House Mouse Challenge #43 A Sketch

Good evening,
tonight I have finished up my entry for the
House Mouse Monday Challenge
which happens to be a sketch brought to us by
2 Red Bananas

Here's my take:

Now, I have joined in, despite the composition of this sketch incorporating my arch nemesis, the circle, and as you can see, they circle has once again defeated me, as I have created eggs rather than 360 degees of beautiful roundness. Actually, it's just the one that's out of sorts, but still, I know you see it because I certainly do. Besides that little overcorrection gone wrong, the rest of the card came together smoothly.

The sketch:

I hope you've had a chance to check out the House Mouse blog this week,
as 2 Red Banana's is offering a great coupon
in addition to double the eye candy, 2 DT samples!!
Lots of beautiful creations this week.

Thanks for stopping by, please feel welcome to leave a comment and check out the other House Mouse creations I have on my blog ;) If you want, of course, you don't have to...
Stephanie

PBSC #54, SS #56, and SSS Birthday Celebration

Hi there folks, hop today finds you well.
Today I whipped up something for a few challenges.
Over at Penny Black Saturday Challenge
the theme for this week is embossing.
And their lovely teamie Domi
sent me over to check out
Simon Says Stamps
to get in on their birthday celebration (thanks!!)


Then I was left with some ideas and stuck on a LO,
when viola!! Sketch Saturday
to the rescue!!


I am new to participate at SS and SSS,
so I hope to sneaking around your blogs very soon!!

Thanks for leaving a comment, they are always
very welcomed and very appreciated,
and a very sure way to insure I will have people to visit myself;)
Enjoy your weekend,
Stephanie

House Mouse Challenge #42, neopolitan

Good evening all.
I have been missing out on the House Mouse challenges
for a bit (not intentionally!!)
but this weeks challenge over at HMMC
is Neopolitan,
and if you give me a food reference to work with,
I am on it!!
Stop by their blog to see what the amazing DT cooked up.
So strawberry, vanilla and chocolate it is:

Why is it that I have to pick the least logical
image to work with when House Mouse and Friends
is masterful at yummy stamps more suited
for an ice cream pallette?
It's because this stamp is tremendous!!
I've had it for months and finally inked it
today and I'll tell ya, it was tons of fun.

Thanks for stopping by,
please feel welcome to comment and look around.
Have a great night (or morning)
Stephanie

Penny Black Saturday Challenge Birthday Celebration

Hiya,
I'm gonna sneak this one in before time's up.
The Penny Black Saturday Challenge blog
is turning one this week,
so appropriately so,
we are to make something celebratory,
such as a birthday card, or congrats on a
new job or baby, or an anniversary,
or something to say "Hooray!!!"
So, as to take part in such a fun celebration
brought to us by some truly talented ladies,
here is my card:


And here's a little side view for ya,
can't really see the stickles in the flowers
and on the wings of the bee,
but it's there:


Happy Birthday Guys!!!
Hey, if you happen by my page, feel free to drop a comment,
and since you're already here,
feel free to check out the rest of the goods.
Stephanie

Nurse Doraline meets Amy's notebook

Hiya folks.
I have spent more time than I should admit to
just trying to get things unpacked and back
into their place since my little trip with the fam,
and likewise, getting reacquainted with my crafting supplies
has not been as effortless as I would have thought.

Without further ado, I bring you Nurse Amy's Notebook:


It seems that with leaving behind the crafting
for a week has made me want to use
every single supply I own in one project, lol.

Doraline Close-up:


You can tell it was creeping into the wee hours of the morning
with all the weird cast of colours
from artificial light on my pictures..

Close-up of the bloomage:


This notebook is for a friend of mine, Amy (really?)
who's going through a nursing program at the moment,
so Doraline in her nursing getup was a must.
This gal is just as loopy as myself,
so when it came to making her something,
I knew I needn't hold back.
Colours galore, bold papers, lots of ripping and distressing,
beadwork in my glittered blooms, ribbons!!!
Sorry, go get a couple of Advil to comfort yourself after
looking at this creation.
Shoulda called it "Amy's Busy Book."

Couldn't find a challenge to stick this in,
but thought I'd post it anyway.
And also, if you've been looking for Doraline and Dexter
and can't find a way to nab a few,
you can shop at Motivet.com
to getcha some of these cuties.

Happy crafting to you all, hope you'll leave me a comment,
I love to hear from other crafters.
Stephanie

Charisma Cardz Challenge #22

Good evening all.
Just a quick post before I am off to bed.
I have been packing up getting ready for a trip
my fam and I are taking and I have not but
a drip of energy left.
Well, enough to join in on a challenge before we leave,
but that's about it.

This week at Charisma Cardz
their challenge is a colour combo,
a delicious pallette of pink and brown.



So that's that.
My colouring is a bit off,
but I am enjoying experimenting with Doraline,
as you can see by my blog.

I will be home soon and will visit and catch up
asap, with crafting and blogging ;)
Take Care,
Stephanie

Fun with Doraline

I was SOOOOOOO thrilled when I checked the mail
this Tuesday and inside was my order from Motivet Stamps
I've been drooling over these cuties since I spotted them
and I splurged and bought a few.
Really fast international transaction, I might add.



I started playing around and this is what I've got so far.
So much fun, and right up my alley.



Kinda dark pix, but what do ya think?
Stephanie

Awards and wayward creations

Scroll to the bottom to see the creations.


Hello everyone,
Some time back I was awarded the Karma Award from Julia
and said I would revisit the award in a month or so when
I had a better idea as to who to pass it on to.
Well, I must say,
I don't think that it has gotten any easier to select people,
but I will give it a whirl.

Award criteria:
The Karma Award: These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind of bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.

Lol, someone had their thesaurus out when they wrote this up.
I sniffed around the web for a piccie or something to stick in here too,
but didn't find anything. Oh, back to the award.

So I have the task of sending this onward to 8 blogger buddies and I can't.
Every single person that's been by my page and left a comment,
from DT members to the people I follow to those who follow me,
each comment is invaluable and appreciated and for that reason,
I can't pick just 8.
I want to thank Julia for being a great Blogger,
She's always got a kind word and boy was I thrilled when,
after weeks of having a blog with minimal visitors =(
I got on and saw a lovely face in my Followers window.
It was Julia!!!
Thanks for that, I was feeling very lonely in Blogland.
Her cards are always adorable and her scrapbook pages
are heartfelt.
Stop by and visit her at
Indiana Julia and her Temple of Crafting
and prepare to be amused.

So people, take this award and pass it on,
spread it around,
share the love!!


Now, I have also recently been passed the torch of the
Honest Scrap Award from Tracey at her blog
Handmade With Love





This award is a little different, There are some requirements to the award, I must thank the person who gave me the award, list their blog and link it. Then the hard part I must list Ten Honest Things about myself, put the scrap logo on my blog and select at least seven other worthy bloggers, list their links and hope that they follow the above three requirements also.


So thank you so much Tracey,
Who always has such encouraging words to say
and has some of the most elegant creations displayed
I will try to get this award moving forward,
so here goes:

1. I follow people at random. Usually in the morning when I'm in front of my computer with my coffee, I'll see something amazing and click "follow." It's strange because sometimes it will be a page that I've been by several times before, and it takes that morning cuppa to get me on board. I don't know.

2. I blog hop in the afternoon and make a point to leave at least 3 heartfelt comments a day.

3. I visit randomly off of challenge blogs' comments. I first visit people with animals ot stuffies as their profile image, then absolutely by chance after that.

4. If it is mechanically possible, I visit everyone who leaves me blog love.

5. I am a total hoarder, I never sell a stamp.

6. I still have my first stamp, my mom bought it for me:
B 584, Kitty and Puppy Friends, Hero Arts circa 1990

7. I love photography. Landscape and animals are my favorite subjects, not saying I'm any good, just saying I enjoy it. I'm getting decent at photgraphing people though.

8. My husband thinks I am insane passing up new shoes or flowers on special occasions and instead requesting a trip to a scrapbook store...

9. Martha Stewart is where it's at in my world.

10. I am nuts about Halloween. I am already crafting things up for this year and have about 100 great images I never delete off my PC that play in a slideshow screensaver.

There, honest things about me. I kept it crafty, you guys don't wanna hear about how many times I've seen The Misfits in concert...

Again, I don't know who, specifically, to pass this onto,
so I encourage anyone who feels like spreading some love around
and maybe, have an opportunity like this award
to share some truths about themselves,
to please take and share this award.




Now, here's some creations for you all to peep at.
This was a cake I made for work.
They were having a cake competition and I
knew that hardly anyone would participate :(
so I brought something in!!

She's not perfect by any means,
but cute and I can see that I will be trying
this creation again and again, so fun.
My advise, buy the premade red icing,
it will save you 20 minutes, easy.

Here's a card I made for a card challenge at the SOA fundraiser.
with a Birthday Hi!!
Sentiment's on the inside =)

And here's another,

Did I mention I love ink? lol.


Thanks for coming by and don't forget to grab one of these awards
and start spreading the love around.
And stop by Tracey and Julia's blogs for some inspiration
while you're at it.
Take care, Stephanie

Stampin' Out Alzheimer's Scrapbook Template Challenge

Hi,
I'd like to take a belated minute to plug an event
that's been taking place this week with all sorts
of fun things geared towards crafty types.
The lovely Jen Tapler has put together a wonderous
weeklong stampin' n' scrappin' event
full of goodies, free downloads, challenges and prizes,
and generous vendor discounts
with all proceeds going directly to her cause,
to benefit the Alzheimers Association in their efforts
to provide and enhance care and support for all those
affected by this heartbreaking disease.

Stop by the
Stampin' Out Alzheimers webpage
for your chance to get in on the fun.
This is a benefit (pay to play) event,
with easy access to place your kind donation.
If you haven't done so already, you've got until Sunday
to check it out and have some fun!!

Thought I'd share with you an entry I've finally completed
for a template challenge they're hosting.
Well, sketch for paper people like myself.


I am 2 and a half years behind schedule....
This is from my baby's first Christmas,
and as the contents to be archived were non-specific,
I went with a page that is particularly off-season
and very VERY past due.
Not intentionally, it's just what came together.



This is a template provided by the super talented Tracey Howard,
just one of many MANY great things
to get to play with at this site.
There are all types of layouts, free downloads,
card, scrapbook and altered art contests
with most terrific prizes,
TONS of incentive to donate to a wonderful cause.
Go check this out!!

Click here to visit!!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend,
Stephanie

House Mouse Birthday Challenge #39

Hello to all,
glad you are stopping by my site.
I have a card for this weeks challenge at
House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge



We were to make something birthday oriented, birthday card,
invitations, birth day for boys or girls, etc.
I have a boatload of HM birthday stamps,
that's what's silly about my image selection,
but I went with "Tweet Kisses"
because the card is for a friend who loves birds.
Well, this works, I think.

Glad you came by, Stephanie

Colour Create week 17, Charisma Cardz #20

Hello folks, I hope today finds you well.
I started working on this card yesterday,
finished it up today and am happy to get to posting!!
This weeks colour combo at
The Colour Create Challenge Blog
is Lemon, Pink Sorbet and Chocolate.
Mmmmmmm, mention food and I am there!!!
There was an extra option to go for a
shabby chic look with our creations. Will do.

I also decided to incorporate into this project
this weeks challenge over at
Charisma Cardz Thursday Craft Challenges
which is to use flowers, lace and pearls in our creation.
Oh, I think I'm in love...
This will be my first time playing with Charisma Cardz
and I am excited to hop around and visit.
Additionally, their challenge this week is brought to us
by their DT Sally, whose hosting her first challenge,
so here we have 2 firsts and I am thrilled to participate.



I spent more time thinking of what I should do than doing it.
This is very well thought out. Now execution, well, it's okay,
but I tried to include every bit of challenge into my card
and went as shabby chic as my image selection would allow.
The end result, I like it.



I hope everyone managed to enjoy their day,
and hopefully squeezed in a little crafting time.
My youngster can smell a holiday from a mile away
and always elects NOT to nap,
making for a most miserable evening.
This evening proved true to form,
but despite my wrestless tot and eager stepdaughters,
I finished the project, along with the lovely
extra work load holidays bring us moms.

Off to bed I head. Until next time,
Stephanie

Penny Black Saturday Challenge #50, buttons!!!

Hello out there.
Hope all is good with ya.
Here's a card I made to play along with
the Penny Black Saturday Challenge blog,
which is to use some buttons, and of course,
a Penny black image in our creation.


Those are supposed to be flowers around hedgie.
My pic is looking a little washed out, I am afraid.

Thanks for looking,
Happy Crafting to you,
Stephanie

Scrapping 'n' such

Howdy y'all.
Haha, yes, I am feeling rather in tune with Kansas today, lol.
I don't have any specific challenges to enter this stuff in,
but here's what I've been up to this week.
Thought I'd share just for the fun of it.


Here we have a card for my stepdaughter
whose Kindergarten graduation will be taking place tonight.
She likes all things pretty so I think she'll like the pink.
Ballerina stamp by WhipperSnapper, flowers by Stampabilities.


Here we have another wedding page.
Don't mind my uber small sentiment... It says,
"Hand in hand, down the seaside they strolled."
I may have to redo that,
it's way out of proportion with the rest of the elements.


Photography by the talented Heather Hart,
she's based out of Santa Monica from her studio A La Mode Photography.
She specializes in maternity photos in a natural setting,
check her out here

Heather is a delight to work with, and trust me,
she's captured us in the most beautiful way possible.
We're sorta rough around the edges...
Yet our memories of that day portray elegance and beauty.
Okay, so obviously I love her and if you should be interested in
amazing seaside photos of yourself and family (and animals!!)
she is one to note.


Well, that's all for now.
I mentioned in an earlier post that my
Blogger isn't working properly.
I read yesterday that this weird glitch has something
to do with the Followers gadget,
so I disabled mine and have noticed that
the only pages that I am able to visit
are conspicuously absent of this gadget as well....
Hmmmmmm..... so, I hope to visit more of you soon.
Now, let's see if this will post.

Til next time, Stephanne

Bumblin' Blogger Bummer

Hi folks,
I don't think I am alone in finding it next to impossible to visit this week.
75% of the links I've tried to access shut down (abort) on me.
There are a great many people whose projects I want to see up close and personal
but while Blogger is on hiatus, those visits will have to wait.

However, from those itty bitty frames displayed in "my Dashboard"
everybody's been beautifully crafting their little fingers off!!

So I will see you soon, I hope....
Stephanne

Colour Create Sky Blue, Tan and Ecru

Hello to all.
Today's been a long one, laundry, kids, cooking, etc.
Alas, I have finished a page and used this weeks colour combo
at Colour Create Challenge Blog to guide me.
This week is Kim's beautiful choice of Sky Blue, Tan and Ecru
with the added option of adding gloss, glitter or graze
to the challenge.


Will do... here kitty kitty...


If you look closely, you can see that I've added glitter to her nose and the tips of her ears. Just kiddding, she sorta matches the pallette though...

I have about 700 pages that ought to be scrapped.
This is one from a wedding, mine to be specific,
photography brought to you by the amazing Heather Hart.
Anyone anywhere near the Pacific should check her out!!
http://www.alamodephoto.com



I have struggled with these photos holding out for
the right hue of reds and creams,
but you know what, I think blues and browns are gonna overrule this project,
say for a few pages with my red roses.
I HOPE I can stay motivated and scrap another page or two by weeks end,
but life won't wait so we'll see how that goes.



I feel like there were little touches that would have made a big difference but I promised myself I would NOT spend another cent. No shopping for this project, NONE, so the backing is a little too blue for my liking and the flowers aren't as ornate as I have been drooling over a couple of techniques I've noticed and want to try, nevertheless, a page.

I gotta stick my grumpy behind in bed, goodnight all.
Until next time.
Stephanne

House Mouse is Movin' into one sweet retreat!!

Hello to all who may find this.
I have finally completed my card for this weeks challenge over at
the House Mouse Monday Challenge blog,
which was to make a project with our interpretation of MOVING.

I made this for a friend who will soon be moving into
her first home.


The inside is done with the same papers and the sentiment says,
"Home Sweet Home."
Well, that is the name of the stamp...
you know those miceys are punny funny.


This image was a bit of an undertaking, so many bits and peices to detail.
I went basic with other components of the card to let the image shine.
Lots of diamond glaze, lots of "icing."


Thanks for taking a peek at my card. Til next time.
Stephanne

Colour Create Challenge 15

Hello everyblogger,
I'm glad you've stopped by.
I hope you stick around because tonight I've finished something
a little out of my norm.
Nope, no kitties, no micies, no vampy reds or blacks.
Tonight I bring you my card for this weeks Colour Create Challenge Blog.
Our colour combo:



With the option of adding paper piercing.
I didn't do any peircing, but I did manage to stick to the color scheme:



This is a card for my Godparents' birthdays
that are relatively close in timeframe.
The colour challenge is good for this project because
although this is a floral creation, the pallette is neutral/masculine.



My "Birthday" sentiment is on the interior, along with a pocket
for the gift card I'm sending.

I hope all is well in your world. Enjoy the rest of your day.
Stephanne

PBSC Black and White + 1, here kitty kitty....

Good day to everyblogger, hope you are enjoying your bloghopping ;)
Today I bring you a project for this weeks challenge over at
Penny Black Saturday Challenge blog
which is to use the colors black and white, plus one.
I, of course, went with red.
I happen to have a surplus of this color combo because of a past challenge
that I went shopping for. It was a sketch challenge here at PBSC and I had just was "Uplifting Occasion" off the 'Bay. Needless to say, excited.
You can see the project in a past post (Older Projects...)



And, of course, I chose a kitty for the project.
A stamp called Merry Kitty, I blocked out the bulb of the ornament
and turned it into a ball.
I defaced a little cheapo notebook and turned it into this busybook.
Busy because I have a heavy hand and because of its sentiment.
You can see that I've been lazy and am posting before completing the project
by the opposite blue side of the notebook peeping up in the background.
You can also witness my eagerness to continue on, as I did not let my ink dry and it bled a little when I added diamond glaze. Shoot. Okay, it bled a lot...

I stuck to the rules, the image is colored with black and red watercolor pencils and brick red distress ink. If you happen to have questions about anything used, ask and I will tell ya.

Hope your day continues on in a most terrific way. Please feel welcome to leave a comment, I very much enjoy knowing that someone out there visited my blog, and of course, I will be able to visit you too!!

Stephanne

My creamy, chocolaty, rasberry-red Penny Black flower storage jar

Good evening, good morning, good tidings. I hope all is well with you all.
I have been graced with an opportunity to make something for myself.
I combined this weeks Colour Create challenge, which is to use red, chocolate and cream (I'm getting hungry...) with the extra option of adding ribbon.
I also decided to go Penny Black with my image selection, then had to figure out how to use 3 shapes in order to join in at PBSC this week.



I've been wanting something a little more snazzy than the plastic bag my ever-growing supply of flowers is in, was looking at plastic tubs and had to kick myself. Why in the world should I BUY something when I could very well make something myself? Talk about recycling!!


Well, you can see that I opted in on the ribbon.



As far as my shapes go, I have a square, rectangles and ummmm, flowers? Flower-shaped flowers... I think that constitutes a shape, does it not? Kinda can't tell specific shapes when everything's stretches around a jar huh.



There's my lovely overloaded jar. I had some plain creations last week, I had to compensate... Leave a comment if you feel like it. I sure do appreciate your feedback!!

Penny Black Saturday Challenge #46 Anything Goes

Good Evening to all, Tonight I will bring you one last creation before heading to bed. It's for this weeks Penny Black challenge, which is sort of a doosey for wayward crafters like myself: Anything Goes. The only rule to this challenge is that you incorporate a Penny Black image in your creation. Hmmmmmmmm...... Well, there's always those adorable cats in undies stamps that need no reason to be used. They are great for just about anything, so says me anyway. Just a little note card for a friend. Cute, simple, pretty colors. Yep, that's it:



I hope you enjoy taking a peek at my project, please feel free to leave a comment. I appreciate it and always return visits.

Good Night, Stephanne