Crafty Secret Challenges

I made these cards for a couple of Crafty Secrets Challenges. The first card was made for this week's Crafty Secrets Challenge on Splitcoaststampers. We were challenged to use text/script on our card. So I stamped a recipe card image from retired Stampin Up! 'Recipe Fun' and hand wrote a poem from a See D's stamp. The little chef and bowl are images from Crafty Secrets 'Little Chef' and are both mounted up on dimensionals. The card stock colors are white and Real Red. The Real Red card stock is embossed with the Cuttlebug. The images are colored with Copic Markers.

The second photograph shows a side view so you can get an idea of the dimension.

My second card was made for both the Sketch Challenge and the Crafty Secrets Challenge on Paper Craft Planet. The Crafty Secrets Challenge was to make a monochromatic card. I used this cute image from the Crafty Secrets 'Feeling Yucky' set. The card stock colors are white, Yo Yo Yellow, Summer Sun, and Barely Banana. The image was colored with SU! markers. The Barely Banana panel was embossed with the Cuttlebug Folder 'Swiss Dots'.

I went to another garden center yesterday and FINALLY bought the rest of my annuals. There's not much left this time of the year. Everything is pretty much picked over. I plan on spending the day making the rest of my containers and hanging baskets. Hopefully I bought enough and won't have to make another trip to the garden center again!

Have a great day! Amy

Digital Tuesday Challenge #9: Sketch Challenge

This week's challenge on the blog Digital Tuesday Challenge is a sketch challenge. Simply make a card using your digital images with the sketch provided in the first picture. You have one week to complete your card. One randomly-chosen winner will win digital images from Digital Stamp Oasis.

My card uses 'Party Squirrel' from Digital Stamp Oasis. I colored the image with Copic Markers and popped up the balloons, present, and sentiment with dimensionals. The card stock colors are White, Brilliant Blue, Black, Wild Wasabi, Pumpkin Pie, and Bashful Blue. The designer paper is Magnolia.

Here is a side view of my card so you can see the dimension.

If you'd like to play the Digital Tuesday Challenge simply click on the blinkie in my sidebar and it will take you there. If you'd like to purchase this digital image or see other images Digital Stamp Oasis images, simply click on the Digital Stamp Oasis blinkie in my sidebar and it will take you to the Etsy Store.

Well I'm off work again today, so I think I will visit my local gardening center and purchase some annuals. I still need to put together all my containers and hanging baskets. Tomorrow I have to get up at 4:00 A.M.!!!! because I have to be at work at 6:00 A.M!!!!!!!! The president of our company is coming to visit our new store so the manager wants everything to be perfect! I have no idea how I will ever be able to get up that early, but I will try. Pray for me! LOL!

My trip to the Twin Cities and Emma the Mermaid

My husband and I.

Well, my finger is better, but not back to normal. Thanks for caring. At least I can almost type again! Yesterday we went to see 'Phantom of the Opera' in the twin cities. We had such a good day. The performance was really good, although we were disappointed that we didn't get to see the regular 'Phantom' that plays the part, and had to see his understudy, who was just a local citizen of Minneapolis, and not a Broadway performer. He was still good, but certainly not great. Our favorite scene was when the Phantom took Cristine down to his 'dungeon'. It was so cool seeing how they were able to create the look of a boat floating on water on the stage. Afterwards, we went to a great little Italian Restaurant called 'Buca's'. Mmmmmn. Everything was so delicious! I think I found my new favorite restaurant, and one I will try and frequent every time I go to the cities!

Here are some pictures of Ashley leaving the restaurant and my three kids: Jordan, Ashley, and Jason (Ashley's Fiancee).

Outside of Buca's. Don't you just love that Ivy?

The Marquee of the theatre.


Well enough personal photos and now onto today's Featured Card!

Today's card was made for the Featured Stamper Challenge on Splitcoaststampers. This week's Featured Stamper is Rox71 and you can see her card here: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1254846?cat=500+ppuser=23790 I kept the 'Under the Sea' theme, but I changed the stamp set and sentiment. My images are all digital images from 'Fred, she said'. I fell in love with the 'Emma' images and purchased a few of them. This set comes with the background you see here, the Mermaid and all the fish and wildlife for only $5.00! What a deal! I just love how inexpensive digital images are! And the best part is, you can make them any size you want, and storage is never an issue.

To make my card, I colored the background and all the images with Copic Markers. The mermaid, seahorse, crab, fish, and starfish are all mounted up on dimensionals. Card stock colors are just white, black, and Cameo Coral.

Here is a side view showing you the dimension.

Well, on another subject, the Stampin Up! retired stamp sets and accessories list is now available to view. I was happy to see that not too many of my favorite sets were retiring this year. I only ordered three sets 'Boatloads of Love', 'A little Birdie Told Me', and 'Morning Soft' because I always loved those sets and they've been on my wish list a long time. But, I was very unhappy to see the new sets available to Demonstrators to pre-order. There just was nothing I was interested in...so I didn't order any of those. On the other hand, I LOVE the new IN-COLORS! Oh, my gosh! If your not a demonstrator and you haven't seen them yet, you will die! They are gorgeous! I ordered the 'bundle pack' of those colors...all the card stock and ink pads. They are just so pretty and vibrant! Stampin Up! did retire a lot of gorgeous ribbons and embellishments, all at a discount too! So other than the 3 stamp sets I ordered, the majority of my order went for those items! I can't wait to see the new catalog! I'm so glad were going back to one catalog a year too!

I'm off today, so as soon as I'm done with my morning chores, I'll be outside in my garden. I'm still working on cutting down last year's growth. Just a little bit more to go! Wish me luck! Have a great day! Amy