Well I have to say that I am absolutely thrilled for Andrea and her great news.  I am so proud of her for having achieved this prestigious award.  It was quite cute, she was doing quite the happy dance lol.  So as you might know, we are on vacation this week, and having a wonderful time sitting at the beach, and visiting sites near my Dad’s house.  The weather is beautiful, and the company of course is in-comparable.  This card was of course prepared before I left.  I had a lot of fun doing it, and I decided that I will have to save it and use it next year for my Son’s birthday!  The set is retired, but that is no reason why it should be forgoten in my opinion.  I just know that my son will love it!

Directions:

1. Start by stamping out your truck on some Tangerine Tango CS using the matching ink. (Truck is from the set By Land).  Cut it out.
2. Next stamp the truck on to Apricot Appeal CS (retired), cut out the elements of  the truck seperately.  Sponge each piece with the Tangerine Tango Classic ink and then glue the pieces of the body over the first cut out.  Make sure that the window on the Apricot layer is cut out using a Hobby blade. 
3. Stamp the wheels on Basic Black CS using a Versamark ink pad, and emboss with clear embossing Pwd.  Cut out the wheels and stick them down using Tombow Multi Purpose adhesive.
4. Paint the centers of the wheels with Silver Smooch paint and add smooch for a handle and bumper.
5. Stamp out the truck on to Bashful Blue CS and cut out the windows. Sponge window with a touch of Tempting Turquoise Classic ink. Insert them into the truck window area, and glue down with Tombow multi purpose adhesive.
6. Cut out some freehand dirt from Close to Cocoa (retired) ad te shade with some Early Espresso Classic ink.  Dot with Sakura Stardust pen, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Crystal Effects (to adhere glitter).  Stick it to the back of the truck.
7. Stamp out some clouds (from Boatloads of Love) and colour with some Tempting Turquoise and Blender pen.  Cut out and set aside.
8. Die cut your Top Notes die 3 times.  Once in Poppy Parade, once in Bashful Blue, and once in Close to Cocoa (retired).  Cut off the rim on the Bashful Blue and Close to Cocoa.  Sponge the Bashful Blue with Tempting Turquoise. Sponge the Poppy Parade with Early Espresso, and the Close to Cocoa with Early Espresso.  Cut the Close to Cocoa bottom section into a bumpy pattern, and then stick it down in layers at the base of the Bashful Blue CS.  Next stick it down on to the Poppy Parade CS.  Stick the truck on with Stampin’ Dimensionals, and then glue the clouds down.
9. Cut your card so that it is 6″ x 6″ from Chocolate Chip CS.
10. Cut a Whisper White CS 5 3/4″ x 5 3/4″ and sponge on clouds using a homemade cloud template and some Marina Mist Classic ink.
11. Cut some Close to Cocoa (retired) strips (1″ x 5 3/4″) with a bumpy pattern, and then sponge with some Early Espresso classic ink.  Stick it down from the bottom edge so that the top is like a pocket.
12. Create some freehand rocks from River Rock CS and Sahara Sand CS, sponge them with Basic Black ( for the Sahara Sand), and Really Rust (River Rock).  Dot them with White gel pen, and Sakura Stardust pen.  Tuck and stick them into the dirt.
13. Cut sentiment from Whisper White CS and the Go-Go boots alphabet.  Stick down with Tombow glue.  Shade with the Sahara Sand marker.
14. Stamp the sentiment with Basic Black Classic ink.  You are done.

Supplies:

1. Stamps:  By Land (retired), Boatloads of Love (retired)
2. Paper:  Tangerine Tango, River Rock, Sahara Sand, Whisper White, Basic Black, Chocolate Chip,  Poppy Parade, Bashful Blue, Close to Cocoa (retired), Apricot Appeal (retired)
3. Ink:  Versamark, Early Espresso, Marina  mist, Tangerine Tango, Tempting Turquoise, Basic Black, Really Rust(retired), Apricot Appeal (retired)
4. Accessories:  Snail, Tombow multi-purpose adhesive, Paper Snips, Big Shot, Go-Go Boots Alphabet, Crystal Effects, Dazzling Diamonds, Stamping Dimensionals, White gel pen, Sahara Sand marker
5. Other non-SU:    Sakura Stardust pen, Stone die

Hugs,

Well the house is finally starting to come together, and my studio area is looking good, except for the fact that it looks like a bomb went off.  That though is normal for me when I am working.  It does not matter how organized I have my supplies, or how much space I have to work, it still always looks like a disaster when I am in the midst of creation lol.  Anyway, I have been creating whenever I have a free moment, and have a couple of cards to share with you next week     I have been experimenting with other styles, and decided to go with something super distressed, while showing off the bright colours and white rim of the fun summer drink image.  I am happy with how it turned out, but then distressing always makes me happy.

Supplies:

1. Stamps:  Cheers to You, Many Happy Returns (retired), Boatloads of Love (retired)
2. Ink:  Old Olive, Really Rust, Close to Cocoa, Staz-On black ink
3. Paper:  Certainly Celery,Cookie Crumb, Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla, Newsprint DP
4.  Accessories:  Paper Snips, Scallop Edge punch, Snail, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Watercolour paper, re-inkers, Aqua Painter, Clear Rhinestone adhesive, 2-way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Stamping Sponges, brown marker.

Directions:

1. Stamp out your drink and cloud (from Boatloads of Love) on watercolour paper using black Staz-On ink. Colour it in With your re-inkers and Aqua painter.  Cut out and then glitter the drink portion using your 2-way glue pen and some Dazzling Diamonds glitter.
2. Stamp out your sentiment on a paper made to fit. Stamp it out with Close to Cocoa and sponge the edges with Really Rust and Close to Cocoa.  Add some free hand doodling with a brown fine tip marker. mat it on Close to Cocoa which is 1/4″ bigger.  Set aside.
3.  Cut a Cookie Crumb CS 1/4″ smaller than your Card front and scallop the bottom.  Cut your Newsprint DP a 1/4″ smaller and scallop its bottom.  Distress the edges with your scissors. Mat it on to the Cookie Crumb CS and then sponge the two of them with Really Rust and Close to Cocoa.
4. Take a piece of Certainly Celery CS (1 1/2″ x 4″)  and scallop the bottom.  Sponge with Old Olive.  Stick it to the back of the Cookie Crumb and Newsprint mat. Stick this mat to the card front.
5.  Stick your sentiment to the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.  Add two Rhinestones to either side.  Stick your images to the front of the card using dimensionals.  You are done!

Well I hope you enjoyd today’s card, and I look forward t seeing you all next week.

Hugs,

Phew!  The summer is lots of fun, but very busy!!  There is always lots of running around, but with vacation coming up soon, it means that the work load is fairly heavy.  In order to shut down, we have to make sure that we are not going to be playing to much catch up when we get back.  Either way though, it was nice to take some time off to do a fun card.  I love coloring, and find it very relaxing, so this image was perfect for my needs.  I know that this monkey is something of a Love or Hate image for most of you.  For me, I love it, and my youngest son actually has his own sock monkey which was gifted to him.  I happen to think that it is quite adorable!!  I was especially excited to see an extension in his accessories in the new catalogue.  I won’t bother listing the directions because it is pretty easy to figure out by looking, but I will list the supplies, and as soon as I find my drafting templates, I will do a short video on how you can do your own frames.

Supplies:

1. stamps:  Sock Monkey, and a clear stamp for frame which was gifted by a friend (will show how to make when I find templates) 
2. Ink:  Pacific Point and Early Espresso Classic ink, Black Staz-On, Variety of markers
3. Paper:  Cool Carribean (retired), Early Espresso CS, Watercolour paper, Newsprint DP
4. accessories:  Stampin’ Dimensionals, Glue Dots (for buttons), Snail Adhesive, Paper Snips, Stamping Sponges, Linen Thread, Aqua Painter, Black marker for stitching, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Masking paper (post it notes), Dazzling Diamonds, Crystal Effects (for Banana), buttons from button jar

Hugs,

Wow, has time ever flown!! I feel like we just ran a marathon!  We have been frantically working morning to night trying to get everything unpacked, while at the same time dealing with contractors everywhere!!  My studio is almost finished being made, and all the paper and products are unpacked. 

The only thing left to do around the house is some painting, some speakers to add in, and a missing couch which should be here soon.  We have been putting so many personal adds to this house, and it has been quite the journey.  The house itself is gorgeous, and I am in love.  We have just opted to add in a 5th room, gas lines for BBQ and stove, pantry, and of course my beautiful studio that my husband designed for me. 

Nobody of course has ever seen my work space, mostly due to the fact that it was a mish mash of furniture thrown together to hold my stuff, and a couple of tables to work on.  This time I can’t wait to show everyone my wonderful space.  My husband is tickled pink with his designs, and I am amazed at the effort he went to in putting it together.  The shelves for my papers for instance he had to fight to get into Canada.  They come from a company in the US, and they really did not want to go to the hassle to ship it to us.  He had to find a broker and jump through a lot of hoops to get them.  So look for my studio post in a few weeks.  He does not want me to show it until it is perfect . 

Anyway, today’s card is just an older one from a few weeks ago.  I did it for my stamper’s club.  Because half my stuff was packed at the time I had to make do with a different alphabet, (oops, kinda packed essentials). Anyway, all you would have to do is change up the alphabet.  Now I don’t have a lot of time, I kinda have to keep unpacking *sigh* but I will do my best to remember the supplies.  I still have not come across the card to take a close look at what I used.

Directions:

1. Take your Chocolate Chip CS cut your 6″ x 6″ card base.  Cut your Sweet Pea DP a 1/4″ smaller. 
2. Die cut your Textured Old Olive CS with the Scallop Square bigz die.  Sponge the edges with some Old Olive Classic ink.  Set aside.
3. Cut some Whisper White CS in a square so that it fits within the scallops (one of my unknowns).  Stamp the white with the flower from your Fifth Avenue Floral.  Before stamping though, have two masks prepared so that you can protect your image as you stamp down multiple times.  Stamp the flower twice again on scrap Whisper White CS.  Cut them out.
4. With a sponge dauber and some Tangerine Tango Classic ink, color in the flowers.  You will have to be carefull not to sponge outside the lines.  Next, you will stamp the stems, masking off the necessary flowers to avoid criss crossing lines.
5. Color in your stems with your Old Olive marker.
6. Sponge the edges of the Whisper White CS with some Tempting Turquoise ink. 
7. After sponge colouring the two cut flowers pop them up onto the flower design.
8. Stick the image mat onto the Old Olive Scallop Square.
9. Stick the Scallop Square to the main card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals.
10. Die cut your letters from So Saffron CS and sponge with Tangerine Tango Classic ink.  Stick them to Old Olive CS and then cut around them to create a border.  Stick them to the card front.
11. Color in the center of your flowers with So Saffron marker, and then glitter up with your 2-way glue pen and your Dazzling Diamonds glitter.
12. Add doodling with your Black marker and your Signo gel pen.  You are now done!

Well I am not quite ready for doing many posts, but I will sure do my best to get another card out for you soon.

Hugs,

Ok, so you are probably used to Makeover  Monday being brought to you by Andrea, but she is on a field trip with her kids to Niagra Falls.  So I am stepping into her day today to bring you my Makeover Monday project to do.  Now this is not normally my thing.  The reason is not that I don’t love other cards, its just that a) it takes me forever to find the one that I want to do, and also that this works better with Angie’s style then mine.  You see I can take any card with beautifully colored images and just put the same layout with different papers and image and it will be fine!  But that is not the point of the day, the point of course is to make it with our stuff, and its more meaningful to do that with this type of card that relies on elements rather than a main focal image.  So after an hour and a half of looking, I decided to do this one HERE .  It’s from the same blog that Ange went to last week.  The cards there were gorgeous and unique, tried one of the rumpled flower ones, but I think I need to work on the flower a little more before showing, otherwise you might mistake it for a crumpled bit of fabric which I stuck to cardboard.

Ok so anyways, I have a HUGE problem…………….I mean like Massive!!  I am in desperate need of HELP!!   My catalogue arrived today………….and well……………..I don’t know how to break it to those who have not yet seen it.   I am DEAD!!!!!  Ok, so how to explain this….. I have a catalogue quirk.  I color code things with highlighter.  Yellow is first order, pink is second order, orange is third order, and green is fourth order.  Pretty self explanitory.  The problem is the imbalance.  Yellow is far outweighing all other colours.  And then there is the problem when you try to over-colour other colours with yellow because you realize you made a terrible mistake in designating something for 2nd order instead of first.  And then there are the pen jots.  Eventually my catalogue is a disgrace and code which only I can dicipher.  Well let me tell you it is going to be damaging.  I am not sure…………… would my husband notice if his large screen TV dissapeared  to fund it?  I mean, is TV really even good for you?  I would probably end up doing him a favour, saving  him long hours in front of the TV playing Xbox…….. ok maybe not. *sigh*  Anyhoo, the catalogue is wonderful! 

Ok, lastly, this card is easy to make!  You take 3/4″ strips of CS and sew it to a Whisper White card front.  I suggest adding Dotto to the end so that they stay in place as you sew.  I also suggest not listening to dance music as you sew and zooming through your stitches so that you don’t end up with jumps ( as I did in second strip down from the top).  Once that is done, you will Take some Chipboard letters and cover with Whisper White Craft ink, emboss with Iridescent Ice embossing pwd.  and then stick it on with Tombow multi-purpose adhesive.  Last stick to pearls from your Pretties kit on the corner using you glue dots.  You are done!  Colours are:  Pink Pirouette, Pretty in PInk, Regal Rose, Melon Mambo, Rose Red. 

Hope you have a fantastic day