Well you all know I just went to an stamp expo. I scored this awesome BLING paper there. I have NO CLUE who its from, but I love it.

Sorry for the GLARE-its hard getting a photograph of BLING paper! LOL!

When I look at it ALL I can thing about is “stardom” LOL! You know rock music, rock stars, rockets, and outterspace stuff. I of course associate those with black and silver. Anyway……

The first card is ROCK STAR-get it?! LOL!

I used Sweet Baby Jane Alpha and Holy Tomoli stamp sets by Green Grass.

Used my silver Encore ink for the “rock” The star was done using my MM tag maker (whick I am definitely in LOVE with these days). I colored the star image with my Sakura glitter pen.

I got this cool stitching guide at the expo as well from LAsting Impressions. LOVE it! I stitched the bottom using that.

Now onto the next one.

I have wanted this IPod image since I laid my eyes on it. I am lovin this layout too! You’ll see it again

You Rock!

So, once again-used my MM tag maker. For a POP of color! I also got some Sakura gel pens at the expo and this was my first time using it. Used my Sakura glitter pen for the sparkly screen and dial. All in all wicked simple. Great for the TEENS and gender. Where was this at Christmas when I was giving our teen cousins Itunes gift cards? Hello?! How cool it would have been to make this a card holder.

Oh well, next year. By then I’m sure these will be outdated.

Do you feel like the older you get the harder it is to keep up with all this technology. Good grief, I dont want to become my mother. I dont want to get stuck in a time warp either. I want to stay young! And up on the “trends” but find that I dont like alot of the “new” music! GASP!

Tell me what you remember from your “era” that you feel dates you, and reply to this post. I think it will be so fun.

Here are some things I remember-PLEASE tell me you do too! Im only 29 not 99!

Here is a link to toys from the 1980’s!

Shows 

BoZo the clown, Captain Kangaroo, the Muncheechees (cartoon about monkey type animals), He Man, Transformers, The Wuzzles (Disney show) Mickey Mouse Club, Smurfs, Care Bear, The Fraggles, 90210, ALF 

TOYS

Koosia (?spelling basically the cabbage patch kids pet), Peaches and Cream barbie, The barbie Poodle, Keepers (they were animal things that you open with a special “key”, Popples

Style

Pegging my jeans! Big hair, ESPRIT bags were hot as were Reebok “pump” sneakers, CB jackets (in my school were hot) or should I say cool and rad. 80’s was all rock

Movies

Gizmo, BIG, The Mannequin, Ghostbusters

I could go on and on but want to turn it over to YOU! Tell me decade you grew up in, then share all you want!

I was obviously the 80’s.

Cant wait to read it!

It seems like everyone is having a baby around me. Which is great (for them :D). I love making baby cards. Especially girly ones! LOL! So here are two that I did. I hope it inspires you to make some to keep on hand. Now they better both have girls or I need to make 2 boy baby cards, and 2 gender neutral may be a good idea too!

To me babies are soft colors and delicate images. Well instead of “images” I decided to go with sentiments instead. Just to show you don’t need alot of “images” to make an adorable card. You do however NEED a cuttlebug! I can’t not use my embossing folders. They are the best invention ever!

Soft Lullaby

Oh I am just in love with this card. Its the epitome of feminine. Tone on tone is really sweet.

The stamp is by Green Grass Stamps, and is called Baby Shower.

The cardstock is by Martha Stewart, as is the lace punch.

The vellum layer uses fancy corners embossing floder, made into a larger background! The vellum cardstock adds a little something-understated and soft, and doesn’t overpower the main focus of the card.

Ink is by versamagic dew drops in a Sring pansy I believe. Stitched ribbon is by Ribbon and bows oh my (dont even look on their site you will go broke). Had to add a tiny saftey pin, and flowers. The flowers are by CTMH-autum blooms in white colllection. Then the jewels in the center are of course by K co.

Next up

Baby

I used the “baby” from simple sentiments by Lizzie Anne Designs.

Again Martha Stewart cardstock, and lace punch. Ribbon was from my PSF Debbi, and its by Prima!

The Safety Pin is by K & Co. I used a stitched square cuttlebug folder for around the baby sentiment. I also used Stylized Flower embossing folder.

I think both cards use the same “elements” just in a different way.

Anyway, I was happy with how this turned out.

Thanks for looking-

Sorry Peeps!

I didnt forget the Saturday Sketch I just got caught up in the shopping I did yesterday, and was busy “playing” so didnt get to post it. Then, I spent some time with the family today. Didnt want to upset them so had to do my MOMMY duty.

Anyway better late than never right?

My Peeps, My Friends

So here it is! Do ya love it? I think its so cheery! Just what I was going for. Love when an idea on paper “works” in reality.

Here is the original sketch.

This layout is especially great for those smaller images you may have collecting dust or tag style stamps. I used my stamps from Green Grass for this one. They are Lil Monsters and Card Greetings . You can also view my card here

The American Crafts ribbon helped me get inspired! I love attaching ribbon with brads, onto a card. Its “different” you know what mean. PLUS its great use of those scraps.

My colors are real red, pumpkin pie, chocolate chip and cool caribbean.

Used my prismacolor markers to color the image. I thought the birdie looked like he was lookin at the other birdie. I don’t know! I just like tha layout and overall execution of this. Of course, I used my Sprite Primas. If you dont have ANY of these you are CRAZY! They are awesome! Love them. The brads are by SEI.

So I hope you get to try the challenge. If so please link it here so I can view it and comment.

Try using your ribbon to inspire your colors. Id LOVE to see what you come up with.

Thanks for playing.

Thats how I feel about ALL of you!

And my New! Lizzie Anne Designs set.

So…….I made the mistake of going on www.ribbonsandbowsohmy.com  DONT CLICK IT!

Anyway too much money spent and 2 days later I got some AMAZING ribbon. I loved the colors in the ribbon tab I used on this card, and it inspired my colors here.

This flower is the Jolies Fleur from Lizzie Anne, and the sentiment is from Sketched Sentiments. Oh I just love them!!!! I of course used my Glue pad, and Martha Stewart glitter in black. I doodled the border.

The Fleur is colored with my Prismacolor markers. Lovin those too. Of course added some bling to the center of the flower. Have I told you I love this set yet? Well I’ll say it again! LOL! I love how it can be elegant, and funky! Lots a cool possibilities with this set let me tell ya.

Hope you like it!

The stamps will be available for purchase May 28th. If you need them NOW you can get them from Jacksonbelle’s EBAY store. Supah fast shipping!

Thanks for looking.

WOW you girls sure do LOVE to enable! Thanks for all the cool suggestions. Be on the look out for some of the purchases Ive made because of you.

I learned about lots of things I now need to get! I did get off to a good start when I went to the CKU expo in Manchester on Saturday!

My friend Paulette and I, spent a HEAVENLY 5 hours shopping. This is a photo of what I got! Some of the paper is just stacked cause my table was just too small! LOL!

We had to go check our bags because they were too heavy. Many of the places we shopped at qualified us for FREE goodies cause we spent so much 😀 It was SO FUN!!! We then went to lunch at my FAVORITE place TGIFridays.

SO do you wanna hear what I got?

Twinkling H2o’s-never tried them and thought it would be cool-Ill let you know!

Several pks of Crate paper

SEI was like my FAVORITE! Got cool paper, ribbon, buttons, brads, and IRON Ons! Never tried those before. I have had the Heidi Swap iron for 2 years and never opened it.

I also got some white glue stuff that Paulette said I HAD to get, lots a various papers and ribbon for everywhere.

Some piercing templates, and a cool cutterbee piercer too thingy.

A set of Pink Cactus stamps that I ahve been drooling over for a year!

A couple A Muse images.

Velvet flowers and chipboard from Maya Road.

Cool tins (only 2) and wish I got more! LOL!

Some cool paper tape.

Heidi Swapp ribbon for $1! And a bunch of other “cool” stuff. So check in often as I will be doing more product must haves, and using my new goodies! LOL!

Speaking of goodies……..the Random winner selected was #50 Elaine. Email me your address and color choice of Martha glitter! Here is what she writes.

OK I love when people LOVE things, and you just just feel their excitement. So I want to share my excitement with YOU about a couple of products!

In return I WANT to be enabled! More about that in a minute.

I am in LOVE with the new Glue Pad. OMG! Its AMAZING! I recently discovered the beauty of this pad when browsing my friend Rebecca’s Blog. She did a blurb on it , with some samples. Well you know me. I HAD to have it! LOL! Now I see WHAT all the fuss is about.

Now I love using this pad with my new Lizzie Anne Designs set called Jolies Fleurs. I CANT stop using it! Seriously! It isnt released yet- May 28th! But Im SO IN LOVE – it its insane.

I can tell you that Lindsey (aka Jacksonbelle) is selling them in her EBay store NOW! All the NEW! yet to be released sets. She signed up with them as a wholesaler, to sell them. SO RUN!!!!!! And tell her I sent ya!

Now I know you want to see a million of the delicious samples I made BUT I cant share yet. They are for design team work and are going into Lizzie Anne’s Idea book OR possibly published elsewhere! So you have to wait! But I will share ONE!

Coral LeFleur

Are you drooling on that keyboard? I know I am! LOL!

I stamped the Fleur on white cardstock in versamark, then gold embossed it. I used my Fantastics brush tip (another favorite) and Versamagic ink dew drop pads (and another)to color the flower in. Cut it out, and added a jewel.

The flowers were stamped using the Glue Pad. I then used another FAVORITE product my Martha Stewart cardstock, AND her new Glitter! OMG! The colors are to DIE FOR!

So I stamped the sprinkled my glitter. DONE! Simple, and elegant!

So yes I LOVE the MS cardstock. The quality is great, as is the color selection. I am really in love with all her glitter!! I just cannot put it down.

Another great thing she sells is her Glue Pen (pictured above) OMW! Its really top quality.  Oh I just cant stop gushing. I wish I got paid for this! LOL! Or a commission 😀

SOOOO, Do you love it yet?

NOW- I need you to respond to this thread with a few NEW products you LOVE.

I will randomly pick a winner on Sunday. This winner will receive their choice of glitter from Martha Stewart! Because I love it so much. If you are randomly picked email me your address and color choice and “I” will go pick it up for you.

That is my gift to YOU for enabling ME too.

So get me hungry for retail therapy. Im dying to know what all the RAGE that Im missing out on! If you provide a link that would be double awesome!

Oh and if you have any of these products I gushed over, let me know what YOU think about them too.

Can’t wait to read all about it!

Ok you are probally thinking I haven’t drank enough coffee by my title! LOL! But trust me, read on and you’ll “get it”.

In truth I am almost done my 2nd cup! LOL! I love my coffee. I need my coffee. Enough said.

Anyway-on a few posts ago I mentioned how much I LOVE sentiment stamps, and using them as the main focus of a card. So thats what I did here! As promised.

My Groovy Friend-

I used Grateful Greetings by MFT stamps for the Main focus of this card! My Ribbon by American Crafts was my color focus for my card. I also used their cool plastic petals in the corner and a prima with bling! I highlighted the key words using my markers. I also traced the top sentiment with alternating colors. Another favorite thing of mine to do.  The colors are Night of Navy, Regal Rose, Green Galore, and Whisper White of course! Hope you like the Funk-tified card design! LOL!

That brings me to the enabler alert-

All That Scraps is now selling My Favorite Things Stamps!!!! YEAH!!!! Now you can get your Cuttlebug stuff, Bazzill cardstock, MFT stamps, Palette inks and other cool embellishments (like jeweled brads HELLO!) ALL in ONE place! Seriously go check out the store! I always click on the NEW! Products section so I stay up on all the new goodies!

Christine is supah sweet and ships so fast! I swear- I order on a Monday and by the end of the week its on my doorstep! Most of the times before Thursday! I’m NOT a patient person so this really makes me happy! I have to send myself goodies every week- its a bad addicition! I just LOVE getting mail.

Anyway- Im excited that Kim (owner of MFT stamps) is getting her products in various places. Makes it easier for me to get more from ONE place and save some $$$ on shipping.

BTW if you haven’t checked out Kim’s Design Team lookie here. She wrote our bio’s! Really sweet. I was honored to be asked a few months ago to be on Kim’s team. Now that I see who I’m with I’m hoping I can keep up! Pretty amazing. Kim’s company is going to explode! She’s just an amazing person. LOVE her ideas for her company (obviously).

That brings me to my MAIN point! LOL! I LOVE her sentiment stamps. Especially the one’s she has because they feature and In and Out sentiment. By that I mean a sentiment for the outside, and a verse that coordinates for inside! People usually have a hard time with sentiments for INSIDE the card! Anyway-thats why I’m lovin her sentiments. Plus you can NEVER have enough sentiments. verses and font styles-seriously!

Well now that I’m WAY off track-LOL! On this card I used both the inside/outside sentiments as the CENTER of attention for my card. Thats why I have my title Sent(er) as in sentiment as center focus.

OK maybe this only makes sense to me! LOL!

Now the Challenge part-

Anyway I want YOU to try doing this too. Challenge yourself to use a verse as the MAIN focus of your card like I did! I love to highlight key words too! Makes it fun. If you dont have any, well I just gave you a great place to buy some (wink wink).

If you try it, PLEASE send a link this way so I can see it and comment! Love keepin up with everyone.

I’ve gotten some amazing ideas for product reviews so hope to work on doing more of that really soon.

Thanks for the suggestions and keep them comin!

Here is the card I made for my friend, Pam. I mentioned in another post that her Husband Rodney lost his fight with Lung Cancer on Mother’s Day evening.

His funeral is today. I just pray God giver her strength to get through this time, and anytime she needs it after this. I can only imagine a fraction of the pain she is feeling, and my heart breaks for her. One foot in front of the other, one second at a time. THAT I understand. The numbness creeps in, but then one day slowly leaves.

The card base is vellum cardstock. Very soft look IRL. The butterfly ( Au Naturale from Lizzie Anne) was stamped on vellum cardstock as well, then gold embossed. I colored it with versamagic ink and a bullet sponge pen. Its cut out and on dimensionals. I told you I just CANT do a sympathy card without a butterfly! I don’t know why. I also like sympathy card to be simple and understated.

The patterned paper is by Anna Griffin, layered onto brushed gold.

Bottom of floral layer is punched with Martha Stewart line punch.

It conveys the softness I wanted. And again, to me, a butterfly is a sign of hope, and for happiness and new beginnings. They don’t live long, but are beautiful (even if they are insects). They impact the world even with their short existence. It signifies “untimely” to me as well. They just fly away……in a happy little flutter.

No matter how long a person lives they impact people in the world around them, who love them, and will miss them-forever.

There really isn’t much else to tell. Hope Pam finds all the letters, prayers and warm thoughts comforting.

A woman named Peggy shared a poem with me, that I just thought was beautiful, and hope to do something special with-

In one sense there is no death. The life of a soul on earth lasts beyond his departure   You will always feel that life touching yours, that voice speaking to you, that spirit looking out of other eyes., talking to you in the familiar things he touched, worked with,loved as familiar friends.He lives on in your life  and in thelives of all others that knew him.

                                        –Angelo Petri

So people are always emailing me about what products I like/love and why. Should they buy this, or that. From here or there – and of course WHY? Or I bought this because I saw what you did with it.

SO I figure I would start to do more to help whom-ever by reviewing things here.

I love the fact that people trust my opinion, and personal taste. Now before I begin you need to keep that in mind! Its all about PERSONAL preference. What “I” like you may not (yeah right! LOL!). Seriously! These product opinions are JUST that. I am not compensated for any of this or affiliated with these companies, just want to share my findings for things that I like (or don’t) to help you make informed decisions or just plain ole see HOW it works!

First up-Making Memories Tag maker and rims!

So the tag maker sells at Michaels for $24.95. I saved $10 by using a 40% off coupon. I wanted one of these for like 2 years! Finally on my Mother’s Day shopping adventure I decided to splurge! Couldn’t let that coupon go to waste!

I also got a package of the rims. There are 54 assorted tag rims, and 3 templates inside. It sells for $14.95. Now use a 40% off coupon and thats a pretty cool deal.

The tags I got are silver, pink, and blue way cool! That to me is already a plus. I get assorted metals, shapes AND sizes for $0.27 each! That is BEFORE using a 40% off coupon! 

Now, buy the rims with the coupon, that  would then bringthe cost to only $0.16 each! Now the other cool bonus for me- if you mess up your stamped image on a SU! tag you waste the tag! For this you can simply re-stamp the image BEFORE you make the tag yourself.

The other cool thing-you can use colored cardstock, photos, vellum, patterned paper-whatever YOU decide. Plus as I said before the size and shape variety is far greater!

So the cost for the Stampin Up! metal edge tags-12pk. Two sizes, ONE type of shape and ONE metal per pkg for $4.95-that is $0.41 each tag. Not as good a variety, no choice of paper selection, only 2 types of “paper”, 3 metals and 2 shapes to choose from the entire assortment sold by SU! This doesn’t include shipping, and there is NEVER a 40% off coupon!

Well ,you may now want to know “HOW DOES IT WORK?”

I thought the same thing! I was worried it would be difficult, or too long a process. I was told I could return it if I wasn’t happy!

Here is ALL you do-

        Step 1                                                               Step 2                                                   

Stamp/color your image                       Use templates that come in pkg.          

or just use PP or image of choice         Trace and cut out shape.                        

         Step 3

Pop image into chosen rim.

Put inside tag maker, and gently squeeze handle!

So here you have the steps! SO SIMPLE! Tookjust a minute to do! Plus your image is perfectly centered each time! I’m so lovin this tag maker!  I felt it was well worth every penny! I wish I go one sooner. Now here are two card I did right away! LOL!

Bloom with Delight

Both of the cards were  done using the set Bundles of Bouquets by My Favorite Things Stamps.

This one has ribbon by American Crafts, which inspired my colors. The image was colored with my Prismacolor markers, and blending marker.

Of course used a blue tag for the image rim. Very cool!

I stamped the butterflies, colored then cut. The wings on top are popped forward. They also have a touch of fine shimmery glitter by Martha Stewart. Soft and sweet!

Dragonfly Hello

For this one I used a round pink rim tag! The colors were inspired by more American Crafts ribbon, and their Green House assortment of plastic and paper flowers. The ribbon was layered at the bottom. The button is clear and by Foof FaLa. I liked this card-Jason thought it was awful. Oh well! These are some of my favorite colors. The Dragonfly is stamped twice and the wings are not only glitterfied but popped forward as well!

Thanks for looking! I’d love to hear some feedback on what you think! OR what you want to see next!

Happy Stamping-

 Motherhood for me has been the most rewarding, stressful, scary, revealing,and unshelfish thing I have ever done. WEIRD mix of adjectives huh?

 Its given me some of the weakest, strongest, and happiest moments in my life, and its also given me some of the most horrible. My kids can do the smallest thing and it makes my day. They can also make me want to hand them over to a perfect stranger on some as well! LOL! I am not afraid to say that- YES! My kids can drive me INSANE!

I had SO MUCH fun getting to know you and read about YOUR ideas of a perfect day! We all seem to want most of the same.

People think “If  I say- a day spent alone is ideal people will think I’m a bad mother. ” I wouldn’t! You are a mom 24/7

No time clock to punch in and out of. When you are sick you still go on. When they are sick the world (for you) stops.

As a mother I have done AMAZING things that I didn’t think were ever even possible. From conception (can you believe you GREW another human inside YOUR body) to birth (then pushed it out this space that just shouldn’t be capable of stretching like that) to going head first into the responsibility of raising another life. Its insane!

The unconditional love you have upon fist glance! It never fades.

My Mother’s Day was great! I got up at 9:45. Jason had a perfect hot cup of coffee made. He made me my favorite breakfast-homemade waffles with butter, caramel sauce and whip cream (I dont eat that type often otherwise I would be 500lbs).  I went and stamped for a little while. Then took a 3 hour nap! LOL!

He got me a beautiful card, and a gift certificate for a massage, mani and pedi scheduled for June 2nd!!! YEAH!!! Plus next weekend Im going to a stamp expo in Manchester NH.

The kids were well behaved and all was good.

Now that brings me to a winner.

Since we are all the #1 MOM to our kids I actually just chose #1 for the winner! Tammy B email me your address. I also was touched by her statement as well as many of you!

Here is what Tammy had to share-

 SO TRUE!!!

On that note-Here is a card I made for my husband to give to his mother for Mother’s Day!

Take note-there is a scribble on the front! LOL! That is courtesy of Amber. I could not beileve she scribbled all over it. Mostly inside! Oh well.

This card was done using Green Grass Flourishes set, and Card Greetings. You cannot tell but the flourish was stamped twice on the main layer-once in white, and then again in saffron. The flourish was stamped on glossy white paper in versamark, then brayered with banana ink. I restamped over the shadow using versamagic ink.

I love this card, and thought a Thank You for Mother’s day was so appropriate. I hope she likes it.

Later I will share more of what Ive been up to. I have a product review Im doing!! Don’t miss that! Unless you don’t want to buy anything! LOL!

PLUS tomorrow is the Dirty Dozen gallery reveal! LOTS of amazing stuff in this month, plus 2 AMAZING new designers are getting added. That will also show you why I’ve been busy. I have some stamping goodies coming HOPEFULLY today! Can’t wait.

See you later, and thanks for checking in!