Blog Candy for my Anniversary - This post will remain on top check below for newer posts

     It all began several years ago when I joined Splitcoaststampers.....I was in awe!!  So many creative people and ideas....I could sit for hours and browse.  Notice I say browse because I was scared to death to leave a comment, I wasn't even sure I knew how.  As I perused the gallery I kept seeing things like "further deets on my blog at:" - what was this blog world and did I dare venture in?  Did I even know how to venture in.
     So began the research, one thing led to another and I created my first blog....my only post saying 'more to come'.  Then things got busy and when I finally got around to logging in Blogger had made some changes and I had lost my header and things were a disaster - LOL - was this really meant to be for me??  But that creative and competative streak in me kicked in.  I may be senior status at some places but that didn't mean I couldn't learn how to do this.   Blogger really did make it easy and  I got my header, and widgets all lined up and jumped in with my first post....I was even brave enough to begin posting on Splitcoaststampers!!!
     So here I sit a year after my first real posts - feeling pretty proud of myself for having gotten this far. I can't tell you how much I have enjoyed following and visiting so many of you - and the fun I have had in challenges.  My husband laughed at me when I did the 'happy dance' the first time I won a blog hop.  I did an even bigger dance later when I was  recognized over at Our Daily Bread Designs and Stampin Sisters In Christ for some of my cards.
     It seems only fair I offer some Blogoversary Candy to those who check my blog out and make those lovely comments that bring a smile to my face.  With the name Stamping Cowgirl it only seems appropriate that my candy have a western theme.
      If you want to post my blog candy on your blog for others that would be great, if you become a new follower as well (mention it in your post below) I will put your name in twice....in the meantime if you leave a comment below on this post, at the end of the month I will randomly pull a number and send you the goodies below.  Thank you everyone in advance for the times you have inspired me and brought a smile to my face when I read your comments.....and thank you for challenging me to be more creative every time I visit one of your blogs.

There are a total of 20 sheets of 12 x 12 paper all Cowgirl, western trim and my fav Horse stamp.

If I find some more western themed things before the drawing I will add them to this.

Honored to be Featured

     Very honored and blessed to be one of the cards chosen for recognition this week on Our Daily Bread Designs Blog for the recent challenge I entered.  I love their stamps and they have a fantastic Design Team that truly inspires me on a regular basis.

A New Creation

     Having a blast playing and making step cards.....decided to make one for the challenge this week at Our Daily Bread Designs.  Used a scripture from their Customer Favorites 2011 Scripture Series 2.  One of my favorite scriptures.  I have been so busy working on Christmas cards and western themes lately that I dug out some fresh bright colors to be a little different.  The challenge was to use three different geometric shapes on the card...I used an oval for the Scripture, various rectangles on the card and circles behind my nice bright bling.

Materials used:  Our Daily Bread Design Stamp, Spellbinders Oval Nestie, MS punches, CS, Recollections Rhinestones


Challenges:  ODBDSLC81

Thanks for looking,

Bwa ha ha ha Trick or Treat!!

     After not being in my stamp room for a few months I just buried myself playing.....for whatever reason I found myself focusing on Christmas and Horses, then it finally occurred to me that Halloween was just around the corner and I needed to get a few cards ready!!
     This is a card I made to send with a package to my son out west.  I doubt my kids will ever be too grown to not send a little package of goodies at Easter, Halloween, Birthdays, etc. (Christmas we are all together - yeah!)  Besides, He is one of my biggest fans and I think there is a good chance he has saved every card I have ever made him (One day I suspect he will meet a good woman and my cards won't mean quite as much). I know he will enjoy this one and the goodies I send with it.
     I have been playing with step cards and had this fab paper with eyeballs all over it, the idea of a graveyard for Halloween was just too good to let go of.  I stamped the cute little Kolette Hall Hampton Art stamp 3x's in a row and used my Copics to color the grass and tombstones.  The skull is a sticker from Recollections that I layered over some yellow/gold vellum for a spooky effect.  Trick or treat is a dollar stamp and the spider webs along the outside are a Martha Stewart punch....had a lot of fun doing this and can't wait to do a matching treat bag and get it in the mail.  Happy Haunting!!!

Thanks for looking!!!

Materials used:  DP, Recollections Sticker, Hampton Art Stamp, MS punch, Copics, Dimensioinals, 
Challenges:  Sentimental Sunday Challenge 78 Halloween,  Make It Monday Challenge 60, Dream Valley #18 Halloween

Santa Horses

     I have been playing all week with my Impression Obsession stamp 'Santa Horses' by Melissa Gordon.  This is one of about 5 cards I have used this stamp on - I just love each and every one of them.  On this one I used my Copics to color and kept it rather simple - Some of these will probably go to the ranch with me as cards for friends I will see there.

Supplies used:  Impression Obsession Stamp, Copics, Ribbon, Nestie, CS, Corner punch


Entering this in the Outlawz Challenge GC101711 (Greeting Cards - Monday)

God's Wonders

    Working on some Christmas cards and playing with a little stamp I just love by Impression Obsession called 'Lamb Awaiting'  - when I saw the challenge over at Our Daily Bread Designs I pulled out a sweet scripture stamp from their 'Porch' series and decided to make some small note cards.  On the inside I have stamped 'May the miracle of Christmas live forever in your heart' with an old stamp I have from Stampin' Up.  I spritzed the outside with some Sparkle Shimmer Mist......A sweet little card.  

 

Supplies used:  Stamps from Our Daily Bread Designs, Impression Obsession, Stampin Up, CS, Corner punch, Copics, Glitter Gel Roll Pen.


Challenges:  Our Daily Bread Designs ODBDSLC 80 with a twist, Stampin Sisters In Christ Challenge 111

Thanks for looking,                                               

Cowgirls Rule

     You would think now that my counter tops are in my craft room I would get busy organizing it....but after so many weeks of not being able to play I find myself sitting and playing around instead :)
     My daughter and I leave for the ranch in a few months and that has me thinking 'western' so I fooled around with a card I have been thinking of taking to the office manager when I go.  The challenge at Our Daily Bread Designs was to make your own embellishment so I stamped my horse onto polyshrink and made a medallion for my card.  I can't believe I am entering this without using one of their stamps (of which I own many) but this is the mood I was in today, I'll play with some of their lovely stamps later this week.  Also saw that over at CES Challenges they were asking for cards with red and this certainly fits that bill.

I 

     I used a Martha Stewart punch on the bottom of my cardstock and then ran it through a paisley EF.  My stamp is by Inkadoo and stamped on plastic that I shrank down.  I then used some punches and a die cut to place layers underneath my embellishment.  The sentiment is from my computer and I used brads to attach it to the card.  

Challenges:  Our Daily Bread Designs ODBDSLC79, Just Add Ink, and a die cu JAI-88, CES Challenges #57 See red, and Craft Your Passion challenge # 79 a card for all occasions. 

     

Heres to Age...

     It is my older sisters Birthday this week and I have my stamp room unpacked enough to get to some of my stamps and things I need so I was able to make a card for her.  In the big scheme of things it is a relatively simple card......I used a stamp I have been wanting to get inked up for a while and think she will enjoy it.  While I could have been much fussier I was also short on time as I needed to get to the post office to get it in the mail.  She has always been supportive of my hobby.....when she visited last year we spent one day down in the stamp room and she made several cute little gifts for her friends for Christmas.  It would be great if we lived closer because I know we would be get together often to play and create.

Materials used:  Spellbinders, Net ribbon, glitter ribbon, Recollections Rhinestones, Pearls, Copics, CS American Art Stamp "Never Show It"




Challenges:  Craft Your Passion Challenge 78, Anything Goes. Make it Monday Challenge 55.

A little LOV (Lily of the Valley)

     Finished playing with the card I started yesterday....it .needs to be in the mail later this week.  It is a bright and cheerful card that carries special Birthday wishes with it to a friend.
     I just love this little Lily of the Valley stamp "Rosie with Cake" - like all of their stamps she is just adorable.  Just received the Christmas ones I ordered last week and all I can say is 'sweet, sweet, sweet'!!!
     Even sweeter is the Cheery Lynn  Fanciful Flourish die I used to surround my Spellbinders Lacey Circle...The delicacy and details of this flourish are fabulous. I could play with them all day.

Materials used:  Cardstock, Ribbon, Martha Stewart Punch, Cheery Lynn Fanciful Flourish Die, Recollections Flowers, Spellbinders Lacey Circle Die , Lily of the Valley Stamp, Copic Markers, CB Embossing Folder.


Challenge:  Celebrate the Occasion - ribbon. Party Time Tuesday - anything goes #35 , Make It Monday - Anything Goes #55,  Inky Impressions - #26 punches and dies

Work in progress

     They just installed my counter tops this morning and I have been unpacking and putting things where they belong.  Okay, I have putting things where ever I can right now, knowing I will rearrange them several more times these next few months as I work and see where I think I need everything to be.  It is just so exciting to finally have things out of boxes and in view.....couldn't help myself I got the ink out and started stamping.  Have a card I need to get ready and what you see below is the start of the project.......haven't worked with my copics in two months - oh boy, did it feel good to get them out.  Love this little Lily of the Valley stamp and have been wanting to put her on paper and play.  Also, playing with my new Die-namics die cut and some felt to make some little flowers....may or may not use them.

Have a great day!!

A Worthy Cause For Your Cards

 

    Card making is a craft/hobby very close to my heart.  I have enjoyed playing with paper and ink for almost 10 years now.  Most of the cards I make go to friends, family and the occasional place that purchases them.  Since I feel I need a purpose for what I make - I do keep a stash  - but we all have to admit that our stash can grow and get a little out of hand.   I have often not jumped into some of the fabulous challenges in blogland feeling the card I create for the challenge 'may' not have a place to go to and my stash is at its limit.
      So imagine my joy when I happened upon a blog (with challenges) that collects cards to send to children in the hospital!!!  As I get ready to work on cards for the fall holidays I am excited thinking of cards to make and send, as well as taking part in challenges now that don't have to be specific to the card I need at the moment.
     Maybe ya'll have been aware of this and smarter than me all along but I am really excited and wanted to share this blog with you in case you too might want to send them some cards.  I know many people make cards for our soldiers - and that is an awesome thing to do.  But, sometimes the cards we make are more childlike in nature and these ladies provide you with a great way to use them.  Check out Send a Smile 4Kids and think about sending some of your cards to them.

Thanks,

A Work in Progress

They come today to measure for the counter tops for my craft area, I am sooooo excited.  It has been hard to even begin unpacking to do anything as there is no place to put things....my work table is packed.  Yes, I admit I was extremely spoiled in my little corner of the old basement, everything was laid out and within reach.  We have been here four weeks now - I am sorely missing my space and a place to be creative.  Christmas will be here before I know it and I have lots of cards and projects to work on.  With the counter tops ordered and ready to come soon I now have some real incentive to clear out boxes and start putting what I can in order.  WOO HOO!!!

Our Daily Bread Design Scripture Release

     What a thrill to be able to create a card for the new Customer Scripture release by Our Daily Bread Designs.   

     When we 'blog hoppers' were asked to list our favorite scripture during the blog hop several months ago it was hard to choose just one, there is so much wisdom in the Bible.   As a believer in Christ as my Savior this is a very uplifting scripture that lets me know that in spite of all I may have done, the guilt I might want to hold onto, it is all in my past when I come to Him....no looking back and hanging on to things....I begin anew.

     Many of you know that I recently moved to Georgia after 17 years of living in Missouri......my stamp room has not even been put back together yet, in fact most of it is still in boxes!  It was a real challenge to locate what I needed for this card.  The movers were very considerate of my stuff and most things were pretty well organized in boxes, I am so use to just reaching around for things that I really had to think about what I wanted to use before I started.  It was fun to take a few hours and leave the boxes behind to play with my stamps and paper...... When I put the card together butterflies seemed  to be calling to me......that and some bling!!!  I was very pleased with the results. 

     Be sure and check out the other scriptures released in this set - just visit  Our Daily Bread Designs Blog.  where you can see the other lovely cards created from this new release.

Materials used:  Our Daily Bread Design Stamp, MS punch, CS, Penny Black floral stamp, rhinestones, Spellbinders Grand Caliber Scalloped die, Versafine black.  

Faithfulness

They come to pack us this week and the move begins - there is a slight wait on getting into the new place so my stamp space will be out of commission for a few weeks.....very frustrating for me.  Hope to get some Thank You cards together as I have many to send out......in the meantime I was playing with my Nestabilities and dug out my Lotus Pendants.....they are so fun to layer.  Used Mojo Monday 199 to inspire me and put this card together.  Really enjoying using this paper from K & C the florals are so rich and vintage looking.

Challenges:  Mojo Monday 199
                   Stampin Sisters in Christ

Supplies:  CS, K&C Paper, Lotus Pendants and Circle Nestabilities, Pearls, Ribbon, Cross Brad, Our Daily Bread Design stamp

MOJO198 and Gettin Blingy!

     As I was checking some of the many blogs I follow I was drawn in by the MOJO Monday challenge.  I just really felt the need to follow a layout and see what I could do - this meant stepping out of my box!  I have this crazy paper I purchased by Anna Griffin Inc....it has an animal print and is actually fuzzy.  The original plan was to use it for some coaster size decorative items I was going to make but I ended up using another pattern. It just seemed to call for bling and more bling when I got to going on it....I really like the new Nestabling by Want 2 Scrap - so easy to use and looks fabulous with the dies.  I also thought this was going to be a birthday card for a friend who love animal prints but as you can see that didn't happen.  The picture really doesn't do this justice......it is really very striking looking......it was actually fun to create. While it may be hard to believe that gold bling down the side is ribbon/decorative purchased from JoAnn Fabrics. 

Challenges:  Mojo Monday (MOJO198)
                       Dreamvalleychallenges - Challenge 10 Ribbon
                  Sentimental Sundays - Challenge #62 Anything goes with a sentiment
                       Jac-Inks Papercraft challenge #12 Dies
                      http://artimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com - something from your stash
           

Supplies:  CS, Spellbinders Nestabilities S4-182, Nestabling by Want @ Scrap, Stampabilities Sentiment, Fancy Ribbon, MS Butterfly Punch, Anna Griffin DP, http://artimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com/

Psalm 9:10

       My goal yesterday was to clean up some of my stamping area - of course as soon as I could see the counter I wanted to play!  I was working on some cards for the bookstore of the church I attend and  Stampin Sisters in Christ has a challenge this week for a CAS card a great way to get two things done at once.  Everyone knows we girls are multi taskers at heart.  

      I have been wanting to use the elegant oval stamp and matching die from Our Daily Bread Designs for a few weeks. My original idea was to layer more but I liked the simplicity of this as I put it together.   You may note be able to see from the picture but I used Zing Embossing Powder in Copper  when I stamped the Elegant Oval.....what a pretty color it is and it matches the color of the paper perfectly!!

     Happy 4th of July to all!!!

Challenges:  Stampin Sisters in Christ

Supplies:  ODBD Elegant Oval Stamp, Spellbinders Custom Die, Zing Copper EP, Vellum paper from Stampin' Up, Zva Creative pearls, ribbon. 

A Little Birdie!

     I have been having stamping withdrawal!!!  Two weeks ago I had the privilege of working with Kelley and her husband Rick of Our Daily Bread Designs at the Gateway Stamping Convention.......what fun it was to help them out and get to know them both.  They have doing shows down to a fine science and it was exciting staying till the end and helping them take things down.....I so admire organized people. 

      Of course, since it was a stamp convention I had a lot of fun getting some new stamps - but not so fun when that thing called 'life' kept me too busy these past two weeks, and I couldn't get into my stamp room.  Had a few hours today (which I may not have again for a week) and decided to get something done.  I loved this new paper Susan Winget paper I got from K & C Company and dug out some old Stampin Up Eggplant Envy to so with my new stamp from ODBD - Bird and Butterly Labels.  This card will be entered in the Our Daily Bread Design Challenge this week as well as the Stampin Sisters in Christ challenge.  The second picture shows the hand detail I used, but I decided I liked it only going part of the way around, just a little something different.  I also used a stamp from the Bird Borders and Corners  (ODBD) set on the inside of the card and envelope.  

Supplies:  ODBD stamp and coordinating Nestabilities, Stampin' Up Eggplant Envy Ink, DP, ribbon left on a bag at the store from J Jill, Edge punch

Flag Day (FLLCJUNE11)

     My husband and one of my co-workers both have Birthdays on Flag Day next week.....so I started making cards for them today.  Most years I make my DH a golf themed card, as he loves to golf!!  This year I wanted to change it up a little.  Flourishes is sponsoring The Stars, Spangled Challenge during their new release, asking that we use the colors of our countries flag (for me the USA - red, white and blue)......so I decided to jump into the challenge with this card.  Now that I have this out of the way for him I need to start working on Fathers Day.....hmmm, maybe that will be a golf theme!

Challenges:  Flourishes FLCCJUNE11

Supplies:  CS, Versafine Black Ink, Ala mode white, ribbon, rhinestones, CB EF stars

Sentiment Only

     This picture doesn't really do justice to this card.....but I am happy with it.  The challenge at Our Daily Bread Designs was to use a sentiment only - no images......I jumped at the chance so I could use some dies and bling.  

     This weekend I will be attending the Gateway Stamp Convention in Collinsville, Illinois.  It will be my last since we are moving - I have been attending for 6 years now.  This year will be a special experience for me as a few months ago I contacted Kelley at Our Daily Bread Designs to see if she might like some help, and she wrote me this week to say, yes, I could help demo.......I'm sure it will be work, and may even get a little tedious at times, but I am thrilled to be helping someone who has a great product that I enjoy using.....there will even be time to do some shopping!!!  If your from the area be sure to stop by and say 'Hi' - there are lots of vendors, demos and product to purchase. 

Challenges:  Our Daily Bread Design ODBDSLC63 - Sentiment Only
                       Make It Monday - Anything Goes
                       Stampin Sisters in Christ - something new (Recollections Rhinestone Circles)


Supplies:  Floral Doily Motifs Die, Grand Big Scalloped Circle Die, DP, ODBD Sentiment, Recollections Rhinestones, VersaFine Black Inc

Friendship is Timeless

     Wow - being on vacation has really put me behind in my stamp room.....Good news is we sold our home while I was at the ranch before the sign could even be put in the ground.  Praise the Lord on that one...now we have to hustle to Atlanta and start looking for one to move in to!!

     I have a girlfriend who is having some knee surgery today - I made her this card to cheer her up.....she is very athletic and I hope she is up and running soon.  I was going to use my 'confidence is sexy' stamp on the inside because this little lady looks so full of joy an happiness as she rides along.....but I found a better sentiment on friendship to use.

     I just love this Mo Manning stamp and have been itching to use her......she will be used again soon as she is such fun to color and as I said I love how she exudes happiness and joy as she goes about her day!!! 

Submitting this to Dream Valley Challenges for their challenge to use a stamp this week.


Materials used:  Kraft paper, CS, Nesties Oval and Scalloped, Cuttlebug EF, Mo Manning Stamp,  Inky Antics Sentiment, Copics