Celebrate the 4th!!

I have never made a 4th of July card before, but since I am stalking the JustRite Stampers blog every day and really liked guest blogger's Michelle Wooderson's patriotic project, I thought I would give it a try. I still LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the JustRite Monogram Stamp and use it for a variety of projects every chance I get. Nothing looks better or is appreciated more than a personalized gift, and the JustRite Monogram Stamp is the easiest way I know of to monogram or personalize your paper craft projects.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!

More Rubbah-dultery! Scandalous!

Those of you who know me know that my love of all things coffee borders on obsession. I'm rarely without my favorite Venti Coffee Light Frappuccino from Starbucks, and at least two stores know me by name or by drink. Yes, I know, very bad indeed! That's why I could not pass up this awesome stamp from Rubbernecker Stamp Company. I saw it used on this fabulous card on SCS, and had to have it! I'm sending this card to my like-minded coffee fiend and Vera Bradley aficionado, Wanda, who needs a pick-me-up right now. The inside reads, "With enough caffeine, I could rule the world!" Amen, sistah!

Totally Addicted . . . SURPRISE! SURPRISE!

OK, so I have mentioned before how much I LOVE JustRite Stampers' Monogram Stamper, but now my love is bordering on addiction! I check their blog every day and try to make all of the projects shown. I think this luggage tag is so cute!!! This would make a great diaper bag tag, too, and how cute would it be to make one to match your Vera Bradley purses! So many projects, so little time . . .

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!!!

Isn't this the cutest card!! I have seen this design on SCS, but it wasn't until I held one that Amy McNulty made for our last demo meeting that I realized how CUTE it is!!! I made this one for a friend of Bailey's who's having a birthday party tomorrow. Even better, we're giving her a gift certificate to Marble Slab Creamery, so this ice cream card is more than perfect!! Simply start with a 3"x4" piece of cardstock (any size will work); fold in half; round 3 corners; and punch out a bite using your scallop circle punch. It's that easy!

Sweetie Pie

I have been crafting like a mad woman today!! I am completely obsessed after having done very little recently. The inspiration for this card came from an amazing set of cards I found on SCS by Ladybugb919. I love everything about these cards!! Especially the use of the cool Cuttelebug embossing folders, which I am now in love with. My dear friend, Cele, told me yesterday that she has pre-ordered embossing folders for Halloween and Christmas and they are GORGEOUS!! I must have them! The stamp set is My Punny Valentine from PaperTrey Ink and I mixed a little cinnamon with clear embossing powder to make the top deliciously scented! Bailey has been on me for months to do this and where was she today when I made the card? Outside on her new bike!! Oh, how fickle my 7-year-old is!!

Feeling a little sheepish?

I saw this card on Nichole Heady's blog (Papertrey Ink) and just LOVED it!! It turned out to be a bit expensive to make, though, since I had to buy the stamp set and the oval scallop punch, but the batting was free! It's nice and woolly, but you can't really tell that from the picture. I made five for the very nice lady who gave me the batting (Thanks, Dot!), and they took forever!!! But I have a ton of batting and all the supplies now, so I guess I'll have to make more. This would make a REALLY cute baby card, too. The stamp set is called My Punny Valentine by Papertrey Ink (I know, I've committed rubbah-dultry!!) and it has a bunch of cute stamps. Bailey & I are going to make a card tomorrow using the pie stamp and adding cinnamon to the top so it smells yummy! She's so excited!!

Simply Stunning!

Do you ever find yourself wishing you could make simple but stunning cards ("Simply Stunning" - could be the name of a new class!)? Your first blog-stop should be Angie Juda's blog, Chic 'n' Scratch. It's so freaking amazing!! I find inspiration there every single day! So often the cards I find on the many websites I peruse are just too hard to duplicate or too time-consuming to make several of. That's why this card is a new favorite - I made six of them in no time! I left the front of four of them free of a sentiment so I can fill it in as needed. I think it is the perfect all-occasion card, for guys or girls! I'm just so excited! You should see me do my happy dance! Check out Angie's blog as soon as you can - it's the best!!!

Carousel Note Card - so beautiful!!

I found yet another amazing card on Angie Kennedy Juda's blog. What a great new way to use those FABULOUS Carousel Notes. And what could be prettier than Soft Sky and Chocolate Chip? Add a little rub-on and you have a beautifully simple, all-occasion card. "Beautifully Simple" may just be the name of a new class I could do!! So many possibilities!

Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge #53

Believe it or not, this is the first time I have done one of Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenges! Last week's was so pretty and I meant to do it (you know how that goes . . .), but I never got around to it. So, this week, I was determined to make it happen! You can see the sketch here - it's a nice one. I love tall cards!! I was only able to use the paper from this group by The Paper Studio (Hobby Lobby) because NONE of my SU! cardstock matched! Can you believe it?!?! But I used two Cuttlebug embossing folders (aren't you jealous I have the Swiss Dots one? Thanks, Cele!!) and my crimper to make the circle behind my flower look like a Wavy Lays potato chip! I also used Stickles on the flower. Gotta go clean house - company's coming tomorrow!

I JUST LOVE RAKs (random acts of kindness)

I just love getting pretty things!! My sweet friend and SU! downline, Leigh Ann, made me this most beautiful mini corkboard! The scan doesn't do it justice. Sadly, my digital camera is in the shop right now, but when I get it back, I will post a better picture. Thank you so much, Leigh Ann!! I LOVE IT!!!

HO-LY COW!!!!

OK, so I went to West Knoxville today to buy our new dining room table (YEA!!!) and saw that next to The Cupcakery there is going to be . . . (***drum roll***) . . . Lilly's Bead Box!! I screamed out loud! Can you imagine the absolute BLISS of making a bracelet and then going next door to eat a cupcake?!?!? So, when school starts, don't be surprised if I'm out West A LOT!! Let's just hope gas prices go down by then . . . and that one of those places has Wi-Fi!!!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!!

Sadly, a friend send me this picture of beautiful lampwork earrings. I didn't make any of them!!

Fall Preview event going on now at Vera Bradley

OMGosh!!! I finally went to Silver & Threads on Wednesday night to check out the new Vera Bradley patterns for Fall 2008 and to register for the tote bag VB is giving away. They are absolutely lovely! From left to right, there's Night Owl, Cafe Latte, Puccini, and Frankly Scarlet. Of course, I like the name, Cafe Latte, but I really like Frankly Scarlet, too. I have read that there is going to be another pattern called Mediterranean that's blue & white, but I don't have any details. It's going to be a hard choice, but I am definitely up for the challenge!!

Stampin' Up! Announces Retirement List

It's that time of year again when SU! announces all of the stamp sets that are retiring to make room for ALL THE NEW STAMP SETS that are coming out in August. While it's sad to see our old favorites go (good-bye, Print Pattern, *sniff, sniff *), it is SO EXCITING when the new catalog is REVEALED!! You can see what stamp sets you'll want to get before they're gone by clicking here or going to http://www.stampinup.com/. Take advantage of these lazy summer days (yeah, right!!) to book a workshop and get your favorite retiring sets FREE.

A little bite of Heaven in Knoxvegas . . .

OMGosh!! If you haven't tried the newly-opened Cupcakery in Bearden, you need to get on it - NOW!! It is phenomenal!! The best cupcake is the Red Velvet, which is simply heavenly with a cloud of cream cheese frosting on top. Sinful and delicious!! The Grasshopper is also out of this world. What could be better than chocolate and mint?! Check it out. Seriously, go right now!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!

When you see a card or other paper item in the stores, do you ever find yourself thinking, "I can make that?" Sadly, I find myself thinking this A LOT, but I don't always follow through! But this time, I was determined to re-create the cute Father's Day grill card I saw at Target! I'm pretty impressed by how it turned out, too. I hope you get to celebrate Father's Day with the men you love just like I do!!

Liza Moz is my new favorite place!

If you need something different to do with your kids this summer that's super cool and fun, check out Liza Moz at either mall in Knoxville. It's one of those neat places where you paint your own pottery pieces. That's always seemed intimidating to me because, while I can create just about anything from paper, I have always been afraid of paint! I know, it's an irrational fear! But when Bailey & I went to Liza Moz one rainy day, I immediately fell in love with the whole process, from choosing a piece to paint, then the colors, and then how to put it all together. Luckily, I found a beautiful coffee mug that someone else had made that I used as my inspiration. Never be afraid to get your ideas from other people's ideas!! Put your own personal spin on a project to make it your own! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE how my mug turned out!! The best part is that the design around the top of the coffee mug was made using a stamp!! "These are a few of my favorite things . . ."

When you care enough to give the very best!

OMGosh! I am totally and completely in love with the entire line of JustRite Stampers products! My order arrived while Chris and I were in Asheville, but I have had a little time to use it since we got back and I am thrilled with the results!! One of the first-grade teachers at Bailey's school is getting married soon and Bailey wanted to give her a gift, so what better way to break in my monogram stamps than by making some beautiful note cards with her new monogram!! OK, I may not be able to give these away!! I am so in love with chocolate brown and Bashful Blue - it's such a classic color combination that will never let you down! And if you've ever had trouble getting a good imprint from a detailed background stamp, I found that when I made these cards, using StazOn ink worked better than SU! Classic or Craft Stampin' Pads. I just love it when an idea comes together!!