Random thoughts of a Confessed Stamp-A-Holic

Simple Skulls ;)

Happy Halloween!!!  I hope you are having a spooky and scary day (and that it's filled with chocolate!)

A super simple card for you today.....this card uses the Beware cutting and embossing combo (cuttlebug).  I love the super subtle effect of the embossing, it really adds just *the* perfect amount of detail to the image.  No major jazzing up to this card since it was for my nephew and at 17 he's just not into all the little doodads I put on my cards usually :)

materials used: beware (provocraft); not quite navy; basic black, ww cs (SU); basic grey dp (SU); trimmings die (sizzix)

Have a great day today!!!!  And wishing you many more treats than tricks!  Thanks for stopping by today :)

Hey Rockstar

I had originally made this little rocker for my nephew but the more I thought about it and the more I stared at the card I didn't think it would work for him...so I made him a new one :)  I colored the rocker to look like my red headed nephew (ugh I am SO jealous of his hair color!!!!!).  I can see him wearing this outfit, well except for the red shoes......  I gave the guitar a nice thick coating of crystal effects too since I've never seen an electric guitar that's not shiny and gorgeous. 

Materials used: magna rocker (sugar nellie); bashful blue, not quite navy, marina mist, sahara sand cs (SU); x-press blending paper; tuxedo black (memento); copics; crystal effects (SU); marina mist taffeta (SU); red stitched ribbon (may arts); trimmings die (sizzix); oval, scallop oval punches (SU)

Can you believe that it's already the last weekend in October??  The little lady is *very* excited for Halloween this year :)  We are going to be a family of ghosts, Haunted Mansion Ghosts to be exact.  But she's not really looking forward to painting her face white or wearing a wig but I guess we'll see how that goes.......

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  Have a wonderful weekend and a super fun Halloween :)

Oh Mojo!!!!

Where are you?!?!?!?!?!  Ugh what a week it's been!  I've got a table full of cards that I've made for various challenges over the last week and I don't like a single one of them :/  I hate when that happens!!!  So here they sit until either I decide I like them as they are or I figure out how to fix them so I *do* like them......until then I do have a few cards that are blog-worthy....

I made this card for my Mom for her birthday this past Monday.  I love this little girl and she reminds me SO much of my little lady with her straggly hair and her tiara on...... (I am going to apologize for the awful picture I didn't get to take the picture until *after* the sun went down and my lighting was pretty sad for this one).  The sketch for this card is super simple...the image is on the larger side and since my mojo has gone on vacation I was having embelishment issues *sigh*  But I did have this cute little bow that I had previously tied for a different card (that I then opted not to use) so I knew I wanted to add it to this one.  It's a little on the big side but I think it looks cute anyway :)

Materials used: girl with teddy (sugar nellie); melon mambo, early espresso cs (SU); xpress blending paper; old olive dp (SU); tuxedo black (memento); copics; spica glitter pens; nestabilities; faux suede ruffle ribbon (may arts); rhinestones (SU)

Elizabeth wanted to make Grandma a card too...but she later decided just to draw her a picture.  My mom LOVES Tinkerbell so Elizabeth got out her Tink doll and drew a picture of her.  I love it! (even if I'm not a Tink fan) 

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you have a great day :)

It's a Party!

My friend Kate and i {heart} papers are celebrating their 2nd birthday this week and she's hosting a big ol' birthday bash over at her blog and there was no way I couldn't join in on the fun!  She's hosting a sketch challenge so everyone can join in the birthday party fun.....and check out what a fun (and versatile sketch it is!).  I used one of my favorite Chicken GIrl Designs stamp sets for this fun little card.  I just love this little bunny!  And as you can see so does everyone else, she got LOTS of birthday presents this year!  The colors for this card just happen to be the Curtain Call Act 52-what FUN colors!!!!  I used this combo before in the past and I love it just as much now.  These colors just really work so well together :)

Materials used: birthday wishes (chicken girl designs-IHP); tangerine tango, bermuda bay, chocolate chip cs (SU); tangerine tango dp (SU); x-press blending paper; tuxedo black (memento); copics; nestabilities; faux suede ruffle ribbon (may arts); crystal effects (SU); rock candy stickles (ranger)

There's still plenty of time to play along with this sketch challenge!  You have until Friday at 3am EST to submit your entry.  Plus I know that Deb, the IHP DT challenge coordinator is hosting her own IHP challenge today to celebrate the big birthday.  I'm hoping to find some time later today to play along...that is if the kids cooperate and nap today *wink*

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

Eat Cake!

Phew, I managed to pull a card together for the Utah DIvas Color Challenge #5.  I have to tell you...these colors were tough to use (yeah I know it's a challenge, it's not supposed to be easy.....) But it was tough to decide which of these pretty strong colors got to have top billing.  This card could look so different just  by switching up the arrangements of the colors.  I did add a teeny tiny pop of daffodil delight, not 100% sure I like it but I thought it needed *something*

Materials used (all SU unless noted otherwise): cute by the inch; certainly celery, pacific point, perfect plum cs; tempting turquoise dp; concord crush ink; brights buttons

Busy day today!  The little lady and I are off to a birthday party this morning and then when we get home we are off to get the little man some big boy shoes :)  He's been walking *everywhere* and hates being carried these days so it's probably time to go get some shoes that are a little sturdier than the robeez he's been wearing.  I can't wait to see him walking around DIsney World when we head down in a few weeks :)  I've got pictures of Elizabeth as a new walker down on Main Street USA so now I'll have some matching pics of her brother too!!  Yay!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you have a great one :) 

Fairy wishes for you

Super quick post for you today.....the little man is up and running (literally) so time is short :)  I wanted to play along with this week's SFYTT challenge but I have to admit it's not my favorite card. Not sure why but this one isn't doing it for me....I feel like it's missing something but I can't pin point what and I don't want to add anything more really because I don't want it to be too busy *sigh*  So....here you go...not my favorite but still kinda cute *wink*  I had originally made this card for one of my daughter's friends birthday-hence the super girly colors. But the more I look at the image I'm not 100% sold on using it for a 5 year old (it's the legs that are throwing me off....they seem a little on the too sexy side for a 5 year old...).  I don't know maybe I'm crazy but I'm pretty sure I'll be making her another card before her birthday party this weekend.

Materials used: magna fairy (sugar nellie); pretty in pink, chocolate chip cs (SU); x-press blending paper; certainly celery, mambo melon dp (SU); tuxedo black (memento); copics; white gel pen; spica glitter pens; flowers (prima); button (SU); rhinestones (SU); brown polka dot ribbon (american crafts)

So the little man is totally mobil these days!  He had taken his first few steps when we were in CA but then he pretty much only took a step or two a day for the next few weeks....then over the course of this week he's finally decided that walking is *way* more fun than crawling....and running??  Well that's even better :)  And he knows how to open the baby gates (you know the ones that are supposed to keep him *IN*..yeah those...so needless to say I spend most of his awake time chasing him...literally :)  Add to that an active four year old's social schedule and a husband that has been working a lot of late nights this week and you get a very tired Merry!  But thankfully my husband is off this weekend so I can have another set of eyes (and legs) to watch the little (get into trouble) man!  Maybe I can even sneak in a nap (or two) for me!!  Well one can dream........

Thanks so much for stopping by today!!  I hope you have a wonderful weekend :)

Have a fun filled day

Wheeeee don't you just want to hop on a scooter and ride down the street when you see this little guy?  No?  Hmm, ok that just must be my four year old then *wink*  She's been on a scooter kick the past few months...not sure where it came from but she *needs* a pink princess scooter or she just might burst!!  She's added it to her Christmas list and has already written Santa a few letters of request for her pink princess scooter.  Hopefully that pink princess scooter shows up under the Christmas tree in December or we are going to have one sad little lady on our hands!  

This little image reminds me of my little lady.  I can almost see her now zooming down the street on that pink princess scooter.  And let me tell you if she can, she'll have balloons trailing behind her too!  I used last week's SFYTT sketch for this card....love how simple the sketch is...totally shows off how cute my little scooter guy is :)  My colors are from the Stamping 411 Color Inspiration #141-aren't they pretty??  I love that they are so bright and cheerful.  Now don't get me wrong, I am enjoying all the fall colors but it is a nice to get a little break every so often :) 

Materials used: (all SU unless noted otherwise): happy day; peach parfait, pear pizzaz, daffodil delight, poppy parade cs; x-press blending paper (copic); tuxedo black (memento); copics; poppy parade ribbon; polka dot embossing folder; crystal effects; rhinestones

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

Happy Botday

Hello and welcome to a rare Tuesday morning post!  I have so many cards to share with you for various challenges I had to up my posting this week to play along with everything :)  I have SO much fun doing both color and sketch challenges (as I'm sure you know by now)...they are such a great inspiration point for a card.  And of course you know how much I love when I can manage to squeeze two challenges into one...just like I did for this card.  The sketch comes from this week's Create with Connie and Mary Sketch Challenge #119.  I love making square cards!  They are SO fun!  The colors for this card are this week's Curtain Call Act 51 colors.  What a pretty combo and I love that it can be used for either feminine or masculine cards.  

I used the totally cute Best Bots Forever stamp set for this little cutie.  This set is SO cute, I love the mixey matchiness of these stamps.  Pick a head, body and feet and you get an adorable little robot *every* time!  This card is pretty simple with just a few little cutsie touches to pull it all together.  

Materials used (all SU unless noted otherwise): best bots forever; crumb cake, marina mist, so saffron, basic black cs; x-press blending paper (copic); tuxedo black (memento); copics; nestabilities (spellbinders); white gel pen; marina mist taffeta ribbon

As I mentioned I've been having a great time playing along with all the great color and sketch challenges out there.....and I've found a few new ones that I am really enjoying.  Who knows maybe I'll even opt to start making Tuesday posts more regularly.....   Well thanks for stopping by on this odd Tuesday.  I hope you have a wonderful day :)

A little Mojo for your Monday

how excited am I that I got to play along with the Mojo Monday sketch ON Monday :)  I guess sometimes it does pay to be a slacker and forget to post a Monday blog post!  I used this week's Color Throwdown 113 colors too (and just in the knick of time) but I did alter the combo a *slight* bit.  The challenge calls for Early Espresso this week and while I do have that color I *really* wanted to use this adorable polka dot ribbon-which happens to be Chocolate Chip....so I swapped it out.  I still love the combo...even if it's with the lighter brown.  Now that I look at the completed card I think I would ahve preferred it if I embossed the perfect plum but what's done is done....that's what happened when the little man wakes up super early from his (very short) nap *sigh*  I used one of the SU self adhesive rhinestones for the flower center but I wanted it to "go" a little better with my card so I colored it using the same copic marker that I colored this little cutie's shirt with.  It's super subtle but it's a "just enough" touch :)

Materials used: magnolia stamp (sorry I don't remember which one!); chocolate chip, perfect plum cs (SU); vintage cream (PTI); tuxedo black (memento); fresh snow ink (PTI); copics; choc chip brads (SU); polka dot ribbon (american crafts); nestabilities; rhinestones (SU)

I hope that you had a wonderful weekend!  We enjoyed the spectacular weather by going to the farm down the street and picking our pumpkins!  Elizabeth had a blast picking just the right one....and wouldn't you know turns out just the right one happens to be just the right 5....all in varying sizes of course.  Then the in laws were kind enough to watch the kids so the hubby and I could have a date night :)  We went to a fabulous bistro and then went to see The Social Network.  It was a really great movie and interesting to learn about the roots of Facebook-a site that I am on *way* too often!!!  

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

Simple Sunday

Good Morning!  I hope that you are having a wonderful weekend :)  Today's Simple Sunday card uses this week's UDI Color Challenge #4.  This is such a yummy combo!  I have to admit that I'm not usually a huge fan of More Mustard but these other colors really bring out the "pretty" in it.  I think (at least for me) that it also helps that I didn't use more mustard card stock but rather the cute linen textured more mustard paper from the Autumn Spice collection...I think it might be the very slight bit of white in the paper that makes me like it more..but who knows!  I "dug" out an old SFYTT sketch for this card and I love how simple it is and how nicely it shows off all of the colors in this challenge.  I clear embossed the butterfly and layered two images using dimensionals to give the butterfly some lift.  Then I added a  little scrap of black for the antenna. So simple and yet so fun!

Materials used (all SU unless noted otherwise): great friend stamp set; pear pizzaz, riding hood red, basic black cs; more mustard dp; nestabilities (spellbinders); tuxedo black (memento); versamark; clear embossing powder; silver brads

I'm busy stamping the (sadly long overdue) thank you cards for Alex's birthday party but I've managed to take a few breaks in the stamping to make some super cute cards to share with you this week!  And I've actually managed to sneak into the basement and work on my stamp room a bit (still a LONG way to go but hey it's a start).  I've also "found" some pretty cool forgotten stuff down there and who knows...there just might be some "candy" to share with you soon!  After all what's more fun than sharing with friends :)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!! ! Enjoy the rest of your weekend :)