Time for the Summer Barbeque!

I made this card for the featured stamper challenge over on Split Coast. I hadn't been in Kisamari's gallery before so was happy to get a chance to see all her wonderful cards. I decided to CASE this BBQ time card.

I made my card round instead of square, used a different stamp set but went with the grill theme and hot colors! I really love the pinking circles nesties - they give an edginess and action to the card. Here I think they accent the feel of heat off the grill as well as the summer sun. The spatula and grill pan have silver spica on them so IRL they sparkle but it doesn't show up on my picture. The sentiment and spatula are popped up on foam dimensionals.

The fun barbecue stamps are from an H&M Set called It's Picnic Time and it's on sale NOW for just $6.00 - check out how many stamps are in this set! Perfect for all your summer cards! Here's what I put on the inside of my card.

Well - it's the last day of my vacation - and the sun is out and it's in the 70's so DH and I are off to pick up dear mother-in-law and take her walking around nearby Horn Pond! Thanks so much for coming by today!

Stamps: It's Picnic Time: H&M Stamps
Paper: pure poppy, white: PTI, basic black: SU, DP Cosmo Cricket Lil Man/Silly Sam
Ink: Memento Tuxedo black
Accessories: foam dimensionals, pinking circles nestabilities, pinking edge scissors, silver spica, copics: E35, E37, Y21, Y13, YR04, R29, 100, C1, C6

A Wedding Frame and Stamp New England News

Stef showed us the Design Dazzle website of kids rooms and bedding designs for inspiration today over at Split Coast. I was inspired by the colors and all the frames on the walls of this girls teen room

I had this frame from Michaels ($1!) and I have been wanting to create a wedding frame for my niece who got married a month ago. So today I was inspired to get it done!

I just love this reflection of the bride in the standup mirror stamp from the H&M set Fairy Tale Wedding .


We have a family heirloom just like this mirror and Katie had a picture taken of herself reflected in it - so it was perfect for this gift for her & Greg. My picture of Katie looks blury here - because of the reflection of the acetate panel over it - but it's clear IRL! Wasn't she a beautiful bride?! I love this picture of her standing on her sister's porch just after the wedding ceremony - she was just glowing! She's pulling the train of her gown up to her shoulders so it wouldn't get stepped on and I just had to snap the pic!


ALL of Heather's stamps over at H&M Stamps are on sale for the month of June so hurry over and check them out - once they are gone - they're gone - so shop early!!

And a heads up! Do you live anywhere near Farmington, CT? The Stamp New England organizers are planning another stamping weekend there for July 10th and 11th. Check it out here and sign up quick! The last event sold out in a week! I'm going to be teaching one of the classes (Yikes, I'm nervous!) so come so we can meet each other!!!

Stamps: Fairy Tale Wedding: H&M Stamps
Paper: White, ripe avocado, raspberry Fizz: PTI, basic black: SU, Water color paper
Ink: memento tuxedo black
Accessories: textile cuttlebug folder, cuttlebug, petite oval nestabilities, sizzix leaf stem die, silver ice stickles, copics: E34, E00, C1, BG10, brads: making memories, ribbon flowers - unknown (gift), acrylic paint, wooden frame: $1 Michaels

Fish for Father

I made this card for two challenges - the sketch challenge on Split Coast and for this week's DoubleDog Dare Challenge I do with some SCS friends. Anne (itsapassion) was hostess this week - and her challenge was to use a real piece of newspaper on your card (!?!?!). That stumped me at first - but then I suddenly thought of wrapping fish in newspaper -so here it is! See - that's why we have challenges - to make us think of things we wouldn't usually do!! Thanks Anne for challenging me! You can join in on this newspaper challenge - just use the keyword DDC when you upload to your SCS gallery! You can see all the DDC challenge cards here.

The fun stamp set is from H&M Stamps called Just for Dad and it includes fishing, deer and duck hunting stamps - perfect for the outdoor dad and - all her sets are on sale now so check it out!

Stamps: Just for Dad: H&M Stamps
Paper: groovy guava, always artichoke: SU, DP K&Company/Fish Embossed
Ink: memento tuxedo black, Mellow Moss: SU
Accessories: copics: E53, E35, E34, YG11, YG63, R20, newspaper, word window & oval punches: SU, square nestability, foam dimensionals, gem: K&Co, pinking edge scissors

You're Grr-eat! - A Recipe for Stamp Cleaner & a Nestability Sale!

Lot's to share with you today! Be sure you read about the Nestability sale at the bottom of this post!


I made this card for the color challenge on Split Coast - to use red, tangerine and Kiwi Kiss, and a neutral. I created a fun round card using my new Pinking Circle Nestabilities (that I got on sale as per my note to you below!) I think the pinked edges go great with this prehistoric theme (sort of like Dino's teeth!).

The stamps are from Prehistoric Birthday by H&M Stamps . All of Heather's stamps are on sale now so be sure to check it out before everything sells out! All stamp sets are $8.00 or less!

The top circle, dino and cake are all popped up on foam dimensionals.

To cut the card - I put the Circle Nestability on the folded card - moving the top of the die above the fold - so that part wouldn't cut - then I ran it through my Cuttlebug going back and forth 4-5 times to be sure it cut through both layers. Then I cut the designer paper with the next smaller circle die and the Naturals Ivory with the next smallest - and attached them over the card base.

Stamps: Prehistoric Birthday: H&M Stamps
Paper: riding hood red, naturals ivory: SU, DP Cosmo cricket Lil Man/Jumping Jack
Ink: memento tuxedo black, riding hood red, kiwi kiss: SU
Accessories: foam dimensionals, dotted satin ribbon: PTI, slot punch: SU, pinking circles nestabilities, spica gold pen
For those of you who clean your stamps with a scrubbie and spray - I wanted to share with you a recipe for the spray that I found on a Split Coast forum so we can save some money and make our own! Whoo hoo!!

Stamp Cleaner
2 cups of distilled water
2 Tbs Rose Water
2 Tbs Glycerin
1 Tbs Baby Wash

I just boiled the water and let it cool to distill it but you can also buy bottled distilled water at supermarkets or places like CVS. (ETA - Rebecca was kind enough to leave me a comment on this post that boiling water doesn't distill it - distilling is a whole other process! my error!)

I found both the Rose Water and Glycerin at our local Whole Foods Market (http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/) 4 oz for about $5.49 each. You may be able to find the Glycerin at a pharmacy (all my local pharmacies had were the glycerin suppositories!)

And it's ok to just use a generic brand of baby wash - I got one at CVS.

I made up a double batch and am storing it in a water bottle - be sure to label it so you don't drink it!! I put it in my small spray bottle and spray it on the scrubber - then rub my stamps on the scrubber - and it works just as well as my store bought stuff!


Here's another hot tip! http://www.ritzcamera.com/ is offering 20% off all scrapbooking supplies for the month of June - that includes Nestabilities!!!! (who knew they carried this stuff??) check it out here.

Simple Joys Soaking up the Sun!

This beautiful butterfly box designed by Qbee was the Try A New Technique challenge on Split Coast this week. I used the wonderful butterfly designer paper by Basic Grey and the Cuttlebug die cut butterfly that comes with 4 embossing options.

I inked the front of the butterfly folder with red ink before embossing it to give it the color - then colored with copics and a white gel pen to try and mimic the coloring on the DP (mine didn't come out quite so pretty!). I sponged the edges of the box and the sentiment rectangle with black and also used So Saffron on the sentiment (Green Thumb by PTI). The butterfly and sentiment are popped up on foam dimensionals. Wouldn't this make a great little gift box with some candies or a small gift tucked inside?! And it works up really fast.

Stamps: Sentiment: Green Thumb: PTI
Paper: White, Summer Sunrise: PTI, Basic Black: SU, DP Basic Grey Pattern Paper/Ambrosia/winsome
Ink: pure poppy: PTI, Memento Tuxedo Black, So saffron: SU
Accessories: Swiss dots cuttlebug folder, butterfly cuttlebug folder and die, copics: 100, C6, white gel pen, Martha Stewart Butterfly punch, tacky tape, foam dimensionals, rectangle nestability, gemstones: Hero Arts, glue dot, sponge

This week's CAS (Clean and Simple) challenge on Split Coast was an inspiration challenge - we were to look at the Lands End Towels and Totes catalogue. I was inspired by this towel.

I immediately thought of the Basic Grey Urban Prairie designer paper and used it for my 'towel' under the bathing beauty from the MFT set "Hit the Beach". I colored the flip flops, cut them out and popped them up over the sentiment. My rectangle nestability wasn't the exact size I needed - so I cut the closest size then cut one edge off and overlapped it to the size I wanted. This beauty reminded me that summer is coming and even though I don't wear a bikini like this anymore - I do have to think about fitting into my tankini soon!! ok - I'm off for a walk now!! LOL!!!

Stamps: Hit the Beach: My Favorite Things
Paper: White, Pure Poppy: PTI, DP Urban Prairie Paper Pad
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Scalloped rectangle nestability, cuttlebug, copics: G00, BG12, R29, R32, E00, E13, foam dimensionals

It is He who will save us. Isaiah 33:22

I'm a lesson behind on Patter's His Holy Name challenges - but I'm catching up with this 6x6 page for Lesson 10 - God's attribute was LORD.

I chose this wonderful verse from Isaiah where we learn that God is pretty much it - our judge, our lawgiver and our king - and in exchange for accepting all that - it is he who will save us. I say let's go for that deal!

I used Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch for the design of my page. The crown is grunge board by Tim Holtz that I colored with a copic and then went over with a gold Spica pen for shimmer (IRL it really sparkles!). The verse is computer generated.

This also covers last Tuesdays Double Dog Dare that I do with some SCS friends. Michelle (sf9erfan) was the hostess and her challenge was a 1,2,3 one - we were to use 1)a metal embellishment, 2) a ribbon and 3) sponging. We'd love to have you join in on our DDC challenges - just put DDC in the keywords when you load your card on split coast. You can see all the DDC challenge cards here.
Stamps: Karen Foster Snap Stamps (no longer available)
Paper: white: PTI, Basic Black: SU, DP Basic Grey - Marakech/Sencha
Ink: memento tuxedo black, Pacific Point - SU
Accessories: glue dots, brass circle: from an antique shop, black lace, metal frame: SU, rectangle nestabilities, grungeboard crown: Tim Holtz, spica gold pen, Copic Y38, computer generated verse, blue foil trim- Unknown RAK from One4 Joy, rhinestone stickers: Michael

I also wanted to share a couple of pictures with you today - Sunday we had a beautiful warm sunny day - but towards early evening the sky darkened and we had a brief thunder storm - suddenly the sun was shining brightly even though it was still raining heavily and I just knew there would be a rainbow in the sky. I grabbed my camera (and umbrella!) and ran around the house looking for it and there it was - a double rainbow over my neighbors house. Can you see the hazy 2nd one above the flag?

And these giant bearded Iris beauties are blooming profusely in my garden right now - each stem has so many blossoms on it that they are bending down to the ground. So I cut a bunch and have them in vases around the house - they have the most delicious soft scent! This is one blossom!

And - I'd like to alert you to a super sale going on at H&M Stamps - Heather is selling all her stamp sets for $8 or less per set for the month of June! That is a super deal in these hard economic times! So hurry over and check them out - while supplies last! If you'd like some ideas - you can see cards I've made with H&M Stamps here.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

A New Look for Uncle Sam!

I can't believe that Roxie hadn't yet been the featured stamper on Split Coast! She is the hostess with the mostest for our weekly sketch challenges and her cards are always top notch!

Today I cased this ice cream card of Roxie's changing the stamps and colors and using a different embossing Spellbinder but I kept the layout the same.

I wanted to try my new gingerbread stamp from Waltzingmouse Stamps for a season other than Christmas. I came up with this gingerbread Uncle Sam! Don't you love his little vest and top hat? You really need to check out all the stamps in this fun set as well as Claire's other set "Oven Fresh". The sentiment if from the set Let Freedom Ring by Paptertrey Ink.

I used the star that was left over from the punched corners to adorn his hat. The bottom was cut and embossed using my new Pierceabilities from Spellbinders.

Thanks so much for dropping by - got to go wash some windows and so a little yard work - it's a beautiful 75 degree day here in New England!

Stamps: gingerbread man: - Half Baked: Waltzingmouse Stamps, Sentiment- Let Freedom Ring: PTI
Paper: white, pure poppy: PTI
Ink: memento Tuxedo Black, Butterscotch & Denim: Adirondack, Pure Poppy: PTI
Accessories: glue dot, foam dimensionials, celestial corner punch: Fiskars, Pierceabilities: Spellbinders