It's my life

Simon Says Stamp Challenge Day- Jay Jay's Sketch

Woo Hoo, it's time for another Simon Says Stamp Challenge Blog Day and we have an awesome sketch for you to work with this week.  Jay Jay, our guest designer this month, and stamper extraordinaire, has created a wonderful sketch for us.  So if you haven't stop by the challenge blog please do so to see the great sketch.

Here is my take on the sketch.  I love working with sketches because you can flip it, add or subtract, or just duplicate it and it all looks good.

 

I broke out my Distress Inks to color this one.  I was just sort of called to create with an old time feel with this image.  I love the timelessness of Sarah Kay stamps and the watercolor effect of the Distress Inks worked so well.  This is Country Girl.  I have to say that this picture doesn't really show the beautiful look of the watercolor paper.  I splurged and bought some Arches paper a while back and I love using it with Tim Holtz's Distress Inks.
 

For this image I used Tattered Rose for the skin, Weathered Wood for the jeans, Scattered Straw for the straw, More Mustard for the chicks, Antique Linen and Vintage Photo for her hair, Spun Sugar and Worn Lipstick for her shirt, and Walnut Stain for the wood.

Other products that I used on this card are from Hero Arts.  The Antique lace and the Poinsettia flowers are all from Hero Arts.  

Scrapbook Mania August Card Kit

Here is a picture of my August card kit for Scrapbook Mania.  We have a few extras this month so even if you are not a monthly subscriber you can get one this month.  You receive this beautiful Sarah Kay stamp, enough materials to make 2 cards and the instructions on how to color this image like I have.  Call or stop by the store to get your kit.

 

Simon Says Stamp Challenge Day- Martine's Sketch

We've got another fantastic challenge for you this week on Simon Says Stamp Challenge blog.  Martine has created a wonderful sketch for you to work with.  You can see the sketch here.  

For my card I used this gorgeous stamp by Sarah Kay.  Her little face is so sweet and the detail in her hair, clothing and garden are just priceless.  There are so many different ways you can color her.  On this card I went for a subtle look to match the beautiful Basic Grey Cappella paper.  I used Copic markers to color her in and the Copic airbrush system to apply a light blue halo around her.

Don't forget there is a weekly winner of a $25 dollar gift certificate to the Simon Says Stamp online store that is picked randomly from all those that participate in the challenge.  Wow!

 

I hope that you will visit Simon Says Stamp's online store to see all of the other wonderful products that they carry.  Check back each Wednesday to hear all the details about that week's challenge and have another chance to win a $25 gift certificate to the Simon Says Stamp Store.  I would also like to tell you about a special new Design Team that Simon Says Stamp is taking applications for.  Check out the details below written by Heidi, owner of Simon Says Stamp Online store.  If you like to stamp in a vintage style than this design team is for you!

Copied from the Simon Says Stamp blog

We have a New Vintage styled Challenge Blog going live in August!  It is called Simon Says Stamp and Show. The new challenge is devoted to All Things Vintage! The Style is inspired by the likes of Tim Holtz, Wendy Vecchi, 7 Gypsies and Graphic 45 - among many other Vintage enthusiasts.

The Design Team Call is from now until this Friday, and we would love to hear from you! Please goHERE for the details! The new challenge is Directed by the infamous, worldly, and OOOOBER talented Linda Elbourne! We are so pleased and honored to have her join us! Thank you Linda! I have been eying Linda's work for almost a year and had the luckiest opportunity in the world to meet her in person and sit across from her for Ranger U! It was a thrill and delight. Please join us in welcoming Linda to our Team!

We are soooo excited for the new challenge! The prizes are FANTASTIC! We have loads of variety packs of Tim Holtz, 7 Gypsies, Jenni Bowlin, Ranger, Wendy Vecchi goodies...and SO MUCH MORE!

We hope to offer you weekly challenges that will inspire you to let your creative juices flow, feed your soul, and (as Wendy would say)...make art!

Hope to see you over at Simon Says Stamp and Show!

Luv,

Heidi 

I hope you all good luck if you decide to enter this call.

I also want to thank all those who left me sweet comments about getting better.  It was totally unexpected and very much appreciated. I can't tell you how much they all meant to me.  Unfortunately I still am not feeling 100% quite yet but trying to rest as much as possible to get there.

I'm so excited about all of the sneak peeks that I have been seeing of the new product being released at Summer CHA.  I would love to hear some of your favorites.

Simon Says Stamps Woo Hoo

I am so happy to announce that I am now a part of the Simon Says Stamps Challenge Design Team.   There are so many talented woman on the team plus Simon Says Stamps is a fantastic online store that specializes in all things for stamping.   You will be amazed at their selection and service.  To kick off my induction to the team I am going to challenge you to participate in this week's challenge.  All you have to do is create a card with a friends theme, post it to your blog and link it on the challenge blog.  Bonus points for using a Penny Johnson stamp from Stampavie.

So hop on over to Simon Says Stamps Challenge blog and check out the challenge.  Did I mention that there is a fabulous prize.  A $25 gift certificate to Simon Says Stamps Online store.  Now you can't beat that!!!  Join me each Wednesday for a new challenge.

Here is the card that I made.

 

Stamps:  Penny Johnson stamps from Stampavie, paper from Basic Grey, Green At Heart, Flowers from Petaloo, Image colored with Copic Markers

 

Spotlight on Tina Wenke's New Stamps

Have you seen the new Tina Wenke stamps yet from Stampavie?  They are so cute.  They are very different from what I have been coloring because they are all animals instead of little girls or boys.  

You really can't tell from the picture but I used lots of Stickles on this card.  I started first with the balloons and then I added some yellow to the icing and some red to the sprinkles.  The cupcake liner is also shiny.  I used some Silver Bells Shimmerz on that and then put some Stardust Stickles on the lines for dimension.  This card is really super cute up close and personal.

If you would like to make this card yourself you can come and take a class with me this Thursday night, August 20th at 6:30p.m at Scrapbook Mania.  We will be working on our blending techniques and how best to color the fur on the animals.  There will be lots of other Tina Wenke stamps for you to purchase there as well along with some Whiff of Joy, All That Scraps, Magnolia and other stamps that Stampavie carries.

Embellish-Online Spotlight

Have you stopped by my favorite little internet store Embellish-Online yet?  They are the nicest people and have all the latest paper from American Craft.  This month I am showcasing the fabulous line from American Craft called Backyard.  The colors are fun and springy and the patterns are adorable.  Butterflies, watermelons, it's perfect for those backyard cookout pages.  

Today though I am actually sharing a card.  I came across this sketch challenge at Sketch Saturday and it just reminded me of water because of the wave so I took this great Stampavie Stamp from Leere Aldrich (yes you can find it at Embellish-Online) and created a fun little scene.  How wonderful it would be to take a bath while butterflies swirled around your head.  Only in Calgon commercials.  :)

I don't know if you can see this or not but I used some Shimmerz and Blinkz on the bubbles and the bathtub.  I also used some silver Shimmerz for the glasses and bracelet.  

Sometimes dimension is not exactly what you want so Shimmerz is the best solution.  It goes on smoothly with a paint brush and it is easy to put in tiny places.

See you tomorrow for more fun stuff.

June 09 Kit Mini

News:  Just want to make sure that everyone knows what is going on in my Scrapbooking World.

Classes:  I will be teaching a masking stamp class this Thursday at Scrapbook Mania.  There are a couple spaces left.  Please come join us.  We have so much fun.

Craft Critique:  Did you see the reviews of the Sharpie Markers on Craft Critique?  The critiques were really good and I learned a ton of information about them.  I think the best thing about Craft Critique is that if you want to know how a certain scrapbook products measures up you can go there to get the scoop.  The other cool thing is that a lot of the time there are some great giveaways from the companies that are being reviewed.  You could be a winner!!  Please stop by the blog and search for info on your next purchase.  Expensive or not, a review is probably on there.  Don't you want to be the best informed when you spend your money now a days.  Every dime seems to be counting for most families right now.

Inky Impressions:  Have you stopped by the Inky Impressions website to check out their stamps?  You really should.  They are gorgeous.  

Stampavie:  Have you checked out their current challenge.  Remember they have a challenge every two weeks with some great prizes.  The current challenge is easy.  Flowers.  Just put as many flowers on your card that you would like and then submit it to the Stampavie DT challenge post.  It's really easy and I know you use flowers just as much as I do. Hehe.  I will be checking the list to see if your name is on there.

Embellish Online:  I've got some great projects to show you this week using products that you can find in their store.  If you like to shop online then you really should check them out.  Click on the blinkie on the right hand side of my blog and make sure to use the word "glitter" to receive a 20% discount when you check out.  

I promised some pictures of the mini desktop album that I created for the Scrapbook Mania's June kit so here they are.  I got this idea from my favorite book of late, Outstanding Mini Albums, by Jessica Accs.

This is the cover of the desktop album.  I used paper from Scenic Route called Garden Grove which was part of the June Kit.

Here is the side view.  You can see how I put it together.

I love this and I know that my parents will love it to when I give it to them.  This will also be an album that I will make over and over again for gifts. It's 6x6 so it's easy to create and you can include as many or as little pages as you would like.  My husband has already requested one for his desk at work.  I need to get busy.  It will be a late Father's Day gift. :)

I hope you all had a great Father's Day and had the opportunity to spend your time with family and loved ones.  

Edited to add:  Dear friends of mine, please know that even if I am not commenting on your blog I am seeing all of your gorgeous creations via my RSS feeds.  Truthfully their are so many totally talented ladies out there that I have an RSS feed on out there I can't totally can't keep up with commenting some days but please know that I am thinking about you all everyday.

There is a New Stampavie Challenge Posted

Stampavie posted their new Challenge #6 today.  It's a real easy one so everyone should play along.  The challenge is to use as many flowers as you want plus a Stampavie stamp.  See I told you it was an easy challenge.  Everyone likes flowers and the Stampavie has the cutest stamps.  This contest will run for two weeks so you have plenty of time to enter.  See more details here.  The prize is always a surprise but I have heard that it is always fantastic and includes something wonderful created by Heidi who is the owner of Stampavie!!!  She is an incredible paper crafter.  Look at this post.  This is just one project of many that she has shared on the DT blog.

Here is my sample for Challenge #6.  Please stop by the Stampavie's DT blog to see the other designer's card samples.

 

 

 

Got Sketch 104 started today.  The sketch is fantastic.  There is still time to register for the class.  Tomorrow I will share my layout for the first sketch.  It was a dream to use.  

I'm the Stampavie Guest DT member for June!

The Embellish-Online bog hop is in full swing so if you have heard yet about it read this post.  It gives all the information that you need to be entered for the grand prize.  All of the "It- Girls" are featuring American Craft paper and Stampavie Sarah Kay stamps.  

It just so happens that the blog hop coincides very nicely with my June Guest Team Designer spot with Stampavie that started yesterday as well. Stampavie is my most favorite stamp company.  They have a wonderful blend of artists that create their stamps.  I just love them all.

My first card for them was posted yesterday on their blog.  I created it for their bi-monthly challenge.  This current challenge involves a sketch.  Great sketch too!  I am posting my card here but please click here to check me out on the Stampavie DT blog, Woo Hoo, and get all the details for the challenge.  The prize is wonderful and if you win you will receive in the most wonderful packaging that Heidi, the store owner creates.  If you check out the blog you will see some of the wonderful things she creates.   Stop back by my blog for lots more Stampavie cards to come. 

For this sketch I cut my circles and scalloped circles with my Nestabilities dies, adhered them together, put them through my Big Shot with my dotted texture plate and then cut it into 4 wedges.  It is pretty  easy to see how I put the rest together.

Supplies:  Stamp:  Rachel Ann Miller for Stampavie; Paper:  Fancy Pants; Cardstock:  SU!; Word Window punch: SU!; Sentiment:  Amy R Stamps; Flowers: Prima; Ribbon: SU!;  Butterfly punch:  Martha Stewart Crafts; Die Cuts: Spellbinders;  Markers:  Copic

Where can you buy Stampavie stamps?  If you live in the Birmingham, Alabama area stop by My Scrapbook Mania.  If you don't you can purchase them at Embellish-Online

We are so getting closer on my blog to the big mystery prize winner.  Here is another little hint about this mystery contest.  It has to do with a big number.  Soon I will be posting a sneak peek of what the winner might receive.

Join Me in the Embellish-It.com Blog Hop

Well, I am so excited to say that the day is finally here.  My DT term at Embellish-It.com officially starts June 1st and the new team is hosting a fun blog hop to say hi, introduce ourselves, and get the party started.  

Sumthin’ Bout Summertime Blog Hop & Contest

First off  I want to share with you my first project as a DT.  I am using supplies from American Craft and a fantastic stamp from Stampavie.  Embellish-It.com has these products and so much more.

Of course if there is a party there are usually presents!!!  So let me tell you how we are going to get our party started.  

You are cordially invited to the first ever Embellish-It.com Blog Hop! We wanted to kick off summer in a big way so come along and get inspired, play a little game and enter to win an American Crafts Prize Package & a Stampavie Stamp ! 

How to Play
Hop along from Blog to Blog in the order given below. Each blog stop will provide one letter to a mystery word. At the end of the hop on June 3rd, unscramble all the letters to figure out the mystery word, and post your guess in our forum in the specified post below.

On June 1st start at the Embellish-It.com Blog, then head to the IT-Girls blogs in this order:
Christine   (That's me! :)
Cindy
Danni

On June 2nd head to
Julie 
Kim
Michelle

June 3rd head to 
Lee
Suzy 

The Hop ends at the EI Forum on this post where you can unscramble the letters and post your guess word!

One winner will receive a prize package consisting of a Stampavie Stamp, American Crafts papers and Thickers, and ribbon. Value of prize is approximately $25. The winner will be announced on June 21st, the first day of Summer! 

You WILL need to register to the forum (quick, free & easy) to be eligible to post your guess, participate, chat & be eligible for the amazing prize

Rules: You can post your guess anytime between June 3rd and Midnight CST on June 20th, 2009. One entry per person please. We apologize, but due to high shipping costs, you must have a North American address to ship your prize package to.

So do you want to know what my letter is....

E

So hop along to Cindy's blog and get her letter and see what she has created.