Mojo Monday

I thought I'd better hurry and use this MojoMonday sketch  before another one comes along soon. I haven't been doing them for a few weeks. In fact, I lost my Mojo  "gadget Don't quite know how, but I just put it back, so I will be reminded to go there every week. This card uses the sketch, but also is being linked to Mr. Linky over at Embellish Magazine. They have weekly challenges too. And this week is to use an owl and specific colors. Click on the gadget in my sidebar for further deets.

So here's my card that covers both challenges. I used SU's mellow moss, pink coral and choc. chip. The owl is a clear dollar stamp from Inkadinkadoo. The sentiment is from a little box grouping of tiny sentiments that I got a while ago. All they say is Pixie stamps. I colored in the owl with Spica pens. Love these subtle sparkling pens. The card is finished with a flower, cordoroy button and white ribbon that I colored in with a mellow moss SU marker. There were 3 Cuttlebut embossing folders used on this. That's surely a record for me. I used my giant Marvy punch on the scallops...poor thing is quite neglected in favor of Nestibilities. The owl circle is a Nestie circle die. I used the "out of the box" technique to get the branch to hang outside of the circles, so I could stamp him to one side of the circle and still have room for the tiny sentiment. The stamping is done in Memento Rich Cocoa. I think this is a cute card and stuck with the colors and sketch pretty well. This is the first time I've used 2 challenges in one card.

So, what did you fix for dinner tonite? Do you try to make Sunday dinner or supper a bit special? I usually do and I always make enough for Monday, so I can have a fun-filled day of stamping.  I cheated this time. I bought one of those oh-so-convenient already roasted chickens. I am going to make some rice with gravy...dh can't live w/o gravy...and fresh cauliflower. Really simple, but good. Tomorrow, I will show you some of the little treat bags I've been working on for my dd to give her co-workers as a T-Day treat.

So, I hope that my legions of fans have a healthy week and can look forward to many blessings.

Erica

Medallion

I couldn't wait to get this fab stamp and it took me a while, but I intend to make up for lost time.

For me, this card is both busy and elegant. I've never used lace on a card before and the flowers are doubled and the paper on the bottom uses alcohol ink on glossy paper with the gold flecks in it. Oh, you all know what I mean...it's a technique that we have all done at some point. Anywho, it worked for what I was trying to do. I just love how this turned out and will have a difficult giving this one away. I inked up the flower and may have gone a bit over-board, otherwise I'm happy with it.

Got plans for Saturday?I am finishing up my dd's treat holders for T-Day. They are so stinkin' cute. I will share with a kudos to the tute-maker (ha ha) that inspired me.

Make sure you get in a little stampin...I know I will. I'm going to find a challenge somewhere and try it.

Hugs & Blessings
Erica

Happy Friday

It's here....the weekend. Do you have any big plans? I suppose just getting ready for the holidays. I don't do Halloween, but Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite holiday...because of all the yummy things to eat. I keep to a very traditional menu and that's the way my family enjoys it. I'm curious as to what my legions of fans have for their dinner. Do you try new things on this day, or stay with the tried and true? Do you do it all yourself, or invite people over and then ask them to bring a dish?Do you make a specific request of them, or just say bring whatever and hope for no dish doubles. I will post my menu in the first week of November. My hubby is asking me how much I think I'll need this year to spend on the day's food. For the first time, I'm at a loss. Food is one of the priorities that has sky-rocketed in price this year. I'm noticing that meat is staying at a somewhat good price, but everything else...especially flour, cereal products, rice, is way up. I don't know how large families are making it. We will have 10 people this year including 3 little ones whose eyes are often bigger than their bellies. I like to have leftovers to send home with my family and some for the next day for me & hubby, plus enough to make a turkey soup and a couple of sandwiches. If I buy ham...and most of the time I do, I will get a bone-in ham and make split pea soup. It is dh's favorite. He won't eat the ham, but he'll eat the soup made with the ham. Go figure. So, I'm all listenin' legions of fans. Bend my ear.

For my card, I used the Nesties Labels 7. When I saw this showcased on a blog-hop back in August, I knew I had to have it. Don't these stamps work well with it. They are by Inkadinkadoo and Hero Arts. The paper is My Minds Eye. The flower is a Michael's wedding flower with a brad. There is also another Nestie under the Labels 7. I added Cuttlebug corners and a bow and M.S. leaves. Oh, and some bling on the corners. The base is SU's old olive. I really like how this card turned out and that means I don't want to give it away...at least not until I get tired of looking at it.

So, make sure you make time for stamping this weekend and rest up for the upcoming holidays.

Hugs & Blessings,
Erica

More Tulips

Here is a second tulip card. This one is done is done in blues. I suppose it is sorta' monotone. I stamped on watercolor paper and used my watercolor crayons to paint the flowers. I'm thinking I need to do something about hi-lighting the center of the flower as they need to be black. I may try using a extra-fine point marker to just dot some speckles on.
I hope everyone has enjoyed their Saturday and had the chance to do some stamping. Not much going on in my life and that's the way I like it.
For a well-done video-tute on how to use the "bow easy", a tool I can't live without, see Stamp TV where Gina does a marvelous job of making this tool work. I was making them fairly well, but her tute showed I was missing one critical step. Maybe it will do that for you or if you don't have one, tempt you to get one. The link can be found here
StampTV.com. You may have to go the previous show...just look for words that include "bow easy." I'm still playing around with direct links as Blogger went and updated and I never fully understood the old one. But I can tell the update is better...just gotta get used to it I guess. I suppose that's what Sundays are for, huh...with that said, Have a Blessed One, and get some stampin' done will ya?!
Erica

OK, so it's not in a row

 
Lookie, I paper-pieced. This is the easiest image to do that technique with, IMO. It's from Stampin' Ups' Voila set. I made the card for my SIL's B-day. He loves my cakes. Hey Yosha, that recipe will come in handy. I plan on making it for an anniversary he and my dh celebrate really soon. So the ds paper is from a dwindling stack of My Minds Eye that I adore. and everything else is fairly ordinary stuff.
Well, I gotta run...Bible study and I have opted to run to KFC for dinner for dh tonite and YIPPIE, he said OK. So, I'm off.
More cards on the morrow.
Have a good hump day evening.
Blessings,
Erica

Oh Bother...Day Two

 
I just glanced at the clock and it is after 12 midnight, which means I am honestly not posting two days in a row. Well, let's pretend, shall we?
So here is a card I made with that gorgeous stamp I have been blathering about. It doesn't have a name but is from a company called Heartfelt Creations. There is only a toll-free number on the wood block. I bought it at the CKC a few weeks ago, along with two unmounted Christmas sets. They are all quite lovely. They had many to choose from. When time allows, I'm going to have to do a search to try locating a website. If any of my legions of fans knows of them, please share.
So, can't you see the versatility in this stamp? What could you NOT use it for I ask? Tomorrow, I'll have another design and I will probably bore you with more until I've had my fill. It is so easy to color. Here, I've used kraft paper and Prismacolor pencils with gamsol. Red pearls I bought at CKC, some twine and MS border punch with an MS butterfly add some pizzaz. The ds paper is from my stash. and the choc. chip mat was embossed with a CB folder and then sponged with some distress ink. I just love it and will have a rough time giving this one away.
My CTMH, Amy, has finally resolved the funding issue for me to join and it's now a done deal. I expect my kit by mid-week. It's been 6 months since I greeted Mrs. Brown with a happy wave. When she drops off my dh's meds, I don't even open the door, so she just leaves them in doorway alcove. I have to be reminded to go and get them, as I rarely use the front door for anything but letting guests in.
So, I hope you have fun plans for the weekend and if not, remember, there is always stamping. That's what I plan on doing.

Autumn...are we there yet?

 
Hi everyone...a little bit of a hiatus there. My legions of fans know I couldn't get past seven days in a row, right? Well, I'm about to start another lucky 7 with this, the first one. I know I blathered on and on about a new stamp that I got and adore. Well, I have been making even more cards with it. I have to take photos and upload. I absolutely will share with you in the coming two days. Cross My Heart! I am also waiting to get my demo-ship with Close To My Heart. That has become a bit of a mess as they do not take my credit card of choice (AMEX) and we have had to figure out how to get me my kit. I hope this is resolved by next week. I already have a small order from a friend.
So here's a fall card of sorts. I wanted to use the hottest new product....flower soft. My pals and I bought 3 colors and split it between us. This is the autumn color. It is a nice little something to add to your cards. The colors of he MS butterfly don' quite work. I might need to change that out at some point. Flowersoft is one of those things that will come and go...it's not ribbons or buttons and Heaven forbid like CB folders and Nesties. Speaking of, Hobby Lobby is having a 40% sale this week on Nesties, including a few of the recently introduced pendants and I am scrounging up money wherever I can to add to my stash. I am raiding my dh's change box tomorrow and I'm not tellin' him either. Bad girl that I can be!
Hugs,
Erica