Stamper's Sampler-Take Ten

Good morning!  This weather here is absolutely crazy!  We have mountains of snow and now it is raining cats and dogs!  I was woken up by the sound of thunder this morning! I am afraid to head down to the basement, since we have flood warnings running rampant. :( 

I was contacted by the publishers of Stampers' Sampler-Take Ten to write a review of their magazine. I gladly said yes.  It has been years since I've picked up a copy and enjoyed perusing through the pages. It was so fun to see all of the familiar names and see their gorgeous work.  And I am in awe of people who can acutually make a card in 10 minutes or under! Because as we all know....that would not be me! LOL!

I liked how the magazine was organized.  Two pages shared a common color theme or technique. I also liked the many ways to use the same stamp.  The style of stamping ranged from CAS to artsy vintage.  My favorite artist from this issue was Caroline Stuart.  She has such a great sense of style and I loved her work! And lastly, the back pages were filled with close ups of the techniques the stampers had used.  It was a cool way to draw attention to something I probably had missed in the beginning pages. 

Was there anything I didn't like about the magazine? Not really.  As with any magazine there might have been projects I wasn't over the moon about, but I still feel like I was able to pick up a technique or sketch I didn't have before. 

You can get a copy of this month's issue in my giveaway below! :)

The giveaway will end tomorrow night at 10PM CST! 

Have a great (hopefully not too wet) rainy Thursday!

Pink and Grey and a Giveaway!

I totally rhymed up there in my title....channeling my inner Dr. Seuss! 

;)

I do have lots to share with you....first a card and then what I think is a pretty grand giveaway down below!  

First things first.....my card was created with some leftover pieces and my new polka dot stencil from Heidi Swapp.  I used embossing paste and once it was dry I sprinkled it with pink Zing powder.  

Then I heat embossed it. 

I love the texture and visual interest it gives to the card. 

 And really is there anything better than pink polka dots?

I had some left over cuts from a publication project using Cricut's new cartridge, Box it Up!  I layered the pieces with dimensional foam circles and added some pink posies, string, and some fluffy silk flowers I purchased from A Pink Swan Etsy shop. 

I framed it with a pink circle....also a Cricut Leftover, and white frame from Spellbinders. 

As a final finishing touch I added a few sequins. 

I've been wanting to do a giveaway for awhile because it is so fun to make someone's day.

I wish I could give more,and to more people, but it just isn't in the budget! ;)

I have all of this to give to one lucky person! 

What do you have to do?

EDITED:  I don't want to scare people away with my giveaway...so if you would just like to leave a comment that is totally fine with me too! :)

Well as many of you know, I have been in a quandary about whether or not to start a Facebook page for Cortney.  Part of me thinks it would be great exposure and maybe a chance for her to be "discovered." The other part of me thinks maybe I'm opening up a can of worms that shouldn't be opened.  And sometimes I think I am completely nuts for thinking anyone would want to use Cort as a model in the first place.  I think she is beautiful, but that doesn't mean the rest of the world feels the same way. 

So I guess what I am looking for is opinions.  If you think I am nuts, please say so! Be honest...but be kind.

I've been on this fence for quite awhile and can't seem to reach a decision.

If you are a new follower, pin my giveaway to Pinterest, Facebook, or your personal blog, please leave an additional comment for an additional chance to win. :)

The giveaway will end on Friday, February 21st at 10 PM CST.

Good luck and thank you!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

It's Friday, it's Valentine's Day, and it's a half day institute at school.  I am a happy camper. :)

My longest week in history has finally come to an end!

I have a Valentine's Day banner to share with you that was published in last year's February issue of Cricut Magazine.  The pennants were cut using the Pretty Pennants cartridge.  I went with a traditional color scheme of pink and red....with a few touches of book paper, cream, and blue. 

I added clear dangling gems at the bottom to dress it up a bit and give it some movement. 

In between each pennant I a tied black tulle, blue string, and pearls.  The ends were finished with a dimensional flower.  

The flower was cut using the Flower Shoppe cartridge and adding a store bought flower to the center. 

Here is my girl all decked out for Valentine's Day.  She was so excited yesterday to pass out her treats to the students.  And was even more excited to eat the treats she received! ;)

Have a wonderful weekend with your sweeties! 

Check back later this weekend when I will be offering a pretty great stash of stuff to one lucky person! 

Be Mine.......

I've (we've) made it over the "hump" and the weekend is in sight!  (yay!)

I have another Valentine owl treat bag to share with you today.  I had another one here. I found this pretty blue heart paper in my stash and used it to direct my color scheme. I love creams, pink, blues, and kraft together.  I used my Silhouette to cut this owl treat bag. 

I assembled it and added my own personal touches to it.  Glossy accents for the eyes and beak. Glitter to his ears. 

A pretty vellum flower, ribbon, book paper leaves, and a sentiment using SRM stickers.  

I am running out the door this morning for work, so I gotta keep it short!

Have a HAPPY Thursday my friends!

Some People Add Such Joy!

How is it possible that it is only Wednesday? This has to be the longest week in history!

I have been doing waaaaay too much chasing and running.  

Kyle got a job at our local pizza place.  I am quite proud of him.  I don't talk about him quite the same as I do about Cort.  Mostly because he looks at my blog, he's a boy, and he's 17.  But he has had his share of struggles, and plenty of  ups and downs.  I don't want to get into the nitty gritty of it all and possibly risk embarrassing him. But let's just say that his struggles are different than Cort's, but can be just as difficult as hers in a different way. He is aware of his differences, unlike Cort, and that makes it difficult for him. For me. It breaks my heart some days to see what he has to go through. 

So for him to interview well and land a job is quite an accomplishment! His grades are good, he is signed up for the ACT, and he is starting to look at colleges seriously.  

He is one of those people that does add joy to my life. 

He is my baby. My "Renaissance Man." 

My son also collected frogs when he was younger.....so this card is perfect for him. It is a Crafty Secrets image.  It was colored with Copic Markers.  The pocket was cut using my Silhouette. (Which I still can't link to because my computer is telling me it is a malicious site?)  The sentiment is also by Crafty Secrets. 

I added glitter and touches of glossy accents to the frog. 

Here's to a speedy end to this week! ;)

Thank you for stopping by!!!

JustRite's February Release-Time Heals!

Good morning on this chilly Monday!

Today is JustRite's last day of their February release. I hope you've enjoyed all the new sets available!

Today's set is called, Time Heals Vintage Labels Seven.  It is a pretty set that coordinates with Spellbinders Labels Seven Die. 

I stamped the clock face in black and cut it out using a Spellbinders circle die. 

I added Crackle Glossy Accents to give it an aged appearance.  Once it was dry I added metal clock hands.

I stamped the frame in grey and a cranberry red color and cut them both out with Spellbinders Labels Seven Die. They were layered along with the clock face.

I added a flower that I had cut previously using my Cricut machine.  ( I always keep my leftover Cricut cuts!)  I added it to the front of my card, added book paper leaves, and a couple of flowers I had purchased at Hobby Lobby.  I added coordinating string, sequins, lace, and a peek of a grey doily. 

Here is the entire set....such a pretty font and sayings too!

The design team has lots of inspiration using this pretty set!

JustRite Inspiration

Eva Dobilas 

Sheri Holt 

Michele Kovack

Angela Barkhouse

Kathy Jones

Kristi Schurr

Darsie Bruno

Margie Higuchi

Keep warm my friends!  
I am heading out to school in my usual 17 layers.....
Winter needs to end! ;)

JustRite's New Release-Home Bakery Labels!

Are you ready for another cute release by JustRite? 

This set is absolutely perfect for any sweet treats you give as gifts, or a card to accompany it, or how about a scrapbook page related to food?  You know you are one of those people who takes your camera or I-phone to restaurants to take pictures of your food! (Please tell me I'm not the only one who does that!) 

It is called, Home Bakery Labels, and was designed by Samantha Walker. 

I found this oven cupcake box on the Silhouette store (I can't link because my virus software is telling me the site is suspicious?)and thought they would make a perfect pair!

I decided to go retro with a pink and blue theme.

I assembled the box and added brads for the dials and such. 

I stamped the sentiments in Hawaiian Shores (Papertrey Ink) on cream paper and cut them out with Spellbinder's dies.  I stamped the mini cupcakes and cut them out.  I layered a second layers of frosting using a dimensional foam circle and added glitter. I stamped the rolling pin and cut that out too. :) They were layered over the center of my satin bow.  

The box opens to reveal the yummy cupcake inside! I wish I could tell you that I was talented enough to bake something so pretty.....but I can not tell a lie.  It is a store bought cupcake. ;)

Here is the set in in its entirety.  So many fun possibilities with this set!

Don't forget to stop by the other designer's blogs!

They are a talented group with lots of fun projects to share!

JustRite Inspiration

Eva Dobilas  

Becca Feeken

Marisa Job 

Michele Kovack

Darsie Bruno

Angela Barkhouse

Kristi Schurr

Heidi Blankenship

Robin Parker