The Perfect Tango!

I don't know what made me pick these colors. Probably all the brainwashing everyone is doing with all the halloween designs. Orange and Purple seem to be the faves. I'm not big on halloween...don't get me wrong I like it, I just don't love it. I love to get my kiddos dressed up but that's it. I'm not big on decorations and all the candy just becomes a problem after the trick or treating. The kids seem to think they are entitled to it since it was given to them and it's war until it's finally gone.
I do really like this color combo though. Tangerine Tango always surprises me. I'm sure it's just not a color I'll like but everytime I've used it I really like it. I paired it with Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant and Close to Cocoa. Great fall colors don't you think??? I made this for Taylor's cupcake challenge and this is one of the first's that I have made for her's that I feel I did justice with. I'm pleased with the results.
I finally broke into my Hodgepodge Hardware and really like it. I have to apologize about the little purple flowers. I have had these for years and never used them, therefore have no idea where they came from or who makes them. I have a whole bucket full of different colors and they worked perfect with this stamp set. The tangerine flower in the corner was a last minute addition. It felt empty so I decided to stamp the flower to fill it. I'm glad I did!!!
Thanks for stopping by!!!

Recipe:

Stamps: Eastern Blooms, Pocket Silouhettes

Ink: Tangerine Tango, Black

Paper: Tangerine Tango, Perfect Plum, Whisper White, Close to Cocoa DP

Accesories: Hodgepodge Hardware, Elegant Eggplant Grosgrain Ribbon, Making Memories Orange Brad, Slit Punch, Sandpaper, Felt Flowers

Therapeutic Distressing

Maybe it was the kids not listening all day, or the fact that I cleaned all last week to have a disaster of a house..AGAIN, or maybe it was just plain PMS!! I'm not sure. But this card was my therapy!! I have never distressed a card so much but man it felt good and it is my favoritist (word???) card I've made in a long time.
I love all things old and worn. My dad hates when I buy furniture because it's always old, chippy and I LOVE IT!! "Why do you buy that junk?" is always his question. I've come to the conclusion it's because I am a perfectionist that I like things imperfect. Make sense??? Well let me explain. Like with this card. I didn't have to worry about the cuts being exactly straight or even the stitching, I just took the scissors and started distressing. Just like my furniture. My favorite piece is an old hutch I bought on ebay that is chipped everywhere (very shabby chic). My daughter was coloring on it on day and my husband freaked because he knows it's my baby. I told him it was okay, wiped off what I could and so what about the rest. He looked at me like I was crazy. It's SUPPOSE to look worn. Now when this happens on my brand new couches my head spins. I love distressed things because they don't STRESS me out!!! Simple huh!?!?I used my new Gina K set again for this card. And again with the Kraft, I'm moving on, I promise!! I inked the flower with my Cameo Coral Marker and highlighted the center and tips with my Chocolate Chip marker. The center was sponged with Creamy Caramel ink.
This card started out as the sketch challenge for splitcoast but maybe unrecognizable now. The bones are there but I got a little carried away. The colors were inspired by the Color Throwdown and I really love them. I would have never put Old Olive and Certainly Celery together. Fabulous Tammy!!
Thanks for stopping by!

Recipe:

Stamps: Flowers for Daisy (Gina K), Short and Sweet

Paper: Old Olive, Certainly Celery, Cameo Coral, Very Vanilla, Kraft, My Minds Eye

Ink: Cameo Coral, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel

Accesories: Paper Piercer, Brads, Marvy Giga Scallop Circle Punch, CM Cutting System

My Newest Fave!

I can't get enough whisper white craft ink!!! I bought this when I joined SU and it's sat pretty much untouched. I noticed a card in the SU catalog (pg. 53) that was inked along the edges with it and decided to try it. LOVE IT!!! It's such a soft look on the edges and also gives the illusion of being sanded. I especially love it on Kraft paper. These are my first cards with Kraft and I don't know what took me so long to order it. I decided to show you two cards today since they are really pretty similar. The first one was for Splitcoast's color challenge. I used my blog candy win from Carolina. I inked the daisy's in white and the edges too. I decided to just add a black and pink prima for the color. I threaded the gingham ribbon through the jumbo eyelet and stamped my sentiment. The only problem with the craft ink is it takes forever to dry. I made two other cards while this sat. The sentiment is from the same Gina K set Flowers for Daisy
The second card is my 3x6 card for Courtney's Challenge. I have never made a card this size, it was fun. The problem is I didn't know what size envelope to mail it in so I attached it to a 4x6 piece of Very Vanilla cardstock to umph it up a bit. (sorry I forgot to take a pic) You can see it's pretty much the same as the last except I used Pink Pirouette. I was going to wrap the ribbon around the card and by accident came up with this. I thought it was perfect since this set was designed by Asela Hopkins for here friend Daisy battling cancer. See the pink ribbon looks like the bows everyone wears. Genius I know (but by accident)..LOL!! Don't forget to go check out this set at Gina K. A portion of the sales will be donated to the American Cancer Society.
Thanks for stopping by!

Recipe:
Stamps: Flowers For Daisy(GinaK)
Paper: Kraft
Ink: Whisper White, Black
Accesories: Primas, Jumbo Eyelet, Black Gingham Ribbon

Recipe:
Stamps: Flowers For Daisy (GinaK)
Paper: Kraft, Black, Whisper White
Ink: Whisper White, Black, Pink Pirouette
Accesories: Pretty In Pink Ribbon, Staples

Fried Zucchini

I thought I would share what we are having with our dinner tonight. Anyone who has ever grown zucchini knows eventually you have WAY to much. This is my favorite way to eat it!!I cut them into about inch think slices and then batter em and fry em!!! So bad for you and SO GOOD!!! The batter is just 1 cup flour, one egg and water until it's the consistency of pancake batter. Salt and pepper them when you cook em. Double or triple depending on how much zucchini you have. I like lots of batter so I usually double mine for one zucchini.
This is what I'm going to miss about summer, that and fresh tomatoes!! YUMMY

Inspired By Nature {literally}

I made this card for 2 Sketches 4 You. Laura made the sketch this week and it was a great one. I had to move the sentiment on my card simply because I hated to cover up the flowers and the space on the right seemed a little bare. I had a fun time with the staples on this card. I was only going to staple the lace then decided the flower panel needed one too. Then for good measure added on to the sentiment..LOL!! It's kind of hard to see but I used the same Sanded background stamp over the flowers too after I stamped the back. I love how it filled up the panel but is still soft.For the second card I used the same stamp set only I added some color this time. This card is for Jen's Sketch For You To Try. I had to alter this layout a tiny bit too. I omited the panel that was suppose to go over the flowers and my oval is a little smaller and I tucked it underneath the flowers instead of overlapping it. I was determined to use this set and again I just couldn't cover up the flowers.
The color choices were inspired by OCC. Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Ruby Red and Chocolate Chip. I added the So Saffron to match my flower. I added the ink to the flowers with my sponge daubers and LOVE the way they look. My black eyed susans are so pretty right now. I was looking at them while the kids and I were outside the other day and there is a darker bit of color right underneath the brown center. I tried to mimic this on my card by adding some Pumpkin Pie with my markers underneath the brown. It's subtle but it's there!! After I drew the color on I went back over it a little with the daubers in Close to Cocoa and So Saffron to blend it in so it wasn't just a harsh line. Silouhettes are so hot right now and this one is definately my favorite that Stampin Up has.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Recipe:
Stamps: Inspired by Nature, Lots of Thoughts, Sanded
Paper: So Saffron, Really Rust, My Minds Eye, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accesories: Staples, Chocolate Chip Ribbon, Lace, Oval Punch, CM Cutting System

Recipe:
Stamps: Inspired by Nature, Best Yet, Dreams Du Jour
Paper: So Saffron, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Ink, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Close to Cocoa, Passion Pink
Accesories: Oval Punch, CM Cutting System

Verve Challenge X 2

Those of you who have read my blog long know I'm a hopeless sketch challenge addict. I can't get enough!!! Julee from Verve has awesome sketches and I have two cards using her layouts today. The first is for the sketch she made for the Meet the Verve Diva's Challenge. We finally got to pick the brain of the master herself!! My first question was how she shades using Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa and Chocolate Chip. I bought Creamy Caramel just to try this technique. If you love the effect as much as I do the details can all be found on {this thread}. I had to give it a whirl and think I did pretty well. The directions were really detailed. I loved her sample card with the silohetted image and decided to do one too. I kept this card pretty simple because I wanted the shading to take center stage. The next card is the newest Mojo sketch. I had the idea for this card right away and it came out just like I planned. I'm really digging silohette's right now, can you tell??? They are so quick and easy to stamp. These flowers come from Verve's Serenity set. The ribbon is a gift that came with my newest Verve stamps. Julee sent this satin ribbon and some chocolate ribbon too. It also came with a little single Thank You stamp. Verve is the best. Check them out {HERE}, you'll love em!! I really like these colors together. I'm a shabby sort of girl and these colors are perfect for that.

Thanks for stopping by!!
Recipe: Stamps:Upsy Daisy, Feeling Groovy (Verve) Paper: Pretty In Pink, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Making Memories Noteworthy Ink: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel Accesories: Paper Piercer, Scallop Punch, Circle Punches

Recipe: Stamps: Serenity (Verve), Short and Sweet Paper: My Minds Eye, So Saffron, Sage Shadow, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla Ink: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa Accesories: Satin Ribbon, Word Window Punch, Oval Punch, Paper Piercer, Marvy Giga Scallop Circle Punch, CM Cutting System

I {heart} The New In Colors!!!

I reach for the new In Colors A LOT!!!!! Well at least Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, and Pink Pirouette.
This first card is for the SCS Sketch Challenge. I loved this layout immediately and had a fun time making this card. I stamped the image on watercolor paper and used my aquapainted and markers to color it. I layered my circles and inked all the edges in Close to Cocoa. The sentiment is from my oh so handy set Best Yet which is a hostess only set. I LOVE IT!!! I find I use these sentiments all the time!
I'm so happy with the way this card came out. I love the adorable little outfits Libby has for us each week and I really try not to stray to far from them. I think I nailed this one. You have to take a peek at the dress {HERE}!!!! I started with the Pink Pirouette but I knew I had to add vellum to copy the cute overlay of the dress. I used my new (FREE) set from Verve. I won it during the release party on splitcoast. There is a background stamp underneath the vellum that is sort of hard to see in the card. I stamped it in Pink Pirouette ink to make it really soft. I scored the vellum horizontally to mimic the pleats in the dress. The embossed stamp was almost a perfect match to the details on the bottom of the dress. I knew I wanted to give this to someone for a baby girl shower so I used yet another sentiment from Best Yet.
Thanks for stopping by!!

Recipe:
Stamps: A Flower For All Seasons, Best Yet
Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, My Minds Eye, Watercolor Paper
Ink: Black, Stazon On Black, Close To Cocoa
Accesories: Paper Piercer, Circle Scallop Punch SU, Marvy Giga Scallop Punch

Recipe:
Stamps: Grateful Elegance (Verve), Best Yet
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Vellum
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Versamark
Accesories: White EP, Heat Tool, Marvy Giga Square Scallop Punch, Pink Brads, Scoring Blade

A New Challenge

I just found a new challenge that was immediately added to my faves list. Courtney of Created by Courtney has started a challenge with a few friends and of course I have to play along. The challenge will be on Tuesday and I almost forgot I wanted to submit my card for this week. It's a sketch challenge and I loved this one. It came together really quickly too. I finally inked my Organic Grace set which is a hostess level 1 set. I stamped the flower image in Riding Hood Red and added a sentiment from Upsy Daisy. I dug through my scraps and managed to get YoYo Yellow on a card!!!! I stitched on this card too but it's kind of hard to see in the photo. All the edges were inked in close to cocoa except the decorative paper. I used Chocolate Chip ink on it because the close to cocoa wasn't showing up real well. Hope you like it and I can't wait for more Courtney!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Recipe: Stamps: Organic Grace, Upsy Daisy Paper: Riding Hood Red, YoYo Yellow, Kiwi Kiss, Very Vanilla, Daisy D Ink: Riding Hood Red, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip Accesories: Sewing Machine, Brads

Happy Mail and Challenge Cards

I got some super cool mail today!!! I won Carolina's blog candy last week and my goodies came today. Check it out!I got the Flowers For Daisy set made by Asela Hopkins for Gina K. I love Gina K stamps and have wanted to get it since it's release. I can't wait to get it inky. And check out the super cute card she sent me too!!! Thanks Carolina :)

I have been turning out cards like crazy lately. I'm in a good groove and they are all coming together pretty quickly. I have a lot of challenges I love lately and am slowly getting behind on posting them before deadlines so I'll probably be posting a couple each day to try and catch up.
This card is for the Color Throwdown Challenge. Again these colors took me way out of my comfort zone. I thought Apricot Appeal was going to be the scary color until I pulled out a piece of Ballet Blue paper. WOW is that bright!! Surprisingly I like the way they ended up coming together in the end. I tried stamping the flower a few different times in lots of different colors and black seemed to fit the best. The colors were so bold I hated to make the stamped image to distracting. My favorite part for sure is the pierced trail that leads your eye to the sentiment.
I really love this stamp set however no matter what I try the petals stamp patchy. I have sanded the rubber a few times to try to get it to ink evenly with no luck. Any ideas????

I made this card for Kristina Werner's Color Challenge. I had yet to get my Pocket Silohette's set inky and decided to use it for this card after taking a peek at {THIS CARD} by Cindy at The Creative Closet. I switched my color choice and stamp set and a few other details. I thought this card (despite the pinks and reds) ended up a little masculine. I might save it for my hubby for our anniversary!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Recipe:

Stamps: Bella Blossom

Paper: Ballet Blue, Bashful Blue, Apricot Appeal

Ink: Black

Accesories: Paper Piercer, Oval Punch

Recipe:

Stamps: Pocket Silohettes, Happy Everything

Paper: SU Bella Rose, Basic Black, Basic Grey, Whisper White

Ink: Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Black

Accesories: Riding Hood Red Tafeta Ribbon, Word Window Punch, Brad

2 Sketches 4 You Two-fer

As soon as I saw this weeks sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You I knew I had to play!! I love the scallops and the layout looked like so much fun. I decided to use the scallop paper I have been hoarding for awhile. I love the design. I added the holes in each scallop with my Crop-A-Dile. I have to admit though this card to forever to come together. I think I tried about four different stamp set until I finally decided to got with this one. I stamped the dreams image about 6 different times though using different papers and inks. I definately had a shabby looking card in mind and so I was a little picky with the way it looked. I glad I didn't give up though because I really love the way it turned out. The colors are for this weeks SCS Color Challenge. I love close to cocoa so any color combo with this color immediately pulls on my heart strings. This card was a bonus sketch listed and of course I had to try it too. This card took all of fifteen minutes to make. Remember how I said I've been trying to use up my scraps?? Well these flowers were already inked and cut out ( I tried them on the last card) and the rest is scraps that were laying on my desk. Even the sentiment was prestamped from another project.
Thanks for stopping by!!

Recipe:
Stamps: Dreams Du Jour
Paper: Making Memories Noteworthy, Close to Cocoa, Ruby Red, Blush Blossom
Ink: Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red
Accesories: Brads, Paper Piercer, Crop-A-Dile

Recipe:
Stamps: Thankful Blossoms (Verve), Bella Blossom
Paper: Bashful Blue, Blush Blossom, SU Always, Wild Wasabi DP
Ink: Pink Passion, Chocolate Chip

Watercoloring Take 1

I love these colors together and they sort of happened by accident. I have REALLY been trying to use up my scraps. These colors were all laying in a scrap pile together and I thought..okay, lets go with that. Pacific Point is still my least favorite of all the In Colors but when you pair it right it's quite stunning. I made this card for Sketches {by tamara}. She is getting ready to announce a new design team and I would love to be on it. I love sketch challenges and what a better excuse (to give my hubby) then it's design team work dear!!! No he's really great about letting me sneak to my craft room without an excuse!! Love ya, babe!!

I combined this sketch with Stamp Something's newest challenge to make anything birthday. I was going to post the treat pouches I made for my son's birthday but I've been really pressed for time so they came out pretty generic. I decided to go with a card instead.

This was my first attempt at watercoloring and I think I did pretty good. I've been wanting to try it for awhile but everytime I placed and SU order I forgot to get watercolor paper. I could have bought some another place but do you think I would remember that either??? I blame it all on mommy brain!!!

Recipe:
Stamps: A Flower For All Seasons, Happy Everything
Paper: Bashful Blue, Pacific Point, Real Red, Watercolor Paper
Ink: Black Stazon, Pacific Point, Real Red, Real Rust, Old Olive, Summer Sun, Pumpkin Pie
Accesories: Scallop Circle Punches, Paper Piercer, Aquapainter

Double Chocolatey Chip

I made a double challenge card without even knowing I was making a double challenge card! WHAT?!?! Did I confuse you?? I made a super cute cupcake card for Julee's Mojo Monday sketch and decided what better than pink cupcakes on Close to Cocoa paper (my new favorite color). Well blog surfing this morning I came across the newest Verve challenge and I'm suddenly CRAVING Starbucks. Oh, a Double Choclately Chip Frap, YUM!!! Anyway, the challenge is to let the picture and colors inspire you. Already done!!!

Look how yummy these cupcakes look. I added Crystal Effects to the cherries, I love the look it gives them.

Well that's it. I'm off to make my self an iced coffee. To bad I don't have any whip. These help curb my intense craving when I can't get to Starbucks. And don't miss out on these Verve challenges. There are prizes for both!!! (Gotta love FREE stamps!!)

Recipe:
Stamps: Sweets Stamp Set (Kat Stamps), Grateful Elegance (Verve)
Paper: Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Rose Red, Pink Pirouette, Pretty In Pink, Blush Blossom, Always DP
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Black, Copics
Accesories: Crystal Effects, Circle Punches

It's a Stretch

I love this stamp set. I almost didn't get it even though I was immediately drawn to it when I first skipped through the new catalog. It seemed a little pricey for only four stamps and I wasn't sure if I REALLY needed them. Well, these stamps are on the 15% off special so the price dilema was solved and OF COURSE I really needed them. So here they are. I stamped this adorable flower in the vase three times using my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig to line them up. I like the idea of tying the tag to one of the vases I just wish I would have let it hang a little more. I pierced holes through the paper and tied it too the flower.

I decided to start listing a recipe at the end of my post from now on. I get tired of dragging out all the details of how I made my card and this way you can do a quick glance if you don't want to here my go on and on :)

Oh yeah, I used a Splitcoast Challenge layout for this card.

Recipe:
Stamps: It's A Stretch, Eastern Blooms
Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Whisper White
Ink: Black
Markers: Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive
Accesories: Hemp Twine, Word Window Punch, Stamp-A-Ma-Jig

Taken with Pink

I needed a quick and easy card to make for my workshop last weekend and was having a major brain fart. I tend to over think my cards and they get to complicated. I was blog surfing last Friday before I went to my craft room to make my demo cards and came across {THIS CARD} on Joanne's blog. It was just what I needed. I decided to case it but changed the colors, sentiment and the ribbon. I love the way this came out. I used the new Eastern Blooms set from the new catalog. I loved this set when I saw it on all the previews from convention goers. This branch is so soft and pretty. Makes me think pink so pink it is. I used Taken With Teal, Pink Pirouette and Chocolate Chip. Don't these colors rock together???? I stamped the flowers in Pink Pirouette ink and the sentiment (from hostess set Best Yet) in Close To Cocoa. The decorative paper is from SU's new paper set Always. This is one of my favorite sets that I almost didn't buy and I love the paper that matches it. The ribbon is the new Chocolate Chip 1/4 grosgrain. I LOVE THIS RIBBON!! I used Chocolate Chip all the time and this is my favorite size ribbon. I am currently offering a ribbon share with this size ribbon. More details on {THIS POST} Thanks for stopping by

Wild Pomegranite

This card is another double challenge card. I love doing them that way. I wish I had time to make each on there own but lets get real, life, and kids don't always allow that. This card if for Sketches by Tamara and last weeks Color Throwdown Challenge. I didn't think I was going to be able to play because I didn't have any of the last catalogs In Colors. Then digging through my stash I came across these Wild Wasabi cards that were a special and a piece of pomegranite paper (no idea why I had it???) Well needless to say with only one of each color my possibilities were a little limited. I'm not crazy in love with this card, it's just okay. I put the pomegranite dp on the inside of the card. These cards were on special because SU miscalculated the score lines so it isn't a full length card. I couldn't fit four squares across the top so I went with three. The stamps are from Dreams Du Jour and stamped in So Saffron on the same color paper. I backed them with Chocolate Chip. The sentiment is Chocolate Chip on Saffron, Chocolate Chip and another little piece of Pomegranite. I didn't have any Saffron ribbon, which shocked me, so I went with a yellow that was as close as I could find. I bought all the 1/4 grosgrain ribbon and all the tafeta ribbon and NO saffron. Don't forget about my ribbon share with both of these ribbons. You can check out all the details on {this post}.
Thanks for stopping by!!

Live Like You Mean It

Isn't that a great sentiment. I just love it and this set. I've been on a simple card kick lately. Maybe because time seems so precious with all the running around I've been doing. I made this card for a workshop I had over the weekend. My inspiration was from last weeks Courtney's Closet Challenge and the colors are from the Color Throwdown Challenge. They happened to go together really well. The bashful blue wasn't in the adorable outfit so I used it as the card base so you didn't see to much of it. The colors are Soft Sky (Bashful Blue), Barely Banana (I was out so I used So Saffron), Pumpkin Pie, Ruby Red and Certainly Celery. I used another hostess set called Live Like You Mean It. I inked the flowers with my markers in Ruby Red and Certainly Celery and then did the outlines in Real Red and Certainly Celery. The butterfly is from Dreams Du Jour and is stamped in pumpkin pie, cut out and popped up one dimensionals. I stamped the sentiment in Close to Cocoa ink and pierced the top two corners, they seemed bare without it. I inked the edges on the main panel in Close to Cocoa too. I love the way this ink looks on So Saffron. I'm really having a blast with these new stamps and simple layers. I'll have more to come this week.
Thanks for looking!!

Cupcake Circles

I love a layout that lets me use my teeny, tiny cupcake from Stampin Up's Short and Sweet Set. This set is one of my faves because of all the great sentiments but I find I use the little images quite a bit too. This sketch is from Taylor and she used this same cupcake on her layout. I choose the decorative paper from Daisy D and then matched my cardstock choices to is. I decided on Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze and Very Vanilla. The red circle is 1 3/8, blue is 1 1/4 and the vanilla circle is 1 inch. I colored the cupcakes with my copics and inked all the edges in Close to Cocoa. The sentiment is from my second favorite sentiment set. Recognize it??? It a new release and is available as a hostess level one set. I LOVE THIS SET!!! The sentiments are all really sweet and the fonts are really cool too. I stamped the sentiment on the decorative paper. I punched a scallop for the sentiment and pierced around it. I wanted to use my new Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon but when the circle's were spaced right you couldn't really see it. I bumped the two middle row outside circles in underneath the sentiment that is mounted on foam tape and tied a bow on each side. I think it turned out pretty cute. I really like this ribbon and it is available in the ribbon share I have going on. You can check out all the details {HERE}!My kids start school on Tuesday so stamping should be able to resume to a somewhat normal schedule. It is so time for them to go back. They have been at each other like crazy lately. Screaming, Hitting, Biting, Fighting all with me as the referee. MOM NEEDS A BREAK!!!!
Thanks for stopping by!