Simple Stationary..

So of course my favorite color combo at the moment is Chocolate and Sky. I wanted to create some fun note cards but didn't want them to be over the top. I loved the monogram layout from the stationary Kristine made for me, so I combined that layout with my fav colors and I had a winner! I also decided to add a bit of dimension to the letter "W" by shadow stamping it using the soft sky.....look closely.

I used the swirl stamp from Baroque Motifs (can't get enough of that stamp) and soft sky ink for the background and then added a few chocolate flowers (or whatever those are). The dotted circle and monogram is from PTI . I finished it off with some white tafetta ribbon...it really adds a bit of elegance to any card without being too much, which I really love.

Prettie Wednesdays are back!

Our Prettie Mama, Christie gave us our kick-off challenge which was to use light blue, light yellow and light apricot. Charmaine made this adorable thank you card using the DCWV Baby Boy stack, LOVE THOSE STACKS! I'm not posting what I made because my prettie sistah hasn't received it yet, so I'll post mine later on.

For this week, the challenge is to make someone a Valentine. Remember those? How excited we would all get on Valentine's day, the heart candies, the little mailboxes at our desk that would fill up throughout the day. So join in the Prettie challenge and make someone a Valentine this week and send it to them. Leave me a comment with a link to what you made so I can view all those cards of love!!

Luke & Lexi in Love....

This amazing couple was released last night on Paper Pretties, Luke and Lexi....aren't they fab??!? I just received my heart shaped Nestibilities in the mail over the weekend and Luke & Lexi arrived the very next day, so I thought they should get acquainted. ;) I've found when I want to use the nestibilities to make a window card that it's best to cut twice. First run the top two layers (1 piece of cardstock, 1 piece of patterned paper) through the CB and then center the now cut layer onto the card base, place the Nesty in the middle and run it through again to get the final cut-out on the actual card base. The acetate goes in between the card base and the front layer so you don't see it when the card is opened.

I also found that coloring with Copics is a bit different on the Ultrasmooth Vanilla paper. I assumed it would be the same as the white but I'm afraid it just wasn't, the larger sections came out blotchy and I couldn't get them smooth at all. No clue as to why, but just wanted to share my findings with all of you. :) I love my Copics and I use them on just about everything, this was my first time coloring on Vanilla so if you run into the same issue, don't sweat it. And you can bet your tail that at CHA, I'm taking some vanilla paper to the Copic booth and finding out why this happens and how to fix it....then I'll let ya know what I find out. :)

Yay! It's Monday!!!

I don't think I've been so excited for a Monday it quite some time, but can you blame me?? Ladies, I'd like to introduce you to my friend, Wade E. Bug. Isn't he cute?!?!? I used the argyle stamps from the Looks Like Spring set from Stampin' Up, I forgot how much I loved those stamps. Wade is one of three stamp sets that will be released tonight at Paper Pretties. Have you registered yet on the website?? Make sure you do that in advance so you can join us for the Party, it starts at 6pm PST! There is also still time to get your name in for the Blog Candy. To enter, go shop around at the Paper Pretties Boutique and send your top favorite three items to paperprettiesprizes@yahoo.com. The winner will receive a 40% off coupon for one item tonight!

It's Friday!!!!

So now you get to see the face behind the curtain, stinkin cute isn't he??? Only a few more days until you get to see the rest of him! And if you already purchased one of the Paper Pretties sets from the first release a few weeks ago, you should check out the contest for this month's Cutie Pie. You could get all of the new sets, FREE!!! Plus there's also a quick and easy way for you to get a chance at a 40% off coupon for Paper Pretties Boutique! All you have to do is go browse the store and send a list of your three favorite items to paperprettiesprizes@yahoo.com. One of you will win a coupon code for 40% off one item on Monday night!

Prettie Blog Candy!!!

We're also giving away some Prettie Candy! To enter this contest, go surf around the Paper Pretties Boutique and send your top three favorite items to this email address paperprettiesprizes@yahoo.com. One lucky winner will be picked at random and will receive a gift certificate for 40% off one regularly priced item! The winner will be announced at the Prettie Party on Monday.....so get over there and start browsing, tons of new items are added daily and there is some fabulous new Valentines ribbon that is simply a must-have!

oooooooooooooooooh, pretty ribbon is my weakness!

Peek-a-boo 2

Are you getting excited yet?? I know it's killing me not to show off the rest of this card but just you wait!!! The party starts on Monday, January 28th @ 8pm CST so be sure to pre-register on the Pretties Forum so you can join in the fun.

You also have only a few days left to submit your entries for the first ever Cutie Pie contest! The Cutie Pie of the month will be announced at the start of the party and will receive all three of the new releases FREE!!!!

Have you checked out the other Prettie Girls blogs to see what sneak peeks they have for you? Can you guess what's coming? Oh I just can't stand it....is it Monday yet?!?! ;)

A little peek....

Just a little snip of something that's coming up....perhaps a Prettie Party on Jan 28th?!?! Why yes, I believe that could be it! Paper Pretties will be releasing not one but THREE brand new stamp sets...Oh just you wait! Be sure to stop by early to register for the party, festivities begin at 8pm CST.

A Prettie BIG sale...

***Paper Pretties Sale***

With the launch of their new web site and the release of their exclusive Paper Pretties stamp line, it's time to clean up shop over at the Paper Pretties Boutique! Every day something new is added to the sale section. There are TONS of stamps on sale: Autumn Leaves, Memory Box, House Mouse, Happy Hoppers, Inkadinkadoo, Heidi Swapp. Plus ink pads and LOTS of American Crafts Christmas ribbon (although Christmas is over, it will be sneaking up again before we know it and this ribbon is fab-u-lous!) Things are selling out very quickly so get over there and take advantage of this early spring cleaning! :)

Pretty in Pink

One of my favorite movies growing up and also one of my favorite colors (one of my wedding colors matter of fact). I still can't decide if I like Sophia better with blonde hair or light brown....perhaps I'll do a strawberry-blonde once my new Copics arrive. :)


*insert squeal here*


There are only a few more weeks until CHA and I can't even sleep at night!!! I will be meeting (in person, that is) the Prettie Girls and our beloved Prettie Mama, Christie. There's also rumor that the Bella herself, Emily will be popping in along with Kim from MFT!!! Can you even believe it?!?! Do you have any clue how hard it is to get up and go to work each day knowing that this trip is just around the corner?? **another squeal** Who else is going?? I want to hear what everyone is most excited about this year for CHA......tell me, tell me, tell me! ;)

Prettie Wednesdays are back!!

The Prettie Girls are at it again.....we have started our Wednesday challenges again and we're inviting you to play along, as always! Every Wednesday one of us will issue a challenge, we all will have one week to complete the project and then mail it off to another Prettie Girl. To allow the mail to arrive to it's destination, we'll be posting our challenges 2 weeks behind (so this week's challenge cards will be posted 1/30). Today's challenge is given by Christie and is a color challenge - light yellow, light blue and apricot. Alright ladies, now get to stampin!!!

Standing outside looking in...

This is by far one of my favorite stamps from Rubber Romance, Kristy. She was in the October Paper Pretties box along with this fab paper from the Pretties boutique. The stamp shows a gal looking through the window at the shoes for sale, but I wanted to actually get a feel for the window. First I layered the patterned paper onto the card, in order to get the perfect layer I had to go through both pieces of paper in one cut. I used the rectangle Nestabilities to cut and emboss the window. I added a piece of acetate in between the paper layers to make the window effect. I stamped and cut out the image of the woman and attached her to the front of the window, then I masked the woman out of the image for the inside of the card. I have to tell you that was quite tricky but I was thrilled with the results. Lastly I added a small sentiment from my Pieces of Cake set by PTI, added a little ribbon and adhered it onto the bottom right corner. Here is another card using basically the same supplies and just changing the layout and design a bit.

The poor-man's Lattice background

Debbie Olsen is one of my stamping idols. I continually browse her blog to learn new techniques and get some creative ideas. Yesterday I read her blog on using the Scor-Pal to create this fabulous lattice background. Then over on Nichole Heady's blog I saw her use a similar idea on one of her cards. I rushed right over to the Paper Pretties boutique and added the scor-it to my cart. It's a similar idea but it comes with the tool and I'll be able to move the design around and do things other than just the grid. :) When I got home I looked around and I noticed that my cutter from Stampin' Up! had grooves in it as well so I thought "I wonder if it would work..."

It's not as perfect as Debbie's, that's for sure. But it will do for now until the real Scor-It arrives in my Paper Pretties order.

Don't forget about the Cutie Pie contest!!! Everyone is invited to submit their original artwork using the new Paper Pretties stamps! One winner will be chosen as the first ever “Cutie Pie!” The winner will receive all of the stamps sets from the next release and will have a Spotlight on the Paper Pretties website. Entries should be submitted to Christie@paperpretties.net by January 26th. And don't forget, the next Prettie Party will be on Tuesday, January 29th when they’ll release 2 more stamp sets! (Trust me, you won't want to miss it!)

Should I find this SO amusing?

Tonight my hubby made his famous pork chops and green beans. Well....when it was time for dinner, he had a bit of a problem getting the lid off the pan to serve up the green beans. Once the cursing and yelling was over there was a loud crash in the kitchen sink. This is what I found...

He apparently put a smaller lid on top of the beans just to keep them warm. In the process of doing so, the glass lid formed a suction....a suction that could NOT be broken.

The pan has since cooled and I'm sad to say we still cannot separate the lid from the pan. Any ideas??? We ran cold water on it, thinking perhaps the glass would shrink slightly and allow us to pull it off....nope, but it did seep in somehow and we now have green bean soup! What kills me is two hours later, my hubby comes into the stamp room (where I am posted for the PTI release of course) and says "ya know, maybe I could bring the pan up to a high heat and it will steam the lid off. But I don't want to burn the beans." Burn the beans?!?! I think the beans are pretty much a wash, eh??? BAHAHAHAHA I can't stop laughing over this, and watching him continue to walk into the kitchen, grab the pot and start shaking it just puts me into stitches all over again!!!

But on a serious note, does anyone know how to save my pan? Should I be greasing the sides with butter at this point? ;)

"I'm in the mood for love....."

"...simply because you're near me!!" Should I be singing that to a stamp?? Hmmm...well I simply adore little Sophia since she made her big debut on Friday evening. Today I was doing my daily blog browsing when I stumbled upon this fabulous background by Faith Hofrichter and I just knew I had to duplicate it. I used some swirls from Autumn Leaves that I got a while back from the Paper Pretties Boutique and stamped them with Brilliance Black (it's must richer and gives a better image with acrylic stamps). Then I added some dots & hearts with my Signo pen. I just adore this idea and I challenge you all to try it out. Just add a few dashes and dots, swirls and doodles, whatever your heart desires. You'll be delighted and how it makes the background pop without overtaking the main focal image. I colored sweet Sophia using my Copic Sketch markers (again purchased at Paper Pretties), I can't get enough of these. They are so easy to use and no drying marks! Love it!!

My first big order from the new Stampin' Up! Catalog is scheduled to arrive tomorrow!! YAY!!! I can't wait to cut into all the new rubbah and get my hands dirty.

P.S. Dottie, you said you would email me your mailing info but I've yet to receive it....send it again, would you please? This paper and mailbox are dying to travel to their new home. ;)

Simply Sohia...

Did everyone have a good time at the Prettie Party last night?!?! I know I had a blast!!! I couldn't even keep up there were so many people and so many posts. What fabulous games and prizes too...I was kinda bummed I couldn't play (I like free stuff too!) *lol*

Here is another card featuring little Sophia which was one of the sets released by Paper Pretties last night. There's something about her that just makes me smile....and grab my old teddy bear and curl up in bed. ;) I pulled out my Janome-mini to add some stitching around her, the colors used are Blush Blossom, River Rock and Kraft. I'm stepping outside of my box and using new colors since I got so many wonderful ideas from all of you!!! (Thanks again, by the way!) I didn't have any River Rock patterned paper so I just made my own! I paper pieced her dress and used my white Signo pen to add white polka dots. I'm so thrilled just to be able to stamp again I don't think I'll be leaving my stamp room all weekend!

Dottie K....come on down!!!!

And the winner is..............DOTTIE!!!!!!

Dottie K said...
Well I have two - brown and aqua and brown and pink. I'm really into brown with alot of colors. Thanks for the chance of candy. Hope your getting better so we can enjoy you cards. :)

Dottie where are you!?!??! You've won my blog candy so send me your mailing info so I can spoil you rotten!!!!

Thank you ALL for your well wishes and all the fabulous color combinations, you've got my gears turning and my hand can't wait to get started.

Ok ladies, back to the Prettie Party....prizes and contest going on all night!!!! Get on over there, trust me, it's worth it!!!

Here she is.....

She's finally here for the world to see!!! Everyone.....this is Sophia. The newest addition to the Paper Pretties Stamp line, couldn't you just eat her up?!?!!?

Be sure to go check out the twi brand new stamp sets JUST released in the Paper Pretties Boutique!

I have a secret....

....and a blog candy WINNER!!! Both to be announced shortly......

Anyone keeping watch??? **tick, tock**

I hope so because come 5:30 PST I'm gonna post...using BOTH hands!! WHOO HOOOOO!!! ;)

And the final clue is....

What?! You think I was going to just tell you?? Snowflake left us all clues throughout the week and today he's given the last clue to Christie. Be sure to gather ALL the clues and submit them to paperprettiesprizes@yahoo.com for a chance to win the Grand Prize. That winner will be announced tonight at the Prettie Party (5pm PST). See you all there!!!

It's a Prettie Party and everyone's invited!!!

When: Friday, January 11, 2008
Where: In our brand new Prettie Forum
Who: Everybody who loves to stamp!
Why: To see if anyone found Snowflake and find out where he's been hiding. There will be games, prizes, we’ll announce a customer submission contest, and LOTS of fun!!

Please note, you’ll need to register as a user to the site, so please stop by a little early to make your way into to the Forum. All you need to do is click on “register” below the member’s login. If you’ve already registered then you just login and head to the forum! Once in the Forum, look for “Parties” and we’ll all be meeting there at 5pm PST (8pm EST). Come join in the fun and see if anyone found Snowflake and won the Grand prize!!!

Tomorrow is the final clue, so be sure to check back in the morning to see if you can unscramble all the hints Snowflake left behind.

Day four, still searching....

We're hot on the trail to find Snowflake and luckily we've had all of your help so we just might be able to find him! Today’s clue is posted by Charmaine and Jana so head on over there for a chance at today’s prize! Today's winner will receive the MFT It's Elemental set!!! Don’t forget that Julie, Joanne and I have also posted clues this week. Be sure to collect all the clues to register for the grand prize!

Be sure to stop by PaperPretties.net on the 11th at 7pm CST to see what it is that we’ve been searching for all week and to see if you’re the winner of the grand prize!!

And don't forget the big Prettie sale!!! 25% off all regular priced merchandise! (enter code nwss25 at checkout). This sale ends tomorrow so be sure to get over there before it's all gone!!!

Another clue from Snowflake...

Thanks for joining us for Day 3 of our Search for Snowflake. Today’s clue is posted by Julie Masse, looks like Snowflake might have left her a note. Joanne and I have also posted clues that Snowflake left us earlier this week. Be sure to collect all the clues to register for the grand prize which will be drawn on Friday!


Today's prize is a bella trio: pompombella, snowbunnybella, and veggiebella!!!


And I love every one's color combos, there are quite a few that I have never tried so my goal when I get my hand back is to challenge myself to ALL the color combos on the "never been tried before" list. Overall I think everyone loves Neapolitan (pink/white/brown) and MY current fav...Turquoise or Soft Sky and Chocolate. Keep those color combos coming ladies, the winner will be drawn on Friday!!!

Paper Pretties shipping glitch is fixed

Plase note, if you were shopping over at Paper Pretties in the last few days you might have noticed an inflated shipping fee listed for your items. That was a glitch and it has now been resolved. Ahh the joy of a new website and working out all the bugs. :) So I just wanted to let you all know that it was caught and fixed and you may resume SHOPPING!!!

Also, don't forget that clue #3 will be posted tomorrow so check back here to find out where it is....ahh that sneaky little Snowflake. ;)

Hmm, another clue perhaps??

Yesterday we began the search for Snowflake, have you seen him? Joanne found a note yesterday and I received an email today reading “A H S”. If you can figure out what this means, please send the answer to today’s clue to paperprettiesprizes@yahoo.com for a chance at today’s prize - the brand new MFT Be Mine stamp set!!

Have you checked out the big sale yet? Paper Pretties is celebrating it's new website and you're all invited. 25% off all regular priced merchandise! (enter code nwss25 at checkout). This sale is going on now through Jan 10th, but not all items will stick around so you'd better get shopping soon!!

Need a treat?!?

Blog candy you ask??? Well, since I haven't been able to do much stamping I wanted to at least show you my current paper slab fav....oh heck, I'll give it to ya!!!

This is my favorite Rob & Bob studio slab!! The cover says Holiday but the colors and patterns can be used for just about everything...I'm using the pinks shown here for some upcoming Valentine's goodies I'll soon have to share with you. ;) And of course a fabulous pink mailbox along with some fun pink ribbon!

Just leave me a comment with your FAV color combo (fav one for now, since our fav's tend to change, eh?) My wound closure strips come off on Friday so I'm thinking that's a good day to select a winner!!! So let's hear it ladies...what are your favorite colors to use??

(please note, in order to win Blog Candy you must leave your name, Anonymous posts will not be entered to win)

A hunting we will go....

We took a little break from our Wednesday challenges but the Prettie Girls are back but we've lost something....can you help us find it?? We’re on a hunt and we hope you’ll join us. There will be daily prizes along the way and a grand prize winner at the end of the hunt. All you need to do is collect the daily clues, unscramble them and submit your answers to paperprettiesprizes@yahoo.com for a chance to win the daily prize.

At the end of the week you’ll need to put the clues together and send your final answer to paperprettiesprizes@yahoo.com for a chance to win the grand prize!
Ready to get started? Please visit Joanne’s Blog for the first clue.

Today’s prize is the Paper Pretties Premium Expectafellabella kit!

Be sure to check back tomorrow as there may be a few new "clues" and also some CANDY!!!!!

My first project....plus a very Prettie Sale

Thank you all for your sweet words and well wishes to a speedy recovery (and for confirming that those 'stitches don't hurt when they're removed' people were liars!) So guess what I did tonight??? I stamped!!!! I just couldn't resist since it's storming outside and Scott has been stuck to the tv watching football ALL DAY! So what do I do??? Stamp!! It was actually easier than I predicted, but I used mostly my right hand. I found that coloring is my biggest challenge so if I stick to mainly bold image stamps then I can get a few things made!!! This weeks challenge over at Paper Pretties was to use something with scallops.....so I did! And look what's inside....

Mmmmm chocolate, perfect for Valentine's Day! I used Purely Pomegranate paper, cut a strip 8 1/2" by 3". Scored at 2 1/2 and 2 7/8, flipped it around and scored the same measurements on the other end. Stamped the small heart from MFT Shower Time (featured in Sept's MFT Pretties box) randomly for my pattern on the top flap, then I wrapped a piece of white taffeta ribbon around the front. Next I stamped the bold heart from the December Paper Pretties MFT box, 'Be Mine' using Pure Pom ink. I used my aqua painter to blend out the word so it was just a bold heart (love that trick). I inked up the 'Be Mine' phrase in Brilliance Graphite Black (which I've found I really prefer the craft/pigment pads with the acrylic stamps, dye based ink pads just don't get a solid image with acrylic). Lastly, I layered that onto a circle punch of Pure Pom and then the scallop punch out in Pretty in Pink. I used a pop-dot to mount the scallop just for a bit more dimension. I think I might add a touch of glitter once my left hand is in better working shape for a glue pen. But hey...I STAMPED!!!! **jumping for joy**

*******SUPER SPECTACULAR SALE ALERT**********

Have you seen the new Paper Pretties site?!?!?! HOLY MOLY!! Christie has been working very hard behind the scenes on so much new, fabulous stuff and do you know how hard that is to keep quiet?!?!! VERY!! So this week she is celebrating in style.....A SALE!!!!!

25% off all regular priced merchandise!!!!! (use coupon code nwss25). New stuff is being added daily so be sure to get over there and check it out.

Stay tuned....there is a lot more in store on this blog now that I'm only half broken. LOL

Stitches are out!

I'm still not allowed to use my hand but the hard part is over! YIPPEE!!! Ok and for those that said it doesn't hurt when they come out....LIARS!!!! I was sobbing like a baby with each snip and pull. OMG! The nurse said it's because it's on my palm and the wound is not healed yet, plus some new skin had grown ON the stitches (anyone gonna throw up yet? *gag*).

So I'm not posting a pic, oddly the wound looks nastier now than in the pic I posted earlier. It looks like when you slice open a hot dog, not pretty. So because I've been back at work and typing all day (and trying to stamp when i get home) I've irritated it, it's swollen and inflamed and the doc yelled at me. Oops. So nothing new to show you yet....but just you wait, because something BIG is coming and I assure you that you don't want to miss it. I'm resting over the weekend and on Monday I'll have some fun stuff to share!!!!

And since I can't stamp I'm thinking I should post some blog candy...hmmm, anyone thinking the same thing??? ;)