Say What?

I have affectionately borrowed this line from my friend Mary. But it's very necessary! These cards needs your help!! I'm in desperate need of sentiments for these cards (and while I love the tag line "But I need it," it's not going to work for sending these to my two girlfriends).
So I'm starting a contest-- otherwise known as blog candy. Send me your sentiment ideas and in return you will be handsomely rewarded (well, one of you will be). The prize will be a set of stamps! All you have to do is leave a comment with your sentiment and tell another blogger about the contest. I will pick a winner on Friday (Nov. 14) Thanks for your help!!

This card is still a work in progess (even without the sentiment) and sorry about the bad lighting, I had run out of daylight! You can click on the pic to see closer.

Back in Blogland

I've got quite the collection of Hanna stamps going at my house and have been dying to ink them up. Of course they have been sorely neglected though because of a lack of mojo and time. But not this weekend! This weekend I was determined to put these Hannas to work (and myself as well). Here are a couple of them that I came up with. Kiss the cook, I hope meets the qualifications for Candice's Nov. Release challenge. Thanks for looking and any feedback on how I can make my cards better would be great help!

Enabler Alert

Enabler Alert! Enabler Alert!
I swear everytime I sign up for a new swap I go searching for the perfect stamp for it...and I don't mean in my already busting by the seams craft closet...I mean new stuff: fresh, clean, new and adorable stamps! So, what did I do after I signed up for Mary's Baby, It's Cold Outside Swap? Of course, I ran (via world wide web) right over to Pink Cat Studio to purchase the Lily & Tweet Set that I'd had my eye on!

So I had the stamp and then I went in search of the paper. Soon after I found the fibers too and I seemed to be set! I always seem to get a little hung up on the layout though. For months I have been staring at these elements and wondering how I should put them together. Well, I had to kick it in gear because the deadline is swiftly approaching. And once I sat down with it all, I had an absolute blast. Thanks so much for such a fun swap, Mary...and for being my enabler! Off to find Mardi Gras stamps now! *wink*

Young Frankenstein

Halloween just came and went and we couldn't pass up the opportunity to dress up our "baby" Winston. Last week I asked Winston if he'd like to dress up for Halloween to greet our trick or treaters and he wagged his tail. I took that as a yes, so off we went to choose one. Since we waited until last week all the little costumes were on sale! Woohoo! We browsed a bit but I wasn't sure how to gage what would fit him and what wouldn't, or whether anything would look good on him. The sales people were so nice. I told them that I liked both the hotdog and the Frankenstein, so they helped me try them on him. We got the Frankenstein on and that was it. I was sold. I have told friends that I wouldn't buy dog clothes, but this was for an occassion and purpose, right? So I got it and he wore it for Halloween. Too bad we didn't have any trick or treaters! BUT he didn't even try and take it off and kept it on for an hour! At least our 12 yr old nephew that was visiting for the weekend got a kick out of it. Hope you do too. :)

Up To Some Good

Hi friends! Okay, I know that I have been undoubtedly MIA on my own blog as of late, but at least I've been visiting all of your blogs! That certainly counts, doesn't it? Well, here are some of my recent creations to prove that I've been up to some good. Have a very happy hump day!

Beth's Birthday Card

Jenni's Birthday Card

note**Jenni's card was cased from a swap card I received. Thanks for the ideas!!

Whiff of Joy

(epilogue to busy bee post)
Ohhhhhh, but I did get this stamp in the mail yesterday from Whiff of Joy Stamps in Switzerland!!! (shhh, don't tell my DH).
You can be sure that I will have a new card to post using this Charlotte image in the very near future. Be on the lookout! ;)
Isn't she adorable??

Busy Busy Bee

I've been a busy busy bee and not in the ways that I would choose. If I had my little way I would be stamping every night and have a new card to present everyday! Alas, we have been busy every evening and I haven't been able to create anything new. I have been frantically working on my cards for Kat's Halloween Swap though. And I know some of you have seen it but it's "new" to be posted here, so technically I've met my goal of posting a new card on Wednesday? And just for kicks I'll post my Halloween pouch and tag for Sama's Diaper Pouch Swap. Okay, I'm pushing it for new creation Wed, but some day real soon I'll get my mojo back!

Have a fun day!

Follow the Blog Trail and get some Blog Candy!

Hi Friends! I know it's Wednesday and I know I said I was going to try and post a card today...but how about some blog candy instead??
I was over in Paperville (Lauri's Blog) and noticed she had a link to Danielle's Blog (a VERY talented card maker!!) and Danielle had a comment from Stephanie (also makes superb cards). And Danielle and Stephanie have BLOG CANDY!!! Woohoo! So pop on over to Wild Dragonfly and see her stuff...and try for some Halloween goodies! And then pop over to Stephanie's place and try for her anniversary give away!
Thanks, Lauri!! Thanks, Danielle!! Thanks, Stephanie!!

Oh and I'm so grateful I popped over to Danielle's blog because I had been wondering for the longest time how everyone is getting that dripped effect on all their halloween cards--leave it to Martha Stewart--it's a punch!!
Happy Wednesday.

On a personal note, it's my 3rd wedding anniversary today. 3 years ago I was getting ready, all nervous and giddy, for the best day of my life. And that day I was blessed far beyond everything I imagined...my hubby is the greatest gift God has ever given me. :)

Oh my goodness!! And as I was writing this he arrived in my office with a bouquet of flowers! Isn't he just the sweetest?? I'm such a blessed girl.

For the Fisherman

Sometimes I have an idea in mind already, sometimes I flip through my notebook of ideas and sometimes I just sit down an get to it. The latter was the case for this card. I had a friend ask me if I would make a card for her dad's bday and I knew that I had this fun "On the Fly" set from SU! (retired) that I hadn't used yet and it would be the perfect opportunity to ink it up! So I just sat down and started coloring and this is what happened. I really love how the color combo turned out. Thanks again for looking!

Forcing it???

Remember the inspiration challenge I gave myself the other day? Well, I also gave myself a deadline for this weekend...so I had to sit myself down and come up with something. But I'm just not good under pressure!! The day after I posted the Matisse painting I realized that I had received all the pieces I needed from my friends Mary and Karen to make this card (little did they know!). The background paper from Mary and all the embies from Karen reflect all the colors in the original painting. So I just had to figure out a way to use them!! The first card is a quite literal version and actually was what I was trying to stay away from. The second card is actually what I was inspired to make (made this one first) from the painting and the gifts that my friends had given me. After I created the peapod baby I thought maybe it was too eclectic. I'm not used to using a lot of embellishments but I wanted to use as many as I could to portray all the fish. So then, doubting myself, I created the more literal "fish" card that you see below. And that one turned out too plain. I just can't win with forced inspiration. I think I'll stick to just letting my creative mojo flow (as you'll see in my very next post). Thanks for looking...feel free to vote on which version you prefer and any ideas to make them better! It's just another Monday ;)