***A Sneak Peek***

My friend Heather is very creative.  She has made these digital images.  The spider and the Spider Web paper.  She will go "live" with these on her blog very soon.  I'll update this post and add the link.  This  means that you will be able to print both the spider and pattern paper.  I know she has many other fun projects to share.  In  the meantime, I feel VERY priviliged to have been able to play with these images.  Thanks Heather!  You totally RAWK!!!

I did stamp the "Happy Halloween" around the spider to frame it.  The image doesn't include those words.

Suppplies: Images by Heather Sitarzewski , Stamp by SU! Teeny Tiny Wishes (115370)

Ink: Basic Black:

Papers: Basic Black, Whisper White.

Accessories: Black Organdy Ribbon (retired), Pop DOts, Wide Oval Punch (112082), Modern Label Punch ( 116630).

Thanks for stopping by!

Masculine Thank Yous

Hard to make a card with no ribbon, glitter or flowers!  My husband often says that guys just don't care for thank you cards.  "Send me a sticky note with Thanks on it and it'll be fine".  A sticky note!!!  So, here's a couple I needed to make.  I did use the Rock n' Roll technique for the "U".
Also used some paper scraps, that's always good  :)  I thougt about adding a rusty nail or some piece of sand paper but DH said I really spent way too much time on this already.  Guys!!! :)

Thanks for stopping by and have a happy day!

Supplies
Stamp set by SU! All About U (retired)
Ink: Brocade Blue, Dusty Durango.
Papers: Dusty Durango, Kraft, Pacific Point, Unknown Pattern Paper, Whisper White and Brocade Blue.
Acessories: Pop Dots.  That's it!

Stamping with Heather Again!

She makes the cutest cards ever and I just had to CASE her card.  She even has a video showing you how to make this card.   I had to change 3 things and that's because I didn't have Brocade Blue or More Mustard papers and I used Shimmery White paper for the snowman just for an added detail.  Doesn't she do amazing work with punches!!! 
Supplies:
Papers: Shimmery White, Crushed Curry, Ruby Red, Night of Navy and Bashful Blue.
Ink: Night of Navy, Crushed Curry and Ruby Red.
Accessories: Sponge, Piercing tool and Mat, Black Marker, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, 1 3/8 " circle Punch, Large Oval Punch, Small Oval Punch, 1/4" Circle Punch (retired), Modern Label Punch (for the noses).
This card is 4 1/4" X 4 1/4 " and the Bashful Blue square is a 3" x 3 " square.
Thanks for stopping by and have a happy day!

My Holiday Mini Catalog Swap

This is the card I finally made for the swap that I am in with some other SU! demonstrators.  It took me forever to decide and when I saw Kristina's card, I knew I had finally found the inspiration for my card.  I had to tweek it a bit to fit the Stampin Up! only challenge and I think it turned out OK. 

I placed my Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive cardstock on my black ink pad and tapped with my fingers on the paper to get just a bit of ink on them. 

The only item I mounted with Pop Dots is the pumkin.  I only have 18 more to make  :)
Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

Supplies: Stamp set by SU!, Twick or Tweet (116497)
Ink: Basic Black, Rich Razzleberry.
Papers: Basic Black,Whisper White,  Dusty Durango, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive and DSP Razzleberry lemonade ( 115675)
Accessories: Signo White Gel pen (105021), 3/16" Corner Rounder 9109047), Scallop Edge (Punch112091) , Dusty Durango, Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive markers, Pop Dots and Distressing Tool.

Spotlight on Kristin Angst

Posting a photo real quick of one of tomorrow night's Open House project.  More details tonight as I have to run to work and a meeting.

Late editing: Back from my meetinng and wanted to post the link to Kristin's card . I had to make a few changes; not because I didn't like the original version but because I didn't have all of her supplies.  I am adding a link to her blog on my list.  She has a lot of talent so go check it out!

Supplies: Stamp sets by SU! Dasher (116816), Lovely as a tree ( 115026) and Many Merry Messages ( 116586)
Papers: Whisper White, Real Red, Kraft and Basic Black.
Ink: Versamark, Basic Black.
Accessories: Large Oval Punch (107305), Scallop Oval Punch (114889), 1/2" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon Real Red (110714), Black embossing Powder (109133), White Embossing Powder (109132) and Pop Dots.
Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

Love Those Upline Meetings

I got to go to one of my upline meetings this last week!! I can rarely go as I always have a comflict in my schedule. We made these two beautiful cards using the same Textured Impressions Embossing Folder. I went a litlle crazy with the sponge daubers on the first card but it was late and people were waiting their turn. I'll make another one at home, and spend a little more time on it and be a bit more careful with the Razzleberry ink :)

Supplies: Teeny Tiny Wishes ( 115370)
Papers: Razzleberry, Crushed Curry, Whisper White.
Ink: Razzleberry, Crushed Curry and Mellow Moss.
Accessories: Big Shot Die-Cut Machine (113439), Elegant Bouquet Textured Impressions Embossing Floder ( 115964 ), Small Oval Punch ( 107304), Large Oval Punch ( 107305), Scallop Oval Punch (114889) and Sponge Daubers (102892)

Supplies:

Stamp set : Sincere Salutations ( 115068)

Papers; Soft Suede, Very Vanilla.

Ink: Soft Suede

Accessories: Big Shot Die-Cut Machine (113439), Elegant Bouquet Textured Impressions Embossing Floder ( 115964 ), Eyelet Border Punch ( 113692).

Thanks Michelle for such a fun night out with the girls :)

Have a happy weekend everyone!

Look ma, no stampin'!!

Hi everyone!

I saw this card from Kristina and wanted to make one using this sketch. She used Liquid Pearls at the bottom but I don't have any. They are on my wish list now :) So, I used red Stickles instead. Very easy and simple card. Another card using scraps of papers. Love that!

Supplies:

Papers: Kraft, Candy Lane DSP (retired)

Accessories: Old Button ( from my stash), Red Thread, Fleurettes (retired), Taffeta Ribbon Riding Hood Red (retired), Stickles, Corner Punch, 1 1/4 Square Punch and Glue Dot.

I feel bad posting a card with so many retired items. But it's also good to use what we have on hand right :P

Have a happy Thursday!

I only had 5 minutes!!

I've had to put this blog on the back burner for a while. We went on our family vacation to Lake Powell and it has been super busy since we came back. Today, my son had to leave for a birthday party and I realized that I hadn't made a card yet. Yep, 5 minutes is all I had!! It turned out OK considering I had no inspiration at all and the stress of being short on time didn't help. Oh well! it's a good thing 11 year old boys don't fuss too much about how good a birthday card looks :P

Supplies: Stamp by Hero Arts

Papers: SU!'s Night of Navy, Shimmery White, Real Red and Mellow Moss. Paper Studio for pattern paper.

Ink: Basic Gray

Accessories: Pop Dots, SU! Markers.

I thought I'd share a simple spiritual thought:

by : Gordon B. Hinckley
"I come to you tonight with a plea that we stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. I am suggesting that as we go through life we try to 'accentuate the positive.' I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we still our voices of insult and sarcasm, that we more generously compliment virtue and effort. Now I am not asking that all criticism be silenced. Growth comes of correction. Strength comes of repentance. Wise is the man or woman who can acknowledge mistakes pointed out by others and change his or her course."What I am suggesting is that you turn from the negativism that so permeates our modern society and look for the remarkable good among those with whom you associate, that we speak of one another's virtues more than we speak of one another's faults, that optimism replace pessimism, that our faith exceed our fears. When I was a young man and was prone to speak critically, my wise father would say: 'Cynics do not contribute. Skeptics do not create. Doubters do not achieve.' "
"Be Not Afraid, Only Believe," CES Fireside for Young Adults, Sept. 9, 2001

Thanks for stopping by and have a happy Sunday!

Using Scraps

I have used this colour combo and papers recently but I wanted to use some of my scraps for this card. I used Kristina's card as a sketch and came up with this. Hope you like it!

Recipe:

Stamp set by SU! Simply Said and trendy trees.

Papers: Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery and Delicate Dots Designer Series (from SAB)

Ink: Basic Gray.

Accessories: Versamark, White Embossing Powder, White Gel Pen, Ribbon by Bazzill ,Pop Dots and Corner Rounder Punch.

Have a happy Monday!!

Last Christmas in July Card!

Fun things happen when I go visit my friend Marilyn because he is so gifted and talented and friendly too! She shared a few cards with me and this is one of my favourites! How quick and easy is that!!! We will make this card tomorrow night at my Open House.

Recipe: Stamps by SU! Autumn Days (115452) and Snow Swirled (111690)

Ink: Chocolate Chip and Old Olive

Paper: Naturals Ivory (101849)

Accesories: Dazzling Diamonds (102023), Markers, Two Way Glue Pen (100425)

I forgot all about the deals of the Week last week. So sorry about that! However, here's this week's deal of the week: You can contact me at rdh.curtis@gmail.com if you'd like to place an order.

Thanks for stopping by and have a happy Tuesday!

Spotlight on Mercy Kerin

I have been wanting to make a card using one of Mercy's sketches for quite some time and finally got to do it late last night! My son is diabetic and I had to stay up late so that I could check his blood glucose 2 hours after he had given himself some insulin (he uses an insulin pump). Since he went to bed a bit later than ususal, that meant I had to go to bed a bit later too.


The first time I saw this sketch, I thought it was neat how it makes it easy to use scraps of papers. It also came together so quickly!

You can see Mercy's sketch here. I am also including a link to her awesome blog on my blog list. Go check it out! She has a lot of fun sketches and ideas!
So, I got to play with a stamp set from Close to My Heart called You're a Hoot. It has 5 cute owls and a small branch along with a couple of sentiments (Woohoo and You're a Hoot)

Recipe: Stamps by Close to My Heart - You're a Hoot

Papers: Sahara Sand, So Saffron, Delicate Dots Designer Series (from SAB)

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue,
Certainly Celery and So Saffron

Accessories: Ribbon by Bazzill, Gems by paper Studio, Piercing Tool and Mat Pack, Pop Dots, Pastels by SU!

Thanks for stopping by and have a happy Sunday!

Christmas in July

Thanks to Godelieve and Heather for their kind commments on my previous card! I've been thinking about using the same sketch and similar colours but with a winter theme. So, this is what I came up with. It looks better in real life. Difficult to capture glitter on a photo. I also changed the ribbon to Bashful Blue instead of Old Olive. I think it looks better with this image.

Thanks for stopping by!

Recipe: Stamps by SU! Lovely as a Tree and Heard from the Heart

Papers: Basic Gray, Not Quite Navy textured, Whisper White.

Ink: Versamark

Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds, White Embossing Powder, Bashful Blue Grosgrain Ribbon.

I like the colour combo but...

I am not sure that flowers are the best image here. These colours are more wintry than they are summery. I may try this again with snow flakes instead.... Any thoughts?

Recipe:

Stamps by SU! Upsy Daisy and Heard from the Heart

Papers: Basic Gray, Not Quite Navy (textured) and Whisper White.

Ink: Versamark

Accessories: White Embossing Powder, Old Olive Ribbon.

FTL 51

Here is my card for the FTL 51 challenge

This is my first time using the Big Shot Top Note and I just love it!!

Recipe: Stamps by SU! Simply Said (115066)

Papers: Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Certainly Celery and Delicate Dots Designer Series (from SAB)

Ink: Basic Gray.

Accessories: Top Note BIg Shot (113463) , Big Shot Die Cut Machine (113439), Large Oval Punch (107305), Scallop Oval (114889), Signo White Gel Pen (105021), Pop Dots, Butterfly Punch by Martha Stewart, Prima Flower and Pearls by Paper Studio.

Thanks for stopping by!

Weekend Sketch Challenge # 89

This is so not what I usually make!!! I don't like bright neon colours like hot pink and lime green but I took my Mia (my youngest) to Hobby Lobby to see if we could find something fun to make a card for her older brother who has moved out to college. He left early hoping he could find a job more easily now than wait until August. Well, she misses him terribly ( we all do dude!) and she was pretty happy to find these stickers from K&Company . I wasn't sure I could find the right bright pink to match and I was thrilled to see that Melon Mambo was a great match! I looked into my box of paper scraps and found some lime green in there! Woohoo! The ribbon was also something I bought at Target, in their dollar spots, quite some time ago. She is very excited with the card. I think this is way too loud and bright but she loves it so it's good! :)

I used the Weekend Sketch Challenge # 89. Great sketch! Made it easy for me to put this together!

Recipe: Stamp set by SU! Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Black

Papers: Paper Studio, Melon Mambo and Lime Green (unknown origin)

Accessories: Oval Colluzle, Pop Dots, K&Company Rock Star Stickers, Lime Green Ribbon Target.

Thanks for stopping by and have a happy day tomorrow!

Spotlighting Tessa again!

Because I am not a creative person, I rely on others for inspiration. It's one of those left brain, right brain kinda thing. I always did better in science than art. So, here I am again, copying someone else's wonderful card. This is Tessa's card. I just love how clean and simple it is!! I changed the colours because I wanted to use the new In Colours from SU!

Thought I'd share a funny thought... when my youngest was 5, she asked me one day "When was I born? Like what date?" I told her "May 22nd" With big eyes, she then replied: "you mean I was born on my birthday !!!!!!!" She was so surprised and thrilled that I didn't dare burst her bubble :) I said: "yep, you were born on your birthday, pretty special huh!" I still chuckle every time I think about it. I love kids :) And to quote Dr Laura, I am glad to be my kids' mom.

Recipe: Stamps by SU! Teeny Tiny Wishes (115370) and The More the Merrier (Hostess set Level 3)

Ink: Melon Mambo

Papers: Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry, Soft Suede, Bermuda Bay and Dusty Durango.

Accessories: Melon Mambo Ribbon ( 115611), White Gel Pen (105021), Pop Dots, Piercing Tool (116631) and Template (105826), 1 1/4 inch Square Punch ( 104400), Versamark (102283) and White Embossing Powder (109132).

Thanks for stopping by and have a happy day tomorrow!

Spotlight on Sarah-Jane Kale'

I just love how clean and simple Sarah's card is! So, I made a similar one but used the new in colours from SU!

Recipe:

Stamps by SU! Cheep Talk (113204) and Teeny Tiny Wishes (115370).

Papers: Bermuda Bay, Dusty Durango and Whisper White.

Ink: Dusty Durango and Old Olive.

Accessories: Versamark, White Embossing Powder, 1 1/4 inch Square Punch (104400), Scallop Square Punch (112081), Button from my stash :) and Pop Dots.

Thanks for looking!

Deal of the week

Deal of the Week: Square Fire Rhinestone Brads
Add sparkle to your projects with the Square Fire Rhinestone brads. From July 13–19, they're just $6.99—over 30% off the regular price of $10.95!

I Used It Sister!

This is such a cute set from the new catalog! I used a sketch from last Sunday from an awesome site called 365 cards. I get so excited when I find a new blog (well, new to me!) This site is loaded with wonderful ideas! Go check it out!

Kristina Werner also had a challenge on her blog this week encouraging us to use an item we had bought a while ago but hadn't used. These little flowers have been sitting on a shelf in my craftroom, gathering serious dust. I bought them over a year ago at JoAnn's. They are the perfect size for this super cute kangooroo!

I also used one of the new colours from SU! Soft Suede! Love it!!

Recipe: Stamp set Build-a Roo (115948)

Papers: Soft Suede, Bashful Blue, Water Paper and Pattern Paper by Paper Studio.

Ink: Soft Suede, Cameo Coral and Brown Stazon.

Accessories: Small Flowers by JoAnn's, Signo White Gel Pen, Blender Pens.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!!

Lots of Bots

SU!'s new catalog has so many fun new stamps. This one is called Lots of Bots and I just love it!! I combined 2 challenges for this card. The colour challenge 225 for SCS and the sketch is from Mojo Monday 93 .

Recipe: SU! Lots of Bots (115293)

Papers: Kraft, Night of Navy, So Saffron and Whisper White.

Ink: Night of Navy.

Accessories: SU! Silver cord (retired), Small Oval Punch (107304), Large Oval Punch (107305), brads by Paper Studio and pop Dots.

Have you seen the special Stampin' Up! is running this week? July 1st through the 5th, the scallop edge punch is 30% off. That is $10.99. Stampin' Up! will be running weekly specials through the end of July. So check back next Tuesday for the 2nd Deal of the Week. Contact me via email at rdh.curtis@gmail.com if you'd like to place an order.

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful 4th of July!!

Happy Canada Day!!

Wish I was home today to celebrate Canada Day. Instead... I get to encourage my patients to floss daily :/

Oh well! Here is the card I made using Amy Rysavy's sketch.

I usually don't use a lot of layers so this took me out of my box a bit but it was fun.

Recipe:
Stamp set by SU! Nursery Necessities (113506).
Papers: SU!'s Groovy Guva, So Saffron, Whisper White and DCWV Nana's Nursery Baby Girl Pack
Ink: Groovy Guava.
Accessories: Brads by Paper Studio, Ribbon by Bazzill, Nestabilities and Pop Dots.

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful Canada Day!!

Spotlight on Angela Helynck

I am sorry I am not posting regularly. We've been gone for half of the month of June and catching up with yard work and other stuff the days that we were here. So, hopefully, I can post more often during July.

As we are enjoying the longest days on the year; I thought it would be fun to do something with a sunset theme. I found this card on SCS and just loved it so much, I thought I'd give it a try. Angela has many beautiful cards in her gallery and you can see them here.

Recipe: Stamp set by SU! Inspired by Nature
Ink: Riding Hood red, Pumpkin Pie , Barely Banana and Basic Black.
Papers: So Saffron, Riding Hood Red and Shimmery White.
Accessories: 1 1/4 Circle Punch, Post It Note.

Here is the other card we will make also inspired by Angela. You can see hers here.

Recipe: Stamp set by SU! Scene in a Garden (mini catalogue)

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss and Not Quie Navy.

Papers: Not Quite Navy, Close to Cocoa, Whisper White and Parisian Breeze Specialty Designer Series paper.

Accessories: Close to Cocoa 1/4 " grosgrain ribbon, Blender Pens.

I am having an Open House tonight and these will be the cards we'll make. Thanks for the inspiration Angela!

Thanks for stopping by everyone and have a happy day!

Quick Birthday Card!

If I can make a card in less than 5 minutes, I'm happy!

Stamp Set by SU! Darling Dots (Hostess set, level 1), Sentiment by Big Bold Birthday (111257)

Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Bashful Blue

Papers: Whisper White and Kiwi Kiss.

Accessories: Bashful Blue ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds, 2 Way Glue.

Thanks for stopping by and have a happy day!

Another Clean and Simple Card

I really like the card I used for my inspiration yesterday so here's another one. This was so quick and simple.

Recipe: Stamp set for Sentiment Trendy Trees by SU!

Ink: White Craft

Papers: Whisper White and Certainly Celery.

Accessories: Flowers by Prima, Brad by Paper Studio.

Thanks for stopping by and have a happy day!

Father's Day Card

Super quick post today. Always very litle time to do everything !!!

This card is inspired by this one from Clean and Simple blog

Recipe: Stamp Set by SU! Trendy trees (113258)

Ink: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip.

Papers: Kraft, Old Olive, Bashful Blue and Night of Navy.

Accessories: Circle Punches, sentiment was computer generated, Pop Dots.

Thanks for stopping by and have a happy day!