A picture of the Blog Candy!

Hello my fellow bloggers! It is a very beautiful but cold day here in Maryland. For those who have asked the question about snow, the answer is currently we do not have any snow on the ground. It is getting later in the year and we really don't expect to get any after around the 20th of February or so. The scanner may be dead, but the digital camera still works. Above is a picture of the blog candy. Its not too late to leave comments or contact me directly. I will draw tomorrow and announce the winner! There are also a few surprises that will be added to the mix that I hope you will enjoy. It isn't the best picture, but at least you can kinda see stuff. I am working on trying to get our vacation plans down. It may still be cold out, but we are just so excited to be able to go to Carolina Beach, North Carolina again this year. As an added treat, we will have my niece Melissa for a month in June and July. I'd love to have her ALL the time, but one step at a time! I just got my Hanna stamps yersterday, I got the 'a clean house is a sign of a lazy stamper' set yesterday, i came up with a cute card and used my 'I'd rather be stamping' stamp with her. It is cute, I'll try and get the picture posted tomorrow. Oh here is another hint as to the instrument that I play. It is made primarly of wood. Happy stamping! Loretta R. ms.rhetta@verizon.net

Hanging Treat Box

This is my version of the splitcoast Hanging Treat Box This project is fun and easy. There are so many possibilities for this treat box. I can see it being used with those cute little slim quick snacks and some bottled water for that friend who is trying to get into shape. Speaking of shape, I was diagnosed with Diabetes today. I got to talk to a great nutritionist. I confess to be a carb tripping (bread is my vice) kinda girl. Now that I've hit my early 40's things are just well.... I need to make one of the hanging treat boxes with the slim fast bars for me! Life will change dramatically for me, but I am actually looking forward to becoming healthier. With this in mind, I'm adding to my BLOG CANDY, I will include a hanging treat box. It will not be the same as the one shown. And unless I can peel my husband away from the 'main' computer, my scanner is now in the garbage. It is so sad... I've had that thing for like 7 years. We'll make this even more interesting. After a nearly 10 year absence, I have picked up an instrument. The first one to guess it correct will receive a card. Here is a hint, I'm not an 'oboe' kinda girl. If you have a guess, email it to me directly at ms.rhetta@verizon.net. I welcome emails and comments, Since I am fairly new to this blog I want to grow my readership. My ultimate goal is to be picked up by a few more stamp companies as a designer. Stamping is my true passion. Beginning today, every week I will feature either a blog or websight that I enjoy to visit. This week we will start with one of my favorites. Even though I am a seasoned stamper, I love this websight. Linda Heller's Stamping school is worth the small (I think) $29.00. Its great for those days when you just need to relax and watch someone else involved in the creative process. She even has a blog with free videos so check out the websight and snoop around. Disclaimer: I am not paid to *encoruage* you to visit any blogs or websights, it is my free choice to either encourage or discourage visits. I will take a moment to encourage each of you to submitt those great projects for publication. You never know what will happen. It is so worth seeing a project you worked for in print for the masses! Happy Stamping to all! Loretta

A Happy Card and BLOG Candy

This is a great birthday card for a child, I just love the way it turned out! This card uses Stamps from Whipper Snapper Designs Here is the recipe: Happy Birthday Stamps: Whipper Snapper Heart Balloon Clown LY853 “Happy Birthday” Rubber Soul Paper: Basic Gray TSC-1053 Card Stock: Yellow, orange, red and white Other: Checked Ribbon, Crystal Lacquer, buttons, tape, trimmer, pop dots, water color pencils and blender pen, decorative clip, glitter, cuttlebug embossing folder, sizzix machine & tag die, versamark ink, staz on black ink. Instructions 1.Stamp clown onto white card stock twice, I used Versa Mark ink and black detail embossing enamel. Cut clown out color and layer as shown. I used small buttons to accent the pants. The clown shoes and balloon are embellished with crystal lacquer and glitter. 2.Run a piece of orange card stock that measures 4” X 3” through the cuttlebug, the top patterned paper measures 4” X 3” and the two pieces are transitioned together using ribbon. 3.Place Clown on top of yellow card stock. This piece measures 4” X 3”. Layer this on top as shown. 4.Card is finished off with a sizzix die cut tag and decorative paper. Stamp Happy Birthday onto this tag using staz on ink. The finished card measures 5 ½ X 4 ¼”. BLOG CANDY Unfortunately, my scaner is dead, it finally died tonight while I was trying to scan the blog candy, so you'll have to picture these in your head! (Sorry!) New/Retired Stamping Up background stamp "Ephemera", it is mounted but never used, New Canvas Back ground stamp from Stamping up, unmounted, both of these stamps are in their origional boxes. Also, I will include at least 3 different cards to include my now famous "Never Ending Flip Card" (As seen in the April 2008 issue of Stamp and Scrap Arts Magazine on pages 54 and 55) There will also be other goodies as a surprise for you. Leave lots of comments and feedback for me! I will randomly draw from the comments posted from today, February 25, 2008 until Feb 29,2008. I will then 'reveal' the winner. Watch my post(s) often and don't forget to look at the archives. I still can't figure out how to get more than one post a day to stay up. If you have any ideas let me know. I will be adding more candy to these goodies as we go along. Happy Stamping to every one! Loretta Rodger feel free to contact me directly via email at; ms.rhetta@verizon.net

Happy Stamping News!

Hello Ya'll: "The coolest card ever -- The Never-Ending Flip Card". This is what the cover of the April 2//8 issue of "Stamp and Scrap Arts" Magazine reads. Toward the back of the periodical is a two page spread on my flip card. You can find the card and the tutorial here. I am just so thrilled! I have done some stamping this week, The "bee" card uses house mouse stamps and the journal (which I made from scratch) was made using a bella stamp. I have some stamps on order and hope to receive them shortly. Please browse through my archives and posts, if you need to CASE any work remember you may do so, but please give me credit. None of my work should be copy and submitted for possible publishing. Stamp Happy! Loretta Rodger Designer Sparkle N Sprinkle Stamps

Stamp Happy! My Place!

Stamp Happy! I have been asked several times 'what does your craft area look like?' Today, thanks go modern technology, I'll share a few pictures of my area. My dear husband, Mike actually moved our laundryroom wall back 5 feet to create my niche' I do alot of crafting right here! Its great! I love my space. I also love cows! Love them, you'll see a few pictures of my friends as you look at the photos. I love to scrapbook and stamp, you'll see my die cutting station, paper storage and the beautiful display piece my husband built to showcase some of my stamps. I hope every one is happy stamping today, on the desk are projects I'm currently working on. Watch tomorrow, I'll be giving away some blog candy. So start posting your comments and reviews now! Stamping hugs, Loretta R.

Having a Sparkling Good time

I created these three sparkly cards as part of my design team work for Sparkle N Sprinkle Stamps. These came out great. I don't think the scans give justice to the glitter or the depth in the medallion card. I especially like the "I tried to contain myself, but I escaped" card. Its just too cute. If you have questions or would like the 'recipe' for any or all of these cards, please email me at: ms.rhetta@verizon.net. Please leave comments! I love receiving feed back and enjoy hearing the ideas of others! Isn't the internet great! I hope every one has a stamp happy evening. I'm going to settle in and try and get some more samples done and out for possible publication! Happy Sparkling Stamping Hugs! Loretta R.

Stamps Make me Happy!

Here is what I am stamping today. Hopefully these will come out in order, The first is: "Glad to Bee your friend", This is a cute house mouse stamp. Even though the scan does not show it, th wings are covered in crystal lacquer and sprinkled with glitter. I loved coloring and layering this image. With today being Valentine's Day, I couldnj't resist doing something sweet. I spent some time today on two cards I will be submitting to "Just Cards" magazine they both use stamps from Sparkle N Sprinkle. Check them out on the web. Here is the first card. The scan does not do the colors or the glitter justice, I love the simple form this one took. As many of you know, I am on the design team for Sparkle and Sprinkle and love it! Here is the recipe for the "Forever Yours" card; “Forever Yours” Plate 270 “Floral” Staz On ink 99704 Blender Pen 99535 Crystal Ice G1058 Light blue, medium blue, white and purple card stock Patterned Scrapbooking Paper Heart Eyelets Instructions: Stamp Flower onto white card stock using staz on ink. Cut out and color. Embellish with Crystal Ice Glitter. On medium blue card stock, use the cuttle bug embossing folder to emboss back ground. Layer flowers onto front as shown. Layer on patterned card stock and purple card stock as shown. Embellish with flower eyelets. Finished card measures 5 ½” X 4 ¼”. All Stamps and supplies are from Sparkle N Sprinkle. Here is another card, It reads a little southwestern, if you are wondering what the saying means, loosly translated it is "Praise the Lord". Here is the recipe for the "praise the Lord" card; Stamps; Plate 282 Western Manuel Staz On Ink 99704 Quickie Glue Pen 99202 Cyrstal Ice Glitter G1058 Crystal Effects (Lacquer) or other dimensional clear glaze Dove Blender Pen 99535 Card stock in Red, Mustard, Blue and White Accessories; Buttons, Pop Dots, Patterned Scrapbooking Paper Instructions; Cut Mustard card stock to 4” x 3”. Place into a cuttlebug embossing folder and emboss. The patterned Scrap booking paper measures 4” X 2 ¼”. Layer this onto the top of the mustard card stock as shown. Stamp Mexican guy onto white card stock using Staz on Ink. Color using water color pencils and a blender pen. Layer him onto a piece of distressed blue card stock. Cut out Chilli Peppers and attach to card as shown. Also attach buttons to card front. Refer to photo. Color peppers with water color pencils, and layer on crystal lacquer. Sprinkle with glitter and attach to card as shown. Stamp Sentiment using Staz On black layer onto card as shown. Finished card measures 5 ½ X 4 ¼”. All Stamps and supplies are from Sparkle and Sprinkle Stamps. Don't forget to check out the archives of my blog. There is Blog Candy and a Swap, there are memories, cards, ideas and links to fun stuff. Sit back, take the tour and Enjoy. As always you may contact me via email at; ms.rhetta@verizon.net Happy Stamping!!

Just a little bit about me!

I started off today with a simple goal. I needed to write my BIO for Sparkle N Sprinkle Stamps. I have been a member of the design team for more than two years and am just now getting around to it. I had my oldest son take a few pictures. I'll be posting them throughout todays blog. Let me know which ones you like the best! After viewing the first set of photos, I noticed how cluttered my desk really was! So -- off I went. I decided to 'clean' it up a bit. Merry Christmas! I found so much stuff I had forgotten about it was like Christmas! I found orphaned stamps (shame on me) I found some stamped images and (Don't laugh) I finally found my cell phone. I found old pictures of the kids and even one of the dogs. All now safely put in their homes. I'll take some more pictures this afternoon of the inside of the cabinets you see behind me. I love my area. It offers me alot of options, with easy reach to everything I need. I think I should buy myself some "bare minerals" and see if it would reduce the redness of my face, I don't like this picture other than it shows off the craft area. Here is another one, Mike (My love and hubby) thinks is too serious. I kinda like it, it looks like I'm deep in thought! Don't forget, I still have room in my Spring/Easter Swap, please email me at ms.rhetta@verizon.net for more information. This swap will conclude with BLOG CANDY! Stamp Happy! Loretta R.

It is cold outside!

It is cold outside here in Maryland. The snow is falling. I ran out this morning to have some lab work taken care of, and on the way home the snow was gently falling, so pretty. The snow flakes reminded me of little feathers floating through the air. I'm actually *excited* to get my blood work done. I must admitt I like alot of folks really needs to loose some weight and become more health concious. I know if I start taking care of myself better not only will I feel better, but in the long term sceme of things I'll live longer and be happier. Above is a card I made for Carissa Ellerd's Spring swap. I think it is so cute. I had alot of fun layering the papers and doing the stamping. The glitter is a little less than I normally use, but I feel it came out very well. I am hosting a Spring/Easter swap of my own. Here are the details; This is a make 5 cards get 5 back. Full cards. No envelopes. Include a SASE with same postage you mailed with and an extra stamp. Extra postage will be returned if not used. If you do not include the SASE and stamp I will not be able to return the swaps to you. Sign up for this swap from today, Feb. 12, 2008 until Feb 29. Swaps are due in my hands no later than March 17. Best work only. Remember that others will be viewing your work. Please include the 'recipe' for the card in your swap. Please email me at; ms.rhetta@verizon.net to sign up and/or to ask any questions. My snail mail addy will be given to you at that time. I look forward to this swap and hope to get alot of participation. BLOG CANDY! The best swap card will receive a set of clear stamps. I will announce the set in my blog soon, so be watching for it. Stamping hugs, Loretta

Valentine's Day -- More Treats!

Here they are! The last of the Valentine treats. These are going to join the other treats and journey 585 miles to my niece in Augusta, Georgia. These are so much fun. I must admitt, I struggled with the measurements (I am measurement challenged) and with alot of encouragement and help from my husband, finally got these right. Special thanks to Laura for the tutorial, which you can find at http://justgivemestamps.typepad.com/my_weblog/ well worth the visit. Feel free to email me with questions or comments, the email is ms.rhetta@verizon.net. Happy Stamping to all! Loretta R.