GOTTA LOVE TART AND TANGY!

Okay, so I was annoyed this morning because I could not browse my fave blogs because BLOGGER WAS NOT WORKING!!!! I mean, don't they know that is how I enjoy my morning coffee - sheesh! Now my whole routine is thrown off - LOL!

I am soooo lovin' my new tart and tangy set and already have to order more Summer Picnic DP - can't get enough, I tell ya! This card is 4.5 x 4.5 - I love this card size. I used Real Red card stock for the base, then layered it with Old Olive card stock (this color is getting a workout!) . Then, there is a layer of Bashful Blue card stock. I love the multi-layered look, it gives the card such dimension. The DP is of course Summer Picnic - I used coordinating sides and took the square and cut it diagonally for some visual insterest. The image is mounted on Bashful Blue card stock and stamped on Whisper White. I did some faux stitching (I can't help myself) and then used the cute little cherry stamp from my Tart and Tangy stamp set. I colored it in with my Stampin' Write Markers and then hand drew the little ones up top so that I could actually portray a bunch (don't look too closely, I am so not an artist!) I then used the sentiment from my One Smart Cookie stamp set (love it!!) and stamped it in Real Red Classic Ink. I used my Small and Large Oval Punches, added some Real Red grosgrain ribbon and popped the whole thing up on dimensionals. I did add some small dots in Real Red marker around the edge of the Bashful Blue oval just for fun. I hope you like this fun little card and have a fantastic Saturday! I am off to my crop - is it just me, or does everyone pack up their whole house when they go to one of these things??!! I have to take my stamps, inks, brads, etc. but it is so much!! I need to be more organized I guess, but I am afraid if I don't take them all, the one I don't take will be the one I need - LOL!!! Can't wait to share with you tomorrow!!!

AN AWARD

My sweet bloggin' friend Chris awarded me with this today: Thanks Chris! And for all you regulars to my blog, YOU MAKE MY DAY so I pass this to all of you!! *STAMPIN HUGS* Alex

BACK ON THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW!

Happy Friday everyone! Well, it sure has been fun these last few days playing with "contraband" - LOL! But, I am back to my tried and true SU! stamps today! I actually have two cards to share with you all today. The first one is the one I did for Beate's inspiration challenge. At first, I decided I was not going to do it because I had no idea what to do, and then I decided to make myself because that is why you do challenges is to stretch yourself creatively, right?! Well, it sure was a stretch but here is what I came up with! I left the sentiment off because I am not sure yet what one I want to use so no worries - I will fill that blank space! I used the big flower from the new Occasions Mini set Friendly Flowers because I wanted something large as my focal point. And, I got my new Hodgepodge Hardware yesterday courtesy of Mr. Brown so I had to use a piece! Here are the details for this one:

Card Recipe:

Paper - Basic Black card stock, Pink Passion card stock, Taken with Teal card stock, Whisper White card stock

Stamp Sets - Friendly Flowers, Stitched Background stamp

Inks - Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad, , Pink Passion Classic Stampin' Pad, Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker

Accessories - Ticket Corner Punch, Green Galore Brads, Hodgepodge Hardware (silver), Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon, Turquoise Circle Rhinetone Brad, Paper Piercer and Mat Stack, Stampin' Dimensionals

This card is made using the Tart and Tangy Set and the One Smart Cookie Set, both of which you can own only while the Occasions Mini is available. I totally love these stamps and want to play more with them! I used the new yummy DP Summer Picnic also available in the mini! I love this little apple stamp and actually stamped this one twice, cut one out, and popped it up on dimensionals - it looks really cute IRL! There are also little red apples stamped all over the background. Here are the full details for this one:

Card Recipe:

Paper - Old Olive card stock, Real Red card stock, Whisper White cardstock, Summer Picnic Designer Series Paper

Stamp Sets - Tart and Tangy, One Smart Cookie

Inks - Real Red and Old Olive Stampin' Write markers, Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad

Accessories - Small and Large Oval Punch, Corner Ticket Punch, Real Red grosgrain ribbon, 1 3/8 and 1 1/4 Square Punches, Real Red Brad, Stampin' Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by to see me today! If you check out my counter to the right, you will see I have gone over 15,000 hits - OMG!! So, that means BLOG CANDY comin' your way next week! WhooHoo!!!

IT'S A SLIPPERY SLOPE....

once you start down that path!! Charmaine sent me some very cute images from Gina K - and they are adorable! I really wanted to play with the hippo so I did! Everything but the image is SU! Isn't she totally cute - I know it's a she because of the long eyelashes and well, toenail polish - teehee! It's hard to tell from the pic but I did cut out the rather large posterior and pop it up on dimensionals (click on pic for closeup) and looks darling IRL. I also rounded all the corners of the paper to match the roundness of the image. Here are the details:

Card Recipe:Paper - Rose Red card stock, Regal Rose card stock, Prints Pack DP (hostess level one), Whisper White card stock

Stamps - Just So Hippy by Gina K

Inks - Stampin' Write Markers, Black Stazon

Accessories - Corner Rounder Punch, Paper Piercer and Mat Stach, Regal Rose Grosgrain Ribbon, Rose Red and Regal Rose brads, Large Oval Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

I thought I would redeem myself by doing Jen's sketch at iheart2stamp. This is only the second time I have done one of her sketches, but I really like them and plan on doing more! This care is ALL SU! - LOL! I really liked the way it turned out - I did a little play on the images since one DOES so clearly not fit in with the other three in terms of colors and shapes (remember that game, which one is different??) so I incorporated the orange slice into the message of my card. I got to play with my new Tart and Tangy stamp set as well as my new Summer Picnic Designer Series paper both of which are now available in the Occasions Mini - but remember, this mini is only good until May 31st and then poof! gone. So, if you want something from out of this little gem, get to orderin' and if you don't have a mini and want one, contact me and I will happily enable you - LOL! So, back to the card. This card is 4.5 by 4.5 because I thought that size would fit the sketch better. The base of the card is Real Red card stock, and then layered with Old Olive card stock. Then, I used my DP for the final layer so everyone could see how pretty it is! Each of these is Corner Ticket Punched (of course!). I used my 1 3/8 and 1 1/4 Square Punches for the squares which are Real Red card stock, Bashful Blue card stock, and Whisper White card stock. Then, I used my 1 3/8 and 1 1/4 inch Circle punches on the same colors. The orange slice is popped up on dimensionals and I added an arrow using the My Way punch with the sentiment from the One Smart Cookie stamp set, stamped in Only Orange Classic Ink, and which is also available in the Occasions mini. I added a piece of Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon and was done! I hope you like this - I had loads of fun with this one and see myself playing with these sets a lot!

I have decided that I am no longer going to do the fact a day - the originator of this challenge is not doing it anymore so I don't see the point. Thanks for being patient with me through the first 31 of them - LOL! Have a great day - I am off to get ready for my weekend scrapbook crop (Saturday) at a new store I found in a town called Paradise (about 30 minutes away). The owner is really nice and I am hoping to make some new friends while getting some scrapbooking done!

Rubbadultery - aaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!

I have been movin' fast all morning hoping lightning doesn't strike me - LOL! This is the first time I have used an image NOT made by SU! but I could not help myself - I actually don't own this stamp, the image was sent to me and I will get to that in a minute. But, the card! Aaaahhhh, I saw that little boy and it reminded me so much of mine (who is going to be 19 on Sunday) that I HAD to use it for his birthday card. However, everything BUT the image IS SU! The base of the card is Brilliant Blue card stock, then layered with Pumpkin Pie card stock. I faux stitched all around the two layers, using my mat stack and paper piercer. Then, I used some of that yummy Jersey Shore DP - totally love this paper! I also cut a strip of brilliant blue and layered it with another piece of the Jersey Shore then added a Jumbo Pewter Eyelet. I used my Ticket Corner Punch on all the paper to include the paper strip. The image is backed in Brilliant Blue card stock and if I had to guess, I would say the image is stamped in black stazon on Whisper White but I can't swear to that. I added some Brilliant Blue brads around the image which I colored in using my Stampin' Write Markers. Last, I added some Photo Corners using my punch and added some more of the yummy DP. This card came together pretty quickly and I really like how it came out. And, it is all thanks to Diane aka ddnjoys2stamp who sent me this beautiful card and these wonderful images from High Hopes stamps. Aren't they the cutest??!! I totally love them - thanks soooooo much Diane!!! She is a sweetie and if you have not seen her blog, get on over there because she does fabulous stuff! And, now that I have done it once, I am itchin' to make some more cards with all the fabulous images I have received from bloggin' friends all over! WhooHoo!

FACT#33
I am loyal to a fault. I will always stand behind my friends, in both good and bad times - especially bad, because that is when people need you the most. I am fiercely protective of the ones that I love - I believe this how God wanted us to be. I have a strong faith and talk to God often, in both good and bad times. Since moving to CA, I have had need of Him even more to get through the transition of leaving the Navy, having my son go to college, and leaving all my friends in Florida. I am extremely lonely here, but I have faith that He has a plan for me and so I am closely listening to what He is telling me and trying my hardest to do the things He expects me to do. His love it what gets me through.

I hope all of you have a totally fabulous day!!

SCRAPBOOK SKETCH CHALLENGE

Mornin' all! Well, I FINALLY got some more pages done - I always have good intentions and then, well, life happens - LOL! But, I did manage to get Cyndi's sketch challenge done this week and I am pleased with how it turned out! My friend Vicki and I had gone to see Steel Magnolias at the dinner theater in Florida and we had such a great time! It was one of the last things we got to do together before I moved to CA and I sure do miss my friend!! So, I made this layout with my friend in mind! All products used are SU! I got to use our fabulous SAB Love and Happiness rub-ons on this page - if you don't have these yet, what are you waiting for???!!! They come in four colors and really rock!! I know I am stockin' up since SAB is over on the 17th of March and these will be gone forever!! So, I was staying with the flower theme so that is what I based my paper, color, and rub-on choices on. The base of this layout is More Mustard card stock. The DP is Bali Breeze - I totally love this paper! I cut out the large flowers and used my scallop circle punch for the smaller ones out of one sheet and popped them up on dimensionals, then used another sheet to provide some background to the photos. I edged the DP with Old Olive card stock to draw out that color and pull in the rub-ons. On these small strips, I stamped the small flower from the Stitched Exotics stamp set in Old Olive classic ink. The pics are all backed in Taken with Teal card stock and all the corners are rounded with my corner rounder to give them a softer look. I also did this on the Naturals White card stock that I used for my journaling. If you look closely, you will notice that the Taken with Teal was stamped using my Stitched background stamp before I mounted the photos - you can see it clearly on the journaling block. I also inked the edges of the Naturals White journaling block with Taken with Teal Classic Ink. Of course, I had to use my jumbo eyelets and put them to good use as the center of both the large flowers as well as the tags. On the smaller flowers I used Taken with Teal brads and paper pierced the edges of the scallops. The tags are both Taken with Teal and Old Olive card stock and I paper pierced these as well, then threaded Taken with Teal and Old Olive grosgrain ribbon through the jumbo eyelets, and popped them up on dimensionals as well. Notice that I used some rub-ons on the tags as well! I used the My Way arrow punch on Old Olive card stock and then added the arrow rub-on and popped it up on dimensionals as well. I also added photo corners using my punch and used Taken with Teal and Old Olive card stock, then added a Regal Rose brad to complement the colors of the flowers. And, there you have it! I really had fun doing this layout so I hope you like it!

FACT #32

I am a perfectionist (although far from perfect) and so projects tend to take me longer than they should. Not just crafting, but all projects such as cleaning, cooking, decorating, etc. I am making a conscious effort to be aware of this and let things go that are really minor in the grand scheme of things. I am getting better, and I think I am happier now that I don't stress myself out over every little thing. I now only clean the bathrooms once a week instead of three - LOL! And no, I don't like to clean bathrooms!

I hope you all are having a fabulous day! I am now going shopping with my daughter (she is in year-round school, and off for the next month - YIKES! so I am trying to keep her entertained - only 29 more days to go, LOL!

A LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME....

you all are awesome!!! Thanks so much for all the great comments about my new craft space (see below post) - I was really excited to share it with people who understand - LOL! My husband was teasing me, he says I am like a kid with imaginary friends - I quickly corrected him and told him my bloggin' friends are as real as he is!!!!! So, I actually DID stamp and I enjoyed my new room immensely. I made a card for a new friend who is a sweetie! She is new to stamping and wants to learn more so I am going to send her some stuff and include this card. This card is the sketch challenge Beate posted on Friday and I really like it and think I will use it again. I actually did the inside too although sorry, that pic is not as clear as I would like it - if anyone has any tips on take the pic of the inside, please feel free to share. I used the stamp set A Little Birdie Told Me, I totally love this set! And, the background is stamped using the Stitched Background stamp which has quickly become my favorite. The base of the card is Kraft card stock which is layered with Old Olive card stock. The striped DP is from the Old Olive Prints Series - I actually used this from the Level One Hostess Pack of Prints, what an awesome Hostess Gift!!! I then used Certainly Celery and Natural White Card Stock for both the image and the ribbon piece. All the paper is punched using my Ticket Corner Punch. I did do some faux stitching and paper piercing - I just can't help myself!! I also sponged the edges of the card stock with Old Olive Classic ink to soften it and blend it together. The little birdie is stamped in black stazon. And, of course no card is complete without my Jumbo Pewter Eyelets which perfectly match the vintage brads that I added to the main image! I threaded Wild Wasabi Striped Grosgrain ribbon through them. The inside of the card is Naturals White card stock that I also sponged and used my punch on. Then, I added the little flower and the saying "your the best" and was done. I hope you like it and are having a wonderful day!!
FACT#31
I have struggled with my weight for most of my life - I have always had to watch what I eat and exercise everyday in order to maintain a healthy look. A recent surgery has really thrown me off that track, and I must get back on it but have not managed to do so yet. I am headed back to the gym tomorrow and will need to get back on the wagon since summer will be here before you know it!

SO WHAT HAS ALEX BEEN UP TO????

Well, I have NOT been creating BUT I have been feverishly working to totally finish my stamp/scrap room because I had only done one side and I was tired of looking at all the stuff stacked up. So, I took yesterday and today and went to town organizing, sorting, labeling, filing, etc. I am VERY happy with the way it turned out and feel great creative things coming soon - LOL! I thought I would share pics of my room now that it is done!!! I am REALLY excited and plan to play a TON tonight!!! So, here's the grand tour: The first pic shows the french doors as you walk into my room - I love my big windows, they let in so much natural light! And, the puppies do too, you can see Clyde all curled up on his big pillow! The next three pics show where I actually sit and work - I may have shown this before, but now it has all my SU! stuff right at my fingertips! I love how much room I have for everything - it is really a nice workspace. And yes, I do have a few SU! punches - LOL! Then, you see my tower of storage - it holds all my rub-ons, chipboard, non-SU! paper, adhesive, stamps, and lots and lots of embellishments!These two show where I do all my computer work (right where I am sitting right now!) and print my pictures, etc. And, of course ,the ever present diet coke over ice! Also, I have several storage containers that hold embellishments, paper scraps, and some of my dies for my sizzix machine. And, I have my card wall where I hang all the beautiful cards I receive from wonderful folks like you! These next three show the huge wall cupboards that Tony built for me to store all of my SU! stamps and some of my SU! business supplies. They are in the top cupboard. The bottom wall cupboard stores more stamps, all my Cricut items, my light box, extra ribbon, more sizzix dies, and more stamps. Then, there is a nice workspace in between the two cupboards where my Cricut machine, sizzix machines, Xyron, and Bind-it-All are kept. Also, I have my embossing trays there for now although I have other ideas for those *wink* So, there you have it - my craft room. I love it - it is all mine, I have all my stuff exactly where I want it, there is a tv, dvd player, radio, and phone - all I need is a fridge and I will never have to leave - LOL!

FACT#30
In keeping with my post, I love to organize things. I am always reorganizing my drawers, the kitchen, cupboards, my craft things, you name it - I like it to be totally neat and uncluttered. No small feat with three kids and well, my husband *wink*. In fact, tomorrow I am going to redo HIS office - HAH! Can't wait to see what that brings!