Random thoughts of a Confessed Stamp-A-Holic

Simple Sunday School Days

 Ahhh it's the time of year again....back to school :)  I always loved going back to school after a fun summer.  You got new clothes, new pens/pencils, new notebooks (my favorite part) and you got to see all your friends again.  And then when I began teaching it was still just as fun just from a different side of it.  I got to meet a new crowd of 5 year olds with their bright shining faces...cause you know all kids *love* Kindergarten!!!  These days back to school takes yet a different side as I begin to get the little lady ready for school.  This is her last year of preschool....come next September we'll be getting ready for the Big K-yikes!  

Materials used: learning year by year (unity); real red, crumb cake cs (SU); pear pizzaz dp (SU); tuxedo black (memento); notebook, eyelet ribbon dies (PTI); numbers embossing folder (provocraft); twine

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

Simple Sunday Cupcake

 A super simple birthday card for you today.  I saw this sketch on a blog one day and immediately added it to my sketch book for future use.  It just makes for such a fun, cute and simple card!  Seriously, this puppy went together so quickly I *should* be embarrassed :)  The large cupcake image is from the set Crazy for Cupcakes and man does it look yummy!  I little *too* much icing for my taste (I know I'm odd) but I'm all about the sprinkles!  I added a line of paper piercing along the edge near the ribbon to jazz it up just a touch and then a rhinestone in each corner of the main image and ta-da...simple but adorable!

Materials used (all SU unless noted otherwise): crazy for cupcakes; cameo coral, tempting turquoise, so saffron cs; stamper's select white (PTI); tuxedo black (memento); copics; scallop edge punch; chocolate chip ribbon; rhinestones

Today my DH is running the Disneyland Half Marathon :)  Luckily for him it looks as if the weather is going to be *so* much nicer than the last time he ran this race two years ago-we missed last year since it was so close to Alex's due date.  I know that he'll do awesome!  Since he ran the Disney World marathons in January he will get an extra Coast to Coast medal upon finishing this race...pretty sweet huh?  Me?  I'll be getting the kids up and finding a great place on the course to cheer him on :)  No running (ok walking) in this one for me since we don't have a babysitter in CA.....but come January I'll be right there with him for the half marathon....ok well not *with* him with him.....but on the course at the same time *wink*

Thanks so much for stopping by today!!!  Hope you are having a wonderful weekend :)

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!  :)

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 :)

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*

Simple Sunday

 Another simple project for you on this happy Sunday morning.....a cute little top note notebook :)  We made these cuties at my last hostess club meeting (remember me mentioning that I cut out 300 top note dies?).  I think my gals loved these!!!  They are so simple and so much fun to make...wouldn't they make adorable gifts or party favors?  Each notebook has 25 sheets of white paper on it and we put a little mini sharpie on the binder ring (oops forgot to put mine on for the pic).  The cover and back are chipboard covered in cardstock-the front cover has some designer paper.  Then we made a little pocket using some cherry cobbler for our little (big) owl paper clip to attach to.  And speaking of owl.....how cute is he??!??!?!  Oh boy, I am in LOVE with this punch!!!

Materials used: daffodil delight, cherry cobbler, early espresso, sahara sand cs; daffodil delight dp; top note die; owl punch, mini heart, double scallop ribbon punches; crop-o-dile; paper clip, binder ring (staples)

I've also made these notebooks using the butterfly die and it came out super cute!!  Just think of all the possibilities :)  So cute!!!!!  Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope you have a wonderful Sunday :)  See you tomorrow!

Simple Sunday

 A super quick Simple Sunday post today.  I saw this sketch on another blog and knew *just* the stamp to use with it to make my own.  Isn't it cute???  And I think aside from the coloring, which didn't take too long either, the entire card came together in about 5 minutes.  LOVE when that happens!!!

Materials used: snail (CC Designs); baja breeze, cherry cobbler (SU); stamper's select white (PTI); tuxedo black (memento); copics; nestabilities; rhinestones (SU); soft suede ribbon (SU); corner rounder punch (SU)

Big day today!!!  I'm (finally) getting my first tattoo today!!!!  I have wanted one for YEARS but have just been too chicken to commit.  Well today I'm taking the big step and doing it!!!!  I can't wait!!!!!!!  Hopefully I won't pass out!!!!  I'm sure I'll be able to handle the pain (plus I'm totally cheating and using some numbing cream) but my nerves...well they are a different story!!  I tend to get myself worked up about stuff like that and I'm hoping I can keep myself calm enough that I don't get sick!!!  I almost passed out getting my ears pierced the first time b/c of my nerves.  The pain was fine but the build up in my head was horrendous!!!!!  Hmmm, maybe I just need a Xanax and not that silly numbing cream *wink*

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

Simple Sunday

 Happy Sunday morning to you!!!!  The sun is shining and I'm hoping the humidity has broken (at least a little bit)-it's just a beautiful summer day :)  This card uses an older Mojo Monday card sketch and it makes for a perfect Simple Sunday card.  I picked the color combo using the new color coach-love the new set up!!!  The little swatch book is so much nicer than the color wheel...it just seems so much easier to use and that's a big statement from me---that color wheel and I were joined at the hip!!!!  And did you notice???  No polka dot paper???  Go me *wink*  This is one of the other designs from the dp stack-isn't it pretty??  It's a little more "fancy" than the cards I usually make (since I tend to make cutesy rather than elegant) but it fit the bill perfectly for this card. And nothing says "fancy" better than pearls :)  I am loving the new little pearls and rhinestones in the new catty.  Sure I have my hot fix tool (which i LOVE) but sometimes it's just easier to stick grab some self adhesive ones rather than heating up the tool (especially since these days I tend to craft with my four year old sitting next to me)...and really who doesn't love bling of all kinds?!!?!?  

Materials used (all SU unless noted otherwise): of the earth, occasional quotes; so saffron, tangerine tango, pacific point cs; tangerine tango dp; early espresso ink; always artichoke, brilliant blue, so saffron markers; nestabilities (spellbinders); pearls; very vanilla ribbon; word window, modern label punches

We went to the balloon festival yesterday. It was SO awesome to see all those huge balloons lifting off the ground and flying away.  Sadly though we got there and guess what.....my camera battery was dead :(  I'm going to try and go back this afternoon to take some pictures.  Hopefully today will be a little cooler than yesterday though, man was it H-O-T yesterday!!!!  I think we were around 100* (so not typical NJ weather) and the humidity was miserable...SO glad I'm not pregnant *this* summer!!!!  

Got a busy week ahead.....I'm scheduled for jury duty this week (oh joy) and then I have my hostess club on Friday night (Yippee!!!!)  It seems like forever since I've gotten together with "my girls" I'm looking forward to a fun night of stamping!!!!!  

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

Simple Sunday

 I love this set!  It is SO my style-whimsical, adorable and fun!! This was *the* first card I made with my new goodies from the new catalog...and I am so pleased with how it came out.  Super simple....super cute.  And how cute is the new double scallop ribbon punch????  LOVE it!!! I think I have found an excuse to use it on almost everything I've made recently.  This is one of those punches that I hope my hostess gals love because they are going to be seeing a lot of it *wink*

Materials used (allSU): for everything, fabulous phrases; concord crush, peach parfait, pear pizzazz, whisper white cs; concord crush, pear pizzazz, peach parfait ink; double scallop ribbon, large oval, scallop oval punches; rhinestones

I hope that you are having a wonderful weekend!!!!  Thanks so much for stopping by today!!!  See you tomorrow with a super cute cupcake card :)

Simple Sunday

 My husband and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary this past Thursday.  I am still in shock that it's been 10 years......it has gone by SO fast!!!!  Here is the simple card I made for him.  He's not really into cards so I don't go too overboard with his anymore.  I mean I know he appreciates them and thinks they are all gorgeous (of course *wink*) but they don't *do* anything for him.....so I usually keep his pretty simple....and then just make the sentiment inside heartfelt and sweet :) 

Materials used: teeny tiny wishes; shimmery white, old olive, rose red cs; rose red ink; big shot alphabet; small heart punch; old olive satin ribbon; spica glitter pen 

Here's one of my favorite pics from that day ten years ago......ahhhh 

  how I *loved* that dress!!!!!  Still do :)

We had a great time at our birthday parties yesterday but it was a long day and both kids (and me) were pretty wiped out when we got home.  Looking forward to a day of relaxing today :)  Hope you had a wonderful Saturday and a relaxing Sunday as well!!!  Thanks as always for stopping by today!!  See you soon :)