Easter Wishes!

Wishing You All a

Very Blessed Easter Sunday!

My chocolate Easter Bunny was stamped with chocolate chip on creamy caramel cardstock and clear embossed to give it a yummy chocolate sheen. : )   The background of the card was embossed with a Cuttlebug folder.   Corduroy buttons, stitching and polka dot ribbon to embellish!   I wish I could give one to each of you with my sincere Easter Wishes!  ♥

Wishing you JOY and God's Blessings! ♥

~ Quote for Today ~

Easter is the gift...

Easter is the gift of HOPE

Easter is the gift of PEACE

Easter is the gift of LOVE

Let us rejoice in Him,

Who gives them all.

May God bless you at Easter,

And keep you all year through.

May God give you all the faith it takes,

To make your dreams come true.

May His love and wisdom always help,

To guide you on your way.

May His light shine down upon you now,

To bless your Easter Day.

Author Unknown

Simply Fun Stamping with a Friend!

Hello Peeps! 

Happy Easter weekend everyone!   I've been going to share these photos with you all week, but have had some annoying neck/back issues going on and felt I better limit my time at the computer.  I'm on it all day at work so that doesn't help.   If any of you have any suggestions for what works for you, please let me know!   For one thing, I'm trying to remember to get up and stretch more often. 

As for the cards I'm posting today, these are the FUN designs my neighbor and friend Vicki and I made last weekend.    She also made a wedding card, but I forgot to get a photo of that one.  All of our cards were inspired by others.   It is the BEST source of inspiration!

I'm keeping it short and sweet today.  If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask!  Thanks so much for blogging by! 

Hugs & Smiles! 

~ Quote for Today ~

The story of Easter is the story of God's wonderful window of divine surprise.

~Carl Knudsen

{SSSC113} Here's a Hug!

Happy Monday!   I hope you all had a wonderful weekend with time to do as you pleased.  That's all I did and it really was wonderful!  :)   My neighbor and good friend Vicki came over and we created several cards . . . baby, birthday and wedding too!   I was going to share them yesterday, but will share them tomorrow instead. 

The card I'm posting tonight was created especially for the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge hosted by Karen Giron at The Sweetest Thing.    She loves to challenge us with a circle image and I was ready for it with this adorable Pure Innocence "Better Get Better" set by My Favorite Things. 

The base of my 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" card is my new favorite pink .. Stampin Up in color Blushing Bride.  The designer paper is "all me"...perfectly distressed, but oh soooo soft and feminine too.  I picked it up on sale at Hobby Lobby a couple weeks ago.  It's Vintage Whimsy by The Girls' Paperie. The blue strip under the image with the rose buds is another strip of the same paper. 

Here's the sketch . . .  isn't it GREAT?  Another keeper! 

The photo below shows you how I finished off the inside using more of the same dp.  Did you notice the cool lined paper behind my card?  That is by the same company and coordinates with this paper.  Love it!

That's all for tonight.  I need to get this linked up and head to bed before too long.  As always, I'm so glad you stopped by and I sincerely appreciate all your comments.  They brighten my day and motivate me to keep on stampin' on!  {{{HUGS}}} to you all and a very special shout out to ... Marisa! ... Creative Mish! ... Debbie! ... Gail!    You make my ♥ smile!  : )

~ Quote for Today ~

A hug is a handshake from the heart.

Author Unknown

{GYDOApr2011} Verve Diva Recipe Challenge!

Today's card was created especially for the Get your DIVA on! April Recipe Challenge hosted by Amber Hight.  This may be my first ever recipe challenge for cardmaking . . .and when you hear the PRIZE, you'll know why I had to give it a try!

This was a very unique *challenge* and so well organized and thought out.  The recipe was determined by the first initial of our first name. So, since my name is Pam, I used the coordinating O-U recipe.   If there was a particular category we didn't like, or if it had elements we didn't have, we were allowed to change ONE category.  In my case, I used everything exactly as listed.  It made it more of a challenge as I rarely use rhinestones, glitter and lace as embellishments.  The colors were easy for me and I enjoy making different size cards too.    This one is 3-1/4 x 6-1/2" - so saffron cardstock.

The pretty pink, green and yellow floral paper is from the Sweet Nectar Designer Mat Pad by K & Company.   My "lace" is actually pink paper punched with a lace border punch.  I put a dot of glue on each of the light pink polka dots and added a fine irridescent glitter to them.  Once they dried, I added the VERVE sentiment from the Beautiful You set.  It was die cut using one of Verve's awesome A Cut Above dies. I'm not sure if it was legal to add ribbon, but I attached a light pink polka dot bow as a final touch.

the inside

Here is the exciting part of this . . . the winner of the challenge will get to be a Guest Diva in an upcoming release of VERVE Stamps and will receive all of the stamps/dies for that release for free!  How's THAT for exciting?!!  Please wish me luck.  :)

Today I had a FUN day stamping with my neighbor and special friend Vicki.  We made some CUTE cards, if I do say so myself!  I'll be sharing those with you tomorrow.  Right now, I need to get this posted to meet the deadline and then get my buns to bed.

Thanks so much for stopping by and for all the sweet comments you've been leaving for me lately!  It really makes my day to hear that others enjoy my cards as much as I enjoy creating them! ♥ 

Hugs & Blessings!

Quote for Today ~
 God grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the courage to change the one I can, and the wisdom to know it's me. ~Author unknown, variation of an excerpt from "The Serenity Prayer" by Reinhold Neibuhr

{SSD72} A Hop, a Sketch, and a Smile!

The card I'm posting this evening was created especially for a super duper sketch challenge at the Skipping Stones Design Blog to celebrate the release of their new set "Uplifting!"    One of these new sets is up for grabs and I hope to be that LUCKY stamper who wins it!   You know, there is power in positive thinking! ;) 

The terrific sketch I've used is another by the one and only Laurie Schmidlin.  Check it out! And join in the FUN!

The base of my 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" card is certainly celery.  I've layered on a Basic Grey floral designer paper and topped it all with a stamped SMILE colored with copic markers.   (stamp by Bugawamps 2002)

I've finished off my card with some zig zag stitching, buttons and more of the brown and white bakers twine.  Hope you like it!  :)

Thanks for hopping by...please come back again soon!  

Quote for Today ~

I enjoy mowing the lawn, it relaxes me.

It gets me outdoors, it's good exercise,

the freshly cut grass smells great,

 and the engine is loud enough

 that I'm sure no one else

 can hear my thoughts...

or intrude upon them.

 ~Astrid Alauda

{SSSC112} Spring is in the Air!

Happy Monday!  Where do the weekends go?!  We had rain on Saturday and things are beginning to green up around here, but I sure would like to see some SUNSHINE and warmer temps.   As you can tell by my last couple cards. . . Spring is in the Air! 

This cute little image is by My Favorite Things, Pure Innocence, Blooming Good Day! Isn't she adorable?  And such fun to color with copic markers too!    Today's layout is by Karen Giron for the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge.  I think this one will be another keeper! 

SSSC112

the inside reads "I'm here for you"

Just a quick post today!  Thanks so much for blogging by!

Have a wonderful week!  

~ Quote for Today ~

"Flowers always make people better,

happier, and more helpful;

they are sunshine,

food and medicine to the soul."

- Luther Burbank

{Mojo Monday Contest & Diva Dare} Color Me Spring!

Hello, and Happy Sunday, my Friends!  

Yesterday I created a card for this past week's Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge.  I always enjoy playing along, but especially the first week of the month when there is a chance to win some *awesome* VERVE stamps!    Not only that, but there is also a Color Me Spring DIVA Dare on the Verve blog for more chances to win!!!    WoW!  That's a whole lot of opportunity I couldn't pass up!  : )

 The DIVA DARE challenge is to make a card or project with the theme Color Me Spring.  Well, when I think of SPRING, I think "April Showers Bring May Flowers!"   So I colored up my adorable little Stampendous Changito monkeys playing in the rain and put together this card.

You can see that I followed the sketch almost exactly, although my circle may be a little larger to fit in these cute little monkeys and their umbrella.  

The striped designer paper is fresh out of my scrap bin.  Image was colored with copics and it's all wrapped up with more of my chocolate brown and white bakers twine!    I've still got plenty of twine left to share with all of you, so please email me if you need any.  I've got brown/white and black/white and it's only 2.50 for 25 yards! 

Now, I better get my card linked up to the challenge blogs before the deadline.  I may see you later with a card for Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge.  

Have a great day! 

Quote for Today ~

Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!" ~ Robin Williams

Penny Black ATC Challenge

Hopefully, you aren't getting tired of my little Hot Diggity Dog dachshund, because here I am using it again! :)   This was created especially for the Penny Black ATC challenge this week. 

In case you don't already know, Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) are miniature works of art the same size as baseball cards, 2 ½ X 3 ½ inches.  I've made lots of them in the past and participated in various swaps, but its been awhile.   As you'll see below, when I finished the ATC, I took it and created a greeting card using more of the same coordinating "Granola" designer papers by Basic Grey. 

Wrapping it up with more of my chocolate brown and white baker's twine and another one of Debbie's crocheted flowers.   What are the odds that I would have the perfect blue one?!  Had to use it!  :)

This morning is foggy and drizzly, but they say it's supposed to be sunny and 70's today.  That would be awesome and I really hope our weatherman is right.  If so, I'm going outside to clean off the flower gardens and soak up some sunshine!   

Wishing you sunshine in your world today! 

Quote for Today ~

Art is the only way to run away without leaving home. ~Twyla Tharp

{Many of you have commented about enjoying my quotes.  Thank you!  I *love* quotes, own several books of quotes and there are many great quote sites online too.  One of my favorite sources is The Quote Garden. }

{cQc#79 & SSD71} You Color My World!

 Holy Moly!  Would you look at this color combination?!   I pulled out a sheet of cardstock for each one of these colors and I just shook my head.  Seriously?!   

Colour Q Challenge #79 by Arielle Gordon

The only way I could imagine these colors working together was to let the black and white dominate and accent with the other three.    I found this fabulous sketch by one of my stamping idols ~ Laurie Schmidlin from Just Give Me Stamps.  Laurie is truly one of the BEST in the business and this month Skipping Stones Designs is fortunate to have her as their guest sketch artist. 

I started out with a 5-1/4" square of basic black and  layered on a 5-1/8" square of polka dot designer paper.  Then I cut my strips of black and white dp and lined them up in a neat little row.   I had to refrain from stitching on this card as I thought it would be too much with the variety of prints.  Instead, I brought out the BLING!  What do you think?  It's a little different than my norm, but I kind of like it.  ;) 

!

Special thanks to Arielle at the Colour Q for including my cards in her ColourQueen Courtiers for cQc #77 and 78.   It really makes my day to know that others enjoy my cards as much as I enjoy creating them!  :) 

Happy Stamping!

 Quote for Today ~
"Well," said Pooh, "what I like best," and then he had to stop and think. Because although eating honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn't know what it was called. ~A.A. Milne

{SSSC111} Fill Your Life With Sunshine...

Happy Monday!  Is your week getting off to a good start?  I hope so!   I worked late today and wasn't so sure that I felt like stamping this evening, but I really wanted to try the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge and this pretty new designer paper was calling my name. 

My card is a 5-1/4" square of regal rose cardstock.  I've used an assortment of designer papers from the Sweet Nectar Designer Mat Pad from K & Company. (see photo below)   The large scalloped circle was cut on my Cricut using the Sweet Treats cartridge.  It's so saffron cardstock stamped with the linen background and distressed with versafine vintage sepia ink.  The sentiment is a wood block stamp from Hero Arts and the pretty little pink crocheted flower was made by my friend Debbie at The Paper Garden.  I've layered it onto two so saffron flower punches and tied it up with a button and the brown and white bakers twine.    If you need any bakers twine, please let me know as I've bought a HUGE spool of it!

Can you say PRETTY PAPER?!
purchased on sale at M's with 25% coupon!  : )

Sketch by Karen Giron ~ The Sweetest Thing



the inside


Now I need to link up my card to the sketch challenge and check out all the others.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful week!    Smiles . . .


Quote for Today ~


Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine. ~Anthony J. D'Angelo, The College Blue Book

Making Baby Thank You Cards Today!

Yesterday, my daughter Katie asked me if I would make a few baby thank you cards for her.  She isn't due until July so she's giving me plenty of notice, but I couldn't resist jumping on the idea!  And I just happened to have the cute little Baby Tees jumbo wheel out from yesterday, so that is what I used!   What do you think?

You know me, I *really* wanted to add some stitching and buttons, but when you're making 25-30 to mail, SIMPLICITY is best!   The most time consuming thing about making these will be cutting out all the little onsies to paper piece.  I know I could just color it with markers, but I like the layered look and dimension it gives to the simple design.   And to embellish...I've wrapped it up with some of my chocolate brown & white bakers twine!  Love this stuff!  ♥

In case you missed my earlier post, I bought a lifetime supply and will be selling it in my Etsy Shop.  Either that, or just email me and I'll send you a paypal invoice.  It's only 2.50 for 25 yards!  I've got chocolate brown/white and also black/white.    It's awesome to work with! 

There will be an assortment of pink and lavendar ...all with the chocolate chip brown accents.  The ink is early espresso.   

Just thought I would share these in case any of you are looking for a simple design for thank yous, baby announcements, etc.    Color me *excited* to become a GRANDMA!!  ♥

Thank you for blogging by today!  Have a warm and wonderful Sunday!

Quote for Today ~

Perfect love sometimes does not come until the first grandchild. ~Welsh Proverb