Stamp Act

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

Lauren's Saturday Sketch Challenge ~ Make a Wish....

Happy Tuesday!
I did my card based on Lauren's ~ Saturday Sketch Challenge.   This was a really fun & easy sketch and very different as well.  In case you didn't know, EVERYONE can take part in these challenges.  It is a lot of fun and is well, challenging!!!

This was a VERY simple card.  The base of my card is Buckaroo Blue with a mat of Shimmery White cardstock and then the decorative, Imaginisce ~ Loves Me paper (you can find it here) on top of the Shimmery White.  I used my old SU! scallop scissors to cut along the bottom because the scallops are larger with those scissors than my cheap Michael's scallop scissors.  I must say though that the cheap ones work better than the SU! ones ever did!!!  I stamped the Elzybell make a wish sentiment using Basic Black and just below the scallop.  I added the same pink crystal star (these are really old but are just the cheap ones you can find at any fabric store) just above the sentiment, on top of the Celery, wide grosgrain ribbon and on the focal image.  I used Elmer's glue to adhere them.

The Elzybell image was stamped on Shimmery White cardstock, punched with my Marvy Giga oval scallop punch and then colored using my Prisma Pencils and Mineral Spirits.  This was my first time using my new pencils and this technique and I must say, I really enjoyed it.  I love to color and the pencils are so much more vibrant than the watercolor crayons and watercolor pencils.  Sometimes I really like it to be darker but markers are just too dark so this technique is really fun.  My next purchase will be some Copics.  I really NEED to get those!!! LOL!!!  I better get a job first!!!

Anyway, I used my Copic Spica clear glitter pen to highlight the star in Elzybells hair and actually stamped her on the backside of the decorative paper so Elzy would have a green dress.  I cut it out and adhered it on top of the image.   I had a heck of a time getting the "knot" to lay right so I took some white scrappers floss and tied it at the base of the long strip of ribbon.  I then took a smaller piece of ribbon, tied it in a knot and used some Elmer's glue to adhere it on top of the scrappers floss knot.  I then trimmed the ribbon.  I used glue dots to glue the bottom part of the ribbon down on top of the card and then just taped the top end of the ribbon to the back of the card.  I used dimensionals to adhere the Elzy image and the decorative mat.

Stamps ~ Elzybells;  Ink ~  Basic Black;  Cardstock ~ Buckaroo Blue, Shimmery White;  Decorative Papers ~    Imaginisce ~ Loves Me line;  Other ~ Wide Celery Grosgrain, Marvy Giga Oval Scallop Punch, Dimensionals, Elmer's glue, Karen Foster White Scrappers Floss, SU! Scallop Scissors, Prisma Colored Pencils, Blending Stumps (Michael's), Mineral Spirits, Glue Dots, Pink Crystal Stars (unknown)

Before I sign off, I wanted to let you know about a few cool things for you to check out!!!  The first is the most awesome handmade baby gift I have ever seen!!!  You have GOT to check this out ~ Lauren made the cutest gift for her friend that just had a baby girl.  Believe me, I love EVERYTHING Lauren does but this gift was just amazing so if you haven't seen it, be sure to check it out!

I just saw today that Gina K has posted her May~July design team call so if you are interested in trying out, check out the details on Gina's blog.  You know, you can't win if you don't enter!!!!

OK, now for my last notice!!!  Tamara, of Mothers and Daughters Creations, has all kinds of fun stuff coming up!!!  She has some blog candy, sketch challenges AND last but CERTAINLY not least, she is going to be looking for a guest designer for March!!!  This will be so fun!!!  We (Tamara, Jennifer and I) will be posting all the details in the next few days!  The challenges will begin on Friday night so stay tuned for more information......

Thank you for stopping by!

~Lynda

Sharon's Stamp Simply Challenge #19 ~ Scallops

Hi Again!
I have had this card done for a while and just hadn't had a chance to upload it!  I have not done any of Sharon's challenges for a few weeks and I so missed it so I swore I would do this weeks challenge and here it is~

This card was REALLY simple!  The challenge was to make a card using scallops.  You can find it HERE.   The base of the card is Chocolate Chip cardstock and the decorative paper is Basic Grey from their Urban Couture line.  All I did was use my Martha Stewart  decorative border punch and embosser along the bottom of the decorative paper.  I added a small strip of Whisper White cardstock under the punched/embossed edge and then added aged copper brads to the centers of each sprig (I am not sure what it is).  The brads are from Making Memories.  I free hand cut a sloped edge and did faux stitching along the edge.  I used my Basic Brown marker for the stitch marks.  Michelle, from Stampers Dream, sent me the BEAUTIFUL daisy stamp by Outlines.  I had my eye on this one and REALLY appreciate how thoughtful she is ~ thank you Michelle!!!  I don't see that she has any in stock right now but hopefully she will be getting more soon!  She does have  lots of new stuff in her store that could probably tide you over until she restocks this stamp!!! LOL!!! 

I stamped the image using Chocolate Chip Craft ink and heat embossed with clear detail embossing powder.  I then colored the image in using first my crayons and then my markers.  The crayons were not dark enough so what I did was use my Celery, Saffron and Close to Cocoa markers and colored an area and then quickly used my blender pen to spread it.  I kept doing this until I had the look I wanted.  I stamped this on Whisper White cardstock and then matted it on Whisper White cardstock (I wanted a clean, exact edge and I am not good enough to not make a mess when I stamped the image) and then Celery.  I used my ticket corner punch on the upper right corner and added the same copper brad.  I mounted this on the card using dimensionals and also added clear micro beads to the center of the flower by first covering the center with Crystal Effects.    There you go, EASY!!!!  Now you can't say I don't do some easy cards!!! LOL!!!

Have a great day!

~Lynda

From One Hot Chick to Another ~ Lauren's Weekend Sketch

I must fill you in on an amazing discovery I made today!  Even though it may SEEM that it is not stamping related, oh but it IS!!!!!  I bought a Swiffer Duster today and let me tell you, it works awesome!  My light fixtures were so dusty and this little baby cleaned them in no time!!!!  Now I will explain what this really has to do with stamping.......  If you are like me, cleaning gets in the way of your stamping time SOOOOOO this little baby will cut your dusting time in half and make it look like you spent ALL day dusting!!!   Appearances are everything!!!!  Yes, I know the $7-$8 you will spend on the duster IS money you could be spending on your creative habit but believe me, it will be well worth it!!!  You can thank me later!!!  LOL!!!! 

I do have a card for you too since I wouldn't want to just tell you about some awesome cleaning thingy and not share a creative thingy!!! LOL!!!!  This card is based on Lauren's Saturday sketch challenge
HERE! 

The base of my card is Whisper White with a mat of my most favorite For Peep's Sake paper from Imaginisce.  The first decorative pink mat is HERE and then I have another thin mat of Whisper White and then the blue striped paper can be found HERE.   The Hot Chicks is a rubon and can be found HERE.   The #1 is  Heidi Swapp chipboard and covered with the paper HERE.   The flower at the top and the flower adhered to the folded corner are from Target's dollar spot!  I stamped the "from" sentiment using Basic Black ink on THIS paper which is the back of the blue & white striped paper, then punched it out with my word window punch and then tied it to the #1 using Karen Fosters white scrappers floss.  Is this little chick the cutest chick EVER???  You know she ONLY costs a $1????  She/he can be found HERE.   She was stamped on Whisper White cardstock using Basic Black ink and colored with my BRAND NEW Prisma watercolor pencils!!!!  I was informed by my friend Jennifer that the Prisma pencils are awesome!!!   Well.... she was RIGHT!!!  I want to try them with Gamsol but couldn't find it at Micheal's so I went ahead and just used a blender pen and really, it worked just fine.  I stamped the chickee again on the floral decorative paper, which is the back of the blue & white striped paper, lining up the flower on on the chick stamp with a glitter flower on the decorative paper.  I then cut it out and adhered it over the flower that was originally stamped.  The flower next to the chickee is a rubon and can be found HERE.

The yellow daisy paper can be found HERE and then I added a "chick" strip from this paper HERE.   The focal image has a base layer of Soft Sky cardstock, then the pink floral decorative paper and then the focal image.  I mounted this on the front using dimensionals.  The sentiment inside my card says "to another" ~ Happy Birthday!   This paper isn't just for Easter!!!

Here is a picture of my favorite chicken ~ Cutie Patootie  that I forgot to upload yesterday~

Isn't she cute?!?!?!  She lets me pet her and actually begs when I take "science" projects out to feed them!  She will stand on my feet and rub up against my legs.  It is hilarious!!!  Here is my second favorite ~ her name is Whitey.  She is one of our oldest chickens and last summer she had a broken foot (we think the horse stepped on her foot) so I carried her around for a month and she is now doing great!!!

I hope you all have a great day and check back tomorrow as Lindsey and I are going to do a spotlight on some products from her Store!   Thanks for stopping by!

~Lynda

Gina K's Sketch Challenge ~ For Peep's Sake!!!!

I will make a promise, I WON'T use this Imaginisce paper again for a while!!!!  Now how long a while is, I am not sure but I will use something else FOR SURE on my next post!!!!  As you can tell, I LOVE this paper!!!!
This card is for Gina K's sketch challenge, HERE, for her new release party Saturday night.

The base of my card is Soft Sky cardstock in which I trimmed about a half inch off of the front flap because that is what Carolyn's instructions said to do and I ALWAYS follow the instructions!!!! LOL!!!  Actually, I did follow them on this one!  On the front I first used a strip from THIS paper which has polka dots and glitter stripes on the edge.  The strip with the chicks across the bottom is also from that paper.  I then used THIS daisy paper by cutting it to leave points on the side and then mounted it on top so the dots and stripes would show through.  The dog tag was made using a metal dog tag I had in which I first printed the sentiment on the back of THIS paper which is a gingham yellow color and then I traced the tag around the printed sentiment, cut it out and used some yellow fiber I had and tied it on.

The image is a Gina K image by Carolyn King (AKA ~ Cammie) HERE.  I stamped it on Whisper White using Basic Black ink and then colored with my watercolor crayons and a blender pen.  I sponged Soft Sky ink around the edges as well.  After coloring, I mounted this image first on Saffron and then Soft Sky cardstock.  The soft sky flower is from Prima and the small white flower is from Imaginisce.  The brad is a miscellaneous brad I had.  I mounted the flower on the top using a dimensional. 

Thanks for looking and I will be back soon with my featured stamper card!!!

~Lynda

Lauren's Saturday Sketch Challenge....

I really liked Lauren's sketch this week!  It is a really different and fun layout.  You can check it out HERE!   Here is my card based on the sketch in which you WILL notice that I "pretty much" followed the instructions!  LOL!!!

I just HAD to use my new Imaginisce decorative papers again!  Oh my gosh are they beautiful.  You can't see it in my picture but the daisy's on the decorative paper have glitter in the centers of all of the flowers!!!  This paper is from Imaginisce's ~ For Peep's Sake line and the blue daisy paper is called Drapin' Daisies and can be found in my friend Tamara's store ~ HERE.   This paper is 2-sided and the decorative Celery color piece is actually the back side of the daisy side.    The base of my card is Whisper White with first a mat of Celery cardstock and then I added the blue daisy patterned paper.  The decorative celery piece is matted with Whisper White cardstock.  The half circles were done first using my 1" circle punch on the base of the Whisper White cardstock and then I used my 1 1/4" circle punch on the decorative celery piece.  I was able to get the circles somewhat even by first punching the half circles from the decorative green piece (I was able to do this quite easily because the squares were even so I was able to line it up). I was then able to line up the punches on the white by  using my 1 " circle punch, lining it up under the first green arch where I wanted it to be and then punching.  I then took my first half circle punch from the white and then adhering it under the second green arch where it was even and then punched using my 1" circle punch.  Does this make sense?????

I bought the ribbon at Michael's some time ago.  The "for you" sentiment (Fancy Flexible Phrases) in the bottom right corner was  first stamped on THIS piece of Imaginisce paper using Soft Sky ink and then punching it out using my word window punch.  I can't remember where I got the daisy brad ~ sorry....  The two circles under the 2 arches are actually from the same paper I stamped my sentiment on and can be found HERE.   This sheet has all kinds of darling images and words that you can use!  I punched the butterfly and flower out using my 3/4" circle punch and mounted these on dimensionals.

The flower stamp is also from Imaginisce and match the papers perfectly!  Tamara brought me the little Chick tonight and I will be using that soon!!!  The flowers can be found HERE AND the stamps are only $1.00 each!!!  I stamped the flowers on Whisper White cardstock using Basic Black ink and then colored with my Soft Sky, Saffron, Cameo Coral and Celery ink pads and a blender pen.  I accented the flowers and stems using my Copic glitter pens.  The butterfly and ladybug are from a set Jennifer sent me and is by Autumn Leaves.  I stamped them again on a scrap piece of Whisper White and then cut out their wings.  I glued the wings on top of the images and colored them as I did the flowers.  This gives them a 3-D look.  I added a dot of Crystal Stickles in the center of the daisy and was done!

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

~Lynda

Sharon's Stamp Simply Challenge #16 ~ Long and Low

Hi!!!!
Oh my gosh, we are having the most beautiful weather here today!!!  I need to take advantage of it and go outside for a while so I will post my SUPER easy card first!  I swear, this card only took about 10 minutes to make ~ REALLY!!!!  Sharon's Friday challenge was to make a card that is 6 1/2" wide and 3 1/4" tall.  The link can be found HERE!

The base of my card is Ruby Red with a mat of Buckaroo Blue (these colors match my Imaginisce decorative papers PERFECTLY!!!).  You can find the beautiful decorative papers by Imaginisce, their Loves Me Line, HERE!   The paper is 2-sided in which on this card I used the patterns from both sides.  One side has different swoops with hearts and the reverse side has the coordinating polka dots and flowers.  I cut the swoop I wanted and then I cut another heart from the paper and adhered it with a dimensional to add some dimension.  The only other things I did here was to add the narrow white organdy ribbon with a small piece of pink grosgrain which I tied in a knot and then I added a little flower charm that I have had for ages by tying it on with Karen Foster's white scrapper's floss.  The last step was to add my sentiment in the bottom right corner which is a Basic Grey rubon and then I added a couple of ruby red crystals.

See, I told you it was easy!!!  Now I have to go throw the football with my son and then ride the peddle carts with my daughter and THEN I will need to take a nap so I will post my next card later.... LOL!!!!   Hope you are having a great day and thanks for stopping by!

~Lynda

Sharon's Stamp Simply Challenge #13

If you have not visited Sharon's blog, well let me tell you, you should!  She is SO creative and my next card was TOTALLY CASE'd from her!!!  She used her small square Cuttlebug embossing dies to make  simple yet beautiful cards!  I loved this technique so much and definitely wanted to give it a try!  My good friend Nikki bought me the exact set of dies for Christmas that Sharon used!  How lucky am I???  Anyway, here is my card for Sharon's challenge last Friday ~ to make a one layer card.   

This took about 3 minutes to make and it is beautiful!!!  The card base is Whisper White and the decorative die is by Cuttlebug.  I added 3 small blue Swarvoski crystals in centers using a little dot of Elmer's glue.  The sentiment is from Warm Regards and was stamped using my old SU! chalk inks.  The beautiful blue satin with grosgrain edged ribbon is from Flourishes.

I definitely will be making more of these!   Now that I have sent my Christmas cards, I need to work on thank you notes for the Christmas gifts and this simple layout is perfect!

Thanks for stopping by!!!

~Lynda

Just a little note ~ My first Elzybells card!

Have you SEEN these yet???  Oh my goodness, talk about CUTE!!!  Oh ~ are you wondering what the heck I am talking about???  ELZYBELLS!!!   Yes, I have jumped on the bandwagon and boy are these stamps fun!  My first Elzybell card layout is based on Lauren's (Mytime) Saturday Sketch Challenge.   The base of my card is Cryogen White and the decorative papers are Basic Grey ~ Lily Kate. 

I stamped my image and sentiment using Basic Black ink.  I used a blender pen and watercolor crayons to color and used a 2-way glue pen to adhere the white, Martha Stewart glitter.  I used my Creative Memories circle cutter to cut the image out and then used my Marvy Giga scallop punch for the mat.  The 2 pewter jewels are from Michael's and are actually for jewelry making but because they were 50% off, I bought them for my cards!!!  This was a very simple card which is always nice!!!

A month ago I took part in a swap with some SCS friends.  I received my swap cards the other day and boy are they beautiful!  The swap was to make our cards using stamps from the Holiday mini so I apologize that the stamps are no longer available but you can still be inspired by the ideas!!!

This card is by our hostess, Jennifer Meyer ~ Jennifer's Sweet Designs.   She was so sweet because not only did she send me the cards, she also included some awesome decorative paper that she has made some fantastic cards with, a stamp set and the cutest gingerbread ornament!  Thanks Jen!

This card is by Cindy Haffner.   She doesn't have a blog but does have an amazing gallery on SCS so be sure to check it out as it is FANTASTIC!

This card is by Loretta ~ Love to Create.   My picture does not do this card justice as it is BEAUTIFUL in real life!  Loretta has some awesome cards on her blog so be sure to check her out!

This card is by Diane ~ My little stampin's spot! I LOVE this paper and ribbon!  She added some darling crystal brads.  This card is just beautiful as well.  How fortunate to be included in a swap that generated such beautiful cards.  I had posted my card before but will include a picture of it in case you missed it.  Of course mine is the only one that is not Christmas!!! 

Thanks for looking!

~Lynda

Sharon's Stamp Simply Challenge ~ #10

Hi again!
I am making up for lost time!!!  The following card was made for Sharon's Stamp Simply Challenge #10.  The challenge was to use decorative paper and a sentiment stamp only.  I didn't use a sentiment stamp because the decorative paper has words on it!  I hope I didn't break the rules!!!  Anyway, here is my card ~

The base of my card is Real Red cardstock and is 5 1/2" square.  The next layer is Old Olive and the decorative paper is Webster's Page which I bought from Lindsey ~ Jacksonbelle Embellishments.   This paper is so beautiful.  The only thing I added to this card was the ornament!  The ornament was die cut from my Quickutz Revolution using Cryogen White shimmer cardstock from Cutcardstock.com.  I then cut Ho Ho Ho from the Webster's Pages and tried to center it (you will notice it is crooked!) and then added sticky strip to the top and the bottom of the sentiment.  I then added red micro~beads.  I also did this on the bottom tip of the ornament too!  I added Stardust Stickles to the flowers on the decorative paper and tied the ornament using silver cord.  It is hard to see but I outlined the Ho Ho Ho and Peace on Earth using a Sakura Clear embossing pen.  It shows up better in real life!  That's it!  See how easy that is!

OK, I am off to work on more things so stay tuned......

~Lynda