October 31, 2007
Happy Halloween!
Happy Halloween Everyone! It's been a busy week with not much time for cardmaking and blogging, but I didn't want you all to think that I've forgotten you. Have you seen this CUTE cartoon? I received it in an email and thought I would pass it on to all of you with a SMILE! I hope you're having a FUN holiday today! Smiles, Pam :)
p.s. a few of us dressed up and brought treats for work today. Can you guess which one is me?
Quote for Today ~
"One of the worst feelings in the world is to show up at a costume party not wearing a costume--and no one notices." -unknown
October 28, 2007
Just PRICELESS!
This card is 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" (to top of circle). I used my DIL's new Coluzzle Cutting System to cut the circle in the cardstock. Also used the scalloped punch and layered 1-1/4" & 1-3/8" circles. I'm not sure that you can tell by the photo, but I've stamped and then clear embossed the images to give them some depth and gloss.
Yesterday, I signed up for an "E-swap" at the Stamp Shack to make a Christmas themed card. Our only requirement is to use something RED on the card. That shouldn't be too difficult, huh? I've got some new holiday stamps that wanna be inked, so stay tuned!
Have a joyful and peaceful day! Smiles, Pam :)
Quote for Today ~
"When I am wrong, dear Lord, make me willing to change, and when I am right, make me easy to live with." ~ Peter Marshall
October 25, 2007
Happy Boo to YOU!
Another Terrific Mail Day!
Tonight I had an appointment after work and got home late, but I was greeted by DH (aka Mr Wonderful) with dinner in the crockpot and FUN mail on the kitchen counter! :) Gotta love it!
This spooktacular card was made by my friend Nancy (directmailscrapper) in Maryland. She commented inside that MY card was her inspiration for this, but I would have never thought to do this! She's SO creative with how she added the additional circle on top to form a tab closure. The second photo shows the card open so you can see this better. It's just so super cute and I love it! Thank you Nancy and Happy BOO to YOU too! :)
And that's not all! I also received a large envelope full of wonderful stamped images from Jan (Far North) in Alaska. Wooo Hooo! As soon as I get one of them colored and create a card, you'll all be the first to see it. A BIG thanks to Jan for sending these my way! :)
Is tomorrow really FRIDAY already?! YAY! I hope you're all having a great week so far and finding time to be creative. Smiles 2 U! ~ Pam :)
Quote for Today ~
"May the light of your faith shine so that it will illuminate the heart of another." - unknown
October 24, 2007
Beeee....Happy!!! { Mojo Monday on Wednesday! }
Tonight I made a card using the "Mojo Monday Week #8 Sketch" created by Julee T and posted on her spectacular blog, "Poetic Artistry". She commented that it was a simple layout and it is, but I think it's great and will use it often! You'll notice that I turned mine sideways in order to accomodate the image size. Thanks Julee for the inspiration! :)
I purchased this adorable "Bee Trio" by Stampendous this summer and haven't used them nearly enough. They are so FUN because you can color them however you like to coordinate with whatever background paper you want to use. The "beeee happy" sentiment stamp is also by Stampendous ~ titled "Bee Message".
With the beautiful colors of Autumn all around us, I chose to incorporate them into this card. I've used Stampin Up so saffron, really rust and cranberry crisp. The patterned paper is from the Fall Leaves Collection by Adornit ~ Carolee's Creations. I've done some stitching around the layers and used the mesh Cuttlebug embossing folder to give it some added texture. I hope you like it and it makes you SMILE!
Beeee Happy! ~ Pam :)
Quote for Today ~
"Life is 10% what you make it and 90% how you take it." - unknown
October 23, 2007
Girls Just Want to Have FUN!
All Smiles ~ Terrific Mail Day ! ! !
Yesterday, I received the most adorable card from my friend Lesa in Massachusetts. It is a 4-1/4" square card with the cutest little image from Inkadinkado. She has colored the girls and added a sprinkle of glitter on their hair bows and on the pink scallops. I love it! And I'm so happy that Lesa is feeling creative, as it has been two week's since her first chemo treatment. If you have a minute, please stop by Lesa's blog, "One Voice, One Life, One Breast Cancer" and leave a comment or humorous quote to brighten her day and make her SMILE! :)
Last Friday, I received an email from my sister Judy in California titled "I'm a winner and so are you!" She was the lucky winner of a $20 gift certificate for a local scrapbooking shop and she asked what I wanted her to get for me. Seriously!? Obviously, I responded without hesitation and told her I could always use some Christmas papers. I'll be darn if she didn't go shopping right away, mailed them on Saturday and I had them already on Monday! Wooo Hooo! Check out this wonderful variety of beautiful papers...there is even one for "sisters" and a "30th" paper!(our daughter Katie turns 30 in December) How FUN! Now I can't wait to create something with them!
Also, I've received Suzi's holiday circle journal for Shuggy's swap and will be working on that this week. It's such fun to see how each person creates their two-page spread. Her theme is "holiday traditions" and we have several in our family so this will be a JOY to work on.
On a serious note, do you know anyone who lives in the southern California area where all these disastrous wild fires are burning out of control? My nephew is going to school in San Diego and told me last night that he is safe...about 15-20 miles away from the closest fire. My dear friend Tami at Dapple Designs lives by Lake Arrowhead and had to evacuate yesterday. I've been thinking of her all day and of all the others living in that area too. I cannot imagine going through this. How tragic to see the beautiful land around you burned to ashes, or even worse...your home and everything in it. Let's pray for them and their safety...and for all the firefighters too. God bless them!
I'm not feeling very creative tonight so may just browse a few cardmaking blogs for inspiration. Have you all heard of Google Reader? Am I the last to know about it? It is wonderful! And makes it much easier it is to keep up with new posts on all my favorite blogs. If you haven't already, do check it out. I promise, you'll be glad you did! :)
Have a terrific week everyone and Keep Smiling! ~ Pam :)
Quote for Today ~
"Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it." ~ unknown
October 21, 2007
Happy Fall, Y'all! {Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge #24}
This is my creation for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge #24. Her blog, "Fresh & Fun", is one of my favorites and she is one of the BEST of the BEST! Her talent is amazing and she continually inspires me.
For this standard 4-1/4 x 5-1/2 card, I've started with Stampin' Up Pumpkin Pie cardstock folded at the top. I layered on the autumn leaf patterened paper by Karen Foster. You may not be able to see it in the photo, but there is a sparkle around some of the leaves. This was a "free" pad of paper that I got at Archivers for spending $50 last time I was there. The image is from my DIL Jami's new Stampin Up set ~ "Seasonal Whimsy". I almost bought this set and wish I had! I love it! Here, I stamped it with my Pumpkin Patch Kaleidacolor Spectrum Pad. The sentiment "Happy Fall" is a little $1 Michaels stamp. I've layered Stampin Up cardstock really rust and ruby red. The edges are distressed with ruby red.
Happy Fall, Y'all!
Poem for Today ~
I love the leaves
I do not know why.
Is it their colors or how they fly?
They crunch and crinkle
Under my feet;
I pile them up
And take a leap!
-- Beth Paulsen
October 20, 2007
Creepy Crawly, Oh My Golly!
I tried to post this last night and the Blogger photo upload was down. What would we all do if Blogger ever bit the big one? Oh my! I shudder to think.
DH is making breakfast this morning so better go eat now. I'll be back later with another card creation I made last night for Beate's Weekend Challenge.
October 19, 2007
I'm Batty For You!
Are you happy it's FRIDAY? I am! :) Always love my weekends and this should be a good one! It finally quit raining and it's suppose to be in the 70's. You can't beat that for late October.
"I'll bet living in a nudist colony takes all the fun out of Halloween." - unknown :)
October 17, 2007
Hugs to YOU! {Heidi Grace Shimmer Glitter}
This layout is a take-off from the one I did last Thursday. For this one, I just turned the card sideways and put the tag on the top. It's a standard 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" card but I have cut 1-1/2 inches off of the front fold.
Would you believe I used FIVE punches for this one tag? :) That's just CRAZY! LoL First is the scalloped punch, then a 1-1/2" circle of choc chip. Next, I punched a piece of the flowered background paper with a 1-1/4" circle punch, then I stamped the sentiment on kraft paper and punched out the center of it with my 3/4" punch. After that, I punch the sentiment out with my 1-3/8" punch. I attached this top sentiment layer with mini glue dots. Then, to attach the tag to the card, I used Stampin Up dimensionals. (I should buy them by the case because I use them *all* the time)
My dear friends, since this card was created with all of YOU in mind . . . I would like to send it out to one of you faithful blog readers. Please just leave a comment on this post with a link to your blog or gallery... or your favorite stamping website! I'll do a random draw, if necessary. :)
Quote for Today ~
"Count your blessings. Once you realize how valuable you are and how much you have going for you, the smiles will return, the sun will break out, the music will play, and you will finally be able to move forward the life that God intended for you with grace, strength, courage, and confidence." ~ Og Mandino
October 15, 2007
Enjoy Life! { Feel the Mojo! }
Once I saw the sketch, it didn't take me long to create this card because I knew which paper I wanted to use. It is "Dried Flowers" by SandyLion, layered onto Stampin Up Close to Cocoa.
The sentiment is from an acrylic set called "Greetings Squares" by Impression Obsession. I've stamped it on a piece of the same patterned paper and punched it out with the 1-1/2" circle, layered with the scalloped circle. Added some zig-zag stitching, the ribbon, a couple brads...and wala!
I'm late posting a card tonight because I needed to bake some goodies for Boss's Day tomorrow. I got it in my head to "decorate" my bars by writing "Happy Boss's Day Kevin!" with frosting. I don't know what came over me to do this, but let me tell you I DON'T have cake decorating mojo tonight! :) Next time I'll know to leave well enough alone! And, don't even ask for a photo!!! :) Luckily, the guys at work will eat anything! :)
Have a fantastic week everyone and thanks for stopping by today! Smiles 2 U, Pam :)
Quote for Today ~
"Higher Purpose"
People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.
~ Author Unknown
October 14, 2007
Hooked on Halloween! {Little Witch by Lockhart Stamp Co.}
I do want to say a big THANK YOU to the Creative Team at the Shack as they go above and beyond in getting everyone motivated to participate in these challenges. YOU GO GIRLS!
Are you all enjoying your weekend? It's cold and rainy here in Nebraska and our beloved Huskers are having their worst season ever, but ... life goes on! :) Hey, I'll bet you all would help me with my most recent "mission" to find humorous quotes. My dear friend Lesa who I told you about yesterday, emailed me and said she needs HUMOR! I am going to *try* to send her one humorous quote each day. For instance, today I sent her "Somedays you're the dog and some days you're the hydrant." : ) I hope it made her smile! Anyway, will you help me? If you have a favorite humorous quote, please email me or leave a comment on this thread. I would appreciate it! !! Smiles 2 U All ~ Pam : )
Quote for Today ~
"A truly charming person never has time for envy, self-pity, or gossip." ~ Loretta Young, actress
October 13, 2007
Hope for Hooters! { Going Pink for Lesa }
What an inspiration she is!
My dear friend Lesa in Massachusetts, an avid rubber stamper and cardmaker, found out in June she has breast cancer. Lesa has had surgery and started her chemo treatments this week. Right now, she's feeling pretty "icky"!
With all this, she still took time to send me this wonderful friendship card. I love this image and how she's colored it so bright and cheerful. Also, she sent this cute M&M bag with the little tag stamped with the symbolic pink ribbon. I especially like the pinback button with the owl that says "Hope for Hooters".
On Lesa's blog, "One Voice, One Life, One Breast Cancer", she shares with candor, her daily emotional journey in the battle against breast cancer. If you have a minute, please visit her blog and leave a few words of encouragment to brighten her day. I know it would mean a great deal to her.
Most of you already know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. There are many excellent informational websites, but the following is one that Lesa mentions on her blog:
"Early Detection and Breast Cancer: What Every Woman Should Know"
My quote for today is the sentiment inside this card from Lesa ~
"Friendships multiply joys and divide grief" ~ Thomas Fuller
Oh, how true! :) God bless you Lesa . . . and all my dear friends! Smiles, Pam :)
What Cancer Cannot Do
Cancer is so limited.
It cannot cripple love.
It cannot shatter hope.
It cannot erode faith.
It cannot destroy peace.
It cannot silence courage.
It cannot suppress memories.
It cannot kill friendship.
It cannot erode the spirit.
It cannot conquer the soul.
~ unknown
Edited on 10-14-07 to add: Lesa said the outside stamp on her card above is from Inkadinkadoo and the inside sentiment is Impression Obsession.
October 12, 2007
Detective Work on Previous Post's Paper. . .
I do want to thank you all for your sweet comments about the card.
You made me smile! ~ Pam :)
October 11, 2007
Stitching Up a New Layout!
This card is a standard 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" card, but then I cut 1-1/2" off the bottom of the front fold. To make the circle cut outs, I've used the 1-3/8" & 1-1/2" punches.
I've decided that I need to start mailing out more of these cards I've been making. Who has a birthday coming up in the next month or so? I would love to send this card to YOU! :)
Tomorrow is FRIDAY already! I really do like my job, but still look forward to the weekends!
Humorous Quote for Today ~ :)
"I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman where the Self Help section was. She said if she told me it would defeat the purpose." --Dennis Miller
October 10, 2007
Stamp Club Creations { Stampin' Up! }
These are the cards that we made last Monday night at Stampin' Up Stamp Club. It doesn't look like I'm going to find time for cardmaking tonight so thought I would post these for you. Aren't they sweet? And both of them are fairly easy to make too! :)
If you have any questions about them, please email me or leave a comment and I'll explain further. Gotta run...
Smiles, Pam :)
Quote for Today ~
" It is almost impossible to smile on the outside without feeling better on the inside." ~ unknown
October 08, 2007
Which Witch is This? { Happy Halloween! }
Thank you to my friend Donna in Oregon for sending me the sweet witch image that I've used for this card. I've colored her with prismacolor pencils and blended with gamsol. Isn't she just the cutest, happiest witch you ever saw? :) I'm planning to send this card to my daughter Katie. When she was in high school she had a Halloween party and dressed up in a witch costume. Her hair is naturally curly and she got it to stand straight out exactly like this! It was hilarious!
This is a 5" square card using Stampin Up really rust cardstock and KI Memories striped paper. For the background, I stamped with a ball of saran wrap and added the little bats from the SU Halloween Backgrounds. The black cardstock was "cuttlebugged" with the mesh embossing folder. Brads and stitching to embellish!
Yikes! It's 10 o'clock already and I must get to bed earlier than I did last night. Sweet Dreams, Pam :)
Quote for Today ~
"From ghoulies and ghosties, and long-leggedy beasties, and things that go bump in the night, Good Lord, deliver us!" ~Scottish Saying
October 07, 2007
So Grateful . . . { Stampin' Up! & Hero Arts Stitched Together }
There are oodles of exciting events and challenges going on this weekend to celebrate World Card Making Day. I can't begin to keep up on them all, but I have participated in a few! And, lucky for me, I'm even the HAPPY winner at The Stamp Shack with this card I'm posting today. :)
This is a 5" square card using Stampin' Up! really rust cardstock for the base. I've layered on this lovely leaf paper by Karen Foster Design. The oak leaf flourish is a Hero Arts wood mounted rubber stamp and the sentiment 'grateful' is from the SU set "Small Script". These have been stamped on natural cardstock with the Kaleidacolor Spectrum pad ~ pumpkin patch. I've weathered it a bit with one of the SU Itty Bitty Background stamps and Tim Holtz --old paper-- Distress Ink. The ribbbon is a beautiful plaid metallic ribbon that I picked up last week at Hobby Lobby 50% off! { Shopping Tip: don't forget to check out the ribbon by the roll in the fabric dept. There is a much better selection than you'll can find in the craft dept. }
Well, that's all for now, but I should have more to post later! Smiles, Pam :)
The History of World Card Making Day ~
October 06, 2007
Stampin' UP! { FUN Stamp Club Projects! }
On Monday night, I made some terrific cards with SU Demo~Tanis. My favorite is a turning wheel card with the "Wild About You" set. Sadly, I accidently left my cards there and don't have them to post for you. :( Since I was hostess for the evening, I got to choose a level 1 or 2 stamp set and $40 in FREE merchandise. Was that ever FUN!?! There are just SO many stamp sets, beautiful patterned papers and cool embellishments that it made for a very difficult decision. I ordered some cardstock, mini binder clips, and the "Batty for You" and "Wild About You" sets and chose the "In the Spotlight" hostess set.
Last night my sweet DIL Jami {Crazy Daisy Creations} was hostess of my other stamp club with SU Demo~Jason. This is a super FUN group that I'll call the "Margarita Club". :) Jami made the most delicious braided chicken croissant recipe from her Pampered Chef cookbook. (Yes, she's not only an awesome cardmaker and jewelry maker, she can cook too! :) And we love to eat . . . and drink margaritas! I know, you're all wondering when we meet next and if you can join up. :) Sure! the more, the merrier! (Sharon, Nancy, Donna, Alexandra, Flossie, Michelle, Charmaine are you reading this? We would love to have you!)
The first card we made is a "Scratch 'n Sniff". Isn't it cute? We've used river rock as the base and the layers are purely pomegranate and blue bayou. The stamp set is "Eat Cake". The scratch 'n sniff is a mixture of kool-aid and embossing powder. I love this color combo and don't think my photo does it justice. (finished card is 6-1/2" x 3-1/4")
The second card is one that Jason told me not to post on my blog because she totally "borrowed" the idea from another blog. Well, obviously I didn't listen and I'm posting it anyway because I *love* it and think it's GREAT! If the original creator of this card just happens to visit my blog, I hope she'll leave a comment and tell me her name so I can give her full credit for designing such a super card. For this one, we used the Coluzzle Cutting System. I don't have this and think I might *need* it now. :) It worked perfectly for cutting this half circle.
This card is 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" (to top of circle). The base cardstock is basic grey and we've layered on purely pomegranate and taken with teal. The stamp set is "Priceless" with the "So Swirly" jumbo wheel used for the background. I think the majority of us bought this set last night! :)
Today is WORLD CARD MAKING DAY and this weekend is the 1st Birthday of The STAMP SHACK and they have a marathon of card challenges going on, so I'm hoping to stamp it up and have more to post tomorrow.
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!
Smiles, Pam :)
Quote for Today ~
"The wise learn from the experience of others, and the creative know how to make a crumb of experience go a long way." ~ Eric Hoffer
October 03, 2007
"Be the CHANGE . . . { Rubber Stampede }
This is a 5-1/4" square card. The quote by Mahatma Ghandi is a stamp by Rubber Stampede and the patterned paper is "Dried Flowers" by SandyLion.
I'm not sure where the evening went, but it's getting late already. I did get my holiday circle journal done tonight, but just this one card. There aren't enough hours in the day for everything I want to do! I'll bet you all know that feeling, don't you? :)
I hope you're having a great week so far! Smiles 2 U, Pam :)
Quote for Today ~ another one by Mahatma Ghandi
“My imperfections and failures are as much a blessing from God as my successes and my talents and I lay them both at His feet.”