Tagged!

This is kind of fun. So, when Stefanie tagged me to play a fun name game, so I was happy to play along.
1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car) -Boots Envoy
2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fav ice cream flavor, favorite cookie) Peanutbutter Chocolate (Hmmm! Not sure that one works!)
3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name) B-Don
4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal) Blue Dog
5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born) Mary Montclair
(I kinda like that one!)
6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first) - Donba
7. SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd favorite color, favorite drink put “The”) The Moss Chardonary
8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers) Richard Stephen
9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne, favorite candy) Eternity Butterfinger (Ewww! THAT sounds tacky!!)
10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ) Grace Robert
So, I guess if you read through, you'll actually learn a bit more about me...and it was fun!

Ok, well, now I'm supposed to pass this on to 5 more bloggers....but I think I'll spare them!

Inspire Me Bloggers' Challenge

Sorry that this post is a bit late, but hopefully you visited some of the other Bloggers who participate in the Challenges. I can't wait to go and visit their sites to see what they have come up with this week....I never peak until I have posted my Challenge so that I cannot subconsciously "copy" or CASE their ideas. Bet their ideas are awsome...they always are!! (Links are in the side column.)

Well, guess where I found my inspiration this time? Yup! You guessed it....in my kitchen again! I went to throw this empty box of cereal in the recyling bin and the layout just jumped out at me. This was something I could work with! It really IS amazing that inspiration can come from anywhere!!!

This card is really not my regular style, but it's growing on me. Guess that's one of the really fun things about participating in these Challenges....they really take me to a creative place I've never been before! Although the card was inspired by the cereal box, I felt that I needed to re-arrange some of the elements of the card for better balance on this card.

A couple of details about this card.....the butterflies were stamped once directly onto the Whisper White CS circle and then again onto a scrap. Then I cut out the wings and glued the center directly over top of the original image. The top pair of butterfly wings can fold up to give them dimension, but was lost and flattened by the scanner. Oh, and Linen was stamped onto the Pixie Pink background in White Craft ink...but I don't think you can see that either. AND, I used a glitter pen to highlight the dots on the greeting and flower and wings of the butterflies.

Don't forget to look around your little corner of the world to see where you can find YOUR inspiration for your next project!

Stamps: Priceless, Linen

Inks: Basic Black, Pixie Pink, Whisper White Craft

CS: Whisper White, Pixie Pink, Basic Black, Certainly Celery

Misc: Coluzzel, Scallop Punch, Large Green Crystal Brad, Basic Black Marker (butterfly trail), Certainly Celery Marker (border around white circle...drawn freehand), White Gel Pen (dots on scallop), 1 3/8, 1 1/4, 1/8 Round Punches, Glitter Pen (non SU)

Back from Phillie!

Whew! It has been a whirlwind weekend! As I've mentioned previously, I left Thursday to attend the SU Regional on Friday. Then my hubby met me and we stayed overnight to do a little site seeing on Saturday. I only live about 1.5 hours from Phillie, but truthfully, I've only been there one other time! The historic district is just wonderful....a blend of new and old. I just love places like that! Walking down the cobblestone streets, you can almost hear the voices of the past.....these are the streets that Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington walked on.

My photography is not the best, but here's a few pictures I thought I'd share. Above is one of the clocks on Independence Hall. And to the left is a picture of the first post office, which is still operating today. Seems Ben Franklin was instrumental in building this, and part of the structure was his book bindery. Of course we saw the Liberty Bell (much smaller than expected!), passed by Betsey Ross' home, and toured the very first building that our government occupied.

We were able to see the sites by taking a tour....we decided to take a Duck Boat Tour. What fun! Many of our larger cities now offer these tours....we were in a big boat with wheels that also went into the water. Odd looking vehicles, these "boats" are from WWII. Our tour guide was really goofy and silly, but entertaining....the children on board really loved him! Here's a final picture of one of the "boats." Not the one we were in, one that came by as we were on our way back to land.

If you have the chance to visit Old Towne Philladelphia, you really should....it's an awsome place to see!

Inspired Bloggers' Challenge

If you remember my last posting with this theme (see post dated August 17), you'll remember that I had a bit of trouble becoming "inspired!" Well, the same is true this time around. I've only just found my inspiration piece, but don't really have time to create today. Need to go to work soon and then I'll be running off to Phillie for the SU Regional, but will work on this Challenge when I return. (You KNOW I just hate to miss the Challenges!!) In the meantime, why not check out the new cards that were added this past week.....and don't forget to check out what all the other participating Bloggers' have posted! They truly are an "inspiring" group! Please come back and visit soon!

Birthday Wishes

Next week is my sister, Pam's birthday. I didn't have much time for stamping, as I'm trying to pack and get ready to leave for the Philadelphia Regional shortly after work tomorrow.....and this really should go in the mail tomorrow so that it reaches her in time. Well, Fun & Fast Notes was still on my desk from my Regional Swaps (I know...need to clean up BEFORE I leave!!), and I just love this little birthday cake.....isn't it just the cutest?!! And you must already know that these colors are some of my favorites!!

The print on this card is a piece of left-over, now retired Dots & Dashes Bkgrd Paper. The birthday cake was stamped and and colored in with markers....the "icing" is actually Dazzling Diamonds! To get the round shape, I used the Coluzzel....also used the Coluzzel for the round Pumpkin Pie layer. The scallop circle is from a non-SU punch, the Marvy Giga Round Scallop punch.

This card WAS fun, and it was fast! Happy Birthday, Sis!

Stamps: Fast & Fun Notes

Inks: Jet Black StazOn

CS: Whisper White, Pixie Pink, Pumpkin Pie, Dots & Dashes Designer Paper

Markers: Pumpkin Pie, Pretty in Pink, Pixie Pink

Misc: Pumpkin Pie Grosgrain (1/4"), 2-Way Glue, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, More Mustard Mini Brads, Paper Piercer

I'm Going to a Regional Seminar!

Every so often, SU offers something they call a "Regional Seminar." Well, for us demos here on the East Coast, they don't happen nearly often enough, and when they do, they are really quite difficult to get into as there is always limited space. BUT, I did manage.....and I'll be attending this Friday in Philadelphia. Can't wait...it's bound to be tons of fun!

Since this is a SU event, you know what that means, don't you?!! SWAPS!! I only managed to make a handful, as I have just been swamped.....life has been busy and crazy! This is what I came up with....the card features one of the new stamp sets I received at Convention, Fun & Fast Notes. It is kind of an updated, new and improved, Nice & Easy Notes (now retired)....a wonderful set that covers just about ANY occasion! This new set is loads of fun to play with! This is a fairly simple layout....check out the double background. (Print Pattern was stamped over top of Linen.) And, yes, I'm still making Christmas cards!.....I guess I really should come up with a Halloween or Thanksgiving card, right?!!

Stamps: Print Pattern, Linen, Fun & Fast Notes

Inks: Always Artichoke, Jet Black StazOn

CS: Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss, Bravo Burgundy, Very Vanilla, Watercolor Paper

Misc: Watercolor Crayons, Aqua Brush, Always Artichoke Marker, Paper Piercer & Template, Gold Mini Brads

Bloggers' Challenge -- Septemer 7

This week's challenge was fun and so very much easier than the last few weeks! We were to copy the card design from Page 12 of the Holiday Mini catalog. The most difficult part was trying to decide if I wanted to stamp backgrounds or use background papers!! As you can see, I've decided to use the fabulous new Wintergreen Designer Paper...which is really re-colored from last year's Holiday Mini. Loved it last year, but like it even better now! Lots of greens in these papers: Sage Shadow, Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke. Now, without the help of the Designer Paper, I'm not sure I would have put together that combo, but it's fun and a bit different. Throw in some of the new crystal brads and my new favorite punch....the Scallop Punch (I still had it out from last week's Challenge!)....and it was a fast card to make. ...and, yes, I seem to be still in the Christmas spirit! (It's coming, you know!!)

Please take some time to visit some of the other Blogs listed to the left....a few new ones have been added. It's really so much fun to hop around and see how differently we all interpret a design!

Stamps: Canvas, Punch Pals, Party Punch (Hostess, Level 1)

Inks: Always Artichoke

CS: Sage Shadow, Always Artichoke, Whisper White, Certainly Celery

Punches: Scallop Punch, 1" Round, 1/2" Round, 1 1/4 " Round, 1 3/8" Round

Misc: Crystal Brads (Green, Round), Paper Piercer & Template, Wintergreen Designer Paper, Certainly Celery 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon

Bloggers' Challenge -- 8/31/07

This week's Challenge took me way out of my comfort zone....it really was a challenge!! All week I've been staring at the sample on Page 92 of the IBC and coming up blank. This year's catalog has so many beautiful and creative samples....but this is one that I've barely even noticed. It is far from one of my favorites!

So, I began working on this earlier this evening. If you could have seen me, you might have thought I was a mad scientist! I had tons of cardstock, inks, punches, and accessories all over....in seemed like I pulled out everything! It took me hours and evolved from soft pastels with a floral theme to the card you see here!! But, when all is said and done, I'm actually quite happy with it! I'm not sure that it is even remotely like the sample, but maybe that's a good thing?

Can't wait to see what all the others have come up with....be sure to check out their blogs! (List is to the left.)

Stamps: Punch Pals, Season of Joy, Canvas

Inks: White Craft, Ballet Blue, Bashful Blue

CS: Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Ballet Blue

Punches: Scallop, Large Tag, 1/4", 1 1/4", 3/4", 1/2" Round Punches

Misc: Dimensionals, Whisper White Grosgrain, White Embossing Powder, Blender Pen

NOTE: Crystals used on the snowflakes and on the snowman's hat are sticky-back crystals from Stampendous. IRL, they look wonderful....they add just the right amount of "BLING," but they look a bit harsh on screen. (The new SU crystal brads were too large!)

Christmas is only 117 days away!

.....at least it is if I counted right! That may sound like a very long time to some, but we all know how time can fly!! And as a reminder, the kids head back to school around here next week, a sure sign that Fall is about to begin!

So, what this all means, is that it's definitely time to begin thinking about holiday cards. Last week, I sent out a batch of these cards for a Holiday Swap that I joined. The criteria was that the swaps feature a set from the new Holiday Mini. Have you received yours yet? If not, please be sure to contact me, because you really don't want to miss it......there are so many wonderful, beautiful sets inside!! Not to mention some fun papers and accessories!

Anyway, this was my card, which features Season of Joy. On screen, it looks a tad washed out (my computer just does not seem to like greens!), but I was happy with the way it turned out. A couple of things you probably cannot see: The tree was outlined in Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, as well as the swirls inside the tree; The red cardstock was stamped with the collaged saying stamp from the set to create a background; and the greeting at the base of the card was stamped in Basic Black Craft ink, but embossed with Iridescent Ice embossing powder.

Sooooo, what are YOU going to do for your holiday cards?

Stamps: Season of Joy, So Swirly Jumbo Wheel, Many Merry Messages

Inks: Wild Wasabi*, Versamark, Basic Black Craft

CS: Very Vanilla, Wild Wasabi, Real Red

Misc: More Mustard Marker (star on tree), Paper Piercer & Template, Gold Mini Brads, Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder, 2-Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Corner Rounder

*I used the Wild Wasabi Ink Refill to ink up a blank Jumbo Cartridge

FYI: The Holiday Mini will be available for your viewing pleasure this Saturday, September 1 at www.stampinup.com

Punch Happy

Using punches is so much fun!....especially when you begin to use them in ways that really aren't obvious....when you "think outside the box." And that's just what I did for this week's edition of our Bloggers' Challenge. Used the oval punches in a different way than the original intent. Of course, I cannot claim this idea as my own....it's actually a compilation of a few ideas I've seen around, but I changed the layout and background. I've really wanted to try this for a long time and this week's Challenge presented the perfect opportunity.

The body was created by using the Coluzzel....the round punches just did not give me the proportion that was needed for this little guy. The edge of each circle or oval (with the exception of the eyes) was lightly sponged in Garden Green ink to give it a bit more definition. And the greeting was created on the computer. Wouldn't this make a cute invite for a child's party? How fun!!

Don't forget to check out the other Bloggers submissions.....I can't wait to see what these talented ladies have come up with!!

Stamps: Dotted, Sanded Backgrounds

Inks: Wild Wasabi, Certainly Celery, Garden Green

CS: Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Wild Wasabi

Punches: Large Oval, 1/2" & 1/4" Round, Spring Flower Bouquet

Misc: Ticket Punch, Black Mini Brads, Paper Piercer, Sponge Dauber, White Gel Pen, Basic Black Marker, Coluzzel