What a day! So busy but, boy, am I glad to be home. I love coming home after a long day. My furry little babies great me so enthusiastically at the door. I can climb into some cosy clothes and just... be. Ahhhh...... On to the main event.... there's another color challenge from Dawn McVey: I L-O-V-E these colors! I was so excited to participate. I wanted to make a square card this time round. Soooo, here's my submission; I colored the leaves, cut them out with nesties, then popped them up on dimensionals. I was going to try the cracked glass technique posted on Heather Nichols' website. I think it's so cool - however, I have smaller grain embossing powder and it didn't work as well as I'd hoped. I ended up with a glossy finish I really like though. I have to get some of the Utee ultra thick embossing enamel I guess (or better clear embossing powder :P). I was also going to try using the chamomile ink (from the vintage duo) on the edges of the circles but when I apply directly to the paper from the ink pad, it comes out often harsh (meaning no soft edges) - does anyone have any suggestions on how they get a soft look when adding ink to the edges of cards and other projects? Any special techniques or tools that can help? I'm sure there's something I'm doing wrong :) I've seen a few people wrap twine on the cards in this fashion and I had to try it too - I really like the look. I was happy with the end result for the most part, however, I wish I had gone with a smaller polka dot for the kraft background - I think in retrospect it would have suited better. I'm in love with polka dot basics too - I seem to use that set all the time! I used three orange dew drops on the sentiment - I wanted to add a bit more bling but didn't have any rhinestones :) Anyway, it was a fun card to make regardless - and that's the point, now isn't it? :) Thanks so much for stopping by! TTFN, -------------------------------------------------------- Ingredients (all PTI unless otherwise stated): Paper: Kraft, summer sunrise, cream, dark chocolate Stamps: polka dot basics, leaves from Martha Stewart, 2009 autumn tags, background basics text style Ink: dark chocolate, versamark Other: threading water border punch, twine, vintage cream button, clear embossing powder, nestbilities, copic markers, orange dew drops

Well, the fitness quest is going fairly well. It slowed down a bit when I hurt my back; however, walking on the treadmill and stretching helped tremendously. Now may back is pretty much better. Even had a workout with my trainer this am. So far I've lost 15 lbs, which I'm thrilled about. The weight loss will be good for my back too :) There's another challenge on Dawn McVey's website; Another delish color combo - don'tcha think? Don't know bout you all but the colors made me think of a new baby girl card. I got to ink up my recently purchased bitty baby blessings and faux ribbon from PTI. I also got to use my copics, which always makes for a good time :) Here's my take; Hope everyone is having a great week. As always, thanks for stopping by! TTFN, ------------------------------------- Ingredients (all PTI unless otherwise stated): Stamps: Bitty Baby Blessings, Faux Ribbon, Around and About Sentiments, Polka Dot Basics Ink: Hibiscus burst, melon berry, spring moss, versamark Paper: Hibiscus burst, melon berry, spring moss, vintage cream Other: Melon berry ribbon, melon berry buttons, nestabilities, paper piercer, Copics

I knew the crafting room streak would come to a temporary end.... It's been a bit of a dry spell that's for sure. But everyone has them... I just received a bunch of Papertrey and copic goodies so I think I'll get some time in tonight :) In the meantime, I have a card to share that I made a little while ago. It was for a very dear friend who just had a little baby boy! So exciting. So here's the card. It's been a while but I know the stamps are Inkadinkadoo baby and the paper is DCWAV...

As always, thanks so much for stopping by! TTFN,

Second post of the day - my other post is also for a challenge (Lauren Meader's My Time to Create). I had a lot of fun this weekend - lots'o time in the crafting area :) Dawn has another yummy color challenge on her blog - Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #14. I LOVE the colors for this weeks challenge! So pretty... I had so much fun with these colors and will definitely use this combination again. Dawn's also got a new stamp set being released this month - Scattered Showers Additions. I love Scattered Showers and can't wait to purchase the additions - the clouds, sun and rain drop background as well as the additional sentiments are so exciting :) I have decided, although new to the game, I really need a photo tent. Even an inexpensive one. It's so hard to do the colors justice without one. I'm sure a lot of other people have had the same issues. I've looked online and you can easily find some reasonably priced sets including lights. The reviews for a few of the products are encouraging as well. Sorry, I'm rambling.... Here's my card...

I went back to a favorite set - Garden of Life. This set is a favorite due to it's versatility. Of course that's theme with all the Papertrey stamps :) I stamped them with versamark onto plum, scarlet and raspberry cardstock then heat embossed. I had to use my recently purchased text style background stamps; just "had to" :). It's easier to see in real life but I stamped behind the flower images with versamark for a subtle background. Got to use a lot of favs for this card so it was a blast to make. That's what it's all about, huh? Thanks for looking! Comments are always appreciated :) TTFN, Andrea ------------------------------- Materials (all PTI unless otherwise stated) Stamps: Garden of Life, Birthday Basics, Polka Dot Basics, Text Style Paper: Scarlet jewel, plum pudding, raspberry fizz, rustic cream Ink: Color box purple, versamark Other: Scarlet jewel ribbon, clear embossing powder, cream vintage button, scor pal, rustic twine, cuttlebug swiss dots folder

I'm off work today - my back decided to give out yesterday - with little prompting, I might add. It's a bit better today but still quite sore. I guess it could be much worse so I'm done complaining... It's time to create again! Yep, Lauren Meader has another challenge on her blog --> My Time to Create #5. My card was created a day ago, prior to my back giving out. I had my husband take a few pics and hand me the camera for uploading :) He's such a wonderful guy :) For some reason I had a lot of trouble with this challenge... just getting the color combo to work. I must have colored 6 of the images trying to come up with a combo liked. I guess that's why it's called a challenge :) I used CC Designs digi stamp from All That Scraps and colored her with my copics. Well, here's my entry this week...

On another note - it's also the best time of the month - Papertrey Ink release time!!! Their stamps and other products are incredible - I really enjoy seeing what the design team members come up with during the 5 days before the release. They're such a talented bunch of gals! Wish I could have traveled to CHA in Orlando to meet the team... Anyway, still so excited... it's like Christmas every month! And who doesn't love Christmas? As part of the Papertrey release, Lauren is releasing two new timeless templates. Fold 'n Go and Tucked Away are previewed on her blog ---> here. She's got a giveaway as well - leave a comment for a chance to win her templates on the 15th. I can't wait for this to be released! I'm in the process of making a number of Get a Handle on It templates to give a Christmas favors at work - I'll share those later. I don't know how she does it every month - nothing short of amazing! Thanks for stopping by! Comments or suggestions are always appreciated :) TTFN, Andrea -------------------------- Materials (all PTI unless otherwise stated) Stamps: CC Designs digi stamp, Scattered showers Paper: Sweet blush, spring moss, raspberry fizz, select white Ink: Color box harbor, versamark Other: Offray ribbon, nestabilities labels, crystal stickles, dew drops, fiskars embossing plate, copics and airbrush system

Hello all :) Quickie post - Lauren Meader has a sketch challenge on her blog. And, here is my card. So sorry for the crappy pics. I was in a bit of a hurry... Fun challenge though. I really liked the sketch. I took a few creative liberties... :) Thanks for looking! As always, thanks for any comments. TTFN, Andrea Addendum 8/7/09: Hopefully this won't be a habit :) I just had to try a few more pics - the others were awful. Here they are :) Again, thanks for looking :) Andrea

Well, still on my card making roll. I can't believe how often I've been able to craft in the last few days - it's been wonderful. I feel, however, that the trend is coming to a swift end. I've got a few projects lining up at work and a few other committments so time spent in my favorite little room will be a bit more limited. I inked up my faux ribbon stamp set for the first time since purchasing it a month ago. I only used it to make the patterned paper. I was also on a mission to use my recently purchased new leaf cardstock, ink, buttons and ribbon. I decided to pair it with dark chocolate and lemon tart. Dark chocolate is one of my favs! I love the new leaf buttons, ink and ribbon but I have a hard time using the cardstock - just finding the right combos. I ended up liking these colors quite a bit. The nice part about this card was how quickly it came together. Off to take care of some laundry... Thanks for looking! TTFN Andrea

Since I am on a card making role as it seems, I decided to take part in Amy Rysavy's Friday sketch challenge. The sketch on her site was created by a guest designer, Tammy Fielder -->> blog here. It was a really nice sketch and the card actually came together really quickly. I wanted to use ribbon but managed to hold off :) I got to use my new nestabilities butterflies dies, which I've had for a little while but had yet to actually apply to a project. Here's my take on the challenge... The pretty SEI paper provided the color inspiration. I picked a few packs up at Hobby Lobby a few weeks back, for half price! Awesome! I absolutely love patterned paper :) My hubby and I went to see the new Harry Potter movie today - it certainly didn't disappoint! It was so much darker than the first 1-2 movies - they've gradullay darkened over the series, as the books did. They really stay true to the books for the most part (which I understand is due to JKR's involvement - good for her!). I can't wait for the final one now... Anyway, going to go play some more. It's been such a relaxing weekend so far... As always, thanks so much for looking. TTFN, Andrea