Faux Alligator Skin Purse

Last year these little purses were all the rage, and with this one being Real Red, I think it's
perfect for a Valentine Treat. The Faux Alligator Skin is such an easy technique and it looks
so good. If you haven't tried it, let me know and I can give you a short tutorial on it.



I have been so very busy since Sale-A-Bration started, but I do have a few things up my sleeve for the next few days so be sure to come visit again soon.

Book Buddy

For some reason, I seem to be on a book kick lately, so today I will share some items called book buddies. They are small include a small bookmark, a small post it note pad and a small pen.





These make nice little gifts for a book lover.

Thanks for stopping in today. Have a great weekend.

Bookmark Card Swap

I am part of an awesome yahoo group called VC ROCKS! We celebrate the Stampin' Up! convention each year from spring through summer with fun, friends, swaps, classes, challenges,
just lots and lots of fun. You can choose to join our "virtual hotel" and have a roommate and exchange gift boxes, just like you would at convention. This past year, I was lucky enough to be
a hotel manager for the "books and reading floor" and we had our own special swap. It was to make a bookmark card. Here is my swap card. I know that I pretty much cased this from someone, somewhere, but I don't remember who, so if it is from you, please let me know so that
I can give you credit. I did change it up a little, though.



What do you think? Would you like to get one of these babies in the mail? I love the idea of giving a card with a little gift attached. I believe this one went to a very special friend in Texas. She wasn't in my swap, cuz she was managing the "games" floor and had her very own swap going.

VC ROCKs! is a fun time, if you love Stampin' Up! and would like to join us this year, just drop me a line and I will make sure you get an invitation when it opens for this year. You just might make some lasting friendships. I know I have.

I will be back tomorrow with something new, so come back and visit again soon.

My Heart Has Wings

Today's post is an oldie but goodie. I made this card a couple of years ago with a set that is now
retired, but it was an interesting set, perfect for teen cards. The name of this set is Wing It.



I hope you like it, it would be great for Valentine's Day also.

I used Real Red, Whisper White and Basic Black. White Embossing Powder and Black Brads also the 1/16 hand held and scallop border punches. Oh, and the Signo White Gel Pen.

Thanks for dropping in today, and for commenting.

Bookmarks for a Cause

I spent a couple of hours in 4th Grade this week. The whole school was participating in an art
project. They were to create something to sell for Relay for Life so since I support this cause, and because I love this school, I volunteered to help one of the classes with their project. Here is what
we came up with:



Stamp sets: Just Buzzin' By, Dreams Du Jour, Lots of Bots, and Just Jawing. Sorry, but some of the paper used is not Stampin' Up!, but I had lots of this and wanted to use it up, so please bear with me, it won't happen too often.

I had a great time and so did the students and they did an excellent job on their bookmarks. They will be for sale on Report Card Pickup Night this week to all the parents.

Have a wonderful day, and please remember I work for comments.

I (Heart) Owls

Happy Tuesday! Today's project is just too cute. As some of you may know, I love birds and owls are high on my list. So today I used the Fox & Friends clear mount stamp set from the new Occasions Mini Catalog. The images in this set are adorable, AND they have matching Decor Elements that you can decorate with. They aren't just for little ones, either, teens love these little guys. Check
them out today in the Mini and the Decor Elements Catties in my sidebar.

Here is today's project:



I used some retired SU paper, and sorry, I don't remember the name, but it fits this project just
fine. Colors used are Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, and Tempting Turquoise. (sorry it should have been Taken With Teal, but I was at a friends and that's all I had with me)

I also added a Chocolate Chip Button for the drawer pull.

Enjoy your day, and thanks for stopping by.

Deer Friends

I loved this set the moment I saw it. The first thing I thought was "Bambi". So it came to my house in my first order from that catty. I would like to share a card made with it today.



This card uses Pumpkin Pie, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White and Chocolate Chip cardstocks and inks. Some Pumpkin Pie Ribbon and a sentiment from Really Retro punched out with the Word Window punch. Also used is a square punch and the scallop oval punch.

This set is one of that you may choose as a free Sale-A-Bration set with a $50 order. Call or email
me to get yours soon.

Have a great Monday, thanks for looking.

Chocolate Valentine

If you read my post yesterday, you will know I am eating healthy. Which means, I haven't had
CHOCOLATE in several months! I may have to break down and have a piece of Dove dark chocolate soon, dark chocolate is GOOD FOR YOU! Anyway, since I can't have any chocolate, I
will appease myself with this card made with my favorite Chocolate Chip cardstock.



I used the Always and Tiny Tags sets, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, and Chocolate Chip inks and paper. Also used are the Heart to Heart and new Tiny Tag punches. And some striped Pretty in Pink Grosgrain Ribbon.

Valentines Day is coming really fast, if you haven't started your cards yet, give me a call, and I can help you with that.

Thanks for coming by today. Please leave me a comment, I really appreciate them.

My Journey

For those of you who know me, you know that I have spent the last six months on a journey to
be healthier. My parents medical history included Sugar Diabetes and Heart Disease, among other things, so I decided I would try to lose weight to help fend off any of these life changing diseases.

I started Curves in May, lost three pounds, skipped June, then started back in July determined to take control of my health. I go at least 3 times a week, more if I can, and I am taking walks when possible, taking the stairs, parking further away from the store. Little things go a long way. Curves is AWESOME! The coaches there are so sweet and uplifting, and are there for you to cheer you on for every pound or inch you lose. I wholeheartedly recommend Curves, it's so much fun, you don't even realize you are getting a full workout!

I am NOT dieting. I am making better choices. I choose a turkey burger over a hamburger, whole wheat bread instead of white, vegetables instead of rice and pasta. A low fat yogurt instead of ice cream or cake. And I am
enjoying myself. My husband and son are in with me. My son has lost 47 lbs, my husband around 40, and I have lost an amazing (for me) 52 pounds!!! Amazing because I didn't think I could do it.No pills, no shakes, no diet aids at all. Just healthy eating, and exercise.

I am absolutely thrilled! I still have a ways to go but I am off to a great start. Here is a link to
a local magazine (page 58 I believe) where we celebrate Curves 10 years. Read Article Here
Hope you don't mind the personal post and the rambling, but this is a milestone for me and I needed to share it. Thanks for listening.

Tri Shutter

Good Morning! Hope everyone is having a fantastic Friday!
Today I want to show you my attempt at the Tri Shutter card. I also made my own DSP with the Vintage Vogue set. I haven't used this technique in quite some time. I used it on my first convention swap card 6 years ago, but although I loved it, I just haven't used it much. Gretchen Barron had a tutorial on her blog, so I ran with it, made myself a "one sheet wonder" and made this card. I hope you like it.



Colors used are Regal Rose, Cameo Coral and So Saffron.

If you would like to try out this fun and gorgeous technique, just let me know and I can arrange
some time to play.

I am so glad you stopped in today. Please leave a comment, I am beginning to think I'm the only one reading this stuff, lol. Oh, except for Kelly. Thanks, Kelly, for dropping by and leaving me a comment almost daily. I do appreciate you, my friend.

Emboss Resist

This is a cased card. I have never done the emboss resist technique before and wasn't sure how to
go about it. When I saw this card and the tutorial on making it, by Kristin Moore, I had to try it.



This is a Basic Black and Whisper White Card. Also using Versamark and Clear Embossing Powder.
Stamps: Of the Earth, French Script (retired), and Baroque Motifs.

I will definitely be using this technique again soon. Thanks for coming by today. TA!

Rich Razzleberry Medallion

Hello, and Happy Wednesday!

Today's post is made with one of my favorite sets in the catalog. The Medallion set. It is considered a background stamp, but there are lots of other things you can do with it, like using
it as the focal point of a card.



This one is simple in Rich Razzleberry and Whisper White. I double
stamped the medallion and punched out the center with the Scallop Circle punch, then mounted it with a brad over the full medallion. A sentiment finishes this off punched with the Word Window and Modern Label punches.

Thanks for popping in today. Hugs,

Paper Flower

Sorry for being MIA again for the last few days. I was in a whirlwind with work, housework, and lots of other fun things. Hopefully I am back for awhile.

Thanks to a great share by Martha Lucia, I got to play around with these flowers that were
demonstrated at the recent Stampin' Up! Regionals in Phoenix, Arizona. This is my first
attempt at them using retired DSP from last year's Sale-A-Bration. Look for some more of these
fabulous flowers soon made with current products.



These are simple to make and so pretty. If you would like a chance to make one, just let me know
and I will personally come show you how to make one.

Have a great Tuesday. See ya!

More Wonderful Wings

Hope your weekend is going great. My hubby comes home today, after a month away, and I
am looking forward to seeing him. So it should be a great weekend here.

Today's post is another Beautiful Wings Embosslit card. I pretty much cased this card, except for the colors and the sentiment. Isn't it beautiful?




Colors used are Pink Pirouette (retired) Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery and Very Vanilla.

Check out the Occasions Mini Catalog, and the Sale A Bration Brochure to purchase this awesome die cut. If you don't have a demo, give me a call or email me for more information.

Thanks for coming. Bye.

Another Bird House

Happy Friday!!!! Hope everyone is ready for the weekend. I know I am. Today's post
is once again using the new Bird punch in the Occasions Mini Catalog. This didn't turn out quite the way I wanted it to, but it isn't too bad. Hope you can find some inspiration, anyway.




Colors used are Cameo Coral, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Brocade Blue and Sage Shadow.
I also used a the new Scallop Border Punch from the Sale-A-Bration,and a Textured Impressions plate and the Big Shot.

Oh, and if you are still reading. A couple of days ago I showed pictures of the icicles here in town and the strawberries. I want to update you on the outcome of this cold spell we had. In the city limits alone, they are looking at 21 sinkholes, several homes have been marked unfit for habitation. I live outside the city. Within 1 mile of me there are probably 4 sinkholes. In the greater Plant City/Dover area there are presently approximately 40 sinkholes. There have been a couple of "depressions" on Interstate 4. Making traffic horrible on the highways. And if that isn't enough, since the aquifer has dropped over 60 feet, lots of wells are going dry. Now I know
that compared to what is going on in other parts of the world, but for this small town, it's a tough time. I'm sure that this is far from over, I just wanted to share what the cold did for us here in Florida. Sorry for the novel.

Thanks for looking. See you again soon.

Asian Artistry in Faux Silk

Today's post is a card using the Level 2 Hostess set called Asian Artistry. I really love this set. This technique is perfect for this set. Faux Silk is a very simple yet
gorgeous technique. Instructions are below.



Stamp your image on tissue paper and color it in, if necessary. Allow to dry and wad up tissue. Next you flatten tissue back out and using our awesome glue stick, cover a piece of light cardstock with glue, and place the tissue over it, smoothing out some, but not all of the wrinkles. Trim tissue and wrap edges around cardstock. Finish Card.

Colors used: Melon Mambo, Soft Suede and Very Vanilla Cardstocks and Inks.
Other: Melon Mambo Ribbon, Vintage Brads

Thanks for stopping by, see ya again soon.

A Few Gifts

Today's post is a few gifts my friend and I made. We also made some for a swap a couple of years ago. We were trying to use up some retired DSP and at the same time make something we would be proud to give. Here is some of what we came up with:







So glad you stopped in again today. I really appreciate it, and hope you will leave me a comment. I will be back tomorrow with a project using one of the new sets.

BRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, Good Morning to you all. I apologize in advance because today I don't have a card for you, I do, however, want to share a few pictures I have taken this week.

As you know, I live here in Sunny Florida, Plant City, actually, Winter Strawberry Capital of the World. It's beautiful here and sunny, and usually a great place to live....except when it is FREEZING outside. Now I know that where you live you may have 15 feet of snow and I also know that we have freezing temperatures from time to time, but it usually warms up during the day and usually only hangs around for a day or two. Not this past week or so. This is what I saw on my way to town yesterday about 2PM.



and this is what I saw this morning on my way to work:



They irrigate the strawberries constantly so that they get a layer of ice on them and it protects them, hopefully. Then, because we pulled so much water from the aquifer, we get sinkholes. There is a new one about 1/2 mile from me.

and this:



Dear Mother Nature, I know you want to change it up a bit and keep us guessing, but
this is Florida. We can't handle it. We don't even have warm clothes, don't usually need them. Could you please get us back to our normal temps for this time of the year? Thanks, A Florida Cracker

Thanks for stopping in. I will have some clipboards and frames for you tomorrow. See ya then.

Awesome Demo and/or Stamping and Scrapbooking Group

For any of you Stampin' Up! fans out there, I am a member of an AWESOME YAHOO group called StampinUpLNStampers, and the sister group LNSDemoOnly. These groups are headed up by the fabulous Sherrill Graff and is honestly one of the greatest bunch of ladies you will ever meet, in person or online. There are so many talented stampers and they are so helpful and generous, plus there are lots of challenges, shares, etc. So if you get a chance email me at ceashark at aol dot com and I will email your name to Sherrill so she can send you an invitation to join us. There is also a sister group to this one called LNSDemoOnly, for demonstrators.

Hope to see you soon on LNSDemoOnly or StampinUpLNStampers

My Matryoshka

Today's card is made with another one of the new Occasions Mini stamp sets. I love Matryoshka dolls and have a set I bought while at a Russian Expo in Jordan. My husband is Russian, so he bought these when I was oohing and aahing over them. When Stampin' Up! came out with this set, I just had to have it. This is my first chance to play with them.



What a fun set, lots of coloring, too. I have always loved to color, it is just so
relaxing, Takes you back to a simpler time. Color something today, you just might
feel better afterwards.

Colors used: REal Red, Whisper White and Old Olive Cardstocks, Old Olive, Bravo Burgundy, Crushed Curry, and Pretty in Pink inks. Other: Scallop Border, 1-1/4 & 1-3/8 Circle punches, Signo White Gel Pen and Pretty in Pink Striped Ribbon

Thanks for dropping in, especially after I was awol for a couple of days. Time has just
gotten away from me the last few days. See you again soon.

Very Vintage

Yippee! It's Friday! I'm so happy, and I get to get together with a group of great friends tomorrow and stamp. I am so excited. We always have a great time when we are
together. Ladies, if you're reading this...see you soon :o)

Ok, on to today's post. I am really loving this set from the Occasions Mini Catalog called Vintage Vogue. I love vintage items (like myself, lol) and so this is right up my alley. This color combination is one of my favorites, Bravo Burgundy and Kraft, and lends itself to the vintage style perfectly.



Beautimous, don't you think? Thanks for dropping by today, hope to see ya again tomorrow. Don't forget to leave me a comment, pretty please.

Upsy Daisy Bookmark Card

I love to read, and so do many of my friends. I also love giving a card that has an
added bookmark. It's kind of like a small gift to remind someone you care, and it is
useful. Today's post is a card made almost entirely with the Big Shot. I has pull out bookmark made with the Two Tags Die, I also used the Top Note Die, and the NEW Beautiful Wings Embosslit Die, from the Occasions Mini. So simple, and so pretty.



Colors used are Pretty in Pink, Basic Gray, Whisper White, and some of the NEW Sweet Pea DSP, also in the Occasions Mini.

Hope you enjoyed my little card today. Thanks for coming by.

Easel Card Desk Calendar

Here is my version of an easel card. I turned it into a desk calendar and post it holder for a friend. I hope she likes it.



I again used the awesome new Bird punch in the Occasions Mini, I also used some of the
new Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper. This paper is gorgeous and it is in a pad of 48 sheets of double sided paper, two of each of 24 designs. You can do SO much with this paper. Better get you some, you know you gotta have it. LOL

Thanks for looking today, see you soon.

Vintage Vogue

Today's post uses one of our beautiful new sets from the new Occasions Mini Catalog. This set is called Vintage Vogue. It comes in both wood and clear mounts. I purchased clear mount to try them out and I must say, I really love them. There is also a coordinating wheel called Very Vintage.



Inks and cardstocks used, More Mustard and Chocolate Chip, also Very Vanilla Cardstock. I used the faux ruffled lace technique for this card. I used this technique a couple of years ago on a baby bib card, but had forgotten about it until I saw someone else use it a few days ago and decided to try it again. Sure does give a card a "shabby chic" look. Don't look to closely or you might see that I
rolled the wheel on upside down, lol. Geez! I really do make lots of mistakes, let's blame that on age, shall we?

Thanks for dropping by my little blog. Be sure to leave a comment. I really do appreciate them.

Home Tweet Home

Well, it wouldn't be my blog if I didn't have a bird or two on a card from time to time, so today's birthday card features one of our brand new punches. This is the Extra Large Two Step Bird punch from the Occasions Mini Catalog that you can find in my left sidebar. I have also used the Scallop Trim Corner (Occasions Mini) and the Scallop Trim Border (Sale A Bration). These punches are really awesome, and they are in a brand new sleeker style. Check them out!





I also used one of our new clear mount stamp sets called Well Scripted for the sentiment. I will say, I do love the ease of these new stamps. I wasn't at all sure that I would, but since I am having quite a storage problem, I decided to give them a try and I absolutely love them. I will
definitely be buying quite a bit less wood from now on. Don't worry if you are die hard wood stampers, they do give you a choice. I would recommend that you try these though, who knows, you just might like them.

I made this card with Bashful Blue, Close To Cocoa and Confetti Cream card stocks, accented with Always Artichoke and Chocolate Chip. Chocolate Chip and Bashful Blue ribbons, and Chocolate Chip Ink.

I had a blast playing with all this new stuff. If you see something you really like, give me a call, and I can get you one of your very own.

If you would like to have a copy of the two new catalogs, I am just a phone call or email away.

Have a great day! See ya tomorrow.

Butterfly Birthday

Well, Welcome to 2010. it feels really weird typing that. I hope your holidays were everything you wanted them to be and you had plenty of time with family and friends.

My daughter turned 19 on New Year's Eve. Where did the time go? Seems like it was only yesterday she was this tiny little angel, and now she has turned into this beautiful young woman.



I am so proud of her. She is an awesome photographer, and if you ever need any portraits taken, she's your girl. I will say, however, that although she loves to take pictures, she doesn't like to have her picture taken, so I have to catch them on the sly, and usually I'm not so good at sly, so I get lots of "the look". LOL.

We spent the morning at Bok Tower and Gardens in Lake Wales, Florida. Such a gorgeous place to be, it is so peaceful there, and we really enjoyed taking pictures of all the flowers in bloom, the swans in the pond, Christmas at Pinewood, (a beautiful old home decorated for Christmas, and of course, Bok Tower.



And, since this is a blog about stamping and scrapbooking....here is the card I gave to
Gabi for her birthday.



I pretty much cased this one from Sandi MacIver. I changed a color or two, but other than that, it is a complete case. It was perfect, so I figured I really couldn't improve on that. Pretty isn't it?

These wonderful winged creatures are in the new Occasions Mini that goes live on January 4th.
You may check it, and the Sale A Bration brochures out by clicking on them in my left sidebar. If
you want to put in an order, cuz there is so much to love in these two new little catties, just let me know, and remember.......during Sale A Bration, for every $50 you spend, you get a free set from the Sale A Bration brochure. There is also a new punch, some DSP, and if you get all you want from there, Stampin' Up! has generously added a whole bunch (approximately 58) stamp sets from the Idea Book and Catalog, that you may choose as free.

It's also a great time to book a workshop, so get with me soon, my calendar is filling up fast.

Have a great day and see ya again soon.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Just wanted to pop in and wish everyone a Happy New Year! Hope your holidays have been great and the New Year brings you happiness and laughter. I am back to work tomorrow, so I will have a post for you.

Cheers!