Tomorrow's the Day

Tomorrow at 2 pm I take the NCLEX. I was really stressed out about for the past few days but I asked several of my friends to pray for me so I much calmer now. Tonight I am going to the movies by myself as a nice relaxing treat for all of the hard studying I have done. Please keep me in prayer that I do well on the exam tomorrow. I will find out if I am an RN Friday afternoon.

Meanwhile, I have a card that I posted on SCS but forgot to upload to my blog.

This card was for SCS Featured Stamper 126 and it is CASE'd from this card. The stamps are from Hero Arts and I used MS lattice border punch.

Introducing...

my sister Lyssa! Lyssa has been making cards and doing other paper crafts for about 15 years now. I used to tease her and her friends by saying they were the "Crafting Cult" as they would run off to "worship" at various craft "temples" to learn "spells" (techniques). They would come home with different "potions" (inks and paper) and "charms" (embellishments) and practice creating with them. She would invite others over to show them all the neat things she made to entice them into the cult. It took a few years but she finally converted me about 3 years ago. Anyway, the cause for mentioning her is that she received a very big honor as her latest creation has been chosen to be featured on the Faith Sisters blog for the His Holy Name Scripture Challenge! She has been very faithful in creating a project for each challenge word.

Lyssa does not have a blog (yet) however you can see some of her creations in the Faith Sisters Gallery here. Please leave lots of encouraging comments in her gallery and help me convince her to start a blog to share all of her wonderful creations!

Hope

This card is a combination SCS Inspiration Challenge 187 and SCS Sketch Chalenge 235. I found the verse in my sister's stash and it fit perfectly in the sketch. I learned that one of my fellow Graduate Nurse's has already taken the NCLEX and passed! I am so excited for her and I feel a little calmer to know that someone who took the same classes with same instructors as I did was successful.

Recipe:
Stamps: Always in My Thoughts, Pocket Sillhouettes - SU; Jeremiah 29:11 - unknown
Paper: VV, Soft Sky, Cranberry Crisp, Soft Suede, River Rock
Ink: Cranberry Crisp, Ranger Distress Inks, Stazon Black and Olive, Bravo Burgundy Craft, Garden Green Craft
Accessories: Square punches, Scor-It, Clear EP, Heat Tool, Butterfly Punch, brads, Sponges, Cuttlebug, Embossing Folder, Colored Pencils, Goo-Gone, Blending Stump

Just for You

This card I made for the Mojo Week 93 Sketch Challenge and the colors are from SCS Color Challenge 225. I have been busy studying for the NCLEX exam and making myself sick over it that I needed a break to just have fun. I made few other cards this weekend and will post them later.

Recipe:

Stamps: Soft Summer, Teeny Tiny Wishes - SU

Ink: Night of Navy, So Saffron

Paper: WW, Night of Navy, Craft, So Saffron, DP

Accessories: Cuttlebug, Embossing Folder, Nestabilities, Sizzix Die, Brads, Twine, Stamp-a-ma-jig

Praying for You

Last week was full of sad events. The one that hit me the most was the unexpected passing of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Michael was the first crush I had. I was about 4 or 5 years old at the time. I remember seeing him and his brothers on old shows like Soul Train. I remember the Jackson 5 cartoon and "little Michael" was the one who always got in trouble. My friends and I always had contests to see who could name all 5 of the Jacksons in order. Yes, I was born in the 70's but I won't share the year.

When I was in elementary school, my friends and I would sing and dance to songs from Michael's beginning solo career. I could not get enough of "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" and Workin' Day and Night."

Thriller came out when I was in middle school and I was really crazy for Michael then. MTV was my favorite channel and I would scream and act real silly as all the other pre-teen girls when the "Beat It" and "Billy Jean" videos played. I remember when the world premiere of the "Thriller" video was to air on MTV. I raced home from school and ran to the den to be one of the first watch it. MTV had become "Michael TV!" When Michael's hair caught on fire while filming the infamous Pepsi commercial, I cried. When Michael first debuted the Moonwalk on live TV, I wanted to faint.

As I got older I didn't have such an infatuation with Michael but I always considered myself a fan. I never got to see him in concert but every time one of his songs played on the radio I always listened to it and would sing a long. Even with all the problems he had in his life and the disturbing allegations against him, I still saw him as a great musician and entertainer. I chose to think more of him in his earlier years and often would wonder what went wrong with him that brought about the bizarre behavior in his latter years. Often I would pray for him to find forgiveness and salvation through Christ and then even healing.

On the afternoon of Thursday, June 25, 2009 Michael's life came to a very abrupt end. I, along with the rest of the world, was in utter shock. I was driving home when I first heard the news on the radio. I had to pull over to the side of the road for a few minutes to cry. When I got home, I couldn't pull myself a way from the TV news reports on what had happened and all the tributes to his life. I was in disbelief for a couple of days.

We may never know what Michael was thinking in those last few seconds before his heart stopped. I like many of my Christian friends who admired Michael, hope he had asked Christ for forgiveness and salvation, but on this side of heaven we may never really know.

This card was actually made the Friday before last. I wanted to play with some of my new SU stuff and use the new colors but the batteries died on my camera and I couldn't replace them until later. I didn't have anyone in mind when I originally made this card. I had no idea that we would lose 3 prominent celebrities all in one week, let alone 2 in one day. If I could, I would like to dedicate this card to the family, friends, and fans of Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, and Michael Jackson. My prayer is that you all will find comfort and peace in this time of grief by putting your faith in Jesus Christ.

Prayers Answered!

Sorry no card from me today, but I do want to share that I have been released from that holding place and things are moving forward. First, I want to thank all of you who have been praying my fellow graduate nurses and myself over the situation with our NCLEX ATTs. Last Tuesday I found out that my school's Director of Nursing had received the okay from the Registrar and sent our letters off to the Board of Nursing (BON). The BON was very quick to respond by sending out our ATTs, which most of us received by email on Thursday.

Another blessing is that on Monday before the above even transpired, I received my official hire letter from the hospital with a confirmed start date for early August. Wednesday I completed all of the pre-employment paperwork and received my ID badge.

Now all that is left for me to do is to pass the NCLEX on my scheduled date of July 15th. When God want's things to happen at a certain time, they really happen!

Now, even though I don't have any cards of my own to share in this post, I want to introduce you to my friend, and fellow Graduate Nurse, Shannon. Shannon is a new blogger. She has been making cards for a little less than a year and does beautiful work! She came to my home a few weeks ago and made couple of cards which you can see on her blog. Right now she is off on her honeymoon with her new husband. So please show her some love and a big welcome to the world of blogging stampers!

Last, I won another blog award! This one is from the Women to Women: Sharing Jesus blog.

The rules for receiving this award are as follows:

1. Post the blog award in a regular post on your blog with the explanation, including the original
link to WTW and the rules for passing the award along
2. Name five people (more or less is fine!) to whom you want to offer this award and link to their
blogs. The blogs need to obviously exalt Christ in some manner.
3. Contact the bloggers you have named to let them know they can pick up their blog award
from you.
4. Invite them to permanently display the WTW blog badge and/or the award on their blogs.
The badge can be obtained on the WTW site.

So I now will pass on this award to the following bloggers:

1. Stephanie
2. Becky
3. Giovana
4. Judy
5. LeAnne
6. Kerry
7. Deborah

Please check out the awesome and inspirational talent of these ladies!

Venting but trusting

I seem to be in a holding place right now. I am still at my current job and cannot start working as a nurse until I get my RN license. I cannot get my RN license until I take and pass the NCLEX. I cannot take the NCLEX until I get my Authorization To Test (ATT) from my state's Board of Nursing. The Board of Nursing can't send me my ATT until they get a letter from the college's Director of Nursing that I have fulfilled all of the requirements of the nursing program. The DON can't send the letter until she gets to okay from the Registrar's office. And why can't the Registrar's office give the okay? I have no clue. It is not just me who is in this holding place but my all of my fellow Graduate Nurses too. It is a very frustrating place to be in. But that is the way life is sometimes.

All I can do right now is just trust in the Lord as Proverbs 3:5 says. It all out of my hands as there is nothing I can do to make the process go any faster. I guess the good thing about this delay is that I am getting more time to study and prepare for the NCLEX.

More about this card. This is a combination of 2 challenges: The sketch is from the Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge 5 that I found on Chris Olsen's blog (I just LOVE her cards!), and the second is the Treehouse Stamps Color Challenge that I found out about on Crystal's blog (she does such wonderful work!). I don't have any stamps by Treehouse, but I liked the color combo.

Recipe:

Stamps: Proverbs 3:5 - Verve

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Paper: Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky, Chocolate chip & Soft Sky DSPs

Accessories: Cuttlebug, Embossing Folder, Nestabilities, Sizzix Die, Piercing Tool, Brads

Do you like my flowers?

This card is for the CCEE Catchy Name Featured Stamper Challenge. My blogging buddy Dawn (Flowergal36) was selected to be the Featured Stamper for this week. So for the challenge we are to make a card with flowers.

This card not only has a stamped flower, but also paper flowers that I learned to make from Bev's wonderful tutorial. It is so easy to make Prima-like flowers in any color or pattern that I wish.

I admit that I went a little crazy with the colors on this card as I colored in the image without thinking how these colors would go together. What do you think?

Recipe:

Stamps: Rose with Stem - Hero Arts, Designer Label - SU

Paper: Green Galore, Gable Green, Soft Sky, Rose Red, WW, DSP - SU

Ink: Stazon Black, Gable Green, Soft Sky, Cool Caribbean, Rose Red

Accessories: Cuttlebug, Embossing Folder, Dies, Nestabilities, Colored Pencils, Goo Gone, Ticket Corner Punch, Designer Label Punch, Plastic Beads, Ribbon, Sakura Stardust Pen

Isaiah 61:3

The sketch for this card is from Mojo 89 and the colors are from the SCS Inspiration Challenge 183 using this image. Because I added a butterfly the card also fits with the Flutterby Wednesday #60 challenge.

Recipe:

Stamps: Isaiah 61:3, Grateful Elegance - Verve

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, Apricot Appeal

Paper: Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, WW, Rainbow Sherbet DSP, and Sweet Always DSP

Accessories: Nestabilities, MS Butterfly Punch, Stick on Gem, Ribbon, Button

Land's End Inspired

This card is for SCS Clean and Simple #17. The challenge was to choose a beach towel or tote design from the Land's End website and design a CAS card. This is the towel that I chose. I needed to do something quick and simple to get my creative mojo going.

Recipe:

Stamps: none

Ink: none

Paper: Green Galore, Garden Green, Barely Banana

Accessories: Cuttlebug, Dies, Ribbon, Sakura Stardust Gel pen

Enjoy Your Day

My big niece, Sweepie's mom, is turning 22 tomorrow. This is the quick card I made for her birthday. The sketch is from Viva la Verve! May Week 1 and I based the colors on the ribbon I used.

Recipe:

Stamps: Hero Arts

Ink: Stazon Black

Paper: Cool Caribbean, Pixie Pink, Barely Banana, Confetti White

Accessories: Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Embossing Folder, MS punch, Corner Rounder, Ribbon, Colored Pencils, Goo Gone, Blending Stump

Butterfly & Pearls

Hurray! I am no longer a student nurse but now a Graduate Nurse! Despite what my graduation cap says, I will be a Registered Nurse when I pass the NCLEX. I am so glad that I finally completed nursing school. It was the hardest 2 years of my life. Now that school is over and done with, I can get back into crafting.

I want to say "thank you" to all of you who wished me well and prayed for me while I was going through the program. And a "thank you" to all of you congratulated me upon completion!

It has felt like an eternity since I last made a card. This one is for the Mojo Week 88 Sketch. I found this pretty lace with pearls on it at Wal-Mart a while ago and thought it would go great with this card. I embossed the butterfly and the Barely Banana background.

Recipe:

Stamps: none

Ink: none

Paper: Garden Green, Barely Banana, Pretty In Pink, and SU DP

Accessories: Cuttlebug, Die, Embossing Folder, Nestabilities, Corner Rounder, Pearls, and Lace with Pearls

Tomorrow's the Day!

I graduate from Nursing School tomorrow, YAY! I just ended a 4-day long NCLEX prep course that was grueling. It was absolute torture to sit for 8 hours each day to review all that we learned over the last 2 years. This morning I have a little bit of time to relax before I go to take my exit exam. So I decided to do something a little crafty...

Some of my fellow RN classmates and I decided we wanted to stand out at graduation so we decorated our graduation caps. We all have "RN" on our caps but chose different designs and colors.

Right now I feel as though I could sleep for a week! After tomorrow I will take a break and do nothing for a couple days and then get back into making cards. Oh, and I will also be studying hard for the NCLEX.

Clean and Simple Thank You

This card is the card I sent to the ICU Manager I interviewed with last week before I got the job offer. I used the colors from the SCS Color Challenge #215 again. The sketch is from the Clean & Simple blog.

Recipe:

Stamps: Warmest Regards - SU

Paper: Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Basic Gray, and Pallet Of Prints DP -SU

Ink: Basic Gray

Accessories: Flower Punches, Ribbon, Martha Stewart Eyelet Border Punch, Stick On Gem

I'm a Soon-To-Be ICU RN!

Hi Everyone! Just wanted to share some great news and answers to a lot of prayers. I got an offer and accepted the ICU position that have been interviewing for! I have gone on a series of 3 interviews for the this position and I am so grateful to God and blessed by Him to have been selected!

It is are really great hospital just a few minutes from my home. There is a great benefits package and opportunities for advancement and to further my education. Excellent patient care is a high priority and many people I know have excellent things to say about the care they have received at this facility.

So after I graduate and take the NCLEX I will be studying up on critical care and practicing the skills at my schools lab. I would be extremely grateful to any and all advice from all you experienced RNs out there!

Rosey Thank You

This is a thank you card I made for one of the RN I shadowed last week during my interview process. The colors are from SCS Color Challenge # 215 using Rose Red, Pirouette Pink or Pretty in Pink, and Basic Gray.

Recipe

Stamps: Wonderful Words

Paper: Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Basic Gray, DP

Ink: Rose Red

Accessories: Cuttlebug, Dies, Sizzix Die, Stick on Gem

Butterfly Birthday

I have been so busy that I have been just itching to do something creative and stir up my card making mojo. This card was made using the sketch from Card Sketch A Day #238. The colors were inspired by the ribbon and I used small butterfly punches to go around the sentiment. For the flower, I used layered flower cuttlebug dies. I bent the flowers and sponged them with ink to give them a bit of a worn look and then I glued on 3 pearls that I found in a beading pack from Wal-Mart.

Recipe

Stamps: Upsy Daisy

Paper: Bashful Blue, WW, Pixie Pink, Green Galore, DP

Ink: Stazon Black, Bashful Blue, Pixie Pink, Green Galore

Accessories: Cuttlebug, Embossing Folder, Dies, Nestabilities, Butterfly Punch, Stick on Gems, Sponge, Pearls, Ribbon

Soft Summer Sympathy

Sympathy cards are always my least favorite to make. A good friend's mother passed a couple of weeks ago so I needed to come up with a card. I originally stamped this image to make another card for SCS Inspiration Challenge # 175. I think it turned out well and my friend said she really liked it.

Recipe:

Stamps: Soft Summer, Brighter Tomorrow - SU

Paper: WW, Ballet Blue, Vellum

Ink: WW and Ballet Blue Craft

Accessories: Cuttlebug, Embossing Folder, Clear EP, Heat Tool, Nestabilities, MS Butterfly Punch, SU Flower Punch, Brads, Pearl Beads

Busy, busy, busy

I have been so busy that I haven't had time to post anything in a while. Besides school and my regular day job, I have been on some interviews for a RN position for when I graduate. I had my third interview at this one particular hospital that has an opening in the ICU. Today was the part of the interview process where I get to shadow a nurse for a few hours. I had a great experience; I saw and learned a lot. My friend who works at this hospital heard that I made a great impression on the staff in the ICU and that the manager was impressed with my willingness to jump in and help out. I so hope and pray that I will be selected for this position!

Anyway, I was tagged by my blogging buddy Kerry, a few weeks ago and am now just posting this. The task is to choose the 6th picture from the 6th folder on my computer. Here is what came up:

This little cutie is my little niece Sweepie when she wasn't even five minutes old. The date code on the camera was off by a day. She is now a very precious and entertaining little 2 year old.

So now it is time for me to pass on the tag to 6 others:

Michelle

Xiumaiyuki

Linda

Joanne

Martha

Molly

For all of you that posted suggestions for creating a banner and/or signature, I want to say thanks! When I have some free time I will look into all those ideas.

SCS IC175

This card is for SCS Inspiration Challenge # 175. We were to choose something from the Grandin Road website as the inspiration piece. I chose this item. I was actually able to complete this card using just SU products. I haven't done an SU only card in a long time!

To color the image spritzed the stamp with water and then colored directly on the stamp with SU watercolor crayons. I spritzed the colored stamp and then stamped on the paper. I used Dazzling Diamonds to add a little sparkle.I distressed the edges of the stamped image panel and sponged the edges with Close to Cocoa. I sponged around the image and the sentiment with River Rock.

Recipe:

Stamps: Soft Summer, Touch of Nature, Weathered, and Happy Harmony

Ink: Versamark, Creamy Caramel Craft, Close to Cocoa Classic, River Rock

Paper: River Rock, Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla

Accessories: HPH, Distressing Tool, Dazzling Diamonds, Two-way Glue, Stampamajig, Dimensionals, Sponges, Clear EP, Heat Tool, Watercolor Crayons

The Cuttlebug Challenge Spa Weekend is coming!

Go here to find out all the details!

A New Look

Well I think it was about time that I revised my blog! I finally took the time out to get a cute new background from The Cutest Blog on the Block and I found an easy way to add a 3rd column from here. I added a place on the side to show any current blog candy offerings I come across (I know there are a lot more to share, but I have been busy). Now I just need to find a cute banner and a custom signature to go with my blog's new look.

Please leave me comments telling me what you think of the new look. If you have ideas of where I can get a cool banner and signature design, please share. I am a bit blogger-challenged as you can tell so the easiest tips would be best for me.

Birthday Cupcake

I made this for the Mojo Monday 81 sketch contest. This will be one of the several birthday cards that I need to make for friends and family that have birthdays in the next couple of months.

Recipe:

Stamps: Wagon Full of Fun - SU; Birthday Surprise - Verve

Paper: WW, Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, DP - SU

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, Stazon Black

Accessories: Ribbon, Button, Sponge, Brads, Colored Pencils, Goo Gone, Stickles, Scallop Punch, Primas

Blog candy sighting!

Jodi has some wonderful blog candy she is giving away. Stop by her blog and check it out!

Sweepie's 2nd Birthday

My little niece Sweepie turns 2 this week. This is the card I made for her. I know it is not really a little kid's style, but Sweepie likes all of my other cards so I made this one for her. I chose the colors based on the ribbon and used the sketch from Viva la Verve March Week 3.

Recipe:

Stamps: Lily & Friends - Pink Cat Studio

Paper: Cameo Coral, Cool Caribbean, Wild Wasabi, WW, SU DP

Ink: Stazon Black, Cool Caribean

Accessories: Colored Pencils, Goo Gone, Cuttlebug, Embossing Folder, Flower Punches, Oval Punches, Stickles, Ribbon

There's a story behind this

Well I wanted to make one more card as part of my card making therapy before I start my final nursing school course tomorrow. I was clueless as to what stamps, colors, or even which sketch to use. Meanwhile, as I was trying to think and concentrate, April Kitty had gotten into my bag of new $0.66 ribbons that I got from Michael's last week. She was batting around a spool of purple ribbon and making odd noises. I rescued the poor ribbon from the hyper feline and took notice of the colors in them - all different shades of purple. Maybe this could work for my colors.

As for the sketch, I went looking through the gallery on SCS and found this card by Jenn Diaz. This was the perfect sketch! Well I went to Jenn's blog where I learned that the sketch is from Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #10.

Everything was falling into place except for the stamped image. April Kitty was still running around like a little maniac making crazy noises. Then it hit me, I should use my SU Cool Cat stamp set and title the card "Crazy Cat" after April who inspired this. Also I thought all shades of purple would make this card kind of crazy on its own.

As I was making my card I realized that there are several birthdays coming up in April and May that I will need cards for. So I decided to turn this into a birthday card and make it really bling-bling. I think it turned out pretty well and I hope I didn't go overboard with the bling. I tried to show April Kitty the result of her inspiration but she had worn herself out and was snoozing away in her bed.

Recipe:

Stamps: Cool Cat, Tagger's Dozen

Paper: Perfect Plumb, Almost Amethyst, Orchid Opulence, WW, SU DP

Ink: Perfect Plum Craft & Classic, Inkit Silver

Accessories: Cuttlebug, Embossing Folder, Martha Stewart Border Punch, Ribbon, Stickles, Circle Punches, Stick on Gems, Brads, Clear & Silver EP, Heat Tool, Sequin Butterflies

Rubber Bombshell Challenge #2

This card is for the Rubber Bombshells Blog Group Challenge #2. Michelle Wapole is the featured stamper for this challenge. I CASEd her Glittery Butterflies Again card. I changed the stamp and the layout but tried to use the same technique and some of the colors. Please go to Michelle's blog and check out her amazing creations!

Recipe:

Stamps: Inkadinkadoo,

Paper: Elegant Eggplant, So Saffron, Taken w/ Teal, WW, Glorious Green

Ink: Basic Black Craft - SU; Big & Juicy Sweet Pea Rainbow Ink Pad

Accessories: Cuttlebug, Embossing Folders, Die, Nestabilities, Piercing Tool, Clear EP, Heat Tool, Stick on Gems, Ribbon

Way back when...

I was in 8th grade I received my first rubber stamp and it was the All Night Media Bunny. I used it to make fake tattoos and decorate my book covers and notebooks. I lost track of that stamp at some point. I haven't thought about the Bunny until today when I was looking through my sister's stamp collection and there he sat. I am pretty sure this isn't my same stamp from 8th grade, but it probably one that my sister picked up when she first started stamping.

It was a lot of funny to color the Bunny with my pencils and Goo Gone. Do you remember what your very first stamp was?

Recipe:

Stamps: All Night Media Bunny, Fancy Flexible Phrases - SU

Paper: Tempting Turquoise, WW, Petals & Paisley DP - SU

Ink: Stazon Black, Tempting Turquoise

Accessories: Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, Embellishments from Walmart, Ribbon, Stick on Gems, Colored Pencils, Goo Gone

Serene Friend

Well so far I have only made one card during my "intensive card therapy". Once I had the image colored it took me forever to figure out what to do with it. I decided to use the Mojo Week 76 sketch but then I had a hard time deciding on the colors. Finally I got it done. Now let's see how long it takes me to make the next card.


Recipe:


Stamps: Serene Spring - SU
Paper: Blush Blossom, Old Olive, WW, DP - SU
Ink: Stazon Black, Old Olive
Accessories: Ribbon, Cuttlebug, Embossing Folder, Nestabilities, Stick on Gems, Primas, Brad, Colored Pencils, Goo Gone, Blending Stump

One more course to go!

Just one more course left and then I am done with my RN degree! I just finished up psych/mental health nursing, and there was a point during the course that I thought I wouldn't pass. There was so much work involved with this course:
* 12 hours of manadatory community service
* a health promotion project to be presented to the community service agency
* another presentation to the class and all the instructors
* a research paper
* clinicals every other weekend
* patient assessments
* patient teaching plans
* and 2 exams

Last night I took the final exam for this course and got a high B. However I did extremely well on my first exam and very well on my research paper and health promotion project that I ended up getting an A for the course! I am also happy to report that all of my fellow classmates were successful in passing this course.

I am exhausted now and plan to spend the weekend in intensive card-making therapy before I start my next and final course, "Advanced Concepts in Nursing", next week.

If you know a nursing student please shower her or him with kindness. Nursing school and studying for the NCLEX is very stressful on us.

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8 (New King James Version)

Welcome Ryley!

My blogging buddy Molly just gave birth to a beautiful baby girl named Ryley. I used the Mojo Monday Week 77 Sketch to create this card to honor Ryley's arrival. I will be putting it in the mail to Molly on Monday. Please stop by Molly's blog to congratulate her and welcome Ryley!

Recipe:

Stamps: Mini Mates - SU
Paper: Barely Banana, Basic Gray, Gable Green, Pretty in Pink, Parisian Summer DP, and Petals & Paisleys DP
Ink: Basic Gray
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, Buttons, Button Brads, Embossing Folders, Brads, Satin Puff Bow

Silhouette Thank You part 2

One thing that I am loving about blogger is that I can set my posts to appear at a later date. I will be swamped with nursing school projects for the next few weeks so I can now put up several cards and set them to appear for future dates.

This card is another one of the 7 that I made to send to the interview panel members from my interview on February 10th. It is very similar to the first thank you card of the group that I posted.

Recipe:

Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes, Thank You Kindly
Ink: Wild Wasabi
Paper: Sage Shadow, Blue Bayou, Wild Wasabi, Basic Gray, WW
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, Ribbon, Hodge Podge Hardware, Scallop Edge Punch, Piercing Tool

Serenity Thank You

I believe this is one of my favorite thank you cards out of 7. It is probably because it has colors that I don't often use. I also like the sketch because it was simple but elegant.

Recipe:

Stamps: Serenity - Verve, Thank You Kindly - SU
Ink: Pale Plumb, Sage Shadow
Paper: Pale Plumb, Sage Shadow, VV, Old Olive, SU DP
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, Ribbon, Hodge Podge Hardware

Big Bloom Birthday

This is just a fun birthday card I made with no person in mind. I try to keep a stash of cards like these on hand for any last minute cards I need to think out. I dug out an old set SU set that I haven't used in almost 2 years. The colors are from Color Throw Down 30.

Recipe:

Stamps: Big Blooms - SU; Happy Birthday - Hero Arts
Paper: Ballet Blue, Tangerine Tango, Brilliant Blue, WW, DP
Ink: Tangerine Tango
Accessories: Tab Punch, Corner Rounder Punch, Three For You Punch, Flower Punch, Buttons, Ribbon, Word Window, Scallop Edge Punch, Brads, Flower Eyelets

Make A Wish

This is a belated birthday card for a new friend. This is a "busier" style than what I am used to but I like it. I used a 1 inch circle punch to round the ends of the sentiment tag.

Recipe:

Stamps: InkaDinkaDo
Paper: Summer Sun, Tangerine Tango, Wild Wasabi, WW, Haiku DP
Ink: Stazon Black
Accessories: Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Buttons, Eyelets, Ribbon, Colored Pencils, Goo Gone, Circle Punch

Another Award!

My blogging buddy Jenny has graced me with another blog award. Jenny has AMAZING cards and projects! Please run to her blog now and shower her with lots of love!

So now, I will commence with the rules of this award:
1. The winner may put the logo on their blog.
2. Put a link to the person who sent you the award.
3. Nominate 5 blogs.
4. Put links to their blogs.
5. Leave a message for your nominees.

Here are the blogs I nominate in no particular order:

1. Deb
2. Abi
3. Dawn
4. Angela
5. Anita

All of these ladies are such wonderful crafters! Please go to their blogs and show them lots of love!

God Bless!

Monochrome Thank You

Another one of the seven thank you cards.

Recipe:

Stamps: Serenity, Grateful Elegance - Verve
Ink: Old Olive
Paper: River Rock, Old Olive, VV, and SU DP
Accessories: Ribbon, Button, Twine, Circle Punches

Mojo 73 Thank You

This card is one of the 7 thank you cards I have been working on for the panel members I interviewed with on Tuesday. I used the sketch from Mojo Week 73, and it appears that I may have cased Julee by using the same stamp set. To add a little shimmer to the flowers I used Twinkling H20s.

Recipe:

Stamps: Upsy Daisy - SU
Ink: Bravo Burgundy
Paper: Bravo Burgundy, Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla, Parisian Summer - SU; Sweet Blush - PTI
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Embossing Folder, Ribbon, Prima Flower, Crystal Brad, Slot Punch, Twinkling H20s, Word Window Punch

Silhouette Thank You

This is one of 7 thank you cards I am making for the people I interviewed with on Thursday.

Recipe:

Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes, Thank You Kindly - SU
Ink: Basic Gray
Paper: Sage Shadow, Bayou Blue, WW, Basic Gray, Wild Wasabi, DP
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, Organdy Ribbon, Piercing Tool, Embossing Folder, Scallop Border Punch, Brads

Just a little over 3 more months...

And then I'm done with nursing school!

I am so tired of school, but I am so happy I am coming near the end. For my final semester, one the instructors let us students know that "there is no place for senioritis in nursing school." Boy was she right! We are swamped papers, and projects, and community services hours, and clinicals, and reading thousands of pages of text, and exams. I feel like I am going to collapse from exhaustion some times, but I know God is going to see me through this!

I am so happy that I will have a 3 day weekend. The past 2 weeks have been gruelling. I will sleep in a little, make a few cards, and of course STUDY!

Yesterday I had an interview for a very prestigious graduate nurse internship. I think I did well answering the questions. I have all of my friends praying that I will be selected for one of the 6 placements. So, I will be making thank you cards for all of the interviewers. I will probably post each card on a different day, since it may be a while before I can sneak a break from studying to make more.

Have a blessed day!

Twinkling Echoes

This card is for Viva la Verve! February Week 1 which you can find out about here.

The colors used in the image are from SCS Color Challenge 198 which was to use Orchid Opulence, So Saffron, Cameo Coral. I used Twinkling H20s to paint the flower. I was going to make another card for the that color challenge but I decided not to. Since I had the image already colored I used it for this card I made for VLVFeb01.

I think the color combo is kind of wild with the orchid opulence ribbon and eyelets.

Recipe:
Stamps: Echoes of Kindness - SU
Paper: Handsome Hunter, Orchid Opulence, Basic Black, WW - SU; Berry Sorbet - PTI
Ink: Stazon Black
Accessories: Cuttlebug, embossing folders, nestabilities, Twinkling H20s, brads, flower eyelets, ribbon, Martha Stewart eyelet border punch, pastels for shading around image.

Mojo Birthday Surprise

This card is for SCS CC203 and Mojo Monday Week 71. The color challenge was to use Baja Breeze, Pacific Point, and Garden Green. i don't have any Baja Breeze so I went to my stock pile of Soft Sky. Would you believe that this is my first time ever to use Garden Green? Yep! I really like it and on the next order I put in I will get a pack.

I started off by stamping the bird in Versamark and heat embossed it with a blue embossing powder that is almost exact to Pacific Point. Next I colored the bird with pastels (what was I thinking???) but I didn't like it. I dug around in some drawers and found some Pearl Ex that I had forgotten about. I have always had difficulties with Pearl Ex so that is probably why it was buried deep in drawer. To use the Pearl Ex, I took a brush and lightly painted the bird's body with glue then used another brush to apply the Pearl Ex. No mess! It is not exactly how I wish it would look but it is better than just pastels. To accent the bird I used dark blue Stickles.

Recipe:
Stamps: Birthday Surprise - Verve
Paper: Garden Green, Pacific Point, Soft Sky, Pacific Point DSP, Soft Sky DSP, and Whisper White
Ink: Garden Green, Versamark
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, Flower Punch, Embossing Powder, Stickles, Ribbon, Corner Rounder, Pastels, Blender Pen

Joy of the Lord

This one is using the week 4 Viva La Verve sketch. I am too late for the challenge but I wanted to make a card using the sketch anyway. I stamped the image on acetate and then overlaid it on a cuttllebug embossed butterfly.

Sorry for the bad photo. I really should invest in one of those mini photo studios.

(Edited to replace photo)

Recipe
Stamps: Serenity - Verve
Paper: Pixie Pink, Pumpkin Pie, Sweet Always DP - SU; Sweet Blush - PTI
Ink: Stazon Black
Accesories: Cuttlebug, Embossing Folder, Die, Nestabilities, Ribbon, Piercing Tool, and Acetate

Interesting NIH study about pets as companions

I found an interesting article about human and animal bonding. The article states that having a pet can be good for your health. Studies have shown that pets can reduce blood pressure, provide calmness, and offer social support. If you would like to read the article you can get it here.

For those of you who are missing the eye-candy, I will be posting a new card later this evening.

I got a blog award!

I am so surprised and very humbled! One of my SCS Blogger 10 Group sisters Abi gave me this award. Please check out Abi's blog here and my other Blogger Sisters on my sidebar.

The rules for keeping this award are to list 5 things I like and pass it on to 5 other spectacular bloggers.

Here are the 5 things I like (rather love):
1. My little niece Sweepie
2. My cat April Kitty
3. My other family members
4. Making cards
5. Swing Dancing

Here are the 5 Blogs I nominate:
1. Ann
2. Jenny
3. Teresa
4. Kerry
5. Jackie

Blog candy sighting!

Lorraine has some wonderful blog candy she is giving away. You should pop on over and post a comment to for a chance to win. Also while you are there, take a look at her many beautiful creations!

A Note of Thanks

This is a combination of SCS CC202 and SC212.

Recipe:
Stamps: Thank You Kindly - SU
Paper: Regal Rose, Bravo Burgundy, Old Olive, Whisper White, Urban Garden & Sweet Always DP - SU
Ink: Regal Rose
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Embossing Folder, Nestabilities, Paper Flowers, Button

Buzzin' By B-Day

This card is for SCS FS102 and I cased this card by Lori Craig. This is the front of the card.


And this is the inside.

I used my embossed acetate technique to make a birthday card that I will need to send out soon.

Recipe:

Stamps: Just Buzzin' By, Happy Everything - SU
Paper: Chocolate Chip, WW, Parisian Summer DP
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Water color crayons, Twinkling H20s, Cuttlebug, Swiss Dots embossing folder, Acetate, Ribbon, Punches

Embossed Acetate Butterflies

This card is a combination of 2 challenges; Mojo 69 and SCS WT 201. For WT 201 the challenge was to use a color wheel or program to pick the color combo. I chose Certainly Celery from the SU color wheel. I ran the acetate butterfly cut outs through a cuttlebug embossing folder and layered on top of cardstock cut outs.

Recipe:

Stamps: None!
Paper: Certainly Celery, Apricot Appeal, Regal Rose, Almost Amethyst, DP
Ink: None!
Accessories: Cuttlebug, embossing folders & die, nestabilities, ribbon, dimensionals, acetate, butterfly punch

Butterfly Princess

Here is another card where Sweepie is my muse. I got this image from Pink Cat Studio of Lily the Fairy, but I call it "Sweepie the Butterfly Princess". The sketch is from SCS SC211 and the color combo I picked from the paper flowers. I added shimmer to Sweepie's wings, antennae, and hair with Twinkling H20s. I used my favorite coloring method, Goo-Gone Magic, with colored pencils. The sentiment is from Verve's Petals & Stems set.

Recipe:

Stamps: Lily the Fairy - Pink Cat Studio, Petals & Stems - Verve
Paper: Barely Banana, Green Galore, Pacific Point, WW, Pacific Point DSP
Ink: Pacific Point
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, Rhinestone, Goo-Gone, Blending Stump, Prisma & Crayola colored pencils, paper flowers, brads, Twinkling H20s

Valentine for Christ

I am technically back in school now because I have to take a mandatory course over the winter break (boooo!). I took a little break from my boring reading assignments to make a card with some of my new toys. I treated myself to some new stamps from Verve and paper from Papertrey Inc. Since the next card giving season coming is Valentine's Day I made a card with hearts. However I don't have any to give valentines to except for Sweepie, who will say "preetty, preetty" and kiss it then take it apart. There is also April Kitty, who at first would give me "what do you expect me to do with this?" look and then will bat around the floor until it gets stuck under a piece of furniture. So I gave some thought and realized I could make a card to express my love and gratitude to Jesus Christ! I used to the Proverbs 3:5 Plain Jane stamp from Verve on the heart. It is a reminder to me to always trust my Lord for everything and not make decisions just on my own perceptions. I experimented by embossing acetate with one of my cuttlebug heart folders and then cut it out with the heart die. I think it turned out well. The sketch is from Mojo 58.

I noticed that most bloggers include recipes for the cards they post and I haven't been doing that except on SCS. Please forgive my laziness! So, I will start now by including a recipie for my cards.

Recipe:
Paper: Sweet Blush, Berry Sorbet - PTI; Very Vanilla, Parisian Summer DP -SU
Stamps: Proverbs 3:5 and Grateful Elegance - Verve
Accessories: Cuttlebug, heart embossing folder and die, Vanilla HPH, Acetate, Heart Punches

Blog Candy Sighting!

Hop on over to Lauren's blog, Lauren's Cards Etc. for some wonderful blog candy. She has stamped images of Sugar Nellie, Whiff of Joy, and Sarah Kay and lots of pretty paper and embellishments.

Mojo 68 Upsy Daisy

This card is a double challenge for Verve's Looking for Love Release Week and Mojo 68. Today's challenge was to use the colors Riding Hood Red, Blush Blossom and Kraft on a card. I substituted Ruby Red for the Riding Hood Red. I used my sister's long forgotten Twinking H20s to add shimmer to the images shadow and on the vine. The vine is from a cuttlebug die.

Rach is giving away some really yummy candy at her blog. Just leave a comment on that post by January 10th!

Busy Bee Thank You

The sketch is from SCS SC209. I found an "old" but new to me toy to play with: Twinkling H20s! My sister had them buried in a box and had forgotten about them. They are perfect for giving the bees shimmery wings.

Polka Dot Petals

Happy New Year everyone! This card is for 3 challenges: CC199, Mojo 67 sketch challenge, and Our Creative Corner Clearly Thinking challenge. I stamped "Thank You" on an acetate tag I punched out with my cuttlebug.