Big Stuff is a'comin'........ and a precious little angel baby

Coffee of the Day - Mocha Mint

Oh my goodness, you had better be on your toesies this week (especially tomorrow) 'cause there is so much goodness coming your way you will hardly be able to stand it! and I can't even tell you about all of it as I had to pinky swear to silence on some of it......... ;)

For starters - tomorrow starts the new challenge week over at Sewn Together, so get ready for some more fun with those cute scrappy digis! This one was quite the challenge, so be on the lookout for the DT and their amazing contributions. A new forum has also begun, so go check that out as well.

I will have a neato bandito announcement tomorrow, so tune in for that, too.

Starbuck's Pumpkin Spice Latte's are available tomorrow!!!! major big stuff! :D at least at MY house this is huge news! grins!

This weekend is the 'Operation Nice' Blog Hop. It will be filled with lots of fun, artwork, and blog candy, so please plan to stop by. The whole idea behind it is to share kindness with other people. You can get more information by clicking on the blinkie on my sidebar about the blog hop. There is also a blinkie that tells more about the project that inspired the hop to begin with. Very cool stuff!

Now on to my card -

I've used this precious little angel from Mo's Digital Pencil. There are so many colors of shimmerz paint on this image, but don't know how much shows in the scan. I cut him out and mounted him on this great Basic Grey Two Scoops paper which has been outlined with my spica glitter pen. This was matted with a white cs piece that was inked in silver. The textured cs was sponged and inked in silver as well. The flower is by Prima and the trim is from Wal Mart. button is a vintage one from my Etsy stash.

Have a wonderful day and hope to see you tomorrow!!!! :)

Rustic Lighthouse

Coffee of the Day - Chocolate Caramel

Since David has been off this week on vacation, he and I have been having some fun day trips. For the past 2 days, Tyler also had off from his work, so the 3 of us have been toodling around town, doing all kinds of neat things! They have been quite indulgent with me and treated me to Starbuck's every single day! oh my, what a treat that has been! Pumpkin Spice Lattes are coming Sept. 1 and I am counting the days!!!! (okay, had to get that in there, because next to the Gingerbread Lattes, those are my faves!)

Quick "it's a small world" story here ~

we went into a Starbuck's that is over an hour away (I'll tell you why in just a sec.....). The barista there saw my t-shirt and asked us what denomination church we attend. I have a huge collection of Christian tees that I am always wearing, so hence the question. No, I don't have a big sign on my forehead! :D We told him and David shared that he is also the Director of a Christian camp and where. As soon as he told this young man, we discovered that he is also a part time youth pastor who happens to have had college classes in Minnesota with a wonderful guy that used to be David's Program Director for several years at Camp!!! Now remember that we live in northeast Ohio! isn't that just so cool?!?! they also knew several other of the same people. He then proceeded to ask us just what in the world we were doing so far away from home. WELL LET ME TELL YA!!!!!

David and Tyler know how much I love this AMAZING paper store in Brunswick called Hollo's. They sell all kinds of paper products and stamping/scrapping things, but they are known all over the country for their $1.25 a lb. cardstock!!! yep, you read it right! and you can get 100# cs, textured cs, natural cs all for this same $1.25 a lb. 12x12, too! (they also sell my fave House Mouse stamps). Well, David and I's 23rd anniversary is coming up on Sunday, and I have been teasing him that Hallmark says that the gift for that year is paper and/or rubber! So he and Tyler surprised me with a trip to Hollo's yesterday. It isn't one I made too often, as it's almost 1 1/2 hours away, but oh, was I thrilled! The paper on this card today is some of my wonderful anniversary present!!! :)

The craft stamp I used is Lighthouse Beacon from Stamps Happen of the Janlynn Corp. I just got this one not to long ago and have been so anxious to get it inky! I have also been itching to make a masculine card, so this worked out perfectly! I ran my vanilla craft pad over the textured cs to help not only age the card, but to bring out that great texture. The vintage buttons seemed the perfect addition, along with the knotted twine roping. I finished the card off by spraying the whole thing with my SU! ink squirty tool in choco. oh yes, added that fun little shell, too!

Everyone have a great weekend! love ya! :)

Modern Sugar Blvd. Polka Dot Challenge

Coffee of the Day - Chocolate Hazelnut

This is gonna be a super fast post 'cause I am trying to beat the deadline for Modern Sugar Blvd.'s challenge for this week! Since David has been off work all week on vacation, we have been doing lots of fun stuff together - which I have dearly loved! but it has seriously cut into my stamping time, and I am sliding in under the wire to get this card finished in time! I am REALLLLLLY trying to win a few new digis from this neat company!!!! :D

The challenge this week is to use polka dots! well, I happen to love polka dots and have lots of fun papers with them. But I wanted to try something using this neat paper from Making Memories. I also wanted to try paper piecing on this cute shopping girl! so here she is! lots of fun glitter glue was added from Studio G. Her great pink shopping bag was blinged up with some pink shimmerz and a star rhinestone from K & Co. This was a fun challenge! thanks for letting me play! :)

Check back tomorrow for a card made from a gorgeous new stamp I have from Stamps Happen. I am lovin' this stamp!!!

A Grateful Heart - don't we all need one?!

Coffee of the Day - Chocolate Creme

I have been introduced to a wonderful new challenge blog called Stampin' Sisters in Christ. They are having their first challenge this week, and the idea is to create either a food or drink themed project. I have been wanting to use this stamp set from Stampin' Up! - A Grateful Heart - for a while now, but hadn't had the opportunity. This was perfect!

I first inked up the edges of the artichoke cs in vanilla craft. You know how much I like to do that! ;) Then I stamped the new bg French Filigree in arthichoke over that, leaving the stamped portion overlapping the vanilla 'cause I really liked the way that looks!. The burgundy rectangle is a piece from my PRECIOUS and DWINDLING Daisy D's paper. I am being good by using it and not locking it all up in storage or a safety deposit box at Fort Knox, but I am using LITTLE pieces of it.............. okay, deep breaths...........

you know how I feel about Daisy D's going out of business........ take a sip of coffee......... breathe in, breathe out........ I'm good now! :D

That piece was distressed. The neato bandito artichokey/grape/asparagus stamp was VERY lightly watercolored so that it maintained that bg look I was going for. The sentiment was embossed with gold to make it stand out. In case you can't read it very well, it says, "O Thou who has given us so much, mercifully grant us one thing more, a grateful heart." Isn't that just the truth?!?! How many times do we forget to tell God 'thank you'? too many for me, but I am sooooo very thankful to Him for each of you!!!! I next added this gor-g-oso velvet ric rac from May Arts across the top of the dp, tossed on several vintage buttons from my stash, popped up the main image on foam tape, and finished the whole thing off with a light sponging of gold ink to give a soft shine! Ta Da!!!!!

Have a most glorious day!!!! love ya mega bunches!
Jennifer

2 very belated awards....

I received this award from Sara a while back but just didn't get a chance to post it, as it was when I was feeling pretty yucky then. So here I am sharing it with all of you now! Thank you so much, Sara! I am truly honored to have received this from you!

#1 by accepting this award, you recognize that the giver likes your style.

#2 you agree to display this award proudly and include posting back to the giver.

#3 you can share this with as many people as you like, as long as you "like their style."

So I am going to pass this along to:

my fellow and former Angel's Landing DT members. We had a great time for this season! Thank you for sharing your creativity with me and the many faithful readers! and thank you to Judi of Angel's Landing for blessing me with this wonderful opportunity! I am still going to be crafting with these cute little critters, because they really do make me so happy! love ya ladies! <3

Suzy
Lauri
Lynn
Alma

Cheryll R.

Sparkle

Cheryl

Judi

and then this award came from Paula about the same time. Thank you so much, Paula! Please forgive my tardiness.

The rules of this award -

*cut and paste the award logo and use it on your own blog

*nominate 5 to 10 blogs you feel show attitude and gratitude

*link to your nominees with your blog post

*comment on their blogs to let them know they received the award

*link back to the person who gave you the award to show your appreciation

I am choosing to nominate the following blogs:

All of my new fellow Sewn Together Design Team members! You can find them listed on my right side bar ------> Please be sure to visit their amazing blogs! They are so talented!

Thank you again for these great awards! I love them both! :)

The bluebird of happiness says thank you and goodbye.....

Coffee of the Day - Caramel

The theme for this week at Angel's Landing is all about Friendship! What a wonderful topic! and so many great images from Judi to choose from! I can't believe that this will be my last posting as a member of the Angel's Landing Design Team...... such a fun time has come to an end. heavy sigh..........

This 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" square card is made using the Mini Bears and Birds set, bird 2 in black. It was printed onto vanilla cardstock and watercolored with SU! inks. I used Pacific Point and Crushed Curry classic inks, as well as white craft for his cute little tummy. The edges of the main image are sponged in kiwi kiss and the edges of the cool caribbean card base are inked with vanilla craft. The decorative papers are from K & Co. Addison collection. The ric rac trim and buttons are from JoAnn's. Buttons are tied with some twine I re-purposed. I am forever trying to re-use what I can. :) I was in need of a thank you card to send to a dear friend who provided a yummy-licious dinner for my family, and thought what better than a beautiful blue bird of happiness! She most certainly brought happiness to me and my family!!! Just like these cute little digis from Angel's Landing bring happiness every time I look at them!

Please be sure to stop by the blogs of the rest of the DT! Leave them some love and let them know how much you have enjoyed their wonderful creations during this term!

Introducing my new friend..... and some great news, too! :)

Okay, no cards for this post, but stick around anyhow 'cause I promise it'll make ya giggle - or at least smile!!!! :) trust me..........

Today David and I went on a little adventure. He is on vacation all this week, so we are spending some great time together (except when he is honking at absolutely EVERYONE which is just a thing he does 'cause he likes to wave at strangers to see their reactions....... oh yea, I love him, but I still do duck down in the passenger seat.......). So we took a walking tour of Chagrin Falls today. It's only about 20 minutes away from us, but we hardly ever go. It is just the most adorable little town/suburb of Cleveland. so verrrrry charming. We went into a pet bakery. I took a few samples. I can't believe David actually thought that I thought that they were for people!!! No, I was taking them for our dear pups, Mocha and Latte, back home for their little treat for the day! The expression on his face was priceless! We explored so many wonderful antique stores and this one adorable little herb shop that had their very own Fairy Village inside. Even David was impressed with that one. But the best stop was this one......... you will smile 'cause all of you know me!

And now to introduce all of you to my new friend, Pollyanna the Pig. Isn't she just the most precious thing you have ever gazed upon?!?! I'm thinking that your reaction is probably a weeeee bit different from that of the guys in my house....... oh the comments going around last night after I received her. yes, you read that correctly. She was a GIFT from the most wonderful Princess I know. We are members of the Tiara Club together. Kirstyn is a special friend of my son, Mick, and we used to wear our tiaras together at Camp Burton last summer. So we are honorary members of the Tiara Club. Those of you who saw my earlier posting where I referred to myself as the Princess of Sassiness didn't realize that I actually have a crown for it!! :) It rests upon the head of one of my Winnie the Pooh bears that sit on my compy. Well, you can't just put your tiara ANYWHERE you know!!!!! ;)

Back to Pollyanna - Kirstyn called me last night and said that she had bought me something that reminded her of me. She came over with this precious pet! You can't see it so well in the photo, but she is wearing the most wonderful pink tutu. Well, if you are gonna wear a tutu, it will most certainly be wonderful!!!! So we all tossed around names last night. I refuse to post the names the men in my family came up with. They do not do Pollyanna justice. They were not kind to her, and I refuse to allow anything unpleasant to come into her life. She is my Pollyanna, and every time I look at her I will be reminded of the joy and happiness that life can bring! So nanny, nanny, boo, boo, boys!!!!! and yes, I'm sticking out my tongue at you!!! A real Princess can do that! :D

Now for the news - I received an email this evening announcing that I am now a member of the Doodle Beans Design Team! I am so excited to join this fun new group! More info to come later.....

Sewn Together is HERE!!!

Coffee of the Day - Creme Brulee

Welcome to Sewn Together digital images! These little critters just make me smile! They are a lot like me - kinda pieced together with bits of scraps and sewn with love by a Creator's hand! :)

To introduce everyone to the images, there is a creative challenge - make something using one of their images. Check the blog for a free image to use if you would like, or feel more than welcome to purchase any of the cuties for your very own! Link your creation back to the blog and one winner will receive 3 FREE images of your choice as the prize! how cool is that!?!?!

Now on to my guy ~

as soon as I saw this little donkey, I knew he was the one for me! There are several images of him, so you will see more of him in coming posts! Being from Texas, there's a bit of the western gal still hanging around in me. yep, tough for all of you who know me only as the Princess of Sassiness, but it's true! :D

The paper is from Cosmo Cricket & flowers are Prima with stickles in the centers. The card base was first sanded and then inked with vanilla craft and choco. The ribbon was some I salvaged off of a gift basket I had received a while back. Recycling at its best!!!

Have a great day! Smile at someone you don't know today!!

Digital Ink Co. Design Team Call

I am posting 2 of my fave projects for the Design Team call going out over at the Digital Ink Co. This is tough, because one of my new faves is the sympathy card I just posted and another is coming up in the next few days. But I don't want my faithful blog followers to keep seeing the same ol' stuff over and over again, especially in such a short time frame! ;) I'm trying to think of y'all!

So here we go waaaaaayyyyyyyy back in time..................

2 oldies but goodies!

Jacksonbelle Embellies Challenge Sympathy card

Another post for the day ~

I had been wanting to complete the sketch challenge over at Jacksonbelle Embellishments for this past week, but just didn't seem to have enough hours in the day. Then David told me over the weekend that we needed a sympathy card. So I tossed this idea around in my head and finally got it to paper today. I know many people tend to make sympathy cards in bulk and keep them on hand, 'cause they are never easy to make emotionally. Sometimes I will make up a few, but I tend to prefer to make them as I need them. I put a lot of thought into the person I'm making the card for and the person who has passed away. This also gives me a chance to pray for the family as I am crafting. It's a special time for me to just spend in quiet reflection on the people who are in sadness and grief and bring them to our precious Father's feet. Not trying to be super pious, it's just my thing I do.

So I knew from the start that I wanted to use this beautiful stamp from Inkadinkado. This is one of my most favorite stamps ever. It just brings me such peace to look at it. And oh my, the pleasure I had creating with it! The pages of the Bible are painted with butter cream shimmerz and the flowers are highlighted with my spica glitter pen. I used my SU! ink squirty tool (I am ALWAYS forgetting what that thing is really called!) to spray choco ink on both the main image and the amethyst cs. Then I washed the entire main image in gold ink prior to embossing for my fave technique - cracked glass. Papers are Basic Grey Wisteria, flowers by Prima, leaf punch by Martha Stewart, trims by Webster's Pages, JoAnn's, & SU! Oh yes, the main image is popped up on foam tape and the edges are inked with vanilla craft. The card is sized to fit in a legal envie - 3 3/4" x 9".

Check back tomorrow for the fun new digis by Sewn Together - my newest DT!!!

Hey Sugar Sugar! ;)

Coffee of the Day - Cinnamon Hazelnut

Over the weekend I was able to play in a challenge at the SNR site for Digi Day. It was sponsored by Modern Sugar Blvd. I made 2 cards using the images given.

My first card I made with one of my best friends in mind. School starts back up here on Tuesday, so I wanted to send her a 'Back to stamping' card. This digi image was perfect for that! I actually made a teeny tiny card to go on the desk that our crafty cutie is working on. (I added a little message to my friend after I scanned this). For whatever reason my scanner is all catty-whompus and making my colors wash out, so they really are much more vibrant irl. I gotta look into this before much longer.......

anyhow - I painted the woman to look like me, right down to this crazy top I used to have that was bright saffrony yellow with turq. polka dots all over it. Boy was I ever hot stuff when I wore it - or so I thought! ;) The little shimmerz pots are painted with real shimmerz that I keep on my stamping table all the time. The dp is actually on the inside of the card - the scallop border is the edge of the card front. Paper is from Making Memories Vintage Findings collection, flower by Prima.

The next digi just shouted at me to use some Basic Grey papers, so I did - from the Sugared collection, of course! :D I added some pink shimmerz to the balls at the top of the building as well as part of the awning. I used my spica glitter pen to outline the building name, open sign, and hearts. I lightly sponged white craft ink over the curry building to 'whitewash' it. The little decorations above the awning ended up looking like little olive slices once I finished coloring them, but oh well, what is a girl to do?! ;) and by the way, the new SU! in colors go with this BG line VERY WELL!!! (I used the in colors on the card above also. lovin' 'em!!!)

Everyone have a great week! May it be sugar, sugar sweet! (that happens to be one of the ringtones on my phone - I always did have a thing for the Archies! grins!!)

Take me to the Harvest Dance!

Coffee of the Day - Almond Roca

I am having fun using these wonderful bits of art from Mo's Digital Pencil. This one is called 'Harvest Dance', and it was such fun to get inky! A bit intimidating at first, I admit, but once I got going, I was having such fun! I tried to use colors that were found in nature. What I am also discovering with my digis and watercolors is the difference that the cardstock makes. I already had found out the hard way that the better quality inks in your printer work best for digital printing and coloring with watercolors. But when printing this image and another one on SU! vanilla cs, I discovered that it reacts much differently to watercolors than the whisper white. Too bad I can't get thicker paper through my printer. I've tried hand feeding it, but to no avail. That is okay, I kinda like the different effects achieved.

On to the card! Once I had finished coloring these fun guys (and I couldn't get the little fellas from the movie 'Willow' out of my head while I was making this!!!), I sprayed the main image with walnut gold glimmer mist to give a nice old world sheen. The cs base was distressed with sand paper and then the edges inked with caramel. Same with the dp. Papers are from the Basic Grey Archaic collection. Buttons are some cool ones I found on sale at JoAnn's that I picked up just for this card.

After posting this card over at PCP and SNR, some other INCREDIBLY talented ladies posted some of their creations. I had been pleased with the way my card had turned out, but then was really humbled after seeing some of the other things being done with Mo's artwork. But then I realized that this papercrafting gig isn't about comparing our stuff with other people's. Sure, we are human and can't help it. But what is most important is the process of creating. I am not supposed to be anyone else except who I am. I can't compare myself to anyone else. God made me to be just who I am. Sure, I'm supposed to improve myself with His help, but that is to be the best ME I can be. and to recognize that I have my own style, as goofy as that may be! :) and to bring that style about to its fullest.

So I share this with all of you in case someone else might be feeling a little intimidated by another person's creativity. Work on establishing your own style and then just keep at it. That is what I intend to do. Like the old saying from the 70's "keep on truckin'" or in this case, "keep on stampin'"!!! :D

love ya! Jennifer

Be an Original!

Coffee of the Day - French Vanilla

I haven't had a chance to take part in any challenges in a while, so I decided to try out the one for the week over at Shirley's 2 Girls. We were to follow a sketch as well as use a punch on our design. I chose to use this adorable digi that just makes me smile every time I see her! The scan doesn't show just how super shiny and glittery the card really is irl!

I started with my go-to papers of late, the K & Co. Wild Raspberry collection. Of course I had to do some distressing, so the edges of the main card were inked with vanilla craft and then painted with buttercream shimmerz to glimmer-ize! The glasses she is wearing are just like my reading glasses, right down to the rhinestones! I love these glasses!!!! They were painted with pink shimmerz. Her cute cami top is painted in pink and buttercream shimmerz and the straps are outlined in a spica glitter pen. The fab hat is covered in polka dots that I added with my white gel pen, and the fun arrangement on top is outlined with the glitter pen as well. I used the spica pen to outline other various areas of the card & painted the smaller of the Prima flowers in the buttercream shimmerz, too. Buttons are SU!, border punch is Martha Stewart, ribbon is a remnant I picked up at WallyWorld the other day for less than 10 cents! The word 'original' is painted with the pink shimmerz also. I told you this little puppy is shiny!! :D The card measures 6" x 6" square.

Play in a challenge over the weekend if you get the chance. They really are fun and do stretch your creativity! And remember to 'be an original'! No one else was made to be you! :)

p.s. and I forgot to tell all of you that I made the DT for Sewn Together Digital Images! I look forward to creating all kinds of things with these unique digis! Congrats to the other ladies! I'll get their blogs listed this weekend.

A Pretty Kitty Tag Card

Coffee of the Day - Creme Brulee

Just a quickie poo post to show you this card I made using another faboo cat image from Angel's Landing. It is the same kitty as the mini lunch tin, only bigger.

Please pardon the weird colors from my scanner, but irl she is a tortoiseshell like a stray that we have been taking care of for a while. (Periodically she will let me pet her, but not too often.) The papers are K & Co. Wild Raspberry, glitter flowers are Heidi Grace, coolie-o punch is Martha Stewart, trims are from JoAnn's, and seam tape is from Etsy. Edges were sponged in SU! vanilla craft ink.

Have a great weekend!

Love ya!

Jennifer

New Blog Candy Winner for Angel's Landing & Announcement!

ANITA.........
Come on down! you are the new winner of the 2 free downloads at Angel's Landing! Email me your choices and Judi will get them sent right to you! Congratulations! :)

and be on the lookout for my own blog candy coming soon!

Blog Candy Winner

Hey Kathy S.,
I need to hear from you by Thursday at the latest. You are the winner of the blog candy drawing for Angel's Landing, but I need to receive an email from you pronto! :) Otherwise I'll do another drawing on Friday.

So send me an email!!!!!! I know you want some new digis!

Angel's Landing Blog Candy Winner!!!!

It's time to announce the winner of the wonderful blog candy from Angel's Landing!!!!!

Kathy S. - please send me an email with your choice of 2 of the fantastic sets available. (you can find my email addy in the 'my profile' section listed in the upper right hand corner under my photo) Enjoy your new goodies and have fun playing!!!!! Congratulations!

and thank you to everyone who joined us! Thank you as well to all of you who left such kind comments! You made me purrrrrr with delight! ;)

The Joy of the Lord is my Strength! :)

Coffee of the Day - Hazelnut

"This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

Nehemiah 8:10

Today's card is a very special one to me. The artwork is from my special friend, Mo, of Mo's Digital Pencil. She created this illustration based on a posting I made the day I discovered that I had 3 new tumors. I smile every time I see this beautiful drawing. I can't say that I have done it justice, but I have tried. of course my printer went wonky as the cs was coming out and smeared just a bit, but there was absolutely no way that I was going to waste it. So I decided to just go ahead and color the image anyhow and hope that people could overlook the little extra bits of black.

Doesn't this girl just make your heart smile?! even her homespun doll is full of joy and worship to God, our most amazing Creator and Abba Father. gosh, just looking at this brings me such peace and joy! The little girl's tutu is painted in pink shimmerz, 'cause if you wear a tutu (and what little girl doesn't?!), it had better be sparkly!!! The butterfly is painted in beeswax shimmerz. The flowers and hair ribbon also have a light coating of the pink shimmerz. Paper is from the Wild Raspberry collection by K & Company, the trim is from JoAnn's, the cool felt flower is from Wright's, and the button is from SU!. I added my usual distressing with the white craft ink and distressing tool. All coloring is done with SU! inks and watercolors.

God truly has filled me with such joy. I am blessed in overflowing abundance! Every day try to take time to find even the smallest thing to make you smile. God wants you to feel His love for you ALL THE TIME!!!! and if you ever need a big cyber hug, come on over and have a cuppa with me! :) I'm here for you, just as all of you have been there for me! love ya!

and don't forget that tonight is the deadline for the FANTABULOUS BLOG CANDY from Angel's Landing!!!!!! Make sure you leave a comment on this post to be entered to win!

"My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song."

Psalm 28:7

Your Next Stamp 1st Design Team Call

"Your Next Stamp" is having their first Design Team call, so I am placing my application. I am to post 2 of my best cards featuring coloring. Since I have just featured 5 cards in my previous post, in the interest of my faithful blogger friends, I will post 2 different cards for this application so you don't get tired of seeing the same thing over and over again! :D

Inky Sewn Together Design Team Call

Coffee of the Day - Toffee Nut

I am applying for the Sewn Together Design Team. The request is for 5 projects that showcase my coloring abilities. I am trying to also show some of my cards that use digis - something I am becoming soooooooo addicted to!!! :) Most of these have been colored with watercolors.

It's a Blog PROWL with Angel's Landing! Meow.......

Coffee of the Day - Hazelnut Spice

It's not a blog hop today, we're cats on the PROWL............ but of course we're COOL cats, man! ;) I'm a huge fan of the Disney movie, 'Aristocats' - it was a fave of mine ever since I was a little girl. So when I saw these fabulous images being released this month from Angel's Landing, I knew that rather than a hop, we were going to be crazy hip cats on a jazzy cool prowl at this happen'in blog! So sit back, grab a cuppa joe, and hang your hat on this slip slappy slick sweetness! :D But if at any time you ever lose your way, just click here to head back to Judi and our home at Angel's Landing. She'll get you back singing in harmony again in no time!

I saw this adorable little, and I mean LITTLE (2 1/2" x 3 1/2"), lunch tin at Target the other day and knew in an instant that it held the potential for something great! Ryan's girlfriend, Chelsea, just happened to have a birthday this past weekend, so what better than to turn this little treat into a fun birthday gift box! To keep with the whole cool kitty theme, we filled it with Swedish fish (which just happens to be one of Ryan's fave ever candies!!). Had to add some sparkly shines to catch that kitty cat's eye, so out came this faboo glitter glue from Studio G. Our cool cat (from the Cats and Kittens set) is painted with SU! inks and a watercolor brush. Being a digital image, I was able to resize everything to fit this small size. For another project I was working on, I took these exact same images and made them 4x as large! And each image came out just as clear, regardless of the size. Added lots of baby Prima flowers with rhinestones and plenty of ribbons - you know how cats love those ribbons! ;) The tag was made from the Cat Paw Prints set. I embossed it immediately after coming out of the printer with glossy glaze ep from SU! There are lots of cute tags to choose from in this set. I happened to pick the 'Best Friends' tag because Ryan and Chelsea have been close friends since 1st grade when they sat next to each other. They were boyfriend and girlfriend back then, too! so neat!!!

Now if you have kept the bee-boppin' beat going with me through all of this, then you are in for a treat! I am giving away BLOG CANDY to a winner chosen at random on Sunday, August 16 at 11:00p.m. What is the prize you ask? Well, you get to choose any 2 Angel's Landing sets for FREE! and that includes the 2 new sets - Cats and Kittens and Cat Paw Prints. Once I have posted the winner on Monday, you will contact me and let me know what sets you have chosen. Soon you will have brand new, wonderful art to use for your snappin' stampin'!

Thanks so much for stopping by! The next purrrrrfect place to visit is over at Alma's place - Me, Myself, and I.N.K..

Be on the lookout tomorrow!

Coffee of the Day - Creme Brulee

Here is a teaser for you - tomorrow is New Release Day over at Angel's Landing! and there is Blog Candy floating around on 2 blogs!!!!! I have something purrrrfect to show you, so make sure you check back!!! ;)

Busy getting layouts together for my workshop on Friday! The ladies are getting excited from what I've been told - me too! It's been over a year since I've taught one 'cause of my health ickies, so prayin' that all is a hit. Working on a sample mini book to use for display. I'll post it later, perhaps over the weeked.

Have a most wonderous day, my dear friends!!!

A Lovely Prayer Journal Set!

Coffee of the Day - Almond Roca

I know it has been a bit since I have posted, and I am very sorry to have been away from all of you. I haven't been feeling all that whippy, so I haven't had a chance to do any stamping. no stamping, no posting 'cause no pretty pictures! ;)

Anyhow, today I have a pretty picture!!! I received the most beautiful package in the mail over the weekend - a gift set from one of my stamping/blogging friends, Alma. She made this gorgeous set for me to journal through the ups and downs. Isn't it wonderful?!?! I was so very, very touched when I opened it, and of course she made my day be wrapping it in lovely pink tissue! The note she enclosed just touched my heart. THANK YOU, Alma!!!!! It means so much to me! Click on the photo to see all of the details and read the sentiments.

On to another neat note ~ I have been invited to teach a scrapbook workshop this coming Friday. I will be doing a 'mini scrapbook in a morning' crop, my first in a while. I am soooooo excited! It just came up yesterday, so I hope that I am feeling well enough to do a good job. I always loved the parties and workshops aspect of being a SU! demo - I can't tell you how many people I have helped become addicted to this wonderful craft of stamping!!!!! In fact just last week I ran into a dear friend, Lora, whom I met while in the crafting aisles of WalMart several years ago! We hit it off and have become great stamping buddies ever since! Whoda thunk it?! ;) (waving 'HI', Lora!!! It was great to see you again!!!)

All of you take care and have a wonderful week! Keep your eyes open for the AMAZING blessings God has in store just for you!!!