How Many Fingers are You?

Isn't this a funny stamp? I purchased it for half price this summer and finally had a chance yesterday to ink it up and create a few silly birthday cards. My inspiration for the layout came from Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge. Her sketch was just the spark I need to get started again.

Don't you think this whimsical designer paper is appropriate for the childish image? I did some random stitching around the edges and attached the cutout circle and flower with dimensionals.

My friend Michele's mom celebrates her 80th birthday this week so I'm sending this to her. I think it will make her smile, don't you? :) I sure hope she doesn't think I'm being a wiseacre! LoL

It is such a pleasure to be creating again. Thank you all for your words of encouragement. Your comments inspire me!

Happy Day! ~ Pam :)

Quote for Today ~ "If you carry your childhood with you, you never become old." ~Tom Stoppard

Word for Today ~ wiseacre \WY-zay-kuhr\, noun: One who pretends to knowledge or cleverness; a would-be wise person; a smart aleck.

Supplies ~ Stamps: Inkadinkado, Paper: Stampin Up chocolate chip, cool caribbean. Patterned paper by The Paper Studio. Random stitching with Janome Sew Mini.

Missed U All So Much!

Where oh where did our summer go?! They say "time flys when you're having FUN", but let me tell you it hasn't been all fun, it's been mostly work around here! The good news is that we finally finished painting our house...which included some siding repair, washing windows, new shutters, landscaping, etc, etc. We've been procrastinating about this project for a couple years, so it really needed to be done. Now that it is, we can relax a bit and get back to our favorite hobbies. :)

I've missed stamping and cardmaking SO much and I've especially missed all of you dear friends! Several of you, bless your hearts, have contacted me to see if I was still alive and happily I am! Honestly, I had no intention of abandoning my blog reading and posting for such a loooong time, but most of our "free" time has been spent working on the house. We've got a few projects planned for the inside now...painting, new flooring in the bathrooms, etc...but MW (Mr Wonderful) really needed a break and so do I! :)

So, this afternoon I've been stamping and enjoying every minute of it! Of course, it took me awhile to get started and it may take a few more cards before I find my mojo again. :) This is one I made today to let you all know I really did MISS U! And it feels especially GREAT to be back!

BIG SMILES & warm Hugs 2 All! ~ Pam :)

Quote for Today ~
"If I had a single flower for every time I think about you, I could walk forever in my garden." ~Claudia Ghandi

Word for Today ~
privation \pry-VAY-shun\, noun: the state of being deprived of something. (like stamping & blogging!)

Supplies ~
Stamps: Changito Notes by Stampendous
Cardstock: Stampin Up basic black, green galore. Floral paper by The Paper Studio.
Ink: Versafine onyx black
Other: colored image with prismacolor pencils, Stampin Up ribbon

You Make Me SMILE All Over My Face.

Wouldn't you say this stamp by Inkadinkado has my name written all over it? :) Thankfully, my sweet DIL Jami {Crazy Daisy Creations} thought it did and gave it to me for Mother's Day! I love it and couldn't wait to ink it up and create a bright smiley card with it.

This was a real quick card...nothing too special about it except for the super cute stamped sentiment. I stamped in Versafine Vintage Sepia and then used a clear embossing powder over it, cutting it out with the scalloped rectangle Spellbinder dies. The designer paper is from the Wild Saffron line by K&Company. It coordinates well with Stampin Up Close to Cocoa. I think while I have all the supplies out, I'm going to make a few more of these. :)

Now, in honor of MoM's Day, I'm happy to share a photo of "my kids"... who along with their dad are the great loves of my life. They have always made me "smile all over my face". I'm extremely proud of them and what they've accomplished and it's a true blessing to be their MoM! [from left to right: our daughter Katie, daughter-in-law Jami, son Andrew. Hawaii, March-08]

And here are a few other wonderful Mother's Day goodies I received...a beautiful YELLOW lily, a gorgeous handmade bracelet, and very special cards with sentiments I'll treasure forever!
















I hope you've all had a happy day. I'd like to close with the sentiment from one of my cards:
"If I could, I would tie happiness in a rainbow (and smiley ribbon) and give it to you. If I could I would do for you what you've so beautifully done for me...I would wrap your world in love."

Smiles to you All!




Quote for Today ~
"Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." ~Elizabeth Stone

Word for Today ~
pleonasm \PLEE-uh-naz-uhm\, noun: The use of more words than are necessary to express an idea; as, "I saw it with my own eyes."

Supplies ~
Stamps: Inkadinkado - Smile All Over
Paper: Stampin Up close to cocoa, barely banana, K&Company Wild Saffron
Ink: Versafine vintage sepia, clear embossing powder, Tim Holtz tea dye distress ink (edges)
Other: Nestibilities scalloped rectangle dies, Cuttlebug, brassy brown large brads, close to cocoa grosgrain ribbon

Great Grad Congratulations!

This is the first time I've used this "Great Grads" set by Stampin Up! I purchased this set last month especially for making my graduation cards this year and now I'm rushing to get them done today when I need them. Go figure!

I needed some inspiration, so I went to Splitcoaststampers and searched the gallery for cards using this set. One of my favorites was this card by Sharon Johnson. She has a terrific tutorial on her blog "No Time To Stamp" and other than changing the size and designer paper, my card is pretty much a total CASE of her card.


The second photo is of the inside of my money holder card and the side tab envelope. I've enclosed the folded cash in a piece of white paper that I stamped and wrote our personal congratulations on.

I've lots to accomplish today, so better run... have a warm and wonderful weekend everyone and thanks so much for blogging by!



Supplies ~
Rubber Stamps: Stampin Up! Great Grads
Paper: basic black cardstock, whisper white, black/white designer paper
Ink: Versafine black onyx, clear embossing powder
Other: Cuttlebug swiss dots embossing folder, black tassel

Quote for Today ~ (from the Great Grads set)
" It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves." - William Shakespeare

Word for Today ~
vivify \VIV-uh-fy\, transitive verb: 1. To endue with life; to make alive; to animate.
2. To make more lively or intense.

Beeeeee Happy! {Super Sketch Sunday!}

I'm sure by now most of you have given up on checking out my blog for new posts. Goodness, has it really been two weeks already since the last one?!

When I was so sick last month, I think I coughed out all my cardmaking mojo. LoL! :) Really, I've been working more hours and haven't felt too creative lately. Today was a gorgeous warm and sunny day so I sat out on the patio and colored a few images. This one is "Bee Trio" by Stampendous. Aren't they just a cute as can "B"?

My inspiration for the layout came from Amy at Heartfelt Greetings. Her blog is one of my favorites and all her creations are laudable. I especially enjoy her new Super Sketch Sunday! Today Amy challenged us to use four different designer papers on our cards, preferably using our scraps. That's exactly what I did, except for the black and white polka dot paper. I layered all the scrap of designer paper on top of a piece of black cardstock 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" and then zig-zag stitched around the edges. After that I attached the brads and then used adhesive to attach this piece to a white cardstock base. My tag is created with 7/8" and 1" circle punches. Both the image and the tag are mounted with dimensionals.

It feels great to get back to stamping! If you're still reading, I want to wish you all a wonderful week filled with sunshine and smiles!




Supplies ~
Stamps: Bee Trio - Stampendous; happy b-day - Stampendous acrylic set "Changito Notes".
Paper: Black cardstock, misc scraps of designer papers
Ink: Onyx Black Versafine
Other: prismacolor pencils, stitching on Janome Sew Mini, black brads, black & white polka dot ribbon.

Quote for Today ~
"The beauty of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile...it's the spiritual inspriation that comes when you discover that someone else believes in you and is willing to trust you with their friendship." - unknown

Word for Today ~
laudable \LAW-duh-bul\, adjective: Worthy of praise; commendable.