Sites of the week

Greetings! I have lots to share today, both stamping and non-stamping related.

First, I would like to thank the Cat Pack from The Cat’s Pajamas for surprising me with a Welcome Baby Boy Blog Hop as their TCP Tuesday this week. The start of the hop is HERE on Joanne’s blog. THANK YOU GIRLS!!

Second, I have another Verve sneak peek for you. Like yesterday, I made an ATC. Unlike yesterday, I didn’t make it into a card {just ran out of time before baby got here}. This is from the soon to be released set, Accent Notes…

Detail shot…

The Kraft paper with the white pattern is not DP, it’s stamped with white pigment ink with one of the accent stamps. The sentiment is framed under the stamped scallop circle frame that is popped up on glue dots. You can see more sneak peeks from the Verve DT on the Verve blog HERE.

Lots of family and friends have been asking about how everything baby went and for some more pics. Well, I will start out with the pics and then tell you the birth story.

Snappin’ to the beat…

Doing the Cha Cha…

Ellie giving her “Brudda” some love…

Nic with Gramama…

The story of Nic…
Last Wednesday Tony and I ventured to the hospital around 9am. I had to be there by 10 for my scheduled C-section {lil’ Nic was breach} at noon. We got there and did all the paperwork and such. The blood pressure machine said that I was calm, cool and collected, but my hands were pouring sweat. After they got me all hooked up to an IV we played the waiting game and watched America’s Funniest Home Videos on TV to keep my nerves {and Tony’s} at bay. Just a little before noon they came to get me to roll me away to the operating room. I thought that Tony would be with me the whole way, but he had to stay behind until I had my spinal block. That’s when I kinda lost it. I shed a few nervous tears and took some {really} deep breaths before they gave me some “Vitamin V”…aka a small dose of chill out drug. After I was numb, they went to get Tony. He said it seemed like an eternity waiting, but I think it was more like 15 minutes. My doc and his nurse {2 of my favorite people!} came in. Then the start of the surgery was called at 12:07pm and Nicolas was introduced to the world at 12:12pm. I remember talking to Tony a little during those 5 minutes and asking the doc what was happening, but none of the details really. After he was born, they brought him around and I couldn’t have been more delighted!! He was screaming like a mad cat and I had to laugh. After a bit, I was off to recovery and then off to the 4th floor where I called home for about 4 days. I couldn’t have been happier with all of the staff at the hospital! They were WONDERFUL! I think I had better service there than any hotel/resort I have ever stayed at…LOL! Now we are home, Nic is a week old and all is going well. Thank you to everyone for their love, support, friendship and well wishes. Love ya guys!!

The first Wednesday of each month brings new stamps from My Favorite Things…really cute ones! The SCS gallery is loaded with sneak peeks, I have already shown you 2 and I have 4 more for you today. But before we get down to the business end of this post, let me announce who won MONSTER SQUAD…

Random Integer Generator

132

Congratulations to:

132 Deborah
My favorite costume that I saw as a kid was this boy in my class who was a lego. He was inside a box that had four bowls (upside down) and it was all painted blue.
I was a bunny that year. Not that interesting. ha.

The first project I have for you is a card that uses some of the fun images from Totally Witchin’. I love these clever little jars! To get the “antiqued” edges I used my Warm Gray 5 Copic (W-5) and blender pen. Not bad! Gonna have to do that more often! The DP is from American Crafts and the ribbon is May Arts…2 of my favorite companies!

Next up is a trail mix bag topper using the Nature Calls set. On Susan’s lead, I used a scallop circle punch and sponged clouds. The sentiment is from Ride ‘Em Cowgirl; I just thought that it fit perfectly here.

As an elementary teacher, I was always telling my kiddos to READ READ READ! It’s the best thing that you can do for them and the best thing that they can do for themselves. In that spirit, I created a little “READ” sign from a small square coaster. The letters are from the Red Tag Alpha Cuttlebug Alpha. The bunny is from the newest Flopsey…What’s The Story? Here it is hanging on the wall…

A more detailed shot…

Finally, here’s another card using the Nature Calls and the What’s Your Sign sets. I have to admit that when I first started working with these stamps I was a little intimidated. I am not a “scene creator.” I know that there are stampers out there that have this down to an art form; however, I do not fall in that category. So, instead of stressing myself out about creating a cute scene, I went simple. I really like how it came out, too!

Detail shot…

All these sets are being released tonight. I hope that you will join us for the Release Party HERE from 9-11EST. There will be challenges to become the next My Favorite Guest and the next MFT Ambassadors, as well as the Ambassador Challenges. Fun for all!!

The Dare To Get Dirty ‘08 challenges are in full swing over on SCS. This card is a sample that I made for Jody’s “It’s All About The Ribbon” Challenge. I started with my inspiration…American Crafts ribbon and let it lead me on all aspects of the card. You will notice that the card is long and thin {cut with Nestabilities}. The scalloped edges resemble the dots on the ribbon. Of course the punched circles also mimic the ribbon’s pattern. It looked a little plain without any stamping throughout the card, so I used a Hero Arts clear set that I got a while back. I used VersaMark so that the image would not be too dramatic on the circles {or “olka-dots” as we now refer to them here}.

Be sure to join the Dirty Girls for the next several days for lots of fun challenges. I am hosting a challenge on Saturday, in addition to the Sketch For You To Try here.

Happy Hump Day! Today is the first day of Ellie’s Wiggles and Tunes class. I am totally looking forward to it! One of her little friends is going to be in there, too. I am going to try to take pics, but it’s a Mommy and Me class, so I’m not sure how that is going to work. LOL!

I guess everyone is liking my sketches! Today I checked the sketch challenge on SCS and there was one of the sketches I did in April. You can see my post HERE. It’s fun to see everyone’s take on it. I hope to get to play again a little later today….Laundry, what laundry!??!

Also, have you picked up the latest Take Ten issue? The “We Challenge You” sketch is also one of my cards/sketches {page 26}. Let me know if you send in a submission to them. I can’t wait to see everyone’s cards in print!!!

As you may know, My Favorite Things is releasing several new stamp sets tonight! Be sure to join us HERE for the release party from 9-11 EST. It is a very exciting release for MFT, as we are presenting a new line of stamps. Here is a message from MFT…

My Favorite Things is pleased and proud to introduce you to our brand-spankin’ new line, My Favorite Things Presents! My Favorite Things Presents opens the door for us to work with new Illustrators and continue to offer images that are “Fresh, Fun and Completely Distinctive!” This spin-off brand will begin by offering images from artist Annie LaPointe, being introduced over the next few months. Other Illustrators, as *need* arises, will be added as we find artists and styles we feel would translate well into the stamp world and as we see a niche we can uniquely fill. My Favorite Things original brand will continue to be drawn by the irreplaceable Christy Beckwith, whose style has so completely captured our hearts.

Here a couple creations using this GORGEOUS new line…

This uses a tray from GLUE. I love how these turn into home decor so quickly and easily!

Here are a couple projects using the Congrats all Around set. I’m such a sucker for baby projects!! The tag was made by taking 2 scallop circle punches and adhering them together after scoring the back piece about 1/2″ in. I used the SU! Word Window punch to create a loop to string the ball/chain thread through.

Up close on the tag…

Here’s the card. I did not finish the inside, but I think that it would make a great shower, new baby or announcement.

Again, I hope that you will join us at the release party tonight! It’s a lot of fun and everyone is welcome. There will be more projects to see, some announcements and a few challenges. Have a great day!!

Happy Monday everyone! This Inky Antics Martini Girl was seeking to be inked and that’s what she finally got this weekend. There is just way too much un-inked rubber in my stamp studio!! I am making an effort to get to those under-loved stamps. The truth is that I am going to do a little more housekeeping and will probably have to purge some. So, you might want to be on the lookout for a sale here in the {somewhat near} future. Back to the card… The sentiment is also from Inky Antics. It’s actually one long sentiment that I inked twice to make it fit the circle. Now from the base up…the base of the card is Regal Rose and is layered with Whisper White, Basic Black and DP from Crafty Secrets. The Martini Girl is colored with Copics and the glass and bubbles are layered with Sakura Stardust pen. My finishing touches include itty bitty Prima flowers that have Bella Bauble centers, Regal Rose 5/8″ ribbon and a cute little martini charm from Stamping Bella.

Many of you expressed interest when I wrote about the last class that I taught at my LSS. Well, good news…I have 2 more classes coming up!!

Friday, June 13 -Friday Night Fun with Copics and new MFT stamps
Saturday, June 14 - Altered Acrylic Blocks

Here is a link to the Imprints Class Schedule for more deets. Call Imprints to sign up for my classes (or any other ones that seem interesting!)