Hello "Matryoshka" Dollies

Ok. Stampers... When I saw this stamp set I HAD to have it... When I was digging through the big blue box at Roberts Craft.. This is the one stamp set I was head over heals to find these beauties... This set is really fun to play around with.. You could stamp is straight on to the card and not alter it or...... You could have endless possibilities with paper piecing... Just like my sample... I love that this set included images that you could accent the card with. I love the rickrack stamp.. It add just the perfect touch and doesn't over power the card when you stamp in Whisper White...

My sweet mother just retired. Yesterday was her last day.. When I called to see how she was enjoying her day of leisure.. She was elated... No Alarm clock.... She said "When the Alarm went of the day before she turned it off and cried she was so happy, This was the last day she had to work". How exciting is that... I am so happy for her she is such a hard worker and SOOO deserves to retire... My dad was self employed... There are a lot of cool things that come with self employment but there are a lot of worries as well.. When I was about 12/13 she went back to work full time so we could have medical insurance and help with income... I can't even imagine how hard it was for her to be a full time mom and full time employee... She had so much on her plate... Now she gets to be a Grandma and come to all the school activities etc... And just hang out with us all.. Congrats MOM on a job well done. 25 years with employed..

My mother is the one who taught me the love of hand made projects.. And her mother and grandmother were also crafter and taught classes on painting to ceramics etc.. So I decided as this card was evolving that she would appreciated all the details and culture that this card had.. So as she retires this card can represent the world and how it is here to see now...

Thanks Mom I love you forever and Eternity..

You can fine these cute dollies here:

(Click on the link below)

Matryoshka Dolls

$7.99
3" x 4" Clear Stamps
Set of 9 images

Zach loves to make cards for his friends.. He cracks me up... He know exactly what he wants to use. His favorite tool to use are my Stampin' Up punches.. I think the kid could punch out paper for hours... These punches are much easier than the 75 traditional punches I have and never even use any more.. I even replaced the circles and squares with the S.U. punches... Sooo worth it even if it takes a while cost wise to replace them... Any ho.. When we go to the craft store Zach LOVES to pick out pattern paper so I usually limit him to 1-2 pieces. With in seconds he has someone in mind that he wants to make a card for. I don't really coach him on how to make a card I just let him create. He will ask me to cut something now and then... Notice the ribbon length on the left card I couldn't bare to change it... The card on the right is so funny, dogs and airplanes how funny. When I asked him why dogs and airplanes he said... "Tyce really really likes dogs and airplanes" I guess he is more observant at school than I think.. He told me what to write for the Sentiment. Funny thing is... It's glued on UP SIDE DOWN... Ironic isn't...

Go make a card with you kiddos

Hugs

Brooke

Eeks its a Monster's 1st B-day

YAHOO! I finally got my hands on stamps from:

"My Cute Little Stamps" co. Lucky Ducky me they started caring them this week at our local craft store "Roberts". When I got a little e-mail from Holly Brooke Jones the owner of "My Cute Little Stamps" telling me that they were at "Roberts" I jetted over the next day... They didn't even have them on the shelves yet.. They had to get the box out from the back.. I had the hardest time deciding what to pick first... The first set I new I had to have was.... "Matryoshka Dolls"Dolls" (my next post) then I new I had to have a stamp set for little boys... I had the Robots and "Eeek! A monster!" in my had and my 5 years old said mommy we have to get the monsters.. The next set for little boys will be the "Space Ships and Robots"

Eeek! A Monster!"

This week we are celebrating my nephews 1st Birthday.. I think this little guy is just perfect for a little boys birthday celebration. This little nephew is soooo cute he had already had like 5 hair cuts. All his hair is sooo. cute.

I LOVED making this card.. Watercoloring is so much fun... Don't forget if you don't have fancy Copic markers you can still get great shading watercolor paper is a great way to create the same effect... I use the ink from my ink pads and Stampin' Write markers with my aqua painter...

To make the polka dot patten on the Kraft card stock I used the eraser end of a pencil and used the Versamark inkPad...

I took the color for the monster from on of the little guy on the pattern paper.. I thought the Sage green made the little monster look a little bit cuddly.. Doesn't he look like he wants a big hug. I backed the little monster with the flip side of the pattern paper.. I have to say I LOVE double sided paper.. It takes the brain work out of everything.. How could it get any better? A pack of coordination paper thats how... LOADS of options... I used some of my favorite retied SU stamps for the accent/Sentiments on this card... I can't for get my favorites...

I can't wait to share my favorite new little dollies in the next post..

Until then

HUGS

Brooke

Thinking of You....

Ok. So here is another card that I made in between funerals.. I have been coveting this set forever.. I actually held the stamp set "Thoughts and Prayers" in my hand for the first time when my friend Tomiannie ordered it in the Spring... So I selected "Thoughts and Prayers" as one of my choices from Sale-A-Bration rewards...

Don't you just love the new In-Color "Dusty Durango"! I played around with different greens to compliment the "Dusty Durango" and settled on Mellow Moss. I wanted to flowers to stand out a bit so I first stamped the image in "Mellow Moss" then in "Dusty Durango". I cut out the little D.D. flowers and glued them on with a small dot of Tombo Mono liquid glue.. When I glued them to the paper I only lightly touched them to the paper so they would stand of a bit.. This glue is Super strong and only need a little to hold tight.. The D.D. Paper was run throught the Big shot Machine. To add a few accents I added a few half pearls for the Stampin' Up Pretties Kit and adhered them with mini glue dots... To finish I used one of the little white flowers form the pretties kit and died it with "Dusty Durango" Ink Pad.. You don't need the ink refills to die the flowers I just used my "Aqua Painter" and picked up ink from the ink pad and brushed it on.. I colored the stem with the "Mellow Moss" stampin' Write marker. To create the Leaves I had cut them out of card stock and glued them on with Tombo glue... Finished with White Ribbon...

I was thrilled with the finished card. I hope you enjoyed visiting... Here is a full view of this great stamp set and where you can order it...

Click on the picture to find out how to purchase this stamp set.

Thoughts & Prayers	113252
Price: $25.95
Brimming with sentiments of love and concern, this set it a must-have for conveying your feelings at those times in life when you need to reach out to a friend or close one. Accompanied by two graceful, calming nature images, there is no need to worry that you won’t know what to say or how to say it. Set Quantity: 8

Hugs

Brooke

Baby Shower Invitation

My little sister Ginger is having a Baby Boy in Sept.. So we are having a baby shower for her..

My mom asked me to make the shower invitations for her.. So here they are..

Sweet and simple.. We are soooo excited for her.. this will be her second boy the oldest is 13.. So don't you think it's time for new baby goodies...

I Don't have any baby stamps from Stampin' Up... I know how weird is that.. But I do have this Yummy set from "Papertry inc." I did a little paper piecing with this cute onsie. What is Paper piecing... Really simple.. I stamped on patten paper and cut the image out.. Is that easy peasie or what... I used 2 different designer series paper patterns from Stampin' Up paper pack. I ran the card base through the Big Shots machine using the "Stampin' Up Backgrounds #1 Texturz Plates". (don't forget to spritz the paper with a light mist of water before you run it through what a difference it will make) Then I distressed the card with Whisper White Craft ink from SU. I cut of the bottom edge of the card front and replaced it with a white scallop edge I cut using the S.U. Scallop edge punch I glued it on with a small line of Mono liquid glue.. Using the scraps of paper I had left from the Onsie I sewed the strips of paper onto the card. To add a sentiment to the card I stamped the message on a Strip of Kraft paper then raised it on the card with Stampin' Dimensionals. Finished up with a little Whisper White Ribbon from SU and a small button from my button collection...

This is a great card for mass producing... You just get it all cut out and sit down snuggle someone special and watch a good movie...

Thanks for stopping buy..

Hugs

Brooke

Recipe:

Stamps~ Papertry inc.

Card Stock~ Kraft, Whisper White (all S.U.)

Ink~ Basic Black, Whisper White.

DSP~ Bashful Blue Designer Series Paper (S.U.)

Ribbon~ Whisper White Grosgrain.

Button~ ??

Punch~ Large Circle Marvy

Cutter Tool for Distressing all edges~ (S.U.)

Adhesive~ Snail, Mono Liquid Glue, Stamp Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots

Catty Cruise Sets Sail

Welcome all! I hope you all enjoyed your port of call over at

the lovely Ms.Becky Roberts blog. If you're like me, you may need to pull your head out of the sand after viewing the pure genius on her blog. She is so talented... I do hope you take a few minutes to collect a few postcards to send home. Don't forget to go back and purchase her amazing template... I know I am excited to make a project using her template..

If this is your first stop on our tour jump on board and enjoy the cruise. You will have 12 ports of call to enjoy. Each port will feature projects from the new Stampin' Up idea book and Catalog..

This port of call will feature the stamps set:

CIRCLE CIRCUS

Circle Circus	115778
Price: $28.95 The perfect accent for your next project can start with a simple circle. This set offers circles with all sorts of lively, fresh designs to choose from. Whether you're decorating a tag, creating a card, or adding dimension to a page, you can find a design that works for you! Set Quantity: 10

Bon Voyage all!!

I thought I would make a little backpack and a new hawaiian shirt to take on our CATTY CRUISE..

If you haven't noticed there is a purse craze in the paper crafting world... When I saw this tutorial on splitcoast I thought this would be a great project for the catty cruz.. Actually my daughter Abbie asked if I could make her a life size one just like this one for her to take to school in a month... (Ya right)..

I wanted the Close to Cocoa paper to look like real leather, so I grabbed the plastic wrap from the kitchen and wadded up a piece in my hand I daubed it in close to cocoa ink then on the paper. I was thrilled with the new technique.. I Love it when you have those little moments when a great idea comes to mind and it really works...

On this tutorial She has you print out the pattern on a sheet of paper then trace it on the card stock you want you finished project on.. I actually printed it right on the card stock and made sure that the print was on the inside on the backpack..

Recipe:

Card Stock~ Bermuda Bay, Close to Cocoa

Ribbon~ Chocolate Chip

Hardware~ Filigree brads, Silver Eyelets

Adhesive~ Sticky Tape

My DH and I really want to go on a cruise to Hawaii.. So I though this little Hawaiian shirt would be proper attire for a cruise.. Before I folded the shirt I stamped both sides of the paper. I used the new SU in-color "Crushed Curry" in both paper and ink. I stamped 1st and second generation with the Crushed Curry then stamped the image with Whisper White Craft ink.. To create the buttons I used Kraft paper and punched out holes with my hand eyelet tool. They were just the right size. I then glues them on to the shirt with liquid tombow glue and finished them of with a few dots for button holes.

Recipe:

Card stock~ Crushed Curry, Kraft

Ink~ Crushed Curry, Whiser White Craft

Adhesive ~ Tombow multi Purpose Adhesive, Sticky Strip.

Pencil

Time to pick out your postcards

Here are a few ideas below.

I couldn't resist using Kraft paper.. I {HEART} Kraft paper, Ribbon and Ink. If you look closely you can see that I ran the card base though the "Big Shoots" machine. I found a really great tip online that said pre-spray your paper with just a light mist of water before you run it through the "Big Shot" and Wowzers did it work...

This is what I call a life saver card. You can whip up one of these in just a few minutes. And it looks like you took loads of time.

Recipe:

Card Stock~ Kraft, Whisper White

Ink~ Crushed Curry, Rich Razzleberry, Dusty Durango, Bermuda Bay.

Ribbon~ Bermuda Bay Striped Grosgrain.

Punches~ Modern Label. 1-3/4", 1-1/4", 1"

Adhesive~ Snail, Stampin' Dimensionals.

Now this little card looks like it was from a fine shop on board the ship..

I have such a thing for pink these days so I couldn't resist making a pink card. My youngest son Zach seeks out all things pink and LOVES to say mom look it's your favorite color... Maybe that's why I love the color so much because it makes him so happy.

On this card I used the masking technique you can find here. I mixed in just a little freehand stamping to make my own Designer Paper.. If you notice I snuck in just a little Kraft color.. LOL

Recipe:

Card Stock~ Melon Mambo, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink.

Ink~ Melon Mambo

Punches~ Scallop Circle, 1-3/8 circle

Paper Piercing tool, mat pack

Ribbon~ Rose Red Grosgrain, Kraft linen Thread.

Adhesive~ snail, Stampin' Dimensionals.

And last but not least.. a little post card that I forgot to mail.. It looks like it was at the bottom of the purse I made.

Don't most postcards look a little loved when you get them in the mail?

I wanted to show you how to make an easy but sweet card using your scraps... I am all about scraps.. I have a hard time parting with all my lovely Stampin' Up paper... The trickiest thing on this cards is punching and gluing on all the little circles on the pink heart.. So not really a big deal at all. Right! I bent the white banner around a Stampin' Write marker to give it a little dimension. I just couldn't throw this card/postcard out with sharing it... I had a couple of sticky fingers wanting to get a hold of it...

Recipe:

Card Stock~ Soft Suede, Melon Mambo, Elegant Eggplant, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White.

Punches~ Full Heart, Heart to Heart.

Designer brad~ Flower Assortment

Additional Stamp set~ Great Friend

I am so glad you stopped by this port of call on your Catty Cruise today.. I Hope you had a great time shopping for ideas to send home.... The next stop is quite a feast you are sure to be amazed by the elegant offering that you will see on the lovely

Connie Collins Blog..

Get your best dress on and join us at the captains table for this one.

Hugs

Brooke

Don't forget to come back for a visit and view new posts.

Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge #42 "Amazing Grace"

The Movie Amazing Grace is such so inspiring. I hope you enjoy is as much as we did.

This weeks challenge requirement was to get your inspiration from the song "Amazing Grace"

I choose the verse below from the Hymn.. It express the love that the Lord has for us.. If we do our part the lord will never fail us.. That is his promise..

Amazing Grace Hymn

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found;

Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,

And grace my fears relieved;

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares,

I have already come;

'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,

And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,

His word my hope secures;

He will my shield and portion be,

As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,

And mortal life shall cease,

I shall possess, within the veil,

A life of joy and peace.

The world shall soon dissolve like snow,

The sun refuse to shine;

But God, who called me here below,

Shall be forever mine.

When we've been there ten thousand years,

Bright shining as the sun,

We've no less days to sing God's praise

Than when we'd first begun.

Words by:

John Newton: 175-1807

While I was researching this move I decided to read up on the author or the song. It's definitely worth the read... Quite amazing(no pun intended)

I

When ever I think of this song I can help but sing all the verses in my head.. What a great song to get stuck in your head... Eh! I added the little dove stick pin because of the "Peace" that it symbolizes.. In gods grace we can find peace in out lives by serving him...

Hope you all enjoy the movie..

Hugs

Brooke

Join us on the "Catty Cruise"

HERE

Mojo Monday #93 "Friend"

Where in the world has the summer gone? I can't believe we are on the count down to school starts already... We start back August 19/20th... I still have things to do this summer... ARRR.. Here is a card I maid for Julee's 93rd challenge.. This fell in between funerals of my grandparents I did get it made in time. I just didn't get it posted..

I really wanted to use some of the new products I had just received in the mail from Stampin' Up. I new that I should not sell my oldest child for new catalog items so I had to make a grown-up decision and choose only 1 color of the newest in-color ribbon's.. My first Favorite was the Bermuda Bay.. Note that there are 6 colors in all.. What a hard choice to make... I just though that I would use this color the most... It was even yummier in person... On my card I used more of the new in-colors from the current Stampin' Up 2009-10 catalog. Along with other Yummy supplies I have listed below.. I hope you enjoy this late addition to the Mojo Monday card challenge.

Card Recipe:

Stamps~ Friend (This little lonely stamp has been out of it's box so long because it's one of my favorites I don't remember what set it belongs too. Let me know if you know tks.)

Card stock~ Bermuda Bay, Dusty Durango, Soft Suede, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White.

Ink~ Same as Card stock.

Ribbon~ Bermuda Bay 1/2" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon.

Punches~ Small and Large Oval, Scallop Oval, Eyelet Boarder, 1/2" circle, 3 flower punch(retired)

Sizzix~ Sizzlets: Birds & Blooms

Buttons & Brads~ Making Memories

Hugs

Brooke

Don't forget the Catty Cruz this SATURDAY

Stampin' Up Deal of the Week!

	Deal of the Week: Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware
	Our Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware adds class to any project. Get them for just $18.99 (over 30% off the regular price of $29.95)—only July 20-26! Throughout July, be sure to check my web site every Monday at 10 AM (MT) for the week's new deal.

To take advantage of this great offer CLICK HERE

Kristina's Color Challenge #56- Butterflies

What a fun card this was to make... I have had a LONG week... This morning I had a great stamp club with a couple a my favorite gals... We had a very unconventional stamp club.. I knew I was having only a few girls over because of all the summer activities everyone had. I decided to ask one of the girls what she really wanted to make or what she wanted to learn. She said I NEED new techniques.. I am getting in a slump. So as I watched Zach splash around this week. The though of Sewing on paper came to mind... When I told her she was so excited... I new she enjoyed sewing and has even brought one of her quilts to show us all.. So voila~ We made a patchwork card using the Bigz Top Note Die by Sizzix.. So fun to just create as we went... Then we concentrated on how to use our scraps and leftover elements... last but not least we learned how to use a layout template... We even found cards in the Stampin' Up catalog and sketched the layout on paper so we could see the layout and concentrate on stamps, paper and elements we already have... Now we can make a Christmas card from what was a Birthday card in the Catalog... I LOVE THE STAMPIN' UP CATALOG it is such a great resource for ideas and inspiration...

Long story short I still haven't picked up all the mess so I used my scraps and used one of the techniques we did in our class this morning... I love how simple this card is and how cool it looks..

Enjoy!

Hugs

Brooke

Recipe~

Card Stock: Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Real Red, So saffron, Ballet Blue, Pumpkin Pie.

Ink: Craft Real Red

Stamp: Full of Life

Jamoni Sew Easy Sewing Machine

Ahoy Me Hearties – Catty Cruise is Comin

So, Landlubbers, what is a Catty Cruise you ask? Well, Catty is our affectionate name for the Stampin’ Up! Idea Book and Catalog. And our Cruise is a blast of creativity by some of thebrightest stars of the Stampin’ Up! blogsphere.

Our crew of 12 crafters (Stewards) will give you a treasure map of the great bounty to be found in the new catalog. Our blogs (or ports of call) will feature cards, 3D items, scrapbook pages, etc., using products unveiled in the newest catalog. After you disembark onto one port of call, that blog will help you navigate to the next port of call where you can rejoin the cruise.

We’re anchored ashore for now, but bookmark or subscribe to this site to make sure you don’t miss the boat. You can also visit our home port, Catty Cruise Line to stay in touch with the latest cruise information and visit all of our Cruise Stewards and Boatswain (on-deck backup crew). Our ship will leave her port on July 25, 2009. Don’t be stuck in steerage – embark with us on July 25.

Mojo Monday #95

Who doesn't love browns and blues together.. It's like Chocolate and Tiffany's :)

I just had to use one of my favorite stamp set and retiring Ink colors (Baja Breeze), and Designer Series papers, Parisian Breeze.. I am in morning for the retiring colors, paper, ink, ribbon, accessories... You name it It's all sad to me..

Hope you enjoy...

Come play along..

Hugs

Brooke

Card Recipe:

Stamps~ 24-7 (SU)

Ink~ Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Baja Breeze.

Paper~ Baja Breeze, Whisper White.

DSP~ Parisian Breeze (SU)

Ribbon~ Baja Breeze 1.5 in", Taffeta Craft

Button~ Baja Breeze - Corduroy.

Metal Edge tag~ (SU)

Craft Twine ~ (SU)

Sewing machine for stitching.

Adhesive~ Snail, ATG, Mono multipurpose, Stampin' Dimensionals.

Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge #40 "National Treasure

Welcome to our "40"th Creative Challenge!!!

Come on over and join us..

My greatest "TREASURE"

I know you are all thinking... What is this? And what does this have to do with the movie. Well let me tell you... Believe it or not there is a central theme in this movie about "FAMILY". Nicolas Cage's character "Ben Gates" is a multi generational treasure hunter... They all share the same obsession of finding the next clue while trying to prove the innocence of there ancestor. Who does "Ben Gates" go to for help.. "FAMILY" his father in the first and both his parents in the second movie..

When I was in University my favorite class ever was "American Civilizations". The colonizing of the new found U.S.A. is my favorite time in history ever... I actually really crave all history not just American history.. My girlfriend from England is always amazed at the history I can tell her.. She even stated one time " I think you know more about my country's history that I do" In the U.S.A. We take World History in Grade school, Jr High School, High School and University. Our Final for "American Civilizations" was a Biography about a family member.. I wrote it on my Maternal Grand Mother.. My Grandmother is a very private person so I treasure the memories that she shared with me for this paper back in 1990 .. My grandmother passed away June 28, 2009.. LOVE you Grandma..

My "FAMILY" is my greatest "TREASURE"

Hugs

Brooke

Stamp Recipe:

Stamp Set~ "24-7", French Script, Small Alphabet.

Ink~ Craft Whisper White, Perfect Plum, Pale Plume, Elegant Eggplant, Versa mark.

Paper~ Craft, Whisper White, Perfect Plum, Pale Plum.

Buttons~ S.U.

metal Accents~ Stampin' Up Filagree,

Pearls~ Target dollar spot.

White Gel Pen~ Stampin' Up

Stampin Pastels~ Stampin' Up

Ribbon ~ Stampin' Up

Rub-on's~ Making Memories

Adhesive~ Glue dots, snail, Atg gun, Sticky Tack.

Flower Die cut~ Sizzix bold Flower Stampin' Up

Challenge your TRAVELING(mama) creativity...

Traveler’s Inspiration Challenge:{one}

I received a little message from the amazing TINA FUSSELL that she was starting a challenge on her blog... Her challenge each week will be based on travel photos that she receives from others and from her own travel.. Below is a YUMMY example of shopping in Morocco where she and her family are living... When I say this photo.. My entire soul melted.. I just wanted to reach through the monitor and gather up all the slippers and hugs.. I was felt so giddy.. How weird is that.. The colors of the slipper are so vibrant and you couldn't help but feel special wearing these... I think I would have to buy them ALL.. HOT pink would be my first choice then Orange, Then Green, then turquoise, then etc.. You get the picture... It there were a pair that were pink and orange woven together... HELLO I would feel like I had died and gone to heaven...

Insperation Photo

I used my two favorite colors pink and orange for this challenge... Beads were a must... and the ribbon is to reflect the silk on the slippers... My sentiment is to all of you when I go on holiday to get my own pair of slippers LOL!

Thanks for a great challenge TINA...

Hugs
Brooke

Stampin' Up Deal of the Week!

Deal of the Week: Big Shot Doctor's Bag

You'll feel like a big shot carrying around the Big Shot Doctor's bag! July 6-12, get the Big Shot Doctor's Bag for $49.99. That's nearly 30% off the regular price of $69.95! Throughout July, be sure to check my web site every Monday at 10 AM (MT) for the week's new deal. Stay tuned each week for a Deal of the week Summer! You can buy it here... Hugs Brooke

Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge #39 "To Kill a Mocking Bird"

My card inspired by: "To Kill a Mocking Bird"

So because this movie is rated as one of the Must see movies for the "Forth of July" I tried to incorporate both the Movie "To Kill a Mocking Bird" and the "Forth of July"... I think this is a weird card.. But what the hay... "God Bless America" always and forever... I hope you all have a great weekend were ever you live. Have a roof over your head, a warm bed to sleep in , food to eat, can read this post, have a computer in your home, have friends and loved one to hug tight etc... you are truly blessed where ever you live.

Off to hug my family and celebrate....

WE HAVE BLOG CANDY THIS WEEK AT CINEMA SATURDAY CREATIVE CHALLENGE. DON'T MISS OUT....

This Week Anne would like to offer some Blog Candy to the challenge winner...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!!