The Wild

I have this box.  It is full of stamps and related stuff, that I have not used or never used in a couple of years. Stuff which I intend to sell in a rummage someday.  The problem is I keep going back to the box to bring back one thing and several come back to the craft room.  This giraffe is one of the things that made it back to my craft jungle.

I bought this several years ago. It is a large stamp, about 4-1/2 x 3-1/2. There is absolutely no company name anywhere on it.  The "You amaze me" sentiment is from Verve Stamps. I stamped my giraffe with Momento Rich Cocoa and glittered him up with Martha Stewart glitter.  The ribbon is from my stash.

Let me know if anyone knows the company name for this stamp.

Delight in Life

Happy Sunday!  I have a card today that I am entering in The Verve Sentimental About Paper Challenge. The challenge is to use DP that you have been saving and use only a stamped sentiment, no images.  I have had this gorgeous paper from My Mind's Eye for a long time.  The dragonfly is actually imprinted on the paper.  I could never figure out how to incorporate it on one of my cards.  Isn't it (the dragonfly) spectacular?

The paper is very glittery. I took my photo outside, but it still isn't showing.  I used a Verve sentiment. They have the best sentiments.  I used a Martha Stewart punch, some ribbon and perils to finish it off.

Missed it!

I saw this  Clean and Simple Challenge  layout a few days and just knew I  had to make something.  The problem is that the challenge is over. Pay attention Gail!  Read and take notes, because I can no longer rely on my memory to keep things is order.  Oh well, I can't waste a good card.

The flower and the sentiment are from Stampabilities.  The backdrop is a Stampin Up that I've had for years. The only color to the one flower was done with Copic R30 and RV04. I used Paper Trey Ink's rick rack die at the bottom of the sentiment and used a Cuddle Bug damask embossing folder for the bottom portion of the card. Jewels were added to give the card a little more balance.

You can find the original challenge design here .

High Hopes Challenge

Work. Work. Work.  And no time for blogging.  I really must catch up with everyone.  I hope to stop by all your blogs the next couple of days and catch up on all your fantastic creations.

This post will be quick.  I am entering my card in the High Hopes Fun in the Sun Challenge.

Recipe:
Stamp - High Hopes
Copics and Prisma Colors
Dia-namics Die (flower)
Spellbinders dies
Paper: DCWV

Christmas in July (again)

I said, once it started it would be hard to stop.  You can make a Christmas card when it's 93 deg. with a heat index of 112!

The Ornament is from Inadinkado. I went with the black & white theme except for the red Stickles on the ornament. I also used silver and white Stickles, and white perils. I used a Cuttle Bug embossing folder to mount the image.  The DP is My Mind's Eye.

Did you notice I put my followers front and center where they belong? Love them all.

Penny Black Christmas in July Challenge

I could make Christmas cards all year long, and some do.  I just kind of like wait, because it puts me in that "Happy Place" when it's 15 Deg. with a wind chill of -15 Deg and the sun hasn't shown for days. Can you tell, I really like Winter?
Well, I ran across this challenge at Buttons for Brains (cute name). So I am entering this Penny Black's Christmas in July Challenge.

This is poinsettia is "Winter Glow" and I think I've used this every year since I purchased it. I'ts a large stamp, so there not a lot of layout variations, but there are many ways to display the flower. The sentiment is Stampabilities. I used Copics and Stickles for the center of the flower.  Both punches are from Martha Stewart and the DP is K&Company.

Now that I've got the itch, I won't want to stop making Christmas cards. And of course, that means more shopping.

I Made a Wish

I've been in a slump lately.  I'm hoping to make a come back with this card. I've been so discouraged by my lack of creativity, that I haven't even visited my list of people that inspire me. Now how dumb is that??

This is a Whipper Snapper stamp that I colored with Copics.  The sentiment is from Stampin Up. I can't tell you where the DP came from (sometimes the cover separates from the pad). The punch and the flower are from Martha Stewart.

Have a wonder (hot) Summer day.

Annie

The extended weekend over the 4th allowed Sherri and I to get together and make cards Saturday and Monday. Great fun. We have our own little DT consisting of Sherri, her cat and me.  Sherri made 3 and I made one. The woman is fast and talented. Here is what I made.

This is Annie. She is one of the front and back series from Art Impressions.  She was colored with Copics. Since her clothes were suggested sailing, I thought I would have her looking from a port hole.  One I had her colored, I traced a Spellbinders die to make the port hole and colored it with grays. I also used a Spellbinders die to cut her out and mount her on DP from My Mind's Eye.  Sherri had given me those fabulous die cut corners a long time ago, so I can't tell you which Company. I did have to scold her, because I could only find 3, so this was my solution. The sentiments are as follows:  "Miss You" and "sending you smiles across the miles" are Paper Trey Ink and "Happy Birthday" is Stampabilities. The flowers on the inside are Penny Black.  


Check out Sherri's blog here to see what the other half of our two person DT made.

A card for Ethyl

A fellow blogger has made a special request for her friend Ethyl. You can read about Ethyl's terrible ordeal at Sheree's blog here.  I found this such a peaceful and soothing scene.

In case your wondering how I framed the image, I took this photo to show you how I did it.  The trick is not
to cut past the widest part of die so that you can trim it up.

This image is from Digi Doodle Shop that I colored with Copics. I framed it up as described. the background is a combo of K&Company DP, Martha Stewart punch and Cuttle Bug embossing folder. The outer matting is actually more purple but the camera thinks it knows better. The sentiment is from Stampendous.

I am entering this card in Digi Doodles challenge-65-anything-goes.

I hope Sheree get's a big response.

Next Best Thing to Chocolate

This is my second card with watermelon (see High Hopes label).  I took a lot of flack for suggesting I may like it even  more than chocolate. I reconsidered, and yes chocolate is #1.

My watermelon is more pink than red.. I colored my ant from Stampin Up with Copics, used a spellbinder's die to cut out and mount on DP by DCWV.  (Does anyone know what DCWV stands for?)
The little cherries on each side is a Lockhart stamp. "Crazy Cool" is sticker from The Paper Studio. I just started using stickers and I'm becoming a fan.

Have a happy day.

Rags to Riches

Happy Sunday everyone!
I ran across this old photo yesterday and I think it makes an interesting story.  When I was maybe 4 (1953), our house burned to the ground. I am the youngest of 3 and I have very little memory of the fire. Here is how it has been told.  We lived in Colorado. We were poor.  My father was a tenant farmer and we had just moved into the house. My mother had just refinished the floors and everything was painted fresh and pretty. Our family had gone to town and as we were returning we could see the fire. My sister said our mother was crying (I only recall that happening once). I am told it was an electrical fire.  We were lucky it didn't happen while we were asleep.
So all we were left with was the clothes on our back and an old car.  I am sure there was no money in the bank, and I am positive there was no insurance.  The picture below is where we stayed for a few weeks until we drove to Iowa and stayed with relatives until my Father found another job.

Well, I am by no means wealthy, but I am rich. My husband and I have a nice house and children and grandchildren that give us love and enjoyment beyond measure.  

What do you think?  I bet there was no A/C.