Apple Picking on a beautiful day!!!

Just a beautiful day here today, so we took a field trip to the apple orchard. I felt great to be outside in the sunshine!!!

Only Kelsey (first born) came with, Lisa (2nd born) stayed home. So Kelsey brought her BF, Jenna.

All too soon, we will be cooped up inside with winter just around the corner. Yuck.
Can we just SKIP Winter please???!!!!

Truly Scrumptious Challenge #17

Here is the Truly Scrumptious Challenge for this week!!! I used a brand new to me Stampin Up set called Beware Pirates. How fun!!! This weeks challenge is a sketch challenge created by Sharon and a great sketch it is!!! We are to include doodling on our creation somewhere. (I missed this part when I made my card, sorry :(!!!)

Here is the sketch:



And here is my take on this challenge:




Now I just turned the sketch around to accomodate my image. Have fun and dont forget to hop on over to the Truly Scrumptious blog and check out all of the awesome creations the rest of the Design Team has made for you for some great inspiration to get started on this challenge!!!

Card Recipe:

Stamps: Pirates Beware, Polka Dot
Paper: All Stampin Up: Bermuda Bay, Real Red, Basic Black, Whisper White, Ghostly Greetings (Retired, last years Halloween Designer paper)
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Real Red, Basic Black
Accessories: Word Window Punch, Real Red Brads, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder

Truly Scrumptious Challenge #16

Here we go again, Truly Scrumptious Challenge #16!!! We have a great sketch for you this challenge created by Heather. Our twist with this challenge is to use a MINIMUM of 3 stamps not including your sentiment.

Here is the sketch:



and here is my take on this challenge:



Our sponsor for this challenge is Design House Papercrafts. Check out their website, they have some AWESOME stuff you will have to have!!!

Check out the Truly Scrumptious Challenge Blog for all the details for this challenge!!! The design team has put together some BEAUTIFUL inspiration to get you started on your own!!!

Here are supplies I used for my card:

Stamps: All stamps are from Stampin Up, Good Friend, Medallion
Papers: Stampin Up Colors: Baja Breeze, Regal Rose and Whisper White
Background Papers: Basic Grey Urban Prairie
Inks: Stampin Up inks: So Saffron, Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze and Basic Black
Accessories: Basic Grey Pearls, Prima Flowers, Stampin Up bling brads, Stampin Up Three For You flower punch, Stampin Up Finial Press Embossing Folder

Thanks for stopping by my blog and make it a great day!!!!

Pictures from Indy Race weekend

First off, I have to say, all of the above pictures are courtesy of my youngest daughter Lisa since I left my camera in the camper. Thank you Lisa!!!

Can you say PIT PASSES!!! It all started Friday night when we were attending the Nascar Truck Series race at the Chicagoland Speedway. I went down to go to the bathroom and I was walking back to my seat when I say this guy with his little boy up on his shoulders and it was so darn cute, I tapped him on the arm and said "That is so cute with you little boy on your shoulders, too bad I left my camera in the camper". He said oh thanks. Are you going to be at the race tomorrow? (the Indy car races). I said, yes Im gonna be here. He then asked me if I wanted 2 Pit Passes. Well how can I pass those up? I believe he bought them so he could take his young son in there but didnt realize no one under the age of 10 can go in the pits. So he gave them to me!!! Yahhhhhhhhhh for me. lol

So I go back to the stands and show Jay and the girls the Pit Passes. Jay and I both agreed the girls could use them and go down there the next day together. Can you believe they actually get in a fight before they even get to the Pits and Kelsey turns around and comes all the way back to the parking lot and informs me that I can go with Lisa. I couldnt believe it. So Lisa and I went down there. It was sooooo cool. We even got to meet HELIO CASTRONEVES!!! What a smile!!! We walked all around back there, visited VICTORY LANE, sat on Pit Wall, walked all around the garages watching them getting all the cars ready. It was awesome!!! Too bad Helio crashed on lap 185. How sad :( !!!

Enjoy!!! Make it a great day!!!

Pictures from Michigan

Just wanted to share some of the beautiful pictures I collected along our travels in Northern Michigan in August. It was a bit cooler then I would have liked but we still had a great time. These are just a few of them. I will post more in a few days!!!!!

Going back to Southern Michigan for Labor Day weekend!!! Have a great time, play safe and make it a great holiday weekend!!!

Truly Scrumptious Challenge #15

Hello, can you believe we are now going on Challenge #15 for the Truly Scrumptious Challenge???!!! We have a sketch for you to follow and the theme will be Indian Summer. Lets make summer last as long as we can!!!

Here is the sketch:



and here is my take on this challenge:



This week we are delighted to welcome Home Impressions as our sponsor. As well as stocking a fantastic range of well known stamps they also have their own range so pop over to their website to take a look. They are offering the winner of this challenge this fabulous set of 'Jack & Jill' stamps:



Head on over to the Truly Scrumptious blog to see the rest of the Design Teams fabulous artwork and find all the details on how to play along!!!

There is nothing better to me then stealing one more day away at the beach before summer comes to an end. Thanks for stopping by and making it a great day!!!

Sweet Stop Sketch Saturday #18

Well, I finally did it!!! I stamped something for the first time in over a month. I started out easy and simple. I used Sweet Stops Sketch Saturday for the sketch and the stamps and papers are Stampin Up. Dont you just love these colors together? I got the color combo from the Designer Papers I used. They are called Thoroughly Modern by Stampin Up. The colors are Bermuda Bay and Soft Suede (new In-Colors), Rose Red and Sahara Sand. The ribbon is the Melon Mambo polka dotted grosgrain and I also stamped the words in that color also.

I just really followed the sketch and didnt add very much in accessories. Had to ease back into this slowly lol.

Thanks for looking and make it a great day!!! We finally have sunshine today!!!

Truly Scrumptious Challenge #12

Hello All, well I actually made it!!! I finally got to stamp after not stamping for quite some time. I was actually afraid I FORGOT how to do this lol. I have been so darn busy, I havent had the chance to stamp. I am so glad I got this made in time for the Truly Scrumptious Challenge tho.

This weeks challenge is a sketch designed by DT member Heather with the extra challenge of using beads. Since I have not stamped in a while, I havent had a chance to really use all the NEW Stampin Up In Colors, so for this challenge, I wanted to use the new Soft Suede. I dont know really how to define it, whether it is a brown or a green or a mix of both, but I did discover one thing about it. It is the PERFECT color to use with Basic Greys Infuse Collection. So that is what I did. I used the Soft Suede with Regal Rose and the Infuse collection and they fit sooooo well together.

So I am going to post the sketch here for you now and my card to go along and I will post all the additional details tomorrow. I am pretty tired now and still have to go to work tomorrow, boo hoo.

So here is the sketch to follow:



and here is my take on the challenge:



The stamp I did use is a new one to my made by Close to my Heart (oh no, no Stampin Up!!!).

Go check out the Truly Scrumptious Challenge blog NOW to see the rest of the DT's beautiful creations and to get all the juicy details on how to play. I will be back tomorrow and fill in the details here.

Thanks for stopping by and make it a great day!!!

Abrams Falls

Yesterday, we hiked into Abrams Falls. It was a 5 mile roundtrip trek. Ok 5 miles isnt too bad huh? Well dont forget you have to to walk UP AND UP AND UP. But definately worth the effort. It was beautiful. We sat there and ate our lunch and I would have swam had I worn my bathing suit. You get pretty hot and sweaty climbing mountains lol.

We also bought our kitten a little friend from the Visitors Center. A little black bear about the same size as her. She LOVES him!!!



Make it a great day!!!! Time for lunch, Im starving!!!

Laurel Falls Tennessee and Bears

Ok, so our first hike out into the wilderness of the Smokey Mountains we went to Laurel Falls. Very beautiful!!!! So on our way back to the road, what do we happen to stumble upon??? You guessed it a BEAR!!!! Isnt she cute???? Ok, so I just snapped and dashed and forgot to zoom. lol I will do better next time lol.

Will post again soon!!! Make it a great day!!!!

Double Challenge Wednesday

Hello all. Today I am supposed to have 2 cards to share with you today. One for the Truly Scrumptious Challenge and one for the Creative Belli Challenge. I got my card made for the Truly Scrumptious Challenge but was not feeling well enough to complete my card for the Creative Belli Challenge. I do ask you to please visit the Creative Belli Blog and follow along with all the new goings on over there. There is some really exciting news going on, we have new Design Team Members we would like to introduce you too. Our theme this week for the Creative Belli Blog is anything Patriotic. Our DT members have some AWESOME inspiration over there so please hop on over there and check out all their great work!!!

Please help me and the rest of the Creative Belli DT welcome 3 new Design Team members. Debbie Daniels, Danielle (Dani) Marcus and Robin Kirkpatrick. We are SO excited to have these ladies with us. I know they will be a great addition to our team and we can't wait for you to see what you bring to the Belli Team! Welcome ladies!

On to the Truly Scrumptious Challenge. This week we have an awesome sketch challenge for you that I really enjoyed working with along with an added twist of using some of your neglected stash. Use anything you havent used in a long time. For me, I pulled out a long time favorite stamp set call Wonderful Wings from Stampin Up. I paired this set with Basic Greys new Wisteria Collection and I think they go great together. Here is the sketch for this challenge:



and here is my take on this challenge:



This challenge is being sponsored by Crafty Individuals and the winner of this challenge will win these 3 BEAUTIFUL stamps.




We also have a new Guest Designer on the Truly Scrumptious team. She will be with us for four challenges. Please help us welcome Elaine as our first Guest Designer. Please check out her awesome card for the first challenge for her with us. Its awesome!!! Welcome Elaine!!!

I do hope to be feeling better soon and sharing more challenges with you. Thanks for stopping by to visit and make it a great day!!!

My kitten, Zip logging in at 3lbs 2 oz

Here is a picture I took the other day of my kitten getting bigger. We took her to the vet on Saturday for another shot and she weighed in at 3 lbs 2 oz. This kitten is one feisty little thing. She never sits still. I told her I wanted to trade her in for a kitten that likes to snuggle. Oh well, hopefully when she gets older.

Her favorite thing to play with is Lisas teddy bear if that is what we can call it now. Shes had this thing since she has been a baby given to her by Grandma Hollander. The teddy bear is just about as big as Zip is lol. She also loves to chase the fat cats around too. She can run faster lol.

Make is a great day and thanks for stopping by!!!

Wild Thing - SC232 - 6/10/09

Hello again. I have another card to show you today with my new things from Stampin Up. I made this a few days ago and have not had a chance to upload it yet. The giraffe is from a new set that will be in the new catalog as of July 1st. Its called Animal Stories. The designer paper matches this stamp set and its called Tall Tales. This set doesnt come with any words, so I pulled a stamp that I bought a LONG time ago and stamped it on top of the giraffe. I think it goes perfectly.

Now even tho the colors in the papers are all classic Stampin Up colors, I did use the new Crushed Curry dotted grosgrain ribbon and I think it looks great. I stamped the giraffe in More Mustard.

Thanks for stopping by and make it a great day!!!

Card Recipe:

Stamps: Stampin Up Animal Stories, Sentiment by Great Impressions
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Very Vanilla, Old Olive
Designer Series Paper: Tall Tales
Ink: More Mustard, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Scalloped Square Punch, Crushed Curry Dotted Grosgrain ribbon, Score Pal

Double Challenge Wednesday #4

Hello Peeps! I am back today with 2 challenges for you today. We have the Truly Scrumptious Challenge #9 and the Creative Belli Challenge #67. I will start with the Truly Scrumptious challenge. Todays challenge is a sketch challenge designed by team member Beth. She has created a great sketch and the added twist to this challenge is to use an altered flower. Change a flower from its orignal state buy adding or changing something about it.

Here is the sketch:



and here is my take on this challenge:



Most everything on this card is part of Stampin Up's Sneak Peak. New items that will be in the new catalog coming out on July 1st. The colors of the papers and ink are part of the new In-Colors that will be introduced. The purple is Rich Razzleberry, the orange is Dusty Durango and the yellow is Crushed Curry. I do have to say I used 3 items on this card that are NOT Stampin Up products. They are the flowers, the gem stones and the scalloped circle in yellow was punched with a non-Stampin Up punch.

Our sponsor for this challenge is Whiff of Joy. Here is a picture of the stamp you could win if you participate in this challenge and incorporate both the sketch and the altered flower into your creation.



So what are you waiting for??? Head on over to the Truly Scrumptious blog and check out all the beautiful creations from the Design Team and then get started on your own entry.

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Now on to the Creative Belli challenge. This weeks Creative Belli challenge has 2 elements to it also. We have a sketch challenge for you that we have combined with a Sweet N Sassy challenge. The other part of this challenge is to create a card for DAD!!! Sweet N Sassy generously donated one of their cute digi-images they have available now. He is called Catch of the Day. So here is the sketch we would like you to follow:



and here is my take on this challenge:



The image and the phrase in the frame are from the Sweet N Sassy Digi-image. The rest of my supplies are ALL Stampin Up. The dotted ribbon is the New In-Color Soft Suede ribbon that will be introduced in the new catalog coming out on July 1st.

So you know what to do now. Head on over to the Creative Belli blog and check out the rest of the Design teams beautiful creations. Then get started on your own entry. All the details are on the blog, just follow along. If you post to any online galleries, please use Keyword CBC67. You do need to mention the Creative Belli challenge in your description to be elible for the prize.

Now for some other Creative Belli news. A few of our Design Team members have moved on to bigger and better things. So we are in need of a few design team members. If you are interested, please visit the Creative Belli Blog for all the details and requirements in joining our creative team.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed your visit. If you did, please leave me a comment so I know you have been here!!! Make it a great day!!!

Stampin Up's New In-Colors and stamps!!!

I got my NEW Stampin Up order yesterday and just had to get into them!!!Its all new!!! New Colors, New Stamps and New Paper and New Ribbon!!! Fun, Fun, Fun!!!

I used 3 of the new In-Colors for this card. They are Melon Mambo (pink), Rich Razzleberry (purple) and Crushed Curry (yellow). The stamp set is one of the new Level Three Hostess Sets called Kind and Caring Thoughts that will be in the new 2009-10 catalog that will be out on July 1st. I really like it!!! The Circle is from another set that will be in the regular part of the catalog. It is called Circle Circus!!! The Designer Series Paper is also new called Razzleberry Lemonade!!! The dotted ribbon is also NEW!!! That is the new In-Color Rich Razzaleberry Ribbon. They have one for each of the new In-Colors!!! That is not all that is NEW!!!! They added MARKERS to the New In-Color line up!!! How exciting is that???!!! Stay tuned, I have MORE up my sleeve.

The sketch is from Mojo Monday!!! Great sketch this week and this is the week to win prizes. You can find that challenge here: http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/

A quick and easy card!!!

I was stamping with some friends last weekend and one of them has this really cool set of stamps from Close To My Heart. Its called Be Yourself. I feel in love with this set and just wanted to make a real quick card with it. The set has 8 stamps of girls dressed in different things. I used 3 of them for this card. The colors I used are from Stampin Up. I used Pacific Pointe and Riding Hood Red with the Whisper White.

Just wanted to share this quick and easy card with you. Thanks for stopping by and checking it out!!!

Recipe:

Stamps: Close to my Heart Be Yourself
Cardstock: SU Pacific Pointe, Night of Navy, Riding Hood Red and Whisper White
Ink: SU Pacific Pointe and Riding Hood Red
Accessories: Riding Hood Red ribbon and red hearts from stash

Double Challenge Wednesday #3 minus one :(

Its that time again, for my Double Challenge Wednesday. Today is the day for both the Truly Scrumptious Challenge and the Creative Belli Challenge. Unfortunately I was a bad girl and did not get anything made for the Creative Belli Challenge. I do hope to catch up within a day or two. Please do check back for my Creative Belli Challenge sample. The Creative Belli challenge is Graduation and please do check out the Creative Belli Blog for all the details and the rest of the Design Teams awesome creations. They have some awesome creations for this challenge!!!

The Truly Scrumptious Challenge for this week is called More Then One Fold. Make any card that has more then one fold on it. There are many tutorials over at www.Splitcoaststampers.com so if you need some ideas, head on over there and check out the Resources section. I made a card from one of their challenges called Fun Funky Fold. I used my Brand New Basic Grey Wisteria background papers. I love the colors in this grouping!!! I matched Stampin Up colors Elegant Eggplant and Almost Amethyst with them. And here is my sample:




If you would like to make one of these cards, the description and a tutorial can be found here: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=406759

This week Christine Dark, Sketching Stamper, returns as our sponsor. Christine is a very talented artist and has designed her own range of fabulous digital images - just pop across to her blog and take a look. The lucky winner of this challenge will be able to choose six images as their prize. There is also a second prize up for grabs this week also. If you would like to be considered for being a Guest Designer on the Truly Scrumptious challenge, make sure you check out the details on the blog on how to enter!!!!

Head on over to the Truly Scrumptious Challenge blog and check out the rest of the Design Teams creations, they all did an AWESOME job with this one!!!

Make it a great day!!!

Card Recipe:

Stamps: All Stampin Up: Lots of Thoughts (retired), Sayings & Such (retired) Le Jardin Botanique (current catalog)
Cardstock/Papers: Stampin Up Elegant Eggplant, Almost Amethyst and Whisper White
Basic Grey Wisteria
Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Almost Amethyst
Accessories: Stampin Up Eggplant grosgrain ribbon, Nestibilities Labels Two, gems by KC & Co. spiral clip from stash.

Featured Stamper Challenge: Just Joan Ervin!!!!

I made this card tonight for the Featured Stamper Challenge over on Splitcoaststampers. Here are the rules for the Featured Stamper Challenge:

Go to her gallery and CASE a card, following these simple guidelines:

CASEing Guidelines

1. Change 2 or more things on the card. It could be a color combo, embellishments, backgrounds, or even the main image could be different -- but similar because you don't own the exact image. List the changes in your description.

2. Give credit to the original stamper. Put a link to the original card in your description.

My good friend Joan Ervin was the Featured STamper today so I had to play. I chose this card from her gallery to case: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1315025?cat=500&ppuser=28771

So here are the items I changed for my card. I changed the color from Green to Turquoise. I changed the stamps and I added a dotted background in place of the glitter on the layered pieces.

She has such a gorgeous gallery, you could get lost in there for hours. Thanks Joan for all the inspiration you give to me and everyone else who sees your work!!! Keep on Stamping Girlfriend!!!

Card Recipe:

Stamps: SU Pocket Silhouettes, not sure what set the Thank You comes from
Ink: Staz-On Jett Black and Tempting Turquoise
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Tempting Turqoise, Pink Flamingo Designer Series Paper
Accessories: Nestibilities, Cuttlebug, Word Window Punch, rhinestones from stash,

Double Challenge Wednesday #2

Here we are again, back again for our Double Challenge Wednesday!!! I have 2 challenges for you today. The Truly Scrumptious Challenge and Creative Belli Challenge. Please scroll down to see BOTH challenges!!!

First up is the Truly Scrumptious Challenge!!! We are onto Challenge #7. This challenge is being hosted by Design Team member Dawn. She makes beautiful samples and she has put together a great sketch for you this week. The TWIST to this weeks challenges is one of my favorites!!! Its all about Spots, Dots and Circles!!! You must use both elements of this challenge to be eligible for the prize!!!

Here is the sketch for this challenge:



and here is my take on this challenge:



Yes, I know, its kind of BRIGHT!!! But fun too!!! Looks to me like a party waiting to happen!!! I got to use my BRAND NEW Basic Grey Lime Rickey paper. I also got to use my new Frameabilities from Spellbinders.com.

Our sponsor for this week is Crafty Individuals. They are donating some gorgeous stamps to be won!!! Here they are:



I am heading over there now to check out those stamps they are giving away as our prizes!!!

So lets see what you can do. Dont forget to check out the Truly Scrumptious challenge site to see the rest of the Design Teams awesome inspiration they have created for you!!! Then get started on your creation. Link up your creation with Mr Linky. You could be the lucky winner of 3 stamp sets from the Crafty Individuals!!!

Card Recipe:

Stamps: Stampin Up's Smarty Pants
Cardstock/Paper: Stampin Up Yo Yo Yellow, Riding Hood Red and Whisper White, Basic Grey Lime Rickey
Ink: Stampin Up Tempting Turquoise
Accessories: Spellbinders Frameabilities Polka Dot Frame,Stampin Up's Pumpkin Pie Striped Grosgrain ribbon, SU Bold Brights Brads, Laugh button (from my stash, dont have a clue who makes it)




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Next up is the Creative Belli Challenge. This weeks challenge is a Color Challenge!!! We picked 3 of our favorite colors for Spring!!! They are Stampin Up's colors Apricot Appeal, Certainly Celery and Cameo Coral. If you are not a Stampin Up color person, I am posting a color palette for your to compare your colors to and use your closest colors!!!



Here is my card I made using these beautiful colors:



I pulled this lotus flower out of my rather large stash of ALL TIME FAVORITE stamps collection. It's from a Stampin Up set called Oriental Garden. The words are from a current Stampin Up set called Bella's Bloom.

So head on over to the Creative Belli Blog and check out the rest of the Design Teams creative inspiration. We have some great ideas to spark your creativity. Leave the link to your artwork in the Mr Linky to link your creation up to our site so we can find you. If you post to Splitcoaststampers or Creative Paper Planet, please use the keyword CBC65. You need to mention the Creative Belli Challenge in your description to be eligible for the prize!!!

Card Recipe:

Stamps: All Stampin Up: Bella's Bloom and ???????
Paper: Certainly Celery, Apricot Appeal, Whisper White and Raspberry Tart Designer Series Paper
Ink: Cameo Coral
Accessories: Nestibilities Labels One, Pearls from K C & Co., Giga Scalloped Circle Punch, 2" circle punch, White Satin Ribbon (Stampin Up)

Newest Family Member

This little kitty is our newest family member!!! Her name is Zip. We named her after a really cool dog in one of our favorite movies. Her face looks like a bat face with a real pointy nose. She is 6 wks old and only weighs in at 15 oz. Poor thing is still looking for her mommy. Needless to say our other 2 older cats want nothing to do with her. A lot of hissing going on there.

I will post more photos in the next few days!!!