CSS Stamp of the Month and a Template Challenge

I'm so excited to be sharing my very first "official" Clear and Simple Stamps DT project with you for today's Take the Challenge. Sue Berker has designed another fabulous FREE template for you to play with, the Summer Treat Pack Template - On those hot, sunny summer days, what better little gift to give than a summer drink treat pack holder. This adorable template houses 4 individual drink mixes. Double it up and you've got an 8-pack.

I changed things up a bit and created a functional little notepad holder to hang on my bulletin board in my Craft Room. I also attached adhesive magnets to the back so I could hang it on the fridge. Check it out...you're also getting a Sneak Peek at one of the beautiful New Release stamp sets, In Bloom, available July 15 from Clear and Simple Stamps:

Stamps: In Bloom (Clear and Simple)
Paper: Soft Suede, Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay CS (SU)
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Bermuda Bay ribbon, scallop border punch, mini library clip (SU); large silver brads (Making Memories)

Also, because it's the first of the month, I get to share with you a link to the new Stamp of the Month, Summer!! For the month of July, you can enjoy a $1 off this set by using discount code: DTBlog709. In addition, there is the SOTM Copic Bundle for $26. Enjoy this discounted bundle when you purchase Copic Trio Yellow-1 and the Summer set, during the month of July.

Be sure to stop by the other DT Blogs to see what they've done with the Summer Treat Pack template and to see more July Release Sneak Peeks!!

• Beth Matson
• Erin Bigler
• Kim Howard
• Lori Tecler
• Maria Levine
• Nancy Beauchamp
• Neva McMullen
• Robyn Weatherspoon
• Sue Berker

Then, head on over to the Clear and Simple DT Blog and link us up to your Summer Treat Pack creation for a chance to win a $15 gift certificate to Clear and Simple Stamps!!

Verve Goodness

Wow! I've had sooo much trouble with my blog this weekend. I had a post scheduled for the My Time Color Challenge yesterday that obviously never posted and now it's just completely disappeared. BUMMER. I will be back in a day or 2 and re-type it up to share it with you, but for now I'm too frustrated to mess with it!!

I thought I'd pop in this evening and share with you a couple of my latest Verve Creations - a couple with the latest New Release sets that came out Friday and one with an old favorite set!! (recipes follow each card).

Stamps: Feel Better Plain Jane (Verve)
Paper: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip CS; Good Morning Sunshine DP (SU)
Ink: Chocolate Chip (SU)
Accessories: Chocolate Chip ribbon, felt flower & button (SU)

Stamps: Great Expectations (Verve)
Paper: Chocolate Chip CS (SU); printed digi paper from Top of the World by Libby Weifenbach (Sweet Shoppe)
Ink: Old Olive (SU)
Accessories: pom-pom fringe; Buttons (Basic Grey); hemp twine

Stamps: Kindred Spirits (Verve)
Paper: So Saffron, Basic Grey, Whisper White CS, Tea Party DP (SU).
Ink: Basic Grey, Certainly Celery (SU)
Accessories: Certainly Celery ribbon (SU); dew drops (Robin's Nest)

OK, that's it for me - back to the work grind tomorrow! My in-laws arrived Friday, so we have some fun stuff planned this week including painting our Great Room (did I say FUN!?!?)!! Have a Super Week!

Verve Sneak Peek

ETA: I had this scheduled to post bright and early this morning and just realized that for some reason it didn't publish to my blog. I don't know what is up with Blogger, but I just forced it to publish...sorry it's late!!!

It's almost time for another fabulous Verve Stamps release!! The Sneak Peeks have started over on the Verve Blog and today the Divas (including myself) are sharing projects using the new Just for You set. I know I say this every Sneak Peek, but this set is AWESOME! So many versatile sentiments that I can see myself using again and again for all sorts of cards and projects!

Here's a look at my Sneak Peek card:

Stamps: Just for You (Verve)
Paper: Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White CS; Parisian Breeze DP (SU)
Ink: Baja Breeze (SU); Versafine Vintage Sepia (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze ribbon, dimensionals (SU); Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

That's it for me today. Be sure to head on over to today's post on the Verve Blog to see the other beautiful creations from the Divas using Just for You (and a chance to win this set!!). While you're there, check out yesterday's post for a Sneak Peek at the new Kindred Spirits set.

I hope you'll join us for the Verve Release Party Friday night at 9:00 Eastern time in the Verve Forum.

Also, there's still time to play along with the Verve Release Week challenges for even MORE chances to win some new Verve goodies!!

Here's to you Cowboy Ethan!

On August 5, 2004, Ethan Weiman was welcomed into this world, and into the loving arms of his parents, Dave and Alicia Weiman. (I've had the pleasure of working with Ethan's Mom, Alicia, on the My Time to Create Challenge Team).

On June 12, 2009 Ethan's little life left those same loving arms. In his mother's words " Heaven gained the greatest little boy ever".

Ethan was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma in July of 2007. He was a brave, and tough little cowboy! Ethan loved Knock Knock jokes, balloons, and of course, being the true cowboy that he was - horses! His younger sister, Ava just adored her big, brave brother.

Pink Cat Studios has designed the Weiman Wranglers digital stamps to honor the life of Ethan Weiman and raise money for the Make-A-Wish foundation. The Cowboy Ethan and Cowgirl Ava digital stamps can be purchased separately for $4.00 each or combined for $6.00. You can read about and purchase the digital download HERE. Here's a look at the digi stamps:


And here's what I've created so far with that adorable little Cowboy Ethan image:

Stamps: Weiman Wranglers digi stamps (Pink Cat Studios)
Paper: printed digi paper from Giddy Up by Heather Roselli (Sweet Shoppe)
Accessories: Star Punch, Hodgepodge Hardware (SU); Copic Markers; Leather Fringe (from fabric store).

Stop by the other My Time To Create girls' blogs and take a look at the adorable projects they've created in honor of little Ethan:

• Dana
• Dawn
• Kendra
• Kristin
• Lauren
• Lisa
• MacKenzie
• Maria
• Odette
• Pam
• Tamara
• Tracey
• Pink Cat Studios Blog
  

Want to win a Pink Cat Studio gift certificate or two??

Lauren Meader and Vicki Garrett are both generously offering the chance to win some moola to buy PCS stuff. Lauren's is a card making challenge using the new digi stamps and Vicki's involves helping to spread the word about our fundraiser. Thank you so much ladies for your generosity!
Please visit Lauren's and Vicki's blogs to read about how you can win.

Info About Digital Stamps

Tracey Cuccia has created a very informative tutorial on how to use digital stamps. Check out her tutorial that will be posted on her blog on Tuesday.

I hope you'll join me in honoring this amazing little boy's much too-short life and helping his loving family to make another ill child's final wish come true by purchasing this stamp set. Even if you have no intention of using the set, the funds will benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation in Ethan's honor.

Here are a few more links if you'd like to read more about Ethan, his family, and this wonderful cause:

Ethan's Mom Alicia's Blog http://www.happystamp.blogspot.com/
Ethan Weiman Caring Bridge Site http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ethanweiman
Make-A-Wish Foundation - Illinois Chapter http://www.wishes.org/

Pack a Picnic - My Time to Create Template Challenge

Happy Saturday!! It's that time of the week - time for another My Time to Create Challenge and this week it's a Template Challenge! My MoJo has been SERIOUSLY lacking since my crazy trip to the mainland last week and I literally threw this little project together in about half an hour the other night. It's not my best project, but it will serve it's purpose. And I can definitely tell you that I will be using the Pack a Picnic template MANY times in the future!! What a fun and versatile little template!!

The challenge this week is to use one of the My Timeless Templates AND to create your own patterned paper and use it on the template. I took the easy way out on that one, using PTI's Polka Dot Basics stamp set with Night of Navy Ink on Bashful Blue CS for both the front and lid top of my basket.

We have a Graduation Party to go to on the 4th of July, so I'll be using this basket to hold a gift card and a few other small goodies for the new grad. I used my Sizzix Stars #2 die to cut out the large star from Real Red textured CS and layered on a stamped striped star from Verve's Seeing Stars (in Bashful Blue ink) with a navy blue button on top. I used large white brads to hold the handles in place. Some Pure Poppy double-stitched ribbon from PTI around the lid finished it up, although I'll probably add a "Happy Graduation" gift tag sometime before the party.

I realized as I edited the photo that I didn't get the lid all the way on for the photo, but wanted to let you know that the lid does fit on the basket snugly and doesn't look all wonky in real life!! I was just in a HUGE hurry to get the photo taken, uploaded and edited and now I'm too lazy to re-do it all!! Sorry!!

Want some more template inspiration? Head on over to the rest of the My Time to Create Challenge Team blogs and see what the other girls have cooked up this weekend:

• Dana
• Kendra
• Kristin
• Lauren
• Lisa
• MacKenzie
• Maria
• Odette
• Pam
• Tamara
• Tracey

If you'd like to play along, head on over to today's post on Lauren's blog and post your project using Mr. Linky!! We'd love to see what you create!!

Verve Project Parade

I've been having trouble with Blogger all day Friday - unable to log in to my blog - so frustrating!! Anyway, I've posted a super cute Father's Day Mini Album over on THIS POST on the Verve Blog for this month's Project Parade. I created the album for Joel for Dad's Day and am pretty pleased with how it turned out. Here's a peek at the cover:
For a look at the rest of the pages and all the product details, head on over to my Project Parade post and check it out!!

And don't forget to read all the way to the end of the post for details about how you can win some fabulous Verve Goodies (but hurry!! Not much time is left this month to play along)!!

Simple CASE

When I saw THIS CARD by my blogging buddy Anthonette, I knew I was going to be CASEing it! I love just about everything Anthonette does, but this card in particular really caught my eye. AND - for the first time in FOREVER, I created a SUO (Stampin' Up Only) card!! Here's my take on it (although it's practically identical to the original!!):

Stamps: Wow Flowers, Upsy Daisy (SU)
Paper: Baja Breeze textured CS, Whisper White CS, Walk in the Park DP (SU)
Ink: Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip (SU)
Accessories: Baja Breeze Ribbon, silver brads, dimensionals (SU)

#1 Dad Gift

I thought I'd share a quick and easy Father's Day gift with you today using some of Verve's FANTASTIC new stamps - Dad's Day and World's Best. I created the Fry Box using the Sizzix die in my Big Shot and will stick a Starbucks gift card inside for my hubby for Father's Day. I decided it needed a matching card and whipped up the little matching 3x3 notecard to go with it. Such a simple yet effective gift!!

Stamps: Dad's Day, World's Best (Verve)
Paper: Kraft, Whisper White CS (SU); North Shore DP (Scenic Route)
Ink: Riding Hood Red (SU)
Accessories: Fry Box die (Sizzix); Ribbon, buttons, scallop border punch (SU); hemp twine.

If you're in need of more Father's Day gift ideas, be sure to head on over to the Verve Blog and check out all the amazing creations the Verve Divas are sharing with you during this month's Project Parade, which celebrates the men in our lives!! As always, there are a few chances to win some Verve goodies! I'll be sharing my very special project on the Verve Blog this Friday, so be on the lookout.

Exciting Announcement

I'm thrilled to announce I'll be joining the Design Team for Clear and Simple Stamps for the next 6 months! Other new members include:
Erin Bigler
Kim Howard
Neva McMullen
Robyn Weatherspoon
Sue Berker
We're joining the very talented already established Clear and Simple DT consisting of:
Lori Tecler
Beth Matson
Maria Levine
Nancy Beauchamp
Nicole Ritts

I don't have any Clear and Simple projects to share with you today, but head on over to the CSS blog to check out some fabulous creations from the DT using today's New Release sets from the At Home Collection!!

At Home Collection

Home / We've Moved / House Notes
Live Life / Freedom

Signature Sets
Real Estate Darling / Delivery Gent

My Time Inspiration Challenge

Super quick post tonight. I'm on the mainland tonight still, so short of time! It's time for another My Time to Create Inspiration challenge. You can take a look at the Inspiration Photo and play along with us by linkng up your own project using Mr. Linky on Lauren's Blog.

Here's a look at my creation:
Stamps: Background Basics: Retro, Bird Watching (PTI); Circle Circus (SU)
Paper: Soft Suede textured CS, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White CS (SU)
Ink: Ballet Blue, So Saffron, Kiwi Kiss (SU); Fresh Snow (PTI)
Accessories: Riding Hood Red ribbon, dimensionals (SU)

Be sure to check out what all the other My Time To Create girls have come up with for this challenge. Here's a link to their blogs:

• Dana
• Dawn
• Kendra
• Kristin
• Lauren
• Lisa
• MacKenzie
• Maria
• Odette
• Pam
• Tamara
• Tracey

Ok, that's it for me!! I head back home to Maui on Sunday!! I've already done some super fun shopping at Michael's and Hobby Lobby and discovered an AWESOME new Scrapbook store - Whole Lotta Scrap - in Norman, OK. So if you're in the Norman area, you HAVE to check them out!!

Congrats Grad!!

The local high schools on Maui held their commencement ceremonies this past weekend and a few of Joel's wrestlers received their diplomas, so I was in need of some quick and easy gifts. Yes, it's been awhile since I graduated, but I do remember there's nothing a new grad wants or needs more than cash!! So I created several of these simple Graduation Money Holders. Verve's new Dare to Be You set is PERFECT for those little last-minute Graduation gifts!! If anyone is interested in instructions, let me know and I'll try to post something, but it's pretty basic! (sorry for the poor quality photos, something weird is going on with my camera and no amount of tweaking in photoshop made these look right!!).

Stamps: Dare to Be You (Verve)
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla CS; Muirfield DP (SU)
Ink: Versafine Vintage Sepia (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Corner rounder, circle punches, silver brads, chocolate chip ribbon (SU); Trio of Tags dies (Spellbinders)

Scrappy Sunday (on Monday)

It's been awhile since I shared any digi pages here on the blog, so I thought I'd catch up a bit. For all you scrappers out there, I'm still hosting the weekly Scrappy Sunday Scrapbook Sketch Challenge over at Papercraft Planet and would LOVE to have you come play along each week!! We've had a few sponsors join us and will be giving away monthly prizes. We also have a super-talented Guest Designer, Crystal Livesay, joining us for the month of June - stop by the group to see her sample layouts for this week's sketch - they are AMAZING!!

So here are a few digi pages I've thrown together recently (keep in mind, I'm a HYBRID and PAPER girl at heart, so digi scrapping is NOT my strongest suit!!)

First up is my sample layout for this week's Scrappy Sunday sketch. I used the new Jen and Dean by Libby Weifenbach (Sweet Shoppe) - do those names ring a bell?? They should! I'm soooo excited that my name is in the name of a Libby kit!!! That's Jen and Dean as in ME and my son DEAN!! How freakin' COOL is that!?!? Libby designed this kit using Dean's new bedding that my MIL made a few months ago as inspiration! The kit turned out sooo cool and I'm sure you're all going to get sick of seeing it on so many projects in the coming months!! (so you might as well just get used to it!! LOL).
Font is DJB Poppyseed by Darcy Baldwin (Sweet Shoppe)


Show No Fear by Eva Kipler & Zoe Pearn (Sweet Shoppe)

Carefree by Heather Roselli and Tracey Howard (Sweet Shoppe); Frames by Nancy Comelab (the Lilypad)

That’s How We Roll by Libby Weifenbach and Dani Mogstad (Sweet Shoppe); Stripped 4 Template set by Sya’s Blueprints (Scrap Matters); Font: DJB Poppyseed by Darcy Baldwin (Sweet Shoppe)

Layers 2 Templates set by Darcy Baldwin (Sweet Shoppe); Built Tough by Libby Weifenbach (Sweet Shoppe); Font is DJB Poppyseed by Darcy Baldwin (Sweet Shoppe)

That's it for now!! Hopefully you don't mind my little detour into digi land...I'll be back in a day or 2 with some more card creations!!! Have a Happy Monday!!

Sweet Sunday Sketch - Blue Eyed Beauty!

Hey there! I had such a productive day today in my Craft Room! I finished SIX cards (most of which I can't show you yet) and half of a little hybrid mini album!! It felt sooo good to get back into creating after several weeks of not doing much crafting with the administrative stuff of Stampin' Out Alzheimer's!! (I'll have a final update on that in a few days).

For now, I thought I'd share this simple little card I whipped up for Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge. I just love Karen's sketches and although I've only been able to play along a few times, I'm hoping it becomes a more regular challenge of mine! Be sure to head on over to Karen's blog and play along this week!!

Stamps: Wishful Elegance (Verve)
Paper: Kraft CS (SU); printed digi paper from Blue Eyed Beauty by Libby Weifenbach (Sweet Shoppe)
Ink: Not Quite Navy (SU)
Accessories: printed digi bracket journal tag from Blue Eyed Beauty by Libby Weifenbach (Sweet Shoppe); Certainly Celery Ribbon (SU)

That's it for now. I have lots to share this week, so hopefully I'll find time to schedule some posts! I'm heading "home" to Oklahoma on short notice - leaving Wednesday night and arriving on Thursday morning. My Grandmother has injured her back and needs to go home (after an extended 7 month Maui vacation!), so I am taking her home. My return flight is up in the air as I have to fly stand-by, so there's a possibility I'll have to turn around and get right back on a plane (NOT fun - the flight from here to Dallas is 8 hours, then a 4-hr layover in Dallas, then Dallas to OKC - not really something I want to turn right around and do all over again). I've been guaranteed a flight back home to Maui no later than Sunday though, so at the longest I'll have only 2 and a half days in Oklahoma - not much time. I'd really REALLY like to make it to a Hobby Lobby and a scrapbook store if I have a chance - if anyone is from the OKC / Norman area and knows of any good scrapbook / craft stores, let me know - it's been a LOOOONG time since I got to do any REAL crafty shopping!!! Keep your fingers crossed I have at least a few hours to buy something fun!!

My Time to Create Sketch Challenge

It's that time again - time for another fabulous sketch challenge from Lauren Meader!! Here' a look at this week's sketch:

And my creation:

Stamps: World's Best (Verve)
Paper: Kraft CS (SU); printed digi paper from Bare Feet and Blue Jeans by Traci Reed (Sweet Shoppe)
Ink: Momento Rich Cocoa (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Chocolate Chip ribbon, Corduroy Brad, dimensionals (SU); printed digi dump truck embellishment from Bare Feet and Blue Jeans by Traci Reed (Sweet Shoppe).

Head on over to the other My Time to Create DT girls' blogs and check out all of their amazing creations:

• Dana
• Dawn
• Kendra
• Kristin
• Lauren
• Lisa
• MacKenzie
• Maria
• Odette
• Pam
• Tamara
• Tracey

If you'd like to play along, just link up your creation using the Mr. Linky in today's Sketch Challenge post on Lauren's Blog. Can't wait to see what you come up with!!

Simple Hybrid

How about a super simple hybrid thank you card today? Let me just tell you that it felt SOOO good to ink up some stamps today after not doing much of anything creative for the past few weeks!! I got several little projects done and caught up on some DT work, so I'm feeling much better now!! Here's a look at a little 3.5x5 notecard I whipped up today using almost all digi papers (except for the Kraft CS base):

Stamps: Sweet on You (Verve)
Paper: Kraft CS (SU); printed digi paper and scallop circle embellishment from In the Air Tonight by Traci Reed (Sweet Shoppe)
Ink: Tangerine Tango (SU)
Accessories: Kiwi Kiss ribbon (SU); buttons (Basic Grey)

And on a personal note, my little man Dean started his first day of Preschool today. It was bittersweet for me - I was so proud of him - he did so well, no separation anxiety at all (in fact when I was lingering trying to take some pics he pushed me toward the gate, waved and said "bye Mom" then ran off to play), but my baby isn't a baby anymore!!! Here are a few pics of him just before we left the house with his new backpack (which he calls a Rescue Pack - thank you Diego - and refuses to actually wear on his back!) and lunch box - making a weird face and then in the 2nd pic giving me what I get when I ask for a smile and the 3rd pic ready to go, headed for the car!