Christmas In July

UPDATE!!!   UPDATE!!!   UPDATE!!!

Hello Again Good People:

Great News!!! My stamps from Waltzing Mouse arrived today. I just assumed they would not be delivered until Satuday. Just a little mental game I was playing with myself to offset any disappointment. I guess you can say, 'I fooled myself.' Today of all days I did not come home immediately after work. Instead my side-kick (my 11 year old) drove out to Eldersberg. As you may already know my sister's birthday was earlier this week. Well, we decided to meet tomorrow morning to give her gift and card. This evening I purchased the gift. By the time I got home it was well after nine and I was tired...that is until I noticed my package. I got some life from somewhere and managed to pull this card together with approximately four minutes to spare. This is my first challenge entry using WMS. Well, what do you think of my lickdy-split card?

Close Up View

After stamping the image, I embossed it using my Cuttlebug. I feathered the sides before applying my dimenssionals. I wanted the image to bow forward as if the words of appreciation were going to leap off of the card. I think the green silk ribbon I selected was perfect. I ruffled the ribbon before adoring it with white pearls. The pearls in the second photo appear to be green, when they are actually white. (I didn't notice the difference in the colors until I posted and although I had four minutes to spare--there wasn't enough time.) I managed to make a bow, found a brad. And, there you have it! I loved what I was able to do with this card with such a short window. I think I suprised myself.

Thanks for taking time to view my update.

Happy Hellos Good People:

I have to admit, I held off on my submission to the Waltzing Mouse Challenge. I was hopeful that my first WMS order would have arrived yesterday. Deep down I knew my order would not arrive in time for this week's challenge. I was just trying to be optimistic--you know keep hope alive. So, when I arrived home from work to and discover, there was nothing from WMS, I wasn't too disappointment. Hopefully, I'll have something to share with you from WMS this time next week.

My gears shifted and I was feeling a little like Christmas, So, I pulled out the beautiful green ribbon  I recently purchased in Montreal and used my favorite Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Valentines, Thanksgiving, etc. color (PURPLE) to center around that beautiful green ribbon. Below is this week's sketch provided by WMS:

...and this is what I came up with.

Remembering the 2010 Blizzard, I applied snowflakes with Versamark; created a wreath using the ruffled ribbon; added a little purple bling; and topped the bow off with a holiday sentiment. I love the purple cardinal perched against the wording. I added a little glitz to him as well. I applied a little shimmer to my card to finish my card off. I hope I didn't over kill by using too much ribbon. I love ribbon. I actually used four different ribbons to create this card. I hope you like. Thanks for stopping by The Peddler's Gallery.

Another Challenge

Good Morning Everyone:

Brevity is not one of my stronger points; however, I do plan to make this post as brief as possible. I am entering this card into the Mojo Monday Challenge. I started off with one idea in mind and came up with my submission. You be the judge.  Below is the challenge sketch....

   ....and this is what I came up with

I cut three squares using my Nestabilities and one open window to achieve

the look of four squares. Well, what do you think?

Thanks for stopping by The Peddler's Gallery.

I'm Celebrating a Birthday Today

Good Morning Good People:

Happy Tuesday!!! I'm celebrating a birthday today. That is I'm celebrating my sister's forty-something birthday. I picked up this stamp in Canada; however, when I first saw it on-line, I immediately thought of my sister and how this would be a great card using the Execubella stamp by Stamping Bella for a birthday card. My sister epitomises the term 'High Powered Executive.' Just to give you an idea, every now and then I feel as though I have to call and remind her to take a smoke break. No, I'm just kidding. She doesn't and never has been a smoker. My telephones calls are just to remind her to take a break or go to lunch--something on those lines. :)

Thanks for taking the time to stop by The Peddler's Gallery.

OMG!!! I Won!!!

Happy Hellos Good People:

I received a wonderful surprise this morning and I want to share it with you. You probably never experienced this before, but I have. I bet you never entered a contest and not expect to win. Right. You probably won too. While visiting Julie's Open Window, I entered her one year anniversary give-a-way and I won the blog candy grand prize. I felt like a Tootsie Roll. I was shocked, surprised, elated, over joyed, and the list continued on a little while long.Thanks so much Julie!!! Although, the contest is over stop by Julie's Open Window to wish Julie well on her first year of blogging and to check out the wonderful things she has and the inspiration one can draw from. Below is a snapshot of all the wonderful goodies I won and my winning entry submission. I can't wait until my package arrives in the mail.

Don't know whether you noticed--I did. We have a new Follower. I just wanted to officially welcome Renee to The Peddler's Gallery.

Lastly, I like to think that I have save the best for the very end. I do have a card I want to share with you. I thought I would have participated in a few other challenges this week; however, time got the best of me. So, I am actually working on this week's challenges.  There's one challenge I am ready to jump right into; however, I am waiting on my package from WMS. It's on its way and I am so excited. I can hardly wait until it arrives. So, I'm giving the WMS challenge a few more days before I participate in the hopes I can use some of my new stamp sets. In the interim, I made this card...

Sneak Peak

And here it is. Hope you like it.

Thanks for stopping by The Peddler's Gallery.

                                                                                                          

Queen-B

Hello Good People:

I hope your week has started off on a high. I have quite a few challenges that I would like to post before it gets too late. This card is an entry for the PDCC. Below are the colors that were provided for the challenge...

...nice, aren't they...and this is what I managed to come up with.....

I used one of the many ribbons I purchased at Scrapbook Centrale in Montreal as well as the papers.

Every lady should have an opportunity to be Queen at least one day out of the year--especially on her birthday or whatever day she decided to rein. I hope you like my card and I hope it has caused you to smile or perhaps inspired you in some way. Thanks for stopping by The Peddler's Gallery!!!

For Her 50th Birthday

Hello Good People:

Its been a while since my last post. Actually, it feels like its been forever. I returned from Montreal a couple of days ago. I was ready--pumped up--and inspired to begin making cards using my new goodies I purchased at Scrapbook Centrale. That's understandable. Right??? So, I thought too. Then the Baltimore heatwave knocked me off my feet and just like ice, I was frozen. I couldn't do anything. I couldn't make a card because I couldn't think of anything, but the heat. I was able to visit several blogs. Boy, did I learn alot and when I wasn't learning, I was inspired. So thank you, thank you, thank you to my fellow bloggers. I'll have to share my challenge cards with you later on this evening; however,  I wanted to share a card I made for a lady that will celebrate her 50th birthday this weekend. Hope you like it.

I like the idea of the number 50 being translucent-there, but not there. Originally Prima flowers were an off-white. I colored them with two shades of blue using my COPICS and two different shade of blue glitter from MS. I also embossed the background cardstock with a floral scene. 

I only wish you could see it in person

The insert reads: But there's something about the one we call 50 that feels extra-special...

Thanks for stopping by the Peddler's Gallery.

I Found Another Place to Shop

Hello Everyone:


Perhaps I should say, "Bonjour." I haven't had much time to blog. I have been enjoying my vacation too much to do so. I'm having a wonderful time at the Jazz Festival in Montreal, Canada with my family--great music, terriffic food, lots of shopping, beautiful culture. What more could anyone ask for? Well, if you must know, I did ask. I asked, 'Where's the nearest cardmaking/scrapping store?'  I couldn't come this far and not ask. That's like taking a road trip from the north to the south and not stopping at  one or more Cracker Barrels, or  Wal Marts or a dollar stores along the way. I actually asked Emily from Stamping Bella. She recommend Scrapbook Centrale--a wonderful store on the west isle of Montreal.  I found some wonderful goodies. since Stamping Bella is Canadian, I went in search of, what else...Bella stamps and I found a few. Hopefully, you'll get to see what stamps I purchased in a couple of days. I feel like a kid at Christmas. I can't wait to play with my new toys. :) I also found a little bling (at 40% off), some nice papers too, but I think my favorite discovery was my beautiful ribbons.

To begin, I met the owner of Scrapbook Centrale and a new friend.

I found a few papers I haven't seen (or at least all the coordinating papers)

in stores I frequent. Some are for cardmaking and some for scrapbooking.

I'm not sure whether the picture captures the true colors

of the ribbons, but they are simply beautiful in person.

Thanks for stopping by The Peddler's Gallery.

 

Anyone Have a BandAid

Good Morning All:

This is probably my last post for today. If you remember, I mentioned I  had a few things that I wanted to post today because this week promises to be pretty busy. This post is for a CAS card  (in all since of the meaning). I found this card on Lynn Pratt's site. It's just the cutest little card. I left her a message of thanks for the card and the tutorial. I'm sure this get well card will put a smile on the receiver's face. I know it put a smile on my face. Take a looke at this cute little card and let me know what you think.

Thanks for stopping by The Peddler's Gallery.

Moxie FAB World Challenge

Challenge No. #3

I came across this challenge the other day. It's my first time participating in the Moxie FAB World Challenge. I just wanted to throw my card in.

This is what my inspiration was draw from

This is what I came up with....

Thanks for stopping by The Peddler's Gallery!

Second Post - Play Date Cafe Challenge

Hello Again Everyone:

Normally, I only post every couple of days; however, have a few things going on this week and I didn't want to take the chance that I may not be able to participate in a few challenges. :o) It's funny I am thinking this way, since I just participated in my very first challenge a two weeks ago and now, I afraid I may miss one. :o) Below are the cards I submitted to PDCC. I love the colors we were given to work with. When I began putting the cards together, I'm sure I hade this card in mind for a female, but as the card began to take form it appeared as though this card could be definitely given to a male--friend. I got excited about that because male cards are difficult for me to do. I must be still working off some of my Father's Day creativity :) Take a look and let me know what you think.

PDCC Design Team Spin....

My Take...

The brown paper was not as rich as it is now. I deepend the embossed background paper with a deep red ink. On the partyhat card immediately around the bottom nesstability the original shade of brown (which gives the appearance of a highlight) shifts to a richer shade of brown. The gift card (first card) embossed background is completely covered with the deep red.

Thanks for stopping by The Peddler's Gallery.

Another Weekend is Another Weekend Is Coming to An End....Ahhhhhhhhhh

Happy Weekend Everyone:

I'm posting a little later than I originally planned. I hope everyone has something special to do this weekend--whether you're relaxing on a deck with a good book, at a ballgame with family and/or friends or in your craft room creating wonderful works of art. Whatever you've plan to do, just be sure some time is set aside, so you can 'do you.' That's what I am hoping to do this weekend--so far, so good. Aside from attending the Baltimore Craft Mafi Show, I just want to do the one other thing on my list of things to do this weekend list...and that's stock up on my birthday cards. The're just about gone. I have been so busy with Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day and Graduation cards, I haven't had the opportunity to concentrate on my birthday card stash and since birthdays occur more often than any other celebration and oh boy--have the birthdays been happening? It appears as though I'm sending birthday cards out daily. I know the lady at the post office knows who I am.  I have my work cut out for me. The month of August is crazy. It appears as though I need to send a card every other day to a family member or friend in August. Below is the card I submiited for MojoMonday Sketch Challenge.

My Submission

As I made these cards I thought about the many friends (many of whom I remain in contact with) I met during my time as a military spouse. There were times when every weekend seem to be the fourth of July--we were either cooking out or attending a cookout.

Thanks for stopping by The Peddler's Gallery.

Just A Tid-Bit of News

Good Morning All~

I just had a tid bit of information to share with you. Who knows...perhaps it will become infectious and spread throughout the day. As you may already know, I participated in the PDCC for the first time this week. I didn't win the challenge or place in the Fab 4', but I did make the Cream In Our Coffee. Cream In Our Coffee is the equivalence of honorable mention. Visitors and participants are encouraged to visit both the winning submissions and those that placed in the Cream In Our Coffee. I was pretty happy to know learn I was listed amoung the Cream In Our Coffee.

My second tid bit of news...

My new stamps from Paper Makeup arrived yesterday. YeEeEepPpPp!!! I can't wait to put them to use.

Thanks for stopping by The Peddler's Gallery.

 Be sure to spread a little good news of you own today.

It's Another Challenge - Waltzingmouse Stamps

Good Evening Everyone~

I didn't get an opportunity to post early this morning. With summer camp in full swing we're (my son & I) on a new schedule. I usually have time to post in the morning before heading off to work, but that's not the case now, but that's okay. Leaving for work earlier in the morning has its benefits--I leave the office earlier in the afternoon.

A new found found friend over at SCS warned me that challenges could become as addictive as much as the craft we love so much. I will say the challenges are doing what their intended to do--they're causing me to push myself a little further. Although, I can't say that I am addicted to the various challenges out there, I am having a good time participating and learning too. If nothing else the sisthahood (and I say sisterhood because I have not come across any men out there) of the cardmaking/scrap booking/special project world is soooooooooooo supportive in uplifting their fellow crafters and not enough is ever said about the subject. If I could just take all the wonderful comments~and I say wonderful because I don't think I have ever had a bad comment. The notes left behind are uplifting, encouraging, or inspiring. Well if I could just take all the comments and convert them into a daily vitamin, I wouldn't bother selling them. I would just give them away. I have said it before and I'll say it again, "Thank you for all the kind words you have left on this blog, via e-mail, or on SCS. I really appreciate your kind words."

Now onto WMS Challenge #3

This is the sketch in which participants are to work from....

And below is my submission...

The papers and the colors puts me in the mindset of Summer time--more specifically, a hot Summer's day.

As you can see I sewed the a couple of the layered papers together. I topped-off the brad in the center of the flower with white glitter to represent white sand and the netting behind the flower reminds me of coral reefs beneath the sea.

Thanks for your interest and your inspiration.

Come back to visit me at The Peddler's Gallery real soon.

The Play Date Cafe Challenge

Hi Everyone:

I know I have said this before, but what a weekend. It went way too fast. The same old thing--lots of things to do and not enough time to do it in. There were so many events taking place in Baltimore City this weekend, several of which I wanted to participate in, yet could not. There was not enough time to do so because of all the family activities/obligations I was already committed to.

Did anyone hear? Summer camp officially began yesterday in (in my world). YepPppPppPppeEeeEeeEee!!! You know you know your child is attending a good summer camp with lots of activities when he/she falls asleep on the way home from camp. I'm lov'n it!!!

This week I decided to participate in the Play Date Cafe Challenge for the first time. Immediatedly, I was stumped. Just the thought of participating in a challenge causes a creative block for me. Below is my submission. Please leave me a note and let me know what you think.

For those of you that may not be familar, my butterfly is made from various shades of blue glitters thats been applied to a transparency, cut out, and accented with tiny pearls and black wire. Just below is a closeup shot.

Thanks for stopping by The Peddler's Gallery.

Come back real soon.

Vintage Tea

Good Morning All:

I thought you may would like to share a spot of tea with me. That is, I have entered yet another challenge within the last few days. This time I entered in a challenge over at the Shabby Tea Room--TWICE. I don't know what's wrong with me. I guess I was feeling pretty good about the tea cards. If you notice, I basically used the same materials for both cards. I even photographed the cards in the same location; however, the second vintage card looks much lighter than the first. I'm not sure what happen there, but second card is the exact same color as the first card. Also, I took the photos before the glitter could dry so, it looks a little laden in the pictures--if you ask me.

I don't know whether or not I will win, but I have to say it was fun to participate. The finish product looks really good. Now, I want to invite all my friends over for tea.

This card contains a card within  a card and a bag of tea on the inside along with a beautiful recipe.

Below is my second submission. If you notice the smaller card is located on the outside behind the sentiment. Inside the embossed card is a bag of tea (for a friend)

Thanks for stopping by The Peddler's Gallery. Have a Tea-rif-fic Day!!!