Inspiration from all over

My sweet friend Mish inspires me regularly. Well, today she issued a challenge and I accepted. Put together a Halloween Inspiration Station. Mish has been doing this for a while - and I just haven't gotten around to it. Well, today I decided to just DO IT - no excuses!!

So I went around and collected Halloween-related products. Oh yes - I have much more than you see here. But there was only so much room to put it all together - LOL (I bet you can relate).

My two new favorite Halloween products that I picked up this year are both punches from the Martha Stewart line. I got the Bat punch and the GOO PUNCH (I just love saying that - *snort*)! I picked them up at Michael's.

Thank you, Mish. You inspired me to pull out all my Halloween stuff, get stamping, and get blogging again!















I am teaching a Kids Halloween class tomorrow. This card is one of the 5 we'll be making. I was INSPIRED by my friend Otter for this card. At our retreat in August, Otter made an ADORABLE little basket using the GOO punch and this cauldron stamp (SU!). So I took inspiration from her and turned it in to a 4.25x4.25 card. Thanks Otter!

Thanks for looking!

I hope that you find inspiration in lots of places!! Keep stampin' and smiling!

Rustic Branches fun!!!

Greetings and salutations!

My friend Pine (Heather Nichols) just debuted her brand new and first ever STAMP SET, Rustic Branches, via Papertrey Ink!!! I was lucky enough to be with Pine at a retreat on the night of the big reveal - HOW EXCITING! She was so happy, as were all of us there to celebrate this amazing occasion with her! I was also lucky enough to GET THE SET!!!

So I sat down last night and had to play with it for the first time. I didn't do the set justice - it is truly a beautiful, elegant, and versatile set. I used Papertrey white cardstock - I love working with it! The rest of the cardstock colors are Stampin' Up! - Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss, and Ruby Red. I stamped the sentiment on twill. I also used a spica glitter pen that you can get from Eclectic Paperie.

It's been a lazy weekend so far! Tomorrow is the holiday and we are planning on going to a pond that has been made to resemble a beach, has a playground, etc., with some friends. Looking forward to some time out and a nice picnic lunch!

Hope you are having a great weekend!

I LOVE Changito!!!!! He just makes me smile!! I got this guy at Archiver's - he was in a set (by Stampendous) that is exclusive to Archiver's.

I was in a swap involving my girlfriends from the Retreat I went to. So - being that I am the world's WORST procrastinator, I made this card while at the Retreat. I had inspiration from the super talented Anna Wight, as well as from my fantastically talented friend Bethie!

All cardstock, ribbon, and brads are Stampin' Up! I embossed the Rose Red layer using the Cuttlebug and the Houndstooth folder - you can get your Cuttlebug supplies at the FANTASTIC store ECLECTIC PAPERIE!!!! That is one of my MOST FAVE places to - um - do damage! ;)

And I can't tell you how excited I am to have received THIS!!

My beautiful friend Pam Hooten (Piris) sent me this award! Thanks Piris!!!!

Here are the rules:

1. The winner can put the logo on their blog.

2. Link the person you received your award from.

3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.

4. Put links of those blogs on yours.

5. Leave a message on the blogs of the girls or boys you’ve nominated.

So here we go:

1. Cambria Turnbow
2. Bevie Barton

3. Katrina Kopp (Kookie)

4. Jennifer Hollett (Otter)

5. Suzanne Henrich

6. Joy Kennedy

7. Avril Miller

Have fun checking out their blogs - I know I do!!!!!!!!!

Hope you all have a FANTASTIC FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

School Daze!!

Hi!!!! Yep - I'm alive and kicking!! LOL

The last 2 months have been CA-RAZY! Along with regular life, my husband was laid off from his job due to company downsizing, my biggest little man turned 6, and I went away to a FANTASTIC retreat!!!!!! I hung out with 21 of my best friends, my true SISTERS! What a BLAST!!!! My friends Pine and HB planned the entire thing- I can't thank them enough for the memories, the classes, the food, the friendship!!!!!!!

My 6-year-old Tyler also started FIRST GRADE today! ACK - he is growing WAY too fast (remind me to find a way to stop that)!

So I decided to make a "note card" for his teacher to say hi and offer to volunteer. It was quick and easy. I would love to do some days in the classroom, helping with projects or reading to the kids. I thought it would be fun to send a cute little note card - especially since her friend (and co-conspirator when it comes to big projects at school) is one of my stamping friends!!!!!

The images are A*Muse Art Stamps - oh how I LOOOOOVE A*Muse!!!! The white cardstock is PaperTrey Ink - the quality is wonderful! The rest of the cardstock is Stampin' Up! (Real Red, Wild Wasabi, and So Saffron). I did a super quick coloring job using the SU! markers (same colors as cardstock). The ovals are Spellbinders Nestabilities that I purchased from Ellen Hutson. I also used (though you probably can't see it) the Copic atyou Spica glitter pens that you can get from eclectic Paperie - I used the gold glitter pen on the bell on the school house.

Sorry about the lousy photo. I had to write it up last night - and of course the lighting at night isn't so great. I'll work on my skillz.

Here's Tyler on his first day of 1st Grade! I love that little stinker!

Hope you are having a GREAT day!

My Stamp HAVEN!!!!

The pictures here are of my stamp room!! It took a LONG time to complete. This is in my basement. My Grandfather built my house - so he did the knotty pine paneling and built-ins. The rest my AWESOME hubby did for me. I got a LOT of stuff at IKEA (all the metal wire baskets holding the ribbon on the walls - $1.99 each - YEAH BABY). A lot of bargains were found to put this room together. I have been holding classes since April of this year and LOVING it!!!!

A bunch of girls have asked that I post pics of my room here so that their hubbies can see (and realize that NOBODY has as much of a "problem" as I do - snort). I've already made a few little changes since I took these pics - mostly adding more art, etc.

I loooooooooooooooooove going down to my stamp HAVEN and just creating!!!! Thanks for looking and have a FAB day!

Changito Love

I absolutely ADORE Changito, don't you??? He's IRRESISTIBLE!! OMG - those *three hairs* make me laugh! That swirly tail! I'm in love! *snort* OK - I'll calm down now.

This Changito image, the vine, and the sentiment come in a clear acrylic set called "Changito Dos" by Stampendous, and you can find it at Eclectic Paperie!! Joy and Daisy are FANTASTIC women, friends, and business women!! And they just happen to carry the cutest stamps, best papers, and most incredible accessories!!!

The brown (Chocolate Chip) and green (Garden Green) cardstock are Stampin' Up!, the blush and white cardstock are Bazzill. I used my Air Art Spritzer tool by Stampin' Up! to squirt some Blush Blossom marker on to the white heart, to give it some additional color and punch. I watercolored my Changito image using my Aqua pen and Stampin' Write markers from SU!

The ribbon I bought at the store I was "cropping" at, so I don't recall who it was made by.

It's FRIDAY!!!! My hubby has been away on business - he'll be home tonight! The kids and I are very excited to see him. We'll have a great family weekend. Hope you have a great weekend, too!!

Sparkling Summer

Hey there! I'm still alive. I haven't stamped for FUN in a loooong time. So last night I went down to the stamp room and just let myself have fun. I am NOT showing you how the area looks after my whirlwind - let's just say that I think I ended up working in a space about 4"x4". *snort* I had a great time, though!

Today I decided to follow in my friend Lana's footsteps and post an oldie but goodie. I am using Stampin' Up! stamp set Sparkling Summer. I just love it still!!

I found this patterned paper seen in this first card - it is Die Cuts With a View - Summer Pack. The paper itself FORCED me to pull out Sparkling Summer. Oh - and STICKLES!!!! Oh - how I love love love my Stickles!!!

The baubles I actually found at Michael's - but they are now discontinued. However you can get baubles from Ellen's store!! I also used my Nesties that I got from Ellen - oh how I *heart* my Nesties!

All cardstock is Stampin' Up! Black ink used to stamp images is Palette Noir. Markers are Copics (forgot to write down the numbers) - they closely match SU cardstock colors. Ribbon is May Arts that I bought from Cindy.

OK - now I have to find something to do with the kids! LOL Hope you have a great day!