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!

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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.

Last Holiday Card of 2007!

Well, I'm off to Costa Rica for 10 days Monday morning. I have to get up at 2:30 a.m. YIKES! Carzy I know. But it should be an awesome trip. I'm going to miss my puppy girls big time, but am comforted by knowing Brian will be with them until he joins us for the last 4 days. He works from home, so the girls get spoiled big time by him. And, then my pet sitter and her boyfriend will be with them the whole time after that. She lives not too far from me at home with her parents, so she looks forward to the get away at my house. And, during the summer she and her sisters like to stay cause then they can have fun in the pool. I know; my baby girls are seriously spoiled. But they are my children and to me they are the safest at home. Anyway, this is the card I made for Brian. I used a stamp I'd had since last year from Michael's. I didn't know what to make for him as it's a struggle to come up with masculine things. But I think he can be a big kid at times and perhaps the Santa will make him smile and think about when he was a young boy and believed in Santa.

Anyway, if I can, I'll try to post from Costa Rica.

Happy Snow People!

This stamp came from the monthly rubber stamp club I joined, DRS Designs. I like them a lot. My colors could have been better, and the snow girl in pink could have a better mouth, but I'm a bit pushed for time now. And, I had a crick so bad in my neck today it actually went into my back and chest. Very weird. But oh well, that sort of stuff just happens I guess. But I've got to get this card mailed out tomorrow. Can't say who it's for, but I'm sure she'll see it here before she gets it. Oh, well! Oh, and did I say before, I am sure I did, but I've got to say it again, the SU Zig Painty Marker is a must have!!

Deer Ming!

I love this card! And, I'm so jonesing for the deer stamp she used. I think I could probably borrow it. This is the Holiday Card that Ming made and gave to me. Her sister lives in Seattle and bought the stamp from the local store there. I think it's fabulous. And, I think the color combination is great.

A Card in the Making-Completed!

Well, I finished it, but I've gotta say it doesn't speak much to me. Although, I do have to say the Stampin Up Zig Painty Marker is the snazz! Without a doubt the best paint marker I've ever used. That's what I used on the sentiment where you see silver color. And, it's the SU Season of Joy Stamp set. Everything else is from Michael's except the SU Real Red and Whisper White CS. Oh, and the brads; those came from Queen and Company online. Also, as you can compare, I decided not to use the SU Circle Scallop I'd punched out last night.

Baby Bella!

What canI say, my baby Bella is just so precious as she sits on her ottoman looking out the window. I'm not sure where her sister (Rikka) was at the time, but I thought this was cute and was post worthy.

A card in the making!

This may not look like much right now, but this is a card in the making. I started this card tonight and ran out of time to finish it. So, I thought it'd be interesting to show one in the making. I have absolutely no idea where it will go from here or what I will stamp on it. So, I'll hopefully finish it tomorrow night after Yoga and you'll see. And, hopefully it will turn out okay.

Flowers for Jilly Bean!

So Jilly Bean's birthday was last week and she and a few of our other friends went to New York to celebrate. Katie and I opted not to go since our Costa Rica trip is only three weeks from the time they went. This is the birthday card I made for her. Which I haven't given to her yet, because I will be seeing her probably this week to give it to her along with her gift. So, I hope she doesn't look at my blog before then. The DP is one I ordered online but is from the Three Bugs In A Rug line. The flower which I cut out and layered is from PaperTrey Ink and is a part of the Beautiful Blooms set. The sentiment is one I got from various ones I've had and was put on a die cut flower I ran through my Big Shot. The ribbon is from Ben Franklin. And, the CS is from SU; Pretty Pink, Whisper White and Rose Red. The ink is Purely Pomegranate from SU as well. Oh, and I used one of my Prismacolor markers for the dots on the white CS.

Home for the Holidays!

I'm not quite sure I'm in the holiday mood thus far. Meaning, it was 77 degrees in Virginia today and that was at 5:20 p.m. Not something we are used to. But don't get me wrong, I absolutely love it! I wish it could be like this all winter. Even though I don't subscribe to gift giving during this holiday, I still like decorating in the traditional manner. Sort of like a lot of us do for Halloween. So I took a few pictures of the new tree Brian and I bought. It's prelit and what a great way to go. Oh, I haven't put my star on the tree yet. And, I'll try tomorrow to get a picture of the outside of my house as I think it's quite beautiful with the lights in the windows. And, Brian bought a 60 inch pre-lit wreath which centers the window on the turrett on my house. I've also included a picture of my kitchen as well, because I absolutely love my kitchen and my 1940's Okeefe & Merritt Stove.

Pick A Petal-Better Get Better!

A very dear friend has been in the hospital a couple of weeks and I made this for him. Of course, I've seen this layout before and think it's quite cute. Everything used is Stampin Up. Oh, and the good news is that he got out of the hospital today!! Hopefully being home will help him recover even faster!

Vespa Holiday!

This stamp I got from Inky Antics sometime last year. A very dear friend of mine asked if I'd make a holiday card for her to give to her former boss who recently was laid off after 35 years with the company. And, she wanted the card to be sort of glamy and fashionable. Well, this is probably the closest thing I have that comes any where near those criteria. I stamped her in Versamark and them put white embossing powder on the stamped image. Coloring it with my Copic Markers was a little difficult around the heated embossed image and it's a little cuter in person. The background stamp is from Rubber Romance. Of course, I masked her in order to get it to look like it does. The paper is just various ones I have in my studio and the brads and ribbon came from Michael's. I did use my Crop A Dile to get the raised dots on the white and photo corners. Which I cut using my Stampin Up Corner Punch. Not much of a Holiday looking card though hunh? I'm not sure I'll give this one to her as I'm not quite sure it grabs me all that much.

Santa's Laundry!

I love this new stamp I got from DRS Designs. The sentiment came from there too. The Real Red and Very Vanilla card stock is from Stampin Up as is the ribbon. I used my copic markers to color and embellished with SU Dazzling Diamonds. The green card stock came from paper that my friend Gloria gave to me. And, I used my SU Mat Pack to make the holes in the corners.

First Holiday Party of 2007!

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Tom & Claudia had their Holiday Party Saturday night and what a great party it was. Here are some pictures from their house. Gee, seems like I'm in a lot of them. What can I say, I love my friends!

SU SAS!

Finally, after almost two days I've gotten a good signal enough to post something. Friday I attended my Upline's annual Stamp A Stack night. And, OMG, was it fun and did we make some great cards. I've posted them here. All items used to make the cards were Stampin Up.