Seeing more spots!

This is a great set from SU IMO and so is their DP. Everything is SU except the ribbon and brad.

Purseonality!

I used my SU tag punch to make these purses. Every thing used to make this card was from SU except the sentiment.

Flowers from Brian!

Brian has been out of town for almost two weeks, but he made sure he had special things for me on Valentine's Day, including this beautiful arrangement of roses. He also had a digital picture frame sent to the house which I thought was something for him after it arrived, so I never gave it anymore thought. Of course, I'll need him to try and get it to work because after I spent 2 hours and it still not doing what it's meant to do, I gave up. He is truly very thoughtful.

Seeing Spots Galore!

OMG, do I love this SU set. And, I've got a feeling that it will be around for a long while. I may even give more thought to using it for swaps at the SU Convention this year. Which, I'm pumped about big time. Of course, July is a long way off, but still.... Anyway, everything on these cards is SU except for the embellishments in the middle of the scallop and the ribbon. Love the Green Galore Card Stock.

Purple Hearts!

So here is the card I made Charlotte for Valentine's Day. I did CASE this card, but changed all of the colors.

The DP is from SU as is the CS and Stamp Sets. The only thing not SU is the ribbon, brads and ink. And, I love the clear embossing powder from SU too.

A Tree for Spring!

I love this stamp set from Stampin Up; A Tree for All Seasons. And, I'm digging the spritzer tool big time too.

First Criss Cross Pocket Card!

Woohoo! I finally tried a new technique last night. A criss cross pocket card. It was a little time consuming, but I like it a lot and will try to do more. Actually, I think this could be a good workshop card to do. It will take practice to get it just perfect. Most everything used was from Stampin' UP.

Not the dotted ribbon.

Puppy Posts!

What can I say, I love Bella and Rikka like most people love their children. They are so very special and I love to show them off. Brian has not seen them in over a week and I told him I'd post some pictures of them today. This is where they are when I'm in my studio; each on their own papasans. When there was only one papasan, they would get in it together. The papasans are not usually placed there, but they like to be close to me and will insist on getting in my lap if the papasans aren't placed there. So that's where they are when it's just me in the studio.

And, when I'm in the house, they love to look out the front window on their ottoman. And, just how in the world did two little puppies get custody of a $300 storage ottoman not intended for them in the first place? Puppy love baby!

Ming's Valentine!

I realize that Valentine's Day has passed, but I still wanted to post the cards I made for my friends. Well, this one for Ming today and hopefully Charlotte's tomorrow. It's just been very hectic the last week and a half. And, I did a SU Workshop at Ming's on the 10th, which was very successful. So I've wrapped all that up and the orders are mostly delivered. She had a spectacular workshop and I cannot thank the attendees enough for their excitement about the SU products. I plan to hold a "how to" workshop for the newbies to SU soon. And, last night I worked on flyers to hand out in the nearby sub-division where I live. So we'll see what traffic I get from that.

Emily's Valentine!

Ming's daughter, Emily, will be 3 in just a few weeks and this is the Valentines Day card I made for her. The reason it's basic yet colorful. Each year I make my two youngest nieces and my youngest nephew fun holiday cards. I make sure they each get one for Valentines, Easter, Halloween, and Christmas, and of course their birthdays. And, I mail them so they have something fun in the mail. And, I've started including my friend Charlotte's daughter, Jess, in the tradition too. She's such a sweetheart and just the best and smartest little girl. I also am meeting 4 of my girlfriends for a Valentines Eve lunch today and can't post those cards just yet. Hopefully later today. The items used for this card are mostly SU. That's their DP.

SnowBella!

I love this stamp from Stamping Bellas. As I do the Coluzzle. The brrr brad came from Queen & Co. The snowflakes were made using my Big Shot; love that too. And, the colors used on her were with my Copic markers; which are also fantastic IMO.

Brian's Birthday Card!

Yesterday was Brian's 34th birthday and this is the card I made for him. I just don't really have masculine themed stamps so this is what I created. It was made using all SU items and the stamp set is Always. Which I like so much.

Pinwheel & Petals!

I've been waiting for a while to post this. I finally got my watermark to work; with the help of my IT guy from work. He's the bomb I must say. Anway, I was ver happy with how this card turned out. I love the oval Coluzzle set I have which I despised at first. And, I'm very partial to the die cut flowers that are a part of my die cut Sizzix alphabet set. Everything else is from Stampin Up. I handmade the pinwheel though. It was the toughest part of the card. And, it actually does spin a little with some assistance. I put an eyelet in the CS first and then fed the brad through the eyelet loosely so that it would spin around.

Birthday Simplicity Test Card!

I made this card with Ming's upcoming workshop in mind because of it's simplicity. Meaning, I like to do at least one very simple yet catchy card and one a bit more challenging. This one incorporates the Hugs & Wishes and Time Well Spent stamp sets from SU. The paper is also all SU. I'm still not sure if I'm finished with this one yet. I may add some dazzling diamonds to the butterfly. And, because I don't have all that many SU markers I used my SU colored pencils where you see colored sections.

With Sympathy.

The wife of a business aquaintenance to Brian passed away suddenly this weekend in Florida. So I made this card last night to send to him. I actually did have an opportunity to meet the husband last July and he was such a delight talking with. He spoke very highly of his wife and family and his eyes sparkled when he did. So although I don't know him too well, he touched me as a very good person.

All but the brads are SU products. Yet the stamped image is retired.

Thinking of You!

I made this card last night for a colleague's father. He had surgery in July and just came home in December. Unfortunately for his family and friends his time for this world is not long. I had the opportunity to meet him in July when I notarized his will. And, then earlier this month I went by the house to notarize another updated will and visit with him. He is such a wonderful man and it weighs heavy on my heart about his situation.

I took inspiration for this card from the new SU catalog.

Pregnancy Congratulations!

So, I think it's safe to post here that my dear friends and the first couple I performed a marriage ceremony for are expecting. Yes, I'm a marriage commissioner for the State of Virginia. But it's primarily reserved for those who are very dear to me. Anyway, I performed the marriage of Elizabeth and Scott in October 04 at Ming and Ray's place overlooking the Mattaponi River. And, now this August they will be blessed with the arrival of their first child. Ming and Ray had a fabulous dinner for them and Brian and me this past Saturday night, so I made this card to take to them. I was pleased and I think they were as well. I could not be happier for them.

Valentine Bella!

I got my Stamping Bella order last week and was able to get a valentine card made with it last night.

Mini Schnauzer Babies!

Even though they are two now, they are still my babies. And, I think they are beautiful. Even more so when they are freshly groomed like they were last Friday. Brian got a picture of them as soon as I got home Friday with their bows still on them.

Bliss!

I just can't get enough of the Berry Bliss DP I got from SU. So much so that I'll most likely have to order more of it. It's perfect for so many types of cards. And, I've made one that I can't quite show yet until I've gotten a watermark. Yep, I like it that much and want to claim it as totally mine if possible. I've had the idea in my head for a while and finally got to get it made last night. I've never seen one like it anywhere. I want to post it badly, but really would feel better with a watermark. I'm waiting to hear back from Freckled Fun for information and templates. In the meantime, I hope you'll enjoy these. The first one is a different variation of the previous post. I really am having a good time with the SU So Many Scallops set.

Berry Blissful Birthday!

Do I ever love Stampin Up's Berry Bliss paper!! Here is a card I made using one of their Sale-A-Bration sets, So Many Scallops. Love that too. Everything on the card is SU except the button brads. I think I got those at my LCS. Oh, and so everyone can get their laughs in now and all at once, yes I've decided I want to go to the Stampin Up Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah in July this year. It's their 20th year Anniversary, so I really don't want to miss it. I've tentatively reserved my room and am going to keep checking on flight prices. I'm pumped big time! Ming so would like to go as well, but it's only for SU Demonstrators. I wish she could go too though.

Thanks!

My computer had been giving me a fit lately. It would not let me find my "E" drive. Meaning I would not be able to burn CD's or load software. I tried several fixes on my own but to no avail. So I was asking my IT guy at work if he had any suggestions because the computer MD would take over a week to get to it and the diagnosis alone would cost $140. So, he so graciously offered to take a look at it for me if I brought it in. I did and he had it fixed in about an hour. Had something to do with the registry. He saved me so much time and energy I just had to make a thank you card and give it to him.

Rubber Stamp Tapestry!

OMG, do I love Rubber Stamp Tapestry. And, they have excellent service. I order in the beginning of the week and usually have the items in a day or two. As you can see, the two cards have the same stamps just a different layout. Ming and I agreed to hold a Valentines Card swap on the 2nd at my house and either both or one of these will be one that I contribute. The possibilities are endless with this set. You get 5 little dauber style stamps and they list the coordinating inks if you want to make what they show on their site. Can you say EASY PEASY?

Not So Cocoa!

So the "cocoa" is not so "cocoa", it's more Chocolate; which I love actually. I've got a bit of touching up to do tonight and hopefully I'll be done. Oh, and putting the covers on the outlets. The white board seems to have turned out nicely, but I think it could stand one more coat though. However, the instructions for that stuff say you need to use it quickly after combining the two liquids together. So, I'm not sure if it's still good to use. I'll find out tonight. And, of course, Ming is the queen of cutting in, but painters tape helps out a lot for those of us with not such a steady hand any more. Anyway, once I've hung curtains and pictures, put the furniture back in place, I'll take another picture and post.

Seeing Green!

I got my winter project started yesterday. Painting the front office room in my house. It was Man in the Moon Yellow and now it's Moss. And, I'm going to color block the back wall cocoa to match the new window treatments that will be going up as well. All of this was started when I got my new SU Catalog. I was thinking it would look more like the color of the room on page 8 of the catalog, but it's darker. Although, I like it a lot. The white square on the left wall is being reserved for a White Board. I wanted a Black Board Paint but the store only had the White Board paint. So that's what it will be.

Pura Vida! Costa Rica!

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

Some pictures from Costa Rica! I have way more, but can only post a small hand at this time. Enjoy!

Ribbon Stash!

OMG, does Ben Franklin have the market cornered in Richmond with regard to ribbon. So much in fact that I spent over $13 for about 12 yards of it. But isn't it so pretty? With Valentines just around the corner I can see this stash getting used up quickly.

Inkadinkado Thank You!

While in the Ben Franklin store yesterday looking for ribbon, I finally broke down and bought this stamp. I have eyed it for so long now and I hadn't bought anything for a while, so I caved. I like it a lot. The paper used is from various in my collection. The ink is from Color Box.

Beautiful Birthday!

I have a subscription to Paper Crafts magazine, and I love it! Nichole Heady from PaperTrey Ink is one of the contributors to the publication and I think she is so talented. Well, one of her cards was published in this months issue and I CASED it. Because I own the Beautiful Blooms set that PaperTrey Ink sells it was fairly easy for me to do. Most of the paper and ink used are from SU though. But the white CS is from PaperTrey Ink. And, the ribbon is from some I bought from Ben Franklin's yesterday. They have some fabulous ribbon. Just wish they sold it by the spool like Michael's does. And, for the first time in 4 years I got my sewing machine out and stitched the card. I like it a lot and Brian thought it was way cool too. Guess I'll have to do that a bit more. Plus, I have an embroidery machine too. Hmm.....I think 08 will be a year for me to get more creative.

A New Year; A New Card-Finally!

I finally got up enough energy to make a card on Sunday, but had much trouble with my computer to get it posted. Brian is going to help me clean up my computer at which time I'll take it to the Computer MD for further assessment. We got back from Costa Rica in the early hours of Friday morning and boy was I exhausted. I'll post some pictures from that trip very soon. In the meantime enjoy the card. The card stock and Vellum are from SU. I used my Zig Painty Pen for the small letters on the pink hearts.