Oliver becomes Olive ~

Olive would be the feminine name of Oliver, right?  Well, that's my story anyway!  I won this little Oliver stamp on the last Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps blog hop for their last release along with a few of the other accessory stamps from the Moonlight Whispers line.  The challenge on the KKS Challenge blog is 'Merry Christmas/Happy Winter' - what a perfect time to use my new stamp!

I had some leftover textured paper from a Bombshell Stamps challenge that I used to paper piece her hat.  I think I pulled out every other embellishment I could for this card!  There is fun flock on her hat trim and pom, black rhinestones (to cover up a mistake!), liquid pearls on the marshmallows in her hot cocoa, some glittery snowy ground and snowflakes.  That gorgeous hot pink color is some fabulous Melon Mambo that a fantastic friend sent me for my birthday along with the matching dot ribbon {thank you!}  I finally decided to get myself a Xyron sticker machine with a coupon from Hobby Lobby.  I was pushed over the edge by this post - I love glittering things and this little machine is economical and makes it so much easier!!  The background paper is one piece of Aqua Mist.  The top half was embossed with the Snowdots embossing folder and swiped with Fresh Snow ink.  The bottom half was stamped with the rolling ground image from Holiday Button Bits with the new Aqua Mist ink.  The sentiment is also from that set and masked to fit in a 1" circle punch.  Since I've listed all my supplies in this post, I will just leave you with a picture of the Copics I used. 

Before you leave, you should know that Tonya has everything in the Stamp Happens store at 15% off throughout the rest of the weekend!  She even carries the Ciao Copics that are less that $3 with this sale!! 

Be sure to bop on over and get yourself some great deals!  Don't forget that shipping is free within the US with any purchase over $50!  Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!  :o) alyssa

Holy Cow Candy ~

I don't know about you, but I love the whimsical images of Elisabeth Bell.  She designs/illustrates such darling images for companies like Whiff of Joy, Ladybug & Friends, Bells & Whistles and Susana's Custom Art and Card Design.  Well, this post is to let you know about her fabulous candy.  It's the entire winter releases of her images from all four companies plus a few other goodies!  It's open worldwide through the end of the month.  What are you waiting for??  Click your little mousies here and get in on the goods!!

Hope you are having a good day!  I hope to be back later with a little StampInsanity stamps post.  We'll see.  Now that I don't have a job, I'm just playing and spending some time with family.  :o) alyssa

Wildflower Kids - No Girls Allowed ~

Hello!  I'm back, along with my fellow Stamp Sistahs, with the release of the new Wildflower Kids sets.  Jen, the absolutely fabulous and wonderful artist of Wildflower Kids, has come out with two fantastic sets: No Girls Allowed and Pretty In Pink.  As usual, these sets are available exclusively from the Stamp Happens shop.   On to my little skater dude...

I had to use this little skater guy.  Not only do I know that I will use him tons because of my little monster, but I grew up with a brother {and his buddies} that was a total skater kid - this little image kind of strikes close to home.

I used some Basic Grey paper as my jumping point.  I then decided that I would take the easy route - I paper pieced his shirt.  I wiped off the little crossed out circled image in the center of his shirt because I was going to add something else and decided against it. Just think of the possibilities - skulls, little sayings, sports stuff - his shirt could add so much more to him.  I stamped the sentiment and punched it out with the word window punch and hand trimmed a border...hence the sloppiness!  But then, it is a boy card after all, right???  The little sentiment is kind of like a little skateboard I just noticed - ha!  Love it when it works out that way!!  I used the sketch challenge from Crazy 4 Challenges to tie it all up!  Hope you liked my little peek!  Please bop on by the other ladies blogs for some more eye candy:

Jen  ~  Tonya  ~  Julie  ~  Beth  ~  Donna  ~  Leigh Ann {Anna Banana}  ~  Sara  ~  Steph

Now hop on over to the Stamp Happens store and get your sets now!  Thanks for stopping by!! :o) ~alyssa

SUPPLIES~

STAMPS:  WFK No Girls Allowed

INK: Memento Tuxedo Black

PAPER: Basic Grey Archaic; PTI Dark Chocolate, Kraft, Ripe Avocado & Very Vanilla

OTHER: Copics {pic above}; PTI VV twill, Rustic Cream twine & Terracotta Tile button; SU Word Window punch

Polka Dot Futures ~

I love combining challenges - I know I say it every time!  But really, I feel so much more accomplished!  Here is my take on the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps challenge {Lotsa Circles} and the SFYTT sketch:

I fell in love with the Moonlight Whispers line of stamps as soon as they were released!  I've had this stamped out but have been too intimidated to color it.  I finally bit the bullet with this challenge b/c I have the perfect sentiment for it.  It is from a cute little company called Bugawumps that I have seen at the Scrapbook expo in Loveland for the past couple of years.  Here it is on the inside of my card:

It reads, Wishing you a checkered past and a Polka Dot future.  I guess I think it's perfect because it correlates with the polka dots on her dress. 

STAMPS: KKS Charlotte; Bugawumps sentiment; SU! Riveting (retired); PTI Polka Dot Basics 1

INK: Memento Tuxedo Black; PTI Pure Poppy; SU! Chocolate Chip

PAPER: PTI Dark Chocolate, Kraft, Pure Poppy & SS White

OTHER: Copics {pictured above}; Cuttlebug Argyle embossing folder; PTI Vintage button Pure Poppy; white gel pen; brown embroidery floss; EK Success Swiss Cheese border punch

Read on only if you are bored!

Thanks to Ms Anna Banana (we'll see if she likes that name since she doesn't like the other one I have her!) for giving me a blog award! It comes with a quiz that you are supposed to answer with one word answers - don't know how well I'll do with that!  Here goes...

1. Where is your cell phone? purse
2. Your hair? long, straight, fine, not its natural color
3. Your mother? compassionate
4. Your father? smart
5. Your fave food? depends on my mood - I love fresh salads in the summer from my garden, spicy mexican, spaghetti, pot roast, fresh bread...
6. Your dream last night? I threw dinner away before my husband was able to eat and was scrambling to find something to feed him!
7. Your fave drink? Chai tea made with soy milk
8. Your dream/goal? To find a job that I enjoy and am challenged by.
9. What room are you in? work office
10. Your hobby? Papercrafts, reading, used to be cooking but I've gotten lazy and a bit too chubby.  {I second Annie's answer!!}
11. Your fear? Autism - scares the sh*t out of me! 
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Happy and thinner - I really want to get in shape, but I really don't like exercise!! LOL  Wonder how else I can get in shape...
13. Where you were last night? Home
14. Something that you aren’t? religious
15. Muffins? very rarely - holy cow those little bundles can pack on some calories!!
16. Wish List Item? I think I want a Cricut - especially after seeing Lauren Meader's post this morning
17. Where did you grow up? Durango, CO
18. Last thing you did? Found out from my boss that I will be taking a pay cut or at least that's how I'm interpreting what she said...blech!
19. What are you wearing? Black slacks and pink sweater
20. Your TV? silly big plasma b/c my husband always wants the biggest and the best
21. Your Pets? Rikki the Rottie, Houdini the Snake & Doug the Husband
22. Friends? Happy with those I have though they live too far away!! 
23. Your Life? Crazy - I don't know how people do it with more than 1 kid and still have hobbies!
24. Your Mood? aggravated b/c of # 18
25. Missing Someone?  nope
26. Vehicle? Mazda 3 - small but economical.
27. Something you are not wearing? Underwear.
28. Your fave store? Target followed by Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn (I just don't buy from either of those - I'm too cheap!!  lol)
29. Your fave color? depends on my mood - mainly it's red and pink, I think!
30. Last time you laughed? This morning at my little goofball yelling 'Bye Daddy' over and over and waving frantically as Doug drove off to work
31. Last time you cried? Yesterday, work is very frustrating right about now
32. Your best friend? Husband. He listens even when he's sick of hearing me gripe about the same stuff.
33. One place that I go to over and over? Work - it's a necessary evil.
34. One person who emails regularly? Anna Banana
35. Fave place to eat? I love Panera Bread and Q-Doba
36. Facebook? Yes but really just to surf around and feed my addiction to computer games.  It's a super sad addiction to Bejeweled - I spend countless hours playing a dumb game and then get mad at myself.  If only I could get in shape by playing games!  Oh, that would be amazing!! 
 
I am passing this award on to a few super ladies because I want to see their answers to the quiz. I'm an absolute nerd and love these things, so I really hope they play along!

Jacquie  ~  Donna  ~  Chris  ~  Randee

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  Thank you also for all the wonderful comments you leave - it's so nice to get encouragement for something I love so much!  :o) alyssa

Wild Challenge ~

The Greeting Farm has been hosting a Guest Designer contest for the past two weeks with the illustrator, Marina Neira's animal images.  The first contest was to create a card with the theme of 'wildlife' and whatever that meant to you!  I used this card since I'd just created it the week before...so I don't even know if I'm eligible for this contest!!  LOL  This weeks challenge was to create a card with this sketch. 

The super funny thing about this image to me is that I saw it as a fox!  Once I went back and started looking at how everyone else colors these images, I realized she is a skunk!  lol  Silly me!  Pretty straight forward here - colored with Copics, edges of main image sponged with Antique Linen ink and a fine tip glue pen on all of the snowy areas to add some super duper sparkly and fine glitter. 

SUPPLIES~

STAMPS: The Greeting Farm Ivy Xmas Tree; PTI Mixed Messages

INK: Ranger Distress Antique Linen; PTI Scarlet Jewel

PAPER: PTI Kraft, Scarlet Jewel & SS White; Basic Grey Wassail

OTHER: Copics {pic above}; chocolate grosgrain ribbon; super sparkly super fine glitter {???}

Since you all seemed to love the snowy picture I took for you the other day, I stopped and took a pic of a beautiful tree on my way in to work just for you!  Have a fantastical day!  :o) alyssa

Sketch Girls #9 Perfect Poinsettias ~

Well, sort of a misleading title...I did not get my card done!  This is what I woke up to this morning

Not a super picture...but I didn't really want to step outside!!  I had to spend the day running errands yesterday, so I didn't get to play in my stamp cave.  Excuse me while I wipe away a tear...

I hope to be back later with the card that I have planned out in my head.  You know how those things go though!  We'll see if what is in my head will translate well to paper!  In the meantime, please bop on over to the Sketch Girl blog to see this gorgeous sketch.  After that, go give the Sketch Girls (that were prepared) some love!

Annie  ~  Bonnie  ~  Chris  ~  Eve  ~  Harriet  ~  Jennie  ~  Jess  ~  Julie  ~  Katie  ~  Randee  ~  Sara  ~  Tiffany

I hope will be back later with a card!  Positive thinking...

EDITED TO ADD MY CARD:
WooHoo!  I made it back.  I've been wanting to try something new; something that has been on my never ending/always growing list of things to try: watercolored flowers with embossing.  I quickly read over the instructions from here and proceeded to try to do things my own way.  Heh...that didn't work out so well; however, it turns out that my mistake led to something that I like even better.  Here, take a gander ~

I embossed both the large and small poinsettias from Verve's Holly Jolly (the set I chose from my Mojo Monday win in Ocotber) in gold embossing powder on watercolor paper.  I liberally spritzed my paper and proceeded to add Bravo Burgandy reinker...but I spritzed so much, the color ran outside of the embossing.  I ended up having to fussy cut all of the poinsettias out b/c I wasn't going to trouble with embossing again LOL  One of my pet peeves is white edges on stuff that is cut out (unless it's intentional), so I used a Copic marker around the edges of each of the flowers.  The toughest part of this was lining up the stamps at the edge of the new paper - good thing they're clear acrylic!  Please stop by the rest of the Sketch Girls {above} if you haven't already!  I'm off to go play in the snow with the little monster!  :o) alyssa

SUPPLIES ~
STAMPS: Verve Stamps Holly Jolly; PTI Fancy Flourishes & Holiday Button Bits
INK: VersaMark; some gold ink I got in some cheapo stamps ages and ages ago
PAPER: Watercolor paper; PTI Scarlet Jewel
OTHER: Gold cording; Copic Y28 marker; gold embossing powder (cheapo brand from WalMart)

Crazy 4 Copic Challenge Lillith ~

This is going to be a short post - it's late for this old lady and I have to work tomorrow.  LOL 

I love to combine challenges whenever possible - makes me feel like I've accomplished more!  This little easel card combines two challenges - Copic Creations {Red Hair} & Crazy 4 Challenges {Easel card}.  Have you ever made one of these?  I must admit, I was a tid bit intimidated but found that these cards are super duper simple!  There are links on the C4C blog to instructions.  I think these are super cute cards because we all spend so much time coloring a card front or even assembling a card front - what better way to showcase one's work easel-y (ha! sorry, told you it is late for me!).  This fantastic, sassy little image is from the new Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps line Moonlight Whispers; her name is Lillith.  That sass-tastic look on her face just screams red head to me!  Her dress was inspired by the dp.  I chose to stamp her on a coordinating piece of dp, but it still just didn't feel right, so I colored right over the dp.  That gave it just the right amount of depth.  By the way, the layers are actually straight and nice, it's just the angle of the picture...and I'm too lazy to take a new pic!!  K...I'm off to bed!  Hope you check out these two fun challenge blogs if you haven't already!!  Night! ~alyssa

SUPPLIES~
STAMPS: KKS Lillith; MFT Essential Sentiments 
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black
PAPER: SU River Rock; PTI Enchanted Evening, Dark Chocolate & SS White; Memory Box Inspire dp
OTHER: Brown embroidery floss; SU Night of Navy sheer ribbon; PTI Vintage button Enchanted Evening; Sakura black glaze pen {frog eyes}; Copics: B34, 39, 97, E00, 02, 09, 33, 37, 51, G07, 21, 24, 28, R20, W3, W5 and Colorless Blender

Bombshell Ladies are at it again ~

Hey ladies!  The Bombshells are hopping all over the place with a new challenge.  Here's challenge #10: Single Ladies.
Nope, not Beyonce style...I mean layers. You've got it, this week's challenge is to make a card using only the card base; one single layer. Use stencils, airbrush, drawings and the like; add anything else that tickles your fancy, except more paper. Why should layers have all the fun?
I loved this challenge!  I had a super fun idea...but made the husband (art student) try it out first.  Unfortunately, it didn't work out quite how I wanted...time to switch gears.  LOL  I have been wanting to try colored pencils - mainly white - on kraft cardstock.  What a perfect time to try out my new Bombshell stamps!

I embossed a rectangle in the center of my card, stamped, colored and glitterfied with various Stickles and glitter/glue pen.  I then stamped a sentiment and computer generated the inner sentiment...

Hope you like it!  I had a ton of fun and this card only took about 6 minutes to make - ok, well, it would have had I been a bit more organized and not chasing a 2 year old around at the same time!! ;o)    Now here's the scoop, with the Bombshell Hump Day Hop.  Throughout the month, visit each of the participants blogs and comment.  The more you comment, the more chances you have to win a special prize.  Here is the prize for November:

Without further ado, here are the bombshell hotties for you to hop along to:
Angela  ~  Kathi  ~  Ms. November - Mary G.  ~  Gabby  ~  Miss Magoo  ~  Kas
Thanks for bopping by!  Hope you are enjoying the hop :o) Alyssa
SUPPLIES~
STAMPS: Bombshell Stamps Calavera Fiesta; PTI Mother
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black; HP printer ink
PAPER: PTI Kraft & SS White
OTHER: Stickles Xmas Red, Magenta & Orange Peel; Doodlebug lime green glitter; glue pen; spellbinders classic rectangle nestabilities; Lyra color pencils

StampInsanity Winter Release

Three new rubber stamp sets from StampInsanity Stamps are available today exclusively through Stamp Happens. The sets are Morgan's Star, Henry's Snowman and Naughty & Nice.

I have a little something from Henry's Snowman.  As usual, my image is colored with Copic markers - I was surprised at how many I used for this image!!  Beth has an incredible release for us...something a little fun, inspiring and even a bit naughty!!  So fun...you'll have to jump on over to Stamp Happens to know exactly what I'm talking about.  Anywho, on to my card...

Here is Henry with his snowman.  Isn't he adorable??? I know...you're not supposed to say that about a tween!  Whatever! Funny thing is, I grew up at around 7500', so I know what snow accumulation is all about! lol  I don't remember ever building a snowman!  It was more about snow forts and ice ball fights for my brother and I!  Looking back on it now, I think I'd be scared to death as my mom!!  Even without the snowman, these are the memories that come to mind when I play with these images.  Thinking of all the fun times that I had with my brother - even though he'd rather play with his friends - made me really appreciate my childhood.  That's why this card is going to this little guy.  If you have an extra Xmas card in your stash, maybe you could send one his way!  By the way, the sentiment actually says 'Snow Days' but Snow Day is all that fit in my SU Word Window punch...LOL.

Anywho, bop on over to the Stamp Happens store to get yourselves some of these fun new stamps!  If  you get a chance, you should visit my Stamp Sistahs for some more amazing inspiration!!

Tonya  ~  Beth  ~  Julie  ~  Jen  ~  Donna ~  Gayle  ~  Leigh Ann  ~  Sarabeth  ~  Steph

Mmmk (got that from my stepdaughter via text message...lol), I'll be back later with a supplies list.  Hope you have fun hopping around!!  :o) Alyssa

Seasonal Bookmarks

Wow! It's been a bit quiet around here this week...sorry about that!  My craft closet is such a mess, I've been avoiding it like the plague! lol  I'm here today to share a couple of bookmarks with you.  Lately, I've been picking up new books for the Zaniac whenever I go shopping at WalMart.  They are big Disney books that have about 30 stories in them, so I thought it might be nice to have something to mark our place.  These books are seasonally/holiday themed, and a light went off in my head!  How about the new digi stamps from Wildflower Kids.  I used Bramble the Scarecrow for our Halloween/Autumn set of stories and Sage the Elf for the Holiday stories. 

Sage is colored with Copics, of course; however, I deleted the photo of the Copics used.  I think of his little list as a list of books that we should read!  Yes...sometimes I put too much silly thought into these things!  lol  Isn't he just adorable!!  I have heard/read some people having problems with their printer ink running when they color with Copics.  The only colors that I've ever had problems with are the lower numbers - like the E00 {skin white} that I always use for faces.  I'm thinking that maybe this is because these colors have less pigment and more alcohol, but you really shouldn't listen to me!  I truly have no knowledge about them...it just makes sense in my head!  lol  I've also read that many people have great results if they heat set the printer ink before coloring.  I will definitely try this next time and let you all know how it works out!

Bramble is also colored with Copics, the picture is below.  I love this little guy - there are so many color possibilities with him! His face/body are colored more like a burlap sack than a skin tone.  I don't think this little guy would scare much away in your garden though!  lol

As always, please bop on over to the other Stamp Sistahs blogs {links on the right}.  These ladies are uber talented and have fun samples for more inspiration!  Please come back on Monday.  We will all be previewing the new StampInsanity holiday stamps!!  Fun stuff!!  Check out my sidebar for some amazing blog candy from Jacque!  Have a super weekend!  I may post more...that is, if I decide to clean up the closet enough to play.  :o) Alyssa
SUPPLIES~
STAMPS: Wildflower Kids 'Tis the Season Sage and Autumn Splendor Bramble
INK: HP printer ink
PAPER: PTI Dark Chocolate, Kraft, Pure Poppy, SS White and True Black
OTHER: Copics; raffia; PTI True Black saddle stitch ribbon; jumbo eyelets for leather tooling

Wildflower Kids 'Tis the Season Snowman

Hello!  Thought I'd share a couple of cards that I made with the snowman from the Wildflower Kids digi stamp set, 'Tis the Season.  I chose the cute little snowman and printed him straight onto some sparkly white paper.  I chose this little guy because I really wanted to use a couple of fun new things that I just *had* to have - the Martha Stewart icicle border punch and  the Spellbinders Create a Snowflake 1 dies.  I was smart again and chose the background paper first - Yay for me!!The scarves and hats are colored with Copics that match the dp.  Interesting thing I learned is the Copics don't blend on this paper, so I'm glad I wasn't coloring anything that needed a ton of shading.  Not much else to these cards except a big thank you to my dear friend Annie - she sent me that yummy celery twill (on the first card) in a fantastic birthday package a couple months ago.   

If you click on that picture, it should pop up bigger so you can see the shimmer of the snowman and snowflake.  Here's the supplies list:

STAMPS: Wildflower Kids 'Tis the Season digi Snowman; PTI Signature Christmas

INK: Memento Tuxedo Black; HP printer ink

PAPER: PTI Ocean Tides, Pure Poppy & Sweet Blush; SU Basic Grey, Soft Sky & dp Wintergreen (retired); Cosmo Cricket Jolly by Golly 

OTHER: celery twill; PTI Ocean Tides grosgrain ribbon; Martha Stewart icicle punch; Spellbinders Create a Snowflake 1 dies; Copics

These stamps are only available through Tonya's store, Stamp Happens.  If you've got time today, please check out my sidebar and bop on over to some of the other Stamp Sistahs blogs.  You never know what kind of amazing creations they have up their sleeves!  Have a splendid day!!  :o) Alyssa

My Fierce Tiger

No card today...I just had to share my little tiger.  Isn't he scary?!

Checkin' out his loot!

Standing next to the pumpkin his Grandma grew and carved for him. 


And lastly, the pumpkin all aglow.  Hope you all had a safe and happy Halloween!!  :o) Alyssa