Back to Work

Hi Everyone!

Well, it was back to work for me today. But it's only 3 hours a day for the summer session, so it's not bad. The hard part is going back to full days in the fall after short days in the summer--but I'll just stay in the moment.

Yesterday's Splitcoast challenge was the Featured Stamper who is Michele, check out her beautiful gallery here: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?

cat=500&ppuser=106723 I chose her card here:

I loved how she used cardboard for her focal panel, just a beauty! Here's my version of Michele's card-- I tore the cardboard and added some Stickles to the bottom to resemble sand on a beach. For the little girl, I stamped her twice- once on card stock, and once on patterned paper, then I paper pieced her dress and the bow in her hair. The rest of her I colored with colored pencils. Thanks Michele for the inspiration.

Today's technique challenge, also at splitcoast, was chalk pouncing. Here is a link with directions: http://www.lasimppan.com/techchalkpouncing.htm. It's a really fun technique. I 'pounced' my background with blue and purple chalks, then stamped the image with versa mark ink. I used sponge daubers to pounce colors onto the ink. I punched some small stars out around the image so you can see the saffron panel underneath. I took some of the punched stars, chalked them, and adhered them with pop dots. I stamped the sentiment in versa mark ink, and embossed it in gold with a heat tool. I like the result-- really fun and simple.

Well, it's time to start dinner-- do I have to? Yea, I do.

Thanks so much for stopping by and don't forget to smile a lot today:):):):)

OMGosh---I'm tagged!

Hi guys!



It seems that Leanne, http://weeinklings.blogspot.com/, has tagged me-- now I've never done this before--I'm actually nervous! I feel like I'm about to deliver a public speech! Okay, get over yourself Denise! I'm supposed to tell you seven random facts about myself and tag seven other people, so here goes----


1: I can whistle snails out of their shells.


2: I had the chicken pox when I was 18 years old.


3: I have a cat named Jack Sparrow B.


4: I am a bit obsessed with Johnny Depp. (sometimes it's scarey!)


5: I have been sober for 15 years.


6: I am an ABA Therapist- I work with autistic pre-school children.


7: I feel most at home when I'm near the ocean.



Now, I feel stupid--- I don't know how to tag anyone--- this blog buisness is still new to me, but I would like to tag- Jessica- Canyousayaddictedtostamps?
Deena-A necessary creativity
Kelly- flutter by atomic butterfly
Mercy- Lord have mercy
Mary- Stampin pretty
Denise- the paper landscaper
Jan- stamps paper scissors

Anyway-- that's it for now, see ya tomorrow--smile a lot today:):):):)

Patience is a Virtue

Hi Everyone!

Yesterday was a real test of patience for me. I don't know about you, but when I send in an order for Stampin' up, or anything really, it's all I can think about until it's delivered. I go to the UPS website and track that package almost every mile of the way!! Then arrival day comes--THAT is the longest day of all! And a long day it was, the UPS lady didn't come until 5:15 p.m.! Every time I heard a truck go by I ran to the door, hoping it was my long awaited box! Anyway, as you have probably guessed THE BOX finally came, and the UPS lady that I was almost hating all day, suddenly became my most favorite person in the world!!

Do you know that feeling?? I'm guessing some of you do!!

So I opened my treasure and all the worries of the day just melted away!!

Today, after a very emotional yesterday, I have managed to get in a couple of challenges. The first is yesterdays sketch challenge over at splitcoaststampers.com.

I don't make a lot of baby cards, but I thought I would try some with the cute carriage in Stampin' Up!s Fun and Fast Notes. I wasn't so sure how I liked them at first, but they're growing on me.

Then today's challenge, also at Splitcoast, is to include birds in our projects. So I finished putting together some more double pocket bags that I had made for the craft fair. These are so fun to make, I just love them! And that's my fave bird from SU's Touch of Nature, which is retiring soon. Here is the tutorial that Jenn Diercks put together. http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/double_pocket_bag/

Well, I'm off to play with my new toys-- I'll share them with you soon!! Have a wonderful evening and don't forget to smile a lot:)):):)

Back to my challenges!

Hi everyone!
Well, I survived my 1st craft fair!! Didn't sell very much, but that's okay, it was fun! My good friend Pam and I went in together and split a table. Pam has done a lot of fairs in the past, this was her 1st one in a long time. Thank God she knew what she was doing!! Cuz' I sure didn't have a clue! Thanks Pam!!:):) Now this was a very last minute thing and we had been cramming to get things together all week long! WE DID IT!! Now I know how prepared I really need to be the next time. Anyway-- great experience, and a nice day away from home with my stampin' buddy!
I was however going through major SCS challenge withdrawals!! I am addicted to these things! I love them because they really get my creative juices flowing, and get me out of my boring comfort zone! Thanks to all the awesome people at Splitcoaststampers who are so dedicated to setting up all the fun challenges every week!! They ROCK!!!!
My son's HS graduation was beautiful! When did the years start going by sooooo fast?! Ryan graduated with high honors!! Oh I'm so totally proud of him!! And you know what? That's 2 down, and 2 to go!! WOW!!
Okay, I finally got my challenge fix this morning! It's a combo of two challenges, try a new technique, which was water coloring with reinkers, and the featured stamper--Lost in The 60's-- Diane, who has an incredible gallery!! I chose one of my faves of Diane's, -- such a beauty. Click on her card for a larger image.

I don't have any reinkers, so I used the Stampin' up! water coloring technique, squeezing the stamp pad and using the ink on the cover with a water pen. I never use this rose stamp, but it worked real well with what I had in mind. I stamped and colored the image 3 times and cut and layered a lot, and of course added Stickles for sparkles. I love my S.U. Always stamp set and thought the bird would fit in nicely there at the bottom!

Well, it's time to make sure all children are settled in for the night, (so I can get back to my obsession!) Thanks so much for stopping by, have a wonderful evening, and don't forget to smile A LOT!!:):):):)

SC181 and CC171 Always

Hi guys!

I decided to take a break from craft show preparation, and get in a couple challenges over on splitcoaststampers.com. (I was having challenge withdrawal)

I combined 2 challenges today-- the sketch and color challenges. The colors for Tuesday were kraft, soft sky, and basic black. I used kraft for the base, and stamped Baroque Motifs in the corners. Next I matted some soft sky DP with black, added ribbon and adhered it to the base. I embossed the Always heart with black diamond EP twice, cut them out and attached to 2nd panel. I added the Bloomin Beautiful rose (one of my faves), which I stamped twice, cut out some petals on one and attached them to the other with dimensionals. I added Stickles for a little bling. I then stamped the sentiment with black ink. Finally, I embossed the Always title on kraft, punched it out with a 1 3/8" circle punch and adhered it to my card with dimensionals.

I got on a roll last night for the craft show, and this is a really great break from that!

Okay, it's almost time to get ready for my son Ryan's HS graduation--WOW!! Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you all have a wonderful rest of the day, and don't forget to smile a lot:):):):)

Why I haven't been to blogland recently.

Hi everyone!

It has been so crazy... Ready--- "How crazy is it?!" It's been so crazy, that I can't even think straight! Between the end of the school year excitement and preparation, (not only do I work in the school system, I have one DS graduating from HS!) my oldest DD being engaged, and trying to prepare for my very 1st craft show--- I'm frozen!!! It's the 1st day of summer vacation, I'm showered, everything is done around the house that I wanted to get done for now, my DH is at work, the kids are playing outside, I'm finally sitting at my desk and.......NOTHING! I feel like Chevy Chase in Funny Farm (if you're not familiar with this hilarious movie, here's a brief overview), he and his DW move from the city to their dream home in the country so he can finally write the greatest American novel. After a few funny setbacks in the beginning, he finally sits down at his typewriter, he types one word, and that's it, writers block! Well, I have 'creators block'! Did I mention that it's Wednesday and the craft show is Saturday? All the ideas in my head are spinning out of control and I feel lost in there. I guess it's time to chill out and get my thoughts together.

Anyway, I just wanted to drop a few lines and let you know what's happenin'.

Oh yea-- I almost forgot! A couple of weeks ago we had a bizzar storm that left us with a beautiful double rainbow that I wanted to share with you!

Anyone involved in the terrible storms out west--You are in my deepest thoughts and prayers.

Well, time to clear my head. Thanks for stopping by, and don't forget to smile a lot today:):):):)

Black & White Silhouetes

Good morning!

I'm excited about this card! I've never done just black and white before.

So, I'm checking out my fav blogs and I see that Beate's inspiration challenge for this week is this gorgeous b&w pillow from Coldwater Creek. So I said to myself- "Self, this is the perfect opportunity to try out this color combo." I said, "Let's do it!" So I combined this with Mercy's Tuesday sketch http://lordhavemercy-mercykerin.blogspot.com/ and came up with this.

The card measures 6 5/8 x 3 1/4". I started with black CS for the base and added a white panel with black lace adhered to the bottom. I stamped my Garden Silhouettes 3 times on white CS and embossed in black. I punched randomly each image with a 1 3/8" circle punch and adhered the 3 circles to another black panel. I added a small strip of white CS to the bottom of that black panel and attached it to my card. I finished it off with 'Sincere Salutations.

I stood back and said, "Self, we done pretty good!" Hope you like it too!

Thanks so much for stopping by, and don't forget to smile a lot today:):):):)

Denise

CC170 and SC180 Saffron Flower

Today I am home from work. I get panic attacks periodically and today is a doozy. I really needed to chill. So I am trying to relax doing one of my fav things--- stamping (and deep breathing).

Here is my card for this weeks CC170 and SC180 over at http://splitcoaststampers.com/. The color challenge is 'real red, regal rose and so saffron'--beautiful colors together!! The only color I didn't have was real red so I used purely pomegranate instead. I combined this with the sketch challenge and came up with this.

I sponged all panels, except pomegranate, with a combination of real read and regal rose chalks. I stamped the image on saffron in white and embossed it with clear embossing powder. I then sponged the embossed image with a combo of rose red and pretty in pink inks. I stamped and repeated the embossing and sponging procedure again, cutting out the flower in the center and adhering it to the center of my first image with dimensionals. I stamped and embossed 'LOVE' 3 times, cut them to size, sponged them a little and adhered them to bottom panel also with dimensionals. I corner punched all panels, added them to the base and added a wee bit of ribbon under the flower, and a pearl brad to the center. I like it!

I hope you have an awesome day, and don't forget to smile a lot today!!:):):):) Come visit again soon! Denise

My first entry

Hello!

I never thought I would have a blog, however, I am hopelessly addicted to an amazing stamping community called Splitcoaststampers. I find myself endlessly browsing through some truly talented papercrafters ---aka, Artists--- and I see links to their blogs. So I travel through cyberspace to check some out, and I find: myself! So many people all over the WORLD who love paper, inks, stamps, ribbon and endless embellishments! Then, on top of all that, I get a glimpse into their lives- joy, sadness, celebrations, struggles- REAL LIFE. Suddenly I feel connected, and I think, "Why not?" Granted, my life is far from exciting and adventure filled, (well maybe sometimes it's closer than other times!) but I love my artistic outlet- it helps keep me sane (for the most part) in my sometimes insanely hectic, overwhelming, BEAUTIFUL life! And It's a good feeling to know that you're out there too! So here I am, blogging away! It's awesome to meet and get to know all of you! Come by and visit anytime! Nice to meet you, and don't forget to smile a lot today!:):):):)

Denise