Escape!

Note: this is my second post for today. Please scroll down for my Waltzingmouse Stamps July Release Preview. 

Happy Wednesday everyone! Time for La-La's Weekly Wednesday Challenge! And it's a fun one! Our hostess is my dear friend Kim Yu, and she challenged us to try something new; i.e., a new technique we've been wanting to try but haven't had the time, such as a new card shape, hand made embellishments, altering images, etc. 

The hard part for me was picking just one! There are so many techniques I've been meaning to try but haven't. Since I recently took a Glimmer Mist class, I decided to go with that. I used three colors of Glimmer Mist to create the background mat. The blue, green and brown are meant to emulate the beach. What do you think? I kinda like it... and now I'm inspired to try a few of the other Glimmer Mist techniques I learned.

My card features Summer Bill and Maya. I just love those two! They are so much fun to color! I don't know about you, but I'd like to ESCAPE to the beach. Perhaps we'll venture forth this weekend, although it's going to be PACKED for the 4th of July holidays. The colors and theme also go nicely with the inspiration challenge at Whimsical Wednesdays: The Diedrich Dare!

Since Kim used Banjo Maya on her card today, she is 20% off until next Tuesday! Banjo Maya is another of my faves. (*grin*)

So why not take the plunge and try something new this week? By playing in our challenge, you have a chance to win a $10 voucher to spend on rubber in the La-La Land Crafts store and/or a Top 3 badge! Be sure to pop over to the La-La Land Crafts blog for all the details and to see all the other fun cards created by the design team!

Before I go, I want to let you all know that this is my last post as a member of the La-La Land Crafts design team. I've decided to step down after a wonderful nine-month run. I'm proud to say that I was one of the first design team members, starting out when Irina opened the doors to La-La Land Crafts. I was THRILLED when she invited me to be part of the team. I LOVE the whimsical images of La-La Land and always will!

So this isn't good-bye. I could never say good-bye to Lala and Rosie and Maya and the rest of the gang. I'll just be posting from now on as a fan. I'll look forward to future releases and seeing what the design team comes up with.

So thank you Irina for a truly magical time in La-La Land! I wish you and the rest of the design team all the best! Hugs, dear girl. And Cheers!!!

Waltzingmouse Stamps July Release Previews - Day 3

Welcome to our third and final day of previews of the SIX new stamp sets being released by Waltzingmouse Stamps tomorrow! We'll be kicking things off with a Blog Waltz at 2:00 pm Eastern, with chances to win prizes. I hope you'll join us!

I'm featuring Victorian Frippery today. I created the background panel with the background strip stamp in this set, which makes it SO easy to line up and get perfect results! If you're a bit timid like I was about stamping backgrounds, you'll want to take a peek at the tutorial Claire posted up on her blog. It definitely helps to have a rubber mat underneath and to pull the paper toward you as you progress rather than reaching to stamp. It gives more even pressure for better results.

The circle is also part of this gorgeous stamp set, which cuts out perfectly with your circle Nesties. There are lots of greetings, bits and pieces included that you will LOVE playing with.

I thought Merci's Sketch Challenge #80 was the perfect sketch for this stamp set.

Be sure to click around to see what Claire, Belinda, Bonnie, Anya, Julia, Carly, Jennifer, Lynn, Laurie and Edna have created to delight and inspire you today. I know I'm enjoying the previews as much as everyone else!

See you tomorrow for the new release Blog Waltz!

Waltzingmouse Stamps July Release Previews - Day 2

Welcome to our second day of previews of the new stamp sets being released by Waltzingmouse Stamps on Thursday! I don't know about you, but I was wowed by the amazing creations we saw yesterday. I stand in awe of the talented designers on the Waltzingmouse Stamps design team. And of course, what else can we do but bow towards Ireland when it comes to Claire's fantastic art!

Today, I have the pleasure of showing you one of my favorite stamp sets ever... Rescue Remedies! There are five different labels (which coordinate perfectly with Spellbinders Labels 4 dies!), each with a wonderfully clever saying that goes with one of five different sorts of reasons for sending a card or gift to someone. You'll have to be sure to click around to all the design team posts to see if you can spot all five!

I used the Syrup of Kindness label, which makes a perfect... and unique... thank-you card. The sketch is Card Patterns Sketch 70. The DP is more of that luscious Websters Pages paper that I love so much. The roses are by Prima.

I'll see you again tomorrow with another preview! In the meantime, please be sure to see what these lovely ladies have come up with  to delight and tempt you:
Claire, Belinda, Bonnie, Anya, Julia, Carly, Jennifer, Lynn, and Edna.

P.S. Please scroll down for my Tiddly Inks card.

Have a wonderful day my friends!

Play All Day!

Play all day... now that sounds good to me! And that's just exactly what kids should be doing during the summer... playing all day. That's what wonderful childhood memories are made of.

Today is sort of a sad day for me because this is my last card/post as a Tiddly Inks Guest Designer. Boo hoo! But all good things must come to an end. I don't really think of this as good-bye because I will always LOVE Tiddly Inks images and will continue to play with them as often as I can. Thanks to the incredible generosity of Christy Croll, the amazing artist and owner of Tiddly Inks, I have plenty to play with! And I will no doubt add to my collection as she produces more irresistible images.

So thank you Christy, a million times over, for the privilege of being a part of your team for the past few months. It's been a truly wonderful experience. And to the Tiddly Inkers, all I can say is that I stand in awe of your incredible art and will continue to follow you all. I can't wait to see what the future holds!

Before I go, though, let's celebrate... why don't you join us this week in the Tiddly Inks Challenge, which is to use the colors red, white and blue in your cards/projects? You'll have a chance to win a $10 voucher to spend in the Tiddly Inks store and a Top 3 badge! Plus, who wouldn't want to play with these adorable images?

My card features Going Swimming Boy (there's also a Going Swimming Girl), which I think is just the cutest thing ever! I played with the Sketch Saturday Week 109 sketch. The DP and chipboard elements are from the Block Party Collection by Bo Bunny, which I love love love! That cool ribbon is something I picked up at CKC from the "Ribbon Lady." If you've been to any expos, you might know her... she's the one who sells all sorts of name brand ribbon for 50 cents a yard. It's ribbon heaven!

Be sure to stop by and see what the rest of the Tiddly Inkers came up with using red, white and blue. These girls will knock your socks off, I promise!

Betty: The Scrap Happy Witch 

Emma: Something Sweet

Larissa: Car-D-elicious

Lissa: The Purr-fectionist Crafter

Lysa: Lysa's Crafty Creations

Ria: Treat Yourself

Carrie: Carrie's Creative Cards

Tammy: Life...Enjoy It!

And of course the artist herself: Christy Croll!

Have a Tiddly Tuesday!

Waltzingmouse Stamps July Release Previews - Day 1

Oh, I'm so excited! It's that time again... time for another fantastic release at Waltzingmouse Stamps! Six must-have stamp sets will be released on July 1st!! Over the next three days, Claire and design ladies are going to preview the new sets for you. If you have a hat on, hold onto it because the previews and new stamp sets are going to blow you away!

I've started with Asian Garden Additions, a wonderful companion set to the very popular Asian Gardens. It's so much fun! My card is very simple, but the images make it pop. I "borrowed" the branch from the Asian Gardens stamp set. You will definitely want to put Asian Garden Additions in your basket on Thursday, no doubt about it! Don't you love the font?

And, guess what else! We are announcing today that the lovely Carly Robertson has joined the Waltzingmouse Stamps Design Team! We're so happy to have Carly aboard. If you haven't already seen her beautiful art, you are in for a treat! And if you have, you are in for even more of a treat as she shares more Waltzingmouse loveliness with you!

And yet more good news! The wonderfully talented Edna Morrisedie (whose Avatar I love love love!) is joining us as Guest Designer for the July release! What treats she has in store for you!

And finally, back by popular demand, is the FREE SHIPPING offer. From Thursday July 1st to Saturday July 3rd, there will be free shipping on orders over £50GBP (that's approx $75USD, $86.20AUD, $78 CAD and €61 Euros at today's rate from XE.com , subject to change). Woo hoo!!!

Now, on you go to see what Claire, Anya, Julia, Carly, Jennifer, Edna, and Laurie have created to tantalize you!

Best wishes for a fabulous Monday!

Angel Lala

 A blessed Sunday to you! This is the day that the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!

This week's challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ is hosted by the beautiful Randi Barrett. Randi chose as the inspiration scripture Isaiah 53:5 "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon Him; And with His stripes we are healed." The challenge is to use stripes on your card/project. 

Randi wrote a wonderful devotional on this scripture, which completely resonates with me. I hope you'll jump over to the Stampin' Sisters in Christ blog to read it and to see the rest of the beautiful creations made by the design team. I do believe you will be blessed!

My card's stripes are in the embossing... I used Tim Holtz Alterations Sizzix Texture Fades Rays. The sketch is Our Creative Corner's Sketch Challenge 21. I thought it was the perfect setting for Angel Lala and this week's La-La's Weekly Wednesday Challenge which is for everything except the image to be white. Okay, so I cheated a tiny bit with the kraft... and the leaves behind the roses...but it's pretty close!

I missed posting my card for La-La's Weekly Wednesday Challenge on Wednesday, so I'm catching up now. I hope you'll take a peek at what the rest of the La-La Land Crafts Design Team came up with for their white cards. They are beautiful!

Since the challenge hostess Jane Matsumoto used Happy Maya on her card, she is 20% off this week at La-La Land Crafts (Happy Maya, that is, not Jane!).

By playing in La-La's Weekly Wednesday Challenge you have a chance to win a $10 voucher to use towards the purchase of rubber stamps in the La-La Land Crafts store and to win a Top 3 Badge! You can use any stamps you want in the challenge, but you must use a La-La Land Crafts image in order to win a prize or award. 

I hope you'll join us in this week's challenges! Have a blessed day!

Bicycle Clock

 Top 'o the mornin' to you, and the rest of the day to yourself! 

We have a really fun and different sketch for you to play with this week at the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge!

I turned mine into a bicycle clock using this sweet bicycle image from the Free Spirit - Boy stamp set. I happened to have these leftover clock pieces from a kit... I only needed the clock works not the hands, and as any good paper crafter would, couldn't bear to throw away the rest of the parts "just in case." haha! The DP is by Bo Bunny.

The idea to use the bicycle image came from the I Want to Ride My Bicycle Challenge in the Moxie Fab World.  I've been wanting to try a Moxie Fab challenge, and this turned out to be the perfect partner to our sketch challenge. Woo hoo!

I can't wait to see what you create for both challenges! If we reach 100 players this week at the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge, someone will win a stamp set of choice from Waltzingmouse Stamps... and can choose from the July releases if they want to. How fun is that?!

Thanks for stopping by today. May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow, and may trouble avoid you wherever you go! 

Turn Your Face To The Sun

Happy Friday! We're back with a brand new Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge, and this one comes with a bonus... a chance to win a Taylored Expressions stamp set of choice!!! Woo hoo!!! The deadline to enter is Thursday, July 1st at 10pm Pacific, and the winner will be announced on Friday July 2nd during our next sketch challenge.

And it's a wonderful sketch to play with, don't you think? I love it! I really have a thing for square cards these days. I'm just sorry that my photos of light colored cards look so washed out. I've tried different things and just can't seem to get it right. I'll keep trying! Edited to add: Taylor suggested I photograph my card against a colored background, so I tried black... plus a few more tweaks with my photo editing software. I think it's better!


My card features images from the beautiful new stamp set called Summer Afternoon. This is a truly special stamp set... perfect for making quick and easy cards. The DP is from the Capella collection by Basic Grey.The circle in the top left corner is supposed to be the sun. (*grin*)

I look forward to seeing your card in this week's challenge! For more inspiration, you should definitely stop by and see what the rest of the Sketch Crew has created. I know I can't to see. It's always a delight!

Alice Wertz: Alice's Little Wonderland 

Jami Sibley: More is More
Lori Craig: Make a Difference 

Monika Davis: M.A.D. Stamper

Sherrie Siemens: Card Creme

and of course Taylor herself: Taylored Expressions

Have a wonderful day!

P.S. By the way, Taylored Expressions is having a great sale on several items... and there are lots of new items recently added to the store, like the new Scor Buddy and some fun new embellies... I've ordered mine! Can't wait!

Enabler Alert Enabler Alert Enabler Alert

In celebration of the official start of summer, Simply Betty Stamps is having a sale!!! From now through June 29th:

• Buy all six My Kids Emo World rubber stamps for $45... that's like getting one FREE!!!  Use Code 6EMOS45
• Buy all six DT Diva Digis for $15... that's like getting one FREE!!! Use Code 6DTDD15
• Buy all six My Kids Emo World rubber stamps AND all six DT Diva Digis for $50!!!! That's a discount of more than 30%!!!!!!! EMODTCOMBO

Woot woot!!!

Taylored Expressions Blast From the Past Blog Hop!

Yay! It's time for another Taylored Expressions Blast From the Past Blog Hop, where we showcase stamp sets released last year.

Since it's summertime, I reached for Beach Bum! Cuppie is kicking back, soaking up some rays... life IS good!! Makes me want to go do the same!

I guess you could say I embraced the white space in this card. (*grin*) I put sunglasses on the Cuppie using my Stampa-ma-jig, but first wiped the ink off of the... what do you call those parts that go from the main part of the frames to hook over your ears? I've worn glasses forever and I just realized I either don't know or forgot what they're called! But I think you know what I mean :). The DP is Rusted Sun by Fancy Pants, and the die cut sticker sun is by We R Memory Keepers.

Edited to add: I completely forgot about the color inspiration! But it must have been seared into my subconscious because... voila...I sorta actually used most of these colors in my card. (*insert sheepish grin*)



I can't wait to do the HOP myself! Have a BLAST!

Life is good!

Yes, it is! Especially since today is Tuesday and it's time for a new challenge at the Tiddly Inks Challenge blog! We have an embellishment challenge this week: use buttons and/or lace in your cards/projects!

My card features an adorable image called Everyday Princess... isn't she cute?! The greeting comes from Handwritten Sentiments. The DP is more of that wonderful new Olivia collection by Basic Grey. If I'd had a piece of black lace, I would have been good to go with both challenge embellishments, but the buttons will have to do.

Why not jump on in and play with us this week? There's a prize up for grabs... a $10 voucher to spend in the Tiddly Inks store! And all orders over $15 are 20% off!!!! You'll find all the deets on the Tiddly Inks Challenge blog. Be sure to hop around and see what the rest of the amazing Tiddly Inkers have created using buttons and/or lace!

Betty: The Scrap Happy Witch
Emma: Something Sweet

Larissa: Car-D-elicious

Lissa: The Purr-fectionist Crafter

Lysa: Lysa's Crafty Creations

Ria: Treat Yourself

Carrie: Carrie's Creative Cards

Tammy: Life...Enjoy It!

And of course the artist herself: Christy Croll!

Have a Tiddly Tuesday!

i love you

Happy Monday everyone! Remember to smile because we don't want to count our lives by weekends or we'll only have 104 days each year to be happy and enjoy!

Besides, it's time for a color challenge at The Pink Elephant!

And the color challenge is PINK AND BLACK... the official Ella colors!

Our showcase sponsor is By LORi Designs! Yep, it's the fabulous LORI Boyd who designed Ella (shown in my card) and her brother Sammy (as well as the Puddle Jumpers, Sugar Sticks, and Lollipops)! I can't tell you how much I LOVE to color Ella and Sammy... they are such a delight, they make me smile all the time.

I followed the Friday Sketchers Sketch 107, and used Prism cardstock and DP by Making Memories. I also used more of that fun Washi tape I'm coming to love, and this gorgeous rose I found at CKC... it's by Prima. FYI the perfect Copic markers for coloring Ella pink are R81, R83 and R85.

Please come and join us in our PINK AND BLACK color challenge this week! I'd love to see what you come up with! And be sure to drop by Die Cuts R Us to pick up your very own Ella and Sammy stamps. You will LOVE them as much as we do! For more inspiration, be sure to stop by The Pink Elephant blog to see what the rest of the Design Team created with our girl Ella! Go Team Ella!!!

Have a wonderful day, my friends!

I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me

True words, my friends. True words!

Today's challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ is hosted by our Southern Belle Candace Mitchell. Sadly, it's Candace's last challenge with us on the design team. Please be sure to click over to the Stampin' Sisters in Christ blog to read all about what's ahead for Candace and to read her thoughts on this week's inspiration scripture. We are surely going to miss her!

Candace chose as the inspiration scripture Psalm 119:105, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." The challenge is no stamped images...make a card with just words (a sentiment/verse).

My card features one of my favorite verses, Philippians 4:13. I came to especially love it while reading the Mitford series of books by Jan Karon, where it was often quoted, almost as a mantra to keep going in the face of difficulties. I can't think of a better thing to say out loud when we're feeling stressed or afraid!

The verse is a stamp by Verve, and the flourish stamp is from the Very Vintage Labels No. 1 stamp set by Waltzingmouse Stamps. That wonderful DP is from the brand new Olivia collection by Basic Grey, as are the border stickers and chipboard. I followed Fall To Layout 95 at Clean & Simple Stamping.

I hope you'll join us at Stampin' Sisters in Christ this week. Our sponsor is Paper Jewels, with a chance to win a $15 Gift Certificate to spend in their store!

Have a blessed day, my friends!

I Love This Cat

Just sayin'

Bravo!

Happy Saturday!!! It's time for another wonderful sketch challenge at the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge blog!!! I just looooooove Claire's sketches!

My card features the very popular Fancy Phrases stamp set, which just happens to coordinate with Spellbinders Fancy Tags! I made this card for a young lady who just graduated from college... not very traditional, but who cares? LOL! Plus, I have a "thing" for polka dots. (*grin*)

Please come along and play with us this week! You do not have to use Waltzingmouse Stamps to play, although of course we LOVE to see what you create with our stamps! It's lots of fun, and you might just be the recipient of the Top Mouse award! You'll definitely want to jump over to the Waltzingmouse Sketch blog to see last week's winners AND the gorgeous cards made by the WMS Design Team using this week's sketch.

Have a wonderful weekend my friends!

Posies for you... and a very worthy cause

It's me again! Did you miss me? LOL!

I just had to show off a card I made at the CKC preview crop yesterday... featuring these cute funky flowers I'm calling "posies." Don't you love them? It's a new digi image just released by Claudia & Company as part of the June digi release. You simply must jump over to the Claudia & Company blog to see them all and the CUTEST cards made by the DT. OMGoodness!!! They are too wonderful for words! And don't you love the instant gratification (and awesome price) of digis? I do!

Claudia & Company stamps (and digi images) are sold exclusively at Die Cuts R Us, which also offers an amazing array of papers, embellishments and other goodies, including some awesome paper sampler packs and coordinating Prism cardstock packs at fantastic prices!  Enabler alert: The Greeting Farm stamp sets are 25% off this week!!!!!

And here's another little card I made while I should have been cropping! (*grin*) This one features an adorable digi image called Macie's Rainbow designed by the fabulous LORi Boyd for a fundraiser called Mission 4 Macie. The proceeds benefit Macie and children with epilepsy and a rare disease called GLUT1. Please please please click on the link to read all about Macie and this rare disease and all that's being done to raise funds and awareness... and pick up your very own Macie's Rainbow digi image! How can you possibly resist? Even if you don't like digis, you can print them out on computer paper and let your kids or grandkids color her.

Thanks everyone! I'll be back again soon!

Burning Questions?

You might be wondering... hmmm, I wonder where Lisa's scrapbook page is for Ella's Pink Elephant challenge? Okay, maybe you weren't! LOL!!! But, just in case... I regret to say that I've stepped down from the Ella's Pink Elephant scrapbook challenge for now. I've got a lot of "projects" coming up and need to make room in my schedule.

I hate to do it because I LOVE that challenge (and LORi and all the girls on the team), especially since it got me going on my scrapbook pages again...but I will try to play along whenever I can. I am definitely getting back into scrapbooking, but it's sort of a process for me and not something I do well under pressure (LOL!). So stay tuned... you'll see some pages from me again, no doubt about it!

You should definitely play, though... LORi's got an awesome sketch for this week's challenge... and check out all the amazing pages created by the ultra talented design team!

You might also be wondering what happened to Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge. Well, we're just on a little vacation this week... but we'll all be back next Friday with a new sketch!

Don't forget, the special offer on Key Ingredients subscriptions expires tomorrow (Saturday, June 19th)... subscribe for six months and get a free stamp set designed especially by Taylor at the end of the six-month period (or by extending your current subscription for six more months). AWESOME!!!

And, since you didn't ask, guess where I've been for the past two days? CKC - Riverside with my friends Betty Roberts, Alicia Garcia and Kim Yu, that's where!!! Betty, Alicia and I did the preview crop yesterday afternoon, and then a 10-page class last night sponsored by various companies. Then I went back today for the start of the shopping and spent the day with sweet Kim! We shopped shopped shopped and took a 4-page class.

Even though it's a relatively small show (they seem to be shrinking with the economy), we did our part to keep crafting businesses going by spending too much money! Okay, can you really spend TOO much money on craft stuff? Nah!!! We NEED those things!

I scored the new Olivia and Oliver papers from Basic Grey at the embellish it! booth. LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! And there were lots of dollar deals, and so much other stuff, I've actually forgotten what all I bought! I know there are three teeshirts (buy two, get one free!)... one of which says, "Just Shoot Me Now" with a picture of a camera on it, which I think is hilarious, especially since I live with all males...and a funky watch in there somewhere, too! LOL! After I get off this computer, I'm going to immerse myself in the pleasure of opening my packages and drooling all over again... and then try to figure out where to put it all! Oh, and finish all those layouts that I didn't have time to finish in class... which is just about all of them. Fun!

Back soon with more! Love to you all!

Friends of Waltzingmouse Stamps Blog Waltz!

Welcome to the Friends of Waltzingmouse Stamps Blog Waltz! On the 17th of every month, we celebrate with our friends, asking them to join us in featuring their works of art using Waltzingmouse Stamps. And, of course, there are prizes to be won! One of the blog waltz participants will be randomly chosen to receive a stamp set of choice, and one waltzer who correctly counts the number of watermarks in the Design Team and Claire's blog waltz posts will be randomly chosen to also receive a stamp set of choice! You'll find all the details on the Waltzingmouse Stamps blog.

The fun takes place in the Waltzingmouse House forum... you find the links to the Blog Waltz participants in the June 17 Blog Waltz Link List and a place to chat and enter the "watermark" contest in the June Blog Waltz Chat thread.

The Blog Waltz theme this month is MASCULINE. Since I have two young men to whom I need to send graduation cards, I made one of them using stamps from the Free Spirit - Sentiments and Very Vintage Labels No. 3 stamp sets. I also followed the Clean & Simple Fall To Layout 94.

Note that I am a Design Team member for Waltzingmouse Stamps, so you may or may not see an asian lantern watermark in the photo of my card!

Enjoy the WALTZ!