forgot to show you...

Good morning friends! I just realized the other day that I didn't show this card on my blog yet. You may have seen it on the SNSS new release in January or the limeLIGHT Papercrafts DT member reveal but since not everyone sees those I thought I'd go ahead and show it here. Sorry about the redundancy if you've already seen it.

This card was made with a CPS sketch (which you'll see another card with a new CPS sketch on Monday!). The patterned paper is Basic Grey's Urban Prairie. In fact, the only paper that isn't from the Urban Prairie line would be the black and white (PTI). The stamp set is Sweet N Sassy Stamps new release called Love of a Friend. And, finally the beautiful ribbon is some ribbon that the lovely Korin gave to me.

I have some very exciting stuff coming up this week! Tomorrow is Page Plans sketch day, Monday I will get to show off a CPS sketch, (Wednesday is stamp club too!) Thursday is my very first limeLIGHT sketch as a design team member and Friday...Friday is the day I get to show you the project that I've been working on for about a week for limeLIGHT. Thrown in there will be CBCC and Belli Challenge day. WHEW! If that isn't exciting enough to keep you coming back I don't know what is!

Alright...I'm off...in case you didn't catch it from the above blurb...I've got some stampin' to do! I'll be posting my Page Plans card early as tomorrow we have church and a Super Bowl party to go to! Oh, and I've finally landed on Face Book so if you want to add me as a friend just search for my name.

Alright...have a super day everyone!

easy valentine gift idea

Good morning! I have a super easy valentine gift idea for you today. You know those fun boxes of candy hearts that you can get this time of year (right now they are 4 for $1 at my store)? Well, why not just wrap it with some patterned paper add a fun little tag and tie it all up with some ribbon?

I used Cosmo Cricket's Hey Sugar: Heart Strings, the SU! set called Happy Heart Day for the tag (along with my tag punches), and some chocolate chip satin ribbon. While you can't see it in the picture I used some Angel Wings Shimmez in the hearts that I got from limeLIGHT Papercrafts. Oh, and the ink is Rouge Colorbox Chalk cat eye. I really like that ink for the soft effect it gives. While they don't have my Rouge color limeLIGHT does carry the cat eye size of Colorbox...go check it out!

So...quick post today. I hope you like this idea! Have a super Friday everyone!

blog hop day

Good morning stampers! Today is the first day of the Sweet N Sassy Stamps February Blog Hop! Even though SNSS is not releasing new sets this month we all have some fun artwork to show you with the existing, wonderful stamp sets! You should be coming to my blog from Korin's blog and should have started at the Sweet N Sassy Stamps blog so go there quick if you haven't seen them yet!

Now...onto the card. This card is made with the SNS stamp set called Chocoholic. I decided to pair this cute sentiment and chocolate stamp with the wonderful Bittersweet designer paper from Basic Grey. I also used some of the neato Bittersweet glazed brads for this card. Everything about this card says...yummy!

I hope you like this card and are excited to see what Deb has for you today and the rest of the girls for the next two days. Just check my sidebar for all the links you'll need!

Sooooo...ya wanna know who won the Glory from Lorie? Random.Todd chose #43 which is Kate! Congrats Kate! Be looking for an e-mail from me for your mailing information!

Alright everyone! Have a super day and enjoy the rest of the blog hop!

one year of belli challenges

Good morning stampers! Sorry this is up a little late but I hope you enjoy anyway!

For the week of January 28, Belli #52, we are hosting a VERY special Belli Challenge in celebration of our One Year Anniversary. Some of you may have played this game before with some other groups...

We will be BAKING A CAKE to celebrate our First Anniversary of Belli Challenges.

How do we play BAKE A CAKE? Listed below is a list of cake ingredients. You all must pick 5 ingredients, and reply here with your choices, you can list them on your upload too, but don't share what the ingredients stand for, link them up here! Tomorrow I will give you the list of what the ingredients are equal to in Embellishments! On this second list is the corresponding crafting ingredient for the items you picked. For example, flour = ribbon (just an example - the actual list is different). Your challenge is to create a card with those 5 ingredients that you chose. You could wind up having to create a card with ribbon, chipboard, designer paper, buttons, and paint. This is the fun part. You don't know what you are picking!! Are you ready for this fun challenge?? Be sure to reply what your 5 choices are. My five ingredients are: flour, sugar, butter, vanilla, and eggs.

Here are the ingredients, be sure to choose 5!

Flour
Sugar
Butter
Vanilla
Eggs
Salt
Baking soda
Chocolate
Nutmeg
Milk
Cinnamon
Powdered sugar
Cream cheese
Cocoa powder
Coconut
Oil

This week to play here is what you need to do...
1. Anyone Can Play! Spread the Word! :)
2. Pick your 5 ingredients!!!
3. Find out what the ingredients equal to in Embellishments!
4. Make a completed project with your CAKE INGREDIENTS -
5. Share the link here in the comments linking to my Blog and CBC52. When you post to Splitcoaststampers or Paper Craft Planet or to your Blog, be sure and put CBC52 as the KEYWORD and mention of the challenge - with a link!
6. I will do a drawing and the person whose name I draw will be a BELLI GUEST DESIGNER the last week of February
7. Deadline for entry is Tuesday evening 7 p.m. Central time.

Okay...got the rules and your 5 ingredients? Check it out below to find out what your ingredients mean in stamping terms and then...have fun creating!

Flour = brads
Sugar = designer paper
Butter = vellum
Vanilla = ribbon
Eggs = scallop punch/nestabilities
Salt = watercoloring
Baking soda = beads
Chocolate = buttons
Nutmeg = markers
Milk = distressing
Cinnamon = sponging
Powdered sugar = embossing powder
Cream cheese = chipboard
Cocoa powder = hardware
Coconut = flowers
Oil = glitter or stickles

This post is already really long so I don't want to list all the Belli Challenge girls so go ahead and head to my side bar for a link to their blogs for some wonderful inspiration! See ya tomorrow for the beginning of the Sweet N Sassy Stamps blog hop!

Card deets:
Stamps: Upsy Daisy from SU!
Card stock/paper: PTI Vanilla, Basic Grey Granola, PTI Linen Vellum
Ink: Night of Navy - SU!
Embellishments: Ribbon from limeLIGHT Papercrafts, brads from K&Company, Scallop Border Punch from SU!
Sketch from: Taylored Expressions

created by courtney challenge #23

Good morning stampers! Boy do we have a challenge for you today with the Created by Courtney Challenge for this week . I was quite challenged with this color combo but I bet you guys will just rock it!

Anyway, we are being challenged to use Real Red, Pink Passion, and Chocolate Chip. I used my SU! set Love You Much and the January Unity Stamps set (for the sentiment) along with some Real Red Grosgrain and the new heart punch from SU! to make this card. It is clean, easy, and (I think) cute. Where is the Chocolate Chip you ask? The dots below the ribbon. I know it isn't much but I really think that row of dots completes the card!

So, this is what I created...what do you have for this challenge? Go ahead, make something with this color combo...upload it with the tag CBCC23 and then link it back to Courtney's blog HERE for a chance to win a little giftie.

When you are all done with that...link back HERE for a chance to win some Glory from Lorie in honor of my getting 100,000 hits. If you like Basic Grey you'll love this blog candy!

Tomorrow is Belli Challenge day and it is going to be fun! I have to admit that I haven't made my card for it yet but I AM looking forward to my creative process with it!

So...you all go...have a super Tuesday and I'll see ya tomorrow!

hearts, tilda, and friends...

Good morning everyone! I hope your day has been super already! You all know that my Monday's are usually quite busy and today is no exception even though the boys have the day off school for end of quarter.

There are a couple of fun challenges out there that I wanted to play in but just didn't have the time to get to all of them separately so I put three of them together! This card works for the Sweet N Sassy Stamps Design Team Challenge, the KL Stamping and Scrappin' Monthly challenge, and Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge #51. The SNSS challenge and the KLSS challenge both involve hearts and the TECC challenge is the sketch that I used.

I used some of the wonderful Basic Grey Bittersweet Paper, the sentiment is from Sweet N Sassy Stamps set called A True Friend, and the very sweet Tilda image named Cross Stitch Tilda came from a fellow SNSS DT member Sandy...thank you so much! I am just learning how to color these super cute images but if you click on Cross Stitch Tilda above you will find a wonderful coloring tutorial.

Tomorrow is another Created by Courtney Challenge so I hope you'll check back to see what you get to work with. And don't forget...you can sign up to win some Basic Grey Glory from Lorie HERE.

Have a wonderful rest of your day!

page plans sketch day

Good Sunday morning friends! I hope your weekend has been wonderful!

As you know...today is Page Plans sketch day. We were asked to make an adult valentine this week and well, I think I did. I started out thinking that I would like to make a valentine for Todd but realized once I got started that this wasn't going to be for Todd. Don't get me wrong...I like the shabby feel of this card but it just isn't a Todd card.

This was a super easy card to put together. I have used Basic Black, PTI White, and Basic Grey Eva papers, the Sweet N Sassy Stamps set called Home Sweet Home for the sentiment, and the heart border is from a Verve Stamps Set called Hundred Thoughts. Oh, and the new heart punch from Stampin' Up! Tell me...what do you think of this card?

Oh, and did you see what I saw when I looked at my hit counter? That's right ladies...I've gone over 100,000 hits! I can hardly believe it! I would love to give away some Glory from Lorie in honor of this and you know what it is going to be? A Basic Grey Pack. It will have paper (6x6), ribbon, rub-ons and some Basic Grey magnet buckles. If you'd like it..I'd even throw in this card, too! What do you need to do? Just comment on this post and tell me what new things you'd like to see on my blog. Please post your comment (one per person please) by 5 p.m. (EST) January 28th. I will announce the winner on Thursday's blog post. You are more than welcome to share this candy with your friends! **Side Note...if I draw your comment and you haven't left me a way to get a hold of you I will re-draw. **

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and I'll see you soon!

row of yummies

Good morning stamping friends! I hope you all had a super Friday! I had my very first Tastefully Simple party last night and it was a fun success! Kyler was even my assistant for the evening and did a great job! That is what is great about home based businesses, huh? You can include your family if it works for everyone!

Anyway, I thought it would be fun to get my feet wet with the limeLIGHT Six Chick sketch for this week. I had fun using the new Unity Stamp Co. stamp called Rows of Yummies. The patterned paper is from Basic Grey and is called Eva. The ribbon is from my ever growing ribbon stash. The "how sweet it is" sentiment is from the PTI set It's A Celebration. After I colored the image I decided that it needed some dimension so I added some different colored rhinestones to some of the candies. In real life this gives it a very fun look.

Thinking you might like to try this sketch and challenge? Here is the info:

Sometimes as stampers and scrapbookers we can get stuck in a bit of a routine of doing the same thing over and over. Well, this sketch and product challenge aims to remedy that problem! That's because we're challenging you to think of new ways to use what you have! We want to see you use two or more DIFFERENT stamps on your card or scrapbook layout. Whether you create a scene with your stamps or just combine a background stamp and an image stamp, we want you to do something new and creative! Limelight Papercrafts has tons of fantastic stamps to choose from! If you don't have any Limelight products, that's ok! Just use what you do have! We can't wait to see what you create! After you finish your fantastic card upload it with the keyword LLPC013, link it back to the LLPC blog (there is a link above), and you will be eligible to win a Stampendous single of your choice! Can't beat that with a stick, huh?

I'll see you all tomorrow with a Page Plans card! Have a super Saturday everyone!

just buzzin by

Good Friday morning everyone! Gosh it feels like I've been gone forever and it is so good to be back! I should be able to start posting regularly again so look out!

As you may have figured out I was out of town for a couple of days. Todd's dad has been having some heart problems and it just was the right time to go to Wisconsin and visit our families. I have to say that we had a great time! We started our time there by having dinner with Todd's mom and dad at Texas Roadhouse. Ummm...ever been there? Ever have their loaded sweet potato? Well, I'll just tell ya that you don't need dessert after you have it...yum! The next day we got to see my dad, Todd's grandma, and had a pizza dinner with Todd's entire family (his three siblings, grandma, and parents) and we played Apples to Apples. Have you played this...no? Well, you should...it is great fun! We had dinner at my favorite little Italian place the next night with my dad and his wife and then played Apples to Apples with them too. The final night we went with Todd's mom and dad for dinner to Applebees ('cuz my meet up with the fabulous Chris Dickinson didn't work out). Now...we did lots of eating out and not much paying so this is where my card comes into play. I need thank yous. I've been wanting to use the super cute, new set from Stampin' Up! called Just Buzzin' By and I have been loving my friend Dani's super cute, super easy cards that she's been posting so...the card you see is the one I came up with!

This card was made with PTI white, a strip of So Saffron patterned paper from the Washington Apple DSP pack, and Basic Black (paper and ink). I colored the bees with Creamy Caramel and So Saffron markers and then used my COPIC Spica black glitter pen as well as my Clear Star Gelly Roll pen to add glitter to the bees. Inside is a layer of So Saffron and the rest of the sentiment. Super simple but super cute (or so I think...lol!).

And, today, I want to point you to some blog candy but not just any blog candy. Do you have teenage girls? Well, a brand new magazine is being put together just for them and it is called Susie. Susie is the creator of Brio magazine and since Brio is no longer in publication she decided to start a new magazine. What is neat about this is that she is asking your input into what she should fill her magazine with. Being a mom of three boys you'd think I wouldn't have anything to say but...I did. I know my boys have been frustrated with the stereotype that they have been stuck with and my thought was it would be nice to address that not all boys are after only one thing and that they would like friendly relationships, too. Anyway, go to Susie's Blog and leave a comment. You could win a great Word in Life Study Bible and help shape the content of a magazine!

Alright...this is really long (although I feel as if I'm missing something) so I'll let ya go for now! Have a super Friday! See ya tomorrow!

Steppin' Into the limeLIGHT

Hi friends! I don't have any artwork for you today but I do have an exciting announcement! A couple of weeks back I saw that limeLIGHT Papercrafts was having a design team call. I have been a subscriber to the limeLIGHT Papercrafts Blog for some time and love the fun stuff they have for sale, the challenges they have, and the owner Mandy. Yep, I think Mandy is a sweet, funny lady and I thought it would be fun to work with her on the design team so...I applied. Well, guess what I found out last night? I was chosen to be one of her new design team members! I'm SO excited! I cannot wait to start designing for Mandy and be an official Six Chick as of February 1st! I've already got some ideas for my February themed assignment so stay tuned as I plan on getting involved with the sketches and such as soon as I can.

I'll be home soon (a little more on that later) so I can start creating again...YAY!!!

created by courtney challenge

Good Tuesday morning! Today is Created by Courtney day here on my blog and today our challenge is a sketch. Yay! I love sketch challenges! I am not sure that I followed this one exactly as I should but I like the outcome of the card anyway.

The patterned paper is from DCWV Retro collection and the stamps as a new Unity Stamp Co set called Shine On! A little bit of ribbon, some buttons and taa daa!

So? Whatcha got? What can you create with this fun sketch? Make a card...upload it with the tag CBCC22 and then link it to Courtney's blog for a chance to win a goody!

Want a little inspiration first? Well, check out the CBCC Chicks blogs. You'll find them all listed in my sidebar on the right. Those girls are seriously talented!

I hope you all have a wonderful Tuesday everyone! See you soon!

page plans sunday

Good morning stampers! Sorry to be absent for a couple of days...again. I haven't had much time to get stamping done but I LOVE this sketch from Page Plans today and had to take time for it. I've actually made two cards with it but I'm showing you this one because we were asked to make a kids Valentine's Day card for today. What do you think? Kiddo enough?

This card is made with a combination of two SU! sets...Happy Heart Day and Love You Much. The patterned paper is from Target's dollar spot...last year...I'm so proud I didn't lose it or severely bend it! LOL! A little ribbon, a rub on and ta da...all done!

Don't forget about the fabulous contest that Page Plans has going on right now. All you have to do is make two new cards with Page Plans sketches, link them up to Page Plans by 7 p.m. on January 31st and you are entered in! And what could you win? A Making Memories Slice!!! Yeah...you gotta make cards anyway...why not just do it in a way that could help you win a Slice?

On another note I'd like to introduce you to a new blog. This blog is named One Life To Live. My friend, Kelli, is the author of this new blog and she is just the sweetest person. Kelli and I have known each other since we were kids and our mom's were best friends . My mom was her Aunt Cheryl and Kelli is my Cousin Kelli. More than that she is doing a wonderful thing. You see...almost 11 years ago my mom died of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Kelli is a runner for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and is currently training to come and run in the Seattle Rock N Roll Marathon on June 27th this year and she is running in my mom's name. How incredible!!! I'm sure you are wondering why I'm telling you all this, right? Well, Kelli has set a goal of raising $3900 and I am asking that, if you possibly can, you donate to Kelli's run. Even $5 will get her $5 closer to her goal and to the ultimate goal of wiping out Leukemia and Lymphoma. I truly hope that you will check out her blog and enjoy it!

Alright everyone. I hope that you have a super Sunday! Please know it will probably be a few days before I am able to get back to post again. Have a great week and I'll see you soon!

sweet n sassy round up time

Good morning everyone! Today is a special day here on my blog and will be for the duration of my time on the SNSS DT. Today (and each 15th) is a day dedicated to Sweet N Sassy Stamps!

I thought I'd share this fun little card I made (4 1/4" x 4 1/4"). It is made with the January new release set Love of a friend and some perfectly lovely Basic Grey paper called Sugared. The cut out hearts and flower are popped up on pop dots and then I added a little paper piercing to the sentiment to kind of finish this off.

Make sure you head to the Sweet N Sassy Blog to see all of the design team member's round up cards!

The weekend is near so I hope you've accomplished all you hoped to this week. Have a super day everyone!

SUPER SALE!!!

20% off ALL Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps through the end of January!!

We really need to make room for the 2009 releases and since everyone is pinching pennies right now, it's a win-win all around!!

Don't forget to check out the all the other items we have on sale this month! Save up to 40% on MANY items in the store!

Three Clovers Designs: Blogoversary Blog Yummies!!!!!

Go quick an Check out Kerry's blog candy! Not only is she just a sweet person...she makes amazing crafts AND she has amazing blog candy available! Go...quick!

Three Clovers Designs: Blogoversary Blog Yummies!!!!!

be back later...

I didn't get a chance to get my CBCC card done yet and I have a field trip to go on with Kyler today but I'll be back later today...probably this evening to post it! Have a super day everyone!

page plans sunday

Good Sunday morning stampers! You know what Sunday means...yep...another Page Plans card sketch.

For today's card it was fun to use some of my new Stampin' Up! products. As a matter of fact this card is completely Stampin' Up!.

Let's see...the patterned paper is from the new Designer Series pack called Raspberry Tart and it is layered on Pirouette Pink and White card stock. I have used two different stamp sets for this card. The flower, which is cut out and then the center cut out again and popped up, is from the new Hostess (level 3) set called Dream A Little. The 'thank you' sentiment is a single stamp that you can purchase called Elegant Thank You and is stamped on Pink Pirouette card stock as well. The swirl on the bottom was cut with a Sizzix in my Big Shot that is called Scribbles Swirls and I used Kiwi Kiss. And finally the ribbon is Kiwi Kiss/Vanilla Satin Ribbon and it is SO luxurious!

Do not forget about the great contest that Page Plans has going on! You can be entered in to win a Slice and all you have to do is make two cards with their sketches and you are all set! How easy! Their sketches are great and you can do lots of fun things with them so make sure you check it out HERE! Oh, and for even more fun on Wednesday check back as I will be making a card with the scrapbook layout and posting it here for you all to see!

I hope that you all have had a wonderful weekend. I think Kyler and I are finally going to make it to Desperaux today. Now...go...get working on those cards with a Page Plans sketch (you do have until Jan 31st)! I would LOVE it if one of my readers won that Slice!

CPS sketch with magnolia

Good morning stampers! Today is Wednesday...right? I told you I'd try to be back on Wednesday with my Belli Challenge right? Yeah, well...the week has just totally slipped away from me and I'm just posting now..and it is Friday. Times flies when you are having fun I guess.

Anyway, the Belli Challenge was "new" for the new year. I decided to use a new Magnolia stamp that I bought and just received. I love this Tilda. I think she is adorable anyway and then to add the cross necklace...awww! So, I used the CPS sketch again but this time I flipped it to fit the image. The patterned paper is the fabulous new Basic Grey Bittersweet. The white and brown cardstocks are from PTI as is the sentiment and the brads are the matching colored Bittersweet brads. I added some Sakura clear glitter gel pen to Tilda's wings and the hearts on the light pink paper. She is colored with COPIC markers. The white ink for the sentiment is the new and fabulous Snow White Palette ink from PTI.

Just want you guys to know that I'll not be posting a lot over the next week (once or twice at the most). No worries...I just need to take some time off. I hope you all have a great weekend and I'll see ya soon!

belli challenge day and CPS!

Good morning everyone! It is exciting to announce that Sweet N Sassy Stamps is sponsoring CPS this week! You can click on my link to go check out the sketch and participate in the challenge for a chance to win a stamp set from SNSS.

I made this fun birthday card with the set Purr-fect Day. I know you've seen it before but I think this is such a cute cat and is perfect for the intended receiver! The cardstock, once again, is from the Basic Gray line called Urban Prairie and I just threw in some solid colors, some pearls, and a little paper piercing and voila! I forgot to take a picture of the inside but on the inside left I stamped a pattern of kittie feet as if a kittie had walked up the side of the card and then also put the mouse coming down the same side...kinda in Garfield style...lol! I stamped a sentiment on the center/right side and it looks so cute! Just use your imagination! I hope you take some time to play around with the CPS sketch...it is a great one!

Today is also Belli Challenge day. Today Chris challenged us to use the theme "new" in our stamping and to me that always means a new stamp set! I am in the progress of coloring a brand spankin' new Magnolia image but just haven't had the chance to finish so I can't post it for you as I had hoped. I will try my hardest to get back here to do it today but my day is pretty booked so far! I am going to link you to the other Belli Challenge players so that you can see their wonderful work! If you do play along with this challenge be sure to attach the tag of CBC49 to your uploaded piece and link it to Chris's blog for a chance to win a prize from Chris!

Jennifer
Courtney
Joan
Karen
Ceal
Danita
Shelly
Sarah
Chris

There you have it girls! I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday!