Thank You with a tutorial

Hi everyone! Man what a hot weekend it was here! I don't think I went outside once yesterday just because it was so miserable. Okay, I promise I won't go on and on about our weather here all summer long because if I did I'd just sound like a broken record. The one good thing about staying in though is that I did get a lot of crafting done!

Yesterday I made up a little thank you card using the darling Picking Flowers image from Squigglefly.

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I colored this with copic markers and then did the usual chalking thing for the sky and grass. I have had a few people ask me to show how I do the chalked backgrounds, so I made a quick little video to show you how easy it is.

If you can't see the video on my blog you can view it HERE

The embossed blue panel was sponged with some white craft ink on the edges, and the sentiment was computer generated.

Don't forget to try your hand at the Squigglefly challenge this week - you could win a free image of your choice! Have a wonderful day, and thanks for looking!

Weigh To Go

Happy Memorial day everyone! I hope you are all enjoying your holiday and that you had a nice weekend. Mine has been pretty laid back. It's too hot to get out and do much so I stayed inside and got some cleaning and some crafting done.

Squigglefly is celebrating their 100th challenge today! Vicki has challenged us to use three of something on our projects, and I went with three circles.

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A friend of mine had lap band surgery a few months ago, and I was talking to her recently asking about her weight loss and she told me she had lost forty pounds so I thought I would make her a card to congratulate and encourage her.

I went with the Moment Of Truth image from Squigglefly and wrote the words "going down" on the scale. It's colored with Copic markers. The sentiment is computer generated. I embossed it just to add a little interest because it looked a little plain, but now I'm not so sure it was a good idea.

I hope you'll play along in the challenge too, and even if you don't be sure to go see what the design team has done. They always do such a fabulous job and never fail to inspire. Have a fantastic day, and thanks for looking!

Thinking Of Some Bunny

Good morning and happy Friday everyone. Squigglefly's current design team will be ending their term at the end of June. I've been busy gathering lots of talented people together to be the new design team for the July through December term. I am in need on ONE MORE person! If you think this is something you'd like to do, please send me an e mail at usyungs@gmail.com and let me know. Edited to add - This position has been filled! If you'd like to have your hat in the ring for the January - June 2012 term please feel free to send me an e mail!

We are a laid back group of people. The team is divided into two groups so the workload isn't too heavy. The main requirement is that you HAVE FUN and enjoy what you do.

The other morning as I was letting Riley outside to do her business I saw the sun glinting off of water droplets in a cedar tree in the field by our house. There was steam coming up off the pavement in the church parking lot, and the whole scene was so pretty that I took a couple of pictures of it.

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Now to share a card. This one was done for a challenge where we had to have a red flower and we had to use ribbon and another embellishment.

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I used the Tulip Bunny from Squigglefly and colored with Copic markers and chalk. After chalking, I stamped some grass sprigs on the ground. I printed the sentiment on to the designer paper with my computer.

I pulled an artificial flower off of a spray of them I had in my stash, and sponged some ink on to it and then stuck a blue rain dot in the center. Doesn't this little fellow look like he's proud of himself for having raided some poor gardener's flower bed?

Have a wonderful Friday, and thanks for looking!

She's Baaaaack!

Hi everyone. Well, I spent yesterday having a mini pity party for myself for doing so poorly on that damn office test! Then a good friend called me and jerked me back to reality. Things could be worse, and things will be better.

I thought I could use a fairy to help things along, so I pulled out my favorite, lovable, chunky House Fairy to make a card.


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She's colored with Copic markers and chalk and I did a lot of dotting with a black pen. Her glasses have crystal effects, her wings have glitter, and the bow happened because when I cut the shape out I got a little too close to the fold and needed something to hold it together!

Sorry to keep this short, but if I went on now I'd only ramble. Have a great day, and keep the faith! Thanks for looking!

Bringing Fish To A Teaparty

Hi everyone. How are you today? I know a lot of you want to hear about my office test that I took yesterday so I'll go ahead and tell you the whole awful tale. I spent some time on Sunday prepping for the test by taking some online tests and watching some tutorials on programs I thought I should brush up on. One of the places I went to take a typing test is Typingtest.com. Now, I am a good typist. I took typing all through high school and type every single day not only in doing this blog, but in the scope of my work. So I was scoring pretty darn good in the online typing test getting "excellent" scores. So yesterday morning I go in to take my test. The girl has a laptop set up for me. I don't use laptops, and they are much different to type on than a regular keyboard, plus it had no mouse and I'm used to using a mouse! So the first thing she says is to take a typing test at Typingtest.com. I should have aced it. I knew which one to pick to type because I had typed them all and knew which one was the easiest. But the laptop and my nerves got to me. My hands shook so bad that I am amazed I was able to type anything at all. It really was embarrassing. I ended up getting a 43 words per minute and I was so disappointed in and angry at myself. The Excel part of the test was easy, and after that it was a timed written test which I finished with time to spare, so I did okay on that I think. She said she'd look over the test and get back to me if I passed. I really don't know why I was shaking so much. I shouldn't have let it get to me the way it did, but I didn't know how to control it. Just telling myself to calm down wasn't helping much. Oh well, I suppose the nervousness of taking tests will leave the more I take, but I have a feeling now that the next one will be hard because I have today's test looming in my mind! Thanks for the good thoughts though!

Today is another one of Mothermark's Teaparties and this week they are sending cards to Colton who is the same little boy I made the star shaped card for a couple of weeks ago. they say Colton loves fishing, so we were asked to bring fish or bait to the teaparty. Since I have already sent a card to Colton, I made a birthday card - but it's got fish on it!

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I used the Shy Bear Goldfish Bear for my card. It's colored with Copic markers and chalk. I added a little stickles to the fish and then used some crystal effects on the bowl. The sentiment is computer generated.

I hope your day is a fabulous one, and thanks for looking!

Tweet and Simple

Happy Monday to you all! I am off for my office test this morning, so keep your fingers crossed I do well! I spent quite a bit of time yesterday watching tutorials on Quickbooks and Excel brushing up on some skills.

I didn't spend all day learning though, I did manage to spend a little time playing in the Featured Stamper challenge on Splitcoast Stampers. I never shared the card I made for last week's Featured Stamper challenge, so let me do that first


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The card I CASED can be seen here. I used an image from Squigglefly called Branch Chat, and colored with Copic markers. Very quick to color such simple images! The card base is embossed with swiss dots and I added two layers of ribbon to cover the line where the designer paper ends. the flowers are punched from the same color card stock as the card base and I added little pears to the center of them. I think I may add a sentiment before mailing this off to anyone, but even if I don't I think it looks cute!

Now this week's featured stamper challenge led me to use the same Branch Chat image, except before printing it I eliminated one of the birds using a photo editing program. That is just one of the many reasons I love using digital images! You might also notice that I used the flipped version of this image which is another bonus digitals give you. You can see the card I CASED here.

I added the sentiment before printing also. The image is colored with Copic markers. I embossed the dotted background and used a Martha Stewart punch for the flowers border at the bottom. the image panel is popped up with some dimensionals.

The inside of the card says "that you're having a birthday. Hope it's a "tweet" one!"

Don't forget that today is a brand new challenge on the Squigglefly Blog! I never did get a chance to play in last week's challenge and I'm really going to try to participate this week! I hope you have a wonderful start to your week, and thanks for looking!

This is what we're doing today

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Taking it easy, just resting and relaxing! I'll be back tomorrow with a card to share.
Enjoy your Sunday!

Summer Breeze Makes Me Feel Fine

Happy Saturday one and all. Before I get to today's card, let me fill you on my job interview. If you aren't into reading the personal stuff, then feel free to scroll on down to see the card.

Before I get to the actual interview, I have a story to tell you that I think is quite an odd thing. I've been into all kinds of crafts my whole life. For quite a while I was big time into knitting on a knitting machine. I'd go to conventions and buy yarns and patterns and knit all the time. Well, after stamping and cardmaking entered my life my knitting machines got less and less use. When we moved to the house we live in now eleven years ago, I didn't bother to put my knitting machines back up. I've just had them in storage all these years. One of the machines is stored at my office building, and while clearing all of my stuff out I thought about this knitting machine and if I really wanted to keep it or not. I finally decided not to keep it and posted it on Craig's List as a give away. Within minutes I had a girl contact me saying she'd love to have it. In our conversation she was telling me she didn't get off work until 6 pm and I asked where she worked. She happens to work at a church daycare right up the road from my house. This also happens to be the same church my employers attend.

I told her that I could meet her at my office the next evening, but that I had another machine and pattern books she might like at my house and that I lived right near the church she works at so she might come by and pick that stuff up that day when she got off work. She said "great!" and she and her boyfriend came over a little after six. She told me she is into all kinds of crafts too, so I boxed some other things up that I haven't used in a while that I thought she might like and of course I told her all about Squigglefly.

I invited her in to see my craft room and I told her to "please excuse all the clothes I have laying on the bed but I've got a job interview tomorrow and it's the first interview I've been on in 33 years and I've been trying on clothes to prepare for it." So, after viewing my room we go back out to their car making plans for her to pick up the other machine the next night and her boyfriend mentions to me that he used to work for Miller Lite, but he now works for a beverage company. Well, the company I had my interview with is a beverage company so I said "Is it by any chance Best Beverage?" and he said "yes"! I then told him that that is where my interview was the very next morning and he proceeded to tell me all about how laid back the place was and how I shouldn't be nervous and how the girls in the office are all great. He made me feel much better about the interview. I just thought it was such an odd coincidence!

Anyway, moving on to my interview. I got there on time and met with the girl and she reviewed my resume and then asked me a few questions. It didn't take but about fifteen minutes and overall I think it went well. She then told me that the interview is a three part process and this was a preliminary interview. I would receive an e mail in 3 to 7 days scheduling a day and time for me to come in and take an office test. I assume it will be testing on typing and various computer programs, but she didn't elaborate. After that, if I pass the test they will schedule me to come in for third and final interview with the owner. Later that same afternoon I had an e mail from her scheduling my test for Monday morning! So, I am taking that as a good sign that they contacted me back so quickly. Now, keep those prayers and good wishes coming that I don't flub up this test on Monday!

I have told my boss that if I get offered a job that I want, I'm going to take it. I did promise him that I'd continue to come in in the evenings and on weekends though to help him finish things up. I'm his whole office, and I know they need me and there is no way I'd leave them in the lurch. They've been way too good to me. I have been working at this place since I was twenty years old, and it's more than a job, they have become my family. I get a lump in my throat just typing this!

Whew! that was a long story and if you stuck with me than thank you! Now let's get to today's card! With the stressful and emotional week I've had I needed to create something that was peaceful and serene, so I made this


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This image is called The Old Front Porch, and is drawn by Lynne Stansbery. Doesn't sitting on this porch swing feeling a cooling summer breeze sound relaxing and peaceful? I colored it with Copic markers and printed the saying on the card and then pierced a square around it. I did chalk a little blue in the sky behind the swing, but it doesn't show up well in the photo.

Today there are some new images at Squigglefly, so be sure to pay them a visit! Thanks again for all the caring thoughts about my job situation, and I hope you have a fantastic weekend!

The Gift Of Laughter

Hello everyone! Friday has finally arrived! If your week has been anything like mine, you were probably wondering if it would ever get here.

Before I get to today's card, I'd like to ask you all to say a prayer for me. Today I am going on a job interview. It's the first interview for employment I've been to in over 33 years so I'm a little nervous. I'd love to leave the interview knowing if this is the job for me or not, and if it is I hope they offer it to me.
It's been a sad week at my present job. I've been clearing out my personal things and taking stock of what needs to be done.

Well, tomorrow there will be brand new images in Squigglefly's store, and I have a card made with one of them!


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This funny image is drawn by Chesney Young and is called Moment Of Truth. Wouldn't it be fun to make this a viewmaster card and have different things in the scale's window? I colored this with Copic markers and printed the sentiment out on my computer. I entered this into a couple of challenges. The first one was for the clean and simple challenge on Splitcoast stampers. We were supposed to be inspired by the word GIFT, and I think the gift of laughter is a true gift.

The other challenge was the Technique Lover's Challenge on Splitcoast Stampers. The technique is to make your own paper buttons. You can see a great tutorial on making these HERE. The tutorial has you coat the button with some crystal effects, but I opted to paint mine with some Lumiere paint. The buttons are easy to do, but they do take some patience on waiting for them dry!

There are still a couple of days to join in Squigglely's latest challenge, but you need to hurry because a new one is up on Monday! Have a wonderful day, and thanks for looking!

Celebration Cake

Hi everyone. Today I have a quick and simple card to share. I needed a birthday card for man, and those always make me pause; especially when this man isn't into fishing, hunting, or any kind of sport that I know of. So, I went with a traditional birthday cake!


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What man doesn't like cake? This Cake Tower from Squigglefly would tempt anyone I think and there's plenty to share!

I colored it with copic markers and added stickles to the candle flames. A bit of green designer paper with glittered swirls and some sponging around the edges of the card complete this simple card. The sentiment was computer generated in a font called Carpenter ICG. I traced over the letters with a Quickie Glue Pen and then sprinkled on some glitter. If you like the font, you can get it free HERE.

Enjoy your day, and thanks for looking!

Teaparty Challenge

Hi everyone! I hope your week is off to a good start! Did you see the great challenge at Squigglefly's blog this week? A good challenge pushes you out of your comfort zone, and Vicki has challenged everyone to do something you don't normally do. Squigglefly's design team did an awesome job! I'm going to have to give it some thought before I play along, but I urge you to play too!

Today is Tuesday and that is always a fun day because it's another Mothermark Teaparty! This week our cards are going to a seventeen year old boy named Anthony who was hit by a truck and has a long recovery ahead of him. Anthony loves music, drawing, and the beach so we are to bring cards that have things you find at the beach or something musical, or both!

I chose to make a card that has a little humor in it. Anthony will either laugh or groan at this!


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Now it's true you don't often see a pig sitting in a hammock sipping on a cocktail on the beach, but you do see palm trees and people swinging in hammocks! The image is "Ham"mock from Squigglefly. The name of the image alone is to make me chuckle! I colored with Copic markers and chalked the sky. The sentiment is computer generated and sponged with Yo Yo Yellow and Only Orange inks.

I used three different designer papers and hope they go together. I'm not that great at mixing paper patterns. I also didn't want any papers that were too girly since this is going to a teen male!

Have a great day, and thanks for looking!

Two freebies, a new challenge, and an older card

Hi everyone. I want to thank you all for the caring comments you left me about my job situation. I am trying to be positive about everything, but I am also being realistic. I know there are a few things working against me in finding new work. One is my age. I think potential employers may look at me and think "do I really want to put time and effort in training her if she's going to retire in a few years?" Okay, a few years is pushing it. It will at the very least be 8 more years before I retire, but that thought is there. Also, I've been at the same place doing things the same way for so long, that I've not kept up with a lot of the skills offices require employees to know these days. I may take some classes and learn a few things, but I don't know that I'd feel comfortable saying I'm proficient in something that I haven't actually been using in the workplace. These are just some of the things that have been running through my mind over the weekend, but I refuse to let my nagging thoughts bring me down!

Squigglefly has a brand new challenge on the blog today, and while you're there checking out what the challenge is and seeing the fabulous Design Team projects, be sure to get the two new wonderful freebies courtesy of Lynne Stansbery. The freebies are a thank you for helping us reach over 400 followers! You can see the freebies here.

I just had to make a card with one of them.


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I colored the image with Copic markers and then using Adobe Photoshop Elements I created the perfect background paper by using the pink ribbon from the image. You can see how to make your own patterned paper by using Adobe Photoshop Elements or the free GIMP program by watching this wonderful video tutorial made by my daughter Chesney.

Since there was a brand new featured stamper challenge at Splitcoast Stampers yesterday, I thought I'd better share the card I made for LAST WEEK's featured stamper challenge before it got lost!

The card I chose is THIS ONE. I liked hers so much that I didn't change it much.


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I used the Roses image from Squigglefly, but I changed the color from black to brown before printing. This is another thing you can do with Adobe Photoshop Elements or GIMP that is super easy and fast. You can see how in this video I made HERE.

After printing the image three times on to some Kraft card stock, it was simply a matter of cutting three squares out and sponging a bit on the edges with some Close To Cocoa ink. The border punch is from Martha Stewart, and I tied a bow and added a pearl to the center. I really love the way it turned out, but I accidentally got a bit of glue on the ribbon when I was adding the pearl, and when I tried to remove it it left a bit of a wrinkle and there was still a smudge I could see, so I decided to add a sentiment to the card to cover it up.



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I used the same method of changing the color on the Birthday Wishes sentiment, cut it out with an oval nestabilities die, and sponged the edges with the Close to Cocoa. I popped the sentiment up with some pop dots and then added a couple of smaller pearls. It's a fairly quick card to make, and i think it's very elegant.

Thanks for stopping by my blog, and I wish you a wonderful Monday!

Treat Yourself

Hi everyone. How was your Friday the 13th? Anything bad happen to you? Something sure rocked my world! I found out yesterday that the company I have worked for for the past 33 years is going to close their doors this Fall. It's such a sad situation seeing a place you've worked at for so long fold.

It's a small plastering contracting firm, and the economy has been really hard on the construction industry. On top of this we've had an influx of Mexican immigrants who are underbidding us on all the big jobs. They are able to do this because the majority of them hire illegal immigrants who work for next to nothing and the employers don't pay the overhead legitimate companies have like worker's compensation and general liability insurance costs.

I have been really lucky in being employed by a company that has given me flexibility when I needed it. They let me work school hours so I could be home when my children were home. They understood that my family came first and my job came second. I'd like to publicly thank them for all they've given me, but this is still a very sad time in my life.

I keep telling myself that this door closing only means another one is opening for me somewhere, so please keep me in your prayers in the next few months!

Now let's get to something fun! A while back the Ways To Use It challenge on Splitcoast Stampers was to stamp something sweet. I turned to the brand new set of Sundae Sweet Treats by Diane Knott at Squigglefly. This set has four different yummy looking sundaes!


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I colored the sundae with Copic markers and added a bit of glitter to the ice cream. Makes you hungry doesn't it? the paper behind the image is some embossed handmade paper with a slight pink tint to it. I got it at Archivers on one of my Memphis trips, and this just about used up the last of it. The sentiment was computer generated and popped up with some pop dots.

I finished the changes on my Star Shaped card and thought I'd show you the revised version. I added some lines of yellow stickles to the star points and then cut out some different colored glittered stars from some designer paper and stuck them on as embellishments. It added just the punch I needed. Looking at it now in the photo though, I think maybe I should have put the stars on the other side because it looks a little off balance. I don't know - I'm tired of thinking about it! I also stuffed the card with some star confetti for an extra fun surprise when the card is opened. Thanks again for the suggestions.


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There is no new release at Squigglefly today. Squigglefly does not tell any of the artists what to draw or give them deadline. The drawback to this is that sometimes there may not be enough images sent to them to have a new release. On the flip side, you get great images from happy artists! So, look for a great new release next weekend!

I hope you all have a great weekend, and thank you for stopping by my blog.

Big Birthday Wishes

Well, thanks to blogger having some kind of melt down this post was deleted yesterday.
I made this card for an online friend of mine and now that she's received it I can post it.

The image is I Dream Of Tini and is colored with Copic markers and chalk. I used some iridescent medium to paint her earrings and the bangles on her outfit. I love all of the Tini images, and this genie one is such fun! The border on the side was created with a Martha Stewart punch, and then the piece was flipped around and punched on the other side. It's an easy way to get a different look from the same punch. The sentiment is computer generated.


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The inside of the card continues the sentiment with

"to grant the big birthday wish I have for you"


I want to thank everyone for their suggestions on punching up the star shaped card I shared yesterday. I'll share pictures of the revised card tomorrow. Enjoy your Friday, and thanks for looking!

Shaping Up To Be An All Star!

Happy Hump Day! I need your help today. I have a card that I made for the Squigglefly challenge which is to make a shaped card, and I combined it with another challenge (can't say yet what challenge it is) to make a card for a young boy using three different sized circles. I chose to use the boy from the Soccer Kids set, and I cut a star shaped card with my Cricut.


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I cut it out with a circle nestabilites die and then cut another one a little larger to frame it. I am counting the soccer ball as a circle too. I sponged the edges with some yellow ink, but to me the front of the card still needs something. Give me some suggestions please!

For the inside of the card I cut another slightly smaller star shape out of some designer paper and printed the sentiment with my computer.


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Thanks for any help you can give me to punch this up some!

Yesterday was HOT! We got up to 91 degrees and today is promising to be the same. The cottonwoods are blowing and it looks like snow outdoors sometimes - wish it felt like it was snowing! I hope you're having a good week, and thanks for looking!

Gardening is Hard Work!

Good morning everyone! Today is Tuesday, and that means it's another Mothermark Teaparty! This week we are all helping to grow vegetables! Actually our cards have to do with vegetable gardening because the person they are going to loves to grow vegetables. Of course for me, every time I think of doing a card about gardening I turn to the Gardener image at Squigglefly. It's a long time favorite of mine.


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I colored this with Copic markers and chalk and made up the little rhyme and printed it out with my computer. Gardening is hard work! I know how much my back hurts after I've spent a little time just planting a few flowers, and I know trying to grow vegetables would have me stooped and limping. I do have to say however, that there is nothing better than home grown tomatoes in the summer.

Did you see what the Design Team did with the Squigglefly challenge this week? The challenge is shaped cards, and they knocked it out of the ballpark! I have a shaped card I'm working on and hope to share it with you tomorrow. Have some fun and play along!

You have a wonderful day, and thanks for looking!

If You Can't Dance

Good morning everyone! I hope you had a great weekend and a happy mother's day yesterday! Mine was really nice. I received some beautiful flowers and some yummy baklava from Ashley, and Chesney is taking me to Michaels for a shopping trip some time down the road! We went out to eat for some Chinese food, so I didn't have to cook. Sounds like a perfect Mother's Day to me!

Summer is back here in Arkansas. Temperatures reached nearly 90 and according to the forecast these high temps are here to stay for a while. I really wish I enjoyed warm weather because we get about six months of it here! Oh well, I can't change it so I might as well accept it, right?

Today is brand new challenge on the Squigglefly blog, so go see what Chelsea has challenged everyone to do, get inspired by the design team samples, and then JOIN IN yourself!

On Splitcoast stampers the Twisted Sister challenge on Friday was to make a card that had to do with rain. I have been wanting to color up the cute Puddle Jumper image by Lynne Stansbery for a while now, so I immediately grabbed it and made this


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I colored with Copic markers and chalk, and then I used some crystal lacquer on the puddles and rain drops. My sentiment was computer generated and is a twist on the well known "life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain" quote. I added a couple of water splash rain dots to the sentiment for some extra fun.

Don't you love this image? I love how he is just totally into the fun of splashing in puddles. I can remember loving to splash in puddles! I wonder when it was that wet socks and pant legs became a nuisance! Have a great Monday, and thanks as always for stopping by my blog!

For Mother's Day

Good morning everyone! Today is new release day at Squigglefly! Run over and take a look!

I have the Mother's Day card that I made for the manicurist to share with you today. She liked the baby cards a lot, and in the end chose the fuzzy duck and the easel card. She really liked this Mother's Day card too, and I hope her mom does too!


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I used the Flower Pot image by Rich Davis and colored with Copic markers and added a bit of stickles for some sparkle. The words are computer generated, but the name of the font completely escapes me right now!

I hope you all have a great Mother's day tomorrow! I'll be back on Monday with another card. Thanks for looking!

Win Prizes and Help Someone

Hi everyone! Just wanted to step in for a minute and tell you how you can win some wonderful prizes and help a fellow stamper in the process. I belong to several rubber stamping/cardmaking groups on the internet, and one of our list members, Bron Gibson has fallen on some really hard times. In February, she had to have her right leg amputated just below the knee. Then just 2 weeks ago, her husband, Jim, was suddenly fired from his job. The apartment they were living in was one of the perks of his job, so they have had to vacate it immediately. They are now using up their retirement savings to live in a motel. At most, they can live there 45 days, then their money will be gone.
They are trying to get from Georgia to Texas where a lifelong friend of Bron's has a house waiting for them.
In the meantime, they are in dire straits.

The rubber stamping group is trying to help Bron and Jim by having an Online Raffle to raise money to help Bron and Jim get to Texas, to help them eat between now and then, to help get Bron to therapy, and to help them in any way we can.

you can help Bron and Jim by buying tickets for the Raffle.

Tickets are $1 apiece, or 6 tickets for $5.
If you'd like to help, you will need to send a check or money order, made out to JIM GIBSON or BRON GIBSON and mail them to

D-E Beckett
50 Cotter Ave # 209
Akron OH 44305-2366I
She will add your tickets to a hopper and she will notify you of the numbers on your tickets, and keep a running tab of what numbers belong to which person.

On Thursday, May 19, 2011, at 7pm, Eastern time, we will begin drawing tickets, and we will draw them until the last prize has been awarded.

Winners will be posted to the list and to Facebook, once all the names have been drawn, and i will also post the winners here on my blog.

Here is a list of prizes that have been donated so far

Anonymous - winner's choice: $25 gift card to either: Amazon.com, Jo-Ann's, or Michael's.

Anonymous - winner's choice: 1 year subscription to either VampStampNews or RubberStampMadness

Anonymous - winner's choice: 1 year subscription to either VampStampNews or RubberStampMadness

Barbara Hoch from www.cistamps.com - $25.00 grab bag of our unmounted stamps

Bonnie from Really Reasonable Ribbon - 10 one-yard assorted pieces

Bonnie from Really Reasonable Ribbon - 10 one-yard assorted pieces

Bonnie from Really Reasonable Ribbon - five 2-yard assorted pieces

Bonnie from Really Reasonable Ribbon - five 2-yard assorted pieces

Cindy Fitzgerald - clear stamp set (Gem Stone Flowers (Inkadinkado) with 10 blank cards, envelopes, and three sets of layering paper for each card.

Cindy Fitzgerald - clear stamp set Circular Designs (Hero Arts) with 10 blank cards, envelopes, and three sets of layering paper for each card.

Cindy Fitzgerald - clear stamp set Asian Characters (Inkadinkado) with 10 blank cards, envelopes, and three sets of layering paper for each card.

Cindy Fitzgerald - clear stamp set Cherry Blossoms (TPC Studio) with 10 blank cards, envelopes, and three sets of layering paper for each card.

Cindy Fitzgerald - Decorated card box of handmade Birthday greetings

Cindy Fitzgerald - Name Frame custom made for winner (choose name and colors), approx. 4" x 12", inside is like a decorated scrapbook page with the name being the focal point

Cynthia Sillitoe - postage stamp mixes. 200 U.S. and worldwide postage stamps perfect for adding to ATCs, etc.

Cynthia Sillitoe - postage stamp mixes. 200 U.S. and worldwide postage stamps perfect for adding to ATCs, etc.

Cynthia Sillitoe - postage stamp mixes. 200 U.S. and worldwide postage stamps perfect for adding to ATCs, etc.

Debbie Bacca - handmade lampwork bead pendant

Debbie Littlejohn - Avon Package: pouf and body wash, vanilla scent

Debi-Ellen Beckett - Avon Bath and Body Package, Cherry Blossom scent

Frantic Stamper - pkg of clear stamps

Frantic Stamper - pkg of clear stamps

Frantic Stamper - pkg of clear stamps

jambalayarubber@hotmail.com - $25.00 (grab bag) collection of mounted stamps from Stubby Stampers

jambalayarubber@hotmail.com - $25.00 (grab bag) collection of mounted stamps from Stubby Stampers

JannieQ - Box full of Asian-type papers to use for making cards and ATCs

Jhone - $25 worth of 'stamps and stuff' from JustJhone

Jhone - $25 worth of 'stamps and stuff' from JustJhone

Joan Hajek - Book: Stamping Tricks for Scrapbooks

Joan Hajek - $25 SU Gift Certificate

Joan Hajek - Retired SU stamp set: Happy Harmony

Joan Hajek - Retired SU stamp set: Love Ya Bunches

Julie Casto - fiber packages: 20 yards, 2 yards of each kind

Julie Casto - fiber packages: 20 yards, 2 yards of each kind

Kimmi Lohman - EZ Mount Stamping Set: Kindness (28 Stamps) $35.00 value

Linda Verdier - $45 Digital Scrapbooking Kit.

Linda Yamakido - 6 Cuttlebug Embossing Folders

MaVinci - one sheet of rubber, $32 value taken from http://mavinci.net/id94.html OR http://mavinci.net/NewPlates.html

MaVinci - one sheet of rubber, $32 value taken from http://mavinci.net/id94.html OR http://mavinci.net/NewPlates.html

MaVinci - one sheet of rubber, $32 value taken from http://mavinci.net/id94.html OR http://mavinci.net/NewPlates.html

Paula Panart - Close to My Heart Clear Stamp Set # D1183 Adorable

Paula Panart - Close to My Heart Clear Stamp Set #D1228 Chillin'

Paula Panart - Close to My Heart Clear Stamp Set #D1255 Thoughts of You

Sandra Luck/QwikArt.com - 1 sheet of rubber our choice - a $20 value

Sandra Luck/QwikArt.com - 1 sheet of rubber our choice - a $20 value

Sharon Graff - handmade polyclay angels set

Squigglefly (Holly Young) - original, signed artwork by Squigglefly artists

Squigglefly (Holly Young) - seven digital images (this includes sets) $30 value

Stampo - Viva Las Vegas stamps - $25 Pound o' Rubber

Stephanie Brodersen - hand-crocheted market bag

Stephanie Brodersen - hand-crocheted scarf

Vincentia Faddis - a pack of Sizzix embossing plates

Vincentia Faddis - a 4-pack of small Cuttlebug squares

Vincentia Faddis - clear stamp set - 2 dragonflies with a strip of green self-stick rhinestones

Vyx Deloy Wooton - Ladies size 3XL short sleeve t-shirt. Colors are yellow, green, blue and brown. Classic Spiral Pattern Value $25.

Vyx Deloy Wooton - Ladies size 3XL short sleeve t-shirt. Colors are blue, green, purple, brown. Trees & Sky pattern Value $25

Vyx Deloy Wooton - Ladies size XL tank top. Colors are pink, orange, yellow, and lime green. Classic Spiral Pattern. Value $2

Nailing Baby Cards

Hi everyone! I hope your week is going well. The other day I went to a salon and had my first ever professional manicure. The reason I did it is because my sister in law told me about a new type of manicure she got called a gel or shellac manicure. She said the stuff is painted on your nails and then hardened under a light, and the manicures last a LONG time. She showed me hers after 18 days and it looked like she had just had them done. So, I decided to go and try it myself. I don't mind paying for a manicure if they last that long!

Anyway, so far I'm really pleased. It's definitely helped the strength of my nails! While I was there, the girl who was doing my nails chatted on about different things and she asked me about my hobbies and I told her that I make cards. She went crazy! she said she loves cards, and spends hours at the store looking for the perfect card and she wants to find cards that she knows no one else will bring. Then she told me that she had a couple of baby showers coming up and asked me if I'd make her some baby girl cards. Well, how could I turn her down? I don't get to make baby cards too often, and the fact that they are for baby girls had me sold.

Once I got started, I ended up making three for her to choose from. This first one uses the What's Up Duck image by Paulette Rich Long.


(click to enlarge)

I colored with copic markers and then flocked the whole thing. It's just fuzzy cuteness, isn't it? I added a couple of buttons for the rollers and printed the sentiment on my computer. The background paper is embossed with dots.

I used some of the same paper for the inside of the card and printed out a little poem about baby girls and added a little duck from the set of Baby Items also by Paulette Rich Long. There are about ten different things in that set, and I thought the little duck was perfect.

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The next card is an easel card and I used the Baby Elephant image from Squigglefly. When I saw the card that Rhonda made HERE with the elephant, I knew that I wanted to paper piece the feet and inside of the ears like she did.


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It's hard to see in my photo the pattern on the paper, but it's little flowers. The sentiment was computer generated and I added a big pink button to the "O". Once I had it finished though, I thought it needed a little something else on the front, so I crocheted a few flowers and stuck them in the corner. Little pink rain dots are in the center of the flowers. Doesn't it look better with the flowers?

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And lastly, I made a onesie shaped card.


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I used some designer paper for the top and added a punched border for an eyelet look. I think I may have made the leg holes a little too big, but it wasn't enough to make me do it over. I used the Happy Giraffe by Eline Pelinkhoff as a little applique on the front. I love that you can get digis so small - they work so perfectly for cards like this! Three silver eyelets at the bottom are the snaps.

These were really fun to do, and I hope she likes them. She's also asked me to make a mother's day card for her, so I'll share that tomorrow. oh - wanna see my nails?


Well, thanks for looking and have a fabulous Thursday!

Home Is Where You Hang Your Heart

Hi everyone. Well, the rain stopped and yesterday was a beautiful day. I am really thankful for the coolness the storms brought us. It's been lovely with temps maxing out in the high 60's and getting down in the 40's at night. This is what I call perfect weather!

Yesterday was a new teaparty on Splitcoast Stampers, and I joined in the fun. This week everyone was to bring a home for the newly wed royal couple to set up house in. I thought this little house from the Squigglefly set Houses would be perfect for them. The set of houses has five different ones to choose from and they are all cute, but this one looked so cheery and homey with the little flower boxes in the windows so I picked it.


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I colored with copic markers and chalk, and my sentiment is computer generated. I found a cute little heart button that complimented the sentiment perfectly and tied some embroidery floss through it. Since this image has such wonderful spring flowers blooming in the window boxes, I am also going to enter it in this week's Squigglefly Challenge. I know that you probably add a flower or two your cards so why not play along with Squigglefly this week too?

Not much to chit chat about this morning, so I'll just wish you a wonderful day and let you get on to more blogs! Thanks for looking!

I Heart The Featured Stamper Challenge

Hi everyone! Mondays come around too quickly don't they? We had a lot of rain yesterday and today and tomorrow look to be the same. I really feel sorry for people who live in flood plains because our ground is so saturated there is no place for this rain to go! It did make for a great day to be inside making cards though!

I thought I'd share a few cards I made for the featured stamper challenge on Splitcoast Stampers. This first card was for last week's challenge. HERE is the card I chose to CASE, and here is mine
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This cute Mouse Of Hearts is by Diane Carubia, the background paper is the brand spankin' new Heart Paper Pattern by Paulette Rich Long. I just colored in some of the hearts and glittered them. The sentiment is by Nina Brackett and is I Heart You. You couldn't ask for a better combination of images and sentiments could you?

My next card for is for this week's featured stamper challenge. She had a lot of clean and simple cards in her gallery. I chose to CASE THIS CARD, and here is my version

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I used the Loving Birds image by Michelle Bertuzzi. This image comes with a sentiment, but I chose to write my own with my computer. Super simple, and little coloring. I rounded a couple of the corners and called it done!

Can you stand one more? This one was fun to do, and another quick one! The card I picked was THIS ONE , and here's the one I made

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I used colors for the Outlawz Clean and Simple color challenge on the lamps. This is another Nina Brackett image called Bright Life. It comes with a sentiment too, but my sentiment was computer generated in Doris Day font. I made the lines at the bottom with the same colors of Copic markers I used on the lamps by holding a ruler down and drawing across with the chisel tip. The light blue line kind of got washed out in the photo, but it's there!

Today is a brand new challenge on Squigglefly's blog, so be sure to see what Vicki has challenged her team to make this week. Stay dry where you are, and thanks for looking!

Okay, I lied...

Hi everyone1 Happy May Day! Okay, I know I told you yesterday I'd see you on Monday but I'm back today because I remembered just in the nick of time to make a card for Squigglefly's latest challenge! Today is the last day to get it in! The challenge is to make a card that's black and white, and here's my card


{click to enlarge)

My image is the lovable Tini Time by Lynne Stansbery. I love this new Tini character she's created!

I colored with Copic markers and printed my sentiment out on my computer. The background paper is just some black dots I made into a pattern using Adobe Photoshop Elements. My daughter Chesney has a wonderful tutorial on making patterned paper HERE if you care to try it yourself.

Tomorrow is a brand new challenge, so I'm glad I got this one finished in time. So far, I haven't missed one single Squigglefly challenge! Now I'm off to see who today's Featured Stamper is on Splitcoast Stampers. I hope you find a little time to play in some challenges today too! Have a fantastic day, and thanks for looking!