Up before should be legal.....

But, what do you do when you can't sleep.... Look at your emails, right? And what did I find, but the first lesson for Tim Holtz's online card class.... Woo Hoo... Makes sleeping not seem important.... This is going to be an awesome time and I am looking forward to tricks of the trade and some creative stamping time of my own (don't we all).....

Well, now thT at I have read the fitst lesson, off to do some homework!
Happy stamping, and sleeping for most!
D

Hero Arts Monthly Contest - Flowers

Ok, so I have been wanting to enter the HA monthly contest, but time always gets away from me.... but, ta-dah... I have made a creation (that I will share in a moment with you) and it is uploaded and ready!  Just in time too!  Midnight tonight is the deadline.... Cross my fingers, wish me luck!!!!!

More good news, this past Saturday, I entered and finished my first 5K.... while I walked the majority of it, I did run some... and 11 months after having my hip broken and screwed back in place, that is a HUGE accomplishment that I am quite proud of!  thank you, thank you!

Another piece of info, I have resigned from the Tiffany Doodles design team... I am in need of some alone stamp time, if that makes sense.... I feel like I am not able to just play with the things in my craft room like I have been wanting too, so now, I have only to stamp for myself....  I hope this activates some additional creativity coming out of me and that I will get to try a lot of new techniques and fun ideas on my own.... I have loved being on the team, and getting to sneak peak some new things and play with them, but this break will be well received by my stressed out mind/body.... no more constant deadlines, just fun!  After all, that is what stamping and crafting should be about - pure enjoyment....

Well, I have made you wait long enough to see my entry.....
I used the Tall Flowers stamp in Memento Tuxedo Black ink on PTI white cardstock, stamped several images and colored with Distress Markers (Antique Linen, Scattered Straw, Peeled Paint and Forest Moss)... several layers were cut out and pooped ontop of themselves..... main image is die cut with Spellbinders Reverse Wonky Rectangles and then so is the patterned paper as well.... the paper is from HA/Basic Grey Out of Print paper pad.... plain seam binding was dyed with Distress Stains (Scattered Straw and Peeled Paint), tied in double bows and topped off with a button and twine.  The layered piece is popped up on the card base of the same paper and white cardstock.... I love these colors and hope you enjoy seeing this....

Have a fabulous evening... and hope to get crafty this weekend so I will have more to post....
Thanks for stopping by and Happy Stamping!
D

Oh Happy Day!

First I must start off by saying YEAH Joe Gibbs Racing!!!!  We won the Phoenix race just now, and our other drivers were 6th and 10th.... awesome finish for everyone!!  Woo Hoo!!!!

Ok, now for a couple of cards:  I wanted to try the clean and simple look with lots of white space - I have seen several posted lately and love the look, so here are two of my attempts...
The first one is a large white on white layer, the image is Stampin Up in Memento Rich Cocoa on white PTI cardstock.  Colored with copic markers and layers on Chocolate Chip paper and some brown twine wrapped around the bottom.....

The next cards was done using the same image, same coloring... the difference is the shape of the focal piece and the accent of Chocolate Chip stitched ribbon......

Ok, these pictures look fine on my computer, but once uploaded, they are sideways... not sure why, but I will attempt to fix that.... hopefully you  can still get the idea...

Again, this proves how challenged I am when it comes to this blogging and taking pictures of my cards... blah!  I hope you all had a fabulous weekend and the week ahead looks bright!  I have a lot going on this week, but hope to get more cards done - maybe my creative juices are finally coming back - these allergies have really dulled my brain.... but I got all 10 swaps done, the two above, another one partially done and working on a fun "biggest loser" project... hope to get more of that done and posted this week!  Wish me luck....

until then, happy stamping
D



quick post.....

Ok, so re-reading my last post, it is obvious I was up way too late that night and did NOT proof-read....my apologies for that horrible blog post.... I hope to say it will never happen again.....

Onto today's activities.... I had a fabulous time hanging out with some friends and stamping to my hearts content.... It is always nice to meet new people and get to share ideas and laughs and ink!  I was able to create my swaps to send to Indiana (better late than never... sorry ladies) and I really like how they turned out.... I was also able to use a couple of stamps I did not own myself (shocker, right????) and really liked how they turned out.... I will post tomorrow when there is some light to photo by.... speaking of light - the funniest part of today was the power going out for 2.5 hours... and yet, true crafter till the end, we carried on and stamped/laughed/tried to see without lights and finished all that we were working on... didn't really skip a beat except when someone tried to emboss... whoops, need power to use the heat tool!!!  Too funny....

Looking forward to more crafting tomorrow.... till then, Happy Stamping!
D

Late day....

As some of you know, Brenda's husband had not been well these past months or more.... Well, this past week Harold let go and moved on to his next sdventure in this world, whether up to heaven or watching us closely as an angel.... Or. Move at peace and taking it all in for when others begin to show up. Whatever the plan is, Brenda has been the most respectful and dignified lady I have know - a true southerner through and through ..... Very. Much an woman to look up to for grace under pressure!

I hope she realizes how much we all love her and her shop!
So no card samples to post today but maybe tomorrow if I can get something done....

Till then. Happy Monday a coming!
Happy stamping
D

Special President's Day post..... ;o)

So, since I am off on President's Day, I still consider it to be part of the weekend right now..... and as I mentioned in my last post, there might be a bonus post this weekend.... here it is!
First let me say, I feel a ton better.... Friday was defitinely a turning point.... I was finally able to go to the gym on Saturday afternoon and was lucky (in a way) that hubby had to work so I was forced to take the one more day to rest a bit.... we were supposed to go to the stamp show in Columbia, SC for the day, but since I was sick, he told a co-worker he could help with the project they were trying to get done..... so, with nothing else to do that day, I rested... and by the afternoon, I was itching to get out.... felt much better AND had seen a post from my LSS that they had just gotten in the distress markers.... and was that enough to get me out.... HECK YA!  So, I dressed for the gym and headed to the LSS incognito - even sneaked past my fellow stamp store regulars/co-workers and worked my magic, counting to make sure I had picked them all out!!!!  And yes, they were mine!  While I was there, I got to be part of creating a project with a customer - wow, do they put a lot of faith in me ;o)..... then, since I was dressed for it, I headed to the gym.... yes, me at the gym on a Saturday - let me say, that has NEVER happened before.... but, lucky for me since I needed to get another day in exercise-wise and it was fairly empty at that time..... so, burned some calories just in time for the hubby to say he was getting close to coming home..... the plan.... Sunday to get up early and head to Columbia since the show goes on both days.... wow, this was getting better and better by the moment..... new markers set AND a trip to the stamp show!  Lucky me!  Well, it DID NOT disappoint... as always, Stampers Anonymous was out in force... Ted always knows what I love to see and made me my own piece of art (I am starting a Ted collection).... after 3 trips to his booth, amoung all the others.... we decided 3 hours of walking at the show was enough for us.... packed all my goodies into the car and hit a local hot spot (amoung the peeps of Columbia) - Pawley's Front Porch.... as seen on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, this did not disappoint.... salad and half a sandwich later and I felt like I needed to be wheeled out to the car.... then the drive home - uneventful, thank goodness... and then, put away all the goodies.... not able to happen in one evening so I had to continue the project today... but, have all the distress markers put away along with my Copic markers... they were $4.99 each - what a freaking deal..... had to complete some of my color families with a deal like that...... although, now that I have so many, I may need more storage space.... a revamp of the craft room may be in the near future!  I need to sort, clean and sell..... anyone interested in anything in particular, let me know... chances are - I have it!
OK, enough of my rambling..... here is the real post for today!  Wedding Card!!!!

One of the booths I spent some time and money at was the Heartfelt Creations booth.... Now, while I love their images, I am not yet sure what my opinion is of it all..... I will say, that the image used for this card, Wedding Bell, was extremely hard to stamp, and I ended up using my Sakura Micron to trace over the outlines of many pieces since stamping over and over was getting frustrating.... I even got a new ink pad, stamped on hard surface, then stamped on stamping pad... nothing helped.... ok, enough moaning and groaning.....  stamped with Tuxedo Black from Memento (my fav) several times, colored with Copic Markers (some of my new ones), fussy cut them and glued them with some curl to them..... the final piece was cut with a framelit die from Stampin Up, the red cardstock was cut with the next larger die and they were added to the gray/white pattern paper with foam tape.... red and white pearls placed all around for accent.....

Well, I better get myself ready for bed and work tomorrow... and we are going to a charity dinner with the Checkers.... cocktail attire!  I am super excited to be able to get dressed up... maybe a picture might make its way to the blog.... MAYBE..... oh, and one last bit of news.... some of you know that with my hip surgeries the last few years, I have gained a bit of weight and was finally cleared to get back into shape.... well, it is going quite well and the dress that I am wearing tomorrow still had the tags on it, and they are a 4P.... needless to say, the dress is loose and that is probably the only way I can fit into it, but still, coming from wearing 16 jeans earlier this year, that is a huge thing for me!  And the jeans I purchased at the beginning of my weight loss adventure as "incentive jeans" in a size 8 were able to be put on today with no trouble!  Now, that is the exciting part....jeans that fit????? seriously?????  I am over the moon happy about that!  Well, it is the gym in the morning calling my name, that causes me to need to get off this computer.... until next time....

happy stamping!
D

MIA - don't you hate being sick????

I have been down for about a week with an upper respiratory infection..... from the woman who sits next to me at the office is my guess..... why would you come into the office with a hacking cough and sneezing up a storm??????????  and to continue for weeks???????  I just don't understand.... and now, I am still suffering.... although, I have to say, not nearly as bad as yesterday - which seemed to have been the absolute worst day ever for me.... I was close to tears, and those of you who know me, know that it takes quite a bit to bring my eyes to watery..... But, this morning, I had a burst of creativity..... and lucky for me, because I was looking head on to a deadline for the new releases at Tiffany Doodles.... let's see what I can show you to tempt you....

OK, so interest peaked?????  I certainly hope so.... stay tuned for more peaks on the Tiffany Doodle blog..... you will love what you see, I know I do!

so, for the rest of today, I think I will try and get a little physical activity and explore a little more creativity in my craft space... no promises... but there may be another post today or tomorrow!

until then, happy stamping!
Dani