Happy Easter!

I needed to make a few Easter Card yesterday, so I was happy to see Taylor's quick, easy, and simple layout featured this week on Taylored Expressions. This is Cupcake Challenge #63. Where has the time gone??? The image is from a RAK I received from Joy and Daisy at eclecticPaperie. I think it's from Stampendous. Isn't that the sweetest little bunny? The DP (from DCWV) provided the inspiration for all the colors I used: Certain Celery, Bashful Blue, Regal Rose, and Lovely Lilac. The blue twill is from Taylor's store, and the coloring is done mostly with markers, and a little bit of aquapainters. The buttons are from my big stash of buttons. I also added a little bit of Sakura Glaze pen to the flowers and Stardust pen to the border around the image.

We're on our way to our Youth Pastor's wedding this afternoon which is being held at the Japanese Gardens at Long Beach State. I'll be back later to share the wedding card I made for he and his bride. In the meantime, have a wonderful Easter weekend! He Is Risen! He Is Risen Indeed!!!!!

Pomegranate Wish

This is probably the quickest easiest card I've ever made... or at least in a very long time. It helps when you are provide with the sketch, (Thanks to Taylor and her weekly Cupcake Sketch Challenge!) and helps even more when you are using a little bit (or a lot) of designer paper. I've had this beautiful "Making Memories" paper, called "Maddi Paisley" for a very long time because I'm always drawn to peaches and corals... I loved the fact that it looked so great with Purly Pomegranate (an 08 in-color from SU!), plus it looked like it was MADE to go with Groovy Guava. The "Whimsey" wheel is wheeled with Groovy Guava ink onto the G.G. layer, and then the designer paper is mounted onto P.P. squares. Isn't that yummy?

The butterfly from "Garden Whimsey" is stamped twice, cut out once with a coluzzle, and then just the butterfly is cut out with scissors and mounted on top of the first butterfly with the wings bent up just a tiny little bit. I also tried something new for the scallops around the butterfly circle. I refuse to buy "nestabilities" and other big "wish list" items until I'm out of debt for a large expense I had to make last year, so I keep playing around with things I already have to get the same look. This is the corner rounder punch used to go all the way around the pomegranate layer to get the scalloped look. A little time consuming, and not "perfect" but hey, it's a handmade one of a kind piece of art, right???

Final details: Star Dust Stickles, white brads, "Small Script" stamp in the corner, paper pierceing "swirly thing" in the upper right hand corner (I drew it on a piece of paper and then pierced on top of that as my pattern onto the Groovy Guava layer), and glaze pen on the butterfly antaenna.

Here's one more card that doesn't need much explanation... just that is uses DCWV "Nana's Kids" Paper that I am in love with!

Lovin Me Some Baja Breeze

Baja Breeze (from SU!) is such a peaceful, warm, relaxing color... and since I can't go to Baja in person, I'll just have to stick to using it on my cards! Cardstock is Baja Breeze and Basic Gray. This flower stamp is from Stampendous; and it is water colored with an aquapainter using Baja Breeze stamp pad. The circles are cut with a coluzzle, and the scalloped edge around the flower image and the oval image at the bottom are cut by hand with scalloped fiskars scissons. The thank you image (rub on) and the designer paper are both from the SU "Hand Drawn Bundle." And for the finishing touches: 2 prima flowers, a rhinestone brad, some basic gray ribbon (from Fabric Barn) some paper piercing around the edge of the cirlce image, and some Taylor's Tiny Twinkles in the middle of the flower. (Click here for a link to Taylor's Store.) Thanks for stopping by today for a look. My son just arrived this morning for his Spring Break visit, so I'm looking forward to hanging out with him this week (not to mention a few days off work!) I'm sure I'll get some stamping in somehow! Have a great weekend!

Boatloads of Love

I've been having a lot of fun with "Boatloads of Love" the past few days. I started out with the smaller (one boat) image and then when I went to put it on the card, I wanted to use the sentiment "I'm pulling for you." to send to my friend Mike who just lost his job after 10+ years at Disneyland, and I realized that that sentiment didn't make much sense with just the one boat, so I started over with the 2 boats hooked together. That obviously led to a much bigger card/ layout so that card grew to a full size 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 size card (1 piece of cardstock folded in half.

The one image card turned into Taylor's Cupcake Sketch: TECC61, (www.tayloredexpressions.blogspot.com) using Real Red and Bordering Blue and Bordering Blue designer paper from the Saleabration Set. The main image is stamped with black craft ink and embossed with black embossing powder (both cards) which made coloring so much easier and makes it really POP when you see it. This card is also part of the Stamp Simply #80 challenge "Let's Forget the Rules" http://notimetostamp.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/ Take a close look and you'll notice: white gel pen dots around the red cardstock, white gel pen doodles on the scalloped circle punch, black faux stitching on the main image, crystal effects on the water and the life preservers, silver pen on the anchor, and a stipe of white ribbon to add to the "nautical" look. I love that bordering blue color. I don't use it nearly enough and I love the way it looks with red and white!

The larger card uses Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, and More Mustard Cardstock, East Coast Prep designer paper. The "I'm pulling for you" sentiment is punched out with the circle punch, and mounted on the round tab punch on the side of the stamped image. There is also paper piercing around the turquoise layer, silver brads in the corners, and some red and turquoise ribbon. The main image has crystal effects on the water and life savers on the side of the boat, some silver pen on the anchor, paper piecing on the heart inside the 2nd boat and the puffs of smoke coming out of the smokestack are double stamped and mounted on tiny little pieces of dimentionals. I don't think I've ever worked so long on 2 cards as I did these, but I had so much FUN!

Cards for Kristin

A few weeks ago, our very sweet, wonderful, talented pastor's wife, and friend, Kristin, took some amazing photos of my daughter Emily for her headshots she needed for an audition. Here is a link to Kristin's blog and the post with Emily's pictures. (Look for the Feb. 22 and the Feb. 24 posts... several amazing pictures of Emily in both posts) http://kristineldridge.com/blog/?p=1043

I've been wanting to do something extra special for Kristin, so I decided to make her a set of notecards that she can hopefully use when corresponding with her clients. There are 6 cards and even though they all use Wild Wasabi and Not Quite Navy Cardstock, along with Porcelain Prints Designer Series Paper, they are each individually unique. Each card also uses the monogram from "Just Right Stampers."

Now I just need to go out and find some ivory colored envelopes before packaging up the whole set so I can give them to her on Sunday. I'll be back tomorrow to share some fun cards I made with "Boatloads of Love." I've had a bad sore throat for a few days, and have missed a lot of work, but I sure have enjoyed my stamping time!

Here's What Happens

.... when you combine a sore throat, a few sick days home from work, and a big box of brand new supplies from Stamp Club (I'm in Jami's once a month Stamp Club and it was my turn to earn the hostess rewards... can you say SCORE!?!?) All that equals a bunch of new cards!

Here's what I've been working on..

Card #1: from the Level 3 Hostess set called "Hand Drawn Bundle" which comes with adorable paper, 4 stamps, and 2 huge sheets of rub-ons. I love it! Super easy to create! I think this would be something good to pack when you're going on a trip and want to take some stamping fun with you, since the paper and stamps and rubons already match. Just throw in a few stamp pads and some Riding Hood Red and Baja Breeze and White cardstock, and you've got yourself a party!.

Card #2 also uses Riding Hood Red cardstock and the Designer Paper: "Bella Rose." Another new toy I got in my order was the Jumbo Wheel called "Friendly Words." Isn't it cool? The little Thank You stamp is a single stamp from page 208 of the caty, which you can actually get for FREE right now if you spend $40 from the new occassions mini. I used my Marvy Square Scalloped punch, and since I didn't have multiple sizes of this punch, I just layered the Kiwi square's underneath the Riding Hood Red Square.

Card #3 uses a set I've been craving for a long time: Garden Whimsey. The card is CASED from a card we did at Jami's Club last year and I've been hanging on to it ever since. Here's Jami's original: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/648273?cat=500&ppuser=5896&perpage=96

Mine uses Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, and Wild Wasabi paper as well as some More Mustard Ink, and East Coast Prep Paper (retired) and Wild Wasabi striped ribbon.

Thanks for stopping by.... time to go back and dig a little deeper in that magical box. Stop back tomorrow for a look at a beautiful set of cards I made for a wonderful friend. Have a great day!

Elegant Wedding Shower

My friends at work and I are giving a bridal shower next week for our Youth Pastor's Bride-to-be, Lauren. We're going with a red rose theme... elegant and classic. Here are the invitations and the wedding dress favors.

The invitations are made with SU Real Red, Basic Black, Whisper White, and vellum, as well as the rose paper from "The Paper Factory." The scalloped trim is made from a pearlized shimmery paper from Michaels, punched with the Martha Stewart lace punch. The beautiful red swirly ribbon is from the TayloredExpressions store! I love it... it adds just the elegance I was looking for. The Bible verse, I Corinthians 13 is from the SU set, "Elegant Inspirations." This is a pocket card and the actual invitation was printed on regular white cardstock, front and back, and then the corners were rounded with the corner rounder, with a black sheer ribbon on the top, attached through a round 1" circle folded over the top.

The wedding dress favors are also from Taylor's store... they come flat, and I found them quite easy to stamp on and fold up. I used some swirly stamps I believe I got at Michael's, with Real Red ink and more of the swirly red ribbon. Inside the dresses are a few pieces of Dove Chocolate. Then I folded in the side and attached them together with a dimentional. I'll be sure to post some photos in a few days of the shower, so you can see the whole thing all put together. My friend Michelle is doing the flower centerpieces, so it's going to be gorgeous!

(Basic) Grey Whale

It was fun to get out this set for use in Taylor's Challenge this week (TECC60)... Pun Fun from SU! Whale was stamped in black staz-on, then water colored. The papers are "Two Scoops" from Basic Grey, and the cardstock is Wild Wasabi, Bordering Blue, and Not Quite Navy. Marvy punches are used for the focal image, some dark gray ribbon, some blue-ish gray brads, and a few small hole punches around the scalloped image. Love these colors together, don't you! Thanks for stopping by. I'm headed off to my nephew's 4th Birthday party this afternoon. ROAR! I'll be back tomorrow to share a dinosaur card I made for him for his "Roar... Josh is turning four party!"

Treasure Box

From the tutorial that Jenn Balcer and Lynn in St. Louis posted on Splitcoast a few weeks ago. The only problem I had was getting the piece of cardstock to feed through my printer, but other than that, it was pretty easy. The DP is from Die Cuts with a View and the stamped image is "Merci" from Stampin Up! The twill ribbon is from TayloredExpressions. It's super easy. Try it! The butterfly is cut out, bent a little bit and glued on with sticky strip. The butterfly, heart and flower also have lots of "stickles" on them, as well as a row of stickle dots around the front scalloped piece. I wanted to pick up on the sparkle patterns in the DP.

Here is the link for the pattern and instructions, by "Lynn in St. Louis" on Splitcoast. http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=419606

A Little Punchy!

Here's something simple but fun for you today. A card made with almost all PUNCHES.... Circle punches of several sizes, scalloped circle punch, and oval punch. The "Just Because" sentiment is from"My Favorite Things." I love the fonts they use on their stamps! The background on the Gable Green layer is a wheel stamp called "Kindness." Youa could totally change up the feel of this card by using soft pastels, all black and white, etc. A fun card for kids to make too! Happy St. Patricks Day... watch out for all that green beer!

Thanks a Latte!

I love making coffee cards and sending them to my many friends who LOVE their coffee or tea. So when I sat down late last night to look for some images to play with for Taylor's sketch this week, these coffee cups from My Favorite Things just practically stamped themselves! I used watercolor paper, brown stazon, and an aquapainter and ink from the stamp pad lids of: Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, and Pixie Pink.

The Designer Paper is "Sweet Always" from SU! and the twill ribbon is from TayloredExpressions store. I've also added some "Queen & Co." brads in the corners. Here's a closer view to show the watercoloring. Thanks Taylor for a super fun sketch! I'm hoping to find a little more time this weekend to make another one... I have some ladybugs just waiting to come out and play!

It's Classic!

For a special guy's birthday, and for Taylor's Cupcake Challenge. (TECC57)

Check out http://www.tayloredexpressions.blogspot.com/ for the original challenge and instructions.

This card uses "River Rock" "Cranberry Crisp" and "Mellow Moss" cardstock. The image (can't remember the stamp set, I borrowed it from Jami a long time ago and stamped a bunch of images and saved them) is stamped with black craft ink and embossed. Then water colored with an aquapainter. There is also crystal effects on the windshield of the car, and silver pen on the bumper and hubcaps. The designer paper is from Chatterbox.
A few more details: buttons, stitching on the sewing machine, ticket corner punch and the "Happy Birthday" sentiment from All Holidays Stamp Set (SU!)
The inside of the card says.... "Timeless.... Ageless.... Classic... all the things you are, and all the things I love about you! Happy Birthday!"

Rub ons are so much fun!

Here are a few cards I made with some fun rub ons I got from Joy and Daisey at eclecticPaperie!

This first one is Rose Red and Coral paper from SU, accented with black of course, and Raspberry Twist DP.

The 2nd one is a unique combination of Pomegranite and Caribbean and Chocolate paper!

Enjoy these new cards!

Here are a few cards from recent days.

The 2 blue cards use the new SU set "Puns from the Past," the first set in the new caty that I just "had to have!"

Friendship and Cheesecake... Life Is Good!

This past Saturday I had lunch with 3 friends from High School. That may not sound very unusual to most people, but it is for me. We've been out of high school 32 years, and for the past 29 of those years, I have not kept up with any of the 3 ladies that I had lunch with. But the Lord reconnected us and I'm so glad He did. We had a class reunion 2 years ago, but 2 of these gals, Isabel and Laura weren't able to come, so I haven't seen them in a long time. I don't think I've seen Laura since High School, or maybe the 10 year reunion. Isn't is amazing that you can live relatively close to someone and not see them for that many years? We met at Cheesecake Factory in Brea because it was fairly central for all 4 of us... Rancho Cucamongo, Irvine, Norwalk, and me in Lakewood. Great food, yummy cheesecake, and wonderful laughter, tears, and a sweet time of reflecting on all God has done and is doing in our lives. My hope is that God continues to allow me to reconnect with the people from my past in order to be an encouragement to them, as they are to me.

From left to right that's me, Laura (Calderon) Isabel (Pina) and Cyndy (Porraz). 50 (or close to it for some of us!) and fabulous, don't you think???!!!!!

Answers to our Christmas Quiz!!

Some of you might have actually taken our "Christmas Quiz" in our Christmas letter and might want to know the answers! Well here they are!

• Took tap lessons to dance in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Emily: Millie show in Jan 09 just ending last week)
• Grew about 6 inches (Stephen)
• Got a job as a Day Camp Counselor (Emily)
• Went to San Francisco for birthday to see Phantom of the Opera with wonderful friends (Carol: December 08... thanks Jimmy and Jorge!)
• Took Driver's Ed (both Stephen and Emily)
• Got Driver's Permit (Emily)
• Bought a bike, a laptop computer, an I-touch, and loves anything and everything electronic! (Stephen)
• Moved into a new office (Carol.... just down the hall from my old office, but fun to have a chance to paint and redecorate!)
• Starred as "Marty Maraschino" in Grease! (Emily: May 08)
• Got a new Pastor and a new Boss (Carol.... our new pastor is Brent Eldridge, who I've known since he was in elementary school, and my new boss is Dave Friese, who I've known since 1982 when we were both "assistants" at Lakewood.)
• Got braces off (Emily)
• Champion WOW player (Stephen)
• Still serving at FBCOL as Children's Ministries Pastor (me!)
• Got a job making delicious salads at Paradise Bakery (Stephen)
• Tutors Math after school (Emily)
• Began the 11th grade (Both Stephen and Emily)
• Starred in Godspell and sang the amazing solo "Oh Bless the Lord My Soul." (Emily: Jan. 08)
• Made several 100 handmade cards (Carol)
• Had tonsils out a few days before Christmas (Emily... she's doing great... thanks to everyone who prayed for her)
• Getting braces off in a few weeks (Stephen... any day now hopefully!)
• Turned 16 (Emily)
• Turned 17 (Stephen)
• Growing and learning many things from God (all of us.... me for sure in a super big way!)
• Danced and sang in the musical "Annie Get Your Gun" (Emily: June 08)
• Moved to Indiana in March (Stephen)
• Joined Weight Watchers.... so far so good (Carol .... 15 pounds gone so far)
• Saw 7 movies in a 5 day period when cousin Andrew came to visit because it was cheap and about the only thing to do in Indiana (Stephen)
• Time to start thinking about colleges (Stephen and Emily)

God bless you this coming yea! We look forward to seeing what God has in store for all of us this year.

Thank you gift for Special Friends

I can't believe I haven't posted anything for over a month. I just get so frustrated with uploading with my camera that I'd rather not even try. But I do have lots of cards and projects from the past few weeks, so here goes... Here's a Hostess Gift I took to special friends in San Jose who treated me to a very special birthday a few weeks ago.

This is an envelope box that I altered to be a notecard box. Just covered it with saffron designer paper, added some embellishments, twill, ribbon, and stamped the word NOTES on vanilla cardstock, and that was it!

It is filled with 16 notecards... all the same design, but in different colors. I copied this card design from a card I receive in SWAP that Jami hosted a year ago and it caught my eye so much that I have copied it many times. Simple and elegant and easy to change for any occassion. Each flower is cut out (yes!) an highlighted with the stardust pen.

Congratulations Josh and Patty

This past weekend I attended a beautiful wedding at our church of two sweet friends, Josh and Patty. They've been dating about 4-5 years, and have been engaged almost one year so this was a long awaited day! Patty has 3 kids that I've had the pleasure of teaching, loving, and hanging out with as their children's pastor (and one of them is my daughter's friend) so this was a celebratory day for all 5 of them. The wedding was gorgeous, and very special. Here is the card I made a few weeks ago for them. Lots of sparkles!

The cardstock colors are Pixie Pink, Groovy Guava, So Saffron, and shimmer white. The main image is stamped in Stazon, colored with the aquapainter and the groovy guava ink for the cake, and then the total image is embossed with Irridescent Ice. I added lots of little rhinestones all over the cake, and used some glaze pen on some of the flowers. The "Happy For You" sentiment is from the Fancy Flexible Phrases set (retired) and punched with the 2 oval punches, and then cut with scalloped scissors around the outer layer (Guava). The background card is wheeled with the Baroque Wheel. The flowers are from the Fabulous Flowers set. Some ribbon and some punches, and there it is! I had a lot of fun making this card. I love it when I'm able to spend 2 or 3 days on a card and can come back to it to add to it slowly, instead of rushing to get it out the door :)

Have a fun day!

Cupcake Challenge Card

Just a quick post to show the card I made this weekend for the Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge Card (#41) I found this "Me and My Big Ideas" paper at the big Joanne's in Buena Park and new it would make some FUN birthday cards! The rick rack is from a big stash I actually bought from "Oriental Trading!" Imagine That!

The main image is stamped on Shimmer White with black craft ink (SU) and embossed with detail clear, then colored with stampin up markers. The cardstock is Pixie Pink and Ballet Blue, with purple brads in the corners. There is also crystal accents on the cherries. I think that's about it! Happy Monday. Hope you all have a great week.

My Mom's Birthday

Last week my wonderful mom had a birthday, and as it happened, Stephen was here visiting as well, so of course, what a great opportunity for a family get together. Have I said it lately that I love my family? Taco Salad, birthday presents, kids playing, yummy dessert, and lots of laughter!

Here's my sister Debbie, and the love of her life Rod (who also happens to be her husband.) They are ALWAYS smiling and laughing together! I love that about them! Deb has a unique ability to encourage and speak love and healing into my life.

Sweet little Grace, who is 4 years old now, loves her cousin Emily!

Here are the boys having fun and being silly! They both love their Grandma! (And not just because she spoils them!)

Hope you had a wonderful birthday mom... Many happy and healthy more!