Where flowers bloom, so does hope

Hey pals! I used my new Freshly Picked cartridge to make this simple little encouragement card. I got in my BIG order from papertreyink.com this afternoon, so I just had to play with all my new goodies! So, EVERYTHING on this card came from PTI...well, not the bling, but everything else! ;o)

I hope you had/are having a great day! Oooooohhhhh in other news....FUN ALERT!!!!! I got my tracking number from FedEx a little bit ago...my Cricut Circle Welcome box o' goodies is on it's way!!!! YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Cricuty Hugs!

Nikki

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!

Well, I told you there would be more variations on yesterday's card! ;o) I used the new Cherry Limeade Cricut Lite cartridge to make the cute glass of lemonade. This card is just so bright and summery! Pull the ribbon up...

BAM! Strawberry lemonade! Mmmmmm! I hope you all have a super SWEET summer day! See you later alligators! ;o)

Nikki

Kool Mustache!

                                

Well, here it is, the card I told you I dreamed about. Get it? Kool-Aid Mustache! Hehehe I crack me up! I bought a TON of different flavors of Kool-Aid, so I will be making lots of variations on this card/treat. You just pull the ribbon up and BAM here comes some yummy fruity beverage mix!

The Kool-Aid stained stache is from the new Billionaire Cricut Lite cartridge. I bet Provo Craft didn't have a pink stache in mind when they made that cart! LOL!!! The cardstock is from PaperTreyInk.com and the patterned paper is from the Delovely collection by Cosmo Cricket. I hope you're having a great day! I am soooooooo looking forward to True Blood tonight!!!! ;o)

Kool-Aid Hugs!

Nikki

Inching by just to say hi

Hello and Happy Saturday friends! I made today's card with the new Live Simply Cricut Lite cartridge. It has some super cute images on it! And never fear if you haven't been able to find any Lite carts at your Walmart, the 1st is almost upon us and they should ALL be stocked then! YEAH!!! Just a pretty basic card with TONS of faux stitching. I used the Critter Faces Small set from PeachyKeenStamps to stamp a little face for my flower. And, of course, I gave her a little bow in her "hair". The sentiment is from PaperTreyInk. And speaking of PTI, I will be getting a HUGE order in the mail from them this week. My UPS ship notification says the package weighs 16 pounds! ;o) That's a whole lotta papery/stampy/ribbony/twiny love to play with! I hope you are having a FABULOUS weekend!!! I am off to shop for a few things to make a project I dreamed of last night...I thought it was so good I BOLTED out of bed and high tailed it to my sketch pad to get it down before wakefulness erased it from my memory. So, stay tuned for that! LOL I am sooooo weird, I know!

Happy Weekend!!!

Nikki

A little bird told me...*what I use to color stamps*

Hello and Happy Hello Thursday! I am anxiously awaiting the Gypsy update *fingers crossed*! Anyhoo, for today's card I thought I would explain how I color in my stamped images. I have been getting lots of questions about what I use, so I'm gonna tell ya. I use what is referred to as the Magic Colored Pencil Technique. Many people think I use watercolor pencils, but I DON'T! I use my favorite Prismacolor Colored Pencils...Here is a picture of them...

I have a larger set than this picture, but you get the idea. They are expensive, but I used a 40% off coupon at Hobby Lobby where I bought mine and that softened the financial blow. I stamp my images with Staz-On ink and then color it in. I then use Odorless Mineral Spirits {sometimes called Gamsol} to blend my colors using paper blending stumps. I get my OMS at Michaels in the painting section, the brand is called Mona Lisa. I hope this explanation helped some of you who are just starting out in stamping! ;o)

I got this stamp in a Martha Stewart set that I got on major clearance at Walmart the other day. Well I hope you're having a fabulous day so far!

Tweetie Hugs!

Nikki

Lulee's Swim Time Card

Hey everyone! I made this card a while back and I can't believe I never posted it. Probably because I couldn't get a good photo of it, anyway, here it is. This ADORABLE stamp is, of course, from PeachyKeenStamps.com. She is called Lulee's Swim Time and she is just the cutest! So here's the card for today...and REMINDER it's Wacky Wednesday over at PeachyKeen and you have untill tonight to get some great deals through the Wacky Wednesday Sale!!!!

Ooooh totally NOT craft related, but I bought a Dyson Ball "Animal" vacuum today and I am 100% in LOVE with it already!!!! So, if you're in the market for a shiny new vacuum, I HIGHLY recommend it!

Have a GREAT day!

Nikki

PeachyKeen Challenge 31

Time for another PeachyKeen challenge! This time we have the above sketch to follow. Here is my take on the sketch........

I used my new B is for boy Cricut Lite cartridge to cut out the cute little alien dude. The scalloped circle is cut from the Sugar and Spice Cricut Lite cartridge. I stamped my alien's face with the new Make a Monster Face set from PeachyKeenStamps.com. I gave him googlie eyes for the rest of his eyes that aren't stamped. Here is a side view so you can see the bling. ;o)

I gave you a little hint yesterday about the awesome sale at PeachyKeen, but here are the full details for you.

This will be our LAST sale until after CHA!!

*Sale begins Tuesday night 8pm CST and ends Wednesday night at 12 midnight CST
*Tiered discounts will be increased for the sale time only.
*Three customers could win their order REFUNDED completely!
*Three Random Gift Certificates will be drawn from all of the orders placed in June to end of the sale date.

WACKY WEDNESDAY IS June 23rd!

Sale will begin 8pm on Tuesday night 6-22-10 and go through MIDNIGHT on Wednesday 6-23-10 (Thursday morning)

Customers receive an additional 5% off of your entire order in addition to the global discounts already in place!

THREE RANDOM WINNERS WILL receive a full REFUND (from Wednesday sales only)

REFUNDED ORDER NUMBER ONE will be drawn from the $100.00 and over category,

REFUNDED ORDER NUMBER TWO will be drawn from the $75.00 and over category,

REFUNDED ORDER NUMBER THREE will be drawn from the $40.00 and over category!



ALSO, THREE RANDOM GIFT CERTIFICATES of $50.00, $25.00 and $15.00 to three other buyers drawn from the entire month of June (not just from Wednesday)!



Soooooooooooo Happy Shopping to you!!!!!! ;o)

Now, pop on over to the Challenge Blog and play along with us!!!!!

Nikki

Aloha Card

Hafa Adai and Aloha everyone! I'm sure you know what Aloha means, but do you know what Hafa Adai means? My husband and I lived on the island of Guam for 3 years...And Hafa Adai means hello in the native language called Chamorro. Bet you didn't expect to get a pseudo geography/culture lesson! LOL I used the Tie the Knot cartridge to cut the hibiscus flower.

The aloha was cut from the Life is a Beach cartridge. All papers are from the Green at Heart collection by Basic Grey. Well I guess not all, my BELOVED KRAFT cardstock is from PaperTreyInk.com...which reminds me, it's time to do some ordering...I'm getting dangerously low on button twine. GASP! Well I hope you are having a fantastic day! See you back here tomorrow for another PeachyKeenChallenge...and you won't want to miss the announcement of an AWESOME SALE!!! So, if you're been eyeing some PeachyKeen stamps...you will want to get in on the amazing deals!!!!!!

Tropical Hugs!

Nikki

MEOW *lite* Cartridge "Friends Fur-ever"

Hello and Happy Sunday everyone! I am having so much fun playing with my 6 new Cricut Lite cartridges. Today's card was made with the Meow cartridge. I can't wait for the Gypsy update to come out...It took some strategic head chopping off to be able to stamp her face! AHHHHHHHH LOL I used the Princess Face Assortment and I think my little girl looks so sweet. :0)

I hope you're having a relaxing Sunday. I am anxiously awaiting a new episode of True Blood tonight! Anyone else addicted to that show? LOVE IT!

Sandpaper Kisses ;o)

Nikki

And the winner is..........and a card

True Random Number Generator




Min: 1

Max:201

Result:

30

Powered by RANDOM.ORG

ScrappingStephanie said:
What a fabulous job you did! I can't get over how cute this set is. Another thing I have added to my wish list. TFS:)


CONGRATULATIONS!!!! I sent you an email.

I'm off to go play with my new Lite cartridges...Might be back later with a card. But, in the meantime, here is a quick card I made using the Max and Whiskers collection from Basic Grey. No cricut cuts on this one, just patterned paper.

I hope you're having a Grrrrrrreat day!

Nikki

Cricut Lite Mother Load!!!! oh, and a card ;o)

Hello and HAPPY FRIDAY! I have to tell you that I had the best shopping day EVER! I had a dream last night that I had the Meow Cricut Lite cartridge, so when I woke up I took it as a sign to go cartridge hunting! And I hit the MOTHER LOAD at the second Walmart I went to. They had ALL 24 Lite cartridges!!! Some were totally gone, but ALL the ones that I wanted were there! YEAH! Soooooo...I got Live Simply, Meow, Billionaire, B is for boy, Sugar and Spice, and Cherry Limeade. The card I made today was made with the Live Simply cartridge. IT IS SOOOOO CUTE!!!! It was weird to actually put a cartridge in my Expression again...LOL...Can't wait for the Gypsy updates because I could've hidden contours and given the lil' hooter a super cute PeachyKeen Critter face! Well I hope you have a GREAT weekend! I will be having a blast with my new toys! My cricut will be getting a workout! ;o)

Hootie Hugs!

Nikki

p.s. I went to Big Lots and got some embellies and other goodies...BUT I was blown away by the one deal I got...ready??? I got the HUGE foldable Martha Stewart Self Healing cutting mat for.... 4 BUCKS!!!!! Can you believe it??? That thing is almost 50 bucks at Michaels!!!!! Yeah for awesome deals!!!!!!

p.p.s. You still have until MIDNIGHT TONIGHT CST to click HERE and comment on that post to be entered to win the Critter Faces stamps!!!!!!!!!!

Take me to your leader

GREETINGS EARTHLINGS! Here is the card I am entering in Emma's Throwback Thursday challenge for this week. The challenge is to use the Paper Doll Dress Ups cartridge which I was stoked about because that is one of my all time FAVORITE cartridges! I used the brand spankin' new Monster Mash faces from PeachyKeenStamps to stamp her super cute face.

I used chenille stems to make her furry little alien legs. ;o) Emma used them on her magnet project and I was inspired to use them too! I used my Sakura pens to give her purple eyeshadow. All papers are from the Lime Rickey collection by Basic Grey. So pop over to Emma's Blog and join the challenge!

Big Alien Hugs!

Nikki ;o)

*REMINDER* You still have time to enter to win the Critter Faces Stamps that I am giving away...Just click HERE to comment on the PeachyKeen Realease Blog hop post to be entered. You have until midnight Friday CST.

PeachyKeen Release party Blog Hop & GIVEAWAY

Well here it is! The brand new Vivienne & Friends stamp set!!! Can you even stand the cuteness???!!!! I just LOVE it! Our PeachyQueen has outdone herself again! To celebrate the release, we are having a blog hop. If you just hopped over from Janice's blog, you're probably still drooling over her eye candy! But, now that you're here, on with the show! Here is the card I made with this set.

I used my prismacolor pencils and odorless mineral spirits as usual to color in my images. The papers are from the DCWV Nana's nursery stack and the ribbon is from papertreyink.com. The button is from my stash.

Now onto some more fun! I am GIVING AWAY the Critter Faces Set A!!! Just leave a comment is this post and a way to contact you for your chance to win. Now, keep the blog hoppin' fun going to head on over to Emma's blog! You are going to LOVE what she has made! Seriously, WOW!

Big Peachy Hugs!!!

Nikki

You have until Midnight CST on Friday to comment for your chance to WIN! I will announce the winner on Saturday.

I Love You Card

Ok, so I was feeling a wee bit guilty for only posting a teaser today! I was going to save this for Wednesday, but what the heck?! I used my new Give a Hoot cartridge for the birds and banner. I have to say that I wasn't really "in love" with this cartridge and only got it because it was dirt cheap...But then I got it home and I do indeed really like it! I'll be honest, it does have some pretty strange looking animals though! LOL I used Cher {a.k.a. my Gypsy} to get the birds big enough to fit my long 4 x 9.25 inch card. The "I" and "U" are from the Storybook cartridge and the heart is from the Don Juan cartridge. The patterned paper is from the Max and Whiskers collection by Basic Grey.

I really REALLY love this collection! I have made a few cards with the fun doggy patterned paper already, so stay tuned. ;o) Ok, I still hope you're having a GREAT day!!!! See you tomorrow with the new stamp fun!!!!! And there may be a mini blog hop to boot!

Happy Stamping!

Nikki

It's a PeachyKeen Sneak Peek!!!! ;o)

Hello! I have just a little teaser for you today. PeachyKeen is releasing another new stamp set tomorrow and boy is it CUTE! Check back tomorrow to see the big reveal! :o) Have a wonderful day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HUGS!

Nikki

Ooh LaLa!

Why heeeeeeeeelllllllooooo friends! Happy Friday to you! The UPS man brought me the Tie the Knot cartridge today, so I had to break it in! I just LOVE this corset cut! CAAAAUTE! Just a simple card using the circle card from the Wild Card cartridge. Ribbon from dollar bin at Michaels.

I found the stamp at Michaels too...I just cut it apart to make it do what I wanted. GASP...I know, people don't like cutting their stamps! I don't mind. ;o) Well I hope you have a FAB weekend...Maybe I'll "talk" with some of you tonight over at Ustream for My Pink Stamper Live. I hope so! If you want to join in on the crazy chatty fun...CLICK HERE at 8pm central tonight!

Ta Ta!

Nikki

Throwback Thursday Challenge #2

Hello and Happy fake Hello Thursday ;o) I am SO GLAD that I don't "love" all the 24 new cartridges! LOL at 40 bucks a pop it could put a serious dent in my bank account! HA ........Anyhoo...it's Emma's second Throwback Thursday challenge and here is what I came up with. The challenge is to use Stretch Your Imagination and the colors red,blue,and brown. Just a simple card made even more simple with the use of my BFF Cher a.k.a. MY GYPSY. I love her!

The cute little birdie face is OF COURSE a peachykeen stamp. It is from the new Critter Faces Medium set. So pop on over to Emma's Blog and join in on the challengey fun. Have a GREAT day/night. ;o)

Tweet Wishes!

Nikki

PeachyKeen Challenge-30 *Shadowbox*

It's challenge time again! The challenge this time is to create an 8x8 or 12x12 layout to go into a shadowbox. If you only want to do the layout, that's fine. I admit I had a HARD time with this! So,  I apologize for being late today. Anyhoo, I finally found pictures that I wanted to use. These pictures are of me and my Mama waaaaaay back in 1982. ;o) I was THRILLED when I found that yellow gingham paper in my stash because it matched the little swim suit I have on in the pictures perfectly! Love it when that happens! ;o) I took the layout out of the shadowbox to get some better pictures to share.

I used the adorable starfish from the Sea Animals & Creatures stamp set. And I stamped my paper version of tiny me with the Everyday Character Assortment. I just LOVE those faces! Here's a closer look....... 

I hope you will pop over to the Challenge Blog and play along with us! This challenge will have two winners. One judged, and one random. So that means you have TWO chances to WIN! The prize for the judged winner is a $25 gift certificate to PeachyKeenStamps. The prize for the random winner is Natalee.

Have a SUNSHINEY day!

Nikki

Happy Happy Birthday Elvis card

Happy Friday friends! My friend Melissa, whom I have known since we were knee high to a grasshopper, joined the 30 club last Saturday. She had an Elvis themed party, and this is the card I came up with for her. Let me just tell you that I could NOT get it to photograph well! Grrr {click pic to enlarge for a better look}. I swear it really looked awesome in person. LOL. Anyhoo, I used cotton candy glimmer mist on the card base. I then clear embossed hearts over that. I used my trusty dymo label maker to make the 30's. I found this awesome image of Elvis online and sized it in my Scrapbooking program. I then printed it on cardstock and then cut it out. I added the image to the card with thick pop dots. To finish I added the sentiment and some fun dimensional blingy stars. I hope that you have a fantastic weekend....Go out and get all shook up! ;o)

Thank you...Thank you very much...for stopping by!

Nikki

p.s. I found this super fun advertisement to put on the inside!

Hoppy Hello *Throwback Thursday Challenge*

Hoppy Hello peeps! Emma has started a Throwback Thursday challenge over on her blog called My Creative Time. She is my new bestie, so I was stoked to give this a go {Aussie Lingo!} HEHEHE....Anyhoo, the idea behind the challenges will be to use our poor neglected older cricut cartridges. For her first challenge we were to use Animal Kingdom. If you don't have it, don't get your kangaroo tail in a twist...Just do a project with an animal theme. ;o) I have to say that this card just makes me happy! I love the Mama and baby roo's!

 

I stamped hi on the little roo's belly as a fun little surprise for the recipient to see when they pull her up. The ADORABLE faces were stamped with the Animal Faces Medium set from PeachyKeenStamps.com. For the baby roo I added an open mouth to make it look like she was yawning. The sunshine is cut out from Doodlecharms and it's face is stamped with the new stamp set called Princess Face Assortment from PeachyKeen. I used this stamp set on my Pin-up girl, but this shows you that they're super versatile! Love that set! The hoppy Hello sentiment is from papertreyink.com and so are the papers used here except for the patterned paper grass.

I hope you're having a Roo-tastic day! Head on over to Emma's Blog to join in on the new challenge fun!

BIG KANGAROO HUGS!!!!

Nikki