Stamp Act

Happy Birthday Dad!!!

I think I am going to have to move! LOL!!!   I was born and raised in Monterey California with street lights, sidewalks, neighbors and the NASTIEST bug I can remember is what we referred to as a Potato Bug.  They were UGLY and lived in the dirt so the best thing to do was to not dig in the dirt ~ problem solved!  I now live in Virginia and have lived here now for 15 years!!!  I have experienced a Coyote grabbing one of my chickens right in front of me, bobcats, foxes, Black SNAKES (lots of these), huge snapping turtles, being attacked by barn swallows IN MY OWN BARN!, river otters, being attacked by my rooster (may he rest in peace), a hawk killing one of my chickens and then ME learning to load and unload the shotgun so I can protect my kids and animals!!!  OMG, what has become of me!! LOL!!!  What brings me to mention my moving (just kidding of course) announcement all started on Saturday when I ran in to town.  It all started innocent enough and when I was about 4 miles from my house (I live in a very rural area) I look and right on the side of the road is a very large black bear!  No, it was not dead, it was standing there waiting to cross the road!!!  As I was sitting in the middle of the road trying figure out why I lived here, the bear very leisurely walks across the road to the driveway of the only house in the area.  It actually was exciting by scary too!!!  I am sure there will come a time that we have one on our property.....  Then, this morning there was a SNAKE in our pool!!!  The kids and I were busy retrieving the frogs from the pool and then I look and there was a snake!!!!  Mary started crying and telling me that she is NEVER going in the pool again, Joey, my hero, was telling me to get it out, get it out!!!!  LOL!!!  As I was getting ready to fish it out, I thought we better check to make sure it wasn't a Copperhead because if it was, I would need to kill it!!!  Oh fun.....  It wasn't a Copperhead so it was safely released back in to the wild!!!   And to think I used to dress pretty nicely, had my nails done and actually wore jewelry!!!!  Not anymore!  I wear jeans, shorts and t-shirts, don't wear jewelry ~ why? do the animals care?? and nails, what nails?!?!?  LOL!!!    OK, sorry, went off track for a minute there!!!  I made this card for my Dad's Birthday that is coming up soon!
The base of my card is Chocolate Chip cardstock with first a mat of River Rock cardstock and then THIS beautiful decorative paper from Memory Box ~ called Grove.  The next vertical mat is first Chocolate Chip and then the same decorative paper.  The horizontal piece is first matted on River Rock cardstock and then another piece of decorative paper from the same paper pack.  I stamped the Inkadinkado ~ Three in a Tree stamp was stamped on Cryogen White cardstock using Chocolate Chip ink.  I colored using my Prismacolor Pencils and Mellow Moss & River Rock ink pads and blender pen.  The ribbon is from May Arts and was taped (Scotch) under the image and then taped to the back of the horizontal strip.  I then took a small piece of ribbon, punched a hole in the side of image and tied a knot on that side.  The Inkadinkado Happy Birthday sentiment (Lindsey is sold out of this one!) was stamped using Chocolate Chip ink directly on to the decorative paper.

I'll be back tomorrow with my card for Jacksonbelle's Design Team Tuesday challenge!  Thank you for stopping by!

~Lynda

Sharon's Stamp Simply Challenge #34 ~ Stitches!!!

It has been a LONG time since I have done one  of Sharon's ~ Stamp Simply Friday challenges!  Today, I did it!  The challenge was to sew on your card.  That's easy enough!!  I got a Janome Sew Mini for my birthday last month and this is just the second time I have used it.  I found that I did much better this time! 

The base of my card is Whisper White.  The decorative paper is from Melissa Frances' Ambiente Collection.  I used my scalloped scissors on the top green & blue piece and then just left the blue striped as is on the bottom.  I added a small strip of the striped blue DP, which I cut a scalloped edge on the top, just above the scalloped edge green & blue piece.  I then added Celery and Bashful Blue grosgrain ribbon.  I then sewed around the entire card.  I punched a scalloped oval, using my Giga scallop punch, from Whisper White cardstock.  The image is from Memory Box's ~ Vintage Garden Set.  I stamped the stem and "grass" using Celery ink.  The flowers were stamped using Bashful Blue ink in which I inked up the stamp and then stamped off on a scrap piece of paper.  After I stamped off, I used my Brocade Blue marker and inked the edges of the flower, huffed on the stamp and then stamped.  I added some bling, for a change, from Prima.   I also added a Clear Prima Dragonfly.   I then used my Creative Memories oval cutter to mat the scalloped oval with a piece of Bashful Blue cardstock.  I sponged the edges of the blue with White Craft ink to tone the color down a little.   Don't forget that Sunday is the last day for Mothers and Daughters Creations sale so stop on by!!!

I hope you all have a great weekend!

~Lynda

Memory Box Challenge ~ Thanks a Bunch!

Hi Again!
Yes, it is STILL dreary here.  Makes me want to take a nap and I would except I have millions of things to do!!!  My in-laws are coming Thursday and I must make my house and yard look as though I do do (not doo doo!!! LOL!!!) other things besides stamp!!!  I haven't been able to mow because it has been raining for days and you know, I don't get really excited about mowing when I have to wear my winter clothes so hopefully tomorrow it will warm up, otherwise, maybe I'll let the horse out and he can start eating around the house!!!  LOL!!!  This homeownership really cuts in to my stampin' time!  I did get this card done yesterday and it is for a Memory Box challenge that Rachel ~ Hope Stamps Eternal is having on her blog.  Here it is ~

This card is simple looking enough huh???  Well, it took me a loooonnnnggg time to finish it but if you decide to CASE it, it won't take you long at all!!! LOL!!!  I cut the scallop mat from my rectangle Nestabilities and I had this brilliant  idea in my head that I was going to make it look like it was matched up with the bottom mat, which is the same decorative paper.    I did, somewhat, achieve that but then I was lost on what to put at the bottom.  Out of the 5,000 different ribbons I have, none of them worked!!!  That's just wrong!  LOL!!!

The base of this card is Close to Cocoa with a mat of Chocolate Chip and then the floral piece from the Memory Box ~ Aerial collection.  I did cut the scalloped rectangle using my Nestabilities and the same paper.  I also matted the scalloped piece with a small piece of Chocolate Chip cardstock that I used so the focal image would pop a little bit.  I thought without it, the image was washed out.  The focal image stamps are also from Memory Box and are from their Vintage Garden set.  I images were all stamped on Shimmery White cardstock using Old Olive, Ruby Red and Close to Cocoa ink pads.  The flowers were first inked up with Ruby Red ink and then I took my Close to Cocoa marker and added some brown to the edges of the petals.  The "grass" and stem were stamped using Old Olive and the "butterflies" were stamped using Close to Cocoa.  I am not completely sure if the stamps I used for the grass are actually grass stamps but they looked really good!!!  I know the "butterflies" are actually flower petals that I stamped to look like a butterfly.  I then added some clear Heidi Swapp crystals in two different sizes for the butterfly body!  You are going to be AMAZED and YES, I did draw the antennas myself!!!  I know, I know, you are in awe of my free hand drawing skills....  Maybe, just maybe, if you practice enough, you too can draw antennas for your bugs....  If you need instructions, please don't hesitate to ask!!!  I used my Close to Cocoa marker to do it but I am sure, another marker MIGHT be OK to use.  I cannot guarantee it though.....

The thanks a bunch is from one of the SU! rubon packs and is brown.  I added another butterfly because I didn't know what else to put there and there was an empty space and I couldn't just leave it like that!!!  LOL!!!  Oh, I almost forgot!  I colored the butterflies using my Ruby Red and Close to Cocoa ink pads and a blender pen.

Thanks again for stopping by!

~Lynda

Seeing RED!!!

No, I'm not mad!!!  Actually, I'm pretty excited about how this card turned out!!!  Hope you like it too!!!  The layout is based on Cindy's MFT Sketch Challenge #24.   I kindof fudged on the sketch so hopefully I won't get in trouble!!! LOL!!!  Today, I used products I have purchased from Michelle at Stampers Dream.

Michelle has the most beautiful red, Memory Box paper pack called Flirt.  The decorative papers I used on this card are from that pack.  I used 2 patterns on this card that are included in the pack.  The base of my card is Basic Black.  I then did a mat of Whisper White but, I did not have the mat come down past the bottom of the card.  I cropped the bottom white piece to be even with the decorative flourished striped piece.  I cut the scalloped strip separately using my scalloped scissors and instead of having it hang with the scallops down, I faced them up BECAUSE, that is how the cowgirls dress has it!!!!  I was excited about that little detail!!!!  As usual, I added just a LITTLE bling!!!  The clear crystal bling is by Hero Arts and can be found HERE.

OK, do you not LOVE the double flourish at the bottom?!?!?  Oh my gosh I LOVE this stamp and am so glad I got it!!!  The stamp is by Hero Arts and can be found HERE.   I stamped it right on to the Flirt paper using Basic Black.   I stamped the sentiment (from Ride 'em Cowgirl) using Basic Black on another pattern of Flirt paper.  I punched it out using my small oval punch, sponged around the edges using Whisper White craft ink and then mounted it on the card using dimensionals.

The image is from My Favorite Things and is called Ride 'em Cowgirl and was stamped on Whisper White using Basic Black.  I colored her using my Prismacolor pencils AND I added Caramel Latte Flock on her rope by using my Quickie Glue Pen.   The flocking really made the rope look real.  I matted this with Basic Black cardstock.  The last step was to use my SU! photo corner punch and punched out from the same pattern of paper that the sentiment is on.  I added a crystal to each corner.

My Favorite Things is releasing 2 new stamp sets tomorrow night and later in the week, Michelle will have them in her store!  She has also re-ordered a bunch of the older ones too!  Check her store HERE later this week if you are interested!

Have a great night!

~Lynda

Thanks for making me smile!!!

Hi!!!
I hope you all are having a great Holiday weekend!  Today promises to be another busy day!  Joey has a football game today and I have LOTS of errands to run ~ oh what fun that will be!  Since I won't get to stamp later, I will share a card with you that I was able to finish this morning!

This card has a base of Lavender Lace cardstock.  The picture does not show the true beautiful colors of the decorative paper by Memory Box.  I matted the Sprout papers with a thin Whisper White layer and then Celery.  The ribbon is a pretty blue which I picked up from Target in their clearance bin!  I added purple crystals to the centers of 2 of the flowers on the ribbon as well as a larger crystal on the flower.  Of course I used my most favorite Quickie Glue Pen to adhere the crystals.

The image is from Whipper Snapper and is called Posies for You and is by Anna Wight.   I stamped the image on Whisper White cardstock using Basic Black ink and embossed just to the side of the image using my birds and flowers Cuttlebug embossing folder.  I also used my Score-Pal to emboss a line between the image and the flowers/birds.  I stamped the bucket and flower again on Whisper White cardstock using Basic Black ink.  I cut the leaf, flower and bucket out and then colored them using my Prismacolor pencils as well as my blender pen and Celery & Lavender Lace ink pads.  I mounted these on top of the first stamped image using dimensionals. 

I printed the making me smile sentiment from the computer on Whisper White cardstock.  I used my 1" circle punch, punched the sentiment out and then glued it inside the silver label holder using my Quickie glue pen.  I then ran the ribbon through, taped the ribbon on back and then mounted this on the front of the card using dimensionals.

Sorry for the short post but I need to get ready to go to the game!  Be back soon!

Thanks for stopping by!
~Lynda

CPS Challenge #56 ~ Vintage Memory Box......

Happy Tuesday!
I happen to check out CPSs' sketch challenge #56 and just HAD to play!  The layout is fantastic and I will surely use it again!

I just cannot say enough about these BEAUTIFUL decorative papers from Memory Box.  The pieces I used are from the Sprout Collection.

The base of my card is Old Olive with a mat of Whisper White cardstock.  I then added a beautiful lavender decorative piece from the Sprout Collection.  The strip across the center is Old Olive which I cut scallops on using my scallop scissors.  The striped paper is also from Sprout.  I punched an scalloped oval from my Marvy Giga punch and then cut an oval from another decorative piece using my Creative Memories Oval cutter.  I stamped the "branch" from the Vintage Garden set using my Chocolate Chip, Old Olive and Lavender Lace markers.  The birds are from Of a Feather and were stamped using Basic Black ink.

I added Prima  clear crystals to the centers of all of the flowers on the decorative papers as well as all four corners.  I used my Quickie glue pen to adhere them.  The crystals on the flowers are smaller than the corner crystals.  I mounted the oval on the front using dimensionals.

Stamps ~  Memory Box ~ Vintage Garden & Of a Feather   Paper ~  Whisper White, Old Olive and Memory Box Sprout decorative papers  Ink ~ Basic Black   Other ~ Chocolate Chip, Old Olive & Lavender Lace markers, Prima Clear Crystals, Quickie Glue Pen, Scalloped Oval Punch, Creative Memories Oval cutter, dimensionals, scalloped scissors

Have a great day!

~Lynda

Thanks A UNCH!?!?!?

Hi Again!
Here I am posting twice in one day!!!  I haven't been in the mood to stamp lately.....  I know, I know, I should go to the Doctor but I think the HORRIBLE ~ MLTHD (Mojo Left The House Disease) is now going away!!!  There is NO cure and NO pills to take but if you just take a break from stamping (I know, I am upsetting you now but it IS the truth), the Disease will go into remission.  Now, it can return periodically but there IS hope!!!  You just have to work through it and KNOW that you ARE NOT alone....   

Now you are probably wondering what the heck I mean by Thanks A Unch?!?!?!?  Here is my card and you will figure it out!

The layout of this card is for Lauren's Saturday Sketch Challenge HERE!   The base of my card is Old Olive and is 5 1/4" square.  The next mat is first Whisper White and then the UNBELIEVABLY beautiful Memory Box Paper from their Sprout  line.  I do want to pass on that in these packs of paper you receive 3 sheets of 10 different patterns of paper for ONLY $5!!!!  All of the packs have beautiful papers included.  The flower stamp set is also from Memory Box and can be found HERE!

The decorative corner was done using the technique I showed you last week ~ HERE.  I used Olive rubons from the new Love & Happiness set on a scrap of the decorative paper and then punched them out using my word window punch.  See where the unch came from?  I shouldn't have tied them like that but it was too late and the person who gets the card can move them apart to see what it is supposed to say!!!  I used White Scrappers floss to tie them on, added the same redish color crystals that I used on the flowers in the focal image and Olive Eyelets.

The strip toward the bottom is from another pack of Memory Box paper called Aerial which I mounted on Old Olive cardstock and then cut the bottom with my scalloped scissors.  The focal image was stamped on Shimmery White cardstock using Old Olive, Summer Sun and Pumpkin Pie ink.  The stem was stamped using the Olive and the flowers were stamped by first inking up the stamp with Summer Sun and then I rolled the edges in Pumpkin and then stamped.  The grass was stamped using Olive as well.  The redish crystals were glued on using my Quickie Glue pen.  The rectangle the image is on, I cut this out with my Nestablilities as was the scalloped mat.

Stamps ~ Vintage Garden ~ Memory Box            Ink ~ Old Olive, Summer Sun, Pumpkin Pie           Paper ~ Old Olive, Shimmery White        Other ~ Quickie Glue Pen, Nestabilities, Crystals, dimensionals, Scalloped scissors, word window punch, White Scrappers floss, Olive eyelets, Love & Happiness rubons, blender pen

Thanks again for stopping by and I will be back tomorrow!!!

~Lynda