Have you ever...

Have you ever made yourself so miserable in a effort to make someone so happy?

Have you ever hurt yourself to make someone's day better?

This past Saturday, Macy's FINALLY reopened. My middle daughter, Lore, had worked for them for 6 years prior to Hurricane Katrina. Macy's decided to close the 2 (two) stores they had here.

About a year ago, Macy's decided to refurbish the store that Lore had worked in (Esplanade Mall), as well as build a new free-standing store at Lakeside Mall. The grand openings were to be huge events...all those stars that you see on their commercials were here.

Of course, the opening at the Lakeside Mall store was much bigger, and they had most of the stars there. But Esplanade Mall had their share, and I was avoiding the mall like I would the plague, lol.

However, Saturday afternoon, Lore calls me in a total panic. Genevieve and DC of ChooChoo Soul were performing and they had started! Throw Mia in my car and get there!!!

I'm old, and my body creaks, lol. I can't move fast!!! But I did hurry Mia into the car, drive as fast as legally possible and actually found a parking space! I didn't bother with Mia's stroller, instead I grabbed her out of her car seat and carried her into the store as fast as I could. We missed the performance BUT I heard that Genevieve and DC would be out again in a few minutes to sign autographs and take pictures with the kids. So I planted myself in that line, lol.

Mia didn't know why we were there, and I wasn't sure how much her little 2 year old brain could process, but when Genevieve came out, the look on Mia's face was priceless. She got to see her 2 favorite Disney Channel people!


My aching back, sore knee and stiff shoulder didn't bother me, not after I saw how happy Mia was!

I know it's not the best picture BUT Mia doesn't care. It's Choo Choo Soul!

Weekend Sketch Challenge #63

I've never been brave enough to try one of Beate's challenges. She has fabulous challenges over on Splitcoast Stamper's. I admire her talents so much, I've always been a little intimidated.

But, as part of my learning process, I "forced" myself to try one...the Weekend Sketch Challenge.


This sketch didn't turn out to be too hard...but, I do have to admit that I had to think about how to use the paper in the right way. In the long run, however, I love the way it came out!



I want to post the card at SplitCoast, but I'm not sure I'm brave enough, lol!

"Halloween" card details:
Stamp - Batty For You (SU!)
Paper - Frightful Collection (Little Yellow Bicycle)
Cardstock - Black, Orange (Bazzil)
Ink - Basic Black (SU!)
Misc. - Ribbon (random), chipboard circle (Little Yellow Bicycle), Circle scallop punch (SU!), scallop punch (Fiskar's)

Friday's Sketchers Sketch #25

I found another challenge, Friday's Sketcher's, and I stuck with a Halloween theme. I had the paper, ribbon and embellishments all around me, and this one was super easy.


I really had to think this one out, but I am happy with the end results. The little spiders are leftovers from a small book I cased from my local scrapbook store owner, but I couldn't resist. I'll post it as soon as I get the pictures from Disney, where my granddaughter is spending Halloween!



Cute huh? I'm really happy with the way it came out!

"Shadows Of A Thousand Years" card details:
Paper - Frightful Collection (Little Yellow Bicycle)
Ink - Basic Black (SU!)
Misc. - Ribbon (random), ghost, spiders and poem (Little Yellow Bicycle)

ScrapShanty Card Challenge #4

My friend, Mel, at the ScrapShanty, has come up with another great challenge!


We were to use Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, More Mustard, and Baja Breeze. We were also given a sketch to use, if we wanted to.


I used the sketch with the appropriate colors of paper. I stamped the image of fall leaves, I just wish we had "fall" so I could appreciate the colors more, lol. I also used a piece of vellum paper (I'm not sure if this is SU! or not). The card is ok, I'm not 100% crazy about it.


I had plenty of stuff leftover, and I came up with a second card...



Now this card is much more to my liking...I just couldn't use the sketch - it didn't "talk" to me, lol.

"Thank You" card details:
Stamps - Lovely As A Tree, Fresh Cuts (SU!)
Cardstock - Chocolate Chip,Really Rust,More Mustard,Baja Breeze,Very Vanilla (SU!)
Ink - Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, More Mustard (SU!)
Misc. - vellum (?)

"Stars" card details:
Stamp - In The Stars (SU!)
Cardstock - Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, More Mustard, Baja Breeze (SU!)
Ink - Baja Breeze (SU!)
Misc. - embossing powder, small star punch (SU!),ribbon (SU!)

i{heart}2stamp's Hooray for Saturday Challenge!

I found a bunch of new challenges...I'm always on the lookout for them. This challenge is from Jen del Muro of i{heart}2stamp! I think I did a pretty good job on the card...ya'll tell me!


This was the sketch we were to follow. The sketch was easier than I thought it would be, but then, I'm in a Halloween card mood, and I had all the stuff all around me.

"Witchful Thinking" card details:
Stamp - Fright Night (The Cat's Pajamas)
Paper - Frightful Collection (Little Yellow Bicycle)
Cardstock - Black, Orange (Bazzill Basics)
Ink - Black (StazOn)
Misc. - Circle Scallop Punch (SU!)

Color Throwdown #16/Dutch-Dare Challenge # 20

WOW! What a great color combination that those fabulous ladies at the Color Throwdown have given us this week...Ballet Blue, Green Galore, Creamy Caramel and Chocolate Chip. And I teamed it up with a new sketch challenge I found this week from Dutch Dare - Card Challenges.



I couldn't get to the card right away, and when I had 10 seconds to think, all I could envision was something outside, something pastoral. Silly huh? But I did get an idea, and it boiled in my brain all day today. Finally, I got to sit down and work on the card...and then, none of my stamp sets were right, awful huh? AND I was out of Chocolate Chip cardstock!!! DISASTER! (it's on order thank goodness, lol) Then I remembered a stamp set that I had bought for Father's Day from Papertrey Ink. They were just perfect!


I stamped the image, then stamped over it with Versamark and then embossed it. I used cosmetic sponges to rub a little of each of the colors onto the paper...WOW! I was so proud of the way it came out!


I also pierced the paper (as per the sketch) and I think it adds the finishing touch!

I think I'm getting a little better, no, I know I'm getting better. I'm not letting the new techniques intimidate me as much.

"You Are My Hero" card details:
Stamp - Father Knows Best (PTI)
Cardstock - Whisper White, Ballet Blue, Green Galore, Creamy Caramel (SU!)
Ink - Ballet Blue, Green Galore, Creamy Caramel (SU!), Versamark Watermark Stamp Pad
Misc. - Marvy punch, embossing powder (random), satin ribbon (random)

Ya'll need to try out this challenge! They are such a blast! And thanks for looking!

I'm on a challenge roll!

I've been trying to learn and do more with my stamping the last couple of weeks. Right now, my life is extremely hectic and stressful, and I need to escape for a little while at least.

This week's challenges, well I've slowly been working through them. I can't always complete them by the deadline, but I do try. So onto the challenges...

Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration #27 has great colors, and it co-insides with a couple of challenges from Splitcoast Stampers.

Kristina's color inspiration was a picture of her favorite brand of nail polish. Too cute! We could use any color of red...the darkest reds to the lightest pinks.


Then Splitcoast Stampers had 2 challenges that I chose to work on. I had never participated in any of their challenges (let's face it, those ladies are fabulous and I'm totally intimidated). This sketch was one challenge (SC#199), and the other you had to use pink and a one word title (WT#189). This was a lot harder than I thought it would be.


In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness, I knew the stamp I wanted to use, my Bella Stamps. I have "Causabella" and I've never used her, but she was perfect for this challenge.

ARGH! Ya'll should have told me I was rattlin' on...really, really bad habit of mine, lol. Anyway, I hope ya'll enjoy my card.

"Believe" card details:
Stamp - Causabella (Bella Stamps)
Cardstock - Whisper White, Pirouette Pink, Regal Rose, Rose Red(SU!)
Ink - Creamy Caramel, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Bravo Burgundy, StazOn Jet Black
Misc. - Stickles (Fruit Punch), Prima fabric flower, random brad, MM rub-on letters

Please check out these challenges. And thanks for looking!

What's wrong with me?? LOL!

I've been working. I don't know exactly where it's all coming from, but I'm happy.

ScrapShanty had one last week, and today was the last day. My friend, Mel, wanted us to create a Christmas card using non-traditional colors. Red or green but not both. It was harder than you think!


I think it came out pretty well. I was a little disappointed that the glitter on the snowflake doesn't show up better. Oh, well, next time.

Scrap Shanty card details:
Stamps - Holly Jolly Christmas (Studio G)
Cardstock - Soft Sky(SU!)
Patterned Paper - Rhonda Farrer (Autumn Leaves)
Ribbon - Certainly Celery, Whisper White (SU!)
Ink - StazOn Jet Black
Misc. - stickles glitter glue, Fiskar's punch

Check out their challenges! I had a blast! And thanks for looking!

Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge #2

I read a lot of blogs, and one of my newest finds, Sankari's Sunshine Corner has a new challenge, the Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge. I missed the first challenge, Pride and Prejudice, but I was determined to play this week.

Breakfast at Tiffany's is one of my favorite books and movies. Truman Capote wrote a wonderful novel, and Audrey Hepburn was the perfect Holly Golightly in the movie.


The clothes are fabulous! I wish I had her silhouette! I watch that movie every time it comes on television, and Moon River was a piece of music I won several piano competitions with...I still hum it!


I thought long and hard about a card, and I realized Monday morning, that I was overthinking it. I prefer simple and sweet cards, not necessarily fast though. I pulled out all my cardstock, and chose Soft Sky (SU!) as my color of choice. A little white satin ribbon, the correct sentiment and I was in business!


I wanted my card to remind ya'll of a box from Tiffany's store. I think I accomplished that. I was lucky enough to get one box when I was 17 (a high school graduation gift), and I've saved it all these years.


I hope ya'll will enjoy my card. I'm sorry they aren't as bright as I had hoped for, not sure what's going on in my house.

Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge details:
Stamps - Heard From the Heart (SU!)
Cardstock - Soft Sky(SU!)
Ribbon - white satin (unknown)
Ink - Versamark Watermark Stamp Pad
Misc. - white embossing powder, pearl beads

Try out the challenge! I thoroughly enjoyed myself! And thanks for looking!

ScrapShanty Birthday Challenges

Hi!

I've been working hard (hahaha, yeah right, lol) at some challenges that are being hosted at Scrapshanty! They've been celebrating their birthday and have some really great challenges! And I actually got a couple of them done! WOW!

The first challenge I participated in was the "birthday bash challenge". We were to create a 2 page layout, using the specified sketch, and we had to use buttons, ribbon, numbers, and strip journalling. I chose Lore's birthday to crop, since those pictures were on my table.




Then you had to create a card using the scraps of the layout...not that hard and sort of nice to go right into the card since all the stuff was already there, lol.


I added some studs that I have had for ages...I will say that the studs weren't the easiest things to work with. The studs came off on my fingers, the glue was horrible too! I have quite a bit of the studs left, but I don't know if I'll be using them again anytime soon.

Time being what it was (short), I combined 2 other challenges, Think Pink and Do Me Ad...and I'm really happy with the way it came out.






Mia was 2 months old when this portrait was taken, she was so cute! I had the one pose printed in the sepia tone, and it's one of my favorites. When I finish the second page, I'll post it.

"27" Page/Birthday card details:
Paper - Tinkering Ink Gibson (this paper is double-sided)
Embellishments - Buttons Galore, numbers - Tinkering Ink, random ribbons, Say It With Studs

Think Pink/Do Me Ad Challenge details:
Cardstock - Dark Mostly Mauve (Color Mates), Whisper White & River Rock (SU!)
Patterned Paper - Ginger Blossom DSP (SU!)
Ribbon - River Rock & Groovy Guava (SU!)
Glitter Letters - Melissa Francis
Various punches

I hope you enjoy what I've created!

A little note...

I've had a lot of emails and comments saying how cute my snowglobe is (on the left of my blog).

But it's not a snowglobe, per se, it's a clock!!!

I thought it was so cute, much better than the traditional clock I had there in the beginning. Click on it, and you can get one of your own!

Lotsa Challenges...

I'm beginning to think I'm sort of pathetic...I live for Wednesdays, lol. I love the color/blog challenges, and I think I'm learning a lot. I've taught myself how to heat emboss, how to use a stamp-a-ma-jig, what inks to use, and how to take a sketch and make it my own.

I also love looking at the different entries to those challenges. I try to see each and every one. I also try to leave comments... I think it's important that I make sure that each person knows how much I'm learning by seeing what they've done.

So, that brings me to this week's challenges...

Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration #26 is first. She chose great colors - Rose Red, Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Wild Wasabi and Whisper White.



Great colors! Happy! This is my take on it. Now, I know I saw a card(s) last week with a similar layout. I sketched it into my sketch book, but I stupidly forgot to write down where (which I usually do). So thanks for the inspiration!




I'm sorry about the close up being a little blurry, the wind was blowing and I had to take the picture quick. This was the best of the 6 pics I took, lol.

Card details:

Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes (SU!)
Paper: Rose Red, Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White (SU!)
Ink: Versamark Watermark Stamp Pad
Accessories: white embossing powder, Wild Wasabi ribbon (SU!)

Another challenge that I look forward to is the Color Throwdown. I love how the colors are combined! The colors this week were very autumnal...I love fall! Unfortunately, we don't get that season here in New Orleans, lol. But I love the colors, the smells, the cooler-than-80-degree weather!

The colors that we were to use were Kiwi Kiss, Really Rust, So Saffron and Chocolate Chip. I love them! And I just got the stamp set, Season of Friendship, and I thought this was the perfect set to use.


I popped up the birdie, and after a short, heated debate with myself, decided NOT to pop the leaves. It just didn't look right.


I'm still looking through my stash of ribbon for something to use, but nothing I've come across looks right. And my Kiwi Kiss ribbon hasn't gotten here yet. And I did stamp the inside...I thought it needed a little something extra. Oh well, I still like how it came out! What a change for me, lol!!! I hope you enjoy my cards too!


So here are the details!

Card details:

Stamps: Kiwi Kiss, Really Rust, So Saffron, Chocolate Chip (SU!)
Paper: Kiwi Kiss DSP, Really Rust, So Saffron and Whisper White (SU!)
Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Really Rust, So Saffron and Chocolate Chip (SU!)

A New Card Challenge

New/better picture below.

WOW! Three cards, three posts! Now, I'm really on a roll!

My friend, Mel, has a great site! And now she's got a great, new card challenge!

She's got this great picture for inspiration, and while the graphic design of th pillow caught my eye, I didn't "feel" it. And this is what I can up with...


The colors Mel chose are Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, and Whisper White. I've been acquiring all these great stamps, and I immediately thought of these. I hope you like what I've done with them.

Thanks for looking!

New/better picture.


Card details:

Stamps: Dotted Trees (Hero Arts), Heard From the Heart (SU!)
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Whisper White (SU!)
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive (SU!)
Accessories: string

Color Throwdown #14

New/better picture below.

The last few days have been so hectic...and I got so inspired! I love the Color Throwdown challenge, the colors this week are so vibrant! I love them! Here's my card for the challenge!


Now I like the overall card, but I feel like it's missing something. The card feels a little blank. Please leave me your thoughts on how I can improve it! I love constructive criticism!

Thanks for looking!


New/better picture.


Card details:

Stamps: Eat, Drink & Be Scary (SU!), All Hallow's Eve (Inkadinkado)
Paper: Tangerine Tango, Kiwi Kiss, Taken With Teal (SU!)
Ink: Tangerine Tago, Kiwi Kiss (SU!)
Punch: Scallop Punch (SU!)
Accessories: ribbon (Really Reasonable Ribbon, embossing powder, K & Company Button Pins

Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration #25

New/better picture below...

Another week, another Color Inspiration challenge from Kristina Werner. Ya'll all know how much I enjoy her challenges, and I know a lot of other people love them too!

This week's challenge colors were Ballet Blue, Certainly Celery, So Saffron and Ruby Red...an absolutely wonderful combination!


I immediately thought of flowers. I don't know why, but I thought flowers. And then, I thought of these great stamps I got from Verve! The card was easy to creat, just a couple of bumps along the way, with one of the flower centers, that I used my blender pen to color with, well it didn't look right. Happy accident! Cause I restamped the flower and then popped it up! Looks so much better!


I don't know why the photo is so dark...I took it outside! But I'll try again in a little while and see if I can get one a little brighter.

Thanks for looking!

I put the card directly in the sun...see how this is!


Card details:

Stamps: Petals & Stems (Verve), Season of Friendship (SU!)
Paper: Ballet Blue,Ruby Red, Whisper White
Ink: Ballet Blue, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Ruby Red
Accessories: Certainly Celery ribbon (SU!), blender pen

I'm on a roll!

I love all the challenges that are out there on the web! Since I'm sort of new to stamping, challenges make me think. I case as many as I can, but either they want you to use stamps that I don't own, or they aren't specific enough.

Color Throwdown is a terrific challenge, very similar to Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration.

I got inspired I guess this morning and I have one for the Throwdown.



Sorry it's so blurry, but the breeze was stiff this morning, lol!

Card details:

Stamps: Cute and Curly (SU!)
Paper: Baja Breeze, So Saffron & More Mustard (SU!)
Ink: More Mustard (SU!)
Accessories: Curly Label Punch, Cuttlebug Dotted Swiss Embossing Folder

Color Inspiration #24

EDIT BELOW

Hi everyone!

I'm sorry for the delays in posting, life around here has been interesting. We've finally had the trash pickup for the debris from Hurricane Gustav, and my yard is looking normal again.

Anyway, I got all my stuff back from it's own evacuation, lol, and I've been playing a little.

I finally am getting to post a card I made for Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge, and I'm liking it. It's not a card, it's a small journal that I keep notes in. I've done a few in the last few months but this is the first one I've done with a purpose, lol. And for some reason, I really like the way it came out.

The colors are Chocolate Chip, Pumpin Pie, Kiwi Kiss and Very Vanilla....wonderful autumn colors. And here's my entry!!!


I used the appropriate cardstock and ink colors, along with a small piece of old DSP. The stamp is one from Inkadinkado.

Tell me what you think!

I got a couple of better pictures.