Ain't This Cowboys First Rodeo

     I wasn't smart enough to buy Da Man when he was for sale with Stampin' Up, but I am lucky enough to have a friend who sent me several stamped images of him so I could play.  There is a  coo to bring Him back if your interested check this site out  Bring Back the Man at Splitcoaststampers.  There is a whole blog dedicated to the man here at Women of the Wild West, check him out.
    Da Man has packed his saddle up after his most recent rodeo, I think he is hoping Miss Kitty will give him a nice foot rub when he gets home......sigh, if he were here I would give him a foot rub :)
   

     Just had to post a few pics from some visits to the Ranch....I've made lots of friends over the years and always look forward to visiting with them.  I have been blessed to meet and get to know several people from around the world.

 

Isn't he sweet

Me and Flavio from Switzerland

This little fella was only a week old when I snapped this

On a ride in the Catalina's with my favorite Cowboy

Challenges:  Joyful Stamper, Anything Goes,  Make it Monday Anything Goes

White on White

     My stamps are in drawers with categories on the front,  If you know me it is no surprise that the Western and Christian stamps share equal space. My heart belongs to both of them when it comes to stamping, I am trying to branch out a little.....and why not, that means more stamps of other images to play with - and there can't be anything wrong with more stamps.
    The scripture I used from Our Daily Bread Designs is one of my favorite, and from their Customer Favorites released last August. When I think of a new creation I think a clean start or all white. With that thought in mind as I put this scripture to ink, it is no surprise the card is 'simply' white with lovely butterflies (and of course a few pearls, I do like pearls).  What a comforting scripture to know that when I know Christ and embrace Him in my life, I too become a new clean slate for Him to work through. The old me is gone and I am renewed by his gift on the cross and through His resurrection.
   

Thanks for visiting: 

Materials Used:  Sizzix Embossing Folder, Our Daily Bread Designs Stamp, Cheery Lynn Butterfly Die, Spellbinders Nestabilities, Vellum, Cardstock,  Pearls

Challenges:  Our Daily Bread Designs Challenge,  Simon Says Stamp Challenge, Anything Goes, Word Art Wesnesday

Keep it Simple

As I was perusing Splitcoaststampers I came across a challenge that I couldn't resist.  I have posted it below:

Just like technology grows by leaps and bounds every year, so does the art/craft we share. It's hard to believe that just a little over six years ago, there was no Cuttlebug. Then the nestabilities and subsequent dies exploded on the scene. I remember when I started stamping... eyelets were the rage and brads were hardly heard of. And designer paper!! When I first started, they were limited as well.

~ Stamping Nostalgia ~

So our challenge today is going to be to make a card as if we were back in the early days of stamping. NO EMBOSSING, NO DIE CUTS, NO PEARLS, NO SEWING, Nothing that was not available way back when. 


     This challenge really got me thinking back to those first stamp parties I went to and the stamps, stamp pads, and paper I purchased then left them sit on the counter.  I remember some of those first cards I made, given what I owned and what I knew, I think I did a mighty fine job!!  Then I heard of a place called Splitcoaststampers and 'oh my' I could spend hours looking at cards and get ideas...I just knew I could never stamp as well as so many of the ladies whose galleries I visited.  SCS was a place I visited for about 2 years before I joined in 2007 AND I just knew I would never post a card there, I was way too intimidated. 
     During those early years a friend, who had been stamping for many years, challenged me to get together with her every few weeks and as I watched what she did I began to grow and learn and WANT to step out of my little box.  When she moved back to Illinois she invited me to be a part of the 'Stamp Club' she belonged to (and her sister stampers welcomed me with open arms).  What fun to get a challenge each month to create something of a certain color, or layers or whatever the theme was that was chosen.  How I looked forward to receiving their cards in the mail to see what they had done with the challenge - I couldn't wait for the mailman to come.  
    I'll never know what possessed me to play at the computer and become a blogger a few years ago.  What an adventure it has been!!!  The talent and ideas I have come across amaze me.  The kindness of people who I have sometimes contacted to find out 'just how they did what they did'.....has overwhelmed me.  Friendships have been made with people I have never met (but sure would like to).  Its been great.
     SO today I took the "Back to the Early Days" challenge and created this wonderful simple little card.  In those early days I had few supplies and would have stamped my image and layered it onto some colored paper....to make a real statement I would have probably put a few colors of paper under it.  The only way I could even think of adding texture would have been with my Fiskar cutter and stylus....to color my image I would have to raid my kids colored pencil box.  So what you see below is pretty much what an early card from me would have looked like...simple, clean, straight and pretty much one size fits all.  I don't regret those days and am glad to have had this challenge to keep me grounded about what it is I love so much about stamping.  

Thanks for visiting:

Challenges:  Splitcoaststampers TLC374

Materials:  Cardstock, colored pencils, Wordsworth Rubber Soul Stamp

Woman in Pink

     I'm not sure if its because I enjoy biking, or I am just getting older, but I just love this image by Mo Manning.  MuMu, who is of that age where a lady still wears a skirt to shop, looks as if she hasn't a care in the world as she bikes home from the market. Her plump rump is planted firmly on the seat as she pedals along with her face soaking up the sun, and her surroundings.  I can only hope I grow older with this same sense of empowerment, while still riding my bike.
     The flower I used is made from some crinolin and netting that I cut from a Sizzix die and colored with my Copics, after which I scrunched it all up around a brad..  The leaves are a Memory Box die.  I have been working on reorganizing my craft room and my sewing machine is now out and useable, so I just had to stitch around the outisde.  That and I thought it gave the card a more 'down home' look to go with this sweet image.  If you know me you are probably surprised there aren't pearls on this as I love 'pink and pearls'.......I don't think I'll add any, but sometimes cards change before they go in the mail :)
     For the challenge at Our Daily Bread Designs I have used, Stitching, Pink, Ribbon, Ink, Nestie, Green Leaves.  For the challenge at 4 Crafty Chicks I used material for my flower.

Thanks for visiting, have a great day....

Materials: Spellbinders, Sizzix, Fabric, Stamp by Mo's Digital Pencil , Bo Bunny Paper, Seam binding, Copics Memory Box

Challenges:  Our Daily Bread Designs (SPRING), 4 Crafty Chicks #85 

Bleached Peony

 

 When my niece got married last August I purchased this stamp to use on the front of her wedding handouts. Since then I have been thinking of some ways to use it on a card.  Splitcoaststampers did a tutorial on bleaching  not long ago, a technique I haven't done in at least 5 years.  When I did last try it all I did was bleach an image out on my paper.  This time I wanted to try and not only bleach my image BUT color it with Copics.
     While I am happy with how this card turned out, it has many imperfections.....that said I can't wait to make another and see if I can improve.  Using some kraft cardstock I stamped the image and then embossed it with clear powder.  Using an old paintbrush I applied my bleach.  There are areas where I applied too little, they didn't bleach out quite as much as other areas.  Coloring with Copics on this surface was a challenge, you can't really blend them as well - and you certainly want to make sure the paper is good and dry from the bleaching before you use them.  This is however, a flower, and not expected to look perfect.  I had really wanted to add some vines or leaves around the cut out image but the card is already a large square and it just seemed to look too busy.

Thanks for visiting,

Materials used:  Stampendous Peony Stamp, Ribon, DCWV Mango Frost Matstack, Make an Impression Sentiment

Challenges:  Stampin Sisters in Christ, 4 Crafty Chicks Flowers, Papertake Weekly Anything Goes, Whimsy Stamps Ribbon, Divas by Design Anything Goes and Blog Hop

By His Wounds

      As I got some cards ready for Easter this was one of several I put together. For my background I used an Our Daily Bread Designs Stamp of three crosses, and repeatedly stamped across some kraft card stock in brown ink.  The sentiment, from the same Our Daily Bread Design set, He will Rise, is stamped on a coaster that I ran through my Grand Caliber with a Spellbinders die and then used some gold Krylon to ink the edges.  I cut several leaves from a Cheery Lynn die that I positioned in the corner, and then put a flower I made in the center of them  (a picture tutorial of how I make my flowers is posted on this blog).  The inside reads "Alleluia, He is Risen".
     I also used this sentiment on a cross I made that I purchased from Michael's. The cross was edged in gold so I used gold leaves below the sentiment.  Instead of cards I made a few versions of this cross and sent them to friends.

Thanks for stopping by,

Materials:  Our Daily Bread Designs He Will Rise, Spellbinders Die, Cheery Lynn Die, Krylon Pen, Pearl, Cross from Michael's

Challenge:  Word Art Wednesday Challenge 22, Incy Wincy Designs Challenge Easter

Hope is Pink!!!

     I have been asked to send more cards to the Church Book Store and thought they might like some supporting prayer for those with breast cancer.  When I was out and about I discovered the new Sizzix "Movers and Shapers L" die and thought it would be fun to make these cards using it.  The challenge at Our Daily Bread Designs asked us to use our favorite set - as I said in an earlier post, they are all my favorites as I use them, but I will admit to being a little partial to the butterflies and have used them many times over the year!!

     I made two cards (so far) and below is the second using the same Sizzix Die to make the card.

     All the stamps I used are from Our Daily Bread Designs.  The first card uses the set 'Butterfly Corner' with the matching Butterfly and die.  The sentiment inside is from the 'Praying for a Cure' set, which is also the sentiment on the front of the second card.

Thanks for visiting,

Materials:  CS, Spellbinders, Our Daily Bread Designs Stamps, Copics

Challenges:  Our Daily Bread Designs Favorites 102

Flowers of Faith

     The challenge at Our Daily Bread Designs Blog is to use one of our favorite stamps from them.....Seriously??  My favorite stamp is whatever stamp I happen to be creating with at the moment.  Every time I create a card, for whatever reason, it is my favorite until I dig more paper, stamps, and ink out to play with.  For sure this stamp and paper were my favorite a few days ago..... 

     This card was created using a stamp from Our Daily Bread Designs - what really excited me about this card however, is that I found this envelope with a 6x6 piece of matching paper at a store going out of business for .18 whole cents.  Then I added some lovely patterned paper I had purchased with some ribbon that was going to the garbage from a display at where I use to work and 'voila' a card I love.  However, as I type this I am eyeing those pretty pink cards I made today with the 'Praying for a Cure' stamp and thinking they may just be my favorite......for sure until I stamp tomorrow :)

Thanks for stopping by,

Materials:  Crate Paper Slipcover, CS, Spellbinders, ODBD stamps, Pearls, Recycled ribbon

Challenges:  Our Daily Bread Designs 102, 

Let there be Color

     A few weeks ago I purchased a new Cheery Lynn die called "French Lattice" and have been itching to use it. Thought it would be fun to use a plain background and use my die on patterned paper.  This particular paper had lots of colors in it and I chose to focus on the oranges.  I used a scripture from Our Daily Bread Designs along with their Elegant Oval stamp and matching die.  Then I embellished with some Zva pearls, and Recollections flowers with a few small leaves cut from another Cheery Lynn Die placed strategically around them....LOL....another way of saying to fill in some space.  I am getting some cards ready to send to the Church Bookstore and this will be one of them.  Also, the challenge at Stampin Sisters in Christ was to make a card that showed something about the new season, I think flowers meet those requirements since as I look out my windows or drive around I see nothing but trees and flowers in bloom......I am loving the bursts of color throughout nature!!!  

Thanks for stopping by,

Materials used:  Cardstock, Our Daily Bread Design Scripture, Elegant Oval Stamp and matching Die, Recollections flowers, Cheery Lynn Die Flourish and French Lattice Small Frame, Zva pearls.

Challenges:  Stampin Sisters in Christ, challenge 131, Word Art Wednesday, Challenge 21

Our Daily Bread Designs 4th Anniversary Challenge

     Wow -Our Daily Bread Designs is celebrating their fourth year in business.  I remember the first year they were at the Collinsville, Illinois show after I had just discovered them on-line.  What a thrill to be able to touch the stamps and look at each one.  Kelley was doing demo's and Rick was manning the register.  I had the privilege of helping them at their third show in Collinsville, and I can tell you they have grown because they no longer fit in the corner I first saw them in - it takes a lot more room to display the product and cards they show case at every show.  I am very partial to the scriptures, sentiments, and images they design and provide...I use them a lot.  Since it is their anniversary the challenge was to use 'aquamarine' for 'fourth anniversary's'.  Such a lovely and peaceful color - I chose a pattern that has rich chocolate in it as well and managed to place a few flowers and some bling around the scripture.  Wishing them all the best and many more successful years in business.

Thanks for visiting,

Materials Used:  Our Daily Bread Design Scripture Set, Cheery Lynn Die, Spellbinders Die

Challenges:  Our Daily Bread Designs Blog Anniversary Challenge

Rejoice

     The last few trips to the craft stores have found me looking through non stamp aisles with ideas flowing through my mind.   When I saw this inexpensive metal cross at Michael's I bought a few to play with and decorate.  This is my favorite, using stamps from Flourishes He is Risen set.  I used a Krylon Pen to edge the cross and the Spellbinders die that has the sentiment on it.  I have found that a quick spray with some clear Krylon helps set the gold leaf keeping it from rubbing of.  The flowers were colored with my Copics and then cut out by hand, some are mounted with foam, while others aren't.  I played with some leaf ideas but really felt like it was getting too busy.  I'm thinking of sending this in place of a card to someone - overall it is 8 inches by 6 inches and would ship pretty easily.
     I have also been working on a small oval box with my favorite Mustang stamp and some awesome leather ribbon around the outside.....hopefully that will be done soon.   Purchased some nifty wood frames that I have covered in paper, hoping to stamps some images and sentiments and mount them inside with some embellishments.  All this playing means I need to catch up with cards that need to get sent but it has been fun.

Thanks for stopping by,

Supplies:  Metal cross from Michael's, Spellbinders Die, Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Flourishes Stamps, Krylon Gold Leaf Pen, Copic Markers

Mustang Magic

     I am wild crazy about this Mustang by Serendipity Stamps (I posted a card a few weeks back using it).  It won't be long before my daughter and I are back to the ranch we visit for another week of riding.  Over the years it has become a habit to take some of my work as gifts for some of the staff as well as friends I meet up with.  When I last colored this lovely creature I used my Prismscolors - this time around I got my watercolors out.  He looked like he needed a background, so I created the look of a large moon with the sky beginning to darken.  It was a lot of fun to color, I have about 3 done, and ready to assemble, each of them looks a little different.  The blue and brown  paisley paper is the perfect western background for him!!

Thanks for visiting,

Materials Used:  Spellbinders Label 18, Watercolor paper, Derwent Water Color Pencils, CS, Brads

Challenges: Craft Your Passion 100th Challenge Anything Goes, Papertake Weeky Anything Goes, The Pink Elephant Three Layers

Butterfly Blessings

     Wow, its been a crazy week!  For some reason my last two trips to the craft store I was drawn to aisles that didn't have stamps or paper in them.  Instead I found myself purchasing crosses, frames, and wood with a gazillion ideas of what I hope to do with them.   They are all now, laying around my work space, in various stages of completion.  I think overload hit on Thursday - at that point I just had to take a break.
     There were also some cards - almost done - laying around as well.  Today I got a message from a friend at SCS about someone in need of prayer.....and sending a card would be nice too!  Finished this card up and will put it in the mail Monday.  I am excited to send this - when I recently purchased this stick pin at the Our Daily Bread Design booth at the Lawrenceville show I couldn't wait to use it.  It is the kind of embellishment that called me outside of my comfort zone of how I usually design.  I hope the recipient of this card smiles as much as I did when I sat back and viewed it after I finished it.

Thanks for stopping by, have a great day,

Materials Used:  Our Daily Bread Design Stamps, Ribbon, Pin, Stampabilities, Gold Embossing Powder, Spellbinders, Krylon Gold Leafing Pen, Brilliance Galaxy Gold

Challenges:  Stampin Sisters In Christ #129 Wings, Do You Stack Up #61 Wings, Paper Crafting Journey Anything Goes, Paper Play Challenges Wk 9, Stamp N Doodles Embossing of Any Kind, Party Time Tuesdays Anything Goes

Guiding Light!!

     When I had this stamp out a few weeks ago to use, I was rummaging through my paper.   I came across this unusual wavy cardstock..... I might as well confess, I am a paper hoarder!  Its not that I have too much, but I think long and hard about my patterned paper.  To cut and not have it come out the way I imagine it should, feels like a waste - so I like to be sure I have a plan.   I knew then and there I would make a card  with this Lighthouse and fun paper.  The blue paper from The Mango Frost DCWV stack called out to be the background. Using my Copics to color it, then choosing a Scripture Sentiment from the same Our Daily Bread Designs set Light of the World, I put this together.   

     I think it makes a good masculine card - with a bold and positive scripture.  

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by:

Materials Used:  Our Daily Bread Design Stamps, Copics, Spellbinders

Challenges: OD BDSLC97,   Paper Players - Masculine

Easter Flowers

     While running around last week I managed to sneak into my new favorite stamp shop nearby.  They had the new Flourishes set He Is Risen.  Easter will be here before I know it so I grabbed the set and found some time this weekend to work in my stamp room (LOL, like I need an excuse).  It was my hope to CASE Christine Okken at ChristineCreations....but the more I worked at trying the more obvious it became that this card had a mind of its own.  Instead of the lovely card she made with a cut out frame, I ended up with a round scalloped card and no frame......best of intentions don't always work out the way you think they will.  Nonetheless, I am very pleased with how this turned out and look forward to sending it out for Easter.
     I colored the flowers with my blue, green, and yellow Copics - then cut them out.  None of the blue paper I had really rocked my boat so I found this lovely soft green patterned CS that appealed to me more.  I'm pretty sure I will never grow tired of my Cheery Lynn Border Flourish die that I used, it is a favorite of mine.

Thanks for visiting, have an awesome day,

Materials:  Spellbinders Grand Nestabilities, Copics, Flourishes Stamps, CS, Krylon Gold Leafing Pen, Cheery Lynn Die

Challenges:  Stampin Sisters In Christ Challenge 127

  

Girlfriends

 

       I was shopping last weekend and came across a little thing called "Action Wobbles" - they just fascinated me.  They are little springs you can mount an image on so that when you touch it the image rocks back and forth.  I thought of my good friend Pat, and wanted to share them with her......so I sat down and made a card for her using one and will mail it with some 'Action Wobbles'  so she can play.  While most of the info I viewed had people using these on the outside of cards I used mine on the inside. To do this I chose an Art Impression stamp. These "Girlfriends" are really rocking out shopping and you can see the results when you open the card.

        This is my first ever attempt at loading a video so you can see how this looks on the inside....I laugh every time I open this card, good thing its going in the mail today. 

Have an awesome day:

 Materials:  CS, Copics, Art Impression Stamp, Action Wobble, Stamps by Judith, Spellbinders Grand Nestabilities

Challenges:  Make It Monday

Glub, glub.......

     I always surprise myself when I make a card that doesn't have a horse or scripture on it somewhere - LOL.  It isn't as if I don't have a LOT of other stamps in my stash!!  

    While looking through my drawers I came across this inexpensive ($1.00) Inkadinkado stamp from JoAnn's and thought it would be fun to play with.  After coloring this sweet little creature with my Copics I wanted to create a unique effect......sooooo - I stamped the entire surface with Versamark and used some old embossing powder in my drawer 'Cow of Many Colors'.  The effect was just about what I wanted, but I decided to once again cover the image with Versamark and embossing powder.  This particular embossing powder has several different tones to it depending on how the light hits it, sort of like water.  My little fishy looks just great in his special little pool of color!

Thanks for stopping by,

Challenges:  Touch Twin Markers - Animals

Lost my Heart

     I am laughing at myself....a few weeks ago I posted my first Valentine and was sooooo proud that I had actually gotten some of my cards done in advance.  The card for my DH sat on my counter, and in between stamping I was reorganizing my room.  DH kept wandering in and I didn't want him to see his card so I put it away (fully believing I would remember EXACTLY where I put it - LOL) - went looking for it yesterday and don't you know I CAN NOT find it!!!  Willing to bet tomorrow it will magically appear, but I needed a card TODAY, so I took some time this afternoon to make him another one.......actually like this one better!!  Inside is a very nice mushy sentiment with wishes for a fabulous Valentines Day!!
  I titled this "Lost my Heart" - this has two meanings: one I lost the heart card I made - but it also means that I lost my heart to my DH 33 years ago when two became one and I am here to say 'life is good, I am blessed'.

Still laughing at myself as I sign off

Thanks for visiting,

Materials:  Paper Studio Simple Elegance CS, Spellbinders Butterfly Circle, Our Daily Bread Designs Butterfly 2 stamp and die, Ribbon

Challenges:  Stampin Sister is Christ Challenge 126, Simon Says Stamp and Show, Anything Goes

Inspired to Case

     The challenge at Our Daily Bread Designs Blog was to case a card from a design of someone we follow or admire.  WOW - how tough is that!!!  Aside from the many blogs I follow, there are all the Design Team members at Our Daily Bread Designs whose work inspires me on a regular basis.
     For the first few days I was immobilized as I tried to think of what to do.  To try and make it easier on myself, I thought I would first choose a stamp, then go through the gallery and make a decision.  While choosing a stamp at least kept me more focused - there were too many beautiful cards to case.  I literally just chose a number in my head and counted out in the gallery to a card....it was by Sandee Shanabrough.  Seeing her name brought a smile to my face...you see last weekend I met Sandee at the Lawrenceville Stamp show - how fun to case a card she created.
     Sandee stamped her design and did no coloring, so that is what I did....I left off the ribbon and changed the size - as the challenge said change two things.....While this is monochromatic in design I really like how it turned out.  I considered coloring the image (and in fact made one using my Copics) but stamped a second to use on this card.

Thanks for visiting,

Materials:  Our Daily Bread Designs Light of the World image and sentiment and Wood Background.  Memento Ink London Fog, Gray CS

Challenges:  ODBDSLC95 Secret Admirer Case

Happy Valentines

     Catching up with my Valentines cards - this one is for my DD.  I orginally chose this paper with black in it to use on my DS card but as I started working it evolved into this, and once I added the pearls (I so like pearls) it seemed to call out 'daughter' to me. Step cards are just plain fun to do.  I used a few Spellbinders to create the frame for the sentiment and my Cricut to cut the hearts along the bottom.  Inside is a sweet message for her, she appreciates any and all cards I make so I can't wait to share this with her on Valentines Day.  Now I need to get busy on one for my DS.

Thanks for stopping by

Materials:  CS, Spellbinders Nesties, Recollections Pearls, Cricut, My Sentiments Exactly stamp

Challenges:  Creative Belli Blog Challenge 136 Hearts/Valentines, Delightful Challenges - Love,  Perfect Sentiments Challenge  PSC18, Sentimental Sundays #88 Feel the Love.

Stamp Show Georgia

   Sandee Shanabrough, me, and Kelley at the Our Daily Bread Designs Booth in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Sandee  is a member of the Breadsticks Design Team. What a blast working the stamp show, and meeting in person people whose blogs I follow.  I had the privilege of helping Our Daily Bread Designs when they were in Collinsville, Illinois last June and was so happy they were willing to have me back to help out after I moved to Georgia.
     Kelley and her husband Rick are the nicest people.  Josh who works with them was there as well - a great young man.  It warms my heart how organized they are setting up, working the booth and then tearing down....they have it all down to a science.  I especially enjoy helping them pack it up to put in the truck because it makes you realize how hard they work and what road warriors they are.
    Visiting with the people who come to shop is great fun.  Kelley has tons of cards, made by the Design Team displayed all over, and customers 'ooh and ahh' as they browse, shop and get inspired.

Julie Warner - another Breadstick was there as well.

     Of course, I didn't just work the booth I got some shopping in as well and can't wait to start getting inky and play......look for me to post a few of my new creations this week.