Attention: Mark's Finest Papers Fans!!

We have a new swap going over at Splitcoast Stampers

using images by MFP.

You only need to make 4 birthday cards for this swap.

Easy Peasy right?

The direct link to find all the details is below:

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/cards-f107/%2A%2Anew%2A%2Anew%2A%2Anew%2A%2Aspeedy-cat-marks-finest-papers-birthday-card-swap-t525569.html

Please go to SCS and check it out....hope you join us for some MFP fun!!

Marks Finest Papers Blog Hop Sneak PEEK!

I'm back!

I am getting back to living again, not fully, but better.

I am finding I cannot produce art as quickly as before.

I will be posting new artwork, just not daily for awhile.

Please bear with me as I regain my footing.

That said, I want to remind you of the Blog Hop

by Mark's Finest Papers beginning

on Tuesday Jan 11th.

To give you a taste of whats in store for you with the new sets being

introduced by MFP I am showing you a

Sneak PEEK!

The following card I made using the new MFP set called

"Sew What?"

Supplies:

lace edge punch by Martha Stewart

button from my stash

bubble edge punch by EK Success

Copic markers

gems from my stash

I hope you like it and come back on Tuesday

for a lot more art from

Marks Finest Papers.

Taking A Needed Break

Some of you know that I lost my younger brother recently

due to a horrible disease.

I thought I was strong enough and old enough to forge ahead,

but am finding I cannot.

I cannot seem to concentrate, cannot control

the shakiness in my hands to even color decently.

I have been posting cards from my 

stash since his funeral but I feel

you and this blog deserve better than that.

I want to let you know that I will be 

taking some time off from stamping to

gather my sanity and my thoughts

and hopefully mend the damage

to my stamina, nerves and coordination.

Perhaps this has hit me harder being it was so close to 

Christmas, I don't know.

I do know that I need to take a break.

Please understand.

I will be back at creating soon

if things work out.

Wishing all of you a very

Happy Holiday season!

Connie

MARK'S FINEST PAPERS BLOG HOP COMING!!

I just want to remind all of you that beginning tomorrow there will be a 4 day Blog Hop compliments of Mark's Finest Papers....complete with scads of artwork done with some NEW stamp sets being unveiled this week by MFP.

And.....by commenting on the daily posts you get your name entered into a drawing for a NEW stamp set
by Mark's Finest Papers that will be coming out in January!!

So stayed tuned and be sure to return here.

Connie

Mark's Finest Papers is Having a BLOG HOP Tomorrow PLUS Sneak PEEK!!

Beginning bright and early tomorrow Mark's Finest Papers is having a 4 day BLOG HOP and

lots of NEW stamp sets will be unveiled.

To whet your appetite I am giving you a SNEAK PEEK

at just one of the sets.

This card was made from the set titled

"Brick Wall"

I made the background design with some Smooch paints

that MFP also sells.

I used a disposable dish large enough for an A-2 size paper to

fit and put about 1" of water in the dish. Then I used 2 colors of Smooch

paints, dribbling several drops around with each color. I drew swirls in this very gently with a toothpick.

Gently because the Smooch floats on top of the water and you don't want to "push" the

paints down underneath, you want them to lay on top.

Then I laid the paper on top of the water/Smooch mixture, press slightly to ensure

complete contact before lifting it out. After fully dry I made this card.

Very simple so the background is not overwhelmed.

All paper, stamps and charms are by Mark's Finest Papers.

Back Online!

I was knocked off-line on Wednesday due to a an early winter storm here in South Dakota.
The winds were clocked at 62 mph (isn't that hurricane force?).  We got some snow but mostly rain.....2.5 inches of rain!!
Of course the heavy lines broke with the high winds buffeting them around.  They also blew out my modem so no internet when the power did come back.
I had the Geek Squad here today and they fixed most of my problems, but not all.  My Vonage phone connection and my wireless router both need to be replaced yet.
Soooo no art to post just yet.  I hope to get something ready for you this weekend so please check back.
Connie

MFP Blog Hop tomorrow!

Hi guys.  I just got back from helping my daughter move, no time for cards all last week.  I think I'm having withdrawal symptoms.

I do want to let you all know about a 4 day blog hop blitz we are having for Mark's Finest Papers though.  This begins tomorrow, Tuesday July 13 and runs through Friday July 16.
You will need to visit all the designer's blogs and leave comments on each one to get your name into the drawing for some great prizes.....NEW just released stamp sets by MFP!!  There is a new prize every day so you have 4 chances to win.

Maybe it's a good thing I had my art ready and loaded before I left huh?  *See* you tomorrow!

Away for A Week

I want you to know I will be away all week.  I won't have access to post while gone.
I am helping one of my daughters move so will be busy enough that I won't have any craft-time.

Think of me lugging boxes and boxes and boxes all week.  Hopefully I will have some artwork for you by next weekend.
Connie

Good News!!

I was asked to join the Design Team over at Mark's Finest Papers!  I was surprised when Faith contacted me about joining.  I've been interested in her magnificent line of stamps for a long time now so this is a great opportunity.

You can check them out by clicking the link below:

 Mark's Finest Papers

Aren't these just some of the best stamps you've seen for some time?  I especially like those sentiments and words that are so different from the usual.  They go so nicely with the stamps!

and isn't Speedy The Cat just too darn cute??

I'm Back!!

I took a week off to watch my grandkids while their parents took a vacation.  I had uploaded a bunch of artwork to be posted while I was gone.  It went like clockwork at first.  Then things began going bad.
I came down with a really horrible cold right after getting home and could not seem to shake it.  I actually spent the next week in a daze, alternating between shivering and sweating....ugh.

Then we had a really bad snowstorm  that broke almost all the electric poles in the area, which shut off our electricity of course.  The lights would go off and on for many days before it all got working again.

There is more!  Seems a power surge wrecked my computer so a new one was gotten and it has been an uphill battle getting things to work again.  Seems one thing after another either quits or never worked in the first place.  My scanner is the thing I missed the most and of course couldn't post art without it.

Hoping all is good again and nothing else conks out.  Tomorrow bright and early I promise you some new artwork here.  That is a promise!

Connie....who is SO looking forward to spring....

Party Tonite at Paper Craft Planet!!

Join us tonight for our Deer Widow's Stamp Release Party!

Another sneak peek!!!!!! To see the whole sheet, attend the Stamp Release Party at Paper Craft Planet on Sunday, Nov 15th @ 10:00 PM eastern. We will be unveiling plate #24, ©ching-chou kuik's Fantasy Art Collection, sheet #4. We will have some easy question/games and will be giving away prizes. One lucky winner will win this new sheet!
What will be giving away??????:
(1) sheet #24
(5) 2 single, individual, stamps pkg (our choice) of ©ching-chou kuiks collection
(3) $5.00 gift certificates
(1) Sheet #12, holiday
(2) $15.00 gift certificates for Paper Temptress (one will be coming from me, and Patricia @ paper Temptress is donating one, make sure you visit her site, it is a paper lovers dream)
Plus come and view all the cards our design team has been creating!

I'm back....sort of

If you noticed I've been slow lately (actually missing-in-action) you are right.  I just realized I haven't explained what has been going on for me lately.
My father recently passed away and it sort of threw me for a loop.  He was old and in poor health and I thought I was ready for this, I was sure I could take it in stride.  I knew it was coming after all.
Well to make this short I was not ready, I did not take it well, it has thrown me so far off everything that I am not sure if I am coming or going.
I made it through his funeral, I even managed to fly out to California for his memorial service there.  It seems to have hit me really hard now that I am back in familiar territory, not sure why that is but it is.  Seems no matter what I do it just tires me out and I have not been able to finish anything let alone begin something.
I know this will pass.  I know I will muddle through and things will improve.  Until that happens I will most likely be somewhat slow in posting artwork here.  I'm having a time just concentrating it seems.
Please bear with me and keep checking in.  I will surprise all of us soon with new work, I just know it.