Hi all!

I've loved receiving all your video questions! And I'm going to be posting my question and answer video soon, but there's still time to get your question in! In fact, I'd love to include some text questions as well. So, if you're a bit camera shy, you can still participate.

Just leave your question in the comments of this entry. Thanks!

Hi all!

Can you believe we're at the 7th Color Inspiration Challenge? Wow! Time flies when you're having fun, eh?

This week's CI Challenge comes to us from Restoration Hardware. Isn't that the most gorgeous bedding? LOVE it! I'm sure that all of you can come up with beautiful cards, pages, and other paper crafting items using this color combination as inspiration. For those who haven't joined us yet, feel free to jump in and share a card with us!

As usual, I'll share my card with you all when I post the Round-Up on Thursday night.

Hi all!

Wow, Make a Card Monday nearly wasn't made this week! I had a super busy weekend. Well, except for the three hours I spent watching the BBC's Sense and Sensability. But that doesn't count because it was awesome. It's the version that's showing on Masterpiece Theatre in the US right now as part of the Complete Jane Austen series on PBS. However, I have the DVDs so I'm watching it all at once. :)

For those of you who like the Colin Firth version of Pride and Prejudice, you'll like this version of Sense and Sensability. Totally great. In fact, I bought this box set for my mom for Mother's Day. It has the new BBC version of Persuasion and a new movie called Miss Austen Regrets included as well. You should all go watch it. I'm telling you. Awesome. :)

Anyway, this week's card sort of resembles a book. In fact, I started out covering two squares of chipboard and was planning to make it like this, but then I switched to just card stock.

I'm afraid I don't have any measurements other than it's 3.5" x 3.5". All other measurements after that I just eye-balled. So if you'd like to recreate it, you'll have to do a bit of measuring.

Here are the stamp sets I used, though. I bought these from scrapsupply.com: Autumn Leaves Universal Symbols and Pink Paislee Spring Fling. The paper I used is by Scenic Route.

Happy crafting everyone! Ooo... I just realized that my book club is today and I haven't read the book... oops! DANGIT! I don't want to go without reading the book! Hmm...

On to the video!

Hi all! It's been a whirlwind couple of days around here, to say the least. :)

As I mentioned before, my mom is moving to Arizona so we were packing up the house and getting her all ready to leave. Currently as I type this, the moving caravan should be pulling into my aunt's house in Phoenix where she'll be staying for a bit until she finds a permanent home. It was a sad morning saying our goodbyes before they left to drive to Arizona, but this will be such a good move for her. And I know she'll love living near her two sisters. :)

I've lived with her for nearly a year and a half and she's the best "roommate" I've ever had. Even if I had to put up with needles sticking me in the foot (quilting on the couch in the front room) and threads traveling about the house attached to my pant legs. I'll definitely miss her. In fact, I just might miss those needles and threads. :)

My friend Jen will be my new roommate, though. She's mad talented and also works at Stampin' Up! Talk about a fun time! She's a riot! Party at Jen and Kristina's! You're all invited!

Anyhow, my craft area is still a disaster. But I managed to create this little card using this week's colors. Hopefully ya'll will like it. :)

And here's this week's Round-Up. I had SO many entries this week and they were all excellent. You guys are making it REALLY hard to pick my top ten, let me tell ya! And I wish I had the time to respond to each and every comment/entry.

So, on to the round-up:

TOP TEN
TEN RANDOMLY SELECTED

Heads up! For those who were waiting for the Maya Road Name Stamp I used in this week's MACM, the it's back in stock over at scrapsupply.com. Happy shopping! :)

Hi all! Just a quick update for ya. :)

I'm in the middle of packing up my office at home because my mom is moving to Arizona and she's taking the office furniture with her. She has an awesome new job and is moving away real quick! Anyway, my computer will be packed away for a bit until I can get my desk out of storage.

What does this mean for you?

It means that I will not be posting this week's Color Inspiration Challenge Round-Up until tomorrow night. So even though the deadline for submissions is tonight, I won't post my top ten or randomly selected until Friday night.

Sorry for the delay and we'll get back on track ASAP. :) Thanks!

Hi all! Above is the Color Inspiration Challenge #6! The photo this week is borrowed from Mystic Valley Traders. They have the most gorgeous bedding--I can hardly stand it! I want it all! Anyhow, I was particular drawn to these colors. Have fun with it!

As usual, I'll share my card with you all when I post the Round-Up.

TAKE NOTE: There is only a small amount of green used in the photo, so remember to keep the Wild Wasabi to a minimum. :)

NOTE: The Name Stamp I list below is currently out of stock from scrapsupply.com, but they have more on order. So check back soon!

Hi all!

This week's card is for Annie! She was in the Salt Lake Marathon on Saturday! I'm so proud of her! GO ANNIE!

I really wanted to use some of the new stamps I bought from scrapsupply.com so this is the card I made. I totally fell in love with the Maya Road "Hello My Name is" stamp when I first saw it! I love a similar image that's in Stampin' Up!'s Messenger Accents & Elements, but as a stamp, I can use it over and over!

Not to mention these journaling background stamps (the dots)! HELLO! I love these for backgrounds!

I actually really struggled on which alphabet (stickers or stamps) to use for the "awesome." In fact, at first I was going to use some unmounted rubber stamps that needed to be put on EZMount first. I had video of me mounting the stamps, but then it didn't look quite right for this particular card. I'll save the video of using EZMount for another day. :)

Anyhow, on to the video!

Awesome videos from this YouTuber! Here's one I just found tonight (in two parts):

Hi all! Here we are again at the round-up! :)

Anyway, before we get to your submissions, here's the card I made. I wanted to create a super easy and simple card and this is what I came up with. :) Easily duplicated and I just love it!

Just a couple things to note. The Soft Sky flower was created by punching out a die-cut flower from Stampin' Up!'s Die-Cut Blooms and then tracing the cut-out onto the Soft Sky card stock. Then I stamped it using the Dotted background stamp. You can't really see the dots too well, but believe me, they're there. :)

Also, currently I'm a bit obsessed with these alpha stamps from Educational Insights. They're actually for elementary school kids! If you want to buy them as well, here's a link.

So, on to the submissions. I was so impressed with all the cards you guys made! So many beautiful cards that I had a tough time narrowing it down to my favorites. My first initial cut had 30 cards in it! AHH! So I had to whittle it down to ten.

Of course, the first ten are included as well. However, if one of the first ten was included in the top ten or if the link provided didn't work, I didn't include it.

Here ya go:

TOP TEN
FIRST TEN

(WARNING: Non-papercrafting related rant)

Okay, so some of you might know that I use Bare Minerals foundation (since I've mentioned it in the past). Anyway, I started using it about 5 months ago and I absolutely love it.

Anyway, when you order the starter kit, they offer to sign you up for their Bare Minerals Club. As a member of the club, they send you 2 jars of the foundation and 1 jar of the Mineral Veil powder every other month (or any other interval you specify up to 6 months) at a "20% discount." You also receive free gifts.

Well, I thought, "Why not! It's a great deal! And I won't have to drive to a store to buy it." :)

WHATEVER! I just realized that I'm being completely ripped off! Here's why...

As I mentioned above, you can buy Bare Minerals foundation and setting powder from Sephora (or sephora.com), at makeup counters in department stores, or at Bare Escentuals stores. (Bare Minerals is made by Bare Escentuals). You think you're getting a great deal buying from the club, especially considering that just one jar of the foundation costs $25 in-store, whereas you get 2 jars and 1 jar of the powder from the club for $39.98.

Good deal, right? Um, no.

What I failed to notice is that the in-store jars are HUGE compared the ones they send you in the mail from the club. Need some math? BTW, I've omitted the cost of shipping.

BARE MINERALS CLUB SHIPMENT - $39.98
Foundation - 2 jars, 2 grams(.06 oz) each. You get 4 grams of foundation total.
Mineral Veil Powder - 1 jar, 2 grams (.06 oz)
Actual cost - $6.66 per gram of product

BARE MINERALS (in-store) - $44.00
Foundation - 1 jar, 9 grams (.3 oz)
Mineral Veil Powder - 1 jar, 13.5 grams (.47 oz)
Actual cost - $1.96 per gram of product

Excuse me? HELLO! It's such a better deal to buy it from a store. Especially when you consider that fact that it's safe to store and use opened powder cosmetics for up to one year!

What about the "free gifts" you receive when you're a club member? Not even an issue for me. They sent me the same eye shadow twice. Um, thanks. Already have that one.

Bottom line: I LOVE Bare Minerals makeup. However, I learned my lesson. Do your homework. Don't get ripped off.

Hi all! It's time for another color inspiration! I hope you enjoy this one. :)

These pillows are from Pottery Barn and I just love the colors! So spring like! I just loved it! I am particularly drawn to the green and yellow--must be the hope that warm weather will come quicker!

Anyhow, here's the inspiration photo and the Stampin' Up! colors are listed below that.



Translated into Stampin' Up! colors:


Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Close to Cocoa

I'll be sure to post my card using this color combination in this week's round-up.

If you would like to be included in the Color Inspiration #5 Round-Up, get crackin'! This time, I'm going to include the first 10 posted, and also my top 10! So there will be a total of 20 cards in the round-up. I want to see your best work! You have two days to leave a comment on this entry with a link to your creation. Post your comment by 8:00 pm on Thursday.

Please make sure to include the http:// in the address to your creation. That tells my blogging software to make it a link. Thanks!

Hi all!

It's back to the usual schedule for Make a Card Monday! :)

This week, I decided to show you all how to create the woven ribbon square that I showed you a few days ago. I'm pretty sure nearly everyone learned simple weaving in elementary school, so this is super easy.

For this card I used Lisa Bearnson's kit for the month of April, and let me tell you--I love this kit! So many awesome pieces in it. I think they're just about sold out, but if there are some still available, you need to order it right now. Right now!

Anyhow, hope you enjoy this week's card!

Oh, and ya'll should head on over to Erica's blog and wish her a happy birthday. Happy Birthday, Erica!

So, for a while now, the web has been obsessed with these Cupcake Pops invented by Bakerella. Well, not too long ago, Annie made these little darlings for Cupcake Tuesday at work (yes, we have Cupcake Tuesday). Every Tuesday someone brings cupcakes (or muffins!) to share. Seriously, it's the best day of the week.

Here's Paula holding one of Annie's cupcake pops:



And then, guess what? Bakerella was on The Martha Stewart Show last week for Martha's Cupcake Week... Hello! WHY oh why did I have to be on a cruise when all this was happening!!

BUT! I love the internet. You know why? Because you can watch the archives! Click here for the recipe and video of Bakerella and Martha making the cupcake pops, and here for the archives of the entire Cupcake Week (March 31 - April 4). Wahoo! I'm currently catching up on all the cupcake segments. :)

Anyhow, hope ya'll are enjoying your Sunday. Here in Utah, it's a beautiful sunny day. :)

Self Portraits - Black card stock: Bazzill; Kraft card stock and flower: Stampin' Up!; scalloped card, envelope, long card, date sticker, small brad, chipboard arrow: Lisa Bearnson Kit of the Month; ribbon: Love Elsie for KI Memories; alphabet stickers and large brad: American Crafts; fonts: Rosewood and Avenir.

Hi all! I used this week's Color Inspiration Challenge as a jumping off point for the cards for my monthly card club. So, these are the two cards we'll be making tomorrow night.

For the first card, I weaved Chocolate Chip wide grosgrain and wrapped the edges around a 2x2 piece of card stock. I thought it looked so awesome! The idea occurred to me earlier today so I just had to try it. What do you think?

And on to the first 25 cards left in the comments of yesterday's entry...

Hi all! Just a small update before we get to the Color Inspiration for this week. I went to the doctor yesterday and she suspects my leg is badly bruised, as opposed to having something broken. I just have a huge hematoma (about 5 inches long and 4 inches wide) just barely below my knee that will taken months to heal. :(

I didn't have much pain until the last few days, which is one of the reasons I wasn't too concerned about it while on the cruise. Apparently, there will be more pain as the blood drains down my leg because of gravity. It look like the bruise is growing instead of healing... oh well!

Anyway, on with the Color Inspiration... This week's picture comes from West Elm...



Translated into Stampin' Up! colors:


Very Vanilla, Tempting Turquoise, Taken with Teal, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa

I haven't had a chance to create a card for this combo, so I'll upload my card when I do the CI #4 Round-Up. Speaking of, if you want to be a part of the round-up, QUICK! Hurry! Go make a card! And then leave a link to your card within the comments for this entry. The first 25 cards submitted will be included in the round-up. :)

BTW, you don't have to use all of the colors. The color combo is just a beginning. :)

Hi kids!

Unfortunately, there will not be a MACM this week. I got back home from the cruise late late Saturday night (more like early early Sunday morning). I spent the day in bed, sleeping and icing my leg.

I'm actually going to my doctor today because I think the injury is a bit more serious than first imagined. :(

I keep looking down at my leg and thinking, "My gosh, it looks like I've been in a car accident or something." And then I realize that essentially, I have. I have bruises everywhere, including my right hand which you would have seen had I had the energy to make the MACM video.

This sucks.

No pictures of the leg. Sorry. I did take one, but was all grossed out just looking at it. And it's my leg I was looking at! No one, I mean NO ONE, needs to see it. Seriously.

I will have a Color Inspiration Challenge for ya'll tomorrow, though. :) Watch for that.

Apparently, some people people on our cruise can drive scooters. :)

And most Bermudians drive scooters, too.

Went on a tour of Hamilton and St. George yesterday. Bermuda is acutally only 21 square miles, with the widest portion being only 1-1/2 miles wide, so we covered nearly everything on our tour.

The view of the water near Hamilton.

We went to one of the lighthouses here in Bermuda and I was fascinated with the bright red shutters on the lighthouse's windows. Love it!

Outside some shops in St. George. The street were pretty empty because we're actually the first cruise ship of the tourist season. Generally, people don't start coming for a few weeks from now.

A home in Bermuda. The owners collected old apple juice bottles, and filled them with colorful waters. I guess the bright colors keep stray dogs and cats away.

Taken from the bus window as we drove by.

This is the view from my bus window as we sped across a bridge. Bermuda is made up of many little islands, so there are many bridges.

At John Smith Beach. We got out of the bus for a few minutes. Sadly, we couldn't stay longer.

One of the historic homes in Bermuda, this is Verdmont. It was so awesome! What makes this home unique is the fact that even though it was built hundreds of years ago, it still is in its original condition. Only three different families have owned it, the third being the historical society in Bermuda. For some reason, the owners have never upgraded the interior to include indoor plumbing or electricity. It literally is just as it was when it was built.

We finished out the day by going on a glass bottom boat tour over one of the many reefs. I didn't get any good fish photos (the glass was super thick), but I did get a photo of the gorgeous sunset. My word, the sunsets here are amazing.

As for today, I've spent the day on the ship. I finally went to the infirmary on the ship last night because my knee was looking pretty bad. Nothing they could do except to tell me to take some ibuprofen and try to relax. Thanks. Oh, and they gave me a tetnus (sp?) shot. Joy. Now my arm hurts, too.

Basically, the doctor said I'm lucky I didn't break anything. I hit one side of knee really bad, and it looks like the bruise goes all the way through to the other side. Believe me, it's not pretty. A war wound. Seriously.

But, hey, for those from work who are checking in, I have to say that I'm not the only one who's had some adventures on and falling off a scooter. Angie had a run in with a palm tree, but no worries. She's just fine. No injuries, the stinker! I hit a curb and come back all black and blue--she practically drives a scooter up a tree, and rolls over onto the grass and starts laughing! :)

BTW, thanks for all your well wishes. If anything, I think my stupid injuries are making me slow down a bit and relax. In fact, this morning, I went to the hydrotherapy pool, thermal beds (some heat for my back), and then read out by the pool. I was pretty slathered up with sunscreen yesterday so I don't look like I've even been in the sun, but today I didn't wear any. I was laying in the sun for about 20 minutes. Didn't want to chance it. I think I have a slight bit of color, but let's face it. I'm either red or white. There's no in between. So I"m just trying to not go home extremely red. :)