Valentine Treats

Happy Wednesday!  Time for a New Challenge over at All That Scraps Challenge Blog.  This time we are Challenging you to show us your Valentine Treats!   My little treat is Teddy Beauregard.   Who is part of the January release over at All That Scraps.  She was super easy to color and a lot of fun.  Plus she could be a he, lol.  Depending on how you color the image up. 

My children have been my best Valentine Treats.  Each one has brought me much joy in my life that could never be replaced by Chocolate.  Though Chocolate is right up there in the top 10! lol. What are you Valentine Treats?  I cannot wait to see your uploads for this Challenge.  I can't help but think there are going to be so many different interpretations of this one.  lol.   Make sure you use an image sold in the store for your Challenge entry.  You  have to use one in order to qualify for the prize and what's better than winning a prize in Challenge? 

I love Karen's fabulous sketches and I am so thankful they run every other week!  That is definitely one of my go to sites for a great sketch and she just happens to be a fabulous designer too, so the mojo there is fantastic as well. 

I used Echo Park paper from last season - yeah me, still using paper from my stash.  I colored with Copic Markers:

E21, E00, E000, E000, E93 - skin
E37, E35, E33 - Hair
R85, R83, R81 - bear costume
R39, R37, R35 - inside costume parts, lol.
T2, T0 - shadow

Not a lot of chit chat from me tonight as I am posting late.  Have a fabulous day and I look forward to seeing what you create.

Thanks for Looking and for your kind Comments!

Holly

I {heart} Joe!

Happy Tuesday Stampers and Crafters!

It's time for a new  Loves Rubberstamps Challenge!  This weeks challenge is "Have a Heart."  So just make sure there is a heart somewhere on your project.  You don't need to go all hog wild with hearts like I did, lol.  Remember - I have some heart brads, so I really could have gone over board, lol. 

This week we are sponsored by Kenny K and I would like to thank them for providing the design team with such fabulous images!  The one I am using is called Milkshake.  This totally reminds me of me and Joe.  Well, me if I was thinner, lol.   I used some fabulous Crate Paper I had in my stash.   And I used the newly released Die-namic called Layered Heart Border - that is to come to the store soon.  I used a heart punch for the stacked hearts and added some Glossy Accents. Speaking of coming to the store, have you had a chance to look at all the NEW ITEMS Laura has added?  Wowzers!  I'm trying to pace myself but it is so hard, lol.

She is also going to be adding Copic Markers soon, so stay tuned!  Keep checking back at the New Items!!!  I colored this adorable image up with my Copic Markers: E21, E00, E000, E0000, E93, C7, C5, C3, E27, R29, R27, R24, YR31, BG13, BG11, BG10, R85, R83, R81, B97, B95, B93.   I paper pieced the table and layered it all down with the best glue ever and used this fabulous sketch from this weeks MFT Sketch Challenge. 

So by now you have those Valentines Day Cards made right?  lol.   Should I give Joe 5 of them?  lol.  He is such a good sport about my obsession. 

Can't wait to see your fabulous heart creations! 

Thanks for Looking and for your kind Comments!!!

Holly

Game On

Welcome to a New Challenge over at Sparkle Creations.  This time we have a fabulous sketch for you to try.  So grab your favorite Sparkle Creation Rubber Stamp and join us in this Challenge.  See The Sparkle Creations Rubberstamp Blog for all the prize information.  And go pop on over to see my fellow Design Team Mates Blogs and see how they used this sketch. 

Kim
Sandy Allnock - Jan Guest Designer
Shaela Odd
Holly Flores - That's Me
Sparkle Creations Rubberstamp Blog

I have been waiting for just the right opportunity to use my Video Game Oliver stamp and he fit this sketch like a glove.  I used more paper from my stash!!!  Whoo Hoo.  This is Cosmo Cricket Mini Deck - The boyfriend.  Man I have a lot of this paper left, lol.  So yes, you will see it again, and hopefully you will see it again this year. lol. This stamp comes with the Game On sentiment and I just love the font on this, its so cool and perfect for the theme.  As well as a lightning bolt stamp, that is not shown.  If there was some great place  to use it I would have, but I ran out of room, lol.  I love how realistic the game controller looks too.  I am thinking about all the pic's I take while my youngest son is gaming and I think this will be perfect to add to some Scrap Pages some day soon. 

I can't believe it's already the end of the month!!!  Yikes!!!  Time sure flys by fast.  Make sure you take some time to enjoy a little life and join us in this Challenge, it's fun! 

Thanks for Looking and for your kind Comments!

Holly

Have you Heard of E-Clothes?

Hi Friends, Family, and Fellow Scrappers,

Have you heard of e-clothes?  I haven't.  But my friend Jamie is swearing by them.  She is the Milk Allergy Mom and is constantly looking for sources to improve her children's nutrition and overall life.  So she tried these and loved them so much, she is selling them.  Go check out her Website and tell her Holly sent you.  They have a two for one special going on right now.  So I put that in my cart.  I also wanted to test drive the window cleaner, lol. And the ultimate test will be the polishing cloth.  My Dad makes silver jewelry that is constantly needing cleaning and he always tells me not to use any chemicals.  So here is the perfect opportunity.  I will be giving you an update on how well I like these after I get them and use them.   Oh and all of these items were less than $20.00 and I get free shipping! whoot!

Holly

Dressing up in the Hollyhocks

Yee Haw it's Friday!  Happy Holly Day!!! 

What are your weekend plans?  I'm going to have to break down and clean this house, lol.  I spent all day Monday working on this card and I have let the place go as much as I possibly can, lol.  Time for dishes, cleaning the kitchen, cleaning the bathroom, doing some laundry, vacuuming and sweeping.  And then I'll make more cards!  Yeah. lol. 

This is Dress Up Marci and Hollyhocks by LaLaLand Crafts, if you would like to buy these stamps, make sure you send Laura a quick email and let her know, so she can order these right up for you.  There are still plenty of other adorable La La Land images in the store and do you see the Flourishes leaves peaking out?  How about that Filagree Corner?  Or the roses?  Yep, all available in the store now!!!  I love that!!!

I stamped the Dress up Marci in Memento Black Ink and then stamped her again on scratch paper, fussy cut her out of the scratch paper and used temporary adhesive to cover the original image.  The I stamped the Hollyhocks on either side of her.  Then using my airbrush, I airbrushed G24 on the bottom, YG03 in the middle and B21 on the top.  I airbrushed right over the hollyhocks - I could not image fussy cutting those, lol.  I knew I was going to use BV's to color them anyway, so it was fine to airbrush over them.  Then I removed the temporary scratch paper Marci and colored her up. 
Skin: E21, E00, E000, E0000, E93
Hair: E23, YR24, YR 21
Dress: RV95, RV93, RV91
Hat/Shoes: R85, R83, R81
Flower on the hat and neclace: Y17, Y15, Y13
Hollyhocks: BV08, BV04, BV02, Y17
Leaves: G24 and YG03

I don't mind confessing that it took me a couple hours to color this up.  But it was really rewarding.  I had my Itunes playing on my computer and I was in the zen just coloring and singing, lol.  Very relaxing day. 

I used two colors of pink from SU and PTI, some pattern paper from a KC and Co from my stash (yippee) and a wilson doily I kept cramming back in my drawer, lol.  I cut the doily in half and placed two die cut flourishes leaves over that.  I cut those from the same pattern paper.  I die-cut the roses out of the same pattern paper - opposite side and rolled those and placed a pearl I colored with my R85 in the centers.  I snipped off some of the flourish leaves that were going to be covered anyway and glued them down with the best glue ever!  I cut the filagree corner die from the same pink paper I framed the images with and added a peice of pink and white twine to stay with the sketch.  I colored some more pearls with R85 and placed them in the corners and one on the hat flower.  And that's all, on a 5 1/2 by 5 1/2 card. 

Now remember, if you have have not had a chance to play in our Challenge this week, we have a whole website that can be your inspiration....so basically it's an anything goes with a twist!

I will be catching up on some commenting this weekend as well, I am so far behind!  So Sorry, it's not that I don't love you.... it's that it's been a hectic week at work and a cub scout meeting here at the house, and getting ready for the cubscout camping trip...that I am sending my guys out on....which is why I will have an extra few minutes to comment, lol.

Thanks for Looking and for your kind Comments.

Holly

Baby Boy

Happy Wednesday!!!

No it's not Friday yet, lol.  Have you had a chance to play in our All That Scraps Challenge yet?  Super easy this time, it's Anything Goes!!!  So just grab a stamp or digi image available in the store and play along for a chance to win a prize!!!

I am using the super cute Swiss Pixie Baby Boy image as well as the diaper pin die that where both  released this month.  I love the Swiss Pixie images, and these babies are so adorable.  I am happy to have a couple baby cards in my stash now, they seem to be the ones I need a lot lately.  lol.  Every time I turn around one of my co-workers is either preggers or thinking about getting preggers or just had a baby.  I love babies, they make me happy!

I'm using Little Boy Blue 6x6 from Crate Paper from my stash.  I colored up my image with my Copic Markers: E21, E00, E000, E0000, E93, B000, B41, B52, E43, E42, E41, G20, G21, G24, Y36, Y32, Y11, BG10.

I love the new Sketch Friday sketch this week, I flipped it and instead of using a sentiment, I used the diaper pin.

Okay I am off to make another card, thanks for Looking and for your kind Comments!!!

Holly

Hello Marilyn!

Hello and Happy Tuesday,

Is it Friday yet? lol.  I do love my days off.  Being able to pay for stuff is good too, lol, but I do love my days off.

Today is a new Loves Rubberstamps Challenge.  Go to the Kirkland Website  and click into the store.  Anything you see on the first page or in the store can be your inspiration for this challenge!  The colors, the designs, the shapes, a picture, anything.  So it's almost like an anything goes with a twist, lol.   I would love to see what inspired you from this website though, so if you can and you have time, please let us know what inspired you.  As soon as I clicked over, these things inspired me:

I was not sure which one I would pick until I got ready to do this card, lol.   I love when I get more than one inspiration because it sets my mojo into action, lol.

So obviously I picked Marilyn and I did have a cute Kraftin' Kimmie Marilyn stamp that I wanted to use.  I had seen this stamp used recently by Kim O'Connell and in fact I recently referred to this card on my blog because of the new shadow technique she show cased.  So I wanted to do the red dress Marilyn too.  When I saw the sketch for this week over at the SCS forum for MFT's, I knew the film strip die-namics would be perfect to use with her.  I also used the photo corner die-namics and some Echo Park paper I had in my stash.

.... Speaking of Echo Park paper, have you seen the new paper Laura added to the store???  I am so excited!  And yes, I caved and bought some new paper and I'm just waiting for my order to come in!!!  In fact, she also added some La La Land Dies and I know you will want to go see those, they are so fabulous, can't wait to get my order!!! lol.  And she added a ton of new Magnolia stamps.  So go check out the NEW ITEMS list added to the store, I know you are going to find quite a few things!!!   Isn't it amazing that you can order Kraftin Kimmie, Echo Park, La La Land, MFT's, Magnolia, Glue, Ink and a whole lot more in one order?  If you bought these individually from different sources, you would be spending quite a bit in shipping charges.  If you go to one store and buy them all together and spend over $75.00, you get free shipping.  I know, I know, $75.00 sounds like a lot, but if you spend $25.00 in three different places and then have to pay shipping charges, you are actually saving over $15.00!!!  You have to think about it in those terms, lol.   How's that for justification? lol.

I also inked her up in Memento black ink, colored her with copics, (coming to the store soon), and used the best glue ever.

 I am submitting this to the Kraftin Kimmie Challenge to use three embellishments.  I used three rhinestones on the top and three rhinestones on the bottom.

Copic List:
Skin: E21, E00, E000, E0000, E93
Dress: R29, R27, R24
Hair: E23, YR24, YR21
Eyes: copic multiliner pen for the pupil, BG45, BG23
Shadow BG10.

Lastly, I would like to thank our sponsor this month, Sweet N' Sassy.  It's to great when we can add to the prize for the winner!!!

Thanks for Looking and for your kind Comments!!!

Holly

Temporary Word Verification

I am so sorry to have to turn on my word verification again. I know I hate it when I leave a comment and then I have to put in my word verification.  And yes, sometimes I just move on and don't add it.  They are at times, hard to make out and seem like such a pain. 

In the past 24 hours, I have had to delete more than 50 spam messages left on my blog.  At first it was occasional and no big deal, but over the past couple of months, they have increased to over 50 in 24 hours.  So I have to delete them from my email in box and then come over to my blog and delete them from here. 

I will leave the word verification on for a week and then turn it off again to see if it somehow resets the drug company spam mail programs.  I think they see this as free advertising and don't care if it causes anyone any inconvenience.  I am sorry for the inconvenience this causes you and hope that you will not stop leaving comments on my blog until I can turn it off again. 

Thanks so much for your understanding.

Holly

Winner Winner

If you have not had a chance to check out the new Sketch Friday Challenges, I would highly recommend them.  So far they only have three sketches up, but I love them all.  I played in their second challenge and I won free digi's!!!! I love that!  I am forever looking for new and exciting sketches.  I really love it when they are biweekly because I am often working on DT cards, but hey, I will take what I can get, lol.

Tell them Holly sent you!

Holly

Puppy Love

Happy Holly-Day Friday!!! 

Whoo Hoo, I am off this weekend!!!  I get extra happy and cheery when I work a weekend and then get the next one off, lol. 

Today is my day to show case a card on the Loves Rubberstamps Inspirational Blog.  I am using Best Friends Luka by La La Land.  We were talking about this at work today.  Why we love these Marci and Luka images.  For me, they are cute and so rewarding to color.  First off, there is a colored image on the front color of the package.  They kind of give you some ideas, like where to put the creases or how you could shade.  I don't always follow these but they are useful when I'm trying to decide.  And then there are the spaces.  Not too big but not so small I can't tell where the end of my Copic Marker is, lol.  I just love them.  The Luka reminds me of my sons.

I also used the new La La Land Heart Border Die and the Heart Banner die.  These will be in the store soon, along with some other fabulous La La Land Dies.  So keep on the look out in the New Items section.   The paper is Simple Stories, Take a Hike 6X6 pad.  I used Memento black ink to stamp up my image.  The tops of the banner I used Card Candi Coffee Bean with the Candi Fix adhesive.  I also glued it all down with the best glue ever! 

Although I did not use a button on this, our current Challenge is to use a button, you can read all about it here.

I missed last weeks sketch challenge over at the MFT's Forum and so I thought I would play along and be better late than never, lol.   I also am playing along with the La La Land Blog Challenge - No flowers. 

I hope everyone has an exciting weekend!!!

Thanks for Looking and for your kind Comments!!!

Holly

Copic List:

Skin: E21, E00, E000, E0000, E93
Hair: E27, E25, E23
Hoodie: BG99, BG96, BG93
Jeans: B97, B95, B93
Shirt and Shoes: E43, E42, E41 - for the white part C00, C1
Dog: E35, E33, E31 and C1, C00
Shadows: W1, W00 and B01

Baby Girl

Happy Wednesday!

It's time for the Wednesday Challenge over at All That Scraps Challenge Blog.  This time it's Anything Goes!!!  I love that one and am so happy it comes around often.  Make sure you read the rules, you have to Use a stamp available in the store and please play only once.  I cannot wait to see your fabulous creations!!!  I get so excited when people play in our challenges.

I found a new place to find fabulous sketches, Sketchy Friday Challenge, brand new!  Love this weeks sketch and it worked perfectly for my Swiss Pixie baby Girl.  I am super excited for them as well, and you can use any image you want....which is awesome.  Have you seen this months release from All That Scraps?  CUTE!!!  I just love these babies and the matching dies that also came out this month.

So for this card I used CC Design Swiss Pixie Baby Girl and colored her with my Copic Markers.
Skin: E50, E51, E53, E55, R20
Pinks: R22, R21, R20
Blue B23, B21
Yellow: Y21, Y18
Green: YG17, YG13
Brown: E37, E35, E33
Hair: YR24, YR21, E23
Shadow: W1, W00, R00

I used Simple Stories Baby Steps 6X6 paper pad (from my stash...yipppeee!!!) and S.U. pink and brown cardstock.  I used a Memory Box border die called Tessantina Border, (which I love!) and threaded some yellow ribbon I had in my stash, (probably bought it at Michael's.)  I used my Bow Easy for the triple bow.  I am bow making challenged so I love reaching for my bow easy every time I use ribbon.  I highly recommend this to all my friends and fellow crafters.  I also used my Spellbinders Circle dies, I have both sizes so stacking them up is easy.  And I used the out-of-the-box technique I found on Splitcoaststampers.

Hang in there, it's almost Friday!

Thanks for Looking and for your kind Comments.

Holly

Life is Sweet....with Kisses

Hello Stampers,

Welcome to another Fun Challenge over at Loves Rubberstamps Challenge Blog.  This week we are to use a button - either real or hand made.  How easy is that?!  I rarely use buttons, so it fun to challenge myself to come up with something.  Which became easier when I found this fabulous sketch from Seems A Little Sketchy:

Now I did move the bottom row over and used two instead of three, Card Candi - Icing Sugar.  I colored them with my Copic pen and then dotted them with my white pen to match the button and the little dress she is wearing.  I found this cute sentiment from MFT's Sweet Greetings P.I, which I inked up with my trusty Memento Black.  Even if I'm not going to color, Memento is my go-to ink.  I used some circle dies for the half circle base from the button.

 I love this adorable image from The Paper Shelter, It's called Kisses.   I would like to thank them for sponsoring our Challenge this week and providing the Design Team with images.  That totally Rocks!!!  I colored them with my Copic Markers, which is due to be in the Loves Rubberstamps Store soon!!! Yipee. And again, drum roll please, I did use some paper from my stash....Love Me by MME. 

This image totally reminds me of me and Joe and so I kinda took the liberty to go ahead and color us up, lol.  Hope you are having a great day and can join us this week.  I look forward to seeing your fabulous creations each week!!!

Thanks for Looking and for your kind Comments.

Holly

Can't Find the Words...

Time for a new Challenge over at Sparkle Creations Challenge Blog!  This time a love song is the theme.  My little Chit Chat Lucy, is singing to her best guy, "I just can't find the words..." by Karina.  You will have to google the song because I have no idea how to add a song to my blogger and even if I did, I would be one of the unlucky ones to get a Copyright citation, lol.  

What is your favorite Love song?  I used to have a long list of them and when I read this Challenge, I couldn't think of one, lol.  So I went through my I-Tunes library today and just listened to music.  Something I have not done in ages.  Strange because music has always had such an impact on my life.  Note to self - add more music to your life, lol.  When I came across this song, I knew it was perfect for Chit Chat Lucy  because she does not look like she is at a loss for words, but would love to sing on the phone about it, lol.

This is a perfect Challenge to get you motivated to work on your Valentines Day cards as well.  No time like the present to  have them ready.  I find most of the time that I have the best intentions and then it's like a day or two before and I have too many things to do to sit down and make a card, so I am covered, lol.

I hope you will join us, head on over to the Sparkle Creations Challenge Blog and read all about it.  Grab your favorite Sparkle Creations Rubberstamp and play along!

Thanks for Looking and for your kind Comments

Holly

Don't forget there's a sale going on right now....

Getting Old?

My ol' friend just sent this to me, so I thought I would share it with you.

 

 

 

TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU'VE EVER BEEN,

YET THE YOUNGEST YOU'LL EVER BE,

SO ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS

~Your Kids are becoming you...but your grandchildren are Perfect!

~Going Out is good...Coming Home is better!

~You Forget names...But it's OK because other people forgot they Even knew you.

~You realize you're never going to be really good at some things...for example, Golf.

~The things you used to care to do, you no longer care to do, but you really do care that you don't care to do them anymore!

~You sleep better on a lounge chair with a TV blaring than in bed. Called "pre-sleep."

~You miss the days when everything worked with just an "ON" and "OFF" Switch?

~You tend to use more 4 letter words ..."what?"..."when?"... whoa?

~Now that you can afford expensive jewelry, it's not safe to wear it anywhere.

~You notice everything they sell in stores is short, sheer, snug and sleeveless?

~What used to be freckles are now liver spots.

~Everybody Whispers!

~You have clothes hanging in your closet...which you will never wear AGAIN.

~~~But Old is good in some things: Old songs, Old movies, and best of all, OLD FRIENDS!

Stay well in 2013, OLD FRIEND!

Send this to other Old Friends!

It's not what you gather,

but what you scatter

that tells what kind of life you have lived!

Have a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!

~~~

Let's Have A .... Shhhhhh

Hi Everyone,

I made this one just for fun.  Well, I made it for my Dad's surprise Birthday Party in March.  My Step-Mother is having a surprise party for him, which means a Pow-Wow for the chief, lol.  And yes, he is American Indian and loves to wear his regalia and she is just as white as the driven snow, so I thought this image would be perfect for this.

I want to send a special shout out and Thank You to Laura from Little Inkers Designs, who searched through her inventory until she found a hidden set.  I had messaged her earlier inquiring about when she would be getting these in again, she thought it would not be until next fall.  But then she found one and emailed me right away.  I think that is so awesome that she remembered I wanted one.  So Thank you!!! I hope you have a minute to go check out the Little Inkers Store, there are some really cute stamps over there!!!  The Cute Cottage images are just too hard to resist.

For this invite, I used Crate Paper - Farmhouse from my stash!!!  lol.  I  have to keep saying when I use my stash so I can convince myself I can go buy more paper, lol.   I also used the sentiment from MFT's P.I. Indian Girl that Laura from Loves Rubberstamps has in her store.  As well as the rickrack border die from MFT's and the Circle dies.  I inked up these images with Memento Black Tuxedo and colored with my copics.  I had them on my desk ready to list and then I had a cave in from my stacks, so I thought I would put them up in my pencil keeper to make some room.  I so need to clear off this desk, lol.  But I have this theory that all this clutter gives me mojo and if I clear it off too much, I will lose that, lol.  So as to not jinx myself, I won't straighten it out too much, lol.

I am using Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch, I just love her sketches and the fact that they run two weeks long!

Okay, Thanks for Looking and for your kind Comments!!!

Holly

Introducing Sushi Rin

Hello Friends and Family,

It's the 2nd Day of the new January release stamps at Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps.  This is Sushi Rin.  Isn't she adorable!  I love her little outfit and the cute expression on her face.  She comes with three different sentiments.  "Roll with it", which is what I used, (LOVE that!), "Sushi {heart}" and "Origato/thank you."

Do you eat Sushi?  There used to be a Sushi Bar in Morro Bay, California called Huradda's.  Probably spelled a little differently, lol.  My Sister took me there for my very first Sushi experience when I was in my early 20's.  Let me tell you, with enough Sapporo's, (Japanese Beer), those California rolls were just sliding right down, lol.  I tried it all to let me tell you.  The Octopus springs back when you chew it, I loved the Tempura Fried shrimp and the Green Tea ice cream.  Yum.  Oh and  I do love the sticky white rice.  And I have lots of friends who would love this card because they love Sushi.

For this card I dug into my paper stash again, (yep I did) and I used Authentique - Blissful.  Which I paired with my Cherry Red from S.U. and Golden something or another from PTI card stock.  I colored her with my Copic Markers after inking her with Memento Black Ink. I used two circle punches for the sentiment and a Friskar's punch for the border.  And a lot of gold brads from my stash. 

Be sure to visit all rest of the SCRS designers for more peeks of Sushi Rin. Sparkle will be giving away Sushi Rin to one lucky person! For a chance to win, you need to comment on all of the designer's blogs (list below). Then head on over to the SCRS blog and comment on the Sushi Rin post. You have until midnight EST each day to comment. The lucky winner will be announced on Monday!

Danielle Lounds
Joni Wilson
Sandy Allnock - Jan Guest Designer
Shaela Odd
Simonne Clay
Sparkle Smith
Stephanie Kraft
Holly Flores - That's Me
Sparkle Creations Rubberstamp Blog


And don't forget about the fabulous Sale going on right now!  Head on over the Store and pick up some of these adorable stamps!!!

Thanks for Looking and for your kind Comments!

Holly

XOXO

Happy Holly-Day Friday!

Today is my day to post at the Loves Rubberstamps Inspiration Blog.  I stayed with the Challenge this week and used a die-namic Mini Tabs Quartet on my card.  The Challenge this week is to use dies or punches somewhere on your project.  Since I mostly use a die on every project, this was a fun one for me :)  Today I am showing the newly released and soon to be in the store Heart Key Marci by La La Land Crafts.  I inked her up in Memento Tuxedo Black and colored her up with my Copic Markers (coming to the Loves Rubberstamps Store soon!)  I found a really great sketch over at The Sweet Shop and got started.

Have you ever seen something on a blog that just totally inspired you?  So much that you just could not wait to get some crafty time in?  That is how I felt about a couple different things I saw.  The first thing that inspired me was this VIDEO by Sandy Allnock.  I love finding new color combinations for skin and hair.  I love these new combinations.  The second thing I saw was on Kim O' Connell's Blog.  And I could not wait to try out this charcoal pencil trick.  I went to the front room where we store many many things, lol, and I was looking for just any charcoal pencil I could find and I actually had a General's drawing kit with a soft charcoal pencil in it!  Wow.  Who knew I had that?  lol.  Now I would love to get the Pastel Chalk pencil at some point, but I am good with this charcoal pencil for the time being.   What do you think?  I totally see the deepened shadows and I love the over all effect.

I used to list all my Copic Marker's I used on every project until one day they were just in my way on the desk and I decided that no one ever really read all those anyway.  But now that I have rediscovered what it is to find good combinations again, I think I will start listing them out again, lol.  At least for this post. 
Skin: E50, E51, E53, E55, R20
Hair: YR24, YR21, E23
Key: T5, T3, T1
Shoes: C7, C5, C3
Shadow: BG0000
Shadow: W1, W00
Dress/Bows: RV19, RV17, RV04
Socks: RV02, RV00

So confession time, I bought paper! lol.  But it was just a couple sheets of 12X12.  It's American Crafts Sweetie Pie collection.  I did however, follow the rules, I did find this super great ribbon in my stash!  I mean, who knew the perfect ribbon was in there? lol.  I am hopeless, but I love rediscovering what I have.  You see, there must be a reason why I love the collect, I knew it would come in handy some day, right?  Well that's my story and I'm sticking to it, lol. 

Okay, well it's a work day for me, and I will be working this weekend.  I hope to see your Fabulous creations on the Challenge blog with your yummy dies and punches. 

Thanks for Looking and for your kind Comments!

Holly

Chocolate Box Ruby - New January Release

Good Morning Happy Stampers!!!  It's release Day for Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps.  We are introduction Chocolate Box Ruby today.  Isn't she adorable?  If this doesn't get your Valentine On, I am not sure what will.  She is a gal after my own heart with her sentiment, "You had me at Chocolate" and she comes with another sentiment, "My Sweet Love".  I love the expression on her face and I had great fun coloring her up.  If you haven't had a chance to go over to the store and see the other fabulous Sparkle Creations Stamps, head on over and take a look, they are all so adorable.  I'm still pinching myself in my disbelief I'm on her design team.

Do you remember the famous line from Forest Gump?  "Life is like a box of Chocolates, you never know what you are going to get."  I think about this every time I see a box of Chocolates now, lol.  And then I remember my Grandmother Margaret.  She would take a very small bite out of each of the bottom corners to see what kind of candy it was.  And then she would offer people candy with the little bites taken out, lol.  OMGosh she was a riot.  She even did this with the Whitman Samplers that had a map on the cover of what chocolate was what kind, lol.  One day I asked her about this and she told me that she was looking for the strawberry cream.  That was her favorite.  So every year afterwards, I would go to See's Candies and buy her a one pound box of Strawberry Creams.  In retrospect, I wonder if I took some of the fun out of it for her, lol.  Every year, my dear Joe buys me a one pound box of my favorite candy, hand picked.  I think this was in our premarital agreement, lol.  

Be sure to visit all rest of the SCRS designers for more peeks of Chocolate Box Ruby. Sparkle will be giving away Chocolate Box Ruby to one lucky person! For a chance to win, you need to comment on all of the designer's blogs (list below). Then head on over to the SCRS blog and comment on the Chocolate Box Ruby post. You have until midnight EST each day to comment. The lucky winner will be announced on Monday.

Danielle Lounds

Joni Wilson
Sandy Allnock - Jan Guest Designer
Shaela Odd
Simonne Clay
Sparkle Smith
Stephanie Kraft
Holly Flores - That's Me
Sparkle Creations Rubberstamp Blog

Remember, comment on each blog above, (including mine) for a chance to win her! And come back tomorrow for another fabulous release.

Thanks for Looking and for your kind Comments.

Holly

But Wait!  There is more!  A Winter CHA Sale!!!

Pink, Red, Chocolate Reminder Post

Welcome to the Wednesday Challenge Reminder Post for All That Scraps!!!
Have you had a chance to play in our Challenge yet?  If not, you still have a whole week to play!!!
Remember to read the rules, you can only play once and you must use a stamp or digi available in the store. 

I love this Mashi Muffins Sweets image.  I love the design of the Mashi Muffins and their cute little faces.  And the fact that they have some meat on their bones, lol.  I can totally relate to that, lol.  I colored her up with my copics and found this amazing sketch to use.  I did have some clutter on my desk from my last card and I just kind of put the pieces of some of the scraps together and viola, it was the card.  So the clutter determined the design, lol.

So not only did I use the image twice, I used the paper twice too!  And it was last years paper! whoo hoo.  Now I think I should reward myself and go get some new paper, dontcha think so? lol.

How is your New Year going?  Have you started on your New Years Resolution yet?  I know I need to, lol.  It's almost mid January, have you made your Valentine a card?  This is the perfect color challenge to get that done early.  You'll be glad you did! 

Thanks for Looking and for your kind Comments.

Holly