WIN an iPad from VIVmag!!

WIN! WIN! WIN! The short paragraph below was taken directly from the email I received on Facebook to win an iPad. Woo hoo!!! Read it, click on the link, and get started towards winning one for yourself...

Hello VIVmag fans!! VIVmag is gearing up for the iPad launch, and for our own upcoming debut on the iPad & other e-reading devices. To celebrate, we're giving away iPads to 12 lucky people. There are a few ways to enter - visit this page for all the details, and be sure to tell your friends too! http://idek.net/1Cir

Now get on out there and win yourself an iPad! All this new technology is so cool... I need to look at this a bit more as I'd like to know the specifics - mostly how darn BIG it is. Pretty cool for them to do the giveaway though. Two a week for 6 weeks. Good luck to you!

I'll have a little something stamping related to post later today.

Happy stamping til the next time.

Today's Card

Good morning stampers! Last year, I decided that I was going to start my Christmas cards early and make several a month so I wouldn't be so far behind by the time Christmas comes this year. For many years, I sent my cards out the day after Thanksgiving; however, once I became disabled, it was very difficult to get everything holiday related done (baking, decorating, shopping, present wrapping, etc) much less get cards NOT handmade signed, addressed, and mailed out in time for Christmas. Even though it's already March, I am proud to share with you my first Christmas card of the year below.

Card details... stamps - Elzybells sending winter wishes, AMuse enjoy the wonders MA; card stock - Hobby Lobby sea blue & mood blue, AMuse red kitchen dot, Georgia Pacific white, Neenah; ink pads - StazOn black, AMuse black dye, VersaMagic aspen mist; Copics - B91, B95, B97, C00, YR24, B0000; supplies - 1/4" light blue loopy edge ribbon, AMuse sheer red ribbon, 1mm "pearl" strand, frosted lace stickles, 05 Micron pen, pop dots, glue dots, adhesive; tools - EK Success snowflake edge punch, 3rd & 4th (from the smallest) classic scallop circle Nesties, 3rd (from the smallest) classic circle Nesties, Japanese drill punch, Sizzix Big Kick.

Envie details... stamps - AMuse enjoy the wonders MA, MB holiday bird; Copics - G05, G19, B00, YR16, R29, R59, Y11, Y17, 0, gold Spica.

I don't have tons of cards to make as everyone does not get a handmade card... especially if I know the person doesn't save it! That sounds awful, but I put a lot of time and effort into my cards so I like to know that the people who get them will cherish them. Last year the only card I got to make took me at least 1 hour to make each one. Needless to say, I only made 12. Plus, that's all the time I had anyway, hence, getting an early start this year. :-) I have to say that it was very relaxing once I got into it. Of course hubby thought I was out of my mind, which wasn't the first time and probably won't be the last. LOL Here's the card from last Christmas:

I love Great Impressions stamps and own a nice little collection of them (mostly Christmas) so you will be seeing more GI cards as I make my Christmas cards this year. This card was so much fun once I figured out how I wanted the elements to come together. The picture really doesn't do it justice.

Card details... stamps - Great Impressions Build a Snowman (from 11/04 collection), Savvy Merry Christmas; cardstock - Hobby Lobby (HL) dark grey, Stardream Chiara pink, HL ice, HL lavender, unknown shimmery pp with winter words in pale colors, Neenah; ink pads - AMuse black dye, StazOn black; pens - 05 Micron brown; Copics - B000, B01, B05, BV11, BV17, C1, C5, C7, E41, E44, E59, N4, N5, N7, N9, R20, RV13, RV17, W1, Y28, YR04, YR09; Spicas - silver, black, gold; supplies - Martha Stewart white craft seam binding, pop dots, glue dots, adhesive; tools - classic square Nestie, SU! scallop border punch.

My favorite dye ink to use with Copics is by AMuse. I've tried others, but do not get the same results. Usually I stamp the sentiments in StazOn just because it dries very quickly. As you can see, I love to decorate the envelopes when I can. Hero Arts came out with a bunch of cute little stamps last year that I could NOT resist. They are perfect "envelope stamps!"

This year I want to experiment with digital stamps. I've bought several already, but have yet to do anything with them. Once I get something done, you'll be the first to see. What I like about them is that they can be resized and layered together to make a sort of "scene". Something you really can't do with your regular stamps unless you stamp it, scan it into your computer, and then resize it. A little too much work for me right now. I can't wait to work with them though. Hmmm, maybe I'll surprise you with a card this weekend; no promises though!

Happy stamping til next time!

Paper-Rose-Petals has Blog Candy!!!

Judi at Paper-Rose-Petals is giving away this yummy blog candy! Click on the link above the picture to go to her blog and leave a comment. It gets even better... For every 10 comments over 30, Judi will add more candy! Woo hoo! You have until midnight of March 25th to comment on her blog. Hurry on over...

clipped from paper-rose-petals.blogspot.com

Goodies in the mail

Yesterday I got a package from 7 Kids College Fund. My goodies included regular cling foam, extra thin cling for my SU stamps, All-Purpose Ink in frost white & platinum, Ink Potion 9 in cute little bottles (probably why I wanted them because I have a big bottle), empty copics, and copics from the new 0000 line. I love getting stuff in the mail!! I also love shopping, but that's a whole other story. :-) Here's a pic of my stash...

I can't wait to try the All-Purpose Ink. I need to research how to make a spray with it. I got a Christmas card from a friend who is a SU! demo and the way she sprayed the paper with the A-PI actually made it look like it was Stardream paper. The card was stunning; I'll find it and post it at a later date.

Later today, I'm going to Ikea to get some towel rods for my punches and CD holders. Recently, I have moved all of my unmounteds to CDs; unfortunately, I ended up with about 200 CDs so now they need to be arranged in a neat/organized manner. Fun for me... mostly cause I get to shop!

Happy stamping til the next time!

Finally

I've finally taken the first steps to running a blog. Why, you might ask? There are a couple of reasons... to expand my horizons and potentially become part of a design team. Even if I don't make the DT, I still want an outlet for my creativity. I love the creative process and am looking forward to posting as frequently as I can.

It's been snowing here all day in sunny NC! I've taken a few pictures tonight that I'll share tomorrow. I can't wait to wake up to all the pretty whiteness; we don't get this very often and I think this is already our third mini storm this winter.

Happy stamping til the next time!