Paper + Stamps= Happiness

Paper Piecing is one of my favorite techniques. I use it so often because it the the PERFECT way to use my favorite patterned paper along with my stamps!
Here is a card I created with some Unity Stamps:Ivory cardstock- (Gina K Designs)
Stamps- Perfect in Every Way (Unity Stamp Company)
Memento tuxedo black ink
Markers- red, black (Stampin’ Up!)
Designer paper- Fly a Kite 8 by 8 pad (October Afternoon)
Stickers- Fly a Kite (October Afternoon)
Adhesive rhinestones (Recollections, Michaels)
Jumbo scallop die (My Favorite Things); Cuttlebug (Provocraft)

Hope you are having a GREAT weekend. We are heading to my son's first select baseball tournament today!!! Fingers crossed that they win a game!

Thanks for stopping by!

A BUNCH o Jillibean

Hello!!! It has been a busy few days with the kids starting back to school. Yesterday..the nurse from school called and asked me to come get Lauren because she was feeling sick. But...as the day wore on --It became very clear that she just needed some rest and hugs. Her "sickness" was very short lived.
Fingers crossed that she stays in school today!

Today, I have lots of Jillibean Soup projects to share with you. First up--these two cards that were featured on the Jillibean blog last week along with some cards from my super talented buddy Rae (yipeee!). They both feature the new Monster Stew Line--what fun to play with!

Jillibean used- Monster Stew: Bunch of Monsters; Monster Stew: Pinch of Hair; Monster Stew: Pointy Teeth; Monster Stew: 3 arms.

Jillibean Soup used- Monster Stew: Pinch of Hair; Monster Stew: Pointy Teeth; Monster stew cardstock stickers; Monster Stew journaling sprout.

Next I have a a scrapbook page to share with you. This page is of my 14 year old. "Plugged In" is my page for her to remember how much she loves to unwind listening to her Ipod. I added a few of the songs from her play list so that she can look back and see the music she loved when she was a teenager.

I went with a teenage helter-skelter-funky look for this page. It features the new Monster Stew line from Jillibean Soup! I cut out one of the frames on the designer paper to draw the focus to the picture:

Here is the full page: Materials list: Jillibean Soup: Monster Stew: Pointy Teeth, Monster Stew: 3 arms; Monster Stew: Pinch of Hair; Monster Stew cardstock stickers; Diced Damask Alphabeans; Blanched Black Alphabeans.

Thanks for stopping by today!!

Psst! Wanna know a secret??

Hello!!! Lots of fun stuff happening this fall and today I can finally announce one of the fun things.....
oopsie...sorry. I can't announce it....but I know who CAN. Visit the MFT lady here to get the scoop!!

In the meantime....can I dazzle you with a card? This card is for this week's MFT Wednesday Stamp Club Challenge: Floral Fantasy! - Create a project featuring flowers. (SCS Keyword - MFTWSC08252010) :


For this card, I cut the front panel smaller (again...on a kick with that right now!) and used the Jumbo scallop die for the red panel along the inside of the card.

The image and sentiment are Jolinne- Just for You. I colored her with Copics and prismacolor pencils and paper pieced much of her outfit. I used the Flower Trio and Leaf Trio die to create the flowers on the scallops. I also used the Cloud Trio and the Fresh Cut Grass (temporarily sold out) Die-namics die on this.

Now head on over to Kim's blog to find out the news!! Squeal!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Gina K Preview and School Begins!

Welcome to Day 2 of the Gina K Previews! Tonight the design team is using Farm Life (illustrated by Theresa), Boo! (illustrated by Asela), and Faithful Florals (illustrated by Tami)!

I am a sucker for a good Halloween set and so my sample today features Boo!: I love love love the banner Boo in this set. (I also love that there is a banner of cobwebs in the set too!) Tooo fun!
There are lots of images in this set to create a spooktacular scene - I used the little jack-o-lanterns on this card, wanting to keep the focus on the sentiment. The background of the front panel is a transparency web that is adhered over the Kraft cardstock. The front panel is about 1.5 inches shorter than the back panel so the green on the inside shows when the card is closed.


For more samples with the stamp sets being previewed tonight, please check out these participating designer's links:

• Gina


• Jessica


• Melanie


• Theresa - *Illustrator of Farm Life*


• Tami - *Illustrator of Faithful Flowers*


• Cathy


• Lee
  
• Lynn


• Kurtis


• Carolyn


• Asela - *Illustrator of Boo!*


• Suzanne
  
• Miesje - *our CenterStage Guest Designer!*

Reminder--the Release party is this Thursday night, August 26 from 7-10 central time. All of the new products featured this week on our blogs will be available for purchase online through GinaK Designs right after the party at 10 pm. We hope you'll make plans now to be able to join us in all the fun!

In my other life :), my kiddos ALL started school today. Cara (9th grade), Lauren (kindergarten, sob!) and Ben (2nd grade). Here they are just before leaving this morning:

Since I am the lunch bunch coordinator at Ben/Lauren's school...I was there today for all the lunches and both had happy smiles for me! (Yeah!) Cannot wait to greet them coming off the bus with the cupcakes I made for their "first day of school special treat!" (Lauren's choice!)

Thanks for stopping by!

Gina K Previews Begin....TONIGHT!

Hello! Welcome to the first night of Gina K previews!!! Get ready because there are some FABULOUS sets that will be released on Thursday night!!

Tonight the design team is working with Wild at Heart (by Melanie), Grand Damask and Fanciful Tags (by Nina).
Here are my designs:

For my first card I used Nina's Grand Damask to create this butterfly. I wanted to use the set in a different way and because it is such an elegant set...I tried to create something whimsical and fun with it: The dotted swirls so reminded me of bug antenna so I went with that and used the flourishes as wings. I used part of a sentiment from Fanciful Tags for the sentiment.

The next card uses Melanie's Wild at Heart set:

I adore this set and know I will use it a lot! I wanted to use white space to make the flowers pop more so I cropped the image of the wildflowers so that it would only cover 3/4 of the card. I love the bright POP of the Sweet Mango cardstock and crystal accents. Finally, I used a Copic marker to highlight a few words in the sentiment.

For more samples with the stamp sets being previewed tonight, please check out these participating designer's links:

• Gina
  
• Jessica
  
• Melanie - *Illustrator of Wild at Heart*


• Nina - *Illustrator of Grand Damask and Fanciful Tags*


• Theresa
  
• Cathy
  
• Lee


• Lynn
  
• Kurtis


• Carolyn


• Colleen


• Miesje - *our CenterStage Guest Designer!*

You are invited to join us for our release party this Thursday night, August 26 from 7-10 central time. There will be contest questions, challenges, and chatter along with tons more samples! All of the new products featured this week on our blogs will be available for purchase online through GinaK Designs at 10 pm right after the release party. We hope you'll be able to join us in all the fun!

Thanks for stopping by!

JustRite Week Continues...

Hi there! Welcome to another day of JustRite projects. The Stamper's Dream team has been posting creations all week with the newest releases. You can see the full line up on my post from Tuesday (right below this one).
Today, Michelle , Leslie , Christina , Karen and I are sharing projects.

Both my projects are tags today--because I love them. They are easy to create and they can totally dress up a gift.

The first tag features Nature's Nested Sentiments Centers & Verse:

And this tag features Christmas Ornaments 3 1/4" Borders & Centers and Nature's Nested Sentiments Centers & Verse:

Want to get DISCOUNT CODES delivered to your inbox every month? Sign up HERE to be on the Stamper's Dream mailing list and start getting the supplies you DREAM about for less :)

Thanks so much for stopping by!

JustRite Week at Stamper's Dream

Hello!! All this week the Stamper's Dream team is designing with the newest JustRite Christmas releases (see schedule below!)

Here is the card I created with Christmas Nested Sentiments Centers & Verse and Whimsical Christmas 2" Round Borders & Centers sets:

I embossed the snowflakes (which are some of the prettiest snowflakes ever, IMO!) in white on the background kraft paper. I also embossed the sentiment on some kraft paper and cut it out. The edges are sponged with Tea Dye ink (Ranger).

I added some die-cut scallops, twine, stitching and brown pearl accents to finish this card.

Materials used: Stamps-Christmas Nested Sentiments Centers & Verse, Whimsical Christmas 2" Round Borders & Centers (Justrite Stampers); ink-Tea Dye (Ranger); sponge; white embossing powder; Versamark; cardstock- Kraft, chocolate chip, white (SU!); ribbon- (SU!); Die-Open scallop border (My Favorite Things); pearl accents-Recollections (Michael's); twine; sewing machine.

**Don't forget to check out the fabulous creations by my fellow Dream Team-ers! Sigh! They are so talented!

JustRite Schedule:
Monday
Michelle , Cindy , Denise , Laurie , and Amy

Tuesday
Denise , Cindy , Amy , Tosh , and Cammie

Wednesday
Laurie , Leslie , Karen , Christina and Tosh

Thursday
Michelle , Leslie , Christina , Karen and Cammie

Thanks for stopping by!

Summer FUN: New October Afternoon

Hello!!! Happy Monday morning!
This weekend I had a little scrappy time on Saturday...

So...I got to work scrapping some of my summer pictures. I LOVE this one of Lauren (taking a minute to glance up at me while digging in the sand!)

I combined several October Afternoon collections on this layout but the dp is mostly from the two NEW* releases---Schoolhouse and Modern Homemaker! (*They will be in stores SOON!)
I really like how I could use them both on a summer layout!

The page-dissected--
Here is a close up of the top corner. I combined rub-ons from Fly a Kite and used a cut out Doily from Schoolhouse: Pink Eraser) The word sticker is from Fly a Kite.

The butterfly is from Ducks in a Row--I just added some rhinestones to the center:

I cut the picture into a circle and then added the word stickers (Fly a Kite) and sun and clouds (Ducks in a Row: Shapes) to frame it:

I used Schoolhouse: Flashcards to create this section with the background and the "F""U""N" letters cut from the designer paper. "Summer" is a rub-on from Fly a Kite.

I used some Mini Market ledger stickers for the year--(substituting O for zeros because I used all the zeros up):

Again, I cut a section of Schoolhouse: Flashcards --the sailboat for the bottom of the page. I added some stitching and some dp "Waves":

You will be seeing A LOT more of these lines in the future :)

BTW: You can see all of the fabulous new October Afternoon releases on their BLOG!

Materials used: Shape stickers-Thrift Shop (October Afternoon); word sticker-Fly a Kite (October Afternoon); Shapes-Ducks in a Row (October Afternoon); rub-ons-Fly a Kite (October Afternoon); Designer paper-Schoolhouse: No 2 Pencil; Schoolhouse: Ruler; Schoolhouse:Pink Eraser; Schoolhouse: Flashcards; Modern Homemaker: Party Line; Mini market ledger stickers (October Afternoon); CS banner border sticker (Sassafras); Chipboard arrow (Bazzill); stapler; Sparkle gems (Hero Arts); twinkle stickers (a muse); ink-sky blue (SU!); sponge; sewing machine.

Thanks for stopping by!

SUMMER fun

Hello!!! I am so happy to be stamping again...

Today, I have a SUMMER Fun card to share---I know that summer isn't really over yet but the kids start back to school in one week so we are officially winding down the "summer fun" around here. (Boo!)

I used the adorable My Favorite Things Pure Innocence Are We There Yet? set for this card:

I had so much fun paper piecing her outfit and pairing this set with American Crafts Heat Wave dp, rub ons and stickers.

I created the sun using the MFT dienamics sunshine die. (I seriously think I have EVERY Die-namics die made---they are so fun and clever!)

Sigh! So long summer (at least the lounging-at-the-pool-beach-disney-kinda-summer.)

Thanks for stopping by!

Shhhh!!!

It's a secret. *Just had to let my blog readers be the first to know!

Remember THIS? Well....we are doing it again....

Who is we? The most awesome/generous big hearted companies/magazines out there + Me and YOU.

The first part of that equation is hard at work getting donations for another one of the BIGGEST blog candy events ever. (And with the first batch of emails going out just two days ago---we are ALREADY at over $500 in donations!!) YOU need to stay tuned to find out how you can win by just making a card.

I just HAD to share--- :) cause it is exciting!!!

Stay tuned.....it's coming in September.

Fall THANKS

Last week, the Gina K Design team hosted an Oldies week---where they revisited older stamp sets. Since I was on vacation...I missed it. But when I was doing some blog housekeeping...I found this card I never posted.
I created this with Melanie's A Year of Leaves set (Gina K Designs). I coupled the leaves with some Recollections Autumn designer paper (Michael's): The leaves are stamped and colored with Copic markers. Then, I layered a piece of vellum over the leaves and stitched the edges. I added some fun ribbon and a tulle tie to get lots of texture into this card.
I stamped the sentiment and then punched it out with an oval punch and layered it over the ribbon.

Thanks for stopping by!

Finally.....some CHA pictures!

After a month away--it is really nice to be home. However, I am NOT enjoying the unpacking, laundry and scramble to get the kids ready for school. Sigh!
So....I am taking a break from all of that to post some of the people pics I have from CHA. (Special thanks to those who emailed me some pictures and to those who pics I "borrowed" from facebook :) )

With Sharon Harnist: she is a wonderful person and hugely talented:
I made sure to grab lunch with two of my awesome friends who live in my computer---Rae Barthel and Kimberly Crawford. Love these girls:

I didn't have my own picture because I was working at the time, so I had to steal this one off Susan Opel's (PaperCrafts Mag) facebook page. She is a sweetheart and has to put up with tons of questions from me all the time:

Maren Benedict and I. I did NOT get enough time to hang with her this CHA so I missed that. She is one of my soul sisters in this craft. We just click. We DID get to work at booths across from each other though....so I could kind of harass her while she did her make n takes:

Another pic with Rae-She is a DOLL! (and so is her mom!) Yep...stole this one off her facebook page! Thanks Rae!:

I spent some time with Lydia Fielder at this CHA! It was really nice to get to know her. She is doing an awesome job in her new position at Splitcoaststampers. What a sweet person:

I was working again when I bumped into Kimmie Reid. Love her and miss the days when we designed together. (Thanks for sending this to me, Kimmie! Hugs!):

Kim (My Favorite Things), me, Cindy Lawrence, and Deb Anton--LOVE these ladies:

Me with Kim (My Favorite Things) and Gina (Gina K Designs)---What can I say? These women are incredible, thoughtful and just amazing in every way. I have worked with both of them for YEARS...and LOVE them dearly.

Kim, me and my roomie-Deb. Had to get in another pic with Deb. We took lots but most of them are sooo goofy! Deb is a dear friend. We were neighbors for a few years until the Army took us separate ways. She has the biggest heart. Love this girl!:

Talk about big hearts--Jessica Deidrich is soo sweet. She is the kind of person who just makes everyone feel comfortable! So glad to see her again:

The MFT gang at dinner: I spent most of my time with this group...setting up, walking around, working shifts, EATING, DRINKING and just having fun. So fun! LOVE em:

Carole Burrage and me---she JUST might be as wacky as I am! I cannot believe we have so many goofy pictures and I don't have one normal one from this trip. Go figure! Love you girl:

I was so excited to meet Belinda Chang Langner. She popped over to the MFT booth when I was working and got this picture (Thanks for sending it to me!!!) She is as sweet as she is talented!

....and there were so many other wonderful talented people I met but don't have pictures of :(

But....it was a BLAST! So glad I got to go.

Hoping to get stamping again soon! LOTS of FUN things on the horizon.....but first...have to get my kids ready for a good school year!

STAY TUNED.... :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Blast from the Past Tour

The Gina K Design team has been featuring some of the older sets in a "Blast from the Past" week-long celebration. I am still on vacation and so I was not able to participate but just wanted to help spread the word. (Rumor has it, that Gina will be offering a discount code at the end of the week so you might want to follow along!)

Tonight, you can see samples of some of our favorite 'Blast from the Past' GinaK Designs stamp sets on these participating designer's blogs:

• GinaK


• Jessica


• Melanie


• Theresa


• Tami
  
• Cathy
  
• Lee
  
• Lynn


• Kurtis


• Emily


• Erika

The GinaK Design team would like to invite you to the virtual Release party we'll be having tomorrow night Thursday, August 5th on StampTV. It will be a bit different than the usual release party, but we'll still have challenges, contest questions, and designer samples that you won't want to miss out on!

PS-Due to some unforeseeable events, I will be in PA for an extra few days. The kids and I travel back home on Monday so I will be back next week. Cannot wait to get inky!

Thanks for stopping by!

Christmas in..August?

Hi there! I am back from CHA...had an absolute blast seeing friends and all the cool product that will be flooding the stores in the next few months. I am here in PA for a few more days but am heading home on Thursday.
I will be sure to post some pictures as soon as I get home and download them. (There are lots on facebook already!)

I cannot wait to play with some of my new purchases from the Supershow...but for now--here is a little Christmas in July---oopsie..I mean August (where does the time go?). I love these "unconventional" colors for Christmas cards: Materials used:
Designer paper-Good Cheer: Gingerbread (October Afternoon), Adhesive backed fabric paper-Spring:Tickled Pink (Dear Lizzy/American Crafts); Cardstock-vanilla-(Gina K Designs); buttons-(Papertrey); corner rounder punch; frayed burlap distress ink (Ranger); die-Snowflake Wonder (Spellbinders); Rub-on-Trade Marks, Jack (American Crafts); Ribbon-Christmas (American Crafts); Thicker-roller rink (American Crafts).


Thanks for stopping by!