Summer Out of the Box Card

Well hello ladies!

Hope you all had a good day today. It was such a beautiful day out there today, not too hot, just right. Don't you just luv those type of days? Dawn's hubby came home today from Iraq & I'm sure she & her daughter can't believe the day is finally here...hope you both have a great time with him while he's home. I'm so happy for them!


Here's the summer card that I made while I was upstairs today. I love the way this card came out. I saw this on someones blog (don't remember who, sorry) & decided to give it a try today. I cut away some of the stamped image of the chair & beach umbrella & the WW cs is set on dimensionals. What do you think?

Card base: Soft sky
CS: SU Groovy guava, WW, & turquoise (unknown)
Stamps & sentiments: Joann's summer stamps
Flower: Joann's
The sun is a sticker
Ribbon: Michael's
Inks: SU basic black, Le Plume II markers
White gel pen for stitches on guava


My daughter came over today to do laundry & as usual, she takes over my computer, so I went upstairs to my craft room to make some cards. She is very organized (takes after her mom, hehe!!!) & wanted to make some flyer's for her maid of honor, bridesmaids & me, so we could have each others phone numbers & email addresses so we could keep in touch with all the plans for bridal shower etc that we need to make. That's my girl!!! She used pink (but of course, what else would she use)paper, worked everything out on the computer & printed up the flyer's for us. She wanted to make it pretty (that's my Jess, a girly girl)...so she asked me if I could put some stamps & stickers on them (ohhhh shoot! I forgot to take picture of folded flyer's with flower stickers & girlfriends sentiments on it, oh well!!) Their gone now, too late. So here are some pics of what we did. What do you think? Looks good, huh!


She loves shoes ( what woman doesn't, we can never have enough!) hence the shoe stamp. She takes after me there too...luv shoes!!! Before I left work, that whole year before, I stocked up on summer shoes & winter heel boots, I didn't realize how many I bought til one day when Jess was over & needed to wear a pair of my boots so she could go out to eat with us after she finished washing clothes. Hey mom, you went crazy didn't you??? Hey, I knew once I left work I wouldn't have the money to buy them later...so yes I went wild, what can I say?

Well have a great evening, & thanks for stopping by. Take care!

Hugs...Rita

First card using Cuttlebug machine!

Good evening ladies!

I finally used my Cuttlebug machine and let me tell you, it was so easy & luv the outcome, it came out so wonderful! I am sooo happy I decided to get it, it was the best thing I have ever purchased! I will be buying more embossing folders & dies for this baby!

Base: Michael's cards
CS: purple, white (unknown)
paper: Karen Foster (plaid), CM Perfect fit purple
ribbon: Michael's
stamps: Michael's $ stamps
Ink: stazon jet black & Le Plume II markers
embossing folder, cuttlebug D'Vine swirls

I love penguins & Bella stamps, so because of this cuttlebug purchase I have to hold off buying these stamps...so I put them on my wish list for DH, DD & DS for Christmas, I sure hope one of them gets me these things, my list is getting longer with each passing day, hee! hee! Well thank you so much for stopping by & happy stamping!!!

Hugs...Rita

Halloween Cards

Good morning!

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. I made a few cards this weekend. Have not had the time to try out my cuttlebug yet...hope to do that sometime this week.
Here are two Halloween cards that I made.


Base: WW
paper: CM green & pumpkin
card stock: WW
stamps: Canadian Maple Collections
Inks: SU basic black & Stazon Jet Black, Le Plume II markers
Ribbon: Joann's


Base: Michael's cards
stamps: Canadian Maple Collections
CS: WW, CM pumpkin & black
paper: Karen foster purple crackle
inks: SU basic black, Le Plume II markers
ribbon: Joann's
The moon was embossed with Iridescent sparkle


Inside card was done with,
sentiment: Martha Stewart acrylic alphabet stamps
stamps: Canadian Maple Collections

Well I have to go for an echo-cardiogram (spelling?) this afternoon that I am not looking forward to getting. This week is test & rehabilitation therapy week. I have bone loss on hip & arthritis in back, so she wants me to do exercises for that, hence the specialist. My doctor asks me questions, I made the mistake of answering about a slight chest pain once in awhile, when she asked about chest pain & now tests for that, sometimes I wonder if I should answer her questions for little things or just wait till I think its major or of concern to me. Sometimes I think she's too thorough. Oh well, enough of that.
It looks like a beautiful day out there today, hope you all enjoy. Thank you for stopping by & happy stamping!

Hugs...Rita

Fun Shopping Day!

Hi everyone!

Well got my blood work done yesterday then went shopping!!! I really went shopping to look for scallop punches (none to be found) and to get a heating tool that was on sale at A.C.Moore, some ribbon .25, $ stamps, Versamark...well guess what? The Cuttlebug & accessories were on sale for 40% off!!! Could not pass this up, right? hee! hee!



So I got the cuttlebug machine and two embossing folders (D'vine Swirl & Stylized Flowers) for - are you ready? drum roll please...$59. plus tax (charged that baby). What a great deal! I also got my heating tool, $ Halloween stamps, ribbon, versamark and staz-on jet black.


Then I went to Joann's and got some acrylic $ stamps, more ribbon, embossing powder in clear and iridescent sparkle. Then my last stop was Michael's where I bought embossing tray, more ribbon, more acrylic $ stamps, copper square brads and 40% off the Sizzix scallop tags for my sizzix machine. Now thats what I call a great shopping day! Unexpected bargains.

Now all I need to do is learn how to use all this stuff, so if anyone has any tips on how to use the cuttlebug please leave a comment or email me. I also need to learn how to do embossing, that should be interesting, wish I had someone here to teach me, oh well...I'm a fast learner and will be looking at every one's blog for tutorials.


Here's an ATC box that I made the other day. I got the tutorial from Stamp your Heart Out with Jenn D the measurements were wrong, (might be a typo on her blog) so you have to play with it a little till you get the measurements right. This is the measurements that I finally ended up with after playing for a long time: Bottom piece I used 4 3/4 x 5 3/4, then the big piece I used 8 1/4 x 3 7/8, I tried to write them down as I was playing with it so I think that was my final measurement, I'm sorry now that I didn't make a template of the final cut. Oh well! Live and learn, right? Hope that helps.

Hope you all have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by.

Hugs...Rita

Christmas Card

Good morning ladies!

I decided to make a Christmas card last night, so here it is, not difficult at all, rather a simple card. I need new stamps!!! I ordered the Make a Wish stamps awhile ago & can't wait to get them, should be any day now, I hope! I also saw a retired set on E-Bay & got it for a steal, that ships out today. I'm not thrilled about this auction thing with bidding & waiting forever to get things...I'd rather just buy it online at web sites or in the stores, much faster. I don't think I'll do it again. Budget is tight now that I'm retired & only living on hubby's retirement. I'm too young to collect yet, so I need to find some sort of part time job to support my stamping & scrapping habit. In a way I'm kind of sorry I quit my job, but really it was the right move 'cause the stress is 10 times worse now than before I left, I saw that coming so hence my decision to quit when hubby retired. Well enough of that.
I'm off to get a blood test, then I'm going to search for some mega & giga scalloped punches, & a few supplies, (maybe sparkles) going to Joann's, Michael's & A.C. Moore. You all have a great weekend & talk to you soon. Happy stamping!!! Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs...Rita



Here's what I used:
Base: Whisper White
Stamps - Village Arts Press
Card stock: Wild Wasabi
Inks: SU Basic Black, Le Plume II water based markers, SU crayons in pastel yellow for background of squares & white gel pen
Ribbon: A.C. Moore
Punch: Mcgill

Your on my Mind Card

Hi all!

Here is a card I made today. I'm very happy with the way this card turned out, It's simple yet elegant. I also like the colors. Sorry for the way the picture came out, it was cloudy here this morning, so it came out a little dark.

Here's what I used:
Base: white card from Michael's
Blue CS from Creative Memories
Paper: Karen Foster
Stamp: $ stamp Michael's
Ribbon: White gross grain from Michael's
Le Plume II water based markers
Punch: I punched the corners with Creative Memories Petal Multi-maker

Hope you like it. Have a great Thursday evening & thanks for stopping by my blog...please sign my guest book.

Hugs...Rita

Cherish Card

Good morning!

What a beautiful day here in Massachusetts! The sun is out and the temp is a nice cool, dry 72 degrees...no humidity in sight today! I don't know if I want to make a card today or get started on my daughter's Vegas album, well I'll decide later & let you know tomorrow. I'm finding it hard to get back into the groove after being sick last week, I don't know what it is, but I need to get off my butt!!! Hee! Hee!


Here's a card I made last night, I'm not thrilled about how this turned out, I could have done better but didn't want to waste cs so I just continued on & this is the final product.

Base: SU Soft sky cs & Whisper white cs
Ink: Cool Caribbean
Stamps: Baroque Motifs
Crystal beads for flowers

Hope you all have a fantastic day & thanks for stopping by!

Hugs...Rita

Halloween Card

Hi everyone,

I missed all of you wonderful ladies!!! I'm finally back to posting & creating some cards...I sure do need to get back to doing some scrapbook pages too.

Here is a card I made yesterday for Halloween & I sure had a lot of fun making this card.


Base: Brown CS
Leaves: orange, pumpkin, yellow, speckled yellow, & Red Berry CS (some cs from Michael's & some from CM)
The cat in the square is on dimensional's
Punches: Square punch is by McGill Craftivity, & Leaf punch is by CM (Creative Memories)
Stamps: Addicted to scrapbooking
Ribbon: Michael's

Thank you for stopping by my blog.
Hope you all have a wonderful Monday evening...Enjoy!

Hugs...Rita

Almost back to Normal!

Hi everyone!

Well I am almost back to normal. This cold knocked me for a loop, I'll tell ya! I finally got a good night's sleep last night. Thank you for all the email & your concern, it's nice to know you all care. Well I don't have any cards or scrapbook pages to share due to the cold, I hope to get back to doing both maybe this weekend. I need to start doing my daughter's Vegas book & her engagement book real soon & hopefully do a few cards in between scrapping. To tell you the truth I really like stamping better now!!! :) insert big smile!!! Well hope you all have a great weekend. Happy stamping & thanks for stopping by my blog.

Hugs...Rita

Tagged Again! The Thinking Blogger Award

Malieta tagged me with the "Thinking Blog Award". Thank you for all the kind words, Malieta! Your a sweetie!

The participation rules are simple:

If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that inspire & make you think. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the memo.
Download award (click here) to your blog.

Here is the list of "5 bloggers that inspire & make me think":

1. Dawn - Dawns Stamping Thoughts : Dawn is such a sweetie, she is truly an amazing woman, her cards are so wonderful! Such a creative person. She has inspired so many people to send in cards to send to our troops, so they can send cards back home to loved ones. She was one of the two people who inspired me so much in making my decision to start card making. Thanks Dawn!
2. Jen - Pieces of Me: Jen is the most helpful person I know, always willing to help people. Jen is the second person who helped me make the decision to start stamping. Her cards have inspired me to do some creative thinking in making my own cards. She was also the person who helped me with my blog when I was having a problem creating my web page. Thanks so much Jen.
3. Lauren - The Beauty Within Lauren is the greatest! She has inspired me with her "eyelet lace" card. What a gorgeous card!!! I just love this card so much...I had to ask her to list all the supplies needed to make this card for my daughter's wedding. She emailed me with everything I will need. I hope to make you proud with this card. To me it's very complicated right now...but I'm going to give it a shot! Thank you so much Lauren.
4. Roxy - Stamping with Roxy Roxy is so creative. I love all her tutorials, she makes everything seem so simple & fun. I have learned so much from her & she doesn't even know it...but now she will! She has inspired me to try different things with these tutorials. Thanks Roxy.
5. Cheryl - Engineered Expressions Cheryl, you are such an inspiration to me in so many ways. I saw you box for the ATC's that you made & I just have to make one for myself. That is something that I thought I would never attempt. You gave me the link & I have printed the instructions to try, maybe I'll do that next week. Your cards are so wonderful! I luv your blog. Thanks so much for inspiring me, Cheryl.

Drop by all these blog sites & see what I'm talking about...maybe they can inspire you as well!

**Nice** Award Tag

I've been tagged with a **Nice Matters Award** by Jen, who is the nicest person you will ever meet. She is always there to help people...a true people person. Thanks Jen, my sistah! Your such a sweetie!
You are all "Nice" people here in blogland as well, but I have to choose 5 people & want to choose those who have not been chosen yet...so here goes.

Dawn - Dawns Stamping Thoughts
Roxy - Stampin with Roxy
Samantha - A Scrap Addicts Blog
Lauren - My Time, My Creations, My Stampendence
Cheryl - Engineered Expressions

Congrats Ladies!!!

Hugs...Rita

Jen's Challenge # 9

Here is my card for Jen's Challenge # 9 I made my diagonal cut with a wave using the decorative trimmer from Creative Memories, I don't think you can see it in the picture 'cause the flower is hiding it.
Stamps: SU Doodle This & Michael's stamps
Paper: SU Whisper white & CM key lime CS & DS paper
Ink: Old olive, pink passion, basic black (using aqua pen)& Le Plume II water based markers
Accessories: Black brad & A.C. Moore ribbon
I had so much fun with this challenge!! I cut out the flower from doodle this twice using 1 kind of paper & cut out another 1 using a different paper & sandwiched them together to give flower a fuller look.



I stamped the images for the background & water colored the images with a press of the ink pad to puddle color on cover for ink & used the aqua pen & Le Plume markers to fill in images.

Cherish Card & Bags

Hi everyone!

Here is what I worked on yesterday, hope you like it! Please sign my guest book & say a hello!!! Thank you for stopping by & viewing my blog.
Have a great day!!!

Hugs...Rita


I finally made a card with my new SU Baroque Motiffs, I'm very happy with the way this card turned out. Don't you just luv this set? There is so much you can do with these stamps.
I used Guava & whisper White CS, Ink: Bravo Burgundy, & Old Olive, I also added a little crystal bead to center of flowers. I hope you can see it in this picture.


This is the 2-5-7-10 Box with Flap. I like this bag, it's a little bigger than the small favor box (2-4-6-8).



I had so much fun making these bags & finally using my scor-pal (I luv it, it's so easy). I got the tutorial to make these bags from Jen's Pieces of me, 2-4-6-8 favor box.