Black Belt!

My sister in law, Kelli just earned her black belt. She has worked so hard to accomplish this..years of training. (Now Kelli is a tiny little thing. If she weighs 100 pounds i would be very surprised. but she had always had this amazing upper body strength! When we all get together to make homemade raviollis, she's in charge of making the dough! and we make lots of dough! )
I wanted to make a little something for her to let her know how proud we are of her. I also wanted to keep it simple. I knew that i wanted to add a belt to this card and wanted that to be the main image on the card.
I stamped white paper with versa mark and then heat embossed it with black ep. used my ticket corner punch, added some brads on each corner. I stamped Congratulations on white paper with black ink, and then framed it with black cs. I tied black ribbon around the band, secured the ribbon with 2 black flower brads and used 2 jewelry charms for the belt buckle and looped the black ribbon through it. It's very simple, but i know that she will get a kick out of this when she receives it!
Thanks for visiting!
Lorraine

Where's the MOJO?

I think that i have lost my MOJO. I'm just not in the mood. However, i did see this challenge over on SCS for this Dahlia Flower and thought that i would try it. I combined it with the SC161 layout challenge. I thought that this would be so much fun to do. well if you like origami, i think that you would. I first used my mega circle punch to make the dahlia flower. OMG! so big.so then i used my 1 3/8 inch circle punch. much better! i was putting all my layers together and i just didn't like it so i punched out some circles, the directions says to punch out 8, however for some reason i needed 9. I have about 27 different circles punched out.if anyone wants them let me know, i'll be happy to send them to you as i don't see myself making many more of these flowers...primas are so much easier! i just couldn't find my mojo making this. This is the best of what i was able to come up with. Let me know what you think!
Recipe:
Card stock: Pixie Pink, Paper from Sams Club
Ink: elegant eggplant
stamps: Warmest Regards

Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful day!

5000 visits Time for Blog Candy

Hi everyone,
well i see that my counter has hit over 5000 visits. I'm so excited about that, especially since that when i started blogging i didn't think that anyone was visiting me. This blog was more for me to express myself and "journal" my work! When I saw a comment on a card that i had made i would do a little dance! lol! So to thank you for letting me know that i am not talking to myself I am offering some May Arts Ribbon Blog Candy!
If you go to the bottom of this page you will see that i have 3 shares listed. The winner will pick the ribbon share that she wants...the gingham, velvet ric rac or the sheer polka dots! It'll be your choice. Just post a comment on this post telling me how you like to use ribbon. On Sunday, February 3rd, after the Giants win the Superbowl, i will announce the winner picked by random number site.
It's been a tough week for me as most of you know...hopefully this week i'll be back into my stamping zone and stamp away! Thank you all for your kind words.
Lorraine

RAK

What a wonderful surprise for me when i opened my mail today. I received this RAK from Stacy. It was so kind of her to think of me, with all that i have been going through. She is so sweet. It made my day! Visit Stacy's blog. She is one of my SBS sisters and has some wonderful creations.

This picture does not do the card justice at all. it's beautiful! The butterflies are cut out and popped up. the shimmer white paper is just a stunning way to showcase these fluttering butterflies. Thanks so much Stacy. You really made me smile.

She loves me!

Yesterday I received some sad news.! My "Aunt" Margie passed away. She really wasn't my aunt, she was one of my moms best friends. When i was little and i would run away from home i used to run away to her house. She lived 3 houses away! As i got older I would still run away to her house! lol! she was a cool lady and i loved to sit and talk to her. so many great memories... i'll miss her. so this card is for Margie...i loved her and she loved me!
If i do not post for a few days, i'm sure that you will understand.

Recipe:
Stamps: HM - She loves me!
paper: going gray, black, white, pixie pink, & unknown dp
ink: bb, pixie pink, wild wasabi, prisma color pencils and gamasol
embellies: ribbon, prima flowers, stickles, rhinestones, heart brad

New Rubber

it's always fun to play with new rubber! This stamp is from the Rubbernecker stamp co. ( i'm not affiliated with them in anyway)
I don't know if this is supposed to be a boy frog or a girl frog, but isn't this frog adorable?! I opened up my new package of dp from SU called ginger blossom and took it from there. I watercolored the image and sponged around the edges with a dauber. I also distressed the paper with the ink pads direct to paper. There's so much going on...ribbon on the corners , ribbon on the bottom, frayed ribbon, prima flowers, brads and stickles completed this card.
This card measures 5 inches square.
recipe
stamp: Frog with flowers from the Rubbernecker Co.
card stock: Groovy Guava, River rock, ruby red, cameo coral. SU ginger blossom dp
ink: river rock, groovy guava, ruby red, close to cocoa
embellies: ribbon, brads, stickles

It feels good to be back

It felt so good to be able to go into my dungeon (my craft space is in the basement...soon to be moved to another location...more on that later) and make something today. I haven't done anything in so long i felt like i was back to card making 101!
I made this for my brother in law, Rick. It took me more time that i care to admit! lol! Lots of stitching on this and i used my cropodile to make faux brads! His birthday is this Sunday. Happy Birthday Rick!
recipe
stamps: Wanted, Circle of Friendship
card stock ; outlaw dp, sage shadow, really rust, close to cocoa and chocolate chip
ink: vanilla craft & choc chip
embellies: choc chip ribbon, star brads, and clear baubles (the baubles i found at M's in the floral department)

a very long week

First i would like to thank you all for visiting with me this past week. it's been brutal. i had an inner ear infection and was off balance all week long. i'd be walking and i would tip over and fall. not very funny...
On Tuesday I got the call that i had been dreading. my girlfriends husband, Tom passed away after a year long battle with cancer. And then my oldest daughter has been upset all week long...her friend was diagnosed with bone cancer. He's a freshman in college and he will not be returning to college. I would like to do a RAK for him but would like to get permission from his parents before i post any information. Needless to say i have not been in the mood to do anything. it's been a very long, and sad week.
After my last post, my computer died. the hardware crashed and i have not had a computer all week long. My husband took me to the apple store and bought me a new computer! He's the best! My kids just helped me set it up, and now all i need is to take lessons to learn how everything works.
Tomorrow is a day that i plan to spend doing some creative things for myself. Stay tuned!

Hoppy Birthday, Jack!

This is a card made for my nephew, Jack who is going to be 5 years old. For Christmas he wanted this frog game so we bought it for him. He called me Christmas morning gushing because he loved the game so much. He was so excited. So for his birthday i thought that i would keep the frog theme going.
Let me know what you think. i think that he's really cute!
Recipe:
Stamps: Penny Black Leaping Frog with flower, Sentiment SU Unfroggetable
Cardstock: Old Olive, Summer Sun, White, SU Dashing DP
Ink: Old Olive, Summer Sun & copic markers
Embellies: M's Ribbon, rain drops, brad, and baubles(found these in the floral department at M's!)

and the winner is...

Picked by random number site...Congratulations to Kerry J, She said "We're going to GA and FL next month too! We're taking the kids to Disney and then driving back to hubby's parents place in Atlanta for a week or so. Hubby also has a conference to go to in Atlanta. I'd love to go on a cruise with my hubby though - anywhere - I'm not picky!" please email me (Gabbie96@aol.com) your snail mail address so that i can get these out to you.

Wow...so many comments left for travel destinations! Isn't it wonderful just to think about it. Who knows, maybe that thought will lead you to a reality and you'll be able to take that trip of your dreams.
Here's a card that i made for the Splitcoast challenge for a Kick Stand card. i thought i'd post it here, cause it's so apropos.
The Filigree BG and the Eifel tower were stamped with Versa Fine and them embossed with black ep.

Recipe:
Card Stock: black and vanilla
Ink: Black , craft vanilla
Stamps: Crafty Secrets Clear Art Stamps - French Mail, SU - Filigree BG
Embellies: sheer black ribbon, versa fine, black ep, clear ep, vanilla pearls from the Pretties Kit

Riveting Thank You's!

I finally finished my thank yous!
The other day while on the forums over at SCS i saw this thread about Anna Griffin stamps. Someone was inquiring if anyone had ever used them and if they liked them. I saw some interesting responses, one person said that she disliked them so much that they were going into the trash! I got all frantic, because i knew that i had a set that i purchased off ebay and had never used it. Did i need to trash it? Well i'm so glad that i didn't. I inked up the tree stamp and it held the ink and made a lovely image. There is such beautiful detail in the tree itself...i was very impressed. These lovely trees turned into my lovely thank you notes! LOL!
The Janome still had the rust thread in it from my dh birthday card so i stitched away and then stitched some more.
I used my hodgepodge, which never seems to get used...i never seem to know what to do with it! LOL!
The brushed copper paper from SU gave it the finishing touch that i was looking for!
Thanks for looking and have a great day!
Recipe:
stamps: Anna Griffin - In the Garden, SU - Riveting
card stock: choc chip, really rust, brushed copper, and white (i should have used vanilla but am all out...my order is taking a long time to come!)
Ink: choc chip, really rust, Tim Holtz Distressed Fired Red and Tea Dye
Embellies: Circle punches, thread, ribbon, hodgepodge

Punch Art

This is something that is so different for me to do. I was inspired by a card made by my sister in law, Elizabeth. Not hard to do at all. just perfect snips! lol!
It's like Spring here in New York. 68 degrees. Doesn't this look like Spring too?
Stamp 4 petals for the wings and then carefully cut them out. I stamped them with certainly celery. Punch 3 1/2 inch cirlces and 3 3/4 inch circles. Layer your punched circles starting with the smaller ones and then add your bigger ones. draw two lines for the antanae and add silver brads! then add your wings! all done!
Thanks for stopping in.
Recipe:
Cardstock: choc chip, white, certainly celery
Stamps: Pick a Petal, & Stem Sayings
Ink: Choc Chip
Punches: 1/2 inch circle, 3/4 inch circle punches

Zoe Bella

My daughter has the coolest snowboard get up evah! It's chocolate chip, with cool caribbean and white paisley print. So cool. she looks so hot when she's on the slopes...my little black diamond boarder! She was invited to go with her friend to their ski house. We always go to Vermont, to Smugglers Notch the week between Christmas and New Years! This was the first time in 12 years that we didn't go. So when the opportunity came up for her I thought it was a wonderful thing.
When i saw this stamp on StampingBella. i just knew that i wanted it. She's called Daisyboardbella. and i knew that i wanted to try to make her boaring outfit just like my bella! What an ordeal. first i stamped the paisley bg stamp onto choc chip with cool caribbean. that didn't work. (it's the first background layer) then i stamped chocolate chip on the cool caribbean with the paisley bg stamp. getting there, but still not it. (it's the panel behind the image) then i tried dtp (direct to paper) with the chocolate chip on the cool caribbean and stamped the paisley with cool caribbean. this was looking better. I paper pieced her outfit, added the May Arts sheer polka dot ribbon, some prims hydrenga flowers and some stickles and she was done. What i need to do is find some chocolate chip, cool caribbean and white paisley printed paper! I showed the card to my Zoebella and she started cracking up! She thinks i am a nut!
No recipe for this card. i've already explained it all. lol!

More Blog Candy For the New Year!

I still have some bigger bags of Prima Flowers left and would love to share them with you! I'm in the travel mode. My hubby just booked a flight for me to go to Florida with my sister next month. I love to travel to different places and think about it all the time. I love to cruise, and try to sail once a year. We've been to Italy with our family 2 summers ago. I've always wanted to go to Greece...and guess what? We're going this July with all of our family. 20 of us on the Princess Cruise line...Italy and Greece. A dream come true! Just leave a comment about where you'd like to travel and I'll do a random draw for the winner this Friday!

A Birthday Card

My husbands birthday was yesterday. I felt so bad for him. His cousin died suddenly and he had to attend his funeral. Not the way you want to spend your birthday. I didn't stamp anything on the inside of this card. I just wrote him a nice note letting him know how much he was loved, especially on his day.
I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend. Enjoy!
Recipe:
Stamps: Wanted, Bronc Buster, Warmest Regards
Paper: Outlaw DP, Really Rust, Vanilla. Sage Shadow, Choc. chip
Embellies: Brads, Ribbon, and yarn

Christmatini

Well here's one thank you! LOL! I liked the sketch for the SCS challenge SC157 so much that i decided to make another one using the sketch. It was also pointed out to me that my first submission was missing a panel. dang! On well...I tried, really hard.
My ticket corner punch broke...and i've been missing it so i used the SU scallop punch to make the notched corners. I just couldn't wait anymore for my new one to arrive! great idea...don't you think!
I have 14 more Thank You's to make...they will have to be a little more simple.
Thanks for looking in. Warning....while working with stickles let them dry! smugged them all over the place!
Today is my hubby's birthday. I've got to start working on something for him. See ya all later!
Recipe:
Stamps: Christmatini by Stamping Bella, SU Wonderful Words
Cardstock: Real Red, white, SU DP
Ink: bb, real red, old olive, gold gel pen
Embellies: ribbon, brads, flowers, SU Scalloped Punch to make notched corners!

Sunbrella

I started off making a thank you card, really and i just didn't like it after working on it for an hour so into the trash it went. I'll try again tomorrow. so i decided to try something else and work on something that would make me happy. something cheerful and fun... My stack of MFT's is right on my desk and there were several that i ordered that have not seen ink so i took out Rain or Shine.
I'm trying to streatch my brain, so i decided to work on a SCS challenge for this card. this is for Challenge SC157. I've been using DP in most of my projects and really wanted to try to stay away from it today and work on my own background. When i first started stamping i used to love working with the reinkers and alcohol. I went back to my roots! LOL! This technique is called Polished Stone. Do you like it? I just love it! And it's easy...a little messy, but easy. I can be color challenged at times so the most difficult part for me was picking out my colors and combining them. and as you can see, i'm still using my Janome Mini...and i paper pieced her dress to match the background. I tried to paper piece the dogs sweater, but just couldn't make those tiny cuts! lol! I am happy with the outcome. I hope you like it too. Thanks for peeking in!
Recipe:
Technique: Polished Stone - you'll need reinkers, a cotton ball and rubbing alcohol
Cardstock: Cranberry Crisp, Summer Sun, Cameo Coral, glossy white
Stamps: MFT Rain or Shine
Ink: bb, creamy caramel, summer sun,cranberry crisp and gold metallic reinkers
Embellies: Ribbon, raindrops, stickles, prima flowers,

Thank Yous! Not Yet!

I sit down at my desk and attempt to make Thank you cards. Really, I do! What's the rule, you should send a thank you within 2 weeks? I just may have to go purchase some **wink** cause i'm having too much fun playing with these divas! my Rubber Romance girls keep calling to me, Use me, use me! Meet Gigi.
This image screamed for me to use my Scarlette Letter DP by Basic Grey. As soon as i saw her i had an image in my mind. I went to bed last night thinking of her and how i was going to do her up! I'm loving this girl...
I used my Janome Mini again. the more i use this machine the more i love it. it is so easy to use...and changing threads is a breeze.
Thanks for looking and have a great day!
Recipe:
Stamps: Rubber Romance Gigi
Cardstock: Basic Black, SU Basic Gray, White, Real Red & Basic Gray Scarlette Letter DP
Ink: Basic Black, real red
Embellies: satin ribbon, stickels, black sheer ribbon, red rhinestone, thread

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Everyone!
I can't believe that a another year has flown by. New Year's Eve was a quiet one in my house. My one son, Stephen has been sick, so my husband, my sister and I spent a quiet evening with him. We watched a movie and then we watched our local news station, to watch the ball drop. Our city had their own Times Square Celebration! It was exciting to watch our own ball drop on tv! 20,000 people were dancing in the streets of White Plains, New York. As soon as the ball dropped, there were fireworks. We stepped outside into my back yard and we could see the fireworks and hear the music.
I want to wish everyone a very happy new year. May your year be filled with success, good health, happiness and much creativity.
I've been attempting to make some thank you cards, but everytime i sit down to work I am drawn to my Rubber Romance Divas. Meet Sherri! This is my attempt at a color challenge over at SCS...using wild wasabi, elegant eggplant and so saffron. Thanks for looking!



Recipe:
Cardstock, white, wild wasabi, elegant eggplant, so saffron
Stamps: Rubber Romance...Sherri, Sentiment from MFT...Baby it's cold outside
Embellies: ribbon, mini janome, stickles and swirl cuttlebug folder