RAK from Kelly SBS8

My sweet friend Kelly from our SBS8 Sisterhood sent me this adorable card after I commented on it on her blog here. She stamped all the fun phrases from the SU's Humor in High Heels set and enclosed them also! What a fun set of sayings!!! I'm so fortunate to have found so many nice "sisters" to treasure in life after being shortchanged in that department in real life!!! This way I got wonderful brothers in real life & never had to share my clothes! LOL!!! Now I get the "benefits" of sweet sisters I've found over the years through various avenues including SBS; I'm a lucky girl!!!
Paper: Heidi Grace Designs (I have this paper too!)
Stamps: SU's Humor in High Heels set (current catalog)
Embelllies: Stickles

RAK from Kelly SBS8

How sweet is this? My SBS8 Sister, Kelly (http://kelleast.blogspot.com/), posted a card on her blog awhile back using this "many thanks" stamp from her AC Moore store. After I commented I loved it & wished I could find it @ Michaels, she then went to her store (at least twice that I know of) to find one & sent it to me, along with this adorable card!!! Isn't it pretty? It makes me think of Hawaii with its beautiful blue waters and all those gorgeous flowers!!! :-) I didn't even know the cute little chick & flowers were part of the set. You're absolutely the best sister, Kelly!!! ;-) Thank you so much for making my day -- isn't it wonderful to open your mailbox & find a handmade card from someone you know (either in person or just online)? So fun!!! '-)

Wild Vines Birthday Card

I can't resist stamping these darling little flowers from Technique Tuesday's Wild Vines set! This simple little card seemed to perfectly fit the current challenge @ http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/ which is to "Make a Birthday Card - it's as simple as that". ;-) A new idea that came to me today was to run my flowers through my Wizard with my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder! Just another way to add to our crafting fun!!! ;-) Don't mist them first, however, as it really flattens them out - I misted the smaller one, then had to curl the edges on it to "put some life back" into it's petals! Also used the D'vine Swirl folder on the flower pictured below!

Paper: DCWV's Pink #1 & white generic cardstocks
Stamps: Technique Tuesday's Wild Vines Set
Inks: Papertrey Ink's Custom Palette Hybrid Inks: Spring Moss, Berry Sorbet, Sweet Blush, Plum Pudding, Lavender Moon, Lemon Tart & Summer Sunrise
Tools: SU Ticket Punch
Embellishments: Rub-ons, Ribbon & Pearls from stash

Her Majesty's Card

I truthfully don't know what I'll use this card for, but it was fun to create! I bought this crown paper last summer on vacation @ Hobby Lobby AND as of yesterday, we have our very own here in the East Valley! It's actually 38+ miles from my house, but hopefully I'll make it there at least occasionally! Can't wait to see what all they'll carry in "our store"! ;-) I'm sure they'll still have My Mind's Eye papers, which is what I've used here. This is my challenge entry for the Cute Card Thursday challenge here, which is simply to use 3 different types of embellishments. I've included ribbon, rhinestones and that darling chipboard crown, so graciously given to me by me BBGF Gwen (& referred to in her comment on my previous post!). The "her Majesty" stamp was part of a RAK from my SBS8 Sister Julie & a perfect fit with my paper!!! You can check out both their blogs by going to my SBS8 list on the right.
Paper: My Mind's Eye's Bohemia Collection DP; Strathmore Cold Press Watercolor paper (card base)
Stamp: Studio G
Ink: Tsukineko's VersaColor
Tools: Spellbinder's Wizard Machine; Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder
Embellishments: Chipboard Crown, ribbon & gems (stash)

Passion for Paisley

Ever have one of those times when NOTHING goes right creatively? Gosh, I didn't even think I had a creative gene left after this weekend. I was trying to do some challenges & failed miserably. When I checked today for the new weekly challenge @ http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/, I just laughed! I'd struggled with this card, torn it apart repeatedly & nearly threw it in the trash several times only to discover it now actually fits this week's challenge! So put your sunglasses on & click on the photo to enlarge, if you dare!!! ;-) I see my SBS8 Sister Han actually won last week's prize - congrats, Han! Her blog is here: http://hanscraftycreations.blogspot.com/. Enjoy!!!

Paper: DCWV DP; White & White Core Dual-colored cardstock

Tools: Spellbinder's Wizard Die & Machine; Cuttlebug Embossing Folder; sandpaper

Embellishments: Joann's Craft Essentials Rub-Ons; Wrights Ric-Rac; Offray Ribbon

For My Friend

Finally, I had a chance to play with some of the goodies that my friend Julie sent in the RAK exchange through SBS8. This card is my take on the sketch for this week's challenge @ http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/. I've used an acrylic stamp and flower stickers so kindly provided by Julie! I also got a chance to play with my new Cuttlebug embossing folder which embosses beautifully in my Spellinders Wizard die cutting machine -- so fun to play with! I owe a big thank you to Designing Diva Judy for that gem of a tip!!! These embossing folders are quite inexpensive, so you'll probably be seeing a lot more of them in the near future on my cards here!
Paper: Bazzill Green & Pink & green cardstocks; DCWV DP
Stamp: Studio G

RAK from Julie SBS8

I received this adorable gardening apron card from my SBS8 Sister Julie from England! I love it and think it's such a clever creation!!! It also was quite a task to create because it includes stamping, hand cutting, shrinky dinks, eyelets and all the little hand-applied stitching around the edges.
She also included a plethora of goodies: two darling stamp sets, a molding mat, laser-cut butterflies and several sheets of stickers.
I've never had a sister in real life, but if this is what it would be like, I've really been missing out!!! ;-)
Thanks so much, Julie, and once my package to you arrives, I'll be an even happier Sister!

Bookmarks for Improved Readers

My SBS8 Sister Kelly, http://kelleast.blogspot.com/, needs bookmarks to reward students who have improved their reading skills, so I made some brown/pink flowered ones for the girls. I used Making Memories Cosmoplitan Collection cardstock and patterned them after tutorials on http://technostamper.blogspot.com/by Mary Jo and by Dawn @

http://dawnsstampingthoughts.typepad.com/ using flowered eyelets instead. Hope the girls like them!

For the boys I used their school colors of red & blue, but instead of white I cut silver holographic sticker paper on my Wishblade to read, "Way to Go!" and made an arrow at the top. I was trying to find something that they'd hopefully like and actually use!

Reading well is truly one important key to success in life, so I hope these teens will continue to improve their skills for a brighter future!

Papers: Making Memories Cosmopolitan Collection; Red/Navy Linen cardstocks

Embellishments: Flower Eyelets from my stash

Tools: COD; Xyron Wishblade

Retiree/Golfer/Cards for Heroes

This old duffer is just great, isn't he? I'm hoping some hero overseas will have a relative he/she can send him to, along with a treasured handwritten note letting the recipient not only know they're thought of, but that the sender is doing well!

My sweet BBGF Gwen gave me this stamped image when she came to my house for our Designing Divas group recently. I'd love to give stamp credit, but I don't have that information, nor do I have any for the papers I used, as all are from the stacks I've had for years. I just remember thinking this striped paper would be great some day for a guy card. I sanded it to distress it & like the way it turned out.

I have a couple other cards I'm anxiously waiting to post here as soon as I know they've been received by the ladies I've forwarded them to -- hurry up USPS!!! ;-)

Embellishments: Generals Watercolor Pencils; small brads

Diamond Father's Day Card for Heroes

I thought the geometrical designs of this paper and this card shape would complement each other. I'd also purchased these expoxy letters at Target's Dollar Spot a while back, thinking they may work on a male card. Hopefully the little bit of a swirl on the letters won't offend anyone's masculinity!

Papers: DCWV's Extreme Paper Stack; black and grey cardstocks
Embelllishments: WeRMemoryKeepers Eyelet, Noteworthy Stickers

Another Father's Day Card for Heroes

Another quick, simple Dad's Day card from the DP I used yesterday. I really like this paper & think it's manly, but had trouble finding papers to match up with it. Would have liked more layers here, but not having much luck finding the right shades to do that. You'd think I don't have a lot of paper, but that's kind of like saying I don't have a lot of ribbon. . . !

Papers: Speckled cardstock; DCWV Extreme Paper Stack

Ink: Tsukineko's Vintage Sepia Versafine

Embellishments: Making Memories Staples; JoAnn Craft Essentials Rub-Ons

Father's Day Card for Cards for Heroes

You know how they say, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions"? Well all I can tell you is it's really nice to know that I'll be traveling on a well-paved road in my future!!! ;-}
I promised my SBS8 sister, Kim, that I'd send Mother's Day and Father's Day cards to Cards for Heroes, which I think is a fabulous idea, until I realized that I'd procrastinated so long I'm way too late to get any to the folks who then have to get them overseas to the troops so that they can mail them back to the USA for Mother's Day. Why such a terrible procrastinator would even think she would do that in a timely fashion is beyond me -- oh wait, that procrastinator is ME . . . .
Okay, I'm going to at least fulfill the 1/2 of my promise I can still get done in time. I'm making myself feel less awful (at least a teeny bit) by reminding myself that "guy" cards are way harder and thus more time-consuming to do than girly cards. Therefore, they'll probably receive less of them and all will be "almost" right in the world! Hey, if I try hard enough, maybe I can travel a different road in my future -- hope springs eternal!!!
For this manly card I used DCWV DP on speckled cardstock and simply added "Dad".
Paper: Speckled cardstock; DCWV Extreme Paper Stack
Embellishments: Sizzix Wingo Zingo Alphabet Decorative Strip; Ranger Perfect Pearls (Perfect Bronze); Hero Arts Swirly Wire Accents
"Ink": Superior's Palette Stamp & Stick Gluepad

Brown Tweed Valentine Card; SBS8/CMUtd Challenge Card

This card was created to meet both our SBS8 challenge, requiring a Valentine's card using no pink or red, and the CMUtd challenge found here: http://challenge-cmutd.blogspot.com/, which requires you use no more than 3 colors on a card. To me this will make a great guy's Valentine card which we all know is difficult to come up with!
Paper: Martha Stewart's Coffee Bean cardstock; Making Memories Boho Chic Tweed Embellishment paper
Stamps: Stampin'Up's So Very set
Ink: Versamark
Embossing Powder: Comotion's White
Bling: Colorbok"s White Metal Dots

Bleached Heartfelt Flower with Ribbon Rosette Center

One of my sisters in SBS8 posted a sketch challenge to create a card using stamps now offered in the UK Stampin'Up Catalog. Here's my post, Su, and in the process of creating this card, I've come upon an idea that is at least new to me, so I'll also be posting a new tutorial in the next day or so. I've been struggling with creativity a lot lately, so I thank you for helping me to hopefully climb out of that stranglehold!
Paper: Martha Stewart's Camellia Pink; Ivory Linen and Black Cardstocks
Stamp Set: Stampin'Up's Heartfelt Thanks
Other: Clorox Bleach (instead of ink)
Embellies: Black Sheer Ribbons

Spread the Love Award!!!

My dear sweet friend and fellow SBS8 Sister, Gwen @ www.mycraftydaysoff.blogspot.com, without whom I would not even be blogging, has given me a spread the love award! (I told you she was sweet!) She's also way more talented than she even realizes, as you'll see if you go to her blog!!! The purpose of this award is to spread blog love around to others through support and those ever-so-wonderful comments that I LOVE to receive!!! Therefore, I'm now spreading the love to my new sisters in SBS8:
1) Debby @ http://www.debby4000.blogspot.com/ across the pond, who never fails to leave a loving comment on my posts. It's fun to see cardmaking/scrapbooking from people in another country.
2) Kathy @ http://www.kraftinwithkathy.blogspot.com/, who is on the opposite side of the country from me and a new blogger like me who I think is enjoying all her new sisters as much as I am.
3) Han @ http://www.hanscraftycreations.blogspot.com/, who I'm enjoying getting to know and just seems like someone I'd befriend if I ever met her in person!
I'd also like to spread the love to : Chat @ http://www.memystampsandi.blogspot.com/, who's a fellow Arizonan and whose cards I would love to totally copy. Love your style, Chat!!!

So, ladies, now it's your turn to spread the love!!! ;-)

Sisterhood of the Blogging Stampers-8

Greetings to all my "sisters"! I can't wait to visit your blogs and see all your wonderful work!
I'm a resident of Arizona, currently not working outside our home. I particularly enjoy cardmaking and I'm slowly moving towards scrapbooking, but feel I need to learn a lot more about photography to succeed. I've done crafts my entire life and would truly be lost without something to work on. I'm enjoying the challenges of blogging & looking forward to this new adventure with all of you!

My husband is retired and we have two grown children, a son & daughter. He also has two grown children, a daughter & son, and a grown grandson and granddaughter. Yes, he's a bit older than I am, so I always tease him that I'm too young to be a Grandma!!! ;-) I have no sisters in real life, but I think sometimes that makes my friends even more precious!!!