MPS Mother's Day blog hop & Challenge

Good morning friends,

I know I've been behind on blogging.  The silver lining is that tax season is over in TWO days, so I will be able to devote more time to my love of crafting...and plan to venture out into other fun projects that I see you all making.

Last night I was surfing - very late - and found that Robyn was hosting her blog hop. I normally don't do the challenges because I'm too chicken, frankly.  Well, since it had been a while since I'd been able to make anything fun, I went ahead and played along.  This is my Mother's Day themed SUPER SIMPLE card.  I intended to make a little purse to match, but then I got sleepy and well...the rest is history.

The sentiment is from MPS Family & Friends.  The ink is Stampin UP Island Indigo.  The patterned paper is Me & My Big Ideas.  Base is Bashful Blue by SU.  Stickles is Waterfall.

Have a great day!

Masculine Birthday Card - 3

One more card to share.  This one is using My Creative Time's Bingo stamp.  It came out cute.  The star is a cutout using a Fiskars punch.  :)  the sentiment inside is from My Pink Stamper.

Have a great day!

Card Donations

Hi everyone

It's no secret that I love My Pink Stamper stamps.  I check her blog often for inspiration and to find out new releases.  This week she posted a letter from a follower who needs our help.

"I really need your help along with the your followers. Long story short. I am a nurse at the Medical of WI in Plastic and Reconstruction dept. We specialize in the forefront in reconstruction for breast cancer. Women from all over the country come to us.  This year I/we decided to sponsor the breakfast for breast cancer survivors. 1500 women who have had breast cancer or who are actively dealing with it now will attend this breakfast before the run/walk.

Every year prior to this year I have made something for the women and handed it out at the end of the race/walk. To my astonishment people would be grabbing-pushing aside other women and men to get what I was handing out. Ex: white and pink chocolate covered Oreos, wrapped pink and white M&M's mini bags. TO my astonishment again the cancer survivors really didn't receive what I made.

Well this year, the breakfast will be catered by one of the best chefs in Milwaukee. I feel it is an honor to sponsor this. Where you come in - Please if one person could make a card to support uplift make someone smile. It would make their day. The card would be placed at their seat. Please Please help! 

I would be happy to give my address if you could ask people to help me with this. Just 1 card - 1500 Pink Stamper followers. The Breakfast is on September 28th.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Mortl RN,CPSN

Kathy Mortl

10261 N Sunnycrest Drive

Mequon, WI  53092"

I really struggled with this card. I couldn't find the perfect combination.  Nothing seemed right.  Finally, I reverted back to my classic feminine damask paper and came up with this little card.  I used Melon Mambo by Stampin Up and the stamp set is from Robyn's Everyday Occasions.   Stickles make the ribbon jump out.  Inside the card, I wrote an encouraging note to a complete stranger who needs me. 

Counting Blessings

I do admit I have a lot to be thankful for.  Even in the midst of uncertainty and hard times, I am thankful that God is faithful to my family and I.

As I was working on a card for the MPS Design Team, I came up with this one...which I opted not to enter.  I still think it's a pretty card, though, and I wanted to share it with you to remind you that there are people in our lives that are blessings..and we should let them know from time to time.

Sentiment:  MPS Everyday Life stamped in Island Indigo by Stampin Up

Flowers are from Beyond Birthdays...but I added flowers to it. It looked too simple with three.  I cut the stems freehand.
I used brads in varying colors for the center and stickles (my daughter HAD to have them)

Background paper is from $1 bins at Target. The quality is not that great, but the paper is pretty.  IT tears easily, too.
Orange base is PTI Oranze Zest and the second layer is Stampin Up In Color (Pool Party)

My Pink Stamper-My Pinkalicious Blog Hop Friday (February)

Hi everyone! 

I have never participated in a challenge, but I really wanted to make my mom something special for Valentine's Day. This will be the first time in 57 years that she is without my dad and I know it's going to be a tough one.  I was going to make her a card and use Robyn's Spanish stamps, but I decided to make her a picture frame.  She is a great-grandmother to three adorable babies.  My sister's sons both have kids and that's where this frame comes in. 

I used my gypsy for the very first time.  Yay for me!  I used a wood unfinished frame from Michael's ($1).  I cut the letters at 1.5" and used Blacketter for the small letters and Gypsy Font Monogram for the capital letters.  The paper is certainly celery by Stampin Up and the pink is paper I picked up at Joann's.  The little swirls are pink stickles.  It looked kind of empty to me, so I added more glitter.  It says "Mis Bisnietos" which is "My Great-grandkids" in Spanish.  I really hope she likes it. I might add a ribbon to the top for her to hang it on the wall if she prefers.  (I think it looks better in person than in the picture).

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone! 

My Pink Stamper - HONORABLE MENTION!!!

What a great night!  Thank you, Robyn for choosing me as an honorable mention.  I was shocked when I heard #208.  I am so honored!  Thank you so much!  This was such a great experience and I loved sitting with my headphones on listening and reading along.  :) 

My Pink Stamper Design Team 2011 - Challenge & Submission

   My very first Cricut tutorial was by Robyn at My Pink Stamper.  I was hooked! I had no idea how to use my new Cricut Expression which I bought on eBay for next to nothing (seriously) until she enlightened me.  Naturally, I became an instant fan.  Although I've only been a craftologist ;-) for a short period of time, I LOVE the art of papercrafting and it's becoming a little bit of an obsession for me.  It is an amazing outlet. 
   Robyn is having a design team submission call and challenge.  We are challenged to use our favorite cartridge and the colors pink, green and brown.  We could also add another color of our choice if we want. While I don't expect to make the design team, (there are so many amazing designers out there who inspire me), I did want to push myself to do something out of my comfort zone!  This was the perfect opportunity.  Check out her challenge and Design Team call for submissions Here


Here's what I came up with using my current favorite cartridge, Forever Young.  

Recipe:

• Standard A2 Card size - 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" in Pear Pizzaz by Stampin Up
• Layer 1 - Stampin Up Chocolate Chip cut at 4" x 5 1/4"
• Layer 2 (top half) - Patterned Paper is Colorbox Red Flower and cut at 2 1/2" x 5" 
• Layer 2 (bottom half) - The Paper Company purple passion pack cut at 2 1/2" x 5". I used an EK Success edge punch to cut the border.
• Flower is from Page 73 of Forever Young cut at 3".  The flower was cut from Stampin Up Pear Pizzaz (Used Wild Wasabi marker to accent the leaves...which my hand was shaking for...sorry).
• For the flower itself, I used Stampin Up Melon Mambo (I love this color), Pink Pirouette and Pretty In Pink.  
• To embellish (because sparkly stuff is a MUST) I used stickles in cinnamon and cotton candy. I also used the Martha Stewart glitter markers, which I LOOOOOVE!!!
• The ribbon is a satin ribbon swatch I had left over in chocolate.  
• I used Stampin Up Dimensionals to adhere the flower to the card.  
• Sentiment:  None other than My Pink Stamper - Everyday Life Set - "If Friends Were Flowers, I'd Pick You"

My picture was taken with my iphone so the quality is not great.  

It looks really pretty in person.  :)

This was fun! Push yourself!!  Maybe I'll do another one.