Butterflys Butterflys Butterflys

I just love butterflys! We've had a lot of them this summer, it's been really dry and since we have a new lawn, we've had to run our sprinkler and where ever we moved the sprinkler, the butterflies would gather. It was really neat! So that was the true inspiration for this card, I also made in coincide with a Card Sketch A Day sketch, so it's all good! Keep scrolling down, this card has pop up butterflies on the inside which were soooo easy! I used my largest circle punch ( 1 3/8") and cut it into a spiral and attached the butterflies with glue dots...Super easy touch to this card. Enjoy!

Recipe:

• Paper: SU Lavendar Lace, MME green pp, Paper pizzzaz purple pp
• Stamps: Doodlebug Teenage Girl, Studio G Sentiment
• Ink: SU Lavendar Lace
• Pebbles: Robins Nest Orchid
• Other: Circle punch 1 3/8", Offray ribbon
  
  

It's officially fall...

...and how do I know...it's harvest time. So I took this shot off of my deck before the beans were cut... It really looks bare now, but I'll post that picture after the corn is gone also. For now I still have by "corn fence".

The Reluctant Purchase

So we know we've needed a new truck for about 6 months...the old one was slowly dieing. It finally did this week, the day before we were to leave for a show. Now one of our customers has contacts...and when I mean she has contacts, all she has to do is make a phone call and it's done. For example, we're going to go look at a horse in Minnesota, she wasn't happy with the commercial flights she was finding, one of her friends is flying us on his private plane next week...so when something needs to be done, one phone call and she's got it done. So last week, before the death of our truck, she saw the truck below sitting in her friend's lot and had him bring it by for us to try out...we did and didn't really give it too much though...nice truck, great price, but mostly a "dream" truck...we wanted to make ours limp along for another 6 months...well guess what...all that duct tape and bailing twine ain't getting us to the next horse show and the repairs needed are more than the truck is worth...so you understand our dilema. So we reluctantly purchased this new truck...it's bigger...all the way around, big motor, bigger cab, etc... and we got it for the same price we paid for our old truck 4 years ago...so it was a deal too...anyway, we reluctanly purchased it 6 months sooner than we actually wanted to...oh well...it IS PRETTY...LOL

May the Gift of Love

Here's a card I made for some upcoming nuptuals. I copied the colors from the invitation we received and the rings were found from the Dollar Store (I bought a bag of like 100 of them for $1...score!)

Recipe

• Paper: Unknown, my stash
• Stamp: Retired SU
• Ink: Stampology Onyx
• Embellishment: Rings (from Dollar Tree), ribbon
• Embossing: Cuttlebug Textile
  

You Always Make Me Smile!

Well I entered another Stamping Bella challenge, this time I was to "case" (copy) another card
someone else did, but change 2 to 3 things on it. So I changed the colors, the image and I stamped the hearts in glitter. I've been wanting to try out glitter stamping, so with my Martha Stewart Glue Pad and her glitter (both purchased at WM) I tried it out and was pretty happy with the results below. In case you haven't figured it out, I just love this little bear, he is sooooo adorable! He always makes me smile!

Recipe:

• Stamps: Stamping Bella My Beary Best Friend, Doodlebug Hearts, Studio G Sentiment
• Paper: DCWV black dots, SU all other
• Ink: Martha Stewart Glue Pad, Stampology Onyx
• Other: Martha Stewart Glitter, Grograin Ribbon
  

They're Back.....

...and no I'm not talking about Poltergeist's. The weather has turned a little cooler a little earlier than normal this year, and this is a BADDDDDD sign.

So I'm sitting at this computer, surfing my favorite stamping mojo blogs and I hear the trash rustle behind me. Just KNOWING that it's Spanky (and with a name like Spanky, doesn't that just spell TROUBLE? He was named Spanky because he was a "little rascal"...which still proves correct to this day) getting into the trash YET AGAIN, I start yelling at him. Normally he stops immediately, but this time he didn't. So I kept yelling at him...not turning around, just telling him to knock it off and GET OUT OF THE TRASH!

Then I happen to look to my right (where our sofa is) and he's in his spot on the couch looking at me with that "what did I do?" look...and I STILL hear rustling in the trash can...then I think, ok which OTHER dog is in there...nope they are all in the sofa vacinity...so I actually get up and go for a look-see.... yeah, he's there...Mickey MOUSE...who immediately hopped up over the can and ran under my oven...sigh... I've got my trap set, but it looks like he doesn't like gum drops and I'm out of rice crispy treat's and I'll be danged if I'm making an ENTIRE batch for a mouse (because the bigger mice in this house will have the ENTIRE pan eaten in a day...it really is a killer on our diet!...LOL)...although I'm just SURE he'd love it! I'm just hoping I scared him enough that he's decided there's better places to scrounge around for food instead of our trash!

Dandelion Thank You

I made this card for the Card Sketch A Day and then decided it was not enough like the sketch when I was done...I still like the card, I just wanted it to be BLATANTLY obvious from the sketch...so I made another one to share another day. I LOVE the kraft colored paper on this...the entire card sits on the kraft colored paper, although it's hard to see in the photo. As you can see I also used that Penny Black stamp again, I really can't get enough of the "lace" flower...reminds me of dandelions blowing in the wind!

Recipe:

• Paper: Imagine That (green), kraft and white unknown.
• Ink: Distress Ink Shabby Shutter
• Stamps: Penny Black Lace Flower, Inkadinkado Thank You.
• Punch: SU scallop, EK Success small circle, Nestabilities large circle
• Ribbon: Grograin
• Brad: Unknown
  

Birthday Dandelions

Guess what I found...yes my pesky camera...it was hiding underneath the drivers seat in the shadows (no wonder I couldn't find it!). So here's a card share for today! The minute I cased this card off of Split Coast Stampers I knew I had to recreate it. I used a Penny Black stamp I found at HL during one of their sales. I love how it turned out!

Recipe:

Stamps: Penny Black Lace Flower, CTMH Happy Birthday Script
Paper: Cardstock from my stash (sorry I don't have better info...just trying to use up what I have!)
Ink: Colorbox White Pigment, CTMH Olive
Brads: Queen & Co.
Other: Paper piercer, sponge dauber

I've lost it...yet again...

...and I'm not talking about my mind...although I search for that on a daily basis...no I'm talking about my side piece, my CAMERA! I took it to the horse show and it hasn't been seen since. I've torn the house apart, the truck apart, the horse trailer apart and still, no camera. I'm frustrated to say the least (maybe I AM missing my mind!). Sigh...here's to hoping I find it, I've been working on several cards that I'm just dying to share!

Well that was a short show!

We got rained out...we had hoped against hope that the rain would recede and we would be able to show, but it was not in the cards this weekend. So a few of the customers came over today (after we left the show) to ride and had a small pizza party. How disappointing on the show end of things...well, we've always get NEXT weekend! LOL!

More Pictures from Last Weekend

Here's some pictures my MIL (the unofficial photographer when I'm too busy) from last weekend...enjoy!

Myself and Janet discussing her show strategy.

Myself and K watching students ride.

A TRUE man isn't afraid to take a spin on a pink scooter...this is my FIL who borrowed one of our students wheels for a couple of minutes...

Here's our "unofficial photographer" in the bright blue along with the rest of our students...this is also the same group we're taking to Congress... they look like trouble makers don't they?

KISS (keep it super simple) Card

It's CARD TIME! I've been working on lots of cards, but those won't go up until the sketch does and Card Sketch a Day...so here's something simple I did for the Bella Sketch Challenge on Split Coast Stampers... SUPER SIMPLE!

Recipe:

• Stamps: Stamping Bella My Beary Best Friend, Sentiment by Hero Arts
• Paper: PP Sandylion Baby Girl Flowers, Cardstock unknown
• Other: Flowers Queen & Company, Brads unknown
  

Halloween Sentiments

So I went to one of my favorite "haunts" the Scrapbook Addict Message Board and asked for some help with some Halloween Sentiments to go with a card that I'm doing for Card Sketch A Day...and they had some WONDEFUL suggestions that I thought I would share them here, and hopefully it will inspire someone...I'll add more as I come across them! Happy Haunting! Bwwaahhhaaaaaaaa.....

from Marcy:

• Happy Halloween, You Old Bat!
• Happy Haunting
• Bewitching Hour
• Spooky Night
• Halloween Night

from Sue:

• A card had a witch on a broom that said "I'm out earning frequent flyer miles".
• From one spook to another
• Have a Good Night
• Tricks or treats no extra charge

from mamichelle:

• Are you a good witch or a bad witch?
• Best Witches!

from Tracy:

• Beware ! It's Halloween
• It's Halloween! When creatures of the night turn on the heat!
• Have a creepy, crawly Halloween!!
• Time to let.... your dark side show!
• Happy Halloween Be prepared for surprises.
• It's fright night Happy Halloween
• When the moon is riding high, you know it's party time!
• Witching you a Happy Halloween
• Tonight's the night to dress up and act out all your fantasies
• Now that's frightening Happy Halloween

From Rinda:

• There's a bad moon on the rise

From Dorothy:

• Hope you survive the night. Happy Halloween! Have a magical (or mystical) night.

From Sharon S:

• From ghoulies and ghosties And long-leggedy beasties And things that go bump in the night, Good Lord, deliver us! ~Scottish Saying

From Cheri:

• Something wicked this way comes.

from Yours Truly:

• Witch way did he/she go?
• Boil, boil, toil and trouble...
• Feeling batty
• Have a bewitching night
• You're so Boo-tiful!
• (Frankenstein card)Frankly my dear.... (inside) have a frightful halloween!
• (spider card) Dropping you a line...(inside) for a happy halloween!

We will, we will, ROCK YOU!

Can you tell by the title we had a GOOD weekend? Let's see, we took 8 horses and came home with over 20ish points (I quit counting at some point)... Kevin and Elaine were big winners on her horse Sable. Kevin was 2nd and 3rd in the Green Western Pleasure, 1st and 2nd in Senior Western Pleasure and Elaine is still UNDEFEATED in Novice Amateur Western Pleasure. Kevin finished up an ROM (Register of Merit which means he put 10 points on the horse beating at least 50 other people), this increases the horse's value...so it's a GOOD THING! We also got 2 offers of purchase for the same horse, one was flat turned down and the other is an open ended "when you're ready to sell, call me..." LOL...so we know we're on to something. What really makes this winning so sweet is that K had this horse 5 years ago when she was only 2, and really only showed her 3 times and had a trainer tell him, "that one's never gonna make it!"...that same trainer 5 years later asks "what's that?"...never remembering that this was the one that "wasn't gonna make it". HA!

This is what undefeated looks like! :)

My showmanshippers ROCKED! Charlotte won under both judges in her Novice Amateur class, Janet was 1st in her Select Amateur Class, Kaytlyn was 2nd & 4th in her Novice Youth class and then came back to be 4th & 6th in the 14-18 class...which is a BIG deal because she placed RIGHT BEHIND WORLD/CONGRESS Champions...and this was the 2nd show she's showed this horse at...pretty nifty! And let's not forget our newest student Sydney, who was 4th & 6th in Novice Youth and who showed her tail end off... I'm so proud of all of them, they really stood up and showed for all their classes!
So we all came home happy and tired...even the horses...they are pretty much sleeping today away!

A Joke...

.... my bff sent this too me with a note attached that "this will be us"...I know she's right...anyway, enjoy!

Two elderly ladies had been friends for many decades.
Over the years they had shared all kinds of activities
and adventures. Lately, their activities had been
limited to meeting a few times a week to play cards.
One day they were playing cards when one looked
at the other and said, 'Now don't get mad at me....I
know we've been friends for a long time.....but I
just can't think of your name! I've thought and
thought, but I can't remember it. Please tell me
what your name is.' Her friend glared at her. For at
least three minutes she just stared and glared at her.
Finally she said, 'How soon do you need to know?'

Card Sketch a Day

Well look what I found... a blog that has a sketch a day JUST FOR CARDS! How neat is that...this is a brand new site and I've volunteered to do some cards for the sketches...I'm quite excited about it! In fact, one of the sketches sent to me I've already got a card almost done that I've been working on...(this was before I even had a sketch in hand...how funny is that?)
So where is this blog you might say...well right here:

http://cardsketchaday.blogspot.com/

For each sketch put up, there are several examples (and hopefully mine soon!). So now I'm off to gather some ideas for the sketches...I'm sooooooo excited...go take a look around her site, it's new, but I'm betting it's gonna be a really great blog!

Happy Stamping!

Some Cards

Here are a couple of cards I made last night, the first is autumn inspired. The second was just because I liked the patterned paper. I am trying to "stage" my cards before I take their picture, I used my longerberger basket as a background and then tried to put flowers and what have you next to the card, I think I like it better than the stark white backdrop I've been using. I'm just trying to use stuff I have around the house... anyway, enjoy...

You are in my thoughts pumpkin card Recipe:

Stamps: All hero arts, except for the swirl on the pumpkin itself, that's Studio G.

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink

Paper: Cardstock Joann's Value Pack, PP My Minds Eye

Other: CM Circle Punch (for pumpkin), Birthday Candle Punch (for pumpkin stem), Pebbles Chalk, AMM ribbon

A warm hello Recipe:
Paper: SU Lavendar Lace, PP Miss Elizabeths (green),
Stamps: Basic Grey two scoops, hero arts sentiment, Daisy small flower.
Punches: SU Scallop, Circle punch
Ink: Marvy Black, SU Lavendar Lace
Other: Flower from Dollar Tree

How was your Labor Day?

Did you have fun? Have a cook out? We actually LABORED...LOL...well we worked at any rate...but it's all good, the clients all had a good time (I think...) and then Aunt Jody came over to Grandma and Grandpa's house, so we went over there after work for a mini-family reunion (we don't get to see K's uncles and aunts and cousins all that often) and sat around and talked and raided Grandma's refrigerator, yum!

This was our last weekend at home for awhile...we'll be "on the road" from here on out until the first weekend of October and then we'll be gone for two weeks to the All American Quarter Horse Congress...the Largest Single Breed horse show in the WORLD! It's in Columbus Ohio (you can take a look at it at www.OQHA.com). It's quite the horse show and draws people in from all over the country.

Well toodles for now...

Happy Birthday Cupcake

I did another Bella Challenge on Split Coast Stampers, and if you scroll down you'll see a green card with a girl sitting on a cupcake (cupcakeabella)...well, I just omitted the girl and stamped the cupcake, then I layered it and stickled the cupcake...I think this turned out pretty cute!

Recipe:

• Paper: SU Pretty In Pink
• Stamps: SU Think Happy Thoughts, Stamping Bella Cupcakeabella
• Embossing: Cuttlebug Spots and Dots, Nestabilities
• Circles: Smaller happy birthday circle punch, Large scallop circle by Cricut Mini Monograms, Nestabilities Circle
• Flowers: Queen & Company
• Brads: unknown
• Glitter: Stickles