Random thoughts of a Confessed Stamp-A-Holic

A cupcake for you!

 Today's birthday card uses the fun sketch from this week's sketch challenge 166 over at Stamping 411.  I flipped the sketch on it's side to allow for my cupcake tower but what a fun sketch either way you do it!!  I wanted to add a bow over my image but I was having some issues with the tails of the bow covering up the sentiment so instead I made this little flat bow and added some "tails" to the sides of it.  Then I jazzed it up with a few small rhinestones.  LOVE the way it turned out.....especially considering the collection of small little bows I had to go through to get this one :) 

Materials used (all SU unless noted otherwise): crazy for cupcakes; night of navy, pretty in pink, certainly celery cs; stamper's select white (PTI); tuxedo black (memento); copics; crystal effects; nestabilities (spellbinders); scallop edge sizzix die; rhinestones; celery ribbon; lattice embossing folder

We had SUCH a great time at Yo Gabba Gabba Live yesterday!!!  It was truly a FUN party!!!!  I think the little lady was a little overwhelmed that all her "friends" were there dancing and singing...she sat kind of shell shocked for most of the show.  The show was about an hour of pure preschool fun :)  Such a great way to end our summer!  And we finally have some warmer weather back here in NJ so we've got a few more days to soak up the sun here on the east coast before we head out to CA.  

I trust that you had a great weekend as well.  Can you believe it was the last one of August?!?! Wow, did this summer fly by or what?!?!  Thanks so much for stopping by today!!  Hope you have a wonderful day :)

Simple Sunday Hardware :)

 I saw these adorable little bookmarks on a few blogs oh maybe a year or so ago and knew that I wanted to make one (or two).  So I finally gathered my supplies and settled on a design and made these cute little bookmarks with my hostess club on Friday night.  Isn't it adorable?!!?  And oh so simple to make!  There are a few ways to make these but I opted to follow Dawn's directions since it required no gluing (and then I didn't have to worry about my stamp girls taking them home).  I stamped the flowers from pocket silhouettes in early espresso and then punched it out using the designer label punch.  The butterfly was added *after* the image was in the hardware label so that the wings have a little lift in them.  The ribbon for the actual bookmark is the yummy poppy parade stitched ribbon.  I love this ribbon... it's so soft!  The ribbon on the top is the 1/8 taffeta ribbon in early espresso.  This ribbon is a little tough for me since it's so thin....I just need a little practice with ribbons in thicknesses other than my standard 1/4"  *wink*.  I used the cute little flower ribbon slider on the taffetta.  The slider has a little channel that goes around the edging of it so I filled that with some silver stickles for LOTS of shimmer and shine!!!  I LOVE the way it turned out.  I made sure to run the edges of the ribbon through a flame to melt the edges so that I won't have any fraying issues...and yup I know I could have used fray check but the flame is SO much easier and much more fun *wink* 

Materials used (all SU unless noted otherwise): pocket silhouettes; baja breeze, so saffron cs; early espresso ink; early espresso taffeta, poppy parade poly ribbon; stylized silver hodgepodge hardware; designer label, word window punches; silver stickles (ranger)

Here's a close up of the image panel.  Can you see the glitter on the slider??    I LOVE the way that turned out.  I love when you can do simple little things and get such a great result from it :)  Ahhh it truly is the little things that make me happy!

We are off to Yo Gabba Gabba Live today with the little lady!!!  It's almost embarrassing to admit but I am so excited for this silly show :) The whole crew is going to be there and it's going to be a FAB dance party.  If you've never seen the show, it's a totally crazy show but it's SUCH fun and all about dancing and having a great time!!  I can't wait!!!!

Well thanks so much for stopping by today!!!  I hope you have a wonderful day!  :)

Squeeze Me!

 This is one of those super fun cards to make that I really have no idea what I would ever actually use it for :)  Maybe a cute card for my hubby??  I don't know but this stamp was sitting on my table just calling to me "use me, use me, use me!!!" and really how could I say no??  The sketch is this week's Monday Mojo challenge.  Thought it would be perfect for my cute little tomato....and doesn't he just look *so* nice and juicy...makes me *almost* want to squeeze him *wink*  He's got a nice coating of crystal effects on him so he's not only juicy but shiny too!  

Materials used: garden variety (unity); daffodil delight, poppy parade, sahara sand , tempting turquoise cs (SU); stamper's select white (PTI); garden variety dp (cosmo cricket); tuxedo black (memento); copics; crystal effects; white organza ribbon (SU); daffodil delight button (SU); twine; polka dot embossing folder; word window punch (SU); nestabilities; silver brads (SU)

I've got my hostess club tonight!!  I am so excited!  It's such a great group of women.  We've been stamping together since I was pregnant with Elizabeth and we just have such a great time!  I really look forward to our once a month get togethers :)  Hopefully I'll have everything cut and prepped by the time they get here tonight!  Last month I cut it a little too close, seriously I didn't think I was going to have it all done by the time the doorbell rang (but I did!!!).  Did I learn my lesson??  I guess only time will tell....tonight *wink*

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!!!  Thanks so much for stopping by today :)

My little furry friend

 Yet another fun sketch this week over at the SFYTT challenge! I could not resist playing along.  The sponsor for the challenge this week is The Greeting Farm so how could I not pull out one of my Greeting Farm stamps :) I flipped the sketch on it's side to accommodate the image.  I pulled the colors for this card from this week's Curtain Call Act 44....aren't they fun??  I used the colors not only for my paper selections but also for a guideline for my coloring of this little cutie.  And of course she's got her little orange tabby at her side.  This was such a FUN card to make!! 

Materials used: anya (*retired* (??) the greeting farm); poppy parade, tempting turquoise cs (SU); stamper's select white (PTI); daffodil delight dp (SU); tuxedo black (memento); copics; early espresso tafetta ribbon; nestabilities; polka dot embossing folder; tempting turquoise buttons (SU); rhinestones (SU); yellow twine (jillybeans)

We've been having some fall-like weather here in NJ the last fews days....it's been such a nice break from the horrible heat and humidity we've had the rest of the summer.  Sadly though with the fall weather has come rain......lots of it :/ so we really haven't had a change to go out and enjoy the cooler temps yet.  We are going up to my old stomping grounds today.....headed up to Rutgers University to take my niece on a tour.  She starts classes there next week and she wants this old lady to show her where all of her classes are so she (hopefully) doesn't get lost when classes begin.  I'm hoping that the cooler weather hangs around today...but the rain well that can go somewhere else :)  Nothing more fun that walking around a college campus with two kids in the rain :/ so yeah let's hope for better weather today!  

I hope that you have a wonderful day today (not matter what the weather :))!  Thanks so much for stopping by :)

Pass the Popcorn Please!

 Today's card uses last week's SCS color challenge colors-pretty in pink, cherry cobbler and always artichoke (I also added a touch of soft suede ribbon too). These colors are really stunning together!  They would make an awesome set of colors for a flower card....but I saw the penguins and my retired artichoke dp and had to use them instead.  The designer paper is actually from the holiday collection WIntergreen.  I think it is one of my all time favorite sets of DP that SU has put out.  The colors are so pretty and I love that the patterns don't scream holiday. Lucky for me I just happen to have a *few* packs of this paper stockpiled away in the ol' stamp room :)  To make the penguin image I stamped it on the background paper, a scrap of paper and also on the DP.  I cut out the couch and adhered that to the main image panel and then I cut out the penguins from the scrap and adhered them on top of the couch.  It seemed the easiest way to get them on the couch without *too* much fussy cutting.

Materials used: good friends (TCP); always artichoke, pretty in pink, cherry cobbler cs (SU); stamper's select white (PTI); wintergreen dp (SU); tuxedo black (memento); copics; emobssing folder (quikutz); nestabilities (spellbinders); rhinestones (SU); corner rounder, circle, word window punches (SU); soft suede ribbon (SU)

Phew, crazy week ahead full of getting ready for our trip to CA (and getting the blog ready-lots of posts need to be scheduled!) and just having fun enjoying the last few days of summer with the kids.  I can not believe how fast this summer went!!!!  And only two weeks until Alex's first birthday!!!!  How did *that* happen?!??!?!?!  Yikes!!  Time is just flying....  Until then I hope that you have a wonderful day today and that Monday is kind to you!  Thanks so much for stopping by today, it really means the world to me :)

Simple Sunday

 I have a fun little card for you this morning.  This set uses the color challenge combo from Stamping 411 this week-Color Inspiration #137.  Pretty isn't it!?!  The tangerine tango was stamped 3 times and then layered with dimensionals.  Then I added a few teeny tiny little pearls on the top one to get this oh so pretty embelishment.  The certainly celery background is also popped up on dimensionals.  Sometimes, at least for me, when a card is *to* simple it helps to add a little dimension to make things a little more interesting.  The sentiment was stamped before the embossing so that it would give a good impression-ask me how I know this is the better order of things *wink*

Materials used (all SU unless noted otherwise): great friend; tangerine tango, wild wasabi, certainly celery cs; tangerine tango, wild wasabi ink; scallop edge punch; embossing folder (quikutz); pearls

We took down the little lady's toddler bed and set her brand new BIG girl bed yesterday!  She has been asking for a bigger bed for a week or so and DH and I decided it was probably finally time for our little girl to "grow up" *sniff sniff*.  She helped my DH take apart the old toddler bed and set up the new full bed and then proceeded to have a BLAST laying in the pillows of her new bed!!  Last night she asked me to sleep with her so we could "cuddle the night away"  It was SO cute of her to ask I just couldn't resist :)  I know all too soon the day will come that she's "too cool" for me so I have to take advantage of this kind of stuff now ya know?

Today we're off to the mall to get some new shoes for my growing big girl.  She *needs* some new light up shoes...cause every four year old does of course.  So we are headed to find her some :)  I hope that whatever you do today it's a great time!!!  Thanks for stopping by today :)

Flowers for you

 Phew, nothing like cutting it close.....I am just getting in on time to play along with this week's Curtain Call challenge!  This weeks colors are so bright and fun and for some reason remind me of cute little Changito the monkey!  I also managed to use this week's Mojo Monday sketch (love when I can combine two challenges in one!) for this happy fun card!  I popped up the flowers on dimensionals to give them a little distinction.  The little blue flower in the corner is one of those white shimmery Bride's flowers (you know that you find in the cute little paint can) that I airbrushed to match the pacific point paper.  Then I used a few petals off of another one to make the leaves.  The ribbon is sadly retired (was available when Pacific Point was an in-color) but doesn't it just make the cutest little bow?  I added it at a slight angle at the top of the oval for a touch of whimsy.

Materials used: spring changito (stampendous); pacific point, tangerine tango, kiwi kiss cs (SU); stamper's select white (PTI); tuxedo black (memento); tangerine tango dp (SU); copics; pacific point ribbon (SU); pumpkin pie button (SU); shimmer flower (michaels); rhinestones (SU); gunmetal stickles (ranger)

I'm still working on my stamp projects to keep the blog active while I'm in CA.  I'm having lots of fun making birthday cards and I think I might even sneak a few back to school/Halloween cards into the mix....maybe :)  Taking a break from stamping this weekend though since my husband has the entire weekend off!!!  Don't think that's happened since May?  maybe?  So mo stamping for me this weekend...just going to enjoy the family!  I hope that you have a wonderful weekend as well!!!  Thanks so much for stopping by today!  See you on Sunday with another Simple Sunday card :)

Thinking of you....

 This is one of those really pretty cards for a not so pretty occasion...one of my friends is going through a pretty rough patch and I made this card for her to let her know that she is always in my thoughts.  Sometimes that's all you can do for a person, let them know that they have people who care about them and are there if they need a shoulder to lean on.  I used the colors from this week's color throwdown challenge.  They are just so soft and so soothing I thought they would fit the bill perfectly :)

Materials used (all SU unless noted otherwise): thoughts and prayers; certainly celery, soft sky, chocolate chip, crumb cake cs; early espresso ink; embossing folder (quickutz); scallop edge punch; butterfly sizzix die; button die (TCP); linen thread; rhinestones

It was a busy, productive day today!  I stamped three cards today...yippee!!!  Can't wait to share them with you and I can tell you they are C-U-T-E!!!!  I've got a few more in the works in my head that I have to get done before we head out to CA for a little break to celebrate Alex's first birthday (yikes-did that go fast or what!?!?!?!).  Hopefully the cards work as well on paper as they do in my head :)

Thanks so much for stopping by today on this not typical Thursday.  I'll be back tomorrow with a new adorable card for you!!  Have a great day :)

Presents!!!

 Yesterday was my sister in law's birthday :)  We celebrated by taking her out to a very yummy Thai restaurant and then going back to the house for cake and ice cream.  All this after she and my brother spent a nice relaxing weekend up in the Adirondaks.....not too shabby!  She's a super fun gal so I wanted to make sure that her birthday card was just as fun as she is.  I used my new birthday bunny stamp from TCP and this week's SFYTT sketch.  I love how the bunny's big ol' ears are popping up out of the rectangle.  The paper is from a 6x6 pad that I "found" down in the depths of my stamp stuff (that's sadly still mostly packed in boxes in the basement...I *really* need to find some time to get that stuff out of there!!!!!!!).  I originally was going to paper piece the gifts but opted instead to color them all in with super bright fun colors....and man what a stack of presents that is!!!  

***sorry for the not so great pic today.  It was SO overcast and yucky out yesterday I just could *not* get a decent picture of this cutie

Materials used: birthday bunny (TCP); tempting turquoise cs (SU); raspberry fizz, stamper's select white (PTI); tuxedo black (memento); birthday dp (junkitz); copics; scallop punch (martha stewart crafts); word window punch (SU); ribbon (michaels); nestabilities

Keeping it short today with not a lot of chatter....I've got a TON of stuff to do and a four year old that is *dying* to play with me!!!  Hope you had a wonderful weekend and a super week!  Thanks so much for stopping by today :)

Simple Sunday

  Another quick and fun Simple Sunday card for you today.  This one uses this week's Mojo Monday sketch..and what a fun sketch this is!!  It lends itself perfect to a simple Sunday card :)  This card uses the new hostess set Apple Blossoms as well as the new vintage wallpaper embossing folder.  I cut out the petals of a second flower and popped them up on the main image to give it a little something extra...I also spritzed it with some vanilla smooch to shine it up :)  Fun!

Materials used (All SU unless noted otherwise): apple blossoms; pear pizzaz, peach parfait; early espresso, very vanilla cs; early espresso, peach parfait, pear pizzaz ink; vintage wallpaper folder; scallop edge punch; pearls; VV ribbon (retired); vanilla smooch spritz

Today is my SIL's birthday and we are off to a delicious Thai dinner tonight...can't wait!!!!  But before that we have a "magical" birthday party to go to at a local magic shop for one of Elizabeth's friends....it's a day FULL of birthdays and celebration today!!!!

Hope you have a fun day too!!!  Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I'll be back tomorrow with the card for my SIL...just need her to open it first *wink*