Blogging since 2006 ~ Formerly known as Stamping Therapy

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Thinking of You Mosaic


SCS Inspiration Challenge: Bellacor Vases

This is the vase that caught my attention right away. Blocked mirror shelf with vase... and orange flowers! It was just right for me! I love Melanie's new mosaic set and as you probably know.... I LOVE orange! Yep... I've known it since 2nd grade. We had to draw a picture that filled the whole page and use only ONE color.


Stamps: Inspiration Mosaic, Bug Me Anytime
Paper: white, pumpkin pie, chocolate chip, creamy caramel, pumpkin pie dsp, DCWV spring or summer mat stack
Ink: Palette burnt umber, SU chocolate chip marker, Copic marker E37
Accessories: whole punch, brads, ribbon, SU large oval, circle & designer label punches




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Friday, August 7, 2009

She is so cute!


SHADOWS: For the grass shadow, I used YG11 (Mignonette). For the shadow around everything else, I used B60 (pale blue gray). You notice it if you're looking for it (in real life). It's subtle... like light make-up. I find it very effective. These are both new colors for me. It's possible I'll find different colors I like better as I grow my collection even more. For a close up view of the coloring, right click on the photo and open up another window or tab.

I'm so excited about my new Copic colors. The more I collect, the more possibilities there are. I couldn't afford them all at once, but the benefits of growing my collection slowly has been so worth it. However... I still can't color the "right" way. I have my own shading techniques. These are the colors I used to color this adorable Sugar Nellie image I just received from stampzy through Wish RAK:
V12, V17, G24, YG11, E31, E51, B24, B32, C-1, RV29, & B60

Stamps: Sweet & Sassy (Sugar Nellie), Heard from the Heart (Stampin' Up)
Paper: white, pale plum
Ink: black, pale plum, Copic markers
Accessories: taffeta ribbon, stick-on pearls, paper piercer & mat stack, dimensionals



I had so much fun coloring the first one that I quickly colored the other Sugar Nellie image that stamzy sent to me as well as a Sarah Kay image that Stamp Muse sent to me. SCS stampers are so generous!

Sugar Nellie: Pickin' Apples
white gel pen
Copics: B24, B32, B60, E30, E31, E33, E35, E37, G24, R27, R29, Y21, Y38, YG11, YG23

Sarah Kay: Picnic of Daisies
white gel pen, SU creamy caramel marker
Copics: B24, B32, B60, E31, E33, E35, E51, G24, R27, Y35, Y38


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If you are looking for Hip Hop, it's in the next post!


If you are looking for Hip Hop, it's in the next post!

If you are looking for my "Favorites", it's down a little further!


I should be in bed, but I was thinking about this challenge and the cookies I made last evening. There are going to be a lot of yummy cards to see today!

SCS - Limited Supply Challenge:
* Use food and/or beverages as the main theme.
* Use colors with edible names.

I used apricot appeal, pumpkin pie, chocolate chip, close to cocoa, & creamy caramel.

Stamps: Cookie Love (Stamping Bella/Wish RAK)
Paper: white, apricot appeal, pumpkin pie, chocolate chip, close to cocoa, DCWV dp (spring or summer mat pack)
Ink: black, Copic markers

Accessories:
spiral clip, ribbons, scallop Nestie (Wish RAK), Martha Stewart lace punch, dimensionals

This card measures just smaller than 5x5.


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HIP HOP THURSDAY (and FRIDAY :)


(If this looks funny on your screen, it's because I'm trying to format it using a wide screen.)

Hip Hop was fun! I was so surprised to find out that I was randomly chosen as a winner from the weekly challenge cards. I won Boo Crew! How appropriate, huh?! I almost ordered it! What did you get with the 30% sale? Well, instead of Boo Crew, I ordered Bright & Merry Winter Wishes.


We Care

This was my favorite of the 2 Hip Hop challenge cards that I made. This card measures 4.25 square. I use 4.5 A Muse envelopes.

Stamps: Unity Nov KOTM, Folk Inspired (Background stamping)
Colors: bashful blue, white, black
Accessories: ribbon, SU oval & modern label punches, Nestie (Wish RAK), white gel pen, Copic markers



Next is the 6x6 scrapbook page I made for the Unity Guest Designer challenge.

Busted!

This is our new kitten, Chloe.

Unity Guest Designer Challenge: 1-2-3 challenge.

1 - Stamp (can use same image multiple times)
2 - patterned papers
3 - embellishments

Stamp: July KOTM (Unity)
Paper: SU dsp, white
Ink: SU markers: old olive, dusty durago
Accessories: brad, button, silk-like flowers, Marvy scallop punch



Pears

This is my favorites "Rule Breaker" card for the Unity Guest Designer challenge. I misunderstood the rules. I thought it meant 3 kinds of embellishments because one of the samples I had seen had that view. No biggy... I had time for lots of card making this week. :) I used this week's CPS Sketch found here.

Stamps: July KOTM
Paper: white, green (CM?), DCWV designer paper (spring or summer
Ink: black, Copic markers
Accessories: brads, spiral clip, ribbons, paper piercer, dimensionals

This card measures 4.25 square. I use 4.5 A Muse envelopes.

I love this Bird!

This is my favorite card that followed the rules. I had soooo much fun coloring her. Yes, I think she is a "her". LOL!

Stamps: Unity's July KOTM
Paper: white, regal rose, dsp - regal rose & bermuda bay
Ink: black, Copic markers (BG23, Y38, Y35, RV13)
Accessories: ribbon, brads, paper piercer, Ecstasy Crafts piercing/embossing template

This card measures 5x5.

If your interested in seeing any other of my Unity cards, click here.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

2 Peas in A Pod


Here's another card using this week's CPS sketch #127. I've been procrastinating on uploading this because DH really doesn't like it. This card uses a new stamp that I think is adorable! When I took a different card using this stamp to the stamp show last weekend to give to Sue, some of the customers wanted to buy this stamp. Isn't that cool!?! I was giddy. LOL!

In case you ask why the peas are pink and blue..... I have no idea what possessed me to do that. LOL!

Stamps: 2 peas in a pod (DRS Designs)
Paper: white, wild wasabi (& wasabi dsp), black
Ink: black, Copic markers
Accessories: ribbon, brads, photo corner punches (Wish RAK)

The other card that I made using this stamp is MUCH better!


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Wednesday's & Thursday's FAVORITES

Some of these ladies post more than one card a day. If you have time, you may want to view their SCS galleries, too.

(PS... I was cruising quickly. If you came here looking for your card because I left you a comment saying so.... and it's not here... please leave a comment and I'll fix that a.s.a.p. Thanks!)

Wednesday

rsalamom
mnfroggie
PickleTree
kraftyaunt
MakiJ
littlebombs
stamper-c
karengiron
justbehappy
Kharmagirl
LilLuvsStampin
stampertammy
catdidit
scrappigramma2
debdeb
handmadebysm
stampingout
BadSherry
knightrone
nitestamper
Beate
kendra
va.sunshine
dini
AmberDawn
Biggan
mrupple


Thursday

rsalamom
* 1 wacky woman*
scrapinshemaine
tennisrules
kmahany
chickadee3357
emilymomto3boys
racey
stampingout
stamps4funinCA
mrsmools
Busy*Becca*Bee
SherryLC05
jmasse
lisabeepianolovin
Toy
debdeb
CherCroppin




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CAUTION - MERCURY in new LIGHTBULBS

Has anyone who has purchased the new compact fluorescent light bulbs ever read the small print on the box?

We bought ours at Meijer. It reads,
"This bulb contains mercury. Manage in accordance with disposal laws. See www.lamprecycle.org for more information."

On the web site, it directs the reader to the EPA guidelines on www.epa.gov/mercury/spills/index.htm




This is what is says....

Spills

What Never to Do with a Mercury Spill

  • Never use a vacuum cleaner to clean up mercury (but see the "What to Do if a Fluorescent Light Bulb Breaks" section below for more specific instructions about vacuuming broken fluorescent light bulbs). The vacuum will put mercury into the air and increase exposure.

  • Never use a broom to clean up mercury. It will break the mercury into smaller droplets and spread them.

  • Never pour mercury down a drain. It may lodge in the plumbing and cause future problems during plumbing repairs. If discharged, it can cause pollution of the septic tank or sewage treatment plant.

  • Never wash clothing or other items that have come in direct contact with mercury in a washing machine, because mercury may contaminate the machine and/or pollute sewage. Clothing that has come into direct contact with mercury should be discarded. By "direct contact," we mean that mercury was (or has been) spilled directly on the clothing. For example:
    • if you broke a mercury thermometer and some of elemental mercury beads came in contact with your clothing, or
    • if you broke a compact fluorescent bulb (CFL) so that broken glass and other material from the bulb, including mercury-containing powder, came into contact with your clothing.

    You can, however, wash clothing or other materials that have been exposed to the mercury vapor from a broken CFL, like the clothing you happened to be wearing when you cleaned up the broken CFL, as long as that clothing has not come into direct contact with the materials from the broken bulb.

  • Never walk around if your shoes might be contaminated with mercury. Contaminated clothing can also spread mercury around.

Top of page

What to Do if a Fluorescent or Other Mercury-Containing Light Bulb Breaks

Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) are lighting more homes than ever before, and EPA is encouraging Americans to use and recycle them safely. Carefully recycling CFLs prevents the release of mercury into the environment and allows for the reuse of glass, metals and other materials that make up fluorescent lights.

EPA is continually reviewing its clean-up and disposal recommendations for CFLs to ensure that the Agency presents the most up-to-date information for consumers and businesses. Maine's Department of Environmental Protection released a CFL breakage study report Exit EPA Disclaimer on February 25, 2008. EPA has conducted an initial review of this study and, as a result of this review, we have updated the CFL cleanup instructions below.

Pending the completion of a full review of the Maine study, EPA will determine whether additional changes to the cleanup recommendations are warranted. The agency plans to conduct its own study on CFLs after thorough review of the Maine study.

Types of Mercury-Containing Bulbs
  • Fluorescent bulbs, which include linear, U-tube and circline fluorescent tubes, bug zappers, tanning bulbs, black lights, germicidal bulbs, high output bulbs, cold-cathode fluorescent bulbs, and compact fluorescent bulbs;
  • High intensity discharge bulbs, which include metal halide, ceramic metal halide, high pressure sodium, and mercury vapor;
  • Mercury short-arc bulbs; and
  • Neon bulbs.

Fluorescent light bulbs contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing. EPA recommends the following clean-up and disposal below. Please also read the information on this page about what never to do with a mercury spill.

Before Clean-up: Air Out the Room

  • Have people and pets leave the room, and don't let anyone walk through the breakage area on their way out.
  • Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.
  • Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one.

Clean-Up Steps for Hard Surfaces

  • Carefully scoop up glass pieces and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
  • Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
  • Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place towels in the glass jar or plastic bag.
  • Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces.

Clean-up Steps for Carpeting or Rug

  • Carefully pick up glass fragments and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
  • Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
  • If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the bulb was broken.
  • Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister), and put the bag or vacuum debris in a sealed plastic bag.

Clean-up Steps for Clothing, Bedding and Other Soft Materials

  • If clothing or bedding materials come in direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from inside the bulb that may stick to the fabric, the clothing or bedding should be thrown away. Do not wash such clothing or bedding because mercury fragments in the clothing may contaminate the machine and/or pollute sewage.
  • You can, however, wash clothing or other materials that have been exposed to the mercury vapor from a broken CFL, such as the clothing you are wearing when you cleaned up the broken CFL, as long as that clothing has not come into direct contact with the materials from the broken bulb.
  • If shoes come into direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from the bulb, wipe them off with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place the towels or wipes in a glass jar or plastic bag for disposal.

Disposal of Clean-up Materials

  • Immediately place all clean-up materials outdoors in a trash container or protected area for the next normal trash pickup.
  • Wash your hands after disposing of the jars or plastic bags containing clean-up materials.
  • Check with your local or state government about disposal requirements in your specific area. Some states do not allow such trash disposal. Instead, they require that broken and unbroken mercury-containing bulbs be taken to a local recycling center.

Future Cleaning of Carpeting or Rug: Air Out the Room During and After Vacuuming

  • The next several times you vacuum, shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system and open a window before vacuuming.
  • Keep the central heating/air conditioning system shut off and the window open for at least 15 minutes after vacuuming is completed.

I don't know when, but eventually these will be required in schools and many other buildings. Personally, we'll be removing them from our home.




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More Stamping Therapy


Here's the result of more stamping therapy time! After seeing Emily's amazing card and perfect stamping of a sentiment inside the Unity frame seen here, I just had to try it again. I don't have a Stamp-a-ma-jig, so it took 2 tries. But I did it! After playing around matting it, I decided to use today's sketch challenge again. I was ready to really embellish this because I was feeling stressed this evening and I wanted to go all out! LOL! The more I doodled, the less I wanted to cover it all up. {shakes head at self} I ended up with faux stitching, no ribbon, no spiral clip, punched flowers from the same dp with doodled centers so no brads were needed there. I ended up with just 3 brads. And guess what??? I must really have 1, 2, 3 on the brain from all that Unity guest designer challenge. Although, this technically is 2 stamps to make one image. Hmmm. I think 1/2 my submissions have broken the rules. Oh my! What has happened to me??? I used to be so rule oriented. Challenge stalkers... ya know what I mean {wink} OK, now that I've written a book, here's the recipe:

Stamps: July KOTM (Unity)
Paper: white, chocolate chip, certainly celery, dsp: close to cocoa & certainly celery
Ink: Palette burnt umber, SU chocolate chip marker
Accessories: paper piercer, SU circle & scallop punches, EK Success flower punch, brads, white gel pen, dimensionals

I hope no one minds that I've made more than once post today. I read on another blog that people get annoyed with that. Yikes! (But it will slow down once the school year starts back up again.)

SCS has been a little wonky today. My faves will have to wait.


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Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Monochromatic Mosaic


I'm still investigating ways I can use Melanie's Inspiration Mosaic stamps set. There's just so many possibilities! I needed time alone to destress this evening and I grabbed this stamp first and went for soft browns. I love the monochromatic look in some colors... and brown is one of them.

Stamps: Inspiration Mosaic, Bug Me Anytime, Tag Lines (Gina K. Designs)
Paper: very vanilla, chocolate chip, CM patterned paper
Ink: Palette burnt umber
Accessories: ribbon, brads, SU large oval & modern label punches, dimensionals
Techniques: paper tole, monochromatic, masking

Bug Me Anytime


SCS sketch challenge #240


Stamps: Bug Me Anytime (Nina Brackett/Gina K. Designs)
Paper: white, Bermuda Bay, Bermuda Bay dsp, pretty in pink
Ink: black, Copic markers (BG23, RV10, Y35, E0000), SU markers: Bermuda Bay, Glorious Green (grass)
Accessories: CM custom cutting system, SU scallop & circle punches

Monday's & Tuesday's Favorites

I was falling asleep when I put some of these in my SCS favorites. (Cold medicine) If I forgot to make a comment, please forgive me!If you have time, check out the galleries of these ladies because some of them upload more than one card a day.

MONDAY

Clear and Simple
craftycaro
StampOwl
LateBlossom
scrapnextras
funnygirl
k dunbrook
juliemlacey
hskelly
carriefitch
minnidr
Stamp-it-up
art4girlsmom


TUESDAY

Suzy_H
MyPrecious
sparklegirl
flaxychick
Toy
byjenn2007
danascott96
Devlinwhite
debils
{Teneale}
flowergal36
stampertammy
joan ervin
ChristineCreations
KKID
tankgrl
catcrazy
BC Sherrie
sugrnspicy
KarenG
Beedle
BevR
ilinacrouse
Cici510
JenMarie
annk516
justcrazy
Stampedfilled Dreams
sf9erfan



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Tuesday, August 4, 2009

CC230 - Certainly Cocoa Blossoms


SCS Color Challenge: certainly celery, close to cocoa, blush blossom.....
& cameo coral (optional)

I had no idea what I was going to do when I sat down at my craft table. I looked through my Wish RAKs and this is what I came up with.

Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes (Wish RAK)
Paper: white, close to cocoa, blush blossom
Ink: certainly celery, close to cocoa, chocolate chip marker
Accessories: organdy ribbon, paper piercer, CM custom cutting system, SU ticket corner & wide oval punches, Martha Stewart edge punch
Techniques: faux stitching

Monday, August 3, 2009

CAS Butterly


Here's my 2nd card for the CAS challenge: stitching. I love this flower & heart trail behind the butterfly. With all the pink I've been using lately, I really wanted to get back to one of my faves... orange!

If you've been on my blog this weekend, you know that I'm on my very first design team... DRS Designs. I love their images! So I'm so excited! Of course I had to use their stamps for a challenge card, too. *~* The butterfly is popped up twice with dimensionals.

Stamps: Silhouette Believe butterfly, Fly Away Hearts & Flowers (DRS Designs)
Paper: white, pumpkin pie
Ink: black, pumpkin pie, Copic markers (R27, Y38, Y35, Y08)
Accessories: ribbon, paper piercer, Stickles, dimensionals
Techniques: faux stitching

CAS Inspiration Mosaic



I am really enjoying Melanie's Inspiration Mosaic stamp! This week's CAS challenge is to use stitching on your card, real or faux. I don't sew. So it's faux for me! And this mosaic stamp makes faux stitching a breeze!




So Sweet Mosaic


This is a double challenge card. I also made this for Gina K's release party challenge #1: Layers
The frosting & cherry are popped up on dimensionals and then the cherry is popped up again.

Stamps: Inspiration Mosaic (Melanie Muenchinger - Gina K), Sweetest Blessings (Gina K. Designs)
Paper: white, creamy caramel, chocolate chip, dsp - chocolate chip & so saffron
Ink: Palette burnt umber, SU chocolate chip marker, Copic markers (RV13, Y21, E35, R27)
Accessories: SU large oval & modern label punches, paper piercer, dimensionals
Techniques: faux stitching, paper tole


Congratulations Mosaic

Have you ever looked at the mess on your table after completing several cards and notice all the leftovers from mistakes and wonder if you could rescue it all and make something new? Well, this is THAT card. LOL! Not sure how much I like it, but I didn't waste it all. LOL! So, now I have ONE MORE CAS challenge card for the week. (This was #5) Good grief. I think I spent most of Sunday in my craft room!

Stamps: Inspiration Mosaic, Sweetest Blessings, Tag Lines (Gina K Designs)
Paper: white, black, regal rose dsp
Ink: black, Copic markers (RV13, RV34, Y21, R27)
Accessories: ribbon, SU's scallop edge, oval & scallop oval punches, ribbon, paper piercer, cotton candy Stickles, dimensionals
Techniques: faux stitching

Make a Wish CAS


Yes, I went a little crazy with the CAS cards this week. And I'm exhausted today. LOL! (That's why I'm so delayed at getting these cards posted.)

Stamps: Make A Wish (Gina K. Designs)
Paper: white, barely banana (?), chocolate chip
Ink: black, Palette burnt umber, SU chocolate chip marker, Copic markers (R27, B23, E35, Y21)
Accessories: paper piercer, Nestie scallop rectangle (Wish RAK), dimensionals
Techniques: faux stitiching

Bubble Gum Tree


Here's my CAS faux stitched card using my new Bubble Gum Tree from the November Kit of the Month (KOM or KOTM). I just love it! With all the button cards I've seen lately, I thought this image would be fun with some buttons, too.

Stamps: Bubble Gum Tree, Whispy Grass (Unity)
Paper: white, regal rose
Ink: Palette burnt umber, gable green, SU chocolate chip marker, Copic markers (G02, RV13, RV34)
Accessories: paper piercer, buttons, eyelets, ribbon
Techniques: faux stitching













Here's what I thought was my first submission for the Unity guest designer challenge before it was edited. But I wanted to make another one anyway. *~* So all is good!

1-2-3 challenge.

1 - Stamp (can use same image multiple times)
2 - patterned papers
3 - embellie's

Stamps: Bubble Gum Tree from Nov. KTOM
Paper: white, chocolate chip, SU & CM dp
Ink: Palette burnt umber, chocolate chip marker, creamy caramel, Copic makers (RV13, E33, E27)
Accessories: buttons, brads, ribbons, dimensionals, SU scallop edge punch, sponge

Sunday's Favorites

There were some fabulous cards in the gallery on Friday! Some of these ladies uploaded more than one card. If you have time, check out their galleries for more inspiration!

krischir
stamper-c
klwco
woodwinds
gbedwright
strappystamper
enm1974
rochellelee
Stampingmathilda
mkstampin74
KarenG
annieht
juliemlacey
MrsBoz view 1
MrsBoz view 2
nitestamper
Cards_By_America
Wendybell

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Sunday, August 2, 2009

Feel Better Mosaic


And here's a new card I made this afternoon using Melanie's Inspiration Mosaic. I love it!! This card was made for the Gina K release party challenge #3: Double Take. Use 2 different sets on a card. One for the main image and another for the BG.

I just started coloring my snails and wanted to try one of my new Copic colors that I bought at the stamp show yesterday. I love how this turned out! The colors are great together!

Stamps: Framed Friends (Asela Hopkins - Gina K), Inspiration Mosaic (Melanie Muenchinger - Gina K)
Paper: white, apricot appeal, apricot appeal dsp, bermuda bay
Ink: black, bermuda bay marker, Copic markers (BG23, Y38, Y35)
Accessories: oval punches, ribbon

Caterpillar Thanks Mosaic


Here's my third set of cards I made last week with Melanie's new set, Inspiration Mosaic. This is the stepped up version of my CAS card. (I didn't upload the CAS version because I wasn't happy with it.


Stamps: Inspiration Mosaic & Bug Me Anytime (Gina K)
Paper: white, pretty in pink, gable green, rose red dsp
Ink: black
Accessories: ribbon, whole punch, brads













This is the stepped, stepped up version. I added star dust Stickles, more brads, and random dots made with my basic black marker.

Happy Birthday Mosaic



Here's another set of cards I made a few days ago with the new Inspiration Mosaic set. I cropped the BG on this one.

The first card is simple and the second is the stepped up version.


Stamps: Inspiration Mosaic (Gina K)
Paper: white, chocolate chip, dsp - chocolate chip, bashful blue
Ink: palette burnt umber, SU ballet blue marker, Copic B24
Accessories: Martha Stewart cupcake punch, SU scallop oval punch, cinnamon Stickles, dimensionals











For the stepped up version, I added brads, American Crafts ribbon, and EK Success flower punches.

In need of some humor?

Here's a card that will get you laughing! I just found it listed in the SCS Favorites thread, today. Be sure to read the story, too! ROFL!

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SCS Featured Stamper: va.sunshine


Featured Stamper: va.sunshine

* I used the same stamps and layout.
* I used a lace punch for the border instead of Swiss Dots.
* I used a different type of ribbon.
* I added a punched bow.
* I didn't pop up the top layer on dimensionals... I forgot! I think the lace border would show up better if I had.

Here's Teresa's gorgeous and elegant card.


Stamps: Peaceful Wishes (Stampin' Up)
Paper: whisper white
Ink: ruby red & garden green markers
Accessories: organza ribbon, lace edge & bow punches (Martha Stewart), CB Swiss Dots (Wish RAK)

Saturday's Favorites

I was so exhausted from all that shopping (thanks to MIL's gift :) that I took a nap. DH and DS fed themselves. LOL! It did them good. They didn't starve. *wink* The bad part is now my sleep schedule is off and I'll pay for it tomorrow. But after reorganizing my craft room, which I do probably every month especially after shopping, I can now cruise the gallery. And as usual, there was lots of eye candy in the SCS gallery! Some of these ladies uploaded more than one card. If you have time, check out their galleries for more inspiration!

PaperCrafty
stampingout
va.sunshine
Feline Creative
mocjen
jessjean
craftycaro
angelladcrocket
melmel
LateBlossom

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