Congratulations Gary!

This card was made for my friends son who graduated high school. It also fits for 3 challenges on Splitcoast Stampers.
- VLVMAY11 (Verve sketch)
- F4A66 - (Free for All - must use something free)
Free digi from Bird @ http://www.birdscards.com/
- WT324 (Ways to use it - stars)

These were fun challenges.

I made this card faster than any other one I think I have made. I made it before finishing the food I made for the party.

I made 10 pounds of potato salad (using Grandma Wallace's special recipe), a double batch of pasta salad (my special recipe I concocted a few years ago), a huge veggie tray with ranch dips mix, and spinach dip (the best from Knor). My potato salad was pretty darn close to grandma's even though there is NO Seven Seas creamy Italian salad dressing in the entire state of Arizona and I had to use the only "yellow" creamy Italian available. I emailed my aunt on Facebook. Luckily for me (and the party goers) she had written down the recipe years before when we all watched grandma make it, and took it to TN to see my cousin over Memorial Day weekend, and typed it all out for me.

Supply list: Bazzill, SU Night of Navy, SU Old Olive, Scenic Route, SU Year Round Fun, Star digi from Bird, Ribbon, Cuttle Bug, SU dots embossinfg folder, corner rounder, pop dots under sentiment and hat.

May VSN Challenge Cards

Last weekend was May Virtural Stamp Night (VSN). I only had time to make four cards for the weekend. I was helping my friend Ceylan on Saturday at her dance school's recital. I even had to speak on stage...I will be prepared next year.

The first card was for MAY11VSNA - Blue Waters challenge. It was a color challenge to use kraft, aqua, light green, and the dessert was to use yellow.

Supply list: SU Kraft, SU bashful blue, Recollections green, Cuttlebug, SU lattice embossing folder, SU dot embossing folder, Cricut, Elegant Edges cartridge (imagine that!!), SU bodacious boquet, Katie & Co, Offray ribbon, sewing machine, Sharpies (for colors around border and to color the bling, bling, Heidi Swapp paper distresser.

This card was for the MAY11VSNC ARRR! challenge. We were to use 3 things that started with R for this challenge. I used ribbon, the color red, ric rak, and a round image (I know...I used 4 instead of 3. That tapped out my R supplies.

Supply list: Bazzill (white), Recolletions (red, black, striped paper, and polka dot paper), Paper Trey Inc ric rak die, Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, Corner rounder, Offray ribbon, Hole punch, Katie & Co.

This card is for the MAY11VSNE - Land Lubber challenge to make a beach scene or something you would see at a beach. I really had invisioned this to look more real in real life. That didnt' happen.

Supply list: Bazzill (white, charcoal, navy), SU kraft, SU bashful blue, bright blue misc, SU orange from in color a few years ago, DCWV (wood grain paper), Cuttlebug, SU lattice embossing folder, SU dot embossing folder, Cuttlebug swirl embossing folder, studio g (clear, 2 sets), twine, paper piecing for the beak and stumps.

This last card is for the MAY11VSNF Polly wants a cracker challenge. We were to use bright colors and a bird image of some sort. I cased myself from an earlier Verve sketch challenge (see older post of Blue Bird of Happiness). I bet you are suprised that I used SU melon mambo...lol. This card just makes me smile. The bright pink and bright colors just makes me happy.

Supply list: Bazzill (white), SU melon mambo, SU daffodil, SU orange from in color a few years ago, DCWV (patterns), bling, Cricut, Paper Lace cartridge, Cuttlebug, Cuttlebug circle embossing folder, paper piecing.

Wishing you the best!

I made this card for a co-worker who is leaving the company and on to greener pastures. I used the VLVMay2011, week 2 sketch for this. I paper pieced the drink, umbrella, and orange slice (yes...they are very small pieces). I added gel over the top of the drink to make it shiney and look like liquid. Also used my Cricut, elegant edges and lacy labels cartridges. To make the tag look more like the one in the sketch, I added red dots around the inner edge.

Here is the link to the sketch.

Supply list: Bazzill, Recollections (red, orange and white polka dot, and red and white polka dot), Sonborn (yellow), Offray sheer ribbon, VAP stamp ($1 Michaels a long time ago), SU Riveting, Cricut, Lacy lables cartridge, Elegant Edges cartridge, SU circle punch, Fiskars circle punch, SU border punch, Marker, paper piecing, button, bakers twine.

Beautiful Tulip card from Laurel

I can't take credit for this pretty card but I wanted to post it for you to see. Isn't it beautiful??? Laurel, my neighbor and friend, made this for me for my birthday. WOW. I love it. I don't know how many of you know this, but purple tulips are my favorite. I love them. When I go back to Iowa, I hope to see them. I'd grow them (or the royal purple climatis) in AZ but they wouldn't hold up in the heat here. : ( I could sit and look at these flowers all day.) It's kind of strange because I don't normally love purple but I sure do love those purple flowers and this card is no different. LOVE it Laurel. Thanks for giving it to me. It's made my card board!!! Isn't the white on white under the main element awesome?

If anyone wants to know how to make the tulip, let me know and I will ask Laurel. All I know is that she used the SU owl punch and some ovals...but that's all I know. The SU top note was used and I cut the center ovals for Laurel using my Cricut and Elegant Edges cartridge.

Thinking of you Mom - F4A64

This card will be mailed off to my mom for a belated Mother's Day. I called her that day but didn't get the card made in time to send. I'm running on normal time...late. Mom, as I know you check my blog, this will hit the mail tomorrow! It's much prettier in real life. I liked the sunburst look so much I wanted to try to see what it would look like coming from the center of the card. I really really like how this turned out. I love the colors and the overall look. It's a Shannon card for sure. I used my Cricut and Elegant Edges cartridge again. Can you tell I really like that one? It has so much to offer card makers. I stamped in the center of the sentiment area again. I like that look and what a way to use more stamps and the inks we already own. This was for the Free for all challenge on Splitcoast Stampers (F4A64) where we were to have the sentiment on the card be the main focus...that's most of my cards, so I had to participate. I added the felt flowers tutoril on Betsy Veldman's blog here. I also used Prima bling on this because I know it won't be thrown away. : )

Supply list: Bazzill, Me and My Big Ideas, Mira-Mi, SU in color from a few years ago (orange cs), SU Melon Mambo, Prima bling, bling (two sizes), Felt from Joann's (major sale after Valentine's Day), Offray ribbon, Paper Trey ink rick rack die, Cuttlebug, SU dots embossing folder, corner rounder punch, Cricut, Elegant Edges cartridge, i-cling stamp, studio G clear stamp, SU scallop border punch, sweing machine.

Thinking of You - May cards

This card is my May card for my grandma and great aunt. I used the VLVApr2011 Week 3sketch. I loved the sunburst look and wanted to do a momocromatic card. I normally do not do monocromatic cards as they seem hard for me. I used my Cricut and my favorite Elegant Edges cartridge. The flowers are sillk. I stamped in the center of the white with a new i-cling stamp from the $1 bin at Michaels. I left the border of the yellow (daffodill) cardstock showing on the side. This was for the Free for all challenge on Splitcoast Stampers (F4A64) where we were to have the sentiment on the card be the main focus...that's most of my cards, so I had to participate.

Supply list: Bazzill, SU delightful daffodil, Barely Banana, Sonborn, DCWV, stack, Cricut, Elegant Edges Cartridge, Cuttlebug, SU dot embossing folder, SU victorian embossing folder, SU scalllop border punch, silk flowers, ribbon (purchased several yards from someone, but do not remember who), i-cling flower stamp, studio G clear stamp, sewing machine, SU yo-yo yellow ink, SU apricot ink, non SU black.

I will miss you Cosmo! RIP. 11/28/1998 - 05/10/2011

I'm not sure if you have heard yet or not, but my beloved Cosmo passed away this am. He waited until I went to sleep and passed sometime between 1:30 and 7:00 this am. Helen came over this morning to help me with him. Thank goodness. I coudln't have done it without her. Cosmo loved Helen as much as she loved him. He was an awesome dog. I got him when he was 1.5 from a girl I worked with because they were moving and "couldn't" take him. That worked out to my benefit. He was so smart and such a great dog. He wanted nothing more than to please his owners. He wasn't much of a swimmer. He would swim a little with me, but sure wouldn't with others. He would however, walk by the edge of the pool if Calista or Diane were in the yard. He must have somehow known they weren't strong swimmers. He was great for sitting on the steps though. He begged for me to put socks on his feet (picture below later) when we went to the Cinders up in Flagstaff. When I was laid off, I taught him how to understand spelling, Spanish, and English for some words. He knew the difference, too. When he got older, I wouldn't make him switch between sitting and laying because I knew it was hard on him. When we would go walking with him, he would strut around like he was the "man". He was so handsome and he knew it. I even helped him "have" his puppies. That's a whole different story but you can probably figure out what I had to do to help him. If you want the story, ask either me or Amanda...I still laugh at her reaction. I will miss the noise of him brushing the floor to make his bed. He has done that since he was a puppy. I am so thankful I got our Christmas pictures taken last year. He still looked happy and healthy, even though he tried to jump out of the car without help and hurt himself and was getting eaten by ants during the photoshoot. I had hopes of having one more picture taken of the three boys and me before his passing but didn't get that done. : ( Below, is a scrapbook page I made a long time ago for Cosmo. Several names - One dog. I will miss him so much.

Here are some pictures I took of him recently. Cosmo laying on the tile floor one day when I was working from home. His normal spot. The one, is him laying on his back. I'm sure it helped ease the pain if he had any and I'm sure the cold tile felt really good on his shoulder with the lump. The other was just one of Cosie being Cosie.

Cosmo a few months ago. Hard to believe how he blends in with the tile on my floor isn't it? This was pre-lump in his shoulder but I'm sure it was there, just not pronounced.

Cosmo laying on his back on the cold tile to help his shoulder with the lump feel better.

One of the last pictures I took of Cosmo. Have to love the upside down ear.

Cosmo as a young dog. Back when he had no grey hair and actually played with toys. We used to shave him in the Summer.

Cosmo with Blake's socks on at the Cinders in Flagstaff. He begged for these socks so he could walk around.

Rest in peace big boy. I love you.

I have had it! No more contests for me at work!

I normally wouldn't even give this much thought or much energy but it's REALLY getting to me. Today, we had a salsa contest at work for Cinco de Mayo. My coworker asked me to make salsa for it and make an extra batch for her and Andrea (those two...I can't even make enough salsa as they both like it sooooo much). So, anyway, as I was having fun last night at Jimmy's for Zalena's birthday celebration, I left much later than expected. I had to buy my ingredients from Walmart since our grocery stores close down by me (near retirement villages) at 11. I get home at about 11:45pm and begin making the salsa. I was up til 2 making it, then was overly tired and couldn't sleep until 3. Yes, had to still work today. So the reason of this post is for me to put it out there, just to gripe, get it off my chest, and then I'll be over it and will feel better.

I make this huge batch of salsa (14 cups to be exact) for the contest. Plus, I make a second batch for Belinda and Andrea to share. I bring my cute little chili pepper chip and dip holder that Madonna (dad's wife) gave me a long time ago. The girl in charge of the contest, knew which bowl was mine in the fridge and filled up the chili bowl at least 3 times which emptied out the bowl I brought it in, except for a tiny bit. I am taking home about an a 16th of a cup (which isn't much...reminants in bottom of bowl really). I didn't place. Not first, second, or third. Wow. That just seems crazy to me. I could totally understand if I left with almost as much as I came in with...but that wasn't the case. This happened one other time for a similar contest at work. I made chili for a chili cook off and calico beans won. Are you kidding me? At least this time, all salsa's were entered. So here it is...I'm saying it out loud...I'm done with contests at work. No more. It's too expensive for me and I really didn't even want to do it in the first place. Belinda talked me into it because she wanted some for her home and I knew Andrea would want some also.

Normally, I'm not one to even be perturbed about this kind of thing, and I'm not even sure why I am! It's a dumb contest at work for crying out loud. It's either the fact that I'm competitive more than I thought or I'm just mad that once again I leave with nothing and didn't even place.

Ok, I'm done. Hopefully, this will be the last post on my blog where I'm a negative Nellie.

Belinda and Andrea...I know you two will at least enjoy it and it can be your own personal first place winner salsa! Happy Cindo de Mayo everyone. Time for margaritas...or Pepsi in my case! Isn't it 5:00 somewhere?

Happy Birthday Zalena

Yesterday was Zalena's birthday - from Jimmy's of Chicago. I made this card for her. We didn't know it, but her favorite color is blue. I had Helen text Kerry to ask. It's strange...she never wears blue but yet it's her favorite color. We did know she loves bling so that part was easy. I ended up casing myself on this card. I used three sizes of dots instead of just two like I did in the VSN challenge over the weekend. She loved it.

Supply List: Bazzill (white and black), SU brilliant blue, SU pink passion, paper piecing, bling, SU Garden Greetings (sentiment), Katie & Co (cupcake), Cricut shape, bling, Offray ribbon, pop dots, circle punches.

MAY11VSNMINI Challenges

These cards are for the May VSN mini challenges on Splitcoast Stampers. I will add all the four new cards all in one post. The fifth card was posted on Saturday morning. I did that one first because I needed to give it to the family at the Habitat for Humanity house dedication.

The first challenge was Weigh Anchor and hoist the mizzen! (In English, that means to use material of some sort on the card). I'm not up on my pirate talk. MAY11VSNMINI1. I used pink material for the strip of the material, the handmade flower and the smaller heart. For the large heart, I used the SU chipbboard shape to cut out the paper. For the smaller heart, I used another piece of chipboard to cut my heart. I covered it in material. Apparently, I can't seem to figure out which way I need to put the paper in my dot embossing folder. I wanted the shiney side to be out with the embossed dots, but that didn't happen so I used it anyway. Still like the look, just not as much. I made this little flower by ripping the material into strips (already had that done), freying the sides, and pleating it. I then stitched it together quickly and added the pearls. The rest is pretty straight forward. In real life, the background is shiney (Bazzill bling) and the color is a soft pink for the accents.

Supply list: Bazzill (white), Bazzill Bling (charcoal), SEI (pink and white polka dot and reverse side for solid pink), Recollections black, pink material, Studio G stamp ($1 Michaels), handmade flower, Pearls from Recollections, non-SU black ink.
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This was the second challenge. MAY11VSNMINI2. We be going on the account. Which was a sketch. I turned the sketch upside-down and changed which corner the do dad to the right. This was a fun sketch. The bonus was to use something "piratey". I found this paper at Hobby Lobby a while ago and this was the perfect opportunity to use it. I just realized that the panels beneath the main panel are two different sizes. I didn't notice that before.

Here is the sketch:


Supply list: Bazzill (white), Recollections Red, Me and my big ides (skeleton), The Paper Studio (pirate skulls), Inkadinkadoo stamp, ribbon, non-SU black ink.
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This was for the MAY11VSNMINI3 challenge. Ahoy land lubbers. We were to use a picture or colors for inspiration. All of this is paper from various stacks I have or cardstock. I think it's the ugliest card I have ever made. It needs something. I didn't take the entire 45 minutes on it, so may add to it later. Paper pieceing was done for the tree and the Umbrella.

Here is the inspirational picture.


Supply list: Bazzill (white, green), Stack sand, sky, and water paper, SU chocolate chip, SU Delightful Daffodil, Recollections (red), Inkadinkadoo clear stamps, Katie and Co umbrella stamp, non-SU black ink, SU garden green ink.
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This is the fourth challenge for VSN. MAY11VSNMINI4. Pretty polly. Using colors of a parot (green, red, orange, yellowm and a spash of blue). I used the embossed technique on this card. Paper pieced the cupcake and added a rhinestone to the top. I love this look with the bright colored circles.

Supply list: SU kraft, SU chocolate chip, su brilliant blue, su delightful daffodil (yes, both yellow dots are this color), bazzill (white,green), recollections, misc orange, Cricut shape, cuttlebug, SU embossing folder, Offray ribbon, SU garden greetings stamp, Katie and Co cupcake stamp, circle punch, hole punch, SU chocolate chip ink.

Semra

Ceylan and Mark's baby girl turned one. I made a scrapbook layout for them as their gift. I had acutally made a layout for Matthew when he was a baby that Ceylan had framed. I asked her once why she didn't have a layout for Semra...the answer was simply put, "I'm waiting for you to do it so I have one for both kids from you." I had completely forgotten I made Matthew's layout. I thought it was one Ceylan had made and mine was in the book. Guess I was wrong. I asked Ceylan for a picture long ago. I received two, but made this one since I have a completely and more "modern" look in my mind for it. Ceylan was so excited when she saw this. I'm glad she liked it. I was so excited yesterday. The frames just happened to be on sale at Michaels. That made my day especially since I was going to buy one anyway. Click on the photo below if you would like to see the details of the layout. I used a sketch from Prima Marketing although, I'm unsure of which month it is. I didn't use the 3 pictures, just the one. I used my sewing machine to create the lines around the heart (which was hand drawn and cut). Do you know how hard it is for someone like me to intentionally sew crooked? It just wouldn't have looked the same if I had. I drew the lines on first so I would have them there and be able to follow them.

Here is the link to the build-a-page sketches.

Supply list: Bazzill (white), CTMH (pink, dark pink, brown, and pattern), Wilton doiley, Cricut, Don Juan cartridge, Heritage cartridge, Prima bling flourish, circle punch, scallop punch, homemade pink material flower, pink flower on top to match the ones in the dress from Walmart.

New Home

I made this card for the family who's home dedicated today with Habitat for Humanity. I was a team leader on the house, in which I won a star night light for perfect attendance for this build. Hard to believe since I had no voice two weeks ago and still went. lol. This card was made for the MAY11VSNMINI5 challenge - walk the plank (use wood grain, or wood) and bonus points if you secure it with some metal. I made the card to have significance. The house started with wood for framing and finished as a house.

For those of you who do not know, I am a 10-year volunteer with Habitat. I am a team leader so am assigned to a house and work on it from start to finish on Saturdays for at least 15 weeks. I love setting trusses and roofing the best, but also like framing and dry wall. The rest, is so important, hoever not my favorite part.

I added the "evil eye" on it since the family has them, wears them, and were refugees from Kosovo. For those of you who do not know, here is a link to describe what it is. I made the evil eye over look the little house stamp so it will ward off the evil looks. Before the dedication, I had as many people as I could sign the card so the family could have well wishes all the people who worked on the house.

They were able to get the house because of their 21 year old daughter who works to pay the interest-free mortgage. The one child, 9 years old, wrote on the walls back when we were framing (a Habitat tradition) Please hurry and fix this house for us. We hurried and they can move in soon.

They really liked the card. When Raza, the 21 year old daughter was reading it, she actually got teary eyed. Awww, how sweet. A simple card. Hmmm. Who knew it would mean so  much? Shw was impressed that I made the card, also. The other sister said, "oh look, it has the evil eye on it.

Supply list: Bazzill, Stack (wood-grain) paper, Recollections black, SU brilliant blue, SU Bashful Blue, Cricut (large circle), circle punches, orner rounder, brads, Katie and Co stamp. Paper pieced the roof. I left the house white and made a blue roof since that is what their house is.