More Inque Botique

Hey all! Hope you had a wonderful day yesterday! Anyone enjoy any new shows last night? I know I was flipping back and forth between Kid Nation and America's Next Top Model. I didn't realize that on Kid Nation they would be competing against each other for jobs and 'royalties'. Pretty enteresting! I know I wouldn't have been able to do that at that age! I was a momma's baby! Well, truth be told, I still am! ANTM was just as I expected. Some pretty girls mixed with one or two not so pretty girls, and of course the girl who has to cause all of the trouble! I really love seeing what they do at the photoshoots though. They make those girls do some crazy things! Anyway, a fairly uneventful night for me other than folding laundry and unloading the dishwasher. I didn't even stamp last night, I just wanted to be a couch potato. It worked out pretty well!

Here is a card I did earlier yesterday though. This is the first time I have gotten to use my Agapanthus Cluster stamp that I think is sooooooo easy to use! I wanted to keep it really simple and actually ended up hand writing the 'miss you' part. I added stickles and tied a ribbon. Viola! Easy peasy lemon squeezy!

• Agapanthus Cluster stamp (Stampendous)
• Colorbox Olive Pastel chalk ink
• stickles
• black pen
• ribbon

The next one is a card I made for a friends son who just turned 4. I love this set from Inque Botique! It is perfect for little boy cards! Inside reads 'Hope your birthday is out of this world!'

• A Boy's World (Inque Botique) stamp set
• Stazon jet black, Versamark ink
• Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie, black CS
• Prismacolor pencils and OMS
• brads
• slit punch (for corners)
• pop dots

I am so excited! Tomorrow my mom and sister are coming up to stay the night and then on Saturday we are going to our local Mum Festival. My mom came last year and we went together so I think we started a tradition. It's so nice to get one on two time with mom and sis. Having 5 sisters and a brother (add up the in laws too!) it's hard to get alone time since we all do a lot of things together. Speaking of which, we have a sister dinner every year where one of us hosts for the day and we all just sit back and relax, eat, and laugh our butts off!! This year mom and Angel are buying all of us tickets to a dinner theatre playing 'White Christmas' I am so excited! We all love that movie, especially the 'sisters' act!

I wanted to share a few pictures with you that I took last week. I really like the praying mantis one. The shadow look really made the spikes on his arms/hands look cool!

For some reason this set up looked ideal for a picture, especially in black and white. It was in one of the houses at Carriage Hill which is land with a pioneer house, barns, animals, a blacksmith building. It's pretty cool and the kids love it because of the animals. They got to pet the sheep, a cow, the pigs, and a duck that was roaming around. In turn, I got to snap some shots with my Rebel. Smiling faces and some neat pics, not too bad!

Lots-O-Cards

Good morning all! It was quite a busy week for me this past week and weekend. I did find time however, to squeeze in some stamping time! First thought I want to show all of you even more birthday RAKs I have gotten! I feel so loved!! I also want to say that Donna, I have wanted that Sweet Tier stamp for a looooooong time and having your card in my pretty little hands finally convinced me to buy it! So, I thank you, although my hubby doesn't! {wink} Julie even sent me a little Rhonna Farrer stamp inside her card. Man I love happy mail! And Trish I MUST know where that little birdie came from! Too cute! Thank you all very much!



Now I want to show you part of what kept me a little busy this weekend! I have taken on yet another crafting endeavor! Hair bows! My sister is a Gymboree junkie and is always showing me the new lines and bows that people make to go with them. Even though Gymboree is a TAD too expensive for my taste I have fallen in love with some of the bows I have seen to match! So, I did a little (okay, a lot!) of research and made some of my own. I wanted to start out with corkers but it kind of didn't just stop there. I am in the process of finishing my Halloween corker bows right now and will share a pic once I get everything attached to the barette. Here is one I made in about 2 minutes though. It matches a shirt I got for the girls at Children's Place last fall. I loved the colors and even though I'm sure this bow won't match anything else in their wardrobe, I think it matches this too perfectly!


Alright, now lets get down to business! I got my stamps for the Starving Artistamps DT and I had to sit down and make a few things after I came back from the mailbox! Here is what I ended up with.


This one uses all SA stamps. I thought it would look nice to distress the edges.

• KSAI-102 Clematis, 47.10 Wishing you, P25.01 Harlequin BG stamps (Starving Artistamps)
• Always Artichoke, kraft CS
• Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke, Versamark ink
• edge distresser
• ribbon
• pop dots
  
  

The next one used the new Doodle Facotry Halloween stamps. This pumpkin head guy makes me grin every time I look at him! Maybe it's because some days I feel like how he looks! Spaced out and in need of a vacation! Although, in this instance he seems a little worse off than I usually am. My head is most always attached! I just masked his body in the right spots and stamped his arm sticking out 'holding his head'.


*Sorry for the interruption but I am switching back to my 'normal' format. I was trying something different at the start of the post but it just takes too much time, and I'm too lay to switch the first part back!*

• P24.02 Tight Weave BG, Pumpkin Head, Halloween Sentiment, Halloween candy stamp(Sonlight Impressions via Starving Artistamps)
• Really Rust, black, white CS
• Stazon jet black, Versamark ink
• ZIG markers
• decorative scissors
• pop dots

Here is another pumpkin head card. I stamped him regular though. Okay, you tell me, does this look like he is standing in the snow? Or ice skating (as Jolee said)? I didn't see it before but hubby and kids kept saying it. Is it true?

• Pumpkin Head, Dead Tree stamps (SunSpiritStudios via Starving Artistamps)
• black, white CS
• Stazon jet black ink
• ZIG markers
• Copic grey marker
• staples
• edge distresser
  

Part of the reason Tracey said she picked me to be on the team was because she liked my one layer or no layer cards. So, I wanted to make something simple but classy and I love brown with snowflakes! I also did paper piercing through the snowflakes to make it look like flurries but it's hard to see in the pic.

• 45.12 Snowflakes, 41.02 Alphabet 1/4" stamps (Starving Artistamps)
• kraft CS
• Chocolate Chip ink
• ribbon

Finally, this last card comes with sadness. A close friend of my mom's and a good friend of our whole family passed away a few days ago. She was a wonderful person and a dear friend to my mother and my heart not only aches for her husband but also for my mother. This is the card I made him and I also included a long letter about what amazing people they both had been in my life. If you can say a quick prayer for their family.

• BasicGrey Mellow DP
• Heidi Grace Winnefred St., Studio G clear stamps
• Chocolate Chip ink
• Marvy Mega scallop circle, super jumbo circle punches
• ribbon
• pop dots
• push pin

Take time today to give your loved ones a hug because you simply never know what could happen tomorrow. Love all of you out there! Thanks for reading and God bless!

Rock and Roll!

Man, I feel like I am on a roll and don't wanna stop!!! I got 4 cards done yesterday! I was really inspired. Of course it helped that my new Inque Botique stamps came!! Oh my goodness I am in love with these things! If you have not purchased any of these, you really really need to! If you don't have any money to purchase them, pull out any sets that you aren't using, sell them on Ebay (anything listed $9.99 and below are free to list till the end of the month), and then use that money to buy them! The price is really unbeatable! The big sets are less than $12 and the 'mini' sets (which aren't all that mini) are less than $4. And, now a few of the online stores are carrying the 'Lil Stamps' that are only $1! And the cool thing is they are rubber, not acrylic. Anyway, I better move on to the next subject because if I didn't I would be singing Inque Botique praises all day! So......moving on!

This first card I made for my niece's birthday that is today. I used the foil hearts sheet from the DCWV Rock Star stack. This is another thing you need to get if you have any tweens/teens/or rockers in your family! I also used the Inque Botique "Mini-Awesome" set with this which goes Awesome {har har} with the stack! The circle with heart is seperate from the wings which is nice. I colored the inside of the heart with my white Souffle pen and then added stickles. I just love this card!!!

• DCWV Rock Star stack
• Pink Passion CS
• Mini-Awesome (InqueBotique), Karen Foster 1/8" snap stamp sets
• Stazon jet black ink
• Souffle pen (white)
• Word Window punch
• Stickles
• black brads

The next one also uses Inque Botique. This set is called Petals and I really really like it. It's huge! Such a big selection! The swirl reminds me of the stamp from SU Baroque Motifs set (which I love!) so that's another reason I {heart} this set!

• Petals (InqueBotique), Paper Tray (PaperTreyInk) stamp sets
• Old Olive, kraft CS
• Stazon jet black, Colorbox Olive Pastel chalk inks
• Prima flowers
• corner rounder
• black brads

I did this Halloween card for the Thursday Throwdown Colleen posted on her blog Distintive Touches. It was a challenge to make any holiday card. I was in the Halloween mood so I went with it! I cut the ghosts out of a patterned paper sheet by The Paper Studio, attached a pop dot to the top part but glued the bottom part straight to the paper so it would give a 'floaty' kind of feel. I used a JoAnn's $1 stamp for the sentiment and just cut out the words. I also added white dots to the brads with my Souffle pen.

• Ghost paper (The Paper Studio), Halloween Words paper (Not sure, I cut and glued the part that had the name on it!)
• black CS
• JoAnn's $1 stamp
• Coluzzle oval cutter
• Cuttlebug Swirl embossing folder
• Souffle pen
• ribbon
• pop dots

This last one is my least favorite out of the bunch but I think only because I couldn't decide what else I wanted to add to it. I didn't have the 'right' ribbon and debated about adding sparkles but it didn't seem right. Maybe one of you can help me out!

• Petals (InqueBotique), Happy Everything (SU) stamp sets
• Fabriano watercolor paper
• Stazon jet black ink
• Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive, So Saffron re-inkers
• aqua painter
  

By the way, have you guys seen this? Just when I thought I was safe DCWV has to come out with a glitter Halloween stack! I mean really, how many Halloween cards can I send out??? I am in trouble!!

Am I really lucky, or just a spoiled brat?

Now, I don't really want you to answer that because I know what most of you will say! Shame on you! Although, I really do think it is the latter of the two also! My birthday was so wonderful! All of you and your well wishes for my day was so nice to read! And it was so much fun giving away the blog candy! I love giving things away like that! I noticed that I'll be coming up on 30,000 hits soon so I guess I'll have to start getting another goody pile together! Anyway, on with what a brat I am! I had been drooling over a $500 macro lens since I first got my camera. For the last month I had been joking my my hubby about getting it for me for my b-day. "You better order that soon honey if you want it to get here before my birthday!" or "I saved some money with coupons at the grocery, so there's a little extra money for my lens." or my favorite "I promise I'll act surprised when I open it!" He laughed it off every time and said "yeah right!" I honest to goodness didn't expect it at all, I was only teasing him. I had also mentioned that I wanted the lens to, well.....pretty much anyone who would listen, including my in laws! Apparently being a good DIL and a good wife and mother really pays off because hubby and in laws went together and bought it for me!! You don't even know how excited I am! I have been sneaking away every chance I can get to take some pics!


This lens is different from my other 3 lenses because this one is a 100mm f/2.8 macro USM and is specifically for up close photography. It's used best with things such as insects and flowers. I love taking pictures of my children and family but my most favorite photography is definitely the flowers and insects. It's made this acrachnaphobic want to get as close as possible to a spider! Who'da thunk? Here are a few pictures I have gotten so far with my new super awesome lens!






But, the fun doesn't stop there! I got some birthday money in the mail (aren't mommas and grannys the best!?) so of course I couln't let it burn a hole in my pocket! I was going out to eat later that day in Springfield so I decided to go a craft store called Crafts2000 (also known other places as Pat Catan's). I hadn't been in there for about a year since they put a Hobby Lobby cloer to me and I don't need to go over that way any more. Boy did I hit the jackpot though! They had See D's stamp sets (now Inque Botique) for $1.97 each! I got 6 different sets although they probably had 15 different ones or so. I haven't gotten a chance to use them yet but I am so excited to! I also got a polka dot alpha set (had to pay $8 for that one) and a small $1 Christmas tree stamp. They have a big selection of $1 stamps too! After that I had to run next door to Hobby Lobby (yes, it's next door, and JoAnn's is next door to that!) and see if they had the Rock Star stack. They did! I snatched that up at half off and also found the Basic Grey file set that I had been looking for since Craft Critique had this article about it a few weeks ago by Lexi Daly. I used my 40% off coupon for that and also got some individual sheets of paper for Halloween cards and such.



I also wanted to show my take on the light box I just rigged for myseld. I saw Amy Westerman's idea of using a wooden crate lined with foam board and wanted to try it. I looked at JoAnn's, Hobby Lobby, and even Walmart for a crate and to no avail! I ended up just using my foam board that I already had to make the shape of the box and taped it together on the backside with thick masking tape. It's actually pretty sturdy! If you have any questions just email me!

Lookie what else I got in the mail! Sweeter than sweet birthday cards! Thank you Susan, Amy, and Rose Ann!!!






I'll be back soon with some cards I got to make this weekend!

Troubles with Blogger

Hey guys! I have a long post that I was trying to put up but for some reason it's not letting me upload any pictures today. I'll try and post as soon as it lets me!

And the winners are.......{drumroll}

Sorry this post is a little late, I have had a full and wonderful birthday today!! Thank you all for leaving your birthday wishes for me! I enjoyed reading everyone's favorties gifts and a few made me chuckle! The random numbers picked were.......

#15 Amy (prize #2)

Happy Birthday, Heidi! What a cool party you're throwing for us all. I hope you've bought yourself some fun birthday stamps, too!

Let's see, one year when I was in college, I mentioned something about how useful a swiss army knife would be so I'd have something on hand to open boxes and do other mundane things. My mom said my dad spent hours and hours shopping to find one "dainty" enough :-). My dad hates shopping so I was touched that he'd go to all the trouble (and to imagine -- correctly -- that I wouldn't want something chunky and ugly). Not the most extravagant, but still super special...


#40 Jannette (prize #1)

My favorite gift was just this year, my husband took me home to Neb. (I haven't been home in 6 yrs.) We live in WA state. Anyway 2 days before my vacation he tells me that he's driving me home but I can't tell anyone. So everyone was very surprised to see us and I couldn't have ask for a better gift/trip. Jannette D.

and

#67 Kim Ross (prize #3)

My best birthday gift was from my husband. Swedish Fish are my favorite candies, and I had been talking about getting some guppies. So he purchased a fish tank for me, and filled it all the way up with Swedish Fish. YUMMY! It was such a surprise! :)

Congrats ladies! Email me or leave a post here with your email and snail mail so I can send out your cooler than cool prizes!

I'll be back later explaining what a spoiled brat I am!!! I had such a great birthday!

Birthday Blog Bash!!!!

In honor of my birthday on Thursday I am giving away some sweet blog candy!!!! So, we're not going to make this a blog candy giveaway, it's going to be a Birthday Blog Bash!!! Get out your party hats and help me blow out the candles cause this is going to be fun!!! Now of course the best part is the goodies, right?!? Here they are!

Prize #1

Starstruck: approx. 2 1/2" tall

Gifted Kitty: large kitty is approx. 2" tall

Birdie Bitties: birdie is approx. 1" tall

Prize #2

Gifted Kitty:

Birdie Bitties:

Prize #3

Birdie Bitties:

Okay, first off I want to say that I am jealous of whoever wins these prizes! I don't even have the Gifted Kitty or the Starstruck sets for myself!!! Picking 2 of the 3 sets to give away was pretty easy but picking that 3rd set took me a while. Birdie Bitties was first on my list because I have it and absolutely LOVE it! Second on my list was the amazingly adorable Starstruck snowman!!! I knew I wanted a kitty set for my third but there are so many cute kitty sets!! So, I ended up going with the birthday set that way you could use the balloon from birdie bitties along with it.

All of these awesome sets are from smARTworks rubber stamps. If you aren't one of the lucky ones to win and you have to have these awesome stamps, you can find them here:

ABC-Starstuck pg.98

ABC-Gifted Kitties pg.97

ABC-Birdie Bitties pg.86

So, what do you have to do? Tell me your favorite birthday present you ever got or a birthday present you dream of getting!! It's that simple!!! The contest will be open until Thurday morning when I pick 3 lucky winners!!! Good luck everyone!

Halloween Pins

I am finishing up my first round of cards as a smARTworks DT member. It has been so much fun so far!! I mean who can resist free stamps first of all but I really LOVE these stamps! I'm not pulling them out because I'm obligated, I'm pulling them out because I am drawn to them! Heck, I have 1 more card to meet my deadline and they aren't offically due till the end of October! Speaking of how great these stamps are some of you will be able to find out for yourself! Hmmmm, what did she just say? Oh yes, YOU will have a chance to try out this fantabulous rubber! But, we will save that for later! {wink} Back to my spectacular creations! {giggle}

These are paper pins. I didn't have any green wire to use for the stem so I had to use regular wire and color it with a green Sharpie. I just twisted it around the end of my paintbrush to get the spirals. The candy corn is just one stamp and I masked it to make a pile. Then I used my SU word window punch to stamp the 'Trick or Treat' on, poked holes in the right spots and attched both pieces together with jump rings. I'll give more detail on the directions after I list the recipe.

• Autumn #1 (smARTworks) stamp set
• Prismacolors and OMS
• Versamark and Stazon jet black inks
• clear emossing powder
• heat gun
• wire
• SU word window punch
• jump rings
• push pin

I will try and put this into easy steps. If you have any questions at all just email me and I will hopefully be able to help!!

• Step 1 - Choose the image that you want to make a pin. If this is your first time making these you might want to try an image with a basic outline. *I have done squares quite a few times!*
• Step 2 - Stamp your image on cardstock and color how you choose.
• Step 3 - Cut your image out leaving about 1/2 inch around the entire image. *With the pumpkin I actually just punched it out with my Marvy Super Jumbo circle punch*
• Step 4 - Cut 3 more pieces of cardstock the same size. * I just punched out 3 more circles.*
• Step 5 - Use Modge Podge, Elmer's, Tombow mono-multi glues to glue all 4 layer together. Put to the side to dry for about 20-30 minutes (depending on which glue you use).
• Step 6 - Once the glue is dry cut around the image completely.
• Step 7 - If you want this pin to have an edge of a certain color now is the time to do it. *I gave my pumkin a black edge to make it look a little more uniform.*
• Step 8 - Press your image into your Versamark ink pad so the Versamark completely covers the image.
• Step 9 - Pour on your clear embossing powder. UTEE (ultra thick embossing enamel) is ideal for this project since you would only need to do one layer, but if you are as cheap as me you'll use the good 'ole regular embossing powder! If you use regular embossing powder you will need 2-3 layers so it doesn't have the 'bumpy' effect.
• Step 10 - Apply 2-3 layers of regular embossing powder, using Versamark in between to have the EP stick.
• Step 11 - You're done! Attach a pin back or magnet to the back and Tah-Dah! Finito!

I'd love to see any pins you might make if my post inspires you at all! Post your finish products here!!

This card uses another Doodle Factory stamp. I swear these are sooo adorable! They crack me up every time I look at them! You can use the 10% off coupon code I have you in the last post to get yourself a couple of these!!

• Tobias (SonSpiritStudios-via Starving Artistamps), 1/8 in. Karen Foster snap stamps
• Stazon jet black ink
• Prismacolor and OMS
• black pen (for stitching)

***I wanted to tell everyone that I just made the Starving Artistamps Design Team! Woo-Hoo! I am really excited about this! And they are taking more applications for additional design team members! If if you have intrest in working with their beautiful stamps then check out this link. Send your info to Tracey and she'll take good care of you, promise!!****

Make sure you check back later for my yummy announcement!!!!!