So Many Candles...

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!!!  Congratulations Rebecca!  Rebecca was the first to comment with the correct answer...my birthday is March 16.  Rebecca, your prize will be mailed to you in the next couple days!

On to today's card.  Since it's "all birthday, all week", I wanted to do something not cake or cupcake...you'll see more cupcakes later this week, and I don't want you to get sick of cupcakes!  So I went with candles.

I *heart* the way this turned out...even though it looked nothing like this in my head when I came up with it!!!  I started with a Marina Mist base and then a layer of Perfect Plum, which I ran through the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder and stamped with a saying from the "It's Your Birthday" set (Occasions Mini) and Certainly Celery Craft ink.

The candles are on a Top Note shape (cut out of both Certainly Celery and Whisper White, layered together).  The candles are made with strips of the Subtles Patterns DSP Stack.  It's finished off with some flames (So Saffron) and a piece of Marina Mist Taffeta ribbon.

That gives you a close up of the candles and the sentiment.  So, for today's March Madness giveaway...What punch did I use to make the candle flames?  The first person to post a comment with the correct answer will win a package of...

Drumroll please.....

Paper Daisies!!!  Remember, you have to be the first to comment with the correct answer to win!  Good luck!  Sorry, due to SU Demonstrator policies, today's giveaway is only valid in Canada.

Bingo Square:  Pacific Point Snowflake

Have an inspired day!

Simple Cupcake

Happy Sunday!  Whew...taxes are done, and I'm also caught up for my 2011 taxes too (we'll see how long that lasts!!!).  It's my birthday week, and I have some fun stuff planned, so let's get started!

I have a great simple birthday card to share with you today.  This card would be super easy to mass produce in a ton of colors and have on hand for those birthdays that you *gasp* forget!!!

It's a simple white base (my fav Note Cards with Envelopes!!).  I added a Melon Mambo layer, a Whisper White layer and a super cute stamped and punched cupcake.  Did you notice the button on the cupcake?  It has a rhinestone on it!!!!!!

The ruffled ribbon is a piece of Daffodil Delight Striped Grosgrain that I cut in half.  I pulled some of the strings out of the cut edge to make a little fringe.  It's gathered by being stuck on a piece of Sticky Strip.  So easy to do and you get such a fun result!

Yesterday I mentioned that my version of March Madness was going to start today.  Did I spark your curiosity?  Here's how it will work.  Each post that I make from now until the end of March will have a prize up for grabs.  How exciting is that?!?!?  I will ask a question, issue a challenge, or just give something away to someone random.  Today, to kick things off, I have a question and the first person who comments with the correct answer will win this...

It's a notepad holder!  The first person to comment with the correct answer will win it AND a project instruction sheet so you can make them for your friends, family and anyone else you want to give one to.  So, the question today is...What date is my birthday?  Remember, the first one to comment with the correct answer will win.

Bingo Square:  Bravo Burgundy Ornament

Have an inspired day! 

A Hot Date

No projects today!  I have a hot date with my taxes today...ugh, I loathe doing my taxes.  You would think I would learn and keep up with it throughout the year, but no, that's not the case!

Anyway, I wanted to let you know that starting tomorrow it will be All Birthday, All Week!  I'm so excited!  And, my version of March Madness is going to start tomorrow.  Trust me, you're not going to want to miss it!

Bingo Square:  Pear Pizzazz Leaf

Have an inspired day...wish me luck with my taxes and stop by tomorrow for some birthday fun!

Commitment Issues

The other day the doorbell rang at lunch.  I had my hands full, and Kevin happened to be home for lunch so he answered the door, gave a wave to the delivery guy and brought in three packages from Stampin' Up!.  Just another normal day in my life, I was expecting some backordered product anyway...except I got a white box from Stampin' Up!.  I know, you're thinking whatever Lisa, it's just a white box.  But seriously, in 8 1/2 years, I have NEVER got a little white box from Stampin' Up!.  I think I asked Kevin about 3 times if he was sure it was from Stampin' Up! and got a nasty reply from him each time...something like "yes Lisa, I do know how to read"!!!  Of course, curiosity got the better of me and lunch for the kiddos had to wait while I opened it to see what they sent me!

It was my very first My Digital Studio book!  We unwrapped it and had a look right away and I have to say I'm thrilled with the results!  I "sat" on this book for a loooong time before sending it away to be printed...commitment issues!  I have created a lot of stuff with My Digital Studio, but it just sits on my computer.  There's something so final about that submit button when it comes time to print!

So, since I got my book back, I'm going to show you it.  And, rather than put a boatload of pictures here for you to see, I saved my book as a MOVIE for you!!!  Isn't that exciting?  Now, I hope it works and you can see it...so bear with  me if I have to fiddle a bit with it.

Drumroll please....

So, what do you think?  The cool thing is that I had 4 copies of the book printed so I could send them to some very special family members that we don't see very often.  I know they will be super surprised when they open their mail in the next couple weeks (I'm kinda sad I can't be there to see the looks on their faces!!!).

Today I learned that I need to get over those My Digital Studio commitment issues and not be afraid of the submit button.  I also learned how to easily upload videos to my blog!  And, I've decided that I'm going to add Movie Producer to my list of skills!!!!  *grin*

Today's Bingo Square:  Tempting Turquoise Gumball Machine (I know I haven't posted in a few days, but I still drew bingo squares and you can find all of them by clicking on the Bingo tab).

Have an inspired day!

An Oldie, but Goodie!

For my last Beveled Windowpane card, I dusted off an oldie but goodie technique!  The windowpane is just a basic windowpane, and in this case, I used it to highlight a stamped image...which it does beautifully!

The background of this card is my favorite part.  I started by stamping the raspberry image from Clearly For You with Versamark and then rubbed pastels over the stamped images with a Q-tip.  It's called Poppin' Pastels and I think it's the first technique I ever learned as a demonstrator!  After I was done coloring (which you have to do quickly so the ink doesn't dry...if the ink dries, the chalk won't stick to it and the technique won't work), I stamped the En Francais background over it with Crumb Cake ink.  It's amazing what stamping that background stamp over the stamped images does for the card!

I love how the background stamp isn't solid which adds a "vintagey" (is that even a word?), aged look to the background.  And look, I used a button!  *grin*

BINGO Square:  Rose Red Purse

Have an inspired day!