{WSC #96} Have a FANG-tastic Halloween!

Have a FANG-tastic Labor Day Weekend Too! :)

I don't usually get that excited about my own cards, but I really like this one and hope you think it's FANG-tastic too! hee hee

All credit goes to Beate at FRESH & FUN for another incredible Weekend Sketch Challenge! This layout was perfect for using some of my scraps of Halloween prints. Not only that, I got to use my new Changito vampire monkey stamp too! The sentiment tag was computer generated.

Are you wondering about the "fang" edge around my monkey circle? I just cut little snips in the center of the scalloped edge. ;) Yes, I'm feeling pretty clever today! This card is 5-1/4" square and the base is Stampin' Up pumpkin pie cardstock.

To participate in the challenge, make a card with this layout and upload it either to your blog, or to an online gallery. I read on Beate's blog that she has passed another huge milestone ~ 3,100,000 hits! ~ and to celebrate she will be raffling away a terrific prize! Congrats 2 U Beate! and my sincere THANK U for all the inspiration you've shared with us!

Smiles 2 U all and HAPPY WEEKEND!

~ Quote for Today ~
Eat, drink and be scary.
- Unknown

{PPA #6} Pick a Petal & SMILE!

Today's SMILE card is for a Color Challenge with Pals Paper Arts!

It seems like everytime I log-on, there is a fun new blog or challenge of some sort! It's great, as it inspires me to try something different!

Today's card was created especially for the Pals Paper Arts Color Challenge #6 to use brocade blue, ruby red and crushed curry. This is two "old" Stampin' Up colors with one of the new "in-colors"!

First of all, I stamped a piece of crushed curry (yellow) with the Stampin' Up polka dot background stamp. After that, I inked up the SMILE petal from Stampin' Up's "Pick-a-Petal" set with ruby red and stamped it over top of the polka dots. I cut these out, leaving a slight edge and then glued them to a piece of ruby red and cut them out again. You don't have to be precise and it really doesn't take that long to do this. Seriously! :)

The brocade blue was stamped with the canvas background stamp and punched with one of my new border punches. I tied the polka dot crushed curry ribbon around the blue piece and attached it to the ruby red card base. The petals are all attached with SU dimensionals and the center of my flower is a red button tied with linen thread.

I've already started my long Labor Day weekend. :) Yes! Fridays are usually so busy for me, but it was quiet today and I was able to leave work at noon! I feel like I could be trying to catch a cold, but I'm determined to fight it off before it gets me down!

Do you have any big plans for the weekend? We've got a Husker Party tomorrow night to watch the Nebraska game, but other than that, no big plans for us. Hubby is barbecuing chicken wings and I'm making Mr. Hatfield's Pickle Dip. I got this recipe last year from one of my favorite blogs ~ MISH MASH ~ by Michelle Wooderson and I've already made it several times. The best thing is that it's easy peasy and everyone *loves* it! :)

That's all for now, my friends! Whatever your plans, have a FUN weekend!

Smiles 2 U! ~ Pam :)

~ Quote for Today ~

Weekends don't count unless you spend them

doing something completely pointless.

Bill Watterson

{Sweet Sketch #13} Bubble Over with FUN!

It's Sweet Sketch Wednesday!

And I'm back again with the Changito monkeys! :) They just make me SMILE and hopefully they make you *smile* too!

Today's card was created especially for Arlana's SWEET SKETCH Wednesday challenge using her fabulous sketch below. You'll notice I had to angle the sentiment to get it to fit, but I think it looks ok, don't you?

One of the things that I've enjoyed the most about participating in the various sketch challenges, is seeing how everyone else interprets the sketch layout. Arlana has put together a super group of talented cardmakers to ignite your creativity. Please hop on over to the SWEET SKETCH WEDNESDAY blog and you'll be amazed! Remember, you're ALL encouraged to participate!

I hope you're having a GREAT week so far! Thanks for stopping by and for all your SWEET comments about my apple card yesterday! You made my day! :)

Smiles 2 U!

~ Quote for Today ~

Laughter is an instant vacation.

Milton Berle

You'll Love the New Holiday Mini Catalog!

Stampin' Up! has just released a fabulous new Holiday Mini Catalog! Please click on the catalog image above to download a copy now. If you decide to place an order, I would *love* to help you! You can email me via my blog profile, or you can order direct from my Stampin' Up website!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I'll be back tomorrow with a SWEET SKETCH Wednesday card! (Hint: I've been "monkeying around" again! ;)

Smiles 2 U!

{MTSC #37} One of a Kind!

It's time for Mercy's "One of a Kind" Tuesday Sketch Challenge!

Yep! Another FUN one too! Gotta love the circles and a chance to use those punches! :)

This delicious looking apple is from the Stampin' Up! 'Tart and Tangy" set. I've stamped it on naturals ivory with ruby red and kiwi kiss ink. Actually, before I stamped the apple, I wiped off the stem and leaf and colored it in with the chocolate chip and old olive markers.

The rustic designer papers are from my scrap stash and I've layered it with ruby red and old olive cardstock. The edge on the red piece is with a Martha Stewart border punch.

The idea for my sentiment came from the Stampin' Up! set "Mixed Greetings", but it was just too big and overpowered my little apples, so I created my own handwritten "one of a kind" message! Can you tell it's not stamped? ;)

After seeing the photos, I'm questioning my color choices, but I really do think they look better in real life! :) I've distressed all the edges with a sponge and Versafine Vintage Sepia ink, added some zig-zag stitching, linen thread bow, and a mini clip to highlight my "one of a kind" apple!

Enough about MY card! Please scoot on over to Lord Have Mercy and see what Mercy and her fabulous team of Muses have created to inspire you today!! And CHECK IT OUT ~ the one and only Shannan Tuebner has joined our team! AND we have a extra-special NEW rockstar stamper ~ Suzy Tyler from Inky Rubber~ as our September Guest Muse!! WELCOME Suzy! :) These gals are just AWESOME and it is my pleasure to be creating along with them!

~ Mercy's Muses ~
Jackie Pedro ~ The Scalloped Edge

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 Tuebner ~ Shannan Tuebner Designs

You are ALL invited and encouraged to play along with this sketch challenge! You'll find all the details on Mercy's blog. Won't you join us?

Happy Stamping & Smiles 2 U!

~ Quote for Today ~

The best teachers teach from the heart, not from the book.

Author Unknown