A Little More Love

Keeping with the Valentine theme, here's a little more love to show you!

I'm not sure who this stamp is by - it was a friends that I used.  I can tell you that the sentiment stamp on the inside is by Whipper Snapper.

I colored this little guy with my prisma pencils and gamsol.  I layered it on to a a Real Red piece of cardstock and another white piece.  I ran the Real Red background piece thru my Big Shot with the hearts embossing folder and layered it on to a white card base.  If you click on the picture to bring it up larger you can see his nose.  I used Glossy Accents on it to make it shine and stand out a little.

I would also like to take this time to let you know that my friend Jan has started a blog.  If you are into scrapbooking at all or paper piecing you MUST check out her blog, Making My Memories.  Now mind you it was just started, but you've got to check back often because she is very talented and her creations are wonderful!!

I hope that you enjoyed my card and it inspired you!  Have a super great weekend!!  Be back soon :)

How the heck....

I had set up a post on blogger to post a card last week after my last post ~ and it didn't post.  That was the 2nd time that it did it to me.  I am sorry.

So here I go with it....

The image is from Whipper Snapper.  I'm sure that if you've been a follower of my blog for a while you've seen me use this image before.  I love it ~ and I do use it every year, it does not get old for me.  I actually purchased this YEARS ago as a set with another stamp that I will show you tomorrow.  But this little cupig is just adorable!!  And yes, he is still available.

The stamp of course is from Whipper Snapper and I stamped him and colored him in with my pencils and gamsol.  I used some stickles on his wings for a shimmery effect.  The base card is Pixie Pink that I layered with Rose Red and Pink Pirouette.  I ran the Pink Pirouette paper thru my cuttlebug with the Love Language embossing folder. The DP is from Cloud 9.  I used some pink polka dot ribbon and layered the lips on top of it with a pop dot.  The lips are also from Whipper Snapper that I punched out with my 3/4" circle punch and layered it on to a scrap of Rose Red that was punched with my 1" circle punch.   The hearts were cut out with the die that came with the Love Language folder and I used my glue pen to adhere them.

I hope that this inspires you today.  I'm off to make something else that I will show you tomorrow!!

Happy sun-shiney Monday!

Well, kinda. The sun's poking in and out from the clouds ~ but it's still a beautiful day for now.

Did you all have a great Valentine's day? Did you spend it with the one's that you love? I did.

Hubby wanted to take Mom and Danielle out to breakfast Saturday morning so we went to Cracker Barrel, it's our favorite place (sorry Joyce, I'm not rubbing it in). When I first got here it was just Ricky and I and we went there a LOT!! Now we go there for Mom's Day, Dad's Day - you know all the holidays. The after that we drove around town and just puttered. We did stop in a store and Danielle tried on Prom dresses. There was one that she found - actually the 2nd one that she tried on - that was pretty. Kinda grown up, but SHE is, but I persuaded her to wait. Prom is still a couple of months away and it was only the 2nd one she tried on. We'll have to go on a trip to the mall I guess.

Then that evening Ricky and I went to the movies. We went to see Paul Blart-Mall Cop. OMGoodness, it was funny!!! I just love Kevin James anyway, he makes me laugh all the time!! Then we were going to go out for dessert but decided to bring something home instead to Mom and Danielle - so we went to Dairy Queen.

Friday Ricky surprised me with a Many Kisses Elmo doll. I just love that little guy!! And this one was perfect for Valentines! It will sit next to my Chicken Dance Elmo. Hey, some day I will have grand kids and they can play with them (well, maybe not) Ü

Ok enough is enough. On to the cards.

I already showed the card I made for Ricky, but I made another also. I was cleaning out my desk the other day and found a CD that I purchased from Diamonds Rubber Stamps. They were going out of business and they put all their stamp images on CD and I got it for something like $10.00!! I have a few of the stamps, and I thought that this was too cool of a deal to pass up so I had bought it. Like everything else I just put it away and forgot about it.

Here is the image that I printed and made a card with.

I colored the image with my watercolors and markers and sponged Real Red ink around the edges then layered that on to a piece of Pixie Pink and Real Red cs. The base card is Pixie Pink and layered with DP's from Cloud 9 and Pink Pirouette. I added some ribbon to the card, some large eyelets and the hearts were cut out of scrap and sponged with Real Red ink to give them a little definition. I computer generated the sentiment. For the inside I took a piece of Pink Pirouette and a strip of the DP from Cloud 9 with the ribbon and attached it to the card. I had the computer generated sentiment and a heart that I cut out from scrap Real Red and I was complete.

I did find the CD on sale on EBay, and they have the 2nd CD that I did not know was out. It is a little more than what I paid for it, but I love it - It might be worth it. You can print out the images in any size you want. Definitely worth the $$ you'd save buying the all the actual stamps. I think that there is over 150 images on the CD I have, the 1st one.

I needed to make a card for a friend that I have not sent to in a long time and I just wanted her to know that she's special. So I made this card:Ok, I had to show you my Elmo Ü But here's the card up close:This stamp is JavaBella, I thought that it would make a cute card. The image panel is sponged with So Saffron and layered on to a piece of So Saffron cs and I colored it in with my watercolor crayons. The base card is a textured Eggplant that I've had forever!! The DP's that I used on this card are all from SU! called Parisian Summer. I punched the upper right and lower left corners with my Friskars corner punch. I think that she'll like it!

I'll be back in a little bit to show you a funny video that a friend sent to me. If your tired of hearing about "women drivers" you'll have to see this!!

Have a great day!
Hugs,

Joani

Happy T.G.I.F!!!

Thank goodness!! This week's been a long and slow one for sure! It seems like last weekend was years ago. I just want to sleep in tomorrow and stay under my warm blankets.


It started snowing this morning when hubby left for work ~ here it is almost 10:30am and it's still coming down. Not as much, but it's still snow. I'm so afraid that our trees are going to snap. It's so sad to see the trees snap, break and fall. They take so long to grow and look so nice ~ it's a shame.


Well with the weather the way it's been I had nothing else to do but craft. Ok, yes I did ~ but shhhhhhh, don't tell Ü


The first thing that I made yesterday was a little card with another Darcie's stamp. I'm sure that I've used this before, but here's another take on it.

The base card is Pink Pirouette layered with some DP. The DP does not have any maker on it, sorry. I added a piece of pink polka dot ribbon (that happens to match) along the seam of the two papers. I colored the image with my watercolors, sponged some Pink Passion ink around it and layered it on to a piece of Pixie Pink and some Purely Pomegranate that I scalloped the edges.

I stamped the bath brush and soap and colored them in with my pencils and gamsol. I cut them out and placed them on the card. I then took the sentiment and inked the word "soaping" with Real Red ink and stamped that on white cs, sponged some Pink Passion ink around that panel and layered that on to a scrap of Purely Pomegranate. I placed that on the card with pop dots. I finished the card off with some Fruit Punch stickles on the bubbles and a couple of flowers and a button. I think that it is kinda cute. All the stamps are from Darcie's.

Here's another stamp that you may or may not of seen me use. I use this every Valentine's day. I just love it, it's simple. Of course I just used the last of this paper. I've had this paper for years and I'm sure that I'll never find it again ~ but hopefully I'll find something close.

The base card is Chocolate Chip and I layered a piece of Creamy Caramel that was run thru the CB. I took the two pieces of DP from Frances Meyer and layered them on to a piece of Pink Pirouette. I then stamped the image from Embossing Arts Co. (who's gone out of business, sorry) and colored it with my markers. I sponged some Close to Cocoa ink around that panel and layered it on to a piece of Close to Cocoa and Pink Pirouette cs before I added the image panel to the front of the card. Then I knew that it needed something else so I punched out a candy from the DP with my 1" circle punch and layered that on to a piece of Creamy Caramel punched with the 1 1/4" circle punch. The 1 3/8" circle punch is Pink Pirouette and the scallop circle is Chocolate Chip, and I used my paper piercer to make the holes in the scallop.

I just love that stamp. Since I am showing something that is no longer available - I know, not too nice ~ if you really feel the need to have this stamped image just e-mail me and I can stamp a few for you! It's the least I can do Ü

I think that I've mentioned to you that my SIL is starting to (finally) get into making cards. After 3 1/2 years of watching she's finally taken the leap. Ahhhh, I've infected another ~ he he he.... Years ago my dear friend Janet infected me. With the cute little bunny box she made for Easter with the M & M's. I vowed to infect as many as I could too!! It's only right...

Anyway, she pretty much has to start from scratch. Like we all did. She had given me this baby food jar that my niece had left last time she was visiting. I thought it was perfect for her for little flowers and such. I jsut decorated it up and filled it with some flowers for her. I think that she'll like it. Every time I go out there I bring something new for her to play with. I've got a whole drawer full of different pattern scissors. Heck, they are all dusty from not being used in years ~ so she's getting some of those too...

Well - that's enough for today. I'm off to make a calendar for my purse - something cute I had seen on Julie's Paper Pleasing Ideas. If you haven't been there you really need to take a peek. She's such a talent!

Have a great day!
Hugs,

Joani

Valentine A-Pal-ooza!!

First of all I want to say to everyone ~ Happy Valentines Day!! Just givin' out mush deserved kisses to you all who take a peek at my blog! I've had over 5000 hits. Already! I am planning on giving out some blog candy in the very near future too!!! Thanks everyone! Muh-wa~

Now on to some business. I've got some last Valentine images to show you ~ then no more for a while... I just love Valentines though. A time to show all those people you love just a little more affection.

Why do I wait til the last minute to make cards for family? After all we live in the same house. Just yesterday I thought "Oh no! I have not made my Mom a card yet?" Thus, this card was born! Of course it was another excuse to make a card with my new favorite set. I just love this set!! The base card is Real Red. I then layered a piece of Pixie Pink on the card and a piece of DP from Cloud 9. My LSS carries a lot of papers from Cloud 9 and they are all yummy!

I then stamped the image from Happy Heart Day and watercolored it with my Aqua painter and pencils. I layered that image on to Pixie Pink. I wanted something else because it looked a little empty ~ so I stamped the tag image from the same set and watercolored that also. I used a heart eyelet at the top of the tag and threaded some ribbon scrap thru it. I adhered that to the card with a pop dot and I was finished.

And yes, I needed still another card. I had one for my daughters BFF's family, but she wanted to give it to her BFF ~ so yes, Mom get's to make another card!!

Yes, the set was out so I used it!!!

The base card is Real Red. I layered some swirl paper on to that. Yes, the swirl paper that has no name, it was sent to me in a RAK. Then I matted the red polka dot paper from Paper Salon (smitten collection ~they are yummy!!) on to a piece of Basic Black. I took a length of black organdy ribbon and tied it around the layers before I stuck it on the card.

I stamped the image twice. Once on white paper, then once on the heart paper. That paper is from Making Memories. I cut that image out and placed it over the elephant. I also cut the word friend out and a heart from the paper to make the one on his trunk bigger. I colored the flowers with my SU! markers and added stickles to it. I layered that image on to a piece of the Making Memories paper then on to Basic Black. I attached that to the card with pop dots. I then made the tag from the set and matted that on the Basic Black paper too. I added a heart eyelet with the black ribbon scrap and also used a pop dot to adhere to the card. I know that the card looks like the one above, but when I'm in a pinch it seems that I go back to the same recipie!!

And yes ~ one more card to make. The crucial one. The one for Hubby!! Now, he supports my paper crafting addiction. He knows that I love to make cards and alter things. He knows this all to well. When I see something that I MUST have, no matter where we are I've got to get it. He just stands there and shakes his head. I'm sure that he does not care if the card is made or heaven forbid ~ store bought. But the fact remains, I need to make the card. I keep all the cards I give family for holidays. So, let's just say I needed to make it for "my collection"....

For his card I used a mish-mash of stamps. I thought that it should be a little more "romantic" that the Happy Heart Day set. So, here goes...

The base card is Pretty in Pink.

I first stamped the BG stamp from Art Impressions with my Encore gold pad, on to Pixie Pink and mounted that to a piece of Basic Black. I then stamped the flourish from Judikins in Real Red over the BG image. Then added a length of black velvet ribbon down the left side. There is just something romantic about black velvet ribbon ~ at least I think that...

I then stamped 2 hearts from Hero Arts with my gold pad and cut them out and placed them on the card somewhat crooked. I then took the vellum saying from my DCWV paper slab and mounted that over another piece from that slab that is red roses and mounted that piece to another piece of Basic Black. I attached them all with the red heart brads and taped it down to the card. I think that it turned out well, don't you?

Now on to the main course!!! I've been a part of a PIF RAK with a couple of people. If you can remember back I showed you what my dear friend Gabby sent to me in her PIF RAK. Well, this is what I sent out in mine! I made 2 post it note holders, a magnet, a pen, a tape dispenser, a notebook and gigantic paper clip. And I bought a few goodies too. These are so much fun to do!!

Later today make sure to stop back by ~ I will be opening my PIF RAK packages I've received and will take pic's to show you!!!

Is that a pink elephant I see?

Ok, so there is a story behind the pink elephant. I've got so many stories!!!

Many moons ago, just after the birth of my DD I was told that I needed to have my gall bladder taken out. I was 'ahem' a whole lot younger...

I had it removed and came home from the hospital and they game me a Rx for some pain pills. I am not one for taking any type of pills, but in this case I needed too. So I was laying on the couch a while after taking a pill and I asked my husband "do you see that? Is that a pink elephant?" The pills that the doctor gave me where a tad bit too strong or I was just not used to pills I guess. I was seeing pink elephants move around in our living room. Needless to say, that was the last pain pill I ever took!!

Which brings me to this card. The first pink elephant I've seen in almost 16 years!!

The base card is Chocolate Chip. I then added a layer of the pink polka dotted paper (from who I'm not sure) and a peice of DP from Paper Salon. The image is from the Happy Heart Day set. I stamped him and colored the flowers, then paper pieced him with the polka dot paper. I sponged around the image with Chocolate Chip ink and layered it on to a piece of Chocolate Chip paper. I then added the piece of Real Red behind that and used my deckle edge scissors on (which none of my scissors ever see the light of day).

I forgot to add the ribbon before I layered the paper to the image ~ so I carefully cut a slit on the Real Red right up against the Chocolate Chip and slid the ribbon thru. Then I tied it in a couple of knots. I added stickles to the "flowers" and I was done. I think that I am pretty much done with my Valentine cards, so you may see more of other things from now on. But then I love this set so much, you may not :)

Just the other day I noticed on Gabby's blog that she used the same frog I did. I had to make another card for my cocktail swap that I'm in and I used this little guy. He's so cute!

The stamp is from Rubbernecker, and I got him and a few of his friends at a stamp show a while back. I stamped him and colored him in with pencils and gamsol. I sponged Old Olive around the image and then layered that on to a piece of Pink Passion paper. The martini glass BG paper is from Frances Meyer. I got that years ago (because like everyone else I hoard paper and never use it!!) at my LSS in California.

I layered that on to a Orchid Opulence piece of cs which is the base card. I used my slit punch at the top to create the flap for a closure. I then took a couple of pieces of scrap ribbon (another thing that I don't throw away ~ because you never know when you'll use it) and attached a green brad thru it. All done! It was quick and simple.






And of course I could not let a day go by without another Valentines card...

I somewhat used sketch 154 from SCS. I used my new stamp set Happy Heart Day. It is a great set!

The base card is Real Red. I layered Paper Salon's DP Tiny Dot and Polka Hearts on to a piece of Chocolate Chip paper. On the piece of Polka Heart paper I sanded the edges a bit, and on the piece of Tiny Dots I sponged a little bit of Real Red ink. I stamped the main image and colored him with pencils and gamsol. I also paper pieced his shirt with the Tiny Dot paper. I layered that on to Chocolate Chip and Real Red paper.

The saying was stamped with Real Red ink and also layered on to Chocolate Chip and Real Red. I used stickles on the hearts for a bit more color. If you notice the ribbon you'll see that it was a perfect match to the paper! How lucky was that? That ribbon is from American Crafts.

I hope that you all have a wonderful afternoon! More to come tomorrow!!

Just Truckin' on by

One of my favorite sets, old faithful ~ Loads of Love. This is probably one set that I will use FOREVER! It's so versatile, you can do anything with it. So, of course I had to use it for Valentines day.

The base card is a light pink linen paper that I got a long time ago at a store in California. I tore the edge off the side to reveal a peek at the inside. I took a piece of Chocolate Chip cs and a piece of Pink Passion and tore the side off those too. The Pink Passion was a little too plain so I stamped the hearts from the Loads set with Real Red ink. I layered them to to the card with a length of ribbon. I stamped the truck, hearts and girl (hey, that's me!!) and colored it in with pencils and gamsol and sponged around the edges with Pink Passion ink. If you notice I shaded under the truck with grey pencil and gently blended it with my gamsol. Yes, I'm addicted to that stuff!!!

I layered that to a piece of Chocolate Chip cs and adhered it to the card. The card was still missing something so I stamped Loads of Love with Real Red ink on to a piece of Pink Passion scrap and then on to a piece of Chocolate Chip scrap and placed that in the lower left corner.
If you notice in the lower right corner there is a rub on that I placed just inside, that is from Cloud 9.

I still think that it is missing something ~ but I may come back to it later and play around with it.

Bubbles anyone?

It's like Christmas!! I "found" my DD's stash of Darcie's stamps!! When we lived in California we used to go to all the stamp shows. Well, at the time my DD was into stamping with me. Since then she has "grown up" and no longer has time to stamp with me. She's too busy on the phone or watching MTV. Well, when she was into stamping Darcie's was her favorite. When we went to the shows she would be at the Darcie's booth the whole time, looking thru their UM stamps looking for the best ones. She would take them home, mount them on the EZ mount and stick them in CD cases. She has a lot of them!!! Well, yesterday I got a cleaning bug ~ I do that sometimes. I want to sit down and stamp but then something "tweeks" me and I get sidetracked. Yesterday was one of those days! I was moving some stuff when I came across her stamps. I thought "hmmmm. I think I'll look thru those" and lo and behold ~ it was Christmas. I was looking and thinking "I did not know she had this one, and that one." So needless to say the birth of a few cards!





Now, on to the card. I stamped the main image and colored it with pencils and gamsol. I mounted that on to a piece of Chocolate Chip and Pixie Pink. The main card itself if Real Red. I am trying to use most of my scraps, so the DP is from Cloud 9. I stamped the swirls from Autumn Leaves on the case base with Real Red. I added a length of ribbon and attached the hardware from SU! hodgepodge kit. The saying Valentine was stamped in black, and that too is from Darcies.



Well, I needed another card for a bear swap that I am in, and thought "hmmmm. this should work" and I doubled it as a valentine.

I stamped the main image and colored it with pencils and Gamsol. I sponged Rose Red around the image before I mounted it to a piece of Purely Pomegranate. I took my corner rounder and punched a peice of Certainly Celery paper with it. It is a cool tutorial that I saw on Cammie's blog - check it out here. Then attached it to the back of the image.

I then took my The main base card is Lavender Lace. The blue stripe paper was from a RAK I received, so I don't know who make that. But I did take my Rose Red ink pad (since I don't have the Pomegranate one) and sponged around the edges of the blue paper, I then sanded the edges to "rough it up". I stamped the word Valentine at the bottom in Real Red ink and added stickles to the "bubbles".

Enough for now! Have a great day everyone!!!

Busy Bees

Ok, yes ~ I need to get away from pink and brown. But not just yet...

YEARS ago, a friend of mine got me into rubber stamping. I told her that she owes me big time because I could of been a whole lot richer if it was not for her! But, not happier I guess. Stamping is a passion of mine. I just love to sit and create. I love the looks on people's faces when they open a card or look at something I've done and say "wow, this is handmade?" I'm sure most of you know the feeling.

Ok, enough of that. I tend to ramble. I started off with this friend of mine... Well, this same friend is the one who bought this stamp for me. She purchased it at a show. The first stamp show I ever went to. Boy, I was like a kid in a candy store...

The stamp is from Alota Rubber stamps. I colored it in with pencils and gamsol and layered that on to a peice of Chocolate Chip. The base card is Pixie Pink. On to that I layered a peice of DP Dots and a peice of heart paisley, both from Paper Salon. I just love their paper!!!

I tied a knot with SU! Chocolate Chip ribbon ~ which is so yummy! and then placed the main image over that. I also added a photo corner that I cut from scraps and placed some bling on the corner (from EK Success). Hope you enjoy it. I will try to get away from the "Valentine colors" but I can promise anything :)

Hogs and Kisses

I've had this stamp for a long time! So of course each Valentines I must pull it out! I just love the little piggy and his kisses...

So that brings me to this card. And yes, I used SCS Sketch Challenge 150 for it, and just tweeked it a little.

The card base is a pink linen that I got years ago. I layered paper from Memory Box along with Pink Passion and Basic Black on the card. The main image is from Whipper Snapper, as is the lips. I colored him in with pencils and gamsol. I set the square eyelets in the three corners crooked, and the heart one in the bottom right corner.

I attached a length of ribbon before adhering the main image. And on the top left I attached the lips.

Even though there is quite a few layers this card was a fairly quick one. Hope you like!!!

Oh Sweet Talk

Good Morning everyone! I'm sorry I've been gone for a few days ~ life just get's in the way sometimes :)

I did see on SCS some time ago a little bag "filled with goodies". I knew that I had the bag so I just had to do it. I'm very sorry, it was a while ago so I don't know who to give the kudos to for the idea.

The bag itself is a little old. It is from DOTS. The images inside the bag is from the SU! set Sweet Talk. I stamped the bag image and then the hearts inside using the masking technique. The card itself is Pixie Pink. I layered the image with Pink Passion paper and sponged arounfd the image with Chocolate Chip ink. I recently got that cute BG paper from my LSS. It is from Around the Block. I used a peice of Chocolate Chip paper at the bottom and stamped the words from the Sweet talk set and a length of that yummy Chocolate Chip satin ribbon from SU!

I've been busy lately with cardmaking ~ so if you stop by later, I should have some more pictures posted... Have a great day!!

Cupid? No, Cupig!

I just love this little guy. I bought this stamp years ago at my LSS when I lived in California. It is from Whipper Snapper designs.

The base card is Pixie Pink and I layered it with Pretty in Pink that I sponged with Pink Passion ink. I then layered a piece of DP from Paper Salon on top. For the image I stamped it and colored it with pencils and gamsol. I then sponged that with Pink Passion ink and layered that on to a piece of Pretty in Pink and then Basic Black.

Before attaching that to the card I added a length of pink ribbon to the card then I attached the main image with pop dots.

I hope that you all are enjoying my valentine cards. I do have quite a few to make, so that's what you'll be seeing for the next few days. However I did have to make up a few more swap cards for my group, so you may see some different things thrown into the mix.

Enjoy, and have a great weekend!!

Stew Pot Kickstand

Yes, another kickstand card from SCS. I think that I like these cards. I like to make cards that are just not quarter folds, I like different. I think it's mostly because I like to see the reaction on peoples faces when they open them. "You made that?" Well, of course!

For this card I used the Stew Pot Pals set. It's a set that really has not seen too much ink. And besides, I've been looking thru most of my sets to see if there is something other than hearts I can use for Valentines day. Something out of the norm.

Now, the deets...

For the base of the card I used Real Red. (Traditional I guess.) I layered it with Pixie Pink and with some yum-ola paper that I bought at the LSS from Cloud 9. I just love it! I stamped the image in and colored her with pencils, and layered it on to a peice of Pixie Pink paper. Under the image I put a peice of ribbon and tied it to the left.

The top of the card was a little "blah" so I stamped a frame from Li'l Davies Designs (It's actually a journaling template without the lines) and then I took my Hero Arts letters (Friendship) and stamped the word Valentine with Real Red ink. I then used my Cloud 9 Rub on's and placed a heart to the right of the word.

Quick and simple!