Just What I Wish

This is what I wish for many people I know. We realize all our days won't be filled with good things. However, if we have just one of those perfect days now and then, it makes the rest worthwhile. Personally, every day, I thank God for good things that I take for granted. If we live in developed countries, I thank God I don't have to go miles to get fresh water. I can't imagine one of my daily chores to be fetching a pail of water. I get so very angry with what is wrong with this country, but there isn't anywhere else I'd rather be. I'm sure most all of you would agree. Wait, there is an exception. I have thought about moving to Canada. I have vacationed there. If I could handle the cold (anything below 70 is cold to me), I'm sure I'd like it there.

On to my card. I was gifted with this Hero Arts 'Spring Tulips Sketch' stamp. I believe it's quite old. I love the sketchiness (a word?). I paired it with this sentiment from...OK, I just spent 20 mins. looking for the sentiment. I can't find it and since I'm supposed to be ironing, you're not gonna find out today. If you're desparate to know, I'll look again...promise. On the paper. Base is Neenah solar white and the dsp is retired CTMH. I colored with water color pencils....rarely used, but I am fond of them.

So, this is my second post of the day. To enter a challenge (I did) and win some fun "A Muse" goodies, scroll down, or see previous posts. I'm not sure how my blog works, but I do know I'm happy reading other's blogs when I can scroll down...less time taken.

Blessings,
Erica

Challenge OLW63

Good afternoon stampers. I was over on one of my fave blogs, Simplicity. Raihala put me onto a new-to-me challenge blog, Styles Ink. The challenge is a one layer baby card. They have goodies too, just for entering. So go and check it out.

Card recipe:
card is a top-fold  SU Shimmery White 5 x 4 1/4 (a bit odd size, I know)
Recollections clear stamp set Bouncin' Baby Boy (lots of adorable stamps that could work for boy B-Day too)
Memento Danube blue for stamping images...the shoes and "B" are separate.
Memento sky blue marker to color in the sneakers...tried the sky blue to stamp images, but way too light to show up on photo.
Oh My! Well, that's it since we're requested to do a one layer card.

I edited this in Picnik and since I don't have a photo box, I was having difficulty getting the white to show up properly. I was trying to avoid all the background I usually include in my photos this time. I should have taken a more sideview photo, cause it doesn't actually show up as a card. Sorry about that.

Blessings,
Erica

Less Is More challenge 31

Afternoon stampers. I am going simple with the LIM here challenge today. The challenge is metal. I can do that. Well, I tried a "new to me" technique from one of the contributers and it didn't happen, so I stuck with an old standby, embossing powder. The base and mat are of white linen cs. For some height and depth, I added the mat. I know, kinda basic, huh? Both images are Michael's Studio G dollar stamps. The embosing powder is Rangers Queens Gold. A teeny bit of bling for the 'dot' in the letter i and it couldn't get much more simple than this, right?. Both stamp images are dollar stamps. I may try for something "new" later in the week.

A BIG SHOUT OUT CONGRATS to LIM and its DIVAS Chrissie and Mandi for hitting followers. I never doubted they wouldn't.
"Wishing them a Bright and Shining Future.

Blessings,
Erica

Challenge 51 for Simply Create

Hi Stampers,
This is going to be a very short post for the Simply Create challenge up and running. I seem to have been automatically thrown into a new way to access my blog. I don't recall getting info on this change and I'm having some difficulty getting used to it. So bear with me.

My card uses, of course, a House Mouse image and my pencil box has dollar stamps, a button, twine and a magnetic closure. I'm going to stop now and "publish.." Here's hoping (and praying) I get used to this new to me process fast.

Blessings,
Erica

Two for One Challenge

Good afternoon stamping friends. I've had this Tilda from Magnolia for a while and only inked it up once. Today, I went to Just Magnolia and found their challenge, and I wanted to join, so I did. The submissions here are truly awesome, so competition is keen. I rarely see this Tilda used. A quick perusal of the submissions didn't show me anything. I enjoy coloring her stockings and I like that she's in a sitting position. I have written down different ways I can pose her, so I think I'll get some good use from her.

In order to play BINGO, you follow the rules. Cute way to challenge yourself, huh?

My card uses the elements on a diagonal and include gems (pearls), flowers (Michaels' wedding five point flowers colored with copics), and ribbon/lace (lace from my stash). The balloons are done with a Nestie die and the sentiment is Nestie diecut and is from SU's Circle of Friendship (retired). I used an MS border punch and a doily. Papers are all SU except for the ds which is My Minds Eye's pad called Simply BEautiful. Leaves are done with MS punch. I've used all copics to do the coloring.

I've also entered this card in Cute Card Thursday Challenge no. 180. There you need to use at least one punch. I've used

     MS border punch (on two panels)

     Nestabilities Lacy Circles (largest and smallest dies)

     Nestabilities birthday balloons (my name for it)                                                 

     McGlll multi-flower punch (the tiny center pink flower)

     Punch A Bunch (leaves)

                                                                    
See you all this weekend.  Two fun challenges I'll be in are Simply Create and Less Is More See my sidebar blinkies for direct links if you want to play.

Blessings,
Erica

Birthday Card

I've been getting lots of stamping time in. I checked out the LIM challenge, but haven't felt like taxing my lil' ole' brain just yet trying to pick and then combine 3 previous challenges. So, I've been adding to my stash of birthday cards instead.

Sticking with my Clean & Simple designs, I put this tegether quickly. The candles are from a Stampendous set that is my "go to" set of late and the sentiment is from SU's Whimisal Words. The ds paper was just laying around. I colored with my Copics and brightened up the flames with a copper gel pen. The base is SU"s sage shadow and the mat is Neenah solar white.

On another note, as many of you can attest, it gets might difficult to find storage for wood mounted stamps if space is a premium. Quite a while ago, I began unmounting but never was satisfied with my chosen method of storage....cd cases. Then along came SU with DVD cases that really were a godsend. However, after watching Joanna's Youtube video I see that I have been doing it all wrong. This video tute is excellent! If you haven't hit upon the best way to store your unmounteds, do give her way a try. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Now let's see if I can hunker down and turn out something gorgeous for LIM.

Hugs & Blessings,
Erica

Less Is More Challenge #29

Good evening stampers. I had a lovely Sunday stamping and chatting with friends. It was my turn to host, but they lovingly brought everything to me, so that I didn't have to do a thing. Friends...real friends can be so good for the soul.

The Divas at LIM went easy peasy this challenge. If it can move, you can use it to enter. We certainly know that butterflies can fly and bees are always busy. Who doesn't love 'em right? This is a rather large dollar stamp from Michaels. I love the sentiment which is so appropriate for me these days. I used the Cuttlebug scrollwork folder and the stamp fit perfectly on it. The base is Nenah solar white and I stamped in Memento tuxedo black with copics used for coloring. I tried to keep the colors soothing and subtle. We need to be at peace with whatever challenges the Lord allows in our path. Butterflies sooth me.

Hope you are all having a great weekend.

Hugs & Blessings,
Erica