Groovy

Hippie Birthday!

Isn't this card just GROOVY! Yep...I remember the days. It was a long time ago when I was just a baby. (shhhhh! we won't go there! ha) This weekend we went to Melissa's house for her Garage Sale of Retired SU items. I LOVE getting a bargain on SU stuff! I don't care if they are used stamps, 1/2 packs of paper or spools of ribbon. I'm one that keeps everything! If I like it I buy it - retired or not.

This card was made from a retired set called Groovy. My daughter was the one that bought this set -- along with a dozen others! Go Alisha Go Alisha! LOL. Later that day, Alisha came over to my house. Of course she had her new goodies with her - so I stamp out a few images from her new set.

Recipe:
All products used are Stampin' UP! excepted where noted.

The card base is 5" x 5" in Whisper White with a Yoyo Yellow strip at bottom and flowers stamped in Yoyo Yellow and Only Orange Classic Ink. I stamped the Flower Power Bug , White Flowers and Hippie Birthday on black CS with VersaMark and heat embossed with Vivid Green, Vivid Orange and White embossing powders from Stampendous. Paper for layering is Yoyo Yellow, Only Orange and Black. Green Galore Brads and non-SU ribbons and eyelet. Hippie Birthday and Flower Power Bug are popped up using Dimensionals. I used red Tacky Tape to adhere the white flowers with brads and ribbon on bottom.

Hint - if the backs of the brads are too long once opened up and flattened - just trim them shorter with some heavy duty cutters.

This card is way more FAR OUT in person! Aren't they always?!

Want to see more Groovy things made with this stamp set?

Click here to visit Splitcoaststampers Groovy Gallery.

Sneak Peek

New Gold Canyon Catalog Coming September 1st!

Everyone LOVES the Fall and Holiday scents from Gold Canyon. Well...they are almost here!! Here are a couple sneak peeks into the Holiday 07 Catalog - A Season for Celebrating. New and returning favorite scents, new holders and more!

Gift Giving

Gold Canyon offers Gift Giving for the holidays and through out the year. 8 unique creations to select from for that special someone. Each beautiful gift includes an attractive container filled with candles, holders and other decorative items to match your gifts theme.




Coming October 1st -- Scent Pods & Warmers!

Gold Canyon introduces a new way to experience "The Worlds Finest" fragrances. No wick, no flame, just quality Gold Canyon fragrance developed specifically for use with their new exclusive Pod Warmers. 2 stylish Pod Warmers to select from and 10 different fragrances poured inside small disposable pods. Place the pod on top of the warmer and turn on the switch! 1 pod gives 20 hours of Gold Canyon's quality fragrance equal to the strength of their Heritage candles. Easily change from 1 scent to another.



Halloween

Feast on Halloween fun with spooky holiday seasonal holders and sugary sweets like licorice and candy corn!



The Holiday 2007 catalog will be posted on-line September 1st.

Looking for a way to earn some extra holiday cash? Sign up with Gold Canyon! During the month of September receive one of their exclusive gift giving baskets for FREE when you sign up! Contact me if you are interested in any of these products or would like more information about joining GC. Gold Canyon

Friends In Color

A Dirty Girl Challenge
(blank line)
I knew exactly what stamp set I wanted to use when I saw this DTGD Sketch Challenge. StamperSharon from Splitcoaststampers provided this fun and easy sketch layout for one of the Dare to Get Dirty Challenges. Check out her blog Paper Fections - she has some awesome creations!



This sketch is a standard A2 size: 5.50" x 4.25" Think of all the possibilities with this layout! I know I have TONS of ideas. I created this card faster than any card I've ever done. Any layout that I can get a card done under 4 hours is GOOD for me! LOL

Here's the secrets to my creation:
Everything except the brad and crystal are from Stampin' UP!

• Stamp Sets - Love Matters & Simply Said. Sanded Background stamp on Wild Wasabi cardstock with Wild Wasabi ink.
• Card Stock - Wild Wasabi card base & circle. Groovy Guava & Soft Sky Paper for the strip. Whisper White for Sentiment strip.
• Inks - Always Artichoke Craft Ink used to stamp Friends and the Heart Flower Border then heat embossed with Clear Detail Powder.
• Coloring Images - I used a Blender Pen with Inks to color the images. Groovy Guava and Wild Wasabi on Friends and Soft Sky for shading. Hearts colored with Soft Sky and Leaves colored with Wild Wasabi. I used a sponge dauber to edge the circle and card base very lightly with Wild Wasabi ink.
• Misc. - Paper Piercing and Dry Embossing to add a little detail. Friends and Flower Circle are popped up on Dimensionals. The final touch was adding a Crystal on the "i" Naturally it's a Genuine Swarovski Crystal! :) It really sparkles! I had to get a little bling in there somewhere. I got the crystal out of my beading supplies. You know....I make beaded jewelry. (OK darling daughters of mine - I know what you're thinking....let's not go there! LOL)

Final Thought

The worst day stamping is better than the best day ________!

(go ahead....fill in the blank)

Trying Something New

E-Mail Updates

I've decided to try out FeedBlitz. I have subscribed to a few bloggers that use this...so I thought I would give it a try. The ones I signed up for send me an e-mail when their blog has something new added. If you subscribe to mine -- PLEASE forgive me if I didn't set it up right and you get some HUGE e-mail. I'm really not sure how it all works yet...even though I read through the information for like 2 hours! I'm thinking the 1st e-mail that comes through when subscribing might be several posts...but then after that I'm hoping it will just be the current one (fingers crossed) if I set it up right. I'll see how it works out and then decide if this tool is for me.

PLEASE let me know if it's working for you. Thanks :)

Happiness is...

Finishing another DTGD Challenge!

These challenges are so much fun. They give you a starting point and then you just let your creativity take you the rest of the way. If you ever have a problem getting started on making something.....just check out a challenge. Splitcoast has TONS of challenges and layouts.

I think this card turned out really nice. Here's the sketch that was presented to make a this card. It's from cookiestamper at Splitcoaststampers.

card base - 5 1/2 x 5
1st layer - 5 1/4 x 4 3/4 (patterned paper)
main white panel - 3 7/8 x 4 1/8 with mat
top right piece - 2" square with mat
lower left piece - 2 1/4" square with mat

Feel free to make your square card base any size you want. Please note the center panel is slightly shifted to the left, leaving a wider margin on the right. It is not necessary to follow the measurements exactly or use as many layers/mats. The 2 center squares with the main images can also be any size.

Check out her blog for more great ideas - Paper Cookies

Recipe: Everything I used on my card is from Stampin' Up! except for the brads and ribbon. The colors are Chocolate Chip, Old Olive & Very Vanilla. Stamp set used is Happy Harmony - retired. Images stamped with VersaMark and embossed with clear. Au Chocolat patterned paper - retired. Happy Stamping!

Jealous Again!

Cheery Colors & Secret Technique

I made this card a few days ago, but I didn't want to post it until the new owner received it. Happy Birthday Blair!



Well....I did e-mail a picture of the card to my daughter so she could drool. Yep....that's right....I caused another "gotta have that stamp" moment :) Here's what Alisha had to say back to her favorite mom "That turned out soooo cute. I'm jealous:) Did you stitch around the edge or is that a stamp?"

LOL....silly girl....come over and play if you want to know moms secrets! Alisha is always trying to get me to come over to her house and stamp. I'm always trying to get her to come over to my house to stamp. But usually what happens is we go shopping and buy more stamps! We talk about building homes next to each other and having a craft room in the middle so we can keep all our stuff together and share! Now that would be cool!!

Here's the scoop on the card....
The inspiration for this card started with a Splitcoaststampers DTGD '07 Challenge -- which was to use Cheery Colors. The bird stamp is from Penny Black. The saying is from Stamping Bella. Chicken wire stamp is from Inky Antics. I also used stamps from Stampin'UP! Best of Cluck set. Colors I used are from SU - Yoyo Yellow, Only Orange, Glorious Green, Very Vanilla. River Rock ink for the ground using Skinny Oval stamp from A Muse Artstamps and Sahara Sand marker to highlight the sand on the ground. I also used both Tag Punches from SU. Paper Piercing & Faux Stitching with black marker (there's moms secret Alisha!) Edge Distressing and Black ink around the edges of a couple pieces to make them stand out. The tag is on Dimensionals. SU Ribbon, Prima Flowers, Brads & Eyelets, Marvy Uchida Scalloped Circle Punch with hand doodling around the edges.

OK Alisha...come on over and play!

Back to School

First Day of 1st Grade


Wednesday was the first day of the new school year. Going to 1st Grade!!! What a big step for my baby. I know...she's not a baby anymore...but she will always be MY baby.


This year she will be in school all day long. She will be eating lunch in the cafeteria for the 1st time with all her little friends. I packed her a yummy lunch in her new lunch box. And did you notice her new High School Musical Back Pack?! Michaela looked so cute. No problem getting her to strike a pose for the camera as we headed off to school.


They had a flag raising ceremony, said the Pledge of Allegiance, sang a patriotic song and ended with a moment of silence. Now that was impressive -- the moment of silence that is -- with all those kids! LOL. Each morning the students and staff will begin their day at the flag pole, say the Pledge, have a moment of silence and sing a patriotic song.


They walked in a single file line with their classmates and teacher to their new classroom. You should have seen all the parents snapping pictures and taking video! Every morning as the lines of kids walk to their classrooms, they skip count out loud to 100. You know -- 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 -- 5, 10, 15, 20 -- you get the idea :)


When Michaela got in her class, I got her to turn around and smile for one more picture. Now it was time for me to leave. 7 long hour till I would see her again! I can't believe how fast she is growing up. Next stop......graduation!

Mommy...Please post this

Another Saturday Make & Take

Michaela was quick to ask if I was going to post this card on the internet like her other ones. "Of course I will!" So here is the beautiful card that Michaela created at Stamps Works on Saturday.

This card was a little more challenging for Michaela, but she pulled it off. Didn't she do a great job!

Recipe:
The flower stamp is from Penny Black. First you ink up the image in a lighter colored yellow/orange (I would tell you the colors of ink used...but I can't remember!) -- then you take a darker yellow/orange color and ink up around the outer edges. Last you take a green and ink up the leaf area -- then you are ready to stamp the image on the paper. The paper used here had flecks in it. She also used an ink pad and swiped it over the edges of paper pieces and over the surface of the rust paper. Edge distressing was also done and a first for Michaela. She picked "thanks a bunch" for the saying. Stickles glitter glue used on the flower for some sparkle.

Support a Child in Need

Together, We Are Making A Difference

Gold Canyon's Candles for Kids line was created to bring awareness to the company's commitment to invest in the world's most valuable asset and finest resource - children. 100% of the profits from the sale of these candles go toward the Prayer Child Foundation.

Purchase a Candle for Kids today and help children in need through the Prayer Child Foundation! Available in four fun fragrances that vary seasonally.

Answering Prayers

Many children, by no fault of their own, are in need of help each and every day. They pray daily for a healthier life. The mission of the Prayer Child Foundation is to have a hand in answering their prayers and helping these children to have the joys of a normal childhood. The proceeds from this endearing line of candles provide opportunities to give to children in need throughout the world. Giving back in this way captures the most essential emotion Gold Canyon felt when their very first candle flickered to life - the promise of hope and the fulfillment of dreams. By purchasing a Prayer Child candle, you will be creating a brighter tomorrow for a child and for their dreams.

To learn more about Candles for Kids and the Prayer Child Foundation, visit http://www.prayerchild.org/

To make a purchase from the Candles for Kids line, shop my website at www.mygccandle.com/sugarcookiecandle

Thank you for supporting this awesome program.

Together, we can make a difference in the lives of children in need.

Even a 6 Year Old Can Do It!

Michaela's eeeeeek! Card

My daughter Michaela wanted to know why none of her creations are "on the Internet." That made me think about how wonderful our kids are at creating. They are so full of ideas. Watching them create is always refreshing! Their artwork is certainly worth posting on the web for everyone to see! I'm amazed how quick Michaela can whip out a card and be completely happy with her masterpiece. Maybe I should take lessons from her! HA! I just might get a project finished in less than 2 days.

Last Saturday we went to Stamp Works to do the $1 Make & Take. Michaela was happy to see she would be making a Halloween card.

She did most everything by herself. She ask me to cut the tight little spaces on the very top of the roof of the haunted house. I did let her try cutting with the x-acto knife to make a slit for the ribbon, but I ended up doing it because she didn't have the pressure to cut through the cardstock -- or maybe it was just me being nervous watching her try to slice with a razor! yikes!! So I made the slit after letting her give it a try. She did tie the ribbon, but it was a little loose so Nic (the owner of Stamp Works) fixed that for her to tighten it up. Everything else Michaela did all by herself. Folding, stamping, coloring, taping, adhering...she did it all. She did and AWESOME job! :)

If I recall...all the stamps used for this card are from A Muse Art Stamps.