I think I have OCD.  There are certain accessories in my stampin' stash that I always seem to gravitate to despite the numerous options available to me.  My recent obsession?  Parisian Breeze designer paper.  I just noticed that the last three cards I've made all use it.  I also made a number of 3-d items with it too.  It's hard not to love it, but there has to be a limit.  Next post...no Parisian Breeze dsp.

Yesterday was the last day of a 5-week women's bible study I participated in at church.  I wanted to send a thank you to our facilitator for doing such a great job.  To help me get started, I used this week's Mojo Monday's sketch - MOJO79.  This was the perfect layout for my image. 

Have a great Thursday. 

Supplies:

Stamps: Flourished Christian Symbols (ODBD)

Ink: Craft Chocoloate Chip

Paper: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Kraft, and Parisian Breeze DSP

Accessories:  Valet Ribbon Originals, 5/16 brads, Iridescent Ice embossing powder

Every now and then I deviate from Stampin' Up! stamps - not often - but occasionally.  I think Jan Tink refers to this as "rubber adultery".  Call it what you will, but besides SU, my next favorite line of stamps is from Our Daily Bread Designs.  I just received a new set from ODBD called Scripture Collection 2.  It's a new release and a beautiful collection of scriptures.  I combined my new ODBD stamps with a Stampin Up! set to create today's card.

This is for a friend of mine at church.  She's going through some hard times and this scripture is one of my favorites. It's hard to see in the photo, but I used the cross from the Refuge and Strength stamp set with Versamark ink to give a watermark in the center of the card.  Along the edges are the leaves from the same set.

Thanks for stopping by. 

Supplies:

Stamps: Refuge and Strength and Scripture Collection (ODBD)

Ink: Versamark, Basic Black, Sahara Sand

Paper: Baja Breeze, Kraft, Parisian Breeze DSP

Accessories: Baja Brreze striped ribbon, top note die (Big Shot), Trio flower punch, white gel pen, glue dtos and horizontal slot punch.

I recently ventured into the social networking world and joined Facebook.  I was apprehensive at first simply because I was a novice and didn't know what to expect.  It has proven to be an awesome venue to stay in touch with my nieces and nephews and a few other family members.  I really didn't join to reconnect with former high school classmates, but that's also what has happened.  I was never very good and staying in contact with anyone and never went to any of my reunions.  While I realize Facebook has it's pitfalls, I have thoroughly enjoyed chatting with old friends and applauding the successes of my former classmates. 

There have been a few friends in particular that have maintained a constant and open dialogue with me and I wanted to make something to send to them via snail mail.  Today's post is the result.

While I wish I could take creative credit for this card, I was inspired by a vase that Sandi made.  Check out her awesome 3-D project - it's beautiful.  Her post can be found here.  I didn't change much because I loved everything about it.  Imitation is the best form of a compliment, right?  I don't own the Big Shot butterflies die cut (yet), but I did have my Martha Stewart punch that allowed me to add a few small butterflies.  I love this card so much I made a few of these cards that need to go into the mail to some very special people.  Off to the post office!

Supplies:

Ink: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip

Stamps: Friends 24-7

Paper: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Parisian Breeze DSP

Accessories: Big Shot Oval die cut, Pretties Kit, Valet Ribbon Originals, and MS butterfly punch

Thanks for stopping by.

Can you feel it?  Spring is coming.  There's a certain smell in the air and the landscape takes on a different vibe this time of year.  Here in the Southeast we don't endure the winters that those of you in the North do, but we do have a change of season too.  Flowers are reappearing, leaves are a vibrant green again and the best part of all?   Pollen!  It's everywhere!  Yep, it's that most wonderful time of the year again.  Sneezing, sneezing a little more, rubbing the eyes, rubbing the eyes harder, then finally getting to the point of wanting to gouge my eyes out.  I love Spring, but the transition is hard to endure at times.   In an effort to stimulate the economy, I have created my own economic stimulus package by keeping Kleenex in business.

Instead of focusing on the less favorable aspects of Spring, I tried to create a card that embraced it.  Pastel colors, a flowering tree and best of all - a tree swing.  I started out thinking that I wanted an Easter card, but I wasn't willing to go there yet since St. Patrick's Day hasn't even come yet.  I just wanted something "pretty" .  This is my rendition of pretty.

Take a look at the grid pattern on the background.  Isn't that cool?  Take a look at Amy's blog where she gives a great tutorial on how to do this.  It's fast and easy but really packs a punch.  Amy is incredibly talented, so be sure to allow for some extra time to view her work.

Have a great day.  Thanks for stopping by.

Supplies:

Stamps: Branch Out, Pocket Silhouettes

Ink: Pretty in Pink, Barely Banana, Certain Celery, Basic Brown

Paper: Pretty in Pink and Whisper White

Accessories: Circle Scissors Plus, Jumbo Brad, Pink grosgrain ribbon, Crop-a-dile, dimensional, Eyelet Border Punch and Scor-Pal

Since I had  my stack of rub-ons out from the day before, I thought I'd go for two-in-a-row.  This is a simple card and doesn't use a single stamp or a drop of ink.  Which, by the way, is difficult for someone like me who considers herself a die-hard stamper.  It's taken me a long time to fully appreciate a card that I just "pieced" together rather than created with ink.  It always felt like the easy way out.  But, I have evolved, much like the industry itself.

In addition to using a rub-on, I also dusted off my tin of Flower Fusion felt flowers.  They have been sitting on the shelf so long I actually had to look in the catalog to see if they are still current!  Thankfully, they are.  So, here is today's card:

As I mentioned above, it uses a rub-on from the Bright Delights packet.  After thinking about it, I'm not really sure what type of occasion I would use this card for or who I would send it to.  Seems like a pretty silly sentiment for a card, doesn't it?  Probably should have used it on a scrapbook page instead.  Oh well.  See what I mean?  I'm still a rub-on novice.  Maybe I better stick with stamps and ink...

Supplies:

Paper:Rose Red, Whisper White and Sweet Always DSP

Accessories: Flower Fusion felt flowers, Rose Red ribbon, gold brads, and rub-ons (Bright Delights)

Stay safe on this Friday the 13th!

I like rub-ons.  I don't use them a lot, but I do like them.  I have a lot of them too.  They're stacked neatly in a pile in what I call my "pile of good intentions".  We all have them, don't we?  That stuff that we HAVE to have, but now that we have them we don't know why we bought them?  Or, we saw ONE idea that used them so we had to go on a buying spree to get as many as we could thinking we would duplicate that ONE idea.  Good grief.  If my husband only knew...

I recently went to my favorite bookstore.  I love bookstores, especially the ones that come equipped with the ability to make my favorite frozen coffee drink (with an add shot of espresso, please).  Here's another confession...am I the only one that will go to the book store, grab a delicious drink, pick out every craft magazine on the stand and then cozy up in one of those big, comfy chairs and flip through every-single-page trying to absorb every idea because you refuse to buy the magazine?  I mean, c'mon, I buy magazines, but if I bought every one that I wanted, I'd be broke!  So, instead, I try to jam as much as I can in my brain and either jot ideas down in a notebook when I get to my car or try as best as I can to retain all the ideas until  I can get home to bring them to fruition.  Today's post is a result of one of those ideas.  It uses rub-ons on pencils!

How cute are these pencils?  The idea was in one of the gazillion scrapbook magazines on the market.  If any of you know what magazine it is, please let me know so I can give proper credit.  Who wouldn't like to write with one of these - they're adorable!  Here's one potential problem...does anyone use pencils anymore?

Leave me a comment and let me know what ideas you have for rub-ons.  Who knows, with enough good ideas, I may have to go buy MORE rub-ons!

Have a great day.

Mary Ann 

I promise, and I mean it this time, that I won't get on my soap box and rant about the Bachelor.  It's over, at least for the season.  My spirits are high and my soul is content watching Survivor and Hell's Kitchen.  I won't delve into those shows...at least not in this post.

On a different note, a friend of mine recently had her second baby - 15 years after the first!  Can you say, "Wowza!".  She is very happy and the baby is doing great.  I'm a little behind on getting this card and a gift to her, but wanted to post this before it went in the mail. 

The lighting for this picture is really poor.  I try to take all my picture during the day, but as I just mentioned, time is of the essence.  I think you can still get the gist of the colors used.

Supplies:

Stamps: God's Blessings

Ink: Bashful Blue

Paper: Certain Celery, Whisper White, Kraft, So Saffron and Delicate Dots DSP

Accessories: Large star punch, small star punch, Swirls Scribbles Sizzlets Die, and the Big Shot

Have a great weekend.

Oy Vey.

I know...I said I wouldn't, but I have to.  I'm referring to last night's episode of The Bachelor.  This show has become the bane of my existence.

I have decided it would probably be in my best interest not to express my true feelings on the matter.  Somewhere in the world authorities arrest people like me for saying the things I would like to.  I mean, c'mon, the guy in Iraq who threw a shoe at President Bush is fighting for his life.  A shoe is not exactly what I had in mind for Jason.

I heard a collective 'gasp' from around the world when Jason decided his "feelings have changed" and kicked Melissa to the curb on national television (nice).  And we all thought he was such a classy guy.  How can you not want to give Melissa a huge group hug?  Yea, she's ticked and maybe a few other things too, but she left that show with her dignity in tact.  You go, Girl.  I think your fan club grew ten fold.

As far as Molly is concerned (or "Mol" as Jason calls her) everyone knows where I stand with her.  If not, you can refer to my previous post here for more details.  Instead of rehashing what has already been said, let's make this post come full circle, shall we?  I mean, this is a stamping blog, right?  If you don't mind, I'd like to have a brief dialogue with Molly for a moment...

"Hey Mol, it's clear you have a creative side to you.  When you presented that scrapbook to Jason, I saw your potential.  Cute book - really it was.  I could tell you put your heart into it.  Are you interested in "steppin' it up a notch"? 'How?', you ask.  Let me tell you...My name is Mary Ann Reiner and I am an Independent Demonstrator and Creative Coach for Stampin' Up! and I can help your scrapbooks come alive!  I teach monthly classes in my home in addition to holding workshops in your home (or mine).  I'd love to come over and show you and a few of your friends (like Melissa, Jillian and few other gal pals from the show) Stampin' Up!'s fabulous product line.  I know when you see how versatile our products are and how everything coordinates you'll be hooked.  I could tell you liked markers and cutting out shapes.  I'd love to introduce you to the Big Shot.  The die-cut possibilities with this magnificent machine are endless.

Good luck to you and your new beau.  Based on his history, I'm not sure he's "all that", but hey, it's your life, not mine.  From one step mom to another, don't go messin' up Ty's life.  Your job is to give him roots and wings, not to be his pal.  Perhaps you could start by teaching him a few lessons on commitment and tact.  He appears to be lacking a role model in this regard.

So, in the mean time, let me give you this beautiful catalog to look at.  I'll call you in a few days to see when you'd like to get a few friends together.  It's a great time to host a workshop!  Stampin' Up! is in the middle of their biggest promotion of the year.  Who doesn't like to receive FREE products!

Have a great day.