Pink Cat Studio Sneak Peek Day #2 Sporty Billy

Hello Friends!! It's Day #2 of Pink Cat Studio sneak peek of Sporty Billy! Whoohoo! Check out Billy! LOL! So sporty! When will Sporty Billy be available? Tomorrow!! Yup, you can get your hands on this cute set real soon!

Because I'm so short of boy cards, I decided to create cards rather than projects for this round of sneak peeks!

Just a little info about my card. . .I colored Billy with my Copic Markers and added once again the Scribbles Iridescent Paint. I think it's my favorite new item! I've been using them on a lot of my cards and projects so don't be surprise to see more of them on my cards.

Be sure to scroll down and check out my second card that I created with the Sporty Billy set!!

I just wanted to say before I go on. . .I'm sorry I haven't dropped by your blog sites the past few days . . .I've been so busy with everything and I really do want to say hello but once my daughter graduates from high school. . .things will slow down a bit and I can stop by and say hello. I'll try to visit when I can. . .okay!

Card Details:

Stamps: Pink Cat Studio Sporty Billy

Paper: SU More Mustard, Cool Caribbean

Ink: Copic Markers, Scribbles Iridescent Paint

Accessories: Nestabilities, Sizzix Texturez, Coluzzle Oval Template, SU Key Tag Punch, SU Large Star punch, Grosgrain Ribbon, Buttons

Here is my second card . . .this time it's soccer Billy! Boy, Billy is so good in sports! Don't you think this set is perfect for boy cards? Boys are so under represented in the card making world. We gotta give boys a bit of love. . .they do like cards too!

Another new item that I bought that I'm going nutz about are my Nestabilities! OMG! I don't know why I never bought them before! LOL! I was seriously missing out on this cool product. It sure makes life so much easier.

Be sure to stop by Pink Cat Studio tomorrow and grab your Sporty Billy set!!

Check out the other cards and projects created by the fabulous Pink Cat Studio design team. The links are located to my left sidebar.

I forgot to mention June's Guest Designer Cyndi Bundy of Scrappy Chick! Congratulations Cyndi for being this months guest DT. Be sure to stop by her blog site and check out her awesome creations.

Hope you all have a wonderful day!!

Card Details:

Stamps: Pink Cat Studio Sporty Billy

Paper: SU designer paper, SU REal Red, Not Quite Navy, Bordering Blue

Ink: Copic markers

Accessories: Making Memories eyelets, Jolee's By You, Nestabilities, Sizzix Texturez, SU Deckle Scissors

Pink Cat Studio Sporty Billy Sneak Peek Day #1

Good Morning, Friends! This is my second post of the day and it's not even 9 in the morning~LOL! What's going on, Maria? Well. . .today is Pink Cat Studio Day 1 Sneak Peek of Sporty Billy! Whoohoo!!

I decided to create this mini album for my husband for Father's Day. He loves my mini albums because it's so personal! Okay. . .my husband isn't really a sporty fella . . .more nerdy then sporty so this football image doesn't quite match him but that's okay. LOL! Shhhh. . .don't tell him I said that! Actually, he is pretty fit. He is more the jogger/runner type. . . not the jock type.

Hey. . .guess how much I paid for the star chipboard album? One dollar! Yup, I found it at the kid's section of the dollar bin at Michaels. I love it. I bought several of them. They are actually made by Crayola! LOL!

I'm going to add my titles later. I didn't have time to add all the bells and whistles to my album.

When my husband was younger he was a little sporty. Here he is showing off his muscles! It always makes me laugh when I look at that picture of him flexing his muscles.

Scroll down for my other Pink Cat Studio sneak peek!

Card Details:

Stamp: Pink Cat Studio Sporty Billy

Paper: Scraps . . .various brands

Ink: Copic Markers, Scribbles Iridescent Paint

Accessories: SU Large Star punch, star punch, Fiskar scallop Scissors, Coluzzle circle template, Basic Basic Ribbon

Here is my second sneak peek! This one is of Billy surfing! Why the girly pattern of the designer paper? Well, the dp matched the colors of my image and it had a tropical look to it. Billy isn't shy about getting in touch with his feminine side! LOL!

I added a bit of SU Crystal Effects to Billy's pants and surfboard. Check out the little pup on the surfboard! He's all cool with his sunglasses.

I colored Billy with my Copic Markers and drew in the sun. That's about it!

Be sure to stop by tomorrow for another day of Pink Cat Studio sneak peeks! There's more of these cool sporty Billy!

Also. . .don't forget to play in this weeks Christmas Stampin All Year Long challenge. Scroll down to check out my card for this week's challenge.

Don't forget to check out the other fabulous cards created by the talented design team. The links are located to my left sidebar or visit the the Pink Cat Studio Blog.

Hope you all have a sun shiny day!

Card Details:

Stamps: Pink Cat Studio Sporty Billy

Paper: DCWV designer paper, SU Sunny Yellow, Bordering Blue, Not Quite Navy

Ink: Copic Markers

Accessories: SU Crystal Effects, 1 1/4" and 1" circle punch, Making Memories Ribbon, Making Memories eyelets

Christmas Stampin' All Year Long Challenge #20 - 06-08-09

Hi Friends!! It's Christmas Stampin All Year Long Challenge time again and we're now on our 20th challenge! Whoohoo! This week it's Vicki of Summerthyme Studio turn to host this week's challenge and her challenge is all about buttons and ribbons; hence, all the buttons on my card! LOL!

How did I create this wreath? Well, basically I used Prima flowers and added the buttons over them. That's about it! Nothing complicated.

Overall, it was a fairly simple card to make.

Anyway. . .I'd love to chat but I am once again behind on EVERYTHING! Unbelievable and a bit disappointing. It was suppose to be my weekend for catching up! Oh, well. . .such is life!

Don't forget to stop by the Christmas Stampin All Year Long Challenge blog site to check out the awesome cards created by the design team!!

Be sure to stop by later this morning to check out my sneak peek of Pink Cat Studio's June stamps. I betcha gonna love the new set!

Hope you all have a fantastic Monday!

Card Details:

Stamps: SU Cute and Curly

OaoerL SU designer paper, SU Old Olive, Ridinghood Red

Ink: Real Red, Tim Holtz distressing ink

Accessories: Buttons, Primas, Walmart Ribbon, Nestabilities, Fiskar scallop Scissors, Deja View Brads

HM&F Challenge #40 and Photo of the Day

Hi Friends!! Happy Sunday to you all! Hey, I decided to participate in another challenge. I'm making efforts to participate in challenges. When I make my cards, I tend to just randomly create a card and forget about all the fun challenges out there!

I remembered the House Mouse & Friends Challenge blog and decided to create this card. This week's challenge is to create an Anniversary or Wedding card. Okay. . .it sounded like an easy challenge so I decided to play along! Whoohoo!


When I colored the image, I had colored the image background in blue but I chose a darker blue color which was not my intention. I didn't realize the blue would be so dark. I wanted just a light blue sky.

I didn't like the color combo with the blue. Ugggh! Then to complicate things, I couldn't find a designer paper that had a similar color combo so I added the embossed card stock, ribbon, and embellishments to compliment the image colors.

Anyway. . .I colored the HM image with my Copic Markers and added a bit of stickles to the flowers.

I gave the card stock and DP an aged look using my Tim Holtz distressing ink.

I again used my Scribbles Iridescent paint to create the dots. I now have collected 20 different colors! LOL! Them puppies are cheap . . .only 99 cents at JoAnns or Michaels. I love the raised dots that they create to my card design. They sort of look like little brads. A much cheaper way to create the same look. LOL!

Card Details:

Stamps: House Mouse

Papers: K&Co Designer Paper, SU Pretty In Pink, Chocolate Chip

Ink: Copic Markers, Sakura Gel Pen, Scribbles Iridescent Paint

Accessories: Prima flowers, CB Embossing Folder, Basic Basic Ribbon, SU 1 1/4 and 1 3/8 circle punch, Coluzzle Oval Template, Nestabilities, JoAnn Brads

Photo of the Day

Old Town Temecula

Every year Temecula holds a community event called "Children Matsuri" and my daughter volunteered to be the photographer for the Key Club who offered their services for the event. The Children Matsuri focuses on children and the Japanese culture. There were lots of yummy Japanese food booths and activity booths for children focusing on Japanese art.

After Alexis finished taking the photos, we decided to spend the day in "Old Town Temecula" where the event was held. Old Town Temecula is a historic town and several years ago, the city decided to restore and preserve the old western buildings that were still intact to create an "old town" feel to this part of town with restaurants and many many gift and specialty shops.

If you've never been to Temecula. . .it's a fairly large city. . .combined with an adjacent town called Murrieta. . the population is approximately 200,000. Although it can be considered a medium size city, it has a very small town feel to the city. There was a huge boom in housing about 5 years ago and the population doubled in a short period of time. I love living here. The community is really pretty, with beautiful houses, and really good schools.

I love the wineries here. . .there's at least 20 of them and there's a lot of shopping centers. LOL! The only problem with living here, other than Abbot Industries and Pechanga Resort, there's no large industry that supports the community so many people are forced to work in San Diego or downtown Riverside. We have so many restaurants here. . .because of the large population. It's crazy because every day of the week, the restaurants are always full. I was told that there' are plans to build a "Cheesecake Factory" here. . .I hope it's true. LOL!

Anyway. . . we decided to head on to some of the specialty shops in Old Town Temecula. If you take a look at the picture above. . .I didn't intend to take the photo the way it turned out. I just wanted to take a photo of my husband and my daughter with the building in the background. It turned out to be an interesting picture because it says "For Lease" and there's also a sign with an arrow pointing to my daughter's head saying "Free Fudge". LOL! Unfortunately, the "e" in "fudge" was cut off or the picture would have been perfect!

The second photo is my daughter and husband standing outside one of the shops. We ended up buying a train set. . .spent $250 on it. Uggghh! But, I have to admit,it's a really pretty train set. We always put up a train set during Christmas time but our old set (a really nice one) stopped running so we decided to buy a new one. The set we bought is really nice. . .it's not the plastic looking type. . .instead, it's very authentic looking, similar to our old set, so I guess it was worth the cost.

Anyway, we had a lot of fun. . .unfortunately, I couldn't craft all day as I had planned to do. Hopefully, I can spend the day crafting today!

Hope you all have a wonderful day!!

SCS Challenge IC183 - Eastern Bloom

Hi Friends! This post is going to be short. My daughter is cracking the whip and wants me to drop her off to a community event which she did not give me advance notice of the time. Here I am in the middle of posting and such and she tells me we have to leave now. I know. . .I sound annoyed.

Anyway. . .I decided to participate in the SCS Inspirational Challenge - IC183 . Here is my card in the gallery: Click Here

and here is my inspiration: Click Here

Just a quick info on my card. I created the background using the embossing resist technique on to textured photo paper. I'll talk about my photo paper on another post. I don't have time to talk about it right now.

I also added Scribbles Iridescent paint to create the raised dots. That's basically it.

Anyway. . .sorry, but I gotta run!

Hope you all have a fantastic day!

Card Details:

Stamps: SU Eastern Bloom, Lots of Thoughts

Paper: Textured photo paper, SU Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red,

Ink: Copic Markers, SU Riding Hood Red, Positively Pink, Pink Pirouette, Scribbles Iridescent Paint

Accessories: SU Chocolate Satin Ribbon, Hodge Podge hardware, Nestabilities, Fiskar Scallop Scissors, SU Filigree

It's All About Pink Cat Studio

Good Morning Friends! Hey, Pink Cat Studio will begin their sneak peeks for the June sets on Monday and will be released.

Here is the blinkie for the release. If you want to post it on your blog, click here for the code.

To get you excited, I decided to create a few cards using past Pink Cat Studio images. This card is from the Lily & Billy Sweetheart set which is available at Pink Cat Studio.

I colored Lily & Billy with my Copic Markers and do you see the little dots. . .I used my Scribble Iridescent paint. I love the stuff and have so much fun using them.

Don't forget to scroll down for my second card.

Card Details:

Stamps: Lily & Billy Sweetheart, SU Playful Petals

Paper: DCWV designer paper, SU More Mustard, Cool Caribbean

Ink: Copic Markers, Sakura Gel Pen, Tim Holtz Distressing ink, Scribbles Iridescent Paint, Twinkling H20

Accessories: Grosgrain ribbon, SU Word Window Punch, Brads

I just learned yesterday that a childhood friend has cancer. I also learned a few weeks ago that another childhood friend has cancer. Gosh, I can't believe it. Both have children that are still in school. I feel so sad for them.

It scares me a bit. I remember when I was working at the hospital and I would see cancer patients in their 30s and 40s. It makes me think of my own mortality. I never really got a good handle on that aspect of being an RN. Instead, I decided to work in OB/GYN because there were less chances of patients being sick or are dying.

I recall when my daughter's father passed away suddenly when she was 6 years old. I was left to care for my daughter by myself. I was still in nursing school and during that time I was assigned to the Oncology unit to care for the cancer patients.

It frightened me. I would pray and ask God to not let anything happen to me because my daughter would be alone. I started to check my body for swollen lymph nodes because for many cancer patients, a swollen lymph node was what prompted them to see a doctor. Many times cancer is insidious, with no symptoms until you're at an advanced stage or the cancer has metastasized. A swollen lymph node begins to present itself and that's sometimes the only sign that something is wrong.

Life is short and we have a tendency to sit around and ponder what we want to do, rather than actually doing it. Dreaming of things that we wish we could accomplish but never putting effort to realize that dream. I think we should take the time to "live" our lives and not wait around for things to happen.

Anyway, it is really sad to hear of such bad news of my childhood friends. My prayer goes out to them and their family. Thank goodness for Facebook or I would not have known about it. FB is amazing because I've reconnected with so many of my childhood friends since signing up. I don't go on often lately because I just haven't had time but it's so nice to hear from them.

Anyway. . .enough with the sad stuff.. This card was created from the Pink Cat Studio Kiki Kitty Plate 1.

Again, I colored the image with my Copic Markers. Be sure to check back on Monday for the sneak peeks!!

Today, be sure to take the time to do something you want to do but always put off doing. . .even if it's something simple.

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

Card Details:

Stamps: Pink Cat Studio Kiki Kitty Plate 1

Paper: DCWV designer Paper, SU Basic Black, Real Red

Ink: Copic Markers, Scribbles Iridescent paint

Accessories: CB embossing folder, SU Heart to Heart punch, DCWV Adhesive Ribbon, Fiskar Scallop Scissors, Coluzzle Oval Template

Embossed Transparent Flower Tutorial

Hi Friends! I decided to create a tutorial today. I haven't created a new tutorial for a while now. There was a time when I created a tutorial at least once or twice a week but for the past year, I've gotten lazy. I also haven't made a video tutorial like forever. YouTube deleted a whole bunch of my tutorials because of the music that I had used on videos. . . it was a copyright issue with the music. Argggh! I was upset about it and I lost my enthusiasm for creating them. I'm getting over it and maybe when I have the time, I'll work on my video tutorials.

Okay. . .what's this tutorial about? Well, do you see the transparent flower? Well, I created it using transparency sheets or film. It's a really easy technique. It's basically the same as embossing on regular card stock. I like the effect of attaching the flower to a Prima flower because the stamped and colored image is transparent and you can still see the Prima Flower behind the stamped image.

Oh. . .I have to tell you about my great find yesterday. I had stopped by JoAnns because my daughter needed a few materials for a school projects and I headed down the "clearance" aisle. I found two packs of Sizzix textured plates (similar to the CB embossing folders) and one was a starter kit that included the foam and plate needed to creating the embossing. The texure pack has a total of 6 embossing patterns.

The textured pack are exactly like the ones that Stampin Up sells but with different patterns. Believe it or not, the packs were only $7.00 including the starter kit. OMG!! I couldn't believe how lucky I was. Do you see the embossed background on my card. . .well, that was one of the pattern. Whoohoo! I always check out the clearance aisle. Sometimes you can find really good stuff there.

Anyway. . .I hope you all have a wonderful day and hope you like the tutorial!!

Card Details:

Stamps: SU Playful Petals, Cute & Curly

Papers: SU Lavendar Lace, Taken with Teal (I think), DCWV designer paper

Ink: SU Markers, Versafine ink, Sakura Gel Pen, Scribbles Iridescent paint

Accessories: SU Top Note die, Sizzix Texturz, Transparency sheet, embroidery floss, SU Ticket Corner Punch, SU Hodge Podge hardware

With the tutorial below, if you want to print it, click on the drop menu that is labeled "more". It'll give you the option to print or save the document. You may view a full page of the tutorial by clicking on the icon to the very top right corner. It'll open up a new window with the tutorial. If you just want to enlarge directly on the blog, click on the + button or the magnifying glass! To scroll down the page, use the scroll bar to the right of the document. Anyway, try the tutorial out when you have a chance!

the Greeting Farm June Hope & Grace Stamp Release and CPS Challenge CPS118

Hi Friends! I was a good girl today. I actually participated in a challenge!! Whoohoo!! I went browsing around in blogland and found the Card Positioning System Challenge site with a fabulous sketch. - CPS118. Thought it was a fun sketch to create a card with.

I've been busy coloring images but not making any cards but I decided to step in my craft room this morning and create these two cards.

This image is the Greeting Farm "Sing". OMG! I just love this image! I cannot tell you how fun it is to color the Greeting Farm images. I can sit and just color and color and color.

Okay. . .this is the inside of the card. I created the flower with a template that I created. If you want to use it. . .

Click Here for the template.

The dots were created using the Scribble Iridescent paint. These paints are so cheap and so fun to use on cards. They run 99 cents a bottle and you can find it in the fabric paint section at Michaels or Joanne.

Card Details:

Stamps: the Greeting Farm Sing

Paper: K&CO designer Paper, SU Bashful Blue, More Mustard

Ink: Copic Markers, Sakura Gel Pen, Scribble Iridescent Paint, Tim Holtz distressing ink

Accessories: CB Embossing Folder, Nestabilities, SU Photo Corner Punch, Prima Flower, Making Memories ribbon

Gosh, today I've been having some major allergies. I'm surprised I was able to make 2 cards. I managed to create them in between sneezing and blowing my nose. Hey . . .check it out! I received the Nestabilities that I ordered! Whoohoo! Now my cards will be stylin'! LOL! I always loved the cards that others make with the Nesties but I'm from the old school mentality. . .you know, if you can cut it yourself, why go expensive! Unfortunately, I've been way too lazy lately to even do anything without some sort of tool. Argggh!

I want to go back to creating things from scratch but I found that you need a whole load of motivation to do it and well, I just don't have that much of a mojo lately.

My problem is I'm not very focused. I want to do soooooooooo many things that there's not enough of hours in a day to do all the things I want to do.

I want to play with my camera, I want to create videos, I want to draw, I want to clean out my computer, I want to create templates and tutorials, I want to clean my house, I want to organize the garage, I want to go out and explore, I want to paint, I want to lose weight, I want to meditate, I want to go back to school, I want to go back to work, I want to take Jazz dancing lessons, I want to go bowling, I want to watch TV, I want to read . . . .I want to see a therapist. . .LOL! I think I need one.

Are you the same way? Do you have way too many interest that you are frustrated by the inability to do them all.

Anyway. . .this little lady is the Greeting Farm "Peace". I love her. . .she looks so cool! All she needs is a joint. . .hahaha! Wasn't that 60's thing? Ugggh! Peace is too young for that sort of thing and she said "say no to drugs"! Okay. . .I hope you know I'm playing around!

Well, I hope y'all have a fantastic day. I think I'll work on a few more cards tonight. I'm in the mood to make cards today!

Card Details:

Stamps: The Greeting Farm Peace, Hope & Grace

Paper: SU Rose Red, Pretty In Pink, Pink Pirouette, SU Sweet Tart Designer Paper

Ink: Copic markers, Scribbles Iridescent Paint, Sakura Gel Pen

Accessories: Nestabilities, CB embossing folder, Martha Stewart Border Punch, Prima Flowers, Buttons, SU small oval punch, SU Regal Rose Grosgrain Ribbon