{SSSC54} Pick a Petal ~ and SMILE! :)

I'm back with another Sweet Sunday card and this one is for *this* week's challenge using Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch #54.  My card is a 5-1/4" square which is larger than I usually create, but I wanted plenty of room for my BIG smile flower.  

You can't go wrong with this gorgeous designer paper from Stampin' Up! This assortment is from the Razzleberry Lemonade series and I've teamed it up with rich razzleberry and melon mambo cardstock.

My SMILE flower was created using the Pick-a-Petal set.  Each petal was stamped individually with rich razzleberry ink onto the crushed curry floral paper.  I cut them out, adhered to some razzleberry cardstock and cut them out again.  That may sound like work, but it goes quite quickly.

I've been giving my little Janome Sew Mini machine quite a workout lately and it's still running like a dream.  At times, when sewing through multiple layers, I think I may hear it complaining. :)   The fancy edge on the left was created using the *new* pinking hearts border punch.  You can find that for sale in our Stampin' Up! Occasions Mini Catalog.  The big button is from my stash and I've sewn the polka dot razzleberry ribbon knot to it before attaching to the flower.

Lately, I've been trying to embellish the inside of my cards too. . . and I always have made coordinating envelopes when sending them out.

You will make Karen and all the Sweet Sunday Stampers SMILE if you participate in with their challenge this week.  Just hop on over to The Sweetest Thing blog for all the details! 

 

Have you ever had so many ideas running through your head and so many things you want to accomplish that you don't know where to start?   That's me today!  But, I'm slowly and surely getting a few things done too.  Thanks so much for stopping by and do come back again soon! 

Have a warm and wonderful week, my friends!

Smiles 2 U!

Another Quote for Today ~

Today, give a stranger one of your smiles. It might be the only sunshine he sees all day. ~Quoted in P.S. I Love You, compiled by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

p.s.  I almost forgot to mention ~ check out my cool new watermark that Karen Giron created for me!  That info is on her blog too!

Just Because ~

Another SWEET SUNDAY!

Today's card is a reproduction of the card I created last Sunday for the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge.  I've used the same sketch, cardstock and designer papers, but I've changed the image and sentiment.  This was a special request from one of my dear Etsy customers.

To create the circle, I've used the new Stampin' Up! Very Vintage jumbo wheel and inked it up with chocolate chip.  The sentiment is a $1 stamp from my neglected assortment of "stamps by other companies". ;)

Something I am trying to do more often is finish off the insides of my cards too.  See photo below for how this one was finished.

Please note the yummy 5/8" Satin Ribbon and the adorable little matching brad.   Both are NEW in the Stampin' Up! Occasions Mini Catalog! 

Thanks so much for blogging by to see me today!  Hopefully, I will return later today with a creation for THIS week's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge!

Happy Stamping and Smiles 2 U!


Quote for Today ~

Of all the days that are in the week
I dearly love but one day

And that's the day that comes between
A Saturday and a Monday.
~Henry Carey

Announcing Blogiversary Blog Candy Winners!

Thank you all so much for your congratulations and best wishes on my "Blogiversary".  I thoroughly enjoyed reading each and every one of your comments.  When I get time, I am going to go back and check out all of your blogs too!  Honestly, this is one of the special blessings of blogging ~ meeting others with the same interests and sharing our ideas with one another.

I know I told you I would draw and announce the winner of my blog candy at 8 pm tonight, but I had to watch the President's first State of the Union Speech and while I was doing that I was cutting and wrapping ribbon for my Stampin' Up! Ribbon Share.  I want to get it packaged and sent off tomorrow!  I do have one order of ribbon left here if anyone wants it!  You can pay via PayPal or send me a check.

Ok, without further delay . . . I would like to announce the winners of my 3rd Blogiversary Blog Candy!

First of all, I numbered the items 1, 2 & 3.

1) Stampin' Up! Good Neighbors Clear Mount Stamp Set

2) Scallop Trim Border Punch

3) Sweet Pea Felt Flowers

Then I counted the number of comments and let Random.org select the numbers for me.

. . . d r u m r o l l   p l e a s e  . . .

Lucky Winner of Prize # 1

Stampin' Up! Good Neighbors Set

5)  akagreenhouse said...

"I think I started stamping in about 1997 or 98. I have slacked off stamping lately, due to starting back to work (stupid economy) but I still enjoy it when I can."
1/24/10 9:30 PM
 

Lucky Winner of Prize # 2

Stampin' Up! Scallop Trim Border Punch

9)  MJ said...

"Congrats on three great years. So exciting! I have been stamping since 1994, and consider myself a Stampin' Up super fan. I am an oldie from PCMB, and everytime I see a smilyface I always think of you, and wonder if you have it in your collection. Thanks for the opportunity to win such fabulous stuff."

 1/24/10 9:58 PM

and last, but not least . . .

Lucky Winner of Prize #3

Stampin' Up! Sweet Pea Felt Flowers

30) Mary said...

"Wow 3 years, that is wonderful. I have had a blog for almost that amount of time also. I think it will be 3 years in March. I have been stamping for about 9 years now. Still love it and have so much fun with it and enjoying peoples creativity!"
1/25/10 7:05 PM



Would you gals please email me with your name and addresses so I can get your goodies mailed out to you right away?!   

THANKs AGAIN to ALL of YOU for joining me in the celebration FUN!  
Happy Stamping & Smiles 2 U! 

{MTSC58} My Heart Is With You

First of all, my friends, I must tell you how overwhelmed I am at all the comments you left on yesterday's post that it was my 3rd Blogiversary this week!  I sincerely appreciate all your congratulations and thoroughly enjoyed reading your personal notes about  how long you've been stamping/blogging, how you got started, your favorite trends, etc. etc.  What a JOY to hear from so many of you!  You really made my day! :) 

This past week just flew by and already its time for Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge!  YaY!  Once again I pulled out my Stampin' Up! Thoughts and Prayers set and got busy.    I colored direct to the rubber stamp with Stampin' Up! markers - chocolate chip, certainly celery and old olive, then gave it a "huff" and stamped it on a piece of naturals ivory cardstock. 

The base cardstock is Stampin' Up! certainly celery, layered with close to cocoa and a couple different retired designer papers.  I've zig zag stitched the layers together with my Janome Sew Mini (love this little machine!)  The fancy edge to the right of the tree is the new Scallop Trim Border Punch. (Yes! just like the one I'm giving away!)  And please notice the g o r g e o u s 5/8" satin ribbon in certainly celery, topped off with a bashful blue button from the Sherbet collection.   Don't miss out on my RIBBON SHARE if you think you *need* some of this ribbon!  ;)

You're all invited to play along in Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge.

In fact, we would *love* it if you did! ;) Last week there were 70 participants! YaY!

If you need a bit of inspiration to get you started, please hop on over and see:

Special Thanks to our January Guest Muse

 ~ Vicki Burdick from It's a Stamp Thing!

Cindy Haffner ~ Cindy Haffner's Corner

Pam Varnell ~ The Stamping Addict

Julie Lacey ~ Stamps and Taxes!

Crystal Birr ~ The Messy Stamper

Jessica Diedrich ~ The Whimsical Butterfly

Shannan Teubner ~ ShannanTeubner Designs
Mercy Kerin ~ Lord Have Mercy {our Queen Muse}

Now it's your turn! Simply create a card or scrapbook layout using the sketch above, and link your creation to Mister Linky on Mercy's blog.  Be sure to use the keyword MTSC58 when uploading to a public gallery.

Once again, THANK YOU for visiting my blog and for all your sweet comments.  It's not too late to get in on my 3rd Blogiversary BLOG CANDY or the Stampin' Up! 5/8" Satin Ribbon Share!  ;)

Happy Stamping  & Smiles 2 U!



Quote for Today ~

May the sun shine, all day long,

everything go right, and nothing wrong.

May those you love bring love back to you,

and may all the wishes you wish come true!
~Irish Blessing

Celebrating 3 Years of Blogging! *Blog Candy!*

It's my 3rd Blog-iversary! 

I can hardly believe I've been blogging for 3 years already!

Time flies when you're havin' FUN!

My first two posts were on January 27th, 2007.  I've copied the first post below because it's such a special memory for me.  I had the exciting opportunity to meet an online stamping friend in person!  Dori and I had become online friends at PaperCrafts (anyone remember their message board???) so when hubby and I went to visit our daughter in Hawaii in January 2007, I was able to meet up with Dori too!   She was the Hawaiian "hostess with the mostess" as she took me to lunch and then shopping at a couple of her favorite rubber stamp/scrapbooking stores.  Not only that, I remember her giving me this big bag of Hawaiian goodies and a special treat box of chocolates she had stamped just for me! What a Sweetie!

Our daughter isn't living there anymore, but I hope to get back to Oahu to visit Dori sometime.  We do stay in touch and enjoy swapping cards with one another.  She sent me a terrific Happy New Year card last week and I have a Valentine ready to send her.  {Happy Hi and hugs 2 U Dori, if you're reading this today!}

If you want to see the first three cards I posted, please click here but you have to promise you won't laugh out loud!  :)   Seriously! I've learned so much in the past three years and like to think I've improved my cardmaking skills too.  Much of what I've learned has been from all of YOU and I appreciate you all more than you know! 

As I looked back at some of my older posts, I noticed how styles change and various embellishments go from "hot" to not.  :)   There was a time when decorative brads and eyelets were all the rage and then prima flowers.  I'm so glad I didn't buy every color!   For awhile I was doing a lot of  "doodling" around the images on my cards and now it's stitching.  I recall when it was very popular to color images with prismacolor pencils and now Copic markers are the choice.  As for stamps, I started stamping with STAMPIN' UP! but have used many different brands and love them all!

In celebration of my 3rd Blogiversary,

I want to offer up some

**BLOG CANDY**

to three (3) lucky blog readers!  

To qualify, simply leave a comment on this post and tell me how long you've been stamping/blogging and if you like, please leave your blog address so I can visit you!  Also, it would be great if you would share a cardmaking memory such as what I've shared with you.  On January 27th at 8pm, I will draw three (3) names at random and post the winners here!  Good Luck 2 U All! 

If not for all of YOU, my friends, I'm sure this blog would have fizzled out long ago.  Yes, I have a passion for rubber stamping and cardmaking, but the JOY comes in sharing it with others.  It's such a blessing to know you're out there and your friendly words and encouraging comments are what motivate me to keep on stampin' it up!

Happy Stamping & Smiles 2 U All!

To LOVE what we do

and SHARE what we love,

as we help others enjoy CREATIVITY

and worthwhile accomplishments. . . .

in this we make a DIFFERENCE.

~ Stampin' Up! Statement of the Heart

{SSSC53} Love you a Latte!

Sweet Sunday to U All!  

Today's card was created using Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge and the Stampin' Up Pun Fun set.   I told you in my last post that I planned to ink up all eight (8) stamps in this cute set and so far I've used 4 of them.  If you're not familiar with this set, below is a photo of all the cute little stamps.  The best part is that I get to color them after stamping!  ;)

It's back to the distressed look today!  I began with Stampin' Up! pretty in pink cardstock for the base and layered it with chocolate chip and two different prints from the amazing Sending Love Specialty Paper found in the new Occasions Mini Catalog (p. 13)  As you can see, I've stitched all the layers and distressed and sponged the edges.  Oh, and I used my new FREE Scallop Trim Border Punch too for around the sentiment.  This is one of the terrific items you can earn for FREE with any order of $50 during Sale-a-Bration.  ** Please note the g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s  5/8" chocolate chip satin ribbon!** This is one of the colors in the RIBBON SHARE I'm offering.  For all the details, please click here.  I've still got one opening left for the order arriving this week.   I forgot to mention previously, if you don't have PayPal and want to participate, please email me for my address to send a check.  I don't want anyone to miss out on this GREAT offer! 

I'm sure Karen and all the Sweet Sunday Stampers would love it a LATTE if you would join in their challenge.  For more info, just hop over to The Sweetest Thing!

Yesterday I realized that it's been almost 3 years since I started blogging and I do believe that calls for a little CELEBRATION!!  I'll be back later today with some BLOG CANDY so please stay tuned!

Happy Stamping & Smiles 2 U!


Quote for Today ~
I have an almost religious zeal - not for technology per se, but for the Internet which is for me, the nervous system of mother Earth, which I see as a living creature, linking up. ~Dan Millman

{MoJo122 & ColourQ16} Hearts for Haiti

MoJo Monday meet Colour Q!

I'm getting quite spoiled in my cardmaking lately.  I mean, with all these terrific sketches and color combinations I rarely have to think for myself.  And I *love* it!  :D

Today's card is brought to you by the MoJo Monday Sketch Challenge #122 and the ColourQ Challenge #16.   The card base is textured Melon Mambo and I've layered it with Bravo Burgandy, Pumpkin Pie and a couple of the Razzleberry Lemonade designer papers.   The hearts are from the I {Heart} Hearts set and I wanted to showcase this set today and let you know that from now until February 28, 2010, Stampin' Up! will donate $2 from every I {Heart} Hearts stamp set purchased to the American Red Cross’ Haiti Relief and Development Fund.

Wood Mount #117010  $26.95

Clear Mount #118571  $18.95

How's your weekend going so far?  I hope you saw some *SUNSHINE* today!  We've had over a week of foggy gray wintery weather and it's wearing on everyone.  Thanks so much for stopping by!  THINK SPRING!

Happy Stamping & Smiles 2 U!

Quote for Today ~

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. ~Theodore Roosevelt

Another Lucky Winner of FREE Sale-a-Bration Set!

Yes, indeed!  We have another *lucky* winner!  If you've been following my blog, you know I'm offering a GREAT deal if you participate in my first ever Sale-a-Bration Ribbon Share!  For every three orders, I'm drawing for a FREE item from the Sale-a-Bration catalog.

Today we are drawing for the *awesome*

Whimsical Words Stamp set below!

and the winner is . . .

{ d  r  u  m  r  o  l  l     p  l  e  a  s  e }

VICKI W.

Come on Down!!!

Your FREE set will be included in with your ribbon share! 

Thanks SO much for participating!!  :)

Who else wants to get in on this GREAT offer?

It's not too late!  Currently, I need two (2) more orders to
fill out my third group of three.

You will add instant elegance to your projects with this

beautiful 5/8" SATIN RIBBON from Stampin' Up!

The 9 exclusive Stampin' Up! colors are, left to right:

Bashful Blue

Certainly Celery

Old Olive

Pretty in Pink

Real Red

Very Vanilla

Chocolate Chip

Basic Black

Basic Gray

For only $20, you will get 27 yds of the new 5/8" Satin Ribbon (3 yds each of 9 colors) mailed directly to you!   And again, since this is Stampin' Up!'s SALE-A-BRATION promotion, for every 3 orders I receive, I will place those 3 names in a drawing for a FREE Stamp Set! And yes, if you choose to order 3 sets of ribbon yourself, (or any $50 order!) you will instantly qualify for one FREE stamp set!

The $20 cost includes shipping to U.S. addresses only.   Payment via PayPal is quick and easy....link below! 

Number of Shares

1 Share $20.00 2 Shares $40.00 3 Shares $60.00

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email me { pspeidel@ptcnet.net} And THANK U in advance for participating in my very first RIBBON SHARE! I sincerely appreciate your orders!

{SSSC52 & CTD76} Hip-Hippo-Ray!

I've got another card for you today created especially for two challenges and using the Stampin' Up! PUN FUN set.   This set has been around for awhile, but it is *new* to me so I want to find a reason to ink up all 8 stamps in the set! 

The colors used are from the COLOR THROWDOWN Challenge #76 to use so saffron, melon mambo and old olive.  I know these colors would be perfect for a springy card, but I chose to make a baby card using the Hip-Hippo-Ray hippo! 

The sketch is by Karen Giron from The Sweetest Thing and this is her "Sweet Sunday" Sketch Challenge.  Yes, I know it's FRIDAY already.  I'm really running behind this week!  Better late than never, I always say! ;)  You'll notice I flipped the sketch 90 degrees, otherwise it's basically the same.  I added the sentiment circle with the button just for FUN and because I thought it needed a little something extra. ;)  I really enjoy sewing on my cards and tried a combination straight-stitch/zig zag in the upper left corner.   The base cardstock is old olive stamped with a tiny polka dot.  I've layered on textured melon mambo punched on one end with the scalloped edge.  The designer paper is Razzleberry Lemonade from Stampin' Up!

Are you happy it's Friday and looking forward to the weekend as much as I am?  I'm planning to enjoy a little stampin' time that's for sure!  Whatever you've got planned ~ ENJOY!

Happy Stamping and Smiles 2 U!

Quote for Today ~

I love hugging. I wish I was an octopus, so I could hug ten people at a time. ~Drew Barrymore

{MTSC57 & CCCC: Act 13} Thank Ewe! Pun Fun!

Can EWE tell I had FUN making this card?   EWE bet I did!  :D

The bright and HAPPY colors in this creation are from the Curtain Call Color Challenge: Act 13.  And the super sketch design is from the mega talented Mercy Kerin from Lord Have Mercy fame!  Oh how I *heart* these challenges!

I don't recall the last time I used Liquid Applique, but it's been so long that I was sure my bottle would be dried up.  Luckily, it was as good as new and worked perfectly to create a fluffy white coat on my little Stampin' Up! "Pun Fun" EWE!   I forgot how much FUN this stuff is to work with and love watching it puff up as it's heated.  :)

This is a standard 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" card with basic black cardstock as the base.  The pink passion piece on the top was embossed with the polka dots and the other layers were stitched together.   The Stampin' Up! Flower Fusion felt flowers were the perfect embellishment, along with some pink polka dot ribbon!

Remember, you're all invited to play along in these terrific challenges! 

Click on the links above for all the details!

Mercy's Muses have all been very busy this week

 and you won't want to miss their exceptional creations!

First, let's say HELLO to our January Guest Muse

 ~ Vicki Burdick from It's a Stamp Thing!  :)

Cindy Haffner ~ Cindy Haffner's Corner

Pam Varnell ~ The Stamping Addict

Julie Lacey ~ Stamps and Taxes!

Crystal Birr ~ The Messy Stamper

Jessica Diedrich ~ The Whimsical Butterfly

Shannan Teubner ~ ShannanTeubner Designs
Mercy Kerin ~ Lord Have Mercy {our Queen Muse}

It's getting late here and I need to get this posted and head to bed.  I hope your week is off to a splendid start!  Thanks so much for blogging by today and do come back again soon, ok? ;)

Happy Stamping and Smiles 2 U!

Quote for Today ~
Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve.... You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

{MoJo #121 & ColourQ #115} Get Whale Soon!

Today's card is for a combination of two (2) challenges ~ the sketch is MoJo Monday #121 and the colors are from the Colour Q Challenge #15.   I really don't want to admit how much time was spent on this fairly simplistic card.  Let me just say, I was out of my normal comfort zone with this combination of colors and the layout was a bit of a challenge too!

The cute little whale and sentiment are from the Stampin' Up! PUN FUN set.  I've used the color challenge colors ~ barely banana for the base, layered with basic gray with some certainly celery and pumpkin pie designer papers.   What do you think of my little sentiment circle?  I thought the card needed a special embellishment to spice it up and decided on the little orange button and polka dot ribbon stitched to the circle.  The border punch used is the new one from the Occasions Mini - pinking hearts border (p. 11).  Love it!

Now on to more *exciting* stuff!  I've got three, count 'em, 3 more Ribbon Share orders and will have my hubby draw another *lucky* winner. Stay tuned for that announcement later tomorrow night.  My last winner ~ Gail ~ was thrilled to get a  FREE Stampin' Up! set and I was HAPPY to notify her she had won! :)   If you missed all the information on my Stampin' Up! 5/8" Satin Ribbon Share, please see the original post HERE!   It's not too late to order~! ! !  

These weekends sure do fly by, don't they?!  I did accomplish a few things today so that's a good feeling. Besides the usual laundry, etc, here in my stamp room, I sorted all my designer paper scrap stash into color groups and found a new place to store them for easier access.  The basket I had them in was overflowing and a real mess!  Can you relate?  ;)

I'm glad you blogged by and hope you'll stop back again soon!  Tomorrow night we're going out to dinner to  celebrate MW's birthday with the kids.  He doesn't know it yet, but there will be birthday cake and ice cream too!  :)

Happy Stamping & Smiles 2 U!

Quote for Today ~
If I'd known I was going to live so long, I'd have taken better care of myself. ~Leon Eldred