Blogging With a Purpose Award

I received this award from my sweet friend Donna at Serenity in Stamping and from a new, sweet friend, Kim Evans from Stampin' With Kim. How very sweet are they both? I am honored that they would award this to me! Now comes the part I don't like. . .awarding it to others. I just don't like it because I hate to leave anyone out and there are SO MANY of you who deserve this award. So, I'm going to go about it in a different way. There are a few blogs that I visit that don't just have "eye candy", but actually share a lot of themselves and their thoughts. They really make me think or make me aware of things that I didn't know about. I award this to:


Julie Desper at Need To Stamp- Julie keeps up with a lot of blogs about Hodgkins Disease, being a survivor herself. She has really shed some light on a subject about which I know very little, and is such an inspiration. She also creates BEAUTIFUL cards! Stop and say hello to Julie!

Linda MacDonald at MacDonald Clan- Linda and I "met" through blogging and a common interest in music. Linda's blog is FULL of adorable stories about her children, comments on current and personal events and even some stamping, scrapbooking and other crafts. I always enjoy stopping by her blog. . .you will too!

Allison Fillo at Stampin When I Can- Allison is just amazing with all of the information she shares. I don't know where she finds all the time. . .and creates beautiful things on top of that! Go check her out if you haven't already!

Prettie Wednesday

Two weeks ago, Christie challenged us to create a card using acetate. As much as I LOVE acetate cards, it is so difficult to photograph them! I finally got a picture that didn't have too much of a glare. I used the Rainy Day Friends set from Paper Pretties. The oval piece was cut using the largest plain oval Nestabilities die. I actually cut two. . .one for the front of the card and one for the sentiment inside. I added Water Dew Drops to give the feel of rain. I love how the light shines through them on an acetate card. This card is on its way to Julie! Hope she likes it. Make sure you check out the other Prettie Girl blogs to see their wonderful creations! Today is my turn to issue the next challenge. My challenge is to make a bookmark. Have fun!

There are some exciting things happening at Paper Pretties too! Have you checked out the Stamp of the Month Club? If you're interested in being the FIRST to receive the newest Paper Pretties releases, you'll want to check it out! Also, our very own Julie is featuring a monthly Product Review! Not only will you get to see more of Julie's FABULOUS work, but the product that she's reviewing will be on sale! You don't want to miss it! Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day! SUPPLIES USED: Stamps- Rainy Day Friends (Paper Pretties); Paper- acetate, white (Georgia-Pacific), Prints Designer Series in Bashful Blue (SU); Ink- Noir (Palette); Accessories- Copic markers, Water Dew Drops (The Robin's Nest), slit punch (SU), oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Verve Sneak Preview

Did you see the first sneak preview of one of the Verve Visual sets that is being released on Friday, May 16? It is called Floral Whimsy. You won't want to miss 2 more days of sneak previews with the 3 other sets that are being released! Check out the Verve Visual blog for sneak peeks and a chance to win! Good luck!

Be Inspired #13

This week's Be Inspired Challenge put me in the mindset of a masculine card. I embossed the rectangle on the card front with my Rectangle Nestabilities and then cut the Bordering Blue/Chocolate Chip piece to fit inside. I stamped the image from Essence of Love in Whisper White Craft ink and then stamped the butterfly over top in Chocolate Chip. Make sure you stop by and see what Beate, Danielle Lounds, Dawn McVey, Jennifer Buck, Silke Ledlow and Susan Roberts have been inspired to create! I can't wait to see what they've come up with! Thanks for stopping by and have a WONDERFUL day! SUPPLIES USED: Stamps- Essence of Love (SU); Paper- white (Georgia-Pacific), Chocolate Chip, Bordering Blue (SU); Ink- Whisper White Craft, Chocolate Chip (SU); Accessories- grosgrain ribbon, paper piercer, Rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Can I Have Your Autograph?

I made this card to look like one of the stars on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. Hope it gives that feel. I used Stampin' Up's large star punch and the Double Ended Tag dies from Spellbinders. The stamp set is Great Expectations by Verve Visual. At first I scored the lines, but they didn't stick out enough, so I traced them with a gold gel pen. I thought this card would be perfect for a cousin performing in their first high school musical.

Be sure and check out the Verve Visual blog tomorrow for your first sneak peek of the new sets releasing this Friday, May 16th! I'm just warning you. . .you'll LOVE them! On a personal note, my husband and I are going out tonight for Mother's Day. We spent all day yesterday visiting our mothers/grandmothers, so my husband's taking me out as my gift. I'm so excited since we rarely get to go out without kids! Thanks for stopping by today and have a great day! SUPPLIES USED: Stamps- Great Expectations (Verve Visual); Paper- Basic Black, Kraft (SU), gold (DCWV); Ink- Onyx Black (Versafine); Accessories- Double Ended Tag dies (Spellbinders), gold gel pen, large star punch (SU), gold brads (Making Memories)

Happy Mother's Day!

Wishing you all a WONDERFUL Mother's Day!

Wishing You Success

I made this card using Julee's Mojo Monday Sketch. I used the Thankful Blossoms and Great Expectations sets from Verve Visual. The patterned paper is one of my favorites. . .the Felicity Collection from Scribble Scrabble. I LOVE it!

Well, today started out as a gloomy, rainy day here. Now the sun is out, so hopefully we'll be able to get outside for a bit! For those of you who have asked about Savannah and her allergies, she is doing MUCH better! She hasn't had the swollen eyes in the morning for the past 2 days. The doctor gave us some eye drops that REALLY helped, so she is doing well. Thanks for asking! Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a WONDERFUL day! SUPPLIES USED: Stamps- Thankful Blossoms, Great Expectations (Verve Visual); Paper- Felicity Collection (Scribble Scrabble), Really Rust, Chocolate Chip (SU); Ink- Burnt Umber (Palette); Accessories- Chocolate Chip wide grosgrain (SU), paper piercer, Chocolate Chip marker, 1 1/4" circle punch

Beate Weekend Sketch #47

I find myself using just a plain white card base more and more. I don't know if I'm just in a simple kind of mood lately or if I just really like that clean look. I'm sure it's a little of both, but I've noticed I haven't been using as many embellishments as I usually do. For this Weekend Sketch Challenge I used this little bird from the Anniversary Birds set by Verve Visual and the sentiment from the Great Expectations set. I thought the "hot stuff" sentiment would go well with a brightly-colored bird. The paper is from the Summer Stack (DCWV) and some Wild Wasabi. Make sure you stop by and see what Beate, Cambria, Jenn, Laurie, Lori and MaryJo have created with this sketch. I'm sure they will be fabulous, as usual. Thanks for stopping by today and have a WONDERFUL weekend! SUPPLIES USED: Stamps- Anniversary Birds, Great Expectations (Verve Visual); Paper- white (Georgia-Pacific), Wild Wasabi (SU), patterned Summer Stack (DCWV); Ink- Onyx Black (Versafine); Accessories- Copic markers, oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Giga scallop oval punch (Marvy Uchida), Old Olive wide grosgrain (SU), paper piercer.

Sweet, Sweet Donna

Look at this SUPER sweet RAK I received from Donna Baker at Serenity in Stamping. What a happy card to open up yesterday! Thank you so much, Donna! I just LOVE it! Your sweet words just warmed my heart. Thank you so much for thinking of me. . .and I like you too! LOL You are the best! Big HUGS!

Colorful Mother's Day

I was very inspired by Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge this morning, so I made this simple Mother's Day card. The sentiment is from the Made With Love set by Paper Pretties. I used a Great Big Brad from Hot of the Press for the flower center and dotted it with some Waterfall Stickles. Doesn't this color combination just make you happy? I know it makes me happy.

On a personal note, is anyone else having terrible allergy problems lately? As some of you know, my daughter Savannah has a lot of allergies, both food and seasonal. The past few days she's been waking up with swollen shut eyes. She rubs them terribly and her allergy medicine doesn't seem to help her where her eyes are concerned. This morning I had to keep her home from school because her eyes were not only swollen, but crusted shut. I hope she doesn't have an infection now due to the excessive rubbing. So, it's back to the doctor again today! Thanks for stopping by today! SUPPLIES USED: Stamps- Made With Love (Paper Pretties); Paper- Pumpkin Pie (SU), white (Georgia-Pacific), blue (DCWV); Ink- Pumpkin Pie (SU); Accessories- Prima flowers, Great Big Brad (Hot Off the Press), paper piercer, Waterfall Stickles.