My Thoughts Exactly Summer Collection

Hello Everyone.

I thought I would see what I could do with the Hello Summer Stamp set and was inspired to make a COLLECTION, like a fashion show, but for cards. I used the same colors and mood to create these 2 looks:

I am a big fan of buttons...

I used the same Tim Holtz flower dies for both cards.

In the above photo, I used the ball as centers for the die cut flowers. It is a perfect 1 inch! Genius Alyssa! The balls are stamped in versa mark and then clear embossed. I also just used the hello from the sentiment to create a more generic card. Easy Peasy!

playing around with lighting and setting for my photos. Although both of these were taken in natural light, they do not look very natural...experimenting again, my scientist husband will be proud!

Winner and a Blog Makeover!

OMG...there were so many comments/entries that I was shocked! Thank you all so much for joining our hop. I had fun checking out all the cool shaped cards, you guys know how it's done, that's for sure.

Notice some new stuff around here? I decided to give my blog a makeover thanks to some cool people. Easy as 1,2,3:

1. Browsing through the internet, I found the coolest blog by a pretty lady named Stefanie. I loved the feel of this blog oh so very much. She takes gorgeous photos of foods and has cool fonts too. You can find it here or http://lovelylittlesnippets.blogspot.com/ (I emailed Stefanie and hope she is ok with me borrowing her element...). I also discovered a blogger who makes gorgeous layouts and she was having fun redesigning her friends blogs and it just seemed fun. You can find MEGAN KLAUER DESIGN and her oh so cool blog here.

2. I showed it to Alyssa, owner of My Thoughts Exactly Stamp Company who found the elements for me. Thank you Alyssa. Now how do I get it on my blog says the lady who doesn't know HTML, only HCTZ (hydrochlorothiazide, a diuretic for blood pressure)?

3. A message to Nina Yang (a fellow Gallery Idol winner and computer wizard) and some conversation and there you have it, a brand new blog. I love it! It's fresh and just perfect for me!!!

And now for the winner of my prize package for the Shaping Up Blog Hop...

Laura Bassen! You have won my prize package!!!! I need your address please...

I LOVE Babies!

If you are looking for the Shaping Up Blog Hop and Giveaway, click here.


Runway Inspired Challenge has 2 DT members, Sarah and Cristina, who just had babies. I love babies. Got some myself. You know these things come in three's, don't you RIC?

Here is the inspirational photos. Darling babies...never could make these babies, just not in my gene pool. I make tan babies, hehe...

For Cristina's Boy...

I don't have any plaid stamps, so I opted to do the black stripes instead. 

And for Sarah's Girl: 

Her textured cardigan parts in the middle and the cream dress inspired the card. I put the sentiment on the inside that says "it's a girl" because I couldn't figure out where to stick it on the front.

May they both enjoy this special time with their precious peanuts!

If you would like to see a cute card video by my daughter Sophia, see the previous post. She would love feedback. I think she did a great job!

Wida

Guest Blogger: Sophia 2

If you are looking for the Shaping Up Blog Hop and Giveaway, click here.

It's summer and while my husband is away on a business trip, the kids and are are enjoying Spiderman (my son's new favorite), interesting foods (since the fridge is broken down), and card making. Sophia wanted to take a crack at video card making. Why not I say! She designed this card, edited the photo, and did the video in just a few hours. With some editing help from me, I present her card and video!!

I am a proud mama!!

Wida

Shaping Up Blog Hop & Giveaway

It is the day of the BLOG HOP! Did you just join me from AGA? Welcome! Some of the Paper Crafts Gallery Idol top 20 winners have gotten together for some inspirational fun with shaped cards.  We each are also offering a prize package from our Gallery Idol winnings and some other fun stuff!

Here is a little mini card for a summer wedding or anytime really! The flower is a dogwood which blooms spring to early summer.

check out my fancy pics...no window sill! And Laura Bassen, are you loving the card? Thank you for the tips...ALL of them!

The card with some staging and cool editing thanks to a tip from Kasia Curry!

Here is the line up:

JJ Bolton

http://rgcards.blogspot.com/

Cheiron Brandon

http://www.cheironbrandon.typepad.com/

Heather Campbell

http://parkermolly.blogspot.com/

Joscelyne Cutchens

http://www.cutchens.com/

Jennifer Ingle

http://justjingle.blogspot.com/

Amy Kolling

http://stamp-n-paradise.blogspot.com/

Agnieszka Malyszek

http://justmadefrompaper.blogspot.com/

Wida Miller

http://beachorado.blogspot.com/

Jocelyn Olson

http://redballooncards.blogspot.com/

Miriam Prantner

http://mprantner.blogspot.com/

Anita Recksiedler

http://craftygrldesigns.blogspot.com/

Elena Roussakis

http://justmeprints.blogspot.ca/

Erin Lee Schreiner

http://www.erinleecreative.com/

Dana Warren

www.kraftpaperstamps.blogspot.com/

Laurie Willison

http://soapboxcreations.blogspot.com/

Tessa Wise

http://www.craftygrl.blogspot.com/

Nina Yang 

http://waffleflower.com/

My humble prize package...

There are 2 ways to win, either by leaving a comment here on this post and/or by linking up your own NEW shaped card below (multiple entries are OK). You may already know that Paper Crafts is also having a challenge with shaped cards, found here, so why not link up with us too for an extra chance to win! I am including my 2 winning cards from the Gallery Idol competition too (seems fitting). This giveaway ends Sunday July 29th 11:59 EST.

The next stop is JOCELYN!


Good Luck, and hope you will come back for a visit some time, if you don't want to miss a single post, feel free to click the "follow" button or I can send you the posts via email! Whatever works for you ;)

Wida

Make Your Own Garland...the Wida Way

For my birthday, my friend Marcy gave me this cool garland by My Mind's Eye.

I love this garland, the colors, the cute factor, makes me want to covet it, admire it, and never ever use it. (see? it's still in the package) UNTIL, I tried making one! Here's how it's done...

STEP ONE: get your MTE Hello Summer stamp set and stamp a bunch of them on some card stock.

STEP TWO: punch them out with a 1 inch punch. It fits perfectly. (Alyssa is a genius)

STEP THREE: feed the circles into your sewing machine setting it to a small straight stitch.

STEP FOUR: Use as you wish!

I turned some of the circles over to the white side for some visual interest. For the sentiment, I used Mustache Mania stamp set.

Ok, that's it for me! 

PS...TOMORROW IS THE BIG BLOG HOP HOSTED BY THE GALLERY IDOL GIRLS OF 2012 WITH BIG PRIZES! SEE YOU THEN!

Wida

Paranoid thoughts, Paper Made Bakery, and Problems

I think I really need to get some sleep because I just had a horrible thought! Do you ever fear that one day you will post something and no one will comment? 

Blog month 7: PARANOIA sets in. 

Let's make a pact that if that happens to you, or me, we will email each other quick and comment for one another so it's not as lonely. Maybe start Rapid Response Team like they do in hospitals where a bunch of people are on alert and will comment on your/my sad and dying post. LOL!

I got on a new design team for Paper Made Bakery-A kit club that chooses ingredients for you to cook up good stuff with! (clever eh?) I think the concept of kits are cool. I wanted to see what I could come up with if given a select group of cool supplies that I might not gravitate toward, you know, get out of a rut of always going for the same types of paper, stamps etc. A way to push your creative comfort zone if you will.  

I will be posting every Sunday...so get out your coffees or teas and your m&m's, and plan on a visit here.

Lastly,  my floors are now damaged from my broken fridge and they are going to need replaced. I just had them finished a year ago when we moved in! My new fridge doesn't come for another 2 weeks. I can't seem to catch a break. I think tomorrow will be a day of prayer for me. Only God can make this better!

Guess I will go to sleep now. 

Good night. 

Wida

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Hello Everyone!

Where did I go? Let me just get right to chapter 6 of the blogging handbook...if you have a blog and go on vacation, have some back up posts ready and plan ahead. Uhhh, I didn't do that.

But after a broken fridge, a speeding ticket, changes at work, and a blog boo boo (sorry Alyssa), all in a weeks time, I am getting back on track.

My oh so favorite challenge blog...Runway Inspired Challenge has a delicious prize and I want it! A guest design spot for the winner this time around. I am going to give it my all.

And my inspiration? My friend Yuki, who makes effortless, happy cards and I love everything she makes. So I made a card I think she would like.

I am entering this in the Casual Fridays Challenge too which calls for using strips of color on a clean and simple card. I think I did that!

I missed you, 

Wida

Embellish Telephone Color Trends Challenge

I wasn't sure if I was going to have time for this, but I had this little idea in my head and I wanted to give it a try. Inspired by Pinterest (of course).

http://pinterest.com/pin/51509989458548998/

I just loved the colors and the idea...

This card is Ashley Inspired. I was in the mood to try something a little more embellished (haha). I didn't even realize this till after I made the card, but my rows of buttons match the rows in the background of the photo! 

and when it hangs down, it says "CALL ME"

Ok, guess that is it. not a single stamp used! 

Wida

Gift Card Holder the Wida Way!

Before I get to the card, I wanted to remind everyone that their is a new challenge starting up at My Thoughts Exactly Blog and the theme is SUMMER FUN. There is a guest designer position up for grabs along with prizes for everyone and 2 grand prizes! Details can be found here. If you are looking for the perfect stamp set for this challenge, check this cutie for only 2.95:

Today I am showing you how I made this graphic looking card using scraps and the Interactive Card Phrases stamp set.

1. cut 1/2 inch strips of the colors of your choice (I used scraps)

2. tape them down really well in a vertical pattern

3. round the corners using a 1/4inch corner rounder

4. cut the small square on a diagonal 1/4 of the way down from the top

5. stamp the arrow (I left this very generic so I may use it for a birthday or graduation, I can always stamp additional sentiments on the inside

6. glue the top portion flat, pop up the bottom portion

7. stamp "lift me" and punch out using the Stampin' Up word window punch

8. attach tag to the money using baker's twine

9. admire your work, preferably with peanut m&m's!

I discovered a new revelation about blogging...Chapter 5, EXECUTION IS CRITICAL. Last night as I was making this card, the Runway Inspired Challenge post came up. I looked admiringly at the DT entries and I realized that the execution of their ideas were flawless. I made a decision that I would deliver the same. The best bloggers not only have great ideas, but the workmanship is excellent. I am going to focus on that aspect of my card making now. (I just keep setting the bar higher and that is just fine with me!)

Wida

Moxi Fab World Hello Challenge

Moxi Fab World is having a Stamp It! Cards Week Challenge and I am entering the above to the HELLO cards category. 

The card was pretty simple, thanks to my friend Marcy who helped me make it. 

1. Take a one inch square punch and punch out shapes in the desired color scheme (mine is rainbow, my favorite).  

2. Die cut the cloud. I used the negative for this card.

3. stamp the Hello sentiment

4. raise color block panel on pop ups.

PS. use lots of tape because, honest these were down great but then they started to lift like that blue one that is bothering me A LOT!!!

My inspiration, sorry, I can't remember the source:

Thanks for stopping by!

Wida