Dot & Whimsy

Happy middle-of-the-week, friends!

I'm up at Simple Stories Blog today with a couple of 

projects...one being the card that I made with the Unity co-branded

stamp, which I posted here just the other day.

And just in case you missed what {Summer Fresh} is all about...

 That's right...calico, gingham, burlap, chevron, dots and plaids.

Motifs of mason jars, red wagons, pinwheels, sunshine and fluffy clouds.

Ahhhh, summer!

Here's one of my projects:

 I first painted the frame a beautiful ( by Pink Paislee/Tattered Angels) Cardinal Red. 

After measuring the inset of the frame, I cut the desired patterned papers to size and

 then machine-stitched together.  Strips for the sides of the inset were cut from the

 Sunshine & Happiness patterned paper. I love the "keep calm" sayings, so this

 particular 4x6 vertical journaling card was perfect for the focal point.

 Next, I wanted to add some dimension to the collage. 

 I hand-cut the sweet air balloon and cloud  motif from one of the 2x12 border strips.

  I then embellished with a couple of wooden buttons, layered flower and leaves. 

 Because I cut the balloon away from the basket,

 I thought adding a bit of baker's twine for the ropes would be just the right touch :)

From the same 2x12 border strip, I hand-cut the sun and clouds and

 grouped them to the top left of the collage. In finishing, I made a generous bow

 and attached it to the top.  I also included a jute hanger so that I may hang it from a hanger or knob!

Ain't it suh-weet!

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UNITY STAMP COMPANY
 And I just went to the mailbox and got THIS today...oh.my.wow.
May's Kit-Of-The-Month (KOTM)
 and we just received a peek of June's KOTM...I simply can't wait!
If you love Unity and love stampin', then sign-up today for some
"LOVE in an instant!"

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I'll be sharing details very soon, along with an invitation that I just couldn't pass up!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Blessings~

Are you familiar with 

Unity's STAMP OF THE WEEK Club?

As the name implies, you receive a unique and beautiful

stamp each and every week of the year!

This week's stamp set by Lesley Langdon

includes three different round images to work with:

Aren't they elegant and sophisticated?

If you have never stamped with Unity branded stamps, then I implore you

to give them a try!  They literally stamp like no other stamps out there. 

Crisp, clean and highly detailed images with every stamp...you'll love them!

Here are the tags that I made with the SOTW

These were SUPER quick and easy.  After stamping your images (I use Staz-On Black):
1-Punch image out with 1.5" circle punch
2- Punch 2" scallop from desired papers
3- Punch 2.5"-2.75" images from black papers
Layer the three pieces with foam dots.  Add a little blingage if you'd like!
In keeping with the 'polka dot' theme, I used a polka dotted embossing folder to emboss
the white shipping tags.  I then topped them with the red/white dot papers that I cut
(freehand) into a dovetail at the ends.  Add a bit of swiss dot ribbon to the top and a jute hanger and we're all set for giving :)
Don't you just love some quick 'n easy?!?
Visit Unity today and take a peek at all of their gorgeous collection of stamps
Many on SALE!
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 Also, don't forget about the
 SUMMER FRESH CONTEST
happening over at Simple Stories!
Be sure to leave a comment on last Wednesday's Blog post
and you'll be in the running for some FREE Summer Fresh Goodies!
**Comments must be received tonight by  MIDNIGHT MST**
Good Luck!  The WINNER will be announced this Friday :)

 Have a Happy Monday!

Welcome to the latest installment of the

with 

You should be here from Roses's Happy Place!

Also, be sure to start off at the EAD blog and check out 

the adorable vinyl that's up for grabs this week.

Let me just say this first...this treat bag looks so much better in
person...I could not, for the life of me, get it to photograph the way I
wanted it to.  I fought the glare and the shadows LOL
You can get a pack of the popular cone shaped clear bags from
Hobby Lobby or other craft/food shops...they're very inexpensive.
Also, keep in mind that you can order the vinyl Rub-Ons
**IN ANY COLOR**

Sweet Nothings Rub-Ons
As shown, mine are a dark brown, so if you have a specific treat that you
would like to fill your bags with, just keep in mind the color and how well it will show up.
I placed a white background behind the Rub-Ons (from the inside of the bag)
so you can see it better.  Rub-Ons work beautifully on a wide variety of surfaces.


EAD Designs can CUSTOMIZE your order!
Beautiful wall decor, monograms, stickerz and much more.
 Thanks for stopping by today...now it's off to visit with the
very talented Amy :)

Through the delights of

Simple Stories and Unity Stamp Co.,

Summer has come early!

Not only can you find Summer Fresh in shabby/whimsical

papers and cardstock stickers, but you can also find it in deeply

etched rubber stamps.  

Take a gander at this card I created last night...it's made me so ready

for sipping lemonade on the patio, watching fire flies light up the night 

skies and taking a splash in the lake!

 

Good day to you!

Let's start this Totally Terrific Thursday off

with an invitation to EAT :)

Like many of you, we have a certain circle of friends that we do 

stuff with...mostly go out to eat with or cook out with.  It

seems whatever our plans, they always center around FOOD!

I whipped up (no pun intended) this cute card with my eating-out

buddies as my inspiration LOL

 

The IPPITY-IB-0007

My Kitchen To Yours

has the perfect stamp that simply states EAT

 

 

 And I just received my SUMMER FRESH Collection yesterday...I can't wait to play!

Okay, I've got quite a few projects to tackle today

Thanks for stopping by!

I hope this Wednesday finds you well!

I'm sharing my latest CARDS Challenge at 

My Scrapbook Nook today.

The theme for this Wednesday's challenge is 

I've really been having loads of fun with the May Kit featuring

Echo Park's This & That...lovin' the colors, the designs and elements.

It's not hard to get your creative juices flowin' when you have such a

variety of beautiful things to work with!

One of the patterned papers is lined with vintage style BINGO cards,

so I thought this would be an appropriate recipe-style challenge :)

Use the following on your card:
B-Buttons, Brads or Bling...any number will do
I-Ink...stamping, hand-lettering or penwork
N-Nine...count 'em up. you should have a total of NINE things on your card
(will include all of the required elements, plus any additional elements of choice)
Your buttons will only count as ONE, but you can count each different patterned paper you use :)
G-Green accent/element...can be paper, sticker or embellishment
O-One Sentiment

Here is my card:

Aside from This & That kit items,

 I also used stamps from The Craft's Meow (Sew Lovely)

and Sizzix Button Dies.

Come on over and play along with us!  This challenge expires next Wednesday

and the winner will receive a beautiful Card Kit.  

Check out the deets here.

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Thanks for stopping by...see y'all soon!

IF YOU ARE HERE FOR THE
**IMAGINISCE + CANVAS CORP BLOG HOP**
PLEASE CLICK HERE...THANKS!
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Anyone else exhausted from a weekend of 

National Scrapbook Daying it?

I'm one tired puppy, but I got a lot accomplished!

I'll have *TWO* different posts today as I have two different

Blog Hops that I'm participating in.

First up is our regularly scheduled

with EAD Designs.

You should be stopping here from Rose's Happy Place.

Up for this Monday's Hop I have a super cute card that I thought

would go along great with end-of-school-year festivities.

I've used the apple and heart motifs from the 

I've had these scalloped cards from Stampin' Up for quite some time now,
but you could easily create your own with the wide variety of Sizzix dies and SVG
files available out there today!
Patterned papers & sticker letters are from the STORYTELLER collection by Crate Paper.
I simply printed the little sentiment from my computer and created the dovetail
with a small star punch.
Now it's time for a stop over at Amy's Blog!
See you in a bit :)

Ahhh, to be a child of the 80's

Guess jeans, Swatch watches,OP t-shirts, penny loafers and

BIG HAIR!

My kids found this picture of me, taken when I was 18.

Now, was that some hair, or was THAT some hair?  I have riotous curly hair

and this particular day it happened to fix just perfectly :)  Julia Roberts had nothing on me hahaha!

I did this layout for my sponsored challenge over at the My Scrapbook Nook

MOVIE MADNESS CROP.

The challenge is entitled "The Red Carpet"

and the only instructions are to use shades of red on a layout or card.
I used the April Nook Kit featuring STORYTELLER by Crate Paper.
The Maya Road chip frame also came in the kit, and I spritzed it with Mister Huey's
REAL RED...perfectly matches these papers.  For the flowers I used the
I Top Punch from Imaginisce and the Trio flower punch from EK Success.

You still have plenty of time to come over and play along with us!

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Tomorrow I'm up at Imaginisce for our Canvas Corp. Blog Hop.

I have some really fun stuff to share with you.

Also tomorrow is the Monday EAD Blog Hop.

Lots to do...lots to see!

Have a blessed Sunday

Hope you all are celebrating NSD with your favorite scrappy goodies and friends!

I'll be visiting and playing along at several places online...I have the entire day set aside for 

nothing but me and my scrap room :)

First, let me mention that Sydnee did indeed get another BLUE RIBBON in 

the 100 Meter Dash at yesterdays' 4th Grade Field Day.  She was soooo happy!  

And just in case you've never seen real-honest-to-goodness-baby-greased-lightening...this is it:

She also got FIRST Place in the Long Jump (out of 10 girls) and Second Place in the 50 Meter Dash 

(she had a bad case of the rubber-neck and kept looking back to see who was behind her!) 

 She's a natural athlete, much unlike her dear old momma LOL

So proud of my girl...she's a true J*O*Y

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Wow, do I have some news that I've just been BURSTING to share...I've had to keep this a secret

since Monday

.

.

.

That's correct-o-mundo!  I'm a Unity Design Team Member.

  Let me tell you, these girls are the most laid-back and welcoming bunch that I've ever met. 

 You know that feeling when you meet someone and instantly click...well, that's us.

  In just a few days, we've already had loads of fun :)

Here is a layout that I created for the occasion of NSD and the announcing of the newest 

Design Team Members.  For this layout I used the Ippity stamp

I literally did this layout in 30 minutes...only made possible by this terr-i-fic sketch by Angie Blom

and of course, the sensational FAB{U}LOUS papers by Simple Stories

Okay, enough about ME for a moment LOL... here is some news that you'll be extra excited

about.  Nothing like a few great promotions on National Scrapbooking Day, right?

Just visit the blog this weekend to find out more details!

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I'll be at the My Scrapbook Nook 

most of the day today!

The Nooker to collect the MOST points over the weekend will win a 

Please come and join us...for the day, the whole weekend, or for just a bit.

Tons and tons of really great challenges and a couple of games to boot :)

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We're also celebrating at Imaginisce's Blog with a Design Team 

My scavenger hunt hint:

 Visit the blog to see the full list of hints.
Once you have figured them all out, email your answers (in ONE email) to
carilocken5@gmail.com

 You have until May 7th to complete the hunt and turn in your comments

 (a comment for each participating Design Team Member's hint)

WINNERS will be announced Friday, May 11th :)
The prize?  The NEW i-magicut ribbon cutting system!

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I'll be posting my challenge for My Scrapbook Nook here on the blog around 5PM CST

I hope everyone has a SPLENDID National Scrapbooking Day (uh hmmm, weekend)!

My daughter has been overwhelmed with poison ivy/oak

rashes for going on three weeks now.  The first week, it was around the left eye only.

It cleared up within a couple of days and we thought she was on the road to

relief.  Then this past Saturday we got up and dressed for dance recital pictures.  

I noticed that her right cheek was a little red...it had 'that' look and I suspected that 

while riding the four-wheeler Friday afternoon, that she'd gotten into the poison yet again!

By the end of Saturday evening, she was all puffy, red and itching all over her entire face.  

So, Sunday, we're at the quick care clinic where she gets the much-needed steroid injection

and some other medication.  Syd is not a big girl at all size wise and boy her little face just

puffed up!  As the week has progressed, new patches of rashes have shown up from 

head-to-toe!  She has been such a little trooper and finally, finally made it back to 

school today after missing this entire week and three days two weeks before.

Field Day for the 4th grade is tomorrow and she absolutely does not want to miss it.

She has won a BLUE ribbon in the 100 Meter Dash for the last two years.

I'm not quite sure that she'll be up to 'speed' this year given all that she's been through.

So, I've told you all of that to get to this....

I made up a cute little treat bag to give to her on Field Day...I'm hoping it will

brighten her spirits...just in case the blue ribbon isn't in her reach this year :)

This is my Totally Terrific Thursday project for I Heart {Ippity} 
I will fill this Kraft Bag with some of her favorite sweets, like the
Nutella snack packs...yummm!

I used the sentiment stamp from

and I created the sun using a 1.5" round punch and the 

26mm I TOP Punch from Imaginisce (also makes great flowers!)

Sticker letters by October Afternoon.

Hand-cut flowers from MME Stella Rose

Kraft bag from The Kraft Outlet 

The very first May CARDS Challenge is up at

In keeping with the themes of the This & That Collection

from Echo Park Paper, I've gone with a 

Quilting Bee Challenge!

Here is my card

 I used this quilt inspiration that I found at Etsy

Just go to the Nook link above to see all of the quilting samples to
choose from. You can also see the samples, as well as Hilde and Deanna's
takes on the challenge at the Nook Blog!

Okay, friends...time to get something productive done today.  I spent most
of the day yesterday tweaking my new blog...don't you like??? :)
Thanks much to Kate at Whimsical Blog Designs...she offers affordable blog designs
and even premade blog templates!

Have a lovely Wednesday!

Like a good challenge?  

Come and join our Monthly Challenge at Imaginisce.

For this month's challenge, you're only required to:

1- Use the color pink

2- Use flowers

3-Use bling

And use at least 75% Imaginisce products to be eligible for the prize.

The prize: the lucky winner will receive 2 paper packs of their choice!

For my project, I created this colorful card using the 

Makin' Waves papers & dimensional stickers, I Rock Bling and

Blossom Flowers.

Won't you join us?  Just link up your finished project by the end of the month!

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NATIONAL SCRAPBOOK DAY
We're celebrating in a BIG way this weekend at
My Scrapbook Nook 
&
Imaginisce!
The gals over at The Nook have come up with some really amazing
challenges for you to play along with this weekend.  Our theme is:
MOVIE MADNESS
You guessed it...everything to do with the Big Screen!
Tons and tons of fun awaits you...come on over and join us :)
 At Imaginisce, we'll be having a Design Team Scavenger Hunt, so pull out
that magnifying glass and your thinking cap.
Prizes, prizes, prizes!
I'll also be awarding a prize pack right here from my blog.
I'll be sharing some NEW NEWS that I'm really, really stoked about ;)
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 Be back tomorrow with my first Nook CARDS Challenge for the month...see you then!