Peek-a-Pilgrim!!

Hello & Happy Monday everyone! Hope you all had a fabulous weekend! Our's was busy, busy finishing up errands & chores around the house. Alexa had a sleepover Friday night and I'm sure she's goin' to come home from school grumpy today since I let her stay up until 11 last night to watch the VMA's (Video Music Awards)! Which of course will make me grumpy too, lol! I did finish up a book, made 2 batches of soup to freeze and got some projects done so that's good. Anywho, I'm keeping this short today as I have lots more errands to run & then have to get my son over to the X-ray place so he can get another chest x-ray! He has his 2nd visit w/ the pediatric pulmonologist tomorrow and I hope all is well (crossing fingers)! I haven't had a chance to pick a winner for the 300,000 Hits Blog Candy yet (sorry, sorry) but I PROMISE I will have the winner up tomorrow for you. And let's just say a big "WOW" for all the fabulous replies & lovely comments I've gotten on that--almost 400 of ya stopped in for a chance, the most I've evah' had for a contest--wowza!! Thanks to you all & I loved reading everyone's favorite book selections--so fun!

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Today I just have one project card for ya to share but isn't he just a lil' pilgrim cutie? This is "Harvest Shy Bear" and he's available at I Brake For Stamps right HERE! (if you decide to order use my coupon code "SAVE10SUZANNE " to get 10% off your order 'kay) I just love these lil bears & sometimes I use my flock to make their fur furry but this time I did not. This is such a fun Thanksgiving/Fall card to send out--I really love the cheerful feel of this!! I colored the image with Copics and then made a frame around the image using that wonderful NEW "Autumn" Flower Soft--so pretty! The paper's are a mish-mash of scraps I had laying around, so not sure of the company names! I added some velvety lovely Prima leaves and a crocheted flower (from my friend Wynneth who so kindly made me bunches of these) and a few Robin's Nest dew drops.

Here's a close-up of this cutie & you can see I used diamond glaze on his nose and the apples. I used my gold Spica pen to add soft glitter accents to the wheat, hat buckle & leaves. Isn't that flower soft awesome--I just love it, looks like scattered leaves for sure!

Alrighty, I hope you have a great one & see ya back here tomorrow!
hugz,
Suzanne

O' Christmas Tree!!

Happy TGIFriday everyone! How are you all doin'? I'm slowly recovering from this nasty bug that has taken ahold of my body--wish the fever would go away! I'm thinking this weekend will be very sloooowww for me, hee hee! Today is of course the anniversary of 9/11 here in the US and I wanted to take a brief moment to remember those that died, those that gave their lives to save others and to those who serve & protect us near & far! And most of all for us to never forget. In the grand scheme of things we are all united, we all seek peace and we will not condone this kind of violence in the world and as always I wish for peace in every country and within everyone's hearts!

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NewsBitz:

-If you haven't entered for my 300,000 Hits Blog Candy, you have until Sept.14th to do so right HERE!

-7 Kids College Fund has all the NEW CC Designs Autumn/Fall SugarPlum stamps in stock NOW! Run & get your cuties right HERE (scroll down on page) before they're all gone!

-Thanks to everyone for their lovely comments, well wishes & great book suggestions--there are a few that have been named that I haven't read so I will be checking the library for those soon!

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So yesterday I managed to get a few projects done & these ornaments have been on my to-do list for a bit (the never-ending idea/to-do list I keep, hee hee)! I LOVE Christmas--it truly is the most wonderful time of the year for me! If you were reading my blog last year you know how I love it so and how I put up 8 Christmas trees (will be 9 this year) every year in my home--2 real & the rest are fake! No I'm not crazy hee hee--just love to decorate trees! So I'm always looking for more ornaments & I love to make some to add to my collection! I've had a bunch of these fabulous chipboard ornaments by Cosmo Cricket(find them HERE) just staring at me since last year beggin' to be used, hee hee!

So I pulled out my Magnolia stamps & picked a couple to use on the ornaments--I love the sitting ones for these, so cute! This particular stamp is "Tilda in Winter Stockings" which you can find HERE at Magnolia-licious--she is one of my most favorite stamps! I covered my ornament w/ Basic Grey's "Figgy Pudding" dp, attached w/ modge podge (holds the best to chipboard) and then trimmed & sanded the edges. Colored Tilda w/ Copics and added some diamond stickles to her dress!

To finish it up I punched some snowflakes (snowflake punches here)out of the dp & added icicle stickles thickly to them before attaching. The middle snowflakes are flat buttons I had in my stash & then I added crystal rhinestones around the edges of the ornament! So pretty--I just love it!

Second ornament uses one of the fabulous elf Magnolia images "Sitting Alva"--isn't she a cutie & you can use her all year round, not just Christmas which I love! I colored her with Copics as well to match the Basic Grey "Wassail" dp that I used on the ornament.

I used my gold Spica Pen to outline the leaves of her skirt and then added stickles to the skirt & hat! I attached her w/ dimensionals and added some fun red rhinestones to the border of the dp. Holiday fabulous--2 down & lots more to go, hee hee! Hope this inspires you to use your Magnolia's in a different way as well. These would be fabulous on your tree and on a gift as a tag as well!

I'll see ya back here tomorrow w/ a fun new project! Have a fabulous Friday!


hugz,
Suzanne

A Sick Day & Book Review!

Hi friends & happy Thursday to ya! I am super sick w/ something nasty that has given me a fever & the yuckies, so no projects for ya today. I thought I'd just share some of my favorite books with you which is hard to do because I've been reading for soooo long (one of my favorite things to do) that it's hard to remember them all & there have been so many good ones! I read pretty much anything, I like most genres of books but I don't read horror books any longer although I used to--gives me too many nightmares!! I've never gotten into the Harry Potter series although I did read the first 2 w/ my daughter and I've not "bitten" into the Twilight series either--the premises of both do not really appeal to me. I prefer reading about people in the here and now I guess, but I love a great mystery, tragedy and perseverance of spirit, twists & turns & a story that stays with me always! Doesn't always have to have a happy ending but I have read some books that depressed me for days which is never fun but the experience of reading them is always worth it! And I always, always read the book before the movie--the movie can never compare to the words & emotions written in a story!

At the moment I have 4 library books, 14 new books I bought & a pile of magazines sitting by my bed in my "floor library" as my hubby likes to call it, LOL! I read every night before I go to bed and if it's really good I have been known to read until 3 am--reading NEVER puts me to sleep but most always keeps me up, LOL! I read everything from People magazine, health mags, newspapers, fiction & non-fiction---I love to learn about anything & everything!!

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BLOG CANDY!! IF you haven't already entered in my 300,000 Blog Hits Ginormous Blog Candy then you need to go HERE by Sept.14th!

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My favorite books as a kid/teen:
-Nancy Drew series (all of them)
-Anne of Green Gables series
-Little House on the Prairie Series
-The Wind in the Willows
-Any of the Narnia books
-The Bridge to Terabithia (1st book I ever read that made me cry)
-Where the Red Fern Grows
-Grimm's FairyTales
-The Secret Garden (1 of the only books I ever re-read)
-Heidi
-Flowers in the Attic series by VC Andrews (creepy but good)
-Judy Blume books of course (from Ramona to the teen ones)
-Little Women
-Charlotte's Web
-The Diary of Anne Frank
-Great Gatsby,Lord of the Flies, Animal Farm, Scarlet Letter, The Odyssey, The Atlas Shrugged, A Farewell to Arms, Invisible Man, any Shakespeare and To Kill a Mockingbird in High School

Non-Fiction Books I Love:
-Bobby & Jackie (eye opening)
-Eat, Pray, Love (inspiring)
-The Water is Wide (Conrack) by Pat Conroy
-Biography of Martha Washington (love strong women)
-Charlotte's Story
-Biography of Jackie Kennedy
-The Story of My Life by Helen Keller
-Leap of Faith by Queen Noor
-Angela's Ashes
-90 Minutes in Heaven

My Favorite Fiction (this list could go on & on & on, hee hee):
-The Red Tent
-The Mercy of Thin Air by Ronlyn Domingue (my fave book ever)
-The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
-Emma by Jane Austen
-The Lost Hours and The Color of Light by Karen White
-The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant
-The Kite Runner (eye opening)
-The Secret Life of Bees (book is sooo much better than the movie)
-The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield (oh love this one so)
-Demons & Angels by Dan Brown (loved the twists)
-Lovely Bones (haunting)
-Raymond Khoury's The Last Templar
-On Mystic Lake by Kristin Hannah
-The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd
-James Rollins books (love a great adventure)
-Pelican Brief by John Grisham
-Memoirs of a Geisha
-The Time Traveler's Wife
-Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosney (awesome in every way)
-Certain Girls (made me cry) by Jennifer Weiner (love her books)
-Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
-The Memory Keepers Daughter by Kim Edwards
-Women's Murder Club series and Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson
-The Shining and Carrie by Stephen King (scared the pants off of me)
-when I want an easy-breezy read I will pick up a Nora Roberts book (my fave triology of hers was the "Key Series") & she was a neighbor of mine when we lived in Boonsboro, MD!!
-Kathy Reich's books (love the TV show as well, but books were better of course)
-For a good laugh any of David Sedaris's books!!
-some of David Balducci's but my fave of his is "The Winner" & "The Camel Club"
-not a huge fan of Danielle Steele simply because they're all too predictable but "A Good Woman" was excellent and so unlike her usual writings--I love good historical fiction!
-Sullivan's Island by Dorthea Benton Frank
-Patricia Cornwall's books (all of them)

What am I reading right now:
-Shem's Creek by Dorthea Benton Frank
-The Memory of Water by Karen White
-The Month of Summer by Lisa Wingate
-Dune Road by Jane Green
-The Girl w/ the Dragon Tattoo
-Master Your Metabolism by Jillian Michaels

I'm waiting impatiently for (LOL) Dan Brown's new book due Sept.15th and Karen White's sequel to "The House on Tradd Street" due on Nov.3rd!!

Well that's enough sharing from me, hee hee! And yes, I keep a journal that I've had since a teen of my favorite books that I read so I never lose track of them & trust me it's 100's of pages long but I won't share them all, lol! Books are my comfort food I guess I would say, something about losing yourself in a story is just one of the best things in the world!!

hugz,
Suzanne

Fall Elegance & Blog Candy TOO!!

Happy Wednesday everyone! How ya doin'? Are you a busy, busy bee like me, hee hee?! Lots to get done this week & not enough time to do it all! I'm still frantically trying to hunt down a couple more things that the kids need for school supplies--I hate that the middle school doesn't give out their lists early when all the stores are well stocked, makes it so much harder for everyone! I've got a very long post for ya today so I'll keep my "monologue" shorter for ya, lol! There's alot on this post including my kid's first day of school pics, 300,000 Hits Blog Candy & my project of the day--so make sure & scroll all the way down to see it all!

This is Alexa yesterday all ready for the first day of 8th grade! She's always hated to wear dresses & skirts but I guess she's starting to change her mind cuz' she insisted she needed this jean skirt, hee hee! Can't believe she'll be 14 soon--where does time fly off to?
Here's my "little man" (don't let him know I told you my nickname for him or else he'll kill me, hee hee)! Gettin' to be a big man I think (boo hoo) and in 6th grade now! This is his half grin cuz' he hates me taking his picture but I do it anyway cuz' that's what mom's do, hee hee! He was pretty nervous & didn't want to eat much breakfast and came home & said that middle school was "ok" but he had issues with his locker! Crossing my fingers that tomorrow goes smoother for him!

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300,000+ Hits Blog Candy

Alrighty friends! Today is the day for the blog candy for my lil' ole blog hitting over 300,000 hits in just a year and a half--WOW! Thanks to all of you lovely, supportive & wonderful readers for stopping by & visiting with me everyday--I appreciate you all so much & have made so many wonderful friends in the stampin' community! So to thank you I'm giving away just (1) one VERY LARGE BLOG CANDY!!

What can you win:
-3 Magnolia stamps (donated by Diana Crick of Magnolia-licious)
-1 Sugar Nellie stamp (Goin' for a Spin/Sweet Art Ebony)
-1 Paper Trey Ink "Anniversary Set" (not for sale, given as gift to customers for purchasing during the year so this is a limited edition set)
-1 Spiral Whisper Christmas Dog stamp
-1 Whiff of Joy Oakley Angel stamp
-1 Snowman stamp from The Stampin' Place
-1 Basic Grey clear Xmas tree stamp
-2 Studio G stamps
-1 Gina K "Whimsical Autumn" stamp set
-1 pack of DoveCraft Winter Wonderland papers
-1 pad of Basic Grey's NEW "Indian Summer" paper (donated by Susana of SCACD)
-1 NEW Bow Easy (donated by Susana as well)
-Embellies include a pack of Christmas buttons, bag of mixed Prima flowers & 5 spools of ribbon
-1 Sharpie Poster Paint marker (my favorite highlighter)
-1 small Memento black inkpad
-1 Fern Branch paper punch (brand new)
-1 medium scrapbook
-25 chipboard coasters

How Can You Win?
-Answer this question "What book is your favorite that you've ever read & why?" on this post only in the comment section! (please leave an email addy w/ your comment)
-Tell your friends on your blog, Twitter or Facebook (not required but nice, hee hee)
-Entry deadline is Monday, September 14th at midnight (EST)--winner will be announced next Wednesday! Good Luck!!

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Today's project is one I made as a thank-you gift for a neighbor/friends of ours that had us over for a lobster feast dinner this past weekend--YUM! I love all seafood & crabs & lobster are my top favorites and they were so sweet to ask us over! So to thank them I made them some homemade muffins (raspberry & chocolate chip--yes I made extras for us too, hee hee), a card and a bread basket towel that I stamped & colored!

I haven't done stamping/coloring w/ Copics on fabric in awhile, but I do love it--it's so much fun! I have a tutorial on my sidebar on how to do this if you're interested--I stamp on my fabric with memento ink when I'm coloring the image w/ Copics! Copics are permanent & fabric friendly--I always heat set it with an iron when I'm done so that it is washable! The main image is my all-time favorite Lockhart stamp "Harvest Candle"--I use this stamp alot in the fall season! The swirls and leaves are from the Paper Trey Ink set "Fall Elegance" and I stamped them in Palette Inks which are washable inks as well. I thought this would be lovely in a bread basket for the fall season--I'm going to make a couple more (one for myself & some to sell if you're interested). The swirls & leaves go around the entire towel (which is a flour sak towel) and on the opposite corner is the same fabulous Lockhart image colored again.

I of course had to make a matching card with the same Lockhart "Harvest Candle" stamp! It's colored w/ the same Copics and then I added diamond glaze to the hurricane candle & grapes and stickles on the leaves. The elegant shape is from my Nestabilities Labels 4 and I shaded the edges with my favorite Inkssentials Blending Tool (oh how I love it)! The cs, dp and ribbon are from PTI--the bow was tied w/ my Bow Easy and then I added some Bella Baubles to the bottom. The leaf charm is actually a brad and I cut off the back shanks & then punched thru the metal with my hole punch so I could make it a charm!! A perfect fall gift set! Whaddya think?

Whew, that was a long post and I'm tuckered out from just typing it, LOL! Hope you have a fabulous day!

hugz,
Suzanne

Candy Cane Girl!!

Happy Monday & First Day of School (for some of us, hee hee)!! So my kids are both off to middle school today, my daughter is excited & my son, well not so much, LOL! Hopefully the day goes smoothly and they both come home happy! I'm just excited that the house will be VERY quiet tomorrow & both the kids won't be home until 3:45 which is fabulous and will allow me to get more work done! I've got to take Riley to the music store today to rent his drum stuff for percussion class--wondering how much that's gonna cost me, hee hee! Hopefully he enjoys it! I'll share pictures of them with you all tomorrow!
Did you all have a fabulous holiday weekend? Ours was great & relaxing! We did some shopping, ate some MD steamed blue crabs (YUM) and hubby went on a 36 mile bike ride with our neighbor (minus me, lol)! Crazy guy he is--he's never rode more than 15 miles but off he went & he says he's not sore, but I think he's fibbin'!! LOL I just hung out & finished 2 fabulous books and laid around which was great! But yesterday I made raspberry muffins, chocolate chip muffins for breakfasts--I made choc. chip cookies & rice crispie treats for their lunch boxes and a double batch of chili & 2 chicken pot pies to freeze for dinners. I was on a cooking roll yesterday, hee hee! I'm trying to make a bunch of freezer friendly dinners that I can just pull out--makes it easy along w/ crock pot meals ya know!

NewsBitz:

-My BIG BLOG CANDY for going over 300,000 blog hits will start tomorrow so you don't wanna miss this!

-Book Suggestions from Suzanne!! If you haven't read any of Karen White's books, I really suggest that you do! So far I've read these 3 by her "House on Tradd Street", "The Lost Hours" and "Learning to Breathe"--all fabulous and I read 2 of them in one day! Gripping, beautifully written & hard to put down!

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So today is "Try It Out Tuesday" for Susana's Custom Art & Card Design and I've challenged the DT with a fun sketch (see the store blog HERE for sketch)! I decided to use this cutie pie Victoria Case for SCACD stamp "Milla"--I decided she'd be perfect for not only birthday celebrations but for the holidays as well! I paired her with some fabulous Christmas paper by Imaginisce and Flair Designs. When I saw the stripes on her pretty dress the first thing I thought of was candy canes & luckily I had some in my stash along with the candycane buttons--so fun! The sentiment is from PTI and those are fun glitter dots at the top.


I colored her with Copics and then added diamond stickles to the candy cane stripes on her dress, diamond glaze to her eyes & patent-leather shoes and some gold Inspirations paint to her present! This is a fabulous NEW product that Susana's store is carrying! It comes in tons of fab colors & is much thicker & luminescent than the Shimmerz but works very similarly. You just paint it on--but the best part is, is that you don't have to shake it up & it will not dry up like the Shimmerz--the color & shimmer go all the way thru. I really love it--make sure and go HERE to check them out!

Now make sure and visit the store blog "Follow Your Heart" to see all the DT's fabulous creations & join in on the sketch fun as well!


hugz,
Suzanne

Rough & Tumble!!

Happy Friday & Happy Labor Day Weekend (my US friends)!! Yay it's the weekend and a much needed one at that here in the crazy Dean household. Alexa has her 8th grade orientation this morning which she is super excited about for whatever reason--more to see her friends I think, hee hee! Riley did okay yesterday, he had a sick tummy because he was pretty nervous but was impressed with his teachers (for the moment, lol) and has friends in all of his classes. He's most worried about getting his locker open & finding his classrooms--which I think we've all experienced in our lifetimes. I still have dreams pretty often about not remembering my locker combination, not doing homework or wearing my pjs to school, hee hee (now I only wear my pjs in the house & my yard, lmbo!!)! Why do those things stay with us? Crazy I tell ya (or maybe it's just me that's crazy--you wouldn't wanna hear about the wacko movie-like dreams I have)--just ask my hubby cuz' I can scare the daylights out of him when I have one of my nightmares & he's a VERY HEAVY sleeper, so if I can wake him up & scare him that's sayin' something (giggle)! I always said if someone could plug a video camera up to my head at night I would win Oscars for the movies in my head :o) Just another one of "Suzanne's" oddities!! LOL
Alrighty, I gotta get my daughter ready to leave for the weekend--she's off with a friend & her family on a weekend boating trip. Still not sure what we're doing--I'd be happy just bummin' around the house but who knows!!


NewsBitz:

-Winner of the BOW EASY is Lynn of Millers-Ink Creative Endeavors!! Congrats Lynn! Email me your address so I can get it in the mail to ya ASAP!!

-If you didn't win it you can still buy your own right HERE!! And my how-to video is on my sidebar as well!

-Just wanted to let you all know that after a year & a half of blogging I finally realized how to comment back on the comments you leave me (NO LIE)! I'm so dumb sometimes I crack my ownself up, hee hee---so you will get random emails from me if you leave me a comment on my blog on occasion ok!! Can't believe I never figured it out before but oh well---learn something everyday!! LOL

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So today I have a fun boy project for ya--we all struggle with making cute boy cards I know! This cutie pie stamp is "Matthew" from the Victoria Case for SCACD series available HERE at Susana's store! I think he's such a cutie-pie and so reminds me of my son at a younger age always with dinosaurs or something in his hands. Nowadays it's army men and they're all over my family room set up in real battles based on WWII and "mom" is not supposed to move them (hmmpphhh...more like step & trip on them, LOL)! I colored him with Copics and added some diamond glaze to his eyes and blocks! The fun dino dp is by My Mind's Eye (Abbey Road-Stomp) and then I wrapped the dp with some fibers I had in my stash & added a few buttons (always hard to accessorize boys cards w/o making them girlie ya know). The sentiment is from a Lizzie Anne set I have!

This is the first time I've ever made an easel card--but I saw one on SCS awhile back & saved the template knowing I would use it eventually! They're really easy & fun to make--and how much fun are these to receive? The template calls for an actual size of 4x4" but I changed it to 5x5" to make it larger (so dimensions would be 5x10 for the long folded pc and 5x5 for the actual card/image pc)! They have it so you put a brad in the middle of your card so it stands up & doesn't slide down but I used my sentiment for that instead--less invasive if you ask me. So this card folds down flat to 5x5"--love it! You can find the template right HERE!

Here's a closeup of this lil' cutie--dontcha' just love him!! I just wanna squish him, hee hee!

Alrighty, I'm outta here for the weekend! I hope you have a safe, happy & fun weekend ahead of you as well & I'll see ya back here Tuesday! (my house will be quiet again & kids snug in school, hee hee)

hugz,
Suzanne

Vintage Baby!

Hi friends! Crazy busy week it's been I tell ya--I'm tuckered out already, lol! Today is 6th grade orientation for my son & he's pretty nervous, poor thing. I hope everything goes smoothly for him so we can have a good start of the school year. My daughter's 8th grade orientation is Friday & she's more concerned w/ what she's wearing & how she's going to do her hair than anything else, LOL! I never worry too much about her, she's pretty much a mini-replica of me (which is why we butt heads all the time, hee hee) and let's things roll off of her & has a "devil-may care spirit". Riley on the other hand is much more thin-skinned & sensitive and gets his feelings hurt very easily, so I always worry about him :o( But that's a mom's job right, worrying all the time? Does it ever get easier? Thank goodness I only have 2 kids cuz' that's all I can handle I tell ya--not like the "Duggar Family" who unbelievably is expecting their 19th kid! Wow--no way jose is that for me, but whatever works for them I guess! They say God only gives us as much as we can handle, so he knew 2 kids was it for me, LOL! Anywho, movin' on for the day........

NewsBitz:

-I have a few openings in my September 26th Copics class still if anyone is interested--please email me & let me know! My next class will be October 11th!

-Getting super close to 300,000 hits on my blog (who woulda thunk it)--that means some super duper BLOG CANDY coming!! Stay tuned!!

-One lucky commenter today on this post only will win a brand new "BOW EASY" courtesy of Susana's Custom Art & Card Design! It's fab I tell ya--I just love it! I'll pick a winner by midnite tonight (EST)!!

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So today I have a special project for ya!! I was asked by the very sweet Della who is owner of "I Brake For Stamps" to be on her Design Team starting this month--I was happy to accept! She has an amazing array of stamps in her store so you should stop by & check them all out--if you decide you want to buy some goodies use this special coupon code "SAVE10SUZANNE" to save 10% off of your order!! This coupon is good the entire time I'm on the DT so make sure & use it, 'kay!

I decided to use this fabulous collage stamp today called "Welcome Baby Collage"--i just love the elegant & vintage feel it has for a baby card! I stamped it with Versamark Dazzle & then embossed it in black--I haven't embossed anything in forevah I tell ya!! I decided to go with a lavender & black scheme, yes black, hee hee for a more elegant looking baby card. The lavender cs & dp are from PTI as is the matching ribbon (lavender moon)--such a soft color. I used my Bow Easy again to make that double bow & attached a lil' heart charm from my stash and some pearls to finish it off. I just love the way it turned out!

Alrighty I'm outta here for the day--I'll have one more post for ya tomorrow & then I'll be on a vacay from bloggin' until next Tuesday for the holiday!


hugz,
Suzanne

ABC's & 123's

Hi Friends & Happy Wednesday! I've got to scoot today, kids have dr appts & other things to do today which means I'm super busy!! I hate days that are busy ya know--I just hate runnin' around all the time--arghhh! Looking forward to a 4 day weekend holiday though--need some relaxation before school starts on Tuesday & chaos reigns supreme in the Dean household, LOL! Luckily my kids get themselves ready & bookbacks packed so I don't have to deal with that anymore--I'm too bleary eyed in the morning to do very much sometimes, hee hee! I'm definitely not a morning gal, never have been & never will be---I'm a die-hard nite owl!! Growing up everyone in my family were mornin' peeps & I wasn't so it was hard, but I've raised my kids to be nite-owls like me & hubby, hee hee! We're the strange neighbors that are cleaning out the garage or planting bulbs at 10 pm or watching tv until 1 am!! That's just the way we are & we love it!!

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September Magnolia-licious DT Sketch Project

Since it's the beginning of the month that means another Magnolia-licious DT Sketch for ya. This time it was Diana's turn and she picked a fun Scor-Pal Accordian Mini File (by the very talented Valerie Stangler to do instead of a traditional sketch! I decided to make mine School themed since school is in session for most of us (yay) ! You can find all these fabulous Magnolia stamps at Magnolia-licious! To see the rest of the DT's fabulous projects and how to win a most magnificent prize go to the Magnolia-licious Highlites Blog HERE!

I thought it would be fun to make this accordian file for a young child who's just starting school to hold their ABC or Word cards in. My kids had many index cards with vocabulary & spelling words on them when they were in elementary school & I thought this Accordian Mini File would make quite a special holder for them! Of course it could hold many other things too--the uses are endless! You can find the directions to this Mini File right HERE! All of my dp is from the DCWV "Elementary School" pack and this is "Tilda w/ Slate"--isn't she a cutie! I had to give her patent leather red shiny shoes (done w/ diamond glaze). I made my mini file close a little differently than the directions--mine closes with a BG magnet that I covered with a large button.

This is the inside view--how fun is that, made with simple envelopes! I used my SU tab punch to make the colored tabs. And yes my projects are posed in front of my Bobbsey Twin books--my mom used to read these exact ones to me when I was little & I adore them. I actually bought the entire collection off of Ebay quite a few years ago & have some of them out & about. I have a thing for old books--I love 'em!!

I decided to make a fun bookmark to go along with the mini file to encourage a young one that learning to read is the best--how fun to give a child their own special bookmark. This is a magnetic tag from Petaloo (came in a pack w/ matching envies) that I just decorated with some more Magnolia images Tilda Resting on Elbows & Books (I couldn't find the exact ones I use but these are similar). I added 2 layered buttons to the cut-out for fun & some bright ribbons as well.

This is the inside of the bookmark/tag--it's magnetic so it stays closed which is perfect to hold a special page in a new book. I just layered some cardstock & left the inside blank so a special note could be written or a list of books the child has read. This gift set would be perfect with a gift card to a bookstore or a new book--what a way to encourage a child to read, the best gift in the world I tell ya is literacy!! If you know someone who would love this gift, it's for sale in my Etsy shop HERE!

Now make sure and stop by the Magnolia-licious Highlites Blog to see the rest of the DT's fabulous projects & how to enter for the grand prize!!


See ya tomorrow!
hugz,
Suzanne

A Two-fer Tuesday!!

Hiya Friends & Happy Tuesday & Happy September! WOW--the weather has been just awesomely beautiful here in VA!! Low 70's which means the AC is off & all my windows have been open since Sunday--love that fresh air! Wonder if it means fall is coming early here on the East Coast or not? Better not mean a bad winter or Suzanne is flyin' south, hee hee! All the fresh air gave me lots of energy and yesterday I managed to do all my laundry (& put it all away), groomed & bathed both dogs, made 2 dinners to freeze & eat and vacuumed along w/ doing 4 projects--whew, I was pooped!! LOL! Today the kids are getting haircuts and then my usual trip to the Post Office & Bank, not alota fun but oh well! Anywho, I've got a couple of fun projects to share with you today so I'll keep my chitter chat short :o)

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Copic Creations Challenge

Today is the First of the Month which means it's time for a challenge at the Copic Creations Challenge Blog-this time the challenge is to use your favorite Copic Combo! The sponsor this week is "Mo's Digital Pencil" & lemme tell ya she has just the most magnificent images!! I've used the beautiful "Kimono Girl" which I just love--I paired her up with this dp from Stampin' Up! I loved the colors & patterns and thought they were kinda Asian themed. For her kimono I used Copic Colors BG72,BG75,BG78,BG11,BG10 & B34,B37,B30 which are my fave blue combos! The flowers are Prima Caboodles, the ribbon is Offray & I added a few navy pearls as well.

And a girl has to have some sparkle, so her bows, flower & butterflies have diamond stickles on them. The teapot & bowl have diamond glaze for shine! Just lovely! Now make sure and hop over to the Copic Creations Challenge Blog to see the DT's lovely creations today & find out how to win your own Mo's Digital image!!

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Try It Out Tuesday Challenge for SCACD

Second project for ya today is for this week's Try It Out Tuesday for Susana's Custom Art & Card Design. This week I challenged the DT to make a card without using any patterned/designer paper--GASP & use a charm as well!! LOL--actually it wasn't that hard, hee hee! I used a fabulous image from the Victoria Case for SCACD line "Jami"--isn't she a cutie w/ her pup!? I colored her with Copics & then added diamond stickles to her shirt for sparkle and diamond glaze to their eyes. The tan cs got stamped with a pawprint stamp from CTMH and then I embossed the pink cs with a CB folder. I used my Bow Easy to make a triple bow outta of my SU ribbon and added a pawprint button (instead of a charm) to the center. The sentiment is from a great set by Hanna Stamps here!

Now make sure and stop by Susana's store blog "Follow Your Heart" to see the rest of the DT's fab projects!!


See ya tomorrow--
hugz,
Suzanne

Trick-or-Treat Sweeties!!

Happy Monday my favorite stampin' friends! Did ya have a terrific weekend? Our's was pretty darn good even if we did end up getting more rain, hee hee! On Saturday, hubby took our son to the Open House at our local airport to see old bombers & war planes--they had a blast & got to go on many of them. Hubby called and asked if he & Riley could go on an actual flight on one of the bombers for $800--LMBO--I said "no way Jose"! Are you kiddin' me--we could all fly to the West Coast for that much money! Once they got home, we all went and finished up all the school shopping (hurray) including school supplies--only thing left is to get Alexa one more pair of flats for school. Yesterday we just hung around the house and enjoyed the almost fall-like weather (gasp--not ready to say goodbye to summer yet)! The kids have eye exams, dental appts & school orientations this week---nothin' like good ole' mom cramming everything in the week before school, LOL! Gotta fit in haircuts somewhere too--although my son says he's growing his hair out "a la surfer style", not sure about that but we'll see!


NewsBitz:

-my new demo video on using the "Bow Easy" can be found on my sidebar or HERE! Such an easy, quick way to make perfect bows everytime (including multiple loop bows) & they're only $5! I made the video because the info out there was less than adequate & I was confused when I got mine, so I was sure I wasn't the only one who needed better visual instructions, LOL! You can buy your Bow Easy right HERE!

-Susana's Store has all Shimmerz Products on SALE at 30% off--that's a good deal! Go HERE to buy yours!!

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So today I have 2 Trick-or-Treat cuties for ya! I just ADORE & LOVE these new Fall SugarPlum stamps by CC Designs (available HERE on September 7th)--each one is just too cute for words! On this lil' pumpkin card I used the girl Sugarplum and made her costume a "giraffe", but she would be cute as a lil' "cow" as well!

The pumpkin was made using my largest oval nestability to make 3 ovals & then I shaded the edges. The middle oval is attached with dimensionals so it pops just a bit. The vines were made with my scroll punch (love this punch--buy yours HERE) and then I free-hand cut out the stem. She's colored with copics & then I added stickles to her tummy and the stem, the pumpkin bag got a coat of diamond glaze & then stickles on top! The sentiment is from PTI's "Spooky Sweets" set--perfect for this lil' image! Isn't she cute--I just love how this one turned out!

Side view of my pumpkin card--I simply scored a 1" scor-line across my cardstock using my Scor-Pal & folded & attached to the pumpkin with Scor-Tape to make the card. Easy Peasy!


Second fun card uses the lil' Sugarplum "mummy" image (available HERE on Sept. 7th)--too cute I tell ya! I used my Nestabilities Mega Labels 8 to make the cool shaped card! I forget who the bat dp is by (from last year's scraps) but I created a faux "mummy wrap" by cutting strips of PTI's shimmery silver cs & attaching to the dp. I added some actual medical gauze behind the image for fun & texture & the bats are from a Martha Stewart punch. The sentiment is from PTI's "09' Halloween Tags" and I used my smaller pinking circle nestabilities as a back mat.
Even though he's a cute mummy he had to have a lil' bit of shimmer a la Suzanne style, hee hee! So I gave him a good coat of Pixie Dust Shimmerz on top for just a soft shimmer. Spooktacular I say!


Have a Boo-tastic Day!!
hugz,
Suzanne

Harvest Time!

Happy Saturday friends! Whatcha' got planned for the weekend? We're finishing school shopping today (ack) so please pray for me, hee hee! After that we have nothin' planned for the evening which sounds good to meeeee! Plus its supposed to be dreary & rainy here again today, so its a good day to snuggle in w/ a great book! Sunday, hubby & son are going to our local airport for an airshow of helicopters, bombers & other 'guy' stuff while Alexa & I stay home! Hopeful to get some craftin' in so my week isn't too crazy--the kids both have their 6th & 8th grade orientations this week and we might try and go away for a few days for the holiday. I want to go the the Maryland Eastern Shore and hangout for a few days & eat lots of yummy blue crabs (my favorite food evah') & relax before the new school year starts & holidays appear fast on the horizon!

NewsBitz:

-haven't had enough sun to shoot my Bow-Easy video & new Copic tutorial, but hopefully will get that done on Sunday! So stay tuned!

-In "Suzanne's Book Reviews" for ya (LOL)--I just finshed Karen White's "House on Tradd Street" which was FABULOUS--her new one will be out in Nov.! Another one I finished yesterday which was great too was Jennifer Weiner's "Goodnight Nobody"--I love her books! Her "Certain Girls" is a great one too! And I'm counting down the days until Sept. 15th when Dan Brown's new book comes--I will be taking the entire day off to read it, hee hee!

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Just one card for ya today--sorry no postie yesterday but I didn't have internet until 9 pm last night & wasn't able to get it done :o( (but I did finish my book, hee hee) This card uses the fabulous Lockhart Stamp Co. "Harvest Angel"--isn't she fab!? Karen has done a few of these angels for different seasons & they're all lovely. I colored her w/ Copics and used my new Nestabilities Labels 9 to cut out my angel & cs layer. I used my Bow-Easy again to make my bow, and the sentiment is from PTI's Autumn Abundance set. I punched scrolls out w/ my fave punch & added some fun rhinestones to the centers. And of course stickles on her leaf wings & diamond glaze on the hurricane glass! Perfect for fall holidays!

Alrighty, have a fabulous weekend & I'll see ya back here on Monday!


hugz,
Suzanne

Denim--1 Sketch, 2 Ways!!

Hello everyone & Happy Thursday to ya! Wahh--it's not Friday yet? I'm sooo ready for the weekend I tell ya! Tomorrow I'm off to lunch with some girlfriends so that will be fun & get me outta the house for a bit w/o kiddos! And then me & the fam have movie nite planned for tomorrow night. We're ordering Bertucci's pizza (my ultimate favorite--with prosciutto, carmelized onions & mushrooms--YUM) and watching the "Wizards of Waverly Place" movie that's premiering on Nickolodeon Friday nite. Yes, I admit I do love that show--that & George Lopez reruns make me laugh I tell ya, hee hee! And I LOVE animated movies too--can't help meself--all that innocent fun!! We all need some good laughs--I love to laugh & if you ask my dear daughter, I laugh WAY too loud for her liking, hee hee---that makes me laugh LOUDER, lol!

NewsBitz: I still have some SU stamps available HERE if you're interested!!

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2 Cards & 1 Sketch

So today I've done 2 cards using different images but all the same elements & same sketch--I love to do that! Since you already have the supplies out, you might as well make another project right?LOL! The layout for both was yesterday's SCS Sketch #243 & all the papers are from Stampin Up! (the tan cs is Coredinations)

This first card uses a fabulous Sarah Kay image called "Elodie in her Garden"--available here! I LOVE Sarah Kay images & I haven't inked one up in forevah'-isn't she a cutie!! I colored her with Copics and then added some stickles for sparkle! The doily border was done w/ a Martha Stewart punch and the charm was from a gift pack I got--but find similar ones HERE! And that FABULOUS BOW?? Done with a wonderful new tool called "Bow Easy"--you can get yours at Susana's store HERE & it is super easy to use (you can even make double & triple bows, and different sizes). I'm doing a up-close YouTube video to show how to do it for ya tomorrow--you will lovee it & it's only $5!

Up close shows the diamond stickles on the water & bees and some "new paint" on the watering can that is (soon-to-come to Susana's store, stay tuned for details--you will lovee it)! I just love her cute lil' self!!

Second card has all the same elements except this time I used the fabulous Lockhart Stamp Co. image "Delphiniums & Peony" available HERE! (I love this image--it's one of my faves that Karen drew) The image was colored w/ copics & the watering can has a coat of diamond glaze on it, the flowers have diamond stickles (my 2 fave products, hee hee)! The buttons are all from Paper Trey Ink and the bow was made w/ the Bow Easy too! So the next time you have your supplies out, make 2 different cards that are similar--it's fun!


See ya tomorrow!
hugz,
Suzanne

Some Like It Hot!!

Happy Wednesday my friends! Some Like it Hot--hee, hee!! Do you? I like my weather hot, my shower hot, hot chocolate but NOT spicy hot food, LOL! My son on the other hand likes spicy food ALOT--last night we ate a restaurant that has varying degrees of hot wings & he ate the hottest, YUCKO--just the smell made my nose hurt, hee hee! He gets that lovely trait from his uncle & grandma (my mom & brother)--the rest of us are wimps when it comes to spicy! I mean Riley's favorite snack is a jalepeno pepper--ewwwwww! My idea of a snack usually involves something gooey with chocolate & caramel inside-LOL! Although Jillian Michaels is not too happy with me since I haven't exercised w/ her in 2 weeks, YIKES--she might come kick my butt, hee hee! But I have been running still, just gotta get back into a better workout routine once the kids start back to school. We've been all over the place this month with crazy bedtimes, meal times & such that somedays I don't even know what day it is! (well actually that's any day for me, hee hee) Anywho, my HOT projects today only involve my fave color combo-Hot Pink & Black!!

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So for all of my projects today I used the same dp from Paper Trey Ink (raspberry fizz & basic black)! For this notecard set I used the fabulous Lockhart Stamp Co. "Strawberries"--isn't it fab & you can get yours HERE!? I didn't really color my strawberries true to color cuz' I wanted them Hot Pink & fabulous, hee hee! My layout is from a sketch from last week's Verve Anniversary Challenges--love the faux quilt background ( I used my one inch scalloped square punch to make my cut-outs). The strawberries got diamond stickles & the bowl was coated w/ diamond glaze! The soft pink edges around the image were done w/one of my favorite tools that I use all the time on most of my images--the Ranger Inkssentials Blending Tool (buy extra sponges & tool here)! I just love this tool & in one of my YouTube videos I show how to use it (the Cardmaking Process video on sidebar)--very easy & gives such a soft effect!

I made 2 of these cards as a set (hard to part w/ I must say, hee hee) & they are for sale on my Etsy site if you're interested in them! Personally, I love how they turned out--LOL!

Next up is a birthday Magnolia card I made for a very special friend (it's making it's way across the country now, hee hee)! I decided to keep the theme the same & did strips of the dp instead of squares. I used a fabulously cute Magnolia from the "Pet Collection"--this is "Tilda w/ Cat" and she's available HERE at Magnolia-licious! I colored her with Copics to match my color combo & added some diamond glaze to her fun pink shoes! The dp, ribbon & sentiment (from Vintage Picnic) are all from PTI & the flowers are stacked Primas! The fun charm came from my friend Nikki of Bunny-Zoe's blog store right HERE--she has bunches of fab charms & super fast shipping :o) I hope the recipient loves it as much as I do--she was so much fun to make :o)

That's all for me today--I'll see ya tomorrow!


hugz,
Suzanne