Huge Blog Candy Giveaway

I just stumbled onto a blog through my SBS8 Sister, Kelly, with a large stash of goodies to be given away by Carla @ http://moralia.wordpress.com/2008/05/21/ and the photo she posted isn't all; she's added in more goodies in later posts!!! Of course, I'd love to win! By adding a post to your blog, you have an additional chance in the drawing too! Give her blog a look & post a comment. She has some gorgeous creations you'll enjoy seeing & who doesn't love blog candy?!!! ;-)

Guy Birthday Card

My guy card for the http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/ challenge which is it to make any guy card for any occasion. Pretty simple - you should join in!
I've used a 3 1/2 x 6" card, a Hero Arts Birthday Definition stamp, a sunscreen shade sample from my friends' window coverings retired sample book and some hardware for this creation.
Paper: White cardstock; DCWV's black/silver checker paper
Stamp: Hero Arts
Ink: Tsukineko's Onyx Black & Versamark
Embellishments: Making Memories' Decorative Staple Bars, Chipboard letter & Asphalt paint; metal tag, screw & decorative brads & silver sticker & silver embossing powder from my stash
Tools: Milwaukee Heat Gun & Fastenater Stapler

Happy Birthday Male Card

Another birthday card created with one of my new acrylic Stampendous sets. This one is basically their sample (just different colors) shown @ http://www.stampendous.com/projectsfdr/projects.html under the projects tab, last card, second row, "Mega Birthday Card". I really like it, though it's a bit time-consuming to stamp all the little gifts onto each letter! Really happy with the result though!!!
Paper: Heavy blue/white double-sided cardstock; red speckled and white cardstocks - all from stash & brands unknown
Stamps: Mega Happy Set by Stampendous
Inks: Versamark Watermark by Tsukineko; Stampin' Up's Brocade Blue & Really Red Classic Inks
Embellishments: White Embossing Powder; silver photo turns & small brads (painted red with Making Memories Red Wagon Paint; red/white grosgrain ribbon; small square navy brad

Happy 21st Bday!

Just playing around with some new acrylic Stampendous sets I got, but you don't even want to know how long I spent on this card - trust me! I had it all made with a larger set of brackets and different birthday stamp, but it had too much white space above the letters. I decided I had to cut the letters of the "happy" stamp all apart, both for purposes of aligning to fit better and for inking them easily. So I've combined two different Stampendous sets as well as "bday" from Studio G. It turned out much more to my liking this time! ;-)

The Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder on lime green paper instead of the DP would have been cute here - can't wait to get that folder, Gwen!!! -;O

Paper: White cardstock; DCWV Turquoise mat; DP from my stash
Stamps: Stampendous & Studio G acrylics
Ink: Tsukineko Lime & Cyan Versacolor

Embellishments: Marking Memories Ribbon; brad

Tools: Stampin' Up's 1 1/4" & 3/4" Circle Punches

For My Friend

Finally, I had a chance to play with some of the goodies that my friend Julie sent in the RAK exchange through SBS8. This card is my take on the sketch for this week's challenge @ http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/. I've used an acrylic stamp and flower stickers so kindly provided by Julie! I also got a chance to play with my new Cuttlebug embossing folder which embosses beautifully in my Spellinders Wizard die cutting machine -- so fun to play with! I owe a big thank you to Designing Diva Judy for that gem of a tip!!! These embossing folders are quite inexpensive, so you'll probably be seeing a lot more of them in the near future on my cards here!
Paper: Bazzill Green & Pink & green cardstocks; DCWV DP
Stamp: Studio G

Wedded Bliss

My brother's youngest daughter, Laura, is being wed this Saturday and sadly I'm not able to attend, so I'm hoping this little card will somewhat make up for my absence. I want to thank my Designing Diva Judy's sweet friend, Kristi, who was visiting from Texas, for so kindly sharing the stamped images & Cuttlebugged background paper & her ideas! I not only "lifted" her ideas, but literally her entire card! She had to start over from scratch on hers, so I hope she thinks I did it justice; I just love that mini swiss dots background!
In keeping with Laura's colors, I added a bit of navy blue with Twinkling H2O's, ribbon and seed beads, as well as pearl seed beads and white shades of H2O's. The stamps were fun to "play" with!
I'm modifying my post to include that this card is my entry for the http://www.daringcardmakers.blogspot.com/ challenge using linen and lace.
Papers: White/navy linen/"champagne" cardstock
Stamps: Hero Arts
Embellishments: Ribbons; lace; seed beads, Twinkling H2O's
Tools: Spellbinder's Wizard; Cuttlebug Mini Swiss Dots folder

Time for Flip Flops

Yes, it's that time of year again when we gals need to use our pumice stone & nail polish to spruce up our heels and toes & slip into our favorite pair of flip flops!!! I couldn't resist this darling Wishblade file when I saw it @ http://www.timeforcrafting.co.uk/index.html. Thanks for the darling pattern, Sara! For those of you without a die cutting machine, Sara also has a pdf pattern of the sandal for you to trace and cut out, so stop by her fun site & see her other awesome ideas! This was the card I shared for our Designing Divas stamp group's May get-together on Saturday.
Paper & Ribbon: Unknown brands from my stash
Embellishments: Amanda Blu chipboard flowers; Making Memories mini flower brads

The Heat Is On!

I know most of the country is still looking forward to spring, but after the nicest spring I can recall in 17 years, we are ready for summer here in Phoenix! Okay, that's not entirely true -- WE'RE not ready, but apparently Mother Nature is because our first 100-degree day is expected this Sunday!!! ;-)

Here I tried a fun technique made possible by my Designing Diva friend, Judy, who gave each of the Divas a strip of sequin waste, the hole-y strip left over after the sequins are cut! I actually used a raspberry Dauber Duo to sponge the dots all over my cardstock -- really fun and super easy! It actually looks better if they're not perfect, but instead some are lighter/not completely there. I thought it needed something else, but wasn't sure what, so I just decided to just leave it simple.

Paper: Hot Pink & Green cardstocks; DCWV's Extreme Paper Stack DP

Ink: Tsukineko's Dauber Duos

RAK from Julie SBS8

I received this adorable gardening apron card from my SBS8 Sister Julie from England! I love it and think it's such a clever creation!!! It also was quite a task to create because it includes stamping, hand cutting, shrinky dinks, eyelets and all the little hand-applied stitching around the edges.
She also included a plethora of goodies: two darling stamp sets, a molding mat, laser-cut butterflies and several sheets of stickers.
I've never had a sister in real life, but if this is what it would be like, I've really been missing out!!! ;-)
Thanks so much, Julie, and once my package to you arrives, I'll be an even happier Sister!

Girlfriends Card

Thought I'd play with some little $1 stamps/new flowers from Michaels and my Nesties. This is what I came up with. Love the punctuation marks, especially the parentheses and this one is so fun with it's little flower, so I just had to use it with "girlfriends"!
Papers: White/turquoise cardstocks; DCWV turquoise mat; Paper Company's White Translucent
Stamps: Studio G sets
Ink: Tsukineko Turquoise Versacolor
Tools: Spellbinders Wizard; Classic Scallop Retangles, SM
Embellies: Got Flowers? flowers; Hero Arts Pearls

Anna Griffin Sympathy Cards

I can't seem to get a photo of this first card that will do it justice, but besides operator error, I'm blaming it on the vellum! Hee-Hee!
I'm going through some older cards as well as "card starters", my name for a stamped image that I start out with which ends up in the "pile" and may or may not become an actual card. I tend to not throw things away because it seems shortly after I do toss something, that's when I know exactly the "perfect" way I could have used it! I decided to finish off the first card by adding a sheer nylon ribbon. I then heated the ribbon briefly with my embossing gun to "curl" the ends and added the pearl. For the second card I simply added the cream ribbon and a button from my button box.
Oftentimes I forget about a really great idea to give a card just the finishing touch it needs, as in the ribbon idea here, which is one I learned years ago. I really like it and the way these cards turned out. I'm so glad I didn't throw these "starts" in the trash, as I now have two nice sympathy cards ready for a difficult time when I'll need them and might not have time or feel creative.
Papers: Blue Cardstock; Vellum
Stamps: Anna Griffin Repousse Background and phrase
Embellishments: Blue Nylon Ribbon by Europa Imports; Woven "Dancer" Ribbon by Offray; Gartner Studios Pearl brads

Anna Griffin Ornate Medallions

A simple card using Anna Griffin's medallion stamps on a denim blue cardstock which I think could be used for any occasion -- male or female. I purposely didn't dress it up any more as I think I'll send this to Cards for Heroes and it might be suitable for more situations.

Thanks for stopping by!!! ;-)

Paper: Heavyweight Denim Blue Cardstock/Various Blue Cardstocks

Stamps: Anna Griffin Ornate Medallions Background/Medallion Motif