Totally not papercrafting related.........

Hello!  I wanted to show you some pictures of why I didn't get to be an active participant in the June Papertrey Blog Hop.  I had a fantastic time at the Country Stampede.  What is the Country Stampede you may ask?  It is a 4 day event with like 5-6 country acts a day.  Well, I don't usually go to this but my husband works for the radio station that sponsors it so I decided to go once I heard that Danny Gokey, Darius Rucker, and Keith Urban were all going to be there yesterday! 

So, if you can bear some non-stamping photos......here we go!! 

First up is Danny Gokey.........are any of you American Idol fans?  Well, I am and I loved Danny on American Idol with his "where he came from story".  What a great show he put on and he is soo cute!  Have any of you heard his song.....My Best Days?  Here is a link to his video. 

We were very close to the stage to the right.  We were able to sit in the 94.5 Country VIP section and had access to plenty of cold water and even a little air conditioning once in a while!  Now, the port-a-potties that's a different story!  Yuck, Yuck, Yuck!  Especially in the dark! 

I had to use my phone to see where to go!  I know, TMI!!  :)

On to Keith Urban, I am totally in love with him!  Can you say HOT?  Here are some pictures of him singing.  I didn't realize he could play the guitar like that!  Wow!  Now these pictures do no justice to seeing him up close but a little on that in a minute!

Well, now we get to the awesome part of the concert!!  Keith Urban was singing to the right side of the stage and then he jumped into the crowd and started going down the main VIP aisles.  Then he jumped over the fence into the 94.5 Country VIP section (you see where I'm going now?)!!!!!  He walked right past me!!  Now, I was so star struck that he walked right by me that I didn't even get a good picture up close!  This is the best I got but this was during the madness of his security guys trying to keep the GA people away from him!!  That's Keith Urban with his arm up!

I tried to download a short video I took of him singing his song "Kiss a Girl" but I'm not sure why it wouldn't upload.  Here is a link to his song video.  Yesterday was actually Keith Urban and Nichole Kidman's anniversary.  He talked a couple of times about how she's the best thing that's happened to him.  He seems like a genuine nice guy and not to mention "nice on the eyes" too!!  My friend, Laurie, agrees and she wanted to come so bad but it just didn't work out.  We would have had a

great time swooning over Keith together!  LOL!

Thanks for letting me vent about my absence from the blog hop last night! 

I want to thank those who left comments on my post.

I am still getting through the blog hop list and it might take me a while to do this! 

Papertrey June Blog Hop challenge!!

This month's Papertrey Blog hop challenge was a fun one!

"This month we thought it would be fun to focus on COLOR! We want to see your favorite Papertrey

color schemes put to work. Be sure to post the color scheme near the top of your post in bold letters so

everyone can collect them to use as a future reference! With everyone's different takes on

combinations from the Papertrey spectrum, we will surely build an amazing resource that we can all

utilize and fall in love with some new favorite color schemes! 

One of my favorite color combinations of all time is this:

I have been secretly wishing that PTI would come out with a stamp set that coordinates with the scallop dies sooo bad!  So, I thought I would look through what stamps I did have that might fit in the scallops.  I realized that my brand new set All About You has circles that are almost perfect for the medium scallop die!!  Take a look at my dotted scallop border I created!!  Ohhh, I am in heaven!!

Some other things that I tried for this card were coloring the rhinestones to match the Plum Pudding color, cutting out all those leaves and the flower (I don't do this very often at all), using my new impression plates for the background papers, and my new Plum Pudding pigment ink. 

{Happy Birthday to YOU}

All supplies PTI unless stated.

Stamps:  All About You

Paper:  Plum Pudding, Ripe Avocado, Rustic white

Ink:  Plum Pudding, Ripe Avocado, Close to Cocoa (SU)

Misc:  Linen and Canvas impression plate, medium scallop border die, pop dots, Spring Moss saddlestitch ribbon,

Bow-Easy, Corner Rounder (CM)

I've been "Blog spotted!!" by the CARDS magazine!!

***Please scroll down for a second post from today......the Papertrey Paper Dolls blog challenge***

I just found out a card of mine was "Blog spotted" by the Cards magazine blog!!

How cool is that?  It has just made my day!!  Here is my card that was "Blog spotted"!!!

Thank you for featuring my card on the CARDS blog!!!

Papertrey Paper Dolls Challenge #10--My turn!!

Hello.....This week it is my turn to host the Papertrey Paper Dolls blog challenge!

I knew I wanted to use scallops and after seeing this card by Dawn McVey......I knew I wanted to do a sketch similar to this!  I have used a similar layout before on a card here. 

I have to give a big shout out to Jen Carter for helping me with this sketch.....I'm just a little sloooow when it comes to using my computer to do things like making sketches!!

Here is my card using Beautiful Blooms II stamps from PTI.  I have to admit this is the first time I've inked this set up!!  ack!  I really really like this set after using it for this challenge!  Can you tell that I am really liking the Summer Sunrise and Pure Poppy color palette too?  Don't worry, I'm going to use a different color palette for the PTI blog hop tomorrow!!  :)

I also had to use my new set.....All About You.  Wow...this will

definitely be a GO-TO set for just about any kind of card you need!!

I mentioned that I used my Beautiful Blooms dies too.....I curled up the flower to give it added dimension without using pop dots for once!!  I also used the rock 'n roll technique again with this set.....just love how it turned out!!

Thanks for visiting and remember.........we keep the Papertrey Paper Dolls challenges up for

three (3) weeks!  So, why don't you come and play!!!

{Thank You}

All supplies PTI unless stated.

Stamps:  Beautiful Blooms II, All About You

Paper:  Summer Sunrise, Pure Poppy, Rustic White

Ink:  Summer Sunrise, Pure Poppy, and True Black

Misc:  Beautiful Blooms dies, Summer Sunrise saddlestitch ribbon, Medium scallop edge die, silver pearls (Michaels)

Papertrey Paper Dolls Challenge #8

Here's another Papertrey Paper Dolls Challenge card. 

This challenge was from last week and the host was Lee Ann.

She chose to do a color challenge with:

Hawaiian Shores, Ripe Avocado, and Dark Chocolate. 

Can you say yum?  Here is my card based off this color palette.

I am loving Copics more and more as I use them!  I had to add some stickles

to the center of the flower for a bit of bling!!

What do you think of the new Moroccan Motifs Impression Plate from Papertrey Ink?  It gives

a card such a classy feel.  Definitely going to be a favorite of mine!

We keep our challenges open for 3 weeks so why don't you come play with us and upload

your photo....we'd LOVE to see your creation!!

Here is the color palette picture we had to work off of for this challenge.

{Friend}

All supplies PTI unless stated.

Stamps:  In Bloom

Paper:  Hawaiian Shores, Dark Chocoalte, Rustic White

Ink:  Memento black, True Black, Hawaiian Shores, Tea Dye Duo

Misc:  Moroccan Motifs Impression Plate, Ripe Avocado buttons, button twine, Copics, pop dots, Stickles

Papertrey Paper Dolls Challenge #7

Alright here I am posting another Papertrey Paper Dolls card challenge!

This challenge was hosted by one of my good friends, Laurie! 

Please check out her blog....great things there I tell ya!! 

Here are the details of this challenge by Laurie:

"Today's challenge is a combo! #1-I would love to see you make your own patterened paper! and #2-Try to keep your card "CAS"...clean and simple! If you want to only do one of the 2, that is great!

I just hope you can play along!"

So here is my card......I made my own patterned paper but CAS?  I don't do those very often!

This stamp set was a fairly recent purchase of mine after seeing soo many wonderful cards

by Jackie P. made with it!!!  Here is a closer view for more detail!

Have a wonderful day and thank you so much for taking time to visit and comment!!

{Celebrate Today}

All supplies PTI unless stated.

Stamps:  YOF: Daffodils

Paper:  Summer Sunrise, Pure Poppy, Stampers Select white

Ink:  True Black, Tea Dye Duo

Misc:  True Black buttons, DMC embroid. floss, pop dots, Corner Chomper, ribbon (Dollar Tree), Linen Impression plate, and Scor Tape

Papertrey Paper Dolls Challenge #6

Wow, I have gotten soo behind on these challenges!!  3 to be exact....but I'm working on it! 
You need to check out the Papertrey Paper Dolls Blog for our weekly challenges!! 

Here is my take on this sketch by Deena (honugurl16).

Lots of texture here using the Impression Plates from PTI!!  During our Stamping Away weekend,

Jen and Laurie brought their impression plates.........let's just say I'm hooked now!! 

In fact, several are now on order with the last release!!  \

I sent this card to a friend of mine that is participating in a triathalon this Saturday! 

Can you imagine?  I can't....I'm so not a runner, a swimmer, or a biker!

Good Luck Stacey!

Here is the sketch my card is based from.  Please come and play

along with us...our challenges are open to everyone!!

Thanks for visiting!

{Good Luck}

All supplied PTI unless stated.

Stamps:  FF #2 and Mega Mixed Messages

Paper:  Kraft, White, Summer Sunrise, Raspberry Fizz, Plum Pudding

Ink:  True Black

Misc:  Picnic Plaid, Sunshine, and Canvas Impression plates, FF #2 die, Corner Chomper, white ribbon (Dollar Tree)

What I've been up to.....

This past weekend my friends and I went shopping in KC......Well, we had to stop and shop for buttons too!!  Thanks to Barb and Laurie for patiently waiting while Jen and I shopped!!!

Here are a couple of rings I've made this week using some of my new buttons!!

And this last ring is the ring that Laurie called a "rock" on her blog post here.  This has to be my favorite ring yet!!  I love how large and blingy it is!! 

 

Have a great weekend!! 

I hope to get "caught up" on some challenges this weekend and have some cards to show you next week!!

Prickley Pear clear stamps and matching dies!

You have to go check out the Prickley Pear blog....my card below is featured on their blog!!!
I have to tell you that I found the Prickley Pear website via someone's blog because they were having a giveaway during their debut release of clear stamps and dies to match!!  Come on.....who doesn't love coordinating things.....especially stamps and dies?  Well, I was one of the 4 lucky winners to come
away with one of their new clear stamp sets and matching dies! 
I won the Hibiscus stamp set and matching die (as well as a sheet of rubber stamps and some transparencies)!!

Here is the card I came up with to showcase this set!

Here is a close up of those flowers!!  I actually used every stamp in this stamp set except for one on this card!  The large sentiment I stamped on the inside of the card.  I can't wait to play with this a little more!

Here is a picture of the Hibiscus stamp set and matching die that I won!!  It was so fun to get happy mail.......especially some that I didn't have to pay for!!  :)

Why don't you check them out?  Thanks again Nichole for this great stamp set!!

{Bloom On}

Stamps:  Clearly Beautiful Hibiscus (Prickley Pear)

Paper:  Pure Poppy, Berry Sorbet, Spring Moss, and Rustic White (PTI)

Ink:  True Black and Ripe Avacado (PTI)

Misc:  rhinestones (unknown source), Hibiscus die (Prickley Pear), Medium scallop die (PTI), pop dots, Copic markers

~~Best Wishes~~

I have been feverishly working on cleaning and reorganizing my stamp room as I have several good friends (a couple of them are on the PTI forum.....Laurie Beth and Jen Carter) coming to my home tomorrow to stamp all day and then we will head to KC for the night and shop 'til we drop on Saturday!!  We have been planning this date for some time and we just can't wait!! 

So, here is a card I made after seeing this beautiful inspirational black and white card the other day (you will have to scroll down to see the card).  I fell in love with the layout and just had to make one of my own!!

I embossed the image from Giga Guidelines with Holographic embossing powder on PTI's Stamper's Select white cardstock.  Using only a black panel, this gives such a nice clean look to this card.

What do you think? 

I am definitely going to make more cards with that black on white panel.  So CAS!!

I may not post for the next few days as I will be having some stamping fun!!

Until next time............

{Best Wishes}

All supplies PTI unless stated.

Stamps:  Giga Guidelines and FF #4

Paper:  Stamper's Select white and True Black

Ink:  Versamark and True Black

Misc:  Holographic embossing powder (Ranger), Upper Crest border punch (Fiskars), ribbon (Michaels), oyster baubles (Stampingbella), pop dots

Here birdie!!

I found these stamps a while back at Michael's and just love them (except that they aren't clear)!!

They are called "i cling" by Studio G. 

I have mentioned before that I have started using Copics so I decided to buy a couple more at HL during their sale.  Colors used here are:  BG10, BG13, BG18, and the colorless blender.

I used the colorless blender to add "polka dots" to the bird's wing that is cut out and popped up with pop dots.  I decided to then cut out the entire bird and raise it off the card too.  Adding a few silver pearls to the center of the circles on the body was the final step!

What do you think? 

I am on the lookout for more of these fantastic stamps! 

I have a couple more I bought that day but haven't used them yet!

{Just to Say Hello}

All supplies PTI unless stated.

Stamps:  Just to Say Hello (i cling by Studio G), Background Basics: Botanicals (PTI)

Paper:  Smokey Shadow, Rustic White, Aqua Mist

Ink:  Memento Black, Charcoal palette

Misc:  Medium scallop die, silver pearls (?Michael's), pop dots, corner rounder (CM)