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 ;)

I get by with a little help from my friends, part 2

ticketbelle

B-gin-R

I've been meaning to get these wonderful cards posted because I received them several weeks ago from my dear friends Michelle and Sandra! I have been soooo blessed by you, my friends!! And aren't these cards FABulous?? (lots of head nodding--YES!!!) Big Hugs to you!

The Sisterhood Is Born

Hi Everyone! Well, thanks to my near and dear friends at SCS a new idea and group has been formed!
It's called The Sisterhood of the Traveling Cards and it is a monthly card swap that is open to anyone.
Since I became active again on SCS I have had the blessing of meeting some pretty fabulous and talented ladies and we've enjoyed swapping together for quite a while now. I have pretty consistently come up with new swaps just to keep our little group together--to swap of course, but more importantly to chat and support each other through the everyday (and not so everyday) things that we go through in life. It's been fun to see other gals start their first swaps too and to join in and continue supporting each other in that way.
So then I got to thinking, what if we just swapped together every month! I put out feelers and to my surprise there was a lot of interest!!
Thus the Sisterhood was born (LOL--reminds me of the fellowship of the ring--I was trying to get that picture of frodo holding the ring and insert a card but I'm not that savvy)!
Check it out and join us if you'd like!! (limited to 30 spaces)

The Way I see It

Being from Seattle I happen upon Starbucks every once in a while...often...more often than not...but that's beside the point. Today after sipping my grande nonfat chai, I set it down on my desk and noticed the word "childhood." So I thought I'd share "The Way I See It #282" with you all. It comes from Lyall Bush who apparently is executive director of Richard Hugo House, a center for writers and readers (Haven't heard of it but I like the sound of it! I'm a writer and a bibliophile so I can appreciate the work of other writers and readers : )

The Way I see It #282

"Childhood is a strange country. It's a place you come from or go to--at least in your mind. For me it has an endless, spellbound something in it that feels remote. It's like a little sealed-vault country of cake breath and grass stains where what you do instead of work is spin until you're dizzy."

I love the imagery in this. If only we could be like children all the time...so carefree and with such huge imaginations!!

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And that reminds me of a swap that ends this Friday---Childhood Memories hosted by Lauriloo! I can't wait to see what everyone has come up with. Here's the card I made for this super fun swap!

Oh Hanna, Hanna!

Hola and Happy Tuesday!

I just wanted to share with you my new favorite stamps. Not to worry, MFT and SU! still hold a huge part of my heart...but these Hanna Stamps are sooooo cool. Check out their website and take a look at these beeeeeautiful designs that some of our fellow SCSers have created...Aunt Carol is one of them!! Thanks for sharing with us your creative minds. If you have a Hanna creation send it to me over email kadieensley@yahoo.com and I'll post your creation here or send us a link to your blog and I'll add you to my inspiration!

Gallery links (Thanks for sharing!!) Carolyn Jennifer Dawn Candice

Note::I did not make these cards...please click on links to give credit where credit is due. :) Happy Stamping!!

Drumroll Please!

Lily by B-gin-R


Boys have Cooties by Aunt Carol

Purses by Sama
Ahoy Matey by jamigirl

Happy bday giftcard holder by theboysmomShoes by watchnemgrow

And the results are in!! Here are the winners and the runners up for each category of the Girls and Guys swaps! Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice: Winners picked by my boss

Little Girls: Winner**B-gin-R

--Runners up: Jenmaass and watchnemgrow

Teens/Tweens: Winner**Aunt Carol

--Runners up: ticketbelle and mamadwawa

Ladies: Winner**Sama

--Runners up: watchnemgrow and marzipan

Snips, Snails and Puppy Dogs' Tails: Winners picked by my DH

Little Boys: Winner**jamigirl

--Runners up:jamigirl and watchnemgrow

Teens: Winner**theboysmom

--Runners up: Aunt Carol and scraprageous

Gents: Winner**watchnemgrow

--Runners up: crazynanna and Sama

A special mention (and little somethin-somethin) goes to Jenny in MN and watchnemgrow (Christine) for making those most cards. Thanks so much for all hard work and lucky are the ladies who receive your awesome creations!