Mother's Little Helper

A Serene SFYTT

Greetings from Lake Texoma (on the Oklahoma/Texas border) and Happy Fourth of July!  We've taken an impromptu RV road trip to spend the holiday weekend with family.  Good times!

I'm going to defy expectations today and show you something NOT star-spangled, fire-crackin' or red, white and blue.  Still, I do think it's all-American and I'll explain why in a bit.  First, let me show you what I'll be talking about.  Exhibit A, created with Jen's SFYTT for today:
Behold!  A little Class-Act stamping for your holiday consumption!  I had just started making this when I got the news we were hitting the road, so I had to finish up quick and get to packing.  Thus, it's pretty simple.  The great thing about starting with a strong, well-balanced sketch, though, is that you don't have to rely on a lot of bells and whistles (or buttons and brads, as the case may be) to make something that pleases the eye.

Card construction is pretty self-explanatory.  The stamps come from Verve's beautiful Serenity set, and the color scheme was based around the patterned paper, from Cosmo Cricket's Ever After.  I inked the edges of the lighter colored paper with Adirondack Earthtones Slate ink using a sponge dauber, and the side embellishments are Brides' ivory flowers (from Michael's) topped with Bella Baubles.

The sketch is another great one from Jen del Muro -- head to her blog to find it and samples from Jen and the July SFYTT Guest Designer, Regina Mangum.  Then, for more inspiring interpretations of the sketch, head over to my SFYTT Sisters' blogs:

Susan Liles
Amy Rohl
Kelly Lunceford, and
Amy Sheffer

Here's the part where I wax philosophical.  If you're just here for the cards, feel free to ease on down the road and enjoy your Independence Day (for all of you US readers).  Thanks for stopping by!

Still here?  Awww... I {heart} you! 

Here's the deal with this card.  I actually made it for me.  Sometimes we're the only ones who know whats going on with ourselves, you know?  And as card-makers and papercrafters, I think it's entirely appropriate to address our own feelings when we need it.  And the good news?  We can recycle it, and when we write a note to its next recipient, it will still be straight from the heart.

I've been thinking a lot about the Serenity Prayer lately.  (This is where the all-American part of this card comes in, by the way.  Bear with me, because I may not articulate this well.)  See, a wise person told me recently that I'm much more comfortable DOING than I am BEING, but that sometimes we need to get still and just be in order to figure out the right thing to do.  She's definitely right. 

I know I've thoroughly absorbed that American ethos which tells us that if you put your mind to something and work hard enough, you can achieve whatever you want or fix any problem that lies in your path.  The older I get, though, the more I realize that there are some things, no matter how desperately you want them, how hard you try, or how much money you throw at it, etc., that you just can't form to your will.  (As most of you know, my sweet little guy Carter has Cerebral Palsy, and CP is unfortunately one of those things.) 

What I could really use right about now is some of that 'wisdom to know the difference.'  So if you have a little you aren't using right now?  Send it my way, okay?

I hope this wasn't too much of a downer for you.  And know that I'm just fine.  In fact, I'm about to eat a big ol' hungry man breakfast of eggs, bacon, and pancakes, then waddle over to a boat and spend a few hours on the lake with my immediate and extended family.  Carter is in hog heaven, playing with his cousin Jack (age 3) (I'll try to get a few photos of them to share with you.  Those two are HILARIOUS together).  Truman's turned into a typical texting 'tween, but hopefully I can persuade him to unplug for an hour or two.

Then, tonight? A cookout and fireworks!  Life, despite its struggles, is GOOD!

Supplies used:
Stamps: Serenity by Verve Stamps
Paper: patterned paper from Cosmo Cricket's Ever After series, So Saffron & Basic Gray (SU!), Neenah Natural White
Ink: Slate & Lemonade by Adirondack
Accessories: Grosgrain ribbon, Brides' flowers from Michaels, sponge dauber, Bella Baubles

LOL -- Literally!

We all throw around the LOL acronym.  I'm guilty of it, even though most of the time that I use it?  I didn't really LOL.  I have to confess -- it's pretty hard to make me laugh out loud.  Something has to be really funny for me to do more than say to myself, "That's funny."  And as every credible smart-ass knows, it's bad form to laugh at your own jokes.  So even as I write something and it occurs to me that it's kinda funny?  I'm not sitting here at the keyboard, chuckling to myself.  I just type it out and wonder if anyone gets it.

Someone I know who always 'gets it' is my close friend Kristi (she's kmallett78 on SCS -- I'd link you to her gallery but the Splitcoast server isn't letting me on as I write this).  She's practically family (she's married to my DH's BFF -- they've been best friends since 1st grade and now practice law together.  When all the talk of 'bromance' was going on this past spring and Sean asked me "What's a bromance?" My response was "What you & Brad have had going on all these years.")  Suffice it to say, Kristi knows me about as well as any female on the planet.

When I received this card she made to congratulate me on finishing the Master Cleanse?  I really, truly, literally LOL'd.  She made it for a sketch challenge on Splitcoast.  Take a good, close look.  Click on the picture to blow it up if you need to so you can read the text.

Not only did she cut & paste some of the more 'choice' lines from my Master Cleanse blog posts to form the main panels, she topped it off with a bejeweled lemon slice and the 'Crap Tastic' sentiment from MFT's Twisted Too set.

Now that's funny!!!  And truly worthy of three exclamation points.

Man, I wish she'd start a blog.  Don't you?  Maybe we need to start a petition... all those in favor, leave a comment.  Let's shame her into it.  The stamping world needs her sense of humor -- she owes it to us! 

Boatin' and Totin'...

Happy-happy-joy-joy!  Alma selected my Boat & Tote bag to be the Project of the Month on The Cat's Pajamas website!  To celebrate, I created a second version of the project I initially showed you a few weeks back.  Here it is...
I changed it up just a little bit -- making the handles and base red, using the plaid backside of Cosmo Cricket's Happy Campers patterned paper from the Mr. Campy line, and featuring the Adam Lambert-esque skunk roasting a marshmallow from the Happy Camper TCP stamp set. 

Many of you have commented or emailed me that you wanted a tutorial and/or template to create one of these for yourselves.  Your wish = my command (that's what he said! *giggle*  Gotta love The Office...).  Here's a direct link to the tutorial, made graphic-y and purty by Ms. Alma.  If you go to the bottom of the page, you'll find both a printable pdf and a template.  The template is a great visual for all of the scoring that goes along with this. 

If you make one, you'll end up with a sturdy little gift bag that's really quite roomy.  Let me know how it goes, or if you have any questions once you get started.

That's it for to-daisies.  Have a good one!

Supplies used:
Stamps: Happy Camper, Nightie (for tag) by The Cat's Pajamas
Paper: Happy Campers (backside) from Cosmo Cricket's Mr. Campy line, Blush Red Dark (Prism), Ivory (Neenah), pre-made tag by Creative Tags
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & Rich Cocoa
Accessories: Copic Markers, Great Outdoors Ribbon from TCP, redline tape, Scor-It, sewing machine, Jody's Foam boosters, stuff for s'mores

Out of the Box!

(Isn't there a kids' show by that name?  I have theme music running through my head... happy, perky adults running around and jumping with children... they probably aren't parents themselves.  Just sayin'.)

My buddy Jennifer Buck challenged the Flower Soft crew to come up with 'out of the box' ways to use our favorite fluffy stuff.  Because I consider myself flower challenged, I mostly use my Flower Soft for non-floral purposes, anyway.  Thus, Flower Soft out-of-the-box?  Is totally in my box, if you catch the gist of my drift.

I do have something new, different, and EXCITING to show you, however: Flower Soft Polar White!!!  Finally, at long last, Flower Soft is in a true, crisp white!  I got my hands on a little pot of this stuff this week, and let me tell you -- it's life-changing.  Think: SNOW!!!  It's available to order beginning July 24th.  I advise you to get it early and avoid the Christmas rush.  Believe me when I tell you that you NEED this for your winter crafting projects! 

So here's what I came up with for this month's Flower Soft Challenge:

And here's a close-up of her cozy collar...

Doesn't that just make you want to curl up, get comfy, and spend the whole day in bed watching bad movies on Lifetime?!  *sigh*  Oh, wait.  I have kids now.  I don't get sick days any more...

Can't wait to see what the other Flower Softies have come up with today!  Wanna come with me?  Great!  I'll meet you at these lovely ladies' blogs:

Valerie Stangle
Deb Saaranen
Charmaine Ikach
Niki Estes
Jennifer Buck
AJ Otto
Sharon Johnson

Come back tomorrow -- I have a fun announcement and the answer to a question I've been asked dozens of times over the past several weeks.  What could it be... you'll have to wait & see! :)

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Bunny Slippers by My Favorite Things
Paper: Spring Moss, Berry Sorbet, True Black, Pink Patterns (PTI), Georgia Pacific White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Flower Soft in Polar White, Flower Soft Glue, Copic Markers, PTI Spring Moss satin ribbon, PTI True Black buttons, Jody's Foam Boosters.

Mmmm... smells like an MFT Blog Hop!

... and that's a good thing!  :)

Housekeeping: Did you start with Boss Lady Kim and come here via the fabulous babe known as Barbara?  If so, good!  You get a gold star!  If not, be sure to start at the very beginning (a very good place to start -- uh-oh.  Now I've got 'Do-Re-Mi' playing in my head...) when you get done with my jibber-jabber because I know you don't want to miss a thing.

Okily-dokily!  I promised something scent-sational for this blog hop, and when I make promises, I DELIVER!!!  So take a lookie at what I did with the newest Who's That Girl set, Catch Some Rays:
I found this delicious smelling candle at my local grocery store.  It's not one of those fancy-schmancy expensive candles, but it smells so, so yummy.  Just like summer.  According to the label (which I removed with a little Goo-Be-Gone), it's layered.  First you'll smell the white scent of Cotton Comfort, then the light blue scent of Lake House, then the dark blue scent of Ocean Breeze.  You know what that smells like to me?
For me, the most summer-y colors of all are red, white, and blue.  I couldn't help but use this yummy patriotic ribbon.  Here are a few more views.  Check out her umbrella -- I made it by stamping the solid polka dot background from Behind the Scenes on white paper in Brilliant Blue ink, then I stamped the umbrella image on top of that for paper piecing.  Easy-peasy way to create you own 'patterned' paper in the color you want!

Here's a better shot of WTG's slender physique (which was modeled after a photo of me in my bikini). (NOT!)
And here's a festive bow!  The sand was created using Barbara Trombley's Earth Elements in Cornmeal.
Now, head on over to my FANTASTICALLY talented home-girl Candice's blog to see what loveliness she has in store for you!

BUY THE WAY: The stamps being release tomorrow night -- during the New Release Cocktail Party in the MFT Member Forum -- are

• Catch Some Rays
• Puttin on the Glitz (illustrated by my neice, Amanda Baird!)
  
• Purrfect Treats
• Puppy Chow

The ONE CLICK bundle is priced at $46 and includes all 4 stamp sets!

Special of the week:

• 10% off Glittered Dots and Flowers 7/1-7/7

Tutorial of the week:

• Tips & Tricks from the MFT Sweet Sixteen Design Team

Want to challenge yourself and have the opportunity to win an MFT gift voucher? Click HERE to check out this week's challenges!  As if that wasn't enough... There is a COOL new promotion starting Wednesday night!  It is the Memento Dew Drop Collection Launch Day! For the next 24 weeks, the first 50 prize will be a Memento Dew Drop and each week, we will feature a NEW color. If you place an order each Wednesday and are in the first 50 orders, you will earn the complete collection for FREE over the next 24 weeks. Tomorrow (Wednesday), the first 50 orders (after the 10:00 PM release) will receive a FREE Memento Dew Drop in Angel Pink with their order! Get 'em while they're hot-hot-hot!!!

Just For Fun with CARTER! :)

It's that wonderful time of the month again, when me and my gal pals otherwise known as the JiFFy Girls (JiFFy is 'catchy' for Just For Fun) get together for our monthly challenge.  This month, I selected the image and cutie-pie Kim chose the patterned paper.  Once Kim got the paper in the mail -- 'Slate' from Crate Paper's Little Sprout collection -- I revealed the image selected.

You know, these girls are fabulous.  I love every single one of them.  But I'm thinking they've been sniffing a little too much Staz On.  Not one of them guessed the image I was going to select!  If a set was created in the likeness of your sweet son, named after said sweet son, and benefited a cause near and dear to your heart, wouldn't that be a no-brainer if you had to select an image to be used by some of the most talented stampers in the business?!  That's what I thought, too.

So, as if I had to spell it out further (I know I don't because YOU, Dear Reader, are brilliant), the image I selected?  Cuddle Up Carter by My Favorite Things Presents (for all the deets, read this blog entry; the abridged version: for the first six months of its sale -- in other words, through September -- $2 from every set sold will be donated to EuroPeds, a non-profit intensive therapy program that benefits kids with Cerebral Palsy and other nuero-muscular disorders).  Have you already got your Cuddle Up Carter set?  If so, thank you from the bottom of my heart.  If not, what the heck are you waiting for?!  It's the cutest, it benefits a great cause, and it's only $9!  That's what I call a win-win-win situation, and those don't come along every day, you know.

Alrighty.  Enough o' the hard sell.  You ready to see my JiFFy Challenge card?  I have to say, the paper couldn't have been more complimentary to the image if we'd tried...
I just love this image so, so much.  Makes my heart go pitter-patter!  I paper-pieced Carter's jammies and slippers, and made his blanket fluffy (like the yummy ones from Pottery Barn Kids) with a bit of Flower Soft in Nut Brown.  The stars in the corner are some of Jody's Sticky Stuff, covered with Opague Brass Art Institute Glitter.  That sumptuous gold ribbon?  It's from MFT's Royalty Collection Ribbon Nest. 

I'm dying to see what these gifted & talented stampers came up with using my sweet boy, aren't you?  Let's go together, then, and leave a little love for my buddies

Michele Boyer
Lori Craig
Julie Campbell
Kim Hughes, and
Alli Miles (who may or may not be playing this month, depending on whether some moving-related issues got resolved -- if they didn't, she's especially in need of a few hugs because it's HARD to move!)

I'll see you tomorrow night with something scent-sational for the MFT New Release Blog Hop!

No, I meant scent-sational in a GOOD way!!! ;)

Supplies used:
Stamps: Cuddle Up Carter by MFT Presents
Paper: Sage Shadow, Chocolate Chip (SU!), Neenah Natural White, 'Slate' from Crate Paper's Little Sprout collection
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa
Accessories: Nestabilities, Nut Brown Flower Soft, MFT Royal Collection Ribbon Nest, jump ring, Copic Markers, Prismacolor pencils & gamsol, Jody's Sticky Stars and Foam Boosters, Opague Brass Art Institute Glitter, Cuttlebug tag die cut, foam dauber for inking paper edges

How do you GLUE?!

I told you yesterday that I had a secret I'd been keeping... are you ready to hear it?  I'm so excited about it because I really think it's going to push my creativity in a new direction. 

You sure your ready?  Okay, here goes:

I'm the newest member of the GLUE Art & Paper Studio Design Team! 

Now, before I go any further, let me say: I've been around the block a few times in the world of stamping and papercrafting design teams. (Close friends of mine are guffawing as they read this, muttering 'Understatement!'  I CAN HEAR YOU, you know!!! LOL) I am way, way past the point of accepting another design position just for the sake of free product and/or minimal compensation.  Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I'm plenty busy as it is with the work I've got and my family.  For me to take on anything else at this point, I have to really LOVE the product, it has to be different from and/or enhance the work that I already do, and it can't be in direct competition with the companies I already represent.   

GLUE is different from anything I've ever done before.  GLUE makes high-quality, unique products for paper crafting and scrapbooking, most of which are wooden alterables.  I first ran into GLUE when they were showing at the 2008 Winter CHA show and immediately fell in love.  They had the coolest display of decorated dress forms as interpreted by some of your favorite papercrafting superstars.  Shortly thereafter, I bought my first GLUE product from my LSS.  My good buddies Susan Liles and Jen del Muro are long-time members of the GLUE Design Team, and I've always admired the cool projects they've created for GLUE.  (Remember the fabulous TCB wallhanging Jen made me for my birthday last year?  That was created with a GLUE 4-section shallow tray, fyi. :) )

Anyway, I'm really pumped to stretch my creativity beyond cards and scrapbook pages and more deeply into the realm of altered projects.  Such possibilities for fabulous home decor and presents!  Yay!

Let me show you've what I've made for my inaugural project... first, I started with a GLUE organizer box.  (See photo at left.) It's a heavy-duty wooden box that comes with six chipboard dividers and a masonite divider.  It's handy & sturdy, but kinda plain on its own, don't you think?

Luckily, I have a little paint, paper, stamps, and ink at my disposal.  So that plain wooden box has now been transformed into.....

This!

Isn't it cute?!  I created a weekly organizing station, using the chipboard inserts (plus one I cut from some leftover packaging chipboard) as daily placeholders.  And heaven knows, I need all the help I can get as far as organization goes!  At last, I'll have one spot to keep all of those pending invitations, bills, birthday cards to be sent, permission slips, DT assignments, etc -- sort of a large 'tickler' file, if you will.

First, I painted the box with a couple of coats of white acrylic craft paint.  Next, I cut 1.5" squares of three patterns of Cosmo Cricket's Girl Friday patterned paper.  I inked the squares' edges in Memento Pear Tart ink, then adhered them in a patchwork pattern to the box with Mod Podge. 

Next, I used My Favorite Things' Bling 'bet alphabet to stamp out 'get organized' in Purely Pomegranate ink on a manilla folder and also on Soft Sky cardstock.  I cut the manilla folder letters even with the inked edges, but left a margin when I cut the Soft Sky letters out.  Then, I adhered the manilla letters on top of the Soft Sky letters (I wanted manilla 'dots' with a Soft Sky border to make it *pop*).  I adhered the letters to the box using Jody's Foam Boosters. 

It still needed a little somethin'-somethin', so I added a trio of square chipboard tiles featuring some of the Girl Friday cardstock stickers.

The files inserts were created by making a file tab from a blank manilla folder, gluing it to the chipboard, and adhering the corresponding Girl Friday Day-of-the-Week paper to it.  All of the papers in the Girl Friday line are named for days of the week, so I just took my handy word-window punch and used the names as printed at the bottom of the papers as titles for each file insert.

And here's what my box looks like with a few of the items I'm going to be using in the upcoming week.  I've got a few birthday cards to send out, and there are a few other things in there I'm going to be using this week but can't show you just yet (stamps for the upcoming MFT new release on Wednesday, next Saturday's SFYTT, etc.).
I think something like this would also work well in a kitchen or wherever your family hub is, and it's deep enough to house things you're always needing like tape, spare pens, postage, a key repository, etc. 

Thanks for letting me share this fun news with you, and I'm looking forward to showing you more altered items from GLUE in the months to come! 

Supplies used:
Featured product: GLUE Organizer Box with Inserts
Stamps: Bling 'bet by My Favorite Things
Paper: Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday patterned paper, manilla folder, Soft Sky
Ink: Purely Pomegranate, Soft Sky (SU!), Memento Pear Tart, Adirondack Sunshine Yellow
Accessories: Mod Podge, Jody's Foam Boosters, word window punch (SU!), Technique Tuesday Square Center Pieces, Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday stickers

A Lovey-Dovey SFYTT!

When I first took a good, hard look at Jen's sketch this week, I rubbed my beard and said "Hmmm..."  Okay.  So I don't have a beard (thank goodness), but if I did, I would definitely have given it a good petting over this one -- it's kind of a toughy! 

I started looking through my stamps for smallish images to work with for what I interpret to be image panels (I'm sure some of my SFYTT Sisters have thought outside the box and made the circles into something else, but I'm a strict interpreter of sketches, for the most part.  You might think that's because I'm lazy and don't want to think too hard.  You might be right).  I came across Prince Charming and the Queen of Everything from The Cat's Pajamas Loving Mew and Puppy Love sets. 

I then thought about using them together -- you know, sometimes frogs don't need to end up with princes or princesses.  Frogs might be happiest with other frogs (if they're really frogs, and not humans under a spell).  Kind of like ogres might be happiest with ogres. Which led me to think about Shrek and Fiona, which led me to think about my DH and me... Okay, okay.  I'll quit yapping.  Here's my card:

Shrek/Sean and Fiona/Carole were colored in with Copics and then outlined with Prismacolored pencils and gamsol.  The bottom patterned paper panel looked a little nakey to me, so I decided to punch a few hearts with some old Creative Memories heart punches I have and create a little daisey chain to serve as a foundation for the sentiment.

I think it turned out pretty cute.  I'm using the heck out of my Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday crafting kit these days -- I think I may have one sheet in it that I haven't chopped into.  Wait 'til you see what I made with it for a *special* announcement I'm posting tomorrow.  {squeal!}

So, even though the sketch initially gave me pause, I've come to really like it because it made me think.  Maybe thinking IS good!  Maybe I've grown as a person in the process!  I'll have to think about that and get back to you...

In the meantime, why not try the sketch for yourself?  Head on over to Jen's blog, and check out what she and June guest designer Ashley Newell put together.  Then hop like a royal frog on over to my regal SFYTT Sisters' sites to see what the circles inspired them to do:

Amy Rohl
Amy Sheffer
Kelly Lunceford, and
Susan Liles

Come back and see me tomorrow so I can let you in on a little secret I've been keeping...

Supplies used:
Stamps: Puppy Love, Loving Mew, Happily by The Cat's Pajamas
Paper: Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday patterned paper, Pirouette Pink & Regal Rose (SU!), Spring Moss (PTI), Neenah Natural White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Creative Memories Heart Punches, Cuttlebug hearts embossing folder, Nestabilities, gingham ribbon, Copic Markers, Prismacolored pencils & gamsol, Jody's Foam Boosters

Rest In Peace

It might seem a little silly, but the passing away of Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson yesterday hit this pop culture loving gal harder than most celebrity deaths.

I grew up wanting to be Farrah; hours of elementary school recess were spent playing 'Charlie's Angels'; the Sabrinas and Kellys alternated but I was ALWAYS Jill -- it was an inviolable rule.  I got in trouble in 3rd grade for looking at my Charlie's Angels trading cards under my desk (but I was already finished with the worksheet and had nothing else to do!  So unfair.  Mrs. Oates took them away until Friday afternoon).  That was also the year that we had to create coat-hanger mobiles based on our favorite books.  Everyone selected books like Charlotte's Web or Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.  Me?  I chose Farrah: An Unauthorized Biography.  Mrs. Oates tried to talk me into something else, but I wouldn't budge.

Like everyone else in the first MTV generation, Michael Jackson's image and music was a staple of my adolescence (by then, I'd graduated from impersonating Farrah, though I still employed her moniker as my 'fake name' when goofing around at the mall or movies with my friends).  I can recall hovering around the T.V., awaiting the world premiere of the Thriller video and trying to do the moonwalk with my friends.  How did he glide like that?  Even in socks on a linoleum floor, I couldn't master it.

By the time the molestation charges, flakey talk show appearances, plastic surgery disasters, various addictions, and Playboy Naked Art pay-per-view came around, I was old enough to have a life of my own.  Unlike other icons (Marilyn Monroe, Princess Diana), Michael and Farrah lived long enough to be past their primes.  They remind me more of another true American idol: Elvis.  Their imperfections were many; kinda like the rest of us.  But in their heydays, both Farrah and Michael were uniquely compelling.  It was impossible to take your eyes off them.

So, here's a little tribute to Farrah and Michael from a little girl turned tween/teen to say "Thanks for entertaining me.  For showing me at a very young age that you can be beautiful and kick ass (though, Angels -- pull your heads out: you're DETECTIVES; why can't you FIND Charlie so we can figure out who he really is and what he looks like?!), and for providing the videos and music that added to the soundtrack of my teenage years."

Happy Birthday to THE Stamping Bella!

I was so excited to learn that a *special* Bella BIRFFFDAY Blog Skip, Hop & Dance was being arranged in honor of my funny, fabulous, savvy sistah Emily Block (aka THE Stamping Bella)!  Of course, I HAD to be a part of the fun!

First -- a little housekeeping: did you start at the beginning of this BellaFest with Em and come to me via my pal Lori Craig?  If so, good!  If not, be sure to go back after you finish with me and catch up.  I've seen the names of everyone participating and I guarantee you there will be some unbelievable eye candy for your viewing pleasure.

In addition to the fabulous eye candy, we have decided to hide a prize somewhere along the hop! One pre-selected blogger will draw a random winner from the comments on her post, and the winner will receive a $40 Gift Voucher to Stamping Bella!!! The fun part is...we're not telling you who it is! So as you hop, make sure you leave comments on every post so you have a chance to win!! We will announce the winner on Monday in the Splitcoast forum. How awesome is THAT?!

Steuby-Doo was generous enough to send me the TOP SECRET, very special, brand-new character portrait of Emily created by Christy Croll (artist of the Tiddly Inks and Huggabuggs lines).  I think it totally nails her regalness, her gorgeous mane, and her sassy attitude, don't you?

It's very hard to capture the true luminosity of the Bella in a card, but I did give her chestnut locks some glittery highlights and and her Chanel sunglasses some sparkle via Copic Spica pens.  Her glasses have a coat of Glossy Accents on them (the better to protect her lovely brown eyes), and her crown is covered in Opaque Light Gold Art Institute Glitter (because she deserves the best).

Now, before I send you on your merry way, I'm going to post a heretofore unseen photo that I'm sure will get me in a little trouble.  It was the end of the last day of CHA last winter, post-dinner, and well, let's just say I'm not looking minty-fresh.  But it does show a sincere group hug between me, Em, and the magnificent Nicky Manel (aka Nickabella).
 
Love those gals.  MWAH!

Ready to see who's next on the Bella Trail?  You're in for a terrific treat -- it's another stamp company super-genius -- THE Verve Diva herself, Julee Tilman!!!

Supplies used:
Stamps: Birthday Stamping Queen digi-image (Christy Croll for Stamping Bella), sentiment from 'You Say It's Your Birthday' by The Cat's Pajamas
Paper: Certainly Celery, Purely Pomegranate, Marigold Morning (SU!), Georgia Pacific white, patterned paper from Little Yellow Bicycle's Zinnia 6"x6" pad
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copic Markers, Nestabilities, brads, SU! grosgrain ribbon, Copic Spica markers, Glossy Accents, Jody's Foam Boosters, Opaque Light Gold Art Institute Glitter

I'm back! Didja miss me?!

Man. Two back-to-back trips make for a bad blogger.  Sorry, friends.  The good news: I'm back and have no plans to leave you high and dry in the near future.  Well, I will be going to Michigan in July for another trip to EuroPeds with Carter, but that usually allows for ample stamping and blogging time.  Anywho...

Since it's still Tuesday in my part of the world, how about we celebrate my homecoming with some tasty beverages?  I'm sure that's what today's Hipster Hostess with the Mostess, Toni, must have had in mind when she selected this mouthwatering image for this week's inspiration challenge:

Mmmm... frosty, cold, salt-and-sugar rimmed glasses, garnished with lime and filled to the brim with that {on-the-rocks} concoction that that helps me hang on...

This time last week?  I was either lounging on Navarre Beach (Florida's best kept secret... shhh... don't tell anyone -- I want to keep it that way!) or floating in the adjacent warm, wavy crystal blue ocean.  My personal 'sippy cup' was always in reach, and thus came the idea to use one of my all-time-favorite TCP images (Relaxing) for my card today.  Created, by the way, in Claremore, Oklahoma, where it's 100 degrees and humid.  *sigh*

I got a little scrappy with this card, relying heavily on Cosmo Cricket's sweet Girl Friday crafting kit (source of all patterned paper and the word bubble paper).  Once I stamped the Cheers sentiment in the word bubble, I decided it needed a little something else, so I took out my paper piercer, pierced around the bubble, and then backstitched with some light blue embroidery floss.  Sprinkle was inked with Memento Tuxedo Black and then colored in with Copic markers.

Wanna play along with us?  Come on, we're lots of fun!  Look at these images, look at the inspiration photo -- it's simply undeniable that The Cat's Pajamas and all associated with TCP are, well, the cat's pajamas!  Here's the scoopage:

1. Each a week one of The Cat’s Pajamas DT members will host a challenge.
2. The challenges will vary {stamp, color, theme, sketch, etc.}
3. You will have until {this} Saturday night to complete the challenge.
4. Link your project on this week’s hostess’ challenge announcement. This week you will link your project HERE.
5. TCP stamps are not required, but of course, highly encouraged. {Unless it is a challenge calling for a specific stamp}
6. There will be one winner each month. They will be deemed that month’s Swanky Stamper and get $25 in Cat’s Cash {money to spend on the TCP site!}.
7. When uploading to SCS or PCP, please use the keyword TCPTUES64 for this challenge.
8. Alma will post all the entries from the week the following Monday on her blog.
9. The newly crowned Swanky Stamper will be announced on the First of the Month and have his/her winning entry posted on The Cat’s Pajamas website where he/she will reign for the entire month.
10. (And this rule is strictly enforced...) Have FUN!

As for me?  I'm awfully thirsty...

Supplies used:
Stamps: Relaxing, Cheers by The Cat's Pajamas
Paper: Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday Crafting Kit, SU! Old Olive, Neenah Natural White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copic markers, sewing machine, paper piercer, light blue embroidery floss, gingham ribbon from MFT's Perfect Plaid Ribbons, buttons from PTI and TCP, Jody's foam boosters

Flakes and Cupcakes!

I know, I know -- I've left y'all hanging for a week or so now.  What can I say?  I'm a flake.  *sigh*  At least, I'm a flakey blogger.  Every once in a while, I disappear for a week or so.  You know: I'm hot then I'm cold, I'm yes then I'm no... someone should write a song to that effect.  Then again, I'm so vain, I'd probably think that song was about me.

Anyway, sometimes life -- such as it is -- gets in the way of regular blogging.  I'd like to say this was the last time, but for all of my flakiness, I'm not a liar.  I know that in all likelihood, sooner or later, it will happen again.  So to proclaim otherwise would leave me eating crow.  Crows?  Not so tasty.  Take it from someone who's consumed more than her fair share of that particular bird over the last 39 or so years.

In fact, I'm probably going to be scarce this coming week, too, because the boys (the big one and the two little guys) and I are leaving today for Navarre Beach in Flo-rida for a family vacation.  I'm bringing a computer and camera, so I hope to give you a few action shots.  (Me in a bathing suit?  Not happening, don't worry... *giggle*)  As I said, I hope to check in with you wonderful folks, but I'm not making any promises due to my aforementioned flakiness and distaste for crow.

Enough about me and my character flaws.  How's about a little eye candy, hmmm?  Jen's come up with a yummy sketch, and I pulled out an equally delicious image to illustrate it: Cupcake Flopsey from MFT.

See that fluffy frosting?  Lean in a little closer and I'll tell you my secret ingredient... Flower Soft!  Yep -- anything you can do with flocking or Liquid Applique?  You can also do with Flower Soft.  One of the benefits of Flower Soft?  You can trim it once it dries (much like you might a hedge) (well, not exactly like a hedge; use your detail scissors instead of gardening shears...) if it's a little fuller than you want at first.  Can't do that with flock or Liquid Applique -- once it's on there, you're either stuck or starting over.  Just another reason those wee little flowers are ultra, ultra versatile.

Speaking of ultra, ultra versatile: that definitely describes today's Sketch For You To Try.  Be sure to hop like Flopsey on over to Jen's blog for the sketch and to see samples from Jen and June Guest Designer Ashley Newell.  Your next stops need to be my nifty SFYTT Sisters' sites for more inspirational interpretations:

Susan Liles
Kelly Lunceford
Amy Sheffer, and
Amy Rohl

Thanks for coming to see me!  I will definitely be back for the TCP Tuesday Sketch Challenge.  If you don't recognize me?  It's probably because I'm sooo tan...

Supplies used:
Stamps: Cupcake Flopsey by My Favorite Things
Paper: MFT Perfect Paper Panels, PTI Hibiscus Burst, Basic Black, Soft Sky, Yo Yo Yellow (SU!), Basic Grey Lime Rickey 6" x 6" pad
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Sunshine Yellow Flower Soft, Flora Doodles Jeweled Florettes by Petaloo, Copic Markers, Nestabilites, Jody's Foam Boosters

MFT Blog Hop: Lunch Box Stars!

Hola, blog hopping amigas!  I hope you've been enjoying tonight's tasty treats!  Did you start at the beginning with Kim, and then come to me via the blog of the divinely talented Amy (aka Pickler ;) )?  If not, be sure to do so after you finish reading -- I promise you won't be disappointed!

I know I'm the farthest thing from disappointed with this month's new set releases!  I truly *LOVE* every one of them... especially THE POPPIES!  Aren't they adorable?  MFT Presents illustrator Stephanie Fizer has done it again.  In my fertile imagination, they're a cross between Josie and the Pussycats and The Powerpuff Girls.  Crime fighting 'tweens who have a wee rock band in their spare time!

As such, they're worthy of being stars of their very own lunch box, don't you think? 

  There's the front, and here's the back...
I bought a few of these little candy-filled lunch boxes at the Target Dollar Spot quite a while ago.  The candy is long gone, but the tin is the perfect size for a gift of a bracelet, candy, or an iTunes gift card.  The images were stamped on MFT's Perfect Paper Panels with Memento Tuxedo Black ink (I masked the guitarist and bass player with Eclipse Masking Panels before stamping on the drummer), then colored in with Copics. 

I hope you'll join us tomorrow night from 8-10 p.m. EST for the New Release Cocktail Party, right here in the MFT Member Company Forum on Splitcoast.  More Teasers, lots of chatter and a huge reveal: we're announcing TWO new design team members from the MFT Idol Finalists who are going to round out the MFT Sweet 16 for the next six months!  And if that wasn't exciting enough, the winner of this month’s One Click Challenge will be announced – they’ll win the full release for free!  So be there or be... well, you know!

Now, hop along to the next stop on the blog hop trail to my sweet and fabulous friend Christina's blog!

BUY THE WAY:  Tomorrow evening, MFT will be releasing the following sets and embellishments --
Let’s Picnic (WTG) $15.95
Who’s That Grillin’ Guy? $15.95
The Poppies $17.95
Clear crystal mix (80-100 crystals total, a mix of 2mm, 3mm and 4mm) $15.95
Checkered ribbon bundle (7/8”, 2 yards of 5 awesome colors: light pink, dark pink, black, yellow and red) $11.95

Supplies used:
Stamps: The Poppies by MFT Presents Stephanie Fizer
Paper: MFT Perfect Paper Panels, Pure Poppy (PTI)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Adirondack Earthtones Red Pepper
Accessories: mini-lunch box from the Target Dollar Spot, corner rounder, Copic markers, Eclipse Masking Panels, oval punches, gingham ribbon, Marvy silver pen

Fun & Flower-y News!

Well, I've been keeping a secret from you guys for a month or so now, but at long last, I'm able to share that I'm part of the brand new Flower Soft Design Team! 

I'm really excited, because not only is it a FANTASTIC product and company, but I'm in absolutely wonderful company on this team.  I'm reunited with friends from past DTs (Val Stangle and I were on the Farm together, I was a Verve Diva with Charmaine Ikach, and my dear buddy Jennifer Buck and I served part of our terms on the SCS Dirty Dozen together), and I have the opportunity to work for the first time with some really talented women whose art I greatly admire. 

I've got to hand it to our DT Coordinator, Jen Buck -- she's put together an awesome crew of designers with diverse and distinctive styles.  I'm fairly certain the reason she asked me to be a part of this illustrious group is because I am very vocal about being 'floral challenged.'  I figure I'm here to show the world that if I can make something look pretty with Flower Soft, ANYONE can! 

Anyway, to celebrate,  we're kicking things off with a Design Team challenge to make something using our favorite Flower Soft bouquets.  We had the option of making a bouquet, or adding Flower Soft to a bouquet image.  I really love the little bouquets wrapped in tissue paper -- like mini-versions of flowers you get from a florist.  I love miniature stuff!  So here's what I came up with...

A sunny little trio of bouquets on a long-note sized (3.25"x6.5") card.  These bouquets are sooo simple to create.   In addition to the Flower Soft stalks (created by coating a bit of Flower Soft wire with glue, then sprinkling the FS over them, and letting them dry upright for a half-hour by sticking 'em in a bit of styrofoam), I added a few 'fronds' for a little greenery.  I imagine one of us will have a tutorial on these bouquets before too long on the new Flower Soft Blog, so make sure to put that site in your Google reader or however you choose to blurf. :)

As for the other card details, all stamps are by My Favorite Things, and were inked in VersaMark and heat embossed with white detail embossing powder.  Don't you just love embossing?  Very possibly my all-time favorite technique, and what pushed me over the edge from being a scrapbooker to a stamper.

I can't wait to see what the other gals have come up with -- how 'bout you?  Well, then, why don't we mosey the web together and visit the other members of the new Flower Soft Design Team:

AJ Otto
Charmaine Ikach
Deb Saaranen
Jennifer Buck
Niki Estes
Sharon Johnson
Val Stangle

Oh, and one more thing: do you like Blog Candy?  The good news about Blog Candy, of course, is that it's non-caloric and you can still partake even if you're on your last day (as I am) of the Master Cleanse!  For those of you interested in getting a little somethin'-somethin' free-o'-charge from Flower Soft, be sure to head on over to the Flower Soft Blog as a little bird (or Buck, as the case may be... ;) ) told me that there's a giveaway going on for all who leave a comment this week.  A winner will be selected on Monday, June 8th!

Supplies used:
Stamps: Congrats All Around, Flopsey's Flowers (sentiment) by My Favorite Things
Paper: Yo-Yo Yellow, Pretty in Pink, Wild Wasabi (SU!), patterned paper from MFT's Spring Collection, tissue paper
Ink: VersaMark
Accessories: Flower Soft in Sweet Pea and Sunshine Yellow, Flower Soft Wire, Flower Soft Glue, button brads, Jody's Foam Boosters, ticket corner punch

Sweet Summer-y SFYTT and Master Cleanse DAY 10!

First things first... I'm a wee bit late with my sample for today's Sketch For You to Try.  I took my sweet time making this, and had so much fun doing so.  Sometimes you just need to out and out play while you're creating and remember to have fun, you know? 

I always have fun when I make cards with My Favorite Things' iconic Who's That Girl, and today was no exception.  Ready for a peek at the newest WTG set being released on Wednesday?  Sure you are!
Isn't this so much fun? The set is called Let's Picnic.  You can't imagine how good that big ol' sandwich and bottle of wine looks to someone who's on Day 10 of the Master Cleanse!  (More on that later.)

Summer colors to me always include red, white, and blue/navy -- I love this Strano ribbon that adds a dash of turquoise to the patriotic mix, so I built my card around that color palette.  I used three random patterns of paper (two oldies from my scrap files and the turquoise is SU!'s Pink Flamingo dsp).  WTG scenes are perfect for paper piecing, thus there's a whole lotta that going on.  I sponge inked the grass with a foam dauber, and then airbrushed the sky.  The ribbon treatment was threaded through the turquoise panels by using a Making Memories ribbon tool (that's not quite as easy as it looks, btw. If you happen to be interested in how that sausage is made, though, let me know and I'll try to do a write-up on it sometime).  The white dots in the corner are actually opaque white Swarovski crystals from MFT's Chocolate Kiss Adornments.

Of course, it all starts with a great sketch, and Jen's Sketch for You To Try this week is definitely one of those!  Be sure to stop by Jen's blog for the sketch and to see what she and May Guest Designer Julie Lacey have created.  Then, blurf on over to my SFYTT Sisters' blogs for even more fabulous fun:

Susan Liles
Kelly Lunceford
Amy Sheffer, and
Amy Rohl

Now, ready for a Master Cleanse update? I've been promising one for a few days now...

Master Cleanse
Can you believe it?!  I'm on Day 10!  Ten days of choking down that God-forsaken salt water flush each morning, drinking glass upon glass of that so-called lemonade, and winding up the day with an unsweetened cup of Smooth Move tea.  It hasn't been that bad, but it hasn't been a whole lot of fun, either.  I really, really, really miss the taste and texture of different foods. 

I can't say I've been hungry.  I don't think I've been hungry the entire time I've been on this.  I have had powerful cravings and mad desire to cheat, but somehow I've been able to put those to the side.  You know what that means?  If I can do it, so can you if it's something you're considering.  Believe me, I am no paragon of self-discipline.  This should motivate you!  Kinda like everytime I think about running a marathon, I think, "If Oprah could run a marathon?  So I can I."  Not that that's ever motivated me to actually run a marathon.  Or even a 5K.  But I think I could if I really wanted to, thanks to my buddy O.

The worst part of the Master Cleanse is that foul salt water flush each morning.  Man, do I hate that with the white hot passion of 1,000 suns.  See, you have to chug a quart of water mixed with two tablespoons of uniodized sea salt.  It's positively revolting.  Other people who've done this say it gets easier the longer you do it.  Not me, I dread it more every day.  But it's part of the package, so I've been doing it.  Yuck.

In addition to doing the cleanse, I've been walking with my next-door neighbor each morning, and my hubby every evening.  In the morning we cover about 2.7 miles, and in the evening just over 4 miles.  Between the Cleanse and getting moving, I'm really feeling much better as far as getting a jump-start on a more healthy way of living. 

Before I started the Cleanse, I felt out of control with respect to my weight, and now I've proven to myself that I have the willpower to make positive changes.  I know I'll be able to make better choices with respect to food and drink, and I'm definitely going to keep up with the walking.  It's a great way to start the day and check-in with a good friend, and in the evening, it's become almost a mini-date for my husband and me.  But for the occasional dinner out, Sean and I don't do a lot of things together just the two of us, so it's been great to walk for an hour and chat about whatever happens to flit into our minds.  Sometimes it's just silly stuff like, "What's your very favorite food in the whole world?" or "What's your favorite candy?" (Hmm... notice a theme here?) Questions we used to know the answers to in the pre-children years, but that haven't been pondered in a really long time.  Anyway, that's been a really good, totally unexpected benefit of doing the Cleanse.

So here's the part I know you're all waiting/weighting for: I've lost about 8.4 lbs!  Yay!  And for that reason, and to support my hubby throughout his last days, I'm going to hang on and do it for two more days.  Can you believe it?!  Me neither, but I am! 

Be sure to let me know if there are any questions about the Cleanse you'd like answers to, and I'll definitely try to address them within the next week.  And remind me to tell you next time about being about a mile away during one of those evening walks and being seized by an intese urge to... well, you know...

Supplies used:
Stamps: Let's Picnic by My Favorite Things
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, SU! Night of Navy, Adirondack Lettuce (grass sponging)
Paper: Real Red, Night of Navy, Blush Blossom, Pink Flamingo dsp (SU!), Solar White (Neenah), navy gingham by Creative Memories, paisley by Magnolia
Accessories: Copic Markers, Strano ribbon, Making Memories ribbon tool, SU! scallop border punch, MFT Chocolate Kiss Adornments