A Good Friend SFYTT

Well, what the heck? Where did May go? I have had this second card for Jen's MAY Sketch For You To Try for a couple of weeks, and TOTALLY FORGOT to post it here! How could I do that, it's one of my favorite cards EVER!


If ya'll will recall, Your Next Stamp is/was our sponsor for this month (MAY), and can I just say? The stamps there just get cuter and cuter!??! I fell in love with this set called A Good Friend. The little shoppy bags are fun to color and mix and match, although I went mostly matchy here.


The sketch is also a winner, and I've kept this card out on my desk since it's "inception" (By the way, that movie was over my head and we had to just turn it off. I was immensly happy to hear that Carole couldn't handle it either. Made me feel less dumb because her IQ is WAY up there.) because I love the sketch and I want to use it again and again! Take a look a this spiffy thing and you can still play and upload your creation to Jen's blog today and take advantage of a 10% discount at YOUR NEXT STAMP!


Ok, well I'm off and running with a busy day/week ahead so I've got to get this show on the road. I'll be back tomorrow with a VERVE creation for our Diva Inspirations Blog Hop and then a little later in the week with a fun inspiration challenge for The Cat's Pajamas. Jen's got the info on her blog today HERE.

SUSIE Q-TIP: Black and white polkadots. 'Nuff said.

Stamps: A Good Friend (Your Next Stamp)
Paper: White, Black, Rasberry Fizz (PTI), Runway Dots (Heidi Swapp), Lovey Dovey (Bella Blvd.)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Pretty Posies Die-namics (MFT), Lacey Circle and Circle Nestabilities, Seeing Spots Embossing Folder, Copic Markers, Liquid Pearls, Button, Divine Twine (TCP), Pink Flatback Rhinestones (Pizzazz Aplenty), Glue Dot, Jody Boosters
Finished Size: A2

Having a Verve-y Memorial Day Weekend

Well, Happy Saturday, Happy Memorial Day Weekend and Happy Memorial Day Weekend SALE from Verve (more on that in a minute)! I'm home this weekend nursing a sinus infection--yippee! Eric took me to the doctor yesterday and he told me my nasal passages were (and I quote) 'grossly inflamed'! Did he HAVE to use the word GROSS? So I have to stay indoors the rest of the long weekend on steroids and nasal spray. UGH!! I bet I caught something from the 80+ first graders I was with on Tuesday! I don't have time for this--the kids get out of school next week.


Anyway, all this to say, I wanted to post this yesterday or the day before, but that was before I became so "grossly" sick. So here's something not so gross to think about! It's my card for May's week 4 Viva la Verve sketch challenge. A ton of luscious layers and it's been forever since I used photo corners. I think I sold that punch a while back here on my blog, so I had to make these by hand (are you out there? Sell it back to me?). I used a little old with a little new stampy goodness from Verve--Many Blessings from October of last year for the flowers (stamped twice, cut out and popped up), and Hope Blooms from April's release for the sentiment (I LOVE the font combo!). For the embellishment, there's that Flutterby Die again--It's my favorite butterfly die for the moment!!


Ok, here's a look at the sketch thought up by the luscious Charmaine. Fun, huh!?! It's not too late to play along with us and be a Sketch Champion! Get all the info HERE in our Splitcoast forum (as always, the fabulous Julee is offering prizes!).


Need to get a little Memorial Day shopping done? Verve is having a sale just for you! 20% off all stamps and 10% off all dies from May 27th to May 31st. And don't forget to head back over here to susiestampalot on the 1st for another inspiring Diva Inspirations Blog Hop!

SUSIE Q-TIP: String beads make nice butterfly bodies. I bet you won't find that sentence anywhere else on the web. Except maybe at Pizzazz Aplenty where the beads, the flatback pearls and the brown twine came from. They "may" possibly be having a sale as well! hehe.

Stamps: Many Blessings, Hope Blooms (Verve)
Paper: Kraft, Dark Chocolate, White (PTI), Sour Apple (MFT), Lime Twist (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko), Chestnut Roan Cat's Eye (Colorbox)
Accessories: Flutterby Die (Verve), Labels 10 Nestabilities, Sewing Machine/Thread, Circle Punches, Square Punch, Paper Piercer/Mat Pack, Copic Markers, String Beads, Flatback Pearls and Brown Twine (Pizzazz Aplenty), 3D Glue Dots, Jody Boosters
Finished Size: A2

TCPTUES160--A Sketch From Leigh

Well, it's time for TCP Tuesday from The Cat's Pajamas and this time, Leigh is our Hostess with the Mostess and she has formed a sketch like no other. Because that's what she does and she's darn good at it.



Just take a look at this sketch! Wonky panels, strip going OVER the oval WITH a cute embellishment of your choice off the right. Who could ask for more?



It had been a while since this cute Big Bear guy came out to play at my house, so I thought I'd give him a Big Bear hug and ink him up. I cleaned my (ink-blackened) blocks and scrubby stamp cleaner pad just for the occasion. That task had been WAY overdue as well!


Anyway, I went with Audrie's first grade class to the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens yesterday, so I had to share this sweet picture of little Audrie. It was HOT and muggy (and a lot like herding cats)! I'm worn out still and will be so ready to veg on the couch for tonight's American Idol FINALE! Will you be watching?


More importantly, will you be playing in the TCP Tuesday Challenge this week? Get all the details on winning fame and fortune from The Cat's Pajamas over on ALMA'S blog HERE.

SUSIE Q-TIP: Offset those "cut up" sentiments by adding a splash of color behind them all wonky and crooked.

Stamps: Big Bear (The Cat's Pajamas)
Paper: Fine Linen, Dark Chocolate, Aqua Mist, Pure Poppy, Vintage Cream (PTI), Lime Twist (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Flower Buttons CutUps (The Cat's Pajamas), Oval and Scallop Oval Nestabilities, Large Dot Embossing Folder, Sewing Machine/Thread, Copic Markers, Brown Felt and Linen Twine (TCP), Red Button, Hot Glue, Jody Boosters
Finished Size: A2

Viva la Verve!

Well, I figured it was about time I sat down and wrote another installment for my blog. I now have a few things to show ya'll, so I thought I'd better get back into the blogging routine and start "puttin' out". I'm fresh out of drama-calama to share (that's a good thing, right?), so I'll get right down to business.


I made this card for the Viva la Verve challenge for May (Week 2). I really liked the layout and I seem to have issues sometimes using a tag on a card, so this was a good one for me to spread my wings on (har-har).


I grabbed for a sentiment set that had one I could punch out a circle with and the Fabulous You fit perfectly. The tag is die-cut and stamped using the Sweet Scallop Tag Die and matching stamp set from Verve. I love matchy-matchy. Then I needed a little embellishment for the bottom corner of the circle, so I used the Flutterby butterfly die also from Verve. Taking the sketch so literally really turned out cute! That Moe (the Verve Diva who came up with the sketch) is sketchalicious!

Ya'll need to be sure and check out all the Viva la Verve sketches for May (there will be one more for a total of five for May) and make something Vervey (Verve stamps not required) for a chance to win some swag from Verve! The details on how to play are in each week's Verve forum on Splitcoast HERE. Have fun!!

Ok, well Eric and I are going to go watch a movie I rented...Inception. I hope it's a good one!

SUSIE Q-TIP: Remember that skinny grosgrain ribbon you bought gobs of when you first started making cards? Use it.

Stamps: Fabulous You, Sweet Scallop Tag (Verve)
Paper: Dk. Chocolate, Harvest Gold, Chartreuse, White (PTI), Turquoise Dot (Bo Bunny), Neighborhood (Crate Paper)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Sweet Scallop Tag and Flutterby Dies (Verve), Dainty Doily Die-namics (MFT), Circle and Scallop Circle Punches, Circle Nestabilities, Scallop Border Die (PTI), Sewing Machine/Thread, Yellow Grosgrain Ribbon (Pizzazz Aplenty), Button, Linen Thread (TCP), Glue Dots, Jody Boosters
Finished Size: A2

TCP Tuesday 159--May Flowers

Well, is it Friday yet? I keep feeling like we are further along in the week than we actually are. Not that I WANT it to be Friday. Well, maybe I do. Lindsie's fourth grade class is going to camp tomorrow and I'm already missing her! They are going to Camp Grady Spruce out on Possum Kingdom Lake (one of the camps that was spared and right across the lake from the massive Texas wildfires of last month), spending 3 jam-packed days and 2 nights there and then coming home Friday about 2:30. She's super excited and I've got lots to do still to get her packed and ready.


So this being Tuesday, and me being the Hostess with the Mostess for this week's TCP Tuesday Challenge 159 from The Cat's Pajamas, I thought I would make this card for Lindsie to open while at camp. My challenges always involve using certain stamps from The Cat's Pajamas and this time, I chose to follow the theme, "April showers bring May FLOWERS"! Yes, the challenge is to use any stamp or stamps from The Cat's Pajamas that include or is a FLOWER.


I chose A Beary Good Year, because I can have PJ holding this little flower and also because I plan on making Lindsie 2 more cards today (one to open every day at camp) and I want to use all the TCP bears--PJ, Big Bear, and Bear Hugs. She asked if I thought she would see any bears out there at camp and I told her no, that there weren't any. So now she will!

Wanna play along for fame and fortune?
Here's what you need to know:
1. Each Tuesday we will give you a challenge.
2. You will have until the end of the month to complete the challenge.
3. Add your entry to the guestbook on Alma's Blog and/or upload to the SCS Gallery, using the keyword TCPTUES159 for this week's challenge.
4. TCP stamps are not required, but of course, highly encouraged. {Unless it is a challenge calling for a specific stamp}
5. There will be one randomly chosen weekly winner, announced on Tuesdays.
6. There will be one winner, The Swanky Stamper, announced the 1st of each month. They will win several sets from an upcoming release and get to play along with us at our Pajama Party and Blog Hop.

SUSIE Q-TIP: Cut off the edge of a circle and use it coming from one side of your card as a main panel to highlight an image.

Stamps: A Beary Good Year (The Cat's Pajamas)
Paper: Hot Fudge (MFT), Kraft, Vintage Cream (PTI), Sage Shadow (SU!), Stella & Rose (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Grass CutUps Die (TCP), Circle and Scallop Circle Nestabilities, Sewing Machine/Thread, Copic Markers, Ribbon and Brown Swarovski Crystal (Pizzazz Aplenty), Jody Boosters
Finished Size: A2

TCP Tuesday 158--Again

Well, I love how Blogger decided to hatchet my TCP Tuesday post from earlier this week and never put it back like they said they would. I pay for my domain (.com) name, but still handle my blog through Blogger, so maybe that has something to do with it. I looked in my drafts folder and it's mostly there, it just looks like it's been through a meat grinder. I don't know if it will ever show back up, so I'm going to repost it, as best as I can remember...mostly just the important parts (sans the stints and splints and the "pull my finger" stories. If you'd like a recap of those, just let me know.) Don't get me wrong, I still have faith in Blogger. I have used them for almost five years and have never had a problem like this. I am a fan of second chances (and third and fourth for that matter).


Anyway, this is my card for this past Tuesday's TCP Tuesday Challenge from The Cat's Pajamas. Tori, one of our newest Cat Pack members just jumped right in and issued her first color challenge: Spring Moss, Gray and Bashful Blue


I am usually a little more "bright" in my color choices, so I thought this one would do me in, but actually it was easier than I thought to pull it off and I REALLY like the colors together! (So much so, that I made another project using the same colors and theme that ya'll will get to see later.) The stamps are some of the newest ones from The Cat's Pajamas called The Tweetest Things and I also employed it's sister CutUps dies, Home Tweet Home and another new favorite, the Easy Rosette die.

Ok, so much for that. Be sure and play along in the TCP Tuesday Challenge for your chance at prizes, fame and fortune. Alma has all the details on her blog HERE. I'll be back soon as long as Blogger cooperates.

SUSIE Q-TIP: My docked tip from the now vanished post was a story of a great "pull my finger" dare involving me, my mom, her broken finger, the Emergency Room, a cute doctor and a Jackson. My tip today: If you find yourself in a similar situation, bet more money, it's sure to stay in your pocket. Let me know if you're lost and I'll fill you in.

Stamps: The Tweetest Things (The Cat's Pajamas)
Paper: Bashful Blue (SU!), Smokey Shadow, Kraft, White (PTI), Out of the Blue Lime Twist (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko), Old Olive (SU!)
Accessories: Easy Rosette and Home Tweet Home CutUps Dies (The Cat's Pajamas), Sewing Machine/Thread, Circle Punch, Seeing Spots Embossing Folder, Gray Organdy Ribbon, Heat Tool, Hot Glue, Jody Boosters
Finished Size: 5.25 x 3"

Your Next Sketch for You To Try

Well, I've SO had the bug to stamp and craft, but have been super duper busy getting my mom moved to her new digs and helping out at Scrapper's Boutique for today's National Scrapbook Day festivities--i.e. Pajama Party, as The Cat's Pajamas is our Hostess for the Day up there! I'll be there all day today working and helping out with a couple of Make and Takes I designed. I hope ya'll get to come and see me!


So here we are, at the first Saturday of the month and time for Jen's Sketch for You To Try. That means a brand new sketch with MOUNDS of possibilities. Our sponsor this month is one of my all-time favorites, YOUR NEXT STAMP! Here's a fun little offer they've extended just for you:


I chose to use a new set that I am IN LOVE with called A Good Friend. I didn't have time to fancy up the inside of my card, but go to the website and check out what the inside sentiment says. So fun! Ya'll don't have any friends like this do you? ummmm....ME!!! And ya'll are apparently my good friends, too!


Here's a closer look at the front...And here's the sketch. Jen has all the info on how to play along over on her blog HERE.


There's lots more inspiration/enabling on my SFYTT sisters' blogs, too! Here's a list along with our Guest Designer of the Month, Kerri Michaud! Have fun with the sketch and tell Karen at Your Next Stamp I sent ya! And/or come see me and I'll help you shop today at the Boutique!
Amy Rohl
Amy Sheffer
Megan Lock
Amber Hight
Sony Christoph
Carole Burrage
Jodi Collins
Kelly Lunceford
Kerry Johnson
Terri Moore
Jen Tapler <---our NEWEST SFYTT team member! I love ya, Jen!

SUSIE Q-TIP: I got brave and used my Copics on regular cardstock along with my stamp that I only inked up with dye ink (as opposed to pigment with more staying power). Scary! If you try this (at home), use the markers sparingly, as they may bleed and won't give you as much control as they do when you use a tighter weave cardstock.

Stamps: A Good Friend (Your Next Stamp)
Paper: Aqua Mist, White (PTI), Regal Rose (SU!), Lime Twist (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko), Elegant Eggplant (SU!)
Accessories: Heart Trio CutUps Die (The Cat's Pajamas), Circle Nestabilities, Paper Piercer/Mat Pack, Copic Markers, Regal Rose Grosgrain (SU!), Adhesive Rhinestones, Jody Boosters
Finished Size: A2

Diva Inspirations Blog Hop--Peep Show

Well, welcome to the May Diva Inspirations Blog Hop! Our Diva Inspirations team is here to start your month off right with a little Verve inspiration! Take a little peek at each of the fabulous blogs below for some Verve-alicious eye candy and you just might win some Vervey goodness of your very own!


I hope you got here from Sony's Blog, but if you've missed the entire hop, you'll want to start at the beginning over on Julee's Blog so all that inspiration isn't wasted.


So as ya'll will read on, Julee suggested using the Stamp set of the Month, Dare to Be along with several other sets, Chicks Rule, Lucky Ducky and To the Moon to make some little lunch notes for your kiddos. SO I kind of went with that gentle nudge of inspiration (especially since I had NO idea what I was going to make for the hop when I sat down to get started), used ALL of those sets and decided to make a little something to give my mom some encouragement during her recovery for Mother's Day. It's one of the cutest things I've made in a while if you ask me!


All the little animals are "peeping" out of the fun library card envelope I picked up about a year ago at our local teacher store. (They were 10 cents each, how could I pass those up?) They are stamped, colored, cut out and sandwiched in between the hand-cut little framey things (frame stamp included in the To the Moon set) and the scalloped squares.

Ok, that's about all I have. It was a long day yesterday, as we were busy at the Scrapper's Boutique. Just FYI, too....we are gearing up for National Scrapbook Day next weekend! More on that to come in the next few days...

A few words from Julee:
We've hidden a little mystery prize on one of today's hop spots, so be sure to leave a little comment love as you hop around for a chance to win!
Comment Deadline: 11:59pm Mountain, May 5
Prize: $30 gift certificate to Verve

And since it's a new month, that means we've got a new Stamp of the Month to reveal:
In May we're featuring the sentiment set, Dare to Be. With 5 uplifting and encouraging sentiments, this set is perfect for graduation, congratulations or just a little pick me up. Or pair it with the To the Moon, Chicks Rule or Lucky Ducky sets for perfect little love notes to tuck into a lunchbox (hehe, thanks for the inspiration, Julee!).

And at 40% off during the month of May, Dare to Be is a pretty big deal!

Ok, lots of info, I know, but now it's time to get going onto the next Diva's Blog:
Teresa! I'm sure she has something sunny to share!

Here's the Master Hop List, in case you get lead astray:

1. Julee
2. Betty
3. Dawn
4. Jen d.
5. Jen T.
6. Lynda
7. Shannan
8. Sony
9. ME
10. Teresa
11. Andrea
12. Charmaine
13. Maureen

SUSIE Q-TIP: If you want to duplicate this project (and feel free to!--and let me know so I can be sure and check it out), be sure and color the little animals just a bit further down than the stamp goes (they stop midway down their tummies). That way, the part that gets tucked in between the sentiment panel and the scalloped square will be all the way colored just in case some needs to stick out a bit.

Stamps: Dare to Be, To the Moon, Chicks Rule, Lucky Ducky (Verve)
Paper: Dk. Chocolate, White (PTI), Berrylicious, Bubblegum (MFT), Lime Twist (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Library Card Envelope (Teacher Store), Jotted Heart Die (Verve), Scalloped Square Nestabilities, Houndstooth Embossing Folder, Flower CutUps Die (TCP), Copic Markers, Felt, Buttons (PTI), Divine Twine (TCP), Hot Glue, Jody Boosters