Inspired by Stamping Inspiration Challenge #37

Hello, blogger friends!  I've been so busy with work that I haven't had much time to stamp lately.  I received the goodies I ordered  from the Inspired by Stamping Store, but today is the first time I've had to sit down and stamp.  Oh, the woes of those who work in retail at Christmas time!  (I am very thankful to have a job!)

So I have a few days off this week, and here is my contribution to the Inspired by Stamping Challenge #37.  I love the challenge photo!  I used some Doodlebug paper on a whisper white card stock background.  My sentiment/image is from IBS December 25th Labels.  I matted it with some red glimmer paper and more Doodlebug paper.  I placed this on top of three rows of wonderful white crochet tape.  Love this!  I also fussy cut a little ornament and popped it on top of one of the stamped ornaments.  I topped this with a tiny bow.

So far, I'm loving all my IBS goodies.  Can't wait to play some more!  Thanks for stopping by!

Merry Monday #41 and IBSIC #35 (one more)

Hello again, blogger friends!  I haven't been able to play in the Merry Monday challenge for awhile, but I finished this card last night, and I think it qualifies for Merry Monday and the Inspired by Stamping Inspiration Challenge also.  

Again, I used My Mind's Eye Paper and embossed gold doilies on it from IBS Delicate Doilies II.  I added a glitter gold banner with three doilies on the side.  Lots of sparkle going on again!

Thanks for stopping by!

IBSIC #35

Hello blogger friends!  It's almost midnight here in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  I finished my card for the Inspired by Stamping Inspiration Challenge #35 last night, but couldn't get it posted until now.  We were to use the inspiration photo and the colors pink, gold, and white.   I used some My Mind's Eye paper and stamped gold doilies from IBS Delicate Doilies II.  I embossed them in gold and added a little bit of rhinestone bling. I stamped the big doilie on pink paper and embossed with white.  I then added some pearls and a gold embossed Merry Christmas sentiment.  I matted that layer with gold glitter paper which I put on a pink pirouette card stock base.  I do like how it turned out.  It's very sparkly in real life!

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great Thanksgiving!

IBSIC #34

Hello, blogger friends on this cold November evening.  I've been swamped with work lately which has left me with very little time to make any cards.  This is the first day I've had off in a week, and I'm working part time!  All I can do is try, I guess, but I think it will just get busier at the store with Christmas fast approaching.  

Anyway, I need to finish up some sets of cards for Christmas presents, so I decided to play at the Inspired by Stamping Inspiration Challenge #34.  The only stamping I did was on the sentiment with an Inspired by Stamping stamp.  My focal point was cut from some beautiful My Mind's Eye paper called Bluebell Remember Journal paper.  My gorgeous background paper also comes from My Mind's Eye, "Oliver" Blue Quatrefoil paper which comes already embossed.   

Thanks for stopping by!  I love reading your comments.

Merry Monday # 37

Good afternoon, blogger friends!  Today I had some time before I go to work, so I decided to play with the Merry Monday #37 sketch.  I was keeping up with the sketches so well until I went to Mississippi this summer and ended up there for 5 weeks.  Luckily for me, I had been making multiple copies of all the cards I did make up until June, so I have all of my Christmas cards ready.  Any that I make from now on are just extras.  Fun!

For this card, I used Riding Hood Red card stock as my base and matted everything with early espresso.  The DSP is both sides of Once Upon A Christmas by Little Yellow Bicyle.  My image comes from SU's The Sound Joy set, which I think is my favorite Christmas set ever.  It looks so elegant when embossed.  I matted with some gold glitter cardstock.  

This card went together so easily, I had to make 3 more (I got 4 out of one 12 by 12 piece of DSP.)  I might have to check at work if there is any of that paper left!

Thanks for stopping by! 

Freshly Made Sketches #57

Hello, blogger friends!  It's a gloomy, rainy day here in Fort Wayne, but I think I've managed to bring in a little sunshine with this birthday card.  I needed to make a birthday card for my lovely daughter in law, and LeAnne's sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week just popped out at me this morning.  I haven't played in a while, and this sketch worked perfectly with my colored in image by Inky Antics.  I cut the card at 4 1/2 by 6 inches this time.  I used pool party for my matting color on some whisper white card stock.  The DSP is from My Mind's Eye paper pad, Lavender.  The sentiment is from something to celebrate.  Hope she likes it!

Thanks for stopping by!

Inspired by Stamping Inspiration Challenge #30

Good afternoon, blogger friends!  I finally finished my card for the Inspired by Stamping Challenge #30.  Once again, I had something entirely different in mind, but this is how the card ended up.  I wanted to do a Halloween card and found this beautiful My Mind's Eye paper.  I did my background quickly, and then discovered I have one set of Halloween stamps and no Halloween sentiments.  So, after trying numerous options, I stamped the large doily from Inspired by Stamping's Delicate Doilies II on the black circle and embossed it with some glittery embossing powder.  I added the die cut pumpkin and clear embossed a few leaves.  I was going to just have it be a thank you card, but then I remembered I have a few fall birthday cards to make so that's what it is.  I'm posting this before I change my mind again!

The trees are gorgeous here right now, and the leaves are falling everywhere.  Hope you can find time to enjoy this beautiful fall weather, too.  Thanks for stopping by!

Inspired by Stamping Inspiration Challenge #29 and Mojo Monday #262 #

Hello blogger friends!  It's almost midnight here in Indiana and my light isn't too good, but I decided to post for the Inspired by Stamping Inspiration Challenge #29 before I miss the deadline again.  I love the inspiration photo, but I couldn't decide what shade of green to use.  I finally ended up using gumball green for the matting and the leaves.  The DSP is from Simple Stories Generations, Always and Forever.  I stamped the sentiment with an Inspired by Stamping stamp from Delicate Doilies II and All Year Wishes I.  The flower and leaves are from the Inspired by Stamping Little Flowers set.  My design was inspired by the sketch at Mojo Monday-The Blog #262. (I went back and took the pictures again this morning: much better light!)

 The above card is the first one I made with both sketches.  I reversed the papers, used some green DSP for the flags, and put a doily from the Delicate Doilies II set behind the main image.  I wasn't quite happy with it, so I changed it around, and I think I like the first one best.  I'm including the other one just for the fun of it.

It's fall here in Indiana, and I decided to include a picture of one of the beautiful trees I see on my way to work.  Isn't it lovely?  My hubby and I took a drive over to the trees last week.  When we walked down to the lake, we saw this little turtle on a log among the leaves.  Isn't she cute?

Good night blogger friends!  Leave me a comment telling me which card you like best.  I love to read your comments.

The Friday Mashup! FM 77

Good afternoon, blogger friends!  It's been awhile since I played at the Friday Mashup, but I finished this card Saturday night and wanted to post it before its too late again!  The guidelines for the mashup this week are 

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a "Indian Summer" themed project.
2. Or Make a project with any three colors from "Cajun Craze, More Mustard, Raspberry Ripple, Lucky Limeade & Early Espresso".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Indian Summer Themed project with the color combo". 

I think I qualify for the mashup this week.  I used all the above colors with the background card stock being cajun craze.  I matted the embossed sections of cajun craze, more mustard, raspberry ripple, and lucky limeade on early espresso.  My trees come from the Mod Tree Border punch by Memory Box.  I stamped each of the above colors on my trees.  I got the design for my card from a past Mojo Monday challenge.

By the way, I love all these colors together.  I think I'll have to use them together again.  Thanks for stopping by!

Inspired by Stamping Inspiration Challenge #27

Good afternoon, blogger friends!  Happy first day of fall!  Since it is the first day of fall, I'm posting the card I made for Joanna's Inspired by Stamping Inspiration Challenge #27.  I had been wanting to try the starburst technique since I saw the challenge on The Friday Mashup!  last week, but I didn't make the deadline.  (I found a tutorial if anyone is interested.)

To make this card, I got out my embossing folders and used real red for the section in the middle and various shades of orange for the other sections.  My background is cajun craze.  I stamped the image from the Inspired by Stamping set, Delicate Doilies II and added a rose and some crocheted lace  from the Inspired by Stamping store. My sentiment comes from SU's Petite Pairs.

Thanks for stopping by today.  I love reading your comments.

ISBIC #26

Hello, blogger friends!  I don't usually do square cards, but I decided to try one with this weeks Inspired by Stamping Inspiration Challenge.  It actually started out to be a masculine card and morphed its way into a more feminine card.  I used some My Mind's Eye card stock with several SU punches and two SU stamp sets, Party Hearty and Bring on the Cake.   I added 2 flowers from the IBS store and another from my stash.  I also decided the card needed some bling, so I added quite a few pearls.

Thanks for stopping by!  I love to read your comments.

Mojo Monday #258

Good afternoon!  I made this card for the Mojo Monday #258 challenge.  I used SU's Tempting Turquoise for my background with some Doodlebug DSP Petite Prints layered on top.  I used some rich razzleberry ribbon.  My medallion is from the Quint-Essentional Flower Stamp by SU.  I think it would have worked as a birthday card, too.  What do you think?

Thanks for stopping by!

Freshly Made Sketches Anniversary

Happy Anniversary, Freshly Made Sketches! Your sketches have inspired me greatly this year.  For today's challenge, we could choose from any of the Freshly Made Sketches past challenges.  I chose sketch #13.  I used some retired SU paper, Orchid Opulence as my back ground and added some Bella Blvd. DSP, Sunshine and Happiness.  My flowers came from the Taylored Expressions set, Faith in Bloom.  The sentiment came from the SU set,  Because I care.

Thanks again for the inspiration, Freshly Made Sketches.  May you have many more anniversaries to come!

Merry Monday #32

Good afternoon, blogger friends!  I had this afternoon off, so between loads of laundry, I decided to make a card for the Merry Monday #32 blog challenge.  I actually made another card on Monday, but I wasn't too crazy about it, so I decided to try again.  My base for this card is SU bashful blue card stock.  My DSP is by Heidi Grace designs, Shimmer Flocked Paper.  The opposite side of the DSP is shimmery, too, so I used that paper for my ribbons.  I used a SU set called The Snowflake Spot for my snowflakes and embossed them in silver.  I also embossed the sentiment.  The panel is dry embossed with some dazzling details to add a little bling.  

Thanks for stopping by.  Thanks to this blog, my Christmas cards are all almost done.  Yes!

Freshly Made Sketches #51

Good afternoon, blogger friends!  I hope you are having a wonderful Monday.  Once again, I'm cutting it close to make the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge, but I did get a card done.  I'm trying to get back on track with the blogging after many interruptions lately.

I made this card with some DSP made by Doodlebug called limeade daisy stripe.  The flower came from Faith in Bloom made by Taylored Expressions.  The sentiment came from SU's Short and Sweet.

Thanks for stopping by!  I love reading your comments.

Inspired by Stamping Inspiration Challenge Guest Designer

Inspired by Stamping Inspiration Challenge #25

Hello blogger friends!  I'm so excited today to be the guest designer for one of my favorite online challenges. For this challenge, we were to use the lovely photo above and the colors blue, green, yellow, and cream.  I thought this stamp set from Inky Antics, Daisy Bouquets, was perfect for this challenge.  I embossed the design on water color paper and did some fancy cutting.  I then colored it and added a flower from Joanna's shop and some bling to the daisy/sunflower.  My DSP comes from My Mind's Eye and the gorgeous crocheted ribbon again comes from Joanna's shop.  

I haven't been able to do many challenges lately.  My sister graduated with her master's degree in nursing and we had a big celebration in Illinois.  It was wonderful to get to visit with all of my sisters this time:  there are 5 of us.  When we were almost ready to come home, we got a call that my husband's uncle had passed away. We left for the funeral in Pennsylvania on Tuesday and didn't get home until Friday.  While there, I got a call that I got the job I had interviewed for:  I start tomorrow at Archiver's.  I'm really excited about that job.  Archiver's is a scrapbooking/cardmaking store, and I'll get to teach classes.  Yes!  Less time on the computer, probably, but I'll get to do something that I love, and I am thrilled.

Thanks for stopping by.  I love reading your comments.

Freshly Made Sketches #48

Hi again, blogger friends!  Here is my second challenge card of the night.  I made this card for the Freshly Made Sketches #48 challenge.  I'm still working on an order for some sets of note cards and thank you notes that a friend placed for Christmas, and I've done most of the cards with the Summer smooches paper. I didn't think I'd like it when I first saw it, but the more I use it, the more I like it. I love how the stamp set matches, too.  I'm trying to get the order done by next weekend when I will see the person who placed the order.  Lots of work to do in the meantime! (She ordered four sets of 12 cards!)

I have a job interview on Monday at a place I think would be so much fun to work.  Prayers will help!  

Thanks for stopping by!

Merry Monday #28

Good evening, blogger friends!  I've been busy making cards today.  The first one I'm sharing goes with  Monday #28 Sketch.  I used Concord Crush ink on a piece of whisper white cardstock that I embossed with a Cuttlebug folder which I bought earlier this year and haven't been able to figure out a sketch to put it on.  It worked perfectly with this sketch.  It was pretty simple, and I left off the sentiment because I think the image says it all.

 I am excited because I have a job interview on Monday at a place I would love to work.  I won't say where yet, but prayers will help!  Thanks for stopping by!

IBSIC #21

Good afternoon, blogger friends!  Today I finished my Inspired by Stamping Inspiration Challenge #21 card with a few hours to spare.  I love the inspiration photo and had several ideas, but when I tried to make them, they all seemed to turn up wrong.  I got my sketch inspiration from a past sketch on the cardabilities blog.  I just used both sides of a piece of My Mind's Eye, Blush "Sweet" Bouquet paper.  The only stamping was done with Inspired by Stamping's All year Wishes I.  The lovely ribbon came from a sample from Joanna.  (Thanks!)

Thanks for stopping by!  I love reading your comments.

Word Art Wednesday Challenge #40

Good evening, blogger friends!  Before I went to Mississippi, I received an invitation to participate in the Word Art Wednesday Challenge.  I never dreamed I would be away so long!  Anyway, here is my card for this week's challenge.  How better to rejoice then to praise the Lord with music?  I think the card would be good for anyone who needs a little encouragement.

The music background stamp is from Penny Black.  The larger flower I got at Michael's and the smaller ones came from the Inspired by Stamping store.

Thanks for stopping by!

Merry Monday # 27

I'm cutting it to the wire for the Merry Monday #27 Challenge.  So here's my card, with my main color as Poppy Parade.  If you have any questions, just let me know.  Thanks for stopping by!

Freshly Made Sketches #47

Good evening, blogger friends!  I finished this card for Freshly Made Sketches #47 a few days ago but didn't get around to posting it.  I was in the process of making a set of cards for my aunt to give to her step daughter for her birthday and finished them tonight.  I tried to keep a flower theme going on, and this sketch worked perfectly.  I used Daffodil Delight for my card stock base.  I then layered various Summer smooches paper onto whisper white.  My image is from a stamp I got at my local stamping store here in Fort Wayne.  We've had some rain this week, so maybe, just maybe, the flowers will perk up for the remaining days of summer.

Thanks for stopping by!  I enjoy reading your comments. (If you've wondered where I've been, read the previous blog.  It's good to be home!)

IBSIC #20: I'm back!

Hello, stamper friends!  It's been almost 2 months since I last blogged, and a lot has happened in the meantime, but I'm back again and ready to stamp.  I thought I'd start with the Inspired by Stamping Inspiration Challenge #20.  When I saw the sketch, I knew I had to use the Delicate Doilies II stamp set which I won from Joanna last month.  I can't wait to try out all the doilies:  they are so lovely and make the most beautiful images.  My background is cherry cobbler card stock.  On the cherry cobbler, I placed a piece of My Mind's Eye paper, which I sponged around the edges.  On a piece of vanilla card stock, I stamped the two doily images in crumb cake and cherry cobbler.  I embossed the image in the middle and popped it on dimensionals, adding a pearl to the middle.  My sentiment is from Petite Pairs by SU.  My "lace" is on of the images in the Delicate Doily set which I stamped and cut out.  I added mini pearls to both sides and a button with ribbon to the corner.   The doilies remind me of snowflakes here, so that's why I went with Christmas.

Here is a recent picture of my two grandsons, Caleb 2 and Isaac 6 weeks.

I went to Mississippi 10 days before Isaac was born because my daughter was having health issues which the doctors finally attributed to kidney stones.  We thought everything would be okay once Isaac was born on June 20th.  I left July 1st for Indiana.  Upon arrival, my husband and I discovered our home had been without electricity for 5 days due to a bad storm that went through Fort Wayne.  All the food in our refrigerator was spoiled, and the apartment smelled horrible! We cleaned up the food mess in the refrigerator and headed to Michigan to visit my husband's brother and his family, and we also visited Jim's mom who had flown in from Colorado.  We stayed there until Saturday.  On Monday night, I got a phone call that my daughter was in the hospital again: the back pain had returned and this time the diagnosis was gall stones and pancreatiasis.  I packed a bag and headed back to Mississippi the next morning.  My daughter had surgery, I stayed with Caleb, and then stayed until my daughter could carry the baby around again.  During the beginning of the second week, I received a call that my dad was going to have quadruple bypass surgery! I stayed the rest of the week, and then I headed to Illinois to visit Dad.  Dad is home and recovering nicely.

So, that's the story in one paragraph.  Needless to say, I'm so glad to be home, even though that extra time with the grandsons (and their parents) was wonderful.  I'm praying now that everyone will stay healthy for a while!

Thanks for stopping by!  I really did miss the blogging.