Calendar Girls x TWO

    Hello everyone!
 have TWO cards for the Calendar Girls today...
My apologies for being a month late with my May card...but, alas, here it is! :o)
Last May hostess was April and she encoraged us to create cards with something we' re hoping to
achieve over the summer.  Here's the request in her own words:

" My theme is easy - I would like you each to make a card representing one thing you hope to accomplish over the summer. It could be a garden, a vacation, a weight loss, whatever, BUT you do have to tell us what you are hoping to accomplish!"

Well, there are sooooooooooooooooo many things I truly NEED to accomplish...in primis reorganizing and decluttering my whole house!! 
(I can't believe how much I let it go in the last few months!! *insert red face here*)
However I do not own any stamps or images showing 'cluttering' LOL...therefore the next best thing I REALLYYYY hoped it would happen over the summer, was to go on a cruise to Alaska with my hubby, again. Wellllll....it is actually going to happen!!!!!! I booked a cruise less than a month ago and YES we are leaving next month and this time for TWO whole weeks cruising all the way up to Anchorage! ♥
It is the holiday both hubby and I need for sure! This is 'our own true Christmas' in July! 
Again, I do not own a stamp depicting a ship...but I thought that this one -from Stamping Up-would give the general idea with the open sea, seagulls and all...and, of course ,like the sentiment shows, we will have good times...heck GREAT time!  :o)
Thank you APRIL for a great challenge!!! ♥

My second card was created for the current calendar month 

hosted by Debbie

She sent us all a stamp with which to create our card and the above sentiment stamp is the one I got in the mail from her all the way from Alaska...Thanks Deb! ♥
The requirements for the June theme,suggested by Debbie are: 

1. At least two layers.

2. You must use the $1 stamp you receive, on the card. However since the $1 stamps are small you can use background stamps or other stamps to create a background, and sentiment stamps of your own on your card as well. But I would like the $1 stamp to be the focal point.

3. If you have any buttons, ribbons, or other embellishments that you bought for $1 or less, embellishments that were gifted to you, or recycled items, please use those products to embellish the card.

Well, this one was a harder challenge then last CG card, for me....lol...
I had a visual of the card I wanted to create, using a Bella stamp and tranforming it into
a  'carefree and rocking it' kind of gal... I think I am ok with the end result...

You can clearly see the Bella stamp I used (in part only) as well as how I came up with the guitar idea...
The designer paper for this card is aptly called 'Rockstar'  mat stack by DCWV. The whole stack
of 4.5 x 6.5 was bought at a stamping garage sale couple summers ago for less than a dollar.
The 'diamonds' were a gift and they came in pkg like ready to cut up 'material' and the b&w candy floss was a sale item at Michael a while back, while the button is a lonley leftover from a depleted pkg.
Ohhh and I doubt it very much that I would fussy cut a Bella again, anytime soon! ppffffffftttttt!....lol

THANKS for a great June challenge DEBBIE!!

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!!! 3:10 AM HERE and this chick is off to la-la land!

♥ GOD  BLESS EVERYONE!! ♥

June's Unidentified Mystery revealed...

 WOW!!....
I am actually posting a card!!! ....a whole day past due...lol
My life is down to a crunch...last two weeks were even busier than usual and still cannot seem to see some 'breathin time' anytime soon, as we are in the last three days of the school year and exams next week!! whoaaahhhh....Can you say 'crazy time' ? *rollingmyeyes*

Anyhow....It is time to reveal the Unidentify Image swap for this month ,which I hosted.
I sent all the partecipants this adorable Whipper Snappper image and some sentiments too....
Who could resist such feathery chickee sad looking face???  *grin*

This is the inside of my card...very simple 
and right down to the point...

The deets are as follow:

Card stock  from SU
Stamp : Whipper Snapper ' Chicken Noodle soup'
(MZ 102)
Sentiments from PTI  'Comfort Food'
Designer Paper:' Neapolitan Bean Bisque' by Jillibean soup
Accessories: embossing folder by  Darice, nesties, grosgrain ribbon, dimentionals, punches,small googly eyes
Colored with Copics

Close up shot here at right ---->>

I am soooo happy how this card
turned out..not too busy and not too simple ...I was opting for something in between and ,imho, it looks like I achieved it! ♥ ;)

 Thank YOU for stopping bye...
I have way too many cards to upload still...but that shall wait  a few more days....once I'm off for the summer....yeahhh!!

Can't wait to start viewing EVERYONE elses chicks' cards!
Lucky me I'll get t to keep one of each too!! Every partecipant did such a fabulous job too ! ;o)


          ♥♥♥ Thanks for visiting!!Bless you all!!♥♥♥ 



Have a great night Ladies....this chickee here (aka me!) is totally off to bed....
                                                                zzzzzzzz...........♥

DDD: Making Memories, Celebrating Moments

I'm late....I'm late.....for a very important date!!!! :o(
Yikessss....who was that poor mortal soul that said : 'later is better than never?!!!'
I am definetley using that phrase today!....*grin*

For this dueling month, our (Dazzlers) fearless leader ,Jeanette, sent us a kit packed with so many
interesting treasures with some fun, humorous images to boot! *Lovveee the kit!* ♥
   *Thanks sooo much Jeanette,for providing such amazing creative yumminess!*

The theme chosen by  Jeanette and Kelly ( the DIVA's leader) for this month, is:
Making Memories, Celebrating Moments....
PERFECT, right????  ♥
 I loveeee these fun
Art Impressions Ladies...such a great image to work with! It just makes you smile, no matter what!;o)
 

 This is what we Dazzlers received :
Image/Sentiment: Art Impressions "Picture Perfect"
Designer Papers: Little Yellow Bicycle "Escape" (small camera), Hampton Art "Flashback Viewfinder" (large camera), and Hampton Art "Flashback Timeline" (stripe)
Embellishments: Kathy Davis Designs - adhesive pearls, KI Memories - rhinestones, Me & My Big Ideas - Mambi Stick (camera), 
Michael's ribbon and ribbon paper clip, Recollections - photo frames, Recollections - washi tape, and a clear adhesive circle
Image was colored w/Copics and SU Markers combo.


One of the things we were asked is to include a memory of some special 'Kodak moments' in our lives...well...first of all..I am a confessed addicted 'klikker' -meaning that my camera is almost always with me. *wink*
I loveeee to take shot of everything and everyone in my path...lol ...I am a proud memory-maker...♥
A recent great memory I have, was the time spent in Seattle ,last April, where I was surprised speechless by a couple of amazing gals. ♥  
You can read about it and ,of course, see some picts of that week end here:

http://paola-sama.blogspot.ca/2013/04/made-in-seattle.html

My next memory in the making is fast approaching , as I am soooo looking forward to my oldest granddaughter 1st Holy Communion on June 2nd...Can't wait to immortalize such very special day! 

                         ♥   Thank YOU for stopping by....

wishing you all a wonderful and blessed  week end! ♥

btw, if any of you like Mo Manning's style, here something I added recently: 

http://www.paola-sama.blogspot.ca/2013/05/a-tribute-to-mo.html

A Tribute To Maurie MANNING ♥

                 Hello darling visiting  Peeps,

I recently created this card with the very vague intention to enter it for a contest....a veryyy special contest....one that a multitude of people would consider themselves lucky to enter...and for some elected few to win the ultimate 'prize'! Can you actually believe it that I, little 'ol me, even CONSIDERED, albeit for a few minutes suspended in time , to enter such sought after contest :

 MO's DREAM TEAM CONTEST !

 http://mosdt.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/mos-digital-pencil-dt-call.html

 With these thoughts floating in my mind , and with too much time in my hands lately, hence the surfacing of boredom , I decided to at least start with chosing an image....but WHICH ONE? 

You see I love ALLLLLL Mo's gorgeosly detailed immies....therefore chosing just one was not that easy....The title did help: 'Love Ya' !

Simple....right to the heart....a lovely message of infinite caring.....two lil words that ,sometimes, are

taken often for granted......'Love Ya'!......says it all.

Image chosen and colored and card starting to take shape on its own with the help of some cool designer papers and embossing folder....a touch here, a tuck there et voila'....it is done.

Then comes the time to actually fotograph the card, upoload it to the computer and check how much time there is left before 'THE' contest closes its doors for this time around.

Lucky meeee...I still had a good 20-30 mnts to decide before crunch time!! Then, boom....'what was I thinking?' duh!  :(

Too many uber talented, and better equipped gals to to do this....

At the eleventh hr, I did absolutley nothing.....did not sent in my picture for a thrilling opportunity to become one of Mo's Dream Team Gals.....

I need more time to help clear my mind....

and I'll accept that -once and for all- when opportunity knock at your door...do not hide away...but go forward and enjoy the ride....no matter what IT may be!......♥

 As my second annual Exclusive Mo Manning full cards swap on SCS is winding down, 
see here:

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/cards-f107/closed-reciving-*mo-manning-cards-swap*-exclusive-original-due-may-13-2013-a-t567616.html

I'd like to thank Mo for her wonderful caring and support of my swap that I created with her name (and her permission too)...I wanted to thank her for her generosity and kind heart....but most of all I wanted to thank Maurie for the friendship that blossomed via  the exchanges of several mails, when ideas and changes were made together.... I know I have a friend in her.....*LOVE YA, MO *
            ** THANK YOU FOR BEING YOU!!!  ** GOD'S BLESS!!**


*To view Mo's beautiful cards' swap album please go here:

 http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=24324

Mystery Revealed - May 2013-

 Well...well..well...it's been a while folks!
I have sooo many cards created for swaps and other occasions and ready to upload to my blog yet....kind of a never ending task if you were to ask me...lol...Time truly takes you for a spin....
that you'll never get it back....
Lots has been happening lately in my life .... I won't bore you with major details....suffice to say that I am recuperating now after having surgery last Wed. All went ok per se.......except post surgery problems that needed strict medical attention and kept me under the vigilant eye of a wonderful medical team.....because of that, I was kept in  Critical Recovery Area and not released until the day after....
Now I am taking it quite easy , as the wonderful prescribed 'cocktail mix' of steroids, penicillin and codeine have quite an effect on my poor 'ol bod'....dizziness being the major one of three... but hey...I am here...chillaxing and relaxing now...and that's all that matter. ♥

Let's get to the card....this cute image was sent by Melina, this month hostess for the mystery Image swap. Such cute, adorable lil mouse and I just knew how I wanted to display it...

You see.....a  few days ago I came across this lovely card on SCS :

 http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/2370156

I immediatley loved it and tucked it into my favorites...soooo simple yet so elegant and with flair too....I thought that the mouse could easily be well showcased as taking a lil stroll amongst a fiels of flowers....et voila'....said and done...hence my take....♥

Depending on how the flowers were positioned ,Mousie takes either a right or left side.....lol....

Can someone please tell me what is the proper name of this tecnique please? (I used several markers to color each and every part of the rubber stamp to produce an individual background ...can't remember what's called...dang.) Love love loveee this particular SU stamp too! The sentiment...(see inside below) is also  from SU but I do not know its name...*sigh*
(old set of 8 funky sentiments from 1997)

  I hope you like my card interpretation for this swap....I know I really enjoyed creating it and getting the lil 'scene' I aimed for...

♥ ♥   GOD BLESS TO ALL 

AND THANK YOU

FOR YOUR MUCH 

APPRECIATED VISIT!   ♥ ♥

♥ Deets:

Image Received : 
 MFT-My Favorite Things Blessed Mouse
Stamps :  Inspired By Nature (SU) ,
                    + unknown sentiment (SU)
Ink : Old Olive , Kiwii Kiss (grass) ; 
                  Copics and SU Markers
Accessories : 'Textile' EF, oval nesties, 
punches, ribbon from Micheal, stickles, 
circle punches, butterfly punch, jillibean soup d/p
(for the butterfly)  
 
   {The pictures, unfortunatley, doesn't show how truly sparkly the lil flowers and the head flower are....}

FOUR cards, ONE tecnique...

*Click on each picture if you wish to enlarge*

                          ♥ Hello Gals... 
lately, I just seem to find it harder and harder to keep up with everything
'extra', including this blog....have so many cards made from a while ago that
I haven't even posted...not even sure if I can catch up...
At least, these one are not that tardy....just a few weeks....lol

  In fact, about three wks ago, I was the hostess on 'You Can Do It' challenge
and introduced the partecipants to the : 'Straw Blowing Tecnique'
known also as 'Blow Art'.  Most of the gals have

never heard of this tecnique,,,,it is really a FUN one to try too!

Unfortunatley, I couldn't find anything on SCS
tutorials, but did find a few you tube videos that I can share with you lovely peeps ;o)

This tecnique is so much fun and all you need are: a straw, reinkers,
glossy card stock and a paper towel for wiping.
Once your c/s is dry , please use a SILHOUETTE stamp
to enhance your beautifully created background....
Here are the tutorial links for you to peruse.
(btw: I followed Frenchie's instructions for my straw tecnique card)

......HAVE FUN BLOWING....

Straw Blowing Technique using Reinkers - YouTube

Straw Blowing background frenchiestamps.com - YouTube

The Straw Technique for Beautiful Backgrounds - YouTube

As you can see here,  I made 4 background samples to show you, 

all using the Straw Tecnique explained above  
With each panel, I completed four unique cards ....  
I sure hope you'll try this tecnique. sometimes..
I know you'll love it too!! ♥

                                         

This above was my very first attempt at 

a straw blowing card 'put together'.... 

followed by the lovely geisha, 

then the four girlfriends and, lastly

I ended it with the 'rainy' card I chose to showcase at the top....

Stamps used in each card:

*Million Dollar Moment (SU)
*Priceless (SU)
*Dream Garden (SU)
*Hey Girlfriend # IB-Cosmo-72 
(Unity Stamp)

 THANKS FOR YOUR VISIT!!!

♥~~~  BLESSINGS TO ALL~~~♥

---

One Card, Three Purposes...

  

                                  Hello everyone and welcome to 
                   the Calendar Girls' monthly Challenge!!:o) 
     
                                ~~* Who are the Calendar Girls? *~~
                            If You are a new reader to my blog you may want to read here first  :
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/blogging-groups-f290/calendar-girls-blog-group-full-10-members-t512917.html

My dahlin stamping friend Carol (known as  momcgw on SCS) is the awesome hostess for the month of April and  she encouraged the rest of us with the following challenge
(see here below in her own words) :

 APRIL 2013 CHALLENGE
As the saying goes April showers bring May flowers....

To me April showers clean the earth of its worn out snow, dust and dirt along with nurturing new seeds and life to our surroundings (gardens, yards, trees, etc). It also, to me signals new beginnings....so for this month I would like for you to create a card that does just that...it could be a wedding card, a baby card, even a New Years card...OR it could be a card that uses something worn out or pre-used and develop a new use for it...ex: mesh bag from fruit...used once to hold fruit: new beginning...used on the card...repurposed.. I know all of you are very talented crafters and I can hardly wait to see what you come up with...

Have fun with this challenge...
((hugs)) Carol



This ia a THREE in ONE kind of card for me :
1) I desperatley needed a baby boy card for a sweet lil boy who's now already 3 months old...yikes...hence my 'new beginning' choice...
2) I followed the sketch to my left, as part of  the 'You Can Do It Challenge16' , which I partecipated in...
3) Last but certainly NOT least, it is made with this month's CG challenge in mind....
3 fer 1! ;o) *grin* 
For this card I also re purposed the back of a baby shower's invite (see colorful footsies background) plus, the lime green and yellow c/s are from my scraps bin....:/

  This is the finished inside .....
unfortunatly photo tuned up blurry...;o(

Sponged the circled nestie w/ sentiment.....

 ♥ Great Challenge Carol...Thanks!♥

Here's a View from the top: )

 

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!.....I really appreciate your visits and your comments ♥

BLESSINGS TO ALL!!

Deets:
Stamps: 'Baby First' (SU 2000)  &  'Short and Sweet' (sentiment inside)
Ink: Memento, Luscious Lime,Summer Sun, Cool Caribbean
Accessories: Basic Grey Buttons, gingham green ribbon, gingham light blue
Tecnique: sponging////Colored with Copics

DDD- April duel

Hello Everyone in Blogland! :o)

It is the 15th of the month and that mean it's another darlings duel!

Our hostesses for this month are Darlene (for us Dazzlers) and Tami (for the Divas)

Since April is National Gardening Month, our hostesses decided to challeng 

us with a floral themed kit...

 ....and look how full of  this kit is!
Darlene sent us Dazzlers a wonderful kit full of paper goodness and an array of assorted accessories...
There is so much stuff in it and I have so much leftover after creating
my card for the duel...wow...
Will definetly use more of the sweet images included as well...
♥ THANK YOU SO MUCH DARLENE ♥ *muwahhh* :o)

 Darlene's kit contained the following:

 Image:  SU's Sweet Seasons (2004) stamped with Tuxedo Black on Conqueror Diamond White CS
Papers:  SEI's Field Notes pack
Doilies , Bakers twine from Can You Digi It?
Glitter brads from SU
Dragonfly Brad from Creative Impressions
Fabric Alpha Tabs from Letter Press
Adhesive gems from K & Company
assorted banner etc. labels from Martha Stewart , Green leaf tags: unknown
non adhesive little gemstones by Paper Studio , Mini clothespins from A Muse
lacey ribbon from local sewing store
oh...and she also added a couple
letter with our name's initials...♥

 On my part I added the following:
*Soft Suede & Pretty in Pink card stock
*Ink- Soft Suede
*Image is colored with Copics
*Accessories: Nesties Label Eleven, glue dots,dimentionals, assrt. punches
*Sentiment: 'Say It With Flowers' by
Crafty Clear Stamps 

*As I am typing this ,I  just realized that I forgot to use the pretty dragonfly brad on my card... :o(
I will definetly add it...somewhere!

Thanks for stopping by, I'm

wishing ya all a blessed new week...

Paola

Please take time to visit all the other Darlings' beautiful paper creations-

Here are the links to their wonderful blogs:

DAZZLERS :
Melina
Debbie
Terry
Paola (that's me!)
April
Darlene
Jeanette


DIVAS :
Kelly
Carol
Barb
LJ
Judy
Kadie
 Tami

 

 

Made in Seattle ♥

Hello my friendly Peeps...

Being the 10th of the month it is time to reveal the latest mystery #  7 of the Unidentified Images Swap ,on SCS. We are a *closed* swap group that -every other month- create cards using the same images sent to us by the pre selected hostess. Part of the mystery is NOT to reveal ANYTHING at all until the day we can post, which is the 10th of every other month. The 'suspense' makes it FUN :o)

This round was hosted by my good friend Carol, whom I was sooo veryyy blessed to meet in real life last week end in Seattle...a TOTALLY UNEXPECTED AWSOME SURPRISE orchestrated by my very sweet and kind friend Kadie - check her wonderful blog here:

http://mymindseyecreations.blogspot.ca/

Carol sent us all partecipants these adorably sweet images from :
  Clear Art Stamps  - A  Couple of Cuties
Once Carol is ready to swap out all of the cards she received, she will include the images
for next round which are provided by next hostess...and guess what? It's MY turn to host next round! ♥

Card deets:                                                           

Card Stock: white,lavander
Designer Paper:'Sparkling SPring' by Prima Mrkt.
Colored by Copics
Accessories: Spellbinders, heart doily, buttons, gingham ribbons, vintage rosettes, stickles, glue dots, dimentionals, sukura pen.

I really like these cutie patooties dancing partners ,and had in mind to create shabby-shick cards...however my mojo is been totally non-existant as of late and could not, for the life of me, get these cards started...I knew how I wanted them to look but couldn't apply my 'vision'....hence Kadie came to my rescue with a gentle nudge...while Carol (bless her heart!) helped out and stamped ALL of the images for next round,for me.
I have the BESTEST of friends! ♥

Here's just a few pictures of  our Seattle girls' week-end encounter...to the right we are in front of the original Starbucks Cafe' ...the crowd 
there was insane! You could hardly walk inside 
the door! Starbucks opened its first store in 1971 in the Pike Place Market in downtown Seattle.  Because the Market is a historic district with design guidelines, the store retains its original look.

Above, we are at the top of the Space Needle, the most known landmark in downtown Seattle...

Even though the weather was capricious at best, we all had the time of our life....LOTS of laughter

and giggles for sure!♥  Below is a quick shot I took of one of the gorgeous outlines where the sea meets the sky...and below a wonderful palette of vibrant colors...what a sight for the eyes!

The tulips at Pike's Market are so incredible!! A true festivity of rainbows!! ♥

Hope you enjoyed both the cards, and the extra pictures too....

If I could...I sure would rewind the clock back to last Friday....in a heart beat!

Thank YOU so much Kadie and Carol for such cherished time together!

♥ BLESSINGS TO ALL and THANKS for visiting ♥

Calendar Girls: 'use what'cha got'...

Hello everyone...

dang I am two days late for submitting this card for the Calendar Girls' challenge :/

I actually had the wet embossing part all done but then I took sick...and still am feeling bleahhhh

with chills and fever! Yikes...definetly not the Easter Holiday Celebration I was looking for...*sigh*

I wanted this card done and blogged today as tomorrow we start a new month AND it is Easter Sunday ,when every Christians celebrate our Lord  Resurrection! *Praise HIM*

Anyways, here below is the challenge proposed to all of us CG by Miss March 

- the uber wonderful Miss Tami -  in her own words:

 " MARCH 2013 CHALLENGE
Um, I hope I do not hurt anyone's feelings here but we are all a little bit of paper hoarders!!!
Well, we are going to have to give up the security blanket for March. I would like to see your best created card with NO designer paper. *gasp*.....*thud* {I think J just hit the floor}.
So go ahead and grab your 'old school stamps' - yep, like a set you have not used in years - and create a card for the Calendar Girls.
Oh, and let's try to keep in theme with 'use what'cha got', please no new purchases for this round. Use what'cha got...well, everything but designer paper that is!
I cannot wait to see what my friends come up with. It is always something to look forward to

 Miss March: Tami! "

First of all...I loved this challenge...thank you TAMI for proposing it...♥

 For my card I used the SU! Medallion as the main background and had it white embossed and sponged with SU inks in pastel colors. Then sponged the rest of very vanilla c/s in Apricot Appeal.

I also used the set you see here (the sentiment too is part of that set and is missing from pict.as I forgot to included) I have NO idea what the name of this older SU!set is. I had it for years and years and finally inked it today for the first time....yikes....I really SHOULD use what I've got and not be distracted by new stamping staff....really hard to do!!! I love this challenge so much, that I think it should be done regularly! The hardest part was not using any d/p in my project, but the tecnique used here easily provided a pop of color...and I am all about color!♥

I hope you peeps like my contribution this month, sorry about the tardiness....and now I'm off under the covers yet again...but not before wishing a

VERY BLESSED EASTER CELEBRATION TO ALL OF YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES!!

 

Card Deets:
SU Stamps: Medallion and 'Unknown'
Card Stock: So Saffron, Cool Caribbean, Very Vanilla
Ink: Apricot Appeal,Cool Caribbean,Soft Sky,
Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Memento Black, Versamark
Image colored w/Copic
Accessories: blue mini diamonelle stickers, dimentionals
Tecnique: Versa Mark Emboss , Sponging,
Fussy cutting