Enhanced red card

So this is a enhanced version of this card. I am not sure it helped LOL

Just out of curiosity

I decided to see what this looks like enhanced using the Jasc 8.0 photo software I have and never use. Its not user friendly IMO. It makes it hard to figure out if I should use it or not. Some colors look so much darker than they really are. What do you think? I really should try it using red paper.....red is my hardest to photograph.

Papertrey Ink B-I-A book

I love my BIA! I could make notebook all day long! It's so fun! I got these blue coils in El Paso and thought they would look good with the new Papertrey Ink Aquamarine and Moss colors. The chipboard was covered to match. I am very pleased with how it came out.

Hey Sugar valentine booklet

Here is another project I made while in El Paso. Its a pre-printed booklet for your sweetheart for valentines day. I still haven't finished the inside pages yet. I started the journaling but haven't gotten very far. I need to locate some photos to include in it too.

Bind-It-All Birdie Book

Here is another one of the projects I made while visiting my friends in El Paso. Its a 4 x 4 chipboard book, bound using a Bind-it-all. I have my own BIA now because of these little chipboard books that I love so much. I used the Always stamp set by Stampin Up, I can not remember the name of this paper and I used a bunch of it and should remember, but I can't. I want to say its Crate Paper.

* Okay....Jody says its Cosmo Cricket hey Sugar paper, thank you Jody

The "Jody" Basket

Well, here it is, the Jody basket from Jody . Mine is not as neat as hers is, not as tight, and my brads don't have perfect placement, but I did it! I plan to tie ribbon on it and decorate it up a bit. It was very easy to follow her directions and didn't take me all that long to finish. I was interrupted a few times so it took me a little longer than it should have. Its very cute.

What is the hidden meaning of my name:

I got this off Amanda's blog and thought it was kinda cool

What Karen Means

You are a seeker of knowledge, and you have learned many things in your life. You are also a keeper of knowledge - meaning you don't spill secrets or spread gossip. People sometimes think you're snobby or aloof, but you're just too deep in thought to pay attention to them. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun. You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together. You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people. You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts. You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals.

What's" Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

The aftermath.........AKA disaster area

Okay....you asked for it! The worlds messiest desk! I will get it cleaned up tomorrow, maybe!

* PS I have had some questions reguarding my inkpad holders, they were from dyzntec or something like that and the company went out of business a couple years ago.

My stickles are still wet LOL! Colored with Spica glitter pens. Paper is called Salsa Celebrationz! It is very Fiesta-ish and goes with margaritas to me. After these challenges I need a margarita or three!

A Muse # 3

A Muse challenge #3........sketch challenge. *phew* I am way behind!

A Muse # 2

Masculine card using A muse................colored with watercolor crayons. Boy, I really need more masculine sets!

A Muse Virtual Stamp #1

No coloring, but no one said anything about glittering!

Friends Forever Elzybells

Papertrey Ink meets Elzybells. The new Aqua and Moss cardstock from Papertrey Ink were used for inspiration on my coloring. I had to find the best match with my prismacolor Pencils to color these images. The pallette inks just don't look all that great to watercolor an image this small. I also broke out the swiss dot embossing folder for my cuttlebug. Big fun! I added a little bling by way of Heidi Swapp Flower bling and a couple crystals. I may use this as my entry in the A Muse Addicts March home page contest.

Blue Sky Thanks

Here is another card that I made this weekend using the Live Your Dream set. We were working from sketches that Jody found on the internet on blogs and I wish I knew who to credit for the sketch , but I don't know.

• Paper: Blue Sky, Afternoon Tea, White
• Inks: Close to Cocoa, Sky
• Stamps, Live Your Dream , CHF backgrounder
• Accessories: Deminsionals, Oval punches, Brads, Circle punch
  

Wasabi dream

For this card I used the stamp set Living your dream. It is a nice floral set that lends itself to several styles in my opinion. I went with the boho look this time. The little crystals in the flower centers are swavorski crystals and they are a great way to embellish a card. They add just a touch of bling. Lots of sewing on this one too.

Essence Of Love

I just love this stamp set and I will be buying it as soon as I can. This is one of the cards I made at jody's house this weekend.

• Paper: Guava, Afternoon Tea, Chocolate chip
• Inks: Chocolate chip craft ink, white craft, cocoa
• Stamps: Essence of Love, Enfrancais, CHF backgrounder
• Accessories: Brads, word window punch
  

Elzybell and pretty papers

Here is one of the cards I made at Jody's house this weekend. I borrowed her Elzybells, watercolor crayons, glitter and ribbon and special papers. Its great to have a friend so willing to share! The paper is from the SU level one hostess gifts. I love it and I plan to order a 150.00 worth of SU just to get that paper pad because it rocks! I wish SU would make it available in the next catty to purchase.

Home from a little stampin' weekend in El Paso

I feel so blessed to have great stamping friends to go and hang out with! I was able to spend the weekend in El Paso with my buddies Jody and Tracy this past weekend. Tracy lives in Lamesa, Tx, a little town outside of Lubbock. She drove out to Jody's house last Thursday. I flew out to El Paso on Friday. We have another friend named Tracy that lives in El Paso and she came over as well to have a good old fashioned slumber party. We shopped until we dropped, gambled briefly at the casino (for me of course :), ate really good food, stayed up late stamping and giggling, and had the best time all around. We really know how to trash a room when we stamp don't we? I will photograph some of the things we made a little later. I need to get back in the groove here at the house now. Reality bites! I had so so much fun I can't wait for the next time!

A Muse Stamp of the Week challenge # 2 Kissing Couple

This week over at the A Muse site the stamp of the week is The Kissing Couple. Here is my card for the challenge.

Van De Walle's Go to the Fair

My kids had Monday-Wednesday off this week from school because of a teachers conference so we enjoyed a 5 day weekend. We were originally supposed to go to Mardi Gras to visit my friends in Slidell, LA for our annual tradition of parade watching and bead catching. Unfortunatly my car broke down and was in the shop for several expensive days. We had to cancel the Mardi Gras trip which is very sad for us. We have been going for years and we have so many fun memories from each trip! I had my daughters car available, so we decided to attend the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo. This year my husbands family was being honored and had a special display in the Hall of Fame exhibit hall. I wanted to take my kids to show them some of their heritage. The exhibit will be moved into the Institute Of Texan Cultures after the rodeo closes which is very cool. I took a few pictures to show you the displays. Van De Walle Farms was a major influence in San Antonio's farming community and then they became famous for the picante sauce in 1985 up until last year when they sold the company. They were the original Belgium imigrants at the end of the 1800's that migrated into Texas by way of Galveston. They settled in the South San Antonio area and the rest is history.

My husbands grandpa is responsible for the building of the San Antonio Market downtown now known as El Mercado. It was his vision to have a fresh fruit and vegitable market area for all the local growers to sell their produce. Its very cool to know my kids have such a great heritage.

The kids also rode a few rides, ate some junk, pet some animals, and watched the rodeo and we got to see a Brooks and Dunn concert....We had a lot of fun!