My Sweet Girl

Hello Everyone. Yes, it's been a long time. I have been creating away though. I made more cards than usual, however, I have such difficulty parting with them...especially those that live up to my dreams. This one was given to my dd for her to give to someone worthy...as in who won't throw it in the trash before a yearis up! I know, silly, but one can get quite attached to a piece now and then.

So, this little gal is a digi from the The Cutting Cafe. On my PC, I have not yet mastered the world of digi stamps, but I got this one printed out 6 to a page and I was elated. I carefully colored them with all manner of markers, copics spectrum noir, etc. I'm even happy with the skin coloring. Then I cut them out and decided she was worthy of an easel card. This is a twisted one. Of course, she got the royal treatment...lots of pretty dsp, die cuts and a fitting sentiment. I just love her. I hope I find time to treat her to another speciality card, uh, but not this year.

I hope you are all enjoying the Christmas season with family and friends. I'll be with just my immediate family and that's how I like it best.

Blessings,
Erica

Less Is More...Red and Green

Good Sunday Morning.
At Less is More, the challenge is in keeping with the approaching holiday...red and green.

I've been making Christmas cards like a mad-woman. I'm not quite sure why but I do know there's more inspiration in the card-making world than ever. I didn't even break out my stamps from years past. Instead, I made a few (ahem), purchases this year and have been making them work overtime. So, I adore aperature cards, but rarely make them, so I did for LIM.  Images used are both from a retired  Close to My Heart set and my coloring is not nearly as bright as it should be, but I got the aperature right. And to balance things a bit, I added the baking twine.

Go play along with the LIM challenge before the holiday scene just doesn't leave you any time.

Blessings,
Erica

Challenge no. 27 at Simply Create Too

Evening all. I was supposed to be here posting early this morning. I am unexpectedly baby-sitting my youngest grand. All grandparents know that if you want to make God laugh, you have only to plan out your day...particularly when one is babysitting.

Sienna is 4 yrs. old and demands lots of attention. She is interested in all things paper, so that's fun.

At Simply Create Too, we are finishing out the Thanksgiving holidays with a card. So here's mine. It's called a stair-step, I think. I got the how-to from YouTube. These are fun to make. Try one someday...maybe for our challenge.

More Christmas cards tomorrow.

Blessings, Erica

Mice...so cute

Hi Stampers...almost T-Day...have you planned your menu? I'm winging it a bit this year. I bought plenty of veggies, ham and, of course, the bird, but I'm not quite sure how I'll be fixin' those veggies. One thing to be sure, there are so many food blogs and IPhone apps to choose from that it can end-up being a bit overwhelming. So, I will rely on old stand-by recipes clipped from mags and newspapers decades ago.

And the card...mice...so cute. I wish I had more of these adorable images. Unfortunately, I have only one friend who appreciates these sweeties.

So, enjoy your T-Day with family and friends.

Blessings,
Erica

Simply Create Too Challenge...Use Your Stash

Hey Stampers, we're using our stash at Simply Create Too. That's never difficult for me as I have quite the stash...ahem'. So I kept it simple, starting off with a DCWV 'dots, stripes and plaids', pre-made card. These boxes of cards (50 ea.) are a real time-saver. And if you don't like the card front, you can cut it up for use as various sized mats, etc. Dots make me happy. My fave dress as a little girl was a navy blue and white polka dot dress. I cried when it no longer fit me.

I stamped in Memento danube blue ink on a white mat with a large Stampendous sentiment that could easily also be used on the inside of a card.   A scrap of pink ric rac I had in my stash finished it off. I'll be duplicating this card when I start making my sets for friends' presents this holiday.

Come along and play with us in this easy peasy Simply Create Too challenge, won't you.

Blessings,
Erica

Birthday Punching

OK, stampers...so I'm rushing about getting ready for T-Day. I plan to shop at three grocery stores in order to save as much as possible. I'm dreading the cost of a "turkey dinner," and have already eliminated two of the more costly dishes I usually prepare...no crab cakes this year.  In addition to that we're getting the house ready for showing and our new house is coming along nicely. I have started to take my  morning walks around the new neighborhood which has landscaped winding paths and a beautiful view of mountains to the west. I am loving it. Thank goodness I've squeezed in a massage for tomorrow. It will be welcome.

 I've feverishly been making Christmas cards, but I managed to get a few B-Day cards done too. This uses all SU products. Luv the banner punch and the stamp set that matches it. SU was quite innovative with this set, as you can also make a Christmas tree with it. I'll be posting a card showing this idea soon.

Well along to bed I go.

Blessings,
Erica

Simply Create Too Challenge #25

Hi Stampers. I tried to post my card for the Simply Create Too challenge on the weekend and kept running into PC issues. It turns out I've been living with PC malware and a possible virus for several weeks. My sweet SIL got tired of hearing me yelling in my craftroom, and came to my aide. He said he'd have come sooner, but he thought I was yelling at the news media and all the politics. I am now up and running quite smoothly. Unfortunately, I really don't have an excuse to buy that IMac I've been wanting. So there's nothing much to post...SU cs, a single flower stamp from Stampendous, stamped in Memento tangelo, and a sentiment from CTMH stamped in Memento Tuxedo black.

So, my card came about in 5 minutes. I had forgotten it was due and I had to hussle while keeping it clean and simple. My new found Nestibilitie dies that cut perfect mats helped me keep it all nice and even.  Although I do prefer this style anyway, I like having time and options.

Please consider joining us for the Simply Create Too challenge no. 25 in black, orange and yellow.We still have a week to go. Check out the mid-posts from our talented design team too.

Blessings,
Erica

How About a Christmas Card

So odd tonight...that I can't publish my Simply Create Too post along with its card. But in publishing this post, I think I figured out a way around it.

Here is another card to add to my growing stash. I've used an A2 card with SU's marina mist for the base and Geo. Pacific white cs  where white is used. The snowflake is huge and new from SU's snowflake soiree. I inked it up with Memento sky blue and dazzled its points (tho' undiscernible) with Stickles star dust. I used two Nestie dies and tied a bow, added a pearl, and the tag is made with Nesties labels. The pretty lace edging is from Cherry Lynn Designs. It really looks like a piece of lace...luv it. I used a Cuttlebug polka dot folder for interest. I will make another based on this, however, I think I need to emboss this snowflade in a darker blue or, use a diecut snowflake...and I just happened to buy one today...:)

Hugs, Erica

A Christmas cars

Just popping by to post one of the many cards I've made for Christmas. I think I'll be having to give away a few to my dh this year. I've been having a blast with the stamps I own.
Have a great weekend.
Blessings, Erica

Back to Christmas cards

 Hi Stampers,
Time to show another Christmas card. I can't believe I'm actually making mine already. Sadly, part of the reason is my list is smaller...some deaths, some people who simply never send out cards. After two years of not getting a card, I take them off my list.
I still send them a birthday card though.

This card is mostly SU items, except for the leaves which are punched with my most used MS punch leaf punch. punch. This card was cased from Andrea Walford's blog of Canada. She runs a weekly tute blog, but takes them down after one week. This was nice easy sketch to follow and can be changed up many different ways for the holidays.

Blessings,
Erica

Simply Create Too Pumpkin Challenge

Well we're continuing in the theme of the season and our challenge at Simply Create Too is to use pumpkins any way that you want to.
My card base is SU's more mustard and uses a Studio "G" dollar store image from a few years ago. It's colored with various markers. and stamped in Memento rich cocoa. I sponged using Ranger distress inks  I've also added some CTMH leaves from a retired set.  I used a Nestabilitie die and  the new Nestabilities Fancy Ribbon Threader to create the mat and then weaved some ribbon from my stash through the spaces. Kinda' neat on their part, huh?.

Remember you have two weeks to play with us, and everyone has a pumpkin stamp or two, so come join us.

Blessings,
Erica

Lee Is More Challenge 88

Hi Stampers,
Before we continue with my Christmas card bonanza...I thought I'd play with LIM. I don't usually wait this long. I couldn't think of a thing to fit the challenge. Then I remembered I have three different sets of clock stamps and a clock is silver. I remembered the one that my grandfather used for 25 yrs.,  to get up at 4:30 AM so he could go to his job as a waiter in New York City. Then I had to look for a sentiment. This one is perfect.
No deets today. If needed, just ask.

Blessings,
Erica

Here Come the Christmas Cards

So Let the fun begin
I'm going to give you 12 cards for this month, 12 for November, etc. They will be all different. And I confess right here and now, I drew my inspiration from fellow bloggers, however, none are exact matches to theirs. In a few cases, I followed a tutorial offered on You Tube. Whenever possible, I will supply a link.

So let's begin. Here is a white base with one white layer. I am giving my Nestabilitie Matting Basics a good work-out. The stamp used is from a new SU set called Watercolor Wishes. There is a trick to using these stamps and I have been unable to master it with consistency. Here, I have simply stamped the "outline".
Then, I colored the leaves with copics and popped one lone leaf at the end of the sentiment. Actually, I had a bit of a spot right there, and thought to mask it rather than tossing the white base. I rather think it works.
I used Crystal Effects to make the little berries pop.
As I am looking at this card on the blog, I am feeling that the branch appears un-grounded. Please feel free to give me feedback on this.

Blessings,
Erica

Hey Pilgrim



Hey Pilgrim Stampers,

Are you getting ready for Thanksgiving...notice I skipped right over Halloween. If you've been following me, you know I can't wait for T-Day.

I follow many cooking blogs. It is my 2nd fave hobby. I was thinking while reading today, how very far we have come when it comes to cooking in the Plymouth Rock days. I would have been an utter failure. I don't think I ever would have been able to adapt. I'm so spoiled. God has brought me a long way though. When I had my first baby, I had to go up a flight of stairs to a shared oven to make formula. Unfortunately, I was a ditz and didn't understand the value of breast-feeding. Later, I had a kitchen of my own, but it was only 4 by 6 ft. I felt like I was in heaven. A few kitchens later. I will be moving into our new home early next year and my daughter graciously ordered the "gourmet kitchen" for me. I will have a five burner gas stove (gas vs. electric for the first time in 16 yrs.), a double oven, a gorgeous side by side refrigerator, and built-in spice racks in my gorgeous cabinetry...oh, and a walk-in pantry. I am so humbly grateful to my Lord for how far he has brought me and blessed me.

 

So here is a little pilgrim guy. He's a $ stamp from Jo-Ann's . He's colored with copics. I've used a mish mash of papers from Gina K to Recollections. I used Nesties for the mats, except for the banner which I made myself. I'm getting better at these. The little flower is a brad. And the semtiment is from CTMH.

 

I'll have a few more T-Day cards to share, and then it's gangway for the Christmas cards. I've been having a blast creating them this year. I faved tons from last year, so I'd have lots of inspiration.

 

Blessings,

Erica

 

 

 

 

Besides Halloween...and More Importantly

 Hello Stampers,

I don't do Halloween and it's not only World Card-making Day. As I mentioned yesterday, thankfullness is more important to me right now. I know there are millions of women in the world who are thankful they have are in remission, though, Praise God, I am not one of them. I empathize with each women who has this story and I never tire of listening if they choose to bless me with hearing it. So, I plan to honor them always.

Here is my card. It's not for World Card-Making Day, but I bought this set last year and I think it says it all.

For the base, I used SU's melon mambo...such a bright pink, huh?  A square of  SU dsp is used inside the framed mat which is die cut with a Cheery Lyn Japanese Lace and Floral frame. Gee, these dies give me a fit. I use waxed paper, run them trough my Fiskars Fuse at least 10 times, backwards and forwards. Then I turn them around a quarter turn, and then and only then, will I get a clean cut. At that point, I have to use special tools that really look like dental probes, to get each of the tiny cut pieces. I tell you, if I didn't love the finished product so much, I'd just use a Nestie and call it a day.
OK, so then I did use Nesties diecuts for the ovals and the tag. The bra is stamped in SU's pixie pink and the sentiment in Memento tuxedo black. The stamp set is Clear Art Stamps, "Support the Girls". Lots of pink pearl bling finishes the card.

So are you doing the "Walk for the Cure" or donating $$$ and time? Or are you in the position where you are part of a support system to families in need? Whatever it is, I sulute you.

Blessings,
Erica

Create Simply Too Mid-Post Challenge #23

Happy Friday Stamping friends.
I hope the start of the weekend brings some quality time for you. World Card-making Day starts/is tomorrow. I've already begun. At the bottom I'll post a link to a great website where they will be having lots of fun. Please let me know if you know of others.

So, at Simply Create Too, we are celebrating the Fall/Autumn season, really?! it's 97 here today.

My card using the press-into/emboss technique...OK, I made that up. The name escapes me... will edit post if I think of it.

The leaves are all from one set by InkadinkadoClings. There was no specific name on the set. These sets retail for $4.99 and I don't have a problem buying stamp sets for less than $5.00. Do you? I balk at $15.00 and above. (Someone, please tell me why I'm a Stampin' Up hobby demo.)
The folder is by Cuttlebug. OK, so I have so many folders now that I am no longer storing them in their cases which means that I lose the name, so I finally had the bright idea to write the name on the folder itself with a Sharpie. Why did that take me so long to think of? In future posts, I will give the folder name. The leaves are colored with copics, Papers are all SU, as it the button and twine is from my stash.

Oh, and I super-splurged and purchased the Nestabilities matting basic layers "A" and "B". Can I tell you that it may just be the best purchase I have EVER made! I am layer challenged in a big way.

Now for one of the fun places to be for World Card-Making Day i {Heart} Papers

Please join us at Simply Create Too. We'd love to see your creations.

Blessings,
Erica

Less Is More Lucky Dip, no. 87

Hello Stampers...
Have you seen the beautiful harvest moon tonight? It's moonglow at its best.

So, at Less Is More the divas are talking marriage...on cards that is. They are also featuring one of my absolute fave artists, Susan Goetter. Susan does it all. When you have a look, you will be visiting her blog often.

I knew I wanted to use one of the newest embossing folders on hand and I have these Nestabilities borders I always forget to use, opting for border punches instead. So they got a workout today.
The stamp is a part of a SU's Word Play set. I used the SU butterfly punch with some gold paper and embossed with gold powder. It may not show-up well, but the gold paper is also used as a backing underneath the border. Pearls were strategically placed for a little fun bling. My cs base is Gina K's luxury white, which I'm having a difficult time getting straight cuts on. It must be time to invest in a new cutter or find a person who does blade sharpening...a most difficult thing to do. It is a dying craft in my neck of the woods. I should also add that I share Chrissie's less than perfect photo skills. I know I need to invest in one of those tents, but in my defense, it's tough to get a good photo of a white card. In order to make the butterflies really show as gold, I had to really edit to the point of almost wiping out the dry embossing appeal. Nothing looks realistic. I also hadn't planned on adding those little creatures, but I stamped my sentiment a bit high and I added the butterflies to draw the eye down a bit. I think I succeeded.
Blessings,
Erica

Experiment from IPad

Trying to see if my iPad will produce good photos from pictures I have taken with my iPad and then posted to my blog
Well my nice my daughter who really knows the iPad just showed me how I can use it kind of like Siri Way cool

I'm Back!!!

 Wow! It's just about a month since I've posted. Time truly got away from me. I've been home close to two weeks, but happily doing everything but making cards. Lots of baking...zucchini bread, shortbread, peach pie, oh my. Some visiting, and lots of blog hopping. I've also been doing a bit of organizing in my craftroom...just a little...and hunting through various resources trying to get an idea of how I want to build-out my new craftroom. I'm so glad I never finished the one I have now. It has served  as a stepping stone to the way it needs to be.

On to my card. I have a stamping friend who is under the weather and must undergo a battery of tests in the coming weeks, so I'm sending this to her. I've made a card base that is 5 1/4 x 5 1/4. using Gina K's heavyweight cs. The dsp is SU. The lace, ribbons, bling is from my stash. I was excited to use the image which is actually an SU bg stamp called Pleasant Poppies that I used my Nestie to cut-down, and the sentiment is from SU's Blessings from Heaven. Both are from the current catty. I see lots of use with the bg stamp. I am so tempted to color the pretty flowers in other than red, but I think poppies only bloom red. I used my copics for coloring and my rotten photo skills don't do it justice.

I have a few card set requests to do. Just before I left for CA...where I had a great time with family...I made 38 all occasion cards and didn't take photos of any. DUH!

Have a great week.

Blessings,
Erica

Simply Create Too goes Back To School

Good morning stamping friends. It's finally cooling a bit here in AZ, just in time for the kiddies who returned to school early in the month. They will be so happy to be able to finally go outdoors for their recess...I think teachers will be to.

I kept it simple for my card at  Simply Create Too. I used SU riding hood red for the base, white from my stash which I embossed in a Cuttlebug folder. Then I added a stamp from a set by Hampton Art. Their wood-mounted stamps were always too pricy for me, so I'm tickled I'm finding them un-mounted and in sets now. I already own three. I coloed the letters with my copics and mounted them on pop-dots.

So find yourself a few moments to play in school this week, while perhaps your own little people are doing the real thing.

Blessings,
Erica

Less Is More Challenge 81

 It's LIM challenge Saturday and while you're checking out the 81st challenge, do go over to Chrissie's blog and check-out the personal best she scored. I think she's earned a team GB gold medal

I had to clean up my room before I set-off for a visit to CA with my dd. And I always have bits & pieces of die cuts about. This heart was one of them. As soon as I saw it, I thought of breaking it in some way, and as I am a Janis Joplin fan, the lyrics to this song came to mind. I have gone about the entire morning singing it.

For the first time ever, I attempted to PC write directly on paper using a font that I already had. Through trial and error, I finally got it into the right place. There's a strikethrough the word heart too. Then I tore the top left of the heart glued it down, and voila, there you have it...tearing with less is more.

I will be posting my Simply Create Too  challenge for the team shortly.

Off to a busy Saturday before I drive to CA. Do head over to the Less Is More blog. It's just what I needed this morning.

Blessings,
Erica

Naughty me,..but His Grace

I am been super busy creating 40 all occasion cards for one of my sweet neices. She had come for a visit when my family and I were stuck in a hotel for a month. It definitely wasn't the reception we had hoped to give her, but she travels a lot and so it was not a big deal. Those cards kept me so busy that I didn't post a post to match my submission for the mid-week challenge at http://simplycreatetoo.blogspot.com/.

This card is about as vintagy (sp?) as I can get. We have SU cs for base and mats and an old piece of ds paper from my stash. Then some punches, including EK Success, SU, and Sizzix, as well as Nesties and a white embossed sentiment from Our Daily Bread Designs. The flower is hand-made with scallops diecuts, sprayed with glimmer mist. But I wanted to make sure it stayed nice and firm, so after spraying with the mist, I sprayed with a non-aerosol spray starch and let dry. The flower center is an SU brad and the pearls and lace are from my stash. BTW, my dd dislikes vintage, but she liked this card enough to snatch it for her stash.

Off to CA for a few weeks, so blogging will be sketchy (pun intended) at best. I will be taking some stamping things though. I hope to get 40 Christmas cards done. They will be simplicity personified and, of course, I'll be blog-hopping galore.

Blessings,
Erica (who might get in an LIM challenge if the mojo is working)

Less Is More Challenge 79

    Less Is More Colour is about blue and green this week. They are two of my fave colors to work with. Since I love all things froggie, I didn't hesitate to pick this one out of my 50 or so collection stamp collection. It is one of the first stamps I purchased. It's from a company called Rubber Monger, right here in Arizona. I don't think they are still around. Isn't he just wild jumping into the water like this? So, I put him on some white cs and with an oval die (really an oval in my opinion), from QuicKutz, diecut him and colored him using only Copics. He's mounted on an embossed layer from Sizzix. There wasn't much else to do, and that's why I love LIM. They keep it simple. I might try another...frog that is...

Blessings,
Erica

Simply Create Too Challenge #19

Welcome to the weekend stamping friends. Sky is the limit at Simply Create Too, where the challenge is "anything goes". If you can make it, we want to see it. I love the freedom these challenges give us.

Our team has grown. Do check-in at each of  the new members' blogs and show them some love.

So for my card, I used an image from Sprakle Creations. She is called Cupcake Ruby. My grandson calls her Cupcake Grandma. Her hairstyle is a bit dated, isn't it? The A2 card base is SU's certainly celery. Then a white base, followed by dsp from the Prima line called Madeline. I used an SU border punch on a small white layer and lace toward the bottom. "Ruby" is mounted on an white oval within a Nestie beaded ovals die on blue scrap cs. Pearls are the bling. She's colored very painstakingly with copics and some promarkers.

I hope you can find some time this week...remember our challenges run for two weeks, to play.

Blessings,

Erica

Use It Two Times (At Least): Splat! at Simply Create Too

 Forgive me dear readers. I've been incredibly busy. My card appears on the Simply Create Too and alas, it's been there for almost a week and I haven't done a post about it. My life is just moving along so fast.
Tomorrow, I leave with family for NY to celebrate the birthday of my 90 yr. old ex-FIL. It will be a short trip and when I return, the grands will be ready to return to school. My plan then, is to get back to normal and post regularly. I hope to make-up in the last five months of the year for what I was unable to get done in the first seven months.
Soooo, at Simply Create Too, the challenge no. 18, is to use it twice.  I love this Inkadinkadoo splat. Don't know what else to call to call it, and I don't know why I like it either. I do believe it will work on several card occasions. So it's "splated"  on an A2 Gina K luxury weight white base, in Memento bahama blue and tangelo. The sentiment is from a Recollections set and is stamped in Memento sahara sand. It's one layer, so what could be simpler.

Come back for my mid-post and mid-week challenge card for SCT # on August 5th. In the meantime, my IPad is my faithful companion, so I'll be lurking on lots of blogs. See you then. Enjoy the last month of summer...well, here in AZ, it's really the second month.

Blessings,
Erica

Less Is More Challenge Week 76

Hello stamping community.
How was your Saturday? Mine was spent running about doing errands helping to get my grandson ready for church camp. He is excited because he is going to Cali., and will be with an awesome youth pastor as well as friends he has made at church...so fun to see an excited 14 yr. old talking non-stop...and a bit exhausting.

So I needed the calm relaxation of making a card for Less Is More Challenge Week 76,
where it's one layer week.  Mandi and Chrissie have given us an easy peasy theme of "just use 3 of anything." Not too tough, right? I have been having fun with this Hero Arts image I picked up a few weeeks ago. Many stampers are making a trio of cards as the divas did. For now, I'm sharing two..not sure if I'll have time to make a third. For the first  I stamped on an A2 white cs base with Memento tuxedo black and colored with a copic. The two twirly thingies are from an Inkadinkadoo set called Inspirational Lift. I didn't think I'd ever use these two images, as I really purchased the set for the fun air balloons, so popular right now, and a few sentiments, but I thought these two images were 'artsy' enough to stand with the Artsy Lady.  For the second, I just stamped the image three times, using the masking technique. Then using Derwent Coloursoft Skintone pencils..a surprising and welcome find at my a big box craft store, I gave the ladies some ethnicity. After all, artsy ladies come in all colors, right?

So, there you have it. Now go play along with LIM.


Blessings,
Erica

Simply Create Challenge no. 17

Are you planning a vacation this summer? Mine has been mostly eaten away at as a result of a visit to the design center of the builder with whom we have purchased our new home. But I'm pleased as punch with the upgrades we chose. They make my heart smile and they will be great for re-sale incentives. Mind you, I'm praying that "I" will never have to make a move again, unless it is to senior assisted living. But it will be good for my dd and sil, who will someday become empty-nesters with no need for a large house.

I will be going back to NY for a quick visit to celebrate my ex-FIL (you read it right...he said his son (my first husband), may have fallen out of love with me, but he didn't. He's a sweet old guy turning 90 this month. So a big surprise family and friends get-together is planned. I haven't been back since I moved 15 yrs. ago. Hopefully, before the end of the year a dear friend of mine and I will be able to get our schedules together for a Hawaii vacation. So I have plans. I just gotta execute 'em.

So, here's my submission for Simply Create Too.
We are going on summer vacation and anything you use in our challenge should speak summery to us.
I used a Michaels $1Studio "G"  stamp, along with Nesties circles. The flower is an old Prima with a SU 'adornment vintage flower'. I believe they're retired.
I used a Sizzix flower die for the leaves. The papers are all SU with brand new SU dsp. Then, because I can barely sew a button on, I used a stamp that is faux stitching from the Paper Studio. The flip flops have  bling flowers, which doesn't show up well, but it's nice and sparkly. The butterflies are MS punched.

OK, drum roll please.........I have a few photos to show you of my newest, and I promise, last piece of stamping equipment. I have a few toys, but I have managed not to purchase a Cricuit (of any type), a Spellbinders machine, or a Big Shot. Therefore, the fact that I do own a Cuttlebug (had to replace my broken one), a Silhouette Cameo (a bit overwhelmed by it) and now a Fiskar's Fuse, means.....well, what does it mean? It means, "I had to have it".

I have done a little playing with it, so I'll do a review at the beginning of the week. I got mine from on-line from HSN when it was a special value of the day a few weeks ago.

Blessings,
Erica (gonna check out LIM for the weekend and see if I can incorporate using my new toy in some way.)

Text, Newsprint, Writing

Hi Stamping Friends,

Hope you had a fun-filled and safe 4th of July. It did something quite unusal in my part of Arizona....rain and it was only the 8th time in AZ weather history (recorded), that it happened. Fortunately, we didn't have any plans and I wasn't feeling all that well, so the family, minus me, ate leftovers and went to a fireworks display in the evening. After a good rub-down with Ben-Gay for a sore back muscle, which was the culprit of my blues, I was able to check out a few challenges and decided to take the one at  Casual Fridays. I love text and searched high & low for some time to get a BG text image. I used it on my card in the previous post. For this card, I had received this image from Hero Arts called Wish Big, in a stamp store's extravaganza when I was in CA. I think it fits the bill for the challenge.I used Memento tuxedo black to stamp and colored with my Copics. A little bow made of bakers twine finishes it off. Later, I went back and colored the two top balloons. I wasn't sure they'd be seen in the photo, so that's why I waited. The text is quite tight, so you hav to be up close to the color. Sadly, my photo skills wouldn't have captured it. I am so not wanting to spend the big bucks on a light tent and lights. Nor do I feel like rigging up a homemade one.

There are so many challenges out there these days. When I first started stamping, I barely came across 10 or so, now there are blogs devoted to putting together listings of challenges each week.

On a personal front, the house is bought and we now have the fun and stress and expense of going to the design center to pick out all of the flooring, appliances, etc. My darling daughter has already picked out a "gourmet kitchen" for me. After 15 years, I am going to be able to cook on a gas stove. I am elated. I dislike electric stoves immensely. We are hoping to come away from this experience with mostly the standard items for the house and hope to upgrade over the course of the next 5 years I am very pleased with my bedroom (smaller than my current) and craftroom (larger than my current one).

Blessings, Erica

I'll keep you posted.

Simply Create Too Challenge No. 16

At long last...a full month to be exact, my family and I are home. Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home. I am so tired of eating out, that I have opted not to have my traditional restaurant dinner for my birthday this year. We had a nice room and the hotel staff was wonderful. I was able to bring my little dog and we were directly across the street from the church we attend. So, I kept these things close to my heart and that is how God continually reminded me of how blessed we actually were.

However, I was super excited to get back into my craftroom, especially since I'd done a bit of retail therapy shopping  and

 I had several goodies waiting for me. They are all organized and put away ready for me to get my mojo up to par.

So, I'm happily creating cards for my design team who have been encouraging to me during this ordeal. I needed a bit of a jumpstart for this card. I had some simpler ideas in my head, but a visit to Belle Papier and Julia Stainton,  got my juices flowing and I came up with this. I stamped a BG stamp from Impressions Obsessions called Cover-a-Card, Newsprint. I have been looking for a stamp image like this for almost a year. This stamp gives great coverage over the entire A2 card, and then some. I cut it down and matted it on a piece of SU real red cs. Then using a home-made template, I sponged the red stripes on using SU real red ink. For the stars, I used a retired SU set called The Free and the Brave. I liked the distressed look of them. I used Broken China Ranger distress ink. It may appear that the word "Free" is stamped, but it is actually Cuttlebug alphabet letters  diecut in a blue cs from my stash and then glued on with my Quickie Glue pen. The corners are punched with an SU corner punch which has just retired. The card base is Gina K's heavy base weight white cs.

I have another simple card up for the challenge at SCT  too. It's not as detailed as this, so I won't bother to give the deets.

 If you have some time this weekend, please go play in our latest challenge at Simply Create Too.  Our design team leader has a design team call post this week. We're a small tight-knit group who understand the demands that family life often puts on us, so our group is low pressure. Give us a try.

Have a super safe 4th of July in whatever country you call home.

There's just no place like it...take it from me.

Blessings,

Erica