Random Stamping and some thoughts about my daughter.

I love the new Wishes book. This card was made with the same pattern as the card I made with the June SOTM, Tender Tags. I used random stamping to create the patterned paper here. I love random stamping with Cottage Floral. The flowers are perfect for this. After stamping the flowers, I then over-stamped with Spot on Backgrounds.

All products CTMH: Sorbet ribbon and brads. Ink colours: Juniper, Sorbet, Tulip, Creme Brulee, Cocoa.

I'm not sure what I'm going to use it for yet, so I've left the sentiment spot blank.

Life is moving along so quickly. My daughter is going to be 4 years old on Saturday! I can hardly believe it. She'll be starting school in September. She's such a sweetie, most of the time. As I type this she's at preschool and probably having a wonderful time. My Arianna, if I can brag for a minute, is pointing out different words and asking such amazing questions. She can trace all the letters of the alphabet and does so very carefully. She can write her own name and even Mommy and Daddy. She's got an incredible memory and loves to sing all kinds of songs. She's a wonderful big sister and has started "reading" books to her little brother. It's so much fun to watch them together. Okay, I'm done bragging. But I do need to share a couple of my favourite photos of her.She's my little sweetie. She gives the BEST hugs! Love her to bits. Happy birthday in four sleeps, my big girl.

New SOTM projects.

I've been busy participating in a Stamp-of-the-Month swap. I posted May's Be Yourself card a while ago. Since I now have both June and July sent off, I thought I'd let you see what you can do with these sets.

This card follows a pattern from the new Wishes card program. I think it's called Top Band. I used our new Bella papers and the June SOTM, Tender Tags. The tag is done with Desert Sand ink, second generation, and then edged with Smokey Plum. There's a pewter brad holding it in place.


This next card took a long time, but I stamped and did most of the cutting when I was staying at my mom and dad's while my hubby was in El Salvador last month. There was no housework to distract me so I was able to get quite a bit done. This is July's SOTM, called You've Got Flair. I used Animal Cookies Creative Basics and since I didn't have the right markers, paper pieced the coloured bits onto the stamped image. The little Sunflower flowers are popped. Then I used Liquid Glass to put a pattern on the back of our clear buttons and some waxy flax to thread them. That gorgeous ribbon also comes with the Creative Basics. This card is using the Log Cabin pattern in Originals.


So now that you've seen what these beautiful stamp sets can create, make sure you place an order with me during the appropriate month. That's the thing with Stamps-of-the-Month. You can only get them during a particular month. You can email or call me with your order or go directly to my website and order there. Just click here.

Don't forget about my May challenge. Scroll down the posts to see what it's all about.

Just had to share these two cute cards!

I'm so proud of these two. Sometimes I make things that I'm happy with. Sometimes I make things and I'm glad when they're done. But these two, these two, I had a lot of fun making and I absolutely love the final results!

The first one took a while and I admit it's a total scraplift from Vicki Wizniuk, whom I think is so completely talented. She wows me all the time. When I saw this card I knew it would be perfect for my nephew, Noah, for his 5th birthday. I didn't have the same paper she used, so I just flipped my cardstock over and dry embossed some dots with my stylus and then sanded them ever so slightly to make stars. I also love the moon and I'm happy to be able to use my Cuttlebug for the embossing. Then I sponged some Desert Sand ink on top. So fun! Thanks Vicki, for all the inspiration.

All products CTMH: Twilight, Cranberry and Outdoor Denim cardstock,

Good Times paper and stickese, Reach for the Stars stamp set.

The next card is the one I made for my mom. Although I had a Mother's Day card already, it was simple, but nice, and my mom deserves more than just simple but nice. I wanted to make one that was really special. I had seen a lot of these flower pot cards and decided that it was perfect for her. It was a whole lot easier than I thought it would be. The hardest part was figuring out how to score it on my new trimmer. (I know, I make enough cards I should have it figured out, but I'm still learning.) The inside card comes out all the way, but I didn't want my personal message to my mom to be read by all of you, sorry. ;)

All CTMH products: Blush textured cardstock, Chocolate ink, Chocolate rubons, Chocolate grosgrain ribbon, Chocolate brad, Big Pinks with some old bling, Heartfelt leaves, and clear shape. Stamp sets: Say it in Style, Tickled Pink.

If you'd like instructions, let me know and I'll post a link.

Photo Cube Workshop

Would you like a way to showcase some of your favourite photos? Do you feel like after all your hard work that your scrapbook pages go into an album and don't really get seen? Are you a card-maker who would like to try something new? Do you love paper crafting projects?

If you said yes to even one of these questions, I've got the workshop for you. On Friday, May 29, from 7-9:30pm, I will be hosting a photo cube workshop. This is a no-ink workshop. We'll be focusing on stickese and rub-ons for embellishments. The total cost is $37, which will include a 1/2 pack of Bella Level 2 paper, full package of Bella My Stickese, one sheet of rub-ons, full package of White Hemp and a small accessory packet with Foundry Tabs and some 3-D Foam Tape as well as the cube. There will be lots of product left over for you to take home.

Here's a peek at what you'll be making. Your cube will look unique to how you use the stickese and rub-ons. There are a couple of places for some hidden journaling. The Foundry Tabs are not on this sample yet since I'm still waiting for them to arrive, but they will be attached to the journaling tags.


I can't wait to put this in a special place in my craft "area". I'm guilty of putting my pages away too quickly to enjoy them. These are some of my favourite photos of my kids and this time I made sure to put myself in them, too. Looking at this cube makes me smile. I hope you'll decide to join me in making something that will make you or a loved one smile, too.

If you round up your workshop cost to $40, the difference will go to Operation Smile and you'll be given three tickets for my special draw. What's the prize? Not only are there some retired accessories, but you'll also have a chance to win a Stamp of the Month. If you'd like to attend, you will need to sign up by Monday, May 11. Please pay your workshop fee as soon as possible. When you sign up I'll let you know what you need to bring with you.

Your New Challenge for May!

Okay ladies, it's a new month and therefore time for a new challenge.
I just love the new tree stamp sets in the Summer Idea Book. They are so cute and completely on trend. So to celebrate the arrival of spring, finally, when our trees are now budding, your challenge is to create artwork with trees on it somewhere. It can be a stamped image, or made out of paper, or even in the shape of a tree. Wow me with your work and I'll award the most creative with a prize! You'll have to see who wins to find out what great little gift she gets. You can either post a comment here with a link to your artwork or email me a photo of your entry at simplycreating@ritskes.net.

To get you thinking about this challenge here's a peek at one of those new tree stamp sets and the Animal Cookies paper pack.

Recipe: Animal Cookies Level 2, Treetops Stamp set, Desert Sand and Clover Meadow inks, Natural Hemp, White Daisy Mini Medley, rub-ons

Happy Creating!