Love of Embellishments......

Ready for some exciting news???? Well first, let me share some cards I made some time ago.

This first one was quicker than quick! A bit of the fabulous Honey Pie dp with some Honey Pie rub-ons! Let me tell you, if you haven't tried Cosmo Cricket rub-ons you are missing out. They are so easy to use and are much "thicker" than most on the market! Oh, don't forget that yummy chocolate chip ribbon! :-)
Recipe:
Paper: ruby red, honey pie dp (Cosmo Cricket)
Accessories: chocolate chip ribbon, honey pie rub-ons (cosmo cricket)

This is a fun baby boy card. I love the colors......
Recipe:
Paper: certainly celery, bashful blue, real red, whisper white, bambino dp (Daisy D's)
Accessories: star punch, slit punch, 3/4" circle punch, real red ribbon, bambino metal brads (Daisy D's)

How can you not smile at this guy??
Recipe:
Paper: brocade blue, creamy caramel, summer sun
Accessories: certainly celery ribbon, scallop punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, baby boy smile die cuts (Daisy D's)

This card just came together so nicely. It was one of my first sewing projects, although you can hardly see the stitches in the picture (they separate the 3 different layers of dp.)
Recipe:
Stamps: Le Jardin (Lizzie Anne Designs)
Paper: close to cocoa, sweet branch collection kit dp (Crate Paper)
Ink: brilliance
Accessories: copics, copper brad (American Crafts), sewing machine

So all the items in RED were bought at Jacksonbelle Embellishments, a fabulous online store with great products that you just can't find in my little town.

So now you have to go here
to find out about my little announcement........

Inspired By Colors

So I took a stab at Kristina's Color Inspiration again. This week was soft sky, close to cocoa, chocolate chip, and very vanilla. Such an elegant combo! I have stacks of chipboard and now that I know you can use copics on them, I will be grabbing for them regularly! Copics cover them so quickly and NO mess! Love it! The sentiment is from H&M Stamps Sea Life. This particular chipboard is from BasicGrey. I love the adhesive back! The flower is actually 2 layers of chipboard. The top flower is covered with vanilla and then colored with a copic. A bit of glitter was added using a spica pen. You can't tell from the picture but I added an embossed line above and below the designer paper. It sort of frames it in and adds a little extra.
Recipe:
Stamps: sea life (H&M Stamps)
Paper: chocolate chip, spring break dp, close to cocoa textured, very vanilla
Ink: close to cocoa
Accessories: chipboard (basicgrey), corner punch, bone, copper brad (american crafts), copics, spica pen

Kind Thoughts Sketch Color Challenge

This card is for yesterday's color challenge on SCS and today's sketch challenge. It could also qualify for my Simple Monday card because this one was super quick! I used my copic black to color the scallop chipboard...so easy and no inky mess! :-)
Recipe:
Stamp: Kind Thoughts
Ink: purely pomegranate, soft sky, basic black
Paper: holiday harmony dp, notebook dp, basic black
Accessories: mat pack, paper piercer, maya road scallop frame, pomegranate satin ribbon, sewing machine, black brads, dazzling diamonds

TWO Way Open Birthday Card

Here is a quick one for today's technique challenge on SCS: Two Way Open Card. It was a very fun technique. I made the card a bit smaller so it could fit in my mini envelope.
Recipe:
Stamps: Wild Birthday Wishes (H&M Stamps)
Paper: brilliant blue, tempting turquoise, tempting turquoise dp, whisper white, cosmo cricket dp
Ink: memento tuxedo black, brilliant blue
Accessories: 1" circle punch, corner rounder, maya road scallop chipboard, copics, offray ribbon, word window, sewing machine, adhesive rhinestones by K&Company, thickers

Weekend Getaway!

The Ali Edward's class was so much fun on Saturday night! I just love the friends that I have made on SCS! Fun, supportive, and just as obsessed about stamping as me! :-) Here are some of the pictures. From left to right: Linsey, AJ, ME, Ali Edwards, Pushpa, Sarah

My mother & sister in law had fun too!!


We made an acrylic album.
I still have the journaling to do.....

Drum Roll Please.........

And the winner of a H&M Stamp from next month's release is........
Jen Tapler!! Random.org picked her post number: 28! Jen, please email me: maren@zanynotcrazy.com with your choice of stamp set and your snail mail so I can pass it on to Heather. It will take 2-3 weeks for them to come your way since they will be HOT from the manufacture but you will be getting them before the release date!

By the way, Jen is hosting a Virtual Crop/Stamp-a-thon to benefit Alzheimer's Association. It is a week-long event that begins Saturday, May 3, 2008 (National Scrapbook Day!!). To participate, you need to make a minimum $5 donation to the Alzheimer's Association. It is such a great cause and wonderful thing that Jen is doing!! I will surely participate & I hope you do too!! Head over to Jen Tapler Designs Blog for more info and to sign up!

Thank you everyone for playing, I do wish I could send you all a set but my hubby &/or Heather might not approve! :-) I hope to post something today. I know that I still need to post the box tutorial from earlier this week but I think that will have to wait until Sunday night. I am leaving for Seattle tonight and will be attending an Ali Edwards' class on Saturday night with some fellow SCS gals and my mom! Should be fun and I will have lots to share when I get back on Sunday! :-)

Great Featured Swapper: Jackie

A fantastic swap group that I belong to, Great Swaps Girls, started a blog and is now hosting challenges. In addition to a weekly challenge, there will also be featured stamper. This week, our first go at it, the featured stamper is Jackie. She is such a talent! I always am in awe at her amazing creations! I happily choose this card to case: One Layer Card. I substituted red for burgundy, switched out cuttlebug folders, added rhinestone stickers, and changed the sentiment.
Recipe:
Stamps: Many Happy Returns
Paper: kraft, whisper white
Ink: real red
Accessories: word window punch, hibiscus rhinestone singles (Me & My Big Ideas), cuttlebug, red ribbon

Lucky Ducky!!

Yes, that is me! Guess what? I was the April Monthly Gallery winner over on the Lizzie Anne Designs Forum! Here is the card that won (it is the BOTTOM of the 3). I used my $20 gift certificate to purchase some of their new sets! This adorable little giraffe is from the new Born To Be Wild set.
The colors are from Kristina's Color Inspiration #6. Pumpkin pie, wild wasabi, sahara sand & so saffron......what a fun combo! You have until Thursday night to play!
Recipe:
Stamps: Born to be Wild (LAD), mixed messages (PTI)
Paper: sahara sand, pumpkin pie textured, whisper white, bali breeze dp
Ink: so saffron, pumpkin pie, wild wasabi
Accessories: star brad & orange felt button (making memories), on board chipboard, 3/4" circle punch, saffron ribbon, corner rounder

I also found out that I won the random drawing for the Verve Visual Inspirational challenge! Remember this card? YEAH! Can't wait to use those Verve bucks on their new releases this Friday!! :-)

Speaking of free.....don't forget to sign up to win a May H&M Stamp release set HERE. Just remember that it will take 2-3 weeks to receive the set since it is for NEXT month's release!

Happy Father's Day

Here is another H&M Stamp set to come out on Friday. Still playing with my sewing machine too! This card is for today's sketch challenge on SCS.
Recipe:
Stamps: Dad's Outdoors
Paper: taken with teal, sage shadow, whisper white, scenic route dp
Ink: brilliance graphite black
Accessories: ticket corner punch, sewing machine, copper brads (american crafts)

Sew Fun!

I finally found some thread! Well, actually, my husband found it! :-) Can I just say that I LOVE my new machine. It is so easy to use. If I can use it then you would do amazing things with it. I bought it from Hancock Fabrics online. The zigzag border was easy peasy so I decided to try to make some swirls freehanded. I even ran a line of stickles along the stitched swirls. They are far from perfect but a good start, don't ya think?? This card is for the Verve Visual Ispirational Challenge. You have until midnight tonight to win some Verve bucks! You can't win unless you try, right?
Recipe:
Stamps: thankful blossoms
Paper: taken with teal, tempting turquoise, barely banana, so saffron, whisper white
Ink: taken with teal, brilliance graphite black
Accessories: white ribbon (offray), dazzling diamond stickles, copics, janome sew mini, white brad

More H&M Stamps

So the countdown is continuing! I bought a great friend some bath gel and after a bit of scoring came up with this.....the perfect gift box! This is also for today's color challenge on SCS: certainly celery, pretty in pink and chocolate chip. The sentiment and turtle are from the Sea Life set that will be available on Friday! :-) Oh, don't forget to post a comment HERE so you can have a chance to WIN some blog candy, a new stamp set!! :-)
Recipe:
Stamps: Sea Life
Paper: certainly celery, very vanilla, blush dp & gypsy dp (basicgrey)
Ink: brilliance graphite black, chocolate chip
Accessories: pink ribbon (offray), copics, slit punch


** I will post a tutorial for this box later this week. :-)

H&M Preview

This little gift card holder is for today's technique challenge. I used one of the H&M stamps that is coming out on Friday, Sea Life. It actually took longer than it should have because I was playing around with my fiskars texture plates....trying to get them through my cuttlebug. I know you can buy a pad to make it work but I was just playing with what I had. I ended up using a piece of foam so the embossing is very light BUT it worked!!
Recipe:
Stamps: Sea Life
Paper: blue bayou textured, soft sky, creamy caramel, whisper white, spring break dp
Ink: brilliance graphite black
Accessories: copper eyelets, twine, copics, fiskars textured plate, cuttlebug

Be sure to check out the fabulous H&M blog candy from earlier.

Simple Monday: Great Swap Color Challenge

Today is packed for me so a simple card is just perfect! The fabulous Great Swaps Girls have a blog now! So fun! We are also posting challenges. This week is a color challenge: regal rose, so saffron, certainly celery. You should definitely come play with us! :-)
Recipe:
Stamps: live your dream
Paper: wild wasabi, spring fling dp, whisper white
Ink: so saffron, regal rose, certainly celery
Accessories: regal ribbon, scallop punch, 1 3/8" circle punch

Candy, Candy, Candy.....BLOG Candy!

H&M Stamps will be available to you at midnight on the 25th!! Heather and us dt members are SO excited to finally be able to share these adorable stamps with you! Here are some of the creations that have been made so far: H&M Stamps. We still have some more to share with you this week! Heather is generously GIVING away one of the H&M stamp sets that will be released in MAY! You can choose from A DINO Day,
Celebrate the Day
or It's Picnic Time.
These are a peek at them....
Just post a comment here by Thursday night (11pm PST) and Friday (the release day) I will randomly pick a winner!!

There is also a $5.00 off coupon on orders of $25.00!! It is only good for the first 200 customers to order from H&M Stamps. Just enter this coupon code at the end of your order on Friday: HMDT42508

YEAH!

Ready for some exciting news?

Well, let me prolong it a bit.....
My new tool is a fabulous Janome mini sewing machine! I have been wanting to use it all weekend but couldn't find my thread! :-) I can't wait to start playing with it. I am far from an expert sewer so it should be interesting.

Crazy week ahead. H&M Stamps will finally open on Friday! I have some sneak peeks to share and some AMAZING blog candy to post tomorrow! :-)

Now are you ready?
Cards magazine emailed me and wants to publish one of my cards! :-) Can you believe it? I am still in shock!

A Little Sparkle in the Garden

I was so excited to order this set at the last MFT release but, amazingly, this is the first time I have inked it up!! My husband needs a bunch of thank you cards this week and one of them is an avid gardener. This card is also for today's featured stamper on SCS, sparklegirl. What an amazing gallery!! I changed the colors and stamp sets but kept the basic layout of this card: I Just Heard
This card is also for today's Celebrate MFT April O8.

Recipe:
Stamps: Can Ya Dig It? (MFT), mixed messages (PTI)
Paper: ruby red, blue bayou, blue bayou dp, whisper white, boxer dp (basicgrey)
Ink: brilliance graphite black, blue bayou, close to cocoa
Accessories: silver hodgepodge, stickles, copics, blue bayou ribbon

Ginormous Thanks

This currently unloved set is Ginormous Flowers. I used the 5 petal flower punch too, had to dust it off a bit first! The sentiment is from a half mounted Make It Count set, I am not even sure that it has ever been inked!
Recipe:
Stamps: make it count, ginormous flowers
Paper: whisper white, chocolate chip, old olive
Ink: pumpkin pie, old olive
Accessories: ribbon (offray), 5 petal punch, oval punch, peweter hodgpodge, flower fussion

Wild Inspired Two Scoops

This card is for today's Inspirational challenge on SCS. Such yummy fabric!! I can't believe how much of the two scoops dp I used on this card, although I love the layered paper. The image is from the Wild Rose set which, I admit, I have only used once since I won it some time ago. I used the blender pen to add a bit of saffron. My personal goal this weekend is to ink up some of my currently unloved sets. I have so much that I don't use! So you will be seeing some different images this weekend! I have a ton of cards that I HAVE to make and a new tool I want to play with....oh...and some VERY exciting news to come too! I will keep you all in suspense till later. :-)
Recipe:
Stamps: wild rose, live your dream
Paper: kraft, whisper white, two scoops dp (basicgrey)
Ink: regal rose, pretty in pink, so saffron, wild wasabi
Accessories: blender pen, pink ribbon (offray)

You're Amazing

This card is for tomorrow's sketch challenge on SCS. It was hard to get me going and took way longer than it should have but I am done....and I even like it! :-) I used copics on the main image and then punched the smaller flower with my boho blossom punch. The colors were inspired by the designer paper, Everyday Tango by My Mind's Eye. Have a great stamping day!
Recipe:
Stamps: Kind Thoughts, thankful blossoms (Verve Visual)
Ink: brilliance basic black, blue bayou
Paper: everyday tango dp (MME), night of navy, certainly celery, whisper white
Accessories: slit punch, boho blossom punch, rhinestone sticker, offray ribbon, copics

Good Luck

This is a card I did awhile ago for a Sketch This: Cards layout. It was really fun to make....love that little cricket! :-)
Recipe:
Stamps: green thumb & mixed messages (PTI)
Paper: ruby red, whisper white, everyday tango dp (MME)
Ink: wild wasabi, blue bayou, ruby red
Accessories: bayou ribbon, corner rounder, star punch, ghost shapes (Heidi Swapp), paper piercer, blue rhinestone stickers

Embrace Guava, Gray & Blush

Isn't today's color combo over at SCS amazing?? I might need to play around with it some more.....
Recipe:
Stamps: embrace life
Paper: basic gray, very vanilla, blush blossom, groovy guava dp, cerise dp
Ink: brilliance graphite black, basic gray
Accessories: guava ribbon, pretties kit, copics (R32, R02, E00, C-1, O), slit punch

You're The Man

So I was hoping tomorrow's color challenge on SCS would be posted early and then I remembered that I didn't even do last week's challenge. It is a tough one too! Real red, glorious green and night of navy! YIKES! I only had the navy and green paper so I knew right away that I was limited in my stamping.
So here is the manly card for such a manly color combo:
Recipe:
Stamps: Dad's Day
Paper: real red, glorious green, night of navy, whisper white
Ink: basic black, real red
Accessories: ticket corner punch, star punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, paper piercer, white ribbon (offray)

Teacher Appreciation Card

Is it coming close to that time of year?? When I saw Jen's Sketch For You To Try this week, I just knew that I could get one of my many teacher cards done! I am so proud of myself for starting early! :-)
Recipe:
Stamps: tart & tangy, back to school (MFT)
Ink: real red, basic black, brilliance graphite black
Paper: summer picnic dp, real red, basic black, whisper white
Accessories: real red ribbon, copics

Double Pocket Card

I was so excited to see a double pocket card challenge over at the TLC on SCS! I just love these! I used my H&M Stamps! Oh, I almost forgot to share the good news! Heather has had such an enthusiastic response to her new line that she moved up the release date to April 25th! :-)
Recipe:
Stamps: Wild Birthday Wishes
Ink: brilliance graphite black, pumpkin pie
Paper: wild wasabi, whisper white, jersey shore dp
Accessories: style sliver hodgepodge, oval punch, word window, cropadile, marvy square & square scallop punch, copics, striped pumpkin ribbon, orange ribbon (Offray)

Simple Monday: Gracias!

My amazing hubby has been asking me to make a thank you card for a coworker who translated some info. I FINALLY did it! Just a simple and quick card. I didn't even break out the ink or stamps for this one! Love those Thickers!! :-)
Recipe:
Stamps: NONE!
Paper: kraft, jersey shore dp
Ink: NONE!
Accessories: thickers (American Crafts), ribbon (offray), dew drops

More Verve

I decided I better not wait to the last minute for the Verve Visual Honored Guest Challenge! I used some more of the Two Scoops dp by Basicgrey. I just love the coordinating brads too! So fun!
Recipe:
Stamps: anniversary birds, thankful blossoms
Paper: sage shadow, basic black, barely banana, very vanilla, two scoops dp (basicgrey)
Ink: wild wasabi, so saffron, sage shadow, brilliance graphite black
Accessories: glazed brads (basicgrey), pink ribbon (offray), stampin dimensionals, copics

Amazing Mojo Madness

This card is a late entry for Poetic Artistry's Mojo Madness contest. I figured I would post it anyways....
Recipe:
Stamps: thankful blossoms
Paper: mellow dp (basicgrey), wild wasabi, very vanilla, tempting turquoise
Ink: close to cocoa, brilliance graphite black
Accessories: orange ribbon (offray), paper piercer, slit punch, jumbo eyelet, ice rhinestones

Inspired

The inspirational challenges on SCS always inspire me to think outside my stamping box! In my challenge catchup, I finished these two very quickly.
This inspiration was to pick a Cow Parade cow. Boy, are there a ton to choose from! I finally decided on Buttons & Bovine.
Recipe:
Stamps: green thumb
Paper: whisper white, basic black
Ink: brocade blue, real red, pretty in pink, bashful blue
Accessories: ribbon (K&I)
This card was for last week's Inspirational Challenge: Boodalee Bedding.
Recipe:
Stamps: polkadots and petals
Paper: gable green, going gray, basic black, tempting turquoise dp
Ink: taken with teal, gable green
Accessories: basic gray tafetta ribbon, adhesive rhinestones (Marcella by K), corner rounder

Featured Stampers

I really do hate missing the SCS challenges. Sometimes, in order to get them done, you have to double up!
This first card is for today's featured stamper, Kharmagirl! She has such a beautiful gallery! I decided on this card: Thinking of You. I kept the basic layout and the sentiment but changed the stamp, paper, colors, and added ribbon. The ribbon is stacked for Monday's Technique Lover's Challenge: Stacked ribbon.
Recipe:
Stamps: tulips (american art stamps), circle of friendship
Paper: sugared dp (basicgrey), pretty in pink, chocolate chip, whisper white
Ink: brilliance graphite black, chocolate chip
Accessories: olive satin ribbon (offray), pink grosgrain ribbon (offray), glazed brads (basicgrey), corner rounder, 1 3/8" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, 1" circle punch, sponge dauber, copics (0, C-1, E00, RV21, R32, R35, YG06, YG11, YG95), blender pen

This card is for last week's featured stamper, Kristi. This was a new gallery for me and it took some time to actually decide on a card amongst all the gorgeous creations! I finally picked Timeworn Trim. I also used a basicgrey rub on for the sentiment. This was last week's Way To Use It Challenge: Now Here's the Rub.
Recipe:
Stamps: tart & tangy
Paper: creamy caramel, rose red, whisper white, chocolate chip
Ink: rose red, old olive
Accessories: two scoops rub-ons (basicgrey), chocolate brads, ribbon (American craft)

Home Again, Home Again

It is always nice to be home! I finally unpacked my stamping stuff and am ready to create and post today! :-) I do apologize for the absence but hope to catch up on my blog surfing and commenting later tonight. We returned on Thursday night and I have been fighting a bug ever since. I finally slept for 13 hours last night and woke up refreshed and ready for another beautiful day!
This card is for a recent Great Swap. It is such a talented group of swappers! I made a rounded gate fold card.
Recipe:
Stamps: one of a kind, starstruck, boho backgrounds
Paper: kraft, western sky dp, soft sky, ruby red, chocolate chip, whisper white
Ink: chocolate chip, ruby red
Accessories: round tab punch, slit punch, 1/2" circle punch, cropadile, build-a-brad, white gel pen, chocolate ribbon, jumbo brads, coluzzle

Hi!

Hello everyone! We are on spring break right now! YEAH!! The boys and I are visiting my family on the westside of the state. We are heading to the zoo tomorrow and I am planning a side trip to Amuse! ;-) I went to another store today, Impress, and added some more copics to my collection, they are SO addicting! I did bring a suitcase of stamping stuff (never leave home without it!) but can't post images until we return this weekend. I hope that you are enjoying your week! :-)

VSN with H&M Stamps

Here are some of my VSN cards using the up and coming H&M stamps.
Isn't this little bird adorable?? This guy is in the Wild Birthday Wishes set. Karolyn's VSN challenge was to make a purse (genie bag tutorial here).
Recipe:
Stamps: Wild Birthday Wishes
Paper: Mrcella K dp, whisper white
Ink: brilliance graphite black
Accessories: maya road frames, copics, green ribbon, jumbo eyelets
This was for the "manly" card challenge by Patty.
Recipe:
Stamps: Dad's Outdoors
Paper: blue bayou, whisper white, western sky dp
Ink: brilliance graphite black, blue bayou
Accessories: copics, silver hodgepodge
Krista posted a cracked glass challenge. Here is the tutorial.
Recipe:
Stamps: Sea Life
Paper: wild wasabi, chocolate chip, whisper white
Ink: brilliance graphite black, chocolate chip
Accessories: copics, chocolate ribbon, crystal embossing powder, versa mark

VSN SU!

Here are all the SU! VSN cards that I completed.
This first one was for a faux stitching challenge by Paula.
Recipe:
Stamps: Live Your Dream, all in a row
Paper: whisper white, chocolate chip, amanda blu dp
Ink: chocolate chip
Accessories: ribbon

Faith's challenge was to use a sketch stamps.
Recipe:
Stamps: fun & fast notes
Paper: two scoops dp (basic grey), whisper white, barely banana
Ink: brilliance graphite black
Accessories: copics, cosmo cricket ribbon
Anne-Marie posted a Psychedelic Tie-Dye Challenge.
Recipe:
Stamps: Kind Thoughts
Paper: River Rock, real red, basic black, orchid opulence
Ink: lovely lilac, almost amethyst, real red
Accessories: red ribbon

This card is for Ann's Wedding Dress Challenge.
Recipe:
Stamps: fabulous flowers
Paper: blush blossom, whisper white, dmd dp
Ink: versa mark
Accessories: crystal embossing powder, white tafetta, slit punch, crystal rhinestone stickers, stampin dimensionals

JoAnn posted a limited supplies challenge.
Recipe:
Stamps: tart & tangy, Celebrate everything
Paper: mellow moss, pumpkin pie, whisper white
Ink: pumpkin pie, mellow moss
Accessories: pumpkin brads, 1 3/8" & 1 1/4" circle punch
A fabulous sketch challenge was posted by Vicki!
Recipe:
Stamps: always
Paper: basic black, whisper white, amanda blu dp
Ink: basic black, basic gray
Accessories: scallop punch, coluzzle, 1 1/4" circle punch, white ribbon
I have never used the faux leather technique before so I was excited to see Robyn's leather/metal challenge.
Recipe:
Stamps: Many Happy Returns
Paper: Kraft, vanilla, really rust
Ink: really rust, more mustard, close to cocoa
Accessories: star punch, jumbo eyelets, masking tape, ribbon, twine