I'm a Shack Sistah!

I'm a Shack Sistah!

I'm so excited to announce that for the next 3 months, I'll be a member of The Digi Shack design team! (I've also been DYING to tell you but I was a good girl and kept the secret.) I've already had the privilege of working with several members of the team and I've been stalking the blogs of my other Sistahs (very creative ladies.) You can check them out in my sidebar.

Next Saturday (June 5) will be Digi Day and we are releasing a new line of images called "Chunkies" (and matching sentiments) which you'll see more samples of them on my blog this week. This image above is called "Fat Boyardee" and was drawn by my teammate Maureen.


Regular readers of my blog will be shocked to see that I made an actual 3D item that wasn't a sample for Craft Critique or a challenge- this is a "just because" 3D item. The image is called "Plenty of Petals" and is available in The Digi Shack store. I love the loopy petals on the flower. It is actually 1 flower but I re-sized it, rotated it and randomly covered a piece of white cardstock. I stippled on a bit of color with some of Ranger's Nick Bantock inks. I added a punched a blossom and some ibbon to jazz it up a bit. I happened to have a pack of Martha Stewart matchboxes so the inner drawer is Martha and the outer wrapper was created by me by copying the dimensions on a Marth pre-fab.

For those of you in the US, have a wonderful Memorial Day, for those of you everywhere else, don't you wish you were in the US enjoying the end of a long weekend?

New release at Squigglefly

New release today at Squigglefly! The image above is called Covergirl and was drawn by company co-owner, Chesney Young. As you can see I went black and white with a touch of red today.

Have a fabulous Saturday!

THREE'S A CHARM BLOG HOP

Thanks for hopping by. Hopefully you came from Joy's blog and next you'll visit Deanette .

You aren't going to want to miss any of this incredible blog hop, so be sure to go to the Sew Many Challenges Blog to begin at the beginning. (*wink *wink... be sure to leave comments along the way on the blog hop. There will be prizes for randomly selected individuals.)

Welcome to the Three's a Charm Blog Hop Featuring:
(Click on the logos to shop!)

Sew Many Cards:

The Stamping Boutique:

Sunshine's Stamps:

My first card features Tipsy McStager from Sunshine's Stamps.

My second card features Chirpy, also from Sunshine's Stamps.

Here is the order for the hop. If you get lost, you can start over or find your last stop. Thanks for hopping by!

Sew Many Challenges
Mellisa
Jeanette
Lori
Kim G
Kym K
Peggy
Joy
Heather ---->>> You are here
Deanette
Christy
Tammy
Kym W
Tracy c
Shelly
Gloria

Mary D (SMC)

Maria

Patricia

Jana

Angela

Rhonda

Make a Wish on a Swing

I'm waving hello! I'm Katie Bug on a Swing and I'm going to jump off, make a wish, land on my left wrist and make Heather take me to urgent care to get it X-rayed and then let them send bills for her to pay after the deductible is paid.

Whoops- sorry- I guess I was having a flashback to spring break! Actually the image was drawn by Jackie Matthews for Squigglefly. The background cardstock was a RAK but I loved it with this image. The strategically placed buttons (code for camouflaging something you are not supposed to see) were colored with Copics. The center of the flower is a Rain Dot (Fiskars) which I love because they are semi-transparent so they kind of glow. The sentiment is a sticker from SRM (I blabbed about them here.) The ribbon is from Offray and looked like a much closer match in my dimly lit craft room.

Today we had new garage doors installed! When we bought out house in the fall my husband and I decided to replace them in the spring. Our house was built in the 80's and needed a little pick-me up. We ordered them and they arrived faster than promised, in fact they called yesterday to tell us they had come in and that they could install them this morning. So we have gone from drab beige wooden garage doors to white aluminum doors. Even my daughter was excited when she came home from school and said how much better our house looks (since she didn't ask me for anything immediately following the compliment she must have been sincere!)

The installed arrived EARLY- 7:30- and my husband had an EARLY meeting so we were up EARLY today. As my husband was leaving, the installed arrived and I stepped out into the garage so see if my husband had any last minute instructions when I noticed a puddle of water next to the garage wall. Since I can go from calm to calamity in seconds when it comes to home repairs, I envisioned us having to take down the entire wall to fix the problem. But we didn't.

Wanna know why?

Because the spill was actually a bottle of bubbles that leaked because my daughter hadn't fastened the cap tightly enough

Yup- the only repair at my house today was the new garage doors ;)

Thanks for visiting!

Caffeine Rush

I have a heavy heart tonight, one of my coworkers has left for greener pastures and I'll really miss her. We didn't work together for very long (my 3 month anniversary at the company was last week) but she had a sarcastic sense of humor just like me so we got on well. She perpetually had a cluttered desk and she loved coffee so I made this as more of a tribute to her as opposed to a goodbye card (I'll see her on FaceBook!)

Because this was something I created for my card needs, rather than a stamping challenge, I used all different stamps (even some of those rubber kind that you rub with ink!) The main image is Razzle Frazzled by Chesney Young for Squigglefly. As soon as I saw this image as a One-a-Day in May download I knew I was using it for my card. I also think it would be great for a college student too. The sentiment is from Creative Mode (and it is really old but I like it.)

The coffee mug is a freebie from Dawn Moore @ Lost in Paper Scraps. If you haven't visited Dawn's blog, you should because it is filled with eye candy and she has some fabulous free digi's, all she asks is that if you take a digi, you leave her a comment.

Do any of you like shower gel? My family has never passed a Bath & Body Works we didn't like. A few weeks ago we bought some new shower gel. I was being so good because despite the new Lemon Vanilla shower gel sitting INCHES from my shower, I faithfully continued to use the open bottle of Dancing Waters scented shower gel. But tonight my daughter needed some shower gel. And as a good mom, I gave her the open bottle so she wouldn't hurt her arm trying to use the brand new bottle (I should be sainted). So as a sacrificing Mom, I'll use the new Lemon Vanilla shower gel and let my daughter use the other bottle (which was fabulous until we got the new bottle).

Bunny Hugs to make you feel better

Happy Monday! Squigglefly's challenge #50 for this week was to create a get well card. This image is called 'Bunny Hugs' and I don't believe it has been released yet. Also Squigglefly is having a sale on Father's Day images. So go buy your image NOW to make your father's or grandfather's day card. One last thing- if you like Shy Bears they just released a bunch of new ones! So cute!

"Get Well Wishes" is a stamp (by the now defunct Stamp Alaska). Really cool- it is a piece of rubber taped to an acrylic block, I dabbed it on a black inkpad and pressed it onto the cardstock. An the image appears. What an idea! What will they think up next?

On another crafty note, I just received word tonight that my daughter will be co-writing a review with me on Craft Critique for the end of June. They had a call for a kid's craft product and since she is such a good sport when I get big boxes of craft stuff to review, and she helps me with photos and other miscellaneous "gopher" duty, I bid for this product and got it. I can't wait until the package arrives at the end of this week because she always asks if it is for her and this time I can say yes! (And please don't feel bad for my daughter- before we moved back to NY this fall, Grandma was always sending her packages. Now Grandma can deliver them in person!)

One last random thought- how did May pass by so fast? The first weekend in June is a large craft festival in the town where we live. I've been looking forward to it since last June. How are we almost halfway through 2010? YIKES!

Double Decker Craft Critique Reviews

I've been talking about them for weeks here on my blog and now my review of SRM stickers has been published on Craft Critique HERE And if reading an article written by me wasn't prize enough- if you leave a comment on my article you can win a prize pack from SRM I'm not going to say I know one of my blog readers if going to win but my design team leader from Squigglefly, Maria Matter, won a Westcott scissors giveaway on Craft Critique and I reviewed that product line too... ;) Seriously, the winner is generated with a randomizer so have no control over who wins... My disclosures about the product: http://www.cmp.ly/4 http://www.cmp.ly/2

Also a review I wrote months ago about Bernel Stainless Floral Shears was published on Sunday on Craft Critique. It was published very last minute so I didn't have time to share the link. Needless to say I wrote it before I knew I was going to review the Westcott tools product line.

You won't be seeing any scissors review from me for a while ;)

Thanks a Bunch

Happy Saturday! Today Squigglefly has a new release- some great images! This image is called Maisy and Creamy with Flowers and is by artist Diane Carubia.

Hint... HINT... If you like bathing suits (especially polka dot bathing suits) DO NOT CLICK HERE. STOP- DO NOT PASS GO- DO NOT COLLECT $200- AND DO NOT CLICK HERE ;)

Also I'm going to change web browsers because Blogger just doesn't like Google Chrome. If you use a PC and like your browser, let me know it is.

Driving me bananas!

What's driving me bananans? This cute image from Squigglefly co-owner, Chesney Young called Little Monkey? No. It is BLOGGER. Blogger decided to not be my friend and do weird stuff to my blog post! Back to this image- don't you think it would be cute for a baby card too?

Today is release day at Squigglefly! You'll see at least 1 more card from me today if Blogger stays friendly!

BTW- the sentiments on my card are clear stickers from SRM, which I reviewed for an upcoming review on Craft Critique. Love them ;) But you'll have to wait a week or 2 to read my review for the deets!

Read all about Westcott Scissors

I promise you artwork in a little while but my review of Westcott Scissors has gone live a Craft Critique! Go read my article and leave a comment on it to win a chance to win a $150 prize package from Westcott!

So get out of here and go read my article HERE!

Sew happy to show you a sneak peek!

You'll be seeing more posts from me later today. Why I am up past midnight during the week is beyond me? Oh yes- I was in my craft room making stuff and watching a movie (Brothers with Tobey McGuire and Natalie Portman.)

This image is a new Squigglefly image from a new set from artist Nina Brackett called "Stitched With Love" and the set will be released Saturday. Nina is one of my favorite Squigglefly artists and she outdid herself on this set so you will be seeing more sneak peaks! The set includes sewing themed sentiments, a thimble, pincushion and sewing machine.

*sigh* This card was supposed to follow the Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge #53 for this week but I forgot the large layer behind the focal image. However, even though I didn't follow the sketch exactly, I like the card and how could I waste polka dot paper? It would be a crime!

Tomorrow afternoon my next article will be published on Craft Critique. I reviewed Westcott scissors and in conjunction with our reviews (several from the team reviewed Westcott products) there is a giveaway for $150 worth of Westcott products. I'll post links tomorrow after my article goes live. Sorry but I have to post this ugly disclosure because Dana my editor says I have to and she is a geologist and will hit me with a rock if I don't! http://www.cmp.ly/2

Maiden Mom

This is the Mother's Day card that I made for my Mom. I gave it to her yesterday when she and my Dad came over for dinner. For Mother's Day. When I gave her THIS card- featuring this Squigglefly image: Vintage Flower Maiden by Rich Davis. It also works for this week's Squigglefly Challenge: #48- Embossing. Inside the card I put a coupon to make my mom 10 notecards- she gets to pick the images and colors/ paper. This was the first Mother's Day in 10 years that we have lived in the same town and we could have her (and my Dad) over for Mother's Day dinner. And because she is a Mom she brought a big kettle of my Dad's homemade chicken soup- because nothing says, "I don't trust my daughter's cooking" more than bringing your own food for dinner! ROFL! Seriously, I love my mother dearly and I appreciate her more each day as I experience motherhood myself.

LOTS going on this week at Squigglefly!

• The Squigglefly group on Card Universe is having a challenge until May 20th and the prize is a set of 4 mounted Hero Arts stamps! Check out the details HERE
• Also there is some revamping/ remodeling on the website- when it is done it will be much easier to search for images! Also there are some neat new video tutorials.
• Lastly, Squigglefly is looking for 300 followers on their blog. When they reach the magic number they'll post a code for a 30% DISCOUNT! 30%- wow! Check out the details HERE They are currently at 268- just a few more subscribers needed to get the discount!

Tearing up Simple

This pie image is from is from Sunshine's Stamps. I used a sketch created by Jennifer from the design team- and she did an awesome job- it is a really cute sketch. The sentiment is a sticker from SRM.

Squigglefly has a new release coming out 5/15. I can't wait- I got my new images today and printed them out this evening. You can always tell I'm excited when I print the new digi's the day I get them.

Sunday my parents are coming for Mother's Day Dinner- first time we have been able to do that in 10 years. We are going to grill.

I'm currently going through some soul sucking "challenges" where I work. Luckily, this situation is temporary and my mojo and horribly clever sense of humor will return (along with my soul!)

To leave things on a happy note, I want to brag about my daughter. Last Saturday I bought her a "how to draw anime teenagers" book at a used book sale. She actually draws well on her own but I thought it might inspire her a bit. "A bit" has turned into 12+ very detailed drawings. I am amazed at her ability to put on paper what she sees in her mind's eye. Her new goal- she wants to sell her artwork as digital images to a stamp company so people will use her designs to make cards. Pretty impressive for a 9 year old! I only wish she tackled homework and her chores with as much gusto.

Tuesday- how did THAT happen?

Whew- the world has been whizzing by lately! The image about is the first image (called Singing in the Rain) from Squigglefly's 1 a day in May promotion. The sentiment is a sticker from SRM. I've been using SRM stickers a lot lately.

Speaking of Craft Critique (if you are following my logic here you will have just read a large hint about an upcoming review ;) Anyway Craft Critique is having a Mother's Day Blog Carnival- see the details here: http://www.craftcritique.com/2010/04/mothers-day-blog-carnival-call.html

Participating in a blog carnival is a great way to get a lot of hits on your blog or website.

I vow to photograph more of the pretties sitting on my stamp table to share with you this week!