Christmas Stampin All Year Long Challenge #21

Hi Friends!! It's Monday. . .and what does Monday mean? It's Christmas Stampin' All Year Long Challenge time again! Yup! We're on challenge #21 and Debbie of The Paper Garden is hosting our challenge this week! She came up with a fun challenge this week!!

The challenge this week is to use eyelets on your card. Find a creative way to use eyelets!! How fun!


I have tons of eyelets. There was a time when I used eyelets all the time but I rarely do now so this challenge is great. I get to use the eyelets I've been storing for years! LOL!

I decided to use the sketch I provided for the challenge although it's not part of the challenge. The sketch is provided to help those who prefer using sketches.

I colored the Christmas tree with my Copic Markers and I added the eyelets to parts of the image that had ornaments.

I'm going to make this post short! I actually have nothing to say today! LOL!

Hope you'll play along this week! Christmas is right around the corner. I think I'm going to start my Christmas shopping this month and even wrap the gifts. It's not as fun as shopping during Christmas but that's okay. . .I think we're going on a vacation this Christmas so I better start shopping now!

Stop by the Christmas Stampin All Year Long blog site and check out the awesome cards created by the design team.

Card Details:

Stamps: Rachel Ann Miller, SU
Paper: SU Designer Paper, Close to Cocoa, Real Red, Old Olive
Ink: Copic Markers, Tim Holtz distressing ink
Accessories: Making Memories eyelets, Nestabilities, SU Key Tag Punch, SU Chocolate Chip Felt Ribbon, Sizzix Texturez, Fiskar Scallop Scissors

Inky Impressions SCS Challenge FS123

Hey Friends!! Thank you all for the graduation congratulations and well wishes you gave my daughter. . .I so appreciate them! Your comments mean a lot to me!!

Okay. . .now we're now back to business! LOL! For one thing. . .it's SUMMER! I cannot tell you how excited I am that it's summer break . I won't get into it but starting in September, life will change a bit for me. I may not be able to craft and blog like I normally do so I am definitely going to make the most of this summer!!!

One of the things I am definitely going to do is participate in more challenges. I'm terrible when it comes to challenges but I will make it a point to do several each week!

Today I decided to participate in the SCS Featured Stamper Challenge FS123! This week's featured stamper is Roseanne - SCS "Sumtoy" and I decided to CASE this card: Click Here

With the Featured Stamper challenge, you need to CASE one of the featured stamper's card but change at least 2 or more things about your card. I decided to stick with the card layout but change the image and colors. I also added more embellishments on my card than Sumtoy did.

I used this fabulous image by Inky Impressions
This cutie's name is Bunny Ears Lili! She definitely is a cutie, isn't she? Be sure to stop by the Inky Impressions Challenge blog site. . .it's Inky Impressions very first challenge. You have until wednesday to participate in this week's challenge. It's a color combo challenge . . .be sure to check it out and play along!!

I colored Lili with my Copic Markers, cut her out and remounted her on the designer paper. I'm sorry for the dark photo. I'm not sure what is going on with my lamp. . .my photos seem to be getting darker and darker. I think I may need to buy extra lights for my room. I don't like how my pictures are turning out.

Anyway, be sure to stop by the Inky Impressions store and check out their FABULOUSLY CUTE stamps. . .you will definitely love them all!!

Well, I hope you all are having a wonderful Sunday. Later this afternoon I will need to pull weeds in my back yard. Argggh! I'll take a photo of the slope in my back yard. . .climbing up the hill is a definite work out.

Card Details:

Stamps: Inky Impressions Bunny Ears Lili
Paper: K&Co designer paper, SU Only Orange, Going Gray
Ink: Copic Markers, Scribbles Iridescent Paint
Accessories: Nestabilities, CB Embossing Folder, Making Memories Ribbon, SU Large Oval Punch, Office Depot swirl clip

Congratulations On Your Graduation Alexis!!

***disclaimer. . .lots of photos" LOL!

This is a photo of Alexis at age 4. . .she still looks the same, huh!

Hi Friends!! Yesterday my daughter graduated from high school so I wanted to dedicate a post to her!

Gosh, where do I begin . .. .

My daughter have always been the brightest light in my life, the sunshine that brightened my day, the light at the end of a dark tunnel, the happiness on a gloomy day. . . .

I recall when she was little, the first thing she would say to me when I woke up in the morning was "GOOD MORNING, MOMMY!". . .in her loudest, most cheery voice and for that reason, it was a good morning.

I divorced her dad when she was 4 1/2 years old and a year later, my ex-husband passed away unexpectedly (murdered). It was a very gloomy time and

it worried me that such a traumatic experience would alter her life in a negative way. . .something in which she would not be able to handle well as she grew older.

All my fears were laid to rest as she graduated yesterday. She turned out to be generous, loving, and giving.

Since middle school, she had decided that she wanted to be active in helping out the community by volunteering countless hours of her time during her lunch hours and weekends.

During the Senior Awards Night, she was recognized for her community service efforts by receiving a certificate of recognition by her school. She also was awarded the "Kiwani's Scholarship" (a non-profit community organization) and the "PTSA Scholarship" as well as receiving a thank you letter from our city's community service organizer. As the Key Club President, Alexis worked closely with our city's community service organizers and the President of the organization came down personally to her school to give her the letter.

Alexis was honored with 3 stoles this year along with other distinguished students. They were acknowledged during the Senior Awards Night and during the graduation ceremony. Here she is in her graduation gown wearing her 3 stoles from the National Honor Society, California Scholarship Federation, and Key Club.

Gosh, I can't tell you how proud I am of her. Alexis was also in other clubs such as the Environmental club, Soles for Africa, and the Year Book Club.

I want to acknowledge my husband. . .as Alexis' step-father. . .he has been the most supportive and loving father a daughter could ask for. He filled the void that would have been an empty part of her life and made things better for her. He made her life as happy and comfortable as he possibly could. He dedicated endless hours helping her with her homework, supporting all her endeavors, and just giving her the best life a child could ever ask for. Thank you sweetheart for being the best husband and father. I couldn't ask for more!!

During the graduation ceremony, the honor students were asked to stand up as an acknowledgement of their accomplishments. In this photo, she and 14 other students from the National Honor Society stood up as the Principal acknowledged them.

Here she is accepting her diploma. I took this photo with a 300mm zoom lens. Thank goodness for those zoom lens, huh! LOL!

Alexis will be attending University of California in the fall. Yay! I was hoping she could stay in state and attend one of the best public universities in the nation.

To those who've asked me . . .the UC campus that she will be attending is only 40 minutes away. My daughter chose this campus because it's closest to home so she can commute rather than dorm. So . .no, she will not leave home for college! She didn't want to dorm. . .she said she didn't want to share a room with another student or share a bathroom with 8 other people! LOL! So no dorming for Alexis!

Here is Alexis with a few of her classmates! Note all the lei on her. In Hawaii, it's customary for graduates to receive a lot of lei.

My family in Hawaii sent her a bunch of lei and haku for her head. They wanted her to feel the "aloha spirit" when she graduated. She definitely felt the aloha spirit. . .she was so happy walking around with all the lei on her.

Here in California. . .it's not customary to receive a lei; hence, no lei on her friends. It's too bad because look how pretty all the lei on Alexis! LOL! Very colorful, huh?

Here is me and Alexis during dinner after the graduation ceremony.

I decided to use her other haku. Having two of them on my daughter's looked strange so I used the other one. I didn't want it to go to waste. LOL!

Here's a photo of Alexis, me and my husband.

Congratulations my dear child. . .I am the most happiest mom ever! You have done well for yourself and I know you will continue to do so. You have been the best child a mom could have and I am extremely proud of all your accomplishments!!

I love you!! Mom

The Greeting Farm "One Layer" Challenge Contest

Hey Friends!! The Greeting Farm has a new challenge! This week's it's a "one layer" challenge!! Here are the details:

Rules: Ok simple rules here: No Layering! Basically looking for just one card stock, folded. But you may use ribbons and embellishments. If you find this extremely impossible, I will allow you to do one layer if you decide to paper piece. But that's it! Please post your entry in the Galleria under Contests/Challenges/No Layers.

Deadline: Wednesday, June 17th

Prize: Your choice of 3 stamp sets!

Oh my. . .3 stamp sets! You better play along because 3 stamp sets is the BOMB!!

You're like . . .your card is not one layer! It is. . .my card base is a double sided designer paper. Because you're able to use embellishments . . .I used all the flowers to create the lei around my "Sing" image. There's no "layering" otherwise. You're allowed to paper piece. . .I actually paper pieced the "Sing" image to the designer paper rather than paper piecing the designer paper on to the image so my card do "qualify" as a one layer card. LOL!!

Hey. . .this evening my daughter graduates from high school! Oh my gosh. . .how exciting! I'm going to have a busy day. . .I need to take photos of my daughter before she heads to the school. I'll take a whole bunch and I'll post them tomorrow.

Anyway. . .hope you'll play along in the Greeting Farm "One Layer" challenge!! Can't wait to see your card!! Stop by the Greeting Farm blog and check out the other cards created by the DT.

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

Card Details:

Stamps: The Greeting Farm "Sing"

Paper: K&CO designer paper, SU Pretty in Pink

Ink: Copic markers, Scribbles Iridescent paint

Accessories: Marvy butterfly punch, SU Regal Rose grosgrain ribbon, Gartner brides flowers

The Greeting Farm Peace and Snuggle

Hiya Friends!! I decided to work on a few cards last night and I decided to use The Greeting Farm stamps. This card was created using "Peace". I've been trying to use different color combos. I don't use blue and purple often so I decided to try it out!

Isn't Peace a cutie or what? I love this stamp! I had fun coming up with a layout for this card! It's a little different from my other layouts because I decided to put the sentiment at center rather than off to the side.

I colored this sweetie with my Copic Markers. . .cut parts of the image and remounted them with foam tape.

Card Details:

Stamps: The Greeting Farm Peace, Hope & Grace
Paper: Deja View and K&CO designer paper, SU Lavender Lace (I think), Lovely Lilac, Blue Bayou
Ink: Copic Markers, Scribbles Iridescent Paint
Accessories: Basic Basic Ribbon, SU Large Oval Punch, Marvy flower punch, organdy ribbon, Nestabilities

Here's another card I made. . .this time using The Greeting Farm "Snuggle". Don't you feel like giving Snuggles a snuggle. LOL!

Again, I decided to use a different color combo. I actually used an old SU card stock color. . .it's called Marvelous Magenta. It's a retired color and I still had it. LOL!

The embossed background was created using Fiskar Texture template. Remember those old texture plates that you had to use that embossing tool and scratch the card stock to create the embossing? Well, fast forward to present time. . .all I did was run the plate through my die cut machine. I love innovation! LOL!

Again, I colored my image using my Copic Markers. Hey. . .I have another "big find". . .I'll tell you about it another time. You're going to flip out when I tell you about it!!

Anyway, I hope you all have a fantastic day. I gotta get off of here. . .I am so behind on life, it's crazy. It's not because I have a lot to do. . .it's just I get interrupted every 5 minutes so I can't get anything done.

Card Details:

Stamps: The Greeting Farm Snuggles

Paper: K&Co designer paper, SU Marvelous Magenta, More Mustard

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

Accessories: Plaid ribbon, Marvy flower punch, SU Large Oval Punch, Fiskar Texture plate, SU Scallop Edge Punch, Nestabilities

A Whole Bunch of Goodies

Hi Friends!! Look at all the goodies that I recevied from a few wonderful people.

The goodies above are from Denise of Denise Loves Stamps for Jen's Monthly RAK. This month we are to send a RAK with "flowers". Denise is such a sweetheart. . .she's another Hawaii Sistah that I met in blogland. She not only makes beautiful paper craft creations. . .she also makes pretty jewelries. She's multi-talented for sure!!

Not only did she send me the RAK above. . .she sent me this awesome card and images. Wow, Denise is such a kind and generous person. I hope to meet her one day when I visit Hawaii.

Thank you Denise!! You are the sweetest. Your cards are beautiful . . .especially in person!! I definitely will use the goodies you sent!!! I love everything. . .I can definitely use the pretty primas, Stickles, ribbon, cute Japanese stamp, and images !!!

This awesome RAK is from De of Musings of a Stampin De Va! De is my photography partner in crime! LOL! She and I are both learning to be better photographers and she has been so supportive of my photography endeavor.

She sent me this photography notebook so I can log my specs when I take my photos. She also sent extra pages and her pretty crochet flowers. How cool! I love all of them! I can definitely use the log book. My husband recently bought me the Rebel XSi and I passed on my Rebel XTi to my daughter. We plan to do a mother/daughter thing this summer so we decided to take a digital camera class at the community center so it'll be fun to put it the notebook to use!!

Thank you De! The notebook and the goodies you sent will be put to good use for sure!! I really appreciate your kindness!!

Last but not least. . .I won this super awesome card from Holly of Hog Wild About Stamping

I commented her awesome card on her blog and I won the card! Yipee! I was able to create my own sentiment and she added it on the card! OMG. . .the card is so darn funny! I was feeling crappy the day I commented and oh, the card was so perfect! LOL!

Thank you Holly. . .your card is fantastic. Keep up the great work!!

Pink Cat Studio Release of Sporty Billy

Hey Friends!! Guess what today is? It's the release of Pink Cat Studio Sporty Billy!!! Yay! You've seen the sneak peeks. . .now, you can get the stamp set your self! Whoohoo!! This set is such a great set for masculine/boy cards. Boys and men want handmade cards too! I really had fun making cards with this set because I'm such masculine card challenged! LOL!! This set made it easy to make the boy cards. . .the images speak for themselves. So stop by Pink Cat Studio and grab the stamp set so you can create your boy/masculine cards too!


Why am I masculine card challenged? Well, I can't seem to control myself. . .I have a tendency to overdress my cards and well, with boy cards. . .you can't make the card too girly so it's hard for me not to add ribbons, flowers, glitter. . .etc. LOL! But. . .I controlled myself with this card. This is as minimal I could stand! LOL! Don't get me wrong. . .I love simple clean cards but I'm so accustomed to adding all sorts of stuff on my cards!

Hey not to get off the subject but my daughter is graduating from high school on Friday. I'm excited but I'm laid back about it all at the same time. I'm so happy for her. . .she worked so hard and did so well. . .now, it's on to college and I'm more excited about that. I don't know. . .high school to me is just a step. . .college, in my opinion, is far more important so when she graduates from college. . .I think I'll be much more excited about it.

Graduating from high school is more of a milestone. . .but I do acknowledge that my daughter did amazing things while in high school. I want to shout out her accomplishments but I'll wait until after the graduation ceremony and I'll tell you about them. I want her to shine on her graduation day so I'll post them on Saturday.

Okay. . .just a little info on my card. I colored Billy with my Copic Markers. . .do you see the embossed background? Well, it was created with the Sizzix Texturez that I got from the clearance rack at JoAnns. It was such a fabulous find. . .I can't stop talking about it! LOL!!

Anyway. . .be sure to stop by Pink Cat Studio and check out all of their fabulous stamp sets including Sporty Billy!!

Hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday!!

Card Details:

Stamps: Pink Cat Studio Sporty Billy
Paper: SU Designer Paper, SU Not Quite Navy, Blue Bayou (I think), Real Red
Ink: Copic Markers
Accessories: JoAnn breads, SU Key Tag Punch, Sizzix Texturez

Inky Impressions Grand Opening and Blog Hop

Hey Friends!! I have exciting news for all of you! There's a brand new rubber stamp company! Yup! I see you all jumping up and down with joy! LOL! Tell us about it, Maria!! Okay. . I will! Well, Nicole has realized her dream today because today is the grand opening of "Inky Impressions"!! The images are simply adorable and the quality & detail is exceptional! Each stamp is "EXTRA deep etched" on quality red rubber for a crisp, clean impression every time!

To celebrate the Grand Opening of Inky Impressions, the Inspirational Inkettes are participating in a blog hop, to inspire you with the new Inky Impressions rubber stamp line. If you didn't start the blog hop at the beginning, then you want to head back to Nicole's Blog (she is Inky's Mama) so you do not miss anything.

Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom for the link to the next Inspirational Inkette and continue on with our blog hop!!

This cute little gal name is "Lili's Secret"! Shhhh! Lili has a secret. . .actually, the secret is out. .. we all now have a new rubber stamp company we can buy from to further fuel our stamping addiction! LOL!

I colored Lili with my Copic Markers and went all out with the bright colors! I needed to get your attention! I mean . . .with this bright orange color. . .how can you miss my card!

Anyway. . .keep reading so you can finally link to the next Inspirational Inkettes so you can complete the blog hop and see what goody may be in store for you!

Card Details:

Stamps: Inky Impressions Lili's Secret

Paper: K&CO designer paper, Marcella designer paper, Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue

Ink: Copic Markers, Scribbles Iridescent Paint

Accessories: Nestabilities, Top Note Die, Making Memories Ribbon, CB Embossing Folder

Hey . . .another mini album! Yeah! I'm giving this mini album to my husband for Father's Day. I created the boy version yesterday and this one is the girl version. I made one with my step-son's photos and this one will be of my daughter's photos.

This cutie is "Bunny Ears Lili". Isn't she a adorable or what! Her basket is filled with goodies that she will be presenting to my husband for Father's Day.

Anyway. . .here is a close up the image. I colored Lili again with my Copic Markers.

Anyway. . without further ado. . .

Hop on over to the next Inspirational Inkette. . Michele of "My Little Space on the WWW" and check out her awesome project!!

Hope y'all have a wonderful day!!

Card Details:

Stamps: Inky Impressions Bunny Ears Lili

Paper: K&Co Designer paper, More Mustard, Blue Bayou

Ink: Copic Markers, Scribbles Iridescent Paint

Accessories: Michaels $1 Scallop Mini Album, Nestabilities, Basic Basic Ribbon, Buttons, Prima Flowers