Hello everyone. Here is a card that I made a while ago. It is a little out of my norm, but I think that is always fun to try something new! I stamped the flourish in Versmark and embossed with clear embossing powder. I then added the Distress Inks with my foam inking tool. On the center piece I added antique linen to the card stock first, then stamped and clear embossed the flourish and then added spiced marmalade to get a different look. I didn’t let the Distress Ink dry completely before I clear heat embossed so that I would get that “dotted” look. The embossing powder stuck to areas that weren’t stamped, since the ink was still wet, and created that look that I think is really fun!
I tried embossing with Zing the sentiment before all of the work that I mentioned above. It was not completely successful, I have to admit. It just didn’t retain it’s clarity since it melted again with the heat gun. It just looks distressed now. You could actually try that if you wanted the distress look on your sentiment!

Okay, I have typed entirely too much! Ha!

Today is my Mom’s surgery. Thank you all for your kindness, prayers and good thoughts. I can’t tell you how much it means to us. The kindness of everyone in the crafting community never ceases to amaze me.

Hello Everyone!

First of all, I just wanted to remind you to play along with Everything but the Kitchen Sink’s toothpick challenge. You have until December 9 at Midnight Central Time to play, and you can win this:
Yeah, that’s Big and Bold Wishes from PTI and PTI buttons!! What are you waiting for?! Break out those toothpicks and play along! It’s super fun, I promise :). So, step outside your craft area and into your kitchen, and, trust me, you will create something utterly fabulous!

I also wanted to update you guys on something going on in my life. They found a large cyst on my Mom’s spine, and she has to go in for back surgery tomorrow at 2:30 central time. She is a two time breast cancer survivor and has been through so much already. If you could send her prayers, good thoughts, positive energy, anything you want, I would so appreciate it. Thank you so much, my sweet blog visitors. You guys are seriously the best.

This is my first post as a guest designer for Etsy Inspired! I am just so excited! The inspirational shop this week is So Stinking Sweet, and sweet it is! They have the most adorable soaps! You just have to check it out! At first I was trying to pick out just one product to be inspired by, but I couldn’t choose, so I looked at the front page of the shop and all of the color just made me so happy! Check it out:
Then I saw these flower shaped soaps called Passion Berries Flower Soap, and it all came together!

I made the flowers with my new Making Memories Slice! Yes, I got sucked in by those Thanksgiving sales and couldn’t help it! I am totally loving the Slice!
I cut out different shapes out of different fabby American Crafts paper. I rolled the edges of all the flowers around a pencil and then layered the different shapes.
There are a row of polka dots down there at the bottom, they are just really hard to see in this photo! I think I need new white ink! The ribbon is also American Crafts. I am telling you, I think American Crafts can see inside my brain and just know what makes me happy. Since these flowers made me smile so much, I decided to use this happy PTI sentiment. 🙂

So come along and play with us. There are some AWESOME prizes this week:
-5 fabulous soaps from So Stinking Sweet as well as an adorable handmade ornament…seen HERE
AND for another winner…
– the Eco Chic stamp set from our wonderful sponsor this week UNITY Stamp Company!

Here is what you need to do to play along:
– Visit So Stinking Sweet and find an item that inspires you
– Create a project of your own
– Post a link to your project on this post by Friday, December 11th at noon PST.

I cannot wait to see your fun creations! In the mean time, check out the rest of the design team’s creations. Their links are on the sidebar to the right! 🙂