Judie's Cards

Great colors Judie! Love the silk flowers!

Laura's Cards

Love all the cut outs on these!

Jodi's Cards

Nice work Jodi!

Amy's Cards

Amy's cards alway impress me!

Two more for the workshop today!

I found this design a while back and just saved the picture in my card sample library and unfortunately, I don't have the name of the person where I got it from. If you know who created it, please let me know I will credit them properly.

Just Playing Around

A friend of mine called me to have a workshop for her and a couple of her friends so here I am at the last minute putting together cards. I wish I had more time to stamp! I got this little idea here.

Best Wishes with the Big Shot

I love this little dress and it is soooooooooo easy to make. I used the large circle die cut from Stampin Up' and ran it through the big shot. I don't know who to actually credit for this little creation b/c it is all over the web.

I just wanted to share a picture of the Door County Half Marathon with everyone. It was a perfect day for a lot of running. Door County did a great job at putting on the half!

May Card Club

There are few ladies who I know that enjoy staming as much as me. Unfortunately, we all live in various cities and states. Since we are unable to get together for a card club, we used these templates that I got from the blog Clean&Simple. I love this blog and all off its layouts. I sent out these two templates out as a guide and all of the ladies in the club were challenged to make cards using these templates. Below are all the great cards created by the card club. Hope you all enjoy. Happy Saturday

My Cards

Here are my cards for this month's card club! Enjoy.

Jodi's Cards

Wow! These are good. And I am not just saying this because she's my mother in law :) I love the first card with all of its added punches. Those punches really give it a lot of "character." The "wish big" card also has some great dimension to it. You really out did yourself Jodi! Way to go!

Judie's Cards

Here's Judie! Love the color combos in Judie's "find joy" card and the lady bug (I think its a lady bug) is the perfect accent. The Tart & Tangy set was a big success this round. Hmm. I might have to get this set. Summer is almost here and it is such a cute set.

Melanie's Cards

Melanie is involved in the arts. I don't know all the details, but for awhile now she has been passing on some great ideas to Amy who would in turn send them to me and Jodi. I am already curious as to how she did this background technique. I love the black gingham ribbon as well.

Laura's Cards

Above are Laura's cards. I am loving the the little sparkly brad and I think I must have those now. You can never have enough "thank you" cards. Laura's baby girl card is super sweet, too.

Amy's Cards

Here are Amy's cards. I love the Tart and Tangy stamp set. I also love how easy these cards look to make.

Also, for those of you who do no know, Amy is the "culprit" who started my obsession with stamping. I have loved every second of it. Thanks Amy! You are always very inspiring.

My Very First Stampin "party"

So I have been stampin' for quite some time now and I am sure that all of friends were sick of hearing about my obessession. Well, finally, I had four ladies over yesterday and I think some may have really enjoyed it. Here's a look at the cards that were made. Just an FYI, I know I cased some of these and then changed them up a bit. Some were from my upline Elizabeth which she cased from somewhere else. Her link is here. I'll keep better track next time but I have been a bit busy lately! I hope everyone is having a great day!

KWerner Color Challenge #50

I did not think I would make this color challenge but I was able to make time for it today before I left for Door County. Kristina is giving away prizes for this one!! I love a good competition. Good luck to the all the winners. As always, there are some great cards on display this week. Click here to see all the talent that came out for this inspirational challenge. Props to Kristina on this 50th color challenge and as always, she gave us a good challenge. Here's a look at my color challenge creation original.

Busy, busy, busy

I know I have been a bit MIA lately but I assure you that I have been working on cards when I am not working or running. May is not slowing down either. I leave on Friday to go to Door County, Wisconsin for the weekend. I am running my first HALF marathon bright and early Satruday morning. Wish me luck!

The week after is my first "card party" as a demonstrator and I am finally taking a sewing class. You can always tell when its summer in Chicago, you never have any free time. Seems like all that stored energy during the winter gets put to good use in the summer. No wonder I have been hibernating all winter :)

For now, here's a picture of some wedding thank yous I made for my "little" cousin who is getting married in June.

KWerners Color Challenge #49

KWerner's Color Challenge #49 had quite an interesting mix of colors for this week. You all should go look at her site. There are some amazing cards posted for this weeks challenge. Here's my card however, I just found out that the deadline was last night. Darn! Well atleast the challenge brought out my stamping equipment and now I can add another card to my pile. I hope everyone had a Happy Easter.

I have to show off this card I received from my "cousin" Amy B. Also, of note, she is my lone follower on my blog and I appreciate it so very much. She just got some new loot and and this was one of the sets she purchased. I love it. I don't know if she knows, but it was also the color inspiration of last weeks KWerner Color Challenge. My thoughtsare that she could have easily gained a spot on the list with her "Trendy Trees." Go Amy, WooHoo!!!

Stop and Smell the Roses

Here is a picture in my neighborhood that always puts a smile on my face. This is the picture I was referring to in my "All Things Happy" Post on Sunday. This particular house always has something artistic going on. I took this picture today of the fake rose buds attached to it. This picture makes it look like it could be "spring" here in Chicago. But don't let the blue sky fool you, it was only in the upper 30's this morning. However, the roses really look quite amazing when you walk past it in the dead of winter with a never ending forecast of snow. Hence, the smile on my face when I see it.

My DH needed a sympathy card for a friend who's dad has recently passed away. Sympathy cards are always hard for me to make due to the circumstances. I don't think I should be sending some elaborate card to them but I cannot go out and buy one either. Here's what I happened on this one: I actually made this same card using versamark and gave it to my husband. However, as I was making it, I kept thinking that it was just too plain and I got to thinking....hmm, what do I have?? SU CRAFT WHITE! I think I found what I was looking for. I really like how this card turned out :) Very, very easy to make.

Recipie: All Stampin' Up:

Cardstock: Riding Hood Red

Stamps: Kindred Spirits

Ink: Craft White

Ribbon: Tafeta Chocolate Chip

Cardstock

My First Color Challenge!

Well, I am trying to make use of all of my stamping "equipment" (as my DH calls it) and I've been eyeing KWerner's Color Challenges. To see this week's color challenge, click here. The color combos are Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss and Chocolate Chip. Here' s my first attempt at it. Not too bad for a beginner. You should all go to KWerner's site I plugged. There are so many cards using these colors and so much creativity. Definitely check it out.

All Things Happy

I have been obsessed with the Rasberry Tart DSP but when it finally arrived, I had no idea what I wanted to do with it. I have been playing around all week with bits and pieces, here and there, and finally, made this little card. I think it turned out OK and it is growing on me a little more by the minute.

Monday morning is around the corner and its another long week at work. In light of my Happy Card, I thought I would share a little list of things that make me Happy going to work on a Monday morning:

1. The tree decorated with fake rose buds that "the artist" in our neighbor decorated. Now I will have to go out and take a picture of this tree for you all to see.

2. The huge American Flag hanging in the window at the Pencil Factory Lofts.

3. The Addison Street Brown line L station attendant who tells everyone "Good Morning" with a smile on her face.

Hope everyone else has their own list of things that make them Happy on Monday mornings :)

The Occasions Mini Catalog is here and let me tell you that there are some very CUTE new products. I am loving the oval scallop punch. I already ordered the matchbox XL BIGZ die cuts. It is so EASY. Where was this two years ago when I got married? My poor MIL spent hours making hundreds of little boxes FROM SCRATCH. The stampin' industry must have been in the dark ages back then!

To view the catalog, click here.

Note: I just spent an hour this morning drinking coffee and trying figure how in the world all these sophisticated bloggers can say "click here" and "click here" will you bring to a link - i.e. like what I just did with the Occasions Mini Catalog. It took me a while but I have finally figured it out and let me tell you, I feel like my day is now complete! No more long links on my blog. WooHoo!

Poor Charlie

As I previously mentioned, I had a lazy weekend last week. Well, I was not the only one: Charlie, our dog like cat, took a long nap in the dryer of all places. I guess he liked the warmth of it once I took out the clothes. He didn't like being disturbed.

Cheap Talk

I have been having a lazy weekend but finally worked my way over to my card station. I had to case this card I saw on splitcoast: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1291075?si=cheap%20talk. I thought it was simple yet had a punch to it.

I am very excited to show off my new "card" holder. I saw this pattern on Anna Marie Horner's website and sent it to my very crafty aunt, and what do you know, she made me one!!! It was the best surprise I have had in a long time. She's so talented.

You can get the instructions for making one of your own on Anna Marie's website: http://annamariahorner.blogspot.com/2008/11/take-comfort-give-comfort.html

By the way, if anyone wants to take an enormous amount of time out of their life to teach me how to sew, I am ready, willing and not so able to learn :)

A Little Something!

I made this card for my good friend who just got back the land down under visiting her brother. She's making him a care package so I was happy to throw in a card for her to send with it! I never thought I would get used to the rub ons but they are absolutely addicting.

Hey Cupcake

I totally cased this card from my upline, Elizabeth Johnston who cased it from Nancy @ http://stampinat6213.blogspot.com/search/label/HAND%20DRAWN%20BUNDLE

At first I was not sure about these little rub ons from the Handrawn Bundle and the Handrawn DSP but Elizabeth and Nancy sure did. Carpe Diem! You can see Elizabeth's card here. http://stampingonthelakefront.blogspot.com/2009_02_01_archive.html

The recipe is as follow:

RECIPE Images: Loop to Loop Rub-Ons from Hand Drawn Bundle Paper: Hand Drawn DP, Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, and Whisper White CS Embellishments: Sorry guys, this ribbon is a Target ribbon! Scallop Border Punch, Paper Piercing Tool and Stampin' Dimensionals;

I also don't have the Mat Pack template - it could be a great Christmas gift (in case you are reading this...)

For the Guys & Chicago News

This is a simple little retro card to say thanks to my brother. If I have not said it before, I love the Big Shot!!!

On another note, I heard some bad news today- US Cellular Field, home of the Chicago White Sox, will no longer be selling the best hot dogs ever, BEST KOSHER. Now, I don't know all the details of the "deal" that made this change, but as a White Sox fan who must have a Best Kosher at every game, I am somewhat miffed as to why the big guys did not give me advance warning of this change - like maybe last year so I could have had one last ceremonial Best Kosher topped with mustard & ketchup (I am from the South, we eat ketchup on hotdogs. Per hubby, this is a mortal sin, but I am taking my chances). Just for the record, Best Kosher will be replaced by Vienna Beef. See Sun Times article : http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/food/1475076,CST-NWS-hotdog13.article

Lastly, the iconic Chicago Sears Tower is getting a name change. Some European investment firm has received the naming rights. New name: Willis Tower. "Now, come on, watchu' talkin' about Willis" has become the most overused saying here in the City since this annoucement took place yesterday. I am not sure Chicagoans are going to adjust to this anytime soon. We'll see.

You're a Hoot

I love this little owl. He's so adorable. I knew I wanted to use Pacific Point cardstock tonight and I was determined to use this owl. I think he turned out quite cute. I have a friend that tells me what a "hoot" I am, but she's a hoot herself. I think this card is for her :) I even took my gel pen and wrote inside "you're a hoot." Enjoy.

So after staring at the Big Shot and all of my new SU Products for quite some time tonight, I finally attempted to make a card. I have to confess that it was quite hard to be creative since it was kind of like Christmas morning where you get so much new stuff that you have no idea what to start with first. Here's a look at my loot and my first Big Shoot card using the Top Note and Birds in Bloom dies. Can you tell that I am so ready for spring?