Blog Giveaway....

Win a copy of the Snippit's Book reviewed today on the craft critique blog. Simply leave a comment on the blog link....looks like a good read!

WT216, SC226: I screwed up

Actually - I didn't screw up...this is actually a two challenge card -- yesterday's Sketch Challenge (sc226) and today's Ways To Use It (WT216) basic black.

I used a TON of black designer paper scraps to show how the monochromatic look is SO elegant. I used a smidge of red ribbon to make the color just POP!

The white base has a layer of black cardstock, then a layer of designer paper. The designer papers are all layered with some black cardstock underneath. The one layer is black stitched ribbon (Mayarts) with a layer of grossgrain polka dot black ribbon on top of that. THen I put a big papertrey black button with some red sheer polka dot ribbon threaded through it. The main image is die cut with nestabilities and adhered to the card with dimensionals. I used a little sakura stardust on the nails and the jar...just a hint of sparkle!

The stamp set is the new You Nailed It by Our Craft Lounge. Isn't the sentiment perfect? How many times have I screwed up lately? A lot! Just not on this one.....

stamps: Our Craft Lounge {You nailed it}
paper: DCWV, black, white
ink: copics, black
misc: dimensionals, ribbon (mayarts - black stitched, black polkadot grossgrain, red sheer polkadot), button (papertrey ink), nestabilities

Sneak Peek: Our Craft Lounge {You nailed it}

I make birthday cards for the teachers at school from our PTA. This one is for one of the 5th grade teachers. He is wonderful (Karen has him for science). I used the soon to be released "You Nailed It" from Our Craft Lounge.

It is a simple design 4.25 square made from wasabi textured cardstock. The black layer really makes it pop! The ruler is colored with copics. Some copper brads on each side of the sentiment give it that masculine feel!

Check out the other sneak peeks on these awesome blogs:

Holly - http://toyzhaven.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/

Debbie: http://www.dbdoodle.com/

Kendra - http://kendrawietstock.blogspot.com/

Cami - http://www.cambriaturnbow.blogspot.com/

Jacqui - http://www.sisterlines.blogspot.com/

Kisa - http://kisaspapercuts.blogspot.com/

Pam - http://pamhooten.blogspot.com/

Cammie - http://myblogbycammie.blogspot.com/
Val - http://www.valeriestangle.blogspot.com/
HB - http://www.happinessblooms.blogspot.com/

Joy - http://joyofstamping.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/

stamps: Our Craft Lounge {You Nailed it}
paper: Wasabi textured, Black, White, DCWV designer paper (polkadot)
ink: black, copics
misc: copper brads

SC226: Swingin' by

Another sneak peek before I *clean* my office! (that'll make Debbie laugh) I had some images colored and thought that this week's sketch challenge would make for a great card with this new stamp set by Our Craft Lounge {Swingin' By}.

I used DCWV designer paper along with pretty in pink and certainly celery. I love this little birdy paper and think it looks great with this stamp set.

Some brads on the bottom corner - I sewed the celery grossgrain ribbon on the one layer. Stickles in the center of the flower....thanks for swingin' by and takin' a peek!



stamps: Our Craft Lounge: Swingin' By
paper: DCWV designer paper, certainly celery, white, pretty in pink
ink: black, copics
misc: ribbon (Stampin' Up!), punches (circle, scalloped circles), brads (pink), sewing machine

Swingin' By Sneak Peek

I am thrilled to show off my BFF's new OCL set "Swingin' By". Debbie did a great job with this set. I used the textile cuttlebug folder on the celery layer and threw on some old SU! designer paper to layer the main image. The main image is colored with copics. Some primas on the side with some stickles in the center. This set will be available in the Summer 09 OCL release! There are a *bunch* of new sets, some designed by Debbie, so keep an eye out for sneak peeks!


You can find some more sneak peeks:
Cami - http://www.cambriaturnbow.blogspot.com/
Denise- http://thepaperlandscaper.blogspot.com/
Heather - http://heathermcnally.blogspot.com/
Pam - http://pamhooten.blogspot.com/
Val - http://valeriestangle.blogspot.com

Lila - http://lilascreativecorner.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/
HB - http://www.happinessblooms.blogspot.com/
Joy - http://joyofstamping.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/
Cindy http://onehappystamper.typepad.com/
Debbie - http://dbdoodle.blogspot.com/
Kendra - http://kendrawietstock.blogspot.com/

stamps: Our Craft Lounge {Swingin' By}
paper: white, banana, celery, SU! dp
ink: black, copics
misc:cuttlebug (textile), ribbon (mayarts), primas, stickles, foam dimensionals

Wooohooo for Debbie!

Matchmaker, Matchmaker - make me a match --

Todd and I had dinner one night out with Debbie and her husband, Chris. I was telling her how I was going to go to CHA in January. Todd and I convinced her to come too, and we had the BEST time. It was like two sweet deprived children in a candy store!!!! The best part was, we got to hang with my sister, Karen and then attend the Epap reception in Downtown Disney. I got to spend some quality time with long time friend Cami, Joy, Daisy....well, you know the drill - hang with my peeps. I also got to meet Kim - the trifecta in the OCL team. Debbie was also able to meet the girls and....although I thought they would be a perfect fit -- Debbie was the charm in the lucky charms cereal for them....

so without further adieu.....
Cami's Blog {announcement} and Debbie's Blog {announcement} and the funniest photos on Joy's Blog {announcement}

I cannot wait to play with the stamps!!! Check out the blog hop at OCL (Our Craft Lounge) Friday!

FS116: Wattle

I can hardly believe that I haven't blogged since Monday. It's been a long week - Todd was in California most of the week, then went directly to Atlanta to finish his travel schedule. It has been a week full of activity nonetheless. My parents were around to help out a few nights, which was WONDERFUL! Love you Mom & Dad.

This card is one of the *many* sympathy cards which I have to make for friends who have had a death in the family. Too many to count recently! Sympathy cards are easy to make with the Papertrey {Everyday Blessings} stamp set. I love this set - I reach for it all the time, not only for the sympathy verses, but the wonderful scriptures which I have grown to use for other cards too (retirement, get well, etc.).

I cased this {bushfire appeal} card by Kathy Jones/aka Wattle. Loved the simplicity of the card. I changed the stamp set, the cuttlebug folder and the colors. I also added baubles to my rickrack.

The white base is layered with an apricot layer. I used the textile cuttlebug embossing folder on the next white layer. Then a simple rick rack (velvet) with some apricot baubles on it. I used the nestabilities scalloped and oval dies for the main image. Simple sentiment only -- from the Papertrey stamp set {Everyday Blessings} in apricot ink. Main image on dimensionals.


stamps: Papertrey Ink {Everyday Blessings}
paper: white, apricot
ink: apricot
misc: rick rack (white velvet), dimensionals, baubles (apricot), cuttlebug {textile}, nesties

Craft Critique Earth Day Celebration!

Have you been checking out the celebration over at the Craft Critique site? I had my first article (it was a compliation) today. I made a journal with paper scraps. Remember those journals from last week? This one is for Todd -- he has trouble sleeping some nights (like when the stock market drops 300 points). I thought it would be nice for him to have this on his bedside table to jot his thoughts down. If you would like to join in the celebration and even win some really kewl giveaways, check out the Craft Critique blog. Here is a direct link to the {Article}.

stamps: OCL: Children of the World
ink: black soot, copics
paper: DCWV designer paper, white, river rock, black
misc: journal, oval punch (SU!), sewing (janome sew mini)

Where's the beef?

Did you ever see that commercial "Where's the beef?" Oh boy did that make me laugh. When I saw Granny Hanna, that is immediately what I thought of! It was such a memorable commercial!!!!





In honor of earth day, I made this card with a recycled piece of paper (double sided gift wrap). I started with a barely banana base, then the recycled paper. I used some Stampin' Up! designer paper scraps on the bottom. Attached some ribbon and velvet rick rack to the card, added the sentiment, prima, button. Sentiment is printed on the computer, then trimmed.

Main image is stamped on white cardstock and then again on a scrap of the recycled paper. I trimmed the recycled paper dress and adhered it to Granny Hanna. The rest is colored with copics.

what do you think?



stamps: Granny Hanna
paper: recycled paper (designer gift wrap), designer paper (SU!), white
ink: black soot (Ranger), copics
misc: mayarts ribbon (striped) and rick rack (white velvet), prima, button (papertrey), computer sentiment

FS115: Jaymerz

This week's featured stamper is Jamie (aka Jaymerz). I was going through her awesome gallery and found {this card}. SO CUTE! I decided that I had to give it a whirl, so I pulled out some designer paper scraps and my Our Craft Lounge set Snail Mail. I know - third week in a row that I have used an OCL stamp...I am drawn to their stamps lately (cause they are on the TOP of the messy pile on my desk (which Debbie can attest to because she stamped tonight too so now it is EXTRA MESSY!).

The changes I made to the card were:

• colors (I used different designer papers)
• added a prima and button (remember last week's card where I lost the prima and button - here it is)
• changed the color of the ribbon
• changed the stamp set
  

I kept the layout because it was so cute! I started with a white base, the black layer atop that, then the designer paper. The next layer is Stampin' Up! retired designer paper. I used a strip of basic grey which I LOVE!!! I think it looks spectacular together, what do you think? Some paper piercing on the top and under the sentiment. The main image is stamped on white with black soot, then colored with copics. Main image is on dimensionals. I used my sakura stardust on the snail (to make a trail and color him in).

So that's my card, what do you think?

stamps: Snail Mail {Our Craft Lounge}
paper: white, black, dp (SU!, Basic Grey)
ink: black soot, copics
misc: ribbon (mayarts), button (papertrey), dimensionals, sakura stardust

Recycling....

Todd came home from China with half a dozen of these journals with weird sentiments on the front. This one said:
Corner
Where is your wanted?
Maybe in the corner
The world is so big, where's your head?

WHAT? What does that mean? LOL!
Well, the journals were nice, but the were really screaming to be altered! I made one for Todd, which will be featured on the Craft Critique website. Todd has trouble sleeping so I made him one for his nightstand. He can put his thoughts down in his head at night (those little things that run through your mind that keep you up for all hours of the night).

I had a pink journal which I altered. I brought it to the gym with me yesterday. This one uses scraps of designer paper (from previous projects). I used this My Minds Eye paper for another project I did last month (Hanna Paper Dolls). I couldn't bear to throw away the scraps, so I put them in my handy dandy file folder. I scrap of rose red cardstock, and a neatly trimmed main image on white cardstock. Sophie G. was stamped with Aerobic Riley (I think it should be Aerobic Sophie G (legwarmers people!!!). I totally Richard Simmons-afied her...I colored her outfit in pink, then took a pink Sakura gel pen and completely sparkled the top! That is *so* Richard Simmons! Sentiment printed on the computer, trimmed and mounted to the journal. Some fun ribbon and a feather top sparkle gel pen for the journal.

I was *STYLIN* at the gym the other day, taking notes from my personal trainer! :)

stamps: Sophie G Aroebic {Hanna Stamps}
paper: DCWV, rose red, white
ink: black soot, copics, sakura pink gel
ribbon: mayarts, SU!
journal: from Todd

FS114: **Inge**

This week's Featured Stamper is **Inge** from SCS. You are gonna love this girls gallery. The coloring she does is AMAZING! The layouts are fab too! She had this adorable card {hugs and hugs} in her gallery, so I decided to use that one for my case card. I kept the layout and the bunny theme. My changes:

• moved the sentiment
• moved the buttons to the other side
• eliminated the brads, sewed in it's place
• removed the prima with the button (actually, I had it on the card, but it fell off and I didn't notice it until I took the photo off my camera. I am just too lazy to go back - add the button/flower, add the watermark and re-upload)....

This card uses Hoppy Anna Mae (cause I love her). She is so cute and FUN to color. I stamped the ears, the bunny and the eggs separately. I colored everything, then trimmed the ears, bunny and eggs and mounted them to the card. The bunny is on dimensionals, as is that main image.
My first layer is blush, cuttled with the swiss dots folder. The next layer is celery, followed by a bunch of designer papers (DCWV). Sentiment stamped on blush cardstock, colored with copics, dotted with a white gel pen. Not an SU! white gel pen because my 8 SU! white gel pens do not work (GRRR!). Why do I keep buying them? I should call demonstrator services about these gel pens. Not one works - and they are all fairly new!

Happy Easter everyone!


Stamps: Hoppy Anne Mae {Our Craft Lounge}
paper: white, celery, blush, DCWV
ink: black soot, copics
misc: buttons (papertrey), ribbon (mayarts/starlitstudio), cuttlebug (swiss dots), white gel pen, dimensionals

Busy Blogger!

This has been an incredibly busy week! Karen was Helena in the school production of Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream. I may be impartial, but she was FANTASTIC! The entire production was amazing! She looked so grown up!


I was part of the costume committee. The costumes came out fantastic -- I just helped with some cutting, some organizing...no real sewing (I will stick to sewing on my cards thank you very much!)


Here I am with Karen (and Xavier) after the show! My proud mom moment!!!!

The next morning, Todd and I got ALL the family up and back to the school for the monthly assembly. Todd and I were told Victoria was going to be Student of the month this month and they were going to surprise her.

Yes, she is wearing a bathrobe. It was comfy clothing day at school....

comfy to some kids is lounge pants -- to others, PJs and bathrobe!



Here are the Students of the Month for the school. Victoria is the back right!

FS113: Justwritedesigns

This card by Julie (aka Justwritedesigns) was wonderful. The colors were so spring. I decided to use similar colors and kind of keep the feel of the card with the main image in the top left.

I used a white base and a rose red layer, then some designer paper (MME/Wild Asparagus). I used a zig zag stitch on the edge. I stamped Anna Mae (Our Craft Lounge) on white cardstock. I stamped her bunny ears on a scrap of white. Both were colored with copics. I trimmed the ears and put them on top of Hoppy Anna Mae. This card is for Molly's birthday. Fun thing about Molly, she wears bunny earmuffs. YEAR ROUND. In the winter, I can see it. But in the Spring, Fall...summer....IT gets hot here! Molly loves those bunny ear muffs, so this Anna Mae is perfect for her! I used the sentiment from Snail Mail (Our Craft Lounge). I stamped the sentiment on a rose red tag, used a white button (papertrey ink) and threaded some gingham ribbon through the button, tied it in a bow. The card needed something -- so I added a little strip of pink piorouette (run through the cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder). Isabella (Molly's friend) just adored the card when I showed it to her....what do you think?


stamps: Hoppy Anna Mae, Snail Mail {Our Craft Lounge}
paper: rose red, white, pink pirouette, mme/wa designer paper
ink: black soot (ranger), copics
misc: ribbon (mayarts), button (papertrey ink), swiss dots (CB), tag

LSC214: Off Your Rocker

This week's Limited Supply Challenge is 1-2-3 (which reminds me of the Plain White T's song (123)

you make it easy, as easy as 1 2,(1 2 3 4.) There's only one thing two do three words four you: i love you.

My kids love that song!

So I used 1 color (red) - plus neutral (white). 2 designer papers (from my Provo Craft stash) - 3 elements (brads, ribbon and dimensionals (don't know if these count).

Sometimes I like to stamp on the colored cardstock so I don't have to color them in -- using the white cardstock as a layer to make the color pop! I like the way this card turned out! Yes - some days I am off my rocker! Don't you ever feel that way -- this stamp is from the new Granny Hanna set being released Monday. Off to sit at the raffle table at the school Spring Carnival!

Have a great weekend!

paper: Provocraft candy apple red pack, white
ink: black
stamps: Granny Hanna
misc: brads, dimensionals, ribbon (mayarts)

LSC213: Out like a lamb

I checked the LSC today on SCS too early and last week's challenge came up -- so I played -- Here is my sample: black & white is the limit - you can only used black and white. I used a white base, a black sheet of cardstock, dry pressure embossed with the textile folder. Sewed a wide ribbon across the card -- added a button, some patterned paper, computer sentiment (You Grow Girl) and some ribbon in the button. Simple and easy. This stamp is Mommie to be from Hanna Stamps! It will be released Monday.


stamps: Mommy to be (Hanna Stamps!)
paper: black, white, patterned paper (DCWV)
ink: black, copics
misc: ribbon (may arts), nestabilities, dimensionals, button (papertrey ink)

Sneak Peek: Granny Hanna

I was able to work in a BUNCH of SCS challenges in this one card! This week's SC (SC222), the WT212 (foiled again - using foil), HSC63 (black and white and red all over), HSC57 (metal mania). I used the basket of yarn from the Hanna Granny set and stamped it with ranger black soot ink, then colored with copics. The main image is layered on tinfoil, then on black. Patterned paper is old - from my stash of Provo Craft (during my hay day of buying from Michaels). This felt very country -- and it made me think of knitting. I used some big and small PTI buttons - sorry - they are naked. The sentiment is printed on the computer, then trimmed and adhered under the big button. This is going to my friend Margaret from church. She knits AMAZING! Seriously - she made argyle socks for her dad - size 10. WHO DOES THAT? She makes American girl sweaters for her daughter's dolls to match her daughters sweaters. I LOVE IT! I wish I could knit! She will enjoy my humor on this card -- what do you think?



stamps: Granny Hanna
paper: white, black, PC designer paper, foil
ink: copics, ranger black soot
misc: Buttons (PTI), computer (sentiment)