Make a Difference

For many of you, your first stamping experience was just like mine. You were sitting at someone’s dining room table, trying not to drop salsa or veggie dip on your clean ’stamp mat’ (just keepin’ it real) and watching someone ‘do stamping’. She used VersaMark ink and these chalks in a palette and cotton puff to color the image you couldn’t see…you were hooked! The technique is called ‘poppin’ pastels’, and it’s so easy.

Well, the CHF Chicks are dishing it up today with a new twist on pastel chalks…can you say, SHIMMER? Unfortunately, my camera can’t this morning…LOL! but I’ll try to edit that out a little later in the day. These shimmery I-KAN-DEE chalks are on special at Cornish Heritage Farms this week, so check out the DT samples…you’ll love them, I’m sure: Lisa Silver, Kristine Reynolds, Lesley Langdon, Dawn Lusk, Val Stangle, Kim Hughes and Julia Stainton.

I’ll be back in just a bit with the winner of the Elvis blog candy. Results are currently being certified by my mom.

Last spring we built a fire pit at the back of our property. It was the best thing we have done for a long time. We enjoy going back there at least once a week to roast marshmellows or a hot dog. Lots of times it’s just the 4 of us and there’s no phone or computer. We really do enjoy being together. Sometimes we are fortunate to share the hour or so with friends or family. This was our first fire of the spring Saturday night, and it was good!

And to the Elvis winners. Stampin_Melissa and Dr. Fine - send me an email, and we’ll get your favorite Elvis stamp out to you! Thanks to everyone who participated. I’ve got lots of stuff stashed around here, and I’ll try another blog giveaway soon. This was fun!

Here it is: Weekend Sketch 45! I loved this sketch from Beate! And, even though I’m a few minutes late, this card came together very quickly.

Yesterday, Julie Campbell (sweet, sweet spirit, Julie Campbell) told the CHF design team about a card she had made for a co-worker to encourage her and let her know that she had noticed some wonderful changes in over the last few months. I don’t want to breech her confidentialilty, but it was a sweet story and Julie was blessed by giving the card. She encouraged each of us to stamp a card to make a difference. You know I was all over that!

This is for Trace. A sweet, good-looking little guy - all of 6 years old. He’s a good family friend, and despite all his athletic prowess (and it’s a lot!), he managed to break a leg on the ski slopes last week. Man, right at the beginning of baseball season, too! What a bummer! So, we’re sending this to Trace along with some good ole baseball snacks like peanuts, sunflower seeds, big league chew and some twizzlers…good stuff! To let him know that his light shines! and he can be as much of an asset to the team on the bench,  cheering them on and having a good attitude as he can in the field. 

What about you? Can you take the CHF dt personal challenge in the next few days? Can you think of someone to actually send <gasp> a card to that will make a difference! Let me know when you do! I’d love to share that joy with you!

To get you going, check out these cool chicks and their sketch samples. I know you’ll love ‘em…week after week (all 45 of them!), I’m never disappointed and always inspired! Beate, Cambria, Charmaine, Jenn, Laurie, Mary Jo and Sharon.

• Stamps: Supah Star - Kim Hughes for Cornish Heritage Farms

• Cardstock: Intense Yellow, Intense Red and Black Prism

• Ink: Red Pepper, Sunshine Yellow and Pitch Black Adirondack

• Accs: Black Glitter - Martha Stewart collection, Nestabilities & Star Brads

Another new Elvis today from Cornish Heritage Farms. They are fun, especially if you are an Elvis lover, like me! When I was looking at this Elvis Sketch, I was thinking about his earlobe…and thinking…would Elvis have pierced his ear if he would have been around a little later in the 80s or 90s? Now, personally, I don’t care for pierced ears on men, but something tells me ‘he would have done it.’ So, I did it! LOL! I pierced Elvis’ ear! I also used the Paisley Bandana Backgrounder to mask off and put some flowered wallpaper behind his head. Why? Because ‘Why not is a slogan for an interesting life.’ - new sentiment from Mona Lisa - it’s coming next week!

OK - I’m running on about 3 hours sleep, and to make up for the craziness…I’ve got some blog candy, for the first time ever in the history of my blog. :) 

Up for grabs? TWO winners to each choose their favorite Elvis image in a deeply etched, glorious red rubber on a top quality maple wood block mount from the wonderful folks at Cornish Heritage Farms.   All you have to do is leave me a comment between now and Monday morning, 8:00 CST with your name and your favorite Elvis image from CHF. My favorite is the ‘Jumpsuit Silhouette’, but you can see them all and pick your favorite HERE.

See you tomorrow with a sketch from Beate.

Hear, Obey & Trust

Those close to us, know we’ve been so very excited about a new senior pastor at our church. Last week, the congregation had a ‘pounding’ for the new family. We were to bring a “pound” of a staple item to help them set up their new kitchen. Well, when you’re married to a Texan, salsa is a staple. The vegetables were grown in our garden, the salsa canned in our kitchen. I hope they’ll enjoy it.

Brother Mike’s motto is that you have to stay H.O.T. for Jesus. You have to hear, obey and trust.  So I figured that ‘warm wishes’ were appropriate.

The garden vegetables are from an old, very old Stampin’ Up! incentive stamp. Colored with Copics and cut with Nestabilities from Ellen Hutson, this went together - oh so quick!

The Backgrounder Blitz continues at Cornish Heritage Farms. Today’s challenge was to use a backgrounder to “kiss” your solid image for texture and depth. Since I needed a quick gift this afternoon, as well, I paired my Bloomin’ Beautiful images with the Paisley Backgrounder to make a set of 3″ square notecards and a little box to tuck them into. The largest of the small scalloped rectangle megabilities from Spellbinders, folds exactly in half to make a 3″ notecard…sa-weet!

Keep these little sets in mind as you start to think about end-of-the-year teacher gifts. I know I’m always getting little notes home from the school, and let’s be honest: some of them would be a whole lot more fun to open if they came on a little notecard like this.

Be sure to check out the Backgrounder Blitz. If you’ve got time to play, there are prizes to be had. See you tomorrow with another giftable idea.

• Stamps: Essential Script Expressions, Bloomin’ Beautiful, Paisley Backgrounder - All Cornish Heritage Farms
• Cardstock: Cryogen White, Stardream Metallic Azalea and Flame
• Ink: Watermelon, Shell Pink & Rust Adirondack Dye
• Accs: Mark Richards Pearls, May Arts Ribbons & Nestabilities (Scalloped Squares & Rectangles)
   

This is one of those cards that is impossible to do justice with the camera.

The Victorian Flower backgrounder is the only stamp used here - except for the sentiment. The floral accent per the sketch (seen in post below this one) is accented with glitter. Then holes on each side of the floral accent thread an organdy ribbon to make the strip portion of the sketch. The sentiment is stamped on a circle accent and attached. It sparkles and shines.

Stamps: Victorial Floral Backgrounder & Nature Silhouettes (sentiment)
Ink: Denim Blue Adirondack Dye
Cardstock: Cryogen White, Mystic Dark Prism
Accs: Sheer Ribbon May Arts, 1″ circle punch - EK Success, anywhere hole punch, fine glitter

You can play along and win prizes at the Cornish Heritage Farms Backgrounder Blitz, now through Friday, April 25th! Read about it HERE.

See you tomorrow!

Have a fabulous day! I’ll see you in the morning with a backgrounder sketch sample! If you want to play along. Here is the sketch for tomorrow’s CHF challenge:

Remember when I talked about ‘hoarding issues’ back at Easter? Well, here’s something I have been hoarding since February 13: October Afternoon Detour papers. I spent some time in their booth at CHA with Emily….of course, I tried not to drool on her beautiful, beautiful displays…there is just something about these papers, the feel of them is different and the colors are so vibrant. Since I have pre-ordered and expect some more soon, I finally felt like I could cut up the few swatches that Emily gave me to play with.

This is for Beate’s Weekend Sketch Challenge. I hope you have time to play with it this weekend! This is a GREAT sketch to show-off those patterned papers or perhaps you might be interested in checking out the Backgrounder Blitz at CHF. From tonight til next Friday, you can participate in daily challenges and perhaps win prizes, prizes, prizes.

As for the sketch, you can see other wonderful samples from Beate, Charmain, Cambria, Jenn, Laurie, Mary Jo and Sharon. 

• Stamps: Dreaming of Dots - Lizzie Anne Designs

• Cardstock: Papaya Puree Dark, Iced Teal and October Afternoon Detour Patterened Papers

• Ink: Regal Rose, Pumpkin Pie, Artichoke, Real Red from Stampin’ Up! and Aqua Light Adirondack

• Accs: Spellbinders Nestabilities, Ribbon - May Arts, Glitter, Dimensionals

Here’s a page that uses Lesley Langdon’s Rummage Bin set: Photo Op! Notice how perfectly her ‘all in good time and good measure’ image works here? This was last month when we went to see Big Brutus in West Mineral, KS. We had a great time!  One thing to note: see us standing inside the ‘track’? My dad, brother and I are all over 6′ tall. This is one BIG steam shovel! Thanks for looking!

• Stamps: Photo Op, Beautiful & Ticket Counter - Rummage Bin - Cornish Heritage Farms

• Cardstock: Intense Orange, Black Prism

• Ink: Pitch Black Adirondack

• Accs: Maya Road flowers, embellishment studio trims, big brads from Making Memories