Doubling The Pursuit of Happiness

Well, we were asked to go to a dear friend of mine's house to swim yesterday. The girls were super excited, and I was looking forward to hanging out with my "mommy" friends, too. However, the "Bathing Suit Pursuit" had still yet to happen. So we went out bright and early yesterday before we were to be at said friend's house on an expedition (in our Expedition) to find one for me. Success!!! After only hitting two stores and trying on five bathing suits, the girls and I agreed on one that actually did me some justice. Granted, it's not the type of suit I'd like to wear, nor the size I'd like to be in, but it will do ('That'll do pig, that'll do'--from the movie, Babe. I love that quote!). What say I have Eric take a few pictures of me in it and post them here in their largest size? I'm thinkin' no on that one, folks. I can see all of ya'll unsubscribing all at once if I were to do that! ('It's alive!' and 'Run for the hills!' comes to mind with that thought.) Anyway, it was great getting in the water again and I actually got a tan! However, I think the sun fried a couple of my brain cells. Well, ok, more than a couple!

Anyway, speaking of couples, I was asked to help out with the Ways to Use It Challenge (WT227) over on Splitcoast today. What does that have to do with couples? Well, it sort of ties in with the theme of the challenge--Seeing Double, using two of something on your card (image, partial images, embellishments, etc.). So I was finally able to use my new Feelin' Fruity set from My Favorite Things. The pear comes as a single image and I simply masked it and stamped a little friend beside him to make a perfect "pear"! I also used double the buttons for my embellishments. I wish I had done a double needle stitching all the way around it, but hindsight is always 20/20, right? Oh well.

So today, is Thursday Thoughtful day. I hope the girls will be "thinking" of me and play nice today, as I have a lot of stamping to get done, since I traded yesterday in for basking in the sun! Let's just hope those 2 or more brain cells I lost weren't my mojo ones! I seriously need them!!

SUSIE Q-TIP: This is an almost monochromatic card (a card using several shades of only one color). I decided to use several shades of green, but "pop" it with another color. Try it on for size.

Stamps: Feelin' Fruity (My Favorite Things)
Paper: YoYo Yellow (SU!), Avacado Green (Core'dinations), White Perfect Panels (MFT), GP White, Berry Sweet (K & Company)
Ink: Palette Noir (Superior), Glorious Green (SU!)
Accessories: Flower and Circle Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Sewing Machine/White Thread, Copic Markers, Threading Water Border Punch (Fiskars), Buttons, Green Polkadot Grosgrain Ribbon (MFT), Jody Boosters, Glue Dots

New Annie LaPoint from MFT--Let's Hop Right to It!

Well, can you believe it's already time for a new mid-month release from My Favorite Things? I hope you made your way here from Kirsten's blog, where she undoubtedly had something fabulous to share. If not, I suggest starting this hop from the beginning over on Kim's blog, so you don't miss a thing!

So like the title suggests, let's hop right to the details of this card! Among the three new stamp sets being introduced tonight is this one from Annie LaPoint. It's called Spread a Harvest of Hope. I instantly fell in love with it and also knew MY MOM would LOVE it, too! (hi mom!) This is the first card I made with it and I colored it in while babysitting a neighbor's sleeping baby. So relaxing! The set includes the wheelbarrow image and the one sentiment which I simply stuck onto my acrylic block in a curved manner to bend it over the top of the image. The prima flower embellishment was a must, as I made my signature "Ribbon-Button-Loopy-Thing-Tied-With-Whatever Embellishment" and simply added a flower to the mix! I've got a few more things with this release up my sleeve, so ya'll come back now, 'ya hear!

Anyway, it's about time to hop on to Paula's blog, Paper Possibilities, to see what she has made magic with ('cause, girl, you KNOW she did!), but before you go, here's my SUSIE Q-TIP and a few things you may be interested in regarding the new release:

This week, our Weekly Spotlight is: My Favorite Copic Collection

HTDT Tutorial: Copic markers: advanced blending techniques with Candice (I can't wait to see this one!). Check it out on SCS HERE!

First 50: Memento Dew Drop Collection, week 3! color: Bamboo Leaves (this is a beautiful green color!)

SUSIE Q-TIP: Use a smaller pattern paper (one with a small repeated design) as a layer on your card instead of only solid color layers. Just a small detail like this makes a big difference.

Stamps: Spread a Harvest of Hope (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Purely Pomegranate (SU!), White (PTI), Designer Series Paper Pad (SU!), Bermuda Shorts (Pink Paislee)
Ink: Palette Noir (Superior)
Accessories: Sewing Machine/White Thread, Copic Markers, White Brads, White Wide Grosgrain Ribbon, Prima Flower, Hemp Twine, Sage/White Polkadot Satin Ribbon, Button, Jody Boosters

Multiplicity--MFT Style

Well, I could feel myself slipping into a non-blogging pattern this morning since I didn't do it yesterday or the day before (even though I usually don't do Sundays anyway). So I thought I'd better go ahead and make a post before it got too out of hand and before some of you had a fit over it and went into a tizzie! (Ya'll know who you are!.) Kind of like missing a Sunday of church. Pretty soon, it's another and another, until you feel like you won't really be missed anyway. Well, I don't want that to happen--I'd WANT you to miss me!! Even after this brief two-day lapse, I hope some of ya'll were scratching your heads wondering if that susiestampalot just fell off the face of the earth, or what. If not, I'm sure it was just because you like to come here anyway to read my last post again even though you had already read it yesterday and the day before and that's a good enough fix for you. I'm sure of it. Anyway, just to keep your brain active and to keep me from falling into a summer slump, I thought I'd go ahead and make a new post.

Now, tonight I'll actually be posting again. There's a My Favorite Things blog hop tonight starting at 9PM Central that you don't want to miss! But before that show gets on the road, let's whett your apetite for a little MFT from the past! This top card is a graduation card that I made for a friend's son in Weatherford (they're the Fighting Kangaroos--what a big, bad football team name, wouldn't ya'll agree?). It uses one of my favorite sets called Congrats All Around and it's actually a Bubble Bin special right now, going for only $3, to celebrate MFT's third year. It also uses the Bling Bet which I heat embossed in silver to spell "grad". I love that alphabet!

In keeping with my promise that I needed to post more than one card or project at a time in order to catch up with my "sharing time", I've got another congratulations card I made using the Teacher Label set. I wanted ya'll to see that it's not just for decorating those cute Perfect Packaging jars, but you can actually make some fun cards with all the Labels sets!

Ok and now one of my favoritest cards I've made in a long time! I just love this little rainboots girl from the Rainy Day Friends set. These colors were on my mind, so I decided to go with it! Even though they are a little unusual for this stamp set, I LOVE how it turned out with the pop of green! I'm on a green kick here lately, but I still like yellow.

So one of the other reasons I've been out of pocket for the last few days is that Shelbie, our oldest daughter, came and stayed with us for a couple of days while we ran errands, went to doctor's appointments (I had a mammogram yesterday!), and took care of some shopping for new school stuff. So in general, we were having a good ol' time hangin' out together! Today, I'm bound and determined to get back on track with my list of things to do. Blog post--check. Stamping--later for sure. Teaching the girls how to embroider, also on the list. Sounds like a good day to have chicken nuggets and tater tots for dinner.

SUSIE Q-TIP: Make your own embellishments by layering a couple of shapes, (stars, hearts, flowers, circles, etc.) and then a small stamped image on top to go along with your card.

This post has taken waaaaay too much time to write (the only problem with multiple card posts), so I'm skipping the supply lists today. I hope to have them posted to my Splitcoast gallery soon, so you can view them there. If it bothers me enough, I may come back here and update it. It probably won't though, so don't get your hopes up.

A {Baby Diva} Sketch For You To Try

Well, today I have something a little different for you going on here at susiestampalot. We're celebrating a new little someone...

There’s a new little baby Diva almost here and today we’re celebrating with a suprise shower hop! So come along with us and do the hop, hop, hop to help celebrate the arrival of Charmaine’s new little oodabug! This shindig started at the Verve Stamps blog, so if you’ve just happened along, be sure to hop on over there to start from the beginning!

Oh, it's still Jen's Sketch for You to Try, and I've used it here, but with this little baby-rific twist of a surprise! I had been going through all my MFT stamp sets, pulling out the retired ones and came across this one that I had never used called Baby First. (It's still available, by the way, just needed to make that clear!) I've always loved it, but when you get to be my age, not a lot of your friends are having babies anymore, so not a lot of occasions to make baby cards. (Unless your BFF's are younger than you, like Jen. Check out this post. hehe!!) So I was excited to ink this stamp set up, nonetheless. I used some new paper edger scissors I picked up the other day. I just can't bring myself to use my REAL Fiskars pinking shears on paper. These are "okay", but you do have to hold your mouth just right for them to make nice clean cuts. The ribbon and buttons are both from My Favorite Things also and they are the best!

So today is going to be very busy for the Liles household. We have 2 birthday parties to go to, one in the very middle of the other, so we'll be going back and forth to each. Then the girls get to spend the night at their cousin's house. That means I get to PLAY!! I'll be at the Scrapper's Boutique tonight hanging out from about 7pm to midnight! Come see me!

Thanks for stopping by! Now hop on over to Amber's blog for some more cuddly goodness. And be sure and tell Charmaine congratulations--she's due in a couple of days! We're so excited for you, girlie and we are going to need pictures!

Oh and also since it's still Jen's Sketch For You To Try (and a good one at that!), be sure and check out what my other SFYTT sisters have done:
Amy R.
Amy S.
Kelly
Carole

SUSIE Q-TIP: Use designer paper for the background of your main image and use embellishments to draw the eye to that area of your card or project for a little something different. It will make your focal point stand out even more in most cases.

Stamps: Baby First (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Certainly Celery, Blush Blossom (SU!), White (PTI), Nana's Nursery (DCWV)
Ink: Palette Noir (Superior)
Accessories: Paper Piercer/Mat Pack, Zig Zag Scissors, Pearl Flatbacks (Stamping Bella), Spring Buttons (MFT), Pink/White Plaid Ribbon (MFT), Jody Boosters

Something New from MFT--KITS!!!

Well, I just couldn't resist showing and sharing with ya'll a brand spankin' new product line coming your way today from My Favorite Things--MFT Kits – Just Add Color!

We are pleased and proud to introduce something fresh, fun and completely distinctive – MFT Kits!

Each month, a new Kit will be revealed, complete with an exclusive, unreleased stamp set, and the items you’ll need to complete a very special project (s).

The set included with your MFT Kit is a brand new, unreleased set, and will not be available for a period of at least 3 months after the MFT Kit containing the set is released. Here's some info about this first kit:

By The Seashore Kit $25
Kit contents:

*On The Pier (mini stamp set)
*6 die-cut tall gable boxes in ocean blue
*15 yards of hemp in natural
*6 Perfect Paper Panels
*5 yards, 3/8” twill in natural
*100 aged copper brads
*Memento Dew Drop in Rich Cocoa
*Project sheet download

Purchase the MFT Kit between 7/8-7/14 and you will receive a discount code good for a free digi paper download (2.95 value) as well as a coupon for a future order.

Be sure and check out Joanne's and Michele's blogs to see these fabulous kits as completed projects! I can't wait to make one myself!

SUSIE Q-TIP: use this set with By the Seashore for even MORE image choices and versatility.

It's TCP Tuesday and I'm the Hostess With the Mostess

Well, I can't believe my turn to host the TCP Tuesday Challenge from The Cat's Pajamas has already rolled around again! As most of ya'll know, when I host the challenge, it's a stamp challenge. I gave ya'll fair warning a month ago that I was antsy to use my Happy Camper set again, so guess what? The challenge this week is to pull out those Happy Camper stamps and get happy making a card (or project) using them! I do have a confession to make: I've had this little critter inked up and colored since forever ago, so my card was pretty speedy to make! I had colored it for another challenge, but never got around to finishing it. Make sure you save those pre-done images for fun times like this! I'm really glad I had him ready to go now, because isn't he just so cute sitting there in the green, red and black? I just wanted to give ya'll a different kind of color combo to use with your Happy Camper sets--they don't all have to look rustic and fresh out of the woods!

Anyway, even though it's not Monday, we're off to see a free movie today at the local theater (Inkheart), and then we're coming back for lunch and I'll be stamping while the girls will be playing with their toys or reading books, making me a "happy camper". (I'm still not liking the Disney Channel, so it's still off limits.) I will be checking to see who's playing with their toys this week (that means you)! I can't wait to see what ya'll come up with! Here's the ins and outs of how this challenge works:

1. Each a week one of The Cat’s Pajamas DT members will host a challenge.
2. The challenges will vary {stamp, color, theme, sketch, etc.}
3. You will have until {this} Saturday night to complete the challenge.
4. Link your project on this week’s hostess’ challenge announcement. This week you will link your project to THIS POST by midnight Saturday, July 11th.
5. TCP stamps are not required, but of course, highly encouraged. {Unless it is a challenge calling for a specific stamp}
6. There will be one winner each month. They will be deemed that month’s Swankiest Stamper and get $25 in Cat’s Cash {money to spend on the TCP site!}.
7. When uploading to SCS, please use the keyword TCPTUES66 for this challenge.
8. Alma will post the entries from the week the following Monday on her blog.
9. The newly crowned Swanky Stamper will be announced on the First of the Month and have his/her winning entry posted on The Cat’s Pajamas website where he/she will reign for the entire month!
10. HAVE FUN!!!

SUSIE Q-TIP: I needed something red (and fun) to balance out the upper right corner of my card. Since I still wanted a lot of white to show in my panel to go with my "simple" theme, I folded a paper flower in half and tucked it behind my circle panel, without adding anything for the "flower center". It gives it just enough color in that area without overpowering my image and keeps with the "feel" of the card.

Stamps: Happy Camper S-9667 (The Cat's Pajamas)
Paper: Basic Black, Certainly Celery (SU!), White (PTI), Small Black Dot (MM), Red/White Polkadot (Unknown)
Ink: Palette Noir (Superior)
Accessories: Labels One, Circle and Scallop Circle Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Paper Piercer/Mat Pack, Ticket Corner Punch, Copic Markers, Buttons, Paper Flower (Kaiser), Red Brads, Glue Dots, Jody Boosters

MFT Monday--Gone to the Dogs

Well, if ya'll will remember, I told you the other day when I shared my "Purrfect Treat Jar", that I had a fun little project for those of you more on the dog-world side of the pet spectrum. So here it is! I used the Puppy Chow Label set, one of the newest stamp sets from My Favorite Things and wrapped a ribbon around the jar to help secure it. This stamp set is made to coordinate with the Perfect Packaging jars also available on the MFT site and there are several "label" sets to choose from as well and I'm sure more to come. It's a great idea for inexpensive, but cute and easy gift ideas! We're only six months out from Christmas, you know!

I added some extra fun on the lid with the Bling Bet set and experimented with some red mini ball fringe tied around the neck of the jar. Luckily for me, I don't plan on giving this to anyone. That means two things. #1, We get to eat the Puppy Chow and #2, I only tied the red ball fringe to the jar and I will definitely be re-using it! Just me, thinking about the environment again, recycling my little heart out. Anyway, on to what's inside the jar...It's not what's on the outside, but what's inside that counts, right? Teehee. It's not REAL puppy chow for dogs, but the human kind, sometimes also referred to as Muddy Buddies.

I am going to happily share the recipe with you, but I have a little side note before we get started (of course, right?). First off, I just HAD to take a picture of the ingredients, mainly to show ya'll this box of cereal. Yes, I bought the off-brand kind, but take a look at the name of it! Crispy Hexagons? Really? They couldn't come up with a more original idea for the cereal name? I seem to think that the people in the marketing department that day they came up with this name were all hungover, burnt out, or all called in sick and left it up to the janitors to decide what the name should be. It really struck me as funny. I don't know, how about ya'll? Ok, sorry about that, I just had to get it off my chest and possibly share a giggle. Here's the highly addictive recipe:

Puppy Chow
Ingredients:
1/2 cup Peanut Butter
1/4 cup Butter
1 cup Chocolate Chips
1/2 tsp. Vanilla
9 cups Crispix cereal (any flavor)
1-1/2 cups Powdered Sugar
Instructions:
1. Combine peanut butter, butter and chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl.
2. Microwave for one minute then stir to blend all ingredients thoroughly. Add 1/2 tsp. vanilla. Stir well.
3. Place the 9 cups of Crispix cereal in a very large bowl.
4. Pour the peanut butter-chocolate mixture over the cereal and toss evenly, making sure all the cereal gets a good covering.
5. Coat with powdered sugar, sprinkling evenly over the cereal and tossing as you sprinkle to cover each piece well

SUSIE Q-TIP: A workspace idea that I employ and love: Hang a magnetic strip in a convenient location near your desk. Hang scissors, paper piercer, hammer, hole punches, craft tweezers and a needle and thread (or whatever your faves are) on it for quick access and quick cleanup. I got mine at IKEA (also where my extra large stainless steel bowl came from in the picture above) for about $7 (I see they are $9 now). I use THIS ONE. Do ya'll want to see a picture? Want more storage ideas?

Stamps: Puppy Chow Label, Bling Bet (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Kraft, Basic Black (SU!), Pure Poppy, Bitty Dots, White (PTI)
Ink: Palette Noir (Superior), Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel (SU!), Pure Poppy (PTI)
Accessories: Scallop and Circle Punches, CM Circle Cutter, Paper Piercer/Mat Pack, Copic Markers, Puppy Paw Ribbon, Mini Red Ball Fringe, White Gel Pen (Ranger), Jody Boosters