Springtini at the Bellagio!

Our 11 a.m. challenge for last weekend's mini VSN, was the glass flowers that adorn the ceiling in the lobby of the Bellagio - STUNNING I tell you! If you're ever in Vegas, you HAVE to check it out! It's worth the walk to the mid-strip - TRUST ME!

We were use a floral image and a transparency. I thought I had another Bella Bloom like this one, but I couldn't put my hands on it...so I went with Sprintini instead!


You can't really tell, but there is a transparency over the image and rather than colour the image directly, I laid the transparency over it and coloured directly on the transparency using my Copic markers. For a finishing touch, I stacked five different Prima flowers and attached them all together with a brad.

What do you think?

Stamp: Springtini
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Cardstock: Purple, Green, Whisper White
Accessories: Transparency, Copic Markers, Prima Flowers, Brad

Happy Stampin'!

Addicted to Bellas?

Is there a twelve step program? LOL! Not that it matters, because even there was, I can't see any Bella addicts joining it anyway!

DH and I are in Austin today, so this is autoposting. Kind of a fun way to blog from the road, without having to find internet access. He's here on business and I get to explore...I can tell you where I'll be going first thing this morning: TARGET!!! We don't have Target in Canada and it's sad I tell you...so very, VERY sad! The price of tennis shoes has DOUBLED (yes, doubled) at WalMart this year and I live in those things all summer long, so I need tennis shoes...hoping I can find some at Target today!

Anyway, I made this card last week...I've been in a coffee kinda mood lately, which will all be explained when the post that is scheduled to pop up on April 4th appears...you'll just have to wait and see!!!


I used my Copics to colour our Bella...I am just LOVING those markers...which is why I also plan to hit Hobby Lobby at some point while we're down here, because I hear they have them!!!

Bella is matted on a piece of Chatterbox Bazzill that I've had for...well...a long time, so never mind - LOL! Bella and her matte are fixed to a Vintage Violet card base that is standard A2 size (4 1/4" X 5 1/2"). I have some River Rock ribbon that my AWESOME SU! Demo, Caroline, gave me and it seemed to work perfectly with the card.

What do you think?

Stamps: Lattebella
Paper: Whisper White, Vintage Violet, Chatterbox Bazzill Light Sand
Accessories: Ribbon, Copics, SU! Markers (for doodling)

Happy Stamping!

Bella Bloom

This one was done for the Bella Sketch last week and also for the Limited Supplies Challenge.


The challenge was to use a spring bloom in a card. Having stamped this when I was out "scrapbooking" with my girlfriends (see this post), I thought it was perfect for the challenge.

The best part? This card was made ENTIRELY from SCRAPS!!! Even the card base was left over from a piece of cardstock I cut for another project. Do I get the green award?

What do you think?

You know you do too many challenges when...

...You make a card and FORGET which challenge it's for - YIKES!!!

I made this card on Monday (I think) and couldn't remember for the life of me where it was supposed to go. Last night I FINALLY figured it out and today I'm uploading it because after checking in again with the site (it was OCC by the way), I realized the contest ends today at noon - EEK!!!

So my friend Ilina sent me some Elzybells a little while ago. You may remember me mentioning her in this post. If you haven't checked out her blog yet, you really should! She is one seriously talented and creative girl! I decided to make a little card and use this tiny little Elzybell as my focal image:


I coloured her in using my SU! Markers and cut her out using my Coluzzle oval template. She it matted on Mellow Moss and placed on a piece of Whisper White. The rectangle behind her is Mellow Moss as well and the card base is a leftover piece of Bazzill cardstock that I had from another project.

It's a tiny card, only 4 1/4" square.

What do you think?

STAMPS: Elzybell image from Ilina
CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Mellow Moss, Bazzill
INK: Unknown
ACCESSORIES: Ribbon, Markers, Coluzzle

Happy Stampin'!

MFT Goodness!

At the beginning of March I went a little nuts with the MFT stamps...not that there's anything wrong with that! (Think Seinfeld - LOL!)

Towards the middle of the month (and still), I'm a little Bella nuts, so it all evens out in the wash!

Anyway, I did this card for one of the March Ambassador challenges in the MFT forum at SplitCoast.

The challenge was to make a spring card using NO black and NO flowers!

So, I decided to send our girl on Spring Break! I even stamped her in Going Gray to be sure that I didn't use any black at all. Her dress is paper pieced and the sentiment is printed out on the computer.

What do you think?

Bella Inspiration - So Glad We're Friends

This was for Emily's Bella Inspiration challenge back at the beginning of March and I just didn't get the opportunity to post it here.

The inspiration piece was soft colours so I chose the DSP from the SAB catalogue and added some ribbon. I remember having a blast with those little envies, so of course had to add one to the front of the card.


The Bella stamp is Oval Vase and the sentiment is from SU! Best Yet Hostess Set.

What do you think?

Mojo Monday and an MFT Challenge

Every Monday there is an MFT Who's That Girl Challenge posted in the MFT forum and every Monday is Mojo Monday. There are SO many fun challenges out there, that I need to combine at least two of them in each card I make, because if I don't I'd never get any sleep...of course, spending all my time stamping is not exactly a BAD thing...unless you factor in the fact that I need to feed the husband and the kids. Take now for instance...I'm making a pretty involved recipe for dinner and yet here I am blogging instead of getting it started. *SIGH* There are never enough hours in the day!

Anyway...yesterday in the MFT forum, the challenge was to use the Mother's Day set and make a card with pink, green and yellow in it. Now, I don't have the Mother's Day set, but we get to use any of the WTG sets to complete the challenge, so I was good to go.

I decided to combine it with the Mojo Monday sketch, which you can find here. I sure hope that Julee (who hosts Mojo Monday and owns Verve stamps doesn't mind that I keep flipping her sketches!

I received Serenity Now! from the Canadian Image Swap thread in which I participate, so I decided to use that:

I used the downloadable papers that Kim from MFT was generous enough to give to everyone who took a shot at MFT idol for the card. Our girl is coloured using Copics and SU! Markers. I used my Threading Water punch to add some detail and some white chiffon ribbon for the just the right finishing touch.

What do you think???

Psychic? ESP? Who knew?!

It seems that perhaps, just maybe, I might be a little bit psychic! O.K. not really...

But who would have guessed that while I was stamping and colouring on Saturday that I would pick the PERFECT image to go with Emily's Bellariffic Friday Challenge. But there you have it...I did and it was indeed PERFECT!


Eloise Greengrass was stamped in Archival black ink and coloured using my SU! markers which I got from an AWESOME marker club hosted by the talented and fabulous Caroline. You could join one too, just ask her!

When I looked at the Mojo Monday challenge for today, I knew that Eloise would be perfect for that too!

So, I combined the Mojo Monday challenge and Emily's challenge and had a great time putting this card together!

What do you think?

No Idol for me...

There were 10 Idol spots and unfortunately I didn't get one.

Whatcha gonna do? I've been stamping like a CRAZY person since I found this thread on SCS. If you're Canadian, come check it out! If not, there are are similar US and International threads. It's a great way to get stamped images without spending a ton of money!

I've got to get some creating done though...this blog is looking NAKED! Maybe I'll try my hand at today's Technique Challenge.

Happy Stampin'!

Bellariffic Friday

This was my submission for the Bellariffic Friday challenge that Emily hosts on the Bella Blog:

Too busy stalking the MFT thread to stamp!

Kim at MFT is making us all pull our hair out! There are 10 Idol spots and so far only 4 have been revealed. There will be one more reveal today and then the other five over the course of the day tomorrow. Everyone is on the Idol thread, the laundry is piling up and the kids are scavenging in the cupboards in the hopes of finding a morsel, a crumb...ANYTHING!

While I've been stalking, I've been reading blogs and while I was reading my new friend Tracey's Blog, I noticed a link in her sidebar to another blogger...

You need to check out Lori's Blog because there is some SERIOUS BLOG CANDY GOODNESS to be had!

I'll try to get some new stuff to look at up here tomorrow...

Happy Stampin'!

MFT Idol!

Can you believe it??? Kim at MFT is giving away the store! O.K., well...not really the whole store but the winner of MFT Idol gets a $250 shopping spree in her store - WOW!!!

You can check out the details here - but be quick! You have till midnight tonight to get your submission into the gallery!

The audition was "freestyle" and the only rule was you had to use MFT stamps. Contestants who get through the auditions (there will only be 10 chosen) will then have to create a card every week until they are eliminated and we get down to the MFT Idol. Each week will have a different theme around which participants must create their entry. Wish me luck!!!

I've had this Bazzill accordion album for a little while and never found the right project for which to use it - until NOW!!!

I used two of the MFT sets that I own to work on it. It's going to be a list of all my favourite blogs and stampers.

Here it is:

I made the cover/holder using MFT colours which are Black, White and Pink. I had to take apart the eyelets that were being used for the closure and had fun with hubby trying to figure out (with the help of my most AWESOME hubby) how to get it all back together. It worked like a charm and I love, love, LOVE the results!

The first page of the actual "book" was created using the MFT set "Who's that e-Girl?". I stamped all the images in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink. Our girl was pieced and coloured using various papers, Copic Markers and Prismacolour Pencils. I cut out the stamped sentiments, did some doodling and added some bling.

Here's a view of the whole "book"

The first two pages were matted with We R Memory Keepers paper and Whisper White Cardstock. The sentiments were stamped in Tuxedo Black, cut out and matted on more of the WE R Memory Keepers paper.

The next two pages were matted with DCWV cardstock and DSP. I stamped the buildings from "Going Places" twice in Tuxedo Black Ink and then coloured them in using Copic Markers. Our girl was also stamped in Tuxedo Black ink. Her dress was pieced with matching DSP and her map was coloured in using Copic Markers. The sentiments were also stamped in Tuxedo Black, cut out, doodled and matted. Brads were added for extra detail.

What do you think? Wish me luck in the contest!!!

Wind Down - MFT Guest Designer for April

Every month, Kim at MFT hosts a Guest Designer Challenge. If you win, you get to be the guest designer for the upcoming month and you get a set of all the stamps being released that month. Awesome, or what???

If you hurry, you can get in on the goodness too...you have until 10 p.m. EST TONIGHT to get your submission into the gallery and linked up to the thread.

This month, the challenge was to use buttons and this is my submission:

The box with button detail in the inset

The box

Button Detail up close

I learned to make the box when I went to visit my SU! Demo Caroline on Friday to work on her AWESOME Stampers Club projects. Wanna know what a Stampers Club is? Just click here. Caroline's projects always ROCK!

I stamped the image in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink on Whisper White and, after colouring it with my SU! Markers, fixed it to the front of the box which was made with DCWV version of Pink Passion.

I added both button brads and buttons for the finishing touches. I'm going to put a bath bomb (bath fizz) in it and give it to somebody special.

What do you think?

Stamps: MFT Presents - Annie Lapointe, Wind Down
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento Ink
Paper: Whisper White, DCWV Pink Passion, DSP (unknown source)
Accessories: Ribbon, Brad, Button Brads, SU! Markers

Happy Stampin'!

LSC210 and WSC71 - For the Bride

Today's Challenge on SplitCoast was the Limited Supplies Challenge. What normally happens is that the hostess chooses a number of supplies/stamp set(s) that we can use and that's what we have to work with. Sometimes we have to stamp right on our card (no layers - EEK!) and sometimes we aren't allowed to use any embellishments at all (again - EEK!).

Today, clearly, wasn't a normal day. We had NO restrictions. We could use whatever we wanted, in any number. The catch? Thirty minutes. That's it! Half an hour or less. YIKES!!!

I went to see my SU! pusher (I mean demo) this morning. Have I mentioned how absolutely AMAZING she is? The first Friday of the month I get to hang out with her for a couple of hours and work on the month's Stamper's Club projects - which, as usual, were seriously STINKIN' AWESOME!!! What's a Stampers Club you ask? Just click on that little linky up there and cruise around Caroline's site. You'll find out...it's a great way to get the stamps you want without having to a big fancy party, clean your house, make food for everyone...you get the idea. Check it out!

ANYWAY...I had asked Caroline if I could borrow a couple of wedding sets to try my hand at some wedding cards. NO, I will NOT be making wedding invitations because that's WORK and I stamp for FUN! I have, however, had some requests for wedding cards and since wedding season is about to get into full swing, I thought it would be a good idea to make some up.

One of the sets she had for me is "For the Bride" and it is, quite simply, elegant.

When I got home, the Weekend Sketch Challenge had been posted. You can find that here. When I saw the sketch, I knew it would be PERFECT to combine with the Limited Supplies Challenge and I went to work! This was definitely quick and easy, but the results were STUNNING:


I stamped our bride in Blue Bayou on Shimmering White cardstock and matted her on a piece of pierced Blue Bayou. The card base is A2 sized Kraft with a 4 X 5 1/4 layer of Soft Sky DSP (man I miss that colour!)

I tied the ribbon and stamped the sentiment for a perfect finishing touch.

What do you think?

Stamps: For the Bride
Paper: Shimmering White, Kraft, Blue Bayou, Soft Sky DSP
Accessories: Paper Piercer/Mat Pack, Ribbon

Happy Stampin'!

Mojo Monday - Cow Ya Been?

This week, my little stinker forgot to remind me that it was Mojo Monday...guess I need a new day timer - LOL!

Here's my Mojo Monday card (which actually got started on Tuesday, finished on Wednesday and uploaded today - YIKES!)


My SCS friend Stephanie stamped these images for me after I saw them on her blog and asked her to send me some. Isn't she sweet??? I had a bunch of fun colouring the image in and can't wait to play with the other image Stephanie sent too!

I coloured in the image with a combination of Copics, SU! Markers and Prismacolour Pencils.

What do you think?

Coulda Been the Whiskey...

Wednesday is Sketch Challenge Day at SplitCoast. Today I tried to combine the Sketch Challenge with the MFT challenge which was to stitch (or use faux stitching) on a card.

Last night, DD and I were talking about MFT Idol and DH said (only 1/2 joking), "Maybe I should enter too" and proceeded to come up with a totally off the wall (though BRILLIANT) idea.

I started stamping it for him and we realized that it wouldn't quite work out the way we wanted it to work.

This morning I woke up with the song in my head...and this card was born:


There's too much going on here to remember where the paper came from, etc...but it was sure fun to make!

What do you think???

Sparkling Summer Pink Chocolate Kisses

Today over at SplitCoast Stampers was colour challenge day. It happens every Tuesday in case you want to play...

Most times I don't have all the colours, but try to improvise. Today was one of those days. I had Chocolate Chip and Kiwi Kiss but had to improvise the Pink Passion. I had some DCWV hot pink that was pretty close.

Here's what I came up with:


I stamped the images in Chocolate Chip on Whisper White and coloured them in with my SU! Markers and blender pens. I sponged the edges of the main image and the little ball.

The card base is Chocolate Chip with a piece of DSP from the Office set available a few years back. I cut the piece of Kiwi Kiss with my Top Note Die and Big Shot.

What do you think?

Stamps: Sparkling Summer
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Kiwi Kiss, Pink Passion
DSP: Office Line
Accessories: SU! Markers, Big Shot, Dimensionals

Happy Stampin'!

MFT Goodness and an SCS Challenge

Yesterday morning, I was up BRIGHT and EARLY (put it this way...I saw the sunrise!) and I started stamping with MFT stamps...and then? I couldn't put 'em down!

I stamped these three "Going Place" girls and had LOTS of fun playing with them:


All the images were stamped in Memento Black Tuxedo Ink. The first image on the left is entirely coloured using a combination of Copic and SU! Markers. In the middle image, I paper pieced our girl's dress. For the third image, I went to town! I paper pieced her dress, part of the map, the suitcase and even her shoes! How fun!

Today's challenge over at SCS was to make a Crimped Envelope Card. I kept going with the MFT sets and used "Got Cupcakes" and "It's a Cupcake Kinda Day".


I used SU! Markers and Inks to get the desired effect. This was REALLY fun. I think it would make a great wedding card...maybe I'll work on that tomorrow!

Happy Stampin'!

Featured Stamper Challenge - Got Cupcakes?

Every Sunday over at SplitCoast a featured stamper challenge is hosted.

The idea is to look at an AWESOME gallery and try to narrow which card you are going to CASE down to one...right...

The galleries that are chosen are always incredibly inspiring and narrowing it down to one choice is nearly impossible! My inspiration today came from this lovely card.

The rules for Featured Stamper challenge are:


1. Change 2 or more things on the card. It could be a color combo, embellishements, backgrounds, or even the main image could be different but similar because you don't own the exact image. List the changes in your description.

2. Give credit to the original stamper. Put a link to the original card in your description.

3. Fan Club members may upload today (Sunday). Non-Fan Club members are encouraged to play....please wait until Monday to upload your creations. Thanks!

4. Please note the following regarding Sketch Challenge cards: If you are keeping the same layout but changing most everything else on the featured stamper's card, make sure it isn't a sketch challenge card (SC##). The reason is because it is essentially is a CASE of the sketch since it isn't the featured stamper's original idea. Thanks!

For my card, I changed the colour of the papers and the stamp set used. I also slightly altered the layout of the card.


I used the MFT stamp set called "Got Cupcakes" and stamped it in Memento Tuxedo Black Ink on Whisper White cardstock. The main image was matted on a piece of Pink Pirouette cardstock and again on a piece of DCWV cardstock. The final matte was a piece of Whisper White that was paper pierced.

I ran a piece of DP (sorry, not sure who's it is) through my brand spankin' new Big Shot (which you can get through an AMAZING deal from Stampin; UP by visiting the most awesome demo on the planet here) sandwiched in a cuttlebug embossing folder and tied a ribbon around it before adhering it to the card base which is 4 1/4 X 5 1/2.

What do you think?

Stamps: MFT Got Cupcakes? featuring Flopsey Bunny
Paper: Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, DCWV cardstock, Unknown DSP
Accessories: Ribbon, Markers, Paper Piercer, Big Shot, Cuttlebug embossing folder

Happy Stampin'!