I've been tagged! This is my first time to receive an "award" from a fellow stamper and blogger. Above and beyond that, it's from one of my very favorite stampers. Michelle is a truly inspiring designer. If you have a chance you need to visit her blog. You will be amazed and astounded! Thank you so much Michelle!!! You rock!
The Rules:
1. Only 5 people allowed.
2. 4 have to be dedicated followers of your blog
3. one has to be someone new or recently new to your blog and live in another part of the world.
4. you must link back to whoever gave you the award.

Here goes:
1. Sarah (aka Sairabee) I have to laugh a little a I know that Sara has received this award at least twice. But I have to send it to her again. Sarah is the kind, sweet, talented, charming lady that sent me my very first RAK. Go visit her blog - it's fabulous!
2. Latisha is one of my SBS10 sisters and she is great. She does great things with her ribbon. Check out her cards!
3. SueDaly always leaves the nicest comments on my blog. She takes fabulous pictures! She has new pictures of butterflies on her blog that will knock your socks off.
4. Faith is as beautiful as her name. Her talent is incredible! I've tried to "do dots", but no one does them like Markie's Mom! Definitely take the time to visit her blog!
5. Shannan gets numerous awards and deserves all of them and more. What a talented young lady!

Picking only five was really tough! I'll get the rest of you ladies next time! Thanks to all of you gals who take the time to share your creativity through your artwork. Have a beautiful inspired day!

Smile

Before work this morning I decided I'd better stamp something or some of my loyal readers might boycott my blog. This card was made to satisfy sketch challenge #186 on Splitcoast. The second challenge I used was the inspiration challenge #138. We were supposed to get our inspiration from a blog or website design, but not from the content. I found a website called www.fiftyflowers.com and liked the design (but still took liberties with it.) However, I found this challenge via Markie's Mom on Splitcoast. Her cards are always an inspiration and I LOVE her use of dots. I tried, but nobody does dots like she does. Thank you for looking and leaving your comments. "Smile" and have a great day!

Two Challenge Bloomin' Beautiful

My mojo was a little off after coming home from vacation, so I turned to the Splitcoast challenges to get it going. The sketch challenge is SC185. I really love this color challenge (CC176) which uses Soft Sky, River Rock, and Very Vanilla. I added the vellum which I embossed and colored on the reverse side with my pens. I hope you like it!

RECIPE:
Paper: Soft Sky, River Rock, Very Vanilla, Vellum
Ink: Versamark
Stamps: SU Bloomin' Beautiful
Accessories: White EP, Pearls, Ribbon, SU Photo Corner Punch

Hummingbird Thankyou

For someone who never made 6 x 6 cards, I've made quite a few in the last month. I bought this hummingbird stamp before I left for vacation and left it in the middle of my stamp table. This morning before work I decided I'd better put ink to rubber and make a card with it. I knew the colors I wanted to use for the bird, but didn't have any patterned paper to go with it. I used my SU reinkers and alcohol and made my own paper. I hope you like it! There is an awful lot going on, but I think it works. Your commnents are appreciated.

RECIPE:
Stamps: Inkadinkadoo "Hummingbird", SU Warmest Regards, SU Baroque Motifs
Ink: Night of Navy, Versamark
Paper: WW, Taken with Teal, Green Galore, Night of Navy, Glossy White
Accessories: SU Reinkers - Night of Navy, Green Galore, Tempting Turq and Silver, Alcohol, Brads, Ribbon, White EP, Piercing tool

My Very 1st RAK

Well, we made it back safe and sound from Corpus Christi, but took the long way through Albuquerque, NM and up through Durango, Colorado. It was a full two days of hard driving! I think we were all happy to sleep in our own beds and I know Buster (the lab) and Ms. Ruby (the Calico Kitty) were very, very glad to see us. I was so thrilled to get our mail as I received my very first RAK from Sarah (scrampinmama.blogspot.com) who I met through Splitcoast. Thank you so much Sarah! I love the card and would love to know more information about the stamp of the girl. I purchased the Ginger Rogers stamp a while ago, but love the girl stamp with it! If anyone has a chance you really should visit Sarah's blog - she is extremely talented!

On Vacation - Gone to pick up our boys from camp!

We just arrived in Corpus Christi yesterday. On Friday afternoon we left Rifle to pick up our boys in Hunt, Texas. Our start was much later than planned due, in part, to a rock getting lodged between the caliper and brake pad on my car. I panicked and went straight to the Ford dealership. They had me taken care of and out the door in two hours. We drove to Trinidad, Colorado the first night and were back on the road at 6:30 Saturday morning. I promised our boys that we would be at their campfire service at 8:30. Weeeellllll....... in order to do that, I drove the distance. My husband just closed his eyes and hung on. I think I "averaged" 90 miles per hour. If my husband had been driving we'd still be on our way to camp. Many years ago, while I was in college, my friends nicknamed me "Mario". Probably not something to brag about, but we made it to the campfire. Then yesterday we attended the closing ceremonies and came on down to Corpus to see my mom and dad. We were quite exhausted but Nana and Papa were tickled to see the boys. We'll spend a week in Corpus and then make the long trek back to Rifle. I brought a few cards, my camera and my laptop and will try and post a few things later today. Sorry that I've been absent so long. I'll make it up to you all. Have a great day! Lesly

4th of July Cupcake

This was a very strange 4th of July with both of our boys away at camp. The fireworks just weren't as bright without the Oohs and Aahs of John and Michael. So, instead of continuing to watch them, I decided I would make a card. The cupcake paper is crimped and the icing has bead sprinkles. I used Inkadinkadoo Cupcakes and Stampendous Freedom Cupcake stamps. The icing and toothpick insert are raised on dimensionals. Thank you for looking and leaving your comments. Have a great weekend!

Bloomin' Mojo

This is the card I made for the Monday Mojo Sketch #44 over at Poetic Artistry. I combined it with the color challenge #173 over at Splitcoast. I love the sketch - the colors together are a different story. I had a really hard time combining them. The stamp set is Bloomin' Beautiful from SU. I used the lids of my stamp pads to watercolor the image. Thank you for looking and leaving your comments. Have a "bloomin beautiful" day!
Recipe:
Stamp Set: Bloomin' Beautiful
Paper: Purely Pomegranite, Wild Wasabi, Certainly Celery, Whisper White, SU DP
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: SU Silver Hodgepodge, Photo Corner Punch, Ribbon, Rhinestones, Dazzling Diamonds