Stamp Happy

Stamp Simply #85 - Let the Sunshine In!

(*If you're looking for my Copic Creations challenge card, please click here!)

Hooray for the sunshine!  We sure have seen a lot more of it here in Northeast Ohio in the past week and I could not be happier!  What a welcome blessing this warmer weather has been, and even though it's been rainy it's still wonderful to see everything turning green and things blooming everywhere!  Today's Stamp Simply challenge from Sharon Johnson is to let the sunshine in!  Many of us shy away from using yellow in our creations, so today... be brave!  Pull out something bright and yellow and let it shine!

I'm extra excited about today's Stamp Simply challenge too, because we welcome a new Guest Designer for the month of May.... my fabulous friend, Barbara Anders!  I know you're gonna' love seeing what Bar creates for the Stamp Simply challenges, and I'm thrilled to have her joining us!

Sharon has a spectacular, sunshiney creation for you to see on her blog, and the Stamp Simply team is shining today with some beaming samples!

Julie Koerber
Jennifer Buck
Janine Orchard
Becky Oehlers
AJ Otto
Barbara Anders

For my card today, I chose to quickly color this super cute frog that my friend Danielle Kennedy sent me!  I thought he'd go very nicely with all the yellow and green in the Itsy Bitsy Spider paper I decided to use.  And I used some sentiments from my Kitchen Sink Stamps 3-Step Honey Bunny stamp set to complete my card.  I also added some sunshiney sparkle to the flower with my Spica glitter pens!

 I hope you'll give this challenge a try today!  Remember to leave a link to your creation on Sharon's blog, and use ssnotime85 if you upload to an online gallery, such as Paper Craft Planet!

Happy stamping!

Stamps:  frog (Penny Black), sentiment (Kitchen Sink Stamps)
Cardstock:  black/white duplex (The Paper Cut), Black OP (Bazzill), white (Neenah Classic Crest Solar White), designer paper (Itsy Bitsy Spider by Piggy Tales)
Inks:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko), markers (Copic)
Accessories:  Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Threading Water border punch (Fiskars), ribbon (Stampin' Up!)

Color Throwdown #40

It's time to Throwdown some color again, and this week Barbara has chosen this pretty, Spring color-combo to jumpstart your creativity!  Check out the details and samples from all the Throwdown team members at our blog, and remember if you play, you could be picked as our Featured Stamper next week! And that would put you in the running for Guest Designer for May!  You can also check out the individual blog links below for our team members...

Barbara Anders
Danielle Kennedy
Broni Holcombe
Cathy Indelicato
(LeAnne is taking a break this week!)

For my card, I chose to use this great SU! stamp set that my friend Anita loaned me!  (I keep teasing her though and telling her how nice it was of her to give it to me!  I just love this set!)  I also used some of my old Au Chocolat paper, and got some great inspiration from the Mojo Monday sketch this week!

I hope you'll take time to join us in the Throwdown this week!  Remember to use Mr. Linky back at the Throwdown blog to link your creation so we can all see it!  The Throwdown team members strive to leave comments for everyone, and so it's important that you leave us those links!  We may not all accomplish commenting every week as things do come up, but we work hard to make sure everyone gets a comment from someone!  We hope you appreciate that!  I've participated in other challenges myself and have never received an acknowledgement from the challenge host or the team members and it's discouraging, to say the least!

I hope you're having a great week!  If anyone would like take this darn sinus infection from me, I won't object!  It's time to start feeling better!

Thanks for stopping by!  I appreciate it so much!

 

Stamps:  flower branch, sentiment (Stampin' Up!)
Cardstock:  Sage Shadow, Pretty in Pink, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, designer paper (Stampin' Up!)
Inks:  Sage Shadow, Pretty in Pink
Accessories:  punches (Stampin' Up!), Cuttlebug embossing folder (ProvoCraft), ribbon, eyelets (craft supply).

Please continue prayers....

My friend Joan Fricker has an update on her blog regarding her cousin Mel.  Prayers are still needed very badly for this young mother and her family, so please continue to lift them up in your prayers!

Kitchen Sink Monday - Wedding Card

Monday rolls around again, and with it brings another day to showcase some Kitchen Sink Stamps!  Today I decided to show you the beautiful Forever & Always stamp set, because wedding season is approaching and you can really create some beautiful wedding cards with this set, as well as Anniversary greetings.  I really love all the flourish that this stamp has, along with some of the other designs in the set.

I kept the colors on this card on the generic side so I can keep it handy in case I need a card last minute, but you could coordinate this design with any wedding colors if you wish!

Check out some fabulous KSS Monday creations from the rest of the crew members, including three new members added to our Crew!

*Lisa Somerville
*Connie McCotter
*Makiko Jones
Angela Knopf
Dee Jackson
Julie Masse
Lori Tecler
Lynn McAuley
Maria Colosimo
and Nicole Cooke, who is sadly leaving our Crew after today!  You'll be sorely missed, Nic!

Have a great Monday, and thanks for stopping by!

 

Stamps:  Forever & Always (Kitchen Sink Stamps)
Cardstock:  black/white duplex (The Paper Cut), Basic Black, Whisper White, Brushed Silver (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Versamagic Onyx Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories:  clear embossing powder (Ranger), Cuttlebug Divine Swirls embossing folder (ProvoCraft), flat-back pearls, ribbon (craft supply).

Stamp Simply #84 - Let's Pipe Up!

Before we get to today's Stamp Simply challenge, I'd like to ask you to take a moment to visit my friend Joan Fricker at her blog.  Joan's young cousin, a mother of 3 just gave birth a few days ago and is now fighting for her life because of a brain hemorrhage.  Please take a moment to pray for this young woman!  Perhaps the power of prayer can bring a miracle to this devasted family!  Thank you!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."  -Jeremiah 29:11-13

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Today's Stamp Simply challenge is to use "piping" in your design!  In sewing, piping is a piece of covered cording used to visually separate (but actually join) two patterns or two pieces of fabric.  Think of a darling little girls dress with piping separating the bodice from the gathered skirt, or a much heavier type of piping on upholstered furniture.  So that's what Sharon is looking for today in your challenge cards!  Stop by her blog for full details!

For my sample, I guess you could say I didn't quite follow directions.  I tried using a narrow strip of ribbon and just couldn't get it to look right.  So I resorted to making two little ribbon tabs on my design, and kept them tight to the edge of the main image to resemble a piped edge.  My card came together quickly because I already had this adorable Magnolia image colored and ready to go.  My sweet friend Danielle Kennedy sent her to me a few weeks ago, and now I'm hooked on Magnolia images!  Too bad my checkbook doesn't have the same passion for spending!

Check out Sharon's fabulous sample, and also these great designs from the rest of the Stamp Simply crew!

Julie Koerber
Dee Jackson
Jennifer Buck
Janine Orchard
Becky Oehlers
AJ Otto
Jenny Gropp, April Guest Designer

Thanks for stopping by today!  It's supposed to be a high of 72 here in Northeast Ohio!  I think Spring is finally here!  Wahoo!

 

 

Stamps:  Tilda (Magnolia), sentiment (Taylored Expressions)
Cardstock:  Typhoon, Red Hot (Bazzill), Brocade Blue (Stampin' Up!), designer paper (My Mind's Eye), white (Neenah Classic Crest Solar White)
Ink:  Versamagic Night Sky, Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko), markers (Copic), Inkssentials white gel pen (Ranger)
Accessories:  corner rounder punch, oval punch (Stampin' Up!), ribbons (craft supply).

Pink and Chocolate Ketto

Hey everyone, I'm back!  Life is resuming normal activity in the Hershberger house (except for the head cold that Kaylie and I both are suffering from!) as Anne returned home to Germany yesterday.  So I'm back in the stamping groove!

I made this card for the Bellarific Friday challenge on the Stamping Bella blog.  I got it sent in a little too late, but that's OK... I had time to stamp and that's what is important!  ;)  I also used Jen's Sketch for You to Try for the layout.  It's changed up just slightly as her sketch called for an oval, and I had already cut cute little Lulu Ketto out in a circle before I looked at the sketch.  I wanted to use my pinking circle Nestabilities around the circle instead of scallops because the Ketto's are more funky and edgy!  Isn't she sweet!  I was excited to find this vintage-y button in my stash too, to add for the embellishment!  It reminds me of Depression glass!

Stay tuned, as tomorrow I'll be rejoining Sharon Johnson and her awesome team for the Stamp Simply challenges!  Oh, it feels so good to be back to my obsession!  If only I could stop coughing my head off, life would be grand!

Here's a quick picture taken at the airport yesterday before Anne headed for her gate!  I heard from her earlier today and she's home safe and sound, and very busy filling all her friends and family in on her experience in America!  I hope our boring family didn't end up being a disappointment to her, and that she truly enjoyed her stay!

 

Stamps:  Lulu Ketto, sentiment (Stamping Bella)
Cardstock:  Mocha Divine (Bazzill), Pink Pirouette (Stampin' Up!), white (Neenah Classic Crest Solar White), designer paper (Bo Bunny)
Inks:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamagic Jumbo Java (Tsukineko), markers (Copic)
Accessories:  Nestabilities (Spellbinders), ribbon, button (craft supply).

Color Throwdown #39

It's Wednesday again so it's time for another Throwdown!  This week its Cathy's turn to choose our colors, and she picked such a pretty combo!  You can really do a lot with these colors, so c'mon and show us your stuff!  Upload your creation to your blog, or to any online gallery such as Paper Craft Planet, then be sure to place a direct link to your creation through Mr. Linky on the Throwdown blog!  Remember, if you don't have the exact color specified just use whatever you have that's similar.  We're not picky about it, but just want everyone to have fun!

For my card, I chose to use this pretty yellow designer paper that my friend Anita just gave me from Stampin' Up! and I paired it with this pretty flower stamp from Penny Black. 

Be sure to check out these awesome designs for inspiration from the other Throwdown team members!

Cathy Indelicato
Barbara Anders
Danielle Kennedy
LeAnne Pugliese
Broni Holcombe

We're off in the wee hours of the morning today to take Anne to the airport for her return flight home!  Doesn't it seem like just a few days ago when I shared the news of her arrival with you all?  The past month really flew by!  Please join us in praying for her safe return to Germany!

Have a great day!

P.S.  My good friend Barbara Anders continues to excel each week in the My Favorite Things Stamping Idol contest, and her entry for this week is superb!  Be sure to check it out here, then go vote for her here!  Thanks!

Stamps:  fresh fields (Penny Black), sentiment from Other Important People(Kitchen Sink Stamps)
Cardstock:  So Saffron, Real Red, designer paper (Stampin' Up!), black (Bazzill)
Inks:  Real Red, Old Olive, So Saffron (Stampin' Up!), Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories:  ribbon (Creative Impressions), Nestabilities (Spellbinders), brads (Stampin' Up!).

Kitchen Sink Monday

It's another Crew Challenge week for Kitchen Sink Monday, and this week our fearless leader and company owner, Maria is the hostess.  Maria has been busy trying to organize the business cards she collected earlier this year at CHA into her Rollodex, and hence her idea for today's challenge was born!  Create a Rollodex or recipe card using your Kitchen Sink Stamps!

For Easter dinner last Sunday, I made my famous carrot cake for dessert.  (recipe at the end of this post if you're interested!)  Since I had some leftover on Monday, I took a few pieces to work with me to share.  A few of my co-workers asked for the recipe so today's challenge was perfect for me to make a few special cards to share!  (I felt like they needed a little embellishing... hopefully the buttons won't cause too much trouble inside a recipe box but if they do they can easily be popped off!)

Be sure to check out the creations from the rest of the Kitchen Sink Crew members for inspiration, then go create our own recipe or Rollodex cards and get entered in the What's Cookin' with Your Kitchen Sink Stamps contest!  All the contest details can be found here, and if you win you can earn a Kitchen Sink shopping spree!

Maria Colosimo
Lori Tecler
Angela Knopf
Nicole Cooke
Lynn McAuley
Julie Masse
Dee Jackson

Have a great Monday!

 

Stamps: 3-Step Honey Bunny, 1/2 Pint Playful Alphabet Buddy, Mix-It Up Mongram & Alphabet, Playful Frames & Journaling (Kitchen Sink Stamps)
Cardstock:  Chocolate Chip, Garden Green, Very Vanilla (Stampin' Up!), designer paper (Lasting Impressions)
Inks:  Versamagic Persimmon, Sahara Sand, Gingerbread, Jumbo Java (Tsukineko), Garden Green (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories:  Nestabilities (Spellbinders), buttons, linen thread.

Carrot Cake
Sift together: 

• 3 c. flour
• 2 c. white sugar
• 1 t. soda
• 1 t. baking powder,
• 1 t. cinnamon
• 1 t. salt

Mix together:

• 3 eggs
• 1 1/2 c. vegetable oil (oops... just realized I missed this on the cards!)
• 2 t. vanilla
• 2 c. grated carrots
• 1 c. chopped nuts
• 1 c. crushed pineapple (undrained)

Mix the wet ingredients by hand and pour over top the sifted dry ingredients.  Mix well and bake in a 9x13 at 325 degrees for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Icing:

• 1-12 oz. package cream cheese, softened (I find these measurements make more than enough icing, and so I cut it back to 8 oz. when I make it.)
• 1/3 lb. butter softened (I used 1/4 lb.)
• Approximately 1 1/2 lbs. powdered sugar (Start with 1 pound, and add more as necessary)

Beat until fluffy and ice cake after cooled.

Just a reminder... stamps for sale!

Just a reminder that I have still have some stamp sets for sale!  I'd really like to get these sold!  If you see something you're interested in but don't like my price, please don't hesitate to make an offer!  Thanks!

Birthday Bag

Kelsey has a birthday party to go to tonight, so I made her this little gift bag and matching card for the present.  I had colored this Margarita Ketto a few weeks ago, while sitting at the indoor amusement park with the girls, so it was quick and easy to throw this together with a matching 3x3 card.  I simply used a white gift bag, and cut it down so it was 6" tall.  Then sandwiched it between the two layers of cardstock.  Party perfect!

We're off to softball games, and then a soccer game today!  Hooray that the sun is shining!  I hope your Saturday is fabulous!

  

 

Stamps:  Margarita Ketto, birthday sentiment (Stamping Bella), for you sentiment (unknown)
Cardstock:  Lovely Lilac (Stampin' Up!), Berrylicious (Bazzill), white (Nennah Classic Crest Solar White), designer paper (Bo Bunny)
Inks:  Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko), Lovely Lilac (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories:  Nestabilities (Spellbinders), felt flower (Creative Impressions).