Random thoughts of a Confessed Stamp-A-Holic

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 :)

Happy Birthday Kate!

 Today is my dear friend Kate's birthday!  And what better way to celebrate her birthday than with one of her own exclusive stamps :)  Yup, this is from Chicken Girl Designs which are available only at Kate's store (for which I was fortunate enough to be on the design team for not too long ago :D).  Kate is a big time dog lover so I had to use this cute little "hot dog"-I love him!!!!.  He's all ready to party with his balloon and his gift for Kate. Hopefully he is better behaved than my pup because I *know* my dog would eat Kate's little gift before she even got to touch it *wink*

Materials used: birthday wishes (chicken girl designs); occasional quotes (SU); early espresso, pumpkin pie, mambo melon cs (SU); stamper's select white (PTI); polka dot (sassafras lass); tuxedo black (memento); copics; crystal effects (SU); pearls (basic grey); spica glitter pen; early espresso taffeta ribbon (SU); corner rounder punch (SU)

I hope that Kate has a WONDERFUL birthday today!!!!!  (and I really hope this card gets to her *before* it's posted here!!!).  If you have a moment head on over and wish her a very happy birthday!!  I know she would appreciate all the extra love today :)

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

I (truly do) {heart} papers

As you may or may not know, a few months ago Stampin' Up! revised their Independent Demonstrator Agreement.  There were a few changes but the most significant one was that demos are no longer allowed to participate on design teams that promote another company's stamps.  SU allowed us "DT demos" to finish out our contracts with our current teams but we were not permitted to sign on to any new teams. I have to admit I thought long and hard on this one, I truly was on the fence.  Did I stay with SU or did I leave?  I opted to stay on as a demo because I really *do* love SU and I {heart} my hostess club gals. Once I confirmed that my contract with i {heart} papers would be honored and I would be allowed to finish my term I signed the new agreement. It was a really tough choice to make.....well sadly today is the last day of my term on the i {heart} papers design team :(

I have LOVED being a part of this amazingly talented team!!!  These women are just awesome, there's not much more to say about it!!!  I will miss being an official member of the team but will continue to follow along with the gorgeous creations they produce....and you know I will continue to be a great customer :)  

 So here is it....my last "official" IHP DT card.....I used the *totally* cute Unity Mix Up of Cuteness set (which is currently on SALE!!!!) for this one.  I looked and looked and couldn't decide on *the* perfect paper for this one so I made my own.  The rows of whales are stamped in two different colors and it does look adorable if I do say so myself *wink*  Then I stamped one whale on a scrap and colored him in with my copics.  I then added a layer of clear spica glitter pen and then covered him in some crystal effects for some shine.  I mounted the whale on a circle nesties and added some candy dots next to him.  Then I wrapped a strip of orange corduroy ribbon and placed a little tag on top and ta-da total cuteness!!!!

Materials used: mix up of cuteness (unity); ballet blue, old olive, bashful blue cs (SU); stamper's select white (papertrey); black noir (palette); night of navy, always artichoke ink (SU); copics; spical glitter pen; argyle CB folder (provocraft); crystal effects (SU); orange corduroy ribbon (may arts); artichoke ribbon (SU); candy dots (pebbles)

So with this I send LOTS of love to Kate and the i {heart} papers design team!  Thank you for everything..the inspiration, the support, and mostly the friendship!!!! Now (for the last time from me) go on over to all of their blogs and get inspired too!!!  :)

IHP January Challenge

 As you know each month the i {heart} papers DT challenge coordinator Deb "forces" us to make some amazingly fabulous project using some of the supplies from the ihp store.  Ok maybe forces is a little strong of a word *wink* ......Well this month Deb challenged all of us to use one of the 4x6 CD cases to make a calendar page.  I opted to go pretty simple (actually I had a more elaborate Jan page in mind but I'm not 100% in love with the result just yet....it *needs* something but I'm just not sure what......)  Anywho......I used the totally cute Love Me Do Collection from My Mind's Eye...seriously how cute is this paper??  and the heart ribbon slide???  LOVE it!!  I added a touch of silver stickles to the center of each flower on the ribbon slide-it adds the perfect touch of bling :)  I threaded some brown faux suede ruffle ribbon through the heart and wrapped it around the back of the page.  I love the ruffle ribbon...it adds the perfect little bit of whimsy and cuteness and it feels oh so soft.  The little heart on the calendar is cut out from the backside of the polka dot paper and just popped up on a dimensional. 

Materials used: love me do (my minds eye); riding hood red (SU); brown ruffle ribbon (may arts); silver stickles; word window punch (SU); rhinestone brads, 4x6 cd case

Sadly this will be my last challenge with the i {heart} papers design team.  My term on the team is up at the end of the month and because of the new SU demonstrator regulations regarding design team participation, I am not able to extend my term :(  I will really miss being part of this FABULOUS team!!  Special thanks to Kate for giving me the opportunity to not only design for her store but also to design for and preview the amazing Chicken Girls Designs stamps available exclusively at i {heart} papers.  It has been SO much fun and I have had the opportunity to work with some amazing women!!!!!  Speaking of.......be sure to check out all of their blogs to see what fabulous creation they came up with for this challenge!  I know you won't be disappointed :)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  See you soon :)  

A Star is Born

 I made this card for friends of ours that just had their first baby right before Christmas, a sweet little boy :)   I can't think of a better Christmas gift than a sweet new baby to hold and love!  I used SCS Sketch Challenge 240 for this card-I thought it would make a fun card for a very fun couple. The little froggie is not really your traditional "baby" stamp but I love the way this turned out....especially because I know this little man is not going to be your "traditional baby", nope he is going to be a way cool kid *wink*. And yes, he's wearing a scarf (that's cause technically he's from a holiday/winter set) but hey all the cool kids wear scarves, right?? 

Materials used: Jolly Christmas, Precious Baby Boy (hero arts); basic gray cs (SU); stamper's select white (papertrey); Early Bird DP (cosmo cricket); black noir (palette); copics; spica glitter pen; nestabilities; satin ribbon; dots (pebbles)

Such a fun sketch!!  I highly recommend playing along with the sketch challenges if you don't already.  It's a great way to think outside the box and you get to make some really fun cards too :) Thanks so much for stopping by today!  See you soon

Five Minutes to Love

 It's been a while since I have played along with Kate's Five Minute Fridays but I just couldn't resist sharing this one with you.  This card actually has absolutely NO stamping...which for me tends to be quite a challenge.  I used SCS Sketch Challenge 253 again for this one.  It's such a quick sketch but it looks like it takes a lot of time to do and it always looks super cute!!  The patterned paper and the sentiment are from the My Mind's Eye Be Loved Collection...aren't the colors SO pretty???  Love it!! I added a little faux suede ruffle ribbon to finish the card.  Isn't it adorable?!??!?!  

Materials used: kraft cs (SU); Be Loved (my mind's eye); nestabilities labels 7 (spellbinders); faux suede ruffle ribbon (may arts); spica glitter pen 

I made this for my in-laws wedding anniversary :)  And after 36 years they are still "writing" their love story! Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by today...make sure you head over to Kate's blog to see what she has in store for Five Minute Friday.  I know it will be fabulous as always.  Have a wonderful weekend!!!  Ours will be fun...my husband is running in both the Disney World Half Marathon (on Saturday) and the Disney World Full Marathon (on Sunday)...and while he is out there running the little lady and I are headed to the Princess Tea Party at the Grand Floridian (the little prince is coming with us too of course but somehow I don't think it will be as memorable for him as for the little lady).  I'll try and pop on and share my marathon man over the weekend and I will be back on Monday to share my little princess......it's all gearing up to the BIG 4th Birthday on Wednesday! Talk to you soon!

Butterfly Wishes

 In case you haven't noticed, I have been having a blast playing along with the sketch challenges on SCS recently.  This card uses this week's sketch 261.  Such an easy sketch that you can doll up or dress down however little/much you want.  I played it a little low key for this card because I wanted some simple clean lines but I have a card in my head that really takes this sketch to another level....I just need to find the time to actually sit down and make it *wink*.  I used some paper from my Basic Grey Cupcake stack.  The butterfly stamps are also from Basic Grey...I love all the swirly lines.  SUCH fun to trace over with a glitter pen so that the butterfly really shimmers :)  I added a few rhinestones and popped the main butterfly up on dimensionals so that she really shines!

Materials used: flutter bitsy (basic grey); basic gray cs (SU); stamper's select white (papertrey); cupcake dp (basic grey); black noir (palette); copics; spica glitter pen; rhinestone brads; word window punch (SU); hot fix rhinestones (swarovski)

Just looking at this butterfly makes me think of (and yearn for) spring.  It has been SO cold here the last few days and yes I know it's winter but for NJ this is COLD!!!  Alex has not been too pleased with me since he has decided that he absolutely HATES wearing hats....so he screams (and screams) but at least his head stays warm *wink* And the little lady?  Well her little fingers have been freezing because she won't wear her mittens since you can't suck your thumb with them on....eh she'll learn eventually right?  Hope that where ever you are you are staying warm.  Chilly hugs :)  See you soon!

Baby, it's cold out there

 but it's nice and warm in here!  And this little fella just warms the heart doesn't he :)  I made this card using SCS Sketch Challenge 252 just flipped sideways.  I used some more of my Colorful Christmas paper, love that paper!!!!!, and this adorable little reindeer image from the Stampendous set Snowy Short Stacks.  I pulled colors from the paper to color in the reindeer's coat and mittens, then I gave them I nice coat of clear spica glitter pen to make them sparkle.  

Materials used: snowy short stacks (stampendous); bashful blue, rose red, old olive, taken with teal cs (SU); stamper's select white (papertrey); colorful christmas (my mind's eye); black noir (palette); copics; spica glitter pen; small oval, scalloped oval punches (SU)

I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas. Ours was wonderful-filled with lots of wrapping paper, good eats, giggles, smiles and LOTS of love-just the way it should be!!!  Elizabeth had such a blast and was so overwhelmed by all of the presents she got that she didn't even notice some of them until the next day!!!! And while Alex didn't realize what was going on and didn't notice the presents he got, he did give us LOTS of smiles and giggles.  

I can not believe that tomorrow is the end of 2009!!  I wish all of you a Happy Healthy New Year filled with love and joy! See you next year :)

Christmas Eve!

 Wow, I can not believe that Christmas Eve is already here!  It came really fast this year.

Just a quick little post showing you a fun card I made using SCS Sketch Challenge 257-I just flipped the sketch sideways.  Super simple, super fun, and of course super CUTE!

Materials used: Lots of Merry (hero arts), riding hood red, old olive, chocolate chip, kraft cs (SU); stamper's select white (papertrey); eskimo kisses dp (basic grey); black noir (palette); copics; stickles; spica glitter pen

Eat Drink and Be Merry

Since there isn't a Chicken Girl Designs stamp release this month I get to play along with the rest of the i {heart} papers design team for the December Challenge.  Deb, our challenge coordinator, challenged us to use one of the two new My Mind's Eye collections...I opted to use Be Loved cause well the colors are gorgeous!!  The theme of the challenge was Eat, Drink and Be Merry and I have to say the thought of making a card with this theme made me gasp...but a gifty item now *that* I can handle *grin*

 I had bought this travel mug at the dollar store *way* back when but never did anything with it (as is usually the case).  It was super easy to do-just take out the insert, trace it on pretty paper and then reinsert into the mug.  I thought this was a little *too* easy and blah so I added the little scallop edge at the bottom. But since this is a mug that you are supposed to drink from I did resist from going too overboard since it wouldn't be able to be washed properly without destroying it.  Well every good mug needs something yummy to drink no?  I wrapped a International Coffee tin with some matching paper.   I jazzed up the paper with some silver stickles and made a flower for the lid using my nested peony nestabilities.  

I do want to apologize for the pictures though, the sun never came out today and it was tough getting a clear picture of the colors and the project.  Hopefully the sun will come out tomorrow and I can get a better picture and replace this one.

Make sure that you head on over to all the other girls blogs on the design team to see what they have come up with for this challenge.  I know you will not be disappointed!!!

 Holiday preparations are finally coming along here.......the cards are done (yippee!!!), two trees are up, and most of the gifts have been purchased......I think. I need to start putting away some of the stamping things that have spread out over my house in preparation of the household full of people we will be having on Christmas Day.  Man, I need to get my act in gear....it's less than two weeks away!!!!! 

Hope you have a wonderful day today :) thanks for stopping by today!