Shabby Princess April Desktop

Oo, I so love the new freebie desktop from The Shabby Princess. Here's what I did with mine. If you want one of your own you can find the download here:
The Shabby Princess

CLEAR DOLLAR STAMPS!

You just gotta see the Clear Dollar Stamps sneak peaks! The posting has already begun. There are some amazing creations being shared and the new April stamps are really cool.

THE CLICK LIST:
Lori M.
Laurie Wilson
Monique
Linda
Katie
Kim

By the way, Clear Dollar Stamps just announced their April Guest Designer Challenge. For complete details visit this link at iStamp.

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Friday Sketch #55...

Amy R's newest sketch is totally fun. With my card I mixed in an oval instead of a circle as the main focus. As time permits this week, I will most likely do the sketch correctly with the circle instead of an oval. Either way I am pretty pleased with how it turned out and will be mailing it to my niece on our next mail run. She'll probably think it's too silly for her but I am hoping that it appeals to her inner child. ;-)



Anyhow, the stamp set I used has been retired from The Angel Company long long ago. So long ago that I don't even know the name of the set and I'm not sure where to look to find out what it's called. It's kinda country with a whole lot of cute mixed in. Now that I think about it I've been holding on to this set for almost as long as I've been stamping. Hey, if I hold on to it a little longer the style might just be the rage again! ;-)

Smiles,

The Coconut Shack...

A blogging friend of mine is giving away some awesome blog candy over at her new blog! The more bloggers that go and check it out the more candy she's gonna add to the stash to give away. Pretty cool! Wanna check it out? Here's her blog link: The Coconut Shack

Have a wonderful Friday evening.

Smiles,

A REDO...

I don't think that I ever posted this cards before I redid it. Anyhow, I came across the original this weekend and decided that it would probably be better off if I did a little redo. In no time at all I had a new and improved card to send to my Grandma.

All the stamps are from Clear Dollar Stamps and the papers are mix of scraps from my scrap pile. So hey, if you have a card in your stash that isn't quite right. Don't hesitate to do a "REDO"!

I hope you are having a wonderful week. Mine is just flying by but all is well.

Thanks for stopping by,

Friday Sketch #54 - Amy R

Seems like things are finally coming along for us in our new home. I've been able to stamp a little for the last three days! What a luxury!!! :-) To keep things coming along I've been doing sketches. Today's card was made using Amy R's Friday Sketch #54. Unlike my last Amy R sketch card which was very pink this one is very manly. Thanks to Clear Dollar Stamps I have a wonderful selection of masculine images.

I am so happy that you stopped by and checked in on me.

Smiles,


CARD DETAILS:
Clear Dollar Stamps
Lamppost Expressions
Heavy Metal
Circular Saw
Tool Time
Blank Notecard
Black & Grey Cardstock
Palette Ink Noir & Charcoal
Versamark
Screw Brad
Eyelets
SU! Brad Circle Punch
Medium Circle Punch

Just Plain Fun...

During my reorganization I came across a scrap of paper that just screaming to be used! So without much hesitation I sat down and got to work. I didn't get far when I needed to put my little one to bed so that I could finish up. I went to bed too and it wasn't until this morning that I actually put my final touches on my card. I just love the bright and bold colors. How fitting for the first day of Spring. It feels so good to be alive.

Thank you God for this day.

Smiles,


CARD DETAILS:
Papers and Stamps are retired and from
The Angel Company
Palette Ink Noir
SU! Real Red
Copic Markers: Y15 &17, C1, G00, YG06
Stickles
Marvy Scallop Punch
Coulluzle Circle
Fiskar Scissors
Dollar Ribbon Pack from Target
Prima Flowers
Eyelets

Friday Sketch #53

I am so thankful that I am able to get this sketch challenge card posted. I wasn't sure if it was going to happen in time because our generator went down yesterday. With lots of prayer and a very handy Father-in-law I am happy to report that we are back on line. Praise God for His many blessings! Ya-hoo!

It's been such a great joy to be able to get any stamping done at all lately. So much to do in one day! Any how, to make things really fun and to help get me back into creating mode I found another sketch to play with. This time around I did a card for Amy R's Friday Sketch #53. Way back when I first discovered the blogging world Amy's blog was among my frequently visited sites. It seemed like there weren't many stamping blogs out there back then and her site along with two others were it to me. Now a days there are too many blogs to visit. Whew! I just love Amy's creations and now she even has her line of stamps!



For this card I went ahead and reused some of the papers that I had out last week. I am still in a pink mode. :-) The stamp set is from Stampin' UP! and I am so ashamed to admit that this was the first time that I inked these guys up. Since the move I am really making an effort to use my neglected stamps more often. It's become far easier to find all those neglected stamps as I unpack and get settled into my new creative space. I hope you don't wait as long as I have to get all your stamps inked at least once and that it doesn't take a move across the continent to make it happen like it did me. Although I do admit that the
move/change has been nice and I really love to see my husband so happy.

Smiles,

Art Share

SHARE YOUR ART!!
I was over at Barb's blog, Foster Design House, and she's invited/challenged us to share our art!

Here's how:
The first 5 people to respond to this post will get something made by me! Could be a card with which I am really pleased, a pin I made, a doodle or something else all together LOL! My choice!
This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make although I hope you do!
2. What I create will be made with you in mind so you won't get something I already made unless I think it suits you to a T.
3. It'll be done sometime within the next 2 months.
4. You have no clue what it's going to be.
5. The catch is that you must offer this blog candy on your blog! Re-post this on your blog, offer something you make - your choice - to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog (then come here and post). Oh wait make that the first 4 people cause I am #1 {giggle}

Yep be sure to add my name to the #1 line on your blog post - I am the first participant and I am already offering to share. When you create your give-away you will be the #1 spot for players 2-5 on your list. The first 4 people to post this on their blogs and leave a comment here telling me they did (I will go to your blog to check that you have this posted) will get an art share handmade item from me. Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it! SO ...................who will be next????

1. Barb
2. Mary Duffek
3. Meg :-)
4.
5.

The Painter's Helper

I'd like to share a handy little treat that I was gifted from The Painter's Pyramid booth at CHA. When I first saw this little plastic doodad I wondered what in the world is it and what would I use it for? Mike, The Painter's Pyramid Rep, showed me their display that demonstrated how helpful their little creation is.



The doodads can best be described as small but sturdy plastic hollow pyramids. Basically you use multiple pyramids to prop up your project while you paint, glue, or alter your masterpiece. You can also leave your project held up by these pyramids for drying or displaying too. I thought it was pretty clever and it reminded me of my husband, Andrew. I don't mean that my husband is a pretty pink hollow pyramid used to prop up projects but rather the cleverness reminded me of my husband's inventive nature. He is always inventing clever things like this. Wouldn't it be totally cool if he invented a product that would take us to CHA!



Anyhow, once I got home and set my Painter's Pyramid pack out my daughter zoomed in on them and wanted to keep them for herself. Thankfully there are ten in one pack which means that I have a couple that I could share with her. She likes being able to stack them over and over.... easy entertainment for my two year old. Hey, it's nice to have a just a few more minutes while I stamp and she plays.




On a side note, I discovered that The Painter's Pyramid is fabulous for propping up my cards to photograph. Very handy in deed! Not only that they also come in different colors other than pink.

PUBLISHED!

I've finally been published... well kinda! I've had a dream of getting published and I am sure I am not alone in that desire. As in most stampers want to have their art published. I've submitted my stuffs all throughout my time with Queen Kat Designs. It was a requirement of the team and boy did I struggle with that one. Anyhow, here it is a few short years since I started stamping and I'm finally in a crafting mag but it's not for anything I've stamped or created. If you get your hands on the April 2009 edition of Scrapbooks Etc. checkout page 14! Look to the bottom right hand corner and there I am in the "Where in the World" section. YIP-EEE!!!!

Jacksonbelle Embellishments Sketch Challenge

Howdy! This week has been full of action with the renovations of our cabin. It's nice to be moving forward. I don't know which is a bigger blessing... the 22 cuft fridge or the two new sun tubes. We can't plug in the new fridge yet because we aren't generating enough electricity to sustain it and our home but sometime in the future it'll be up and running. At least now there is hope that we will have a the capability to keep things cold or frozen. You don't know how many times we've needed an ice pack for an ouchie. Anyhow, in the mix of the action I was able to check in with Jill of InkGenious to catch the Jacksonbelle Sketch Challenge.

At first I didn't think I was going to get into it but after getting two cards done with the sketch I think that I am ready to make a couple more! These cards came together relatively quickly and were fun to make. I put together the baby boy card first and then strongly felt the desire to make something pink. Hence the super pink creation. I guess it was my way of balancing myself out. :-)

Have a wonderful Friday!

Smiles,

ShabbyPrincess Digi Page

So much fun! The ShabbyPrincess.com has released a wonderful freebie digital kit for personal use. I love their freebie kits so much! I just had to create a digi page as soon as I could. Here's what became of my playtime. It's a keeper for sure!

Weekend Sketch #71

Boy it's been a very long time since I last did one of Beate's weekend sketches. Now she's up to #71! Sharon Harnist designed and hosted the sketch. Since I finally organized my stamp collection I was able to easily pull out some of my long neglected TAC (The Angel Company) rubber. Not only did I use TAC stamps I also used TAC papers too. :-)



On a personal note, we are still getting our new home in order. Cabin life is a big change for us and we are getting our renovations done as our contractor has time and as the weather permits. Our hydroelectric system to power our home is in the planning stages. For now we a trying to conserve our battery usage and then fire up the generator to keep us charged as we need it. Although there has been many changes and some homesickness for my past arctic life I feel that God is near. We have had many blessings and have found a church to attend. On top of that my husband has been home during our renovations. I've been so spoiled by his attentions.

As for blogging, I've had a really hard time to keep up and creating. I appreciate you all that have checked on me despite my few posts and to those that have taken the time to encourage me. THANK YOU!

I hope you had a wonderful Monday.

Smiles,

Copics!

One of my ultimate favorites with stamping is coloring. It's been a joy to learn so many different techniques. Who would of thought that there would be so many different ways to color things up? When I can't stamp but I still want to do something creative, I grab my markers and color pre-stamped images. This time around I wanted to be more purposeful with my coloring and experiment with some of the techniques that Marianne taught us at class. Of course I'm gonna need to play some more to master them. Here I tried to blend out colors with a blending pen, pushed color with the blender pen, and kissing markers to combine two colors. I am pretty sure that Marianne has showed these techniques on her blog, "I Like Markers".



One of my classmates from the certification class has been doing some awesome tutorials and sharing some helpful Copic tips too. Her name is Jane and her blog is called "Whoopsie Daisy!". You should go check out her blog and leave her some love. Not only is she very talented she's a sweet lady too.



Here's a couple of the images that I colored up and incorporated into cards.

Smiles,

The Shabby Princess Desktop

OOO... Just about everything that is designed at The Shabby Princess is my favorite. This month's free desktop download is amazing! Click HERE for the desktop download. Here's what I did with it. This photo of Ellie makes me smile.

Have a happy day,