(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!

TECC37 Challenge Card

I couldn't wait to share this week's submission for Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge. I was leafing through one of the new scrapbook magazines this past week, and there was a section of a bunch of cute cards that had interesting "openings." I decided to give it a try with this week's sketch. You can see the original sketch at http://www.tayloredexpressions.blogspot.com/

My card has 2 circles on the bottom half, opening downwards, and the bird circle and twill ribbon circle open upward, with a piece of velcro holding the whole thing shut. Cardstock is Green Galore, Gable Green, and Regal Rose. Stamp set is Pun Fun and Itty Bitty Basics, and DP is Basic Gray and Making Memories. The "Celebrate" sentiment is from a $1.00 clear acrylic stamp from WalMart. The twill is all from Taylored Expressions. I love each one of those colors, and I was so happy when they all matched so well with that Basic Gray paper. The bird is outlined with the Stardust pen, and finally, there is some pink FUN FLOCK on the bird wings and tail, purchased from EclecticPaperie!

Birthday Fun for Brenda!

I had so much fun making this special "ensemble" for my sweet friend Brenda for her birthday this week. I really enjoy it when I am able to work on a project over a longer period of time and come back to it for a few days instead of rushing through something (and then thinking of how I wish I would have done something differently after it's finished.) This is one of those flavored coffee tins, covered in paper and rick rack. The little worm and flower are done with shrinky dinks! (Shrink Art?) The paper on the card and the tin are from American Crafts.


The paper on the gift bag are from the "Porcelain Prints" DP pack from SU, retired last year, and is paired with "Wild Wasabi" and Rose Red. The little oval label at the top of the bag are surrounded by little 1/2 inch circle punches. I wanted it to kind of look like a flower, but I didn't have a scalloped punch that would work, so I invented my own scallopes! Thanks for looking!

A New Spin on TECC36

This week's Taylored Expressions cupcake challenge layout (http://www.tayloredexpressions.blogspot.com/) immediately made me think of a spinner card. I'm not exactly sure why, but when I saw that circle shape on a diagonal, I just HAD to make a spinner! Since it had been a long time since I had made one, I went back to the SCS tutorial and it was just like riding a bike. Quite easy, and it all came back to me. Just make your "slot" before putting the whole card together, put a dimentional in between 2 pennies, then another dimentional on top of the "top" penny with your image that you want to spin, and then insert that spinning penny mechanism into your slot, and then finish your card. You also have to remember to attach your top layer to the bottom layer with a thick layer of dimentionals, too, in order to give the pennies room to "move." Here's the complete SCS tutorial: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ee/index.php/resources/tutorials/spinner_card/

The DP is from Die Cuts with a View Retro pack (I don't think I'll ever run out of that pad.) along with SU Old Olive and Cool Caribbean. The soccer ball stamp is from a retired SU set called "Sporting Goods." Some white brads in the upper corner, and some white gel pen faux stitching, as well as the word "SCORE" stamped with snap-stamps finish it up. I think the green stripe layer needs something added to it, perhaps the name of the person I'm giving the card to, or the name of their soccer team if they're on a team.... Like "Go Eagles!" Thanks for looking. Have a great weekend!

I'll be back tomorrow to share a 5x7 camping card for a special friend's birthday.

Jami Swap Cinderella Card

Happy Tuesday! Here is the card I made for Jami's SWAP a few weeks ago. All the other cards were so amazing, I get very intimidated when I participate with the "giants" of SU stampers. Thanks ladies for all the amazing creations. This set is called "Humor in High Heels." The requirements were to use the "bella" color combination of Chocolate Chip, Saffron, Riding Hood Red and Pink Piriouette. The Shoe and Pillow image is stamped on "shimmer white" from SU, then I added some "Dazzling Diamonds" on the pillow and Crystal Effects on the shoe. The chocolate chip base layer is "faux embossed" using a 1/2 inch circle punch. I also punched an oval in the top layer, then stamped the sentiment on the inside layer of saffron. The scalloped saffron layer is made with the slit punch, and some chocolate grosgrain and silver cord added as finishing touches. It looks like I need to go back and take a different picture using a lighter background! I'll get right on that! Thanks for stopping by!

Batty for Taylor's Cupcake Challenge!

Here is my entry for Taylor's Cupcake Challenge. I finished this on Friday, but it took me a while to upload. It was fun to get in some extended stamping time on Thursday and Friday. The little bat is from the SU Set "Batty For You" and the Happy Halloween Sentiment is from SU's All Year Cheer which is retired. There are 5 punches used on this card: 1" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, Ticket/ Label punch, and scalloped square punch. (Marvy) I could not live without my punches!!! The paper is from Reminiscense on a base of Only Orange, and Green Galore, with some Eggplant too! Hope you had some stamping time this past weekend too!

And speaking of Taylor, my Just Rite Stamper set that I ordered from Taylored Expressions Store a few days ago arrived on my doorstep in record time, and I tore that box open even before I put my purse down, pulled out all the goodies, and started playing. These are for my daughter to use as thank you notes. She was so excited! Thanks Taylor for getting my new toys to me so quickly. Although I definitely didn't get much housework done this weekend!

The (Hollywood Bowl) Hills Are Live!

Oh my goodness, you won't believe what I did with my friend Vivian the other night. On Friday night, Vivian invited me to go to the Sound Of Music Sing-a-long with a few of her former co-workers. I love musicals, and Rogers and Hammerstein, so I thought it would be fun. I had no idea it would also be hysterical! Evidently, there is a whole "cult following" of people who attend this event every year, and we've been missing out! People arrived in costumes (nuns, Austrian folk dancers, "brown paper packages tied up with string," "musical notes" (Do-Re-Mi, etc.) and my favorite, the TREES full of LITTLE CHILDREN. People must spend all year watching the movie to get ideas.

Once the movie started, it was a full on "contact sport." People in the audience were instructed to not only sing along, but hold up various props, (which we received in goodie bags as we entered the bowl.) make noices, hoot and holler, scream at the bad guys, and even bark like a dog when the character "Rolf" appeared! Vivian and I were cracking up the whole time, because we had no idea what was happening. We LOST it when people whipped out their flashlights and started pointing them at the screen during the scene when the nazi's were searching for the Von Trapps in the graveyard. My favorite part? 15,000 people popping their "New Year's Eve Champaign Bottle Poppers" at the moment that Captain Von Trapp and Maria had their first kiss! Oh my goodness! Next time we'll be more prepared! Thanks Vivian for inviting me!

Over the Top

I needed a bunch of BOY cards for the young boys at church, and since I hadn't used these SU! images in quite a while, I thought they'd be a fun adventure. This the set called "Over the Top." Pretty cool to be able to stamp one image, (chocolate chip craft ink) sprinkle some clear embossing on it, mat it on some cardstock, and call it a day. The DP is from DCWV and the cardstock is Garden Green and Bashful Blue. The TAB is punched from SU and is stamped with the sentiment from PaperTreyInk. (Faux Ribbon Set). The brown tabs at the top and bottom are some leftover scraps I had on my desk from a previous project, and completed with "screw" brads. "Let 'er rip!"