On My Way 51

Hi Everyone! I will be well on my journey to the far East when some of you may be reading this :) My dear sister will be camping out at my home while I am gone to take care of my dogs & other pets we have. My trip really inspired me to ink up one of my new favorite Waltzingmouse Stamp sets: Asian Gardens.Several of you guessed the correct destination spot that my hubby & I will be spending the next few weeks - China :) Many of our friends have asked if we had adopted a baby! My babies are 22 & 2o, 14 & 13 and 2 fur babies 4 !!! I think that is quite enough for me to handle :) For sketch inspiration, I played along with this week's Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge #4.

Up close you can get a good look at the darling blossoms & the sweet bird cage :) The Asian Gardens stamp set is full of so many images - I was able to stamp this entire gift ensemble & not one piece of patterned DP was used! Now that is some serious stamping :) Scott, my DH thinks I am crazy for sneaking in this project right before slipping out of town! NO stamps, ink, paper on this trip - he will surely push me over The Great Wall! :0

I pulled out the favorite "Take Out" template designed by Kelleigh Ratzlaff.

Perfect 'lil gift set for my sweet sister Tina :) If you visit here often, you know how much I LOVE tags.

I didn't get real fancy with the box because I thought this tag was enough all by itself - what do you think?

That's all for now - I am hoping for high speed internet connection while away. I am traveling with Mr. Technology so I will be well equipped to stay connected with all of you :)

Thanks for looking! Have a great weekend & hopefully, I will be in touch :) Be Sweet!

Supplies Used: Spellbinders™ S5-019 Labels Eight, S4-124 Classic Scalloped Circles LG, S4-125 Classic Scalloped Circles SM, S4-114 Standard Circles LG, S4-116 Standard Circle SM, W-001 The Wizard™, Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps Asian Gardens Paper: SU, PTI Ink: Memento, SU, PTI Other: brads & ribbon from stash

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Thinking of Betsy Ross 30

Hi Everyone! Since I finished all my necessary projects ahead of time, I have time to play with some of my favorite products :)

I mentioned in yesterday's post that I will be traveling out of the country in a few short days. To make this card, I played along with this week's JustRite Stampers Friday Challenge #024. The challenge is to combine the sketch below & use Red, White and Blue.

When I saw these colors, I thought of Betsy Ross stitching up the American Flag :)

After stamping the oval ornate border, I pulled out a Spellbinders™ S4-138 Petite Ovals LG die template to cut/emboss the image. To add a lil' dimension, I paper-pieced the heart image & popped it up with a few foam dots.

I mentioned yesterday, that our flight is approximately 19 hrs... Any idea where we may be jetting off to? (If you know, please don't give it away :) Our friends were thinking that maybe we were adopting a baby! YIKES Thanks for looking - Be Sweet!

I will be back tomorrow with another clue :)

Supplies Used:
Spellbinders™ S4-138 Petite Ovals LG, S4-111 Classic Scalloped Ovals LG, S4-242 Big Scalloped Borderabilities® Petite, W-001 The Wizard™
Stamps: JustRite Stampers Breath of Spring Borders & Centers, Stitched with Love Borders & Centers
Paper: Creative Imaginations DP, Papertrey Ink
Ink: Copic R46 Strong Red, W-3 Warm Grey, Melissa Frances Rub-ons, Memento, Ranger

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Almost Travel Time 30

Hi Everyone! There has been some changes in my crafting corner of the world - you may have noticed I am no longer on The Play Date Cafe DT - I stepped down simply because I am going to do a lot of traveling this summer & I will be exploring other crafty opportunities. I am going to miss creating along side ALL the talented girls at The Play Date Cafe but I will surely visit & play along when I can & I hope you do the same :)

As I previously mentioned, I will be traveling this summer & have some fun trips planned with my hubby - Any guesses where I may be jetting off to? I will give you a clue - it is about a 19hr flight non-stop from Phoenix! My poor toes are going to look like Oscar Meyer Weiners! :0 LOL (if you already know where we are traveling, please don't give it away :)

For the background, I inked up the Judy Kin's, Carmen's Miranda stamp. I bought this stamp several months ago at a rubber stamp show & finally pulled it out! For sketch inspiration, I played along with Kazan's awesome sketch from 2Sketches4You.

For a closer look:

I combined several stamped images with some fun Karen Foster card stock stickers. I am really enjoying stickers these days - it is super easy when you don't have just the right stamp. I love that I can customize them making my own embellishments like the "time to TRAVEL" one. It's original shape was a square, since I needed a circle, I pulled out my Spellbinders™ circle die templates & voila :)

That's it for now - I have to run some last minute errands - Our journey begins this weekend - I will be back with some more details :) Thanks for looking! Be Sweet!

Supplies Used: Spellbinders™ S5-024 Mega Classic Scalloped Ovals LG, S4-172 Pinking Circles SM, S4-114 Standard Circles LG, S4-116 Standard Circles SM, W-001 The Wizard Stamps: Tattered Angels, Judy Kins Ink: Stampin' Up, Memento, Ranger Paper: Stampin' Up, Papertrey Ink Stickers: Karen Foster

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Father's Day Gift Set 43

Hi There! Hope you are all having a great weekend :) I have a Father's Day gift set to share that I made for my dear husband Scott. Not only is he the BEST husband but he has been the BEST step-dad over the past 10 years to my children & of course, the BEST dad to my step-children :) He is the biggest supporter of my papercrafting hobby & would not be satisfied unless he received a homespun creation of sorts :)Scott has an enormous sweet tooth & one of his favorite candy is from See's - Victorian toffee. See's is now only offering the Victorian toffee during the Christmas Holiday season so the toffee-ettes are the next best thing! I made this card to accompany the gift ensemble.For sketch inspiration, I played along with this week's awesome Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge #3, WMSC3. The Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge site is now in full swing in week #3 already! If you are looking for some great inspiration & fun, be sure to check it out for yourself.

I inked up one of the images from the WM Very Vintage Labels No. 4 set, stamped it on a scrap of cork-board left over from one of my step-daughter's school projects, then simply placed a Spellbinders™ Nestabilities S4-190 Labels Four die template over the cork-board, adhered in place then ran it through my Wizard™. Scott will surely get a chuckle out of this recycled cork-board as I am sure it will jog his memory of making Meri's project :)

I used an oldie but goldie Spellbinders™ alphabet set (L2-01 Vintage U/N/P) paired with Spellbinders™ Copper Premium Craft Foil to cut the letters that spell DAD. I adhered those letters on a multi-layered oval frame. I pulled out my Copic airbrush system & sprayed the smaller oval for a soft look then layered that on top of an oval cut from Copper Premium Craft Foil with a S4-138 Petite Ovals LG die template.

If you click & enlarge the above photo, you can get a better look of the embossed & airbrushed decorative top that I made using I2-1009 Flourish Impressabilities™ template & a S4-117 Petite Scalloped Circles SM die template. In case you haven't seen my tutorial on how to do this, please feel free to click HERE.I made this little tag combining a few images from the Waltzingmouse Stamps Oven Fresh Gingerbread Joy & Very Vintage Labels No. 4 stamp sets.

Happy Father's Day to ALL Father's out there :)

That's all for today - Thanks for looking! Be Sweet!

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps: Faux Fun, Oven Fresh Gingerbread Joy, Very Vintage Labels No. 4

Paper: pinkpaislee DP, PTI

Ink: Copic BG93 Green Gray, Clearsnap Black Ink, Ranger

Other: Spellbinders™ Nestabilities S4-190 Labels Four, S5-023 Mega Ovals LG, S4-140 Petite Ovals SM, S4-138 Petite Ovals LG, S4-114 Standard Circles LG, S4-116 Standard Circles SM, S4-117 Petite Scalloped Circles SM, W-001 The Wizard™, I2-1009 Flourish Impressabilities™, F-004 Copper Premium Craft Foil, cork board, ribbon, brads, button & twine from stash

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sweetie pie...WM June Waltz 56

I have 2 posts today - if you are looking for my Play Date Cafe post, please continue to scroll down :) Thanks

Good Morning! Today I am waltzing along with Claire, Owner/Designer of Waltzingmouse Stamps, her DT & friends in the June Friends of Waltzingmouse Stamps Waltz.
This month, the theme is to make a masculine card.
I made a card for a coworker who recently welcomed a beautiful baby boy :)

For sketch inspiration, I played along with this week's fun Waltzingmouse Stamps Sketch Challenge.

I inked up few of my favorite Waltzingmouse Stamps to create my card. To create the pretty pattern you see on the light blue background piece, using VersaMark, I inked up one of the darling background images from the Pic-Nic Patterns set then embossed with white embossing powder.

After stamping & embossing the Pic-Nic Patterns background, I stamped the sweetie-pie image from Sweet Hearts set.

That's all I have today! Can't wait to Waltz but off to work first :( That silly job gets in the way of my hobby!!! Thanks for looking! Be Sweet :)

Ingredients Used:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps Pic-Nic Patterns, Sweet Hearts

Paper: Melissa Frances DP, Gina K. Pure Luxury cs, Stampin' Up

Ink: Memento, Ranger

Other: Spellbinders™ Nestabilities S4-113 Classic Scalloped Ovals SM, S4-138 Petite Ovals LG, W-001 The Wizard™, K&Company stickers, Sizzix embossing folder, Filigree embossing powder, Husqvarna sewing machine, buttons & ribbon from stash

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hello...PDCC34 48

I have 2 posts today - if you are looking for my June Waltzingmouse Stamps Waltz post, please scroll up :) Thanks!
Hi Everyone! I have been a lil' busy these days & can't believe it is time again for a new color challenge at The Play Date Cafe. This week, Limelight Paper Crafts will be sponsoring the challenge & has an awesome gift for one lucky participant!Julie chose this week's fun 'Color Splash' for the PDCC34 challenge.
From a bird's eye view:

If you love using tags on your papercrafting projects as much as I do, then you should check out the Spellbinders™ Shapeabilities™ Tags Five die template - With just one die template, you can cut 5 various tags & all at the same time! Quite the time saver :) After cutting the tag, I inked up the hello sentiment from the fun Waltzingmouse Stamps Asian Garden set, stamped then dressed up it up a bit by stamping a "swirly" image from the same stamp set.

I hope you can join along with this week's creativity challenge. After you have made your project, please head on over to The Play Date Cafe & link your post.If you post your creations in an on-line gallery, please label it PDCC34 so we won't miss them! Be sure to see what all The Play Date Cafe DT girls have created, (listed on my side bar) & as well as our Guest Designer, Mandy Chesire, Owner of Limelight. Thanks for looking!

Remember - I will be back later today waltzing along with the monthly Friends of Waltzingmouse Stamps Blog Waltz. Hope to see you then - Be Sweet :)

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps Asian Gardens

Paper: My Mind's Eye DP, Gina K. Designs Pure Luxury cs

Ink: Memento, Ranger

Other: Spellbinders™ Nestabilities S4-249 Big Scalloped Circles LG, Big Scalloped Circles SM, S4-250 Big Scalloped Circles SM, S5-006 Curved Rectangles, Shapeabilities™ S4-081 Tags Five, S4-242 Big Scalloped Borderabilities™ Petite, W-001 The Wizard™, ribbon, button, brad & twine from stash

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What NO stamps?...JUGS37 52

Hi Everyone! This post is a little bit different than the usual JUGS challenge post for me because this will be my farewell post as a Just Us Girls Design Team member. I would like to thank ALL the JUGS girls, the players & friends of JUGS & all of you who visit my blog for sharing all the fun over the past 9 months with me! I have had an awesome time creating along side all these talented girls. I have decided to pursue other creative opportunities that I will be sharing in the near future :) On to the challenge:

This week, Sweet Pam is our lovely Hostess of the JUGS37 "getting digital with My Time Made Easy" challenge which is sponsored by Lauren Owner of MTME© & you know what that means - a fun prize!!!
I have to say, this is a first for me - not ONE stamp was used to create this card! Goin' digital - I used a few prints from both the MTME Pretty Impressions Printables© Flutters and Flowers & Shutterfly collections. I made the flower embellishment using a print from the © Flutters and Flowers Collection & the yellow polka dot paper is from the © Shutterfly Collection.

For sketch inspiration, I played along with Kazan's awesome sketch from 2Sketches4You:

Here's a close-up view:

I used a few die templates from both the Spellbinders™ Nestabilities S4-249 Big Scalloped Circles LG, S4-250 Big Scalloped Circles SM to make the distressed flower embellishment. Terre taught us all how to make these fab lil' embellies at the Spellbinders™ retreat :) If you enlarge the photo you will surely notice that my printer ink did not fare so well when spritzed with Glimmer Mist :( but after all, it is a homespun distressed embellishment, so that is OK right? :) I got a little creative & used a Spellbinders™ S5-023 Mega Ovals LG die template to cut out the pre-printed Cosmo Cricket sticker.

That's all I have for today. For all the challenge details, please visit the Just Us Girls site & be sure to visit ALL the DT girls including our newest members Andrea & Kathryn. Once you have your project photographed, head on over to Just Us Girls and post a direct link to your project on our site. If you upload to on online gallery, please be sure to label your project as JUGS37.

Deadline to be considered for the weekly "Chic of the Week" will be 9:00 PM EST on Thursday, June 17th. Our Inlinkz tool will also close at that time. Our top pick "Chic of the Week" will be announced on Friday morning following the deadline. Thanks for looking! Be Sweet!

Supplies Used:

Paper: My Time Made Easy Pretty Impressions Printables© Flutters and Flowers & Shutterfly, Cosmo Cricket DP, Papertrey Ink

Ink: Tattered Angels Electric Blue Glimmer Mist, Ranger

Other: Spellbinders™ Nestabilities S4-249 Big Scalloped Circles LG, S4-250 Big Scalloped Circles SM, S5-023 Mega Ovals LG, S5-024 Mega Classic Scalloped Ovals LG, S4-242 Big Scalloped Borderabilities™ Petite, W-001 The Wizard™, Tattered Angels Glimmer butterfly chip, button, twine, ribbon, brad & stick pin from stash

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Recipe Share with Just Rite Stampers 39

Hi Everyone! Today, I am joining along with the JustRite Stampers Recipe Challenge #022 which is sponsored by Spellbinders™ ;) where the challenge is to share a favorite summer recipe project featuring the use of a JustRite stamp or two.

First up, I have my sweet sister's Tina's Spicy Salsa Recipe to share that you see here adorned with a darling tag that I stamped using one of the images from the JustRite Preserves Borders & Centers Round 2 3/8" set. After inking up the Salsa image, I used a Spellbinders™ Nestabilities S4-116 Standard Circles SM die template to cut it out which fits perfectly around the image. After inking up the sentiment, I used a Spellbinders™ Nestabilities S4-114 Standard Circles LG die template to cut it out then colored the image using a variety of Copic markers, inked the edges then layered it all on top of a Scalloped Circle cut using a Spellbinders™ Nestabilities S4-249 Big Scalloped Circles LG die template.

Tina's Spicy Salsa

Such a simple little tag can make such a big statement :)

Tina's Spicy Salsa Recipe

Makes approximately 3 Pint Ball jars full of salsa

Ingredients:
1 packet of McCormick Spicy Salsa mix
1 Dozen juicy Cherry tomatoes
1 Dozen Roma tomatoes
1 Dozen roasted Hatch Chili peppers OR 1 8 oz can
8 Green onions
2 Jalapeno peppers
1/4 C fresh Cilantro
6 Cloves Fresh OR roasted Garlic

Step 1: Wash all fresh vegetables
Step 2: Chop all ingredients
Step 3: Mix in bowl adding spice packet
Enjoy with your favorite chips or use as a topper for a shrimp salad!

Tip: If you don't prefer it spicy, omit the Jalapeno & Hatch chili pappers
Next up is my favorite Summer recipe :) I repeated the above steps to create the tag you see here just swapping out the stamps. The JustRite Preserves Borders & Centers Round 2 3/8" stamps set has quite a variety of super fun images, these are just a few! The 100% Organic label is hand written :)

Strawberry Mango SalsaDon't these look YUMMY?

Strawberry Mango Salsa Recipe:

Makes approximate 2 16 oz Ball jars full

Ingredients:

3 Large Mangos

1 Quart Strawberries

1 Jalepeno pepper

1/4 C Cilantro

3 Green Onions

Step 1: Wash all fruit & vegetables

Step 2: Dice up all ingredients

Step 3: Stir & Serve (Chill if preferred)

Serve on top of a grilled Salmon fillet :)

Do you have a favorite summer recipe that you would like to share? If so, grab your JustRite stamps & Spellbinders™ Nestabilities die templates :) & join in the fun! Thanks for looking! Do you prefer your Salsa Spicy OR Sweet OR Both?

Supplies Used:

Stamps: JustRite Stampers Preserves Borders & Centers 2 3/8"

Paper: Papertrey Ink

Ink: Copic Y21, W-1, E-31, YR-09, R-46, G-21, YR-61, YG-17, W-5, YG-95, G-28, G-94, Ranger, Memento

Other: Spellbinders™ Nestabilities S4-116 Standard Circles SM, S4-114 Standard Circles LG, S4-249 Big Scalloped Circles LG, W-001 The Wizard™, ribbon, button & twine from stash

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Summer Fun...PDCC33 51

Hi There! Time sure flies when I'm busy papercrafting - how about you? Thursday already & time for a new challenge at The Play Date Cafe. This week along with The Play Date Cafe DT, Courtney Baker, Owner/Designer of Practicing Creativity Designs will be sponsoring & playing along with this challenge! There is an awesome prize to be had so be sure to visit The Play Date Cafe for complete details :)
This week I had the pleasure of selecting the color combo so I chose this pretty bedding set for inspiration because I had summer fun on my mind & Scott, my DH did the techy stuff & created the graphic ;)

Last week, I was California dreamin' :) That was the reason for the hand stitchin' you may have noticed on a few cards ;) While I was at my home away from home in San Diego, I had to visit my favorite store, Paper Tales :) So much goodness packed into one lil' gorgeous store with customer service that is out of this world! That is where I found the cute jenni bowlin BEACH BINGO card. We didn't hang out on the beach but had a great time sailing in the San Diego Bay & visiting The San Diego Zoo.

From a close up view, you can get a better look at my beach blanket background :)

I have been admiring all the projects out there in Blogosphere, so I thought I would pull out some neglected fabric & put it to good use. All you need is a piece of fabric about 1/2" W & L than you would like the final size to be. Randomly stamp the images.

Then, carefully pull threads from edge, creating a fringed border. Reminds me of when I would turn my favorite jeans into cut offs :) Retro!Here's a better look :)

If you haven't already - give it a try & create your custom stamped fabric! Thanks for looking :)

I hope you can join along with this week's creativity challenge. After you have made your project, please head on over to The Play Date Cafe & link your post. If you post your creations in an on-line gallery, please label it PDCC33 so we won't miss them! Be sure to see what all The Play Date Cafe DT girls have created, (listed on my side bar) as well as our Guest Designer, Courtney Baker.

Be Sweet!

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps Fancy Phrases, Tattered Angels, Basic Grey

Paper: graphic 45, jenni bowlin mini BINGO card, The Girl's Paperie, PTI

Ink: Memento, PTI, SU, Ranger

Other: Spellbinders™ S4-242 Big Scalloped Borderabilities™ Petite, W-001 The Wizard™, Tattered Angels glimmer chip, Husqvarna sewing machine, twine, button, eyelet, ribbon & fabric from stash

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Birthday Wishes 43

Happy Birthday Andrea! Today, the Just Us Girls DT is celebrating Andrea's Birthday, (one of our newest DT Members) I hope your special day is as wonderful as you are :) Please hop on over to BOTH Andrea's blog & the Just Us Girls site to wish her a BIG Happy Birthday :)
I created the circular window using a Spellbinders™ Nestabilities S4-114 Standard Circles LG die template. First, I cut the window out of the DP, then adhered a circle cut from a solid piece of cs in the window. I think the off white cs really makes that gorgeous blossom "pop". For sketch inspiration, I joined in the fun & played along with the brand spankin' new Waltzingmouse Stamps Sketch Challenge Site! From a bird's eye view:
Up close, you can see the multi-layered Big Bloom. Since I am quite new & still getting familiar with my air compressor, I am experimenting a bit. After inking up & stamping 3 various sized images from the Waltzingmouse Stamps Big Blooms: Chrysanthemums set, I sprayed the images using my Copic ABS-3 Airbrush, then using a super sharp pair of scissors, cut each one out. Rubbed the edges with some distressing ink then layered them, fastening a brad in the center. If you look closely, you will notice the flowers are not uniform in color - that was by trial & error! What do you think?

That's all for today - Hope you have a chance to wish Andrea a Happy Birthday :) Thanks so much for taking the time to look & all of your comments are appreciated. Be Sweet!

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps Big Blooms: Chrysanthemums, Fancy Phrases

Paper: Webster's Pages, Papertrey Ink

Ink: Copic R30 Pale Yellowish Pink, Marker Ranger, Memento

Other: Spellbinders™ Nestabilities S4-114 Standard Circles LG, Shapeabilities™ S4-234 Ribbon Tags Trio Two, W-001 The Wizard™, Copic ABS-3 Airbrush, ribbon, brad, button, lace & twine from stash

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