You Make My Heart Sing!

You Make My Hear Sing is the theme to the latest Splitcoaststamper's Virtual Stamp Night otherwise know as VSN. I LOVE VSN!! But I don't always get to play. A card challenge every hour starting Friday evening from 5PM (CST) until 9PM, picking back up on Saturday at 12noon & going until 10PM; well that is quite a commitment. I've done it before...twice, but this weekend I only had time for a few cards.  This card was for the Friday night 7pm (8pm EST) challenge called Sing, Sing, Sing where a bird was to be incorporated in your card. I just recently purchased this little gal..the "Pure Innocence" girl. I think this line is so cute & since I have two daughters away at college, these images make perfect cards just to say 'hello'.

Supplies:
Image: You're So Tweet (Pure Innocence- MFT)
Paper: White (Gina K pure luxury 120#- my favorite for card base b/c it is so smooth and heavy); Real Red, Only Orange, DSP-retired Summer Picnic for dress paper piecing (SU)
Ink: Rich Cocoa (Momento), Copics
Accessories: Clip (CTMH), White brads (Paper Studio), ribbon- retired Jersey (SU), Embossing folder-Spots & Dots (Cuttlebug)

Have a happy week!

Marilyn

Happy Mail

On Monday, my oldest daughter returns to college for summer classes. She's been home for the month of May & we are really going to miss her. I want her to have a little 'happy mail' so we will be sending this off soon so she will have it soon after she returns.

Have a great holiday weekend!

Challenges: QFTD11, CC271, IC234- Splitcoast Stampers
Supplies:
Stamps: Pure Innocence (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Dusty Durango, Rich Razzleberry, So Saffron (SU!), Solar White (Neenah), DP- Green at Heart (Basic Grey)
Ink: Rich Cocoa (Momento), Copic Markers
Accessories: Large Oval Punch, Round Tab Punch (SU!)

IC233

Today was a great day! I woke up a bit too early (around 4 am) and just couldn't get back to sleep. So instead of fighting it, I started organizing the studio. Really organizing! I removed from my file cubes' hanging pendaflex folders all the retiring SU! papers & put them in a big basket under my desk. I am going to use up as much as I can, but there is a lot there. I have every color in 8.5 X 11 card stock. So that's 24 packages of papers & some (like the purples/lavenders) are nearly full.

I filed some of the newer papers I purchased at the CK convention & a few good finds from other stores including the three local craft shops that I adore. (Red Lead, The Ink Spot, The Checkered Cottage). Each offers a little something different & I have to limit my trips because I always find way too much cool stuff.

Recently, I organized my nestabilites, my brads and embellishments, flowers and embossing powders into new places including some faux leather baskets in solid colors of bright green, an orange and a hot pink (From Hobby Lobby- multiple trips with the 40% off coupon).

I reorganized my stamps; and put my few current favorites sets, my birthday sets and my favorite sentiment sets into two baskets near my work area. I cleared off one side of my center island that serves as a second work surface (it was over-run with magazines, papers and other odds and ends). Now, I have a place for scrapbooking or other bigger projects where I can leave that current project out until it is done. Since I joined the SEI club where I receive a project each month this was a quite a necessity!

I am so thankful to have a studio room of my own where I can store all my wonderful crafting 'tools of the trade' and a place to craft. I would have never thought five years ago that I would have gotten so 'taken' by this hobby, but I love it and it seems I love it more with each passing year. I have met some marvelous women through SCS, here in St. Louis and more recently a few new friends through the CK convention. Life is sweet!

My first card:
Image: Matthew 7:7 (Stampabilities) & Innoscents 2 (Heartfelt Creations)- these fit blossom 2 nestabilities
Paper: Crushed Curry, white, DSP- Razzleberry Lemonade
Ink: Rich Cocoa (Momento); Copic Markers (I'm learning), white craft & summer sun for distressing
Accessories: Nestability Blossom 2, In stitches template (brazzil), Emboss & punch (fiskars), stickles

I posted a card yesterday in honor of Deborah, the Queen for the Day on Friday at SCS. I kept looking at it, not liking something but I decided not to fuss with it. Then when I woke up this morning, I knew exactly what to do. Out came the MS butterfly punch and I added the three little b-flys. I like it much better now. Below is the revised version. What do you think?

My mind must have worked over the problem while I was sleeping and gave me the answer when I woke up. Does that ever happen to you? It is sort of weird, but I am not going to think too much about it as I was just happy to have the improved version.

Mambo Love

Happy February! I used the SCS sketch challenge from last Wednesday for this card (SC265).
This cute Stampendous stamp is called "Chantigo's Love Balloons". I used my copic markers to color the image. I am still learning but I think it turned out okay. My Bow Easy helped me make this triple looped bow in this smaller size and then I popped a button with scrapper's floss on top. What do you think?

Recipe:
Stamps: Chantingo's Love Balloon (Stampendous), So Many Sayings (SU!)
Paper: Melon Mambo, Perfect Plum, DP-Razzleberry Lemonade (SU!), Solar White (Neenah)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Momento), Melon Mambo (SU!), Copics R02, E27, RV11, RV14, R37
Accessories: Melon Mambo polka dot ribbon, Word window punch (SU!), button (stash), Scrappers Floss (Karen Foster), Bow Easy

Razzleberry Violets

Last night I stayed up late to paper craft. This is one of the cards I made for three challenges. First, the Inspirational challenge (IC215) where I chose these floral prints from Nell Hills as my inspiration. I used the colors from this week's SCS color challenge (CC253): pretty in pink, chocolate chip, rich razzleberry, a neutral (I picked black) and a bonus challenge to incorporate hounds-tooth. Additionally, I chose a sketch challenge from August, SC243.

I chose the February stamp from the retired set "Stamp of the Month". It retired before I started stamping, but I really like it & so I waited patiently until I could find an inexpensive set on Ebay. I think it makes a nice female birthday card. One of the things I purchased with Christmas money from my in-laws was more Copic sketch markers. Last year, I received the basic set, which contains a 12 markers, one from a different color family. With my in-laws generosity, I now have twenty more markers that blend with these basics. So I think I am now equipped to learn Copic coloring.

On a personal note, we had the services for my mother yesterday. It was beautiful & lots of friends and family were present. My youngest daughter left about an hour ago; she's heading back to college & my oldest daughter leaves tomorrow. So for better or worse, I will be having a lot more time on my hands.

Thank you for your support, your inspiration and friendship! {{{Hugs}}}

Marilyn

Happy 4th

Happy 4th!
I am so grateful to live in this wonderful country! And grateful to all those before me and those now who protect our freedom! Thank you!

The 4th of July is a favorite holiday around our house. Fireworks, BBQ, picnics, fun in the sun, outdoor lawn games, summer drinks, including my personal favorite sun tea, are just the many things that make this holiday fun. {Having an extra day off work isn't too bad either ;)}

My tent card celebrates the great holiday. The Digi Shack's weekly challenge is to make a card with Red, Navy, Bashful Blue (or light blue), White. Lani is colored with Copic markers. Isn't she adorable?! Some of my Design team sisters have colored her with brown hair and she is just as gorgoeus. {Hop over to the challenge to see all the cards}

The tent part of the card was made with 1/2 of an oval (instead of a circle) using my colluzzle. It is one of those old tools that I still love and use. The beaded arc was made by using Tombo multi liquid glue and then the beads were sprinkled and allowed to dry. The powder pal trays from SU! keep the beads off the work surface and floor.

I'll be blogging around this weekend; looking forward to some extra time cardmaking, playing challenges and seeing all your super creations. Happy 4th!

PS The new Stampin' Up catalog is out. To see - click on my sidebar link.

PSS Dont forget about The Digi Shack's Design Team call - due 7/10/09

Recipe:
Image: Patriotic Lani, Sentiment- All Year Cheer II
Paper: Brillant Blue, Real Red, DSP- SU! Print pack
Ink: Copic Markers, SU! White Craft ink
Accessories: Colluzzle, Tombo glue, red beads from stash, Bow Easy, ribbon from Target $1 bin

Happy Father's Day

HAPPY FATHER"S DAY!!!

Here is my creation for my father-in-law. He enjoys watching TV in his recliner so this image from The Digi Shack is just perfect for him. Years ago he was a golfer and fisherman, but he has slowed down. Now he mainly watches golfing and fishing on TV along with Cardinal baseball.

On another post, I blabbered on about how much I like this retired SU! DSP called Prestwick~ the colors and patterns are so masculine. And although I sometimes miss my old favorites, I love new products. The ever-changing, updated & trendy products is one of the things that attracks me to this hobby. It is fun and refreshing to try new merchandise.

Speaking of new- I just received my SU! sneak peek, new 'in colors' and hostess products from the 2009-2010 SU! catalog. PLUS I received my new catalog. Anyone else have theirs? What do you think??

For me it's "Oh my...great new stuff!" The under $10 page has some fantastic images that will be perfect for the fall and winter holidays. IMHO, the new 'in colors' - soft suede, dusty durango, crushed curry, melon mambo, rich razzleberry and bermuda bay - are just awesome. {I am still trying to memorize the names. }

And although I have had plenty of time with my new catalog because I've carried it everywhere, I haven't gotten to play with my other new toys- the papers, inks and sets because we have been traveling. As much as I enjoy seeing new places, I am happy to be home for a while.

Enough chit chat-= about my card. I used my copic markers to color the image. I like how it turned out but I am still learning. Any good on line places to learn a little more copic skills? I have heard about the certification, but I am not ready to travel for it. Suggestions?

Have a great day with the special men in your life!

Recipe:

Digital Image: Recliner from The Digi Shack

Paper: Brillant Blue, WW, DSP-Prestwick (retired SU!)

Ink: Copics- B29 ultramarine, B39 Prussian Blue, YG03 Yellow Green, G17 Forest Green, E09 Burnt Sienna, 100 Black, Y13 Lemon Yellow, E00 Skin white

Accessories: Corner Punch, Brillant Blue Brads

Lilly Closeup