A Tuesday Sketch

I am no where near being back to normal (if I ever was, haha).  In fact, I'm still in my sling and still having to sleep sitting up on the couch.  In short this road has been a lot longer than I ever imagined.  This is why my posts have been so few and my cards have been all CAS.  I'm a righty living in a lefty's world right now.

I finally got a chance to participate in a challenge, and I love this set from Clear Dollar Stamps called Tulip Wreath.  It was released in April and is so gorgeous.  I used the sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches and made a 4x4 card.

Stamps:  Tulip Wreath

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  SU Sahara Sand, CDS Cottonball White

Copics:  RV63, RV65, YG63, YG67, E41, E43

Accessories:  CDS Tabs & Tags Die, dimensionals, corner chomper, green buttons, twine

Thanks for stopping by!

My Son's 11th Birthday!

Friday was my son's 11th birthday!  We went to Denny's for breakfast, Got to see Kung Fu Panda 2 (which was awesome), and we had ribs, broccoli, and Italian Butter Beans per his request for dinner.  He even got a Green Lantern cake.

He made a request for a birthday card...he wanted a super hero with laser eyes!  So, naturally it was Cuppie to the rescue, haha.  I combined 2 sets from Taylored Expressions to make this card.  It uses Sweet Celebration and Trick or Sweet II.

Stamps:  Sweet Celebrations & Trick or Sweet II

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  CDS Cottonball White, CDS Still Waters, MME Hattie

Accessories:  Copics, red buttons, red Spica pen, corner rounder

Clearly Inspired Challenge #28

It's the third Friday of the month, which means it's time for the next Clearly Inspired Challenge over at Clearly iStamp.  Clear Dollar Stamps sponsors the challenges and offers prizes!  The more that play, the more prizes there are to win!  The challenge for CIC #28 is:

Critters

I used this adorable set called Get Well Critters from CDS for my critter card.  This set and card seemed so fitting considering my situation.  Thank you to all of you that have kept me in your prayers and sent me well wishes.  It has meant so much.  I have about 3 more weeks in the sling, and hopefully I'll be back better than ever!

Stamps:  Get Well Critters

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  buttercream, MME Lush, unknown blue

Accessories:  Copics, CDS Oval Dies, dimensionals, Turquoise microbeads from CDS, velvet ribbon, red button

Now let's see what kind of critter cards you make and link it to the Clearly iStamp blog!

And the winners are...

AND THE WINNERS ARE...

From Jan's blog, She's Gone Stampin', our first winner is Shelly Schmidt, My Creative Rumblings.

From Christi's Blog, our second winner is Vikki Jo, Vikki Jo's Corner. 

Each winner must email Lori (lori@cleardollarstamps.com) to claim their prize of a $10 gift certificate for clear or digital stamps from the CDS store.

a Sweet Blog Award

Sweet Shawna gave me this award.  The Liebster is an award going around for talented, well-deserved  paper crafters who have fewer than 300 followers.  She was so sweet to think of me :)

I would like to pass it on to:

Christi

Cherie

Barb

Go leave these ladies some love.  You'll be glad you stopped by their blogs :)

CDS Blog Hop: Let's Hear it For the Boys!

Welcome to the Clear Dollar Stamps Blog Hop themed 

Let's Hear it For the Boys!  You should have come from Jan's blog, but if you stumbled here, why not head back to Lori's for the beginning?!  I guarantee you won't want to miss all of the inspiration, and there are prizes to be won.

My card uses the April release set called Father's Day, and features a lot of the masking technique.  I first stamped the hammer and drew the box around it.  I then put a mask over the hammer and outlined the box with sticky backed paper, and then proceeded to stamp the sentiment over and over.  The final touches were coloring the hammer and placing the brads.

Stamps:  Father's Day

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Not Quite Navy, SU So Saffron

Paper:  buttercream

Accessories:  Prismacolor pencils & Gamsol, black Copic pen, Screw & Nut brads (CDS)

Your next stop in the hop is Stacy's blog!

Gel-a-tins Butterflies

I finally have a little something to show!  Sadly it has taken a total of 4 days to make this, but it;s made none-the-less!  I did have a little help from one of my young'ns that insisted I not crank the cuttlebug. . .and he was right.

The image is from a gorgeous set by Gel-a-tins called Butterflies Are Free.  As soon as it came in the mail my mind went to work with all the beautiful things I could make!  I stamped it using Versamark ink and embossing it with an awesome powder from Gel-a-tins called Teal You What Gelly Powder.  Such a pretty color, huh?

Stamps:  Butterflies Are Free

Ink:  Versamark, SU Creamy Caramel

Paper:  CDS Cottonball White, MME Good Times

Accessories:  Teal You What Gelly Powder, sponge, corner chomper, SU leaf punch, MFT Rolled Rose Die-namics, teal pearls, yellow felt

It may be a few days before I post again, but I'm getting there.  Thanks to all of you that have been praying for this impatient soul ;)

CIC #27 -- Turquoise

It's the first Friday of the month, and a new challenge to participate in over at Clearly iStamp!  the new challenge is to use Turquoise as one of your main colors.

I made this card before my surgery for this challenge, and it fits how I'm feeling.  I used 2 different Clear Dollar Stamps sets:  Plumes & Blooms and Scripture Occasions

Stamps:  Plumes & Blooms and Scripture Occasions

Ink:  CDS Turquoise Gem, Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  CDS Cottonball White, CDS Night Eclipse, CDS Turquoise Gem

Accessories:  turquoise Stickles

So head on over to Clearly iStamp for all the details.  The more players we have, the more winners we have!

Frustration

"In the end it will all be worth it" that's what my husband keeps saying, and I know he's right.  In the grand scheme of things it isn't that big of a deal, and it isn't life threatening.  I'm aware of just how blessed I am as I pray every morning for sick friends.  I guess I just want to voice my frustration as life around me keeps going forward, and I sit here on this couch.  

I had surgery last Wednesday to repair my right shoulder.  It was a little unexpected, since every other doctor that I saw for the last nine months said to deal with it.  This last doctor I saw did not agree with the other doctors diagnosis, and in fact said it was a very easy fix.  Two days later he fixed it.  What a blessing!

My frustration right now is my being  idle, which can't be helped.  I'd actually be able to do more if I weren't allergic to everything under the sun.  Apparently I've developed an allergy to latex, so I've been battling horrible blistering hives all over my arm since the surgery.  The sling seems to make them worse.  Unfortunately I need the sling to accomplish most tasks, but since I can't seem to shake the hives that go along with it I'm forced to sit on the couch.  I know it's not really a big deal, and I am so grateful that my shoulder was fixable, but these hives truly are agonizing.

Thanks for listening.  I'll have a card to show tomorrow that I actually made before the surgery, so stop back tomorrow.  Have a blessed and productive day.

Gel-a-tins Congrats for Baby

Good morning everyone!  It's going to be a bit quiet on here for a bit, because I'm undergoing shoulder surgery to repair some damage from a fall last year.  No worries and no big deal, but I didn't want anyone to think that I had fallen off of the face of the earth. 

 I will leave you with a couple of cards that I made using the ever awesome Gel-a-tins set called Rock-a-Bye-Baby.  This first one uses papers from MME Playground.  I used the ribbon stamp in the set to create a little sidewalk :)

Stamps:  Rock-a-Bye-Baby

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Memento London Fog, SU Summer Sun

Paper:  CDS Grape Jelly, CDS Cottonball White, MME Playgournd

Accessories:  TE Tiny Twinkles, dimensionals, corner chomper, heart sticker, MFT Fresh Cut Grass Die-namics

This last one uses the Nestabilities Scalloped Pennet with some airbrushing and the little popped up stork and baby.  It fits perfectly into a standard invitation envelope!

Stamps:  Rock-a-Bye-Baby

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  CDS Cottonball White

Accessories:  Copics, green button, yellow Baker's Twine, dimensionals

I am hoping that my recovery time will be fast and that I'll be back at it in no time.  If not, I do have a few things up my sleeves to dazzle you with just in case :)

Sending Sunshine

Happy Monday everyone!  I hope you all had a wonderful day yesterday celebrating the resurrection of our Lord.  We had a wonderful service at church, and then a very nice sort of lazy day with our little family here at home.  I had hoped for some stamping, but that didn't happen so I'll show you a card I sent out last week.  I used the new Taylored Expressions set called Banner Day 2 that I received for my birthday from Christi.  This uses a few different dies from a few different companies:

Banner Day 2 -- Taylored Expressions

Easy Rosettes -- The Cat's Pajamas

Simply Scallops Medium Die-namics -- MFT Stamps

Stamps:  Banner Day 2

Ink:  SU Not Quite Navy

Paper:  CDS Mustard Seed, MME Hattie

Accessories:  Banner Day 2 Die, Easy Rosettes Die, Simply Scallops Medium Die-namics, dimensionals, MME Hattie brads

I'm hoping for more stamping time later, but it doesn't look good.  I have a doctor's appointment, we have school (of course), and then we finish the day with some games.  Have a fantastic day everyone, and thanks for stopping by!

You Mean the World

I received some great RAK from Christi yesterday!  Occasionally we send each other some slightly used rubber, so that the other can enjoy.  I received this beauty called You Mean the World to Me from MFT.  I decided to use it for the MFT Weekly Sketch Challenge going on over at Splitcoaststampers, however I got that sketch confused with the Mojo Monday sketch, LOL.  I wanted to participate in both, so I guess I got the Mojo one done first!  I guess that means I'll just have to make time in the craft cave again. . .shucks (insert sarcastic chuckle).

Stamps:  You Mean the World to Me

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  OA Report Card, buttercream, unknown blue

Accessories:  Copics, dimensionals, red ribbon, red glimmer brad, Large Scallop Edge Die-namic, Tags Trio Nestabilities, CDS Oval Dies

Maybe you can come back later to see the MFT sketch card, lol.  Thanks for stopping by :)

Just for the sake of stamping

Go HERE for the April TE Blog Hop

I just wanted to post a couple of cards that I made for absolutely no obligation.

 Stamps:  All Around Sentiments (CDS)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Vintage Photo Distress Ink

Paper:  CDS Stone Slab, CDS Gold, SU Melon Mambo

Accessories:  Forest Branches embossing folder, sponge, Bigz Heart Die, circle cutters, dimensionals, cream ribbon, half back pearls, corner punch

Stamps:  Bold Butterflies (CDS)

Ink:  SU Not Quite Navy, SU Creamy Caramel, Vintage Photo Distress ink

Paper:  CDS Worn Parchment, SU Not Quite Navy, buttercream, OA Campfire

Accessories:  scalloped edge punch, circle punch, CDS Bold Butterflies Die, sewing machine

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you found some inspiration :D

Taylored Expressions April Blog Hop

Are you enjoying the Taylored Expressions April Blog Hop?!  I loved the idea of this hop being a CAS card.  Originally I had made a card a few weeks ago and even took a picture of it for this hop.  However, the more I looked at it, the more I didn't like it.  I decided to use my new Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients Kit for this card.  The set I used is called Downtown Diva.  We all know I have a love affair with Cuppie and I've passed that onto as many friends as possible, muhuahahaha.

Stamps:  Downtown Diva

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Ridinghood Red

Paper:  April TE KI Kit, CDS Cottonball White

Accessories:  Copics, window punch, notebook punch, April TE KI Kit, dimensionals, corner punch

If you didn't start this hop at the beginning, you're going to want to.  You certainly don't want to miss any TE goodness.  While you're at it, you should sign up for next month's hop.  Taylor gives one random participant a prize, and she features some of the cards in her newsletter.  Last month I was so tickled to be one of the features :)  Now get to hoppin'!

CDS April Blog Hop Winners!

AND THE WINNERS ARE...

From Stacy's blog, Twinshappy, our first winner is Donna, Indiana Inking.

From Lisa's blog, Lisa's Life Lines, our second winner is Patti J., Cherish Each Precious Day. 

Each winner must email Lori (lori@cleardollarstamps.com) to claim their prize of a $10 gift certificate for clear or digital stamps from the CDS store.