Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Simple Patriotic Cards

I finally got to make a few cards for my sketch challenge that was posted on Monday!  Yikes, crazy week!  You can view the original sketch challenge HERE.  I combined the sketch with the Latenightstampers Challenge to make patriotic cards. Which is perfect since we will be having another Cards for Soldiers making event at church with a signing too! So I am trying to come up with simple - easy to reproduce cards.  Not sure if these will make the cut or not but they are the first two attempts.  Hope you are having a great week!







Both cards are pretty simple!  Got to run and play pick up sticks with my son--he has been asking for an hour now. 

Mary Jo

Monday, April 25, 2011

Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge 171! (TSSC171)

Whewwww, now that holy week is over I am renewed and also have lots more time, lol!  Busy week, but oh so worth it.  I hope that your Easter was a blessed one and that you continue to live for HIM throughout the year.  Here is the new sketch challenge--minus my sample.  As I said--busy week!  Be back with the sample later today--lots of meeting and other stuff this morning.  But wanted to get you guys started.  It is a nice easy sketch today!






Don't forget it is a blog hop now so if you add the code to you blog in the Edit HTML portion of your post it will allow people to hop from one sample to the next!  Have fun with it, and see ya soon with my sample.
Mary Jo

Top Three for Sketch 170!

Some really fun samples this week ladies!  Thanks so much for playing along--hope you had a blessed Easter week!  Here are my top three picks in no particular order.


Remember to click on the pics to be taken to the creator's original post and see the full card in all it's glory and maybe even leave them a nice comment!


















 Thanks again ladies.
Please feel free to add my winner's button to your blogs. 




  Here is the HTML code.

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3N078M5G9-huSpLKlt3kaZVaDOt23WakDimAMmNxTZfDwbBYrppjjcAjsgjaUrfpZps0Y89XaqfHUUtSw_XVASL9GnC6K-H75oW7vXgOMwquB3HaHRJD50N0XGc061MmeDkIVgZX04dy/s1600/blog+button-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="15" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3N078M5G9-huSpLKlt3kaZVaDOt23WakDimAMmNxTZfDwbBYrppjjcAjsgjaUrfpZps0Y89XaqfHUUtSw_XVASL9GnC6K-H75oW7vXgOMwquB3HaHRJD50N0XGc061MmeDkIVgZX04dy/s200/blog+button-001.jpg" width="175" /></a></div>

I hope you will find time to play along with the new sketch that will be posted right after this.
Be right back with the new sketch!

Friday, April 22, 2011

Blogger's Challenge--ribbon or lace

This week Lisa our group MOM wanted us to use ribbon or lace on our challenge entry.  Well that is easy as I add ribbon to most of my cards--of course she may have wanted us to do something extraordinary with that ribbon or lace but I will pretend THAT never crossed my mind,  shhhh.  You can find more details for the challenge on Lisa's blog.

I am so loving this new set--I know I probably said that already but I LOVE it.  I combined this with the Sketch Frenzy Sketch challenge for the week--only problem is it is LAST week's sketch.  Go figure, forgot this is Friday so a new one is being posted, lol.  Oh well here is the sketch I followed



Stamps: The Open Sea, Teeny Tiny Wishes, On your Birthday
Paper: Not Quite Navy, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black, Whisper White
Other: buttons, baker's twine, ribbon, label punch, sponges

Come on and play along with us.  It's a blog hop!!!
Mary Jo

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Thursday Linky Party week 5 - Stampin Up! Style- In Wilderness

Linky Party Thursday--Stampin Up! Style!

A brand new item on my blog.  Each week I will be having a Linky Party!  Who doesn't love a party.  Especially when it involves Stampin Up products!  Here is how it will work.....


Thursday Technostamper Linky Party week 5
Each week I will pick a new stamp set to feature.  You can hop over and find out what the set of the week is and then you can link up any and all samples you have with the set!  That's right, you can make new ones or link up older ones.  As long as they use the stamp set of the week you are good to go.  What a great resource this could be!  I hope you will link up.  
This week we will be linking up cards and projects with the
In Wilderness Stamp Set
I almost didn't get this set--I am so glad I did, makes great masculine cards.  Here are my samples with links to the original posts for more details....
(Click on the image to be taken to the original post)
I actually made a different card for this challenge and then realized that the stamp set is from the Summer Mini which is not available yet--so only demos would be able to play--so I changed it to this set.  Hope you enjoy!










I can't wait to see all the ideas you guys have come up with for it!  Go find your samples  NOW and link up! Put your name or blog name in the title of the picture it will help people get to know your work. Also PLEASE link directly to the sample you are sharing and not to your entire blog.  Items not linked properly will be deleted to keep it fun no one wants to search and search it is supposed to be easy!
Mary Jo

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Splitcoaststamper's challenges!

I Wow, it has been months and months since I have been on this site.  But decided to head over today and try the sketch challenge--since I have not played in so long I decided to combine it will the color challenge from yesterday.  Here is the sketch....






And the colors from the color challenge were--Concord Crush, Crumb Cake and Very Vanilla.  Here is my card for the combined challenges.






Stamps: Strenght and Hope
Paper: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Lap of Luxury DP
Ink: Crumb Cake, Concord Crush
Accessories: pearls, markers, ribbon 
I am hoping I don't forget to post the linky party tomorrow.  Did anyone even notice I missed last week again, lol!?

Mary Jo

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Another simple baby card.

Here is another baby card for the Latenightstamper's challenge this week.  We are making baby cards--and I find that I have very few stamps that are current and can be used for baby cards.  Lots of baby stamps that are retired or non-Stampin Up!  But I think this set worked, what do you think? I really like the color combo--different.



Stamps: Animal Stories,  Fun and Fast Notes, God's Blessings
Paper: Daffodil Delight, Pretty in Pink, Marina Mist, Whisper White
Ink: Daffodil Delight, Basic Black
Other: embossing folder, satin ribbon. pom pom ribbon, circle scissors plus.

Not only a fast card but a fast post too!  Hope you are having a great week.  My son is off this week so we are doing things together.  Seen the movie RIO today in 3D--pretty cute.

Mary Jo

Monday, April 18, 2011

Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge 170! (TSSC170)

Welcome to this week's challenge!  We were very low on participants last week, but I hope we are buried in them this week!  It's an easy sketch--so easy in fact that I had a hard time with it, lol!  Here is the sketch--hope you can play along this week....


And my sample which is combined with the brand new Latenightstamper's challenge for the week--Baby Cards. I wish I would have added just a bit more white to this as I think it is kind of dark, especially for a baby but .......






I am still working on cards for my Mom who likes simple and flat cards--don't want to pay extra postage, lol!

Don't forget that the challenge is now a blog hop so if you post the code on your blog while in the Edit HTML mode you will be able to see all the samples on your own blog and people can just hop from one to the other visiting all the samples.

Thanks so much for visiting me today--and playing along!
Mary Jo

By the way--I increased the size of the samples--let me know what you think?? Too big???

Top Three for Sketch 169!

Top  Three  Six for sketch challenge 169!
Since there were only six of you brave enough to play along with this sketch I say you are all winners!  

For those of you who have not yet done so please take a moment to visit the beautiful creations from last week. And of course leave comments!



 Thanks again ladies.
Please feel free to add my winner's button to your blogs. 




  Here is the HTML code.

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3N078M5G9-huSpLKlt3kaZVaDOt23WakDimAMmNxTZfDwbBYrppjjcAjsgjaUrfpZps0Y89XaqfHUUtSw_XVASL9GnC6K-H75oW7vXgOMwquB3HaHRJD50N0XGc061MmeDkIVgZX04dy/s1600/blog+button-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="15" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3N078M5G9-huSpLKlt3kaZVaDOt23WakDimAMmNxTZfDwbBYrppjjcAjsgjaUrfpZps0Y89XaqfHUUtSw_XVASL9GnC6K-H75oW7vXgOMwquB3HaHRJD50N0XGc061MmeDkIVgZX04dy/s200/blog+button-001.jpg" width="175" /></a></div>

I hope you will find time to play along with the new sketch that will be posted right after this.
Be right back with the new sketch!
Mary Jo

Friday, April 15, 2011

Blogger's Challenge--sketch

Welcome to Friday!  TGIF!!!  This week Lisa gave us a sketch to work with on the Blogger's Challenge group.  It is a fun one.  I combined it with the Latenightstampers challenge for the week to use flowers and my personal challenge to use this stamp set I have had for quite a while and never used. 

To see the sketch and play along visit Lisa's Blog and check it out!  We would love to have you play along.
Here is what I came up with.






Stamps:  Nature Walk, Engraved Greetings
Paper: Concord Crush, Pear Pizazz, Whisper White
Ink: none
Other: markers, embossing folder, ribbon. rub on. 

Nice and simple--need cards for my Mom and she don't like too much bulk so you will be seeing a bunch of simpler ones for the next week or so.  Have a great weekend.  And don't for get to play along with one the many challenges you can find on my blog--this one is a good one.

Mary Jo

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Triple Play again.

I seem to do this a lot lately. I combined the new Latenightstamper's challenge which is to use flowers on your creations with the 411 sketch and the 411 color challenge.



Here is my card...






Stamps: Flower Fest
Paper: Rose Red, Crumb Cake, Always Artichoke, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black, Always Artichoke, Rose Red
Other: markers, blender pen, brad, ribbon, scallop edge border punch

Hope you are having a great week so far.  Sorry for the really quick post!
Mary Jo

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge 169! (TSSC169)

I have a fun sketch for you this week.  Don't let the background scare you!  I can't wait to see what you come up with.  Hope you find time to give it a shot!






I am still using my new stamp set The Open Sea and a nautical theme. 





Stamps:  The Open Sea, On the Grow
Paper: Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Real Red
Ink: Basic Black, Real Red
Other: embossing folder, pearls (colored) black marker, scallop trim border punch.

Don't forget that the challenge is now a blog hop so if you post the code on your blog while in the Edit HTML mode you will be able to see all the samples on your own blog and people can just hop from one to the other visiting all the samples. 

Thanks so much for visiting me today--and playing along!
Mary Jo

Top Three for Sketch 168!

What a fabulous day we had today! The weather is finally starting to get nicer. I am so excited! I am excited to share my top three choices for this week's sketch challenge too! It was one of the really hard to pick week's! But I was finally able to narrow it down to these three.....

Remember to click on the pics to be taken to the creator's original post and see the full card in all it's glory and maybe even leave them a nice comment!





 Thanks again ladies.
Please feel free to add my winner's button to your blogs. 




  Here is the HTML code.

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3N078M5G9-huSpLKlt3kaZVaDOt23WakDimAMmNxTZfDwbBYrppjjcAjsgjaUrfpZps0Y89XaqfHUUtSw_XVASL9GnC6K-H75oW7vXgOMwquB3HaHRJD50N0XGc061MmeDkIVgZX04dy/s1600/blog+button-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="15" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3N078M5G9-huSpLKlt3kaZVaDOt23WakDimAMmNxTZfDwbBYrppjjcAjsgjaUrfpZps0Y89XaqfHUUtSw_XVASL9GnC6K-H75oW7vXgOMwquB3HaHRJD50N0XGc061MmeDkIVgZX04dy/s200/blog+button-001.jpg" width="175" /></a></div>

I hope you will find time to play along with the new sketch that will be posted right after this.
Be right back with the new sketch!
Mary Jo

Friday, April 8, 2011

Blogger's Challenge--inspiration!

This week we have an inspiration challenge on the Blogger's Challenge group.  These are always fun to check out because there are so many different interpretations!  Everyone is inspired by something different.  It will be a fun one!  Here is the inspiration photo that Lisa gave us for this week...


And my card--I just got this new stamp set last night so I HAD to use it.  I was going to make it work one way or another.  I love how the images look in black on white.  Can't wait to play some more with this set!





I went with the colors, tree on side and lots of squares/rectangles.  Kind of different but I think I like it.  

Why not play along with us this week!
Mary Jo

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Thursday Linky Party week 4--aStampin Up! Style-Long Fellows

This week's featured stamp set is a level 2 hostess set.  It is cute but I have not used it too much, really need help with this one ladies!  How about sharing your ideas.

Each week I will be having a Linky Party!  Who doesn't love a party.  Especially when it involves Stampin Up products!  Here is how it will work.....




Thursday Technostamper Linky Party week 4
Each week I will pick a new stamp set to feature.  You can hop over and find out what the set of the week is and then you can link up any and all samples you have with the set!  That's right, you can make new ones or link up older ones.  As long as they use the stamp set of the week you are good to go.  What a great resource this could be!  I hope you will link up.  
This week we will be linking up cards and projects with the
Long Fellows Stamp Set--Level 2 Hostess set
Here is one of my samples for this the others will be below linked to the original post.



Stamps; Long Fellows, It's your birthday
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Basic Grey, Whisper White, in color dp pack, Lap of Luxury dp
Ink: Concord Crush, Basic Black
Other: pearls, markers, brad and hardware, top note die

Come on and share your samples--old or new just link up to the post.
Thanks for playing along!



Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Whoops never did post this....

And I am sure I know why. It was subconscious since I really do not like the card. I did this for the 411 sketch challenge for this week. I am not sure what my problem was but I could not get this set and that sketch to work, lol! But none the less, I am posting it anyway--seems someone always LOVES the cards I don't, lol! I think I over did it with all the elements. This is also for the Latenightstampers challenge to make a Mother's Day card or project.


Yea, just seems like there is too much going on--what do you think?

Stamps:  Messages for Mom
Paper: Concord Crush, Blushing Bride, Whisper White, in color dp
Ink: Concord Crush, Basic Black
Other: markers, pearls, scallop trim border punch, circle punch, scallop circle punch, ribbon, brads,  Filgree brad hardware, white gel pen.

Hope you are having a fabulous week!  Hump day!  My favorite!
Mary Jo

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge 168! (TSSC168)

Wow, April already!  Crazy and it is snowing out STILL!  Need I say more....

Here is the new sketch for this week. 




I am excited to see what you creative stampers come up with for this one!  I love my card.  I am still working with the Nature Walk set and Baja Breeze/Soft Suede combo.  What do you think??




The twine type stuff I used for the button and side stitching was from a tag that was on a new pair of my son's pants, couldn't just throw it away! 

Stamps:  Nature Walk, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Lovely as a Tree
Paper: Baja Breeze, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Elegant Soiree dp
Ink: Soft Suede
Other: tulip embossing folder, button embosslit, paper piercer, mat pack, markers,

Hope you give this sketch a shot.  I think it is a super interesting one and think there will be some absolutely beautiful cards using it!  Don't forget we are now a blog hop so be sure to add the code  to you sample post! Remember you have to do it while in the Edit HTML mode.

Thanks for playing along!

Top Three for Sketch 167!

I hear from a few of you that you thought this was a hard sketch!  All I can say is those of you who chose to play certainly made it look easy.  Wonderful samples.  I was amazed each time one of you posted!  Thanks so much for playing along.  Here are my top three picks in no particular order. 

Remember to click on the pics to be taken to the creator's original post and see the full card in all it's glory and maybe even leave them a nice comment!








Very impressive!  Be sure to check them out by clicking on them.  Thanks so much for checking out the winners. 


 Thanks again ladies.
Please feel free to add my winner's button to your blogs. 




  Here is the HTML code.

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3N078M5G9-huSpLKlt3kaZVaDOt23WakDimAMmNxTZfDwbBYrppjjcAjsgjaUrfpZps0Y89XaqfHUUtSw_XVASL9GnC6K-H75oW7vXgOMwquB3HaHRJD50N0XGc061MmeDkIVgZX04dy/s1600/blog+button-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="15" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3N078M5G9-huSpLKlt3kaZVaDOt23WakDimAMmNxTZfDwbBYrppjjcAjsgjaUrfpZps0Y89XaqfHUUtSw_XVASL9GnC6K-H75oW7vXgOMwquB3HaHRJD50N0XGc061MmeDkIVgZX04dy/s200/blog+button-001.jpg" width="175" /></a></div>

I hope you will find time to play along with the new sketch that will be posted right after this.
Be right back with the new sketch!

Friday, April 1, 2011

Blogger's Challenge--for the birds!

I just love birds, love to hear them in the morning outside my window, love any time of image or stamp with a bird on it, just love birds.  So I am excited about this week's challenge.  Our group mom, Lisa, is so good at picking the themes each week!  Thanks Lisa.  And the cool thing is the the Latenightstamper's challenge that I run is to use animal stamps so this fits both challenges.  Oh yea, I also through in a challenge from SUDSOL, their case challenge.  So better get onto my cards.  Yep, I said cards, there are two--and they are not my normal style--but I really am liking them.....

This first one is for the SUDSOL case challenge too--the smaller image is the card we are to CASE.


I really love Baja Breeze with Soft Suede, so pretty.
Stamps: Nature Walk, tiny tags, Bliss
Paper: Baja Breeze, Soft Sude, Very Vanilla, Elegant Soiree dp
Ink: Baja Breeze, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake
Other: tiny tag punch, sponges, markers, pearls, scallop trim border punch, scoring board

Next is another favorite color combo--Cherry Cobbler and Chocolate Chip

 Stamps: Nature Walk. Bliss
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler
Other: flower embellishment, sponges, markers, ribbon, embossing folder

Ahh, love this beautiful style of cards and this Nature Walk stamp set is so easy to make it happen!
Be sure to check out the rest of the fabulous sample in the Blog Hop! You can even join, but be sure to follow the rules on Lisa's blog!