Having a problem leaving a comment?

I am not sure what is going on. I have had several blogging friends tell me through email that they are having a hard time leaving a comment here. That really bums me out, because that is the best part of having my blog, your comments! Does anyone have any advice? I have gone through all of my settings and made sure that they are open to everyone. Hopefully if you do have advice you will be able to leave a comment...argh! If you can't leave a comment please feel free to email me. Click on the view my complete profile link and it should have an email button. Thanks!
OK, onto the quick card. My plan was to have a tutorial up today, but I am new to the whole You Tube thing and since I waited until tonight to try to upload it is taking forever! I am sure everyone in the known universe is doing the same and that is why it is taking so long. SO, thought I would just post this quick card for now until I can get my video on here.
I used my Gina K set "Thinking Of You", which I am in love with. All I did here was kiss my SU spectrum "Cotton Candy" ink pad to my card stock then Stamped my image on top of that using Basic Black classic ink. I then stamped the image on white card stock, colored it in and paper pieced it onto the card. I added a few black brads and a little Prima flower and voila! Super easy one layer card.
Thanks for looking, hope to have that tutorial for you tomorrow. If I can't get it to work as a video then I will just post the pictures and write it all out tomorrow night.
Hugs,
Pam

Weekend Sketch Challenge

Here is my version of Beate's weekend sketch challenge. I used Gina K stamp sets, "What's in your tin 2" and "Framed Flowers". I just purchased some new dish towels at Target that had this color scheme of yellow, green, white and gray. Thought the colors were really summery and fresh looking so why not put use them for a card, so that is what I did.
I need to put out a huge thank you to my technical support guy, Al (who is also my hubby *wink). Al spent some time putting together a watermark for me so that I can attach is to all of my pictures. Thanks Al, I love you!! PAS, not only stands for Paper Askew Studio, but it is also my initials...ha ha! How clever, well maybe not to you but I am a dork that way LOL!
Thanks so much for looking. I am working on a tutorial, so watch for that hopefully tomorrow !
Hugs,
Pam

Inspired by Starbucks

I had mentioned earlier this week that I was inspired by a Starbucks wrapper. Here is the card I came up with. If I was thinking I would have taken a picture of the little bag, but of course I didn't. The wrapper is a light tan color with green & black writing, and white flowers. They look like they were stamped with craft ink, so it got me thinking and this is what I came up with . I used Sahara Sand card stock, white craft, certainly celery craft and basic black classic inks. The green flowers and frame are from Gina K's "Framed Flowers" and the sentiment is also from Gina K a set called " Spring Flowers". This set is free when you purchase 3 other sets at regular price. I dressed up the card by using some black organdy ribbon and a square rhinestone brad.
Thanks for looking!

I've been tagged

Laura from The Paper Poppy has tagged me (thanks Laura) so here is the scoop:

1. Link to the person that tagged you and leave a comment on their blog, so that their readers can visit yours.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Share 7 Random facts about yourself on your blog.
4. Tag 7 random people at the bottom of your post, linking to their blog. Let each person know by leaving a comment on their blog.

Ok and here are my 7 random facts about me:

1. I LOVE CHOCOLATE and Choxie is my new favorite brand
2. Al asked me to marry him in Vail, Colorado on 9-4-94
3. I really have hazel eyes, but most people think they are brown
4. I am a really shy person, working on it though.
5. I was the football manager of my high school's football team in 9th grade
6. I have a cosmetology license
7. I can touch my tongue to my nose...gross I know.

I am breaking the rules...sorry and just picking a few people since just about everyone out there has been tagged. If you haven't then add yourself to my list. Now it's my turn to tag you're it!

1. Crafty Gal's Karie

2.Artistic Avenger's Carrie

3. CM Cropper's Dawn

4. Studio Melange's Vicki

I will be back Friday night with a card, so come on back!
Hugs,
Pam

Color Inspiration Challenge

Kristina Werner has posted her 3rd Color inspiration challenge and I am so in on this one. My world is all in SU colors I tend to walk around and think to myself, oh that shirt is blush blossom or that towel is lovely lavender. Anyone else out there do that or am I just nuts? Anywho, this is what Kristina has done, taken a photo from Pier 1 and pulled out SU colors to match. The colors are Orchid Opulence, Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black and White. I never would have just put those colors together, but I am glad this challenge forced me to. Here is what I came up using all 5 colors of card stock in the challenge. Fabulous Flowers, Baroque Motifs & Holidays & Wishes stamp sets using Pumpkin Pie classic ink with Rose Red marker high lighting the flower petals, white craft ink and basic black classic ink. I added a little rhinestone, which I picked up on clearance at Hobby Lobby to the center of the flower for a little sparkle.
Thanks for the challenge Kristina!
*All products used are from Stampin' UP! unless noted otherwise

OH how I love my Gina K stamps!

Here is my first ever card using Gina K's stamp sets. This set is called "Thinking Of You" created by Rupa Shevde. This whole set is so fresh and well, I could go on and on about it... I LOVE IT! Rupa is a fantastic artist with an eye for detail. I first stamped the topiaries onto a piece of whisper white card stock, colored them all in and sponged Soft Sky over the majority of the card. I filled in a little brown at the bottom and then put this piece aside. Next I stamped the chairs and table onto a piece of vinyl with Stazon black ink. Then I stamped the images again onto a scrap of whisper white, colored them in and cut out the seat and table top. I laid the vinyl over the background piece placing a black brad on each side of the top of the card holding it all together. Once it was all put together I lift up the vinyl and figured out exactly where to place my seats and table top pieces then glued them directly onto the background piece. This is kind of a reverse paper piecing technique I suppose. This really made the image pop out especially when you are looking at it in person. I can't wait to do this with some of the other images in this set. Woo Hoo!!
If you have never ordered from Gina K before I would definitely recommend doing so. I ordered and received my products quickly and had a little treat of personalized M&M's in the box. Too cute! Thanks Gina for such great customer service! I will be back for more and now I am dying for the next release. I think I am in trouble.

Framed Flowers

I have been anxiously waiting for my Gina K stamp sets to arrive and they came on Saturday! Carolyn King designed this stamp set "Framed Flowers" and is having a little contest on her blog. I have so many ideas for this set and this is the one that came to me first. I am so ready for summer and this to me looks like one of our summer sunsets, with our purple mountains in the distance. I first rolled some rose red with my brayer onto a piece of glossy paper. Then I made a stencil out of sticky notes and rolled over it with elegant eggplant for the mountains. I missed a tiny bit of the sky, which was a great mistake. I used that empty spot to put some Summer Sun ink into for a setting sun. Lastly I inked up the flowers and sentiment with basic black craft ink and embossed with clear EP. I can't wait to try out some of the other layouts I have tucked away in my head. One of them was inspired by a Starbucks bag. May have to work on that tomorrow, so look for that one sometime later this week. My next card to post I am really excited about. It was made with another Gina K stamp set, so look for that on Wednesday!!
Hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend.
Hugs,
Pam
*All inks and card stock are by Stampin' UP!

She went and did it herself...

So never tell your three year old to get ready for a hair cut. I am a cosmetologist and so I give my family their haircuts. I made the mistake of telling Aly to get ready for her haircut. She said OK and ran off. Two minutes later she comes downstairs and says I got my hair cut Mommy. Oh my heart sank! I ran over to her and the pile of hair trailing her down the steps. Yup a pile in my bathroom and down the hall way. Aly had found my scissors in my bathroom and chopped at her bangs, right on the top of her head and somehow managed to get the back of her head as well. Thank goodness she didn't hurt herself with those sharp scissors. SO... this first picture is a before the hair cut and this next one is the after. I did my best to camouflage the damage. It is hard to tell, but the length of her hair is now is just at her chin. A cute little bob with some nice 1950's bangs. We had a little chat and she now knows that only Mommy cuts hair and not Aly. This picture makes me laugh, because she so did not want her picture taken and of course she didn't have a very good nap which didn't help. What a grouchy face. LOL the drama!!
Have a great Easter weekend and thanks so for stopping bye.

My Spring Chic

Here is the second card I made for my stamp camp last Friday. (I am not sure what happened with these last two pictures, they both turned out so dark and grainy, sorry) I just love this little chic, he is the cutest!! All of the stamped images were from the set "A Good Egg". The colors I used are Sage Shadow, Barely Banana, Soft Sky, Apricot Appeal, (the flowers) Whisper White and Soft Sky DP series. The little spot of grass I did by punching out a small oval out of a scrap of paper then using the negative to sponge in Certainly Celery. I had it when an image is just floating in mid air. The Chick's eggshell is paper pieced with DP, which allowed me to sponge the whole oval over his feet and not worry about getting the shell since it was covered by paper piecing.
Since today is my day off I am out of here to clean up and hopefully get ready for Easter. Hello... St. Patty's Day and Easter all in the same week. I am not ready yet!!! I am ready for some spring cleaning though, starting to get that itch. I also need to get some samples ready for a Mother's Day class that I am going to host with my upline Lisa. More details on that later, plus pictures.
Hope you all have a great day!! Thanks again for the sweet comments, I love em!!
Hugs,
Pam

I am a winner!

Oh I am just so excited and honored to be the winner of Karie's blog challenge for February. Thanks so much Karie, you made my day!
This is one of two cards I had made for my stamp camp last Friday night. This one is a belly band card made with Groovy Guava and Ruby Red. The little cupcake is from the set ABC Images by Stampin' UP! This is my favorite little cupcake image and fits just perfect inside this chip board flower. The polka dots are from "Spunky Spots" Jumbo wheel rolled in Versa Mark. This is my first belly band card and I am sure it won't be the last, because it was really easy!
Anyone out there have any suggestions for Easter basket goodies for boys? Wow, it is getting harder as the boys get older, 11 & 8yrs. I had to do a ton of candy since they usually get some from all the relatives. If you have any ideas to share please leave me a comment!
See ya tomorrow with my second stamp camp card.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Gee I should have had a green card for today, but I don't. I am finally posting that anniversary card that I made for my grandparents which I have been talking about. Its nothing fancy, chocolate chip card stock with some "Je'Taime" and my favorite "Little People" DP. The ribbon was left over from Stampin' UP!'s first "In Color" year, Cranberry Crisp. The sentiment is from SU as well the "Hugs and Wishes" set.
I miss the show "Mad About You", one of my favorite episodes they discussed marriage and Paul said to Jamie, "So this is what marriage is about? I put up with your crap and you put up with mine?" Jamie replied with a simple "yep" or so that is how I remember it in my head. That conversation makes me laugh because hello, it is so true! SO a very happy 66th anniversary to my grandparents who have put up with each others crap for a very long time! Love you both!
Thank you all for your sweet comments. I look forward to them with each post.
Hugs,
Pam

Inspiration Challenge

WOW, I finally got this done and luckily before midnight ha ha. I have been running all day and had an hour to stop and throw this together. I had so many ideas in my head with this color scheme, but this is the one that made it onto paper. I am not sure about the little bow...what do you think? Bow or no bow? Don't forget to check out Carrie's creation. I am on my way to her blog when I finish up here to see how she was inspired. I am sure she came up with something amazing! Thanks so much for stopping by, have a great weekend...whats left of it.
Hugs,
Pam
*All supplies are by Stampin' UP!

A new challenge...

Carrie and I had so much fun with our sketch challenge that we have decided to do a monthly challenge. Every 12th of the month ( a day late this month) we will post a picture of something to inspire us to make anything stamped. We invite you all to participate as well. This is just for fun and there are no prizes, just a way to see what we can all come up with from one photo. On the 15th we will post what we have made, so check it out. Come on everyone, lets have some fun!
Here is the first photo, I got this from Crate and Barrel. I thought this would be be a good challenge, these are colors I would have never thought to put together. I am thinking either only orange, glorious green, white & basic black OR pumpkin pie, certainly celery, white & basic black. Depends on the colors on your monitor I suppose. I think I might go with the first round of colors since they are a little brighter.
I will be back tomorrow with a picture of a card that I am doing for my stamp camp. Saturday, the 15th I will post my challenge card!! Come back and check it out.
Hugs,
Pam

The Greatest Challenge EVER...bring it on!

The title cracks me up! Greg has a sketch challenge and it is called " The Greatest Challenge Ever". I had asked Carrie to a challenge and she said "bring it on". So here is the scoop we are both to make a card using Greg's sketch, the colors pretty in pink, sage shadow and barely banana. Stamps: anything Easter/spring floral. This is what I did... I used the egg shell part of my chick from the set A Good Egg to make a tulip bloom. I stamped it on whisper white with pretty in pink ink and then traced over it with my p.i.p marker and filled it in with a blender pen. I added some dazzling diamonds to make it shimmery. I just cut pieces of sage shadow for the stems and leaves and outlined those with a sage shadow marker to give it some depth. The polka dots on the barely banana piece where done with my Spunky Spots jumbo wheel inked up with barely banana classic ink. All the stamps and products I used are by Stampin' UP! So what do you think?? Make sure you check out Carrie's version over at the Artistic Avenger.
Thanks again Carrie for another great challenge!!! Anyone else up for one?? Off to make samples for my stamp camp which is this Friday night.
Hugs,
Pam

Simple Wedding Card

Well this isn't the card I was going to post, but when I got home from work to take a picture of the card I made this weekend the battery was dead. Thank goodness I had this one as a back up. This on is so super simple. I got the idea from a stamp set that Paper Trey carries. The wedding cake is just three rectangles of shimmery white cards stock. I used a small scalloped pair of scissors along the bottoms and punched 1/16" holes in each scallop. Topped each piece with a bunch of chunky glitter and that was it. I used ruby red and real rust card stock for the colors, because this was for a fall wedding that we went to last year. I could have added a bunch more embellishing to it, but sometimes less is better and I didn't want to clutter it up too much.
I will be back tomorrow with the origional card I was going to post today, my grandparents anniversary card.
See ya tomorrow!!
Hugs,
Pam
P.S. Liz I know you are out there and to anyone else interested in the Denver metro area. My stamp camp is this Friday night starting at 7PM at the high school. Leave me a comment if you are interested with your email so I can get back to you. Thanks!!

back in 12 hours

Just wanted to post and let you all know I will be back later today with a picture. Didn't have time last night to get that done, sorry. This new time is killing me, its so dark in the morning that I just don't want to get out of bed...argh!
See ya later
Pam

A card for my Grams

I used Beate's weekend sketch challenge to make a card for my Grams. Her birthday is on St. Patrick's day so I found this cute paper with little shamrocks on it. This paper is by DCWV and the bright plaid is by Lollia? The stamped images are by Stampin' UP! I inked them up with Basic Gray ink so that the images wouldn't be too harsh. These button brads are the same that I used yesterday and I am so excited to find out that Gina K will be carrying button brads as well in different colors...yippee! I can't wait to see the rest of the new releases she has today and tomorrow.
Well I am off to get some housework done. I am also meeting with Laura for a little bit this afternoon. I will post any treasures I might find..LOL . Well I have lost an hour of the day already and without even trying...darn it day light savings time! Have a great day.
Hugs,
Pam

a tiny little bag

I love the bag that Melanie designed, so I had to make another one. This one is Basic Black and the DP is from Colorbok called "Little People". I love this paper! I am salvaging every little piece I had and of course sounded like an idiot when Aly snatched a 2" square of it...NOOOOOO! with my hands held up in the air. Yes, I need help LOL! This little tote is little, about half the size of the previous one I made. The center hole is about the size of a half dollar if that shows you how tiny this is. I could probably put a small tin of mints or gum in it as a gift. This time I used a 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" piece and scored at 3 3/4" & 4 3/4" then used the inner smaller circles on my Coluzzle. Aren't the buttons the cutest! I found them at Target in their scrapbooking section. They are by Making Memories and come in a package of 180 in a couple of sizes and three colors. I grabbed the white, black and silver combo, but I did see a pastel set that another lady grabbed the last of. The best thing is these little buttons are actually brads! So easy to put on and gosh darn it they are so stinking cute. The tag is from a page of tags I have from Stampin' UP! and I didn't have any ribbon small enough to tie the tag on so guess what I used.... dental tape. Hey if it works, I say why not.

I am going to take a stab at Beate's weekend sketch challenge again, maybe use some more of this "Little People" paper (If I can stand to spare a square). Hopefully I will get a chance tonight to work on it. I have my sister-in-law & niece's birthday party today, most likely all day since they live on the other side of town and we don't see them too often. Tomorrow I am so excited to get together with Laura (the Paper Poppy). We are going to meet up at Archivers, which will be so fun! I have only been to Archivers once, yes you read that correctly...once! Back when it first opened out here and I will have to admit I was a little snooty about the whole visit. I didn't believe in spending any money on anything other then Stampin' UP. Well times have changed and I am ready to experience Archivers in full! LOL I am such a dork!
Have a super weekend and look for my challenge card tomorrow sometime.
Hugs,
Pam

Chocolately Cupcake Goodness

Oh how I love chocolate and this cupcake looks so sweet with a big mound of frosting...yummy! I used my Cricut to cut out the card base and the cupcake. I will for sure use this image again as cupcakes seem to be so popular right now. The paper I used is from Cricut, Stampin UP! and DCWV. The stamped images are from Stampin UP!. I stamped the swirls with white Stazon ink, but it didn't show up too well so I went over it with my souffle pen.
Thank you so much everyone for your comments on my little tote bag, what I think is funny is that the bag is actually brown. I used Chocolate chip card stock, but I guess it looks black in the photo..LOL! I kinda like the idea of it being black though, I may have to try that out...hmmm good idea thanks ha ha!
On a different note Laura from The Paper Poppy sent me this award, "You make my day". How sweet is that. When I read her comment saying that she was awarding me this little treat I was so honored, actually this did make my day! Thanks Laura.
Here is the scoop with this award I am suppose to pick 5 blogs that I find of interest and that inspire me. Wow this is hard since so many of you inspire me.

Artistic Avenger

K Werner Designs

Hands, Head and Heart

Inkcycles

Serenity In Stamping

Then these recipients do the the following. If you already have this award don't worry about passing it on, just display it proudly:)

1) Write a post with links to 5 blogs you find of interest and that inspire you.

2) Acknowledge the post of the award giver.

3) Display the logo "You Make My Day"

4) Tell the award winners that they have won by commenting on their blogs with the news.

Thank you everyone for taking a peak today, hope to have you back tomorrow.

Wednesday with Melanie's Tote Bag

You have to check out Melanie's blog Hands, Head and Heart. She has a tutorial today for this fabulous tote that she has come up. I made my handle a little bit wider then Melanie's and I may go back and change it. I absolutely love the designer paper she used and well mine doesn't compare. Don't get me wrong I really like this DCWV paper, but I do prefer the paper Melanie used, crisp and clean looking. I went over to JoAnn's craft store and picked up some more
12 x 12 DP to make some more of these. Love it when paper is 40% off...whoot! I need to save up my pennies though because I am excited to see what new releases Gina K is coming out with...can't wait!!! I don't have any Gina K stamps yet and that is just it... YET. Thanks for stopping by, I am off to play a little more. My day off seems to fly so fast, oh I wish I could be a SAHM again...well some day. Thanks again Melanie for such and inspiring creation!
Hugs,
Pam

No card tonight...sorry

HI All! Just wanted to give you an update...I am still battling this darn ear thing and didn't feel much like card making last night. Plus I had a really cruddy day at work...yuck! Tonight I am going to my first Avalanche game in 3 years and I am SO excited I can hardly stand it. So, no card tonight sorry. I will be back tomorrow though so please check back. See ya tomorrow!
TTFN

Weekend Challenge

Wanted to get this in quick before the weekend is over. Beate has a weekend challenge on her blog, so I thought I would try it out. All the products I used are from Stampin' UP! except the brads which are Memorie Makers. Have a great night!

A bright and cheery 40

I made this card for a friend who just turned 4o, so instead of making her a typical "over the hill" card I thought I would make a bright and cheery card. My DH says it makes him dizzy, I dunno what do you think? Is there too much going on? Oh well too late if there is cause I already gave it to her. LOL!

OK the random number generator picked these two winners. The first will receive this 1st prize (the picture to the right...and the winner is... Cindy Coffman! Congrats Cindy!


Now the winner of this second prize goes to.................Misse36 (please leave me a comment with your email so I can get your info) Now if I don't hear from Misse36 by Sunday, March 9, 2008 I will pick another winner. Congrats to you both and thank you all who participated! KEEP checking back for future random blog candy. This was fun!!
TTFN
Hugs,
Pam