Happy Halloween!!

Just wanted to wish all my blogging friends a very Happy Halloween!! If you are looking for some stamping fun today - check out Amanda's challenge over on the Hanna Stamps forum at SCS - it's a really cool sketch challenge - check it out here. I don't have anything new to share with you today - but did stay up late last night getting my cards for my Copic class ready for tomorrow - so I'll post those tomorrow afternoon so you can see what we did. Also - be sure to stop back by my blog first thing Monday morning - the Hanna Stamps sneak peeks start on Monday and let me tell you - they are AWESOME!!!! I'll show you my all time new favorite Hanna on Monday morning - she is to die for!!! Hope you all have a wonderful and SAFE Halloween!!!!

You're the Purr-fect Gift!

Hello!! So sorry I've been MIA this week - can you believe my entire family ended up sick with this nasty virus going around? It was a pretty icky weekend - followed by a couple of crazy catching up days - my poor hubby even got sick and he VERY rarely gets sick. I am happy to report that we all seem to be on the mend - just in time for Fall Break - so the kids and I are enjoying a couple of days off from school and then preparing for Halloween tomorrow. We are gonna go see High School Musical 3 today - glad I am feeling better - not sure I could have set thru it feeling sick - LOL!! I'm kidding - they're cute movies and I should be thankful that my kids are into movies like that. Anywho - I do have a card to share with you today - it felt good to create today - my mojo was all congested with my sinuses and I am feeling the creative juices flowing again. This card is for today's MFT sketch challenge over on SCS - you can view Frances's awesome sketch here. I just got this Stephanie Fizer "Peppermint Cats" image over the weekend and am so happy to finally get to play with it today! I colored my image in with Copics - I drew the fence in myself with a ruler and a Copic multiliner pen and added some white dots with a gel pen for a snow-y sky. I highlighted the stars with some Stickles and then added some Liquid Applique to the cat's hat. The sentiment is from the Peppermint Cats set as well. The holly was done using the Bazzill In Stich'z Christmas templates set. I am telling you - these things are FUN - and really not that difficult either. I've been using just regular ol' DMC embrodiery floss with mine - saves a bit of money rather than buying the Bazzill stuff and there are SO many more color choices too! The polka dot paper is an old sheet of American Crafts Christmas paper I had in my stash and I embossed my blue background using the Cuttlebug Snowflakes embossing folder. Thanks so much for stopping by - I can't wait to show you all the fun stuff I have been working on for next week - we've got some AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME Hanna Stamps releases for next week and I may even have an extra treat for you next week too...hee hee...have a wonderful Thursday!!

Let it Snow!!

OK - so maybe I can hold off on the snow for awhile - although there is a rumor that we may see some snow flurries here in central Indiana on Monday - yikes!! Snow before Halloween is never a good sign for the upcoming winter. This is my card for today's Hanna Stamps challenge over on SCS - Cindy challenged us to use snow on our card. I used my Cuttlebug snowflakes embossing folder for the background and then stitched a big snowflake using a Bazzill In Stitch'z template. I love the In Stitch'z templates - they are so fun - a bit time-consuming - but the end result is definitely worth it. I used just regular old DMC embrodiery floss to do the stitching rather than the Bazzill stuff - it saves a bit of money and I think turned out just as nice. I used Ski Bunny Hanna on my card - I just stamped the top half of her and colored her in with Copics - the sentiment is from this set as well. The bottom edge was done with the Embossed Diamond edge punch by Martha Stewart. I am not sure where the ribbon came from - I found it in my stash and the colors in it were really the inspiration for this card. Thanks so much for stopping by!!

She's a ROCKSTAR!

Is it Friday yet?? Almost - just one more day and we will have survived yet another week! LOL!! It's been a long week with sick little ones and now I seem to have come down with whatever they had - ick. Calvin is doing a bit better - his antibiotic seems to be helping his ear infection. I am actually surprised I have a card to share with you today - I spent most of the day running around town looking for Halloween costumes for my two - I guess that's what I get for waiting until the last minute, huh? Both my boys want to be police officers - sounds easy enough, right? WRONG!!! Hee hee...anywho - I have 2 police officer costumes - so we are all set.

This card is for today's MFT sketch challenge over on SCS - you can view Cindy's awesome sketch here. I just LOVE this "Hey Chica" set - she is just too fun to color and so totally hot!! I gave her that signature tattoo on her arm - because what's a rockstar without a tatoo, right? I colored her in with Copics and added a little pearl sticker for her earring. The background paper is from the DCWV Rockstar stack. I used the new Martha Stewart Arch Lattice edge punch for the decorative edge on the bottom of the card - this is a beautiful punch - I can tell I am gonna get a lot of use out of this one. Thanks so much for stopping by - I'll be back tomorrow with my card for the Friday Hanna Stamps challenge!

Hugs to You

Happy Wednesday!! Hope you are all having a wonderful week! Sorry I've been so quiet this week - we were in South Bend visiting family over the weekend and then I came back with 2 sick kids - ick! My oldest (Andrew) is doing better and never actually missed a day of school - he even went all dressed up and looking handsome for picture day today. My poor little guy - my youngest (Calvin) - has been sidelined with an ear infection though. :( So it's been a long couple of days - not to mention the longer nights. Anywho - Calvin's on antibiotics - so hopefully we will see some improvement tonight or tomorrow morning - he just feels miserable - poor little thing - I hate seeing my kids sick - you just feel so helpless. :( I did manage to do today's SCS sketch challenge - I figured it was a good way to get my mojo flowing this week. It's another fun sketch - you can view it here. I used Sleepy Time Riley again - I can't get enough of this image - it's definitely one of my favorite Rileys. I thought this would be a sweet get well card. I colored in Riley with Copics - drew in the flooring and then colored the green behind him with Copics too. The sentiment is from the "Everyday Sentiments" set by Hanna Stamps. I used the Cuttlebug Argyle embossing folder for the long pink strip and then added some green eyelets to it (I can't even remember the last time I used eyelets on a card - I should get a bonus for that, right? Hee hee...) I used the Martha Stewart Zig Zag border punch for the decorative edging on the other pink panels. Thanks so much stopping by!!

Pick Your Poison ATC Set

TGIF!!! Hope everyone is having a good Friday! I have a cute little set of ATC's I made for the Hanna Stamps Friday Challenge over on SCS. I call this the "Pick Your Poison" ATC set - hee hee...I used various stamps from Hanna sets to make these - the wine and wine glass is from the "Kiss the Cook" set, the martini glass and olive are from the "Anthony" set and the 6 pak of beer is from the "Mikey" set. The background paper on the wine ATC is from a $1.99 Butcher's Block paper pad I got at Archiver's. The background paper on the martini ATC was handmade - I stamped the olives all over and then colored with Copics. The background paper on the beer ATC is from the DCWV Pet Stack. I did the words on the ATC's with a Doodlebug rub-on alphabet. I used brushed silver brads to accent the wine ATC and Hero Arts gem stickers for accents on the other two ATC's. This is only the second time I have made ATC's - but what a fun little project. Thanks so much for stopping by - I hope you'll pop on over to the Hanna Stamps forum on SCS and make ATC's with us today!!

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Two cards in one day!? I know, right? Hee hee...I've gone challenge happy today - ever since yesterday's mishap - I feel quite accomplished today - LOL!! This is my card for today's MFT Sketch Challenge over on SCS - Frances created an awesome sketch - you can view the sketch here. I love this image from the MFT "Baby It's Cold Outside" sketch - I've been eyeing it since last year - so it's about time I got my hands on it! I colored my image in completely with Copics and added the falling snow with a white gel pen. I used the Cuttlebug Snowflakes embossing folder on the pink strips and circle - I love making winter cards with pinks - I think it softens them up. The background paper is from the DCWV Christmas Glitter stack. The snowflakes in the upper right-hand corner are brads - I put a Hero Arts red gem sticker in the center of each one. The ribbon is from Hobby Lobby. Thanks so much for stopping by today - check back tomorrow - it's time for the weekly Hanna Stamps challenge - YAY!!! Have a great evening!!

Poor Riley

Poor Riley!! I hope he does get better soon - but until he does - I gave him a warm little plaid blanket to bundle up in - hee hee...this card is for today's Ways to Use It challenge over on SCS. Today's challege is ways to use plaid - so I chose this paper from the Die Cuts with a View Pet Stack and paper pieced a blanket onto my Riley image. I used the same paper for the circle in my background. I colored in the rest of my Riley image with Copics and drew the hardwood flooring on using a ruler and a Copic Multiliner pen. The sentiment is from the Hanna Stamps "Everyday Sentiments" set. I used my Martha Stewart Lace Doily punch on the edges of the paper at the bottom of my card. The ribbon is Ribbon FX from Hobby Lobby. I must say I felt very accomplished to get a card done for today's challenge after the mishap with my nestibilities yesterday - LOL!!!

More "Ghoul" Power & Copic Class News!

Hope you all have been having a wonderful week!! So I REALLY wanted to do a card for today's sketch challenge over on SCS - it's such a cool sketch - I had it all planned out - my image colored and everything - well - I went to cut my image out with one of my circle nestibilities and the edge of it slipped and caught the tip of my thumb and sliced it open!!! OUCH!!! (A little back story - according to my dear hubby - I am COMPLETELY and udderly accident prone - seriously - you should have seen his face when I came home with the Bind It All - hee hee...he knew I would lose a finger in that - and have almost had it happen twice. I have to promise him when I go to crops that I must come home with all appendages in tact - LOL!!!) So anywho - I cut my finger on my nestie and it bled terribly - ALL over my image and the cardstock I was using for the card and all over my Cuttlebug plates as well too - ick. So that's the story why I don't have a sketch challenge card for you today - trust me - you didn't want to see the carnage - hee hee...I promise I'll be more careful for tomorrow. It's also why I am sharing this little cutie card with you today - it's a card I made over the weekend for Papertrix. Cindy carries the Imaginesce Hallowhimsy line down at her store - so you can get this adorable little stamp and matching paper there. I wanted to spruce her up a bit since she doesn't really need to be colored in - I added a couple of Hero Arts rhinestone stickers to her eyes and a little knot of ribbon to her head - isn't she a cutie?? Speaking of Papertrix - I have some wonderful COPIC CLASS NEWS:

My beginner class on November 1st from 12-3 is full - HOWEVER - since I'll be down there already - Cindy and I have decided to add ANOTHER Beginner Copic class from 3-6 on November 1st - so if you are interested in taking my class - please contact Cindy at Papertrix - the number is on my sidebar. We always have LOTS of fun and I promise I don't bite - well - as long as you behave yourself - BWA HA HA!!! Totally kidding - hee hee...

Check out this snowman!!

Happy Sunday everyone!! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!! I had an absolute blast cropping at Archiver's this weekend - it was so fun - I got some stamping done and got to spend some time with great friends - what's better than that? I am a little bummed though - I just saw my best friend who was staying with me this weekend off this morning - I miss her already!! She lives in Southern Indiana - about 3 and a half hours away - so we don't get to see each other often - so I always look forward to these weekends!! I SO wished we lived closer - but we've already decided that we'd probably get into A LOT of trouble if we did - hee hee...so I'll look forward to occasional visits and that day when her hubby decides to come be a Pharmacist up here in Indy - hee hee...which may not happen anytime soon after she discovered what exactly a "round-about" is - LOL!!! Love you, Jennifer!!! ;)

Anywho - I wanted to share this little cutie-patootie stamp set I bought at Archiver's this weekend - I fell in love with these Jumbo Stampendous stamp sets when I saw them at CHA and then Archiver's recently got them in and I HAD to have this snowman - he is just too cute!! These jumbo sets are fun because you can stretch and smoosh the main image in them to make different sizes - so you can make a smaller and chubbier snowman or a tall skinny one - they are really fun!! I stamped my snowman just the normal size though - and stamped his scarf, hat and buttons on him. I colored him with my Copics and then cut him out before I put him on my card. I tore some strips of white paper for some snow underneath him and the little cardinal is from the snoman set as well. The sentiment is by Stampendous as well. I cut a section of the card front off too just to give kind of a different look to the card. I'm sure you'll be seeing this guy on my blog more - this was just kind of a quick idea I did with him at the crop this weekend and have a lot more things I want to try with him. Thanks so much for stopping by - have a wonderful Sunday - GO COLTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

An Apple a Day...

YAY!!! It's Friday and time for another Hanna Stamps challenge over on the SCS Member Companies forum!! This week's challenge is being hosted by Judy and the challenge is too create a card/project with a Fall theme. I knew I wanted to use the "Jump for Joy" Hanna Stamps set - but wasn't sure which image to use - they are all great for a Fall theme - so I chose to use the apple images in the set - the basket of apples and the apples in the background are all from this set. I colored my images in with Copic markers giving the apples in the basket a 2 tone effect - because how rarely do you see that perfect red apple? LOL!! The sentiment is from a Studio G clear $1 stamp set. I used my nesties for all the circles and my Martha Stewart Lace Doily border punch for the decorative edges on the cardstock at the top of the card. The ribbon is from Hobby Lobby. Thanks so much for stopping by - hope you have a wonderful weekend - I'll be back on Monday with some creations from this weekend's crop - well - hopefully anyway - I'll try to get some stamping done in between all the gabbing - hee hee...

Serenity NOW!!!

Happy Thursday everyone!! Hope it's been a wonderful week so far! I have been trying to get organized for a crop I am going to this weekend - I am heading to the Archiver's here in Indy for a Cricut Swarm and I am SO excited!!! Even better is that one of my best friend's is coming up from Southern Indiana for it and she's gonna stay with me - WOO HOO!!! It's gonna be a slumber party!! Hmmm....she'd probably better sleep with one eye open or she might end up with her hand in a bowl of warm water - LOL!!! (I'm totally kidding, Jennifer - or am I?? BWA HA HA!!!) Hee hee...so anywho - I am really looking forward to this weekend and I am sure I will have plenty of stuff to share with you on Monday.

The card I have for you today is for Cindy's MFT sketch challenge over on SCS - you can view her sketch here - I always love Cindy's and Frances' sketches - they do a fabulous job hosting this challenge!! I tried a little something different with my card today - I hadn't done anything with my Holly Berry House medallion stamps recently and this "Earth Whispers" medallion was screaming to be paired with this MFT "Serenity Now" set. I colored my image first with Copics - I even used one of the little accessory stamps that come in the stamp for the decoration on her shirt. I drew in the flooring too with my Copic mulitliner pen. I then picked out 2 colors from my image to do my medallion stamp in. This medallion would normally go to 6 layers when finished - but since I was going to place my image in the middle of it - I only went to 4 layers and then placed my image in the center of the flower. I used the Cuttlebug Birds and Swirls embossing folder to emboss my purple and light blue panesl. The ribbon is from Hobby Lobby as are the little pearl stickers. Thanks so much for stopping by - come back tomorrow - I have an oh so sweet Hanna card to share with you - I'll give you a hint - an apple a day.... ;)

Ooo...ooo...witchy woman...

...see how high she flies...yes - I have that song stuck in my head today (I do love the Eagles by the way - Hotel California is on my Top 10 Best Songs of all time list ;)) It's kind of an appropriate song to have stuck in my head considering the card I have to share with you today - hee hee...I am not sure if you saw this card over in my SCS gallery or not - but thought I would go ahead and post it over here on my blog too. This was a card I made using the "Totally Witchin" set by My Favorite Things and my submission for the November Guest Designer Challenge - the challenge was to use paper piecing. I am happy to report that I have been asked to be an ambassador again for the month of November - WOO HOO!! I am so excited and so honored to be chosen again - the entries were just super amazing!! So be sure to come play in my ambassador challenge at the November MFT release party - you could win a mini-set of your choice!! I used lots of paper from the DCWV Halloween Glitter stack on my card - I paper pieced the witches' dresses with it and then pieced together my background with it as well. I used 1 in. by 1 in. squares of patterned paper from this stacked - pieced them together on my 5X5 background and then machine stitched at the seams with black thread - a lot of work - but I love the funky Halloween feel of this card!! I colored the rest of the image in with Copics and drew in the flooring myself. The little ingredient jars and sentiment were from this set as well. I even used my Drippy Goo punch yet again on this card - I am telling you - I can't make a Halloween card without it - definitely the hot item to have right now!! ;) Thanks so much for stopping by!!

Happy World Card-Making Day!!

Happy World Card-Making Day!!! I hope you all will find some time to break out those stamps and celebrate!! I have been celebrating a little too much already today - hee hee...this Riley card is for today's special sketch challenge over on SCS - you can view the sketch here. I flipped the sketch to fit my Riley image. This adorable Riley image was one of the 2 new Riley releases from Hanna Stamps released this past Thursday night. Isn't he the most adorable thing you have ever seen?? I could just snuggle up with him!! I colored him in with Copics and then added drops of Stickles to the moon on his PJ's. I embossed the yellow background with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder. The strips of patterned paper are from the DCWV Boy Nursery Stack. The little star brads are by Making Memories.

This second card is a sample I made for Cindy down at Papertrix. She sent recently sent me some very neat stamps and included was a VERY cool new Halloween alphabet stamp set by Inkadinkado - I used it to spell out "boo" - those "o's" are just way too fun!! The patterned paper is from the DCWV Halloween Glitter Stack and I used the Martha Stewart Drippy Goo punch on my green strip of cardstock. You can get both the paper and the Halloween alphabet stamps at Papertrix - it's a beautiful time to visit Nashville too - hint, hint... ;)

Thanks so much for stopping by - I hope you all have a wonderful weekend making cards!!!

Think Pink

I wanted to do a card this month in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness month - so when I heard what Vicki's challenge was for this Friday's Hanna Stamps challenge - which is to do a card/project using pink - I knew I wanted to make a card for Breast Cancer Awareness - I just wasn't sure what Hanna/Riley to use. And then it hit me this morning - the new "For the Soul" Hanna is perfect - with those hands lifted in prayer - she looks so peaceful and I just added a little pink ribbon to her shirt. I used the Cuttlebug Birds and Swirls embossing folder on the white part of the background and the patterned paper is from the DCWV Girl Nursery Stack. The flowers are Primas and I used pink ribbon (of course ;)). The sentiment is from the "Things Hanna Would Say" set.

Now for a friendly reminder from one woman to another - if you haven't done so yet this year and you are over the age of 35 or at an increased risk for breast cancer - PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE go get a mammogram!!! In March of 2007 - I had quite the scare - one Sunday morning I discovered a small lump in my right breast. My first thought was "Oh God, I am only 29 - this can't be happening!!" My next thought was about my husband and 2 small boys - I wasn't ready to leave them - an overreaction?? Maybe a little - but there aren't many cancer stories in my family that have happy endings - so of course that is where my thoughts went. I called my doctor first thing Monday morning - after a week of tests - mammogram, ultrasounds, etc. - we decided just to go ahead and have a lumpectomy - get that darned thing out and biopsy it. I was scared out of my mind - cancer runs rampant thru my family - I lost my mother to cancer 8 years ago and more aunts and uncles than I can count. Well - I got lucky - the tumor was benign - but I know many many other women out there who don't get that phone call with good news and the relief that I felt that day. Moral of the story - well - it's simple - go get yourself checked out - if you are over 35 or at a high risk for getting breast cancer - go get a mammogram - if you are younger - talk to your doctor - do self breast examinations - seriously - I always thought they were a little silly too - until I went thru all of this - now I understand why they are so important. For those of you that have battled or are currently battling breast cancer - any kind of cancer for that matter - my heart goes out to you - you are my heroes. I am dedicating this post to my mother...Mom - I miss you...

Blog Candy Winners!!!!

TGIF!!!! So what a fun week, huh? I had an absolute blast sharing my sneak peeks with all of you and reading all the wonderful comments - thanks SO much for leaving comments and participating in the Hanna Stamps Blog Hop!! Without further ado - here are the winners of the Hanna Stamps Design Team Blog Candy Giveaway...each member drew one name from the comments left on their blogs this week and here is the list of winners...

BLOG CANDY WINNERS
You win a Riley or Sophie Stamp email : kristi@hannastamps.com to claim your prize!!!!!

Monique Hawrelluk
Kim-3 time mom
Kathy Hering
Elsa-wamu007
stampvanwinkle
Chirsscrappin andstampintx
Tojoco-Jolroz
Lise- belles-place
KJ Lowrey-sewstampscrapbook
Lori Barnett
Courtney-Created by Courtney
Nichole (Nichole cards)
Cindy Vernon
Kraftin' Kimme
Linda-Java Fiend
Robbeeie
The crazy life of a Navy Wife

If you see your name/username on that list please e-mail Kristi to claim your prize!! Congrats to all the winners - to see a more complete list of winners including Hanna-versary challenge winners - please visit this link. Thanks again for participating - I'll be back later today with more creations!!

Fun with Vintage Toys!

What a fun week, huh?? I am just in love with these new Hanna sets - here are a couple of peeks at the new "Vintage Toys" set being released this Friday, October 3rd. I saw these new Graphic 45 papers awhile back at Papertrix and the first thing I thought of was the Hanna Stamps Vintage Toys set - it really looks like these papers were made with this set in mind, huh?? I used the Teddy Bear from the set on this first little heart card - the card was cut out using the heart nestibilties. I colored my little bear in with Copics and then cut him out and put him on my ovals. The sentiment is from the "Things Hanna Would Say" set. I used some old buttons I had lying around for the embellies on this card and knotted just a bit of hemp twine in the centers of them.

Here's another Vintage Toys sneak peek - it's hard not to look at this little toy soldier and not think of Christmas. The paper on this one is more of that Graphic 45 vintage toys paper and just worked perfectly for this stamp. I colored my soldier in with Copics and then cut the image out with my long rectangle nesties. The little North Pole postmark over the image is from a Studio G Christmas clear $1 stamp set. The sentiment is by Hero Arts. The black brads are by The Paper Studio from Hobby Lobby.

Thanks so much for stopping by!! I hope to see you all at the Hanna Stamps Release Party tonight at 9:00 PM EST - there's gonna be more challenges, prizes - AND the winners of the SUPER SWEET RILEY BLOG CANDY will be announced - WOO HOO!!! See you there!!

It's a Penguin Party!!!

OMG - how cute are these guys???? Hmmm...if I were a penguin - I suppose this is how I would party - LOL!!! Here's a sneak peek of the new "Penguin Antics" set by Hanna Stamps being released this Friday, October 3rd. All of the penguins and the "penguin party" sentiment are from this set - the sentiments on the cards are from the "Things Hanna Would Say" set. This is a little twist on the 3X3 notecard set with matching box - instead of making square 3X3 cards - I used my scalloped circle nestibilities to make little scalloped circle cards that would fit in the 3X3 envies. I used the templates found on SCS here for my project - what great templates - big thanks to the gals who put these together - this was a fun little project!! All of my penguins were colored in with Copics. These penguins are so darn happy - they make me think of bright, fun colors - so I pulled paper out of this past year's Die Cuts with a View Summer Stack from JoAnn's for this set - which is why it all coordinates so well. The patterned paper on the cards, box and lining the envelopes is from this stack. All cardstock is from Archiver's - although I think it is actually Bazzill Basics cardstock. Here are some close-ups of the set so you can see these little guys better...


I hope you like it - I started with just my stamps, Copics, paper and cardstock thinking this was going to be an easy project - but it ended up really being quite the project - but I was pretty pleased with the end result. I hope to see you all at the Hanna Stamps Release Party this Thursday night from 9-11 PM over on SCS - it's gonna be a blast - and once again - don't forget about the super sweet blog candy being offered on all the design team blogs - just leave us a comment and you could win a brand new never before released Riley - WOO HOO!! Thanks for stopping by!!