Inspired Flowers

I made this card for last weeks Inspiration Challenge (IC172) on Splitcoaststampers.com (SCS). My inspiration piece was this dress from 'Little Daisy Designs.' To make the card, I created a 'Patchwork Quilt' look by cutting up and mixing together two different designer papers (unknown). The flowers were made using the retired Stampin Up! set 'So Many Scallops' and the Scallop Punch. I mounted them up on dimensionals and added buttons and floss for embellishment. I hand cut the stems using Wild Wasabi Card Stock. Ink Colors are Regal Rose and Pretty in Pink. Other Card stock colors used are Bashful Blue and White. It says 'Thank you' on the inside of the card.

I have a lot of pictures and stories to tell about my trip to Chicago this weekend, but that will be a very long post, and I just don't have time for it now. Tomorrow and Wednesday I'm back to work, so hopefully on Thursday I'll have some time to share my wonderful adventure.

Have a great day! Amy

His Holy Name Challenge #5 and Scripture Challenge Words #9 and #10

I have so much work for the local consignment shop to do that I really didn't have time to do Patter Cross's Challenges ('Triple the Scraps"), but I also didn't want to fall farther behind than I already am (two weeks behind!) so I decided to do her challenge first, then work on the consignment store product. They asked me to make Mother's Day, 1st Holy Communion, Graduation, Sympathy, and Thank You cards. Yikes! I got a few Graduation cards done so far, but that's it. Now for the next four days I'll either be working, watching my son perform in District Solo and Ensemble, or in Chicago with my daughter watching 'Mary Poppins', so I don't think I'll get ANYTHING done till next week Wednesday. Oh well. What can you do? There are only so many hours in a day.

Anyway, onto the subject of my post. For the "His Holy Name Challenge #5" the Challenge word was 'Creator'. We were to make a 6 x 6 scrapbook page using this word as our theme. I first chose the verse 'The Lord is the Everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth!' from Isaiah 40:28. I used 'Nature' images to illustrate how God is the Creator. The bird image is retired Stampin Up! 'Touch of Nature' and the leaf image is from Inkadinkado. The verse is computer generated. I sponged three different colors of blue chalk on the white card stock and added Old Olive and More Mustard panels behind it. The corners were made with Stampin Up! Ticket Corner Punch. The bird image was colored with Copic Markers.

For my first Scripture Challenge Card, the Challenge Word was 'Prayer'. I used this GORGEOUS image from Inkadinkado as my main focal point and colored it with Copic Markers. The sentiment is computer generated and reads 'Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer' from Romans 12:12. The layout is this week's layout from Paper Craft Planet and the Card Stock Colors are from this week's Color Challenge on Splitcoaststampers. They are Pretty in Pink, Kiwi Kiss, and Baja Breeze. I added pink organza ribbon and Martha Stewart Crystals for embellishment.

For my third card, the Challenge word was 'Grace'. I picked the verse 'My Grace is sufficient for you' from 2 Cor 12:9. I used my computer to print the verse, then I stamped the cross necklace from retired Stampin Up! 'Symbols of Salvation' and colored it with Copic Markers. I added Stickles to the center of the cross, so it really sparkles in real life and is SO pretty. I used my Cuttlebug 'Textile' Embossing Folder on the Basic Grey panel to add texture. The other Card Stock Colors are white, More Mustard, and So Saffron. Ribbon Tabs and Silver Brads were added for embellishment.

I probably won't be able to post again till Wednesday. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and I hope I make it alive to Milwaukee/Chicago on Saturday. They are expecting snow again! Ugh! Winter Go Away! Amy

Christmas in March!

Well I actually had a FULL DAY off of work today, so I thought I'd catch up on some challenges. One of the monthly challenges I participate in is the Christmas Card Challenge on Splitcoaststampers (SCS). Each month I make five Christmas Cards and upload them to the SCS gallery. At the end of the year, I will have about 60 Christmas Cards! And I won't get stressed out trying to make them all at one time!

For my first card, I used last week's sketch challenge on SCS (SC220). The image is retired Stampin Up! 'Its Snow Time'. The paper is retired Stampin Up! 'Holiday Treasures' Designer Paper, White, Chocolate Chip, and Old Olive. The image was colored with copics. Button, Linen Thread, and ribbon were added for embellishment.

For my second card, I used this week's sketch challenge on SCS (SC221). The image is retired Stampin Up! 'Crazy for Christmas'. The Designer Paper is DCWV and Magnolia. Card Stock Colors are white, Bashful Blue, and Tempting Turquoise. The image was colored with Copics and I added Stickles to the presents. I just love the non-traditional Christmas Colors and the Funky Vibe to this card. Don't You?

For my third card, I used the retired Stampin Up! set 'Very Merry' and an unknown sentiment stamp. I colored the image with Copic Markers and used my Nestabilities to make all the squares. Crystal Brads and Christmas ribbon were added for embellishment.

I did my fourth card for the Featured Stamper Challenge on SCS. This week Beate was the Featured Stamper and you can find her original card here: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1135104?cat=500+ppuser=458 I changed the paper, image, sentiment, shape of the Nestabilities used AND instead of stamping on Acetate, I just stamped on regular card stock and added glue and glitter. The sentiment is embossed with black embossing powder and mounted up on dimensionals. The photo corner is a Sizzix Die. The Designer Paper is from My Minds Eye 'Signature Christmas' and is pre-glittered. The image is a free digital image I got off the Internet, but for the life of me I can't remember where I got it. Forgive me? The sentiment is retired Stampin Up!

For my final Christmas Card I actually cased one of Laura Fredrickson's cards, but unfortunately I lost the link. I cased her card almost exactly to make it easier on myself since time is very precious to me lately. But I did change the image and ribbon/snowflakes because I didn't have the same ones Laura did. The frame around the main image is actually blue glitter glue. I tried to get it perfectly even all the way around, but the glue bottle wasn't cooperating. LOL! The ribbon is red velvet and the snowflakes are a mix from Martha Stewart and Cuttlebug. The image is from retired Stampin Up! 'Its Snow Time' and the sentiment is Stampin Up! ''Star Studded Season'.

I have off of work one more day to still 'catch up on challenges', hopefully I'll make more progress tomorrow. Then the next 3 or 4 days I'll be busy again. I'm off on Saturday to watch my son perform at the annual District Solo and Ensemble. He will be playing percussion instruments, a piano solo and a vocal solo. Then I'm headed to Chicago to visit my daughter. We have tickets to see the original Broadway Cast of 'Mary Poppins'. I know, I know, I see A LOT of Broadway Shows. Its my only vice. I don't take annual vacations. I just go to Broadway Shows! Then on Tuesday I work again. Ugh! So after tomorrow's post, you probably won't hear from me for a few days. Don't forget about me now! LOL! Amy

Another Easter Card

Here is a card I made for a Featured Stamper Challenge on Splitcoaststampers (SCS). The original card can be seen here: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1255011?cat=500+ppuser=60960 The Featured Stamper was twinshappy and I changed the image, ribbon and brads, but kept the same concept/layout. My image is from retired Stampin Up! 'Spring Gifts' and is colored with Copic Markers. The main image panel is mounted up on dimensionals. The background is embossed with the Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' Embossing folder.

Well if you ever get a chance to see the Broadway Tour of 'The Color Purple' I highly recommend it. It was FABULOUS! We had AMAZING seats: fourth row! The actors were so close to us, it was wonderful to see all their facial expressions. Usually when I go to the theatre I'm far in the back or in the balcony because they are the only seats I can afford! LOL! The singing was so unbelievable! It is so rare to hear such strong and powerful voices. And to my surprise, many of the cast members were actually in the original Broadway cast! And, I recognized one of the actresses from seeing her perform on the Oprah show! What a treat to see an original cast member in person. She was amazing! Also, if any of you watch 'American Idol', season Three Finalist LaToya London played 'Nettie'. That was really neat to see too! It was also fun to go with a friend for a change too! I usually just go to musicals with my husband (who usually sleeps through them! What a waste of a $100 ticket! LOL!) or daughter. Sandy and I have been friends for about 15 years. We live an hour apart so we only see each four or five times a year, but when we do get together, its always like we've never been apart. We had a really fun day of shopping, lunch, and conversation. It was neat to share such an experience with Sandy. She can't get to see great theatre too often because her kids are still little. She seemed to really appreciate it.

Have a great day! Amy

Anniversary Cards

Here are a couple of Anniversary Cards that I've made for a couple of challenges. The first card I made for the current Crafty Secrets Challenge on Paper Craft Planet where we were challenged to use "shades of purple with a splash of yellow". to make the card, I used an image from Crafty Secrets "Cherish" and colored it with Prismacolored Pencils, Gamosol, and Chalk. I used designer paper from 'Old World Stack'. Card stock colors are white, Barely Banana, and Lovely Lilac. Primas, brads, ribbon, stickles (in the tree branch), dew drops and silver cord were all added for embellishment.

My second card was made for a Featured Stamper Challenge (FS109) on Splitcoaststampers. Unfortunately, I made it so long ago I've lost the link to the original card, but it looks almost exactly like the original one anyway (as usual for me) so its not like your missing anything! LOL! I changed the ribbon, designer paper, charm and sentiment. The designer paper I used is from DCWV. The sentiment is embossed with silver embossing powder and is from Inkadinkado. The image is a Cuttlebug Embossing Folder. I used silver metallic paper to mat the image. I added a photo corner, charm, and adhesive crystals for embellishment.

Yesterday was the last day of our Grand Opening of the Fabrics and Crafts Store I work at, and it was CRAZY! When I arrived at 9:00 there was a line of people waiting to get in the store that was probably about a half mile long. I couldn't believe it! Then, as I walked in the doors, I discovered that were only 2 other employees beside me working and 3 managers. I almost passed out from the shock. And, I was all alone at the Cutting Table. I asked 'Ummm, where are all the other employees?' and was told more were coming in later, and they did, but it was pretty crazy and scary taking care of that many people all by yourself. But thankfully, I handled it well until more employees showed up. It has been an exhausting four days, but its all over now. I have never been so tired in all my life, and it must have showed, because several customers asked how I was holding up. Thankfully, I had very understanding, kind customers yesterday: except one woman was mad at me that I couldn't answer her quilting question and that there was no one currently working who was a quilter. She thought everyone who worked there should know how to quilt. I found that amusing. The store contains product of every arts and craft product there is. All the employees can't be skilled in every craft there is in the store. Every one who works there is skilled in 'something' whether its sewing, beading, cake decorating, scrap booking, etc., but no one is skilled in everything. Today I was suppose to work, but I got someone else to cover my shift for me so I could attend 'The Color Purple' Musical in St. Paul, MN with my friend Sandy. I'm so excited for a day of fun and relaxation for a change. Were going to make a day of it by doing a little shopping and lunch too. I just hope us two women can find the theatre o.k. We don't usually drive in 'the big city' by ourselves without our husbands. Were both a little nervous about it. Wish us luck! Amy

Same Stamp Set, Different Cards

Here are a couple of cards I made using images from the same stamp set. The images are from the retired Stampin Up! Set 'Still Life Stems'. The first card uses the colors from a color challenge on Splitcoaststampers (SCS) a few weeks ago. The card stock colors are Rose Red, Always Artichoke, and Black. And I got the layout from another challenge, but for the life of me I can't remember what challenge it was. I must be working too hard! LOL! The sentiment is a silver embossed sticker, and the jewels are from Martha Stewart's Wedding Embellishments. I used Stampin Up! Markers on the image so they would match the colors on the card, but I must admit, I really don't like the waythe coloring looks when compared to Copic Markers (as shown in my next card).

For my second card, I used Copic Markers to color the image. I just love the way you can blend with Copics and incorporate different shades. The colors are also just so much more vibrant. The Colors are also from this week's color challenge on SCS. They are Kraft, Riding Hood Red, Summer Sun, and Black (optional). As I stated on SCS, I really have a hard time using Kraft paper. But I love cards that are done well with it by other people. I just don't think Kraft Paper is my style. Because I used Copic Markers to color my image, the flower color doesn't match the Summer Sun ink around the sentiment. If I could re-do this card, I would change the color of the flower and color it with Stampin Up! markers (even though I don't like coloring with them as well) so I could match the colors better. Otherwise, I was fairly pleased with the way the card turned out. I love how the buttons and linen thread bows match the Kraft card stock so perfectly. I mounted the sentiment up on dimensionals. It is from 'Just Nutty' by Clear Dollar Stamps.

I'm sure most of you are waiting to hear how my first Grand Opening at the Fabrics and Crafts Store that I work at went. All I can say is 'Oh, My Gosh!'. If there is a recession going on, you'd never know it yesterday! People were standing outside the doors waiting to come in at 8:00 a.m.(One hour before the store even opened). All the 'free goodies' were gone within 10 minutes, but the sales last through Saturday. The check out lines were almost to the back wall of the store! It was unbelievable. I was on the Cutting Table so I did fairly well all day. I had a couple of customers ask me math questions I couldn't answer (I am soooooo bad at math), but thankfully other employees were around to help them with that. All I did was cut, cut, cut fabric all day, non-stop! The cutting line was the longest I have ever seen, and of course every customer had a shopping cart full of fabric and only wanted about 10 yards of everything! So you can just imagine how time consuming that would be to just cut one customer's fabric selection. I made mistakes, mostly due to just the stress and sheer fatigue ( I started work at 7:00 a.m. and worked until 3:00) but overall I wasn't too disappointed in myself. I was happy to be on the cutting table and not the cash register. I still don't feel too comfortable there yet, though it is getting better. Our Grand Opening is still today and Saturday, and I work full 8 hour days for both of them. I don't know if it will slow down or not, but I feel rested and ready to tackle yet another busy, stressful day.

I hope your day is more stress-free than mine will be today! God Bless! Amy

A Couple of Birthday Cards

This week will be super busy for me because its the Grand Opening of the Fabrics and Crafts Store I work at. I'm working everyday this week except today. UGH! I'm not use to that, and either is my family: they are used to having me around waiting on them constantly. I just keep telling them that as soon as the Grand Opening is over, things will slow down at work and I'll be working a lot less hours and can therefore be home more. Anyway, for today's post, here are a couple of birthday cards I made a week or so ago and I am just getting around to posting now. LOL!

The first card is a birthday card I made for a little girl at my church. The main image is from Penny Black and was given to me by my dear DSS on SCS. She has been so sweet and generous to me, always blessing my mailbox with little surprises. I colored the image with Copic Markers, and used Nestabilities for the frames/panels. The designer paper is from DCWV 'The Nursery Stack' Baby Girl. The sentiment is retired 'So Many Scallops' from Stampin Up! and it is mounted up on dimensionals. Buttons were added for Embellishment. Certainly Celery, Regal Rose and White are the Card Stock Colors.


My second birthday card uses the sketch and colors from last week's Paper Craft Planet Challenges. The Card stock Colors are Bashful Blue, Creamy Caramel, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White. The image is from 'Just Nutty' of Clear Dollar Stamps and is mounted up on dimensionals and colored with Copic Markers. I used my Cuttlebug to cut the circles and emboss the Creamy Carmel panel. The inside of the card says 'Happy Birthday' and there are more stamped images of nuts and squirrels.

Have a great day and remember to keep me in your prayers this week! I'll need it! If the soft opening was so busy, I can't even imagine what a nightmare the Grand Opening will be like! This time I will NOT be on the Cash Register. PTL! I will be working the truck/floor on Thursday and the Cutting Counter on Friday and Saturday. Not that those are easy, stress-free jobs either, but they are a little better than the Register and less monotonous! Amy

Easter/Spring Projects

I have a bunch of Easter/Spring Projects to show you today, so it will be a long post. My first card is from yesterday's Inspiration Challenge on Splitcoaststampers (SCS). I chose the Easter Bunny Bowl pictured in the first photograph as my Inspiration Piece for the card in the second photograph. To make my card, I used card stock colors Only Orange, Bashful Blue, and Barely Banana. The designer paper is from DCWV. I mounted one bunny image up on dimensionals. Primas, ribbon, and brads were added for embellishment. The image is retired Stampin Up! 'Spring Gifts' and is colored with Copic Markers.

My second card is a springy birthday card using this week's sketch from SCS. The designer paper is also from DCWV 'The Spring Stack'. Card stock colors are Regal Rose, Bashful Blue, Barely Banana, and white. The main image panel is mounted up on dimensionals. The stamp set is retired Stampin Up! 'Feathered Friends' and is colored with Prismacolored Pencils. I added an acrylic flower, brads, ribbon, and adhesive rhinestones for embellishment.

Pictured in the third photograph is an Acetate Treat Box. You can find the directions on SCS under 'Resources'. To make the box I used acetate, Lovely Lilac, and white card stock. The image is from Stampin Up! 'A Good Egg'. I used Stampin Up! Scallop Circle Punch and Scallop Border Punch to make the scallops. Ribbon and Primas were added for embellishment.

I found this little wooden box at Michael's for only $1.00. I painted it yellow, pink and blue using acrylic craft paints. Then I stamped a small flower stamp all over it and colored the flowers in with my Copic Markers. I then filled it with Easter Grass and a small bag of candy. I tied a tag to a handle. Image is a $1.00 stamp from Michaels

For my final project, I also found this small wooden cross at Michaels for $1.00. I covered it with designer paper (unknown) which was a very pain-staking process, then sanded and sponged the edges. I put vellum on the back of the cross. The flower, butterfly, and leaf dies are all from Cuttlebug and have been sponged with ink. The Easter Sentiment is from retired Stampin Up! "Glorious Gift'. I used Nestabilities to make the tag and added Stickles and ribbon for embellishment.

I hope I have inspired you to start making some Easter Cards and Projects of your own. Always feel free to email me if you need further instructions.

Happy Stamping! Amy

His Holy Name Challenge #4 and Scripture Challenge Words #'s 7 and 8

As usual, I'm two weeks behind Patter Cross's ('Triple the Scraps') 'His Holy Name' Challenge and 'Scripture Challenge Words' and I am trying to play catch-up. Work is crazy right now with out Grand Opening starting Thursday and going through Saturday, so I'm working all the time now trying to prepare for the opening. I'm sure I won't be able to blog much at all next week. But after that, things should slow down and I can 'get my life back'. Anyway, onto today's projects.

My first photograph shows a 6 x 6 scrap book page. The Name of God we were to use for our page is 'Righteous'. When I think of 'Righteousness', I think of justice, of the law. My husband loves to tease me about how angry I get whenever I see injustice, and how injustice just drives me crazy. And he is right. It is so hard for me to let something go and let God deal with it when it just seems so unjust. Injustice always greatly upsets me. To make my page, I picked some designer paper (unknown) that looked like a legal document. I adhered it to a Chocolate Chip 6 x 6 panel. I used my computer to print the scripture 'For the Lord is Righteous. He loves justice' Psalm 11:7 onto a piece of Sahara Sand Card stock. I used a Nestabilities Die to cut it out and adhered it to the page with copper brads. I added ribbon and more 'metal' (Stampin Up! Hodgepodge Hardware) to give that aged, old-book look.


For my Scripture Cards, the Challenge Word for the first card was 'Glad'. I picked the verse 'Let the heavens Rejoice, let the earth be Glad' 1 Chron. 16:31 to illustrate my thoughts. When I think of Gladness, I think of music. Nothing makes most Christians more happy and glad then to sing our praises to our God. That is how we show our thankfulness. To make my card I adhered some music designer paper (unknown) to a piece of Chocolate Chip Cardstock. The images are from the retired Stampin Up! set 'All that Jazz'. With the exception of the one music note, the images were cut out and adhered to the main image panel. The sentiment is computer generated and mounted up on dimensionals. I used Not Quite Navy card stock as an accent color. Ribbon and brads were added for embellishment. The sketch is from Sheetloads of Cards.

My Final Card is based on the Scripture Challenge Word Trust. I hand wrote the word 'Trust' on the front of the card with a pink gel pen. The scripture verse is on the inside of the card and reads: 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding' Proverbs 3:5. I used the retired Stampin Up! image 'From the Heart', it is colored with Copic Markers and is mounted up on dimensionals. The designer paper is Basic Grey. Card stock colors are Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, and white.

Have a great weekend! I work tonight and won't get home to 11:00 p.m. Hopefully it won't be too difficult for me to get up for church in the morning. LOL! Amy

A Sunny Hello from Bitter Cold Wisconsin!

First of all, thank you to everyone for your encouraging comments and emails to me regarding my emotional melt down after my first day on the cash registers at work. I am proud to announce that my second day on the registers went so much better. We've been having some ugly winter weather here in Wisconsin the past few days, so things have been pretty slow at the store. That's bad for business, but good for me, cause I was able to relax a little and train more. I'm starting to understand how the register works a bit more, and I only had to call a manager to the registers to help me a couple of times. I was able to figure things out on my own most of the time. I am exceedingly thankful that all the managers at work have been so kind, patient, and understanding with me as I learn.

Now, onto my card. I actually made this a week ago and I am first getting around to posting it now. I used last week's sketch challenge on Splitcoaststampers. The stamp sets used are retired Stampin Up! 'Sparkling Summer', and 'Simply Summer'. The card stock colors are Cameo Coral, Tempting Turqoise, Wild Wasabi, and So Saffron'. I embossed the So Saffron panel with the Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' Embossing folder. The circles were cut with a Cuttlebug Die and mounted up on dimensionals. The image was colored with Copic Markers.

Well, just like I thought, I didn't make it into the MFT Idol Finals. I'm sure its because I didn't place the female figure on the card in the correct position. I still like my card though, but I will fix my error. Hopefully they'll have this challenge another time and I can try again. I'm looking forward to 'voting' for my favorite every week though! Have a great day! Amy

Easter Treat Bag

I made this little Easter Treat Bag for the Technique Lovers Challenge on Splitcoaststampers yesterday. The directions were posted on the site, but they were so difficult to understand, I couldn't even figure them out, so I'm not posting them here. I was hoping 'Markie's Mom' would post some better directions (cause she usually does that) on her blog today, but she didn't. I don't think I even made my bag correctly. I just figured it out on my own by looking at the photograph. I think the front panel is suppose to fold down and open up, I just glued mine together. But it looks like the original photograph and it hold a small bag of candy, that's the important part, right?
Anyway, onto my bag. I made the Bag with Lovely Lilac Card stock. I then added a Barely Banana and Pretty in Pink panel to the front of the bag. I wrapped a wide white ribbon around the whole bag and glued it down. Then I added a purple flowered ribbon on top of the white ribbon. I cut some of the flowers off and used them as accents. My images are from the Stampin Up! 'A Good Egg' set. I just love this set, its so cute. I stamped the egg on Basic Grey designer paper and cut it out.I put some brads on the dots of the egg (and since taking this picture, I've added yellow glitter glue to the center lines in the egg and pink glitter glue to the remaining dots. It looks much better now). I then used dimensionals to mount it up on the bag. I stamped and cut the chick out and glued him to my bag. The handles were made using a Cropadile and eyelets.

I don't have little kids anymore, so I'll probably take this little bag over to my local consignment store to sell. I might have to make a few more before I do that though. I'm sure the store is beginning to wonder where all my Easter Stuff is. I'm busy today and I work Wednesday, Friday and Saturday night, so I guess I'll be spending all day Thursday and Saturday making Easter Goodies to sell. Hopefully I can get it all done in time.

Have a great day! Amy

My MFT Idol Submission

As I stated in an earlier post, My Favorite Things Stamp Company is having an 'MFT Idol' Competition on Splitcoaststamers. All you had to do was submit a card or project using MFT Stamps. The judges will pick 12 Finalists today, then every week the Finalists will be given a challenge and the one with the least number of votes by the SCS community, will be voted 'off'. Leaving the last person the winner of a $250.00 prize! Well, I love MFT images and that sounded like a lot of fun to me, so I thought I'd play along. After looking at all the submissions, I know there is NO WAY I made it into the 'Top Twelve', but I decided to show you my card anyway.

If your unfamiliar with MFT, they are a very quirky company. They have many different styles of images, but they are most known for their 'headless women' that people either love or hate. I love them, but when my husband saw my card he said 'Where's her head? I don't think it would be appropriate in this day and age to send that card to a teacher, not with all the recent be-headings in the middle East and Mexico!' LOL! Now, I'm not laughing at the be headings, those are terrible of course, I'm just laughing at my husband making the weird connection in the first place. I personally look at the 'headless women' as more of a statement: the woman could be any one you know, that's why she doesn't 'look' like anyone...she could be you, a friend, a relative, a co-worker, etc. Probably the only thing I don't like about MFT is that they always make the women so skinny! Get real! How many teachers have you known in your life who have a waist line like that! LOL!

Anyhow, onto my card. I used the card stock colors Wild Wasabi, Real Red, Bordering Blue, White, and Basic Black. The designer paper is from DCWV 'The Grade School Stack'. I mounted both the main image panel and the female figure up on dimensionals. I added a clip, brads, and ribbon for embellishment. As I examine my card, I think I made an error when I stamped the image. I should have put the 'headless woman' up higher so that her head 'disappeared' above the card stock. Then it might not have looked quite so strange. LOL!

Have a great day! Amy

Keep Smiling

Keep Smiling. I needed to tell that to myself yesterday AND today. The Craft store I work at opened on Thursday. It was so suppose to be what they call in the retail world 'a soft opening'. The store was suppose to 'quietly open' allowing just a few customers 'to stroll in' so we could practise serving them. Well, it was more like a 'Grand Opening' with the droves of people we got! It was so crowded, like the day after Thanksgiving! We all felt so unprepared and inadequate. Nobody knew what they were doing. I could tell the customers were getting frustrated with us. And everyday, the crowds kept getting bigger and bigger. We doubled our projected sales on opening day, and each day after that we sold thousands and thousands of dollars more than the day before. So, that is good news. And the customers all seemed to love the new store and were so happy the company came to Eau Claire. So that's good news too. But I just feel like 'a total loser'. My first day I was on the Cutting Table. I did fairly well in that area because I am a sewer, and I really enjoyed helping the customers with their projects. But the second day I was on the cash register, and I was awful. I kept making mistake after mistake, and with every mistake I made, I became more flustered and stressed out causing me to make more mistakes. Then to make it worse, I had a customer who was so fed up with me, he actually said to me 'WHAT school did you graduate from?' I had to fight back the welling up of tears in my eyes and just humbly apologize. I just felt so stupid. Here I am, a college educated woman who can't even run a cash register! How ridiculous is that? My self-esteem is really low right now, and I am even fighting back the tears as I write this. And then I think, 'How silly am I to be so upset about this? Its just a minimum wage job, it won't be the end of the world if I lose it?', but then I think 'Yes, but if I can't do a minimum wage job well, how can I do ANY job well? Isn't this the reason these jobs pay minimum wage in the first place, because any loser like me is suppose to be able to do them?" This whole 'working outside the home' for the first time in twenty years has just been such a frightening, new experience for me. Its really causing me to question my own self-worth. All I can do is pray, and ask all of you in blog land to keep me in your prayers, and KEEP SMILING, no matter what happens at work or whatever anyone says to me.

I made this card for a stamper's mom who has had some health problems and is getting discouraged because she is constantly in and out of the hospital. Her daughter said she had a great sense of humor and would appreciate a humorous card. The image is from the retired Stampin Up! set 'Wisecracks'. The card stock colors are from this week's Color Challenge on Splitcoaststampers. They are 'Kiwi Kiss', 'Pink Passion', and 'Chocolate Chip'. The designer paper is Basic Grey. I mounted the main image panel up on dimensionals and colored the image with Copic Markers. The sketch is from 'Sheetload of Cards'.

If I'm not fired today or tomorrow, my next day of work will be Wednesday, and guess what? I'm back on the cash register again! I'm determined not to give up and quit. I told another co-worker, "I'm here to stay, whether they like me or not. They'll have to fire me if they want to get rid of me!". LOL! So please pray for me on Wednesday, that I will do well and please my employers and customers. Thanks. Amy

Just Buzzin By!

Being the avid gardener that I am, I fell in love with the new Stampin Up! set 'Just Buzzin By' the minute I saw it. I just love the faces on the cute little bees and the fun sentiments that go with the set. Plus, the big bee hive is super fun to color!

For my first card, I actually got the idea of putting the bee on top of the honey pot from a card I saw on Splitcoaststampers. But the rest of the card, is all my own idea. The card stock colors are 'Barely Banana', 'Bashful Blue', and 'More Mustard'. I put Crystal Effects on the Honey Pot and all the bees on all the cards have stickles on their wings. The flower is stamped, cut out, and popped up with dimensionals. Ribbon is Stampin Up! 'More Mustard' and American Crafts.

For my second card, I used a layout I also saw on SCS, but I changed the papers. The papers I used are Stampin Up! 'Barely Banana', 'Brocade Blue', 'More Mustard' and 'Bashful Blue' Designer Paper. One of the bees is cut out and popped up on dimensionals.

My third card is entirely my original idea. I used the retired Stampin Up! Wheel 'Hollyhock' to create a background behind my bee hive and on the card. I cut out the bee hive and bee and mounted them up on dimensionals, along with the main image panel. Card stock colors are 'Certainly Celery', 'Pretty in Pink', and 'Barely Banana'. Ribbon is Offray.

For this card I used Stampin Up! Designer Paper 'Bashful Blue' for my background. The scalloped edge was created with the Stampin Up! punch. The main image panel is mounted up on dimensionals. Clips, brads, and ribbon were added for embellishment.

My final card uses designer paper from Magnolia and Stampin Up! Cardstock colors 'Wild Wasabi', 'More Mustard', and 'Bordering Blue'. Stampin up ribbon was added for embellishment. The main image panel was mounted up on dimensionals.

I hope you've enjoyed seeing all my 'bee cards' and that it brought some warm, sunny thoughts to those that are still dealing with snow and cold (like me). The craft store I work at officially opened in Eau Claire today. All the team members are so nervous about working on the cashier or cutting table, PRAY FOR US! LOL! I don't work today, but I do work tomorrow and Saturday, so I'll definitely need your prayers! There is just so much to remember and everyone is afraid of doing something wrong.

God bless you all! Amy

Crimped Envelope Pocket Card

Every Monday there is a Technique Lover's Challenge on Splitcoaststampers. I always check the challenge out every Monday, but I don't always play along because I usually don't have all the supplies needed to try the technique. But for yesterday's challenge all I needed was a Paper Crimper and an A2 size envelope, and I had both of those, so I was able to play! Yippee!

This was a very fun and easy technique to do. There is a full photograh tutorial on the SCS site if you want to try it out for yourself. But for a quick easy explanation, you simply take an envelope and cut 1 1/4 inches off the short end. Then you decorate your envelope and run it through a crimper. Then you make an 'insert' for the inside. Simple heh? I love the way the crimped envelope looks. Someone on my SCS gallery said my card looked like the fine, crimped organza fabric. I agree.

To make my card I used the retired Stampin Up! set 'From the Garden'. This stamp is so HUGE, I only used 3/4 of it! Its a great stamp for scrap book pages because of its sheer size. I colored the image with Prismacolored Pencils and Gamosol. The sentiments and ring image are from Inkadinkado's 'Weddings/Anniversaries'. Very Vanilla and Regal Rose Card stock are the Card stock colors. My best friend Debbie and her husband are celebrating their anniversary this Sunday, so I will be sending this to her. Although she reads my blog occasionally, I don't think she reads it everyday, so hopefully she won't see this post before she gets her card. LOL! If your seeing your card ahead of time Debbie, sorry, but SURPRISE! LOL!

The New Fabrics and Crafts Store I work at in Eau Claire opens on Thursday! I'm so excited, yet nervous! I work tomorrow, but I don't know when I'll work again after the store opens. I still feel very unsure about the cashier and cutting table. But I'm sure my knowledge and skill will come as I practise 'waiting on the customers'. Hopefully they will be understanding and patient with me. Have a great day! Amy

The Current Featured Stamper Challenge

Well yesterday I posted a Featured Stamper Challenge from Several weeks ago, but today I'm posting the Current Featured Stamper Challenge on Splitcoaststampers, because I'm actually starting to catch up! The store is scheduled to open on Thursday, so we are all getting less hours now that everything is done. At first I was upset about it, because I really loved the 'big' paychecks, but now I realize its for the best. I have more time now to keep up with the household chores and my crafts. And in a few weeks, (hopefully only a few weeks! LOL!) I'll have a HUGE 2 Acre Perennial Garden to take care of. So I'll be busy enough!

Anyway, on to the card! This week's Featured Stamper is Kelly H. Here is her original card: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/997706?cat=500+ppuser=65016 This is the first time in a long time I think I actually changed my card a lot from the original card. I kept the same basic layout and main image as Kelly's card, but I changed the colors, the background stamps, and I added hemp. The main image is Stampin Up! 'Bronc Buster'. The Background Stamps are Stampin Up! 'Flannel Plaid' and 'Bronco' Wheel. The sentiment is from Penny Black's 'Critter Party'. The stars were made with a Cuttlebug Die. The main image is mounted up on dimensionals. I sponged and distressed all the edges with Chocolate Chip and Close to Cocoa ink.

Has everyone seen the fun MFT challenge on SCS? They started an 'Idol' challenge today. The contestants will have until March 8th to design a card using only MFT stamps. 12 Finalists will be chosen by the 'judges', but then the 'public' (SCS Members) will vote for the winner. Every week the person with the least amount of votes will be voted off. At the end of 12 weeks, a Finalist will be crowned and win a fabulous prize! Doesn't that sound like fun? What a creative challenge. I'm sure I won't make the top 12, but I'm gonna play along anyway....its too much fun to pass up! Have a great day! Amy

Inspired Daisies

This is for a Featured Stamper Challenge (FS105) on Splitcoaststampers that is already several weeks old. I'm still trying to play catch-up on all the challenges I've missed due to a heavy work schedule. Anyway, the Featured Stamper that week was kdunbrook, and you can see her original card here: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1134418?cat=500+ppuser=6575 I picked this card because I really liked how she used white craft ink and rounded the corners of her designer paper. My card looks almost exactly the same as hers, except I changed the ribbon, designer paper, sentiment and background stamp.

To make my card I started with a Very Vanilla Card Stock Base. I stamped the background stamp (Stampin Up! 'Sanded') onto Kraft paper using White Craft Ink. The designer paper is Stampin Up! Riding Hood Red. I used a corner rounder to round the edges. The sentiment is also stamped with White Craft Ink. The main image panel is mounted up on dimensionals. I used Stampin Up! markers directly on the stamp to color the image. To make the image overhang the panel, I stamped it twice: once on the main image panel, and the second time on a piece of scrap card stock. I then cut out the separate flower pieces and glued them to the main image panel.

Well, off to visit today's Featured Stamper's Gallery. I have no idea who was chosen yet this week, but I heard her gallery is HUGE! Oooh, imagine the possibilities! Amy