The Left Side of My Brain

SG13 - Fortune Cookie Fun

2010-02-28T01:00:00.001-06:00

Hola chicas! Sorry for the long delay in posting. The fam and I just got back from 5 days in fabulous Las Vegas (cue Elvis music). My sister lives out there, so it's always fun to go out because we wind up seeing and doing things that a normal "tourist" wouldn't do. Bottom line...so fun. We did pretty well on the slots (we are not big gamblers), and saw the Circ show KA (awesome acrobatics, not much plot). Went to some great local bars. Fun times. I also got these boots from the boot barn on my birthday. They are super fun and look great with jeans. I got a bunch of hair "bling" as well. I will have to post some photos.

On to the sketch. This month's sketch is sponsored by The Wild Flower Patch ! This week's winner will get 5 free digi images from the store. Which will be a really sweet score for someone!

On to my card. I remembered I had to do this card the day it was due, while I was on the treadmill recouping from vacation (training for the half marathon remember). So once I finished a moderately respectable 4 miles, with an interuption from a very disgruntled almost 2 year old who wanted his mommy, I flew into my craft room and got to work. I had bought the fortune cookie and fortune cookie word set from Amuse earlier this month with my birthday discount (10% any order your bday month! Sweet) and hadn't used it yet. This sketch just called out for it. The little banner just said "place fortune here" (Although the first time I stamped the sentiment it was slightly crooked and I knew that someone...ahem Randee...would have pointed out that it was crooked). Anyway, I love this card. I love the words set from amuse. My only decision now is do I go with the demure "The cookie has spoken" on the inside, or the more risque "in bed"....hmmmm

Now it's your turn. This sketch is really easy, so if you have been hovering this is YOUR week.

Go to the sketch girl blog and post your creation!

SG12 Celebrate Today

2010-02-15T01:00:00.000-06:00

Another sketch from the sketch girls! This month's sketch is sponsored by SassyStudioDesigns. They have fabulous digi images like the one I used in my card below. The winner of this month's sketch will get to select 4 digi images from the site! Fabulous! I have never used a digi image before, but I think my card turned out really well!

I had to use copics and colored pencils on this card. Some of the facial details needed a softer touch (the eyeshadow and blush). I love the striped chatterbox paper. I have been raided my stash of paper lately and it feels great!

So go on over to the Sketch Girl blog and post your card!

Fun Notebook Covers

2010-02-11T22:08:00.004-06:00

I made these notebooks for the girls that I work with as a Valentine's day present. I felt that the quote was a very good reminder to those single gals that life is not all about waiting for your handsome prince. The stamp is from Paper Makeup Stamps. I love their quote stamps and their monsters. These notebook covers were easy to make and I am hoping that the girls will like them! The PP is really old Chatterbox (using the stash!), some bitty dot paper from PTI, and some berry sorbet PTI twill and buttons.

Love card

2010-02-07T22:15:00.004-06:00

Ahhhh. I crafted for over 12 hours on Saturday. Thanks to my mom who came and helped my husband watch my son. I had so much fun with Tiffany (and even more fun watching her drool over my sewing machine :)

We went to Craft Fancy in Arlington Heights, it was a cool store with some off beat products. I got a couple stamps sets I am going to be excited about making cards with.

But I digress. I needed to make a man card. For my DH. Because he doesn't get mad at me when I tell him that I will be crafting from 9 am Saturday to 1 am Sunday and even makes me and Tiffany smoothies and homemade pizza. (delicious)

It needed to not have pink, or ribbon. But I snuck in some stiching. So I made this card. And I finished the inside too. Go me. I think he will like it.

Paper from Making Memories, stamps Technique Tuesday, button PTI.

How I use "flair"

2010-02-04T21:01:00.004-06:00

Today's cards feature "flair", you know, like the buttons one might wear on a jean jacket. Only these are better because they have and adhesive back. Sometimes it's hard to figure out how to use these suckers. I got three sheets of them when I got the rubons from peachy cheap. And I made the card above. I had gotten the embossed heart background folder on clearance somewhere last May, glad I could bust it out. A little corner rounding and a nice bow with a PTI sentiment. The photo stinks, but I am not in a place to retake it. So I gave a bonus card.

This is a smaller card and was FAST to put together. I grabbed a scrap of Valentine paper from three years ago (stored with my other Valentine specific scrap paper- I know it's anal, but hey it works for me!) and added the foam letters from American Crafts, and the heart flair. The ribbon was an after thought because it looks naked without it.

And another thing. Some of you know I am running the Shamrock Shuffle March 21 (for those of you not familiar with the Shuffle, it's an 8K run through downtown Chicago with 36,000 others). Yesterday I asked Tiffany if she wanted to run it and she declined. Today she not only says she running it, but asks if I want to do the half marathon in Kenosha. Um....am I crazy? Apparently. So we are both signed up, and now accountable because I have just told you all about it. That race is May 1. Here's to finishing.....

Love is in the Air

2010-02-02T20:52:00.003-06:00

So it's time for another holiday season that most people exchange cards at. Well, at least one card. I am not a girly girl, but there is just something fun about pulling out the pink, red, and white cardstock and going to town.

I got a slew of American Crafts Valentine stuff from peachcheap. I love peachycheap. (I actually got today's deal too (a ton of basic grey stuff AND free shipping for $12.99 - yes please!)

Anyway, I took my Valentine goodness and laid it out before me. New stuff makes me happy. Then I made what I am calling the Valentine Tree card. So fun. So pink and girly, yet with the sometimes annoying habit I have of making things analytical and precise (or clean and simple if you want, but I know it's the scientist in me struggling for order!)

I used a quickutz embossing plate to give the background some texture, and then stiched around that layer. I have a stash of precut scallops from my Silhouette, and so I took one of those and an oval and then used an American Crafts rubon for thefocal image. A few Melon Berry buttons, some Doodlebug ribbon, and a PTI stamp and this card was done. Actually only took like 20 minutes, including sewing. Love that! Now....who gets this card?

Sketch Girl #12 - Fun with Flowers

2010-01-30T01:30:00.000-06:00

I saw this sketch and was like "Huh." I had no inspiration. Nada. none. I pouted. No inspiration. So I pushed it to the back of my mind and did other work related things. But I doodled constantly. And finally after turning the sketch I came up with this:

Me likely.

I was so happy with how this card came out. The flowers were from a stamp set that I got for free from Archivers. The sentiment is from PaperMakeup stamps. I used the cross stich selection on my sewing machine to sew up the sides. Colored the flowers with my copics and then added some glitter from my Spica glitter pen. I also used pop dots of different heights to give the card some dimension.

What do you all think?

Go and post your creation on the sketch girl blog!

And head on over to the other sketch girl's blogs for more inspiration!

and guest designer Laurel

Perfect Presentations is again sponsoring this week's contest. I love the templates from this company. They make awesome presents! Go grab a few....four new templates were posted today!

With Sympathy

2010-01-26T22:08:00.003-06:00

My friend Randee has had a very rough week. She lost her grandmother, who was very special to her. I made her this card to let her know she is special to me.

Stamps and Ribbon are PTI. Button is one of my favorite vintage finds (because she was worth it). The background paper is from the Recycled Stack from DCWV.

Fun Bag!

2010-01-24T20:36:00.004-06:00

Ok, I am officially in LOVE with the bag it up template from Perfect Presentation! Look at this bag! It was so easy to put together. My silhouette made quick work of the cutting and then I added my score lines, folded it and it was ready to go! I made this little bag for my son's daycare teacher, it was her one year anniversary with the center. These girls work so hard and as a working mom I so appreciate that!

The paper is from the DCWV Recycled Stack. I love that stack. I layered 4 flowers of decreasing sizes to create the flower and then added one of the K and Company fabric brads. I decided to wrap some twine around the box at the last minute. It just needed something. The sentiment is from PTI. I love that you can cut a window in the bag as well. It just looks so professional!

Have a great monday!

My aversion to the color purple

2010-01-22T18:25:00.002-06:00

Is there a color you almost never use? For me, the color is purple. I just don't gravitate towards that color. Ever. One of my friends at work needed a birthday card, and she wanted it to be purple. Oooookaayyy, I thought, now what. Luckily, I had found some American Crafts ribbon on clearance and I had some purple in my stash (hey- just because I never use the color doesn't mean I am not LOADED with supplies in the color!). So this is what I came up with. I love the cuttlebug for texturizing cardstock. This particular folder looks great for a wedding card as well. Needless to say, my friend loved the card and I made a few more of these to keep in my stash.

What's the color you are least likely to use? Maybe it's time to challenge yourself!

Stamp: PTI
Ribbon: American Crafts
Cardstock: Bazzill and Stampin Up

Valentine's Day Boxes

2010-01-19T20:29:00.000-06:00

I know it's the middle of January. But I needed to start thinking Valentine's Day. I have to make treat boxes for Jack's teachers and the Favor Box from Perfect Presentations fit the bill! I LOVE LOVE LOVE these templates. They are easy peasy to use and Leigh Ann provides great instructions of how to assemble them- including adhesive placement. Plus, the bonus for me is that the .gsd files are available so my silhouette does the cutting for me. I have to make at least 7 of these, and I think each one is going to be different. My mother informed me that I have to make one for my grandmother as well, and I have to use some red buttons she gave me, so that one I will make soon.

I haven't decided which of these are my favorites. :)

Hearts and scallop rectangle are cut with the silhouette, stamp on the white box is PTI, stamp on the red is from the stash.

Apple of my Eye

2010-01-17T20:26:00.004-06:00

I love this apple stamp. Its from a Unity stamp set my friend Tiffany brought over the last time we crafted together. I colored the apple with colored pencils; it's actually stamped on Kraft paper. Then I cut it out and popped it up for a little extra emphasis. I searched for the scrap of lined paper in my craft room for like 10 minutes. I KNEW I had the paper somewhere and love how this card looks. The ribbon is from May Arts and is so much fun to work with.

Have a great week!

Sketch Girl is Back! SG-10

2010-01-15T00:10:00.000-06:00

Yay! Sketch Girl is back! Admitedly, so I am. I took a nice blog break and I am feeling a lot more creative for it!

I loved this sketch. My card just flew together. I used one of my favorite boy quotes to complete this card.

I don't know if you can see, but I used my scor-it to add some texture to the kraft cardstock. I also stiched around the edges of the sentiment and the patterned paper. I inked the edges of the card and added the small strip of cardstock that I trimmed with pinking shears. The button was the final touch. Pretty simple really.

A word on sewing. IT IS NOT HARD! Please, give it a try. I know that some sewing machines are expensive and I am blessed that my DH let me get a good one (I sew too, so it's not just for cards and scrapbook pages)- but seriously, a decent Singer machine can be had at Walmart for under $100. I know there's the sew Janome or something like that for less, but at least if you get a good machine you can do some mending or hem pants or whatever. Just my two cents!

Card details:

Stamp: Paper Makeup Stamps

Sticker: K and Company

Inke: Papertrey Ink

Patterned Paper: Making Memories

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink

Buttons, Twine

Hop on over to the other sketch girl's blogs and see what they have created! And don't forget to post your creation on the sketch girl blog!

Alyssa www.critterlyss.blogspot.com

Harriet www.alittlethisandalotofthat.blogspot.com

Tiffany http://paperandstamps.blogspot.com

Randee http://mystampingground.blogspot.com

Bonnie http://aboutascountryasonecanget.blogspot.com

Amber www.thecountryscrapper.blogspot.com

Jennie http://stapawaytheday.blogspot.com

Jessica http://basicjess.blogspot.com

Sara http://luminousinmychaoticdreamslife.blogspot.com/

Annie www.stampingwithannieb.blogspot.com

Julie http://lastminuecrafter.blogspot.com/

and our Guest Designer Laurel! http://www.want2scrap.blogspot.com/

January's sketches are sponsored by Perfect Presentation, a new line of affordable templates that you print, cut, score, and assemble. All template purchases come with instructions that include photos to help with assembly and adhesive placement. Measurements and/or templates are included to make cutting decorative panels quick and easy. Available at www.thewildflowerpatch.com/shop

Fun with Scraps

2010-01-11T21:08:00.005-06:00

So I was cleaning my scrap room last weekend before coming back to work, and I kept finding all of these fun scraps. Of course playing with the scraps was just as fun as organizing (I love organizing) and so I made a few quick birthday cards. These cards are small (the two with squares are about 4 x4 and the other two are 2.5 x 2.5) but that is the beauty of using the scraps- I simply made the cards as large as the scraps. I, admitedly, am a scrap hoarder. I have all these little boxes and bins and baggies of scraps. I just can't understand paying a lot of money for a piece of paper and then not using all of it. Plus its fun to let my friends go through the scrap bin and make things when they come over too! Hope your week started out fabulous! Oh- the patterned paper is from American crafts, the sentiments are from Papertrey!

I'll be your umbrella

2010-01-07T22:17:00.001-06:00

This card came about because of a major score in the clearance bin at Archiver's. I got a 198 piece "wellies and brellas" runbo set from Autumn leaves for 75% off! It wound up being $3.50 and I got pages and pages of unbrellas and boots. Such a deal. I still had the Sage Shadow Stampin Up paper out from my holiday thank you and it matched perfectly. Love that! I love my cuttlebug as well- there's nothing like a little texture to brighten up a card! I was flipping through the SU catalog to figure out what I "needed" (sale-a-bration time seems to be the only time I order from them now) and I think many of the cards in the catalog could do with a little texture...of course that's just me. And of course this card is in my clean and simple design. I did get another 25 copics for christmas, and I have been coloring- Honest! Just nothing I want to show off yet.....

Whew! Was I really gone THAT long?

2010-01-04T22:02:00.003-06:00

Hi Everyone! At least, hello to those still out there! I had a wonderful blog break. I did many fun holiday things. I learned to cut hair (at least my son's and hubby's). I read books (how cool is that) and I even made some cards. Not that I posted them (bad blogger). I was in a card making frenzy, I actually made and sold over 100 cards for the holidays. So that was fun. I just got back to work today after 13 days off and it was weird. I would also like to give a shout out to the stay at home moms, you guys are amazing. I had Jack with me for 5 days straight and yesterday I told my hubby that I think he really needed to go and run around with his two year old friends at daycare.

But I digress. This card I made in mass quantities to send to all the people I needed to thank over the holidays. It is deceptively simple. The hardest part was glittering the snowflake, which you could skip, but I think it really makes the card. I used the new signature greetings stamp from Papertrey- love that set. My hubby gave me 5 sets for christmas. He knew I kept a wish list and he even ordered under my name so I could get the bonus set this year! How cool is that?

I am hoping to post a bit more this month. I won't call it a resolution. I am making fun crafty things, I just am a lazy blogger. Here's to changing that!

SG9 -I totally modified the sketch...

2009-11-15T00:30:00.000-06:00

Aye yi yi! I have been so busy. Life certainly throws things at you. Of course, you just take it as it comes right? I look at all the cards that so many of my favorite bloggers have created in the last month with a twinge of envy. Gone are the days that I spend every night in my craft room....

Today was a very fun crafty day. My friend Lori is the director of a humane society (she's also the head vet) and she called on me to summon my crafty friends to create as many cards as we could to sell at their fund raiser coming up in December. We manged to create about 100 cards! Now, many are the same, which she will package, but it is still quite a feat. I made the card above in the spirit of sketch number 9. I couldn't get the double strips to work (which is too bad because they are totally me, and on any other card I would have thrown some ribbon on, but it didn't work with this card). The little felt trees are from the dollar bin at Michael's.

Here is another card we created. I think we made 25 of these. The glittered tree is from a HUGE pack of 1000 that I got on clearance last year. It was like $2.

I love this card. It speaks to the simplicity that I am trying to approach life these days. Plus I got to color. Lori reminded me today about how we used to color in Grad school when we would be stressed out. Color as in with crayons and using a Lion King coloring book. That was fun. But so are Copics :) I may make these for my Christmas cards this year. But I think I will add a tree branch for the ornament to hang on.

Anyway, totally sorry about the bad blogging. I will try to be better!

Now go to the Sketch Girls website and see what everyone else came up with!

TTFN!

Sketch Girl 7

2009-10-15T01:00:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone! So this week's sketch gave me some trouble. Mostly because whenever I see horizontal lines I want to use ribbon. But I couldn't make the ribbon work with this card. I love the dino stamps from My Favorite Stamps....and it paired really well with the dino paper from Basic Grey.

So my son "shared" his stomach flu with me. Not nice. So this post is short so I can go and curl back up with a hot water bottle....

I have some more cards to share later....promise!

Supplies:

Cardstock: Archiver's

Patterned paper: Basic Grey

Stamps: My Favorite Stamps, Papertrey Ink

Ink: Memento

Markers: Copics

Sketch Girl #6- Hallotini anyone?

2009-09-30T01:00:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone! Time for Sketch # 6! I don't know about you, but I am in love with Copic markers. I know, I know..perhaps I am preaching to the proverbial choir, but the number of colors alone is enough to make me love them. So I busted out the copics to color this FUN image! It is from Impression Obsession and my love of Halloween demanded that I buy this stamp back in March!

So now all of you run over to the sketch girl blog and make a card yourself (I hear there are prizes this time! *grin*

Also, stop by and see the guest Sketch Girl Amber's card - welcome Amber!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Stampin Up

Patterned Paper: KI Memories

Stamp: Impression Obsession

Markers: Copics

SG5- Mix it up!

2009-09-15T01:00:00.000-05:00

When I saw this sketch I thought there was no way I could come up with something remotely interesting. Too many circles and what papers could I use and...well you get the picture. Then I calmed down and squelched the clean and simple card maker in me. This could not be a simple card. The thing about sketches is that you can mix them up. So the focal point became a frame with an alligator, and the two small circles became stars! Don't be afraid to mix up a sketch...you just may like what you come up with!

Supplies

Cardstock: Stampin Up

Patterned Paper: Making Memories

Die Cuts: Making Memories

Brads: Making Memories

SG4- Gray is the new Black

2009-08-31T00:01:00.002-05:00

Did you ever have one of those months? One where everything seems to happen at once? That is the month I am having. I can't really talk about work (Scientist at big Pharma company), but let's just say I have been hopping this past month. Add to that the fact I had scheduled vacation for a week and it amounts to a busy busy August with not much time for crafting (ie having a job and doing it well helps when one wants to go and buy new crafting supplies - namely the new Copic colors)....but I digress.

This card was very easy to do once I found the papers. The sketch was somewhat of a challenge, but I love the patterned paper lines that coordinate now. Once I found the Ambrosia stack from Basic Grey and I remembered the coordinating rubons I had tucked away for a rainy day (which is what we had all week here in Chicago) I was set.

Now its your turn! Let's see what you can do! Don't forget to link to go to the Sketch Girl Blog and link to your project...YOU might be the guest designer for the month!

Supplies:

Patterned Paper: Basic Grey

Rubon: Basic Grey
Ribbon: Target

Cardstock: Stampin Up

Sketch Girl 3 Sketch

2009-08-15T06:00:00.000-05:00

Woohoo! Time for another Sketch from the Sketch Girls! I am scheduling this post so I am really hoping that it posts in time. I promise to be a better blogger when I get back! :)

This sketch was very simple, so feel free to mix it up a bit. I love using the stickers from K and Company. The Amy Butler line is awesome! I am in love with scallops, and I love the fact I can use my Silhouette to cut them any size I want! This one is a 4" square.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Stampin Up

Patterned Paper: K and COmpany
Purse Sticker: K and Company

Stamp: Hero Arts

Ink: Stampin Up

SG3 Sneak Peek

2009-08-14T06:00:00.000-05:00

Hey Everyone! I am on vacation, which explains the lack of posting. Hope everyone is having a good week. Here is a sneak peek of my Sketch Girl Card for tomorrow!

August Card Exchange

2009-08-05T21:11:00.002-05:00

Time for another card exchange. The theme this month is Birthday cards. I seriously thought about sitting this one out. I have like a million things to do (going on vacation again next week, plus work stuff)...but I figured if I could think of something acceptable in 10 minutes then I would participate. Sooo I came up with this. Everyone loves a scalloped card right? I cut some square on my Silhouette (love that thing!) found a sheet of patterned paper and viola! I still have to make the other 9 and get my hubby to drop them off (did I mention we work at the same company, and that he is very tolerant of playing delivery boy?

Hope you like it!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Stampin Up
Patterned Paper: American Crafts
Stamps: PTI
Ribbon: PTI

Sweet Sunday #29

2009-08-02T20:43:00.003-05:00

Ok, so I saw Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch and decided I just had to play. Loved it. Then I started making this card and I did all sorts of crazy rule bending things. That's what I like about sketches though....

I turned the sketch on the side and used an oval panel rather than a square one. I also moved the sentiment lower on the card. I am really pleased how this card came together. Can't wait to see what everyone else does!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Stampin Up

Patterned Paper: American Crafts

Rub On: Chatterbox

Letter: Pressed Petals

Stamp: Hero Arts

Button: Foof-a-loof

Twine: PTI

Sketch Girl Sketch #2

2009-07-30T03:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Everyone! I hope that you are as inspired as I was with this week's Sketch Girl Sketch! As you will come to see, I am usually a clean and simple card maker. I admire those who can throw everything but the kitchen sink at a card and have it come away looking all shabby chic. But that's not me (I think it's the scientist in me; anything but straight lines have me hyperventilating. I have on occassion been known to tilt an image; but that's as crazy as I get)

Anyway, this was a fun card to make. I have been in a Kraft mood lately, which happens, so I started by finding some colored cardstock to use as a base. I grabbed green, which really isn't earth shattering for me, but I wanted a soothing color as a base. A little tone on tone polka dots and a few swirls and the base was complete. I could completely avoid the kraft, but it does kind of fade back with the distressed panel. The heart I die cut at Archiver's (left over from a valentine's project), and the sentiment is from the heartfelt sympathy: pet set from PTI (the set was only $5 people). This is a card I never hope to have a need for. I want to add a paw to the sentiment (and I actually have) but I am out of time this evening so you can imagine it for yourself.

Can't wait to see what all my other Sketch girls and YOU come up with! Oh and if you go to the Sketch Girl Blog and become a follower, then you could be entered to win one of 3 stamps sets! Woo hoo!

Supplies:

Cardstock: Stampin' Up

Ink: Stampin Up, PTI

Twine: Walmart (big roll $4)

Stamps: PTI

Sketch Girl Sneak Peek

2009-07-29T21:55:00.003-05:00

So if I had really been on top of it, I would have posted this sneak peek last night. But I wasn't (I was making teacher cards and wrapping gifts). But better late then never. Make sure you all come back to see the finished card tomorrow, and make sure you are following the Sketch Girl's Blog because there will be PRIZES Up for grabs!

See you all tomorrow!

Teacher Thank Yous

2009-07-27T21:25:00.002-05:00

I had to make some thank you notes for my son's daycare teachers. He is transitioning to the toddler room next week. I can't believe he has been in daycare over a year already. It's very hard to be a working mom, and the daycare my son is at makes it a lot easier.

This was the first card I made, I will show more of the others later this week. (and don't forget to check out this week's sketch on the 30th. There may be a sneak peek...if I can finish it before the 30th *grin*). I like using premade accents on my cards when I have to make a bunch. It simplifies things and the premade accents are so much better constructed these days.

For this card I used the PTI Teacher set. I love this set. I know that this will be my go to set for any card I make for teachers. Then I added a bug accent from The Paper Company Studio. It is on a little spring and is so cute! I used my Silhouette to cut some grass and added some punched flowers with a little bling. A quick and simple card that any teacher would love!

Supplies:
Accent: The Paper Company Studio

Cardstock: Stampin Up

Bling: Crystal Stickers

Stamps: PTI

Ink: Stampin Up

With Appreciation

2009-07-24T20:08:00.003-05:00

I have been on a little hiatus from blogland. I have been relaxing and reading and enjoying summer. Sometimes you just have to take a step back.

I got the new In Bloom paper pack with my new PTI order and I wanted to use these citrusy colors to make a fun thank you card. Of course I had to add a bit of Kraft cardstock :)

Hope you all are looking forward to a great weekend!

Supplies:
Cardstock: PTI, Archiver's
Patterned Paper: PTI
Ribbon: May Arts
Sentiment: PTI
Ink: Memento

New PTI- Just a little something

2009-07-20T20:46:00.003-05:00

Whew! It has been quite the busy week for me. I know I haven't posted in awhile, but there was work, and there was a picnic to plan and go to, and then there was the recovery from said picnic...you get the idea! But I did get a chance to order some new PTI goodies last week, and look at the fun card I was able to make! I can tell the button set is going to be one of my favorites. It has a bunch of images and all you ahve to do is add the buttons!

I kept this card simple. I added some making memories buttons to the stamped images and paired it with some K and Company paper. Of course it was on a base of Kraft cardstock...I can't get enough of that!

Hope you all have a great week!

Supplies

Stamps: Papertrey Ink

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink

Buttons: Making Memories

Ink: Stampin Up

Ribbon: Dots and Dashes

What's the Buzz? -Sketch Girl DT!

2009-07-15T21:03:00.003-05:00

Totally exciting news! I am a Sketch Girl Designer! I can super excited! Here's the skinny....

Today is the offical start of Sketch Girl! Sketch Girl is a bi-weekly sketch challenge created by Annie B (Leigh Ann). The Sketch Girl blog will be home to all the sketches in one place, so run on over and add yourself a follower so you can get an update as soon as a new sketch is added. In the future there will be a contest or two with prizes! If you make the sketch and upload to a forum, please use keyword SG1. Annie's Blog is where the details are right now. This is a very new thing for me and I am way beyong thrilled that I was selected. Now for my card:

I had made a Father's Day card with this beehive and I thought it would translate perfectly for this sketch...what do you think? The hive is colored with my Copics (the poor things have been sorely neglected lately), and I love the yummy felt ribbon from Making Memories. So come on, let's see what you do with the sketch!

Supplies:

Cardstock: Stampin Up

Patterned Paper: Basic Grey

Stamps: Saltbox Studio (the set was on sale for $3.90 on the Amuse website a month ago)

Button: Basic Grey

Ink: Memento

Markers: Copics

Twine: Walmart

Christmas in July- Card Exchange

2009-07-13T21:29:00.003-05:00

The theme for the card exchange this month was Christmas in July. I just finished my cards tonight and they are due tomorrow (whew, I always sweated a deadline). I went with what my friends may call a "Classic Katie" Card. Simple, yet elegant...not to mention easy to duplicate. The Basic Grey paper was great for the base and I decided to make a Thank you card instead of a Christmas card to send out (I have a few more months to work on that concept!).

Hope everyone's Monday was ok!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Stampin Up
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey
Ribbon: May Arts
Foil Stick ons: JoAnn's
Other: Thread

Flocked Thanks

2009-07-11T20:22:00.006-05:00

First, I love this paper. Second, I love the rhinestone bling- its from the vintage button score that I got at a garage sale a few months ago. I finally found a card to use it on. The paper is the flocked Doodlebug designs. This card was a 5 minute card and I love it!

Sorry I have been a few days away. I rediscovered how much I love to read. I went to the library for the first time in ages and got some books, so that has taken some time as has some stuff at work. My little guy is feeling much better! We had a great day today he was very playful and fun and we even had out second swimming lesson. Hope you all are having a great night!

Supplies:

Patterned Paper: Doodlebug

Ribbon: from the stash

Rhinestone bling: Vintage

Stickers: Making Memories

Sweet Sunday Sketch

2009-07-07T21:49:00.003-05:00

Apparently I am not the only one to have issues with automatic posts when I went on vacation. Karen over at the Sweetest Thing also had some problems,which is why the sketch was not posted until tonight.

I haven't posted in a couple days because the little guy was sick again (it's been a bad month). Thankfully my mother was able to come over and take care of him so that my husband and I could still go to work. And of course Jack loves his Grandma...

For this card I just wanted to put something together that was simple (and a Birthday card of course). The sketch lended itself to that beautifully. I love the paper line "offbeat" from Basic Grey.

Hope you all have a great week!

Supplies:
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey
Cardstock: Archiver's
Stamps: Stampin Up, Hero Arts

New Color Challenge!

2009-07-04T21:15:00.005-05:00

I wasn't looking for a color challenge tonight. Honest. I was just going to play a bit in my craft room and then go to bed. I blurfed a bit and saw that Randee, Sarah-Jane , and Kelley all had the same color challenge submissions on their blog (Seriously, I started to think I had missed the memo ladies). It was a new challenge Travellingmama had started. So fun! Then I started sorting and putting stuff away in my room. I sat down and made a card (wasn't really planning on doing a challenge tonight) and when I was done I looked at it and thought, well I could use this for the Traveller's challenge! So here it is:

Nothing really fancy here. I am a pro at nothing really fancy. My copics are crying in their little boxes right now....

I used a felt flower from K and Company and added some gable green and raspberry fizz cardstock. Then used the patented Tiffany punching technique to add some visual interest and added a PTI birthday sentiment (still building the birthday stash).

Hope it inspires you!

Raspberry Suite #11

2009-07-03T21:01:00.004-05:00

I was a little nervous when I saw the colors for this week. Five colors?!!! Seriously? So last night I made some just to create (which was fun) and tonight I tackled the colors challenge. Out came all the paper and embellies that had these colors.

What resulted was a card that has a little bit of this and a little bit of that. I love mixing manfacturers. All of the flowers are from Prima and I layered them myself. I capped them with a fabric brad from K and Company (I am addicted to the fabric covered brads). The paper is from PTI and Stampin Up, the ribbon is from Michaels and the stickers are Making Memories.

I need to increase my stash of birthday cards....so that was my self imposed challenge as well. Hope you liked it!

Pink Paisley Thanks

2009-07-02T21:14:00.004-05:00

Hey everyone! I was unsure what I was going to make tonight. One of those nights where I had just cleaned the kitchen, picked up the toys and moved a couple piles from one place to another. I saw Dawn McVey's Color challenge, but the colors are a little scary...5 colors! Oi!

So I just grabbed a bit of this and a bit of that and did a typical Katie card. So fun and relaxing. Helps that my Cubbies are majorly kicking butt tonight as well...and its a Holiday from work tomorow! Have a great 4th of July!

Supplies:
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey
Cardstock: PTI
Sticker: K and Company
Letter Stickers: Making Memories

Everybody's doing it...

2009-06-30T21:32:00.005-05:00

Have you tried drawing a box around a focal image yet? I have seen this again and again in recent days. I like to think that my friend Tiffany helped to make it popular...no one does it better :) I couldn't find an actual card that she made using this technique, so I linked to her blog. Snoop around a bit.

These cards were super easy. Have you seen the new line from K and Company? Actopus to Zelephant? Love it. Found these grand adhesions stickers and paired them with some stamps in my vast collection. Very sendable don't you think?

Supplies:
Cardstock: Archiver's

Stamps: Paper Makeup Stamps, PTI

Ink: Stampin Up

Stickers: K and Company

Where have I been?

2009-06-29T21:40:00.004-05:00

So although I have posted several times I have been on vacation! My parents own these two cottages just over the Wisconsin border in the Upper Pennisula. We have had them for almost twenty years, so I have lots of memories of this place and the area surrounding it. The weather was great, the bugs were terrible (my little guy got so bitten up at night when he was sleeping it looks like he got chicken pox). Now I am back to reality and back to blogging....

I had to make a card for my MIL's bday that is coming up this weekend, so I employed some assistance from my little guy...the rest was easy, just some cardstock and ribbon! Off to see what I have missed in the blog world this week!

Supplies:
Cardstock: PTI, Stampin Up

Paint: Making Memories

Ribbon: Dots and dashes

Twine: PTI

Stamps: PTI

Ink: Memento

Kick Back and Relax

2009-06-26T20:30:00.000-05:00

I love these bunny slippers from My Favorite Things! I had lamented to my friend Tiffany that I didn't have any pink flocking (I have since remedied that situation, but didn't remake the card). I did add some sparkle to the card with a Veramark Glitter Pad. The ribbon is something that I picked up at Michaels and I thought it coordinated perfectly!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Wausau Paper, Bazzil

Stamps: My Favorite Things

Ink: Memento, Versamark Glitter Pad

Ribbon: Dots and Dashes

Believe in You

2009-06-24T21:17:00.000-05:00

Ok, the blog seems to not be scheduling like I want it to, my Father's day post went up and said it was Saturday when I posted it on Thursday night. Sigh

This is another quick card with the Fancy Pants journaling cards. Nothing fancy here. Just some cardstock and a Fab button (using up scraps!)

Supplies:
Cardstock: PTI

Patterned Paper: Fancy Pants, Basic Grey,

Button: Foof a loof

Twine: Walmart

You are in my Thoughts

2009-06-22T20:27:00.000-05:00

I still had all of the scraps on m table from the card exchange last month, so when my mother said she needed a sympathy card I just grabbed a bunch of scraps and this is what I came up with! I think I would just keep making stuff with Amy Butler papers if I didn't stop myself. I also love that I cut some extra butterflies with my silhouette- they come in so handy!

Supplies:
Patterned Paper: Amy Butler
Stamp: Amuse
Button: Fancy pants
Twine: Walmart

I Love Dad

2009-06-20T21:05:00.002-05:00

edited: I don't know why this posted. Notice that it says it is posted on Saturday, yet today is Thursday. This irritates me. I have another post I want to schedule, but I don't want to bombard the blog. Sigh....

Happy Father's Day! I hope that all the Dad's out there will have a great day! Since I am on vacation, i am sure fishing will be on the agenda!

This card is a layout I have used before (truth time, I frantically made this card when I remembered I needed a Father's day card for my husband and that I needed to go and pack for my trip...like immediately.) Colored Bronto with copics, added some buttons....Perfect!

Supplies:

Carstock: Bazzil, PTI

Patterned Paper: Basic Grey

Stamps: Studio G, Paper Makeup Stamps

Markers: Copics

Buttons: Basic Grey
Twine:PTI

Congrats Grad

2009-06-18T14:30:00.000-05:00

I am going on vacation, so I won't be posting as often. Hopefully I scheduled the posts correctly. I won't have internet either (gotta love the Northwoods), so don't think I haven't forgotten about everyone!

This card is another that I made for a graduation. Very quick and simple. I just a patterned paper from my stash and added some hibiscus burst ribbon, the star stamp is from PTI and the swirls are something I picked up at the $1.99 bin.

Supplies:
Carstock: Papertrey Ink

Patterned Paper: Anna Griffin

Stamps: Hero Arts, Papertrey Ink

Ink: Memento

Ribbon: Papertrey Ink

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #9

2009-06-15T20:34:00.004-05:00

Another color challenge from Dawn McVey! I love these colors, but of course when I went to sit down with them I was itching to throw some Kraft cardstock in. I resisted that urge, but my craft table is piled high with green, black, and cream ribbons, papers and accents - does that happen to anyone else?

I just got this pom pom ribbon at Archiver's this weekend. It was one of those "it's green" (my favorite color) purchases. Plus I have been seeing the pom poms everywhere and I was determined to make a card using it. The chipboard letters were a $1.99 spot purchase at Archiver's as well. It just didn't look right with just the pom pom and the letters, so I put a Heidi Swapp flower under the letters and added some stamping with Retro Basics. I could have added more, but the clean and simple cardmaker in me called shot clock and I determined that I was done.

Hope you like it! Off to see what you created!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Stampin Up

Stamp: Retro Basics (Papertrey Ink)

Chipboard Letters: Pressed Petals

Flower: Heidi Swapp

Ink: Memento

Sweet Sunday

2009-06-14T21:02:00.004-05:00

Another Sunday coming to a close. I am really enjoying playing along with Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch. I put the baby to bed, and then come down and relax in my fab scrap room with some tunes or the t.v. on. This week's sketch was a little difficult at first, since there were two circles. But then I had to remind myself that the sketch is only a guide. So this is what I came up with.

I love the series of boy quotes from Cloud 9. I use them all the time it seems! The cards with those sentiments always tend to be a little shabby chic, which isn't my typical style, but I just go with the flow. Hope everyone has a great week!

Supplies:

Patterned Paper: Fancy Pants, The Paper Wardrobe, random scraps (green)

Stamp: Coud 9

Sticker: K and Company

Ink: Memento, Ranger Distress

Ribbon: Making Memories

Color Inspiration Challenge #54

2009-06-13T20:30:00.005-05:00

YAY! I was able to make a card for the color inspiration challenge this week. Last week was bad with my family being sick. Of course I am terribly behind on everything else, so this card had to be quick.

I decided to use one of my stamps from Paper Makeup Stamps. They have the best dinosaurs! I paired it with my favorite dinosaur-like embossed background and added a senitment. The dino was colored with Copics.

Supplies

Cardstock: Stampin Up, Papertrey Ink

Stamps: Paper Makeup Stamps

Ink: Memento

Ribbon: Stampin Up

Quick Graduation Card

2009-06-11T21:21:00.002-05:00

This is my fall back card template. I needed a couple quick graduation cards for this week, and this became one of them. I really love the contrast of black and white with red and to be a bit different I used my other favorite - Kraft! Nothing fancy here folks, of course the bow looks terrific because nothing ties like the PTI ribbon.

Supplies:

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink

Patterned Paper: American Crafts

Stamp: Hero Arts

Ribbon: Papertrey Ink

Sweet Sunday Sketch

2009-06-09T20:04:00.005-05:00

Sometimes I see a sketch and the card makes itself! This card was one of those times. I had all my Amy Butler papers spread out from yesterday, and I still had some of the purses from a sticker set I had gotten 50% off at Archiver's. It took maybe 10 minutes to put together...love that! It was very fun to punch out a bunch of squares and arrange them on the front of this card; I'll have to keep this sketch in mind to use up scraps in the future!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Stampin Up

Patterned Paper: Amy Butler (K and Company)

Purse: K and Company

Ink: Stampin Up

Stamp: PTI

My card for the June Card Exchange

2009-06-08T20:50:00.003-05:00

I think I am finally coming out of the fog that was the last week. It is amazing how illness can bring things into perspective. I am a little bummed because there were a ton of challenges and sketches that I missed out on participating in. My mojo took a big hit too. That happens when I go through the blogs and see what wonderul things you are all creating.

This is my card for this months card exchange. Its a sketch based challenge, but of course, I don't have the sketch handy....This was a tough month for a lot of us in the exchange, many had to opt out due to family stuff.

This card is full of Amy Butler goodness....plus a butterfly cut using my Silhouette.

Have a great Tuesday!

Supplies:
Patterened Paper: Amy Butler
Cardstock: Stampin Up
Stamp: Amuse
Ink: Stampin Up
Button: Making Memories
Twine: Walmart

Another Man Card

2009-06-06T21:43:00.002-05:00

Another Man Card! I am trying to get my Father's Day cards all in order and this was another one I made for Michelle. I really like how it came out. It didn't take all that long to put together. I enjoyed doing the distressing of the images, and I liked finding just the right paper.

My son is still sick, but I think we turned a corner today. Now my husband is sick...fun times folks.

Supplies
Stamps: Thomas Kincade, Papertrey Ink
Patterned Paper: Karen Foster
Cardstock: Stampin Up
Ribbon: May Arts
Brads: Making Memories

Just Saying Hello

2009-06-04T19:15:00.003-05:00

This has been a very long week. My son went to the Dr and has bronchiolitis and an ear infection. The bronchiolitis is not bad, but bad enough that he pretty much wakes up every 45 at night. So I do as well. Needless to say, between half days at work (hubby and I are tag teaming) and getting nothing done at home it leaves little time to stamp. I did want to throw this card together though before you all gave up on me! The image is from Amuse and their stamps are always so simple that they demand minimal treatment on a card to look right. I colored the tent with Copics (thanks for the shading lesson Tiffany) and just added the sentiment (Hero Arts). Here's hoping to a night with a few hours of uninterupted sleep! Hope you had a great week- TGIF!

Father's Day Card for Michelle

2009-06-01T20:14:00.003-05:00

So here is another Father's Day card I was asked to make. This one is for Michelle's husband's father. The main image is a journaling card from Fancy Pants. I mounted it on sme Kiwi Kiss, popped it up and then added the piercing and button treatment. The stamp is from an old Stampin Up set....sorry it's so short my little guy has a 102 degree fever and I have to take care of him (he is sleeping now but it promises to be a looong night).

You're the Bees Knees!

2009-05-31T21:35:00.002-05:00

Another Father's Day card. This one is for my friend Christina to give to her father, who keeps bees as a hobby (which sounds really cool, but I would worry about being stung).

This image from Saltbox Studio was so fun to color, and I have to thank Tiffany for having the perfect patterned paper for this card! The inside of the card reads "Happy Father's Day". Hopefully Christina likes this!

I know that people always think that Man cards are hard to make - but think of them as opportunities to stretch yourself creatively!

Supplies:

Stamps: Saltbox Studio, Amuse

Ink: Memento, PTI Fresh Snow

Ribbon and Twine: PTI

Markers: Copics

Button: PTI

Doggie Father's Day Card

2009-05-30T21:46:00.005-05:00

A couple friends have asked me to make them some father's day cards. This card is meant for my friend Michelle's adorable little Yorkie to give to her husband. I love doggie Father's day cards they are such a cute idea! This card was fun to put together. I wanted to use Papertrey Ink's white snow ink and polka dot basics, and also use the I heart my dad stamp from Studio G and a Paw Print from Inkadinkado. It was more fun then usual because my friend Tiffany was over when I was making this card and we had a great time staying up late and crafting.

The ribbon is also from Papertrey Ink. I hope you enjoy my card! Look for more Father's day and graduation cards this week.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink, Archiver's

Stamps: Polka Dot Basics (PTI), I heart my dad (Studio G), Paw Print (Inkadinkado)

Ribbon and Twine: PTI

Ink: Memento and Staz On

Paper Challenge #5 and 2 Sketches 4 You

2009-05-28T21:44:00.010-05:00

I have a bunch to post tonight, so stick with me! I finally finished the cards for Paper Challenge #5 (at least I cut everything out and made the 3 samples.) Here are the Paper Challenge Rules:

1. Swap 1 - 12" x 12" sheet of patterned paper with one other person from the group of 5.
2. Create what ever you can out of the sheet of paper you received from someone else and make sure you make one for everyone.
3. Bring in your cards to swap.

This is something that some of us who do the monthly card exchange at work decided to start because of our mutual habit of buying paper and hoarding it. I love having crafty friends at work, although with Tiffany and Randee in the group, I feel the pressure!

I was able to create 3 cards for each person (15 total from 1 12 x 12 sheet of patterned paper). For one I used this sketch from 2 Sketches for you . (It's the one with the heart). The heart is where the circle is on the sketch and the sentiment is the mini circle. I decided to wrap fiber around the heart rather then having ribbon at the top of the card.

Here's the group shot:

The 2 Sketches for you submission (this is about as close to country as I come):

Card #2

Card #3

I was lucky in that the paper Randee gave me was the Comstock line from We R Memory Keepers and I had some other papers from We R Memory Keepers that was very similar. I am very happy with how they came out and I hope my friends enjoy them!

Supplies:

Patterned Paper: We R Memory Keepers

Cardstock: Stampin Up

Ribbon: Dots and Dashes, May Arts

Fibers: Papertrey Ink

Thread: Coats

Stamps: Papertrey Ink (Coffee Cup), Hero Arts (find joy), Amuse (Mom and Friend stamp)

Ink: Ranger Distress Ink Brushed Corduroy

Button: Vintage Wood (Papertrey Ink)

A couple cards

2009-05-27T20:18:00.005-05:00

A couple cards to share tonight. The first one was by request for my Grandmother whose Nephew just became a grandfather again. He likes birds. My mother was over and was going to be leaving soon and she said "Oh your grandmother needs a Congratulations Grandpa card". Which means I made this card in about 10 minutes (sewing and all!). That is a record for me. The new grandpa likes birds, so I covered a chipboard bird from Scenic Route with paper from Basic Grey and trimmed with an exacto knife and then sanded the edges. The sentiment is a combo of a Hero Arts stamps and a stamp from the $1 bin at Michaels (there were all sorts of family words, it's from awhile back so don't get excited and go out looking for it). Stiched around the edges and wa-la! A manly card that has a bird! I did also use Kraft as the base. I took a kraft hiatus, but it is back with a bang!

Card number two was another quickie. It was for my Mom's birthday. Sometimes I just don't know what kind of a card to make for her. So I used some of the Amy Butler papers from the mat stack (the Sola line) and added a simple ribbon treatment and a sentiment from Papertrey Ink that I stamped inside the Border Basics Rectangle.

So that's that. Two nice and simple cards. Have a great night!

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #19

2009-05-26T20:41:00.005-05:00

I had been seeing these great sketches on Rochelle and Sarah-Jane's blogs; the Sweet Sunday Sketch. So this week I decided to play along. Of course this caused some consternation when I saw the sketch because I am not good at placing little doo-dads below my card, and pairing those with a focal image is also not my forte.

So I did my best. I love these fabric brads from Amy Butler and paired them with a retired sentiment from Stampin Up. I love how the blue on the fabric buttons is mirrored in the cardstock on top.

That's my contribution, hope you like it!

Supplies:
Carstock: Stampin Up

Stamp: Stampin Up

Ink: Memento

Ribbon: American Crafts

Twine: Papertrey Ink

Papertrey May Blog Hop

2009-05-25T16:01:00.001-05:00

It's my first Papertrey Ink Blog Hop! Hopefully I have done everything correctly! I am so excited to be playing along. I really didn't know what to make using yellow, so I just went with a clean and simple card (Which is what I usually come up with *grin*). The card base is PTI Lemon Tart (I used my scor-it to emboss the bottom half every half inch but it's kind of hard to see), and the ink from the flower is Berry Sorbet. A yummy Melon Berry ribbon tied with one of the new wood Vintage Buttons adds a powerful punch. The sentiment is from Mega Mixed Messages and the flower from Life. I hope you all enjoy my creation - I can't wait to see all of yours!

KWerner Color Inspiration #53

2009-05-24T22:17:00.003-05:00

I don't know about you, but cards with primary colors are not my forte. I think I need to spend more time in the toy aisle!

This card came together in my mind once I found the sentiment. It is one of the new images that Silhouette just released. I saw it and instantly knew it would be great paired with a giant heart. I kept my fingers that the sentiment would cut correctly the first time and I was so excited it did!

Now that I look at the card, it is very Wonder Woman- esque. The yellow ribbon is velvet and I love how it gives the card texture. I have been doing very simple and classic designs and colors lately, and while this card is still simple it is a lot more on the retro funk side of the scale. Hope you like it!~

Supplies:

Cardstock: Stampin Up

Pattered Paper: KI Memories

Ribbon: Fancy Pants (yellow), Basic Basic (Blue)

Die cut: Silhouette

Card Base: Die Cuts with a View

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #7

2009-05-23T21:03:00.006-05:00

I spent all day outside weeding and planting. In the middle of the day my DH decided we needed to get dirt delivered, and 3 cu yards was on our driveway 2 hours later. I am sooo tired! But when I saw Dawn had posted another color challenge I felt the need to put something together.

Clean and simple. I used all PTI paper and ribbon for this card. It is interesting to me that the spring moss paper and spring moss ribbon look different when paired together. Can't wait to see what everyone else creates! I think I will hop around and look tomorrow it's time for bed (yes its only 9:15 on a Saturday night but I am beat!)

Supplies:

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink

Stamp: Papertrey Ink

Ribbon: Papertrey Ink

Ink: Stampin Up

Bling: Crystal Elements

A Roaring Good Day

2009-05-21T20:17:00.011-05:00

Tonight I decided to play with the sketch on 2 Sketches 4 You. I found out about the sketch challenge from Amy's awesome blog. They have a fantastic contest coming up in June as well. I used another one of my new stamps from Paper Makeup Stamps. His name is Terry and he is adorable. I also bought the matching sentiment.

I colored Terry with my copics, another new obsession of mine. I have collected quite a few, so I may be okay for a bit. I just got my Papertrey order from the last release today, so look for cards from those toys next.

And where do I play with all my "toys"? I was fortunate enough to be able to finish the basement in our house and I was also fortunate enough to have a husband who let me take about 1/3 of it to create an awesome room. Then there was having a friend who has an awesome husband who is a contractor (so if you are in the Chicago suburbs and need any kind of work done in your house email me and I will send you Mark's email. He rocks!) My room was finished about a month before my son was born, so I am still working on decorating and I think organization will be a constant challenge. I tend to take out a bunch of supplies and create until the piles start to fall off my table. Then I put some stuff away and start over. I was going to wait until my room was "clean" or "finished" to post photos, but that will never happen. So you are seeing it in all its glory.

I have storage all throughout the room. The doors there hide a big pipe along the wall and also hold supplieds. And I am a bit obsessed with ribbon. It's pretty much everywhere.

I bought this chair so I could curl up and read magazines. Someone else usually is curled up there. Her name is Ginger. I swiped my husband's craftsman tool chest. He really didn't need it *grin*. The punches are on kitchen towel racks from IKEA (not my idea, my friend Tiffany saw it somewhere). The display shelf was Mark's idea. It lights up. I love it.

Long view of the room. That's an 8 foot table. And its covered. I think I could have a 20 foot table and it still would be covered. And yes those are paper racks you see. That's for some of my patterened paper collection. The 25 cubby shelf is also from IKEA and holds lots of fun stuff.

More paper storage and more fun stuff on this 9 hole cubby. Its from Target, and I got it about 7 years ago. The wood boxes are from IKEA but they are a pain to put together (I didn't put them together, but my hubby says they were a pain *grin*). There's my litttle cuttlebug on the floor. I love it. I hav a silhouette but I was sucked into getting the bug because of the cool embossing folders.

My table. The trimmer on the left is a Carl Trimmer that is from Sam's Club online. It cuts chipboard and up to 30 sheets of cardstock at once. It was my Valentine's day present last year.

So that's my room. It's my own little world and I love it.

Card Supplies:

Stamps: Paper Makeup Stamps

Paper: Basic Gray

Cardstock: Stampin Up, Neenah

Ink: Memento

Ribbon: May Arts

Markers: Copics

Brad: Making Memories

Oh Baby!

2009-05-20T20:25:00.003-05:00

I created this card for the Oh Baby call that CARDs magazine had for the October 2009 issue. Sadly it did not get selected. I still think it's a great card so I wanted to post it and see what you all thought of it!

It was actually really easy to create as well. The star paper has star cutouts and I cut the polka dot paper to fit so that it showed the zigzag on the left and the polka dots through the stars. Then I stitched around the border of the card. The elephant is a die cue and the letters are stickers! All products are from Making Memories.

Paper Makeup Stamps Challenge

2009-05-19T21:49:00.002-05:00

My friend Randee introduced me to a great stamp company: Paper Makeup Stamps. They are the company that I got the cute monster stamps that I have been using. Then she directed me to their blog, which posts challenges every Monday. This week's challenge was to use Apple Green and Watermelon and pair it with White and/or Black. I thought that Bronto would be so cute for this card and he didn't disappoint. I am having so much fun with these stamps and hope you enjoy my creation!

Supplies:
Stamps: Paper Makeup Stamps, Hero Arts
Paper: Stampin Up
Ribbon: Making Memories
Buttons: Foof-a-loof
Ink: Memento

KWerner Color Challenge #52

2009-05-18T21:28:00.006-05:00

My first impression of the colors for the color inspiration challenge was "Oh no - FIVE colors"! I sometimes struggle when I get too many colors going on, and so I really took my time and just let the creativity flow. I pulled out the papers, perused my stamp collection, and put some of my stash away that had buried my desk.

I settled on using my Papertrey Ink "Life" stamp set. I also knew I wanted to use the So Saffron ribbon from this past Sale-a- bration. The clincher came when I found a 12 x 12 sheet of Sahara Sand in an old Simply Scrapping kit. I thought I only had the ink - talk about limitations! I matted the main image with Baja Breeze, it is a lot more apparent IRL. In the end I was happy with what I created, which is my goal any time I sit down to make a card. Hope you enjoy it too! Off to see what you all have created!

Supplies:

Cardstock: Stampin Up

Stamps: Papertrey Ink - Life

Ink: Stampin Up

Ribbon: Stampin Up

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge Week 6

2009-05-17T21:11:00.007-05:00

I was so surprised when I checked Dawn McVey's Blog tonight and saw that there was another Color Challenge posted! These colors are so fun and so I dove right in. I came up with two cards that are only slightly varied from each other.

I couldn't decide which I liked better so I did what every cardmaker who stamps at home does....I padded upstairs and asked my hubby which he liked the best. He never just placates me with an "They are both great honey", he takes time to look at each card, selects which he prefers, and then describes to me why he likes one card over the other. I love that about him!

He preferred the card above. He said that he liked that the white was the focal point of the card (it is embossed with the cuttlebug leaves folder) and that the colors were just accents. He also liked the bow.

I was still torn because I really, really liked the aqua mist background on the card below...so I posted them both. Hope you enjoy! Off to hop around and look at everyone else's entries!

Edited: I added two more photos I took outside. I think the embossing shows up better.

Supplies:

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink

Ribbon: Papertrey Ink

Stamp: Paper Makeup Stamps

Ink: Memento

Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug

Meet Dreck

2009-05-15T21:42:00.004-05:00

I made this card a few nights ago, but didn't get around to posting it until today. I have fallen in love with the Monsters from Paper Makeup Stamps. This little fella's name is Dreck. He kind of reminds me of a little boy running around in footie pajamas.

I colored him with copics and used a Sakura glitter pen to highlight the spots. I ran some vellum through my Cuttlebug embossing folder to add texture.

Supplies:
Stamps: Dreck (Paper Makeup Stamps), Sentiment (PTI)
Cardstock: Stampin Up, DCWV
Ribbon: Dots and Dashes
Ink: Memento
Markers: Copics

Vintage Baby

2009-05-13T21:24:00.007-05:00

I just love the 3D stickers from K and Company. I used the airplane in this post and decided to pair the tricycle with the sentiment stamp from Cloud 9 Designs. It made me giggle to think of my little guy tearing it up on a tricycle. I used the Tim Holtz distressing tool on the cardstock and paper, that tool is perfect for this sort of thing. I am not a big vintage card maker, but many of my cards have been leaning that way lately.

While I was in the mood, I made another baby card using some paper that I hadn't put away yet. The block alphabet is Karen Foster and it is from many years ago. I paired it with some plaid chatterbox that just seemed to go perfectly! Love the Heidi Swapp clear stamps as well!

Hope you like them!

Supplies:

Born to be Wild
Cardstock: PTI

Patterened Paper: Fancy Pants

Ribbon: May Arts

Stamp: Cloud 9 Designs

Ink: SU Basic Gray

Sticker: K and Company

Other: Thread

Baby
Cardstock: PTI, Archiver's

Patterned Paper: Karen Foster, Chatterbox

Ribbon: PTI

Stamp: Heidi Swapp

Ink: Distress Ink

Other: Thread

May Card Exchange Roundup

2009-05-12T21:29:00.009-05:00

You aren't seeing double...above is the card that I posted yesterday. I wanted to post it again in the round up! See this post for the details on my card. Below is what my wonderful friends have come up with. The theme was to use vellum or acetate on your card. I think everyone did a great job!

Chris' Card

Alyson's Card

Joan's Card

Susi's Card

Teresa's Card

Tiffany's Card (see more of her creations here)

Randee will be posting her card later on her blog.

May Card Exchange - My Card!

2009-05-11T21:03:00.003-05:00

Where does time go? It seems just last week I was posting the April Card exchange. This month's challenge was to use acetate or vellum. I had found a super deal on cardstock at Tuesday Morning (a discount store in the Midwest). I got 20 sheets of this American Crafts patterned paper for $1.99 so that is where I started. All of the cutting for this card was done using my Silhouette, I love the new weld function! I welded two circles together and then added an opening to the front. The flower is another Silhouette shape.

I was able to adhere the acetate using a quickie glue pen. Ths card came together quickly and I am very happy with the result; hope you like it as well! I can't wait to see what my friends have come up with!

Supplies:

Patterned Paper: American Crafts

Cardstock: Stampin Up Kiwi Kiss

Stamps: Hero Arts

Ink: Memento

SFYTT and Cardvaarks Challenges

2009-05-09T22:47:00.005-05:00

When I saw tonight's SFYTT I was a bit puzzled as to what I would do with the circle in the center. Once I settled on my sentiment from the Simple Thoughts - Boy Stamp set pairing it with a cute sticker from K and Co seemed obvious!

This card also fits the Cardvaarks challenge for this week to use a verse or quote! Love that!

Hope you like my submission!

Supplies:

Patterned Paper: Base DCWV, Plaid Daisy D's

Cardstock: Wausau (White), Navy (Archiver's)

Felt Ribbon: Stampin Up

Stamp: Cloud Nine

Sticker: K and Company

Ink: Memento and Distress Ink

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #5

2009-05-08T21:59:00.006-05:00

This is my first time participating in the Raspberry Suite Color Challenge. I have been following all of the other ones, but something always came up that prevented me from playing. Not this time! I had bought this Doodlebug paper a couple months ago; I loved that it was flocked and bright pink! When I saw the colors that Dawn selected I immediately thought of this paper. The bow is tied with bias tape. I love the fabric look, but hate to fuss with ironing seams so bias tape was totally the way to go.

I love the way the bow came out. Sometimes I fuss with them for what seems like an eternity. This bow prety much ties itself. A die cut tag made with my silhouette and stamped with a sentiment from Hero Arts completes the card! Oh, and I put pop dots under the white layer to give the card a little lift. Hope you like it!

Supplies:

Cardstock: Basic Gray (SU), White (Wausau)

Patterned Paper: Doodlebug Designs

Bias Tape: from my sewing stash, probably from JoAnn's

Stamp: Hero Arts

Ink: Going Gray (SU)

KWerner Challenge #51

2009-05-07T21:59:00.004-05:00

These colors were so fun! I took my inspiration from the toy in the bottom left corner of the picture. I have seen this brown circle design on everything from toys to blankets. Retro graphics are so hot lately. I paired my trendy brown circles (I used a 1 1/8" SU punch to punch them) with a small mustard colored rubon and a sentiment rubon. I used a layer of acetate so that the rubons would go on smoothly. The rubon was from a pack that I got recently from Archiver's for $1.99 (See the two other cards I made with them here and here.) Clean, simple, and inexpensive - love that! Thanks for looking!

Supplies:
Carstock: Neenah (White), Archiver's (Brown)

Ribbon: American Crafts

Rubons: Fancy Pants (Image), Scenic Route

Acetate: Staples

Awards and Recognition

2009-05-06T21:31:00.005-05:00

This post is a Thank You to Tiffany for giving me the Lemonade Stand Award for being a blogger who shows great attitude and gratitude.

Here are some wonderful women who have left great comments on my blog! Their blogs are terrific as well, so be sure to stop by!

Amy Tsuruta
Kelly Lunceford
Winter Wonderland
travelingmama
Amy Lingenfelser
Rochelle Gould

The rules of the award (To pick up the Lemonade Stand Award):
- Comment on this blog.- Cut and paste the award logo and use it in your own blog.
- Nominate 5 to 10 blogs you feel show great attitude and gratitude.
- Link to your nominees within your blog post.
- Comment on their blogs to let them know they've received the award.
- Link back to the person who gave you the award to show your appreciation.

Now How about a card? Another quickie card using the Rubons from fancy pants. Love them!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Archiver's
Rubon: Fancy Pants
Stamp: Hero Arts
Ink: Memento
Ribbon: May Arts

Make Your Own Happiness

2009-05-04T21:37:00.003-05:00

Sometimes in Life you have to go out and make your own happiness, it doesn't come to you. This rubon was one on a whole sheet of fabulousness, and it was only $1.99 at Archiver's! Love that. I was feeling sassy and pair it with the spring moss ribbon instead of my go to brown.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzil, Archivers
Rubon: Fancy Pants
Stamp: Hero Arts
Ink: Memento
Ribbon: Spring Moss
Acetate: Staples

SFYTT and Papertrey Spring Inspiration

2009-05-02T22:52:00.003-05:00

It was a wonderful day at my house. We went to the park (mid 60s and sunny), got a new bed (upgrade to King size WooHOO!), and then went for pictures (we are a bit late on the 1 year old photos of Jack, but we got them done). So tonight I was thinking of Spring and the Papertrey Spring Fling Challenge. I loved the quilt that Pine selected and thought the paper from the Everyday Blessing collection worked perfectly with the theme and my day. Then when I saw the layout the Jen had at SFYTT it all came together.

I sewed a lot on this card. I always feel very inspired by the vintage designs that Kelly Lunceford produces, so I tried to channel her a bit. Sewing on cards is not difficult (for those who have never attempted it) and I am always amzed at how it kicks my cards up a notch. I loved the pairing of the coffee cup from Warm Happiness with the sentiment from a Hero Arts set, it really brought home how wonderful today had been. Remember to find joy everyday!

Supplies:

Cardstock: Archiver's

Pattered Paper: Papertrey Ink

Ink: Stampin Up (Baja Breeze, Sahara Sand)

Stamps: Warm Happiness (Papertrey Ink), sentiments (Hero Arts)
Ribbon: American Crafts

Other: Thread

CPS-113 Feel Better Bunny

2009-04-30T22:14:00.006-05:00

This is my first time joining the CPS (Card Positioning System) Challenge. I had colored this shy bunny last weekend, and when I saw the sketch I thought it would be perfect! The fun part about sketches is seeing past what is one the page. I chose to not use a zig zag behind the focal image on this buny card, and i also elongated the card. I had so much fun with the sketch that I quickly made another card using the same sketch.

For this sketch I had to mask the happy birthday stamp so it fit on the frame. I had precut the frame on my silhouette for another project, and had also stiched the pink background. I like the effect of doubling the ribbon. It helps me out when I need a wider ribbon but don't have the exact right one in my stash. Hope you enjoy my entries, I'd love to hear what you think!

Supplies:

Shy Bunny

Patterned Paper: SEI Dill Blossom, KI Memories

Cardstock: Neenah

Ribbon: Basic Basic

Stamp: Bunny (Whipper Snapper), Sentiment (Papertrey Ink)

Ink: Memento

Happy Birthday

Patterned Paper: American Crafts

Cardstock: Archiver's

Stamp: Heidi Swapp

Ribbon: Celebrate it Basic Narrows

Wedding Cards

2009-04-29T21:28:00.004-05:00

Tonight I wanted to play with Cuttlebug embossing folders. I bought a cuttlebug even though I have a Silhouette just so I could make embossed papers. Once you start you will find yourself wanting to texture everything. Plain cards will be a thing of the past. But I digress...

Once I had embossed the gray paper, I decided I also wanted to use the Amy Butler fabric brads that I got on clearance at Archiver's awhile back. I think I paid $2.50 for a 12 pack. I could not pass them up! The brad above is very large, and I felt it held its own as the focal point on the card. The card below I used two of the smaller to accent the bow. I actually tied the bow intending to put the large brad over it, but then I decided it was too pretty of a bow to cover up.
Clean and classy wedding cards that could be replicated in the colors of any wedding.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Stampin Up (Basic Grey), Wausau (Light Gray and white)
Brads: K and Company
Stamps: Hero Arts (Congratulations), Studio G (Mr. and Mrs.)
Embossing Folders: Cuttlebug
Ink: Stampin Up
Ribbon: from the stash

KWerner Challenge #50

2009-04-28T21:07:00.005-05:00

It's KWerner Challenge #50! I have only been playing for 9 challenges, but it is always a fun test of my creativity. Tonight (and the last week actually), I wanted to make a simple card. The colors were very fun, and I tried to make a balanced card. Hope you like it!

Supplies:
Cardstock: White and Brown (Archiver's), Turquoise, Yellow, and Red (Stampin Up)

Stamp: Technique Tuesday

Debbie's Blog Candy

2009-04-27T20:48:00.003-05:00

Have you seen this blog candy? Its at Debbie's blog! Go and check it out.

Krafty Kards

2009-04-26T22:14:00.007-05:00

This was a very fun weekend. I was able to relax with my family and helped make 125 thank you cards (yes you read that right) for my friend Michelle's sister Jen, who is having a baby in July. There were 4 of us, but Susi and I were the only "experienced" crafters. See this post for examples of some of the cards we made. We did of course, make different cards and incorporated some papers Jen had from her Teaching Assistant. It was a very fun and productive Sunday.

So tonight I wanted to make cards that were not baby-like. I used my new Basic Grey stamps (Enabler Alert: All three of the image stamps were in the new $1.99 stamp sets from Basic Grey. There are 3-6 stamps per pack, although some of them are tiny. But they are fun...and they are at Archiver's. Just sayin')

I also continued my love affair with Kraft cardstock. I seriously have an L-O-V-E of any card that is put on Kraft. It is becoming the first paper I reach for after I color an image. The first card I used Primacolor pencils right on the Kraft. I used a blending pencil to burnish the pencil into the card, and a white pencil to add some highlights. The card with the leaves I used my Copics to play with the retro- feel of the leaves. And below is the retro birdy. He is colored with Copics as well. The sentiment stamps are all from Hero Arts, although not from the same sets.
Have a great week everyone!

Supplies:

Stamps: Images (Basic Grey), Sentiments (Hero Arts)

Cardstock: Kraft, Ocean Tides (Papertrey Ink), White (Neenah), Green (SU)

Ribbon: Orange (American Crafts), Ocean Tides Twill (Papertrey Ink), Twine (Walmart)

Ink: Memento

Colored Pencils: Prismacolor

Markers: Copics

Mother's Day Cards

2009-04-23T21:35:00.006-05:00

I found a pack of Amy Butler Purse embellishments at Archiver's and I thought they would make the perfect embellishment for Mother's Day Cards. Then I found the matching paper at Michael's - how fun is that? These cards were so easy to put together, and I love how they came out!

Supplies:

Purses: K and Company

Patterned Paper: K and Company

Stamp: Papertrey Ink

Ribbon: from the stash

Paper Challenge #4

2009-04-22T21:41:00.009-05:00

Time for another paper challenge! Four of my friends at work and I swap patterned paper every month and then challenge each other to make cards for each other. You must make at least one card, but extra points are given for making more. This is the paper I got from Joan; it is from My Mind's Eye. I don't usually work with pink, so it kind of sat on the side for awhile so I could think about what to do with it. I wound up with 4 cards for each person for a total of 20 cards! Love that! I even used some of the crocheted flowers that I am addicted to making.

Scroll down to see the four cards I made; I'd love to know what you think. Swap paper with your other card making friends or even pick paper yourself. Link your projects in the comments section.

Supplies:

Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye

Cardstock: Stampin Up, Papertrey Ink, Wausau Paper

Ribbon: Papertrey Ink

Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug

Stamps: Hero Arts, Stampin Up

Rubon: American Crafts

Die Cut Machine: Silhouette

Twine: Walmart

Bling: Kaiser

Ink: Stampin Up, Memento

Button: Foof-a-loof

Crochet Thread: DMC (Flower pattern my own)

See what Tiffany did with my paper here.
See what Randee did with the paper she got from Tiffany here.
Janie challenged herself and made some fab cards here.

SFYTT- Argus and His Teddy

2009-04-21T21:58:00.004-05:00

This card is a bit more complicated then the simple thank you notes I made for my friends yesterday. This is Argus and his Teddy from Paper Makeup Stamps, and I like him colored Blue. I was playing with my Copics, and did a few variations of him. I like him blue. I didn't know how to incorporate him into a card until I saw this weeks SFYTT. I did shift the placement of the oval, but I think it helps balance the button and the patterned paper. Hope you like him!

Here are the Copics:

Supplies:

Stamps: Argus and his Teddy (Paper Makeup Stamps), Sentiment (Papertrey Ink)

Ink: Memento

Patterned Paper: KI Memories

Brads: Queen and Co

Ribbon: Papertrey Ink

Twine: Walmart

Cardstock: Neenah

Markers: Copic

Button: Fancy Pants

Simple Thank Yous

2009-04-20T21:01:00.008-05:00

A friend of mine asked me to make some simple Thank you notes that she and her sister could make to send after her sister's baby shower. The emphasis was on the word "simple". These ladies have never stamped before and claim to not be crafty. They walked into Archiver's and said "Our friends told us to come here", and walked out with a piece of patterned paper, some ribbon, and cardstock that matched the party invitations. So I made 4 options for them. They can mix up the white or kraft backgrounds, pick one of the cards or make some of each design. I hope they like them!

Supplies:

Cardstock: Wausau Paper (white), Papertrey Ink (Kraft)

Patterned Paper: Reminisce

Ribbon: RibbonFX, Celebrate It

Stamps: Technique Tuesday

Ink: Memento

Owl be thinking of you

2009-04-19T22:06:00.004-05:00

This was a good weekend. It was a crazy crazy week last week and I needed to decompress. I spent a lot of time playing in my room on Friday night and was practicing coloring with my Copics. I feel like I am getting better! I won't point out the flaws on this card, because I think the overall feeling is a good one. On Saturday I went to a different Archiver's then I usually do and it was a lot of fun. My best deal was some white grograin for $0.04/yd (I took 20 yards for a bank breaking $0.80, remember, you can color ribbon with copics to coordinate with your projects). I also got the ribbon on the card above for $0.25/yd. The deals were terrific! For this card I busted out the Cuttlebug. I had resisted getting a bug because I had the silhouette, but the embossing folders were too fun to resist. The swiss dot is just my favorite. I have a couple other folders that I will play with later this week. I have to get my paper challenge cards done; I am very behind.

Here are the Copics:

Have a good Monday!

Supplies:
Stamps: Owl (Whipper Snapper), Sentiment (PTI)

Paper: Stampin Up, White (Neenah)

Ribbon: Fancy Pants

Markers: Copics
Ink: Memento

Simple Mom Card

2009-04-17T20:13:00.003-05:00

It doesn't get much simpler then this...I love this coffee mug stamp from Hero Arts. I colored it with Copics (W1, YG91, and R27) and then stamped the sentiment (Papertrey Ink). I did cut out the mug and pop it off the card. I also used the super thick 120 lb weight Neenah paper. It is fantastic for a card base, but it sucks up a lot of ink from copics, so I would recommend the 80 lb for coloring images.

Supplies:

Stamps: Hero Arts (mug), Sentiment (papertrey ink)

Cardstock: Neenah

Ink: Memento

Markers: Copics

Grandma You're Special

2009-04-16T21:00:00.000-05:00

I have been crocheting these little flowers at work during lunch. I keep giving them to my crafty friends for their cards, so I thought it was time I actually used one on a card. My Grandmother taught me how to crochet when I was 10, and when I saw all the crocheted flowers in stores I thought they were pretty cute, but there was no way I was going to pay for a crocheted flower. Enter Grandma. She worked up a pattern, and then I refined it slightly and it resulted in the flower above. I dug through my stash of yarn and found a bunch of colors that I had gotten on closeout at Hobby Lobby for $0.68 - that's what I call a deal! Needless to say, this card is for my Grandma.

Supplies:
Stamp: Hero Arts
Paper: K and Company
Carstock: Stampin Up
Ribbon: Papertrey Ink
Button: American Crafts
Twine: Walmart

With Sympathy

2009-04-15T21:33:00.006-05:00

I picked up this stamp at my LSS a couple weeks ago and didn't have the right colors of Copics to do it justice. So I had to treat myself to a new batch *grin*. Admitedly, i need to practice my blending a bit more. I thought that coneflowers were a bit more blueish, but they really are purple. And the cone is supposed to be redder, but it didn't look right. This image could lend itself to many things, but it said "Sympathy card" to me.

The Copics (I forgot to add W1 to the pile I photographed)

Supplies:
Stamp: Cornish Farms
Cardstock: Neenah (White), Stampin Up
Ribbon: May Arts
Markers: Copics

April Card Exchange

2009-04-14T20:20:00.012-05:00

Each month some of my co-workers and I have a card exchange. This month's theme was "same stamp set" and we all were required to use Stampin' Ups Pocket Silhouettes. We ahve been doing the card exchange for almost three years and it is so fun to see how far everyone has come. I also loved this month because it was fun to see how many different ways this stamp set could be used. Judge for yourself -which ones do you like? Do you have this stamp set? Play along and link your creation in the comments!

My Card!
Tiffany's Card (More creations on her blog)

Teresa's Card

Susi's Card

Alyson's Card

Randee's Card (See more creations on her blog)

Joan's Card

Chris' Card

Sandy's Card

Groovy Thank You

2009-04-13T21:33:00.004-05:00

Tonight I worked on a couple of projects, none of which are completely finished. I am letting them mellow a bit. I made this card over the weekend. It was a very fast card. The ribbon is the yummy berry sorbet from PTI, it may be my new favorite color to use on cards. And yes, the base of the card is Kraft (I can't stay away from that). Tomorrow is the card exchange, and I plan on posting all of the group's creations.

Supplies:
Carstock: Kraft (PTI), Pink (Archivers)
Patterned Paper: Fancy Pants Designs
Ribbon: PTI
Stamp: Hero Arts

A Mother's Day Card

2009-04-12T21:49:00.002-05:00

I had time Saturday night to play with my new stamps from Papertrey Ink. For this card I used the Mother and Life sets. I stamped the wildflowers first in sahara sand, kiwi kiss, baja breeze and lavender lace. Once I had a pattern I liked I went over the flowers with some twinkling H2Os. This card really sparkles! The sentiments were stamped using Memento Rich Cocoa. The ribbon is May Arts. This card took a while to stamp and paint, but I think the results are worth it.

On a fun note - I just found out one of my submissions to the September issue of CARDS Magazine was accepted for publication! I am beyond excited!

Supplies:
Stamps: Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: Kraft (Papertrey Ink), River Rock (Stampin Up)
Ribbon: May Arts
Other: Twinkling H2Os

KWerner Challenge #49

2009-04-11T20:41:00.004-05:00

When I saw the colors friday, I thought to myself "Oh how fun". Then I got home and pulled out the papers on Saturday and I thought "Am I the only one that thinks Pacific Point looks rather...Smurf colored?" (Seriously, it is very Smurf colored.) So then I started thinking about the Smurfs and their little mushroom houses, and that is how this card came about.

All the cutting was done by my Silhouette. I was going to use Kiwi Kiss on the 'srooms themselves, but it didn't look right. Neither did adding ribbon or any other accents. I think it came out very whimsical and fun. Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Stampin Up
Stamp: Hero Arts
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

What do you think of these Easter Baskets?

2009-04-09T21:47:00.003-05:00

My son has 5 teachers in his daycare classroom where I am the parent rep. I thought it would be fun for Easter to take up a collection for Easter baskets and this is what I wound up with. Walmart has a fabulous section that had the candies by color, so I just went through and picked out some of each. The hard part was to make sure that none of the candies were made in a facotry that also processes nuts (which means no M and M's). I did add a name tag on the wooden sticks in the baskets.

So what do you think? Would you like a basket like this?

Easter Boxes and my opinion on Bows

2009-04-08T21:02:00.003-05:00

I made these boxes for some of the support staff at my son's daycare (just wait until you see the baskets for the teachers tomorrow!) I use my silhouette to cute the boxes from Easter colored DSP from KI Memories, and ribbon by Basic Basic (from Michaels).

They really were easy to make. Thanks to my mom for helping to fill the boxes, she really stuffed them (peanut free candy only!)

And about bows; in my left brained opinion, when you tie a bow the tails need to be pointing down. This takes some fussing with the ribbon, but you can bet I fuss with them because it is annoying to me to see the tails go in different directions. I think it goes back to my mom, on all of our packages the bow tails always pointed down :)

And another thing..I have worked out my pattern for crocheted flowers! Look for those on some cards in the next week!

Supplies:
Cardstock: KI Memories

Ribbon: Basic Basic

Stamps: Amuse

A Melon Thanks

2009-04-07T21:44:00.002-05:00

A very quick post, I am working on my card exchange cards tonight (Due the second Tuesday of the Month!) This was a fun card to put together. I love the pun. The whole set is full of them (Little Fruit from Stampendous). A very quick and simple card.
Supplies:
Stamps: Sentiment and Melon (Stampendous), Polka Dots (PTI)
Ribbon: Basic Basic
Copics: YG03, R22
Cardstock: Berry Sorbet and Kraft (PTI)

Happy Birthday Cupcake

2009-04-06T21:16:00.006-05:00

Don't you love Michael's dollar stamps? I know I do. My friend Tiffany was at Michaels last week and called me to tell me they had very cute cupcake stamps and did I want some. Did I? Of course! I made this card using one of the 3 stamps she bought for me. I colored each cupcake and then cut out the image. I used dimensionals to pop them off the page. A frame of pink cardstock and simple ribbon treatment was all this card needed. Oh, and don't you love the crystal effects on the cherry?

Supplies:

Stamp: Studio G, Hero Arts

Cardstock: Neenah (white), Stampin Up (Pink)

Ribbon: Chatterbox

Linen Thread: Stampin Up

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

SFYTT - Playtime

2009-04-05T21:41:00.006-05:00

I was happy I could get to this week's SFYTT. I have been working on Easter gifts for teachers all day (check back to see those later in the week). But I took some time tonight to play along with one of my favorite sketch challenges. I don't tend to do a lot of layering, so the sketches help me to flex my creative muscles.

When Randee used an image from the Simple Thoughts - Boy set from Cloud9Design I had a major case of stamp envy. So when I was in JoAnn's and spied it (40% off of course) it just happened to land in my cart. The sentiments in this set are really wonderful, especially if you have little boys in your life! This sentiment spoke to me with all of the playing I do in my craft room, it always does make me feel better.

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

Supplies:
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey

Cardstock: Archiver's (Brown)

Stamp: Cloud9 Design

KWerner Challenge #48

2009-04-04T22:02:00.006-05:00

Time for another KWerner Challenge! What fun colors this week! When I saw the colors I knew just the paper I was going to construct a card around. I wound up making two cards, because I didn't know which direction I liked the pattern.

These cards are each 3 x 6, and use American Crafts patterned paper.

I think I am favoring this thank you card as my favorite. The stamp is Ali Edwards for Technique Tuesday, and the pearls are Kaiser.

For this card, I had to use my Copic marker to color the ribbon. I have never done that before. The twill was white before I colored it. The stamps are from Autumn Leaves and PTI.

Supplies:
Stamps: Thank you (Technique Tuesday), Happy (Autumn leaves I think), and birthday (Papertrey Ink)

Cardstock: Stampin Up

Patterned Paper: American Crafts.

Pearls: Kaiser

Bling: Kaiser

Ribbon: Making Memories, Basic Basic

Copic: E59

Ink: Stampin Up Chocolate Chip

For Peep's Sake

2009-04-02T22:08:00.002-05:00

I loved this peep stamp from Amuse, and I had to have it when I saw it released. I am working on finishing my Easter Cards, and I put this card together very quickly. I stamped the peep multiple times in So Saffron ink, used a glue pen to trace the outline, and then poured on glitter. The ribbon is also from Amuse, as is the sentiment. The inside of the card has one peep and "Happy Easter". I put a clear overlay over the top of the card so that the glitter did not go everywhere.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Yellow (Archiver's), Pink (DCWV), White (Wasau)
Stamps: Amuse
Glitter: Art Glitter
Ribbon: Amuse
Ink: Stampin Up