Can't Imagine A World Without You!

Hello! First off, I wanted to let you know that there are two blog posts from me today. So, if you are coming straight to my blog, be sure to scroll down to see the second post. Two posts in one day? Well, I made the card in this post first, and then realized that it would be posting on the same day that is Father's Day and I remembered that Gary, my hubby, got me a Mother's Day card from him and the girls (our dogs), so I figured I had better make him one too!

Now let's get to today's card ... since I have been back in town, one of the things I have been doing is catching up on the new entries from all the blogs I frequent. I have participated several times in the Mojo Monday sketch challenges. When I saw their challenge for this week, I first thought that I wouldn't want to do this one because there is one piece in the layout that is slanted and I tend to like everything straight up and down. But then I got to thinking of why it is called a challenge and so I decided to give it a try! For quite a while now, I have been oogling (is that a word?) over a couple of different sets from Verve and so when I saw over the Memorial Day weekend, they were having a sale, I went for it and did an order with them. The day I got back from the scrapbook convention, the package was laying on my desk. And even though, I spent a bundle at the convention, and had many new stamps to show for it, I was still thrilled when I saw my Verve stamps! The Mojo Monday sketch is hosted by Julee Tilman who owns Verve, so I thought perfect, I will use one of my new stamp sets for the challenge. Yes, I know you don't have to use Verve stamps to do the challenge, but since I have them, and I was dying to stamp them ... I think this would also be a good time to tell you that the flower on my card, you will see over and over on many cards in the future! I love it! Let me show you my card and then the sketch ... enjoy!

I hate to say it, but I kinda like that little slanted square! It really draws your eye to it and adds a lot of interest to the card. What do you think?

Recipe:

Paper - Floral Multi Print by Sei called Mimosa, Yellow Print by Cosmo Cricket from DeLovely 6x6 mini deck, Cardstock White, Coral
Stamps - Verve stamps - One Person clear set
Ink - Versafine Black, Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol
Punches/Die Cuts - Sizzix Loops die (on 12" die with Rick Rack), EK Success border punch, Classic Circle Nestibilites 2 sizes
Other - Ribbon, Pearls (2 colors) by Queen & Co., Art Institute Glitter - Yellow (around center of flower)

Happy Stamping!
Tina

Owl I Need Is You!

For my second post of the day, I wanted to show you the card I am giving my hubby for Father's Day. On the inside, the sentiment reads "Whooo loves you?" and I wrote We Do! And signed the card from me, Coco, and Red, who are our two dogs! Yea, kinda silly, but fun! Let me get right to the card and then I will talk a little about the new "stuff" I got to use to make my card! Enjoy ...

I purchased a couple of sets of the new texture fades embossing folders from Tim Holtz's line. The one I use here is called woodgrain, perfect to resemble a tree background! I love owl stamps and even though I already had quite a few, I couldn't resist one more set. This one is from a company called Woodware USA. I hadn't ever heard of the company, but they seem to stamp very well.

Recipe:

Paper - Trees by Doodlebug Design called Friendly Forest, Green Dot by Bo Bunny Wasabi Dot, Cardstock Medium Brown, Dark Brown
Stamps - Owl and Branch by Woodware USA Owl Greetings clear set, Owl I Need by Inky Antics
Ink - Versafine Vintage Sepia Ink, Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol
Punches/Die Cuts - Classic Oval & Big Scalloped Oval Nestiblities, Martha Stewart Border Punch
Other - Woodgrain Texture Fade, Large Green Baubles - unknown, Clear Rhinestones (owls eyes) by Hero Arts, Stickles Glue Lime Green

I might have another card for you on Monday but for sure on Tuesday for the Texas Tues-Step! See ya then!

Happy Stamping!
Tina

Added Note - Found out this morning that Father's Day is next Sunday, not today! Can you tell I am retired? I don't even know what day it is! Oh well! I guess it just means I am early for once!

Life is Better in Flip Flops!

Have you missed me? I have missed being home in my stamp "shack". We got back Wednesday night from our trip to Port Aransas. I was thrilled on Thursday evening to have a chance to go play a little with some of my "new" goodies I got at the Great American Scrapbook Convention last Friday. Yes, let's first talk a little about the convention. I had hoped there would be some stamps there for sale ... well, there were and lots of them! I spent way too much money but I am pleased with my purchases. I stayed on track and got stamps and supplies perfect for my cards I post to my blog. I got a number of new nestibilites because one booth had them for half price ... can you believe it? I just don't understand how they were able to make any money! Of course, part of me feels that they shouldn't do that because that really hurts any local store that does sell them. Oh well, that is of course, beyond my control! That same booth had all the Just Rite sets for half off too! These sets I have often debated about getting, but until now haven't purchased. So, in the future, you will see these stamps on my cards, too. The booth that got most of my stamping money was Inky Antics. I love all their cute designs. All of their stamps are either wood mounted or some images are grouped into a single clear set. To get more images for my buck, I mostly got the clear sets I liked but, I couldn't resist a few wood mounted that were not on any clear sets, too. I can't wait to use all my new stuff for you and me!

Now on to today's card. Since I just got back from the coast, I decided to go with a beach theme. And I wanted to use my new "stuff", of course. A couple of months ago, Jen delMuro had a card on her blog where she used a ric rac die from Papertrey Ink to look like water. I absolutely loved the look and had planned on ordering the die from Papertrey at some point. Well, at the scrapbook convention, I found in the Sizzix booth, a sizzlits die (12") with a ric rac border and a loopy border on one die. Now I think the Papertrey one is probably made to cut thru thicker items, but for my purposes, I thought the Sizzlits one would work just fine! The palm tree and the flip flops are from a new Hero Arts clear set I got at the show. The set is awesome and includes images you will see again like a crab, a beach ball, a bird with sunglasses, a hibiscus, a party drink glass, a fish, and the words "Let's Chill". The booth that had the Hero Arts was actually my ex-competitor but I figure at this point, I would rather have a new Hero Arts set than worry about that! The sentiment is one that I got back at the January stamp convention and have been waiting until summer got here to use! Finally, here is my card ... enjoy!


Let me explain quickly how I did the main rectangle. I took a piece of white cardstock a little larger than the nestibilites I was going to use and adhered all the pieces to it including the ric rac pieces, the orange cardstock at the top and the cork at the bottom. Then, die cutted the whole piece with my big scalloped rectangle die. I love the way it came out, don't you?

Recipe:

Paper - Stripes by My Minds Eye, Cardstock White, Orange, 3 colors of Blue, Aqua, Cork.
Stamps - Hero Arts clear set called Let's Chill, Life is better ... by Morning Star
Ink - Versafine Black, Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol
Die Cuts/Punches - Sizzix Loops & Ric Rac, Big Scalloped Rectangle Nestibliites, Cuttlebug Polka Dots
Other - Buttons by O'Scrap, Tiny clear Rhinestones by Hero Arts, Twine by The Cat's Pajamas

I will try to get back to my room sometime this weekend, so hopefully, I will be back posting by Sunday or Monday. Until then ... Happy Stamping!
Tina

You Made My Day!

Hello! Now that it has been about a week since my birthday thank you notes were sent, I think I can show you the card I made for them. I had two sentiments I wanted to use on my card and because I wanted to leave the inside blank for writing thank yous, I knew I would need to put both sentiments on the front of the card. That made the card somewhat of a challenge, until a friend had the idea of me putting one of the sentiments into the center of a flower. Then with the help of another friend, the card just came together! Thank God for wonderful friends! The other issue with my creation was that I knew I wanted to use scrapbook paper on it but I needed to get as many cards out of one sheet as possible. So, the striped piece at the bottom of the card was just perfect! Actually, I did have to do a few with a flower panel, but my favorite is definitely the striped panel! Here is my card... enjoy!



Recipe:

Paper - Striped Panel by October Afternoon Thrift Shop Line, Dotted Paper by Bo Bunny, Cardstock White, Yellow, & Black
Stamps - You Made My Day by Hero Arts (from clear set of misc. sentiments), Thanks So Much by Hero Arts Archivers Exclusive (clear set with misc. thank you sentiments), Stem and Leaves from There She Goes Clear Stamps Flowers of Happiness Set
Ink - Versafine Black
Punches/Die Cuts - Classic Scallop Oval, Classic Oval, Classic Scallop Circle, Classic Circle 3 sizes, & Dahlia Nestiblities
Other - Ribbon by May Arts, Rhinestones by Hero Arts

Happy Stamping!
Tina

Be Kind Be You!

Today's card used a new stamp I recently ordered from one of last few Texas stamp stores left. Gotta keep the stamp stores in business, since my local one closed... oh wait, that was me! Well, that is even more reason to keep the others in business, so I can still get stamps! Polly, at The Stamp Act in El Paso, told me she loved the Hero Arts dandelion frame because it made such a simple card by stamping the frame and putting your sentiment in the middle. But, no, I can't do a card as simple as that ... what do a card without scrapbook paper and nestiblities added? No way! I have a "look" and that is okay! First, I will show you the stamp and then my card. Enjoy!

Recipe:

Paper - Die Cuts With A View Linen Closet Matstack, Cardstock Teal and White
Stamps - Dandelion frame (cling) by Hero Arts (stamped as background, and in oval), Be Kind Be You by Hero Arts (clear set with misc. sentiments)
Ink - Versafine Black
Punches/Die Cuts - Classic Oval Scallop & Classic Oval Nestibilites
Other - Stampendous Black Dot Spaklers, Light Blue Pearls by Hero Arts, Ribbon by May Arts

I am off tomorrow to go to the scrapbook convention - hoping to find some new stamps! I will have one post for you on Friday, a card that was made and sent last week, so look for that. Also, on Sunday, my hubby & I are heading down to the coast for a few days. I wanted to let you know in case you don't see a post after Friday from me until late next week.

Happy Stamping!
Tina

Dancing Trio!

For today's card, I am using a stamp I have used before but the sentiment is probably one of my favorites and I love the flowers that are part of this set so I paired the stamps with a new matstack from Die Cuts with a View and a simple layout I cased. I hope you love it as much as I do...

Recipe:

Paper - Die Cuts with a View Cafe Mediterranean Matstack, Cardstock Teal Blue, White
Stamps - There She Goes Clear Stamps - Sentiment and Flowers from Dance Set, Leaves from Flowers of Happiness Set
Ink - Versafine Black
Die Cuts/Punches - Classic Scallop Oval and Classic Oval Nestiblities
Other - Ribbon by May Arts, Pearls by Queen & Co.

Happy Stamping!
Tina

Texas Forever!

Welcome to the second time for my participation in Texas Tues-Step. You see there is a small group who on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday's are making cards with a Texas theme. And I being a born and raised Texan, I knew I wanted to participate! Since I just did a red, white, and blue color theme with my last card I made for the Memorial Day, I decided to go with totally different colors. I seldom do brown as it is just not my color but today's card with the added turquoise and gold, is very colorful and I do love how it came out! I went with a sketch I have done before. I think the strips of the different coordinating pattern papers gives the card lots of interest. Here is my card ... enjoy!

The card was finished ... well, so I thought. I added the small Texas punched out shape at the last minute and I think it was a good idea. It completes the card. How do you like my little buttons? It's always about the embellishments with me - rhinestones and buttons on the same card? Yes! I finally got to use the beige color linen thread I got a while back. I have used the ivory color many times but with today's color theme, the beige was just what it needed!

Recipe:

Paper - All pattern paper from Max & Whiskers paper pad by Basic Grey, Cardstock Turquoise, Copper Shimmer
Stamps - Texas Forever by Deadbeat Designs
Ink - Memories Artprint Brown
Die Cuts/Punches - Classic Scallop Nestiblities, Classic Circle Nestiblities, Labels 3, Texas Punch by Punch Bunch
Other - Ribbon by Creative Impressions, Buttons by O'Scrap, Twine by The Cat's Pajamas, Rhinestones by Hero Arts

Happy Stamping!
Tina