Shoes? Chocolate?

Both please!! Second challenge for VSN was to create something inspired by these pink and brown shoes made out of chocolate. Yummy!
I used the Sketch Challenge 159 for this card and a cute Maribou shoe I picked up a few months back in Norman, OK.
You can check out all the other creations (and see the inspiration) HERE on SCS.

Circle of Friendship

The first challenge of VSN was to create a circle card. I had ordered some MFT sets weeks ago and decided that TONIGHT (Friday night) was the night I was going to use them. I am also going to Dallas in a few weeks for a jewelry team meeting and 2 of my gals are going with me early - we are hitting the malls so I wanted to send them a card before we go to let them know how excited I am to be getting away with them! The challenge only allows you 45 minutes to make your card - and I made 2! Now that they are done, I wish I had matted pop dotted the main image. I use to blow off pop dots - but boy, what a difference they make! I haven't decided yet if I will send these or remake them. Thanks for stopping by!

Virtual Stamp Night

This is the first time I am participating in VSN over at SCS. I got started after I got the baby down and have completed 2 cards (technically 4 since I made each card twice) so far. It's a good thing they have breaks built in - I'm dashing in to refill my Dr Pepper and thought I'd make a quick post. I am waiting until tomorrow to take pictures becuase I seem to get poor lighting in the evening. See ya'll tomorrow!

Look what I won!! My SBS sister Denise gave this to me! What a treat to actually be referenced on another blog! And right back at ya girl! It's been fun getting to know each other! But oh, who to nominate??? This is pretty tough b/c there are many gals that I would love to give this too!! I'll just go with the first ones that popped into my head!

1. Susan - she always brings a smile to my face - she seems so genuine and easy-going!
2. Helen at All Things Stampy - her brown cards today took my breath away and I haven't been able to get them out of my head!
3. Charmaine for being such an inspiration to me as a stamper and a mom!
3. Ema - another SBS sister who I feel connected to since I live in Amarillo and she used to live in Lubbock just up the road. She's got some blog candy to give away too so that's fun!!
4. Zany Maren - her work is marvelous and meticulous!
5. Joanne - her yellow card today is so elegant! I don't use yellow much and after seeing this, I don't know why? It's such a great color - can be happy or can be mellow - either way it's a feel good color!
6. Last, but not least, Sherrie, at Card Creme - always love to see what she creates and she has such a distinctive style!


And now, a card: this was a card I made for FS48 over at SCS. The featured stamper was Nancy Riley and I chose her Cherish card. I changed the color scheme, the ribbon and used a 3D flower instead of a stamped flower. I'm really happy with the way these turned out. The one on the left is going out to a lady I met this week who is with the direct sales company I rep for (not stamping related) and the one on the right is a thank you for birthday presents my son received.

Q&A

Denise asked a question about my cards posted on Jan 14:
"Pretty cards, love the flowers and beads. Did you dye the flowers or did they come in those colors? I just got the pretties kit from SU! and I tried dying some, but not sure I like them. Thanks for sharing your cards. :)"

The flowers actually came in that color. I got them from either HSN or QVC a long time ago. I've never dyed flowers so I have no advice to give.

I have a question - actually 2 questions for ya'll.

1. I just discovered Google Reader - very nice but some of the blogs do not show the pictures in reader (which kinda defeats the purpose of using reader). Anybody know why that happens?

2. In Google Reader - how do you comment on a post. So far, I've been opening the blog in another window, but that seems to add time and again - seems to defeat the purpose of the reader in my mind.

Have a great day! It is really, really cold here today. I've got to go finish getting ready and meet my upline for coffee to plan our big rally next month. Oh - I don't want to go out in the cold!!! It's a good thing I don't live up north - I don't know how you gals do it!!

My first RAK

Last week I got a card in the mail from one of my SBS3 sisters, Denise. It came on a day when I was dashing in and out and to and fro getting things set up for my sister's wedding. What a treat for my eye and my tummy since it also included a piece of chocolate - those yummy little square ones! What was really neat was it was raspberry chocolate so it coordinated with the card. Denise is super talented! Check out her blog post here to see when she featured this card and how to make a card really WOW!!! (and don't miss her kickstand card from January 12, 2008 - it is one of my all time favorite cards!! Oh - maybe I shouldn't share that since she's giving away a stamp set I really, really want! Nah - sharing is too much fun!!!)

Mix It Up!!

I found this really neat blog today - be sure to stop by and see how you could win this!


A Cowboy’s Wife is having a contest on her food blog! You can win a Hamilton Beach® Stand Mixer and she’ll ship anywhere so everyone is eligible!

The Prize:



The winner will receive a brand new
Hamilton Beach 4.5-qt. Eclectrics Stand Mixer, Pineapple Yellow!!

About the mixer:

From Hamilton Beach’s “Eclectrics” line, this all-metal stand mixer comes with a host of accessories - a Flat Beater for cakes and cookies, a Dough Hook for bread and a Wire Whisk for whipped cream or pudding. The 4.5-qt. stainless steel bowl comes with a Pouring Shield that helps prevent splattering while in operation. The pouring shield has a built-in chute for adding ingredients. Powered by 400 watts, the stand mixer has a two-way mixing action to ensure all ingredients are incorporated into the mix. The quick-release, tilt-up head assists when removing the bowl. 9 x 14 x 14-in. When you’re ready for a kitchen re-do, don’t call in the carpenters! Instead, “counterscape” your kitchen with Hamilton Beach’s retro-designed, affordably priced electrics in happy, sun-saturated colors. Their “Eclectrics” line includes updates to those classic appliances from the 1950s. All of their “Eclectrics” are available in six colors: Apple Green, Moroccan Red, Pineapple Yellow, Intrigue Blue, Sugar White and Licorice Black.

Here is a thank you card I made using a sketch challenge last week. For the life of me, I can't remember which one it was. I made another card using this same sketch - but gave it to my sister before I took a photo of it. (ETA: It was Di Hickman's sketch) Hope you like it! And some more: I was running on adrenaline and just decided to mass produce them. ETA: (I finally remembered details on this card too! I needed something quick and sharp looking and remembered a card Kristina did for MACM (here) and came up with my version....I still remember the music she had playing in her video and have been humming it for weeks in my head!

MOJO Lilacs

Here is a card I made for Mojo Monday #19 - my first Mojo sketch to participate in. I love her sketches so I am going to go back and do them all over the course of the year!

Sparkle

Been crazy busy around here. My stamping space has been a wreck for months now. I have a very hard time being creative when it's out of control so I've been spending time trying to get it under control! It's not finished but has come pretty far - far enough that I cleaned off my desk (well - pretty much anyway) and was able to get some stamping done earlier this week. I have more to share - sketches and challenges that will probably be outdated - but I am going to share them anyway so be sure to stop back!

Here is a card I created for CPS #46. I am not sure how I feel about this card. I love the papers together; love the sparkle sentiment and the bling on the card. Not sure about the placement of the jacket in relation to the skirt. I tried having it overlap like it would in real life......but that looked even worse to me.