February 28, 2007

{ Flowahbella Friendship! }


Still having FUN with the Bella images I've received! This is "Flowahbella" with a bit of *bling*! I've colored her with prismas/gamsol, doodled the edge with a fine black marker, and added a touch of glitter to her flowers. The patterned background paper is from a "Pocket full of Posies" stack with sparkles by Die Cuts With a View. The cardstock is barely banana and bashful blue from Stampin Up!
Other stamps used: TAC "Tag Tidbits" & Stampin Up! "Noteworthy" (friend)

February 25, 2007

For my KT Girl ~ { Miss YOU! }

This card was made especially for my daughter Katie. She moved to Hawaii last July and I certainly do miss her! Even though her favorite color is BLUE, I think she'll like this one.

I started with white cardstock and layered it with tiny polka dot patterned paper by SEI - Grandpa's Attic . The flower is created with an acrylic set by Technique Tuesday called "Loves Me, Loves Me Not". The set has 5 petals and I flipped over one of them, did my own doodling and stamped "MISS you" with my new PAPERTREYink set. Then added a little black & white ribbon to finish it off!

Today's Quote: "The best things in life are the people we love, the places we've been, and the memories we've made along the way." - unknown

February 24, 2007

{ Oh Happy Day! }

This is just a super simple little 4x4 card using my new sentiment set from PAPERTREYink. You gotta love this nifty text-style acrylic set...the first one produced by Nichole Heady's new company. This set contains 36 images with over a hundred possible phrase combinations and it sells for only $15.00! I ordered mine and had it in three days! And no, I don't get a discount for advertising, but, that's a thought! :) I already know I'm gonna want her next set!
Ok, back to the card details....patterned paper is Rainbow Leaves from the Paper Studio....and I've combined it with Stampin Up! certainly celery.

{ C H E E R S ! }


Another "FUN" card! My inspiration came from a terrific card that AmyR posted using this same stamp. Thanks to my super friends (Thanh, Michele, Kelly) at The Stamp Shack for sending me the cute Bella images! This "CosmoBella" is colored in with prismacolor pencils and gamsol. I "doodled" around the edge with a black marker to match the "cheers" tag. The tag is stamped using the {fun tags} set from TAC. The cheers sentiment is from the {tag tidbits} set. The martini patterned paper is appropriately named "Cheers" and it's a Karen Foster Design. I've combined it with Stampin Up! cardstock Cameo Coral and Tempting Turquoise.

It sounds like we're in for a winter storm here in Nebraska this weekend, so I'm camped out in my stampin room where it's warm and hope to post more creations later! Smiles, Pam :)

February 21, 2007

{ Aloha Smiles! }

This card was SO fun to make because I had two new stamps to play with! Last week Ethel (Vintagegal) sent me the CUTE Hula Mice stamp by Great Impressions. I "tried" to color it with prismas and gamsol, but I'm still learning. I wasn't sure what to do with the background and would sincerely appreciate any advice or suggestions you could give me. I'm thinking it's a little too much and too dark. The aloha smiley stamp is one that I picked up in Hawaii last month when I was shopping with Dori. Isnt' it CUTE?! And I totally adore this "Tiki Shack" patterned paper by Recess. I've teamed it up with Stampin' Up! cardstock & ribbon.
I think I should send this card to Shuggy since her family went to Hawaii without her! Poor girl!
Smiles, Pam :)

February 18, 2007

{ Creating with * Wild Asparagus * }


1)



2)










These two cards were created using distressed * Wild Asparagus * cardstock that I received in a PCMB Bingo swap. I adore the paper color combo, but think card #1 needs just a little more pizzaz! I thought of moving the sentiment up to the center of the card, but I've already stuck it down with SU dimensionals and they don't want to come off! : ) Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Smiles 2 U!

February 17, 2007

Results of 1:1 Card Challenge!

This first photo shows the awesome assortment of paper and embellishments that Donna (craftingcrazy) sent to me. Again, she made two "kits", kept one for herself and sent one to me. We were each to make a card following these "rules":

We could optionally use: 1) one punch 2) one additional embellishment 3) one image stamp 4) any means of adding a saying/words to the front 5) card foldover could be altered as long as the finish size didn't change 6) could use any tool to add visual effects 7) could use any stamp pads, markers or colored pencils 8) had to use items in our current inventory - we couldn't go buy anything!
Now, check out the photos below and see how different our cards are. Remember, we used the exact same products!
My card is the one above using the Stampin Up Big Blossom! My chipboard pieces are underneath the friend sentiment to give it depth. It was a real challenge for me to use those things!
Donna's card is below... isn't it AWESOME?!! The packages are stamped and embossed and she even decorated the INSIDE of the card!!! I love it!
If you haven't tried a swap like this, I totally recommend you do! Have a wonderful weekend & Keep Smiling! Pam :)

February 16, 2007

Thanks Shuggy!


This card was made with a new rubber stamp I won on Angie's blog { stampings of the shug }. I colored the image with prismas. Hope you like it! :)

February 14, 2007

My Sweet Valentine . . .


Isn't this one of the most beautiful Valentine cards you've ever seen?! I received it from my "not-so-secret sister" along with several other wonderful goodies! Yes, she's a sweetie and oh SO talented!!
The cardstock is by Chatterbox. I don't know if you can tell by the photo, but it has a texture that looks like corduroy. I love how she attached the sentiment. The heart shows evenly through the window when the card is closed, but I've got it standing up and slightly open.

February 13, 2007

Happy Valentine's Day!


Valentine's Day has always been one of my favorite holidays. Do you suppose it's because I like candy? ; ) This little candy twist container (aka sour creme container) was soooo easy and FUN to make. There is a challenge today on my favorite site "The Stamp Shack" and the instructions are posted there too. Check it out!

February 12, 2007

Not quite a Bella, but CUTE! Don't U Think???



My sweet DIL bought this American Art stamp on sale at Hobby Lobby and was kind enough to stamp some images for me. I couldn't wait to color her with prismas and make a Valentine. There is an entire line of these cute stamps. I wonder if she has a name? You know, like Bella . . . :)

Supplies used: Stampin Up! Pretty in Pink cardstock, KI Memories pink dotted paper, Happy Valentine's Day stamp is $1 stamp from M's. The little love tag is in a SU set - Love is in the Air and also used the Petite Patterns Background and stamped the tiny hearts with Versamark. For the oval under her foot, I used the SU small oval punch and made a stencil to color in.

February 11, 2007

My Organizational Tip of the Day!

I was reading one of my favorite blogs this morning imagine, dream, create and Cindy is offering this awesome blog candy if you leave a comment with one of your organizational tips. So, one thing led to another and I decided to share this tip with all of you!! My small scraps of paper are stored in these inexpensive Rubbermaid TakeAlong containers that are 6x9x2". They stack so neatly on the shelves above my work area. As you can see, some of them are quite FULL, but I really do use them a LOT. If I just need a small piece of a certain color, this is where I go first, before I cut into a full sheet. What do you think? Would it work for you?

p.s. don't forget to go over to her site and leave your tip for a chance to win BLOG CANDY!!! :) Have a GREAT Day!

February 10, 2007

FUN morning at SU workshop!
















Can you believe I've been to TWO Stampin Up! workshops this week!!! * gasp * Remember, this is SELL-A-BRATION where they tempt you with a FREE set if you spend $50!! How could I resist that?!! I really like both of these cards. What do you think? I love hearing your comments! :) I don't know that you can see it in the photo, but this card was dry embossed using the Simply Circles template. Supplies used: Certainly Celery, Pink Passion, Bashful Blue cardstock and ink. Simply Circles stamp set, ribbon tied on clip to finish!




Supplies used: Always Artichoke & Regal Rose cardstock. Happy Harmony & Print Pattern stamps. Colored stamp with markers, used white gel pen to accent the background, notched corner punch, ribbon.

February 09, 2007

Mission Accomplished!


I did it! If you've been following my blog for the last couple days, you know that I've been working on this *FUN* one-on-one card swap challenge. ("Rules" in previous post below)
I'm so *HAPPY* that it finally came together for me and I hope my friend Donna likes it as much as I do. Now, I'm off to put together a card challenge packet to send her!!!

TGIF!!! Have a wonderful weekend! Smiles, Pam :)

February 08, 2007

Check it out! I'm making progress...



This is just a "teaser" photo because I wanted to let you all know that I really am making progress on my one-on-one swap card challenge. Tonight, I've finally got my design figured out and I've cut into the precious paper! There is no turning back now... STAY TUNED!!! :)

February 06, 2007

Clever One-on-One Swap Idea!


This is the "BEFORE" photo of the project currently on my craft table. My friend Donna (craftingcrazy) in Oregon came up with this super clever idea of doing a one-on-one card swap. She put together two identical card kits, then she sent me one and kept one for herself.

These are our "rules": We can optionally use: 1) one punch 2) one additional embellishment 3) one image stamp 4) any means of adding a saying/words to the front 5) card foldover can be altered as long as the finish size doesn't change 6) can use any tool to add visual effects 7) can use any stamp pads, markers or colored pencils 8) have to use items in our current inventory - we can't go buy anything!

Doesn't this sound like FUN?! I know!! But, I'm struggling to get started, as I want to create a card worthly of these awesome papers! Stay tuned!! I'll post the finished card by Saturday, I hope!! : ) Keep Smiling! Pam :)

February 05, 2007

Let's be Friends . . .

I made 11 of these Valentine's for a card swap with my SU Stamp Club. This layout isn't my original idea, but one that I cased from MJ - one of my favorite swapping partners. She had used patterned paper on the bottom and a flower image over the friend stamp.

Stamp Sets Used: Stampin Up!© Lexicon of Love, Love is in the Air, Print Pattern
Itty Bitty Backgrounds
Paper: Black, Rose Red and Naturals White
Ink: Black and Rose Red
Embellishments: Black brad & organdy ribbon

It's been a long day and getting late. Tomorrow night I will post the cute cards we made at Stampin Up! Stamp Club tonight. TTYL! Smiles, Pam :)

February 04, 2007

Quickie Card to say THANKS!

I needed to make a quick Thank You card today and this is what I came up with. My DIL left this paper last weekend when she was here. (I hope she didn't want it! : ) It is "Playful Loops" by K*I Memories and I teamed it up with Stampin Up cardstock...barely banana and old olive. Stamp set used for the background is SU Simple Stripes and the tag stamp is SU Circle of Friendship. Sometimes SIMPLE is nice! :)

And once I find a simple design, I tend to make several cards with it, just modifying it as I go. Here is another with this design... a Valentine!

February 02, 2007

Nothin like a Nugget Box!



How totally CUTE is this?!!! I received this wonderful little gift from my dear friend Dori from PCMB. She found the template and instructions online at Splitcoast Stampers and created her own unique Hawaiian "Aloha" design. I love it and think it's just too cute to eat! Thanks again Dori!!!

February 01, 2007

It's February ~ the LOVE month!!!

It's hard to believe that it is the first day of February already! (I shouldn't admit this, but my outdoor Christmas lights are still up! It's been sooooo COLD here in Nebraska... that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it! :)-

Only 14 days until Valentine's Day! If you're looking for a creative Valentine's Day idea for a friend or loved one, you might consider taking advantage of the US Postal Service's love-themed postmarks for Valentine cards and letters. The postmarks are offered from several love-themed communities across the nation, and they are easy to obtain. Simply enclose pre-stamped, pre-addressed envelopes and mail in a large stamped envelope to:

Postmaster (Town Name)
Valentine Re-mailing
City, State ZIP Code

The following is a listing of a few of the Post Offices that are offering special "love-themed" postmarks:

Bliss, NY 14024
Loveland, CO 80538
Loveville, MD 20656
Loving, NM 88256
Romance, AR 72136
Valentine, NE 69201 (I've used this one many times! :)
Valentine, TX 79854
Valentines, VA 23887
It really is FUN and makes your Valentine's even more special!!

Below are a couple of Valentines I made last year. . .