Blog Candy!

I'm headed off for some sun and fun with a girlfriend for several days. I'm excited!

AND, it looks as if I will be hitting 5000 posts shortly on here! Since that is time for celebration, I'm offering up some Blog Candy! Woohoo!

I have a Cuttlebug Thanks Embossing Folder up for grabs! (Yes...I purchased one when I already had one...duh!) and a dozen 4x4 blank coasters for you to alter! Just comment to this post with what stamp, accessory or embellishment you hope for MOST in the new Stampin' Up! catalog! Can't wait to see your responses!

Close as a Memory

This was one of the first sets I ordered when the catalog came out last year. Unfortunately, it seems I make a lot of sympathy cards and it definitely is great for that...

However, I wanted to use this set for something cheerful and bright! I made this card for my SIL who is undergoing chemo for breast cancer to let her know I'm thinking about her. She "ran" the Race for a Cure today with a wheelchair nearby in case she needed it. I'm amazed at her will power, strength and grace with this disease...and also the humor she has retained through it all. She can use your thoughts and prayers...her name is Mary Beth.

I haven't done poppin' pastels in AGES, and I do love the soft look chalk creates over Versamark. I kicked it up a notch by using the bright colors. Paisley background is on both the Green Gable cardstock (using Green Galore) and the Whisper White cardstock (using Green Gable). The base of the card is Whisper White to tone down the brightness a little. The ribbon is sheer polka dots in a bright green! I SO hope that Stampin' Up! will get a large selection of printed ribbons in the new catalog! Love them!

Sets: Close as a Memory, Paisley background, Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Warmest Regards (retiring)

C/S: Whisper White, Gable Green, Pink Passion

Inks: Green Galore, Gable Green, Pink Passion, Versamark, Basic Black

Other: Pastel chalks, Sponge daubers, non-SU ribbon

Nice and Narrow

Anyone else think the season finale of Grey's Anatomy was strange last night? They left a LOT of story lines up in the air. What's up with Meredith...why can't she commit to Derek!!! They make such a great couple. And Callie as Chief??? Poor George...wonder if they are writing him out of the show...it wouldn't be the same without him. Oh well...now to wait out the summer until the new season starts and something gets resolved.

I needed a quick baby card for my husband's co-worker. I pulled out the retiring Nice and Narrow set. This is a VERY simple card...but sometimes simple seems just right. I must say, seeing the new retiring list has made me pull out stamps I haven't seen in quite a while! Kind of nice to dust them off and use them again. You can't see the spot of glitter I added to the heart, buggy and wheels...just makes it little more cheerful, I think!

Sets: Nice & Narrow, All Year Cheer II (both retiring)

C/S: Pretty in Pink, Whisper White

Inks: Basic Black, Pretty in Pink

Pretty in Pink marker

Other: Light Pink Narrow organdy, Liquid Glue, Dazzling Diamonds, Dimensionals

Artifacts

Well, who is excited about the Finals of American Idol next week??? I was VERY happy that my two favorites made it into the finals...now the hard part. Who do I vote for to win? I've been calling and voting for both of them equally over the past few weeks. Decisions, decisions... Who did you choose to win?

This is a Hidden Slider card that my Stamp Club made earlier this month. It features the retiring Artifacts set and Crosshatch background...one of my few masculine sets! I certainly hope they come out with a big selection of masculine sets in the new catalog. This card is fun because of the hidden movement. When closed it says "They say it's your birthday"...when open the star moves to the bottom and the top says "Celebrate"! I think interactive cards are SO much fun. Here are the details:

Sets: Artifacts (retiring), All About U, It's Your Birthday, Crosshatch (retiring)

C/S: So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Cool Caribbean, Taken with Teal, Basic Black

Inks: Stazon Black, Taken With Teal, So Saffron, Cool Caribbean

Other: Watercolor crayons, Aquapainter, Star brads, 1/8 inch punch, 1-1/4 circle punch, Apricot grosgrain, hemp

Name Frame

Look what my sweet friend, Rachel, sent me!!!! It is SO awesome! I love the colors, it matches my So Saffron walls perfectly in my Studio! She made it even when she has had tons of health issues herself. Woohoo! I love it! I'll be hanging it up tonight! She used the Hostess Only Simply Scrappin Kit, Friends and Flowers...one of my favorites!

I was also "Tagged" by my friend, Hetty, in The Netherlands. She wants me to list 7 things that you probably don't know about me!

1. I love to read! I don't spend as much time since I started stamping, but I do read quite a bit...especially at night before bed. Current read is Stuart Wood's series with Stone Barrington...Dirty Work...that I listen to while walking. I also love Nora Roberts books.

2. I played Varsity Tennis in high school.

3. I have a cat named Bleach who is 3 years old and as spoiled as any grandchild! She is definitely MY cat and jumps into my lap the minute I sit down at night to watch TV.

4. I'm an American Idol, House and Grey's Anatomy addict. (Oops...you might have already figured that out from my posts.)

5. My first published artistic endeavor was creating a character for the local newspaper called "Busy Betsy Butterfly". I won a $25 gift certificate! I think I was 6-7 years old.

6. I don't drink much, but I do like Pomegrante Martinis. Bonefish Grill has the BEST!

7. I have one sibling, my brother, Mark...but I always wanted a sister! I can remember begging my mom for one!

Now I need to figure out 7 people to send this "tag", too!

Hope you have a great day!

Triple Mosaic #3

Here is the last of the Triple Mosaic technique I learned from Technique Junkies newsletter! I'm glad to have these partially completed projects off my desk and made into cards. Check out Pat's site at www.techniquejunkies.com She is offering a Connie's Special Price for you...$16.95 for issues 2-07 to 12-07!

Again, notice the subtle different in the grout color on this card. I used Night of Navy to accent the lines a little more...a different look than the other two cards. I kept the focal point simple because the background is so dramatic.

American Idol is on tonight! Yeah! I'm going to be out of town next week for the finals...hoping I'll be able to catch a TV somewhere to watch it. If not, I'll have it recording at home...but I don't want to wait a week to see it! lol!

Sets: Floral Background, That's Nice
C/S: Certainly Celery, Almost Amethyst, Regal Rose, Shimmer White
Inks: Night of Navy Classic ink, Certainly Celery, Almost Amethyst and Regal Rose markers, White Craft ink
Other: Ticket corner punch, non-SU hydrangea flower

Beate's Sketch Challenge

Ugh...you know what they say about "never put off for tomorrow, what you can do today?" Well, I did this card for Beate's sketch challenge yesterday, figuring I'd upload it this morning to my Blog. Of course, Roadrunner chooses today to go down and I didn't have service this morning. AND, when I'm hurrying, I finally figured out that my son must have accidentally unplugged the scanner when he was helping me install a new phone line. So...I couldn't figure out why my scanner wasn't working for the longest time.

I used that adorable Crab & Company again in a 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 sized card. The flowers were cut from thePetals and Paisley's designer paper with my Cricut. Hard to see, but the centers have glitter on them for a little bling, bling.

Sets: Crab & Company, Sandy Shells wheel

C/S: Ruby Red, Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip, Shimmer White

Inks: Black Stazon, Close to Cocoa cartridge

Markers for coloring: Creamy Caramel, Taken with Teal, Ruby Red, So Saffron

Other: Cricut flowers, Dazzling Diamonds, 1/2 circle punch