Eat Sleep Stamp

Hello, Sammy

Happy Wednesday!!  Before I talk about today's post, I just have to spill...... Eclipse was AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I'm sure I will be seeing it again this weekend.  It was a must see.  I am SUPER tired today.  I got home around 2:30 a.m. and woke up at 6:00 a.m. for work.  I honestly don't know how I did it when my daughter was an infant, sleep as any mom knows is a luxury.

I wanted to make boyish card, using the lovable Sammy from June's release from Claudia & Company.  Isn't he just the sweetest? I really had fun with the colors on this.  The paper is from DCWV All About Boys, also available from Die Cuts R Us. 

The sentiment is also from Claudia & Company, So Random Sentiments.  I LOVE this set and highly recommend adding it to your sentiment collection.  It's even on sale right now too!  Sketch is from Taylored Expressions #117

 

Here's a teeny tiny snippet for you to scratch your head over.  LOL! Want some more snippets to wet your appetite?  Hop on over to the Claudia & Company blog to check them out.

Don't be too mad.  Cause all will be revealed tomorrow, July 1st!!  See you bright & early!!

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

Before I go on to today's card.  I have to pull a Tom Cruise... jumping up & down on my sofa.  Why you ask..... well those you that know me, know I'm a TWI-HARD!!!  And tonight I get to see.....

 

I'm actually going to see the Twilight trilogy with Tracy Falco.  The fun starts at 7:15!!  I plan on getting to the theater at 4:00.  Eclipse doesn't start until Midnight so I figured I will become one with my seat.  LOL!  Tracy & I decided to do this when we noticed that when New Moon came out people that went to see Twilight beforehand didn't have to leave the theater.  Can't wait!!!!

Okay for you non- Twilight peeps, here is my card for today!  Isn't she just the cutest little thing?  This is another one of my new Pure Innocence images, called... what else?  Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

 

I had this card base already prepared.  It was one from the June Key Ingredients challenge that I never finished.  You guys know how much I love my Taylored Expresssions KI kits!    I paper pieced the tub and her bathing cap with some of my scraps, all from October Afternoon's Fly a Kite collection.  I drenched the bubbles with stardust Stickles.  I was too impatient to use liquid applique, but will try in on my next card using her.

That's all for today girls.  I will be back tomorrow with a snippet to tease you with for the upcoming Claudia & Co. release!!

Toodles!

How to start your Monday - Wheeeeee!

Hello there friends!  I hope my post finds everyone well and enjoying the summer.  It feels like it has finally arrived here in the Bay Area.  We were still having clouds & rain just a few weeks ago!  

I was a happy camper this weekend even though it was crazy hot!  My step-daughter gave us a small air conditioner and DH hooked it up.  NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  We had no plans so I had a chance to play in my stamp room ALL weekend.

My Pure Innocence stamps were feeling neglected so I pulled them out and got them dirty.  LOL!   I still had some of my Fly a Kite paper pack on my desk, so I pulled some scraps to make today's card.

 

I used some leaf ribbon that I got from The Cat's Pajama's to make the tree part of my card.  I saw this done on someone else's card recently and thought - I have to try that.  I'm sorry I can't remember where I saw that so that I could give the crafter proper credit.  If anyone knows, please drop me a line!

I paper pieced her dress and chose to make my own flower embellishment.  I used my smallest blossom Nestie to make the outer flower and a small circle one for the inner.  I then crumpled them both up, then opened them up again and put my button in in the center.  Easy peasy!!

I got a lot done this weekend, so be sure to stop back often this week to see what I've been up to.  AND..................Claudia & Company will be having a it's July release sneak peeks this week!  And trust me you won't want to miss them!!!

Have a wonderful day!

Sketchy Thursday #89

Woo-hoo!! Mr. Linky is back up.  I love & hate that service.  Have a ever mentioned that I pay for it?   On top of it  I'm not the most patient person in the world.  But I promise today's post was all worth the wait.  Wait till you see the A*M*A*Z*I*N*G sketch artist we have this week.

Ladies give it up for....

Donna

 

Not bad for a first timer, eh?  Well she's a first timer to Sketch Thursday, but clearly not to stamping.  I mean just look at this beauty.  Who knew this was such a great sketch?!  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this card.  The flowers give it that something extra special.  It's already special given that it's hand made!  Donna cinched it for me with her color combo as well.  Want more?  Have no fear, hop on over to Donna's blog Chicks with Inkpads and congratulate her on being this weeks' featured Sketch Artist!!

Let's get ready for number 89!!  I'm pretty excited about how this turned out.  Now if I can carve out some time to play with it.  

 

As always I'll choose the most clever, creative, and cute creation from the submissions this week to be the next Sketch Artist. Your design will also be featured on my blog next week!

You have until next Wed. 6/30 to play along.  When uploading to SCS and PCP or or your blog please use keyword ESS89 for the challenge.

Have an amazing day friends!!!

 

Blast from the Past Blog Hop

Woot-woot!  It's throw back time!!! That's right - it's time to hop to the hits from the past.  Stamping' hits that is!

 

I am SUPER excited to be participating along with Taylor and friends of Taylored Expressions to share with you some cards using sets previously released.  Of course I couldn't just make one card because I have a few beloved sets that haven't seen any love lately.

As an added bonus Taylor provided everyone with an optional color inspiration challenge from the picture below.  Doesn't that just scream summer! 

 

While the color inspiration piece is optional, I couldn't resist playing along with it!  Such fun colors!!  I immediately turned to one of Taylor's fantastic sketches - number #114 to be exact.

I just love these colors for my non-traditional love-themed card.  This image is from the previously released Love is Sweet set.  I chose to keep the layout simple using only one small piece of patterned paper from My Mind's Eye Love Me Do collection.  The rest of the cardstock (including the buttons!) came from one of my Key Ingredients kits.   I can't live without mine!

For my second card I used one of my favorite sets, Beary Special.   I had my October Afternoon Fly a Kit paper pad out on my desk and it was just begging to be paired with this cutie.  I do like the color combo too!

Well friends I hope you enjoyed today's post.  There are several more for stops for this fantastic blog hop. 

 

Sketchy Thursday #88

Sorry I'm late with today's post gals!  I've been like a chicken with my head cut off this week at work.  Seems like everyone is busy right now with the summer break from school and such.  I can't remember when the participation was so low for Sketchy Thursday.  Either everyone is busy or the sketch was a bomb. 

Are we ready for a new sketch?  How about our new Sketch Artist?  Me too!  Your new Sketch Artist is......

CASSIE

Isn't her card SUPER fun?  I actually think IT rules!!!  Cassie LOVE what you did with the sketch.  The teal is so bright and fun that it makes everything about your card just POP!  My favorite part is the embossed circle under the image.  It works perfectly for this card.  You won't want to miss checking out Cassie's awesome blog http://cassietrstamping.blogspot.com/ . 
 Cassie!!!!

Because things have been so crazy, I chose a sketch from a card you saw earlier this week - from the Key Ingredients post.    Here is number 88 (great number!! and the year I graduated from high school - GO CRUSADERS!!!)

As always I'll choose the most clever, creative, and cute creation from the submissions this week to be the next Sketch Artist. Your design will also be featured on my blog next week!

You have until next Wed. 6/23 to play along.  When uploading to SCS and PCP or or your blog please use keyword ESS88 for the challenge.

Have an amazing day friends!!!

 

Taylored Expressions - Key Ingredients Challenge!

Welcome to the June release of Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients kit! 

And I have to say I absolutely ♥LOVE♥ this month's kit.  Most of you that follow my blog regularly know that I am a HUGE fan of Taylor's kits.  They are an essential part to my stamping projects.  They help me get the job done!  Taylor puts just the right elements in her kits and delivers them right to your door!! And one of the best parts of being a subscriber.....10% off plus free shipping on everything in the TE Store once a month!

Taylor issued a challenge this month....

Creating your own flower embellishment is the challenge this month! Layering, punching, distressing, whatever it takes to create a one of a kind flower. And the elements in this month's kit will help! Grab those flower die cuts, paper flowers, and buttons and start layering, sponging, popping, etc.! Then use the flower embellishment as the focal point of your card or to embellish your stamped creation!

So here is what I came up with.  It was super easy thanks to my Key Ingredients kit!  This month's kit comes with all the elements to create some super cute flowers for your cards.  Check out my sunflower!  The only stamping done here is the sentiment which is from the Beary Special set.  Layout was inspired by Taylor's Sketch #115.

Everything on the card is from this month's kit - patterned paper is from October Afternoon's Fly a Kite, coordinating cardstock, yummy ribbon, buttons,  and of course flowers!

For my second card I wanted to keep the theme the same, so I chose the same colors and sentiment.  I really love the soft colors of the flower.

And you know I couldn't resist making one with some of the other fun papers from the kit.  This one has a completely different feel and a hand made rolled flower.  Joanne B. has a fantastic tutorial on Splitcoast.  You can check it out HERE.

This sweet little chef is from Cuppie in the Kitchen set.   Everything else is from the June Key Ingredients kit.  This yellow ribbon is SUPER soft too.  It's like butter!

Want even more inspiration?  Check out the samples from the amazing Baker's Dozen and some friends of Key Ingredients......

Baker's Dozen:
Taylor VanBruggen: http://www.tayloredexpressions.blogspot.com/
Karen Motz: http://paperplayhouse.blogspot.com/
Jeanie Witmer: http://thespottedchick.blogspot.com/
Alex Maldonado: http://fairyblossoms.typepad.com/fairyblossoms_musings_for/
Carolina Buchting: http://creativepad.typepad.com/
Jackie Pedro: http://www.thescallopededge.blogspot.com/
Sankari Wegman: http://sunnysankari.blogspot.com/

And friends:
Rosie Hughes: http://lovemycraftroom.blogspot.com/
Candace Mitchell: http://candid-candace.blogspot.com/
Lisa Hjulberg: http://lisahjulberg.blogspot.com/
Stacey Schafer: http://stampinwithstacey.blogspot.com/
Cassandra Trask: http://cassietrstamping.blogspot.com/
Colleen Begley: http://colleenscreativecorner.blogspot.com/
JoAnn Valderama: http://joboogie.typepad.com/
Tracy Clemente: http://www.eatsleepstamp.typepad.com/  (YOU ARE HERE!)

And I've saved the best for last....  Taylor is offering any new or current subscriber who purchases or extends a subscription for 6 months between June 15th - 19thwill receive a FREE Taylored Expressions stamp set (designed by Taylor herself!) upon completion of the 6 month term.


Link to the 6 month Key Ingredients Subscription: http://www.tayloredexpressions.com/item.php?item_id=1101&category_id=252

Link to the Key Ingredients Website: http://www.thekeyingredients.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by today!!

 

TESC 117

Did everyone have a good weekend?  We almost reached triple digits here in the Bay Area.  Too hot for me!  We don't have air conditioning so it was pretty uncomfortable. 

So I took advantage of my limited time in cooler morning hours to get some stamping done.  First up... Taylor's sketch from Friday.  Doesn't it look fun?!

For my card I  knew exactly which TE stamps I wanted to play with.  My new Cuppie in the Kitchen set.  All of the images in this set are just priceless.

I had these measuring spoons from Stamping Bella forever and decided I could (gasp!) use them for a card.  After all that's what I bought them for!

Well girls sorry to have to post and run.  But I have to go hunker down in meetings for the rest of the day. I hope you all have a wonderful day!

 

Happy Birthday.......

Claudia Harvey!!!

Claudia, owner of Claudia & Company is celebrating her birthday this weekend!  The The Claudia & Co. Design team would like to wish her a BIG !!!

I hope you have a wonderful day Claudia!!!   

And to help us celebrate, Claudia is offering FREE SHIPPING for orders over $34.00 at Die Cuts R Us!!  Hummm.... could that be a special number? I think so!!  So help us celebrate.  Head on over to Die Cuts R Us and get those things you've been putting in your shopping cart.  Because now you can get them!!

Have a wonderful blessed day friends!!! 

Claudia & Company Sketch Challenge!!

Happy Friday!!!!  Are you guys ready to get sketchy?  This time with the gals at Claudia & Company!! 

As you can see I couldn't resist using the adorable Ella the Pink Elephant for my card.

 

Don't you just love her?  She is just so darn cute!!!  She can be used for so many types of projects.  The one that stands out for me is baby stuff!  Can you just picture Ella on a onesie?  Humm.... I may have to try that out for my new niece!!

As you can see I'm continuing with my obsession with my October Afternoon Thrift Shop papers.  I also used some of it to paper piece Ella's bows.  The sentiment is from So Random Sentiments.

For the details on the challenge hop on over to the Claudia & Company blog.  There will be prizes!!  Please be sure to use Claudia & Company images when playing along.   Don't have any?  No problem!  Pick up these cuties at Die Cuts R Us.  There are even digi images in case you want them NOW!  Yes, Lori Boyd's adorable Lollipop's are now available at Die Cuts R Us!

I hope that you guys will play along with us!!!  I would love to see what you create using these fabulous images!!!

Have a fantastic day!