Baja Love for Mojo 92

Happy Thursday everyone!
Just a quick post to share my take on this week's Mojo Sketch, then it's time to cook dinner because there are hungry people here (big sigh). I like the Baja Breeze and So Saffron color combo, and I threw in a little Baja dsp too. I colored directly onto my stamp with markers, stamped my image on whisper white cs and matted it with a Saffron panel. For the 'Love You' image I stamped it twice onto whisper white cs and colored both images with markers. I cut just the flower out of one and adhered it to the other with dimensionals. I added Stickles to the flower centers, and the 'Love You' flower.
Okay, apparently these people are starving to death, so I will add my 'recipe' a little later. Let me know what you think, I love when you stop by!
Hugs and Smiles~
Denise

Hope Happens Baby!

Happy Friday all!
It's been a busy week trying to get back into the swing of things after vacation week. I wish I had more time to keep up with all of the fantastic challenges I love to participate in, but I sneak a few in when I can. I have a notebook sitting on my desk, and everyday I check out the different challenges for the day and either write or sketch them down~ so they're always here if I ever want to catch up!
I was able to get in this week's color challenge at SCS. At first the colors scared me, I don't usually go very bright (chicken!), but I really like the results! This is also the Mojo Monday Sketch for this week~ I LOVE Julee's sketches, definitely one of my favorite challenges!
I do have one more card to post today, it's for a friend at work who will be having a baby boy in about 6 weeks. This is one of my favorite House Mouse images ever! I colored the shoes using my Soft Sky ink pad and a water brush. The color is so soft and delicate, perfect! I cut out one of the shoes, and the little guy on top, and popped them up with dimensionals~ I'm a cutter and a popper! I added some Stickles to the laces and sentiment, but it's hard to tell in the pic.
Anyway, that's all for now. Thanks so much for stopping by, have an awesome day, and don't forget to smile a lot! :)
Hugs and Smiles~
Denise

Hope Happens
Stamps~ gemstone birds (Inkadinkado), hope happens (SU)
Paper~ white, pumpkin pie, kiwi kiss, summer sun
Ink~ black Archival, choc. chip, pumpkin pie, kiwi kiss
Extras~ lacey scallop punch (MS), primas, rhinestones, Stickles, brad, cuttlebug folders, dimensionals

Baby
Stamps~ house mouse, lovely labels (SU)
Paper~ choc. chip, white, green tea dsp
Ink~ black Archival, soft sky, close to cocoa, choc. chip, baja breeze
Extras~ ribbon, Stickles, circle and scallop punches, dimensionals

Hugs and Kisses

Happy Tuesday!
Remember me?? About a month ago I started having computer problems (don't ya hate that?) but FINALLY, things are back to normal. I've so missed blogging and my favorite challenges~ it feels a little overwhelming trying to get back in the groove, but it feels sooooo good too!! I can't wait to find out how my blogging friends are doing and what you're all creating!!
My card here is a valentine for my daughter. I used Monday's mojo sketch for this one. I absolutely LOVE Whiff of Joy stamps, and this little angel is just perfect for a valentine don't ya think?
Before I go I wanted to share a few pics of my yard with you~







Oh so pretty and OH SO COLD!!!! And now it's time to curl up into my nice, warm bed!
Thanks so much for stopping by, and don't forget to smile a lot!
Hugs and Smiles~ Denise

A message from the fam, and introducing Bailey!!

Happy Tuesday evening!
These are our beautiful children Brandon, Olivia, Ashley, Ryan, and Michael in the back. They wanted to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
I hope your Holidays are going wonderfully! Ours have been really nice! I am glad they are winding down now though. I want to get back to a normal routine and just relax! I don't know about you, but I am NEVER ready for anything. I mean~ every party I went to this season I was putting things together and wrapping at the last minute (this is no different than any other year by the way). I should be in The Book of World Records for 'Biggest Procrastinating Living Thing'!! REALLY!! It's one of the things I dislike the most about myself.
ANYWAY....
I have a couple of cards to share with you, but first I want to introduce you to the newest member of the Bernardoni family~ this is Bailey!


Some friends of ours have a cat that had a litter~ long story short- we have a new kitten! Bailey is named after one of our favorite holiday characters~ George Bailey, from 'It's a Wonderful life'.




Come to think of it, I've never introduced you to Jack, named after the Great Jack Sparrow of 'Pirates of the Caribbean'. Jack is my big, beautiful Maine-Coon boy~ THE BEST cat in the world!! He was a bit taken-a-back and a little upset, but look how he is coming around to this cute little guy! I can tell they are going to be the best of buds!
Okay, on to the cards!

The first one is from Saturday's Inspiration Challenge on SCS, and it's also the Mojo Monday sketch from last week. Splitcoast's inspiration was from MacKenzie-Childs~ I chose this charming plate for the soft, delicate look, it reminded me of Stampin' Up!'s pretty Bella Rose dp which I thought would be perfect for my Lizzie with Muff stamp from Whiff of Joy. I water colored her with ink pads and a water pen, cut out her image and adhered her to my card with dimensionals. I added faux stitching with a paper piercer and a white gel pen.

The next card is from this week's Mojo Monday sketch, and the first Sweet Ebony @ Sugar Nellies challenge using lime and black colors in our projects. The closest I could come to 'lime' was my Kiwi Kiss from SU. I used my 'Picnics of Daisies' stamp from Sarah Kay, and the sentiment is from SU's 'Always'. Again I water colored the image with ink pads and a water pen~ isn't she cute?!
Well, this post has taken more time than I thought it would, so I'll say "Good night" for tonight. Thanks for stopping by, and keep on smiling! :)
Hugs and Smiles~ Denise

One Christmas, One Mojo and My First Sarah Kay

Happy Friday!
I have a few cards to share with you tonight. The first one is one of this year's Christmas cards. I used white, real red and kiwi kiss cs. I pierced the top corners of my white base panel and embossed the red panel using a Fiskars embossing plate. Someday I'll get a Cuttle Bug, the embossing plates work good, but when I have a good sized panel to do, my arm really feels the burn!! I stamped my tree twice on kiwi cs and cut them out. I adhered one image to a white punched oval matted with real red, and added part of my second image over that with dimensionals. I also added some
Stickles and dots to my tree for a fun look. I punched a strip of white cs with my Martha Stewart Lacy Scallop punch, stamped my sentiment with black ink on kiwi cs, punched it out with an oval punch and adhered it to the assembled card with dimensionals.


I used Julee's Mojo Monday sketch for my next card, along with this weeks SCS Color Challenge~ taken with teal, real red and baja breeze. I used my favorite snowman stamp (Holly Berry House), and broke in my new Martha Stewart snowflake punch.




And finally, my last card to post tonight features my 1st EVER beautiful Sarah Kay stamp!! I just love these sweet images she has created. This one is Picnic of Daisies. I colored her with stamp pads and a water pen and used a circle cutter for the panel. This card was made with this sketch from Jen del Muro.
Well, that's about it for tonight. Thanks for stopping by~ have a great week end and don't forget to smile a lot!! :):)
Hugs and Smiles~
Denise

Recipes~
Kiwi Christmas
Stamps: Fun and Fast Notes, Best Yet (Stampin Up!)
Paper: white, real red, kiwi kiss
Ink: black Archival
Extras: oval and lacy scallop punches, Stickles, white gel pen, red marker, paper piercer, Fiskars embossing plate, dimensionals

Mojo Snowman~
Stamps: Holly Berry House (snowman), Snow Swirled (SU)
Paper: white, real red, taken with teal, baja breeze
Ink: black Archival
Extras: oval, lacy scallop, snowflake punches, markers, white gel pen, ribbon, button, Stickles, Fiskars embossing plate, dimensionals

Thinking Sarah Kay~
Stamps: Picnics of Daisies (Sarah Kay), sentiment (?)
Paper: white, pumpkin pie, bashful blue, dp (?)
Ink: black Archival, barely banana, so saffron, pumpkin pie, bashful blue, taken with teal, close to cocoa, choc. chip
Extras: buttons, prima flowers, Fiskars embossing plate, circle cutter, dimensionals, markers, colored pencils

Catching Up On Challenges

Good Tuesday evening!
(First, today's date is Tuesday, 10/21/08~ I couldn't figure out how to change it)
Thought I would post some challenge cards that I haven't been able to~ I really need more time in a day! So I'm posting in between batches of cupcakes for Olivia's class in honor of her 9th birthday tomorrow~~ Mmmmm, it sure smells good in here!
Anyway, my first card is from Sunday's Featured Stamper Challenge at SCS. This week's FS is Emily, aka Ink-e. Check it out, she's 18 and super talented! I sure wasn't making cards when I was 18~ let's not even talk about what I was doing at 18. I chose this card for the challenge, it has such a fun layout.
Okay, I'm back from licking the bowl~
The next card is from Saturday's Inspiration Challenge at SCS, and it's from The Etsy Store, and artist Joom's creations. I chose this wonderful pillow, I love the aqua and white, right away I thought- White embossing on that lovely color. This is also the sketch for Our Creative Corner
I sent this one out to one of the SCS family of stampers, Vicky Gould, as her husband passed away suddenly a few days ago. My thoughts and prayers are with Vicky and her family.

My next card is from LAST week's Featured Stamper Challenge, Anne Ryan. I was unable to play and Anne is so sweet and talented, I didn't want to miss out! I chose this card from Anne's beautiful gallery. You need to change at least two things for a CASE, and I changed the colors, stamps, and I did faux stitching (it's the only sewing I do). I kept the layout the same because I love it!


Last card~ I PROMISE!! This is for today's Color Challenge at SCS~ pink pirouette, choc. chip, and kiwi kiss~ great colors!! I combined this with Monday's Mojo Sketch and came up with Birthday Wishes.
Okay, the cupcakes are cooled and it's time to frost! Hope your having a fantastic week~ and I hope you're smiling a lot!! :):) Thanks so much for stopping by!
Hugs and Smiles,
Denise

CC186 Just Because

I have to tell you~ I absolutely love this weeks color challenge at SCS!

Really Rust
Choc. Chip
Baja Breeze

I'm really lovin' Baja Breeze, and I have ALWAYS loved my Choc. Chip ~ Really Rust never grew on me, but somehow, the combo of the three gives me butterflies in my tummy when I see it!! I have seen Really Rust in a brand new light! :)
Anyway, enough of my little spiritual awakening. I combined the color challenge with this week's Mojo Sketch and came up with 'Just Because'. I used my big Inkadinkado butterfly again for this card. I Stamped it on white card stock with Brilliance Aurora ink and heat embossed it with clear embossing powder. I dry embossed the rust panel with my Fiskars Stone Texture Plate, and edged the choc. panel with the Martha Stewart lacy edge punch.

Recipe:
Stamps: Garden Delight (Inkadinkado), Best Yet (SU)
Paper: white, choc. chip, really rust, baja breeze
Ink: choc. chip, aurora (Brilliance)
Extras: oval, and lacy edge punches, brads, rhinestones, dimensionals, ep, texture plate (stone), chalk

Before I go I just wanted to give anyone who may be interested a Johnny update--
Pirates #4 is in the works!!!!!!!!! Ahrrr matey!!
Okay, I think that's about it for tonight. Thank you so much for stopping by, and keep smiling a lot! :)
Hugs,
Denise aka: slightly obsessed JD fan

WT185 Charmed Mojo

Happy Thursday!
Today's 'ways to use it' challenge on SCS is using charms on our cards/projects. I found this cute little teapot charm in my stash, and I remembered that I had a teapot stamp from years ago that would be perfect for this challenge.
I stamped my image on black cs with versa mark ink, then heat embossed it with Crystalite Pink embossing powder. I stamped my image again on white cs with black Archival Ink and water colored the flowers with ink pads and a water pen. I cut out the flowers and layered them on top of the embossed image. I added Stickles for sparkle. I used the sketch for Julee's Mojo Monday, and embossed one of my pink panels with the flourishes texture plate from Fiskars. I adhered the charm to the ribbon with a small glue dot.

Recipe:
Stamps: PSX, Studio G
Paper: white, pink pirouette, black, certainly celery
Ink: black, versa mark, pretty in pink, rose red, mellow moss
Extras: ribbon, ep, teapot charm, Stickles, rhinestones,, texture plate, black Sharpie, white gel pen, straight scallop punch

Now, back to Grey's Anatomy! Thanks so much for stopping by, and don't forget to smile a lot! :):)

Hugs,
Denise

CC184, Mojo53 White Swirled and Some Challenge Catch Ups

Good Tuesday afternoon!
I have been home the past two days with children not feeling well. That, of course, I don't like. The upside is I can see they are feeling better, and I've been able to relax and catch up on some challenges- THAT I like!!
This card is for today's color challenge at SCS, 'basic gray, riding hood red and always artichoke'. I combined this with yesterday's Mojo Monday sketch.
I love the Snow Swirled set, and I love this tree heat embossed. I added red rhinestones to trim the tree and I stamped the flower from Baroque Motifs in riding hood red, punched it out with the triple flower punch, added a tiny rhinestone and a dimensional to top off my tree. I also heat embossed the snowflake on basic gray card stock and cut it out with my circle cutter.

Recipe:
Stamps: Snow Swirled, Baroque Motifs
Paper: white, basic gray, riding hood red, always artichoke
Ink: white craft, black, riding hood red
Extras: rhinestones, ribbon, white ep, dimensionals



The Splitcoaststampers Fan Club theme this month is 'Colors of the Rainbow'. I have a couple of cards done for that. The first is "Fuzzy Skating". I haven't inked up this cute little guy up in years! I paper pieced his sweater, skates and the trees, then water colored the rest of him with my SU ink pads and a blender pen. I also added some white liquid applique to his hat and the heart on his sweater for a fluffy look. I added Stickles to the moon and stars for twinkle, and the ice and trees for a frosty look. The snowflake was heat embossed on night of navy card stock and punched out with a scallop punch. I also used Beate's week end sketch for the layout.

Recipe
Stamps: Fuzzy Bear PSX, Snow Swirled SU
Paper: night of navy, white, soft sky dp
Ink: black, close to cocoa, tangerine tango, so saffron, kiwi kiss, always artichoke, white craft
Extras: White ep, ribbon, rhinestones, liquid applique, Stickles, dimensionals



This is another card for the Fan Club 'Glad we're Friends'. I paper pieced the flower from the 'One of a Kind' set with Bella Rose dp, added a white brad for the middle and popped it all up wit dimensionals. I used a white gel pen for detail. This is also the sketch from 2 Sketches 4 You.

Recipe:
Stamps: One of A Kind, Best Yet SU
Paper: black, white, bella rose dp, riding hood red
Ink: black
Extras: brad, rhinestones, triple flower- scallop- circle- and fern punches, white gel pen



'Happy Haunting' is for Our Creative Corner's sketch challenge. All the stamps are Inkadinkado Clear Stamps. I heat embossed the totally cool & creepy tree and the sentiment with Versa Mark ink and black diamond ep. I sponged some chalk around the tree for a harvest moon light look.

Recipe:
Stamps: Inkadinkado
Paper: black, summer sun, elegant eggplant, white
Ink: Versa Mark, black
Extras: black diamond ep, rhinestones, Stickles, dimensionals

That's it for now, thanks so much for stopping by and don't forget to smile a lot! :):)
Hugs,
Denise

Happy Haunting!

Hi guys, and happy Sunday evening!
Looking at my last post I realize I haven't posted since last Saturday! It's been one of those downer weeks- A little family stress, feeling overwhelmed with things. Trying to prepare for back to school and back to work, seasons changing- CHANGE, that's what it is- I don't like it!! Even good change is hard for me to get used to.
So when I saw the color challenge over at Our Creative Corner, which are some pretty fall colors, I thought maybe I could work on getting some of my mojo back, try to chill out about- CHANGES, and go with the flow. The challenge colors are Ruby Red, Old Olive and Pumpkin Pie. I thought maybe a Halloween card might be fun for that.
I just bought these cute Halloween stamps from Inkadinkado and I was dying to play with them! It took me a long while to get it done, ya know, stale mojo- but I did it! I also used Julee Tilman's Monday Mojo sketch to help me along. I love her sketches and her work, she is one very talented Lady!!
Well, I'm off to catch up on some challenges I've missed and try to keep the flow going. Talk to ya soon, and thanks for stopping by, I really love when you do! :)

Recipe:
Stamps: Inkadinkado
Paper: Choc. Chip, Ruby Red, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, White
Ink: black, pumpkin pie, choc. chip
Extras: ribbon, dimensionals, Stickles, chalk, oval punch

IC139 You're Sweet

Hello Everyone, and happy Saturday!
Today's inspiration challenge at SCS is Pink 'Lemonade Bags', I used this one: I love the colors and design on this bag.
I started with a bashful blue card stock base. Then I cut a white panel and scalloped the bottom with my corner punch. I added bashful blue dps, a strip of white cs and ribbon and adhered that to the base. I stamped the 'so many scallops' flower in Chocolate Chip ink and punched it out with my scallop punch, then I stamped my 'Boho Backgrounds' medallion once in choc.chip an once in bashful blue inks, punched out center flowers, layered them and attached them with a pearl brad. I stamped flourishes and sentiments, then attached the flower with dimensionals.
This is also the sketch for Julee Tilman's Mojo Monday Challenge.

Well, summer school is over, and I'm off until Aug. 28th. It's nice to get a break from the grind. It's been a rough couple of weeks, a roller coaster ride actually. My daughter, Ashley, found out that she was pregnant, but when we went for the ultrasound to pin-point how many weeks she was (10 1/2), the baby had no heartbeat. I saw MY baby's heart break, and mine broke too:( She's okay physically, but she's going through the grieving process, which is exactly what she's supposed to be doing.
My BFFs and I are kidnapping her tomorrow- she needs some time with the girls. I was really angry when I first saw her pain, but trying to see the good in this I realize how grateful I am that I saw how happy she was, and I shared that with her. I'm grateful for being a gramma for a brief moment, and now we have another Angel up there on our side.
Well, thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you all have a wonderful week end, and keep smiling a lot! :):)

FS76 Birdie Birthday

Happy Friday everyone!
I've been trying to catch up on my challenges and it seems like I never will! I tend to overwhelm myself when it comes to this kind of thing-- there are so many fabulously fun challenges out there, and I just want to do them all- I wish I had the time!! I have a couple to share with you now.
The first is 'Birdie Birthday'. This was the Featured Stamper Challenge on SCS for Sunday, July 20th.
SUSIESTAMPALOT has one gorgeous gallery, and I chose to case her 'Flutterby Just Because'--
I love the colors she used so I basically kept them the same. I changed the patterned paper and the stamps. I also used an oval shape for the focal panel, and I scalloped the pink CS strip.



The second challenge is yesterday's 'Ways To Use It Challenge'. We were supposed to use negative shapes and spaces. I used the negative space from an oval cut behind my sentiment. I also used Tuesday's Color Challenge for my colors-- very vanilla, soft sky and river rock. I love how soft and pretty these colors are together. The design for this card is from Julee's

Ya see what I mean? Too many fabulously fun challenges!!
Thanks for stopping by, and don't forget to smile lot! :):)

Groovy Banana Chips

Happy Tuesday Everyone!
It was a long hot and humid day here in Connecticut. I took the kids to the town pool for the afternoon, then came home and cooked some burgers on the grill for dinner. Wow-- that was an exciting entry huh?
The REAL exciting part of the day was when the UPS guy delivered my new stampin' up order-- then I checked SCS to make some comments, did the color challenge, and here I am blogging away!
The SCS CC174 today is groovy guava, barely banana and chocolate chip. I'm not a big fan of guava and I never would have included it, but it never fails, any of the color combos that I think "NO WAY!"- always seem to somehow come together beautifully. That's the magic of SCS Challenges!!

Recipe: Paper- groovy guava, barely banana, choc. chip, white
Ink- Choc. chip, groovy guava, always artichoke, pumpkin pie
Stamps- bloomin' beautiful, baroque motifs-- Stampin' up!
Extras- ribbon, paper piercer, Stickles, dimensionals
For the flower I water colored it using the 'ink pad squish method' and a blender pen, and OF COURSE added some Stickles for sparkle.
The design for this card is the sketch from Julee Tilman's Monday Mojo Sketch
Well, I'm off to make some more comments on SCS, and then call it a night! I hope you all had one fantastic day today! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog!
KEEP SMILING :):)