Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge

Good Morning Stampers! It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch from Karen at The Sweetest Thing. Karen comes up with some really fun sketches that are just the thing to get your creative mojo going! I really wanted to crack open my never been touched Rockabilly DSP and what set goes better with the edgy crowns and skulls than Just Jawing? I just love how it turned out but what else would have I gotten when using the new Rockabilly Specialty Designer Paper! This paper is just fabulous! Thick, shiny and super yummy! I especially love the Cherries!

I started out with a Whisper White base, added the Rockabilly papers, used my Scallop Edge Punch on some Basic Gray cardstock, and added it to a wheeled Whisper White panel. I stamped the skull on WW cut it out, added some Dazzling Diamonds to it's eyes and added a Ridinghood Red bow made shiny with Crystal Effects. The final touch was the "You Rock!" sentiment stamped in black and popped up with mini glue dots. This card is screaming teenage girl to me which is perfect since I have one of those!
Ingredients:
Stamps: Just Jawing Paper: Rockabilly Specialty DSP, WW, Basic Gray Ink: Basic Black, Ridinghood Red Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds, 2-Way Glue Pen, Dimensionals, Crystal Effects, Mini Glue Dots, Scary Skulls Wheel, White Gel Pen
I hope you have a super day! Thanks for stopping by!
Hugs,
Elizabeth

Mojo Monday Sketch on a Tuesday ;)

Hi there Stampers! So glad you stopped by!
Thank you to the ladies who have bought some of my retired stamp sets. I updated the list so if you haven't checked it out click on the link on the right side of my blog under Current SU Catalogs called "My Retired Stamp Sets For Sale".

Is it just me or does time fly by?!? Here it is again another week has gone by and another Mojo Monday Sketch to try.

I needed to make a thinking of you card for my step-brother and his wife who have a dog who was hit by a car last year. Boudreaux, their dog, was injured pretty severely and has gone through surgeries and been on medication and pain killers ever since. His main problem has been one of his legs which he does not use at all anymore and causes him much pain. The vet suggested they remove the leg to help give him some relief. His surgery was yesterday and I haven't heard yet how it went but I just wanted them to know that we were thinking of them.

I started with a Whisper White base, added some Manchester DSP matted in Sahara Sand, some brads and the doggie from All in the Family in a Baja Breeze scallop from the Scallop Circles #2 Sizzix Bigz Die and there you have it!

Ingredients:
Stamps: All in the Family, Trendy Trees (sentiment) Paper: Manchester DSP, WW, Baja Breeze, Sahara Sand Ink: Basic Black, Creamy Caramel SU Marker Accessories: Brads, Mat Pack and Paper Piercer (to evenly space the brads-though it looks off in the pic)Dimensionals, Scallop Circles #2 Sizzix Bigz Die

Hope you have a great day and that you stop by again tomorrow!
Hugs,
Elizabeth

Sale-A-Bration Card

Good Morning Stampers!
Today's card is a blatant CASE (Copy and Share Everything) of this card I found on Splitcoast by hudsonhannah. I think it is a sweet and soft card perfect for a female friend for their birthday! The ribbon and DSP are both from the Sale-A-Bration catalog and can be earned for FREE! I am definitely using it at my next workshop!
Ingredients:
Stamps: Flight of the Butterfly, Wow Flowers (sentiment) Paper: Delicate Dots DSP, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Sahara Sand, Bashful Blue, WW Ink: Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Sahara Sand, Bashful Blue Accessories: So Saffron Ribbon, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Dimensionals, Silver Brad, 1/16" hole punch
Thanks for stopping in!
Hugs,
Elizabeth

Taylored Expression Cupcake Challenge

Good Morning Stampers! How's your day going so far?
Yesterday I got quite a bit of time to myself in my stamp room so I prepped for upcoming workshops and did the Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge for the week. I was well into stamping my cupcakes onto some scrap whisper white cardstock when I realized that most of the ladies participating in this challenge were making "inchies" or 1"x1" squares. I punched mine out with my 1 1/4" square punch so I didn't have room to mat each cupcake square. Oh well, I still like what I ended up with. :)
I started with a Close to Cocoa card base, added a Happy Birthday Cuttlebugged piece of So Saffron and then added my cupcakes. I used the Darling Dots Hostess stamp set and my SU markers in So Saffron, Bashful Blue, and Rose Red with Real Red and Old Olive cherries. The finishing touch was a little Crystal Effects on the cherries for a little shine!
Ingredients:
Stamps: Darling Dots, Time to Party (sentiment) Paper: Close to Cocoa, So Saffron, WW, Creamy Caramel, Rose Red Ink: SU markers Accessories: 1 1/4" Square Punch, Word Window Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Designer Label Punch, Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, Happy Birthday Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Crystal Effects

Retired Stamp Sets For Sale!

Hi again Stampers! Hope your Saturday is going well! I've been straightening up in my office and need to clear out some space! So I am going to list these retired stamp sets here and put a link on the side of my blog under Current SU Catalogs. PLEASE HELP ME FIND A HOME FOR THESE NEGLECTED STAMP SETS!!! Please be sure to email me to make sure the set you want is still available. I will try to update the list daily. All sets are mounted and gently used- some have mild staining on the wood block that in no way effects the stamped image. I will mail the sets out Priority Mail- the first set is $4.95 for postage any 2 or more will be $10.35 up to $13.95 (depending on which size box I will need) in the flat rate Priority Mail box. I will pay for the Delivery Confirmation. If you are local to me, we can arrange a time for you to pick up and save on the shipping costs.

Christmas Wooshes? $10 SOLD
Wishing You Cheer $6.00 SOLD

Window Dressing Hostess Set $16.00 SOLD

Warm Words $10.00 SOLD


Simple Wishes $5.00

Thoroughly Thankful $10.00

So Much $10.00("thanks" is the stamp on the side)


Sassy Suzie $10.00 SOLD


Pun Fun $10.00 SOLD


Polka Dots and Paisley $10 SOLD


In the Spotlight Hostess Set $16


Flora and Fauna $10.00


Doodle That $6.00 SOLD


Birthday Whimsy $10.00


In Color Classic Ink Pads Groovy Guava, Soft Sky, Wild Wasabi, River Rock $3.00 each or all 4 for $10.00 gently used and still very wet like new SOLD


These poor, poor stamp sets and inks just need a home and someone to love them. ;)

Thanks for looking!
Hugs,
Elizabeth

Top Note Purse

Good morning stampers! Happy Weekend!
I made this adorable top note purse with a scallop circle top yesterday after seeing Becky's at Inking Idaho. Hers is just so dang cute with those big polka dots. She gives you step by step instructions on how to make one. Try it-I'd love to see how it turns out! I made this purse for a close friend who watched my kids over the weekend while my husband and I went out for our 9 year Anniversary. She loves purses and she and I have both been crazy for the cherry papers! I made my purse using the retired Summer Picnic DSP and wrapped a scrap around a cherry chapstick to put inside. I hope she likes it!
Ingredients:
Stamps: Tart & Tangy Paper: Summer Picnic DSP (retired) Real Red, WW Ink: SU MarkersAccessories: Real red Striped Ribbon, Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Red Gingham Ribbon, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8 Circle Punch, Top Note Die, Scallop Circle Die, Sticky Strip, White Gel Pen
Thanks for stopping by!
Hugs,
Elizabeth

Furry Friends Friday

Good Morning Stampers! Happy Friday! Welcome to another Furry Friends Friday post.
Today I am going to introduce you to Baby. We got Baby about 6 years ago (maybe more?) from a friend of a friend who couldn't keep her anymore and was having a hard time finding a new home for her. Being that we are BIG SUCKERS in that way we took her in with the intention of finding her a permanent home. Well here we are years later and she is still with us. She is a real love and definitely a BABY! She loves any kind of attention-even the not-so-gentle kind that our kids have bestowed upon her when they were littler and didn't know better. She's a bit of a chicken when it comes to thunder (thank goodness that doesn't happen often here in So. Cal)and fireworks. We usually have to sedate her for the 4th of July and New Years, especially if we aren't home. She has destroyed our gate a few times during firework filled nights!
Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a great day!
Hugs,
Elizabeth

Color Challenge

Good Morning Stampers! Thanks for stopping by!

Today's I made a card for this week's color challenge over at Kristina Werner's blog. The colors were fairly easy to work with and I still had my Level 3 Hostess set Goody Goody Gumdrops out. The ice cream image is super cute paired with the mini cherry. Since we couldn't use red, I thought a chocolate covered pink one would suffice! ;)

Ingredients:
Stamps: Goody Goody Gumdrops Paper: Candy Lane DSP, WW, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa Ink: Pink Pirouette, Basic Black, Chocolate Chip SU Marker Accessories: Button Bouquet, Paper Piercer and Mat Pack, Large Oval Punch, Designer Label Punch, Scallop Square Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Blender Pen, Dimensionals

Hope you have a terrific day!
Hugs,
Elizabeth

Party Hearty

Godd Morning Stampers! How are you doing? Thanks for stopping by.
Today's card is a birthday card I used for a workshop last month. I cased it from here. I really liked it when I first saw it-I think it's the color combo that draws me to it.
Sorry for the short post today. It's my anniversary and my hubby is home-would be great if I didn't have to take my youngest in for x-rays. We think she might have either sprained or broken her wrist! Agh!

Ingredients:
Stamps: Party Hearty Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Not Quite Navy, WW Ink:Not Quite Navy, Real Red, SU Markers Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, Ticket Corner Punch, Dimensionals, Swiss Dots Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Ridinghood Red Striped Ribbon
Have a super day! See you tomorrow!
Elizabeth

Mojo Monday Sketch

Good Morning Stampers! Thanks for taking time out of your day to visit! So I have become a total sucker for sketches as of late and guess what?!?! I think I have found a sketch for almost every day of the week! Nothing makes me happier (other than white chocolate raspberry truffle cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory)than playing along with a sketch challenge. This week at the Mojo Monday blog there's a contest for free product from a Non-SU company, Verve Stamps. I don't ever buy stamps from other companies but FREE-that I can do without guilt! ;) So play along and see if you win!

I started my card out with a Kiwi Kiss base and added a matte of Chocolate Chip to my Candy Lane DSP pieces. My main image is from the Branch Out set (LOVE IT!)stamped in Close to Cocoa, Old Olive and Kiwi Kiss and sponged with Kiwi Kiss and Creamy Caramel. I added the butterflies and bird images in Ridinghood Red and the ribbon is Old Olive Grosgrain from SU (yes, I do own SU ribbon too!). The bottom of my card is paper pierced using my mat pack and my paper piercer.
Ingredients:
Stamps: Branch Out, Goody Goody Gumdrops (sentiment) Paper: Chocolate Chip, Candy Lane DSP, Kiwi Kiss, Close to Cocoa Ink: Close to Cocoa, Kiwi Kiss, Old Olive, Basic Black, Ridinghood Red, Creamy Caramel Accessories: Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon, Word Window Punch, Mini Glue Dots, Mat Pack, Paper Piercer
Hope you enjoyed my card and that you try out this sketch! I'd love to see what you come up with.
Hugs,
Elizabeth

Sweet Sunday Sketch

Hi there Stampers! I've been on a roll posting later in the day, haven't I?
Today's card is my submission for Karen's awesome Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge. My cards are usually the standard A2 size so it was fun to try a different size card for a change. My card dimensions are 4 3/4" x 4 3/4" so it fits perfectly in a CD envelope/sleeve. I started with a Kiwi Kiss base and used some of my Candy Lane DSP. The main image is the owl from the Goody Goody Gumdrops Hostess stamp set colored in with SU markers. I like how it turned out, how about you?
Ingredients:
Stamps: Goody Goody Gumdrops Paper: Candy Lane DSP, Kiwi Kiss, WW Ink: Su Markers, Basic Black Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Word Window Punch, Dimensionals
Thanks for stopping by-hope you are having a terrific day!
Hugs,
Elizabeth

Occasions Mini Sneak Peek and Pre-Order

Hi there Stampers! How's your weekend going? Mine has been terrific! I've got some exciting annoucements from Stampin' Up!
As most of you know, Stampin' Up carries their big Idea Book and Catalog that changes twice a year and then supplements with their mini catalogs that are available for a short time only. We have an upcoming mini catalog called the Occasions Mini that will have some adorable Easter and Spring themed stamps sets, rub ons, ribbon, and a new die cut match box! As demonstrators we always have a pre-order period where we can buy just one of each product offering in advance so we can prepare for our upcoming stamping events. Well Stampin' Up has announced that they will be allowing our customers pre-order a select few stamp sets so they can get a head start on their Easter and Spring projects too! How exciting is that?!?! So here are the details:



Occasions Mini Catalog Information


The Occasions Mini Catalog preorder will run March 1-31. Also beginning March 1, your customers will have the opportunity to buy a few select sneak peek products from the Occasions Mini Catalog.

Item Description Retail Price
113196 An Egg-cellent Easter $21.95
113262 Wagon Full of Fun $34.95
113822 Eight Great Greetings $27.95
115421 Ocho saludos geniales (Spanish Eight Great Greetings) $27.95
114643 Huit souhaits sympas (French Eight Great Greetings) $27.95
113833 Egg Hunt Stampin' Around wheel $6.50


These items--including an Easter stamp set and two all-occasion stamp sets with Easter images--will give your customers the opportunity to plan for their Easter crafting. In addition, you might notice that English, Spanish, and French sets are listed in the above table; for the first time ever, you and your customers can buy all three language stamp sets: English, Spanish, and French!

The link to the Occasions Mini catalog is located on the right side of my blog under current SU catalogs or you can click on the highlighted "Occasions Mini" in this post and see all the fabulous new sets and products. Only the above products are available starting today, the rest of the products will be available starting April 1st thru June 30th.

thanks for stopping by!
Hugs,
Elizabeth

Kristina Werner Color Challenge

Good Morning Stampers! I'm so glad it's the weekend and today promises to be a warm sunny day here in Southern California-yippee! I'll be spending a few hours outside with my daughter's Girl Scout troop selling everyone's favorite...COOKIES!

Today's card is my submission for this week's color inspiration challenge over at Kristina Werner's blog. I started out with an Old Olive base, added a panel of Ruby Red embossed with the Birds and Swirls Cuttlebug Embossing Folder and then my Pumpkin Pie matte with a scalloped edge border of Bordering Blue (ha ha a border of Bordering Blue-I'm a dork-it's ok, I know it!). My main image is from the Cheep Talk set (LOVE IT!)that I inked up with my SU markers and punched the corners out with my Ticket Corner Punch. The final touch is a knotted felt ribbon that resembles our SU felt ribbon from the Winter Mini, but was something I actually found in a dollar bin at Michael's.
Ingredients:
Stamps: Cheep Talk Paper: Old Olive, Ruby Red, Pumpkin Pie, WW, Bordering Blue Ink: SU Markers in same colors Accessories: Ticket Corner Punch, Glue Dots, Non-SU Ribbon, Birds and Swirls Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Scallop Edge Punch

Thanks for taking time out of your busy weekend to stop by! My post tomorrow will be late as we have a very busy weekend!
Hugs,
Elizabeth

Furry Friends Friday

Hi there stampers and furry friend lovers! Well this week has been such a struggle for me with the loss of my foster kittens and other terrific financial issues we've been having. I am so glad it is Friday and we are going to play Bunco tonight. I plan on having a great time and forgetting all about my woes for at least the duration of the evening.
So onto the post of the day...
Today I am going to introduce you to Willy. Willy is easily the biggest dog we've ever been around. I've seen a few in my life that are bigger but never for more than a minute in passing. We are taking care of him for a friend who has had him since he was 2 yrs old but now does not have a place where he can keep him. We agreed to take him before ever meeting him which was a blessing for him! We might not have agreed to it! Willy is 11 years old but plays ball like he's just a puppy. He's so big and can really be a nuisance, but he's just a big sweet boy that we can't help but love despite the slobber, gas, food stealing and ginormous land mines!
Hope you've enjoyed meeting our big stinky goofball!
hugs,
Elizabeth

Another Sketch Challenge!

Hi there! Another late post but hopefully worth the wait!

I stalk many blogs, one of which is an awesome SU demo in Australia named Makeesha Byl. Her blog always offers great "inkspiration"! Today I decided to play along with her Inkspiration Challenge #5 and this is what I came up with.

I don't tend to use such dark colors but it was kind of fun for a change. I used up some more of my DSP scraps (have I told you that I am a paper hoarder?! I keep it ALL!!)and even tried the stamping with bleach technique for the first time. I started my card with a Basic Gray base, added my Urban Garden DSP scraps with a little Baja Breeze for a matte, and stamped my Upsy Daisy stamp first in bleach and then again in versamark and embossed with clear embossing powder. I punched it out, layered it and popped it up with a dimensional. The sentiment is one I keep using from the Wow Flowers set stamped in black and punched with the Word Window Punch. What do you think? I'd love to hear so leave me a comment! :)
Ingredients:
Stamps: Wow Flowers, Upsy Daisy Paper: Basic gray, WW, Baja Breeze, Urban Garden DSP Ink: Basic Black, Versamark Accessories: Bleach, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Word Window Punch, Dimensionals, Clear Embossing Powder
Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a great day!
take care!
Elizabeth