Trick-Or-Treats! { Lovin' my M's $1 Stamps! }

Last week when I was in Omaha, I really scored on a few terrific wood mounted $1 Halloween stamps at Michaels. This one is by Studio G. I've stamped the image in basic black and colored it with my Stampin' Up markers to match the patterned paper.

Believe it or not, I did not buy this paper at the same time I bought the stamp and they are not a "set". I found it a few days later at a small town scrapbooking shop I had never been to before. Do you believe in papercrafting destiny?! LoL :) This cute and colorful dotted paper is by Doodlebug Design, Inc. and appropriately called "Tricks-Or-Treats". I've layered in black and zig-zagged with my new little sewing machine. (see previous post) The base cardstock is Stampin Up pumpkin pie with layers of summer sun and lovely lilac. The cute little bats in the upper right corner are stamped with the Stampin Up Halloween Backgrounds set.

This was really a FUN card to make and I hope you like it! Smiles, Pam :)

Quote for Today ~

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

HELLO good friend! { Julee's Sketch Challenge }

Julee at Poetic Artistry is having a contest on her blog celebrating 75,000 hits! If you've seen her blog, you can understand why she has so many hits. Her blog is one of the BEST! Congratulations, Julee!

Her challenge is to create a card using a sketch that she has posted. This is a layout that I would probably never think of on my own. Actually, there are *so* many wonderful sketch challenges on various blogs and on Splitcoaststampers that I wish I could participate in them ALL!

For my card I've started with a 5-1/2 x 5-1/2 square of turquoise blue DCWV textured cardstock. I've layered with Stampin Up So Saffron and patterned papers by Bo-Bunny and Recess. The sentiment, "hello good friend" in the circle is a $1 Michaels stamp. I've stamped in brown staz-on and embossed with clear embossing powder, but you really can't tell it's embossed. "Hello" was colored with prismacolor pencils and I've used the mega circle and the giga scalloped circle punches for the layers. The striped piece of patterned paper on the right side was put the my Cuttlebug with the script embossing folder. I'm not sure you can really see that in the photo either. I've added some large brads and a small triangle clip with ribbon to embellish it a bit. I don't know if it's "contest worthy", but I'm happy with how it turned out! ; )

Today, I got the WONDERFUL news that my sister Judy from California is planning a visit to Nebraska!!! I'm *so* happy as it's been 2 years since she's been *home*. I was already planning to take a vacation from work next week, so now I'm just going to postpone it a couple weeks and take the time off when she's here. I can't wait! :)

Well, it is *way* past my bedtime and I struggle to get up in the morning as it is, so better say goodnight all! Sweet dreams and Smiles 2 U, Pam :)

Quote for Today ~

"Life's better when it's fun." - Kevin Costner {boy, that's deep isn't it?} :)

Thoughts of You . . . { Scalloped Tent Topper! }

This is another "tent topper" style card with just a little different dimensions than my first one. This one is a square 4-1/4". I've stamped the "Thoughts of You" image and punched it out with the mega circle punch. The brocade blue cardstock is used for the card, the script cuttlebugged layer and for the scalloped giga punch. I colored the image with prismacolor pencils and distressed with the Stampin' Up! Itty Bitty Backgrounds and Tim Holtz Distress Ink ~ old paper. The designer paper is by Basic Grey ~ Oh Baby! Boy.

This was a fairly quick and easy card! I hope you like it! :) Now, I'm off now to play "Nurse Nancy" and assist my friend in changing her bandages from a recent achilles/heel surgery. She thinks she can come back to work right away and I just don't see it happening! Time will tell!

The sun is shining and it looks like a great day to spend some time on the patio coloring images. Catch ya later! Smiles, Pam :)

Quote for Today ~

"I live by this credo: Have a little laugh and look around you for happiness instead of sadness. Laughter has always brought me out of unhappy situations. Even in your darkest moment, you usually can find something to laugh about if you try hard enough." ~ Red Skelton