I Love America

Here is the fourth of July card I made for my Mom and Grandma. It's HUGE! Almost a full sheet of cs folded in half, but I needed the space to get everything on it. I was having some serious color challenges, but I think it turned out alright. It's not my favorite card ever, but they will like it because they are my Mom and Grandma, and that's what Mom's and Grandma's do, right? ;o)

That's another stamp I rescued from the clearance bin at Hobby Lobby. I thought it was a sweet image. I stamped it with Versamark here, and embossed it with black. It has been AGES since I've heat embossed anything, but I love the look it gives so I don't know why I don't do it more often. After that, I sponged Not Quite Navy and Garden Green over the top of the image for sky and grass. The fireworks are stamped in Craft White on basic black, and I outlined some of them with blue and red metallic pens. That bit looks better (brighter) in real life.

Recipe:
Stamps: SU! Happy Fourth, Patriotic Image
Paper: Basic Black, Baroque Burgundy (yep, still have some), Not Quite Navy, Whisper White

Ink: Craft White, Versamark, Night of Navy, Garden Green
Other: Metallic pens, Black embossing powder, Burgundy Organdy Ribbon, Sponging

If time allows this morning I'm hoping to get a post up on my family blog too, so if you're interested, be sure to check it out and see what Henry did yesterday! :)

Happy Fourth of July!

Birthday Wishes

I just love this Petals and Stems set by Verve Stamps (formerly known as Verve Visual)! Verve just had a big release of some new sets recently, so be sure to take a look at their website. They have some great sets! This Feeling Groovy set is on my short list. Seriously, think of all the ways you could use those 80's rock lyrics! lol! I love it!

Anyhow, back to this card. It's a long card, with a whisper white base. The polka dotted paper is 12x12 paper from Hobby Lobby, then there is a strip of basic black in the middle with faux stitching down the middle using SU!'s white gel pen (and a ruler!). I used my aquapainter to do a little water coloring in every other stem, and added a Hero Arts flower button (from Ellen Hutson) in a coordinating color to the center of each flower. I tied white dmc floss in the center of each button and attached them with SU!'s mini glue dots. In hindsight, I wish I'd used a pale yellow floss instead of white but it's too late now!

Do you like it? I'm kind of diggin' these long cards lately. I've only made two so far, but you should see all the ones rolling around in my head! ;o)

Recipe:
Stamps: Petals and Stems (Verve Visual), Sentiment by Stampin' Up!
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Hobby Lobby patterned paper
Ink: Gable Green, Pretty in Pink, Orchid Opulance, Barely Banana (center of flowers, hidden by buttons mostly)
Other: Hero Arts flower buttons, White DMC Floss, SU White Gel Pen, Stampin' Dimensionals (on sentiment), Aquapainter

Here are also a few blog candy alerts for you...

Donkey Smiles
Ria Creations
It's All About Me
Loreen's Scrap Space

Enjoy the day!

Dietary Restrictions

I knew when I found this sentiment stamp in the clearance bin at Hobby Lobby that it would be a perfect match for my Weightwatchabella! Isn't that the dang truth though? If I ever wanted to be that thinabella, I *would* have to go down to just water and lipstick! Ugh!

In case anyone is unaware, this is the Spotlight Technique (<---click for SCS tutorial by Beate). I thought it would be fun to highlight bella's waist on this card, given how hard she works to maintain it! ;o) The arrow was an afterthought, but I think it gives the card just the right pop. What do you think?

In other news, there is blog candy up for grabs on Lorraine's Scrapmetal's Retreat blog if you're interested. I know I am!

Also, please don't forget to scroll down to the next post and look over the Basic Grey Clearance items for my friend Karen. I know she would appreciate it!

Details:
Stamps: Weightwatchabella, sentiment by Inky Antics
Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, Positively Pink (hand cut arrow)
Ink: Basic Black, Going Grey
Other: B/W dotted ribbon, SU Markers (on bella), Copic Markers (on scale)

Basic Grey Clearance Sale!!

Hi friends -

I'm posting this for a girlfriend who had an account with Basic Grey, but is getting out of the business. She has some inventory left, and would like to liquidate it. For more details on the products listed, go to the product page on the Basic Grey website and click the dropdown to view each collection. These are seriously rock bottom prices. She's selling sheets of quality 12x12 paper for a fraction of what you'd pay at a retailer.

If you see anything you'd like, or have questions, email me at sairabee at yahoo dot com, and I will put you in touch with her. First come, first serve. Prices do not include shipping. She also wants me to add a disclaimer that page counts are subject to verification, just in case she miscounted something (she claims she's sleep deprived with her newborn twins, sheesh! ;o) ).

PLEASE PASS THE WORD!!!!

Here's the list (updated 7/8/08):

Figgy Pudding

1 Figgy Pudding Ornament Stickers $2.00/sheet
4 Figgy Pudding Holiday Stickers $2.00/sheet
3 Holiday Chipboard $4.25/pack

Dasher $.35/sheet

3 Popcorn Balls
6 Snowbank

Infuse $.45/sheet

8 Concentrate
11 Condense
13 Extract
13 Purify
13 Season

Mellow $.45/sheet

5 Automne
12 Cultured
8 Ebb
6 Taper

Again, please link to this post on your blog so we can get the word out and help her liquidate this stuff!!

Thanks so much!

Bee Free

Anyone who knows me well, knows I love bees (in pictures, not in person ;o)). My middle name starts with a B., and from there I became "Sarah B" to friends and family. That morphed into "Sairabee" when I got my first email account because it was the only spelling that wasn't taken, and the rest is history!

I'm entering this cute little fourth of July card in Kimmie's Bling Card Contest. She said the cards could have a little or a lot of bling, so I went with a little... in the form of dazzling diamonds on the bee's wings. :) I also used the Sakura sparkle gel pen on his feelers, but you can't see it in the picture. It kinda makes 'em look like little sparklers. lol!

The idea for the card layout came from a birthday card that was recently sent to Henry by my Stampin' friend Mindee (SCS: Mindo). Thanks for the great idea, Mindee! :)

Thanks also to Lorie for directing me to Kimmie's contest! You know I love a good contest/challenge!

Speaking of bee's, I've decided that I need to break my blogging in two. In the coming days I'm going to start a second blog for family things, and keep this as a primarily craft blog. The new family blog is bee themed - I just made the banner for it tonight. Can you believe it? I made a blog banner! Yikes! Watch for more info soon!

Details:
Stamps: Stampendous bee and sentiment, SU Stars and Swirls
Paper: Whisper White, Brilliant Blue, Real Red
Ink: Basic Black, Craft White, Brilliant Blue, Real Red
Other: Star buttons, sponging, copic markers, dazzling diamonds, white grosgrain ribbon

P.S. Check out the blog candy over at Jennifer's Phoenix Crafts!

Hey Chick!

Don't you just love that chicken? This is the Hen & Eggs rubber stamp by Whipper Snapper. I just love their images. They're so cute and whimsical. I only have two so far - this one, and the dog I used on this card, but I'm sure there will be more making their way into my collection before long! I found this at The Occasional Stamper, a stamp store I came across in New London, WI. It's a small store, but they had a great selection for their size. While I was there I was looking through their clearance bin and found that "Baaawk!" background stamp by Art Impressions on clearance. It's a match that was just meant to be!!

I colored the chicken with my copics, but only did a little shading on the chicken and the white part of the bowl. I used a cool blue shadow, so you can barely see it around some of the edges, but it's their. I love that color. I find myself using it a lot. The card itself is more of a square card, but it still fits in the A2 invitation size envie. Finished size is 4.5x4.25.

And here is the Inky Antics sentiment I stamped inside the card:

tee-hee! Isn't that just perfect? I love it!

Details:
Stamps: Whipper Snapper Hen & Eggs, Inky Antics Sentiment (inside), Art Impressions Background
Paper: Gable Green, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black
Other: Black Cord, Copic Markers, Ticket Stub Corner Punch, Large (Giga?) Marvy Circle Punch

Here's take two of my new signature. I like this font (Scriptina) better. :o) I just figured out how to get downloaded fonts into PSE. Doh!

And don't miss the blog candy over at Nikki's blog!

Enjoy the day!

Jack at 3 Months!

Hi friends - I just wanted to do a quick post with pictures of the boys to appease the other half of my blogger audience. ;) Friday was Jack's three month birthday, and bad mama that I am, I forgot to take a picture that day. I took these today - two days late. *sigh* lol. I did remember to set an appointment to have the boy's 3 mo and 2 yr pictures done this week though, so that's a plus!

Jack is such a big guy. I swear he weighs as much now as Henry did when I stopped using the car seat (he was fourteen months old, and just over 20 lbs). It weighs a TON. We went to an open house at the Legion on the Lake last weekend and this older guy walked by, looked at Jack, smiled, and said, "Whoa! He's a bruiser!" Nice. lol. Oh well - more to love, right? ;o)


Do you like how the outfit is pulling there near his knee like it might be a little too snug? Yeah. It's a 6 month outfit.

I'll let you in on a little secret. Camera = Henry. You can't take a picture of something without having to take one of him too. Case in point:

Did you see the look on Jack's face? He's thinkin', "Dude! You're stealin' my thunder!"

Here's one of Henry. :o) We bought him this hat today since we're out in the sun so much lately (we have to go to the zoo at the park every day - sometimes twice a day). I had the hardest time finding something to fit him because his head is so big. We finally found this one at Carter's Outlet. The size? 4-7 years. He's 2. I kid you not. He had his two year check up last week and is in the 95% for weight and head size, and the 90% for height.

So we grow 'em big in Wisconsin... Tough. ;)

Stay tuned for another cute card tomorrow morning using a new Whipper Snapper stamp! :o)

Best,

Inside My Heart

Choosing to Live With Passion and Purpose





by Robin McGraw



I received this book as a gift the Christmas before last (yes, it was on my wish list), and finally got around to reading it. I've always been a fan of Dr. Phil, and slowly grew to admire Robin as well as I saw more of her on his show. I love that she is in the audience supporting him everyday, and that he respects her opinion enough to ask her to share it on the show on a regular basis.

Here is a brief synopsis of the book:

You've seen her on television with her husband, Dr. Phil. But now it's time for a heart-to-heart conversation with Robin McGraw. In Inside My Heart, Robin speaks woman to woman, inspiring you to embrace and celebrate the many roles you play and encouraging you to make deliberate choices that lead to a richer, happier, and more meaningful life.

She shares with you the life-changing moments of her childhood years, dating and marrying Dr. Phil McGraw, raising two sons, and asserting herself as a woman in a man's world to show you that you have the power to make choices in your life. In fact, she's convinced that you must choose to go after the life you want.

With a deep and abiding faith in God, Robin McGraw shares her story so you too can make choices that reflect your own heart's truest priorities and highest goals.

When I added the book to my wish list, I thought it was an autobiography. As I started reading it, I realized it was a sort of psuedo self help book with her life story mixed in for effect. Had I known that to begin with I may not have requested it, but it didn't take me long to get hooked in the book. She writes just like she talks. I could hear her reading every word in my head (one of the many voices in there - lol). She was genuine, sincere, and direct.

I found her stories about motherhood particularly appealing. In one chapter, she writes, "Being a mother is more than a phase in my life; for me, it's a never-ending mission, my calling here on earth. And when the time comes and I'm standing before my heavenly Father, I just want Him to say to me, 'Job well done'." That really stuck in my mind - in fact that whole chapter on a Mother's Heart has stuck with me. Oh who am I kidding, the whole dang book keeps running through my head! In the end, I can say I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, and plan to hang on to it (I usually pass books on once I've read it) so I can read it again. There is a strong message of self preservation, and I think it is one that every woman should read.

Have you read it? What did you think of it? It was (is?) on the NYT Best Seller's list for awhile, so I know I'm not alone here! Talk to me!

Need a Break?

Wanna hear a funny story? ;o) Ok, here goes. Remember wayyy back when Bella's were the hot new thing? I mean *really* new. Well, I decided to place an order back then. I bought 4-5 bella's, and was so disappointed when I got them because I thought they were supposed to be wood mounted. I didn't realize they were unmounted stamps, and at the time I was not a fan of the unmounted stamp (oh how times have changed!). I traded some away and kept some, not sure if I'd ever use them. Grumpabella was one that I traded away, but before I did I stamped one image of it - this image. Then when I got my Copics, it was one of the first images I colored as a sort of test subject. The other day, I finally decided to make her into a card. Talk about a work in progress!

I got the idea for this card from a card I saw on page 40 of the current Stamp it! magazine by Paper Crafts. I used the same sketch and similar colors as that card (by Debbie Olson), but different stamps. It's a very simple design, but I think it's cute.

I recently ordered some more bella stamps, and am getting ready to place yet another order now to take advantage of the free shipping offer. Grumpabella is on that order. *sigh* It's all about the hindsight.

Details:
Stamps: Grumpabella, SU! Espresso Yourself (sentiment, coffee beans)
Ink: Sky Blue, Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie

Paper: Whisper White, Sky Blue, Pumpkin Pie

Other: Copic markers, Non-SU Chocolate ribbon, Keytag Punch

Charlie the Horse

Have you met Charlie? Isn't he just the cutest little horse!? He's from Clear Dollar Stamps. There are two "Charlie" sets there, and I think each of them only cost me $3.99, which is a total steal! I combined both sets for the front of this card, and used the matching wheel (it comes as a long flat stamp, but can be placed on one of their clear wheels if you wish - I just use a long acrylic block for it instead) on the inside. You can see a little bit of it there at the bottom.

I raised his nose and tail up on Stampin' Dimensionals, and stamped the sentiment with SU markers so I could get it vertical instead of horizontal like it is originally. I also did a little wavy cutting and notching (by hand) on the Ruby Red layer under Charlie. I started doing that to cards years ago and I really think it adds a nice touch to the whole barnyard feel of this card.

Details:

Stamps: Charlie Horse, Charlie Fenced In, and Hoofin' It (all Clear Dollar Stamps)
Ink: Close to Cocoa
Paper: Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla, Ruby Red

Other: Copic markers (on Charlie), Ruby Red SU marker (on bird), Close to Cocoa SU Marker (on sentiment), Stampin' Dimensionals

Now here's a fun little blogger trick I learned yesterday. Did you know that if you go to http://blogsearch.google.com/ and type "Link:" and then the name of your blog (ex: link:www.scrampinmama.blogspot.com) and then hit search, it will show you all of the blogs that have linked to yours within the text of their daily posts (doesn't include blogrolls). I did it, and learned (a month later!) that I was one of the "Friday Favorites" in Jennifer's top ten list over at Glitter in my Hair at the end of May for my Sugar & Snips card! Who knew?! Not me!

Enjoy the day!

P.S. How do you like the new signature I made? :)