Simple Card Set....

Hi all! Hope you've had a great start to your week! Not much going on here. Call it the calm after the storm (the storm being my mom's visit) HA! Just kiddin' Mom!! :-) We actually had a lovely, lovely visit having coffee talk and stamping and just visiting. It's just not fair that she lives 1800 miles away. (sniff sniff!)

Today I'm sharing a card set that I made for some of the ladies in my Bible study. I just love the peace and serenity that this set from Our Daily Bread Designs delivers. It's called Sing to the Lord.

Card #1: After stamping in Black Versafine Onyx ink, I just watercolored this little guy and the flowers by using some dye based ink. I used Summer Sky Memento and Tea Rose Vivid. The branch was just colored up with Tombow markers. (dp is Basic Grey Figgy Pudding and Crate Paper)

Card #2: I wanted to use the bird on this second card without him taking center stage -- enter some Versamark ink! I like the softness of this card. I added some paper piercing and a pinked edge border and... voila!

Card #3: Super duper simple! I just used an oval punch to let this flower "sing" all on it's own jazzing it up with just a few pearl accents and pearl paper. I added some blue chalk around the flower to help make it pop a bit.

Nothing too complicated with any cards in the bunch. It's funny -- sometimes we, as stampers, can build so many layers on our cards that when we give these out -- friends are afraid to use them! :-) So, sometimes simple is good!

Hope life is calm and simple in your neck of the woods! I'll be back later this week with another Impression Obsession challenge that's all about moms! You can click HERE to find out the details and get a jump start if you like!

See you back here soon!

Stamp Simply - Giving Thanks!

On this long weekend for all of us in the United States, we officially kick off the holiday season! And, what a beautiful way to kick it off by giving thanks. Today my family went out and threw the old football around. We had gorgeous weather - sunny and balmy! Then, we spent the afternoon in the kitchen together cooking and watched our favorite teams play on the telly. It was a good day!

And so, on this weekend, what better time than to make a card that shows thanksgiving! That's the Stamp Simply challenge this week- to make a "thank you" card! (ssnotime63 is the keyword on SCS). If you want to check out the official rules - click HERE to go to Sharon's place.

I chose to make a different kind of thank you card. It goes without saying, when you have a day like today, you can't help but feel extremely blessed. So, that is the basis of my card today!!

I recently picked up this stamp set- Sing to The Lord from Our Daily Bread Designs - and I just am in love with it. I think it is just stunning. To make the card, I stamped the bird twice - first on a piece of ivory that I cut out with the Curved Rectangle Nestabilities set. I cut a smaller curved rectangle from a scrap piece and used it as a mask to sponge ink into the center of my larger rectangle. I stamped the bird and the sentiment over top. On a scrap piece, I stamped the bird on the limb, colored the bird and flowers, cut them out and layered them on top of my main piece for a pop of dimension. I colored the bird and flowers with watercolor pencils and blended with my blender pen. (It's the easy "cheat" way!) Add some decorative paper, some self adhesive pearls and some ivory satin ribbon and... you're done!

Here's a close up of that cute birdie!!!

ETA: I just was surfing over at the Papercraft Planet and they are having 12 days of Christmas challenges! Well, today's challenge is a bird or tree card --- so, this fits! You can check out the challenge HERE!

But first, you have to check out what the other Stamp Simply gals cooked up this week? (besides turkey!)

Sharon Johnson
Becky Oehlers
Dee Jackson
Janine Orchard
Tammy Hershberger
AJ Otto
Cathy Tidwell
Jennifer Buck

Before I go, there is a LONG candy trail for a whole host of Just Rite goodies being offered up by Flourishes! Today, check out Latisha Yoast's place HERE for her blog candy and don't forget to check out all the week's blog candy giveaways HERE. The drawings end early Sunday--- so sign up now if you haven't yet!! My candy will be offered up at midnight Saturday!!

Cleaning House-- a mish mash of things!

Hi all! Monday was cleaning day at my house and man, oh man, I took some photos of my stamp room before... and after. If you can't handle images of stamping carnage... you might want to keep one eye open and slightly squinted and scroll down! Some of you have kidded me that you don't believe my stamp room gets dirty. Afterall, you've seen the photos here on my blog. Well folks---think again!!!!!

HERE
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THE
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PROOF!

SHRIEK!!!!! Do you think I could even find a spot to work in on my desk?!?!?!

And, here's what it looked like after a couple hours cleaning it!

A clean mean machine ready to get dirty all over again! hehe! I actually have some really fun things up my sleeve! I just got some new rubber from Impression Obsession and have to work on some catalog samples. I also got some new polymer and need to make some samples for Winter CHA. Then, there are some new releases brewing for Flourishes and... a huge fun celebration that I will be a part of! I can't tell you much more than that-- for now! So, in no time at all, my stamp room will look more like the first photo for sure!! ;-)

In the picture, you might notice my bulletin board above my desk.... well, that's my wall of fame! If someone sends me a R.A.K. it goes on the board! I have a couple that I have to put up still but --- it just goes to show how much YOU inspire ME! ;-)

On to a card....

It's actually one I wish I never had to make. Last Friday I got some new stamps from Our Daily Bread Designs. This was one of them. It's called Footprints In The Sand. When I first laid eyes on it, I thought it would be a good set to turn to for sympathy cards. I didn't know I would be grabbing it so soon. My college roomate emailed me over the weekend to let me know that her mom passed away after a year long battle with pancreatic cancer. Gosh, I hate the "c" word. It robs so many people of loved ones. Are you with me??

To make the card, I just masked and sponged ink, watercolored some of the sea grass, distressed the edges of my main focal piece and then punched a hole and added some natural cord with some beads strung on. Not too hard at all.....

On a much lighter note, my bud Jacki-- you know-- the "princess" over at the Card Castle-- gave me this fun award! And, with it comes a few rules!

1. The winner may put the logo on their blog.
2. Put a link to the person who sent you the award.
3. Nominate 5 blogs.
4. Put links to their blogs.
5. Leave a message for your nominees.

I mean to tell you - Choosing five was hard! But, when I look to the ladies who I turn to for inspiration - I have a few "go to" blogs when my brain is zapped from a lack of creative.. or make that kreativ energy!!

So, here are a few of my favorite "kreativ" bloggers!

Becca Feeken - she's always got something crafty going on! Her tutorials are the best! I wonder many times where she comes up with this stuff!

Leslie Miller - her coloring is amazing and inspiring! And the way she puts design elements together always makes me gasp! (not to mention, she's a sweetie too!)

Sharon Johnson - her tips and projects are to die for! She's been a mentor to me so that's kind of why she rocks too! ;-)

Debbie Olson - Need I say more? I already told her I want to be the president of her fan club! She said I'd have to fight Joan Bardee for the title!!

Jerri Kay Jimenez - if you've seen what that girl can do with a paint brush.... oh my!

Thanks for stopping by! More fun here tomorrow-- I promise!