Blogger's Challenge #110: Sketch

This week Lisa challenged us with a sketch challenge, which I love! Anyone who reads my blog knows I love all sketch challenges. So, this was an easy one I put together a few nights ago, fairly clean and simple.I used some of the new goodies I received this last week. Of course I had to get the new Basic Grey pads. I thought this particular paper would work well with the bird from Believe in Words I from Clear & Simple Stamps.

The little bird was colored using various copic markers and the little button was actually ivory to begin with, but I colored it with my Y06 copic marker to make it a really bright yellow.

I'm trying to work ahead of schedule because chaos starts next week here. Football season is rearing it's ugly head way too soon for me. Practices for 10 y.o. begin on Monday, and this year they practice 3 times a week. Okay, that's not too terrible, but on top of it, husband is an assistant coach so that means me & the 2 little ones at the park for 2 hours (or more). And the icing on the cake this year is the coach & hubby are roping me in to being the team director since I'm at all the practices. I hope I can only live up the expectations that our previous team director left behind (she was the BEST).

So those who have kids in sports, how do you make it work? I work full time, will have to run get the kids from daycare and head straight to the park, then by the time we get home it's bedtime. I want to be able to do better than McDonald's for dinner 3 x week and am thinking I may be planning meals ahead of time, packing them for us to have a little picnic at the park while the practice is going on. I'm also hoping on walking a little while I'm there to try and lose more weight. Am I dreaming????

Anyway, check out the wonderful designs of the blogger's this week by clicking on this link. You will not be disappointed.

Come back and visit me tomorrow as I have a new template to share with you from Sue. Tomorrow is also the day the new Stamp of the Month and sneak peeks begin for the School Days Release on August 15th for Clear & Simple Stamps.

Primary Stamp Set	Believe in Words I
Paper / Cardstock	Cameo Coral, Papertrey Ink Select White, Night of Navy
Designer Paper	Basic Grey June Bug Collection
Embellishments	Earth Elements buttons colored with Y06 Copic, white ribbon unknown, Square & Scalloped Square Nestabilities
Inks	Memento Tuxedo Black
Markers / Colored Pencils / Chalks	Copic E25, E27, O, Y11, Y06, BG72, BG75, YR12, YR14

Chirp, Chirp, Chirp

I told you that I'm addicted to this stamp set!!! I tell you there are so many things to create with it and I love how this card turned out.

Most of my stuff from the previous post was still out so I just continued using it. I love this paper I just got from Stamper's Dream (I think it must be gone as I can't find it now), but I love the colors in it.

I was going through sketches while working on cards and decided it had been awhile since I had done a Weekend Sketch Challenge and I wanted a simple card...Laurie's sketch was just that. I think I might have a hard time sending this card off in the mail ;-)

Enjoy and be on the lookout in the next few days for Clear & Simple Stamps new Stamp of the Month release along with one of Sue's wonderful new templates. I tell you, it's adorable this month!!!

Card details:
Stamp Set: Everyday Button Bits by Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: PTI Select White, Spring Moss, Red Pure Poppy, MMI Pretty Please "Full of Flowers" dsp (the opposite side of yesterdays post)
Inks: Versafine Onyx Black, Pumpkin Pie marker and 100 Copic, Mellow Moss, Blue Bayou
Accessories: Basic Grey Buttons (coordinates with Pink Lemonade paper), Oval and scalloped oval nestabilities

Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge/Raspberry Suite Color Challenge

I got a tiny bit creative last night, and by tiny, I really mean it, I squeaked out 2 cards. I'm hoping that those 2 card will jump start my creative energy. I come down to the basement wanting to stamp and just sit and stare at everything, waiting for someone to tell me where to start.

Mercy has just started up her sketch challenges again and I'm a big fan of sketch challenges so this one was right up my alley. Since I just got my new Papertrey Ink order last week this set is on my desk and not sure if it will ever make it off my desk. It's too darn cute! I combined Mercy's sketch challenge with Dawn's Raspberry Suite Color Challenge (Moss, White, Berry and Red). I used my new Papertrey Ink cardstock for this card as well. I know you can't tell too well but the cardstock behind the topiary is the berry sorbet as well as the little slip knots in the buttons.

Do you *love* the bow? I got the Bow-Easy from Sharon Johnson this past week and have been playing with it and love how cute the bows turn out! I also got some wonderful new ribbons that I can't wait to try out ;-)

Hopefully you won't get too sick of this set as I'm having a hard time putting it down right now and I just got new buttons & cardstock to play with!

Card details:
Stamp Set: Everyday Button Bits by Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: Spring Moss, PTI White, Berry Sorbet, Red Pure Poppy, MMI Pretty Please "Full of Flowers" dsp
Inks: Close to Cocoa
Accessories: Buttons unknown, Red Silk Ribbon unknown, Floral Fantasy cuttlebug embossing folder

Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge #80

Hate when I do that! I completed this post and then forgot to save it so I lost it all. Ugh! It's time again for Mary Jo's Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge. It's been a few weeks since I've gotten a chance to play but hope to turn that around ;-)

I stamped ahead of time this past week and hope to continue this trend throughout the next few weeks. I don't get the opportunity as much on the weekends to stamp, it's mostly in the evenings after the kids are in bed.

I got my Papertrey Ink order this week and I was thrilled. I have been wanting to place an order for awhile now and finally splurged after seeing Nichole's samples of the Everyday Button Bits set. WOW! She always amazes me with her samples as well as her DT. I have also been wanting to try their ink pads with the clear stamps. I really liked them and can't wait to play more.

This is also a card I hope that my partner has already received it or else she won't be surprised. It's for an anything goes swap on one of my yahoo groups.

Hope you enjoy this card and join us for Mary Jo's sketch challenge this week.

Card details:
Stamp Set: Everyday Button Bits by Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: Lavendar Moon, Rustic White & Enchanted Evening by Papertrey Ink
Inks: New Leaf, Versafine Onyx Black, Fresh Snow and Copic V01
Accessories: Soft Subtle Buttons, Enchanted Evening Buttons, Extra Fine Polka Dots Ribbon, Rustic cream button twine

ATC turned full card #14

Sharing another of the ATC's that I turned into a full card. I have about another dozen to do but find I'm starting to use them more now that I've turned them into full cards.

Friends House by Michelle Martinez
Cardstock: Lejardin DSP, Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron

Karen Giron's SSSC10

Bloggers Challenge: Christmas Challenge

This is going to be a super quick post as I'm headed out the door for FL so while you are reading this I hope to be floating in my parents pool soaking in some sunshine.

I'm embarrased to say I have very little in the Christmas stamp department. I don't know why, I love Christmas, just never buy any of the stamps.

I used Jen's Sketch for you to try this week.

So, I had to pull out some old time favorites this week as I wanted to do a fairly traditional card. Can't wait to see what the other blogger's created this week. You can check theirs out as well but clicking on the blogger's challenge log on my blog.

Card details:
Stamp Sets: Say It Simply, Lots of Thoughts, Little Somethings all by SU!
Cardstock: Cranberry Crisp, Wild Wasabi, Basic Black, PTI White
Inks: Versamark, Versafine Onyx Black, Copics RV19, G24, Y15
Accessories: nestabilities, ultrafine black embossing powder, rhinestone fire circles

Color Throwdown Challenge sponsored by Clear & Simple Stamps

This weeks Color Throwdown Challenge is sponsored by Clear & Simple Stamps. Join us in the challenge with the chance to win the prize pack here.

The color challenge today was to use chocolate chip, perfect plum and certainly celery or your closest colors. I love these colors but using them together had me stumped big time. I can't wait to see what everyone else comes up with for this challenge. I knew it would be a fairly easy challenge using a floral stamp, so I tried to go out of the box and use something other than that.

For the first card I pulled out my Golf Darling set. I love the Golf sets that are available from Clear & Simple Stamps, great for women & men. I kept it fairly simple with no embellishments on this one.

Primary Stamp Set	Golf Darling
Paper / Cardstock	Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, Perfect Plum
Designer Paper	Au Chocolat
Embellishments	paper piercer
Inks	Basic Brown
Markers / Colored Pencils / Chalks	Copic YR21, R20, C1, O, V17, V15, W3, C4, E00, G82

For the second card I tried to combine with the Julee's Mojo Monday sketch using the new Traveller set. My sketch is a little off kilter but I think it came pretty close.

BTW- Traveller is by far one of my most favorite sets. I love the sentiments in it as well as this palm tree!!! You can't tell from the close-up picture but you can see in the larger one I covered the palm tree with Cyrstal Effects. For this image I just direct colored with my marker onto the stamp.

Hope you enjoyed the samples and that you will join in with us over at the Color Throwdown Challenge!

Primary Stamp Set	Traveller
Paper / Cardstock	Certainly Celery, Perfect Plum, Chocolate Chip, Fabriano Medioevalis
Designer Paper	Au Chocolate (retired SU)
Embellishments	5/8" chocolate chip grosgrain ribbon, unknown ribbon (cream), Marvy Uchida scallop circle punch, Nestabilities circles, purple prima, Crystal Effects
Inks	Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip

Bloggers Challenge 108: A Stitch in Time

This week our challenge was to use stitching of some sort on our card. Yeah!! My favorite! I love my little Janome sewing machine and I love to sew on my cards so this was an easy task this week.

I made this card for a co-worker who had surgery recently. My boss asked me to make a card for her from the staff at work and I thought that Happy Harmony would make a good choice. I combined with with the Raspberry Suite Challenge #12 this week to use bright pink, dark red, celery and cream. Love this color combination!

Make sure to check out all the other blogger's today with their challenge cards, can't wait to see what they all created! (click on Blogger's Challenge logo on left of page)

Card details:
Stamp Sets: Happy Harmony by SU! and Fantastical Floral by Unity Stamp Co.
Cardstock: Fabriano Medioevalis, Pixie Pink, Bravo Burgundy, Certainly Celery
Inks: Pixie Pink, Bravo Burgundy, Certainly Celery
Accessories: Rhinestone Brads fire circles, Janome Sewing, Stampin' Write Markers, Primas, Stickles

From Courtney's Closet Challenge & LPS Sketch Challenge

It's been weeks since I've been able to participate in my buddy's challenge. When I saw her playdate this week, I couldn't resist playing. This card was created for the From Courtney's Closet Challenge this week. How can you resist the awesome colors of this dress?

This came together like a breeze for me and I love when I'm able to do that! I combined this challenge with one of Little Paper Shop's sketches created by one of my favorite blogger's Allison.

Hope you enjoy the bright colors of my card and if you feel so inclined join in Courtney's challenge we'd love to see what you create!

Card details:
Stamp Set: Bird Border by Magenta, Traveller by Clear & Simple Stamps (released 7/15/09)
Cardstock: Pixie Pink, Basic Black, Confetti White
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics, Tempting Turquoise, Pixie Pink, YoYo Yellow, Wild Wasabi
Accessories: Scalloped punch, circle punch, rhinestone brads, stickles

Clear & Simple Stamps New Releases

Make sure to check out all the awesome new releases this month!!!

Tennis Darling
Summer
Sunshine
Traveller
Summer Sand
Deep Dive
In Bloom
Together
Tennis
MVP

And guess what Clear & Simple Stamps will be carrying? The newest release of Copic markers which are at the top of my list to get!

Sweet Seashells: Sneak Peek of Traveller

I'm ultra excited about the releases taking place tomorrow at Clear & Simple Stamps. I have to say this is one of my favorite batches of stamps being released! This was one of the first cards I made with the Traveller set, love the little seashells. I think I used them a lot on my projects for this set, what can I say...me likey! (taken from Allison)

I had just gotten this paper and thought that it would make for a cute little card using not so typical seashell colors.

Hope you have enjoyed the sneak peeks and can't wait to see what you create with your new Clear & Simple Stamps!

Primary Stamp Set	Traveller
Paper / Cardstock	Papertrey Ink White
Designer Paper	Wisteria Basic Grey
Embellishments	Ribbon unknown, Oval Nestabilities
Inks	Memento Tuxedo Black
Markers / Colored Pencils / Chalks	Copic V01, V09, B00, BG000

Travelling back in time

I hope you aren't terribly sick of my frames yet as they are one of the things I *love* to alter!

I love it when I see a set that I immediately have a vision for creating with. When I saw this set, Traveller, from Clear & Simple Stamps, I knew I wanted to do another frame (surprise, surprise). This set will be available tomorrow as one of the new releases. Wait until you see all the awesome sets they will be releasing this month!

This was a picture I took on our cruise back in April. This picture was taken at Grand Turks which was my favorite stop of them all. This picture just takes me back to laying on the beach just enjoying the view.

I've had this frame laying around for about a year, just waiting to be altered. I originally tried painting this a shimmery blue but was not happy with it so covered it with this CTMH paper I've had in my stash that I thought would be perfect. A little worn, weathered look with a nice warm blue.

Hope this makes your day feel a little brighter!

Frame Details:
Stamp Set: Traveller by Clear & Simple Stamps
Cardstock/Paper: Designer paper by CTMH
Inks: Blue Bayou & Baja Breeze, Tim Holtz Distress Ink (tea dye)
Accessories: corkboard, twill ribbon (unknown source), circle & labels trio nestabilities, wood frame

Jessica Sprague Class

I'm just staring to take the Jessica Sprague class Photo Editing: Frame-ups & Special Effects. Finally got through lesson 1 and did 2 layouts. Am having fun with the digital scrapbooking but really need to work on some things and especially the organizing of all the files ;-) Any tips would be much appreciated.

Hope you like the photos. One is of my brother & youngest son feeding ducks at the pond by their house and the other is of my daughter that same day. My wonderful brother & sister-in-law were babysitting hence the p.j.'s so they were bed-ready when we got home.

Tennis Bag Tag

Last Christmas I received a wonderful new tennis bag from my sister-in-law. This set was perfect for me to make a cute little tag to adhere to my tennis bag. I love this sentiment from the new Tennis set being released 7/15/09 from Clear & Simple Stamps. It's one you hear often on commercials and it's so catchy.

I found this paper at my local stamp store and loved the bright colors of it. I decided to echo those colors on to my bag using my copic markers. Did you know that Clear & Simple Stamps also sells copics?

I used a simple chipboard piece for this tag and covered it with the paper I had picked out. I wanted it fairly simple, no embellishments that could easily fall off when swinging around my bag flopping it on the bench before heading out to court.

Make sure to check out Clear & Simple Stamps for all the new releases on 7/15/09.

Thanks for visiting me!

Paper / Cardstock	Papertrey Ink White
Designer Paper	Cosmo Cricket Twist & Shout
Embellishments	Ribbon unknown
Inks	Ruby Red, Memento Tuxedo Black
Markers / Colored Pencils / Chalks	Copic #YR21, C4, B05, YG93, R29

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge & SCS Color Challenge

This card is long overdue to go in the mail, I hope my partner who I'm mailing it to will forgive me.

I saw Karen's sketch this week and new it would work perfect with this set. I combined the sketch challenge with CC225 on SCS which was to use Kraft, Night of Navy and So Saffron. I really like this combo together and think I'll add some red in to it next time.

I added some rhinestones (from the rhinestone brads) on to the center of my Navy flowers, love the look of that!

Enjoy!

Card details:
Stamp Set: Eastern Blooms, Canvas
Cardstock: Kraft, Whisper White, So Saffron, Night of Navy
Inks: So Saffron, Night of Navy
Accessories: 1 3/8" circle punch, fire circle rhinestone brads

BC107: Case Another Challenger

This week our challenge was to case another blogger's challenge member. This was a challenge as how can you just choose one of these talented ladies??? So, I decided to CASE two of them.

First I had to choose just one of Rachel Hope's cards. There are so many of hers I like that I had a hard time narrowing it down but in the end I really liked this one as it had a simple design layout and I needed to make a baby card for our cousins who just had twins (boy/girl).

Card details:
Stamps: Baby Love (sentiment) from CHF, Little Fruit from Stampendous
Cardstock: Wild Asparagus dsp-"Play" stripe/blue paper, Certainly Celery, Confetti White
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black, Tangerine Tango
Accessories: Rhinestone brads ice circles, Amuse creativity candy, square nestabilities

Of course I couldn't go without CASE'ing our List Mom Lisa Somerville When she started posting cards using the Parisian Breeze dsp I fell in love! I love the brown and blue together and the more she used it, the more I had to have it. I love Lisa's style and it's so much different than my own and I couldn't even come close to recreating ;-) I did my best though. I tried some versamark resist with my chalks who haven't seen the light of day in about 2 years.

Card details:
Stamps: Ahoy Matey by CHF
Cardstock: Parisian Breeze dsp, Soft Sky
Inks: Versamark
Accessories: Chalks, 1/4" circle punch, circle nestabilities, chocolate chip pen for faux stitching

Make sure to check out all the cards created by the other blogger's participants here.

Sketch Challenge

I had some time to play this week with some stamping and squeaked out 2 cards. I wanted to play along with Lori's sketch over at Papercraft Planet and it was a fairly easy sketch so I started with that in mind.

I made this card for my friends Kerry and Kristen who are enduring some depressingly, rainy weather up northeast. I've been trying to send them some of my sunshine and humid weather but it hasn't been working so far.

This vellum paper I used on this card has been in my stash for far too long but thought it would look good with the stem of the flower. Now that I look at this card though, the color combination on it isn't the greatest.

Hope the weather gets better up by you gals!

Card details:
Stamp Set: Hearts & Flowers by The Cat's Pajamas
Cardstock: Summer Sun, Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic markers
Accessories: brown ribbon unknown, scalloped circle & 1 3/8" circle punch, eyelets

Tennis Sneak Peek: Pizza box mini note card set

I had a blast make a bunch of little 3 x 3 cards with the new Tennis set being released 7/15/09 by Clear and Simple Stamps. I used this pizza box template from Jen del Muro which are here:
Pizza Box from SCS Tutorial by Jen del Muro I made a belly band to go around it instead of wrapping with ribbon and like how it keeps it closed.

As I said in a previous post, both my husband & I play tennis and a few of my friends/family do as well so this will make a cute little gift for one of them.

I tried to use the same line of paper on all of them and keep them fairly simple. Sometimes simple can be better and in the case of little cards, that's what I like.

Hope you enjoy the little gift set and make sure to check out all the wonderful new releases from Clear & Simple Stamps on 7/15/09.

Designer Paper	Crate Paper Birdie Collection- Robin, Stork, Peacock
Embellishments	Square Scalloped, Scalloped & Circle Nestabilities Ribbon Unknown SCS Pizza Box Tutorial 1/2" SU circle punch Glass squares unknown Brads & ribbon hinges unknown
Inks	Tangerine Tango Close to Cocoa Chocolate Chip Certainly Celery
Markers / Colored Pencils / Chalks	Copic #G82 marker

Retired Sets for Sale

I'm cleaning house again and hoping that I can find these sets a good home.

All sets are mounted and used and slightly stained unless otherwise indicated. I will ship priority mail only with delivery confirmation and will combine shipping on multiple sets. I accept paypal, check, money orders.

Please e-mail me if you are interested in any of the sets, need pictures or would like to know detailed condition.

$3.00 sets
All I Have Seen
Alphabet Soup
Alphabits
Around the Block
Borders Mini
By Design
Cute Converse
Festive Four
Just Journaling
Mini Messages
Mostly Flowers
Phrase Starters
Say It Simply
Taggers Dozen


$7.00 sets
A greeting for All Reasons
All the Best
Be Happy
Best Yet *in a CD case, rubber on EZ mount*
Botanical Blooms *in a CD case, rubber images only*
Crosshatch
Down to Business
Event Full
Friendship Blooms
Fun Filled
Happy Harmony
Hugs & Wishes
It's a Date
Little Somethings
Lots of Thoughts
Monogram Letter H
Monogram Letter S never used
Monogram Letter T never used
Much Appreciated
Paisley Background
Print Pattern
Seeing Spots
Statement of the Heart for Stampin' Up!
Watercolor Minis
Wonderful Words


$10.00 sets
All in a Row
Along the Same Lines
Bud Basics
Circle of Friendship
Delight in Live
Flower Filled
Fresh Fruits
Hope Is
Label Classics
Looks Like Spring
Mini Mates
Polka Dots & Petals
Simple Sketches
Time Well Spent
SU! Metallic Art Pencils (barely used)
Word by Word Background set

$15.00 sets
Everyday Flexible Phrases
Zoofari

$20.00 sets
Big Deal Alphabet
Bodacious Bouquet
Doodle This
Heartfelt Thanks
Letterpress Alphabet

$18.50 Tote-ally Tote in blue/black (picture is an example of what mine looks like in another color)


Close to my Heart Stamp sets
Happy Day $12.50 (left)
Card Sentiments $12.50 (right)












Studio G stamp sets:
$3.00 which includes the CTMH envelope they are in (below)
will send 2 bonus sets not pictured

Jolies Fleurs set by Lizzie Anne Designs $10.00

Amuse Stamps:
Hammock 7-4110G $6.00
Sittin' Here 9-8414B $ 4.00
Monster Duo 2-3077D $4.00
Love Best 9-8286B $5.00
Little Giraffe 2-3057E $6.00

JRL Designs
Small Tag N287 $4.00


Stampendous
AA097 Tiny Bloom $2.50
H235 Changito Pair $5.00
V123 Bee Trio wood mounted $4.00

Rubber Soul
Baby 3005 $7.00

Unity Stamp Co
Fantastical Floral $15.00

Autumn Leaves
Scribbles Numbers $12.50 (never used/opened)
Freestyle Alphabet $20.00 (barely used)

Technique Tuesday
Gee Whiz $7.50

My Sentiment Exactly
Joy M111 $5.00

My Favorite Things
Boho Blossoms (heavy staining) $9.00
Think Pink $6.00