Play Ball!

The Hambo Hoedown challenge this week is to create a design that incorporates a pendant or a banner. I used Hambo Stamps' digi image Bat Boy  that I received free for playing in last week's challenge. Here's my card...

 

 

 

Isn't the background paper perfect for this image? It's printed vellum that I mounted on blue cardstock. I bought it a long time ago. I guess it's true...if you keep something around long enough, you'll eventually use it.

 

Just Swinging By...

It's an Anything Goes challenge at Party Time Tuesdays. So I thought I'd swing by with my card...

 

Isn't this the cutest image? It's a digi image by Hambo Stamps called Monkey Vine. I colored the image for a Hambo Hoedown challenge to use punches, but didn't have time to make it into a card. I decided to finish it for PTT's Anything Goes challenge. I'm just in a monkey kinda mood lately. If you missed my monkey themed altered cigar box, check here.

Hop over to PTT's challenge blog and get some more inspiration from the other members of the design team. Then join in the challenge...anything goes! 

Hambo Blog Hop

Welcome to "Broadway Bound!" sponsored by Hambo Stamps! Today Hambo customers and the Bacon Bits Design Team are bringing you fun creations that depict Broadway show titles! It might be our favorite, or just one that was fun to design. If you arrived here from Deanne's blog you are in the right place! If not, you might want to start back at the beginning at the Hambo blog to make sure you are eligible for the hopper prize!

 A prize will be awarded to one participant whose Broadway-themed creation  tickles the Bacon Bits’ fancy in a hammin’ jammin’ way!  Another prize will be awarded randomly to a hopper who comments on all of the blogs along the way. The winners will  be announced on the Hambo company blog, Talk to the Ham, on Tuesday, September 25. We love comments anytime, but the deadline for prize entry comments is Sunday, September 23 at 5 PM CST. Don't miss it!

My card depicts the musical The Full Monty. The Full Monty is about six unemployed steelworkers who decide to present a strip act at a local club after seeing their wives' enthusiasm for the Chippendales. They declare that their show will be better than the Chippendale dancers because they'll go "the full monty" — strip all the way!

I used one of my favorite Hambo stamps, Flasher. I just love this guy in his trench coat! Today he's not flashing. He's in the spotlight dancing and going "the full monty"! I thought the sentiment What's Up? was perfect to make this card a little on the naughty side!

Hope you enjoyed the show. It's not over yet. Dance over to Loll's blog for another great Broadway hit!

 

It's time for the biggest blog hop on the internet! Operation Write Home holds this blog hop every year and it is always full of great inspiration. OWH is a wonderful organization that sends cards to our soldiers for them to use in corresponding with their loved ones.

The challenge for the hop is to make a card using one of OWH's sketches. I used sketch #81 flipped upside down. Here's my card...

I used an image from Hambo Stamps Hop Art Designs called Trena with Heart . Proceeds from sales of the images in this collection  benefit Operation Write Home by helping with postage and supplies. The paper piercing design is from Fred She Said. My card also fits this week's Hambo Hoedown challenge to use paper piercing.

Have fun visiting the blogs this weekend. I'm sure you'll be amazed. Enjoy the holiday and remember to thank our Veterans and their families for their service past and present.

It Stinks!

Today's Clean and Simple challenge on SCS is a sketch challenge inspired by DT member Tilly. You can see her card here.  Here's mine...

Last time I used Hambo's Skunk I couldn't seem to get him as dark black as I wanted. Duh!! He needed embossing! Isn't it funny how we sometimes forget some of the basic techniques? Well the embossing really made him pop! I stamped the first part of the sentiment from Hambo's It Stinks three times on the left and the rest of the sentiment on the right. My favorite part is the mini clothespin I found in my embellishment stash. Isn't it perfect for holding his cute little nose? I love how this turned out! I think I need to make more CAS cards!

Channel Surfing with Hambo Stamps!

Welcome to the "Channel Surfing" Blog Hop sponsored by Hambo Stamps! Today Hambo customers and the Bacon Bits Design Team are bringing you fun creations that depict TV show titles! It might be our favorite show, or just one that was fun to design. If you arrived here from Sandy's blog you are in the right place! If not, you might want to start back at the beginning at the Hambo blog, Talk to the Ham, to make sure you are eligible for the hopper prize!

A prize will be awarded to one participant whose TV-themed creation tickles the Bacon Bits’ fancy in a hammin’ jammin’ way! Another prize will be awarded randomly to a hopper who comments on all the blogs along the way. The winners will be announced on the Hoedown blog, as well as on the Hambo company blog, Talk to the Ham, on Wednesday, May 23.

So which came first...the TV title or the stamp? For me it was the stamp. One of my favorite Hambo stamps is Skunk . I love the expression on his face! The sentiment that goes with it Phew and Far is perfect to depict the TV show Friends.

But who can do just one? In fact a I heard that a certain Bacon Bit did three! I used Ballerina Hippo and Tutu-ly Fun to make my other TV inspired card. See if you can guess the show.

Dancing with the Stars!!

Now for a chance to win a prize, leave a little luv and then dance on over to Carolyn's blog for another great TV show!

Caveman Love!

The challenge this week at the Hambo Hoedown is to use Monster Yell, or any Hambo image, and the posted sketch to create a project. Here's the sketch...

and here's my card using Caveman and Me Love You ...

 

The animal print ribbon that I found in my stash was the inspiration for the color scheme of orange, yellow and dark brown. Besides I thought it worked perfectly with Caveman! Let's see your take on the challenge. Remember you can use any Hambo image.

REMINDER!!! Upcoming Blog Hop!!

We have a fun customer-inclusive blog hop coming up on Friday! Our jammin’ theme is “Channel Surfing.” Participants will use a Hambo image to create a project that represents and depicts a TV SHOW title! Be sure to visit each blog and leave some luv...you might win a prize!

Tutu-ly Fun

This week's Hambo Hoedown Challenge is flowers, flowers , flowers! The challenge is to use Catching Butterflies, or any Hambo image,  to create a project with flowers! For my card I used the adorable 1722 Ballerina Hippo and 1521 Tutu-ly Fun sentiment.

I used an old SCS sketch, # 184. I paper pierced around the large square and in the corners. I'd planned  to pierce around the smaller squares too, but forgot.  The DSP, the tutu, and Hippo's eyelashes have some glitter on them, so IRL this cards SPARKLES!

My hubby has planned a PopPop day with each of our granddaughters. Tomorrow is Emma's day and next Monday is Aislinn's turn. I think this is the perfect card to give to Emma tomorrow .Now I'd better get busy and make one for Aislinn!

Reminders!!

Sign up for Hambo's Surfing the Channels Blog Hop! Details here.

Hambo is having a design team call. Details here

Hambo Happenings

It's not too late too late to get a free digi stamp from Hambo Stamps. Just make a card using any Hambo image and the color scheme orange, purple and hot pink! I used Hambo's #2514 Chick Tower...

Hop on over to the Hoedown and join in the fun. You might win a free digi. Click here for details.

I've also submitted my card to Party Time Tuesdays Challenge to use two or more ribbons.

Hambo Stamps is having a customer Blog Hop

The theme is “Channel Surfing.” Using any Hambo image, either rubber or digital, create a project that represents and depicts a TV SHOW title! Maybe it’s your favorite program, or maybe it’s one that you don’t even like! Whatever it is, we want to see your TV Show creations!

The hop is scheduled for Friday, May 18, and is set to go live at 7:00 AM CST. All blog hop posts must stay at the top of the page for that whole day. A prize will be awarded to the customer whose TV-themed creation tickles the Bacon Bits’ fancy in a hammin’ jammin’ way! The winner will be announced on the Hoedown blog, as well as on the Hambo blog on Wednesday, May 23.

If you are interested in participating, please email Judy at hambodesignteam@gmail.com by 11:00 PM CST on Wednesday, May 9. Sample blog copy for the hop will be available after you sign up, if you desire to use it.

Come channel surf with us.

Card Cupids

I'm very honored & proud to be one of Card Cupids' guest designers for April. Card Cupids, with the help of numerous volunteers, provides Card Cuddle Care Packages to children in hospitals, foster care, and homeless shelters as well as children facing difficulties, regardless of their economic background. If you'd like to learn more about this wonderful organization and how you can support their efforts check HERE.

Card Cupids also has a Birthday Bundles Program that provides ongoing support to a homeless shelter in the Northern Virginia area. They provide each birthday child with a goodie bag filled with a bundle of cards and a new toy, game, or book.

Here are two of the cards that I designed for Card Cupids for their birthday project. The first one uses a cute image from Whimsie Doodles called Birthday Turtle.

This one uses Silly Monkey from Hambo Stamps.

I'll be sending both of these cards to Card Cupids, along with some others that I've made.

Thank you Card Cupids for the wonderful job that you do and for choosing me as a guest designer.

I am also submitting my Silly Monkey card to Party Time Tuesday's Anything Goes + Kraft challenge.

Fun Background

I enjoy doing SCS challenges but haven't try one recently, so I decided to do the Ways to Use It Challenge today. The challenge was to Get Inky by using reinkers. There are quite a few techniques for using reinkers in the Resources forum on SCS. I decided to try the Rolling Marble Background because it reminded me of rolling marbles in paint and then on paper which I used to do with my preschool classes. Basically it's the same thing except you use reinkers instead of paint. I changed the technique a little because I didn't have any marbles. I raided my hubby's golf bag and used golf balls instead! So here's my fun background for a fun-gal!

I love this punny stamp and sentiment. They're Hambo Stamp's 2902 Mushrooms and 2909 Real Fun-gal. There's also a sentiment for Real Fungi. I also used the spotlighting technique for the first time. I think it worked well and added just the pop of color needed for this fun-gal!

OWH "Make 'em Laugh" Blog Hop

Hambo Stamps is proud to support our nation’s deployed heroes through Operation Write Home^® This organization has sent over 1.5 million cards overseas so our service members can keep in touch with their loved ones. Hambo's "Talk to the Ham" blog is participating in the "Make 'Em Laugh" blog hop this weekend! Hambo's owner, Monica, and some of the Bacon Bits have made some funny cards for the Blog Hop. Here's mine...

I used OWH Sketch #114 and Hambo Stamps'  4581 - Ham on the Run and part of the sentiment 4106 - Crack a Smile. I love this image. His sweet smile and his cute "crack" seemed to go perfectly with the first part of  this sentiment.

Stop by Hambo's Blog "Talk to the Ham" to see some more funny projects and take some time to check out OWH’s blogs and all the others participating, starting at the top of the hop, http://www.owhstarsandstamps.org.

Smile!

Today is the last day to enter your project in the Hoedown. The challenge is to make a card with an extra fold using the free digi image Paper Boy or any Hambo image. I used Hambo's 4105 Gator and 4106 Crack a Smile to make a gatefold card with a twist.

The twist is that I adhered the right side of the image and the left side of the sentiment to the gatefolds. So it opens like this...

Isn't that paper prefect for this image? It's bumpy just like a gator's skin, not that I've ever touched a gator's skin, but that's what it reminds me of! I got it at Hobby Lobby. I made the gator's skin on the image "bumpy" by dabbing it with the tip of my blender pen after I colored it.

So hurry over and join in the Hoedown!

Fun with Jars

The Cutting Cafe is featuring a set of jar templates and jar printable stamps this week. The Jar Shaped Card Set has three shaped jars - mason, candy and cookie jars. There are also fillers for the jars and lots of cute sentiments. The Fun with Jars stamps have over 90 images, including three jars, cookie, candy and mason jars, with fillers and sentiments for each type of jar.

I used the mason jar in the Fun with Jars set along with a bug from the Cute Critters Set featured last week to make a get well card. The sentiment is Caught a Bug from Hambo Stamps.

Be sure to check out the Cutting Cafe's Blog to see what the other DT members made with these sets. You'll love what you see.

Hambo's Newest Bacon Bit!

Oink! Oink! There's a new Bacon Bit playing in the Pig Pen. Hambo Stamps has a new illustrator...Asela Hopkins. You may be familiar with Asela's images. She has created stamps for both Gina K and Cornish Heritage Farms. Asela will be working with Hambo Stamps to create her own line of digi stamps, Hop Art Designs, with the profits to benefit Operation Write Home.

For Asela's debut, each of the Bacon Bits created a card to spotlight one of her images. The image I used is called Clare and Danny. Here's my card...

I just love this image. It comes with two sentiments - You're so sweet and Here's a little something just for you. It's so adorable and could be used for so many ocassions.

Want to see Asela's other new digi stamps? Hop over to Hambo Stamps digi shop and check New Arrivals. Then stop by the Hoedown for links to the fabulous creations by all of the Bacon Bits. Then join in the fun.

I also entered my card into Simon Says Stamps, Anything Goes Challenge.

The Hoedown Flasher

This week I'm celebrating St. Patty's Day with a Hoedown Challenge to use stripes on my project. When I saw Hambo's Flasher stamp and He's Not Irish sentiment, I knew I wanted to use them to make a card for my son Andy and a few of my friends who love an off-color joke now and then. I made a joy fold card because it seemed perfect for a flasher!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

VSN CHallenge

I enjoy playing in the Virual Stamp Night Challenges over at SCS, but I only had time to do one challenge this weekend. Here's my card for the Love Is in Bloom challenge to use a heart and/or the word love on your card.

I framed the cute Hambo Giraffe stamp and the Necks to You sentiment with die cut hearts.

If you love Hambo Stamps, and who doesn't, check out some  new rubber in stock now! Some of the most popular digi images have been put into a rubber format for the stamping purists who don't like using digi images. Here's the link: http://www.hambostamps.com/newarrivals.htm .

Also -- Hambo has updated their Sale page with a bunch of designs that are marked down 33%, for a limited time.  The sale page is here: http://www.hambostamps.com/sale.htm .

 

Hambo Stamps Special Promotion

The month of March marks Hambo Stamps' 10th year of business - and Hambo has planned lots of fun festivities as part of their anniversary celebration. This week, Hambo is offering a free shipping promotion which starts today (Tues., 6th) and runs through Thursday (8th).

Check out all of the details here.

So spread the word about this to all of your stamping friends! If anyone out there is new to Hambo, this is a great time to try their products.

Worm Wishes

I just love Worm Balloon and Worm Wishes from Hambo Stamps! Doesn't my worm look cute basking in the sun?

I wanted him to have a little "color" so I paper pieced him with paper from SU's Rainbow Sherbet DSP. I colored the background with my Copics and sponged the sky with SU Bashful Blue ink. I paper pieced the balloon and popped it up. Then popped up the the image on the sun.

The Sun Shaped cutting file is from The Cutting Cafe. The set comes with a matching size envelop, 2 circle word sentiments, 2 regular sentiments and 2 optional top layer sentiments.

So here's sending you "Worm Wishes"...spring is just around the corner !

Challenges I've enter my card into:

Scrapalicious - Anything Goes

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Anything Goes at the Hoedown!

This week at the Hambo Hoedown anything goes as long as you use a Hambo image. If you played in the Hoedown last week, you received the Fortune Cookie digi image to play with. As a member of the rubber stamp team, I decided to use one of Hambo's newer rubber images called Hot Chocolate.

Aren't these the cutest penguins? I paper pieced the mug and used a matching background. I added the coral ribbon for a pop of color. IRL it has a little sparkle on the penguins' hats and the steam from the hot chocolate.

Hop over to the Hoedown to see what fabulous creations other DT members  have made to inspire you. Then join in the fun at the Hoedown...anything goes!