Finna comes to play at Creative Inspirations Beach challenge!!

Happy Wednesday everybody,
I hope you all are doing well!!
It's time for a new challenge over at
Creative Inspirations
which is a seasonal theme:
AT THE BEACH!!
And since I am already quite tardy,
let me just get down to business:


This is Finna the Summer Fairie by the fabulous Mo Manning, she's printed on Neenah cardstock and coloured with my Prismacolor pencils and baby oil, I free-handed the beach-esque background (as if you couldn't tell). I am a little disapointed with my pancake looking sandy shores, so moving right along, don't want to focus on the negatives, I used a white Sakura jelly pen to add highlights to Finnas hair, the wings and waves were Stickled in Diamond.


The papers are Basic Grey, the sentiment is Motivet, flowers are a medley of stash items and treasures that the darling Elise sent me, thank you dear. The scene idea and the wonderful floral lace came from the wonderful Sue, she always inspires me when I am in a pickle.


Time for some challenges, me thinks.
Cupcake Craft Challenge Summer Delights
Mo's Digital Challenge Celebrate Babies
Everybody Art Summer
PaperTake WeeklyFun Fun Fun!!!

Well, when you start creating your summery creations this week, I hope you will keep our BEACH challenge at Creative Inspirations in mind :)
Take Care, wear sunblock,
Stephanne

CLP Challenges debut!!!

Hello Friends,
Today is a wonderful day,
the first of the month,
and that means that the amazing Chelsea
of Crafting Life's Pieces
has a new sketch for us to play with!!!
But wait, wait wait!!!
She recently decided to move her sketches
from her personal blog to a new challenge blog,
CLP Challenge Blog,
she was looking for a few crafty ladies
to join her in her new blogging adventure
and I thought I would try my hand at joining,
and woohootyhoo, I did!! Thanks Chelsea!!
Chelsea, myself and many uber-talented ladies
made the debut today, check the line-up out HERE
So without further ado, today is LAUNCH DAY,
here is my take on her gorgeous sketch!!


I won the lovely Belle with Laundry during a recent Belles and Whistles bloghop for their latest release, yay!!! I've wanted to ink her up since she arrived and finally, the time is here. Belle is coloured with, what, Prismacolor pencils. Those oven cleaner fumes have really done a number on me.... Basic Grey DP, except for the heart patterned paper, that is MME, the lush ribbon is from Elise, LOVE IT, thank you!! The flowers are stash, as are the lace, ribbon and pearls, and the little banners, well, yeah, I made them, I had to write out my sentiment as my printer is OUT of ink, not even a drip left, I bled her dry.

FORGOT TO SAY: This is for my mom for Mothers Day, I don't know any moms who've gotten away without doing loads and loads and loads of well, everything, including laundry, so I thought this stamp sorta says MOM, in a good way though, hahaha!!


Well, seeing as this is already late, the big reveal has already taken place, I better just get this posted!! I also thought I would join in at PaperTake Weekly, they want us to do something different. I coloured in pencils, that has become unusual. I do hope that we'll see you over at CLP Challenges, such gorgeous, versatile sketches!!!

Take Care,
Stephanne

Hello, I "ruff" you,

**** *** **** ** **** ****.
First person to fill in the blanks to the song lyrics and name the band in which I am attempting to adapt my darling doggy creation to wins a surprise!!
So, finish the song, name the band, do it first, win a little sumthin' sumthin'.
I encourage you to leave a response even if there is already guesses because they could be wrong and maybe they wont want the surprise which means I go to the next on the list. ***Closed***


G'day folks,
it's Sunday in OZ and that means
it is time for a new challenge at
Magnolia Down Under Challenges
This time around we have a delicious recipe for you:
*3 Papers
*3 Flowers
*2 BUTTons
*1 Bow

There is a scrummy prize on offer this week
as well as pure visual bliss
in the form of design team samples,
I hope you can take a look.

DID YOU KNOW:
Magnolia Down Under Challenges
has moved!!!
Follow the link provided to catch up on all the
Magnoliarific happenings!!

And in further DID YOU KNOW news,
it is not too late for you to hop on over to
Magnolia Down Under
and get in on Kellies weekend sale,
she's offering 15% off her entire inventory of stamps!!
That includes Hoppy Easter pre-orders too, wowie!!



I just deleted my boohoo rant and am back with a few tender morsels of details. This creation was made with the adorable Wilma from Magnolias Raising the Ceiling Collection, I bought it at Waffles store, you can find the link above. I masked off the rose that she has in her mouth so that one lovely pooch could dominate the creation. The papers are Basic Grey, the image was coloured with distress inks and cut out, popped on top of a circled image that was shadowed in Faded Jeans, I felt that in itself was enough, I wanted those rosey cheeks to pop!! The flowers are from my stash, the buttons are from the super duper Princess Kristy, and the lace and gingham is from my stash. Did I skip something? I hope not!!



Challenges entered:
Everybody Art sketch
Fussy and Fancy's
The Movies Challenge,
Old Yeller is the movie because who wouldn't
become friends with this lovable dooooogie.


Hope we'll see you there this week at MDUC!!
Signing off for now,
Stephanne

Brunos' Love Muffin

Happy Valentines Day folks.
Finally, a post.
I have another "plate" for my calender,
this is for February, go figure...


This is the Whiff of Joy stamp I won from
Stampin' For The Weekend,
the adorable Bruno Bear with Muffin,
thank you so much SFTW and Whiff of Joy!!
I gave Bruno's cupcake a makeover by masking over the candle and then adding a heart to it, there are hearts stamped over the amazing radiating love muffin from another stamp. Bruno was coloured in distress inks.


Papers are all DCWV, the punch is by Fiskars, the leaves are done with an EK Success fern punch, a lot of stash stuff here, with the exception of that delish lace I've used on the card, that is from Kellie's shop, Magnolia Down Under, check it out here. Are you sick of my handmade scrolls yet? The sentiment is computer-generated. There is a cupcake in the corner of my calender that is cut out of a peice of Basic Grey DP.


And here we go with the challenges:
Cute Card Thursday In the name of love!!!
Double Dutch Be my Valentine
Everybody Art Challenge Valentine
Fussy and Fancy Dazzle Us
Just Cute Bears Challenge Hearts
Lili of the Valley Valentines
Stamp Something Cute Somethings
Stampin for the Weekend Love is in the air
Stamp with Fun Hearts
The Pink Elephant Mushy Gushy Valentine
Whiff of Joy Jane's Sketch

Have a fabulous week!!
Stephanne

DT- Creative Inspirations Pink and Cream Clara...

Hello Blogger Buddies,
it is time for a new challenge at
Creative Inspirations,
a colour challenge of PINK and CREAM
and guess who's sponsoring us this glorious challenge?
None other than the fabulous
Simon Says Stamps, woohoo!!!


The "recipe" is toward the bottom of this post in an attempt to shave down the length of my post, yet again. I had fun with this project!! I had so many leaves and flowers out, distressed, glimmer misted and Stickled, all ready to go onto my project, but then I started having a crisis about covering up all of the birdcages on this fab BG paper, so I left most of them off. I did lots of paper piecing on this one, I stamped the image as if she were reaching right out of her oval and shadowed the image in Faded Jeans ink, then I coloured and cut out another image, she is glued down in most areas except for her head and her dress, I popped those spots up with foam dots, it is a great effect to enhance paper piecing.


I've played along with several other challenges:
Basic Grey Challenges
wants to see animals on our creations,
Cute Card Thursdays' challenge is Bloomin' Gorgeous!!
And I used the sketch from Sketch Saturday,
although I swapped out a sentiment for a bow...
As usual, had to tweak something.



Supplies:
Stamps: Kraftin' Kimmie (this is Clara), Inkadinkado flourishes
Mediums: Ranger Distress Unk, Archival Ink, Crystal Stickles
Papers: Basic Grey designer paper, Bazzill cardstock
Flowers: Little Primas, ek Success fern punch, MS twig punch,
gardenia from The Amazing Jodie
Lace: Kellie's magical lace, find it here
Others: organza ribbon, foam dots, sewing machine

Thanks for stopping by.
I hope you can pop by
Creative Inspirations,
the designers have created
the most scrumptious projects
for your viewing pleasure!!

Take Care,
Stephanne

Creative Inspirations gets feminine!!!

Hello happy blogging buddies!!
It's time for a new challenge over at
Creative Inspirations,
a nice and easy one,
we'd like to see your feminine side!!!
Make something pretty, elegant, dainty, gorgeous,
and enter it in our challenge!!

This week we were provided with images to create with from our sponsor, Lauretta of Lauretta's Digital Stamps, thank you so much, the images are fun to bring to life!!


I've used one of Lauretta's digi images, this one is called Charleston Lady, coloured with Prismacolors and a little bit of baby oil over the black areas, thank you for the inspiration Lori!!! I've added distress stickles to Lady Charleston's boa and Liquid Pearls to her necklace, had to get my Ranger fix one way or another, lol. The polka dot DP is from Basic Grey's Junebug collection and the other DP's are My Minds Eye 29th Street Market yumminess!! The fibres, lace and golden ribbon are from my stash, so are the pearls, the gorgeous gardenias are from Tracey, still lovin' them.... A LOT!!!! And the punches I've used are Martha Stewart (twigs) and Fiskars (lace border), there is some gold Stickles in the mix as well.


I've also played along with the photo inspiration at
Secret Crafter Saturday, as well as the yummy sketch from Sketch Saturday, instead of corners, I placed a tilted peice of DP that adds interest to the corners, hope that is still okay.

I hope you will have a chance to hop over to Creative Inspirations, to see the brilliant works from the Design Team and that you have a chance to join us this week!!
Take Care,
Stephanne

New pic, unblogged cards, Valentines Day Postal Cancellation Information

Hi everyone,
nothing "NEW" to share with you today,
just a bunch of random things and thoughts
smooshed into one post rather than spread out
throughout my usual waffling.

Firstly, I was tinkering with my profile
and replaced the photo of my cat Batman
with a picture of myself...
Well, I am not very keen to electronics,
I thought that I could swap out one pic
and the other one of my "sister" Rita, the chihuahua
would still be there, but she is gone!!
No more doggie in your followers block ladies,
it is now ME!!!! AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

******************************************

Secondly, wouldn't you LOVE to have your
Valentine's Day cards be delivered with a
wonderful Valentine's Day themed postal cancellation???
Here are a list of loving cities
who participate in Valentines Remailings!!



Bliss, NY 14024 -- Postmaster Rosemary Phillippi (585-322-7740) who runs this one-person office says that last year she applied a special pictorial cancellation for Valentine's Day on more than 2,000 envelopes. Her average daily cancellations are 200. This year she will personally apply the unique postmark depicting a cloud bearing the inscription, "Love on a Cloud." The postmark also depicts a shooting heart with stars along the top and bottom. This postmark is available from February 14 through March 14, 2004, only. The media contact is Maureen Marion (315.452.3582).

Heart Butte, MT 59448 -- Acting Postmaster Donel Hall (406-338-2399) is offering a pictorial heart in red ink with a ribbon postmark of Heart Butte during the entire month of February. The Heart Butte Post Office receives several hundred Valentine postmark requests per year.

Juliette, GA 31046 - Postmaster Delores Molton (478-994-6611) says customers can receive a pictorial postmark illustrating Romeo and Juliet with the Juliette, GA, cancellation. Cards must be submitted by February 10 for delivery by Valentine's Day. For additional information, contact Jean Wilkes at (478- 752-8743).

Loveland, CO 80538 -- Loveland Information Clerk Bob Tholl (970-663-3010) says customers can receive a Cupid cachet, love verse and pictorial heart-shaped Loveland postmark. Loveland normally receives an average of 35,000 cancellation requests per day throughout Valentine season, making it the world's largest Valentine remailing program. Loveland receives more than 200,000 Valentines annually from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. Senior citizen volunteers do the hand-stamping of the Cupid cachet and love verse.

Loveville, MD 20656 - Postmaster Eva Hall (301-475-5243), who operates the one-person Post Office in rural Southern Maryland, says her daily volume of 1,200 cancellations increases six-fold to 7,200 daily a week prior to Valentine's Day. During this time Hall brings in a clerk whose sole job is to hand-cancel Valentine cards with a unique postmark that depicts Cupid shooting an arrow through a heart. The Cupid postmark is available February 1-14 each year.

Loving, NM 88256 - Postmaster Charlotte Brewer (505-745-3611) says that Loving's special pictorial postmark, available February 1-14, consists of lovebirds sitting on top of a heart over the inscription "Valentine's Day Station." Loving is a small community with a population of 1,400 located near Carlsbad Caverns. Postmarks increase from 500 on an average day to 4,000 before Valentine's Day.

Romance, AR 72136 -- Postmaster Nancy Schnebelen (501-556-5911) reports that two of approximately ten weddings held in the lobby last year were on Valentine's Day. Schnebelen says mail volume increases dramatically during the spring months of April through June as a result of couples wanting the "Romance" cancellation on their wedding invitations. The Romance Post Office postmarks about 400 letters on a given day. Two weeks prior to Valentine's Day that increases three-fold to about 1,300 daily. When necessary, Schnebelen schedules her postmaster relief to assist her in hand-canceling each special piece of "romantic" mail. This year's cancellation portrays a dove trailing a ribbon from its beak, with the ribbon's inscription: "Love is in the Air."

Romeo, MI 48065 - Postmaster Alex Stubbs III (586-752-3823) says customers can receive a pictorial postmark illustrating Romeo and Juliet with the Romeo, MI, cancellation.

Sugar City, CO 81076 - Postmaster Patty McGee (719-267-3333) says the request for the pictorial postmark bearing the description "Sugar City - The sweetest town around," generates several hundred Valentine postmark requests a year.

Valentine, NE 69201 - Postmaster Rick Bordeaux (402-376-1540). A special postmark featuring the words "With Love on Valentine's Day" is available February 1-15. He reports that Valentine's daily average of 3,500 postmarks each day increases to 20,000 daily two weeks prior to Valentine's Day.

Valentine, TX 79854 -- Postmaster Maria E. Carrasco (432-467-2912) operates the Love Station of Texas. Since 1993, students from grades 7 through 12 compete to see whose artwork will be used on that year's special cancellation stamp, and each year the cancellations has been different. Carrasco, with the help of her postmaster replacement, will hand- stamp cards and letters February 1-14. In 1994, a record 39,000 pieces from all over the world received the Valentine postmark. On an average day Carrasco postmarks approximately 100 cards and letters. Two weeks prior to Valentine's Day, that number increases to 1,000 to 2,000 daily.

Valentines, VA 23887 -- Postmaster Denise Evans (434-577-2456), who runs the one-person Post Office, says her daily average of 100 cancellations jumps about 400 times to 40,000 two weeks prior to Valentine's Day. During this time, Evans brings in her postmaster relief for the sole purpose of hand canceling Valentine cards with a unique postmark depicting a red heart with several flowers around the heart. The red heart postmark is only available mid-January through Feb. 14 each year.

So here is what you need to know:
Make sure to affix correct postage to your cards,
Use a larger envelope to enclose your cards,
I suggest USPS Priority Flat Rate Envelopes ($4.95),
and mail to:

POSTMASTER
c/o Valentine Remailing
City, State, Zip

Remember to mail early so you don't miss the "cut-off,"
international mail, be extra cautious of time constraints,
if it takes 3 weeks for your mail to arrive,
then sending it to Loveland a week before
Valentines Day isn't going to work out, lol.

*********************************************



This is a card I made for Tracey, my MDUC teamie, that I did not have the chance to blog. It was meant to go into about 7 challenges, but each passing day saw another challenge deadline missed and before I knew it, I just never blogged it!! My Christmas schedule was insane!! Nevertheless, think back to the "nontraditional Christmas colours" challenges a few months back, this is when I created the card. Basic Grey papers, Magnolia stamps from Kellies shop, as is that brilliant wire heart, the tulle and velvet rickrack are from my stash, she's coloured in distress inks and dosed with a fair amount of gold stickles. The pressies were pieced with BG papers and hemp was added around the boxes. I wonder what's inside!!?


This little gift bag was made as a last minute gift for my favorite postal clerk, thus the envelope!! I was going to enter it in the slew of last minute present challenges and a colour challenge, but the same story, not enough hours in the day to create, work, blog, work, work, eat, maybe even some sleep... The papers are Basic Grey, the stamps came from Kellie's shop, the DP is Basic Grey, the doiley was the beginning of a very long phase in my crafting, they are hard to resist, everythings cut out and popped up on foam dots, coloured in distress inks and coated in Stickles. Hemp, lace and ribbon are from my stash, the charm is from Blue Moon Beads.


******************************

I actually have more to blog,
but I think I will give this a break
and save some for Thursday or Friday!!
Tomorrow I have a card to share for the
new Creative Inspirations challenge,
and hopefully I can get some awards passed out
in that posting too :)

Take Care,
Stephanne

You're Sinfully Sweet!!!

Hello lovely bloggers,
I hope you've been crafting up a storm!!
The time has come for
Magnolia Down Under
to post a new challenge,
and wouldn't you know,
the theme is Valentines Day!!!
Hearts, reds, pinks, frilly things, etc.
We'd like you to warm our hearts
with your romantic side, wink wink ;)



Well, I was besmitten by Cupid and over the course of a few days crafted this Valentiney creation. Actually, this is the hardest challenge I've taken part in lately. Let's just say it wasn't coming to me. All that talk about Cupid was a lie!There was, however, a wonderful envelope of Valentines supplies in my mailbox from my lovely blogger buddy Sue that I've put to use straight away, thanks for saving my project Sue, things were looking pretty grim for a while there.



Challenges that begin with the letter C, Alex.
Crafty Creations is hosting a textures challenge,
Creative Inspirations is hosting a distressing challenge,
the sketch is from the truly talented Chelsea of
Crafting Lifes Pieces and at
Charisma Cardz there is an
Anything New Challenge.
As some of you may have noticed,
I was the random lady to win a
7 Kids College Fund
gift certificate at Just Magnolia,
and I've used it to get the following new goodies:
Made with love charm, spica pen,
and Zva Create blossoms,
I also picked out another Mag to add to the family,
she'll be making her debut in the next month or so,
thanks 7 Kids and Just Magnolia :)




In addition to the products previously mentioned,the images are coloured in distress inks, Stickled here and there, white gel pen here and there, Spica pen here and there, cut out and placed on a doily on top of a wonderfully embossed peice of paper from Sue and I believe that she uses a Cuttlebug, that amazing heart doily is handmade by Sue's sis, the punch used for my leafy things is a maple leaf punch by Martha Stewart, lace, ribbon, pins and pearl strings are from me old stash box, love charm is Blue Moon and the heart brads are from Kaiser. I've distressed in Vintage photo and stickled in gold around the edges of the distressed Bazzill Kraft cardstock. I've sewn up the side of my papers for some extra flare.

Well, I bet that anyone reading this
is ready to take a nap,
sorry about the rambling.
Be sure and stop in over at
Magnolia Down Under
and see what sort of fun stuff is happening,
hint hint, we are looking for guest designers ;)
Til Next Time,
Stephanne

LATE MDUC Project shaken up with a few other challenges

Happy New Year!!
I hope everyone's Holidays have been fantastic!!
I have been avoiding my blog,
just thinking about typing and linking things
has got me stopped in my tracks!!
Too much time typing lately!!
Enough boohoohooing, time for my VERY LATE
design team project for this months challenge at
Magnolia Down Under,
Dear Waffler Kellie set an optional challenge
for us to participate in, if we'd like,
that will run for 4 weeks instead of the usual 2,
which is "Stamp with another Use"
meaning, use a stamp from a specific collection
for something totally different!!
You could get really creative with this one,
or you could play it safe like I did,
either way, you've got a full month,
well, a month from the date of the MDU posting
back in December (hangs head in shame...),
you must pop by and see the DT works
and the amazing prizes on offer this time around!!


I've taken a Christmas stamp and used it
on a few Thank You cards....
You know, thanks for the gifts....
Not very imaginative, but it definitely works.
She's coloured in distress inks,
cut out and mounted onto another image
that I shadowed with Faded Jeans distress ink,
splattered with gold Stickles,
placed on Basic Grey DP,
the sentiment is from the Brenda Walton
Inkadinkado Baby clear pack (it's baaaaaaack....),
the lace trim is from Hancock Fabric,
these are nice and flat for mailing.


I followed the colour challenge over at
the previous fortnights
Colour Create challenge,
which was Pink, Burgundy and Ivory,
but I have been a slacker about blogging
and completely missed the cutoff,
Creative Inspirations
has set a Thank You Challenge,
Roses On Paper
is hosting a favourite colouring medium challenge,
The Pink Elephant
has 2 sketches to choose from,
I chose the one with the circle....
but the circle wasn't working for me,
but thought I would show where the musings
were derived from while crafting these!!

Well, I think I am ready to get back to normal,
I can't wait to see what everyone's been up to
and hopefully there is a whole lot of you
with loads of new crafty stuff from
the man in the red suit!!
Be sure to swing by
Magnolia Down Under
so you can take a looksie at the fabo
design team works and those prizes, wowie!!

Happy New Year!!
Stephanne

Holiday Cheer Gift Set

Happy Holidays everybody,
I hope everyone had a fabulous occasion
and made lots of great memories for their kids.
We had a good time over here,
although it is a little heartwrenching being
1500 miles away from home...
Anyhooooo, to fight off the Holiday Blues,
I put together this gift set for a friend of mine
who has been very supportive and even a bit of an enabler
since I hopped on board the Blogger Train this past March.
She's received her parcel, so now I can blog it.
Very fittingly so, I made a Tilda set.


Here is the card that I made with
Christmas Eve Tilda,
you can catch all the details here,
as I already blogged the card,
what can I say, I am an Internet junkie
and couldn't resist blogging something!!


Now here we have a "refurbished" jar
that I've stripped of its original label and turned it
into a lovely decorative jar complete with choccies inside.
Tilda is joined with Basic Grey papers
and that beloved Martha Stewart punch, and a doily
to adorn this jar, as well as sprigs and berries
that I Stickled and hot glued onto the lid of the jar
to create a festive topiary.


Next is the Tilda gift bag,
which started out as an ordinary lunch bag,
$1.50 for a pack of 40,
and I went to town revamping the basic shape of it.
I cut out a window, bordered it with papers
that were cut with scallop Fiskars shears,
then added shrinkwrap to the interior to make the window,
I don't have vellum or acetate,
so improvising, as always, was done.


Here's a nice example of the colour variance of papers,
this Tilda was stamped onto GinaK cardstock
while the other 2 were stamped on watercolour paper,
all were painted with distress inks together
in the same paint-fest and look at the difference.
The post stamp is also Magnolia,
the lace is from Hancock Fabrics, love it!!
Those gorgeous gardenias were sent to me from
my lovely bloggy buddy and fellow teamie Tracey,
I love them, love love love them, this colour especially,
I think I will pluck the rest of them out of the
bushell of flowers and make something decorative
for myself with them so I can
have them around me ALWAYS, lol,
the leafy punches are by Martha Stewart,
the beads are from the bridal department at Michaels.
For closure, I simply punched 2 holes in the top
of the bag and ran this gorgeous organza through it.


Well, that is about it.
In the photo you can see a lace satchel,
I just prettied up a store-bought bag
with some beads and a little extra organza,
there are some fun craft goodies stuffed inside.

There are some challenges about
that I will be entering my project into:
Creative Inspirations has set Christmas Gift challenge
Double Dutch It's all about the wrapping indeed!!
Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge
has set a last minute gift challenge,
Stamp Something has set a
Holiday Somethings Challenge,
and I used the sketch from Just Magnolia,
but I blogged that already!!

A lot of the challenges have extended deadlines,
which is great for me,
that means I will actually get in on time,
hahahahaha!!!
I hope you and your family
had a wonderful holiday and will have a
safe and happy new year!!

Take Care,
Stephanne

Merry Christmas To You

Hello Happy Bloggy Buddies,
I hope you are well and aren't freaking out
too badly with the big day just a few sleeps away!!
I wanted to share with you part of my big project
that I eluded to in a previous post.


I've used the fabulous sketch that Mina provided
over at Just Magnolia this week.
I love Minas sketches, they are always fun to use!!
This is Christmas Eve Tilda kindly stamped for me
by the fabulous Sue of
Sues Rubber Stamping Adventure,
she's painted in distress inks,
hit with the Crystal Stickles,
cut out and popped up on foam dots,
all papers are Basic Greys new Chrissie pack,
all punches used are Martha Stewart,
I've used a doiley sprayed with glimmer mist
and the lace is from Hancock Fabrics,
the beautiful gardenia that I loaded with
Stickles and Ice Stickles is from
my bloggy buddy and fellow D-teamie Tracey,
you are going to want to head on over to her blog
and check out her amazing creations!!
I've used shankless buttons inside the punched snowflakes &
the bead stems are from the bridal department at Michaels.


I am going to pop this in over at
the following challenges:
Just Magnolia provided the sketch,
Simon Says is hosting a Christmas challenge,
well, that's it I guess!!!
I've gone and missed all the Christmas challenges,
what do you know, lol!!

Now remember ladies,
it is perfectly fine to eat the chocolates!!
Happy Holidays!!
Stephanne

Stamp Something for Jaimie and help spread the love!!

Hi there folks, I hope you've had a wonderful weekend.
After my Waffle-O-Thon I put you through yesterday,
I thought I'd just get right to it today.
Most of you have heard about the card drive that is
taking place for a young lady whose mother was senselessly
murdered at random by several idiot teenagers,
and young Jaimie was beaten and left for dead.
Oh man, that is horrible enough to type.
My heart goes out to her, as I'm sure yours does too,
and some really noble ladies have organized a card drive
to help spread the love and showers this poor thing
with warm thoughts and well wishes.
You can find out more about Jaimie here
and you can go to visit the Spread the Love Blog Hop here.
Additionally, you can find out details about how to
play along with this weeks Stamp Something project,
which is a recipe to help us
get motivated to Spread the Love here


This is a Doraline stamp by Motivet,
she's coloured in Prismacolour pencils,
the papers are Basic Grey and cardstock is Bazzill,
I've followed along with the Stamp Something recipe:
1 ribbon, 2 papers, and 3 embellishments,
for my ribbon I've chosen this felt flower strand,
which means I get to enter this over at Dutch Dare,
whose challenge is to use felt on your creation,
and my 3 embellishments were hemp, a charm
and those cute Fiskars hearts that my friend Sue sent me,
thank you Sue!!
And the punch is from the always amazing Martha Stewart.


The sentiment is also from Motivet.
Lastly, but certainly not leastly, lol, leastly....
I've utilized the sketch from Create4fun,
which is lovely, you must go take a looksie!!

Even if you don't have time to make something right now,
I am sure you could send Jaimie something, perhaps something
you've created in the past, or hang on to the thought
and make her something in the future,
something that will help brighten this girls day,
even if only for a moment.

Thanks for looking folks!!
Stephanne

Tilda is having a devilish time this Christmas!!

Hello blogger buddies.
I hope you all have managed to get some crafty time
in this week, as it is wrapping up quickly!!
I've put together this Christmas card for a friend
with a couple of ideas in mind.


Saturday Spotlight with Hidden Potential
has asked us to make a project with words
as the focal point, to show how they enhance a project.
My creation didn't end up centered around words,
but without them, the card makes no sense.
Santa's list shows where I was coming from in selecting
the gorgeous Devil Tilda to adorn this card.
Clearly, her name belongs on the Naughty side of the list.
Roses on Paper set a Christmas card challenge,
I've incorporated the current Midnight Madness sketch,
it's a rather loose interpretation but I really wanted to play
and envisioned my scoll coming out a little more wavy, but...
I've turned the sketch on its side, go see it,
you will love its potential with that
layer of ruffly goodness to use,
I want to try another card with that sketch, it's a goodie.


I've used Devil Tilda,
she's been coloured in watercolour pencils,
her wings were doused in Stickles.
I made a little scroll/list thing
and distressed it in brushed corduroy,
the cardstock is Bazzill and the DP is Basic Grey.
The present is a Penny Black image that I
stole the present off of and gave it to Tilda,
things aren't looking good for her this year,
as she is acting a bit devilish, so I thought
I would give her a little something for her troubles...
Gorgeous Mina flower there, I am almost out: TRAGEDY!!!
The little roses are Prima and I've used an
EK Success fern punch for the branches,
everything amounst the bloomage got layered with Stickles.

Thanks for stopping by, have a great weekend!!
Stephanne

A very yummy Christmas Card

Hello dear bloggers,
I hope you've had a most terrific Halloween weekend!!
I had the pleasure of recieving an amazing package
from a blogger buddy recently
with an AMAZING Halloween card
and a couple of hAnglar & stAnglar stamps,
it was the best pick-me-up a gal could ask for!!
Thank you dear!!
So, of course, my brain has been at work
thinking of these stamps above all others,
so here we are, what turned out to be a Christmas card,
soooo not the plan, but hey,
the end result is a good one.


I used the most gorgeous sketch over at
Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge.
I've been a no-show over there lately (hangs head),
no worries, I have been a no-show everywhere.
And along the same notion, I'll also be entering this at
Simon Says Challenges who'd like to see
All That Sparkles.
At A Spoon Full of Sugar
the theme is Kitchen/Cooking,
I think these cuties work just perfectly for that!!


The papers are Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses, smoochie smooch, lol.
I have used Martha Stewart glitter around my image,
also, I've glazed my dishware,
the poinsettia is Prima, pearls are K & Co.,
and you can see the MS doiley punch came out to play,
pins, beads and ribbon are from my stash.


Woot!! Sideview!! I'm just excited to get some natural light!!
I retook the pictures and am reposting, hooray!!

Well, I hope everyone is doing great,
have a wonderful crafty week!!
Stephanne

Penny Black Trick or Treat!!

Hi Blogger Buddies!!
'Tis the season for spooky projects and cards.
I have been enraptured with the projects and cards
I've seen whilst hopping along blogland lately.
Time to get my crafty knife out and catch up
with all of you and finish up my Halloween cards.


My head is full of ideas and thoughts
but getting them out has become overwhelming!!
But in an attempt to get my a** in gear,
I will be joining in with a few challenges.
Penny Black Saturday Challenge
wants to see buttons and bows
PaperTake Weekly wants to see
creations from The Dark Side, muahahahahaaaa!!!
Cute Card Thursday is hosting a SpookFest challenge
At Charisma Cardz, they are hosting
a distressing challenge, thank you ladies!!!


I've used a Penny Black image called Trick Or Treat,
Basic Grey Eerie DP and Bazzill cardstock,
coloured with watercolours and distressed in
Peeled Paint after ripping and sanding :)
I've peiced the image up to 3 times and added
a little hemp rope to the kitties treat bag.
The buttons and ribbon are from my stash.

Thanks for dropping in,
I hope you have a wonderful weekend!!
Stephanne

A card for Paige

Hi there,
How is everybody doing today?
Hope you had a chance to play yesterday,
as it seems slightly sacreligious not to have!!
I started a project last night and wrapped it up
after I woke up this morning, had to recharge.
I was happy to see Simon Says host a challenge
for World Card Making Day in which
we are to make a card for Paige,
the link will take you to Erins blog
where you can pick up all the details on what's happened,
but I will streamline, Paige, a young lady,
has suffered a serious injury due to a boating accident
and Erin has been hosting a bit of a
card shower in Paige's honour.
Now I don't know about you,
but if I can bring a smile to a young ones face,
then it is certainly worth the while.
For those who already have made a card for Paige,
make a card and send it to Post Pals, link in sidebar
so that you can partake in this 24 hour challenge.
Also, you can find a link to Whimsy Stamps
in my sidebar, they have fashioned a digi-teddy
with all proceeds going to benefit
Paige's medical expenses.
So here is where my struggle lays.
I bought the digi weeks ago
and have wanted to use it,
nay, NEEDED to use it to make a card for this young lady,
but I just have NOT been able to do it.
Digi-stunted, I suppose.
I thought to myself, SATURDAY, I will make the card,
digi image or otherwise, THIS SATURDAY,
so to see the challenge at Simon Says was great
because it was my reinforcement, DO IT!!!
And at long last, here is the card:


I took the opportunity to play along
with Colour Create whose colours this fortnight
are dusty pink, hot pink and chocolate,
with the extra option of using pearls and swirls.
I love Colour Create and have not been able
to make challenge cutoffs as of late,
so phew, I made it this time.
In the flurry of Blogger challenges,
Carol's Sketch Fun is a favorite too,
but still the problem of making cutoffs prevails.
Not this time, this time I get to enter, woohoo!!
Here's that sketch:
I did the ol' squash and stretch with it
and added a sentiment.
The DP is Basic Grey,
the image is Sarah Kay from Stampavie
and it is coloured in distress inks.
I stamped the sentiment (Brenda Walton Inkadinkado clear set)
in Sepia over an Inkadinkado flourish stamped in Worn Lipstick,
distressed in Tattered Rose and then heat set,
sprayed with creme de cocoa Glimmer Mist
and completed with a few pearls.
The punch is Martha Stewart,
and the distressing is done in Brushed Corduroy,
and the edges frayed with my trusty finger nail.
The ribbon is from my stash and the polka dots
have been circled in Sakura gel pen.


Well, I better stop yammering and post this
so I don't miss Simon Says' extension, lol,
thanks for that, by the way!!
Take Care,
Stephanne

Morris and I have Midnight Madness!!!

Hello happy blogger buddies,
I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.
I've got something to share with ya.
I've been yearning to play with Morris
since he arrived in my mailbox
but had a vision of what I wanted to make
and couldn't find the papers to do it.
Well, this past week, Hobby Lobby
had all of their woodmounted stamps on sale
for 50% off, so I bought this gorgeous stamp
you see behind Morris and it all came together.
I will make my paper, yes, yes, I will!!
And you know, I won't run out of it this way...


The turn of the season has brought some delicious
ribbon selection to my local craft stores,
I found some yummy organza ribbon and
the fabulous jute on this card,
as well as lots of others that I can't wait to use.
I also discovered Mod Podge.
I know, where have I been for the past 3 decades?!?!
It sure did help out when it came to
prettying up this guitar.


Along with some new items,
I've used some ancient material,
the golden thread I've used to restring Morris'
guitar for him is about 15 years old,
my Aged and Confused BG paper has been
my most hoarded sheet ever, I love it
and will be soooooo sad when I have used it all,
now I am that much closer :(
The gems are from who knows when,
maybe 12 years ago, maybe longer, I don't know.
My new supply of jute and organza,
the Stampabilities stamp Composer's Dream,
and the Podge were a great compliment to these
oldies but goodies and my dear Morris.
There is gold vellum punched with the MS doily punch,
papers were distressed in Antique Linen and Frayed Burlap,
Morris was coloured with watercolour pencils.
I added a little bit to the image,
I lined his eyes so I could add a green iris,
then I put Stickles in the little glimmer area,
and added Crystal Lacquer over the top.
I added "gold leafing" to his guitar,
and popped the heads with Pewter Perfect Pearls,
the bridge and fret markers were glazed with Crystal Lacquer,
on top of the peicing and popping,
I added a layer of Mod Podge and laid the thread on,
then, as you can see, I tolled and pieced Morris' arm & hand on.
It is neat IRL, I did not attach the arm
so if one felt inclined to let Morris strum his gitfiddle,
he most definitely could.
And I used this most fabulous sketch,
I had to skip out on a few elements around the image,
but hey, they are more like guidelines than
hard-fast rules, sketches? Eh.


Now, here's where I've played:
Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge
Sketch above
A Spoon Full of Sugar
Distressing
Colour Create
Ruby, cream and gold, with the extra challenge of adding gems
Although my cream turned into eggnog, haha.

Thanks for coming by and visiting.
I appreciate your time,
especially on my windbag posts like this one, lol!!
Take Care,
Stephanne

Little things for little ones...

Hello out there!!
I always get a kick out of
making things for little ones.
I find it amusing because of the battle
I go through with my own lil' turkey
just to keep him amused for a minute or two
while I try and weasle in a crafty moment.
This was no exception.


Yes, all of you out there with tots know
that you'd better just wait until
they've gone to bed to get crafty.
What happens when there's a house full of night owls?
It's nearly midnight before I can get
my grubby little mits on my supplies...
All that aside, I have at long last
completed this project and am ready to share it.


This was really fun to put together,
and I will revisit this template in the future,
now that I know the cuts and folds,
the project will be a breeze.
Lovely breeze, huh?
I have used my wonderful Tina Wenke stamp
that Simon Says Stamp
Lucky Duck-a-fied me with,
coloured with watercolour pencils,
Stickles and Crystal Glaze on the water,
Stickles in the flower centers,
Pearls are Martha Stewart and Liquid Pearls,
DP is Basic Grey, the border was cut
using Fiskars shears, and the ribbon
and grommet are from my stash.
Oh, and let's not forget the wonderful
Inkadinkado Brenda Walton clear set sentiment!!



And here are the challenges that I've played along with:

Cute Card ThursdayNew Beginnings
***I've missed the cutoff. Crud.***
Stampin' for the WeekendAnything Baby!!
Create4Fun Milk Carton Template
Stamp SomethingAnimal Somethings

And this one is a little different.
Simon Says Stamp Blog
has allowed us the opportunity to share with them
projects that we have made using items from their store,
and on September 18th,
they will draw a winner who will win a
$25 shopping spree (shipping included)
and have their work showcased on their blog.
I wanted to take the time to show them
that I LOVE the stamp they gave me
and selected products that can be purchased
in their store to make the project,
some of the items used were purchased there!!
Can't say ALL, truth is, I lose track of
what came from where, but SSS do carry
all of these product lines,
except for the Stephanne Stash,
they don't carry that at the moment, lol.
And just an aside here, OMG, love those charms!!
The above link will take you to it,
you ought to check it out!!
I love the idea of showing your work,
so thanks for the perfect outlet to do it!!

Thanks for your visit.
I am so grateful for my friends and visitors
to my projects, it means a lot to me
that you'd take the time to stop by,
and I truly TRULY appreciate your support!!
Take Care,
Stephanne

Edited: I forgot to tell you what I want to do with this!! What can I say, it was late, lol!! I will be giving this to my cousin when she has her son this October/November (who knows, baby's have their own way of doing things!!) and I will be putting little baby booties and a gift card inside!!

Simple pleasures are lifes greatest treasures...

Hello out there!!
Hope you Monday is a glorious one.
I've tried to take some photos of my latest creation,
but it is gloomy and overcast
and I can't get a good picture to save my life,
so these puppies are going to have to work!!
Somewhere in the middle of these 2 pictures
lays the true colours of this project.
I may try again tomorrow and swap out the pictures...


I have used the sketch over at Basic Grey Challenges,
they are relaunching the challenge blog,
so thought I would have a go at their lovvely sketch.
On the Stampavie DT Blog, they've asked us
to create a summer (fun) card.
At Stamp Something the challenge is to create
'Something from Summer Vacation,'
At ABC Challenge the challenge this week is:
A is for Anything Goes,
with the option of adding animals,
and The Pink Elephant is
also hosting a Summer themed challenge.
Well, okay, I can do that!!

Now, why does this strike me as summery and how is it that this envokes summer vacation memories? Well, this summer my little family took a trip to Colorado, and really, I am just going to streamline this for you, we traveled up to the top of Pikes Peak, as well as the Rocky Mountain National Monument, as high as they allow you to travel by vehicle anyway, and amounst those wonderful travels, there were critters galore!!! Marmots, chipmunks, squirrels, deer, elk, we even saw a moose and a fox!! Well, my hubby let me have a peaceful moment alone on top of a rock that we'd hiked to, and this is what I must have looked like,at least it's how I felt; happy, serene, surrounded by great beauty and life, oh, what a wonderful feeling it was. Inside my card it says, "Are lifes greatest treasures."It is my first summer not going home to California, it is strange and hard to cope with that, but I am a big girl now and need to move on with my life, so, no California. The state is haunted for me anyway. Besides, Colorado is right next door!!! This summer vacation was a personal accomplishment on many levels. Sitting peacefully amounst the wildlife and flowers was just one small part of the experience.


Cruddy pictures aside, I am happy with the outcome of this card.
I kinda want to keep it for myself!!
I've used Basic Grey Urban Prairie and Wisteria DP,
Basic Grey Sultry fiber,
lots of sanding and ripping,
I've coloured with watercolour pencils
and added Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist
in creme de rouge,
there's Gold Flame Smooch inside the flowers,
Stickles in Waterfall and Diamond,
used my Sakura gel pen for some white dots,
hemp rope, the flowers (daisies) are Prima,
the ladybug is a button from Michaels,
the name of the manufacturer escapes me.
And of course, I've used this gorgeous sketch,
which I gave a little fliparoo to:


Thanks for visiting today,
your thoughts and time are much appreciated!!!
Stephanne