BELLI CHALLENGE #36 LEAVES

TO LEAVE or NOT TO LEAVE? That is the question... ***giggle*** More on that below...

What is the Belli Challenge you ask?

Each week, I try to give us a challenge that will use things we have lying around our stamp rooms! With a constant flow of new things coming out, I tend to forget about the other things I have and they quickly become clutter!

This Weeks Belli Challenge is to use a LEAF...ANY kind of leaf... I know in my stamp room alone, I have about 4 leaf stamp sets, 3 packages of skeleton leaves (HAD to have those a few years ago and there they sit), Leaf Brads and Leaf paper and probably other leaf treasures!

Here is what you need to do...

Make a completed project embellishing your work with your LEAVES. Share the link here in the comments linking to my Blog and CBC36. When you post to Splitcoaststampers or to your Blog, be sure and put CBC36 as the KEYWORD and mention of the challenge - with a link!

I will do a random drawing for all participants and have a special pack of assorted Designer Papers for the winner!

The winner of last week's Challenge was ED check out her beautiful project here. Ed please contact me at adickinson@wi.rr.com and I will mail you your pack of DP. Thank you for participating!

Here are the details of my card:
Stamp Set: My personal design Autumn Blessings

Paper: Old Olive, Basic Black, Really Rust, More Mustard, Glossy White, Whisper White
Ink: Craft same as above, Versamark, Black Staz On
Accessories: Iridescent Ice EP, Heat Tool, Nestibilities, Dew Drops, Scalloped Edge, Paper Piercing Tool, Lg Oval Punch, Gold Zig Painty,Dimensionals, Mustard grosgrain, Mat Pack, Skeleton leaves

I could not decide if I should have the extra leaf or not. I think I like it better WITH. What do you think? Too busy? This is also Faith's Sketch Challenge for the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Release Party. You can win the stamp sets for each challenge if you participate in them! You can view the challenges here and you have until October 7th at 12 p.m. to post you art work!

Thank you for looking and commenting. Be sure to check out the FABULOUS Belli Challenge Design Team's creations!!! Since I am posting early, these will probably be posted Wednesday morning sometime!
Shelly Koskinen
Christi Thorsen
Ceal Pritchett
Holly Brown
Courtney Fowler
Lorie Ames
Debby McGivillary

Be sure to check out what everyone else has made and make a comment too for them please! We all LOVE comments. It is fun to see what everyone is thinking about what we are creating! :)

By the way, if you know LORI BARNETT, can you please let her know she won the Belli Challenge #33 from a few weeks ago? If she sent me her address, I can not find it and need it again. Lori, can you please e-mail me at adickinson@wi.rr.com with your shipment information so I can send you your pack of DP! Thanks! :)

Thank you for stopping by! Have a great day!!!

Joined Weight Watchers plus a Recipe

Ok, you may know that I am a bit fluffy. :) My husband has recently come across some health issues that the doctor said that he would benefit from if he lost weight. So my man is GUNG-HO to lose weight. He of course is dropping the pounds like there is nothing to it.

Honestly, I didn't work too hard at it the first week. But did end up with a half of a pound loss. Better than a gain! :) My first goal is to lose 10 pounds. I am starting out small, because I have struggled A LOT the past 2 years in losing weight and if I keep looking at the BIG number, I will get overwhelmed.

My friend Carrie is a HUGE inspiration to me and has a GREAT website on healthy living! You would not know it anymore by looking at her now, but she used to struggle with her weight too!

I will be checking in periodically with an update about my weight loss. If you want to join me in a little support group for weight loss, I have one started but have not done anything with it in quite some time! Let me know by posting here and we can get it going again. I will give away some BLOG CANDY each time I make a goal!

I will share an assortment of our family's favorite recipes here - some healthy, maybe some not
Here is a healthy recipe for this week!

I love apples!!!! This one comes from the Weight Watchers website today and I will be making it...
Apple-Pear Crisp
POINTS® Value: 4
Servings: 9
Preparation Time: 20 min
Cooking Time: 50 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients
1 sprays cooking spray
1 pound apple(s), Granny Smith, cored, cut into 1-inch-thick slices
1 pound pear(s), Bosc and/or Bartlett, cored, cut into 1-inch-thick slices
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
4 Tbsp dark brown sugar, unpackedTopping
1 large egg(s)
6 Tbsp dark brown sugar, unpacked
1/4 tsp table salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup rolled oats
6 Tbsp light butter, melted

Preheat oven to 375ºF. Coat a 9- X 9-inch glass baking dish with cooking spray.

Place apple and pear slices in a medium bowl. Toss with lemon juice and sugar; set aside.
To make topping, in another medium bowl, beat egg. Add sugar, salt and cinnamon; mix to combine. Add oats; mix well.

Spoon fruit into prepared baking dish and evenly sprinkle oat mixture on top; drizzle with melted butter. Bake until fruit starts to bubble and topping starts to brown, about 45 to 50 minutes. Allow crisp to cool for a minimum of 2 hours. Cut into 9 pieces and serve. Yields 1 piece per serving.

Notes
Peeling the fruit is optional. Add a 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg and a 1/4 teaspoon of ground ginger for a more robust spice flavor.The longer the crisp is cooled, the more the fruit juices will be absorbed. If the crisp is cut after two hours, the fruit will be a compote-consistency. If the crisp is chilled overnight, it will be much more firm. Try this recipe with other types of fruit: three pounds of pitted, quartered Italian plums make a lovely crisp.


Thanks for your support and friendship! Have a great day! Scroll down for the BLOG HOP!

Last Day of Blog Hop

Today is the last day of the October Blog Hop!



I wasn't feeling well, but decided to come in and do some work/ stamping anyways! :) Sitting on the couch wasn't helping me with my to do list.

Here is your Sneak Peek! I used 2 new stamp sets that are coming out tomorrow. You can see both sets in their entirety here. The stamp sets I used are Jesus Is Born and Christmas Pointsettia.

Today is Color Challenge day on Splitcoast Stampers #186! The colors are Really Rust, Baja Breeze, and Chocolate Chip.

I stamped my Christmas Pointsettia BOW on white, colored it and punched it out using my half inch circle punch then used my Build A Brads. Love those!

I embossed the words from my Jesus Is Born using Chocolate Chip Craft Ink and Clear Embossing Powder. Then sponged the edges using Chocolate Chip Classic Ink. The Snowflakes are the new SU snowflakes that will be available tomorrow too. If you are wondering, No I am not a Stampin Up! Demonstrator, but some of my friends have generously allowed me to order things that they were not going to get.

Here are more details:

Stamp Sets: Jesus Is Born, Christmas Pointsettia,

Cardstock and Ink: Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, Really Rust, Whisper White, Autumn Vine DP

Accessories: Felt Snowflakes Small by SU, Build a Brads, Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Alpine Original Ribbon

When you are done here, be sure to HOP on over to Jessica and Korin's Blog and then finally to the Sweet 'n Sassy Blog to see all of the sets and see what Korin has for some FABULOUS Blog Candy!!!!

Our Release Party starts tonight at 9pm EST in our forum. I hope you'll join us!

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps blog to see our final sneak peek AND enter for a chance to win the entire October 1st release!

I hope to see you this evening! Have a fabulous day!

DESIGN TEAM CALL

Did you all hear that Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps is having a Design Team Call?

Have you ever wanted to be on the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps DT? Well now's your chance to show Korin your stuff for a chance to join the team! Please read this info carefully as following instructions is going play a large part in our decision making.

We are looking for 5 talented stampers to join our team for the first 2009 term, which runs January 1st-June 30th 2009. International stampers are welcome to apply!

Benefits:
~3 sets a month (chosen from your top 5 new releases-these will not include any of the specialty stamps like SK or RAM)
~35% off personal orders for anything in the store

Requirements:
~You must be able to follow instructions on time and work well with others.
~Submit a total of 6 projects a month: 1 item for the monthly DT Round-up, 1 item for the monthly DT Blog Hop and 4 others posted on your blog throughout the month
~Post a permanent DT banner on your blog
~Join the DT Yahoo Group (our sole means of communication)

To Apply:
Send four samples of your best work (100kb or less each) to korinstamps@comcast.netby October 31, 2008.

Please use SNSS DT Call as your subject line.

You may use any stamps you have although we'd love to see your SNSS work.

Be sure to include your full name, address, phone number, email address, any past DT experience (please supply links if possible), any publications you work has been in, and a link to your blog or gallery.

PLEASE NOTE: previous DT experience is not necessary. Korin will not be able to respond to each submission. If you are chosen, you will hear from Korin by November 7th and a formal announcement will be made on the SNSS site and blog soon after. If you have any questions please email Korin at korinstamps@comcast.net with SNSS DT Call Question in the subject line.

She will do her best to get back to you within a day or two.

JESUS IS BORN - BLOG HOP

Hello! Today is another SNEAK PEEK into the Sweet 'n Sassy sets. I used the JESUS IS BORN set that will be released October 1 and is one of my designs! When you are done, be sure to go to Faith's blog for another Sneak Peek!

I have to say, if you look closely at this card you will see more mistakes than I wanted. BUT I posted this to show you that most people will NOT notice your mistakes on your projects unless you tell them that they are there! :)

Let's see if you can figure out the mistakes! Tell me what the mistakes are and I will put your name in a drawing for an assortment of eyelets! I will hold the drawing on Tuesday, September 30 and announce it Tuesday evening at the RELEASE PARTY and on my blog along with my list of mistakes! :) Your hint is I can see 5 mistakes on this card while picking it apart in my minds eye.

A few things about this card... These colors are WAY out of my "normal" colro choices. I think I may have used Perfect Plum only once or twice in the past year. The other thing about this card is I used Courtney's Tuesday Challenge for my card.

By the way - Do NOT feel bad! I am sharing this card for you to "pick" apart because it goes to show you that ONLY when you look VERY closely will you notice mistakes! We tend to be our own worse critics and do not share or send our work that is perfectly fine because there is something we do not like about it! Just because there may be a mistake does not diminish the love you put into making the card, the sentiment you put inside of it or even the fact that someone else will notice it!!! :)

Here are few details:

Stamp Set: Jesus is Born available October 1 at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps

Ink: Copic Markers W5, R85, E31, E33, E37, Y26, E00, Y15, BG10, B60, B97, Colorless Blender, Black Brilliance

Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Barely Banana, Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Whisper White

Accessories: Cuddlebug, Snow folder, Gold cord, Felt snowflakes small, BLING and dew drops, Nestibilities, Corner Rounder, Dimensionals, Paper Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, Zig Gold Painty, Gold Just Glitter Pen

Whew! I used a lot of stuff. LOL Now to clean it up. I think that is the worst part. Don't you?

Thank you for stopping by! Be sure to HOP on over to Faith's blog today for another SNEAK PEEK! Have a great week!

BLOG HOP - HOLIDAY GREETINGS

Todays Sneak Peek is titled Holiday Greetings and that is exactly what it is! A set filled with wonderful ONE WORD sentiments! I used a few of these sentiments that are featured in different fonts and lined them up on an acrylic block. I put just enough space between them to do a quick little doodle.

I used some of my favorite colors - because today is also my Sisterhood of Blogging Stampers group had the challenge of making something using our FAVORITE THINGS.

Purple is "ONE" of my favorite colors - BLING is another FAVORITE thing of mine and I absolutely LOVE this stamp set and the different fonts. I will get A LOT of use out of it!

Here are a few more details:

Stamp Set: Holiday Greetings (I only used a small portion of the fabulous different fonts and words in this set!), Distressed BG

Cardstock: Brushed Gold, Elegant Eggplant, Lavender Lace, Whisper White

Accessories: Markers - I doodled the trees, crosses, leaves on this then colored them in. Gold Zig painty, Bling, 3/4 and 1/2 inch circle punches, Nestibilities, Gold Ribbon

Be sure to HOP on over to 9/28 : Kathy & Christi's Blogs! Thanks for looking!

Have a fabulous Sunday!

Another Sneak Peek for the BLOG HOP

There will be another post shortly, so scroll down!



Here is another Sneak Peek into my personal design that will be released October 1! Just a few short days. :)

WELCOME to the BLOG HOP! Today, when you are done looking here - be sure to check out Michelle and Laurie's Blog for more Sneak Peeks!

Tomorrow you will want to stop by and take a peek here but also at 9/28: Kathy & Christie's Blogs...

Monday will be here and Faith and Tuesday 09/30 will be Jessica & Korin, Sweet 'n Sassy Blog for some SWEET blog candy!

I know this lay out is not the most original, but can I use the excuse of I feel sleepy today? LOL I really wanted to keep this card simple because I I felt the image in the scallops from Nestibilities (my new toys!) were a little busy. While my girlfriend Debbie was here this morning she mentioned the Swiss Dots folder for the Cuttlebug, so I decided to use that as my background when I sat down to finish this card.

Here are a few more details:
Stamp Set: Christmas Pointsettias (by me! available on October 1 at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps)
Cardstock: Core'dinations, Whisper White, Brushed Gold
Ink: Copics, Versamark for Embossing, Black Brilliance Ink
Accessories: Nestibilities Scallops, Swiss Dots, Cuttlebug, Dew Drops, Mono Glue dots, Gold EP, Heat Tool,

Do not forget to HOP on over to the other blogs listed above! And scroll down for other information! Have a fabulous day!

L' Bri Party

My dear daughter, Ariel (isn't she a cutie?) had a L' Bri Skin Care Party last night. We had such a great time last night.

If you would like to try their FABULOUS products (I love them and have noticed a SIGNIFICANT difference in the fine lines on my face, also Ariel has noticed a huge difference with her skin allergies too.) or place an order the link is listed below...

You can place an order through October 8, at http://www.jennofer.lbri.com/DesktopDefault.aspx

Please let me know if you do this, so I can let Jennifer know - and then Ariel can get the credit.

THANK YOU so much! Have a fabulous day!

BLOGGERS CHALLENGE - WARHOL TECHNIQUE & BLOG HOP!

This week's BLOGGERS CHALLENGE is to use the WARHOL TECHNIQUE and it is also the beginning of BLOG HOP for Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. I have 2 more stamp sets being released on October 1. So be sur eto join us for the BLOG HOP and then the RELEASE PARTY on September 30. Check back here often so you can see more sneak peeks into the new sets that will be released!

My inspiration to the Warhol Challenge is right here. Personally, I am not sure how I feel about this challenge - but I did it anyways! LOL I think the card I made is cute.

I used my Copics to color Olivia the Owl from Owl Occassions and then used some accessories for her from the upcoming Owl Christmas Accessories stamp set that will be released October 1! I am still wondering where September went! LOL

Focus girl! Right? LOL

Okay - back to the coloring. I do not have a lot of Copics - so I mix a lot of my own colors. That is why I love the Copics is you can BLEND! I use the greay scale markers to add depth in color. You can mix the colors right on a pallette. But truth be known, sometimes I do not like doing the extra step so I just color over and using my Colorless Blender to mix the colors on the paper. To blend the colors, it works best to have a Matte Kote Finish type paper or your colors will not blend well.

I had these red embellishments laying around. I do not remember why I bought them, but I thought they would add a nice touch. I added a bit of glitter on the Owl's Christmas hat too. So what do you think?

Here are a few more details:
Stamp Sets: Owl Occassions, Owl's Christmas Accessories
Cardstock: Basic Black, White Matte Kote finish,
Ink: Black Brilliance, Copics
Accessories: Red bling, Stardust Stickles, Mini Glue Dots

Two more things - be sure to check out the BLOGGER CHALLENGES on the side bar to the RIGHT. Everyone does such great work and it is fun to see how all of the different artists personal take on the challenges!

Also, check here often for more SNEAK PEEKS the next few days. The BLOG HOP starts today at Korin and Sandy's Blog. There is more information on the side bar on the top of my blog for the next several days!

Have a fabulous weekend! Thank you for stopping by!

BELLI CHALLENGE # 35 - METAL EDGE TAGS or FAUX METAL

What is the Belli Challenge you ask?

Each week, I try to give us a challenge that will use things we have lying around our stamp rooms! With a constant flow of new things coming out, I tend to forget about the other things I have and they quickly become clutter!

This Weeks Belli Challenge is to use your METAL EDGE TAGS and if you do not have any of those TRY the FAUX METAL technique. You can embellish anything or stamp on anything with your Metal Edge Tags or FAUX METAL. I used mine here as our focal point.

Here is what you need to do...Make a completed project embellishing your work with your METAL EDGE TAGS OR FAUX METAL project. Share the link here in the comments linking to my Blog and CBC35. When you post to Splitcoaststampers or to your Blog, be sure and put CBC35 as the KEYWORD and mention of the challenge - with a link!

I will do a random drawing for all participants and have a special pack of assorted Designer Papers for the winner! The winner of last week's Challenge was SUSAN HACKNEY check out her beautiful project here. Susan, please contact me at adickinson@wi.rr.com and I will mail you your pack of DP. Thank you for participating!

Here are the details of my card:
Stamp Set: My personal design Child of God

Cardstock and Ink: Really Rust, Sage Shadow, Basic Black, Matte Kote finish White, Western DP (I think)

Accessories: Styled Silver hodgepodge, Earth Element Buttons, Metal Edge Tags, Hemp, Paper piercing Tool, Mat Pack, Zig Painty, Copics - see above

Thank you for looking and commenting. Be sure to check out the FABULOUS Belli Challenge Design Team's creations!!!
Shelly Koskinen

Jennifer Greco

Christi Thorsen

Ceal Pritchett

Holly Brown

Rochelle Wick

Courtney Fowler

Please keep our friend Courtney in your prayers. She is home now and assessing damage to her home from Hurricane Ike.

Be sure to check out what everyone else has made and make a comment too for them please! We all LOVE comments. It is fun to see what everyone is thinking about what we are creating! :)Thank you for stopping by.

Be on the look out for this week's upcoming BLOG HOP!

A Christmas Owl

First of all...HOW in the world did it get to be September 23 already? I think it was just September 1!!! WOW! Time is flying.

I am back. :) I think I am having a bad case of HORRIBLEMONES... After my quiet time this morning, I determined TODAY I have no reason to be stressed, yet I feel like every nerve is on the tip of my skin and each of my children are getting on it. They aren't doing anything abnormal, just being kids. So it must be me. Sooo deeepppppp breath and SMILE... That will be my mode today. If you don't FEEL like smiling right away, do it anyways and the feeling will come. I just told my 7 yo to take my crabbiness away and throw it out the door. This brought a smile to her face and that helped bring a smile to mine ... for 2 seconds anyways. LOL

All right, back to my card I think I used just about every thing there is in my Stamp Room to make this card...

I did a few challenges -

Splitcoast Stampers Color Challenge #185
that was to use BAJA BREEZE, KIWI KISS and VANILLA.

Then I also did my friend from Sisterhood of the Blogging Sisters group, ANNA BANANA's Sketch challenge #11.

I tried to add glitter to the White Felt Snowflake - but it looks like dirty snow, doesn't it? Well, in Wisconsin the snow doesn't stay white long...so we will say it is a snowflake from my yard. LOL

I think this Owl from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps is sooo cute and Korin designed a FABULOUS Christmas Accessories stamp set for it. This will be released next week at the Release Party on September 30.

Oh yes I almost forgot! I used my new Nestibilities dies on this to cut the scalloped circles. I am LOVING these new toys! I used my Aquapainter on this leaves and background for the Kiwi Kiss and Baja Blue then colored and shaded the remaining images with my Copics.

Here are a few more details:
Stamps: Owl Occassions, Owl Christmas Accessories
Paper: Ski Slope DP, Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss
Ink: Black brilliance, Copics, White gel pen, Versamark
Accessories: Heat Tool, Black EP, Glitter pens, MM Brads, Nestibilities, Black grosgrain, Embossing Buddy, Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Felt Snowflakes - Just about everything in my room! LOL

Thanks so much for stopping by! I will be posting the BLOG CANDY WINNER later today! Have a great day!

Checking In- Drawing Day!

Have you had weeks where you just did not feel like stamping? I truly haven't had many, but after the past several weeks of INTENSE stress, I have just felt the need to just BE. I tried stamping but instead went up to bed and took a nap... Saturday and Sunday too. If it were not for Homeschooling my children and having company for dinner this evening, I would have taken a nap today too. I am just TIRED! I will post a card tomorrow!

Now in between cooking and cleaning today, I did some drawing for the NOVEMBER RELEASES! I am LOVING these new sets I drew. I think they are a little different AND they will be fun to stamp with! ;) How is that for a teaser? LOL

Do not forget, next week I have TWO more sets being released on October 1! I have posted a few sneak peeks and will do more this week. There will be a BLOG HOP that starts THIS WEEK at www.sweetnsassystamps.blogspot.com. Be sure to check it out.

Another reminder! DO NOT FORGET that tomorrow is the deadline for the BLOG CANDY! THANK YOU for visiting and scroll down to have a chance to win my personal design AUTUMN BLESSINGS!

Have a nice evening!

Home For Christmas in Copics

Yesterday was Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge - WSC #58 and I just recieved a box of goodies from a friend and it included some new things from SU that will be available in October!

I love this GORGEOUS image from SU and colored it in with my Copics. With Beate's sketch, I was not sure what to use for embellishments but just recieved some of the ADORABLE Felt Snowflakes and thought they needed a bit jazzing up with the Build a Brads.

So what do ya think of my card?

Here are a few more details:

Stamp Sets: Home For Christmas

Cardstock: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, DP - Holiday Treasures

Ink: Espresso Adirondack - Copics, Chocolate Chip Craft Ink

Accessories: Clear EP, Copics, Pewter Build a Brads, Stickles, Felt Snowflakes, Heat Tool, Chocolate Poly Twill,

Thank you so much for looking! Have a fabulous weekend! Scroll down for Blog Candy!

BLOGGERS CHALLENGE - WATERCOLORING- SNEAK PEEK

This is Blogger Challenge Day and I am including another NEW design from my soon to be released stamp set "JESUS is Born." This stamp set will be released on OCTOBER 1. You can see more at the BLOG HOP next week!

I will have TWO more stamp sets released on October 1. Now one thing to note - this set will not include the fence...as I was watercoloring, I decided to draw that in there. The straw/ hay is not part of the set either...I drew that in as I was watercoloring it.

This weeks Bloggers Challenge was to WATERCOLOR. I absolutely LOVE to watercolor, so this was not much of a challenge for me. :) I grabbed my well loved Aquapainter and Watercolor Wonder Crayons and my Vintage Violet (retired SU) and colored while I chatted on the telephone.

Mary's garment was colored with Going Gray, Basic Gray, and Close to Cocoa -Joseph's garment was colored with Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Going Gray and Sahara Sand.

Here are a few more details:

Stamp Set: Jesus is Born (designed by me!) available at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps

Cardstock and Ink: Vintage Violet, Basic Black, Watercolor Cs - Black Staz On

Accessories: Aquapainters, Watercolor Wonder Crayons, 3 For You Punch, Glue Dots, Grapes Dew Drops, Primas, Glue Dots, Mini Glue Dots, Vintage Violet Ribbon, Dimensionals,

Be sure to check out the other Bloggers Challenges Watercolored cards! I always love seeing their fabulous work!

Thank you for stopping by! Have a wonderful weekend!

I have been TAGGED!

I've been tagged by Christina one of my sisters from my SBS24 group!

She says I am IT so here goes ...and the rules are:

1. Link your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Here goes... not sure if any of this is NEW - but I can't think of anything else! LOL

1. I have a NEW job of designing stamp sets through Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. My first two stamps were released September 1 and I have 2 more being released October 1!
2. My favorite cookie is Oatmeal Raisin cookies.
3. My favorite time of the year is FALL!
4. I love to laugh but often find myself being very serious.
5. I am a push over for my kids. All they have to do is ask twice and I often find myself say yes (unless it is something harmful to them!) My husband is the one who is more strict.
6. I love musicals and movies.
7. I never sit still. Even when I am "sitting" I shake my legs. I have a hard time doing nothing!

Ok now who do I want to TAG...

Shirley Northey
Shelly Koskinen
Jacquie
Lorie Ames
Courtney Fowler
Joan Ervin
Jenny Hill

SCRAPBOOKING

My beginning in Paper Crafting started with Scrapbooking. My pages didn't look like this either. In my 11 years of paper crafting - I have completed 45 Scrapbook Albums. I used to scrapbook ALL of the time - but now I have the addiction of Rubber Stamping too.

My sweet husband lets me leave the family for 4-5 days to go to Iowa every March and October/November to go scrapbooking. It is a wonderful time of fellowship, fun and laughter. I save a lot of stories and a large group of us go and laugh until our faces hurt! I have around 42 more days before I go...I will be bringing my Lap top though in case there is a Release Party with Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps!!! :)

This is a double page lay out and I am sad to say the baby in those pictures is now 7 years old. I am dreadfully behind in my scrapbooking! The little boy, my son is 8 now and the older girl is now 17 yo. ***SIGH***

These are retired papers from Stampin' Up! I painted the chipboard by mixing my own MM paints to get this color - then sanded them a bit to get more of a distressed look.

Thank you for stopping by! Have a fabulous day!

RECIPE- TACO STUFFED SHELLS

Remember a few weeks ago I promised to post some freezer recipes? Well here is a recipe for you!

TACO FILLED PASTA SHELLS makes 2 - 9 in. pans 6 servings each.

2 lbs. Ground beef
2 envelopes Taco Seasoning
1 - 8 oz. Pkg. Cream Cheese, cubed
24 uncooked Jumbo pasta shells
¼ cup butter or margarine, melted

Additional Ingredients for each casserole
1 cup salsa
1 cup taco sauce (when I make this, I skip the taco sauce and just use 2 cups salsa)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup montery Jack or mozzarella
(I use a mixture of whatever is in the house)
1 ½ cups crushed tortilla chips
1 cup sour cream
3 green onions, chopped

In a skillet, cook beef until no longer pink; drain. Add taco seasoning; prepare according to package directions. Add cream cheese; cover and simmer for 5-10 minutes or until melted. Transfer to a bowl and chill for an hour. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Gently toss with butter. Fill each shell with about 3 T. meat mixture.

Please 12 shells in a greased 9 in. square baking dish. (Sometimes, I freeze them on a cookie sheet in individual servings – and then transfer frozen shells into a gallon size freezer bag. Cover and freeze for up to 3 months. To prepare remaining shells, spoon salsa into a greased 9 in baking dish. Top with stuffed shells and taco sauce. Cover and bake for 30 minutes at 350. Uncover, sprinkle with cheeses and chips. Bake 15 minutes longer or until heated through. Serve with sour cream and onions.

To use Frozen shells: Thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours (shells will be partially frozen.) Remove from dish. Add salsa to dish; top with shells and taco sauce. Cover and bake at 350 for 40 minutes. Uncover; continue as above.

ENJOY!

BELLI CHALLENGE #34 - BE SQUARE

What is the Belli Challenge you ask?

Each week, I try to give us a challenge that will use things we have lying around our stamp rooms! With a constant flow of new things coming out, I tend to forget about the other things I have and they quickly become clutter!

This Weeks Belli Challenge is to be SQUARED!! You can embellish anything with anything in your stamp room that is a SQUARE. I have sooo many odds and end SQUARE things lying around that I know I need to pull them out and use them! Square metal edge tags, Square brads, Square punches, Square embellishments, Square stickers...You name it...after 11 years of paper crafting...I probably have it lying around my room. After I all...I am a hoarder! LOL

Here is what you need to do...Make a completed project embellishing your work with ANY SQUARE. Share the link here in the comments linking to my Blog and CBC34. When you post to Splitcoaststampers or to your Blog, be sure and put CBC34 as the KEYWORD and mention of the challenge - with a link! I will do a random drawing for all participants and have a special pack of assorted Designer Papers for the winner!

The winner of last weeks Challenge was LORI BARNETT- check out her BEWITCHING project here. Lori, please contact me at adickinson@wi.rr.com and I will mail you your pack of DP. Thank you for participating!

Last week was VERY rough, so I did not mail out Pammy's reward, Pammy, I will have some time this weekend to get that in the mail.-

Do you know what I just decided? Looking through my supplies of all of my STASH? I have TWO HOARDING STASHES...one for scrapbooking and one for Card making! Well, I have TONS of stuff I use for scrapbooking that I rarely touch except when I go on my Scrapbooking weeks in March and October (woohoo that is coming up!)

Well, I looked at the Splitcoast Stampers Sketch Challenge and decided to combine these challenges because I could utilize the sketch for SQUARES! :) Inside my scrapbooking stash was wome REAL LIFE Snapshots with a FALL theme and I originally TRIED to make them work with my Autumn Blessings stamp set...but it was JUST too busy for the simple beauty of those stickers! It just did not match. So I set the background aside for that...I had already stamped the Autumn leaves and used the Scripture of All I have Seen... so I needed to revamp and simplify. That is why I have TWO CARDS! I included a photograph of my sticker sheet from Pebbles Inc. Real Life Snap Shot sticker sheet.

Here are the details of Card One:

Stamp Set: My personal design Autumn Blessings and Distressed BG available at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps - see below for a chance to win!, Wordsworth- All I Have Seen

Cardstock and Ink: Tangerine Tango, More Mustard, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Very vanilla, SU Hawaii Papaya DP, Vellum

Accessories: Cuddlebug, Flame Dew Drops, Old Olive 5/8th grosgrain, Dimensionals, Chocolate PolyTwill, Dew Drops

Card Two:

I used the remaining card to make another - I had all the pieces, so why not?

Stamp Sets: Stampabilities Psalm 91:1,

Cardstock: Same as above no vanilla though!

Ink: Basic Black

Accessories: Real Life Fall Stickers, Polytwill Chocolate, Leaf Brads, Flame Square Brads

Thank you for looking and commenting. Be sure to check out the FABULOUS Belli Challenge Design Team's creations!!!

Shelly Koskinen
Jennifer Greco
Christi Thorsen
Ceal Pritchett
Lorie Ames
Holly Brown
Debby McGivillary
Danita Hollander

Rochelle Wick

Courtney Fowler

Please keep our friend Courtney in your prayers. She is away from her husband and home due to Hurricane Ike. There has been (unknown how much yet!) damage to her home and she is away from her husband.

Be sure to check out what everyone else has made and make a comment too for them please! We all LOVE comments. It is fun to see what everyone is thinking about what we are creating! :)

Thank you for stopping by. Be sure to scroll up too for some BLOG CANDY!

3 more Challenges - Thinking of You

Today is Color Challenge #184 day on Splitcoast Stampers and the colors to use were Always Artichoke, Riding Hood Red and Basic Gray...of course I threw in a little black to make it POP. LOL

I combined this challenge with Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge #57 (see below) and one final challenge..lol

Courtney has challenges each Tuesday and this week's challenge is to use PUNCHES! Check out her blog - but be warned - she has been displaced by Hurricane Ike and may not have posted it on her blog yet. She had to evacuate and did not grab any stamp supplies in the process! Please keep her and her family in your prayers! I know her Design Team has some posts Dani, Lorie, Sarah and Sparkle.

Here are a few more details on this card...

Stamps: Bud Basics, Tres Chic, Sincere Salutations
Paper: Always Artichoke, Basic Gray, Whisper White, Riding Hood Red
Ink: same
Accessories: Primes, Fire Circle Brads, Rounded Tab Punch, Circle Punches, Lg Oval Punch, Scallop Punch , Aquapainter, Paper Piercing Tool, Mat pack, Dimensionals

Thank you for looking! Have a fabulous day!

Sweet 'n Sassy Round Up

First of all...for all of you parents who have taken a teenager driving for the first time...I feel your pain. I made it only 5 blocks and had to end it. My husband will have to take my dear teenager driving. I fear I would scare her to death with my screaming. LOL All serious-ness...I was curled up with my knees to my chest screaming MOVE OVER!!!!! There was City Bus coming towards us and she was mere inches away from the parked cars that lined the street. OY. It wasn't even the bus I was worried about but the parked car that was perilously close to my new van.

I think my heart is coming back to the inside of my chest. Probably my poor daughters too. I think she was as stressed as I was, if not more. LOL

Her daddy is now in charge of driving. He is MUCH more calmer than I am. I can now say... I TRIED.

Anyways, today is ROUND UP DAY on the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps blog! Be sure and check out everyones FABULOUS creations using current Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps!

There is nothing better than the Word of God to encourage a friend! I made this Scripture Binder with my Bind it All and a 12 x 12 piece of Designer Paper from Urban Cosmos.

Stamp Sets: Thanksgiving Scripture, Jesus Cares,Encouragement, Cardstock: Old Olive, Rose Red, More Mustard -Urban Cosmos DP
Ink: Black Staz On
Accessories: Dew Drops, Primas, Watercolor Crayons,Water color brush, Heat Tool,Heat & Stick powder, Dazzling Diamonds, Glue Dots,Brads, Bind-It-All


These directions and idea were given to me by Wendy Fassenbender - the artwork and design are my own...



Mini Pocket Book

12x12 Designer Paper
Sticky Strip
Adhesive
Bone Folder


Directions:
1. Score your 12x12 paper at 2”, 6”, and 10” one way, and 3”, 6” and 9” the other way.
2. Add Sticky Strip to the 2” edges without removing the backing. This will be between the pockets.
3. Fold the 2” edges to the inside.
4. Fold UP the fold at the center between your 2” folds.
5. Cut along center line to the last of the 3” score lines.
6. Accordion fold the paper on the side that has not been folded yet. Where the 2” flaps have been folded in should be the inside fold on the top and bottom of the paper.
7. Spread the paper apart along the cut line. Fold over at the cut line to make long strand of accordion folded paper.
8. Adhere bottom and side of paper on the section that folded over to make the long strip.
9. Use Bind-It-All to bind your book.
10. Make the tags for inside your book.
11. This book also holds gift cards or money if desired.

I will take pictures of each step tomorrow and include those here. I have a class this evening and can not do it at this time.

Thank you for looking! If you have any questions, just ask! Have a great day!

Good Things Grow & Looks Like Spring

I originally made this card for a swap when these stamp sets first came out. Both Good Things Grow and Looks Like Spring are retired form SU now. My love for these sets has not changed, so I kept them in my stash!

The text I used with a piece of Vellum Cardstock and my computer-printer.

I love the argyle on this card, it makes a beautiful masculine cards. One of our friends loved this card so much, they ordered some of them, so I made 20 of these just to have on hand.

Remember the chalk pastels that SU carried a few years ago? I used the small triangular pads and inked up the stamp using the Rust color first then the Blue.

Here are a few more details:

Stamp Sets: Looks Like Spring, Good Things Grow

Cardstock and Ink: Colorbox Inks, Basic Black, Brocade Blue, Really Rust, Whisper White, Vellum CS

Accessories: Black Gingham Ribbon, Paper Trimmer, Computer - Printer

Thank you for looking! I hope you have a blessed day!

Christmas Pointsettias + OCC Challenge

This weeks OCC Challenge is this sketch! I have not had much mojo this week due to the Character Building Opportunities I have had, but thought I should TRY tonight! Still not a whole lot of creative juices and I decided I do not like the clip on top, but this just goes to show you...we can't win 'em all. LOL

This stamp set, Christmas Pointsettia is my own design! It will be Released OCTOBER 1 at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.

I used the Core'dinations cardstock for this card too.

I have two more stamp sets being released on October 1. If you have not seen the other two that were released on September 1, they are called Child of God and Autumn Blessings. Be sure to check them out at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps!

This is the sketch at the OCC - check out their artwork. It is FABULOUS!

Here are a few details:

Stamp Set: Christmas Pointsettias - designed by me! :) available Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps after October 1.

Cardstock: Core'dinations, Basic Black, White Matte Kotte Finish

Ink: Black brilliance, Copics

Accessories: Clip Assortment, Black gingham, Black rickrack, Pretties Kit, Mini glue dots

I am going to tweak this tomorrow - so be on the look out for a new look! Hope you have a great day! Thank you for looking!

COPIC TUTORIAL

I have had a few people ask me about COPICS - there are many places you can get information, but here is some information that I have gathered from use and a class I took...

These are notes compiled from the class I took and other research I have done.

ALCOHOL COPIC MARKERS

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR USE WITH STAMPING
- Compatible dye ink choices, Adirondack or Marvy Matchables. You can use Brilliance pads but these will need to be heat set.
- If embossing - use clear embossing powder only (colored powders, particularily black powders will not work.)
- May use brilliance pigment ink without embossing on regular cardstock - not coated paper.
- Best suited to Matte coated paper for beginners.
- when stamping with Adirondack inks, heat set and/ or blotted - you can emboss this with clear powder

WHAT MAKES ALCOHOL MARKERS SUPERIOR TO WATER BASED MARKERS?

- They will not cause the paper to "pill" when layering or blending.
- You can replace the tips when worn or damaged
- They are refillable
- The alcohol base allows you to use them on multiple other surfaces not suited to water based mediums like - plastic, glass, wood, shrink plastic, fabric, terro cotta, wood and vellum.
- They allow for coloring without leaving unsightly brush strokes (this requires certain techniques and varies with types of paper.)
- They are a professional marker vs. craft marker
- Color is extremely vibrant and intense.
- They are the most highly fade resistant coloring marker available

Codes for Colors - You will notice there are three numbers in codes for colors -

First alpha characters represent the color family (R=red, B=blue, YG = Yellow Green, E= Earths, etc.)

The break down works like this - for instance, R01

R- Red family

The second number in the combination here is 0. There is a GREY SCALE that ranges from 0-9 that will show the intensity from light to dark. This will represent the value or shade within the color .

This last number represents the intensity or brightness of the color, with 0 being the lightest and 9 being the darkest. So R01 is the same shade or value as R09, but a MUCH lighter color.

When selecting colors to use for shading, if the alpha/ number in the first two column are exactly the same, make sure there is a difference of 2 or more in the number of the last column. For example, shade R01 with R03 or greater. If you shade with a marker 1 number up, such as R02, the difference in colors is so slight that your untrained eye probably will not even detect it. Keep that in mind when selecting colors to purchase!

Grays are divided into 4 catergories - C for Cool Grays, W for Warm grays, N neutral grays and T is for Toner grays.

Make sense?

General Tips & Info
- Keep caps on markers when not in use. Alcohol markers dry out quickly if left uncapped.
- Markers can be stored upright or flat, it doesn't matter.
- Use care when replacing caps on Caio style markers - if you hit the cap at an incorrect angle with the brush tip of the marker, you can damage or destroy your tip.
- A refill bottle of ink will fill a Sketch marker 10-12 times.
-Regardless of what paper and ink you use, always make sure your image is completely dry! Never just stamp image and begin coloring.

Matte coated paper/cardstock
- Use Adirondack Ink and heat set AND blot before coloring
- Ink sits on top of coated paper - this makes it easy to move and manipulate with blender pen and other markers
- For small areas, can color directly to image with marker
- For larger areas, to avoid obvious brushstrokes, use palette & blender pen technique to "paint" the image
(similar to using water based inks and blender pens)
-Can use blender pens to combine inks on pallette to create new colors or shading effects

Shading possiblities
- Can use lighter color markers to pick up darker colored ink to create shading effects (gently drag & twirl lighter colored marker on Paper towel to remove excess darker ink when done.)
- Can shade by coloring over with a lighter color with a darker color, then use color less blender in small circular motions over the line between the two colors to blend them together.
- Can use the colorless blender directly on the colored image to remove a little bit of color in small areas

Any other cardstock (considered absorbent cardstock, includes SU Whisper White, Papertrey Ink, Georgia Pacific, etc.)
- Use Brilliance Graphite Ink - let dry thoroughly (can heat set to speed up process)
- Ink sinks into paper quickly - can't move the color around with blender pen. Do NOT use Blender pen, this will just make a splotchy mess on your work.
- To minimize brushstroke marks while coloring image, color selected area of image in moving in long strokes from top to bottom across from one side of the area to the other without lifting marker until entire section is done. Go back over any "missed" white spots along edges.

Shading possiblities
- Use same color to go over the shaded areas - subtle shading effect
- Use darker color marker to go over shaded areas or pick up a darker color with the tip of your lighter marker and use that to shade
- Use chalks with small applicators to shade areas. Can use with white eraser to remove chalk from areas or clean up edges if you chalked outside the lines.
- Use colored pencils to shade areas -

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. PLEASE let me know if this is helpful!
Thank you!
Chris Dickinson www.chrissyd723.blogspot.com
Design Team Member: www.sweetnsassystamps.com

Bloggers Challenge #64 - DSP

Hello Everyone, this project is pretty simple! I have had a week of Character Building Opportunities and have fought an intense battle! So today, I feel weary - physically and emotionally exhausted and I am needing some restoration time with my family.

I made this box for my special friend Roseanne and I am filling it with a bunch of stamping goodies! I was supposed to go over there this evening, but with my Family Adventures I am having to stay home BUT will still be making this delivery for her. :) I hope she likes it.

This project is a combination of challenges -

On Tuesdays, my friend Courtney hosts Challenges and I am late in participating...because of our adventures. This weeks challenge was to make or alter a box. I originally was going to do the pencil box along with a tutorial, but life got the better of me, so I decided to just alter this one. :) This is one of the Gable Boxes I ordered from U-line. Check out all of the great ideas Courtney's Design team made! They are all fabulous!

The Bloggers Challenge is to use your Designer Specialty Papers. Be sure to check out everyone's wonderful projects. You can click on the right side bar BLOGGERS CHALLENGE to see the participants designs with Designer Paper.

Here are the details of my project:
Stamp Set: All Holidays
Ink and Designer Paper: Tangerine Tango, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip - Hawaii Papaya DP by SU
Accessories: Word Window Punch, Paper Trimmer, Paper Snips, Flower Fusion and Flower Fusion Too, Glue Dots, Old Olive Grosgrain, Stitched Chocolate Ribbon

Thank you for stopping by! I hope you have a great day! Do not forget to check out everyone's FABULOUS designs!

BELLI CHALLENGE #33 - FIBERS

What is the Belli Challenge you ask?

Each week, I try to give us a challenge that will use things we have lying around our stamp rooms! With a constant flow of new things coming out, I tend to forget about the other things I have and they quickly become clutter!

This Weeks Belli Challenge is FIBERS!! You can embellish anything with any of your FIBERS . I purchased these Fibers becuase I KNEW I NEEDED them and they have literally SAT around doing NOTHING for years!!!!

Here is what you need to do...Make a completed project embellishing your work with ANY FIBERS. Share the link here in the comments linking to my Blog and CBC33. When you post to Splitcoaststampers or to your Blog, be sure and put CBC33 as the KEYWORD and mention of the challenge - with a link! I will do a random drawing for all participants and have a special pack of assorted Designer Papers for the winner!

The winner of last weeks Challenge was PAMMY JO - check out her SUPER CUTE project here.

Pammy Jo, please contact me at adickinson@wi.rr.com and I will mail you your pack of DP. Thank you for participating!

Due to some uncontrollable circumstances - I have been given a CHARACTER BUILDING OPPORTUNITY!!!! ACK! I do not always enjoy them, but they are good in molding me into who GOD wants me to be! But they are not fun to go through...

Here is some information on my project:

Stamps: Elly & Friends
Paper: Bella Rose, Green Galore - Coordinations, Basic Black, White Matte Kotte Finish, Riding Hood Red,
Ink: Black Brilliance, Copics
Accessories: Fibers, Black Vintage Brads, 1/16th hole punch, Dimensionals, Paper Snips, Designer Tab Punch, 1 1/4 circle punch, Lg. Oval punch

Shelly Koskinen
Jennifer Greco
Christi Thorsen
Ceal Pritchett
Lorie Ames
Courtney Fowler
GUEST DESIGNER - Karen Foltz

Be sure to check out what everyone else has made and make a comment too for them please! We all LOVE comments. It is fun to see what everyone is thinking about what we are creating! :)

Featured Stamper #83 Bella Birthday

I made this card for my friend Joann. Her grand daughters 7th birthday is this Thursday, so she needed a girly card. :)

Today is Featured Stamper day on Splitcoast Stampers - #83. I chose to CASE this card -

When you participate in the Featured Stamper challenge you pick a card from the gallery of the Featured Stamper and you need to change three things - and let them know what the changes are...

I loved the sketch and the card, but I really loved
the way the butterfly wings were popped up on the card too

Here is my list of changes:
Stamp Set, colors, embellishments and I used different DP in the half circle and layer that goes across.

Here are a few more details on my card

Stamp Set: Matilda Muffinbread, Warmest Regards, Rough Texture wheel
Cardstock: Pink Passion, Lav Lace, Basic Black, watercolor paper, DCWV Nana's Kids DP
Accessories: Twinkling H20's, Aquapainter, Circle Cutter, MM Brads

You can not really see the TWINKLE in the paint on this picture can you? Hmmmm... well IRL this baby shimmers! LOL

Have a great night! Thank you for stopping by to take a peek...Guess what? By the end of the week, I may have some SNEAK PEEKS for you on my upcoming stamp sets that will be released October 1! :) WOOHOO.

Multiple Challenges!

Next to my desk there is always Lemon heads or Lemon drops - that keeps me away from some kind of junk food...not that that isn't junk food. LOL But it is a low calorie, give my mouth something to do kind of thing.

So you ask, What does Lemon Heads have to do with my project? Well, Courtney has her Tuesday Challenges and this week was to do the Rolling Marble Technique. I could only dig up ONE marble in this house. And that took three days to find. My children have them strategically LOST. LOL

So I decided to use my ONE marble which wasn't even truly a marble, it was plastic! And 3 lemon heads, as long as they didn't dissolve. They didn't! But I did throw those away and use new ones when I used a second color. :)

If you participate in Courtney's Challenge she will have a prize for you! Check out her blog for more details!

Here is another project using the Hugs for Janessa set. For every purchase of this stamp set - $5- goes to Korin's neice who is undergoing treatment for Leukemia. Once Janessa is in remission, any further proceeds will go to another family going through the same treatment.

The sketch is also a challenge from Taylored Expressions! You can view the sketch below.

Here are a few more details:

Stamp Sets: Hugs For Janessa

Cardstock and Ink: Pink Passion, Whisper White, Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss, Basic Black

Accessories: Coluzzle, Lg. Oval Punch, Designer Label Punch, Circle punches, White circle ribbon - unknown brand, Primas, Pretties Kit, Paper Piecing Tools, Mat Pack, Ink Refills - Lemon Drops! :)

Ohhh I almost forgot! I participated in the Kwerners Color Challenge too! Phew! That is a lot of challenges!

Have a fabulous weekend!

Sisterhood of Blogging Stampers - Group #24

Hello! I recently joined the Sisterhood of the Blogging Stampers 24 and need to introduce myself to my group. For those of you who already know me, this may be a bit redundant or maybe it will be something new.

I am a 39 year old married mother of 4 children, a beautiful, generous 17 yo daughter, an 8 yo handsome Lego Lover son, a vibrant, energetic 7 yo daughter who loves My Little Ponies and a precocious, talkative 4 yo daughter. They are the joy of my life (most days heehee)

I am a stay-at home mom, who Home schools her children. Stamping and scrapbooking are my second passion. I just started Designing stamps for Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps too. My first 2 stamp sets were released September 1!

I have been happily married to a wonderful man named Adam for 14 years. Well, let's be honest... I had about 3 stinker years in there, but we worked through those and are committed to working through the remaining years the Lord has us here on Earth together.

I am actively involved at my church - and over-see the Card Ministry Team at our church. My faith in Jesus Christ is the foundation of my life and everything I do. I would be happy to share more with anyone who wants to know more!

One last cool thing....do you know what is REALLY cool - Sisterhood friends? Anna Banana in our very own Sisterhood Group - through some chatting and sending e-mails back and forth, lives in the same town as I do and we had never met before! *WOW* How cool is that!?

I look forward to getting to know you better - sharing creations, encouraging you in your work and life and recieving whatever you have too!

Have a great day!

Challenges Here! - Praying you will be well...

Sometimes procrastination works. LOL

The Bloggers Challenge this week was to use Riding Hood Red, Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss and Tangerine Tango. Honestly, I was thinking that is a WHOLE LOTTA color to work with! LOL So intially I was thinking what can I water color? But you know what? truthfully, watercoloring is EASY for me, so that would not have been much of a challenge besides the color combo... So I looked over my stamps and grabbed Bella Toile, then my Copics. I only have a handful of Copics, so the great thing I LOVE about them is blending them to make the colors work for me...I used what I had!

For the Riding Hood Red - I mixed COPICS E08- and R46

For Pacific Point- I mixed Copics B97 and B29

For Tangerine Tango - I mixed Copics Yr07 and E08

For Kiwi Kiss - I mixed Copics G24 and YG95

Some of them I just colored the lighter color first then went over it with the darker color.

The background on the Riding Hood Red is the Distressed Background and the words are a stamp set from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. Hugs for Janessa is the title for the stamp set - here is a bit more information about that!

This set was created in honor of Korin's sweet little neice Janessa. She was born with Down Syndrome and later diagnosed with leukemia. She is currently going through chemo treatments and it has put great strain on her family and their finances, so $5 from each set sold will be donated to Janessa's family. When her cancer is in remission, the fund will go to another family suffering through the same thing. Click here to see the entire stamp set!

I also combined this challenges with Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge #56! Here are a few more details...

Stamp Sets: Bella Toile SU, Distressed BG and Hugs For Janessa by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps

Cardstock and Ink: Tango Tangerine, Matte Kote Finish White, Riding Hood Red, Basic Black, Kiwi Kiss - Copics listed above - Black Brilliance Ink

Accessories: Prima Flowers, Dew Drops, Blue Organdy Ribbon, not sure where the white ribbon came from - just my stash. LOL, Dimensionals, Paper Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, Mini Glue Dots, Ice Circle Brads...

Whew! That was a lot to say. :) Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting! Have a fabulous weekend!!!

The Path of Life....

Yesterday, Splitcoast Stampers Sketch Challenge...

Our Care Ministry, which we call the Hands & Feet Team have a theme this year. It is all about GATES. Letting go of the past and Entering into the new...Each one of us, is on our own journey of growth and the Lord is leading us. If you do any word studies in God's Word, the number 8 signifies a new beginning or ending of something...And guess what? Our year is 2008! A year of NEW BEGINNINGS - stepping into the NEW seasons of life!

Now, that brings me to this stamp set. Back in July, I saw this stamp set at Our Daily Bread Designs (Path of Life) and KNEW I had to have it. I am going to make each person in the Hands & Feet Team something with this stamp set, as a remembrance of our year of growth together. I loved the imagery of the open gate - to me that signifies an invitation from the Lord. "Come in and grow with me." Do you hear Him calling?

So that is a short bit of my story of this stamp set...Here is a few more details on my project...

Stamps: Path of Life, Lovely as a Tree

Paper: Brilliant Blue, Handsome Hunter, Watercolor paper, K&C Specialty DP Mira

Ink: Black Staz On, Night of Navy, Handsome Hunter

Accessories: Watercolor Crayons, Aquapainter, Build a Brads, Dew Drops, Primas, Ice Rhinestone Brads, Brilliant Blue Organdy Ribbon, Scallop punch, Paper Piercing tool, Mat Pack, Photo Corner punch

I put a few close ups of the watercolored image and the Build a Brad. I stamped Lovely as a Tree (the small leaf) in Handsome Hunter and used the half inch circle punch. I watercolored Night of Navy for the surrounding area.

Well, (a deep subject - lol) thank you for looking. May your day be filled with many blessings! In case I have not told you lately, I love your comments - good or bad! They help me grow and stretch to more work and improve too!