Punkydoodle Papers - Stamps, Ink, Paper and a Little Whimsy. . .

Party Central!

Before you think I've not been hard at work making cards - I have been. . .just a different type of card.  Between four weddings and a medical school celebration, I've been knee-deep in paper, ribbon and postage stamps.  It seems my friends have dubbed me the "invitation queen". . .

Have no fear, my invitation days are coming to a pause. . .yes, a pause. . .a very close friend just got engaged! Better get some SCS cards made before she sets the date!

 

Here's to missing you this week!

Quick-A-Doodle-Do

Quick post - quick card. . .

We are working like mad on our new/old house this weekend! I hope to have pictures to post of the amazing master closet by days end. . .

This card was for the SCS Inspiration Challenge which was posted yesterday.  Here's my Quick-A-Doodle-Do. . .

Creative Details - Rooster Stamp from Rusty Pickles, Red Card and Brown Paper Bag Paper by DCWV, Designer Paper by Daisy D's, Versafine Black Ink, Ribbon from The Paper Studio, Dimensionals

Be sure to leave a comment on the Christmas in July Post! The winner will be chosen on July 25th!

Shining on Fools. . .

Ya know, I can't get over the way people drive these days. . .it's amazing to me how stop signs, speed limits and yielding are now optional.  I could sit here and rant for days on end about the fools I've encountered on the roadways of this great State. . .that rant would require a blog of it's own. . .

Instead, I'm going to focus on the good things in life. . .like this card! This was for the Featured Stamper - Stephanie Hargis !  Not only is her gallery amazing, her blog is too!  Head on over and tell her I sent you!  I chose this card from her gallery.  Her sketch came from Taylor's Cupcake Challenge and here is my version. . .

Creative Details - Star Stamps & Sentiment from Verve Stamps , Pixie Pink, Yo-Yo Yellow and Whisper White Cardstock from SU!, DP from Nana's Kids Collection by DCWV, Pixie Pink and Yo-Yo Yellow Ink from SU!, Glitter by Ranger, Yellow/Pink Ribbon from A Muse, Lime Green Ribbon from American Crafts, Vellum Tag and Dimensionals

The moral to my story about the fools on the road?  Sometimes it's best to just let your light shine!
(I recommend your bright lights in their rear view mirror)

Christmas In July!

As promised - here is the Christmas in July Blog Candy!

12 x 12 Christmas Collection of Clear Stamps
My Word Chipboard Album by Bo Bunny - LOVE
Heidi Swapp Sugar Sweet Tape
Queen & Co. Mini Felt Fusion - Hearts
Celebration Sayings Clear Stamps from The Saltbox
Floradoodles Foam Flowers from Petaloo
Floradoodles Brads from Petaloo
Triangle Spring Mix Brads from the Eyelet Outlet
Maple Lane Press Photo Mailer
Two Large Chipboard Tags
3 Yards of Lavender Dotted Swiss Ribbon
Over 70 pieces of Designer Paper from Making Memories, Daisy D's, and more!

If you want to play - just leave a comment on this post!  But there's a teeny weeny little catch - you have to include the name of the person I consider my Queen Diva Mentor (QDM)! This is the fabulous woman who introduced me to Stampingville! 

Make sure to leave your post by midnight on July 23, 2008!  The winner of Christmas in July will be announced on July 25 (of course)! LOL!

Summer Wishes & Jen's Sketch

It's Saturday! Time for Jen's Sketch for You To Try!  I just love playing along on this weekly challenge from the Queen Stamping Diva Jen Del Muro !  She's one of the cool chicks I was able to meet in person during a trip to Texas earlier this year. 

I checked out her blog this morning after I finished my version of the  Inspiration Challenge .  I loved the sketch, but I had a few new/old house errands to run - you know, picking out minor little details like slabs of granite! LOL!  Anyway - I was on my home riding in the card with my DH and DD, glancing through my new Scrap & Stamp magazine.  When WHAM - there was sunflower stamp. . .and a card idea was born!

I started with a card made from Green Galore SU! Cardstock. Using my Curvy Cutter I cut circles out of black and red cardstock and then cut those in half.  I ran the yellow cardstock through the Cuttlebug using the small heart die and then I cut each of the hearts in half.  After a few different versions of the ladybugs spots, I ended up using the plain and simple black brads.  Her antenna was made using my paper cutter by placing a piece of black cardstock just a hair over the cutting line.  When you cut it that close, it curls on it's own!

Creative Details - Green Galore and Whisper White from SU!, Re-Entry Red, Cosmo Yellow and Eclipse Black from Wausau Papers, Wish Sentiment from the Think Big Set from SU!, Black Brads from SpareParts, Green Ric-Rac from $1 Spot at Target, Polka Dot Brad, Red Prima Flower, Tag, Polka Dot Ribbon Tape, Dimensionals, Cuttlebug, Small Heart Cuttlebug Die

6 DN's and 2 DN's (Nieces and Nephews)

It has been "Baby Central" in my family over the past months.  Between my DH's side of the family and mine, we have had THREE new babies in the past year and it's been great to become the favorite Aunt, yet again! LOL! I now have six nieces and two nephews.  What can I say - Girls Rule in our family!

This sweet little card covered two challenges over on SCS this week - the Sketch Challenge (which I am in love with) and the Limited Supplies Challenge.  I used a precious mini stamp set from Studio G that I purchased on Ebay - don't underestimate the Studio G Minis - they may be little, but they aren't lacking in detail and design - don't you just love that little Mommy-To-Be?  I also completed a personal challenge with this card (da,da,da,da,da,da - insert horn blowing here) I finally used my new collection of liquid applique.  I've seen my Stampingville buddy Jessie use this stuff over and over and I decided it was time for me to give it a try.  I placed a thin puddle on the baby bottle and the teddy bear - heated it up - and Ta-Da (more horn blowing, please) - I just love the way it turned out. . .

Creative Details - White Card and Brown Cardstock from DCWV, Patterned Paper from The Scrapbook Store in Owasso, Whisper White from SU!, Mini Stamp Set from Studio G, Brilliance Ink in Coffee Bean, Spica and Whispers Markers, Liquid Applique in White, Dimensionals, Ribbon from American Crafts and Buckle from SU!

And for you my faithful few - a quick temptation - be watching this weekend for Christmas In July Blog Candy! I promise it will be yummy!

The Bend In The Road. . .

I started out in this great big world of stamping quite by accident.  I was looking for an old acquaintance and literally stumbled onto her  blog after a Google search.  I was amazed at her stunning cards (still am) and although I didn't quite understand what the big deal was about stamping and card making, my interest was piqued and I decided to give it a whirl.  I started out strong with dozens of cards, posts, challenges, and forum parties on SCS.  My cards were starting to get noticed and before I knew it, I had been asked to serve as a Paper Pretties guest designer.  Wow! All of that in just a few months, I had really found my place. . .

Then, as quickly as success came, I failed.  My work schedule, major surgery and a move to our new/old house interrupted my stamping life and I was once again a stamping nothing.  I totally lost touch with my SCS friends and Stampingville bloggers and, worst of all, I let Christie and girls at Paper Pretties waste a guest designer space on me.

It's my own fault. . . .I know it. . . . Like Jimmy Buffet knows it in Margaritaville, I know it in Stampingville.  Now before you accuse me of whining, I'm not at all.  With all things, you either grow and move on and value the lesson learned, OR you feel like a big ol' pile of crap.  It was a hard fall I must admit, but bruises and scrapes be damned, I'm back on my feet again with the following lessons learned and re-learned:

1. Failure is only permanent if you allow it to be (that's not exclusive to Stampingville, it applies to life in general)!
2. There's plenty of room for me in Stampingville. . .
3. Working hard to achieve the status which I fell and more importantly, regaining the trust with those watching will be a challenge, but its worth it!
4. Drawing readers back to my blog. . .well, don't put it past me not to bribe them with blog candy! LOL!

Seriously - a gut check is good for the soul. . .and besides, I keep coming back to the quote I use on SCS - "The bend in the road is not the end of the road unless you refuse to take the turn."   I chose the turn. . .

On Being A Godmother. . .

Yesterday was a very exciting day for me - I officially became a Godmother for the first time.  My brother and his wife asked my DH and I to serve as the Godparents for our new niece.  After I bawled like a big ol' baby, I of course said an enthusiastic YES!  The baptism was yesterday evening and it was truly one of the most important moments of my life.  Rather than a formal card to celebrate the occasion, I decided on a vintage card to match DN's nursery which is dressed up in shades of denim and red . . .

I followed the Sketch for You To Try created by the fabulous Jen Del Muro!  I started with a "brown paper bag" long card from DCWV and layered it with DP from Daisy D's.  The script word "BABY" is from Heidi Swapp.  I hope you enjoy!

Creative Details - Stamp from Heidi Swapp, Brilliance Ink in Coffee Bean, Brown Paper Bag Card by DCWV, Designer Paper by Daisy D's, Ribbon from Verve Visual, Brads from SpareParts

Aloha!

In a recent post I was complaining about not being a summer girl and then here I am with hula girl card. . .again, I'm looking for that silver lining to the 92 degree temperature expected tomorrow. . .

Creative Details - Stamp by Great Impressions, Sentiment from Studio G, Marcella K Black Ink, Lavender Shimmer Cardstock by Bazzill, Whisper White by SU!, Designer Paper by Scenic Route, Whispers Markers, Spica Markers, Flower Brads by SpareParts and Dimensionals

Doing a quick post today since I have to get busy for the Paper Pretties release!  Join us on Tuesday, July 1 over at the Paper Pretties site!  Christie and the girls have some wonderful new stamps to debut! Don't miss it!  And, don't miss my blog this weekend for some previews!

Darn Bird. . .

I haven't really gotten into the whole recent bird craze that seems to have taken over the stamping world.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not a bird hater or anything.  But right now when I think of birds, my first thought is of the one that has decided to nest right outside my bedroom window.  She's actually pretty annoying. . .starts singing around 5:00 a.m. or so EVERY morning.  Believe me, I'm happy she's made our home her own and I'm happy to share. But what was wrong with the eave outside my office window?  Needless to say, when I saw the "Ways To Use It" Challenge today, I had to do some thinking. . .

My absolute favorite bird stamp also happens to be the one of the very few I actually own.  It's the "Ever Had One Of Those Days" set from Paper Pretties.  However, I had used that cute little birdie on Sunday for the "Featured Stamper" Challenge.  Hmmmmmmm - what to do. . .

I searched my stamp boxes high and low and ended up finding a cutie patootie mini set from Studio G and came up with this. . .

Creative Details - Card in Leaf Green, Scalloped Oval in Pool, Medium Scalloped Circles in Strawberry all by Paper Resource, Small Scalloped Circles in Whisper White by Stampin Up!, Ribbon by American Crafts, Versafine Ink in Black, Stamp and Sentiment from Studio G Mini Set, Cuttlebug, Dimensionals, Whisper Markers, Glitter by Ranger and Scalloped Paper Punches