Rock-a-Bye Baby Sketch Challenge

Thank you for all of your well wishes concerning my back. It is feeling much better today, although it is not quite 100% yet. You are sweet!

I recieved my Sale-a-bration goodies yesterday, so I thought I would use some of the new designer series paper "Delicate Dots" and the 5/8 inch Saffron ribbon. I think it is saffron, anyway! LOL! I thought that my friend might need a few baby cards for her stash, so I started out with this one. Although it is on the boy side, I think it could also be gender neutral as well. I can't wait to play around with this paper some more. It has some fun possibilities. I especially like one of the pattens with the hearts.

I also recieved my new labels 1 dies from spellbinders. I ordered them ages ago and I finally called them to see what was up. They said they were out of stock, but then these magically appeared on my doorstep a day or two later. Hmmmm..... ! I had really wanted to use them for Christmas projects but they never came. Oh well...many more holidays and many more projects! LOL! I decided to double mat the labels, one with the focal image and one with Sahara Sand that had been embossed with the swiss dots embossing folder and my cuttlebug. I thought it went nicely with the dots of the paper.

I followed today's sketch challenge over at SCS...one of my favorite challenges of the week. The original sketch called for two large stars on either corner, but my design felt too heavy, so I opted for on star and a knot of ribbon to replace the other star. I like how it came out much better when I removed the 2nd star. Also, I didnt' stamp the sailboat onto the focal piece, I stamped it three different times onto Ultrasmooth cardstock and then cut each piece out so that I could pop it up with dimensionals. The only image that was stamped directly onto the focal piece was the Sahara Sand flag. I only inked up the flag and then stamped it, that way I would have a reference for where the other pieces needed to go for proper alignment. Thanks for fluttering by!

Supplies: Nursery Necessities Stamp Set

Ink: Sahara Sand, Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Certainly Celery

Paper: PTI White, Ultrasmooth White, Sahara Sand, Delicate Dots DSP

Accessories: SU! Button, Saffron 5/8 inch ribbon, foam squares and dimensionals, mini library clip, labels 1 die from Nestabilities, Cuttlebug and Swiss Dot Embossing Folder

Birthday Blues

Today's Color Challenge over at SCS was to use Kraft, Not Quite Navy, and Baja Breeze! I started out using "Season of Friendship" but when I was on my second try, I decided to get out a new stamp set. I chose "Wow Flowers" because I thought these colors would work well for a birthday card. My friend's birthday is on the 18th and I want to give her a bunch of handmade cards as part of her present. She mentioned that she was in need, so I thought that it would be a great gift. She mentioned that she needed a lot of thank you cards and birthday cards, so this will be one that I will add to her growing stash.

The card is pretty straightforward. I just used a lot of punches for the raised image. Quick and easy with some fun details! I recently did something to my back and it has been sore for a while. It was on the mend and then something seriously went wrong yesterday, so it is hard for me to sit in a chair for too long. Hopefully I will be back

tomorrow with a better back. Thanks for fluttering by!

Supplies: Wow Flowers stamp set

Ink: Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Vintage Photo distress ink

Paper: PTI White, Kraft, Baja Breeze, Not quite navy

Accessories: Paper Piercer and Mat Pack, 3/4 inch circle punch, 1 inch circle punch 1 1/4 inch circle punch, 1 3/8 inch circle punch, scallop punch, kraft taffeta ribbon, dimensionals and foam squares, cuttlebug and embossing folder

Mojo Sunday?

I have had a nice relaxing Sunday. I have had time to spend with my cute family, cook a yummy dinner and sit down to stamp! What could get better than that? As I was blog hopping tonight, I saw quite a few cards that had followed the Mojo Monday sketch by Julee Tilman which can be found here: http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/2009/01/mojo-monday-68-contest.html I decided to try it out. My stampin' friend Cynthia (HI Cynthia) sent me a fun Christmas card that she said needed to be "CASED" and I agreed. There are a few Stampin' Up! sets that could have been dead ringers for the images, but I decided I didn't want to make a Christmas card in January. I decided to use the images from Inspired By Nature instead but had the same silhouette feel as the original card.
I started out by stamping the grass image with Craft Olive and Craft Celery. I then pierced the edges with my paper piercer and mat pack. Once that was done, I stamped the flower image with white craft ink and embossed with Irridescent Ice embossing powder. It has been quite some time since my embossing supplies have seen some action! It doesn't show up in the photo, but it is super sparkly! I paired it up with the scrumptious Urban Garden DSP which I believe is retiring (boo hoo). If not, Yipee! I can't remember! I lazily sewed around the edges of the card after I had distressed the edges to keep the stitched theme going. I added some accessories and called it good! I had a lot of fun making this and enjoyed pulling out the embossing stuff. It is good to revisit old produts and techniques. Not that embossing has ever been old, but you know what I am saying!!! I am tired now and still have dishes to do, so I guess I will end for now. Thanks for fluttering by and thanks for all of the nice comments on my stamp area. I added a new *favorites* cubby to the shelving system. I had so much extra room that I decided to bring in some of my all time favorite, yet retired stamp sets. I haven't used many of them in a long time, yet they are ones that I will never part with.

Supplies: Inspired by Nature Stamp Set
Ink: Celery, Olive and White Craft Ink, Baja Breeze Classic Ink
Paper: Urban Garden DSP, White, Baja Breeze
Accessories: Large Oval Punch, Sponge, Vintage Brads, Sewing Machine and Thread, Paper Piercer and Mat Pack, Irridescent Ice Embossing Powder, White Taffeta Ribbon, Crop-a-dile, Pewter Eyelet, Foam squares

ETA: I decided to go and photograph the original this morning! Bethany kicked my rear in gear! LOL! Thanks for the push, Bethany! It is a Hallmark card.

I was thinking that Peaceful Wishes and Organic Outlines could recreate this card nicely for Christmas!

New Storage and a Sugar Nellie!

I promised new photos of my stamp space, so here you go! My cute husband said he wouldn't get me the clip-it-up and then he got it for me! Isn't he sweet? He seems impressed with what it does, too! I have been mentioning quite a bit lately that I need to get things out where I can see them. I do, however, like them to look organized. If it is messy looking, then it gets hidden! LOL! I have included the photo that SU! took of my room in October of 2007 so you can see the addition of the new shelf. It is the same system, just smaller. They are both from Ikea! I like how it blends nicely.

My room was much cleaner when SU! came, I am noticing from the photographs! Oh Well!
Not only was I able to get my current SU! stamps onto the shelves and out where I can see them, I got four more cubbies for other things. I am also excited because the shelves are not full with stamps, there is more room behind for new ones! The basket under my SU! markers and accessories is full of my TJ Designs stamps and the basket above the markers is full of my hodgepodge hardware and small mat stacks. I tried to move the things over that I reach for more often. The striped basket/tote on the left side has all of my CTMH, The Cat's Pajamas, Sugar Nellie, MFT, etc. stamps. Since it is easy to get to now, I have been using them more than ever before, as you can see from today's card! A little change goes a long way with me. I like how good it feels to be newly re-organized.

My card for today is for my daughter's friend that I babysit after school. Her birthday is coming up and I thought I would get it done so I wouldn't leave it to the last minute! Can I just add that it feels so good to make cards that are actually leaving my house and not getting stored. I also made this for Jen's SFYTT today and for today's Inspiration Challenge over at SCS. I colored the little Sugar Nellie with copic and prismacolor markers. I bought her so long ago and I am not sure she has ever seen ink. I have a couple others that I have used once. I have a feeling she is going to be getting used quite a bit. I know I have a lot going on in this post, so I will end for now! Thanks for fluttering by!

Supplies: Sugar Nellie Stamp, Wow Flowers STamp Set
Ink: Palette Noir, Antique Linen and Vintage Photo distress ink, prismacolor and copic markers
Paper: Sandylion Pattern Paper, PTI White
Ribbon by Offray, lace edge punch by Martha Stewart, sponge, foam squares, buttons by the Paper Studio, linen thread

from the heart

Last night I was telling my husband that I was *finally* done with my Thank You cards. He said, "Oh...did you make one for so and so?" I had totally forgotten to make one for them! So...this morning I sat down and made one last thank you. I decided to follow today's LSC over at SCS. I love doing challenges because it gets my mind going and I usually end up by using things that I normally wouldn't! Today's card is a good example of that. Now...I did manage to use "Gentler Times" again, surprise, surprise! This heart is actually the reason I bought the set in the first place. I used to shy away from watercoloring, so the line art images weren't that appealing to me. I know...shocker!

I use that bouquet image all the time now! Anyway, I loved adding the little button to the middle. I chose one that had four holes so I could make an X, kindof like cross my heart! Get it? yes...I am a dork!

I also paired it with some paper from My Mind's Eye from my giant slab. I am sure you will be seeing a lot of that paper. Because hearts and red were the theme for the challenge, I chose "from the heart" sentiment from Holidays and Wishes. I sewed a zig-zag stitch on the side, punched some Martha Stewart Lace edge and added a bit of satin ribbon! The heart is layered on a piece of white cardstock that has been stamped with the En Francais background stamp. I love it and I rarely use it! Of course I had to add some glitter to the edge of the card. I had fun with this one! Thanks for fluttering by!

P.S. I know I promised pics of my stamp area, but I will have to wait for the light to change to get some good pics.

Supplies: Gentler Times, Holidays and Wishes, En Francais stamp sets
Ink: Riding Hood Red, Palette Noir, Antique Linen Distress Ink

Paper: PTI White, Riding Hood Red, My Mind's Eye

Accessories: Ribbon by Offray, Martha Stewart glitter and lace edge punch, button from sewing store, linen thread, glue dots, foam squares, sewing machine and thread

Confessions and Questions

I have a confession to make. I, Kelly Lunceford, have *NEVER* ever used Pacific Point in a finished card until today. I have never even opened it until last week when I made a super ugly card that I threw away. This is the first time a piece of Pacific Point cardstock has ever been cut into at my house. I bought Muirfield DSP because it had Pacific Point in it and thought that would inspire me to use it. No...it didn't. I have used it quite a bit, but have only stamped the other colors in it. What is it about Pacific Point that makes me shy? I don't know. I also have never used Tangerine Tango on a finished card either. It has only been used on one other ugly card, too!I guess one of my New Year's goals should be to use both of these colors more. Like I mentioned before, I needed two more thank you cards. This is the last design that I need and I decided to incorporate the star theme from today's WT challenge on this card also. I even stamped them in pacific point! Yay for me!

Now for the question. How do I get my blog posts to get emailed out on the day that I post them? I went to feedblitz and had it check every hour for new posts, but it still is sending them the next day. I am super frustrated, but I am crossing my fingers that there is an easy fix. If you know, please leave me a comment in simple terms that a non-computer girl could understand! Thank you!

Funny story...well not funny for my finger. So...I bought a photo tent ages ago and I *NEVER* use it...I just can't get my photos to look right. Anyway...I decided to try it again today because I am tired of it collecting dust. It worked pretty good. I used it on the card above. While I was photographing my card, I noticed a speck of dirt that I brushed away. I then went to adjust my card, then I noticed an annoying red speck which I went to brush away. All of a sudden as I am noticing all of the red I am smudging all over the inside of my photo tent do I realize my finger is stinging pretty badly. I look down and see blood oozing out of my finger so now I have it all over the inside of my photo tent. Ughhh....the little black speck was a shard of metal that slivered it's way into my finger! So...now I have an Elmo band-aid on my finger as I am typing! LOL! And...I had to throw the liner to my photo tent into the washing machine. Hopefully it is machine washable and the blood comes out! Oh the adventures of a paper crafter! Thanks for fluttering by!

Supplies:

Bugs and Kisses Stamp Set

Ink: {Pacific Point}, baja breeze, kiwi kiss

Paper: PTI White, Muirfield DSP, {pacific point}, kiwi kiss

Accessories: star punch (large and small), baja breeze ribbon, vintage brads, foam squares and dimensionals, sewing machine and thread

Loads of Thanks

Last night after I finished organizing my stamp area (finally), I made a list of all the Thank You cards that I needed. I had enough for everyone except for two, so....that means you will be seeing at least two more thank you cards this week! LOL! Today's WT challenge over at SCS was to use stars in our designs. Whenever I think of designs with stars, I immediatly think of all of Jen's sketch challenges. So....I headed over to her blog, which is fabulously redone, I might add. You can check it out here http://www.iheart2stamp.com/ . I chose a sketch that I had already done, but one that was quick and easy. I gotta get these babies out the door! I chose to use my "Loads of Love" set which makes it look very Valentiney and because of the colors I chose. I know the star doesn't *quite* fit, but we'll just let it slide! LOL! I used my prints pattern dsp again today. It was on the brain. I moved all of my soon to be retired stamp sets out and now I need to move the paper over, too. I colored the image with prismacolor and copic markers and a sharpie for the tires. I added some crystal effects to the hearts...I just rediscovered it in a drawer yesterday. Let me just say this...out of sight, out of mind. I like having things put away and tidy, but sometimes I forget to use them.

I will be sharing photos of my newly organized room. There isn't a ton of change, but enough to make me happy. My stamps are now out in the open where I can see them, I have more storage space and I am ready for a new year of stamping! It feels so good to be organized!!! Thanks for fluttering by!