Verve Project Parade Day 3: It's a Girl Thing

Well, have ya'll missed me? The last few weeks, I've blogged every Monday and Tuesday for sure, only taking a couple of days off a week from blogging. Trust me, I would much rather have been blogging an entire book than enduring what I've gone through over the last four days. Lindsie came down with the stomach flu last Friday night, which led to guess what? ME coming down with it bright and early Monday morning. Not the greatest way to lose 6 pounds in one day, but if that's the silver lining, I can't complain. I'm feeling better now and ready to get my mojo going again! Luckily I had this project all wrapped up for the Verve Project Parade which started on Monday (so if ya'll haven't been over to the Verve Blog, you need to go check it out!) I have to just say that I think this has been my favorite Verve Project Parade theme to date--It's a Girl Thing, celebrating the women in your life. I had a couple of different ideas for Jen's theme this time, but after talking to her a little more about it, I knew what direction I wanted to take and that it would be a perfect opportunity to make a heartfelt gift for my mom (so Mom, if you are reading this--Happy Mother's Day a little early!). The sentiment from the Because of You set seemed to be the perfect choice for a special gift and could be used for just such a gift for any special woman in your life--a mom, grandma, sister, or best friend.

The little wooden stand is an 8.5" Card Holder from Glue Art and Paper Studio that come unfinished and in several different sizes for endless possibilities. I found a little house-shaped chipboard album at Michaels for $1 (perfect for my mom since she works in a real estate office), but only needed the one piece from it for this project (Yay! I can make more!). Several punches, Nestabilities and shapes cut from my Slice machine were used to enhance my project, but it wouldn't be as special without the Elegant Flower stamp from Verve that I cut out and layered on each side of "mom" and on the house itself. I had a lot of fun making this for you, Mom! Can't wait for you to see it in person (it's even better IRL!)!

We also can't wait to see what you create if (when) you play along! To play along, just make a project or card that fits your style and celebrates a woman in your life. Then just add a link to your creation to the Mr. Linky form IN THIS POST before 8PM Mountain on Thursday, May 14. Two random participants will be chosen and win a $25 gift certificate to the Verve Store. Have fun with this and good luck!

SUSIE Q-TIP: A throwback from my painting days: Always sand your wood project before even beginning to paint it. Here's the best trick: Sand it again after your first coat of paint has been applied for an even smoother finish to your second coat.

Stamps: Because of You, Elegant Flower (Verve)
Paper: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Pretty in Pink, Mellow Moss (SU!), Girl Friday (Cosmo Cricket)
Ink: Palette Noir (Superior), Chestnut Roan Cat's Eye (Colorbox)
Accessories: Scallop Circle & Labels 2 Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Threading Water Punch (Fiskars), Slice Machine/Noteworthy Card, Hemp Twine, Buttons, Adhesive Rhinestones, Stitched Ribbon, Card Holder (GLUE), Chipboard House Shape, MS Butterfly Punch, Dimensionals, Glue Dots

A {Girls Rule} Sketch For You To Try

Well, yesterday was all about the girls (and a little about myself, but I'm allowed--I'm a girl). Audrie went to school, so I decided to browse a few garage sales (didn't find anything) and then went home for a little stamping time. After I picked Audrie up, we went and took lunch to Lindsie up at her school and ate with her (Chic-fil-A as requested). Went home for some more stamping time and a movie for Audrie. After school let out, two of Lindsie's friends came over to practice their dance routine for the school talent show coming up (so cute!). I made White Chicken Chili for dinner, another of the girls' favorites. Then around seven, I dropped them off at a local gymnastics center for "open gym" night (which they love), went to Sonic and got a blended float for myself and came home for a little more stamping time and made this card for today's Sketch For You To Try from Jen, thinking about my very enjoyable day with my girls (and stamping). I love the idea of this sentiment with ladybug stamps (get it? GIRLS--LADYbugs!), so I used it, even though it's a little large for the delicate bugs. I already had all this fun Girl Friday paper (Cosmo Cricket) out on my desk from another project that ya'll will see real soon, so because of the name of it, I went with it for a scrappy feel to this card. Anyway, the fun didn't stop after the girls got home at 10. They went to bed and Lindsie started feeling sick and actually threw up all night and is still pukey this morning. It will be a good day for a "girls' day in" today and just take care of her. Girls Rule even when the mom has to hold hair back and wipe back tears when their little ladybugs are not feeling well.

You don’t want to pass up checking out what the other SFYTT (your favorite keyword on SCS for Sketch For You To Try) girls have come up with using this sketch. They totally rule, too!:
Amy R.
Amy S.
Kelly
Carole

SUSIE Q-TIP: I love my Cat's Eye inks. They are perfect for inking edges for a scrappy look, as the "pad" is very spongey. I recommend when using a brand new, never before opened, really inky and juicy ink pad to sponge edges (especially black), you should let the sponged pieces dry thoroughly before messing with them. This way, ink won't get where you don't want it. BLACK INK. Don't ask me how I know this. I don't want to talk about it.

Stamps: Ladybugs (Inky Antics), Girls Rule (Michael's $1--I think)
Paper: Berry Sorbet, Aqua Mist (PTI), White Perfect Panels (MFT), Girl Friday (Cosmo Cricket)
Ink: Palette Noir (Superior), Vanilla Cream (SUINK), Black Cat's Eye (Colorbox)
Accessories: Threading Water Punch (Fiskars), Circle Punch (CM), Copic Markers, Sponge, Zig Zag Sewing Rub-On (Daisy D's), White Paper Flower (MM), Polkadot Button and Brad (The Paper Studio), Ribbon (American Crafts), Dimensionals

Hey There, Sunshine!

Well, I couldn't stand it anymore. I had to turn on our air conditioner just now. It's 90 degrees outside and it had gotten up to 85 degrees in the house! That's almost as hot as we could stand it when our air went out last year and we had to go to Hotel California! I know, I know, it's Earth Day and all, and today of all days I should be thinking about the planet, saving energy and not caring so much about my body-mass-temperature-index. Well, I'm sorry, but I don't DO SWEAT. Besides, I look at it as a trade-off and I'll tell ya'll why: I don't DO YARDWORK either. However, today of all days, I decided it was high time to clean out the flowerbed that runs alongside the driveway before those dead morning glories' vines attacked my girls' ankles one more time. I pulled them all up, raked the leaves out of there, trimmed our only bush in front of the house (long story) and sprayed some weed killer on some clover (not earth friendly, I know, but the weeds weren't doing me any favors either). Oh and I recycled a milk jug and a water bottle. I even broke a sweat for the sake of the yard and I think my scalp is sunburned. Fair trade in my book any day. Anyway, while it was still cool in the house last night, I made this card for last Friday's Viva La Verve Challenge (VLVAPR04). The challenge was of course this sketch, but the twist (there's always a twist) was to create your own patterned paper. So I got out my new Wishful Elegance stamp set and made some diagonal rows of daisies and colored them in with my Copics (wait a minute, did I just save a tree?). It was a little time consuming coloring my new "patterned paper" and cutting the flowers out (see how I do that below), but after that, the sketch came together pretty easily. I fudged just a little on the sentiment placement, but I ran out of space and had no choice! I was saving paper by not redoing the whole thing, right? Just me going green again. So tomorrow, I'll probably be out in the front yard again, hoping that weed killer worked, pulling up clover and making sure the ants I poisoned are good and gone. Tomorrow's trade-off? Maybe I'll save some water and not shower. Dirt's a natural deodorant right?

SUSIE Q-TIP: I think I've mentioned how I cut stars out before, but have never shown any pictures. I cut out flowers just about the same way, so I thought I'd take a few pics and give ya'll a visual. I start by cutting to the tip and along one side of each petal. Do this around the whole flower (or star).The next step is to cut in from the tip again, but just on the other side right up to where your first cut ended towards the center of the flower (or star). If it hangs a little, just make tiny snips until it's free. If you have to pull the unwanted piece out, pull it towards the underside of your cardstock, so that any little torn part goes under the flower. The last step is just a personal preference. I like to snip the very tip of the petals or points of a star off. To me, this just gives it a cleaner look and the tips are less likely to get bent looking. Cutting your flowers or stars out this way leaves them nice and flat with no uneven cuts or creases.

Stamps: Wishful Elegance, Sunshine (Verve)
Paper: Summer Sun (SU!), Pure Poppy, New Leaf, White (PTI)
Ink: Palette Noir (Superior), Wild Wasabi (SU!)
Accessories: Scallop Rectangle and Circle Nestabilities, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Cuttlebug, Paper Piercer/Mat Pack, Copic Markers, Cutter Bees, New Leaf Grosgrain Ribbon (PTI), Dimensionals

TCP Tuesday: Carole's Got Our Sketch

Well, I happened to have a little extra time to stamp last night after Dancing With The Stars was over. Eric wanted to catch the end of the Mavericks game. He's glad he didn't waste too much time with that since they lost big time. I wasn't interested in the game (imagine that), so I decided to see what the TCP Tuesday challenge looked like. I knew this one would be a sketch--my favorite! Have you started with a sketch that really wasn't your favorite, but made a card with it anyway, knowing you would never use that sketch again? Well, this one's not like that (teehee!). Carole came up with a great one that I can see myself using again and again. You can check it out HERE on Carole's blog since she's the Hipster Hostess With The Mostess this week. For me, it works with lots of possibilities!
I hadn't played with Sprinkle in a while, so this one from the Loving Mew set and this crazy color combo struck me and I went with it! Anyway, it's just Audrie and I today and unfortunately some new errands have cropped up that I have to take care of this morning (my evil plan to just be a homebody has been foiled again!) and then we are going to play some games. She's all over me to play "Guess Who" and "Littlest Pet Shops" with her. I think I'll let her win. I Love Mew, Audrie!!

We hope you get to play with us. Here's the details on how you can be a part of the action:
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 to THIS POST over on Carole's blog by midnight Saturday, April 25th.
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 Swankiest Stamper and get $25 in Cat’s Cash {money to spend on the TCP site!}.
7. When uploading to SCS, please use the keyword TCPTUES55 for this challenge.
8. Alma will post 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. HAVE FUN!!!

SUSIE Q-TIP: When using Stickles or glitter glue, it's a good idea to squeeze the bottle and "start the flow" on a scrap piece of cardstock before trying it on your actual artwork. You never know if that first bit that comes out is going to come out as a big 'ol glop. Sometimes it can also be discolored if its sat too long. I'm just sayin'.

Stamps: Loving Mew, Be Still, My Beating Heart (The Cat's Pajamas)
Paper: Basic Black (SU!), Leaf Green, White (PTI), Yellow Dots (October Afternoon), Black Paisley (Doodlebug Designs)
Ink: Palette Noir (Superior), YoYo Yellow (SU!)
Accessories: Circle and Scallop Circle Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Copic Markers, Stardust Stickles, Prima Flower, Yellow Grosgrain Ribbon, Yellow Baubles (Michael's), Dimensionals

Celebratin' With Flopsey

Well, today I managed to get in some stamping time on top of all my errands that Monday always brings. Are ya'll like me and try to get all the errands done on ONE day during the week, so that the rest of the week you can be a "home-body"? That's how I am. Or maybe I'm just going green and just getting all my car fumes out in the air all at once. I don't know. That's just me. So when I sat down to play I remembered that today is Celebrate MFT Day. I thought I would pull out my favorite Flopsey and have a little fun stamping time. I know I overdid it just a bit on the scallops--it's been a while since I did that. My sweet friend, Joanne Basile is the one who handles Celebrate MFT Day over on the SCS forum. Here's a link for all the details. We'd love for you to play with us! I'm just keeping this short and sweet since now I have to go cook dinner--Pork Roast...MMMM!! What are ya'll having?

SUSIE Q-TIP: Making a little "shadow" with markers (Copic for me) around your main image makes it stand out against the white background. Many stampers use a light blue or gray for this, but it can really be done with any lighter color, depending on the color scheme of your project. Here I've actually used a light purple (you can click on the picture for a larger view).

Stamps: Cupcake Flopsey (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Basic Black, Pretty in Pink (SU!), White (PTI), Black Paisley (Doodlebug Designs), Pink Gingham (K&Co.)
Ink: Palette Hybrid Noir (Superior), Pretty in Pink (SU!)
Accessories: Scallop Rectangle Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Scallop Circle Punch, Circle Punches, Button, Black/White Polkadot Organdy Ribbon, Copic Markers, Dimensionals, Sponge

A {Verve Love} Sketch For You To Try

Well, Happy Saturday everyone! It’s still kind of dreary around here. We have lots to do, though! Mostly get ready for a little girl’s birthday party at Skatetown (no, I won’t be skating—I might hurt a little kid when I fall) and I’d like to go to a stamping garage sale in Fort Worth (more info about that below). But first, breakfast from McDonald’s is in order. Just a minute, Eric is taking my order….ok, I’m back. Don’t breakfast burritos sound good? Oh, and an Iced Coffee, too please! Anyway, here we are and it’s once again time for Jen’s Sketch For You To Try. This one was super easy! Not only did the sketch come together in no time, but also I used my new “go to” stamp set. It’s a new release from Verve that just came out last night (waving to those who were at the release party!! Yo Dogs! Check it out!). It’s called Because of You. Yep, it’s the same set I used for yesterday’s card post. It’s getting a workout! I stamped the flowers in the colored ink and then stamped them again in Dazzle Versamark and heat embossed clear EP over that. So pretty in real life!
Oh and I’ll apologize right now—I can’t stop doing the ribbon-loop-button-tied-on-with-string-of-some-sort-notched-ends-thing with my ribbon. Sorry, but I just think it looks good. Ya’ll should try it! Would you like a little step-by-step instruction on it? I’d be happy to (obviously). Well, I guess Eric should be back any minute with breakfast and I need to eat quickly and go get ready in order to beat the crowds at the stamping garage sale! Fighting over cardstock can be vicious business. I don’t know that I “need” anything, but you know how it is! Here’s more info on the sale if you’re a local:

CALLING ALL LOCALS!
This Saturday is the Imprints Garage Sale. What is that? Well, 49 people have signed up and are selling their gently loved craft supplies {stamps, punches, paper…you name it!} at Imprints in Fort Worth TODAY! This is an event that you do not want to miss! HERE is the link to the site with all the store info. Hope to see you there!

Also, don’t forget to check out what the other SFYTT (your favorite keyword on SCS for Sketch For You To Try) girls have come up with using this sketch:
Amy R.
Amy S.
Kelly
Carole

SUSIE Q-TIP: When using a Nestabilities shape and you want to pierce holes around the edge of it, go ahead and do the next step with the die and dry emboss the edge. This will give you a nice even line to follow when you do your piercing.

Stamps: Because of You (Verve)
Paper: Pure Poppy, White (PTI), Grey (Core’dinations), Amy Butler (K&Co.)
Ink: Palette Noir (Superior), Pure Poppy (PTI), Cityscape (SUINK), Versamark Dazzle (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Curvy Rectangle and Oval Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Paper Piercer/Mat Pack, Heat Tool, Clear EP, Clear Button, Silver Cording, Stitched Ribbon (PTI), Dimensionals

Because of You---A Verve Sneak Peek

Well, it's pouring down rain here in the Fort Worth area of North Texas! I'm hoping our back yard doesn't flood into the house, as it's supposed to rain all day. As I was going to get my Starbuck's this morning (necessary to stamp with on days like today), I already noticed one of the large drainage structures behind a nearby shopping center filling up and it's only been raining for about 2 hours now. (It started at 8am and it's now 10am.) Good thing I have a window right next to my desk so I can keep an eye on it all day while I'm stamping! Meanwhile, Hopper, our Rat Terrier is in his kennel in the garage staying dry and trying to dig his way to China through the metal bottom piece. That will be hard to deal with all day. Maybe after 10 years of trying, today will be the day he'll finally make it. Good luck, there, buddy. Anyway, I'm really trying to make this pretty short, to maximize my stamping time today as my babysitting job ended yesterday and I am kid free until 11:30 this morning. So here's another Sneaky Peeky of a new set from Verve called Because of You. It's a wonderful set to celebrate all the fabulous women in your life and a perfect Mother's Day set to have. I incorporated the SCS sketch challenge for this week as my layout (SCS224) and decided to bling it up with a rhinestone flourish sticker from Prima. I wasn't sure I liked this card at first, but the more I look at it, the more I do. Tonight is the Verve release and below I have some news you can use regarding it. Off to stamp! Ope! And I don't hear Hopper digging in his kennel anymore! Maybe he finally made it to China, or fell asleep trying. I bet he's dreaming of becoming a ninja dog right now.

Here's all the details about this release that you don't want to miss!:

Verve's next release is just around the corner (this Friday night, April 17 at 9 PM Eastern) and we're so excited to share the new designs with you! In the meantime, we thought we'd have a little fun and host a few challenges for you this week. Sound like fun? Well, lets get started!! HERE is where you can find the challenges. And HERE is where the release party will be. See you there!

SUSIE Q-TIP: Try using Kraft cardstock as your main panel color instead of white. It goes with practically any color combo!

Stamps: Because of You (Verve)
Paper: Old Olive, Kraft, Not Quite Navy (SU!), Orange Core'dinations, DP Prints (SU!), Chloe's Closet (MM)
Ink: Palette Noir (Superior), Old Olive, Not Quite Navy, Pumpkin Pie (SU!)
Accessories: Paper Piercer/Mat Pack, Prima Rhinestone Sticker, Adhesive Rhinestones, Button, Ribbon, Hemp Twine, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Wishful Wednesday--It's Verve Sneak Peek Time!

Well, have you heard that it's release week for Verve Stamps? Well, it is!! The stamp-tastic genius we all know and love as the Verve-alicious Julee Tilman has done it again! She has come up with some more WOW sets for April! There are two full sets and four Plain Janes being released on the 17th. My card for today uses the new set called Wishful Elegance. This set covers all the bases from Birthday to Anniversary, to Wedding. It can be dressed up or down to fit any style as well. Here I went for a more "scrappy" look, following a trendy color scheme of black, pinks and aquas. I love how the sentiments are a combination of block letters and script, too. The pattern on the dark pink layer was made with a background stamp included in the set that is so easy to line up to keep everything nice and straight. So if you're "wishing" for a little "elegance", Verve's got you covered this month! Anyway, be sure and check out the Verve Blog all week for some great Sneak Peeks and more chances to win these fabulous stamps!

Here's all the details about this release that you don't want to miss!:

Verve's next release is just around the corner (this Friday night, April 17 at 9 PM Eastern) and we're so excited to share the new designs with you! In the meantime, we thought we'd have a little fun and host a few challenges for you this week. Sound like fun? Well, lets get started!! HERE is where you can find the challenges. And HERE is where the release party will be. See you there!

SUSIE Q-TIP: When you need several small cuttlebugged (dry embossed) smaller pieces to complete your card, go ahead and emboss as one large panel and then punch out or cut to the sizes you need. To some of ya'll that may have been obvious, but for me, it was an AHA! moment I had yesterday. Who'da thunk?

Stamps: Wishful Elegance (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Basic Black, Pink Pirouette (SU!), Rasberry Fizz, White, Bitty Dots (PTI)
Ink: Palette Noir (Superior), Pink Passion (SU!)
Accessories: CM Square and Circle Punches, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder/Cuttlebug, Copic Markers, Black/White Gingham Ribbon, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Sponge, Buttons, Black Embroidery Floss

TCPTUES54--I'm Still Hip

Well, howdy pardners! I'm here again, boot-scootin' around and kicking off my new job as an official monthly Hipster Hostess With The Mostess for the TCP Tuesday Stamp Challenges (last week, I was just fillin' in for Jen). I'll be roundin' up my herd of rubber and picking a Cat's Pajamas stamp for us to use in this challenge once a month. (But don't forget about the other weekly TCPTUES challenges for the other weeks!)
This week's challenge is to use ANY stamp from the "HAVIN' A POW WOW" set.

I chose to use cowhand Ronnie here and a sketch from MFT. I added a clear star embellishment and it looks like Ronnie needs to brush up on his ropin' skillz as he got a little tangled up with that star! But that's understandable. He has on his felt Resistol hat made from 100% natural beaver and he doesn't want to get it dirty! Down here in Fort Worth (pronounced Foat Warth if you're from here), that's what the cowboys wear when they put on their best duds. Maybe he's going to Billy Bob's to ride the mechanical bull? Nah, not Ronnie--8 seconds is nothing to him. He wants to set the night on fire. Now, cowboy up and play the challenge with us!!

We hope you get to play with us. Here's the details on how you can be a part of the action:
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 that you have posted on your blog or in the SCS gallery by adding a comment and link on this post, making sure your link is correct and posting it by midnight Saturday, April 18th.
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 Swankiest Stamper and get $25 in Cat’s Cash {money to spend on the TCP site!}.
7. When uploading to SCS, please use the keyword TCPTUES54 for this challenge.
8. Alma will post 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. HAVE FUN!!!

SUSIE Q-TIP: Stamp an image repeatedly as a border and extra detail. Be sure and stamp the center image first and work your way out to each edge. If it turns out that some stamp off the edge of your cardstock, that's ok. It will look like you meant to do that. I promise.

Stamps: Havin' a Pow Wow (The Cat's Pajamas)
Paper: Kraft, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip (SU!), Core'dinations, Bohemia (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Palette Noir (Superior), Chocolate Chip Reinker (SU!), Timber Brown Stazon (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Circle Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Scallop Circle Punch, CM Circle Punch, Copic Markers, Silver Brads, Clear Star (Heidi Swapp), Toothbrush, Distressing Tool, Hemp Twine

OOPSie!!!

It's a bad day in Susanville over here. It seems I have accidently deleted my blog roll. (Don't ask.) I will be making a new one shortly. I guess now is as good a time as any to add a few of ya'll to it. If you would like to be included, let me know in a comment along with your name and a link to your blog. It's not a fun thing to do, so give me some time, but it's one of those necessary evils!! Thanks for all your support and I appreciate each and every one of you that reads my blog!! (all four of you.)

A {Happiest Place on Earth} Sketch For You To Try

Well, have I ever told ya'll that I'm a big Disney fan? I love all things Disney--movies, gear, the characters (especially Mickey and Minnie), and of course, the happiest place on earth--DISNEYWORLD! In fact, when I was in high school, I did my senior theme on Mickey Mouse (a paper I absolutely loved writing). Just the other day, Lindsie was asked to say what cartoon character her mother is most like on her blog and she even said Minnie Mouse! So after I got over the initial shock of "what is this Sketch For You To Try with the six squares, oh dear friend, Jen?", I knew that my newly found Mickey and Friends stamp set was about to get to work (Hi-ho, Hi-ho!). You see, I have a little Mickey Mouse on the brain (forever let us hold his banner high, high, high, high!!).
About three weeks ago, we booked a trip to Disneyworld for the week of Christmas! We are lucky to have found a Disney travel guy extraordinaire that knows all the ins and outs and is letting us make payments on our trip up until the time we leave, making our dream completely possible. So all our extra money is going in the "Disney fund"! I've even talked the girls into having a Mickey and Minnie combined Birthday party in November to save money and I've almost got it planned out already. Yup, Disney on the brain!! Is it possible to be "too excited to sleep" for a whole year?

Walt Disney once said, 'If you can dream it, you can do it. Always remember that this whole thing was started with a dream and a mouse.'

Isn't that the best quote ever? It's a lot like papercrafting. We all started small and now look! I dream of new card ideas all the time! LOL!! Be sure and check out the magic that my SFYTT sisters dreamt up and then play along with us! (SCS keyword is SFYTT):
Amy R.
Amy S.
Carole
Kelly (Kelly is taking the weekend off from SFYTT, but please go give her some love, as she has been selected as a Guest Designer for PapertreyInk!

SUSIE Q-TIP: Use Grid paper to line elements up on your card. When it came time for me to adhere the six little squares to the polkadot layer, I used repositionable tape runner and lined it up on the grid paper and stuck it down. After that, I found the "center" on each side and lined up the middle squares and stuck them down and so on. Then when all of them were adhered, I just pulled up the whole thing and it was ready to put on my main card panel. Grid paper--I HIGHLY recommend it for your stamping surface.

Stamps: Mickey and Friends (EK Success)
Paper: Basic Black, Summer Sun (SU!), Pure Poppy, White (PTI), Magic Mix-up (Reminisce)
Ink: Palette Noir (Superior)
Accessories: CM Circle Punch, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Flower Die, Cuttlebug, Black Brads, Copic Markers, Yellow/White Polkadot Ribbon, Black Button, Red RicRac, Dimensionals, Glue Dot

I'm the TCP Tuesday Hipster Hostess With The Mostess!

Hi ya'll! This week, The Cat's Pajamas is bringing you a fun and summery Color Challenge! You normally would find Jen doing the TCP Color Challenges (because she comes up with some great ones), but this week, I'm filling in for her as the Hipster Hostess With The Mostess (because I'm so nice like that).
She actually DID pick these colors out before going out of town and they are fabulous!! Can you guess why?--um, hello yellow!! Make that Sunny Yellow, throw in a little Pumpkin Orange and Rasberry Pink and what a great combo for all of us bright color lovers! By the way, I'll be your Hostess With The Mostess next week too. I'll be coming up with the TCPTUES Stamp Challenge from here on out, so be sure and stop back by next Tuesday as well. I'm excited to be offering that here on my blog! I expect participation from every one of ya'll or else I might have to put you in time out!

We hope you get to play with us. Here's the details on how you can be a part of the action:
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 that you have posted on your blog or in the SCS gallery by adding a comment and link on this post, making sure your link is correct and posting it by midnight Saturday, April 11th.
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 Swankiest Stamper and get $25 in Cat’s Cash {money to spend on the TCP site!}.
7. When uploading to SCS, please use the keyword TCPTUES53 for this challenge.
8. Alma will post 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. HAVE FUN!!!

SUSIE Q-TIP: This one has nothing to do with my card for today, but just something I told a friend about yesterday. When you use the little file tab punch from SU!, score it along the "folding line" and then fold it. Your fold will be nice and neat and won't ever be crooked if you line it up just right. (Hi, Joy!)

Stamps: Hearts and Flowers, It's Your Day (The Cat's Pajamas)
Paper: Pumpkin Pie (SU!), Rasberry Fizz, White (PTI), October Afternoon
Ink: Palette Noir (Superior)
Accessories: Bloom Dots Embossing Folder/Cuttlebug, Scallop and Circle Punches, Paper Piercer/Mat Pack, White Grosgrain Ribbon, Inksentials White Gel Pen (Ranger), Copic Markers, Dimensionals, Brad (Target $1)

A {My Hero} Sketch For You To Try

Well, welcome to Saturday here at the susiestampalot blog! Today marks two separate occasions for me. Number one is that today is mine and Eric's tenth wedding anniversary (awwwww!), and number two is that it's my favorite cardmaking day of the week--Saturday, which can only mean that Jen has come up with another great Sketch For You To Try! So when I sat down (altogether too late) last night to make my card, I wanted to make Eric a cute card for our anniversary. What a better time to break out my new MFT set, Ben Paper Dolls and make a "hero" card. He came home in the middle of me coloring the little guy (who, by the way, looks just like Eric), but didn't take notice that it was for him...teehee! So I finished coloring him, cut him and the little dog out, got all my pieces "squared" away and glued down, but I just couldn't come up with something clever for each of the three side squares. If this was a girl card, the obvious choice would be little flowers. My star punch was too large and yes, I could have stamped some smaller ones and cut them out, but it was getting extremely late and I needed to go to bed! So that's how just the little dots resembling his belt buckle (notice the little number 10 I wrote on it!?) was born. Unfortunately, I had already glued down the squares and put the little circles on them when I decided to add the brads. Can you say--barely enough brad legs left to open once I pushed them through all those layers? Eeeek! I used my paper piercer to make the hole and all I could think about was a thread I had read on Splitcoast about a lady whose tip of her piercer just broke off while she was using it! Luckily, mine didn't break and it's happily waiting for me to grab it again for the next project. Anyway, (speaking of lucky), wish me some because just as soon as I finish this post, I'm off to get ready for a little weekend trip that Eric planned for just the two of us. We are going to Winstar World Casino up in Oklahoma (just across the Texas northern border) for the evening, spending the night and coming home late tomorrow. I asked Eric if he wouldn't mind me bringing some stamped images and my Copics to color some stuff in our hotel room in case I got bored (I have to be busy at all times), but he said no.

It's the first of the month and Jen has a new Guest Designer for us--Kimberly Crawford! You will be lucky if you take the time to check out what these Rock Stars and my personal stamping heroes have done with the sketch as well:
Amy R.
Amy S.
Kelly
Carole (who may be a little late, as she is in "stealth mode" today.)

SUSIE Q-TIP: Learn from me. When you have just glued down something small, the glue may not be all the way dry. If you plan to put a brad through this piece, use your paper piercer and not a hole punch, holding down your cardstock while pulling the piercer back out. The hole punch will pull the glued areas apart and more than likely, they will then get stuck in the punch. Secondly, don't glue everything down until you have a good idea of what you will be doing for your embellishments. This will save your strength (and possibly your paper piercer) for more important things.

Stamps: Ben Paper Dolls, Going Places, Essential Sentiments (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Basic Black, Bashful Blue, More Mustard (SU!), White, Pure Poppy (PTI), Red Stripe (SU!)
Ink: Palette Noir (Superior)
Accessories: Traffic Jam Embossing Folder/Cuttlebug, Paper Piercer/Mat Pack, Copic Markers, Silver Brads, Small Circle and Square Punches, Dimensionals

My Favorite Things Made Some of My Favorite Cards

Well, I am in love with the latest release by My Favorite Things! As if making THIS Cuddle Up Carter card wasn't enjoyable enough, these two were super fun to make as well! I couldn't recall if anyone had paper pieced Flopsey lately, so I gave it a try, but left her belly white. I stamped an extra set of flowers, colored and cut them out, then popped them up with a glue dot for a little sumthin' sumthin'.

I know it's an unusual color combo, but I think this Flopsey's Flowers card turned out cute! I'm not really a dark wine drinker, but when I was choosing the colors and paper for my Girls Night Out card, these just came together so easily! I'm tellin' ya--these cards practically made themselves! The EXTRA FUN part was coming up with that fabby flower!! The die-cut flowers were made with my Slice machine.
Did you see the ones Jen made HERE? On top of mine instead of a prima and a button (I will have to use that idea later!), I added a distressed circle from the dotted paper. Then my favorite part--the burgundy spikey layers! I colored my brad with a Copic marker to make it not so "white" and cut the swirly with my Slice (can you tell I love that thing? I'm so happy that Michael's is now carrying some of the line of products for it!) It was fun making my own embellishment and the great thing about it---it matches perfectly! I'm super excited about this card and can't wait to make some more of these flowers! Next time, would you like more details as to how I did it? We'll see....JLMK!

SUSIE Q-TIP: I keep my Cuttlebug handy at all times. It sits on the floor right next to me and my other Cuttlebug supplies are close at hand as well so I can just pop it up on my desk when I need to use it. My theory is that if your tools are easy to get access to without getting up, you will use them more often which gives you more creative options. Is that sort of like ergonomics?

You're My Favorite
Stamps: Flopsey's Flowers (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise (SU!), White and Bitty Dots (PTI), Pink Paislee
Ink: Palette Noir (Superior)
Accessories: Oval and Scallop Oval, and Scallop Rectangle Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, White Brads, Dimensionals, Copic Markers, Mini Circle Punches, Regal Rose Grosgrain Ribbon (SU!)

Aged Perfectly
Stamps: Girls Night Out (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Basic Black, Bravo Burgundy, Very Vanilla (SU!), Patina (Bazzill), County Library (October Afternoon), PTI White
Ink: Palette Noir (Superior)
Accessories: Slice/Noteworthy and Basics 3 Cards, Textiles Embossing Folder, Cuttlebug, CM Circle Punch, Polkadot Brad (The Paper Studio), Copic Markers, Dimensionals

A Beachy GLUE Project

Well, a couple of weeks ago I went out and bought a new shower curtain for our younger girls' bathroom (you don't want to know why). They helped pick it out and we had to get something that "semi" went with the atrocious wallpaper that's in there that has blue and peach shells on it. (Our house was built in 1988 and I'm pretty sure it's original, just like my mauve countertops in the kitchen. We've learned to live with them and they really aren't so bad.) Sorry for the potty shot (it's a tiny bathroom), but this is a picture of the curtain we ended up with. I think it's pretty cute and as soon as all the other accessories get added, hopefully the wallpaper will not be so noticeable!
So in an effort to start the "sprucing up" process, I decided to make a little wall-hanging with this wooden Shallow Tray from Glue Art and Paper Studio. I kept waiting for the weather to get better, so I could spray paint it white,
but that never happened, so I got my brushes out and went to town painting it by hand. I had a couple of my favorite summer pictures of Audrie and Lindsie printed in black and white and then matted them on white. The 3 insets of the tray (now turned into a frame) are cardstock, measuring 2 3/4" square. The "sand" is some Kraft cardstock that I tore across the top and popped up over the pictures with
dimensionals. I used the "fun in the sun" sentiment from one of Storage Units Ink's first sets ever called Get Your Goggles On (it's still one of my very favorites). I then punched the circles and popped it up as well in the center square. I couldn't have finished it off without a trip to Michael's as I didn't have anything that was summery vacation-y for embellishments. (Can you tell we never go to the beach?
My legs stay white year round--scary!) So I picked up the cute sun and umbrella (already painted) and some fun felt flower stickers by none other than K & Company and added them along with some fun colored buttons that matched perfectly. I did have to hammer on a sawtooth hanger on the back to be able to hang it. Anyway, this was super easy to do and I hope you will check out the cool products that Glue Art and Paper Studio has to offer. Their newest storage cabinets are great for the Stampin' Up stamp sets and fit several at one time perfectly!

SUSIE Q-TIP: To paint large areas quickly, just use the dime-a-dozen foam brushes and save the detail painting (like the insides of this tray and places you don't want a lot of paint to "build-up") for your regular smaller brushes. This will save time and plus the foam brushes are much easier to clean.

Stamps: Get Your Goggles On (SUINK)
Paper: Summer Sun, Tempting Turquoise, Kraft (SU!), Rasberry Fizz, White (PTI)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Shallow 3-Square Tray (Glue Art and Paper Studio), Circle and Scallop Circle Punches, Photos, Dimensionals, Buttons, Felt Flower Stickers (K & Company), Wooden Accents (Michael's), White Acrylic Paint, Hot Glue Gun