The Male Room Challenge #35: Transport

Today is rather bittersweet, it is my last challenge for The Male Room. I am stepping down as a designer because of work and school commitments. Unfortunately, life does get in the way of things sometimes. 

I hope that every now and again I can play along just like all of you. So before I get too sappy, lets talk about this weeks challenge. The Male Room is asking us to "transport". Lucky for me, My best buddy shared a new StampinUp set with this cool Volkswagen beetle. I added the pup from another set. I coulda swore there was a stamp of a girl, but I couldn't find it to save my life.

I think the sentiment says it all- "life is a beautiful ride" and my last year with the folks here at The Male Room has been just that. What an awesome crew!

So I hope that you will play along with us and show us how you transport!

The Male Room Challenge # 33 Triple Stamping

Happy Sunday everyone. I am looking at a bright sunny day after a very weird day of fat snow yesterday. It snowed all day long and it just coated the ground. we had thick fat snow that looked like feathers floating.

Last weekend I spent in the Pocono mountains in Pennsylvania with a few girlfriends. We went for the Allentown Heirloom Rubber Stamp Convention but it really was just to spend quality time together stamping.

The weekend was the perfect opportunity for me to catch up on challenges. Today at the Male Room the new challenge is "triple stamping" I have to admit, I had no idea what this was until I googled it and saw it and thought "oh yeah I've seen that." You can google it and see a million videos or tutorials. Here is one from Split Coast.

So since I was in the road trip mood from traveling to the "No's", I went for a travel theme card.

The only problem with this card is the don't carry too much baggage. We are talking bringing stamping supplies- between 2 of us, the whole trunk was filled, leaving the back seat for clothes and food. Needless to say we pretty much spend the weekend in our jamis.

I can't wait to see what you all come up with this cool technique challenge at The Male Room!

old school, retro, dated......

you decide. I'd like to think maybe retro. I used a variety of old stamps and ideas. I mean hasn't the butterfly with the gem bodies- isn't that so dated? But ya know what? I still like it. Its fun especially when aired with this old StampinUp set "flight of the butterfly".

It day after our first and last I hope major snow storm and I am wishin' for spring. the card inspiration at Tag You're... It made me feel all springy. 

So whether it is old school, retro or even dated, this tag made me happy, warm and giggly. Check out Tag You're... It and see how the DT and others were inspired.

Thank Fall

The current challenge at the Card Concept is a photo challenge with the theme of "thank fall". Clever huh- "thank fall"? I love it- so fun. Besides I need ideas for my Thanksgiving cards and the theme and photo inspired me. 

I have only three challenges left on the Wild card team at the Card Concept and for the last three we get to pick our styles. Naturally, I drift towards the CAS categories.

One of my oft used techniques is to stamp or place images over top of a text stamp. It just creates such an interesting CAS look. For this card I had to go back to my older but well inked stamps. The text stamp from Hero Arts "Dictionary Greetings, I use ALL the time for this technique. I was pleasantly surprised to still see you could buy this set of stamps. I highly recommend it! The pumpkins are from A Muse. Looks like this set is only available on e-bay. The branch is StampinUp- unknown set.

Here is another look for the same idea using a new stamp from Great Impressions.

I wasn't as happy with this. I shoulda used four pumpkins instead of three. They look too squashed in. What do you think?

This works with this week's challenge at Just Us Girls so I am entering it there also.

Please join us this week at the Card Concept with your interpretation of this weeks challenge!

Enjoy the simple things

This week at Just Us Girls we have a very autumnal photo challenge. As you know I have such trouble with photo challenges. I always read to much into them.

Why can't I just "enjoy the simple things"? When I finally put away the 10 or more stamps I thought might work and settled on 4, I was much happier and could actually take a deep breath and my pulse dropped below a 100!!

The wheel barrow was in the bag of StampinUp stamps that I was purging- another reason I am glad those stamps were still in my studio! The cute little bird is  such an old Memory Box stamp. I could never get rid of him and I am so glad I didn't.

So the moral of this story is to not sweat the small stuff and just have fun! Please join us this week at Just Us Girls!

Off on an adventure!

I writing this post a week in advance, because as the title of my blog says, I am of on an adventure. This is our annual girls stamping weekend in the Pocono Mountains. I will be up there for 4 days of stamping, crafting, cooking, cocktails and chick flicks. It doesn't get  any better then that!!

Lisa's photo challenge at Just Us Girls was like kismet! I knew exactly what I was going to do. I just had to make sure I hadn't gotten rid of the stamp set I wanted in one of my many purges. I am happy to report, I hadn't got rid of Loads of Love from StampinUp.  This clean and simple was easy to create and I used my new fav trend- watercolors.

I hope you will join us in this cool photo challenge at Just us Girls this week.

These are from last year, but it looks kinda the same every year. Stay tune for pics from this tear!

Tie a yellow ribbon

This is third semester of the House of Cards Challenge site. HOC was the first site to use a single theme and to promote a variety of card styles. Since we have started I have noticed other challenge sites are doing the same thing! But remember you saw it first here.

The theme for the month of July is add a ribbon- or more than one.  This week we are sharing the creations from the CAS team.

I thought long and hard about what I would do. The recent events in the Middle East reminded me of the first Desert Storm invasion and how everyone supported the troops by tying yellow ribbons around trees. My yard was full of yellow ribbons even though I had no one close to me in the service. There is a long history behind the tying of yellow ribbons. It started even earlier with tying yellow ribbons to support the hostages in Iran and all the way back to the Civil War. The American Forklife Center has a very good article if you more interested.

Of course there is the is the very popular song by Tony Orlando and Dawn- Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree.

Please join us at House of Cards and share how you would add a bow or two or three or more to your creations.

Love is in the air

The Christmas stamps have been put away and the Valentine stamps have been taken out. It is a sign that time is moving on. 

Try Stampin' on Tuesday is featuring yet another great sketch to challenge us. The twist is plaid- which I didn't even notice that till this card was done and posted on the TSOT blog. Oh well- the twist is optional. 

I made the main panel first and originally was going to place it on white card stock, but it just didn't look right. it looked ever so much better on the kraft paper. the sweet little mouse was from an old StampinUp set. 

This will be my last challenge at TSOT for a few months. Life and school is really putting a cramp in my creative time. I hope to be back by the summer, when I will have graduated with my BSN.

Please continue to check out the great challenges at TSOT and I will see you all before you know it!

Warm Christmas Wishes

This card fell together quite by accident. Isn't that the best way? I was searching for another sentiment stamp and came across this stamp set from StampinUp and the Christmas sentiment jumped out at me.

Since Swanky Snow Dudes have been my go to set for this years holiday cards, naturally I grabbed them. I stamped the snow flake background from Hero Arts first, then the sentiment and added the snow dudes. A quick and easy and ever so cute card!

Hope you are enjoying the hustle and bustle of Christmas!

Senior Card Fun

Today was my Holiday Card Making class at New Horizon's Center for Seniors. The weather was pretty yucky, cold and rainy, so there were some folks who couldn't make it, but those that did had a great time. 

This was the first time these two ladies ever stamped. Look at that concentration. The 2 cards above were theirs. They did such a good job, that I had to show case their work. Excellent beginner's work don't you think?

Carolyn worked on her layout till it was just right.

Here is one who I definitely sucked into the stamping cult- Annmarie is adding just a little(??) more glitter to her cards!

The two hours flew by and everyone went home with 2 great holiday cards!

House of Cards, CAS sketch challenge for August

Over at House of Cards the August challenge is a sketch. I love sketch challenges- better then photo challenges and this sketch was perfect for us CAS folk. I hope all of you check out the designers cards and participate in the challenge.

I made these cards while I was in the Poconos, because I knew the month of August would be all about my senior research paper for school along with a poster presentation and community service project- I am nauseous thinking about getting it all done.

My blog postings will be very sporadic through the month.

Meanwhile as my challenge card says- I am sending all of you "a whole lot of happy!"

Because "friends are special treasures!"

Epic Dude!

Guy cards... where do you start? Despite taking the His and Her class from Jennifer Maguire and Kristina Werner, I still have a problem with them. 

This week's Fusion Challenge just spoke "guy" to me.

You are probably wondering where was the "guy' in the challenge? I think It was the colors. I was able to use a few new stamp sets. I used the Papertrey Ink Watercolor Wonder that I borrowed from a friend (I sooooo have to get this set now!). I added the sentiment from CAS-ual Fridays Rad set. I had no idea what to use for my image, when I came across a retired stamp from StampinUp. Perfect! Just love when the stars align! ( didn't I say that in another posting?!)

I am so totally set for a birthday card for my good buddy Ryan's birthday this summer- especially since he is so totally epic!