For the Clearly I Stamp DS Challenge

 
Good Morning...still that in 108 Arizona. I hope my legions of fans have had a blessed weekend. As promised, I was up and out taking photos of my creation for the guest designer challenge spot at Clearly I Stamp. I used Papertrey's On My Couch and Couch Additions for the couch and sentiment. I decided to follow the sketch and also stick to the colors. My large circle is Cuttled with a new folder called Morrocan Screen. It could be wallpaper, don't ya' think? I used Nesties labels for to mat the couches. I used the SU medium punch for the sentiment and the couch is cut out and popped up. I punched the little pillows with a circle punch. Aren't they cute? The blue and choc chip mats are bordered with an Martha Stewart punch and dotted with a Signo white pen. A ribbon from my cheap stash rounds it all out. This is my second try at a ds spot. I subscribe to this blog, but haven't purchased any of their stamps, however, I am sorely tempted this time. Get Off Your Tuffet and the Tea-rrific sets are just too adorable.
So, I'm off to my see my hubby at rehab today and my dd just walked to try and scrounge some lunch off me. She works 2 miles away...blessed child.

A Quick Post

 
Well, things are moving along since my husband went to the hospital and then rehab. He is doing well, but keeping his spirits up is what I worry about most. There are five more days of intense physical therapy and then he comes home. I am not going to worry about the future because God says in His Word not to. Taking care of him will not be much different than it was before. We will have as much help as we can afford monthly and I have dear friends and family who have offered their help. I am blessed.
So, that's why I am posting this card. I made it a few weeks ago. The sentiment is from Our Daily Bread. I love how they package their stamps and I wish I could afford a few more sets. While I'm on that subject, I thought I'd mention my fave stamping companies now that Stampin' Up is practically in my history book. Except for their paper and an occasional punch, I doubt I'll order more than a hundred dollars or so before the end of the year. I am really enjoying just about everything that Papertrey, Gina K and Our Daily Bread have to offer. Still haven't gotten any Gina K stuff, but it's on my wish list. I also have been buying a little paper from Paper Temptress and enjoying most everything. These are my go-to on-line stores. Tomorrow (note I have given myself a deadline), I'll tell you the stamping companies I like in my local stores. I will also give you a link to a blogger I truly admire. She has begun to make video tutes. On her very first one, she got over 90 comments!! How about that? I've also made a card for a challenge that I'll post so that I can be eligible for a guest designer spot with their company. I finally have the confidence to try out for some of these. Now, I'd better hit the sack.
I hope you enjoy my card. Deets available upon request from any one of my legions of fans.
Have a blessed week.
Erica

So Much Going On....

 
This is a super quick post...don't want my legion of fans to forget me or to think I forgot about them.
There is some drama going on with hubby...he is hospitalized and not being very cooperative, which is important to his recovery. So if you are a pray-er...feel free to add me to your list. Mine is sooo lenghty, I could use all the help I can get.
This is one of the Cutting Cafe's card holder templates that I enjoy making so much. I gifted it to an awesome friend of mine and she absolutely loved it. I like how I was able to incorporate the corsage pin into the design. I have been collecting jewels to make more of these. What a time I had finding the pins..finally got them at Michaels' wedding section. Then I had to settle for earring backs as no one has the backs that SU sells in their "Pretties" box. I think they worked out well. Hope you enjoy my card too. I so want to make some cards and have lots of ideas floating in my head, but family drama is assuredly going to be an impediment.
AH, such is life, huh?
Blessings, Erica

Cowtime

 
I'm supposed to be in bed already...but staying up late is nothing for me and I can continue to do it, 'cuz that J O B I posted about didn't come through. This is the first time in my life that I was hired on one day and fired 2 days later. There's a story behind it of course, but I won't bore ya'. Suffice it to say, that now I can stamp into the wee hours and have myself a good old time.
So here's my card for the Teapot challenge at Mothermarks. I had only one cow stamp and it is super tiny, so I had to figure out what size to make. I think a circle worked the best. I tried to do that spotlight technique. I think it sorta works. Made some grass...that was a bit tedios, and used an SU sentiment from a retired set. Hope you like it. I'll try to post this weekend. I made a fun birthday card using this week's SU tute called Recessed Cards.
Have a great Sat/Sun and be sure to get some stampin' done.

A Sunday Kind of Card

 
Hurry...hurry...that's the code word for my life.
So, I've made a decision, a very important one too and I won't go on and on about it, but we all know that the dollars aren't goin' as far as they used to right? I have been downsizing where and when I can. I started in 2007 because, my dh and I both saw this economic downturn coming. We only have one vehicle now. We don't eat out nearly as often, I lowered my stamping budget by 1/3. I hardly ever buy clothes and when I do, well, I confess I hit Walmart first. And my annual purchase of a Coach bag...gone gone gone. You'd laugh at what I carry now for a purse. With all of this said, I'm returning to work. But the best part is, that I'm going right back where I was 15 months ago. The woman who replaced me needed more hours and the company couldn't give them to her. So the co-owner called me to wish me HB and hinted at my coming back. At first, I said no, but as soon as I hung up, I thought that maybe I'd better think about it and pray too. After talking to dh, dds and friends who still work there, I called her back and said OK. We are going to work out a more flexible schedule than I had before, because one of the reasons I retired was I needed to spend more time with my disabled dh. I think he's tired of me now, 'cause he encouraged me to go back. So, I'm headed to Surprise (that's where the office is..honest) this Thursday. I'm planning on being more disciplined than I was before about my home life. I plan on continuing blogging, but may not make as many cards and I'll have to unsubscribe from half of the blogs I read. That may not be a bad thing. At times I get so wrapped in reading them, that I don't get any cards done.
So, wish me God's blessings on my re-endeavor. The main blessing is I love the people I will be working with and I don't mind the work and I can use the PC if I'm not too busy to check out a few fun things now & then.

So, here's my card. I made this a few weeks ago. I was trying to achieve the mono white look, but got scared and threw a little color in it. Nesties, CB folder, and CB border folder, along with SU stamps are the basis. Pearls, ribbon, and Michaels' 'wedding' flowers round it out.

God Bless you all.
Erica

Our Daily Bread Card

 

My DD needed some special cards for several Christian young ladies who helped her prep for VBS. Every year she initially gets loads of volunteers who end up not showing up. Just the faithful keep returning. This is one, and I will show the others as the week goes on. I used an Our Daily Bread set release for July, called Grow In Grace, from here They make lovely Christian stamps. I liked how they are packaged and they even sent a little post-it notepad with their logo on it. I am ordering from stamp companies I have never tried. Tonight, I did some damage at Papertrey. I have ordered Laurn Meader's template downloads, but not their stamps. Can't wait to get them. Sadly, I haven't felt the need to order SU stamps. The only one I gotta' have is the large medallion and I'm in no hurry for it. Last week, I organized all of my cs and was amazed at how much I have, so I will even be able to resist ordering that.
So this card does use SU papers and the ODB "Grow In Grace". I cut the flowers out and mounted them. There is also lines I did with my Scor-Pal and some ds paper from K & Co. I used a border punch as well as Nesties for the ovals. A little bling here & there and not much coloring. I was very satisfied with my card and I feel like my style really shows through it.
Well, hump day is past. Hope the rest of your week is smooth sailing.
Blessings, Erica

 

Teapot Challenge

 
Good Evening...hope your days are going smoothly. Last week, my friend El suggested I take the teapot challenge at This Is My Story's blog here http://mothermark.blogspot.com/2009/07/tea-party-on-lily-pad.html. I had come across her blog previously and admired her collection of teapots. I too am a collector, but not as avid as she. A while back, El gifted me with a lovely frog teapot. I also collect teapots. I thought it too pretty to take out and allow to get dusty...don't do much dusting around my house, so it stayed in its box. So, the challenge provided me a chance to take it out and maybe...maybe, I'll put it out for visitors to see for a while and even brew a cupa tea when it cools a bit...right now, I'm drinking iced.
So, here is my teapot and card. I'm sorry it's a bit lit. The blog has moved on to another teapot challenge. My ds paper is digi from a British company here http://www.making-handmade-cards.com/1-card-making-club.html. The cs is general stuff from my stash. I used the CB on the pink mat and the Nesties for the squares. I've had the frog for a long long time. He's a bit goofy looking to me, but as with all things frog...I like him. I used my Cropodile to evenly space the holes and pebbles to accent the frame. One of the darned things came off while I was handling the card as I was taking photos. The ribbon is non-descript and I used my "Bow Easy" to tie the bow. Love that thing.

Hope you have a blessed rest of the week.

A Cutting Cafe Card Holder

 
So, good day...still having a blast with my iphone, I am...and scheduled myself and family for a hour class on how to use it "basicically." Humph! I may already know what they have to teach, but I'm sure I'll learn something..hee hee.
So here is yet another box that I made for my "paid project" last month. I love the papers on this one and the leaf punch and the button works...I don't often use buttons. I never know quite where to place them.
Did you see my new banner? WHOOPIE...finally got my talented oldest dd to sit down and make it. Unfortunately, no time for my siggy and watermark, but she's coming back in September....one step at a time. The poor girl works a full-time and part-time job and is raising her baby sans much help from Dad. My prayers are with her always.
A few days ago, I sent Regina Easter at the Cutting Cafe some pics of my card holders. I wanted her to see how I've been using and actually making $$ with her template downloads. She responded positively and asked if she could add them to her gallery. OH MY, I'd be honored, I said. So when they are, I'll provide a link for my legions of fans.
I had a super fun weekend with all the grands here and good food. We didn't feel the need to go out (except for a quick lunch on Friday with youngest dd), just cooked at home and kept the meals simple. Everyone has gone home now and it's back to normal. So maybe tomorrow, I'll get some stamping done. I did make a frog card for a challenge, but I'm not entirely happy with it, so won't be rushing to post it.
Have a happy week and thanks for looking.