About Me

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I love living just blocks from the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan, in WI. I am a wife to Greg(for 49 yrs in 2021), mother to Heather and Amber (love my girls), Gamma to LJ, daughter to Marion (deceased in 2012 at 88 y/o, lived a life glorifying the Lord), sister to Paul and Samantha, aunt to Paula, Shelley (and fam) and Jeremy (and fam), Tuffy, the parakeet (2021) and most of all...a child of God, saved by grace through Christ Jesus. Life is a gift! Eternal life, a BLESSING!!!

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Saturday, May 30, 2015

MFP May Blog Hop Winners!! CONGRATS!!

Congrats on your wins and thanks for following along!


Tree Scenes - Ellie L.
Birthday Animals - The Craft Princess/Janie
Pots and Vases - Carla in Utah
Tree Scene Selections - Karen Ladd

Go HERE for details.

MFP Speedy Fox & Friends Challenge 264

Mark's Finest Papers Speedy Fox  and Friends Challenge 264
- use this sketch -


Here's my sample card as a design team member for Mark's Finest Papers! Thanks for looking and head on over to JOIN IN the challenge fun!


Here's my sample for Mark's Finest Papers design team.


For this card I made a mask with 3 rectangles cut out. Using sponge daubers I added inks (Momentos) to create my "scenic" background. I stamped my cattails and sentiment after removing the mask. I used a scoring board to score around the edge of my main card. Then I just layered it onto black, then onto my white card base and done! Very simple and, the best part, quick!
Thanks for looking!

I used MFP stamp set "Silhouettes".




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Friday, May 29, 2015

Mark's Finest Papers MAY Blog Hop Day 4

Welcome to the MFP Stamp Shop




Let's get started!!!!

This month's new Stamp Set Releases are:


Featured May 26
Tree Scene

Featured May 27
Animal Birthdays

Featured May 28
Pots and Vases

Featured May 29
Tree Scene Selections

Please Hop along with us!! You have a chance to win one of these new stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs ( don't forget this one ) each day for more chances to win! ( You do NOT need to comment on on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly.) The winners will be announced on May 30, 2015, right on  MFP Stamp Shop Blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. ( HINT: The more you comment the more chances you have to win. And comments on the MFP blog count twice. ) The deadline for commenting is Friday May 29, 2015 at 10:00 PM EST.


 Here's my card to start you on your way!

My card consists of a number of layers. I stamped my image 3 times on small squares, coloring it with Copic markers. I took some white ribbon and colored it with the same Copic green I used for the stamps and added it behind the top and lower tree image. The main, top, image was mounted up for dimension. I die cut a Happy Birthday and mounted that up above the main tree. I wanted one main color accent with the black and white, thus the limey green. Thanks for stopping by!

I used the new stamp set
"Tree Scene Selections"
and 
"Background Fun" 
for the sentiment.



Here's the Design Team: Begin Your Hopping!!
Pam T  (you are here)
Pat (next)


Enjoy the Hop. Come on back tomorrow for more creative fun and don't forget to stop by MFP Stamp Shop to check out all their amazing stamps and products!

Click HERE to view my past Blog Hops



Thursday, May 28, 2015

Mark's Finest Papers MAY Blog Hop Day 3

Welcome to the MFP Stamp Shop





Let's get started!!!!

This month's new Stamp Set Releases are:


Featured May 26
Tree Scene

Featured May 27
Animal Birthdays

Featured May 28
Pots and Vases

Featured May 29
Tree Scene Selections

Please Hop along with us!! You have a chance to win one of these new stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs ( don't forget this one ) each day for more chances to win! ( You do NOT need to comment on on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly.) The winners will be announced on May 30, 2015, right on  MFP Stamp Shop Blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. ( HINT: The more you comment the more chances you have to win. And comments on the MFP blog count twice. ) The deadline for commenting is Friday May 29, 2015 at 10:00 PM EST.


 Here's my card to start you on your way!

I made some layers from cardstock, border punching out the 2 top layers. I stamped the pot on a separate piece of cardstock, colored it using Copic markers. Then I cut it out.  I stamped my flowers where I wanted them and colored them. I stamped a few extra flowers to color. I then cut them out and added them to a few of them to the main image for dimension. I shaped the pot so it was a bit rounded and the put mounting tape in the center and glue on the edges to attach it, giving the pot dimension as well. (It doesn't show up too well in the photo, sorry) Twine was used to make the hanging pot look. I put a bit of sparkle in the flower centers and stamped a sentiment. I added some doodle dots too...mainly to cover a spot where my marker dripped. hehe

I used the new stamp set
"Pots & Vases"
and 
"Pretty Pears"
for the flowers and sentiment.




Here's the Design Team: Begin Your Hopping!!
Pam T  (you are here)
Pat (next)


Enjoy the Hop. Come on back tomorrow for more creative fun and don't forget to stop by MFP Stamp Shop to check out all their amazing stamps and products!

Click HERE to view my past Blog Hops




Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Mark's Finest Papers MAY Blog Hop Day 2

Welcome to the MFP Stamp Shop





Let's get started!!!!

This month's new Stamp Set Releases are:


Featured May 26
Tree Scene

Featured May 27
Animal Birthdays

Featured May 28
Pots and Vases

Featured May 29
Tree Scene Selections

Please Hop along with us!! You have a chance to win one of these new stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs ( don't forget this one ) each day for more chances to win! ( You do NOT need to comment on on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly.) The winners will be announced on May 30, 2015, right on  MFP Stamp Shop Blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. ( HINT: The more you comment the more chances you have to win. And comments on the MFP blog count twice. ) The deadline for commenting is Friday May 29, 2015 at 10:00 PM EST.


 Here's my card to start you on your way!


I used an embossing folder to give my card the tree look. I took an ink pad and rubbed it over the embossing to add the rough bark type appearance. I used a circle die cut for the hole. Since my owl is  stamped on the inside I needed to be sure it would be perfectly place in the circle center so I used a pencil (while the card was closed) to mark a small line on each edge of the circle. Then when I opened the card I could visualize exactly wear the stamp needed to be placed, then I erased the pencil marks. The owl was colored with Copic markers and googly eyes added. I took another piece of cardstock for my sign, stamped the sentiment, and used an embossing folder for my wood look and used a sponge to add a bit of black. I wanted it to look like a sign. I added a brad for my "nail". 

(inside)


I used the new stamp set
"Animal Birthdays"
and
"Owls" for my sentiment




Here's the Design Team: Begin Your Hopping!!
Pam T  (you are here)
Pat (next)


Enjoy the Hop. Come on back tomorrow for more creative fun and don't forget to stop by MFP Stamp Shop to check out all their amazing stamps and products!

Click HERE to view my past Blog Hops




Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Mark's Finest Papers MAY Blog Hop Day 1

Welcome to the MFP Stamp Shop





Let's get started!!!!

This month's new Stamp Set Releases are:


Featured May 26
Tree Scene

Featured May 27
Animal Birthdays

Featured May 28
Pots and Vases

Featured May 29
Tree Scene Selections

Please Hop along with us!! You have a chance to win one of these new stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs ( don't forget this one ) each day for more chances to win! ( You do NOT need to comment on on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly.) The winners will be announced on May 30, 2015, right on  MFP Stamp Shop Blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. ( HINT: The more you comment the more chances you have to win. And comments on the MFP blog count twice. ) The deadline for commenting is Friday May 29, 2015 at 10:00 PM EST.


 Here's my card to start you on your way!

I used two of the image stamps and make the shore line, and guess what??? I DIDN'T use my Copic markers! WHAT??? lol I was struggling with the coloring of the trees and was just beginning to get super frustrated when CHALKS came to mind. Yes, I said chalks! It had been forever since I played with them and now was the time. It was so very easy and the result was exactly what I was hoping for. I used tiny cotton balls to pick up the chalk color and smudged away. Yes, that was it. No worrying about coming outside of the lines. Almost a watercolor look. lol I should have added some red to the trees but I was satisfied. :-) I chalked some reflection to the water and then I used crystal lacquer to cover the water to give it a "wet" look.


 A few layers of cardstock and a sentiment...boom, done!

I used the new stamp set
"Tree Scene"



Here's the Design Team: Begin Your Hopping!!
Pam T  (you are here)
Pat (next)


Enjoy the Hop. Come on back tomorrow for more creative fun and don't forget to stop by MFP Stamp Shop to check out all their amazing stamps and products!

Click HERE to view my past Blog Hops



Tuesday Throwdown Challenge 246

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge 246 - Anything goes

Here's my card for the design team.

Since it is an anything goes challenge I decided to use some stamps that have been gathering a bit of dust lately. I created the leaf background by inking the stamp, stamping the image, then stamping again, without re-inking. That gave me the lighter leaf. I added my sentiment and the pretty die cut butterfly. A fine tip pen was used to give the card the dotted outline. 

Our sponsor for this challenge is
Craft Classes Online
where you can find just the 
right crafting class for you!



Still time to get involved with the current challenge at Tuesday Throwdown.


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Sunday, May 24, 2015

Gerda Steiner 72 hour Weekend Challenge

It's been awhile since I've been in a challenge and I decided to take a little time to make this little card. Thanks to Gerda who provided the free digi. It's so cute!! 

Here's my card for the Gerda Steiner 72 hr challenge!


To make this card I just did a couple of layers, embossing the top one. I used a die cut balloon for the elephant's background. My elephant was colored with Copic markers and I just really wanted an pink one. lol. I used some crystal lacquer for the eyes and a sparkle pen for the flower centers and dots about the balloon edges. I used some mounting tape for a raised elephant. A bit of twine for the balloon string and done. Thanks for looking!


Saturday, May 23, 2015

MFP Speedy Fox & Friends Challenge 263

Mark's Finest Papers Speedy Fox  and Friends Challenge 263
- 7 layers -

Here's my sample card as a design team member for Mark's Finest Papers! Thanks for looking and head on over to JOIN IN the challenge fun!


Here's my sample for Mark's Finest Papers design team.



7 layers...wow...that IS a bunch but as it turns out, not that difficult to come up with. lol I have a white card base 1 blue, 2 pattern paper, 3 blue, 4 white (with image). 5 blue tag, 6 white (with sentiment), final...7 THE BOW! I colored the pretty coneflower using my Copic markers, adding a touch of sparkle pen to the flower center. Thanks for stopping by!


I used MFP stamp set "Coneflowers".




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Saturday, May 16, 2015

MFP Speedy Fox & Friends Challenge 262

Mark's Finest Papers Speedy Fox  and Friends Challenge 262
- inchies for background -

Here's my sample card as a design team member for Mark's Finest Papers! Thanks for looking and head on over to JOIN IN the challenge fun!


Here's my sample for Mark's Finest Papers design team.
Inchies are sure a great way to clean out some of my scraps and that's just what I did! I chose an image and paper pieced the flower and colored the leaves with Copic markers. It looked a bit flat for I added some clear lacquer to make the flower pop. I stamped the sentiment and ran the edge of the paper over an ink pad just to give it a border. I finished the card with a few green pearls. Ta da! Thanks for lookings!

I used MFP stamp sets "Chrysanthemum" and "Pretty Pears" for the sentiment.





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Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge 244

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge 244 - add a doodle

Here's my card for the design team.


I had lots of fun working with my Doodle Pantry image! I couldn't pass up coloring this adorable Toucan. Naturally I used Copic markers to color. Not sure what color a Toucan actually is but I figured it needed a good variety of colors so...there you have it. I made a couple of extra prints of the image so I could add leaves around the cute little sentiment. I added a few bright gems and a few "doodles". 

Thanks to Doodle Pantry for the adorable images!!



Still time to get involved with the current challenge at Tuesday Throwdown.


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Saturday, May 9, 2015

MFP Speedy Fox & Friends Challenge 261

Mark's Finest Papers Speedy Fox  and Friends Challenge 261
- use strips of paper at an angle -

Here's my sample card as a design team member for Mark's Finest Papers! Thanks for looking and head on over to JOIN IN the challenge fun!


Here's my sample for Mark's Finest Papers design team.


I found a gorgeous designer paper for my background. I really didn't want to cover up the paper too much so I started with thin strips of white. I only use about 3 to begin with but my stamped image was lost in the background, sooooo, more white pieces. That helped my flower pop out better and still left enough of the pretty background paper visible. My flower was colored to match the paper using Copic markers. I took some white ribbon and used a matching Copic marker to color the ribbon. A glitter pen added some sparkle to my flower center, and DONE! 

I used MFP stamp set "Dogwood Blossoms".




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Thursday, May 7, 2015

Big Sale!!


Have you shopped at Mark's Finest Papers??? If not...you should! Great quality stamps and products waiting for you with a 20% discount!!

BIG SALE GOING ON NOW!
20% OFF!


Use Coupon Code:
Getstamps

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

A Card For My Nephew & A Couple Of Challenges

I get annoyed when I forget to mail out my birthday cards BEFORE the birthdays, but I am sure my sweet little nephew, Aidan, won't mind too much. This is the card I made for him, and the challenges I'll enter it in. Thanks for stopping by!

Here are the challenges I'm entering:

Word Art Wednesday 182-anything goes/family friendly




I absolutely adore the FREE digis from Dearie Dolls and this little guy was just great for Aidan's birthday card. I sponged the background, using daubers and Momento inks. I colored my little boy, and frogs, using Copic markers, using a white pen for his laces and freckles. Of course those cute little froggies needed some googly eyes for the finishing touches. A bit of layering and done!

Saturday, May 2, 2015

Cards...

I had to make a couple of cards for my daughter today. Heather needed a retirement card and a card for someone moving. Here they are. Funny part. No stamping. None! What the heck??? lol I needed to make them in a hurry so I had to make my own "words", from the internet or just my own mind because I just couldn't think of what stamps to use or where to find just the right ones. Die cuts and embossing folders completed the cards. 


Retirement card

Inside


This is the "moving" card...

Inside



MFP April Blog Hop Winners! CONGRATS!

Congrats on your wins and thanks for following along!



Paper Doll Sophia - Jennifer Scull
Big Trees - Terri W.
Small Flowers - Brenda in IN

Go HERE for details.

MFP Speedy Fox & Friends Challenge 260

Mark's Finest Papers Speedy Fox  and Friends Challenge 260
- Rick Rack -

Tutorial

Here's my sample card as a design team member for Mark's Finest Papers! Thanks for looking and head on over to JOIN IN the challenge fun!


Here's my sample for Mark's Finest Papers design team.


As much as I didn't want to actually make my own rick rack, I did. I followed the great 
tutorial (above) and found that I really enjoyed it. Initially I had intended to just add the rick rack to the main cardfront but I didn't like how the flowers looked behind it. So I just added the rick rack to a white piece of cardstock and place the flowers behind that. Seemed to work out ok so I left it like that. I colored my flowers, using Copic markers, to match my rick rack. Stamped the sentiment and added some gems to the flower centers and that was it. Complete.

I used MFP stamp sets " Bearded Iris" for the sentiment and "Black-eyed Susans" but couldn't find the set to picture it, BUT "Spring Flowers" actually had the flower image.






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