Remnants From Hurricane Irene

I survived Hurricane Irene the other week by stamping through the power outage.  Sweet and wonderful Taylor was kind enough to email some of the VSN Challenges so I could read them on my phone. Fortunately, I was only out of power for 5 hours, but my cable and internet were down for a couple of days.  Life started getting back to normal and work got crazy trying to catch up so I almost forgot to post my cards!

Card # 1 Through the Saloon Doors

Your challenge:
Make a card that folds to the middle similar to the saloon doors you see in old westerns. Western accents are preferred but NOT required.

There is NO stamping on this card.  I used my Country Ride paper from Echo Park and the stickers included.  (the sentiment is a rub-on from EAD Designs that was exclusive to the Beez Knees kit from Caffinated Cropper) As you may have noticed, I haven't been stamping much lately so it was an easy and fun way to get back in the swing of things.

Card # 2 Party on the Ranch

My challenge to you is to use your favorite farm animal on a card. You can even use an animal print if you like. Go hog wild cause its a party on the ranch!

I used a stamp from Ta Da Studios that I bought over a year ago and never used. It was perfect for this challenge. My power came back on while I was making this card, so I was able to use my sewing machine (although I was in the process of checking to see if it could run on batteries at the time as well....) :)

 Card # 3: Dusty Trails

My challenge has two parts……

1. Make a card or other project that includes a paper-pieced image.

2. Include a bandana print somewhere on your project. 

  I used the Faux Bandana technique and paper-pieced the dog from Unity's I Ruff You stamp set with paper from Basic Grey.  I may have mentioned this before but I just adore this stamp set. The dog is too cute and of course I love dogs.  :)

I hope you survived the storm.  My neighborhood got by mostly unscathed but I know not everyone was as fortunate. I am thankful for the quiet time it gave me where I could concentrate on stamping without any distractions (except for rain and wind gusts out the window).  Hopefully I will stamp again soon and it won't take a hurricane for me to find the time.  Thanks for stopping by and have a great night!

Friday Fun Inspiration for My Friends With Flair!

Good Morning!  It is a beautiful (but cold) and sunny day here in Virginia.  I am sitting in my stamp room and watching my "gardeners" (aka the property management team) mulch the flower beds.  Aaahhh.  Have I mentioned I love my new place?  At my old place not only would I have had to mulch everything myself, but I would have to BUY everything myself.  Now I have more time for stamping and other things that I like to do!  I know that's not why you are here, but it just made me so happy for a minute, I had to share!  :)
Today's Friday Fun Challenge is brought to us by the most wonderful and fantabulous (I know that's not a real word but I had to make one up to fit how awesome she is) Christi Snow!  She chose this book cover for our inspiration today.  I must say- I would read that book from the cover alone although my Mom always told me not to judge a book by it's cover.  But it's a REALLY cool cover!

All the green and yellow and red in the picture made me think of ladybugs.  Why?  I have no idea, but that's the great part about inspiration.  You don't have to know why.  I used the Unity Kit, Rockin' It Unity Style from March 2010.  I love this kit- it's so cute.  I am glad I finally have time to put it to some good ink. 

Be sure to check out the other Friday Fun Girls Blogs (see below) to see what this picture inspired them to create.  This is also my Unity Friends with Flair post- be sure to visit the Unity Blog to find out what other peeps are posting.  Have a great day! 

Jimmi
Kimme
Christi

Friday Fun- Mad for Plaid!

Happy Friday! Today is Kimme's last challenge for this month and it is so much fun!  Check it out!
Feb 26-- I am going to a sorority date party this weekend trying to re-live my college days (what I remember of them.)  The theme for this party is Perfectly Plaid.  We will all be wearing anything we can find in plaid; skirts, shirts, pj's, anything and everything plaid, and the more you clash the better.  The challenge is to make a card with plaid on it.  Any colors are fine.   
So much fun, right??!!  If I had read the challenges ahead of time, I could have saved my card from 2 weeks ago....but that's ok.  I found some more plaid-ish paper for a totally different look. 

 Stamps: Unity

Paper: Mark's Finest Papers Pensacoloa Sand; PTI Red Poppy; Basic Grey June Bug

Ink: PTI Red Poppy and Enchanted Evening 

Be sure to check out the rest of the Friday Fun Girls' blogs - feel free to play along- it's really FUN!!  

Jimmi
Kimme
Christi

Have a great weekend!

A Little Valentine's Treat

I  hope you are having a Fantastic Day! I technically don't have a Sweetie....but....that's all I'm going to say about that right now.  :)  I DO have a set of Valentine's Day cards to show you.  I made a card for a co-worker to give to his Sweetie....and since it's just as easy to make two at once, I made an extra.  The intended recipient of my co-worker's card loves orange so I got to use the Echo Park paper I just picked up at a local craft store I just discovered.  I also like that they aren't your typical pink and red.  Don't get me wrong, I love pink and red Valentine's - but it is fun to try to do them differently. 

The image is from Unity's Jan 2010 Store Kit Livin' and Lovin' Life.  The hearts are the Tim Holtz Grungeboard I bought several months ago that I inked and covered with paper.  I tried rolling a flower for the first time.....I would love to know what you think!  Thanks for stopping by today- have a great Valentine's Day and Monday and week! 

Happy Halloween!

I'm back!  At least for today.  As you know, my life has been pretty crazy the last few months- and not necessarily in a good way.  Things are starting to get back to normal - they aren't there quite YET but they are a lot better.  In fact, I finally stamped something and it felt good.  

I worked on this project a little at a time over the past week.  Last weekend I was getting ready to throw this box away when I decided I needed to use it for something.  It's a good, sturdy box and the perfect size for storing cards.  The next step of course,was to make it pretty!  :)  

I would love to tell you I had a pattern and measurements for the box, but it was really more of a measure as you go kind of project.  The paper I used is from the Quite Contrary Collection from My Mind's Eye and all the stamped images are from Unity's August KOM- All You Need.   I might have gone a little overboard decorating it, but I still like how it turned out- see for yourself:

Here is the box BEFORE I altered it

This is the front view (yes, I put googly eyes on the owl) :

Here is the side view with the cute owl paper (love it):

I've already FILLED it up with cards so I guess I will have to make another one! (I need to buy more chips first, though!)

It is tall and wide enough to hold my large square cards without bending them.   I think this will make a fun addition to my extremely-neglected stamping area.

Thanks for visiting my blog today!  I hope I will start posting more often so stay tuned.  In the mean time, Happy Halloween.  I am going to go enjoy this glorious day- the weather is perfect today! Even my Mums are enjoying the sunshine.  (I have managed to keep a plant alive.....can you believe it?) 

Hip Hop Sketch Challenge Card

I hope you are having a great day!  I just have a quick post for you.  Life has been crazy-busy and it's been almost 2 weeks since I stamped anything  YIKES!! I needed to get my stamping mojo in gear so I decided to make something for this week's Unity Hip Hop Sketch Challenge (#10).  I finally inked up my April store Kit- Moments in Bloom and Naturally You.  I love this kit!  My paper flower is made from the bag that my May Kit of the Month came in.  I stamped the ledger on the paper and then used my Tim Holtz dies to punch out the flower.

I'm not sure how I feel about the card, but I am glad I stamped something.  Be sure to check back tomorrow for the Friday Fun Challenge!  It's a good one, I promise.  :)

Friday Fun # 82 and Friends with Flair!

Happy Friday!!  I'm back to my old work schedule now so I'm of ALL day!  That makes is a GREAT day in my book.  Today's Friday Fun is brought to us my Kim.  This is her challenge:

May 14 ~ April Showers bring May Flowers...what do May Flowers bring?  Butterflies and bees!  Make a card with an insect on it.

I pulled out my Unity stamps and Caffinated Cropper kits and made my card.  All papers except my Gray and purple card stock are from Caffinated Cropper's May Kit- Birds of a Feather.  The butterfly and lace trim are from the April Kit- With A Cherry On Top (which is still available separately OR as a bundle with Birds of a Feather).  For the stamps, I went back deep into my Unity stash which is actually pretty darn big....how did THAT happen?  LOL.  The butterfly is from the February 2009 Kit of the Month, Endings and Beginnings.  The sentiment is from Something Within (LOVE this set!).  I just love the fact that I have nearly 2 years worth of Unity Kit of the Month sets.  I really can stamp almost whatever I want.  I really can't wait to get this month's kit in the mail.  :)

Be sure to check out the Unity Blog for the whole list of Friends with Flair.  If you want to play along with the Friday Fun Challenge (there's no prize or blog candy- but hey- it's FUN) then just use keyword FFC82 when uploading to SCS so we can see all the inspiring creations.  Check out the Friday Fun Girls' blogs below for more inspiration! 

Jimmi
Kimme
Sara
Christi 

Kim

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great weekend and some Friday Fun!

CPS165 You're Treasured

I hope you are having a GREAT weekend so far.  Today I stamped something just for the pure joy of it- and to get an idea out of my head.  During Unity Stamp Co.'s anniversary week, they issued challenges every day.  I was able to participate in several but I missed out on the Martini Sketch.  I had an idea on what stamps and paper I wanted to use, I just never found the time to sit down and make the card.  I still wanted to use the paper and stamps together so I decided to make a card- I just used a different challenge for it.  The layout is Card Positioning Challenge # 165.  What really inspired me for this card is the Seaside Retreat papers from Webster's Pages.  It's full of fun colors and one print actually looks like a nautical map- which of course I related to a Treasure map.  SO....I broke out my Pirate Madness set from Unity.  I love this set and I don't get enough occasions to use it. 

Stamps: Pirate Madness- Unity Stamp Co.

Paper: Kraft, PTI Aqua Mist; Webster's Pages Seaside Retreat

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Timber Brown Stazon and SU Creamy Caramel (for sponging/distressing)

Accessories: Black and Antique Copper Brads, Small Rectangle Nestabilities, Dimensionals, Sewing Machine

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope the rest of your weekend is WONDERFUL and you have a GREAT Mother's Day!!

Caffinated Cropper April Customer Blog Hop

Welcome to the Caffinated Cropper Customer and DT Blog Hop.  If you are looking for my Friday Fun/Friends with Flair Post, please Scroll down! 

You should be joining me from Stephanie's blog. If not, please start at Amy's blog- also if you get lost along the way, Amy has the whole line up on her blog.  

For my card today I combined TWO of the Unity Anniversary Challenges - Carole's Love at First Sight Challenge and Lori, Jenn and Beate's Triple Take Challenge.  EVERYTHING on this card is from the Caffinated Cropper's April Kit With a Cherry on Top with the exception of the Kraft card stock and Unity stamps (from Unity's Lovin' from the Oven.)  That's right- all of the patterned papers, ribbon, rhinestones, button, thread and cork are from this month's kit.  I just LOVE this kit- with all the wonderful papers and embellishments you can many different looks and projects.  

I posted this card earlier in the week, but I just wanted to post it again so you can see the versatility of the kit.  (this card also uses Unity stamps- everything else is from Caffinated Cropper)

These kits are on sale for $29.99 with FREE shipping.  Also, Amy has a Beeez Kneeez/With a Cherry On Top bundle left and some awesome paper bundles on sale- be sure to check them out. 

Your next stop on the hop is going to be Emily!  I am sure she will have something totally fabulous for you today!

Friday Fun # 80 and Friends with Flair

It's Friday!  I am so excited! It's time for the weekend to start AND it's also time for the Friday Fun Challenge and Unity's Friends with Flair.
For the Friday Fun Challenge (#80) Christi chose THIS Anthropologie Apron for our inspiration piece.  It is soooo pretty!  I combined this challenge with Gretchen's Anniversary Challenge- Unity is Going to the Birds - to use a Bird or Tree image on your project or card. The ribbon and button on my card are from the March Kit from the Caffinated Cropper called the Beeez Kneeez.  Amy has ONE left......in case you want it....It goes GREAT with Unity stamps.....I'm just sayin'

Here is the Apron:

Here is my card:

Stamps: April Kit of the Month- Together We Bloom

Paper: Kraft, Websters Pages - Postcards from Paris

Ribbon and Button from Caffinated Cropper Kit- The Beeez Kneeez

Be sure to check out the Unity Blog for the Friends with Flair Blog List.  Below are the Friday Fun Girls blogs.  We would love for you to play along with us- just use keyword FFC80 when uploading to Splitcoast.  

Jimmi
Kimme
Sara
Christi 

Kim

Thanks for stopping by!  Be sure to come by later for the Caffinated Cropper Blog Hop! 

Some of my Favorite Things!!

It's Wednesday which means after today, we are over halfway through the work week.  Phew!  For today I have a card using some of my newest and favorite things including the CPS Sketch Challenge for this week.  The stamps are from Unity's March Kit of the Month Rockin' It Unity Style.  All paper (except neutral panel for my image) and embellishments are from the Beeez Kneeez kit from Amy at Caffinated Cropper.  Have I mentioned that I love this card kit?  It has so many great items that coordinate wonderfully to make a variety of projects.  The possibilities are endless. 

I used the following items from the kit to make my card:
Jillibean Soup Kraft Card
Pink Paislee Glitter Limeade Chipboard Alpha
Designer papers

Be sure to get your kit soon- there is only a limited amount of kits left. Thanks for stopping by today- be sure to come back Friday for Friday Fun!

Friday Fun # 72 and Unity Friends with Flair

TGIF!  This is my first week in years that I am working Monday thru Friday.  I think I like it.  :)  Having said that- I am REALLY glad it's finally Friday.  This weekend should be lots of fun and I also get to share my Friday Fun card with you. 
This month Kimme is the Friday Fun hostess and boy, is she really giving us a whopper of a challenge.  This week's challenge (FFC72) is to make a card with NO COLORING.  Get out your solid stamps and colored ink pads.  Extra points if you stamp your background instead of using patterned paper.  Well I figured I would go for broke and stamp everything (with the exception of a little bit of paper-piecing).  So here is my card using Unity's Tea Time Toile Background stamp and the June 09 Kit of the Month Perfect in Every Way. (this kit is one of my favorites that I go back to again and again) 

Be sure to check out the other Friday Fun Girls cards.  We would love for you to play along- just use keyword FFC72 when uploading to SCS or link back to one of the Friday Fun Girls' blogs- that is if you are up to the challenge.  ;) 
Jimmi
Kimme
Sara
Christi
I do have one more thing I want to share with you- when I was looking for some solid stamps to use I opened a drawer that I haven't checked in a long time and look at all these stamps:

Some of them haven't even been inked up yet- can you believe it?  It is like Christmas in March.  :)
Thanks for visiting my blog today- be sure to check out the Unity Blog for the list of Friends with Flair participants.  It will definitely be worth your time to visit all the blogs. 

Friday Fun # 71 and Unity Friends With Flair

This is my last week to host the Frida Fun Challenges- It's been fun but I can't let everyone off without giving a TRUE challenge. So- this is the challenge: Feb 26^th   is Tell a Fairy Tale Day….so choose your favorite Fairy Tale and make a card based on it.  Show me your Princesses, Dragons, or anything Magical. 
I don't have a favorite fairy tale (I like them all), so I chose a fairy and magic as the theme of my card.  These stamps are from Unity's November 09 Kit of the Month Simply Magical.  I love this kit and what goes with fairy tales more than a fairy looking up at a giant flower?

Be sure to check out the other Friday Fun Girls (below) and to see the rest of Unity's Friends with Flair, visit the  Unity BLOG!
Jimmi
Kimme
Sara
Christi

That's all for today- but since this weekend is the VSN Olympics I am sure I will get some stamping done this weekend! 

Friday Fun # 70 and Unity Friends with Flair

TGIF! It's time for the Friday Fun Challenge (#70-wow!) and also Unity's Friends with Flair. This week's challenge is brought to you by ME! Since the birthstone for February is Amethyst I am challenging the Friday Fun Girls - and YOU to make a PURPLE card. Since it's Friends with Flair, I used the set Spring Unity from Unity Stamp Co. I just love this set...it's so sweet.

Be sure to check out the other Friday Fun Girls (below) and to see the rest of Unity's Friends with Flair, visit the newly-updated Unity BLOG!
Jimmi
Kimme
Sara
Christi

Thanks for stopping by today! Be sure to have a FUN Friday!

Friday Fun- Happy Birthday!

TGIF!! Are you ready for this weekend? It's Valentine's Day. I hope everyone has special plans- if you're single be sure to treat yourself. You deserve it.
This week's Friday Fun challenge is hosted by ME again. Since today is Abraham Lincoln's birthday the challenge is easy: Make a Masculine Birthday Card.

Here is my card using Unity's January Store Kit of the Month (yes, I caved and ordered it...but it is so darn fabulous!!) Livin' and Lovin' Life.
I just love this sentiment....it's so cute. It actually says "Valentine, You're a Real FUN-GI" but I just took the ink off the word Valentine. :) Be sure to check out the other Friday Fun girls' creations:

Jimmi
Kimme
Sara
Christi

Thanks for stopping by- have some Friday Fun and a GREAT weekend.

Friday Fun # 68 and Friends With Flair Valentine

Happy Friday! I am so happy that Friday is finally here. This month, I will be the hostess of the Friday Fun Challenges and I am starting out with a bang, I tell ya. The challenge was inspired by a thread I was reading on Splitcoast about just using the basics for stamping. It made me think of the days right after I discovered stamping when all my supplies would fit in ONE drawer. Crazy, right? But I still loved stamping so much back then even without all the latest and greatest tools. So the Friday Fun Challenge is:

Back to Basics- Remember when you first started stamping and all you had was card stock, ink and stamps? it’s time to put away our fancy toys and patterned paper and make a card with the very basics.

So for this challenge you are limited to the following:

Stamps: As many as you like

Ink: up to 3 colors (not counting black or brown)

Paper: up to 3 colors of card stock plus one neutral; NO patterned paper.

Coloring medium: You can use ONE coloring medium (markers, pastels, pencils, etc.)

Embellishments: ONE kind. You can use more than one of the same kind…(5 brads, two ribbons, etc.) but only ONE kind.

NO Nestabilities but punches are ok.


It was really hard- who knew I was SO addicted to Patterned Paper?? LOL Here is my card using Unity's set: I Ruff You

This is also my card for Unity's Friends with Flair. You can find all the FWF participants on the Unity Blog.
The other Friday Fun girls are sure to have some fabulous creations. I can't wait to see their take on this challenge. It's not easy, but it is FUN!

Jimmi
Kimme
Sara
Christi

Thanks for stopping by- have some Friday FUN!!