Stamping on the Airplane

Here I am stamping and making cards on the airplane. Space was rather tight but I managed to make 2 cards on the 2.5 hour flight to Colorado. I highly recommend making cards when flying. Time flew. . .just like that. Before I knew it, we were landing.

Be sure to drop by my Card Inspired blog site to view a bunch of pictures I took during our drive through Georgetown, Silverthorne, Brekenridge, Dillon, and Leadville.

Here is the card I made while on the airplane on our way to Colorado. I posted the other card on Card Inspired.

Too Funny. . .Look at What I'm Bringing as A Carry-on

We're heading for Colorado tomorrow on an 9 day road trip in Colorado. .we're flying to Colorado then we'll be doing a road trip within Colorado.. . Look what I'm bringing as a carry-on.

Yup, you guessed it. . .a crop-bag. Hilarious. It's amazing what you can fit in this bag! My husband asked me what was in my bag and I opened it and showed it to him and he was like "Why?". . "You're going on a vacation so why are you bringing all that craft stuff." I'm like "don't worry about it, it's not your problem!" Yeah, I'm sick - I'm a stamp and scrap addict! I can't help myself. I can't even go on vacation without my craft stuff. Whoohoo! It'll be fun!


You gotta love clear stamps! I fit so many of them in my bag. I'm hooked up that's for sure. I cut up a bunch of cardstock 4 1/8 x 5 3/8" so I can make a bunch of card fronts. When I get back home, I'll attach them to the base. I didn't want to carry too many heavy cardstock. I also brought a bunch of cut up stamped images, stamped images to color in, my watercolor crayons, embellishments, and a bunch of scrapbook stickers, glue, tape, ribbons, etc.

I probably won't have time to make anything but that's okay, it's better to be safe than sorry. I'll update my blog when I can! Hopefully the many hotels we'll be staying at will have Internet service.

We're planning to visit the South West and South Central side of Colorado including Aspen, Leadville, Durango, Telluride, Mesa Verde, Silverton, Colorado Springs, Denver and a few more towns. Our last stop will be in Denver. We plan to do a city tour as well as the Rocky Mountain tour.

It's my birthday is on the 5th so I told my husband I wanted to eat at Ruth Chris in Denver. I miss eating there. We had a Ruth Chris in Hawaii and I loved eating there. The other choice was the Chop House or Palaminos but I chose Ruth's.

Anyway. . .hope everyone have a wonderful week!

And the Winner Is. . .TIC Day #6 - Crazy for Ribbon

Congratulations Beth!!

I made a list of all the participants of this week's TIC and numbered them. I had my daughter pick out the winner by randomly picking a number!! And the winner is Beth! Thank you everyone for being such wonderful participants of my challenge. You make these challenges fun! I really appreciate y'all taking the time to play along!

Beth can you send me your address so I can send your prize!!

TIC Day #6 - Tuesday's Inspirational Challenge - "Crazy for Ribbon" Submission

Hey Everyone. . .check out Malieta's wonderful purse card! AWESOME! I love all the ribbons that she used. She really made use of her ribbons. I love the hardware and the beautiful pattern paper that she used. They all tie in so well together. Be sure to drop by Malieta's blog site "Life's Simple Pleasures" and say hello. She's been really challenging herself participating in different blog site challenges. Go check it out!!

Hi Everyone! Check out Cheryl's awesome submission! Isn't it fabulous. She did such a wonderful job with her ribbons!! I love the crimped design to the focal point of her card. Cheryl has a great blog site called "Engineered Expressions" filled with lots of wonderful design. Be sure to check out her blog site and say hello. Thank you Cheryl for participating in this week's TIC. I really appreciate it!!

Hey Everyone! Check out Jodene's lovely card submission for this week's TIC. Such a wonderful use of ribbons. Looks like she has 5 cuts of ribbon which is fabulous. I love how she placed the bows to each side of her image! Jodene is "adisneyfreak" on SCS and here is the link to the card shown to the left. Check it out by clicking here. Thank you Jodene for participating in my TIC. I appreciate it!

Whoohoo! Check out Sandra's awesome and colorful submission for this week's TIC. I love how she tied a knot with the ribbons and how she used 3 different types of ribbon. Very creative. It's great to see the different ideas that other stampers come up with! Very inspirational! Sandra has a blog site "Sandee's Corner". Be sure to drop by her fabulous blog site.

Thank you Sandra for participating in this week's TIC!!

If interested in participating in this week's challenge. . . click here for the details.

Hey Everyone! Check out Sabrina's submission for this week's TIC - Crazy for Ribbon. Wow, Sabrina did a great job at using her ribbons. Looks like she used at least 5 cuts of ribbons including the fibers! Fabulous and very creative. Sabrina said she's new with stamping but by the look of her card, she is doing a fabulous job as a beginner. Thank you Sabrina for participating in this week's TIC. I appreciate it!

TIC Day #6 - Tuesday's Inspirational Challenge - "Crazy For Ribbons"

If interested in this week's TIC - Click here for the details. . .

Good Evening Friends! Here are two cards I created for this week's TIC Day #6 - Crazy for Ribbons. This week's TIC is so easy and so useful. I love the fact that it forces me use my ribbons. I hope you'll take the time to participate! I would really love to see the different cards that everyone make using the same concept. It's interesting to see how many different style of cards can be created by following a single challenge.

You can't really see it but I stippled the background with Lavender Lace, Cool Caribbean and Green Galore mixed with Lumiere. I then rubber stamped and heat embossed the image using gold embossing powder.

I rubber stamped the images and colored them with ink and Lumiere and applied Gold Stickles around the edge of the flowers.





Card Details:

Stamp: In Full Bloom, Doodle This
Ink: Cool Caribbean, Lavender Lace, Green Galore with Lumiere, Sakura gel pen
Paper: Green Galore, Colorbok scrapbook paper
Accessories: Gold Embossing Powder, K&Co sentiment stickers, Making Memories Chipboard, Dots, Dashes & Checks Ribbon

Here is a second card I created for this week's TIC - "Crazy for Ribbons". I, initially, named this week's TIC "Ribbon Fanatic" but I realized I had named it "Crazy for Ribbons" on Card Inspired. Either name is acceptable, it's the same thing. . .to use a minimum of 3 cuts of ribbons to your card.

I created the word "smile" and the scallop circles with my Craft Robo and layered it over scrapbook paper by DCWV.

Card Detail:

Stamp: Doodle This
Ink: Positively Pink with Lumiere, Sakura gel pen
Paper: Pixie Pink, DCWV Glitter stack
Accessories: Craft Robo, Dots Dashes & Checks Ribbon, Making Memories Chipboard

TIC Day #6 - Tuesday's Inspirational Challenge - "Crazy For Ribbon"

Yo! Everyone! It's TIC Day #6 again! Wow, time seem to be FLYING! I can't believe how time is whizzing by so quickly.

This week's TIC is "Crazy for Ribbon". I decided I'll make this week's TIC a little simpler but a useful one!

Do you have a bunch of small scraps of ribbon stashed away? I do. I put all my little scraps into a jar and pull them out if a card calls for me to use them. Unfortunately, I have way too many of them and I need to get rid of them.

This week's challenge is to rid of your left over ribbons or at least use the many rolls of ribbon you hoard. Haha! I hoard my ribbons. . .then I buy more. I think I buy them just to collect them. Well, no more. . .I WILL use my ribbons even if it hurts. I have the same problem with scrapbook paper. They are so pretty, it bothers me to cut them up. I know I'm silly but I'm not sure why I'm this way. My husband thinks I have "issues". He's like "why are you buying more ribbons? You already have a tub full of them." Honestly,I can't explain my behavior. I'm thinking it's because I had so little growing up that now that I can buy them I still have this need to ration what I buy. Who knows???


Here is TIC Day #6 Rules:

• You must use a minimum of 3 cuts of ribbon.
• It can be 3 or more cuts of the same ribbon or they can all be different.
• Any type of ribbon may be used to include rick-racks, embroidery floss, or any other type of ribbon. Sewing thread don't count.
• You can use the ribbons in any fashion you want, tie a bow, lay it out in a row, attach to a clip, use to attach a tag, whatever. . .
• There's no limitation on the theme, design or type of card.
• Card can be stamped, paper-pieced, embellishments only, hand-drawn, etc.
• Card must be submitted by Friday! Send a picture of your card via email to lbmcd66@hotmail.com or comment with your blog address of your submission. Don't forget to include your URL of your blog so I can post a link along with your picture.
• Drawing of the prize which will be on Saturday and the prize will be a Studgio G stamp set.
• Cards made with Stampin' Up image will be posted on Stampin Inspirations and any other images will be posted on Card Inspired.

This is another "Crazy for Ribbon" sample. I attached 3 ribbons in a row. It sort of matches the patterned paper.

I'll be leaving for Colorado on Sunday! We're doing a road trip of Colorado. This is the reason why I need your submission by Friday 12:00 and will be drawing the winner on Saturday.

Okay Everyone. . .Let's Go Crazy for Ribbon!!!

Random Cards and Sketch

Good Evening Everyone! I was able to squeeze some time to make two cards! Whoohoo! It's been awhile since I made 2 cards in one day. I used to be stamp happy up until a few months ago but I've slowed down quite a bit. I'm lucky if I stamp a card in a day.

This was a quick card to make because all the images were already colored and cut out. I had stamped quite a few of the "Doodle This" flower a while back and I had a whole bunch waiting to be used. The rest of the images are scrapbook embellishments so this card was a snap to make.










Card Detail:

Stamp: Doodle This
Ink: Cool Caribbean with Lumiere
Paper: K&Co Designer paper, Ballet Blue, Summer Sun, DCWV Textured cardstock
Accesories: K&Co Chipboard Alphabet, K&Co stickers, American Craft Elements Ribbon, Fiskar "Cloud" Scissors



I like how this card turned out. I was a bit stumped as to what to do with the fishy. . .I didn't have a sentiment to match a fish image so I printed the sentiment from my computer. Hey, sometimes you need to improvise.

I recently bought this bubble looking CB embossing folder and decided to use it. I love this embossing folder. It looks so cool.

I colored the fish using prismacolor pencil with Gamsol. I sort of mixed several colors to give the fish a multi colored effect. You can't see it but the fish is glittery. . .I added Stickles to the fins. In person, it looks pretty nice. I cut the scallop circle using my Craft Robo and to top off the card, I attached a swirl clip and ribbon.


Card Detail:

Stamp: Fishy Friends
Ink: Prismacolor Pencils with Gamsol
Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Summer Fun, DCWV Scrapbook paper,
Accesories: Craft Robo (scalloped circles), Swirl Clip from Office Depot, American Craft Element ribbon

Whoohoo! I'm a Rockin' Girl Blogger

Thanks to the following wonderful fellow Rockin' Girl Bloggers: Jan "She's Gone Stampin'", Beth "Sunflowers and Dragonflies", Tracy "Tracy's Happy Place", Jen "Pieces of Me", and Michelle "Come Stamp With Me" for nominating me as "Rockin' Girl Blogger". Wow, how cool is that? I'm not sure I'm very Rockin' but it's just cool that they thought of me. Thanks ladies, you gals are just way sweet! Okay. . .I suppose to post my "Rockin' Girl Blogger" badge somewhere on my blog to show I'm officially "Rockin'". . .and nominate 5 other Rockin' ladies. . .I'm going to choose 5 that I believe don't have their badge yet.

Lissa - "TropiCards - Inked & Ready"
Hulda - "Aunty Scrappy"
Tejal - "Creating New Expressions Everyday"
Paula - "Paula Ponders"
Toni - "Inkyfingers - Everyday Art"

Be sure to drop by all these lovely Rockin' Girls blog site and check out their beautiful creations.

TIC Day #5 - Tuesday's Inspirational Challenge - "Scrappy Card" sample and RAK from Paula

Good Afternoon everyone! Here is a RAK I received from Paula at "Paula Ponders". Isn't it an absolutely awesome card. I had participated in her sketch challenge and she sent me this beautiful card. She used the fabulous Baroque Motif stamp set to create this card. I love the scallop circles. . .it really compliments the design of the image. This card is beautiful in pictures but it's more beautiful in person. Thank you Paula for your beautiful RAK.









If Interested in this weeks TIC Day #5 - Scrappy Card challenge, you still have until tomorrow 12:00 PST to submit your card. Check out a few of the submissions that I posted on my Card Inspired blog site. Click Here for the details of this submission.

Hi everyone! This is a sample of a "Scrappy Card" I made for my husband. In March we visited Washington DC and had a major blast. We did so many things and by far one of the best trips we went on. Washington DC was amazing and to see all the historical monuments and memorials is something I'll never forget. You only read about it and see it in pictures. They are much grander in person.

The card front was created using my Craft Robo. I finally figured out how to weld words together and lemme' tell yah. . .this machine is awesome if you know how to use it. It takes a bit of a learning curve but once you get the hang of it, you can do wonders with it.



I added stamped flowers images from a Stampin Up set but for the life of me, can't remember which stamp set I used. I had stamped and colored these images a while ago and decided I wanted to use them for this card. The images were colored with Twinkling H20 - awesome stuff by the way. Why did I use flower images. . .when we visited Washington DC, we were there when the Cherry Blossoms were in full bloom and the Cherry Blossom festivities were in full swing. These flowers remind me of the cherry blossoms. I added dots using the SU Craft Tool Kit by using the piercing tool. The backkground paper is by DCWV.

In order to keep the card closed shut, I added a green colored paper clip to hold the card together. I attached the flower image to the paper clip so that the paper clip won't be too obvious.

The card opens up to the second fold. I didn't decorate it because the card was already bulky and to add more elements will make it difficult to close. I just added a little label stating that we went on a trip to Washington in March of this year.

The card opens up as a tri-fold card. I added a list of the places we visited during our trip to Washington DC. We visited other places but these are the main ones that we did a tour at.

Here is the card completely opened up. The middle pocket includes postcards and tickets to the Holocaust Memorial that we went to. I added pictures of us visiting the Jefferson Memorial and when the flaps open up, I added a journal of the experience we had visiting the memorial.

TIC Day #5 - Tuesdays Inspirational Challenge - "Scrappy Card" Sample

If interested in participating in this week's challenge. . .click here.

Good morning folks! Here is a sample "Scrappy Card" I made for this challenge. It's just to give you an idea what you can make with this challenge. I made another one on Card Inspired so check it out if you'd like to see another sample.

This card is a "scrappy card" for my step-son who is now 17 years old. The stamp set I used for this card is the "Around the Block" set which I believe was a hostess set the previous year.

I didn't want to make it too cutesy because it's for a boy. It's really hard not make a card that has a lot of frilly stuff but I held myself back and made a card appropriate for a boy.

Front of card details:

Stamp: Around the Block
Ink: More Mustard, Tempting Turquoise
Paper: Summer Sun, Tempting Turquoise, DCWV scrapbook Paper
Accessories: Craft Robo (scallop oval), metal star embellishment (unknown) Basic Basic ribbon, JoAnn brads, Fiskar "Cloud" scissors


Here is the inside of the card. I was inspired by Anton's picture that was taken when he 11 years old. Actually he was 10 but was turning 11. The picture was taken in March of 2001 on a trip to the "Big Island" of Hawaii.

I found a picture which was taken on the same month 6 years later. . .in the picture to the right, he was 16 years old. The picture was taken during our trip to Washington DC. I thought the picture was a great comparison to how he looked then and how he looked the same time 6 years later.

The backgrounds are similar. I changed the "little boy" picture to black and white. The "big boy" is a colored picture but he was wearing black and white.

After I finished it, I showed it to him and he loved it. He liked the little boy and big boy comparisons. It's amazing in how his looks changed quite a bit.

TIC Day #5 - Tuesday's Inspirational Challenge - "Scrappy Card"

Hello Everyone! I'm sorry this TIC is posted late. Blogger blocked my blog site because their "Blogger Spam-prevention robots" got hold of my blog sites. They had to verify my blogs to make sure they weren't spams. How annoying!Anyhow. . this week's TIC Day #5 - Tuesday's Inspirational Challenge is "Scrappy Card". What's a "Scrappy Card"? Well it's a card (not album) that has a picture.

The card I created has a picture of my daughter when she was 13. . . she's 16 now. I used her picture as my inspiration for this card. I'm going to give it to her but not until she's older. I'm going to make a bunch of these, with little messages and when she leaves for college, I'm going to give them all to her. I think at her age, she may not appreciate them as much as when she's older. You know, teenagers. . .


















Here are the rules for TIC Day #5:

• Create a card (not an album) incorporating a picture
• Max 2 pictures.
• Don't make an album
• Don't make a scrapbook page, it has to be a card
• Picture has to be a person, pet, or something of significance in your life (not nature pictures).
• The card can be of any size, any style, any shape, accordion style, window style, tri-fold or regular fold card.
• You may stamp, use scrapbook pieces, embellishments, paper piecing, drawn.
• No limitations on the theme of the card

Submit a picture of you "Scrappy Card" via my email mailto:emaillbmcd66@hotmail.com or comment this post with the link to the picture on your blog or gallery. Don't forget to include your blog address or gallery address so I can add a link with the picture of your card. Any card made with Stampin Up images will be posted on Stampin Inspirations and any cards using images other than Stampin Up will be posted on Card Inspired.Submission deadline is on Sunday. I will be randomly draw a winner on Monday. The prize is a Studio G clear stamp set. It's a small prize but it's just a little thank you for participating in my challenge!I really look forward to seeing your "Scrappy Cards"!!

This is the card opened up.

Card Details:

Front:
Stamp: SU Doodle ThisPaper: K&Co, SU Tempting Turquoise, Chocolate ChipInk: SU Tempting Turquoise reinker with LumiereAccessories: American craft elements ribbon, Foo-la-la buttons, embroidery floss

Second fold:
Accessories: Making Memories Metal Words, "Beautiful" was created on my computer and printed on to cardstock, Fiskar "Cloud" scissors

Inner card:

Stamp: Doodle This Paper: K&Co Scrapbook Paper, DCWV textured cardstock, Serendipity cardstock - beige speckles, SU Tempting Turqoise, Certainly CeleryAccessories: Making Memories Metal Words, Foo-la-la buttons, Prima flowers, Sizzix die (Hearts), Making Memories chipboard butterfly, Wire works, SU deckle scissors, Making Memories heart brads

I've Been Released from Bondage!

My blogs was on lock down from yesterday morning and I couldn't post my TIC for this week! Apparently, Blogger thought my blog sites were "spam-blogs" because of all the links I had on my site especially my tutorials which links to one domain. They blocked my ability to post and it was very annoying!

Sorry for the delay on my TIC. . .check the next post for this weeks TIC - Tuesday's Inspirational Challenge!

Update on Life Changing Dilemma

Hi Everyone! A few months back I asked my readers to help me by giving me advise on a life changing dilemma I was going through. Everyone was so incredibly helpful and I so appreciate all the advise that y'all had given me. It gave me a better perspective of my situation and I really took all your advise to heart.

I did renew my Hawaii Nursing License. That one was easy because it didn't require anything but my paying for the renewal. I am currently studying to obtain 30 CEU hours for my California license and hopefully, I can take the evaluation by the end of the month and renew my license.

As for returning to work, I was hoping to wait it out until my daughter graduates from high school (she'll be a junior this year) because I wanted her to have full access to my chauffeur service for any activities, clubs, work, volunteer and gal pal get-togethers. Unfortunately, there's a potential that I may need to go back to work sooner than later due to a few personal issues that I'm experiencing right now. I hope that things will change and that I can remain at home to be accessible to my daughter whenever she needs me. If not, well I will need to go back to work but it'll work out. It always does.

I'll update y'all when I passed my evaluation and when I receive my license. Again, thank you for being so kind to help me when I needed it!!

Random Card - Doodle This Again - Another Quickie Card

Hi Everyone. Just a random card I made this evening. As I stated on a previous post. . . a while ago, I had stamped a bunch of these "Doodle This" flower in various colors and had set them aside for future use.

I decided to use them considering they've been sitting in a drawer collecting dust. Fortunately, making a card is quick and easy because the tedious part of coloring the image was already done. All I needed to do was create a layout for the card. This card took about 15 minutes to make. I would have probably finished it faster if it wasn't for the fact that I was watching television while making the card.

Card Details:

Stamp sets: Doodle this, Amazing to Zany, In My Thoughts
Ink: More Mustard with Lumiere, Close to Cocoa, Sakura Souffle Opaque Pen
Paper: DCWV Scrapbook Paper, Chocolate Chip and Tempting Turquoise cardstock
Accessories: 1' and 1 1/2" circle punch, Fiskar "Cloud" scissors, Dots, Dashes & Checks ribbon, JoAnn gold brads

Here's the sketch for the card.

I'm holding off on the Weight Loss Group Blog Site

Because I did not receive any additional weight loss blog sites, I'll hold off on the group blog site for now. I'm still at 4 blog sites and I was hoping for at least 6 to 10 participants. What I will do for now is add your weight loss blog site on to my blogroll on "Journey to Skinnyville" so if you want to be added to the blog roll, comment or email me the link to your weight loss blog site.

If I receive at least 2 to 3 more weight loss blog participants, I'll start the group blog site.

Of those who voted, 24 voted "Yes, count me in" only 3 sent their blog site address or started a weight loss blog site. So, those who voted "yes" . . .please send your weight blog site address to me so I can start the group blog site!!

16 voted "No, but I'll visit the blog site" and 3 voted "Hell, No!!"

Thank you all for voting. . .I really appreciate your time.

Last Day for TIC Challenge - ATC Design

You still have until 12:00 midnight to submit your ATC for this weeks TIC. . .Click Here for the Details

Good Afternoon Everyone! Here is an ATC I made this afternoon. I tried to squeeze a bit of stamping this afternoon and this is what I created. Ironically, this ATC was faster to create than to blog it. I made a card using this ATC. . .see below.

This is a card with the ATC attached. I made this card for a swap. This was a really quickie card I made. . .about 15 minutes. How did I do it? Well the flower is an image I colored a long time ago when I first received my stamp set. I stamped a whole bunch of them in different colors. I made a few cards with them then saved the rest for a later time.





Card Details:

Stamp: Doodle This and In my Thoughts
Paper: Certainly Celery, DCWV textured cardstock, Provocraft scrapbook paper, DCWV scrapbook paper (background)
Ink: Tempting Turquoise reinkers mixed with Lumiere, Tempting Turqouise
Accessories: Dashes, Dots, & Checks ribbon, Fiskar "Cloud" scissors, Making Memories Daisy Brads and eyelet

The ATC is reversed from this sketch. When I created the sketch, I only realized the flower was on the opposite side of the card. Regardless, the ATC follows the sketch.

Weight Loss Group Blog Site Survey

***I'm moving this survey up to the top. I'll take more votes today and decide if I should start a group blog. I'll let you know if I do. . .I need enough bloggers to participate, so far I think I know of 4 who has one right now and more likely will be willing to blog their progress. If you already have a weight loss blog site and want to be included, please email me you blog address at lbmcd66@hotmail.com. I need at least 2 more bloggers before I decide to start a group blog.

• Here is what I'm proposing with the group blog if I start one. Those who start or already have a weight loss blog site sends me their website blog site address with a brief description of themselves (First name, age (optional), location, stamping or any crafting blog address (if you have one), your weight loss goal (lose ** pounds).

There will be 3 categories that everyone should participate in once a week.

• Tuesday's Tips: Comment one advise or tip for other's to read that worked for you. It can be your personal advise, excerpt from a book, a great website, etc. For example, here's my personal advise: In order to drink 8 glasses of water easily, buy a 20 oz water bottle, drink 3 of them in the course of a day.
• Weigh in Wednesdays: Everyone post a comment on the post every Wednesday with the amount of weight they lost or gained for the week. For example, Original weight, amount of weight loss or gain, weight for that week. If you don't want to post your weight that's okay too. You can just comment on how much you lost or gained.
• Sounding board Saturday(Optional): It's a day that you can sound off on how you feel both good and bad.

As things progress, we can add more categories if you want. I'll add a suggestion box so that you can add your 2 cents on what you want or want to do with with this group blog site.

We can make the group blog site private but personally, I prefer it public so it can help others. Either way is acceptable. I'll have everyone vote but initially, it'll be a public blog just so others can join in and add their blog site.

I need a title for this group blog site. Please send me any suggestion.

I've come up with a few so far. . . .Project Lose It, Travelers of the Weight Loss Journey, The Low Down on our Weigh Down (adapted from a friend's weight loss blog site "On the Weigh Down" - I need to get her approval on this one), The Dieting Crafter's Club. . .

Please take the survey below if you have not done so yet and please send me your weight loss blog site if you already started one.

*******************************************************************

Calling all stampers, card makers, scrapbookers, and crafters. . .

Do you want to lose weight? Are you having difficulties losing weight? Do you like to blog?

I started a weight loss blog site called "Journey to Skinnyville" and I was thinking of starting a group blog that links to various weight loss blogs similar to how the "Splitcoart Bloggers" site work. I think it would be a great way to support one another if you are someone who is wanting to lose a few extra pounds or a lot of weight.

I'm conducting a poll to see if you are willing to start your own weight loss blog site and add the link to the group blog site I'm going to create. Please take the time to take the poll. If I can get at least 10 bloggers to participate by creating their own blog site and adding it to the group, I'll see it as worthwhile.

Please take the time to take the poll!!

Opinion Polls & Market Research

Thank you!

TIC Day #4 - (Tuesday's Inspirational Challenge) - Let's Trade - ATC Designs Submissions

If interested in participating in this challenge. . .Click Here For the Details

Hello Everyone! I made a few quicky ATCs last night before I went to bed. I made this one in about 10 minutes because I had already colored and cut out the images a while ago and stored them for future use. Sometimes when you're free, it's a great idea to color images and store them. When you need them you can just pull them out and attach them to a card or ATC. The stamp set used for this ATC was "Doodle This" and "Tropical Blossoms" (retired). I watercolored the flowers and shaded the edge using the direct to paper technique. The background is embossed using the Cuttlebug "Heart Blocks" embossing folder.





Here is another ATC I made. I also colored the image on this ATC a while ago but never made a card for it. This image is from the "Fishy Friends" stamp set which retired this year. I colored the image with Prismacolor Pencils and splattered the background using a brush inked with the reinkers. The ribbon is tied around a plastic office supply clip.







Good Afternoon Everyone! Check out Kristin's wonderful submission for this week's TIC. Kristin submitted 2 ATCs and the other one is posted on Card Inspired. Be sure to stop by Card Inspired to view the other lovely submissions!


Kristin did a wonderful job with this ATC. I love how she cut out the Reason To Smile sentiments and glued them in several different areas. Very creative, I must say! Thank you Kristin for submitting your work and participating in my challenge!



Hey, hey Everyone! Check out Monika's wonderful birthday ATC. This is her submission for this week's TIC. It's awesome as always. I love Monika's style of card making. They're always very pretty and she adds a lot of different elements to chard. Monika has a wonderful blog site called "M.A.D. Stamper". Be sure to drop by her blog site to see what I mean about how wonderful her card creations are. Thank you once again for participating in my TIC, Monika, it's always a pleasure to see your beautiful work.










Oh My Gosh, check out Tracy's ATC. . .it's absolutely adorable. I really love it. I love the colors that she used too! Tracy has a blog site called "Tracy's Happy Place" and from what I've gathered so far, she seems to be a very happy person. She's jumped on my weight loss wagon and she started a weight loss blog. I'm not going to link it because I think it's a personal journey for her.



Tracy has a July card challenge going on too so be sure to stop by and check out her blog site for the details. I'm working on my card for her challenge. It's quite challenging because it calls for a masculine card which I am not very good at but I will try it out! Thank you Tracy for your wonderful submission.

Whoohoo! Check out Carolyn's ATC! She submitted 2 ATCs for this week's TIC. This ATC is so patriotic and she she did a wonderful job. I like the metallic cord edition with the eagle perched on it. So creative I must say! Carolyn didn't send me a link to a blog site; therefore assume she doesn't have one but she should and jump on the bandwagon!

Here is Carolyn's second submission! This is such a cutie. I love how she incorporated the round label punch to her ATC. It's a great addition!

Thank you Carolyn for submitting your work to me! Your ATCs are beautiful!!

Good Morning Stampin Inspirations readers! Check out Debi's ATC! Isn't it the cutest! I love the button flowers! such a wonderful idea! Debi also submitted another ATC and it is posted on Card Inspired. Debi doesn't have a blog site so I can't share a link but she should start one considering how beautiful her work is!

Thank you Debi for participating in this week's challenge. I appreciate it!

I've Been Tagged by Malieta

Hey Everyone I've been tagged again. . .this time by Malieta at "Life's Simple Pleasures". Be sure to drop by her blog site. . .she is such a very wonderfully sweet gal!!

Anyway, I decided to play again. My other tag post is on Card Inspired.

Here are the rules for this tag.

* Post 7 random things about me
* Tag 7 other Bloggers to do the same.
* Post the rules and the Bloggers I tag here.
* Leave tagged a comment on their blogs, so they know that they have been tagged.

7 Random Things About Me:

1. I've never submitted any of my cards to any publication or contest. I stamp because I love to stamp and have never had the desire to submit my cards to be published. I would rather give my cards away and make someone smile than to submit it to a magazine where they will probably be thrown into a bin never to be seen again. Who would want to pay extra postage just to get your own card back anyway?

2. I dropped a heavy table on my right toe and my toe nail peeled off. Now I have an embarrassingly ugly right toe with a very, very small toe nail that is just growing back in. Unfortunately, I dropped something heavy on that same toe the other day and I believe the new toe nail that is growing in is dead again.

3. I once swam across to a coral reef a long distance away from shore and when I stepped on to the coral reef, I cut my foot on the reef. For those of you who don't know this, coral is a living creature. It was so painful but I had to swim back to shore which was a very long, long distance. It's amazing that I was able to swim back to shore . . .I made it by swimming on my back. A few days later my foot got soooooooooooooo infected, I was afraid it was gangrened - it healed so all is well and I still have my foot.

4. My cat likes to sleep on my stomach because my stomach is very soft.

5. I'm not embarrassed to leave the house and go somewhere with ink stain, glue, glitter, tape, and other stamping stuff on my clothes and fingers. I just tell people I'm an artist.

6. I can cruise every aisle of JoAnn and Michaels and not buy a single thing. I just like looking at what I "wish" I could buy but not necessarily "can" buy. Once I get my "fix", I leave the store many times empty handed.

7. I have a lot of stamping stuff I've bought 3 years ago and still have not used. I have a very bad habit of hoarding my supplies. I have every intentions of using them. . .one day.

I won't be tagging anyone because I believe all of the bloggers I regularly visit already have been tagged.

Jen's at Pieces of Me Sketch Challenge

Hey Everyone! Here is a card I made for Jen's Sketch Challenge down at "Pieces of Me". Every week she has a sketch challenge and always have great sketch challenges, I just have to play along! It's always fun to try out other stamper's sketches.

Be sure to check out Jen's blog site. . .you still have time to play. Last day for submission is tomorrow!

I've been having less and less time to stamp and it really bums me out. It's so much harder to stamp because my kids are on their summer break. Although they have summer school in the mornings, my 2 kids have different school schedules. Each day from 7:00 to 11:30, I have to make 3 round trips to the school. When they get home, I usually prepare lunch and we do something together as a family. I then do a few chores before my late afternoon exercise routine. I try to squeeze blogging between trips back and forth to school but it's really difficult to really sit down and make a card because of the interruption. In the late afternoon, I usually exercise (walk or tennis) then when I get home, I usually prepare dinner. After dinner we usually watch a movie on DVD or do something as a family for a few hours. I finally have time to stamp late at night.

I'll have more time to devote to blogging and stamping when the kids return to school in August. For now, I'm trying to squeeze what free time I have to blog and stamp. I do miss the time I had to stamp but at the same time, I really am enjoying the time I've been spending with my kids and husband.

I wish there were more hours in a day. . .don't we all, huh!

TIC Day #4 - (Tuesday's Inspirational Challenge) Let's Trade - ATCs (Artist Trading Cards)

Hi Everyone! I know I'm a little late on my TIC. I'm sorry that I didn't post it yesterday! Honestly, I couldn't think of one that others would like to participate in. I don't want it to be too much of a challenge that no one would like to try it out but at the same time, I wanted it to be a challenge that would encourage others who have never tried it before.

I thought that my TIC for this week should be "ATCs". Why? I've had people email me and ask me what an ATC was. Not everyone knows what it is.

What is an ATC? ATC stands for "Artist Trading Card". The purpose of an ATC is just what it stands for. . .TRADING not SELLING.

Artists create original work on a 2 1/2 x 3 1/2" card. Most ATCs in the past were real work of art, not rubber stamping (not that rubber stamping is not real art). What I mean is people would draw, paint, collage, their work on these tiny cards and trade them with others as originals. Usually they were single trades because each design were different. With rubber stamping, ATCs have expanded and people who rubber stamp trade series of the same designs and call them "limited editions" meaning they only created a certain set of these cards and trade them with the series numbered such as 1 out 10, 2 out of 10, etc.

Here is an easy way to create 10 sets of ATC cards on one 8 1/2" x 11" cardstock. Cut on the 8 1/2" side of the card stock at 2 1/2 inch. . .do this two times and you will be left with a 3 1/2 x 11" strip. Cut each of the 2 1/2" strips at 3 1/2". You will be left with (3) 2 1/2 x 3 1/2" card base for your ATC for each of the 2 1/2" strips for a total of 6 ATCs. Cut the 3 1/2" strip at 2 1/2" to create (4) 3 1/2 x 2 1/2" ATCs. All together you will have 10 ATC base. Got it?

Here are the rules for the TIC Day #5:

• Create an ATC with at least 1 mat (a piece of cardstock layered over the ATC base)
• Your ATC should have at least one embellishment (ribbon, brad, sticker, etc)
• No limitation on the card design or theme
• You may stamp, draw, paper piece, scrapbook (you may use a picture).

Email the picture of your ATC to lbmcd66@hotmail.com or comment on this post with your blog URL of your submission. All ATCs must be submitted by Sunday 12:00 pst. ATCs with Stampin Up designs will be posted on Stampin Inspirations and ATCs other than Stampin Up will be posted on Card Inspired.

This time, I will send an ATC to all participants. Please send me via email your mailing address when submitting your picture of your submission so I can send you an ATC.

Another set I had to make for an ATC swap! I really hope they like it. I carefully colored each image with Prismacolor Pencils with Gamsol. Whenever I swap with people, I always make them with the best effort I can to create a trade that they will like. I know of people who complain about the "shoddy" cards they receive from others. I can understand their frustration, especially when you had put in a lot of work to create your trade; it can be disappointing to receive a trade that obviously shows the person just slapped a card together just so they can receive one of better quality.

I guess if you can't put in the time to create a quality trade, then don't trade. Make a card that you, yourself would like to receive. It's just a matter of being considerate.

When trading with others. . .please put in effort in your work so others will want to continue trading with you.

New URL Address for Stampin Inspiratons

Hi Everyone!

If you have Stampin Inspiratons on your blogroll, link, or favorites, please change the URL address to http://www.stampininspirations.blogspot.com/

I had created this blog site right when I became a demonstrator and did not know you could not include the Stampin Up name in the URL so I had to change it. Oh well! It sort of messes things up a little because those who visit my blog site regularly will not know how to get back to my blog site. Hopefully, they'll search through Google and find my blog site that way. I'm really sorry for the inconvenience.

P.S. Let me know if you don't receive your email subscriptions from Feedblitz. I changed the URL for this blog site and tested the feed. I received the email stating that the feed was okay but I don't know how the URL address will change the subscription for others.

Thank you. . .

ATC Design & Sketch

Hi Everyone! This is an ATC I made for a swap that I was invited to join on SCS. I had participated in it once before several months ago and the ATCs I received were top-notch so I decided to join in again when I received an email asking me to join.


The ATC is actually a tag and pocket ATC. I thought it would be nice to do something different and the ladies that I'm swapping with are one of the most talented in the stamping business so I wanted to be a little creative with the ATC.






This is the set of ATCs I made for the swap. I don't think any of the recipients read my blog so I feel comfortable posting them.

Simple sketch of this ATC.