Happy Wednesday! It seems I got to stamp a little earlier today than I have the rest of the week. Of course, I am waiting for it to warm up a bit before I head outside. We’ve been trying to get our backyard into shape, and there is so much that needs to be done. Since we had a good rain last night, I’m going to try and dig up a portion of a snowball bush and plant it in the backyard. I’m also on a carpenter bee killing spree, and I tore the steps away from the spa yesterday. I need to coat the bottom of those with waterproof and get them back into place. Elliot is absolutely fascinated with these bees and I’m trying to get them before they get her.

Let’s get on with today’s stamping. It’s a simple card for today’s Splitcoast Sketch Challenge.

The background was stamped with Big Paisley, as well as the pink panel under the sentiment. I used a strip of BasicGrey Sugared for the middle and matched the rest of the paper to that. When the card was finished, the top needed a little something, so I added the ribbon.

• Stamps: Little Bits Say it in Script and Simply Singles Big Paisley from Lizzie Anne Designs
• Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; SU Bravo Burgundy and Pretty in Pink; BasicGrey Sugared
• Ink: VersaMagic Pixie Pink; Ranger Clear Emboss Pad and Archival Jet Black
• Accessories: Spellbinders Oval and Square Nestabilities; Ribbon; Mounting Tape

I would like to take a minute before I go today, to thank each and every one of you who have read Kate’s Story and made a donation to our 2008 Epilepsy Walk Team, Bug Bug Walkers. Your comments, generosity and thoughtfulness have completely overwhelmed me. I continue to get a little choked up each time I think about it! Actually, it leaves me a loss for words – and here I go again, so it’s time for me to go outside today.

Good morning! Have you ever had one of those days, or weeks, that you just couldn’t get anything done? I’ve had a week like that in a way. I have gotten outside and worked in the yard. The flower bed needed a good weeding, hostas needed replanting and the back needed some trimming. Wednesday afternoon I had some errands to attend to and it was late when I finally settled down. I did get some new rubber. However, I’m not at liberty to upload any of the cards that I’ve made with it. You’ll have to wait to see those. Yesterday morning my phone started ringing at 8:30 a.m., and didn’t quit until noon. That’s when it started raining and my mother called wanting to know if I was going to Home Depot. Now this was the second call from her that morning about Home Depot and flowers in their Wednesday advertisement. Being the good daughter that I am, I got dressed and went to pick up mom. We did go to Home Depot where I bought all the baskets I needed for the year and mom picked up only one. Of course, it was now 1:00 and time for breakfast/lunch/dinner. I say that, because when you have lunch with mom, it’s always breakfast and most times it’s the only meal you eat for the day. Needless to say, I got home at 3:00 and proceeded to answer more emails and more phone calls. What a day – I finally got into the stamp room around 8:00 last night and did manage to get this week’s SCS Sketch Challenge done and another new image colored.

To change the subject a bit, some of you have emailed me about my trigger finger. It’s still acting up and actually getting a little worse. I noticed this past week that my little finger on the same hand is actually numb now. I at first thought it was caused by the way I do some of my distressing techniques, which is why you haven’t seen any heavily distressed designs from me lately. I’m now thinking that it is something else. A number of years ago, I separated my right shoulder. Yes, I was acting goofy but it wasn’t intentional. I was in charge of a Fall Festival at my girls’ elementary school, and I was sitting on the uneven bars while we were discussing the haunted house. When I swung off, my body went forward but my right arm stayed behind me and I heard a pop. I ended up the emergency room, while my husband went up to school and handled last minute details for me. I finally made it back to the school at the end of the festival but wasn’t able to help with much. Anyhoo, my right shoulder always pops. When I do a swimmer’s arm to loosen up, my shoulder pops. It isn’t popping and I have a knot on the top. I’m beginning to think that I might have a pinched nerve in my shoulder that is causing the trouble with my hand. I will be making phone calls today to the various doctors to make some appointments.

Well now that I’ve babbled a blue streak and some info I’m sure you truly aren’t interested in, let’s talk stamping. This is the card that I have finally gotten done for this week’s SCS Sketch Challenge.

I colored the pirate image with Copic Markers, and then cut it out using Circle Nestabilities. The main background panel is Basic Gray that I stamped the Big Paisley on using black ink. The card needed a little pop so to bring in more of the red from the pirate, I stamped the same Big Paisley in red on red. I drew a few doodles, and used the Inkssentials White Opaque Pen to make the white dots.

Stamps: Simply Single Pirate, Ahoy Matey and Big Paisley from Lizzie Anne Designs

Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, SU Real Red, Basic Gray and Basic Black

Ink: Ranger Adirondack Pitch Black and Archival Jet Black; SU Real Red

Accessories: Copic Markers, Spellbinders Circle Nestabilities; Ranger Inkssentials White Opaque Pen; Pilot Black Gel Pen; Ribbon; Mounting Tape

I hope y’all have a great day and I’ll catch ya later!

Happy Thursday! So I woke up really early this morning – 6:00 a.m. The problem, I didn’t get to sleep last night until around maybe 1:30 a.m. I settled in on the couch with the pups and my coffee, and then before I knew it, it was 10:00. Mallory was up the dogs were running around, and I never heard a thing. Good nap!

We all know that Sunday is Mother’s Day. I have mom’s card done, but I still need to come up with something else. She said the other day she needed to come over and go through my cards. She has resorted to the two for a $1.00 at Dollar General. Now I don’t mind that she sends them, but it does upset me just a bit when she sends one to a good friend and/or a relative that would definitely appreciate one of my cards. I gave her all of my Millie’s from the Dirty Dozen Gallery for her birthday and she said she just couldn’t part with them, but I do think she may have sent one to my sister. She loves the little cowboy from Lizzie Anne, and absolutely loves the zany women that I come up with. So here’s what I thought I would do. Make her some little cards over the next few days and also go through my stash and make her up a bundle for Mother’s Day.

I started this one of the cowboy last night, had it laying out to finish today, when I saw today’s Ways to Use It Challenge on Splitcoast. It’s all about chipboard today and luckily I had not decided where my sentiment was going to go. Hello chipboard!

The image was colored with Copic Markers, the edges were sponged with Vintage Photo Distress Ink, and then roughed up a bit. I made the background panel using the Big Paisley from Lizzie Anne Designs, stamping it in Blue Bayou on Soft Sky paper. To make the photo corner and middle strip, I stamped the same image on Blue Bayou paper with Blue Bayou Ink. For the sentiment, I colored a piece of chipboard with River Rock, sponged the edges with Vintage Photo, and then stamped my sentiment.

Stamps: Simply Singles Big Paisley, Cowboy and Howdy from Lizzie Anne Designs

Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; SU Soft Sky and Blue Bayou; Prism Tawny Dark

Ink: Tsukineko Graphite Black; Ranger Archival Jet Black and Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress Ink; SU Blue Bayou and River Rock

Accessories: Copic Markers; Chipboard; Tonic Tim Holtz Distress Tool; Tsukineko Sponge Dauber; SU Ribbon; Brads; Corner Punch; Mounting Tape

I’m off to finish up some cards for mom and work on Saturday’s Stamp Club samples. I hope each of you have a fabulous day!

Well I was going to say good morning, but I realize that it’s afternoon now. So instead, . It’s been slow-moving today and I really don’t know why. I’ve read the paper, done the puzzles, walked the dogs a couple of times, and made a card for today’s Sketch Challenge. I still feel a little funky but I do have plenty to do if I decide too!

I need to throw out a couple of reminders that I am still looking for workers for some Rubbernecker Stamp Shows. I need at least two workers for the Syracuse, New York and the Hartford, Connecticut shows. You can find the dates and locations here, and if you are interested, please send me an email. I’ll respond with all the deets.

The last thing, I still have plenty of Stampin’ UP! Sets for sale. Take a look at my Stampin’ UP! Page and if you are interested in anything, just send me an email.

Now for today’s card for the Splitcoast Sketch Challenge. Interested sketch today and really didn’t take as long as I thought. I have this great little Ballerina from Lizzie Anne Designs and today is the first day she has seen ink. Bless her little heart – I know she was feeling left out!

The ballerina was colored with Copic Markers and for some added bling, I painted Cotton Candy Stickles on her tutu, hairpiece and sleeves. I used Nestabilities to cut my circles, and then just drew some fun doodles. It’s been a while since I’ve doodled – .

Stamps: Simply Singles Ballerina and Saying from Lizzie Anne Designs

Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, SU Basic Gray and Berry Bliss Designer

Ink: Ranger Archival Jet Black and Tim Holtz Black Soot Distress Ink; SU Basic Gray

Accessories: Copic Markers; Spellbinders Circle Nestabilities; Tsukineko Sponge Dauber; Ranger Cotton Candy Stickles and Inkssential White Opaque Pen; Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pen; Ribbon; Brads; Mounting Tape

Well, I’m off to either finish laundry, pay bills, clean house, stamp or just sit on my duff! I haven’t decided yet. Hope everyone has a great day!

Good morning! I’ve got a few things for you today, but I will be back a little later. First, it is Treasure Hunt Tuesday at Rubbernecker! A few of you have emailed me this week and said that today will be your first Treasure Hunt! Have fun shopping and then let me know what you got. You can find the first clue and all deets on the Rubbernecker Home Page. Kittie and Broni both are offering up some Rubbernecker Blog Candy today and you will want to pop over to their blogs to check it out.

Second, I just found out last night that Rubbernecker needs some help at the Hartford, Connecticut show. If you are available July 12-13 and would like to work in the Rubbernecker Booth at the Rubber Stamp and Scrapbook Expo, please send me an email or leave a comment on this post.

I haven’t been able to squeeze in a Color Challenge for a few weeks now, so I’m hoping to get to do the SCS Challenge today and will be back to edit my post.

Well, I’m back! Today are Primary Elections here in Indiana, and I wanted to make sure that I got out to vote. Mallory went with me, since this is the very first election she could participate in. It was rather exciting for me to be with my youngest daughter the first time she voted. We went over the ballot in the paper before we left so that she would know how to mark it (not who to vote for, but what she needed to do). I’m definitely a proud mom today!

When we got home, the SCS Color Challenge had been posted, and I was ready to go to work. The colors today, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink and Lovely Lilac, at first had me stumped. Then I remembered that I needed to make one more Mother’s Day card, the one that I myself would send to my mother.

The image was stamped with Black Soot Distress Ink and then colored with Copic Markers. The edges were sponged with Lake Mist. To make the background panel, I chose Certainly Celery, and stamped the same flower image in Distress Embossing Ink. Once that had dried, I stamped a second background of script in Lake Mist over the flowers. For the sentiment, I stamped the script background on white and then stamped the sentiment over the top and cut it out with rectangle Nestabilities. For inside of the card, I picked a white linen paper and stamped the sentiment “God could not everywhere, and therefore he made Mothers.”

Stamps: Rubbernecker Valentine Collection How Do I love Thee SKU:246-13 and Stamp Oasis Flower Collection Hearty Vase SKU:20 SO GM from Rubbernecker Stamp Company; and Simply Singles Wonderful Mother and Winged Mother from Lizzie Anne Designs

Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; SU Certainly Celery and Basic Gray

Ink: Ranger Tim Holtz Black Soot Distress Ink and Distress Embossing Ink, Archival Jet Black and Lake Mist

Accessories: Copic Markers, Spellbinders Rectangle Nestabilities, Tsukineko Sponge Dauber, Brads, Ribbon, Mounting Tape

I hope each of you have a wonderful afternoon. I can’t decide if I’m gonna run some errands or go back to the stamp room.

Oh and right as I was finishing up this post, I got email notification from Leslie Miller’s Blog, Running with Scissors. Leslie used the same stamp today and both cards are entirely different! You’ve got to check out her card.