Friday, March 20, 2009

So purrrrrrrdy...


I don't know much about plant/flower/tree names....I just know what I like to look at....and I like looking at these trees. I call them "Tulip Trees" and I'm not sure if someone told me that's what they're called or if I made it up (because I tend to do make up names for things....even characters in books when I have no hope at a proper pronounciation...poor authors - all their hard work flies out the window when I get my hands on their work).

Anyhow - I really do like these trees. I requested one for the front lawn - positioned so that I could see it from my desk (which doesn't make any sense since most of the time I'm stamping at night.....). How weird is the front lawn going to look.....all barren except for the Tulip Tree, 3 Birch trees, several bushes and shubberies all clumped together??? Oh well, my lawn.............my clumpiness!!

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Late Hare

Card base - Memory Box; Stamps - Stampin' Up & A Muse; Inks - Memento & CTMH; B&T (scalloped oval) - CTMH; Yellow B&T - A Muse; Copics, Spicas & Stickles

I find myself gravitating towards "funny" belated b-day cards. Most likely because I'm slightly embarrassed at not getting the card to the recipient in a timely fashion (yesssssssss, the CARD-maker can't get the card there on time...). But hey, if it makes them laugh (or better yet, snort a little) and they know that I really AM thinking of them..........it's all good!!!

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Bob's Cousin?

I just looked at these lemurs and laughed......the one in front looks like a black & white Bob....well, he's at least POSING like Bob (Bob would probably have a bit of tail-envy).
It was a good day at the zoo - sunny and not too crowded. Most of the animals were out sunning themselves so it was a great opportunity for photos. Creepella and Chef Bo-Bo Head were good sports and did some posing for me as well (of course I was using the "It's My Birffffday" card all over the place...).
A lovely day - slept in, opened gifties, had yumm-O cheeseburgers, fries, & onion rings - the 3 of us split one burger, one order of fries, one shake and two orders of onion rings...hung out at the zoo for a couple of hours (although we didn't have any snicky-snacks there - we're not complete pigs!!). We popped over to a little market that I've been wanting to browse, found some treasures there and then awayed ourselves to the movies (saw Paul Blart - Mall Cop...and since I'm into teenage boy humor, I found the movie very enjoyable and am seriously thinking of adding it to my personal DVD library)....there we did indulge in copious amounts of popcorn (Creepella and I had BUTTERED popcorn too) and cola icees.......came home and after a couple of hours we ate some sushi and then a few hours after that, I finished up some left-over cheesecake (thanks again for the coupon Heidi - we spent enough to get TWO slices of free cheesecake!!).....like I said, quite a lovely day!!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Cardbase - Memory Box; Stamps - CTMH & Hero Arts; Inks - Versafine, CTMH & Colorbox; Copics & Spicas; EK Success Shamrock punch; Marvy Heart punch; Stardream gold CS; Ribbon
Another "Scrap-City" card.......gosh I just love little stamps and bits & pieces of pretty scrap-paper. I think these types of ingredients are the most fun to play with when creating cards.
Happy St. Patty's Day -- hope your day is oh so GREEEEN!!

Monday, March 16, 2009

"Lucky" Guy

Stamps - Memory Box Penguin & CTMH sentiment; Colorbox & Versafine Inks; Copics; Marvy Scallop punch; Misc - B&T paper, 3M mounting tape; confetti from Michaels

This MB penguin was one of my first penguin purchases - he's so versatile - he can hold pretty much ANYTHING!!

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Shamrock Trio

Cardbase - Memory Box; Stamps - A Muse & Stampendous!; Ink - Versafine; Copics & Stickles; Marvy Scallop punch; Misc Scraps - B&T Paper, CS panel & ribbon
Simple card but every time I see it - I think of a flag.....does it look like a flag to anyone else?? This is definitely a "scrap" card. Aside from the cardbase itself.....everything else was from the mountain of scraps that I lovingly contribute to with most any project I create.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Rainbow's End

Cardbase - Memory Box; Stamp - PSX (I think...); Versafine Ink; CTMH Markers; Marvy Punches; Misc - B&T paper, CS panel & ribbon

Inside there's a Stampin' Up sentiment about friendship being at the rainbow's end. I've had that set for years and I think I use that sentiment EVERY year - it's pretty darned fitting.

Today I'm continuing the b-day celebration.... Heidi and I will be having a yummy lunch (and dessert!!) and a delightfully long full-blown gab-fest (no work, kids or spouses seeking our attention)......and some stamping gifties for me (!!!!).....can't get much better than THAT!!

Friday, March 13, 2009

Soaking Up The Sun


Getting ready for the weekend......my advice - listen to the Red Panda. Eat a little, & then relax in the sun - life is short (and even if it isn't), ENJOY!!

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Lucky Horseshoes

Cardbase - Memory Box; Stamps - A Muse & Michael's $1.00 selection; May Arts Ribbon; Inks - CTMH, Versafine & Colorbox; Spica & Stickles; Marvy Punches; Green textured CS from The Paper Garden

My advice - gold emboss the horseshoes (but use the gold detail embossing powder) - that would definitely make them pop AND give some "gold competition" to the Stickled "good luck". The reason I didn't emboss is because well................I've misplaced my heat gun(s) - they're packed away - quite safe and sound and completely lost amongst all of the other boxes in the garage. One of these days, one of these days!!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Pot O' Gold

Cardbase - Memory Box; Stamps & PLP - A Muse; Stardream gold CS; Punches - EK Success Shamrock & Marvy Scallop Square; Versafine Ink; Copics & Spicas

Tried to use the overcast day as my "natural light".....still not as well-lit as I'd like. I guess my photography will forever be a work in progress....sigh...

Your basic St. Patty's Day card - the stardream does shimmmmery so - very, very, very gold!!

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Throw Me a Line

Cardbase - Memory Box; Stamps - Stampin' Up; B&T paper - Slab #?? from Michaels; Memento & Colorbox Inks; Copics; Spicas

Get it? Throw me a line...you know, you're about ready to drown and you need someone to "throw you a line"? Chances are (at least for me), it'll be a friend that's tossing out that line. I've been VERY lucky to meet up with some mighty fine characters....I mean FRIENDS!! Each of them definitely have their own unique personalities, and while sometimes I'd like to thump some of them on the forehead, I wouldn't trade them for ANYTHING...not even pretty paper, Copics or stamps (and THAT'S saying a lot).

Thanks for all of the comments Heidi, guess you've got your logon & password all sorted out??? Looking forward to Saturday!!

Monday, March 9, 2009

From The Bottom Of My Heart...

B&T paper - $1.00 bin @ Michaels; Thank You - Hero Arts; Marvy Punches; Fiskars Scissors; Ribbon - A Muse; Memento Ink; Spicas

My Thank You card for my lovely gifties....the B&T paper from Michael's was actually one of my gifties.....8 sheets of 12 x 12 paper for $1.00 - what a deal!! You can never tell what treasures you can find in those Dollar Bins at Michaels (or Target).

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Happy, Happy, Happy!

Flowers from Princess Pamela........

They're beautiful and they make me happy - I guess that's why most people love flowers. Pretty cool job, hang around in some dirt and then lounge in some water and just be!! The colors are cheerful, the shapes are so varied (and beautiful) and when they're all together, it's a PARTY!!

Friday, March 6, 2009

Happy B-day from Fluffles!!!

Cardbase - Memory Box; Fluffles - Stampendous; Inks - Memento; Copics, Stickles; B&T paper - Slab#?? & Ribbon - Michaels; Textured Cardstock & Brad - CTMH; Circle Punches - Marvy
I love Fluffles....a LOT....about the only way I could love Fluffles MORE is if Stampendous would make her in clear sets (I'd have every one of them). I'm hoping that's something that will eventually happen - have you seen ALL of the clear sets Stampendous has to offer - I'm really impressed (they're third on my list, after CTMH and Hero Arts!!).
I've really tried to steer away from wood-mounted stamps (for many different reasons), so much so that I won't buy certain stamps - yes, even though I like them and I know that I NEED them, I've got to stick to my guns at some point - and this is where I make a stand.
Unless it's a Fluffles stamp.....or a Memory Box penguin.......really can't resist them. I'll just say NO!! to the rest of the line of wood-mounted stamps....but those Pesky Penguins.....they just lure me in with their silliness. Same with Fluffles......sigh......

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Blazing Candle

Cardbase - Memory Box; Candle - DJ Inkers; #'s Cuddlebug Embossing sleeve; Inks & markers - CTMH; Stickles; Sheer Ribbon - A Muse
I'm sure I'm not the only one that stamps some images and colors them and cuts them out and then, ahhh...uuuhmmm, MISPLACES them for a bit of time (or a few years) only to have the joy of stumbling across them again - (believe me, it's like finding pieces of treasure!!).
Sometimes, I just want to stamp and color.....sometimes I just want to cut something out (in great tedious detail) and sometimes by the time I've finished with those two processes, I'm DONE with that particular image. I tuck it away, careful to keep it save, clean, protected and move on to something else (honestly - I've probably gotten a few new stamps and I simply can't stand it any longer - I MUST USE THEM...only to repeat the cycle - what can I say?? At least I'm consistent!!).
Sometimes, I just want to goof around, see what treasures I have and take a stab out of making a card. This is the result of putting a few pieces together (my jigsaw puzzle if you will). Kind of simple, but wow - people snatched these cards up faster than I'd imagined.....so I guess they liked how the puzzle worked out. The embossed background isn't all that noticeable at first, but it simply MAKES the card!!

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

All Wrapped Up

Cardbase - Memory Box; Mummy Cupcake - Taylored Expressions; Sentiment - Printworks; B&T paper - ????; Memento Inks; Copics; Stickles

I like these cupcake stamps sooo much....and I don't want to relegate them to just Halloween....so I'm trying to use them any time I can. I think the B&T paper screams "FEVER"........so of course, it's a perfect match for a Get Well Card!!

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Message In A Bottle

Stamps, cardstock, inks, markers, Liquid Glass, Waxy Flax, heart bead - CTMH; Stickles & misc. seed beads.

I think this stamp set is retired, but it's one of my favorites. I've done ATC's and card swaps with this set and everyone just loves it. This card was made before I found Copics. I was pleased to get the softer & blended looks by sponging and sponging and sponging. At that point, the card looked ok, but I wanted some other dimension besides the Liquid Glass....and then a bottle of Stickles caught my eye. Using a super light hand, I tapped, tapped, tapped away and I think this turned out to be some cool-looking sand (did the same thing with the Desert Sand marker - bullet tip....just barely making contact with the cardstock).

Monday, March 2, 2009

Pirate Sprinkles

Cardbase & clouds - Memory Box; Sprinkles Pirate, waves - Cat's Pajamas; Sentiment - Just Johanna (I think!!); Inks - Memento & Colorbox; Copics & Spicas; Marvy Oval punch

I'm going to try loading my photos in the "large" setting - I've seen that in a few blogs and I like seeing a larger photo of the card. I'll test the waters this week - if the cards seem monsterous, I'll change it back.

Hmmmm - about this one.....kitty pirate........enough said!! Ok, technically, when I'm rambling on and on and ON about how much I LOVE my Copics.....I whip out this card and let the water speak for the ease and sheer delight of the blendibility of Copics.