderful... Loads of Love! by SU! There is a tag on the front, so you can write their name, or their age (Birthday Card). I love the layout and probably will make more similar to this.

Happy Birthday USA!!!!!

Happy Birthday Sissy!!

Look who turns 13 today!!!

Here's the scoop!

Ready for your icecream cone to start melting before you get your first lick?? These cones are $1 stamps from M's! Inspired from Markie's Mom for all the dots... each cone has a raised popped up scoop of ice cream, topped with a cherry that is sparkling because of a red gel pen. On the second card I used the cuttlebug swiss dots background. I also found in my stash some brown ribbon with dots, love the chocolate brown with the pink!! What type of icecream will you have today?

Yay! We're home!

And I truly missed entering a blog comment, drawing, checking out galleries and everything about my hobby!!! Five days is a long time to be away - when you are so used to having it all at your finger tips, paper, colored pencils, blender pens and brads!!! Heaven!!

Sissy's team did quite well at the 500 team tourney. There were 52 teams in her age group/level... and they placed 24th. They had some good games, and some sad games. But we think she did a great job. Her serves were right on! I think the girls had fun bonding with each other. Our tour of downtown Louisville was nice... we went to the Louisville Slugger museum and saw how they made wooden bats. And we went to Churchill Downs and watched 3 horse races, and felt the vibe of the Kentucky Derby. And we walked around downtown Louisville, past the Muhamad Ali Museum... and lots of pretty parks. But I'm glad to be home. I'm looking forward to getting the laundry done, and then checking out my craft room to see what supplies I need to order from SU! and TAC.
Oh, and the little French fellow to the right is a case-D drawning... he would be perfect for a 'having a party' card... or something like that. I like the word stamp off to the side as the background. Finishing up some of my dry wall tape...(this card is completely case-D) but I like it!
Happy Day