Hippie One

A couple weeks ago I decided to be more active on the Splitcoaststampers challenges...that week I managed to complete 2...I think that was about 2 weeks ago :) Yesterday the Featured Stamper happened to catch my eye...FS60: ScrapNExtras. Laura has a magnificent blog and Splitcoaststampers gallery . I decided to use her Inspired Hellos card. It is such a sweet and colorful card. I changed the dp to sei's Hippie Chick and used Edgy Eloquence as my stamp set of choice. I kept her overall card design. I **love** the flowers she used but found that I didn't have the right color flowers to match my groovy dp so opted to cut out one of circles. What a super fun challenge and congrats to Laura, ScrapNExtras.....

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Stamps: Stampin' Up Edgy Eloquence Paper: SEI Hippie Chick, Misc White Ink: VersaFine Vintage Sepia Accesories: Misc RABOM Grosgrain

Hey 'Lil Cupcake!

I made a couple of these sweet little thank you cards ala A Muse for my dd to give to her friends. I stamped the "you make life sweet" text image on the inside...I was going to color in the cupcake but decided to leave it "clean and simple". You can't really tell but the cherry is colored with a Twinklette marker. It gives the card a nice little "twinkle".

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Stamps: A Muse Paper: Fabriano Ink: VersaFine Vintage Sepia, Twinklette

Birthday Girl All Over Again... and a Blogger Birthday Shout Out!

I woke up to snow...it is almost APRIL and there is snow here...crazy. Tonight we're throwing my dd her "family" party...cousins galore...Three under the age of four {Hi M, M & C!}....Can you tell that I LOVE birthday's? I even Love MY birthday...which by the way, this year it falls on 08/08/08! How super coolio is that? More on that later....

This is the 2nd birthday card that I've made my dd....who can resist anything from Basic Grey? I *love* ALL their stuff!! It cracks me up when I wrap presents in Stampin' Up boxes...my dd is getting one of those today :) I bet they secretly fear that I'm getting them stamps...hey, that's a good idea [LOL]. I had a heck of a time photographing her card. The vibrant colors were really throwing my camera off...I typically work with a solid white background but that was just not working...now that I look at the photo...that is a really "bright" card. Gotta love Tempting Turquoise, it is such a "happy" color.

Here is a special birthday shout out to.....

Tandra

of

A Little Inkalicious!!!

May your day be filled with love, laughter and of course, a ton of stamping stuff!!!

Happy Birthday!!!!

Stamps: Stampin' Up Letterpress Paper: Stampin' Up Tempting Turquoise, Basic Grey Accessories: Circle Scallop Punch, Coluzzle, MAMBI Rhinestone Monogram, Turquoise Grosgrain ala RABOM, Safety Pin

Birthday Wishes

Yesterday I volunteered to make a birthday card for a co-worker. Quite frankly, I love this Anna Griffin designer paper and I thought it was perfect for the soon-to-be-birthday-girl who always wears something black. Evidently, I think it is so versatile that I've also used the dp for a retirement and a sympathy card.

The weather has been so crazy...it snowed here on Wednesday and Thursday.

Nothing as much as I remember reading from Gina K's blog...now that was seriously crazy.

Stamps: Stampin' Up Letterpress & Birthday Banter Paper: Anna Griffin, misc black & ivory Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black Accessories: May Arts ribbon, Oval Scallop Punch, Coluzzle, Word Window Punch, Safety Pin and Janome

One4Joy

Susan goes by the name One4Joy on Splitcoaststampers. She uploaded her first card in September of 2007.....and let me tell you, I'm so glad that she did. Her cards are filled with stories, creativity and love. She is one of those women that you wish was your next door neighbor so that you could share a pot of coffee with....to sit and chat with....

Susan and I share a a love of chandeliers!

Please check out this beauty she made:

chandelier...One4Joy

I told her that she was the
Queen of Elegance
and
Fussy Cutting!!!

Susan is my stamping cheerleader...she motivates me and inspires me.

Quote, here is my quote for the day. I found it on my Starbucks cup awhile back and yes, I rinsed that puppy out and kept it. I actually have it up on my cubicle wall at work. I believe in helping others and **love** this one:

The Way I See It #287

There is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women.

Madeleine K. Albright
Former Secretary of State and Ambassador to the UN.

Inspiring People...

You ever have those couple of weeks where you just feel slammed and so behind on things? That is how I've been feeling...too many things on my plate. I don't have any new cards to share so for the next several days I'll highlight some of the people that inspire me and my favorite new quotes....

I've been really enjoying my blogging journey. I've "met" some really fabulously talented people. The stamping blogging community is filled with creativity, energy and inspiration!

Denise Bryant of All things Stamped is hostessing a Spring Fever Challenge. I wish that I could join in on the fun but will have to take a raincheck this time...Denise was so-very-sweet to mention my card that I made for Julie Ebersole's Simply Great Card Design Class. It features a fabulous image from A Muse..they rock and are based in Seattle :)

I really enjoy my daily inspirational messages from Higher Awareness. They really make me stop and think about my life. I really strive to be positive...it makes life easier....

Self talk is revealing

"If you wish to know the mind of a man, listen to his words."
-- Chinese Proverb

What passes over your lips each day?

Are your words typically negative, critical, gossiping, deceptive, illusory, justifying, blaming, manipulative and argumentative? Are they more uplifting, inspirational, positive, questioning, beautiful, loving, universal, truthful, accepting and supportive?

The throat is our center of expression. Who we are sneaks out in our attitudes and in what we say.

"Handle them carefully, for words have more power than atom bombs."
-- Pearl Strachan Hurd

"The wise weigh their words on a scale with gold."
-- Bible

We Love Birthday Festivities!

We definitely lucked out on the weather last night for my dd's birthday festivities. She picked Salty's for her restaurant of choice. She had a bouquet of 13 balloons waiting for her at our table...it was interesting cramming them all in the trunk of my car {LOL}.

I did manage to get a stamp fix while in West Seattle. I stopped into Friends and Company . They carry a wide variety of images...I picked up this Large Dress Makers Form by Hampton Arts...can you say paper piecing?

Sweet 13

Today is my DD's 13th birthday! I just can't believe how old she is...I'm so thankful for a beautiful, smart and funny girl...

Still lovin' my Ginger Blossom DP...I found the MAMBI rhinestone numbers {and monograms..} on clearance at Joann's. I'm so glad that I bought my Janome Sewing Machine..I've been definitely getting my $$ worth...thanks to the gals over at SCS and Gina K for her tut that gave me my jump start.

Scallops...can't get enough of them...does anyone know of a source for really large scallop scissors? I know...how old school....especially with all the new stuff out there BUT I seriously don't have room for a cricut...or a cuttlebug...etc. You can only do so much with the Slit Punch....

Evidently, I have enough room for my stack of

Fabriano's though...LOL

Paper: Stampin' Up Ginger Blossom Ink: Stampin' Up Ruby Red Marker, Sakura Stardust pen Accessories: MAMBI Rhinestone Numbers, Scallop Punch, Coluzzle, Flower Punch, Circle Punch, Scallop Scissors, Janome

Easter-to-Go

I hope everyone is having a fabulous day! I wanted to share the "Easter Baskets" I made for my group of friends. Last night we went to Volterra in Ballard.

Fabulous decor....

Stamps: A Muse Ink: VersaFine Vintage Sepia Paper: So Saffron Accessories: Square Scallop Punch, SU slot punch & M's $1 ribbon

Container: Impress

From One Chick to Another...

Here is another Clean and Simple card...what would I do without my Fabriano's?? I Googled Fabriano to post a cool picture of the very recognizable box...then I thought, against my better judgement, to just gather a bunch of my own boxes...Okay, so I might have a smidge of a problem with Fabriano's {LOL}. I may have already posted this analogy that my Mom said about me: If I "want" 2 of something, I'll buy 4.

Notice that the key word is "want" not "need"....

Stamps: A Muse Paper: Fabariano Ink: VersaFine Vintage Sepia, Stampin' Up So Saffron

What Flavor Gum Are You?

You Are Wintergreen Flavored Gum

You are laid back, low maintenance, and super cool. You go with the flow, and you never cause too much of a fuss. You are very in touch with nature and the world around you. You prefer to keep things simple. Complexity stresses you out. You are a very real person. Openness and honesty are important to you. You can be friends with almost anyone, as long as they tell it like it is.

What Flavor Gum Are You?

Okay, just substitute black hair on the gal....I found this blogthing on Allison's blog, Stampin' When I Can. If you haven't check it out before, race on over! She posts "Newly Discovered" blogs alongs with her magnificent projects! She was oh-so-very-sweet to have listed my blog as part of her "Blogs I Read".

I'm a huge fan of gum...I have a supply in my car for my commute. Hmm...my round trip commute to work is a minimum of 10 hours a week....I spend a ton of time in the car...too bad I can't stamp and drive...LOL. Sheesh, I can't even read when someone else is driving, makes me car sick.

You Know The Way

I've been receiving a ton of great
Higher Awareness quotes.

Here is one that I would love to share:

You know the way

"Woe to the man whose heart has not learned while young to hope, to love ... and to put its trust in life."
-- Joseph Conrad

How deeply do you trust your own guidance?

Always trust that you know what's best for you. To move forward in your life, gather information from the "experts," consider how their advice relates to your situation and then act only on what feels right for you. You are the only expert for your own life.

"I trust so much in the power of the heart and the soul; I know that the answer to what we need to do next is in our own hearts. All we have to do is listen, then take that one step further and trust what we hear. We will be taught what we need to learn."
-- Melody Beattie

"I never know what the next lesson is going to be, because we’re not supposed to know; we’re supposed to trust ourselves to discover it."
-- Melody Beattie

Domo Arigato

Big surprise, another CAS {clean and simple} card! The scallop rounded rectangle is actually a really old Stampendous stamp that I've had. I started with that image and decided to use the "arigato" from the FABulous

A Muse Sushi set.

Talking about Domo Arigato....do you remember that song by Styx, Mr Roboto? Cracks me up, it totally reminds me of high school...anyways, I remember seeing one of those musical cards by Hallmark that used that song...I thought I'd buy that for my DD's upcoming birthday. Yeah, yeah, yeah....buying a card?!!! That's unthinkable...but I know that she'd enjoy it. It doesn't mean that I won't make her a special card.... I was at Target and they had a Styx "Domo Arigato Mr Roboto" vintage tee that I ended up picking up for her...Are you picturing me as a high school rocker? LOL...I wasn't.

Stamps: A Muse & Stampendous

Paper: Fabriano

Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black

Wing It

Here is another card using the Stampin' Up retired set Wing It....clean, simple and sparkly!

What more could anyone want?

I'm a huge fan of quotes...here is a good one
{Thanks M!}

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us"

~Oliver Wendell Holmes~

Stamps: Wing It Paper: Fabriano Ink: VersaFine Vintage Sepia Accesories: Quickie Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Dimensional

Time Flies...

Next week my DD, {darling daughter-trying to remember to translate for those that don't know the lingo} will be celebrating her birthday. It is the big 13. For those that remember her when she was a baby, you can agree that she has really blossomed...She cried all the time her first year. Cripes, we always lugged around a portable swing...it's the only thing that would soothe her. She is a fabulous girl that continues to amaze me. She is smart as a whip and has a great sense of humor...throw in her artistic talent both musically and "crafty-like" and you have a Mom that is so very proud of her. Can I also tell you that the other day we were walking around in Joann's and she brought to my attention that they had tafetta black & white gingham on clearance...okay, she didn't call it tafetta black & white gingham but said "that black & white ribbon you like is on clearance". Woo Hoo, that's my girl....this is when I should say I had several spools of the stuff already in my basket {LOL}.

She has several birthday festivities scheduled...

I'm a huge fan of celebrating birthday's!

This is her birthday invite...I had posted a different design earlier that used a Lockhart cupcake...but I couldn't wait to use my new Ginger Blossom DP.

Stamps: none {gasp}

Paper: Stampin' Up Ginger Blossom

Ink: none {another gasp}

Accessories: K&Co Glitter Alpha, Janome, Scallop Punch, Coluzzle

Life

Here is an insightful Inner Journey that I received the other day....I was talking to a friend of mine {Hi L!} and she was super sweet to compliment me on how I try hard to not get too wrapped up in things...at work...at home....that is because I tend to always have a full plate, I don't have the extra time or energy to 'waste'. Realistically, who doesn't have a full plate? I long for a "boring life"....LOL. I really believe that things happen for a reason...the good and the bad makes us stronger, wiser and hopefully a little more grateful.

Life comes with problems

"For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin -- real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be got through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life."
-- Fr. Alfred D’Souza

Life always brings problems. We really can’t live without them.

And so it helps to shift our perspective. We can stop trying to avoid the problems. We can stop feeling victimized by what’s happening. Instead, we can consciously work with the challenge of the moment to learn more about ourselves and the world. When we make this shift in attitude, we discover ourselves to be strong and powerful.

"Every lesson is a widening and deepening of consciousness. It is a stretching of the mind beyond its conceptual limits and a stretching of the heart beyond its emotional boundaries. It is a bringing of unconscious material into consciousness, a healing of past wounds, and a discovery of new faith and trust."
-- Paul Ferrini

You're a Hoot!

Here is another card from Julie Ebersole's Kawaii-sian Inspired Greetings over at mycreativeclassroom.com. The card uses the A Muse Nature set that was part of the optional class kit. I added the prima flowers and bling because I didn't have any perfect blue chalk ink :) I love the extra touch of the "fussy cutting" as my SU Demo says {Hi JP!!!} below the flowers.

Stamps: A Muse Nature
Paper: A Muse
Ink: Various chalk and Stampin' Up Summer Sun Marker
Accessories: Prima Flowers, bling, scallop circle punch, coluzzle

I was recently tagged by Lisa over at My Little Ink Spot. I am now required to list seven weird/random facts about myself.

1. I mentioned this in yesterday's post but both my parents were born in Japan but I don't "do" raw sushi, wasabi, chopsticks....don't get me wrong, I love most Japanese food!!!

2. I have never had a Snickers Candy Bar...

3. I'm Canadian.

4. I like smooth ice cream...with the exception of ice cream with oreo cookies....coffee oreo...my favorite.

5. I was taught how to swim as an adult but my swimsuit always seems to be at the dry cleaners {LOL}.

6. I'm a goal oriented person...I set them and give myself plenty of time to accomplish them. In addition to learning how to swim, I also graduated from the University of Washington in 2006 {Go Huskies!}.

7. hmm....let's see...just one more...I tend to NOT try new candy/chocolate, why tempt myself? My friend {Hi KRG!} would try to get me to have a Fran's chocolate but I would never cave....Okay, but my other friend {Hi PST...oh sheesh, was it KRG?!} introduced our circle of friends to The Wunderbar. It cracks me up, I just found out that it is now available via Amazon....ah, the power of the internet.

I hope you all have a wonderfully creative weekend!!!

wasabi

I mentioned before that I'm a lucky duck to take classes from the spectacular Julie Ebersole {SCS aka JulieHRR}...this is one that I made via her FABulous Kawaii-sian Inspired Greetings on mycreativeclassroom.com. I LOVE to learn new techniques and to venture outside my comfort zone. It sounds measley but on this card I drew the black border by hand {gasp! no stamp for that?!}...that is huge for me. When I use to scrapbook {loooong time ago} I would do all my journalling via the computer...I just like the clean and consistent lines of computer generated text. The other new technique for me is the very pale blue border around the sushi plate {hmmm, can't really see it in the photo but it is there!}...I've been noticing this ALOT these days...that sparked my Copic Club membership via Gina K Designs...

Aren't the images on the card absolutely adorable? It is a new A Muse set named sushi. It cracks me up...both my parents were born in Japan....but I don't use chopsticks...prefer a fork to shovel my food in {thank you very much}....don't touch the raw sushi stuff....don't use wasabi {well, except the wonderful wild wasabi paper made my Stampin' Up!}...

Stamps: A Muse

Paper: A Muse

Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black, Warm Red Chalk, various Marvy Twinklette markers

Queen of Bling

Just wanted to post a clean and simple card....If you've been following my blog you would know that I gravitate towards crowns and chandeliers. This image is from the recently retired Wing it set. I will post another card that I made using the same set...trying to ink up my neglected stamps.

Stamps: Wing it

Paper: Fabriano

Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black

Accessories: Bling!

Monster Hugs & Kisses and You Make My Day!

I know that I've mentioned this before but I landed the best deal over on Splitcoaststamper's Buy/Sell/Trade board when I picked up a huge lot of A Muse stamps. A majority of the stamps were in brand new condition and at the time I had just started my collection of A Muse images so there were only a couple duplicates. This Monster Duo was part of that purchase...how sweet are they? Don't they remind you of the "Ugly Dolls"? I added the Warm Red chalk and striped grosgrain {thanks m!} to add punches of color.

Stamps: A Muse, Stampin' Up

Paper: Fabriano

Ink: VersaFine Vintage Sepia, Warm Red Chalk

Accessories: AMM Striped Grosgrain

Savitri surprised me with a "You Make My Day" Award!!! Talk about doing the happy dance! I love checking out her blog...she's a digi-queen and creates fabulous cards!
So here are the peeps I'm nominating...

1. Carla of Paper Pastorale
Carla has a great sense of humor and does fabulous work. I especially love her sassy Bomb shell stamps creations!

2. Denise of All Things Stamped
Denise is another gal that cracks me up. Her recent news about landing a job with Just Rite Stampers was purely inspirational to me!

3. Lauren of groppi girl blogs
Lauren has a great sense of style that really inspires me.

4. SmilynStef of Ingenious Inklings
SmilynStef…Fabulous cards and she loves chandeliers too!!

5. Joan B of Paperlicious
Joan's blog is filled with magnificent creations and stories filled with humor and honesty.

Thanks ladies for "Making My Day!"....you bring inspiration and smiles into my life!

Happy Damask

Just a little Fabriano card that I used two retired Stampin' Up sets...The only reason I bought the All Year Cheer I set was for the little text stamps, like I used on this card. I love the Damask background stamp..it is a shame that SU discontinued it. I'm just fortunate to have found it via the Splitcoaststampers buy/sell/trade board.

What would I do without Splitcoaststampers? Last night I read a post on SCS about where to buy the very hard to find Inkadinkado Birds Galore {Thanks Cinnistew!}....hmmm....I would probably save $$ without SCS {LOL}!

Stamps: Stampin' Up Damask & All Year Cheer I
Ink: VersaFine Vintage Sepia
Paper: Fabriano
Accessories: Small Oval Scallop Punch, Coluzzle and Bling

Seattle History

Yesterday we spent a couple hours in the International District. While sipping on our coffees in the very cool Panama Tea House we had the opportunity to listen to a walking tour that came in. The Tour Guide talked about the walk in fridge in the Tea house that is still working…showed a “trap door” that use to lead to a sushi restaurant and so many other interesting facts about the building. She saw Mike and me sitting by the door and invited us to join the group. What a wonderful opportunity!! The next stop was the Japanese Bath House. This is from the Panama Hotel’s website:

"Sento at sixth and Main"

The Only remaining Japanese Public bathhouse intact in the U.S.

At the base of the Panama Hotel is the entrance to what was once the center of daily life in Nihonmachi, Japantown, one of the most thriving communities of its kind in the country. Of hundreds of such communal bathhouses in Japantowns across the country, this is the only one preserved in tact, in place. The bathhouse served generations of Nisei (Japanese Americans) in the years before World War II. After work, after school, after dinner, after ball games immigrants came to soak at the Sento because life was hard, hot water was relaxing, bathing facilities were scarce and it was a traditional cultural activity.

The two pitted marble baths are still in the basement, along with rusty shower heads (that nobody used, even then), neatly numbered wooden lockers and hand painted signs advertising local businesses perfectly preserved.

Our Tour Guide was
Jan Johnson, owner of the Panama Hotel, who has definitely led an exciting life….and obviously continues to do so. I was mesmerized by her knowledge of the history of the building, the community and the people that were a part of it all. History is so important to preserve and to share….we’re so lucky to have people like Jan Johnson.

**The pictures were taken via my phone**

Sweet Little Onesie

A friend {hi M!} asked me to design a baby boy card. She is a fan of my fabriano CAS {clean and simple} cards so I thought that this would be perfect. I still love the "A Little Love" set from 2004....who can resist that sweet little onesie??

Stamps: Stampin' Up A Little Love

Paper: Fabriano

Ink: VersaFine Vintage Sepia

Accessories: Chocolate grograin

New Discoveries!

I subscribe to Daily Candy . It is a great resource for new restaurants, fashion, new shops....this is how I discovered Paper Delights in the very sweet Seattle Wallingford neighborhood. They seriously know how to put together a beautiful space, it is absolutely amazing...full of chandeliers and gorgeous cards {tons of letterpress}. Here is part of their press release that describes Paper Delights:

Step into this sparkling new store with decadent blue and chocolate Damask wallpaper, and beautiful chandeliers illuminating a dazzling collection of greeting cards, sweet custom invitations to inspire your next party, as well as special delights that treat your senses.

Paper Delights is a Mother/Daughter Duo...but why am I, an avid rubber stamper, going on about this card shop? I found out that the Mother, Kathy Perkins, use to be the owner of Impress! How coolio is that?

Yesterday was Paper Delights' Grand Opening and it was absolutely perfect! My phone was/is having severe technical issues which stinks because I would have taken photos galore!

Last night a couple of my friends {Hi J & M!} and I also checked out Mioposto in the Mount Baker neighborhood. Super cute place...if you have a chance to visit them...you gotta order their lemon tart!

Simply Great Card Design

I did my homework for Julie Ebersole's Fabulous Simply Great Card Design class over at My Creative Classroom. It continues to be a good experience for me and I'm so thankful that I can tap into it at my convenience. I'm still a class behind but hope to catch up this weekend! I picked the assignment to design a thank you card for dinner at a colleague's house. What could be more perfect than using A Muse stamps? THEY make it easy smeasy!

I remember when I first started stamping that I would make cards that "I" liked...that means that I didn't necessarily think of personalizing it to the recipient. I really strive to do that now...personalization....it is what makes it special.

~deets~

Stamps: A Muse

Paper: Fabriano

Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black

Accessories: Gingham ribbon

~Girlfriends~

I’m on a definite roll with the Splitcoaststamper challenges…2 in 1 week! This is for the SC166. I am starting to get the hang of my Janome and really love to use it on my cards. It is a shame that it won’t sew through 5 layers of fairly heavy cardstock {rolling my eyes}! All the DP is from my Amy Butler stash…I REALLY love her stuff!!! The Dew Drop is compliments of Flourishes! It is part of a prize I won for participating in their Cake Decorating Contest last month.

~deets~
Stamps: Stampin’ Up Edgy Eloquence
Paper: Amy Butler
Ink: VersaFine Vintage Sepia
Accessories: Making Memories {?} Paper Flower, Dew Drop
Techniques: SC166, Sewing

Sweet & Pure Bouquet

I finally did it, I joined in on the fun over at Splitcoaststampers and their Color Challenge CC156! The combo is: Wild Wasabi, Purely Pomegranate and So Saffron. It truly was a challenge for me! It took me about 1.5 hours to come up with my card...it isn't usually like that but I think I was just "thinking too much" kwim?

I've gotten to the point where my cards all have to the Janome touch :)

~deets~

Stamps: Stampin' Up Mixed Bouqet & A Muse

Paper: Wild Wasabi, Purely Pomegranate and So Saffron

Ink: Purely Pomegranate and So Saffron

Acccessories: Wild Wasabi stitched ribbon, Purely Pomegranate Wide Satin Ribbon, Safety Pin, Word Window punch, Slit Punch, Sewing, Quickie Glue Pen and Dazzling Diamonds.

"Follow Your Bliss"

Compliments of Higher Awareness:

Go for what you want

"Follow your bliss."
-- Joseph Campbell

It’s hard for some of us to believe that the world is served when we seek our own happiness. We’ve been taught that this is selfish.

If we stop to reflect on how we are in the world when we are happy, we can see how this serves. We have more vitality. We’re more loving and generous to others when our own needs are met.

What activities bring you greatest joy? Your unique gift to the world will be found in those pastimes you love the most.

How can you live your joy each day?

"Spiritual growth is not made in reaction against, for all striving against imposed restrictions is imaginary. Spiritual growth is accomplished by inclination toward. We grow like the sunflower, following the light."
-- Joy Houghton

Ruffled Bloom ala A Muse

I'm taking a class via the amazing Julie Ebersole at mycreativeclassroom.com. Actually, I'm taking 2 of her classes :) This card is for session 1 of the Simply Great Card Design. We were suppose to find an inspiration for a card..make a sketch and create. I'm not a sketcher, I do everything in my head...I do some mock ups...probably recycle some designs...and eventually things fall into place for me. This is a great example of how I work. I cut out 2 white panels to work with and ended up recycling both of them. I couldn't find a branch/leaf image that would work. The sizes were all wrong along with the boldness of the images. I ended up using my Stampendous Ruffled Bloom.

Can you see the stitching? It cracks me up everytime I sew....I'm constantly talking to myself....I'm trying really hard to get a handle on the speed. I almost stitched the white panel down too but thought that I didn't want to risk any sewing mishaps which would make me have to recycle the entire card...I am using my precious Wild Wasabi....

~deets~

Stamps: Stampendous Ruffled Bloom, A Muse

Paper: Stampin' Up So Saffron & Wild Wasabi

Ink: Stampin' Up So Saffron & Wild Wasabi

Accessories: Wild Wasabi Stitched Ribbon

Techniques: Sewing

Sew-It Kit

I'm still in the process of getting use to my Janome Sew Mini. I used it this afternoon on a card {I'll post it this week} and still need a ton of practice :) I'm optimistic and have purchased Amy Butler's Sew-It Kit. I plan on starting one of the projects in a couple weeks...I'm fortunate to work close to a store that carries a ton of Amy Butler fabric...it's all gorgeous and I think I'm in trouble...that's all I need, another hobby.

Amy Butler is a wonderful inspiration to me...she truly is an artist. Check out her magnificent studio.

Here's to a wonderfully creative week!

Dream{y}

Sorry, I just don't get tired of this Impress Chandelier! The VersaFine inks work like magic on Fabriano's. I can't believe that I just discovered them last year! The Onyx Black and Vintage Sepia are a staple in my stamping supplies. Sorry fans of the SU Basic Black....it has always seemed more purple'ish than black to me, the Onyx Black {see yesterday's post} is a rich & true black as the Vintage Sepia is a FABulous chocolate brown.

~deets~

Stamps: Impress Chandelier, Stampin' Up Think Big

Paper: Fabriano

Ink: VersaFine Vintage Sepia

The kids had their friends M & M spend the night yesterday. We ended up taking them with us to the Tacoma Museum of Glass. We really enjoy making the trek over there. It is such a fascinating place to be. It's the one museum that the kids aren't totally bored with. They recently watched a show about Dale Chihuly so I wanted to take them back to the MOG. On a side note, I happened to see Chihuly at the Starbucks across the street from the MOG when I was going to the UW-Tacoma....you wouldn't be able to miss the guy.

I "should" be doing my homework from mycreativeclassroom.com but it will have to wait until tomorrow. I will have simply fantastic stuff to share with you later...I'm looking forward to inking up my new A Muse stamps and sewing on my recent delivery of Amy Butler paper {it rocks}.