Passing the orange torch...

Say goodbye, never say goodbye (yeah that's right sing it to the tune of Bonjovi)

Today is the day my friends. 

Now I am passing the Orange Torch at Amber Ink to my fabulous and totally crafty  friend Lynette.  I have enjoyed my run at Amber Ink so very much.  I met some wonderful people and plan to sneak a peek in at their blogs from time to time to see how they are doing.  I want to thank my creative little blog buddy Michele for recommending me to run with the Orange Torch.  Michele you are such a creative inspiration to me and have you have become my BBB (Best Blog Buddy!)  Pam and Amber you girls rocked my creative world showing me how to use your awesome digital goodies.  I had never used digi paper until I met you, man have I been missing out! Thank you so much ladies!

Ahemm...drum roll please...the passing of the torches:

ORANGE: From ME to Lynette Brown @ http://lifeinhaysville.blogspot.com/

PINK: From Nancy Cappelan @ http://nancyskortblogg.blogspot.com/
 to Penni Vickers @ http://lazycatscards.blogspot.com/

BROWN: From Laura Kayra @ http://paperiini.blogspot.com/
to Nina Maksimainen @ http://ninarsku.blogspot.com/

BLUE: From Renee Lynch @ http://itsapatchworklife.blogspot.com/
to Lee Anne Verret @ http://motherofonewifeofone.blogspot.com/

PURPLE: From Siobhan Kline @ http://the-monkey-hut.blogspot.com/
to Cammi Boddie @ http://cuttin-up.blogspot.com/

Check them out friends!  Thanks for peekin in!

Final Amber Ink Project

Hi there! Yes, here I am again for the second time in one day with another post. You see when my silly little computer (I really don't want to admit how tied to this darn thing I am) broke a few weeks back, I got behind on my posts for the lovely Amber Ink. Tomorrow is actually my final day as the chickie carrying the Orange Torch. Can I just say it has been so fun to work with these gals? But I will talk more about that tomorrow. Right now lets move on to the final project. This card is for a challenge from Cupcake Inspirations.  Have you checked out their blog? So much fun! Their inspiration is from different photos of cupcakes. I gathered my inspiration from this photo

Side note: these lady bug cupcakes reminded me of Sidney's 13th birthday party this year.  I forgot to put the left over cupcakes up when the girls all went outside to play.  I looked at the dog a few minutes later and she had pinkish red furry little paws and beard!  Too funny!  She just helped herself!  Gotta love those little fur babies!
Back to our regular scheduled programing...After looking a the cupcakes I made this card.

 
I just LOVE these little love bugs! I have to tell you, I am loving digi paper! The pink and brown patterned paper...yup...another digi paper design from Amber Ink. You wouldn't believe how easy it is to re-size your paper for your project! Amazing!

Well thanks for peekin' in! I sure hope you check out Amber Ink. Amber and her mom Pam are the most fun gals and they have hearts of gold...not to mention a fun little stamp store! Have a great week...take care of you!

5th Amber Ink Project

Happy Father's Day friends! I am running a little behind this week with my post. Here is my 5th project from Amber Ink. This little digi stamp set called Wild Animals with Heart: Just Poking Around Line Up, comes with 4 different turtles and they are all so cute! It was hard to pick which one I wanted to use! The fun patterned paper is also from Amber Ink's digi paper line. Lookie at the bottom of the card...see I finally got some fun twine to use! I love that stuff! I have been looking at all these awesome cards made with twine for months and so I am so excited to use it!



Sorry this post is so short today but it's Father's Day and we have an active day planned. Until next time my creative little friend!

Apple of of my eye!

Hi there friends! I feel like a new woman with my computer back up and running! I was sitting there at work today thinking about this cute little apple and what I was going to do with it for my 4th Amber Ink project. I know...daydreaming about playtime while at work...hope my boss isn't reading this! LOL!
I wanted to use that cute gingham red digi paper again and I thought lime green would be perfect with this apple, by the way this apple is one of the stamps from the Cutie Pie: Little Things set. I colored her up with Copic markers and got the colorless blender out to try to make the different color tone in the body of the apple, you know just like a real one? But I gotta have a little bling so I put a little bit of Frosted Lace Stickles on the shiny part! So what do ya think? Look good enough to eat?

Stay tuned because I will have another fun card up later this week but in the meantime go check out my torch bearing girlfriends and see what they are cookin' up this week! You can find them here:  Laura, Nancy, Renee, and Siobhan They are so creative and talented! Thanks for peekin' in friend have a great week!

Sweet as Pie!

Hey there friend! How have you been? Our computer contracted a virus and I had to take it to the doctor to be worked on. They were able to back up all of our files so we didn't lose anything...I don't think. But I have been working on getting things installed this week and it has just been nuts! So that is why I am so late posting this card! This is my 3rd project for Amber Ink.

Doesn't it make you want to have yummy pie? I am so excited to use this set! And guess what? See that red gingham paper? That's digi paper too! This is the first time that I have used digi paper and it was a sinch! The pie is from a fabby little digi set called Cutie Pie: Little Things and comes with 30 stamps! Just think of all the fun things you can do with it?

Amber Ink is sponsoring the challenge at Wee Memories this week.  The best part is the theme is anything goes.  So you can make what ever your little heart desires and if the group over at Wee Memories chooses your submission then you'll be the talk of the town (or at least the blog) as you will receive a $15 gift certificate to the Amber Ink store! The challenge is going on until June 17th so check it out and get in on the fun!

Thanks for peekin' in friend! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Amber Ink Project #2

Ahem...drum roll please....doot do do doot! Here is my 2nd Amber Ink project. I was really trying to get this out earlier this week but you see I got a wild hair this weekend and thought, hummm, I have a 3 day weekend, why don't I just tear all the wallpaper off the entryway and hallway. Sounds harmless and possibly a little fun right...yeah I know...sick. Well once we got into the thick of things we found out there wasn't just one layer of wallpaper, there were 3 and when we began tearing it off the sheetrock paper came with it. Nice right. It was about then that I became a little cranky because I knew that I wasn't going to finish this task before work on Tuesday. Needless to say I am almost finished. However this little love bug has been running around in my head for a few days now just waiting for the page to put it on. This is our Granddaughter Angelina and man is she Grandpa's Little Love Bug. She comes to visit with her mommy every few months and if she will let us we get as many hugs and kisses as we can!

Here are the deets of this little project. The green patterned paper is from Making Memories. The little daisy flower around the border had a blue center which really didn't go with my project at all so I just hole punched the center out of each one...as my grandma would say "there's more than one way to skin a cat ladies!" I loved the green color and I certainly wasn't going to let a little blue stand in my way of using it! The thing I love about the Love Bug digi is that when you purchase this little fella you get one with hearts and one with out and the bestest part is that the price of this little digi is only $2!! I know right??? Anyway, the yellow and pink patterned papers are
from K and Company.  Just incase you didn't hear me that digi was only $2!!

Here is a close up of the larger love bug. I wanted to make one a little bigger and use it as an embelly for the page. I colored the little buggy with Copic markers and then cut the image out. After using the Spellbinders circles I used a little popup tape to make her stand out off the page a little bit and then decked her out with a little bit of Frosted Lace Stickles. Every love bug has to have her bling right?

I typed the title up in a font I had on the computer and added the little love bug to the corner.



Looking at these pictures makes us miss our little bug so much! Sniff...

Well thanks for peekin' in friend, hope you have a fabulous Friday tomorrow!  And if you haven't gone over to Amber Ink yet do it...you know you want to..

You still give me butterflies

Hi friends!  This is my first project for Amber Ink!  Yippy Skippy!  I saw this cute little digi and it reminded me of my hubby.  We will be celebrating 10 wonderful years together on June 1st and seriously...he still gives me butterflies!  There is nothing more exciting than being married to your best friend!  So here are the deets on the card...

The patterned paper is Basic Grey and I thought hearts were perfect for this little love dovey card.  I used Spellbinders circle and scalloped circle dies for the sentiment and for my own little touch I wrote around the edge of the circle Happy 10th ----I love you!  In stead of using ribbon to tie around the middle of the card I thought I would use fibers because I wanted to keep with that distressed look of the patterned paper.  You know me... I just need a smidge of bling on...everything...so I added some purple fun to the upper right corner of the card.  I colored the little butterflies with Copics and then added a little bit of Doodlebug glitter to their wings, unfortunately I don't think you can really see it here in this picture. I can't wait to give this to him, but first I will write something mushy in it.  We need a little of that after 10 years right? 
I hope this post finds you all safe and well.  We have been having some crazy storms here in the Midwest.  Our friends in Joplin, out hearts and prayers go out to you after all of the loss that you have suffered over the weekend.  Until later my friend, take care of you!

I'm an Amber Ink Torchbearer!!

You are probably wondering what the heck is she talking about right?  Well my wonderful little blog buddy Michele Greenwood from Whimsical Creations asked me if I would like to design for Amber Ink stamp company for the next month!  How awesome is that?  I am flattered that she thought of me and thrilled at the thought of representing Amber Ink and the Orange Team!  

You should stop in and check out Amber Ink's blog for all the introductions of the new group of designers.  Here are the totally creative chicks I will be rubbing elbows with!

Laura carries the brown torch

Nancy carries the pink torch

Renee carries the blue torch

Siohban carries the purple torch

If you haven't been to the Amber Ink store...what are you waiting for? Check them out because they have the cutest little stamps, digi stamps, and digi papers!  There is some fun stuff just waiting for you, that's right I am enabling you to shop..we are in this sickness together!

 Check back in tomorrow cuz we will have all of our first projects out there on the Amber Ink blog!

Thanks for peekin' in!  Take care of you!

Hey there!!

Hi friend! How are you? I have been thinking about blogging now for a few days and just haven't had the chance to get down here and post! Haley is finishing up her sophomore year and has secured herself a summer job! Yey for her! Sidney is on the count down for her 7th grade year and this is actually her last full week of school...shocking isn't it? She has a very busy summer as well.  She is playing golf again this summer and has decided to also play softball.  I also signed her up for a few classes through the local recreation center for a cooking and pottery class.  The song "The Wheels On The Bus" keep running through my head!  My mom has been very ill and we have been taking her to doctors appointments and so on. She has been sick since December and have ruled out many things and diagnosed a few things as well but she still isn't feeling better. We will be going back to the heart doc this Friday and to an infectious disease doctor in a few weeks. A little scary but at the same time we remain hopeful that we will be getting some answers very soon. Please keep us in your prayers that the Lord will guide the doctors to find out what is going on...thank you so much! Our faith is what keeps us going on!

With everything going on with mom this year I decided not to take on too many orders for Mother's Day. I did manage to have a few orders though :) I just love making cards for others, it makes me feel so good to see their face when they look at them! Don't you just love that feeling?

Here are a few of the cards I put together. I recently ordered this great stamp set from Verve Visual called Great Friend. the flowers on the card below were done with that set. Verve is such an amazing stamp company, they have amazing customer service.

Both of the sentiments on these cards were from Verve Visual also. The one below I ordered as a single stamp for $3!



I have a few more Mother's Day cards to post so stay tuned, I promise to have a few more posted soon.
Thanks for peekin' in on me! Take care of you!

More Momma Love

Hey there friends! How are you doing this beautiful Saturday evening? We have been blessed with gorgeous weather today! We went to Sidney's first softball game this evening and had so much fun sitting talking to parents and cheering on the girls! Sid just started playing softball this past school year and loved it. One of her friends is playing for a city rec team in the area and asked her to join so she thought sure sounds fun! I can't get over how competitive things are right down to the uniforms and cleats! Fun stuff! I will post some pics soon but now I want to move on to a few mother's day cards I created a few weeks back.

I cased this design from someone at Splitcoaststampers, please forgive me for not remembering to write down their name to give them kudos! I loved the turquoise and black together. This card was so simple to make but turnedout so pretty. I used that totally F-A-B new stamp set from Verve Visual called Great Friend and stamped the flowers in white SU craft ink. The ribbon is from Hobby Lobby (one of those little spools for $1) and the butterfly was a Martha Stewart punch, naturally I had to bling it up with some clear gem stones. The Happy Mother's Day sentiment is also from Verve Visual.

You know what I love about making cards? There is instant gratification because unlike a scrapbook page, which takes so much time (you know finding the right paper for your layout and what size photos you want to use) you can snap out a card pretty quick and the best part is sometimes you can use scraps from other projects! This card was made using the same stamp set from Verve and Spellbinder circle and scalloped circle dies.


What mom isn't super...right? So this pretty little Bella was perfect for Mother's Day. I colored her using Copic markers and added a little highlight around the edge with a white gel pen.



Well thanks for peekin' in! So glad you stopped by! Take care of you!

Pretty in Pink

Hi friend, how are you doing this fine Sunday evening? I am looking at the clock and here it is 10:25 pm and I am a little sad because as usual the weekend has passed by so quickly and alas, it is time to gear up for another work week. We have had so much fun stuff going on at work lately! Last week a dear friend of mine ended her 5 year career at the bank as her hubby is graduating from medical school and they are moving away...sad day! This last week our department hosted a baby shower for my friend Jenny. She is due in the early part of June and she's having a girl. It is so much fun to decorate and buy for a girl don't you think? Here are a few fun little snippet's from our little party. First of all here is a picture of Jenny and I. Isn't she the cutest little prego you have ever seen?

We interrupt our regular scheduled programing for a side note on my hair color: I colored my hair at 11:30 a few nights ago and I think I left it on too long...LOL! So I have this lovely shade of dark brown...it'll fade...gotta love it right? Moving along...



I thought this sweet bundle of joy needed her name on a banner so I made one up with her name on it. Unfortunately it is extremely difficult to get a good picture of a banner so here's the general idea...

And here is a close up of the first triangle. The sweetpea's name is going to be Emersyn.

This was so much fun to create! All the paper is from Hobby Lobby. The flowers are created with the large and medium stamps from a set called Great Friend from Verve Visual. I punched a 1" circle out of the solid pink for the center of the flower. Finally I cut the name out on the Cricut machine with the Tear Drop cartridge. In between each triangle is a sheer pink and lime green ribbon tied in a knot and a bow tied with the pink and white gingham ribbon. So after I made the banner I thought, I should make a cute little matching card. So this sweet little thing was made using the New Arrival Cricut cartridge...first time I used my Cricut for a card. What do you think?



Well thanks for peekin' in friends. Hope you have an amazing week!

Ten

Hi Everyone! How are you? It is so crazy here in Kansas! This weather is so nice but very windy! I have taken the week off to spend with the kids over spring break and I am enjoying every minute! I can't believe it is already Wednesday!

I wanted to share this card with you. I made this for a co-worker of mine who was celebrating her 10th Wedding Anniversary! She asked for something that had the number 10 on it for her hubby. I got this idea from Splitcoast Stampers, can't remember the gal's name to give her the appropriate credit. She used a background stamp and I didn't have one that I liked so I got out my Storybook Cricut Cartridge and cut out the swirly background images. Don't you just love that? I thought was so excited when the card came together! The bottom of the card says Happy Anniversary I love you and I alternated the font colors in red and black. She loved it!

Well I have to tell you all that I have been experimenting with couponing a little bit. I was so intrigued when I heard about these ladies that would buy $100 worth of groceries for $2. So I began clipping my coupons from the Sunday paper to online coupons. I also found out that you can go to Dillons online and load up your plus card with the store coupons they have, those won't double but if you buy it on sale then have their coupon on your plus card and one from the paper AND one from online you can save some major bucks. I did figure out that you have to watch some of the online coupon sites though, I printed coupons from there and got a little buggy on my computer, so word to the wise...stay away from the sites that say they are going to install the coupon printer on your computer. Needless to say here is a picture of my groceries. Yes, I took a picture! I got all of this for $146.00 and saved $143.00, so without coupons I would have spent $289.

Well thanks for peekin' in! Hope you are having a great week whatever you are doing!

More Valentines!!

Hi friends! If you live here in Kansas hope you have been able to get out and enjoy some of this warm weather! I can't believe how beautiful it was outside this weekend. I am so happy to have tomorrow off for President's Day! I know the weather isn't supposed to be as nice but dang it's nice to have a day off during the week!

I still have a few more posts to share with you on Valentine cards so hang in there with me! I just love Valentine cards they are so much fun to make with all the lovely colors!

I got the idea for this card layout from Split Coast Stampers. If you ever get stuck for a layout idea just head over there...some of the most creative people post their stuff there!
On this card I used the EK Boarder punch (there up at the top of the card) called Apron Strings...this is one of my most fav boarder punches! And here is a total BONUS  it matches the new Lacey Circles I just got from Nestibilities. The sentiment is from this really fun set called Say It With Style by Paper Trey Ink.

This next card was so much fun to make. But I have to admit I was a little stumped at first when a friend of mine asked me to make it.  She wanted a custom valentine card for her granddaughter who had recently been in a few high school musical productions.  She wanted me to make a girl on a stage with a spot light and a microphone....what do you think of how it turned out? I was so excited when this all came together! I was racking my brain trying to figure out what I was going to do for the girl on stage...then it hit me like a ton of bricks...the girl from the Glam Girls set from CC Designs would be perfect! Then it was the microphone...which turned out to be easier than I thought to make.  The handle of the microphone is made from a black scrap and the top is just the hole from a hole punch! After coloring her sunglasses black I used a clear glitter Copic Spica pen to add a little shimmer to her glasses. The spotlight is from Kayla's Creations, a paper piecing program I haven't used in ages...but so thankful I had it for this job! Tadaaa...here she is!

Another co-worker wanted something not quite so girly for her hubby. She wanted something "outdoorsy". I completely forgot about this little guy until I got home and dug through all of my stamps. I purchased Riley the Moose last year for Father's Day! Isn't he the cutest little fisherman?



So glad you stopped in friend! On my last post I shared with you that I had used digi stamps for the first time this Valentine's day and loved them. You know there aren't too many companies out there that sell digi stamps but guess what??? Yep, I found another fun one and I will share it with you soon. Thanks for peekin' in! Have a wonderful day!

Are we feelin' the love yet?

Hi there crafty little buddies! Are we happy that it's Friday? I sure am! Let me tell you...I had a ton of orders to fill before today. I really didn't know that my cards would go over so well! You are going to think I am nuts but I stayed up until 2:30 this morning completing my orders! I know...4 hours of sleep! I already told the family that I am turning in early tonight...after all a girl has to get her beauty sleep doesn't she?
Here are another couple of fun digi stamps from Whimsie Doodles. I gotta say I am really impressed with their designs. They are so cute! I think that I like digi stamps better than digi scrappin' because you can still cut, color and embellish digi stamps. Plus with Whimsie Doodles you just pay and download your stamp right away...no waiting for that darn mail!
Any ways, here is a fun little card my intent was to make something that would be nice for a boy or maybe teacher. I saw an example of this card on the Whimsie Doodle web page and thought it was so cute how they used the silver brad to give it that real propeller look!

Isn't this owl just the cutest? I had so much fun coloring this little owl in different shades. The heart background is from the Fancypants line and it has so many fun colors you just can't go wrong using any color combination. The little verse on the card came along with the owl as a set. I really learned a lot about how to use my Copic markers with shading and so forth. Once you get the hang of using the markers they are a blast!


I have to share my new addiction with you. Back on New Year's day one of the cable channels was running an all day marathon of Dallas. Do you remember that show? The first season aired in 1978 so I certainly wasn't old enough to watch it but it went on for 13 years and I do remember my grandparents watching the show every Friday night. So Mike and I sat down and watched it all day on New Year's and I decided to Netflix the entire series! Is that crazy or what? It is so funny to see some of the outfits that were popular or how they wore their hair. Some of the acting isn't the best either but I can see how they kept you tuned in every week. I am currently in season 3 and just about to the episode of "Who Shot JR?" Sick isn't it? Oh well I am sure we all have some weird little obsession!
Thanks for peekin' in tonight! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Toadly Yours

Haa! Can you believe it? Two whole days in a row!!! We must be on the edge of something big here huh? No, seriously I wanted to share another fun digi stamp with you. Again this saweet little froggie is from our friends over at Whimsie Doodles. Don't you just love the kissy lips? This cute little frog went over very well for Valentines.

Both of these little gals were colored with Copic markers and the glitter accents are stickles.



Thanks for peekin' in! Looks like we may begin to get out of this deep freeze weather for the next few days. I am so ready for spring...but then again who isn't?

Holy Shnikees...SHE'S BACK!

Hi Friends! Did you think I fell off the planet? I know! Insanity right? Well I had to take a little break from blogging for a while. Too many things going on around here with these sweet girls of mine! So I don't want you to think for a minute that I haven't been crafting...then you would think I was really sick wouldn't you?? I am so excited to share some of my cards with you. I just love Valentine's Day. It is so fun to make the cards for this lovey holiday...I probably enjoy it because I love girly colors! Well I found this great little web site called Whimsie Doodles and they carry digital ( a.k.a. digi) stamps. I wasn't sure how I was going to like them but let me tell you I love them! Check these cuties out!

I colored this card using Copic markers and for the hearts I used Doodlebug Glitter in hot pink! Man-O-Man do I love glitter! I tried out some new glitter glue too. This glue was by Martha Stewart and I picked it up at Michael's a few months back. Works amazing with glitter!

Ok now on this sweet little thang I am so happy to introduce Spellbinders Lacey Circles!  These are my favorite fun new tool!  I just love the little lacy circles!  They just make the card don't they?
This little web site has some really cute designs and needless to say they were a big hit with my co-workers! I will have more to post from this web site tomorrow...yes, you did hear me right I am going to post again tomorrow. Thanks for hanging in there with me!