New Stuff!

I sold my old Cricut so I had money to buy some new stuff! These two cartridges I got at Hobby Lobby on Thursday. They had a sale 2 for 89.99. Love them both. Storybook has a design that looks close to the Big Shot Top Note Die. Can't wait to make those into many different sizes.

When I went to Pat Catan's last weekend I picked up some See-D's stamps that were on clearance. The one with the butterfly is called monarch. So very elegant. The little one on the end that has the totem pole on it is going to a very special friend of mine. She knows who she is.

This last group of clear stamps are by Inkadinkado. They are called Inchie stamps. Jo Ann's had them on sale for 40% off. So they were 6.00 each. Lots of nice stamps. I really need to stop this stamp addiction I have lately. With my friends they collect ribbon. I'm the stamp junkie. LOL

Click on the image to see a large image. There really are some neat stamps in these packages.

Stamping Trails

Karen 213

Great Cards I've Received

I won this card from Holly. Thanks bunches Holly!!!! Just love the humming bird. You can visit Holly's awesome blog here

This card was made for Chrissy's Belli Challenge #51.

I also received some more cards this week.

The Bird card is from Kat, and the Live Well card is from Lisa. Thanks ladies!!! So glad I have such great friends who make me very pretty cards! Love ya!

Also received this card today from Kat. That patterned paper use on this card reminds me of the shaving cream technique. All nice and swirly!

So glad this week is over. I swear it's been the longest work week I can remember, and I even had Tuesday off. I called in sick due to my back was causing me such pain I couldn't stand it. I think that's why the week has been dragging I've just not felt good. Happy to say the back is starting to feel a bit better. Not good as new but getting better. I'm going to still take it easy and try not to over due. I haven't been able to work out this week and it's just killing my weight loss goals, but I'm still going to refrain. Told hubby I want to go to the mall tomorrow just so I can do some light walking. To cold to go out on my treadmill in the garage.

Stamping Trails

Karen 213

Chrissy has Blog Candy

Chrissy is celebrating 80,000 vists to her blog, and she is giving away some great blog candy. YAY. Wonder on over and visit her site. Leave a message on her blog for a chance to win. Just a 411......I'm going to win!!!!!!! (WISHING REALLY HARD)

Belli Challenge #52 Let's Bake a Cake!!!

A card cake that is. This week marks one year for Chrissy's Belli Challenges. I haven't been in on them from the beginning. I just started on the team this month, but it's been fun! I'm looking forward to her second year of them.

Holly sent us a list of cake ingredients. We had to select 5 of them. After everyone had picked cake items we were then sent a second list. On this list were the stamping ingredients that we needed to use on the card.

I selected: Baking Soda, Cinnamon, Powdered Sugar, Eggs, and Cocoa powder. So from the list I knew in my card I had to use: Beads, Sponging, Embossing Powder, Scallops, and Hardware. WHEW what a list!!!!! It was challenging, but I did it.

Base of the card is 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 black cardstock. Layers, Perfect Plum, and White. The main image is made with

Roses in Winter. You can see the embossing on the leaves that are popped on the the main image, on the leaf punch on the inside of the card, and the edges of the base card. Hard ware is a silver hinge I bought at Pat Cantan's. Looking for different hardware to use on your creations? Check out the section at the craft store for wood working. Lots of great hinges, and other fun things to work with. Also used two brads on the front image. Needed to do this so the front would open. Scallops are from Classic Round Large Spellbinders. The beads were leftovers I had from a swap I was in years ago. I used purple twine to thread the beads on. Sponging was done around the all the edges. So that's my card. I had a ton of fun with this challenge!!! Want to see more? Go visit Chrissy's blog

You can also check out artwork from other members of the Belli team

Holly

Ceal

Danita

Shelly

Jennifer

Christi

Debby

Joan

We were under a winter storm advisory last night. There is lots of snow on the ground. I have to leave early for work today so I can clean off the car. Stay warm!!!!

Stamping Trails

Karen 213

Things That Just Happen

I'm playing with all the cool functions that Cricut Expressions has that the original Cricut did not. One of the them is Fit to page. So I wanted to cut this bag. It's called Tall Ball as a bonus function on the Potpourri Basket cartridge. I selected 6" and Fit to page. No problem I got this great size bag to work with. Now you see those nice sized flowers? Those were also cut from the same cartridge. I selected 2" for the largest of the flowers and silly me did not turn off the Fit to Page function and you know what happened next? I got a 7 inch flower as the machine made the largest one it could using the 12x12 cardstock. LOL! Word of advise always turn off those special functions before moving on.

I would have loved to have this machine back in the 70's! This large flower just screams Flower Power!!! I could have cut them out of all different colors and had a great decked out room!!!! As it was my room when I was 13 was pretty funky anyway. Four of the walls were painted hot pink and one wall was painted turquoise and the trim was also done in turquoise. Of course I had a ton of David Cassidy posters up. Oh my I'm showing my age now!!!!

Moving on. I'm happy with the bag I made. Base is Mellow Moss, flower colors, Bordering Blue, More Mustard, So Saffron, and Always Artichoke leaves. Butterfly is cut from Chocolate Chip. Veins on the leaves were added with a marker.

Late thank you to Connie for sending me this adorable froggy dressed up in a Tu-Tu!!!! Thanks Connie. Just love it!!!!

Stamping Trails

Karen 213

Where Have I Been?

You may be asking yourself that question as I have not posted since Thursday. Computer problems that hubby wanted to fix, and in the process of course I lost all my files. MEN if it's not broke please don't fix it. I'll be so glad when the weather warms up and he'll have outdoor things to do. LOL

Okay so I told you that my hubby (yes I really do love him) got be a new Cricut Expressions. I've been playing with that a bit. Here is the first card I made. The butterfly was done using the cartridge that came with the machine. It's called Potpourri Basket. The cartridge is not for sale it only comes with the machine, but the good news is the cartridge really is a collection of the best things from many other of the cartridges. So I'm sure this butterfly can be found on one of them. After I cut the butterfly on Tempting Turquoise I stamped it Paisley background stamp from SU. Apricot Appeal cardstock was used in a Cuttlebug embossing Swirl folder then sponged with Pumpkin Pie ink. Certainly Celery cardstock was stamped with Canvas Background and sponged with celery ink. I like the way the canvas image fades out towards the edges of the cardstock. (Click on the image to get a large view to see what I'm talking about) I didn't start out to get that faded look. I was going to only stamp the portion of the celery cardstock that would show so I didn't ink the entire stamp. Well of course when I put the cardstock down on the background stamp I did it on the wrong side so I was left with a portion not stamped, but that's okay I like it! Added some checked ribbon to balance the card and word stamp.

Okay I'm off to get some more stamping done. I couldn't do anything this weekend because I woke up with a very sore back on Saturday morning so I took it easy all week. Still hurts but I managed to go to work today.

Stamping Trails

Karen 213

We Have a WInner

And the winner is Ceal! Thanks bunches to all who posted and sent me encouragement. It is what keeps me going. Ceal please email me your snail mail addy to: clar42ie@aol.com

Here is Ceal's comment:

"Wow Karen that is wonderful! I know you are proud of yourself and I am happy for you"

I took 1/2 of a mental health day. I left work at noon. Met my daughter Sarah at Applebee's had lunch then walked over to Fashion Bug for a little bit of shopping. Course after that we had to come home and work out. Sarah does keep me on track. Glad I have her around!

Last night I inventoried the pantry. Typed up a list in Excel and taped that to inside of my cupboard doors. Now I'll know at a glance what is in my pantry. This will make my life so much easier as I'll know what I have when it's time for meal planning and the trip to the grocery store.

Plan to inventory the fridge/freezer next. Also the spice lazy suzan. I can't tell you the amount of times I've bought double of something. No more of that!!! This should save on my food bill.

I may even get more into this inventory system and get a handle on my stamps, and craft supplies. Hmmm.....that make take to much of my lifetime to do. Better stick to just stamping!!!!

Didn't lose anything at weigh in today, but that's okay I didn't gain anything either.

Stamping Trails

Karen 213

Guess What I Got?

A Cricut Expressions!!!! I wanted to upgrade from the orginal one I have so hubby got it for me as a reward for losing 60 pounds. Isn't that cool!!!!! So excited. I'm off to watch the videos that came with the new machine.

Don't forget to check back later today I'll be drawing the winner of the Weight Loss Blog Candy.

Stamping Trails
Karen 213

Belli Challenge #51

This week Belli Challenge was to create artwork using re-inkers. I chose to use Old Olive and More Mustard re-inker. The technique is called Embossed Lumieres. I wish my camera would have picked up more of the shimmer that this technique gives. Really pretty in person! I used some things that I haven't used for a long time. White Lumiere paint for one. The stamp was painted with re-inkers using a small paint brush. Next I used a stipple brush and pounced on the white Lumiere on the inked image. Last step was to stamp on a scrap piece of designer paper then emboss the image with clear embossing powder. This is the first time I have tried this technique. I love the shimmer and the deep color you get from painting with re-inkers. I'll be doing this again!!!!

Stamp set: Measure of a life by Stampin'Up!, other stamp used from See-D's Nature Print. Hardware hinge I picked up at Pat Catan's, stiching done with linen thread, and up in the corner you can see just a touch of twill Chocolate Chip tape.

Want to see more Belli Challenges? Check out Chrissy's site

Stay warm everyone!! BRRRR it's still cold in my neck of the woods. I'm freezing!!!

Stamping Trails

Karen 213

P/S Come on Daniel...you can do it.....stay on the Biggest Loser Ranch! And I'm shocked to see that Joelle didn't get kicked off the ranch.

Homemade Valentine's Takes Me Back

While I was cleaning the stamping studio over the weekend I found a stack of paper doilies. With Valentine's day coming up I couldn't help but to think back to elementary school art class. What fun it was to make Valentines!!! We used doilies, construction paper, crayons, watercolors, paste. Well just about anything we could use for our wonderful Valentine creations. And who could forget the Valentine mail boxes? I remembering covering a shoe box with tin foil (which by the way my mom was mad at me for using the last of the tin foil when she needed it for the oven LOL), and then decorating the box with hearts. Happy times!!!! I lived for art, and music classes when I was in school.

So anyway hope you enjoy this Valentine. I was just thinking if I had all the stuff that I have now when I was in school I'd would have the best Valentine creations ever!!!! Of course thinking back the art that I made in school was the best!!!!!!

Supplies use are from the SU Valentine Bundle. Cardstock: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red

OMG I didn't know it was getting this late. Have to say goodbye to memories and get dressed for work!

Stamping Trails

Karen 213

60 Pounds Gone!!!! No Calorie Blog Candy

Can you believe it? Since I started my weight loss journey back in June 2008 to date I have lost a total of 60 pounds!!! Sometimes it is just so hard for me to wrap my head around that!

WOW!!!!

For a chance to win this no calorie candy post a comment to this post. Just share your thoughts on my success, or comment on your own victory over the battle of the bulge. I know some of my readers are also losing weight.

Candy includes: Two stamp sets from See-De's, brads, heart shape pins, white gift bags, fabric Valentine stickers, gift bag made from Top Note Die, and not show but will be included is 12 white and cream Top Note shapes so you can make your own bags, or to use in your card projects.

Winner will be drawn at random on my next weigh in day which will be Thursday the 22nd. So be sure to check back at 7 est on this day to see if you are a winner!

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Correct guess on why I purchased the Fruit stamp set by Pam was won by Connie. I love the Beatles and included in that stamp set is a word stamp that reads Strawberry Fields. Congrats Connie. There will be a little surprise coming your way soon.

Going to go visit mom this afternoon. Hubby is going with me, then we are going to the Road House for dinner. Still cold here and snowing!!!

Someone wanted to know how long the icicle was. Well hubby is 6' 1" and the icicle came up to his next when we stood it up on the floor next to him. That will give you an idea on how long it was.

Stamping Trails

Karen 212

LONG ICICLE!!!!

Now that is one long icicle!!! Skip was outside yesterday knocking off all the icicles from the gutters. I was staying the house as it was 5 degrees outside. He brought it in to show me so I snapped the picture.

I made it to 60 pounds. I lost 1 pound last week. YAY. So I'll be posting blog candy to celebrate. I may not get to it till Saturday. Skip had the day off work as it was too cold for school kids and since he works at the school he was off work. Drat!!! I had to work yesterday.

My nephew Corbet is coming over later today. He is going to show me how to do You Tube videos. I'm hoping I'll be able to make tutorials for my blog. Won't that be fun!!!!! So anyway with Skip home I didn't have a chance to get to computer as he was using it for his war games. I'll get the blog candy posted by Saturday.

Stay warm out there!!

Stamping Trails

Karen 212

Valentine Card

I've been playing with my Nestibilities. While talking to my friend Connie yesterday she was telling me that she couldn't get the die to just emboss on the card. After giving it a whirl I came up with this sandwich using the Cuttlebug.

First thing I did was to cut the cardstock to a standard size A2 size. Then scored. Here is how I sandwiched it

A plate

B plate

Using Magic tape (the kind meant for wrapping gifts that doesn't show, this tape will release from the cardstock without damaging it) I taped the die to the part of the card I wanted to emboss. Then I put this on top of the B plate with the ridge in the die facing the B plate

Three cardstock shims

Rubber Mat

B plate

Run the sandwich through the Cuttlebug. Take out and remove the die from the cardstock. The result is beautiful embossed lines. I could have left it like that then stamped an image in the center of the embossing but I wanted a window so I selected a smaller size of the curvy rectangle die and cut out the window. I had fun playing!!!!

Other things used: stamp set Have a Heart by SU, heart punch, Real Red, and Pixie Pink cardstock. Confetti White cardstock for the base card. Stamp-a-ma-jig (now what would I do without that handle little tool? ), markers, aqua painter.

Okay that is it for today. Well maybe not......weigh in day so I might be back later today to post Karen's Weight Loss Blog No Calorie Candy, or it might post it on Friday. Don't forget to check back for a chance to win!!!!

Brrrrr it's cold here!!! We are in the single digits. It's a very cold 4 degrees outside and I have to go to work. YUCK!!!!

Stamping Trails.

Karen 213

Belli Challenge # 51

I had bunches of fun with this one. This week's Belli challenge was to create a card from well used stamps, that have not been inked for awhile. I chose to use SU Mini Mates, and Happy Hearts. Both of these sets had lots of ink on them over the years. Sad to say with new things coming out all the time they were on the shelve collecting the very best of antique dust!

Other things used in this card:

Bittersweet paper by BasicGrey

Label Two, and Large Square Spellibinders die, half pearl beads, chocolate grosgrain ribbon, lots of pop dots!

I ran the square and label die together through the Cuttlebug, then ran them both through again to emboss them.

Check out Chrissy's site for more info on the Belli Challenges

Tomorrow is weigh in day. I should have hit that 60 pound weight loss mark. So I'll be posting weight loss blog candy. Check back later in the evening Thursday. Should have it posted by then.

Stamping Trails

Karen 213

Blog Award!

Thanks bunches to my friend Danita for awarding me with this "Lovely" award!!!! You made my day Danita!!! Be sure to click on the link and visit her blog. She has a very Lovely Blog indeed!!!!



Okay on to the rules of the award



As with all awards, there are rules you have to follow and they are:

1. First add the logo to your blog.

2. Link to the person from whom you received this award.

3. Nominate 7 or more blogs to receive this award.

4. Leave a message on their blog letting them know they are "One Lovely Blog"!



Chrissy D

Lorie Ames

Colleen's Craft Room

Basket Full of Stamps

Artful Sentiments

Mary Jo



Thanks again Danita!!!





I got new rubber!!!!!!



These stamps are brand new from Firecracker Designs by Pamela

Pam has some great stamps. Can't wait to play with these!!! I'll be posting some cards made with these soon.

Quick little contest. Click on the image to enlarge for this......the first person who posts why I really had to have this fruit set will win a little something special from me.











Stamping Trails
Karen 213

What's the Word.....Bird.

Okay this is what happens when I can't sleep and I stamp at 1:00 am in the morning. Good Grief!!! What was I thinking. I have to leave for work in a few minutes, and Monday is the worse day at work as the phones are very busy. Oh well....Maybe I can catch a nap when I get home.

This owl came from Inkadinkadoo. I don't have the package in front of me now so I don't know the name of the set. It has lots of different funky birds in the set as well as some cool word stamps.

The feather I picked up some time ago. I also have black ones. I thought hmmm I should be able to do something with the feathers on a card. Since I got them for 10 cents a package I figured I could work them in somehow.

Circles are Marvy scallop punches. Bird was colored in using Prisma pencils and blended with Gamsol. Colors: Cream, Riding Hood Red, and Creamy Caramel.

Stamping Trails

Karen 213

Valentine and Snowy Day

I should have titled this post "something borrowed"

I had an idea for a Valentine card, but didn't have the scalloped heart Nestibility that I needed to make it. In came Kat to the rescue. She had them and was so sweet to mail them to me. Thanks Kat!!!

This view shows the heart opened. It was a trick to get the heart cut like this using the nesty die, but it worked.

Stamp set used: Love you Much, and Fine Lace background.

Also used the new three heart punch that coordinates with the Love you Much stamp set.

We woke up to lots of snow yesterday morning. Good thing we have a good snow thrower.

I got this pic of Skip while he was out clearing the sidewalk in front of our house. His camouflage coat didn't hide him from the snow!!! LOL

He has to go in and work overtime today. I'm going to clean the house a bit and maybe work on some more stamping projects. I really just want to stay warm today!!!!

Stamping Trails

Karen 213

I Can't Believe It!!!

You will never guess how much weight I lost! I'm still shocked. I knew I had gained a bit over the holidays, but the past week I've buckled down. Been working out every night, and watching my diet. I lost 4 pounds!!!! I am .4 away from losing a total of 60 pounds. YAY!!!! You know what that means happy readers....Weight Loss Blog candy coming up next Thursday. Be sure you check back for that. I'll have to come up with great stuff for this one. Doing the happy dance!!!!!!!

Sorry no artwork today. Didn't have time to stamp. Came home from work and made dinner. YUM I put a whole chicken in the crock pot this morning and it was soooooooo good. After dinner me and John went to Walmart to pick up a few things. We also got gas in my car, and stopped at Big Lots. When we got home I took the bones and skin from the chicken and now I'm making stock for homemade chicken noodle soup. That will be YUM for tomorrow's lunch. There is a snow storm coming should arrive tomorrow evening. Temps are going into the single digits. BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

Stamping Trails
Karen 213

Belli Challenge #49

This week Belli Challenge was to use a stamp that had not been inked before. I just received this stamp set Rustic Rooster on Tuesday. Had to ink it up right away!!!!!

Colors: Close to Cocoa, Tangerine Tango, Very Vanilla, Red Riding Hood. Ink colors: Pumpkin Pie, Red Riding Hood, Close to Cocoa.

Ribbon came from my favorite store Pat Catan. The color in the ribbon go really well with the cardstock colors.

I needed another embellishment besides the ribbon so chose to pop the flower over a brass spiral clip.

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Last night I watched the Biggest Loser. For those who know me....you know I normally do not watch these types of shows, but since I've been battling to lose weight myself I felt compelled to watch the show. It was such an inspiration to me. Sometimes even with my family and friends I do feel alone, and sometimes it's hard for me to keep going. I haven't gone to my meetings during the month of Christmas. Since our meetings were Thursday and the holidays came on Thursday we didn't have one. Now I know that was an excuse. I could have gone to any other WW meeting during the week, but decided not to. Now did I indulge during the holidays. Yes I did. Did I gain some of the weight back....YES I DID. One and 1/2 pounds to be exact. The only saving grace is that I did continue to workout. Not as much as I had been doing but enough to get me though and not cause to much damage to my weight loss efforts. I'm happy to say I've been back on plan since last Thursday. I'm going to my meeting this week...get on the scale, and try very hard not to get to mad at myself. Moving forward!!!!!! I'll post the results later on the blog Thursday after I get home from work.

Stamping Trails

Karen ????????????????

Techno Lunchtime Challenge #51

Time again for one of MJ great Monday Lunchtime challenges.

I used a stamp set by See-D's. It's called Silhouettes of Nature #50193

I really wanted to use this flower but as it turns out the image was just a bit to big for a standard size A2 card. So the base of this card is 5 1/2 x 5 1/2

Colors: Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Tangerine Tango.

Other items used: Detail white embossing powder, heat tool, amber rhinestones, Nestibilities oval and scallop oval, Cuttlebug, mini glue dots.

Chocolate Chip marker, BasicGrey paper, and French Script background stamp.

We were so backed up at work today. First day back after the shop being closed since last Wednesday. I was on the phone all day with customers. By the end of the day I could hardly talk above a whisper. I'm hoping tomorrow will not be as bad as today!

I did get some treadmill time in today. I really needed it too! Great way to relieve some work related stress. Got dinner made for me and John, cleaned up the dishes. Cleaned out the fridge too. I have a tip for you.....I line my vegetable bins with newspaper then layer paper towels over that. Really makes for easy clean up when I need to change it. Going to go get in the shower and call it a night soon. One of my New Year resolutions is to get more sleep. I'm shooting for 8 hours a night as opposed to the 6 that I normally get.

Stamping Trails

Karen 217

Snowy Owl

I just love Winter Birds! Wanted to get some more use from this lovely set. Someone very special to me will be receiving this card so watch your mail box!!!

The background papers used are from BasicGrey Granola. I used Cuttlebug Snowflake and small dots to emboss the papers. Base of the card is Chocolate Chip. Kraft cardstock is from Hollo's paper store. Snowflakes are from Spellbinders. I wanted to cut some using acetate. I had a tough time getting that to work. I used an extra cardstock shim, but it still wasn't cutting all the way through it. Had to resort to my craft knife to get the image out. I'll have to play around with it some more. I'm sure there is a way to get the die to cut cleanly through the acetate. The top two snowflakes got dipped in diamond dust. Owl was stamped using Walnut Distress ink from Ranger, then was colored in using white watercolor crayon. Used the aqua painter to soften the white.

Okay I'm off to bed. It's 2 am and I'm tired. This will be the last night I can stay up late. Have to go back to work on Monday JOY!!!!!!!

Stamping trails

Karen 217

Top Note Bag

Isn't it funny that just as soon as Christmas is over we start looking right away for projects to make for Valentines Day? One holiday just turns into another. I'm convinced that the only way we make it through each year is knowing that there is another holiday right around the corner!

I remember when our family lived in Guam. We use to look forward to each and every holiday, and we decorated for all of them. Most of the time it was too early to decorate, but hey it kept us going for the three years we were there.

Okay onto the project. Stamp set is from See-D's. (Sugerloaf) It's one I bought two years ago from Pat Catan when they were selling them for a buck. Just love those great bargains!

Cardstock used: Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White. Ink: Rose Red, Chocolate Chip

Base of this cute bag is made from Sizzix Top Note Die (SU). The handles of the bag are strips of Choco Chip cut 3/8 by 8. The white bag that the dies are attached to are mini craft sacks size

3 1/2 x 2 1/4 x 6 3/4. I had to cut the bag down even with the top of the die cut pink in order to get it to fit. Other things used: pop dots, brown brads, ribbon. And OMG I had ribbon to match!!! Will the small wonders ever seize to amaze me?

I need to get to bed. Stayed up late again. My vacation is quickly coming to an end and I'm trying to make it last as long as I can. Hubby and I are picking up the nephews and taking them to a movie today.

Stamping Trails

Karen 217

New Stamps!

I bought Changito Valentines (made by Stampendous) at Archives last weekend. Thought I'd play around with it in the wee hours of Friday morning. I don't have to work so I plan to sleep in......that is when I finally go to bed I'll sleep in.

Thanks Kat for sending me the 6x6 pack of new BasicGrey paper. This one is called Bittersweet. Gorgeous paper!!!!

The layout is from MJ Monday Lunch time Challenge.

Can't tell from the photo (click on it to enlarge) but the monkey in the scallop circle was embossed with iridescent ice embossing powder (SU)

Went to visit mom today. She was doing well. I brought in a bunch of clothes that don't fit me to give to some of the aids at the home. Mom had fun looking at all of them. She even wanted to keep a few tops for herself. Always nice to get new clothes from other people's closets!

Later today( after I get up that is) I'm going to take a drive back to Archiver's. The store is in Fairlawn about 40 minute drive from home. Skip has to work day shift today so I thought I take in some shopping. Also going to hit Michael's since it's in the same location.

Stamping Trails!

Karen 217