twice in one day...

don't fall over with surprise shock excitement...

Another previously uninked HA background-sized stamp... this time using SU! Close to Cocoa and then misting with water on watercolour paper.

stamped today...

using some new Hero Arts goodies that had not yet seen ink (I know, some of you have just fallen off your chairs... I have too many stamps that have not seen ink yet, and I have resolved to resolve that!).  I love that cloud stamp... and the grass was made with my MS Fringe Scissors!! This card was totally inspired by this cute card from the fabulous Mariana Grigsby!

there's a first time for everything...

and today was the first time I took photos for someone I didn't know (ie. not a friend or family member!)!!! GULP! I was sooooo nervous, but 10-day-old Ms.K was super patient with me, and her parents and big sis rocked the pictures! I hope they like them as much as I do! What a little angel:

I recently took a PSE class for beginners & am happily learning that I love actions, specifically free actions like the ones I just downloaded from Ree (aka. PDub / The Pioneer Woman)! Above is PW's Black & White and, below is a favourite, PW's Black & White Beauty (look at those gorgeous eyes!):

One more action that is quickly becoming a favourite is PW's Lovely... below is the original photo:

and then this next one is with PW's Lovely run on it:

Looking at it now, on the web, the difference may not be all that apparent; however, the colours are just a little bit more saturated and everything is softened just a little...

My eyes are boggled from staring at my computer for over 3 hours now, so will post a few more peeks when I'm done going through the photos!

Vicky at Clips-N-Cuts is celebrating 100 posts and is inviting all of us paper crafty peeps to connect. It's a script similar to Mr. Linky - when you add your blog's URL here, it will show up on everyone else's page too! I think it's a cool way to connect with other crafty bloggers. Vicky is shooting for 1000. Can we do it? I think we can!

Paper Crafts blog hop!
1. Add your blog!
2. Copy the script below and paste it on your blog post while in HTML view.

nom nom nom...

NOM! 

*** please do not continue to read this post if you don't like ooey, gooey, chocolatey nommy goodness!***

Don't say I didn't warn you:

Black Russian Cake (courtesy of harleysmom's mom)

Cake:

1 box Devil's Food cake mix (called for Duncan Heinz but we used whatever was on sale)

1 box (4 ounces) instant chocolate pudding mix

4 eggs

3/4 cup brewed strong coffee - room temperature

3/4 cup coffee liqueur

3/4 cup creme de cacao

1/2 cup oil

Preheat oven to 350.  Grease and flour a 10 inch bundt pan.  Blend all the ingredients together (yes, I really did use ALL of the required eggs and liquid, even though it seems like it's too runny!).  Beat at medium speed until batter forms.  Pour into pan and bake about 45 minutes or until tester comes out clean.  (I had mine in the oven for about 55 minutes.)  Cool in the pan for 10 minutes - then invert onto a baking rack.

Glaze:

1 cup icing sugar

2 tblsp. coffee - room temperature

2 tblsp. coffee liqueur

2 tblsp. creme de cacao

Combine in a bowl.  Spoon or brush glaze over the inverted cake.  Pierce top and sides with a fork to help glaze soak in.  Cool completely.  Dust with icing sugar before serving if desired.  Enjoy!

as promised...

I said I'd give you the details as soon as I could, so here you go:

Contact me, or use the link above to shop 24/7 at my online store if you need to stock up on some of your favourites!

ch...ch...ch...changes...

I have a little update for you with some exciting news from Stampin' Up! It's called a Colour Renovation, and it's a little scary and a lot exciting - big changes in the works for the July Idea Book & Catalogue.

If you are anything like me, you probably have one or two (or 10!) colours in your stash that you bought but just never use... or perhaps you bought a whole colour family and find you only use a few of your favourites?  I must admit that while I do try to stick to what I love (& therefore know I will use),  I have a few colours that I bought to 'step out of my comfort zone' but they are, for the most part, sadly neglected... The same is true for some colours that I got as a part of my package when I signed up to be a demonstrator.  Well, as part of the Colour Renovation, the current colour families will be changed up -  there will be 4 new colour collections, combining current colours with previous In Colours, as well as 5 totally new colours! 

Essentially, this means we are losing some (of my favourite) colours (goodbye Mellow Moss, Sage Shadow, Perfect Plum & Really Rust... {sigh}), but getting some old favourites back - hello Pink Pirouette, Baja Breeze, Tangerine Tango, Riding Hood Red & Wild Wasabi!

So, here is what I know for sure right now:

The current colour families are changing to colour collections:  Brights, Neutrals, Regals, Subtles with 10 colours in each.

Older, less popular colours are retiring.

The 7 most popular In Colours are returning (unfortunately, Kiwi Kiss is not one of them, but I do get Baja Breeze & Tangerine Tango, so let's embrace the happy changes, eh?!!).

5 new In Colours will also be announced, and In Colours will be available for 2 year terms.

I'll post more information as soon as I can (like the PDF of the luscious new colours!); meanwhile, if you have any questions, please check out the Stampin' Up! website or contact me.