Halloween Tree

I just had to try out my other new stamp set from Pink Cat Studio. It is called Limitless Limbs and comes with 2 trees and many little goodies to put on and around the tree. You can decorate the trees for an assortment of holidays and events. The little branches and dots at the bottom are stamps by Judith and not part of the set. I did sponging for the background. All images are colored with pencils and OMS. My candy corn and pumpkins are coated in crystal lacquer. The ghosts are coated in diamond Stickles. My layers of card stock are black and bermuda bay. The DP in the back ground is from K&Co's Halloween specialty paper pack by Jen Yanok. I added a bit of houndstooth ribbon and a few amber gems as embellishments.
I am slowly trying to get a grip on this spooky holiday, one card at a time. Have a wonderful Monday!

Shaker Card

Making a shaker card is a new experience to me. It is the technique challenge over at Stamp TV this week. Gina, comes up with the best ideas! It was really fun!
To create this card I use 2 different stamp sets. I used "Happy Camper" designed by the amazing, Theresa Momber and "Tree Silhouettes", which is a Gina K. Design set. My trees in the foreground were stamped in SU old olive. My mountains, table and sentiment were stamped in Memento, rich cocoa. I tried to keep it simple
so my table was colored in shades of brown pencil , cut out and popped up. All the pieces of my shaker were cut from Nestabilities. My goodies inside the shaker are from my stash. They are tiny plastic shapes that came in themes and I am so happy I found a use for them! They were a QVC purchase from when I scrapbooked more. Inside you will find bears, flowers, a deer, a pine tree, fish and fishing poles. I added a few olive pearl studs for some balance.
As summer is drawing to an end, children returning to school, I hope you are able to find some time to enjoy the outdoors. Till next time.......

A Pretty Good Dog.....

This week the color challenge on Stamp TV is to use the colors orange, grey and white/ivory. I wanted to use a stamp from a set I bought quite a long time ago. It was a red rubber sheet of unmounted stamps from The Clickit Shop in Colorado Springs, CO. My image was colored in pencil and OMS. I cut an extra head and popped it off the dogs body for depth. I added crystal lacquer to his eyes and nose. My doggie design dp is from Adornit. I used a piece of grey and pierced it on 4 sides then using embroidery floss, I stitched through all the holes. My bow is a floppy piece of rusty fiber. I double stacked paper flowers and added grey pearls to the centers. I am happy to report, that the sun has finally been shining for 2 days in a row and the air is clearer. It gives you such an uplifted feeling! If you have not had a chance yet, please go over to Gina K.'s blog and check out the first day of previews for the new stamps to be released Thursday evening! The images are amazing! Have a wonderful day!

Button Flowers

This week, over at StampTV, Lynn has given us a potluck Friday challenge to use buttons on cards. Woo Hoo, this is right up my ally. You will see that many of my cards posted have vintage and antique buttons used as embellishments. My Mom, who has passed, Was very involved in the collecting, research and sale of antique buttons. I won't go into details except to say what was her private collection was photographed for the book that is known as the bible to collectors. What I use on my creations, are her castoffs. Things that were of no use to her. Do I thank her for leaving me a closet full, sometimes, LOL!

Anyway, the buttons I decided to use as flowers, on this card, are crocheted. They have no shanks like normal buttons, but pads of fabric that were stitched through to attach to clothing. They came in so many pretty patterns, mostly in the colors of ivory, black, brown and navy. The set I decided to use is Gina K.'s "Tropical Flowers". It was used to create all the different leaves for my image. My base is made from Gina K.'s Pure Luxury, soft sand cardstock. I also used a deep purple from an unknown source. A wee bit of ribbon and some piercing conclude the details.

I hope you have a peaceful Sunday doing something that you love!

Make A Wish!

I ordered a couple of stamp sets from a new company to me. It is Pink Cat Studio in Vancouver, BC. I was thrilled with the service and the sweet personal response from the owner. She told me to allow 2 weeks for delivery and they arrived in less than a week. Not too shabby coming through customs! Their stamps are more cutsie, and that is something I do not own much of. My original idea when I saw this set, was to use it for a pet sympathy card. I may still use the images for that purpose. I have seen some beautiful "Loss of Pet" sayings, I just have to find the right one. In the set you get this sweet doggie, a kitty, frog and an owl fairy. There is also a large mushroom, swirls and a couple of great sayings! Here is a link to the online store. http://www.pinkcatstudio.com/ Feel free to tell her I sent you! You can earn points for referrals. Not my goal, but it is nice to offer incentive. The name of this adorable set is "Fairy Friends".

The papers I used to create this card are from the Basic Grey, Granola collection. Even the distressed white that I stamped the doggie onto, is from the paper pack! I used Stampin Up! soft suede cardstock as an accent color. I think it worked well with this dp. My images were stamped in Memento, tuxedo black. All images were colored with pencils and OMS. I glittered up the dogs wings and some of the stars near the sentiment. Clear lacquer was applied to the doggies eyes, nose and bone. I am beginning to think I am addicted to piercing. Oh, and I know I am totally addicted to Dewdrops! I added a couple of ribbons for extra texture.

Since I do not travel well, I am always thrilled when my DH takes a little time to go off on his own. Yesterday, DH and DS went to the Atlantic City Air Show. Since the temps were 90 plus, I did not even think that this trip would be for me. They took all the precautions, hats, good sunscreen, light colors etc. Ha, they even rented umbrella and chairs from the guy on the beach. I am ready to melt some butter because I now have 2 lobsters! Silly guys. Me thinks there was more time taking pictures out from under the umbrella then there was using sun safety! Glad it isn't me!

Season of Thanks

Before long, we will be celebrating the end of a bountiful garden season and the up coming fall harvest. I recently obtained this Stampin Up! set from 2001, called "Season of Thanks". It is only a 4 stamp set, but I think I will be giving it a real workout.
The papers used on this card are from a company called Recollections who are producing things for Michaels. They have matching wood mount stamps in the dollar bin, and I must say, some of them are adorable. This paper is from a designer mat stack called Autumn. Oh, and they also have pearl studs and such that match the paper.... all very reasonable! So if you get a chance, check it out.
My images are stamped in Memento "Rich Cocoa. All are colored in pencils and OMS. I used a few SU punches and it was a done deal!
I am rushing a bit with this post as we are in for another delightful evening of sever storms. I am loosing sunlight as I type. About 10-15 miles from me, houses lost roofs and trees came down. They had to file for disaster relief and they say that clean up will take a long time. I feel badly but to be honest, I am sure glad it was not us this time. Oh heck, you just never know with these things. Have a creative evening!

Good morning everyone! It is another hot, hot day in PA! I just found out that my daughter, Dee, will be coming home for a visit this weekend. Woo Hoo! It has been like forever. Maybe we can squeeze in some stamping time.
Today I would like to share a card I made using a new stamp set I picked up. It is from Inkadinkado and is called Utopiary. I fell in love with this sweet little birdbath stamp! My image was stamped with London Fog, Memento ink. I added some soft color with pencils and oms. the swirls and splashes were done again in diamond Stickles. I created my other elements using Cuttlebug folder and Nesties. All of my distressing/sponging was done in Versamagic, purple hydrangea. My DP is Basic Grey, Wisteria. Ribbon is from M's dollar bin and I finished with Prima's and purple gems.

Keep it cool and I will see you all soon!

Oh Nuts.....

This was such a fun card to put together! If you are anything like me, you need lots of these expressions of "Oops"! I seem to know the date until a week before, then I promptly go blank. I get so mad at myself! Look at the expression on these peanuts.... it shows just how I feel.

I loved the DP I used because of it's distressed look. Of course I also had to add some of my own distressing! I didn't know what to sit these nutty little guys on, so I created this wall, which is also a little distressed. I used Crystal Lacquer on there gloves, shoes and eyes. The peanut stamp and the sentiment are from Copper Leaf Creations. The wall stamp is one from Posh Impressions. I added some flower and corner punches and a few Dewdrops. I really like the sentiment stamps that have inside and outside saying on one. It helps with indecision.

We are in for a real heat wave this week so I guess I will be stamping a good bit. I will try and make some new additions here this week! Have a creative day.

That's No Bull!

Hubby needs a birthday card for one of his guys at work this week. It's one of those guys that you just don't know what they like or do for fun. I have always liked this herd of cows stamp from the Cottage Stamper. I could have done the "Herd it's you're Birthday" sentiment, but nah.....! I did a simple Happy Birthday but the inside says "That's No Bull." This bevy of beauties was colored with pencils and OMS. I used a simple, green gingham dp and black dotted swiss ribbon as an accent.

My second card of the day is a cute, cute little sweetie. Due to the nudity policy over at Stamp TV, I did not even try to load this little cowboy over there on my page. I think this is just the sweetest stamp. It is an older stamp by a company called, Hooked On Stamps. The lil' darlin best watch out with that wicked sun beating down! I did sponging with a rusty brown ink while placing a circle punch to create my sun. My image and sentiments were stamped in Rich Cocoa, Memento ink. My sentiment and cactus are stamps from Theresa Momber's "Out West" stamp set created for Gina K Designs. My inside sentiment is "Hope you're back in the saddle again soon". My dp is an unknown and really works well with western stamps. I wish I could find more of it! I finished off with a couple of clusters of Dew Drops as accents. Just 2 rather simple cards.

I sure hope that you are enjoying this middle weekend of August! Keep cool and be creative!

Can you Believe it?

How did it get to be the middle of August already? Before ya know it, we will be stopping for school buses on our way to work! When I was young, (dinosaur age), children never ever went back to school before the 2nd week in September. Some of the signs are visible that the time is fast approaching.

One of the things I really miss being able to do in the fall, is going to a farm for apple picking. A few years back, I developed a deadly allergy to yellow jackets. We all know that where there are apples, cider and sweetness, the bees are sure to be a buzzin! I decided to create this card to curb my desire.

This is the new sketch challenge that Cat has posted over at Stamp TV. My main image is from the new Gina K Designs, "Signs of Autumn" Stamp TV kit. I used apple green, soft sand and ivory Pure Luxury card stock. My DP was not marked nor was my unmounted sentiment. I found a clip art of a small apple and created my own template for piercing. I added ribbon, a Cuttlebugged leave and an apple that was cut from my DP to embellish. Sorry I missed posting yesterday, but I had to finish a few cards for orders that I had been avoiding! Have you ever created a card that you thought was a one of a kind, only to have to make it 3 more times? Of course it wasn't an easy card! It's a rainy miserable day here in PA so it is a great day to stay in my stamp room and play! Have a wonderful day whatever you do!

A New "Timeless Treasure"

I just love Theresa Momber's new stamp set created for Gina K. Designs. It is called "Timeless Treasures". The card I have made is for Lee's color challenge this week over at Stamp TV. We were asked to create using the colors chocolate, red and cream. My DP is a digital paper that I downloaded from Cindy at Scrapping with Lil Ole Me. My cream border paper is also digital and is from Plum Raconte. My images are sponged and stamped in Memento, rich cocoa. I added ivory Sateen Flowers and chocolate pearls for the centers. A small piece of chocolate ribbon adorns the pendant. I am very pleased with how this turned out. I do not make very many square cards because of the double postage to mail them. I guess that is it for today! Happy Stamping!

Set an Alarm for Tomorrow Evening!

Be there or be square! Melanie Muenchinger, http://melaniemuenchinger.blogspot.com/, part of the senior design team over at Gina K. Designs, recently released her new "Inspiration Mosaic" set. Tomorrow evening, she will begin her blog hop featuring many new cards and project designs, using this amazing set.

Melanie has recently been published in the current issue of Card Maker magazine. Her work is always a great source of creative mojo. I have no doubt that all of the members of the Gina K. design team will have us drooling! Oh, and I forgot to mention that this set sold out right after it was released! It is back in stock, but I would hurry before you are left waiting for the 3rd shipment!

What is it about this stamp?

I seem to keep making cards with this new bunch of flowers stamp from the new Stamp TV "Signs of Autumn" kit. The thing is, I just love it stamped with no coloring! The first card in my post is one I created today for Lee's color challenge this week over at Stamp TV. We were to use ivory, chocolate and red. I started with the Pure Luxury ivory and chocolate kiss, that were included in the kit. I stamped my image in Memento, rich cocoa ink and cut an oval with my Nestabilities. My image and sentiment were sponged with ridinghood red from SU! The quilt image was a digital freebie that I found here..........http://cattscrapps.blogspot.com/search/label/freebies. She really has some cute freebies! The quilt comes in assorted colors. I love the way the quilt has such depth and texture!

The other day a created another card using this same stamp but with ivory, apple green and soft sand cardstock from Gina K.'s Pure Luxury line. I

distressed my edges After adding some piercing, I finished off the card with some pre-threaded sticky buttons from my stash. Woo Hoo, I used something up! I have been challenging myself to use things I have stock piled from scrapbooking. Many can be carried over to the card making craft.

We are having temperatures of around 100 degrees today and I have not stuck my nose out the door any more than I have had to. Jessie, my pup has had no interest in romping outside. We had central air installed this summer and I think we picked the perfect time. Our summer is coming so late this year. These are the temps we normally get in July! I hope what ever your weather, that you are finding ways to be creative. I will see you again very soon!

What a nice gift!

I received a really nice surprise today from my friend, Olga at StampTv! This is a great gift that I get to pass on to 5 more friends. Before I can do that, however, I must list 5 things I love to do.

1. I love to go to rubber stamp shows.
2. I love to spend time outside in the Springtime.
3. I love spending time with my children when they come to visit on the weekends.

4. I love lemons.
5. I love to cook and bake for holidays!

Now I get to pick 5 people:
1. Tina at http://www.tinagmemories.com/
2. Melissa at http://buggin2stamp.blogspot.com/
3. Cathy Edgar at http://inkitupstampitout.blogspot.com/
4. Lee at http://luvleestamper.blogspot.com/
5. Cat at http://catdidit.blogspot.com/

Have a great afternoon!

3 Brothers

As I was working on an idea for Mel's potluck challenge this week over at StampTV, I remembered a favorite photo of mine that I had out on display since Memorial Day. My father was one of 5 children...... one of 3 brothers. They all served their country during WWII. I remember hearing the story of how mothers had banners hanging in their windows that had stars numbering children serving in the armed forces. My grandmother was the only one in her town who had 3 stars. My father, Joe, is the handsome devil in the middle. My Uncle Paul is on the right.

My Uncle Mike on the left, just passed a few months ago and he is the last brother. I decided that I will gift his daughter with this card when a little time has passed. Gina K.'s "Not Forgotten" set will has the perfect sentiment when the time is right. Other than my DH and kids, I really have no family left. That is when these things become such treasures. Take time to preserve and enjoy your vintage keepsakes!

Those Useful Tapestry Stamps.....

If you have never had the opportunity to play with Rubber Tapestry Stamps, you are really missing something. When I was first introduced to them, they only came in sets of pegs to create certain themes. Now they have added so many more fun elements to their line up. they can be found herehttp://www.rubberstamptapestry.com/. They have many tutorials on how to create projects but they are also fun to fill in those little spaces that just need that unknown "something".

The first time that I went to a stamp convention with my daughter, Dee, I could not drag her out of their booth. As a matter of fact, they pretty much took her whole show budget! Well I hate to tell her but after making a quick trip to the website for this post, it looks like they have lowered most of thir prices! How wonderful for us!

Here is a simple sympathy card I created using one of the sets.

Make sure when you go to visit their site you have

some time to spend. You can just get lost in the

combination of leaves, flowers and flourishes! All you need are lots of pretty ink colors and you will be creating beautiful work.

I hope everyone has a creative weekend and I will see you soon!

Yee Haw!

As I have stated in some past posts over at StampTv, I am the very proud owner of many many unmounted rubber stamps. They have been aquired from an assortment of places including auctions. Sometimes, it is hard to post a card with details when you just haven't a clue other than you love the stamp. I have the same problem with DP. It is not all marked. So, from this point on, I will do my best. If I know who made a item I will be happy to share, otherwise it will say "Unknown". If you see something and perhaps know, please feel free to tell me so I can mark the cling with permanent marker so I will know for next time.

Today I would like to share just such a card. The main image is from Art Impressions and his name is Slim. The fence with western gear is an Ebay find and is Unknown as is the inside sentiment.

He is such a rough character, lol! He has a female cowgirl friend named Sadie and I will try and make a goodie using her soon. I thought that this sentiment was just so fitting with all of my western style stamps. Everything was colored with OMS and pencil. I added a tiny bit of Stickles and Crystal Lacquer to add a bit of glitz. Slim was double stamped and popped up.

Hey, if you have not had a chance yet, please scoot over to Gina K's blog and meet the new Center Stage Design Team for August! Congrats to each and every one! What an amazing bunch of talented ladies! I am extra excited as my daughter, Dee Marie was one of the choices! I know what a detail person she is, so I am very sure she will do a wonderful job.

Hope you all have a creative day and I will see you soon!

You are all berry sweet!

Thank you all so very much for such a warm welcome into the world of blogging! I am sure this is going to be a fun filled journey.

Today I want to share a card that I created for all of you! This is my thank you for such supportive words and offers of help.

I created this card using Flourishes new stamp set called "Strawberries". The red dot dp is from Basic Grey's "Junebug". The blue dp on the bottom half was from my scrap bin, so I am unsure of maker. Images were stamped on a Nestability label. They were all colored with pencils and OMS. I used Stickles, brads, ribbon and a SU! corner punch for embellishments.

I hope everyone is enjoying all the wonderful flavors of summer! Buy and use all that you can during this bountiful season. Help support your local farmers.

I finally did it!

I have finally created a blog! I hope to be able to use this blog to share my many stamping creations. I do actually live on a small lake , which feeds my love of nature and helps to fuel my creativity.

These beautiful waterlilies were in bloom the other day and the colors were just amazing! I would really like this to be the beginning of many times we share at Lakeside Stamping.