Let's go Blog Hoppin', Everybody's Blog Hoppin'!

Oh to live in my brain and be singing along - LOL!!! WHATEVER!

Today is the Back to School blog hop for The Stamping Boutique! Have you SEEN their new store? Oh, it's scrumptious looking - go check it out, Tracey has some AMAZING new images...I'll wait while you check it out!

K, are you back? Good, let's get hopping along then. If you reached my site from Maria's blog, then you're on the right path! If not, start at Aletha's blog so you don't miss a minute of fun! I've used the cute little apple for my card; a sweet, quick and simple card - but a great thank you for a teacher this year! I paired the apple with sentiments from PTI's Teacher's Apple set; can't go wrong there!

Thanks for hopping along with us; next up is the amazingly talented Melissa!

Have a great weekend friends! Hugs, ~M.




WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: The Stamping Boutique Digital Apple
Papers: PTI Pure Poppy & Summer Sunrise, DP by Imaginisce
Accessories: Copics, PTI ribbon, 3D gel pen, sponging, nesties

J2810 - WIW Lupine

Hi there friends; how's your week going? It was hard to return to work this week; the girls and I attended a concert last Thursday night arriving home around midnight..what's the big deal about midnight? It proved to me that I am REALLY too old to stay up that late. LOL I had taken Friday off work but had to go in to do a report, so I was up and around (naked like - no makeup, no "styled" hair) and into the office at 7:15 a.m., but I only had to stay about 2 hours. Yeah...I snuck a nap in later that day!

It's another "What If Wednesday" from Repeat Impressions. Wendy gives us a sketch and we all play along AND we hope you will play along too. There is a $25 gift certificate up for grabs, won't you join the fun? Visit The House That Stamps Built for all the deets.

I used one of my favorite RI floral stamps - Lupine; I just love this image! Layout is pretty simple, added some ribbon and a beautiful slider from Flourishes (not sure they offer these anymore, but they have plenty of other great items); I've had these sliders F-O-R-E-V-E-R; time to stop hoarding them and put them to use, yes? K, you shaking your head is REALLY not necessary! HA HA

I punched some butterflies using the Martha Stewart punch, added pearls and glue dots to adhere them which also allows me to raise their wings slightly.

Thanks for stopping by; hope you will join in the fun. Be sure to check out what the other RI Rock Stars have created:

• Ayana Posadas
• Dana Joy
• Darsie Bruno
• Harriet Skelly
• Joy Hadden
• Julie Smith
• Lynette Neus
• Makiko Jones
• Robin Kirkpatrick

Have a GREAT week; hugs, ~M.



WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: Repeat Impressions Lupine Flowers
Papers: PTI Lemon Tart, Basic Grey DP
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copics, nestabilities, slider, misc. ribbon, EK Success punch (border), MS punch (butterflies)

Girls, Gingham, Sketch, Paperweight, Mermaid...wow, I'm full of it!

Greetings friends; how are you? Summer is passing so quickly; I cannot believe the children start school in a month! How's your summer going?

Believe it or not, I combined two challenges with this card:

1. Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge (ALWAYS fun)
2. Dare to Get Dirty2010 Girls, Girls, Girls...and Gingham Challenge (by Peanutbee - love her creations!!)

I love to do the various sketches but seldom get them posted timely, but this week I'm on the ball. I just had to find some time to stamp - just for fun, so I made this card and I'm working on another one. This image was a freebie at Bugaboo Stamps - they have some of the CUTEST digital images. Unfortunately, I had some trouble with my printer ink smearing as I colored the image - HATE when that happens!!! Anyone have any input on keeping that from happening? I love using digital images, in fact, the paperweight below is also a digital image which I resized to fit inside the paperweight. Hence...one of the things I love about digital images.

Anyway, I enjoyed coloring this little cutie; added some flowers using PTI's floral dies and that's where I was finally able to add the gingham. HA! Added a couple jewels, sponged on some chalk ink around the edges and called it good.

And last, here's the paperweight I made for a dear friend's daughter that LOVES mermaids. I also made her birthday card with this same image - click HERE to see it. WOW; is it hard to photograph the image behind glass! The edge of the image was colored pink and then glassy accents & glitter were added; I also added glassy accents to each of the balloons.

Thanks for stopping by; hope you have a fabulous week! Hugs, ~M.



WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: Digital Image by Bugaboo Stamps (girl in flower pot) & Michelle Perkett (mermaid)
Papers: PTI Hibiscus Burst, GKD White, Cosmo Cricket Delovely
Ink: printer
Accessories: Copics, nestabilities, glitter, glassy accets, PTI floral dies, gems

Billy - Repeat Impressions SOTW

Meet Billy - he's this week's Stamp of the Week at Repeat Impressions which means YOU can purchase him at 50% off! Visit The House That Stamps Built to see all the fabulous creations and find all the deets on the discount!

Seems like just about everybody created a "scene" with Billy. I had something totally different in mind, but it didn't work out - but I knew I wanted a "miss you" type card; so I decided to use the kite...reminds of when kids are little and they let something go and the wind takes it up...up...and away! Our youngest daughter 'accidentally' let our oldest daughters balloon go when they were very young - oh my, you would have thought the world was coming to an end - LOL!

Anywho, I stamped Billy on GKD's 120 lb. white paper and paper pieced his overalls and the kite. The rest was colored with Copics. I sponged in the sky and dirt.

I stamped the "Miss You Friend" directly onto the twill ribbon using Memento Rich Cocoa ink, added a button, some chocolate baker's twine and we're good...he's sad...but good!

:D

Thanks for looking; hope you have a GREAT week! Hugs, ~M.



WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: Repeat Impressions Billy, PTI's Mixed Messages, Kim Hughes Little Gal
Papers: PTI Kraft, GKD 120 lb. White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & Rich Cocoa
Accessories: Copics, twill ribbon, button, chocolate baker's twine

Happy Birthday Young 'Un

And you thought I was talking about me right? LOL

My birthday was Monday and I had an absolute blast - seriously, does ANYONE get as excited about their birthday as I do? I have talked about it for over a month (just ask my co-workers)! It was such a special day...AND my sweetie hubs got me a fabulous gift - but THAT surprise will have to wait till a later date! Ah...the suspense! Trust me, it's good.



Anywho...a co-worker asked for a "girly girl" card for one of her granddaughters upcoming birthday. I used Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 77 for the layout; another fabulous layout! All card stock & DP is from PTI (sure love their products)!! I colored this cutie (Inky Antics Tween Shopping Girl) with Copics adding Spica glitter to her sunglasses, belt, bracelet and earrings - she's got her groove on! I drew in and colored the sidewalk; really like how it turned out.

The "glitter button" at the center of the flowers was originally white, I changed it with my Copics - just LOVE the ability to change the colors of various things with your Copics...amazing!

Thanks for stopping by; hope you have a great week. Hugs, ~M.



WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: Inky Antics Tweens Shopping Girl, PTI Big & Bold Wishes
Papers: PTI Simply Chartreuse, Sweet Blush, Berry Sorbet, DP Polka Dot Parade
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copics, Berry Sorbet ribbon, sparkle gem, PTI Beautiful Blooms II #3 dies, Spica Glitter Pens

RI - Sketch J1410

Hello friends!

It's time for another fabulous sketch from Ms. Wendy at The House That Stamps Built. Play along and have a chance to win a $25 gift certificate! I got me some Delovely Cosmo Cricket designer paper - isn't it boo-ti-ful? Such fun, bright colors! You'll definitely see more of it in my next few projects!

I really like this sketch, but I sure struggled with my focal point. :( I tried several things and finally determined at 10 p.m., that I would just have to be happy with this one.

For the circles on the right-hand side; I used my smallest nesties to create 3 circles and then added bright yellow brads to each one. I loved the rounded corners of the square, so I rounded ALL my edges!

The yellow panel directly below the flower was stamped with PTI's Damask Design in VersaMark and then I used a paintbrush to add pink chalk to the images. Very soft and subtle.

See that twill ribbon with the yellow edging? I added the yellow edges with my Copic markers - how cool is that? I LOVE the way it looks! I also used a pink spica glitter pen on the flower and a yellow spica glitter pen on the greenery around the flower.

Be sure to check out what the other RI Rock Stars have created; always lots of great creations to get your MOJO flowing!

• Ayana Posadas
• Dana Joy
• Darsie Bruno
• Harriet Skelly
• Joy Hadden
• Julie Smith
• Lynette Neus
• Makiko Jones
• Robin Kirkpatrick

Have a great week; hugs, ~M.



WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: Repeat Impressions Daffodils, PTI Damask Designs
Papers: PTI Hibiscus Burst, Lemon Tart, Simply Chartreuse, GKD Cream, Cosmo Cricket Delovely
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: nesties, Copics, twill ribbon, brads, corner chomper

SOTW & Another Noble Deer

It's another new Stamp of the Week offered at 50% off at Repeat Impressions - stop by The House That Stamps Built to check out all the details AND see the amazing creations by the DT!

Meanwhile, I tried my hand at using Stampin' Up's Noble Deer stamp again for a friend's hubby's birthday. I like this one MUCH better than the LAST (scroll down to see the Noble Deer card) one I did. This time rather than using my brayer, I actually sponged all the colors on EXCEPT for the deep purple, I actually used pad to paper for that color - it's a VersaMagic Dew Drop so it was really simple to add small strokes of purple to the evening sky.

This card has SO MANY layers - LOL! I threw in some Scarlet Jewel to pull out the deep purple in the sunset, added some brads, tied on some twill & baker's chocolate twine and called it good.

Thanks for stopping by; hope you have a GREAT week! Monday is my birthday, so I'm determined to make it a GREAT day! :D

Hugs, ~M.



WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: Noble Deer by Stampin' Up!
Papers: PTI Dark Chocolate, Simply Chartreuse, Scarlet Jewel, Kraft, GKD Cream
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa
Accessories: sponging, brads, PTI's baker's twine, twill ribbon

Wizard of Oz - I Think I'll Miss You Most of All

Remember that line from the Wizard of Oz, "I think I'll miss you the most"? I had a sweet friend just graduate from school and one of her fellow students (and friends) said this to her on their last day. How sweet is that?

Anyway, this friend likes hot air balloons; hence this card! I found this fabulous hot air balloon image at Bird's Cards - take a look at those amazing images! I printed the image on cream card stock and then printed it 3 times on to designer paper; two of the balloon images were cut from the soft green gingham paper; the basket was cut from the opposite side of that same gingham paper. I mounted the 2nd balloon and the basket with dimensionals AND used chocolate hemp as the "lines" holding the basket and balloon together. It looks so cool IRL. I used a couple different Copic marker to add a bit of shading.

The layout originated from THIS sketch from Taylor...didn't exactly end up that way though. LOL

I tried a new pearl pen to add the decorative dots on the DP; interesting pen; I'm anxious to try the "white" color I also purchased.

Thanks for stopping by; hope you have a GREAT weekend!! Hugs, ~M.



WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: Ditigal Image, PTI Mixed Messages
Papers: PTI Kraft, Dark Chocolate, Quite Contrary DP
Accessories: copics, nesties, pearl pen, sponging, hemp

Cuteasaurous Birthday

Hello dear friends, how was your 4th of July? We had absolutely nothing planned but ended up having a little gathering with our neighbors - LOTS of fireworks, a fire, vanilla ice cream with strawberries and blueberries, sweet tea and smores - YUM, YUM - what fun we had! We got home about midnight and then watched a great movie. What a fun, fun weekend. AND I've gotten plenty of crafting time so I'm a really happy camper!

A customer requested a b-day card for their nephew who turns 5 this month...I have a birthday too this month....I'm 5+ a few years.... HA!!!

Anyway, here's my little card for him; I love this little dinosaur - he's just adorable! The inside says "hey dude" and "happy birthday". The layout is Jen's SFYTT from last week; the papers are Quite Contrary and I used the cuttlebug Mosaic embossing folder. I also distressed all the edges.

Thanks for stopping by; hope you have a great week! Hugs, ~M.



WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: CHF Kim Hughes Little Boy
Papers: PTI Simply chartreuse, Ocean Tide, Quite Contrary DP
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa
Accessories: copics, nesties, distressing, brads, sponging

RI SOTW - Sea Turtle

Do you like my little sea turtle? They have the COOLEST looking shells; typically striped looking on each 'piece' of the shell - amazing! I made a little card, 4" x 4" using some blue, green and kraft sponged with those same colors. Such fun!

This little Sea Turtle is the SOTW (Stamp Of The Week) at Repeat Impressions which means you can purchase it for 50% off this week!

Don't forget to check out the other RI Rock Stars and their fabulous creations:

• Ayana Posadas
• Darsie Bruno
• Joy Hadden
• Lynette Neus

Hope you have a great week; thanks for stopping by! Hugs, ~M.

WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: Repeat Impressions Sea Turtle
Papers: PTI Kraft, Ocean Tide & DP; Misc. ATC card stock
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa
Accessories: eyelet lace die by PTI, white gel pen, Copics