Blog Hop Day 4 ~ Apples and Camellia

Mark's Finest Papers' Design Teams are celebrating our NEWEST STAMP RELEASE with a Blog Hop. Our very talented Design Teams have created exciting paper crafts for your inspiration. With the addition of New Design Team members, this is going to be a really fun-packed Hop! Sit back, and hold on to your mouse! This is going to be a FABULOUS ride! Come Hop along with us!

We have 4 New Stamp Sets Released today: Background Fun, Southwest Cowboy, Flourishes & Frame, and Apples & Camellia. For your convenience, all 4 stamp sets are available for purchase TODAY!
For your chance to win BLOG CANDY, (a set that will be released NEXT month), visit and comment on each of the following design team members' blogs on July 13, 14, 15, and 16, 2010. On Saturday, (July 17, 2010), a winner will be chosen FOR EACH DAY from those participants who visited all the blogs listed for that day. ( There will be four different winners, one winner for each day.) SO THAT MEANS IF YOU MISSED A DAY, YOU STILL HAVE OTHER CHANCES WIN! And, you can go back and comment, as the winners will be chosen Saturday morning!

Here is my card using the Camellia from today's set. I added nesties, punched borders, a ribbon, punched leaves, gold cord, and an MFP charm. The leaves are marked with a stylus.

Friday July 16: Apples and Camellia.

July Guest Designer-Melisa Waldorf- http://melisawaldorf.blogspot.com/
Nancyruth - http://nancyruthat.blogspot.com/
Lois - http://clownmomcreations.blogspot.com/
Vicky- http://www.villagestamperramblings.blogspot.com/
Jeanne - http://nannysroom.wordpress.com/
Anne- http://inkinginred.blogspot.com/
Debbie- http://www.debbieseyer.com/
Peggysue- http://rosesbymywindow.blogspot.com/
Faith - http://stampinwithmarkiesmom.blogspot.com/
Vicki-http://allidoisstamp.blogspot.com/
Susan- http://simplicitybylateblossom.blogspot.com/
Judi- http://paper-rose-petals.blogspot.com/
Patty- http://winnieswhimsandmycrafts.blogspot.com/
Karen- http://www.karenskreativekreations.blogspot.com/
Connie- http://sodakstamping.blogspot.com/
Roxie- http://paperscaper.blogspot.com/
Liz: http://rightbrainmadness.blogspot.com/
Claudine- http://cardsbyclaudine.blogspot.com/
Dawn- http://dawnmercedes.blogspot.com/
Mark’s Finest Papers - http://marksfinestpapers.blogspot.com/

Thanks for joining us, and good luck to you all!

Blog Hop Day 3 ~ Flourishes and Frame

Mark's Finest Papers' Design Teams are celebrating our NEWEST STAMP RELEASE with a Blog Hop. Our very talented Design Teams have created exciting paper crafts for your inspiration. With the addition of New Design Team members, this is going to be a really fun-packed Hop! Sit back, and hold on to your mouse! This is going to be a FABULOUS ride! Come Hop along with us!

We have 4 New Stamp Sets Released today: Background Fun, Southwest Cowboy, Flourishes & Frame, and Apples & Camellia. For your convenience, all 4 stamp sets are available for purchase TODAY!
For your chance to win BLOG CANDY, (a set that will be released NEXT month), visit and comment on each of the following design team members' blogs on July 13, 14, 15, and 16, 2010. On Saturday, (July 17, 2010), a winner will be chosen FOR EACH DAY from those participants who visited all the blogs listed for that day. ( There will be four different winners, one winner for each day.) SO THAT MEANS IF YOU MISSED A DAY, YOU STILL HAVE OTHER CHANCES WIN! And, you can go back and comment, as the winners will be chosen Saturday morning!

Here is my card for Flourishes and Frame, using tan and white paper from MFP, punches, ribbon, gold cord, and of course an MFP charm.

Thursday July 15: Flourishes & Frame
July Guest Designer- Melisa Waldorf- http://melisawaldorf.blogspot.com/
Nancyruth - http://nancyruthat.blogspot.com/
Lois - http://clownmomcreations.blogspot.com/
Vicky- http://www.villagestamperramblings.blogspot.com/
Jeanne - http://nannysroom.wordpress.com/
Anne- http://inkinginred.blogspot.com/
Debbie- http://www.debbieseyer.com/
Peggysue- http://rosesbymywindow.blogspot.com/
Faith - http://stampinwithmarkiesmom.blogspot.com/
Susan- http://simplicitybylateblossom.blogspot.com/
Judi- http://paper-rose-petals.blogspot.com/
Patty- http://winnieswhimsandmycrafts.blogspot.com/
Karen- http://www.karenskreativekreations.blogspot.com/
Connie- http://sodakstamping.blogspot.com/
Roxie- http://paperscaper.blogspot.com/
Vicki- http://allidoisstamp.blogspot.com/
Joanne: http://sleepyinseattlestamps.blogspot.com/
Dawn- http://dawnmercedes.blogspot.com/
Claudine- http://cardsbyclaudine.blogspot.com/
Liz: http://rightbrainmadness.blogspot.com/
Mark’s Finest Papers - http://marksfinestpapers.blogspot.com/

Please join us again tomorrow for the last day of the Blog Hop.

DDIC #32

Our Inspiration challenge this week comes from the Container store. This lovely gift wrapping is what Lori, our Fearless Leader, chose to give us to work with.......and the colors are absolutely gorgeous.

The pink, the wonderful green ... what a basis for making a card or project!

The flowers were so delicate, and that's what led to the card you see below:

I used a very delicate flower that was mostly petals. They are painted in the palest pinks to go with the pink framing. The soft green seems to be the same color as the inspiration wrapping paper, and to fill it out, I added the Sizzix Victorian corners.

The flowers are cut out and popped up. That took a lot of time, but I thought it was really worth it. I was looking for not only dimension, but also texture. It seemed to have a distinctly Asian feel, hence the Chinese character. I hope you like it.

Please feel free to join us by adding DDIC to your keyword, and be sure to check in with the rest of the team and their projects by going to their blogs through my sidebar. See you in two weeks.

Blog Hop Day 2 ~ southwest Cowboy

Mark's Finest Papers' Design Teams are celebrating our NEWEST STAMP RELEASE with a Blog Hop. Our very talented Design Teams have created exciting paper crafts for your inspiration. With the addition of New Design Team members, this is going to be a really fun-packed Hop! Sit back, and hold on to your mouse! This is going to be a FABULOUS ride! Come Hop along with us!

We have 4 New Stamp Sets Released today: Background Fun, Southwest Cowboy, Flourishes & Frame, and Apples & Camellia. For your convenience, all 4 stamp sets are available for purchase TODAY!

For your chance to win BLOG CANDY, (a set that will be released NEXT month), visit and comment on each of the following design team members' blogs on July 13, 14, 15, and 16, 2010. On Saturday, (July 17, 2010), a winner will be chosen FOR EACH DAY from those participants who visited all the blogs listed for that day. ( There will be four different winners, one winner for each day.) SO THAT MEANS IF YOU MISSED A DAY, YOU STILL HAVE OTHER CHANCES WIN! And, you can go back and comment, as the winners will be chosen Saturday morning!


Here is my card using Southwest Cowboy. I used the image of the cowboy and the barbed wire on tan paper from MFP, and added stars, brads, twine, cord, and a cactus. I traced a small bowl to get the curve, and cut it out, then layered.

Wednesday July 14: Southwest Cowboy
July Guest Designer- Melisa Waldorf- http://melisawaldorf.blogspot.com/
Nancyruth - http://nancyruthat.blogspot.com/
Lois - http://clownmomcreations.blogspot.com/
Vicky- http://www.villagestamperramblings.blogspot.com/
Jeanne - http://nannysroom.wordpress.com/
Anne- http://inkinginred.blogspot.com/
Debbie- http://www.debbieseyer.com/
Peggysue- http://rosesbymywindow.blogspot.com/
Faith - http://stampinwithmarkiesmom.blogspot.com/

Susan- http://simplicitybylateblossom.blogspot.com/

Judi- http://paper-rose-petals.blogspot.com/

Patty- http://winnieswhimsandmycrafts.blogspot.com/

Karen- http://www.karenskreativekreations.blogspot.com/

Connie- http://sodakstamping.blogspot.com/

Roxie- http://paperscaper.blogspot.com/
Vicki- http://allidoisstamp.blogspot.com/

Joanne: http://sleepyinseattlestamps.blogspot.com/

Julia- http://createwithjulia.blogspot.com/
Claudine- http://cardsbyclaudine.blogspot.com/
Mark’s Finest Papers - http://marksfinestpapers.blogspot.com/

Please join us again tomorrow.

Blog Hop Day 1 ~ Background Fun

Mark's Finest Papers' Design Teams are celebrating our NEWEST STAMP RELEASE with a
Blog Hop. Our very talented Design Teams have created exciting paper crafts for your inspiration. With the addition of New Design Team members, this is going to be a really fun-packed Hop! Sit back, and hold on to your mouse! This is going to be a FABULOUS ride! Come Hop along with us!

We have 4 New Stamp Sets Released today: Background Fun, Southwest Cowboy, Flourishes & Frame, and Apples & Camellia. For your convenience, all 4 stamp sets are available for purchase TODAY!

For your chance to win BLOG CANDY, (a set that will be released NEXT month), visit and comment on each of the following design team members' blogs on July 13, 14, 15, and 16, 2010, 2010. On Saturday, (July 17, 2010), a winner will be chosen FOR EACH DAY from those participants who visited all the blogs listed for that day. ( There will be four different winners, one winner for each day.)

SO THAT MEANS IF YOU MISSED A DAY, YOU STILL HAVE OTHER CHANCES WIN! And, you can go back and comment, as the winners will be chosen Saturday morning!



Here is my card using Background Fun. I used the crackle bg with a nestie on top of my dp, and added sparkly paper punched as balloons. I also punched out the Happy Birthday sentiment from the set, and added sparkly brads.



Tuesday July 13: Background Fun
July Guest Designer- Melisa Waldorf- http://melisawaldorf.blogspot.com/
Nancyruth - http://nancyruthat.blogspot.com/
Lois - http://clownmomcreations.blogspot.com/
Vicky- http://www.villagestamperramblings.blogspot.com/
Jeanne - http://nannysroom.wordpress.com/
Anne- http://inkinginred.blogspot.com/
Debbie- http://www.debbieseyer.com/
Peggysue- http://rosesbymywindow.blogspot.com/
Faith - http://stampinwithmarkiesmom.blogspot.com/
Susan- http://simplicitybylateblossom.blogspot.com/
Judi- http://paper-rose-petals.blogspot.com/
Patty- http://winnieswhimsandmycrafts.blogspot.com/
Karen- http://www.karenskreativekreations.blogspot.com/
Connie- http://sodakstamping.blogspot.com/
Roxie- http://paperscaper.blogspot.com/
Vicki- http://allidoisstamp.blogspot.com/
Cathleen- http://crookedcardcreations.com/
Claudine- http://cardsbyclaudine.blogspot.com/
Mark’s Finest Papers - http://marksfinestpapers.blogspot.com/


Join us again tomorrow! Good luck to you all!

A Little RED....and a busy day!

This card is for the FS at SCS. I kept Stephanie's layout and theme, and changed the rest.

This is the beginning of a busy week. DD and family are arriving shortly for lunch (steaks on the grill), and when they go home, DGS Tommy (age 10) will stay with us until Wednesday night. His brother John was here for a few days two weeks ago, and now it's Tommy's turn.

We'll be at his beck and call..perhaps to go back to the zoo, or whatever he would like. I'll be here occasionally, but not sure how much. Have a great rest of the weekend, and week ahead too.

Blue Bird for Three!

This is for three challenges. I can't believe I could combine them all!

For Speedy the Cat's Friends, to use punches.

For the IC240, I was inspired by a Blue Jay towel.

For QFTD17, I cased a card by Sabrina (Cook22).

The image is from Mark's Finest Papers, and is from the set called Ferns and Chickadee. So is the sentiment.

I heat embossed the feathers in white EP, punched with both MS and SU punches, and used ribbon and dimensionals. I hope you like it.

Desert Rider

After spending the morning with my DH, at his office, shopping, and lunch out (YUM!), I came home to find a wonderful challenge, filled in by Wendy.

I have recently bought a number of punches, but also this Nesties Label 10, and I was just dying to try it out.

I used it with the new set, Southwest Cowboy, a sneak peek from
Mark's Finest Papers that will be released next Tuesday. Four sets will be available, and all four are FABulous. There will be a blog hop, so watch for it here.

The WT today is to use yellow. My daughter's favorite color. I thought pairing it with green was enough .... no RED this morning.

This is also for the StampinB's challenge, to use DOTS. Not only do I have dotted dp, but I added dotted ribbon! I just love this set from MFP, called Blackberries, Sunflowers and Bees.

Hot and humid again today. DH and I hit the hot tub early with our coffee. The rest of the day we'll be sitting and reading in the AC on our enclosed front porch. Life is good!

Creative Belli Challenge

Here I am, late again!! Today is the CBC .......to alter something you've had kicking around for some time. Well, this little clipboard has been doing just that!!

Of course I had to use RED, and combine it with my other two favs, white and black. I plan to use this to keep track of what I NEED to replace. Notice, I didn't say WANT to buy! LOL!

Please join us by linking an altered item of your own HERE

http://www.bellichallenge.blogspot.com/ and be sure to check out the entries of the DT. See you again in two weeks!

Chickadee for the Sketch

This chickadee is one of my favorite images from Mark's Finest Stamps. This set is called Ferns and Chickadee. This time I made him out of the box for the sketch challenge today.

The strangest thing happened yesterday! I felt miserable all day....blowing my runny nose, feeling yucky, bad headache. I figured it was the beginning of a summer cold. This morning I feel fine! Whatever it was, it's gone. Hooray!! I'm so happy to be ME again.......the temp is over 100 and the humidity is off the chart. I am sticking to everything, and the AC guy is coming this morning to fix it! Hooray again!! Hope you're cool and comfy. Have a great day.

Get Well Sunflowers and MMTPT101

This is my card for the CC today at SCS: saffron, razz., baja, and grid for dessert. I had no Baja, so went with a nice medium blue.

This card will go to Sue (bensarmom) who had hip replacement on July 2nd. Sue, mend soon!!

I love this sunflower from Blackberries, sunflowers, and bees by Mark's Finest Papers. I painted the flower, used the out of the box technique for the top nestie, and added ribbon and brads. I hope you like it. The sentiment is from Apples and Camellia, a sneak peek of one of the four new sets to be released by MFP next week. We'll be having a Blog Hop to introduce them.

I think today is going to be a total loss. I woke up sneezing, and have gone through half a box of kleenex, sneezing and honking! Must be from sleeping with the AC on in the bedroom. How else could we get any sleep????? Maybe I should make MYSELF a get well card!LOL! Have a great day.

Well, I'm back with my MMTPT101 card. Please go to the SCS gallery for the deets. I'm feeling worse by the minute.......gotta take something for this yucky feeling!!

White paper posie!

This card is for the two Monday challenges at SCS.....the Technique and Clean and Simple.

How so not fair to start the morning looking at beautiful cakes, and wanting to start with a slice or two for breakfast!!

This flower, as per the requirements is hand made. My fingers are all sticky! I love the white on white, and love making these flowers, but I have never sent one through the mail for fear of them being crushed. I need to hand deliver a wedding card to the girl across the street, so this will be easy!

Thanks for looking . Have fun, enjoy the summer day, and I'll be visiting your blogs later.

Keeping the Green

Today the Featured Stamper is cookiebaker (Charlene). She has a wonderful tailored style, and a fabulous gallery. I got to the third entry uploaded, and went with that one.

Here is Charlene's card I cased. I flipped the layout, added corner interest, and changed the image. I kept the wonderful green ribbon, and the single simple image.

Congratulations!! I hope you like what I did with your card. Happy 4th of July, Charlene, and to all of you too!

Swimming Swan

The Speedy's Friends challenge #10 this week is to use die cuts. Bless those Nesties and CB! How did we ever do without them!

It's also for the IC239 at SCS today. You can check out my gallery to see the deets.

For Speedy's challenge, please join us at

Mark's Finest Papers Blog where you can win a free stamp set......and they are ALL fabulous, as you know.

Have a fun weekend with friends and family. Ours arrive in less than two hours, so...gotta run!

A Star and some Gold!

The challenge today is to use a star and some gold. I decided to make a star card, as I have never done much with shaped cards. I used my trusty ruler, and it came out great.

The only stamping was the sentiment, from Mark's finest Papers set, Butterflies Dianthus and Flourishes.

The gold is embossed floral vine paper from the Paper Co., and the sticker butterfly from K & Co.

Happy Fourth of July! Mom is coming this AM, big family party tomorrow!!

America!

The challenge today at SCS is to make a 4th of July card with NO RED or blue. Easy.

Just not for me!! You know how I love RED! Here's a story that will make you laugh............ when I first made this card, I used my wonderful cloud template, and used caribbean blue to make the sky. Then I added the purple mountains, and was glueing it down, and realized what I had done. NO BLUE!! Back to the old drawing board!!

This image is a sneak peek from Mark's Finest Papers that will debut in August, called Regal and Proud. Be sure to watch for it.......it's fabulous!!

Please take a look below at my entry for the Divine Diva Inspiration Challenge. That one is in the REAL 4th of July colors!!!

DDIC #31

HERE is the link to the picture that Lori, our Fearless Leader chose to give us for inspiration this time.

I just loved all the Patriotic colors, and what a group of wonderful items to include for Labor day, or for the 4th of July, which is a bit closer.

The blue containers, white branches, and the white background with the RED flower was very intriguing to me. You know, of course, how much I love anything RED!, so that can't be a surprise.

Here is my card. The blue dp shows up a little darker than it really is. It's exactly the same color as the centers of the Hero Arts flower. The stem is embossed in white, to compare to the branches in the picture. I added a row of punching at the bottom, in circles, like the life preserver, and kept that theme with the RED buttons.

Please feel free to join us, and be sure to check the entries of the DT. You can find their blogs on my sidebar. See you in two weeks!

SYmpathy with Dianthus

I am just in love with this beautiful flower, the dianthus, from Mark's Finest Paper. The set is called Butterflies, Dianthus, and Flourishes.

This is for the sketch challenge at SCS today. Obviously, I need a nice sympathy card for one of DH's best friends who lost his mother.

I love this color combination, as you all well know, and am pleased with how this turned out.

Have a wonderful day. I'm off to join a good friend for lunch!!

CC277, MMTPT100, The End

For two challenges, the CC, and MMTPT. I really like this combination of colors, and would never have thought of putting these together. I hope you like how I did it.

For MMTPT100, with apologies to EVERYONE!!

Silly Sydney has some power
On her board she has a flower.
She just needs Kahuna Kai,
And some surf, and that's no lie!

Silly Sydney hates his bud,
Thinks Moondoggie's just a dud ...
Surfin' surfin' all the day,
Always in the couple's way.

Silly Sydney wants some space
When she kisses K.Kai's face.
Tells Moondoggie "three's a crowd,
Get a life, fer cryin' out loud!"

Silly Sydney's got Kai now
(batted her lashes - she knew how!)
Fixed HIS friend up with HER friend.
Now the foursome's fine. The End.

This is what happens when you wake up with a migraine at 4 AM, then have to drive an hour to a funeral, have dinner there, and have a glass of wine, drive to the grocery store to stock up for a party on Saturday, put away the food after making the hamburgers, then look at the Teapot challenge. Maybe I should just go back to bed!!

A quick report on yesterday.......DH and I met Julia (artystamper) and her DH for dinner. We yakked for two hours, and hated to see the time fly by so fast. I hope they will be at our party on Saturday, but I have warned Julia about my addiction...er....craft room. I just hope her heart is strong enough for what a mess she will see!! Hugs to you all, especially Julia and Kent!!

A YAY! and a *boo*

Here are the cards I made for the challenges at Splitcoast today. The flower card is done with a technique called Pounded Flowers, and they are real flowers literally pounded and crushed to give off the colors they possess. I started with a bright RED Bee Balm, but the colors came out pink. Strange. I really expected RED! The sets I used for this card were Believe in You, and a sneak peek of a July set called Flourishes and Frame from Mark's Finest Papers.

The second card is for the CAS, to use celery, blue, and pumpkin. I used MFP sets Ferns and Chickadees, Ladybugs and Carnation, and Speedy the Cat's Friends.

Now the Yay and *boo* - DH and I have to go to a wake today for the mother of one of our oldest friends. She was in her 90's, and very ill. A blessing. After the calling hours comes the YAY! We are meeting up with Julia (artystamper) and her DH Kent, for dinner. I can't wait to see her again. This will be the first time our DH's will be with us. It should be great fun.

Speaking of great fun, I hope your day is full of it!!

Honoring Two Royals!

This week, Anne Ryan announced that the QFTD15 is none other than the fabulous Kittie Carrasciolo, kittie747 at SCS.


Kittie is such an amazing artist. I felt overwhelmed when I had to choose a card of hers to case. Her backgrounds defy description, and I am not worthy of trying to do what she does!! Here is my attempt to case her card here.

I changed the frog to a cat, the daisies to little punched flowers, and made an A2 card instead of a square. Kittie I hope you like what I have done with (or to) your card!

The Featured Stamper today on SCS is .....

.... Debbie Seyer, my MFPDT pal!! How cool is that!! Debbie has such a clean and fabulous style! I kept her wonderful layout, but changed the color and image.

I hope you enjoy wearing the crown you so deserve, Debbie, and that you also enjoy all the honors heaped upon you this week!!!

Be sure to check out my gallery at SCS to see the card of Debbie's I cased, and to go from there to her amazing gallery. Have a great day!

A Three-fer!

Today I can play catch-up. This card is for three challenges I didn't have time to do when my DGS was here:

StampinB's #64 - Summer Fun

IC238 - The Bicycle Muse

Speedy's Friends #9 - 3 flowers

I used three sets from Mark's Finest Papers to make this card. The frame is inked with Background Fun, which will be released in July. The flowers are from the set called Butterflies, Dianthus, and Flourishes. The saying is from Ferns and Chickadee.

I hope you like my three-in-one for today. It's another beautiful morning. There will be a bunch of us enjoying the pool today, then to friends' Tom and Cheryl's for dinner. Have a great day, and thanks for looking.

Waffle Bowl

Today the challenge involves ice cream. Here, we like waffle bowls instead of cones. You can get more ice cream in them, and adding caramel syrup works really well. Of course the grands add everything else, and they get very gloppy, but yummy all the same.

I cut this out of paper, added some punches and a sizzix, and that's about it.....oh, and scoring to make the waffle texture.

We'll be making these today. It's a fabulously beautiful day for the pool. We'll be joined by some other members of the family to enjoy the slide and diving board, various pool toys, some reading, and some outside snacks. See you tomorrow. I'm off to play!!

THT055 Color Challenge by Gloria

It's TreeHouseThursday! Gloria Morizen has chosen to give us a color challenge: pink, moss, white, and one extra color.

As you can see, the extra color I chose is Black. The image of the flower and the sentiment, from the new set Embrace Life, is inked in black, and I added some black brads and ribbon.

I used my cb and Nesties Pinking Circles, sponging, watercoloring, and layering. The rose is popped up to give it a little more dimension.

You can find this set at TreehouseStamps, along with three other new sets. Please take a look at what the Design Team has done HERE, and be sure to add your project to Mr. Linky.

Belli Challenge #94

Today's Creative Belli Challenge is to make a Patriotic Card using the sketch here.

I think this sketch is really interesting, as everything seems to be happening at the bottom. It's a good opportunity to use small images or even inchies!

Here is the card I made for the challenge:

I used Provocraft and Metallic gold paper, in addition to white and RED, of course. The images of fireworks were markered and glittered with gold. I finished it off with an eagle charm on gold cord, and added some doodling.

Please join us HERE, and add your card to Mr. Linky. If you upload to SCS, please put CBC in your keyword. See you in two weeks with another challenge.

Two Challenges today...CC and Teaparty

I sure wish the colors of this card would photograph better. The apricot, amethyst, and suede are mush brighter IRL. I tried to get this better, but it just wouldn't work out. You'll have to use your imagination. The image is from MFP, a sneak peek of a July release, called Southwest Cowboy.





This card is already in my mailbox for my lettercarrier (How PC!) to take. It's going to my DGD Sam who is at horse camp for two weeks. I'm sending her a card a day, all horse related. I know she's having a BALL taking care of her horse for the whole time!











I also made a card for the MMTPT99 today. The story is really involved, so rather than bore you here, if you want to know why the card is so silly, you'll have to go to my gallery. The Teapot Tuesday cards are always related to a long and drawn-out story, and my DH thinks I'm as crazy as.....well ..... Mothermark! Here's the card.



Have a fun day. I'm off to look at your blogs!

TLC Never Again!!

Today, the TLC challenge is to make a card using the Magical Marquee Technique. I had never seen this before, and I will probably never do this again!! I spent more than 2 hours trying to get the pieces to fit. The directions were for a 5X5 card, and I wanted to make an A2. I couldn't figure out how this was put together, then I watched Jan Tink's video again, and saw what I had overlooked.

I like the results. I hope you do too. This one and only card will go to my Mom who will really appreciate what I went through to make it!! Have a great day!!

For Pam, our FS!

Today the FS at SCS is Pam Hooten (Iris). She has a wonderful gallery. I was truthfully unaware of her creations, but really enjoyed looking at what she has done.

I cased a card of a bicycle, but obviously changed the theme. I kept her easy layout, but changed most everything else. I hope she likes what I have done.

Happy father's Day to all the Dads out there. We are low-key today. All three kids have to be somewhere else ... one delivering a child to the airport early this afternoon, one delivering a child to camp far away, and one celebrating with an in-law. Mom went home early this AM, so it's just DH and me. I think he's kinda glad to have no company for a change.

I made him a nice big breakfast, and will cook for him, instead of having him at the grill for a mob!!

Have a great day, wherever you are. See you again tomorrow. Hugs to all.

The Best Nest - Mark's Finest Papers

The two challenges in one today are the IC from a fun website called LoveArtWorks, and Speedy's Friends Challenge #8.

This is the piece I used for inspiration. The nest image and sentiment come from "Ferns and Chickadee" at Mark's Finest Papers.

Please feel free to join us, by linking. You just might win a set of stamps!!

....and a Bone

This card is for the F4A17 challenge at SCS.....Man's Best Friend. I thought the doberman from

Mark's Finest Papers was perfect for it. This image comes from a set called "More of Speedy the Cat's Friends". Go visit, and see what else is in the set ...it's fabulous!

Mom just arrived for the weekend, so that means we'll be making lots of cards. I will have VERY little time for the computer, so I will catch up with you all next week.

Happy Father's Day to all the guys out there.

THT054 Favorite Tools

The TreeHouse Thursday challenge this week is to use your favorite tool. I have a number of favorites, but first, I have to say is my Cuttlebug. I use it for all kinds of embossed bgs and for cutting Nestabilities. I also LOVE to cut with scissors, so this card employs both.

I used the new stamp set from Treehouse stamps called Tea Time.

I hope you will check out the blog to see what the DT has done, and will join us by adding your project to Mr. Linky. See you next week!

DDIC#30

Here is the image Lori, our fearless leader, chose for us as our inspiration this week. It comes to us from a place called Nostalgia Organics .

I thought the shape of the plate was really interesting, and I just loved the little rim of flowers and the bird. There were a lot of items to choose from, as well as the colors. I thought this one was very interesting!

Here is my card. I used Tapestry dowel stamps to make the ring of flowers. The bird is a punch by SU, and the tiny birds are tiny punches I got at M's.

I hope you will join us in making a card or project using the picture as inspirations, and that you will check out the DT on my sidebar to see theirs. If you post to SCS, please add DDIC to your keyword.

Hang in There!

This is my card for the Sketch Challenge today. I have had this digi image for a while, and have been just dying to paint it. Isn't it a hoot? Doncha love this fun tree frog?

I have an easy day today......DH is gone most of it. Today is the day before the Math finals at the High School, and as a volunteer tutor, he will be helping kids get ready. Since he retired, after teaching Math for 40 years, he is at the school almost every morning to give one on one to any kid who wants his services. They LOVE him (and well they should!)

Have a fun day yourself. Don't forget to take a look below, and wish Ashley Bowen a Happy Birthday!!

Happy Birthday Blog Hop for Ashley!

Today is Ashley Bowen's birthday! She is the owner of Treehouse Stamps, and those of us on the DT wanted to send her BIG wishes by blog hopping our cards for her big day!



This card uses the set "Happy Dragon", one of the four sets that are being revealed tomorrow. I paper pieced her(she's PINK!), and added a big bow and flower to make this festive for Ashley.



Here is the list of Design Team members taking part in this special day. Be sure to check out what they have done, and be sure to send your best wishes along to Ashley!

Neva McMullen

Kelly Hampton

Maria Levine

Yaneri Rodriguez

Gloria Morizen

Katie Tate

Heather Prince

Kimberly Lowery

Stephanie Serrano

and ME! (you are already here!)

Happy Birthday Ashley!

Be sure to check in with us tomorrow for our regular Thursday Treehouse Challenge!

RED Roses and Hugs, and a Teapot Poem!

If you know me at all, you know today I am a happy camper. The CC is banana, moss and RED! That makes my whole day!

The roses are stamped on banana, colored with markers and painted, and framed. Wasn't I lucky to have this wonderful striped paper in my stash? Can you imagine the amount of dp I have with some RED in it?? The only pile bigger is white, of course.

Hope you like my card for today. I'll be back in my addict...erm....craft room in a minute to do the Teapot Tuesday challenge too. If you have time, come back later to see. Have a great day!

And now for the zany Teapot Tuesday story: The RED bus and 42,000 pencils.

Do not laugh and do not smirk,

We've been warned by Sgt. Burke.

No more pencils. That's not cool...

Break's the city's littering rule.

Breaking rules, we say, is fun.

On this bus we've just begun.

Burke, he tells us, without fail,

Any more and we're in jail!

In jail we know there is no tea,

Just BARS - hey wait! Sounds good to me!

(I'll have a wine spritzer please!)

(Sincere apologies to Dr. Seuss)

A Little Humor........

Are these cannibal images KILLER or what??????? I bought them from a company called BEEZink in Warner NH while I was on vacation. I had to have them, although there was no sentiment to go with them, and I had no idea how I would use them. BUT......I HAD to have them. Today as I was considering what I would do for the StampinB's challenge (Beach theme), I knew what I would use. As I have a number of friends who have need of get well cards, it says "Better Get..... " and on the inside, "......Better!". I think a little humor is fun for a get well card.

There. I have proved how really nutty I am. I'm not even sorry for the opening line of my comments here!! The pun was intended! Have a great day, and if YOU are not feeling so well, I hope this gives you a smile!

Combining Monday Challenges!

The challenges today on SCS were close enough that I could combine them. TLC - One layer wonder, CAS - something that flies.

Sponging around the image was the hardest part of this card. I used Chickadees and Ferns from

Mark's Finest Papers for the image, and the word "everyday", and Believe in You for the word "friend".

The only extra was to punch tiny holes for the ribbon to go through, and that took the most time!!! This will go to my friend who just had mastectomy surgery.

Have a lovely day!

Red for our FS!

This is my card for LeAnne, our FS175 today. I had lots of cards of hers I wanted to case, and really needed to do something in RED, so this is the result.

I changed her card by orientation, color, and used ribbon in place of brads.

I liked the simplicity of the layout, and will do this one again.

Have a great day.

Victorian Fern

This card is for the IC at SCS today, a beautiful site of Victorian lovely stuff. I chose to use my Stampabilities template because it looked so lacy, as did most of what I looked at.

It's also for Speedy's Friends Challenge #7: make your own DP. I crinkled up a piece of plastic wrap, and pounced it on my celery ink pad, then on white cs. Then I used olive ink for stamping ferns from Mark's Finest Papers set called Chickadees and Fern. I'm sure you can figure out the rest without my help. If you'd care to join us, you could win a stamp set by uploading to Mr. Linky at the blog.

Busy day today. I'm off shortly to see Jake (our almost 11 yr. old DGS) get his Blue belt. Then some cooking, as we are having our favorite Saturday friends, Tom and Cheryl, to come and eat, and play some cards. I will comment where I can, and do some more tomorrow. Have fun!